JP3128890B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus, and more particularly to a copying apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder and for transferring a document image on paper by an electrophotographic method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as AD
F) are provided. A
The DF feeds documents one by one from a tray, sets them at fixed positions on the platen glass, and discharges them from the platen glass after the completion of image scanning.

The ADF is extremely effective for processing in a multi-copy mode (a plurality of copies are made for one original), and the next paper is preliminarily placed in the paper feed path following the previous paper. By feeding paper (hereinafter referred to as advance processing), the copy processing is speeded up. However, there is a difficulty in processing in the single copy mode (one copy is made for one document). That is, to perform advance processing in the single copy mode, the presence / absence of the next (second) original after the (first) original set on the platen glass is detected, and if there is, the second original is detected. The paper for the original is pre-processed. In this case, advance processing is performed on the second original up to the entrance of the platen glass, and the efficiency of original exchange is improved.

However, in the conventional copying apparatus, the paper advance processing is performed only on the second sheet, and the sheet feeding path from the sheet feeding port to immediately before the image transfer section is relatively long.
Even if there is a space where the advance processing can be performed on the third sheet, the advance processing is not performed on the third sheet.
I couldn't increase my copy speed anymore. Therefore, it is conceivable that the ADF can detect the third document, and when the third document is detected, advance processing of the corresponding sheet is considered. However, despite the absence of the third document, the copier body detects that there is a document due to a malfunction of the sensor (such as the influence of external light or the shadow of the operator's hand in the case of a reflective sensor). Is fed, and one sheet of paper is left, resulting in a paper jam.

[0005]

Object, structure and operation of the present invention
In a copying machine equipped with an ADF, not only single copy mode can perform copy processing at the same copy speed as multi-copy mode, but also appropriate copy processing can be performed even if the original is incorrectly detected. To provide a simple copying apparatus.

According to the present invention, there is provided
The first copying apparatus is capable of detecting three unprocessed document including a document set in place on the platen glass in the ADF, the third sheet original is detected, the paper for the original Is allowed, and the third original is detected.
If not, paper feed is prohibited while the third
Is not detected, the second document is
When a subsequent document is detected after being sent out to the glass,
The paper supply for the document for which the is detected is permitted. More control
Paper in the single copy mode.
Paper is fed continuously at short intervals equivalent to
Improves copy speed. Furthermore, the third original is scanned.
Sending out the second document even if it has not been sent out
If a subsequent document is detected after the
The document was falsely detected as none even though it was
), The copy process for the subsequent document continues, and
-Processing is not interrupted.

Further, a second copying apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that:
ADF is set at a fixed position on the platen glass
And three unprocessed originals including the original
When the first document is detected, the paper supply for that document is
Accept the paper, and if the third original is not
If the third original is detected while the paper feed is prohibited,
Even if there is a second original sent to the platen glass
When the subsequent document is no longer detected from
If the paper is later ejected without copying,
If the paper is not fed, paper feeding is prohibited. With the above control, even in the single copy mode, the paper is continuously fed at a short interval equivalent to that in the multi copy mode, and the copy speed is improved. In addition, the document is the detection of the third sheet
Even if it is
When the subsequent document is no longer detected after the
It was erroneously detected that there was no manuscript even though there was no original
), If the paper has been fed, the copy is performed on the paper.
If paper has not been fed yet, paper feeding is prohibited and
A critical process is performed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, the copying apparatus includes a copying machine main body 1, an ADF 50 provided on an upper part thereof, and a sorter 90 provided on the right side thereof. At a substantially central portion of the copying machine main body 1, a photosensitive drum 10 is installed so as to be rotatable at a constant peripheral speed v in the direction of arrow a.
Around the photosensitive drum 10, along a rotation direction thereof, a main eraser 11, a charging charger 12, a sub-eraser 13, a developing device 14 using a magnetic brush system, a transfer charger 15, a sheet separating charger 16, and a blade-type cleaner 17. Is arranged. Further, an optical system 20 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 10.

The photoreceptor drum 10 has a photoreceptor layer on its surface, and is rotated in the direction of the arrow a to rotate the main eraser 11, the charging charger 12, and the sub-eraser 13.
As a result, the image of the document set on the platen glass 29 is exposed by the optical system 20. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 by the exposure is converted into a toner image by the developing device 14.

[0010] The optical system 20 is used to transfer the image of the original set at a fixed position directly below the platen glass 29 to the photosensitive drum 1.
Scan over 0. That is, at the time of image scanning, the exposure lamp 21 and the first mirror 22 are integrally united with the peripheral speed v of the photosensitive drum 10 (constant irrespective of the same magnification or variable magnification) by v / m (m: copy magnification). Move in the direction of arrow b at the speed of (3). At the same time, the second mirror 23 and the third mirror 24
It moves in the direction of arrow b at a speed of 2 m. When the copy magnification is changed, the projection lens 25 moves on the optical axis and the fourth mirror 26 swings to correct the optical path length.

The copy sheets are accommodated in the upper sheet feeding section 31 and the lower sheet feeding section 34, and are fed one by one from one of them based on the selection of the operator. Each paper feed unit 31, 3
4 is provided with paper feed rollers 32 and 35, and separation rollers 33 and 36 including a forward rotation roller and a reverse rotation roller.
The paper fed from the upper paper feed unit 31 is transported by a transport roller 37.
It is sent out to the timing roller 38 installed immediately before the image transfer section through b and 37c. Sheets fed from the lower sheet feeding section 34 are transport rollers 37a, 37b, 37c.
To the timing roller 38.

[0012] Immediately above the upper paper feed unit 31, both sides /
An intermediate tray 47 for processing the composite copy is provided. The sheet re-supplied from the intermediate tray 47 by the sheet re-supply roller 48 and separated by the separating roller 49 is sent out to the timing roller 38 through the transport roller 37c. The sheet sent out to the timing roller 38 temporarily waits here, and is sent out to the transfer unit by turning on the timing roller 38 in synchronization with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 10. The paper is brought into close contact with the photosensitive drum 10 at the transfer section, and the transfer charger 15
The toner image is transferred by the corona discharge from the photosensitive drum 10 and separated from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the AC corona discharge from the separation charger 16 and the stiffness of the paper itself. Thereafter, the paper is sent to the fixing device 40 through the transport belt 39,
The toner is fixed, and is accommodated in the sorter 90 through the transport rollers 41 and 42.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 10 keeps the arrow a even after the transfer.
The remaining toner is removed by the cleaner 17 and the remaining charge is erased by the main eraser 11 to prepare for the next copy process. In the composite copy mode, the sheet on which the image of the odd-numbered document has been transferred is changed in the sheet passing direction downward by the sheet passing switching claw 43, and
4, 45, and 46 are stored on the intermediate tray 47. In the two-sided copy mode, the sheet is temporarily sorted by the sorter 90.
And is switched back by reversing the transport roller 42, the paper feed direction is changed downward by the switching claw 43, and the transport rollers 44 and
5 and 46 are stored on the intermediate tray 47. Thereafter, the sheet is re-fed from the intermediate tray 47 in order to double-sided / composite copy the image of the even-numbered document.

The driving of the paper transport system is performed by various motors and clutches shown in FIG. Transport rollers 37a, 3
7b, 37c and the timing roller 38 are driven by the main motor M1, and the ON / OFF of the drive is linked to the ON / OFF of the clutches CL1 and CL2. To drive the feed motor M2 to drive the feed roller 32 and the separating roller 33, the feed motor M3 to drive the feed roller 35 and the separating roller 36, and to drive the re-feed roller 48 and the separating roller 49. Refeed motors M4 are provided respectively.

Sensors SE1, SE2 and SE3 for detecting the fed paper are provided near each paper feed port. Further, a sensor SE4 for detecting a sheet is provided immediately before the timing roller 38. By the way, in the copying machine body 1, a copying process is started,
When the first sheet is waiting just before the timing roller 38, advance processing is performed in which not only the second sheet but also the third sheet is fed to the sheet feed path in advance. For example, in the paper feeding from the lower sheet 34, second sheet P ₂ Following first sheet P ₁ is fed to the feeding path,
Further third sheet P ₃ is also fed just before the transport rollers 37a. Such advance processing is performed not only in the multi-copy mode but also in the single copy mode to improve the copy speed. The advance processing in the single copy mode and the detection of the document as a premise thereof will be described later in detail.

On the other hand, the sorter 90 is a non-sort tray 9
It is a well-known type having a 1- or 20-stage sort tray 92, and a description thereof will be omitted. Next, the ADF 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, ADF5
0 is an outline, a document tray 51, a pickup roller 5
4, a pair of registration rollers 58 and 59, a conveyance belt 60, discharge rollers 64 and 65, and a discharge tray 66. The ADF 50 is installed on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1 so that the transport belt 60 is positioned on the platen glass 29, and the platen glass 29 can be opened by a hinge (not shown) provided on the back side. When the operator manually sets a document on the platen glass 29, the AD
This is done by lifting F50 upward. A
The opening and closing of the DF 50 is detected by a magnet sensor (not shown), and the operation of the ADF 50 becomes possible only after it is detected that the ADF 50 is properly closed.

The document tray 51 includes a pair of side regulating plates 5.
2. A tip stopper 53 is provided. The document is placed on the tray 51 with the first page facing down. The leading end stopper 53 swings downward with the pin 53a as a fulcrum at the time of paper feeding and retracts from the regulation position. Pickup roller 54
Is attached to the tip of a lever 57 rotatable about the support shaft of the normal separation roller 55, and lowers during paper feeding to press the upper surface of the document. The reverse rotation separating roller 56 is pressed against the forward rotation separating roller 55 with a constant pressing force from below. The pickup roller 54 and the normal rotation separating roller 55 are driven to rotate in the direction of arrow c, and the reverse rotation separating roller 56 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow c .

The registration rollers 58 and 59 temporarily hold the fed document at the nip portion thereof, and convey the document to the entrance of the platen glass 29 by rotating the upper roller 58 in the direction of arrow c after a predetermined time. I do. Lower roller 59
Rotates following the upper roller 58. Conveyor belt 60
Is endlessly stretched between the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62 so as to cover the entire surface of the platen glass 29. A number of backup rollers 63 are rotatably installed inside the conveyor belt 60 to press the belt 60 against the platen glass 29. Conveyor belt 60
Is rotated in the direction of arrow c, and the original is set at a reference position O, which is a boundary between the scale 28 and the platen glass 29, with its rear end aligned. The document feed / transport / stop / discharge process will be described in detail below.

The paper discharge tray 66 has a cover 67 which can be freely opened and closed. The document on the platen glass 29 is discharged from the platen glass 29 by the rotation of the conveying belt 60 in the direction of the arrow c, and is discharged from the discharge roller 65 onto the tray 66 through the discharge roller 64. Here, the document advance processing by the ADF 50 will be briefly described. The original is fed from the uppermost layer by the pickup roller 54, separated by the separating rollers 55 and 56 into one sheet, and waits in a state where the leading end contacts the nip portions of the registration rollers 58 and 59. This processing is called advance processing. This advance processing is performed immediately after the previous document is conveyed onto the platen glass 29 and set at a fixed position, thereby shortening the time required for document replacement.

The ADF 50 is provided with the following document detection sensors. The sensor SE10 is provided on the surface of the document tray 51 and detects the presence or absence of a document from below. Sensor SE
11 is a pickup roller 54 and a normal rotation separation roller 55
And detects the presence or absence of a document on the tray 51 from above the tip of the tray 51. The sensor SE10 is
When the copying process is performed in the single copy mode using the ADF 50, the copying machine is provided to detect the third document in order to increase the copy speed to the same as the multi copy mode.

That is, in the copying machine main body 1, three sheets of A4Y size (Y is laterally fed: the short side of the paper is parallel to the transport direction) or B5Y size paper are output from the lower paper feeding section 34. Of paper P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ can be sent out to the paper feed path. For that purpose, it is necessary to detect the third document on the tray 51 in addition to the first document set at the reference position O on the platen glass 29, the second document subjected to advance processing, and the like. . The second original is sensor SE1
1 can be detected. In this embodiment, the sensor SE10 is provided on the tray 51 for detecting the third document.

The problem here is that the state of the original set on the tray 51 is not always normal, and the original is curled or bent as shown by a dotted line in FIG. Can be expected. For such an abnormal document, the sensor SE10 may detect that there is no document even though the document exists on the tray 51. If the paper advance processing in the copying machine main body 1 is controlled only by the detection signal from the sensor SE10, the paper advance processing will not be performed due to the malfunction of the sensor SE10 (when the original cannot be detected), and the copy processing will be terminated. And However, since there is a document in spite of that, there occurs a problem that the copying operation on the document is not performed thereafter. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the sensor SE10 malfunctions, the sensor SE1
If the original detection signal is generated by the step 1, the paper advance processing in the copying machine main body 1 is started from that point, and the copy processing is continued. By such control, 3
The problem that the copying process is stopped due to the malfunction of the sheet detection sensor SE10 is eliminated.

Another problem is that although there is no original on the sensor SE10, the sensor SE10 has a document due to the placement of a piece of paper, the placement of an operator's hand, or the influence of external light. May be determined. Due to such erroneous detection by the sensor SE10, paper is fed for the erroneously detected document, and one sheet is left in the main body paper feed path. As a result, a problem occurs in which the paper jam detection unit operates and stops the copying operation.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the original on the tray 51 is advanced to the registration rollers 58 and 59, and if the sensor SE10 detects the original at that time, the paper is fed to the original (advance processing). If possible,
Feed paper. While the original document that has been subjected to advance processing is being sent to a fixed position on the platen glass 29, the sensor SE1
If it is detected that there is no original, if the paper has already been fed, the sorter 90 does not copy the paper.
Is discharged onto the tray 91. If the paper has not been fed yet, control is performed so that the paper feeding operation is not performed.

With the above-described control, even when the sensor SE10 erroneously detects that there is no third original, the copying process is not interrupted and the usability is improved. By the way, the sensor SE10 must be arranged at a position satisfying the following conditions in order to reliably detect the third document. That is, as shown in FIG.
The registration rollers 58,
The distance to the nip portion of the 59 L _1, the distance to the nip of the rollers 55 and 56 separating from the document detecting point of the sensor SE10 L _2, of the document size capable of carrying two or more simultaneously in conveyor belt 60, the maximum size l ₁ the transport direction length of, when the conveying direction length of a minimum size was l _2, it is required to be _{L 1 ≧ l 1 L 2 <} l 2. Here, the maximum size and the minimum size of the document correspond to the maximum size and the minimum size of the sheet that can process the _third sheet P3 into the paper feed path in the copying machine body 1 in advance.

In the present embodiment, l ₁ corresponds to the short side length of the A4Y size (Y is horizontal feed: the short side of the original is parallel to the transport direction), and l ₂ corresponds to the short side length of the B5Y size. .
Therefore, when an A4Y or B5Y size original is set on the tray 51, the sensor SE10 can detect the original.
The presence of the next original can be detected.

Further, the sensor SE12 is installed immediately before the nip portion between the registration rollers 58 and 59. The sensor SE12 is turned on by the leading edge and the trailing edge of the fed document.
It is turned off and has a role of detecting the document length as described below. The sensor SE13 has a role of detecting the size of the document in the width direction. The sensor SE <b> 14 is provided in the document discharge passage, and detects a document discharged from the platen glass 29.

The ADF 50 is driven by various motors, solenoids, and clutches shown in FIG. That is, the pickup roller 54, the separation roller 5
5, 56, the registration roller 58 and the transport belt 60 are driven by a main motor M11 that can rotate forward and reverse, and the discharge rollers 64 and 65 are driven by a discharge motor M12. At the time of sheet feeding, the pickup roller 54 and the separating rollers 55 and 56 are driven by the forward rotation of the main motor M11. On the other hand, when the original is transported on the platen glass 29, the registration roller 58 and the transport belt 60
Is driven by the reverse rotation of the main motor M11. The drive mechanism will be described later in detail.

Further, the pickup roller 54 and the tip stopper 53 are configured to be able to interlock with turning on and off of the solenoid SL11. That is, when the solenoid SL11 is turned on, the pickup roller 54 descends and presses the document, and the leading end stopper 53 swings downward with the support shaft 53a as a fulcrum, thereby permitting the passage of the document. When the solenoid SL11 turns off, the pickup roller 54
Rises to release the pressing against the original, and the leading end stopper 5
3 returns to the regulation position. However, the leading end stopper 53 is urged toward the regulating side by a slight spring force, and is configured not to affect the conveyance of the original while the original is being fed.

Further, a decoder for generating a rotation pulse signal is attached to the main motor M11 to detect the number of rotations, and the pulse signal is input to the EV1 of the microcomputer CPU2. The pulse signal is used for detecting the document length and for setting the document at the reference position O. Further, an off-edge signal of the sensor SE12 is input to INT1 of the CPU 2 for interrupt processing.

Next, a driving mechanism of the main motor M11 will be described with reference to FIGS. An output pulley 71 of the main motor M11 is connected to a pulley 73 mounted on a shaft 86 via a timing belt 72. A gear 74 provided integrally with the pulley 73 is connected to a gear 77 via a gear 76, and the gear 77 is mounted on a shaft 87. The gear 77 causes the pickup roller 54 to rotate forward and the forward rotation roller 55 and the reverse rotation roller 56 to rotate forward and reverse, respectively. A pulley 75 is fixed to the shaft 86, and the pulley 75 is connected to a pulley 79 via a timing belt 78. Pulley 79 is gear 80
The gear 80 is connected to a gear 81 fixed to the drive shaft 61 of the transport belt 60. A gear 82 is fixed to the belt drive shaft 61, and the gear 82 is connected via a gear 83 to a gear 84 fixed to a support shaft 88 of the registration roller 58.

A one-way clutch is interposed between the pulley 73 and the shaft 86 and between the gear 77 and the shaft 87, and regulates on / off of the driving force as described below. That is, at the time of document feeding, as shown in FIG. 5A, the main motor M11 is driven to rotate forward in the direction of arrow c. As a result, the pulley 73 rotates in the direction of arrow c via the timing belt 72, the gear 77 rotates in the direction of arrow c via the gears 74 and 76, and the pickup roller 54 rotates in the direction of arrow c with the shaft 87. Then, the normal rotation separating roller 55 and the reverse rotation separating roller 56 rotate forward and reverse, respectively. The one-way clutch built in the pulley 73 causes the pulley 73 to rotate freely in the direction of arrow c with respect to the shaft 86. Therefore, the rotation of the pulley 73 in the direction of arrow c is not transmitted to the shaft 86, and the registration roller 58 and the transport belt 60 are not driven to rotate during paper feeding.

On the other hand, when the original is transported on the platen glass 29, as shown in FIG.
1 is driven reversely in the direction of arrow cr. This rotation is axis 8
6, transmitted to the pulley 79 via the pulley 75 and the timing belt 78. Further, the power is transmitted to the belt drive shaft 61 via the gears 80 and 81, and the transport belt 60 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow c.
Rotate forward in the direction. Further, it is transmitted to the support shaft 88 via the gears 82, 83 and 84, and the registration roller 58
Rotate forward in the direction. The rotation of the pulley 73 in the direction of the arrow cr causes the gear 77 to rotate in the direction of the arrow cr via the gear 76. However, the one-way clutch built in the gear 77 causes the gear 77 to rotate freely in the direction of the arrow cr with respect to the shaft 87. Therefore, the rotation of the gear 77 in the direction of the arrow cr is not transmitted to the shaft 87, and the pickup roller 54 and the separating rollers 55 and 56 are not driven to rotate during document conveyance.

Here, the document feeding / transporting process by the ADF 50 will be described in detail. Originals face down
Is placed on the tray 51 the last page is positioned on the upper side in condition, both sides are regulated by the side regulating plate 52, the tip is restricted by the stopper 53. It is assumed that four originals are set for the time being, and D ₁ , D ₂ , D ₃ and D ₄ from the top (FIG. 7).
(A)). The document is detected by the sensor SE10, and the copy process (document feeding operation) is enabled. When the print key is turned on by the operator, the solenoid SL11 is turned on, and the pickup roller 54 moves the document D _1.
At the same time, the stopper 53 is retracted. At the same time, the main motor M11 is driven to rotate forward in the direction of arrow c,
As the rollers 54, 55, 56 are driven to rotate,
First original D ₁ is separated into one roller 55, 56
Paper is fed from between, and the leading ends thereof are registered rollers 58, 59.
Abut the nip. The leading end of the original D ₁ is sensor SE1
After a certain time from the detection by 2, the tip end of the original D ₁ forms a slight loop immediately before the registration rollers 58 and 59 [see FIG. 7 (b)], the main motor M11 is turned off, the roller 54, The rotation of 55 and 56 is stopped. At the same time, the solenoid SL11 is also turned off, the pickup roller 54 moves up, and the stopper 53 returns to the regulation position.

Next, the main motor M11 is reversely driven in the arrow cr direction, the document D ₁ is started the conveyance toward the inlet portion of the platen glass 29 along with the rotation of the registration rollers 58 and 59. While separation roller 55 for conveying the document D ₁ acts as a resistor, a gear 77 as described above
The separating roller 55 rotates freely in the direction of arrow c by the function of the one-way clutch built in the printer, and the sheet passing resistance is reduced. By the reverse rotation of the main motor M11, the transport belt 60 also rotates in the direction of arrow c, and the registration rollers 58,
The document D ₁ sent from the document 59 is carried onto the platen glass 29.

[0036] predetermined time after the detected trailing end of the original D ₁ by the sensor SE12, that is, when the trailing edge of the document D ₁ reaches the reference position O the main motor M11 is turned off.
This in, so that the document D ₁ is set to the reference position O. At the time of document conveyance here, the main motor M1
The pulse signal emitted from 1 is input to the CPU 2,
Length of the document D ₁ by the number of pulses from the reverse start of the main motor M11 to the rear end of the document D ₁ is detected by the sensor SE12 is detected. Also, its width is detected by the detecting point of the sensor SE13 is document D ₁ passes. Size of the original D ₁ based on a combination of the both detection results so that the is determined. Further, control to stop the document D ₁ in the reference position O is also performed by controlling the number of drive pulses of the main motor M11.

The original D ₁ is scanned by the optical system 20. During this time, the main motor M1
1 is driven forward, second original D ₂ is first-out processing to the nip portion of the registration roller 58, 59 [Figure 7
(C)]. Incidentally, the resist roller 58 is rotated in the direction c When the document D ₂ tip abuts the registration roller 58 and 59, the conveyor belt 60 via the belt drive shaft 61 which are connected by the gear group registration rollers 58 arrow It may rotate in the direction c. In this case, the original D
The stop position of ₁ deviates from the reference position O, and a problem occurs in which a copy in which the image at the end is lost is created. To prevent such a problem from occurring, in the present embodiment, the electromagnetic brake BR11 on the shaft 86 shown in FIG. 4, the tip from the previous leading edge of the document D ₂ is in contact with the nip portion of the registration rollers 58 and 59 The electromagnetic brake BR11 is turned on and the support shaft 88 is locked until a loop is formed in the portion. As a result, the registration roller 58 and the belt drive shaft 61 do not rotate due to the collision of the leading edge of the original in the advance processing, and the original is prevented from shifting during the scanning operation.

As a mechanism for preventing the above problem, instead of providing the shaft 86 with the electromagnetic brake BR11,
As shown in FIG. 6, a kick spring 89 may be provided between the support shaft 88 of the registration roller 58 and the gear 84.
The kick spring 89 transmits a rotational force to the support shaft 88 when the gear 84 rotates in the direction of arrow c, and idles when the support shaft 88 rotates alone in the direction of arrow c. Therefore, when the leading edge of the document collides with the nip portion between the registration rollers 58 and 59, the rotation of the support shaft 88 in the direction of the arrow c is absorbed by the kick spring 89, so that the belt drive shaft 61 and the transport belt 60 do not rotate. Absent.

[0039] When the image scan is completed for the original D _1, the main motor M11 is reversely driven, the document D ₁ is conveyed on the platen glass 29 on the downstream side. In synchronization with this original D ₂ is conveyed onto the platen glass 29, the main motor M11 at the time the trailing edge has reached the reference position O
Is turned off. Then, the image scanning is started for the original D _2, first-out process is performed for the original D ₃ of the third sheet (see FIG. 7 (d)). The platen glass 29 corresponds to the A3T size. Therefore, if the size of the document is 210 mm (A4Y size) or less in the transport direction, the document D ₁ is located downstream of the platen glass 29 when the document D ₂ is set at the reference position O. And
When the third document D ₃ is carried in onto the platen glass 29, the document D ₁ is sandwiched by the discharge rollers 64 and
The paper is discharged onto the tray 66 through the trays 4 and 65. The discharge motor M12 is controlled independently of the main motor M11,
Trailing edge of the document D ₁ is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection by the sensor SE14. When the document is discharged, the discharge motor M12 is decelerated before the trailing end of the document passes through the discharge roller 65. This is for storing the originals on the tray 66 with good alignment.

Thereafter, the same document feeding / conveying / discharging process as described above is repeated. Such document transport processing is referred to as a step feed mode. Figure 8 (e) shows a time scan processing for the original D _3, the document D ₄ are first-out process.
Figure 8 (f) shows a time scan processing for the original D _4,
FIG. 8G shows a state in which the originals D ₃ and D ₄ are being discharged because there is no subsequent original.

On the other hand, the size of the original is 210 m in the transport direction.
m and larger (A4Y size), when the trailing edge of the document D ₂ has reached the reference position O, the leading end of the original D ₁ is reached the discharge roller 64, the document D ₁ discharge motor M12 is driven The sheet is discharged onto the tray 66 as it is. Such a document conveyance process is called a normal mode. 9 and 10 show the operation of the ADF 50 in the 2-in-1 mode.

The two-in-one mode is a document transport mode in which two documents are simultaneously loaded on the platen glass 29, placed side by side in the transport direction, and two images are copied onto one sheet. Here, first, is conveyed document D ₁ is to the registration rollers 58 and 59 by the forward rotation of the main motor M11, the main motor M11 is turned off after the resist FIG 9 (a) Reference. Then the main motor M11 is reversed, the trailing edge of the document D ₁ is after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection by the sensor SE12, turns off the main motor M11.
At this time, the trailing end of the original D ₁ is the registration rollers 58 and 59
Located on the exit side of the nip.

Next, the original D ₂ is fed by the forward rotation of the main motor M11, the registration rollers 58 and 59 to the tip
[FIG. 9B]. Thus, the two originals D ₁ and D ₂ are arranged with the nip portion between the registration rollers 58 and 59 interposed therebetween. Here, the main motor M1
1 is switched to reverse, and the originals D ₁ and D ₂ are
9 on. The rear end of the succeeding document D ₂ sensors SE1
After a predetermined time from the detection in step 2, the main motor M11 is turned off. As a result, the two originals D ₁ and D 2 are placed on the platen glass 29 in a state where the rear end of the original D ₂ coincides with the reference position O. The state imaging scan is started at, the third original D ₃ simultaneously are first-out process [Figure 9
(C)]. Timing the document D ₁ roller 58 and 59
The control to stop immediately after the nip portion and the control to stop the originals D ₁ and D ₂ at the reference position O are performed by controlling the number of drive pulses of the main motor M11.

After scanning of the originals D ₁ and D _{2 is} completed, the main motor M11 is rotated in the reverse direction, and while the original D ₃ is conveyed immediately after the registration rollers 58 and 59, the original D
₁ is discharged onto the tray 66. For the originals D ₃ and D ₄ , the same paper feeding process as that for the originals D ₁ and D ₂ is performed, and the originals D ₃ and D ₄ are arranged at the nip portion of the registration rollers 58 and 59 [FIG. (D)). Here, the main motor M11 is switched to the reverse rotation, the document D _3, D ₄
There are juxtaposed on the platen glass 29, the document D ₂ is discharged onto the tray 66 [FIG. 10 (e) Reference.

Thereafter, the same sheet feeding / conveying / discharging process is repeated for the document set on the tray 51.
Figure 10 (f) are discharged document D ₃ state, FIG. 10
(G) shows a state of discharging the document D _4. When the number of originals is an odd number, processing is performed in the normal mode for the last remaining original. When documents of a size larger than A4Y are mixed, only one document of the large size is set on the platen glass 29.

In the above two-in-one mode, when two originals are set on the platen glass 29 and the subsequent original is detected, the main motor M11 is rotated forward to register the subsequent original with the registration rollers 58, Advance processing is performed up to 59. As a result, the next document can be placed on the platen glass 2 after scanning without extending the document feeding interval.
9 is shortened, and the copy processing speed is improved. Also, at the same time as the discharge of the scanned document (at the same time as the start of the discharge or at least earlier than the completion of the discharge), the succeeding document that has already been advanced is loaded onto the platen glass. And the copy processing speed is improved.

Next, a control procedure of the copying apparatus will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 11, the control includes a CPU 1 for controlling the copier body 1 and a C for controlling the ADF 50.
The operation is performed by the PU 2, a CPU (not shown) for controlling the optical system 20, and a CPU for controlling the sorter 90. The CPU 1 processes communication with each CPU at necessary timing.

In the following control, on-edge means that switches, sensors, signals, and the like are switched from off to on, and off-edge is that switches, sensors, signals, and the like are switched from on to off. Means to replace. The sheet detection sensor is turned on while detecting the sheet. FIG. 12 shows C
4 shows a main routine of PU1.

When the power is turned on and the CPU 1 is reset and the program is started, at step S1, R
Performs initial settings for clearing AM, resetting various registers, and setting various devices to an initial mode. Subsequently, the internal timer is started in step S2. The internal timer determines the time required for one of the main routines, and its value is set in step S1.
The internal timer serves as a reference for counting of various timers appearing in a subroutine described below.

Next, the subroutines of steps S3 to S6 are sequentially called, necessary processing is performed, and step S7 is performed.
Then, the process returns to step S2 after waiting for the end of the internal timer. Step S3 is a subroutine for instructing the ADF 50 to exchange a document, step S4 is a subroutine for checking for paper feeding, and step S5 is a subroutine for feeding paper from the selected paper feeding port. It will be described in detail. In step S6, other processes, that is, input / display processing with the operation panel, setting of a paper feed port and a magnification, charging, exposure, transfer, fixing, and the like are performed.

The CPU 1 is connected to the CPU 2 via a serial communication line, and its transmission and reception are performed in step S8 by interrupt processing. FIG. 13 shows step S
3 shows a subroutine of ADF control executed in Step 3. Here, when the print key on the operation panel is turned on by the operator, or when the image scanning for the set number (the number of copies set by the operator) is completed for the document set on the platen glass 29, the ADF 5
The DCHG flag is set to "1" so that the original is replaced with "0".

That is, it is determined in step S101 whether or not the print key is on-edge, and if it is on-edge, the counter DCNT1 is checked in step S102. DC
NT1 is operated when the CPU 2 controls the ADF 50. When "0", it indicates that there is no unprocessed document, and when "1", there is one unprocessed document except for the set document. Is displayed, and when "2" is displayed, it indicates that there are two unprocessed documents. If DCNT1 is other than "0", that is, if there is an unprocessed document, step S103
To determine whether the ADF 50 is operable. ADF50
Is not completely closed on the platen glass 29, or if a document jam has occurred, it is determined that operation is impossible. Therefore, if operation is possible, D
Set the CHG flag to "1". When the DCHG flag is set to “1”, it instructs the ADF 50 to exchange a document.

Step S101 or step S10
If NO in step 2, it is determined in step S104 whether the number of scans has been completed. If YES, the DCHG flag is set to "1" in step S105. FIG.
4 and FIG. 15 show a paper feed check subroutine executed in step S4.

Here, it is determined whether or not paper should be fed, and if so, the paper feed flag is set to "1". First, in step S11, it is determined whether the APS mode has been selected. The APS mode is a processing mode in which a sheet of an optimal size is automatically selected from the document size and the copy magnification and fed. If the APS mode has been selected, a predetermined APS operation is executed, and step S
When the completion of the APS operation is confirmed in step 12, the flow proceeds to step S1.
In step S4, the OK flag is set to "1", and in step S15, a numerical value is set in the counter KCNT1. When the OK flag is set to “1”, it indicates that paper can be fed. KCNT1 indicates the number of sheets to be fed subsequently for one document.

Next, in step S16, it is determined whether or not the OK flag is "1". If it is set to "1", the counter KCNT1 is checked in step S17. K
If CNT1 is not "0", it is confirmed in step S22 that there is a sheet in the sheet feeding unit, the sheet feeding flag is set to "1" in step S23, and the OK flag is reset to "0" in step S24. . Further, at step S25, K
Increment CNT2.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S17 that KCNT1 is "0", then in step S18 the counter DC
Check NT1. If DCNT1 is other than "0", the copy number is set to the counter KCNT1 in step S21 for the next original copy process, and the process proceeds to step S22. If DCNT1 is "0", step S19
To determine whether the double-sided copy mode or the composite copy mode is selected, and if neither mode is selected, the process returns to the main routine. If any one of the modes is selected, the intermediate tray 47 is selected in step S20.
It is determined whether or not a sheet is stored on the upper side, and if not, the process returns to the main routine. If there is a sheet, the process from step S21 is performed to re-feed the sheet.

If the APS mode has not been selected (NO in step S11), the on-edge of the print key is checked in step S13, and if it is on-edge, the processing from step S14 is performed. Is performed. FIG. 16 illustrates a sheet feeding subroutine executed in step S5.

Here, the paper is actually fed based on the instruction of the paper feed flag, and the image scanning by the optical system 20 is processed. First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the copier body 1 and the sorter 90 are operable. The presence or absence of a paper jam is mainly checked, and if operable, it is determined in step S32 whether or not the print key is on-edge. If it is an on-edge, the main motor M1 is turned on in step S33.

In step S34, the currently selected paper feed port is checked. If the upper paper feed section 31 is selected, the flow proceeds to step S35. If the lower paper feed section 34 is selected, the flow returns to step S36. If paper has been selected, paper feed processing is performed in step S37. Thereafter, in step S38, scan control by the optical system 20 is processed, in step S39, control for sending the sheet from the timing roller 38 to the transfer unit is processed, and in step S40, it is confirmed that the sheet has been ejected from the copying machine body 1. Then, in step S41, the operation of the copying machine main body 1 is stopped.

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show a subroutine of upper sheet feeding executed in step S35. Step S
The lower sheet feeding executed at 36 and the re-feeding from the intermediate tray 47 executed at step S37 basically perform the same processing as this subroutine. First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the paper supply completion flag is “0”. The paper feed completion flag is set to "1" after a lapse of a predetermined time after the paper is detected by the sensor SE4 (see step S87), and indicates that the paper is waiting by the timing roller 38. If the feed completion flag is reset to "0",
After confirming in step S52 that the paper feed flag is set to "1", in step S53 the paper feed motor M2
Is turned on, and the clutch CL1 is turned on in a step S54. As a result, the feed roller 32, the separating roller 33
Are driven to rotate and the transport rollers 37a, 37b, 3
7c is driven to rotate, and the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit 31. On the other hand, if NO in steps S51 and S52, the sheet feeding motor M2 is turned off in step S59.

Next, in step S55, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE1 is on edge. If it is the on-edge, that is, if the leading end of the sheet reaches the detection point of SE1, the timer T11 is started in step S56. Timer T11
Is a timing for turning off the sheet feeding motor M2, and after starting, it is checked in step S57 whether or not it is finished. That is, as shown in FIG.
If it is determined in step 71 that counting is in progress, step S7 is executed.
It counts at 2 and determines whether or not the counting is completed at step S73. When the count of the timer T11 ends, the paper feed flag is reset to “0” in step S58,
In step S59, the sheet feeding motor M2 is turned off.

Next, in step S60, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE1 is off edge. If it is off-edge, that is, if the trailing edge of the sheet passes the detection point of the sensor SE1, the timer T12 is started in step S61, and the counter KCNT1 is decremented in step S62. Subsequently, in a step S63, it is determined whether or not the NG flag is “1”.
NT1 is reset to "0", and the NG flag is reset to "0" in step S65. The timer T12 is for setting the timing at which the next sheet can be fed,
After starting, it is checked in step S66 whether or not the processing is to be ended. The processing in step S66 is the same as the subroutine shown in FIG. 19. When the counting is completed, the OK flag is set to "1" in step S67, and the next sheet can be fed.

FIG. 20 shows a scan control subroutine executed in step S38. Here, the optical system 20
The start timing of the image scanning operation is set.
First, in step S81, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE4 is on-edge. If it is on-edge, that is, if the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sensor SE4, the timer T
Start 21. The timer T21 is used to set the timing at which the optical system 20 starts scanning.
After the start, it is checked in step S83 whether or not the processing has ended. The processing in step S83 is the same as the subroutine shown in FIG. 19. When the counting is completed, the SE4 flag is set to "1" in step S84 to enable the scanning operation. Further, the timer T22 is started in step S85. The timer T22 is for counting the time until the sheet is registered by the timing roller 38, and after starting, it is checked in step S86 whether or not it has ended. The processing in step S86 is the same as the subroutine shown in FIG. 19. When the counting is completed, the sheet feeding completion flag is set to "1" in step S87, and the clutch C is set in step S88.
L1 is turned off, and rotation of the transport rollers 37a, 37b, 37c is stopped.

Next, in step S89, it is determined whether or not the SE4 flag is "1". If it is set to "1" (if the scan is possible), step S90 is performed.
To determine whether the DSET flag is "1". DSET
When the flag is set to "1", it indicates that the document is set at the reference position O of the platen glass 29. Accordingly, if YES in step S90, the SCAN flag is set to "1" in step S94, the SE4 flag is reset to "0" in step S95, and KCNT2 is decremented in step S96. SCA
The N flag is transmitted to the CPU that controls the optical system 20,
If set to "1", the scanning operation by the optical system 20 is started.

On the other hand, if NO in step S90, it is determined in step S91 whether or not the number of scans has been completed. If completed, it is determined in step S92 whether or not the counter DCNT1 is "0", and in step S93, whether or not the counter KCNT2 is other than "0". If both are YES, steps S94 to S96 are processed. In steps S91 to S93, a process for discharging extra paper fed to the tray 91 is performed.

FIG. 21 shows a timing control subroutine executed in step S39. Here, the sheet is sent out to the transfer section at a predetermined timing by the timing roller 38. First, in step S111, it is determined whether or not it is time to feed a sheet. At this timing, the scanning operation by the optical system 20 is started, and the photosensitive drum 10
The timing at which the toner image formed on the sheet and the sheet are synchronized at the transfer unit.
Sent to PU1. If it is the sheet feeding timing, the clutches CL1 and CL2 are turned on in step S112, and the transport rollers 37a, 37b, 37c and the timing roller 38 are rotated. Further, step S113
Resets the paper feed completion flag to "0".

Next, in step S114, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE4 is off edge. If it is off-edge, that is, if the trailing edge of the sheet passes the detection point of the sensor SE4, the timer T23 is started in step S115. The timer T23 counts the time until the trailing edge of the sheet passes the timing roller 38. After the timer T23 starts, it is checked in step S116 whether or not it has ended. The processing in step S116 is the same as the subroutine shown in FIG.
At step 117, the clutch CL2 is turned off, and the timing roller 3 is turned off.
Stop rotation of 8.

Next, the ADF 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The control procedure of 0 will be described in detail. FIG. 22 shows a main routine of the CPU 2. When the power is turned on and the CPU 2 is reset to start the program, in step S201, the RAM is cleared, various registers are reset, and initial settings for setting various devices to the initial mode are performed. Subsequently, the internal timer is started in step S202. The internal timer determines the time required for one of the main routines, and its value is determined in step S20.
Set by one. The internal timer also serves as a reference for counting various timers appearing in a subroutine described below.

Next, the subroutines of steps S203 to S205 are sequentially called, necessary processing is performed, and in step S206 the internal timer is terminated, and step S2 is executed.
Return to 02. Step S203 is a subroutine for detecting the original, and step S204 is a subroutine for processing the exchange of the original, which will be described in detail below. Step S205 performs another process, that is, a paper jam detection process.

The following three types of interrupt processing are available. The communication interrupt communicates data with the CPU 1 in step S207. I
The NT1 interrupt is performed by the off-edge signal of the sensor SE12 in step S208, and detects the size of the document. The EV1 interrupt is issued by the main motor M in step S209.
It is processed as 11 pulse interrupts. FIG. 23 shows a document detection subroutine executed in step S203.

First, in step S211, it is determined whether the ADF 50 is on standby. If the ADF 50 has already started operation, the subroutine for detecting the third sheet is executed in step S221, and the process returns to the main routine. If the ADF 50 is on standby, it is determined in step S212 whether the ADF 50 is operable. Operable means that the ADF 50 is correctly set on the platen glass 29, no paper jam has occurred, and the ADF 50 is in a normal standby state. If the ADF 50 is operable, step S21
It is determined in step S3 whether the sensor SE11 is on or not, and in step S214 whether the sensor S10 is on. If both are on, the third sheet detection prohibition flag is reset to “0” in step S215, and the process proceeds to step S217. If the sensor SE10 is off, the third sheet detection prohibition flag is set to "1" in step S216, and step S217 is performed.
Move to.

Next, at step S217, the counter DCN
T1 is set to "1", and the K status, S status, and H status are reset to "0" in step S218. The K status is a counter used to control document feeding. The S status is a counter used to control the conveyance of the document. The H status is a counter used to control the discharge of a document. Further, an odd flag is set in step S219,
The last one sheet flag is reset to “0”. When the odd flag is "1", the start of feeding of the odd-numbered document is displayed, and when the flag is "0", the start of feeding of the even-numbered document is displayed (see steps S284 and S285). When the last single sheet flag is "1", the final document is A4 in the 2-in-1 mode.
It is displayed that the number of sheets is equal to or smaller than the Y size (step S
457).

On the other hand, if NO in step S212 or S213, the counter DCNT1 is reset to "0" in step S220, and the process returns to the main routine. FIG. 24 shows a document exchange subroutine executed in step S204. Here, the original is fed,
The sheet is conveyed, stopped at the reference position O, and discharged to the tray 66 after the scanning is completed.

First, after confirming that the ADF 50 is operable in step S231, ADF 50 is executed in step S232.
It is determined whether the operation mode of the DF 50 is the step feed mode or the 2-in-1 mode. If any of the modes is selected, the document is fed in step S233, the document is conveyed in step S234, and the document is discharged in step S235. These processes will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S231 that the operation is not possible, the operation of the ADF 50 is stopped in step S237, and each flag and memory are reset in step S238. If it is determined in step 232 that another operation mode has been selected, another operation mode is executed in step S236. The operation mode executed in step S236 is the normal mode in the present embodiment,
The details are omitted.

Here, the detection of the second and third sheets of the original will be described in advance. The process of detecting the second sheet is executed in step S345 in the subroutine of document transport described below. The process of detecting the third sheet is executed in step S221 during the subroutine of document detection. FIG. 25 shows a subroutine of second sheet detection executed in step S345.

First, in step S241, the sensor SE12
Is determined to be an off-edge, that is, when the trailing end of the fed document has passed the detection point of the sensor SE12, it is determined in step S242 whether the sensor SE11 is on. At this time, if the sensor SE11 is on, the second document is on the tray 51, and the process proceeds to step S24.
In step 3, the K status is set to "1" to prepare for feeding the next original.

Next, it is determined in step S244 whether or not the 2-in-1 mode is set, and if YES, it is determined in step S245 whether or not the odd flag is "1". If it is set to "1", the S status is reset to "0" in step S246. If the next original is detected, the counter DCNT1 is set to "1" in step S250 if the next original is not the 2-in-1 mode, or if the next original is an even-numbered sheet even in the 2-in-1 mode. Step S251
To set the S status to "3". Further, the timer T201 is started in step S252. The timer T201 is used to set the DSET flag to "1" in the document conveying process (see step S352).

On the other hand, if the sensor SE11 is off (NO in step S242), that is, if there is no document on the tray 51, it is determined in step S247 whether or not the counter DCNT1 is "1" or more. If so, the NG flag is set to "1" in step S248. Then, in step S249, the counter DCNT1 is reset to "0", and the processes in steps S251 and S252 are performed.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the processing executed in step S221.
3 shows a subroutine of sheet detection. First, step S26
At 1, it is determined whether or not the advance flag is "1". When the advance flag is "1", it indicates that the advance processing of the document is completed (see step S325). If it is set to "1", the advance flag is reset to "0" in step S262, and whether or not the mode is the step feed mode in step S263, and the document size is A4Y in step S264.
In step S265, whether or not the sensor SE10
Is turned on, and it is determined in step S266 whether or not the third sheet detection prohibition flag is “0”. If both are YES, that is, the step feed mode is selected, the document size is A4Y or less, at which the third sheet can be detected, the third document is on the tray 51, and the third sheet detection flag is set. Is reset to "0", the counter DCNT1 is incremented (here, set to "2") in step S267. Subsequently, in step S268, the sensor SE
It is determined whether or not 10 is off, and if it is off, step S2
If it is determined in step 69 that the value of the counter DCNT1 is "2", DCNT1 is decremented (set to "1") in step S269a, and the NG flag is set to "1" in step S269b. On the other hand, step S261
Alternatively, even when it is determined as NO in any of steps S263 to S266, the processing from step S268 is performed. If any one of steps S268 and S269 is NO, this subroutine ends.

FIGS. 27 to 29 show a document feed subroutine executed in step S233. Here, the count value of the K status is checked in step S271, and the following processing is executed according to the value. First, when the K status is “0”, DCHG in step S272
It is determined whether or not the flag is “1”, and it is determined in step S273 whether or not the counter DCNT1 is not “0”. If both are YES, a document exchange is requested and there is a document to be fed.
CNT1 is decremented, the first sheet flag is set to “1” in step S275, and DCH is set in step S276.
The G flag is reset to “0”, and K is determined in step S277.
Set the status to "1".

When the K status is "1", the document feeding process is started. That is, in step S281, the solenoid SL11 is turned on. With this, the pickup roller 5
4 moves down and the tip stopper 53 retreats from the regulation position. Subsequently, the timer T101 is started in step S282, and the odd flag is set to “0” in step S283.
It is determined whether or not. That is, if the document fed here is an odd-numbered document, the odd flag is set to “1” in step S284, and if the document is an even-numbered document, “0” is set in step S285.
Reset to. The odd flag is reset to "0" at the start of the operation of the ADF 50 (step S219).
reference). Thereafter, in step S286, the K status is set to "2".

When the K status is "2", first, in step S291, the timer T101 is checked. The timer T101 determines the timing for rotating the main motor M11 in the forward direction. After the timer T101 starts, it counts in this step S291 and determines whether or not to end. Upon completion, in step S292, the main motor M11
Is turned on, and the K status is set to "3" in step S293. As a result, the original is
5, 56 toward the registration rollers 58, 59.

When the K status is "3", preparations are made to temporarily suspend the original by the registration rollers 58 and 59.
That is, in step S301, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE12 is on-edge. If on edge, step S30
2 to turn on the electromagnetic brake BR11 and
8 and the belt drive shaft 61 are locked, and step S303 is performed.
Starts the timer T102, and sets the K status to "4" in step S304.

When the K status is "4", the timer T102 is checked in step S311. The timer T102 raises the roller 54, and the leading end stopper 53
And the timing to turn off the normal rotation of the main motor M11. After the start, the count is performed in this step S311 and it is checked whether or not the process is completed. When the count of the timer T102 is completed, the solenoid SL11 is turned off and the main motor M11 is turned off in step S312. Until now,
The leading edge of the document comes into contact with the nip portions of the registration rollers 58 and 59 and forms a slight loop.

Next, at step S313, the timer T103
Is started, and in a step S314, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE13 is on. The sensor SE13 is for detecting the width of the document.
In step S15, the width flag is set to "1", and if it is off, the width flag is reset to "0" in step S316. This width flag is used in the subsequent size detection processing (see step S451). Thereafter, the K status is set to "5" in step S317.

When the K status is "5", first, in step S321, the timer T103 is checked. The timer T103 is for completing document feeding. After the star is set, the timer T103 counts in this step S321 and checks whether or not the counting is completed. When the count of the timer T103 ends, it is determined in step S322 whether the first sheet flag is “1”. If it is set to "1", the first sheet flag is reset to "0" in step S326, and the S status and the H status are set to "1" in step S327. Subsequently, in step S328, the electromagnetic brake BR11 is turned off to release the lock on the registration roller 58 and the belt drive shaft 61. Further, the K status is set to "6" in step S329.
Set to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S322 that the first sheet flag has been reset to "0", it is determined in step S323 whether or not the 2-in-1 mode is set. If NO, the advance flag is set in step S325. The value is set to "1", and the processing in steps S328 and S329 is performed. In the case of the 2-in-1 mode, it is determined whether or not the odd flag is "1" in step S324. If the odd flag is set to "1" (if the document is an odd-numbered document), steps S325 and S3 are performed.
28 and S329 are processed. If the odd flag has been reset to "0" (if the document is an even document), steps S327, S328, and S329 are processed.

When the K status is "6", no particular processing is performed. The document waits in a state where the document is fed. FIG. 30 to FIG. 32 show a document conveyance subroutine executed in step S234. Here, the count value of the S status is checked in step S331, and the document that has been fed is set on the platen glass 29 according to the value.

When the S status is "0", no special processing is performed, and this subroutine ends. When the S status is "0", the document has not been fed yet. If the S status is "1", that is, if the document is being fed, the main motor M1 is turned on in step S341.
1 is turned on in the reverse direction, the counting of the rotation pulses of the main motor M11 by the EV1 is started in step S342, and the interrupt processing to the INT1 is permitted in step S343. As a result, the conveyance belt 60 and the registration roller 58 rotate in the direction of arrow c, and the conveyance of the document onto the platen glass 29 is started. At the same time, the document conveyance amount is detected as the number of rotation pulses of the main motor M11. Further, step S3
At step 44, the S status is set to "2".

By the way, at step S343, INT
When the interrupt to 1 is permitted, the INT1 interrupt processing is executed at the off-edge timing of the sensor SE12. During this processing (see FIG. 36), the size detection and the number of EV1 interrupt pulses are set and interrupts are permitted, and the number of rotation pulses of the main motor M11 is continuously counted. The rear end of the document is at reference position O from the detection point of sensor SE12.
Alternatively, when the count reaches the standby position of the odd-numbered document (the nip portion between the registration rollers 58 and 59) in the 2-in-1 mode, an interruption step S20 is performed.
At 9, the following processing is performed.

That is, as shown in FIG.
In step S502, the main motor M11 is turned off.
To turn on the electromagnetic brake BR11. If the S status is "2", the second sheet detection is processed in step S345. The processing here is as described above with reference to FIG.
At the timing of the off edge of the sensor SE12, the presence or absence of the second document is determined.
Start 01.

When the S status is "3", the step S
At 351 the timer T201 is checked. Here, the timer T201 is counted, and when the counting is completed, the DSET flag is set to “1” in step S352, and the timer T202 is started in step S353. Further, the S status is set to "4" in step S354, and the counter DCN is set in step S355.
T4 is incremented.

When the S status is "4", the timer T202 is checked in step S361. The timer T202 is for timing to turn off the electromagnetic brake BR11. After the timer T202 starts, the timer T202 counts in this step S361 and checks whether or not the counting is completed. When the count of the timer T202 is completed, the electromagnetic brake BR11 is turned off in step S362, and
At 363, the S status is set to "5".

When the S status is "5", the step S
At 371, it is determined whether or not the discharge motor M12 is off. If it is off, it is determined at step S372 whether or not the document size is A4Y or less. If not larger than A4Y size, step S
At 373, it is determined whether or not the mode is the 2-in-1 mode. If YES, the two-sheet ejection flag is set to "1" at step S376, and the S status is set to "6" at step S377. In the case of the step feed mode (NO in step S373), if it is determined in step S374 that the sensor SE11 is off, the counter DCNT is determined in step S375.
Check 4. DCNT4 has S status "3"
In this case, the counter is incremented at the end of the timer T201 (see step S355) and decremented at the end of the document discharge process (see step S442). If DCNT4 is set to "2", steps S376 and S377 are performed. DC
If NT4 is other than "2", step S377 is processed. On the other hand, if the document size is larger than A4Y (NO in step S372), or if sensor SE11 is on (NO in step S374), the flow shifts to step S377.

That is, in step S376, the two-sheet discharge flag is set to "1" when the document size is A4Y.
In the case where there are two or more sheets in the following, and in the step feed mode, after the final document is set on the platen glass 29,
In the 2-in-1 mode, the discharge motor M is set for each document set.
12 is the timing to be turned off. When the S status is "6", it is first determined in step S381 whether or not the DCHG flag is "1". Check. If DCNT1 is other than "0", the S status is set to "1" in step S383, and DCNT1 is decremented in step S384. Further, the H status is set to "1" in a step S386, and the DCHG is set in a step S387.
The flag is reset to “0”, and DS is set in step S388.
Reset the ET flag to “0”. On the other hand, DCNT1
Is "0", the S status is set to "7" in step S385, and the above-mentioned steps S386 to S388 are processed.

When the S status is "7", it is first determined in step S392 whether the H status is "0".
If it has been reset to "0", the S status is reset to "0" in step S393, and the main motor M11 is turned off in step S395. On the other hand, if the H status is other than “0”, that is, if the document discharging process has been started,
In step S394, it is determined whether or not the discharge motor M12 is driven at a low speed.
In step S396, the main motor M11 is turned on in the reverse direction in step S396. Thereby, the transport belt 60 rotates in the direction of arrow c,
The document on the platen glass 29 starts to be conveyed downstream.

FIGS. 33 to 35 show a document discharge subroutine executed in step S235. Here, after the document set at the reference position O is sent out from the platen glass 29 by the transport belt 60, the document is discharged onto the tray 66. First, in step S401, the count value of the H status is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the value.

When the H status is "0", this subroutine is immediately terminated. When the H status is “1” (see steps S327 and S386), step S41
In step S412, the discharge motor M12 is turned on at a high speed.
It is determined whether or not the sensor SE14 is on edge. If it is the on-edge, that is, if the leading edge of the document reaches the detection point of the sensor SE14, the timer T301 is determined in step S413.
Is started, and the H status is set to "2" in step S414. On the other hand, if the sensor SE14 has not yet detected the leading edge of the document, it is determined in step S415 whether or not the main motor M11 is off. If the main motor M11 is on, the processing in the state where the H status is "1" is continued. When the main motor M11 is turned off, that is, when the succeeding document is set on the platen glass 29, step S4
At step 17, the H status is reset to "0". When the H status is "2", first, in step S421, the timer T301 is checked. The timer T301 is provided to set a timing for switching the discharge motor M12 to a low speed, and its value is set so that the count ends when a certain time passes before the trailing edge of the document passes the detection point of the sensor SE14. It depends on the size of the original. After the timer T301 starts, the process proceeds to step S4.
It counts at 21 and determines whether to end. When the count of the timer T301 ends, step S422 is performed.
To switch the discharge motor M12 to a low speed. Further, if it is determined in step S423 that the main motor M11 is rotating in the reverse direction, that is, if the document size is mixed and the setting of the document has not been completed, the main motor M11 is switched to a low speed in step S424 (discharge speed). To match). Subsequently, DCNT4 is checked in step S425, and if the value is "2", 2 is determined in step S426.
The sheet discharge flag is set to "1", and the H status is set to "3" in step S427. On the other hand, the main motor M11 is not in reverse rotation or DCNT4 is "2".
Otherwise, the H status is set to "3" in step S427 without processing step S426.

When the H status is "3", step S
When the off-edge of the sensor SE14 is confirmed at 431,
That is, when the trailing edge of the document passes the detection point of the sensor SE14, the timer T302 is started in step S432, and the H status is set to "4" in step S433. When the H status is "4", first, step S4
At 41, the timer T302 is checked. Timer T3
02 is a timing for turning off the discharge motor M12. When started, the count is performed in this step S441, and it is determined whether or not to end. Timer T30
When the counting of 2 is completed, the counter DCNT4 is decremented in step S442, and 2 is decremented in step S443.
It is determined whether or not the sheet discharge flag is “1”. If it is set to “1” (see steps S376 and S426),
In step S444, the two-sheet ejection flag is reset to "0", and in step S445, it is determined whether the last one sheet flag is "0". If the last single sheet flag has been reset to "0", that is, if the succeeding document reaches the discharge section, the H status is set to "1" in step S446.

On the other hand, if the two-sheet ejection flag has been reset to "0" (NO in step S443), or even if it has been set to "1", the last-one sheet flag is "1".
(See step S457, NO in step S445), that is, if only one document reaches the discharge unit, the last one sheet flag is reset to "0" in step S447, and in step S448 The discharge motor M12 is turned off. Further, the H status is reset to "0" in step S449.

FIG. 36 shows the step S of the INT1 interrupt processing.
The SE12 off interrupt subroutine executed in step 208 is shown. Here, interrupt processing is performed using the off-edge signal of the sensor SE12 as a trigger, and the size of the document is determined based on the number of rotation pulses of the main motor M11 input to the EV1. Set to counter.

First, after detecting the size of the original in step S451, it is determined in step S452 whether the mode is the 2-in-1 mode. If 2 in 1 mode is not selected,
Sets the number of pulses SP ₁ to EV1 interrupt pulse counter at step S460. This pulse number SP ₁ corresponds to the distance by which the rear end of the document is transported from the detection point of the sensor SE12 to the reference position O, and is used here to set each document at the reference position O in the step feed mode. You.

On the other hand, if the 2-in-1 mode is selected, it is determined in step S453 whether or not the odd flag is "1". If "1" is set, step S45
In step 4, it is determined whether the document size is equal to or smaller than A4Y. A4Y
If it is equal to or less than, that is, if the odd-numbered document is equal to or less than the A4Y size that can be processed in the 2-in-1 mode, it is determined in step S455 whether or not the sensor SE11 is on. If there is an even-numbered original, step S
At 456, the pulse number SP ₂₁ is set in the EV1 interrupt pulse counter.
Is set. The number of pulses SP ₂₁ are resist rollers 5 the rear end of the odd-numbered document from the detection point of the sensor SE12
This is equivalent to the distance conveyed immediately after the nip portion of 8,59. Here, it is used for stopping the odd-numbered original document immediately after the registration rollers 58,59 in the 2-in-1 mode.

If the sensor SE11 is off (NO in step S455), there is no next document, and therefore, step S4
In step S57, the last one-sheet flag is set to "1", and in step S458, the odd flag is reset to "0". Further, to set the number of pulses SP ₂₂ to EV1 interrupt pulse counter at step S459. The number of pulses SP ₂₂ are substantially the same as the number of pulses SP _1, here is used to set the reference position O originals one last in 2-one mode.

If the document size is larger than A4Y, steps S458 and S459 are processed. in this case,
Number of pulses S set in EV1 interrupt pulse counter
P ₂₂ is located in odd-numbered be used to set only the reference position O 1 sheet originals A4Y larger size. If it is determined in step S453 that the odd-number flag is set to "0", that is, if the document is an even-numbered document, step S459 is processed. In this case, EV1
Pulses SP ₂₂ are set to the interrupt pulse counter is used to set the reference position O in a state of continuous two originals. When the value of the EV1 interrupt pulse counter set here matches the number of pulses input to the EV1 interrupt terminal of the CPU 2, EV1 interrupt processing is executed.

FIGS. 37 to 39 show a document size detection subroutine executed in step S451. Here, the size of the document is determined based on the detection of the document width by turning on and off the sensor SE13 and the detection of the document length by the sensor SE12. By the way, the sensor SE13 is B5Y,
A4Y, B4T, and A3T originals are detected, and A5T, B5
The document is set at a position where no T or A4T document is detected.

First, the count value of EV1 is set in the counter A in step S471. Further, step S4
The value of the counter A 72 is set in the counter A by multiplying the conveyance amount P ₁ per pulse of the main motor M11.
A × P ₁ here corresponds to the document length. Subsequently, in a step S473, it is determined whether or not the width flag is “1”.
If it is set to (see step S315), the process moves to steps S474 to S483, and if it is reset to "0" (see step S316), it goes to step S48.
The process proceeds to S490 to determine the document size.

If the width flag is set to "1",
In step S474, the width flag is reset to "0", and in steps S475, S477, S479, and S481, it is determined whether the document length is a predetermined paper size. That is, if the counter A is equal to or less than 182, the process proceeds to step S476.
To set A5Y as the document size in DSIZ. If the counter A is equal to or less than 210, DS is determined in step S478.
Set A4Y to IZ. If the counter A is equal to or less than 364, B4T is set in DSIZ in step S480. If the counter A is 420 or less, step S482
Sets A3T in DSIZ. Counter A is 420
If it is larger than the value, "other" is set in DSIZ in step S483.

On the other hand, if the width flag has been reset to "0", it is determined in steps S484, S486, and S488 whether the document length is a predetermined paper size. That is, if the counter A is 210 or less, step S485
To set A5T as the document size in DSIZ. If the counter A is equal to or less than 257, DS is determined in step S487.
Set B5T to IZ. If the counter A is 297 or less, A4T is set to DSIZ in step S489. If the counter A is larger than 297, step S4
At 90, "Other" is set in DSIZ.

When the above processing is completed, step S491
To determine whether the value of the counter A is equal to or less than 210,
If larger, the third sheet detection prohibition flag is set to “1”. FIG. 40 shows the step S209 of the EV1 interrupt processing.
3 shows a subroutine of the M11 pulse interrupt executed by (1). This process is performed to set the document at the reference position O, and is also described in the document transport process.

[0112]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the ADF can detect three unprocessed originals including the original set at a fixed position on the platen glass, and If the original is detected ,
Since the paper is fed , even in the single copy mode, the paper can be continuously fed at a short interval equivalent to that in the multi copy mode, and the copy speed is improved . Only
Even if the third original is erroneously detected, copy
Appropriate processing such as continuation or interruption of processing is possible,
Easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 The drawings show an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ADF.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement of a document detection sensor on a document tray.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a drive mechanism of a pickup roller, a separation roller, a registration roller, and a transport belt.

5A and 5B are development views of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 4, in which FIG. 5A shows the main motor in forward rotation, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a mechanism for preventing erroneous rotation of the belt drive shaft, in which only a kick spring is cut away.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a step feed mode in the ADF.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an operation in a step feed mode in the ADF.
It is a continuation of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the ADF in the 2-in-1 mode.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the ADF in the 2-in-1 mode, and is a continuation of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control circuit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a CPU 1 for controlling a copying machine main body.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of ADF control.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a paper feed check.

15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a paper feed check, and is a continuation of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a sheet feeding subroutine.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of upper sheet feeding.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for upper sheet feeding, and is a continuation of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a timer check subroutine.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of scan control.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of timing control.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the CPU 2 for controlling the ADF.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document detection.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for document replacement.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for detecting a second sheet.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of third sheet detection.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a document feed subroutine.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document feeding, and is a continuation of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document feeding, and is a continuation of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for document conveyance.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document conveyance, and is a continuation of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document conveyance, and is a continuation of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a document discharge subroutine.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document ejection, and is a continuation of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a document discharge subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of an SE12 off interrupt.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing a size detection subroutine.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a size detection subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the size detection subroutine, and is a continuation of FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of an M11 pulse interrupt.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body 10 ... Photoreceptor drum 20 ... Optical system 29 ... Platen glass 31,34 ... Supply unit 32,35 ... Supply roller 38 ... Timing roller 50 ... ADF 51 ... Original tray 54 ... Pickup roller 58,59 ... registration rollers 60 ... conveyor belt 66 ... discharge tray _{P 1, P 2, P 3} ... copy sheet _{D 1, D 2, D 3} , D 4 ... original SE1 to SE4 ... sheet detection sensor SE10 ... 3 sheet paper detector Sensor SE11: Second original detection sensor O: Reference position

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takuma Ishikawa 2-3-1-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-289669 (JP, A) JP-A-63-284573 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/14 G03G 21/00 370-520 G03G 15/00 107 G03G 15/00 510 -534 G03B 27/58-27/64

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copying machine main body for transferring a document image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet fed from a sheet feeding port, and an automatic document feeder for sequentially transferring the document to a fixed position on a platen glass. The automatic document feeder comprises a tray capable of stacking a plurality of documents, and a pipe for feeding the documents stacked on the tray one by one.
Backup means, downstream of the pickup means in the document conveying direction, and
Installed at a position that is upstream of the platen glass,
Resist means for waiting, on the tray, by the pickup means
Documents sent out and waiting by the registration means
Installed at a position downstream of the rear end in the document transport direction,
First detection for detecting a document stacked on the tray
Means, on the tray, by the pickup means
Documents sent out and waiting by the registration means
Installed at a position upstream of the rear end in the document transport direction,
Document to be sent following the waiting document
And a second detecting means for detecting the copying machine main body, when the second detecting means detects that there is document the original
If paper feed for the manuscript is permitted and no document is detected
In this case, the paper feed for the document is prohibited while
The second detecting means detects that there is no original, and
Even if paper feeding is prohibited,
After the original is passed through the first detecting means,
If the detection means detects that there is a document,
A copying apparatus characterized in that paper feeding for a document is permitted . 2. A copying machine main body for transferring a document image formed on a photoreceptor to a sheet fed from a sheet feeding port, and an automatic document feeder for sequentially transferring the document to a fixed position on a platen glass. The automatic document feeder comprises a tray capable of stacking a plurality of documents, and a pipe for feeding the documents stacked on the tray one by one.
Backup means, downstream of the pickup means in the document conveying direction, and
Installed at a position that is upstream of the platen glass,
Resist means for waiting, on the tray, by the pickup means
Documents sent out and waiting by the registration means
Installed at a position downstream of the rear end in the document transport direction,
First detection for detecting a document stacked on the tray
Means, on the tray, by the pickup means
Documents sent out and waiting by the registration means
Installed at a position upstream of the rear end in the document transport direction,
Document to be sent following the waiting document
And a second detecting means for detecting the copying machine main body, when the second detecting means detects that there is document the original
If paper feed for the manuscript is permitted and no document is detected
In this case, the paper feed for the document is prohibited while
The second detecting means detects that there is a document and detects the document.
Even if you allow paper to be fed,
After the original is passed through the first detecting means,
When the detecting means detects that there is no original, the paper is supplied.
After the paper is ejected without copying it,
A copying apparatus characterized in that if the recording paper has not been fed yet, paper feeding is prohibited .