JP2543637B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine having a scaling function of reducing / enlarging, and in particular, an image forming apparatus capable of setting copy paper to an optimum state according to a scaling state. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional copying machine, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, an automatic document feeder 200 and a sheet collating device (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) 300 are attached to a copying machine main body 100. . In the copying machine main body 100, 101 is a contact glass on which a copy original is placed, 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes an optical system for scanning a copy document on the contact glass 101, and this optical system 102 changes the image of the copy document to 5
It has a function of changing the magnification to any magnification in the range of 0 to 141%.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a drum-shaped photosensitive member, 104 denotes a charging charger for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive member 103, 10
Reference numeral 5 denotes an eraser for removing the surface charge of the photoconductor 103 at a portion not corresponding to the original image. The surface of the photoconductor 103 is exposed by the original light guided by the optical system 102, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed. An image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing device 106.

107, 108, 109, 1 serving as paper feeding units
Reference numeral 10 is a paper feed cassette for storing different copy papers, 107A, 108A, 109A, 110A are paper feed rollers for sending the copy papers from the paper feed cassettes 107, 108, 109, 110, respectively, and 111 is a copy paper at a predetermined timing. Registration roller that sends it to the photoconductor 103,
Reference numeral 112 denotes a transfer charge for transferring the toner image on the photoconductor 103 to a copy sheet, 113 and 114 a separation charge and a separation claw for separating the copy sheet from the photoconductor 103, and 115 a conveyance of the separated copy sheet. A conveyor belt 116, a fixing device 116 for fixing a toner image by heat-pressing a copy sheet, and 117 a sorter 3 for fixing the copy sheet after fixing.
Reference numeral 118 denotes a conveying roller for sending the copy sheet to 00, a discharge sensor 118 for detecting the discharge of the copy sheet, and 119 a guide plate for guiding the copy sheet to the sorter 300.

Further, 120 is a charge eliminating lamp for removing the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 103, and 122, 123, 1
Reference numerals 24, 125, 126 and 127 are guide plates for guiding the copy sheets along the conveyance path.

In the automatic document feeder 200, 201
Is a document table on which a copy document is placed, and 202 is a document table 2
A feed roller for feeding the copy original 01, a separation roller 203 for separating the copy originals one by one, a carry-in roller 204 for carrying the separated copy originals, and a reference numeral 205 for carrying the copy originals on the contact glass 101. Conveyor belt, 20
Reference numeral 6 denotes a discharge roller that discharges the copied document after copying to the document tray 207.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a sensor for detecting the separated copy original, 209 denotes a sensor for detecting the size of the copy original, and the copy original separated by the separation roller 203 is the sensor 2.
After being detected in 08, the separation roller 203 is stopped at the timing of contacting the carry-in roller 204, the copy original is put in a standby state, and when the carry-in roller 204 is activated by a feed-in signal applied from the copying machine main body 100, The belt 205 also operates, and the document size and the carrying-in direction are determined based on the detection signal of the sensor 209. At the timing when one end of the document reaches the home position HP, the conveyance belt 205 is stopped to position the copy document. Done.

In the above structure, the paper feed cassette 107
Copy sheets of a size frequently used are set in sheets 110 to 110. In particular, the paper feed cassettes 109 and 110
Can set a large number of cards, and the cassette will rise as the number of paid-out cards increases.

When copying, the original is placed on the original table 201 and the reduction ratio, paper size, density, etc. are manually set. When you press the copy start button, the paper feed roller 20
2 rotates, the document on the document table 201 is sent out, and only the uppermost one of the sheets separated by the separation roller 203 is supplied to the contact glass 101 by the carry-in roller 204. The supplied originals are sequentially delivered onto the contact glass 101 by the conveyor belt 205, and when the leading edge of the original reaches the home position HP, the conveyor belt 2
05 stops. On the other hand, copying paper is fed from the designated feeding cassette at a predetermined timing, and the feeding rollers 107A to 109A,
Alternatively, it is sent out by one of 110A and stopped immediately before the registration roller 111.

When the copy original is set to the home position, the optical system 102 starts reading the original, and at the same time, the photosensitive member 103 rotates and the charging surface of the charging charger 104 is sequentially exposed. The latent image forming surface by exposure is subjected to toner development by the developing device 106, and the registration roller 111 is rotated at the same timing as the developing portion reaches the transfer charger 112, and the copy sheet is sent to the transfer portion. At the transfer unit, for the supplied copy paper,
The toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 112. Since the transfer paper by this transfer is adsorbed on the surface 103 of the photoconductor by the charge, it is separated from the surface of the photoconductor by the separation charge 113 and the separation claw 114.

A toner image on the surface of the peeled transfer paper is fixed by a fixing device 116. The transfer paper after fixing is
It is supplied to the sorter 300 via the transport roller 117.
The above process is repeated every time a document is supplied.

Further, conventionally, an image forming apparatus as described in JP-A-56-59245 has been proposed. This image forming apparatus is provided with a table connected to a motor via a gear, and a paper feed cassette is placed on the table. The motor is driven in accordance with the variable magnification set by the operator to rotate the paper feed cassette mounted on the table by 90 degrees to change the orientation of the paper.

[0013]

By the way, when making a copy at a scaling ratio other than the same size, it is necessary to select the size of the copy paper in accordance with the scaling ratio, and the paper orientation for portrait or landscape is changed. You have to choose. That is, it is necessary to set the copy sheet in a state in which the set direction of the copy sheet is shifted by 90 degrees with respect to the set direction (horizontally long or vertically long) of the original placed on the original table.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, A4
When making a copy at the same size from the original, if the original is placed vertically, the copy paper is also fed vertically in A4 size. Also, A3
In the case of reduction copy from an original to A4 copy paper, FIG.
As shown in (b), both are set in the same direction so that the entire copy sheet is reduced and copied.

As is apparent from FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b), even when copying to the same A4, the paper feed surface is different between equal magnification and variable magnification. For this reason, two types of paper feed cassettes, vertical and horizontal, are prepared and used properly according to need.

However, in the conventional copying machine, it is necessary to prepare two types of copying paper of the same size, that is, vertically and horizontally. For this reason, a set mistake or a forgetting to replace occurs, and it is troublesome because the work of replacing the paper is required.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-59245, since the table is structured to rotate at a fixed position, when a particularly large-sized sheet cassette is placed on the table, Sufficient space must be provided so that the corners of the sheet cassette do not hit other members when rotating. Therefore, not only the device becomes large, but also the length of the push-up arm that pushes up the bottom plate in the cassette and the arm that supports the feed roller must be increased, which causes an increase in weight and cost. It has drawbacks such as

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically converting a copy sheet into portrait orientation or landscape orientation according to the setting of the variable magnification copy mode.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is capable of arbitrarily setting an image scaling means capable of reducing or enlarging a surface image to be formed and a scaling ratio of an image to be formed. and magnification setting means, image forming means for forming an image on the fed sheet, and a plurality of paper feed cassettes for supplying paper to said image forming means is rotated orientation 90 degrees of the paper feed cassette a cassette rotating means, and a document sensor for detecting the excisional been <br/> original size and orientation of the document, and a paper sensor for detecting the paper size and orientation of paper stored in the paper feed cassette, the magnification ratio had it occurred detected in the document sensor and by connexion set magnification setting means
Stores paper of a size determined according to the original size
Paper feed cassette selecting means for selecting the selected paper feed cassette, the orientation of the document detected by the document sensor, and the paper feed cassette.
It is stored in the paper feed cassette selected by the set selection means.
When you are the paper orientation is determined to be different from one, after rotating the direction of 90 degrees by connexion the sheet feeding cassette to said cassette rotating means, a rotation control means for stopping the rotation, the sheet feeding Feeding operation is possible at the center of rotation of the cassette
Spaced from Do feed standby position and the sheet feeding standby position, the sheet feeding
The paper feed cassette selected by the cassette selection means is
When it is rotated by the rotation control means
Moving means for shifting <br/> movement between the up sheet supply cassette rotational position can rotate not, had it occurred in detecting the Yotsute set magnification in the document sensor to said magnification setting means document
Stored paper of the size determined according to the size
When there is no paper feed cassette, a display means for displaying that fact is provided. "

[0020]

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a sectional view of a cassette sheet feeding mechanism showing an embodiment of the present invention, a front view and a plan view showing a cassette rotating mechanism. In the present invention, FIG.
The target is a detachable sheet feeding cassette such as the sheet feeding cassettes 107 and 108 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the sheet feeding cassette is provided with pressure plates 2 and 3 which are hinged to be openable and closable at the ends near the center of the cassette, as shown in FIG. Pressurization holes 4 and 5 are provided on the bottom surface of the main body facing each other. Further, three set holes 6 for fixing to the cassette rotating mechanism 10 are provided in the longitudinal direction at the center of the bottom of the main body 1.

A copy sheet 7 is placed on the upper surfaces of the pressure plates 2 and 3, and a paper feed roller 8 is arranged above the pressure plate (the pressure plate 3 in this embodiment) set on the paper feed side. Has been done. A pressure arm 9 is provided in a pressure hole 4 provided at a portion facing the paper feed roller 8 so as to be freely inserted and extracted.
The upper part of the pressing arm 9 is formed in an inverted J shape and can come into contact with the bottom bottom surface of the pressing plate 3 or 2, and the other end is rotatably supported by a fulcrum 11. Arm 1 for pressure arm 9
2 are connected, and the other end of the arm 12 is urged downward by a spring 14. Further, an armature of a solenoid 13 is connected to a connecting point between the arm 12 and the spring 14. When the solenoid 13 is excited, a force that extends the spring 14 is generated, and the arm 12 rotates counterclockwise.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
A cassette mounting base 16 having a cassette mounting pin 15 fitted in each of the individual cassette holes 6 mounted thereon is rotatably supported by a movable plate 18 via a cassette mounting base support 17. Further, a fan gear 19 is provided over about half of the circumference of the cassette mount 16, and a worm 21 mounted on the rotary shaft of the motor 20 is arranged so as to mesh with the fan gear 19. The motor 20 is mounted and fixed on the moving plate 18.

The other end of the moving plate 18 is rotatably supported by a shaft 22 fixed to the base of the copying machine main body 100, and a gear 23 is fixedly installed coaxially with the shaft 22. A gear 24 meshes with the gear 23, and a gear 25 meshes with the gear 24. Further, a rotating shaft of a motor 26 is attached to the gear 25.

Although not shown in the drawings, a sensor for detecting that the cassette mount 16 is rotated by a predetermined angle and a sensor for detecting that the moving plate 18 is moved by a predetermined angle are respectively provided. It is provided.
Further, the cassette is provided with a paper sensor for detecting whether the paper is placed horizontally or vertically.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a display panel according to the present invention, which corresponds to a configuration using a maximum of five paper feed cassettes. The reduction button 70 has a reduction rate of 50% to 93%.
The buttons are arranged so that they can be set from among the steps, and the percentage of the reduction ratio, the original, and the size of the paper corresponding to the original are written on each button. Similarly, button 7 for enlargement
1 is composed of 3 buttons and the enlargement ratio is 115% to 1
The display of 41% and the corresponding paper size are shown.

Further, a paper selection display 72 for displaying the paper size detected by the sensor is provided corresponding to the mounting state of the paper feed cassettes # 1 to # 5, and the paper size display 7
2a and paper direction (vertical, horizontal) display 72b are displayed.
In addition, a magnification display 73 for displaying the magnification when an arbitrary setting rate is set regardless of the fixed magnification, a magnification display 74 for equal size copying, a copy number indicator 75, and a paper jam position are displayed. A misfeed position indicator 76 for displaying, a copyable indicator lamp 77, a standby indicator lamp 78, and an automatic sheet selection indicator 79 that lights up when a sheet is automatically selected are provided.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 6 and the position explanatory view of FIG. First of all, the paper cassette with a set size of paper
The mounting pin 15 and the cassette hole 6 are attached to the cassette mounting base 16 so that they match each other (step 31). When it is determined that the cassette has been attached (step 32), it is determined whether the copy document on the contact glass 101 is placed vertically or horizontally (step 33). The initial position of the cassette mount 16 is
The center of rotation is at the position C in FIG. 7 (the position of the paper is indicated by the chain line). In this position, even if the cassette is rotated, it can be freely rotated without obstructing the surrounding objects.

Further, at this position, the leading end of the sheet is separated from the sheet feeding roller 8 and the sheet cannot be fed. Therefore, the motor 26 is energized (step 34) to rotate the motor, and its rotational force is transmitted to the gear 23 via the gears 25 and 24, and the moving plate 18 is moved to the home position X with the shaft 22 as the center of rotation. The cassette is moved to the position A where the paper feed surfaces match (the paper is in the solid line position). When reaching the position A is detected by the sensor, the solenoid 13
Is turned off (step 36), the upper end of the arm 9 is pressed against the pressure plate 2 by the biasing force of the spring 14, and the paper is pressed against the paper feed roller 8. When the sheet feeding roller 8 is driven by a control unit (not shown), sheet feeding is started (step 42).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the document is placed horizontally (step 33), the copy sheet must be placed horizontally according to the document, so the paper feed cassette is rotated 90 degrees. For this purpose, the motor 20 is rotated (step 3
7) When it is detected that the cassette mount 16 has rotated 90 degrees (step 38), the rotation of the motor 20 is stopped. At the same time, the cassette is moved from the C position to the B position in order to adjust the cassette to the home position X. For this movement, the motor 26 is rotated (step 39) to move the moving plate 18
The center of the cassette mount 16 is moved to the B position by rotating the. When the completion of the movement to the B position is detected (step 40), the solenoid 13 is turned off (step 4).
1) When the paper feed preparation is started and the paper feed roller 8 rotates, the paper feed is started (step 42).

The above description shows the rotation processing performed each time the sheet cassette is set, and does not show the processing when the sheet that has been set vertically or horizontally is set horizontally or vertically. In this case, after the step 42, a process for returning the paper feed cassette from the A position or the B position to the C position may be inserted, and after this process, the process may return to the step 33.

Various displays corresponding to the above processing will be described with reference to FIG. The scaling ratio is set before the start of copying, and the paper corresponding to the description content of the reduced or enlarged button is selected, and the indicator light such as the LED provided on the operated button lights up. To do.
The control unit selects a paper feed cassette on which a paper of a size corresponding to the set scaling ratio is set, determines whether or not the paper is in a direction deviated by 90 degrees with respect to the direction of the document size, and the processing of FIG. To rotate the paper feed cassette.

Further, when the cassette of the paper suitable for the setting contents of the scaling ratio is not attached, the standby indicator lamp 78 is turned on (or blinking) to prompt the operator to warn and request the replacement of the sheet cassette. . The paper size of the paper cassette to be newly mounted is selected to match the paper size described on the front surface of the reduction or enlargement button 70.

8 and 9 are a perspective view and a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned embodiment is intended for the detachable sheet feeding cassette,
The present invention is applied to an elevator type sheet feeding cassette such as the sheet feeding cassettes 109 and 110 shown in FIG.

Guide ledges 52 are provided on two sides of the paper tray 51 on which the copy paper 50 is placed so as to guide the copy paper so as not to shift. A gear 53 is attached to the lower part of the bottom surface of the center of the paper tray 51, and a worm gear 54 is arranged to mesh with the gear 53. The rotation shaft of the motor 55 is fitted in the worm gear 54.
The shaft of the gear 53 is rotatably attached to the paper support 56, and the gear 53 rotates according to the rotation of the motor 55 fixedly installed on the paper support 56.

Slide bearings 57 are attached to the ends of the two opposite sides of the paper support base 56, and the slide bearings 57 are provided on one side.
Rods 58 pass through each one, and slide bearings 57 move while sliding on these rods 58. Both ends of the rod 58 are fixed to a pair of paper feeding frames 59. An abutting plate 60 is arranged on the front surface (paper feeding direction) of the paper support base 51. A spring 61 is provided between one side of the paper support base 56 on the contact plate 60 side and the paper feed base 59.
And the paper support base 5 is supported by the spring 61.
6 is urged so as to be attracted to the contact plate 60.

A wire 62 is stretched between the pair of slide bearings 57 provided on the side of the paper support 56 so as to draw a loop, and pulleys 63 are provided at both ends of the loop.
And the motor 6 is attached to the rotary shaft of one pulley 63.
The four rotation shafts are connected. Similarly, wires 65A and 65B are respectively provided on the same side ends of the pair of upper portions of the paper feeding stand 59.
Are connected to each other, and the pulleys 66A disposed above the pulleys 66A,
66B is disposed, and the wire 65A is routed through these pulleys.
The other ends of 65B and 65B can be wound around the reel 67. The reel 67 uses a motor 68 as a drive source, and the wires 65A and 65B are wound or unwound depending on the rotation direction of the motor 68.

Next, the operation of the configuration shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described. If the motor 64 is not driven,
The urging force of the spring 61 pulls the paper table 51 toward the contact plate 60, and the copy paper 50 has its front portion pressed against the contact plate 60 as shown in FIG. If it is necessary to rotate the paper 90 degrees in this state, the motor 6
4 is rotated so that the wire 62 can be pulled in the B direction, and the paper support base 56 is pulled away from the contact plate 60 (retracted) so that the paper placement base 51 can rotate freely.

Next, the motor 55 is rotated, the gear 53 is rotated through the worm gear 54, and the paper tray 51 is rotated 90 degrees. After the completion of this rotation operation, the rotation of the motor 55 is stopped and the motor 64 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the paper tray 5
1 is advanced to the state shown in FIG. When the paper tray 51 is rotated, the guide fence 52 is prevented from facing the contact plate 60. As the number of copies increases, it is necessary to raise the paper tray 51. For this purpose, the motor 68 is rotated and the wires 65A, 65B are rotated.
Is pulled up in the C direction so that the uppermost surface of the copy sheet 50 comes into pressure contact with the lower portion of the sheet feed roller 69.

[0041]

As described above , according to the present invention, the original
Determined according to the orientation of the manuscript, the set scaling factor, and the original size.
When the orientation of the paper of the specified paper size is different,
While the paper cassette that contains the paper of the relevant paper size is rotating
From the paper feed standby position where the core position can perform paper feed operation,
Rotates without disturbing surrounding objects when rotating
Move to the rotation position where the paper cassette can be
Rotate the paper feed cassette 90 degrees and set
Determined according to the scale factor and the detected document size
When there is no paper cassette that accommodates paper
A message to that effect is displayed on the screen.
The paper support that corresponds to the set scaling ratio
If the orientation of the paper is different, use the paper size
It is not necessary for the operator to replace the paper cassette that contains the paper.
Automatically, orient the paper cassette in the proper direction.
Paper cassette that holds the paper of the relevant paper size.
When there is no paper, a message to that effect is displayed,
A paper support that corresponds to the set scaling ratio without the
Improved operability of the image forming device when copying on a size paper
And downsizing devices with the same function
You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cassette sheet feeding mechanism showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a cassette sheet feeding mechanism showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a cassette sheet feeding mechanism showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing details of the main body of the cassette.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a display panel.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a forward / backward operation associated with rotation of a sheet.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cassette showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a cassette showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of a conventional copying machine.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a cassette direction corresponding to originals of copy sheets at the same size and variable magnification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body 2, 3 Pressurizing Plate 9 Pressurizing Arm 10 Pressurizing Mechanism 13 Solenoid 16 Cassette Mounting Base 18 Moving Plate 19 Fan Gear 20, 26, 55, 64 Motor 51 Paper Stand 53 Gear 54 Worm Gear 56 Paper Support 57 Slide Bearing 58 Rod 59 Paper feed stand 62 Wire 70 Button for reduction 71 Button for enlargement 72 Paper selection indicator

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Shrinking the image to be formed, and the image scaling means for expanding the magnification setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the magnification ratio Menzo to be formed, images forming means for forming an image on the fed sheet When a document sensor for detecting a plurality of paper feed cassettes for supplying paper to said image forming unit, a cassette rotating means for rotating the direction of 90 degrees of the paper feed cassette, the original size and orientation of the excisional by the document When paper sensor and said by the magnification setting means connexion set magnification and the original <br/> draft sensor for detecting the paper feed cassette and paper size of paper stored in <br/> direction According to the original size detected by
Select the paper cassette that contains paper of the size
Paper feed cassette selecting means to be selected, the orientation of the original document detected by the original document sensor, and the paper feed cassette.
Stored in the paper cassette selected by the paper selection means.
That when it is determined that the direction and is different from one of the paper, the direction of O connexion the sheet feeding cassette to said cassette rotating means 90
Rotation control means for stopping the rotation after rotating once, a rotation center position of the paper feed cassette, a paper feed standby position where a paper feed operation is possible, and a position separated from the paper feed standby position.
The paper feed cassette selected by the set selection means is rotated
When it is rotated by the control means
Moving means for moving the until the paper feed cassette rotational position can rotate regardless, and the Yotsute to the magnification ratio setting means set scaling factor the original
Determined according to the document size detected by the draft sensor
The paper cassette that contains paper of the size
An image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays the fact when the time of day .