JPH10282844A - Recorder with multistage cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly carry out replenishing work of recording-paper and to make a display part simply by providing a control means which, when the number of sheets of recording paper in all sheet-feeding cassettes is not large than a specific number or they are used up, displays the information onto a display means. SOLUTION: Based on outputs from cassette sensors 91 and 92, a CPU 82 as the control means judges whether each cassette is loaded or not, and displays the result with characters onto the LCD 86a as required. Also, in the case the CPU 82 judges, from an output from a sensor counting the number of sheets of recording paper, that the number of cut sheets in each cassette is not larger than a specific value, it tuns on an LED 86b. Further, the CPU 82 judges the presence or absence of the cut sheet based on an output from a cut-sheet sensor, and displays the result with characters onto the LCD 86a and turns on the LED 86b to display it. Thus, before the recording paper is used up, a user can recognize the situation to smoothly replenish the cassettes with recording paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette, which is embodied in a multifunction copy / facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in this type of recording apparatus, recording paper is stored in a plurality of paper feed cassettes and mounted on the recording apparatus. Therefore, in this recording device,
Recording can be performed on cut sheets of various sizes.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional recording apparatus, when the cut sheets stored in the paper cassette in use are exhausted, the fact is displayed on a display unit provided in the recording apparatus. The operator supplies cut sheets to the sheet cassette according to the display.

However, if there is a cut sheet in another sheet cassette and recording can be performed on the cut sheet, for example, even if another sheet cassette also stores cut sheets of the same size, one sheet cassette When there is no more cut paper, the display section indicates that there is no cut paper. Therefore, the operator may erroneously recognize that the recording apparatus cannot be operated unless cut sheets are supplied to the sheet cassette. As a result, despite the fact that recording can be performed on cut sheets stored in another sheet cassette, cut sheet replenishment work may be performed, resulting in a problem that the efficiency of recording work is reduced.

[0005] Further, in the conventional configuration in which the state is displayed each time each type of cut sheet is used up, the configuration of the display section becomes complicated and becomes visually obscured and difficult to see. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately perform an operation of exchanging recording paper and to make a display unit simple. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a recording apparatus provided with a plurality of paper feed cassettes and display means for displaying an operation state of the apparatus, recording papers of all the paper feed cassettes are provided. It is a gist of the present invention to provide a control means for displaying, on the display means, when the number of prints becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number of sheets or the number of prints becomes zero.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus with the multi-stage cassette according to the first aspect, the control means is configured to determine whether a predetermined number of recording sheets in each of the paper feed cassettes is a predetermined number. The gist of the present invention is to simply display the following or when it is lost.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette according to the first or second aspect,
The gist of the present invention is to provide a warning unit for notifying a warning sound when the number of recording sheets usable for recording becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number or runs out during recording.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "display means" described in the claims or the means for solving the problem is constituted by a display unit 86, and the "warning means" is also a speaker. 90,
Similarly, "control means" are a CPU 82, a ROM 83, and a RAM.
84.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a multi-function facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus main body 11 of the multifunction machine includes an original feeding section 12, an original placing section 13, a reading section 14, a cut sheet supply section 15, a recording section 17, , And a cut sheet discharge unit 18 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the document feeder 12 includes a document table 22 on which a document 21 is placed, and a document 21.
Rollers 23 for feeding the separated originals 21 one by one, a plurality of feed rollers 24 for feeding the separated originals 21, a light transmitting plate 25 through which the originals 21 pass, and a stock of the discharged originals 21 A document discharge table 26 is provided.

A document presence / absence sensor 27 is disposed to face the document table 22 and outputs a detection signal when the document 21 is placed on the document table 22. The document discharge sensor 28 is disposed to face the document discharge table 26 and the document 2 is placed on the document discharge table 26.
When 1 is discharged, a detection signal is output.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the document placing portion 13 has a transparent document placing plate 31 on which a document 21 is placed on an upper surface, and an opening / closing turntable on the document placing plate 31. And a holding lid 32 movably arranged. The document table 22 and the document discharge table 26 of the document feeding section 12 are disposed on a pressing cover 32 of the document placing section 13, and are opened and closed integrally with the pressing cover 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, an angle sensor 33 is disposed opposite to the vicinity of the center of rotation of the holding lid 32,
The detection signal is output when the opening angle A1 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. The magnetic sensor 34 is disposed opposite to the open end of the presser lid 32, and the magnetic body 3 on the presser lid 32 is closed when the presser lid 32 is closed.
A detection signal is output when the detection signal is close to 5 And
The angle sensor 33 and the magnetic sensor 34 constitute detection means.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a light source 37 for irradiating the original 21 passing on the light transmitting plate 25 or the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 with light.
To change the optical path of the reflected light from the document 21
Mirrors 38, 39, 40, and a moving mechanism 41 for moving the light source 37 and the first to third mirrors 38, 39, 40
And Further, the reading unit 14 includes the third mirror 4
A condensing lens 42 for converging light from 0, and an image pickup device (CCD) 43 for reading an image on the document 21 based on light incident through the condensing lens 42 are provided.

The moving mechanism 41 includes a pair of left and right large diameter pulleys 44 and 45, a pair of left and right small diameter pulleys 46 and 47,
First belt 48 mounted between large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45
And the second belt 4 mounted between the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 47
9 is provided. Further, the moving mechanism 41 includes a first carriage 50 connected to the first belt 48, a second carriage 51 connected to the second belt 49, and a step motor 52.

The diameters of the large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45 are formed to be twice the diameters of the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 47. The large-diameter pulley 44 and the small-diameter pulley 46 on the left side are integrally rotatably connected on the same axis, and are operatively connected to a step motor 52. Further, a light source 37 and a first mirror 38 are supported on the first carriage 50, and a second mirror 39 and a third mirror 39 are provided on the second carriage 51.
A mirror 40 is supported.

When the large-diameter pulleys 44 and 45 and the small-diameter pulleys 46 and 47 are rotated by the step motor 52, the first and second carriages 50 and 49 are rotated via the first and second belts 48 and 49. 51 is moved. At this time, the first carriage 50 is moved at twice the moving speed of the second carriage 51. Thereby, both carriages 5
0 and 51 are intermediate standby positions P1 as shown in FIG.
A first document reading position P <b> 2 which is located immediately below the light transmitting plate 25 and faces the same.
And a start point P3 of a second document reading position located just below the reference end 31a of the document placing plate 31.

A plurality of automatic document reading units (ADFs) are constituted by the document feeding unit 12 and the reading unit 14, and light is transmitted when the carriages 50 and 51 are moved to the first document reading position P2. The image of the document 21 passing on the plate 25 is read. Further, a flatbed reading section (FBS) is configured by the document placing section 13 and the reading section 14, and after the carriages 50 and 51 are moved and arranged at the start point P3 of the second document reading position, they move toward the end point P4. Moved
The image of the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 is read.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reading position sensor 53 is disposed below the reference end 31a of the original placing plate 31, and the carriages 50 and 51 are positioned at the start point P3 of the second original reading position. Outputs a detection signal when moved. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the original length sensor 54 is connected to the original placing plate 3.
The length of the original 21 placed on the original placing plate 31 is detected at a position spaced from the first reference end 31a by a predetermined distance. The reading section 14 including the light source 37 also serves as a document width sensor, and reads the document 21 in the main scanning direction in a state where the first carriage 50 is moved and arranged at the start point P3 of the second document reading position. Is performed, the width of the document 21 is detected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cut sheet supply unit 1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a plurality (two in this embodiment) of paper feed cassettes 57a containing cut sheets 56 of a predetermined size in a stacked state.
57b, a paper feed roller 58 that feeds the cut paper 56 in each of the paper feed cassettes 57a and 57b one by one toward the recording unit 17, and a guide plate 59 that guides the feed of the cut paper 56. I have. Note that cut paper 56 is stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 57a and 57b.

The cassette sensors 91 and 92 are arranged so as to correspond to the respective sheet cassettes 57a and 57b, respectively, and detect the mounted state of the respective sheet cassettes 57a and 57b. The cut sheet sensors 93 and 94 are connected to the respective sheet cassettes 57.
The cut sheets 56a and 56b are disposed in correspondence with the cut sheets 56a and 56b, and the presence or absence of the cut sheet 56 is detected. The cut sheet number sensors 95 and 96 are arranged opposite to the side surface of the cut sheet 56,
When the number of cut sheets 56 in each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, it is detected.

The recording unit 17 includes a photosensitive drum 68, a charger 69 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 68 to a predetermined potential, and an exposing device for forming an electrostatic latent image of an image on the photosensitive drum 68. And a developing unit 71 for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 68 to visualize the latent image. Further, the recording unit 17 includes a feed roller 72 for feeding the cut sheet 56 to the photosensitive drum 68, a transfer unit 73 for transferring the toner image from the photosensitive drum 68 to the cut sheet 56, And a heat fixing device 74 for heat fixing the toner image.

The cut sheet discharge section 18 includes a discharge roller 77 for discharging the recorded cut sheet 56 and a cut sheet 56.
And a discharge tray 79 for storing the discharged cut paper 56.

As shown in FIG. 5, the central processing unit (CP)
U) 82 controls the operation of each unit of the multifunction peripheral. The read only memory (ROM) 83 stores various control programs necessary for the operation of the multifunction peripheral. The random access memory (RAM) 84 temporarily stores data and the like obtained with the execution of the control program. The CPU 82, ROM 83, and RAM 84 constitute control means.

The angle sensor 33, the magnetic sensor 34, the reading position sensor 53 and the original length sensor 54
2 to output a detection signal. The reading unit 14 reads an image on the document 21 via the light transmitting plate 25 or the document placing plate 31 and outputs black and white binary image data to the CPU 82. The image memory 85 temporarily stores received image data and image data read by the reading unit 14. The recording unit 17
The received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 14 are recorded on the cut sheet 56 or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, the display unit 86 is an LCD.
(Liquid Crystal Disply) 86a and LED 86b. The LCD 86a has, for example, a “copy mode”
"Communication mode", "Standby", "Device error"
Various information such as the operation state of the device is displayed. LED 86b
Displays the state of the cut paper 56 in each of the paper feed cassettes 57a and 57b by lighting. Speaker 9
0 emits a warning sound when the recordable cut sheet 56 runs out.

The operation unit 87 includes a copy / communication key 87a,
Various operation keys such as a start key 87b are provided. The copy / communication key 87a is operated to select whether to execute the copy mode or the facsimile communication mode. The start key 87b is operated to start a copy operation or a facsimile communication operation.

The modem 88 modulates and demodulates transmission and reception data. The network control unit (NCU) 89 has a function of controlling the closing and opening of the telephone line L1, and a function of detecting transmission and reception of a dial pulse corresponding to the fax number of the other party.

When the presser lid 32 is closed after the original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 in the copy mode or the like, the CPU 82 operates the angle sensor 33.
And a read detection signal of the read preparation operation from the magnetic sensor 34. Then, the CPU 82 drives the step motor 52 of the reading unit 14 to move the carriages 50 and 51 from the standby position P1 to the start point P3 of the second document reading position, and waits for a reading operation start instruction by the start key 87b. .

When the CPU 82 detects the communication control signal from the communication partner in the transmission mode of the facsimile communication, the CPU 82 drives the step motor 52 of the reading unit 14 to move the carriages 50 and 51 to the standby position. From P1, it is moved to the first document reading position P2 or the starting point P3 of the second document reading position. In this case, when the document 21 is placed on the document table 22 of the document feeding unit 12, the carriages 50 and 51 are moved to the first document reading position P2. On the other hand, when the original 21 is placed on the original placing plate 31 of the original placing portion 13, the carriage 5
0, 51 are moved to the start point P3 of the second document reading position.

Further, the CPU 82 controls the cassette sensor 9
1 and 92, based on the output from each paper cassette 57a,
It is determined whether or not 57b is attached.
a is displayed in characters. When the CPU 82 determines that the number of cut sheets 56 in each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b is equal to or less than a predetermined value based on the output from the recording sheet number sensors 95 and 96, the CPU 86 turns on the LED 86b. In addition, the CPU 82 determines the presence or absence of the cut sheet 56 based on the output from the cut sheet sensors 93 and 94, and causes a character display on the LCD 86a and a lighting display on the LED 86b to that effect.

Next, the operation of the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. This flowchart proceeds under the control of the CPU 82 based on a control program stored in the ROM 83.

First, when a document (hereinafter referred to as a copy document) 21 to be copied is placed on the document placing plate 31 of the document placing portion 13 or the document table 22 or received by facsimile. Then, the size of the document is detected (S1), and the size of the cut sheet 56 to be recorded is selected according to the detection (S2). The size of the cut sheet 56 is selected when the original 21 is on the original placing plate 31.
When the original 21 is placed on the original platen 22, the determination is made based on the data of the read original. In the case of reception, it is determined from received data.

Next, it is determined whether or not each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b storing the cut sheet 56 of the selected size exists (S3). Then, the paper cassette 57a,
If there is a sheet 57b, it is detected whether or not the cut sheets 56 are equal to or more than a predetermined number in the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b (S).
4). If there is a predetermined number or more of cut sheets 56 in the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b, the image data of the copied document or the image data received by facsimile is recorded on the cut sheets as an image (S5). When the recording is completed, S
After the determination of 15, the program ends.

If the number of cut sheets 56 in each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b is equal to or less than a predetermined amount in the determination in S4, that is, the number of cut sheets 56 in each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b is selected. If the number of sheets is small, or if the recording progresses and the number of cut sheets 56 is reduced, the LED of the display unit 86 is turned on and a simple display is performed (S6). This simple display is continued until it is detected that the required number of cut sheets 56 is equal to or more than the predetermined number.
Then, it is determined whether or not the number of cut sheets 56 is zero. If the number is not zero, the flow shifts to S5.

If the required paper cassettes 57a and 57b do not exist in the determination in S3, and if the number of cut sheets 56 becomes zero in the determination in S7, the next paper cassettes 57a and 57b It is determined whether or not is mounted (S8). Next paper cassette 57
When the sheets a and 57b are mounted, the sizes of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b are detected, and it is determined whether or not the cut sheet 56 has a recordable size. If the size is recordable, it is determined whether reduced recording is necessary (S10). For example, when the document size is A4 size and the cut sheet 56 is B5 size, the recording magnification is set to be reduced (S11), and when it is not necessary to change the recording magnification, S11 is skipped and the processing proceeds to S4. Return.

If it is determined in step S9 that there is no recordable cut sheet 56, an alarm sound is issued by the speaker 90 (S12), and the sheet cassettes 57a, The position of 57b is LCD8
Characters are displayed on 6a.

In step S13, the sheet feeding cassette 57
a and 57b are displayed, and the S
If it is determined in step 8 that the next sheet cassette 57a or 57b does not exist, a display is performed in S14. In this display, characters indicating that there is no cut sheet 56 usable for recording are displayed on the LCD 86a. After the execution of this display, the program ends.

According to the above embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained. In the copy / facsimile MFP of this embodiment,
When the number of cut sheets 56 of a preset size is reduced in each of the sheet cassettes 57a and 57b, the fact is easily displayed on the LCD 86a. In other words, even if the cut sheet 56 in one sheet cassette 57a (57b) runs out, if there is still a cut sheet 56 in the other sheet cassette 57b (57a), the fact is simply displayed. When all of the usable recordable cut sheets 56 are exhausted, the fact is displayed on the LCD 86a. Therefore, the operator is not misunderstood as being unable to record despite the state in which the MFP can record. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operator from replenishing cut sheets in a state where the multifunction peripheral can record, and to improve work efficiency.

Further, one paper cassette 57a, 57b
It is not necessary to provide a complicated display device for displaying the cut sheet 56 every time it runs out, and it may be a display device that only displays it when all of the usable cut sheets 56 are gone. Therefore, the configuration of the display device is simplified, and the display can be simplified to avoid obscurity.

In the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral of this embodiment, when the number of cut sheets 56 stored in each of the paper cassettes 57a and 57b becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the LED 86b corresponding to each of the paper cassettes 57a and 57b is turned on. You. Therefore, the operator can grasp the number of remaining cut sheets 56 by turning on the LED 86b.

In the copy / facsimile multifunction peripheral of this embodiment, when the cut sheets 56 of a predetermined size and the recordable cut sheets 56 are exhausted from each of the paper feed cassettes 57a and 57b, the speaker 90 is also used. That effect is notified. Therefore, the operator can grasp the timing for replenishing cut sheets without visually recognizing the LCD 86.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment,
The present invention is embodied in a configuration in which three or more paper feed cassettes are mounted on a recording apparatus.

In the second embodiment, three paper cassettes are mounted. And in the ROM 83,
Data on the priority of the cut sheet 56 for the document is stored. For example, if the original is the A4 size and there is no A4 size as a cut sheet, the B5 size cut sheet is set as the next candidate. If there is no B5 size, the B4 size is the next candidate for the B5 size. Is set as

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8, in the programs of FIGS. 6 and 7, the judgment of S8 is changed.
That is, when the required cut sheets are exhausted, the presence or absence of the next candidate sheet cassette is determined (S21). If there is a next candidate paper cassette, the process proceeds to S9. If there is no sheet cassette of the next candidate, it is determined whether there is a sheet cassette of a next lower candidate (S22). If there is no sheet cassette, the process proceeds to S14, and the fact is indicated on the LCD 86a. Is displayed.

Therefore, in the second embodiment as well, although the number of paper feed cassettes is different from that of the first embodiment, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
Even in that case, the same operation and effect can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiments, when the number of cut sheets that can be recorded becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the fact is simply displayed on the LED 86b. However, when the cut sheets that can be recorded are exhausted, the LED is simply displayed for the first time. To be configured. Specifically, S4 shown in FIG. 6 is the determination content for asking whether or not there is a cut sheet, and the determination in S7 is omitted.

Omit the LED 86b; In this case, the simple display cannot be performed, but the display on the LCD 86a is performed when all the cut sheets are exhausted. It is.

In the second embodiment, a warning by a buzzer or a warning by a lamp is used instead of the warning by the speaker 90. The present invention is embodied in a recording apparatus in which four or more paper feed cassettes are mounted.

Although the embodiments have been described above, technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the embodiments will be described below together with their effects. The recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette according to claim 3, wherein when a warning is issued, the control unit displays the sheet cassette to be warned on the display unit.

With this configuration, the paper cassette to be warned can be recognized, and the recording paper in the paper cassette can be replaced without error.

[0055]

The present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator does not misunderstand that the recording is not possible even though the recording is possible. Can be prevented, work efficiency can be improved, and the configuration of the display means can be simplified,
Obsceneness can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of recording sheets stored in each sheet cassette can be grasped by the second display means, and the state is recognized before the recording sheets run out. The recording paper can be smoothly replenished.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the fact that the number of recording sheets in any one of the sheet cassettes is equal to or less than a predetermined number or is exhausted is notified by a warning sound. Therefore, it is possible to surely grasp that fact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating each embodiment of a multifunction peripheral embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a document placing plate of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a copy mode and a facsimile mode in each embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations in a copy mode and a facsimile mode according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations in a copy mode and a facsimile mode according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a display unit of each embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... apparatus main body, 12 ... original feeding part, 13 ... original mounting part, 14 ... reading part, 17 ... recording part, 21 ... original, 22 ...
Document table, 25: translucent plate, 31: document placing plate, 32: lid, 33: angle sensor constituting detecting means, 34: magnetic sensor constituting detecting means, 35: magnetic material, 37: light source, 38: first mirror, 39: second mirror, 40: third
Mirror, 41: moving mechanism, 50: first carriage, 51
... Second carriage, 52 ... Step motor, 56a, 5
6b: Cut paper as recording paper, 82: CPU constituting control means, 83: ROM constituting control means, 84 ...
RAM constituting control means, 86a LCD as display means, 86b LEDs 86, 87 as display means
Operation section, 87b start key, P1 standby position, P2
... First document reading position, P3 ... Start point of second document reading position.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising a plurality of paper cassettes and a display means for displaying an operation state of the apparatus. And a multi-stage cassette-equipped recording apparatus provided with control means for displaying the fact on a display means. 2. The recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to execute, when any of the recording papers in each of the paper feed cassettes is equal to or less than a predetermined quantity or runs out. A recording device with a multi-stage cassette that simply displays that effect. 3. The recording apparatus with a multi-stage cassette according to claim 1, wherein when recording is performed, when the number of recording sheets usable for recording is less than or equal to a predetermined number, or
A recording device with a multi-stage cassette provided with a warning means for notifying the effect by a warning sound.