JPH09230648A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately specify the size of paper sheets supplied to a hand inserting paper feeding opening by a hand inserting paper feeding means and prevent miss-copying by indicating an instruction means to provide instructions to manually input the paper size only in case a paper size specifying means can not specify a single paper size. SOLUTION: The positions of transverse regulating plates 301a, 301b, or, in other words, the value of a resistor 306 and the output value of a sensor 30 are detected and the size of a paper sheet is judged on the basis of the detected value. As a result, if a single paper size can not be specified, an image for selecting a definite size paper sheet is displayed on a display panel 205 of a console panel 200 by setting a size selection mode for specifying the paper sheet in accordance with the display on the console panel 20 and resetting a 10 key input mode for inputting numeric value of the actual paper size. The paper size placed on a hand inserting tray is accurately specified and mis- copying is prevented by having the user input the size of the paper sheet using the display panel 205.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a manual sheet feeding port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming process is executed by using a sheet provided in a tray (hereinafter referred to as a manual feed tray) having a manual sheet feed port and a sheet for feeding to the sheet feed port. An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is known. In such an image forming apparatus, for example, in a copying machine, a size of a sheet placed on a manual feed tray is detected, and an image of an original formed on the sheet is enlarged or reduced according to the detected size of the sheet. It has been known. The size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray is detected based on the outputs of these sensors by providing some sensors in the paper transport direction and in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

[0003]

The size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray in the carrying direction and the direction perpendicular to the carrying direction can be investigated in more detail by increasing the number of sensors. However, it is difficult to provide a large number of sensors on the manual feed tray in terms of cost. Further, the manual feed tray is generally folded and stored in the side of the main body when not in use, and is stretched and used when in use. Due to its mechanism, it is difficult to provide many sensors along the transport direction. Further, for small size paper, the bypass tray may be used without being fully extended. Therefore, even if many sensors are provided in a foldable state along the transport direction, the size may not be accurately detected. For these reasons, the conventional image forming apparatus cannot finely detect the size of the sheet placed on the manual feed tray. For example, A4 size paper
Letter paper that is almost the same width (height 210 mm) (height 8.5 inches = 216
(mm) was placed on the manual feed tray, the paper size could not be detected accurately, which caused work mistakes such as a missing copy of an image.

An object of the present invention is to allow the user to specify one size when the size of the paper required for the manual paper feeding means cannot be specified as one size by the size detecting means. It is possible to set the size paper without fail so that mistakes in work can be eliminated.

[0005]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a manual sheet feeding means for feeding a sheet to a manual sheet feeding port,
Depending on the detection means for detecting the length of at least one side of the paper supplied to the manual paper feed port, and the detection result of the detection means,
A paper size specifying unit for specifying the paper size and an instruction unit for instructing to manually input the paper size when the paper size specifying unit cannot specify one paper size.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below in order with reference to the accompanying drawings. (1) Configuration of Copying Machine Main Body FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment. The copying machine 1 of this embodiment is a monochrome copying machine. The original placed on the original tray 31 included in the original conveying device 30 is placed at a predetermined position on the original table glass 29 by the functions of the paper feed roller 32 and the original conveying roller 34.
The original from which the image data is read is fed by the original feeding roller 34.
Also, the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 36 by the function of the sheet discharge roller 35. The original placed on the original table glass 29 is illuminated by the exposure lamp 4. The reflected light from the document surface exposes the uniformly charged photosensitive drum 16 via the mirrors 5a to 5d and the optical system 6. Exposure lamp 4 and mirror 5a
Moves in the direction of the arrow (sub-scanning direction) at speed V to scan the entire document. Further, the mirrors 5b and 5c move in the direction of the arrow (sub-scanning direction) at a speed V / 2. An electrostatic latent image of the original image is formed on the exposed photoconductor drum 16 and is visualized by the toner developing device 17. Appropriate paper is supplied from the paper feed cassettes 10 and 11, and when a paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12, the placed paper is supplied from the manual paper feed port 13. The toner image formed on the photoconductor is transferred onto the supplied paper by the operation of the transfer charger 14. After the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller 20, the fixing process is performed by the fixing roller pair 21, and the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 15 by the function of the sheet discharging roller 22.

(2) Operation Panel FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel 200. The start key 201 is a key for starting a copy operation. The ten-key pad 202 is a key for inputting the number of copies and the like. The clear key 203 is a key for clearing the input etc. by the ten keys 202. The stop key 204 is a key for stopping the copy operation. Display panel 205
Is a touch-type liquid crystal panel that can display the copy status and can directly set the various modes by directly touching the display screen. The panel reset key 206 is a key used when initializing the set mode.

(3) Structure of the manual feed tray FIG. 3 is a view of the manual feed tray 12 provided in the manual paper feed port 13 as seen from above. When the paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12, the lateral regulation plates 301a and 301b are adjusted to the width of the paper (the length of the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction). The lateral regulation plates 301a and 301b have rack gears 303a and 303b, and are connected by a pinion gear 304. When one lateral regulation plate is moved, the other lateral regulation plate also moves in conjunction with this. This lateral regulation plate 301a
And a manual feed width detection resistor 30 that is variable in association with 301b
6 (slide resistance) is provided, and the width of the placed paper is detected based on the value of the resistance 306. The rack gear 303c included in the lateral restriction plate 301b and the rack gear 302 included in the resistor 306 are connected by a pinion gear 305, and the value of the resistance 306 that is a slide resistance changes as the lateral restriction plate 301b moves. By converting the resistance value of the resistor 306 into a voltage as shown in FIG. 4, the width between the lateral regulating plates 301a and 301b can be read from the voltage value. Further, the sensor 307 is provided to detect the length of the paper in the conveyance direction, and the sensor 307 detects whether the paper is placed horizontally or vertically. In the present embodiment, the sheet is provided at a position about 230 mm from the leading end position of the sheet when the sheet is placed on the manual feed tray 12. The two detection means described above (the resistor 306 and the sensor 30)
By 7), the paper size can be detected. The following Table 1 shows the width of the paper obtained based on the voltage obtained by converting the resistance value of the resistor 306 and the size of the paper specified based on the ON / OFF of the sensor 307.

[Table 1]

(4) Control Block FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control block of the copying machine 1. Central control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 50 of the copying machine 1
1 controls the operation of the copying machine according to a program. C
The PU 501 is a battery-backed memory 502.
Is connected. Further, the CPU 501 is a control block for controlling the copying machine, and controls the operation panel 200, a paper feed unit 504 for controlling the paper feed rollers, charging of the photoconductor 16 and driving of the toner developing unit 17. Image forming unit 5
05, and the fixing unit 50 for controlling the fixing roller pair 21.
6 is connected, and the operation of the entire copying machine is controlled on the basis of the signals input from the respective parts to execute the copying operation. The paper feeding unit 504 has a resistance value of the resistor 306 for detecting the size of the manual paper shown in FIG.
The output signal of 07 is input. The paper feed unit 504 determines the size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray 12 based on these input signals. The I / F unit 507 is an interface unit for exchanging information between a CPU (not shown) that controls the document feeder 30 and a CPU 501 that controls the copying machine.

(5) Paper Size Detection Processing FIGS. 6 to 13 are flowcharts showing the copy operation executed by the copying machine 1 in this embodiment. FIG. 6 shows C
7 is a flowchart of a main routine of processing executed by PU 501. When the CPU 501 is reset and the program starts, first, initial settings such as clearing the memory inside the CPU 501, setting various registers, resetting the internal timer, etc. are performed (step S100). Next, the internal timer is started (step S101). After that, various subroutines necessary for controlling the copying machine, that is, input processing from input means such as switches and sensors (step S102), copy control processing (step S103), manual feed size detection processing (step S104), manual feed size input Necessary for processing (step S105), display control of operation panel 200 and the like (step S106), output processing for turning on and off electric loads such as motors and solenoids for operating the copying machine (step S107), and other copying control. Processing (step S108) is sequentially executed. When all the subroutines are completed, wait for the completion of the internal timer that was initially set (YES in step S109).
S), and returns to step S101. The length of this one routine is used to count various timers for the time control required in the subroutine. The various timer values determine the end of various timers depending on how many times this routine is repeated.

(5-1) Manual Feed Size Detection Process FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the manual feed size detection process (FIG. 6, step S104) for detecting the size of the manual feed paper. First, it is determined whether the size information of the manual feed tray 12 needs to be updated (step S200). As a result of this determination processing, if the size does not need to be updated (NO in step S201), the process directly returns. On the other hand, when updating the size (step S20)
1 is YES), determine if there is paper in the bypass tray,
If there is a sheet (YES in step S202), the positions of the lateral regulation plates 301a and 301b, that is, the value of the resistor 306 and the output value of the sensor 307 are detected (step S2).
03). Based on the detected values, as shown in Table 1,
The size of the paper is determined (step S204). As a result, when one paper size cannot be specified, for example, the width is detected as 216 mm, the sensor 307 is in the ON state, and the paper sizes of 8.5 × 11T and 8.5 × 14T are considered. If (Y in step S205
ES) and set the size selection mode for specifying the paper size according to the display on the operation panel 205 (step S20).
6) The 10-key input mode for numerically inputting the actual paper size is reset (step S207), and the touch-type display panel 205 included in the operation panel 200 displays a screen for selecting a standard size paper. On the other hand, when one paper size is specified (N in step S205)
O), reset the size selection mode (step S2
08), and displays the detected paper size on the display panel 205 (step S209).

(5-2) Size Change Judgment Process In the manual feed tray 12 shown in the present embodiment, it is not possible to accurately specify the size of the paper having the same width but different length. In this case, it is necessary to specify the size by the user, and it is necessary to consider the operability. In addition, since the size specification operation greatly changes depending on whether the size of the paper used is the standard size or the non-standard size (in the case of the non-standard size, it is necessary to input a specific numerical value), so it is necessary to consider them. Becomes Therefore, the size change determination process shown in the following FIGS. 8 to 12 is appropriately used as the specific determination content here. In the size change determination process shown in FIG. 8, when it is detected that the paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (YES in step S301), the size is updated (step S302). If no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (NO in step S301),
It is determined that the size is not updated (step S30).
3). In the size update determination process shown in FIG. 9, it is detected that a sheet is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (step S3).
If YES in 10), the size is changed under the condition that the copying is not suspended (NO in step S311) (step S312). This is because if the paper runs out during copying, it is judged that the size is the same as before the interruption when the copying is continued and no size input is required. When copying is interrupted, it may be necessary to pull out the paper from the manual feed tray 12 for trouble handling such as paper jam or paper jam. It should be noted that this process takes into account that the size of the paper in the manual feed tray is hardly changed during the interruption of copying. Therefore, when the paper is not placed on the manual feed tray 12 (NO in step S310), the copying is only temporarily suspended even when the paper is placed (YES in step S311). ), And the size is not updated (step S313). In the size update determination process shown in FIG. 10, it is detected that a sheet has been placed on the manual feed tray 12 (YES in step S320).
S) Further, if the size of the paper set up to now is the standard size (YE in step S321)
S), the size is updated (step S32).
2). If no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (NO in step S320), or if the size of the paper currently set is atypical even if paper is placed (in step S321). NO), the size is not updated (step S323). FIG.
In the size update determination process shown in No. 1, it is detected that a sheet is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (Y in step S330).
ES) and if the copy is not suspended (step S
(NO in step 331), and only when the currently set paper size is the fixed size (YES in step S333), the size is updated (step S).
334). That is, when the paper is not placed on the manual feed tray 12 (NO in step S330), when the paper is placed but the copying is suspended (step S331).
If YES at step S3, the copy is not suspended, but the currently set paper is an irregular size (step S3).
If NO in 33), the size is not changed (step S332). In the size update determination process shown in FIG. 12, when no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (YES in step S340), no paper is placed (NO in step S340). If it is selected (YES in step S342), the size is changed (step S341). If no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (NO in step S340) and no manual feed tray is selected (NO in step S342), no size change is performed (step S343). . Note that when the manual feed tray is selected when no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (YES in step S342).
S), since it is not possible to refer to the information from the means for detecting the size provided on the manual feed tray 12 (the resistor 306 and the sensor 307 that change depending on the positions of the lateral regulation plates 301a and 301b), it is possible to use these means. All sizes of paper are displayed on the display panel 205 without performing size detection, and one of them is selected.

(5-3) Manual Feed Size Input Process FIG. 13 shows a manual feed size input process (FIG. 6, step S1).
It is a flowchart of 05). Here, in the manual feed size detection process (FIG. 6, step S104), when the size selection mode is set (step S401).
YES), the following processing is executed. If the size selection mode is not set (N in step S401
O), return as it is. When the size selection mode is set, and when the paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 (YES in step S402), the touch-type display panel 205 provided in the operation panel 200.
A size selection screen is displayed on the screen (step S403). Table 2 below is a table used when the paper size that can be specified based on the detected paper width is displayed on the display panel 205 as an option in step S403. For example, in the detection pattern shown in Table 1, the width 1
When 1 inch is detected and the sensor 307 detects the sheet, the display panel 205 displays, as shown in FIG.
Each size of 11 × 14, 11 × 15, and 11 × 17 is displayed as an option.

[Table 2] Further, the detection accuracy of the width of the paper by the lateral regulation plates 301a and 301b is not high, and for example, when the vertical width of A4 size (210 mm) and the vertical width of letter paper (8.5 inches = 216 mm) cannot be distinguished, it is detected. All paper sizes close to the vertical size (for example, included in the range of ± 10 mm from the detected size) may be displayed on the display panel 205 as options.
Table 3 below is a table used in this case. According to the table, when the vicinity of A4T (the difference between the detected size and the vertical width of the A4 size is within 10 mm) is detected and the sensor 307 detects the paper, the display panel 205 displays the information in FIG.
As shown in, A4T, 8.5 × 11T, 8.5 × 14
Each size of T and FLS (Foolscap) is displayed as an option.

[Table 3] If no paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12 in step S402 (N in step S402)
O), and a screen for selecting all sizes is displayed on the display panel 205 as shown in FIG. 16B (step S40).
4). This may be the case when the manual feed tray column is touched and selected on the paper selection screen shown in FIG. 16A before the paper is placed on the manual feed tray 12. Subsequently, the actual size selection key acceptance processing is performed. When any one of the plurality of paper sizes displayed on the touch-type display panel 205 is touched (YES in step S405), the size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray 12 is fixed (step S406), and fixed. The selected size is shown on the display panel 205 (step S407). on the other hand,
When the 10-key input field on the display panel 205 is touched (YES in step S408), the ten-key input mode for inputting the actual size using the ten-key pad 202 is set (step S409). If the 10-key input field is not touched (NO in step S408),
If the 10-key input mode has already been set (YES in step S410), a process for inputting the size of the paper using the ten-key pad 202 is executed (step S411),
The size of the paper is confirmed (step S412), and the confirmed paper size is displayed on the display unit 205 as shown in FIG. 17 (step S413). Then, the 10-key input mode is reset (step S414).

In this embodiment, the manual feed tray 12 has been described as having a paper size detecting function, but even if the manual feed tray 12 does not have a size detecting mechanism, a part of the manual feed size detecting flow shown in FIG. This can be dealt with by deleting (that is, the size detection process) as follows. The content of the change is that when steps S202 to 205 are deleted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 and the size is updated in the determination based on the result of the size update determination process (step S200) (YES in step S201), the size selection mode is selected. Is set, the 10-key input mode is reset, and the process ends (steps S206 and 207).
If the size is not updated (step S2
If NO at 01), the size selection mode is reset (step S208).

As described above, in the image forming apparatus having the function of detecting the size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray, if the paper size cannot be specified as one size, the size input mode is set and displayed. By allowing the user to input the paper size using the panel 205,
The size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray 12 is reliably specified to prevent miscopying.

[0016]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the instructing means instructs manual input of the paper size only when the paper size specifying means cannot specify one paper size. As a result, the size of the sheet supplied to the manual sheet feeding port by the manual sheet feeding unit can be reliably specified, and miscopying can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the entire copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a manual sheet size detection mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that the size of a sheet placed on a manual feed tray is detected based on a sensor output.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control block.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a manual feed size detection process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of size update determination processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of size update determination processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of size update determination processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of size update determination processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of size update determination processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a manual feed size input process.

FIG. 14 is an example of a size selection screen displayed on a touch-type display panel.

FIG. 15 is an example of a size selection screen displayed on a touch-type display panel.

FIG. 16 is an example of an all-size selection screen displayed on a touch-type display panel.

FIG. 17 is an example of an all-size selection screen displayed on a touch-type display panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier 12 ... Bypass tray 13 ... Bypass paper feed port 200 ... Operation panel 205 ... Display panel 301a, 301b ... Horizontal regulation plate 306 ... Bypass width detection resistor 307 ... Sensor 501 ... CPU 502 ... Memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A manual sheet feeding means for supplying a sheet to a manual sheet feeding port, a detecting section for detecting a length of at least one side of a sheet supplied to a manual sheet feeding section, and a detecting section for detecting a detection result of the detecting section. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper size specifying unit for specifying a paper size; and an instruction unit for instructing to manually input the paper size when the paper size specifying unit cannot specify one paper size. apparatus.