JPH03155587A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs multiple copying, and more specifically, images of two originals are transferred to the first half and the second half of one sheet, respectively. 7. Related to Image Forming Apparatus for Copying (tl) Conventional Technology Conventionally, copying two originals side by side on one sheet was possible only by placing the two originals side by side on a document table. No proposal has been made for an image forming apparatus that automatically performs copying in the above mode.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when copying two originals onto one sheet, it is necessary to place the two originals accurately side by side on the original table, and the operator must take great care. It had to be operated with care. Furthermore, when there are a large number of originals, the operator has to perform the above operations many times, which requires a great deal of effort.

Therefore, the present invention provides image formation that allows two originals to be automatically copied onto one sheet by changing the timing of image formation of a multiple copying machine with respect to the first or second original. The purpose is to provide a device.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 12, for example.
An image forming means (2o) that forms an image on a sheet, a conveyance path (27, 31) that performs multiple transfer without ejecting the sheet outside the machine, and an original placing means (2o) that places an original (S) on it. 4), a control means (86) for forming an image on the sheet (P) at an arbitrary timing; The present invention is characterized in that an instruction means (84) is provided for instructing to form images of the two documents side by side on the sheet (P).

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a scanning optical system for reading the original (S) on the original placing means (4) is driven by a stepping motor (95).

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the timing for forming the image on the second sheet (d) of the two originals (c, d) is changed from the normal image forming timing.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the timing for forming the image on the first sheet (c) of the two originals (c, d) is changed from the normal image forming timing.

Further, an automatic document feeding device (3) for automatically feeding the document (S) one by one is provided on the document placing device (4),
The present invention is characterized in that the images of a large number of original documents (S) are sequentially arranged on 11 sheets (P), two in total, to form images automatically.

(e) Based on the above structure, the original (S) is placed on the original placing means (4).
without ejecting the sheet (P) from the machine.
An image is formed on the sheet (P) by a conveyance path (27°31) that performs multiple transfer. At this time, the instruction means (
84) instructs the control means (86) to change the timing of image formation and copy the images of the two documents (c, d) side by side on one sheet (P).

Further, a scanning optical system is driven by a stepping motor (95), and the scanning optical system moves the document mounting means (4).
Read the above original (S).

Further, the timing at which the images of the two sheets (d) of the two documents (c, d) are formed is changed from the normal image forming timing.

Further, the timing for forming the image on the first sheet (c) of the two originals (c, d) is changed from the normal image forming timing.

Further, the original document (S) is fed one by one onto the original document placing means (4) by the automatic document feeding means (3), and images of a large number of original documents (S) are sequentially transferred two sheets at a time to the one sheet. sheet (P)
An image is automatically formed on top.

Note that the reference numerals in parentheses are for illustrative purposes only, and do not limit the number of parts.

(f) Example The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a copying machine, and 2 is its main body. Reference numeral 3 denotes a circulating document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RDF) that automatically feeds documents, and can be used in combination with the main body 2 as desired.

The main body 2 includes a platen 4, a light source 5, a mirror 6°7.8,
9, 10, 11, a lens 12, and two cassettes 13 and 14 for storing the sheet P.
．． 14, paper feed rollers 15 and 16 are arranged at the upper part. Furthermore, on the upper left side of the main body 2, there is a Bauhm position sensor S1 that detects the home position of the optical system such as the light source 5 and mirrors 6, 7, 8, and an image that corresponds to the leading edge position of the document placed on the platen 4. A sensor S3 for detecting the maximum movement position of the optical system is disposed on the upper right side, and a sheet sensor S3 for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet P is disposed near the cassette 13 and 14. Presence sensor S-, Ss, and lid sensor S6 for detecting the position of the cassette 13.14 lid (not shown). S? and sheet size sensors s, , SS for detecting the size of sheets stored in the cassettes 13, 14 are provided. A pair of conveyance rollers 1 is provided downstream of the paper feed rollers 15 and 16.
7.18 are arranged, and these roller pairs 17.18
A sheet sensor SIo for detecting the sheet P and a pair of registration rollers 19 are arranged downstream of the sheet P. Furthermore, a copying section 2o is arranged downstream of this roller pair 19, and a conveying device 21 and a heater 22 are arranged downstream of the copying section 20.
A fixing device 22 having a built-in device is disposed. Further, downstream of the fixing device 22, a paper discharge sensor S11 and a conveyance roller 2 are provided.
3, a flapper 24 and a paper ejection roller 25 are provided,
A paper discharge tray 26 is provided downstream of the paper discharge roller 25. Further, a re-conveying path 27 is provided branching off from the flapper 24, and the re-conveying path 27 includes a pair of conveying rollers 28, a sheet sensor 312, a pair of reversing rollers 29, a sheet sensor S13, and a pair of re-feeding rollers 30. and intermediate tray 3
1 is provided. Note that the reversing roller 29 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown), and is capable of transporting the sheet P in both upstream and downstream directions.

Furthermore, a laser unit 32 is disposed within the main body 2, and the unit 32 is composed of a laser emitting section 33, a polygon mirror 34, a polygon motor 35, and a mirror 36. In addition, what is indicated by 37 in the figure is the copying section 2.
This is a shutter that blocks light projected onto 0. Further, the copying section 20 is equipped with a cylindrical photosensitive drum 38, and around the drum 38, an erase lamp 39, a secondary charger 4, etc.
0, color developer 41, developer 42, transfer charger 43,
A separation charger 44 and a cleaner 45 are arranged.

In the drawing, 41a indicates a color developer pressure solenoid, and 42a indicates a black developer release solenoid.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the copying machine 1 is equipped with an operation section 55, and the operation section 55 has a power switch 56 disposed at the right end, and a reset/stop key 56 at the left side.
7 and a start key 59 are arranged. A color developer selection switch key 6 is located behind the start key 59.
0.Year, month, and date instruction key 61 for instructing the date writing mode
A number instruction key 62 for instructing to input the number is also arranged, and a numeric keypad 63 is arranged to the left of the start key 59. Further, on the back side of the numeric keypad 63, there is a copy number display 65 that displays the number of copies input using the numeric keypad 63, a sheet out indicator 66 that displays an out-of-sheet alarm, and a jam alarm indicator that notifies the occurrence of a jam. 67 is arranged, and on the left side of the numeric keypad 63 is a selection key 68 for selecting the cassette 13 or 14.
A cassette display 69 for displaying the cassette size and the cassette size is also arranged. Further, on the left side of the selection key 68, there are a copy density adjustment key 70, a same magnification key 71, a zoom key 72 for instructing the copy magnification to a predetermined magnification in 1% increments, and a standard magnification key 73 for instructing a standard reduction or expansion magnification. A magnification display 75 for displaying the copy magnification is placed behind the fixed magnification key 73. Various instruction keys are arranged on the left side of the zoom key 72, and 76 is an instruction key for instructing frame erasure of the copy sheet.
77 is an instruction key for instructing binding at one end of the sheet.
79 is an instruction key for instructing photo mode; 80 is a multiplex key for selecting multiplex mode; 81 is a page quick copy key for instructing continuous page copying; 82 is a duplex copying key for selecting duplex copying mode; and 83 is a sorter 85 shown in FIG. An instruction key 84 for instructing the operation mode (sort mode or group mode) is a key for selecting a continuous shooting page multiplex mode, which will be described later.

On the other hand, the copying machine 1 is equipped with a control section 86, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of OM, RAM, timer, etc. The input section of the control section 86 includes each sensor S1. ... are connected to the output section, and AC loads such as the lamp 5 and the heater 22a, and the high pressure generator H are connected to the output section via the laser unit 32, shutter 37, buzzer 87, and AC driver 89.
The chargers 40, 43, 44 and loads 90 such as solenoids, clutches, and fans are connected via the VT, and the input/output section includes an operation section 55, a sorter 85, a document conveyance device 3, and a motor control section. A main motor 93 , an optical motor 95 , and a stepping motor 96 are connected via 92 .

Next, RDF will be explained using FIG. 4.

In the RDF3, reference numeral 100 denotes a stacking tray on which the document bundle S is set. First, when a single-sided document is used, by driving the separation motor 101, the document bundle S is separated by the half-moon roller 102, the separation conveyance roller 103, and the separation belt 104. By separating the sheets one by one from the bottom and driving the belt motor 105, the pair of registration rollers 106a and 106b are separated.
After being transported by the full-surface belt 107 to the exposure position on the Latin glass 4 via the bus I-n, the copying operation is started. After the copying is completed, the sheet is sent to the bus (2) by the belt 107, to the bus (2) by the large transport roller 108, and then returned to the top surface of the document bundle S again by the discharge roller 109. Reference numeral 110 denotes a recycle lever that detects one circulation of the original, and is placed on the top of the original stack S at the start of original feeding, and when the originals are sequentially fed and the rear end of the final original passes through the recycling lever 110, it falls due to its own weight. By doing so, the -WJ ring of the original is detected.

Next, for double-sided originals, as mentioned above, transfer the originals to buses I and II.
, and then drive a flapper solenoid (not shown) to move the rotatable flapper 111 to the fourth position.
By switching in the direction of the dotted line in the figure, the leading edge of the document is guided from bus ■ to ■, and after being conveyed through bus ■ by a pair of registration rollers 106a and 106b to between the front surface bell, 107, and platen glass 4 (bus ■). make it stop. In other words, the large transport roller 108 is configured to reverse the document along the path of buses 1 to 2 to V to 2.

It is also possible to count the number of originals by transporting the original bundle S one by one via the buses 1 to 1 to 2 to 3 until they are detected one by one by the recycle lever 110.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the power switch 56 is turned on, the control section 86 turns on the heater 22a of the fixing device 22. Then, when the temperature of the fixing device 22 reaches 190° C., the main motor 93 is rotated, and when the photosensitive drum 38 rotates once, the control section 86 stops the main motor 93. Here, the copy a1 is in a copyable state (standby state B). When the start key 59 is pressed, as shown in FIG. After the middle plate is raised, the clutch (not shown) of the paper feed roller 15 or 16 is turned on to feed the sheet P, and after a predetermined period of time after the sheet sensor S1o detects the sheet P, the sheet P is registered. The clutch is turned off when it is in contact with the pair of rollers 19 and curved. And the main motor 9
When a sensor (not shown) detects that the photosensitive drum 38, which has been uniformly charged by the primary charger 40, has rotated approximately once due to the turning on of the switch 3, the control section 86 turns on the lamp 5, turns on the optical motor 95, and An optical system such as a lamp 5 and a mirror 6 is advanced to expose and scan the document on the platen 4, and a pair of registration rollers 19 is turned on after a predetermined time t1 after the image edge sensor S2 detects the image edge. Similar to the turning-on operation of the roller pair 19, the control unit 86 turns on the paper feed clutch for a predetermined period of time, rotates the paper feed rollers 15 and 16 again, and continuously feeds the sheets P. Further, the registration roller pair 19 is rotated for a period of time depending on the sheet size. At this time, the sheet P held between the pair of registration rollers 19 is conveyed in synchronization with the image developed on the photosensitive drum 38. Note that when the optical system scans the document, the laser unit 32 can erase any part of the image and write simple characters such as date, NO, etc. Then, the image on the drum 38 is transferred to the sheet P by the transfer charger 43, and the sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 38 by the separation charger 44. At this time, when the optical system of the lamp 5, mirror 6, etc. is detected by the sensor S3, the optical system is reversed and returned to the home position. The sheet P to which the image has been transferred is transported by the transport section 21 to the fixing device 22, and the image is fixed by the fixing device 22. Further, the sheet P is conveyed to a flapper 24 by a conveying roller 23, guided by the flapper 24 to a paper discharge roller 25, and discharged by the roller 25 to a paper discharge tray 26.

Next, the multiple copy mode will be explained.

In the normal multiple copy mode, as shown in Figure 6, the original
An image like the copy sheet P is obtained from the original document. As shown in FIG. 7, this multiple copying involves copying the first document a, storing the sheet P in the intermediate tray 31, and
This is the mode in which the second original document is then copied onto the sheet P that is re-fed from the intermediate tray 1'31. This timing chart is shown in Figure 8 when RDF3 is not used.
FIG. 9 shows a case where RDF3 is used. RDF
3 is not used, paper feeding is started by copy start. When the paper feeding operation is completed, the optical system starts moving forward, and when the image tip signal is emitted by the sensor S2, the control unit 86 counts the time, and when the control unit 86 counts that the time t1 has elapsed, the control unit 86 turns on the registration roller pair 19 so that the image on the photosensitive drum 38 and the conveyance of the sheet P are synchronized. The flow chart from the start of paper feeding to the registration roller pair 19 turning on is shown in Figure 10.
Shown in the figure. Regarding the start of the registration roller pair 19 from sheet feeding as shown in this flowchart, both the first and second sides of multiple copying are the same as in normal single-sided copying.

Next, the continuous shooting page multiplex mode selected by the key 84 will be explained.

In the continuous copy page multiplex mode, as shown in FIG. 12, a copy sheet P is made using originals C and d. That is, the original C is copied to the first half of the sheet P, and the original d is copied to the second half of the sheet P, and the two originals are shifted to the front and rear of the sheet P and copied.

The flow for performing this continuous copy page multiplexing mode is the same as that for general multiplex copying, and Figure 13(a) shows the case where RDF is not used, and Figure 13(b) shows the case where RDF is used. . That is, when the sheet feeding operation is completed, the optical system starts moving forward.When an image leading edge signal is issued by the six sensors S11, the registration roller 19 is turned on after a certain period of time t1, and the leading edge of the image on the photosensitive drum 38 and the leading edge of the sheet P are Control is performed so that the values match (see FIGS. 10 and 11).

Next, the case of copying the second side will be explained with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.

After replacing the original, when the original is restarted or when the RDF 3 finishes replacing the original, paper is re-fed from the intermediate tray 31. When this operation is completed, the registration roller 19 is turned on and the sheet P is transferred to the copying section. 20. After the predetermined time t2 has elapsed, the optical system starts moving forward, and the sheet P
The optical system and registration roller 19 are controlled so that the image is transferred to the latter half of the image. The positional relationship between the image on the drum 38 and the copy sheet P at this time is shown in FIG.

As shown, sheet P precedes the image on drum 38.

Therefore, to explain the time t2 until the optical system starts moving forward after the registration roller 19 is turned on, the optical system is at the image tip position by the sensor S2 from the start of optical system operation (off signal of the home position sensor S). The time t3 from detection to turning on is the time set in advance for the optical system, and the time t 1 + t * + t 3 is the time for the registration roller 19 to convey half the length of the sheet P, which is set in advance. is the set time and also tl
As mentioned above, is the time from when the signal from the image tip sensor S of the optical system is issued until the registration roller 19 is turned on. The time to start can be easily set.

Note that when the copying magnification is changed, the time t3 from the start of the optical system operation until the sensor S2 detects that the optical system is at the image tip position changes. It is clear that this changes the time t2.

Also, when using a DC motor to drive the optical system, the time t
3 varies somewhat, but when using a stepping motor, the time t can be known accurately, so the second half of the copy sheet P can be copied accurately.

To set the time t3, first, measure the time from when the optical system starts moving forward until the sensor S detects the tip of the image in advance.
The control unit 86 stores the information. Second, there is a method in which the control unit 86 calculates it based on the rise characteristics of the optical system. When a stepping motor is used to drive the optical system, the time t can be calculated in advance at each copying magnification, so this value can be stored in the control unit 86 and the calculation can be omitted during the copying operation. .

Also, depending on the copying magnification, the timing at which the optical system starts moving forward may be longer than the timing at which the registration roller 19 is turned on.
As shown in Fig. 7, since the position to which the image is to be transferred (the center of the sheet P) is known, the time t4 for moving half the length of the sheet P by the registration rollers 19 is calculated in advance, although it may be faster in some cases. Since the time tl+t2 is also known, the value of time t' (the time difference between the start of forward movement of the optical system and the turning on of the registration roller 19) can be determined.

Thus, a copy as shown in FIG. 12 can be accurately obtained.

What has been explained above is to implement the continuous copy page multiplex mode by shifting the copying timing of the second side of multiple copying, but to implement the continuous copying page multiplex mode by shifting the copying timing of the first side of multiple copying. You can also. RDF
The timing chart when not using is shown in Figure 18.
A timing chart when using RDF is shown in FIG. By doing this, the 20th
You can make copies as shown in the figure.

Further, although not shown in the timing chart, unnecessary portions of the image can be erased by the laser unit 32. 1st
To explain with reference to Figure 2, when copying original C, the image area corresponding to the right side of copy sheet P is erased, and when copying original d, the image area corresponding to the left side of copy sheet P is erased. Erase the corresponding image area.

Also, in Figures 15 and 19, one copy sheet P is obtained from two originals using RDF.
When there are three or more originals, as shown in the flowchart shown in Figure 21, if you exchange the originals one after another and continue copying, copy sheets will be created one after another as shown in Figures 12 and 20. can be obtained.

(G) As described in detail, according to the present invention, images of two original documents are copied side by side on one sheet by the control means that receives instructions from the instruction means, so that the operator can copy the images of two originals on one sheet. The labor required to accurately place the original on the original placing means can be saved.

Further, by driving the scanning optical system for reading the original document with a stepping motor, it is possible to improve the accuracy of forming images by arranging the images of the two original documents on one sheet.

Furthermore, by being able to copy the images of the two manuscripts on one sheet with different left and right sides, there is an effect that it can be used for bookbinding with either Japanese style binding or Western style binding.

Furthermore, the automatic document feeding means can automatically copy images of a large number of documents by arranging them two by two on one sheet, thereby greatly reducing the labor of the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the entire structure, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the operating section thereof, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the document feeding device. A side view, FIG. 5 is a time chart of image formation, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of general double copying, FIG. 7(a) is when RDF is not used, and FIG. 7(b) is when RDF is not used. Figure 8 is a flowchart when RDF is used, Figure 9 is a typical double copying time chart when RDF is used, Figure 10 is a time chart for copying from paper feeding to registration roller on. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the sheet and the photosensitive drum, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of image formation in the quick copy page multiplex mode, and FIG. 13(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the sheet and the photosensitive drum. Figure (b) is a flowchart for continuous shooting page multiplex mode when RDF is used, Figure 14 is a time chart for continuous shooting page multiplex mode when RDF is not used, and Figure 15 is a time chart for continuous shooting page multiplex mode when RDF is used. ,
Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the sheet and the photosensitive drum, Fig. 17 is a time chart when the copying magnification is changed, Fig. 18 is a time chart when RDF is not used, and Fig. 19 is an RD
Fig. 20 is an explanatory diagram of image formation in that case, and Fig. 21 is a time chart when the order of the first original image and the second original image is reversed left and right when F is used. 12 is a flowchart when the continuous shooting page multiplex mode is automatically set. 1... Image forming device (copying machine) 3... Automatic original feeding means (original feeding device) 4... Original placing means (platen) 2o... Image forming means (copying section) 27 .31... Conveying path (re-conveying path, intermediate tray) 84... Instructing means (key for selecting continuous shooting page multiplex mode) 86... Control means (control unit) 95... Stepping motor (optical Motor) c, d...Two originals P...Sheet S...Original (manuscript bundle) Figure 1 on the 5th

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image forming device that forms an image on a sheet, a conveyance path that performs multiple transfer without ejecting the sheet to the outside of the machine, and an original document placing device that places an original document. The image forming apparatus includes a control means for forming an image on the sheet at an arbitrary timing, and a control means for changing the timing at which the images are formed to form an image by arranging images of the two documents on one sheet. An image forming apparatus comprising: an instruction means for instructing to form an image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scanning optical system for reading the original on the original placing means is driven by a stepping motor. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing at which the second image of the two originals is formed is changed from the normal image forming timing. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing at which the first image of the two originals is formed is changed from the normal image forming timing. 5. The document placing device is provided with an automatic document feeding device that automatically feeds the documents one by one, and images of a large number of documents are automatically arranged two by two on one sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image.