JPH09240857A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a proper image by forming an image according to setting of a first setting means for selecting the size of a manual inserting feed paper from the stepwise set sizes when a second setting means for directly performing input and setting the size is selected and operated without inputting the size of the manual inserting feed paper. SOLUTION: A width guide 7 is moved along a scale plate 8, and therefore, a control part can find the distance between it and the width guide 7 on the basis of the positional relationship to conductive patterns on the scale plate 8. That is, previously determined conductive patterns are printed on the scale plate 8, and a state where the patterns are brought in contact with a comb-like member on the tip is changed by the stop position of a sliding plate 9. Accordingly, the outline of the stop position of the width guide 7 can be found from the distribution of voltage of a taking-out port 8 for patterns, and respective standard sizes can be detected. Accordingly, when a start key is accidentally pressed in advance in a state where the irregular size is to be input, the standard size according to the position of the width guide 7 is adopted, and the copying operation is performed.

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 having a manual paper feeding function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile machine, there is a type in which a document is placed with one corner of a document table (contact glass) as a set reference so that the document can be easily placed. It is getting more and more.
However, unlike the document setting position, the transfer sheet is conveyed and imaged with the center of the document table as a reference, and therefore a deviation occurs between the position of the document and the center not being the reference. In order to eliminate this misalignment, a method is adopted in which a lens system constituting the reading optical system is moved in the width direction of the original to form an image at a proper position on the transfer paper. Generally, when using a paper feed cassette, there is no problem because the size of the paper can be known depending on the cassette used and it can be determined how much the lens system should be moved, but in a copying machine with a manual paper feed function Since various sizes of paper are supplied from the manual paper feed unit, it is necessary to take measures to determine the paper size. Therefore, when the paper placed in the manual feed section is set with the width guides provided on the left and right sides (widthwise both sides), one can be set from the stepwise determined size linked to the width guide position. Or, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 36782
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3, there is an image forming apparatus in which one of several sizes that have already been input is selected, and when the size is not a standard size, the size of paper is directly input.

[0003]

In the above prior art, when the paper size to be fed to the manual paper feed section is not the standard size, and the mode for directly inputting the paper size is set, it becomes a stage for inputting the size. It often happens that the size of the supplied paper is not exactly known, so take out the paper placed in the manual feed section and measure the size, or cancel the direct input mode and change to another mode. Then, there was a problem that it lacked in operability.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the manual paper feeding, when the paper size is directly input, even if the paper size is not accurately known, the paper placed in the paper feeding unit is taken out to measure the size or directly input. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an appropriate image without performing an operation of canceling the mode to be performed and changing to another mode.

[0004]

An image forming apparatus for achieving the first claim is an image forming apparatus having a manual sheet feeding function, and a manual sheet feeding section for manually feeding.
Manual feed detecting means for detecting whether or not the manual paper feed section is selected, and size of the manual paper feed supplied to the manual paper feed section when the manual paper feed detecting means detects selection of the manual paper feed section , A first setting means for selecting and setting one size from preset stepwise sizes according to the position of the width guide, and a second setting means for directly setting the size and setting the size. A setting selection means for selecting either the first setting means or the second setting means, and an operation start instruction for instructing the start of an image forming operation according to the setting of the first setting means or the second setting means. When the operation start instruction means is operated without inputting the size of the manual paper feed, the image forming is performed according to the setting of the first setting means. And

In order to achieve the second claim, in an image forming apparatus having a manual paper feed function, a manual paper feed unit for manually feeding paper and whether or not the manual paper feed unit is selected. When the manual feed detecting means for detecting and the manual feed detecting means detect the selection of the manual feed section, the size of the manual feed fed to the manual feed section is predetermined according to the position of the width guide. Select one size from the stepwise size, set the first setting means, and the second setting means to directly enter the size to set the size,
Setting selection means for selecting either the first setting means or the second setting means, and an operation start instruction means for instructing the start of an image forming operation according to the setting of the first setting means or the second setting means. If the second setting means is selected and the first instruction is given to the operation starting means without inputting the size of manual paper feeding, the second setting means is input. When the operation start instruction means is operated without giving an instruction warning and further inputting the size of the manual paper feed, an image is formed according to the setting of the first setting means.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second setting means for directly inputting the paper size to be supplied to the manual paper feed section is selected, and the user inputs the size when he / she does not know the paper size at the stage for inputting the size. If you start the operation by the operation start instruction means without doing so, the standard size is selected according to the setting method of the first setting means, so you can take out the paper placed in the paper feed section and measure the size, or input it directly. It is possible to form an image on the transfer paper without much misalignment without canceling the mode to be performed and changing to another mode.

In the second aspect, the second setting means for directly inputting the paper size to be supplied to the manual paper feeding section is selected, and if the operation start instruction means starts the operation without inputting the size, the input display of the paper size is displayed. You will not get a warning and forget to enter the size. However, even if you notice that you do not know the paper size at that time, if you start the operation of the operation start instruction means again, the standard size according to the setting method of the first setting means is selected, It is possible to form an image without much deviation on the transfer paper without taking out the existing paper and measuring the size, or canceling the direct input mode and changing to another mode.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an electrophotographic copying machine 10 (hereinafter referred to as copying machine 10). Since the detailed configuration and functions of the copying machine are known, only an outline will be given. In FIG. 1, the original sheets stacked on the original sheet feed table 12 of the automatic original sheet feeder 11 are read one by one by driving the original sheet feed rollers 13 and the original sheet feed belt 14 interlocked therewith. The document is conveyed onto a document table (contact glass) 15 and the image information of the document is read by the reading optical system 16. The reading optical system 16 uses the optical lens unit 16b to reflect the reflected light from the document.
Optical system front stage 16a consisting of a light source and a mirror
An optical lens section 16b for condensing light from the optical system front stage 16a, and an optical system rear stage 16c composed of a plurality of mirrors so as to condense light from the optical lens section 16b on the photosensitive drum 17. Composed. The light emitted from the latter stage 16c of the optical system is the photosensitive drum 17 which is uniformly charged in advance.
It is exposed on the surface to form an electrostatic latent image according to the image information.
Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is visualized by the toner in the developing unit 18 as the photosensitive drum 17 rotates.

On the other hand, the transfer paper supplied from one of the paper feed cassettes 21 for accommodating several kinds of transfer paper is transferred to the photosensitive drum 17 with the help of the paper feed roller 23, the paper feed transport roller 24 and the like.
The toner image on the photoconductor drum 17 is transferred onto the transfer paper at a timing adjusted by the timing roller 25. Further, the toner image transferred onto the transfer paper is heat-fixed by the fixing unit 26 and stored in one of the predetermined storage trays 27. Further, the copying machine shown in the figure is capable of double-sided copying, and therefore has an intermediate tray 22 so that the transfer paper can be reversed. Also, so that you can copy on various sizes of paper to match the original,
It has four types of paper feed cassettes 21 for storing transfer papers of different sizes. Each of the paper feed cassettes 21a to 21d can supply a paper of a size, but the type of the paper feed cassette 21 that can be held is also limited in terms of downsizing of the apparatus. For this reason, many of them have the manual paper feeding unit 1 for small-sized copies that are rarely used and for irregular-sized copies. The operation of the manual paper feeding unit 1 will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the manual sheet feeding section 1 pivotally supported on one side surface of the copying machine 10 to be opened and closed is pulled out from the main body of the copying machine 10. The selection of transfer of the transfer paper from the paper feed cassette 21 of FIG. 1 to the manual paper feed unit 1 is detected by the opening / closing operation of the push switch 2 which is the manual paper feed detection unit 2. That is, when the manual sheet feeding unit 1 is pulled out from the main body as shown in FIG. 2 (the direction of pulling out from the main body is indicated by a thick arrow), the push switch 2 which is the closing operation in the normally pressed state is released in the pressed state. Then, the operation is changed to the opening operation, and it can be determined that the manual paper feeding unit 1 is selected. When the operation is completed and the manual paper feeding unit 1 is closed in the original state (the direction opposite to the thick arrow), the push switch 2 which was in the open operation returns to the closed operation in which the switch is pressed, and the manual paper feeding is performed. Returning to the selection of paper feed cassette 21 from section 1,
The control unit knows.

3 (A) and 3 (B) are views for explaining how to select one size from stepwise sizes determined in advance according to the position of the width guide 7 of the manual paper feeding unit 1. is there. In FIG. 3 (A), a transfer sheet (not shown) is placed between the width guides 7, and the left and right width guides 7 are adjusted in the directions of the arrows so as to match the width of the transfer sheet. That is, the width guide 7 needs to be carefully tightened so that the width of the width guide 7 becomes a guide literally when the transfer sheet is fed, and the width guide 7 does not become a load when proceeding. Further, the general width guide 7 is configured to move by the same amount to the left and right with respect to the center of conveyance of the transfer sheet by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). Therefore, even if transfer sheets having different widths are set, the center of the transfer sheet in the conveying direction is always on the same line by the action of the width guide 7. Further, in order to select the paper size, the scale plate 8 is arranged on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 1 corresponding to the lower side of at least one width guide 7 and is always in contact with the sliding plate 9. By moving the width guides 7 along the scale plate 8, the distance between the width guides 7 can be adjusted by the positional relationship with the conductive pattern on the scale plate 8.
It is configured so that the control unit can know.

FIG. 3B shows the situation. The sliding plate 9 is made of a conductive elastic member and is fixed below the width guide 7. Then, along with the movement of the width guide 7 that matches the width of the transfer paper, it moves on the scale plate 8 (indicated by the arrow direction in FIG. 3B). Scale plate 8
A predetermined conductive pattern is printed on the upper surface of the sliding plate 9 as shown in FIG.
The state of contact with the comb-shaped part at the tip of the is changed. Therefore, if a constant voltage is applied to the sliding plate 9, looking at the voltage distribution at the four outlets 8a of the pattern placed on one end of the scale plate 8 (depending on the number of paper size detections), The outline of the stop position of the sliding plate 9, that is, the width guide 7, can be understood, and as shown in the figure, each standard size between the postcard size and the A3 size can be detected.

As described above, in an apparatus in which various standard sizes are detected depending on the position of the width guide 7, the standard size that can be detected is limited to 8 to 10 kinds. Therefore, it is generally classified into the following three types depending on the purpose of the device. In other words, it is for domestic (row A / B paper size), North America (inch paper size), and Europe (row A paper size). However, there are many demands for handling an arbitrary irregular size, and in many cases, the manual feed unit 1 handles the irregular size together with the regular size. The corresponding method will be described later.

In FIG. 4, the image of the original p1 having the width m1 placed at the position x1 is converted into the optical lens portion 16b placed at x2.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram (plan view) in the case where an image that has been magnified by (A, B, C, etc.) is formed on a transfer sheet of width m1 placed on x3. The transfer paper is the center line y in the paper traveling direction of the platen.
2 (FIG. 4 is a view seen from the upper side) are placed symmetrically, and the home position of the optical lens portion 16b is also the position (A) on this line. Further, the original p1 (it is easy to understand that p1 actually represents the leading end of the original) is placed along a line occupying one corner of the original table, that is, along the x1 and y1 lines. Therefore, in order for the original p1 to be created on the transfer paper q1 having the same width, the position of the optical lens portion 16b located at the intermediate position x2 between x1 and x3 is such that the locus of the mapping is drawn by a dashed line. It is necessary to be in position (a).

Similarly, in order to form the image of the original p2 having the width n1 on the transfer sheet q2 having the same width, the position of the optical lens portion 16b is ( C) As described above, in order to correctly map the image of the original, it is necessary to detect the width of the transfer sheet and move the optical lens unit 16b to a position suitable for it. The method of detecting the width of the transfer paper has already been described with reference to FIG. Also, in the above,
Although the case of creating an image of the same size has been described, if the magnification of the image formation changes, the position x2 in the x direction where the optical lens unit 16b is placed will be closer to the x1 or x3 side, but the description is omitted here. To do.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part of a mechanism for moving the optical lens portion 16b. The optical lens portion 16b is attached to a Y-direction belt 32 that moves to the left and right, along with a stretchable bellows 31 as shown in the figure. The Y-direction belt 32 is driven by the left-right rotation of the Y-direction movement motor 33. Therefore, the optical lens unit 16 is driven according to a certain amount of rotational drive of the Y-direction movement motor 33.
b moves in the Y direction (indicated by arrow Y in the figure), that is, in the width direction of the document or transfer sheet in FIG. Further, the rotation of the X-direction movement motor 34 changes the movement of the X-direction belt 35 through the gear, and the optical lens unit 1 moves in the X-direction indicated by the arrow X in the figure.
6b is moved. The X-direction home position of the optical lens unit 16b is detected by the X-direction reference detection element 36. The Y-direction home position is also detected by a similar detection element, but is omitted in the figure. In this way,
The optical lens unit 16b moves to a predetermined position depending on factors such as the document size, the transfer paper size, and the magnification.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a part of the front surface operating section 40 of the copying machine 10, and the front surface operating section 40 is not shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the number of copies is input from the ten key 41, and the number is displayed on the number counter display 42.
Regarding the density, the automatic density is set by pressing the automatic density key 43, and the manual density is set by the manual density key 4
This is done by pressing 4 in the designated direction. The display of the set density is displayed on the density display 45. Also, copying at the same size is performed using the same size key 52, and the change setting of the magnification from the standard size to the standard size is performed.
This is performed by pressing the designated magnification change key 53. In addition, although not shown here, the vertical and horizontal magnifications can be freely changed. A part of the display of the set magnification is shown in the set magnification display 54.

Next, a method of selecting the transfer paper will be described. When the automatic paper selection key 46 is selected, the preset magnification is detected and the original size is read at the time of copying to calculate the required transfer paper size. As a result, it is recognized where the transfer paper of the required size is stored in the paper feed cassette 21 of FIG. 1, and the transfer paper suitable for it is supplied. If you don't have the right size transfer paper,
A message to that effect is displayed to notify the operator, or an instruction is given to use a transfer paper of a larger size. The manual paper selection key 47 is used for the four kinds of paper feed cassettes 21 shown in FIG.
It is for deciding which of the two is to be selected, and is displayed on the selected cassette display 48 so that the selected cassette number and the size of the transfer paper to be delivered can be known. When a series of setting conditions are completed in this way and the copy start key 6 which is the operation start instruction means 6 is pressed, the copy operation as specified is completed.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
When the push switch 2 is pulled out from the main body, the push switch 2 is not pushed and the opening operation is changed to recognize that the manual feed unit 1 is selected. In the selected cassette display 48, the uppermost portion indicating manual paper feeding is displayed. Next, a fixed size first setting means 3 (not shown) for setting one size from a stepwise size determined according to the position of the width guide 7 is used, or a fixed size is directly input. (2) The setting selection means 5 selects whether to use the setting means 4 (not shown).
The manual feed selection key (setting selection means) 5 is selected. If the first setting means 3 is selected, the first setting display 4
9 lights up to inform that the first setting means 3 has been selected. Further, when the transfer paper of the fixed size corresponding to the setting position of the width guide 7 is supplied as described in FIG. 3, the position of the optical lens portion 16b becomes the optimum position as shown in FIGS. Moving. Also, a manual feed selection key (setting selection means)
When the second setting means 4 (not shown) by direct input of the irregular size is selected by 5, the second setting display 50 lights up to notify that the selection has been made, and the message display section 51 is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, a screen instruction for directly inputting the paper size from the ten keys 41 is displayed.

Next, if the size of the non-standard size transfer paper is known, the non-standard size input can be directly performed on the ten-key pad 41.
Then, the above-mentioned various conditions are set and the copy start key (operation start instruction means) 6 is pressed. However, if the custom size is not known or is forgotten, it is impossible to input. , Conventionally, the size of an irregular size is remeasured and input, or the manual feed selection key 5 is pressed again to return to the first setting means 3 (not shown), and thereafter,
There is a method of performing the copy operation by the copy start key 6. However, returning the screen and starting over, or re-measurement of dimensions, has been a troublesome operation. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the user enters the irregular size in FIG. 7 and forgets the size, by pressing the copy start key 6 without inputting the irregular size, the width guide 7 The copying operation can be performed by the method of the first setting means 3 in which the standard size according to the position is adopted.

Further, in the case of the above-mentioned input operation of an irregular size, there are many copying machines 10 having a structure such as that shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible that the copy start key 6 is mistakenly pressed first in the state where the irregular size must be input. In that case, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the copying operation is performed in which the standard size corresponding to the position of the width guide 7 is adopted. On the other hand, according to the invention of claim 2, the user actually forgets the irregular size and confirms whether or not the input is impossible. That is, the copy start key 6 is reached without entering the custom size.
When is pressed, for example, the irregular size input request screen in FIG. 7 blinks, and a warning sound is issued to call attention. If the operator knows the paper size, he / she inputs the size, and if he / she does not know the paper size, he presses the copy start key 6 again. The copying operation can be performed by the method of the means 3. In addition, each of the above operations of the present invention,
Control unit not shown (ROM, RAM, I / O port, etc.)
Of course, it is realized by. Further, the first setting means 3 and the second setting means 4 may be regarded as concrete hardware configurations, but may be regarded as a concept on a control program in the control unit.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the invention, even if the user notices that he / she does not know the sheet size when the sheet size for manual sheet feeding is input, he / she can start the operation by the operation start instruction means. A standard size is selected according to the setting method of the first setting means, so you can take out the paper placed in the paper feed unit and measure the size, or cancel the direct input mode and change to another mode Without incident,
It is now possible to easily obtain images with almost no deviation. According to the second aspect of the present invention, if the operation start instructing means starts the operation without inputting the paper size to be manually fed, the paper size input display warning does not occur and the size input is not forgotten. However, at this time, even if the user does not know the paper size, if the operation start instructing means starts the operation again, it is possible to form an image with a standard size according to the setting method of the first setting means. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with good operability that can handle forgetting to enter the paper size and forgetting to remember the paper size.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an open / closed state of a manual sheet feeding unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view for setting a width guide of a manual sheet feeding unit showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a diagram of a manual sheet feeding unit showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view for explaining setting position detection of a width guide.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional state of an optical lens unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism of a main part that moves a position of an optical lens unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a front surface operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen for inputting an irregular size in a manual paper feeding unit.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 manual paper feed section 2 manual paper feed detection means or push switch 3 first setting means 4 second setting means 5 setting selection means or manual feed selection key 6 operation start instruction means or copy start key

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feed function, a manual paper feed section for manually feeding, a manual paper feed detecting means for detecting whether or not the manual paper feed section is selected, and the manual paper feed. When the detection means detects the selection of the manual paper feed unit, the size of the manual paper feed supplied to the manual paper feed unit is selected from among the stepwise sizes determined in advance according to the position of the width guide. First setting means for selecting and setting the size, second setting means for directly inputting the size to set the size, and setting selecting means for selecting either the first setting means or the second setting means And an operation start instructing means for instructing the start of an image forming operation according to the setting of the first setting means or the second setting means, the second setting means is selected, and the size of the manual feed is set. Do not enter on If it operates the operation start instruction means, an image forming apparatus for causing an image forming according to the settings of the first setting means. 2. An image forming apparatus having a manual paper feed function, a manual paper feed section for manually feeding, a manual paper feed detecting means for detecting whether or not the manual paper feed section is selected, and the manual paper feed. When the detection means detects the selection of the manual paper feed unit, the size of the manual paper feed supplied to the manual paper feed unit is selected from among the stepwise sizes determined in advance according to the position of the width guide. First setting means for selecting and setting the size, second setting means for directly inputting the size to set the size, and setting selecting means for selecting either the first setting means or the second setting means And an operation start instructing means for instructing the start of an image forming operation according to the setting of the first setting means or the second setting means, the second setting means is selected, and the size of the manual feed is set. Do not enter on In the first case where the operation start means is instructed, a warning is issued to input the second setting means, and when the operation start instruction means is operated without inputting the size of the manual paper feed, An image forming apparatus, wherein an image is formed according to the setting of the first setting unit.