JPH01123261A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent copying at an unexpected copying magnification from being executed by setting the copying magnification at an unmagnification when the selection of a paper feed cassette to be exclusively used for AMS is released. CONSTITUTION:The copying magnification is automatically reset at the unmagnification when the selection of the paper feed cassette to be exclusively used for AMS is released. Namely, whether the paper feed cassette mounted in a paper feed port is the paper feed cassette to be exclusively used for the automatic magnification setting system (AMS) or not is investigated. This judgement can be made from, for example, whether there is a magnet for indentifying the paper feed cassette or not. Whether the copying mode is an AMS mode or not is investigated by an AMS cassette flag indicating the selection of the paper feed cassette to be exclusively used for AMS if the cassette is not the paper feed cassette to be exclusively used for AMS. The flag is reset at 0 and the operation is returned to the main routine by setting the copying magnification at the unmagnification if the flag is 1. The copying magnification inputted from a copying magnification set key of an operation panel is set and the operation is returned to the main routine when the flag is not 1. The copying at the unexpected copying magnification and a failure of copying are thereby prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention allocates a specific original size to a paper cassette, and automatically calculates the copy magnification based on the assigned original size and the copy paper stored in the paper cassette. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function that can be set.

[Conventional technology]

In copying work, there are cases where it is desired to determine the size of the copy, that is, the copy paper size, regardless of the original size, and set the copy magnification so that the copy size fits within this size.

In this case, it is troublesome for the copier user to decide what copy magnification should be used, and the copied image may end up being too small in the center of the copy paper because he or she cannot determine the appropriate copy magnification. However, it often happens that the copied image protrudes from the copy paper and the copying fails.

In order to prevent this and perform copying operations efficiently, copying machines equipped with an automatic magnification setting mechanism have been developed. A copying machine equipped with an automatic magnification setting mechanism is equipped with a document size detection mechanism in the copying machine itself, or in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) installed on the document table of the copying machine. It is necessary to provide

In addition, in order to easily and automatically set the copy magnification, you can assign the original size to the paper cassette, and when copying, select the paper cassette that corresponds to the original size and insert it into the copying machine. The applicant has previously proposed an automatic magnification setting system (AMS) that can input paper size and original size at the same time and set optimal multiple magnifications. 61-303834).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

To set the copy magnification using the AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette, select the paper feed port of the copier equipped with the AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette from the paper feed selection key on the operation panel. The copy magnification is automatically set based on the size and copy paper size, but if the set copy magnification is maintained even after copying is completed, it may be necessary to change the copy paper size in the next copying operation. Copying may fail, such as when a copy is created with an unexpected copy magnification when a paper feed cassette is selected.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is designed to reset the copy magnification to the same size when a signal to cancel the selection of the AMS paper feed cassette is input from the operation keys on the operation panel. a plurality of paper feed cassettes including a paper feed cassette equipped with means for outputting a signal indicating a specific document size assigned to the paper feed cassette and a signal indicating the size of stored copy paper; a plurality of paper feed cassette mounting means including a detection means for detecting an output document size signal and a copy paper size signal; a means for selecting a desired mounting means from the plurality of paper feed cassette mounting means; and a selected paper feed cassette mounting means. If the paper cassette installed in the paper cassette mounting means is a paper cassette equipped with a means for outputting an original size signal and a copy paper size signal, copying is performed based on the output original size signal and copy paper size signal. Set the magnification, and if the paper cassette installed in the selected paper cassette mounting means is a paper cassette that does not have a means to output the original size signal and copy paper size signal, the copy magnification is set to 1. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a copy magnification setting means for setting a copy magnification.

[For production]

When an AMS-dedicated paper cassette is installed that outputs a document size signal and copy paper size signal to the paper cassette mounting means selected by keys on the operation panel, etc., the copy magnification is set based on the output signals. be done. When a paper cassette other than the AMS-dedicated paper cassette is installed in the selected paper cassette installation means, that is, when the AMS-dedicated paper cassette is deselected, the copy magnification is set to 100% and the expected To prevent a copy from being made at a copy magnification that is not available.

〔Example〕

Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of an electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a copying machine body, 2 is a table on which the copying machine is placed, and 3 is an automatic document feeder, which is placed on the document table of the copying machine 1 and used. Also,
The copying machine 1 is equipped with two paper feed ports for supplying copy paper, and the leakage paper port has an AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette 5, which will be explained later, and the lower paper feed port has a three-tier paper feed cassette. Unit 6 is installed.

The configuration of the copying machine main body 1 is similar to that of a known electrophotographic copying machine. That is, 11 is a photoreceptor drum provided with a photoreceptor layer on its surface, and around it are a main eraser 12, a sub charger 13, a sub eraser 14, a main charger 15, a phenomenon unit 16, and a transfer charger 1.
7, a separate charger 18, a cleaner 19, etc. are arranged.

The optical system is arranged below the document table glass to scan the document image, and includes a light source 21, a first mirror 22, and a second mirror 22.
It is composed of a mirror η, a third mirror 24, a projection lens 5, and a fourth mirror 26, and forms an original image on the photoreceptor drum 11. The copy magnification is set by moving the projection lens 5 in the optical axis direction based on a copy magnification setting signal output from the control microprocessor. When the copying magnification is 1, the light source 21 and the first mirror n move to the left at a speed of van with respect to the rotation of the photoreceptor drum 11 at a circumferential speed V, and at the same time, the second mirror 21 and the third mirror n move to the left. 24 moves to the left at a speed of v/2n. As the original image moves, the fourth mirror 26 exposes the photosensitive drum 11 onto the photosensitive drum 11 in the form of a slit.

The glossy paper feeding roller at the leaking paper opening feeds the copy sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette 5 one by one.

The copy paper is fed to a timing roller 35 via transport rollers 31 and 32. Further, the timing roller is the paper feed roller at the lower paper feed port, and in this embodiment, the copy paper fed from the three-stage paper feed unit 6 is fed to the timing roller A. Note that 39 is a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of copy paper.

The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by the optical system scanning the original image is developed by the developing device 16, and the timing roller 3
5 operates to feed the copy paper, and the developed photoreceptor 11
The upper toner image is transferred onto the copy sheet by transfer charger 17. The copy sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 11 by a separation charger 18, and is conveyed by a conveyor belt 4o and sent to a fixing unit 41. The fixing unit 41 includes a pair of heat fixing rollers 42, and heats and presses the toner image onto the copy paper to fix it. Thereafter, the copy paper is discharged to the discharge tray 45 via the discharge rows 243 and 44.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation panel, which includes a numeric keypad 70 for setting the number of copies, a clear/stop key 71, an interrupt key 72, a print key 73 for instructing to start printing, and an exposure step key 74 for setting the exposure amount. , a copy paper size selection key 75 for selecting the paper feed port or copy paper size, copy magnification setting keys 76 to 79 for setting the copy magnification, and an all clear key for resetting all setting conditions to standard conditions. 80, and a display section 81 for displaying copying conditions inputted from various keys and the status of the equipment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a paper feed cassette) that can automatically set the copying magnification, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof. This is a universal cassette that can accommodate multiple sizes of copy paper.

si, 52 are left and right guide plates, 53 is a guide plate in the copy paper feeding direction, and these guide plates 51, 52
and 53, copy sheets of different sizes are set at predetermined positions. Reference numeral 54 denotes a push-up plate, and when the paper feed cassette 5 is installed in the copying machine main body, this push-up plate 54 is pushed upward, and the copy paper stored on the push-up plate is pressed against the feed roller 30 of the copy machine. This makes it possible to transport the material.

A plurality of magnets (56a, 56c) are provided on the back side of the paper cassette 5 to convey the size of the copy paper stored in the paper cassette 5 to the main body of the copying machine, and these magnets correspond to the size of the copy paper. Also guide plate 5
When 1, 52 and 53 are adjusted, their positions are moved by a known means such as a link or lever mechanism (not shown) to form a size code corresponding to the size of the copy paper.

Since eight types of codes are formed by the combination of three magnets, it is possible to identify up to eight sizes of copy paper.

Furthermore, a plurality of magnets 58a to 58c are provided on the back surface of the paper feed cassette 5 to identify the paper feed cassette, and these magnets also have eight types of identification codes formed by a combination of three magnets. It is possible to identify up to three paper feed cassettes.

This identification code corresponds to the size of the document. For example, in order to copy an A3 size document, you need to use an A3 size paper feed cassette (A3 size here refers to the size of the document, and (This is not the size of the copy paper stored in the cassette), and paper feed cassettes are prepared in the number corresponding to the size of the document. It is preferable to display the document size 55 on an easily visible area such as the end face of the paper feed cassette 5.

FIG. 5(a) shows an example of the arrangement of the magnet on the back side of the paper feed cassette and the reed switch on the copying machine side that detects this. 57a, 57b, and 57c are reed switches for detecting the magnets for forming the paper size code. Also 58a, 58
58b and 58c are magnets for forming a size code of the original to be copied, and 59a, 59b, and 59c are reed switches for detecting these magnets.

FIG. 5(b) shows the 0N10 reed switches 57a, 57b, and 57c that detect the copy paper size and the size code formed by the magnet on the paper feed cassette.
This is an example showing the correspondence of FFs, and here, an example of identifying up to six copy paper sizes is shown. In addition, a paper feed cassette corresponding to the document size and an identification code detection reed switch 5 formed by a magnet to identify the paper feed cassette are provided.
The correspondence of 0N10FF in 9a, 59b, and 59c is also the same as before, so the explanation will be omitted.

The size of copy paper that can be stored in the cassette 5 is based on the copying magnification range based on the specifications of the copying machine, the range of copy paper sizes that can be handled (hereinafter referred to as paper passing size), the original size, and the original specified in the paper cassette. Depends on the size. For example, if the copy magnification range is ×0.5 to ×2.0, the paper feed size is A6 to A3, the document size is /maximum A3, and the document size specified for the paper feed cassette is A4, then the paper feed cassette is The sizes of copy paper that can be stored in the machine range from A6, which is used when the minimum size is copy magnification x 0.5, to A3, which is the maximum paper passing size.

Returning to Figure 1 and explaining the three-stage paper feed unit,
The three-stage paper feed unit 6 is movably supported on rails 64, and paper feed cassettes 61 are provided at the upper, middle, and lower three stages of paper feed ports.
．． 62. , 63 are installed. 65
．． 66, 67 are paper feed rollers, and 68, 69°, 70 are transport rollers. When one of the paper feed cassettes 61, 62°, 63 is selected and paper feeding is instructed, the corresponding paper feed roller and transport roller are activated. is driven by a motor (not shown),
The copy paper is conveyed to the timing roller 35. The paper feed cassettes 61, 62, and 63 are provided with magnets that identify the size of copy paper to be stored, and the three-stage paper feed unit 6
A reed switch is provided on the side to detect this magnet and is configured to detect the size of copy paper, but this is due to the magnets 56a - = 56c attached to the AMS paper feed cassette 5 described earlier. Since it has the same structure as the reed switches 57a to 57c that detect this, illustration thereof is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the copying machine 1, in which the first CPU 100 for controlling the copying machine includes a display section 101 consisting of an LED, etc., and a scanning motor control section 1 for scanning the optical system.
02. Magnification change control section 103 for motor control that changes the copying magnification; Exposure control section 104 for controlling the light amount of the exposure lamp to provide appropriate exposure; C for ADF control;
A connection bus 105 with a side control CPU such as a PU, a key switch on the operation panel, a sensor 39 for detecting the presence or absence of copy paper in the paper feed cassette, and a key matrix 106 for other sensors for opening, upper and lower paper feed ports, and three stages. Magnetic detection reed switches 1 installed on the paper feed cassette in the paper feed unit
07 etc. are connected. In addition, a main motor, timing roller clutch, paper feed clutch, main eraser, sub charger, sub eraser, main charger, transfer charger, separation charger, etc. for controlling the operation of the copying machine are connected.

Next, the control of the copying machine executed by the CPU of the copying machine control tube 1, especially the part regarding the selection of the paper feed port of the copying machine and the setting of the copy magnification when the AMS dedicated paper feed cassette is selected and not selected, is shown in Fig. 7. This will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG.

The flowchart in FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of the control process. First, data such as flags, setting constants, copy paper size, copy magnification, etc. are initialized (step Sl), and the processing time for one routine is defined. A main timer is set to start measuring time (step S2). Processes the copy paper size, original size, other switches, input signals from sensors, and output signals to the drive mechanism and display section (step S3), and the copy flag F is set to 0.
It is checked whether or not (step S4). If the flag is 0, the copying operation is not in progress but is in a standby state, so step S5
Proceed to , and perform copy magnification setting processing.

This will be explained in detail later. Print key is O
It is checked whether it is N or not (step 36), and if it is ON, the copy flag F is set to 1 (step S7), and copying processing begins (step S8). It is checked whether or not copying has been completed (step S9), and if it has been completed, the copy flag F is reset to O (step SIO), the main timer waits for the end of time counting (step 511), and the process moves to the next processing cycle in step S2. Return to

If the copy flag F is not O in step S4, it means that the copying operation is in progress, and the process moves to step 38K. Further, if the print key is not ON in step S6, and if copying has not been completed in step S9, the process moves to step Sll, waits for the main timer to finish counting, and then returns to step S2 to proceed to the next processing cycle.

Next, the copy magnification setting process shown as step S5 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, that is, the selection of the paper feed port of the copying machine, the selection of the AMS paper feed cassette, and the setting of the copy magnification when not selected is shown in FIG. This will be explained using the flowchart shown below.

First, it is checked whether the paper feed slot selection key on the operation panel has been operated and turned ON (step 520). If it is not ON, the process returns to the main routine, but if it is ON, it is checked whether the paper feed cassette attached to the paper feed port is the AMS dedicated paper feed cassette 5 (step 521). This determination is made, for example, based on the presence or absence of separate paper feed cassettes (at magnets) 58a to 58c. If it is not the AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette 5, the AMS cassette flag indicating the selection of the AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette is checked to see if it was in AMS mode (step 848), and if the flag is 1, the flag is reset to O; The copy magnification is set to equal magnification (steps 549, 850), and the process returns to the main routine. If the AMS cassette flag is not 1, the copy magnification entered from the copy magnification setting keys 76 to 79 on the operation panel is set (step 551), and the process returns to the main routine.

If the result of the determination in step S21 is that it is an AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette, the size of the document designated for the paper feed cassette is checked, and the document size is stored in the memory 1' (steps 522 to 534). This is done by determining the document size based on the identification code formed by the paper feed cassette identification magnets 58a to 58c.

Next, the size of the copy paper stored in the AMS paper feed cassette 5 is checked, and the copy paper size is stored in the memory 2 (steps 835 to 545). This is done by determining the copy paper size based on the size code formed by copy paper size display magnets 56a to 56c.

The copy magnification is set from the original size and copy paper size stored in memories 1 and 2, the AMS cassette flag indicating that the AMS dedicated paper feed cassette has been selected is set to 1, and the process returns to the main routine (step S4a). S47).

The copy magnification may be set by calculation by determining the long and short sides from the original size and copy paper size, or may be determined from a table calculated in advance.

In the above embodiment, the document size is specified for each AMS-dedicated paper feed cassette and an identification magnet is provided. It is also possible to detect the setting state of this switch. In this way, one paper feed cassette can accommodate a plurality of document sizes, and there is no need to prepare a dedicated AMS paper feed cassette for each document size.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the AMS dedicated paper feed cassette is selected by selecting the paper feed port, the copy magnification is set by the original size signal and the copy paper size signal output from the paper feed cassette. However, when the AMS-dedicated paper cassette is deselected, the copy magnification is automatically reset to 1:1, so after copying is performed using the AMS-dedicated paper cassette, you can use a paper cassette other than the AMS-dedicated paper cassette to copy. To prevent a copy from failing due to an unexpected copy magnification when copying is performed by selecting a paper feed cassette.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the main structure of an image forming apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette exclusively for AMS. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the AMS dedicated paper feed cassette, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of magnets and detection reed switches for identifying copy paper size and original size, and examples of copy paper sizes that can be identified. The control circuit block diagram of the image forming apparatus, FIGS. 7 and 8 are control flowcharts of the image forming apparatus executed by the control CPU. Image forming device, 5: AMS paper feeder, 6
: Three-stage paper feeding unit, 56a, 56b, 56c,
58a, 58b, 58c: magnet, 57a,
57b, 57c, 59a, 59b, 59c:
Reed switch. Patent applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. (a) (b) Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] a plurality of paper feed cassettes including a paper feed cassette equipped with means for outputting a signal indicating a specific document size assigned to the paper feed cassette and a signal indicating the size of stored copy paper;
a plurality of paper feed cassette mounting means including a detection means for detecting a document size signal and a copy paper size signal output from the paper feed cassette; and means for selecting a desired mounting means from the plurality of paper feed cassette mounting means; If the paper cassette installed in the selected paper cassette mounting means is a paper cassette equipped with a means for outputting an original size signal and a copy paper size signal, the output original size signal and copy paper size signal The copy magnification is set based on An image forming apparatus comprising a copying magnification setting means for setting a magnification to equal magnification.