JPH01304474A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent copies taken by mistake and to save on the consumption of toner by setting an area specifying device at the edge of the range to be copied of an original and obtaining the desired image easily and accurately. CONSTITUTION:At the start of copying, a blank exposure source 11 is lit, and when an optical base 2 is traveled and the tip of the image detected by an image tip detecting device, the blank exposure source 11 is turned off through a blank exposure control device 12, and a latent image formed on a photosensitive drum 18 is put into an image forming process. Then, when a range specification detecting device 3 is traveled to the set position of a range specifying device 4, a signal is emitted by the device 3. When this signal is received, the blank exposure source 11 is lit by the control device 7 using a blank exposure device 12. Thereafter, even in a condition where the pressing plate is opened, the copying can be finished without an electric charge, without consuming any toner by a photosensitive body of the photosensitive body drum 18 by the light from the light source 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can specify a copy area.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, in an electronic copying machine capable of specifying an image area, in order to copy only the desired range of a document, the image area is specified by using a digitizer or by inputting coordinate points.

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention" However, in the conventional example described above, after entering the area specification mode, the user is forced to specify two or more points or input coordinates, etc. For this reason, the input operation for determining the desired area of the document to be copied and inputting it into the image forming apparatus is complicated, and it is impossible to easily recognize the correspondence between the required area on the document and the X and Y coordinates. As a result, it takes time to set up the settings, misreading the correspondence between areas, and this poses a major problem in practice.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a copy area can be specified.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that solves the above-mentioned problems and can easily and accurately specify a copy area.

``Means for Solving the Problems'' The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that is equipped with a scanning optical means that scans a document and forms an image of image light on a photoreceptor, and is capable of specifying an image area. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that an area specifying means is provided whose position is adjustable in the moving direction of the optical means.

"Embodiments" Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus of the present invention, for example, an electronic copying apparatus, is equipped with blank exposure means that applies light to a desired image forming area of the photosensitive drum outside the area of the original to be copied. (n) Exposure selection means for selectively sending either the light from the blank exposure means or the image light of the scanning optical means for scanning the original and forming the image light on the photoreceptor drum to the photoreceptor drum; ing.

These will be explained next.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electronic copying machine in which a copy area can be specified. The image light reflected from the original image on the original platen 14 irradiated by the light source 13 is transmitted to the reflection mirror 1 which moves together with the light source 16.
5a, a reflecting mirror 15b that moves in the same direction at 1/2 the speed of the light source 13;

The photoreceptor is transmitted through the imaging lens 16 while changing its direction by the scanning optical system 15 including j5c, and the photoreceptor is layered on the outer periphery via a fixed reflection mirror group 17 and rotates in synchronization with the moving optical system 15. The image is formed on the drum 18. Around the photoreceptor drum 18 are a primary charger, a developing device, a transfer electrode,
Each device that performs an electrophotographic process, such as a separation device and a cleaning device, is arranged, and the transfer material is transferred onto a transfer material such as paper fed from a paper feed section 19, and the transfer material is sent to a fixing device 21 and fixed. It is designed to be sent out of the aircraft. A large number of LEDs are arranged in the axial direction of the photoreceptor drum 18 so as to be able to illuminate the next position slightly distant from the imaging position of the original image on the photoreceptor drum 18. This LED is a blank exposure source 11. The blank exposure source 11 may be a bar-shaped light source such as a halogen lamp, and if it is provided with a bar-shaped light source, it may selectively produce a state of light (either image light or blank exposure) on the photoreceptor drum 18. A shutter means (not shown) is provided.

In the above, when the photoreceptor drum 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the image light forms an image to form a latent image, but outside the designated copying area, the blank exposure source 11 is turned on and the light causes the am will be deleted. In the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, a large number of LEDs of the blank exposure source 11 are selectively turned on by specifying an area in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the scanning optical system 15 shown in FIG. The optical bench 2 carrying the light source 1S and the reflecting mirror 15a (not shown) and the optical bench 23 carrying the reflecting mirrors 151) and 15(! (not shown) are moved in the scanning direction (direction of arrow A) by guide means (not shown), respectively. A bracket 24 fixed to the optical bench 2 is fixed to one point of a wire 25 with an end.The wire 25 is wound around the motive rope pulley 26 of the optical drive means 1, and The rope wheels 27 and 28 are wound in parallel around rope wheels 27 and 28, which are pivotally connected to two parallel axes and are arranged at positions where the maximum scanning length of the image forming apparatus is ensured. The wires 25 pulled out from the optical bench 28 are respectively hung in parallel on rope pulleys 29 rotatably attached to the optical bench 23.
Both terminals are locked to the machine frame 31. An area designation detection means 6 such as a non-contact proximity relay is fixed to the bracket 24.

As shown in FIG. 6, a long hole guide rail 33 is provided on the front surface of the exterior cover 32 of the electronic copying machine in the same direction as the moving direction of the above-mentioned scanning optical means, and as shown in FIG. The knob part 4a of No. 4 is engaged with the guide rail 63 so that the position can be set movably.
A conductor 4b that can actuate the area designation detection means 3 is fixed thereto.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram. First, the area designation mode setting means 5 causes the control means 7 to control the blank exposure source 11.
The display means 6, for example, a lamp, is turned on to inform the operator that the area specification mode has been entered. Next, as shown in Figure 6, the operator uses a thick book, etc.
As shown in FIG. 3, an original 36 whose paper length is shorter than that of the original 36 is placed on the original table 14 with its corner aligned with the copy reference position 37 and with both sides adjacent to each other at the corner aligned with the edge of the document table 14. Then, the operator aligns the area specifying means 4 with the position a of the rear end of the document 36 and starts copying. When a copy start button (not shown) is pressed, the control means 7 energizes the optical drive means 1 and the blank exposure light source 11 and light source 13 are turned on.

The driving rope sheave 26 of the optical drive means 1 is driven, and the wires 25 extending from the rope sheave 26 on both sides move in the direction of arrow A' in FIG. As a result, the bracket l-24, area specification detection means 3, and optical bench 2 move in the same direction, and the movement of the wire 25 is transmitted via the lobe wheels 27 and 28 to rotate the rope wheel 29 of the optical bench 23. The optical bench 23 moves in the same direction at half the speed of the optical bench 2.

At the start of copying, the blank exposure source 11 is turned on, and when the optical bench 2 moves and the image edge is detected by the image edge detection means 9 (not shown), the blank exposure source 11 is turned on via the blank exposure control means 12. 11 is turned off, and the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 18 enters the image forming process. Area specification detection means 6
When the area designation detection means 3 reaches the set position a of the region designation means 4, the region designation detection means 3 emits a signal. Upon receiving the signal, the control means 7 uses the blank exposure control means 12 to control the blank exposure source 11.
lights up. Thereafter, even when the pressure plate is opened, the photoreceptor of the photoreceptor drum 18 is not charged by the light from the blank exposure source 11, and copying can be completed without wasting toner. Further, although the light source 16 is lit during copying, it does not need to be lit after switching to blank exposure, so it may be turned off to save energy.

Thereafter, the control means 7 moves the optical bench 2 by the paper passing size, and then reverses the optical driving means 1 and returns the optical bench 2° 23 to the home position by the optical home position detection means 10, thereby completing a series of copying operations. end. Further, since the photosensitive drum 18 is continuously rotating by at least the paper passing size and the blank exposure source 11 is lit, the area designation detection means 3 generates a signal, and the control means 7 immediately activates the light source 13. clarify,
It is clear that there is nothing wrong with returning the optical benches 2 and 23 to their optical home positions.

In the previous embodiment, the area designation detection means 3 and the image front detection means 9 were provided, but in a normal electronic copying machine, when the optical bench 2.25 is located at the home position, the optical home position detection means 10 and the image front detection means 10 are used. Since the distance to the front detection means 9 is constant, when the position of the area specification means 4 is between the optical home position and the image front detection means 9 when the optical benches 2 and 26 are at the home position, the area specification is not performed. It is determined that the mode is not selected, and when it is outside this range, it is determined that the area specification mode is selected, and the above-mentioned operation is performed. When the final sheet is to be copied, the area specification means 4 is set to By providing means for canceling the area specification mode which always returns between the optical home position and the image tip position when returning to the position, and by advancing the area specification means 4 to the image specification area, the area specification mode is set. The area specification mode setting means 5 is no longer necessary.
Further, the image front detection means 9 and the area designation detection means 3 can be used together.

Furthermore, by arranging the area designation detection means 3 as shown in FIG. 5, the area designation means 4 can be placed on the document table 14 as shown in FIG. It is clear that it becomes easier and more accurate to align the area specifying means 4 with the position a.

In the embodiment, a non-contact relay was used as the area specification detection means, and a conductor that made the non-contact relay sensitive was used as the area specification means.
A conductor may be used as the area designation detection means, and a non-contact relay that is sensitive to the conductor may be used as the area designation means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, by aligning the area specifying means with the edge of the area to be copied on the document, the desired image can be easily and accurately obtained, which is effective in reducing copy errors and toner consumption.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanning optical means according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the document table and area specifying means, FIG. 4 is a control block diagram, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of other embodiments. 7 are longitudinal sectional views of an image forming apparatus in which a copy area can be designated. 6. Area specification detection means 4. Area specification means 33.
・Guide rail. Patent Applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Representative: Mr. Arai Figure 3 Figure 4 746

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus that is equipped with a scanning optical means that scans a document and forms an image of image light on a photoreceptor and is capable of specifying an image area, the area specifying means for inputting the range in which the image of the document is desired to be reproduced is moved by the optical means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is provided so that its position can be adjusted in a direction.