JPS61290435A - Variable power copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure of a copying machine and to attain copying in various modes by using two power sources, i.e. a main motor of a machine to be exclusively used for unmagnification and a servo motor of an automatic original carrying device. CONSTITUTION:The automatic original carrying device including an original carrying belt 17, the servo motor 30, etc. in its inside is optionally and externally arranged on the upper part of the copying machine body constituted so as to be used only for unmagnification and connected to the machine body through gears 38, 41. Under said constitution, an original automatic carrying and scanning mode, an optical system moving and scanning mode or a copying magnification conversion setting mode can be switched by using the main motor of the machine body and the servo motor 30 as the power sources and intermittently connecting magnet clutches 32, 34, 40. Consequently, the constitution can be simplified and copying in various mode can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a variable magnification copying machine for selectively forming images of a document at different magnifications. The present invention relates to a drive device that moves the .

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in electrophotographic copying machines, a slit exposure scanning method is often adopted as a method for exposing an original image onto a photoreceptor, in which the original is sequentially exposed from one end over a certain width.

In this case, there are two methods: an optical system movement method in which the exposure light source and a part of the mirror group are moved to perform exposure scanning while the original to be copied remains stationary, and an original movement method in which exposure scanning is performed while moving the original. method is used. Furthermore, an electrophotographic copying machine has also appeared that is capable of both the above-mentioned optical system movement scanning and document movement scanning.

Furthermore, recently, electrophotographic copying machines with a variable magnification function for enlarging and reducing original images have also been commercially available. When changing the magnification, you can change the focal length of the lens by using a zoom lens or adding an attachment lens to the main lens, or you can move the lens and change the optical path length at the same time. There are methods etc.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the structure and operation of an example of an optical system moving type copying machine equipped with a sheet original conveying device.

A document table glass 2 corresponding to the size of a sheet document of a specified size is fixed at the top of the copying machine main body l, and a conveyor belt 3C rotated clockwise by drive rollers 3a and 3b and a document table glass 2 corresponding to the size of a sheet document of a specified size are fixed on the top surface of the document table glass 2. A conveyance device 3 is provided, which includes a feed roller 3d that feeds a sheet document to a conveyance belt 3C, and a discharge roller 3e that discharges a sheet document from the conveyance belt 3c.

Further, an exposure optical system consisting of a first mirror unit 5 equipped with an exposure lamp L, a second mirror unit 6, a projection lens 7, and a reflection mirror 8 is arranged below the document table glass 2. The first mirror unit 5 has a speed related to the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor drum 9, that is, the speed of the first mirror unit 5 is set to v3, and the peripheral speed of the photoreceptor drum 9 is set to v3.
, at a speed that satisfies v, x n=v□, where n is the copying magnification, and the second mirror unit 6 copies the original at half the speed, 1/2·V. It is designed to be able to move linearly to the right in parallel with the mounting glass 2. Furthermore, there is a document stopper at a position facing the left end of the document table glass 2! 0 is provided, and when copying a sheet document D1 that is equal to or shorter than the specified size (referred to as the first mode), the sheet document protrudes to the document placement surface to stop the sheet document, and can be retracted downward in response to an ejection signal. However, when copying a document D2 that is longer than the specified size (referred to as the second mode), it is now possible to maintain the retracted state by performing special operations. There is.

In such a copying apparatus, when copying a sheet original that is equal to or shorter than the specified size (first mode), the sheet original inserted into the feed roller 3d is moved by the conveyor belt 3c as shown in FIG. The document moves leftward on the document platen glass 2 and comes into contact with the document stopper 10 and stops.

Thereafter, the first mirror unit 5 and the second mirror unit 6 move to the dotted line position and perform exposure scanning, and the image on the document surface is projected by the projection lens 7 via the reflection mirror 8 into a photosensitive film rotating at a circumferential speed of V. The image is formed around the body drum 9.

When the exposure scan is completed in this way, the exposure lamp L is turned off and the eleventh second mirror unit 5.6 returns to the position shown by the solid line, but in conjunction with this, the document stopper 10 is retracted downward. After the original sheet is again moved by the conveyor belt 3C and ejected from the apparatus via the ejection roller 3e, it again protrudes onto the original placing surface as shown in FIG. 5 and is ready for the next original sheet. There is.

On the other hand, when copying a sheet original whose length exceeds the specified size (second mode), the first mirror unit 5 and the second mirror unit equipped with the exposure lamp L that has been moved in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the mirror unit 6 is stopped at a fixed position, and with all the exposure optical systems stopped, the sheet document inserted into the feed roller 3d is moved to the document placement glass by the conveyor belt 3c. 2 Move the top to the left,
It is conveyed at a constant speed V, and is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 3e. While the sheet document D2 is being conveyed, an image is formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 9, which rotates at a circumferential speed of vl, by light irradiation from the exposure optical system in a stopped state.

The fixed position at which the exposure optical system is stopped may be anywhere as long as there is no scanning range of the exposure optical system, but the exposure lamp L may be placed near the right edge of the document table glass 2 as shown in FIG. The first mirror unit 5 provided therein was stopped and the sheet original was conveyed. Sheet manuscript D
The document D2 is conveyed by the feed roller 3d, the conveyor belt 3c, and the paper discharge roller 3e, but the document D2 is conveyed by the feed roller 3d and the paper discharge roller 3e! Contrary to the method in which the document is clamped and pressed by a pair of rollers, the conveyance by the conveyor belt 3C is carried out on the fixed platen glass 2, and since the conveyance is somewhat uncertain compared to rollers, the It is arranged near the roller 3d. Incidentally, in both FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement of the optical system 5.6 is performed by a motor M.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of only the exposure device section of the copying machine shown in FIG. 5. In the figure, the part number with "l" in front of it indicates the home position (initial stop and position) of the movable part in the method of scanning the exposure optical system for full-size copying. That is, I5
, I6, and I7 indicate home positions of the first mirror unit 5, second mirror unit 6, and lens 7, respectively, and are the states of the scanning start planes of these exposure optical systems.

On the other hand, 5 indicates the maximum movement position of the first mirror unit 5 during the exposure scan. At this time, the second mirror unit 6 reaches the position II6.

Next, when performing reduction copying, the lens 7 is installed at the position 7 and the second mirror unit 6 is moved to the position 6, so that the optical path length is lengthened compared to when the image is at the same magnification. If exposure scanning is performed in this setting state, when the first mirror unit 5 reaches the position of ■5, the second mirror unit 6 will move to the position of ■6.
Move to the position.

When performing an enlarged copy, the lens 7 is set at the position 7 and the second mirror unit 6 is moved to the position 6, so that the optical path length increases compared to the same size as when making a reduced copy.

If exposure scanning is performed in this setting state, when the first mirror unit 5 reaches the position 5, the second mirror unit 6 moves to the position 6.

Next, when copying a sheet original longer than the movement distance (15-[5) of the exposure optical system, the original is moved and scanned.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing this state (second mode).

That is, the first mirror unit 5 is partially stopped at position 5,
and with the exposure lamp L turned on and the document stopper IO retracted from the upper surface of the document table glass 2, the sorted document D2 is continuously conveyed to the exposure section by the conveyor belt 3C and scanned; A method has been adopted in which this allows the entire image of a large document to be copied. According to this method, the scanned portions of the sheet document are sequentially sent out from the copying machine through the document table glass 2, so that it is possible to scan documents with a length longer than a specified size.

Here, when setting the first mirror unit 5 to the position (■5) and performing a same-size copy, the second mirror unit 6 is set to the position (■6).
Lens 7 is stopped at ■7.

Further, when performing reduction copying, the second mirror unit 6 moves and stops at position (6), and the lens 7 moves and stops at position (7). When making enlarged copies, the second mirror unit 6 is set to ■6, and the lens 7 is set to
7, turn on the lamp L, and move the document D2.
Exposure scanning is carried out while conveying the image.

In the exposure optical system of a copying machine having such a structure, in order to copy in the first mode in which the original is kept stationary and the optical system moves and scans, when converting and setting the copy magnification, it is necessary to set the copy magnification in relation to the movement of the lens 7. An action is required to move the second mirror unit forward or backward. Further, the operation of simultaneously moving and scanning the first mirror unit 5 and the second mirror unit 6 is performed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 9, and is driven by the main motor of the main body of the copying machine.

In addition, in the second mode in which the first mirror unit 5 is stopped at a predetermined position (5) and the document is exposed and copied while being conveyed, the movement of the first mirror unit 5 and Movement of the second mirror unit 6 and lens 7 is required to set the magnification. During exposure scanning, in order to move the document at a predetermined speed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 9, another motor is required to drive the feed roller 3d and the conveyance belt 3C.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional copying machine having the two-mode copying function described above, a main motor is used to move and scan the exposure optical system at a predetermined process speed in synchronization with the rotation of the photoreceptor drum. In addition, a second mirror unit, a second motor such as a pulse motor or a DC motor that moves and sets the lens to a predetermined position during variable-magnification copying, and a third motor that drives a belt, rollers, etc. to convey a sheet original are used. Requires motor.

On the other hand, in general copying, copying of large originals that exceed the size of the original document placement glass surface, and variable magnification copying are less frequently used than same-size copying.

In a compact copying machine, if all of the above-mentioned functions are installed from the beginning, the copying machine will become larger and the cost will increase.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention aims to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional copying machines.The present invention has a basic configuration of a compact and simple-structured copying machine exclusively for focusing and magnification, and further includes modifications. When double copying or large document copying is required, the purpose is to develop multifunctionality by using a unit such as an automatic document feeder and making it possible to attach it externally to the copying machine main body. It is.

A variable magnification copying machine of the present invention that achieves the above object is equipped with an optical system consisting of an exposure light source and a movable mirror and lens for changing the optical path of the light source. A variable magnification copying machine having a first mode of scanning, and a second mode of scanning while moving the document with the movable mirror stationary, the variable magnification copying machine having a first mode and a second mode of scanning while moving the original with the movable mirror stationary. The first motor drives the load at a process speed common to all modes, and serves as the power source for converting the optical system movement setting and original document transport, which change the relative positional relationship according to the selected copying magnification. The present invention is characterized by having a second motor.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

It should be noted that among the reference numerals used in the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same structural parts as in FIGS. 5 to 8.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the transport system and drive system inside the transport section of the automatic document feeder, Figure 2 is a configuration diagram showing the document transport path, and Figure 3 is the drive system (power transmission system). Configuration diagram, 4th
The figure is a plan view thereof.

First, the structure and operation of the automatic document feeder will be explained.

A document device table II is provided on the upper left side of the automatic document feeder, and allows one or more documents to be placed at a predetermined position. By operating a copy button provided on a control panel on the top surface of the copying machine, the feed roller 12 is lowered using a lowering means to contact the surface of the document, and at the same time begins to rotate and feed the document.

The feed belt 13, which starts rotating at the same time, works together with the double-feed prevention roller 14 located below it, so that only the topmost document is sent out.

The fed document of role i is transferred to a pair of intermediate conveyance rollers I5.
It is conveyed through between the guide plates 16 which are curved by. Next, the document is conveyed while being pinched between the rotating conveyor belt 17 and the document image exposure glass table (hereinafter referred to as the document table glass) 2 on the top surface of the copying machine main body, to the position where the leading edge of the document abuts the document stopper lO. Stop at.

The conveyor belt 17 includes a driving roller 18, a driven roller 19.
It is stretched between three document pressing rollers 20 and a tension roller 21.

The original is exposed to light by an exposure lamp in the main body of the copying machine at a stop position on the original platen glass 2, and an original image is formed on the recording medium by scanning by the optical system.

When a series of copying processes for the original document is completed, the abutment part of the original stopper 10 is retracted to release the leading edge of the original document, and the original is moved by the conveyor belt 17 which starts rotating again and the pair of paper ejection rollers 22. The document is carried out, and is discharged and placed on a paper discharge tray (original paper discharge table) 23.

At the same time as this ejecting operation, the topmost one of the originals stacked on the original placing table 1 is sent onto the original glass 2 in the same manner as the document transport described above. Exposure and paper ejection are performed repeatedly.

Next, the power drive system for the roller group and belt will be explained.

30 is a servo motor that integrates a DC motor and a speed control device (encoder, tacho generator, etc.). A gear 31 is fixed to the drive shaft of the servo motor 30 and meshes with a gear 33 fixed to the rotating shaft of the first magnetic clutch 32 . A toothed pulley PI is fixed to the shaft end of the other rotating shaft of the magnetic clutch 32, and causes the toothed pulley P2 of the intermediate shaft (idler shaft) 24 to rotate via the toothed belt B1. In addition, the intermediate shaft 24
Toothed pulleys P2 and P3 are coaxially fixed. A toothed heald B2 is wound between the toothed pulley P3 and a toothed pulley P4 which is fixed to the shaft end of the drive roller 18.

The magnetic clutch 32 is controlled based on an input signal, and when the input signal is turned on, the servo motor 30
transmits the driving force of the toothed pulley Pl to a rotating state,
The drive roller 18 is rotated via the intermediate shaft 24. Further, when the human power signal is switched off, the magnetic clutch 32 becomes idle, and the toothed pulley PI stops.
The drive roller 18 becomes inactive.

In addition, a toothed pulley P fixed to the shaft end of the drive roller 18
The toothed belt B3 meshing with the toothed pulleys P5 and P6 is wound and rotated while meshing with the toothed pulleys P5 and P6. In addition, the API is circumscribed around the outer periphery of the toothed belt B3 and tightened.
It's boori.

Since the toothed pulley P5 is fixed to the shaft end of the intermediate conveyance roller 15, the intermediate conveyance roller 15 is rotated by the servo motor 30 together with the drive roller I8. Further, the shaft 25 which is integral with the toothed pulley P6 rotates the surface feed belt 13 via the gears Gl and G2, and
) 9. Rotate the feed pulley 12 using the PIO and toothed belt B4. On the other hand, a magnetic clutch 26 is attached to the other end of the shaft 25, and is controlled based on a human power signal to rotate the feed belt 13 and the feed pulley I2 to feed the document.

Furthermore, the rotation of the drive roller 18 rotates the driven roller 19 via the conveyor belt 17, and the toothed pulley fixed to the shaft end of the driven roller 19 meshes with the toothed pulley P8 via the toothed heald B5. The paper ejection roller 22 is rotated.

On the other hand, a gear 31 fixed to the drive shaft of the servo motor 30
Similarly to the gear 33, a gear 35, which is fixed to the rotating shaft of a second magnetic clutch 34 different from the magnetic clutch 32 for conveying the document, meshes with the gear 33. A gear 36 is fixed to the shaft end of the other rotating shaft of the magnetic clutch 34 .

When the automatic document feeder is mounted on the copying machine main body l and the lid is closed on the surface of the document table glass 2, the gear 36 in the automatic document feeder is installed in the copying machine main body l. It meshes with the gear 37 and becomes ready for power transmission.

In this state, press the magnification setting button for variable size copying.
For example, based on this magnification setting manual signal, the magnetic clutch 34 becomes capable of transmitting power, and the other magnetic clutch 32 becomes free.

Continuing to apply voltage to the servo motor 30, the gear 31
The rotation is from the gear 35 through the magnetic clutch 34,
The gear 36 is rotated, and the gear 37 on the main body side is further rotated.

The rotational drive of the gear 37 is further transmitted via a transmission means such as a wire or a pulley to the second gear 37 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
Move and stop the mirror unit 6 and lens 7 to the initial stop position (Bahm position) corresponding to the set magnification. That is, in the case of a same size copy, the positions I6 and I7 are moved, in the case of a reduced copy, the positions 6 and 7 are moved, and in the case of an enlarged copy, the positions 16 and 27 are moved, respectively.

After completing the magnification setting operation, the magnetic clutch 32.
The human power to 34 is reversed, and the 32 side can transmit, and the 34 side is free. As a result, the driving force of the servo motor 30 is
The drive roller 18 is rotated via the clutch 32, and the document is transported by the automatic document feeder.

At this time, if the original size is the same as or smaller than the original platen glass 2, the leading edge of the original plate is as shown in FIG.
It is stopped by the stopper 10, and the original DI is at a stationary portion (
For example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 154762/1983)
Exposure scanning is performed using an optical system movement method, etc., and copying (same size, reduction, enlargement) is performed.

If the original size is larger than the original platen glass 2, the eighth
As shown in the figure, the first mirror unit 5 is moved to the 5 position by the main motor M' of the copying machine body 1, and the second mirror unit 6 is moved to the position 116 (equal magnification) or rV.
6 (reduction) or VI6 (enlargement), the magnetic clutch 32 of the automatic document feeder is turned on, and while the document is being transported, the exposure lamp of the first mirror unit 5 in a stationary state is turned on. The document being transported is exposed to light by L to execute copying.

In FIG. 3, the driving force of the servo motor 3o is
1 to the gear 35, and further to the magnetic clutch 3.
When 4 is in the connected state, the signal is transmitted from the gear 36 to the gear 37 on the copying machine main body l side, where the gear 38 and 3 are connected.
It is branched into two series of 9.

The driving force transmitted to the gear 38 moves and sets the lens 7 in accordance with the copying magnification. A magnetic clutch is provided coaxially with the gear 39, and the magnetic clutch 40
When in the power transmission state, the gear 41 is driven to move and set the first mirror unit 6.

Next, the relationship between the operations of the magnetic clutches 32, 34 and 40 and the copy mode will be shown below.

(1) Only the clutch 32 is connected: 1-size copy of a normal original (Dl) by the automatic document feeder (2) Clutches 32 and 34 are connected: 1-size copy of a large original (Dl) by the automatic document feeder (3 ) Clutches 32, 34, and 40 are connected...Reduced magnification copying of regular originals (Dl) or large originals (D,) by automatic document feeder (4) Clutches 34 and 40 are connected...Regular originals (D,) by manual original operation The variable magnification copy 42 of D.
~36, PI-P8, B1-B5), and is a transport unit cover that can be opened and closed.It is attached to the rear of the top surface of the copying machine by a horizontal bearing (not shown) installed at the rear of the drive system. It is attached to a fixed part and can be opened and closed freely.

The servo motor 30, magnetic clutches 32, 34, intermediate shaft 24, drive roller 18, intermediate conveyance roller 15, shaft of idler pulley APi, magnetic clutch 26, driven roller 19, and paper ejection roller 22 forming the drive system are inside the conveyance section. It is supported by a frame 43 forming a skeletal structure.

Each member of the drive system, through which power is transmitted from the servo motor 30 through a magnetic clutch, a toothed pulley row, and a toothed belt row, is arranged parallel to the axis, and the frame 43
It is pivotally supported by the rear side plate 43A.

In the above embodiment, a toothed belt is used for power transmission in order to reduce noise and ensure reliable transmission, but a gear train, chain, wire, etc. may be used as other means. In addition, toothed pulleys are used instead of the gears 31, 33, and 35 that transmit the driving force from the servo motor 30 to the magnetic clutches 32, 34, and the toothed belt that winds these three toothed pulleys reduces noise. It is also possible to use other power transmission means.

In the above embodiment, the lens position and the second mirror unit position were set to be changed according to the magnification when performing variable magnification copying, but the lens position could be changed by using a zoom lens or adding an attachment lens to the main lens. There is a method of changing the focal length and changing the lens position, and a method of changing each position of the lens and the fourth mirror, but in either case, the optical system position control and document transport according to the present invention can be performed. Convertible drives are applicable.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the copying machine according to the present invention has a simple structure in which the main body of the copying machine is configured as a machine dedicated to the same magnification, and an automatic document feeder is externally attached as an option, so that automatic document feeding is possible. This makes it possible to perform copying and variable-magnification copying, and to make it possible to copy large originals larger than the document table glass at the same magnification and variable-magnification, making it multi-functional. All the added multi-function operations are supplied from the drive source of the external automatic document feeder, so the 1x dedicated machine with only basic functions has a simple structure.
There are various advantages such as the capacity of the power supply section and electrical equipment section can be small.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the conveyance system and drive system of an automatic document feeder according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the document conveyance path, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the drive system, and FIG. The figure is a plan view thereof. FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of an optical system moving type copying machine equipped with a sheet original conveying device. FIGS. 7 and 8 are operation explanatory diagrams in which only the exposure device section of the copying machine is taken out and enlarged. 1...Copy machine body 2...Original table glass 3.
・Document transport device 5・・First mirror unit 6−・・
・Second mirror unit 7...Lens 26.32.34
．． 4.0...Magnetic clutch 30...Servo motor

Claims (1)

[Claims] a first mode comprising an optical system consisting of an exposure light source, a moving mirror and a lens for changing the optical path of the light source, and scanning the original to be copied with the moving mirror in a stationary state;
A variable magnification copying machine has a second mode in which the document is moved and scanned while the movable mirror remains stationary, and the variable magnification copying machine has a process speed common to the first mode and the second mode. a first drive source that drives the load, and a second drive source that serves as a power source that convertably performs the optical system movement setting and document transport that change the relative positional relationship according to the selected copying magnification. A variable magnification copying machine characterized by having