JPH10198082A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device constituted capable of affording convenience to an operator and preventing the futile copying action when an original is not supplied in parallel. SOLUTION: At the time of a parallel paper supply mode, center elimination is set and it is judged whether a start key is turned on or not (S1-S3). When the start key is turned on, it is judged whether both original set sensors are turned on or not. When both of them are turned on, the original is supplied in parallel and copied on one transfer paper (S4 and S5). When one original set sensor is turned on, the copying action is stopped once and a warning is displayed (S7). Thereafter, the additional copying action of the original (S8 and S5), the cancel of the copying action of the original (S10) or such a copying action that only one surface is copied and the other surface is erased (S11) are executed by the selection of the operator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement in an image forming apparatus applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a copying machine in which, for example, two originals are arranged on a contact glass (original platen), the images of the two originals are read, and the read images are formed on a single transfer sheet. Are known. However, when the number of originals arranged on the contact glass is an odd number, half of the transfer paper must be output as a blank sheet on which no image is formed. Therefore, depending on whether the total number of originals is an odd number or an even number, an operator (operator) is required. The form of the desired copy may change. Therefore, for example, when the number of documents is an odd number, it is possible to temporarily stop the image forming operation of the copying machine and add one missing document to an even number of documents.

[0003]

By the way, there is known a copying machine of a type in which a document is fed in series on a contact glass. In this type of copying machine, after a document is fed, it is determined whether or not there is a next document. Therefore, when the number of originals is an odd number, the original is fed toward the contact glass, and thereafter, it is understood that the number of the originals is an odd number. Therefore, when judging whether half of the document is blank, it is necessary to look at the document on the contact glass one by one. In contrast, a copier that feeds originals in parallel has two sensors for detecting the setting of the originals, so it is necessary to determine whether the originals are odd or even before feeding. It is possible to judge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can provide convenience to an operator and prevent useless copying when an odd number of originals cannot be fed in parallel. is there.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a document set in parallel to the paper feed port of the automatic document feeder is conveyed at a time, the image forming means is conveyed. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image of information of an original on a single transfer sheet, an original detecting means for detecting that one of the originals set in parallel at a paper feed port of the automatic original feeder has disappeared. The object is attained by providing a document detecting means for temporarily stopping the image forming operation of the image forming means when the document detecting means detects that one of the documents has been exhausted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the control means temporarily suspends the image forming operation of the image forming means, a display means for indicating the fact. By achieving the above, the above object is achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the control means temporarily suspends the image forming operation of the image forming means, the operator When the image formation is selected by (1), the image forming means achieves the object by erasing an image of a portion where the document is not supplied and forming an image.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of this embodiment. FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of this embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a copy machine body 5 and an RDH (Rec) mounted on a contact glass (original table) 1 of the copy machine body 5 are provided.
ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 3 installed on the right side of the copying machine body 5. The copying machine main body 5 forms the image information of the document a set on the contact glass 1 by the ADF 3 on transfer paper, and discharges the transfer paper on which the image is formed, as shown in FIG. It consists of each part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the RDH 2 separates the originals a set on the original placing section 22 one by one, and feeds the separated originals to the transport belt 21. A document a is set on the contact glass 1, and when copying of the document a is completed, the document storage unit 2
2 and is configured to wait for the next sheet feeding. The RDH 2 holds the document a supplied from the RDF 3 with the right turn roller 23 and conveys the document a to the conveyance belt 21. The transport belt 21 is attached to the original a
Is transported to a predetermined position on the contact glass 1 and stopped. When the exposure by the copying machine main body 5 is completed, the original is discharged to the discharge tray 47 by the conveyor belt 21 and the discharge rollers 24. As described above, the transport belt 21 is
It is also used when setting the original a fed from the ADF 3 on the contact glass 1, and can be shared by the RDH 2 and the ADF 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF 3 separates the document a on the document table 31 on which the document a is placed, and separates the document a on the document table 31 to supply the document a to the transport belt 21 of the RDH 2. The paper feed unit 32 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 1, the document table 31 is provided with slidable side fences 33 on the left and right sides perpendicular to the direction of transport of the document a. The separation sheet feeding unit 32 is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the roller is composed of call rollers 34 and 35, a separation roller 36, a pull-out drive roller 37, a pull-out driven roller 37a, a relay roller 38, and the like.

Document a set on document table 31
Is regulated by the separation blade, and only the lowermost document is sent to the pull-out roller 37 by the conveyance force of the separation roller 36 and the call rollers 34 and 35. The separation roller 36 has a built-in one-way gear. After the drive of the separation roller 36 is cut off, the separation roller 36 rotates in the transport direction to reduce the load. Document set sensors 41 and 42 for detecting the presence or absence of two documents a set on the document table 31 as shown in FIG. They are arranged in orthogonal directions. A paper feed sensor 43 is provided between the pull-out roller 37 and the relay roller 38.
Is arranged.

In the ADF 3 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, an original a is placed on the original table 31 with the image side facing down, and then set so that the leading end of the original a abuts against the separation blade. Align the left and right slidable side fences 33,33. ADF3
When copying two originals onto one transfer sheet by using, the originals are set as shown in FIG. At this time, the operator selects the parallel paper feed mode on the operation unit. When the parallel paper feed mode is selected, the parallel paper feed is performed, and if the copying operation is performed as it is, the shadow or gap between the two originals arranged on the contact glass 1 is transferred to the transfer paper together. Then, the unnecessary portion of the image is automatically deleted (see FIG. 6A).

Next, a block diagram of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 8 that controls each unit of the copying machine main body 5 according to a predetermined procedure as described later, and a CPU 9 (a central processing unit) that controls an operation unit according to a predetermined procedure. A central processing unit), a CPU (central processing unit) 6 for controlling each unit of the RDH 2 in a predetermined procedure as shown in FIG.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 7 for controlling each part of the DF 3 in a predetermined procedure. The CPU 8 is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the CPU 6 and the CPU 9 by serial communication, and to transmit and receive data to and from the CPU 6 and the CPU 7 by serial communication.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 8 is connected to a sheet feeding unit 81, an exposing unit 82, a developing unit 83, a transporting unit 84, and a fixing unit 85 to be controlled. At this time, the information of the document is controlled by a predetermined procedure so as to form an image on the transfer paper. As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 9 is configured to receive data from the input unit 92 arranged on the operation unit and to perform a predetermined display on the display unit 91 arranged on the operation unit.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
The respective detection signals of the sensors 61 to 64 for detecting the state of each of the components 2 are input via the input buffer 65. The CPU 6 includes a servo motor drive circuit 6
6 to 68 are connected.
68, a sheet feeding motor M for driving the right turn roller 23;
1. Transport motor M2 for driving the transport belt 21, SDF
Discharge motors M3 for driving the discharge rollers are connected to each other. The motors M1 to M3 are provided with encoders E1 to E3, respectively, and pulse information of the encoders E1 to E3 is input to the CPU 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, each detection signal of the original set sensors 41 and 42, the paper feed sensor 43, and the sensor 74 is input to the CPU 7 via an input buffer 75. Further, a servo motor drive circuit 76 is connected to the CPU 7, and a paper feed motor M4 for driving the pull-out drive roller 37 and the like is connected to the servo motor drive circuit 76. The paper feed motor M4 is provided with an encoder E4, and pulse information of the encoder E4 is input to the CPU 7.

Next, the operation of the embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the CPU 8 of the copier body 5 determines whether or not the parallel paper feed mode is set (step 1), and when it is determined that the parallel paper feed mode is not set (step 1; N). ), And shift to a normal copy operation. On the other hand, when it is determined that the parallel paper feed mode is set (step 1; Y), the erasure of the center is set (selected) (step 2). Next, it is determined whether or not the start key has been pressed by the operator (step 3). Then, when the start key is pressed (Step 3; Y), both the original set sensors 41, 4
It is determined whether both of them are "ON" (step 4).

As a result of this judgment, the original set sensor 41,
If both are "ON" (step 4; Y),
Documents are fed in parallel by the ADF 3, two documents are set on the contact glass 1, and information of the documents is image-formed (copied) on one transfer sheet. The document is discharged (step 5). At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, an erase is applied to the center portion of the image so that the image does not exist. If it is determined in step 4 that both of the original set sensors 41 and 42 are not "ON", it is determined whether one of the original set sensors 41 and 42 is "ON" (step 6). . If the result of this determination is that neither document set sensor 41 or 42 is "ON" and there are no more documents to be fed (step 6; N), the copying is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that one of the document set sensors 41 and 42 is "ON", the copying operation is stopped, and at the same time, a warning display indicating that one of the documents is gone is displayed on the display unit 92 (step 7). ).

When this warning is displayed, it is determined whether or not the original is replenished (step 8). If there is an additional original (step 8; Y), the process returns to step 4, and if there is no additional original, (Step 8; N)
It is determined whether to continue copying (step 9).
As a result of this determination, when copying is to be continued (step 9; Y), a single-sided original (one original) is supplied onto the contact glass 1 and, as shown in FIG. An image is formed on the transfer paper so that a larger amount of erase is performed than that of the original so that the shadow of the edge of the original is not shadowed (step 1).
1).

At this time, the adjustment of the resist is switched to the control performed on only one side. However, when the scaling is also specified at this time, the erase position is changed according to the size. A clutch is interposed between the drive shaft of the ADF 3 and the motor on the front and rear sides of the ADF 3,
Since the separation roller 36 can be moved independently in front and back, the clutch on the side where there is no original is turned off. This is because, if the separation roller 36 is rotated when there is no document a on the document table 31, the separation blade is scraped and durability and the like are reduced.

After the half-erase copy, it is determined whether one of the original set sensors 41 and 42 is "ON" (step 12). If not, the process returns to step 11 and returns to "ON". ", The copy is terminated. If it is determined in step 9 that copying is not to be continued (step 9; N), it is determined whether or not the operator has issued an instruction to cancel copying (step 10). When the operator instructs to cancel the copy (step 10;
Y), the copy ends. On the other hand, when there is no such instruction (Step 10; N), the process returns to Step 8.

Next, an example of a configuration for appropriately processing two documents a set in parallel on the document table 31 of the ADF 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, opening the document a and setting the document a on the document table 31
This is because, when one of the originals is skewed, it interferes with the other, increasing the skew, displacing the lateral registration, or possibly damaging the original.
The thicker the document, the more likely it is for the documents to interfere with each other, and the above-mentioned adverse effects are significant.

In order to prevent this problem, a method is conceivable in which the document is set on the document table 31 by actively opening the document. in this case,
If a rib (partition) is provided at the center on the document table 31, it becomes a guide when setting the document. Although this can be realized at low cost, there is a problem that it is difficult to set the original when the originals are not fed in parallel. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, if the pull-out driven rollers 37a for transporting the document are arranged in an inverted C shape in the transport direction, the distance between the documents can be naturally increased in the process of transporting the document. Also, the original setability can be maintained as in the related art.

Next, a preferred example of processing of the original a when the original a is set on the contact glass 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the paper feed operation of the ADF 3 starts,
The RDH 2 starts the operation of the transport belt 21. FIG.
When the trailing edge of the document a is detected by the registration sensor 44 as shown in FIG. 8A, the document a is conveyed by a predetermined distance as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8C, the transport belt 21 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the document a is abutted against the document scale 46, and is set at a predetermined position on the contact glass 1. Document a set in this way
When the copying of the predetermined number of copies by the copying machine body 5 is completed,
The transport belt 21 is rotated again, and the document a is discharged to the discharge tray. At this time, if there is a next original a, the next original a is conveyed onto the contact glass 1 at the same time.

By the way, during normal copying, the clutch is turned on at the start. As shown in FIG. 1, when two originals are set on the original table 31 and transported, the leading ends (registrations) of the originals set in parallel are shifted depending on the state of the originals and the number of stacked sheets. This state is also present on the contact glass 1. Even during normal copying (one document), the document may not be transported to the correct position on the contact glass 1 due to slippage between the transport belt 21 and the document. It is passed before the scale 46, and the conveyor belt 21 is rotated in the reverse direction to hit the scale 46,
A method for correcting resist and skew is known.

Therefore, when the originals are conveyed in parallel, if they are abutted against the scale 46, the misregistration and skew of the resist can be corrected. In this case, since two originals are transported in parallel, two registration sensors for detecting the trailing edge of the original are arranged, and the trailing edge of each original is detected, and control is performed based on the delayed original. The document can be conveyed in the same manner as in normal copying. Here, if the operation of hitting the original against the scale 46 for a long time is performed, the original may be damaged. Therefore, when the deviation of the leading end (or the trailing end) of the original is wider than a predetermined width, The copying operation is interrupted, and a warning such as setting again is displayed to the operator.

For example, two registration sensors 4 are arranged.
Of the sensors 4 and 45, if the sensor for detecting the rear end of the front document is the first registration sensor 44 and the sensor for detecting the rear end of the back document is the second registration sensor, for example, one of the registration sensors 44 When the trailing edge of the document is detected, the counting of the pulses of the encoder attached to the shaft of the sheet feeding motor is started. This counting is continued until the other registration sensor 45 detects the trailing edge of the document or the number of pulses of the encoder reaches a predetermined value. When the other registration sensor 45 detects the trailing edge of the original, the counting of the pulses of the transport motor is started from the detection, and after transporting the original by the predetermined number of pulses, the transport motor is then rotated backward by the predetermined number of pulses. Let the manuscript hit the scale. If the trailing edge of the document cannot be detected even if the number of pulses of the encoder of the paper feed motor reaches a predetermined value, the conveyance of the document is stopped and a warning is displayed.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of originals set in parallel are fed, if one of the originals runs out, the image forming operation is temporarily suspended before the feeding operation. So we can add missing manuscripts,
It is possible to determine whether to stop image formation or to copy only half of the document while looking at the document.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the fact that the machine is temporarily stopped is displayed on the operation unit, so that the operator can easily determine the reason why the machine has stopped, and appropriate processing accompanying the stop can be promptly performed. it can.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when an image forming operation is performed in a state where the original is set on one side, the image forming operation is performed by erasing an image of a portion where the original is not set. Without copying the belt of the feeder, it is possible to make a copy without shadow on the edge of the original.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a part of a block diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is another part of the block diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between a document and a transfer sheet.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of pull-out driven rollers.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing a document on a contact glass.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 contact glass 2 RHD 3 ADF 5 main body of copying machine 6 CPU of RHD 7 CPU of ADF 8 CPU of main body of copying machine 9 CPU of operation unit 41, 42 original set sensor 81 paper feeding unit 82 exposure unit 83 developing unit 84 transport unit 85 Fixing section

Claims (3)

[Claims] When an original set in parallel to a paper feed port of an automatic original feeder is conveyed at a time, image forming means forms information on the conveyed original on a single transfer sheet. An image forming apparatus configured to detect that one of the originals set in parallel in the paper feed port of the automatic original feeder has run out; and An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit for temporarily interrupting an image forming operation of the image forming unit when detecting the disappearance. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that, when the control unit temporarily suspends the image forming operation of the image forming unit, displays the fact. . 3. The image forming unit, when the control unit temporarily stops the image forming operation of the image forming unit and the operator selects image formation,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is formed by erasing an image of a portion to which a document is not supplied.