JPS60132847A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability in an image formation apparatus in which at least either a sheet feed portion or a storing portion is plural by selecting a specified sheet feed portion or storing portion in either the sheet feed portion or the storing portion at least after turning on the power. CONSTITUTION:In an electric copying machine having two sheet feed portions including main and subsidiary sheet feed cassettes 52A, 52B and a tray 14 and a sorter 18 as a storing portion, if image formation indication is not given within a fixed time after an image is formed by using the sorter 18 which is not used usually or the sorter 18 is selected, or after turning on the power, a solenoid plunger 63 is excited to set a transport belt 19 on the usually used tray 14 side. A solenoid plunger 65B for the usually used cassette 52A for A-4 size is controlled to be excited under the similar conditions. Thus, the operation can be simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a means for switching between a paper feed section and a storage section.

Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus having two storage sections, one with a tray and the other with a sorter, each storage section is normally selected by pressing a button and used by switching between the storage sections.

However, immediately after turning on the power of a conventional image forming apparatus, it is impossible to determine whether the storage section is a tray or a sorter. Therefore, the user must press a button to select the desired storage section. or,
A similar operation was required when the person in front used the sorter as a storage unit to form an image and the person after him made copies using the tray as a storage unit.

In addition, in image forming apparatuses that have multiple paper feed units that feed transfer paper of different sizes, materials, colors, etc., each paper feed unit is normally selected and used by switching between paper feed units by operating a push button. . For example, if one paper feed section is to feed A4 transfer paper and the other is to feed B4 transfer paper, and the paper feed section is different in size, conventionally, immediately after turning on the power of such an image forming apparatus, the paper feed section will feed A4 size transfer paper. It is not possible to determine whether the paper feeding section that feeds transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as A4 paper feeding section) is the paper feeding section that feeds B4 size transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as B4 paper feeding section). Therefore, the user must press a button to select the desired paper feed section. Also, the person in front is B4.
A similar operation was required when a person later made an A4 size copy of an image formed using the paper feed section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus having a control means for switching between a storage section and a paper feeding section, which enables image formation to be performed as automatically as possible without unnecessary operating procedures such as those mentioned above. be.

-2 The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic copying machine to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, 1 is a mesh-like photosensitive drum having a transparent insulating layer, a photoconductive layer, and a conductive layer from the surface (for example, detailed in Published Patent No. 19455 of 1975), 2 is a primary charger, and 3 is a secondary charger. Charger, 4 is a lamp, 5 is a document table, 6 is a modulation charger, 7 is an insulated drum, 8 is a developer, 9A is a roller that feeds A4 size transfer paper 10A, 9B is a B4 size transfer paper
11 is a transfer charger, 12 is a conveyor belt, 13 is a fixing roller, 14 is a tray, 18 is a sorter, 20 is a 10 bin, 52A is a cassette that supplies the transfer paper 10A, 52B is a This is a cassette that feeds the transfer paper 10B. The document on the document table 5 is subjected to slit exposure using the lamp 4 while moving the mirror 15, and the rotating photosensitive drum l, which has been previously charged by the primary charger 2, is subjected to secondary charging by the secondary charger 3 at the same time. The exposed image is irradiated to form a -order electrostatic latent image. A secondary electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the insulated drum 7 by the modulation charger 6, and the secondary image is developed by the developer 8.

The toner or image is banded onto the transfer paper 10A or 10B fed from the paper feed cassette 52A or 52B! , vessel l
The transfer paper 10A 1. l O,B
, the toner images are conveyed, fixed by the heat roller fixing device 13, and discharged onto the sorter 18 or the tray 14. secondary! Even after the image is formed, the primary latent image disappears and there is no
Therefore, the photosensitive drum 1 is further rotated, and the secondary latent images are continuously formed by the first charger 6, and the transfer paper 10 is sent one after another to the transfer section, and transfer, fixing, and ejection are continued.

Incidentally, 16 is a lamp 1 for removing the surface charge of the photosensitive drum l.
．． 17. This is a cleaning process for removing toner from the surface of the insulating drum 7.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the operation display panel of the apparatus of FIG. 1. In the figure, 21 is the copy start button, 2 and 2 are the copy/number setting keys, 23 is the set number of sheets display, PBT is the tray selection key, PBS is the sorter selection key, and 26 is whether the current storage unit is the sorter or tray. PBA is an A4 size cassette selection key, PBB is a B4 size cassette selection key, and 28 is the display.

When the tray 14 is selected as the storage section, the transport bell h19 in FIG. When the sorter 18 is selected as the storage section, the belt 19 is set at the position indicated by the solid line, and the transfer paper 10 is discharged from the second discharge roller 51 and stored in the sorter. Also, when A4 size is selected, the main paper feed force (Cera),
If A4 size transfer paper is available in 52A, it is specified. 52B is a sub cassette, and when the main cassette runs out of paper, if there is paper of the same size as the main cassette 52A, the drive of the paper feed roller 9 is automatically switched, and the sub cassette 52B
The paper is fed from In addition, the main cassette 52A is 2
000-3000 sheets, 500-10 in sub cassette 52
Can store 00 sheets of paper. The paper sent to the sorter 18 is carried by the constantly rotating belt 55 and sent to the pins. A guide pawl axi is provided for each pin, and a detector 61.6
Each time 2 detects paper, the guide claws are activated in order to direct the paper toward the pins and store it in each pin.

Next, switching control between the tray and the sorter, which are storage units, will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a switching control circuit for the tray and sorter, and FIG. 4 shows a timing chart for each part. SLI is the tray sorter switching solenoid, Kl, 2 and 3 are relays, LT is the tray usage indicator lamp, LS is the sorter usage indicator lamp, Ql is the Yuko junction transistor (hereinafter referred to as UJT), CPY is the copy signal, ECI is the terminal voltage of capacitor C1, ER
5 is the terminal voltage of the resistor R5, SK2 is the input signal to the coil S of 2, and SSL is the input signal to the solenoid SLl. The key to select the tray as the storage section is PBT, and the key to select the sorter is PBS. When the key PBT is pressed, voltage is applied to coil S of 2 in the latching relay, and contact 2-1 is connected to the a side. Even if the relay is no longer energized, it will maintain its current state because it is a latching relay. When contacts 2 to 1 are connected to the a side, the exit position indicator lamp LT lights up and is displayed on the display 26 in FIG. 2 to notify the user. At the same time, current flows through the solenoid SLI, activating the solenoid SLI. The electromagnetic plunger 63 pulls the lever 64, and the lower pair of conveyor bells)
19 moves to the position indicated by the dotted line, that is, to the tray side paper discharge outlet.

When the sorter selection key PBS is pressed, voltage is applied to coil R of relay 2, which connects contact point 2-1 to b, and the exit position indicator lamp LS lights up to inform the user and at the same time excite the solenoid SLI. Therefore, the plunger 63 is also released, and the lever 64 is extended and the conveyor bell) 1
9 moves to the position indicated by the solid line, that is, to the sorter side paper discharge outlet.

Next, we will describe the operation of the control circuit when the sorter 18 is selected as the storage section. When the copy button 21 is pressed at time T1 in FIG.
l turns on, the normally closed contact of contact K1-1 opens, and PBS, P
Even if the BT key is pressed, relay 2 does not operate, creating a so-called switching prohibited 1F state. At the same time, contact K1-2 is closed to stop charging of capacitor CI. When the copying is completed at time T2, the copy signal CPY becomes O'' level, the relay Kl is turned off, the contact Kl-1 is closed, the inhibit +h state is released, and switching becomes possible. At the same time, the contact K1-2 is It becomes open and charging of capacitor C1 starts via resistors R2 and R3.Resistor R2
, R3 and capacitor CI is U
Connected to the emitter of JTQI, U J TQ
If the open circuit voltage ratio of 1 is η, then the voltage of capacitor C1 is 24
×η(V), that is, at time T3, UJTQI
The resistance between the pace and eminota becomes low, and the charge of the capacitor C1 is discharged through the resistor R5, and a voltage is generated across the resistor R5. This is a well-known oscillation circuit, and the oscillation period of this oscillation circuit can be adjusted by a variable resistor R2, but here it is selected to be about 30 seconds to 60 seconds. The oscillation output of this oscillation circuit is voltage ER5 across resistor R5, and this output is amplified by transistors Q2 and Q4 and input to coil S of relay 2. That is, the coil S of relay 2 is energized at time T3, which is 30 to 60 seconds after the copy end time T2, and the contact 2-1 is switched to the a side, so the solenoid SLI is energized, the electromagnetic plunger 63 is activated, and the tray is activated. 14 side) 10 moves to the position indicated by the dotted line.

However, if the key PES is pressed between time T2 and T3, relay 3 is turned on, and as a result, contact 3-1 is closed only when the gear PBS is pressed, discharging the capacitor C1, so that the belt 19 is the position of the solid line,
If the copy button 21 is pressed at time T5, the paper is discharged to the sorter 18 side.

Next, after the belt 19 moves to the tray 14 side, the PBS is pressed at time T6, and the time interval starts from 30 seconds.
If the copy button 21 is not pressed within 60 seconds, the oscillation circuit starts oscillating again at time T7, and the transistor Q2
．． It is amplified by Q4, coil S of relay 2 is energized, contact 2-1 is connected to side a, so solenoid SLI is energized, electromagnetic plunger 63 is activated, and the conveyor belt is set on the tray 14 side.

Here, the operation immediately after the power switch is turned on will be described. Immediately after turning on, it is unclear whether contact 2-1 in relay 2 is on the a side or the b side. Therefore, using a time constant circuit consisting of resistors R9 and RIO and capacitor C2, transistor Q3 is activated immediately after power is turned on, and a pulse with a certain width is applied to coil S of 2 to the relay, and 2-1 is connected to the contact point a. Set it on the side. Immediately after the power is turned on, the charge on the capacitor C2 is 0, so it is charged by the resistors R9 and RIO.

Until this charging is completed, transistor Q3 operates, and transistor Q4 operates via R7. The collector current of transistor Q4 flows through two coils S of the relay. As a result, the contact point 2-1 is connected to the a side, the solenoid SLI is energized, the electromagnetic plunger 63 is activated, and the conveyor belt is set on the tray side.

Note that the belt may be set after a certain period of time after turning on the power.

Further, in this embodiment, a paper ejection outlet is provided for each storage section, but it is also possible to keep the paper ejection exit constant and switch only the storage section by moving it.

Further, in this embodiment, the switched mode is set to the relay side, but the user is free to choose which mode to set.

Next, switching of the paper feed cassette will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 5 is a control circuit diagram for switching paper cassettes. Figure 3 is different from the part surrounded by a broken line x and the selection key is P.
The only difference is that BT and PB3 have been changed to PBA and PBB, and the same symbols are used for the same functions as in Fig. 3. FIG. 6 shows signal waveform diagrams of each part. PBA is a push button key for specifying A4 size cassette, PBB is a push button key for specifying B4 cassette, 21 is a copy button, LA is A
4 cassette usage indicator lamp, LB is a B4 cassette usage indicator lamp, Kl is a relay that holds the copy signal CPY,
R2 is a latching relay, and relays Kl and 2 select A4 cassette instruction solenoid SLA or B4 cassette instruction solenoid SLB.

ECI is the terminal voltage of capacitor C1, ER5 is resistor R5
, SR2 is a pulse input signal to the coil S of relay 2, SA is a pulse input signal to the solenoid SLA, and SB is a pulse input signal to the solenoid SLB.

When the switch PBA is pressed, voltage is applied to coil S of 2 in the latching relay, and contact 2-1 is connected to the a side. (R2 is no longer energized and is a latching relay, so the state of ~ is maintained as it is.) As a result, the lamp (A) lights up to notify the user. At the same time, the solenoid SLA turns on and is activated by the solenoid SLA. The plunger 65A shown in the first diagram operates, and the lever 66
A is drawn and the roller 9B separates from the B4 size transfer paper 10B and comes to the position indicated by the dotted line. On the other hand, the plunger 65B is released and the roller 9A comes to the position indicated by the solid line, so preparations for feeding the A4 size transfer paper 10A from the cassette 52A are completed.
By pressing the copy button 21, the roller 9A rotates and the A4 transfer paper 10A is fed. Laura is 9 here
Both A and 9B may be rotated, or only 9A may be rotated.

Also, if you press the B44 size selection key PBB, 2-1 is b
The B4 indicator lamp LB connected to the side lights up, the solenoid SLB turns on, the plunger 65B operated by the solenoid SLH operates, and the lever 66B is pulled.
The roller 9A is separated from the A4 size transfer paper 10A and comes to the position indicated by the dotted line. On the other hand, Prussia 65A is released and roller 9B
is at the position indicated by the solid line, so preparations for feeding the B4 size transfer paper 10B from the cassette 52B are completed, and by pressing the copy button 21, the transfer paper 10B is fed. Next, the operation when the B4 size selection key PBB is pressed and then the copy button 21 is pressed will be described. When the switch PBB is pressed at time TO in FIG. 6 and the copy button 21 is pressed at time T1, copying starts in the reduction mode, the copy signal CPY goes to the l'' level, the relay Kl is turned on, and the contact K1-1 is opened. , even if the key PBA is pressed, relay 2 does not operate, creating a so-called switching prohibited state.The other contact K1-2 related to relay 1 closes, so capacitor C1 is not charged.When copying ends at time T2. The copy signal becomes ``O'' level, the relay Kl is turned off, the contact K1-1 is closed, the inhibited state is released, and switching becomes possible.At the same time, the contact K1-2 is opened, and the resistors R2 and R3 are turned off. Charging of the capacitor C1 is started via the resistor R2, R3 and the capacitor C1. Assuming that η is the voltage of capacitor C1, when the voltage of capacitor C1 becomes 24×η (V), that is, at time T3, the resistance between the pace and emitter of UJTQl becomes low, and the charge of capacitor C1 is discharged through resistor R5, and a voltage is generated in resistor R5. This is a well-known oscillation circuit, and the oscillation period of this oscillation circuit is controlled by a variable resistor R.
2, it can be adjusted, but in this case, it is set to about 30 seconds to 60 seconds. The oscillation output of this oscillation circuit is resistor R5
This voltage is amplified by transistors Q2 and Q4 and input to coil S of relay 2. That is, the coil S of 2 in the relay is 30 minutes from the copying end time T2.
2-1 is excited at time T3 after 60 seconds to 2-1 at the contact point.
to A side and select A4 size copy mode (hereinafter referred to as A4 size copy mode).
mode).

However, the copy button 21 is pressed again between time T2 and time T3.
If you press , you can make a preview copy in B4 size copy mode (hereinafter referred to as B4 mode). Also, after switching to the A4 mode, when the key PBB is pressed at time T4, relay 3 is turned on, which causes contact 3-1 to close only when the key PBB is pressed, discharging the capacitor CI and B4. Time T in mode
5, press the copy button 21 to obtain a B4 size copy.

Next, after switching to A4 mode, the switch PB
After pressing B at time T6, the time interval is 30 seconds to 60 seconds.
If the copy button 21 is not pressed within seconds, the oscillation circuit starts oscillating again at time T7, and the transistor Q2
, coil S of 2 is excited in the relay via Q4, and 2
-1 is connected to the a side and becomes A4 mode.

This section describes the operation immediately after the power switch is turned on. Immediately after turning on, it is unclear whether contact 2-1 in relay 2 is on the a side or the b side. So resistor R9, RIO and capacitor C2
Using the time constant circuit, transistor Q3 is activated immediately after the power is turned on, and 5 pulses with a certain width are applied to coil S of 2 to set the relay to A4 mode. Immediately after the power is turned on, the charge on the capacitor C2 is O, so it is charged by the resistors R9 and RIO. Until this charging is completed, transistor Q3 operates, and also operates transistor Q4 via R7. The collector current of transistor Q4 flows through two coils S of the relay. As a result, the contact point 2-1 is a
The solenoid SL4 is turned on and the A4 mode is set.

In this embodiment, it is set to always switch to the A4 mode, but the user is free to choose which mode to set.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has described switching only the size, since the paper feed cassette is replaceable, it is of course possible to switch cassettes differentiated by the material or color of the transfer paper.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cassette was selected by operating a plunger using a solenoid to separate the roller from the transfer paper, but the cassette could be selected by controlling the rotational drive section of each roller without separating the roller. It is also possible to select.

In addition, although the above explanation has been explained separately for switching the storage section and switching the paper feed section, the present invention can also switch both the storage section and the paper feed section to a normal use mode at the same time. It is also possible to switch only one circuit by operating only one circuit.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, after an image is formed using a storage section that is not normally used by a user in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, or after an image is formed using a storage section that is not normally used by a user, If an image formation instruction is not given within a certain period of time after selection, or after the power is turned on, the storage section can be automatically switched to the normally used storage section without the need to operate the instruction operation of the storage section.

Similarly, if the user does not issue an image formation instruction within a certain period of time after forming an image using a paper source that is not normally used, or after selecting a paper source that is not normally used, Or, immediately after turning on the power, the paper feeding section can be automatically switched to the normally used paper feeding section without the need to operate the paper feeding section.

Further, it is also possible to automatically switch both the storage section and the paper feed section to the normally used storage section and paper feed section 8 at the same time.

As described above, the present invention is effective in promoting simplification of operation of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the operation display panel of the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a storage section switching control circuit diagram according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a signal waveform diagram of each part of the circuit of FIG. 6, FIG. 5 is a paper feed section switching control circuit diagram in the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a signal waveform diagram of each part of the circuit of FIG. 9A, 9B, 19 are rollers, 10A, IOB are transfer paper,
1.4 is a tray, 18 is a sorter, 12 is a conveyor belt, 2
0 is pin, 21 is copy button, 52A, 52B is cassette, 63.65 is, 6FiB is plunger, LT, L
S, LA, LB are indicator lamps, PBT, PSS, PB
A and PBB indicate keys, respectively. 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus in which one of the sheet-shaped image bearing member has a plurality of paper feeding sections or storage sections, after turning on the power of the image forming apparatus, one of the paper feeding sections or the storage section An image forming apparatus characterized in that a specific paper feeding section or storage section is selected in at least one of them.