JPH04263268A - copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus, and more particularly to a copying apparatus having a function of preventing missetting of originals.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional copying machines, when copying multiple originals, an automatic document feeder/discharge device transports the originals one after another to a predetermined position on a contact glass and collects the copied originals at a predetermined position. is used. This automatic document feeder/discharge device is usually integrated with a document pressure plate and installed on the copying machine.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional automatic document feeder and ejector, when setting the original, the copy side is set on the upper side, and a reversing mechanism at the time of paper feeding causes the copy side to be placed on the lower side ( There are two types of devices: one that feeds the paper with the copy side facing down (the contact lens side), and another that feeds the paper with the copy side facing down.
It was necessary to set the manuscript according to the specifications. For this reason, it is easy to make a mistake in setting the original with the front or back side incorrectly placed, and this setting mistake can result in a large number of copies being made.
Mistakes will occur.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to prevent document setting errors.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A copying apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention includes an image forming means (100) for recording an image of a document at an exposure position on a transfer sheet; a document is sequentially fed one by one from a document set to an exposure position; Original feed/discharge control means (200) for controlling paper feeding and ejection to a predetermined position after exposure; image pattern on the original surface of the original;
a pattern detection means (250) for detecting the presence/absence of a pattern; a notification means (1); if the pattern detection means (250) detects no detection, the image forming means (100) starts forming an image; control means (400) for instructing the notification means (1) to issue a warning;

[0006] The copying apparatus of the second invention also includes an image forming means (100
); Document feed/discharge control means (200) that sequentially feeds the documents one by one from the document set to the exposure position and discharges them to a predetermined position after exposure; Pattern detecting means (250) to detect; if there is no detection by the pattern detecting means (250), document reversing means (200) for reversing the front and back of the document supplied by the document feed/discharge control means (200); ); Note that the symbols in parentheses are corresponding elements in the embodiment described later.

[0007]

[Operation] According to the first invention, the control means (400)
If the pattern detection means (250) detects no detection, the image forming means (100) is prohibited from starting image formation, and the notification means (1) is instructed to issue a warning. Therefore, if the front and back sides of the original are reversed due to a mistake in setting the original, the front and back sides of the original are detected and a warning is issued, so that the user immediately notices the mistake in setting the original.

According to the second invention, when the pattern detecting means (250) detects no detection, the document reversing means (200) reverses the document supplied by the document feeding/discharging control means (200). Flip the front and back sides of. Therefore, if the front and back sides of the original are reversed due to a mistake in setting the original, the front and back sides of the original are detected and the front and back sides of the original are reversed, so the original is always fed with the correct original set, and the original is set correctly. Miscopying due to mistakes can be prevented. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

[First Embodiment] A copying apparatus as an example of the present invention includes a copying machine main body 100 shown in FIG. 1 and an automatic document feeding/discharging device (hereinafter referred to as RDH) mounted on the upper part of the copying machine main body 100 shown in FIG.
200. First, the copying machine main body 100 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The copying machine main body 100 is an electrostatic transfer type copying device with a fixed original, and includes an optical system 110, an image forming system 120, a paper feeding system 130, a paper ejection system 140, and the like. Optical system 110
The contact glass 111, the exposure lamp 112 arranged below it, the first mirror 113A, and the second mirror
113B, 3rd mirror-113C, 4th mirror-113D,
Fifth mirror 113E, sixth mirror 113F, lens 11
The image forming system 120 includes a photoreceptor drum 121, a charger 122, an eraser 123, a developer 124, a pre-transfer charger 126, and a separation charger arranged around the photoreceptor drum 121. -jar 127, separation claw 1
28, a pre-cleaning static elimination charger (hereinafter referred to as PCC) 129, a cleaner 12A, a conveyor belt 12B disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum 121, a fixing device 12C, and the like. The paper feed system 130 includes a manual paper feed tray 131, a paper feed tray 131A, a call roller 132 provided on the paper feed tray, a paper feed roller 133, and a reverse roller 134,
It also includes a registration roller 135, a guide mylar 136, various guides, intermediate rollers, and the like. Note that the manual paper feed table 131 has a calling roller 132 and a paper feeding roller 133.
In addition, the reversing roller 134 is also used as the paper feed tray 131A. The paper ejection system 140 includes a contact/separation roller 142, a paper ejection roller 141, and the like.

When a document is set on the contact glass 111 and a start instruction is given, the paper feed clutch is turned on and the call roller of the paper feed tray selected at that time feeds the recording paper to the paper feed roller. The paper feed roller registers the recording paper.
Send it towards La 135. During this time, the optical system 110 scans the original on the contact glass 111, and the exposure lamp 1
The reflected light from the original illuminated by 12 is reflected by the first mirror 113A.
, second mirror 113B, third mirror 113C, lens 1
14, 4th mirror-113D, 5th mirror-113E, 6th mirror
The light is guided to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 121 via the mirror 113F and the dustproof glass 115.

The photosensitive drum 121 rotates clockwise in the drawing, and its photosensitive surface is uniformly charged by a charging charger 122 and erased before receiving the reflected light from the optical system 110. - A latent image area is formed by charge removal by the sensor 123. Therefore, when this latent image area is irradiated with light reflected from the original, photoconduction occurs depending on the strength of the light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 124, and becomes a toner image with toner attached thereto according to the density of the document. This toner image is transferred onto the recording paper fed out from the registration roller 135, but in order to facilitate the transfer, the PTL 125 removes the charge before the transfer.

The recording paper fed out by the registration roller 135 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by a guide mylar 136, and the toner is deposited directly above the transfer charger 126.
The image is transferred. Immediately after this, the recording paper is transferred to separation charger 1.
27, but if the separation is insufficient, the separation claw 128 forcibly separates the photosensitive material. After the recording paper is separated, residual toner is removed from the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 121 by a cleaner 12A, and the recording paper is sent to a fixing device 12C by a conveyor belt 12B. The fixing device 12C includes a fixing roller 12C1 and a pressure roller 12C.
2, the recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is heated (approximately 185° C.) while applying pressure to fix the toner image. The recording paper with the toner image fixed thereon is delivered to a paper refeeding system 140. A paper discharge system 140 guides the recording paper to a paper discharge roller 141, and the recording paper is discharged from the apparatus by the paper discharge roller 141 and the contact/separation roller 142.

FIG. 3 shows a part of the external appearance of an operation board 150 provided in this copying apparatus. Each key and display will be explained. The display 1 is a warning display and informs the user of an error in setting the original (the front and back of the original are reversed). Reference numeral 2 is a print start for inputting a copy start instruction.
The key number 3 is for clearing and copying the copy set number.
Stop/clear key for inputting instructions such as interruption, code 4
is a numeric keypad for inputting the number of copies, etc. Further, reference numeral 5 indicates a 7-segment display for the number of original sheets set, and reference numeral 6 indicates a 7-segment display for the number of copies to be processed. It should be noted that there are various other keys and indicators on the operation board 150, such as density adjustment, magnification, duplex mode keys, etc., but they are omitted here.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the RDH 200. The RDH 200 will be explained with reference to this figure. RDH200
is a type of automatic document feeder/discharge device that automatically feeds the document onto the contact glass 111 before starting optical scanning and ejects the document after optical scanning is completed. By making it possible to repeatedly feed and eject the same original by resetting the original, it is possible to copy double-sided originals or to make re-copies in the event of a misfeed. This device includes a document placing table 210, a document feeding system 220, a document resetting system 230, a reversing system 240, and the like.

[0016] On the original table 210, there is a recycle lever.
A drive motor 211, a recycle lever 212 coupled to the shaft thereof, and a sensor 213 for detecting rotation of the recycle lever 212 are provided. When a document is set and a copy start instruction is given, the motor 211 rotates the recycle lever 212 to place the final document on top. Thereafter, when the last original is fed and the lever 212 rotates due to its own weight, and the tip of the original falls from the notch formed in the original placing table 210, the sensor 213 moves the lever 212 just before that.
Detect. In other words, the sensor 213 detects one cycle of a series of originals placed at the beginning. Also, if the number of original feeding/ejection cycles is two or more, the sensor 213 detects one cycle of a series of originals placed on the original. A lever 212 is mounted to detect each cycle.

The feeding system 220 includes a half-moon roller 221, a feeding belt 222, a separating belt 223, a conveying roller 224,
It includes a conveyor belt 225, a presser roller 226, a document sensor 227, a paper feed sensor 228, a paper feed registration sensor 229, and the like. When the document sensor 227 detects a document, a feed is sent from the main body 100 at a predetermined timing.
A doin signal is sent. As a result, the document feeding operation is started, and first, the half-moon roller 221 separates the document. Since a plurality of these documents may overlap, only the lowest document is sent to the conveyance roller 224 by the action of the feed belt 222 and separation belt 223. The conveyance roller 224 transfers this document to the conveyance belt 225, which further conveys it. At this time, when the registration sensor 229 detects the trailing edge of the document, a predetermined stop timing is set and the feeding of the document is stopped. This results in
A document is positioned on contact glass 111. Note that the paper feed sensor 228 detects misfeed.

The reset system 230 includes a deflection plate 231, discharge rollers 232, 233, and 234, and the like. Resetting is performed by completing the optical scan, and after selecting the ejection guide 235 by the direction change plate 231, the conveyor belt 225 is reversed. As a result, the last part of the document on the document tray (
is discharged to the top).

The reversing system 240 includes the switchback roller 2
41, a reversal sensor 242, a reversal registration sensor 243, and part of the original feeding system 220 and original resetting system 230 are used together. Here, the document resetting system 230
During ejection, the reversal sensor 242 detects the point in time when the trailing edge of the document passes the ejection guide 235, and
By reversing rollers 232, 233 and 234, the original is guided to switchback roller 241. The switchback roller 241 first guides the document to a reversing guide 244 , then reverses it and guides it to a reversing paper feed guide 245 . At this time, the reversing paper feed guide 245 is selected by the direction change plate 231 and the document is sent to the conveyor belt 225. Note that the timing of stopping the document in this case is determined by detection by the reversal registration sensor 243.

The operations of the document feeding system 220, document resetting system 230, and reversing system 240 described above allow the document to be fed normally and ejected normally (normal feed/discharge mode), and the document is reversed. "Reverse feed forward/discharge mode", which feeds and discharges as is.
“Normal feed/reverse ejection mode” that feeds the original normally, then reverses it and ejects it.
A "reverse feed/discharge mode" in which the document is fed inverted and then discharged in reverse, and a "reversal mode" in which only inversion is performed are possible.

By the way, the RDH200 has a document transport roller.
A document size sensor 250 is provided near the controller 224, and the document size sensor 250 is composed of a plurality of photosensors for detecting the document size and the image pattern (characters or images) of the document. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of photosensors of the document size sensor 250 and the correspondence with the document size. a, b, c shown in FIG.
This is a photosensor for detecting the size of a document, which measures the passage time from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the document when feeding the document, and determines the document size based on the number of actuated sensors. In addition, sensors a, b, and c use infrared rays, and the black pattern
It is also possible to detect that there is a document in the blank area. 11, 12 shown in FIG.
Reference numerals 13 and 14 are sensors for detecting a document pattern using visible light, which detect the document pattern on the copy side of the document when the document is fed. In other words, it is possible to distinguish between the front and back sides of a single-sided original or an original whose one side has a predetermined pattern.

The components described above are controlled by an electrical control system shown in FIG. This electrical control system includes a main control section 400, a storage section 410, an optical control section 420,
It consists of an AC control section 430, an operation control section 440, an RDH control section 450, and the like.

The main control unit 400 monitors various sensors 420 provided in each part of the main body 100 and controls the loads of the solenoids, motors, etc. of each part. The optical control unit 420 controls the lens motor that drives the lens 114 and the scanner motor that performs optical scanning, and the AC control unit 430
Exposure lamp 112, fuser 12C heater, main motor
Controls AC loads such as the motor, developing motor, transport motor, and paper feed motor. The operation control unit 440 has an operation and display board.
Key operation reading and display control of the card 150 are performed. Further, the RDH control unit 450 controls the RDH 200.

The contents of the processing of the copying machine will be explained below with reference to the outline of the processing procedure of the main control section 400 shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

FIG. 6 shows the main flow of the main control section 400.
It is a chart. First, when the power is turned on, initialization is performed (Step 1: hereinafter, the word "step" will be omitted in parentheses). In this initialization, timers, registers, etc. are cleared, and preparations necessary for the image forming process such as preheating of the fixing device are performed. Thereafter, print preparation processing such as copy density adjustment is performed (2). When the print key (start key) 2 is pressed (3), the pre-copy preparation process is performed (4), and when the pre-copy preparation process is completed (5) the copy process described with reference to FIG. - Execute the process (6). When the copy process is completed (7), a copy end process is performed (8), and when the end process is completed (9), the process returns to step 2 again and a print preparation process is performed. Note that the above processing is similar to that of a one-time copying machine, so the details will be omitted.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show flowcharts of the document size detection process. This process is executed every time the document is transported. In this process, first, a time-up of the timer is detected (a1), and if the time is not up and sensor a is ON (a2), t1 is set in the timer and a size flag A is set (a9, a10), sensor a,
When b is ON (a2, a3), t2 is set in the timer and size flag B is set (a7, a8), and when sensors a, b, c are ON (a1, a2, a3), the timer is set. Set t3 and set size flag C (a5
, a6). Here, t1 is longer than the time required to transport the original by the width of A3 paper, but shorter than the time to transport the original by the length of A4 paper, and t2 is longer than the time taken to transport the original by the width of B5 paper. t3 is longer than the time it takes to transport a document the length of an A4 sheet, but shorter than the time it takes to transport the document the length of an A4 sheet. It is.

On the other hand, in step a1, when the timer times out, the timer is reset, and at this time, if the size flag C is set and sensor a is ON, A3 portrait is set as the document size (a12, a13, a14), When size flag C is set and sensor a is OFF, A4 landscape is set as the document size (a12, a13, a15
), if size flag B is set and sensor a is ON, B4 portrait is set as the document size (a16, a17, a
18), size flag B is set and sensor a is turned off
Then, set the document size to B5 landscape (a16, a1
7, a19), if size flag A is set and sensor a is ON, set A4 portrait as the document size (a20,
a21, a21), when size flag A is set and sensor a is OFF, A5 landscape is set as the document size (
a20, a21, a22). As mentioned above, in this process, based on the passage time of the document and the detection outputs of sensors a, b, and c,
Detects the original size.

FIG. 9 shows the flow of document pattern check processing.
Show the chart. When sensor a is turned on, a sensor a set flag is set (b2, b3). If sensor a is ON when the sensor a set flag is set,
Checks whether pattern data is present, and if pattern data is present, sets the pattern data present flag (b1, b4
, b5, b6). After that, when sensor a is turned off (when the document passes the sensor), if the pattern presence flag is set, the pattern presence flag is reset.
If the pattern presence flag is OFF, the document pattern absence flag is set (b4, b7, b8, b9).

As described above, in this process, the O of the pattern detection sensor is
Check the pattern data from the R output, and if there is no pattern data at all, it is determined that there is no original pattern (on the back side of the original) and the no original pattern flag is set. .

FIG. 10 shows the flowchart of the image forming process.
Indicates the If the original size data is set after the original is fed, and the no original pattern flag is not set, exposure will start at that point and the sequence for the image forming process will start. Start the operating pulse (
c1-c5). Further, if the document pattern-free flag is set in step c3, the document check warning display 1 on the operation board 150 is lit (c6), the process moves to the copy preparation routine, and the user starts the copy preparation routine. Prompts the user to re-set the original and print again. Note that since image formation is not started until pattern detection is performed, the start of image formation is prohibited while there is an error in setting the document.

As described above, in this embodiment, the presence/absence of an image pattern on the set original is detected, and if there is no image pattern, it is determined that the set original is upside down, and a warning is displayed. At the same time, the start of image formation is prohibited.

[0032]

[Second Embodiment] This embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above.
The hardware configuration is the same, but the flowchart of the image forming process in the control flowchart of the main control section 400 is different. The image forming process of this embodiment will be explained below.

In this embodiment, the document feeding process is performed in performing the image forming process, so first, the flowchart of the document feeding process shown in FIG. 11 will be explained. In FIG. 11, when print key (start key) 2 is pressed with a document set on RDH (d1, d2
), performs document feeding processing (d3). At this time, if the no document pattern flag is set, the document is reversed and the document is fed with the back side of the set surface facing the contact glass (d4, d5).

FIG. 12 shows the flowchart of the image forming process.
Indicates the If the original size data is set after the original is fed, and the no original pattern flag is not set, exposure will start at that point and the sequence for the image forming process will start. Start the operating pulse (
e1-e3, e6, e7). On the other hand, if the document pattern-free flag is set in step e3, exposure is started when the document is reversed and a predetermined time has elapsed.
The sequence operation pulse for the imaging process is started (e3, e6, e7). Note that the above-mentioned predetermined time is calculated by subtracting the time from when the exposure lamp is turned on until the scanner arrives at the leading edge position of the document (exposure start position) from the time it takes for the fed document to be placed in the predetermined position on the contact glass. It's time.

As described above, in this embodiment, the presence/absence of an image pattern on a set document is detected, and if there is no image pattern, it is determined that the set document is upside down, and the set document is The paper is fed with the front and back sides reversed to form an image.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, if the front and back sides of the original are set in reverse due to a mistake in setting the original, the front and back sides of the original are detected and a warning is issued. As a result, the user immediately notices the mistake in setting the original. Further, according to the second invention, if the front and back sides of the original are reversed due to a mistake in setting the original, the front and back sides of the original are detected and the front and back of the original are reversed, so that the original is always set in the correct state. Paper is fed, and it is possible to prevent miscopying due to mistakes in setting the original.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming section of a copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an RDH 200 provided in the copying apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a part of an operation board 150 provided in the copying apparatus.

[Figure 4] Original size sensor 2 included in RDH200
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a document size sensor 250 showing the arrangement of the document size sensor 50 and the correspondence with the document size.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the main control section 400.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control operation (document size detection) of the main control section 400.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation (document size detection) of the main control section 400.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control operation (document pattern check) of the main control section 400.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control operation (imaging process processing) of the main control section 400.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control operation (document feeding) of the main control section 400 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control operation (imaging process processing) of the main control unit 400 in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: Copying machine main body (image forming means) 110: Optical system
120: Image forming system 130: Paper feeding system
140: Paper refeed system 15
0: Operation board 1: Warning indicator (notification means) 200: Automatic document feeder 210: Document placement table
220: Original feeding system 230: Original resetting system 250: Original size sensor (pattern detection means) 400
: Main control section (control means) 410: Storage section
420: Optical control section 430: AC control section
440: Operation control unit 4
50: RDH control unit (original feed/discharge control means, original reversing means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: Image forming means for recording the image of the original at the exposure position on transfer paper; Original feed/discharge control that sequentially feeds the originals one by one from the original set to the exposure position, and controls ejection to a predetermined position after exposure is completed. means; pattern detection means for detecting the presence/absence of an image pattern on the surface of the original; notification means; if the pattern detection means detects no detection, prohibits the image forming means from starting image formation; A copying apparatus comprising: a control means for instructing a notification means to issue a warning. 2. Image forming means for recording the image of the original at the exposure position on transfer paper; Original feed/discharge control that sequentially feeds the originals one by one from the original set to the exposure position, and controls ejection to a predetermined position after exposure is completed. means; a pattern detection means for detecting the presence/absence of an image pattern on the document surface of the document; if the pattern detection means detects no image pattern, the document supply/discharge control means detects the front and back sides of the supplied document; A copying apparatus comprising: a document reversing means for reversing the document.