JPH0572843A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The restoration process of the device when an abnormality occurs in the image reading device can be executed at an early stage and the restoration process is facilitated. [Structure] The first CPU 101 repeatedly determines the separable timing of the copy sheet in relation to the detection result of the reference position sensor 13 that detects the reference position of the transfer drum during the transfer process. When the reading unit sensor group 104 detects an abnormality in the reading unit 30, the first CPU 101 controls the separation claw to operate to separate the copy sheet from the transfer drum at the separable timing during the transfer process. It is like this.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus for copying an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying apparatus, an original image of each color read by an image reading apparatus is converted into image data which is a digital signal, and an electrostatic latent image is formed for each color based on the converted image data. There is a method in which this is developed and a single color transfer sheet is subjected to a plurality of transfer steps to form a full-color image (multicolor image).

In such a copying apparatus, for each color,
While scanning the original image by scanning with the scanner, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the read image is formed on the photosensitive drum. However, the registration of the leading edge of the electrostatic latent image and the leading edge of the transfer paper is improved. The scanning control of the scanner is performed by using a precision motor such as a stepping motor in order to perform the scanning with accuracy.

However, in the copying apparatus as described above, if the scanner cannot be scanned normally due to a failure of the motor for controlling the scanning of the scanner or the like, the original image cannot be properly read. When such an abnormality of the image reading apparatus occurs, in the conventional copying apparatus, the control of immediately stopping the operation of the copying apparatus or discharging the transfer paper after the completion of all the transfer steps to stop the operation of the copying apparatus. It was controlled to make it happen.

[0005]

However, as described above, when the control for immediately stopping the operation of the copying apparatus when the abnormality of the image reading apparatus occurs, the transfer paper has already been fed into the apparatus. Since the device stops in this state and the transfer paper remains inside the device, there is a problem that a cumbersome process must be performed to remove the residual transfer paper after the stop. However, there was a problem that this would cause a jam. Further, as described above, when control is performed to discharge the transfer paper and stop the operation of the copying apparatus after all the transfer steps are completed when the abnormality of the image reading apparatus occurs, a failure occurs in the image reading apparatus. However, since the device does not stop until the transfer paper is ejected, there is a problem that the time to start the restoration work of the image reading device, which should be performed after the copying device is stopped, is delayed. Since the useless operation is performed until the process is completed, this operation may cause a failure other than the abnormality of the image reading apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when an abnormality occurs in the image reading apparatus, the transfer sheet is ejected in a short time to stop the apparatus, so that after the stop. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus that enables the restoration processing of the apparatus described above to be executed at an early stage and facilitates the restoration processing.

[0007]

In a copying apparatus according to the present invention, a transfer process is performed in which an image corresponding to an image of a plurality of colors read by an image reading means is transferred a plurality of times according to the number of colors. In a copying apparatus configured to perform transfer to a copy sheet held by a transfer body and separate the copy sheet from the transfer body after the transfer, means for detecting abnormality of the image reading means, and the transfer step. Separable timing determination means for determining the separable timing of the copy sheet inside, and a separable timing determined by the separable timing determination means when an abnormality of the image reading means is detected during the transfer step. Means for separating the copy sheet from the transfer body.

[0008]

When an abnormality occurs in the image reading means, proper copying cannot be performed, but during the transfer process, the separable timing determining means always determines the separable timing at which the copy sheet can be separated from the transfer body. Therefore, when an abnormality of the image reading unit is detected during the transfer process, the copy sheet is separated from the transfer body at the separable timing determined by the separable timing determination unit without waiting for the end of the transfer process. Therefore, the unnecessary transfer process is not continued after the abnormality of the image reading means.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a copying apparatus (digital color copying machine) according to the present invention.

This copying machine develops an image by reversal development, and comprises a reading section 30 and a printer section 20 as main components.

The reading unit 30 exposes and scans an image of an original placed on the original table 31 by a scanner 32 driven by a scanner motor 35, and detects image reflected light by an image sensor (CC).
D) After photoelectric conversion in 3, the image processing unit 33 performs predetermined processing to generate digital image data for driving the laser device 21, and stores the generated digital image data in the buffer memory. ing.

The printer section 20 comprises an image forming section 20A and a paper processing section 20B.

The image forming unit 20A has the laser device 21, the photoconductor drum 4, the transfer drum 10 and the like as main constituent elements, and the laser device 21 driven by the laser device drive circuit 210 drives the image forming unit 20A. An electrostatic latent image is written on the surface, the written electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing unit 6, and then transferred to the surface of the copy paper on the transfer drum 10. The photosensitive drum 4 and the transfer drum 10 are synchronously driven by a drum driving motor 22.

The developing unit 6 includes a magenta developing unit 6M for developing with magenta toner, a cyan developing unit 6C for developing with cyan toner, a yellow developing unit 6Y for developing with yellow toner, and a developing with black toner. The developing unit motor 61 has a black developing device 6K for performing the above operation.

The paper processing unit 20B has a conveyance roller group 41, a timing roller pair 45, a conveyance belt 47, and a fixing device 48 as main components, and feeds copy paper and transfers copy paper to the transfer drum 10. Wrapping, image fixing, and ejection of copy paper are performed. This paper processing unit 20B
Then, the copy paper pulled out from the storage cassette 42 or the storage cassette 43, or the copy paper inserted from the manual paper feed unit 44 is fed to the timing roller pair 45 by the conveyance roller group 41.
The toner image on the photoconductor drum 4 is sequentially transferred to the transfer drum 10 (max.
(4 colors) are transferred, then peeled off from the transfer drum 10, the image is fixed by thermocompression by the fixing device 48, and then discharged to the paper discharge tray 49. Copy paper transfer drum
The timing for winding around 10 is the timing roller pair
It is adjusted by 45. The drive of the transport roller group, the transport belt 47 and the like is performed by the main motor 40. ..

The transfer drum 10 has a tip chucking claw (not shown) for chucking the tip of the copy sheet, a suction charger 11 for electrostatically attracting the copy sheet to the transfer drum 10, Paper pressing roller 12, transfer charger 14 for electrostatically attracting and transferring the toner image visualized on the photosensitive drum 4 onto the paper, transfer after the transfer of the toner image (maximum 4 colors) Charge removal chargers 16 and 17 for removing charge from the drum 10 to facilitate separation of the paper and a separation claw 18 for peeling the paper from the transfer drum 10 are arranged. In the vicinity of the transfer drum 10, the transfer drum 10
A reference position sensor 13 for detecting a reference position of the transfer drum 10 is provided, and the reference position sensor 13 includes an actuator plate 13a provided on an outer peripheral portion of the transfer drum 10 and the reference position sensor 13 is rotated by the rotation of the transfer drum 10. It is designed to operate by contact.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the copying machine according to the present invention. The control system mainly includes a first CPU 101 that controls the printer unit 20 and a second CPU 102 that mainly controls the reading unit 30,
The first CPU 101 and the second CPU 102 are connected so that they can communicate with each other.

Signals are input to the first CPU 101 from a reference position sensor 13 and another sensor group (not shown) provided in the printer section 20 for detecting various operating states. In addition, the first CPU 101 is the printer unit 20.
A control signal is output to each of the printer unit drive circuit 103 and the laser device drive circuit 210 which drive various devices.

The second CPU 102 receives signals from the reading unit sensor group 104 and the image sensor 3 which are provided in the reading unit 30 and detect various operating states including an abnormal state of the reading unit 30. It is supposed to be done. Also,
The second CPU 102 outputs a control signal to each of the scanner motor drive circuit 105 that drives the scanner motor 35, the image sensor 3, and the image signal processing unit 33.

Next, the operation of the control system will be described. Figure 3
3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the first CPU 101.

Before explaining the flow chart, the terms on-edge and off-edge used therein are defined. An on-edge is defined as an on-edge when the state of a switch, a sensor, a signal, etc. changes from an off-state to an on-state. An off edge is defined as an off edge when the state of a switch, a sensor, a signal, etc. changes from an on state to an off state.

First, the registers and flags are initialized (step # 1). After that, an internal timer that defines the time for one routine is started, and the following routines are executed (step # 2).

Then, a fixing temperature adjusting routine (step # 3) for performing the fixing preliminary rotation for equalizing the fixing temperature and adjusting the temperature of the fixing device 48, feeding of the copying paper, conveyance, and transfer to the transfer drum 10 are carried out. Paper transport routine for wrapping paper, separating from the transfer drum 10, carrying and discharging (Step #
4), charging of the photosensitive drum 4, toner development of the electrostatic latent image,
An image forming process routine (step # 5) for controlling the image forming process such as transfer of toner image and charge removal on the photosensitive drum 4, a sheet separating process for forcibly separating the copy sheet from the transfer drum 10 (step # 6) , A developing unit processing routine for controlling the developing unit 6 such as movement of the developing unit 6, pressure contact of each developing unit with the photosensitive drum 4 and release thereof (step #
7), a laser device processing routine (step # 8) for controlling the driving of the laser device 21 such as laser emission, another processing routine (step # 9) which is a process other than the above in the printer unit 20, and a serial with the second CPU 102. The communication processing routine (step # 10) for performing communication control is executed, waiting for the end of the internal timer (step # 11), the process returns to step # 2, and the above-described processing is repeated.

Next, the paper transport routine (step #
The details of 4) are explained in detail.

4 to 6 are flowcharts showing the contents of the paper transport routine. First, as shown in FIG.
The value (initial value 0) of the state counter indicating the copy paper transport control state is checked (step # 401).

When the state counter is 0, the process waits until the copy is started by the on edge of the print button (not shown) for starting the copy (step).
# 402). That is, if copying has not started, the process returns to the main routine. When copying is started, copy mode data (for example, paper feed port,
The selection data such as the magnification, color mode and number of copies are stored in the memory (step # 403), and then the main motor 40 is started, the drum drive motor 22 is started, and the copy paper feeding operation is started. (Step # 404), the state counter is incremented (the value of the state counter is set to 1) (step # 405), the process returns to the main routine once, and the process proceeds to the process of state counter = 1 in the next routine.

When the state counter is 1, the process waits until the fed copy paper reaches the timing roller pair 45 (step # 406). That is, when the copy sheet does not reach the pair of timing rollers 45, the process returns to the main routine. When the copy sheet reaches the timing roller pair 45, each of the conveyance roller groups 41 which conveys the copy sheet is stopped once to stop the copy sheet at the position of the timing roller pair 45 (step # 407), and the state counter Is incremented (the value of the state counter is set to 2) (step
# 408) Then, the process returns to the main routine once, and in the next routine, the process of state counter = 2 proceeds. However, when the copy paper reaches the timing roller pair 45, the timing roller pair 45
The sheet detection sensor (not shown) provided immediately before the conveyance roller group 41 is used to stop the conveyance roller group 41 from the main motor 40 to the conveyance roller group 41 by a solenoid, a clutch, or the like.
This is done by cutting off the driving force transmitted to the.

When the state counter is 2, the reference position sensor 13 causes the transfer drum 10 to transfer the copy paper stopped at the position of the timing roller pair 45 to the transfer drum.
Wait until the chuck timing, which is the towing around 10 (step # 409). That is, when the chuck timing is not reached, the process returns to the main routine. When the chuck timing is reached, the operation of the transport roller group 41 is restarted to wind the copy paper around the transfer drum 10 (step # 410), and a start request for the paper separation process (step # 6) described later is set (step # 410). 411), increment the state counter (set the value of the state counter to 3)
Then, the process returns to the main routine once (step # 412) and proceeds to the processing of the state counter = 3 in the next routine.

When the state counter is 3, the number of times the image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 is transferred is necessary to realize the color mode of the copy mode data stored in the processing when the state counter = 1. When the number of transfers (for example, four times when the four-color full-color mode is selected and two times when the two-color full-color mode is selected) is completed, the timing at which the copy sheet is separated from the transfer drum 10, that is, The process waits until a copy paper separation request is set by the paper separation processing routine (step # 6) described later (step # 413). That is, if the separation request is not set, the process returns to the main routine. When the separation request is set, in order to separate the copy sheet from the transfer drum 10, a separation process of operating the separation claw 18 is performed (step # 414), and the state counter is incremented (the state counter value is set to 4). (Step # 4
15) Then, the process once returns to the main routine, and the process of the state counter = 4 is advanced to the next routine.

When the state counter is 4, it is determined whether or not the copy operation for the number of copies of the copy mode data has been completed after the separation processing of the copy paper as described above (step # 41).
6) If it is determined that the copy operation is completed, the state counter is incremented (the value of the state counter is set to 5) (step # 417), the process is returned to the main routine, and the state counter = 4 in the next routine. Proceed to processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the copy operation has not ended, the next copy sheet is fed (step # 418),
The state counter is reset to 1 (step # 419) and the process returns to the main routine.

When the state counter is 5, the process waits until the copy paper separated as described above is discharged to the outside of the machine (step # 420). That is, when the separated copy paper is not discharged to the outside of the machine, the process returns to the main routine. When the copy paper is ejected to the outside of the machine, the end processing that is the processing for stopping the copying operation such as the stop of the main motor 40 and the drum drive motor 22 is performed (step # 421), and the state counter is cleared (the value of the state counter is cleared. 0) (step
# 422) returns to the main routine. However, the discharge of the separated copy paper to the outside of the machine is detected by a paper discharge sensor (not shown) provided behind the fixing device 48.

Next, the paper separation processing routine (step # 6), which is the subject matter of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the paper separation processing routine (step # 6). First, the value of the state counter indicating the control state (initial value 0) is checked (step # 601).

When the state counter is 0, in the above-described paper transport routine (step # 4), the transport of the copy paper is restarted, and when the operation of winding the copy paper around the transfer drum 10 is started, the paper is transferred in step # 411. Since the start request for the separation processing is set, it waits until the start request is set (step # 602). That is, when the activation request for the sheet separation process is not set, the process returns to the main routine. When the request to start the paper separation process is set, the value corresponding to the color mode data of the copy mode data is set in the separation counter that performs the count for separating the copy paper after transferring the number of times necessary to realize the color mode. (For example, if 4 color full color mode is selected, 4 if 2 color full color mode is selected, 2)
Is set (step # 603), the state counter is incremented (the value of the state counter is set to 1) (step # 604), the routine is once returned to the main routine, and the processing of the state counter = 1 is proceeded to in the next routine.

When the state counter is 1, the system waits until the reference position of the transfer drum 10 is detected by the reference position sensor 13 (step # 605). That is, when the reference position of the transfer drum 10 is not detected, the process returns to the main routine. When the reference position of the transfer drum 10 is detected, the separation control timer for determining the separation timing of copy paper is started (step # 606), the separation counter is counted (step # 607), and the state counter is incremented. (The value of the state counter is set to 2) (step # 608), the process is returned to the main routine, and the process of state counter = 2 is performed in the next routine. Transfer drum 10
There is a predetermined positional relationship between the reference position and the leading edge of the copy sheet, and the time from when the reference position is detected until the leading edge of the copy sheet reaches the separation position is inevitably determined.

When the state counter is 2, the separation control timer counts (step # 609) and waits until the separation control timer expires (step # 610). That is,
If the separation control timer has not expired, the process returns to the main routine. When the separation control timer expires, it is determined whether the count value of the separation counter has reached the set value set in step # 603 (step # 611).

If it is determined in step # 611 that the count value of the separation counter has reached the set value, a separation request for separating the copy sheet from the transfer drum 10 is set (step # 612), and the state counter is set. Is cleared (the value of the state counter is set to 0) (step # 61
3) Return to the main routine.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step # 611 that the count value of the separation counter is not the set value, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the reading unit 30 (step # 614). ..

If it is determined in step # 614 that the reading section 30 has no abnormality, the state counter is decremented (the value of the state counter is set to 1).
Then (step # 615), the process returns to the main routine once, and the process proceeds to the state counter = 1 in the next routine. As a result, the processing of state counter = 1 and the processing of state counter = 2 are repeated until the number of times of transfer corresponding to the color mode is completed.

On the other hand, in step # 614, when it is determined that the reading unit 30 has an abnormality, the count value of the separation counter is not the set value, that is, the number of transfer times according to the color mode. If not completed, the process proceeds to step # 612 to set the separation request to request the separation of the copy paper. This is because if an abnormality occurs in the reading unit 30, proper image formation cannot be performed, so the copy sheet is promptly separated from the transfer drum 10 and discharged to the outside of the machine, and the operation of the apparatus is stopped.

When the processing as described above is performed and the reading section 30 becomes abnormal and proper image formation cannot be performed, the copy paper is irrelevant regardless of the end of the number of transfers according to the color mode. It is separated and discharged, and the operation of the device stops in a short time. In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the reading unit 30, if the copy sheet is separated and ejected, it is not necessary to take out the copy sheet that is being transferred after the apparatus is stopped. Since the work is simplified and the operation of the apparatus is stopped in a short time, the recovery work for the abnormality of the reading unit 30 can be started quickly.

[0041]

As described in detail above, in the copying apparatus according to the present invention, when an abnormality of the image reading means is detected during the transfer step, the separation timing judgment means makes a judgment without waiting for the end of the transfer step. Since the copy sheet is separated from the transfer body at the separable timing, the wasteful transfer process is not continued after the abnormality of the image reading unit, and the copy sheet is set in a short time after the abnormality of the image reading unit. Since the device can be stopped in a state of being discharged to the outside, the present invention has excellent effects such that the recovery process of the device after the stop can be executed early and the recovery process can be easily executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a first CPU.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a paper conveyance routine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a paper conveyance routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a paper conveyance routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of a paper separation processing routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Transfer drum 13 Reference position sensor 18 Separation claw 20 Printer unit 30 Reading unit 101 1st CPU 102 2nd CPU 104 Reading unit sensor group

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image corresponding to an image of a plurality of colors read by an image reading unit is transferred to a copy sheet held by a transfer body by executing a transfer step of performing a transfer operation a plurality of times according to the number of colors. In the copying apparatus configured to separate the copy sheet from the transfer body after the transfer, a unit that detects an abnormality of the image reading unit and a separation unit that determines a separable timing of the copy sheet during the transfer process. Feasible timing determination means, and means for separating the copy sheet from the transfer body at a separable timing determined by the separable timing determination means when an abnormality of the image reading means is detected during the transfer step. A copying apparatus comprising: