JPH045986B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field The present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly, a copying machine that is detachable from the copying machine, and is capable of starting a copying operation while being attached, and is operable for each copying operation. The present invention relates to a copying machine with a plug-in counter associated with the copying machine.

PRIOR ART Plug-in counters generally have the above-mentioned functions, and are, for example, kept in each section within one office and used to check and manage the number of copies for each section. It is also called a key counter (product name).

Conventionally, in a copying machine that can use this plug-in counter, when the plug-in counter is removed from the copying machine after operating the print key that starts the copying operation and before the copying operation is completed, the copying operation is stopped. Although the program was executed until completion, a situation could occur in which the plug-in counter did not count up. If this happens, accurate management of the number of copies cannot be performed.

The above disadvantage is that pulling out the plug-in counter is normally treated the same as a signal from a stop key or the like that stops the copying operation, and the stop signal is not accepted once the copying operation has started, and at least one copy is completed. This occurs because the system is configured in such a way that it is executed.

On the other hand, when the plugin counter is pulled out,
Controlling the copying operation to stop under any circumstances is not preferable in view of the danger of copying paper remaining in the machine or stopping at the heater section.

Purpose The present invention has been made by focusing on the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional copying machine.The present invention has been made by focusing on the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional copying machine. An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine that prevents the above.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of an electrophotographic copying machine 1 with a moving document table.A charger 3 for charging, a developing device 4, a transfer, A static elimination charger 5, a cleaner unit 6, an eraser lamp 18, etc. are arranged in this order.

A document (not shown) placed on a document placement plate made of a transparent member of a document table 8 reciprocally installed on the top surface of the copying machine main body is placed on an exposure lamp 91 provided on the bottom surface of the document table, The image is scanned by the optical system 9 including the light transmitting array 92 and the like as the document table 8 moves, and is projected onto the exposure area E on the rotational circumference of the rotating photoreceptor drum 2 .

Copy sheets P are stacked and held on a paper feed stand C, and are fed one by one from the top one by the rotation of a paper feed roller 10, and after being temporarily stopped by a timing roller 11, the photosensitive The powder image on the drum 2 is transferred by the transfer charger 5 in synchronization with the image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2, and the powder image is released from the photoreceptor drum 2 by the static elimination charger and transferred to the transfer belt 12. The image is conveyed to a heat roller fixing device 13, and after the image is fixed, it is discharged onto a tray 15 by a discharge roller 14.

A magnet 16 is attached to the lower surface of the document table 8, and when the document table 8 starts from the scanning start position shown in FIG. When the reed switch 17 is turned on, a signal to start paper feeding is generated. A plug-in counter 50 is attached to the main body of the copying machine to enable the start of a copying operation, and is associated with the copying machine so as to count the number of copying operations.

FIG. 2 shows the operation panel section of the copying machine 1.

31 is a print key for starting the copying operation, and 32 is an interrupt key for temporarily stopping the continuous copying operation in order to execute another copy during the continuous copying operation of a large number of sheets, and is set to interrupt mode. Then, the internal light emitting element 39 is turned on. 3
Numeral keys 5 and 36 are keys for changing the numerical value displayed on the sheet number display section 41, and keys 37 and 38 are keys for changing the exposure state displayed on the exposure display section 42, and 43 is a key for changing the numerical value displayed on the sheet number display section 41. This is the display section. Further, a clear and stop key 47 is used to clear the display section of the sheet number display section 41 to "1" if the copying operation is stopped, and to stop the copying operation while leaving the set number unchanged if the continuous copying operation is in progress. (hereinafter referred to as the stop key).

These various input keys such as the print key 31, interrupt key 32, and stop key 47, as well as various display mechanisms, etc., together with the above-mentioned reed switch 17 and other devices in the copying machine 1, are connected to a microcomputer (as shown in FIG. 3). Hereinafter, it is abbreviated as MC.) 30, and MC30 is
The copying operation is controlled according to conditions set by various input keys.

In FIG. 3, 52 is a solenoid for operating the plug-in counter 50, 34 is a clutch mechanism for reciprocating the document table, and 33 is a main motor.
Both are driven and controlled based on a control signal from the output port of the MC 30. The driving of the main motor 33 is controlled by switching the photocoupler 45 in response to a signal from the output port of the MC 30, thereby triggering a triac (TC). 46 is a driver circuit for the exposure display section 42. The solenoid 52 is
A signal from the output port of the MC 30 turns on the transistor 53, which turns on and increments the counter in the off operation. Further, 51 is a switch for detecting whether or not the plug-in counter 50 is installed,
It closes when worn, and the MC30 determines whether it is worn.

Note that the MC30 has the number display section 4 mentioned above.
1 and the display unit 43, a switch (not shown) for detecting the normal position (scan start position) of the document table 8, and charging, development, transfer, exposure, and erase in the copying machine 1. These circuits are generally well known and are not directly related to the present invention. The structural relationship with MC30 is not shown.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of control by the MC 30, which will be explained below with reference to the time chart of FIG. 5.

The step takes a slightly longer time than the maximum time required for MC30 program processing (10~
Set the internal timer (t) to approximately 15 msec. As a result, the time from the start to the end of the final step becomes constant regardless of the amount of internal processing, and the control timer (TA), which will be described later, is timed up for each routine of the program.
The setting times of (T-F) and (T-Z) become accurate.

In the step, it is determined whether the print key 31 is on. If it is on, it is determined in the step whether or not the copying operation can be started. If YES, the print flag is set in the step. A state in which the copying operation can be started means, for example, that there is no abnormality in the internal equipment in the copying machine 1 and that the fixing device 13
A state in which the temperature of the printer has risen to a predetermined value, the plug-in counter is properly installed, and a copying operation is not in progress (the copy flag is reset).

Steps ~〓〓 indicate processing when the interrupt key 32 is pressed.

When it is determined in step that the interrupt key 32 is on, it is determined in step whether or not the interrupt key 32 was turned on in the interrupt mode, and if the interrupt key 32 was turned on in the interrupt mode, the step Process to return to normal mode in ~, and if interrupt key 32 is turned on in normal mode, step 〓〓
~〓〓 executes the process to set interrupt mode.

The process of setting from the normal mode to the interrupt mode is to set the stop flag, turn on the light emitting element 39 for interrupt display, and save the numerical value of the sheet number display section 41 and the state of the exposure display section 42 in the normal mode to the memory. Along with this, the number display section 41
The process of returning from the interrupt mode to the normal mode means turning off the light emitting element 39 for interrupt display, and also displaying the number of images saved in the memory in the normal mode. This is processing such as restoring the exposure display.

When setting the interrupt mode, a stop flag is set at step <<>, but this is because, as will be described later, the interrupt key 32 is turned on in step <<> under conditions that allow the copying machine 1 to be stopped. If it is YES, the scanning movement of the document table 8 is stopped, and the exposure lamp, charging, and development are turned off, as shown in step 〓〓. Conditions under which the copying machine 1 can be stopped will be described later.

Steps 〓〓〓 to 〓〓 indicate processing related to the stop key 47.

When it is determined in step 〓〓 that the stop key 47 is on, it is determined in step 〓〓 whether or not the copy flag is set. Process to set it to "1" and select YES
In this case, if copying is in progress, the stop flag is set. The processing after the stop flag is set is the same as that for the interrupt key described above.

Stepp 〓 ~ 〓 shows the processing associated with pulling out plug -in counter 50. Plug-in counter 5
When a 0 is pulled out during a copying operation, a stop flag is set at step 〓〓. The processing after the stop flag is set is the same as that for the interrupt key and stop key described above.

Step 〓〓 indicates processing associated with key input such as a numeric key or an exposure key.

Steps 〓〓〓 to 〓〓 show the processing when the print key 31 is turned on and the print flag is set. That is, when the print key 31 is turned on and the print flag is set under conditions that allow the start of the copying operation, printing is started in step 〓〓.
The stop and fixed position detection flags are reset, and in step 〓〓, various timers (TC), (TD), (TE), (T-) are set for sequence control.
F) and timer (T-Z) (see Fig. 5), and in step 〓〓, press the print key 31.
A timer (TA) for setting the delay time from turning on to the start of scan movement (see Figure 5).
Set the main motor 3 at step 〓〓.
3, the erase lamp 18, the developing motor, etc. are turned on, and in steps 〓〓〓〓〓〓〓, a process is executed to set a flag indicating a stoppable condition and a flag indicating that a copy operation is in progress. Note that turning on the print key 31 is accepted from the end of the scanning operation for the final copy.

When the end of the timer (TA) is determined in step <<>, a fixed position detection flag is set in step <<>, and the process proceeds to step <<> of FIG. 4b.

In FIG. 4b, when it is determined in step 〓〓 that the home position detection flag is set, it is determined in step 〓〓 whether or not the document table 8 is in the home position for starting scanning. Repeat this.
If the continuous copying operation is in progress, the fixed position detection flag is set at the timing when the developing motor is turned off, as shown in step ⓓ.

When it is determined in step 〓〓 that the document table 8 has returned to the normal position, the copy flag is determined in step 〓〓, and if it is set, scan movement is started in step 〓〓, and the exposure lamp and charging, Turn on the transfer charger. The meaning of providing the step 〓〓 is that, as will be described later, during a series of copying operations in the copying machine of the present invention, a signal (stop signal, interrupt signal, etc. ) and the copy flag may have been reset, this is to determine whether scanning should be started when the document table 8 returns to its normal position.

In step 〓〓, when the paper feed switch 17 is turned on during the scanning operation, the rise of this signal is determined, and in steps 〓〓 and 〓〓, the paper feed roller 10 is turned on and the stop flag is reset. 〓〓 outputs a signal to turn on the solenoid 52 of the plug-in counter 50, and step 〓〓
A timer (T-
Z). That is, the stop enable flag at the start of the copying operation is set from the time when the print key is turned on until the paper feed is turned on (see FIG. 5).

When it is determined in step 〓〓 that the paper feed switch 17 is turned off, the paper feed roller 10 is stopped in step 〓〓, and at the same time, processing such as turning on the timing roller 11 is performed, and at the same time, in step 〓〓 A timer (T-B) is set to control the timing of the scan operation. Note that the driving time of the paper feed roller 10 is determined by the length of the magnet 16 that activates the switch 17.

In step 〓〓, it is determined whether or not the timer (T-Z) has expired, and when the timer has finished, the solenoid 52 of the plug-in counter is turned off.

When the end of the timer (T-B) is determined in step <<>, a timer (T-C) for controlling the stop timing of the developing motor is set in step <<>, and the scan is started in step <<>. In operation, the exposure lamp and the charger are turned off, and the process of subtracting the number on the sheet number display section 41 is executed in step 〓〓. When the result of numeric subtraction is "0" and this is determined in step 〓〓,
In the step 〓〓, the display on the sheet count display section 41 is restored to the original set value, and at the same time, the step 〓〓
to reset the copy flag.

Step 〓〓 is a step for determining the end of the timer (TD) set in step 〓.When the timer (TD) ends, processing for turning on the developing motor is performed in step 〓〓. Timer (T-D)
is a timer that controls the turn-on timing of the developing motor during continuous copying operations (see FIG. 5).

Step〓〓 is a step for determining the end of the timer (TE) set in step〓〓,
When the timer (T-E) ends, the transfer charger 5 is turned off in step <<>, and the timer (T-F) for auto-shut is set in step <<>. The timer (T-E) is set when the developing motor is turned off during final copying and when a stop signal is received, and is a timer for turning off the transfer charger 5 at the end of the copying operation. be.

In steps 〓〓〓〓〓〓〓, it is determined that the auto-shut timer (TF) has ended, the main motor 33 and the eraser are turned off, and the copying machine 1 is stopped. The autoshut timer (T-F) is the same as the above timer (T-
This timer is set upon completion of step E), and is a timer for rotating the photosensitive drum 2 with the eraser lamp 18 turned on for a certain period of time after the copying operation is completed, and then turning off the motor 33.

In steps 〓〓〓〓〓〓, the interrupt key 32 or stop key 47 is turned on, or the plug-in counter 5 is turned on.
When the stop flag is set by drawing 0, it is determined whether or not the copying machine 1 is in a condition to accept this stop signal.The stop flag is clear from the time chart in FIG. As shown, the period from when the print key 31 is turned on until paper feeding starts, and from when the developing motor is turned off for one copying operation (steps 〓〓〓 to 〓〓) until the next paper feeding starts. It is in the set state for a while. If the stop flag is set in a state where it is possible to stop, the timer (T-E) is set at step 〓〓.
The timers (T-A) and (T-D) are reset in the step 〓〓, and the copy flag, stop possible flag, and stop flag are reset in the step 〓〓, and at the same time, the scan is stopped and the exposure lamp, charging,
Processing to turn off the developing motor is executed, and the document table 8 is returned to the starting position. On the other hand, even if the stop flag is set, if the stop enable flag is in the reset state, the stop signal will not be accepted and at least one copying operation will be executed. At this time, there is no problem since the plug-in counter 50 has already counted up even if it is pulled out.

When the timer (T-C) expires during normal copying operation, the developing motor is turned off at step 〓〓, and if the copy flag is set at this point (continuous copying continues), then step 〓〓 is executed. A timer (T) that controls the timing of turning on the next developing motor
-D), set the stop enable flag and fixed position detection flag in step 〓〓, and then
Immediately after returning to the normal position, scanning etc. are started (steps 〓〓〓～〓〓).

The step 〓〓 is the above-mentioned step of waiting for the end of the internal timer (t), and is used to make the processing time of each routine constant, and loops the program by waiting for the end of the internal timer (t). .

In the above explanation, when the interrupt key 32, stop key 47, etc. are turned on between the time when the print key 31 is turned on and the time when paper feeding starts, and when the plug-in counter is pulled out during the same period, the copying machine 1, press the print key 31 to immediately stop the copying operation and return to the condition where copying is possible.
Interrupt and stop operations can be performed even after the machine is turned on, eliminating unnecessary waiting time and unnecessary copying.
Further, the inconvenience that the plug-in counter does not operate due to copying does not occur.

In addition, in the above flowchart, it was explained that the process of numeric subtraction is executed in step 〓〓 as the timer (T-B) of step 〓〓 ends.
Regarding the processing when switching between normal copy mode and interrupt copy mode, it should be noted that step judgment is provided when interrupt mode is being executed, so if the copy flag is set (copy (during operation) Even if the interrupt key 32 is turned on, the processing for canceling the interrupt (step ~
) is not executed, so subtraction of the set number is performed from the displayed number. However, if the normal mode is being executed, the processing in steps ~ is executed when the interrupt key 32 is turned on even during scanning, and if the state is not in a stoppable state, the normal mode copying will be executed once. At this time, in step 〓〓, as the timer (T-B) expires, processing is performed to subtract from the numerical value in the normal copy mode saved in the memory.

In the above embodiment, the copying machine 1 scans by moving the original platen 8, and operates the switch 17 during scanning movement to start paper feeding. The present invention can also be applied to a type of copying machine that performs scanning by moving the photosensitive drum, or a type of copying machine that outputs a paper feed signal as the photosensitive drum rotates.

Effect The plug-in counter that performs the counting operation is removable, and the copying machine associated with the plug-in counter is configured so that the copying operation can be started on the condition that the plug-in counter is installed. An image forming means for forming an image on paper, a supply means for supplying copy paper to the image forming means, a start signal generating means for generating a start signal for starting a copying operation, and a means related to generating the start signal. control means for operating the paper feeding means and the image forming means; and means for causing the plug-in counter to perform a counting operation when the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding means is started;
When the plug-in counter is in a non-mounted state after the paper feeding operation has started by the paper feeding unit, the control unit causes the paper feeding unit and the image forming unit to continue operating, and also controls the start signal. A new copying machine is provided, which prevents the start of the paper feeding operation when the plug-in counter becomes a non-mounted state after the occurrence of the paper feeding operation and before the start of the paper feeding operation. Makes the plug-in counter perform counting operation at the start of paper operation, and prevents the start of paper feed operation if the plug-in counter is removed between the generation of the start signal and the start of paper feed operation. However, if the plug-in counter is removed after the paper feeding operation has started, by configuring this paper feeding operation and other copying operations to continue, the plug-in counter can be removed after the start signal is generated. This is extremely useful in practice, as it prevents copy paper from being wasted even in cases where copy paper is wasted, and allows the counting operation of the plug-in counter to completely match the actual copying operation. It is something.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of a copying machine;
The figure shows the operation panel section, and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing the relationship between the input keys and the microcomputer.
4a and 4b are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of control by the microcomputer, and FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the relationship between control and copying machine operation. 1... Copy machine, 8... Document table, 10... Paper feed roller, 16... Magnet, 17... Read switch, 30... Microcomputer, 31...
Print key, 32... Interrupt key, 33... Main motor, 34... Clutch mechanism, 50... Plug-in counter, 52... Solenoid for operating the plug-in counter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plug-in counter that performs a counting operation is removable, and a copying operation can be started on the condition that the plug-in counter is attached.
A copying machine associated with the plug-in counter includes: an image forming means for forming an image on copy paper; a supply means for supplying copy paper to the image forming means; and generating a start signal for starting a copying operation. a start signal generating means; a control means for operating the paper feeding means and the image forming means in relation to the generation of the start signal; and a control means for controlling the plug-in counter when the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding means is started. means for performing a counting operation, and the control means controls the paper feeding means and the image forming means when the plug-in counter is in a non-attached state after the paper feeding operation is started by the paper feeding means. continues the operation, and prevents the start of the paper feeding operation when the plug-in counter becomes a non-mounted state after the start signal is generated and before the start of the paper feeding operation. copy machine.