JPH04123072A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve productivity in copying by preferentially selecting a paper supply part having a shorter paper supply path in the case that there are plural paper supply parts where a transfer paper in the same size as a transfer paper in a paper supply part for copying a cover is housed. CONSTITUTION:When a document is set on a document platen 2, an automatic document feeder 1 successively feeds the document one by one to a contact glass in synchronism with a copying action, and when exposure is completed, it ejects the document to the document ejection part. Paper supply cassettes 4-7 are respectively set at the paper supply ports of a copying machine. Then, a control means preferentially selects one of the cassettes 4-7, which has the shortest paper supply path, when there are plural cassettes 4-7 where the transfer paper in the same size as the transfer paper set in the cassettes 4-7 for the cover is housed in the case of switching a mode to a cover mode. In such a case, when one of the cassettes 4-7 which is preferentially selected is empty, another of the cassettes 4-7 which has the next shortest paper supply path is successively and preferentially selected. Thus, the productivity in copying is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, and particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by selection control of paper feeding means.

[Conventional technology]

-g. In a copying machine, multiple paper feed cassettes or paper feed trays are provided, each containing a dedicated size and type of transfer paper, and copying is performed by selecting the cassette or tray containing the desired transfer paper. is now possible. The currently selected cassette or tray is displayed on the display section by lighting or blinking.

In addition, as a conventional example regarding the selection of paper feed section,
Examples include JP-A No. 1-68048, JP-A-62-161647, and JP-A-63-100739.

On the other hand, there is a function that allows you to copy the first page, the last page, or both the first and last pages of the original onto application paper (cardboard, color paper, etc.) and staple it for simple bookbinding ( (hereinafter referred to as cover mode) is becoming popular in copiers.

- For example, if you want to make cover copies of both the first and last sheets of the original, use a copying machine that can accommodate four paper feed cassettes, and set the first drawer here as the paper feed section for cover copies. Load thick paper or color paper in the paper feed cassette used for copying, and set transfer paper for normal copying in the other paper feed cassettes.

Here, there is no problem if there is only one paper feed section (one stage) for normal copying that stores transfer paper of the same size as the paper feed section for cover copying, but if there is more than one, The question is whether to select the paper feed section for normal copying.

Currently, check the cassette size from the paper feed section next to the paper feed section for cover copying on the display section where the cassette size (i.e., the size of the transfer paper stored in the special cassette) is displayed. Go to the paper source of the same size (i! Always select the paper source for copying).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional control described above, for example, 3
The paper feed section on the 4th tier is the paper feed section for cover copying, and
If the first cassette contains transfer paper of the same size as the third cassette, the fourth cassette will be selected, and the paper feed path to the image forming section will be the same as the first cassette. Although it could be shortened if used, it had the disadvantage of becoming unnecessarily long.

The present invention has been made based on such a background, and an object of the present invention is to improve copy productivity in an image forming apparatus in which a cover mode is executed.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to provide a plurality of paper feeding means provided in the main body of the apparatus,
It has a detection means for detecting the size and type of transfer paper stored in each of the plurality of paper feed means, and a display means for displaying which of the plurality of paper feed means is selected, and When copying the first or last page, or the first and last pages of an original, a cover mode is executed in which paper is fed from a different cover feeding means than when copying other originals. When switching to cover mode on the device,
When there is a plurality of paper feeding means that should accommodate transfer paper of the same size as the size of the transfer paper set in the cover paper feeding means, a control means for preferentially selecting the paper feeding means with the shortest paper feeding path is provided. This is achieved by the first means comprising:

The above object is also achieved by the second means, which sequentially selects the sheet feeding means with the shortest sheet feeding path with priority, if the sheet feeding means to be preferentially selected in the first means is empty.

(Function) When the control means switches to the cover mode, if there is a plurality of paper feeding means that should store transfer paper of the same size as the size of transfer paper set in the paper feeding means for the cover, the control means controls the paper feeding mode. The paper feeding means with the shortest path is selected preferentially.

At this time, if the paper feeding means to be preferentially selected is empty, it is convenient to sequentially select the paper feeding means with the shortest paper feeding path.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the entire copying machine. 1 is ADF
When a document is placed on the document tray 2 with the automatic document feeder, the document is conveyed one by one onto the contact glass in synchronization with the copying operation, and when the exposure is completed, the document is transferred to the document output section of the ADFI. to be discharged. 3 is a manual feed table, which is used when copying in the middle of continuous copying or when copying onto special size transfer paper. Paper feed cassettes 4 to 7 are respectively set in the paper feed opening of the copying machine. 8 is an electrostatic charger, 9
1 is a photosensitive drum, 10 is a developing unit, 11 is a transfer charger, 12 is a separation charger, and 13 is a cleaning unit. A sorter 14 moves the tray up and down in accordance with a preset discharge mode (sort/stack) to stock the copied sheets when the copied sheets are discharged from the copying machine.

Image forming conditions such as the number of copies, image density, paper size, and magnification, as well as operation modes such as duplex mode, sort/stack mode, and cover mode, are set from the operation unit (not shown).
Based on these conditions, a copy operation is started by a copy start signal. By moving the scanner of the optical system, the document on the contact glass is exposed to light, and the reflected light is projected onto the photosensitive drum 9. Around the drum, as mentioned above, there are a charging charger 8, a developing unit 10, and a transfer charger 11.
, a separation charger 12, and a cleaning unit 13 are arranged, and a toner image formed by a well-known process is
The image is transferred onto a transfer sheet fed from one of the paper feed cassettes 4 to 7 or the manual feed table 3. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 9 is then collected by the cleaning unit 13.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the entire copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

From the main control circuit CCP Ufl)) 20, a solenoid 22, a clutch 23, a motor 24 via a servo control unit 25, a heater 26 via a heater control unit 27, a charger 8, 1112, and a lamp regulator 30 via a high voltage power supply 28. A signal is output to the lamp 29 and the electromagnetic counter 32 at respective control timings. sensor 31
Detection signals such as paper end detection, paper size detection, jam detection, and door opening/closing detection are input to the machine, and the operations of the copying machine are controlled by these signals. A program for controlling these inputs and outputs is written in the ROM 34, and the main control circuit 20 operates according to this program. A nonvolatile memory (RAM) 33 stores condition data for copying operations (exposure lamp voltage, fixing temperature setting, paper feed timing data, etc.), data such as the total number of copies, the number of jams, and the like. 40 is an operation control unit, which includes a display control circuit (CPU
(21) 41 communicates data and signals with the main control circuit 20 to control the display and key input. 42 is an input key, 43 is an LED display for mode setting, 44 is a programmable ROM, 45.46 is an LCD driver, and 4.7 is a liquid crystal display (display means) for displaying various guidance and copy operation contents.

Note that 21 is a power supply unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of the entire copying operation.

When the power is turned on, the CPU (1)
Based on the program written in the CPU (
11 (setting of input/output ports, setting initial values for each parameter, setting of various timers, setting of interrupt mode, etc.) (step Sl), and then
After clearing the contents of 35 (step S2), the contents of the nonvolatile memory 33 related to the copying operation, such as lamp voltage setting values and bias voltage setting values, are cleared by R.
AM35 (step S3). Furthermore, mechanically initialize the optical system scanner, etc. (step S
4) When the fixing temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (reload) (YES in step S5), the machine enters a standby state (step S6)
. Then, the copying operation is started by the copy start signal (YES in step S7) (step S8), and if the predetermined number of copies is completed (YES in step S9),
It becomes a standby state again (step S6).

FIG. 4 shows a liquid crystal display 47 in the operation section of this copying machine.
Indicates the fully lit state. The liquid crystal display 47 includes a dot matrix display section 62 and a numerical value and symbol (fixed pattern) display section 63.

The dot matrix display unit 62 is a guidance display liquid crystal display that is configured to display characters in a 5×10 dot matrix and can display up to 40 numbers, alphabets, katakana, symbols, and other arbitrary characters. The fixed pattern display section 63 also includes a segment display 64 that displays the copy magnification as a 3-digit number, a segment display 65 that displays the number of copies, etc. as a 3-digit number, and the size of the transfer paper in each paper feed cassette. , a symbol display 66 that displays the orientation, remaining amount, and selection of paper feed cassette using a frame display, and a symbol display 67 that indicates various abnormalities and warnings.
, a symbol display 68 that displays a ready display, a symbol display 69 that displays a wait, a symbol display 70 that displays copy density, a symbol display 71 that displays a serviceman call, a display of the position where a jam has occurred, and the presence or absence of each peripheral device. It includes a symbol display 72 and the like for displaying information and indicating the presence or absence of the paper feed cassette.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the display contents when the cover mode is selected.

First, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when the cover mode is selected, the first stage, which is the paper source for cover copies, is selected (displayed by the upper frame 66a and lower frame 66b blinking), and then the paper source is selected. 3, which is the same size as the cassette size set in the
The paper source in the row is selected as the normal copy paper source (
This is displayed when the upper frame 66a and lower frame 66b are lit).

When copying starts, the first original is fed from the first stage, and the second and subsequent originals are fed from the third stage. Then, the final page of the document is fed again from the first stage. If you set color paper in the first cassette, the finished copy will have color paper for the first and last copy, white paper in between, and a front and back cover, allowing for simple bookbinding. can.

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 6, if the third stage is the paper feed section for cover copying and the first and fourth stages contain A4 transfer paper of the same size, then the image forming section The first stage with the shorter paper feeding path is selected.

7 and 8 are flowcharts of the control contents according to the present invention. In the blue routine for selecting and displaying the paper feed section shown in FIG. 7, it is first determined whether or not the cover mode is selected. Y) By lighting up the lower frame 66b as shown in FIG. 6, the cover copy paper feed section is lit up (S2). If it is not the cover mode (N at 31), the cover copy paper feed section is not lit (S3).

In addition, in the paper feed section selection control subroutine in the cover mode shown in FIG. 8, first, in the cover mode (Y in S4),
It is determined whether it is the first or last sheet of the original, and if so (Y at 35 and S6), a cover copy paper feed unit is selected and paper is fed (S7). If the original is not the first page or the last page (N in S5 and S6),
Since the copy is not a cover, the normal copy paper feed unit is selected and paper is fed (S8).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the size check subroutine, which is the main part of the present invention. When the cover mode is selected (Y in S9), size data of paper sources other than the paper feed unit for cover copying is read. (SIO), upper stage, i.e.
Compare the size data with the transfer paper size of the cover copy paper feed unit in order from the paper feed unit with the shortest paper feed path (Sll),
If the same size exists (Y in S12), that paper feed section is selected as the normal copy paper feed section (S13). Note that this state is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as described above. If there is no paper of the same size, the dot matrix display section 6
2.
Displays the message “Set up” (514)
.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when there are multiple paper feed sections storing transfer paper of the same size as the transfer paper size of the cover copy paper feed section, the shorter paper feed path is Since it is selected preferentially, it is possible to maintain copying productivity without reducing it.

Note that at this time, if the paper feed section to be prioritized is empty, the effect can be further increased by sequentially selecting the paper feed section with the next shortest paper feed path.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a control block diagram of the entire copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the entire copying machine, Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the copying operation, and Fig. 4 is the liquid crystal display of the operation section. Figures 5 and 6 are illustrations of the lighting states of the liquid crystal display during standby and cover mode, and Figures 7, 8, and 9 are illustrations of one embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of paper feed unit display, paper feed unit selection, and size check in cover mode according to an example. 4.5, 6.7...Paper feed cassette (paper feed means), 20
...Main control circuit (control means). Figure number? Figure 8 Figure 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Which of the plurality of paper feeding means provided in the main body of the apparatus, the detection means for detecting the size and type of transfer paper stored in each of the plurality of paper feeding means, and the plurality of paper feeding means is selected. When copying the first or last page of a manuscript, or the first and last pages of a manuscript, a cover that is different from that when copying other manuscripts is provided. In an image forming apparatus that executes a cover mode in which paper is fed from a cover paper feeding means, when switching to the cover mode, transfer paper of the same size as the transfer paper size set in the cover paper feeding means is stored. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for preferentially selecting the paper feeding means with the shortest paper feeding path when there is a plurality of the above paper feeding means. (2) In the description of claim 1, the control means is characterized in that when the paper feeding means to be preferentially selected is empty, the control means sequentially selects the paper feeding means with the shortest paper feeding path with priority. Image forming device.