JPH07117799B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a copying machine having an automatic copying start mode for detecting the setting of a document and automatically starting a copying operation.

(B) Conventional Technology In recent years, a copying machine has been proposed which detects that an original is set and automatically starts copying in response to the case where a plurality of originals (including books) are continuously copied. ing.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when the originals of different sizes are continuously copied, copying is automatically started when the originals are set. (Magnification, etc.)
Even if the size of the paper (transfer paper) does not correspond to the above, copying may be performed, and inconvenience such as image cut may occur.

For example, if you mix B5 size originals and A4 size originals for continuous copying at the same size, even if B5 size paper is set, copying will start automatically when the original set is detected. Images may be cut off. In particular,
When performing continuous copying in the automatic copying start mode, it is only necessary to replace the original (page turning of the book), the operation becomes monotonous, and it is easy to forget to replace the paper.

The present invention detects the size of an original when the original is set in the automatic copy start mode, cancels the automatic copy start mode when there is no paper of a size corresponding to the original size and copy conditions, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine that prevents inconveniences such as image breakage by preventing copying even if is set.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has a selection means for accepting selection of either the normal mode or the automatic copy start mode while waiting for input, and means for detecting that a document is set. However, in a copying machine that automatically starts the copying operation after the original is set in the automatic copy start mode, when the size of the set original is detected while waiting for input, and when the automatic copy start mode is selected. A mode switching means for switching the automatic copy start mode to the normal mode and returning to the input standby state when there is no paper of a size corresponding to each copy condition and each copy condition detected by the document size detecting means, and the mode. When the automatic copying start mode is selected after returning to the input standby state by the switching means, the original size and the size corresponding to each copying condition are selected. Paper is characterized by comprising, a means for immediately starting the copying operation without waiting for the operation of the print key when in the sheet storing section.

(E) Function In the copying machine of the present invention, when the detection is set during input standby with the automatic copy start mode selected, the size of the document is detected by the document size detection means, and the detected document is detected. When the paper size and the paper size corresponding to each copying condition are set, copying is automatically started as it is. When the size of the detected document and the size of the paper corresponding to each copy condition are not set, the automatic copy start mode is switched to the normal mode and returns to the input standby state. After returning to the input standby state in this way, if the automatic copy start mode is selected again and the detected document size and the size of paper corresponding to each copy condition are set, copying is started immediately. It Therefore, copying in the automatic copy start mode is not performed on the size of the set original document and the size of the paper that does not meet each copying condition. Also, since the selection of the automatic copy start mode is accepted even while waiting for the input of the normal mode switched from the automatic copy start mode, the automatic copy is performed after the setting is changed to the paper size corresponding to the set original and each copy condition. By selecting the start mode, copying is automatically started without waiting for the operation of the print key.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. An operation panel 2 is provided in front of the upper surface of the copying machine body 1.
Is provided. The operation panel 2 includes operation keys such as a mode switching key for switching between a normal mode and an automatic copy start mode, a copy magnification setting key, and a print key, and a display panel for displaying those modes and setting contents.

A light emitting element unit 3 is provided below the operation panel 2, and a light receiving element unit 4 is provided in the rear portion of the copying machine main body 1. Infrared light output from the light emitting element unit 3 passes through a document table 5 and is reflected by a reflector plate 6. Is reflected by the light receiving element unit 4
Be led to. The light emitting element unit 3 and the light receiving element unit 4 are composed of a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements, and the respective light emitting elements and light receiving elements are installed at positions specific to each document size. Depending on the original placed on the original table 5,
The size of the document on the document table 5 can be detected by determining from which light emitting element the infrared light output is blocked. The open / closed state of the document cover 7 can also be detected by the light emitting element and the light receiving element.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. As is clear from the figure, the infrared light output from the light emitting element 3a is reflected by the reflecting plate 6 and enters the light receiving element 6a. The reflection plate 6 swings by opening and closing the document cover 7, and the infrared rays from the light emitting element 3a enter the light receiving element 4a immediately before the document cover 7 is closed by this swinging to detect the document size, and immediately thereafter. Is determined to be when the document cover 7 is closed, and it is determined that the document setting is completed.

A paper feed cassette that is attachable to and detachable from the copying machine body 1 is provided on a side surface of the copying machine body 1. The paper cassettes mounted on the upper stage are the first cassettes 8a, and those mounted on the lower stage are the second cassettes 8b. A plurality of types of paper feed cassettes are provided according to each paper size, and the papers (transfer papers) of a fixed size are stored in each of them. Each paper feed cassette has a marking indicating the size of the paper stored therein, and the marking is read and stored when the paper feed cassette is mounted. In this embodiment, the copying machine body 1
Although two paper feed cassettes can be attached to the above, any number of them may be used, or a manual feed cassette may be attached. In a copying machine in which a plurality of paper feed cassettes can be attached, one of the attached paper feed cassettes can be selected and set, and paper can be fed from the paper feed cassette.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the copying machine. CPU10
A sensor unit 14, an input / display unit 15, and a copy process unit 16 are connected to the I / O 13 via the I / O 13.

The sensor unit 14 includes various sensors such as a document size and document cover opening / closing sensor corresponding to the light emitting element unit 3 and the light receiving element unit 4, a sheet cassette detecting sensor, etc., and the CPU 10 is previously stored in the ROM 11. According to the signal input via the I / O 13 according to the program, the document size, the open / close state of the document cover 7 (state of setting the document),
The paper size (type of paper feed cassette) and the like are detected and stored in the RAM 12.

The input / display unit 15 corresponds to the various operation keys and the display panel of the operation panel 2, and the CPU 10 reads the copy conditions (automatic copy start mode, copying machine magnification, etc.) input by operating the various operation keys. RA according to the program of OM11
Store in M12.

The copy process unit 16 is a device that performs a copy process, such as an optical device and a paper feeding device, and the input state from the sensor unit 14 stored in the RAM 12 and the copy conditions input from the operation keys of the input / display unit 15 The copy start and the copy operation are performed according to the above.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of a control program stored in advance in the ROM 11.

First, when the power is turned on, step n1 (hereinafter referred to as "step n
i "is simply referred to as" ni ") to initialize the mirror unit, warm up the fixing roller, and clear the memory.

When the fixing roller is warmed up and ready for copying, the input from various sensors and key operations is read at n2. If there is any input at n3, perform the corresponding process below. If there is no input, display control and other processing are performed at n4 and the process returns to n2.

For example, if the copy magnification is input from the operation panel 2 at n5, the magnification is stored in the memory at n6. Also,
If it is detected in n7 that the paper cassette is installed, it is determined in n8 whether the paper cassette installed is the first cassette side or the second cassette side, and the paper cassette installed in n9 or n10. Memorize the paper size of.

<In Normal Copy Mode> First, when a document is set on the document table 5 and the document cover 7 is closed, this is determined in n11 and the size of the set document is stored in n12. Furthermore, a flag Fx indicating the set state of the original is set. At n13, the state of the flag Fm indicating the automatic copy start mode is determined, but the reset state is set in the normal copy mode.

Next, by operating the print key on the operation panel 2, n1
This is determined in 4 and the copy process is performed in n15. In this copying process, the document placed on the document table 5 is scanned by the number of times corresponding to the set number of copies, and the number of copies corresponding to the number of copies is performed (n16). When the copying process is completed, the flag F indicating the set state of the original is displayed in n17.
Clear x and return to n2.

<In the automatic copy start mode> By operating the mode switching key provided on the operation panel 2, the automatic copy start mode is set.

If you operate the mode switch key, this will be identified in n18.
At 19, the flag Fm representing the automatic copy start mode is discriminated. Since the reset state is set at this point, the flag Fm is set at n20 to set the automatic copy start mode.

At this time, if Fx is in the reset state, that is, if the document is not set, the process returns to n2. When a document is set on the document table 5 in this state and the document cover is closed, this is determined in n11, the document size is stored in n12, and the state of the flag Fm is determined in n13.

At this time, since Fm is in the set state, the process proceeds to n22 to obtain the paper size required for transfer. This paper size is obtained from the size of the document stored previously and the copy magnification input from the copy magnification key. At n23, it is determined whether or not the paper size is set in the paper feed cassette. When the paper size does not match, the paper feed cassette currently set is determined in n24, and the paper feed cassette is set from the first cassette to the second cassette or from the second cassette to the first cassette in n25 or n26. Exchange. Then, in n27, determine whether the paper size of the paper cassette that has been set and replaced is required, and if the paper size still does not match,
In n28, Fm is reset, the automatic copy start mode is canceled, and in n29, a display requesting replacement of the paper feed cassette is displayed. That is, even in the automatic copy start mode, if the paper size does not exist, the automatic copy start mode is canceled and the copy process is not performed.

If the paper size is n23 or n27, the process proceeds to n15 and the copy process is performed. That is, copying is automatically started by setting the original on the original table 5 and closing the original cover 7.

The above example was an example of setting the original after setting the automatic copy start mode.However, when the automatic copy start mode is set by operating the mode switching key after setting the original, set the original. Since the Fx is set in n12, the state is determined in n21, and it is determined whether or not the required paper is set for the original and the copy process is performed (n21 →→ n22 ...). Therefore, if the automatic copy start mode is canceled because the paper does not fit in n28, set the required paper and then operate the mode switch key to set the automatic copy start mode and start copying. To be done. For the second and subsequent originals, copying is automatically started only by setting the originals.

When the flag Fm representing the automatic copy start mode is in the set state, operating the mode switch key will
This is discriminated at and the flag Fm is reset at n30 to enter the normal copy mode (a mode in which copying is started by operating the print key). That is, every time the mode switch key is operated, the setting and cancellation of the automatic copy start mode are reversed.

In the copying machine of this embodiment, the required paper size is selected from the size of the original set on the original table 5 and the copy magnification, but in the copying machine having the editing function (trimming, masking function). The required paper size may be selected according to the range to be edited and copied. Further, in the present embodiment, an example of a copying machine in which copying is automatically started by closing the original cover is shown, but when an original is set at a fixed position and an automatic original feeder is provided, copying is automatically performed. In the copying machine to be started, it may be determined whether or not the required size of paper is set after setting the original, and if the necessary paper is not set, the automatic copy start mode may be canceled.

(G) Effect of the Invention In the copying machine of the present invention, after the original is set in the automatic copy mode, it is determined whether the size of the original and the size of the paper that meets each copying condition are set,
If the correct size of paper is not loaded,
Since the automatic copy start mode is switched to the normal mode to return to the input standby state, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image cutouts, etc. without automatically copying on paper of an incompatible size. In addition, since the selection of the automatic copy start mode is accepted even in the input standby state of the normal mode switched from the automatic copy start mode, the print mode can be changed by selecting the automatic copy start mode after changing the setting to the paper of suitable size. It is possible to automatically start copying on a paper of a suitable size without operating a key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the copying machine, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the copying machine, and FIG. The figure is a diagram showing the paper size of the copying machine and the arrangement of sensors for detecting the open / close state of the document cover. 3 ... Light emitting element unit, 4 ... Light receiving element unit, 6
……a reflector.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-60-239728 (JP, A) JP-A-57-128357 (JP, A) JP-A-56-39559 (JP, A) JP-A-55- 50256 (JP, A) JP 50-11242 (JP, A) JP 61-262733 (JP, A) JP 56-114955 (JP, A) JP 59-22061 (JP, A) JP-A-56-39559 (JP, A) JP-A-57-191655 (JP, A) JP-A-57-128357 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A selection means for accepting a selection of either a normal mode or an automatic copy start mode while waiting for input, and means for detecting that an original has been set. In the automatic copy start mode, after the original is set. In a copying machine that automatically starts copying operation, a document size detecting means for detecting the size of a set original while input standby, and an original detected by the original size detecting means when the automatic copy start mode is selected. Mode switching means for switching the automatic copying start mode to the normal mode and returning to the input standby state when there is no paper of a size and a size corresponding to each copying condition in the paper storage section, and after returning to the input standby state by the mode switching means Prints when the original copy size is selected and the size of the paper corresponding to each copy condition is in the paper storage when the automatic copy start mode is selected. A copying machine comprising means for starting a copying operation immediately without waiting for a key operation.