JPH08314204A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To efficiently execute the image formation of several times for plural documents. CONSTITUTION: In an image forming mode, a document stacker 201 is stacked with the plural documents and lowered by a document elevating/lowering device 202 and the documents are separated from below by a document separating/ feeding device 204, fed onto the document platen part of a copying device main body by a document recirculating path 203a, to be read and recirculated to the document stacker 201 by a document recirculating path 203b. When the recording of a prescribed number of times is executed, the document stacker 201 is elevated by the document elevating and lowering device 202.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with a recycle document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "RDF").

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer, which is an example of a conventional image forming apparatus, reads an original image, outputs an electric image signal, converts the electric image signal into an optical image signal, and converts the optical image signal into a surface of a photoconductor (image carrier). To form an electrostatic image on the surface of the photoreceptor,
The image is fixed by developing it by a developing device and transferring it to a recording medium such as recording paper.

When there are a plurality of originals to be read, there is an apparatus configured to stack the sheets on an RDF and circulate the originals a plurality of times to make a plurality of copies.

When making a copy using RDF, the original tray on which the originals are placed is raised in the standby mode and lowered during copying (in the original circulation). 1
When one document circulates and returns to the document tray, it is reloaded from the top on the document tray, so you can lower the document tray as described above and easily reload the circulated document. There is an image forming apparatus that controls the RDF so as to adjust and adjust.

Further, in the copy mode in which the document is circulated a plurality of times by using the RDF which performs such control, the document tray is lowered during copying, and when the document circulates once, the tray on which the document is stacked is placed. Raise it once. Some devices control the RDF such that the document tray is lowered again when the next circulation is started.

[0006]

However, in the copy mode in which all originals are circulated a plurality of times, the original tray is lowered during the original circulation so that all originals are
The original tray was raised every time it was circulated. Since the original tray is lowered again during the next original circulation, the total copy speed is reduced by the time required for moving the original tray up and down.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently forming a plurality of copies of an image by circulating a plurality of originals. It is intended.

[0008]

Therefore, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a circulation type automatic document feeding means, an image forming means for reading an image of an original and forming an image on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a circulating automatic document feeding means and a control means for controlling the operation of the image forming means according to a set image forming mode, wherein the circulating automatic document feeding means stacks a document. Document stacking means, document raising and lowering means for lowering and raising the document stacking means, document separating means for separating a plurality of documents stacked on the document stacking means one by one from below, and the document separating means. The document separation unit feeds the document separated by the means to the document reading unit of the image forming unit and returns the document to the document stacking unit, and the control unit stacks the image forming mode on the document stacking unit. In a mode in which a plurality of originals are read and a plurality of copies are made, the original stacking means is lowered by the original raising / lowering means of the circulation type automatic original feeding means, and the original separating means is operated. The plurality of documents stacked on the document stacking means are separated one by one from below, the documents are circulated by the document circulating / conveying means, and the images are formed by the image forming means and output. Is to achieve the purpose of.

[0009]

With the above construction, in the copy mode in which all originals are circulated a plurality of times, the originals are circulated without temporarily raising the tray on which the originals are stacked for each circulation of all originals. By keeping the same tray lowered, it is possible to reduce the time and improve the total copy speed of one copy job in the copy mode.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 100 is a copying apparatus main body,
Reference numeral 200 is a circulation type automatic document feeder or feeder (hereinafter, referred to as RDF) for automatically feeding documents, and 250 is a discharge tray for discharging copied sheets.
The F200 and the paper discharge tray 250 can be freely used in combination with the main body 100.

Reference numeral 101 is a document table glass as a document placing table. Reference numeral 102 denotes an optical system as an image reading unit, which includes a document illumination lamp (exposure lamp) 103, a scanning mirror, a lens 143, a motor 104, and the like. The original is illuminated by the exposure lamp 103 while scanning, and the light reflected from the original is applied to the photosensitive drum 105 by the scanning mirror and the lens 143.

Further, in the document moving scanning, the exposure lamp 103 is fixed at the position of 150, illuminates the document moved by the RDF 200, and the reflected light from the document is applied to the photosensitive drum 105 by the scanning mirror and the lens 143. .

Around the photosensitive drum 105, a primary charger 106, a blank exposure unit 107, a potential sensor 108, a developing device 109 and a transfer charger 110,
A separation charger 111 and a cleaning device 112 are provided, and the photosensitive drum 105 and the like constitute an image recording unit.

The photosensitive drum 105 is a main motor 113.
1 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 and is corona-charged by the primary charger 106.
When the reflected light of the original is emitted from, an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 109 and visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the upper cassette 114
Alternatively, from the lower cassette 115 to the pickup roller 1
The transfer paper sent into the main body 100 by the paper feed rollers 118 and 119 via the registration rollers 12 and 16.
When the timing is set so that the leading edge of the toner image and the leading edge of the transfer paper coincide with each other by 0, the toner image is fed to the photosensitive drum 105, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 110. After this transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the photoconductor drum 106 by the separation charging device 111, guided to the fixing device 122 by the conveying belt 121, fixed by pressing and heating, and then discharged to the outside of the main body 100 by the discharge roller 123. Is discharged. Further, the photosensitive drum 105 is the cleaning device 11
2, the surface is cleaned.

Further, the main body 100 is equipped with a deck 124 capable of accommodating, for example, 4000 transfer sheets.
The lifter 125 of the deck 124 ascends according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 126.

Further, in FIG. 1, 127 is a paper discharge flapper, which switches the path between the double-sided recording side or the multiple recording side and the discharge side (sorter 250). The transfer paper sent from the discharge roller 123 is switched to the double-sided recording side or the multiplex recording side by the discharge flapper 127. Also,
A lower conveyance path 128 guides the transfer paper sent from the discharge roller 123 to the re-feed tray 130 by reversing the transfer paper via the reversing path 129. Reference numeral 131 denotes a multiple flapper that switches between double-sided recording and multiple recording paths. By tilting the flapper to the left, the transfer paper is directly guided to the lower conveyance path 128 without passing through the reverse path 129. 132 is route 1
A sheet feeding roller that feeds the transfer sheet to the photosensitive drum 105 side through 33. Denoted at 134 is a discharge roller which is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge flapper 127 and discharges the transfer sheet switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 127 to the outside of the machine.

At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiplex recording (multiplexed copying), the paper discharge flapper 127 is raised upward,
The copied transfer paper is stored in the re-feed tray 130 in a state of being turned upside down via the transport paths 128 and 129. At this time, the multiple flapper 131 is tilted to the right for double-sided recording, and the multiple flapper 131 is tilted to the left for multiple recording. When performing back side recording or multiplex recording next time,
The transfer papers stored in the re-feed tray 130 are guided one by one from the bottom to the registration rollers 120 of the main body via the path 133 by the paper feed roller 132. When reversing and ejecting the transfer paper from the main body, the paper ejection flapper 127 is raised and the flapper 131 is tilted to the right, the copied transfer paper is conveyed to the conveyance path 129 side, and the rear end of the transfer paper is moved to the first position. The reverse roller 14 after passing through the first feed roller 140
2 to the second feed roller side, and the discharge roller 1
By 34, the transfer paper is turned over and discharged to the outside of the machine.

FIG. 2 shows the operation portion 6 provided on the main body 100.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of arrangement | positioning structure of 00.

In FIG. 2, a user mode key 601 is used by an operator (user) for setting machine specifications, standard modes, and cleaning. A cursor key 627 is used to select a setting item in the setting mode. An OK key 628 is used to confirm the setting contents in the setting mode.

Reference numeral 606 denotes an all reset key, which is pressed when returning to the standard mode. Reference numeral 605 denotes a copy start key (copy start key), which is pressed to start copying. A clear / stop key 604 functions as a clear key during standby (standby) and as a stop key during copy recording. This clear key is also used to cancel the set number of copies. The stop key is pressed to interrupt continuous copying. After the copy at the time of pressing is completed, the copy operation is stopped. 603
Is a ten-key pad and is pressed to set the number of copies.
It is also used when setting the numerical setting mode.

Reference numeral 619 is a memory key, which allows the user to register modes that are frequently used. Here, four modes M1 to M4 can be registered. 611
Reference numerals 612 are copy density keys, which are pressed when manually adjusting the copy density. An AE key 613 is pressed when the copy density is automatically adjusted according to the density of the original, or when the AE (automatic density adjustment) is canceled and the density adjustment is switched to manual. A copy paper selection key 607 includes an upper cassette 114, a lower cassette 115, a paper deck 124, and a multi-purpose manual feed 150.
Press to select. When a document is placed on the RDF 200, APS (automatic paper cassette selection) can be selected with this key 607.

Reference numeral 610 denotes a unity size key, which is pressed to make a unity size (actual size) copy. An automatic scaling key 616 is pressed to designate whether to automatically reduce or enlarge the image of the original according to the designated transfer paper size. 626
Is a double-sided key, and is pressed to make a double-sided copy from a single-sided original, a double-sided copy from a double-sided original, or a single-sided copy from a double-sided original. A binding margin key 625 can create binding margins of a designated length on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the transfer sheet. A photo key 624 is pressed when copying a photo original. A multiple key 623 is pressed when creating (combining) images from the two originals on the same surface of the transfer paper. 6
Reference numeral 20 denotes a document mixed loading key, which is pressed to automatically copy different size originals onto a transfer sheet of the original size. A frame erasing key 621 is pressed when setting document frame erasing, sheet frame erasing, punch hole erasing, book frame erasing, and the like. An enlargement layout key 629 is pressed to return an original in which a plurality of originals reduced to one original is laid out to the original originals. Reference numeral 630 denotes a page continuous shooting key, which is pressed when the right and left pages of a spread book are continuously copied.

Reference numeral 614 denotes a sheet discharge method selection key for selecting a sheet discharge method. When a staple sorter is connected, a staple sort mode, a sort mode, a group mode can be selected or the selected mode can be released. RD if the staple sorter is not connected
By using the F200, when making multiple copies of an original, the original is circulated once to make the copy required for one copy, and the circulation of the original is performed for a plurality of times to sort and eject the copies. It is possible to select and cancel the RDF sort, which is the mode to perform.

Reference numeral 631 denotes a reservation key, which is the reservation tray 21.
It is used when starting the setting of the copy mode for the reserved original placed on 0 and when canceling the reserved setting.
Reference numeral 632 denotes a slightly smaller key, which is used when using the slightly smaller mode. Reference numeral 633 is a guide key, which is used when displaying a description of functions corresponding to various keys on the message display.

Reference numeral 701 is an L for displaying information about copying.
It is a CD (liquid crystal) type message display (touch panel) and displays characters and figures. For example, the number of copies set by the ten keys 603, the paper size selected by the paper selection key, a message indicating the state of the copying apparatus main body 100, a guide message indicating the operation procedure, and other setting contents of various modes are displayed. 704 is an AE display, and AE (automatic density adjustment) is performed by the AE key 613.
Lights when is selected. Reference numeral 709 denotes a preheat indicator, which lights up in the preheat state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 3, a control circuit (controller) 1004 includes a CPU 1004a, a ROM 1004b,
It is composed of a RAM 1004c and the like, and controls the copy sequence as a whole based on a program stored in the ROM 1004b.

As described above, the operation section 600 includes a copy mode (single-sided / double-sided / multiplexed mode, copy magnification, cassette selection, etc.) setting key, a ten-key for setting the number of copies, a start key for instructing the start of copy operation, A key input unit such as a stop key for instructing to stop the copying operation, a reset key for returning the operation mode to the standard state, and a display unit such as an LED / liquid crystal for displaying the setting state of the operation mode are arranged.

The thermistor 302 detects the surface temperature of the fixing roller 144, and the value A / D converted by the A / D converter 301 is input to the controller 1004. The controller 1004 controls the surface temperature of the fixing roller 144 to a predetermined value based on the detection value of the thermistor 302.

The high voltage controller 303 includes a primary charger 106,
The charging system such as the transfer charger 110 and the high voltage unit 304 that applies a predetermined potential to the developing device 109 are controlled.
The motor control unit 305 controls driving of a motor 306 such as various stepping motors and a main drive motor. DC
The load control unit 307 controls driving of a solenoid for the pickup roller 116 and the like, a clutch for the registration roller 120, a fan, and the like. Reference numeral 308 denotes sensors for detecting a paper jam of transfer paper, which are input to the controller 1004.

The AC driver 1000 controls the AC power supply to the AC load 309 such as the document illumination lamp 103 and the fixing heater 310. Further, the document illumination lamp 10
3. Detecting an abnormality in the fixing heater 311 or the like, the main switch 1001 with a shutoff function is turned off.
Further, under the control of the controller 1004, the AC inputs before and after the main switch 1001 are switched, so
00 is input.

The power supply 1100 supplies DC power to the controller 1004 and the like, and the AC from the AC driver 1000 is supplied.
While the power is input, from the input power plug 311
AC power is input to the power supply 1100 via the main switch 1001 and the door switch 1007. The paper deck 124 is a paper feeding device for increasing the number of transfer sheets to be loaded,
The feeder 200 is an automatic document feeder for automatically setting a plurality of documents.

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the recycle automatic document feeder (RDF) provided in this embodiment as seen from the front.

Reference numeral 200 is an RDF, 201 is a document stacking device for stacking documents, 202 is a document elevating device for moving the document stacking device on which documents are stacked to a position indicated by a dotted line, and 203a is the image forming apparatus 100. A document feeding path for guiding the document to the document table 101 for copying, 2
Reference numeral 03b denotes a document transport path for guiding the document to the document stacking apparatus 201 after being copied by the image forming apparatus 100, and 204 denotes separating the documents from the document stacking apparatus 201 one by one from below and sending them to the document transport path 203a. Document separating and feeding device, 2
Reference numeral 05 is a document transport belt that transports a document on a document table that can rotate in the forward and reverse directions.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a series of flows of the copy job of this embodiment.

First, a copy mode for determining how to copy a document is selected. In the present embodiment, the RDF sort is assumed, so the RDF sort mode is set. Next, the originals are set on the original stacking device and the number of copies is set. The above order may be replaced (S11). After the copy start (S12), the image formation control means reads the set number of copies and makes the following determination (S13).
If the number of copies is 2 or more, the set mode is checked to determine whether the original is circulated a plurality of times (S14). In the mode in which the document is circulated a plurality of times, the document elevating device 202 is lowered every time the document circulates once, as in copying (document circulation) (S15). In the mode in which only one circulation of the original document is made, the copy job is finished at the end of one circulation of the original document, so that the original document tray is raised by the elevating device (S16). A copy job, which is a series of operations for copying an original according to the set copy mode, is performed (S17), and it is determined whether the number is 0 (S18). If the number is 0, the copy job is performed. Is finished,
When the circulation of the original document is completed, it is considered that the copy job is completed (S19). After the copy job is completed, the elevating device is raised (S20), and the RDF and the image forming apparatus are put in a standby state (S21).

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, R
When using the DF to circulate originals multiple times and sort multiple copies while making copies, you can continue the copy job without raising the original tray for each cycle, so when one original circulation ends Since the time from the start of the next document circulation is shortened, the total speed of the copy job is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment as seen from the front.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an original document feeding device (RDF) according to an embodiment as viewed from the front.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control of one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 copy device main body 200 recycle automatic document feeder (RDF) 201 document stacking device 202 document lifting device 203a document transport path before copying 203b document transport path after copying 204 document separating / feeding device 205 document transport belt

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A circulating automatic original feeding means, an image forming means for reading an image of an original to form an image on a recording medium, and a circulating automatic original feeding means and an image forming means according to a set image forming mode. An image forming apparatus including control means for controlling an operation, wherein the circulating automatic document feeding means is a document stacking means for stacking a document and a document elevating means for lowering or raising the document stacking means. A document separating means for separating a plurality of documents stacked on the document stacking means one by one from below, a document separated by the document separating means is fed to a document reading section of the image forming means, and A document circulating / conveying unit for returning the document to the document stacking unit is provided, and the control unit reads the plurality of documents stacked in the document stacking unit in the image forming mode and creates a copy of a plurality of copies. In this case, while the original stacking means is lowered by the original lifting means of the circulating automatic original feeding means, the multiple originals stacked on the original stacking means are separated one by one from below by the original separating means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an original is circulated by the original circulating / conveying means, and an image is formed by an image forming means for output.