JPH02137860A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize adverse effect on operation for an original of plural pages and for interruption and to copy smoothly by stapling and/or punching upon the completion of copying all the remaining pages of the original after interruption copy. CONSTITUTION:When an interruption button is depressed, a copy paper processor 3 compares whether the copied objects CF, housed in a stacker 43, are equivalent to one copy set or not based on an interruption control signal from the CPU of a copying device 2. When the copied objects CF are equivalent to one copy set, the copy paper processor 3 carries the copied objects CF to a final housing tray 46 by means of carrying rollers 47 and 48 after the copied objects CF are punched with a puncher or bound up together. When the copied objects CF are not equivalent to one copy set, the processor 3 stores the number of remaining pages and copy papers so as to count from the stored numbers when copying for the above-mentioned original starts again. This eliminates adverse effect on interruption copying in the process wherein plural copy sets are made by circulating and carrying the original of plural pages, and achieves smooth copying.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention interrupts copying of a new document as necessary during copying of a multi-page document, especially a multi-page document, and automatically returns to the original copy after the interruption is completed. The present invention relates to a copying machine that completes copying of original documents.

[Conventional technology]

In the current information age, there is a pressing need to obtain more information faster. The copying machine that serves as the source of the information is required to have the ability to process a large number of copies and the ability to automatically classify and organize them.

For example, a device that circulates and transports a large number of original pages onto a document table one by one, repeats scanning exposure for the necessary number of copies during the transport process, creates a large number of copies with the pages in the same order, and then uses a finisher to bind and organize each copy. (RDH type device)
It has been known.

On the other hand, in the process of making a large number of copies from the multi-page original, it becomes necessary to urgently make copies of other originals. In such a case, copying of the original document is temporarily interrupted, a new document is inserted, and after the interruption, the original state is automatically restored and copying of the original document is continued and completed. .

The technology related to the interrupt is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-29.
It is described in Publication No. 259. That is, in the said publication,
When the operator presses the interrupt operation button while making multiple copies from a multiple-page original using the RDH type copying device, when the copying of the last exposure of the copied page is completed or when the copying of the target page is completed. When the copying of the last page is completed, the copying is interrupted via the priority interrupting device.

At this time, the remaining number of copies or the number of copies of the multi-page document is stored in the logic control unit (LCU), and after the completion of the interrupt, the original state is returned and restarted, and the ECU
The remaining copies stored in are completed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, if a copy of a multi-page original is suddenly interrupted and another copy intervenes, the work related to the multi-page original becomes confused and stagnate, resulting in wasted time. In addition, it is difficult to judge the urgency of copying a multi-page original and interrupt copying, and if the operators are different, the work environment may deteriorate and harmony may be disrupted.

Therefore, the present inventors have alleviated the above-mentioned disadvantages by creating an interrupt function that has the least effect on operations on multiple pages, particularly multi-page originals, and on interrupt operations, and that facilitates the classification and organization of copies. They discovered a possible copying machine and completed the present invention.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The purpose is to repeatedly recirculate individual pages of a multi-page document between a document platform and an exposure unit to obtain a plurality of copies of the multi-page document in the same page order. a circulation means, a transfer paper processing unit that conveys the transfer paper after image formation, performs stapling and/or punch processing, and discharges the transfer paper; and a transfer paper processing unit that conveys the transfer paper after image formation, performs stapling and/or punching processing, and discharges the transfer paper; When the interrupt button is pressed, the first copy is interrupted and interrupt copying is started, and if all pages of the original have been copied at this point, Staple and/or punch the first copy at this time, and if all pages of the original have not been copied, perform the stapling and/or punch after the interruption copy and after the remaining all pages of the original have been copied. This is achieved by a copying machine characterized by the following configuration.

[Specific structure of the invention and its operation]

The copying machine of the present invention has multiple pages (hereinafter referred to as multiple pages).
By repeatedly recirculating the double document between the document stacker and the exposure unit for each page by the document recirculating means, it is possible to automatically move through multiple copies with the page order aligned, and to make it possible to automatically move through multiple copies with the same page order. This is a copier that allows for interruptions. In particular, the interrupt is received after the remaining number of copies and pages are stored in the storage device. After the interruption ends, copying of the multi-page document is completed based on the data stored in the storage device.

As an example of the above-mentioned interruption, there are many cases where operator A interrupts a multi-page document while operator B interrupts for emergency copying; When wrinkles or folds occur, an interrupt may be performed to smooth out the wrinkles or folds and create a new master. Furthermore, even if Operator A interrupts the process of making a full-size copy of a multi-page document using 85-size transfer paper and makes an enlarged copy of a specific page of the document to A4 size. good.

〔Example〕

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to Examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

(Example 1) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and subsequent figures. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment, in which 2 is a device (RDH device) for circularly transporting originals, 2 is a main body of the copying machine, and 3 is a copy processing device. Figure 2 is the first
2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure and operation of the copying machine having the configuration shown in the figure. The copying machine main body 2 is equipped with an RDH device bag in the upper part, and copy documents are fed one by one into the RDH device bag. is configured to be copied using a normal electrophotographic process.

The RDH device 1 is installed on a platen glass 10 provided on the top surface of the copying machine main body 2, and as shown in FIG. and stack them in the order of the first page, second page, etc. from the top. The document placement sensor RSI detects that the document G is placed on the document placement table 11.

Here, when the copy button provided on the operation panel of the copying machine main body 2 is pressed, the RDH device bag edge regulating plate 12 moves forward and the entire document G is pushed forward (rightward in the figure) and the front passage is pushed out. Gate 13 above rises.

When the document G passes through the gate 13 and advances a little, the document leading edge detection sensor RS2 detects the leading edge of the document, the trailing edge regulating plate 12 stops, the gate 13 lowers, and the trailing edge regulating plate 12 retreats.

Here, when a document feed signal is output from the copying machine main body 2 at a predetermined timing, the half-moon-shaped feed roller 14 moves to 1.
At the same time as the rotation, the double-feed prevention roller 15 also rotates, and only one document at the lowest position is sent out.

The fed document advances along the guide plate 16, is sent by the feed roller 17, its leading edge is detected by the timing sensor RS3, and is carried over by the conveyor belt 18 to the platen glass (glass plate) of the copying machine main body 2 at a predetermined speed. 1
Move above 0.

An optical system 19 consisting of a lamp for irradiating the original, a reflecting mirror, etc. is provided below the platen glass 10, and the original is exposed while being moved by the optical system 19.

When the document leading edge detection signal from the timing sensor RS3 is sent to the copying machine main body 2, feeding of the transfer paper starts within the copying machine main body 2. The exposed original is sent to the ejection sensor RS4.
The document is detected by another conveyance belt 35 and placed on the remaining documents placed on the document placement table 11 .

The final discharge of the document is detected by a circulation discharge sensor R55. If a jam occurs during document feeding, the timing sensor RS
3 and the detection timing of the paper discharge sensor RS4.

Feeding of the second document starts when the trailing edge of the first document is detected by the timing sensor R53.

In the same manner, when the exposure of the third, fourth, and so on documents by the optical system of the copying machine body is completed, the document leading edge detection sensor R32 confirms that the number of documents is 0, and the number of copies is The feeding of one copy (one set) of documents is completed. If you want to make multiple copies of the same copy (for example, 5 copies), the document will be automatically fed again starting from the last page, and the first copy will be printed one by one.
Expose up to the page.

This document feeding operation is repeated only for necessary parts.

The following electrophotographic process is performed within the copying machine main body 2 in synchronization with the RDH device bagging operation.

When a document passing at a constant speed over the glass plate 10 of the copying machine body 2 is optically scanned by the optical system 19, the reflected light from the document is projected onto the photoreceptor 23 via a mirror 20, a lens 21, and a mirror 22. Ru. The surface of the photoreceptor 23 is charged with a charging device 24
Since the surface is uniformly charged, an electrostatic latent image is formed when reflected light from the document is projected onto the surface.

The electrostatic latent image is developed into a visible image by the developing device 25, and the paper is fed in synchronization with the automatic feeding operation of the document.26.2
The image is transferred by the transfer device 28 onto the transfer paper P fed from one of the paper sheets 7 and 7.

The transfer paper on which the visible image has been transferred is transferred to the photoreceptor 2 by a separating device.
3, is conveyed by a conveyor belt 29, is fixed by a fixing device 30, and is discharged from the apparatus by a discharge roller 31. A cleaning device 32 removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 23 after the transfer paper is separated.

As shown in the figure, the copy paper geography device 3 includes a conveyance roller that discharges the copy CF, which is copied by the copying machine main body 2 and is discharged from the copy machine body 2, onto a paper discharge tray 40 without punching or binding it. It has 41.

Further, in order to punch or staple the copy CF, a path switching gate 42 is switched and a conveyance roller 4 transports the copy CF to an intermediate tray 43 called a stacker.
4 and a copy CF equivalent to one copy stored in the stacker 43.
A processing unit 45 that punches holes in the paper and binds it together, and a copy C that has undergone processing such as punching and binding.
Conveyance roller 47 that conveys F to the final storage tray 46
．． 48.

When the interrupt button is pressed, the copy paper processing device 3 of this embodiment compares whether the copy CF stored in the stacker 43 corresponds to one copy based on an interrupt control signal from the CPU of the copying device 2. . If the copy is equivalent to one copy, the copy CF is processed by punching a hole, binding, etc., and the copy CF is transferred to the final storage tray 46 by conveying rollers 47 and 48. transport. However, if the number of copies does not correspond to one copy, the number of remaining pages and the number of copies are stored, and when copying of the original document is started again, the number of pages and copies remaining are counted from the stored number of pages and copies.

The copy paper processing device 3 is configured to be separable from the copying machine main body 2, and its position is indicated by E.

The processing unit 45 consists of one punch machine and two staplers (so-called staplers) arranged on both sides of the punch machine.

This processing unit 45 is designed to be independently pulled out to the front of the apparatus (in front perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2).

This is to enable the disposal of punch dregs left as a result of punch processing by the punch machine, and the loading or replenishment of binding metal (so-called staples) of the binding machine.

In the above-described configuration, MS is a paper discharge sensor provided on the side of the copying machine main body 2, and 46a is a lift table provided in the tray 46 on which copies CF are stocked. Also,
43c is a stopper used for aligning the leading edge of the copy CF.

Now, in the copy paper processing apparatus 3 configured as described above, a sensor for detecting whether or not a copied paper is being fed, that is, an entry sensor 90 is installed on the conveyance path between the path switching gate 42 and the conveyance roller 44. is provided.

As a result, a predetermined sensor output is obtained each time the paper passes through the entry sensor 90.

On the other hand, immediately after passing the conveyance roller 48, a discharge sensor 6
1 is provided, and one set of copies CF is stored in the storage tray 46.
It is detected whether or not the paper has been reliably ejected.

Therefore, when the copy CF does not pass even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed even though it has been ejected from the intermediate tray 43, it is treated as a jam.

The copy paper processing device 3 is provided with a counter (not shown) for counting the number of copies. This counter is based on the sensor output of the entry sensor 90.
It is incremented by "1".

Next, the operation of the logic control device that performs program control of the copying machine of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG.

Each sensor RSI (original placement sensor) of the RDH device l
, R52 (jK document leading edge detection sensor), R53 (timing sensor), R34 (paper ejection sensor after exposure), R55 (
Signals from the sensors 90 (ingress sensor), 61 (discharge sensor), etc. of the geographical device 3 are input to the buffer 7 of the control device, and output to the CPU via the multiplexer. . The CPU writes and stores the signals from each sensor in a temporary memory RAM. On the other hand, the image forming program for the copying machine is stored in the stored program memory ROM.

The CPU operates according to the data in the RAM and the program in the ROM, and the image forming device is controlled as described above through the latch and output driver. FIG. 5 shows the operation panel of the copying machine main body 2, Kl is a copy button, Kl is a copy number designation key, K3 is a magnification designation key, and K4 is an interrupt push button.

If there is a request to interrupt a new document while copying a multi-page document, the operator presses the interrupt button. An interrupt signal is input to the CPU. The CPU stops the RDH device motor and stops feeding the original, and records the number of remaining pages of the original and the number of copies remaining up to this point.
A: Write here.

The CPU performs the interrupt control based on the data in the RAIJ and the program in the ROM. Performs an interrupt copy of a new original, then returns to the original and completes copying of the original original.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the operation flowchart of the RDH device 11, copy paper processing device 3, and copying device 2 including the interrupt copying. However, in this case, a one-sided original of 10 pages was used for one-sided copying, and the required number of copies was 20, which were stored in advance in the storage device.

After the original on the original placing table 11 is confirmed by the sensor SRI, it is pushed out to a predetermined position by the trailing edge regulating plate 12, and then pushed out to a predetermined position by the gate plate 1.
3 was pressed down onto the document, and the rear end regulating plate 12 was retreated to the home position. Next, the document conveyance motor was driven, and the documents were conveyed one by one from the bottom layer to the exposure section, and after exposure, the documents were discharged onto the document table 11. Intermediate sensor SR2,
A jam during the conveyance process was detected by SR3, SR4, etc., and the number of copies and the number of copies were counted. This operation was repeated for 10 pages (10 times) according to routine 2, and the first copy was completed.

Next, copying of two copies is performed according to routine (2), but by this time, lθ pages of originals that have been exposed and ejected in the previous process have been stacked on the original platen 11. As before, this document is pushed out to the transport position by the trailing edge regulating plate 12, and then
After pressing the gate plate 12 and retracting the trailing end regulating plate 12, the motor was driven according to routine (2), the original was conveyed page by page, 10 pages were copied, and the second copy was completed. .

Next, the third copy is made in the same manner by Routine ■ and Routine ■, but on the way, 4 is pressed on the copying interrupt button for the second page of the third copy, and an interrupt signal is sent to the CPU. entered.

In the RDH device 1, when the second page of the original is detected by the circulation discharge sensor RS5 after exposure, the conveyance motor is stopped.

On the other hand, the storage RAM stores the number of remaining copies 17 (excluding the number currently being copied) and the number of pages 8, and while copying, the remaining number of copies is sequentially displayed on the display board shown in Figure 5. ing.

Further, when an interrupt signal is input to the CPU and the document image of the second page is transferred and fixed onto the copy paper P and stored in the paper discharge tray 43, the copy paper processing device 3 switches the path switching gate 42 to the paper discharge tray. Switch to the conveyance roller 41 for discharging at 4o.

An interrupt copy is performed by placing an interrupt original on the document table 10. End of interrupt copying and returns to copying thick originals. In other words, the path switching gate 42 in the copy paper processing device 3
is switched to the conveyance roller 44 that conveys the paper to the paper discharge tray 43.

Furthermore, the count number of the counter and the number of original sheets IO are compared, and the same number of copies CF, that is, the equivalent number of copies, is found in the stacker 4.
If it is loaded in 3, punch the copy CF,
Bind it. However, if the count number of the counter and the number of original sheets are not the same, the stibbling/bunching is not performed.

The document conveyance motor is driven again, and then copying is automatically continued according to routines 1 and 2 until the remaining copies of 17 and pages of 8 have been copied, and 20 copies of the original document have been completed. Ta.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 7 to 11B are diagrams for explaining this embodiment, and the same contents as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the general configuration of the copying machine used in this embodiment. The copying machine main body 2 includes a paper feed unit 4 for supplying copy paper, and a paper feeding unit 4 for automatically feeding originals to be copied. An automatic document feeder with a reversing function (hereinafter referred to as RDH device)
This is a copying machine that is used by combining and integrating a copy paper processing device 3 that binds and punches the copy paper that has been copied. The RDH device 1 is connected to the RDH device 1 at a position indicated by a broken line B, and the copy paper processing device 3 is connected to a position indicated by a broken line C. Each of these four components 1.2.3.4 that makes up the copying device has a movable part,
Each movable part is configured to be driven by an independent drive source for each constituent part.

Each component of the copying machine will be explained using the copying machine configuration diagram in FIG. 8 and the RDH device sectional diagram in FIG. 9.

(1) Copying machine body 2 The copying machine of this embodiment has a function that allows selective copying on one side or both sides of copy paper, and for this purpose, in addition to the normal electrophotographic process, the copy paper is reversed. a reversing mechanism;
It has an intermediate stacker for temporarily placing the reversed copy paper on standby, and a paper feeding mechanism for feeding the reversed copy paper.

Mechanisms for realizing a normal electrophotographic process include an exposure lamp 19 and a mirror 20a, which are arranged under a glass document table 10 for placing a document provided on the top surface of the main body 2.
20b, 20c, 20d and an optical system 22 consisting of a lens system 21, and a photosensitive drum 23 rotating in the direction of the arrow.
There are a charging electrode 24, a two-magnetic brush type original image device 25, a transfer electrode 28 and a cleaning device 230, a conveyance belt 29 for conveying the copy paper after transfer, and a fixing unit 30, which are sequentially arranged around the . On the side of the paper feed unit 4 when viewed from the photosensitive drum 23, there are paper feed rollers 27a and 27b.
and 27c, and a registration roller 27d are arranged. These components for the electrophotographic process are well known and will not be described further.

On the downstream side of the fixing unit 30, there is provided a reversing mechanism 32 for reversing the single-sided recorded copy paper that has been fixed by the fixing unit 30 for later copying on the reverse side. This is done by switching the position of the rotatable claw 32a. Reference numeral 33b is a drive unit for conveying the thus reversed copy sheet in the direction of the next intermediate stacker 34.

The intermediate stacker 34 is disposed below the electrophotographic processing mechanism, and is driven by a conveyance roller 34a that conveys the single-sided copy paper that has been reversed and conveyed by the reversing mechanism 32 and then reverses it again. -34b and
A tray 34C that temporarily holds the reversed copy paper, and a conveyance roller 34 that transports the copy paper held on the tray 34c.
d.

On the other hand, paper feed rollers 36a to 36c shown on the side closer to the paper feed unit 4 of the apparatus main body 2 are provided in a part of the paper feed unit gutter 4. It is designed to fit inside the main body 2 when combined with the main body 2.

An operation panel 38a and a display section 38b are provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body of this embodiment. On the operation panel 38a, in addition to a copy button that is pressed to start copying, there is also a stop/clear button that is pressed to change the set number of copies or to stop a continuous copying operation midway through, and a copy button that changes the copy magnification to 1x. , magnification selection button to switch to enlargement, reduction, etc.
Density selection button to press to change the copy density, paper size selection button to select the copy paper size, numeric keypad to set the number of copies, interrupt button to press when copying another original in the middle of continuous copying, Punch button to press when you want to punch a hole in a copy, binding button to press to bind a copy with a binding, margin button to press to create a binding margin on copy paper, specify the binding margin to the right or left. There are buttons to do this. In addition to the set number of copies, the display section 38b also displays the selected paper size, density, magnification, various warnings (paper jam, toner replenishment, over-processing number, etc.), the number of remaining copies, and the number of single-sided originals. Displays information such as one-sided or double-sided copying, one-sided or double-sided copying from a double-sided original, and other messages that you want to notify the user.

Here, the operation of the reversing mechanism during double-sided copying will be explained.

[? Exposure is performed while the original document coming from the DH device is fed at a constant speed on the glass document platen 10, and the visible image transferred to the copy paper by a normal electrophotographic process is fixed by the fixing unit 30. During double-sided copying, the claw 3 of the reversing mechanism 32
2a is switched counterclockwise, the fixed copy sheet is not ejected but is sent toward the intermediate stacker 34 by the drive section 33b.

That is, the copy paper having a copy image on one side is transported by the conveyor belt 3.
4b, is reversed, and enters the tray 34c.

At this time, the fixed copy image will be on the top surface of the copy paper.

The single-sided copy paper stored in the tray 34c is conveyed again toward the transfer position by the conveyance roller 34d, and waits at the registration roller 27d. Thereafter, the copy paper is fed out in synchronization with the operation of the electrophotographic process, and this time the image is transferred onto the uncopied side of the copy paper. The copy sheet on which the newly copied image is placed is fixed by the fixing unit 30, and this time, since the claw 32a of the reversing mechanism 32 is rotated clockwise, the sheet is ejected.

(2) Paper feed unit 4 Since the copying apparatus of this embodiment is exemplified as a large-sized copying apparatus that can make many copies at once, there are large trays 26a and 26b that can store a large amount of copy paper.

26c is used.

Each of the trays 26a, 26b, and 26c is of a pull-out type as shown in FIG. 8, and copy sheets of the same size or one different size can be stored in these trays.

Near the upper paper feed port of each tray, a paper feed maker 27a,
27b and 27c are provided, and the copy paper sent out from either tray by this paper feed roller is conveyed by a feed roller 36, and is conveyed by paper feed rollers 36a and 36b provided in the main body 2 of the apparatus. and is fed to the registration roller 36c.

(3) RDH device 1 The RDH device 1 is removably installed on the glass document table 10 provided on the top surface of the copying machine main body 2, and as shown in detail in FIG. Turn the multiple sheets of original G that you are trying to print face up, the first page from the top, the second page from the top, etc.
・They are stacked on top of each other in the order of . The document placement sensor RS indicates that the document G is placed on the document placement table 11.
Detected by I.

When the copy button provided on the operation panel 38a of the copying machine main body 2 is pressed, circulation transport is first performed to count the number of originals. That is, the rear end regulating plate 12 of the RDH device 1
moves forward and the entire document G is pushed forward (to the right in the figure), and the gate 13 on the front path rises.

When the document G passes through the gate 1-13 and advances a little, the document leading edge detection sensor R52 detects the leading edge of the document, and the gate 13 lowers and the trailing edge regulating plate 12 temporarily stops.

By the rotation of the half-moon-shaped feed roller 14 and the rotation of the overlapping prevention roller 15, the first document (the document placed at the bottom) is fed from below, and its leading edge is detected by the document passage detection sensor R56. Then it will stop temporarily. Copy machine body 2
The document is restarted by the command from , and when the trailing edge is detected by the registration sensor RS7, the number of documents is increased to
Count the pieces.

The second and subsequent documents are fed without being stopped once, and counted up by the signal from the registration sensor RS7. Note that the trailing edge regulating plate 12 moves backward when the leading edge of the first document is detected by the document leading edge detection sensor R52. Thereafter, the document is conveyed by the conveyor belt 18 and discharged onto the document table 11.

After the circular conveyance for counting the number of originals is completed, the conveyance of the originals to be exposed is started. That is, in the same manner as described above, only one document at the lowest position is sent out by pushing out the document by the trailing edge regulating plate 12 and rotating the feed roller 14 and the overlapping prevention roller 15. The output manuscript is on the guide plate 16
, and once the leading edge is detected by the document passage detection sensor RS6, it stops. Thereafter, when a start signal is outputted from the copying apparatus main body 2 at a predetermined timing, the copying machine restarts, is taken over by the conveyor belt 18, and moves on the glass document table 10 of the copying apparatus main body 2 at a predetermined speed. A lamp for illuminating the original and a reflection mirror 20 are located under the glass original table 1O.
An optical system 19 consisting of a, 20b, 20c, 20d, etc. is provided, and the document is exposed to light by this optical system while moving and is projected as an optical image onto the photosensitive drum 23 (this is called synchronous exposure). When a document trailing edge detection signal from the sensor R57 is sent to the copying apparatus main body 2, feeding of copy paper from the paper feeding unit starts. When the single-sided original copy mode is selected, the exposed original is transferred to another conveyor belt 35 and placed on the original placing table 11.
The document feed motor is stopped when the document is discharged onto the top document of the set of documents G placed thereon and the document discharge sensor RS5 detects this.

On the other hand, when the double-sided document copy mode is selected, the lowest sheet of the document on the document placement table 11 is sent to the normal path PI passing through the guide 16 and is conveyed onto the document table IO by the conveyor belt 18. After that, the conveyor belt 18
is reversed, and the document is conveyed to the document table lO via the reversing path P passing through the guide 50, and one side (the last page) of the document is exposed during the conveyance process.

After exposure, the original document is once stopped, and then the conveyance belt 18 is driven in the opposite direction again to guide it to the guide 50 on the reversal path P2.

The trailing edge of the document guided to the reversing path P is detected by the trailing edge detection sensor R.
When a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the detection by 58, the drive motor for the conveyor belt 18 is stopped, and document feeding is temporarily stopped.

Thereafter, the conveying rollers 17b and 17c are driven to convey the sheet through the reversing path P2, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the leading end of the sheet is detected by the sensor R36, the sheet is stopped. Thereafter, the document is restarted by a restart signal from the apparatus main body 2 and conveyed onto the document table IO. Since the document has been reversed in the reversing section, it is now moved toward the document table 10 with the surface opposite to the surface that has already been exposed, so that that surface is exposed.

Feeding of the second document starts when the trailing edge of the first document is detected by the document passage detection sensor R36, the leading edge of the second document passes the document passage detection sensor R56, and a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Then stop and wait.

In the same manner, when the exposure by the optical system of the copying device is completed for the third, fourth, etc. documents, the document leading edge detection sensor RS2 confirms that the number of document sheets is 0,
In this way, the feeding of the original for one portion of the copy is completed.

If a plurality of copies (for example, five copies) of the same copy are to be made, the document is automatically fed again sequentially from the last page, and exposure is performed sequentially up to the first page. This document feeding operation is repeated for the required number of copies.

In addition to the automatic document feeding described above, the RDH device can also feed documents manually.

In this case, when the manual feed cover 51 is reversed and opened using point A as a fulcrum to the position shown by the chain line, this is detected by the cover reversal detection sensor RS9 and the double feed prevention roller 15 is unlocked. Manual feed cover 51
When the user manually inserts the document along the document, the document is automatically fed when the leading edge of the document is detected by the document leading edge detection sensor R32. The subsequent movement of the document may be the same as in the case of automatic feeding described above, but it is also possible to stop the document on a glass document table and move the optical system for exposure. The exposed document is discharged onto the document discharge tray 52.

In this embodiment, the operation panel 38 of the copying apparatus main body 2
By selecting the copy magnification with a, copies can be made at a predetermined magnification such as enlargement or reduction.

When a copying magnification is selected using the magnification selection button, the document conveyance belt 18 of the RDH device 1 moves at a predetermined speed according to the selected magnification, so that the rotation speed of the photoconductor drum 23 of the copying device main body 2 increases. If they are kept constant, enlargement or reduction will be performed depending on the relative speed of the two.

Generally, a method is used to change the magnification such as enlargement or reduction by changing the speed of the photoreceptor drum, but this causes charging,
It is necessary to change the electrophotographic processes such as development and transfer, as well as the conveyance speed of the copy paper, which makes it difficult to make small speed changes or large speed changes, and the power changes in the drive system are also large, so control is difficult. is troublesome. However, in this embodiment, the magnification can be changed simply by changing the speed of the conveyor belt 18 of the RDH device 1, which simplifies the control.

(4) Copy paper processing device 3 The copy paper processing device 3 is a device that punches or binds copy paper that has been copied on one or both sides and is discharged from the copying machine main body 2, as shown in FIG. , a conveying roller 41 that outputs the copies copied by the copying machine main body 2 and discharged from the device to the shift tray unit 4o without punching or binding them, and a path switching for punching or binding the copies. Conveyance roller 4 that conveys the copy to the stacker unit 43 by switching the gate 42
4, a processing unit 45 that punches holes in the copies equivalent to one copy stored in the stacker unit 43 and staples them together, and a final storage tray for storing the punched, stapled, etc. copies. Conveyance roller 4 conveyed to 46
7.4g. Among the above components, the conveyance roller 41, stacker unit 43, conveyance roller 44, processing unit 45, storage tray 46, and conveyance rollers 47 and 48 are configured as independent units for assembly and maintenance reasons. Each unit is removable. For example, the processing unit 45 consists of one punch machine and two staplers (so-called staplers) arranged on both sides of the punch machine. In Figure 8, it can be pulled out perpendicularly to the front of the paper. In addition to the above-mentioned reasons, this is because the heat of the punch residue used as a result of the punching process by the punch machine, the loading or replenishment of the staples (so-called staples) of the stapler, and the easy removal of jammed staples. This is to do so.

The detailed structure and operation of this copy paper processing device 3 are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-122 filed by the same applicant as the present application.
It is disclosed in No. 01, so please refer to it if necessary.

FIG. 1θ shows a control line for the copying apparatus of this embodiment.

In the copying machine, the copying machine main body 2, the RDH device 1, and the processing device 3 each have separate control circuits.

The control circuit of the copying machine main body 2 includes sensors 101 including microswitches and optical sensors disposed along the copy paper transport path for detecting the leading edge, trailing edge, or passage of the copy paper, and a device. The CPU 100 receives signals from the switches 102 and the sensors 101, which are turned on and off by the operation buttons provided on the operation panel 38a of the main body 1.
It consists of a sensor input circuit 103 that converts the image into a form that can be processed by the computer, and a drive circuit 105 that drives motors 104 that rotate the photosensitive drum 23, the magnetic sleeve of the developing device, various rollers, and the like.

The paper feed unit 4 includes paper feed rollers 27a for feeding copy sheets from trays 26a, 26b, and 26c, respectively.

Motors 200 are provided to drive the feeding rollers 27b, 27c and feeding rollers 31 and 31a for conveying the fed copy paper, and the rotation and stop of the motors 200 are controlled by commands from the control circuit of the copying apparatus main body l. be done.

The control circuit of the RDH device 3 includes the CPt 1300, the above-described sensors R3I, R32, . . . RS9, and the sensor input circuit 301.

The copy paper processing device 30 control circuit includes sensors 401 including microswitches, optical sensors, sensors disposed along the copy paper conveyance path, or sensors for detecting the movements of punching machines and binding machines, and It is composed of a sensor input circuit 402 that converts signals from sensors 401 into a form that can be processed by the CPU 400, and a drive circuit 403 that controls the motor group 404 based on commands from the CPU 400.

The copying operation is controlled by mutually exchanging signals between the copying machine main body 2, the RDH device 1, and the copy paper processing device 3.

Here, a copy operation including an interrupt in this embodiment will be explained. The copy number magnification, copy paper size, and image density are specified on the operation panel 38a of the apparatus main body 2, and the copy mode is set to one-sided original... one-sided copy double-sided original... one-sided copy one-sided original... double-sided copy double-sided original...・The copy button is pressed after selecting one of the two-sided copies.

First, the originals are conveyed in circulation by the RD old, and the number of originals is counted in the process. Thereafter, the documents are conveyed one by one onto the document table 10 starting from the bottom layer and copied.

At this time, when using a double-sided document, the back side of the lowest layer document (
Since it is necessary to copy from the last page of the yK manuscript,
After the document is once conveyed onto the document table lO, the conveyor belt 18
The document is conveyed in the opposite direction, and the document is turned over via the guide 50 and conveyed onto the document table 10 to be copied.

The copying apparatus of this embodiment employs a synchronized exposure method in which a series of exposures are performed by moving the photoreceptor drum 23 while moving the document one by one. An image is formed on the drum 23 and transferred to copy paper fed from the paper feed unit 4,
The images are sequentially sent to the post-processing device 3 where they are fixed. At this time, in the case of double-sided copying, the copy sheet on which one side has been copied is reversed by the reversing mechanism 32 in the main body 2 of the copying apparatus and temporarily stored in the intermediate stacker 34. Thereafter, the copy paper is sent out in synchronization with the timing of document feeding by the RDH device 1, an image of another document is copied on the opposite side of the copy paper, and the copy paper is sent to the copy paper processing device 3.

In the copy paper processing device 3, when some of the copy papers are collected, punch processing or binding processing is performed according to the initial instruction, and the copies are discharged to the storage tray 46. The series of copies is completed by repeating the same operation for the set number of times.

When there is an interruption from the operation panel 38a during copy creation, the number of remaining copies and the number of pages are stored in the RAM, and after the copying of the original document immediately before the interrupt signal was input to the CPU, the original document is Copying of the remaining copies will automatically continue and be completed.

FIG. 11A shows an embodiment of the operation flowchart of the RDH device 1 including the interrupt copying, and FIG. 11B shows an embodiment of the operation flowchart of the copy paper processing device 3 and the copying machine main body 2. . However, in this case, a single-sided copy was made using a 5-page, 10-page double-sided original, and the number of copies required was 20, which were stored in advance in the storage device. The five double-sided originals placed on the original placing table 11 are detected by sensor R5I.
After this was confirmed, the rear end regulating plate 12 was pushed out to the transport position, the gate plate 13 was further lowered and pressed, and the rear end regulating plate 12 was retreated to the home position. Next, the document conveyance motor is driven, and the documents are conveyed one by one to the exposure section, but in order to expose the back side (last page) of the document, the documents are conveyed in the reverse direction. After exposure of the back side, the document was further reversed and transported in the forward direction, and the front side was exposed on the document table IO to complete copying of the first sheet, and the document was discharged onto the document table. The process of routine ■ is repeated five times to complete copying of one copy, and then copying of the next number of copies is performed by routine ■.
After the copying of the third copy is started, the interrupt button is pressed at the time when the third copy of the original is completed, and an interrupt for a new original is requested. This interrupt signal was input to the CPU. The remaining number of copies 17 and the number of pages 2 are stored in the storage RAM.

On the other hand, when an interrupt signal is input to the CPU in the copy paper processing device, the copy paper P on which the third original image has been transferred and fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 43, and the path switching gate 42
is switched to the conveyance roller 41 that conveys the paper to the paper discharge tray 40.

An interrupt copy was performed by placing an interrupt original on the document table 10.

When the interrupt copying is completed, the conveyance roller 4 conveys the path switching gate 42 to the discharge paper 1143 in the copy paper processing device.
4, and compares the count number of the counter with the page number lO, and if the same number of copies CF, that is, the number equivalent to one copy, is stacked on the stacker 43, the copies CF are punched or stapled. However, if the number of copies CF that is not the same as the count on the counter, that is, the number of copies equivalent to one copy, is not stacked on the stacker 43, the copies CF are not bunched or stapled.

The document transport motor is driven again, and then the routine ■ and routine ■ automatically continue copying until the remaining copies 17 and pages 4 have been copied, and the 20 copies of the original original are fully charged. It was done. In this way, appropriate copying operations were performed for both the original manuscript and the interruption copy according to the degree of urgency.

When making a double-sided copy from a double-sided original, first transfer and fix the toner image on the back side of the original onto one side of the transfer paper.
The document is reversely conveyed through transfer paper conveyance paths 33 and 34, and the toner image on the front surface of the document is transferred and fixed to the other side of the transfer paper to form a double-sided copy.

Also, when making a double-sided copy from a single-sided original, first transfer and fix the toner image of the first original onto one side of the transfer paper, then
The sheet is reversely conveyed through transfer paper conveyance paths 33 and 34, and the toner image of the second original is transferred and fixed onto the other side of the transfer paper to form a double-sided copy.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, the copying machine of the present invention reduces work procedure confusion and work time when interrupt copying is performed in the process of circularly transporting a multi-page original to create a large number of copies. Effects such as the elimination of harmful effects such as wastage of paper and smooth copying operations are achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine of Example 1, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the copying machine of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view explaining the RDH device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram explaining program control including interrupt copying, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 38 of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one-sided original and one-sided copying in Example 1. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of the copying machine of Embodiment 2;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the copying machine shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the RDH device, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the second embodiment (in the case of double-sided originals and single-sided copies). ,
FIG. 11A is a flowchart of the RDH device during interrupt copying, and FIG. 11B is a flowchart of the copy paper processing device (and the copying machine itself) during interrupt copying. l...RDH device 3...Geographic device 10...・Document table 12... Trailing edge regulating plate 14... Half-moon delivery roller 16... Guide plate 18... Conveyance belt 23... Photoreceptor 25... Developing device 28... Transfer device 30 . . . Fixing device 35 . Gate plate 15...Double feed prevention roller 17...Feed roller 19.22...Optical system 24...Charging device 26, 27...Paper feed set 29...Transport belt 31...Discharge Paper roller R52...Document leading edge detection sensor RS3...Timing sensor R54...Sheet discharge sensor RS5...Circulation paper discharge sensor R36...Document passage detection sensor RS7...Registration sensor RS8...Rear Edge detection sensor RS9...Cover reversal detection sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] a document recirculating means for repeatedly recirculating individual pages of a multi-page document between a document mounting table and an exposure section to obtain a plurality of copies of the multi-page document in the same page order; a transfer paper processing unit that transports the formed transfer paper, processes it with stapling and/or punching, and discharges it; and an interrupter that interrupts the copying of the multi-page original transported by the original recirculation means with a new original. When the interrupt button is pressed, the first copy is interrupted and interrupt copying is started, and if all pages of the original have been copied at this point, the first copy is started at that point. If you have stapled and/or punched an item and have not finished copying all pages of the original,
A copying machine characterized in that the copying machine is configured to perform stapling and/or punching after copying all remaining pages of the original after interruption copying.