JPH08190232A - Digital copying machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operability and to prevent misprinting by inexpensive constitution concerning the constitution switching a transfer paper ejecting path by manually opening/closing a paper ejecting door. CONSTITUTION: Transfer paper is supplied from a paper supplying cassette or a paper manually feeding and supplying door 7a which can be manually opened/closed. By manually opening/closing the paper ejecting door 7b, the transfer paper ejecting path is switched and the transfer paper is ejected to the door 7b or an inmachine paper ejecting part 7c. The opening/closing of the doors 7a and 7b is detected by a manually feeding door opening/closing detection part and a paper ejecting door opening/closing detection part, respectively. When an operator instructs copying by manually feeding and supplying paper, a system controller inhibits copying operation by manually feeding and supplying paper and instructs the operator to open the door 7b in the case of detecting the closed state of the door 7b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge door which can be manually opened and closed and whose discharge path is switched in the open state to discharge a transfer sheet, and the discharge path is switched in the closed state of the discharge door. The present invention relates to a digital copying machine system having a discharge unit for discharging transfer paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a demand in the market for downsizing and space saving of copying machines. For this reason, in order to eject the transfer paper, the paper ejecting portion conventionally provided on the side of the machine is manually opened and closed. In addition to a possible paper ejection door, an internal paper ejection unit is installed between the scanner and printer inside the machine, and the paper ejection door is opened by manually opening and closing the paper ejection door. It is known that the paper is discharged to the paper discharge door, and is discharged to the paper discharge unit in the machine when the paper discharge door is in the "closed" state. It should be noted that the transfer sheet is discharged from the transfer section to the discharge door on the side of the machine through a straight path, and to the in-machine discharge section from the transfer section through a non-straight path.

Further, in this type of digital copying machine, since an original image is converted into an electric signal, various image processing is performed on this image signal, and then it is visualized and restored by an image forming apparatus, and a facsimile or a facsimile is used. In addition to the printer, it is possible to have an extended function such as a scanner and a file system, that is, an application. In this case, resources shared by multiple applications
The image reading device, the image forming device, the operation unit,
There are memory and peripherals (document feeder (ADF) and sorter).

[0004]

However, in the configuration in which the transfer paper discharge path is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door, when the paper discharge door is opened or closed in the middle of a job,
For example, during printing on special paper such as thick paper and postcards, there is a problem that the operation during printing may not be performed normally.

For example, when the transfer paper is fed from the manual paper feed port, special paper is often used. Therefore, in order to prevent jams, a paper discharge door that discharges through a straight path is preferable. desirable. Also, the transfer path is switched during the electronic sort in which the transfer papers of the same size and different paper orientations are fed for each copy, and the image data stored in the memory is rotated by 90 ° and recorded on the transfer paper. In that case, the transfer paper cannot be discharged in the order of pages.

Here, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a method of automatically opening and closing the paper discharge door by a solenoid or the like can be considered, but this method has a problem that the cost becomes high, and the paper discharge door is also increased. If the paper is opened automatically, the paper ejection door may collide with an obstacle and be damaged.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention can improve operability and prevent misprinting with an inexpensive structure in a structure in which the transfer paper discharge path is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital copying machine system that can be used.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the first means is a paper discharge door which can be opened and closed manually and whose discharge path is switched in the open state to discharge the transfer paper.
When the discharge path is switched and the transfer sheet is discharged in the closed state of the discharge door, a detection unit that detects opening and closing of the discharge door, and an operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding Further, there is provided control means for prohibiting a copying operation by manual paper feeding when the detection means detects the closed state of the paper discharge door.

In the second means, when the control means in the first means detects the open state of the paper discharge door by the detecting means in the copy operation prohibited state, the control means returns to the copyable state by manual paper feeding. It is characterized by doing.

The third means is a paper discharge door that can be manually opened and closed and whose discharge path is switched in the open state to discharge the transfer sheet, and the discharge path is switched in the closed state of the paper discharge door. An electronic sorting unit that feeds transfer papers having the same size and different paper orientation for each copy and a discharge unit that discharges the transfer papers, and rotates image data by 90 ° to record the transfer papers on the transfer papers; And a control means for instructing the operator not to change the opening / closing of the paper discharge door during operation of the means.

The fourth means is a digital copying machine system in which a plurality of applications such as copy, printer, and facsimile are selectively used by sharing an image forming apparatus, which can be manually opened / closed and the discharge path in an open state. Is switched to discharge the transfer sheet, a discharge section where the discharge path is switched to discharge the transfer sheet when the discharge door is closed, and an application other than the copy application is installed in the image forming apparatus. When the operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding while the transfer sheet is being used to discharge the transfer sheet to the sheet discharge door or the discharge section, the sheet is manually inserted when the detection unit detects the closed state of the sheet discharge door. The copying operation by sheet feeding is prohibited, and the operator is allowed to finish using the application other than the copy application. Characterized in that a control means for instructing by manual feeding is a reproduction operation inhibition state.

A fifth means is the detecting means in the fourth means, when the control means in the fourth means terminates the use by an application other than the copy application and the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding. When the closed state of the discharge door is detected by, the copy operation inhibition state by manual paper feeding is released, and the operator is instructed to open the discharge door.

In a sixth means, in the fourth or fifth means, when the control means terminates the use by an application other than the copy application, the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding, When the open state of the paper discharge door is detected by the detection means, the copy inhibition state by manual paper feeding is released, and
It is characterized in that an instruction to open the paper discharge door is deleted from the operator.

In a seventh means, in the fourth to sixth means, when the control means does not instruct the copying by the manual paper feed, the prohibition state of the copying operation by the manual paper feed is released. The instruction for opening the paper discharge door to the operator is deleted.

[0015]

According to the first means, the closed state of the paper discharge door is detected when the operator instructs copying by manual paper feed in a structure in which the discharge path of the transfer paper is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door. In this case, the copying operation by manual paper feeding is prohibited, and the transfer paper by manual paper feeding is not discharged to the paper discharge section.

According to the second means, when the open state of the paper discharge door is detected in the copy operation prohibited state, the copy-enabled state by manual paper feed is restored, and the transfer paper by manual paper feed is discharged only to the paper discharge door. To be done.

According to the third means, in a configuration in which the transfer paper discharge path is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door, the operator is instructed not to change the opening and closing of the paper discharge door during electronic sorting. As a result, it is possible to prevent the paper discharge door from being opened and closed carelessly and to prevent a jam, and the transfer paper being electronically sorted from being mixed with the transfer paper due to manual paper feeding.

In the fourth means, a plurality of applications such as copy, printer, and facsimile share the image forming apparatus and selectively use it, and the discharge path of the transfer sheet is switched by manually opening and closing the discharge door. In the configuration, when an application other than the copy application uses the image forming apparatus to discharge the transfer sheet to the discharge door or the discharge unit and the operator instructs copying by manual feeding, the discharge door is closed. When the state is detected, the copying operation by manual paper feeding is prohibited, and the operator is instructed that the copying operation by manual paper feeding is prohibited until the use by an application other than the copy application is completed.

According to the fifth means, when the use of an application other than the copy application is completed and the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding, when the closed state of the paper discharge door is detected, manual paper feeding is performed. The operator is instructed to open the paper discharge door while releasing the copy operation prohibited state.

In the sixth means, when the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding when the use by an application other than the copy application is completed, the manual paper feeding is performed when the open state of the paper discharge door is detected. The copy prohibition state is canceled and the instruction to the operator to open the paper discharge door is erased.

In the seventh means, when the operator has not instructed copying by manual sheet feeding, the prohibition state of the copying operation by manual sheet feeding is released and the operator opens the discharge door. The instruction to turn on is deleted.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital copying machine system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view showing a digital copying machine system in which a paper discharge door is open, and FIG. 3 is a digital drawing in which a paper discharge door is closed. 5 is an external view showing the copying machine system, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a discharge path when the paper discharge door is in an open state, and FIG.
6 is an explanatory view showing a discharge path when the paper discharge door is closed, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the digital copying machine system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an application layer and a system control layer of FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the interleave operation of the copy application and the printer application of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the parallel operation of the FAX application and the printer application of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is a copy start check. FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining the routine, FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a screen in a copy-enabled state in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a screen in a copy-prohibited state in FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the check routine, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a screen during the copy operation in FIG. 15 shows a flow chart for explaining the operation check routine background application, FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen in the output of the background application 15.

First, the construction of the copying machine, particularly the transfer paper discharge path will be described with reference to FIGS. Based on the conditions designated via the operation (and display) unit 2, the document feeding apparatus 1 ADFs the document placed on the document table 1a.
The drive motor 1b conveys the image to the predetermined reading position of the image reading device 3, and when the reading is completed, the sheet is discharged from the reading position. The image reading device 3 moves the reading optical system in the sub-scanning direction by the scanner driving motor 3a to irradiate the original on the reading position with the light of the light source,
The reflected light is converted into an electric signal by a solid-state image forming element such as CCD. The image forming apparatus 4 is used to form an image image in the form of an electric signal on plain paper or thermal paper by a method such as electrophotography, heat-sensitive, thermal transfer, and inkjet. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the electrophotographic method is used. It is shown.

The transfer paper is one of two paper feed cassettes 7 provided on the lower side of the image forming apparatus 4, or a manual paper feed door 7 provided on the right side of the copying machine and capable of being manually opened and closed by 90 °.
After the sheet is fed from a and the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 4, a paper discharge door 7b provided on the left side surface of the copying machine and also capable of being manually opened and closed by 90 °, or the image reading apparatus 3
And is ejected to the in-machine sheet ejection section 7c provided below the image forming apparatus 4. In this case, the transfer paper is as shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the sheet is conveyed from the manual sheet feed door 7a to the sheet discharge door 7b in a straight path, and in the other path, it is conveyed from bottom to top while being bent.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manual paper feed door 7a and the paper discharge door 7b are opened and closed, respectively.
a ', the paper discharge door open / close detection unit 7b', and the system controller 101 performs control as will be described later based on each detection signal.

The image forming apparatus 4 and the transport mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Laser light modulated according to image data is emitted from the laser diode 401, and this laser light is deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon motor / mirror 402, and the photoconductor 40 by the writing mirror 403.
A latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 404 by being reflected on the photosensitive member 404.
The latent image on the photoconductor 404 is developed with toner by the developing device 405, and this toner image is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer device 406.

The transfer paper set in the paper feed cassette 7 is fed by the paper feed roller 700 and the conveyance roller 701, and the transfer paper manually inserted from the manual feed door 7a is manually fed by the paper feed roller 70.
2 is fed. The transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 7 or the manual feed door 7a is transferred to the registration roller 70.
3 is conveyed so as to match the toner image on the photoconductor 404, the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 406, and then the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 407.

One of the pair of transport rollers 704 is attached to the paper discharge door 7b. As shown in FIG. 4, when the paper discharge door 7b is open, the pair of transport rollers 704 are separated from each other and the transfer paper is discharged from the paper discharge door 7
The sheet is discharged onto the sheet b (the straight sheet discharge unit 704 in the figure). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the discharge door 7b is closed, the transport roller pair 704 abuts, and the transfer paper is transported by the transport roller pair 704.
Is conveyed to the upper side by and is discharged to the in-machine sheet discharging section 7c. Here, the print surface of the transfer paper on the paper discharge door 7b faces upward, whereas the print surface of the transfer paper on the internal paper discharge unit 7c faces downward.

In this system, the document feeding device 1,
As an extended function for sharing the resources of the operation unit 2, the image reading device 3, the image forming device 4, and the conveyance mechanism, for example, FIG.
Copy, printer, facsimile (FA
X) and various other applications 81 to 84 such as a scanner and a file system.

In this specification, the extended function is referred to as an "application", and the image signal photoelectrically converted by the image reading device 3, the image signal input to the image forming device 4, and the image signal synchronization are used. The signals are collectively referred to as "video signal". Further, a signal for exchanging this "video signal" between the image reading device 3, the image forming device 4, and the applications 81 to 84 is expressed as a "control signal" or a "command." A digital copying machine including 81 to 84 is expressed as a "system", and a controller that controls this "system" is expressed as a "system control unit" or a "system controller".

Next, the operation section (and the display section) 2 will be described.
Even the system in which the 84 is installed often has only a very limited operation unit, and in such a case, it is necessary to surrender the operation unit 2 for the application used by the user. Therefore, in the present invention, a screen prepared for each of the applications 81 to 84 is referred to as a "virtual screen".
Therefore, although there are a plurality of “virtual screens”, only one is actually displayed on the operation unit 2.

An application to which the display right of the operation unit 2 has been passed is referred to as a "foreground application". The "foreground application" is notified of almost all key inputs from the system, and "only for itself" is displayed. A “virtual screen” is displayed on the operation unit 2. On the other hand, an application that does not have a display right is referred to as a “background application”, and this “background application” does not interrupt its operation only because it does not have a display right.
Will be notified from. Therefore, for example, even if the printer application 82 is in the background, if there is print data from an external host personal computer (not shown) if the image forming apparatus 4 is idle, the image forming apparatus 4 tries to output the print data. You can also

A state in which resources such as the image forming apparatus 4 are free is referred to as an "idle state", and the system controller 101 manages the idle state in resource units. Further, an application to which the screen display right is first given from the system controller 101 when the power is turned on is referred to as a “startup application”.

Next, "insertion output" or "interleave" will be described. This term is mainly used in the description of the operation at the time of image output described later, but the conventional single-task image output has other operations until a series of operations (= 1 job) having the same purpose is completed. Not done in. For example, in recent digital copiers, the functions are compounded, and for example, the copier and the facsimile or the printer or a combination of them are integrated into one, but most of them are switched to the printer output after the copying function is completed. , Output is performed in function units (= job units). On the other hand, in the present invention, inserting and outputting another job output into one job output is expressed as “interleave”, and for example, printer output is realized without stopping the machine during output of the copying machine. .

"Mode" indicates that the application has the display right. For example, when the printer application has the display right, this digital copying machine is expressed as the printer mode. In addition, the time when this mode is switched is expressed as "mode transition" or "mode transition",
This is controlled by the system controller 101.

Here, when the system becomes complicated, it is necessary to individually handle the application for each user, but it is impossible to satisfy all of these countermeasures at the time of factory shipment, so the application is shipped to the market. It is indispensable to deal with the situation. Therefore, the present invention is equipped with a non-volatile RAM and is provided with a system setting function according to the customer's request, and this function is referred to as “user setting”. The “job” indicates a series of copying operations desired by the operator, and the operation from the start to the end of the mode set by the operator on the operation unit 2 corresponds to the “job”.

Further, in order to realize the downsizing and space saving of the copying machine, the method of discharging to the in-machine discharging section 7c provided inside the machine between the image reading apparatus 3 and the image forming apparatus 4 is referred to as "in-machine discharging". In addition, the method of discharging the paper through the straight path to the paper discharge door 7b is referred to as "straight paper discharge". In addition, the “in-machine paper ejection” method and the “straight paper ejection” method are collectively referred to as the “paper ejection method”.

The term "electronic sort" means that instead of a sorter device having a plurality of sorting bins as in the prior art, the image data of the original is stored in a memory to automatically transfer the transfer paper in order to save space. In this "electronic sort" mode, transfer papers of the same size and different paper orientations are fed for each copy, and the image data stored in the memory is rotated by 90 ° to transfer papers. To record. That is, when vertically and horizontally long transfer papers are set in the two paper feed cassettes 7 and a plurality of vertically long originals are copied, the originals are recorded on the oddly long vertically long transfer papers without being rotated and the evenly printed papers are printed. By rotating 90 ° on the horizontally long transfer paper for recording, each sheet is alternately discharged vertically and horizontally to the paper discharge door 7b and the in-machine paper discharge section 7c.

Further, in a copying machine, generally, the start instruction of the copying operation is performed by pressing the copy start key (print start key) on the operation unit 2, and the copy start key has two kinds of LEDs of green and red. Is provided, the green LED is turned on in the "copy operation ready state" to notify the operator that pressing of the copy start key is effective.
Further, in the "copy operation prohibited state", the red LED lights up to notify the operator that pressing of the copy start key is invalid.

When a multitasking system in which a plurality of applications 81 to 84 share one common resource and are selectively used in this way, the system is controlled by the system control layer 100 as shown in FIG. The system control layer 100 is managed by the system controller 101 and the controllers 21, 31, 41 of the operation unit 2, the peripheral unit, the image forming apparatus 4, and the image reading apparatus 3, respectively.
61.

The device control layer 110 sends logical instructions such as commands and control signals from the system control layer 100,
It performs conversion for driving and inputting mechanical input / output such as clutches, sensors and motors that actually drive the device. Applications 81 to 84 coexist in the application layer 80 due to the function provided from the system control layer 100.

The hardware of such a system is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, CPUs 81a to 83a and page memories 81b to 81b for applications 81 to 83, respectively.
83b is provided, and the operation unit 2, which is a resource,
One C for the image reading device 3 and the image forming device 4
By providing the PU 10, the system control layer 100 and the device management layer 110 can be controlled by one CPU 10. In this case, the system controller 101
For the applications 81 to 83, the image forming signal bus 102, the operation unit control bus 103, and the control signal line 10
4 are connected.

Next, the virtual resource will be described with reference to FIGS. When viewed from the application layer 80, the system control layer 100 provides a function such that virtual resources exist for all the applications 81 to 84 as indicated by the broken line in FIG. It is not necessary to manage the system state, and the system control layer 100 can manage all the applications 81 to 84 under the same condition.

That is, each of the applications 81 to 84 sends a use request to the system control layer 100 at the time when the resource to be used is generated, and the system control layer 100 sends the result judged from the resource use state at that time to the request source application. send. The request source application determines whether or not it is executable based on the result, and executes it if possible. The system control layer 100 basically manages the execution right of the applications 81 to 84 in the same procedure.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, since only one actual resource exists, the system control layer 100 passes the actual use right of the resource when the virtual resource use requests compete with each other. It is necessary to perform exclusive control or time-divisional allocation. Whether to perform exclusive control or time-division allocation depends on the type of resource and user setting.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the virtual resource shown by the broken line shows the case where the application does not take the execution right, and the resource shown by the solid line shows the case where the application takes the execution right. Further, FIG. 8 shows an interleave operation of the copy application 81 and the printer application 82, that is, a state in which the output of one job is output by inserting another job output. In this example, the copy application 81 is operated by the operation unit 2.
When all the resources of the image reading apparatus 3 and the image forming apparatus 4 are executed, the printer application 82 makes a request to use the image forming apparatus 4 in this state. When is set, the system control layer 100 allocates the image forming apparatus 4 to the copy application 81 and the printer application 82 in a time division manner.

In this time-divisional allocation control, the resource execution right is dynamically changed among a plurality of applications, and the output of the image forming apparatus 4 is a mixture of the output of the copy application 81 and the output of the printer application 82. Will be output. Therefore, the waiting time of the copy application 81 and the printer application 82 can be suppressed to the minimum without stopping the image forming apparatus 4.

FIG. 9 shows a parallel operation of the printer application 82 and the facsimile application 83 as another operation example. Facsimile application 8
3 uses only the operation unit 2 and the image reading device 3 during transmission, while the printer application 82 requires only the image forming device 4. Therefore, even if resource use requests of the printer application 82 and the facsimile application 83 occur at the same time, resource conflict does not occur, so that the requests of the two applications 82 and 83 can be accepted without exclusive control or time division allocation. Therefore, facsimile transmission and printer output can be performed simultaneously.

Next, the copy start operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, as described above, the opening / closing of the manual paper feed door 7a and the paper discharge door 7b is detected by the manual paper feed door open / close detection unit 7a ′ and the paper discharge door open / close detection unit 7b ′, respectively, as shown in FIG. Monitored by 101. Further, the straight paper discharge path and the in-machine paper discharge path are switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door 7b, and the print surface faces upward in the straight paper discharge path and the print surface faces in the in-machine paper discharge path.

Further, in order to realize the copy operation, the system controller 101 displays various modes instructed by the operator on the operation section 2 and checks the input state of the keys on the operation section 2. Control, scanning of various hardware information of the image reading apparatus 3, control of data output to various hardware for executing the electrophotographic process by the image forming apparatus 4, copy start check routine (as shown in FIG. Subroutine) S10 is executed.

The subroutine S10 shown in FIG. 10 and the subroutine S30 shown in FIGS.
S40 is implemented by, for example, a polling method that is executed at regular intervals. First, in step S11 shown in FIG. 10, based on the detection signal of the manual door opening / closing detection unit 7a ′,
It is checked whether or not the operator has given an instruction to start manual copying. If a manual copy start instruction has been issued, the process branches to step S12 to check the open / closed state of the paper discharge door 7b based on the detection signal of the paper discharge door open / close detection unit 7b '.

When the paper discharge door 7b is opened, as shown in FIG.
As shown in 1, the message such as "You can copy" is displayed and the copy process for one sheet is executed (step S1.
3) Next, if the copy processing for the set number of copies has not been completed, a message "Do not change the open / closed state of the paper discharge door 7b" is displayed (step S14 → S15), and the process returns to step S12. When the copy processing for the set number of copies is completed, the message "Do not change the open / closed state of the paper discharge door 7b" is erased (step S14 → S).
16) returns from the subroutine S10 (step S
24).

On the other hand, if the paper discharge door 7b is closed in step S12, the process branches to step S17. First, in the case of manual copying, the copy operation is interrupted (step S18). Then, as shown in FIG. 12, a message "Opening the paper discharge door" is displayed (step S19), the manual copying operation prohibited state is set (step S20), and the process returns from the subroutine S10 (step S24).

If it is determined in step S11 that the operator has not instructed the start of manual copying, the process branches to step S21. First, if the manual copying operation prohibited state is not set, the subroutine S10 is executed.
To return (step S24).

On the other hand, when the manual copy operation is prohibited in step S21, the paper discharge door 7b
Is checked (step S22), and if the paper discharge door 7b is closed, the process proceeds to step S19 and thereafter to display a message such as "Open the paper discharge door", while the paper discharge door 7b is closed. If is open, the process advances to step S23 to set the manual copying operation possible state (step S23), and the process returns from the subroutine S10 (step S24).

In this case, the green LED of the copy start key is turned on when the manual-copy operation is set, and the red LED is turned on when the manual-copy operation is disabled.

Next, the discharge door check routine 30 during the copying operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. First, it is determined whether or not the copying operation is being executed (step S3
1) If the copying operation is being performed, it is determined whether or not the manual copying is being performed (step S32). If the manual copying is being performed, the process proceeds to step S34. If manual copying is not in progress in step S32, it is determined whether or not electronic sort is being executed (step S33). If electronic sort is in progress, the process proceeds to step S34. On the other hand, if the electronic sort is not in progress, the process returns from the subroutine S30 (step S35).

In step S34, as shown in FIG. 14, a message "Do not open / close the discharge door during the copying operation" is displayed (step S35), and the subroutine S3 is executed.
The process returns from 0 (step S35). Step S
If the copying operation is not being executed in step 31, the message "Do not open / close the discharge door during the copying operation" is erased (step S36), and the process returns from the subroutine S30 (step S35).

Next, the operation check routine 40 of the back application will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. First, it is determined whether the manual copy mode is selected (step S41). If YES, it is determined whether the back application is printing (step S4).
2) If YES, the process proceeds to step S43 and thereafter.

In step S43 and thereafter, first, the paper discharge door 7
The open / closed state of b is checked (step S43), and if the paper discharge door 7b is closed, a message stating that "bypass copying cannot be used until the print output of the back application is completed" is displayed (step S44). The manual copy setting is set to the disabled state (step S45), and the process returns from the subroutine S40 (step S55). FIG.
As an example, the facsimile application 83 shows a screen being printed using the image forming apparatus 4, and when the printer application 82 is printing, a message such as "Online printer output. Manual copy cannot be used" is displayed. Is output.

If the paper discharge door 7b is open in step S43, the message "manual copy cannot be used until the print output of the back application is completed" is erased (step S46), and then the manual copy enabled state is set. (Step S47), subroutine S4
It returns from 0 (step S55).

Similarly, when the back application is not printing in step S42, the process proceeds to step S48 to check the open / close state of the paper discharge door 7b. Then, when the paper discharge door 7b is closed, the message indicating that "manual copy cannot be used until the print output of the back application is completed" is deleted (step S46), and then "open the paper discharge door" is displayed. A message is displayed (step S50), and then manual copying is disabled (step S51),
The process returns from the subroutine S40 (step S55).

If the manual copy mode is not selected in step S41 and if the paper discharge door 7b is open in step S48, "manual copy cannot be used until the print output of the back application is completed".
Is erased (step S52), the message "Opening the paper discharge door" is erased (step S53), the manual copy-enabled state is set (step S54), and the process returns from the subroutine S40. (Step S55).

[0064]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a structure in which the transfer paper discharge path is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door, when the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding. When the closed state of the paper discharge door is detected, the copying operation by manual paper feed is prohibited, and thus the transfer paper by manual paper feed is not discharged to the paper discharge unit. Therefore, it is possible to improve operability with an inexpensive structure and prevent misprinting.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the open state of the paper discharge door is detected in the copying operation prohibited state, the copy sheet is returned to the copyable state by the manual paper feed, so that the transfer paper by the manual paper feed is discharged. Only discharged to. Therefore, it is possible to improve operability with an inexpensive structure and prevent misprinting.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration in which the transfer paper discharge path is switched by manually opening and closing the paper discharge door, the operator is instructed not to change the opening and closing of the paper discharge door during electronic sorting. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper discharge door from being opened and closed carelessly and to prevent a jam, and the transfer paper being electronically sorted from being mixed with the transfer paper by manual paper feeding.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of applications such as a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc., share the image forming apparatus and selectively use the image forming apparatus. Also, the transfer sheet discharge path is manually opened / closed. In the configuration in which the switch is switched to the switch mode, if the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding while the application other than the copy application uses the image forming apparatus to discharge the transfer sheet to the discharge door or the discharge section, the discharge door When the closed state is detected, the copying operation by manual paper feeding is prohibited, and the operator is instructed that the copying operation by manual paper feeding is prohibited until the use by an application other than the copying application is completed. , Transfer paper by manual feeding inside transfer paper by applications other than copy application It is possible to prevent things like mix.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the use of an application other than the copy application is completed and the operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding, when the closed state of the discharge door is detected, the sheet is manually fed. Since the state in which the copying operation by paper is prohibited is released and the operator is instructed to open the paper discharge door, the operability can be improved with an inexpensive structure and misprinting can be prevented.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding when the use by an application other than the copy application is finished, the manual sheet feeding is performed when the open state of the sheet discharge door is detected. Since the copy prohibition state due to the paper feed is released and the operator's instruction to open the paper discharge door is deleted, the operability can be improved and the misprint can be prevented with an inexpensive configuration.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the operator has not instructed copying by manual paper feeding, the copy operation prohibition state by manual paper feeding is released and the operator is allowed to operate the paper discharge door. Since the opening instruction is erased, the operability can be improved with an inexpensive configuration and misprinting can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital copying machine system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a digital copying machine system in which a paper discharge door is open.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a digital copying machine system in which a paper discharge door is closed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a discharge path when a paper discharge door is in an open state.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a discharge path when the paper discharge door is in a closed state.

6 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the digital copying machine system of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an application layer and a system control layer of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an interleave operation of the copy application and the printer application of FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing a parallel operation of the FAX application and the printer application of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a copy start check routine.

11 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen in a copyable state in FIG.

12 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen in a copy prohibited state in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge door check routine during a copy operation.

14 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen during a copy operation in FIG. 13. FIG.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation check routine of a background application.

16 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen during output of the background application in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Document Feeding Device 2 Operation Unit 3 Image Reading Device 4 Image Forming Device 7a Manual Feed Door 7b Paper Ejection Door 7c In-machine Paper Ejection Unit 7a 'Manual Feed Door Open / Close Detection Unit 7b' Paper Ejection Door Open / Close Detection Unit 81 Copy Application 82 Printer Application 83 FAX Application 101 System controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G03G 21/04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A discharge door that can be opened and closed manually and whose discharge path is switched in the open state to discharge the transfer sheet; and a discharge path is switched to discharge the transfer sheet in the closed state of the discharge door. And a detection unit for detecting the opening / closing of the discharge door, when the operator instructs copying by manual feeding, and when the detection unit detects the closed state of the discharge door. A digital copying machine system comprising: a control unit that prohibits a copying operation by manual paper feeding. 2. The digital copy according to claim 1, wherein when the detection unit detects the open state of the paper discharge door in the copy operation prohibited state, the copy-enabled state by manual paper feeding is restored. Machine system. 3. A paper discharge door, which can be opened and closed manually and whose discharge path is switched in the open state to discharge the transfer paper, and a discharge path is switched to discharge the transfer paper in the closed state of the paper discharge door. An ejecting section, an electronic sorting unit that feeds transfer sheets having the same size and different sheet orientation for each set, and rotates image data by 90 ° to record the transfer sheets on the transfer sheet; The control means for instructing the operator not to change the opening and closing of the discharge door,
Digital copier system equipped with. 4. A digital copying machine system in which a plurality of applications such as a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc., share an image forming apparatus and selectively use it, which can be opened and closed manually and the discharge path is switched in the open state. A discharge door that discharges the transfer paper, a discharge unit that discharges the transfer paper by switching the discharge path when the discharge door is closed, and an application other than the copy application using the image forming apparatus to transfer the transfer paper. When the operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding while the sheet is being discharged to the sheet discharging door or the discharging section, when the closed state of the sheet discharging door is detected by the detecting means, copying by manual sheet feeding is performed. The operation is prohibited, and the operator manually feeds paper until it is used by an application other than the copy application. And a control means for instructing that the copying operation is prohibited by the digital copying machine system. 5. The control means, when the use of an application other than the copy application is finished, when the operator instructs copying by manual sheet feeding, the control means determines whether the discharge door is closed. 5. The digital copying machine system according to claim 4, wherein when detected, the prohibition state of prohibiting the copying operation by manual paper feeding is released and the operator is instructed to open the paper discharging door. 6. The control means causes the detection means to open the discharge door when the operator instructs copying by manual paper feeding when the use by an application other than the copy application is completed. 6. The digital copying machine system according to claim 4, wherein when detected, the copy operation inhibition state by manual paper feeding is released and the operator's instruction to open the paper discharge door is deleted. 7. The control means releases the copy operation prohibition state by manual paper feeding and opens the paper discharge door for the operator when copying by manual paper feeding is not instructed by the operator. 7. The digital copying machine system according to claim 4, wherein the instruction is erased.