JPS61140958A - Mechanism for sorting transfer paper for copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make simple and quick sorting possible by providing an idle copying cycle means which executes once a copying cycle without transferring the image of an original after the copying cycles for the set number of copies are repeated. CONSTITUTION:The operator sets a sorting mode and pushes a copy button 18 in the case of setting color paper to a lower cassette 12 after selecting an upper cassette 10 and setting the number of copies at 3 sheets. A feed roller 11 for the upper cassette is then operated and the transfer paper set in the upper cassette 10 is fed, by which the copying cycle is started. A roller for adjusting the top end of the transfer paper on a photosensitive body 5 is operated, by which the transfer paper is subjected to transfer. The transfer paper is then discharged onto a discharge tray 17. A feed roller 13 for the lower cassette operates this time upon ending of 3 sheets of copying to the transfer paper and paper is fed from the lower cassette 12, then the idle copying cycle is started.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field> The present invention relates to a transfer paper sorting mechanism of a copying machine for sorting ejected transfer paper into documents. <Prior Art> Copying a plurality of originals one by one In some cases, it is necessary to sort the transfer paper into individual originals after copying, but it is difficult to perform this sorting manually, especially in cases where a large number of originals are copied using an automatic document feeder. This will require a great deal of effort and time. Therefore, if a sorter is attached to the copying machine, such sorting and collation can be performed automatically, which is extremely convenient. However, this sorter is expensive and takes up a lot of space, so it is uneconomical to install it in a copying machine such as a low- to medium-speed copying machine whose automatic document feeder is not fully utilized.

<Purpose of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a simple mechanism for sorting transfer paper in a copying machine. The purpose is to make it possible to implement it at low cost even in low-medium speed copying machines.

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> The transfer paper sorting mechanism of the copying machine of the present invention includes a sorting mode setting means that sets the operation of the copying machine to a sorting mode, and when the sorting mode is set, copies a set number of sheets. The copy paper sorting mechanism of the copying machine of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with an empty copy cycle means for executing the copy cycle once without transferring the original image after the cycle is repeated. With this configuration, a sheet of transfer paper that will not be copied will be inserted every time a set number of copies are made and the original is replaced, so sorting the transfer sheets will be very easy if you separate the transfer sheets that will not be copied. Moreover, this mechanism requires only modifications to the control means of conventional copying machines, so it can be easily and inexpensively implemented in low- to medium-speed copying machines, and expensive equipment such as sorters cannot be used. It is extremely effective in some cases.

<Example> FIG. 2 is a side sectional explanatory view showing the internal structure of the copying machine.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a document table, and 2 denotes a document cover. A document is placed on the document table 1 and covered with the document cover 2 for copying. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lamp for illuminating the original, and 4 an optical system, which exposes the image of the original onto the photoreceptor 5. 6 is photoreceptor 5
electrification charger.

7 is the same transfer charger, 8 is the same static elimination charge,
The image exposed on the photoreceptor 5 is transferred to transfer paper. Reference numeral 9 denotes a blank lamp, which prevents toner from being wasted on the blank portion of the photoreceptor 5 during the developing process. 10 is an upper cassette, 11 is an upper cassette paper feed roller, 12 is a lower cassette, and 13 is a lower cassette paper feed roller. Normally, transfer paper of different sizes is set in the upper cassette 10 and the lower cassette 12. The transfer paper is fed by driving one of the cassette paper feed rollers 11 and 13 according to the size of the original. 14 is a transfer paper leading edge adjusting roller, which transfers the exposed image onto the photoreceptor 5. This roller is used to synchronize the feeding of the transfer paper when transferring. 15 is a paper entry detection switch, and 16 is a paper output detection switch. Further, 17 is a paper discharge tray.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the operation panel of the copying machine.

18 is a copy button, 19 is a numeric keypad, and 20 is a cassette selection switch button.The cassette selection switch button 20 is used to select the cassette 10 or 12 to feed paper according to the size of the original to be copied, and the numeric keypad 19 is used to select a cassette 10 or 12 for copying. Set the number of copies and turn on the copy button 18 to start copying. Reference numeral 21 is a sorting mode setting key (sorting mode setting means), which is a key for setting the operation of the copying machine to the sorting mode.

In this copying machine configured as described above, the operation when the upper cassette 10 is selected, the number of copies per copy is set to three, and copying is started will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. 4. Note that colored paper is set in the lower cassette 12.

Switch the cassette selection switch button 20 to the upper cassette 10, set the number of copies per copy to 3 using the numeric keypad 19, set the sort mode to mode setting key 21, and press the copy button 18 to copy. The drive motor (not shown) of the machine rotates and each charger 6.7
．． 8 is activated, and the blank lamp 9 is turned on. Then, the upper cassette paper feed roller 11 operates to feed the transfer paper set in the upper cassette 10, and a copy cycle is started. After a predetermined time, the blank lamp 9 is turned off, and at the same time, the original illumination lamp 3 is turned on, the optical system 4 is moved, and the photoreceptor 5 is exposed. Then, in synchronization with the rotation of the exposed image on the photoreceptor 5, the transfer paper leading edge adjustment roller 14 is operated to perform transfer onto the transfer paper, and after the transfer is completed, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 17. Thereafter, the same copy cycle is automatically repeated three times. When the copying of the three sheets of transfer paper is completed, the lower cassette paper feed roller 13 is activated, the color vapor set in the lower cassette 12 is fed, and an empty copy cycle is started. In this empty copy cycle, the drive unit operates almost in the same way as in a normal copy cycle, but the document illumination lamp 3 does not light up, the optical system 4 does not move, and the blank lamp 9 continues to light up, so the color paper is not covered with toner. The image is sent as is without being transferred. When one sheet of color paper is blankly copied and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 17, the copying operation is completed.

Next, the operation of the control section when an automatic document feeder is installed in the above-mentioned copying machine will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step nl (hereinafter, step ni is simply referred to as ni,
) and wait for the copy button 1 day to be turned on. When the copy button 18 is turned on, transfer paper is fed from the upper cassette 10 and a normal copy cycle is executed (n2).
. When the copy cycle ends, it is determined whether the number of repetitions of this copy cycle has reached the set number of copies set by the numeric keypad 19 (n3). If the number of repetitions does not reach the set number of copies, the process returns to n2 again. Execute the copy cycle and copy to the next transfer paper. When the number of repetitions reaches the set number of sheets, the sorting mode setting key 21 is pressed to determine whether the operation of the copying machine is set to the sorting mode (n4).

If the sorting mode is not set, the copy operation ends. If sorting is set to mode,
This time, a blank copy cycle is executed in which color paper is fed from the lower cassette 12 and the blank lamp 9 is lit instead of the document illumination lamp 3 (n5). These n4 and n5 correspond to empty copy cycle means. When the blank copy cycle is completed, the automatic document feeder (not shown)
It is determined whether all the copies of the original placed on the original have been completed (n6). If all the originals have not been copied, the next original is sent to the original platen 1 by the automatic document feeder (n6). n7), return to n2. When all the copies of the original are completed, the copying operation is ended.

As explained above, the transfer paper sorting mechanism of the copying machine of this embodiment inserts one color paper on top of the transfer paper every time multiple copies of - originals are made. Separating the transfer sheets allows the sorting to be performed easily and in a short time, and is particularly effective when applied to a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder. In addition, this copying machine's transfer paper sorting mechanism can be implemented at low cost by simply modifying the control program without changing the mechanical structure of the copying machine, so it is particularly useful for low- to medium-speed copying machines from a cost perspective. It becomes easier.

In addition, in the example, the case of a copying machine with multiple paper feed power cents was explained, but even if there is only one paper feed cassette, the same paper feed power will be applied between the transfer paper used to copy the original. A similar effect can be obtained by inserting a blank transfer sheet obtained by performing a blank copy cycle on the transfer sheet fed from the center. In this case, waste of transfer paper can be prevented by setting blank transfer paper in the paper feed cassette again and using it for copying.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control section of the transfer sheet sorting mechanism of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the copying machine, and FIG. teeth,
FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the operation panel of the copying machine.
It is a time chart showing the operation of the same copying machine. 10.12-Vertical force cent (paper feed cassette), 21-Mode setting key for sorting (mode setting means for sorting).

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A sorting mode setting means for setting the operation of the copying machine to a sorting mode, and when the sorting mode is set, a copy cycle is executed once without transferring the image of the original after repeating the copy cycle for the set number of sheets. A transfer paper sorting mechanism for a copying machine, characterized in that it is provided with an empty copy cycle means. (2) In a copying machine equipped with multiple paper feed cassettes, the empty copy cycle means feeds paper from a paper feed cassette different from the paper feed cassette that fed paper during the copy cycle for transferring the image of the original. A transfer paper sorting mechanism for a copying machine according to claim 1.