JP2642133B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a copying apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multifunctional copying apparatuses have been increasingly used. As one of such functions, there is a function provided with a divided copy mode function such as a continuous page copy mode and a double-side copy mode for double-sided spread originals and the like. For example, in the continuous page mode, a two-page spread document is divided into two pages.
The original image in each area is separately exposed and scanned, and is copied on separate copy paper. In the case of the double-sided copy mode, a two-page spread document is divided into two pages, and each page of the two-page document image is separately exposed and scanned. Is copied on the back.

Conventionally, in a copying machine having such a function, no special consideration has been given to a copy paper selecting function. That is, the copy paper size previously selected by the operator remains. As a result, for example, in the case of an A3 size compatible machine, the copy paper size remains the same even if this divisional copy mode is set with the copy paper of A3 size, B4 size or the like selected.

Here, considering the features of copying in the split copy mode, in the most common machine capable of maximum A3 size, the required copy paper in the split copy mode is A4 size horizontal, which halves the A3 size vertically at most. is there. In other words, the A3 size or the like may be used, but the blank portion increases and the paper is wasted. Also, generally speaking, when copying in the split copy mode, the required copy paper size is almost A4 size or B5 size in most cases. Therefore, when the split copy mode is set in a state where the A3 size or the like is selected as described above, the operator also selects the A3 size landscape or the B5 size landscape for the copy paper before copying.

However, considering such a point, the necessity of an operation of selecting the copy paper size when the divided copy mode is set impairs the operability.

Further, for example, in a two-stage cassette configuration,
If the size width is mounted and the other side is mounted with the B5 size width, it is conceivable that the sheet may be fed in a state selected by the operator before that. However, this is not always as desired by the operator, and may result in a miscopy.

Objective The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and focuses on a feature that requires a copy paper of a specific size and orientation of mostly A4 size landscape or B5 size landscape in the divided copy mode. Another object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus that can improve the operability at the time of operation and can reduce erroneous copying.

Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides a document into a first area and a second area which are adjacent in the scanning direction, and sequentially exposes these areas by different exposure steps, thereby forming an image of each area. In a copying apparatus provided with a split copy mode function for copying on different copy surfaces and provided with input means for setting a copy in the split copy mode, a copy sheet mounted in a multi-stage paper feed section of a copying machine main body. Is provided, and comparing means is provided for comparing a plurality of types of copy paper size information set in advance at the time of setting the divided copy mode with a detection result obtained by the size detecting means. A copy paper selecting means for automatically selecting a copy paper of a predetermined size based on a comparison result having an adaptation size of which is present is provided. In the case of a result, a display means for displaying a warning to that effect is provided.

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic configuration and operation of a copying machine having a divided copying mode function such as a duplex copying mode and a page continuous shooting mode will be described. First, an original 2 set on a contact glass 1 is exposed by an exposure lamp 3, and reflected light from the original 2 is reflected by first to third mirrors 4, 5, 6, an imaging lens 7 and a fourth
The image is formed on the photosensitive member 12 through the lenses 8, 9, and 10 and the dustproof glass 11. Here, the exposure lamp 3 and the first mirror 4 constitute a first scanner, and reciprocate on the lower surface of the contact glass 1 at a predetermined speed in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the second and third mirrors 5 and 6 constitute a second scanner, and move in the same direction at half the speed of the first scanner.
The position of these mirrors or the imaging lens 7 can be changed to a predetermined zooming position by a zooming stepping motor according to the reduction / enlargement magnification.

Here, the photoreceptor 12 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 13, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 12 by irradiating the original image as described above. Excessive electrostatic latent images are erased by the eraser 14 and developed by the developing device 15 to become visible images.

On the other hand, the copy paper 16 is multi-staged in the paper feeding section, and in FIG.
Paper is fed from one of the cassettes 17 in the stage by the paper feed rollers 18 or 19, and is conveyed to the position of the resist roller 21 via the conveying roller 20, and is directed to the transfer position of the photoconductor 12 at a predetermined timing by the resist roller 21. Transported. At the transfer position, the visible image on the photoconductor 12 is transferred onto the copy paper 16 by the action of the transfer charger 22. The copy paper 16 after the transfer is separated from the photoreceptor 12 by the separation claw 23, and is conveyed to the fixing roller 25 via the conveyance means 24. The copy paper 16 fixed by the fixing roller 25 travels to a discharge system such as a discharge roller 27 via a transport roller 26. On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 12 after the transfer is
Cleaning.

Here, the copying machine is capable of performing double-sided copying or a composite copy in which images are superimposed on the same copying paper 16, and conveys the copying paper 16 on which an image has been formed to the image forming section centered on the photoconductor 12 again. A circulation path 29 for introduction is formed. First, the transport roller 30 is located in front of the discharge roller 27.
And a reversing guide 31 for reversing the copy paper 16 at the time of double-sided copying. Switching between the discharge side and the reversing side or the circulation side is performed by a branch claw switched by a branch solenoid. The circulation path 29 is provided with a relay roller 33 and a discharge roller 34, and is configured to discharge the copy paper 16 onto the relay tray 35 once. The relay tray 35 is provided with a joga fluence 36 which moves in the tray left / right (front / back) direction, and the left and right widths of the discharged copy paper 16 are aligned. Also, relay tray
A pulling roller 37 made of a sponge or the like that can move up and down is provided on the top 35, and is configured so that the discharged copy paper 16 is abutted against a leading end alignment surface 38 to perform leading end alignment. The leading end alignment surface 38 is set to be displaced upward by a tray lifting solenoid (not shown) at the time of re-feeding. The re-feeding from the relay tray 35 is performed by the re-feed roller 39. Such a paper alignment process for re-feeding the copy paper 16 is one of the functions included in a copying machine having functions such as multiplex copy and double-sided copy. Reprinted copy paper
The roller 16 is transported to the resist roller 21 by the transport roller 20 through the front surface of the cassette 17. And this resist roller
By 21, the sheet is conveyed again to the transfer position at a predetermined timing, and is used for double-sided copy and overlapped copy.

Here, in the circulation path 29, a sensor for detecting and outputting a signal to be used for timing control and the like, specifically, a fixing sheet discharge sensor 40, a discharge sensor 41, a relay sensor 42, a registration sensor
43 and so on are provided. 44 is a main motor.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the control system of this embodiment. Schematically, the main CPU (MCPU) 50 and the first sub CPU
(S1CPU) 51 and a second sub CPU (S2CPU) 52 are mainly configured. S1CPU51 is CPU for ADF and sorter control
CPU (not shown) for interface control. The S2CPU 52 is a CPU for controlling the operation unit.
It is a one-chip microcomputer with built-in M and I / O control interrupt functions and a serial interface.
More specifically, an input check of a key input circuit 53 in an operation unit described later is changed to a key input signal corresponding to a time-division signal output from a port D of the S2CPU 52 via a driver 54 via an input port AN0 via a buffer 55. ~ Imported from AN7, MC
Output to PU50. The display data output from the MCPU 50 is output to the display circuit 56. The display method at this time is as follows. First, the S2CPU 52 sends a time-division signal from the port D to the driver
Output to 4. On the other hand, the display data transferred from the MCPU 50 is output from the port B and the port A to the display circuit 56 in synchronization with the time-division signal via the drivers 57 and 58, and the desired LEDs wired in the matrix are controlled to be turned on.

On the other hand, the MCPU 50 includes a ROM 59, a RAM 60, a timer circuit (real-time clock) 61, an I / O control circuit 62, and the like. Here, a backup circuit 63 is connected to the RAM 60 and the timer circuit 61, and these are used for non-volatile operation.
A RAM unit is configured. Also, MCPU50 and S2CPU52
Means that data is transferred by serial data transmission and reception, and is performed by the data bus 64 with the S1CPU 51. The MCPU 50 is a port B of the I / O control circuit 62.
And outputs a paper feed selection signal as a time-division signal to the paper feed driver circuit 65 via the. More specifically, for the two-stage paper cassette provided in the paper feeding unit, the time T1 is the first-stage paper feed selection, and the time T2 is the second-stage paper feed selection. Such a paper feed selection signal is connected to the LED 67 side of the size detection sensor 66 having a photo interrupter configuration.

Here, the size detection sensor 66 is a main component of a copy paper size detection circuit 68 in the paper supply unit, and a port A of the I / O control circuit 62 has a code of a copy paper size of the selected number of paper supply stages. Is input to the MCPU 50 via the I / O control circuit 62, and the copy paper size code is stored in the RAM 60. By the way, the copy paper size detection circuit 68 or the detection mechanism provided in the paper supply unit may be a known one. Schematically, size detection shielding plates with different notches are attached to the tip of the cassette for each size and orientation of the copy paper stored in the cassette, and the LED67 and phototransistor are mounted in the paper feed section of the copier body. The size detection sensor 66 having a photointerrupter structure consisting of the photointerrupter 69 may read the cutout state of the size detection shield plate. The circuit configuration of the size detection sensor 66 is, for example, a photointerrupter formed by combining five LEDs 67 and five phototransistors 69 as shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to make the shielding / transmission state different depending on the size. The size and direction (vertical or horizontal) of the copy paper 16 are detected based on the combination of the light receiving states of the five phototransistors 69.

Next, the key input circuit 53 and the display circuit in the operation unit 70
A part of 56 will be described with reference to FIG. First, as a key input circuit 53 in the operation unit 70, a double-sided key 71 and a page continuous shooting key 72 as input means for a divided copy mode are provided in addition to a print switch, a numeric keypad, and the like (not shown).
Here, in the vicinity of the double-sided key 71, the three-sided copy mode is set.
One of the following modes (single-sided original-double-sided copy, double-sided original-two-sided copy, book original-two-sided copy)
LEDs 73a, 73b, and 73c are provided. In the duplex copying mode, which mode is set is set cyclically by the number of times the duplex key 71 is pressed. Each time the duplex key 71 is pressed, the LED 73a is set.
The display of “ON → LED73b ON → LED73 ON → LED73e ON…” is repeated. Such control is performed by the S2CPU 52. Three LEDs 74a which indicate which of three modes (single-sided original-page continuous shooting, double-sided original-page continuous shooting, double-page spread original-page continuous shooting) are provided near the page continuous shooting key 72. , 74b, 74c are provided. Also in the page continuous shooting mode, under the control of the S2CPU 52, which mode to set is cyclically set by the number of times the page continuous shooting key 72 is pressed, and the LED 74a is turned on each time the page continuous shooting key 72 is pressed.
The display of LED74b lighting → LED74 lighting → LED74a lighting ... is repeated.

As part of the key input circuit 53, a paper selection key 75 and an automatic paper selection key 76 for the copy paper 16 are provided. The display circuit 56 is provided near the selection keys 75 and 76, and has two-stage paper selection display columns 77a and 77b corresponding to two-stage paper feeding. These display columns 77 display the size of the copy paper 16 set in each row, A4,
It includes a paper size display section 78 such as A3, and a paper direction display section 79 for displaying the setting direction of the copy paper 16. In addition, the display columns 77a and 77b indicate the solid line frame state as shown in the display column 77a in FIG. It also represents the position. On the other hand, the state indicated by the broken line as shown in the display column 77b side in the same figure indicates that the second paper feed stage side is not selected for paper supply and is in the non-lighting state. Beside these display columns 77a and 77b, paper remaining amount display columns 80a and 80b are provided for each row.

In addition, the display circuit 56 is provided with a paper confirmation display section 81 for displaying a warning when the copy paper 16 of the adaptive size is not set in any stage of the paper feed section.

In addition, various keys, a display unit, and the like are provided.
Description is omitted.

In such a configuration, first, for a two-page spread document or a two-page spread, specifically, as shown in FIG.
A case is considered in which an area is divided into two in an A4 size, and pages are successively copied on different copying resources 16 (or two-sided copying is performed on the same copying sheet 16 but on the different sides of the front and back sides).

First, as a copying operation for the first sheet, as shown in FIG. 5, the scanner such as the exposure lamp 3 performs a scanning operation for a half (A4 horizontal length) for the first area from the reference position, and returns. Power pack ON also corresponds to this.
On the other hand, in the copying operation of the second sheet, as shown in FIG. 5, the scanner and the power pack operate for the entire length of the A3 size including the portion corresponding to the first area.
Reference numeral 14 indicates that the image corresponding to the first area is continuously lit, the image is erased, and only the image corresponding to the second area is made valid. Schematically, operations such as continuous page copying and double-sided copying are performed under such operation control.

The paper feed control and the like when the divisional copy mode is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the MCPU 50 checks the contents of the RAM 60 storing the key input information received from the S2CPU 52. At this time, the case where the double-sided key 71 (book-shaped original mode) or the continuous page key 72 (spread original mode) is turned on is considered. This is because when the LED 73c or 74c is turned on by the operation of the key 71 or 72, the S2CPU 52 sends an instruction signal for copying both sides of a book original or continuous pages of a double-page spread original.
Send to PU50. Based on this, the MCPU 50 checks the copy paper size information (size, orientation, position, etc.) input to the RAM 60 via the I / O control circuit 62. Here, there are two types of copy paper preset for the split copy mode, A4 size landscape and B5 size landscape, and whether these copy papers exist in any of the paper feed stages of the paper supply unit. Are sequentially checked.

First, if the first paper source is A4 size horizontal,
Continue to check the paper feed stage, A4 size side and B5
If the size is neither horizontal nor horizontal, it means that the copy paper 16 of the adaptive size exists only in the first paper feed stage, so that the first paper feed stage is selected and the previous paper feed selection display state is released. , The paper size and the direction are A4 size landscape. For example,
A4 size landscape is set in the first paper source, and A3 size is set in the second paper source.
In the case where the vertical size is set, the first copy is set regardless of the previous selection state when the divided copy mode is set.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the display state is such that the first paper feed stage side is selected.

On the other hand, there may be a case where the A4 size landscape exists in the second paper feed stage while the A4 size landscape exists in the first paper feed stage. In this case, the paper may be fed from any source, but here, the first paper is used.
The paper feed stage is selected.

Therefore, the A4 size side exists in the first paper feed stage, and
There may be a B5 size landscape in the second paper feed stage. That is,
This is the case where the copy paper 16 of the adaptive size is present in any of the paper feed stages, and as in the above case, the paper may be originally fed from any paper, or the A4 size horizontal side may be preferentially selected. Good. However, depending on the operator, there may be a case where the user wants to make a divided copy under a desired size. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the comparison result that the copy paper 16 of the adaptive size exists in both of them is obtained, the paper feed selection is not automatically performed, and the upper and lower shown in FIG. By alternately lighting the display in the column, a warning display to be selected by the operator is displayed.

Such a comparison result is the same between the first paper feed stage and the second paper feed stage, and vice versa.

Furthermore, copy paper 16 that is A4 size horizontal and B5 size horizontal is
If none of the first and second paper feed stages is present, an indication of no adaptive size is made by turning on the paper confirmation display unit 81. In this case, it is left to the user to select the copy paper or to replace the copy paper.

That is, the processing as shown in FIG. 6 by the MCPU 50 and the S2CPU 52 constitutes the comparing means and the automatic copy paper selecting means in the divided copy mode.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the divided copy mode in continuous page copying or double-sided copying, the request and one of the A4 size width and the B5 size width, which occupy the majority, are automatically selected and set. The copy paper selecting operation by the operator can be omitted. In addition, when both the A4 size width and the B5 size width, which are the adaptation sizes, exist, the operator is not automatically selected, and can be selected by the operator under a warning display to that effect. Can be copied to paper 16,
Miscopy can be reduced.

Advantages The present invention is advantageous in that, when the split copy mode is set, such as the above-described continuous page copy mode or double-sided copy mode from a two-page spread, the copy paper of A4 size or the like preset by the copy paper selection means is automatically set. Is selected in principle, so that the feed selection operation by the operator can be eliminated in principle, and only the input means for the divided copy mode needs to be operated.
The operability in the divided copy mode can be improved. At this time, if both copy papers of the preset adaptive size are present, the copy is not automatically selected and a warning is displayed by the display means. Is performed, the operator can perform the divisional copy on the copy paper of a desired size by the self-selection operation, and reduce erroneous copy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a schematic plan view of an operation unit, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system, and FIG. 4 is a copy paper size. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram for detection, FIG.
The figure is a flow chart. 2. Original document, 16 Copy paper, 68 Copy paper size detecting means, 71, 72 Input means, 77, 82 Display means

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-280267 (JP, A) JP-A-61-42647 (JP, A) JP-A-62-255964 (JP, A) JP-A-59-224854 (JP) JP-A-56-14252 (JP, A) JP-A-61-188553 (JP, A) JP-A-62-270974 (JP, A) JP-A-61-531818 (JP, A) 62-65646 (JP, U) Actually open 1987-6-11834 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first area and a second area adjacent to each other in a scanning direction;
A divided copy mode function for sequentially exposing these areas by different exposure steps, and copying the image of each area on a different copy surface, and setting a copy in this divided copy mode In a copying apparatus provided with input means, size detecting means for detecting the size of each of the multi-layered copy papers provided in the paper feeding section of the main body of the copying machine is provided, and a plurality of types of copy paper set in advance when the divided copy mode is set are provided. A comparison means for comparing the copy paper size information with the detection result by the size detection means, and automatically selecting a copy paper of that size preset based on the comparison result having only one type of adaptive size. And a display unit for displaying a warning when the comparison result is a comparison result having a plurality of adaptive sizes.