JPH0138309B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a copying machine in which a post-processing device such as a sorter, a stamper, a slitter, etc. is connected to a copying machine.

[Prior art]

Copying machines often include a sorter for sorting and collating the copies, a stamper for putting various stamps on the copies, or a stacker for shearing the copies to a predetermined size. Post-processing equipment is often connected. In this case, it is necessary to transmit corresponding control signals from the copying machine to the post-processing device. Therefore, conventionally, each time the type of post-processing device to be connected is changed, the configuration of the copying machine side control device and the configuration of the connecting portion between the copying machine side and the post-processing device side are changed each time. However, this has led to problems in that the productivity of this type of copying apparatus has decreased and costs have increased.

〔the purpose〕

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an economical copying apparatus by minimizing changes to the copying machine when connecting it to a post-processing device.

〔composition〕

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a sorter is used as a post-processing device, where 1 is a copying machine and 2 is a sorter.

On the copying machine 1 side, the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 rotating in the direction of the arrow is cleaned by a cleaning device 4, neutralized by a neutralizing charger 5, and then uniformly charged by a charging charger 6.
On the other hand, the original placed on the contact glass 7 is exposed and scanned by an optical system consisting of an exposure lamp 8, a mirror 9, and a lens system 10. This exposure scanning light forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original on the uniformly charged photoreceptor drum 3. This electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing device 11 and brought to the transfer position. On the other hand, the transfer paper 13 stored in the cassette 12 is transferred to the paper feed roller 1.
4 to the registration rollers 15. Furthermore, from this registration roller 15, the photosensitive drum 3
The toner image is sent out in synchronization with the toner image formed on the toner image. As a result, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 13 by the transfer charger 16.
The transferred transfer paper 13 is separated by a separation charger 17 and then transported to a fixing device 19 by a transport device 18 . The transfer paper 13 thermally fixed by the fixing device 19 is discharged from the paper discharge roller 20 to the sorter 2 side.

The above has described a very general configuration of the copying machine 1, but in the case of this embodiment, in addition to this configuration, there is a , an eraser 21 that partially eliminates static electricity and brings a portion of the photosensitive drum 3 to a potential corresponding to a blank state after a latent image is formed, and a stylus boat 22 that records and forms a latent image of a predetermined bar code mark thereon. It is distinctive in that it did so.

Next, on the sorter 2 side, the fixed transfer paper 13 discharged from the copying machine 1 is transferred to a conveyor roller 30.
From there, the sheet is conveyed upward by a discharge roller 32 via a guide plate 31. This transfer paper 13 is deflected by a deflection claw 33 when a solenoid (not shown) is turned on.
and is discharged into a predetermined bin 34. still,
35 is a turn guide, 36 is an entry sensor consisting of a light emitting element 36A and a light receiving element 36B, and 37 is a jam sensor.

The above has only described a very general configuration of the sorter 2, but in the case of this embodiment, in addition to this configuration, an optical mark reading device (hereinafter referred to as (abbreviated as OMR)38
The feature is that an entrance switching guide plate 39 is arranged. This entrance switching guide plate 39 is normally operated by the spring 4
It is held at the solid line position shown in the drawing by a spring force of 0, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow by turning on the solenoid 41 and switched to the shown dot-dashed line position. Therefore, the transfer paper 13 discharged from the copying machine 1 is normally conveyed to the bin 34 side by the solid line position of the entrance switching guide plate 39, but when the entrance switching guide plate 39 is switched to the dotted line position, Proof tray 4
2 is discharged on top.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of an operation panel 50 provided on the copying machine 1 side of the copying apparatus.
is a stack key, 52 is a sort key, 53 is an interrupt key, 54 is a numeric key, 55 is a clear key, 56
is the print key.

With the above configuration, after pressing the mode selection key on the operation panel 50 and setting the number of sheets or copies using the number key 54, when the copying operation is started by pressing the print key 56, the photosensitive drum 3
As described above, a latent image corresponding to the original is formed as a result of exposure scanning. At this time, a part of the leading part of one page of the formed latent image is controlled to a blank potential by turning on the eraser 21, and then when passing through the stylus board 22, a control device (not shown) applies it to the stylus board 22. A bar code mark as shown in FIG. 3 corresponding to the mode selected on the operation panel 50 is recorded on the blank potential portion of the photosensitive drum 3 by the applied electrostatic recording signal.

Next, when the transfer paper 13 is conveyed from the copying machine 1 to the sorter 2, the barcode mark recorded on the leading edge of the transfer paper 13 in this way is transferred to the sorter 2.
The information is read by the OMR38 installed at the entrance.

On the other hand, the sorter 2 of this embodiment includes a control device (hereinafter referred to as this) that controls each drive unit such as a motor and clutch that drive the conveyance roller 30 and the discharge roller 32, a solenoid 41, and a solenoid that drives the deflection claw 33. A CPU (tentatively named CPU) is provided, and the output signal of the OMR 38 is applied to the CPU.

Therefore, when the OMR 38 reads the barcode added to the transfer paper 13, the CPU (not shown) controls each drive unit based on the signal to eject the transfer paper 13 to a predetermined location.

For example, when the clear mode obtained by not pressing the mode selection key on the operation panel 50 or the interrupt mode obtained by pressing the interrupt key is selected, the leading edge of the transfer paper 13 is The "black, white, white" barcode mark shown in is recorded. On the other hand, this transfer paper 13 is
When the code is read by the OMR 38, the CPU on the sorter 2 side turns on the solenoid 41, switches the inlet switching guide plate 39 to the position shown in the dashed line, and transfers the ejected transfer paper 13 onto the proof tray 42. to be discharged.

Similarly, the stack key 5 on the operation panel 50
When the stack mode or sort mode is selected by pressing 1 or the sort key 52, the leading edge of the transfer paper 13 discharged from the copying machine 1 is marked with "white, white, black" or "white, black," as shown in FIG.
A "white" barcode mark is recorded.

As a result, on the sorter 2 side, when the OMR38 reads a "white, black, white" barcode,
It is determined that the mode is the sort mode, and when the transfer paper 13 is conveyed for the first time, all the deflection claws 33 are set to the non-deflection position, and the transfer paper 13 is discharged to the first bin 34-1. Next, the rear end of this transfer paper 13 is connected to the entry sensor 36.
When passing through the second bin 34, this is detected and the second bin 34
The deflecting claw 33 provided at the entrance of the bin 34-2 is deflected to discharge the next transfer paper 13 into the second bin 34-2.
At this time as well, the passage of the trailing edge of the transfer paper 13 is detected by the entry sensor 36, and the CPU returns the deflecting claw 33 to its original non-deflecting position, and at the same time moves the next deflecting claw 3
Deflect 3. Thereafter, transfer the transfer paper 13 to the first
Discharge the bottles one by one.

On the other hand, on the copying machine 1 side, based on the number set of the number key 54, at the time of the last copy operation of the set number of sheets,
A repeat end signal is applied from the CPU to the stylus board 22, and a "black, black, white" code shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on the leading edge of the transfer paper 13.

When the sorter side detects this code, it recognizes that this transfer paper 13 is a repeat end copy, and when it discharges this transfer paper 13 to a predetermined bin 34, it prints the number of copies for the first document. Temporarily end the copy operation. Next, by pressing the print key 56 again, the above operation is repeated, and the operation of sequentially discharging the number of transfer sheets 13 for the second original into each bin is repeated.

On the other hand, in the stack mode, the sorter 2 discharges the transfer paper 13 into the same bin from when the "white, white, black" code is read until the repeat end code is read. When the repeat end code is read, the deflection claw 33 at the entrance of the bin is returned to the non-deflection position in accordance with the output of the entry sensor 36 detected as the transfer paper 13 is discharged into the bin, and the deflection claw 33 at the entrance of the next bin is returned to the non-deflection position. The stack mode operation is performed by deflecting the deflection claw 33 of the stack mode.

If a jam occurs on the sorter 2 side while operating in the sort mode or stack mode described above, this is detected by the outputs from the entry sensor 36 and the jam sensor 37, and the solenoid 41 is activated.
ON, and switch the inlet switching guide plate 39 to the position shown in the dashed line. As a result, the transfer paper 13 discharged from the copying machine 1 is discharged onto the proof tray 42 after the sorter jam occurs. On the other hand, copy machine 1
If a jam occurs on the side, the jam is removed and the current mode is maintained until the next transfer paper 13 is detected on the sorter 2 side.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a stamper is used as a post-processing device. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same parts, and 60 is a stamper. The entrance side of the stamper 60 is also configured in the same way as the sorter 2, including an OMR 38 for reading the barcode recorded on the transfer paper 13 and an entrance switching guide plate 39 for discharging the transfer paper 13 to the proof tray 42 as necessary. is provided. 61 is a stamp drum, and a stamp A 62 and a stamp B 63 are attached to the surface of this drum. 64 is an ink roller, 65 is a pressure roller for stamping, and 66 is a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of an operation panel 70 provided on the copying machine 1 side of the copying apparatus.
is the stamp A selection key, 72 is the stamp B selection key, 73
is an interrupt key, 74 is a numeric key, 75 is a clear key, and 76 is a print key.

With the above configuration, after pressing the stamp A selection key 71 or the stamp B selection key 72 on the operation panel 70, and selecting the number of copies using the number key 74,
When the print key 76 is pressed, the copying machine 1 starts the copying operation. At this time, in the same manner as described above, a "white, black, white" barcode or a "white, white, black" barcode mark corresponding to the stamp A or stamp B shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the leading edge of the transfer paper 13. is recorded.

When this mark is detected by the OMR 38 on the stamper 60 side, the CPU in the stamper 60 rotates the stamp drum 61 and makes the stamp A 62 or stamp B 63 corresponding to the mark standby at a predetermined position. Next, the marking drum 61 is rotated in synchronization with the transfer paper 13 that is conveyed via the conveyance roller 30 from the entrance switching guide plate 39 located at the position shown in the solid line. As a result, the transfer paper 13 is ejected to the paper ejection tray 66 with a predetermined mark attached at a predetermined position.

On the other hand, selection keys 71 and 72 on the operation panel 70
If is not pressed, or if the interrupt key 73 is pressed, a "black, white, white" barcode mark shown in FIG. 3 is recorded on the leading edge of the transfer paper 13.
As a result of this being read by the OMR 38 on the stamper 60 side, the solenoid 41 is turned on, and the entrance switching guide plate 39 is switched to the position shown in the dashed line. As a result, the transfer paper 13 discharged from the copying machine
is discharged onto the proof tray 42 at this time. This operation is also performed when the jam sensor 37 detects a jam inside the stamper 60.

Above, we have described two examples in which the sorter 2 and the stamper 60 are used as post-processing devices. As can be seen by comparing the two copying machines, there is no need to change the mechanical parts of the copying machine 1 no matter what post-processing device is adopted. Furthermore, the operation panel can be manufactured in the same way by simply changing the display surface. Furthermore, as is clear from FIG. 3, since the signals generated by the corresponding keys on the operation panel 50 and the operation panel 70 are exactly the same, the CPU on the copying machine 1 side can also be the same regardless of the post-processing device. can. As a result, the copying machine can have the same configuration regardless of the post-processing device, so the manufacturing cost of this type of copying machine can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, conveniently, there is no need to lay a signal line from the copying machine 1 to the post-processing device, and there is no need for an interface such as a photocoupler, which is found in conventional devices. Since the control signal is transmitted from the copying machine 1 to the post-processing device using the barcode mark recorded on the transfer paper 13, it goes without saying that the signal is extremely stable against noise. transmission is obtained.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the sorter 2 and the stamper 60 are connected to the copying machine 1 as post-processing devices, but the present invention is not limited to this. The above-mentioned effects can be obtained using any post-processing device such as a folding machine.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the eraser 21 is provided on the upstream side of the stylus board 22 around the photoreceptor drum 3 in order to attach a code mark, but instead of providing the eraser 21, a part of the contact glass 7 is Erasing may also be done by baking white paint.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the exposure scanning light of the original is directly irradiated onto the photoreceptor drum 3 to form an image, so the eraser 21 and the stylus board 22 are required. In the case of a digital copying machine that converts a signal into a laser beam and forms an image on a photoreceptor, the code mark can be applied extremely easily by processing electrical signals.
2 becomes unnecessary.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the copying machine attaches a predetermined code mark to the copy corresponding to the processing at that time, while the post-processing side reads the code mark and executes the corresponding post-processing. Therefore, even if the post-processing device is different, it can be handled by simply changing the operation panel on the copying machine side, and the changes in the configuration can be kept to a minimum, making it economical and easy to use. As a result, there is no electrical connection between the printer and the post-processing device, resulting in a highly reliable copying device with excellent noise resistance.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an operation panel of the copying machine, and Fig. 3 is a barcode mark attached to the leading edge of a copy and various post-processing processes. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the contents of operations in the apparatus, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a copying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an operation panel of the copying apparatus. 21...Eraser, 22...Stylus board,
38... Optical mark reader (OMR), 39... Entrance switching guide plate, 40... Spring, 41... Solenoid, 42... Proof tray, 50, 70... Operation panel.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Selecting and connecting one of multiple types of post-processing devices to a copying machine to configure a copying machine, and adding a predetermined code to a predetermined position of a copy based on an instruction from an operation section of the copying machine. What is claimed is: 1. A copying apparatus comprising: a device for reading a code on the copy on an upstream side of the post-processing device; and processing in the post-processing device is executed based on the read code.