JPH05241402A - Page consecutive copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accomplish a page consecutive copying of a cross passing original without deteriorating the quality of a formed image in a copying machine, etc. CONSTITUTION:It is assumed that the positions of the image formed on a photosensitive drum by scanning the original 25 of size A3 by the lens 17' of a scanning optical system 17 are 23' and 24'. By carrying copying paper respectively to the image formed positions 23' and 24' in timing with scanning, the page consecutive copying of the original cross passing is accomplished. In the case of carrying the ordinary paper of size A4, the paper is carried only to the position 23'. Then, the copying paper is moved from the position 23 to the position 24 and carried to the position 24' on the photosensitive drum by moving width adjusting side plates 22a and 22b on an intermediate tray 21 as shown by figure (a). Namely, 23' is the position where the copying paper of size A4 is ordinarily carried to the photosensitive drum, and 24' is the position where the copying paper of size A4 is carried to the photosensitive drum after it is moved on the intermediate tray 21 as shown by figure (a).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a page continuous copying apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer, and more particularly to a page continuous copying apparatus for a vertical document copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a large number of copiers for horizontally placing originals have been proposed which have a page continuous shooting function. FIG. 9 shows an example of page continuous shooting. Page continuous shooting is performed by copying an A3 size original onto two A4 size sheets as shown in (a) or copying an A3 size original onto two B5 size sheets as shown in (b). Function (a) is referred to simply as page continuous shooting, and (b) is referred to as variable-magnification page continuous shooting. The originals are conveyed in the directions indicated by thick arrows (from right to left in the drawing). In (a), the original document conveyed in such a direction is divided into two parts as S1 and S2, and is scanned, and the first sheet of A4 paper is scanned by the scanning of S1.
Each part of the original is copied onto the second A4 sheet by scanning in S2. At this time, it is also possible to copy on both sides of A4 paper. In (b), as in (a), the original is S3 and S
Scanning is performed as shown in FIG. 4, but at this time, in order to copy the A4 size original scanned in S3 onto B5 paper, the magnification of the lens of the scanning optical system is changed from the same size to reduce the magnification. The same applies to S4. The zooming of the lens of this optical system is performed by moving the lens parallel to the document conveying direction.

In the example of continuous page shooting shown in FIG. 9, the document is placed horizontally with respect to the sheet conveying direction, that is, the scanning direction is vertical. However, depending on the device, there is also a device in which the original is placed vertically with respect to the paper conveyance direction, that is, horizontally passed. FIG. 10 shows an example of horizontal continuous page shooting.
In the case of the horizontal passage, for example, an A3 size original must be scanned in the vertical direction in the scanning direction as S5 and S6. Such vertical division scanning cannot be performed by the conventional optical system, but in JP-A-1-321449, the lens is moved perpendicularly to the scanning direction (longitudinal direction) to enable horizontal continuous page shooting. The method to do is proposed. In Figure 11,
A scanning method in continuous page copying of a horizontally passing document disclosed in JP-A-1-321449 will be described. When scanning the original 10 in the vertical direction, use the lens
11 is the position A, the scanning optical system scans in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11, performs S5, forms an image at the copy position 12 and makes a copy on the first A4 sheet. After that, it moves to the position of B. At the position B, the remaining S6 is scanned in the same manner as described above, and copying is performed on the second A4 sheet (also at the position 12).

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In this issue, the continuous page continuous shooting is realized by moving the lens of the scanning optical system vertically in the scanning direction, but if you want to perform variable magnification page continuous shooting with such an optical system, As in the case of (b) of 9, the lens 11 is moved in parallel with the scanning direction to change the focal length and change the magnification. However, 2 lenses
In the configuration in which the lens is moved in two dimensions, the position of the lens is not accurately determined, the image is blurred, and the quality of the formed image is degraded. Further, there is a problem that various calculations in the copying operation become complicated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem and to provide a page continuous shooting apparatus capable of continuous page scanning of a horizontal document without deteriorating the quality of a formed image.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the page continuous copying apparatus of the present invention copies an image of a predetermined portion of a photoconductor when performing page continuous copying of a document horizontally. It is provided with a sheet feeding unit that changes the position of the sheet with respect to the body and feeds the sheet. Alternatively, in order to copy an image of a predetermined portion of the photoconductor when performing continuous page-feeding of a document horizontally, a paper feeding unit that changes the position of the paper with respect to the photoconductor and feeds the paper is provided. Timing changing means for changing the timing of paper feeding. The paper feeding means may be an intermediate tray provided for continuous page copying, or may be an intermediate tray for storing papers during double-sided copying.

[0006]

By doing so, continuous page shooting can be performed with the same image quality as the conventional one, even in an apparatus for vertically placing a document (horizontally passing). As a result, the flexibility of the copying operation is increased and the usability for the user is improved.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
explain. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the copying machine. This apparatus is equipped with an automatic document feeder 13. In the case of automatic conveyance, the original placed on the original placing table 14 is
The sheet is automatically conveyed to the lower side, is scanned there by the scanning optical system 17 to perform a copying operation, and then is automatically discharged to the document discharge table 16. On the other hand, the copy sheet is fed to the apparatus main body side from any one of the plurality of paper decks of the sheet feeding device 18. Here, it is assumed that the paper is fed from the paper deck 19. The copy sheet fed from the paper deck 19 is conveyed to the photoconductor drum 20, is copied by a well-known technique, and is then conveyed out. A copying machine having a double-sided copying function has a reversing mechanism for copying sheets of which one side is copied. That is, the copied copy paper is not carried out, but is temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 21, inverted, and conveyed again to the photosensitive drum 20. The intermediate tray 21 is provided with a width adjusting side plate that adjusts the width according to the paper size in order to convey the paper to an accurate position on the photoconductor drum 20. The width-matching side plate is provided so as to sandwich both ends of the paper, and is movable according to the width of the paper.

In this embodiment, a method for enabling continuous page copying of a horizontally passing original by using the above-mentioned intermediate tray will be described.
Here, it is assumed that the A3 size horizontal document described in FIG. 10 is continuously page-printed on two A4 size copy sheets. FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the intermediate tray 21 used in the continuous page copying apparatus embodying the present invention. The intermediate tray 21 is provided with width adjusting side plates 22a and 22b, and the width adjusting side plates 22a and 22b are movable along the groove 26 and the like. Copy sheets 23 that have been sequentially conveyed are stacked on the intermediate tray 21. Here, when the width adjusting side plates 22a and 22b are respectively moved in the directions of the arrows,
The copy paper 23 moves. 24 is a copy paper which has been displaced. FIG. 1B shows the optical relationship between the document 25 and the image forming positions 23 ′ and 24 ′ on the photosensitive drum 20. The A3 size original 25 is scanned by the lens 17 'of the scanning optical system 17, and at this time, the positions of the images formed on the photosensitive drum 20 are 23' and 24 '. This imaging position 2
By feeding the copy sheets to 3'and 24 'in synchronization with the scanning timing, it is possible to perform continuous page copying of the horizontally passing original. However, in the normal A4 sheet conveyance, the sheet is conveyed only to the position 24 ', so that only half of the sheet is copied. Therefore, as shown in (a), the copy paper is moved on the intermediate tray 21 so that it can be conveyed to the position 23 ′ of the photoconductor drum 20. That is, 24 'is the position where the A4 size copy paper is normally conveyed onto the photoconductor drum 20, and 23' is the A4 size copy paper moved on the intermediate tray 21 as shown in FIG. This is the position where it is conveyed onto the photosensitive drum 20. Therefore,
For an A3 size document, the A3 size scanning is performed twice instead of the divided scanning as in S5 and S6 of FIG. At this time, if an image is formed on the photoconductor drum 20 at a position where the copy sheet is not conveyed, the toner is wasted. Therefore, blank cutting is performed so that the image is not formed on the section without the sheet. .. This blank cut is usually performed by forcibly shining light on the photosensitive drum 20.

FIG. 3 shows a drive mechanism for the width adjusting side plate 22 of the intermediate tray 21. (A) is the figure which looked at the intermediate tray 21 from the bottom face, (b) is the front view which expanded the motor part. The two width adjusting side plates 22a and 22b are individually movable in the arrow direction. At the bottom of the side plate 22a, the intermediate tray
Locking members 30 and 31 which are fitted in grooves 27 and 29 provided in 21 and are movable in the grooves are fixed. A motor 34 is provided for driving the side plate 22a, and the motor 34 rotates the wire 36 clockwise and counterclockwise depending on the rotation direction.
The connection between the motor 34 and the wire 36 is shown in (b). Wire 36
Is suspended on pulleys 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d, and is partially fixed to the locking member 30. When the wire 36 is rotated by the motor 34, the side plate 22a moves in the direction of the arrow accordingly. Similarly, for the side plate 22b, the motor 35, the wire 37, the pulley 39a, and the
39b, 39c and 39d are provided, and the wire 37 is fixed to 33 of the two locking members 32 and 33. However,
The mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a drive mechanism for the width adjusting side plate 22, and the drive mechanism is not limited to this.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a normal page continuous shooting operation. Here, the normal page continuous shooting is shown in FIG.
It means page continuous shooting as shown in. The process starts at step # 100. In step # 105, see if the page continuous shooting mode is set. If it is not the page continuous shooting mode, normal copy is performed in step # 110, and the process ends in step # 115. If the page continuous shooting mode is determined in step # 105, the user sets the number of images in step # 120, step # 125.
After the paper is selected, the size of the paper selected in step # 130 is changed to half the size of the original (in this example, it remains the same size), so the lens 17 'of the scanning optical system 17 is changed. To move. When the print key is pressed in step # 135,
In step # 140, the paper feed source of the copy paper is switched to the paper feed device 18 (specifically, one of the paper decks). Step
At # 145, the width adjusting side plate 22 of the intermediate tray 21 is moved to the home position, that is, the normal position. Steps # 150, # 155 and
In the loop of # 160, copy paper is passed by the number of blank sheets set in step # 120 and stored in the intermediate tray 21. In step # 165, the width adjusting side plate 22 of the intermediate tray 21 on which the set number of copy sheets are stacked is moved as shown in FIG. After calculating the blank cut length for erasing the image of the portion other than the copy paper supplied from the intermediate tray 21 on the photosensitive drum 20 in step # 170,
Switch the paper source to intermediate tray 21 with # 175. step 1
At 80 and # 185, a copying operation is performed on all copy sheets supplied from the intermediate tray 21. After the blank cut length for erasing the image of the portion other than the copy paper supplied from the paper feeding device 18 is calculated in step # 190, the paper feeding source is switched to the paper feeding device 18 in step # 195. Steps # 200 and # 2
In 05, the copy operation for the set number of copy sheets supplied from the sheet feeding device 18 is performed, and the process ends in step # 210.

The above-described operation of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is entirely performed by the microcomputer (CPU) mounted in the copying machine.
Executed by As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 40 has a page continuous shooting / number setting means 41 for setting page continuous shooting and the number of copies, a document size detecting means 42 for detecting a document size, and a sheet selection for selecting copy sheets. Means 43,
Magnification changing means 44 for changing the position of the lens of the scanning optical system, intermediate tray moving means 45 for moving the paper on the intermediate tray, and blank cutting means 46 for erasing the image on the photosensitive drum 20.
Are connected to each other.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the continuous four-page page continuous shooting operation. As shown in FIG. 7, the four-division continuous page copying is, for example, copying an A3 size horizontal original document onto four A5 size copy sheets. This is the horizontal page continuous shooting method described above. And a conventional vertical page continuous shooting method of shifting the paper feed timing of copy paper. Here, the scanning is performed four times in total, but A3 horizontal size is vertical to the scanning direction and A5 vertical size scanning is parallel to the scanning direction. That is, the scanning of the A and C portions and the scanning of the B and D portions are performed twice each.
In addition, a part unnecessary for copying is blank cut.
Description will be given along the flowchart of FIG. Step # 3
Start processing at 00. In step # 305, see if the page continuous shooting mode is set. If it is not the page continuous shooting mode, normal copying is performed in step # 310, and the process ends in step # 315. If the page continuous shooting mode is determined in step # 305, the user sets the number of sheets in step # 320 and selects the paper in step # 325, and then the paper selected in step # 330 is 1 / of the original. Since the magnification is changed so as to become the size of 4 (in this example, the magnification remains the same), the lens 17 'of the scanning optical system 17 is moved. When the print key is pressed in step # 335, the paper source of the copy paper is switched to the paper feeder 18 in step # 340. In step # 345, the width adjusting side plate 22 of the intermediate tray 21 is moved to the home position, that is, the normal position. In a loop of steps # 350, # 355, and # 360, a blank sheet is passed as much as twice the set number of copy sheets set in step # 320 and stored in the intermediate tray 21. In step # 365, the width adjusting side plate 22 of the intermediate tray 21 on which the double number of copy sheets is stacked is moved as shown in FIG. Intermediate tray 21 on photoconductor drum 20 in step # 370
After calculating the blank cut length for erasing the image of the portion other than the copy paper supplied from, the paper source is switched to the intermediate tray 21 in step # 375. Steps # 380 and # 385
Then, the copying operation is performed on the set number of copy sheets supplied from the intermediate tray 21. At this point, copying of the portion C in FIG. 7 is completed. After the completion of step # 385, the set number of copy sheets are stacked on the intermediate tray.
In step # 390, the scanning position is changed for scanning the portions B and D in FIG. (Here, the part to be copied is part D). Further, in step # 395, the timing of feeding from the intermediate tray 21 is shifted by A5 vertical size. In steps # 400 and # 405, the copy operation of the copy paper supplied from the intermediate tray 21 is performed. At this time, the blank cut length may be the same as the value calculated in step # 370. Next, A in FIG.
And part B are copied. Paper feeder 18 at step # 410
After calculating the blank cut length for erasing the image of the portion other than the copy paper supplied from, the paper source is switched to the paper feeder 18 in step # 415. In steps # 420 and # 425,
The copy operation for the set number of copy sheets supplied from the sheet feeding device 18 is performed, and the copy of the portion A is completed. In step # 430, the scanning position is changed for scanning the portions B and D in FIG. 7 (here, the portion B is copied).
Further, in step # 435, the timing of feeding from the intermediate tray 21 is shifted by A5 vertical size. Steps # 440 and # 445
Then, the copy operation of the copy paper supplied from the paper supply device 18 is performed. At this time, the blank cut length is set to step # 410.
It may be the same as the value calculated in. The process ends in step # 450. Although the scanning position is changed in steps # 390 and # 430 of this flowchart, if the post-change scanning is performed, the change is canceled and the scanning position returns to the original position after the scanning.

The above-described operation of the flowchart of FIG. 6 is entirely performed by the microcomputer (CPU) mounted in the copying machine.
Executed by As shown in FIG. 8, the configuration around the CPU 40 is shown. This is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 7, except that a timing changing means 47 for changing the timing of feeding the copy paper is added.

In the present embodiment, first, copy sheets on the intermediate tray 21 stored by passing a blank sheet are copied, and then,
The copy paper supplied from the paper supply device 18 is being copied, but the reverse is also possible.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate tray for double-sided copying is used as the copy sheet displacement and sheet feeding means, but a tray dedicated to continuous page copying may be installed.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to perform continuous page shooting without deterioration of the quality of formed images even for a horizontally passed document. Further, by changing the feeding timing, the A3 original can be copied into four A5 divisions, or the arbitrary amount of the original can be copied by changing the movement amount of the paper in the paper feeding means. Will increase and diversity will increase. Furthermore, if an intermediate tray for double-sided copying is used, there is also an advantage that continuous page continuous shooting can be realized with the conventional configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an intermediate tray and a method of a continuous page copying apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a drive mechanism of a side plate of an intermediate tray.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow chart of a page continuous shooting operation of a normal horizontal document.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a normal continuous page original page continuous copying apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a continuous 4-page page continuous shooting operation of a horizontal document.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining continuous 4-page page copying of a horizontal document.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a 4-division page continuous shooting device for a horizontal document.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining page continuous shooting of a portrait original.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining page continuous shooting of a horizontal document.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 original 11 lens 12 copy position 13 automatic document feeder 14 original placing table 15 original cover 16 original output table 17 scanning optical system 17 'lens 18 paper feeder 19 paper deck 20 photoconductor drum 21 intermediate tray 22a, 22b width adjustment side plate 23 Copy paper 24 Copy paper after displacement 23 ', 24' Image forming position 25 Originals 26, 27, 28, 29 Groove 30, 31, 32, 33 Locking member 34, 35 Motor 36, 37 Wire 38a, 38b, 38c , 38d, 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d Pulley 40 CPU 41 Page continuous copying / number input means 42 Document size detecting means 43 Paper selecting means 44 Magnification changing means 45 Intermediate tray moving means 46 Blank cutting means 47 Timing changing means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G03G 15/04 120 9122-2H

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When performing continuous page copying of a document set vertically, the image of a predetermined portion of the photoconductor is copied for each copying operation.
Change the paper transport position in the direction that intersects the paper transport direction,
A page continuous copying apparatus comprising a paper feeding unit for feeding a photoconductor. 2. When performing continuous page copying of a vertically placed document, an image of a predetermined portion of the photoconductor is copied for each copying operation.
Change the paper transport position in the direction that intersects the paper transport direction,
A page continuous copying apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet to a photosensitive member; and a timing changing unit that changes a timing of sheet feeding from the sheet feeding unit. 3. A pair of width aligning members, which are provided for continuous page shooting, abut on a side of a sheet in a direction intersecting a sheet transport direction to align and align the sheets. 3. The page continuous copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the continuous page copying apparatus is an intermediate tray having. 4. The intermediate tray having a pair of width aligning members for aligning and aligning the sheets by contacting a side of the sheet in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction during double-sided copying. The page continuous shooting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.