JPH0436767A - Automatic both-side copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a time from finishing the copying of a 2nd side till starting the copying of the 1st side of a next original, to improve productivity in the case of both-side copying and to easily comply with jamming even when the jamming occurs by specifying counted value set in a timer with a timing setting part. CONSTITUTION:The counted value set in the timer by the timing setting part is such a value that blank papers 41a, 41b and 41c re fed from a main body paper feeding part 40 just before a resist roller 62 by a paper feeding roller in timing before the final ejection after the final copying paper fed from a reverse transfer part 80 passes through the resist roller 62 and a copying paper having the 1st side where copying is finished reaches the reverse transfer part 80 after the copying paper having both sides where copying is finished is ejected from an ejection port 91, and it is set in accordance with the final ejecting position of the ejection port 91 corresponding to the number of copies. Since the counted value of the timer is set in accordance with the final ejecting position of the ejecting port of a sorter, the wasteful time is not caused in the case of carrying the copying paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to improving the productivity of an automatic duplex copying apparatus that reads both sides of a document and copies both sides of copy paper.

(Background of the Invention) There is an automatic reversing document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RADF) as a device for automatically reversing a double-sided document and copying both sides of the document by simply setting the document. Using such a device, large quantities of copies can be easily made. Furthermore, since the copies are in the same order as the original, there is no need to rearrange them after copying.

Furthermore, by linking with a sorter, T-alignment and page sorting can be performed automatically, allowing a large number of copies to be accurately arranged.

In addition, the ADU is a device that can automatically copy both sides of copy paper (hereinafter referred to as copy paper) with the touch of a button.
There is. By using this function, information from two pages of a document can be combined on one sheet, making it possible to save on copy paper costs and at the same time making filing easier. It can also be used in a variety of ways, such as organizing materials into a booklet format for easy viewing.

By the way, when double-sided copying is performed using a conventional automatic duplex copying device, the last copy sheet of the second side copy (the copy sheet on which both sides have been copied) is ejected by the paper ejection detection means of the final paper ejection port. After this is detected, the next document 1 is transferred from the paper feed section.
Copy paper (blank paper) was sent out for double-sided copying.

This is to make it easier to remove the jammed copy paper when a paper jam occurs, and to reduce paper waste.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional automatic duplex copying apparatus configured as described above,
2nd side copy The time from when the last copy paper is completely ejected until the copy paper (blank paper) for the next copy is fed from the paper feeder to the photoreceptor. was wasted.

In particular, when a sorter is used, the paper passing path to the final discharge port becomes long, and it takes a certain amount of time for the copy paper to be finally discharged. Furthermore, it takes time for the blank paper from the paper feeding section to reach the photoreceptor.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes too much time from the end of copying the second side of one original to the start of copying the first side of the next original, resulting in a decrease in productivity.

Further, the position of the final discharge port C of the indexer type sorter A shown in FIG. 6 changes each time each document is discharged. Such a sorter is called an indexer type. That is, when ejecting copy paper, indexer B first descends in order from the top ejection port (1 bin),
The copy paper is ejected to the ejection port (bin corresponding to the corresponding number of copies) corresponding to the set number of copies. Then, when the copy paper on which the next document has been copied is discharged, the copy paper is discharged while ascending in order from the bin corresponding to the number of copies. Furthermore, in the next discharge, the descent from the 1st bin is repeated.

In the case of such a sorter, regardless of the number of copies set, the ejection time from the farthest ejection port (equivalent to the maximum number of bins)
The timing for conveying a blank sheet for the next copy document is determined accordingly. However, if the number of copies is small, unnecessary waiting time will occur.

Furthermore, if the next copy paper is fed before the paper that has been copied is finally ejected, it is expected that handling the occurrence of a jam will become extremely troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to shorten the time from the end of copying the second side to the start of copying the first side of the next original, thereby reducing the time required for double-sided copying. It is an object of the present invention to realize an automatic double-sided copying device that can improve productivity and can easily deal with the occurrence of a jam.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, reverses the copy paper on which the first side has been copied by a reversing transfer unit, and transfers the second side of the copy paper sent out from the reversing transfer unit to In an automatic double-sided copying device used with a sorter having multiple output ports, there is a timer that counts according to a set count value, and a timer that sets the count value in the timer and a The timing setting section includes a timing control section that starts counting a timer at the timing when copy paper is sent out, and a paper feed roller control means that drives a paper feed roller to send out blank paper when the timer counts up. The count value set in the timer is set after the last copy sheet sent out from the reversing transfer section passes the registration rollers and before the final ejection, when the blank paper from the main body's paper feed section is moved by the paper feed rollers just before the registration rollers. The value is such that the copy paper on which the first side has been copied reaches the reversing transfer section after the copy paper on which both sides have been copied is ejected from the ejection port, and corresponds to the number of copies to be made. The value is set according to the final discharge position of the discharge port.

(Function) In the automatic double-sided copying apparatus of the present invention, a predetermined count value is set in the timer by the timing control means, and counting of the timer is started at the timing when the last copy sheet is sent out from the reversing transfer section. When the timer counts up, the paper feed roller control means drives the paper feed roller for sending out the blank paper.

As a result, after the last copy sheet sent out from the reversing transfer section passes the registration rollers and before the final ejection, the copy paper from the main body paper feed section is fed by the paper feed rollers just before the registration rollers. Ru. Then, the copy paper fed in this manner reaches the reversal transfer section after the first side has been copied and the last copy paper on which double-sided copying has been completed is finally discharged.

Here, since the count value of the timer is set according to the final discharge position of the discharge port of the sorter, no wasted time occurs in conveying the copy paper.

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

First, the general operation of the electrophotographic copying apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG.

In Figure 3, the automatic double-sided document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RAD)
A document 1 placed on a 10 (referred to as F) is moved onto a platen glass 2 by RADFlo at the start of copying. The original 1 placed on the platen glass 2 is exposed by the scanning exposure optical system 20, and a latent image corresponding to the original 1 is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 30. This latent image is formed into a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 30 by the photoreceptor image forming section 3 . The toner image is transferred to a copy paper 41 supplied from a copy paper feed section 40, which will be described later, and the transferred toner image is heated and fixed by a fixing device 50. The copy paper, on which the first side has been copied in this way, is led to an inversion transfer unit (hereinafter referred to as ADU) 80 by the paper ejection switching unit 70 and is inverted.

Then, copying (formation of a toner image) on the second side of the copy paper is performed. After this toner image is fixed, the sheets are guided to a sorter 90 by a sheet discharge switching section 70, and are discharged outside the machine in a sorted state at a paper discharge port 91.

Next, FIG. 1 shows the electrical configuration of the device of this embodiment.

Figure 3 above and Figure 2 showing the flow of operation of the device of this embodiment
The operating state of this embodiment will be explained step by step along the copy paper feeding process with reference to the drawings and FIG. 4.

First, set the number of copies, copy paper size, and variable magnification.

The final discharge position and other modes are set from an operation setting section (not shown) (step 2). Based on this configuration,
The timer 120 is set. The settings of this timer 120 will be described in detail later.

When the original is set on RADFIO and the copy button is pressed, copying starts (step ■).

As described above, the copy paper 41 is supplied to the photoreceptor 30 from the copy paper feed section 40 (step (2)).

The copy paper feed section 40 is provided with three paper feed cassettes 42a to 42c that store, for example, three types of copy paper 41a to 41c of different sizes.

Copy sheets 41a to 41c are stored in paper feed cassettes 42a to 42c.
From the feed rollers 43a to 43c and the feed belts 44a to 4
4c. Delivery rollers 43a to 43
Delivery belts 44a to 44c are stretched on c.
These delivery belts 44a to 44c serve as copy sheets 41a to 41c.
By rotating the delivery rollers 43a to 43c clockwise (FIG. 3) while in contact with the uppermost copy paper 41,
A to 41 and C are sent out one by one to the left in FIG.

Copy paper 41a sent out by sending belts 44a to 44C
~41. c is conveyed to position P2 (FIG. 3) by paper feed rollers 61 and registration rollers 62. From position P2, the toner image is sent out by the registration rollers 62 after being synchronized with the rotation of the photoreceptor 30, and the toner image is transferred from the surface of the photoreceptor 30 (step (2)).

In the case of one-sided copying, the image is then heated and fixed in the fixing device 50,
Copying is completed when the paper is discharged from the paper discharge switching section 70 to the outside of the machine by the sorter 90.

In the case of double-sided copying, the copy sheets stacked in the ADU 80 are re-fed (step 2) as described below.

Downstream of the fixing device 50, there is an ejector that has a function of switching between a paper ejection path 76 that allows the fusing copy paper 41 to advance straight and eject it to the sorter 90 side, and an introduction path 77 that transports the copy paper 41 to the guide plate 71 for double-sided copying. A paper switching section 70 is provided. The paper ejection switching section 70 includes a guide plate 71. Upstream roller 72. A movable branch body 75 with an inverted triangular cross section that swings around the downstream roller 73° shaft 74. and an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown). A movable branching body 75 having an inverted triangular cross section allows a paper discharge path 7 along the upper surface of the movable branching body 75 to be
6. An introduction path 77 communicating with the kite board 71 along the lower right side, and a guide plate 71 and downstream roller 73 along the lower left side.
A reverse paper ejection path 78 communicating with the two is formed respectively.

The movable branch body 75 is driven by a drive device (not shown) such as an electromagnetic solenoid, so that the right tip moves up and down, and the introduction path 7
7 and close the paper ejection path 76, or conversely, open the paper introduction path 77.
It changes depending on whether the paper ejection path 76 is opened or closed.

The copy paper 41 sent downward (FIG. 3) through the paper ejection switching unit 70 is fed into the ADU 80 (step ①).
).

The copy paper 41 conveyed to the reversing conveyance section 80 is transferred to the pulley 81.
The paper is turned over from the roller 82 on the lower surface of the paper and discharged toward the stacker 83 to the left.

The ejected copy paper 41 descends along the slope of the stacker 83, slides on the surface of the stopper 84, comes into contact with the abutment surface, and stops. Subsequent copy paper 41 that is subsequently sent in
The copy sheets 41 are also deposited one after another on the stacker 83 and the stopper 84, and the leading edges of the copy sheets 41 are aligned by coming into contact with the abutment surface.

In this state, when a paper refeeding start signal is generated by the ADU control section 114, the roller 85 is driven and rotated by the ADU drive section 123, and the separation belt 86 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 3). As a result, the plurality of copy sheets 41 stacked on the stacker 83 are sent out to the right in FIG. 3.

The copy paper 41 is subsequently conveyed by the pressure rotation between the paper feed roller 87 and the paper feed roller 87', and the passage of the leading edge of the copy paper 41 is detected by an ADU passage sensor 89 composed of a photosensor. The copy paper 41 is successively conveyed by paper feed rollers 87 and 87', and fed into the registration roller 62 (step 2). At this time A
According to the detection result of the DU passage sensor 89, the rotation of the roller 85 and the separation belt 86 is stopped.

Thereafter, the copy paper 41 undergoes back side copying on the photoreceptor 30 (step ■), is fixed in the fixing device 50, and then passes through the reversal paper discharge processing section 76 of the paper discharge switching section 70. It is discharged outside the sorter 90. This sorter 9
It is assumed that 0 is the indexer type already explained in FIG.

In this way, copying of the back side of the first copy paper 41 by paper refeeding is completed, and then a paper refeeding start signal is input.
The next copy sheet 41 waiting on the stacker 83
paper refeeding will start. After that, the above-mentioned paper refeeding operation,
The reverse side copying operation and the sorting operation using the tile 90 are continuously performed for the set number of copies N sheets.

Here, in this embodiment, the ADUO sheet detection sensor 88 detects whether there is no copy paper 41 on the stacker 83 (step [phase]), and the ADU passage sensor 88 detects whether there is no copy paper 41 on the stacker 83 (step [phase]).
9 detects the passage of N sheets of copy paper (refeeding) (
Step ■), and the timer 120 starts counting according to instructions from the timing control unit 111 (Step ■)
. In addition, when the ADUO sheet sensor detects that there are 0 sheets,
If the ADU passage sensor 88 has not counted N sheets, a jam may have occurred, so jam processing (step 0) is performed.

Note that a predetermined count value is written in advance in this timer 120 by the timing control section 111 (step 2).

This count value satisfies the following three conditions.

[First condition] The copy paper sent out from the ADU 80 is placed on the registration roller 6.
2 (FIG. 2(C)), the next blank sheet from the paper feed unit 40 waits at the registration roller 62 (FIG. 2(D)).
)) The paper feeding timing is as follows.

That is, from the ADU passage sensor 89 to the registration roller 6
Paper passing time until 2 passes is tl+ Delivery rollers 43a to 4
If the paper passing time from 3c to just before the registration roller 62 (varies depending on the position of the paper feed cassette) is t2, then the time when the copy paper passes the ADU passage sensor 89 (see Fig. 2) is t2.
1) Start the timer 120 at A) (Fig. 2 (1)
A'), copy paper from ADU80 is placed on registration roller 6.
2 and before being ejected from the final ejection port (between C and E in Fig. 2 (1)), the next blank sheet from the paper feed section 40 waits at the registration roller (Fig. 2 (1) )D, If this timing is tD, then the count is increased at the sheet feeding timing (tl - tD - t2).

[Second condition] ADU80 passed through the registration roller under the first condition above
After the final copy sheet from 2000 has finished copying both sides and is discharged from the final discharge port (FIG. 2 (1) E), the first copy sheet on which the first side has been copied reaches the ADU 70. The timing is as shown in (Fig. 2 (1) F). Here, the times of A-E in Fig. 2 change due to a change in the final ejection position of the ejection port (to 1 bin or a bin equivalent to the corresponding number of copies), so the times A' to E in Fig. 2 are changed so that F in Fig. 2 is after E. Change the count time of B.

[Third condition] When the final discharge port of the sorter 90 changes alternately (indexer type, etc.), the position of the final discharge port is detected in advance, and the final copy sheet of a certain document is The timing control unit 111 calculates the time until the ejection is performed, and sets the count value of the timer 120 based on the time ((Step ■) (Step @)). In reality, the final ejection alternates between the case where the farthest ejection port (bin corresponding to the number of copies) is the last and the case where the closest ejection port (1 bin) is the last, so two count values are registered. etc. (not shown) and may be set alternately in the timer 120.

In the case of the above configuration, the paper feeding path length differs depending on the position of the selected paper feeding cassettes 42a to 42c, and therefore the paper feeding time also differs, so the timing control circuit 112 also controls these cassettes. With reference to this, the timer 120 is set so that the above three conditions are satisfied.

Further, the count value of the timer 120 is set in consideration of the difference in final discharge position (for example, one sorter, two sorters, no sorter) and the transfer speed.

Therefore, when the timer 120 counts up (step [phase]), the paper feed roller control unit 116 generates a paper feed start signal, and the paper feed roller drive unit 125 that receives this signal drives the paper feed roller 61 to rotate. do.

As a result, after the final re-feeding from the ADU 80 is completed (after passing the registration rollers 62), a blank sheet for copying the next document is conveyed to the registration rollers 62.

As a result, the first effect is that productivity during double-sided copying can be improved.

Furthermore, as a second effect, the setting time of the timer 120 is determined so that the next blank sheet waits at the registration rollers 62 after the copy paper from the ADU 80 passes through the registration rollers 62, so the paper feed cassette 42a Regardless of the difference in paper passing path length due to the difference in the position of 42c, it is possible to match the waiting timing of the copy paper in front of the registration roller. Therefore, even if the position of the paper feed cassette is different, productivity can be maintained constant and improved.

As a third effect, the copy paper on which the first side has been copied does not reach the ADU 80 until the final copy paper on which both sides have been copied is discharged, so that paper jams can be easily handled. That is, if a paper jam occurs near the final ejection port 91 (which is most likely to occur), subsequent copy sheets are stopped in front of the ADU 80 and can be easily removed. In such a case, if the subsequent paper is stacked in the ADU, the process of removing it becomes troublesome.

However, according to this embodiment, it is possible to easily deal with the occurrence of a jam.

Furthermore, as a fourth effect, since the count value setting of the timer 120 is changed in accordance with the change in the final ejection position of the ejection port, the copy paper is transported at the optimum timing, and there is no wasted waiting time. .

Therefore, it contributes to improving the productivity of the copying machine. The count value set in the timer 120 is
Even if the value is only based on the corresponding number-of-copies-equivalent bin, when the number of copies is small, productivity can be improved compared to the conventional method.

Furthermore, the timer 120 does not need to satisfy the above conditions under all conditions, and may have a mode in which the next blank sheet is fed to the registration rollers after the last sheet is ejected from the final ejection position. The configuration may be such that one of the two can be selected.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram comparing the time required to make N copies of double-sided copies of six double-sided originals between the conventional method and the present embodiment. As is clear from this figure, according to this embodiment, by making a blank sheet stand by in front of the registration rollers in advance, copying time can be shortened and productivity can be improved.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, in the present invention, the copy paper on which the first side has been copied is reversed by the reversing transfer unit, and the second side is copied onto the copy paper sent out from the reversing transfer unit. In an automatic duplex copying machine used with a sorter having multiple output ports, there is a timer that counts according to the set count value, and a timer that sets the count value in the timer and the last output in the reverse transfer section. The timing setting section includes a timing control unit that starts counting a timer at the timing when copy paper is fed out, and a paper feed roller control unit that drives a paper feed roller that feeds out blank paper when the timer counts up. The count value set in the timer is set after the last copy sheet sent out from the reversing transfer section passes the registration rollers and before the final ejection, when the blank paper from the main body's paper feed section is moved by the paper feed rollers just before the registration rollers. The value is such that the copy paper on which the first side has been copied reaches the ADU after the copy paper on which both sides have been copied is ejected from the output port. The configuration is such that the value is set according to the final discharge position of the exit.

As a result, a predetermined count value is set in the timer by the timing control means, and the timer starts counting at the timing when the last copy sheet is sent out in the reversing transfer section, and when the timer counts up, paper is fed. A paper feed roller for feeding blank paper is driven by the roller control means.

As a result, after the last copy sheet sent out from the reversing transfer section passes the registration rollers and before the final ejection, the copy paper from the main body paper feed section is fed by the paper feed rollers just before the registration rollers. Ru. Then, the copy paper fed in this manner reaches the reversal transfer section after the first side has been copied and the last copy paper on which double-sided copying has been completed is finally discharged. Here, the count value of the timer is set every time the final ejection position of the ejection port of the sorter changes, so that no wasted waiting time occurs in conveying copy sheets.

Therefore, the time from the end of copying on the second side to the start of copying on the first side of the next original is shortened, making it possible to improve productivity during duplex copying, and even in the event of a paper jam at the ejection port. It is possible to realize an automatic double-sided copying apparatus that can be easily handled.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an automatic double-sided copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the characteristic parts of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operating state of the device of this embodiment; FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the productivity of the automatic double-sided copying apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the order of sorter discharge. 1... Original 2... Platen glass 1
0...RADF 20...Optical system 30...
・Photoconductor 40... Main body paper feed section 41a to 41
c... Copy paper 42a to 42c... Paper feed cassettes 438 to 43c... Delivery rollers 44a to 44c... Delivery belt 50... Fixing section 61... Paper feeding roller 62
... Registration roller 70 ... Paper ejection switching section 80 ...
・ADU 88...ADUO sheet sensor 89
... ADU passage sensor 90 ... Sorter 100 ... Control section 110.
...CPU 111...Timing control section 112...RADF control section 113...Photoconductor control section 114...ADU control section 115...Registration roller control section 116...Paper feed roller control section 120 ...Timer 121...RADF drive section 122...Photoconductor drive section 123...ADU drive section 124...Registration roller drive section 125...Paper feed roller drive section

Claims (1)

[Claims] The copy paper on which the first side has been copied is reversed by the reversing transfer unit (80), and the second side is copied onto the copy paper sent out from the reversing transfer unit (80), and a plurality of In an automatic double-sided copying device used with a sorter (90) having a discharge port, there are provided a timer (120) that counts according to a set count value, and a reversal transfer unit (80) that sets the count value in the timer (120). ) a timing control unit (111) that starts counting a timer (120) at the timing when the last copy sheet is sent out, and sends out blank sheets (41a, 41b, 41c) when the timer (120) counts up. The count value set in the timer (120) by the timing setting section (111) is input from the reversal transfer section (80). After the last fed out copy sheet passes through the registration roller (62) and before the final ejection, the paper feed section (40) of the main body
The blank paper (41a, 41b, 41c) from the paper feed roller (
61), the copy paper is fed just before the registration roller (62), and the copy paper that has been copied on both sides is delivered to the ejection port (91).
The value is such that the copy paper whose first side has been copied reaches the reversal transfer unit (80) after being ejected from the paper, and is set according to the final ejection position of the ejection port (91) corresponding to the number of copies. An automatic double-sided copying device characterized by having a value of .