JPH0385557A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by displaying the image formation completion time when all images are completely formed at the beginning of image formation and display the image formation completion time based on the number of sheets to be housed when the number of sheets to be image-formed is greater than the number of mediums to be image-formed which is housed in a cassette used. CONSTITUTION:A main control part 71 judges whether the number of sheets to be image-formed set by setting means 33 and 35 - 41 is greater than the number of sheets to be housed detected by detecting means 611 - 613 or not. When the main control part 71 judges that the number of sheets to be image-formed is less than the number of sheets to be housed, it calculates the time required till images are formed on all mediums to be image-formed after an instructing means 31 is instructed, from conditions set by setting means 33 and 35 - 41. When the main control part 71 judges that the number of sheets to be image-formed is greater than the number of sheets to be housed, it is calculates the time till the images are formed on all mediums to be image-formed P which are housed after then instructing means 31 is instructed, from the conditions set by the setting means 33 and 35 - 41, and displays the calculated time on a display means 34. Therefore, the time required till all images are completly formed can be informed at the beginning of 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 midway through the copying process, the user must confirm how many copies are left to complete, resulting in poor operability. Therefore, there is a need for something that can tell the time until the end of copying when it starts.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, there is a demand for a device that can tell the time until the end of image formation when it starts, and that can be used to The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with good quality.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) An image forming apparatus of the present invention reads an image of a document on a document table, and according to the read image, prints an image to be imaged stored in one of a plurality of cassettes. In an apparatus for forming an image on a forming medium, a detection means for detecting the number of image forming media stored in the cassette, the number of images to be formed, the size of the image forming medium,
A setting means for setting the cassette to be used, special functions, etc., a determining means for determining whether the number of images to be formed set by this setting means is greater than the number of stored sheets detected by the detection means, and an instruction to start image formation. If the number of sheets to be imaged is determined to be smaller than the number of sheets to be stored by the determining means, the time from when the instruction means is instructed to when images are formed on all the image forming media is determined by the above-mentioned method. If the determination means determines that the number of images to be formed is greater than the number of stored sheets based on the conditions set by the setting means, the number of images to be formed on the image forming medium for the stored number of sheets is determined by the instruction means after the instruction is given. The apparatus is provided with a calculation means for calculating the time until formation from the conditions set by the setting means, and a display means for displaying the time calculated by the calculation means.

(Function) This invention displays the image formation end time when all image formation ends at the start of image formation, and when the number of image formation sheets is greater than the number of image formation media stored in the used cassette, The image forming end time is displayed based on the number of stored sheets.

(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 mirrors 91, 92, and 93 via the zoom lens 8, it is guided to the photoreceptor drum (image carrier) 10, and 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 photoreceptor drum 10 rotates in the direction of arrow C in the figure, and the surface is first charged by the charger 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 adhering toner to it by the developing device 12, s122, which contains the toner.

On the other hand, the paper (image forming medium) P is sent out from the selected upper paper feed cassette 13
．． 143 and roller pairs 15□, 15□, 153, the sheets are taken out one by one, and the sheets are taken out one by one by the paper guide path 161, 162, 16.
3 and is guided to a pair of registration rollers 17, and guided to a transfer section by this pair of registration rollers 17. Here, the paper feed cassette 131.13□,
133 is removably provided at the lower right end of the main body 1, and one can be selected on the operation panel described later.

Each of the paper feed cassettes 131 s 132 and 133 has a storage capacity of 500 sheets of paper P. Note that each of the paper feed cassettes 131.13□, 133 has a cassette size detection switch (detection means) 6 () 1.602.
The cassette size is detected by 603. This cassette size detection switch 601.602.6
03 is composed of a plurality of microswitches that are turned on and off according to the insertion of cassettes of different sizes. In addition, each of the paper feed cassettes 131s and 132 and 133 has a storage sheet number detector (detection means) 611 and 612.
．． 613, it is optically detected whether the number of stored sheets of paper P is approximately 250 or less. As shown in FIG. 4, this stored sheet number detector (detection means) 611612.613 is composed of a light emitting element 62 and a light receiving element 63. When the light is reflected by the light and guided to the light receiving element 63, it is detected that the number of stored sheets of paper P has become approximately 250 sheets or less.

The paper P sent to the transfer section is brought into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1o 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 1o 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. Two cooling fans are used to prevent the temperature inside the main body 1 from rising.

FIG. 5 shows an 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, copy time, number of copies, or operation guidance, etc., a same-size key 35 for instructing the same-size copy, A magnification change key 36 that changes the current copy magnification in 1% increments in the direction of reduction, and a magnification change key 37 that changes the copy magnification displayed on the display section 34 in 1% increments in the enlargement direction, Page continuous copying (special function) Page continuous copy key 38 to instruct paper feed cassette 131 s 132.
a cassette selection key 39 for selecting 133, a document size display section 4 that displays the size of the document placed on the document table 2;
0, paper feed cassette 1 selected with the cassette selection key 39
When the number of sheets of paper P stored in the selected paper feed cassette 131, . . . is smaller than the number of copies to be made at the time of copying, Paper shortage display section 4 that lights up to indicate paper shortage
It is composed of 2. The above copy magnification is 50%~
The magnification can be set between 200%.

The page continuous copying key 38 and the cassette selection key 39 are comprised of self-illuminating cows.

FIG. 6 shows the overall control circuit.

The main control unit 71 is operated by manual input from input devices 75 such as the operation panel 30 and various switches and sensors, such as the document size detector 90°, cassette size detection switches 601, 602, 603, or the number of stored sheets detectors 61161□, 613. a high-voltage transformer 76 that detects and drives each of the chargers, the static elimination lamp 27, and the cleaner 26.
The blade solenoid 26a1 controls the heater 23a1 of the pair of fixing rollers 23, the exposure lamp 4, etc., and performs the above-described copying operation.

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.

Further, the main control section 71 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, A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 133.
, rA4J are displayed in a lit state.

The main control unit 71 also determines the copy time (copy end time), that is, the time from when all copies are completed until the last paper P is ejected, according to the copy magnification, the number of copies, page continuous copying, etc. The determined copy time is displayed on the display section 34, and after the copying operation is started, the copy time on the display section 34 is subtracted by "1 second" in accordance with the signal supplied from the timer 83 every second. It is to be displayed.

In addition, the main control unit 71 lights up the paper shortage display unit 42 when the number of sheets of paper P stored in the selected paper feed cassette 131, .
The display section 34 displays a copying time corresponding to the number of stored sheets. The number of sheets P stored in the paper feed cassettes 131, . When a detection signal is output from the stored sheet number detector 611, 612, or 613, the number of sheets stored is 250 sheets.

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.

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 the "A4" portion of the document size display section 40. In addition, the main control unit 71 selects the lower paper feed cassette 133 that stores A4 size paper, lights up the “A4” part of the paper size display unit 41, and selects the “lower cassette” of the cassette selection key 39. The part is displayed by lighting. At this time, the main control unit 71 determines that the copying time is 10 seconds based on the copy magnification of 100%, the number of copies of 1, the original size rA4J, and the paper size "A4", and displays as shown in FIG. It is displayed in section 34.

The above copying 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 copying time on the display section 34 is displayed by subtracting "1 second" 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 continuous copying is instructed using the page continuous copying key 38. If the conditions are met, the time corresponding to those conditions will be displayed in the same way as above. For example, after 500 copies are set using the numeric keypad 33, the main control *71 will set the copy magnification to 100%, the number of copies to 500, the original size "A4", and the paper size "A4".
Therefore, the copy time is determined to be "16 minutes and 48 seconds" and is displayed on the display section 34 as shown in FIG. The above-mentioned copy time is set to the first copy coefficient. Then, in response to the input of the copy key 31, the main control unit 71 starts the above-mentioned copy operation,
During this copying operation, the copying time on the display unit 34 is displayed by subtracting it by 1 second j in response to the 1 second signal supplied from the timer 83.

For example, when the first copy is completed, the display section 34 displays the copy magnification of 100%, the remaining copy time of 16 minutes and 38 seconds, and the number of remaining copies of 499, as shown in FIG.

When the number of copies is set to 500 and a detection signal is supplied from the number of stored sheets detector 613, the main control unit 71 determines that the number of sheets stored in the paper cassette 133 corresponding to the paper P to be copied is 250. It is determined that the number of stored sheets is less than 250 sheets, and the copying time is calculated based on the number of stored sheets (250 sheets). In other words, the copy time is "8 seconds" by "first copy coefficient (8 seconds) + number of copies (250 sheets) x 2 seconds".
minutes and 28 seconds. As a result, the main control unit 71
As shown in Figure 10, the copy time is "8 minutes 28 seconds".
is displayed on the display section 34, and the paper shortage display section 42
will be lit and displayed.

Also, a stored sheet number detector 613 corresponding to the selected paper feed cassette in which the number of copies of 500 sheets or more is set and
If the detection signal from the main control unit 71 is not supplied, the main control unit 71
determines that the number of copies is greater than or equal to the storage capacity of the paper feed cassette/soto, and calculates the copying time based on the storage capacity (500 sheets).

In other words, the "first copy coefficient (
8 seconds) 10 copies (500 sheets) x 2 seconds'' to calculate 16 minutes and 48 seconds. As a result, the main control section 71 displays the copy time "16 minutes 48 seconds" on the display section 34, and lights up the paper shortage display section 42.

In addition, the paper feed cassette 13 used during the above copying
If paper P 3 runs out, the paper P currently being copied
When the is ejected, the copying operation is stopped. Due to this cancellation, the remaining number of copies and the copying time corresponding to the number of copies are displayed on the display section 34. For example, when the remaining number of copies is 9, the main controller 71 sets the copy magnification to 100.
%, the number of copies is 9, the original size rA4J, and the paper size “A4”, the copy time is determined to be “26 seconds” and is displayed on the display unit 34. The above copy time is "2 seconds" by "first copy coefficient (8 seconds) + number of copies (9 sheets) x 2 seconds".
6 seconds."

After replenishing the paper P in the paper feed cassette 133, the main control unit 71 resumes the above-described copying operation in response to the input of the copy key 31.

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, when copying starts, the time until all copies are completed is displayed, and even in the middle of copying, the remaining time until all copies are completed is displayed. Furthermore, when the number of copies is greater than the number of sheets stored or the storage capacity of the selected paper feed cassette, the time until the copying for the number of sheets or storage capacity is completed is displayed as the copy time. In this way, if you know how long it will take to copy, you can complete other tasks during that time, and you can just pick up the copy after it's finished, so you don't have to check how many copies are left midway through. Excellent operability.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which when a document is placed on the document table, the copy time determined by referring to the document size etc. is displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The copying time determined by referring to a predetermined paper size or the like may be displayed during standby.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to know the time until the end of image formation at the time of starting image formation, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with good operability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the main parts of the operation, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus. 4 is a side sectional view showing the paper feed cassette portion of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the overall control circuit, and FIG. 1st from the figure
FIG. 0 is a plan view of the operation panel for explaining a display example of the display unit. 1...Main body, 2...Original table, 13. 132.13
3...Paper feed cassette, 30...Operation panel, 31.
...Copy key 32...Clear key 33...Number pad 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, 42...Paper shortage display section, 60, 60□, 6
03...Cassette size detection switch, 611.61
2.613...Stored sheet number detector, 71...Main control unit, 83...Timer, 90...Document size detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 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, a detection means for detecting the number of image forming media that have been formed;
A setting means for setting special functions, etc.; a determining means for determining whether the number of images to be formed set by the setting means is greater than the number of stored sheets detected by the detection means; and an instruction to start image formation. If the number of sheets to be imaged is determined to be smaller than the number of sheets to be stored by the determining means, the time period from when the indicating means is instructed to when images are formed on all the image forming media is determined by the above-mentioned method. Calculated from the conditions set by the setting means,
If it is determined by the determining means that the number of images to be formed is greater than the number of stored sheets, the setting means sets the time period from when the instruction means is instructed until images are formed on the stored number of image forming media. What is claimed is: 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: calculation means for calculating from conditions set by: and display means for displaying the time calculated by the calculation means.