JP2771599B2 - Copier with variable magnification function - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a copying apparatus with a variable magnification function capable of performing a copying operation by appropriately changing a copying magnification.

(B) Conventional technology In a copying apparatus with a scaling function, a copying magnification is set and input by key input means on an operation panel, and desired scaling copying is performed. In such a copying apparatus, an operator presses a reset button for clearing the setting mode after use, or returns to the same size by an auto-clear function for automatically clearing the setting mode several minutes after completion of copying. For this reason, when the copy magnification is set to the variable magnification and is waiting without being cleared, the operator may press the copy key without noticing the fact and cause a copy error.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-188529, a device that emits light is provided around a copy magnification display, and the display color of the light-emitting device is changed at the time of magnification change so that the operator is notified of the set magnification. Copying devices have been proposed.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-described related art, since the light emitting device during zooming is in a copyable state even when the light is variable, there is a possibility that an operator may make a miscopy without noticing the light emitting device. Was still there.

Further, recently, with the simplification of the operation panel unit, a product in which a copy number display unit and a magnification display unit are shared has been commercialized. These displays normally display the number of copies, and the display switches from the number of copies to the display of the magnification for several minutes only when a key for confirming the magnification or a key for setting the magnification is pressed. For this reason, when the previous operator performs the enlargement or reduction copy, when the next operator performs the copy at the equal magnification, the copy may be performed without confirming the set magnification, thereby causing a miscopy. There was a fear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus with a variable magnification function that is highly operable and economical.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a magnification setting means for setting a copy magnification, a copy key for instructing the start of a copying process, and the magnification setting means when the copy key is operated. A magnification discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the magnification set by (1) is the same magnification; and a warning means for canceling a copy start command by the copy key when the magnification discriminating means determines that the magnification is not equal. And an execution unit for executing a copy operation when the copy key is operated again after the copy start command is canceled by the warning unit.

(E) Operation When the copy magnification is variable, the copying operation is prohibited, so that erroneous copying due to unconfirmed copy magnification can be prevented.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a copying apparatus will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an operation unit (1) of a copying apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention. The operation unit (1) is provided at the right end with a copy key (2) for instructing the start of a copying process. Above the copy key (2), a reset key (12) for releasing a mode set by a key operation of the operation unit (1) is provided. On the left side of the copy key (2), the number setting keys (4) and (5) for setting the number of copies from 1 to 99. A clear / stop key (3) is provided for the user. The number of copies set by the number setting keys (4) and (5) is displayed on the left display (9). The display (9) is a three-digit display composed of a 7-segment display, and displays the number of copies or the magnification. A density display (10) for displaying the density of the copied image is provided below the display (9). The density of the copied image is set by three keys (6), an up key, a down key, and an auto key. An automatic key is operated to automatically set the density of a copy image, and an up key or a down key is operated to manually set the copy density. When the copy density is automatically set, "AUTO" on the density display (10) is turned on. When the copy density is set manually, the set density is displayed in seven levels on the density display (10).

On the right side of the display (9) and the density display (10), there is provided a status display (7) for displaying that a status such as a jam, running out of toner, or a non-attachment of a key counter has occurred. On the left side of the display (9) and the density display (10), keys (14) to (16) for setting a copy magnification are provided. The key (14) is an equal-magnification key, and the key (15) is a magnification selection key for selecting six types of magnifications set in advance from 50 to 141%. Magnification selection key (1
When 5) is operated, the LED of the selected magnification among the LED group (11) on it is turned on. Keys (16) are two magnification setting keys for arbitrarily setting the enlargement or reduction copy magnification. When these keys (14) to (16) are operated or the magnification check key (13) is operated, the percent indicator (8) lights up for a few seconds, and the indicator (9) is displayed. The set copy magnification is displayed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the copying apparatus main body. The copying machine is controlled by a microcomputer system including the MPU (100). The microcomputer system includes a ROM (102) for storing control programs and the like connected to the MPU (100), and an MPU (100).
(104) that temporarily stores data during control by the CPU and has various flag areas required for control, and an MPU
(100) includes an I / O interface (106) for performing input / output control of the internal device of the main body.

The RAM (104) is backed up by a backup battery (114) such as a lithium battery connected to the voltage Vcc. When the voltage Vcc is no longer supplied, the voltage of the backup battery (114) is supplied to the RAM (104).
Therefore, even if the main switch of the copying machine is turned off,
The data in the RAM (104) is retained.

The input port of the I / O interface (106) receives the data of the key matrix (108) of the operation unit (1) and the output of the sensor circuit (110) including the jam sensor and the like.

A plurality of drive devices (112) such as motors and solenoids are connected to output ports of the I / O interface (106).

Next, a control procedure of the MPU (100) configured as described above will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing a main routine. First, in step S101, the copy key count value provided in a predetermined area of the RAM (104) is cleared to zero, and then the process proceeds to step S103. Is determined, and if pressed, the copy key count value is incremented, and the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, it is determined whether a timer flag is set in the flag area of the RAM (104). The timer flag is a flag that is set when the timer value counted by the internal timer of the MPU (100) after the copying process has reached a predetermined time previously written in the ROM (102). This is set by the INTERRUPT routine shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The INTERRUPT routine is executed by interrupting the main routine at a predetermined cycle by an internal timer of the MPU (100). FIGS. 4A and 4B show the processing contents of the INTERRUPT routine. In step S201, it is determined whether or not the copying apparatus is in a state in which copying is possible. If "YES", the flow advances to step S203 to perform the copying operation. It is determined whether it is inside. If "NO" is determined in the step S203, a step S20 is performed.
The process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether the keys (12) to (16) relating to the copy magnification have been operated, and if "NO", the process proceeds to step S207.

If “NO” in step S201 or “YES” in any of steps S203 and S205, the process proceeds to step S223,
After resetting the timer flag and clearing the timer value to zero, the process returns to the main routine.

In step S207, the timer value is incremented, and the process proceeds to the next step S209, where the timer value is stored in the ROM in advance.
It is determined whether the first set value written in (102) has been reached. If “YES”, the process proceeds to step S213 after setting the timer flag. If “NO”, the process proceeds to a step S225, and it is determined whether or not a key of the operation unit (1) is operated.

If "YES" is determined in the step S225, the timer value is cleared and set to zero (step S227), and then the process proceeds to a step S229 to reset the timer flag and return to the main routine. If "NO" is determined, the process proceeds to step S229, where the timer flag is reset and the process returns to the main routine.

In step S213, keys (12) to
It is determined whether any key other than (16) has been operated. “YE
If "S", the timer value is set to the above-described first set value (step S215), and then the process proceeds to step S217. If "NO", the process proceeds to step S217.

In step S217, it is determined whether the timer value has reached the second set value written in the ROM (102). This second set value is a reference set value for activating the auto-clear function for forcibly canceling the mode set by the key operation of the operation unit (1). If "YES" in the step S217, the timer flag is reset, the timer value is cleared to zero, and the copy prohibition flag set in the flag area of the RAM (104) is reset (step S219). Then, the process proceeds to step S221. In step S221, the copy key count value is cleared to zero, and the number of copies, copy magnification, copy density, and the like set by the key operation of the operation unit (1) are cleared, and the process returns to the main routine. If “NO” in the step S217, the process returns to the main routine.

If "YES" is determined in the step S107, the process proceeds to a step S109 to determine whether or not the copy magnification is 100%. If “NO”, the process proceeds to a step S111 to determine whether or not the copy key count value has reached 2. Step S1
If “NO” is determined in 07 or “YES” in step S109, the process proceeds to step S113, where the copy key count value is cleared to zero and then proceeds to step S123.

If "NO" is determined in the step S111, the number of copies is set to R
After storing in the AM (104), the percent indicator (8) is turned on, the copy magnification is blinked on the indicator (9), and the copy prohibition flag is set. And step
Proceed to S121. That is, the states of the display (9) and the percentage display (8) are as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (b).

If "YES" is determined in the step S111, the copy key count value is cleared to zero (step S117),
Proceed to step S119. In step S119, the copy magnification is set to RA
After storing in M (104), the percent indicator (8) is turned off, the number of copies is displayed on the indicator (9), and the copy prohibition flag is reset. Then, the process proceeds to step S121.

In step S121, it is determined whether a copy prohibition flag is set. If “YES”, step S103
If “NO”, the process proceeds to step S123.

In step S123, a series of copying processes is performed, and the process proceeds to the next step S125. In step S125, it is determined whether or not the copy is a continuous copy. If “YES”, the process returns to the step S123,
If “NO”, the main routine ends.

In this manner, in this embodiment, if the timer value that starts counting after the end of copying is equal to or more than the first set value and equal to or less than the second set value, when the copy key (2) is operated, the display (9) is displayed. ) Blinks the copy magnification and sets the copy prohibition flag, so the copy operation is not performed.
The copy operation is performed only when the copy key (2) is operated again.

In this embodiment, the first set value and the second set value
Although the set value is written in the ROM (102), the set value may be input and set by, for example, a key of an operation unit or a DIP switch.

In this embodiment, if the operator attempts to enter a copy operation when the currently set copy magnification is variable, the copy magnification is displayed blinking and the copy operation is prohibited, so that a warning is given to the operator. In addition, miscopying can be prevented.

Further, since this warning means is performed only for a period from the lapse of a predetermined time after the end of copying to the automatic clearing, when the operator replaces the original and performs a variable-size copy, the copying is performed regardless of the warning means. It becomes possible.

 Therefore, operability and economy are both improved.

(G) Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, a warning unit is provided for canceling the copy start command by the copy key when the magnification discrimination unit determines that the magnification is not the same size, thereby preventing erroneous copying due to unconfirmed copy magnification. be able to. Furthermore, when the copy key is operated again after the copy start command is canceled by the warning unit, the copy unit is provided with an execution unit for executing the copy operation. Since the copying operation is executed simply by pressing the copy key again, a copying machine with a variable power function with good operability can be provided. Therefore, it is possible to provide a copying machine with a variable power function that is highly economical and has excellent operability.

Further, since this warning means is performed only for a period from the lapse of a predetermined time after the end of copying to the automatic clearing, when the operator replaces the original and performs a variable-size copy, the copying is performed regardless of the warning means. It becomes possible.

 Therefore, operability and economy are both improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of an operation unit of a copying apparatus with a scaling function according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system, and FIGS. 3A to 4B are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. , Fifth
The figure is an illustrative view showing a state of a magnification display and number-of-sheets display when a warning occurs. (1) ... operation part, (2) ... copy key, (8) ...
Percentage display, (9) ... Multiplier display / number display, (100) ... MPU, (102) ... ROM, (104) ... RAM

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A magnification setting means for setting a copy magnification; a copy key for instructing a start of a copy process; and a magnification set by the magnification setting means when the copy key is operated. Magnification determining means for determining whether or not there is an image; warning means for canceling a copy start command by the copy key when the magnification determination means determines that the magnification is not equal; and a copy start command by the warning means And an execution unit for executing a copy operation when the copy key is operated again after the cancel operation is canceled.