JPH04257876A - Automatic document feeder for copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the productivity of a copying operation by replacing a document in a short time and to improve the productivity of the copying operation by starting the reading of the document by an exposure optical system immediately when the document replacement is completed without increasing the probability of jam occurrence. CONSTITUTION:The axial center connection line connecting the axial center of the driving roll 26a of a registration roll device 26 and the axial center of the pinch roll 26b is arranged nearby a document copying position slantingly to the top surface of platen glass. A rear end passage detection sensor which detects the passage of the rear end of the document is provided on halfway in the conveyance path where the document is conveyed from a document stand-by position to the document copying position to make the exposure optical system reach the platen registration position speedily after the document reaches the copying position.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a copying machine installed on the upper surface of a copying machine body having a platen glass, and conveys an original for copying to an original copying position on the upper surface of the platen glass, and copies a copy at the original copying position. an automatic document feeder equipped with a document feeder that automatically feeds the document to the document ejection tray; and an exposure device that is installed within the main body of the copying machine and starts exposure scanning in synchronization with the operation of the automatic document feeder. The present invention relates to an electronic copying apparatus that includes an optical system and a paper feed device that feeds copy paper from a paper tray at a predetermined timing.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as copying machines have become faster and more automated, automatic document feeders have come into use that automatically feed a plurality of documents one after another to a document copying position on the upper surface of a platen glass. This type of automatic document feeder is used by being installed on the top surface of a main body of a copying machine that has a platen glass on the top surface. And, the automatic document feeder is
It includes the following components (a) to (e). (a) A document setting section where the document to be copied is set. (b) Original ejection tray from which copied originals are ejected. (c) A document carrying device that transports the document set in the document setting section to a document standby position that is set a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass. (d) A document conveying device that conveys the document at the document standby position to the document copying position and also conveys the copied document that has been copied at the document copying position to the document ejection side. (e) A document discharge device that discharges the copied document conveyed from the document conveyance device to the document discharge tray. The document conveyance device normally uses a document conveyance belt to convey the document to a document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass of the main body of the copying machine, with the copy surface facing downward.

On the other hand, the following components are arranged inside the main body of the copying machine. (f) An exposure optical system for exposing and scanning the original on the upper surface of the platen glass. (g) A photosensitive drum on which a latent image is formed by an exposure optical system and a toner image is formed by a developing device. (h) A paper feed device that feeds copy paper from the tray at a predetermined timing. (i) A paper transport device that transports the copy paper to a transfer position between a photosensitive drum and a transfer charger. (j) Copy paper on which the toner image has been transferred (i.e.
A discharge device that fixes the transferred paper and then discharges it to the paper discharge tray.

[0004] When making continuous large-volume copies using an electronic copying apparatus consisting of the automatic document feeder and each of the devices in the copying machine main body, it is necessary to synchronize the timing with the exchange of originals in the automatic document feeder. Then, each device inside the copying machine operates. That is, inside the copying machine main body,
After the original is replaced, exposure scanning is performed and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by the developing device is transferred onto copy paper. Then, the copy paper onto which the toner image has been transferred, that is, the transfer-completed paper, is fixed by a fixing device and discharged to a paper discharge tray.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a large number of copies are made continuously using such an electronic copying apparatus, it is better to have higher copying productivity (speed of continuous copying). In order to improve the productivity of copying, the following can be considered. (k) In the automatic document feeder, after copying the document on the platen glass, the document is replaced in the shortest possible time. (m) Inside the copying machine, exposure scanning is started at the same time as the original document exchange is completed.

[0006] As a method that satisfies the above requirement (k), that is, a method of exchanging originals in a short time, for example,
The document to be copied next is conveyed in advance to a document standby position a predetermined distance from the document copying position, and the copied document at the document copying position is conveyed to the document output tray side, and at the same time, the next document is placed in the document standby position. A possible method is to transport the original from the original position to the original copying position. When this method is adopted, the shorter the distance between the document standby position and the document copying position, the shorter the time it takes to convey the next document to the copying position. Furthermore, if the time is not shortened, the shorter the distance between the document standby position and the document copying position, the slower the document conveyance speed can be used. Easier to design etc. Therefore, regardless of whether or not the time required to transport the document from the document standby position to the document copy position is shortened, it is advantageous to shorten the distance between the document standby position and the document copy position.

[0007] When using an automatic document feeder that exchanges documents in a short period of time as described above, exposure scanning is performed within the main body of the copying machine in synchronization with the exchange of documents, and copy paper is It is necessary to transport the image to the transfer position. By the way, the home position of the exposure optical system (the position at which it stops before starting exposure scanning) is from the original reading start position (the so-called platen registration position, that is, the rear edge position of the original at the original copying position). is seperated. Therefore, if exposure scanning is started after the original document has been replaced, the time required for the exposure optical system to be transported from its home position to the platen registration position will be wasted. This wasted time results in a decrease in copying productivity. Therefore, as a method to satisfy the need (m) above,
Before the end of the document exchange, scanning of the exposure optical system is started,
A conceivable method is to ensure that the exposure optical system reaches the platen register position (original reading start position) when the original document exchange is completed.

As mentioned above, scanning of the exposure optical system is started before the end of original exchange, and when the original exchange is completed,
The following two methods can be considered as methods for ensuring that the exposure optical system reaches the platen registration position. (a) A method of starting scanning of the exposure optical system based on the time when the trailing edge of the document passes a predetermined position in the middle of the document conveyance path when the document is conveyed from the document standby position to the document copying position. (b) A method of starting scanning of the exposure optical system based on the time when the leading edge of the original passes a predetermined position in the middle of the original transport path when transporting the original from the original standby position to the original copying position.

By the way, in a general copying machine, a sensor for detecting the leading edge position of a document, a so-called document registration sensor, is provided in the middle of the conveyance path for conveying the document from the document setting section to the document standby position. This document register sensor is
It is normally arranged at a position slightly in front of the leading edge position of the original document stopped at the original standby position, that is, the so-called pre-registration position. The reason for this is that the document registration sensor detects the leading edge of the document and then stops the document feeding device at a position where the document has been conveyed a predetermined distance.However, as the predetermined distance increases, variations in the stopping position tend to occur. Therefore, the predetermined distance is set to a small value.

Therefore, as described above, in the case of a copying machine in which the distance between the original standby position and the original copying position is shortened with the aim of high-speed copying, the original registration sensor is placed slightly before the pre-registration position. Using (a) above,
If the above method is adopted, the time from when the trailing edge of the document is detected by the document registration sensor until the document is conveyed to the copying position is extremely short. In this case, the document reaches the copying position a very short time after the document registration sensor detects the trailing edge of the document. Therefore, even if you start the exposure optical system after detecting the trailing edge of the document with the document registration sensor, the exposure optical system will not move until the document reaches the copying position.
It takes a long time to reach the so-called platen registration position, resulting in wasted time.

However, when the above method (b) is adopted, the scanning of the exposure optical system is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed from the time when the document in the document standby position started being conveyed toward the document copying position. The exposure optical system can start reading the original soon after the original reaches the copying position. However, in this case, the distance and time required to transport the original from the original standby position to the original copying position are relatively long, so paper jams may occur during that time.
A problem arises in that the probability of occurrence is high. In this case, if the detection of the occurrence of a jam is delayed, even though there is a jam in the automatic document feeder, the copy paper in the copy machine will be fed out of the paper tray, resulting in a jam in the copy machine itself. The problem is that the probability is high.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention includes an automatic document feeder installed on the top surface of a copying machine body having a platen glass on the top surface, and an exposure scan that starts exposure scanning in synchronization with the operation of the automatic document feeder. A main object of the present invention is to improve the productivity of copying in an electronic copying apparatus equipped with an exposure optical system and a paper feed device that feeds copy paper from a paper tray at a predetermined timing. The present invention also improves the productivity of copying by allowing originals to be replaced in a short time, and allows the exposure optical system to read the originals immediately after the originals are replaced without increasing the probability of jam occurrence. The objective is to improve the productivity of copying by making it possible to start copying.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an electronic copying apparatus of the present invention is provided with the configuration described below. In the description of the present invention, in order to easily understand the correspondence with the constituent elements of the embodiments described later, the same reference numerals as those of the corresponding embodiments are used for the constituent elements of the present invention. Enclose and write. The parenthesized symbols attached to the constituent elements of the present invention should be referred to in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention to the examples. Should not be referenced. In order to solve the above problems, an electronic copying apparatus according to a first aspect of the present application is installed on the top surface of a copying machine main body (A) having a platen glass (A1) on the top surface, and is configured to hold a document on which a document to be copied is set. A set part (TR1),
The original ejection tray (TR2) where copied originals are ejected, and the original (G) set in the original setting section (TR1).
) to a document standby position set a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass (A1), and a document feeder (H1) that transports the document (G
) to the original copying position and also transports the copied original (G) copied at the original copying position to the original ejection side; an original ejecting device (H3) that ejects the copied original onto the original ejecting tray (TR2);
an automatic document feeder (B) having an automatic document feeder (B) installed in the copying machine main body (A), which starts exposure scanning in synchronization with the operation of the automatic document feeder (B), and after the start of the exposure scan, After time (TB), the exposure optical system (50) is transported to the document reading start position, and the copy paper (Qn) is sent out from the paper tray (66 to 70) in synchronization with the operation of this exposure optical system (50). Paper feeding device (H
4), in which the front end of the document (G) waiting at the document standby position is moved by a driving roller
) and a pinch roll (26b), and the axial center of the drive roll (26a) and the pinch roll (26b)
Connect the axis connecting line (26c) between the axes of platen glass A
1, the register roll device (26) is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the upper surface, so that the position of the registration roll device (26) is close to the document copying position. Further, in order to solve the above problem, the electronic copying apparatus of the second invention of the present application has a platen glass (A1
) is installed on the top surface of the copying machine main body (A), and is used to set the original to be copied (TR1).
and the original ejection tray (TR2) where copied originals are ejected.
), and a document carrying device (H1) that transports the document (G) set in the document setting section (TR1) to a document standby position set at a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass (A1). and a document conveying device (H2) that conveys the document (G) in the document standby position to the document copying position and also conveys the copied document (G) that has been copied at the document copying position to the document ejection side; a document ejection device (H) that ejects the copied original document conveyed from the document feed device (H2) onto the document ejection tray (TR2);
3); an automatic document feeder (B) installed in the copying machine main body (A) and having the automatic document feeder (
Start exposure scanning in time with the operation of B),
The exposure optical system (50) is transported to the document reading start position after a certain period of time (TB) after the start of exposure scanning, and this exposure optical system (
Copy paper (Qn) at the same time as the operation of 50)
In the electronic copying apparatus, the document (G) is conveyed from the document standby position to the document copying position in the middle of the conveyance path where the document (G) is conveyed from the document standby position to the document copying position. A trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) is provided for detecting passage of the trailing edge position, and the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) is installed at a position where the trailing edge of the document is located at the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3). The time (TA) required from passing through to reaching the original copying position is the certain time (TA).
TB), and starts the exposure scan after a predetermined time (T4) has passed since the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) detects the trailing edge of the document (G). It is characterized in that a signal output means (C) is provided.

[0014]

[Operation] The electronic copying apparatus of the first invention of the present application having the above-mentioned configuration sets a document to be copied in the document setting section (TR1) of the automatic document feeder (B),
When the copying work is executed, the document loading device (H1) loads the document (G) set in the document setting section (TR1).
) is conveyed to a document standby position set a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass (A1). The document conveyance device (H2) conveys the document (G) located at the document standby position to the document copying position, and also conveys the copied document (G) that has been copied at the document copying position to the document discharge side. The copied original (G) conveyed to the original ejection side by the original transport device (H2) is transferred to the original ejection tray (T) by the original ejection device (H3).
R2). Incidentally, the front end of the document (G) waiting at the document standby position is regulated by a registration roll device (26) comprising a drive roll (26a) and a pinch roll (26b). Then, the axial center connecting line (26c) connecting the axial center of the drive roll (26a) and the axial center of the pinch roll (26b) is connected to the platen glass A1.
The register roll device (26) is arranged to be inclined with respect to the upper surface, so that the position of the registration roll device (26) is close to the document copying position. As described above, by tilting the axial connecting line (26c) with the upper surface of the platen glass A1, the registration roll device (26c)
) (to be precise, the position of the portion of the register roll device (26) that regulates the front edge position of the document at the document standby position, that is, the contact portion of the drive roll (26a) and the pinch roll (26b), so-called nip position)
can be brought very close to the document copying position. Therefore, according to the first invention, since the distance between the document standby position and the document copying position can be set short, the document can be transported from the document standby position to the document copying position in a short time. That is, documents can be replaced in a short time. Further, in the electronic copying apparatus of the second invention of the present application having the above-described configuration, the exposure optical system (50) installed in the copying machine main body (A) operates the automatic document feeder (B). Exposure scanning is started in synchronization with the timing, and the document is conveyed to the document reading start position after a certain period of time (TB) after the start of exposure scanning. Then, in synchronization with the operation of the exposure optical system (50), the paper feeding device (H4)
sends out the copy paper (Qn) from the paper tray (66-70). A trailing edge passage detection sensor (
S3), the trailing edge of the document is detected by the trailing edge passage detection sensor (
S3) is arranged at a position where the required time (TA) from passing through S3) to reaching the original copying position is longer than the predetermined time (TB). That is, since TA≧TB, the scanning start signal output means outputs the trailing edge passage detection sensor (
A predetermined time T4 after S3) detects the trailing edge of the original (G)
After (0≦T4≦TA-TB), a signal for starting the exposure scan is output. For example, when the above-mentioned ΔT=TA-TB is set, the exposure optical system (50) is conveyed to the original reading start position at the same time as the original reaches the original copying position. In this case, exposure is performed with no wasted waiting time. Furthermore, since the position of the original (G) when the trailing edge of the original (G) passes the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) is close to the original copying position, a jam occurs while the original is being conveyed between them. The probability is very small.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the figure, the direction of arrow X1 indicates the normal conveyance direction (ie, forward direction) of the document. FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic copying apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the automatic document feeder B shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view taken from arrow III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view taken from arrow III in FIG.
-IV line sectional view, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the frame of the automatic document feeder B, FIG. 6 is a VI-VI line sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 7 shows a document registration sensor S3 and document size sensors S4 and S arranged in the document conveyance path of the automatic document feeder B.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of No. 5.

In FIG. 1, an automatic document feeder B according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed on the top surface of a platen glass A1 on the main body side of a main body A of a copying machine. The automatic document feeder B includes:
A document setting section TR1 where originals G of various sizes to be copied are stacked, a document ejection tray TR2 from which copied originals G are ejected, and the originals G set in the document setting section TR1 are sequentially placed. It is provided with document conveying means (H1 to H3) that takes out and conveys the document to the document copying position on the platen glass A1, and conveys the copied document G that has been copied at the document copying position to the document discharge tray TR2. The document setting section T of the automatic document feeder B
R1, document ejection tray TR2, and document transport means (H
1 to H3), etc. are supported by the frame F. This frame F is shown in FIGS.

In FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the frame F is composed of a flat front frame F1, a rear frame F2, and a pair of tie plates F3, F3 connecting the two frames F1, F2. A frame tip abutting member 1 is provided at the lower end of the front frame F1. This frame tip abutment member 1 comes into contact with the top surface of the copying machine main body A to maintain the position (height) of the top end of the frame F relative to the top surface of the copying machine main body A at a predetermined value. Further, a similar frame base end abutment member 2 is provided at the lower end of the rear frame F2. The tie plate F3 has a horizontal upper wall 3 and a pair of side walls 4, 4.
It is formed into a substantially inverted U-shape in cross section. As shown in FIG. 5, hinge pin insertion holes 4a, 4a are formed in the intermediate portion of the tie plate F3. An opening 5 is formed in the rear frame F2 at a connecting portion with the tie plate F3, and a tip end portion of a rotating arm 6 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is inserted into the tie plate F3 through the opening 5. is configured to be

Hinge pin insertion holes 6a, 6a are formed at the distal end of the rotation arm 6, and rotation shaft insertion holes 6b, 6b are formed at the base end. A rotation shaft 7 (see FIG. 4) is inserted and fixed into the rotation shaft insertion holes 6b, 6b of the rotation arm 6, and this rotation shaft 7 is connected to a support bracket fixed to the upper surface of the copying machine main body A. It is rotatably supported by 8. The hinge pin insertion holes 6a, 6a at the tip of the rotating arm 6 and the hinge pin insertion holes 4a, 4a (see FIG. 5) of the tie plate F3 are connected to the hinge pin, that is, the hinge connecting member 9 (see FIGS. 2, 4, 5). (see).

[0019] Therefore, the rotating arm 6 and the frame F are connected by the hinge connecting member 9 so as to be relatively rotatable. The frame support means U is constituted by the components indicated by the above-mentioned numerals 6 to 9, etc. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the frame front end contact member 1 and the frame base end contact member 2 contact the upper surface of the copying machine main body A, and the position (height) of the frame F relative to the upper surface of the platen glass A1 is adjusted. is held in place. Holding the frame F at the predetermined position in this way is necessary in order to press the original G against the platen glass A1 with a predetermined pressure.

The relative rotatable amount between the rotating arm 6 and the frame F is restricted for the following reasons. That is, when the front frame F1 is lifted from the state shown in FIG. 4, the frame F rotates clockwise relative to the pivot arm 6 about the hinge connection member 9. During the relative rotation, the rotating arm 6 is attached to the base end (right end in FIG. 4) 3a of the upper wall 3 of the frame F.
When the upper edges of the frame F and the rotating arm 6 come into contact with each other, no further relative rotation between the frame F and the rotating arm 6 is performed. Further, when the frame F rotates counterclockwise relative to the rotating arm 6 around the hinge connecting member 9, the tip 6c of the upper edge of the rotating arm 6 (the left end in FIG. 4) When the frame F comes into contact with the upper wall 3 of the frame F, no further relative rotation between the frame F and the rotating arm 6 takes place. In this way frame F
The amount of relative rotation between the rotary arm 6 and the rotary arm 6 is regulated. Therefore, the proximal end of the upper wall 3 of the frame F (Fig.
the upper edge of the rotating arm 6 that contacts this, the tip (left end in FIG. 4) 6c of the upper edge of the rotating arm 6, and the upper edge of the frame F that contacts this. The wall 3 constitutes a rotatable amount regulating means R of this embodiment. The rotatable amount regulating means R is disposed between the frame F and the rotating arm 6, and regulates the relative rotatable amount thereof around the hinge connecting member 9.

The frame F includes various other components of the automatic document feeder, such as a front cover K1, a main cover K2, a rear cover K3, and a document feeder H (which will be described in detail later) as shown in FIG. ) etc. are supported.

In FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, the main cover K2 is formed with an original setting part TR1 for placing an original G for copying, and this original setting part TR1 has a A recess 11 is formed into which a finger is inserted when handling the placed original G. In addition, the main cover K
2 includes a bearing for rotatably supporting the document output tray TR2 between the document storage position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) P1 and the upright position (the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) P2. Holes 13, 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) are provided. The document output tray TR2 is moved between the tray main body 14 and the distal end of the tray main body 14 between a storage position (solid line position in FIGS. 2 and 3) and a protruding position (double-dashed line position in FIGS. 2 and 3). It is provided with an auxiliary tray 15 which can be supported. This auxiliary tray 15 is moved to the protruding position and used when the document G to be discharged is large (long) in shape.

The tray body 14 has protruding shafts 14a, 14a inserted into the bearing holes 13, 13 at its base end.
and a pair of leg portions 14b, 14b (Fig. 6
). The pair of legs 14b, 14b
This constitutes the document storage position holding means of this embodiment. Tray support means Ts (FIGS. 3 and 6
) is configured.

The protruding shafts 14a of the tray body 14 are inserted into the bearing holes 13, 13 provided in the main cover K2.
14a, the tray body 14 is bent to bring the distance between the protruding shafts 14a, 14a closer to each other so that it is narrower than the distance between the bearing holes 13, 13. In this state, the protruding shaft 14 is placed between the bearing holes 13, 13.
a, 14a, and the tray body is released from the curved position to be in a flat state. Then, the protruding shafts 14a, 14a of the tray body 14 are inserted into the bearing holes 13, 13 provided in the main cover K2.

A pair of magnets 16 are fixed to the upper surface of the base end of the tray body 14. those magnets 1
6 acts to hold the original ejection tray TR2 in the upright position by attracting a pair of magnetic metal plates 17 fixed to the main cover K2 when the original ejection tray TR2 is in the upright position. Therefore, the magnet 16
And the magnetic sheet metal 17 constitutes the standing position holding means of this embodiment.

[0026]Next, a document carrying device H1 carries the document G placed on the document setting section TR1 to a document standby position set a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the platen glass A1; A document conveying device H that conveys the document G in the standby position to the document copying position on the platen glass A1, and further conveys the copied document G to the document ejection side.
2 and the document ejection device H3 that ejects the copied original G conveyed from the document feed device H2 to the document ejection tray TR2 will be described. In FIG. 2, the document carrying device H1 includes a first document feeder H1 connected to the document setting section TR1.
It has a conveyance path 21. The first transport path 21 is provided with a document presence sensor S1 for detecting the presence or absence of a document G placed on the document setting section TR1, and a nudger roll 22 for sequentially taking out the document G. This nudger roll 22 is detected by a nudger roll home sensor S2 that detects its attitude, and is held in a predetermined attitude when not in operation. A sorting roll device 24 is provided between the first conveyance path 21 and the second conveyance path 23 connected thereto. The sorting conveyance roll device 24 has a drive roll 24a and a non-rotatable retard roll 24b, and takes out the originals G conveyed through the first conveyance path 21 by the nudger roll 22 one by one and transfers them to a second conveyor. It has the role of conveying within the conveyance path 23.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the second conveyance path 23. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 23a indicates a guide wall for positioning and guiding one side edge of the original G being transported through the second transport path 23, and a straight line 26 indicates the position of a registration roll device 26, which will be described later. (Hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the "pre-registration position"). As shown in Figure 7,
The second conveyance path 23 includes a document registration sensor S3 at a position a predetermined distance before a registration roll device 26, which will be described later, arranged at the end thereof, and a first size sensor S4 and a second size sensor for detecting the size of the document G. S5 is installed. Note that the document registration sensor S3 is also used as a trailing edge passage detection sensor of the present invention. As mentioned above, since the distance between the registration roll device 26 and the document registration sensor S3 is fixed, the document G is conveyed a predetermined distance after the document registration sensor S3 detects the front edge of the document G that has been conveyed. The front end reaches the position of the registration roll device 26, that is, the pre-registration position. Normally, the document G currently being copied is placed on the platen glass A1.
The document G is held at the upper document copying position, and the front end of the document G to be copied next stops at the pre-registration position and waits. Hereinafter, the position of the original G in which the front end of the original G is stopped at the pre-registration position will also be referred to as the original standby position.

The document registration sensor S3 is arranged at a distance Lo from the guide wall 23a. Further, the first size sensor S4 is disposed at a distance La from the guide wall 23a, and the third size sensor S5 is disposed at a distance Lb from the guide wall 27. There is. When the document G is conveyed while being guided along one side edge by the guide wall 23a of the second conveyance path 23, the width size of the document G can be detected by detecting the other side edge. For example, if a document G whose width is less than La is a small size document, a document G whose width exceeds La and is less than Lb is a medium size document, and a document G whose width exceeds Lb is a large size document. The width size of the document G can be detected from the combination of the detection signals of the sensors S4 and S5.

The size of the document G in the length direction is detected from the amount of conveyance of the document G from when the document registration sensor S3 detects the front edge of the document G until it detects the rear edge of the document G. . Then, on the side of the copying machine main body A, a copy sheet corresponding to the detected size of the original document G is taken out from the copy paper tray and a copy is made. Furthermore, when a large number of originals G are placed on the original document setting section TR1 at one time, a high-speed copying mode is provided as a method for successively copying the plurality of originals G. In this high-speed copy mode, when copying the nth original G,
It is necessary to transport the (n+1)th document to the document standby position, and also to transport the (n+1)th copy paper to the paper standby position on the copying machine main body A side. However, when the (n+1)th document G is in the document standby position, the rear end of the document G has not reached the position of the document registration sensor S3. Size is still unknown. In this way, in the high-speed copy mode, it is necessary to take out the copy sheet corresponding to the document G from the tray and transport it to the paper standby position in a state where the size of the document G is unknown. Therefore, in the high-speed copying mode, the length of the first transported original G among the many originals is detected, and the length of the second and subsequent originals G is the same as the first transported original G. The copy paper is selected based on the size of the original.

[0030] The document carrying device H1 includes the reference numerals 21 to 21.
24 etc. and D1 and M shown in FIG. 8 described later.
It is composed of the components shown in 1.

[0031] The document conveyance device H2 has the second conveyance path 23.
the third conveyance path 25 and each of the conveyance paths 23,
It has a register roll device 26 disposed between the rollers 25 and 25. The registration roll device 26 has a drive roll 26a and a pinch roll 26b, and the handling roll device 24
It has the role of transporting the document G, which has been transported through the second transport path 23, within the third transport path 25. The surfaces of each of the rolls 26a and 26b form a frictional contact surface with the document G being conveyed.
When the drive roll 26a rotates with the document G being supplied between the frictional contact surfaces of the rollers 6b, the document G is conveyed in the direction of movement of the frictional contact surfaces. Conventionally, the axis connecting line 26c connecting the axis of the drive roll 26a and the axis of the pinch roll 26b was installed parallel to the upper surface of the platen glass A1, but in this embodiment, it is installed at an angle with the upper surface of the platen glass A1. It is set up as follows. By inclining the axis connecting line 26c in this way, the position of the registration roll device 26 (that is, the pre-registration position) is arranged as close as possible to the platen registration position, which will be described later.

[0032] The third transport path 2 of the document transport device H2
A shaft 28 is connected below the shaft 5 by a solenoid (not shown).
A document registration gate 28 whose rotation is controlled around a is provided. The document registration gate 28 is normally held in the state shown in FIG. 2, but is rotated downward from the state shown in FIG. 2 when the document G is reversed to perform double-sided copying. A fourth conveyance path 31 connected to the third conveyance path 25 is formed by the upper surface of the platen glass A1 and a conveyance belt 32 disposed in contact with the upper surface of the platen glass A1. A platen register position is set in this fourth conveyance path 31. This platen registration position is the position where the rear end of the original G is placed when the original G is conveyed to the copying position on the platen glass A1, that is, the original reading start position,
A platen registration sensor Sg for detecting the position of the exposure optical system is arranged on the copying machine main body A side. Below, the manuscript G
Original G with the rear end stopped at the platen registration position
The position is called the original copy position.

The original G is placed at the original copying position by transporting the original G by a predetermined distance from the original waiting position. In this embodiment, as described above, the axis connecting line 26c is inclined so that the position of the registration roll device 26 (that is, the pre-registration position and the position that determines the document standby position) is brought as close as possible to the platen registration position. Therefore, the distance between the document standby position and the document copying position is set to be extremely short.

The conveyor belt 32 is an endless belt, and is wound between a belt drive roll 33 and a free roll 34. The belt driven roll 33 and the free roll 34
A plurality of pressure rolls 35 are arranged between. These pressure rolls 35 press the conveyor belt 32 against the upper surface of the platen glass A1 with a predetermined pressure. The original document conveying device H2 is constituted by the components indicated by numerals 25 to 35, etc., and the components indicated by D2 and M2 shown in FIG. 9, which will be described later.

[0035] The fourth conveyance path 31 includes a document discharge device H3.
A fifth conveyance path 36 is connected thereto. This fifth conveyance path 3
6 and the sixth conveyance path 37 connected thereto, a discharge side conveyance roll device 38 is provided. The discharge side conveyance roll device 38 has a drive roll 38a and a pinch roll 38b, and transfers the document G conveyed through the fifth conveyance path 36 by the conveyance belt 32 to the sixth conveyance path 3.
It has the role of conveying within 7.

A document ejection sensor S6 for managing the ejection of the document G is disposed in the middle of the sixth conveyance path 37.
A discharge roll device 39 is disposed at the end of the sixth conveyance path 37. The discharge roll device 39 includes a drive roll 39
a and pinch rolls 39b, and has the role of discharging the document G conveyed through the sixth conveyance path 36 by the discharge side conveyance roll device 38 onto the discharge tray TR2. The original document discharging device H3 is constituted by the components indicated by the reference numerals 36 to 39, etc., and the components indicated by D3 and M3 shown in FIG. 9, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic document feeder B includes a double-sided copying conveyance path 40 used for double-sided copying and a double-sided copying conveyance path 40 disposed along the double-sided copying conveyance path 40. Conveyance roll devices 41 and 42 are provided. Further, the document transport means H includes a manual document insertion slot 43 and a manual document transport path 44 that connects the manual document insertion port 43 and the second transport path 23 . The manual document transport path 44 is provided with a manual document transport roll device 45, a manual document sensor S7, and the like.

Next, the copying machine main body A will be explained with reference to FIG. Below the transparent platen glass A1 on the upper surface of the copying machine main body A, the platen registration sensor Sg and the exposure optical system 50 are arranged at the platen registration position. This exposure optical system 50 has a movable lamp unit 51, and this lamp unit 51 is configured by integrating a lamp 52 for illuminating an original and a first mirror 53. Further, the exposure optical system 50 includes a movable mirror unit 54 that moves at half the speed of the lamp unit 51. This moving mirror unit 54
is composed of a second mirror 55 and a third mirror 56. The exposure optical system 50 also includes a lens 57, a fourth mirror 58, a fifth mirror 59, a sixth mirror 60, and the like. Then, when the lamp unit 51 moves parallel to the document in the left-right direction in FIG. , Manuscript G
During this period, the reflected light from the original G illuminated by the lamp 52 passes through the exposure optical system 50 and is converged onto the photosensitive drum 61. It is configured. Around the photosensitive drum 61, a charging charger 62, a developing unit 63, a transfer charger 64, a cleaner unit 65, etc. are arranged along the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 61.

The copying machine main body A also includes, in order downward, a first tray 66, a second tray 67, a third tray 68 for storing transfer paper, and a temporary stock tray used for double-sided copying. A fourth tray 69 and a fifth tray 70 that accommodates a large amount of paper are housed. A first feed roll 661, a first separation roll device 662, and a first feed roll device 663 are disposed corresponding to the first tray 66, and a first feed roll device 663 is provided in front of the first feed roll device 663. A sensor S11 is provided. Similar delivery rolls 671, . . . , sorting roll devices 672, .
, feed roll device 673, . . . , feed sensor S12, . . . are provided. The delivery rolls 661, 671, . . . and the sorting roll device 6
62, 672, . . . constitute a paper feeding device H4, and feed roll devices 663, 673, .
A paper conveying device is composed of... and so on.

The copy paper sent out from each of the trays 66 to 70 is detected by the first feed sensor S11, paper registration sensor S10, etc., and is passed through the paper registration gate 7.
1 and is temporarily stopped. The position where the copy paper is temporarily stopped by contacting the paper register gate 71 will be hereinafter referred to as the paper standby position. When the leading edge of the copy paper in this paper standby position comes into contact with the paper registration gate 71, the leading edge is curved and rounded. The paper registration gate 71 is arranged close to the paper registration roll device 72. And paper register gate 71
When the copy paper is retracted from the paper path by a solenoid (not shown), the rounded leading end of the copy paper extends and comes into contact with the paper registration roll device 72. When the paper registration roll device 72 operates with the copy paper in contact with the paper registration roll device 72, the copy paper moves to the transfer position (the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer charger 6).
4).

The copying machine main body A also includes a conveying mechanism 73 for peeling off copy paper (transfer completed paper) between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer charger 64, that is, passing through the transfer position, from the photosensitive drum 61 and conveying the copy paper. is also provided. The transferred paper transported by the transport mechanism 73 is fixed by a fixing unit 74 and is ejected to a paper ejection tray 75.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the control portions of the copying machine main body A and the automatic document feeder B. In Figure 8,
Controller C includes a CPU (central processing unit), RAM (
Random access memory), ROM (read only memory), I/O (input/output interface), etc. are configured by a microcomputer, and the microcomputer enables the rear edge passage detection sensor (original registration sensor) of the present invention.
It realizes the function of a scan start signal output means that starts the exposure scan after a predetermined time (T4) has passed since S3 detects the trailing edge of the document G.

The controller C receives various document detection signals from various sensors S1 to S7 of the automatic document feeder B described above, and various sensors Sg and S of the copying machine main body A described above.
Various detection signals from 10, S11, . . . are input.

The controller C operates various drive circuits D1 at predetermined timings to be described later in response to the various input signals.
, D2, . . . In FIG. 8, the document feeder drive circuit D1 is configured to supply drive power to the motor M1 in response to an actuation signal input from the controller C. When the motor M1 is driven, the nudger roll 22 and the sorting roll device 24 of the document carrying device H1 are simultaneously operated. The document conveyance device drive circuit D2 is configured to supply drive power to the motor M2 in response to an actuation signal input from the controller C. When the motor M2 is driven, the registration roll device 26 and the belt drive roll 33 of the document conveyance device H2 are simultaneously operated. The document discharge device drive circuit D3 is configured to supply drive power to the motor M3 in response to an actuation signal input from the controller C. When the motor M3 is driven, the discharge side transport roll device 38 and the discharge roll device 39 of the document discharge device H3 are simultaneously operated.

The exposure system transport device driving circuit D4 is configured to supply driving power for the exposure system transport device M4 in response to an operation signal input from the controller C. The exposure optical system 50 is configured to be activated when the exposure system transport device M4 is driven. The copy paper registration roll device drive circuit D5 is configured to supply drive power to the motor M5 in response to an actuation signal input from the controller C. The paper registration roll device 72 is configured to be activated when the motor M5 is driven. Note that since the paper registration roll device 72 is configured to rotate simultaneously with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 61, the copy paper registration roll device drive circuit D5 and motor M5 are also used for the photosensitive drum 61. .

The first tray sheet take-out device drive circuit D6, the second tray sheet take-out device drive circuit D7, etc. operate the motor M6, the motor, etc. in accordance with the sheet take-out operation signal inputted from the controller C. It is configured to simultaneously output drive power for M7, . . . , etc. Therefore, motor M6, motor M7, etc. are configured to be driven simultaneously. Each of the motors M6, M7,
... have feed roll devices 663 and 67, respectively.
3,..., etc. are directly connected. In addition, each motor M6,
Delivery rolls 661, 671, . . . and sorting roll devices 662, 672, . . . are connected to M7, . . . via clutches Cr, respectively. Then, only the clutch Cr corresponding to the tray containing copy sheets corresponding to the size of the original G is operated and connected.

The document registration gate operating circuit D8 is configured to supply operating power to the solenoid SR1 in response to an operating signal input from the controller C. When the solenoid SR1 is actuated, the original register gate 28 is actuated. The paper registration gate operating circuit D8 is configured to supply operating power to the solenoid SR2 in response to an operating signal input from the controller C. When the solenoid SR2 is activated, the paper registration gate 71 is activated.

Next, the operation of an embodiment of the electronic copying apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be explained. In the automatic document feeder B, the frame F is rotatably connected to a distal end portion of a rotary arm 6 rotatably supported by the copying machine main body A. Therefore, when the automatic document feeder is in the copying position (the position shown in FIG. 4), the frame F rotates around the hinge connecting member 9 at the distal end portion of the rotating arm 6, and the lower end of the front frame F1 rotates. Both the frame tip abutting member 1 of the rear frame F2 (the lower tip of the frame F) and the frame proximal abutting member 2 of the rear frame F2 (the lower proximal end of the frame F) abut the upper surface of the copying machine main body. Therefore, the positioning of the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the frame F in the height direction with respect to the upper surface of the platen glass A1 can be easily performed. When the frame F is positioned in the height direction with respect to the upper surface of the platen glass A1 in this manner, the positioning of the document conveying means H supported by the frame F in the height direction with respect to the upper surface of the platen glass A1 is also performed at the same time.

As described above, when the height of the document transport means H held by the frame F relative to the top surface of the platen glass A1 is determined, the distance between the transport belt 32 of the document transport means H and the top surface of the platen glass A1 is determined. Incidentally, the pressing force acting on the original G that is transported by the original transport means H to the original copying position on the upper surface of the platen glass A1 and pressed against the upper surface of the platen glass A1 by the transport belt 32 is due to
is determined by the height relative to the upper surface of the platen glass A1. Therefore, by attaching the document conveying means H at a predetermined height with respect to the frame F,
The pressing force with which the conveyance belt 32 presses the original G against the upper surface of the platen glass A1 can be easily set to an appropriate value.

Furthermore, the frame F and the rotating arm 6
The relative rotatable amount with respect to the rotatable amount regulating means R
regulated by. Therefore, the frame F
When attempting to rotate the frame F between an open position away from the platen glass A1 and a copying position close to the platen glass A1, the frame F is rotated around the hinge connecting member 9 with respect to the rotation arm 6. , they rotate relative to each other by an amount regulated by the rotatable amount regulating means R, but no further relative rotation occurs. Therefore, when it is attempted to further rotate the frame F, the frame F rotates around the base end portion of the rotary arm 6.
rotates with. Therefore, the frame F can be easily rotated between an open position away from the platen glass A1 and a copying position close to the platen glass A1.

When using the automatic document feeder B of this embodiment described above, when setting a document G, the document ejection tray TR2 is rotated to an upright position P2 away from above the document setting section TR1. In this state, there is nothing above the document setting section TR1 that will obstruct the document setting operation, so the document setting operation can be performed easily. After setting the original G in the original setting portion TR1, the original ejection tray TR2 is rotated from the upright position P2 to the original storage position P1. When a copying operation is executed in this state, a large number of originals G placed on the original document setting section TR1 are automatically copied in the order described in detail later. When the copying operation is completed, the copied original G is placed on the original discharge tray TR2. The document output tray TR2
Since there is nothing obstructing the document G placed on the document ejection tray TR2, it is possible to easily take out the document G placed on the document discharge tray TR2.

Next, the operations of the copying machine main body A and the automatic document feeder B will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a time chart of the high-speed copy mode, in which the time axis t is plotted in the horizontal direction, and the position (described later) is plotted in the vertical direction. The solid line in the lower half of FIG. 9 indicates the front end position of the document G that moves over time, and the broken line in the lower half indicates the rear end position of the document G. Further, the solid line in the upper half of FIG. 9 indicates the position of the copy paper that moves with the passage of time, and the broken line in the upper half of FIG. 9 indicates the position of the exposure optical system 50 that moves with the passage of time. As for the position of the copy paper, only the position of its front end is shown.

[0053] In FIG. 9, dotted lines L1 to L6 extending left and right
indicates the following position within the copying machine main body A. L1...Position of the copy paper stored in any of the copy paper storage trays 66 to 70 L2...Position of the first feed sensor S11 (where the front end of the copy paper sent out from the copy paper storage tray is L3: Copy paper waiting position (position where the front edge of the copy paper abuts the paper registration gate 71, and after the front edge is detected by the paper registration sensor S10, the copy paper has been conveyed a predetermined amount) position). L4: Position of the paper ejection tray 75 (position where copy paper is ejected). L5: Home position of the exposure optical system 50 (the exposure optical system 50 starts from this position). L6...Platen registration position (the position where the platen registration sensor Sg is disposed, and reading of the original G is started when the exposure optical system 50 passes this position)

[
[0054] In FIG. 9, dotted lines N1 to N9 extending left and right indicate the positions in the main body A of the copying machine described below. N1...Original setting section TR of the automatic document feeder B
The trailing edge position of the original G placed on 1. N2: rear end position of the original G in the original standby position;
That is, the document setting section TR of the automatic document feeder B
1 to the document standby position. The rear end position of this document G is still within the document setting section TR1. The front end position of the document G at this time is at N4, which will be described later. N3...Document setting section TR of the automatic document feeder B
Front edge position of document G placed on 1. N4... Position of the document registration sensor S3 (a position a predetermined distance before the pre-registration position N5, which will be described later). N5... Front edge position of the document G in the document standby position.
That is, the pre-registration position. At this position, the front end of the document G is in contact with the registration roll device 26. In order to stop the original G at this position, as described above, the original registration sensor S3 detects the leading edge of the original G, and then the original G is further conveyed by a predetermined amount. N6: rear end position of the original G at the original copying position;
The rear end position of this document G corresponds to the platen registration position. N7: Front end position of the original G at the original copying position. N8...Rear end position of the copied original G discharged to the original discharge tray TR2. N9: Front end position of the copied original G discharged to the original discharge tray TR2.

In the high-speed copying mode, the first original G among the many originals G placed on the original setting section is
is transported to the original copying position on the platen glass A1 by the original transport device H1 and the original transport device H2, but the front end is detected by the original registration sensor S3 on the second transport path, and then the rear end is detected. The size in the length direction is detected by the amount of transport until it reaches the end. In addition, the second
The size in the width direction is detected by size sensors S4 and S5 on the conveyance path. Then, on the copying machine main body A side, a copy sheet corresponding to the size of the original document G is taken out from the paper tray and conveyed toward the toner transfer position.

In FIG. 9, the n-1th original Gn-1
When the rear end passes the pre-registration position N5, the n-th document Gn+1 placed on the document setting section TR1 starts to be carried into the document standby position by the document carrying device H1. Then, the n-th document Gn is conveyed through the first conveyance path 21 by the nudger roll 22, and conveyed one by one through the second conveyance path 23 by the sorting roll device 24, and the front end thereof reaches the pre-registration position N5. The machine will stop at the position (original standby position).

As can be seen from FIG. 9, by the time the nth original Gn reaches the original standby position (position between N5 and N3), the n-1th original Gn-1 has not been copied. The position (between N7 and N6) has been reached. The copied original G copied at the original copying position (position between N7 and N6) is conveyed to the original ejection tray TR2 side by the original transport device H2 and the original ejection device H3. At this time, since the registration roll device 26 and the belt drive roll 33 of the document conveying device H2 operate simultaneously, the document standby position (N
The n-th document Gn located at a position between 5 and N3) is
It is transported together with the (n-1)th original Gn-1 whose copying has been completed. Then, when the n-th original Gn reaches the original copying position (position between N7 and N6), the original transporting device H2 is stopped.

By the way, in this embodiment, as described above, the axis connecting line 26c is inclined so that the position N5 of the registration roll device 26 (that is, the pre-registration position) is placed as close as possible to the platen registration position N6, which will be described later. The distance between the document standby position (position between N5 and N3) and the document copy position (position between N7 and N6) is set as short as possible. In this case, if the original G is transported at the same speed as before, the original G will be transported to the original standby position (N5 to N3) in a short time.
Since the document can be transported from the original copying position (a position between N7 and N6) to the original copying position (a position between N7 and N6), copying productivity can be improved. Note that if the distance between the document standby position (position between N5 and N3) and the document copy position (position between N7 and N6) is made shorter than before, the distance between the document copy position (position between N7 and N6)
It is also possible to make the time for conveying the document G to the position between 6 and 6) the same as in the past, and in that case, the conveyance speed of the document can be set to be slow. In this case, the rotational speed of the motor and power transmission mechanism can be lowered, making it possible to obtain the following advantages. (1) Durability is improved. (2) Noise is reduced. (3) The running performance of the original G is improved (it can be transported at a speed with less fluctuation). (4) Less power consumption. (5) Controlling the stopping position of the document G, etc. becomes easier.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, when the document conveyance device H2 is stopped, the (n-1)th document Gn-1 has not yet been discharged to the document discharge tray TR2. Therefore, the discharge side transport roll device 38 of the document discharge device H3
The ejection roll device 39 continues to operate, and after the rear end of the n-1th original Gn-1 is detected by the original ejection sensor, the ejection roll device 39 further transports the original Gn-1 by a predetermined amount. , stop its operation. In this way, when the document discharging device H3 operates even after the document conveyance device H2 stops, if the n-1th document Gn-1 remains on the platen glass A1, the document Gn-1 must be pulled out from between the platen glass A1 and the conveyor belt 32 by the document ejection device H3. For this reason,
The discharge side conveyance roll device 38 and the discharge roll device 3
9 indicates the stopped conveyor belt 32 and the platen glass A.
A force is required to pull out the copied original G sandwiched between the two upper surfaces. Therefore, the discharge side conveyance roll device 3
8 and the discharge roll device 39 are provided with a torque that satisfies the above requirements.

By the way, between the stopped conveyor belt 32 and the upper surface of the platen glass A1, the n-th document Gn to be copied next is placed at the document copying position (position between N7 and N6). Therefore, when the conveyor belt 32 moves when pulling out the copied n-1th original Gn-1, the original G at the original copying position (position between N7 and N6) is moved.
n also moves. Therefore, the copied original Gn-1
It is necessary to prevent the conveyor belt 32 from moving when pulling out. For this purpose, a stepping motor is used as the drive motor M2 of the conveyor belt 32. Since the stepping motor M2 has a braking force acting on its rotating shaft due to the magnetic force acting from the stator side, the copied original G
It is possible to prevent the conveyor belt 32 from moving when pulling out.

In the high-speed copying mode, the copying machine main body A
On the side, copy sheets corresponding to the size of the first document G are sequentially taken out from the paper tray and conveyed toward the toner transfer position. In FIG. 9, when the (n-1)th copy paper Qn-1 is sent out from the copy paper storage tray L1 and conveyed by the feed rolls 663, 673, . . . , the copy paper Qn-1 is , the front end passing time to is detected when the feed sensor passes through the position L2 of the first feed sensor S11 during its conveyance. The copy paper Qn-1 is further conveyed and is temporarily stopped at the copy paper waiting position L3 (the position where the leading edge of the copy paper abuts the paper registration gate 71). The copy paper Qn-1 temporarily stopped at this copy paper standby position L3
The conveyance is started in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 61 on which the toner image of the n-1th document Gn-1 is formed, and the photosensitive drum 61 in FIG.
1 and the transfer charger 64), the toner image is transferred while being transported. The copy paper onto which this toner image has been transferred, that is, the transfer-completed paper Qn-1, is transported by the transport mechanism 73, fixed by the fixing unit 74, and discharged to the paper discharge tray 75.

In FIG. 9, the n-1th copy sheet Qn
-1 passes the position L2 of the first feed sensor S11 at time t0 and at time t1, the exposure optical system 50 starts from the home position L5 and starts the n-1th exposure Jn-1. do. This n-1st exposure Jn
-1 is started at the time t1 when the n-1th document G
This is the time when a time T4 has elapsed since the rear end of document n-1 passed the position N4 of the document registration sensor S3. (In addition,
At time t1 when the n-1st exposure Jn-1 is started, after the trailing edge of the document Gn-1 passes the document registration sensor S3, the document G is at the pre-registration position N5 (the document G is in the document standby position). If the time required to reach the front edge position of the original G at
A predetermined period of time (after the rear end passes the pre-registration position)
This is the time when T4-ΔT4) has elapsed. ) Furthermore, Figure 9
The time T1 shown in 2 indicates the length of time from the time t0 to the time t1 determined as described above.
- This is not the time set to start the first exposure Jn-1.

This exposure optical system 50 is transported by the exposure system transport device M4 (see FIG. 8). The exposure optical system 50 is detected by the platen registration sensor Sg at the platen registration position L6 after a time TB has elapsed since starting at the exposure system home position L5. This detection time is indicated by t2. The time TB is determined by the distance between the exposure system home position L5 and the platen registration position L6, and the conveyance speed of the exposure optical system 50. When each of the above values is set to an appropriate value, the time TB is a value that is automatically determined. The time t when the exposure optical system 50 is detected by the platen registration sensor Sg
2, the (n-1)th document Gn-1 has reached the copying position, as shown in FIG.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the time t2 is the time when a time TA has elapsed since the rear end of the (n-1)th document Gn-1 passed the position N4 of the document registration sensor S3. The time TA is the document registration sensor S3.
The value of the distance between position N4 and platen register position N6,
This is the time determined by the value of the document conveyance speed. It is necessary to adopt a value appropriate for the design as the value of the document conveyance speed. Therefore, when the value of the document conveyance speed is determined, the time TA is adjusted so that the (n-1)th document Gn-1 is copied by the time t2 when the exposure optical system 50 reaches the platen register position L6. In order to convey the document to the desired position, the position of the document registration sensor S3 may be adjusted.

That is, in a high-speed copying machine that operates in a high-speed copying mode, the values of the distances between the exposure system home position L5 and the platen register position L6, and the exposure optical system 5
The conveyance speed value of 0 and the document conveyance speed are set to appropriate values depending on the design specifications. In this case, the exposure optical system 50 is located at the platen register position L6.
In order to transport the original G to the original copying position on the platen glass A1 before it is transported to the original reading start position, the original registration sensor S3 should be set at a position where TA≧TB. good. For example, T4=TA-
When setting TB (however, T4≧0), the document registration sensor S3 detects the document Gn-
If the exposure optical system 50 is started when time T4 has elapsed after detecting the rear end of 1, the exposure optical system 50
As shown in FIG. 9, at the time t2 when Gn-1 is detected by the platen registration sensor Sg, the (n-1)th document Gn-1 reaches the copying position. Then, from the time t2, the exposure reading of the (n-1)th document Gn-1 and the subsequent development work are started. In this case, reading of the original starts as soon as the original arrives, so there is no wasted time.

Then, as time passes from the time t2, the n-1th original Gn- is deposited on the photosensitive drum 61.
A toner image of No. 1 is formed, and the toner image approaches the transfer position. Therefore, at a predetermined timing when time T3 has elapsed from time t2, the (n-1)th copy sheet Qn-1, which has been waiting at the standby position L3, is conveyed to the transfer position.

As can be seen from FIG. 9, the exposure optical system 5
Time T2 after 0 starts the n-1th exposure Jn-1
After the above elapsed time and the n-th original Gn is at the original standby position (N
At time t4, at least a time T5 has elapsed since time t3 when the n-th copy sheet Qn reached the position (between 5 and N2), the n-th copy sheet Qn is sent out from the position L1 of the tray. In the example shown in FIG. 9, if the time from when the front end of the document Gn passes the document registration sensor S3 placed at the position N4 in FIG. When a predetermined time (T5+ΔT5) has elapsed since the leading edge of the n-th original Gn was detected by the disposed original registration sensor S3, the n-th copy paper Qn is sent out from the position L1 of the tray. Note that when the copy paper Qn is sent out from the trays 68, 70 which have a long distance to the transfer position, it is sent out in a time shorter than the time T2, and in this case, T5+ΔT5 becomes approximately 0, and the original Gn
The front end of the document registration sensor S is placed at position N4 in FIG.
3, the n-th copy sheet Qn is sent out from the paper tray position L1.

For example, the only condition for sending out the copy paper Qn from the position L1 of the paper tray is that a time T2 or more has elapsed since the exposure optical system 50 started the n-1th exposure Jn-1. If this is adopted, if a jam occurs on the n-th sheet of original G in the document feeder H1, the n-th sheet of copy paper Qn will be sent out on the copying machine main body side, which may cause a jam on the main body side. There is. However, as in the embodiment, when the copying from the position L1 of the paper tray is performed, it is determined that the time T5 or more has elapsed since the time t3 when the n-th original Gn reached the original standby position (position between N5 and N2). If this is adopted as a condition for sending out the paper Qn, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a jam on the main body side as described above.

At time t5, at the same time as the exposure optical system 50 finishes the n-1th exposure Jn-1, the n-1st original Gn-1 located at the original copying position and the original standby position are The existing n-th document Gn is simultaneously conveyed to the ejection tray side. Then, as described above, the n-th original Gn is transported to the original copying position and the original transport device H2 is transported to the original copying position.
Even after this is stopped, the document transport device H3 continues to operate until it discharges the (n-1)th document Gn-1 onto the discharge tray TR2. Note that times t6 to t11 in FIG. 9 are times corresponding to the times t1 to t5, and times t1 to t11 in FIG.
Instead of transporting the n-1st and nth originals and operating other components corresponding thereto, as described in 5, transporting the nth and n+1st originals and other configurations corresponding thereto. Actuation of the element takes place.

Although the embodiments of the electronic copying apparatus according to the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the present invention can be modified without departing from the scope of the claims. , it is possible to make various minor design changes. For example, instead of using a stepping motor as the driving motor M2 of the conveyance belt 32, a DC servo motor or the like may be used. In that case, when pulling out the copied original G, the conveyance belt 32 What is necessary is to provide a braking force applying means for applying an appropriate braking force to the vehicle. In addition, the document registration sensor S3 was used as a trailing edge passage detection sensor that detects that the trailing edge of the document has passed.
It is also possible to provide it separately from the document registration sensor. Furthermore, the scan start signal output means of the present invention can be configured using a logic circuit instead of realizing its function using the controller C using a microcomputer.

[0071]

Effects of the Invention The electronic copying apparatus of the first invention of the present application described above can set the distance between the document standby position and the document copying position short, so that it is possible to move the document from the document standby position to the document copying position in a short time. It can be transported by In other words, since documents can be replaced in a short time, copying productivity can be improved. . Further, in the electronic copying apparatus of the second invention of the present application, the trailing edge passage detection sensor provided in the middle of the document conveyance path from the document standby position to the document copying position detects that the trailing edge of the document has passed the trailing edge. The time required from passing the detection sensor to reaching the original copying position (T
A) is arranged at a position that is longer than the time (TB) from when the exposure optical system starts until it reaches the document reading position. Therefore, by starting the exposure optical system after a predetermined period of time has passed since the trailing edge passage detection sensor detects the trailing edge of the document, the exposure optical system can be started as soon as the document reaches the document copying position (without wasting time). The exposure optical system can start reading the document. Since the position of the original when the trailing edge of the original passes the trailing edge passage detection sensor is close to the original copying position, the probability that a jam will occur while the original is being conveyed between these positions is very small. Therefore, without increasing the probability of jam occurrence, it is possible to improve the productivity of copying by allowing the exposure optical system to start reading the document immediately after the document exchange is completed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic copying apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a front cross-sectional view of the automatic document feeder B shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view seen from arrow III in FIG. 2;

4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, and is a side sectional view of the automatic document feeder B. FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the frame of the automatic document feeder B. FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a document registration sensor S3 and a document size sensor S4 disposed in the document conveyance path of the automatic document feeder B;
It is an explanatory diagram of S5.

8 is an explanatory diagram of control parts of the copying machine main body A and the automatic document feeder B shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

9 is a timing chart showing the operations of the copying machine main body A and the automatic document feeder B shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

A Copying machine main body A1 Platen glass B Copying machine automatic document feeder C Controller Cr Clutch D1 Original feeder drive circuit D2 Document feeder drive circuit D3 Original ejector drive circuit D4 Exposure system transfer device drive circuit D5 Paper registration roll device drive circuit D6 First tray paper take-out device drive circuit D7 Second
Tray paper take-out device drive circuit D8 Original registration gate operation circuit D9 Paper registration gate operation circuit F Frame F1 Front frame F2 Rear frame F3 Type plate G Original Gn n-th original H1 Original transport device H2 Original transport device H3 Original discharge device Jn n sheets Exposure of original document Gn K1 Front cover K2 Main cover K3 Rear cover L1 Paper tray position L2 Position of first feed sensor S11 L3 Copy paper standby position L4 Position of paper ejection tray 75 (position where copy paper is ejected) L5 Exposure optics Home position L6 of system 50 Platen register position (the platen register sensor S
(Position where G is placed) N1 Trailing edge position N2 of the original G placed on the original setting section TR1 Trailing edge position N3 of the original G in the original standby position
Front edge position N4 of the original G placed on the original setting section TR1 Position N5 of the original registration sensor S3 Front edge position of the original G in the original standby position (pre-registration position) N6 Rear edge position of the original G in the original copying position ( platen register position) N7 Front edge position of original G at the original copying position N8
Rear end position N9 of the copied original G ejected to the original ejection tray TR2 Front end position M1 of the copied original G ejected to the original ejection tray TR2 Motor M2 Stepping motor M3 Motor M4 Motor M5 Motor M6 Motor M7 Motor P1 Original storage Position P2 Standing position Qn Copy paper R corresponding to the nth original Gn Rotatable amount regulating means S1 Original presence/absence sensor S2 Najer roll home sensor S3 Original registration sensor S4 First size sensor S5 Second size sensor S6 Original discharge sensor S7 Manual feed document sensor Sg Platen registration sensor S10 Paper registration sensor S11 First feed sensor S12 Second feed sensor SR1 Solenoid SR2 Solenoid TR1 Document setting section TR2 Document ejection tray Ts Tray support means TA Time TB Time U Frame support means 1 Frame tip end contact Member 2 Frame base end abutting member 3 Upper wall 4 Side wall 4a Hinge pin insertion hole 5 Opening 6 Rotating arm 6a Hinge pin insertion hole 6b Rotating shaft insertion hole 6c Upper edge tip 7 Rotating shaft 8 Support bracket 9 Hinge connection member 11 Concave portion 13 Bearing hole 14 Tray body 14a Projecting shaft 14b Leg portion 15 Auxiliary tray 16 Magnet 17 Magnetic sheet metal 21 First conveyance path 22 Nudger roll 23 Second conveyance path 23a Guide wall 24 Sorting roll device 24a Drive roll 24b Retard roll 25 3 conveyance path 26 Registration roll device 26a Drive roll 26b Pinch roll 26c Axis connection line 28 Original registration gate 28a Shaft 31 Fourth conveyance path 32 Conveyance belt 33 Belt drive roll 34 Free roll 35 Pressure roll 36 Fifth conveyance path 37 Sixth conveyance path 38 Discharge side conveyance roll device 38a Drive roll 38b Pinch roll 39 Discharge roll device 39a Drive roll 39b Pinch roll 40 Conveyance path for double-sided copying 41 Conveyance roll device for double-sided copying 42 Conveyance roll device for double-sided copying 43 Manual feed original insertion slot 44 Manual feed document Conveyance path 45 Manual document conveyance roll device 50 Exposure optical system 51 Lamp unit 52 Lamp 53 for document illumination First mirror 54 Moving mirror unit 55 Second mirror 56 Third mirror 57 Lens 58 Fourth mirror 59 Fifth mirror 60 Sixth Mirror 61 Photosensitive drum 62 Charging charger 63 Developing unit 64 Transfer charger 65 Cleaner unit 66 First tray 661 containing transfer paper
Feed roll 662 First sorting roll device 663 First feed roll device 67 Second tray 671 Second feed roll 672 Second sorting roll device 673 Second feed roll device 68 Third tray 69 For temporary stock used during double-sided copying etc. 4th of
Tray 70 Fifth tray 71 that accommodates a large amount of paper Paper registration gate 72 Paper registration roll device 73 Conveyance mechanism 74 Fixing unit 75 Paper discharge tray

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A document setting section (TR1) installed on the top surface of a copying machine main body (A) having a platen glass (A1) on the top surface, into which a document to be copied is set, and a document from which the copied document is ejected. A document loading unit that transports the document (G) set in the output tray (TR2) and the document setting section (TR1) to a document standby position set at a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass (A1). a document transport device (H1), which transports the original (G) in the original standby position to the original copying position, and transports the copied original (G) that has been copied at the original copying position to the original ejection side; H2), and the document transport device (
an automatic document feeder (B) having a document ejection device (H3) that ejects the copied document transported from the copying machine H2) onto the document ejection tray (TR2);
), the exposure optical system (50) starts exposure scanning in synchronization with the operation of the automatic document feeder (B), and is transported to the document reading start position after a certain period of time (TB) after the start of exposure scanning. ) and a paper feed device (H4) that feeds the copy paper (Qn) from the paper tray (66 to 70) in synchronization with the operation of the exposure optical system (50).
In the electronic copying apparatus, the front end of the document (G) waiting at the document standby position is regulated by a registration roll device (26) comprising a drive roll (26a) and a pinch roll (26b), and The axial center connection line (26c) connecting the axial center of the drive roll (26a) and the axial center of the pinch roll (26b) is inclined with the upper surface of the platen glass A1, and the position of the registration roll device (26) is brought to the original copying position. An electronic copying device characterized in that they are arranged close to each other. 2. A document setting section (TR1) installed on the top surface of the copying machine main body (A) having a platen glass (A1) on the top surface, into which a document to be copied is set, and a document from which the copied document is ejected. A document loading unit that transports the document (G) set in the output tray (TR2) and the document setting section (TR1) to a document standby position set at a predetermined distance before the document copying position on the top surface of the platen glass (A1). a document transport device (H1), which transports the original (G) in the original standby position to the original copying position, and transports the copied original (G) that has been copied at the original copying position to the original ejection side; H2), and the document transport device (
an automatic document feeder (B) having a document ejection device (H3) that ejects the copied document transported from the copying machine H2) onto the document ejection tray (TR2);
), the exposure optical system (50) starts exposure scanning in synchronization with the operation of the automatic document feeder (B), and is transported to the document reading start position after a certain period of time (TB) after the start of exposure scanning. ) and a paper feed device (H4) that feeds the copy paper (Qn) from the paper tray (66 to 70) in synchronization with the operation of the exposure optical system (50).
In the electronic copying apparatus, a trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) detects passage of a trailing edge position of the document in the middle of a conveyance path in which the document (G) is conveyed from the document standby position to the document copying position. is provided, and the rear end passage detection sensor (S
The arrangement position of 3) is such that the time (TA) required for the trailing edge of the document to reach the document copying position after passing the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) is longer than the certain time (TB). scan start signal output means (set to a large value) and starts the exposure scan after a predetermined time (T4) has passed since the trailing edge passage detection sensor (S3) detects the trailing edge of the document (G); C) An electronic copying device characterized by being provided with.