JPH0519577A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce complicated operations and to shorten a copying time by automatically executing switching to a consecutive copying mode after copying in a scanning mode is completed when it is detected that an original exists on an original supplying device, in the scanning mode. CONSTITUTION:A sensor 34 detecting the presence of the original for the consecutive copying mode is provided, and this original detecting sensor 34 is obtained by attaching a beard-like contact to the top end of a microswitch. When the leading edge of the original is abutted on the contact, the contact is moved to detect the presence of the original. On the other hand, an original feed sensor 35 for detecting the feeding action of the original is provided between an original feeding roller 30 and an original carrying roller 32, and an original ejecting sensor 36 for detecting the ejecting action of the original is provided on the upstream side of an original ejecting roller 33, as well. When the original detecting sensor 34 detects the original while the copying in the scanning mode is executed, an automatic change to the consecutive copying mode is attained at the time of completing the copying in the scanning mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
More specifically, for example, the present invention relates to a copying machine that performs copying in two first and second copying modes: copying in a flow mode from a document feeder and copying in a scan mode on a document table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine, there are two kinds of copying modes called a flow mode and a scan mode. First
The flow-through mode, which is the copy mode of the above, is a mode in which the optical scanning device is maintained in a stationary state and the original is moved in one direction on the optical scanning device to form an image. Is a mode in which the original is kept stationary and the optical scanning device is moved under the original to form an image.

On the other hand, there is an original supply device for supplying the originals to the original table one by one as the originals to be supplied to the copying machine. However, in the method in which the document is supplied to the platen by the document supply device and then the scanning is performed in the scan mode by the optical scanning device, it is necessary to control the document conveyance and stop with high accuracy. Further, since the document is scanned after being stopped, the document transportation time does not matter so much when copying a plurality of documents from one document, but in the case of multi-copy in which documents are copied one by one, the transportation time is 1 Required for each scan,
There is a problem that the copying time becomes long.

These problems can be solved by scanning the document sent from the document feeder in the flow mode. As a conventional copying machine which scans a document while supplying it in a flow mode, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-30621. The copying machine disclosed in the above publication performs copying by selecting a scan mode for copying a book original and a flow mode for copying a sheet original supplied from an original supply device with a switch.

As a result, when the originals are copied one by one, the originals can be scanned while being supplied, the copying time can be shortened, and high-precision stop control is not required, so that the control can be simplified. became.

[0006]

However, in a conventional copying machine having a flow-through mode, the copy mode is switched by a switch, and when the flow-mode copying is performed after the copy in the scan mode, the copy in the scan mode is performed. There is a problem that the copying time becomes long because a troublesome operation of switching from the scan mode to the flow mode by the switch and operating the print key to start copying is required after completion of the above.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when copying is performed by switching from the scan mode to the flow mode, that is, when the document detecting means detects that a document is present in the document feeding device during the scan mode. When it is detected, after switching the scan mode, the mode is automatically switched to the flow mode, and copying in the flow mode is executed to reduce troublesome operations and improve operability.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine that can reduce the copying time.

[0008]

A copying machine according to the present invention comprises:
A first copy mode in which a document is fed from the document feeder to the document table while the document is scanned to make a copy, and a document placed on the document table is moved by relative movement to perform scanning to copy the document. In a copying machine capable of selective copying with the second copying mode, a document detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a document in the document feeding device, and copying of the document set in the second copying mode are executed. While the original is detected while the original detecting means detects the original, the copying mode is changed to the first copying mode after the copying in the second copying mode is finished,
And a means for executing copying in the copying mode.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the document detecting means detects that the document is placed in the document feeding device while the second copy mode is set and the copy of the document is being executed, the second
After the copying in the copying mode is finished, the copying mode is changed to the first copying mode, and the copying in the first copying mode is automatically executed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the internal structure of a copying machine according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a main body of a copying machine, and an original table 19 made of glass is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1. The document placed on the document table 19 is scanned by the optical scanning device 10 driven by the scan motor M ₂ (see FIG. 3), and its image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2 as an electrostatic latent image. .. Scan motor M ₂ is a pulse encoder PE
₂ is built in, and the pulse encoder PE ₂ outputs a pulse signal FG ₂ proportional to the rotation speed of the scan motor M ₂ .

The optical scanning device 10 comprises an optical system including an exposure lamp 11, movable mirrors 12, 13 and 14, a lens 15 and a fixed mirror 16, and the reflected light from the original reflected or transmitted in this order is a photosensitive drum. 2 is exposed at a predetermined exposure position. In the scan mode, the exposure lamp 11 and the movable mirror 12
The first slider to which is attached and the second slider to which the movable mirrors 13 and 14 are attached are moved from the predetermined scanning start position by the scan motor M _{2 in the} arrow b direction to scan the document.

A cover 17 is pivotally supported on the document table 19 so as to be vertically rotatable on the back side, and the document table 19 is opened and closed by vertically moving the front end. The cover 17 is opened to place a single-leaf or bound book original on the original table 19 with the image facing downward, and then closed to copy the original. Further, a cover opening / closing switch 37 for detecting opening / closing of the cover 17 is provided on the document table 19.

[0014] As the cover 17 which form a part of the document feeder 3 (hereinafter SDH: S ingle D ocument H
andler). That is, a document tray 53 for stacking a plurality of documents downward is provided at the center of the upper surface of the cover 17. The document tray 53 is tilted downward to the left, and a document feed roller 30 is provided at the lower end of the tilt, and the intermittent driving of the document tray 53 causes the documents on the document tray 53 to be shifted one by one from the top to the left. Sent in.

Above the front side of the document feeding roller 30, a document detection sensor for detecting whether or not a document is loaded on the document tray 53.
34 are provided. The document detection sensor 34 is a microswitch having a whisker-shaped contact attached to the tip thereof. When the tip of the document comes into contact with the contact, the contact moves to detect the presence or absence of the document.

A document feeding roller 32 consisting of a pair of rollers is provided facing the end of the document tray 53, and the document fed from the document tray 53 is fed by an SDH motor M ₁ (see FIG. 3). The reference position of the optical scanning device 10 at the left end of the table 19 and a pair of rollers are provided, and the image is placed on the document discharge tray 54 provided on the document tray 53 through the discharge roller 33 disposed above the reference position. And carry. This reference position is provided on the left side of the drawing from the scanning start position in the scan mode, and even when a document is placed on the document table 19 in the flow-through mode, the flow-through document can pass through.

Further, a document feeding roller 30 and a document feeding roller 32
And a document feeding sensor 35 for detecting the document feeding operation, and a document ejection sensor 36 for detecting the document ejection operation upstream of the document ejection roller 33. There is. These sensors 35 and 36 have the same structure as the sensor 34.

The copying operation by the SDH 3 is performed in the flow mode, and the exposure lamp 11 is used when the document is conveyed by the SDH 3.
The original document passing through the reference position is irradiated with light, and the reflected light is exposed on the photosensitive drum 2. Therefore, at this time, the optical scanning device 10 is stationary.

The photosensitive drum 2 has a photoconductive layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and can be driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a. A charging charger 5 and an auxiliary charging charger 6 are arranged above the photoconductor drum 2 and apply a constant electric potential to the surface of the photoconductor drum 2.

The peripheral velocity V of the photosensitive drum 2 is constant,
When the moving speeds of the first slider and the second slider of the optical scanning device 10 in the scan mode are equal to each other, they are V and V / 2, respectively.
Has become. When the SDH 3 transport speed is the same, the SDH 3 transport speed is the same as the peripheral speed V and is constant.

A developing device 4 is provided downstream of the exposure position of the photosensitive drum 2 in the rotational direction. The developing device 4 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 into a toner image by a magnetic brush method. A transfer charger 9 is provided below the photoconductor drum 2. The transfer charger 9 applies an electric field from the back surface to a copy sheet (not shown) conveyed in the direction of arrow c, The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by the developing device 4 is transferred onto a copy sheet.

A cleaning device 8 is provided in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2 of the transfer charger 9. The cleaning device 8 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 by a blade method. An eraser lamp 7 is provided between the cleaning device 8 and the charger 5. The eraser lamp 7 removes electric charges remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 2 by light irradiation in preparation for the next copying process. The developing device 4, the cleaning device 8 and the charging charger 5 which are surrounded by broken lines are detachable from the main body 1 as an image forming unit 18.

On the other hand, 20 is a cassette for storing copy paper, which is detachable from the main body 1.
There is provided a paper feed roller 21 for feeding the paper. Further, the paper feed roller 21 is connected to a motor (not shown) provided inside the paper feed roller 21 to be rotationally driven. The copy paper sent from the cassette 20 is an intermediate roller.
It is sent to the timing roller 23 via 22 and is sent out between the photoconductor drum 2 and the transfer charger 9 at timing by the timing roller 23 as indicated by the arrow c.

The copy paper on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 25 via the carrying path 24. The fixing device 25 fuses and fixes the toner image on the copy paper by heat. The copy sheet on which the image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 26.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel provided on the front portion of the document table 19. A print key 201 for starting a copying operation is provided in the right corner of the operation panel 200, a copy number display 203 including two 7-segment LEDs and a copy magnification including four 7-segment LEDs are provided in the upper center portion. The display devices 204 are provided respectively.

The ten-key unit 205 arranged on the left side of the print key 201 is mainly used for inputting and setting the number of copies. Further, the ten-key unit 205 is provided with a clear key for canceling a numeral and a stop key for interrupting copying. Further, the two copy modes of the scan mode and the flow mode can be selected by the mode changeover switch 209 of the copy mode section 202 arranged above the print key 201, and the result can be confirmed by the two LEDs 210, 210. The copy mode is normally set to scan mode and the mode switch
It can be switched by selection by 209 or by a copy mode process described later. On the left side of the ten-key unit 205, a paper selection unit 206 for selecting the size and direction of the copy paper, a magnification selection unit 207 for selecting the copy magnification, and a color selection unit 208 for selecting the copy color are arranged in this order. A single color copy by the color selection unit 208 can be realized by mounting the image forming unit 18 corresponding to each color.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the copying machine of the present invention. In the figure, 100 is a control center microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU)
The U 100 has a document detection sensor 34 and a mode selector switch 209.
A detection signal from the control panel 200, a key input of the operation panel 200, and detection signals of various sensors are input, and a display signal of the operation panel 200 and other load signals are output. In addition, the CPU 100 uses the flow / scan switching signal F bar / S and the drive signal PWM.
Is separately supplied to the SDH motor drive circuit 101 and the scan motor drive circuit 102, and the forward / reverse rotation signal F bar / R is supplied to the scan motor drive circuit 102.

The flow / scan switching signal F bar / S is a signal for switching the copy mode, and F bar / S =
When “L”, the flow mode is set, the SDH motor drive circuit 101 drives the SDH motor M _1, and when F bar / S = “H”, the scan mode is set and the scan motor drive circuit 102 drives the scan motor M 1. ₂ is driven. The drive signal PWM is a pulse signal for controlling the number of rotations of the motors M ₁ and M ₂ , and sets the pulse width according to the set magnification in each of the flow mode and the scan mode to control the number of rotations. Forward / reverse signal F bar / R
Is a signal for designating the rotation direction of the scan motor M ₂ in the scan mode, which is the forward direction when F bar / R = “L” and the backward direction direction when F bar / R = “H”.

Further pulse encoder PE ₁ built into SDH motor M ₁ and the scan motor M ₂ to CPU 100 is, PE ₂
The pulse signals FG ₁ and FG ₂ from the
0 is selected by the flow / scan selection signal F bar / S, feedback control to the drive signal PWM is performed, and the constant speed of each motor M ₁ and M ₂ is maintained.

Next, the operation of the copying machine of the present invention constructed as above will be described. The gist of the present invention is to automatically switch between the two copy modes with priority given to the scan mode.
When a document is set in 3, the flow mode is automatically executed after the multi-copy in the scan mode is completed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing contents of the main routine of the CPU 100. When the power is turned on and the execution of the main routine is started, the internal RAM of the CPU 100 is reset and the initial values of registers and timers are set. Etc. are initialized (step # 401), and an internal timer for repeatedly executing the subsequent steps within a fixed time is set and started (step # 402).

Next, in the input process of step # 403, the operation panel
The key input on 200 and the input state of each sensor are detected, and it is checked in step # 404 whether the copy flag is 1, that is, whether copying is in progress. When it is determined that the copy flag is 1 and copying is in progress, the copy mode is set by the copy mode processing (step # 405), and the copy processing such as sheet feeding, conveyance, charging, exposure and transfer is performed. (Step # 406) Further, temperature control and operation panel of the fixing device 25
Other control processing not involved in the direct copy operation such as the display processing of 200 is executed (step # 407). After waiting for the internal timer to expire (step # 408), the process returns to step # 402 after the expiration, and the processes of steps # 402 to # 407 are repeated within a certain time until the power is shut off.

5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the processing contents of the input processing routine of step # 403 of FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the document detection sensor 34 of SDH 3 is turned on (step # 501), and when the document detection sensor 34 is turned on, the document flag indicating that the document exists in SDH 3 is set to "1. Set to “” (step # 502). On the other hand, when the document detection sensor 34 is off, the document flag is reset to "0" (step # 512). Next, other sensor input processing is performed (step # 503), and it is checked by the copy flag whether or not copying is in progress. If the copy flag is "1" and copying is in progress, the process returns to the main routine (step
# 504). Also, when copying is not in progress, the presence / absence of a key input on the operation panel 200 is determined by the on-edge of each key input (step # 505), and if there is a key input, the key code is determined (step # 506). Perform various processing according to the key code (step # 507 to step # 511),
Return to the main routine. If there is no key input, the process returns to the main routine.

Here, step # 507 is a case where the print key 201 is input, the copy flag is set to "1" (step # 507), and the fact that a copy request has been made is transmitted to the subsequent steps. Then, it is determined whether or not the scan mode is set by the scan flag (step # 513), and if the scan mode is set, the copy of the scan mode is started.
(Step # 514) If the scan mode is not set, that is, if the flow mode is the copy mode, copying in the flow mode is started (step # 515).

Step # 508 is a ten-key process by the ten-key unit 205, and step # 509 is a mode change process by the mode change-over switch 209 of the copy mode unit 202.
# 510 is the paper selection process by key input of paper selection unit 206,
Step # 511 shows the magnification selection processing by the key input of the magnification selection unit 207, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing contents of the mode switching processing of step # 509 of FIG. 6, and shows the case where the mode switching is performed manually. First Step # 6
At 01, it is determined whether the scan flag is 1. When the current scan mode is set (scan flag = "0", the currently set copy conditions such as copy magnification, paper size, color, etc. are stored in the memory (step
# 602). Then set the scan flag to 1 (step
# 603), read the copy conditions set during the previous copy in the flow mode from the memory and set (step # 60
4) Return to input processing.

On the other hand, when the current scan flag is 1 and the flow mode is set, the copy condition set in the flow mode is stored in the memory (step 60).
7), set scan flag to 0 (step # 608)
. Then, the copying conditions set in the previous scan mode are read from the memory and set (step # 609).
Return to input processing.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flow charts showing the processing contents of the scanning mode processing of step # 405 of FIG. 4 which is the gist of the present invention. First, in step # 801, it is checked by the state of the scan flag whether or not the scan mode is set,
In the scan mode (scan flag = "0", the end of scan copy such as end of multi-copy is determined in step # 802, and scan control is performed until the end of multi-copy (step # 803). The scan control includes reciprocating motion control of the scan motor M ₂ and ON / OFF control of the exposure lamp 11.

When it is determined in step # 802 that the scan copy has been completed, it is determined whether or not the document is set on the SDH 3 according to the state of the document flag. If the original is set (original flag = "1", copy conditions such as paper size, copy magnification, and color set at the time of copying in scan mode in step # 805 are stored in memory. Set the flag to 1 and set the flow mode (step # 806) .At step # 807, the copy magnification, copy paper, and the copy magnification set at the time of copying in the previous flow mode.
The copy condition such as the copy color is read from the memory and set, and the process returns to the main routine.

When the scan mode process is executed again in the main routine, the scan flag is set to 1 in step # 801, so the routine proceeds to step # 809. On the other hand, if the original flag is 0 in step # 804 and the original is not set in SDH 3, the copy flag is reset to 0 (step
# 808), and end the copy.

When the process proceeds to step # 809, it is judged whether or not the copy in the flow mode is completed, and the flow control is performed until the copy is completed. Here, the flow control is the speed control of the SDH motor M ₁ for flow control and the document conveyance control. When it is determined in step # 809 that the copying in the flow mode is completed, the copy condition set at the time of copying in the flow mode is stored in the memory in step # 811.
Then, the scan flag is set to 0 and the scan mode is set (step # 812). Then, after reading the copy conditions such as the copy magnification set at the time of copying in the previous scan mode from the memory and setting (step # 813),
Copying is completed by resetting the copy flag to 0 (step # 814), and the process returns to the main routine.

The copying conditions are set by reading the copying conditions from the memory. More specifically, the memory has an area for storing copy conditions in the scan mode when switching from the scan mode to the flow mode, and a copy in the flow mode when switching from the flow mode to the scan mode. It has both areas for storing conditions.

When switching from the scan mode to the scan mode again through the flow mode, the copy conditions set at the time of copying in the previous scan mode are read from the memory and set. On the other hand, when switching from the flow mode to the flow mode again via the scan mode,
The copying condition set at the time of copying in the previous flow mode is read from the memory and set. Therefore, for example, when copying from the scan mode to the flow-through mode and then copying again in the scan mode using the copy conditions set at the time of copying in the previous scan mode, the operator newly sets the copy condition. There is no need to set it.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a document is set in the document feeding device during copying in the second copy mode, the copy in the second copy mode is completed and the second copy mode is automatically set. Since copying is performed in the first copying mode, there is no need for a troublesome operation associated with mode switching, operability can be improved, and copying time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an internal structure of a copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a main routine of the CPU.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of an input processing routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of an input processing routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing content of mode switching processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of scanning mode processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of scan mode processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Document feeder 19 Document plate 34 Document detection sensor 100 CPU

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. Relative between a first copy mode in which an original is supplied from an original supply device to the original table and scanned to copy the original, and an original placed on the original table. In a copying machine capable of selective copying with a second copying mode in which the original is scanned and copied by movement, an original detecting unit for detecting the presence / absence of an original in the original feeding device, and the second copying mode When the document detecting means detects a document while the document is being copied and the copy is being performed, the copy mode is changed to the first copy mode after the copying in the second copy mode is completed. And a means for performing copying in the first copying mode.