JP2002302303A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying machine capable of feeding the paper from a manual paper feeding part, specifying the paper size and automatically selecting the paper by simple operation, and executing the accurate copying operation in executing the double-sided and multiple copying operation and the automatic paper selection. SOLUTION: This copying machine having the manual paper feeding means, is provided with a display means, a selecting means for selecting one of plural feeding means including the manual paper feeding means, a paper size designating means for designating a size of the copy paper loaded on the manual paper feeding means, a storage means for storing the paper size designated by the paper size designating means, and a display control means for displaying the paper size stored in the storage means without designating the paper size by the paper size designating means in the case when the manual paper feeding means is selected by the selecting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus having a manual paper feed unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of OA equipment, copying apparatuses for performing high-performance processing have been commercialized.

In such an apparatus, a center moving function for automatically moving a copied image to the center of a sheet, an automatic scaling function for automatically scaling a copied image in accordance with the size of a sheet, or an original document. When the size is detected and an automatic paper selection function or the like for automatically selecting and copying a sheet corresponding to the size is executed, the size of the image and the size of the sheet to be copied must be determined in advance. In such a processing mode, the operation from the manual feed unit is prohibited.

[0004]

That is, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the automatic paper is selected, the paper size in the manual paper feed unit is not determined, so that the paper feed from the manual paper feed unit cannot be selected. Also, when performing double-sided and multiple copies,
For the same reason, selection of the manual paper feed unit is not permitted, and the manual paper feed unit cannot be used. Therefore, in such a case, a paper cassette corresponding to a desired paper size must be prepared, which is disadvantageous in that the cost is increased.

When paper is fed from a manual paper feeder, the operator is allowed to specify the paper size,
Although it is possible to perform automatic paper selection or the like according to the specified size, if the operator specifies the paper size each time paper is fed from the manual paper feed unit, for an operator using the same paper size, It becomes very annoying.

Therefore, according to the present invention, paper can be fed from the manual paper feeder at the time of double-sided, multiple copy, and automatic paper selection, and the paper size can be specified and automatic paper selection can be performed with a simple operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus capable of performing a simple copying.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a copying apparatus having a manual sheet feeding means, a display means and a selecting means for selecting one sheet feeding means from a plurality of sheet feeding means including the manual sheet feeding means. Paper size specification means for specifying the paper size of the copy paper placed on the manual paper feed means;
A storage unit for storing the paper size specified by the paper size specification unit; and, when the manual paper feed unit is selected by the selection unit, without specifying the paper size by the paper size specification unit. A display control unit for displaying the sheet size stored in the storage unit on the display unit.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a manual paper feed unit showing a paper size detecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The cassette 1 as a manual paper feed unit provided with the paper size detecting device includes side regulating plates 3a, 3a.
b, a main scanning detection guide 4, and a main scanning length detection unit 5.

Paper 2 set in the cassette 1
Is regulated by the side regulation plates 3a and 3b.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit in this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a volume 22 is provided in the main scanning length detecting section 5 of the cassette shown in FIG. 1, and the main volume of the paper 2 set in the cassette 1 is determined by the positions of the side regulating plates 3a and 3b. This is for detecting the scanning length. A voltage 23 of 5.5 V is applied to the volume 22.

The A / D converter 26 converts an analog voltage from the volume 22 into a digital value. In this embodiment, an 8-bit A / D converter 26 is used.

The CPU 27 controls not only the sheet size detecting device but also the entire system of the copying machine, and is connected to the A / D converter 26, the ROM 28, the RAM 29, and the operation display unit 31.

The RAM 29 is provided with a power supply for storing data even after the power is turned off, and is also used for data backup. Further, the operation display unit 31 performs adjustment of the apparatus, input instructions such as control of the main body, display of setting status, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the main scanning length detecting section 5.

As shown in the figure, the volume 22 for detecting the width of the sheet is such that a rack 32 provided with movable contacts slides in the direction of the arrow. In particular, the volume used in the present embodiment has a good linearity relationship between the generated voltage and the slide distance. The operating range is adjusted by the reduction gears 33 and 34 so that the operating range of the main scanning length detection guide 4 by the operation of the side regulating plates 3a and 3b is about 90% of the operable range on the volume 22. I have.

Next, a method for detecting the paper size will be described. In order to detect the paper size, it is necessary to make adjustments in advance. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of adjusting the main scanning length (paper width) of the paper size detection device.

First, in step S401, a sheet of the minimum settable sheet size (A5 width: 148.5 mm in this embodiment) is placed in the cassette 1, and the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are adjusted to the sheet. When the input value of the D converter 26 is R
Store it in AM29.

Next, in step S402, a sheet having the largest settable sheet size (A4 width: 297 mm in this embodiment) is placed in the cassette 1, and the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are adjusted to the sheet. The input value of the D converter 26 is RA
Store it in M29.

In S403, as shown in FIG.
1. An equation of a straight line passing through the two points obtained in S402 is obtained. The equation of the straight line is as follows: paper length = a × A / D value + b (1). From the two points obtained in S401 and S402, a, b
Is obtained and stored in the RAM 29. Note that a and b can be obtained by the following equations.

A = (A4-A5) / (ad1-ad0) (2) b = (A4 × ad0-A5 × ad1) / (ad1-ad0) (3) Note that ad0 and ad1 are points. Are the A / D input values.

Next, a procedure for detecting the sheet width (ie, main scanning length) will be described.

For the above equations (2) and (3), a RAM
29, the values of a and b stored in the cassette 29 and the value of the A / D input when the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are adjusted to the sheets after the sheets are set in the cassette 1 are substituted into the equation (1) to calculate. By doing so, a desired paper width can be detected.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a correspondence table for detecting the paper size from the paper width, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation for setting the paper size.

In step S701, a paper detection sensor (not shown)
, The presence or absence of a paper set is detected. If no paper is detected, the presence or absence of manual paper size information is checked in step S702. If there is no information, the process is terminated. If the manual size information is present, the process proceeds to step S703. Then, the manual feed size information is reset (initial state) and the process ends.

If there is a sheet in S701,
In step S705, the presence or absence of manual feed information is checked. If there is manual feed information, the process ends.

If no manual feed information is found in S705, candidate paper sizes are listed in S706 based on the paper width calculated by the above-described method. Size is a candidate. That is, since the guide plate may not be aligned just because the operator simply puts the paper on the manual paper feed unit, sheets having a width smaller than the width of the guide plate are listed as candidates. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S707.

For example, if the paper has an A4R width size, there are five types of paper sizes: A5, A4R, B5R, A5R, and no designation.

In step S707, the user is allowed to select which paper is to be manually fed. Then, in S708, the designated size is displayed.

With this setting, a mode such as automatic paper selection, duplex using the intermediate tray, and multiplexing can be operated from the manual paper feed unit unless otherwise specified.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. It is assumed that the configuration of the paper size detecting device and the configuration of the control circuit in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, when one of a plurality of candidates is selected, information such as the paper size is stored. In the second embodiment, when a paper is selected, The width of the selected paper size is compared with the information obtained from the guide regulating plate. If they match, the information is stored as it is. If they do not match, the selected information is not stored. It is stored as no designation.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. It is assumed that the configuration of the paper size detecting device and the configuration of the control circuit in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, when one of a plurality of candidates is selected, information such as the paper size is stored. In the third embodiment, when the paper is selected, The width of the selected paper size is compared with the information obtained from the guide regulating plate.If they match, the information is stored as it is, and if they do not match, the guide plate is instructed to fit the paper. After aligning the guide regulating plates, the candidates are listed up again, and the paper size is selected from the list.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation. Here, only the differences from FIG. 7 will be described. That is, steps S801 to S807 are the same as steps S701 to S707. Step S810 is the same as step S708.

In S808, the paper size selected in S807 is compared with the information from the guide regulating plate, and if they are different, the flow proceeds to S809.

In step S809, an instruction is issued to adjust the guide restricting plate to the width of the sheet. In step S806, the sheet size is compared with the information from the guide restricting plate.
Go to 0.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an outline of the fourth embodiment.

The control device 800 controls the entire copying machine main body 100, and the operation panel 600 sets a copy mode and displays a status. The state detecting unit 900 detects the state of the manual sheet feeding unit, and detects the presence or absence of a transfer sheet and the sheet width of the placed transfer sheet.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing the structure of the copying machine main body.

The system shown in FIG. 10 includes a copier main body 100, a circulating automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RDF) 200 for automatically feeding a document, a sorter or sorter 300, and an automatic computer form feeder. (Hereinafter referred to as CFF) 400, and these RDF
The 200, the sorter 300, and the CFF 400 can be freely combined and used for the main body 100.

An original table glass 101 constitutes an original table, and an optical system 102 includes an original illumination lamp (exposure lamp) 103, a scanning mirror, a lens, a motor 104 and the like as image reading means. Then, the original is illuminated by the exposure lamp 103 while being scanned by the motor 104, and reflected light from the original is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 105 by a scanning mirror and a lens.

Around the photosensitive drum 105, a high-voltage unit 106, a blank exposure unit 107, a potential sensor 108, a developing unit 109, and a transfer charger 110
, A separation charger 111, and a cleaning device 112, and the photosensitive drum 105 and the like constitute an image recording unit.

The photosensitive drum 105 is connected to the main motor 11
3 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
Corona charging is performed by the high-voltage unit 106, and when the reflected light of the document is irradiated from the optical system 102, an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 109 and is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the transfer paper fed into the main body 100 from the upper cassette 114 or the lower cassette 115 via the pickup rollers 116 and 117 by the paper feeding rollers 118 and 119 is transferred to the registration roller 120 by the registration roller 120 to transfer the leading end of the toner image to the transfer paper. After the timing is set so that the leading edge of the toner image coincides with the leading edge of the photosensitive drum 105, the toner image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 105, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 110.

After the transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the photosensitive drum 105 by the separation charger 111 and the transfer belt 12
1, the toner is guided to the fixing device 122, and is fixed by pressurizing and heating. Thereafter, the toner is discharged out of the main body 100 by the discharge roller 123. The surface of the photosensitive drum 105 is cleaned by the cleaning device 112.

The main body 100 is provided with a deck 124 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer papers. The lifter 125 of the deck 124 rises according to the amount of the transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 126. Also, a multi-hand feed unit 15 capable of storing 100 transfer papers.
0 is equipped.

Further, the discharge flapper 127 switches the path between the double-sided recording side or the multiple recording side and the discharge side (sorter 300). The transfer paper sent from the discharge roller 123 is transferred by the discharge flapper 127. The mode can be switched to double-sided recording or multiple recording. Further, the lower transport path 128 guides the transfer sheet sent from the discharge roller 123 to the re-feed tray 130 by turning over the transfer sheet via the reversing path 129.

The multiplex flapper 131 switches the path between double-sided recording and multiplexed recording. When the flapper is tilted to the left, the transfer paper does not pass through the reversing path 129,
It leads directly to the lower transport path 128. Roller 132 is in path 1
It is a discharge roller for feeding the transfer paper to the photosensitive drum 105 side through 33. The roller 134 is used for the discharge flapper 12
7, a discharge roller for discharging the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 127 to the outside of the apparatus.

At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiple copying), the discharge flapper 127 is raised upward, and the copied transfer sheet is turned over via the transport paths 129 and 128 to re-feed the tray. 130. At this time, the multiplex flapper 131 is tilted rightward during double-sided recording, and the multiplex flapper 131 is tilted leftward during multiplex recording. At the time of the next backside printing or multiplex printing, the transfer paper stored in the re-feed tray 130 is guided to the registration roller 120 of the main body via the path 133 by the paper feeding roller 132 one by one from below.

When the transfer paper is to be inverted and discharged from the main body, the discharge flapper 127 is raised upward and the flapper 131 is discharged.
Is tilted to the right, and the copied transfer paper is transported to the transport path 129 side. After the rear end of the transfer paper passes through the first feed roller 140, it is transported by the reversing roller 142 to the second feed roller side. Then, the transfer paper is turned over by the discharge roller 134 and discharged outside the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 800 of this embodiment.

The CPU 801 controls the entire copying machine. The ROM 802 is a read-only memory storing a control procedure (control program) of the copying machine main body 100. The CPU 801 controls the control stored in the ROM 802. Each component connected via the bus is controlled according to the procedure. The RAM 803 is a random access memory which is a main storage device used for storing input data, a working storage area, and the like.

The I / O 804 is connected to the main motor 11
It outputs a control signal of the CPU 801 for a load of 3 or the like, or inputs a signal of the sensor 122 or the like and sends it to the CPU 801.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a key arrangement configuration on the operation panel 600 described above.

In the figure, an asterisk (*) key 60
1 is for the operator (user) to set the binding margin amount,
Used in the setting mode such as the size setting of the document frame erasing. The cursor key 627 is used to select a setting item in the setting mode. An OK key 628 is used to confirm the setting contents in the setting mode.

The all reset key 606 is pressed when returning to the standard mode. This key 602 is also pressed when returning from the auto shut-off state to the standard mode.

Copy start (copy start) key 605
Is pressed to start copying. The clear / stop key 604 has a function of a clear key during standby (standby) and a function of a stop key during copying and recording. The clear key is also used to release the set number of copies. The stop key is pressed to interrupt continuous copying. After the copying at the time of pressing is completed, the copying operation is stopped.

A ten key 603 is pressed to set the number of copies. Also used when setting the asterisk (*) mode. The memory key 619 is used when a mode frequently used by the user is registered. Here, M1
The four modes of M4 can be registered.

The copy density keys 611 and 612 are pressed to manually adjust the copy density. The AE key 613 is
Press this button to automatically adjust the copy density according to the density of the document, or to cancel AE (automatic density adjustment) and switch the density adjustment to manual (manual).

A copy paper selection key 607 is pressed to select the upper paper lifter 119, the lower paper lifter 115, the paper deck 124, and the multi manual feed unit 150.
When a document is placed on the RDF 300, an APS (automatic paper cassette selection) can be selected with this key 607. When APS is selected, a cassette having the same size as the original is automatically selected.

The same-size key 610 is pressed when making a copy of the same size (original size). An auto-magnification key 616 is depressed when designating automatic reduction / enlargement of a document image in accordance with the designated size of the transfer paper.

A two-sided key 626 is pressed to make a two-sided copy from a one-sided original, a two-sided copy from a two-sided original, or a one-sided copy from a two-sided original. The binding margin key 625 can create a binding margin of a designated length on the left side of the transfer sheet.
The photo key 624 is pressed when copying a photo document. The multiplex key 623 is pressed to create (combine) an image on the same side of the transfer paper from two originals.

The document frame erase key 620 is pressed when the user erases a frame of a fixed size document, and the size of the document is set by the asterisk key 601 at that time. The sheet frame erasing key 621 is pressed when erasing the document frame in accordance with the size of the copy sheet.

The cover mode setting key 629 is used to create a front cover and a back cover, and to insert a slip sheet. The continuous page copy key 630 is used to continuously copy the left and right sides of a two-page spread.

A discharge method selection key 614 is a key for selecting a staple sort, sort, or group discharge method. When a staple sorter is connected to the recorded paper, a staple sort mode, a sort mode, The user can select a group mode or cancel the selected mode.

The reservation key 631 is used to start setting of a copy mode for a reserved document placed on the reservation tray 210 and to cancel the reservation setting. The reservation setting key 632 is used as a confirmation key when setting the reservation mode.

The guide key 633 is used to display a description of a function corresponding to various keys on the message display 701.

The message display 701 is an LCD type display for displaying information related to copying, and displays characters and figures in 96 × 192 dots. For example, the number of copies set using the numeric keypad 603, fixed-size scaling keys 608 and 609, the same-size key 610, the zoom key 617,
The copy magnification set in 618, the paper size selected with the paper selection key 607, a message indicating the state of the copier main body 100, a guide message indicating an operation procedure, and other setting contents of various modes are displayed.

An AE display 704 is an LE which is turned on when AE (automatic density adjustment) is selected by the AE key 613.
D and the like, and the preheating indicator 709 is an LED or the like that lights up in a preheating state.

When the RDF 300 is used in the standard mode, the setting is one copy, density AE mode, automatic paper selection, same size, and one-sided original to one-sided copy. In the standard mode when the RDF 300 is not used,
One copy, density manual mode, same size, and one-sided copying from one-sided original are set. The difference between when the RDF 300 is used and when it is not used is determined by whether or not a document is set on the RDF 300.

Next, the details of this embodiment will be described.
First, the state detecting unit 900 of the manual sheet feeding unit will be described.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the configuration of the multi-bypass unit 150. The paper regulation guide 151 is slidable and regulates the width of the transfer paper placed on the manual feed tray 152. A width detection volume 153 is connected to the paper regulation guide 151, and linearly detects a size from a minimum paper size to a maximum paper size that can be placed. The paper size width detected by the width detection volume 153 is
It is an analog voltage from 0V to 5V,
01 performs A / D conversion and calculates a sheet size group based on the conversion table shown in FIG.

The sensor 154 detects the presence or absence of a sheet. The sensor 154 is turned on when transfer paper is placed on the manual feed tray 152, and is turned off when there is no transfer paper. This detection signal is input to the CPU 801.

Next, a description will be given of a paper size specifying method for specifying the paper size of the copy paper placed on the manual paper feed unit.

When the multi-manual feeder 150 is selected by the copy paper selection key 607, a paper size designation request message is displayed on the display 701 as shown in FIG. Further, a paper size to be selected is displayed on the paper size display section 702.

Here, by pressing the cursor key 627,
Paper sizes are sequentially selected from a predetermined group of paper sizes and displayed. This paper size group is calculated from the paper size width detected by the width detection volume 153.

When the user presses the OK key 628 when the desired paper size is selected, the paper size is determined.

FIG. 16 shows an LCD screen at the time of cassette selection. The display (M-A4) of the display unit 704 displays the size A4 registered in the manual feed size.

Next, FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation of this embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not manual feed is selected with the copy paper selection key 607 (S2001). When manual feed is selected, a manual feed size designation mode is entered (S2).
002), and the RAM 80
The size stored in the manual feed size buffer No. 3 is displayed (S2003).

Next, the size group related to the manual feed width detection volume 153 is sequentially displayed on the LCD display 701 by operating the cursor key 627, and the end of manual feed designation by the OK key 628 is waited (S2004). After the end, the designated size is stored in the manual feed size buffer, and is displayed at the position of the display unit 703 of the LCD 701 (S2005), and the process ends.

Next, FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the control operation in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

First, it is determined whether the copy paper selection key 607 has been pressed (S2011), and a cassette selection screen shown in FIG. 16 is displayed (S2022). The size is displayed (S2023), and the process ends.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the manual paper feed unit is selected by the selection unit, the paper size stored in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit without specifying the paper size by the paper size specification unit. There is no need to set the paper size each time a column is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a manual paper feed unit showing a paper size detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a main scanning length detection unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of adjusting a main scanning length of the paper size detection device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of obtaining a straight line formula for calculating an arbitrary paper width from the minimum and maximum values of the paper width in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a correspondence table for detecting a sheet size from a sheet width in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting a paper size in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a copying machine main body in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of a key arrangement configuration on an operation panel of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a configuration of a multi-bypass unit according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a conversion table for calculating a paper size group in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing another display screen in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an operation in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... cassette, 2 ... paper, 3a, 3b ... side regulating plate, 4 ... main scanning detection guide, 5 ... main scanning length detection part, 22 ... volume, 26 ... A / D converter, 27 ... CPU, 28 ... ROM , 29 RAM, 31 operation display unit.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tokuharu Kaneko 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H072 AA07 AA12 AA23 BA06 HB10 3F063 AA01 CA08 CA09 3F343 FA02 FB02 FC30 HA36 HB02 HB03 KB03 KB19 LC19

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A copying apparatus having a manual sheet feeding means, a display means; a selecting means for selecting one sheet feeding means from a plurality of sheet feeding means including the manual sheet feeding means; Paper size specifying means for specifying the paper size of the placed copy paper; storage means for storing the paper size specified by the paper size specifying means; when the manual feed means is selected by the selecting means A display control means for displaying the paper size stored in the storage means on the display means without specifying the paper size by the paper size specification means.