JP2747340B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: 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 mode function of appropriately combining two types of sheets, such as a covering mode.

[Related Art] Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine having a covering mode, copying is performed as follows.

The cover paper is set in a specific paper feed tray, for example, a manual paper feed tray, and a normal paper cassette is stored in another paper feed tray. When the cover mode is set and the copy start key is pressed, the copier first removes the front cover paper from the manual paper feed tray, and discharges it to the output tray as it is.
Next, normal paper is taken out of a normal paper cassette, copied, and discharged to a discharge tray. When the predetermined number of copies have been completed in this way, finally, the back cover paper is taken out from the manual paper feed stage and discharged to the discharge tray as it is. By doing so, the copy with the cover is executed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the number of cover sheets that can be set in such a manual paper feed stage cannot be set so much because of the space.

Therefore, there is a demand for a technique capable of setting cover sheets by using a normal sheet cassette on which a large number of sheets can be set.

An object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the related art.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a paper combination mode setting means for selecting and setting one of a plurality of types of first and second types of paper combination modes, A plurality of paper feed stages accommodating paper cassettes, and size discriminating means for judging the paper size of the paper cassettes accommodated in each of the paper feed stages;
The image forming apparatus includes: a size display unit that displays a size determined by the size determination unit; and a paper cassette selection unit that selects a paper cassette in which the first or second type of paper is set. When the size information is input from the size discriminating means and a predetermined paper cassette is selected by the paper cassette selecting means, a paper cassette containing sheets of the same size other than the paper cassette is combined with the other paper cassette. Automatic paper cassette automatic recognition means for automatically recognizing the paper in the selected paper cassette and the paper in the paper cassette automatically recognized in accordance with the combination mode selected and set by the paper combination mode setting means. , In which the plurality of types of paper combination modes include OHP paper and mount paper. OHP mount mode is countercurrent viewed together of at least the image forming apparatus present.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing the examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, on the right side of the copying machine main body 1, paper cassette storage units 2, 3, and 4 for storing paper cassettes 8, 9, and 10 are provided. Behind the paper feed stages 2, 3, and 4 for storing the paper cassettes, the set paper cassettes 8,
When the sheets 9 and 10 are stored, sensors 5, 6, and 7 as an example of size discriminating means for detecting the sheet size of the set sheet cassettes 8, 9, and 10 are attached.

In the sheet cassettes 8, 9, and 10, a metal piece indicating a sheet size is attached to an outer surface of a front end wall protruding into the cassette sheet feeding stages 2, 3, and 4. The types of paper set in the paper cassettes 8, 9, and 10 include an inter sheet such as a cover sheet, a back sheet, and a chapter sheet, and an OHP sheet.

In FIG. 1, the sensors 5, 6, and 7 are, for example, optical sensors (a combination of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element) or magnetic sensors for detecting unevenness of a metal piece. It is.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a large-volume paper supply unit capable of supplying a large amount of paper, 11 denotes a conveyance path that conveys the paper taken out from the paper cassettes 8, 9, and 10 by a paper feed roller or the like, and 14 denotes a conveyance path. It is a registration roller.

Further, reference numeral 15 denotes a photosensitive drum for forming a latent image, and reference numeral 16 denotes an imaging lens for forming a document image on the photosensitive drum 15.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, there are four paper feed stages, and five paper size discriminating means 5, 6, 7, and 51 are attached in accordance therewith.

The size display means 17 is provided for the paper size determination means 5,
Means such as an LED and a liquid crystal for displaying the paper size determined in 6, 7, and 51.

The paper combination mode setting means 21 is a means for setting a mode in which various papers are combined to form an image. The mode is, for example, a covering mode. In this case, a combination of a cover sheet and a normal sheet is used. Alternatively, in the OHP mode, it is a combination of OHP paper and backing paper.

The paper cassette selecting means 18 is a means for selecting a paper cassette in which paper of the first or second type is cassette. For example, if the first type is a cover sheet and the second type is a normal copy sheet,
This is a means for selecting a paper cassette in which normal paper is stored, or a means for selecting a paper cassette in which cover sheets are set. Which type of paper is to be selected is fixed in advance as an apparatus, and that is described in a manual book.

The combination paper cassette automatic recognizing means 19 inputs the size information from the size discriminating means 5, 6, 7, and 51, and when a predetermined paper cassette is selected by the paper cassette selecting means 18, This is a means for automatically recognizing a paper cassette containing paper of the same size other than the cassette as a paper cassette of a combination partner.

The priority setting means 23 is a means for setting priorities between paper cassettes of the same size in advance. For example, if there are a plurality of paper cassettes of the same size, the lowermost or uppermost paper cassette is given priority.

The warning means 20 is a means for warning, when there is no paper cassette of the same size to be recognized by the paper cassette automatic recognition means 19, to that effect. For example, it is a means for displaying that effect on a liquid crystal screen.

The apparatus main body control means 22 includes a paper cassette automatic recognition means 19.
The control means causes the paper combination mode setting means 21 to execute the mode copying based on the recognized paper cassette information.

 FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel of the copying apparatus.

In the figure, 25 is a liquid crystal panel for displaying various information, 26
Is the print start key, 28 is the preheat key, 29 is the clear key, 30 is the mode confirmation key, 31 is the manual exposure key, 32 is the enter key, 33 is the manual variable magnification key, 34 is the double-sided mode key, 35 is the composite mode key , 36 are a margin key, 37 is a frame erase key, 38 is an edit key, 211 is a covering mode key, 212 is an OHP backing key, 39 is a user set key, 40 is a sorter mode key, and 41 is a sorter selection key. Reference numeral 42 denotes a cursor key for moving a cursor in the liquid crystal display panel 24.

 Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, A4, B4, A3, and A4 size paper cassettes are set in order from the top. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display panel 25 displays the size of each paper cassette and the like.

Then, the operator presses the covering mode key 211 (sheet combination mode setting means 21) of the operation panel 24. As a result, the copier enters the covering mode, and the liquid crystal screen is converted as shown in FIG. Therefore, the operator specifies the front and back copies with the cursor keys 42 and selects them with the enter key 32. Here, the front and back copy is a mode in which a front cover and a back display are added, and both of the originals are copied thereon. The front and back non-copy is a mode in which a front cover and a back cover are attached, but both are not copied. The front copy is a mode in which only the front cover is attached and copied. The front non-copy is a mode in which only the cover is attached and no copy is made.

In this way, when one is selected, the screen returns to the original screen of FIG.

Therefore, a normal paper cassette to be copied is selected by the paper cassette selecting means 18 (in the present embodiment, a normal paper cassette is selected). For example, an A4 size paper cassette at the bottom is selected. Thereby, the liquid crystal display of the selected paper cassette is inverted.

The paper cassette automatic recognizing means 19 receives the paper cassette selection and searches for a paper cassette in which paper of the same size as the paper size (A4) is set.

In the case of this embodiment, the second paper cassette from the top is A4
Because of the size, the paper cassette is automatically recognized as the paper cassette containing the cover sheet. The LCD display of the A4 cassette blinks.

The apparatus main body control means 22 takes out the front cover and the back cover from the paper cassette of the second row from the top recognized in this way, and also takes out ordinary copy paper from the bottom paper cassette, and performs copy while appropriately combining them. Will be executed.

At the time of automatic recognition, as shown in FIG. 7, if there is no other paper cassette of the same size, a warning means 20 is issued.
The warning means 20 outputs a warning such as "Please set the covering paper" on the liquid crystal screen. In this case, copying is not possible.

At the time of automatic recognition, as shown in FIG. 8, when there are a plurality of paper cassettes of the same size, the priority setting means 23 recognizes a necessary paper cassette according to a predetermined priority. In the case shown in FIG. 8, another A4 size paper cassette is stored in the uppermost stage and the second stage from the top. If the priority is given to the lower tier, the paper cassette in the second tier from the top is automatically recognized as the covering sheet cassette.

Once the priorities are set in advance, a specific paper cassette is automatically selected according to the priorities.
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are screens showing the situation. That is, when the user set key 39 is pressed, the liquid crystal screen becomes as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the cover sheet selection priority is selected with the cursor 42 and the enter key 32, the screen shown in FIG. 10 is converted, and the upper priority or the like is selected among them. Then, by pressing the enter key 32 a predetermined number of times, the screen returns to the normal screen.

The present invention is applicable to other image forming apparatuses such as a printer in addition to a copying machine.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, the present invention does not require any special measures for the paper cassette, does not require a troublesome operation by the operator, and is different from the covering mode. This mode has an advantage that a mode for forming an image while combining the sheets can be executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment, FIG.
The figures are plan views of the operation panel of the embodiment, and FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a liquid crystal screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment. 1. Copier body, 5, 6, 7, 51 ... Size discriminating means, 8, 9, 10 ... Paper cassette, 17 ... Size display means, 18 ... Paper cassette selecting means, 19 ... Paper cassette Automatic recognition means, 20 warning means, 21 paper combination mode setting means, 22 apparatus main body control means, 23 priority setting means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper combination mode setting means for selecting and setting any one of a plurality of types of first and second types of paper combination modes, and a plurality of types of paper cassettes accommodating various paper cassettes. Paper feed trays, and size determination means for determining the paper size of the paper cassette stored in each paper feed tray;
The image forming apparatus includes: a size display unit that displays a size determined by the size determination unit; and a paper cassette selection unit that selects a paper cassette in which the first or second type of paper is set. When the size information is input from the size discriminating means and a predetermined paper cassette is selected by the paper cassette selecting means, a paper cassette containing sheets of the same size other than the paper cassette is combined with the other paper cassette. Automatic paper cassette automatic recognition means for automatically recognizing the paper in the selected paper cassette and the paper in the paper cassette automatically recognized in accordance with the combination mode selected and set by the paper combination mode setting means. And an image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of types of paper combination modes include OHP paper and mount paper. An image forming apparatus combining a OHP mount mode is the is characterized in that at least there.