JP2852943B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus that controls a conveyance stop of a document and illuminates the stopped document on a platen to perform a copying operation.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art A copying apparatus of the above-mentioned type in which an automatic document feeder is mounted on a copying machine body has been well known. It is also known that this type of copying apparatus is configured to be able to copy a document image of each page while automatically transporting a computer paper document having continuous pages in addition to a normal sheet document. is there.

Such a copying apparatus is configured such that a single-sided document copy mode for copying an image formed on one side of a document and a double-sided document copy mode for sequentially copying each image of a document having images formed on both sides can be selected. It is usually done. For example, when copying a sheet document having images formed on both sides in a duplex document copy mode, the sheet document is fed onto a platen to copy the image on the first side, and then the document is discharged from the platen. Then, the front and back sides are reversed and sent to the platen again, the image on the second side is copied, and then the sheet original discharged from the platen is discharged as it is or the front and back sides are reversed again and then discharged outside the machine. In some cases, the sheet document before being fed to the platen is reversed. In any case, when the two-sided original copy mode is selected, the original is conveyed in reverse.

As described above, for a sheet document, images on both sides can be copied while reversing and transporting this.
Since a computer paper document is a long sheet in which each page is continuous, if the document is reversed and conveyed, an excessive external force is applied to the document itself, which may cause breakage or jam. Therefore, copying of a computer paper document should not be performed in the duplex document copy mode.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when copying a computer paper document, it is conceivable that the operator may erroneously select the double-sided document copy mode and start the copying operation as it is. If such a situation occurs, the damage or jam of the computer paper document cannot be avoided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus of the type described at the outset, which obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an input for selecting a double-sided original copy mode for sequentially copying both sides of an original, and a single-sided original copy mode for copying only one side of an original, as shown in FIG. Means 100, a first command generating means 101 for outputting a command to reverse the original in the double-sided original copy mode and conveying the original without inverting the original in the single-sided original copy mode, and determine whether the original is a computer paper original or a sheet original Means 102 and, for computer paper originals, regardless of the copy mode, transport the originals without reversing them, and for sheet originals, send the originals as instructed by the first instruction generating means according to the copy mode. Command generating means 103 for outputting a command to convey a document, and means 104 for conveying a document in accordance with a command from the second command generating means
Are proposed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of a copying machine having a copying machine main body 4 and an automatic document feeder 5 mounted thereon. This copying apparatus is configured to be able to copy computer paper documents in addition to ordinary sheet documents, as will be described later.

A platen 6 made of, for example, transparent glass is fixedly mounted on an upper portion of the copying machine main body 4, and a document fed thereto is placed on the upper surface thereof as described later. Below the platen 6, a first scanner 9 composed of a light source 7 and a first mirror 8, and a second scanner 12 composed of second and third mirrors 10, 11 are provided.
These scanners 9, 12 move from the illustrated home position to the left in the figure. At this time, the document supported on the platen 6 is illuminated by the light from the light source 7, and the reflected light is reflected by the first, second and third mirrors 8, 10, and 11,
Next, the light passes through the lens 13 and is reflected by the fixedly arranged fourth mirror 14, and then reaches a photoconductor (not shown), where an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed. This latent image is visualized with toner as is well known, and the visible image is transferred to a transfer paper to obtain a copy paper.

The automatic document feeder 5 includes a transport belt 15, which is an example of a transport member provided to face the platen 6, a paper feeder 16 that feeds a normal sheet document to the platen 6, and a computer paper document sent to the platen 6. Paper feed port 17 through which
It has a document discharge device 18 that conveys the document sent from the platen 6 after the illumination.

The transport belt 15 is stretched over a number of rollers, one of which is driven by a drive motor M2 schematically shown in FIG. 2 (ie, separated from the document feeder 5).
Is driven to rotate clockwise. Thus, the transport belt 15 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the document on the platen 6 is transported as described later.

Conveying belt 15 and its rollers, and document discharging device 18
Are covered by a common cover 20 and are integrally rotatably supported on the upper part of the copying machine main body 4. By rotating this in the lifting direction, the platen 6 is opened to the outside, and is manually operated. The original is also configured so that the original can be placed on the platen 6.

Next, for the purpose of understanding the present invention, the basic operation of automatically feeding a normal sheet document to the platen 6 by the sheet feeding device 16 and the configuration related thereto will be clarified.

First, a main switch (not shown) of the copying machine main body 4 is turned on, and sheet documents (not shown) are bundled and set on the document set table 21. As a result, the document set sensor 22 of the sheet feeding device 16 is turned on by the leading edge of the sheet document. In this state, when a print switch (not shown) of the copying machine body 4 is pressed, the CPU 112 of the copying machine body 4 (FIG. 4)
The automatic document feeder 5 starts operating based on a paper feed command generated from the side. That is, the call rollers 23 of the sheet feeding device 16 rotate counterclockwise, and the sheet document advances. At the same time, the separation roller 24 rotates counterclockwise, and only the lowermost one sheet document is fed between the pull-out roller pair 26 by the action of the roller 24 and the separation blade 25 pressed against it, It is transported toward the platen 6.

The rollers 23, 24, and 26 of the above-described sheet feeding device 16 are driven to rotate by a drive motor M1 schematically shown in FIG.

When the leading edge of the fed one sheet document is placed on the platen 6, the document is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow.
15 transports the platen 6. When the trailing edge of the document passes through the registration sensor 27 of the sheet feeding device 16, the sensor 27 detects the fact.After the detection, the sheet document moves a predetermined distance, and then the transport belt 15 stops and the sheet is stopped. The document rests on the platen 6. At this time, the rear end of the sheet document matches the reference position X on the platen 6. Such control is performed by an encoder attached to the drive motor M2.
This is performed using E2 (FIG. 4).

Next, as described above, the scanners 9 and 12 operate, the light source 7 illuminates the document supported on the platen 6, and a copying operation is performed.

When copying of a predetermined number of sheets on the sheet document is completed, the CPU 112 (FIG. 4) of the copying machine body 4 issues a supply command for the next sheet document to the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5, and at the same time, In order to discharge the sheet document after finishing, a placement command is transmitted from the CPU 112 on the copying machine main body side to the CPU 38 on the automatic document feeder side. This allows
The next sheet document is conveyed by the paper feeding device 16, and the conveyance belt 15 is driven again in the direction of the arrow, and the illuminated sheet document is conveyed from the platen 6 and sent out. It is discharged outside the device. Such operations are continuously performed, the sheet document is automatically fed one by one, and the respective images are copied.

To increase the copying efficiency, the conveyance of the next document is started before the copying of the sheet document on the platen 6 is completed, and then the previous sheet document on the platen 6 is discharged and conveyed. In this way, when the next sheet document stops on the platen 6, a part of the previous sheet document is
This sheet document is placed on the intermediate transport roller 28
Is reliably discharged without stopping.

Next, the basic operation when copying a computer paper original and the configuration related thereto will be clarified.

Similarly to the sheet document, the computer paper document is automatically fed onto the platen 6 from the first page, and after copying the image of the first page, the computer paper document is further conveyed by the length of one page. And set the second page on the platen 6,
The copying operation may be continued until the last page, but in this example, the first page of the computer paper document is manually set on the platen 6 and the subsequent pages are set. Is a computer paper manuscript
The image is conveyed page by page and the image of each page is copied. This is for the following reason.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the computer paper manuscript is usually printed at a predetermined position on each page 1a, 1b, 1c... At the folds 2a, 2b. P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ ... Are formed. In such a case, the copy image I was formed at a predetermined position as shown in FIG. 1A (b) without any problem even if the sheet was automatically fed from the first page to the platen 6 and copied. Copy paper C can be obtained.

However, in some cases, as shown in FIG.
Each page 1a of computer paper document 1, 1b, 1c ... printing at a predetermined position has not been made of the, sometimes printing section _{P 1, P 2, P 3} ... are formed over two pages . In such a case, the computer paper original 1 is automatically fed from the first page, the first page is stopped at a predetermined position on the platen, and this is copied. As shown in FIG. Chipped copy paper C is obtained.

Therefore, in this embodiment, first, the computer paper original 1 as shown in FIG. 1A (a) or (c) is manually fed from the leading end of the above-described paper feeding device so that the printing portion faces the platen 6 side. It is set on the platen 6 in a state where it is inserted into a paper feed port 17 provided separately from the paper feed port 16. At this time, when the printing portions P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ ... Are formed at predetermined positions as in the case of the computer paper original 1 shown in FIG. 1A (a), the first fold 2a is formed. The first page 1 a of the computer paper original 1 is set on the platen 6 in accordance with the reference position X on the platen 6. When the printing position is shifted as shown in FIG. 1A (c), the fold line 2a is set so as to be shifted from the reference position so that the _first printing portion P1 is copied correctly. That is, to set to match the printing unit P _1, an intermediate portion of the P ₂ X1 a (FIG. 1A (c)) to the reference position X.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remaining computer paper manuscript portion coming out of the paper feed port 17 can be placed on the table 21 or another place, for example, in a folded state.

During the above operation, the cover 20 can be lifted to expose the platen 6, so that the operation can be performed easily.

When the cover 20 is closed and the main switch and the print switch of the copier main body 4 are pressed in the above state, a paper feed command is issued from the CPU 112 of the copier main body to the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder, which will be described in detail later. Thus, depending on this paper feed command, neither the transport belt 15 nor the discharge device 18 operates,
The computer paper original 1 remains stopped on the platen 6.

In the state where the computer paper original 1 is stopped as described above, the computer paper original 1 is operated in accordance with the operation described above.
The first print part P ₁ is copied by a predetermined number of copy sheets such as shown in FIG. 1A (b) is obtained a predetermined number.

When the lighting operation for the first print unit P ₁ is completed, the paper discharge command is issued from the CPU112 of the copying machine main body side, the drive motor M2, M3 shown in FIG. 2 starts operation based on this, the transport The belt 15 operates in the direction of the arrow, and
18 rollers are activated. Thereby, computer paper document 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction by the intermediate conveyance roller 28 and the discharge roller 35, the printing section P ₂ of the second page of the computer paper document 1 is conveyed toward the platen 6, set on the platen Is done.

The above-described operation is sequentially executed for the third and subsequent pages,
As a result, a correct copy sheet as shown in FIG. 1A (b) is obtained for all pages.

In order to control the conveyance of the computer paper document as described above, the computer paper document is provided on the upstream side of the platen 6 in the conveyance direction of the computer paper document 1, in the example shown, between the paper feed port 17 and the platen 6. The first sprocket hole 3 (refer to FIGS. 1A and 1C) is detected, and a first sensor 36 for controlling the conveyance and stop of the computer paper original by the detection pulse, and the computer paper original A second sensor 37 for detecting whether or not the sensor is located at a position that can be detected by the first sensor 36 is provided. In the illustrated example, two sensors 36 and 37 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The distance l from the position where the sensors 36 and 37 detect the computer paper original to the reference position X is the length of one page of the computer paper original 1
It is set below L1 (FIG. 1 (a)) (l ≦ L1).

A guide member (not shown) that guides both side edges of the computer paper original 1 and prevents skew thereof is provided in a transport path portion from the paper feed port 17 to the platen 6. There is no transfer member for transferring.

The first copy with respect to the print unit P ₁ of as described above is terminated,
When the conveyance of the computer paper original 1 is started, the first sensor 36 detects the sprocket hole 3 (FIG. 1A (a) or (c)) formed in the computer paper original 1. Then, the number of detected pulses is 1
When the number of pages reaches 22 (usually 22 pages), the drive motors M2 and M3 stop, and thus the computer paper original 1 stops. In this case the second printing unit P ₂ is positioned at a predetermined position on the platen 6.

Then, the second printing unit P ₂ is copied is illuminated, after the illumination operation is finished, is to computer paper document 1 is transported in the same manner as was described above again, the third printing unit P ₃ is on the platen 6 Stops in place and this is copied. In this way, the sprocket hole 3 is detected by the first sensor 36, and the printed portion of each page is sequentially copied while controlling the conveyance and stop of the computer paper original. During this operation, the second sensor 37 always detects the presence of the document on the computer 7 paper.

In the illustrated example, since the sensor 36 is located on the upstream side on the platen 6, the rear end of the last page of the computer paper original 1 reaches both sensors 36 and 37, and these sensors 36 and 37
, The first sensor 36 cannot detect the sprocket hole 3. Therefore, it is impossible to control the conveyance of the computer paper document and the stop thereof as it is.

Therefore, from the time when the second sensor 37 no longer detects the computer paper document 1, instead of the control by the detection of the first sensor 36, the conveyance of the computer paper document 1 is performed by a control device including a timer or a pulse generator, for example. It is configured to control the stop. That is, since the second sensor 37 no longer detects the computer paper document 1, the control of conveyance and stop of the computer paper document by the first sensor 36 is automatically switched to the conveyance and stop control by the control device. is there. In this way, even if the first sensor 36 does not detect the sprocket hole 3, the computer paper original 1 remains at the predetermined time after the rear end of the last page has passed the second sensor 37 or By stopping the computer paper manuscript 1 after a number of pulses are generated, the printing portion of the last page can be correctly positioned at the predetermined position on the platen 6 and stopped, and the copying can be performed without any trouble. After the copying of the printing section of the last page is completed, the computer paper original 1 is entirely unloaded from the automatic original feeder, and a series of operations is completed.

FIG. 4 is an overall circuit block diagram for obtaining the above-described operation.

In FIG. 4, the CPU 112 constituting the microcomputer of the copying machine main body 4 and the CPU 38 constituting the microcomputer of the automatic document feeder 5 both have a built-in ROM and RAM. The outputs of the sensors 22, 27, 36, and 37 and other various sensors (not shown in FIG. 2) 139, 239, and 339 provided in the document discharge device 18 are transmitted through an input buffer 39. Is input to the CPU 38. In addition, each of the drive motors M1,
M2 and a drive motor M3 for driving each roller of the original discharge device 18 shown in FIG. 2 are provided with a motor ON / OFF command and a speed command (CPU
Is output as 6-bit data), and is driven through servo motor circuits S1, S2, and S3 to which forward / reverse commands for determining the rotation direction of the motor are input, and operate as instructed by the CPU 38. It is configured. Servo motor circuit S1, S
2, S3 is the encoder E attached to the drive motors M1, M2, M3.
The pulses from 1, E2 and E3 are used for speed control, and pulse information is supplied to the CPU 38. The CPU 38 controls the position of the document based on the pulse information. Some of them are also used for abnormality detection of the drive motors M1, M2, M3.

The CPU 38 has an analog port (for example, NEC
Variable resistor is connected to the analog ports AN1 and AN2, and this resistance value is supplied to the CPU 38 with a resolution of 256. This information is used for controlling the stop position of the document. Since there is some variation among the automatic document feeders, for example, in a certain device, it is assumed that the number of stop pulses until the document reference position X (FIG. 2) after the sheet document passes the registration sensor 27 is 640 pulses. , The value of the resistor VR1 can be changed so as to be the number of pulses. The software can be adjusted by, for example, setting 600 pulses as a fixed value and setting 600+ (analog value of VR1).

Incidentally, in the copying apparatus shown in FIG. 2, a one-sided original copy mode for copying only one-sided image of the original,
2A shows a key input device 100 as an input means for selecting both of the copy modes. The key input device 100 is provided on the operation panel of the copying machine main body 4 and the operator operates the double-sided document key 11
By pressing 0, the double-sided original copy mode is selected. If this key is not pressed, the one-sided original copy mode is automatically selected. These input information are
The CP is input to the CPU 112 of the copying machine main body 4 shown in FIG.
When the two-sided original copy mode is selected, the original is reversed and conveyed from the U112 to the CPU 38 of the automatic original feeder 5 side, and when the one-sided original copy mode is selected,
A command to convey the document without reversing it is output, and based on this, the CPU 38 executes the control described below.

It is now assumed that a sheet document is to be copied, and the one-sided document copy mode has been selected. As described above, the sheet original is sent to the platen 6 by the paper feeder 16 shown in FIG. 2 by pressing the print switch and subjected to illumination processing. After the illumination is completed, the original is ejected from the platen 6 by the original ejection device 18. Is done. The document discharge device 18 has an intermediate conveyance roller 28, which has been briefly described above, a switching claw 29 disposed downstream thereof, and a discharge roller 35 further downstream thereof. When selected, switch claw
29 is held at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. For this reason, after illuminating the sheet original on the platen 6, the CP
When the drive motors M2 and M3 operate according to a command from U38, the sheet document is directly conveyed to the left in the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 by the conveyance belt 15, the intermediate conveyance roller 28, and the paper ejection roller 35, and is discharged out of the apparatus. . As described above, in the one-sided original copy mode, the sheet original is conveyed without being inverted, and is discharged out of the apparatus.

When a two-sided original copy mode for copying an image on both sides of a sheet original is selected by pressing the two-sided original key 110 shown in FIG. 2A, a driver circuit as shown in FIG. A solenoid for the switching claw 29 and a display (not shown) are driven via 40, whereby the switching claw 29 is shown by a chain line in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (b)
Is switched to the position shown in FIG. At the same time, the fact that the double-sided original copy mode is selected is displayed on the display. At this time, the feeding of the next sheet document is prohibited, and the drive motors M2 and M3 are driven by a command from the CPU 38 to cause the first to third reversing rollers 30, 31, and 33 and the turn roller 32 of the document discharge device 18 to be driven. Are rotatably movable in the directions shown in FIG. 3 (b). Accordingly, the sheet original that has exited the platen 6 is moved to the first and second reversing rollers as indicated by the arrow D in FIG.
30 and 31, then reversed by the turn roller 32, and then passed between the second and third reversing rollers 31 and 33,
It is sent onto the platen 6 again. At this time, the sheet document has the second surface opposite to the first surface copied first facing the platen 6, and the image on the second surface is copied according to the procedure described above.

After the copying of the second side is completed, the sheet original is guided by the switching claw 29 as shown by an arrow B1 in FIG. 3A, and is held between the first and second reversing rollers 30, 31. Transported. Then these rollers 30, 31 are reversed,
The sheet document is discharged out of the apparatus as indicated by an arrow B2 in FIG. Alternatively, the switching claw 29 may be switched again to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 so that the sheet document after the copying of the second surface is discharged as it is, that is, without being reversed, to the outside of the apparatus.

As described above, when the one-sided original copy mode is selected, a command to transport the original without reversing the original, and when the two-sided original copy mode is selected, a command to reverse the original and transport the original, It is output from the CPU 112 of the copier body 4 and based on this, the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5 side
Outputs a command according to a command from the CPU 112 according to each copy mode, and based on the command, the transport belt 15 and the document discharge device 18, and the drive motors M2 and M
The document transport means including the solenoid 3 and the solenoid operates to transport the document.

In the illustrated copying apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2A, the key input device 100 forms a single-sided copy mode in which a copy image is formed only on one side of a copy sheet, and forms a copy image on both sides of the copy sheet. A key 113 for selecting a double-sided copy mode is provided. When the key 113 is pressed, the double-sided copy mode is selected. When the key 113 is not pressed, the single-sided copy mode is selected. The copier main body 4 is configured to be controlled.

When copying a sheet original, the copying operation can be performed by freely selecting the two-sided original copy mode and the one-sided original copy mode as described above. If the mode is selected, the computer paper original 1 is reversed and conveyed, so that the computer paper original 1 is damaged or jammed. Therefore, when copying a computer paper original, the computer paper original must always be copied while being transported in the one-sided original copy mode. That is, the switching claw 29 is held at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the computer paper original is conveyed to the left in FIG. However, when copying a computer paper document, the operator may erroneously select the duplex document copy mode.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is determined whether the original to be copied is a computer paper original or a sheet original before the copying. When the original is a computer paper original, the duplex original copy mode is selected. Even if the one-sided original copy mode is selected, the CPU 38 outputs a command so that the original is not inverted, that is, transported in the one-sided original copy mode, and the original transporting means 15, 18, and Activate M2 and M3. If the document type is determined to be a sheet document, the CPU 112 according to the copy mode, as described above,
The CPU 38 outputs a command for inverting or transporting the document without reversing it as instructed by the CPU 38, and operates the document transporting means in accordance with the command. In this way, even when an operator mistakenly selects the double-sided original copy mode when copying a computer paper original, the original can be transported in the one-sided original copy mode, thereby preventing the above-described problem. In addition, for a sheet document, the document can be conveyed according to the selected copy mode.

Next, regarding the control operation for determining the type of the above-described original,
A description will be given together with the more detailed control operations for transporting and stopping the computer paper document.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the overall operation control operation of the CPU 38. First, in FIG. 4A, it is checked whether the second sensor 37 for detecting the presence of the computer paper document described above is on. If it is turned off, the computer paper original 1 does not exist in the paper feed port 17 shown in FIG. 2, so that the original to be copied is a sheet original. Therefore, in this case, as described above, the original is conveyed without reversing or reversed without performing the copying operation according to the two-sided original copy mode or the one-sided original copy mode. That is,
The sheet document processing shown in FIG. 4A is executed.

If the second sensor 37 is turned on, it means that a computer paper document exists in the paper feed port 17 (hereinafter, a mode for transporting the computer paper document is referred to as a CFF mode). In this case, the “CFF mode check” routine is entered (FIG. 4A), and subsequently “CFF pulse check” and “CFJOB”, which will be described in detail later, are executed (FIG. 4A).
4A,).

As shown in FIG. 5, the "CFF mode check" routine checks whether or not to enter the CFF mode.

Here, when the sheet feeding device 16 for feeding the sheet original is not operating (FIG. 5) and the sheet original is not set on the table 21, that is, when the original set sensor 22 is not turned on ( (FIG. 5), the operation of the CFF mode is started. This indicates that priority is given to the operation of feeding and copying a normal sheet document.

As described above, it is detected whether or not the second sensor 37 is on, whether or not the paper feeder 16 is operating, and whether or not the original set sensor 22 is on.
8 is input, and it is determined whether the original to be copied is a computer paper original or a sheet original.

When it is determined that the original to be copied is a computer paper original, the CPU 38 of the automatic original feeder 5 sends a "document present" command to the CPU 112 of the copying machine 4 (FIG. 5). Since this information indicates that the original has been set in the automatic document feeder 5 on the copying machine main body 4 side, when the print switch of the copying machine main body 4 is pressed, the CPU 112 sends the data to the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5. A feed command to feed a document is transmitted (FIG. 5). When a normal sheet document is to be fed, the automatic document feeder 5
Starts the sheet feeding operation, but does not start the sheet feeding operation in the CFF mode as described above, and
The size of the computer paper original is transmitted to the computer (FIG. 5). This information is used as information for automatically selecting the transfer paper on the copying machine main body side and automatically selecting the copy magnification.

Also, according to the paper feed command, the CP of the automatic document feeder 5 is controlled.
The UFF sets the CFF mode flag (FIG. 5).
This flag checks that the CFF mode has been entered.

As described above, during the operation in the CFF mode, the automatic document feeder 5 does not seem to operate even though a paper feed command is received from the copying machine body 4. For this reason, it is not necessary for the CPU 112 of the copying machine main body to distinguish between the normal sheet document and the computer paper document 1, and the control mode can be simplified. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which information indicating that the computer paper original 1 is set is transmitted to the CPU 112 of the copying machine body 4 and control corresponding to the computer paper original is performed.

After the CPU 38 checks that the CFF mode flag is set (FIG. 5), the first printing portion P1 of the computer paper original ₁ is illuminated to perform a copying operation as described above. After completion, the CPU 112 of the copying machine body 4
Sends a discharge command to convey and discharge the copied document to the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5 (FIG. 5). In response to this command, the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5 performs an operation (CF
In order to perform F operation, "1" is set to CFFJBC (CFF operation counter) (FIG. 5). A series of subsequent operations will be described later with reference to FIGS. 7 to 15.

On the other hand, in the "CFF pulse check" routine shown in FIG. 6, it is checked whether or not the CFF mode flag is set (FIG. 6). It is checked whether or not the sensor 36 is turned on (FIG. 6). That is,
The detection pulse when the sprocket hole 3 is detected by the first sensor 36 is shown in FIG. 16. At this time, the ON state (H state) in which the first sensor 36 detects the sprocket hole 3 ) Or in the off state (L state). Here, the first sensor 36
Is off, CFFEGF (CFF edge flag) is reset (FIG. 6). If the first sensor 36 is ON, it is checked whether CFFEGF is set (FIG. 6). If not, CFFEGF is set.
Is set (FIG. 6). At the same time, a counter CFFCNT that counts the number of sprocket holes detected by the first sensor 36 counts the number of the sprocket holes (FIG. 6).
Further, a counter (or a timer) CFFJMT for checking whether or not the computer paper original 1 has jammed during its conveyance is cleared, which will be described later.

As can be seen from the above description, the counting of the sprocket holes by the counter CFFCNT and the clearing of the CFFJMT are performed at the leading edge of the sprocket hole 3. That is,
From the time when the sprocket hole 3 of the computer paper document 1 being conveyed does not have the sprocket hole 3 pass through the first sensor 36, the time when the first sensor 36 detects the sprocket hole 3, in other words, This is executed at the rising edge T of the pulse shown in FIG. Therefore, if CFFEGF is already set even if the first sensor 36 is in the ON state, the operations shown in FIG. 6 are not executed, and these operations are always performed at the time of the rising edge of the pulse. It is performed in. In this way, the number of sprocket holes 3 can be counted while detecting the sprocket holes 3 by the sensor 36.

Next, FIGS. 7 to 15 show the above-described CFF operation counter CFF.
It is a flowchart which shows whether operation | movement according to the count number of JBC is performed.

As described above with reference to FIG. 5, when the CPU 38 of the automatic document feeder 5 receives the paper ejection command (FIG. 5), C
Since FFJBC is set to “1”, “C” shown in FIG.
In the "FJOB" routine, a multi-jump based on the number of CFFJBC is performed. If CFFJBC is “1”, “CF” shown in FIG.
Jump to the "JB1" routine.

In this routine, first, the drive motor for the transport belt 15 is used.
M2 and the speed command of the motor M3 for driving the document discharge device 18 are set so as to be in the high-speed state H, and both motors M2 and M3 are turned on. At the same time, a counter CFFCNT for counting the number of sprocket holes 3 detected by the first sensor 36
And set "2" in CFFJBC (Fig. 9). By such an operation, the computer paper original 1
Is transported, and the first page thereof is discharged from the platen 6 and starts.

As described above, the conveyance belt 1 is controlled by the command from the CPU 38.
5, the motor M2, the document discharge device 18, and the motor M3
The document transport means is operated to transport a computer paper document. At this time, in the CFF mode, the one-sided original copy mode should be selected, and if this copy mode is selected, the CPU 112 of the copier main body sends the one-sided copy mode to the CPU 38 of the automatic original feeder. A paper discharge command to convey the document is transmitted, and a command having the same content is output from CPU. Therefore, the computer paper original 1 discharged from the platen 6 is transported without being inverted. However, if the operator mistakenly selects the two-sided original copy mode using the key input device 100, the CPU 112
From the computer paper original 1 to the CPU 38 in FIG.
As shown in (b), a paper discharge command to be inverted and conveyed is transmitted. At this time, since it has already been determined that the document to be copied is a computer paper document, the CPU 38 outputs a command to convey the computer paper document without reversing it. That is, when it is determined that the original to be copied is a computer paper original, a command to convey the computer paper original without reversing the CPU 38 is transmitted regardless of the one-sided / two-sided original copy mode.
From the document transport means 15, 18, M2, M3
Transports the original to the left of FIG. 2 without being inverted. In this way, the occurrence of computer paper document transport troubles is prevented.

Next, as described above, when CFFJBC becomes “2” (see also FIG. 7), “CFJB2” shown in FIG. 10 is executed by multi-jump of “CFJOB”. Here, the counter CFFJMT for detecting a jam is incremented each time this routine is entered (FIG. 10), which will also be described later.

When the count of the counter CFFCNT becomes a predetermined number smaller than the number of sprocket holes 22 for one page of a computer paper document, the drive motors M2 and M3 are instructed by the CPU 38.
Speed to low L and CFFJBC to “3” (No. 10
Figure,). In this example, the length of one page of the computer paper original 1 is 22.11 inches, and two pages are included in one page of the computer paper original.
It is assumed that two sprocket holes 3 are formed, and when the count number reaches 18, the above operation is performed. The reason why the drive motors M2 and M3 are reduced in speed before one page of the computer paper original 1 is conveyed is to accurately stop the computer paper original 1 at a predetermined position when the computer paper original 1 is stopped. . The operation when the count number of CFFCNT is smaller than 18 in FIG. 10 will be described later.

When CFJB becomes "3" (see also FIG. 7), CFFJMT is incremented as shown in FIG. 11 (also described later) (FIG. 11). When the counter CFFCNT counts the number 22 of the sprocket holes 3 for one page of the computer paper manuscript (FIG. 11), the brakes are applied to the drive motors M2 and M3, and the motors are stopped immediately.
Is set (Fig. 11).

In the “CFJB4” routine, as shown in FIG. 12, the computer paper original 1 stops, and the drive motors M2 and M3 are turned on / off.
The off command is turned off, CFFJBC is set to "0", and the initial state is set (FIG. 12).

And as described above, the second page of the print unit P ₂ of the computer paper document 1 is set at a predetermined position on the platen 6, the copying operation is performed, subsequently the above-described operation is repeatedly performed.

In FIG. 10, the count number of the counter CFFCNT is 18
If the second sensor 37 for detecting the presence of the computer paper original is turned off (FIG. 10), it means that the rear end of the last page of the computer paper original 1 has passed the second sensor 37. I do. In this case, the first sensor
This is an example of a pulse generating means because conveyance and stop control of the computer paper original 1 by the counter 36 and the counter CFFCNT cannot be performed. The conveyance and stop of the computer paper original 1 are controlled by an encoder E3 (FIG. 4) attached to the drive motor M3. First sensor 36 and its counter CFFC
From the control by NT, the encoder E3 which is an example of the control means
The control is automatically switched to the control by. This switching is performed by a command from the CPU 38. That is, in FIG. 10, when it is checked that the second sensor 37 is off, the counter M3TPC for counting the pulse of the encoder E3 is cleared, and the speed of the drive motors M2 and M3 is set to the low speed state L. At the same time, "5" is set in CFFJBC. Thus, the “CFJB” shown in FIG.
Move to the routine of 5 ”. The reason why the motors M2 and M3 are set to the low speed as described above is also to increase the stop position accuracy of the computer paper original 1 in this case.

In the “CFJB5” routine, it is checked whether or not the counter M3TPC has counted a predetermined number, in this example, “44” (FIG. 13). This count is equal to the counter M3
This corresponds to the distance from when the TPC starts counting pulses to when the printed portion of the last page of the computer paper original 1 reaches a predetermined position on the platen 6. Therefore, at this time, the brakes are rapidly applied to the drive motors M2 and M3 to stop them, thereby stopping the computer paper original (FIG. 13). Also, set CFFJBC to “6” (13th
(FIG. 3), a command indicating that there is no original is transmitted to the CPU 112 of the copying machine 4 to notify that it is the last page of a computer paper original.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the "CFJB6" routine, the drive motors M2 and M3 are operated at a high speed H by a paper discharge command transmitted from the copier body after the last page is illuminated (FIG. 14). The computer paper original 1 is discharged (FIG. 14). Also, "7" is set in CFFJBC, and the timer CFEDTM (computer form end timer) for discharging the last page is cleared (FIG. 14).

The discharge command shown in Fig. 14 is also a command to reverse and transport the computer paper document if the two-sided document copy mode is selected by mistake.However, the CPU 38 sends the computer document regardless of the copy mode. A command to convey the paper document without reversing it is output.

In the “CFJB7” routine shown in FIG. 15, the timer CFEDT
After the time-up of M (Fig. 15), the drive motors M2 and M3 are turned off, the CFF mode flag is reset, and CFFJBC
Is set to "0" to bring it to an initial state, and a series of CFF modes is ended.

As a whole flow, CFFJB0 to CFFJB4 are repeated while computer paper original 1 is continuously copied,
For the last page, CFFJB0, CFFJB1, CFFJB2, CFFJB5, CFFJB
6, CFFJB7 processing will be performed.

Incidentally, the counter CFFJMT cleared in the step shown in FIG. 6 is incremented each time the routine "CFJB2" and "CFJB3" is entered. That is, this counter is cleared each time the first sensor 36 detects the leading edge of the sprocket hole 3, and the counter 2 adjacent to the computer paper original conveyed normally without jamming.
The time between the leading edges of the two sprocket holes is longer than the time required to pass through the first sensor 36. In this example, when the counter counts 50, it is determined that a paper jam has occurred in a computer paper original. More specifically, in the routine “CFBJ3” shown in FIG.
In a state before the number 22 of sprocket holes for one page is counted by T, the counter CFFJMT is checked and “11th sprocket hole” is checked.
(Figure) When this counts 50 pulses, it is determined that a paper jam has occurred on the computer paper, and the drive motor
M2 and M3 are turned off, and jam flags used for various types of jam processing are set (FIG. 11). If the computer paper original 1 is conveyed without jamming, the counter does not count up to 50 pulses and the counter CFFJMT
Is cleared. For example, when the pitch of the sprocket holes 3 is 1/2 inch, the first sensor 36 detects the leading edge of the sprocket holes 3 approximately every 20 to 30 msec, and the counter CFFCNT counts them.
Assuming that the MT is counted up (incremented) every 2 to 3 mesc, if the computer paper original 1 is normally conveyed, the CFFJMT is cleared when 10 to 15 pulses have been counted, and the CFFJMT is cleared after 50 or more pulses. Do not reach. In other words, when the time interval for detecting the hole 3 in the computer paper original cannot be detected for 100 to 150 msec or more, a jam is detected, and the drive motors M2 and M3 are turned off as described above.

In this example, the encoder E3 attached to the drive motor M2 and the counter M3TPC that counts its pulse cause the computer paper original to reach a predetermined position on the platen after the second sensor stops detecting the computer paper original. To be sent, the conveyance of the paper was controlled, but as described above, instead of the encoder E3, timer means may be used, and instead of the encoder E3,
For example, an encoder attached to any one of the drive systems such as the transport belt 15 or its roller or shaft may be used.

In this example, when the illumination of the computer paper original on the platen 6 is finished, a paper ejection command is transmitted from the copying machine side. However, the drive motors M2 and M3 start operating only by the paper ejection instruction, and In order to carry the sheet, the conveyor belt 15 and the discharging device 18 as an example of the conveying member are driven, and the CFF is driven.
In the mode, the computer paper original is not conveyed by a paper feed command from the copying machine body. For this reason, the first page of the computer paper original 1 can be manually set on the platen 6 to perform copying without any trouble. If the computer paper original is conveyed by a paper feed command in the same manner as when copying a sheet original, the computer paper original is placed on the platen 6 before the copy of the first page starts.
And it becomes impossible to make a predetermined copy.

Further, in the CFF mode, the computer paper original can be transported by the paper feeder 16 that sends a normal sheet original. In this case, the paper feeder 16 includes a separation roller 24 and a separation roller that presses against the separation roller 24. Since the blade 25 is provided, when a computer paper document passes between them, a large frictional force is applied thereto, and the paper may be skewed. For normal sheet documents, separation roller 24 and separation blade 25
Even if it receives frictional force from
Although this rarely causes skew, since the computer paper original 1 is long, skew gradually accumulates and may eventually appear as large skew. For this reason, in this example, a paper feed port 17 for a computer paper document is provided separately from the paper feed device 16 for feeding a normal sheet document to the platen 6, and the frictional force generated by the separation roller 24 and the blade 25 when the computer paper document is transported. Does not act on computer paper originals to prevent skew. A transport member for transporting the computer paper document, for example, a pair of transport rollers may be provided between the paper feed port 17 and the platen 6, but the first page of the computer paper document is manually set on the platen 6. If you do, the first page of the computer paper
15, the computer paper originals can be sequentially conveyed by the conveyance belt 15 without providing the above-described conveyance member. For this reason, in this example, no transport member is provided in the transport path from the paper feed port 17 to the platen 6. Thereby, the cost of the automatic document feeder 5 can be reduced.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 38 switches the control from the conveyance and stop control of the computer paper original by the first sensor 36 to the control by the encoder E3, but FIG. A specific example that is easily configured will be described.

In FIG. 17, before the trailing edge of the last page of the computer paper original 1 passes through the first and second sensors 36 and 37, the detection pulse from the first sensor 36 that detects the sprocket hole 3 of the computer paper original is output. Is output to the first AND circuit 50. On the other hand, when the second sensor 37 is detecting a computer paper original,
Is at L level, which is the second AND circuit.
51, and is inverted by an inverting circuit 52.
The level is input to the first AND circuit 50. The pulse output of the encoder E3 of the drive motor M3 is input to the second AND circuit 51 via the frequency divider 53. The outputs of the first and second AND circuits 50 and 51 are both input to the OR circuit 54, and the output is input to the CPU 138 of the automatic document feeder.

In the above-described state, a pulse corresponding to the pulse output of the first sensor is output from the first AND circuit 50, and is input to the OR circuit 54. However, the output from the second sensor 37 is L
Since this is a level, there is no AND output from the second AND circuit 51. Therefore, a pulse signal corresponding to the output of the first sensor 36 is output from the OR circuit 54, and the pulse signal is input to the CPU 138 and counted by the counter. This operation is performed during the period indicated by W1 in FIG. 18, and the conveyance and stop of the computer paper original are controlled.

Next, when the rear end of the last page of the computer paper original passes through the first and second sensors 36 and 37, the second sensor 37 does not detect the computer paper original, and its output becomes H level. Therefore, the output is input to the first AND circuit 50 at the L level, and is input to the second AND circuit 51 at the H level. On the other hand, the first sensor
The output of 36 is kept at the H level, and the output of the encoder E3 via the frequency divider 53 is input to the second AND circuit 51 as in the case described above.

Therefore, there is no AND output from the first AND circuit 50, and an output corresponding to the pulse output of the frequency divider 53 from the second AND circuit 51 is input to the OR circuit 54. Therefore, the same pulse output as the output from the frequency divider 53 is output from the OR circuit 54, and the pulse output is input to the CPU 138 and counted, and the conveyance and stop of the computer paper original are controlled.
This operation is performed during the period indicated by W2 in FIG.

When the rear end of the last page of the computer paper original passes through the second sensor 37 and its output changes from the L level to the H level, the signal is input to the CPU 138.
The counter CFFCNT which counts the pulse signal output from the first sensor 36 as described above is switched to the counter which counts the pulse output from the frequency divider 53, and the frequency divider is switched by the latter counter as described above. The pulse output from 53 is counted.

As described above, the rear end of the computer paper original is
After passing through 6,37, by the switching means shown in FIG. 17,
The control by the first sensor 36 is automatically switched to the control by the encoder E3.

Next, when the illumination of the computer paper original on the platen 6 is completed, a paper ejection command for operating the drive motors M2 and M3 to convey the computer paper original is generated. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

The first scanner 9 shown in FIG. 2 returns to the home position again after illuminating the original on the platen 6,
At this time, the home scanner sensor 60 shown in FIG. 19 is turned on, and its output is input to the AND circuit 61.

On the other hand, the operator sets the number of copies to be obtained from one original before starting copying, and the set number is set in the counter 62 shown in FIG.

As the copying for a certain page of the computer paper original is sequentially performed, the number of the copying is counted by the copy counter, and the number of sets set in the counter 62 is decremented. When the counter 62 detects “0”, a copy end signal is output, which is input to the AND circuit 61. At this time, the output of the home sensor 60 is also input to the AND circuit 61, so that a discharge command is output from the AND circuit 61. Based on this, the drive motors M2 and M3 start operating,
The computer paper original is conveyed by one page.

In the configuration according to the present invention described above, the duplex document copy mode is prohibited on the automatic document feeder side when copying a computer paper document. Can also. In this case, as shown in FIG. 20, the CPU of the copying machine main body checks whether or not the two-sided original copy mode is selected (see FIG. 20).
If so, it is checked whether the mode is the CFF mode (FIG. 20). When the mode is not the CFF mode, a process of the double-sided original copy mode is performed (FIG. 20), and when the mode is the CFF mode, a process of inhibiting the double-sided original copy mode is performed (FIG. 20). As the prohibition processing, it is conceivable to automatically switch the copy mode to the one-sided original copy mode and to display the one-sided original copy mode on the display. Further, it is also possible to configure so as to prohibit the key input device 100 (FIG. 2A) from accepting the key of the double-sided document in the CFF mode.

As described above, the example in which the present invention is applied to the electrophotographic copying apparatus has been described. However, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a digital copying apparatus.

Also, in the illustrated embodiment, in the two-sided original copy mode,
The present invention is also applicable to a copying apparatus of a type in which a sheet document after illumination is reversed and conveyed, but the sheet document before being sent to the platen is reversed.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when copying a computer paper original, even if the double-sided original copy mode is selected by mistake, damage to the computer paper original and occurrence of the jam thereof can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, and FIGS. 1A and 1C illustrate a computer paper document and the situation of a printing section formed thereon. FIG. 1A (b) shows a normal position. 1A (d) is an explanatory view showing a copy sheet on which an image has been copied, and FIG. 1 (d) is an explanatory view showing a copy sheet on which an image has been shifted. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of a key input device, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing a sheet document discharge mode, FIG. 4 is an overall circuit block diagram, and FIG. 5 to 15 are flowcharts in the CFF mode, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a pulse detected by the first sensor, and FIG. 17 is another example of the switching means. FIG. 18 is a block diagram, FIG. 18 is a timing chart corresponding to the configuration shown in FIG. 17, and FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a case where the double-sided original copy mode is prohibited on the copying machine main body side. 1 ... Computer paper manuscript, 6 ... Platen, 100 ...
... Input means, 101... First command generation means, 102... Discrimination means, 103... Second command generation means, 104.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15/00 106-107 G03G 21/00 370-540

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copying apparatus which controls a conveyance stop of a document and illuminates the document stopped on a platen to perform a copying operation. A double-sided document copy mode for sequentially copying images on both sides of the document, and an image on one side of the document. Input means for selecting a one-sided original copy mode for copying only the original, first instruction generating means for inverting the original in the two-sided original copy mode, and outputting a command to convey the original without inverting the original in the one-sided original copy mode, Means for discriminating between a computer paper original and a sheet original; and for a computer paper original, the original is conveyed without being inverted regardless of the copy mode. A second command generation means for outputting a command to convey the document as instructed by the command generation means, and a document conveyance in response to a command from the second command generation means. A copying apparatus.