U.S. patent application number 12/499242 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for sheet feeding apparatus, sheet feeding method and control program.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to KEIZO ISEMURA, NAOHISA NAGATA, AKINOBU NISHIKATA, ICHIRO SASAKI, MITSUHIKO SATO, HIDENORI SUNADA.
Application Number | 20090267288 12/499242 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34985414 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090267288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SASAKI; ICHIRO ; et
al. |
October 29, 2009 |
SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS, SHEET FEEDING METHOD AND CONTROL
PROGRAM
Abstract
A sheet feeding apparatus provided with a fan for blowing air
against sheets stacked on a sheet tray, a position detecting sensor
for detecting the position of the sheets floated up by the fan, and
a tray lifting and lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the
sheet tray. The tray lifting and lowering mechanism is controlled
on the basis of a result of detection by the position detecting
sensor.
Inventors: |
SASAKI; ICHIRO; (TORIDE-SHI,
JP) ; ISEMURA; KEIZO; (KOGANEI-SHI, JP) ;
SATO; MITSUHIKO; (KASHIWA-SHI, JP) ; NAGATA;
NAOHISA; (MORIYA-SHI, JP) ; NISHIKATA; AKINOBU;
(KASHIWA-SHI, JP) ; SUNADA; HIDENORI; (TORIDE-SHI,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
TOKYO
JP
|
Family ID: |
34985414 |
Appl. No.: |
12/499242 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11081736 |
Mar 17, 2005 |
7575231 |
|
|
12499242 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
271/12 ;
271/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2511/182 20130101;
B65H 2511/152 20130101; B65H 29/246 20130101; B65H 2511/20
20130101; B65H 31/10 20130101; B65H 2511/152 20130101; B65H 2220/01
20130101; B65H 2511/182 20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H
2511/20 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/12 ;
271/11 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/06 20060101
B65H005/06; B65H 3/08 20060101 B65H003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2004 |
JP |
2004-083349 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a tray on which sheets
are stacked; an air discharging portion configured to blow air
against the sheets on said tray to float up a sheet; a sheet feeder
configured to feed the sheet floated up by said air discharging
portion; a tray lifting and lowering portion configured to lift and
lower said tray in a horizontal attitude; a position detecting unit
configured to detect a position of an uppermost sheet which is
being floated up by said air discharging portion; and a controlling
portion adapted to let said tray lifting and lowering portion lower
said tray when the uppermost sheet being floated up is above an
upper limit of a predetermined range, and let said tray lifting and
lowering portion lift said tray when the uppermost sheet being
floated up is below a lower limit of said predetermined range, so
that a floating position of the uppermost sheet falls within said
predetermined range based on a detection result of said position
detecting unit.
15. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said
position detecting unit comprises: a first sensor configured to
detect a position of the uppermost sheet being floated up above the
upper limit of said predetermined range; and a second sensor
configured to detect a position of the uppermost sheet being
floated up above the lower limit of said predetermined range.
16. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said
sheet feeder comprises a belt which sucks the sheet by a lower
surface of said belt to convey the sheet.
17. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said
position detecting unit comprises a distance measuring sensor
configured to measure a distance from said lower surface of said
belt to the uppermost sheet which is being floated up by said air
discharging portion.
18. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said
controlling portion does not let said tray lifting and lowering
portion lift and lower said tray when the uppermost sheet is within
said predetermined range.
19. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a tray on which sheets
are stacked; an air discharging portion configured to blow air
against the sheets on said tray to float up a sheet; a sheet feeder
configured to feed the sheet floated up by said air discharging
portion; an image forming portion configured to form an image on
the sheet fed by said sheet feeder; a tray lifting and lowering
portion configured to lift and lower said tray in a horizontal
attitude; a position detecting unit configured to detect a position
of an uppermost sheet which is being floated up by said air
discharging portion; and a controlling portion adapted to let said
tray lifting and lowering portion lower said tray when the
uppermost sheet being floated up is above an upper limit of a
predetermined range, and let said tray lifting and lowering portion
lift said tray when the uppermost sheet being floated up is below a
lower limit of said predetermined range, so that a floating
position of the uppermost sheet falls within said predetermined
range based on a detection result of said position detecting
unit.
20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said
position detecting unit comprises: a first sensor configured to
detect a position of the uppermost sheet being floated up above the
upper limit of said predetermined range; and a second sensor
configured to detect a position of the uppermost sheet being
floated up above the lower limit of said predetermined range.
21. An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said
sheet feeder comprises a belt which sucks the sheet by a lower
surface of said belt to convey the sheet.
22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said
position detecting unit comprises a distance measuring sensor
configured to measure a distance from said lower surface of said
belt to the uppermost sheet which is being floated up by said air
discharging portion.
23. An image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said
controlling portion does not let said tray lifting and lowering
portion lift and lower said tray when the uppermost sheet is within
said predetermined range.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for and a
sheet feeding method of feeding a sheet to a predetermined
position, and a control program for executing a controlling method
for the sheet feeding apparatus.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] An image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine
or a color printer has heretofore been provided with a sheet
feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet cut into a predetermined size
to a transferring position in order to transfer a toner image
formed on a photosensitive member onto the sheet at the
transferring position.
[0005] As the sheet feeding apparatus, besides one utilizing a
frictional roller, there is also, for example, one which air feeds
sheets stacked on a stacking tray (see Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. S60-082537). According to this apparatus, for
example, in order to effect sheet feeding, air is blown against the
uppermost portion of the sheets to thereby float up the sheets, and
thereafter air suction is effected to thereby suck the uppermost
sheet and feed the sheet.
[0006] However, depending on the differences in sheet conditions
such as the material of the surface of the sheet used, the basis
weight of the sheet and the surface smoothness of the sheet, the
magnitude of the close contacting force between adjacent sheets in
a sheet bundle differs greatly. As this close contacting force
between the sheets becomes greater, there occurs a case where it
becomes impossible to effect sheet separation by the blowing of the
air, and this has led to the problem that the types of actually
applicable sheets are restricted to a certain extent.
[0007] Such a problem is expected to be further actualized in the
future, in color copying machines and color printers as well as
offset printing machines, due to the new trend to use sheets of
high smoothness such as art paper, coat paper and film to achieve a
high quality of image. Particularly under a high-temperature and
high-humidity environment, such sheets of high smoothness as
mentioned above, because of being very high in the close contacting
force between sheets as compared with plain paper, have the
possibility that double feed may occur frequently or feeding is not
smoothly effected but wrong feeding may occur frequently.
[0008] In order to solve these problems, there are known techniques
disclosed, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H07-089625 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H10-067442. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H07-089625, when air is to be blown against stacked sheets to
thereby float the sheets, the uppermost sheet position is detected
and on the basis of the result of the position detection, the air
discharge amount to be blown is adjusted to thereby control the
position of the floated-up sheets.
[0009] Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
H10-067442, when air is to be blown against stacked sheets to
thereby float up the sheets, the uppermost sheet position is
detected and an air nozzle discharging the air is moved to the
detected position to thereby control the position of the floated-up
sheets.
[0010] However, to deter the state of the floated-up sheets within
a predetermined range by the use of the aforedescribed technique of
the air discharging force control (Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. H07-089625) or the air nozzle movement control
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-067442), taking into
account the differences in sheet conditions such as the material of
the surface of the sheet used, the basis weight of the sheet and
the smoothness of the surface of the sheet, there become necessary
a hard part which can control an air discharging force or an air
nozzle movement amount at high resolving power.
[0011] For example, in a case where the rotating speed of a fan
motor is minutely changed to thereby realize the control of the air
discharging force, there becomes necessary an electric circuit for
linearly changing the rotating speed of the fan motor.
Particularly, when a very wide range of air discharging force is
required, there is the possibility that a plurality of fans
conforming to the discharging force must be mounted and one of the
plurality of fans must be selected on the basis of the sheet
conditions to thereby minutely control the rotating speed of the
fan motor.
[0012] Also, in a case where an air nozzle moving motor is added to
thereby realize the control of the air nozzle movement, there
become necessary a mechanical mechanism and a motor driving circuit
necessary to move the air nozzle.
[0013] In a case where any of these techniques is used, it is
impossible to avoid an increase in the cost of the apparatus
itself, and this has led to the problem that a sheet feeding
apparatus of high performance cannot be realized at a low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of the above-noted problems peculiar to the
conventional art, the present invention has as its object to
provide a sheet feeding apparatus and a sheet feeding method of
high performance and low cost which can realize stable sheet
feeding without being affected by the materials of sheets, a
control program and an image forming apparatus for executing a
controlling method for the sheet feeding apparatus.
[0015] In order to achieve the above object, the sheet feeding
apparatus of the present invention for feeding sheets has:
[0016] a sheet tray on which the sheets are stacked;
[0017] a fan which blows air against the sheets so as to float up
the sheets stacked on the sheet tray;
[0018] a tray lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers
the stacking tray; and
[0019] a position detecting sensor which detects the position of
the sheets floated up by the fan;
[0020] the tray lifting and lowering mechanism being controlled so
as to adjust the position of the sheet tray on the basis of the
result of detection by the position detecting sensor.
[0021] Also, the sheet feeding method of the present invention
successively executes:
[0022] an air discharging step of blowing air against sheets
stacked on a sheet tray on which the sheets are stacked to thereby
float up the sheets;
[0023] a position detecting step of detecting the position of the
sheets floated up by the air discharging step;
[0024] an adjusting step of adjusting the position of the sheet
tray on the basis of the result of detection by the position
detecting step; and
[0025] a feeding step of feeding the sheets.
[0026] Also, the computer-readable control program of the present
invention for executing a controlling method for a sheet feeding
apparatus for feeding sheets, the sheet feeding apparatus having a
sheet tray on which sheets are stacked, a fan which blows air
against the sheets so as to float up the sheets stacked on the
sheet tray, a tray lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and
lowers the sheet tray, and a position detecting sensor which
detects the position of the sheets floated up by the fan, and
provided with an adjusting step of controlling the lifting and
lowering operation of the tray lifting mechanism on the basis of
the result of detection by the position detecting sensor to thereby
adjust the position of the sheet tray.
[0027] Also, the image forming apparatus of the present invention
has:
[0028] a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets, having a sheet
tray on which sheets are stacked, a fan which blows air against the
sheets so as to float up the sheets stacked on the sheet tray, a
tray lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the
sheet tray, and a position detecting sensor which detects the
position of the sheets floated up by the fan;
[0029] an image forming unit which forms images on the sheets fed
by the sheet feeding apparatus; and
[0030] a controller which controls the tray lifting and lowering
mechanism so as to adjust the position of the sheet tray on the
basis of the result of detection by the position detecting
sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of
an image forming apparatus on which is carried an air feeding unit
according to an embodiment of the sheet feeding apparatus of the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of
a sheet deck connected to an image forming apparatus main body
shown in FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the constructions of the
image forming apparatus main body and the sheet deck.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the construction of an
operating portion in the image forming apparatus according to the
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of
the air feeding unit carried on the image forming apparatus
according to the embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the sheet feeding control of
the air feeding unit according to the embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows the relation between the sheet surface position
of a floated-up sheet and a sheet feeding state.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the sheet surface position
control of the air feeding unit according to the embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal construction
of an image processing portion according to the embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal construction
and the peripheral portion of an image memory portion according to
the embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the internal structure
and the peripheral portion of an external I/F processing
portion.
[0042] FIG. 12 shows the lower limits of a sheet detectable by a
sheet float-up lower limit sensor and a sheet float-up upper limit
sensor.
[0043] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Embodiments of the sheet feeding apparatus, the sheet
feeding method and the control program of the present invention
will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings. The
sheet feeding apparatus according to the present embodiment will be
described as being applied to an air feeding unit carried on an
image forming apparatus such as, for example, a color copying
machine or a color printer, but is not restricted to such an
apparatus. That is, it can be applied to all of apparatuses for
feeding a cut sheet to a predetermined position.
<Construction of the Image Forming Apparatus According to the
Embodiment>
[0045] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of
an image forming apparatus on which is carried an air feeding unit
according to an embodiment of the sheet feeding apparatus of the
present invention.
[0046] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 100 designates an image
forming apparatus main body. The reference numeral 101 denotes
platen glass (original plate) as an original placing stand. The
reference numeral 102 designates a scanner comprised of an original
illuminating lamp 103, a scanning mirror 104, etc. The image of an
original placed on the platen glass 101 is scanned by the scanner
102 controlled so as to be reciprocally moved in predetermined
directions (leftward and rightward directions as viewed in FIG. 1)
by a motor (not shown). Reflected light from the original is
transmitted through a lens 108 via scanning mirrors 104 to 106 and
is imaged on an image sensor portion (CCD sensor) 109, whereby it
is converted into an electrical signal.
[0047] The reference 120 denotes an exposure controlling portion
comprised of a laser output portion and a polygon scanner or the
like, and it applies a laser beam 129 to the photosensitive drum
110 of an image forming portion 126. The laser beam 129 is
modulated on the basis of an image signal obtained as a result of
predetermined image processing which will be described later having
been effected on an electrical signal resulting from
photoelectrically converting the reflected light of the original
outputted from the image sensor portion 109.
[0048] As what constitute the image forming portion 126, a primary
charging device 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charging
device 118, a separation charging device 119, a cleaning apparatus
116 and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are provided around the
photosensitive drum 110. The photosensitive drum 110 is rotatively
controlled in the direction indicated by the arrow as shown in FIG.
1 by a motor (not shown), and is charged to desired potential by
the primary charging device 112, and thereafter has the laser beam
129 applied thereto from an exposure controlling portion 120,
whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of
the drum. The electrostatic latent image formed on the
photosensitive drum 110 is developed and visualized as a toner
image by the developing device 121.
[0049] On the other hand, a sheet fed from an upper cassette 131 or
a lower cassette 132 is conveyed to the image forming apparatus
main body 100 by conveying rollers 135 and 136, and passes through
a main body conveying path 160, and thereafter is fed to a feed
belt 130 by registration rollers 137. Thereafter, the toner image
visualized on the photosensitive drum 110 is transferred to the
sheet by the transfer charging device 118. On the photosensitive
drum 110 after the transfer, any residual toner is removed by the
cleaning apparatus 116, and any residual charges are eliminated by
the pre-exposure lamp 114.
[0050] The sheet after the transfer is separated from the image
forming portion 126 by the separation charging device 119, and is
conveyed leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 1 by the feed belt 130. The
toner image on the sheet is re-charged by before-fixing charging
devices 139 and 140, and is pressurized and heated in a fixing
device 141, whereby it is fixed on the sheet. The sheet thus
subjected to fixing is discharged out of the main body 100 by sheet
discharging rollers 142.
[0051] A sheet discharging flapper 154 changes over a sheet path on
a sheet discharging side and a sheet path on a two-side recording
side or a multiplex recording side. The sheet discharged from the
sheet discharging rollers 142 is conveyed to the sheet path on the
two-side recording side or the multiplex recording side when the
sheet discharging flapper 154 is upwardly raised. In case of
two-side recording, the sheet subjected to the fixing on the first
side thereof is discharged from the sheet discharging rollers 142,
and is reversed through a reversing path 155, and is directed to a
re-feeding tray 156 through a lower conveying path 158.
[0052] A multiplex flapper 157 changes over a two-side recording
sheet path and a multiplex recording sheet path. The multiplex
flapper 157 is brought down in the left direction, whereby the
sheet is directly directed to the lower conveying path 158 without
the intermediary of the reversing path 155. By the sheet being
directly directed to the lower conveying path 158 without the
intermediary of the reversing path 155, multiplex recording becomes
possible. A feeding roller 159 feeds the sheet to the image forming
portion 126 side through a sheet path 160.
[0053] Discharge rollers 161 disposed near the sheet discharging
flapper 154 operates so as to discharge the sheet fed out from the
sheet discharging rollers 142 to the outside of the apparatus in a
state in which the sheet discharging flapper 154 changed over to
the discharging side (a state in which it is not upwardly raised).
As previously described, during two-side recording (two-side
copying) and multiplex recording (multiplex copying), the sheet
discharging flapper 154 is upwardly raised and the sheet subjected
to fixing is stored in the re-feeding tray 156 through the lower
conveying path 158.
[0054] The sheets stored in the re-feeding tray 156 are separated
one by one from the lowermost sheet by the feeding roller 159, and
the separated sheet is again directed to the registration rollers
137 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 through the sheet
path 160.
[0055] When the sheet is to be discharged from the image forming
apparatus main body 100 with its front and back sides reversed, the
sheet discharging flapper 154 is upwardly raised and the multiplex
flapper 157 is brought down in the right direction. Thereby, the
sheet to be discharged is once fed to the reversing path 155 side,
and at the timing whereat the trailing edge of the sheet has passed
a first feeding roller 162, the sheet is conveyed to a second
feeding roller 162a by a reversing roller 163, and is discharged
out of the apparatus by the discharge rollers 161.
[0056] An automatic original conveying apparatus (DF) 180 separates
only the uppermost sheet from an original bundle placed on an
original placing stand 181 by a feeding roller 182, and conveys it
onto the platen 101 by an original feeding roller 164. Thereafter,
the original is scanned by the scanner 102, and the scanned
original is discharged onto an original discharging stand 183 or is
again returned onto the original placing stand 181.
[0057] A discharged sheet treating apparatus 190 aligns and binds
the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body
100. When a discharged sheet bundle aftertreatment operation such
as sorting or stapling is not set, the sheet passes through a
conveying path 194 and is discharged onto a sheet discharging tray
191 without the intermediary of a treatment tray 193. On the other
hand, when the discharged sheet bundle aftertreatment operation is
set, the sheets discharged one by one through a conveying path 195
are stacked and aligned on the treatment tray 193. After the
discharge of the sheet in the first sheet image forming has been
completed, the sheet bundle is stapled, and is discharged in the
form of a bundle to the sheet discharging tray 191 or 192.
[0058] When the discharged sheet bundle aftertreatment operation is
set, basically the sheets are bundle-discharged to the sheet
discharging tray 192, but depending on a condition such as the
fully stacking state of the sheet discharging tray 192, control is
effected so as to change over the destination of discharge to the
sheet discharging tray 191. The sheet discharging trays 191 and 192
have their upward and downward movement controlled by a motor (not
shown), and are moved so that before the start of the image forming
operation, the tray stacking the discharged sheets thereon may come
to the position of the treatment tray.
[0059] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction of
sheet decks connected to the image forming apparatus main body 100
shown in FIG. 1.
[0060] A plurality of large-capacity sheet decks 1200a to 1200d are
connected in series to the image forming apparatus main body 100
shown in FIG. 1. Each of the sheet decks 1200a to 1200d is provided
with a lifter 1201 and a remaining amount detecting sensor (not
shown) for detecting the remaining amount of sheets, and the lifter
1201 is adapted to be moved up in accordance with the amount of
sheets so that the sheets may always exist at a feeding position.
Further, the sheet decks 1200a to 1200d have a sheet conveying
path, and feed the sheet sent from an upstream side (the right side
as viewed in FIG. 2) to a downstream side by conveying rollers 1203
and 1204.
[0061] Accordingly, in a system wherein the plurality of sheet
decks 1200a to 1200d are connected as in the present embodiment,
the sheets fed by the upstream deck are successively conveyed
therefrom through the conveying path of the downstream sheet deck,
and are finally fed to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
The conveying path is designed to be capable of performing the
conveying operation even when a sheet container is brought into an
open state in order to supply the sheets. Also, design is made such
that sheet information such as the sheet size, sheet type and basis
weight of the sheets to be stored in the respective sheet decks
1200a to 1200d can be set from an operating portion (not
shown).
[0062] The upper cassette 131 and lower cassette 132 in the image
forming apparatus main body 100 and further, the sheet decks 1200a
to 1200d, are provided with an air feeding unit (sheet feeding
apparatus) forming a feature of the present embodiment which will
be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, and
the sheets reliably separated one by one by this air feeding unit
are successively conveyed to the image forming portion 126 by the
conveying rollers 135 or 136, or conveying rollers 1203 and
1204.
[0063] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the constructions of a
controlling portion 100A in the image forming apparatus main body
100 shown in FIG. 1, and the controlling portion 1200A of the sheet
decks shown in FIG. 2.
[0064] The controlling portion 100A in the image forming apparatus
main body 100 is comprised of a CPU 201, a ROM 206, a RAM 205, a
communication interface (I/F) 207, an input-output port 204, an
operating portion 203, an image processing portion 170 and an image
memory portion 3.
[0065] The CPU 201 effects the basic control of the image forming
apparatus main body 100, and the ROM 206 into which a control
program is written, the work RAM 205 for effecting processing, and
the input-output port 204 are connected to an address bus by a data
bus. Some area of the RAM 205 is a backup RAM from which data is
not erased even if a power supply is switched off. The input-output
port 204 has connected thereto various load devices such as a motor
and a clutch controlled by the image forming apparatus main body
100, and an input device such as a sensor for detecting the
position of the sheet.
[0066] The CPU 201 sequentially effects the control of an input and
an output through the input-output port 204 in accordance with the
contents of the control program stored in the ROM 206, and executes
an image forming process. Also, the CPU 201 has the operating
portion 203 connected thereto, and controls the displaying portion
and the key inputting portion of the operating portion 203. A user
instructs the CPU 201 to change over an image forming operation
mode and display through the key inputting portion of the operating
portion 203, and the CPU 201 effects the display of the operating
state of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the
operation mode set by a key input, to the displaying portion of the
operating portion 203. Further, the CPU 201 has connected thereto
the image processing portion 170 for processing a signal converted
into an electrical signal by the image sensor portion 109, and the
image memory portion 3 for accumulating processed images
therein.
[0067] The controlling portion 1200A of the sheet deck 1200 is
comprised of a CPU 2201, a ROM 2202, a RAM 2203, a communication
interface (I/F) 2204, an input-output port 2205 and an operating
portion 2206 in order to realize the operation described with
reference to FIG. 2. The CPU 2201 inputs the results of detection
thereto from an upper limit sensor 608 and a lower limit sensor 607
which will be described later, through the input-output port 2205,
and outputs a driving command to a tray lifting and lowering motor
604, a loosening fan 609 and a feed fan 612 which will be described
later.
[0068] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the construction of the
operating portion 203 in the image forming apparatus according to
the present embodiment.
[0069] In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 3001 designates a
displaying portion on which are displayed various messages such as
the operating state of the apparatus and work instructions to the
user, and a work procedure or the like. Also, the surface of the
displaying portion 3001 is constituted by a touch panel, and by
being touched, it works as a selecting key. The reference numeral
3002 denotes ten keys for inputting numerals. The reference numeral
3003 designates a start key, and by depressing this key, a copying
operation is started.
<Construction of the Air Feeding Unit>
[0070] Description will now be made of the construction of an air
feeding unit forming a feature of the present embodiment.
[0071] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the constructions
of the air feeding unit carried on the above-described image
forming apparatus and the peripheral portion of the cassette
132.
[0072] The air feeding unit according to the present embodiment is
provided not only in the cassette 132, but also in the cassette 131
in the above-described image forming apparatus main body 100 and
the large-capacity sheet decks 1200a to 1200d. Here, the air
feeding unit provided in the cassette 132 will be described as an
example.
[0073] In FIG. 5, a cassette floor plate 602 as a sheet tray for
stacking sheets thereon is provided in the interior of the cassette
132. The cassette floor plate 602 is movable up and down by the
driving of a tray lifting and lowering motor 604 via a pulley 603.
By the cassette floor plate 602 being lifted and lowered, a sheet
bundle stacked on the cassette floor plate 602 is moved up and
down.
[0074] An encoder is mounted on the tray lifting and lowering motor
604, and it is possible to know the driving amount of the tray
lifting and lowering motor 604, i.e., the amount of vertical
movement of the cassette floor plate 602, by this encoder. A tray
lower limit detecting sensor 605 is provided to detect the lower
limit position of the cassette floor plate 602.
[0075] On the other hand, above the air feeding unit, there are
disposed a sheet presence or absence detecting sensor 606 for
detecting the height of the sheets, a sheet float-up lower limit
sensor 607 and a sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608. The sheet
presence or absence detecting sensor 606 detects the sheets by a
flag sensor. The sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the
sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 detect the sheets by optical
type sensors.
[0076] The sheet presence or absence detecting sensor 606 is
disposed below the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the
sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608, and design is made such that
when a sheet bundle 601 stacked on the cassette floor plate 602
comes up to a feeding start position, the sheet presence or absence
detecting sensor 606 can detect the upper surface of the sheet
bundle 601 earlier than the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607
and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608.
[0077] Also, the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the
sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 are sensors for detecting the
position of the sheets floated up by wind pressure by the loosening
fan 609 which will be described later. The sheet float-up lower
limit sensor 607 is sensitivity-adjusted so as to be capable of
detecting the floated-up sheet located below the sheet float-up
upper limit sensor 608. Consequently, design is made such that
whether the floated-up sheets are located within a predetermined
range can be detected by the use of the sheet float-up lower limit
sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608. The
relation between the detecting state of the sheet float-up lower
limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 and
the sheet feeding state will be described later.
[0078] Further, the loosening fan 609 and a loosening fan duct 610
are installed for the purpose of loosening the sheet bundle 601
contained in the cassette 132 prior to the feeding operation. Wind
pressure in a discharging direction produced by the loosening fan
609 being rotated is given to the neighborhood of the uppermost
sheet of the sheet bundle 601 by the loosening fan duct 610,
whereby a plurality of sheets are prevented from being fed at a
time (=double feed) during the sheet feeding operation.
[0079] Also, a feed belt 611, a feed fan 612 and a feed fan duct
613 are installed as a sheet feeding mechanism. Wind pressure in a
sucking direction produced by the feed fan 612 being rotated is
given to the feed belt 611 through the feed fan duct 613. The
uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle 601 is sucked onto the feed
belt 611 by the wind pressure given to the feed belt 611. The sheet
sucked onto the feed belt 611 is conveyed to a feeding retry sensor
620 and a pulling-out roller 136 side by the feed belt 611 being
rotated in a direction indicated in FIG. 5.
[0080] FIG. 5 shows a state in which the sheet has been sucked by
the feed fan 612, but when the sheet float-up lower limit sensor
607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 are to detect the
floated-up position of the sheets, as shown in FIG. 12, during the
time when the feed fan 612 is not operated, but the loosening fan
609 is operated, the upward and downward movement of the cassette
floor plate 602 is controlled on the basis of the sheet float-up
lower limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor
608, as will be described later.
[0081] The lower limits of the sheet detectable by the sheet
float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit
sensor 608 are as shown in FIG. 12. In FIGS. 5 and 12, the sheet
float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit
sensor 608 are arranged in a sheet feeding direction, but may be
arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding
direction, whereby more accurate detection becomes possible.
<Sheet Feeding Control of the Air Feeding Unit>
[0082] Description will now be made of the sheet feeding control of
the air feeding unit of the above-described construction.
[0083] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the sheet feeding control of
the air feeding unit according to the present embodiment. A program
according to the flow chart of FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 2202 in
the controlling portion 1200A and is executed, whereby it is
possible to realize the following controlling method. The program
according to the flow chart of FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 206 in
the controlling portion 100A of the image forming apparatus main
body 100 and is executed, whereby it is also possible to realize
the following controlling method.
[0084] First, when at a step S701, instructions to start feeding
are received, whether the sheet is the first sheet to be subjected
to the feeding operation is determined at the next step S702. If at
the step S702, it is the first sheet, at a step S703, the rotation
of the loosening fan 609 is started in order to float up the
uppermost sheet and subsequent several sheets of the sheet bundle
601, and at a step S704, the feed fan 612 is rotated to cause the
sheets to be sucked onto the feed belt 611.
[0085] Next, at a step S705, waiting is effected for longer one of
the time from the start of the rotation of the loosening fan 609
until the uppermost sheet is floated up and it becomes possible to
sufficiently loosen the sheets, and the time until the feed fan
reaches wind pressure sufficient to cause the sheets to be sucked,
and then, at a step S706, the feed fan duct 613 is brought into an
open state in order to cause the upper sheet to be sucked onto the
feed belt 611.
[0086] Thereafter, at a step S707, waiting is effected until a
sheet sucking sensor (not shown) detects that the sheet has been
sucked onto the feed belt 611, and at a point of time whereat the
sucking of the sheet could be detected, at a step S708, the feed
belt 611 is rotated to thereby start the sheet feeding to the image
forming portion 170.
[0087] On the other hand, if at the step S702, the sheet is not the
first sheet, the processing of the step S703 to the step S705 is
not carried out, but at predetermined timing, the feeding of the
sheets is effected by only the processing of the step S706 and
subsequent steps.
<Relation Between the Sheet Surface Position of the Floated-up
Sheet and the Sheet Feeding State>
[0088] FIG. 7 shows the relation between the sheet surface position
of the floated-up sheet and the sheet feeding state.
[0089] Reference is now had to this FIG. 7 to describe below the
sheet surface position of the uppermost sheet floated by the
loosening fan 609 is related to the sheet feeding state.
[0090] In a state 800, both of the sheet float-up lower limit
sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 have
detected the sheet. That is, this is a state in which the sheet
surface of the floated-up uppermost sheet has come too close to the
feed belt 611, and is a state in appropriate to sheet feeding in
which the sheets floated up beneath the uppermost sheet may be
highly liable to be also sucked together to thereby cause double
feed.
[0091] A state 803, like the state 800, is a state in which the
sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 has detected the sheet
surface, but the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 has not
detected the sheet surface, and this is a state in which one of the
sensors 607 and 608 is highly probably abnormal and normal control
cannot be expected. In the present embodiment, design is made such
that when this state occurs, the user, the operator or a serviceman
is notified of the trouble of the air feeding unit and if the air
feeding unit is in operation, it is stopped and the sheet feeding
from the cassette and the sheet deck which are in an abnormal state
is inhibited.
[0092] A state 802 is a state in which neither of the sheet
float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit
sensor 608 has not detected the sheet, that is, the sheet surface
of the floated-up uppermost sheet is too far from the feed belt
611, and is a state inappropriate to sheet feeding in which the
uppermost sheet cannot be sucked onto the feed belt 611 to thereby
cause faulty feeding with a high possibility.
[0093] A state 801 is a state in which the sheet float-up lower
limit sensor 607 has detected the sheet and the sheet float-up
upper limit sensor 608 has not detected the sheet, and is a state
appropriate to sheet feeding in which such problems as double feed
and faulty sheet feeding may not arise.
<Sheet Surface Position Control>
[0094] Reference is now had to the flow chart of FIG. 8 to describe
the sheet surface position control of the uppermost sheet for
locating the sheet surface of the floated-up uppermost sheet in the
above-described appropriate state 801.
[0095] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the sheet surface position
control of the air feeding unit according to the present
embodiment, and this sheet surface position control is executed
during the aforedescribed sheet feeding control of FIG. 6. A
program according to the flow chart of FIG. 8 is stored in the ROM
206 in the controlling portion 100A and is executed, whereby it
becomes possible to realize the following controlling method.
[0096] First, at a step S900, whether the feeding operation has
been started is determined, and when the feeding operation is
started, at a step S901, the operation of initializing the sheet
surface is performed before the loosening fan 609 is rotated and
the uppermost sheet is floated up. In the present embodiment, the
sheet surface initializing position is above the sheet presence or
absence detecting sensor 606, and near the sheet float-up lower
limit sensor 607 with the difference in the setting of the wind
pressure of the loosening fan 609 resulting from the difference in
the materials of the sheets taken into account.
[0097] At the next step S902, whether the loosening fan 609 has
reached a predetermined rotating speed is determined. That is,
design is made such that waiting is effected until there is brought
about a state in which wind pressure optimum for floating up the
sheet is produced, thereafter the sheet surface position control of
a step S903 and subsequent steps is started.
[0098] At the step S903, whether the sheet float-up lower limit
sensor 607 has detected the sheet surface is first determined. If
the sensor 607 has not detected the sheet surface, at a step S905,
the tray lifting and lowering motor 604 is driven to lift the
cassette floor plate 602 by a predetermined distance, thereafter at
a step S908, the sheet feed possible flag is cleared to thereby
stop the sheet feeding operation.
[0099] On the other hand, if at the step S903, the sensor 607 has
detected the sheet surface, whether the sheet float-up upper limit
sensor 608 has detected the sheet surface is determined at a step
S904. If at the step S904, the sensor 608 has not detected the
sheet surface, it is judged that this is a state appropriate to the
sheet feeding operation, and at a step S907, the sheet feed
possible flag is set to thereby start the sheet feeding operation
(for example, when the sheet feed possible flag is set, the feed
fan duct 613 becomes open at the step S706 of FIG. 6), and at a
step S909, the next detection timing by the sheet float-up lower
limit sensor 607 and the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 is
waited for.
[0100] On the other hand, if at the step S904, the sensor 608 has
detected the sheet surface, at a step 906, the tray lifting and
lowering motor 604 is driven to lower the cassette floor plate 602
by a predetermined distance, and at a step S908, the sheet feed
possible flag is cleared to thereby stop the sheet feeding
operation.
[0101] After the processing of the step S908 when the sheet
float-up lower limit sensor 607 has not detected the sheet surface,
or when the sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608 has detected the
sheet surface, the step S909 of waiting until the next detection
timing is executed. Here, the waiting time at the step S909 is
judged by the sheet feed possible flag, and is controlled so as to
be a relatively short time to detect any change in the sheet
surface position with high resolving power during the sheet feeding
operation in which the same flag is set, and to be a time which can
satisfy both of the time until the sheet surface is moved by a
predetermined distance and the time until the floated-up position
of the sheet becomes stable by the sheet surface having been
changed, during the stoppage of the sheet feeding operation in
which the same flag is cleared.
[0102] Then, at a step S910, the completion of the feeding
operation is determined, and if the feeding operation should be
continued, return is made to the step S903, where the sheet surface
position control is repeated, and if the feeding operation has been
completed, return is made to the step S900, where the start of the
next feeding operation is waited for.
[0103] Only the sheet float-up lower limit sensor may be provided
to thereby control the tray lifting and lowering motor 604 so as to
lift the cassette floor plate 602 by a predetermined amount on the
basis of a change from a state in which the sheet float-up lower
limit sensor detects the sheet to a state in which the same sensor
does not detects the sheet. However, the float-up amount of the
sheet floated up by the loosening fan 609 is various depending on
the material of the sheet, the humidity absorbing state of the
sheet resulting form room temperature and humidity, etc.
Accordingly, it is difficult to appropriately estimate the float-up
amount of the sheet. Consequently, in such a construction, it is
feared that for example, double feed may occur due to the float-up
amount being too great when the cassette floor plate 602 is lifted
by a predetermined amount.
[0104] In a case where as in the above-described present
embodiment, on the basis of the result of the detection by the two
sensors, i.e., the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the
sheet float-up upper limit sensor 608, control is effected so as to
lower the cassette floor plate 602 if the position of the sheet is
higher than an upper limit position, and to lift the cassette floor
plate 602 if the position of the sheet is lower than a lower limit
position, whereby in a case where the sheet is located within a
range in which feeding is effected appropriately, as compared with
a case where a single sensor is used, it becomes possible to effect
the feeding of the sheets more stably.
[0105] While in the present embodiment, description has been made
of the control of locating the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet
floated up by the loosening fan 609 within a predetermined range by
using the sheet float-up lower limit sensor 607 and the sheet
float-up upper limit sensor 608 as position detecting sensors, a
distance measuring sensor K disposed on the feed belt 611 for
measuring the distance from the feed belt 611 to the sheet surface
of the sheet located below the feed belt 611 may be used as a
position detecting sensor (see FIG. 13). By measuring the distance
from the feed belt 611 to the sheet surface of the floated-up
uppermost sheet by the distance measuring sensor K, it is possible
to control the distance from the feed belt 611 so as to be located
within a predetermined range, and even by such a construction, it
is possible to obtain an effect similar to that of the
above-described embodiment.
[0106] Thus, in the present embodiment, the sheet feeding operation
can be performed with the sheet floated up to an appropriate
position at which it can be sucked onto the feed belt 611, and
therefore very stable sheet feeding such as reliable single sheet
feeding can be realized at a low cost without being affected to the
material or the like of the sheet.
<Processing by the Image Processing Portion 170, the Image
Memory Portion 3 and the External I/F Processing Portion 4>
[0107] The processing by the image processing portion 170, the
image memory portion 3 and the external I/F processing portion 4
will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and
11.
[0108] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal construction
of the image processing portion 170.
[0109] First, describing the flow of processing when a scanned
image is printed, an original image imaged on the CCD sensor 109
through the lens 108 is converted into an analog electrical signal
by the CCD sensor 109. The converted image information is inputted
to an analog signal processing portion 300, and is subjected to
sampling and holding, the correction of a dark level, etc., and
thereafter is analog/digital-converted (A/D-converted) by an
A/D.cndot.SH processing portion 301, and further, shading
correction is effected on the digitized signal. In the shading
correction, correction for the unevenness of each pixel the CCD
sensor 109 has, and correction for the unevenness of the quantity
of light based on the light distributing characteristic of the
original illuminating lamp 103 are effected.
[0110] Thereafter, in an RGB inter-line correcting portion 302,
correction among R(red), G(green) and B(blue) lines is effected.
Light inputted to each of the R, G and B light receiving portions
of the CCD sensor 109 at a certain point of time deviates on the
original in accordance with the positional relation of the
respective R, G and B light receiving portions and therefore,
synchronism is taken here among the R, G and B signals.
[0111] Subsequently, an input masking process is carried out in an
input masking portion 303, and conversion from luminance data into
density data is effected. That is, the RGB value as it has been
outputted from the CCD sensor 109 is affected by a color filter
mounted on the CCD sensor 109 and therefore, the influence thereof
is corrected and the aforementioned RGB value is converted into a
genuine RGB value. Thereafter, the image data is zooming-processed
at a desired zooming rate in a zooming portion 304, and the
zooming-processed image data is sent to and accumulated in the
image memory portion 3. Image data from a computer 11 shown in FIG.
11 is also inputted to the image memory portion 3 through an
external I/F processing portion 4.
[0112] When the accumulated images are to be printed, the image
data is first sent from the image memory portion 3 to a
.gamma.-correcting portion 305. In the .gamma.-correcting portion
305, in order to provide output data corresponding to a density
value set by the operating portion 203, original density data is
converted into density data corresponding to desired output density
on the basis of a look-up table (LUT) taking the characteristic of
the printer into account.
[0113] Thereafter, the density data is sent to a binarizing portion
306. In the binarizing portion 306, the binarization of multi-value
density data is effected. In the case of multi-value density data,
e.g. density data of 8 bits, the density value assumes a value
between "0" to "255", but by being binarized, the density value
becomes, for example, "0" or "255". That is, in order to represent
the density of a certain pixel, data of 8 bits was necessary,
whereas by being binarized, a data amount of 1 bit becomes enough.
Thereby, a memory capacity for storing the image data is reduced.
On the other hand, however, the gradation of the image changes from
the original 256 gradations to 2 gradations and therefore, in the
case of image data including many halftones such as a photographic
image, it is said that the quality of image thereof is generally
remarkably deteriorated by the binarization of the image.
[0114] So, pseudo halftone expression by binarized data becomes
important. Here, an error diffusing method is used as a technique
of effecting halftone expression in a pseudo fashion by binary
data. In this method, when the density of a certain image is
greater than a certain threshold value, it is regarded as density
data of "255", and when it is equal to or less than a certain
threshold value, it is regarded as density data of "0" and is
binarized, thereafter the difference between actual density data
and the binarized density data is obtained as an error signal, and
is distributed to peripheral pixels. The distribution of the error
is effected by multiplying the error resulting from the
binarization by a weight coefficient on a predetermined matrix, and
adding the result to the peripheral pixels. Thereby, the average
density value of the entire image is preserved, and the halftone
can be expressed in a pseudo fashion by binary.
[0115] The binarized density data is sent to a smoothing portion
307 in the printer portion 2. In the smoothing portion 307, the
complementing of the data is effected so that the end portions of
the line of the binarized image may become smooth, and the image
data subjected to the complementing is outputted to the exposure
controlling portion 120. The exposure controlling portion 120, as
previously described, forms the electrostatic image of the image
data on the photosensitive drum 110.
[0116] Description will now be described of the flow of the
processing when the scanned image data is forwarded via a
network.
[0117] The first half portion of the description in which the
density data is accumulated in the image memory portion 3 is the
same as the flow of the processing during the aforedescribed print,
thereafter the image data is sent form the image memory portion 3
to the external I/F processing portion 4, from which the image data
is forwarded to a desired computer via the network.
[0118] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the interval construction
and peripheral portion of the image memory portion 3.
[0119] The image memory portion 3 is comprised of a page memory
401, a memory controller portion 402, a compressing/decompressing
portion 403 and a hard disk 404.
[0120] The image data sent from the external I/F processing portion
4 and the image processing portion 170 to the image memory portion
3 is written into the page memory 401 by the memory controller
portion 402, and thereafter is sent to the printer portion 2
through the image processing portion 170, or is accumulated in the
hard disk 404. When the image data is to be accumulated in the hard
disk 404, the image data is data-compressed in the
compressing/decompressing portion 403, and is written into the hard
disk 404 as compressed data.
[0121] Also, the memory controller portion 402 effects the
reading-out of the image data stored in the hard disk 404 to the
page memory 401. At that time, the compressed data read out from
the hard disk 404 is decompressed through the
compressing/decompressing portion 403, and the image data restored
to the original state is written into the page memory 401. Further,
the memory controller portion 402 effects the generation of a DRAM
refreshing signal to be sent to the page memory 401. It also
effects the mediation of the access from the external I/F
processing portion 4, the image processing portion 170 and the hard
disk 404 to the page memory 401. It further effects the
determination control of a writing address to the page memory 401,
a reading-out address from the page memory 401, and a reading-out
direction or the like in accordance with the instructions of the
CPU 201. By these processes, the CPU 201 arranges a plurality of
original images and effects lay out in the page memory 401 and
moreover, becomes capable of controlling the function of outputting
them to the printer portion 2 through the image processing portion
140, the function of cutting out and outputting only a part of the
images, and the function of effecting the rotation of the
images.
[0122] Also, for example, regarding a sorting mode, the control of
reading out and printing images in the order in which they have
been recorded in the image memory portion 3 is repeated a plurality
of times and executed on a certain original bundle. By such control
being effected, even in a finisher having only a few bins like the
discharged sheet processing apparatus 190 in the present
embodiment, the same role as that of a sorter having a number of
bins can be played.
[0123] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the internal structure
and peripheral portion of the external I/F processing portion
4.
[0124] The external I/F processing portion 4 introduces image data
from the reader portion 1 thereinto through the image memory
portion 3, and sends the image data to an external computer or an
external facsimile apparatus through a network or a phone line.
Also, it outputs image data send thereto from the external computer
or the external facsimile apparatus through the phone line to the
printer portion 2 through the image memory portion 3 and the image
processing portion 170 to thereby effect image forming.
[0125] The external I/F processing portion 4 is comprised of a core
portion 506, a facsimile portion 501, a hard disk 502 for
preserving the communication image data of the facsimile portion
501 therein, a computer interface portion 503 connected to an
external computer 11, a formatter portion 504 and an image memory
portion 505.
[0126] The facsimile portion 501 is connected to a public phone
line through a modem (not shown), and effects the reception of
facsimile communication data from the public phone line and the
transmission of facsimile communication data to the public phone
line. In the facsimile portion 501, the facsimile function of
effecting facsimile transmission at a designated time, or
transmitting image data in response to an inquiry by a designated
password from a partner is realized by the utilization of an image
for facsimile preserved in the hard disk 502. Thereby, after an
image has once been sent from the reader portion 1 to the facsimile
portion 501 through the image memory portion 3 and the image has
been preserved in the hard disk 502 for facsimile, facsimile
transmission can be effected without the reader portion 1 and the
image memory portion 3 being used for the facsimile function.
[0127] The computer interface portion 503 is an interface portion
which effects data communication with the external computer 11, and
has a local area network (LAN), a serial I/F, an SCSI-I/F, a centro
I/F for inputting the data of the printer, etc. Through this
computer interface portion 503, the states of the printer portion 2
and the reader portion 1 are communicated to the external computer
11. Or by the instructions from the external computer 11, the
forwarding of an image read by the reader portion 1 to the external
computer 11 is effected.
[0128] The computer interface portion 503 also receives print image
data from the external computer 11. At that time, the print image
data communicated from the external computer 11 is described in an
exclusive printer code and therefore, in the formatter portion 504,
the communicated data code is converted into raster image data
which can effect image forming in the printer portion 2. The
converted raster image data is evolved to the image memory portion
505 by the formatter portion 504.
[0129] On the other hand, when the image data is to be transmitted
to the external computer 11 through the computer interface portion
503, the image formatter 504 effects the conversion of the print
image data sent thereto from the image memory portion 3 into an
image format recognizable by the external computer 11, in the image
memory portion 505.
[0130] The image memory portion 505 is used as a memory which
evolves the raster image data of the formatter portion 504, as
described above, and besides, is also used when the image data from
the reader portion 1 is sent to the external computer 11 (network
scanner function). That is, when the image from the reader portion
1 is to be sent to the external computer 11 via the computer
interface portion 503, the image data sent from the image memory
portion 3 is once evolved to the image memory portion 505, where it
is converted into the form of data to be sent to the external
computer 11, and then is transmitted from the computer interface
portion 503 to the external computer 11.
[0131] The core portion 506 controls and manages data forwarding
mutually effected among the facsimile portion 501, the computer
interface portion 503, the formatter portion 504, the image memory
portion 505 and the image memory portion 3. Thereby, even if a
plurality of image output portions are connected to the external
I/F processing portion 4, and even if the image forwarding path to
the image memory portion 3 is single, exclusive control and
degree-of-priority control are effected under the management by the
core portion 506 and therefore, image outputting is effected
appropriately.
[0132] The present invention is not restricted to the apparatus of
the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to a system
comprised of a plurality of apparatuses, or may be applied to an
apparatus comprising a single device. Of course, the present
invention is also completed by supplying a system or an apparatus
with a storage medium storing therein the program code of software
for realizing the function of the aforedescribed embodiment, and
the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus reading
out and executing the program code stored in the storage
medium.
[0133] In this code, the program code itself read out form the
storage medium realizes the function of the aforedescribed
embodiment and thus, the storage medium storing the program code
therein constitutes the present invention. As the storage medium
for supplying the program code, use can be made, for example, of a
Floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a
magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a
non-volatile memory card or a ROM. Also, of course, by the program
code read out by the computer being executed, not only the function
of the aforedescribed embodiment is realized, but also there is
covered a case where on the basis of the instructions of the
program code, an OS or the like working on the computer effects
part or the whole of actual processing, and by the processing, the
function of the aforedescribed embodiment is realized.
[0134] Further, of course, there is also covered a case where the
program code read out from the storage medium is written into a
memory provided in a function enlarging board inserted in a
computer or a function enlarging unit connected to a computer,
thereafter on the basis of the instructions of the next program
code, a CPU or the like provided in the enlarging board or the
enlarging unit performs the enlarging function to thereby effect
part or the whole of actual processing, and by the processing, the
function of the aforedescribed embodiment is realized.
[0135] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2004-083349 filed on Mar. 22, 2004, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
* * * * *