JPH06118754A - Electrophotographic copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the electophotograhic copying machine where a copying function mode can be easily set by an operator. CONSTITUTION:A mode selection sheet is fed from an automatic document carrying device based on a sub routine for a selection mode setting at a step S3 when a selection mode setting key on a control panel is pushed. Next, by counting the number of pieces of mode selection sheet based on the sub routine of a selection data setting at step S4, set copying function is selected in advance according to the count number and by detecting the size of the mode selection sheet at a document size detection means, that information is stored in RAM by selecting a mode set beforehand corresponding to the size. Next, the specified mode is automatically set for the copying function from the information stored in RAM based on the sub routine of selection at step S5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly to an electrophotographic copying machine having an automatic document feeder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrophotographic copying machines provided with various copying functions have been provided. For these copying functions, the mode is set by the key input operation on the operation panel. However, as the number of types of copying functions has increased, the key input operation has become complicated, making it difficult for the operator to use.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic copying machine in which the operator can easily set the mode of each copying function.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, an electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention comprises (a) an automatic document feeder, (b) means for detecting the size of a document,
(C) means for counting the number of originals; (d) a plurality of copying functions each having a plurality of modes; and (e) for selecting modes fed from the automatic original feeder by the original number counting means. By counting the number of sheets, the preset copy functions corresponding to the count number are sequentially selected, and the original size detecting means selects the mode for each of the sequentially selected copy functions. Means for selecting the preset mode corresponding to the size of the mode selection sheet by detecting the size of the sheet. The copying function includes, for example, a function of designating a paper feed port to be prioritized, a function of designating a reference position of a manual exposure value (image density), and the like. In addition, as modes, there are “upper” and “lower” for the function of designating a paper feed port to be prioritized. Alternatively, for the function of designating the reference position of the manual exposure value (image density), "0 (dark)", "1 (slightly dark)", "2 (standard)", "3"
(Slightly thin) ”etc. The mode selection sheet may be prepared in various sizes (A4 size, A3 size, etc.), and the material is not limited.

[0005]

With the above structure, when the operator wants to reset the modes of various copying functions when performing electrophotographic copying, the copying function is preset corresponding to the count number of the document number counting means. In order, a mode selection sheet having a size corresponding to a predetermined mode of each copying function may be set in the automatic document feeder. When the mode selection sheets are sequentially fed from the automatic document feeder, the number of mode selection sheets is counted by the document number counting means, and the preset copy function corresponding to the count number is automatically selected in order. The size of the mode selecting sheet is detected by the document size detecting means, and the preset mode is automatically set in correspondence with the size of the mode selecting sheet. Normal electrophotographic copying is not performed while utilizing the automatic document feeder to set the mode.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Overall Structure and Operation of Electrophotographic Copying Machine, See FIG. 1] A photoconductor drum 1 is rotatably supported in the approximate center of a copying machine main body 100 in the direction of arrow a in the figure, and an eraser is provided around it. A lamp 2, a charging charger 3, a developing device 6, a transfer charger 7, a separation charger 8 and a cleaning device 9 are sequentially arranged. The photoconductor drum 1 is provided with a photoconductor layer on the surface thereof, and the photoconductor layer is uniformly charged by passing through the eraser lamp 2 and the charging charger 3, and is subjected to image exposure from the scanning optical system 10, and An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface.

The optical system 10 is arranged below the platen glass 16 so that the original image can be scanned.
And movable mirrors 11, 12, and 13, a lens 14, and a mirror 15. The exposure lamp 17 and the movable mirror 11 have a peripheral velocity v of the photosensitive drum 1 (equal magnification.
The movable mirrors 12 and 13 are set to (v / 2m) so as to move integrally in the direction of the arrow b at a speed of (v / m) (where m is a copy magnification) with respect to a constant value regardless of zooming. It is driven by a scan motor (not shown) so as to move integrally in the direction of arrow b at a speed. When changing the copy magnification, a stepping motor (not shown) moves the lens 14 on the optical axis and the mirror 15 moves and swings to correct the optical path. The function is already known in principle.

The copy paper is fed into the machine by an automatic paper feed mechanism 20 having upper and lower cassette mounting portions provided on the left side of the copying machine main body 100 in the figure, and after being temporarily stopped by a timing roller pair 21. , A toner image is transferred by a transfer charger 7 in synchronism with the image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1, is transferred from the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 by a separation charger 8, and is conveyed by a conveyor belt. It is sent to the fixing device 23 at 22, the image is fixed, and the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 24. After the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is cleaned by the cleaning device 9 and the eraser lamp 2 to remove the toner and charges remaining on the surface thereof, and is ready for the next copying process.

When the print key 71 (see FIG. 2) for starting the copying operation of the copying machine 100 is operated, the image forming system including the photosensitive drum 1 is started, and when the pre-driving process for the photosensitive drum 1 is completed, the power is supplied. The paper roller 25 or 26 is driven, and the driving of the optical system 10 is started by the scan start signal output along with the conveyance of the copy paper.
Copy paper is fed in synchronization with the image forming operation.

Further, in each cassette mounting portion of the automatic paper feed mechanism 20, size detection switches SW11 to SW14 and S
A cassette 9 in which W21 to SW24 are provided and mounted
The operation state of the switch is changed by the arrangement of the protrusions or magnets (not shown) provided on the reference numerals 1, 92, and the size of the copy paper loaded is determined by a 4-bit binary code.

[Structure and operation of automatic document feeder, FIG.
On the other hand, the main body 100 of the copying machine is provided with an automatic document feeder 200 (hereinafter referred to as ADF) at the upper part, and can perform a copying operation in cooperation with each other. This ADF200
Is a document feeding section 201 that feeds documents one by one and feeds the documents one by one.
The document transport unit 202 transports the upper surface of the document glass 16 at 5 and stops it at a predetermined position on the surface of the glass 16 and sends the document onto the discharge tray 204 after the scanning of the document is completed.
Consists of. The document feeder 202 can be used alone as a manual feeder for manual feeding, and can be opened and closed with respect to the copying machine main body 100 so as to expose the original platen glass 16 in a state of being mounted on the copying machine main body 100. It is possible and can be used in the same way as a normal original cover.

A magnet (not shown) is installed in the copying machine main body 100. When the original conveying section 202 is closed, the switch OSW which is a reed switch is sensed by turning on the magnet and turned off when released. This switch O
When the SW is turned on, the control of the ADF 200 and the control of the copying machine main body 100 are associated with each other, and the operation mode of the copying machine main body 100 is switched to the ADF mode.

What is the ADF mode? When the print key 71 of the main body 100 of the copying machine is operated, the ADF 200 starts operating while the main body 100 of the copying machine is kept in a standby state, and the original placed on the original tray 203 is printed. The paper is fed along the upper surface of the platen glass 16 and stopped at a predetermined position.
A start signal is output from the DF 200 to the copying machine main body 100 to start the above-mentioned copying operation.
When the final scanning of the original by 0 is completed, an operation signal is output from the copying machine main body 100 to the ADF 200, and the original is ejected onto the ejection tray 204. At this time, the next original is also conveyed to a predetermined position. The presence of the original on the original tray 203 is detected by the original empty sensor ES, and whether the original is fed from the original sending unit 201 to the original conveying unit 202 is set in the original receiving unit of the original conveying unit 202. The detected original detection sensor SSE detects the original. While the document empty sensor ES detects that there is a document, copying is continuously performed in the ADF mode.

Further, the ADF 200 has means for automatically detecting the size of the original. That is, the original width is detected by the original width detection sensor WS which is interlocked with the guide plate 206 for restricting the original width provided on the original tray 203, and the length is detected by monitoring the passage time at the original detection sensor SSE. To detect. Various methods are already known for detecting the document size, and the detection method according to the present embodiment is merely one example.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ADF 200
Will be described assuming that documents of A3 size portrait orientation, B4 size portrait orientation, A4 size portrait orientation or landscape orientation, and A5 size portrait orientation can be placed, but the present invention is not limited to these types of document sizes. Absent. [Operation Panel, See FIG. 2] The operation panel 70 is installed on the upper front surface of the copying machine main body 100, and has a print key 71 for starting the copying operation, an interrupt key 72 for temporarily interrupting the multi-copy operation, and a copy. Clear / stop key 73 to stop the operation or cancel the number
A numeric keypad 74 for setting the number of multi-copy, a display unit 75 for displaying the number of copies and the state of the copying machine, an up / down key 76 for setting the copy density, and a paper selection key for selecting the copy paper size. 77, paper size display portions 78a to 78d for displaying the selected copy paper size, magnification selection keys 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d for selecting the copy magnification, and for displaying the selected magnification. Magnification display section 80a, 80b, 80
c, 80d, a selection mode setting key 81 for automatically setting the mode of the copying function according to the size and order of the mode selection sheets fed from the ADF 200, an all clear key 82 for setting the operation mode to the initial mode, a paper Trouble display section 83 for notifying occurrence of trouble such as clogging
Is provided.

[Control Circuit, See FIG. 3] FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the copying machine. A CPU 300 is a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the copying machine main body, and an ADF CPU is an AD.
It is a microcomputer for controlling the F200. 302 is a key matrix, 303 is a ROM storing control programs, 304 is a RAM for storing various information, 305 is an expansion I / O, and 307 is an LE.
It is a D matrix.

The CPU 300 performs serial communication with the ADF CPU, and further sends a signal from the output port B to the key matrix 302 via the decoder 301. The key matrix 302 performs a key scan based on the transmitted signal, and feeds back the result to the input port A of the CPU 300 again. Various control signals are input to the expansion I / O 305, and from the expansion I / O 305,
Signals are sent to the LED matrix 307 either directly or via the decoder 306.

[Control Procedure, See FIGS. 4 to 7] Here, the mode setting procedure based on the copying machine and the control circuit having the above-described configuration will be described in detail. By the way, in the following description, the "on edge" means that the switch is switched from the off state to the on state. FIG. 4 shows the CPU 300.
The main routine of is shown. ADF for mode selection sheet
The document tray 203 of 200 is placed in advance. Mode selection sheets come in various sizes, eg A4 size, A
Any material may be used as long as 3 sizes or the like can be prepared. When the power of the copying machine main body 100 is turned on, the CPU 300 is reset, the control program stored in the ROM 303 is started, and the RAM 304 is cleared, various registers are initialized, and each peripheral device is set to the initial mode in step S1. Initial settings for.

Next, in step S2, an internal timer built in the CPU 300 is started. This internal timer determines the time required for the main routine, and its value is set in advance in the initial setting of step S1. Next, in steps S3 to S9, each subroutine is called in sequence, and when all the subroutines have been processed, the CP
The U300 waits for the end of the internal timer in step S10 to end one routine. The time length of this one routine is used to count the various timers that appear in each subroutine. That is, in each subroutine, the end of the timer is determined by how many times each timer counts this one routine.

When the subroutines described in detail below are sequentially called in steps S3 to S5, and the processing is completed, the CPU 300 completes the subroutine of other key input processing on the operation panel 70 in step S6, and step S7.
In step S8, the optical system 10
Subroutine for other processing for performing data communication with a microcomputer or the like for controlling CPU, step S9
At, a subroutine of a copying process for copying by the electrophotographic process is executed. Since the subroutines of steps S6 to S9 are already known, the details thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows a selection mode setting subroutine executed in step S3. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the copying operation is stopped. If the copying operation is stopped, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the selection mode setting key 81 is on edge, that is, whether or not the selection mode setting key 81 is pressed. To determine. If the selection mode setting key 81 is on edge, it is determined in step S13 whether or not there is a mode selection sheet on the document tray 203 of the ADF 200. If there is a mode selection sheet on the tray 203,
In step S14, it is determined whether or not there is a mode selection sheet on the platen glass 16. If there is no mode selection sheet on the platen glass 16, a request signal is transmitted to the ADF 200 to feed the mode selection sheet in step S15. Next, the selection mode is set in step S16, and the document counter is cleared to "0" in step S17.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the copying operation is being performed, or if it is determined in step S12 that the selection mode setting key 81 is not on edge, the mode selection sheet is placed on the document tray 203 of the ADF 200 in step S13. If it is determined that there is no such item and step S1
If any of the cases where it is determined that the mode selection sheet is present on the platen glass 16 in 4 corresponds to the main routine.

FIG. 6 shows a selection data setting subroutine executed in step S4. First, step S2
It is determined whether or not the selection mode is selected at 0, and if the selection mode is selected (see step S16), a signal indicating that the mode selection sheet is set on the platen glass 16 is sent at step S21. It is determined whether or not it is received from the ADF 200. If the signal indicating that the mode selection sheet has been set is received from the ADF 200, the document counter is incremented by 1 in step S22, and then in step S23, the data storage address of the number corresponding to the value of the document counter is selected. RAM for data storage address
It is built in 304. In this embodiment, when the value of the document counter is "1", the number of the data storage address corresponding to this is "0".

Next, the document width detecting sensor and the document detecting sensor S transmitted from the ADF 200 in step S24.
The size information of the mode selection sheet detected by SE is coded according to Table 1. The ROM 303 stores the table 1 based on the size and the length and width of the mode selection sheet.
A control program that is coded in the relationship shown in FIG.

[0025]

[Table 1]

Next, in step S25, the code is "invalid".
If the code is not "invalid",
In step S26, the code value is stored in place of the data stored in the data storage address of the number currently selected. If it is determined in step S25 that the code-changed data is "invalid", the data stored in the data storage address of the currently selected number is left unchanged.

Further, in step S27, the document tray 20
If it is determined that the mode selection sheet is present on the sheet 3, the ADF 2 is set to feed the mode selection sheet in step 29.
A request signal is transmitted to 00. If it is determined in step S27 that there is no mode selection sheet on the document tray 203, it is determined in step S28 that there is no mode selection sheet on the document table glass 16, the process returns to the main routine, and conversely If it is determined that the mode selection sheet is present on the base glass 16, the mode selection sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 204 in step S30, and then the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that the selection mode is not selected, and step S21
In any of the cases where it is determined that the signal indicating that the mode selection sheet is set on the platen glass 16 is not received from the ADF 200, the process returns to the main routine. Next, the selection routine executed in step S5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the document tray 20 of the ADF 200
3, the first A4 size horizontal mode selection sheet, the second B4 size vertical mode selection sheet,
Place the A4 size vertically placed mode selection sheet as the third sheet. In ROM 303, as shown in Table 2, Table 1
A control program is stored in which the code shown in (1) corresponds to the selection mode of each copying function.

[0029]

[Table 2]

The setting of the priority paper feed port, which is a copying function, is a function of automatically selecting the designated paper feed port when the print key 71 is pressed. Reference key setting for manual exposure value (image density) is the print key 7
This is a function to automatically select the reference position of the designated exposure value when 1 is pressed. The time setting of the preheat time is a function of setting the time until the preheat state after the completion of copying or the key operation on the operation panel 70 to the designated time.

The priority sheet feed port is set on the first mode selection sheet, and the reference position of the manual exposure value (image density) is set on the second mode selection sheet to set the three sheets. It is preset to set the preheat time on the eye mode selection sheet. That is, since the first sheet for mode selection is A4 size landscape, "1" is set to the data storage address of number "0" in step S26 (see FIG. 6) from Table 1.
Further, since the second and third mode selection sheets are B4 size vertically and A4 size vertically, respectively,
According to Table 1, in step S26, "3" is set to the data storage address of number "1" and "2" is set to the data storage address of number "2".

FIG. 7 shows a selection subroutine executed in step S5. In step S31, it is determined whether or not the all clear key 82 is on edge. If the all clear key 82 is on edge, the value set in the data storage address of number "0" in step S32 is "0".
Is determined. In the present embodiment, "1" is set to the data storage address of the number "0", so in step S34, "lower" is selected as the priority paper feed port.
Is automatically selected. If the value set in the data storage address of number “0” is “0”, step S3
In step 3, "upper" is automatically selected as the priority paper feed port. Next, in step S35, the reference position of the manual exposure value (image density) is set based on the value set in the data storage address of number "1". In this embodiment, since "3" is set in the data storage address of number "1", "3 (slightly thin)" is automatically selected as the reference position from Table 2. Then, in step S36, the preheat time is set based on the value set in the data storage address of number "2". In this embodiment, the data storage address with the number "2" is "2".
Is set, "2 minutes" is automatically selected as the time setting value from Table 2.

From the above description, when the mode selection sheets are sequentially fed from the ADF 200, the number of mode selection sheets is counted by the document number counting means, and the copy function set in advance corresponding to the count number is set. Are automatically selected in order, and the size of the mode selection sheet is detected by the document size detecting means, and a preset mode corresponding to the size of the mode selection sheet is automatically selected.
Therefore, it is not necessary to set the mode by the conventional input operation, and the electrophotographic copying machine in which the mode can be easily set can be obtained.

[Other Embodiments] The electrophotographic copying machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the invention. In the above-described embodiment, the mode setting for performing the priority process at the time of reset is explained, but the job setting at the time of copying may be used. For example, if the code is made to correspond to each copy function mode as shown in Table 3, as described in FIG. 7, the first sheet of A4 size is placed horizontally on the document tray 203 of the ADF 200. As a second sheet, put B4 size vertically,
When an A4 size vertical mode selection sheet is placed as the third sheet, the binding margin is 10 mm and the frame erase amount is 20 from the data encoded in the relationship shown in Table 1.
It is possible to automatically set the copy function in which the mm mode and the sort mode are the group mode.

[0035]

[Table 3]

The automatic document feeder of the above embodiment is
The mode selection sheet that has been conveyed is placed on the platen glass 16
Although it is of a type in which it is stopped at a predetermined position on the surface, other than this, it may be of a type in which the conveyed sheet is conveyed on the surface of the document table glass 16 without being stopped.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, by setting a mode selection sheet having a size corresponding to a desired mode of each copying function in the automatic document feeder, each copying function can be improved. The mode can be automatically set, eliminating the need for a complicated procedure for key input operation as in the past.

As a result, an electrophotographic copying machine can be obtained in which the operator can easily set the mode of each copying function.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of the copying machine shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control circuit shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control circuit shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control circuit shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting example of mode selection sheets.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photosensitive drum 10 ... Optical system 81 ... Selection mode setting key 100 ... Copying machine main body 200 ... Automatic document feeder CPU300, ADFCPU ... Microcomputer 303 ... ROM 304 ... RAM SSE ... Document detection sensor WS ... Document width detection sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder, a unit for detecting the size of a document, a unit for counting the number of documents, a plurality of copying functions each having a plurality of modes, and the unit for counting the number of documents automatically By counting the number of mode selection sheets fed from the document feeder, the preset copy functions corresponding to the count number are sequentially selected, and the copy functions selected in sequence are selected. By detecting the size of the mode selecting sheet by the document size detecting means,
An electrophotographic copying machine, comprising: a unit that selects the preset mode corresponding to the size of the mode selection sheet.