JPH06629B2 - Synthetic copier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a composite copying machine for copying an image of a copy original on the same side of the same sheet.

<Prior Art> Among copying operations using a copying machine, there are a double-sided copying operation for forming images on both sides of a sheet, or a synthetic copying operation for forming a plurality of images on the same side of a sheet. In such double-sided copying work and composite copying work, it is necessary to convey the sheet to the copying process again after finishing the copying process for image formation. In this case, in the conventional double-sided copying, the opposite side of the sheet on which the image is formed is again conveyed to the copying process. Further, in synthetic copying, the same surface on which an image is formed is conveyed again to the copying process.

In order to reduce the work of the user for performing the above-mentioned copying, the sheet on which the first image is formed is carried out to the intermediate tray (intermediate storage section) without being discharged to the outside of the copying machine, and the intermediate tray The paper is automatically conveyed to the copying process in accordance with the next image forming start command. In particular, when performing a composite copy, by selecting the composite copy mode, an image is automatically formed on the intermediate tray at the time of the first image formation and the paper is carried out, and the paper of the intermediate tray is formed at the time of the image formation of the next original. To the copying process,
After forming the image on the same surface, it is carried out to the discharge part.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In the composite copying machine having the above-described composite copying function, when the composite copying mode is selected, an image is automatically formed on the same surface and then carried out. For example, JP-A-60
In JP-A-258028, after a sheet of paper that has been once copied is carried out to an intermediate tray by operating a composite key, the sheet of paper in the intermediate tray is guided to a copying process based on the next copying command, and is formed first. For example, a copying machine that forms an image in a different color on the image forming surface and discharges the image outside the copying machine is specified.

However, in this copying machine, when an image is formed once and then image formation is performed again, the paper is ejected as it is. Therefore, for example, it is not possible to automatically synthesize and copy the images of three or more originals on the same paper. Can not. for that reason,
Manually set the paper that has been composite copied to the paper feed section,
It is necessary to execute the same composite copy as described above by operating the composite key or the like.

Here, in the composite copy mode, images of different originals are again copied twice on the composite copy paper. Therefore, if the number of originals is three, the synthetically copied sheets remain stored in the intermediate tray. In order to solve this, it is necessary to release the composite mode and set the normal copy mode, and then command the start of copying, which is very troublesome.

In addition, due to the manual operation, when the paper sheet for which the composite copying is completed is set in the paper feeding section, the image forming surface may be set by mistake and copied on both sides. Also, by setting the setting direction upside down and the paper feeding direction upside down, the image forming directions formed on the same surface may differ.

As described above, in the conventional composite copying, when the image is formed twice on the same side, the image is automatically formed, but the work for forming the image three times or more becomes very troublesome. In addition, it is difficult to solve the problem of poor workability because copy errors easily occur.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a composite copying machine capable of automatically performing composite copying three times or more by a simple means.

<Means for Solving the Problems> A composite copying machine according to the present invention includes a discharge transport unit that transports a sheet fed from a paper feed unit to a discharge unit via an image forming unit that forms an image, and a synthesis transport unit. In a copy mode, a sheet having an image formed by the image forming section is guided to an intermediate storage section, and the same surface of the sheet is conveyed to the image forming section in response to a next copy instruction. In the copying machine, in the composite copy mode, the circulation conveyance unit that guides the sheet in the intermediate storage unit to the intermediate storage unit via the image forming unit is operated, or the sheet in the intermediate storage unit is transferred to the image forming unit. In response to the copying start command, the circulation selection means for guiding the sheet to the discharge / conveyance unit through the circulation selection means confirms the selection state by the circulation selection means, and the sheet in the intermediate storage section is again transferred through the image forming section to the intermediate storage section. Circulation transportation route leading to And a control means for controlling the discharge / conveyance path and controlling copying.

<Operation> According to the above configuration, when the composite copy mode is set,
In the first image formation, the copied sheets are automatically carried out to the intermediate tray (intermediate storage section). Then, in the composite copy mode, either the discharge conveyance path or the circulation conveyance path is selected, which is confirmed before the next image formation start command. In other words, in the composite copy mode, if the circulation conveyance path is selected in a state where the paper on which the image is formed is stored in the intermediate tray, a plurality (twice or more) of the same surface is formed again on the intermediate tray after the image formation. The formed sheet is guided. Further, when the discharge conveyance path is selected, when the image formation on the same surface is completed a plurality of times, it is carried out of the copying machine.

As described above, in the composite copy mode, the number of composite copies can be freely selected as required by selecting the circulation transfer path or the discharge transfer path. It is possible to automatically perform the image formation without requiring the error, and as long as the image surface of the original is not mistaken, the error of the image formation on the image forming surface or the vertical direction of the paper does not occur.

<Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing a structure of a composite copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A photoconductor drum 6 is provided in the center of the inside of the copying machine main body 21, and constitutes a copying process section 7 which is an image forming means together with the developing device 5 and the like. A manual feed tray 1 and paper cassettes 2 and 3 are mounted on one side surface of the copying machine main body 21, and constitute a paper feed unit 4 together with the paper feed rollers 11 and 12. A sorter 13 is provided on the other side surface of the copying machine body 21.
Is mounted, and constitutes a discharge unit 19 together with the paper discharge roller 17 provided inside the main body 21 of the copying machine. A paper transport path 18 including a timing roller 14, a paper transport belt 16 and the like is formed between the paper feed unit 4 and the copy process unit 7 to the discharge unit 19.

Inside the sorter 13, flappers 22 and 24 are swingably provided, a circulation conveyance roller 23 is provided, and a circulation conveyance path 27 is configured. Flapper 22
Swings to selectively open the paper conveyance path 18 toward the paper discharge tray 28 or the circulation conveyance path 27. Also, Sorter 1
A switchback roller 25 is provided inside the unit 3. Furthermore, the cabinet 2 on which the copying machine main body 21 is mounted
Inside 0, an intermediate tray (intermediate storage part) 9 is provided. The flapper 24 swings to selectively open the switchback transport path 26 or the intermediate tray 9. The intermediate tray 9 constitutes a circulation conveyance path 27 together with the feeding roller 10 and the circulation conveyance roller 23.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of the above-mentioned composite copying machine.

Keys and switch-on data provided on the operation panel are input to the CPU 31 from the operation panel control unit 35 via the I / O interface 32. Composite mode key KYE to select and input composite copy mode on the operation panel
1. In the composite copy mode, a circulation selection key KYE2 for selecting whether to guide the copy sheet to the circulation conveyance path or the discharge conveyance section
Further, a print switch SW1 and the like for instructing the start operation of image formation and operating the copy process unit and the like are provided, and the ON data of these is input to the CPU 31.
Based on the input data, the CPU 31 outputs control data to the solenoid driver 37 and the clutch driver 36 according to the program stored in the ROM 33. The solenoid driver 37 uses the solenoid SO according to the control data.
The L1 and SOL2 are driven (turned on), and the clutch driver 36 similarly operates (turns on) the clutches CLT1 and CLT2.

The solenoid SOL1 is engaged with the flapper 22 and the solenoid SOL2 is engaged with the flapper 24. When the solenoid SOL1 is driven, the flapper 22 swings upward from the position shown in FIG. 2 to open the circulating transport path 27. When the solenoid SOL2 is driven, the flapper 24 swings to the left from the position shown in FIG. 2 and opens toward the intermediate tray 9. The clutch CLT1 is the paper feed roller 11,1.
2, the clutch CLT2 selectively transmits the rotational force to the feeding roller 10.

Further, each of the memory areas M1 to M3 of the RAM 34 connected to the CPU 31 is assigned to flags F1 to F3 described later, and the memory area M4 is also assigned to a counter C described later.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing, in particular, a composite copying control operation of the control circuit shown in FIG. 3 of the composite copying machine.

When the power of the copying machine main body 21 is turned on, warming up is started (n1). At the time of this warming up, the memory area of the RAM 34 to which flags F1 to F3 described later and a counter C also described later are allocated is cleared. When the warm-up is completed (n2), data and mode are input (n3). After this, the composition mode key KYE1 and the circulation selection key KYE
A check is made as to whether 2 has been turned on. The flag F1 is set when the composite copy mode key KYE1 is turned on, and the flag F2 is set when the circulation selection key KYE2 is turned on (n4 to n7). This flag F1 stores the state of whether or not the composite mode key KYE1 is turned on and the composite copy mode is selected. The flag F2 stores the state of whether the circulation key KYE2 is turned on and the circulation mode is selected. If the circulation key KYE2 is not turned on, the flag F2 is reset (n6 → n8).

Next, the state of the flag F3 is checked and whether the print switch SW1 is turned on is checked (n9, n10). This flag F3 stores the state of whether or not the copying process has once been completed for the paper fed from the paper feed unit. Wait for data and mode input until the print switch SW1 is turned on (n10 → n
3).

When the print switch SW1 is turned on, the content of the count C is set to the value of the set number N (n11), and the content of the flag F1 is checked (n12). The counter C counts the number of copies specified by the input set number N. Here, when the flag F1 is in the reset state, it is determined that the composite copy mode is not selected, and another process, that is, the normal one-sided copy control is executed (n13). Therefore, when the composite copy mode is selected, the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 are turned on and (n1
4) The clutch CLT1 is turned on (n15). As a result, the flappers 22 and 24 oscillate and open toward the circulating transfer path 27 and the intermediate tray 9, respectively. Further, the paper feed roller 11 or 12 is rotated, and the paper is fed from the paper feed unit 4 to the copy process unit 7.

As described above, the copying process is executed on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section (n16). The counter C is decremented each time the copying process is completed on one sheet of paper (n17), and the copying process is continuously performed until the content of the counter C becomes "0" (n18 → n14).
At this time, the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 and the clutch CLT1 are still in the ON state, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding section 4, and is stored in the intermediate tray 9 when the copying process is completed.

When the copying process for the set number of sheets is completed, the flag F3 is set (n19) and the operation of the print switch SW1 is awaited (n20 → n6 → n7 → n20). During this time, the original and the developing device are exchanged. When the print switch SW1 is turned on, the content of the counter C is set to the value of the set number N again, and the content of the flag F2 is checked (n21, n22). When the flag F2 is in the set state, the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 are turned on (n
23), the flag F2 is in the reset state, and the circulation selection key K
When YE2 is off, the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 are turned off (n24). Further, the clutch CLT2 is turned on (n25), and the copying process is executed. As a result, the feeding roller 10 rotates, and the paper stored in the intermediate tray 9 is guided to the copying process unit 7.

When the circulation selection key KYE2 is turned on, the flappers 22 and 24 open the circulation conveyance path 27 and the intermediate tray 9 direction, respectively, and the sheet for which the copying process is completed is stored in the intermediate tray 9 again.

On the other hand, when the circulation selection key KYE2 is turned off, the flapper 22 opens the direction of the paper discharge tray 28, and the paper for which the copying process is completed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 28. This copying process is also continuously performed for the set number of sheets (n26 → n27 → n28 → n22 to n26).

When the copy process for the set number of sheets is completed, the content of the flag F2 is checked (n29). If the flag F2 is set, that is, if the circulation selection key KYE2 is operated, after the operation of the print switch SW1, the intermediate The paper stored in the tray 9 is guided to the copy process unit 7 (n
29 → n6 → n7 → n9 → n20).

On the other hand, when the flag F2 is reset when the copying process for the set number of sheets is completed, the flag F3 is reset and the standby state is returned (n29 → n30 → n3) because the composite copying operation is completed.

In the embodiment described above, by operating the circulation selection key KYE2 in the composite copy mode, it is possible to guide and store the paper after the completion of the composite copy to the intermediate tray 9 a required number of times. That is, when the circulation selection key KYE2 for selecting the circulation conveyance path is used to cancel the selection when the required number of times of the copying operation to the same surface are finished, the copy process is completed after n22 → n24. The paper that has automatically completed the required number of synthetic copies is discharged to the discharge unit.

In this way, the on / off state of the circulation selection key KYE2 is judged by checking the flag F in response to the start command of the copying operation, and when the circulation selection key KYE2 is turned on, the flappers 22, 24 are always turned on. Are operated so as to open the circulation conveyance path 27 and the intermediate tray 9 in the respective directions, and the copy control is performed so that the paper for which the copying process is completed is always guided to the intermediate tray 9. Therefore, the circulation selection key KYE
When 2 is turned on, the sheet is guided from the intermediate tray 9 to the copying process unit 7 by the next copying start command (operation of the print switch SW1) and is stored in the intermediate tray 9 again. When the circulation selection key KYE2 is turned off, the solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 are also turned off, and the flapper 22 opens the discharge portion 28. Therefore, after being guided from the intermediate tray 9 to the copying process, the paper is not guided to the circulation conveyance path 27, and the copy control is performed in which the paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 19 to the paper discharge tray 28.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the composite copying machine of the present invention, in the composite copying mode, not only the image is copied twice but also the necessary number of times, that is, the same surface of three or more different images. The composite copy can be automatically performed, and the troublesome work of the manual composite copy can be omitted, and the reliable composite copy can be obtained by the simple operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the operation of composite copying control of a composite copying machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of the composite copying machine of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is the present invention. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the composite copying machine of FIG. 4; Paper Feeding Section 9; Intermediate Tray 19; Paper Discharging Sections 22, 23; Flapper 27; Circulation Conveying Path KYE1; Synthesis Mode Key KYE2; Circulation Selection Table Keys SOL1, SOL2; Solenoid

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A discharging / conveying unit that conveys a sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit to an ejecting unit via an image forming unit, and an image is formed by the image forming unit in the composite copy mode. In a composite copying machine equipped with a circulating conveyance unit that guides the formed sheet to an intermediate storage unit and conveys the same surface of the sheet to the image forming unit according to a next copy command, the intermediate storage unit in the composite copy mode. And a circulation selection unit that guides the sheet of the intermediate storage section to the discharge conveyance section through the image forming section. In response to the copy start command, the selection state by the circulation selection means is confirmed, and the circulation conveyance path or the discharge conveyance path for guiding the paper in the intermediate storage section to the intermediate storage section again via the image forming section is controlled. Control hand Synthesis copier, characterized in that it comprises a and.