JPH10274866A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time up to a copying operation start by previously moving a document exposing device to a fixed exposing position, when a detection signal indicates that a document is set. SOLUTION: A control circuit judges whether the document is set in a recirculating automatic document feeder(RDF) 200 or not and when the document is set, a mirror base 1000 is moved to a moving document type exposing position. An exposing method in such a case is of the document moving/exposing method of moving the mirror base 1000 to the moving document type exposing position 151 with a motor 104, so as to fix the mirror base 1000 by a mirror locking mechanism and then, irradiating the document with an exposing lamp 103, while moving the document by the RDF 200, to irradiate a photoreceptor drum 105 with light reflected from the document by a scanning mirror and a lens. Therefore, at the time when the document is placed in the RDF 200, the movement to the document exposing position is attained to shorten the time up to the copying operation start.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an automatic document feeder and capable of performing two types of exposures, a document fixed exposure and a document moving exposure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional document fixed exposure and document moving exposure
When using an automatic document feeder in an image forming apparatus that can use one of the two methods, the user places the document on the automatic document feeder despite the fact that exposure is performed using the original moving exposure method. Then, when the various settings are completed on the operation panel and the copy operation start key is pressed, the exposure device has been moved to the position for moving and exposing the original.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, since the exposing device has been moved to the position for moving and exposing the original since the copy operation start key was pressed, a time loss was caused. Had occurred. An object of the present invention is to provide means for eliminating such a time loss.

[0004]

Therefore, in the present invention, the object is achieved by providing an image forming apparatus according to any one of the following items (1) to (3). is there.

(1) An automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document to be copied to an exposure position, and a movable document exposure device, wherein the exposure device moves exposure of the document. Wherein the exposure device is fixed at a position different from a predetermined initial position and the original is automatically moved by the automatic document feeder. Means for detecting that a document has been set, generating a detection signal therefor, and means for receiving the detection signal and controlling the image forming apparatus, wherein the detection signal indicates that the document has been set. In the case shown, the control means performs control for moving the document exposing device to the fixed exposure position in advance.

(2) The image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor for forming an image on an exposed document; a charger for electrostatically charging the photoconductor; and a charge amount of the charged photoconductor. Means for adjusting the amount of exposure light of the exposure device and the amount of charge of the charger, and a member having a reference density capable of exposing at an initial position of the exposure device, wherein the original exposure device is fixedly exposed from the initial position. Before moving to the apparatus, the member of the reference density is exposed when necessary according to a predetermined setting, and at that time, the exposure light amount and the charge amount of the charger are adjusted so that the charge amount of the photoreceptor is a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus according to the above (1), which is characterized in that:

(3) The image forming apparatus has key input means for allowing a user to perform an operation. If the key input is not performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the movement to the fixed exposure position, the image exposure is performed. The image forming apparatus according to (1), wherein the apparatus is returned to an initial position.

[0008]

According to the configuration of the present invention as described above, when the user places a document on the automatic document feeder, the document is moved to the document exposure position, so that the time until the start of the copying operation can be shortened.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus as a copying machine according to an embodiment, which best illustrates the present invention. The copier body will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a copying apparatus main body;
Reference numeral 00 denotes a circulating automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document, that is, a feeder (hereinafter referred to as “RDF”), 250.
Is a sorter for sorting the transfer paper to be discharged, that is, a sorter. The RDF 200 and the sorter 250 are
0 can be freely combined and used. Reference numeral 210 denotes a reserved document tray.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a platen glass serving as a platen. Reference numeral 102 denotes an optical system as an image reading unit, and a mirror table 1000 including a document illumination lamp (exposure lamp) 103 and each scanning mirror.
And a zoom lens (not shown), a motor 104, and the like. The original is illuminated by the exposure lamp 103 while scanning the mirror base 1000 by the motor 104, and reflected light from the original is exposed by each scanning mirror and lens. Body drum 10
5, a first fixed document exposure method for irradiating
To move the mirror base 1000 to the original movable exposure position 151, and the mirror base 1 is moved by the mirror lock mechanism (not shown).
000 is fixed, the document is illuminated by the exposure lamp 103 while the document is moved by the RDF 200, and reflected light from the document is scanned by the scanning mirror and the lens to form the photosensitive drum 105.
The photosensitive drum 105 is irradiated by two methods, that is, a second original movement exposure method.

When the user sets an original on the original platen glass 101 and makes a copy, the above two methods are selectively used.
In the case where a document is set on the F200 and copying is performed, exposure is performed by the second method.

However, even when an original is set on the RDF 200, if the number of copies is two or more, the RDF 200
The document circulation frequency increases, and the document is likely to be damaged. Therefore, only the first copy is performed by the second exposure method, and the second copy and thereafter are performed by the first exposure method.

Before forming an electrostatic latent image, the potential sensor 10
8, the potential of the photosensitive drum 105 is adjusted. An example of this method will be described below.

First, the corona discharge amount of the primary charger 106 is changed, and the potential sensor 108
The potential of the photoconductor at the maximum density is adjusted by monitoring the potential of the photoconductor 5 and controlling the corona discharge amount to reach the target potential. By monitoring the potential of the photosensitive drum 105 and controlling the amount of light of the document illumination lamp 103 to reach the target potential, the target potential of the photosensitive member at the minimum density is adjusted. This operation is performed at a predetermined timing such as when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the power is turned on.

Around the photosensitive drum 105, a primary charger 106, a blank exposure unit 107, a potential sensor 108, a developing device 109, and a transfer charger 110
, A separation charger 111, and a cleaning device 112, and an image recording unit is constituted by these components and the photosensitive drum 105.

The photosensitive drum 105 includes a main motor 113
Rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
When the optical system 102 irradiates the original with reflected light, an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 109 and is visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the pickup rollers 116 and 11 are supplied from the upper cassette 114 or the lower cassette 115.
7, the main body 1 is controlled by the respective paper feed rollers 118 and 119.
The transfer paper sent into the transfer drum 00 is timed by the registration roller 120 so that the leading end of the toner image coincides with the leading end of the transfer paper. The toner image is transferred.

After the transfer, the transfer paper is transferred to the separation charger 111.
Is separated from the photosensitive drum 105 by the
The toner is guided to a fixing device 122 by 21 and is fixed by pressure and heat. The surface of the photosensitive drum 105 is cleaned by the cleaning device 112.

Further, the main body 100 is provided with a paper deck 124 capable of storing, for example, 4000 transfer papers. Paper lifter 125 of paper deck 124
Rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the feed roller 126.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 127 denotes a paper discharge flapper which switches the path between the double-sided recording side or the multiple recording side and the discharge side (sorter 250). The transfer paper sent from the discharge roller 123 is switched by the discharge flapper 127 to a double-sided recording side or a multiple recording side.

A lower transport path 128 transfers the transfer paper sent from the paper discharge roller 123 to a reverse path 129.
The transfer paper is turned over through and guided to the re-feed tray. Also, 1
Numeral 31 denotes a multiplex flapper for switching the path between double-sided recording and multiplex recording. When the flapper is tilted leftward, the transfer paper is led directly to the lower transport path 128 without passing through the reverse path 129. Reference numeral 132 denotes a paper feed roller for feeding the transfer paper to the photosensitive drum 105 through the path 133. 134 is
A discharge roller is disposed near the discharge flapper 127 and discharges the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 127 to the outside of the apparatus.

At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiplexed copying), the discharge flapper 127 is raised upward, and the copied transfer paper is turned over via the transport paths 128 and 129 to re-feed the tray. To be stored. At this time, the multiplex flapper 131 is tilted rightward during double-sided recording, and the multiplex flapper 131 is tilted leftward during multiplex recording. At the time of the next backside printing or multiplex printing, the transfer paper stored in the re-feeding tray is guided to the registration roller 120 of the main body via the path 133 by the feeding roller 132 one by one from below.

When the transfer paper is to be inverted and discharged from the main body, the discharge flapper 127 is raised upward and the flapper 131 is discharged.
Is tilted to the right, and the copied transfer paper is transported to the transport path 129 side, and after the rear end of the transfer paper passes through the first transport roller 140, it is transported by the reversing roller 142 to the second transport roller side. The transfer paper is turned over by a discharge roller 134 and discharged to a sorter 250 outside the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of an operation unit (operation panel) 600 provided on the above-described main body 100. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 601 denotes an asterisk (*) key, which is bound by an operator (user). It is used in the setting mode such as the setting of the substitute amount or the size setting of the document frame erasing. A cursor key 627 is used to select a setting item in the setting mode. Reference numeral 628 denotes an OK key which is used to confirm the setting contents in the setting mode.

Reference numeral 606 denotes an all reset key, which is depressed when returning to the standard mode. The key 606 is also used when returning from the auto shut-off state to the standard mode.
push. 605 is a copy start key (copy start key)
Press to start copying. 604 is clear /
The stop key has a clear key function during standby and a stop key function during copy recording. The clear key is also used to release the set number of copies. The stop key is pressed to interrupt continuous copying. After the copying at the time of pressing is stopped, the copying operation is stopped.

Reference numeral 603 denotes a ten key which is depressed when setting the number of copies. Also used to set * (asterisk) mode. A memory key 619 can register a mode frequently used by the user.
Here, four modes M1 to M4 can be registered.

Reference numerals 611 and 612 denote copy density keys.
Press to manually adjust the copy density. An AE key 613 is depressed when automatically adjusting the copy density in accordance with the density of the original, or when canceling the AE (automatic density adjustment) and switching the density adjustment to manual (manual).

Reference numeral 607 denotes a copy paper selection key, and the upper cassette 114, the lower cassette 115, the paper deck 1
24, Press to select the multi-bypass tray 150. When an original is placed on the RDF 200, APS (automatic paper cassette selection) can be selected with the selection key 607. When APS is selected, a cassette having the same size as the original is automatically selected.

Reference numeral 610 denotes an equal-magnification key, which is depressed when making an actual-magnification (original-size) copy. An automatic scaling key 616 is pressed when the image of the document is automatically reduced or enlarged according to the size of the specified transfer sheet. A double-sided key 626 is pressed to make double-sided copying from a single-sided original, double-sided copying from a double-sided original, or single-sided copying from a double-sided original.

A binding margin key 625 can create a binding margin of a designated length on the left side of the transfer sheet. 6
Reference numeral 24 denotes a photo key which is pressed when copying a photo document. A multiple key 623 is pressed when an image is created (combined) on the same side of the transfer paper from two originals. Reference numeral 620 denotes a document frame erasing key, which is pressed when the user erases a frame of a standard size document. At this time, the size of the document is set by the asterisk key 601 described above. A sheet frame erasing key 621 is pressed when erasing a document frame in accordance with the size of a copy sheet.

A display mode setting key 629 is used to create a front cover and a back cover, and to insert a slip sheet.
Reference numeral 630 denotes a continuous page copy key, which is used to continuously copy the left and right sides of a two-page spread book. A discharge method selection key 614 is used to select a staple sort, sort, or group discharge method. When a staple sorter is connected to the printed sheets, the staple sort mode, the sort mode, the group mode, or The selection mode can be canceled.

Reference numeral 631 denotes a reservation key, which is used to start setting of a copy mode for a reserved document placed on the reservation tray 210 shown in FIG. 1 and to cancel the reservation setting. Reference numeral 632 denotes a reservation setting key, which is used as a confirmation key when setting the reservation mode. Reference numeral 633 denotes a guide key, which is used to display a description of a function corresponding to various keys on a message display.

Reference numeral 701 denotes an LC for displaying information relating to copying.
D (liquid crystal) type message display, 9
Characters and figures are displayed with 6 × 192 dots. For example, the number of copies set by the ten keys 603,
8, 601; same-size key 610; zoom keys 617, 61
8, the paper size selected by the paper selection key 607, a message indicating the state of the copying apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. 1, a guide message indicating the operation procedure, and other setting contents of various modes are displayed.

Reference numeral 704 denotes an AE display, and the AE key 61
Lights when AE (automatic density adjustment) is selected by 3. Reference numeral 709 denotes a preheating indicator, which lights up in a preheating state. When the RDF 200 shown in FIG. 1 is used in the standard mode, the setting is one copy, the density AE mode, the automatic paper selection, the same magnification, and the one-sided copying from the one-sided original.
1 copy in standard mode when RDF200 is not used
Sheet, density manual mode, same size, single-sided original to single-sided copying are set. The difference between when the RDF 200 is used and when it is not used is determined by whether or not a document is set on the RDF 200.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Reference numeral 004 denotes a control circuit (controller).
a, a ROM 1004b, a RAM 1004c, and the like, and controls the entire copy sequence based on a program stored in the ROM 1004b.

As described above, the operation unit 600 includes a copy mode (single-sided / double-sided / multiplex mode, copy magnification, cassette selection, etc.) setting key, and a ten-key 60 for setting the number of copies and the like.
3. A key input unit such as a start key 605 for instructing a start of a copying operation, a stop key 604 for instructing a stop of a copying operation, a reset key 606 for returning an operation mode to a standard state, and an LED for displaying a setting state of the operation mode. A display unit such as a liquid crystal is provided.

The thermistor 302 detects the surface temperature of the fixing roller 144 shown in FIG.
The / D-converted value is input to the controller 1004. The controller 1004 controls the surface temperature of the fixing roller 144 to a predetermined value based on the detection value of the thermistor 302.

The high voltage controller 303 controls the charging system such as the primary charger 106 and the transfer charger 110 in FIG. 1 and the high voltage unit 304 for applying a predetermined potential to the developing device 109 and the like. The motor control unit 305 controls driving of each motor 306 such as various stepping motors and a main drive motor.

The DC load control unit 307 controls driving of a solenoid for the pickup roller 116 and the like, a clutch and a fan for the registration roller 120 and the like in FIG. Reference numerals 308 denote sensors for detecting a paper jam of the transfer paper, and the output is input to the controller 1004.

The AC driver 1000 includes an AC load 309 such as the document illumination lamp 103 shown in FIG.
10 to control AC power supply. Further, an abnormality of the document illumination lamp 103, the fixing heater 310 and the like is detected, and the main switch 1001 with the shut-off function is turned off. Further, under the control of the controller 1004, the AC input before and after the main switch 1001 is switched and input to the power supply 1100.

The power supply 1100 supplies DC power to the controller 1004 and the like, and supplies AC power from the AC driver 1000.
When power is input, from the input power plug 311
AC power via the main switch 1001 and the door switch 1007 is input to the power supply 1100.

The paper deck 124 shown in FIG. 1 is a paper feeder for increasing the number of sheets of transfer paper, the RDF 200 is an automatic document feeder for automatically setting a plurality of originals, and the sorter 250 is for discharging. This is a sorting device for sorting transfer paper.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the operation sequence of the embodiment of the present invention. The flow of the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at step S1, R shown in FIG.
The controller 1004 determines whether a document is set on the DF 200. When the original is set, it is determined whether or not the potential control operation is necessary (step S2).
If necessary, the potential control is started (step S3). If not, the mirror base 150 is moved to the original movable exposure position 151.
(Step S4). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the copy key 605 on the operation panel has been pressed (step S).
5) If pressed, copy operation is performed (step S)
7) On the other hand, when a predetermined time has elapsed without pressing the copy key 605 (step S6), the mirror base 150 moves to a predetermined home position (step S8).

If no original is set in step S1, it is determined whether or not the copy key is pressed (step S9), and if it is pressed, it is determined whether or not a potential control operation is required (step S10). If necessary, potential control is performed (step S11), and if not necessary, copying is started as it is.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the user places a document on the document feeder, the user moves to the document movement exposure position, thereby reducing the time until the start of the copy operation. Can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example of an arrangement configuration diagram of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is an example of a configuration block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation sequence according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image forming apparatus (copier) main body 101 Document table glass 105 Photoreceptor drum 109 Developing device 110 Transfer charger 114 Upper cassette 115 Lower cassette 122 Fixer 124 Paper deck 150 Multi manual feed 200 Automatic document feeder (feeder, RDF) 250 Sorting device (sorter) 600 Operation unit (operation panel) 605 Start key 1000 Mirror base (document exposure device) 1004 Control circuit 1100 Power supply

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohiko Kishimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document to be copied to an exposure position; and a movable document exposure device, wherein the exposure device moves the document for exposure. The exposure device is fixed at a position different from a predetermined initial position, and the original is moved by the automatic document feeder. Has been set, means for generating a detection signal, and means for receiving the detection signal and controlling the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection signal indicates that a document is set, the control unit performs control to move the document exposure device to the fixed exposure position in advance. 2. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor for forming an image on an exposed document; a charger for electrostatically charging the photoconductor; and a unit for detecting a charge amount of the charged photoconductor. Means for adjusting the amount of exposure light of the exposure device and the amount of charge of the charger, and a member having a reference density capable of exposing at an initial position of the exposure device, wherein the document exposure device is fixedly exposed from the initial position. Before moving to, the member of the reference density is exposed when necessary according to a predetermined setting, and at that time, the exposure light amount and the charge amount of the charger are adjusted so that the charge amount of the photoconductor becomes a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus has key input means for a user to perform an operation, and when the key input is not performed after a lapse of a predetermined time after moving to the fixed exposure position,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposure device is returned to an initial position.