JPH0646913Y2 - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder used in electronic copying machines and facsimiles.

2. Description of the Related Art As an automatic document feeder, there are a document feeder that feeds a document based on one edge of the document or a document that feeds a document based on the center of the document.

In the conventional automatic document feeder, the position of a plurality of sensors for detecting the size of the document is different between the one that sends the document by the edge and the one that sends the document by the center. There is a drawback that there are no sensors and the number of sensors is large.

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the placement work of the sensor because it is not necessary to change the position of the sensor that detects the size of the document when the document is fed by the edge and by the sensor. It is to provide an automatic document feeder having a small number of sensors.

Configuration The present invention is directed to a side edge reference mode in which an original is fed based on one side edge of each original, a center reference mode in which an original is fed based on the center of each original, and an original in which a side edge reference mode or a center reference mode is set. Feed mode setting means,
Two originals with the same length in the feed direction and different lengths in the direction orthogonal to the feed direction have the same length from the other side edge of the one with the smaller length in the orthogonal direction. Located within the range of the difference in length between the two originals from the first original detecting means for detecting the original and the other side edge of the smaller original. Second placed inside to detect the original
Document detecting means, third document detecting means arranged in the document conveying path for detecting the document, and document length measuring the length of the document conveyed based on the detection signal of the third document detecting means. When the measuring means and the original are sent in the side edge reference mode, the size of the original to be conveyed is determined based on the detection signal of the first original detecting means and the original length measured by the original length measuring means. In addition, when the document is sent in the center reference mode, the document size determination unit determines the size of the document based on the document length measured by the second document detection unit and the document length measurement unit. Characterize.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an automatic document feeder as an embodiment of the present invention. This automatic document feeder is a separating device 30
And a transport device 31, and is provided on the upper part of an electronic copying machine (not shown). The separating device 30 is provided with motors M1 and M2, and the conveying device 31 is provided with a motor M3.

First, the separating device 30 will be described. A sheet-shaped document 38 is placed on the document table 37. The calling roller 36 is applied to the document 38 by a sheet feeding solenoid (not shown) of the roller elevating means 36a. At the end of the document table 37 on the downstream side of the document transport, the document 38
A document set sensor SES for detecting whether or not the document has been set is provided. Original 3 on the downstream side of the transport path
Separation rollers 34 and 35 for separating 8 are provided, and pull-out rollers 32 and 33 are provided on the downstream side of these separation rollers 34 and 35. The separation roller 34 is rotated by the motor M1, and the pullout roller 32 is rotated by the motor M2.
When the separating roller 34 is rotated, this rotational force is transmitted to the calling roller 36 and the calling roller 36 is rotated. When the separation roller 34 rotates, it contacts the separation roller 34.
35 is driven.

Between the pull-out roller 32 and the separation roller 34, size sensors SEZ1 and SEZ2 as first and second document detecting means for detecting the document size are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the distance from the document set reference line STL1 which coincides with the position of one reference edge of the document 38 when the document 38 is fed with one side edge of the document 38 as a reference, to the size sensor SEZ1 is D1. Then, the size sensor SEZ1 is arranged so that 204 mm ≦ D1 ≦ 215 mm.

Original set reference line ST that matches the center of the original 38 when the original 38 is fed with the center of the original 38 as the reference
If the distance from L2 to size sensor SEZ2 is D2, 103m
The size sensor SEZ2 is arranged so that m ≦ D2 ≦ 107 mm.

At the downstream side of the pull-out roller 32, there is arranged a registration sensor SER as third document detecting means for detecting whether or not the document 38 is present in the conveyance path. The registration sensor SER is arranged near the original set reference line STL2 because it is necessary to detect even the smallest original 38.

Next, the transport device 31 will be described. A conveyor belt 39 is hung between the belt rollers 40 and 41. Paper discharge rollers 42, 43, a guide plate 46, and paper discharge rollers 44, 45 are provided on the downstream side of the conveyor belt 39. A paper discharge sensor SEE is arranged between the paper discharge rollers 42 and 43 and the paper discharge rollers 44 and 45 to detect the presence or absence of the document 38.

The belt roller 41 is provided with a motor M3 for driving the conveyor belt 39. A disk DK for an encoder is attached to the drive shaft of the motor M3. A large number of slits are formed at equal intervals on the periphery of the disk DK, and pulse generation means PSR composed of a transmissive photosensor is fixed at a position facing the slits. When the disc DK rotates, the slits and the other portions are alternately opposed to the pulse generating means PSR, the light of the pulse generating means PSR is intermittently shielded, and a pulse signal corresponding to the amount of rotation of the disk DK is generated. Is obtained at the output end of the pulse generating means PSR.

Signals from the pulse generating means PSR and the registration sensor SER are input to the document length measuring means 50. This document length measuring means
Reference numeral 50 counts the pulses of the pulse generating means PSR while the existence of the document 38 is confirmed by the registration sensor SER. As a result, the document length measuring means 50 measures and outputs the vertical length of the transported document 38. Document size determination means 51
Receives the length of the document 38 measured by the document length measuring means 50 and the signal from the size sensor SEZ1 or SEZ2, and determines the size of the document 38 to be transported based on these signals. The document feed mode setting means 52 sets the mode for feeding the document 38 based on the edge or the mode for feeding the document 38 based on the center with the edge reference mode key and the center reference mode key. The manuscript use mode setting means 53 is used to specify the size of the manuscript 38 to be conveyed. The Japanese mode uses A and B size paper, the US mode using inch size paper, and the A size. , The European mode in which the B size paper and the inch size paper are used in combination is set by the Japanese mode key, the American mode key and the European mode key. The document size determination means 51 determines the size of the document based on the mode set by the document feed mode setting means 52 and the document use mode setting means 53. The document size determining means 51 is composed of a microcomputer.

As shown in Fig. 3, the size of the original used is 21
It is a kind.

Here, "T" written after the size A or B means to insert the short side of the paper, "Y" means to insert the long side of the paper, and nothing is written. If not, that means inserting the short side of the paper. In the case of inch format, it means to insert the side of the previously described length indicated by (width) x (length).

First, the position of the size sensor SEZ1 when the document 38 is fed with the document set reference line STL1 as a reference will be described.

Of the 21 types of original sizes, the A and B size papers are shown in FIG.
There are 10 types. Among these sizes, those with the same length are "A4Y" and "A5T", and "B5Y" and "B6T".
Since the size sensor SEZ1 is provided to distinguish between papers of the same length, the size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the range A in FIG. 4 to distinguish between “A4Y” and “A5T”. . Similarly, in order to distinguish “B5Y” and “B6T”, the size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the range B. Therefore, in order to distinguish both "A4Y" and "A5T" and "B5Y" and "B6T", the size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the common range C of the range A and the range B. That is, the distance D1 in FIG.
It should be between 148mm and 257mm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, there are 11 types of paper of inch size, 11 to 21 in the above list. Of these sizes, "10" x 14 " "8" x 13 "" When Have different sizes but the same length. "10" x 14 ""
When The size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the range D to distinguish between the two. Similarly, "8" x 13 " The size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the range E to distinguish between the two. As well When The size sensor SEZ1 may be provided within the range F to distinguish between the two. However, there is no common range for these ranges D, E and F, so "10" x 14 " When not distinguishing, the size sensor SEZ1 is
It can be placed inside. The range E is included in the range C. Therefore, the size sensor SEZ1 is arranged in the range of 204 mm ≦ D1 ≦ 215 mm, which is the range E excluding the range where erroneous detection is likely to occur.

Next, the position of the size sensor SEZ2 when the document 38 is fed with the document set reference line STL2 as a reference will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, there are 10 kinds of A-size and B-size paper out of the above-mentioned 21 kinds of original sizes, as shown in FIG. Among these sizes, those with the same length are "A4Y" and "A5T", and "B5Y" and "B6T".
Since the size sensor SEZ2 is provided for distinguishing sheets of the same size in length, the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range G of FIG. 6 in order to distinguish between “A4Y” and “A5T”. . Similarly, in order to distinguish “B5Y” and “B6T”, the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range H. Therefore, in order to distinguish both "A4Y" and "A5T" and "B5Y" and "B6T", the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the common range I of the range G and the range H. That is, the distance D2 in FIG.
Should be between 74 mm and 128 mm.

As shown in FIG. 7, there are 11 types of inch size paper, from 11 to 21 in the above list. Of these sizes, "10" x 14 " "8" x 13 "" When Have different sizes but the same length. "10" x 14 ""
When The size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range J in order to distinguish between the two. Similarly, "8" x 13 " In order to distinguish between the two, the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range K. As well When In order to distinguish between the two, the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range L. However, since there is no common range for these ranges J, K and L, it is "10" x 14 ". In case of not distinguishing, the size sensor SEZ2 may be provided within the range K. The range K is included in the range I. Therefore, the size sensor SEZ2 is arranged in the range of 103 mm ≦ D2 ≦ 107 mm, excluding the range where erroneous detection is likely to occur from the range K.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Press the print switch (not shown) and the motor M1
And the paper feed solenoid (not shown) are driven,
The calling roller 36 hits the original 38 placed on the 37, the original 38 is called by this, and when it enters between the separating rollers 34 and 35, only the uppermost original 38 is separated and sent, and then the predetermined time is passed. After that, the motor M2 is driven and the document 38 is discharged from the separating device 30 by the pullout rollers 32 and 33. The original 38 is conveyed by a conveyor belt 39 driven by the motor M3 of the conveyor 31 and stopped at a predetermined position on the contact glass 10 of the electronic copying machine. The document length measuring means 50 is a registration sensor SE.
From the output of R and the output of the pulse generating means PSR, the length of the document 38 at the position of the registration sensor SER is measured. At the same time, the size sensor SEZ1 or SEZ2 moves the original 3 to the registration sensor SER.
It is detected whether or not the light is blocked by the document 38 when 8 passes. The document size is determined from the detection signal and the length of the document 38 measured by the document length measuring means 50. At this time, the document size determination means 51 is the original feed mode setting means 52.
The determination is made based on the mode set by the document use mode setting means 53.

The document size determined by the document size determination means 51 is output to the electronic copying machine body. The electronic copying machine automatically selects, for example, a sheet of the same size as the original 38 from the original size, and copies the image of the original 38 on the selected sheet. After the copying is completed, the document 38 is ejected by the discharge rollers 42, 43 and the guide plate 4.
6, discharged through the paper discharge rollers 44, 45.

Next, a more detailed control operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows the main routine of the flowchart, and FIGS. 9 to 16 show the subroutine of the flowchart.

When the power of the automatic document feeder is turned on, initialization is performed in steps. The initial setting is an operation of initializing each device for a future control operation, for example, clearing the RAM and the input / output port of the microcomputer constituting the document size determining means 51. . Here, the job counter JOBC is set to "0".

Next, the mode is set in step. In this mode setting, the feed mode flag SIF is set to "1" when the edge reference mode key of the document feed mode setting means 52 is turned on, and the feed mode flag SIF is set to "1" when the center reference mode key is turned on. 0 ", and when the Japanese mode key of the document use mode setting means 53 is turned on, the American mode flag AM
F and the European mode flag ERF are set to "0", and when the American mode key is turned on, the American mode flag AM
When F is set to "1" and the European mode key is turned on, the European mode flag ERF is set to "1".

Next, the input is checked in step. This is the document set sensor SES, registration sensor SER, size sensor SE.
Each sensor such as Z1, SEZ2, paper ejection sensor SEE, each switch, and various modes are checked.

Next, a start check is performed in step (Fig. 9). In the start check, it is checked whether or not copying is started. As shown in FIG. 9, first, step 301
Check to see if there is a print start signal. The print start signal is issued when the print switch is turned on or when one copy operation is completed by the electronic copying machine. If it is determined that there is a print start signal, the job counter JOBC is set to "1" (step 302),
Go to the next step. If it is determined in step 301 that there is no print start signal, the process proceeds to the next step without executing step 302.

Next, in the step, the value of the job counter JOBC is checked (Fig. 10). When the value of the job counter JOBC is "0", the process proceeds to the subroutine JOBO (step 400). When the value is "1", the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB1 (step 410) and the process proceeds to "2".
If so, go to subroutine JOB2 (step 420),
When it is "3", it proceeds to the subroutine JOB3 (step 430), and when it is "4", it is the subroutine JOB4 (step 440).
Proceed to (step 401).

Immediately after the initialization or after the length of the document 38 is determined, the job counter JOBC is reset to "0", and therefore the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB0 (step 400) shown in FIG. 11 (a). Subroutine JOB0 proceeds to the next step immediately without processing anything.

When the print switch is turned on by the operator, the job counter JOBC is set to "1", and therefore the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB1 (step 410) shown in FIG. 11 (b). In the subroutine JOB1, first, the motor M1 and the sheet feeding solenoid are turned on (step 411). As a result, the original 38 is called and the feeding of the uppermost original 38 is started. Next, in step 412, it is checked whether t _x ≧ t ₁ . This t _x is the elapsed time from the time when the motor M1 is turned on, and t ₁ is the time when the front end of the document 38 is stopped from the time when the motor M1 is turned on and comes into contact with the pull-out rollers 32 and 33. This is the predetermined time required to correct the 38 skew.

If it is determined in step 412 that t _x ≧ t ₁ , the motors M2, M3
Is turned on (step 413), the job counter JOBC is set to "2" (step 414), and the process proceeds to step.

Subroutine JOB1 processing is completed, job counter JOBC
Is set to "2", the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB2 (step 420) shown in FIG. 11 (c). In this subroutine JOB2, the registration sensor SER is checked. First, it is checked whether or not the registration sensor SER is turned on (step 421). When the leading edge of the document 38 reaches the position of the registration sensor SER, the process proceeds to step 422, the motor M1 driving the separation roller 34 and the calling roller 36 is turned off, and the paper feeding solenoid is turned off. Next, the job counter JOBC is "3"
Set and proceed to the next step.

When the processing of the subroutine JOB2 is completed and the job counter JOBC is set to "3", the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB3 (step 430) shown in FIG. 11 (d). In this subroutine JOB3, the size sensors SEZ1 and SEZ2 are checked. First, it is checked whether or not the sending mode flag SIF is "1" (step 431). When it is determined that the feed mode flag SIF is "1", that is, when the edge reference mode is determined, it is checked whether or not the size sensor SEZ1 is ON (step 432). When it is determined that the size sensor SEZ1 is ON, the size flag SEZF is set to "1" (step 433), and when it is determined that the size sensor SEZ1 is not turned on, the size flag SEZF is set to "0" (step 43).
4), "4" is set to the job counter JOBC (step 435), and the process proceeds to the next step.

When it is determined in step 431 that the feed mode flag SIF is not "1", that is, when the center reference mode is determined, it is checked whether or not the size sensor SEZ2 is ON (step 436). When it is determined that the size sensor SEZ2 is ON, the size flag SEZF is set to "1" (step 43
7) If it is determined that the size sensor SEZ2 is not ON, the size flag SEZF is set to "0" (step 438), and then the job counter JOBC is set to "4" (step 435),
Go to the next step.

When the process of the subroutine JOB3 is completed and the job counter JOBC is set to "4", the process proceeds to the subroutine JOB4 (step 440) shown in FIG. 11 (e). In this subroutine JOB4, first, the document length measuring means 51 counts the pulses of the pulse generating means PSR provided in the motor M3 (step 441). Next, it is checked whether or not the registration sensor SER is OFF (step 442). If it is not OFF, that is, if the document 38 is on the registration sensor SER, the process proceeds to the next step. Measurement end flag when the registration sensor SER turns off
After setting MEF to "1" (step 443), reset the job counter JOBC to "0" (step 444),
Go to the next step.

The next step is a size check (see
(Fig. 12). First, it is checked whether or not the measurement end flag MEF is set to "1" (step 501), and the measurement end flag M is set.
If EF is not set to "1", proceed to the next step. If the measurement end flag MEF is set to "1", the pulse generation means PSR counted in step 441
The count value of is divided by 100 and stored in the size register SIZR as a measured value of the length of the document 38 (step 50).
2). The value of size register SIZR is now the length in cm. Next, the measurement end flag MEF is reset to "0" and the calculation end flag CEF is set to "1" (step 503). When step 503 ends, the process proceeds to the next step.

In the next step, size read is performed (13th
Figure). First, it is checked whether or not the calculation end flag CEF is set to "1" (step 601), and the calculation end flag C is calculated.
If EF is not set to "1", return to step. If the calculation end flag CEF is set to "1", the values set in the American mode flag AMF and the European mode flag ERF of the document use mode setting means 53 are checked in steps 602 and 604, and the subroutine AMERU or subroutine ERPRU is checked. Or a subroutine JPNRU. If the American mode flag AMF = 1, it means the American mode, and the program proceeds to the subroutine AMERU. If the American mode flag AMF = 0 and the European mode flag ERF = 1, it means that the mode is the European mode, and the program proceeds to the subroutine ERPRU. If the American mode flag AMF = 0 and the European mode flag ERF = 0, it means the Japanese mode, and the program proceeds to the subroutine JPNRU.

The subroutine JPNRU determines the size of the document 38 in the Japanese mode (Fig. 14). Size register SIZR
Measure the length of document 38 stored in
07 at "39", "33", "28", "24", "20", "17" respectively
Judgment is made by comparing with "14" and the judgment result is shown in the judgment result register.
Store in JRR. That is, when SIZR> 39, A3 39 ≧ SIZR> 39, B4 33 ≧ SIZR> 28, A4T 28 ≧ SIZR> 24, B5T 24 ≧ SIZR> 20, A4Y, A5T 20 ≧ SIZR When> 17, B5Y, B6T 17 ≧ SIZR When> 14, A5Y 14 ≧ SIZR When B6Y is stored in the judgment result register JRR (steps 710 to 71)
9). However, sizes "A4Y" and "A5T", "B5Y" and "B5"
In order to distinguish "T", it is checked in steps 708 and 709 whether the size flag SEZF is set to "1". If the size flag SEZF is "1" in step 708, it is determined to be "A4Y", and if it is not "1", it is determined to be "A5T". If the size flag SEZF is "1" in step 709, it is determined to be "B5Y", and the size flag SEZF is determined.
Is not "1", it is determined to be "B6T". After the judgment is completed and the judgment result is stored in the judgment result register JRR, the size flag SEZF is reset to "0" (step 72).
0).

In subroutine AMERU, manuscript 38 in American mode
The size of is determined (Fig. 15). Size register
Measure the length of document 38 stored in SIZR in step 80.
The values 1 to 805 are compared with "41", "37", "34", "25", and "18" for determination, and the determination result is stored in the determination result register JRR. In other words, when SIZR> 41, when 11 ″ × 17 ″ 41 ≧ SIZR> 37, when 11 ″ × 15 ″ 37 ≧ SIZR> 34 When 34 ≧ SIZR> 25 When 25 ≧ SIZR> 18 When 18 ≧ SIZR Is stored in the judgment result register JRR (steps 810 to 81).
6). However size When In order to distinguish between the two, it is checked in step 806 whether the size flag SEZF is set to "1". If the size flag SEZF is "1" in step 806, Is determined and the size flag SEZF is not "1". Is determined. After the judgment is completed and the judgment result is stored in the judgment result register JRR, the size flag SEZF is reset to "0" (step 820).

Manuscript 3 in European mode in subroutine ERPRU
The size of 8 is judged (Fig. 16). Step the measured value of the length of the document 38 stored in the size register SIZR.
901 to 905 compare with "39", "33", "30", "28", and "20" to make a determination, and store the determination result in the determination result register JRR. That is, when SIZR> 39, A3 39 ≧ SIZR> 33 when B4 33 ≧ SIZR> 30 When 30 ≧ SIZR> 28, A4T 28 ≧ SIZR> 20, A4Y, A5T When 20 ≧ SIZR>, A5Y is stored in the judgment result register JRR (steps 910 to 91)
7). However size And “8 ″ × 13 ″” and “A4Y” and “A5T” are distinguished, the size flag SEZF is set to “1” in step 906 and step 907.
Is checked to see if it is set to. Step 906
If the size flag SEZF is "1", If the size flag SEZF is not “1”, it is determined to be “8 ″ × 13 ″”. If the size flag SEZF is "1" in step 907, it is determined to be "A4Y", and if the size flag SEZF is not "1", it is determined to be "A5T". After the judgment is completed and the judgment result is stored in the judgment result register JRR, the size flag SEZF is reset to "0" (step 920).

When the processing of step is completed as described above, the process returns to step and the same operation is repeated.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 17, the size sensors SEZ1 and SE
Any one of Z2 may be selectively connected to the document size determination means 51 by the feed mode changeover switch Sm. In this way, the feed mode changeover switch Sm also serves as the document feed mode setting means, and the step of determining which of the size sensor SEZ1 and SEZ2 detection signals in the subroutine 430 is unnecessary.

Further, when the size sensor SEZ2 is arranged from the original set reference line STL2 to the original set reference line STL1 side, the original 38
Size sensor SE which is not used to detect the size of
Z1 or SEZ2 can be used as a sensor for detecting the leading edge of the document 38.

Further, the automatic document feeder of the present invention can be applied to the case of sending a facsimile document.

Effect The automatic document feeder of the present invention is provided with the first document detecting means and the second document detecting means, so that the length in the document feeding direction in the side edge reference mode or the center reference mode can be increased. It is possible to determine the sizes of two originals having the same length and different lengths in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction.

Further, the original width to be measured can be accurately measured without being influenced by other originals, and the original length can be accurately measured without changing the conveyance speed of the original to be measured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an automatic document feeder as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the positions of a size sensor and a registration sensor for detecting the size of an original in the automatic document feeder. FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the types of original sizes judged by the automatic document feeder, and FIGS. 8 to 16 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the automatic document feeder and FIG. The figure is a diagram showing the essential parts of another embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the above. 38 ... Original, 50 ... Original length measuring means, 51 ... Original size determining means, 52 ... Original feed mode setting means, 53 ... Original use mode setting means, SEZ1, SEZ2 ... Size sensor, SER
...... Registration sensor, PSR ...... Pulse generator

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A side edge reference mode for feeding an original document based on one side edge of each original document, a center reference mode for feeding an original document based on the center of each original document, and the side edge reference mode or the center reference mode. From the other side edge of the original having the smaller length in the orthogonal direction of the two originals having the same length in the feeding direction and different in length in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction. , A first document detecting unit which is arranged within a range of a difference in length between the two documents in the orthogonal direction and detects the document, and from the other side edge of the smaller document, ,
Placed within half the difference in length in the orthogonal direction,
Second original detecting means for detecting the original, a third original detecting means arranged in the original conveying path for detecting the original, and conveyed based on a detection signal of the third original detecting means A document length measuring means for measuring the length of the document, and a detection signal of the first document detecting means and a document length measured by the document length measuring means when the document is fed in the side edge reference mode. Based on the original length measured by the second original detecting means and the original length measuring means when determining the size of the original to be conveyed and sending the original in the center reference mode. An automatic document feeder including a document size determining unit for determining a size.