JPH08122935A - Image reader and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To quickly start the formation of image with a simple operation. CONSTITUTION: The image reader is provided with an exposure fluorescent lamp 4 irradiating an original, a fluorescent lamp heater 81 raising the temp. of the fluorescent lamp 4, an energization detecting means 82 detecting the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater 81 and a control part 80 executing the relative movement scan of an exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 with respect to the original, to control its reading and when the energization detecting means 82 detects the energization of the heater 81, the control part 80 starts the moving scanning of the exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 simultaneously with the start of the lighting of the exposure fluorescent lamp 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device for reading an original image provided in an image forming apparatus, and a copying machine for reading an original image by the image reading device and forming an image on a recording medium by an image forming means. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A copying apparatus, which is an example of a conventional image forming apparatus, places an original on an original placing glass plate, illuminates the image of the original with an exposing fluorescent lamp, and moves the original placing glass plate. The original image is scanned by the movement of the irradiation light from the exposure fluorescent lamp, the image is read, and an image signal is generated. Then, an image signal beam is applied to the surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic image on the photoconductor, the image is developed by a developing device, transferred to a recording medium such as a recording medium, and the image is fixed and output. .

Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a heater is provided near the exposure fluorescent lamp in order to secure the amount of light emitted from the exposure fluorescent lamp at a low temperature. Then, regardless of whether the heater is energized or de-energized, the document scanning is started after waiting for a time required from the start of lighting of the exposure fluorescent lamp until the light amount reaches the required light amount.

If the heater is set to be energized / de-energized through the operation unit and the heater is energized, the amount of light required for the exposure fluorescent lamp to reach the end of the image from the home position is reduced. If the heater is set to de-energize, the document operation should be started without waiting for the lighting to start, and if the light intensity of the exposure fluorescent lamp reaches the required light amount, wait for the time to scan the document. Is configured to start.

[0005]

However, in the former case of the above-mentioned conventional example, an extra time is required because the original scanning is started after waiting for the time required for the light quantity of the exposing fluorescent lamp to reach the necessary light quantity. There was a drawback that it ended up. In addition, the latter of the above-mentioned conventional examples has a drawback in that the heater is energized / de-energized by the operation unit or the like, which causes extra trouble for the operator.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can quickly start image formation by a simple operation. .

[0007]

For this reason, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an image reading apparatus for reading an original image by the image reading apparatus and forming an image on a recording medium by the image forming means. In the apparatus, an exposure fluorescent lamp for irradiating an original, a heat generating means for raising the temperature of the exposure fluorescent lamp, a detecting means for detecting energization to the heat generating means, and a reading position by an image reading device for the original. And a control means for variably controlling the time from the start of lighting of the exposure fluorescent lamp to the start of movement scanning of the document by the document scanning means based on the detection of the detection means. The above-mentioned object is to be achieved by the constitution characterized in that it is provided.

Further, the detecting means has a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the exposure fluorescent lamp or the temperature around the exposure fluorescent lamp, or both ends of the exposure fluorescent lamp. According to a configuration characterized by having a voltage detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a potential difference between the parts, or a configuration characterized by having a current detection means for detecting that a current is flowing in the exposure fluorescent lamp. It is intended to achieve the above purpose.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises the image reading device and the image forming means described in any one of the above, and the document scanning means is operated by the document scanning means based on the detection of the detecting means provided in the image reading device. The object described above is achieved by a configuration characterized in that the reading of an original image is started by variably controlling the time until the start of moving scanning, and the read original image is formed on a recording medium by the image forming means. Is what you are trying to do.

[0010]

With the above construction, the detection means detects the energization of the heater of the heat generating means, and the time from the start of lighting of the exposure fluorescent lamp to the start of the scanning operation of the original is varied according to the detection result, whereby the operator Eliminates the need to set the heater to be energized / de-energized from the operating unit, etc., and when the detected result is energized, control is performed to start document scanning without waiting for the exposure fluorescent lamp to start lighting, and to quickly form an image. The operation can start.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus equipped with an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is an image reading device, and 2 is a document placing table. The drive system is separated into a main drive system that drives the paper feed unit, the transport unit, the photoconductor, and the fixing unit, and an optical drive system that drives the optical system that serves as a load. A DC brushless motor 25 is used as a main drive source, and a stepping motor 26 is used as an optical drive source (including a mechanism for reading an image).

As the paper feeding method, paper feeding from the cassette 23 or paper feeding from the multi-manual feed 24 can be selected. When the paper is fed from the cassette 23, the state is managed by a switch group 31 having a switch for detecting the presence or absence of the cassette 23 and a switch for detecting the size of the cassette 23, and a switch 37 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper in the cassette 23. .

The photoconductor 12 rotates clockwise as shown in the figure. Then, the electric potential charged on the photoconductor 12 by the primary charger 13 is exposed at the exposure position and developed by the developing unit 15, and the transfer unit 14 transfers the image onto the transfer paper sent from the paper supply unit. To do. Photoconductor 1 after transfer
For No. 2, the residual toner is removed by the cleaning unit 38, the residual potential is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 16, and the process of forming an image again is repeated.

The transfer sheet on which the image has been transferred is the transport unit 2
It is sent to the fixing unit 21 by riding on the 0 transport belt. The fixing unit 21 is composed of a heat roller 35 having a temperature detecting element (thermistor) 41 arranged on the surface thereof, and a pressure roller 44 which is pressed against the roller and the surface of which is awaiting elasticity. The heat roller 35 uses a halogen heater as a heat source, and the surface temperature of the heat roller 35 is controlled by the temperature detection element 41 to be a predetermined temperature.

The paper that has passed through the fixing unit 21 is discharged from the fixing unit 21 by the paper discharging roller 22 and is stored on the paper discharging tray 39.

Further, the paper discharge sensor 34 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the transfer paper has normally passed through the fixing unit 21.

The drive source of the optical drive system is the stepping motor 26 as described above. Stepping motor 26
Is configured to drive a completely different load by operating the drive switching sole noise 27. One load is the exposure fluorescent lamp 4 and the heater 8 for heating the exposure fluorescent lamp 4.
1, a first mirror 5, a second mirror 6, and a third mirror 7 (this is called an exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83), and another load is a unit that constitutes the zoom lens 8.

The exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 scans and moves the original on the original glass 3 from the left end to the right in FIG. 1, and transfers the original image to the first mirror 5, the second mirror 6, the third mirror 7, and the zoom lens. Exposure of the document onto the photoconductor 12 is performed via the eighth, fourth mirror 9, fifth mirror 10 and sixth mirror 11.
That is, the starting point of movement is set to the left end, and this position is called a home position (hereinafter referred to as HP). H. H.P. A P sensor 29 is provided.

A power cord (not shown) of this apparatus is connected to a predetermined power source. FIG. 3 shows an operation panel of this apparatus, which is arranged on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus. When one side of the power switch 51 is pressed, power is supplied to the device and at the same time, the power display lamp 52 is lit and displayed.

When the copy start key 56 is pressed, the transfer paper size data by the input signal of the switch group 31 for detecting the cassette size, the number data set by the number key 54, and the magnification selection keys 61, 62, 64, 65. ，
The copying operation is started based on the magnification data by 66 and the data by other various mode selecting means.

When the copy start key 56 is received,
The display is changed from green to red, and the mode switching keys such as the numeral key 54 and the magnification keys 61, 62, 64, 65, 66 are prohibited. The main drive motor 25 starts to rotate, and the paper feeding / feeding roller 18, the photoconductor 12, the transport unit 2
0, the driving force is transmitted to the fixing unit 21 and the like.

From the start of rotation of the main drive motor 25, 0.
After 5 seconds, a paper feed solenoid (not shown) operates, and the paper feed roller 17 rotates accordingly, and the transfer paper in the cassette 23 is fed toward the paper feed feed roller 18. Paper feed roller 1
The transfer paper feed amount of No. 7 is controlled by the cassette size data. That is, when the transfer paper is larger than the predetermined value, the feed amount is increased. When the transfer paper reaches the paper feed roller 18, the transfer paper is stopped by the time when the transfer paper is fed to the registration roller 19 by the paper feed roller 18. A manual feed switch 33 installed between the paper feed roller 18 and the registration roller 19 detects the transfer state of the transfer paper.

The scanning of the original document by the exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 can be started at a predetermined timing until the transfer paper is sent on the paper feed path and reaches the registration roller 19.
At this time, the exposure fluorescent lamp 4 is set to H.264. It is in a position detected by the P sensor 29. More specifically, when the H.S. The vehicle is stopped at a position which is moved backward from the position where P is detected by a distance corresponding to the selection magnification at that time.

When the scanning of the original is started, the pulse motor 26, which is the optical system drive source, moves in the forward direction (right direction) of the exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 until it reaches the drive pulse rate according to the selected magnification value. , The pulse rate gradually increases (called slow-up control). That is, the moving speed is gradually accelerated to reach the target speed.

Next, the control of the exposure fluorescent lamp 4 will be described. The light amount is detected by the light amount sensor 49, and feedback control is performed by PWM control so that the light amount becomes constant. Further, the applied AC power source is driven at a frequency of 1.2 KHz in order to increase the light conversion efficiency.

The above-described operation of the apparatus is executed by a predetermined procedure preprogrammed in a microcomputer or the like in the control unit 80. In particular, the control unit 80 performs the following control for the portion related to the present invention. The processing flow is shown in FIG.

When the copy key 56 is pressed (step S
1) The exposure fluorescent lamp 4 is turned on (S2). The energization detection unit 82 detects the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater 81 and notifies the control unit 80 of the detection result (S3). Light intensity sensor 49
Detects the light quantity of the exposure fluorescent lamp 4 and controls the light quantity by the control unit 80.
(S4). When the detection result is energization, the control unit 80 sends a drive signal to the pulse motor 26 to start scanning the original of the exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 (S5) and form an image (S6). If the detection result in step S3 is non-energized, wait until the detected light amount reaches a level necessary for image formation, and then start scanning the original document by the exposure fluorescent lamp unit 83 (S5) to start image formation. Perform (S6).

Next, the means 82 for detecting the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater 81 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

The energization detecting means 82 can be constructed by using a temperature detecting means 84 as shown in FIG.

Exposure fluorescent lamp 4 or fluorescent lamp heater 81, or exposure fluorescent lamp 4 and fluorescent lamp heater 81
The temperature of the surroundings of the fluorescent lamp heater 8 is detected, the detected output is input to the control unit 80, the pre-programmed processing is performed in the microcomputer in the control unit 80, and the fluorescent lamp heater 8
The energization of 1 is detected.

(Embodiment 2) In the embodiment described above, the energization detecting means 82 is constituted by using the temperature detecting means 84, but it may be constituted by using the voltage detecting means 85 as shown in FIG. it can.

The switch SW is opened to open the fluorescent lamp heater 81.
When the power is not supplied to the fluorescent lamp heater 81, the voltage is not applied to both ends of the fluorescent lamp heater 81, so that the photocoupler 86 in the voltage detecting means 85 is not turned on. Therefore, a + 5V signal is input to the control unit 80.

When the switch SW is closed, the fluorescent lamp heater 81
When voltage is applied to the fluorescent lamp heater 81, voltage is applied to both ends of the fluorescent lamp heater 81, so that the photocoupler 86 in the voltage detecting means 85 is turned on only on one side of the AC power source to control the controller 80.
A rectangular wave signal of 0 V and +5 V is input to the.

In accordance with the above input, the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater 81 is detected by performing a pre-programmed process in the microcomputer or the like in the control section 80.

(Embodiment 3) In the embodiment described above, the energization detecting means 82 is constituted by using the temperature detecting means 84 or the voltage detecting means 85, but the current detecting means 87 is used as shown in FIG. It can also be configured.

The switch SW is opened to open the fluorescent lamp heater 81.
When the current is not supplied to the fluorescent lamp heater 81, a current does not flow through the fluorescent lamp heater 81. Therefore, the photocoupler 88 in the current detecting means 87 is not turned on, and a + 5V signal is continuously input to the controller 80.

The switch SW is closed to close the fluorescent lamp heater 81.
When current is flowing to the fluorescent lamp heater 81, current flows through the fluorescent lamp heater 81, so the photocoupler 88 in the current detector 87 is turned on only on one side of the AC power source, and the control unit 80 receives 0V.
A + 5V rectangular wave signal is input.

In accordance with the above input, the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater 81 is detected by performing a pre-programmed process in the microcomputer or the like in the controller 80.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the image reading apparatus having the exposure fluorescent lamp and the heater for warming the exposure fluorescent lamp, by providing the detection means for detecting the energization of the heater for warming the exposure fluorescent lamp, the operator can operate from the operation unit. It is possible to save the trouble of setting the heater on / off. In addition, when the detection result is energized, the light amount reaches the level necessary for image formation while the original scanner starts lighting and the original scanner reaches from the home position to the image edge. The time from the start of lighting to the start of manuscript operation can be minimized, and the start of image formation can be accelerated by the control of the control means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation panel diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example.

[Fig. 5] A means for detecting the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater,
FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of the first embodiment, which is a means for detecting the temperature of the exposure fluorescent lamp or the temperature around the exposure fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 6 shows a means for detecting the energization of the fluorescent lamp heater,
It is a structure explanatory view of Example 2 which is a means to detect the voltage applied to the fluorescent lamp heater.

FIG. 7 shows a means for detecting the electric power to the fluorescent lamp heater,
It is a structure explanatory view of Example 3 which is a means to detect the electric current which flows into a fluorescent lamp heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading device 2 Original placing table 4 Exposure fluorescent lamp 26 Pulse motor 49 Light intensity sensor 80 Control unit 81 Fluorescent lamp heater 82 Energization detecting means 83 Exposure fluorescent lamp unit 84 Temperature detecting means 85 Voltage detecting means 87 Current detecting means

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Takahiro Takahiro 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An exposure fluorescent lamp for irradiating an original in the original image reading apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus for reading an original image by an image reading apparatus and forming an image on a recording medium by an image forming means, and an exposure fluorescent lamp for exposing the original. A heat generating means for raising the temperature of the fluorescent lamp, a detecting means for detecting energization to the heat generating means, a document scanning means for relatively moving and scanning a reading position of the image reading device with respect to the document, and a detecting means of the detecting means. An image reading apparatus comprising: a control unit that variably controls a time period from the start of lighting of the exposure fluorescent lamp to the start of movement scanning of the document by the document scanning unit based on detection. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit has a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the exposure fluorescent lamp or the temperature around the exposure fluorescent lamp. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit has a voltage detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a potential difference between both ends of the exposure fluorescent lamp. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit has a current detection unit that detects that a current is flowing through the exposure fluorescent lamp. 5. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and an image forming unit are provided, and movement scanning is started by the document scanning unit based on detection by a detection unit included in the image reading apparatus. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the reading of the original image is started by variably controlling the time until the reading, and the read original image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming means.