JPH10171180A - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a discharging document from the occurrence of a break thereon even when the document number is less than the specified discharging sheet numbers by discharging the document carrying a fold or a curl, in an automatic document feeder(ADF) provided with a discharging tray. SOLUTION: This ADF 1 is provided with a detecting sensor 7 detecting that the discharged document is removed from the document discharge tray 3 upper part and the sensor 6 detecting presence or absence of the discharged document on the document discharge tray 3, and in the case of performing the copying operation corresponding to the document carrying the curl or the like by adopting this, and then in the case an operator specifies a document mode, the discharge document number is limited below the specified discharge limit sheet numbers limit on the document discharge tray 3, the document discharge operation is made interrupted when the detection value by the sensor 6 exceeds this, and when it is detected by the sensor 7 that the document is taken out from the document discharge tray 3, the document feeding operation is made automatically resumed. In such a manner, a break of the document is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF) provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an ADF as a means for handling a document in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. However, when a large-sized fixed document is present, the document is stored in a file of half the size of the document. May be. If there are a plurality of such documents, it is troublesome to make a fold for each sheet, and the user may not like the fold. For this reason, it is often the case that a plurality of documents are collectively folded and stored in two.
However, in that case, a large curl tends to be attached instead of a fold at the center of the document. When such a document is to be read, it is desirable to remove the curl, but it is difficult to completely remove the curl, and the curl is not removed or the curl is not completely removed (hereinafter referred to as a curled document). Is set in the ADF and the copy operation is performed, the original is randomly filled with the original discharge tray due to the influence of the curl. If a new document is discharged onto a document discharge tray that is randomly filled with a number of documents smaller than the normally specified document discharge limit of the ADF, the document may be damaged.

When an operator sets originals one by one on a platen without using the ADF, there is no possibility that the originals will be damaged. When the position of the document is troublesome and the number of documents is large, the burden on the operator is large. In addition, there is a document ejection tray that is larger than the document ejection tray on the ADF beside the image forming apparatus, and there is an ADF of the type that can eject the original without folding the original when ejecting the original. Although small, there is a problem in that extra space is required for the larger tray.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problem that the specified number of originals of the ADF may be damaged depending on the form of the originals. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document feeder capable of preventing the document from being damaged by stopping the discharge of the document even with the number of sheets.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic document feeder, comprising: an original placing tray for placing an original; and an original placing tray. Document transport means for transporting the originals set one by one to the original reading position one by one, reading the originals and discharging the originals from the original exit, and disposing the discharged originals disposed below the original exit. In an automatic document feeder having a document discharge tray to be loaded, means for detecting a loading state of the document loaded on the document discharge tray, and a document for the document transport means based on a detection result of the detection means. Control means for interrupting or resuming the transport operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means can set a document discharge limit number smaller than the prescribed document discharge limit number on the document discharge tray.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the detecting means can detect that the discharged document has been removed from the document discharge tray, and the control means can detect the removal of the document on the document discharge tray. When the number of ejected originals reaches the newly set original discharge limit, the original conveying operation of the original conveying means is interrupted, and the original of the original conveying means is detected by the detection means for detecting the removal of the discharged original. The transport operation is restarted.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an AD according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus provided with F. In the figure, 1 is AD
F, a plurality of documents set on the document tray 4 are conveyed one by one to the document table 5 on the contact glass, and after the scanning operation by the scanner unit 8 in the image forming apparatus main body is completed,
The original on the original platen 5 is folded back and discharged from the original discharge port 2 onto the original discharge tray 3. Reference numeral 6 in the drawing denotes a reflection type document discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a document discharged to the document discharge tray 3 of the ADF 1. FIG.
2 is an external view of the ADF 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a document tray document presence / absence sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a document set on the document tray 4 of the ADF 1. Reference numeral 9 denotes a document set on the document tray 4.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of an operation panel of an image forming apparatus employing the automatic document feeder of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a paper size display device, 11 is a magnification display device, 12 is a number display device, 13 is a message display device,
14 is a numeric keypad, 15 is a start key, 16 is a clear stop key, 17 is a curl original mode key, 18 is a reduction key, 19 is an enlargement key, 20 is a paper selection key, and 21 is a mode clear key.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing connections of respective parts of an image forming apparatus employing the automatic document feeder of the present invention. In the figure, 43 is a CPU, 41 is a RAM, 42 is a ROM.
Is shown. The keys and the display device are connected to the CPU 43 via a key input driver 44 and a display driver 45, respectively. The ADF 1 and the CPU 43 transmit and receive commands via a communication line. ADF 46 in the figure
1 is a driver for communication with Other drivers such as a drive system not shown in FIG.
Is connected to

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection of each part of the ADF 1. In the figure, 50 is a CPU used for control of the ADF 1, 51 is a RAM, and 52 is a ROM. In the figure, reference numeral 53 denotes a communication driver.
Is connected to a driver 46 for communication with the ADF 1 through a communication line, and transmits and receives commands to and from the image forming apparatus main body. Also, the document ejection tray document presence detection sensor 6,
The document tray document presence / absence sensor 7 is connected to the CPU 50 via drivers 54 and 55, respectively. Although not shown, the drive system of the ADF 1, various sensors, and the like are connected to the CPU 50.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart from the setting of copy conditions to the end of the copy operation in an embodiment of the automatic document feeder according to the present invention. In the copy condition setting step (step 101), conditions are set by using keys, and in step 102, it is checked whether the start key has been pressed. When the start key 15 is depressed, it is checked in step 103 whether the curl document mode is set. If the mode is the curl document mode, a curl document copy operation is executed (step 10).
4) If not, a non-curl original copy operation is executed (step 105). Here, the non-curl original copy operation is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore the description is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of the curl original copy operation (step 104) of FIG. First,
In step 120, the value of the document discharge counter secured in the RAM is set to 0. Then, in step 121, ADF1
One document from the document tray 4 to the document table 5,
A normal copy operation is performed according to the set copy conditions (step 122). Then, in step 123, the document is folded and transported, and is discharged from the document discharge port 2 of the ADF 1 to the document discharge tray 3. Further, in step 124, the ADF
The document tray document presence / absence detection sensor 7 checks whether there is no remaining document in the document tray 4 of one, and if there is no remaining document, the copying operation is terminated. If there is any remaining document, the value of the document discharge counter is increased by 1 in step 125. In step 126, the number of curl original discharge limit sheets is compared with the original discharge counter. If they are different, the process returns to step 121, and if they are the same, a message of original removal is displayed on the message display device 13 in step 127. In this case, the operator takes out the document from the document discharge tray 3. When the document is taken out, the document presence / absence detection sensor 6 of the document discharge tray detects the document (step 128), the message of document removal disappears (step 129), and returns to the document discharge counter clear (step 120) to resume the operation.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of the copy condition setting (step 101) of FIG. First, at step 140, it is checked whether or not the ten key 14 has been depressed, and if it has been depressed, a new number (the desired number of copies) is set based on the currently set number (step 141). . Next, at step 142, it is checked whether or not the clear stop key 16 has been depressed.
If it is depressed, the number is cleared and the number is set to 1 (step 143). Further, at step 145, it is checked whether or not the enlargement key 19 has been depressed, and if it has been depressed, the magnification is set to the next larger magnification in the standard magnification setting (step 146). Next, at step 147, it is checked whether or not the reduction key 18 has been depressed, and if it has been depressed, the magnification is set to the next lower standard magnification in the standard magnification setting (step 14).
8). Further, in step 149, it is checked whether or not the paper selection key 20 has been pressed, and if it has been pressed, the paper size is changed (step 150). Further, in step 151, it is checked whether or not the curled document mode key 17 has been depressed, and if it has been depressed, the process proceeds to step 152, where switching of setting and canceling of the curled document mode is permitted by depressing the key once. Depending on whether the curl document mode is set or canceled, the control method of the image forming apparatus is changed by the conditional branch of step 103 in FIG. At step 153, it is checked whether or not the mode clear key has been depressed.
The copy condition settings other than the items set in the P mode are returned to the standard state (step 154). Then, at step 155, it is checked whether or not the clear stop key has been continuously depressed for 3 seconds immediately after the mode clear key has been depressed, and if this condition is met, the UP mode is entered (step 156).

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of the above-mentioned UP mode. The UP mode is a mode in which various settings can be changed according to conditions used by the operator. A case where a new original discharge limit number, here a curl original discharge limit number, is input using the UP mode will be described. First, in step 160, a classification code for designating a setting item is input. When the classification code is input, an input subroutine for the setting item is called. FIG. 8 shows a case where only the curl original discharge limit sheet number is input as the setting item. If it is determined in step 161 that the classification code corresponds to the curl original discharge limit sheet number input,
In step 162, the curl original discharge limit number is input.

FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart for inputting a classification code. First, at step 170, it is checked whether or not the numeric keypad is depressed. If the numeric keypad is depressed, a new classification code is created and displayed at step 171 based on the classification code currently being input and the type of the numeric keypad depressed at this time. I do. For example, if the currently input classification code is 3 and the currently depressed numeric key is 2, the new classification code is 32. Next, at step 172, it is checked whether or not the clear stop key has been depressed. If the clear stop key has been depressed, at step 173, the classification code is not entered. Then, at step 174, it is checked whether or not the enter key has been depressed. If the enter key has been depressed, the entered code is determined.

FIG. 11 is a detailed flowchart for inputting the curl original discharge limit number. At step 180, it is checked whether or not the numeric keypad has been depressed. If the numeric keypad has been depressed, a new one is determined based on the curl original discharge limit number currently input and the type of the numeric keypad depressed at this time at step 181 similarly to the classification code input. Creates and displays the curl original discharge limit number. Then, in step 182, it is checked whether or not the clear stop key has been depressed. If the clear stop key has been depressed, in step 183, the curl document discharge limit number is set to a non-input state. Then, in step 184, it is checked whether or not the enter key has been depressed. If the enter key has been depressed, the input curl original discharge limit number is determined.

As described above, when a copy operation is performed on a curled original using the ADF 1, the operator designates the curled original mode, and the operation is interrupted when the maximum number of curled originals is discharged. Therefore, the document is prevented from being damaged beforehand, and when the document is taken out from the document discharge tray 3, the operation is automatically restarted.

[0019]

As described above, the automatic document feeder according to the first aspect detects the loaded state of the originals stacked on the original discharge tray and interrupts the original feeding operation based on the detection result. Alternatively, since the control means for restarting is provided, it is possible to prevent the documents discharged randomly from being stacked on the document discharge tray and damaging the newly discharged documents.

In the automatic document feeder according to the second aspect, as described above, the control means can set the original discharge limit number smaller than the prescribed original discharge limit number on the original discharge tray. Therefore, there is an effect that the document breakage prevention according to claim 1 can be more reliably achieved.

In the automatic document feeder according to the third aspect, as described above, the control means determines whether the number of originals discharged onto the original discharge tray reaches the newly set original discharge limit number. The document feed operation is interrupted, and the document feed is restarted by detecting that the discharged document has been removed from the document output tray.In addition to the above-mentioned common effects, the document may be damaged when the document is discharged. In addition to this, there is an effect that the image forming operation can be repeatedly performed on the document remaining on the document tray.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus including an automatic document feeder (ADF) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the automatic document feeder of FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of an operation panel of the image forming apparatus employing the automatic document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing connections of respective parts of an image forming apparatus employing the automatic document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing connections of respective parts of the automatic document feeder of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart from the copy condition setting to the end of the copy operation in the automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of a curl original copy operation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of the copy condition setting of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of the UP mode in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a detailed flowchart of inputting a classification code in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a detailed flowchart of inputting a curl original discharge limit sheet number of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 ADF 2 Document discharge port 3 Document discharge tray 4 Document tray 5 Document table 6 Document discharge tray document presence / absence detection sensor 7 Document tray document presence sensor 8 Scanner unit 9 Document 10 Paper size display device 11 Magnification display device 12 Number display device 13 Message display device 14 Numeric keys 15 Start key 16 Clear stop key 17 Curl original mode key 18 Reduce key 19 Enlarge key 20 Paper selection key 21 Mode clear key 41 RAM 42 ROM 43 CPU 44 Key input driver 45 Display driver 46 Driver for communication 50 CPU 51 RAM 52 ROM 53 Communication Driver 54, 55 Driver

Claims (3)

[Claims] An original placing tray for placing an original, and the originals set on the original placing tray are sequentially transported one by one to an original reading position, and after reading the original, the original is discharged from an original outlet. In an automatic document feeder provided with a document conveying means and a document discharge tray disposed below the document discharge port and loaded with discharged documents, a loading state of the documents stacked on the document discharge tray. And a control unit for interrupting or resuming the document conveying operation of the document conveying unit based on a detection result of the detecting unit. 2. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein said control means is capable of setting a document discharge limit number smaller than a prescribed document discharge limit number on said document discharge tray. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detecting means detects that the discharged document is removed from the document discharge tray, and the control means determines that the number of documents discharged onto the document discharge tray is equal to the number of documents. When the newly set original discharge limit number is reached, the original conveying operation of the original conveying means is interrupted, and the original conveying operation of the original conveying means is restarted by detecting the removal of the discharged original by the detecting means. 3. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, wherein: