JPH11263454A - Document feeder and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold a document feeder in a state to immediately and directly feed a set sheet copy at any time. SOLUTION: A document feeder 11 is furnished with a document loading means 15 to load a sheet document P2 to be picture-processed, a document existence detection means 35 to detect whether the sheet document is loaded on this document loading base and a document process preparation means 30 to tilt the document loading means 15 at the time when the document existence detection means 35 detects the sheet document. When a copy is set on the copy loading means 15, it is detected by the document process preparation means 30 that the document is set, the document process preparation means 30 tilts the document loading means 15 and makes it in a state to feed the sheet document at any time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document feeder and an image forming apparatus including the same, such as a copier, a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus is provided with an automatic document feeder and an automatic sheet sorter. An example of an automatic document feeder when the image forming apparatus is a copy machine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-303246.

This automatic document feeder mainly includes a document feeder for feeding a large-size sheet document (hereinafter simply referred to as a "document"), for example, an A3-size document, and a small-size document. And a right document feeder for feeding, for example, an A4 size document. The automatic document feeder automatically selects the left document feeder and the right document feeder according to the size of the document to be copied.

A document loading table on which a document is loaded is formed so as to rotate around the vicinity of the document left supply port when the document left supply section is selected. That is, when the right document feeder is selected, the right side of the document loading table is lowered around the central portion to guide the right end of the document on the document loading table to the right document supply port. I have.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
The sequence of the image forming process performed by the copying machine will be described.

Information for selecting the left document feeder and the right document feeder is obtained by the document size detecting means detecting the size of the document set on the document loading table by an operator (section). 801. Hereinafter, the section is abbreviated as “S”.)

When a document is set, the automatic document feeder determines the size of the document by a document size detecting device on the document loading table. As a result, the automatic document feeder
The right document feeder or the left document feeder is selected, and the operator waits for input of a copy start signal.

When the operator selects the copy mode and presses the copy start key (S802), the automatic document feeder rotates the document loading table or (document) according to the preset document feed mode. Only when the right feeding unit is selected), the side jogging (alignment in the width direction), the separation, and the like of the document are started (S803).

After these operations have been completed, the automatic document feeder automatically feeds the document to the position of the document reading device on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Thus, copying to the sheet is started (S804). The automatic document feeder collects the document that has been read, and feeds the next document to the document reader. When reading and collection of all originals are completed, the automatic original feeding apparatus transmits a signal indicating completion of feeding to the main body of the image forming apparatus by communication means. what if,
When the right document feeder is selected, the document stacker returns and rotates to return to the initial position, and then transmits a feed completion signal to the image forming apparatus main body.

[0010] The sheet on which the image of the document is copied is sent to an automatic sheet sorting apparatus.

The image forming apparatus main body receives both the sort completion signal from the automatic sheet sorting apparatus as a sorter and the feed completion signal from the automatic document feeder (S8).
05) After that, an operation section provided on the image forming apparatus displays a message indicating that copying has been completed, or starts copying an already accepted original. The display of the copy completion is also a display indicating that the next copy can be accepted (S806).

The sheet on which the image of the document has been transferred is
In the automatic sheet sorting apparatus, the sheets are sorted based on the flowchart of FIG.

That is, when a sensor provided in the image forming apparatus main body passes through the sheet on which the image is formed, the sensor is turned off.
N: If the next sheet does not pass even after a lapse of a predetermined time from the OFF state (S901, S902), it is detected that the previous sheet is the last sheet, and further, the most downstream of the automatic sheet sorting apparatus. Is turned on and off when the sheet passes (S903, S90).
4) When the next sheet does not pass even after the lapse of a predetermined time from the point of time 4), by detecting that the previous sheet is the last sheet, the image forming apparatus main body is notified of an image forming process end signal, so-called A copy completion signal is transmitted by the communication means (S905), and the copy is completed (S90).
6).

[0014]

However, when the conventional automatic document feeder is used, the following problem arises with respect to the fast image processing speed required for the image forming apparatus.

First, after the copy start key is pressed by the operator, the rotation of the document loading table (only when the right document feeder is selected), side jogging of the document (alignment in the width direction), separation, etc. Preprocessing is started, and after these preprocessing are completed, copying is started, so the first image processing speed is reduced, and after the original is set on the automatic document feeder, the copying is completed. Until it takes time.

Second, due to the first problem, in all modes, the first image processing time becomes longer, and the specifications of the image processing speed in the image forming apparatus main body are reduced uniformly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object the first image processing when an automatic document feeder is used without a major design change in an image forming apparatus or an increase in cost. An object of the present invention is to increase the speed, thereby achieving an improvement in specifications relating to image processing speed in all modes of the image forming apparatus main body.

[0018]

The above object is achieved by the following document feed processing apparatus of the present invention.

Document loading means for loading a sheet document to be subjected to image processing, document presence / absence detection means for detecting whether the sheet document is loaded on the document loading means, and document presence / absence detection means Document processing preparation means for inclining the document stacking means when a document is detected.

In the above-mentioned image feeding apparatus, when the document presence / absence detecting means detects the sheet document, the size of the sheet document stacked on the document stacking means is determined, Document processing preparation means for tilting the document stacking means is provided.

In the second document feeding apparatus, the document aligning means for aligning at least the leading end of the leading end of the sheet original in the conveying direction and the end of the sheet original in the width direction; At least one of a document separating unit that separates a sheet document is provided, and the one unit is activated when the document processing preparing unit determines that the sheet document is a specific size. .

The document processing preparation means detects a small size among the large size and the small size of the sheet document.

The document aligning means includes at least the bundle conveying means of a bundle conveying means for aligning the leading end of the sheet document in the conveying direction and a jogging means for aligning the widthwise ends of the sheet document. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: the original feeding apparatus according to any one of the above; and an image processing unit for processing an image of a sheet original sent by the original feeding apparatus. Achieved.

Further, the above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet sorting device for sorting sheets on which images are formed, wherein a sheet detecting means for detecting a sheet fed to the sheet sorting device, This is achieved by an image forming apparatus including: an image forming end notifying unit for notifying the end of the image forming process to the outside when a sheet is detected.

[Operation] The document stacking means is tilted in advance to align the leading end of the document to be set. When an operator sets a document on the document stacking means when starting image processing, the document presence detecting means detects that the document is set on the document stacking means, and tilts the document stacking means. As a result, the document feeder is ready to feed a document at any time.

The size of the document is determined by the document processing preparation means. When the document processing preparation means determines that the size of the document is the specific size, the document stacking means is tilted. Let it. As a result, the document feeder is ready to feed a document at any time.

Also, when the original feeding device is ready to feed the original at any time, the original aligning means aligns the leading edge of the original, or the original separating means separates the original so that the original is separated. Make it easy to feed.

The document feeding device tilts the document stacking means when the document is of a small size.

The document aligning means includes at least a bundle conveying means to align the leading ends of the originals so that the originals can be easily fed.

In the image forming apparatus provided with the document feeding device, the document set on the document stacking means is always fed and deflected, so that when the operator presses the start key, the image is immediately formed. Start processing.

When the last sheet is detected by the sheet detecting means, the fact is notified to the worker by the image forming end notifying means. This allows the worker
The next image processing operation can be subsequently performed without looking at the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus and determining whether or not the sheet is the last sheet.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine 10 which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic document feeding device 11 and an automatic sheet sorting device 12. 2 and 3 are front sectional views of the automatic document feeder 11. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the jogging means. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a control circuit block diagram related to a control unit. 6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operation.

The copy machine 10 is provided with an openable / closable automatic document feeder 11 for automatically feeding a document onto a document table 14 which is a reading position on an upper portion of the body 13 of the copy machine.

The document can be set on the document table 14 automatically by using the automatic document feeder 11, or the operator can open and close the automatic document feeder 11 to It may be done directly on top.

The automatic document feeder 11 has two feeding modes for the document stacking table 15, a right feeding mode and a left feeding mode, according to the size of the document to be fed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the document loading table 15 has document size detecting means 16. The document size detection means 16 includes a length detection sensor 17 provided on the document table 15 for detecting the length of the document, as shown in FIG.
It has a slide resistor 19 that moves with the movement of the width direction regulating plate 18 that can be adjusted in the front-rear direction (direction of arrow A) on the document table 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the original loading table 15,
Jogging means 20 is provided for aligning the edges of the document in the width direction. The jogging means 20 includes a jogging plunger 21 provided on the width direction regulating plate 18, a link mechanism 23 for linking the plunger 21 with the jogging guide plate 22, and a tension spring 24 for pulling the plunger 21 in one direction. I have.

The document loading table 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is configured so that the right side of the document loading table tilting means 30 moves up and down about a rotation shaft 26 near the document left supply port 25. The loading table tilting means 30 includes: a loading table tilt motor 31;
The link piece 32 fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor 31
And a cam plate 33 interlocked with the document stacking table 15 via the.

The original loading table 15 and the housing 34 of the automatic document feeder 11 are provided with a transmission type entrance light sensor 35 as a document presence detecting means for detecting whether or not a document is set on the original loading table 15. 35 are provided. The entrance light sensor 35 detects the last document of a large size.

The automatic document feeder 11 has the configuration shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3, a bundle conveying means 80 for aligning the right end of the small-size document P1 is provided. The bundle conveying means 80 includes a stopper piece 81 for pressing the document to the right, a stopper piece sliding motor 84, a receiving piece 82 for receiving the leading end of the document, and a plunger 83 for tilting the leading end of the receiving piece in the vertical direction. doing.

Accordingly, when the small-sized document P1 (see FIG. 3) is set on the document loading table 15, the entrance light sensor 35 detects that the document has been set. Also,
When the width direction regulating plate 18 (see FIG. 4) is manually moved in accordance with the width of the document, the width is detected by the slide resistor 19, but since the length of the document is short, the length detection sensor 1
7 does not detect a document. The entrance light sensor 35 detects that a document is stacked.

Thus, the control unit 36 (see FIG. 5)
Controls the jogging plunger 21 to move the jogging guide plate 22 back and forth in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 4) to align the widths of the documents.

Further, the control unit 36 determines that the document is of a small size because the length detection sensor 17 does not detect the original document despite the operation of the entrance sensor 35, and determines that the loading table tilt motor 31 to control the original loading table 1
Tilt 5 That is, the automatic document feeder 11
Select the right feed mode. The document loading table 15 is lowered on the right side with the rotation shaft 26 as a center, and the right end approaches the document right supply port 37. The document right supply port 37 is normally covered by the document loading table 15, and appears when the document loading table 15 is lowered.

During this time, the stopper piece 81 is
Then, the original is moved rightward, and the leading end of the original is brought into contact with the receiving piece 82 which is temporarily lowered. The small-sized document is sent to the document table 14 at the same time that the copy start key (not shown) is pressed, with the leading edge aligned and in a standby state. The time required from when a document is set until the printer enters this standby state is approximately 1
Seconds.

A large-size original P2 is placed on the original loading table 15.
When (see FIG. 2) is set, the length detection sensor 17 detects a document. The controller 36 determines that the document is of a large size, and holds the document loading table 15 as shown in FIG.
However, the stopper piece 81 is lowered.

In the vicinity of the original right supply port 37, a half-moon-shaped supply roller 90 for separating and intermittently feeding the original to the original table 14, a separating roller 91 and a separating belt 92 for separating the originals one by one are provided. , Rollers 90 and 91 and belt 92
Drive motor 93 is provided.

An optical reading system 40 for reading an image of a document is provided below the document loading table 15. The optical reading system 40 moves along the document table 14 to irradiate light onto an image surface of a document set on the document table 14 (not shown), and forms reflected light (image light) for image formation. It has a mirror and a lens (not shown) for leading to the photosensitive drum 41 of the section 46 and the like. Around the photoreceptor drum 41 of the image forming unit 46, a charging unit 42 as a process unit, a developing unit 43, a cleaning unit 44, and a transfer unit 45 are provided.

In the image forming section 46, first, the charging means 4
2, the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 is uniformly charged,
The photosensitive drum 41 is irradiated with image light read by the optical reading system 40 to form a latent image. Then, the latent image is developed by the developing unit 43 to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 41. The sheet S is fed in synchronization with the image forming operation, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 41 is transferred by the transfer unit 45. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 41 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning unit 44.

The sheet S is accommodated in cassettes 47 and 48 as sheet accommodating devices attached to the lower part of the copying machine main body 13 so as to be able to be pulled out and accommodated, or the side of the copying machine main body 13 (right side in FIG. 1). Are accommodated in a large-capacity deck 49 which is detachably mounted on the main body. These various sizes of sheets S are selectively fed by a pickup roller 50 and a feed roller pair 51 provided individually, and fed one by one sequentially from the top. It is supposed to be.

The sheet S is sent to the image forming section 46 by a pair of conveying rollers 52 and a pair of registration rollers 53 as conveying means, and the toner image is transferred as described above. After the transfer, the sheet S is sent to the fixing unit 55 by the transport belt 54, and the toner image is fixed. After the fixing, the sheet S is conveyed to the automatic sheet sorting apparatus 12 outside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 56, at which time the sheet S is sorted according to a sorting mode arbitrarily selected by an operator and discharged outside the apparatus.

Here, when images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the reversing conveyance means 6 composed of a flapper disposed in front of the discharge roller pair 56, a reversing roller pair, and the like.
With the value of 0, the front and back surfaces of the fixed sheet S are reversed and fed into the intermediate tray 61, and the sheet S is again fed to the image forming unit 46 by the pickup roller 62 and the feeding roller pair 63 as feeding means. ing. The sheet S sent to the image forming section 46 is transferred and transferred as described above.
After the fixing is performed, the sheet is conveyed to the automatic sheet sorting apparatus 12 and discharged outside the apparatus at the sorted position.

Next, the operation of the copying machine 10 which is an image forming apparatus provided with the automatic document feeder 11 and the automatic sheet sorting device 12 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, an operator sets a document on the document loading table 15. The document size detector 16 detects the document size (S601). If the set document size is the small size (S602), the automatic document feeder 11 selects the right document feed mode. If the set document size is a large size, the automatic document feeder 11 selects the document left feeding mode.

When the right document feed mode is selected, the automatic document feeder 11 moves the document loading table 15 on which the document is set.
Is lowered by the loading table tilting motor 31, and the right end of the original is conveyed to the original right supply port 37. Then, the horizontal alignment process is performed. (S603), and enters a state of waiting for a feed start signal. By the way, the time required for the processing so far is about 1 second.

When the operator presses the copy start key (S
604), automatic document feeder 11 that has been pre-processed in advance
Then, the original is immediately fed to the original platen 14 of the copying machine main body, and the copying operation is started without the standby time of the copying machine (S605). The automatic document feeder 11 feeds, collects, and stores all documents. Completion of document feeding is detected by entrance light sensors 38, 38 (see FIG. 3). When the sensor 38 detects the completion of document feeding, the control unit 36
After operating the loading table tilting motor 31 to return the original loading table 15 to the initial position, an operation completion signal is transmitted to the copying machine main body by the communication means.

During this time, the image of the document is transferred to the sheet. The sheet subjected to the image processing is sent to the automatic sorting device 12.
Sent to. The sensor 71 located at the most downstream side of the automatic sheet sorting apparatus detects ONO, FF
If the next sheet does not pass even after a predetermined time has passed since the state, the control unit 36 detects that the previous sheet is the last sheet, and transmits an image forming process end signal to the control unit 36.
The control unit 36 also receives the operation completion signal from the automatic document feeder 11 (S606), determines that the copy operation has been completed, and causes the operation unit to display the next copy acceptance display (S607).

If the next document has already been received, the next copy operation is started.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a different embodiment.

That is, FIG. 7 shows the automatic document feeder 11
FIG. 4 is a flowchart when a copied sheet is discharged in a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus including the automatic sheet sorting apparatus 12.

The sensor 70 for detecting the sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 13 is turned on by the passage of the sheet (S701). If the next sheet does not pass even after the lapse of the predetermined time, the state is turned off (S702). The control unit 36 determines that the preceding sheet is the last sheet by not passing the next sheet even after the lapse of a predetermined time, and is an image forming process end notification unit provided in the copying machine body 13. The liquid crystal body 72 emits light to notify the worker that the copying is completed (S703). At this time,
The sorting device may be sorting the received sheets. When the completion of the copy is notified to the outside, if the next original has already been received, the next copy operation is started.

Therefore, the operator does not need to determine whether or not the sheet discharged on the sorting apparatus is the last sheet by checking the discharge state of the sheet discharged from the copying machine main body. Is improved. Moreover, the workers
Even when the sorting device is sorting sheets, the next operation can be performed, and work efficiency is improved.

The distance from the detection position of the sensor 70 at the most downstream of the copying machine main body to the detection position of the sheet detection sensor 71 at the most downstream of the automatic sheet sorting apparatus is L mm, and the conveying speed is V mm.
/ Sec, the copy time can be shortened by L / Vsec by this control. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the completion of copying is displayed by the operation of the sheet detection sensor 71 at the most downstream of the automatic sheet sorting apparatus.

[0065]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document feeder comprising:
When an operator sets a document on the document feeder,
The document stacking means, which has been tilted to align the document, is tilted, so that the document can be fed to another device related to the document feeder, for example, the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus at any time. The link operation with the device can be performed in a short time.

In the document feeder according to the second aspect of the present invention, when an operator sets a document on the document feeder, the document size is determined, and when the determined size is a specific size, the document is loaded. The means is tilted, and a document can be fed to another device related to the document feeding device, for example, the image forming unit of the image forming device at any time, and the linking operation with the other device is performed in a short time. Will be able to

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a document is set on the document stacking means, the document size is determined by the document processing preparation means. At least one of a bundle transport operation in which the stacking means is tilted to align the leading edge of the original, a jogging operation in which the width direction of the original is aligned, and an operation in which the original is separated is determined.
In order to perform one operation, other devices related to the document feeding device, for example, a document can be reliably fed to the image forming unit of the image forming device at any time, and the cooperation operation with the other devices is smoothly performed. And it can be performed promptly.

In the document feeder according to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the specific size is a small size, when the number of documents is large, the weight of the document does not become too heavy, and the document loading table is tilted smoothly. be able to.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the document aligning means includes at least the bundle conveying means, the leading ends of the documents can be aligned and the documents can be reliably fed to another device.

In the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the document feeder is provided between the time the operator sets the document on the document feeder and the time the operator presses the start key of the image forming apparatus. When the document size is detected, and when the detected size is a specific size, in particular, a small size, the document stacking means is tilted so that the leading edge of the document is bundled, the jog work for aligning the width direction of the document, and When at least one of the separating operations is performed and the start key is pressed to start the image forming process almost simultaneously, the original is smoothly and promptly fed to the image processing unit of the image forming apparatus. Thus, the time for starting the image processing of the first document can be reduced.

Since the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention has the image forming process end notifying means, a new document can be set based on the image forming process end signal from the notifying means. Therefore, a new document can be set earlier as compared with setting a document by checking whether the sheet coming out of the image forming apparatus is the last sheet or not by checking the sheet discharge status. Image processing can be performed quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an automatic document feeder and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the automatic document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a large-size document is set.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the automatic document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which a small-size document is set.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the image loading table.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the automatic document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

P1 Small-size sheet document P2 Large-size sheet document S-sheet 10 Copy machine (image forming apparatus) 11 Automatic document feeder (document feeder) 12 Sheet sorting device 15 Document loading table (document loading means) 16 Document size Detection means (document processing preparation means) 20 Jogging means (document alignment means) 30 Loading table tilting means (document processing preparation means) 35 Entrance light sensor (document presence / absence detection means) 46 Image forming unit (image processing unit) 70 Sheet detection sensor (Sheet detection means) 72 Liquid crystal body (image formation completion notification means) 80 Bundle conveyance means (document alignment means) 90 Half-moon supply roller (document separation means, document alignment means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI B65H 7/02 B65H 7/02 83/02 83/02 85/00 85/00 G03G 15/00 G03G 15/00

Claims (7)

[Claims] A document stacking means for stacking a sheet document to be subjected to image processing; a document presence detecting means for detecting whether or not the sheet document is stacked on the document loading means; And a document processing preparation unit for tilting the document stacking unit when a sheet document is detected. 2. The image feeding device according to claim 1, wherein when the document presence detecting unit detects the sheet document, the size of the sheet document stacked on the document stacking unit is determined to determine the size of the sheet document. A document feeder for tilting the document stacker when the document is loaded. 3. The document feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the sheet aligning means aligns at least the leading end of the leading end of the sheet original in the conveying direction and the end in the width direction of the sheet original, and the sheet. At least one of document separation means for separating a document, wherein the one means is activated when the sheet document is determined to be a specific size by the document processing preparation means. Document feeder. 4. The document feeder according to claim 2, wherein said document processing preparation means detects a small size among a large size and a small size of a sheet document. 5. The document aligning means includes at least the bundle transporting means of a bundle transporting means for aligning the leading end of the sheet document in the transport direction and a jogging means for aligning the width direction end of the sheet document. The document feeder according to claim 4. 6. A document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing section for processing an image of a sheet document sent by the document feeder. Image forming apparatus. 7. An image forming apparatus provided with a sheet sorting device for sorting sheets on which images are formed, wherein a sheet detecting means for detecting a sheet fed to the sheet sorting device, and a final sheet detected by the sheet detecting means. And an image forming end notifying means for notifying the end of the image forming process to the outside when the image forming process has been completed.