JPH10198087A - Device and method for supplying original for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly and excellently feed an original in plural original insertion ports. SOLUTION: When the original is set at least two original insertion ports among the plural original insertion ports 51b and 52b, a control action is executed so that the original is fed out only through the port 51b on a downstream side in the carrying direction of the original. Thus, the original on the downstream side is prevented from being drawn in by the original on an upstream side, the original on the upstream side is prevented from being supplied again from the original insertion port on the downstream side and the original on the upstream side is prevented from being erroneously supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
In an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic recording apparatus, the present invention relates to a document supply device and a document supply method of an image forming apparatus in which a document set in a document insertion slot is fed onto a document glass table by a document conveyance mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in various image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an original is placed in a fixed or moving state on an original glass table, and an illumination lamp or the like constituting image reading means is attached to the original. The original image is read by moving the image relative to the image, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image is formed on the image carrier, developed, and the obtained toner image is transferred onto recording paper to form an image. I'm trying to do it.

Such an image forming apparatus includes a document supply device (D) for feeding a document to the document glass table.
F, AF, ADF, etc.). In this document supply device, a document set in a document insertion slot is fed onto a document glass table through the document insertion port, and the document is moved along the document glass table by a document conveyance mechanism. The originals that have been read are sequentially discharged toward an original discharge tray provided at the end or upper side of the original transport mechanism.

More specifically, AF (auto feeder)
However, whereas a plurality of originals (for example, 50 originals) can be sequentially fed, a DF (document feeder) is a feeding device corresponding to only one original. is there. Unlike the AF, the DF is inexpensive because it does not require a device for separating a plurality of documents, and has a feature that it does not have a separation mechanism, and thus it is difficult to damage a thin document.

At this time, a plurality of document insertion openings of the document transport mechanism may be arranged at different positions for different document image reading methods. For example, when reading a long document that cannot be placed on the document glass table, the reading lamp (sheet through) in which the illumination lamp is stopped at a predetermined position and the document is read while moving the document is performed. ,
A document insertion port for the flow reading (sheet through) is provided on the downstream side in the document conveying direction, and an image can be formed on a plurality of recording sheets for one document.
A document insertion port for reading a document while stopping the document at a predetermined position and moving an illumination lamp may be provided on the upstream side in the document transport direction. When a document is set in both document insertion ports, one of the document insertion ports is selected by an operation switch,
The document feeding operation is performed through the selected document insertion slot.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional document supply apparatus having a plurality of document insertion ports on the upstream side and the downstream side in the document conveyance direction, each of the document insertion ports can be arbitrarily selected. Has caused the following problems. First, when a document is set in both the upstream and downstream document insertion ports, and the document set in the downstream document insertion port has a long document length, the rear end of the document is positioned on the upstream side. If the document placed in the document insertion slot hangs over the document set in the document insertion slot, and the document insertion slot on the upstream side is selected, the document set in the document insertion slot on the downstream side is transported together with the document on the upstream side. You may be drawn into the road.

Also, when a document sent out through the document insertion slot on the upstream side is inverted and conveyed to the document ejection tray above the document conveyance mechanism after reading, the document is ejected from the document ejection tray by the conveyance force. It is conceivable that the stacked originals are stacked on the original set in the downstream original insertion slot. However, the stacked upstream originals are again sent out onto the original glass from the downstream original insertion opening. Sometimes.

Further, when a long document is to be read through the downstream document insertion port, it is necessary to set the document relatively accurately in the document insertion port in order to prevent skew. However, since both hands must be used for the original setting operation in this case, the remaining originals may be placed at the original insertion opening on the upstream side. However, in the conventional document feeder, the operation of sending out the document that has just been placed may be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a document supply apparatus and a document supply method for an image forming apparatus which can perform a document supply operation smoothly and satisfactorily. Aim.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in the document supply apparatus of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a document set in a document insertion port is placed on a document glass table through the document insertion port. A document feed mechanism that feeds and moves along the document glass table; and a document feed control device that controls a document feed operation from each of document insertion openings arranged at a plurality of locations in the document feed direction of the document feed mechanism. In the document feeder of the image forming apparatus, the document feed control device may be configured such that, when a document is set in at least two of the plurality of document insertion ports, the document set in the document insertion port on the downstream side in the document conveyance direction. For feeding the document to the document glass table with priority over the document set in the document insertion slot on the upstream side.

Further, in the document supply method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the document set in the document insertion port is sent to the document glass table through the document insertion port by the document conveying mechanism and moved along the document glass table. A document feeding method for an image forming apparatus, wherein a document feed operation is performed from each of document insertion ports arranged at a plurality of locations in the document transport direction of the document transport mechanism. When a document is set in at least two places, the document set in the document insertion port on the downstream side in the document conveyance direction is given priority over the document set in the document insertion port on the upstream side on the document glass table. I send it to.

In such an apparatus and method, when a document is set in at least two of the plurality of document insertion openings, the sending process for the document on the downstream side in the document transport direction has priority over the document on the upstream side. In this case, the upstream document is pulled in by the upstream document, the upstream document is re-fed from the downstream document insertion port, or the document is simply misplaced only in the upstream document insertion port. Etc. are prevented.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Prior to this, an outline of an image forming apparatus will be described using an electrophotographic copying machine as an example.

In the electrophotographic copying machine shown in FIG. 1, an original glass table 2 as an original table is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a document glass table 2 is provided immediately below the original glass table 2. And a scanner (scanning optical device) 3 constituting an image reading means. This scanner 3
Has an illumination lamp 3a for irradiating scanning light to a document (not shown) on the document glass table 2, and a reflecting mirror 3b for guiding light reflected from the document onto a photosensitive drum 4 described later. And a projection lens 3c.

An original supply unit 5 is provided on the original glass table 2 so as to cover the original glass table 2 so as to be openable and closable. The original supply device 5 includes the illumination lamp 3
a is stopped at a predetermined position, and a document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as DF) 51 for scanning (sheet-through) for reading while transporting one long document, and a plurality of documents are transferred to a predetermined document. An automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as AF) that performs reading while stopping at a position and moving the illumination lamp 3a.
52. These DF51 and AF5
The detailed configuration and control operation of No. 2 will be described later.

A photosensitive drum 4 as an image carrier is provided below the scanner 3 so as to be driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing. This photosensitive drum 4
A charger 6 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 4 and supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 by exposing the scanning light from the scanner 3 to light. A developing device 7 for developing an image, a transfer charger 8 disposed in the middle of the paper transport path to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 4 to the recording paper side, and a separation device for separating the transferred recording paper A charger 9, a cleaning device 11 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 4 after transfer, and the like.
The photosensitive drums 4 are sequentially arranged along the rotation driving direction.

Further, a paper transport path 12 extending from the transfer charger 8 and the separation charger 9 to an outlet of the apparatus main body.
A fixing device 13 for thermally fixing the toner image on the recording paper is disposed at the exit side of the paper feeder, and a paper feed for storing the recording paper for each size is provided directly below the paper transport path. Cassettes 14 are provided in four stages, and roll paper 15 is arranged in the vicinity of the exit side of each paper feed cassette 14.

On the other hand, the DF 51 constituting the above-mentioned document supply device 5 has a function of feeding a long document of a sheet size of A2 size or more onto the document glass table 2 in a flow reading mode (sheet through mode). And has a belt transport mechanism 51a as a document transport mechanism arranged to cover the entire surface of the document glass table 2. Also,
A DF document insertion slot 51b is provided at the right end of the DF 51 in the figure.
The document inserted from the DF document insertion slot 51b is configured to be slid and conveyed on the original glass table 2 toward the left side in the figure by driving the belt conveying mechanism 51a.

A document presence / absence sensor 51c for detecting the presence / absence of a document is provided near the DF document insertion slot 51b.
The document sent from the DF document insertion port 51b so as to pass through the document presence / absence sensor 51c is sent to the DF discharge port 51 provided at the left end of the DF 51 in the figure.
The document is ejected onto the DF document ejection tray 51e through h.

Further, the AF 52 has a function of feeding a B5-A3 size document onto the document glass table 2. The AF 52 is positioned upstream of the DF document insertion slot 51b of the DF 51 in the document transport direction (right side in the figure). ) Are connected so as to be in close contact with each other. The upper surface 52a of the AF 52 extending obliquely upward from the DF document insertion port 51b toward the upstream side (the right side in the drawing) in the document transport direction is provided so as to constitute a DF document tray for the DF 51.

Further, an AF document insertion port 52b is provided at an upstream end (right end in the drawing) of the AF 52 in the document conveyance direction, and the AF document insertion port 52b is connected to the DF5.
An exit portion 52c of the AF transport path extending toward one side is provided so as to open at the entrance portion of the above-described belt transport mechanism 51a. A paper feed roller 52d is provided in the middle of the AF transport path.

The exit section 52c of the AF transport path is disposed so as to open directly below the DF document insertion port 51b. The DF document insertion port 51b and the AF transport path exit section 52c are connected to each other. They meet at the entrance of the belt transport mechanism 51a. A feeding roller 51d is provided at a merging conveyance section at an entrance portion of the belt conveyance mechanism 51a, and the feeding operation of the feeding roller 51d causes any one of the DF document insertion port 51b and the AF conveyance path exit section 52c. The original that has passed through the belt is sent into the belt transport mechanism 51a.

A document presence / absence sensor 52e for detecting the presence / absence of a document is provided inside the AF document insertion port 52b in the AF conveyance path, and is provided outside the AF document insertion port 52b. Is equipped with an AF document tray 52f. This AF document tray 52f
The original set on the top is set to A through the AF original insertion slot 52b.
Belt transport mechanism 51a through outlet 52c of F transport path
After the completion of the reading operation, the sheet is discharged from the outlet of the belt transport mechanism 51a through a discharge port 51f of a transport path extending so as to be inverted upward and disposed above the belt transport mechanism 51a. It is configured to be received on the AF document discharge tray 51g in a stacked manner.

The document feeder 5 is provided with a document feed controller 50 as shown in FIG. The document feed control device 50 controls a document feed operation by the DF 51 and the AF 52 constituting the document feed device 5 described above, and a document feed provided in a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 21. Document detection signals from document presence sensors 51c and 52e provided for the DF document insertion port 51b and the AF document insertion port 52b, respectively, are applied to the input unit of the control means 27, and a document A read signal from the ROM 22 in which a control program or the like in which the sending procedure is set is stored, and a read / read signal from the RAM 23 in which various data are stored.

The output of the CPU 21 includes a driver 24 for the drive motor of the belt transport mechanism 51a in the DF 51 and a driver 25 for the drive motor of the paper feed roller 51d, and the drive of the paper feed roller 52d in the AF 52. A motor driver 26 is connected to each of the driving drivers 24, 25, and 26.
A drive signal is output at a predetermined timing.

According to the control program by the document feed control device, a document feed method according to the following embodiment is executed. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, first, in Steps 1, 2, and 3, the document presence / absence sensor 5 with respect to the DF document insertion port 51b on the downstream side in the document feed direction.
1c, and AF document insertion port 52b on the upstream side in the document feeding direction
Is detected by the document presence sensor 52e.

More specifically, a document is set in both the DF document insertion port 51b on the downstream side and the AF document insertion port 52b on the upstream side.
If both the document presence / absence sensors 51c and 52e are on (Yes in Step 1), the process proceeds to Step 4 and only the operation of the DF document insertion port 51b on the downstream side is enabled, whereby Flow reading (sheet through) by the DF 51 is preferentially executed.

The downstream DF original insertion slot 51b
At the point in time when the feeding of the originals has been completed, the originals set in the AF original insertion slot 52b on the upstream side are sequentially fed onto the original glass table 2.

On the other hand, since the document is set in the DF document insertion port 51b on the downstream side, the document presence sensor 5
1c is on, but the AF document insertion port 5 on the upstream side
Even if the document presence / absence sensor 52e is turned off because no document is set in 2b (No in Step 1 and Yes in Step 2), the process goes to Step 4 to insert the DF document on the downstream side. The operation of only the mouth 51b is enabled, and the flow reading (sheet through) by the DF 51 is executed.

On the other hand, the DF document insertion port 5 on the downstream side
The document presence sensor 51c is turned off because no document is set in 1b, but the document presence sensor 52e is turned on when a document is set in the AF document insertion slot 52b on the upstream side. If there is (No in Step 2 and Yes in Step 3), the process proceeds to Step 5, the operation of only the AF document insertion slot 52b on the upstream side is enabled, and document feeding by the AF 52 is sequentially performed.

Further, a downstream DF document insertion port 51b,
If no document is set in any of the AF document insertion openings 52b on the upstream side and both the document presence sensors 51c and 52e are off (No in step 2, and N in step 3
o) In step 6, the copy operation is performed assuming that the original is placed on the original glass table 2.

As described above, in the document supply apparatus and the document supply method according to the present embodiment, two document insertion ports 5 are provided.
When a document is set in both 1b and 52b,
Since the document is sent out only through the document insertion port 51b on the downstream side in the document conveying direction, the drawing of the document on the downstream side by the document on the upstream side is prevented, and the document on the upstream side is inserted into the document insertion port 51b on the downstream side. When the upstream document is fed again from the downstream document insertion port 51b due to the incorrect setting of the document, the document is simply placed on the upstream document insertion port 52b. Erroneous sheet feeding from the upstream side document insertion slot 52b is prevented.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, the invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Needless to say. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus having three or more document insertion ports, and is applicable to a wide variety of image forming apparatuses such as a copier, a facsimile, and a printer. The same can be applied to this.

[0034]

As described above, in the document supply apparatus and the document supply method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a document is set in at least two of the plurality of document insertion ports. In this case, the document feed is controlled so that the document is sent out only through the document insertion slot on the downstream side in the document transport direction. To prevent re-feeding from the downstream document insertion port and erroneous sheet feeding of the upstream document, so that the document feeding operation using multiple document insertion ports can be performed smoothly and well. Can be
The reliability of the document supply device and the document supply method of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a document feed control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a document feed control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Document glass table 5 Document feeder 51 Document feeder (DF) 52 Automatic document feeder (AF) 51b, 52b Document insertion ports 51c, 52e Document presence sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] An original feeding mechanism for feeding an original set in the original insertion opening onto the original glass table through the original insertion opening and moving the original along the original glass base; and a plurality of positions in the original conveying direction of the original conveying mechanism. A document feed control device for controlling a document feeding operation from each of the placed document insertion ports, wherein the document feed control device includes at least two of the plurality of document insertion ports. When a document is set at a location, a means for feeding the document set in the document insertion port on the downstream side in the document conveyance direction onto the document glass table with priority over the document set in the document insertion port on the upstream side A document supply device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The document feed control device according to claim 1, wherein after all the documents set in the document insertion port on the downstream side in the document conveyance direction are sent onto the document glass table, the document is set in the upstream document insertion port. A document feeder for feeding an original placed on a glass platen. 3. An original set in an original insertion slot is fed by an original transport mechanism through the original insertion opening onto the original glass table and moved along the original glass table. In a document supply method of an image forming apparatus in which a document is fed from each document insertion port arranged at a plurality of positions, when a document is set in at least two of the plurality of document insertion holes, An image forming apparatus wherein a document set in a document insertion port on the downstream side in the document conveyance direction is fed onto a document glass table with priority over a document set in an upstream document insertion port. Manuscript supply method.