JPS61156111A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the labor and time required for operating a copying machine, by detecting the size of an original before making exposure scanning and automatically changing the magnification of an exposing optical system in accordance with the kind of the operating key of an operation panel and feeding copying paper by selecting the size of the copying paper. CONSTITUTION:An opening section 7 for passing a part of light from an expo sure lamp for projecting an original is provided in a scanner 4 separately from light for exposing illumination and a detecting member 8, for example, LSD is provided at the incident position of reflecting light of the passing through the opening section 7 from the surface of an original under a condition where the member 8 is fitted to the scanner 4. The detecting member 8 is positioned a little inside of an end section of the original corresponding to each size and detects that which size of original exists. When a size uniformizing key is depressed, the magnification of the exposing optical system is automatically changed and, when paper feeding selecting key is depressed, copying paper of a corresponding size is fed from a paper feeding device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine that automatically detects the size of a document.

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder or a semi-automatic document feeder is equipped with an automatic document size reader.

Conventional copying machines automatically detect and display the size of the original document, but the size of the copy paper must be specified separately, which poses a problem in that it takes time and effort to operate.

The present invention solves the conventional problems, and can automatically adjust the optical system to the magnification corresponding to the selected copy paper based on the automatic detection of the original size, or automatically adjust the magnification corresponding to the copy paper of the selected size. The purpose is to provide a copying machine that allows selection switching.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a copying machine having a plurality of switchable paper feed units and a variable magnification, in which an exposure lamp is installed in a scanner that scans and exposes an original, and when the original is exposed by the exposure lamp, the original is exposed. and a detection member arranged at the incident position of the reflected light from the original, and the detection member is composed of a plurality of sensors arranged at the original detection position of each size to receive the reflected light from the original, and the detection member is composed of a plurality of sensors that receive the reflected light from the original. The present invention is characterized in that the magnification of the exposure optical system is automatically changed according to the selected copy paper size and the document size detected by the detection member.

More specifically, the configuration of the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an original 3 is placed on a transparent original placing table 2 of a main body 1 of a copying machine.

The surface of the document is illuminated by a scanner 4 that scans and moves. The scanner 4 is provided with an exposure lamp 5, and illumination light reflected from the original 3 is guided by a mirror 6 to an exposure position on the photoreceptor.

The scanner 4 is provided with an opening 7 through which part of the light from the exposure lamp passes for projection of the document, in addition to the light for exposure illumination, and the incident position of the reflected light from the surface of the document passing through the opening 7 A detection member 8, such as an LSD, is provided to be attached to the scanner 4.

The detection member 8 is disposed at a position slightly inside the edge of the document corresponding to each size (indicated by arrows and symbols A3, B4, A4, and B5 in the figure). Detection member 8a at the bottom of the figure
can be used as a reference sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document.

In Fig. 3, the keys on the operation unit are used to select the size of copy paper in order to make copies using copy paper of a fixed size regardless of the size of the original, or to select the paper source, that is, the size corresponding to the original size. A command signal corresponding to selection of the paper feed section and a detection signal that detects that the pressure plate is closed by the pressure plate open/close switch are input to the CPU board via the I boat, and the input of both signals indicates that the pressure plate is closed. Even if you press the key after closing, or close the pressure plate after pressing the key, when the CPU board calculates, a signal is sent to the exposure power supply via the O boat, and the exposure lamp 5 is lit for the final time To. Ru.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the pressure plate signal indicates the closed state, a signal is input, and the automatic size adjustment or paper feed selection key is pressed when the original is placed and the thick plate is closed. And the key human power goes from H level to L level. When both the key manual power and the pressure plate signal become L level, a signal to turn on the exposure lamp is given to the exposure lamp for a time To.

On the other hand, when the pressure plate is closed after the key is pressed manually, the exposure lamp is lit for the time To when the pressure plate signal changes from the H level to the L level at the timing shown in FIG. 4(b).

Alternatively, in a manner not shown, the light reflected from the pressure plate or the original is directly incident on the light-receiving surface of each sensor of the detection member 8 by lighting the exposure lamp 5 through a guiding wave path such as a fiber, as shown in FIG. converted into an electrical signal. The electric signal is calculated on the CPU board as a signal from the light receiving section in Fig. 3, and it is determined which size it is by comparing the output of each size sensor according to the reflected light level or by comparing with the output from the reference position sensor 8a. Detect whether a manuscript exists. For example, the B5°A4 detection member detects the presence of a document, and the B4. When the A3 detection member does not detect the presence of a document, it is detected that the document is A4. At that time, when the size standardization key is pressed to select, for example, B4, a signal is sent from the CPU board via the O port to automatically change the magnification of the exposure optical system from A4 to B4. For example, the magnification is 1.
．． It can be changed 14 times.

Naturally, reduction is also possible. When the paper feed selection key is pressed, for example, if there are paper feed sections of three different sizes and the second paper feed device is A4 size, the second paper feed will be sent from the CPU board through the O port. A signal from the drive device is sent, and A4 size paper is fed from the second paper feeding device. The number of paper feeding devices is not limited to three, but two or four types may be used as appropriate.

In the illustrated example, the upper edge of FIG. 2 is used as the reference edge, and the side edge of the document is placed or fed in alignment with the reference edge, but the document is not limited to this example, and it is also possible to use the center reference. In this case, the sensor placement can be changed.

After the copying magnification or paper feed size of the exposure optical system is selected and changed in accordance with the original size as described above, the exposure lamp 5 is turned on to scan and expose the original as in a normal copying machine.

The electrical signals from each sensor of the detection member are converted into digital signals by an A/D converter as shown in FIG. 5, and compared with the signal value from the sensor 8a at the reference position in the CPU to determine the document size. method is also possible. The other processes in FIG. 5 are similar to those in FIG.

For example, the process of determining the document size is performed in the flow shown in FIG. That is, the CPU uses the signal from the A/D converter to determine whether the difference between the output value N of the signal at the reference position and the output value A from the A-size sensor is IN-Ao+<α (step l). The judgment result is YES
If so, it is detected that the size is A3, and the subsequent processing is performed in a form corresponding to A3 size. When the determination result is NO, the output value A1 from the B4 size sensor is lN-
It is determined whether Al1<α (step 2). If the result of the determination is YES, it is displayed that the size is B4, and the subsequent processing is performed in a form corresponding to A4 size. When the determination result is No, it is determined whether or not the output value A2 from the A4 size sensor is lN-A21<α (step 3).

If the result of the determination is YES, it is displayed that the size is A4, and the subsequent processing is performed in a form corresponding to A4 size.

When the determination result is No, it is determined whether lN-A31<α for the output value A3 from the B5 size sensor (step 4
). If the result of the determination is YES, it is displayed that the size is B5, and the subsequent processing is performed in a form corresponding to the 85 size. When the determination result is NO, the size is displayed as unknown.

The above example shows that the exposure lamp that detects the document size is turned on instantaneously only when both the detection of the pressure plate being closed and the pressing of the size standardization key or the paper feed selection key are satisfied. If necessary, the document size may be detected by causing the light to turn on momentarily when the size standardization key, the paper feed selection key, or the corresponding document size detection key is pressed.

According to the present invention, the document size is detected prior to exposure scanning,
Based on the detection results, it is now possible to automatically change the magnification of the exposure optical system according to the type of activation key on the operation panel, or to select the paper feed size and feed paper. You can detect the document size and select the magnification or paper feed size as before.
This eliminates the need to do this, making the operation easier and eliminating the fear of feeding the wrong size paper or setting the wrong magnification.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a scanning exposure device of a copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view with the document table removed, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of a control device of a copying machine according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a time chart showing the timing of lighting the exposure lamp to detect the document size, Fig. 5 is a block diagram corresponding to Fig. 3 of another example, and Fig. 6 is the document size detection by the CPU. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of detection. 2... Original table 3... Original 4... Scanner 5... Exposure lamp Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a copying machine that has multiple switchable paper feed units and can change the magnification, an exposure lamp is placed on the scanner that scans and exposes the original, and the exposure lamp is placed at the incident position of the reflected light from the original during exposure by the exposure lamp. The detection member is comprised of a plurality of sensors arranged at document detection positions of each size and receives reflected light from the document, and the copy paper size selected by the size unification key and the detection member A copying machine characterized by automatically changing the magnification of an exposure optical system according to the detected document size. (2) In a copying machine that has multiple switchable paper feed units and can change the magnification, an exposure lamp is placed on the scanner that scans and exposes the original, and the exposure lamp is placed at the incident position of the reflected light from the original during exposure by the exposure lamp. The detection member is made up of a plurality of sensors arranged at document detection positions of each size and receives reflected light from the document, and the pressure plate of the copying machine is closed and the size uniformity key The copying machine is characterized in that the document size is detected by the instantaneous lighting of an exposure lamp upon activation, and the magnification of the exposure optical system is automatically changed according to the selected copy paper size and the detected document size. (3) In a copying machine that has a plurality of switchable paper feed units and is capable of changing magnification, an exposure lamp is attached to a scanner that scans and exposes a document, and an exposure lamp is placed at the incident position of the light reflected from the document during exposure by the exposure lamp. The detection member is made up of a plurality of sensors arranged at document detection positions of each size and receives reflected light from the document, and detects whether the pressure plate of the copier is closed and the paper feed selection. A copying machine that detects the size of a document by momentarily lighting up an exposure lamp upon key operation, and automatically selects a paper feed section of a size corresponding to the detected document size. (4) Sensors are installed at multiple positions corresponding to each size of document and at a reference detection position, and the output of the sensor corresponding to each size is compared with the output of the sensor at the reference detection position by instantaneous lighting of the exposure lamp. 2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the copying machine detects the size of the original. (5) Sensors are installed at multiple positions corresponding to each size of document and at a reference detection position, and the output of the sensor corresponding to each size is compared with the output of the sensor at the reference detection position by instantaneous lighting of the exposure lamp. 3. The copying machine according to claim 2, wherein the copying machine detects the size of the original. (6) Sensors are installed at multiple positions corresponding to each size of document and at a reference detection position, and the output of the sensor corresponding to each size is compared with the output of the sensor at the reference detection position by instantaneous lighting of the exposure lamp. 4. The copying machine according to claim 3, wherein the copying machine detects the document size using the following.