JPH04301856A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a small-sized copying device whose cost can be reduced and whose operability is excellent. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a printing key 18a used for instructing to start a copying operation and a member for counting the number of times that the printing key 18a is turned on within a desired time. Then, by storing the number of times that the printing key 18a is turned on within the desired time, the number of copied sheets can be inputted. Then, a numeric key for outputting a numerical signal corresponding to '0'-'9' which is necessary for inputting the number of copied sheets and also an electric circuit for discriminating an inputted signal and for converting it to the data on the number of copied sheets can be omitted.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for copying an image by forming an image of image information written on a document on an image carrier.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus, that is, a copying apparatus,
An image reading unit that guides light obtained by illuminating the image of the original to an image carrier, that is, a photoreceptor, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the light from this image reading unit, and the photosensitive member reproduces the image of the original. The image forming section includes an image forming section including an image forming section, and a feeding/discharging section that supplies copy paper to the image forming section and transfers an image obtained by the image forming section onto the copy paper and outputs the copy paper.

[0003] The image reading section has a document mounting table on which a document is placed, an illumination device that illuminates the document, and an optical device that transmits reflected light from the document. Further, the image forming section includes a photoconductor that is rotatable and on which electrostatic latent images are sequentially formed corresponding to the light transmitted from the reading section, and a charging device that charges the photoconductor. , a developing device that visualizes the latent image formed on the photoreceptor, a transfer device that transfers the developed image to a transfer material, a fixing device that fixes the transferred image to the transfer material, and A cleaning device and the like are arranged to return the photoreceptor to its initial state. On the other hand, the feeding/discharging section includes a paper cassette for supplying copy paper, a paper feeding device for feeding the paper stored in the cassette to the image forming section, and an image copied by the image forming section. It has an ejecting section that ejects the paper onto which the image has been transferred.

In this type of copying apparatus, a copying operation is started when a document to be copied is placed on a document table and a print key for inputting a copy start signal is turned on. Also, “0” to input the number of copies to be made.
The number of copies is directly input using numeric keys that can input signals corresponding to the numbers ``9''. On the other hand, even while copying is being executed based on the input number of copies, the copying operation can be interrupted by turning on a stop key that can supply a signal to interrupt copying.

[0005]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in recent years,
As the number of users who require copying devices becomes more diverse, the number of users who copy several tens of sheets per day or fewer than a few copies per original document is increasing, for example. This means that the special functions that can be obtained by the many keys or complicated key operations that conventional copying machines are equipped with create complexity for the user.
There is a risk of giving the impression that the operability of the copying device is not good. Furthermore, arranging a large number of keys that are used relatively infrequently increases the size of the device and increases the cost of the device itself.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus that is small in size, has low cost, and has good operability.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned problems, and includes: an input key for instructing the start of an operation; a counting means for counting the number of inputs from the input key; a detecting means for detecting that a desired time has elapsed since the end of input from the input key, and in response to the detection result of the detecting means, the number of times counted by the counting means is set as the number of copies, and a copying operation is executed. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a processing means.

[0008]

The copying apparatus of the present invention includes a print key used to instruct the start of a copying operation, and a member for counting the number of times the print key is turned on within a desired time period. Therefore, the number of times the print key is pressed within the desired time can be set as the number of copies.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

According to FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus, that is, a copying apparatus 2 has an original placing table 10 on which an object to be read, that is, a document D is placed, and a document placing table 10 that is openable and closable. It has a document presser 12 that brings the document D placed on the document table 10 into close contact with the document placement table 10 .

Inside the mounting table 10 (that is, at the bottom in FIG. 1), a lamp 22 for illuminating the document D;
A reflection plate 24 that focuses the illumination light generated from 2 onto the original D.
, and a first mirror 26 that reflects the reflected light from the original D toward a second carriage 30 (described later), and is parallel to the above-described placement table 10 by a pulse motor (not shown) via a toothed belt (not shown) or the like. A first carriage 20 is movably disposed, and a second mirror 32 and a third mirror are disposed at right angles to each other and reflect light from the document D reflected by the first carriage toward a photoconductor, which will be described later. It has a mirror 34, is driven by the first carriage 20 via a toothed belt (not shown), etc. that drives the first carriage 20, and moves at 1/2 the speed of the first carriage. A second carriage 30 is arranged. Furthermore, the first carriage 2
0 and within a plane that includes the optical axis of the light reflected via the second carriage 30, is formed so as to be movable via a drive mechanism (not shown), and is configured to move the reflected light from the second carriage 30. The imaging lens 36 provides convergence to the image and forms an image of this reflected light at a desired magnification by moving itself, and the imaging lens 36 returns this reflected light toward a photoreceptor 40 (described later), and focuses the reflected light on the photoreceptor 40. A fourth mirror 38 is arranged to be movable along the optical axis by a drive mechanism (not shown) in order to form an image at a desired position and to correct changes in focal length due to movement of the lens 36. It goes without saying that the reflected light is the characters or figures written on the original D, that is, the image information on the original D.

Below the lens 36, that is, near the center of the copying device 2, there is a photoreceptor on which a charge distribution pattern, ie, an electrostatic latent image, is formed by forming an image of the light guided by the fourth mirror 38. 40 are arranged. This photoreceptor 40
Surroundings are a charging device 42 that charges the photoreceptor 40 with a predetermined charge, a developing device 44 that uses toner to visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 40, and a photoreceptor that exposes the paper P. a transfer device 46 which integrally includes an AC voltage application device 46a for separating the toner image from the body, and which transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 40 onto a transfer material, that is, a copy paper P supplied from a supply/discharge section to be described later; , a cleaning device 4 that removes the charge distribution on the photoreceptor 40, returns the charging characteristics of the photoreceptor 40 to its initial state, and scrapes off residual toner;
8 are arranged in order. Needless to say, since the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 40 is converted into a toner image via the developing device 44, the image information contained in the document D is copied as a toner image. , is output on paper P.

The right side of the copying device 2, that is, the photoreceptor 40
A plurality of slots 50a and 50b into which paper cassettes to be described later are inserted are located at positions corresponding to the upstream side in the rotational direction.
is formed. In these slots 50a and 50b,
A paper cassette 14 that supplies transfer materials such as copy paper P, postcards, OHP sheets, etc. toward the photoreceptor 40
a, 14b are inserted.

The left side of the copying device 2, that is, the photoreceptor 40
The position corresponding to the downstream direction of rotation in (in this Figure 1,
The image formed on the photoreceptor 40 is placed on the left side of the apparatus main body 2 (that is, in general, the copy paper P is supplied from one end of the apparatus main body 2 and is discharged from the opposite end). A discharge tray 16a is arranged in which the copied paper P on which the toner image (toner image) has been transferred and fixed is stored.

Inside the copying apparatus 2, the photoreceptor 40
and the paper cassettes 14a, 14b, a pair of first and second paper feed rollers 51a, 51b, each of which pulls out the paper P one by one from the cassettes 14a, 14b, are further formed, Paper P is placed on the photoreceptor 40.
first and second conveyance rollers 52a,
52b, each of which is formed by a pair of guide plates, and conveys the paper P from the conveyance rollers 52a, 52b toward the photoreceptor 40.
In addition to correcting the inclination of the paper P and the feeding paths 53a and 53b that feed the paper P, the leading edge of the image formed on the photoreceptor 40 and the leading edge of the paper P are aligned, and the rotation speed of the photoreceptor 40 and the rotation speed of the photoreceptor 40 are adjusted. A pair of timing rollers 54 are arranged to feed the paper P at the same speed. In addition, the apparatus main body 2 is configured to transfer the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 40 between the photoreceptor 40 and the discharge tray 16a, and to transfer the toner image onto the paper to which the toner is electrostatically attached. The apparatus includes a transport device 56 that transports the toner image P, a fixing device 58 that melts and fixes the toner transferred to the paper P, and a pair of discharge rollers 16 that discharges the paper P on which the toner image is fixed to the outside of the apparatus.

According to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus, that is, the copying apparatus 2 has a print key 18a which outputs a copy start signal in response to an input from a user, and input data such as the number of copies. It has an operation panel 18 that is integrally assembled with a display section 18b. This operation panel 18 is connected to the copying machine 2, that is, the operation panel 18
It is also connected to a CPU 70 that controls motors, switches, sensors, electric circuits, lamps, etc. included in the image forming section (shown in FIG. 1). Also, this CP
The U70 includes a memory 72 that can store the number of times the print key 18a is turned on within a desired time period, and a memory 72 that is used to set a time for determining the number of times the print key 18a is turned on as a copy number setting signal. timer 74
is connected.

According to FIG. 3, the copying apparatus 2 has a size plate 10a for indicating the position where the original D is to be placed at one end of the original placing table 10, and a cover 10b surrounding the original placing table 10. have. In addition, the operation panel 18 (
(schematically shown in FIG. 2) includes a clear key 18d and a copy key 18d, which are used to clear the set number of copies data and also to interrupt copying after the copying operation has started. A density adjustment volume 18c is arranged that can output a signal for adjusting the shading of the image. Note that this copying device 2 has the print key 18a.
is "0" to "9" (located in a general copying machine)
The operation panel 18 does not have a copy number setting key because it also serves as a number key for outputting a numeric signal corresponding to ``, that is, a copy number setting key.In addition, in this embodiment, the copy magnification is A copying apparatus that is specified only at 100% (same size) is explained as an example.

FIG. 4 shows the operation for setting the number of copies in the copying apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the power of the copying apparatus 2 is turned on, a predefined initial operation (initialization operation) is executed and a standby (ready) state is maintained. in this case,
“0” is displayed on the display device 18b. When the print key 18a is turned on, the number of times the print key 18a is turned on is stored in the memory 72 (see FIG. 2), and the print key 18a is
The number of times a is turned on is displayed as the number of copies N on the display section 18b. The timer 74 causes the print key 18a to be turned off for a desired time (n seconds), for example, approximately 2 seconds.
A time period during which "N" is repeated is defined, and the number of times the print key 18a is turned on during that time is stored in the memory 72 as the number of copies N, thereby defining the number of copies. It is confirmed that the number of copies N is 1 or more, and the image forming units (not shown) are sequentially activated via the CPU 70 to copy the image of the document D placed on the document table 10. The above STP6 is repeated until the number of copies N is satisfied, and when all the copies are completed, the copying apparatus 2 is returned to the standby state again. For example, if the number of copies is 4 and the print key 18a is turned on five or more times,
By turning on the clear key 18d, the copy number data is cleared and the copying apparatus 2 is returned to the standby state. Further, the time during which STP2 to STP3 are repeated, that is, the input waiting time n defined by the timer 74 is, for example,
It goes without saying that the time may be 0.5 seconds or less, or it may be 3 seconds or more. The input waiting time n is determined to be an optimal value through experiment and experience.

Next, the operation of the copying apparatus 2 will be briefly explained.

The document D placed on the document table 10 is brought into close contact with the document table 10 by the document presser 12 . Copy conditions such as copy magnification and paper size are selected via the operation panel 18, and a copy start signal is input from the print key 18a. The area is illuminated. The reflected light from the original D is guided to the first mirror 26 of the first carriage 20 and reflected toward the second mirror 32 of the second carriage 30. The reflected light guided to the second mirror 32 is
It is bent onto mirror 34 and reflected again onto lens 36 which has been moved to a position providing the desired magnification. This reflected light is converted into convergent light via the lens 36, is bent by the fourth mirror 36, and is imaged at a predetermined position on the photoreceptor 40, which has been given a predetermined charge. That is, the reflected light guided from the line-shaped area of the document D is converted into an electrostatic pattern, that is, a latent image, on the surface of the photoreceptor 40. Here, the first and second carriages 20, 30
is moved at a predetermined speed in the linear region, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, that is, in the sub-scanning direction, by a carriage drive motor (not shown) driven at a predetermined speed. are successively converted into latent images. Note that if the copying magnification is other than 100%, the moving speed of the first carriage 20 (same as the second carriage 30 which is driven), which imprints the original image, in the sub-scanning direction must be changed according to the magnification. Therefore, the drive speed of a carriage drive motor (not shown) is continuously changed.

The image converted into a latent image on the photoreceptor 40 is
As the photoreceptor 40 rotates at a desired speed, it is guided to a development area where the latent image is visualized. In this development area, toner is supplied via the development device 44 and selectively adheres to the latent image to develop the latent image, that is, the image.

In parallel with the series of operations up to this point, the cassette 14a is moved in accordance with the detected document size and image magnification.
, 14b, a cassette containing paper P of the optimum size is selected. When a cassette is selected, a drive device (not shown) is energized, and one sheet of paper P is pulled out via a paper feed roller arranged for each cassette. This sheet of paper P is guided from upstream in the rotational direction of the photoreceptor 40 to a lower part of the photoreceptor 40, that is, a transfer area between the transfer device 46 and the photoreceptor 40. In this case, the paper P is stopped at one end by the timing roller 54, and the movement of either the first carriage 20 or the second carriage 30 in the sub-scanning direction is used as a reference, that is, the leading edge of the image and the paper are aligned. Needless to say, the tip of P is aligned and fed toward the photoreceptor 40.

The toner image formed on the photoreceptor 40 is rotated at a desired speed and guided between the photoreceptor 40 and a transfer device 46. Further, the paper P fed from any of the above cassettes and aligned with the toner image (that is, movement of the photoreceptor 40) via the timing roller 54 is moved to the photoreceptor 40.
The photoreceptor 40 is attracted by the charge remaining on the photoreceptor 40, and is attracted to (adheres to) the photoreceptor 40. Therefore, the paper P is passed through the transfer area as the photoreceptor 40 rotates. At this time, the photoreceptor 4
0 and paper P, a charge having the same polarity as the charge already applied to the photoreceptor 40 (for forming a latent image) is supplied from the transfer device 46 to the photoreceptor 40 again. As a result, the toner adhering to the photoreceptor 40 is transferred to the paper P. The paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is transferred to the AC voltage applying device 46.
The toner is released from adsorption with the photoconductor 40 by the AC voltage supplied from a, and is sent to the conveying device 56 with toner on it. The paper P is guided to the fixing device 58 via the conveyance device 56, and the toner is fixed (fixed) to the paper P. As described above, the paper (transfer material) P on which the original image has been copied is ejected to the ejection tray 16a shown in FIG. 1 with the copy side facing up.

On the other hand, the photoreceptor 40 from which the paper P and the toner image have been separated is further rotated and cleaned by a cleaning device 48. That is, residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor 40 by the cleaning device 48, and the charge distribution pattern on the surface is returned to its initial state via a static elimination lamp (not shown), so that the state in which the next copy can be made is maintained. .

As explained above, since the numeric keys for outputting numeric signals corresponding to "0" to "9" in the copying machine 2 are omitted, the operation panel 20 can be made smaller, and at the same time, An electric circuit for determining the output from the numeric keys and replacing it with copy number data can also be omitted. On the other hand, by storing the number of times the print key 22 is turned on within a desired time period, continuous copying becomes possible even if the number of copies is plural.

[0027]

According to the present invention, the numeric keys for outputting the numeric signals used for inputting the number of copies and the electric circuit for determining the input signal and replacing it with the number of copies data are omitted. In addition to being able to set the number of copies using the print key,
The cost of copying equipment is reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a copying apparatus incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a control device incorporated in the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an operation panel and display example incorporated in the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10... Document placement table, 10a... Size board, 10b... Cover, 12... Document holder, 14a, 14b... Paper cassette,
18...Operation panel, 18a...Print key, 18b...Display section, 18d...Clear key, 20...First carriage, 3
0...Second carriage, 40...Photoreceptor, 44...Developing device,
70...CPU, 72...Memory, 74...Timer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input key for instructing the start of an operation, a counting means for counting the number of inputs from the input key, and a detection means for detecting that a desired time has elapsed since the end of input from the input key. and processing means for executing a copying operation by setting the number of copies counted by the counting means as the number of copies in response to the detection result of the detecting means.