JPH09188440A - Paper supply port selection means of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent erroneous copying without happening a trouble such as selection of required paper supply port by constituting in such a manner that a paper supply port which is used at the time of next image formation is automatically changed over to a paper supply port in which paper is supplied when paper is supplied in a specified short period of time. SOLUTION: When continuous copying from a cassette 1 is done, a paper supply port of the cassette 1 is selected in the case where a sensor PS1 is turned from OFF to ON within for example about 30 seconds from the instant when the last paper passes a paper discharge sensor PS4 immediately before it is discharged and an output is changed from the presence of paper (ON) to the absence of paper (OFF). Moreover, when a sensor PS2 is turned from OFF to ON, a paper supply port of a cassette 2 is selected. On the other hand, when a sensor PS3 is turned from OFF to ON, a paper supply port at the time of next copying is automatically set in a multi-paper supply step 5. Consequently, it is possible to prevent worker's erroneous copying and improve work efficiency.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper feed port selecting means for transferring an image in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a paper feed port selection means in a conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, the size of a document is automatically read by a reflection type sensor provided under a platen glass, and the size of the document is determined. There is a so-called "automatic paper selection" mode in which a cassette stage in which recording (copying) paper of the closest size (hereinafter simply referred to as "paper") is stored is selected as a paper feed port for the next copy.

For double-sided (copy) copying, a copying machine equipped with an automatic double-sided copying mechanism for temporarily storing single-sided copied sheets in an intermediate tray provided in the copying machine and automatically performing double-sided copying. After each time the operator finishes the one-sided copy, insert the one-sided copy-end paper back into the multi-feeder or cassette and copy it again to create a two-sided copy. There is an opportunity.

[0004]

However, in the latter case of the conventional example as described above, that is, in the manual type double-sided copying means to be carried out by each worker, the sheet feeding port used by the worker for one-sided copying is In many cases, a different paper feed port was used, and it was necessary to select the paper feed port of the paper cassette again.

That is, in order to reduce the size of paper fed from the first cassette during single-sided copying from the multi-feeder section during double-sided copying or to reduce the size during double-sided copying, the paper is fed in the horizontal to vertical direction. It was necessary to change the direction, and there were cases such as when sending from the second cassette.

Therefore, there is a problem in that the operator forgets to reselect the paper feed port, resulting in an increase in the number of erroneous copies, and it takes time and effort to reselect.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and prevents the above-mentioned miscopying and improves the work efficiency without requiring the trouble of selecting a necessary sheet feeding port. The purpose is to provide means for

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, before discharging the recording paper from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
Used for the next image formation when the multi-feeder or cassette is replenished with paper within a predetermined short time after the sensor for detecting the presence or absence of recording paper before ejecting has detected from "with paper" to "without paper" It is intended to achieve the above object by automatically switching the paper feed port to the replenished paper feed port.

[0009]

With the above-described structure of the present invention, the required paper feed port for recording paper after the completion of image formation such as copying is automatically set. Copying is prevented and work efficiency is improved.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A description will be given based on several embodiments:

[0011]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an essential part of an example of an image forming apparatus in the case of an electrostatographic copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel of the apparatus shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an operation sequence of the paper feed port selection means of this embodiment.

(Structure) In FIGS. 1 and 2, the description of each constituent element of the general structure is omitted, and the main constituent elements related to the copying paper transport path related to the gist of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. ½ is each cassette 1 in which sheets of different sizes are stored 1 / cassette 2, 3/4 is each sheet feed roller of each cassette, 5 is a multi-feeder sheet feed roller, 6 is a registration roller, and 7 is A photosensitive (body) drum, 8 is a conveyance path, 9 is a fixing upper roller, 10 is a paper discharge roller, and 11 is a paper discharge tray.

PS1, PS2, and PS3 are sensors for detecting "presence" / "absence" of the papers arranged in the cassette 11, the cassette 22, and the multi-feeder paper feed roller 5, respectively, and PS4. Is a paper discharge sensor disposed in the paper discharge roller unit. It should be noted that 11/12 indicates vertical pass roller 1 / vertical pass roller 2 respectively.

Further, in the operation panel of FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 denotes the displayed multi-feeder section, 14 is a copy start / stop operation button, and 15 is a ten-key section.

(Operation) Next, the feed port selection operation sequence of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
For example, in steps S1 and S2, continuous copying from the cassette 11 (for example, the numerical value of the numeric keypad 15 is set to 5)
Suppose you copied one side. In step S3 and S4, the last sheet (fifth sheet) passes through the sensor (here, the sheet discharge sensor PS4) immediately before being discharged, and the output of the sensor PS4 changes from "with paper" (ON) to "without paper". From the moment it changes to "(OFF)", in step S5, for example, 30
If the detection sensors PS1 to PS3 for "presence or absence of paper" at each paper feed port do not change from "no paper" (OFF) to "paper present" (ON) within seconds, step S
The state is left as it is at 6.

On the other hand, in step S5, the switch is turned from OFF to ON.
If it changes to step S6 at the time of the next copy operation.
Select the position of the paper feed port automatically with. For example, if the sensor PS1 changes from OFF to ON within 30 seconds, the paper feed port of the cassette 1 is selected in step S7, and if the sensor PS2 changes from OFF to ON in step S9, then in step S10. Select the paper feed port of the cassette 2. On the other hand, if it is ON in step S9, step S1
Moving to 1, the paper feed port for the next copy is automatically set to the multi-paper feed stage 5, and the multi-feeder unit 14 for paper selection on the operation unit panel in FIG. 2 is turned on.

Since the above operation is automatically performed, there is no fear of an operator making a mistake.

(Second Embodiment) In each of the sensors PS1 to PS3 in step S5 of FIG. 3 shown in the first embodiment, only the signal changing from OFF to ON is used, but ON → OFF. → ON, that is, there is a case where a sheet of paper is initially inserted, removed, and a copied sheet of paper is inserted. In this case as well, the paper feed port can be automatically set as in the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) When the copying machine is a high-speed machine, a release button may be provided especially in each cassette. In this case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, even when the release button is released within, for example, 30 seconds, the paper feed port can be automatically set. (Fourth Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the predetermined time is set to 30 seconds or less, but the present invention is not limited to this, and this setting may be set to, for example, 60 according to a practical situation. Needless to say, it can be set within seconds.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with a recording paper feed port automatic setting means after completion of copying, so that it is possible to prevent operator's erroneous copying and improve working efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration cross-sectional view of main parts of an example of a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation unit of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a sheet feeding port selection operation sequence according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cassette 1 2 cassette 2 3/4 cassette 1/2 paper feed roller 5 multi-feeder paper feed roller 6 registration roller 7 photosensitive (body) drum 8 conveyance path 9 fixing upper roller 10 paper ejection roller 11 paper ejection tray 12, paper ejection tray 12, 13 Vertical pass roller 14 Multi feeder 15 Start / Stop button 16 Numeric keypad

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Before ejecting the recording paper from the main body of the image forming apparatus, within a predetermined short time after the presence / absence detection sensor for the recording paper before ejection detects "absence of paper" to "absence of paper".
When a multi-feeder or a cassette is replenished with paper, a paper feed port used for the next image formation is automatically switched to the replenished paper feed port. .