JP3595670B2 - Multifunction printer and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multifunction printer in which an image reading device such as an image scanner and an image recording device such as a laser printer are integrated, and a control method therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A multi-function printer that integrates a scanner that reads a document image with a contact image sensor (CIS) and outputs image data to a host computer and a printer that records image data from the host computer on recording paper by electrophotographic processing, It is already known from the past.
[0003]
In this type of multifunction printer, the scanner and the printer are arranged in a single housing, and the scanner and the printer are driven by one and the same motor (for example, a stepping motor). It has a copy function, a facsimile function, and an image scanning function. When performing a copy operation, reading a document at the time of facsimile transmission, or performing an image scanning operation, the drive system of the printer unit 3 is also activated at the same time.
[0004]
For example, at the time of a copying operation, a contact image sensor of a scanner is driven by the driving source to read an image, and after the completion, an image printing operation is performed by a printer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when one drive system for the scanner and the printer is constituted by the same motor as in the above-described conventional example, the following problem occurs.
[0006]
(1) Since the drive source is activated irrespective of the purpose at the time of image reading, such as a copying operation, a facsimile transmission operation, or an image scanning operation, a problem may occur in the electrophotographic processing of the printer.
[0007]
(2) If the contact image sensor is driven during the copying operation to perform the image printing operation after the completion of the image reading, the time required for the copying operation increases.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a multifunction printer capable of accurately performing electrophotographic processing of a printer in a configuration in which a drive source of a scanner and a printer are supplied from a single motor, and a control method thereof. With the goal. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction printer capable of shortening the output time during a copying operation in a configuration in which the drive sources of the scanner and the printer are supplied from one motor, and a control method thereof.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading unit which can read a document image and output image data to an external device, and an image reading unit which prints an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic process based on image data from the external device An image recording unit capable of recording an image is arranged in one housing, and in a multifunction printer having a copying function and an image scanning function, a time width of an initialization signal for initializing the image reading unit is copied. Operation, set in accordance with the image scanning operation, the image recording unit detects the initialization signal, and if it is determined that image recording is not necessary based on the detection signal, the image recording unit The configuration is such that the initialization process is not performed.
[0013]
According to a second aspect , in the first aspect , during the copying operation, pre-processing including initialization of the electrophotographic process is performed in the image recording unit before the reading operation of the original image is completed, and reading is performed. After the operation is completed, the pre-processing is terminated, and thereafter image formation is performed.
[0017]
In the third invention, an image reading unit capable of reading a document image and outputting image data to an external device, and an image recording unit capable of recording an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic process based on image data from the external device are provided. In a multi-function printer equipped with a copying function and an image scanning function, the time width of an initialization signal for initializing the image reading unit is compatible with the copying operation and the image scanning operation. The image recording unit detects the initialization signal, and if it is determined that recording of an image is not necessary based on the detection signal, the image recording unit does not execute the initialization process of the electrophotographic process. It was made.
[0018]
In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect , during the copying operation, preprocessing including initialization of the electrophotographic process is performed in the image recording unit before the reading operation of the original image is completed, and the reading operation is performed. After the operation is completed, the pre-processing is terminated, and thereafter image formation is performed.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a host computer, 2 is a scanner unit, and 3 is a printer unit. 2a is a scanner controller, 3a is a printer controller, and 3b is a stepping motor. The scanner 2 and the printer 3 are arranged in one housing, and are mechanically connected by a gear or a belt or the like, sharing one stepping motor 2a as a drive source.
[0022]
The multifunction printer has a copying function, a facsimile function, and an image scanning function. When performing a copying operation, reading a document at the time of facsimile transmission, or performing an image scanning operation, the drive system of the printer unit 3 is simultaneously activated. It has become.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the multifunction printer shown in FIG.
[0024]
In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a stepping motor driver, which drives the stepping motor 3b by four excitation signals A, Aa, B, and Ba. Excitation signals A, Aa, B, and Ba output from the scanner controller 2a and the printer controller 3a, respectively, are input to the stepping motor driver 4 by ORing with an OR circuit 5. Further, the scanner controller 2a and the printer controller 3a perform bidirectional communication so that their operation states can be confirmed.
[0025]
The scanner unit 2 has a built-in contact image sensor (CIS) unit, and the structure is shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a sectional structural view of the contact type image sensor unit, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection.
[0026]
In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, reference numeral 50 denotes a document reading position, 51 denotes an LED, 52 denotes a rod lens, 53 denotes a sensor chip, and 54 denotes a substrate. Thus, a contact image sensor unit is configured.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4, the CIS unit is connected to power supplies VLED and VGND for dimming the LED 51, and further connected to power supplies VCC and GND for a Vout output circuit (not shown). An LED array 51, a rod lens array 52, and a sensor chip 53 are provided.
[0028]
The light of the LED 51 is applied to the image of the document, and the reflected light is received by the sensor chip 53 through the rod lens array 52. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, data of one line scan is output in synchronization with the clock CLK. FIG. 5 is a timing chart when the main scanning resolution is 400 DPI. SP is a Vout data reset signal.
[0029]
In the above configuration, the multifunction printer of the present embodiment operates as follows. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.
[0030]
First, upon receiving a copy command, facsimile transmission command, or image scan command from the host computer 1, the scanner controller 2a checks whether the printer unit 3 is operating.
[0031]
At this time, if the printer unit 3 is in operation, the status of the scanner is paused is returned to the host computer 1 to indicate an inoperable state. If the operation of the printer unit 3 is stopped, the printer controller 3a is notified that the scanner unit 2 is operating, and the image reading is started. At this time, the scanner controller 2a outputs an excitation pulse corresponding to a predetermined reading speed, and causes the stepping motor driver 4 to rotate the stepping motor 3b at a predetermined rotation speed.
[0032]
If a copy command (COPY signal) is received, pre-processing is performed in the printer unit 3 before the image reading operation is completed, that is, initialization of the electrophotographic process, activation of the scanner unit 2, and activation of the transfer fixing unit are performed. After the completion of the reading operation, the pre-processing is terminated. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, before the image reading operation, the driving start of the stepping motor 3b (step S11), the pre-rotation (step S12), and the document feeding (step S13) are sequentially performed. (Step S14), paper feeding (Step S15), and image formation (Step S16) are sequentially performed.
[0033]
If a facsimile (FAX) transmission command or an image scan command (SCN) is received, the printer unit 3 does not perform initialization of the electrophotographic process as preprocessing. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, driving of the stepping motor 3b is started (step S21), document feeding (step S22), and image reading are sequentially performed (step S23).
[0034]
On the other hand, when the printer controller 3a receives a print start command (PRNT signal) from the host computer 1, it checks whether the scanner unit 2 is operating. At this time, if the scanner unit 2 is in operation, the printer inactive status is returned to the host computer 1 to notify the host computer 1 of the inoperable state. If the operation of the scanner unit 2 is stopped, the scanner controller 2a is notified that the printer unit 3 is operating, and the printing operation is started. That is, in FIG. 6, the driving start of the stepping motor 3b (step S31), the pre-rotation (step S32), the paper feeding (step S15), and the image formation (step S16) are sequentially performed. At this time, the printer controller 3a outputs an excitation pulse corresponding to a predetermined print process speed, and causes the stepping motor driver 4 to rotate the stepping motor 3b at a predetermined rotation speed.
[0035]
This embodiment has the following advantages.
[0036]
(1) During scanning and facsimile transmission, unnecessary control (high-voltage control, fixing control, scanner control, etc.) such as initialization of the electrophotographic process is not performed on the printer unit 3 side. No problems occur, and performance improvement, reliability improvement, and energy saving can be achieved.
[0037]
(2) During the copying operation, pre-processing is performed in the printer unit 3 before the image reading operation is completed, and the pre-processing is terminated immediately after the reading operation is completed, so that the output time during the copying operation is reduced. Can be planned.
[0038]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0039]
In the second embodiment, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the pulse width of the initialization signal SP from the scanner controller 2a to the contact image sensor is reduced without providing an image reading signal from the scanner controller 2a to the printer controller 3a. In response to the copying operation, facsimile transmission operation, and image scanning operation, the printer unit 3 measures the pulse width to determine which of the copying operation, facsimile transmission operation, and image scanning operation is being performed. Drive processing is performed.
[0040]
That is, as shown in FIG. 7 showing the above sequence, when the pulse width of the initialization signal SP to the contact image sensor is a copying operation (SCN) or a facsimile transmission operation (FAX), the driving of the stepping motor 3b is started. (Step S41), document feeding (Step S42), and image reading are sequentially performed (Step S43).
[0041]
On the other hand, if the command is a copy command (COPY signal), before the image reading operation, the driving start of the stepping motor 3b (step S51), the pre-rotation (step S52), and the document feeding (step S53) are sequentially performed. After reading (step S54), paper feeding (step S55), and image formation (step S56) are sequentially performed. FIG. 8 shows a timing example of the above operation.
[0042]
According to this embodiment, the drive of the contact image sensor can be controlled without increasing the signals and instructions (copying, reading, facsimile transmission) other than printing from the controller without changing the interface between the conventional printer engine and the controller. Thus, the processing can be simplified.
[0043]
In the configuration of the first or second embodiment, when an arbitrary number of steps is supplied to the stepping motor 3b when the printer unit 3 determines that the copying operation is performed and performs a process for driving the stepping motor 3b. Alternatively, the transmission ratio of the drive source gear and the like may be determined so that reading of one sub-scanning line of the scanner unit 2 and recording of one sub-scanning line of the printer unit 3 are synchronized. This makes it possible to perform a copying operation without having an image memory means for the scanner unit 2.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above , according to the first and third aspects of the invention, the initialization signal is detected, and if it is determined that image recording is not necessary based on the detection signal, the initialization of the electrophotographic process is performed. Since the processing is not performed, the electrophotographic processing of the image recording apparatus can be easily and accurately performed.
[0048]
According to the second and fourth aspects, during the copying operation, before the reading operation of the original image is completed, the image recording unit performs the preprocessing including the initialization process of the electrophotographic process, and after the reading operation is completed, Since the pre-processing is completed and the image is formed thereafter, the output time during the copying operation can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the multifunction printer shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional structural view of a contact image sensor unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of the contact image sensor unit.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart when the main scanning resolution is 400 DPI.
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a swimming diagram showing the operation of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Scanner part 3 Printer part 2a Scanner controller 3a Printer controller 3b Stepping motor 4 Stepping motor driver 5 OR circuit 51 LED
52 rod lens 53 sensor chip

Claims (4)

An image reading unit that can read an original image and output image data to an external device, and an image recording unit that can record an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic process based on image data from the external device in one housing In a multi-function printer equipped with an arrangement, copying function, and image scanning function,
A time width of an initialization signal for initializing the image reading unit is set in accordance with a copying operation and an image scanning operation,
The image recording unit detects the initialization signal, and when it is determined that recording of an image is not necessary based on the detection signal, the image recording unit is configured not to execute the initialization process of the electrophotographic process. Characteristic multi-function printer. At the time of the copying operation, pre-processing including initialization processing of the electrophotographic process is performed in the image recording unit before the reading operation of the original image is completed, and after the reading operation is completed, the pre-processing is terminated. , multi-function printer of claim 1, wherein the performing subsequent image formation. An image reading unit that can read an original image and output image data to an external device, and an image recording unit that can record an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic process based on image data from the external device in one housing For multi-function printers with placement, copying, and image scanning functions,
A time width of an initialization signal for initializing the image reading unit is set in accordance with a copying operation and an image scanning operation,
The image recording unit detects the initialization signal, and when it is determined that image recording is not necessary based on the detection signal, the initialization process of the electrophotographic process is not performed. Function printer control method. At the time of the copying operation, pre-processing including initialization processing of the electrophotographic process is performed in the image recording unit before the reading operation of the original image is completed, and after the reading operation is completed, the pre-processing is terminated. 4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein image formation is performed thereafter.

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