JPH0640605A - Discrimination device for recorded member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the discrimination of ordinary paper sheets, respective OHP sheets or the like for black and white copies and for color copies only by detecting light reflecting on the surface of a detected object, detecting at the same time the light transmission state of the detected object, and discriminating the kind of the detected object from these detection outcomes. CONSTITUTION:In the case of a paper sheet sensor 6 provided at a color copying machine, a reflection type sensor 15 and a transmission type sensor 16 are fitted to a frame 14 whose section is of a U shape. The reflection type sensor 15 is composed of a light emitting element 17 and a light receiving element 18 which are arranged in vicinity to each other, and is made to detect the presence of the diffused reflection of light on the surface of a copying paper sheet 2. The transmission type sensor 16 is composed of a light emitting element 17 and a light receiving element 18 which are arranged face to face with each other, and is arranged at a position opposite to the cutout portions 2c, 2d of discriminating portions 2e, 2f provided at the tip portion and the light side end portion of a color exclusive use OHP sheet that acts as a copying paper sheet. The output signals of these sensors 15, 16 are inputted at a control portion by differrentiating time, and the kind of a paper sheet is discriminated according to each inspection result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording member discriminating apparatus used in an electrophotographic copying machine or the like, and particularly to a recording member such as ordinary copy paper or a transparent resin sheet for an overhead projector. The present invention relates to a recordable member determination device capable of determining.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a color copying machine, in addition to ordinary copy paper (hereinafter referred to as ordinary paper), a transparent resin sheet (hereinafter referred to as OH) used for an overhead projector.
It is possible to make a copy onto a sheet such as P paper).

A conventional color copying machine of this type is provided with a paper selection button on an operation panel, and a paper selection instruction is input by this button. The control unit of the color copying machine selects the plain paper mode or the OHP paper mode based on the paper selection instruction, and then
Perform recording control. At the time of mode switching, processing such as resetting the charging voltage value of the charger and the transporting speed of the fuser is performed according to the material of the copy paper.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the conventional color copying machine, when changing the paper, if the user forgets to switch the mode with the paper selection button, the image is deteriorated because copying is performed in a mode that is not compatible with copy paper.

Therefore, it is necessary to surely perform the operation of switching the mode, which is a factor that hinders simplification of the operation.

Further, in recent years, in order to improve the image quality of copying using OHP paper, it has become necessary to set a color-dedicated OHP paper whose material is different from that of a general black-and-white copy and to distinguish them.

For example, when a color copying machine is used to make a copy on color-dedicated OHP paper and the mode selection operation by the paper selection button is forgotten, the transport speed of the fuser becomes a value suitable for color-dedicated OHP paper. Since they are not switched, there is a problem in that the color of the image of the original cannot be reproduced on the color-dedicated OHP sheet with good image quality. Further, when a color image is copied on a black and white OHP sheet, it becomes difficult to obtain a predetermined image quality.

Further, when a color image is reproduced on OHP paper, it is necessary to slow down the transporting speed of the fuser to sufficiently melt the toner as described above, but when reproducing a monochrome image on OHP paper. There is no need for this, and it is necessary to distinguish between color-only OHP paper and black-and-white OHP paper. That is, when reproducing a black and white image on black and white OHP paper, it is possible to increase the transport speed of the fuser in the same manner as plain paper.

In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for distinguishing a plain paper, a black-and-white copying OHP sheet and a color-dedicated OHP sheet in a color copying machine or the like.

More specifically, when a member to be recorded is detected, it is possible to determine whether the member to be recorded is a transparent material and, if it is a transparent material, whether it is for black and white or for color only. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible recording member determination device.

[0011]

That is, a recording member discriminating apparatus according to the present invention includes a reflection type detecting means for detecting light reflected on the surface of an object to be detected and whether or not the object to be detected transmits the light. And a determination means for determining the type of the object to be detected by inputting detection signals from the reflection type detection means and the transmission type detection means at different times. Is configured.

As the object to be detected, for example, plain paper, monochrome copy OHP sheet, color dedicated OHP sheet, or the like is used. However, since the black-and-white copy OHP sheet and the color-dedicated OHP sheet are both transparent and cannot be discriminated as they are, these OHP sheets usually have an opaque portion or a diffused reflection portion at the tip thereof. Is provided.

Further, as the reflection type detecting means, for example, a means for detecting reflected light due to diffused reflection on the surface of the object to be detected is used, but it is not limited to this.
It is also possible to use a device that detects reflected light due to regular reflection on the surface of the object to be detected.

Further, as the reflection type detection means and the transmission type detection means, for example, those comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element are used, but the reflection type detection means and the transmission type detection means share the light emitting element. It may be done.

[0015]

In the recording member discriminating apparatus according to the present invention, the reflection type detecting means for detecting the light reflected on the surface of the object to be detected,
Type of the object to be detected by inputting the detection signals from the transmissive detecting means for detecting whether or not the object to be transmitted transmits light and the reflective type detecting means and the transmissive detecting means at different times. Since it is configured to include a discriminating unit that discriminates, the discriminating unit discriminates whether or not the object to be detected is a transparent material based on the detection signals themselves from the reflection type detecting unit and the transmission type detecting unit. Further, even when the detection object is a transparent material, by inputting the detection signals from the reflection type detection means and the transmission type detection means at different times,
The type of the object to be detected is discriminated by detecting the presence or absence of an identification portion such as an opaque portion or a diffused reflection portion provided at the tip of the object to be detected.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an essential part of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the recording member discrimination apparatus according to the present invention is applied. In the figure, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the conveyance path of the recording material.

The cassette trays 1-1 and 1-2 store the copy sheets 2 as recording members. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the cassette tray 1-1 stores ordinary sheets and the cassette tray 1-2 stores color OHP sheets. Paper feed rollers 3-1 and 3-2
Supplies the copy paper 2 from the cassette trays 1-1 and 1-2 to the inside of the copying machine.

Examples of the copy paper 2 used in the color copying machine include plain paper, black-and-white copy OHP sheet, color-dedicated OHP sheet, and the like. As shown in FIG. 5A, the plain paper is a white opaque paper on both front and back surfaces, and the surface of the plain paper diffusely reflects light. As shown in FIG. 5B, the OHP sheet for black-and-white copying has a frame made of a transparent resin sheet used for an overhead projector and has white or white at its tip and right end. Opaque and irregularly reflecting light identifying portions 2a and 2b having colors other than the above are provided, and the surface of the OHP sheet specularly reflects light.
On the other hand, of the OHP sheets for black-and-white copying, the one without a frame is made of a completely transparent resin sheet having no frame as shown in FIG. 5C, and the surface of the OHP sheet is
Specularly reflects light. In addition, the color dedicated OHP sheet is
As shown in FIG. 5 (d), the surface is made of a transparent resin sheet having a coating for improving the color developability of the color toner, and the tip and the right end of the sheet are partially notched. Identification portions 2e and 2f which are opaque and diffusely reflect light of white or other colors having 2c and 2d
Is provided, and the surface of the OHP sheet specularly reflects light.

Further, the OHP sheet dedicated to color has a rough surface at its tip end corresponding to the identifying portions 2e and 2f so that it can be smoothly introduced into the fixing device 12 which will be described later.
OHP dedicated to color to distinguish the front end and the rear end
The front end and the right end of the seat are partially cut out 2c,
Opaque and irregularly reflecting light 2e and 2f having a color other than white having 2d are provided at positions shifted to the left side (in FIG. 5) from the central portion. Therefore, when the OHP sheet dedicated to color is mistakenly turned upside down and the leading end and the trailing end are mounted in the copying machine in opposite directions, the identifying portions 2e and 2f are not detected, and it is determined that the OHP sheet is not dedicated to color. As a result, measures such as prohibiting copying have been adopted.

The timing rollers 4-1 and 4-2 convey the copy paper 2 at a predetermined timing. The paper sensor 5 detects whether or not the copy paper 2 is present. The paper sensor 6 detects the presence and type of the copy paper 2. The stopper 7 is the timing roller 4
-2, it protrudes to the conveying path in the subsequent stage and prevents the copy sheet 2 from advancing.

The photosensitive drum 8 is for developing a toner image by a mechanism (not shown). The transfer drum 9 holds the copy paper 2 on its outer peripheral surface and rotates in order to transfer the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 8 to the copy paper 2. The peeling claw 10 is a movable member for peeling the copy sheet 2 from the transfer drum 9. Conveyor belt 11
Is to convey the peeled copy paper 2 to the fixing device 12. However, the conveyor belt 11 is not necessarily provided, and in some color copying machines, the copy paper 2 separated from the transfer drum 9 without the conveyor belt 11 is directly fixed by the rotational force of the transfer drum 9. 12
It may also be conveyed to. The fixing device 12 fixes a color image on the peeled copy paper 2.

The operation of this copying machine will be described. FIG. 3 shows the control flow of this copying machine.

The operator inputs an instruction such as selection of the cassette tray 1-1 or 1-2 through the operation panel and then inputs a copy operation instruction. The control unit (see FIG. 4) starts the operation of each unit based on these instructions.

That is, the paper feed roller 3-1 or 3-2
Is operated to supply the copy paper 2, and the timing rollers 4-1 and 4-2 are operated at a predetermined timing based on the detection signal of the paper sensor 5 to operate the copy paper 2 with the stopper 7
(Step 1 in FIG. 3).

The control unit 13 receives the detection signal from the paper sensor 6 and indicates that the copy paper 2 has advanced to the stopper 7.
Check the type of copy paper 2. Then, it is compared whether or not the current operation mode of the recording unit and the type of the copy paper 2 match (step 2 in the figure). In this embodiment, the normal paper mode and the color-only OH are used as the operation modes.
Two types, P paper mode, are set.

If the type of copy paper 2 and the operation mode match, a color image is transferred (step 3 in the same figure). If the type of copy paper 2 and the operation mode do not match (step 2; N in the figure), the operation mode is switched (step 6 in the figure), and the color image is transferred. When switching the operation mode, a predetermined process such as changing the charge voltage value of various chargers and the transport speed of the fuser is performed.

In the transfer operation of the color image, first, the stopper 7 is lowered to open the conveying path, and the timing rollers 4-2 and 4-3 start rotating at a predetermined timing to transfer the copy sheet 2. Transport to drum 9. On the other hand, a toner image is developed on the photosensitive drum 8. And
The transfer drum 9 holds the copy sheet 2 and rotates together with the photosensitive drum 8 to transfer the toner image onto the copy sheet 2.

By repeating the development of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 8 and the transfer of the developed toner image onto the copy paper 2, the transfer of the color image onto the copy paper 2 is completed.

Thereafter, the peeling claw 10 operates to peel the copy sheet 2 from the transfer drum 9, and the peeled copy sheet 2 is conveyed to the fixing device 12. The copy sheet 2 has the toner fixed by the fixing device 12 (step 4 in the figure), and is then ejected to a sheet ejection section (not shown) (step 5 in the figure).

FIG. 1 shows the paper sensor 6. The paper sensor 6 is configured by attaching a reflective sensor 15 and a transmissive sensor 16 to a frame 14 having a U-shaped cross section. The transmissive sensor 16 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), it is arranged so as to coincide with the positions corresponding to the cutouts 2c and 2d of the identification portions 2e and 2f provided at the front end and the right end of the color-dedicated OHP sheet as the copy paper 2. There is. The traveling direction of the copy paper 2 (see FIG. 2) is the direction from the front surface to the back surface in the figure.
The reflection type sensor 15 is composed of a light emitting element 17 and a light receiving element 18 which are arranged close to each other, and detects the presence or absence of irregular reflection of light on the surface of the copy paper 2. The transmissive sensor 16 is composed of a light emitting element 17 and a light receiving element 18 which are arranged so as to face each other, and detects whether or not the copy paper 2 is transparent.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of the paper sensor 6. The power supply 21 supplies electric power to the reflective sensor 15 and the transmissive sensor 16. Resistors 22, 23
Is for limiting the current of the light emitting elements 17 and 19. The differential amplifiers 24 and 25 are for generating the detection signals 26 and 27. The detection signals 26 and 27 are the digital ports DP1 and DP of the control unit 13 which also serves as the discrimination means.
2 is output. The control unit 13 determines the type of the copy paper 2 by inputting the detection signals 26 and 27 from the reflective sensor 15 and the transmissive sensor 16 at different times.

When the copy paper 2 is plain paper, the detection signal 26 from the reflection type sensor 15 and the transmission type sensor 16 is used.
(S1) and 27 (S2) change as shown in FIG. 6 (a). When the copy paper 2 is a framed black and white OHP sheet, the detection signals 26 (S1) and 27 (S2) from the reflection type sensor 15 and the transmission type sensor 16 are as shown in FIG.
It changes as shown in (b). Further, when the copy paper 2 is a frameless black and white OHP sheet, the reflection type sensor 1
5 and the detection signal 26 (S1) from the transmissive sensor 16, 2
7 (S2) changes as shown in FIG. 6 (c). On the other hand, when the copy paper 2 is a color dedicated OHP sheet, the detection signals 26 (S1) and 27 (S2) from the reflective sensor 15 and the transmissive sensor 16 change as shown in FIG. 6 (d). To do.

Therefore, the control unit 13 controls the reflection type sensor 1
5 and the detection signals 26 and 27 from the transmissive sensor 16, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (d), are input at different time points of time T1 and time T2. Determine the type of. The following Table 1 is a table showing the discriminating operation of the copy sheet 2 performed by the control unit 13. The control unit 13 stores the contents of Table 1 in advance in the ROM or the like, and refers to the table based on the detection signals 26 and 27 to determine the presence and type of the copy paper 2.

[0035]

[Table 1]

In the color copying machine according to this embodiment, the type of the copy paper 2 is detected before the color image is recorded, and the operation mode is switched based on the detection result. There is an advantage that operability is improved because such an operation mode switching operation is unnecessary. Further, there is an advantage that improper color copying due to an operation error can be prevented and reliability is improved.

When it is determined that the copy sheet 2 is a monochrome OHP sheet when the color copying machine can use only the color-only OHP sheet as the copy sheet 2 in addition to the plain sheet. It is possible to appropriately adopt means such as not transferring a color image.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light emitting elements are individually provided as the reflection type sensor and the transmission type sensor, but as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG.
The light emitting element may be shared by the reflective sensor 15 and the transmissive sensor 16.

[0039]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure and operation, it is possible to distinguish a plain paper, a black and white copying OHP sheet and a color dedicated OHP sheet in a color copying machine or the like. More specifically, when a member to be recorded is detected, whether or not the member to be recorded is a transparent material, and if it is a transparent material, it is possible to determine whether it is for black and white or for color only. A recording member determination device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording member discriminating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the recording member discrimination apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the color copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit section.

5 (a) to 5 (d) are plan views showing copy sheets, respectively.

6 (a) to 6 (d) are timing charts showing respective detection signals.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the detecting means.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the detecting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 copy paper (recording member), 13 control unit, 15
Reflective sensor, 16 transmissive sensor, 17 light emitting element, 1
8 Light receiving element

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reflection type detection means for detecting light reflected on the surface of an object to be detected, a transmission type detection means for detecting whether or not the object to be detected transmits light, and the reflection type detection means and light transmission. A recording member discriminating apparatus comprising: a discriminating unit that discriminates a type of an object to be detected by inputting a detection signal from a mold detecting unit at different times.