JPH0485243A - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To return a document to its initial state even in the case where a clear all key is pressed or an interruption is ended in the course of copying by providing a control means for controlling a transport means in such a manner that in the case of transporting a document through a transport path forcedly to a placing means, the document is transported at a speed higher than the designated transport speed. CONSTITUTION:A document is forced to self-run from a placing means where the document is placed along a transport path. In this case, the transport is conducted at a designated transport speed. In case of forcedly returning a document existing in the transport path to the placing means for some reason, or in case of conducting recovery due to a document jam and again sending a copied document to the placing means, a transport mechanism is controlled to drive by a control means 205 in such a manner that the transport is conducted at a speed higher than the ordinary transport speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder that autonomously supplies documents to be copied.

[Prior Art] In a copying machine equipped with a self-propelled automatic document feeder, it may be necessary to return the document while it is being conveyed to the document hopper where the document is placed, or some parts of the document may need to be returned. There may be cases where it is necessary to empty the document by making one round along the conveyance path and emptying it into the document hopper again.

For example, when the clear all key is pressed during copying,
When the interruption ends or when the process stops due to paper out, it is necessary to return the original document to its initial state. Furthermore, when performing recovery due to a document jam, etc., it is necessary to empty the already copied document through the conveyance path and empty it again into the document hopper.

In such a case, the conventional automatic document feeder returns the document to the document hopper by emptyly conveying the document at the previous conveyance speed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to such conventional technology, since the conveyance speed is slow, it takes a lot of time to return all the documents to the document hopper. Especially if you are making enlarged copies, the transport speed is set very slow, so it takes a very long time to transport the document, and you have to wait an unnecessarily long time for the automatic document feeder to return to its operational state. There wasn't.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic document feeder that can be returned to an operational state in a short period of time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The gist of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is to provide a loading means on which a document to be supplied is placed, a conveyance path connected to the loading means, and a conveyance path along the conveyance path. A transport means that allows the document to travel by itself at a transport speed instructed by the transport means, and a transport means that transports the document at a higher speed than the above-instructed transport speed when the document is forcibly sent to the mounting means via the transport path. The invention also includes a control means for controlling the operation.

[Operation] The original is allowed to travel by itself along the conveyance path from the placing means on which the original is placed. In this case, conveyance is performed at the instructed conveyance speed. When for some reason a document existing in the transport path is forcibly returned to the loading means, or when recovering from a document jam and sending an already copied original to the loading means again, the control means , the conveyance is controlled to be carried out at a higher speed than the normal conveyance speed.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a double-sided copying machine equipped with a circulating automatic document feeder (RDH) 10 as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the device IO in detail.

In FIG. 3, 11 is a document hopper on which a document to be supplied is placed, 12 is a document feed mechanism that feeds documents one by one from the document hopper 11, and 13 is a first presentation section where the document is presented. 14 and a second presentation section 15;
6 is a first conveyance mechanism that conveys the document from the document hopper 11 to the first presentation section 14; and 17 is an inversion mechanism that is located between the first presentation section 14 and the second presentation section 15 and that reverses the document presentation surface. , and a third transport mechanism 18 that returns the original from the second presentation section 15 to the original hopper 11 .

The document hopper 11 corresponds to the mounting means of the present invention,
A sheet document X consisting of a double-sided document with the same number of pages is placed on the document transport belt 20 with the edges (left edge in the figure) aligned with the side edge aligning member 19 and received. It is composed of A part of the document feeding mechanism 12 is installed above the document hopper 11 in order to separate and feed the sheet documents X placed in the document hopper 11 one by one from the top side to the first conveyance mechanism 16. A paper feed roller 21 is provided.

The paper feed roller 2I is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow at a timing determined by the document feed motor M2, and
During this rotation, the uppermost sheet document X1 is pressed by the force of a solenoid or the like via the lever 22, and the sheet documents are sequentially separated and fed from X1 to the first conveyance mechanism 16. Note that the paper feed roller 21 may be kept in constant contact with the sheet document due to its own weight.

The first transport mechanism 16, into which the sheet originals X are fed one by one from the original hopper 11 by the paper feed roller 21, is provided with a transport path 23 bent from the horizontal direction to the downward vertical direction, as shown in the figure. Sorting rollers 24a and 24 are provided at the entrance end of the conveyance path 23 to prevent the sheet document X from being electrically fed.
b is installed, the upper roller 24a is rotated in the conveying direction, and the lower roller 24b is rotated in the reverse direction. The sheet originals X are fed into the conveyance path 23 one by one by passing between these rollers.

In the conveyance path 23, there are a pair of conveyance rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25 at intervals in the conveyance direction.
d is installed. Each pair of rollers 25a%
25b N25C1 and 25d are in rotatable contact with both sides of the sheet original X, and are connected to the original transport motor M.
It is configured so that it can be forcibly rotated by setting 3. As a result, the document X is guided by each roller while moving along the transport path
is transported in the direction of the arrow. These rollers 25a
, 25b 125c, and 25d correspond to a part of the conveying means of the present invention.

A sensor 5EN2 for detecting document feeding is installed near the entrance side of the conveyance path 23, and a sensor 5EN3 for detecting the front of the first exposure section is installed near the exit side. Furthermore, a pair of registration rollers 26a and 26b are installed at the exit portion of the conveyance path 23 (near the first presentation section 14).

Although not shown, these registration rollers 26a and 26b are connected to a drive shaft via a clutch, and are set to stop rotating and start rotating again by on/off control of the clutch. Clutch on/off control is controlled according to the operator's desired copy content. For example, when it is necessary to expose sheet original X, the rotation of registration rollers 26a and 26b is stopped to temporarily stop the conveyance of sheet original X in order to synchronize with the copy paper. After being taken, the document is rotated again and sent to the first presentation section 14. On the other hand, when exposure of the sheet original X is unnecessary, the registration rollers 26a and 26b are constantly rotated to allow the sheet original X to pass through without stopping.

The manuscript presentation section 13 includes a first manuscript cylinder 27 and a second manuscript cylinder 2 which are arranged in parallel with an interval in the horizontal direction.
A first presentation section 14 (hereinafter referred to as the first exposure section 14) and a second presentation section 15 (hereinafter referred to as the second exposure section 15) provided corresponding to the vertical lower end surface of each of the eight. The first exposure section 14 and the second exposure section 15 are located on the same plane as shown in the figure.

The document cylinders 27 and 28 described above are rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure by document transport motors M4 and M5, respectively, at a speed synchronized with the copying speed of the copy paper. Driven rollers 29a, 29b N29 are spaced apart from each other along the outer peripheral surfaces of the original cylinder 27 and the original cylinder 28.
c, and 29d and driven rollers 30a, 30h,
30c1 and 30d are installed respectively, and these driven rollers move the sheet document X to the document cylinder 27.
It is configured to be pressed and wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of and 28, respectively. That is, the sheet document X is conveyed along conveyance paths 27a and 28a on the outer peripheral surfaces of document cylinders 27 and 28, respectively.

Hard transparent glasses 31 and 32 are installed vertically below the transport paths 27a and 28a, respectively, to form the aforementioned first exposure section 14 and second exposure section 15. When the sheet original X passes between the original cylinder 27 and the hard transparent glass 3I, the upper surface of the sheet original X is exposed to light to form an image on the upper surface, and the sheet original X passes between the original cylinder 28 and the hard transparent glass 3I.
2, the lower surface of the sheet document X is exposed to light to form a lower surface image, as will be described later.

Note that in these first and second exposure units 14 and 15, the sheet original X is
In some cases, the light may not be exposed and may pass through as is.

The sheet document X conveyed from the conveyance path 23 of the first conveyance mechanism 16 is wrapped around the first document cylinder 27 by the rotational force of the registration rollers 26a and 26b, and then transferred to the first exposure section 14 of the document presentation section 13. pass through. Between the first exposure section 14 and the second exposure section 15, a second exposure section 15 is provided with a front-back reversing path section (switchback path section) 33 for reversing the presentation surface of the sheet original X, as shown in the figure. A transport mechanism 17 is installed.

The front/back reversal path section 33 includes transport paths 278 and 28 on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first document cylinder 27 and the second document cylinder 28.
Consisting of a first path 33g and a second path 33b that extend upwardly from opposing portions of a, and a third path 33c that extends horizontally from the confluence of these paths 33a and 33b. has been done.

The first document cylinder 27 is connected to the conveyance path 27a of the first document cylinder 27.
A gate flapper 34 is installed at the entrance of the path 33a. This gate flapper 34 is connected to the solenoid 5OL.
I to move the sheet document X to the first path 33a,
Alternatively, the document is selectively conveyed to the conveyance path 27a of the first document cylinder 27 again. That is, the sheet original X that has passed through the first exposure section 14 is subjected to -
If a single exposure is sufficient, the gate flapper 34 is operated to the solid line position shown in the figure, and the sheet original X is conveyed to the first path 33a. On the other hand, if the document needs to be exposed multiple times, the gate flapper 34 is operated to the position shown by the broken line to move the sheet document
After the exposure is completed, the gate flapper 34 is operated to the solid line position to convey the sheet document X to the first path 33a.

In the first path 33a, a first post-exposure section detection sensor 5EN4 for detecting the rear end of the sheet original X, a pair of rollers 35a and 35b, and a gate flapper 36 are installed in order from the upstream side. ing. The following front/back reversal operation (switchback operation) is controlled by the detection signal of the sensor 5EN4.

As the rollers 35a and 35b rotate, the sheet document
transported to c. This third path 33c includes a pair of transport rollers 37a and 37b and a pair of transport rollers 38a.
and 38b are arranged, and the roller 38a is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions by a document reversing motor M6.

These conveyance rollers move the sheet document X that has exited the gate flapper 36 forward in the direction of arrow Z1 within the third path 33c, and then, when the rear end of the sheet document X passes the tip of the gate flapper 36, , the rotational direction of the motor M6 is reversed, and the sheet document X is conveyed in the opposite direction of the arrow Z2.

At this time, the gate flapper 36 moves to a position where it closes the exit of the first path 33a shown by the solid line in the figure by the operation of the solenoid 5QL2, thereby ensuring the conveyance of the sheet document X toward the second path 33b.

A roller 35c is disposed on the second path 33b, and is configured to be operated by a solenoid 5OL3 to form a pair with the roller 35a. Although the above-described switchback operation is performed using forward and reverse rotation rollers, it may also be performed using a belt conveyance device, an air conveyance device, or the like.

The sheet original X is wound around the second original cylinder 28 by the rotational force of the rollers 35g and 35c, and is transferred to the second exposure section 15.
be led to. A sheet document X is placed downstream of the roller 35c.
A second post-exposure section detection sensor 5EN5 is installed to detect passage of the rear end.

A pair of registration rollers 3 are downstream of the sensor 5Ell15.
92 and 39b are installed. Registration roller 39
Although not shown, a and 39b are connected to the drive shaft via a clutch, and are set to stop rotation and restart rotation by on/off control of the clutch. The on/off control of the clutch is controlled according to the operator's desired copy content.

When it is necessary to expose the sheet original X, in order to synchronize with the copy paper, the rotation of the rollers 39a and 39b is stopped to temporarily stop the sheet original X, and after synchronization with the copy paper is achieved, The original is rotated again and sent to the second exposure section 15. On the other hand, when exposure of the sheet original X is unnecessary, the rollers 39g and 39b are constantly rotated to allow the sheet original X to pass through without stopping. In addition, solenoid 5
The operation of the OL 3 is controlled according to the rotational operation of the rollers 39a and 39b.

As described above, by reversing the conveying direction of the sheet original X in the front-back reversing path section 33, the upper surface side of the sheet original X comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second original cylinder 28, and the lower surface side of the sheet original X comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the second original cylinder 28. The second document cylinder 28 is wrapped around the second document cylinder 28 . Therefore, in the second exposure section 15, the lower surface side of the sheet original X is exposed, and a lower surface image is formed. Note that, in the second exposure section 15, the sheet original X may be passed through and advanced without being exposed, depending on the copy content desired by the operator.

Downstream of the second exposure section 15 of the second document cylinder 28, the conveyance path 40 of the third conveyance mechanism 18 is configured to branch off and continue with the conveyance path 28g of the second document cylinder 28. , a gate flapper 41 is installed at this branch.

This gate flapper 41 is operated by a solenoid 5OL4 to selectively open and close the conveyance path 40 and the conveyance path 282. That is, depending on the content of the copy desired by the operator, if the second exposure section 15 is exposed only once, the transport path 28
8 side is closed and the sheet document X is sent to the conveyance path 40. On the other hand, in the case of multiple exposures, the conveyance path 40 is closed and the sheet original X is sent to the conveyance path 28a side, and after being rotated the necessary number of times, the sheet original X is conveyed to the conveyance path 4Q.

In this way, since the first exposure section 14 of the document presentation section 13 exposes the top surface of the sheet document X and the second exposure section 15 exposes the bottom surface thereof, it is possible to copy both the top and bottom of the sheet document X. can. Furthermore, since the first exposure section 14 and the second exposure section 15 can perform exposure a necessary number of times, it is also possible to make a plurality of copies as required.

A conveyance path 40 of the third conveyance mechanism 18 for returning the sheet document X from the second exposure unit 15 to the document hopper 11 is connected to the lower end of the conveyor belt 20.
is configured to convey the image to the conveyor belt 20.

That is, each pair of transport rollers 42 and 43 is provided on the transport path 40.
is installed and configured to advance the sheet document X. Moreover, near the exit of the conveyance path 40, a sensor 5 for detecting the passage of the sheet document X before returning to the document hopper is provided.
EN7 is installed. It is configured to control the operation control sections of the conveyor belt 20 and document hopper 11 based on the detection signal from the sensor 5EN7.

The conveyor belt 20 is wound around drive rollers 44a s 44b s 44c and 44d installed on the upper and lower sides and on the left and right sides as shown in the figure. By rotating the drive roller 44b in the direction of the arrow by the return conveyance motor M7, the conveyance belt 20 is driven to circulate in the direction of the arrow. This motor M7 is driven by a detection signal from the above-mentioned sensor 5EN7.

The upper surface of the conveyance belt 20 constitutes a loading section for the sheet document X, and a document drawing roller 45 is installed at a position close to the conveyance path 40 . The sheet document
The sheet document X is fed so as to sink into the bottom side of the sheet document X placed on the top surface of the sheet document X.

At this time, a roller 46 for flipping up the trailing edge of the document is installed below the trailing edge position of the sheet document X so that the document is fed smoothly. This roller 46 lifts the lower rear end of the stacked sheet documents X, so that a feeding opening is reliably widened and provided at the lowest end. When the leading edge of the sheet original X sent to the lowest position reaches the side alignment member 19 that aligns the edges, the driving motor M7 of the transport bell 20 is stopped, and the transport of the sheet original X is stopped. .

As shown in the figure, the document hopper 11 is provided with an actuator 47 for detecting one circulation of the placed sheet document X. This actuator 47 is at the lower end position shown by the solid line in the figure before the operator places the sheet original X in the hopper 11, and the sheet original X is placed thereon. The sheet originals X are fed one by one, and as they come back, they rise one by one, and when all the sheet originals X have gone through one cycle, they reach the top indicated by the dotted line in the figure. The actuator 47 that has reached the highest position is detected by the original circulation detection sensor 5ENI, and a detection signal indicating that the circulation has been completed is generated. By using this detection signal, operations on the copying machine main body side, such as the number of copies desired by the operator, are controlled. Thereafter, the actuator 47 is rotated 180 degrees by the drive of the actuator drive motor M1 for the document-touring effect, and returns to the lowermost position (original position) of the sheet document X.

The configuration of a double-sided copying apparatus equipped with the above-described circulating automatic document feeder 10 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, a photosensitive drum 101 is rotatably installed in the center of the copying machine main body 100. As shown in FIG.

On the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 101, various copying process units serving as image forming means are provided along with a charging charger 102, a developing device 103, etc., and a fixing device 104 is further provided on the left side in the figure.

On one side of the upper surface of the copying machine main body 100, a circulating automatic document supply device RA10 shown in FIG. 3 is provided.

A first exposure section 14 and a second exposure section 15 provided vertically below the first document cylinder 27 and second document cylinder 28 of the automatic document feeder IO, respectively, are located above the copying machine main body 100. They are provided in parallel on substantially the same plane of the end face. Further, on the other side of the top surface of the copying machine main body 100, a third exposure section 105 corresponding to book manuscripts is provided, and this constitutes an optical system having a two-base exposure system. .

Inside the copying machine main body 100, there is a paper feed cassette 1 for copy paper Y.
06a, 106b, 106c, and 106d are installed. These paper feed cassettes 106! , 106b,
The copy sheets Y placed in 106c and 106d are picked up and sent to paper feed paths 107aS107b and 107c.
, and 107d, respectively. Each paper feed cassette 106aS106b, 106
c, and paper feed roller 1011 installed on the top surface of 106d.
aS1 (18b, IQllc, and 208d are rotationally driven by the paper feed drive motor M8, thereby feeding one sheet each to paper feed paths 107a, 107b, 1075, and 1O7d. Paper feed paths 1G7a, IQ
Paper conveying rollers 1lla, 1llb, 111c, ttta, and 1lle are installed on the re-conveying path 110 from 7b, 107c, and 107d and the intermediate tray 109 (described later), respectively.

These conveyance rollers l1laSIllb, 1llc,
11Ld and 1lle are rotationally driven by a drive motor M9, and feed the copy paper Y to the copying process.

An offset tray 11 is provided outside the side of the copying machine main body 100.
2a and a tray 112b for discharging invalid transfer paper are installed, and a solenoid 5OL8 is attached to this offset tray 112a. This solenoid 5OL
8 is turned on for a predetermined period of time, the offset ray 112a shifts toward the front of the page in FIG.
Next, when 5OL8 is turned on for a predetermined period of time, a shift operation is performed toward the back of the page. As a result, a plurality of copy sheets Y are sorted and discharged onto the offset tray 112a with respect to the original document. Invalid transfer paper is sorted by a gate (not shown) and sent to a discharge tray 111.
It is discharged onto b.

A discharge path 113 for discharging the copy paper Y, which has passed through the image receiving means and fixing device 104 after being fed to the copying process step, to the offset tray 112a, and a copy paper front-back reversing route branched from this discharge route 113. (switchback path) 114 is provided. The copy paper Y, which has passed through the copying process and the fixing device 104 and has the original copied on one side, is transferred to the offset tray 11 in the following three ways depending on the content desired by the operator.
It is discharged to 2a.

(A) It passes through the discharge path 113 as it is and is discharged to the offset tray IIc.

(B) After heading to the ejection path 113, the copy sheet Y is reversed at the switchback path 114 in order to make a copy on the other side of the copy sheet Y, and is transported again to the copying process step by an intermediate tray. It is stored in 109.

The copy sheets Y stacked on the intermediate tray 109 are sequentially fed from the bottom to the re-transport path 110 by a paper feed roller 115 rotationally driven by a motor M14. Then, it is fed to the copying process step, and the fixing device 104
through the discharge path 113 to the offset tray 1.
It is discharged to 12a.

(C) After heading toward the ejection route 113, the paper is reversed at the switchback route 114 and then ejected from the ejection route 113 to the offset tray 112a.

In order to enable the three methods described above, the discharge path 113
and the switchback path 114 have the configuration shown in FIG. That is, the switchback route 114 includes routes 114a and 114b branched from two positions of the discharge route 113, a route 114c where these routes 1f4a and 114b are merged, and a route 114d branched from this route 114C and headed toward the intermediate tray 109. It consists of

Route 114! A gate flapper 116 is installed at the branch point between the discharge route 113 and the discharge route 113, a gate flapper 117 is installed at the branch part of the routes 114a and 114b, and a gate flapper 117 is installed at the branch part between the routes 114a and 114b.
A gate flapper 118 is installed at each branch portion. These gate flappers are actuated by drive solenoids (not shown), and the conveyance path of the copy paper Y is automatically selected in accordance with the copy content desired by the operator. Rollers 119a, 119b, and 119C are installed near the branching points of the paths 114a and 114b, and rollers 12h, 12[1b, and 120C are installed near the branching points of the paths 114b and 114C, so that the copy paper Y are being transported. Also, route 114
A reversing roller 121 is installed on the path 114c near the branching point of a and 114b, and is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions by a driving motor Mll. As a result, the conveying direction of the copy paper Y is reversed, and a reversing roller 122 is installed downstream of the branching portion of the paths 114a and 114d, and is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions by a driving motor M12. Further, a sensor 5 for detecting paper output is provided near the exit of the discharge path 113.
EN14 near the entrance of route 114a and route 114
Sensor 5El115 and S E for detecting paper reversal are shown in c.
A sensor 5EN17 for detecting the entrance of the intermediate tray is installed near the exit of the path 114d.

Furthermore, in the figure, 123a, 123b, and 123C indicate conveyance rollers disposed along the discharge path 113, and 124 indicates a conveyance roller disposed along the path 114d, respectively. Conveyance rollers 123a, 123b, and 123
C is driven by a motor MIO in synchronization with copying process components such as the photosensitive drum 101 and the fixing device 104.

With this configuration, in the above case (A), the gate flapper 116 closes the path 114a and the copy paper Y is discharged along the discharge path 113.

In the case of (B), the gate flapper 116
3 to close the path 114a of the switchback path 114.
Guide the copy paper Y to the path 11 using the gate flapper 117.
4C, and the reversing roller 1 passes through this path 114c.
At 22, the conveying direction is reversed. Further, the gate flapper 118 opens the path 114d and guides the copy paper Y to the intermediate tray 109.

In the case of (C), after guiding the copy paper Y to the path 114C, the conveying direction is reversed by the reversing roller 121, the path 114b side is opened by the gate flapper 117, and this path 11
4b to the discharge path 113.

Next, the optical system provided in the copying machine main body 100 will be explained.

Inside and above the copying machine main body 100 are a light source 150 that performs slit exposure on the surface of a document, and a mirror 151a.

151b, 151c, and 151d, and lens 152
An optical device system is installed to enable scanning.

In this optical device system, light from a light source 150 is irradiated onto the image surface of a sheet original X, and the reflected light is reflected by a mirror 15.
1a, 151b, 151c, and 151d and the lens 152, the light is distributed onto the surface of the photoreceptor drum 101.

In this way, in this optical device system, in response to the presentation of the sheet document X of the circulating automatic document feeder IO, the first exposure section 14 of the first document cylinder 27 and the second exposure section of the second document cylinder 28 are exposed. Two systems are employed in which exposure is performed in the third exposure section 105 in a stopped state, and when a book document or the like is placed on the third exposure section 105, exposure is performed while the optical system is scanned.

The mirror system is driven by drive motor 3.

In addition, if the photoreceptor is a belt photoreceptor, its upper surface is arranged parallel to the plane formed by the above-mentioned first, second, and third exposure parts, and the lens is configured with a self-focusing transmitter array, etc. ,
Image formation on a photoreceptor is possible without using a mirror.

In this copying apparatus, a sensor for detecting paper is provided at each part. 5EN8 is a sensor for detecting the second exposure position of the optical system, 5EN9 is a sensor for detecting the first exposure position of the optical system, 5ENIO is a sensor for detecting the leading edge position of the document in the OC section, and 5ENII is a sensor for detecting the exit of the copy paper hopper. ,
5EN12 is a sensor for detecting copy paper before transfer, 5EN1
3 is a post-fixing detection sensor, 5EN17 is a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper in the intermediate tray, and 5EN18 is a sensor for detecting the exit of the intermediate tray. Furthermore, although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a clutch CLTI for feeding a document to the first exposure section 14 and a clutch CLTI for feeding the document to the second exposure section 15 are provided in the circulation type automatic document feeder 10. Clutch CLT2 for sending out
In addition, a clutch CLT3 for synchronizing copying paper and document leading edge exposure is provided in the copying machine main body 100.

The double-sided copying machine equipped with the above-mentioned circulation type automatic document feeder can produce (a) single-sided copy sheets sorted into multiple copies from a single-sided original, and (b) sorted into multiple copies from a single-sided original, depending on the copy content desired by the operator. (c) A single-sided copy sheet that has been sorted into multiple copies from a double-sided original. (d) A double-sided copy sheet that has been sorted into multiple copies from a double-sided original. To freely copy by circulating the original multiple times. is possible.

Also, depending on the contents of the copy desired by the operator, exposure is performed while the sheet document is wrapped around the document cylinder multiple times.
It is also possible to make multiple copies during one circulation of a sheet original.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the control device of the copying machine of FIG.

The control device shown in the figure controls the copying machine main body side and the circulating automatic document feeder 1G in relation to each other. That is,
Each motor Ml-M14 is connected to a motor driver 200, and each clutch CLTI-CLT3 is connected to a clutch driver 201.
Each solenoid 5QLI to 5OL4 is connected to a solenoid driver 202, respectively. Each of these drivers 2
00, 201, and 202, DC power supply 203, etc.
The control elements used for document conveyance control, paper conveyance control, and process unit control are interface circuits (Ilo) 20
Connected to 4. Furthermore, sensors 5EN1 to 5EN
18 is also connected to this interface circuit 204. The interface circuit 204 is also connected to the microprocessor 205 and the sensor 5ENI-
The detection signal from SENlg is sent to the microprocessor 205.
In response to the control signal from the microprocessor 205, the above-mentioned dry nozzles 209, 201,
and 202. The microprocessor 205 is
Connected to ROM2Qfi and RAM207, RO
Control is performed according to a control program stored in advance in M206. The RAM 207 is used as a buffer memory and an area for calculations such as flags, counters, timers, etc., which will be described later, necessary for copy control.

In addition, the interface circuit 204 is
It is connected to the light control unit 209 and the copy lamp 210 via the dimmer unit 209 and the copy lamp 210, as well as to the operator operation keys 212 of the operation panel 211 and the display panel 213, which is connected to the display device 214. has been done. Further, the interface circuit 204 is connected to select switches SSW+ to 5SW4.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement on the operation panel 211.

As shown in the figure, the operation panel 211 includes a numeric keypad 212a for setting the number of copies and a clear all key 212b.

RDH-SELECT key 212c for setting copy conditions.

ADF key 212d for automatic document supply, print switch 212e for instructing to start copying, SET display section 214a, COUNT display section 214b, four types of RDH copy mode display sections 2140 to 214f, and ADF.
A mode display section 214g is provided.

The RDH copy mode display sections 214C to 214f are displayed when making a single-sided copy from a single-sided original (SIMPLEX-3IM).
PLEX'), when making double-sided copies from single-sided originals (S
IMPLEX → DUPLEX), when making a single-sided copy from a double-sided original (DUPLEX → SIMl'LEI)
, when making double-sided copies from double-sided originals (DUPLEX-D
UPLEX) (7) 4 (D copy mode is shown,
Each time the RDH-8 ELECT key 212c is pressed, the lamps are turned on sequentially from the top. After the lowest position, it returns to the highest position, and in the initial state it automatically returns to the highest position. The required number of copies is set using the numeric keypad 212a, and the set number is displayed on the SET display section 214a. When the copying operation starts, the number of completed copies is displayed on the CoUNT display section 2.
14b. SET number of copies and CoUNT
When the number of copies matches, the machine stops, the SET counter is reset, and the SET display section 214a returns to "0 display". The contents of the C0UNT counter, therefore CoUN
The display on the T display section 214b is then changed to the print switch 212.
It is maintained until e is turned on.

In the self-propelled automatic document feeder 10 described above, a sheet document is being conveyed when the clear all key is pressed during copying, an interrupt ends, or the document stops due to out of paper. It may be necessary to return X to the document hopper 11. In such a case, the sheet document X is idly conveyed at a high conveyance speed.

Figure 1 shows a microprocessor 2G5 for this control.
2 is a flowchart of a program executed by.

When the automatic document feeder 10 starts operating, first in step 31, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the above-mentioned situation has occurred in which the sheet document X that is being conveyed is returned to its initial state.

Only when a situation arises in which the sheet original X should be returned to its initial state, the process proceeds to the next step S2, and checks whether there is any copying paper in progress in the main body, that is, whether there is any uncopied paper that has already been fed. Determine repeatedly. When the number of copy sheets in progress reaches the number, the process advances to the next step S3, and the conveyance speed is set to the maximum speed and conveyance of the sheet document X is started. In this case, only the conveyance operation of the sheet document X is performed. In many cases, this maximum speed is equal to the transport speed when copying is performed at the minimum reduction magnification.

In the next step S4, it is repeatedly determined whether all the sheet documents X have returned to the document hopper 11 by checking signals from the negative cycle detection sensor 5ENI and the like. Only when all the sheet documents X have returned to the document hopper 11, the process proceeds to step S5, where the operation of the automatic document feeder IO is stopped and the process is ended.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the clear all key is pressed during copying, when an interrupt ends, or when the copy stops due to paper out, the sheet original X is transported at high speed, so the sheet original The time required to return X to its initial state is greatly reduced, and therefore efficient copying operations can be performed.

Note that the control means in the present invention is achieved by a program executed by the microprocessor 205 as described above.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program executed by the microprocessor 205 to control the document conveyance speed in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the operation of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, in a self-propelled type automatic document feeder 10, a sheet document X that has already been copied is conveyed empty to the document hopper 1 in order to perform recovery due to a jam etc. of the sheet document X.
This relates to control of sending data into 1. The configurations of automatic document feeder 10 and copying machine 100 in this embodiment are completely the same as those in the previous embodiment except for this program.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

However, the example shown in FIG. 7 shows a case where a single-sided copy sheet is created from a single-sided original.

As shown in FIG. 7(A), sheet originals X1, X2, and X3 are placed in the original hopper 11. When the automatic document feeder IO starts operating, sheet documents X1, X2, and X3 are sequentially conveyed along the conveyance path, as shown in FIG. 7(B).

In the case of FIG. 7 (B), the sheet original X1 is conveyed to be exposed to the second exposure unit 15, that is, the lower side of the second original cylinder 28, and the exposed contents are transferred to the copy paper Y1. Ru. In this case, it means that the copy paper Y1 has been effectively copied, and this copy paper Y1 is transferred to the offset tray 1.
12a.

As shown in FIG. 7(C), if the sheet original X2 jams, the copy paper Y2' becomes an incomplete copy, and as shown in FIG. 7(D) and (E), it is transferred to the output tray 112b. When the document is ejected, the automatic document feeder 1G stops operating.

The user releases the jam on the sheet document x2, as shown in Figure 7 (
After returning the sheet originals X1, X2, and X3 to the same state as in A), when the print switch 212e (FIG. 5) is pressed, the recovery operation is started and the program shown in FIG. 6 is executed.

First, in step SlO, the sheet original X1, which has already been copied, is conveyed emptyly and returned to the original hopper 11 with the conveying speed set to the maximum speed. In many cases, this maximum speed is equal to the transport speed when copying is performed at the minimum reduction magnification.

Next, the process advances to step Sll, and it is determined whether the exposure of the sheet original X2 has reached the point where exposure is started, that is, the sheet original X2
It is determined whether the document has been conveyed to the second exposure section 15 below the second document cylinder 28. If it is not the time to start exposure of the sheet original X2, the process returns to step SIO and is transported at the maximum speed.

Specifically, the judgment in step Sll is made by storing the number of sheet originals that have already been copied, emptyly conveying this number of sheets and returning them to the original hopper 11, and then placing the next sheet original at the exposure position. This is done, for example, depending on whether or not the sensor 5EN5 for detecting before the exposure section detects that the exposure point has reached .

As shown in FIG. 7(G), if it is the time to start the exposure of the sheet original X2, the process advances to step S12, where the normal transport speed is returned to the subsequent exposure and transfer operations of the sheet originals X2 and X3. etc.

This normal conveyance speed is set according to the desired copying magnification at that time. FIG. 7(H) shows a state in which the exposure operation for sheet original X3 is being performed.

By performing such control, as shown in FIG. 7(I), even if a jam occurs, the sheets Y1, Y2, and Y, on which sheet originals X1, X2, and It will be discharged.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when performing recovery due to a jam etc. of the sheet original X, the sheet original X that has already been copied is transported at high speed, so the jam recovery time is significantly shortened, and therefore the efficiency is improved. copy operations can be performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is a placing means on which a document to be supplied is placed, a conveying path coupled to the placing means, and a conveying path that is directed along the conveying path. a conveying means for self-propelling the document at a conveyance speed specified above, and when the document is forcibly conveyed to the mounting means via this conveyance path, the document is conveyed by the conveyance means at a higher speed than the above-mentioned instructed conveyance speed. If the clear all key is pressed during copying, an interrupt ends, or the document is stopped due to out of paper, the document will be returned to its initial state in a short time while it is being transported. Furthermore, when performing recovery due to a document jam, etc., since the already copied document is conveyed at high speed, the time required for jam recovery is greatly shortened.

Therefore, efficient copying operations can be provided to the copying apparatus.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a program for document conveyance speed control in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a double-sided copying apparatus in this embodiment.
3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the automatic document feeding device of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control device of the copying machine shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program for document conveyance speed control in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 6. IQ... Automatic document feeder, 11...
Manuscript hopper, I3... Manuscript presentation section, I6, I7
, I8... Conveyance mechanism, 20... Document conveyance belt, 100... Copying machine main body, 2Q4...
...Interface circuit, 205...Microprocessor, 5ENI to 5EN18...
sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A loading means for placing a document to be supplied, a conveyance path coupled to the loading means, a conveyance means for self-propelling the document at a designated conveyance speed along the conveyance path, and the conveyance path. and control means for controlling the conveyance of the document by the conveyance means at a higher speed than the instructed conveyance speed when the document is forcibly sent to the placement means via the Original feeding device.