JP3411056B2 - Paper type detection method and apparatus in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer,
The present invention relates to a sheet type detection method and apparatus in an image forming apparatus that detects a sheet type (size, placement, sheet type) in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a paper detection method in an image forming apparatus generally used, a method of detecting the size and placement of the paper and sending the information to the control unit side has been adopted.
Known techniques related to the sheet detection method are Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 54-126364 and 57-147663.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-180853 and the like.

The "paper feeding device" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-126364 discloses a detection means for detecting the size of the paper stored in the paper feeding portion, and a paper when a paper of a desired size is not present in the paper feeding portion (empty paper). In the case), another sheet feeding unit that stores sheets of the same size is selected.

The "automatic transfer paper selection device according to the original size" of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 147663/1982 has an original size detecting unit and a transfer paper size detecting unit, and compares both signals to detect the original. It has a function of selecting and feeding a transfer sheet corresponding to the size, and a display means for detecting and displaying that no transfer sheet of the same size as the original size is set.

Further, the "copying machine having an automatic paper selection function" in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 63-180853 discloses a paper detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of paper in each of a plurality of paper feed stages, and the presence or absence of the paper. A mode setting means for setting the copyable mode is provided.

On the other hand, recent image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have abundant functions provided, and "cover addition function",
"Slip-sheet insertion function", "OHP creation mode", etc. have come to be added. In addition, there has been a movement to use a paper which has been copied on one side (referred to as a recorded paper or a back surface paper), reflecting the recent heightened interest in the “global environment”.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned publicly known techniques are all related to the detection of the size of paper and the presence / absence thereof, and there is no disclosure of the detection technique regarding the paper type of paper which is required these days.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances. Not only the size and placement of the paper (how to set the paper) but also the paper is, for example, color paper. A method for detecting a paper type in an image forming apparatus that detects the paper type such as thick paper, OHP paper, or recorded paper (back side paper) and enriches the content of the paper type signal of the image forming apparatus And to provide a device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper type detecting method in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays for accommodating a plurality of kinds of papers. An ON / OFF arrangement of the push switches of a shutter-type switch section having a plurality of push switches provided on the main body side of the forming apparatus is defined as two movable members provided on the side of the paper feed tray and relatively movable. When switching the two movable members with a movable member moving mechanism that moves integrally, a paper type is set by the relative position of the two movable members, and the two movable members integrally move by the movable member moving mechanism. Is used to set the paper size and placement, and to detect the type of paper (size, placement, paper type) stored in each paper feed tray.

Further, the present invention is a paper type detecting device in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays for accommodating a plurality of kinds of papers in order to realize the above detection method. It is arranged on the fixed side and has a plurality of push switches.
The shutter-type switch section that displays the size, placement, and paper type of the paper according to the arrangement of F and sends a detection mode signal to the control section of the apparatus, and a position that is opposite to the push switch of each of the paper feed trays. And a first switch actuating portion that has a pressing portion that engages with the push switch along the arrangement direction of the push switch and that is slidably supported on the paper feed tray side along the arrangement direction of the push switch. , Slidably supported by the first switch actuation section,
A second switch actuating portion in which a pressing portion that engages with the push switch is arranged along the push switch arrangement direction; and an actuating portion moving mechanism that integrally moves the first and second switch actuating portions. The first and second switch actuating parts and the actuating part moving mechanism are configured to be able to adjust the ON / OFF arrangement of the push switches corresponding to the size, placement, and paper type of the paper. The paper type is set by the relative position of the first switch operating portion and the second switch operating portion, and the paper size and placement are set by the integral movement of the first and second switch operating portions by the operating portion moving mechanism. A paper type detecting device in an image forming apparatus is proposed.

[0011]

[Operation] Each paper tray has the size of the paper,
There are provided first and second switch actuating parts which are combined to form a pressing part corresponding to how to place and paper type, and an actuating part moving mechanism for integrally moving the two actuating parts. On the other hand, a shutter-type switch portion with which a pressing portion engages is arranged on the fixed side of the device facing them.
When the paper feed tray is set, the push parts of the first and second switch actuating parts press the plurality of push switches of the shutter-type switch part to the ON and OFF states.
A detection mode signal corresponding to a combination of N and OFF is sent to the control unit side. Since the combination of ON and OFF corresponds to the size, placement, and type of paper, the contents of the paper stored in the paper feed tray are transmitted to the control unit side of the apparatus.
Thereby, desired paper can be selected and image processing (copying, etc.) can be performed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a paper type detecting apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view including a partial cross section showing a paper feed tray of a copying machine in which this embodiment is incorporated, and FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the attachment position of a present Example.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the shapes of the first switch actuating portion and the second switch actuating portion, and FIG. 5 is the first and the second.
6 is a plan view showing a combination shape of the switch actuating portions of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a combined shape of the first and second switch actuation units when the paper type of the paper is blank, and FIG. 7 is a first and second switch actuation unit when the paper type of the paper is recorded paper. It is a top view which shows the combination shape of.

8 to 29 show a large number of detection mode signals (22 types in this embodiment) produced by the combination of the pressing portions of the first and second switch actuating portions and the shutter type switch portion engaged therewith. FIGS. 30 and 31 are flow charts showing a control method using the present embodiment to preferentially select recorded paper during normal copying and to select blank paper (plain paper) when it does not exist. . FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a control method in which the blank sheet 32 is selected and the recorded sheet is not selected using the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of (four in the figure) paper feed trays 4 (4a, 4b, 4) are provided below the copying machine 5.
c, 4d) is set. The paper feed tray 4 accommodates papers 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) of different sizes such as A5 to A3, and placed (vertical, horizontal) and paper type (blank, recorded). Has been done. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet type detecting device 100 of the present embodiment is arranged on the back side in the insertion direction of the sheet feeding trays 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the third paper feed tray 4c of the paper feed trays 4 is pulled out. In order to store the size of the paper 6c in the paper feed tray 4c, first, the front and rear side fences 7, 7 and the end fence 8 partitioning the rear side are screwed in accordance with the paper size. continue,
As shown in FIG. 1, the rear side (insertion side) of the paper feed tray 4c.
The switch actuating portion main body 10 is slidably attached to the edge portion 9 of the sheet, and its arrow 10a is fixed in accordance with the corresponding character of the paper size pictogram 9a displayed on the edge portion 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper type detecting apparatus 100 includes a switch actuating unit body 10, a first switch actuating unit 1, a second switch actuating unit 2, and first and second switch actuating units. The shutter-type switch unit 3 and the like are engaged with the units 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first switch actuating portion 1 is composed of an L-shaped plate member, and the plate member 1a is fixed to the switch actuating portion main body 10 side. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate member 1a has one convex portion 11, 12 and three convex portions 13 indicated by a dimension L, and four convex portions 11 and 12 having a dimension L between them. Three concave portions 15 between the concave portion 14, the convex portion 12, and the convex portion 13
Is formed.

Further, the plate member 1a is integrally formed with a projecting guide portion 16 projecting upward. In addition, a blank character 17 and a recorded paper character 1 are provided on the surface of the plate member.
8 are displayed separated by the dimension L. In addition, the convex portions 11, 1
Pressing portions 11a, 12b and 13b are formed at the tip ends of 2 and 13 and are bent at right angles downward in the plane of the drawing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second switch actuating portion 2 is made of a flat plate-shaped member mounted on the first switch actuating portion 1, and the tip side of the second switch actuating portion 2 has a size L. Projections 19, 20, 21 and three projections 22, and projections 19
Two concave portions 23 between the convex portion 20 and the convex portion 20, and the convex portion 20 and the convex portion 2
One concave portion 24 between 1 and 3 between the convex portion 21 and the convex portion 22.
One recess 25 is formed.

Further, at the tips of the convex portions 19, 20, 21, and 22, a pressing portion 19 which is bent at a right angle toward the upper side of the paper surface.
a, 20a, 21a, 22a are formed. Further, a long hole 26 into which the protruding guide portion 16 is fitted, a knob 27, and a window 28 surrounding the blank character 17 and the recorded paper character 18 of the first switch actuating portion 1 are formed on the surface. . Window 28
A display mountain portion 29 is formed on the.

FIG. 5 is a view in which the second switch actuating portion 2 is superposed on the first switch actuating portion 1, and the upper side of the drawing is the convex portions 11, 12, 13 of the first switch actuating portion 1 and the first switch actuating portion 1. 2 shows the state in which the convex portions 19, 21, 22 of the switch actuating portion 2 of No. 2 are overlapped, and the display mountain portion 29 of the window 28 shows the blank character 17
Indicates. In addition, the first and second switch actuating units 1 and 2
Are locked in place by a locking member 30 that fits into the protruding guide portion 16 in a superposed state. It should be noted that this arrangement has a lever shape 1.

On the other hand, the lower side of FIG. 5 is fixed with the second switch actuating portion 2 displaced from the upper side of FIG. Reference numeral 29 indicates the character 18 on the recorded paper. Note that this arrangement is a lever shape 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the shutter type switch unit 3 is composed of five push switches in this embodiment, and is fixed at a predetermined position on the fixed side of the copying machine 5. It Push switch ,,
, Are turned on and off by the pressing force of the pressing portions 11a and 19a of the convex portions 11 and 19 of the first and second switch operating portions 1 and 2, and are arranged in parallel at intervals of the dimension L. . The shutter type switch unit 3 is connected to a control unit (not shown), and push switches, etc. are turned on,
The detection mode signal corresponding to the OFF shape is sent to the control unit side.

As described above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the second switch actuation portion 2 is moved in the C direction to form the lever shape 1 and the lever shape 2, and the switch actuation portion main body 10 is moved to the D direction. In the direction E, the switch actuating portions formed in the lever shape 1 and the lever shape 2 are moved in the E direction toward the shutter type switch portion 3 at a fixed position. As a result, one of the push switches ,,, is pressed to form an ON or OFF shape, and the arrow 10a of the switch actuating unit main body is matched with the position of the pictogram corresponding to the ON or OFF shape so that the type of the paper 6 is clearly indicated. It was done.

8 to 29 are formed by combining the shutter type switch portion 3 having the first and second switch operating portions 1 and 2 of the lever shape 1 and the lever shape 2 and the five push switches ,. Each of the 22 types of paper type detection modes to be performed is shown.

[0027]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the size and placement of 22 types of paper,
It indicates the paper type, and the content and the sensor No. corresponding to the content. And the code number. Is displayed. In addition,
Sensor No. The O mark indicates the ON state of the push switch and the like, and the 1 mark indicates the OFF state. The uppermost part of Table 1 corresponds to the arrangement of FIG. 8, and the lowermost part of Table 1 corresponds to FIG.

That is, the first item in Table 1 is a sheet of A3 size, vertical placement and blank sheet.
As shown in FIG. 8, the convex portion 11 of the first switch actuating portion 1
And a case where the convex portion 19 of the second switch actuating portion 2 overlapping with it pushes the push switch to turn it on and the other push switches, ... Are in the off state. That is, the sensor No. Is indicated by 01111, and the code number. Is 01.

Similarly, the 29th one shown in FIG. 29 is the convex portion 13, 22 of the first and second switch actuating portions 1, 2.
Turns on the push switches, and the second switch actuation unit 22 turns on the push switches,
The push switch is in the OFF state, the size of the paper is A ₅ , and the paper is placed vertically and the paper is recorded. In this case, the sensor No. Is 00001 and the code No. Is 22. Similarly, code No. 0
The sheet type detection modes indicated by Nos. 2, 03, and 021 are shown in FIGS.
Is shown as 00111, 10111 ... 00011.

Next, the paper type detecting device 100 of this embodiment
Figure 3 shows the normal copy mode and double-sided copy mode using
0, 31 and the flowchart of FIG. 32 will be described.

First, the normal copy mode will be described with reference to FIGS. As an example of description, size A4, horizontal placement, paper 6a of blank paper type is set in the paper feed tray 4a of the copying machine 5 in FIG. 2, and size A4, horizontal placement, paper is placed in the next paper feed tray 4b. Paper 6b whose seed is recorded paper
The case where is set will be described.

The copy is the same size and the APS mode (Aut
A case will be described in which the mode for automatically selecting the paper type on the paper feed tray 4 is selected in o Paper Select Mode.

In FIG. 30, there is a document size display output (step 100), and it is judged whether or not the document size is received (step 101). If NO, the process returns to step 100, and if Yes, the process proceeds to the next step 102 to input the document size. In this case, as described above, the original size "A" is A4 horizontal and blank code N.
o. 07 is input.

In step 103, it is determined whether the mode is the double-sided mode. If the result is Yes, the process proceeds to the flow chart shown in FIG. 32 of [1] described later. 104), the process proceeds to [2] of FIG. 31 in the case of NO, and in the case of Yes in the next step 105, it is determined whether or not the magnification is 100%. NO
In the case of No, the process proceeds to [2] in FIG. 31, and in the case of Yes, “1” is input as “B” (step 106), and the paper type code of the first tray 4a is “A + 1”, That is, the code No. It is determined whether it is 08 (step 107).

The paper feed tray 4a has a code No. This is due to 07 and proceeds to the next step. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to [4] in FIG. In the next process step 108, “B” =
It becomes "2", and the paper in the second tray 4b is "A".
It is determined whether it is "+1" (step 109). The second row shows the code No. Yes in 08, [4] in FIG.
Proceed to.

That is, as shown in the lower part of FIG. “B” = “2” is selected as the selection code, the detection signal is sent to the control unit, and the code No. Normal copying is performed with the paper of No. 8. If NO in step 109, “B” =
It becomes "3" (step 110), and it is further determined whether or not the paper in the lower third-stage paper feed tray 4b is "A + 1" (step 111). If Yes, [4] in FIG.
If NO, the process proceeds to the fourth stage of "B" = "4" (step 112).

If there is no recorded paper of "A + 1" even if the process goes to the bottom of the fourth stage, the process proceeds to the flowchart of FIG. 31 by [3]. That is, "B" = "1" (step 113), and it is determined whether or not the first-stage sheet size is "A". That is, “A” is the code number. Since it is 07, "07" is searched for (step 114).

In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to [4] and the paper feed tray No. "B" is selected and normal copying is performed (step 122). In the case of NO, "B" = "2" (step 115), and it is determined whether or not the paper size of the second-stage paper feed tray 4b is "A" (step 116).

Similarly, in step 117, "B" =
"3" is used to judge "A" (step 118), and "B" =
The process proceeds to "4" (step 119), and the confirmation display of the presence or absence of paper (step 120) is performed. Note that when the process proceeds to [2] in FIG. 31, the already selected paper feed tray N
o. Is selected (step 121).

As described above, in the case of the normal copy, as shown in [5] of FIG. 30, the recorded paper is first selected preferentially, and only when there is no recorded paper, [6] of FIG. 31 is selected. As shown, a blank sheet is selected and copying is performed.

Next, the case of double-sided copying will be described with reference to FIG. Document size request output (step 200), document size reception N
o. , Yes (step 201) and the document size is input (step 202). “A” is the code number. 0
7 is input in this embodiment.

Next, it is determined in step 203 whether the mode is the double-sided mode.
If it is NO, ignore it. If Yes, A
It is judged whether or not the mode is the DS mode (step 204), and Ye
In the case of s, it is determined in step 205 that it is the same size (100%). If NO in steps 204 and 205, the paper feed tray No. already selected. Is selected (Step 21
4).

If Yes in step 205, "B"
Is input (step 206), and it is determined whether the paper type code of the first-stage paper feed tray 4a is "A" (step 207). If yes, the paper feed tray N
o. "B" is selected (step 213). If NO, go to step 20 as in the flow chart above.
In "8", "B" = "2" is set, and it is determined whether the second-stage paper type code is "A" (step 209). Finally, a sheet confirmation display (step 215) is performed.

In this embodiment, the first-stage paper feed tray 4a
Is the code No. Since “A4”, “Horizontal”, and “Blank” are set at “07”, double-sided copying is started at “B” = “1”. Here, as the paper type, recorded paper is taken as an example, but it may be color paper, thick letter, or OHP paper. In addition, it is possible to detect that the paper feed tray is "colored paper", which may be a copy mode in which a copy group of several pages is sandwiched between the copy groups of several pages as a "insertion copy". If so, it is possible to automatically switch the paper feed stage in the middle of copying, feed and convey color paper, and sandwich it between copies. In this case, the display decal of "recorded paper" may be "color paper". A “cover addition function” copy that brings a thick letter at the beginning of the copy can also be handled with the same idea.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the following remarkable effects are obtained. 1) In the prior art, only the paper size and placement could be selected, but in addition to that, the paper type of the paper can be determined. Therefore, normal copy using recorded paper or normal copy using blank paper is possible. Is possible selectively. 2) In normal copying, it is possible to select to use recorded paper first, and then use blank paper, so that the paper can be effectively used. 3) In the case of double-sided copying, there is no risk of setting recorded paper, and highly reliable copying is performed. 4) Since a combination of the first and second switch actuating parts is adopted as the switch actuating part, it is possible to make various kinds of paper type modes. 5) Since the first and second switch actuating portions are arranged so as to overlap with each other, they are compactly integrated in the paper feed tray and do not require a large space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a paper feed tray of a copying machine in which the present embodiment is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a mounting position of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the shapes of first and second switch operating portions.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a combined shape of first and second switch actuating portions.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a combined shape of the first and second switch actuating portions when the paper type is blank.

FIG. 7 is a first and second case in which the type of paper is recorded paper.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a combined shape of the switch actuation parts of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 28 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the contents of a detection mode signal.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the control operation during normal copying using this embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the control operation during normal copying using this embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing the control operation at the time of double-sided copying using this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 First switch operating part 1a Plate member 2 Second switch operating part 3 Shutter type switch 4 paper feed tray 4a Paper tray 4b paper feed tray 4c paper feed tray 4d paper feed tray 5 Copier 6 sheets 6a paper 6b paper 6c paper 6d paper 7 Side fence 8 end fences 9 edges 9a Emoji 10 Switch operating unit body 10a arrow 11 convex 11a pressing part 12 convex 12a pressing part 13 convex 13a pressing part 14 recess 15 recess 16 Projection guide part 17 characters (blank paper) 18 characters (recorded paper) 19 convex 19a pressing part 20 convex 20a pressing part 21 convex 21a pressing part 22 convex 22a pressing part 23 Convex part 24 recess 25 recess 26 long holes 27 knobs 28 windows 29 Display Yamabe 30 Lock member 100 Paper type detector

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 1/00 B65H 3/44

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of detecting a sheet type in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet feeding trays for storing a plurality of types of sheets, the shutter type having a plurality of push switches provided on the image forming apparatus main body side. The ON / OFF arrangement of the push switch of the switch unit is composed of two movable members provided on the side of the paper feed tray and relatively movable.
When switching between one movable member and a movable member moving mechanism that moves integrally, the paper type is set by the relative position of the two movable members, and
An image characterized by setting the paper size and placement by integrally moving two movable members and detecting the type of paper (size, placement, paper type) stored in each paper feed tray. Paper type detection method in forming apparatus. 2. A sheet type detecting device in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet feeding trays for storing a plurality of types of sheets, the sheet type detecting device having a plurality of push switches arranged on the fixed side of the image forming apparatus. O of the push switch
The shutter-type switch unit that sends the detection mode signal to the control unit side of the apparatus by displaying the size, placement, and paper type of the paper by the N / OFF arrangement, and the position opposite to the push switch of each of the paper feed trays. A first switch operation that is disposed and has a pressing portion that engages with the push switch along the arrangement direction of the push switch and that is slidably supported on the paper feed tray side along the arrangement direction of the push switch. And a second switch actuating part, which is slidably supported by the first switch actuating part, and has a pressing part that engages with the push switch along the push switch array direction. And an operating portion moving mechanism that integrally moves the second switch operating portion, and the first and second switch operating portions and the operating portion moving mechanism enable the size and position of the sheet. On the other hand, the ON / OFF arrangement of the push switch corresponding to the paper type is configured to be adjustable, and the paper type is set by the relative position of the first switch operating part and the second switch operating part, and the operating part is moved. A sheet type detecting device in an image forming apparatus, wherein a sheet size and a setting method are set by integrally moving the first and second switch actuating portions by a mechanism.