JP3538655B2 - 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 machine having a function of connecting to another recording apparatus, and more particularly to a copying machine for improving image productivity and operability of an image recording system comprising a plurality of recording apparatuses. About the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The size of a sheet set as an output sheet in a copying machine is determined by the number of trays provided in advance.

The number of continuous copies is a copy machine capable of copying while taking over all trays, and is equal to the number of sheets that can be accommodated in one tray × the number of trays.

In an office where two or more copiers are installed, there is a tendency that copiers that are frequently used are separated from copiers that are used less frequently.

[0005]

However, even in a copying machine capable of copying while taking over all the trays described above, if the required number of output sheets are not stored in the trays, it is necessary to replace the output sheets with desired output sheets. There is a drawback that the output paper is easily pained.

Further, when two or more copying machines having different usage frequencies are installed as described above, there is a disadvantage that the number of visits to maintenance increases due to a difference in the deterioration speed of the parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention can expand the paper set size type and the paper set capacity by connecting and sharing two or more copiers, When a sheet of paper is set in a plurality of copying machines, an output is provided from the copying machine having a small total count, whereby the deterioration speed of parts can be adjusted among the plurality of copying machines. .

[0008]

The object of the present invention is as follows.
This is achieved by the invention.

An image recording system in which two or more copying machines are connected
A copier that constitutes the system and inputs the operation status
Communication between the operation receiving means and the respective states of the copying machine.
To the matching communication means and the copying machine connected to the communication means.
Display means for displaying the set paper size, etc.
The paper setting for setting the paper size displayed on the display means
Scanning means for reading the original image
Have a copier equipped with paper with image information specified to form an image
Copier equipped with a control means
A counter for counting up;
Is the total counter of the counter between connected copiers.
The control means communicates the number of
Comparing the total count number, the total count number is small
A copying machine characterized by selecting a copying machine.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing a state in which copying machines according to the present embodiment are connected.

The copying machine according to the present embodiment can be connected to a plurality of apparatuses by connecting the interface unit 300 with a connection cable, whereby an image recording system can be configured by a plurality of recording apparatuses to perform image recording. As shown in FIG. 1, one of a plurality of devices can operate as a master device and the other devices can operate as slave devices. Here, the master device refers to a device in a master mode, a device in a state in which transfer of image data and the like from the interface unit 300 is permitted, and is shown in a state connected to the S terminal in the figure.
The slave device refers to a device in a slave mode, a device in a state in which image data and the like from the interface unit 300 are accepted, and is shown as a state connected to a P terminal in the figure.

Hereinafter, an electrical configuration and a mechanical configuration in an embodiment of a copying machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 9.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electronic circuit in a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanical configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

The copying machine according to the present embodiment has a platen 81, for example.
The image forming apparatus includes a memory unit 400 that stores image data from a scanner 800 that reads an image of a document placed on the printer 0, and a printer unit 700 that reads out image data from the memory unit 400 and prints out the image. It is equipped with a so-called electronic RDH function for recording an image, and is further connected to another device in order to constitute an image recording system with a plurality of devices and achieve a function of recording an image from the same image data. Interface unit 300 and a master mode for detecting a press from a button provided on the operation unit 600 to read a document and transfer image data, and further receive an image data when an external connection mode signal is received. A mode setting program corresponding to mode setting means for setting a mode,
When the slave mode is selected, an image forming program for operating the recording means independently of the recording timing of an external master mode copying machine to which image data is input, and the image data from the scanner 800 when the master mode is set. A program corresponding to a signal path setting unit connected to the image processing circuit, and information indicating that a connection operation is being performed when the slave mode is set is displayed on the operation unit 600 and the operation unit 600
A program for controlling an input signal from the operation button provided in the ROM is masked in the system ROM, and the control unit 100 reads and starts the program written in the ROM at a predetermined timing. A transport device 900 is also provided. Hereinafter, each member will be described in detail.

The control unit 100 connects output terminals from a paper amount detection sensor 120 and a paper discharge sensor 130 for detecting that the recording paper stored in the paper feed trays 791 and 792 constituting the printer unit 700 is empty. I have.

The control unit 100 exchanges the original on the platen 810 based on the timing control of the members for executing the electrophotographic process in addition to the above-mentioned program and the state of the write / read state flag sent from the memory unit 400. An exchange signal instructing the original to be performed is sent to the original control circuit 190.

The paper tray sensor 150 detects the set output paper size and the presence or absence of the output paper.

The total copy counter 160 counts the total number of copies. In the present embodiment, the total copy counter is for estimating the state of deterioration of an electrophotographic process member such as the image bearing member 701 due to aging.

The printer control section 170 includes a modulation circuit (not shown), an LD drive circuit (not shown), an index sensor (not shown) as a synchronous system, and an index detection circuit (not shown). A polygon driver (not shown) as an optical system is provided. The modulation circuit compares the reference signal with an analog recording signal obtained by D / A-converting a recording signal composed of a predetermined bit and converts the signal into a multi-value signal. The modulation signal obtained in this manner becomes a drive signal for the LD drive circuit. The LD driving circuit oscillates the semiconductor laser with the modulation signal, and feeds back a signal corresponding to the light amount of the beam from the semiconductor laser, drives the semiconductor laser so that the light amount becomes constant, and conducts to the semiconductor laser. The current can be changed. Thereby, the latent image potential can be adjusted. The synchronization system enters the index sensor (not shown) via a mirror (not shown) that reflects a beam from the deflection optical system. The index sensor outputs a current in response to the beam, and the current is subjected to current / voltage conversion by an index detection circuit and output as an index signal. The surface position of the polygon mirror rotating at a predetermined speed is detected based on the index signal, and the optical scanning is performed by the modulation signal in a raster scanning method according to the period in the main scanning direction.

An original control circuit (not shown) 190 mainly includes a one-chip microcomputer.
Further, while performing transmission and reception of signals with the control unit 100, arithmetic control regarding the document conveying device 900 is performed. An input / output port of the document control circuit 190 receives a signal from an entrance document sensor (not shown) provided on the downstream side of the above-described loading tray 901 and a paper feed sensor (not shown) provided on a document conveyance path. An open / close switch (not shown) for detecting a signal from a paper ejection sensor (not shown) and an open / closed state of the document feeder 900
Are input. The interrupt terminals INT1 and INT2 (not shown) of the document control circuit 190 have a signal from a belt clock interrupter for detecting the rotation of the motor by a clock disk attached to the shaft of the belt drive motor M2 and a paper discharge clock interrupter. , Which serves as a reference clock for the moving amount of the paper feed, and performs a counting operation by a counter inside the document control circuit 190. The output signals of the motor M1, the motor M2, the electromagnetic brake, and the electromagnetic clutch are output to the output ports of the document control circuit 190. Each output load is controlled via a driver, and signals are transmitted to and received from the control unit 100. A document detection signal, a document feed signal, a document discharge signal, and a mode signal are input to the input of the document control circuit 190, and a copy request signal and a document detection signal are output from output ports.

The image processing section 200 performs AOC, AGC, shading correction and dark correction on the image data sent from the scanner 800 to perform faithful reproduction of gradation from highlight to shadow, and EE processing. Image discrimination, brightness / density conversion processing, frame erasure processing, effective image area control, MTF of lens in optical system, mounting accuracy of line sensor, vibration of optical mirror etc. in optical traveling, and spatial filter to correct the influence of fluctuation of scan speed And scaling processing, processing for determining an effective image area,
Gamma control, effective image area control, frequency conversion, and INDE
This executes X synchronization and PWM control processing.

The interface unit 300 is a member for transferring or receiving data, control signals, and the like to an external device. The interface unit 300 receives image data from the scanner 800 and the external device provides mode information, error information, number of copies information, and processing. An interface for mutually transmitting and receiving information such as information and image data and an interface for transmitting and receiving control signals are provided. These can mask image data, control signals, and the like according to the state of the mode signal.

The memory section 400 compresses image data, writes the image data in the image memory, and decompresses and reads the image data from the image memory. The memory section 400 has ED bit number control, serial / parallel conversion, and compression / decompression processing functions. The ED / bit number control determines the data length of the image data according to the dither processing by the error diffusion method and the image type, and is 8 bits for a gradation image and 2 bits for a line image. Reduce. The serial-parallel conversion is for serial / parallel conversion of image data. The serial-parallel conversion requires image data to be transferred serially in an image memory, while other circuits transfer image data in parallel. Because. The compression / expansion process is a process of compressing image data based on a control signal from the control unit 100 to write the image data into the image memory in page units and expanding the image data read out from the image memory in page units. And the operation state sent to the serial-parallel conversion is reversibly executed in the data flow direction. In the compression / expansion processing, the write / read flag indicating the write / read operation state of the image data and the start address are stored in the control unit 10.
Sent to 0. Thereby, the control unit 100 can manage the operation state of the memory unit.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation unit 600 sets the number of prints using the numeric keypad 640, clears the set information with a stop / clear key included in the numeric keypad 640, or presses the copy button 650. Copying is started, and an output machine can be selected with an up arrow key 661 and a down arrow key 662, and an output paper size can be selected with a paper size key 680, and a message display unit 610 displays a copy machine location that can be output. Output paper set on the setting paper LED 620, a copy number display 63
The number of copies set from the numeric keypad 640 can be displayed at 0.

The setting paper LED 620 has seven display windows 621 to 627. Display windows 621 to 62
7 is A4R size, A4 size, A3 size,
It corresponds to B6 size, B5R size, B5 size, B4 size, and the setting status of each output paper size is indicated by LED.
Is displayed depending on the presence or absence of lighting. Display window 62
As shown in FIG. 2, light sources 1 to 627 are provided as a set of an orange LED and a green LED behind a translucent resin member. With such a configuration, if the display window is lit in orange, it indicates that the output paper of the corresponding size of the display window is set at an appropriate time, and if the display window is lit in green, This indicates that output paper of a specific size is set in the connected other device.

As shown in FIG. 9, the printer unit 700 is a printer employing, for example, an electrophotographic method.
0, developing device 730, transfer / separation device 740, cleaning device 750, fixing device 760, document reversing and returning device 7
70, an image is formed on a recording paper by being disposed on paper feed trays 791 and 792 and performing an electrostatic photographic process of charging, developing, transferring, separating and fixing. The printer unit according to the present embodiment will be described as adopting the electrophotographic method, but is not limited thereto. For example, an inkjet method, a magnetic recording method, or the like may be employed.

The writing device 710 emits a semiconductor laser (not shown) based on a recording signal and performs line scanning on the image carrier 701 for each dot to form a latent image. The semiconductor laser is oscillated by the modulation signal, the laser beam is deflected by a polygon mirror rotating at a predetermined speed, and the image carrier 701 is moved by the fθ lens, the first cylindrical lens, and the second cylindrical lens.
The scanning is performed by focusing on a fine spot on the upper side.

The image carrier 701 is obtained by forming a photosensitive layer on the surface of a conductive base made of, for example, aluminum. The photosensitive layer has a thickness of 15 to 30 μm and a dielectric constant of 2.0 to
5.0, the conductive substrate is grounded, and the linear velocity is 280.
(Mm) / (mm / sec) or 125 (mm / sec).
An encoder (not shown) for detecting a phase on a rotation axis of the image carrier 701, which is a drum-shaped photoconductor of 80 mm.
And the encoder sends a phase signal indicating the phase of the image carrier 701 to the control unit 100.

A paper discharge sensor 120 (see FIG. 1) is provided on a path on the discharge side from the fixing device 760, and sends a detection signal for detecting the rear end of the transfer paper to the control unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 9, the scanner 800 is provided on a light source for irradiating white light from below on a document positioned at the reference position of the platen 810, and on a moving member on which the light source is mounted and moved. A first mirror 820 that reflects light from the first mirror 820, a V mirror unit provided with a pair of a second mirror 830 and a third mirror 840 that reflect the light from the first mirror 820, and a light from the V mirror unit. By providing an image forming lens 850 that forms an image on a light receiving portion of the image sensor 890, the reflected light image
A / D conversion and serial / parallel conversion of a luminance signal obtained by receiving light at 90 and performing photoelectric conversion are performed by the image processing unit 20.
Send to 0.

An automatic document feeder (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as ADF) 900 transfers documents one by one from a stack tray 901 to a reference position on a platen 810 as shown in FIG. Original detecting means 904 for detecting an original placed on the stacking tray 901 and comprising a tray 901, a feeding roller 902, and a separating roller 903, for example, an LED and a phototransistor;
5, a drive roller 906, a turn roller 907, a motor M connected to the drive roller 906, etc. (not shown),
The document is transported to the reference position of the platen 810 to be positioned, and the processed document is transported to the discharge tray 908 for stacking.

The feed roller 902, the separation roller 903, etc. are driven by a motor M1 (not shown). An electromagnetic clutch (not shown) is interposed between the drive roller 906 and the motor M2, and an electromagnetic brake (not shown) is attached to the motor M2 to stop the document conveyance at a predetermined position. A clock disk (not shown) is attached to the motors M1 and M2, and a belt clock interrupter (not shown) and a discharge clock interrupter (not shown) are attached to these disks, respectively. .

Note that a light receiving element including a phototransistor and an AD on the back side of the platen 810 near the original reference position.
A document sensor (not shown) including a light emitting element including an LED is provided on the F900 side.

The control operation of the copying machine according to the present embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main program showing the control operation of the copying machine of this embodiment.

When the main power is supplied to the copying machines A and B (step S1), the control unit 100 mounted on the copying machines A and B waits for an input from the paper size key 680. Become.

It is assumed that the copying machine A has selected the output paper size in step S2 and confirms whether or not the selected output paper size exists (step S2). If the output paper size is designated by the copying machine A, the control unit 1 of the copying machine A
If 00 determines that the selected output paper size exists, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A is set to the master mode (step S5). As a result, the copying machine A sends a command for invalidating the input from the operation unit 600 to the copying machine B via the interface unit 300. As a result, the copying machine B is prohibited from inputting from the operation unit 600, and is placed under the control of the copying machine A in the master mode (step S6). If there are three or more copiers in the connected state, all the units other than the copier A in the master mode are set to the slave mode.

The copying machines A and B execute an output process as described with reference to FIG. 7 (step S7). When the copying machine A completes the processing in step S7, it sends a command via the interface unit 300. Thereby, the copying machine B cancels the state in which the input from the operation unit 600 is invalidated (step S8).

On the other hand, if neither of the copying machines A and B has pressed the paper size key 680 (step S2).
If the control unit 100 determines that the output paper is not set,
An internal information processing subroutine (step S3) and an external information processing subroutine (step S4) are executed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the internal information processing subroutine.

Control unit 10 of copier A in master mode
In the step S31, the paper tray sensor 150 takes in the paper size information set and information on whether or not the output paper stored in the cassette is not empty.

Subsequently, the control section 100 of the copying machine A takes in the total number of copies from the total copy counter 160 (step S32). The process is terminated and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the external information processing subroutine.

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A executes the internal information processing subroutine described with reference to FIG. 5 (step S3). That is, the copying machine B sends out the internal information to the copying machine A in the master mode via the interface unit 300. Thus, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A in the master mode obtains the paper size information and the total number of copies set in the copying machine B via the interface unit 300 (step S41). When three or more copying machines are connected, the above-described processing is repeated until the processing from all the copying machines is completed, and the process returns to the main routine (step S42).

Control unit 10 of copying machine A in master mode
0 executes the internal information processing subroutine and the external information processing subroutine described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 to obtain the size information of the output paper set in the copying machines A and B and the This means that the total copy count has been written in the internal RAM.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an output processing subroutine.

Control unit 10 of copying machine A in master mode
When the output processing subroutine is started, 0 checks whether or not there is an output sheet of the selected size in either the own apparatus or the connected copying machine B (step S71).

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A executes step S7
In 1, for example, a copying machine A, when it is judged that the output sheet size either in was also selected for the copying machine B is present, ascending the total number of copies, that is operating the copiable copiers ascending order of total number of copies It is displayed on the section 600 (step S72). The operator selects a copying machine to be output by pressing the up arrow key 661 and the down arrow key 662 (step S73). Control unit 100 of copier A
Is in a state where the output device is selected by pressing the up arrow key 661 or the down arrow key 662 (step S7).
4). The control unit 100 of the copying machine A repeats the processing from step S73 to step S74 until an output machine is selected. When the control unit 100 of the copying machine A detects the determination of the output machine, even if there is one output machine, It is confirmed whether or not it exists (step S75). If the control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines that there is nothing that can be output in the process of step S75, the control unit 100 displays "No output machine available" on the message display unit 610 of the operation unit 600 (step S78). . This returns to the main routine.

If it is determined in step S71 that the selected output paper size does not exist in, for example, both copying machine A and copying machine B, the output paper is supplied and output processing is performed.

On the other hand, if the control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines that there is at least one output device in the process of step S75, it determines whether the selected output device is a master machine. (Step S76). If the control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines that the copying machine A is the master machine in the process of step S76, it executes an output subroutine (step S79) as shown in FIG. 8 and returns to the main routine. become.

On the other hand, if the control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines that the output machine selected in the process of step S76 is not the copying machine A which is the master machine, the interface unit 300
The image data of the copying machine B is transmitted via the
7), an output subroutine as shown in FIG.
Step 79) is executed to return to the main routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an output subroutine.

Control unit 10 of copier A in master mode
When the output routine is started, the CPU checks from the internal RAM whether the remaining amount of paper of the selected output device is empty (step S791).

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A executes step S7
If it is determined in step 91 that the remaining amount of paper is not empty, the printer unit 700 of the copying machine selected as the output device reproduces the image (step S792).

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines whether the set number of copies has been made (step S793).
If the copying process for the set number of sheets has been completed, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A returns to the main routine.

The control section 100 of the copying machine A executes step S7
If it is determined that the remaining amount of paper of the output device selected in the process of step 91 is empty, it is checked from the built-in RAM whether the remaining amount of paper of an unselected copying machine that is a candidate for an output device that is not selected is empty. (Step S794).

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A executes step S7
If it is determined in step 94 that the remaining amount of paper is not empty, the image data is transmitted to the copier where the paper is present via the interface unit 300 (step S795). As a result, the printer unit 700 of the copying machine that has received the image data reproduces the image (step S796). continue,
The control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines whether the set number of copies has been made (step S793). If the copying process for the set number of sheets has been completed, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A returns to the main routine.

The control unit 100 of the copying machine A executes step S7
If it is determined in step 94 that the remaining amount of paper of the output device selected in step S791 is not empty, "no paper" is displayed on the message display unit 610 of the operation unit 600 (step S797). Supplies the output paper, the printer 700 of the copying machine that has received the image data reproduces the image (step S796). Subsequently, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A determines whether the set number of copies has been made (step S793). If the set number of copy processes have been completed, the control unit 100 of the copying machine A
Will return to the main routine.

In the copying machine of the present embodiment described above, all the paper sizes set in the paper tray of the connected copying machine can be selected, and an image can be formed by the copying machine in which the paper size is stored. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a copying machine capable of expanding the types of paper sizes that can be set and reducing the work of replacing paper.

The copying machine of the present embodiment can provide a copying machine capable of extending the maximum number of continuous copies by copying while taking over the paper tray set in the connected copying machine.

The copier of this embodiment adjusts the degree of deterioration of parts by requesting designation of a copier to be used when sheets of the same size are set in two or more copiers. Can be provided.

[0062]

According to the present invention, by providing the above-described configuration, it is possible to connect two or more copiers and share them, thereby expanding the paper set size type and the paper set capacity. Further, according to the present invention, when sheets of the same size are set in a plurality of copying machines, the deterioration rate of parts can be adjusted between the plurality of copying machines by outputting from a copying machine having a small total count. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a state where a copying machine according to an embodiment is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electronic circuit in one embodiment of the copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an outline of a main part of an operation unit 600.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main program showing a control operation of the copying machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an internal information processing subroutine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an external information processing subroutine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an output processing subroutine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an output subroutine.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mechanical configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 control unit 200 Image processing unit 300 Interface section 400 memory section 600 operation unit 700 Printer section 800 scanner

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Niizuma 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Yoshinori Higashiura 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (56) References JP-A-61-198962 (JP, A) JP-A-59-189769 (JP, A) JP-A-7-203108 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name H04N 1/00 108 G03G 21/00 376 G03G 21/00 396

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus in which two or more copying machines are connected.
A copying machine constituting a system , wherein an operation receiving means for inputting an operation state, communication means for communicating respective states of the copying machine, and a copying machine connected to the communication means are set. Display means for displaying a paper size and the like; paper setting means for setting a paper size displayed on the display means; and image formation on a copying machine provided with a paper sheet designated by image information read from a reading means for reading a document image. Copier with control means
A counter that counts up with the copying operation is provided.
Is the communication means, the counter between the connected copier
While communicating the total count number, the control means compares the total count number, and
A copier characterized by selecting a copier with a small total count .