JPH0411029B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a reservation function for automatically copying a reservation document set in advance on a document table.

<Summary of the Invention> The copying machine with a reservation function according to the present invention, when a document is set in advance in an automatic document feeder (ADF) or the like and a reservation is made to make a copy of the document, the copying machine with a reservation function according to the present invention is configured to set a reservation function for copying the original. When a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the end of copying, copy operations are prohibited from then on to prevent confusion between reserved copies and non-reserved copies.

<Prior art> When a conventional copying machine with a reservation function performs a copy other than a reservation and a copy according to a reservation consecutively, the reservation copy is started unconditionally after a certain predetermined period of time has elapsed after the copy before the reservation was completed. It is in the configuration that allows However, when copying other than reservations, for example, when copying one page at a time using a document cover, it may take time to set the document for the next copy after one copy is completed. ,
Since reserved copying starts in the middle of the process, it becomes difficult to distinguish between normal copying and reserved copying, which confuses users.

<Purpose of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a method for clearly distinguishing reserved copying from normal copying by prohibiting copying operations other than reserved copying before the reserved copying starts. The purpose of this invention is to provide a copying machine with a reservation function.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> The present invention comprises: a first timer that is started at the end of copying and reset by a copying operation; a second timer that times up after a certain period of time has passed from the time of the first timer; The present invention is characterized by providing means for prohibiting a copying operation from the time up of a second timer to the time up of a second timer, and means for starting reserved copying after the second timer times up.

Therefore, if a copying operation is performed before the first timer times up, the second timer will not time up and the reserved copy will not start. On the other hand, copying operations are prohibited after the first timer times up until the second timer times up, and reserved copying starts when the second timer times up. No other copying operation is performed during the period from when the first timer times up until when the second timer times up. Therefore, as long as the copy operation is performed within the predetermined time period when copying other than the reserved copy is being performed, a situation where the reserved copy starts and interrupts the normal copy does not occur. In addition, if there is no copy operation after the above-mentioned predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that no copying other than the reserved one is being performed, and by starting reserved copying, it is possible to clearly distinguish between normal copying and reserved copying. , it is possible to improve the operability of a copying machine with a reservation function without confusing users.

<Embodiment> FIG. 2 is an overall structural diagram of a copying machine with a reservation function, which is an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a copying machine in which a copying process mechanism including a photosensitive drum 2 is built. Paper feed cassettes 3 and 4 are loaded into the main body 1 of the copying machine. Reference numerals 5 and 6 indicate cassette empty detection sensors for detecting loading of the paper feed cassette.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an ADF mounted on the upper part of the copying machine main body 1, and has two reserved document tables 9 and 10. Reference numeral 8 denotes a document conveying belt that conveys reserved originals set on reserved document tables 9 and 10 to the exposure position 1 of the main body of the copying machine, and discharges the copied originals to the original document output tray 13 above the ADF 7 after the exposure process is completed. It is. When reserved originals are set on both reserved original tables 9 and 10, reserved copying is performed in the order of upper row → lower row. 11,1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a document detection sensor arranged on each reserved document table. The original detection sensors 11 and 12 are composed of light emitters and receivers, and detect whether or not a reserved original is set on the original table by receiving reflected light from a reflective sheet (not shown) provided on the reserved original table. In other words, when a reserved original is set, the amount of light received by the sensor decreases,
Thereby, the document set is detected. Reference numeral 18 denotes a paper feed roller that feeds the reserved original on the original table.

A sorter 14 is attached to the main body 1 of the copying machine. The sorter 14 has a plurality of bins 15, and a bin 16 exclusively for reservations is provided at the bottom. Copy sheets for reserved copying are excreted into a bin 16. Reference numeral 17 denotes a bin empty sensor for detecting copy sheets in the bin 16.

Figure 3 shows the ADF operation section. The ADF operation section 31 includes an upper reservation key 32 and a lower reservation key 33.
and a reservation memory key 34 are provided. The upper reservation key 32 and the lower reservation key 33 are respectively provided with document table reservation display devices 35 and 36 for displaying the reserved document table. Reference numerals 37 and 38 are paper feed cassette reservation display devices for displaying reserved upper or lower paper feed cassettes. Reference numeral 39 indicates a display that indicates the unset state of the original, and reference numeral 40 indicates an indicator that indicates that the original has been left behind when the original remains on the original table after scheduled copying has been completed.

To make a reservation, first press the reservation key on an empty reservation manuscript table. Then, the document setting guide display 39 blinks to prompt the user to set the document. At this time, the document table reservation display 35 or 36 of the reserved document table selected at this time also blinks. Next, when you set the reserved original on the reserved original table, the original setting guide display disappears.
Next, copy conditions such as the number of copies of the original, copy paper size, density, etc. are input, and the reservation memory key 34 is pressed. This key operation ends the reservation setting, and the reservation display of the selected reservation manuscript table changes from flashing to lit. At this time, if the bin empty sensor 17 detects that the reservation exclusive bin 16 is not empty, the reservation setting is not completed even if the reservation memory key 34 is pressed.

FIG. 4 shows the main structure of a timer monitoring control section for reserved copying. T1 and T2 are first and second timers configured with ICs, respectively. The first timer T1 is activated by being triggered by the copy end signal SI, and measures a predetermined time t1. 1st
When the original detection sensor 11, 12, cassette empty sensor 5, 6, or other detection sensor detects an original or a cassette while the timer T1 is operating, the timer reset signal S2 is input and the first Timer T1 stops counting. When the first timer T1 times up,
A trigger signal is output from the first timer T1 to the second timer T2. This trigger signal is also used as a key invalidation signal S3 for instructing input prohibition of key operations and turning off the ready lamp of a copy start button (not shown). When the second timer T2 counts a predetermined time t2 and times out, it outputs a reservation copy start signal S4 that starts reservation copying. The above-mentioned copy end signal SI and timer reset signal S2 are output from a control section (not shown) on the side of the copying machine main body 1, and the above-mentioned key invalidation signal S3 and reserved copy start signal S4 are input to the control section. . Incidentally, the above-mentioned timer monitoring control section may be configured as software using a microprocessor.

Next, the operation when performing non-reserved copying and reserved copying sequentially will be explained with reference to FIG.

Assume that a reserved original is set on the reserved original table and reserved copying is set. In addition, before the reserved copy starts, a copy other than the reserved copy is started.
It starts by pressing the copy start button PSW at step n1 (hereinafter, step ni is simply referred to as ni). The copying process is executed by copy start, and when copying multiple copies, copies are made for that number of copies and ends (n2, n3). Due to the completion of copying, the first
Timer T1 starts (n4. If no copy operation is performed by the time this timer times up (n5, n6, n9), it is assumed that copying other than the reservation has been completed and key operations after time up are disabled. At the same time, the ready lamp is turned off (n10).As a result, copying operations other than reservations are prohibited from this point on.Furthermore, at the same time as this copying operation is prohibited, a second timer is started (n10). When the timer times up, reservation copying starts (n11, n12).At the start of reservation copying, a star sound is generated by the start sound generation means (not shown) provided in the ADF operation section 31, and the first timer T1 and resets the second timer T2 (n12).

By the time the first timer T1 times up,
When an operation for normal copying is performed, the reserved copying is not started and the copying related to that operation is executed with priority (n5, n6, n9). That is, when a key input of copying conditions is performed or various detection sensors are turned on, it is determined that a normal copying operation has been performed (n5, n6). In this case, the first timer T1 is reset and then the normal copying operation based on the key-input copying conditions is started (n7,
n8). As described above, as long as the operation is performed within the time-up time t1 of the first timer T1, reserved copying does not start, so normal copying can be performed continuously. At n6, it is determined that a copying operation other than the reservation has been performed based on the detection of the setting of a reserved original, the setting of a reserved cassette, the opening/closing of a document cover, the detection of trouble in the copying machine main body 1, ADF 2, etc.

In the above embodiment, the second timer T2 is started after the time-up of the first timer T1, but by setting t2<t1, the first timer T1
The second timer T2 may also be started when the timer T2 is started.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation when executing a reservation copy in a copying machine with a reservation function which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an overall structural diagram of the copying machine, and Fig. 3 is an ADF operation of the copying machine. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the main part of the timer monitoring control section of the copying machine. 1... Copying machine main body, 2... Automatic document feeder,
9,10... Reserved manuscript table.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying machine equipped with a reservation function for automatically copying reserved originals set in advance on a document table, comprising: a first timer that is started at the end of a copying operation and reset by a copying operation; a second timer that times up after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time of the first timer; means for prohibiting a copy operation from the time of the first timer to the time of the second timer; A copying machine with a reservation function, comprising means for starting reservation copying later.