JPH03153393A - Duplication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable stapling of copies, if their number is higher than a specified value by providing means for counting the number of documents and means for displaying the stapling possible mode, if the number of document obtained by the counting means is beyond the limits of stapling capacity. CONSTITUTION:If the staple mode is selected and a copy execution command is started, a document handling device (RDF)300 capable of recirculating copies commences the count of documents. Next, the count is compared to the maximum number of documents which can be stapled. If the number of documents is higher than that which can be stapled, a display group 700 outputs a message 'Press start key, if a perfectly printed copy is acceptable'. After that, if an operator presses a copying button again to turn a device ON, a perfectly printed copy sheet is prepared based on a one-side printed copy, then these sheets are stapled together and thus duplication process is completed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention accumulates and aligns a plurality of filter paper sheets (hereinafter referred to as sheets) discharged from an image recording device such as a copying machine equipped with a document handling device. , stapling (hereinafter referred to as staple)
The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a capable sheet post-processing device (hereinafter referred to as a finisher).

There is a tendency for the number of sheets to increase.

In other words, it is technically difficult to increase the number of sheets to be stapled such that the number of sheets processed by RDF is 50 sheets and the number of sheets to be stapled is 30 sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus that can perform stapling even if the number of original documents exceeds the number of sheets to be stapled.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of document handling device (particularly, although a recirculating document handling device is not essential, the present invention will be described based on a recirculating document handling device).

(hereinafter referred to as RDF) and finishers naturally have limits to the number of documents they can process and the number of sheets that can be stapled.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) It is desirable that the number of sheets processed in the above two types is equal; The present invention provides a copying apparatus having a document handling device that feeds a plurality of originals one by one to a predetermined position and a sheet processing device that staples the plurality of sheets after copying. The present invention is characterized by comprising a counting means for counting the number of documents, and a display means for displaying a mode in which stapling is possible when the number of original sheets obtained by the counting means exceeds the number of sheets capable of being stapled.

(Function) According to the present invention, when the number of sheets to be stapled is exceeded, a message can be output to notify the operator of the mode in which stapling is possible.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows the internal configuration of an embodiment of a copying apparatus according to the present invention. In this figure, 100 is a main body that has an image reading function and an image recording function, and 200 is a large capacity paper feed deck 21.
5 and a pedestal with a double-sided and multiplexing device 227; 300 a circulating document feeder (RDF) that automatically feeds documents;
400 is a paper folding device that folds paper at a predetermined position; 50
0 is a finisher that has a sorting function and a stapling function (
These 300 to 500 devices can be freely combined and used with respect to the main body lOO.

A1 main body (100) In the main body 100, reference numeral 101 is an original table glass on which the original is placed, 103 is an illumination lamp (exposure lamp) that illuminates the original, and 105, 107, and 109 are scanning units that change the optical path of the reflected light of the original. reflective mirror (scanning mirror),
Reference numeral 111 is a lens having focusing and variable magnification functions, and reference numeral 113 is a fourth reflection mirror (scanning mirror) that changes the optical path. 115 is an optical system motor that drives the optical system, 117,1
19 and 121 are sensors, respectively.

131 is a photosensitive drum, 133 is a main motor that drives the first drum 131, 135 is a high voltage unit, 137 is a blank exposure unit, 139 is a developing device, 141 is a transfer charger, 143 is a separation charger, and 145 is a cleaning device. It is.

151 is the upper cassette, 153 is the lower cassette, 155
157 is a paper feed roller, and 159 is a registration roller. Further, 161 is a conveyor belt that conveys the recording paper on which an image has been recorded to the fixing side, and 163 is a fixing device that fixes the conveyed recording paper by thermocompression bonding.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 131 described above is made of a seamless photoconductor using a photoconductor and an electric conductor. The motor 133 starts rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Next, when the predetermined rotational control and potential control processing (pre-processing) of the drum 131 are completed, the original platen glass 10! The document placed above is illuminated by an illumination lamp 103 that is integrated with a first scanning mirror 105, and the reflected light from the document is reflected by the first scanning mirror 105 and the second scanning mirror 105.
Scanning mirror 107, third scanning mirror 109, lens 11
1 and a fourth scanning mirror 113 to form an image on the drum 131.

The drum 131 is corona charged by a high pressure unit 135. After that, the image illuminated by the illumination lamp 103 (
The original image) is exposed to slit light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 131 using a known NP method.

Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 131 is transferred to a developing device 139.
The toner image is developed by the developing roller 14G and visualized as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by the transfer charger 141 as described later.

That is, the upper cassette 151 or the lower cassette 1
The transfer paper in 53 is fed into the main unit by paper feed rollers 155 or 157, and is sent toward the photosensitive drum 131 with accurate timing by registration rollers 159, so that the leading edge of the latent image and the leading edge of the transfer paper are aligned. matched. Thereafter, the transfer paper passes between the transfer charger 141 and the drum 131, so that the toner image on the drum 131 is transferred onto the transfer paper. After this transfer is completed, the transfer paper is transferred to the drum 131.
is separated by a separation charger 143 from the transport belt 16.
1 to a fixing device 163, where it is fixed by pressure and heat, and then discharged from the main body 100 by a discharge roller 165.

After the transfer, the drum 131 continues to rotate, and its surface is cleaned by a cleaning device 145 composed of a cleaning roller and an elastic blade.

B. Pedestal (20G) The pedestal (200) has a large-capacity paper feed deck 215 and a duplex and multiplexing device 227, and the sheet S on the deck 215 passes through the paper feed roller 210 and the delivery roller 220 and reaches the registration roller 159. .

Further, the sheet that has passed through the discharge roller 165 is guided by a flapper 226 to a double-sided multiplexing device 227, passes through a bus 229, and is stacked on a tray 230.

Here, when performing a six-sided image forming operation in which a second image is formed on the opposite side of the sheet S, the sheet is guided to the tray 227 through paths 231 and 232, but the second image is formed on the same side as the handsome image. In the case of the multiplex mode in which the image forming operation is performed, after passing through the path 231, the sheet is switched to the path 234 by the flapper 223 and guided to the tray 227.

In any of the above operations, the sheets S loaded on the tray 227 are separated one by one by a separation roller 235, pass through a bus 235, pass through a delivery roller 220, and then pass through a registration roller 159 to form a second image. It turns out.

C, RDF (circulating document feeder) (300) RDF
In 300, 301 is a stacking tray on which originals are set. Document size detection sensors 302 and 303 are provided at a predetermined interval in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the document. The size of the document in the width direction depends on whether both sensors 302 and 303 are detecting the document, or only one sensor 303 (assuming that sensor 303 is located at the back of the paper) is detecting the document. This can be determined by checking whether there are any. Note that by increasing the number of sensors of this type, a more accurate size can be determined. Further, the lengthwise size can be determined based on the time period during which the sensor 303 (or 302) detects the document.

In addition, in this RDF30G, the document sent from the stacking tray 301 to the exposure surface through the sheet bus 304 is sent through the sheet bus 305 and returned to the stacking tray 301.
A sensor 307 detects the presence or absence of documents on the tray 301. At this time, the document sensor 308 detects the document passing on the sheet bus 305, and the CPIJIIOI (FIG. 3)
The number of originals placed on 01 is counted.

The detailed operation of the RDF 300 is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-20fi819 filed by the present applicant, but since it is not directly related to the present invention, it will be omitted here.

09 Paper Folding Device (400) The paper folding device 400 performs half-folding, which folds recorded transfer paper approximately at its center position, and Z-folding, which folds the recorded transfer paper into thirds with a roughly Z-shaped cross section at two predetermined positions. In this paper folding device 400, 401 is a flapper that guides the transfer paper downward during paper folding, 403 and 405 are buses (conveyance path), 407
and 409 are folding rollers.

In the paper folding device 400, when Z-folding is specified using the Z-folding key described later, the flapper 401 is turned on and the recorded paper is guided to the lower bus 403 and the leading edge of the paper is stopped at the end of the bus 403. Then, the roller 407 is passed through the
The paper part folded into 4 hits the end of the bus 405,
Further, the paper is folded in half and guided to the finisher 500 through the rollers 407 and 409 again.

Also, when half-fold is specified using the half-fold key described later,
The recorded paper is folded in half at the bus 403, and then, without going to the bus 405, it is directly discharged from the rollers 409 to the finisher 500. On the other hand, when the fold key is not specified and there is no paper folding, the flapper 401 is turned off and the recorded paper is directly sent to the finisher 500.
is discharged to.

E. Finisher (500) In the finisher 500 that sorts or staples recorded paper, 501 is a bus switching sheet discharge flapper that selectively switches to either the sorting bus 503 or the stapling bus 505; 507; is a staple tray that temporarily stores recorded paper before being stapled.
509 is a width regulating plate provided on the staple tray 507, 511 is a stapler (document binding machine) that staples a plurality of recorded papers whose widths are regulated by the width plate 509, and 513 is a stapled and recorded paper. This is a stacker tray for storing paper, and the width baffle plate 509 is driven and controlled by a stepping motor (not shown). Reference numeral 515 denotes a sorting tray for sorting recording sheets that are not stapled.

The recorded paper discharged from the main body 100 is folded in half or Z-folded by the paper folding device 400 according to the specification of the key, and then the finisher 500 oscillates the paper to be discharged to the tray 515 or to the staple tray. 507 and the recorded paper discharged to the staple tray 507 is regulated in width by a width baffle plate 509 for each part of the specified number of sheets.
Stapled with stapler 511 and stacker tray 513
be dropped to

That is, in the finisher 500, when the stapling mode is selected using the staple key described later, the paper ejection flapper 501 is turned on and the recorded paper is ejected to the staple tray 507 via the bus 505, and when the specified number of sheets is reached, The width baffle plate 509 and the stapler 511 are turned on according to instructions from the main body 100, and the recorded sheets are stapled. Thereafter, the stapled paper is dropped onto the stacker tray 513. By repeating this operation, a plurality of recorded documents that are collated and stapled are completed.

A sensor 517 detects the presence or absence of staples, and for example, a reflective sensor is used.

Furthermore, when stapling processing is not selected, the paper ejection flapper 501 is turned off and the sorting is switched to the side, and the recorded paper passes through the bus 503 and is sorted into the tray 515.
is discharged to. At that time, according to the instructions from the main body 100, shift the sheets by 30 mm to the left and right in units of a good number of sheets.
Recorded paper can be loaded.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of the operation panel provided on the main body 100 described above. The operation panel has a key group 600 and a display group 700 as described below.

602 is an all reset key, which is pressed to return to the standard mode.

604 is a copy start key (copy start key);
Press to start copying.

605 is a clear/stop key, which functions as a clear key during standby and as a stop key during copy recording. This clear key is pressed to cancel the set number of copies. Also, press the stop key to interrupt continuous copying. The copying operation stops after the copying at the time when the button is pressed is completed.

Numeric keys 606 are pressed to set the number of copies.

608 and 609 are copy density keys, which are pressed to manually adjust the copy density; 61O is the ^E key;
611 is the cassette selection key, which is pressed to automatically adjust the copy density according to the density of the original, or to cancel AE (automatic density adjustment) and switch the density adjustment to manual. Cassette 151. Press to select middle cassette 153. Also, when a document is placed on the RDF300, use this key 611 to
S (automatic paper cassette selection) can be selected. When 8PS is selected, a cassette of the same size as the original is automatically selected.

612 is the same size key, which is pressed when making a copy at the same size (original size); 613 is the auto size change key, which automatically reduces or enlarges the original image to match the specified transfer paper size. 614 and 615 are zoom keys, which are pressed when specifying an arbitrary magnification between 64 and 142. 618 and 817 are fixed magnification keys, which are used to specify reduction or enlargement of a fixed size. Press.

625 is a staple key, which is pressed to staple the recorded paper; 626 is a two-fold key;
627 is the half-fold key, which is pressed to fold recorded paper of size 3 or 4 into a Z-shaped cross section, and is pressed to fold recorded paper of size 3 or 4 in half.

628 is a sort key, and sorting is done by tray (sorter) 5.
If 15 is connected, it is lit in standard mode. At this time, press this key 628 to cancel the sort mode or to enter the sort mode. 629 is a group key, which copies multiple sheets from one original and sorts them if the tray 515 is connected. , sorted bin by bin is stored in the tray 515.

G. Display group (700) In FIG. 2, 701 is an LCD (liquid crystal) type message display, for example, one character is made up of 5×7 dots and can display a message for 40 characters.

Further, 705 is a copy number display, which displays the number of copies or a self-diagnosis code. 706 is a used cassette indicator, which indicates the upper cassette 151. Middle cassette 153.
Display which one is selected.

708 is the ^E display, and the AE key 810
Lights up when (automatic density adjustment) is selected.

710 is a ready/wait indicator, which is a two-color LED of green and orange; green lights up when ready (when copying is possible) and when waiting (when copying is not possible).
lights up orange.

H1 control device (aOO) FIG. 3 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the control device 800 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. ), and for example, a Microsimputer μC0M8780 manufactured by NEC (NEC Corporation) is used. Reference numeral 803 denotes a read-only memory (ROM) in which a control procedure (control program) as shown in FIG. 4 and subsequent figures according to the present invention is stored in advance.
The CPU 801 controls each component device connected via the bus according to the control procedure stored in this ROM. δo5 is a random access memory (RAM) which is a main storage device used for storing input data and as a working storage area.

807 is an interface (tlo), ao that outputs a CPU 801 control signal to a load such as the main motor 113;
q manually inputs the input signal from the image tip sensor 121, etc. to the CPU 8.
Interface to send to 01, +111 is key group 800
This is an interface for controlling input/output between the display group 700 and the display group 700. These interfaces 807, 80
9゜all is, for example, Nee's input/output circuit board μPD8
255 is used.

Note that the display group 700 is each display device shown in FIG. 3, and uses LEDs and LCDs. In addition, the key group 600
are the keys shown in FIG. 2, and the CPO 301 knows which key has been pressed using a known key matrix.

Further, the CPU 801 is connected to the RDF 300, the paper folding device 400, and the finisher 500 via pass lines to operate the respective devices.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 1, when the stapling mode is selected and a copy execution command is started, the RDF starts counting the number of original sheets.

Next, in step 2, the number of originals counted in step 2 is compared with the maximum number of sheets to be stapled. If the number of sheets is exceeded, the process goes to step 3, but if it is within the number of sheets to be stapled, the process goes to step 6 and the normal copying operation is performed. Let it proceed. In step 3, the display group 700 outputs the following message.

“If you want double-sided copying, press the start key.” Next, the process goes to step 4, but if the operator turns on the copy button again, the process goes to step 5, where a double-sided copy sheet is created from the single-sided original and stapled. Then, the copying operation ends. If multiple copies are required, execute step 5 the desired number of times.

If the operator does not wish to continue in step 4, the message disappears and the operation ends by removing the document from the RDF.

The above assumes copying from a single-sided original to double-sided in message output step 3, but it is also possible to output a message to the effect that the sheet is to be divided and stapled while remaining in the single-sided mode. For example, if the staple capacity is 30 sheets for 50 originals, it is also possible to output staple bundles of 30+25.25+25.

The manuscript is A4. If it is a small size like BS, two originals will be sent out in succession on the original glass using RDF, and a message will be sent to the display indicating that A3 or 841 copy sheets will be ejected as shown in Figure 5. It is also possible to execute

In addition, multiple messages are output, and the operator selects one from them.
It is also possible to select and execute one (for example, by using the numeric keypad), and it also has a mode storage means that stores one of the modes of the above message, and stores it in the mode storage means automatically or when the start button is pressed again. It is also possible to restart copying in the current mode.

In the present invention, a finisher that outputs a bundle of sheets one part at a time is assumed as the sheet processing device, but it can of course also be realized by a staple sorter, for example, which is a combination device that continuously sorts sheets with a stapling means added. It is possible.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a document handling device capable of document recirculation (
Although the explanation has been made assuming an ADF (RDF), even if recirculation is not possible, it is possible for the operator to automatically count the originals and then manually set the originals in the paper feeder again. Stomach afic Document Fee
It is clear that the present invention can also be implemented even in the case of der) without deviating from the gist of the present invention.

This is very convenient as it allows you to view the settings, and it also prevents you from wasting time having to re-set the mode.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the structure of one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the operation panel, Fig. 3 is a control circuit block diagram of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is the operation in staple mode. Flowchart FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display. [Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the document handling device counts the documents, and when the number of documents exceeds the stapling capacity, the stapling possible mode is set in the tables 4 and 5.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In a copying apparatus having a document handling device that feeds a plurality of documents one by one to a predetermined position and a sheet processing device that staples a plurality of sheets after copying, the document handling device A copying apparatus comprising: a counting means for counting the number of originals on the apparatus; and a display means for displaying a mode in which stapling is possible when the number of originals obtained by the counting means exceeds the stapling capacity number. . 2) The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays that a double-sided copy is obtained from a single-sided original. 3) The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a mode for simultaneously copying two originals. 4) The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a mode in which multiple sheets of copy paper are divided into multiple pieces and stapled.