JPS6033571A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restart copying operation based upon automatic feed through simple operation by counting and displaying the number of return originals after abnormality such as a jam occurs, and switching the automatic feed when returnning operation is carried on up to this number of return originals. CONSTITUTION:The automatic original feeder (ADF) consisting of an original feeder part A which separates and feeds one of plural originals and a setter part B which feeds the original to an exposure position is provided with a tray E at an insertion slot for return originals. The number of return originals is counted and displayed after abnormality such as a jam occurs. An operator inserts the return originals from the tray E up to said number, and then switching to ADF operation is performed to close a shutter 17 for the return originals, which are inhibited from being inserted. Consequently, the need to rearrange originals after abnormality such as a jam occures is eliminated and coyping by the ADF is restarted easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus equipped with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) that separates each sheet and feeds each sheet to a predetermined position within the apparatus.

(Prior Art) As a conventional image forming apparatus of this type, there is a copying apparatus equipped with an ADF that sequentially feeds originals placed on an original tray to an exposure position. In such a conventional apparatus, A[]F exchanges the original at the end of exposure of the original in the copying operation to increase the copying speed.

Generally, when a conveyance abnormality such as a jam occurs within the main body of a collar copying machine, the conveyance abnormality is often a conveyance abnormality related to the copy paper of the original that has already been ejected. In such a case,
In conventional devices, the operator compares the copy paper and the original, and selects one or more originals that have already been fed by the ADF and needs to be recopied (hereinafter referred to as the returned original) and the original. After aligning the originals on tray 1- once and placing them on the original tray, a copy button or the like is used to instruct the copying apparatus to resume copying.

Therefore, such conventional devices have a problem of low operability when dealing with the occurrence of conveyance abnormalities such as jams. Additionally, if the operator neglects to realign the returned original with the original on document tray 1/A, and restarts copying after simply overlapping the returned original on top of the original on original tray 1/A. After restarting copying, abnormalities such as jams are likely to occur during transport of the original, and furthermore, there is the problem of damaging the original.

(Purpose) The present invention If has been made in view of such conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a return document insertion slot for inserting a return document, so that the return document can be easily inserted when image formation is performed again after a conveyance abnormality occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of restarting image formation by a simple operation of returning the originals and sequentially inserting them from the original insertion slot.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a copying machine equipped with an ADF as an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Here, A is a part of the document feeder that separates and feeds one document from multiple documents (hereinafter referred to as the AF section), and B is a part of the document setter that feeds the document to the exposure position (hereinafter referred to as the OF section). ), C is the copying machine body,
D is an operation display section having a start key, a jam indicator lamp, etc., and E is a tray of the return document insertion slot according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of the copying apparatus shown in FIG. Here, its configuration will be explained along with its operation.

When the operator places a document on document tray 1, the AF
The original sensor lO senses the original. When the ADF start switch located on the operation display section is turned on,
A lamp (not shown) is turned on, and a pickup roller maid (not shown) is energized to lower the pickup roller 2. When a certain period of time has elapsed after the pickup solenoid is energized, the AF motor (not shown) rotates and the first document among the stacked documents begins to be conveyed.

When the AF timing sensor 11 detects the leading edge of the document being conveyed between the separation belts 3 and 4 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the power to the pickup tray maid is cut off and the pickup roller 2 moves upward. And the manuscript is AF
from the department to the DF department.

When the leading edge of the document is detected by the leaf document sensor 12, the AF
At this point, a separation solenoid (not shown) is energized to push down the separation belt (lower) 4. Furthermore, the operation of separation belts 3 and 4 is also stopped. Then, after a certain period of time has passed after the separation solenoid is energized, the AF motor stops.
Stop the operation of section F.

In the DF section, when the OF document sensor 12 detects the leading edge of the document, a press λ-n remate (not shown) is energized, and the presser roller 5 moves to the lower blade to press the document. And O
When the F motor and clutch (both not shown) are turned on, the DF section presser roller 5. Conveyance roller 6, belt drive roller 15. The turn roller 16 and the discharge roller 8 rotate. As a result, the document begins to be conveyed. When the document passes the conveyance roller 6, the leading edge of the document is detected by the entrance sensor 13, and from this point on, clock pulses generated from a clock generator (not shown) are counted. Further, when the power to the presser solenoid is cut off, the presser roller 5 moves in the -E direction. Next, the original enters between the full-face belt 7 and the original platen glass 20 and is conveyed by the full-face belt 7.

When the entrance sensor 13 detects the rear end of the document, if there is a document to be fed next in the AF section, feeding of the next document is started as described above. This document is waiting at the [IF document sensor 12 position].

When the total number of pulses generated from the clock generator reaches a predetermined value, power to the I)F motor and clutch is cut off. At the same time, the brakes are energized. A copy start signal is then sent to the copying machine main body C (see FIG. 1), and the copying operation is started. Note that the power to the brake is cut off after a certain period of time.

When a copy start signal is output from the ADF and the copying machine main body C receives the signal, the drive motor 44 starts driving. An original placed at a predetermined position on an original platen glass 20 is exposed by an exposure lamp 21. An image of the original is formed via an optical system 22 on a photosensitive drum 23 rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and a latent image of the original is formed on the photosensitive drum 23, which is fully charged by a charging electrode 24. The developing device 25 develops the latent image, and the transfer pole 2B transfers it onto copy paper. Thereafter, the remaining toner on the photosensitive drum 23-1- is removed by the cleaning section 27, and the photosensitive drum 23 is further neutralized by the eraser lamp 28 and the static eliminator 28.

On the other hand, copy paper is taken out one by one from the cassette 30A or 30B by paper feed rollers 31A or 31B, respectively, and fed to the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 via the registration rollers 32. The copy paper on which the original image has been transferred is conveyed on a conveyor belt 34 via a separation roller 33 and sent to a fixing section 35. Next, the copy paper fixed by the fixing roller 36 passes through the ejection roller 37 and is delivered to the ejection tray 38.
is discharged. A plurality of jam sensors for monitoring the conveyance state of the copy paper, in this example, a separation jam sensor 41 and a discharge jam sensor 42, are disposed on the copy paper conveyance path to detect jams.

Further, the forward/reverse clutch 45 moves the exposure lamp 21 and the optical system 22 to expose the original on the platen glass 2o. When the set number of copies of the original is completed, the ADF is activated when the final exposure of the optical system 22 is reversed.
An operating signal is sent to the The ADF rotates the DF motor in response to the operation signal, energizes the clutch, and starts ejecting the exposed original using the full-surface belt 7. Then, the document is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 9 by the ejection roller 8 . The ADF stops energizing the OF motor and clutch after a certain period of time has elapsed after the paper ejection sensor 4 detects the leading edge of the document, and then energizes the presser solenoid in response to the detection of the document by the DF document sensor 2, as described above. Send the next original by following the steps below.

Note that 43 is a jam reset switch that releases a jam state, which will be described later. 18 is a sensor that detects the returned document, and I7 is a shutter that prevents the returned document from entering the delivery route.
(not shown) is in the on state, the shutter opens.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of an operating section provided in the main body C of the copying machine. Here, 55 is a two-tiered cassette) 30
A or lower cassette 30B is selected by the cassette selection key, and 54 is a slide lever for setting the copy density, and the position of 5th pa in the figure is the standard density. 53 is a numeric key to set the number of copies, 81 is a clear key used to cancel the number, 51 is an interrupt to the copying machine before the number of copies set by key 53 is completed, and a different number of copies is made. An interrupt key 52 is used to command the start of copying, and a stop key 52 is used to stop the copying operation during continuous copying of the set number of copies.

057 is the cassette selected by the cassette selection key 55.
5B is a display section that displays the type of selected cassette loaded in the selected cassette. 5 is a jam display section that indicates when a jam occurs in the copying machine main body C; 59 is a copy number display; when the desired number of copies is set using the numerical keys 53, the setting is For example, if the number is 7
Displayed in segments. In addition, the copying machine main body C described later
It is also possible to display the number of jammed papers remaining in the ADF and the number of originals returned from the ADF. Reference numeral 60 denotes an interrupt indicator, which lights up when the interrupt key 51 is pressed and goes out after the interrupt copying is completed.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a control section that performs the processing procedures shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 according to the present invention, and includes a control section disposed within the copying machine main body C and a control section disposed within the ADF. Consists of. First, in the control unit in the copying machine main body C, -COMA is, for example, a known one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter simply abbreviated as ILCOMA), and ROM, RA
It has M etc. The jam reset switch 43, separation jam sensor 41, ejection jam sensor 42, signals generated by other manual switches, and the ADF operation signal SAO output by the ADF are respectively transmitted to P6-Pn (1 input capo of COMA). , copy start signal SO9, and jam reset signal SJR. Further, from the output ports F0 to Fn of p COMA, data signals of the copy number display 58 and driver D7 are respectively output.
and a drive signal supplied to the copy sheet count display 58 via driver D8, a jam display signal sent to the jam display section 58 via driver D9, a sheet count data signal SSD that informs the ADF of the number of sheets to be returned, and driver D. f
) A11F activation signal SAS supplied to the ADF via I
, outputs a main body jam signal SCJ to be supplied to the ADF via the driver Dn.

Next, in the control section in the ADF, 1. COMB is g
It is a microcomputer similar to COMA. That p
Input capo-1-P6 to Pn of LCOMB, respectively,
AF section start switch 100. Return original sensor 18 that detects the returned original, other input signals, and original number data outputted from the copying machine main body C No. 8 SSD;
Leads ADF start signal SAS and main body jam signal SCJ. In addition, a signal is supplied from the output ports F6 to Fn of #LCOMB to the ADF start indicator light 101 via the driver paste, and a signal is sent via the driver D2 to drive the shutter 17 that prevents the returned document from entering the meter. A drive signal for the shutter solenoid 102, other output load signals, an ADF operation signal SAO, a copy start signal SCS, and a jam reset signal SJR to be supplied to the copying machine main body C are output. Note that reading, outputting, etc. of these signals are controlled according to programs stored in ROMs in , COMA, and -COMB.

5 to 8 show an example of the processing by the control unit shown in FIG. 4. Here, in step 91, the shutter solenoid is turned off, the original enters the ADF, and the return original opening is closed;
Next, it is determined whether the operator has placed the original on the original tray 1, and if it has been set, it is further determined whether the operator has pressed the ADF activation switch 100.

Here, if it is determined that the nail is fixed, the process advances to step S2, and the ADF
The AF turns on the A[lF startup indicator 101 in the operation unit, outputs the ADF operation signal SAO to notify the copying machine main body C that the ADF is operating, and separates only one original document and sends it to the DF section. Perform a separation operation.

In step S3, the original is separated by the AF section, and
It is determined based on the detection signal of the DF document sensor 12 whether or not the document has been conveyed to the F section, and when the DF document sensor 12 detects the document, the OF section enters a standby state and proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the copy start signal SC8 is turned off to prohibit unnecessary copying operations of the copying machine main body C.

Next, it is determined whether the ADF activation signal SAS is being outputted from the copying machine main body C, and if it is not being outputted, a monitoring routine is entered which continues to check whether or not a main body jam signal is being outputted. If the 〇F start signal is output, it is checked whether or not the OF document sensor 12 has detected a document, and if it has been detected, the process advances to step S5. If it has been output, the process advances to step S7.

In step S5, the document is fed and ejected, and it is monitored whether or not the fed document reaches the exposure position on the platen glass 20. When the document reaches the exposure position, a copy start signal S is sent.
C8 is output to instruct the copying machine main body C to start copying operation.

In the subsequent step S8, the output of the shutter solenoid, which will be described later, is checked, and if there is an output, the copying machine main body C
The inputted returned original data is decremented to determine how many times the returned original has been made. Here, if all the returned documents have not been returned, monitoring is continued by the returned document sensor 18, and the process returns to step S3 each time the operator returns one document at a time. In addition, if the shutter solenoid 102 is off, or if the return of the returned original is completed, the shutter solenoid 102 is turned off and normal operation is resumed, and a check is made to see if the original is set on the tray L. do. Here, if there is a next document, the process moves to step S2, and if there is no next document, the process moves to step S7 via step S4.

In step S7, the DF section executes document ejection, and when ejection is completed, the 〇F operation signal is turned off, and the copying machine main body C instructs the ADF to end the operation, and also turns off the ADF startup display, etc., and then operates the inform the person that the ADF has finished operating.

Next, in step S8, the presence or absence of a main body jam signal is checked. If the body jam signal is not detected, it is determined that the Al3F operation has been completed normally, and the ADF is activated for the first time. Return to JJ state and return to step l. on the other hand,
If a body jam signal is detected, as described later,
This is a case where a jam occurs in the main body C, and in this case, the output of the main body jam signal is also detected in step S4 described above. Therefore, in step S7, D
The next document that has been detected by the document sensor 12 is also passed over the platen to be completely ejected, and when a jam occurs in the main unit, the Ai miller removes the remaining document set and stores it inside the ADF. All the originals that have entered are ejected, and the process advances to step S9.

In step S9, after storing the data SSD of the number of returned originals supplied from the main body C and performing a main body jam reset described later, the operator performs the work of returning the number of originals according to the display of the number of returned originals. When a document is inserted into the return document insertion slot E and the return document sensor 18 is turned on, the jam reset signal supplied to the main body C is turned from on to off.

In step SIO, the shutter solenoid 10
2 is turned on, the shutter is opened, the returned original is sent to the entrance of the DF section, the ADF start indicator light 101 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S3. Execute. Next, in step S6, after returning the returned original a number of times equal to the next displayed number of returned originals data, the shutter solenoid is turned off to prohibit insertion of the original from the returned original opening, and the ADF returns to normal operation. If there are 7 6 originals in the original tray L, the ADF operation continues.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a processing procedure performed by a control section disposed within the main body C of the copying machine 8. First, in step Sll, the operator uses the numeric keys 53 on the operation section to select the number N of copies to be made.
When set, the number of copies N is displayed on the copy number display 58.

In step 12, the ADF activation signal SAS is outputted to instruct the ADF to start its operation, and in response to this signal, the A-leaf starts separating and transporting the originals. When the document reaches the fog light position on the platen, pCOMA determines whether or not a copy start signal is supplied, turns off the ADF start signal in response to the input of that signal, and prints the next document fed by AI)F. The document is stopped at the entrance of the DF section, and the process proceeds to step S14.

On the other hand, if the copy start signal is not supplied, the process advances to step S13 and 1. Check the first document flag (described later) provided in the RAM in COMA.

If the flag is not set, the process returns to step S12 and waits, and if it is set (8), it is determined whether or not the ADF operation signal SAO is being supplied. If there is a supply, the process returns to step S12 and waits, and if there is no copy, post-copy processing is performed.
Proceed to step 918.

In step S14, a one-sheet copy sequence for executing one copy and a jam check are performed.

In step S15, the occurrence of a jam is checked, and if no jam occurs, the process advances to step 91B.
On the other hand, if a jam occurs, the jam removal procedure (
Immediately before proceeding to the flowchart (see FIG. 8), calculations to be described later are performed in the jam check routine (see FIG. 7).

In step S16, the remaining number of copies n=N-
1, and if n=0 at the end of the one-copy sequence, step Sl? On the other hand, if n≧1, n is displayed on the number-of-copies display 58, and the process returns to step S14, where a one-copy sequence is performed. Note that the end point of this one-sheet copy sequence is equal to the reversal point at the end of the forward movement of the optical system 22.

Step Sl? In this case, assuming that the set number of copies has been completed, the value N of the set number of sheets is entered into the number of remaining sheets n and output to the copy number display 59, and the first document flag is set to display the number of copies for one page of the original. The ADF is made to remember that the copying has been completed, returns to step S12, and causes the ADF to start operating again.

If the operation of the ADF is completed in step S13, the process advances to step S]8 to perform post-copy processing, reset the first document flag, return to the initial state, and return to step S1.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the calculation and display processing (jam check processing) procedure when a jam is detected. First, step S2
0, the separation jam sensor 41 detects whether or not a delayed jam occurs.

If a delay jam occurs, the process advances to step S21;
If no occurrence has occurred, the process advances to step S22.

In step S22, the discharge jam sensor 42 detects whether or not a paper jam has occurred. Part 9 If a delay jam occurs, proceed to step S23 and 1
If it has not occurred, the process advances to step S24.

In step S24, the paper discharge jam sensor 42 detects whether or not a retained jam has occurred. If the accumulated jam has occurred, the process advances to step S25, and if it has not occurred, the process returns to step 920, where the location where the jam has occurred is continuously detected and the jam is repeated. lj! It detects the number of jammed papers remaining in the machine, and also detects the number of originals returned while the ADF is in use, and stores the data.

In step S21, the set number of sheets N is compared with the remaining number of copies n, and if n=N, the number of jammed sheets in the machine is determined as P.
-1, the number of returned originals is stored as d-1, n=N-
If 1'T', store P-2 and d-1, and n≦N
-2, P-3°d-1 is stored and subjected to processing by a jam processing routine to be described later.

In step 523, if n=N, the first original flag is set, and the ADF operation signal is output, that is, one copy of the original has advanced by more than one sheet, and the previous original If it is thought that a jam has occurred with one sheet of copy paper and the next document is being ejected without passing through the ADF at that point, P-1 and d-2 are stored. Furthermore, if the first document flag is reset or the ADF operation signal is off, P-1 and d-1 are stored.

If n≦N-1, P-2 and d-1 are stored.

In step S25, n=N and AII
When the F operation signal is output, P-2, d-2
If n = N - mu', or the above A
When the DF operation signal is turned off, P-2, d-
1 is stored, and if n≦N-2, P-3 and d-1 are stored.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the procedure for jam removal processing.

In step 92B, data on the number of copies remaining at the time of occurrence of the jam is saved in the RAM in g COMA, and furthermore, the entire load during the copy operation is stopped.

2. In step S27, the jam indicator light 58 is turned on, a main unit jam signal is output to the ADF, and data on the number of returned originals, which is data calculated in the jam check process, is output.

Further, the number of jammed sheets in the machine, that is, the data calculated in the jam check routine, is displayed on the copy number display 58.

At that point, the operator knows that a jam has occurred in the main body C, and in step S2B, removes the jammed paper from the machine according to the information displayed on the display, turns off all jam sensors, and then presses the jam reset switch 43. By pressing , the jam in the main body C is reset and the jam indicator light 58 is turned off.

Furthermore, in step S29, after resetting the jam in the main body C, if the ADF is in use, data on the number of returned originals in the ADF is displayed on the copy number display 58 to inform the operator that Have the students remove the originals from the number slot and insert them one by one through the original opening. Then, as shown in steps S8 and SIO described above, the book q shirt reset signal is output, the shutter solenoid is turned on, and the meter section is operated so that the document can be inserted into the INF section. On the other hand, main body C detects the presence or absence of a jam reset signal, and if detected, step S3
Go to 0.

In step S30, the display on the copy count display 59 is returned to the display of the number of copies remaining before the occurrence of the jam, which had been saved, and the main body jam signal is turned off to return to the initial state and waits for a copy start signal.

(effect) 1-Explanation [7. 1' According to the present invention, in addition to the automatic document feeder (ADF) + 11 document tray used to feed originals one by one, there is also a return tray for inserting the original to be returned. Since the "Document Insertion 1" is provided, when performing 111-degree image formation after a conveyance abnormality such as a jam occurs,
The image of the returned original can be re-formed by a simple operation of sequentially inserting the returned original into the returned original insertion slot, and after the image re-formation is completed, the AIIF is transferred to li'l: f). As a result, it is possible to resume image formation for the original on the north original storage tray, thereby achieving the effect of realizing an image forming apparatus that can safely perform image formation without requiring complicated operations.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a copying apparatus equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF) as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the copying apparatus; The figure is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the operation section provided in the copying machine body of the copying machine, Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit provided in the copying machine, and Figure 5 is the ADF. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure for clearing a jam by the control unit provided in the copying machine. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for clearing a jam by a control unit provided in the main body of the copying machine. Fig. 7 shows calculation and display processing when a jam is detected. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the jam removal process. l...Document placement tray, 2...Pickup roller, 3.4...Separation belt, 5...DF presser roller, 6...Transport roller, 7...Full surface belt, 8...・Ejection roller, 9... Original output tray, lO... AF original sensor, 11... F timing sensor, 12... DF original sensor, 13... 1 sensor, 14...・Sheet discharge sensor, 15...Belt drive roller, 16...Turn roller, 17...Shutter, 18...Return document sensor, 6 20...Document platen glass, 21...Fog light lamp , 23... Photosensitive drum, 41... Separation jam sensor, 42... Ejection jam sensor, 43... Jam reset switch, 52... Copy key, 53... Numeric key, 56.57. ...display section, 5 days...jam display section, 59...copy count indicator, 100...^DF start switch, 101...ADF start indicator light, 102...shutter solenoid. Patent Applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming means for forming an image on a document located at a predetermined position with respect to a recording medium; a first document feeding device that sequentially conveys the document toward the predetermined position; a second document feeding device that conveys the document sheet by sheet toward the predetermined position; and when an abnormality occurs in the image forming device, a counting means for counting the number of originals that have been conveyed from the first original feeding means to the predetermined position up to that point; and if the image forming means is operating normally, the first original feeding means After a document is transported by the document feeder and an abnormality occurs in the image forming device, transport of the document by the first document feeder is prohibited and the document is transferred by the second JYT document feeder. the number of originals fed by the second original feeding means after the occurrence of the abnormality matches the number counted by the counting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for switching the conveyance of a document from the second document feeding device to the first document feeding device. (Margin below)