JPH02308236A - Original size/position detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid the occurrence of a faulty image by executing optical detection scanning to different specified areas in an original plural times and detecting the size and the placed state of the original which is placed on a contact glass on the basis of plural pieces of detected information based on the scanning. CONSTITUTION:The light emitting element 108 of a detection sensor 110 emits light toward a reflector 111. At the same time, the 1st optical scanning for detecting the size of the original is performed to the original 100 on the contact glass 101 along the reflector 111 by normally rotating a motor 112. When the 1st optical scanning is completed, a solenoid 114 moves the detection sensor 110 by a width that the scanning light corresponds to the reflector 111 in a vertical direction. Thereafter, the 2nd scanning is performed as well as the 1st scanning. Then, a control part 116 compares the stored information based on the 1st scanning and that based on the 2nd scanning with a data table to detect the size of the original 100 on the contact glass 101.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document size/position detection device for detecting the size and placement state of a document placed on a contact glass in a copying machine or the like. The present invention relates to a document size/position detection device that detects the size and placement state of a placed document by comparing outputs of optical scanning of the document a plurality of times.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in the document size detection method of a copying machine, a light receiving element (for example, a phototransistor) as a document size detection sensor is integrally installed in an exposure scanning unit for the document.
Generally, the exposure scanning unit performs preliminary optical scanning to detect the document size before starting a series of copying processes.

That is, before exposure optical scanning for copy processing, the light source lamp of the exposure scanning unit is preliminarily activated to illuminate the original on the contact glass, and the reflected light from the original is received by the original detection sensor.

The document size is detected based on information based on the received light output. Furthermore, the size of the transfer paper onto which the document information is transferred is automatically selected based on the document size detected by the document detection sensor.

A series of copying processes is performed on transfer paper of a size matching the original size.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional document size detection method,
The following problems are expected.

First, even if the document size detection sensor accurately detects the size of the document placed on the contact glass, if the document is not placed accurately on the contact glass, in other words, If the image is placed diagonally, the exposed image will be transferred directly to the selected size of transfer paper, and the image will protrude from the transfer paper, making it impossible to obtain a proper copy image. The portion of the image that exceeds the size remains on the photoreceptor and is erased by the eraser means.

This results in a defective image. Originally, the original should be placed on the contact glass based on the original size displayed on the original fixing scale installed near the contact glass, but some operators do not place the original fixing scale at all. ignore,
There are many people who carelessly turn on the copy start key after roughly placing the original on the contact glass.

Second, in the conventional document size detection method, when the document is placed on the contact glass, the document holding plate is closed, and the copy start key is turned on, the exposure lamp lights up and the exposure scanning unit detects the document size.

A preliminary optical scan is performed on the original. At this time.

The light emitted from the exposure lamp onto the original leaks through the gap between the main body of the copying machine and the original pressing plate. The operator saw the leaked light and realized that although the first optical scan was to detect the document size, the scanning light moved from the home position to the return position, and then from the return position to the home position again. This is often mistaken for the end of exposure scanning for copying processing, and as a result, the document holding plate is opened.

After that, you may realize that exposure scanning for copying processing has started and close the original holding plate again in a hurry, so the original placed on the original is deviate from the normal position,
Alternatively, ambient light may enter the photoreceptor due to the opening operation of the document holding plate. Therefore, the optical scanning for detecting the size of the original, which is performed before the exposure scanning for the copying process of the copying machine main body, confuses the operator's copying operation and results in the generation of defective images.

Thirdly, since the document size detection sensor is installed integrally with the exposure scanning unit to detect the document size, wiring for this document size detection sensor becomes a burden on the exposure scanning unit, and the structure of the exposure scanning unit There is also the problem of complicating the process.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points.

The detection means accurately detects the size and placement position of the original on the platen glass, making it possible to perform a series of copying processes quickly, avoiding the occurrence of defective images, and improving the wiring layout of the exposure scanning unit. The purpose is to improve the burden caused by spinning.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has been made to apply a plurality of times to different predetermined portions of the original based on a detection signal from a detection means that detects the open/closed state of the original holding means that fixes the placed original on the platen glass. By comparing the information from the optical scanning means that irradiates light and receives the reflected light with the driving time detected by the detection means that detects the driving time of the optical scanning means, the document on the contact glass is detected. The present invention provides a document size/position detection device having a control means for detecting the size and placement state of a document.

Furthermore, in the document size/position detection device.

Provided is a document size/position detection device having a display means for displaying the information based on the detection of the size and placement state of the document by the control means, and a control means for stopping a series of operations as necessary. It is.

[Effect]

The document size/position detection device according to the present invention performs light detection scanning on different predetermined areas of the document multiple times, and determines the size and position of the document placed on the contact glass based on multiple pieces of detection information. Accurately detect the installation status.

Further, information regarding the detected document on the platen glass is displayed on the display section, and a series of copying operations is stopped as necessary.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a partial configuration diagram of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

A document 100 to be copied in which certain information is written, a contact glass 101 on which the document 100 is placed and which transmits light irradiated onto the document 100, and a contact glass 101 provided in the frame of the contact glass 101. a document fixing scale 102 on which information for instructing the placement position of the document 100 is written; and a document fixing scale 102 that is pivotally supported on the upper part of the copying machine body to fix the document 100 placed on the contact glass 101. , a document holding plate 103 that can be opened and closed; a switch member 104 provided on a pivot portion of the document holding plate 103 and constantly urged upward by a biasing means such as a spring 105; and the document holding plate 103. The switch member 104 resists the biasing force of the spring 105 due to the closing action of the switch member 104.
and a switch 106 that is turned on when the switch is pushed downward.

A switch 107 is installed below the switch 106 and is turned ON as a result of further pressing down the switch member 104 by further closing operation of the document holding plate 103, and
The light is applied to the original 10 to detect the size and placement position of the original 10.
a light-emitting element 108 (e.g., a light-emitting diode) that emits light onto the original 100; and a light-receiving element 1 that receives reflected light from the original 100.
09 (for example, a phototransistor), and a light emitting element 10 of the detection sensor 110.
8 and the detection sensor 110
The light emitted from the light emitting element 10 is guided to the document 100, and the light reflected from the document 100 is guided to the detection sensor 11.
a motor 112 that horizontally rotates the detection sensor 110 by a predetermined area corresponding to the effective area of the reflection plate 111; and a motor drive circuit 117 that drives the motor 112. and 5 are attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 112.

an encoder 113 that encodes the rotational drive of the motor 112 so that it can be compared with other information; and the detection sensor 110.
It has a solenoid 114 that vertically moves the reflection plate 111 by a predetermined angle corresponding to the reflection width of the reflection plate 111, and a control section 116 that controls each of the above parts.

The control section 116 receives signals from each section (for example.

A sensor signal from the light receiving element 109 in the detection sensor 110, an encoder output from the encoder 113 that encodes the rotation of the motor 112, and switches 106 and 107.
(instruction signal from).

an input interface 120 that sends input signals to the data bus 119; a ROMI 21 that stores programs for controlling each part of the copying machine;
A CPU 122 that executes various processes according to the stored program of the ROMIZI.

It is comprised of a RAM 123 that stores results and data processed by the cPU 122, and an output interface 124 that outputs external control commands and the like to each section in a predetermined format.

Further, a perspective view of the reflection plate III is shown in FIG. 2. The reflecting plate 111 is curved to optically scan a predetermined position of the original 100, and guides light from the light emitting element 10 as the third detection sensor 110 rotates to the original 100 placed on the contact glass 101 above. have a predetermined angle,
It is fixed to the main body of the copying machine while maintaining a certain distance from the detection sensor 110 around the rotation axis of the detection sensor 110.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained using the timing chart of FIG. 3 and the flow chart of FIG. 4.

An operator places a document 100 that he wishes to copy on contact glass 101 . After placing the manuscript.

In order to fix the original 100 on the contact glass 101 with reference to the original fixing scale 102, the original holding plate 103 is closed. As a result, the document holding plate 103 pushes down the switch member 104 against the urging force that tends to push it up onto the spring 105, and turns the switch 106 into the
Let N. The control unit 116 receives the instruction signal from the switch 106 and inputs information that the switch 106 is turned on (401), and after internally performing predetermined processing on the input signal, drives a control signal from the output interface 124. Output to motor 112 via circuit 117 (40
2). At the same time, the control unit 116 sends a control signal to the drive circuit 115.
is output to the detection sensor 110 via (403). the result.

The light emitting element of the detection sensor 110 and the light reflecting plate 111
At the same time, the motor 112 rotates in the forward direction, and as shown in FIG.
An optical scan is performed on the original 100 on the contact glass 101 to detect the original size. Also, motor 1
The encoder 113 connected to the controller 12 starts driving and outputs an encoder output to the controller 160.

The first scanning light based on the optical scanning for detecting the document size is transmitted through the contact glass 101 at a portion other than the document placement portion, and is reflected by the document 1oo at the document placement portion. Reflector plate 111 as reflected light
The light is input to the light receiving element 109 of the detection sensor 110 via the light receiving element 109 of the detection sensor 110.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the detection sensor 110 starts driving to detect the document size, the detection sensor 11 Q
An encoder output is output from an encoder 113 connected to a motor 112 that horizontally moves the document to a control unit 116, and then the control unit 116 controls the light receiving element 109 in the detection sensor 110 to convert the light emitted from the light emitting element 108 into a document. It is determined whether or not light has been received through (405). The light receiving element 109 is on the contact glass 101! When the light from the light emitting element 108 reflected on the original 100 placed at The encoder output from the encoder 113 is counted up to the time when the light reception output from the encoder 109 changes from the L level to the H level (406). Thereafter, the counted encoder output is compared with the data corresponding to the first scanning light in the data table shown in FIG.
7) It is determined whether the detected count data matches the data on the data table (408), and if matching information exists on the data table, the information is stored (409).

On the other hand, if matching information does not exist on the data table, the control section 116 outputs a control signal to each section of the copying machine to stop the series of copying processes (410).

Similarly, a control signal is output to the operation display unit (not shown) to indicate that the original 100 on the contact glass 101 is not placed in an accurate state, and that the copying process is therefore stopped. Display (411). The operator sees this display, opens the document holding plate 103, corrects the original 100 on the contact glass 101 to an appropriate document placement position by referring to the document fixing scale 102, and then opens the document holding plate 103.
3, the document size and document placement position are detected once again, and then a series of copying processes is started.

At the stage when this first @-th optical scan is completed, the motor 112 driving the detection sensor 110 waits for the next control signal from the control unit 116 while temporarily stopping at its return position. The control unit 116 causes the document holding plate 103 to further push down the switch member 104 and turn the switch 107 to the OFF position.
When it detects that it is N (412), it outputs a control signal to the solenoid 114 via the drive circuit 118 (413). As a result, the solenoid 114 detects the detection sensor 1.
As shown in FIG.
It is moved by the width corresponding to 11. After that, similarly to the scanning of the cylinder 1, a control signal is outputted to the motor 112 via the drive circuit 117 (414), the motor 112 is rotated in the reverse direction contrary to the first scanning, and the control signal is outputted via the drive circuit 115. and outputs a control signal to the detection sensor 110.

The detection sensor 110 is turned on and the two light emitting elements 108 emit light along the reflection Fi 111. Furthermore, the motor 112
As the motor 112 rotates in the reverse direction, the encoder 113 connected to the motor 112 also starts continuously outputting an encoder output to the control unit 116 (416).

Thereafter, the control unit 116 determines whether the light receiving output from the light receiving element 109 has reached the L level without the light receiving element 109 in the detection sensor 110 receiving the light emitted from the light emitting element 108 (417). . That is, the original 1 with the light receiving element 109 placed on the contact glass 101
When the light from the light emitting element 10B reflected by the light emitting element 10B is no longer received, the output of the light receiving element 109 changes from the H level to the L level as shown in FIG.
counts the encoder output from the encoder 113 until the output from the light receiving element 109 changes from H level to L level (418). Thereafter, the counted encoder output is compared with the data corresponding to the second scanning light in the data table shown in FIG.
).

It is determined whether the detected count data matches the data on the data table (420), and if matching information exists on the data table.

The information is stored (421).

On the other hand, if matching information does not exist on the data table shown in FIG. A control signal is also output to the unit (not shown) to indicate that the original 100 on the contact glass 101 is not placed in an accurate state and that the copying process is therefore stopped (411 ).

The operator sees this display, opens the original holding plate 103, corrects the original 100 on the contact glass 101 to an appropriate original placement position, closes the original holding plate 103, and then changes the original size and original placement again. The position detection process is performed.

Subsequently, a series of copying processes will begin.

Thereafter, the control unit 116 compares the stored information 1 based on the first scanning process and information 2 based on the second scanning process with the data table shown in FIG. Find the size of (
423).

Based on the detection result, the control unit 116 outputs a control signal to paper selection means (not shown) to
00 size is selected (424), and at the same time, control signals are output to each part of the copying machine to start a series of copying processes (425).

For the second optical scan, the angle of the detection sensor 110, which has been displaced by the solenoid 114, is automatically returned to the position for the first optical scan and enters a standby state for the next detection process.

Next, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the data table shown in FIG. 5 and explanatory diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

In explaining the explanatory diagrams from FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, it is assumed that the size of the document 100 is A5 size.

FIG. 6A shows the case where the original 100 is placed on the contact glass 101 at an appropriate position.

Original document 100 placed in an appropriate position as shown in FIG. 6A
A first optical scan is performed in the direction of the arrow. As shown in the time chart in FIG. 6B, the encoder output from the encoder 113 is output to the control unit 116 at the same time as the start of scanning. Further, the light from the light emitting element 108 of the detection sensor 110 initially passes through the contact glass 101 in order to scan a portion of the contact glass 101 where the document 100 is not placed.

Since no reflected light from the original is input to the light receiving element 109, the light receiving output of the light receiving element is initially at L level. After that, the optical scanning continues, and the document 100 is hit at a predetermined portion, and the light receiving element 109 of the detection sensor 110 detects the document 100 from the predetermined portion.
Inputs reflected light from 0 and changes to H level. The encoder output from the encoder 113 is counted from the time when the first optical scanning starts until the time when the light reception output from the light receiving element 109 changes from the H level to the L level. As a result, the encoder output is counted as 91, and this value is compared with the information corresponding to the first scanning light in the data table of FIG. As a result, there are information 91 to 93 corresponding to the first scanning light.

Because the counted 91 is included in it.

This numerical value 91 is stored in the control section 116, and the control section 116
In other words, the process proceeds to the next optical scanning step without stopping the series of copying processes. Next, the angle of the detection sensor 110 in the vertical direction is changed by the solenoid, and the second scan is started in the direction of the arrow from the end point of the first scan. Result detection sensor 1
The light receiving element 109 in 10 initially reflects the light from the light emitting element 1O8 by the document on the contact glass 101.

Since it is receiving light, its output is at H level.

Thereafter, in the process of optical scanning, when the document 100 is finished on the contact glass 101 and the light from one light emitting element 108 passes through the contact glass 101, the light receiving output of the light receiving element 109 changes from the H level to the low level. The control unit 116 counts the encoder output from the start of the second scan to the time when the light reception output changes from the H level to the L level.

Its count value is 84. This value is compared with the information corresponding to the second scanning beam in the data table of FIG.

As a result, there are 84 to 86 in the information corresponding to the first scanning light, and since the counted 84 is included therein, this numerical value 84 is stored in the control unit 116. The document size is then detected based on the two pieces of stored information. That is, the size is determined to be A5 based on the data table shown in FIG. As a result, the control section 11C selects a transfer sheet that matches the A5 document size and conveys it to the transfer section, and transfer processing is performed on the transfer sheet.

In Fig. 5, a certain range of numerical values is set, for example 91 to 93, which allows for misalignment of the original on the contact glass within a range that does not adversely affect the copying process. It is something.

In the case of FIG. 7A, the A5 size original 100 is not placed at the position where the A5 size original should be placed based on the instructions of the original fixed scale 102. In this case, the encoder output count is detected as 50 with the first scanning light. This value is the first value in the data table in Figure 5.
It is compared with information corresponding to the scanning light. As a result, there are 50 to 52 in the information corresponding to the first scanning light, and since the counted 50 is included therein, this numerical value is temporarily stored in the control unit 116. Thereafter, since the document 100 is not placed on the contact glass 101 at the beginning of the scanning light from the cylinder 2, the light reception output starts from the L level as shown in FIG. 7B. Therefore, it is determined that the original 100 is not placed at an appropriate position on the contact glass 101 because the light reception level based on the second scanning light is L level. Therefore, the series of copying processes is stopped, and a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display section.

In the case of FIG. 8A, the original 100 is placed on the contact glass 101 completely ignoring the original fixing scale 102, and the original 100 is not present in the optical path of the first scanning light.

In the optical path of the first scanning light, the contact glass 101
This is because the original 100 is not placed on top.

The scanning light based on the first scanning light does not rise to the H level at all, and this means that the original 10 is
It is determined that 0 is not placed in the appropriate position.

As a result, the series of copying processes is stopped, and a message to that effect is displayed on the operation display section. In such a case, the second optical scan is completely ignored, and it is determined that the document 100 is inappropriately placed based only on the first optical scan.

The exact original size of the original 100 placed on the contact glass 101 through two optical scans as described above,
and whether or not it is placed at an appropriate position is accurately detected, and based on the detection result, the size of the transfer paper is selected or the series of copying processes is stopped.

Further, in the above embodiment, the encoder output from the encoder 113 is counted, but it is also possible to use a timer in the control unit 116 to measure the rotation time of the motor. In this case, there is an advantage that the number of parts can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the angle change by the solenoid of the detection sensor occurs at the time when the second optical scan is completed.

The angle is automatically corrected to the original angle for the first optical scan, but after the second optical scan is completed.

The second first optical scan may be started from this angle without correcting this angle. As a result, the number of angular movements of the detection sensor by the solenoid can be reduced, and errors that occur based on the number of times of use can be reduced.

In addition, in this embodiment, 11 detection sensors are used and optical scanning is performed twice by changing the angle of the detection sensors, but two of these detection sensors are installed to sample data at the same time. It's okay. In this case, the time for optical scanning can be shortened. Further, in this case, two detection sensors are required, but a solenoid and its drive circuit for changing the angle of the detection sensor are not required.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, 1. According to the document size/position detecting device according to the present invention, 2.
To perform optical scanning of degrees.

Accurately detects the size and placement state of the original on the platen glass, making it possible to perform a series of copying processes quickly and avoiding the occurrence of defective images.

Further, the burden caused by wiring for the exposure scanning unit can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the partial structure of the second invention.
The figure is a partial perspective view showing the state of two scanning lights from the detection sensor, and FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an example of the encoder output and the received light output based on the first and second scanning lights, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a data table for detecting the document size by two optical scans, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing specific document size detection operations according to the present invention. Explanation of symbols 1oo--Ichihara i 101-Contact glass 102-・Fixed scale 103-・Document holding plate 10
6.107...-Switch 108...-Light emitting element 109-Light receiving element 110...
Detection sensor 112-motor 113--encoder
114- Solenoid 116--control section

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Document holding means for fixing the placed original on the platen glass; detection means for detecting the open/closed state of the document holding means; a light scanning means for irradiating light, a displacement means for changing the position of the light scanning means, a detection means for detecting the drive time of the light scanning means, a first scanning light from the light scanning means, and a first scanning light from the light scanning means; By inputting information based on the second scanning light from the optical scanning means at the position changed by the displacement means and comparing it with the drive time detected by the detection means, the size of the document on the platen glass 1. A document size/position detection device, comprising: a control means for detecting a placement state of a document. (2) document holding means for fixing the placed document on a platen glass; detection means for detecting open/closed states of the document holding means; and detection means for detecting different predetermined areas of the document based on the detection signal from the detection means a plurality of light scanning means that continuously irradiate light; a detection means that detects the driving time of the light scanning means; and information based on the scanning light from the plurality of light scanning means is input and detected by the detection means. 1. A document size/position detecting device comprising: a control means for detecting the size of the document and the state of placement of the document on the platen glass by comparing the drive time with the drive time determined by the drive time. (3) In the document size and position detection device according to claims 1 and 2, a display means for displaying information based on the detection of the size of the document and the state in which the document is placed; and a series of operations as necessary. A document size/position detection device comprising: a control means for stopping the document size/position detection device.