JPH0244742B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a recording device having folding means.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, recording apparatuses have been proposed that have a folding means and fold and discharge a recorded recording material. Some of these devices command the folding operation by key input or the like. In such a case, if the folding command is canceled by mistake before the recording operation is completed, recording material that has not been folded will be mixed in with the folded recording material, and this folding process will not be performed later. This necessitates work such as folding the untreated recording material, which causes trouble to the operator.

Also, from this point of view, even if the operator wants to change the folding mode, the operator must confirm that the folding process for the last recording material in the series of recording operations has been completed before inputting the input. This was a factor that increased the time required for administrative processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, reduce the annoyance of the operator, and operate a recording apparatus that can shorten the time required for successful processing.

That is, the present invention includes recording means 17, 18, 26 to 29, 32, 34 for recording image information on a recording material;
Processing means 106 operable in a first mode in which the recorded recording material conveyed from the recording means is folded and discharged, and in a second mode in which the recording material is discharged without folding.
~110, and a plurality of storage means 4 for storing recording materials.
₁ , 4 ₂ , and detection means MS ₁ to _{MS 3} for detecting the size of recording materials stored in the plurality of storage means.
MS ₁ ′ to MS ₃ ′, a selection means for selecting a desired storage means from the plurality of storage means; and SW ₂ , a size signal of the recording material stored in the storage means selected by the selection means. A size signal output means J outputs a size signal according to the detection result of the detection means, and selects either the first mode or the second mode according to the size signal for each series of recording operations for a set number of sheets. , even if the size signal outputted from the size signal output means changes during the folding process operation of the recording material by the processing means, the folding process mode currently being executed by the processing means is held unchanged; It is characterized by comprising control means H and JKF ₁ for selecting either the first mode or the second mode at the start of the next series of recording operations in accordance with the size signal output from the signal output means. The present invention provides a recording device that does the following.

According to the present invention, if the recording material size for the next recording operation is input during the execution of folding processing, the folding mode is selected according to the recording material size signal at the start of the next series of recording operations, so There is no malfunction even if the recording material size signal for the next recording operation is different from the recording material size signal for the next recording operation. This makes it possible to carry out operations efficiently, and it becomes possible to carry out office processing efficiently.

First, an example of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied will be explained.

This copying machine is a powder development transfer type copying machine, and is configured to easily copy all types of originals, including sheet-like documents, thick originals such as books, and the like.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a machine box, 2 is a document table on which a document is placed, and has document feed means 3.
Reference numerals 4 ₁ and 4 ₂ are cassettes for storing transfer sheets 5 ₁ and 5 ₂ of different sizes, and 6 is a tray on which the transfer sheets discharged from the machine after being transferred are placed. Second
In the figure, 7 is the main switch, 8 is the warning display section, 9 ₁ ,
9 ₂ is a cassette selection button, 10 is a paper size display area, 11 is a copy density adjustment dial, 12 is a continuous copy number selection key, 13 is a continuous copy button that is linked to it, 14 is a single copy button that is not linked, 15 is a Stop button to cancel continuous copying, 10
1 indicates a fold designation switch. A hopper is located at the front right where the door is opened to store replenishment developer and send it out as needed.

The operation of this copying machine will be explained with reference to FIG. The automatic document feeder 3 feeds a large number of sheet documents placed on a tray (not shown) onto the glass 1.
6. The leading edge of the original to be copied is placed on the original glass 16 _.
If it matches, the feeding means 13 is stopped by a switch that detects this. Next, when the copy button 13 or 14 is pressed, the photosensitive drum 17 starts rotating clockwise in the figure. When the photosensitive drum 17 reaches a predetermined position and a signal to start exposure is issued, the illumination lamp 18 and first mirror 19, which are the movable parts of the optical system, move toward the right in the figure at the same speed as the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 17. , and the second mirror 20 also starts moving rightward in the figure at half the speed. An optical system consisting of a first mirror 19, a second mirror 20, a lens 21, a third mirror 22, and a fourth mirror 23 illuminates the original from below with an illumination lamp 18.
An image is formed on the photosensitive drum 17 in the exposure section 24 . When the exposure is completed, the moving part of the optical system detects its position, stops moving to the right, and immediately moves in the opposite direction, that is,
Return to the left. This return speed is made faster than the forward speed to increase copying efficiency. Then, when it returns to the initial position, the drive to the optical system movable part is cut off and it stops.

When copying a large number of copies continuously from the same document, it is sufficient to specify an arbitrary number of copies using the continuous copy number selection key 12 and start the copying using the continuous copy button 13. Furthermore, by starting with the single copy button 14, only one copy can be made regardless of the number of copies specified by the copy number selection key 12.

The photosensitive drum 17 has a three-layer structure in which a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate is covered with a transparent insulating layer, and rotates clockwise. The drum 17 is first connected to a positive charger 2 that is supplied with high voltage current from a high voltage power source.
It is charged by 6. Next, the exposure section 24
When the image of the original document reaches slit exposure, it is simultaneously subjected to AC charging (discharging) by an AC charger 27 supplied with AC high voltage current from a high voltage power source. Then, the entire surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is exposed by the next surface exposure lamp 28.
7 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface and enters the developing device 29. In the developing device 29, the carrier on the sleeve 31 rotating around the magnet 30 comes into contact with the magnetic brush made of toner.
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed and visualized. Next, the transfer paper 5 sent from the paper feed section
is in close contact with the photosensitive drum 17, and the transfer charger 32
The developed image on the photosensitive drum 17 is transferred onto the transfer paper 5 by charging with a high voltage current from the high voltage power source 33. After the transfer, the transfer paper 5 is separated from the photosensitive drum 17 by being restrained at one end by a separation belt.
The image is guided to a fixing device 34. The remaining toner on the photosensitive drum is wiped off by the edge portion ₃₅₁ of the cleaning blade 35 pressed against it, and the next cycle is repeated again. The toner wiped by the cleaning blade 35 rises onto the cleaning blade 35, is carried by a screw 36 outside the area of the photosensitive drum 17 on the near side in the drawing, is guided to the developing device 29 by a reuse duct, and is used again for development.

The transfer paper 5 ₁ is stored in a cassette 4 ₁ , and the transfer paper 5 ₂ is stored in a cassette 4 ₂ , which are removably attached to paper feed sections 38 ₁ and 38 ₂ at the lower left of the machine.
Various cassettes are available for different sizes of transfer paper, and can be easily replaced as needed. To select paper feed from paper feed section 38 ₁ or 38 ₂ , press the cassette selection button 9 on the front of the machine.
₁ , 9 ₂ . Photosensitive drum 1
7 reaches the predetermined position and issues a paper feed signal,
The transfer paper 5 ₁ or 5 ₂ is sent out to the right in the drawing by the paper feed roller 39 ₁ or 39 ₂ . Next, the first register rollers 40 ₁ , 41 ₁ or 40 ₂ , 41 ₂ prevent skewing and send the paper in the correct direction. Subsequently, after the second register rollers 42 and 43 synchronize with the image on the photosensitive drum 17 using signals from the movable part of the optical system, the transfer paper 5 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive drum 17 as described above, and the image is transferred. After the transfer is completed and the transfer paper is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 17 by the separation belt, it then enters the fixing device 34 . In the fixing device 34, a transfer paper having an unfixed image on its surface is passed between a peelable elastic fixing roller 46 heated by a heating roller 45 having a heater 44 inside and a facing roller 48 also having a heater 47 inside. 5 passes through and is heated, the toner is thermally fused and
The image is fixed onto the transfer paper 5. The transfer paper 5 that has left the fixing device 34 is finally removed from the charge remaining on the surface by a static eliminator 49, and then transferred to the discharge roller 5.
0,51, the paper is discharged onto the guide plate 103 of the folding device.

The photosensitive drum 17 of this copying machine is capable of copying up to the width of A3, and its outer circumference is somewhat longer than the length of A3. On the other hand, after the forward movement (exposure stroke) of the optical system movable part, the double movement requires approximately the same time as the forward movement. Therefore, in the case of an A3 copy, one page is printed for every two rotations of the photosensitive drum, and in the case of an A4 copy,
The transfer paper is fed horizontally (in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) so that one copy can be made per rotation of the photosensitive drum.

The above-mentioned difference in cycle due to paper size is determined by a signal from the cassette 4 ₁ or 4 ₂ selected by the cassette selection buttons 9 ₁ and 9 ₂ to control the amount of movement of the optical system movable section.

After the copying operation is completed, the trailing edge of the transfer paper 5 is
After passing through the discharge rollers 50 and 51, the photosensitive drum 17 stops. At this time, the edge portion 35 1 of the cleaning blade 35 is placed near the joint of the photosensitive layer, that is, the area where the image does not appear, in order to prevent the influence on the image due to the cleaning blade 35 being in constant pressure contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum ₁₇ . The photosensitive drum 17 stops at such a position. Note that the blade 35 can be separated from the drum surface when the drum is stopped, if necessary.

As an example, _a case will be described below in which A4 size transfer paper ₅₁ is stored in the cassette 41 and A3 size transfer paper ₅₂ is stored in the cassette ₄₂ .

When A3 size paper 52 is designated to be folded in half by the fold selection switch 101, the A3 size transfer paper ₅₂ is folded in half, and other sizes are ejected as they are. That is, the A4 transfer paper 51 ejected by the ejecting rollers 51 and ₅₂ of the copying machine main body is transferred to the guide plate 103.
It is guided by the feed roller 102 and the conveyor belt 104, and is guided by the holding roller group 105 to the roller 106' (the position where the roller 106 has been moved), and is directly transferred to the roller 10.
8, 107 and discharged onto the tray 6.

On the other hand, when the transfer paper 5 ₂ is A3, the transfer paper 5 ₂ ejected by the ejection rollers 51 and 52 of the copying machine main body is guided by the guide plate 103 and upwardly moved by the feed roller 102 and the conveyor belt 104. is sent to rollers 106 and 107 by a group of holding rollers 105, guided to blades 109,
When it hits the stopper 110, the folding roller 10
8, 107, and is folded and discharged onto the tray 6.

The operation of the folding roller will be explained with reference to FIG. Rollers 106 and 106' are identical and lever 1
13, and the lever is supported pivotally by a shaft 112. When the plunger is turned on and off, it abuts against stoppers 117 and 116, and the roller 106 can be in two positions, 106 and 106', folding or folding. It is possible to hang out.

The means for moving the roller 106 to the position 106' is a lever 113 supported by a rotating support shaft 112, the roller 106 is supported by the lever 113, and the lever 113 is suspended from the lever 113 when the plunger 111 is off. The force of the spring 114 caused the roller to stop at the stopper 116, and the roller
6', thereby allowing the transfer paper 5 to be ejected without folding. Further, when the plunger 111 is on, the lever 113 is moved to the stopper 11.
It stops at position 7 and brings the rollers to position 106, thereby folding the paper and ejecting it.

The respective state diagrams are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, when the feed roller 106 is in the position shown in FIG. and 107, the transfer paper 5 is folded in the middle, and the folded portion ₅₃ is sandwiched between the folding roller 108 and the feed roller 107 and fed.

As a result, the transfer paper is folded according to the length of the blade 109 and sent.

Of course, if the length of the blade 109 is changed, it can be folded to the corresponding length.

Further, when the folding roller 106 is in the state shown in FIG. 5, the transfer paper 5 is not sent in the direction of the blade 109 but is directly guided between the rollers 108 and 107 and discharged.

Further, in this case, it is effective to ensure the ejection using the guide 118 or the like.

FIG. 6 shows a control circuit for executing the above-described folding, and FIG. 8 shows an input/output time chart of the circuit. In Fig. 6, CPB is the copy start button 13, 14 (the input signal shown in Fig. 2 outputs a high level H when turned on), and ORP is the signal from the original remaining detection switch in the original tray, which is H when an original is present. output,
ORHP is a signal from the original stop position switch that detects that the original is set at the exposure position on the document platen, and outputs H when the original is set. DHP is a signal from a drum stop position switch that outputs H level when the photosensitive drum in a copying machine comes to a stop position, and SW ₁ is a switch 101 that specifies that the folding device folds paper when necessary (Figure 2). outputs H level when specified,
SW ₂ is the cassette selection _{switch .}
Outputs H level when the lower stage corresponding to is specified.
MS ₁ to _{MS 3} are upper cassette size switch group,
MS' ₁ to MS' ₃ are lower cassette size groups, which are turned on by a combination of a predetermined cam provided on the cassette that differs depending on the size and a micro switch provided on the main body. The table is shown in FIG. SET is a set counter for specifying the number of copies, and is set by the key button 12 in FIG. 2 of the main body. COPY is a counter for the number of copies made for one original, and the matching circuit H is a counter for the number of copies made for one original.
When the COPY number matches, the end signal COIN is output. ADFM is an output signal to drive the motor that feeds the original from the original tray to the original platen.
START is a signal for starting exposure scanning of the original, and SOL111 is turned on by the H level signal from the JK flip-flop JKF ₁ , which controls the folding timing with the folding command and size command with the folding solenoid shown in FIG. A to I are various gate circuits for obtaining desired signals, RSF ₁ and RS flip-flop, the former controlling the driving timing of the original feed motor, and the latter controlling the timing of copy start and folding. DA to DD are differentiating circuits that output pulses to gates B, D, and F.

The STAT signal first rotates the drum once to clean its surface, equalize the sensitivity of the photoreceptor, and then starts the optical system to move forward. In FIG. 8, PF is a signal for feeding the transfer paper from the cassette and is output by a cam provided on the drum.

Figure 8 shows the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF)
This is a time chart when two copies are made for each original sent from the original to the original table. At first, the operator pressed the copy button, but
Indicates that no operation will occur because no original is set in the ADF. This indicates that the operator has set the document. This also shows that the fold switch SW ₁ has been turned on to fold and store the copy paper.

Now, when the operator presses the copy button again, since the copy conditions are met, the document feed motor is driven, indicating that one document has been sent onto the document table. There are two cases when setting the document feed motor. It is represented by and. The case represented by is a signal input to AND gate B 1, and the case represented by is a signal input to AND gate B 2. AND gate B has a logic that outputs an L level signal when an L level signal is input to either 1 or 2, and sets flip-flop RSF1. is set. In that case, the logic is assembled in NAND gate A, so when the original remaining amount detection switch ORP is ○, the document platen stop position switch is ○ not, and the copy button is turned on, NAND gate A Input 1 of
2 and 3 all go to H level, the output goes to L level, and RSF1 is set. On the other hand, in the case represented by , RSF1 must be set by the falling edge of CPB, so the output Q of RF2 is used to drive the differentiating circuit DA, and the two terminals of the AND gate B are connected to the falling edge of the Q of RSF2. Input an L level differential pulse corresponding to the downlink and set RSF1.

Next, it is shown that the leading edge of the document sent to the document table has reached the proper position and the document stop position switch has been activated. Thereby, the document feed motor is stopped and the document is stopped on the document table. Furthermore, based on the result of this stop, the copy signal START is turned on to drive the copying machine main body. Simultaneously with this drive, the folding solenoid SOL111 is excited in response to an instruction from the operator.

This indicates that the post-rotation cycle has started and the coincidence signal COIN between the number of sheets set by the operator and the number of copies has been generated. In this example, when the COIN signal is generated, the photosensitive drum in the copying machine is at the stop position.
This indicates that the DHP has been reached, and when these two conditions are met, the copying device is stopped and the copy signal is turned off. Further, due to this stop, the document feed motor is driven again to eject the document on the document table and send a new document to the document table. This indicates that the original that was previously on the document table has been completely ejected to the outside of the document table. Furthermore, a timer is set by this discharge signal, which turns off the document feed motor at the falling edge of the timer signal T if there is no subsequent document after the timer time elapses. This indicates that the second document reached the proper position on the document table within the time period during which the timer was not turned off, and the switch for the document table stop position was driven. Furthermore, as in this case, the original feed motor is turned off, and the copy signal START, which drives the main body of the copying apparatus, is turned on. Also, the operator's instructions for folding switch SW ₁ are still the same, so the folding solenoid
SOL111 continues to be excited. Then, the copy cycle is repeated in the same way. In this case, even though the operator switches the fold switch and cassette from the upper (full size) to the lower (harm size) during the copy cycle for the second document, the fold solenoid 111 in the folder does not respond immediately. Show that you have not done so. Now, as the second original is ejected from the original table, the third and final original is fed from the original tray, and the remaining original amount detection switch is turned off and the original is placed on the original tray. It shows that it is gone. The operation is the same as in , but the folding solenoid 111 is activated in response to the operator switching the folding switch in .
I'm turning it off. This shows that after the third and final document was ejected, no document appeared even after the timer period elapsed, so the document feed motor was turned off and all operations were stopped.

There are two cases when the document feed motor is reset. It is represented by and. The case represented by is AND gate D 1
The case represented by is the signal input to AND gate D2. AND gate D has a logic that outputs an L level signal and resets RSF1 when an L level signal is input to either 1 or 2, so RSF1 will be reset in the case represented by either of them. . In that case, the instant the document platen stop position switch becomes ○, that is, when the inverter C changes from the H level to the L level, the inverter C drives the differentiating circuit B, and one terminal of the AND gate D Generate an L level differential pulse to RSF1
to reset.

On the other hand, in case (2), the timer is set when the original platen stop position switch changes from ○ to ○ not present, that is, when the timer input changes from H level to L level. Then, at the moment when the timer is reset, that is, when the level changes from H level to L level, the timer drives the differentiating circuit C, and the AND-
Apply an L level differential pulse to the two GATED terminals to reset RSF1.

The case where the copy signal RSF2 is set is represented by: Since RSF2 is set at the falling edge of the document feed motor signal, the Q of RSF1 in Figure 5 is
The output drives the differential circuit DD, and RSF1 becomes H.
At the instant when the level changes from the L level, the L level differential pulse is input to the inverter F and inverted, and the H level differential pulse is input to the two terminals of the NAND gate E. The reason why the NAND gate E is provided here and the original platen stop position signal is input to the first terminal is that RSF2 is set only when the original platen stop position switch is set to ○, and when the switch is not set to ○, RSF2 is set. This is to prevent it from being set. Therefore, the NAND gate E opens only when the switch is ○, and when a differential pulse is generated.
Set RSF2.

The case in which the copy signal RSF2 is reset is represented by the following case. This is when the coincidence signal is SET and the drum stop position switch becomes ○, so these signals are input to NAND gates G1 and 2 to assemble the logic.

Now, consider the relationship between the operator's switching of the folding switch and the time the copy paper takes to reach the folding device 106'. As is clear from the above description, no matter at what point the operator switches the folding switch, the folding solenoid 111 responds only at the rising edge of the copy signal STAT, that is, at the point at which the copying machine starts the copying operation. As is clear from the time chart, the last copy sheet for each document is placed on folding roller 1.
Since the time point b' when reaching 06' is within the time when the ADF is sending the next original to the document table, the folding solenoid 111 is turned off at any time when the copy paper is being folded in the folding device. There will be no inconvenience caused by replacement.

The timing at which the folding solenoid 111 turns on and off is when the operator selects a full size cassette with the upper/lower cassette selection switch and specifies a "fold" instruction with the folding switch.
Only at the moment when the copy signal is set. Therefore, it is composed of two parts: the logic that constitutes the above-mentioned condition (when folding with a full size cassette), and the logic that controls the on/off of the folding solenoid 111 at the rising edge of the copy signal.

In FIG. 6, MS1 to MS3 are upper cassette size selection switches, and MS1' to MS3' are lower cassette size selection switches. Now A3,
Fold it as if it were B4 or U ₁ size. These six switches are input to selector circuit J, and one
Input the lower selection switch signal to the selector.
Therefore, when you specify ○up with the up/down switch,
Each signal of MS1 to MS3 is 1 of selector,
Output to terminals 2 and 4. Similarly, when ○lower is specified, the signals of MS1' to MS3' are sent to selectors 1, 2,
Output to 4 terminals. As is clear from FIG. 7, in the case of full size, MS3 or MS3' is off (OFF), so an H level signal appears at the selector 4 terminal. The 4 terminals of this selector and the signal of the folding switch are connected to the AND gate H.
The logic of the former is constructed by inputting the following.
The latter logic converts the output of the AND gate H into
This is achieved by applying opposite logic levels to the J and K terminals of JKF1 and controlling the copy signal STAT as a clock input. Therefore, as a result, even if the operator switches the switches at any time, the operator does not respond immediately, but responds when the copying machine starts copying.

Incidentally, U ₁ and U ₂ in FIG. 7 are universal size cassettes that can be set to various sizes, and the size of U ₂ corresponds to half of U ₁ .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation panel thereof.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the folded part of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the state of change, and FIG.
The figure shows an example of a control circuit according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cassette size table, and FIG. 8 is a time chart according to the present invention. In the figure, 102 is a feed roller, 103 is a guide plate,
104 is a conveyor belt, 105 is a holding roller, 10
6, 106' is a feed roller, 107 is a feed roller, 108 is a folding roller, 109 is a blade,
110 is a stopper, and 118 is a guide.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A recording means for recording image information on a recording material, a first mode for folding and discharging the recorded recording material conveyed from the recording means, and a second mode for discharging the recording material without folding it. a processing means operable in a mode, a plurality of storage means for storing recording materials, a detection means for detecting the size of the recording material stored in the plurality of storage means, and a desired one from among the plurality of storage means. selection means for selecting a storage means; size signal output means for outputting a size signal of the recording material stored in the storage means selected by the selection means according to the detection result of the detection means; Either the first mode or the second mode is selected according to the size signal for each series of recording operations, and the size signal is output from the size signal output means during the recording material folding operation by the processing means. Even if the size signal that is output changes, the folding processing mode currently being executed by the processing means is held unchanged, and the folding processing mode is changed to the first mode or the second mode according to the size signal output from the size signal output means. 1. A recording apparatus comprising: control means for selecting one of the modes at the start of the next series of recording operations.