JPH0415638A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate need that a mode is set to a standard mode when copying is executed in the standard mode by a next user by automatically returning the mode to the standard mode in the case that a start key is not operated within a prescribed time when the mode is still set to a non-standard mode. CONSTITUTION:At the time of copying, the user can judge whether the set content of the last user is the standard mode or the non-standard mode by the color of light emitted from the light emitting diodes 50a and 50b of a mode display part 50 on a control panel. As the result, miscopying is prevented from occurring even when the user is in a hurry. Besides, the CPU 60 of a copying machine 1 has a function which returns the various kinds of set modes to the standard mode in the case that the start key 51 is not operated within the prescribed time, turns off the diode 50b of the red color of the display part 50 which is in the course of emitting light and makes the diode 50a of the green color emit light. Thus, the user, who tries to execute the copying in the standard mode after a certain time since the last user uses before, need not specially return the mode to the standard mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 2. Field of Industrial Application J The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine that can set various modes.

[Prior Art] Image forming apparatuses adjust the number of copies, various paper sizes, magnification (zoom), image brightness, etc., and color image forming apparatuses adjust color balance, etc. according to the user's purpose, preference, etc. An apparatus having various modes that can be set has a large number of settings A-- for setting those modes on its operation panel. The user sets the various modes and presses the start key to copy.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the number of copies, paper size, F ratio, brightness, color balance, etc. that the user wants to copy must be set in a certain standard mode (for example, the paper size is A4, magnification·
Brightness, color balance, etc. are often set to standard). In the past, the standard mode provided in the image forming apparatus was sufficient. However, sometimes
If the previous user sets a non-standard mode other than the standard mode and copies, and then another user wants to copy in the standard mode, there are many settings that need to be made to set various modes on the operation panel. Because the keys are arranged, each setting key must be checked to see if it is in standard mode. Also, when the user is in a hurry,
Copying without checking may result in unnecessary copying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above problems, and aims to provide an image forming apparatus that has a function to warn a user when the image forming apparatus is set to a non-standard mode. .

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for setting the number of copies, by operating various settings A- on the operation panel.
An image forming apparatus that is equipped with a setting means that can set various modes such as paper size, magnification, image brightness, etc. has a standard mode that is a preset standard among the various modes, and the setting mode of the apparatus is a first stage of detection for detecting whether the mode is a non-standard mode that differs from the standard mode by at least one; and when the detected mode is the non-standard mode;
The apparatus is equipped with a warning means for warning this, and a canceling means for returning the mode to the standard mode and canceling the warning if a start key for starting the image forming operation of the apparatus is not operated within a predetermined time.

1 Effect] According to the above configuration, when any of the various modes such as setting the number of copies, paper size, magnification, image brightness, etc. is a non-standard mode, the detection means detects this, and the warning means Issue a warning to the user.

Further, if the start key for starting the image forming operation of the apparatus is not operated within a predetermined time, the mode is returned to the standard mode in the non-standard mode as described above, and the warning is canceled.

[Example of Actual Rod] Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the internal structure of the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive copying machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive paper 12 (hereinafter referred to as microcapsule paper) and a colored paper 28 (hereinafter referred to as microcapsule paper).
Photosensitive paper consisting of recording paper (also called recording paper) is used.

Note that microcapsules are coated on the surface of the support of the microcapsule paper 12 used in this example.
The microcapsules contain a dye precursor that reacts with a color developer, which will be described later.

A color developer is coated on the surface of the support of the color developer paper 28 and develops color by reacting with the dye precursor.

The details are described in US Pat. No. 4,399,209, etc., and are omitted here.

At the top of the copying machine 1, a document glass glass 2 and a document table cover 3 are arranged, and a desired document 4 is placed face down on the document table glass 2, and the document table cover 3 is closed.

Below the document table glass 2 in the upper part of the copying machine 1, a light source section 5 including a halogen lamp 5a, a reflector 5b, a reflection mirror 8, etc. is mounted on an axis I3 installed parallel to the document table glass 2. It is arranged so that it can be moved back and forth. The light source unit 5 irradiates light in a line toward the document table glass 2 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. The irradiated light passes through the transparent document platen glass 2 and is reflected downward by the document 4 placed thereon.

Below the document platen glass 2, there is a mirror part 9 that includes reflective mirrors 9a and 9b that are movable separately from the light source part 5, and a projection lens 7 that is normally fixed, and which adjusts the color tone of the copied image. filter 6 and reflecting mirrors 10a, 1 for
0b is arranged. Then, the light reflected from the original 4 is reflected in the order of reflection mirrors 8.9a and 9b.
It is guided parallel to the moving direction of the light source section 5.

Further, the light reflected by the reflection mirror 9b enters the projection lens 7, and the light projected by the lens 7 is reflected by the reflection mirror group 10a, 10b.

An exposure table 11 for atomizing the microcapsule paper 12 is disposed to the right of the reflection mirror 10b, and the reflection mirror 10b and the exposure table 11. A reflecting mirror 10c for switching the optical path is disposed between the two.

The reflecting mirrors 10a and 10b are normally fixed, but are set when enlarging or reducing the size of the latent image formed on the microcapsule paper 12, and are set to change the optical path length according to a change in the projection magnification m. It is configured to be able to move integrally in the axial direction of the shaft 13.

Inside the copying machine 1, a removable cartridge 15 is disposed on a cartridge fixing base 16, and the long microcapsule paper 12 is attached to a cartridge shaft 14.
It is housed in the cartridge 15 in a wound state.

The tip of this microcapsule paper 12 is connected to the exposure table 11.
pulled towards. Furthermore, feeding rollers 19, 20 and a dancer roller 21 for tension adjustment are arranged below the exposure table 11, and a pressure developing roller 22a and a backup roller 22b are provided behind the dancer roller 21 in the feeding direction. A device 22 is provided. Further, behind the pressure developing device 22, a separation roller 23 for separating the microcapsule paper 12 and the color developing paper 28 that are in close contact with each other is disposed as described later. A winding shaft 24 for winding up the paper 12 is also provided. And cartridge 15
The microcapsule paper 12 taken out from above is guided by a tension roller 19 and passes above the exposure table 11, then passes through a dancer roller 21, a pressure developing device 22,
Further, after being guided to a separation roller 23, it is wound onto a winding shaft 24. The unexposed microcapsule paper 12 after leaving the cartridge 15 is maintained in an unexposed state by the blocking cover.

Two paper feed cassettes containing developer paper 28 are installed below the pressure sensor W22, and above the paper feed cassette 29 is a suction cup type paper feed system that uses negative pressure suction to absorb sound from the paper. ! '141!30 is arranged, and the developer paper 28 is
The paper feed mechanism 30 takes out one sheet at a time. Paper feeding mechanism 30
A feed guide 31d and feed rollers 31a31b, 31c are arranged between the pressure developing device 22 and the pressure developing device 22.
The color developing paper 28 is conveyed by feed rollers 31a, 31b, 31c and a feed guide 31d and is carried into the pressure developing device 22. Further, a separation chute 27 is arranged behind the pressure developing device 22 in the feeding direction, and a heat fixing device 32 including a heat roller 32a and a paper ejection roller 32b is arranged behind the separation chute 27. A paper discharge tray 33 is disposed behind the heat fixing device 32 to accommodate the developer paper 28 on which an image is formed.

The copying machine 1 is equipped with an autoloading mechanism for automatically setting the microcapsule paper 12 on a predetermined transport path within the machine. A half-moon roller 17 is disposed between the roller 9 and the cartridge 15 for pulling out the leader film section at the tip of the microcapsule paper 12 during autoloading.
A separation chute 27 is rotatably attached to guide the guide to the 4. Further, an upper winding kite 25 and a lower winding kite 26 are disposed around the winding shaft 24 in order to wind the leader film portion.

Next, the operation of the present copying machine 1 will be explained. When the tip of the microcapsule paper 12 is wound around the winding shaft 24 and the autorope ink is finished, copying becomes possible. r!
i. Place the document 4 upside down on the document table glass 2, close the document table cover 3, and press the start key 51 to start copying m1.
The halogen lamp 5 moves at a moving speed of 1/mV, and the reflecting mirrors 9a and 9b move at a moving speed of 1/2 m, assuming that the transporting speed of the microcapsule paper 12 is (■) and the projection magnification is m.
Move with V. Since the conveyance speed of the microcapsule paper 12 is synchronized with the movement speed of the mirrors ¥8.9a and 9b as described above, the microcapsule paper [2] when passing through the exposure table 11 has a predetermined position of the document 4. Line latent images are formed one after another. Note that the above-mentioned predetermined speed ratio is predetermined based on the set value of the magnification.

The microcapsule paper 12 on which the latent image has been formed is transported,
The topmost color developing paper 28 of the paper feed cassette 29 is the paper feed fil.
l)30. It is conveyed by feed rollers 31a, 31b31c, etc. The pressure developing device 22 is supplied with the microcapsule paper 12 and the color developer paper 28 in close contact with each other, and the microcapsule surface on which the latent image of the microcapsule paper 12 is formed and the color developer of the color developer paper 28. The coated surface is sandwiched between the large-diameter roller 22a and the backup roller 22b, and pressure is applied to the coated surface.

This pressure destroys the unexposed microcapsules,
An image is formed on the developer paper 28.

After the microcapsule paper 12 and the color developer paper 28 that have come out of the pressure developing device 22 are separated by a separation roller 23, the color development of the color developer paper 28 is promoted by the beads 1 to 0-ra 32a of the heat fixing device 32. After the image is formed, the paper ejection roller 3
2b, the paper is discharged onto paper discharges 1 to 33. Note that the separated microcapsule paper 12 is passed through a separation roller 23 and wound onto a winding shaft 24 .

As described above, a latent image formed from the original 4 on the microcapsule paper 12 or an image on the developer paper 28 is formed according to the contents set using the various mode keys.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the operation panel 40 provided in the copying machine 1. As shown in FIG. This operation panel 40 includes a mode display section 50, a start key 51, a number setting key 52,
A zoom magnification selection key 53, a paper size selection key 54,
Light/dark density adjustment key 55 and color balance correction key 5
6, and an LED display section 57 that displays the settings made by each of the keys and other information.

- The mode display section 50 lights up a green light emitting diode 50a when the standard mode is the same as the predetermined settings (for example, paper size is A4, magnification, brightness, color balance, etc. are standard). , the red light emitting diode 50b lights up in other non-standard modes.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit for controlling the operation panel 40, which includes a CPU 60 having a ROM 60a storing control contents and a RAM 60b for temporarily storing information, and checking the status of each key while scanning according to instructions from the CPU 60. L-- which causes the key scan circuit 61 and the green and red light emitting diodes 50a and 50b of the mode display section 50 to emit light.
ED drive circuit 62. Note that the LED display section 58 is driven by an external LED drive circuit.

In addition, the CPU 60 stores data for various mode keys arranged on the spring root in the RAM 60b.
It is possible to always determine what state it is currently set to.

Furthermore, standard mode data is recorded for each mode key data, and when the two data are compared and even one difference is found, it is determined that the state is in a non-standard mode. By outputting a signal for driving the light emitting diode 50b in the non-standard mode, the light-emitting diode 50b in the non-standard mode lights up in red, allowing the user to know the mode at a glance from this display. Furthermore, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the CPU 60 presses the start key 51.
is not operated and is in non-standard mode, returns to standard mode and switches on the red light emitting diode 50b that is emitting light.
is turned OFF L, and the green light emitting diode 50a is turned on.

The procedure for copying by operating the operation panel 40 having the above configuration will be described below. The user operates various keys on the operation panel 40 to set the number of copies, various paper sizes, magnification (zoom), image brightness, color balance, etc., according to the purpose of copying, preferences, etc. Set the contents of the mode.

The situation at this time will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that when the power is turned on, the device 1 has returned to the standard mode, and the green light emitting diode is emitting light. C.P.
U60 causes the key scan circuit 61 to scan (step 5IO1 and below, referred to as SIO), and each mode key 52
．． Check whether 53, 54 ° 55, 56 was pressed (
S20>, each time one of the buttons is pressed and a certain content is set ()'ES), the setting content is sent to R and A of the CPU 60.
If there is no setting (NO
), returns to the SIO and operates the key scan circuit 61 to see if the next key is available. R, A of CP IJ 60
The setting contents temporarily stored in M are compared with predetermined standard data (840), and if they match (YES)
), the CPU 60 performs S1. Return to O, and if they do not match (NO), use the LED drive circuit 62 to turn off the green light emitting diode 50a that is emitting light in the mode display section 50.
L, lights up the red light emitting diode 50b (S50)
, return to 51.0.

In this way, when copying, the user can judge whether the previous user's settings are standard mode or non-standard mode by the light emitting color of the light emitting diodes 50a and 50b on the mode display section 50 on the operation panel. be prevented from doing so.

Further, when the start TL-51 is not operated for a predetermined period of time, the CPU 60 of the copying machine 1 returns the various setting modes to the standard mode, and changes the red light emitting diode 50b that is emitting light on the mode display section 50 to 0FFL, Since it has a function to cause the green light emitting diode 50a to emit light, a user who attempts to copy in the standard mode after a while after the previous user's use does not have to go through the trouble of returning to the standard mode2.
1-Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect whether the setting mode of the device is a non-standard mode that differs from the standard mode by even one, and to warn the user. When copying is performed in the standard mode, it is sufficient to simply check the warning means without checking each setting key to see if it is in the standard mode. Therefore, even when the user is in a hurry, copying errors can be prevented.

In addition, even if the non-standard mode remains set, if the start key is not operated within a predetermined time, the mode will automatically return to standard mode, so the next user can copy in standard mode after a predetermined time. Sometimes, it saves you the trouble of switching settings to standard mode one by one.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of its operation panel, FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a control circuit of this apparatus, and FIG. Continue to the flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit. 1... Copying machine, 50... Mode display section (warning means)
, 50a...green light emitting diode, 50b...red light emitting diode, 60...CPtJ (detection means and cancellation means). Applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney Yasuo Itaya Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus that is equipped with a setting means that allows setting various modes such as setting the number of copies, paper size, magnification, image brightness, etc. by operating various setting keys on the operation panel, the various modes described above. a detection means that has a standard mode that is a preset standard and detects whether the setting mode of the device is a non-standard mode that differs by at least one from the standard mode, and the detected mode is non-standard; mode, and a canceling means for returning the mode to the standard mode and canceling the warning if a start key for starting the image forming operation of the apparatus is not operated within a predetermined time. An image forming apparatus characterized by: