JPH02178144A - Copying unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform efficient paper feeding installing such a means that makes a preferential choice from a paper feeding means where a paper jam is little at a time when paper feeding size is set to plural numbers of the paper feeding means. CONSTITUTION:A read-only memory 61 in which a program is described in making a central processing unit 60 of a paper feeding size select means as a core, a random access memory 62 for storing jam frequency of a paper feeding means temporarily, and paper size sensors 13-17 detecting each transfer paper size of cassettes 8-12 are electrically connected to a control element 63 for key input and display, an ADF 2 detecting each original size and an optical scanner 6. When a jam occurs in a certain paper feeding system, a jam frequency counter of the corresponding paper feeding means 8-12 is counted once by a flag of the paper feeding jam and a paper feeding system jam position counter. The paper feeding means 8-12 where jam frequency is the least are selected by a paper feeding size judgement select mode.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a copying apparatus having multiple paper feeding means.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional copying machines, the transfer paper to be fed is automatically selected based on the combination of document size and copying magnification.
For those that have a paper feeding function, those that have a configuration that prioritizes selection from the upper stage of multiple paper feeding means, regardless of the number of copies or originals, or those that have paper feeding means that have priority. Some printers are configured to feed paper from a paper feeding means with a higher priority. The priority of this paper feeding means is determined according to the number of sheets of transfer paper stored in the paper feeding means. In other words, the paper feeding means that can accommodate a large amount of transfer paper is given top priority.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, if the automatically selected paper feeding means is likely to jam due to its performance, the number of jam processing increases, resulting in a very poor copying efficiency and a waste of transfer paper. It is not economical. Also, if you feed paper first from the upper paper feed means or from the one with the highest priority in the bulk paper feed means, the lifespan of the paper feed rollers and other components of the paper feed means that are selected many times will be shortened. Therefore, there is a problem that jams occur more frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus that can feed paper efficiently and without waste.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of paper feeding means, a paper size detection means for detecting the size of paper set in each paper feeding means, and a paper size detection means that automatically feeds the paper according to the original size and copying magnification. The apparatus includes a paper feed size determination and selection means for selecting a paper feed size according to the paper feed size, and a jam count storage means for storing the number of jams related to paper feeding in each paper feed means, and automatically determines the paper feed size. When the mode is selected and the paper feed size selected according to the original size and copying magnification is set in multiple paper feed means, priority is given to the paper feed means with the least amount of jamming. shall be.

[Function] By employing the above means and storing the number of jams of each paper feeding means in the jam number storage means, the paper feeding size selected according to the original size and copying magnification can be set in a plurality of paper feeding means. When this is the case, paper can be fed by preferentially selecting the paper feeding means with the least amount of paper jams.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, where l is the main body of the copying machine, 2 is an automatic document feeder (ADF) installed on the top of the main body I, 3 is a document tray, and 4 is a document detector. A sensor, 5 is a contact glass, 6 is an optical system scanner arranged below the contact glass 5, 7 is a sensor provided in the optical system scanner 6, and 8 to 11 are paper feeding means storing transfer papers of various sizes. A cassette 12 is a tray capable of storing a large amount of transfer paper, and 3 to 17 are paper size sensors serving as paper size detection means.

In the figure, during a transfer operation, transfer paper is fed from cassettes 8 to 11 or tray 12 to a copying section (not shown) by known means. In order to automatically select transfer paper, it is necessary to detect the document size. For this reason, the ADF 2 is provided with a detection means (not shown) that detects the document conveyance distance and document width, and detects the document size. Further, a document detection sensor 4 detects whether a document is set in the ADF 2 or not. If you do not use ADF2,
The document size is detected based on the moving distance between the optical system scanner 6 and the sensor 7. The transfer size to be fed is determined based on the detection data of the document size and the designated copying magnification.

The transfer size is detected by paper size sensors 13 to 17 provided in the cassettes 8 to 11 or the tray 12.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the operation unit provided at the front of the copying apparatus main body 1 of the above embodiment, in which 21 is a start key for instructing to start copying, and 22 is for inputting the number of copies set, etc. numeric key, 23 is a clear/stop key for instructing to clear the set number and stop copying,
24 is a set number display that displays the number of copies set;
25 is a copy number display for displaying the number of copies, 26 is an original number display for displaying the number of original sheets, and 27 is for each cassette 8-11. A paper size indicator 28 indicates the copy paper size set in the tray 12, and 28 indicates each cassette 8.
~11. A paper remaining amount indicator 29 displays the remaining amount of copy paper set in the tray 12, and a mode (paper feed size judgment selection mode) is set for automatically selecting the most suitable copy paper based on original size information, etc. 30 is a paper key for selecting copy paper; 31 is a paper size selection display for displaying which copy paper size is selected;
32 is a "please wait" indicator that indicates that the copying machine is preparing, and 33 is a "please wait" indicator that indicates that the copying machine is ready.
34 is a sort key for instructing the sort mode, 35 is a sort mode indicator for indicating that the sort mode is set, 36 is a stack key for instructing the stack mode, 37 is a 38 is a DF key for instructing the ADF2 mode; 39 is a DF mode indicator for indicating that the ADF2 mode is set; 40 is a DF mode indicator for indicating that the stack mode is set; A staple key 41 indicates that the staple binding mode is set, a staple mode indicator 42 instructs to make one double-sided copy from two single-sided originals. 43 is a single-sided/duplex mode indicator to indicate that the single-sided/duplex mode is set; 44 is a duplex/single-sided mode key for instructing to make two single-sided copies from one double-sided original. Mode key 45 is a duplex/single-sided mode indicator 46 indicating that duplex/single-sided mode is set.
is a duplex duplex mode key for instructing to make one double-sided copy from one double-sided original, 47 is a duplex duplex mode indicator to indicate that duplex duplex mode is set, and 48 is a sorting turbine. 5 is a sorter bin paper forgotten indicator that warns that copy paper remains; 49 is a sorter jam indicator that warns of a jam in the sorter; 50 is a jam indicator that warns of a jam in the copying machine body, etc.;
1 is a paper replenishment indicator that warns that the selected copy paper is out, 52 is a staple replenishment indicator that warns that there is no staple, and 53 is a staple impossible indicator that warns that stapling cannot be performed. 54 is a staple limit indicator that warns of the staple limit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the contents of the RAM which is the storage means of this embodiment. In the figure, CTJAMP is a counter indicating the location where a jam occurs during paper feeding, If the fed transfer paper jams in the same paper feeding system, the counter value becomes 0, and if the paper jams in the paper feeding system of the next stage cassette 9, the counter value becomes 1. When a paper jam occurs in the paper feeding system of the tray 12, the counter value becomes 4.

fJAM is one of the display flags called FGDSP.
A flag is set when a paper jam occurs in the paper feeding system of each paper feeding means 8 to 12, and is reset when the jammed paper is removed. FEDJAM1 to FEDJAM5 store the cumulative number of jams of each paper feeding means 8 to 12.
Even if the power is turned off, it is backed up by a battery.

CTFED is used to store the number of paper feed means selected by automatic paper selection.RAMSCTJAM is used to temporarily store the number of jams of the paper feed means.
M, 0RGS i Z is ADF2 or optical scanner 6
This is a RAM that stores the coded document size detected by the cassettes 8 to 1.
1. This code is the same as the code for the transfer paper size of the tray 12.

CTS i Z 1 to CTS i Z5 contain the size code of the transfer paper that is being fed and set, the size of the top tray 8 is input to CTS i Z 1, and the same applies to the bottom tray. 12 CTSiZ5
followed by.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electric hardware configuration of this embodiment.
ROM61 in which the program is written with 0 as the core
．． RAM 62. with the functions previously described. Cassette 8~
It is electrically connected to paper size sensors 13 to 17 for detecting the size of the transfer paper 11 or tray 12, an operation section 63 for manual operation of keys and display, an ADF 2 for detecting the document size, and an optical scanner 6.

FIG. 5 shows cassettes 8 to 11. This is a flowchart showing the operation of counting the number of jams in each paper feed system of the tray 12. When a jam occurs in a certain paper feed system (5-1), a paper feed jam (JAM) flag (5-2) is set. Paper feed JAM
The paper feed means 8 to I corresponding to the position counter (5-3)
Count the JAM number counter in 2 once (5-4)
.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of selecting the paper feed means 8 to 12 with the least number of JAM occurrences according to the paper feed size judgment selection mode. The original size code is entered in Z (6-2), and the transfer paper size code is entered in CTS iZ 1 etc. (6-3). Determine whether the transfer paper size matches that of a certain paper feeding means 8 to 12 (6-4), and do this to all of the five paper feeding means 8 to 12 (6-5). If the transfer paper size of 8 to 12 matches the original size (6-6), the number of JAMs for that paper feed system is (6-7), and the number of JAMs for other paper feed systems is
If it is smaller than the maximum value (6-8), the paper feeding means of that paper feeding system is selected and written to the CTFED (6-9)
.

In the above operation, only when the paper feed size and the transfer paper size match, the number of JAMs of the corresponding paper feed system is checked, and the paper feeding means of the paper feed system with the least number of JAMs is selected and the paper feed operation is performed. It is something that can be done.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to the operation of another embodiment, and in this embodiment, when the number of copies set on the copy number display 25 of FIG. 2 exceeds one (7-1), the above-mentioned The operation of the flowchart in FIG. 6 is executed (7-2), and if there is only one sheet, the priority is selected from the first sheet feeding stage (for example, tray 12) (73).

In other words, in this embodiment, the CPU 60 is provided with a function to determine whether the number of copies is set to two or more, and when the number of copies is set to two or more, the function automatically determines whether the number of copies is set to two or more and according to the original size and copy magnification. When the mode for determining the paper feed size is selected and the selected paper feed size is set in multiple paper feed means, priority is given to the paper feed method with the least number of JAMs. That's what I do.

Furthermore, FIG. 8 is a flowchart related to the operation of another embodiment. In this embodiment, after the ADF 2 feeds in (8-1), if the document detection sensor 4 in FIG. 8-3) If the document detection sensor 4 is OFF, the first paper feed stage ( For example, priority selection is made from tray 12) (8-4).

That is, in this embodiment, it is detected that there are multiple originals set in the ADF 2, and when two or more originals are set, the paper feed size is automatically adjusted according to the original size and copy magnification. When the judgment mode is selected and the selected paper feed size is set in multiple paper feed methods, priority is given to the paper feed method with the least number of JAMs. .

In each of the above embodiments, the number of JAMs is used as a criterion, but the JAM occurrence rate may also be used as a criterion. In this case, the number of jams and the number of times of paper feeding of each paper feeding system are stored, and the paper feeding means of the paper feeding system with the smaller value of the number of jams divided by the number of paper feedings is selected.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since paper is fed preferentially from the paper feeding means with the least amount of paper jams, it is possible to provide a copying apparatus that can feed paper efficiently and with less waste.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 are drawings showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical hardware, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation unit, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of the RAM, FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts explaining the operation of this embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing the main part of the operation of the second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 8 is the flowchart showing the main part of the operation of the third embodiment of the invention. 8.9.10.11.12...Paper feeding means, 13°14
．． 15.16.17...Paper size detection means, 60.
. . . Paper feed size judgment selection means, 62 . . . Jam count storage means. Figure 5 Figure 6 Section 7 Figure 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has multiple paper sources, a paper size detection means that detects the size of the paper set in each paper source, and a paper feeder that automatically selects the paper feed size according to the document size and copying magnification. a paper size determination and selection means; a jam count storage means for storing the number of jams related to paper feeding in each paper feeding means; and a mode for automatically determining the paper feed size, and 1. A copying apparatus comprising: when a selected paper feed size is set in a plurality of paper feed means, a means for preferentially selecting a paper feed means with fewer jams.