JPH10268708A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming device constituted so that not only a thick book type original can be smoothly started to be copied but also the other normal original other than it can be started to be copied without being disturbed. SOLUTION: This device is the electrophotographic copying machine reproducing the image of the original set on a platen glass 30 on a sheet. The glass 30 is slightly lowered by being pressed and detected by a switch SW1. Then, the book type original is set on the glass 30 and pressed by an operator. When the switch SW1 is turned on, a copying action is started. Besides, a normal copying start key is installed on a control panel, so that the operator can select whether the action of either the switch SW1 or the normal copying start key is made effective.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for reproducing an image of a document set on a platen glass on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in an electrophotographic copying machine, a start key for starting a copying operation is provided only on an operation panel. When a thick book document is to be copied by such a copying machine, if it is necessary to press the document with both hands, the start key on the operation panel cannot be pressed. Inevitably, one hand must be released and the start key must be pressed, but this causes a problem that the position of the original is shifted and a satisfactory copy cannot be obtained.

On the other hand, there is provided a copy machine of a book copy specification in which a start key is arranged at a specific position on a document table. However, in this copying machine, the start key is arranged only on the platen, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to use when copying other than a book document.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can start copying a thick book original smoothly, and can also start copying other ordinary originals without any trouble. It is in.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first start means provided on an operation panel for starting a copying operation, and a platen glass having a predetermined amount or more. And the second start means for starting the copying operation in response to the pressing detection signal, and at least one of the first and second start means is validated. A selection means is provided.

According to the present invention, when copying a thick book original, if it is necessary to hold the original with both hands,
If a mode in which at least the operation of the second start means is enabled is selected by the selection means, the copying operation is started by the detection means detecting that the platen glass is pressed with a predetermined amount of force or more. I do. On the other hand, if a mode in which at least the operation of the first start means is enabled is selected by the selection means, the copying operation can be started in a normal mode. In addition, the first and second
If a mode in which both of the start means are enabled is selected, the copying operation can be started even when both the first start means and the second start means operate.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this copying machine, a photosensitive drum 1 is installed at a substantially central portion so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow a, and a main eraser 2, a charging charger 3, an inter-image eraser 4, a developing device 5, a transfer charger 6 are provided around the photosensitive drum 1. , A residual toner cleaner 7 and the like.

The exposure optical system 10 includes an exposure lamp 11, movable mirrors 12, 13, and 14, an imaging lens 15, and a fixed mirror 16. The exposure lamp 11 and the movable mirrors 12, 13, and 14 move at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow b below the platen glass 30 to expose the image of the original placed on the platen glass 30 onto the photosensitive drum 1. I do. Note that a process of forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 using the optical system 10 and the developing device 5 is well known.
The description is omitted.

On the other hand, a copy sheet is fed in a direction indicated by an arrow c or d from a paper feed cassette or a manual paper feed table (not shown), a toner image is transferred by a transfer unit 20, and sent to a fixing device 22 through an air suction belt 21. It is. The sheet is subjected to fixing of the toner by the fixing device 22, and the discharge roller 2
3 to a tray (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the platen glass 30 is mounted on the upper surface of the copying machine so as to be slightly movable up and down by a holding member 35, and is usually held at a predetermined height by the holding member 35. When the book original is placed on the platen glass 30 and the operator manually presses the book original, the platen glass 30 slightly moves down. This downward movement is detected by turning on the switch SW1. The pressing force detected by the switch SW1 can be set to a predetermined value by adjusting the spring force of the spring member incorporated in the holding member 35, the operating condition of the switch SW1, and the like. The downward movement of the platen glass 30 is within the range of the depth of field of the imaging lens 15.

The sensor SE1 has a platen glass 30
The presence or absence of a document above the document is detected (the document is on and the document is off and the document is not present), and the sensor SE2 detects the opening and closing of the document holding cover 31 (closed on and open on off).

FIG. 2A shows a main operation panel 50, and FIG. 2B shows a sub operation panel 70. The main operation panel 50 includes a copy start key 51, a numeric display 52, a numeric keypad 53, an interrupt key 54, a clear / stop key 55, a copy density setting key 56 and its density display LED 57, a sheet size selection key 58 and its sheet. A size display LED 59, a copy magnification selection key 60 and its magnification display LED 61, and a book copy mode selection key 62 and its display LED 63 are provided.

What is the book copy mode?
This is a copy mode in which the right page and the left page of the book document set on 0 are respectively copied on one sheet. In the initial state of the copying machine, the book copy mode is reset. When the selection key 62 is turned on, the book copy mode is set.
3 turns on. This mode is reset by turning on the key 62 again, and the LED 63 is turned off.

The sub operation panel 70 has a copy start mode selection key 71 and display LEDs 72, 73, 74, 7
5 are installed. The LED 72 indicates a first start mode in which the copy operation is started only when the copy start key 51 is turned on. The LED 73 indicates a second start mode in which the copy operation is started only when the platen glass 30 is pressed and the switch SW1 is turned on. The LED 74 indicates a third start mode in which a copy operation is started when any of the copy start key 51 and the switch SW1 is turned on. When an original is set on the platen glass 30 on condition that the book copy mode is selected, the LED 75 starts the copy operation by turning on the copy start key 51 when the original pressing cover 31 is closed, and the original pressing cover 3
When the switch 1 is open, a fourth start mode in which the copy operation is started by turning on the switch SW1 is displayed.

In the initial state of the copying machine, the first start mode is set, and the LED 72 is on. Then, each time the mode selection key 71 is turned on once, the LEDs 73, 74, 75, 72 are sequentially turned on, and the corresponding start mode is set.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the copying machine.
00, various keys 51, 5 on the operation panels 50, 70
2, 62, 71, etc., are connected, and the display 52 is connected to the matrix 101 and the decoder 10.
2 are connected. Further, detection signals of the sensors SE1 and SE2, the switch SW1, and the like are input to the input ports, and on / off signals to the LEDs 63 and 72 to 75 are output from the output ports. I / O expansion integrated circuit 103
Is connected to various devices in the copying machine.

Hereinafter, a control procedure of the copying machine by the CPU 100 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. In the following description, on-edge means that switches and sensors are switched from an off state to an on state.

FIG. 4 shows a main routine of the CPU 100. When the CPU 100 is reset and the program starts, in step S1, the RAM is cleared, various registers are set, and initial settings for resetting various devices to the initial mode are performed. Next, in step S2, the CPU 10
The internal timer of 0 is started, steps S3 to S7 are sequentially called to perform necessary processing, and in step S8, the process returns to step S2 after the internal timer is terminated. The subroutines of the ten key input in step S3 and the copy operation in step S7 are the same as those of the conventional copier, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows a book mode selection key input subroutine executed in step S4 of the main routine. Here, if it is determined in step S11 that the selection key 62 is on-edge, the LED 63 is determined in step S12.
Is turned off. When the LED 63 is off, the LED 63 is turned on in step S13, and the book copy mode flag is set in step S14. By setting this flag, the book copy mode is executed by the copy operation in step S7. On the other hand, if the LED 63 is on, the LED 63 is turned off in step S15, and the book copy mode flag is reset in step S16.

FIG. 6 shows a copy start mode selection key input subroutine executed in step S5 of the main routine. Here, if it is determined in step S21 that the key 71 is on-edge, L is determined in step S22.
It is determined whether the ED 72 is on, whether the LED 73 is on in step S25, and whether the LED 74 is on in step S28. In the initial state, the LED 72 is on and the first start mode is set. Therefore, when the LED 72 is on, the LE in step S23.
D72 is turned off, the LED 73 is turned on in step S24, and the second start mode is set. When the LED 73 is on, the LED 73 is turned off in step S26,
In step S27, the LED 74 is turned on to set the third start mode. When the LED 74 is on, the LED 74 is turned off in step S29, and the LED 74 is turned off in step S30.
The ED 75 is turned on to set the fourth start mode. When the LED 75 is on, LE is set in step S31.
D75 is turned off, and the LED 72 is turned on in step S32 to set the first start mode.

FIG. 7 shows a copy start instruction subroutine executed in step S6 of the main routine. Here, the on / off state of the LED 72 is determined in step S41, the on / off state of the LED 74 is determined in step S44, the on / off state of the LED 73 is determined in step S47, and the next processing is performed according to the set start mode. Execute

When the LED 72 is on (set to the first start mode), if the on-edge of the start key 51 is confirmed in step S42, the process proceeds to step S42.
At 43, a copy start flag is set. When this flag is set, the copy operation in step S7 is started.

When the LED 74 is on (set to the third start mode), if the on-edge of the switch SW1 is confirmed in step S45, that is, if the platen glass 30 is pressed, copying is performed in step S46. Set the start flag. Even if the switch SW1 is not on-edge, if the on-edge of the start key 51 is confirmed in step S42, a copy start flag is set in step S43.

When the LED 73 is on (set to the second start mode), if the on-edge of the switch SW1 is confirmed in step S48, the process proceeds to step S4.
At step 9, a copy start flag is set.

When the LED 75 is on (set to the fourth start mode), LE is set in step S50.
It is determined whether D63 is on or off. If the LED 63 is on, it means that the book copy mode has been selected. In step S51, the on / off state of the sensor SE1 is determined, and in step S52, the on / off state of the sensor SE2 is determined. If the sensor SE1 is on (the document is present on the platen glass 30) and the sensor SE2 is off (the document pressing cover 31 is open), the operator is pressing the book document by hand, so S4
When the ON edge of the switch SW1 is confirmed in step 5, the copy start flag is set in step S46. On the other hand, if the LED 63 is off, the normal copy mode is set. If the on-edge of the start key 51 is confirmed in step S42, a copy start flag is set in step S43. Even in the book copy mode, if a document is not detected or the document pressing cover 31 is closed, the process similarly proceeds to step S42.

In the present embodiment, the determination conditions in the fourth start mode (automatic selection mode) are set as in steps S50, S51 and S52, but erroneous copying due to erroneous pressing of the original is prevented. Therefore, various types and combinations of determination conditions can be selected. For example, when the frame erasing mode (mode for erasing the peripheral portion of the document) and the center erasing mode (mode for erasing the center portion of the sheet with a predetermined width in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) can be executed as the copy mode. The selection of these modes can be used as the determination condition.

As means for detecting whether or not the platen glass 30 has been pressed, not only the switch SW1 but also a transparent pressure-sensitive switch may be attached to the platen glass 30. Furthermore, in order to prevent malfunction due to noise or the like in detecting the pressing of the platen glass 30, only when the switch SW1 or the pressure-sensitive switch is turned on for a predetermined time,
It is preferable to control so as to accept the start of the copy operation. In this case, the predetermined time for reception may be changed by the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram showing a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a control procedure by the control circuit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of book mode selection key input.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for inputting a copy start mode selection key.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a copy start instruction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 30: platen glass 50, 70: operation panel 51: copy start key (first start means) 71: copy start mode selection key SW1: press detection switch (second start means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for reproducing an image of a document set on a platen glass on a sheet, a first start means provided on an operation panel for starting a copying operation, the platen glass being provided with: A second start unit for detecting that the pressing operation is performed with a force equal to or greater than a fixed amount and starting a copying operation in accordance with the pressing detection signal; and at least one of the first and second start units is enabled. An image forming apparatus comprising: selecting means; 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit performs a mode in which only the operation of the first start unit is valid, a mode in which only the operation of the second start unit is valid, and any operation of the first and second start units. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user can select one of a mode in which the operation is enabled and a mode in which the operation of the first or second start unit is automatically enabled. apparatus.