Electrophotography – Document handling – Original
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2001-05-15
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Document handling
Original
C399S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233425
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copier, and in particular to a copier in which reading of an original is carried out simultaneously with formation, on the basis of image data obtained by the reading of the original, of a multicolored transfer image which is to be transferred onto a sheet, and conveying of the sheet is started during the formation of the transfer image, and at a transfer position, the transfer image is transferred onto the sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional copiers have been proposed in which, when an original which is to be copied (hereinafter, “original to be copied”) is an original for which copying is prohibited (hereinafter, “copying prohibited original”), the copier does not copy the original to be copied (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 64-61777, 1-285977, 1-285978).
Such copiers judge, from image data obtained by an original reading device, whether the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original. In a case in which the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original, an image outputting means is not activated so that copying is prohibited, and a predetermined message relating to this processing is displayed or the like. In a case in which the original to be copied is not a copying prohibited original, the image outputting means is activated, the image data is processed, and a color copy can be obtained. In this copier, time is required in order to obtain a judgement as to whether the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original. Therefore, the user is forced to wait for a period of time which is even longer than that required from the time a start-copying key is pressed to the time the first copy is obtained, which is a waste of time for users who are not copying copying prohibited originals.
If attempts are made to shorten this period of time from the time the start-copying key is pressed to the time when the first copy is obtained (hereinafter, “first copying time”), a problem arises in that it is not possible to accurately judge whether the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original.
Thus, in order to shorten the first copying time and to accurately judge whether the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original, a method has been contemplated in which the image outputting means is activated while the determination as to whether an original to be copied is a copying prohibited original is being carried out on the basis of the image data obtained from the original reading device. If it is judged that the original to be copied is a copying prohibited original, a portion of the processing being carried out by the image outputting means is changed such that the transfer sheet is completely colored in by a single color and then discharged, or the conveying path of the transfer sheet is changed such that the sheet is guided to a shredder, or the like.
However, printing the sheet in this manner such that it is totally colored in by one color leads to the toner being quickly used up, and further, leads to an increase in the load on the fixing device and other equipment through which the sheet, which is being discharged, passes, which accelerates the deterioration of this equipment. Moreover, if the sheet is to be sent to a shredder or the like, a problem arises in that there is the need to provide the copier with equipment, such as a shredder, which is not originally provided at the copier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide a copier in which the first copy time can be shortened in a case in which an original to be copied is judged to not be a copying prohibited original, and in which a transfer sheet is not discharged in a case in which an original to be copied is judged to be a copying prohibited original.
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a copier in which reading of an original is carried out simultaneously with formation, on the basis of image data obtained by the reading of the original, of a multicolored transfer image which is to be transferred onto a sheet, and conveying of the sheet is started during the formation of the transfer image, and at a transfer position, the transfer image is transferred onto the sheet, the copier comprising: a sensing device which, after starting of the reading of the original and before starting of the conveying of the sheet, senses whether copying processing should be stopped; and a stopping device which, in a case in which the sensing device senses that copying processing should be stopped, stops the copying processing without conveying the sheet.
Namely, the copier of the present invention carries out copying processing as follows. Reading of an original is carried out simultaneously with formation, on the basis of image data obtained by the reading of the original, of a multicolored transfer image which is to be transferred onto a sheet. Conveying of the sheet is started during the formation of the transfer image, and at a transfer position, the transfer image is transferred onto the sheet.
After reading of the original has started and before conveying of the sheet is started, the sensing device senses whether copying processing should be stopped.
Namely, the sensing device senses whether copying processing should be stopped by sensing, on the basis of the image data obtained by the reading of the original, whether the original is a copying prohibited original. The period of time before starting of the conveying of the sheet is at least the period of time before the sheet is pulled out from an accommodating tray which accommodates sheets and the pulled-out sheet reaches a conveying device which conveys sheets.
In a case in which the sensing device senses that copying processing should be stopped, the stopping device stops the copying processing without conveying the sheet.
In this way, if, after reading of the original has started but before conveying of the sheet is started, it is sensed that the copying processing should be stopped, the copying processing is stopped without the sheet being conveyed. Therefore, the time until a copy is discharged can be shortened, and copying is not carried out in cases in which copying should be stopped.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5440409 (1995-08-01), Sugano et al.
patent: 5771315 (1998-06-01), Matsuyama
patent: 5917619 (1999-06-01), Yamagata et al.
patent: 1-61777 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 64-61777 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 1-285977 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 1-285978 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 6-54185 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 8-194413 (1996-07-01), None
Miyazaki Satoru
Ohkubo Hiroshi
Fuji 'Xerox Co., Ltd.
Grainger Quana M.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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