JPH0561302A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To substantially eliminate the time for carrying an original after the depression of a copy start key and to obviate waiting time by independently carrying out original sheet feeding start and copy processing start. CONSTITUTION:When the original is set on an original table 3, an original set sensor 4 is turned on. When an original carrying motor is turned on, a sheet feeding roller 5 and a carrying belt 6 are driven. Consequently, the original is carried onto a contact glass 7. When the original is set on the original table 3 in such a manner, the original is automatically carried onto the contact glass 7. Therefore, at the time of depressing the copy starting key after the operation for setting the inputs of various modes, the original can be already placed on the contact glass 7. Thus, the time for carrying the original after the depression of the copy starting key is substantially eliminated and the need for the waiting time can be obviated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF), and more particularly to an image forming apparatus characterized by a document feed start control in an ADF.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, it is desired to shorten a copying process time and a copying work as short as possible. Further, as the equipment ratio of the ADF increases, it is desired to shorten not only copy creation time but also copy work including document processing. The procedure for making a first copy of a copying machine equipped with an ADF is as follows: original set → mode input such as numeric keypad → copy start key on → original document conveyed on contact glass → copy operation such as exposure paper feed → The following is abbreviated.

At this time, the working time is required for the mode input time and the time for transporting the original onto the contact glass. Especially, since the time from the turning on of the copy start key is a waiting time for the operator, The challenge is to reduce the time it takes to transport onto the contact glass.
Conventionally, in order to shorten the transportation time, techniques such as increasing the transportation speed and shortening the transportation distance have been proposed.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a limit to the reduction of the document transport time. There is also a method in which the set sensor at the time of document setting is also used as the copy start key, and when the document is set, the document is conveyed onto the contact glass and exposure is started. Must be completed before the procedure, which is not preferable because the operation procedure can be limited. In this case, the time that can be shortened is only the work time for turning on the copy start key. Although various methods such as card input have been proposed for shortening the mode input time, the waiting time is eliminated unless the document transport time after pressing the copy start key is substantially eliminated.
In addition, the entire copy work cannot be shortened.

The present invention has been made on the basis of such a background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of substantially eliminating the document conveying time after the copy start key is pressed and eliminating the waiting time. It is intended.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object is to provide a paper feed unit for feeding a document, a document set sensor for detecting that the document has been set in the paper feed unit, and a transport member for transporting the document onto the contact glass. And an image forming apparatus having an automatic document feeder having a driving member and having a start switch for starting a predetermined copying process such as exposure and paper feeding,
This is accomplished by starting the feeding of the original document and the start of the copying process such as exposure and feeding by independent signals.

[0007]

The original is fed (conveyed to the contact glass) independently of the copy start key being turned on and off by the signal of the original set sensor or the signal of an arbitrary mode setting key received when the original set sensor is turned on.
As a result, the document is fed during the mode setting operation, that is, before the copy start key is pressed.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine, 1 is an ADF,
Reference numeral 2 is a main body of the copying machine. In the ADF 1, 3 is a document table, 4 is a document set sensor, 5 is a paper feed roller, and 6 is a conveyor belt.

When a document is set on the document table 3, the document set sensor 4 is turned on, and a document feed motor (not shown) is turned on to drive the paper feed roller 5 and the feed belt 6, whereby the document is contacted. It is transported onto the glass 7. It should be noted that the document feeding motor may be turned on after a predetermined time elapses after the document set sensor 4 is turned on in order to allow a margin for the document set.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the key arrangement of the operation panel. Various mode setting keys are provided in addition to the copy start key 8. As is well known, when the copy start key 8 is pressed, a copy operation such as exposure and paper feeding is started. Generally, the ADF is started before the copy operation is started.
1 operates, and the document is conveyed onto the contact glass 7.

However, in this embodiment, when the original is set on the original table 3, the original is automatically conveyed onto the contact glass 7, so that the input setting operation in various modes is completed and the copy start key 8 is pressed. Since it is possible to position the original on the contact glass 7 at this point in time, the original conveying time after the copy start key 8 is pressed can be substantially eliminated and the waiting time can be eliminated.

As another embodiment, when a document is set on the document table 3 and the document set sensor 4 is turned on and any key other than the copy start key 8 on the operation panel is pressed, Even if the carry motor is turned on, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

That is, the keys on the operation panel are ten keys,
There are various keys such as a scaling key
Since the key operation in the set state means the mode setting, by starting the document transportation by this key input signal, the document transportation can be performed during the mode input.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the original is fed and conveyed regardless of the depression of the copy start key, the original is placed on the contact glass before the depression of the copy start key. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the copy processing time after the copy start key is pressed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the above effect can be obtained by the ON signal of the document set sensor.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the above effect can be obtained by pressing the ON signal of the document set sensor and pressing an arbitrary mode setting key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an operation panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ADF 2 Copier main body 3 Original table 4 Original set sensor 5 Paper feed roller 6 Conveyor belt 7 Contact glass 8 Copy start key

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder having a paper feed unit for feeding a document, a document set sensor for detecting that the document has been set in the paper feed unit, and a transport member and a drive member for transporting the document onto the contact glass. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a device and having a start switch for starting a predetermined copying process such as exposure and paper feeding, start feeding of an original document and start of a copying process such as exposure and paper feeding by independent signals. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feeding of the original is started by a signal from the original set sensor, and exposure,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that a copy process key such as paper feeding is started by a copy start key on an operation panel. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the document set sensor is turned on, a document is started to be fed by a signal from an arbitrary mode setting key on the operation panel.