JPS61155137A - Copying machine provided with automatic paper selective function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve an availability factor so remarkably, by selecting a paper cassette for another directional paper feeding when the original paper cassette is unusable for some reason or other, while displaying a change in original placing directions, and corresponding to emergency copying work. CONSTITUTION:Each of paper cassettes for long endwise feed paper of A4 size, B size and long sidewise feed paper of A4 size are attached to a paper feeding part from the upper stage, and contents of each paper cassette are displayed on an indicator 9. A fact that the original detected by a sensor on an original table is of size A4 is displayed in an original size indicator 5. A fact that the required paper is A4 size is operated from original size and copying magnification, but at this time, in the case where paper is not yet housed in the paper cassette, the paper cassette attached to the upper stage of the paper feeding part houses the paper of long endwise feed paper, whereby with an original directional change indicator 7, an original placing direction is changed by operation of an operator, thereby making efficient use of the paper, and copying operation takes place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a copying machine having an automatic paper selection function that calculates a paper size from a document size copying magnification and selects a necessary cassette from a plurality of installed cassettes.

<Prior art and its disadvantages> Recently, in order to simplify changing the paper size, paper cassettes have been installed in which multiple paper cassettes each containing a single type of paper of different sizes are installed, and paper cassettes containing paper of the size required by the operator have been developed. Many copying machines have been commercialized that select and feed paper.

In addition, with a copying machine that has a variable magnification copying function that converts the magnification of the original image and copies it onto paper, it is expected that the paper size will change frequently. Copying machines having an automatic paper selection function have been proposed for the purpose of omitting extensive calculation work. A conventional copying machine with an automatic selection function is equipped with a means for calculating the paper size from the detected or input original size and the set copying magnification, and a paper cassette containing paper of the size obtained by this calculation means. The device selects one of a plurality of installed paper cassettes and feeds paper from that paper cassette.

By the way, in a copying machine that is capable of copying multiple sizes, when the size is less than half of the maximum size that can be copied, two types of document placement direction and sheet feeding direction can be selected: portrait direction and landscape direction.

However, with conventional copiers that have an automatic paper selection function, when selecting a paper cassette, only paper cassettes with the same paper feeding direction as the original stacking direction are searched for. Even if a paper cassette that feeds paper in the other direction is installed, it cannot be used effectively.

For this reason, the operator is required to replenish paper into the selected paper cassette, making it impossible to respond to urgent copying tasks, resulting in a disadvantage that the operating efficiency of the copying machine is significantly reduced.

<Object of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to provide paper that can effectively utilize paper cassettes of the same size but with different paper feeding directions to cope with emergency copying work and improve operational efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine having an automatic selection function.

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> The present invention provides means for determining whether or not there is a paper cassette of the same size that feeds paper in another direction and selecting that paper cassette when the selected paper cassette is unusable. , and means for displaying a change in document placement direction when a paper cassette with paper feeding in the other direction is selected.

By configuring as described above, according to the present invention, when the selected paper cassette is unusable due to lack of paper, etc., it is possible to effectively utilize paper cassettes of the same size that feed paper in the other direction. Since copying work can be started or continued by changing the document placement direction, emergency copying work can be handled, and operational efficiency is significantly improved.

<Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of a copying machine having an automatic paper selection function, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

A display section 2 is configured approximately at the center of the operation panel 1. A copy switch 3 for starting a copying operation and a numeric keypad 4 for inputting the number of copies, etc. are provided on the right side of the display section 2. A copy magnification display 1) is disposed in the center of the display section 2, and displays the copy magnification input by a variable magnification key 12 disposed below. An exposure display 13 is disposed on the right side of the copying magnification display 1), and displays the exposure state selected by automatic exposure or startup. Further, on the right side of the exposure display section 3, a warning display section 14 is arranged to prompt the operator with various warnings, and a paper out warning device 15 is arranged to prompt the operator to replenish paper when the paper runs out. . A numerical value display 16 is disposed at the right end 2 of the display section 2, and displays the set number of sheets inputted using the numeric keypad 4, etc. A paper cassette size display 9 is disposed on the left side of the copy magnification display 1) for displaying the size of paper stored in a paper cassette attached to the paper feed section of the copying main body.

Each of the paper cassettes (not shown) is formed with a member that displays the size of the paper stored therein, and this is read by a detection means disposed inside the paper feed section.

The operator selects a cassette of the required paper size by operating a paper cassette selection key 10 disposed below the paper strength/cent size display 9. On the left side of the paper cassette size display 9, a document orientation change display 7 is provided. This document direction change indicator 7 is a means for displaying a change in the document placement direction when paper of the present invention that is fed in another direction is selected. On the left side of the document orientation change display 7 is a document size display 5 that displays the size of the detected or input document, and a document size display 5 that displays the size of the detected or input document, and the paper selected by the paper size selection key 17 or calculated from the document size and copy magnification. A paper size display 6 is provided to display the size.

Further, below the document orientation change display 7, a required paper size display is displayed that displays the paper size that needs to be replenished when a paper cassette containing paper of the required size is not installed or when the cassette is empty. A container 8 is provided.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are flowcharts showing the operation of the above embodiment.

Step nl (hereinafter step ni is simply referred to as ni)
The size of the document placed on the document table is detected by a sensor disposed below the document table. At n2, the conversion magnification is input using the magnification change key 12, and the copy magnification display 1)
will be displayed. The document size detected in nl and n
The required paper size is calculated in n3 using the copying magnification etc. input in step 2. Thereafter, it is determined in n4 whether or not a paper sheet of the calculated size is attached.

If the paper cassette 1- of the required size is installed at n4, the process proceeds to n5 and it is determined whether or not paper is stored in the paper cassette. If the paper is stored in the paper cassette of the required size at n5, the process advances to n12 and waits for the operator to operate the copy switch.
After operating the copy switch, a copying operation is performed at n13. If the paper cassette of the required size is not installed at n4 or no paper is stored in the paper cassette of the required size at n5, the process advances to n6. At n6, it is determined whether or not a paper cassette of the same size as the required size but with a different paper feeding direction is installed among the installed paper cassettes.

In n6, if a paper cassette for paper feeding in the other direction is installed, the process proceeds to nl, and it is determined whether or not paper is stored in the paper cassette. If paper is stored at nl, the original direction change display 7 prompts to change the original direction at n8. Next, the document platen sensor detects whether or not the document direction change has been completed at nil, and when the document direction change has been completed, the process proceeds to n12-n13. In n6, if the paper cassette for paper feeding in the other direction is not installed or if no paper is stored in the paper cassette, the process advances to n9 and the alarm 15 is turned on to prompt the operator to replenish paper. At this time, the required paper size display 8 displays the paper size calculated in n3. Thereafter, it is determined in nlO whether or not paper replenishment has been completed, and after the paper replenishment is completed, the process proceeds to n12-n13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display section of the above embodiment.

A4 size vertical paper is fed from the top to the paper feed section of the copying machine,
Paper cassettes for B4 size and A4 size paper are installed. The contents of the paper cassette described above are displayed on the paper cassette soft size display 9. The document size display 5 indicates that the document size detected by the sensor on the document table is A4. Furthermore, the copying magnification selected by the operator's operation of the variable-magnification key 12 is the same magnification, and 1 is displayed on the copying magnification display 1).

Based on the original size and copy magnification mentioned above, the paper required is A.
It is calculated that the size is 4.

This paper cassette containing A4 size paper is installed in the third stage, but if there is no paper stored in the paper power center at this time, the copying operation will not start. However, the paper cassette installed in the upper part of the paper feed unit stores A4 size paper fed vertically, and by changing the loading direction of the document, this paper can be used effectively.

Thereupon, a search is made to see if any paper is stored in the upper paper cassette, and if any paper is stored, the document direction change indicator 7 prompts the operator to change the document placement direction. In this case, the arrow below the document direction change indicator 7 lights up. Copy switch 3 after the document placement direction has been changed
Paper is fed from the upper paper cassette by
A copying operation is performed. Furthermore, when there is no paper stored in the upper paper drawer/gutter, A4 is displayed on the required size display 8 to prompt the operator to replenish paper.

As described above, according to the present invention, when paper is not stored in the paper cassette or when a failure occurs in the independent paper feeding device related to the paper cassette, the paper cassette is installed simultaneously in a state where paper feeding is impossible. Copying operations can be performed by effectively utilizing cassettes of the same size that feed paper in different directions.

Note that even in the case where the conversion magnification is calculated from the original size and the paper size and the copying operation is performed, the same effect can be obtained even when the paper cassette of the selected size cannot be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A and 1B are flowcharts showing the operation of a copying machine having an automatic paper selection function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation panel of the embodiment, and FIG. It is a figure showing an example of the above-mentioned operation panel. 7-Document direction change indicator, 9-Paper cassette size indicator, 10-Paper cassette selection key, 15-Out of paper warning device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A means for installing paper cassettes of multiple types of sizes and calculating the paper size from the original size and copying magnification, and a means for storing paper of the input or calculated paper size from the paper cassettes of the multiple types. In a copying machine having an automatic paper selection function, if the selected paper cassette is unavailable, it is determined whether or not there is a paper cassette of the same size that feeds paper in the other direction, and the paper A copying machine having an automatic paper selection function, comprising means for selecting a cassette, and means for displaying a change in document placement direction when a paper cassette with paper feeding in another direction is selected.