JPH0349498Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention relates to a copying machine, and in particular, a copying machine that adopts a full-surface exposure method and prevents light leakage from the platen area during exposure operation. Regarding the improvement of

[Prior Art] A general copying machine only has the function of copying the original image on the platen onto copy paper, but recently, the original image can be temporarily stored and the stored original image can be freely copied. There is a strong demand for copying and reproducing a saved original image and the original image on a platen in combination.

Conventional copying machines that meet these demands include:
2. Description of the Related Art A so-called slit exposure type copying machine has been proposed in which a lamp carriage that moves along one direction of a platen is provided with an original reading means, and the original image is read by this original reading means.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, when trying to apply such a conventional document reading system to a so-called full exposure type copying machine, the full exposure type copying machine has a lamp carriage as described above. Since there is no such mechanism, a mechanism for moving the document reading means must be provided separately, which causes the problem that the structure of the copying machine itself becomes complicated.

By the way, the above-mentioned full-surface exposure type copying machine is designed to instantly irradiate the entire surface of the platen with light, so when the platen cover is opened, a lot of light leaks from the platen area outside the document area, causing damage to the surrounding area such as the operator. There is a risk that it may hurt people's eyes. In order to solve this kind of situation, conventionally,
A plurality of light-shielding sheets are movably arranged along the platen surface, and the light-shielding sheets are moved forward and backward as appropriate by a driving means, so that the platen area outside the original area is covered with each of the light-shielding sheets during exposure operation. has already been provided (see Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-65057).

[Means and actions for solving the problem] This invention was made with a focus on the above problem, and the problem is that it is based on a full exposure type, and the mechanism is complicated. To provide a copying machine capable of storing original images in addition to normal copying operations without having to do so. In order to achieve this objective, this invention arranges a plurality of light-shielding sheets movably along the platen surface, moves each of the light-shielding sheets back and forth appropriately by a driving means, and removes the document area from the original area during exposure operation. Focusing on a full exposure type copying machine in which the platen area of the platen is covered with each of the above-mentioned light-shielding sheets, a document reading means is provided along the edge of one of the light-shielding sheets facing the platen, and this document reading means is covered with light-shielding sheets. The document image is read by moving the sheet along with the document area.

In this invention, since the document reading means is moved by the driving means of the light-shielding sheet, there is no need for a means for independently moving only the document reading means.

[Example] Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the copying machine is of a so-called corner registration type, which employs a full-surface exposure method and uses one corner of the platen 1 as a reference point R for positioning the document 2. A pair of light shielding sheets 3 (specifically, 3a and 3b) are arranged on the lower surface of the platen 1, and are supported so as to be movable forward and backward along the length and width directions of the platen 1 via guide rails (not shown). On the other hand, each of the light shielding sheets 3 is moved forward and backward via a driving means 4,
Further, a document reading means 5 is provided at the end of one of the light-shielding sheets 3a facing the platen 1.

In this embodiment, each of the light-shielding sheets 3 is made of a flexible non-transparent film, and a guide bar 6 is attached to the end facing the platen 1, and both ends of the guide bar 6 are It is attached so that it can slide freely along the guide rail. One end of each of the light-shielding sheets 3 is drawn out of the housing 7 through a slit (not shown) formed in one side wall of the housing 7. Further, the driving means 4 for each of the light shielding sheets 3 is, for example, a pair of pulse motors 11 (specifically, 11a, 11
One end of each of the light shielding sheets 3 is fixed to a pair of drive shafts 12 which are rotationally driven in b), and one end of each wire 13 is fixed to the other end of each light shielding sheet 3. A drive pulley 14 is attached to one end side, and each wire 13 is wrapped around the wires 13 via an appropriate number of driven pulleys 15.
The other end of the wire 13 is fixed to the drive pulley 14, and a spring 16 is interposed in a part of each wire 13 to keep the wire 13 in tension. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 17 indicates a guide roller that guides each of the light-shielding sheets 3 toward the drive shaft 12. As shown in FIG.

The document reading means 5 is provided along the guide bar 6 of the light-shielding sheet 3a, and has a length approximately equal to the width direction dimension of the platen 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A reading light source 21 that has a reading light source 21 and emits light toward the platen 1 side.
and a large number of reading sensors 22 which are arranged at narrow pitch intervals p within a range approximately in the width direction of the platen 1 and which output electrical signals in accordance with the amount of reflected light from the corresponding irradiation surface. The signal line to the reading light source 21 and each reading sensor 22 is composed of, for example, a ribbon cable 23, and this ribbon cable 23 is arranged along the lower surface of the light shielding sheet 3a, and is integrated with the light shielding sheet 3a. It is drawn out from the housing 7 and connected to a predetermined control unit 30 (see FIG. 5).

Further, in this embodiment, the control unit 30 operates the document reading means 5 in conjunction with the reading start signal ST based on the ON operation of a reading switch (not shown), and the control switch _SW1 is in the ON operating state. When set to , the document reading means 5
The read data is stored in the corresponding address of the memory 31, and when the control switch _SW1 is set to the OFF operating state, the read data is sent to the document information processing unit 32. On the other hand, when the read switch SW ₂ is set to the ON state, the control unit 30 reads the read data from the memory 31 and inputs the data signal to the laser unit 33, for example. Then, the document information processing unit 32 detects the size and density of the document 2 based on the input document image data, and controls the pulse motor 11 based on the detected document size signal.
Controls the stop timing of the light-shielding sheets 3 to stop each of the light-shielding sheets 3 at the edge position of the original 2 during the exposure operation, and
The original size signal is input to the copy paper selection means 34, and the detected original density signal is input to the original density control means 35. In this case, the copy paper selection means 34 selects a copy paper of a size corresponding to the original size based on the input original size signal, and sets a desired copy magnification for a predetermined size of copy paper. The document density control means 35 controls the exposure amount and development density to obtain a desired document image density. In addition, the laser unit 32
irradiates the laser beam corresponding to the input document image data, and the photoreceptor 40 is irradiated with the laser beam.
A latent image corresponding to the original image is formed thereon.

In this embodiment, one of the light shielding sheets 3a reciprocates once along the surface of the platen in conjunction with the ON operation of the reading switch.

Therefore, according to the copying machine according to this embodiment, when it is desired to save the original image, the control switch _SW1
After setting the reading switch to the on state, the reading switch may be turned on. At this time,
Since one of the light-shielding sheets 3a moves along the surface of the platen 1 and the original reading means 5 is activated, the original reading means 5 reads the image of the original 2 in the original 2 area. That is, when the light from the reading light source 21 irradiates the two surfaces of the original, there is a difference in the amount of light reflected from the irradiated surface depending on whether the irradiated surface is the background surface of the original 2 or the data portion surface of the original 2. generated and read sensor 22
The output corresponding to the original image is obtained. Then, the read original image data is stored in the memory 31 in a readable manner.

Furthermore, when copying and reproducing the original image stored in the memory 31, it is sufficient to turn on the readout switch _SW2 . At this time, the memory 31
The original image data stored in the control unit 30
After being read out by the laser unit 32, a latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the photoreceptor 40, and after the latent image is developed with toner, the image is transferred and fixed. The original image will be copied onto copy paper.

Furthermore, when performing a simple copying operation, first set the control switch SW ₁ to the OFF operating state, then turn on the reading switch, and then turn on the copying switch (not shown). good. At this time, the original image is read by the original reading means 5, and this original image data is sent to the original information processing unit 32, and the size and density of the original 2 are detected in the original information processing unit 32. The signal is used as a control signal for the copying process to be performed. Then, based on the document size signal, each light shielding sheet 3 moves from the initial position (for example, a position where the platen 1 is fully closed) to the edge position of the document 2 and stops, and a predetermined copy paper and a predetermined copy magnification are At the same time, the exposure amount or development density is set to a predetermined value based on the document density signal. In this state, if you turn on the copy switch,
An exposure lamp (not shown) emits light, illuminating the entire surface of the platen 1 at the same time. Then, the illuminated original image is projected onto the photoreceptor 40 via an imaging means not shown, and this projected latent image is developed with toner and goes through the steps of transfer and fixing, thereby completing one copying step. do. In this case, since the platen 1 area outside the document area is covered with each light shielding sheet 3,
A situation in which light leaks from the platen 1 area when the platen cover is opened is effectively avoided.

In the above embodiment, the document reading means 5 is also used as a means for detecting the size and density of the document 2, but the invention is not limited to this. There is no problem even if it is provided separately from means 5. Further, in the above embodiment, the laser unit 3 is used as an external unit connected to the control unit 30.
3 is shown, but it is needless to say that it is not limited to this and can be selected as appropriate. Furthermore, the specific configurations of the document reading means 5 and its control means are not limited to those shown in the above embodiments, and may be modified in design as appropriate.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, the copying machine according to this invention utilizes the structure of a full-surface exposure type copying machine equipped with a light-shielding sheet, and avoids providing an independent mechanism for moving the document reading means. Therefore, even in a full exposure type copying machine, it is possible to save original images in addition to normal copying operations without complicating the mechanism itself.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a copying machine according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the middle part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a Third
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a system for processing output data from the document reading means. 1... Platen, 2... Document, 3... Light-shielding sheet, 4... Drive means, 5... Original reading means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A plurality of light-shielding sheets are movably arranged along the platen surface, each of the light-shielding sheets is moved forward and backward as appropriate by a driving means, and the platen area outside the document area is covered with each of the light-shielding sheets during exposure operation. In an exposure type copying machine, a document reading means is provided along the edge of one of the light-shielding sheets facing the platen, and the document image is read by moving the document reading means together with the light-shielding sheet in the document area. A copying machine characterized by: