JPS6118183B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming a set number of images. An example of using a numeric keypad and memory instead of a mechanical selector to set the number of copies is being considered. However, since the numeric keypad and clear key operate with a light touch, it is possible to make an input operation by mistake during the image forming operation or during a stop before the set number of images has been formed. It may form. The present invention eliminates these disadvantages. In detail, it includes a setting key for setting the number of images to be formed, a start key for instructing the start of image formation, a display for displaying numerical values, and a memory for storing numerical data corresponding to the set number input using the above setting keys. , a clear key for clearing the numerical data stored in the memory, and a specific key different from the start key that enables multiple image forming operations without having to input the number of images to be formed each time using the setting key. a key, a digital counting means for counting the number of image forming operations, a sequence control means for terminating the image forming operation when the counting means counts a set number of image forming operations stored in the memory, and the display. to display the number set by the operator stored in the memory, and after the start of image formation to display the count number of the counting means, and after the completion of image formation to display the number set by the operator stored in the memory. display control means for displaying the image again; means for inputting a signal to prematurely stop image formation before the completion of image formation for the number of times stored in the memory; storage means to be converted into a state, and a key input operation using the clear key or the specific key when the storage state of the storage means is not at the predetermined level state, and the storage state of the storage means is at the predetermined level state. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a key input control means for inhibiting a key input operation using the clear key or the specific key when the image forming apparatus is in the level state. With this configuration, when the image formation is stopped halfway before completing the number of images set by the operation of the setting key, the number of images formed can be input by inputting the clear key to clear the number of settings stored in the memory, or by pressing the setting key. This prohibits the input of a specific key that enables image formation multiple times without having to input the key each time. This eliminates the inconvenience of not being able to perform the initial set number of image forming operations or causing the device to malfunction even if these keys are operated by mistake during a mid-stop. , the reliability of the image forming apparatus can be increased. Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the copying apparatus of the present invention, and the mechanical configuration thereof will be described below. The three-layered screen photoreceptor (Fig. 16) has ring-shaped ends, which are connected by a connecting band and stretched with adhesive or the like to an integrated metal screen drum base. It is installed on the screen drum shaft 2. In addition, screen drum flanges made of insulating material are fixed with screws or the like at both ends of the screen drum 1 in consideration of the application of bias voltage, etc.
In front of the screen drum flange is a modulation charger 1
1. It has an opening so that the pre-modulation charger 13 can be installed inside the screen drum 1. The screen drum flange is connected via ball bearings.
It is installed on a fixed tubular screen drum shaft 2. The screen drum 1 is rotatable around a fixed screen drum shaft 2. The screen photoreceptor of the screen drum 1 has a photoconductive member 7 on a conductive member 70 having a large number of fine holes.
1 and an insulating member 72 are laminated so that one surface of the conductive member is exposed. The conductive member is made by threading thin metal wires such as stainless steel or nickel into a net shape. The mesh value of the conductive member is suitably 100 to 4000 mesh from the viewpoint of resolving power for copying, and one that can ensure an aperture ratio of 50% or more. The photoconductive member is produced by vapor deposition of Se alloy, etc., spray coating with an insulating resin dispersion containing particles of CdS, PbO, etc., etching, etc. The insulating member is made of a solvent-based organic insulating material such as epoxy resin, acrylic resin, silicone resin, etc. by spraying or vacuum deposition. Further, in order to make the conductive member exposed on one side, it is possible to coat the conductive member from one side by coating or spraying, or by grinding the member that has wrapped around the conductive member. The following devices necessary for forming an electrostatic latent image on the screen photoreceptor are arranged around the screen drum 1. A pre-irradiation lamp 3 is provided to erase undesirable ghosts on the screen photoreceptor, and a primary charger 4 applies a uniform electrostatic charge to the screen photoreceptor. Since the diameter of the screen drum is relatively small, during the formation of an electrostatic latent image on the screen photoreceptor, the front end of the image may be charged again even though the electrostatic latent image has already been formed. Therefore, the primary charger 4 is divided into two parts, and the same voltage and current are applied to each part with a time gap between them. The AC static eliminator 6 is provided to remove charges on the photoreceptor according to the optical image 5 of the original irradiated by the original irradiation lamp _S2 . Further, instead of the AC static eliminator, a DC static eliminator having a polarity opposite to that of the primary charger may be used. The full surface exposure lamp 7 is used to enhance the contrast of the primary latent image on the screen photoreceptor. Further, in the vicinity of the screen drum 1, an insulating drum 8 having a conductive member coated with an insulating layer in the form of a thin film is arranged in parallel with a slight spacing therebetween. Screen drum 1 is in arrow direction A
The insulating drums 8 rotate synchronously with B. Inside the screen drum 1, there is a rail 1 supported on an insulating block 9 facing the screen drum 1 and closest to the insulating drum 8.
A modulation charger 11 is attached to the insulating block 9, and a pre-modulation charger 13 is attached to the rail 12 supported on the insulating block 9. In addition, in order to prevent dust from adhering to the screen drum 1 and hindering the formation of the primary latent image and the secondary latent image, the air blower 14 and the discharging device 15 in the middle remove the floating dust from the back plate 16 of the discharging device. clear air is blown onto the screen drum 1 from the dust removal nozzle 17. Also, if the screen photoreceptor is adversely affected by low temperature and high humidity, the heat source 18
The air being blown may be heated by When a large number of secondary latent images are obtained from the primary latent image on the screen drum 1, the pre-modulation charger 13 applies a voltage of opposite polarity to that of the modulation charger 11 so that the potential of the primary latent image can be kept constant from beginning to end. It is for applying. The secondary latent image on the insulating drum 8 is developed by a developing device 20. The developing device 20 includes a toner replenishing device 22 and is separated from a developing section 24 by a partition plate 23, and the developing toner 25 is supplied to the toner distributing roller 2.
6, it is sent into the developing device 20. The developing toner 25 is sufficiently stirred by the rotation of the stirring roller 27, and the electrostatic latent image on the insulating drum 8 is developed by a sleeve 29 containing a magnet 28. The paper feed table 30 can load a large amount of copy paper (2,000 to 4,000 sheets), and so that the topmost copy paper 31 is always at a constant position, the top position is detected and the lift motor is activated to compensate for the amount of paper that has been reduced. is raised along the guide rail 32 by the drive of. Bick up roller 33 from the top of the paper
The copy paper is fed out so that it almost matches the visible image on the insulated drum 8, and the timing and
The image on the insulating drum 8 is conveyed by the roller 34 so as to match the visible image on the insulating drum 8, and the image on the insulating drum 8 is transferred onto copy paper via the conveying roller 35 and by the transfer charger 36. Furthermore, the separation charger 37 weakens the attraction force between the insulating drum 8 and the copy paper,
A conveyor belt 8 incorporating a suction device 39 separates and conveys the copy paper from the insulated drum 8. The conveyor belt 38 is stretched around belt drive rollers 40 and rollers 41 and 42, and rotates as the rollers rotate, conveying the copy paper while sucking it. is sent to the fixing roller 45. The powder image on the copy paper is then fused and fixed, and the copy paper is received by a tray 47 along a guide 46. (Description of operation specifications of key operation panel) Operation of the copying apparatus of the present invention is performed by commands from the operation panel 61 shown in FIG. The operation panel 61 is 2
It consists of two displays 62, 63, two pilot lamps 65, 66, and a keyboard 64.
Key “O” on keyboard 64 (ORIGINAL)
is used to set the number of times the electrostatic latent image is formed on the screen drum 1. If you press the numerical keys from "0" to "9" after this key, the contents of the presses will be shown on the display 62. will be entered. Also, if the "∞" key is pressed after the numeric key has been entered, the contents of the display 62 are cleared,
The "∞" pilot lamp 65 is turned on.
Conversely, if the numeric key is entered after the "∞" pilot lamp is lit, the pilot lamp is turned off and a numeric value is entered on the display 62. That is, numerical data and "∞" command are automatically switched. Note that "∞" means that the operation is performed indefinitely until a "STOP" command (described later) is received. Next, the key "R" (RETENTION) is used to set the number of copies that can be repeatedly obtained by one electrostatic latent image formed on the screen.
Entry for the numeric key or "∞" key is similar to that for the "O" key, and its contents are displayed on the display 63 or pilot lamp 66. For example, when entering <123> on the display 62 and <456> on the display 63, the key operation is "O" → "1" →
"2" → "3" → "R" → "4" → "5" →
The order will be "6". Therefore, the numeric keys from "0" to "9" and the "∞" key are used as two functions.
By switching the keys "O" and "R", the display 62 of 27,
63 or pilot lamps 65 and 66. Of course, it does not matter which one is specified first, the "O" key or the "R" key. Next, the "CO" (CLEAR ORIGINAL) key is used to clear the display 62 or pilot lamp 65, and is used to correct numerical data etc. that have been entered incorrectly. Therefore, the display 6
If you want to correct the entry <123> in 2 to <456>, enter “CO” → “O” → “4” →
Just press the keys in the order of "5" and "6". "CR"
The (CIEAR RETENTION) key also serves a similar purpose, and displays the indicator 63 or pilot lamp 66.
Clear. The "START" key is used to start the copying operation, but if the contents displayed on the displays 62, 63 and the pilot lamps 65, 66 are in an unreasonable combination, the "START" key will not work. That unreasonable combination means that the contents of the display 62 are <
000> and pilot lamps 65, 66
This is when both are lit. The reason for the former is that it is impossible to copy without forming an electrostatic latent image on the screen drum 1 at least once, and the reason for the latter is that it is impossible to make a copy without forming an electrostatic latent image on the screen drum 1 once. This is because it is impossible to perform an infinite number of retentions each time. Furthermore, once the "START" key is activated and the copying machine starts operating, keys other than "STOP" will not operate due to a later-described inhibition circuit. Also, when <002> and 63 <003> are entered on the display 62, after the primary latent image is formed on the screen drum, modulation, development, and transfer are repeated three times, and by repeating this cycle again, six sheets are printed. A copy of is obtained. At this time, when the "START" key is activated, the two displays display <000>, and as the copying operation progresses, they display <001><002>, and so on. (Description of operation panel circuit configuration) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the operation panel circuit according to the present invention. A memory 202 and a counter 201 correspond to the display 62, and are used to store and count the number of times an electrostatic latent image is formed on the screen drum. A memory 203 and a counter 204 correspond to the display 63, and are used to store and count the number of copies to be made by one primary latent image. These counters 201 and 204 can be a screen drum counter or an insulated drum counter, which will be described later. To explain the circuit operation, 217 to 221 refer to a group of keys on the operation panel, and the signals of these switches are gated by the output signal 214 of the inhibition circuit 216, and this signal line 214 is normally at the "1" level, When the prohibition circuit 216 is activated, it becomes the "0" level and no output is generated even if the key group is operated. Prohibition circuit 21
6 is flip-flop 209, 210, 211
and two OR gates 222 and 223. Each of the flip-flops remembers that the ``START'' key has been pressed, that the ``STOP'' key has been pressed, and that there has been a jam such as a paper jam, feeding two sheets of paper, or poor paper separation. Flip-flops 209 and 210 are never set; when one is set, the other is reset.
In other words, the START and STOP commands will never work at the same time. Also, when flip-flop 211 is set, flip-flops 209 and 210 always reset, interrupting all operations when the paper jams. The outputs of OR gates 222 and 223 are normally at "1" and "0" levels, respectively.
When any one of flip-flops 209, 210, and 211 is set, these become “0” or “1”.
Flip to level. That is, the "START" key,
When either the "STOP" key or JAM detection is in operation, the prohibition circuit 216 is activated, and the signal line 2
14 becomes "0" and the signal line 215 becomes "1". Therefore, the keys 217, 218, 22 on the operation panel
0,221 is prohibited and at the same time gate 22
5, 226 are closed, 224, 227 are open, display 62, display 63 have memory 202, memory 2
The contents of counter 201 and counter 204 are displayed in place of the contents of counter 03. During the copying operation, only the "STOP" key works. Therefore, the moment the "START" key is activated, the counter is zero, so the display 62 changes from <002> to <000.
>, 63 becomes <003>→<000>. However, as the copy operation progresses, this number changes to
The copying operation ends when the respective values in the corresponding memories and the values in the counters become equal. When copying is completed, each counter is cleared to zero in preparation for the next operation, and the indicators 62, 6
3 displays the memory value again. When the "STOP" key is pressed at any point during the copying operation, the operation is terminated at a well-defined point in the process from that point. Next, flip-flops 205 and 206 remember that the "O" and "R" keys were pressed, respectively, and neither of these are set.
When one sets, the other always resets.
Now, when the "O" key is pressed, the flip-flop 205 is set and the gates 228 and 229 are closed, and when any key in the numeric key group 217 is subsequently pressed, the numeric value passes through the gate 228 and is stored in the memory. 202. At this time, flip-flop 207 remembers that the "∞" key was pressed.
If the pilot lamp 234 is on, it is reset via the signal line 232 and the lamp is turned off. Also, when the "∞" key 221 is pressed instead of the numeric key group 217, it passes through the gate 229 and sets the flip-flop 207.
At the same time as the pilot lamp 234 is turned on, if some numerical value has already been stored in the memory 202, it is cleared through the signal line 233. Therefore, the entry of a numerical value into memory and the ``∞'' command are never true at the same time; if one is true, the other is always not true. Furthermore, when the "R" key is pressed, the flip-flop 205 is reset, the flip-flop 206 is set, and the gates 230 and 231 are opened. The numerical value passes through gate 231 and enters memory 203, and the "∞" key passes through gate 230, sets flip-flop 208, and lights pilot lamp 235. Also, if the memory 203 is entered, the flip-flop 208 is reset, and vice versa, if the memory 203 is set, the memory 203 is cleared, so the entry of numerical data into the memory and the "∞" instruction are automatically switched. It will be done. Also, by one type of key group 217, 221, 2
Inputs to the seed memory 202 and memory 203 are entries. (Relationship between sequence and machine operation) Figure 3 is a time chart showing the operation sequence of the copying machine shown in Figure 1, in which commands from the operation panel are
This is the case of ORIGINAL<002>RETENTION<002>. First, when the power switch is turned on, the cleaning motor 32 is used to collect residual toner dropped from the insulated drum and to drive the conveyor belt.
0, screen dust collector 15 (Fig. 1), screen dust prevention fan 14 (Fig. 1), two screen heaters 18 (Fig. 1), and a developing dust collection fan that sucks toner floating in the developing device. 325 starts driving and continues until the power switch is turned off.
However, one screen heater is turned off when the first electrostatic latent image formation is completed. Next, when the "START" key for starting copying is pressed, the screen drum motor 301 rotates. At this time, the reciprocating clutch of the optical system is activated,
This drives the optical system synchronously with the screen drum. To explain the mechanism of the optical system in FIG. 1, an original on an original glass is irradiated with an original illumination lamp 52, and a first reflection mirror 53 installed integrally with the original illumination lamp 52 and a lamp reflection mirror. It moves at a speed V that is mutually synchronized with the peripheral speed of the screen drum 1. A light image obtained by irradiation with the original illumination lamp is transmitted to a first reflecting mirror 53 and a second reflecting mirror 54.
After passing through, the lens 55 supported by the lens house,
Furthermore, a third reflective mirror 56, a fourth reflective mirror 57, and a fifth reflective mirror 58 are fixedly installed in the lens house.
The image is then projected onto the screen drum 1. Second
The reflecting mirror 54 moves in the same direction as the first reflecting mirror 53 at a speed of 1/2V. In this case, a cam plate attached to the first reflecting mirror mount on which the first reflecting mirror 53 is installed is moved while sequentially operating the micro switches (MS1 to MS6). The home position of the optical system is at the MS1 position, and when the "START" key is activated,
If the optical system is not in that position, the optical reciprocal clutch 302 (FIG. 3) is turned on, and the screen drum motor 301 is driven to the optical system, moved to its home position MS1, and the clutch 302 is turned off. . At this time, if the screen drum is not at its drum home position, it remains on standby. When the home position of the optical system and the home position of the screen drum match, the optical reciprocating clutch 303 is turned on, the force of the screen drum motor 301 is transmitted to the optical system, and the screen drum begins to move. Also, at this time, the original irradiation lamp 52 (304 in FIG. 3) is turned on. The cam plate that moves together with the first reflecting mirror 53 moves from MS1 and operates MS5 and MS6, but is electrically cut off. MS3 turns on the front part of the primary charger 4, and MS4 turns on the rear part of the primary charger. At the reversal position MS2 between the backward movement and the forward movement, the optical reciprocating clutch 303 is turned off, and the optical reciprocating clutch 3
02 is turned on and the movement of the optical system is reversed.
The AC static eliminator 6 (308 in FIG. 3) is turned on. Once again, MS4 and MS3 operate in this order, but are electrically cut off. Proceeding further, MS5 terminates charging of the primary charger (front), and then MS6 terminates charging of the primary charger (rear). Go further,
When the optical system returns to the home position MS1, the optical reciprocating clutch is turned off, stopping the optical system and simultaneously turning off the document irradiation lamp 52. Furthermore, from this point on, a timer starts working and the AC static eliminator 6 is turned off after a certain period of time. Thereafter, when the screen drum comes to the home position, the screen drum motor 301 is turned off and the insulated drum motor 328 is turned on. Therefore, as is clear from the figure, latent image formation is completed after two rotations of the screen drum. In addition, MS7 and MS8 are outside of this process.
This is a safety device that will stop the machine if it overruns. The insulated drum motor 328 rotates at about twice the speed of the screen drum motor 1. The screen drum and insulated drum are meshed with each other through gears,
The screen drum and screen drum motor and the insulated drum and insulated drum motor are connected by a one-way clutch, so two
For both drums, the screen drum motor rotates at its circumferential speed while it is being driven, and when it is turned off,
When the motors for the insulated drums are turned on at the same time, the speed of both drums instantly doubles. While the screen/drum motor 301 is rotating, the front irradiation lamp 3 and the entire surface irradiation lamp 7 are turned on, and the optical cooling fan 326 is driven to prevent heat from accumulating in the optical system due to the irradiation of the document illumination lamp 52. Also, at the same time as the "START" key is activated, the powder image transfer charger 36, paper separation charger 37, insulating drum static eliminator 50, and paper separation suction fan 319 are activated.
(FIG. 3) is turned on and turned off at the end of the copying operation. However, since the rotational speed of the insulating drum is slow due to the peripheral speed of the screen drum motor, the potential of the chargers 36, 37, and 50 is lowered to prevent excess charge from being charged on the insulating drum (Fig. 31).
7,318,321). Next, after the primary latent image is formed, the screen drum motor is turned off and the insulated drum motor is turned on, and copying operations such as modulation, development, paper transfer, and separation are started. After modulation, the first sheet of copying is completed after three revolutions of the screen drum, and thereafter one sheet of copying is completed every time the screen drum rotates once. To explain with reference to FIG. 3, first, the rotation of the drum is switched to the insulated drum motor 328, and at the same time,
Pre-modulation charger 310 and rear feed belt 38 (Fig. 1)
The transport roller clutch 316 for transmitting the force of the cleaning motor 320 is turned on.
As the rotation progresses and the screen drum advances 80 degrees from its home position, the modulation charger 311 for transferring the electrostatic latent image formed on the screen drum to the insulating drum is turned on, and at 310 degrees, the screen drum is turned on. A paper feed roller that feeds a sheet of paper on the paper feed table. The clutch 314 is turned on, and at 350 degrees, the developer motor 312 and the reversible toner bridge prevention motor 313 for stirring the toner accumulated in the developer are turned on. After the screen drum starts modulation, it enters its second rotation cycle, and at the 30° position, the paper feed roller clutch 314 is turned off, which causes the leading edge of the paper to be separated from the developed image on the insulating drum. Timing roller clutch 315 is turned on to align the tips. If the number of copies is one, the pre-modulation charger 310 and the modulation charger 311 are turned off at the 80° position, but in this case, since there are two copies, they are not turned off. Going further,
At 310 degrees, the paper feed roller clutch 314 turns on and feeds the second sheet of paper. Turn off the first timing roller clutch 315 at 360°. Entering the third rotation cycle, at 30 degrees, the feed roller clutch 314 is turned off and the second timing roller clutch 315 is turned on.
At 80 degrees, the pre-modulation charger 310 and the modulation charger 311 are turned off. If you are copying one sheet, the developing motor 312 and the toner bridge prevention motor 3 are connected here.
Turn off 13. Turn off the timing roller clutch again at 360°. Entering the fourth rotation cycle, the developing motor 312 and toner
Turn off the anti-bristle motor 313. At 360 degrees, the insulated drum motor 328 and transport roller clutch 316 are turned off, completing the retention cycle. The separation pawl solenoid 329 (FIG. 1, 73) that separates the paper from the insulating drum is operated by counting pulses from the time when the leading edge of the paper passes between the lamp 69 and the light receiving element 70 (FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. Work in the position indicated. When all copying operations are completed, the electromagnetic brake 327 operates for a certain period of time to stop the drum from overrunning. (Description of Sequence Control Circuit Configuration) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control section. External signals include signals from the keyboard that issue operation commands, detection signals for the home position of the screen drum that serve as the reference for the sequence, signals from the pulse generator synchronized with the rotation of the insulating drum, and the timing of primary latent image formation. The six micro-switch signals to be determined are input to the central control unit. Based on these input signals, the central control section makes full use of two memories and three counters to perform storage and judgment, and outputs appropriate signals to the interface section. Screen drum home position is detection pulse 33
0 (FIG. 3) is obtained by the magnet 68 on the screen drum and the magnetoelectric transducer 67 (FIG. 1) each time the screen drum makes one revolution. Judgment pulse (1) 331 indicates that the electrostatic latent image formation on the screen drum has been completed and the optical system has moved to its home position MS.
1 and then the home position of the screen drum is obtained. At the time of occurrence of this judgment pulse (1) 331, the memory (1) 202
By determining whether or not the and screen drum counter 201 are equal and whether or not a STOP command has been issued, the motor for the insulating drum is started to start the process of forming the secondary latent image, or restart the formation of the primary latent image. , or the screen drum motor is stopped to determine whether to end the sequence. Therefore, when STOP is input, the apparatus can be stopped without feeding the first sheet. The above decisions can be expressed in a flow chart as shown in Figure 5. In other words, the above decisions are sequentially ○I, ○C,
Indicated by ○A. Furthermore, this flow chart can be expressed as an electric circuit of a read-only memory as shown in FIG. If the vertical busbar is defined as a column and the horizontal busbar is defined as a line, the control commands indicated by ◇ in FIG. 5 are connected to columns 601 to 604, respectively. Moreover, this signal is inverted by inverters 605 to 608,
Connected to columns 609-612. line 61
3 to 617 are connected to the power supply through resistors. This power supply must be at a level equal to logic level "1". For example, the condition shown in Figure 5 is ``There is no STOP command, pilot lamp 1 is not lit, and a value is stored in memory 2.''
Expressing this as a logical formula, “=FSTOP・FS
∞・IL=O”. Therefore, column 609,
When diodes are connected to each of columns 610, 611 and line 615 in the direction shown in the figure, an AND circuit is formed, and line 615 becomes "1" level only when columns 609, 610, 611 are "1" level.
In other words, when the condition is satisfied, line 61
5 becomes "1". Similarly, the condition that
It is output on lines 613-617. Furthermore, lines 613-617 are inverted by inverters 618-622 and connected to lines 623-627.
Column 62 intersects this line 623-627
If lines 8 to 630 are connected to the power supply E through resistors and a diode matrix is formed here again, the line 630 will be at the ``0'' level only when the condition ``or'' is satisfied, and the output 644 of the inverter 633 will be It becomes "+" in the logical expression and becomes "1" level only when the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied. Therefore, this is the discrimination pulse (1) FJ1 and the screen/drum home position pulse which is the separation point of the operation.
By passing the DHP through the gate 638, it is possible to issue an operation command of ○a to end the sequence and latch the memory circuit. In the same way, it is possible to issue command signals for ○A and ○C. In the case of the signal C, the outputs of the chargers 36, 37, and 50 described above are lowered as shown in FIG. Now, when the condition ○A is established and the ○A signal is obtained, the screen drum motor is cut off, the insulated drum motor rotates, the drum speed is switched to high speed, and the disk 59 is synchronized with the drum by the gear. rotates. and disk 5
9 (FIG. 11) passes through the gap between the pair of light emitting elements and the light receiving element 60, and generates a clock pulse 332.
(Figure 3). This clock pulse produces one pulse per degree of rotation of the screen drum, or 360 pulses per revolution. Since it is difficult to drill one hole per degree in a disk with the same diameter as the screen drum, a separate disk is provided, and a gear is used to make the rotation of this disk n times that of the screen drum, thereby reducing the number of holes in the disk to 1. /n. In the process after modulation in this device, this clock pulse is processed and used as a driving signal for the equipment. In other words, in the process after modulation, as shown in Figure 3, the first copy is completed after one and a half revolutions of the insulated drum, and from the second copy onwards, copies are made every half revolution, so sequence control By setting the reference to half a revolution of the insulating drum or one revolution of the screen drum, the binary code 36 is generated by the clock pulse 332.
Activate the 0 evolution counter, 333~ in Figure 3
345 control pulses are output. An example of a circuit for generating this control pulse is shown in FIG. 10 flip-flops are connected to form a 360-decimal counter that counts clock pulses from 0 to 359. The first four flip-flops indicate the 1 digit and repeat the count from 0 to 9.
Decimal counter, the next 4 flip-flops indicate the 10 digit, repeating the count from 0 to 9 10
decimal counter, the last two digits indicate the 100 digit, 3
It is a forward counter. However, when the count advances from 0 and changes from 359 to 360, the decoder outputs a reset signal and all flip-flops are set to 0. In this way, it becomes a 360-decimal counter that repeats the count from 0 to 359 every time the screen drum rotates. Control pulses 333 to 345 in FIG. 3 are generated by decoding the output of the counter with the matrix circuit (decoder) in FIG. 7. In addition, 310 to 316 in Fig. 3
If you want to change the timing of the sequence,
This is possible by arbitrarily changing the position of the decoder diode. For example, it is possible to easily make delicate adjustments such as the timing of paper feeding, which cannot be adjusted using a combination of a micro switch and a cam, and the registration between the leading edge of the paper and the developed image on the drum. Here, in FIG. 3, for example, the pre-modulation charger 310 is turned on at 1 count in the first cycle, and if the number of copies is 1, it is turned off at 80 counts in the second cycle, and if the number of copies is 2, then Control pulse selection is required to turn off at 80 counts of the third cycle. The present invention counts discrimination pulses 2 using two insulated drum counters IC and IC' as shown in FIG.
The selection is made easy by comparing the count value with the memory 2. That is, 347 insulated drums whose count is "1" from the second cycle.
The counter IC is activated, and if the memory 2 storing the desired number of copies and the counter value are equal, the ON signal during that cycle is killed. After this, this counter will be stopped. However, for example, the timing roller clutch only operates on the first sheet of paper in the second cycle. However, comparing the insulated drum counter IC and memory 2, said counter is already equal to memory 2 in the third cycle, so no action of this clutch is made for the second sheet of paper. This is inconvenient. Therefore, the present invention controls the on/off of the clutch by comparing the insulated drum counter IC', which counts up one count later than the counter, with the memory 2. In the case of FIG. 3, the insulated drum counter IC matches memory 2 in the third cycle and stops counting, while the insulated drum counter IC'2 matches memory 2 in the fourth cycle. Therefore,
In the fourth cycle, insulating drum counters 1 and 2 coincide. The coincidence of these two counters means that it is the last cycle of copying, and at the last time of the cycle, that is, the time of judgment pulse 2, the two counters are cleared, and the screen drum counter and the desired number of latent image formations are again cleared. It is checked whether the memory 1 in which the . If they do not match, as described above, the insulating drum motor is turned off, the screen drum motor is rotated, exposure is started, and the same sequence after forming the primary latent image is repeated. Figure 16 is a diagram showing an example of drive control of each device.
15 is a paper feed roller clutch, a pre-modulation charger, a developing motor, and a timing roller clutch in FIG. 3; 160 is an amplifier that operates these;
9,170 is the flip-flop gate, 16
1,164,166,168 is an inverter, 16
2 is Nand Gate, 163 is Noah Gate, 16
5,167 is an AND gate. Said counter
When each matching circuit determines whether the IC or IC' matches the sheet value setting memory 2, the on-pulse is stopped, and the off-pulse stops the device.
Moreover, the device can be controlled at a predetermined timing. Next, a case where the transfer paper is jammed will be explained with reference to FIG. In order to detect jams when paper gets jammed in the conveyance path, when paper jams after transfer, does not separate and sticks to the insulated drum and moves, or when two sheets of paper are fed, At this point, a light source 69 and a light receiving element 70, and a light source 71 and a light receiving element 72 are provided. When the leading edge of the paper blocks the light source 69 (SG1), the light receiving element 70 picks up the pulse of the clock pulse generator and starts a jam counter, and when the leading edge of the paper blocks the light source 71 (SG0), the light receiving element 72 picks up the pulse of the clock pulse generator and starts the jam counter. The separation confirmation detection pulse SDP is output by decoding the output of . The count number of the detection pulses corresponds to the transport distance from the light source 69 to the light source 71. Therefore, if the paper gets jammed in the conveyance path or cannot be separated, the paper will not reach the light source 7 even though the separation detection pulse is emitted.
1 cannot be blocked. Therefore, the jam signal JP is outputted by a circuit as shown in figure b. In figure b, 81 is a gate and 82 is a flip-flop. Also, using this counter, the separation claw 73
It is possible to output a pulse signal from the same decoder to create the timing for activating (FIG. 1). The sequence control unique to the present invention after jam detection will be explained with reference to FIG. If you jam,
The insulated drum motor is immediately stopped using an electromagnetic brake and all sequences are turned off, but repairs can be made without turning off the power switch. The repair counter display remains stationary, displaying the number of counts at the time of the jam. When the repair is complete, press the START key again and the screen drum motor will rotate, rotating the screen drum to its home position. Then, at the home position, the screen drum motor is turned off and the insulated drum motor is turned on. Since the electrostatic latent image on the screen is retained during the jam repair, the sequence operation after the above-mentioned modulation is restarted. The details of the timing are shown in Figure 9. In the sequence after modulation, the insulated drum requires one and a half revolutions (three revolutions of the screen drum) for the first sheet, so when restarting after jamming, , insulated drum counter IC1 and IC2
The timing of the first sequence after modulation must be created while keeping it stopped. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 9, a prohibition time 1 and a prohibition time 2 are created in the first cycle and the second cycle of the sequence, thereby controlling the sequence of the first sheet. Then, the insulated drum counters 1 and 2 are counted up from the beginning of the third cycle.
The subsequent sequence control is the same as normal control. The following cases can be considered as jamming cases. When the first sheet is jammed, that is, when insulated drum counters 1 (IC) and 2 (IC') ≠ memory (2), it is jammed, and when IC = memory (2), it is jammed, and IC' =
Jam when memory (2). The following shows the movement of the counter when restarting after jamming. However, memory(2)=4.

In the case of [Table], both IC and IC' count up from the third cycle. in the third cycle if
Only IC' is counted up, IC=IC', and the process ends at the end of the third cycle. In the case of 3rd
Even after entering the cycle, the count does not increase, and IC=IC' is confirmed at the end of the third cycle and the cycle ends. In the end, the cycle ends in the same way, but this is because the paper is jammed near the paper leading edge detector and the paper is jammed due to "two-sheet feeding" or other reasons.
This is because in the case of paper separation failure, even the same paper may be jammed due to the difference in time. We will explain how to control the sequence using inhibit times 1 (INH1) and 2 (INH2). In the sequence of restarting after jamming, the first copy must be copied in any case, so the prohibition time 1
Then, the functions 310 to 314 in FIG. 3 are turned on at appropriate timings. 315 is also INH1/INH2
Turn it on at the appropriate time. Next, at times INH1 and INH2, counter ICs 310 and 311 are compared with the contents of memory 2, and if they are already equal, they are turned off, and 314 is also not turned on, if they are equal. As for the cycles after INH2, since the IC and IC' counters are controlled as described above, they are controlled by comparing the memory 2 with these two counters, as in the normal case. The circuit that generates the above-mentioned inhibition time signals INR1 and INR2 is as shown in FIG.
is a flip-flop, 183 and 184 are gates,
FRSTRT is a start signal related to the start of rotation of the insulating drum, FJ ₂ is judgment pulse 2, and gate 18
3,184 at the timing shown in Figure 9.
Output INH1 and 2. The driving of the equipment and the stopping of the counter during this prohibited time are controlled by a circuit as shown in FIG. The on and off pulses in the figure are the same as the sequence pulses in FIG. The control of the sequence after the latent image modulation described above uses the same method as the judgment flow shown in FIG. 5 and the judgment circuit shown in FIG. 6, which were explained in connection with the control of the sequence of primary latent image formation. As is clear from the foregoing discussion, each cycle after modulation corresponds to one cycle of the 360-decimal counter that counts clock pulses. Pulses 334-345 in Figure 3 occur at the appropriate number of counts in each cycle, but rather than using all of them, they are used only in cycles for which conditions are met, and the latching flip-flops of the associated devices are used. By turning it on or off, you can create a flow that loops the 360-decimal counter from 0 to 359. An outline of this flow is shown in FIG. 10, and if this flow is further represented by an electric circuit, it becomes as shown in FIG. 11. As described above, a flow in which a series of sequences based on pulse counting is programmed can be incorporated into a read-only memory circuit consisting of two blocks, a diode matrix and an inverter. It becomes possible to control the sequence without using any. In Figures 10 and 11, Set FHVT5 instructs the pre-modulation charger to turn on, Reset FCL3 to turn off the drive of the paper feed roller, Set FCL4 to turn on the drive of the timing roller, and FRSTRT to start copying after modulation. FI∞ is used to judge whether there is multi-retention or not. The blank space in FIG. 10 can also output commands to operate the required equipment at the corresponding count in the same manner as the flow at count 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, operating circuits for other equipment can also be formed. This allows stable timing control without requiring a complicated configuration. Next, we will talk about the means for stably performing tensioning. As the number of retentions progresses, the electrostatic latent image formed on the screen will naturally discharge its charge and the potential will decrease, resulting in a developed visible image. It affects the shading, contrast, etc. Therefore, in the present invention, the potential of the modulation charger is increased as the number of retentions progresses in order to correct the change in the image due to the decrease in the potential. In the case of this device, as shown in Figure 12, the potential of the first sheet is higher than that of the second and subsequent sheets, and then the 10th sheet,
Increase the potential step by step at the 30th, 50th, 70th, and 90th sheets. The potential can be raised or lowered by varying the input voltage on the primary side of the high-voltage transformer.For example, using Figure 13 as an example, this resistance can be increased or decreased by connecting six resistors in series and using a relay that moves as the number of retention increases. The potential is increased by sequentially shorting the . These resistors may be connected in series, or different resistance values may be connected in parallel and each of them may be switched. The timing for operating the switches such as the relays is shown in FIG. This timing can be created by combining the insulated drum counter 1 and the modulated charger on-pulse. For example, in the case of this device, the potential changes at the 2nd, 10th, 30th, 50th, 70th, and 90th sheets, so the insulated drum counter 1 is decoded as shown in Figure 15. The gated output of the modulated charger on pulse is the timing to activate the relay. Therefore, the second card is IC = 1, the 10th card is IC = 9, and the 30th card is IC =
When the 29th and 50th cards have IC = 49, the 70th card has IC = 69, and the 90th card has IC = 89, the operating pulses for relays K1 to K6 are output at clock pulse = 80 counts.
Set latches 1-6 and activate the coils of relays K1-K6. Next, a reasonable method of totaling copying fees in the copying apparatus of the present invention will be explained. The light source that exposes the original image is used only during the process of forming the primary latent image, and the deterioration of the photoreceptor is generally caused by the passage of current through the photoreceptor, so the deterioration of the light source and the screen photoreceptor is the main cause. This occurs during the process of forming the first electrostatic latent image, and has little to do with subsequent processes. Therefore, in such a copying apparatus, when accounting for copying fees, charges are charged differently depending on the size and quality of copying paper, as in conventional copying apparatuses. In addition, a total method is required that takes into consideration the difference between the process of forming the primary latent image on the screen photoreceptor and the subsequent process of transferring it to copy paper. An example will be explained based on FIG. 19. In the figure, 191 is a total counter that counts the number of electrostatic latent images formed on the screen photoreceptor, 192 is for forming a secondary latent image from the primary latent image on the screen drum on an insulating drum, A total counter that counts the number of times the electrostatic latent image is developed and the developed image is transferred to copy paper (this corresponds to the number of copies made); the other numbers are This corresponds to the numbers in Figure 2 (operation panel block diagram). Let's explain its operation. When the count-up switch 241 is repeatedly turned on each time the original image is exposed and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the screen drum, the values of the counter 201 and the total counter 191 increase by one. The counter 201 is cleared when the apparatus repeats a series of copying operations and the content of the memory 202 matches the preset number of copies. However, the total counter 191 continues to count even for the next copying operation without being cleared. In other words, when the original picture is replaced and a new number of copies is set, the counter 201 will start from 1 again.
Counting starts as 2, 3, etc., but the total counter 191 starts counting from the previous count value +1. In addition, each time the count-up switch 242 in the process of forming a secondary latent image, developing it, and then transferring it to copy paper is turned on and off,
Counter 204, total counter 192
perform operations corresponding to the counter 201 and total counter 191, respectively, and the total counter 201 continues to count the total number of copy sheets copied without its contents being cleared. In this way, the number of times an electrostatic latent image is formed on the screen drum and the subsequent steps up to the transfer of the visible image to the copy paper are counted separately, and each total counter is calculated when collecting copying fees. , collected in separate fees. As described above, by accounting for copying fees, when multiple copies of the same original painting are made, the unit price of each copy becomes cheaper as the number of copies increases, and an accounting system that takes advantage of the features of the present invention becomes an accounting method. achieved. The above description has been made using a copying apparatus that transfers a visible image onto plain paper as an example, but the present invention directly transfers a latent image formed on a photoreceptor by exposure to light onto plain paper, develops it, and copies it. This method is effective both in applications using the so-called TESI method for producing objects, and in applications in which a secondary latent image on an insulating drum is directly transferred onto plain paper and developed to produce a copy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a drive circuit for a display in a copying machine according to the present invention, FIGS. 3a and 3b are time charts of equipment operation in a copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a control section of a copying machine according to the present invention. The block diagram of Fig. 5 is the flowchart of sequence judgment, Fig. 6.
The figure shows an example of a circuit diagram that embodies it, Figure 7 is a driving circuit diagram of each device, Figures 8a and b are time charts and circuit diagrams of jam detection operation, and Figure 9 shows a diagram after jam detection. A time chart of equipment operation, Fig. 10 is a more detailed flowchart of sequence judgment, Fig. 11 is an example of a circuit diagram embodying it, and Figs. 12 and 13 show changes in image quality during retention copying. Graph and circuit diagram for correction, Fig. 14 is a time chart of the operation of Fig. 13, Fig. 15 is an example of the drive circuit of Fig. 13, and Fig. 16 is an example of the drive circuit of the device in Fig. 3. , FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the screen photoreceptor, FIG. 18 is an example of a prohibition time signal generation circuit during jamming, FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the accounting system, and FIG.
Fig. 0 is an example of the charger output control circuit, Fig. 21 is the 1st charger output control circuit.
This is an example of a signal generation circuit for FIG. 16 using FIG. 8, and in FIG.
01 is the screen drum counter, 203 is the second
413 is a first insulated drum counter;
414 is a second insulated drum counter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A setting key for setting the number of images to be formed, a start key for commanding the start of image formation, a display for displaying numerical values, and numerical data corresponding to the set number input by the setting key. a clear key for clearing the numerical data stored in the memory; and a start button that enables image forming operations to be performed multiple times without having to input the number of images to be formed each time using the setting key. a specific key different from the key, a digital counting means for counting the number of image forming operations, and a sequence control means for terminating the image forming operation when the counting means counts a set number of image forming operations stored in the memory. , operating the display to display the number set by the operator stored in the memory, displaying the count of the counting means after the start of image formation, and displaying the number set by the counting means stored in the memory after the completion of image formation; display control means for displaying the number set by the operator again; means for inputting a signal to prematurely stop image formation before the completion of image formation for the number of times stored in the memory; a storage means that is converted to a predetermined level state; and a storage means that allows a key input operation using the clear key or the specific key when the storage state of the storage means is not at the predetermined level state; an image forming apparatus, further comprising key input control means for inhibiting a key input operation using the clear key or the specific key when the clear key is at the predetermined level.