JPS61126572A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the operator to progress the other job without worrying about the end of copying by outputting an end caution signal when the balance of the number of the originals to be copied attains the prescribed number and when the balance of the number of sheets to be copied attains the prescribed number and transmitting an alarm signal when the end caution signal is outputted. CONSTITUTION:The operator superposes the required number of the originals D, imposes the originals on an original tray 1 and operates a copy button, then an automatic original feeder 4 provided on a body 3 conveys successively the stacked originals D from the top to the copying position of the body 3. The copying operation of the prescribed number of sheets is executed in said position. The copies are fed to a sorter 5 attached to the side part of the body 3 and are successively distributed and housed into sorter bins B1-B16. The copies are sequentially fed from the lower stage sorter bin B1-B16. An alarm 6 to alarm abnormality, etc. is provided in the inside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly to a copying machine having an automatic document feeder and notifying the end of copying.

``Prior Art'' Conventional examples of copying machines that notify the end of copying include one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-125050 and one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-37559, for example. The copying machine disclosed in the former uses the number of copies inputted by the operator as an initial value, and decrements this value (by 1) each time copying is executed.
When the value falls below a predetermined value, an audio output is issued to notify the completion of copying. In addition, the copying machine disclosed in the latter case increments (adds by 1) each time copying is executed.
When the value of the copy number counter matches the number of copies set by the operator, a light or audio output is emitted to notify the end of copying.

"Problems with the Prior Art" The conventional device described above is a device that is premised on an operator setting documents one by one. However, recent copying machines equipped with automatic document feeders have a problem in that a large number of documents are set at one time, which the conventional devices described above cannot handle. In addition, since copying machines with automatic document feeders can be used by many users at the same time, compared to normal copying machines used by one user, they automatically notify the user that copying has been completed. Although the meaning of informing is extremely large, the above conventional #jliII
F has a problem in that it is not possible to make such notifications.

``Object of the Invention'' Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine that can suitably notify the end of copying even when equipped with an automatic document feeder.

"Structure of the Invention" In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is to use a copying machine having an automatic document feeder, in which the remaining number of originals to be copied becomes a predetermined number, and the remaining number of sheets to be copied becomes a predetermined number. The present invention is characterized by comprising a termination detection means for outputting a termination caution signal when the number of termination warning signals is reached, and a notification means for transmitting a notification signal when the termination caution signal is output.

In the above configuration, the end detection means includes a document feed counter that is incremented each time a document is fed, a copy number counter that is incremented each time a copy is executed, a document number register that stores the number of document sheets input by the operator, and a document number register that stores the number of document sheets input by the operator. A number register that stores the number of copies, a count value of the document feed counter and a value stored in the document number register match, and a termination warning occurs when the count value of the copy number counter and the value stored in the number register match. An example is one that includes a determining means that outputs a signal. In this case, both the remaining predetermined number of originals and the remaining predetermined number of sheets to be copied are 0. Such completion detection means may be constituted by, for example, a microcombination controller.

Further, in the above configuration, the notification means may include a buzzer, a chime,
It can be configured with a voice synthesizer, etc., a lamp, a CRT display, etc.

"Embodiments" Next, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, Fig. 1 shows one example of the present invention, 5lF.
1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing procedure of the copying machine shown in FIG. .

In the following embodiments, a case will be described in which all processing is performed using a microcomputer, but the same processing procedure can also be achieved by a combination of beak-separated circuits.

Also, the number of each processing procedure (step number) is 5IS2.・
The symbols used in the flowchart below are defined in advance as follows.

B: Total number of bins M: Bin number that stores copied copy paper (hereinafter referred to as "copy in the rod"); Number of bins planned to be used N; User number GTl; Number of original sheets of the Nth user Cn; Required number of copies L for the Nth user; Bin number A of the highest row used by the user; Bin number S of the lowest row used by a certain user; Number T of copied originals for a certain user; count of the number of copies V; total number of users and save register of user number N FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the entire copying machine of the present invention. In the case of this copying machine, when the required number of original sheets are stacked on the original tray 1 and the copy button is operated, the automatic document feeder 4 provided on the main body 3 of the copying machine moves the stacked original sheets from above. The sheets are sequentially sent to the copying position of the copying machine main body 3, and a predetermined number of copies are made at that position. The copies are sent to a sorter 5 attached to the side of the copying machine main body 3, and are sequentially distributed and stored in soak bins B to BI6. In this embodiment, copies are distributed to the sorter bins 8l-BIG in order from the bottom sorter bin B1.

Furthermore, an alarm 6 is provided inside the copying machine to notify of an abnormality or the like.

First, in FIG. 2(a), after the copying machine starts, M=1 at St. Initialize =O,N-1.

Next, in step 82, the operator (
(user), and the operator sets one of the modes using a numeric keypad or the like.

Here, the sort mode means, for example, if the number of originals is 5 and copies are distributed to 10 places, a total of 50 copies are required, but 10 copies made for 1 original. Sorter bin B at the bottom, B2 in order,
B3, . . . , Blo are distributed one by one, and the same operation is performed for the following originals to distribute copies of the number of originals, that is, 5 copies, over 10 stages per sorter pin stage. In other words, a distribution method in which copies are divided by distribution destination and distributed to sorter bins is generally called a sorting mode.

On the other hand, in group mode, if 10 copies of one original are required, the bottom sorter bin B,
contains 10 copies made from the first manuscript,
The second stage sorter bin B2 stores 10 copies of the second original, and has a total of five stages.

This is a method using ~B. In other words, this is a method of distributing copies to sorter bins separately for each copy corresponding to the same original, and is also called collate mode.

Next, in S3, the operator selects sheet 1 of the original to be copied.
In addition to inputting ikG+ (the number of original sheets of the first user), the number of copies C of the original sheet is inputted in B4. These manually entered numbers 411 are stored in the microcomputer's memory.

Next, the computer determines whether the distribution method is sort mode or group mode at step 35, and if it is sort mode, it proceeds to step S6, and if it is group mode, it proceeds to step S7.

In step S6, the calculation LIIIK+C,l+1 is generally performed, and the N#th user, who is the user after Wk at that time,
The bin number next to the topmost bin number that the f-th user plans to use is determined.

If the user is the first user, K=0
Therefore, for example, when the number of copies C+ is 3 in the sort mode, L=4. This is sorter bin B for the first three stages where copies are distributed.

, B, , B, shows the number 4 of the empty sorter bin above This is to prevent the user's copy of the pond stored in the pin from being taken out by mistake.

On the other hand, in S7, +Gn+l is calculated for L=, and L, which is the next bin number of the bin number scheduled to be used, is calculated in the same way.

When the calculation in L memory 6 or S7 is completed, the S
8, the magnitude relationship between the total number of bins B and L-1 is determined.

If B is smaller, a preset over display is performed at 39 to inform the operator that automatic sorting will not be performed because the number of bins to be distributed is insufficient. This preset over display can be done by lighting a lamp, making an announcement, or This can be achieved by a number of means such as a buzzer. In this way, if the copy for the next user exceeds the number of sorter bins, step 5tock is performed and 1 is subtracted from N.
After correcting the number of users N, the process reaches 512.

On the other hand, if L-1 is still less than the total number of pins B, then S
Proceeding to step 11, the value obtained in step s6 or B7 is set to the number of bins K already in use.

Next, in step 312, the computer displays on the display a question asking whether or not to further cent (preset) the document onto the original 6g table I of the automatic document feeder 4.

If the computer is further instructed to perform a preset, the process proceeds to 314, where 1 is added to the number of users N.

After that, return to the beginning, sort/group mode safety for the next user) (S2), and memorize the number of original sheets (33)
, stores the number of copies (S4) and calculates the upper sorter bin number to be used (36 or S7), and if L-1 is greater than the total number of bins B, performs step 39,310; If it is B or below, go through the Sit step,
The process returns to step S12 again.

For example, if the first user has the number of copies C9=3 and has already used four sorter bins 81 to B, including the empty sorter bin B◆, the value becomes -4 in 311, and the second user When inputting the number of copies C, -5 in the sort mode, L-4+5+1='lO, and the number of bins scheduled to be used becomes IO. That is, sorter bin BI
O is an empty sorter bin, and copies are distributed to each of the 5B sorter bins 85 to B below it, each having the number of original sheets G7.

If there is no need to preset any more in 512, proceed to 313 and set the value of N at that time to the user's count V.
Set as .

The following steps include document feeding, copying, and sorting processing.

At 314□, a command to start copying work is issued (
When the copy button is pressed), a series of initializations at 315 are performed. That is, here S=0, N-1, M-1,
Initial setting of A=1 is performed.

Next, at 816, a determination is made whether copies of the first user's original should be distributed in sort mode or group mode.

These modes have already been manually set for each user in S2, and if it is determined that it is the sort mode, the process advances to 317, and if it is determined that it is the group mode, the process advances to 817'.

In step 317, a count T of the number of copies, which is incremented each time a copy is made, is set to 0, and 1 is added to the number S of copied originals for the user.

Initially, 5-=1.

Next, the document is fed by the automatic document feeder Wt (
51B), the copying operation is started when the original has completed moving to the copying position (319).

320 is a subroutine for another user to add a preset during copying work, which will be described later.

When it is determined in step 321 that the copying work for one sheet has been completed, the copy number count T is incremented in step 322, and the copy is discharged to the sorter bin at the Mth position (323).
, and further adds 1 to the bin number M at 324.

In other words, the first copy of the first user is S2
3, the copy is ejected to the first stage sorter bin B1, and the next copy is ejected to the second stage sorter bin B2 at S2.
4, 1 is added to M.

Then, in step 525, it is determined whether the count T of the number of copies has become equal to the predetermined required number of copies C,l, and T is Cn.
If the number of copies is less than 1, the routine repeats the copy processing of steps 319 to 321 to make further copies of the same original, and discharges the copies to the sorter bin one stage higher in step S23.

For example, if the number of copies for the first user is C+-3, three copies of the first original are distributed to the sorter bins B+''B3, one each.

By repeating the routine from S19 to 325, when T becomes equal to 3, the process goes to step 326, and the first document is ejected.

At step 327, in order to eject the copy of the second document to the sorter bin B1 again, the bin number M is set to the lowermost bin number A1 of the bins used by the user, in this case the first sorter bin B+. replace.

In the following S28,? Determine whether or not the number of copied originals S is equal to the number of originals prepared by the user Gn. If 8 is less than G, then T is again
=O and increment S (517), and repeat the step of feeding the next document (318), the steps of copying work (S19 to 521), and the step of ejecting to the sorter bin (323), and copy the required number of sheets Cn. When the original is completed, the original is ejected (526). This series of routines is repeated, and when the number of copied original sheets S reaches a predetermined number of original sheets Gn, the process moves to the next step S50.

Step 55 (l is a process of transmitting an alarm 6 to notify the end of copying for the user.

The basic steps are step 328 of detecting that the remaining number of originals to be copied for a certain user is O, step S25 of detecting that the remaining number of sheets to be copied is O, and further step S50 of activating the alarm 6. It essentially constitutes an end detection means.

After issuing the alarm 6, the process advances to step 329 to perform copy processing for the next user's original.

In S29, the lowest bin number A to be used by the next user is calculated as A=M+Cn+1. The reason for adding 1 here is to provide an empty sorter bin between the top sorter bin used by the previous user and the bottom sorter bin used by the next user to distinguish between them, as mentioned above. be.

Thereafter, A is set as the value of the bin number M to which the first copy from the next user's original is to be distributed.

Now, if it is determined in S16 that the mode is group mode, the processes from 517' to 329' are performed.

Of this processing, steps 317' to 323' are the same as steps 317 to 323 in the sort mode, so the explanation will be omitted.

After the Mllth copy is ejected in 823', it is determined in 325' whether the count T of the number of copies has reached the set number of copies C1 for the original, and if it has not reached it, the process returns to 317 again. ' to S23: are repeated.

As a result, all copies of one sheet C are ejected to the Mytth sheet. When T-Cn is reached, the copying of that original has been completed, so the original is ejected at 826', and 1 is set for M at 324' in order to eject the copy of the next original to the sorter bin one step above. to add.

° Next, in 328', it is determined whether the number S of originals that have been copied is equal to the set number Gn of originals, and the steps from 317' to S28' are repeated until S becomes equal to Gn.

If it is determined in step 828' that copying of all manuscripts for the user has been completed, an alarm 6 is generated in step S50' to notify the end of copying for the user. This step S50' is similar to step 350 described above.

Next, in 529', the calculation A=M+G, +1 is performed to set the bottom bin number where the next user's copy should be stored, and set 8 to the bin number M where the next copy will be ejected. .

As described above, when the copying process and the sorting process in sort mode or group mode are completed for a certain user's manuscript, l is added to the user number N in S29□.

Next, in step 330, it is determined whether the sorting process has been completed for all users, and if it is determined that the sorting process has not been completed yet, the value of S indicating the number of copied originals is reset to O, and the process returns to step S16. return. If it is determined that the process has ended, the process returns to step Sl.

Now, in the above processing procedure, the copying process and the sorting process can be performed while some sorter bins remain idle in the upper part. In such a case, it is desirable to be able to add presets for the document even during processing.

The subroutine 520 or S20' serves this purpose, and its contents are as shown in the third VA.

That is, when the operator presses the add key during the copying process (33
2) Save the value of the user number N currently being processed in S3.
2□), add 1 to the value of the total number of users V533), and store the value as N9.Next, it is set whether to perform sort mode or group mode for the document to be added (S34), Manpower of the number of manuscripts to be added Gn (
S 35), and the number of copies Cn of the manuscript) (3
36) is performed. Next, in S37, it is determined whether the mode is sort mode or group mode, and then in S38 or S
At step 39, the calculation for the highest bin number used by this user is performed. The calculations in 33B and S39 are similar to the calculations in S6 and S7.

Subsequently, in S4Q, the magnitude of the total number of bins B and L-1 is determined.

If the total number of bins B is smaller, the sorting operation cannot be performed, so a preset over display is performed in 341, and the user number N is returned to the original value in S42.

Also, if the total number of bins B is larger, 538 and S39
Set the obtained value to the bin number K to be used.

In 344, it is determined whether or not to further preset, and in the case of presetting, in 345, the user number N is
Add 1 to Hani and return to 334.

On the other hand, if no more presets are to be made, a new user number N is set to V in 846, the saved value of N is restored in 546a, and S21 or S21
Return to '.

Note that if the advance key is not pressed in step 332, the process immediately returns to 321 or 321'.

As a modified example, in FIG. 2(b), Sso, s
omitting so' and adding 35 in the route returning from 330 to Sl.
An example is one in which an alarm output step such as 0 is provided. In this case, an alarm is not sent for each user, but only when all users have finished.

As an example of a pond, the total number of copies Q is Q-G.

・C, +Q, ・C2+... Calculate in advance,
One example is one in which Q is decremented every time one copy is made, and a notification signal is transmitted when Q reaches, for example, 0.1 or 2.

In another embodiment, the remaining number of originals in the automatic document feeder is detected using a non-sensor signal, and the remaining number of originals to be copied is less than a predetermined number based on a signal from a copy number counter. One example is one that detects whether or not the conditions have been met and sends out a notification signal when both conditions are met.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, the present invention is applicable when, in a copying machine having an automatic document feeder, the remaining number of originals to be copied becomes less than a predetermined number, and the remaining number of sheets to be copied becomes less than a predetermined number. This invention provides a copying machine characterized by comprising an end detection means for outputting an end caution signal when the end caution signal is output, and a notifying means for transmitting a notification signal when the end caution signal is output. Even when the document is automatically fed by an automatic document feeder, the end of copying can be suitably notified.

Therefore, the operator can proceed with the fake work without worrying about the completion of copying, improving efficiency. Furthermore, since the copying machine is not left idle without knowing when copying has finished, the operating efficiency of the copying machine can be improved.

4. Explanation of Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of the entire copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing procedure of the copying machine shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 31i21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a recent addition process in the copying machine.

(Explanation of symbols) 1... Original tray 3... Copying machine body 4...
・Automatic document feeder 5... Sorter 6... Alarm D... Original B1~1ets... Sorter bin familiar Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a copying machine having an automatic document feeder, a termination system that outputs a termination caution signal when a predetermined number of originals remain to be copied and a predetermined number of sheets remain to be copied. A copying machine comprising: a detection means; and a notification means for transmitting a notification signal when the termination caution signal is output. 2. The end detection means includes a document feed counter that is incremented each time a document is fed, a copy number counter that is incremented each time a copy is executed, a document number register that stores the number of document sheets input by the operator, and a number of copy sheets input by the operator. and a termination warning signal when the count value of the document feed counter and the value stored in the document number register match, and the count value of the copy number counter and the value stored in the number register match. A copying machine according to claim 1, further comprising a determining means for outputting an output.