JPS6123049A - Paper feed control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the reliability of operation of a paper feed control device and to reduce the frequency of paper feeds by an operator, by making limitless operation at the irreducible minimum of a demand. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of storing sections are successively selected by means of scanning signals from a control section, and information of the presence, size and remaining amount of papers in each storing section and a paper feed bed selection signal fed from a control and display section are transmitted to the control section 1 and are stored in a memory section. With this information, an optimum storing section may be selected for limitless operation. In this arrangement, a paper storing section which has been selected by depressing a printing button 6 is used to initiate copying operation, and the presence of papers in the storing section is confirmed each time when one paper is processed. During copying operation when papers are completely consumed, copying operation is automatically changed over to another storing section in which the same size papers are stored by the greatest remaining amount to continue the copying operation. Therefore, the limitless operation may be made at the irreducible minimum of a demand, and as well, the frequency of paper replenishment by an operator may be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a paper feed control device for a copying machine or the like having a plurality of paper storage units, and in particular detects the absence of paper in a selected paper storage unit during a series of copying operations. This refers to control for automatically switching to another paper storage section (hereinafter referred to as limitless mode, limitless paper feeding, etc.).

(Prior Art) Conventionally, many applications related to the above-mentioned paper feed control have been filed. It is known to switch to a paper storage section when paper falls into another storage section.

(Objective) The present invention was made based on this background.
The purpose is to improve reliability and reduce the burden on the operator by minimizing switching operations during limitless paper feeding operations.

(Configuration) In high-speed, Tendo processing copying machines, the number of copies processed in one copying operation is large, especially in system machines connected to copying post-processing devices (computer, finisher, etc.). There is a strong tendency.

Furthermore, with the recent introduction of functions such as multi-job, the number of copies per copy is increasing.

This case relates to a paper feed control system that allows efficient (limitless) paper feeding to be carried out in such a large-volume copying machine.

That is, the present invention is characterized by switching to the paper storage section with the largest amount of remaining paper when the paper is fed without being fed.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of paper feed control according to the present invention, and C
The input/output units for the control unit 1, including the PU, RAM, and ROM, are shown in detail.

As an input signal, the paper storage section 2 (2-52-2,...
. . 2-n), 7-bit information is input to the control section 1 through the switch group 3. This is shown in Figure 1.
The bit indicates the presence or absence of paper, and the next 3 bits indicates the paper size (A3.
4. B4. B5, etc.) Furthermore, the remaining amount of paper is detected using the next 3 bits. Therefore, the paper size (8 pieces) and the remaining amount of paper can be detected in 8 stages. A scan signal is also input to the control section 1.

A plurality of storage units are sequentially selected by the scan signal from the control unit, and information on whether or not there is paper in each storage unit, paper size, remaining amount of paper, and a paper feed tray selection signal from the operation display unit is transmitted to the control unit 1. and stored in the storage unit. With this information, the optimum storage section can be selected during limitless operation, as will be described later.

Further, the output signal of the control section 1 is outputted to the operation display section 4.

This is a paper feed tray selection signal that displays the paper feed tray selection switch 5 (selectable display) or drives it in limitless mode, a signal that indicates whether or not the print button 6 can be operated, and a paper no display signal that causes the LED 7 to emit light. , IJ Mitsutress display signal,
This signal is a paper storage section selection display signal, etc.

Next, the control operation of the present invention will be explained based on the operation flowchart shown in FIG.

By pressing the print button 6, copy production using the selected paper storage section 2 is started, and the presence or absence of paper in the paper storage section is checked each time one sheet is processed. If the paper runs out midway, the copying operation can be continued by automatically switching to the paper storage section with the same size and the largest amount of remaining paper among the other paper storage sections.

By selecting and using the storage section with the largest amount of remaining paper in this way, it is possible to minimize the limitless operation and at the same time reduce the number of times the operator replenishes paper to the storage section.

(Effects) The present invention is as described above, and according to the control method of the present invention, by minimizing limitless operation to the necessary minimum, it is possible to improve the reliability of operation and reduce the number of times the operator replenishes paper. can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a paper feed control block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a 70-chart of its operation. 1... Control section as command means, identification means, switching means, 3... Detection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a paper feeding device such as a copying machine having at least three paper storage units, a command means for selecting one of the paper storage units, a means for detecting the presence or absence of paper in each storage unit, the paper size, and the remaining amount of paper; A means for identifying the paper size of the selected first storage section and other storage sections storing paper of the same size, and when paper runs out while feeding paper from the selected first storage section. Among other storage compartments that store paper of the same size,
A paper feed control device characterized by having means for automatically switching to feeding paper from a storage unit with the largest amount of remaining paper.