JPH02276760A - Automatic original feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the working performance by installing an automatic original discharge control means which automatically discharges an original onto a contact glass by driving a transport part and a paper discharge part after the completion of scanning, even in the pressing plate mode in which the original is set onto the contact glass by user's hands. CONSTITUTION:When an original is set onto a contact glass 10 by user's hands, and a copy start button is pushed, scan operation is started by the control part 50 of a controller. After the completion of scanning, a transport motor 55 is turned ON by a scan completion signal supplied from the control part 50, and a transport belt 18 and a paper discharge roller 20 are turned, and the original is discharged into an original receiving part 23, passing through a paper discharge sensor 20 from the transport belt 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic document feeding device mounted on the top of a copying machine or the like.

[Conventional technology]

As an automatic document feeding device such as a copying machine, for example, a feeding motor that drives a feeding roller of a paper feeding section, and a conveyance belt and a paper ejection roller of a conveyance section and a paper ejection section that constitute a pressure plate, respectively. In the automatic document feeding mode, the document placed on the document table is automatically fed one by one by the feed roller, and the conveyor belt takes over to feed the document one by one to the specified position on the contact glass. There is a device in which the document is conveyed to a position and set, and after scanning is completed, the document is automatically discharged using a conveyor belt and a discharge roller.

Even if a copying machine is equipped with such an automatic document feeder, if you want to perform high-precision copying or sample copying (copying a portion of an original onto a sheet of paper smaller than the size of the original), the user must use this function. There are cases where the device is rotated upward to open the contact glass, a document is manually set on the contact glass, and the device is returned to its original position to copy in a pressure plate mode where it is used as a pressure plate.

This is because all document transport operations in such an automatic document feeder are performed mechanically, so when placing a document on the contact glass in automatic document feed mode, the document is placed at the ideal setting position (predetermined position). However, the position of the image formed on the copy paper may be slightly misaligned.

Furthermore, in order to make a copy, it is necessary to set the document at an arbitrary position on the contact glass depending on the position of the sampled portion.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when the automatic document feeder is used in pressure plate mode, it is necessary not only to set the Ha on the contact glass, but also to open the device again after scanning and manually remove the document from the contact glass. However, this was a troublesome task for the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the troublesome operation when using an automatic document feeder in the pressure plate mode, and to improve workability.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic document feeder such as the one described above, even in a mode (pressure plate mode) in which the user manually sets the document on the contact glass, the document is not transported after scanning. The apparatus is equipped with an Hm automatic paper feed control means for automatically discharging the document on the contact glass by driving the paper output section and the paper discharge section.

Furthermore, there is also provided an automatic document discharge control means which is provided with an automatic document discharge designating means, and which enables the automatic document discharge control means to operate only when automatic paper discharge is designated by the means.

Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a protrusion detection means for detecting protrusion of the original set on the contact glass from a predetermined range, and to prevent the automatic document ejection control means from operating when protrusion is detected by the means.

[For production]

According to the automatic document feeder configured in this way, even in the pressure plate mode in which the user manually sets the document on the contact glass, the automatic document discharge control means automatically controls the transport section and paper discharge after scanning is completed. Since the document on the contact glass is automatically ejected by driving the unit, the user does not have to take out the document from the top of the contact glass, improving work efficiency.

In addition, if the KM automatic paper feed control means is enabled to operate only when automatic paper ejection is specified by the automatic paper ejection specification means, when the document is set within a predetermined range on the contact glass, If automatic ejection is specified, and the document is placed outside the specified area on the contact glass, automatic ejection can be selected not to be specified, which not only improves work efficiency but also prevents documents from being forcibly ejected and damaged. This improves the reliability of the device.

Furthermore, if the protrusion detection means detects protrusion of the original placed on the contact glass from a predetermined range, and the automatic document ejection control means is not activated when protrusion is detected, damage to the original can be prevented. It will be certain for a calendar year.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a digital copying system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

This digital copying system includes a digital copying machine 3 consisting of a digital copying machine main body 1 and a table (controller) 2, and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as rADFJ) according to the present invention mounted on the top of the digital copying machine main body 1. ) 4.

On the paper feed side of the digital copying machine body 1, upper and lower two paper feed cassettes 5 and 6, each capable of storing paper of different sizes, are removably installed, and on the paper ejection side, a paper ejection tray (not shown) is installed. is installed.

Further, the digital copying machine main body 1 is equipped with an operation panel 7 on the front upper surface, and inside the digital copying machine main body 1 is an image scanner as a scanner section for reading original images, and a paper feed cassette 5 or 6, which is selected from the main body 1. It is equipped with a laser printer, which is a printer section that forms an image on paper fed from a cassette using an electrophotographic method.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the ADF 4 in FIG. 2.

In the automatic document feeding mode, this ADF 4 feeds the document onto the contact glass 10 of the digital copying machine main body 1 (image scanner), and discharges the document from the contact glass 10 when scanning is completed. It is composed of a paper feed section 4A, a conveyance section 4B, and a paper discharge section 4C.

The paper feed section 4A is removably equipped with a document table 11 on which a large number of documents can be placed on its document insertion side (right side in the figure), and has a document set sensor 12, a document size sensor 13, and a plurality of rollers inside. Feeding belt 1 stretched by
4, feeding rollers 15 and 16, etc. are provided.

The conveyance section 4B includes a paper feed sensor 17, a conveyor belt 18 stretched around a plurality of press rollers, and the like, and the paper discharge section 4C consists of a paper discharge sensor 19, a paper discharge roller 20, and the digital copying machine main body 1.
It consists of a document receiver 23 that can be attached to and detached from the document receiver 23 for receiving a large number of documents.
The pressure plate section 22 is constructed by storing all the other parts inside the cover 21 together.

Here, the document feeding operation by each of the above-mentioned parts will be explained.

The originals to be copied are loaded with the image side facing down on the original reader 11 of the ADF 4 (at this time,
(The leading edge of the document is inserted into the paper feed section 4A and is in contact with a separation blade (not shown)).
The document set sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the document, turns off the document set display on the display section 57 in FIG.
Set 4 to ready state.

At this point, if the digital copying machine 3 is in remote mode (a mode in which the copying machine is used as a scanner or printer by the information processing device connected to the digital copying machine 3), scanning starts from the information processing device side. When the controller stored in table 2 receives the command,
Alternatively, if the digital copying machine 3 is in remote mode (copy mode in which the digital copying machine 3 is used alone), when the copy start switch on the operation panel 7 installed in the digital copying machine main body 1 (scanner section) is pressed, The controller in the table 2 sends a feed signal to the control unit of the ADF 4, and when the control unit receives the feed signal, it turns on a feed motor (not shown) at a predetermined timing to control the feed belt 14 and the two feed rollers. 15 and 1B are rotationally driven to feed the original onto the contact glass 10.

Note that the plurality of originals are separated by a separation blade (not shown) and only the lowest original is fed, and the original size sensor 13 detects the leading edge of the original to be fed and measures the amount of the original until it passes. Sends a detection signal to the control unit.

The conveyor belt 18 is rotated by a conveyor motor (not shown) that is turned on at a predetermined timing,
A document sent upward from a paper feed section is received and conveyed over a contact glass 10, and then stopped and set so that the leading edge of the document coincides with the document reference position of the contact glass 10.

The timing of stopping this document is determined based on the document size (the time from when the document size sensor 13 turns ONL to when it turns OFF), and the control unit
7 (for example, pulses from a rotary encoder directly connected to the drive shaft of the transport motor), and when the number of pulses corresponding to the document size is reached, the transport motor is turned off and the transport belt is turned off. 18, and set the original at the predetermined position as described above.

After the scan is completed, the transport motor is turned on again by the scan end signal from the controller in the table 2.
The conveyance belt 18 and the paper discharge roller 20 are rotated, and the document is discharged from the conveyance belt 18 to the document receiver 23 after passing through the paper discharge sensor 20 .

Note that the feeding of the next original starts in response to the paper ejection signal from the paper ejection sensor 19 and the detection of the original by the original set sensor 12, and thereafter the above-described operation is repeated until there are no more originals on the original table 11.

FIG. 4 is an optical path diagram showing the configuration of the optical system of the scanner section of the digital copying machine main body 1 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view similarly showing the mechanism of the scanner section.

A contact glass 10 is mounted on the top of the digital copying machine main body 1.
is installed, and inside thereof, as shown in FIG.
a second scanner 35 to which a mirror 4 is attached, a third scanner 38 to which a fourth mirror 36 and a fifth mirror 37 are attached, and a lens 39.

A CCD sensor 40 is provided.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a drive motor 41 for driving the first scanner 32 and the second scanner 35 in the direction of arrow A, and a drive motor 41 for driving the third scanner 38 in the direction of arrow B are also provided. The scanner includes a three-scanner motor (variable magnification scanner) 42 and a lens motor 43 for driving the lens 39 in the direction of arrow C, and these constitute a scanner section.

Also, inside the digital copying machine main body 1, as shown in FIG. 6, there are six protrusion detection sensors a"f for detecting protrusion of the document set on the contact glass 10 from a predetermined range. 10 along both side edges in the width direction (invalid area for document image reading).

The protrusion detection sensors a and f are reflective photosensors, and their protrusion detection signals are input to the control unit on the ADFJ side, and the control unit performs automatic document ejection control, which will be described later, based on the input signals. Used to determine whether or not.

Note that the portion of the lower surface of the pressure plate portion 22 of the ADF 4 that corresponds to the protrusion detection sensor a"f shown in FIG. 3 is hollow, and only when there is a document in this portion, the sensor a is
” At least one of f detects it and outputs a detection signal.

Here, the operation of this scanner section will be briefly explained.

In the automatic document feeding mode of A D F'4, when the document placed on the document table 11 is automatically fed and the document is set at a predetermined position on the contact glass 10 (at this time, the controller in the table 2 (receives a document setting signal from the ADF 4), or when the user manually sets the document on the contact glass 10 and presses the copy start switch, or a scan start command is sent from an external information processing device. When it comes to me.

The scanning operation is started under the control of the controller in the table 2.

First, the two fluorescent lamps 30 are turned on, and the drive motor 41 starts moving the first scanner 32 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 at a predetermined timing. The image surface of the document is illuminated and scanned through the scanner.

The scanning light, which is reflected light from the original, is transmitted to the first mirror 31 of the first scanner 32 and to 1/2 of the first scanner 32.
The second scanner 3 moves in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4 at a speed of
The image is formed on the light-receiving surface of the CCD sensor 40 via the second mirror 33 and third mirror 34 of No. 5, the fourth mirror 36 and fifth mirror 37 of the third scanner 38 located at predetermined positions, and the lens 39. The CCD sensor 40 converts it into an electrical signal and sequentially writes it into a predetermined memory as one image data.

When the scanning is completed, the first scanner 32 and the second scanner 35 return to their original positions at a fast return speed.

The third scanner 38 is moved by the drive of the third scanner motor 42 according to the magnification ratio (enlargement or reduction of the document), and when the set value of the magnification ratio is 1, for example, 100% (the reference value)
When it is 50% (10%), it is at the position shown by the solid line in Figure 4.
When zooming out), it moves to the position indicated by the virtual line.

Further, as the third scanner 38 moves, the lens 39
The lens motor 43 is driven to move in the direction of arrow C so that the lens is in focus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the ADF 4. As shown in FIG.

The control unit (controller) 50 includes a microprocessor,
A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as rCP UJ) consisting of ROM, RAM, timer (counter), etc., a servo controller for operating the transport motor 55 at a constant speed, and a driver for driving the clutch solenoid. Equipped with circuits, etc.

In addition to the normal control function in the ADF mode, the control section 50 also functions as an automatic document discharge control means according to the present invention.

Therefore, the above-mentioned document set sensor 12. Original size sensor 13. Paper feed sensor 17. Extrusion detection sensor a =
f, each sensor of the paper discharge sensor 19, a timing pulse sensor 51 which is a rotary encoder directly connected to the waste drive shaft of a conveyance motor 55, which will be described later, and the pressure plate part 22 of the digital copying machine main body 1 (scanner part). Signals from a lift-up switch 52 disposed on the opposing surface and an automatic document ejection switch 53 for causing the control unit 50 to start automatic document ejection control to be described later are input via I10 interfaces (not shown), respectively. At the same time, signals are sent and received to and from the controller in the table 2 of the digital copying machine 3 to rotate the feed belt 14 and the two feed rollers 15 and 1B shown in FIG. a feed motor 54; a transport motor 55 which is a servo motor for rotating the transport belt 18 and the paper ejection roller 20;
A clutch, a solenoid 56, a display section 57 (see also FIG. 2) that displays messages (for example, turns on or off pictograms such as document set and document misfeed), etc. are controlled via the I10 interface.

In addition, each of the above-mentioned sensors includes a light emitting diode LED and a phototransistor PT that receives its transmitted light or reflected light.
Although a photosensor consisting of the following is used, other sensors such as a microswitch may be used instead.

FIG. 7 is a layout diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel 7 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.

This operation panel 7 includes a copy start switch 60 for starting the copy operation, an automatic document ejection switch 53 shown in FIG. rLCDJ) 61.

The operation panel 7 is equipped with many other switches and indicators, but since they are not directly related to the present invention, their explanations will be omitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be specifically explained.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the automatic document ejection in the pressure plate mode by the control unit 50 shown in FIG. 1 of the ADF 4. As shown in FIG.

Note that the user can use the ADF 4 on the contact glass 10.
It is assumed that the pressure plate portion 22 (see FIG. 3) is rotated upward and a document set manually is placed thereon.

First, it is determined whether the automatic document ejection switch 53 (see FIG. 7) has been pressed.

When the automatic document ejection switch 53 is pressed, the document set sensor 12 (see FIG. 3) determines whether or not it is 0FF (J! No document is placed on the document table 11). If it is OFF, it is determined whether the lift-up switch 52 is in the ON state.

If the lift-up switch 52 is in the ON state, that is, if the pressure plate part 22 is closed, then it is determined whether or not the image scanner of the digital copying machine main body 1 is currently scanning, and if not, the contact glass 10 is It is determined whether or not the original that has been placed above is outside a predetermined range.

Here, protrusion detection will be briefly explained.

The above-mentioned predetermined range refers to @R on the contact glass 10 (a safe area to prevent paper jam from occurring when the original is ejected), as shown in FIG.

Then, when the user does not use the automatic document feeding mode of the ADF 4 and manually sets the document on the contact glass 10 by rotating the pressure plate section 22 upward, the document is When the document is set in IIIR, none of the six protrusion detection sensors a''f detects the document, and the control unit 50 determines that the document set on the contact glass 10 does not protrude from the width R.

On the other hand, if is set on the contact glass 1o protrudes from the width R, one of the above-mentioned sensors a = f will detect the document, and the control unit 50 will adjust the contact glass according to the direction of the detection signal. It is determined that the width R of the document set on the document sheet 10 is overflowing.

Therefore, for example, it is determined that the document s1 shown in FIG. 9 does not protrude, and both the yX documents s2 and s3 are determined to protrude.

Returning to FIG. 8, if the original set on the contact glass 1o does not protrude from the predetermined range, the original is automatically ejected. That is, the conveyance motor 55 in FIG. 1 is turned on, the conveyance belt 18 and the discharge roller 2o in FIG. 3 are rotated, and the document on the contact glass 10 is discharged onto the document receiver 23 and returned.

Note that, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the document passes the paper ejection sensor 19, the control unit 50 turns off the transport motor 55 to stop the rotation of the transport belt 18 and the paper ejection roller 2o.

On the other hand, if the original set on the contact glass 1o protrudes from the predetermined range, the LCD f of the operation panel 7
31 displays an error message to that effect and returns.

Although omitted in this example, the contact glass 1
In addition to the protrusion detection sensors a to f, a sensor for detecting an original (not shown) is also provided below the contact glass 10, so that if no original is set on the contact glass 10, that number will be detected and the transport motor 55 will not be turned on. This is to prevent the conveyor belt 18 and paper ejection roller 2o from spinning idle due to the motor.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even in the pressure plate mode in which the user manually sets the original on the contact glass 10,
After scanning is completed, by pressing the automatic document ejection switch 53, the transport motor 55 is turned on and the transport belt 18 (transport section) provided on the pressure plate section 22 and the paper ejection roller 20 (
Since the document on the contact glass 10 is automatically discharged by rotating the paper discharge section), the user does not have to take out the document from the contact glass, improving work efficiency.

Furthermore, when the automatic document ejection switch 53 is pressed, a plurality of protrusion detection sensors a''f detect whether or not the document set on the contact glass 10 is protruding from a predetermined range. Since the conveyance motor 55 is sometimes turned on and the document is not automatically ejected by the grain feed belt 18 and the paper ejection roller 20, it is possible to prevent the document from being forcibly ejected automatically and damaged.
The reliability of the device is improved.

Furthermore, if the original set on the contact glass 10 exceeds a predetermined range and is not automatically ejected, an error message to that effect is displayed on the LCD 51 of the operation panel 7, so that the user can immediately explain why the original is not automatically ejected. It is convenient to know.

Note that in this embodiment, the automatic document ejection switch 5
I mentioned that the document should be ejected automatically every time you press 3, but
The automatic document ejection mode may be set in advance so that the document is automatically ejected immediately after scanning is completed.

However, as mentioned above, documents that extend beyond the predetermined range on the contact glass 10 are not automatically ejected.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of protrusion detection sensors a"f are provided below the contact glass 10 on the side of the digital copying machine main body 1, but such a plurality of protrusion detection sensors are provided on the contact glass 10 on the side of the ADF 4. It may be provided at a position where the protrusion of the original set on the glass 10 from a predetermined range can be detected.

Furthermore, two photosensors are attached to one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the first scanner 32 shown in FIG.
(Of course, this corresponds to the above-mentioned position where protrusion can be detected), and the contact glass 10 is removed at the same time during scanning or when the first scanner returns to the home position after scanning.
It may also be possible to detect the protrusion of the original set on top. If this is adopted, only two sensors are required, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

Furthermore, without using such a sensor for detecting protrusion, the entire surface of the contact glass 10 (including the protruding part beyond the document reading range) is scanned by the image scanner in the digital copying machine main body 1, and thereby The protrusion of the document may be detected from the image signal of the protrusion portion captured from the CCD sensor 40.

Alternatively, the protrusion detection means may be omitted, and the document may be automatically ejected only when the user instructs automatic document ejection.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the automatic document feeder to which the present invention is applied, the user opens the pressure plate part of the ADF and manually performs the
Even when a document is placed on the contact glass, the user does not have to open the pressure plate again after scanning to take out the document, and the document is automatically ejected, improving work efficiency. improves.

In addition, if the user can specify automatic ejection of originals as necessary, it would be possible to force the automatic ejection of originals that are set so that they extend beyond the contact glass when making copy copies or large originals. This can prevent damage caused by

Furthermore, if the original set on the contact glass protrudes from a predetermined range, this can be detected and automatic ejection of the original is not performed, thereby reliably preventing damage to the original.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a digital copying system equipped with an automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure of the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 2. Fig. 4 is an optical path diagram showing the configuration of the optical system of the scanner section within the main body of the digital copying machine, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of the scanner section, and Fig. 6 is the protrusion provided in the scanner section. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the digital copying machine main body showing the arrangement of detection sensors. FIG. 7 is a layout diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation of automatic document ejection by the control section 50 of this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of this embodiment. 1... Digital copying machine main body 2... Table (controller) 3... Digital copying machine 4... Automatic document feeder (ADF) 4A... Paper feeding section 4B... Conveying section 4C. ...Paper discharge section 7...Operation panel 10...Contact glass 1
8... Conveyance belt 20... Paper discharge roller 22... Pressure plate 40... CCD sensor 50... Control unit
52... Lift up switch 53... Automatic document ejection switch 55... Conveyance motor 61... LCD (liquid crystal) display, display a" f
. . . The protrusion detection sensor 1 is shown in Figs. 2, 8, and 9.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper feeding unit that feeds the originals placed on the original table onto the contact glass one by one, and the originals fed by the paper feeding unit are conveyed over the contact glass. and a paper ejecting part that ejects the original transported by the transporting part to the outside, and in an automatic document feeding mode, the original is fed by the paper feeding part, and the original is transported by the transporting part. In the automatic document feeder, the document is stopped and set at a predetermined position on the contact glass, and after scanning is completed, the document is automatically ejected by the conveying section and the paper ejecting section. The automatic original document is further provided with an automatic document ejecting control means that drives the conveying section and the document ejecting section to automatically eject the document on the contact glass after scanning is completed even in the upper setting mode. Feeding device. 2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic document discharge designation means, and the automatic document discharge control means becomes operable only when automatic document discharge is designated by the means. An automatic document feeder characterized by: 3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a protrusion detecting means for detecting protrusion of the document set on the contact glass from a predetermined range, and when protrusion is detected by the means, the document automatically An automatic document feeder characterized in that a paper ejection control means is not activated.