JPH0385555A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by displaying the time when all images are completely formed at the beginning of and during image formation. CONSTITUTION:Setting means 33 and 35 - 41 set the number of sheets to be image formed, the size of a medium to be image-formed, a cassette used, etc., a timer 83 counts a present time, and an instructing means 31 instructs the start of image formation. A main part 71 calculates the time required till all images are formed on the medium to be image-formed P after the instructing means 31 is instructed, from conditions set by the setting means 33, and 35 - 41, judges the time required till all images completely formed from the calculated time and the present time counted by the timer 83, and displays the judged time on a display means 34. Therefore, the time when all images are completely formed can be obtained during image formation. Thus, operability is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus applied to, for example, an electronic copying machine.

(Prior Art) As is well known, when copying an original image onto paper, a copying machine sets editing functions such as the number of copies, paper size, magnification, and masking before starting copying. It has become. However, such copying machines often perform a large amount of copying, and there is no indication of the time required for copying. In this case, an operator must be present from the start to the end of copying, or must check midway through the process to see how many copies are left to complete, resulting in poor operability. Therefore, there is a need for something that can tell the end time when copying starts.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, there is a demand for something that can know the end time when image formation starts, and can also know the end time when image formation starts, and even in the middle of image formation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can know the end time and has good operability.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Task M4) The image forming apparatus of the present invention reads an image of a document on a document table, and depending on the read image, prints a target image stored in one of a plurality of cassettes. In a device that forms an image on a forming medium, a setting means for setting the number of images to be formed, the size of the image forming medium, a cassette to be used, etc., a clock means for measuring the current time, an instruction means for instructing the start of image formation, and this instruction. Calculate the time from when the means is instructed until images are formed on all the image forming media from the conditions set by the above setting means, and from this calculated time and the current time according to the above time measuring means. The apparatus is provided with a determining means for determining the end time of image formation, and a display means for displaying the time determined by the determining means.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention reads an image of a document on a document table and forms an image on an image forming medium stored in one of a plurality of cassettes according to the read image, the number of sheets on which images are formed, Setting means for setting the image forming medium size, cassette to be used, etc.; clock means for measuring the current time; instruction means for instructing the start of image formation; a calculation means for calculating the time until the image is formed from the conditions set by the setting means; and a judgment for determining the end time of all image formation from the time calculated by the calculation means and the current time determined by the time measurement means. means, and during standby when image forming processing is not being performed, displaying the current time by the clocking means, and when the setting means is making settings;
The time calculated by the calculation means is displayed, and the image formation end time determined by the determination means is displayed from when the instruction means instructs the start of image formation until the image is formed on all the image forming media. It is equipped with display means for displaying.

(Function) According to the present invention, the end time when all image formation ends is displayed at the start of image formation, and the end time when all image formation ends is displayed even in the middle of image formation.

In addition, the present invention displays the current time during standby when image forming processing is not being performed, displays the time until image formation is completed when settings are being made by the setting means, and displays the time until image formation is completed, and the instruction means The image formation end time is displayed from the time when the start of image formation is instructed until the image is formed on all the image forming media.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show an image forming apparatus of the present invention, such as a copying machine. That is, 1 is a main body of a copying machine, and a document table (transparent glass) 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the main body 1 to support a document. Fixed scales 21 are provided at both ends of the document table 2 to serve as a reference for setting the document. Further, near the document table 2, a document cover 11 and a work table 12, which can be opened and closed, are provided.

The original placed on the original table 2 is moved by an optical system consisting of an exposure lamp 4 and mirrors 5, 6, 7 along the lower surface of the original table 2 in the directions of arrows a and b. Exposure scanning is performed during reciprocation. The light reflected from the original by the scanning of the optical system, that is, the light reflected from the original by the light irradiation of the exposure lamp 4 is reflected by the mirror 5.6.7.
After being reflected by the zoom lens 8, it is further reflected by the mirror 91%92.93 and guided to the photoreceptor drum (image carrier) 10, where an image of the document is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10. It has become so.

On the lower side of the document table 2, there is a well-known document size detector 9 that optically detects the size of the document placed on the document table 2.
0 is set. For example, A3 size, A4 size, B4 size, B5 size, and A5 size are detected.

The photosensitive drum 1o rotates in the direction of the arrow C shown in the figure, and the surface is first charged by the charging device 11, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by slit exposure of the image. This electrostatic latent image is turned into a visible image by adhesion of toner by developing devices 121 and 122 in which toner is stored.

On the other hand, the paper (image forming medium) P is delivered from the selected upper paper feed force set 1311 middle paper feed cassette 132 or lower paper feed cassette 133 to the feed rollers 141 and 142.
．． 143 and roller pair 151% 152.153 take out the sheets one by one, and the paper guide path 161.162.1
63 to a pair of registration rollers 17, and is guided to a transfer section by this pair of registration rollers 17. Here, the above paper feed cassette 131.132
．． 133 is removably provided at the lower right end of the main body 1, and either one can be selected on the operation panel described later.

In addition, each of the above paper feed cassettes 131, 132, and 133 has a cassette size detection switch 6011, 602, and 60, respectively.
3, the cassette size is detected. This cassette size detection switch 601.602.603
is composed of a plurality of microswitches that are turned on and off according to the insertion of cassettes of different sizes.

The paper P sent to the transfer section comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the transfer charger (transfer means) 18, so that the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 10 is generated by the action of the charger 18. is transcribed.

The transferred paper P is electrostatically peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the action of the peeling charger 19 and placed on the conveyor belt 20.
The transferred image is conveyed by a fixing roller 21, which serves as a fixing device, provided at the end thereof, and the transferred image is fixed by passing therethrough. After fixing, the paper P is discharged to a tray 25 outside the main body 1 by a pair of delivery rollers 22. Further, the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer is
The residual toner on the surface is removed by the cleaner 26, and the residual image is erased by the static elimination lamp 27, thereby returning to the initial state. Note that 29 is a cooling fan for preventing the temperature inside the main body 1 from rising.

FIG. 4 shows the operation panel 30 provided on the main body 1. This operation panel 30 includes a copy key 31 for instructing to start copying, and a clear key 32 for clearing settings such as number of copies.
, a numeric keypad 33 for setting the number of copies, etc., a liquid crystal display section 34 for displaying the copy magnification, current time, copy end (completion) time, number of copies, operation guidance, etc., a same-size key 35 for instructing the same-size copy, and the above-mentioned a magnification change key 36 for changing the copy magnification displayed on the display section 34 in 1% increments in the direction of reduction; and a magnification change key 37 for changing the copy magnification displayed on the display section 34 in the direction of enlargement in 1% increments; Page snapshot (
a page continuous copying key 38 for instructing special functions), a cassette selection key 39 for selecting paper feed cassettes 131, 13□, 133, and an original size display section 40 for displaying the size of the original placed on the original platen 2. and a paper size display section 41 on which the size of paper P in the paper feed cassette selected by the cassette selection key 39 is displayed. The copying magnification can be set between 50% and 200%.

The page continuous copying key 38 and the cassette selection key 39 are self-illuminated keys.

FIG. 5 shows the overall control circuit.

The main control unit 71 detects human power from input devices 75 such as the operation panel 30 and various switches and sensors, such as the document size detector 90 and cassette size detection switches 601, 602, and 603, and drives each of the chargers. High voltage transformer 76, the static elimination lamp 27, the cleaner 2
No. 6 blade solenoid 26a1 said fixing roller pair 23
The copying operation described above is performed by controlling the heater 23a, the exposure lamp 4, and the like.

The exposure lamp 4 is controlled by the main control section 71 via the lamp regulator 81, and the heater 23a is controlled by the heater control section 8.
It is controlled by the main control section 71 via 2.

The main control section 71 also controls the display of the document size display section 40 in the operation panel 30 in accordance with the document size detected by the document size detector 90. For example, if the original size is "A4", "A4" is displayed lit.

The main control section 71 controls the display of the paper size display section 41 in the operation panel 30 in accordance with the paper size of the paper feed cassette selected by the cassette selection key 39. For example, if the lower paper feed cassette 133 is selected,
When A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 133, "A4" is lit and displayed.

In addition, the main control unit 71 displays the current time measured by the timer 83 on the display unit 34, and also displays the copy time (copy time), that is, all copies, depending on the copy magnification, number of copies, page speed copying, etc. The copying end time is calculated until the end of the process and the last sheet P is ejected, and the calculated copying end time is added to the current time read from the timer 83 to determine the copying end time, and the determined copying end time is determined by adding this calculated copying end time to the current time read from the timer 83. The time is displayed on the display section 34.

Next, the copying operation of the present invention in the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, in standby mode, the copy magnification is set to 100% and the number of copies is set to 1, and this state is displayed on the display 34.
is displayed.

At this time, the current time read from the timer 83 is also displayed on the display section 34.

In this state, when an A4 size document is placed on the document table 2, the document size r detected by the document size detector 90
A4 size” is output to the main control unit 71. Main control section 7
1 lights up and displays the "A4" portion of the document size display section 4°. The main control unit 71 also selects the lower paper feed cassette 133 that stores A4 size paper, lights up the “A4” portion of the paper size display unit 41, and presses the “Lower 1” portion of the cassette selection key 39. At this time, the main control unit 71 calculates a copy time of 10 seconds from the copy magnification of 100%, the number of copies of 1, the original size rA4J, and the paper size "A4", and starts the timer 83. The copy end time (10:
15:50), and as shown in FIG.
Display in 4. The above copy time is determined to be ``10 seconds'' based on ``first copy coefficient (8 seconds) + number of copies (1 sheet) x 2 seconds''.

Thereafter, in response to input of the copy key 31, the main control unit 71
starts the above-mentioned copying operation, and during this copying operation, the current time on the display unit 34 is updated and displayed in 1-second increments in response to the 1-second signal supplied from the timer 83. .

Also, before the copy key 31 is turned on, the number of copies is set using the numeric keypad 33, the magnification is changed using the magnification change keys 36 and 37, and page rapid copying is instructed using the page continuous copy key 38. If such conditions occur, the copy time corresponding to those conditions is calculated, and the copy end time is determined from this copy time and the current time from the timer 83 and displayed in the same manner as above. For example, after 15 copies are set using the numeric keypad 33, the main control unit 7
1, the copy time is calculated as "38 seconds" from the copy magnification of 100%, the number of copies of 15 sheets, the original size of "A4", and the paper size of "A4", and this copy time and the current time from the timer 83 ( 10:15:45), the copy end time (10:16:23) is determined and displayed on the display unit 34 as shown in FIG. The above copy time is "first copy coefficient (8 seconds) + number of copies (15 sheets) x 2 seconds"
Accordingly, it was determined to be 38 seconds.

Thereafter, in response to input of the copy key 31, the main control unit 71
starts the copying operation described above. At this time, the current time on the display section 34 is updated and displayed in 1-second j increments in response to the 1-second signal supplied from the timer 83.

For example, when the first copy is completed, the copy magnification is 100%, the current time (10:15:55
), the copy end time (1o:16:23), and the number of remaining copies (14) are displayed on the display unit 34.

Note that in the above example, we explained the case where the paper size is set according to the original size, but this is not limited to this, and the same operation as above is now possible when the paper size is selected regardless of the original size. There is.

As described above, the time at which all copies end is displayed at the start of copying, and the time at which all copies end is displayed even during the middle of copying. in this way,
If you know the time when copying ends, you can complete other tasks during that time, and you can just pick up the copy after it's finished, and you don't have to check how many copies are left midway through, which improves operability. Are better.

In the above embodiment, the case where the current time and the copy end time are displayed has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in the figure, a copy time key 42 and a copy completion time key 43 are provided, and normally the current time (10:15:45
) is displayed, and only while the copy time key 42 is pressed, the copy time (00:00:38) is displayed instead of the current time, as shown in FIG. 10, and the copy completion time key 43 is pressed. As shown in Figure 11, the copy completion time (10:1
6:23) may be displayed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, a current time key 44, a copy time key 45, a copy completion time key 46
is provided, and when the current time key 44 is turned on, the first
As shown in FIG. 2, when the current time (10:15:45) is displayed and the copy time key 45 is turned on, the copy time (DO: 00:
38) is displayed and the copy completion time key 46 is pressed, the copy completion time (
10:16:23) may be displayed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to know the end time at the start of image formation, and also to know the end time even in the middle of image formation, resulting in easy-to-operate image formation. equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 show an embodiment of this invention.
Figure 1 is a flowchart for explaining the main parts of the operation.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the overall control circuit. , FIGS. 6 to 8 are plan views of the operation panel for explaining display examples of the display section, and FIGS. 9 to 14 are plan views for explaining display examples of the display section in other embodiments. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel. 1...Main body, 2...Original table, 13. 132.13
3...Paper feed cassette, 30...Operation panel, 31.
...Copy key 32...Clear key 33...Numeric keypad 34...Display, 36.37...Magnification change key 38...Page continuous copying key 39...Cassette selection key, 40... - Original size display section, 41...Paper size display section, 60+, 602.603...Cassette size detection switch, 71...Main control section, 83
...Timer, 90...Document size detector.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus that reads an image of a document on a document table and forms an image on an image forming medium stored in one of a plurality of cassettes according to the read image, the number of sheets to be imaged, the number of images to be formed, A setting means for setting the medium size, the cassette to be used, etc.; a clock means for measuring the current time; an instruction means for instructing the start of image formation; determining means for calculating the time until the image is formed from the conditions set by the setting means and determining the end time of all image formation from the calculated time and the current time according to the time measuring means; An image forming apparatus comprising: display means for displaying the time determined by the means; (2) In an image forming apparatus that reads an image of a document on a document table and forms an image on an image forming medium stored in one of a plurality of cassettes according to the read image, the number of sheets to be imaged, the number of sheets to be imaged, A setting means for setting the medium size, the cassette to be used, etc.; a clock means for measuring the current time; an instruction means for instructing the start of image formation; a calculation means for calculating the time until the image is formed from the conditions set by the setting means; and determining the end time of all image formation from the time calculated by the calculation means and the current time determined by the time measurement means. a determining means; during standby when image forming processing is not being performed, displays the current time by the clocking means; when setting by the setting means is made, displays the time calculated by the calculating means; A display means for displaying the image formation end time determined by the determination means from the time when the instruction means instructs the start of image formation until the image is formed on all the image forming media. image forming apparatus. (3) The display means is capable of selectively displaying the current time determined by the time measurement means, the time calculated by the calculation means, or the end time of image formation determined by the determination means. Claim 2 characterized by
The image forming apparatus described above.