JPS5811960A - Controlling method for copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the shift of transfer and improve copying efficiency by fitting original sensors to an inserting part for originals and proper positions of an original circulating carrier line and controlling respective functions by regarding on/off signals of the original sensors as standard timing signals. CONSTITUTION:A pair of original inserting rollers 4, 5 are mounted near the inlet of an original inserting board 1. The nips of these pair rollers 4, 5 are permitted to be opened/closed by a solenoid 6-1 and an original size sensor group S-I is arranged between the pair rollers 4, 5 and a gate 7 to detect the width and length of an original to be inserted. In addition, an original circulation carrier device 2 is connected in succession, to the final end of the original inserting board 1 with said configuration. By controlling various functions based upon standard signals, the on/off signals of the sensor group S-I, the shift of transfer is reduced and the copyping efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of controlling a copying machine that is capable of exposing and scanning a document multiple times while conveying the document using a circulating document conveyance device (hereinafter referred to as RDH).

Copying machine control methods generally include on/off control of various subsystems necessary for the copying process, such as the charging system, exposure system, and cleaning system, using pulse signals from a pulse generator synchronized with the rotation of the main motor. It is known to control the conveyance of original documents and copy sheets.

However, as the process speed of copying increases, especially in copying machines equipped with an RDH as described above (mainly for handling large originals), conventional control methods have been unable to prevent slipping of originals or copy paper. There was a problem in that the deviation of the transferred image caused by the copying process became significant.Also, since the conventional control method described above focuses on controlling the subsystems necessary for the copying process, there are restrictions on the timing of inserting the original, etc. However, there were drawbacks such as requiring skill to operate and poor efficiency.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks.The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks. By using this signal as a reference timing signal to control the driving of subsystems necessary for the copying process and the conveyance of copy paper, it is possible to reduce deviations in image transfer, minimize restrictions on document insertion timing, and improve copying efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a copying machine that can improve the performance of a copying machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings showing one embodiment thereof and flowcharts showing an outline of control in the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a copying apparatus including an RDH suitable for implementing the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a document insertion table, and a document circulation conveyance device f2 is provided at the terminal end (the left end in the figure) of the document insertion table, and a copying device, such as a normal electrophotographic copying device, is provided below the document circulation conveyance device 2. Place 3.

A pair of document insertion rolls 4.5 is provided near the entrance (right end in the figure) of the document insertion table 1. The pair of rolls 4 and 5 can be opened and closed by a solenoid 6-1. A document registration gate 7 is provided downstream of the pair of rolls 4 and 5. The date 7 is also configured to be driven by the solenoid 6-2 so as to be freely protrusive and retractable from the document conveyance path.

Further, a document size sensor group E+-■ is arranged between the pair of rolls 4, 5 and the r-)7, and detects the width and length of the inserted document as will be described later.

Continuing to the end of the document insertion table 1 configured as described above,
The document circulation conveyance device (RDH) 2 is arranged. The above-mentioned RDH is constructed by arranging metal drums 8-1.8-2°..., 8-n in series with a small gap between them, each of which is fixed and sufficiently grounded. Ru.

Rotatable pawls G-1, G-2°, . Each of these pawls is a rotary solenoid PR8.
-1, R8-2, --, RB-n selectively rotates the P ram 8-1°8-2. ..., 8-n
It protrudes above to form an optimal (necessary shortest) conveyance path depending on the length of the document.

Conveyor belts 9 and 1° arranged at appropriate intervals are brought into sliding contact with both upper and lower surfaces of the drum rows 8-1 to 8-n. Then, the document is transported along the selected circulation path by the transport bell) 9.10.

Further, at the front end and the rear end of the drum row, there are id 11 and transport rolls 1v, 1, which help change the direction of the document, respectively.
4 and 15 are provided. Further, the space between the conveyance belt 10 and the conveyance roll 13 is opened to form an exposure scanning window 16.

Immediately below the exposure scanning window 16, there is an exposure land 17 for irradiating the surface of the document passing therethrough, and a reflecting mirror 18A.
, 18B, an imaging lens 180, and Surin) 18D.

By this imaging optical system, a bright and dark image on the surface of the document is formed onto the photoreceptor P ram 19 of the copying device 3.

Around the photosensitive drum 19, there are provided subsystems necessary for the electrophotographic process, such as a charging corotron 20, a developing machine 21, a transfer corotron 22, a stripping corotron 23, and a cleaner 24.

On the other hand, in the figure, on the left side of the photosensitive drum 19, there are a plurality of paper trays 25.2 containing copy paper of various sizes.
6. Arrange 27... and install paper feed roll 2 on each.
8, 29, 30... and double feed prevention o-x pair 31, 3
2, 33... are provided.

Further, the copy paper is temporarily placed on standby at an appropriate position on the paper transport path between each of the paper trays 25, 26, 27, etc. and the transfer point of the photosensitive drum 19 (the lid of the transfer corotron 22). A registration roll 34 is arranged to perform transfer tying of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 19.

Reference numeral 65 is a fixing device, and 36 is a belt for conveying the copy paper onto which the toner image has been transferred.

In order to control the copying apparatus having the above-described configuration, a suitable location in the document conveyance path of the RDH 2 - for example, in the illustrated example, near the end of the document insertion table 1 or the entrance of the RDH 2, or in the vicinity of the exposure scanning window 16. Immediately before and near the rear end of the last +p plum-n of the drum row, there are second to fourth document sensors S-'.

8-i and Elf-1'/ are provided.

Further, the drum rows 8-1, 8-2, ---, F3-
An auxiliary sensor S-1゜S- is placed on the top surface near each boundary of n.
It is desirable to provide 2, . . . , 5-(n-1). With this configuration, optimal control can be performed according to the document circulation conveyance path that is selectively formed depending on the length of the document.

In the copying machine configured as described above, the control method of the present invention that uses the on/off signals of each document sensor as a reference timing signal and the operation of each function will be explained below using a flowchart showing an overview of the control. do.

FIG. 2 shows the main routine of the copying machine control method of the present invention.

Now, when the power is turned on, the first thing that happens is STI! In 1P-1, initial settings of the copying machine are made. Initial settings include, for example, things that inform the operator of the current state of the machine, such as energizing the heat fixing device that takes time to start up, displaying the type of copy paper loaded and -, and allowing the operator to specify the number of copies to be made. Settings, etc.

Next, when the 1 copy town 1 sign appears, in a second step 5TFIF-2, the operator inserts the original between the pair of original insertion rolls 4.5 with an open nip. At this time, the leading edge of the inserted document hits the document size sensor group S-1.

The size of the inserted document is determined by the sensor group S-1.
That is, the width and length of the document are detected. The width and length of the document, that is, the size, can be detected by, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 181289/1989. Control of the original, various subsystems of the copying machine, and copy paper is started by signals from the original size sensor group. This is the S-1 process of 5TEP-3.

The sea fence for these controls is 5TEP-4 in Figure 2.
, the operation is started by the document detection signal of the sensor group El-1, and is managed using a precise clock formed by interrupting a microcomputer with a pulse signal emitted in synchronization with RDH. .

This clock is configured to be reset each time the document being transported reaches its expected position and this is detected by the corresponding sensor, so that the various subsystems of the copier are always It is controlled by following the conveyance state or timing of the document. Regarding this,
This will be explained in detail later when explaining the "clock management" subroutine.

The next step is the STI! carried out by the output of said second sensor s-H! Control matters in IP-5 are R
These steps include activating the DH, feeding copy paper from the selected paper tray, and detecting a jam in the document insertion section 1.

Note that in this step, the length of the document may be determined, and the paper tray may be selected and the copy paper sent out based on this.

The processing in step 5TFlp-6 is based on the signal from the third sensor S-1 (detection of document jam in RDH, start of electrophotographic copying process, document jam that has already been detected in step 9). These tasks include selecting, forming, and releasing the optimal document transport path for the length of the copy sheet, transporting the copy sheet directly toward the transfer position, and, if necessary, feeding and unloading the next copy sheet from the tray. .

In a seventh step 5TEP-7, the sensor 48-
The IV performs jam detection during document ejection and RDH stop control.

In addition, in the 8.9th and 10th STETSU feTFIP-8゜5TEIP-9 and 5TEP-10, copy paper jam processing, various display processing, and switching on/off of switches, respectively.
Off processing is performed, but since these are not particularly different from controls in a normal copying machine, a description thereof will be omitted to avoid complexity.

Among the steps outlined above, particularly important ones will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the subroutine of 5TEP-5.

When the document size sensor group S-11C is hit by the leading edge of the inserted document (Sl), the process proceeds to the next step S210-, where the RDH2 starts operating, and clock management starts with pulse No. 48 synchronized with this. This is as stated above.

In addition, in step S2, the width (and length) of the document is detected and the registration 1 position of the leading edge of the document is taken. It is executable (
(See Japanese Patent Application No. 181289/1989).

Furthermore, this type of large copying machine is often equipped with a dust collection cyclone in the cleaner system, but since this takes time to start up, the dust collection cyclone is also activated at the same time in step S2. Good.

If the original is registered (S5) and copy paper corresponding to the original size is present in either of the paper trays 25.26 and 27 (S4.), the solenoid 6-1.6- 2 to close the nip between the pair of document insertion rolls 4 and 5. At the same time, the registration 1/7 is opened (day 5), and when it is time to insert the manuscript @ (S6), the manuscript insertion roll 4.5 is activated and the manuscript is sent toward the RD 11. (S7).

Note that if the determinations in steps 81, S3, and S4 in FIG.
, proceed to E+12, display a display to that effect, and return to the original step.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of 13TEP-5 performed based on the signal from the second sensor s-B. Step S1
Now, it is determined whether the second sensor El-11 detects the document and is turned on. If the second sensor s-H does not turn on even after the scheduled timing has passed (S2), it is determined that there is a jam in the document insertion section, a message to that effect is displayed, and the operation of the insertion section is stopped (S6). ).

When the second sensor S-■ turns ON, the conveyor bell) 9.10 is activated in response to this signal to drive the document exposure path (
S4). At the same time, the feed roll 28, 29 of the copy paper is detected by the detection signal of the second sensor s-H.
30 is selectively driven, the copy paper is conveyed by the pair of registration rolls 641, and then temporarily put on standby in order to adjust the transfer timing (05).

A, this STF detects the length of the manuscript! Performed on P-5,
Based on this, paper tray selection and copy paper feeding control may be performed. In this case, the document length is detected by starting a timer when the leading edge of the document is detected by the sensor s-1.
This can be done by counting the time until il# is reached. When the trailing edge of the document leaves the sensor S-1, this timer is reset to prepare for sensing the next document length.

Fig. 5 shows 5TEP-/), that is, the third sensor S-
The flow of processing performed by the [ signal is shown.

Since the sensor S-1 is provided just before the document enters the exposure scanning process, the process proceeds to step s2 at the same time that the sensor 8-1 detects the document in step B1, and starts charging the photosensitive drum 19. , commands to apply a voltage to the charged corotron (a, a,) 2013-. At the same time, the exposure lamp 17 is turned on.

Note that even if the scheduled time has elapsed after the second sensor sy detected the document and turned ON, and the document arrival timing has come (S7), if the third sensor S-1 does not detect the document. , it is determined that there is a jam in the document transport path. Then, the process advances to step S8, where an RDH jam is displayed and the RDH is stopped.

Next, an optimal transport path is formed according to the length of the original and the set number of copies [7], and a judgment is made to guide the original there.

That is, if it is determined in step S5 that the set number of copies is 1 or that the length of the document is longer than the maximum allowable document length of this RDH in steps 84 to S6, step 813 is performed. . After only one exposure, the original is ejected.

On the other hand, if the number of copies set is multiple and the length of the original is
For example, if the length is appropriate for circulating around the drum 8-1 of the RDH, the determination in step S4 is established. Therefore, in step S9, the mold G-1 is urged to protrude between the belts 9 and form a circulation conveyance path for the original around the P ram 8-1. Even in the case of other document lengths, the optimal (shortest necessary) document circulation conveyance path is formed according to the document length in steps 85 and 86 and steps 810 and 811, respectively.

By doing so, the efficiency of copying operations is significantly improved, and versatility is imparted to a copying machine whose main purpose is processing large originals.

Further, the number of times the leading edge of the document passes is counted by the third sensor S-1, and in step 812, the count is constantly compared with the set number of copies. If the document entering the final exposure is detected, the process advances to step 813, where all the claws G-1 to G-n are returned to their original positions, including the claws that had been protruding until now, and the document at the end of exposure is removed. Lead to the outlet.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, the various controls described above are performed based on the information provided by the third sensor 13-1. Further, based on the signal from the timer, the copy sheet is fed out from the registration roll 54, and if necessary, the next copy sheet is taken out from the paper tray.

FIG. 6 shows sTgp-7, that is, the fourth sensor S-■
3 is a flow chart of matters to be processed based on the signal of FIG. As is clear from the figure, this is just a control that detects RDH jams and document eject jams, and also detects the trailing edge of the document after the final exposure is completed and stops the RDH, so the details are as follows. Further explanation will be omitted.

Also, other auxiliary sensors S installed on the conveyance path of the RDH2
-1, S-2, -, S-(n-1) also have similar roles such as jam detection and document trailing edge detection.

Finally, returning to STgp-4, the 70- chart of the clock management subroutine shown in FIG. 7 will be explained.

In this subroutine, for example, the third sensor S-L
A timer (not shown) is reset (S2) by a signal generated at the moment when m detects the leading edge of the document (Sl).
. Thereafter, the microcomputer is made to interrupt the microcomputer with a sufficiently short pulse signal that is emitted in synchronization with the operation of the RDH2, and for each interrupt, the timer is incremented by 1 (S6), and the count value of the number of interrupts is calculated. It is used as a clock.

For example, when the count value of this timer reaches the drive timing of the registration roll pair 34 of the copy paper (84), this roll pair 64 is driven and the copy paper that has already been waiting is moved to the transfer point, ie. , and send it out toward the position of the transfer corotron 22.

Further, when the count of this timer advances and the transfer point passing time has passed (S6), if the copy paper is not detected by the copy paper sensor (not shown), the determination in step S7 is not established, and it is determined that a peeling error/jam has occurred. do.

Then, in step 8817-, the machine is stopped and a message to that effect is displayed. The same applies to the rear of the fixing device.

According to the above-described configuration, the timing at which the copy sheet enters the transfer point is determined based on the signal immediately before the start of exposure scanning of the original, so that deviations during image transfer are significantly reduced.

In the above description, in order to simplify the explanation, the timer is set and reset based only on the signal from the third sensor S-l, but the timer is set and reset based only on the signal from the third sensor S-l. It goes without saying that a third timer may be prepared. That is, for example, in the case of a machine with a long copy paper conveyance path, another timer unrelated to this timer, such as a paper detection signal from a copy paper sensor behind the fixing unit, may be used as the tying reference.

In this way, even when attached equipment such as a paper folding device or a sorter is connected, the conveyance of copy sheets can be monitored.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, even if the original or copy paper slips within the conveyance path, it has the effect of significantly reducing the displacement of the transferred image. In addition, it also has the effect of improving the efficiency of copying work, since constraints on the timing of document insertion are reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine having an RDH to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the main flowchart for controlling the copying machine of FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed review flow of ``rs-i, process J, rs-1 process'', ``re-1 process J, re-IV process'' and ``clock management'' which are subroutines of the flowchart in the figure. 1... Original insertion table, 2... Original circulation conveyance device, 6.
...electrophotographic copying machine, 4,5...document insertion roll pair,
7... Registration date, 9.10...
Conveyor belt, 16... Exposure scanning window, 19... Photosensitive drum, 22... Transfer control, 25-27...
・Paper tray, 28-30...Paper feed roll,
54... Registration roll -1?7 - Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a copying machine that scans and exposes a document inserted from the document insertion table while circulating it along a certain path, the document is inserted into the document insertion section and at key points on the document circulation path. 1. A method of controlling a copying machine, comprising: providing a sensor; and controlling various functions of the copying machine and conveyance of copy paper using an on/off signal of at least one document sensor as a reference timing signal.