JPH0549111B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device that circulates a plurality of documents placed on a document tray one by one and feeds them to a document table.

<Summary of the Invention> A copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device according to the present invention includes a document size detecting means for detecting the paper size of the document one by one before starting copying work, and a document size detecting means for detecting the paper size of the document one by one before starting copying work, and document size storage means for storing the size of the document.

<Prior art and its drawbacks> Automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as automatic document feeder) installed in a copying machine
It's called ADF. ) has an original tray, an original transport means, and an original ejection tray, and the multiple originals placed on the original tray are guided one by one to the original table by the original transport means, and after a predetermined operation is completed, the originals are transferred to the original ejection tray. It is something that is discharged. In addition, the document circulation feeder transports the lowest document placed on the document tray onto the document tray, and after a predetermined operation is completed, the document on the document tray is placed on the document tray. The paper is ejected onto the top of the original. Due to this operation, in the document circulation feeding device, the stacking order on the document tray does not change even after the feeding operation of all documents is completed. In general, conventional ADFs including a document circulation feeder are equipped with a detection means for detecting the paper size of a document in order to effectively utilize functions related to paper selection and the like of a copying machine in which the ADF is installed. In most conventional ADFs, this detection means is placed near the document tray, and the paper size of the document is detected on the document tray. Therefore, if multiple paper sizes of originals are placed on the original tray at the same time, only the largest paper size will be detected, allowing the copier's functions to be used effectively for smaller paper sizes. I couldn't do it. Also,
Some devices had a detection means that detected the paper size while the original was being fed from the original tray, but it was difficult to perform operations such as changing the paper after the original was fed due to the timing, so the paper size was detected only after the original was ejected. It was used in the classification work of manuscripts. Therefore, in any case, in a conventional copier equipped with an ADF, originals of multiple paper sizes are continuously conveyed to the document table, and a copying operation is performed using the paper and data appropriate for each paper size of the original. There was a drawback that I couldn't do it.

<Object of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to enable continuous copying operations for originals of multiple paper sizes under copying conditions suitable for each paper size, and to improve the selection of copy paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device that can effectively utilize functions such as the above.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> A copying machine equipped with the document circulation feeding device of the present invention is characterized in that the order in which the documents are placed on the document tray does not change when the feeding operation of all documents in the document circulation feeding device is completed. It was developed with a focus on feeding multiple originals placed on the original tray to the original tray in the order in which they were placed, and ejecting the originals on the original tray to the original tray without changing the order in which they were placed. In a copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device, the document size detection means detects the paper size of the document while it is being fed from the document tray, and it circulates the document placed on the document tray without copying. During this period, the document size storage means sequentially stores all the paper sizes detected by the document size detection means in the memory of the control unit; The present invention is characterized by further comprising a control means for reading out the paper size of the original document being read and displaying it on the paper size display, and for permitting a copying operation.

The present invention is also characterized in that it includes a paper size display that displays the size of the paper stored in the paper cassette attached to the paper feed section.

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, it is possible to know in advance the paper size and number of sheets necessary for copying all originals placed on the original tray. Therefore, when originals with multiple paper sizes are placed on the original tray, tasks such as changing the paper source due to changes in the original size can be quickly performed after the copying operation has started. Copying operations can be performed continuously on originals having different sizes under copying conditions suitable for each paper size.
Furthermore, it is also possible to detect the preparation or shortage of paper for a copying operation of a specific paper size before the start of the copying operation, and it is possible to prompt the operator with a warning. Therefore, it is possible to provide sufficient time to prepare missing or missing sheets of paper, eliminate interruptions in copying work, and improve the operating efficiency of the copying machine.

<Embodiment> (a) Structural Description FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the schematic structure of a copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Copying machine body 2 placed on cabinet 3
A document circulation feeding device 1 is disposed above the document table 11 on the top surface. A sorter 15 is attached to the left side of the copying machine body 2 and the cabinet 3. A photosensitive drum 19 is disposed inside the copying machine main body 2 and constitutes a copying process section. Paper cassettes 20a to 20c are mounted on the right side of the copying machine main body 2, and constitute a paper feeding section. These paper cassettes 20a to 20
Papers of different sizes are stored in c. A registration roller 21 is disposed between the paper feeding section and the copying process section. The registration rollers 21 guide the paper to a transfer process position in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 19. A paper conveyance belt 12 and a fixing roller 13 are disposed on the left side of the photosensitive drum 19, and constitute a paper conveyance path 31 within the copying machine. Furthermore, a paper ejection roller 14 is located at the left end inside the copying machine main body 2.
is arranged and constitutes a paper discharge section.

Inside the document circulation feeding device 1, there are a document feed belt 5, a document feed roller 6, and a document discharge roller 7.
a, 7b and a document switching claw 8 are provided. A document tray 4 is installed between a document feed belt 5 and a document feed roller 6. Documents 9 are placed on this document tray 4, and are fed in order from the lowest document. A document conveyance belt 10 is disposed above the document table 11 on the top surface of the copying machine main body 2, and the document is fed by the document feed belt 5 and the document feed roller 6 via the document feed conveyance roller 36. Place original 9 on original table 1
1 to a predetermined position. When feeding the original 9 from the original tray 4, the original switching claw 8 is placed in the state shown in the figure, and the original feeding conveyance path 36 is opened. When collecting the original on the original table, the original switching claw 8 swings downward to open the original collecting and conveying path 37. The conveyance belt 10 is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions, and feeds the paper onto the document table and discharges the paper above the document placed on the document tray 4. Document feeding conveyance path 36
A document size detection sensor 45 is provided to detect the size of the document. This document size detection sensor 45 is the document size detection means of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the vicinity of the document tray of the document circulation feeding device.

The document tray 4 is installed between the document feed belt 5 and the document feed roller 6 of the document circulation feeder 1 . Above the document feed roller 6, document discharge rollers 7a and 7b are arranged. The documents placed on the document tray 4 are sequentially fed by a document feed belt 5 and a document feed roller 6 starting from the lowest document. Further, the document conveyed from the document table in the discharge direction is transferred to the document discharge roller 7.
The documents a and 7b are ejected onto the top of the documents placed on the document tray 4. An opening 44 is formed in the side surface of the document tray 4, and a partition member 42 fixed to a belt 43 is inserted into the opening 44.
moves. The belt 43 is urged in the direction of arrow A by a drive device (not shown), and the partition member 42 rotates around the outer periphery of the belt 43. A shutter 41 is provided above the opening 44 . This shutter 41 restricts exposure of the partition member 42 when placing a document on the document tray 4. After the original is placed on the original tray 4, the shutter 41 opens the opening 44, and the rotation of the belt 43 moves the partition member 42 in the direction of arrow A. The rotational force of the belt 43 is extremely small, so that the partition member 42 stops moving when it comes into contact with the upper surface of the document placed on the document tray 4. When the copying operation is started, the placed originals are sequentially conveyed onto the original platen 11 starting from the lowest one, and the originals after the copying operation are discharged above the partition member 44. As the copying process progresses, the number of originals located below the partition member 42 decreases, and the final original is placed on the original table 11.
After the paper is fed in the direction, the partition member 42 moves on the outer peripheral surface of the belt 43 that does not face the document tray 4 and is exposed to the document tray 4 again. belt 43
By detecting the partition member 42 in a part of the outer circumference that does not face the document tray 4, the number of circulation of the document placed on the document tray 4 is known.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control section of a copying machine equipped with the above-mentioned document circulation feeding device.

The CPU 51 is connected to the ROM 52 via the internal bus.
RAM53 and I/O interface 54
is connected. The ROM 52 stores preset operations such as operations related to the set mode.
A program to be executed by the CPU 51 is stored. The RAM 53 stores input data. A part of this RAM 53 includes a memory area M1 for storing the document size, which will be described later.
M2, M3, . . . , Mi are provided. Further, a driver array 55 is connected to the I/O interface 54, and an operating section 56 is connected to this driver array 55. The operation section 56 is provided with a paper cassette display 61, a paper size display 62, and the like. The paper cassette display 61 displays the size of paper stored in each of the paper cassettes 20a to 20c installed in the paper feed section, and the paper size display 62 allows the operator to prepare the required paper size. It is an encouragement.

(b) Operational Description FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a copying machine equipped with the above-mentioned document circulation feeding device.

After the power is turned on, it is determined in step n1 (hereinafter step ni will be simply referred to as ni) whether or not an original is set on the original tray 4 of the original circulating feeder 1. When the document is set at n1, the process advances to n2 and the contents of pointer i are set to 0. This pointer i specifies the number of memory areas M1 to Mi provided in the RAM 53. Next, at n3, the belt 43 on the document tray 4 is rotated to bring the partition member 42 into contact with the top surface of the topmost document placed on the document tray 4. After this
At n4, the document feed belt 5 and document feed roller 6 are operated to feed the lowest document placed on the document tray 4 in the direction of the document feed conveyance path 36, and at n5 A document size detection sensor 45 detects the size of the document.
At this time, add the contents of pointer i by one at n6,
Store the detected size in the memory area Mi on the n7. Next, at n8, the document conveyance belt 10 is reversed, and the document on the document table 11 is transferred to the document collection conveyance path 37.
It performs the operation of discharging to the outside via. At this time, the document switching claw 8 swings downward to open the document collection and conveyance path 37. Original collection conveyance path 3
The original that has passed through 7 is sent to original ejection rollers 7a and 7b.
As a result of the rotation, the original placed on the original tray 4 is ejected onto the top. When this document ejection operation is completed in n9, it is checked in n10 whether or not there are any documents remaining on the document tray 4, that is, if the partition member 42 is
It is determined whether or not the paper that came into contact at n3 remains on the document tray and maintains the state of contact with the partition member 4. If the document remains at n10, the process returns to n4 and the operations from n4 to n9 are performed. By performing this operation for the number of originals placed on the original tray 4, the paper size of each of the originals placed on the original tray 4 is detected.
Memory areas M1 to Mi provided in RAM53
can be memorized. If there is no document at n10, that is, if the partition member 42 is no longer in contact with the document, the belt 43 rotates in the direction of arrow A so that the partition member 42 goes around its outer periphery and returns to the upper surface of the uppermost document. come into contact with The document that was in contact with the partition member 42 at n3 is placed at the top of the document at n9, and the document that the partition member 42 is in contact with at n11 is the same document as the document that was in contact with the partition member 42 at n3. Therefore, even if the original has consecutive pages, there is no need to change the order in which the originals are placed before starting the copying operation. After this, the operator sets the mode and inputs data at n12, and when the print switch is operated at n13, the contents of the RAM memory areas M1 to Mi and the mode and data set and input at n12 appear at n14. The copying operation is performed accordingly.

In the above operation, n4 to n10 correspond to the document size detection means and document size storage means of the present invention.

(c) Effects of the embodiment The paper size of the original stored in the memory areas M1 to Mi of the RAM by the above configuration and operation,
Using input data such as the number of copies, the size and number of required sheets can be calculated prior to the copying operation. By displaying this result on the paper cassette display 61 or paper size display 62 provided in the operation unit 56, it is possible to warn the operator of the need to compensate for paper deficiencies and shortages, thereby preventing interruption of copying work. This can improve operating efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a copying machine equipped with a circulating original feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. FIG. 3 is an external view showing the vicinity of the document tray of the document circulation feeding device provided in the copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section of the copying machine. 1...Document circulation feeder, 4...Document tray,
11...Original table, 41...Original size detection sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A document in which a plurality of originals placed on a document tray are fed to a document tray in the order in which they are placed, and the documents on the document tray are discharged to the document tray without changing the order in which they are placed. In a copying machine equipped with a circulation feeding device, the document size detection means detects the paper size of the document while it is being fed from the document tray, and the document placed on the document tray is circulated once without a copying operation, a document size storage means for sequentially storing all of the paper sizes detected by the document size detection means in a memory of the control unit; a paper size display; and after completion of one cycle of the document, the document size storage means stores the paper sizes detected by the document size detection means. A copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device, comprising: control means for reading out the paper size of a document, displaying it on the paper size display, and permitting a copying operation. 2. A copying machine equipped with a document circulation feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a paper size display for displaying the size of paper stored in a paper cassette attached to a paper feed section.