JPS6225575B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In order to obtain a plurality of copies from the same sheet original, the present invention utilizes a partition that vertically separates exposed originals and unexposed originals in a paper feed cassette containing sheet originals. The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a sheet document feeding control device having a plate.

A plurality of sheet originals to be copied are stored in a paper feed tray, the sheet originals are automatically fed one by one from the paper feed tray to the exposure section, and the exposed originals are sent back into the paper feed tray. A copying machine that can obtain multiple copies from the same original sheet is disclosed, for example, in Utility Application No. 153428-1983 (No. 66445-1987).
(Special Publication No. 56-40338). This copying machine is provided with a sheet separation plate rotatable around a horizontal axis, which serves as a partition plate for vertically separating exposed originals and unexposed originals on a paper feed tray. The sheet separator plate is configured to pivot down through an opening in the bottom plate of the paper feed tray to actuate a switch when the stack of sheets on the paper feed tray runs out. In this way, the conventional sheet separator rotates around a horizontal axis, which not only requires a three-dimensional space for the sheet separator, but also because the counter switch is operated by the sheet separator. However, there is a problem in that the switch must be placed in the rotation path of the sheet separating plate, which is a restriction regarding the position of the switch.

According to the present invention, a partition plate having a reflective surface on the back side for distinguishing exposed originals from unexposed originals is rotatable in a plane parallel to the paper feed cassette, and a light source and a light receiving element that cooperate with the reflective surface are arranged. By providing a sheet document detection means consisting of the following, the problems of the sheet document feeding control device in the conventional copying machine are solved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a double-sided copying apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, and reference numeral 1 designates an automatic sheet document conveying device. This automatic sheet document conveying device 1 is rotatably movable above a paper feed cassette 2, a paper feed roller 3 that feeds the sheet documents in the paper feed cassette 2 one by one, and a document mounting table 4 made of a transparent glass plate. An endless belt 5 is provided, and on the left side of the endless belt 5 there is a first sheet conveying device 6 that inverts the sheet original and sends it out again toward the original table 4, and on the right side of the endless belt 6, The second sheet conveyance device 7 conveys the sheet original sent out from the endless belt 5 to the paper feed cassette 2.

In the paper feed cassette 2, the double-sided sheet original S is placed in the first
The books are stacked and stored in page order with the pages facing up. An opening is formed at the bottom end of this paper feeding cassette, and a paper feeding roller 3 is provided corresponding to this opening to feed sheet documents S one by one from below. The fed sheet document S is fed into a nip formed by an endless belt 5 and a document table 4.
The endless belt 5 is adjusted to start rotating at the same time as the paper feed roller 3 starts rotating, or when it detects that a sheet document is fed from the paper feed cassette 2. At first, the endless belt 5 rotates at a constant speed in the direction of the solid arrow as shown in the figure. This endless belt 5 has two rollers 5
It is composed of a plurality of belt-shaped belts that are stretched between a and 5b, and a stopper 5 is placed between these belts.
The stopper 5c is in contact with the document mounting table 4, and engages with the leading edge of the sheet document S to stop its movement. On the other hand, the stopper 5d is lifted and is in a position where it does not interfere with the movement of the sheet original. Sheet original S is stopper 5c
Rotation of the endless belt 5 stops at the time when it engages, and then the exposure operation starts. The exposure device 8 is composed of a first reflecting mirror 9, a second reflecting mirror 10, an in-mirror lens 11, and a third reflecting mirror 12, which move parallel to the original platen 4 at a speed ratio of 1:1/2. ing. The first and second reflecting mirrors 9 and 10 move in the direction of the arrows to reflect the sheet original S on the original placing table 4.
are exposed and moved forward to positions 9' and 10', respectively, and then moved back to the initial position. The photoreceptor 13 is moving at a speed V in the direction of the arrow, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the sheet original S is formed on its surface, and after this is visualized, it is transferred to the first side of the transfer paper. Transfer to. The exposed sheet original S is sent to the first sheet conveying device by the endless belt which is rotated again. The sheet conveyance device 6 is configured to invert the sheet document S and convey it again toward the document placement table 4, and has a pair of paper feed rollers 6a and 6b. When the sheet document reaches the paper feed rollers 6a and 6b, its conveyance is temporarily stopped, and when the endless belt 5 starts to rotate in the reverse direction in the direction of the dotted line arrow in the figure in preparation for the next exposure, the conveyance of the sheet document S is restarted. At this time stopper 5
c is in the inactive position, and the stopper 5d is in the active position to stop the movement of the sheet document S. The sheet original S is placed with its second side facing the original table, and is similarly exposed and scanned by the exposure device 8.
The image formed on the photoreceptor 13 and corresponding to the second surface of the sheet document S is transferred to the back surface of the same transfer sheet on which the transfer was previously performed. In this way, double-sided copying of the double-sided sheet document S onto both the front and back sides of the transfer paper is completed.

On the other hand, the sheet original S, which has been completely exposed, is sent to the second sheet conveying device 7 by the endless belt 5, which has started rotating again. This second sheet conveyance device 7 is composed of a conveyor belt 7a that conveys the sheet document S upward, and a plurality of rollers 7b. The sheet document S is reversed once by the sheet conveyance device 7 and returned to the paper feed cassette 2 again.

Incidentally, a partition plate 14 is attached to the rear end portion of the paper feed cassette 2. This partition plate is located above the temporary sheet originals S stored in the paper feed cassette 2, and the sheet originals S from the second sheet transport device 7 are placed together with the unexposed sheet originals. It is differentiated so that it does not become

Then, the remaining double-sided sheet documents S are stacked in page order on the partition plate 14 with the first page facing upward through the same process. When the last sheet original S is sent out from the paper feed cassette 2 and it is confirmed that there is no sheet original S under the partition plate 14, the copying process of the predetermined cycle is completed.

Next, a case will be described in which a plurality of copies are obtained from a single sheet original. If the double-sided copying machine is not equipped with a sorter device, by repeating the above copying cycle a predetermined number of times, copies arranged page by page in the same order as the number of repetitions will be produced. That is,
When it is detected that there is no sheet document S under the partition plate 14 and a repeat command is received from the preset counter (not shown), the partition plate 14 is retracted from above the paper feed cassette 2 and the The group of sheet documents S stacked on top is completely accommodated in the paper feed cassette 2 in preparation for the next paper feed.
By repeating this operation, a plurality of double-sided copies can be obtained.

On the other hand, when a sorter device is installed or when it is desired to circulate the sheet original S only once, when the sheet original S is placed on the original placing table 4, the exposure device 8 repeats the cycle. The exposure of the same page is completed the same number of times at once. With this method, the sheet document S is not fed from the paper feed cassette 2 many times, so the chances of it being scratched or damaged are reduced. However, if there is no sorter device, sorting is required when binding the books after copying is complete.

Next, when performing double-sided copying or single-sided copying from a book original such as a book, a suitable part should be set as the center of rotation so that the endless belt 5, which is a part of the sheet original automatic conveyance device 1, is retracted from the original placing table 4. It is provided so that it can be rotated to make it possible to copy book manuscripts.

The present invention is such that the partition plate in the above-mentioned automatic sheet document conveying device is made rotatable in a plane parallel to the paper feed cassette, and FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram of a double-sided copying apparatus that has an exposure device that exclusively performs exposure from a sheet original, and in particular also has a function that allows double-sided copying from a single-sided sheet original.

In FIG. 2, sheet originals S are stored in the paper feed cassette 15 in page order with the first page facing upward. The sheet originals S are fed one by one from the lowest one by a paper feeding roller 16 as a sheet separating and feeding means.
Paper is fed by. The fed sheet original S passes through a long and narrow exposure slit 18 via transport rollers 17, 17. A conveyor belt 19 rotates above the exposure slit 18, and conveys the sheet original S and brings it into close contact with the exposure slit 18. The sheet original S is exposed to light by exposure lamps 20a and 20b, and a light image thereof is projected onto a photoreceptor by an exposure optical system (not shown). The sheet original S that has been exposed is transported to one place by an original transport path consisting of a sheet transport belt 21 and a plurality of transport rollers 22.
After the paper is turned over, it is loaded onto the paper feed cassette 15 with the exposed side facing upward. By the way, a partition plate 23 is attached to the tip of the paper feed cassette 15 to distinguish between exposed sheet originals S and unexposed sheet originals S.

In this way, the sheet original S in the paper feed cassette 15
When one side of copying is completed, the absence of a sheet original S is detected by the original detection device comprising a lamp 24 and a light receiving element 25, which detects the presence or absence of a sheet original S existing under the partition plate 23. Partition plate 23
The back side of the sheet document S is colored in a color different from that of the sheet document S, or is made into a reflective surface so that the presence or absence of the sheet document S is detected based on the difference in the amount of light reflected from the sheet document S. In the case of a single-sided sheet original, double-sided copying is completed by this one feeding. On the other hand, in the case of a double-sided sheet original, the partition plate 23 is retracted from above the paper feed cassette 15, and the sheet original on the partition plate 23 is completely accommodated in the paper feed cassette again, and the back side of the sheet original is exposed. Paper is fed to perform this.
This completes double-sided copying from the double-sided sheet original. At this time, the double-sided sheet originals are stacked on the paper feed cassette 15 in page order with the first page facing upward. When repeating, the above-described copying process may be repeated the number of times.

Next, control of each of the above-mentioned devices will be briefly explained. First, the desired number of copies to be made from one sheet original is input into the preset counter 26. The preset counter 26 and the light receiving element 25 are connected to an arithmetic and control circuit 27, which sends operation signals to three clutches CL ₁ , CL ₂ and CL _3, respectively. Conveyor belt 1
Reference numeral 9 is connected to a clutch _CL1 , the paper feed roller 16 is connected to a clutch _CL2 , and the partition plate 23 is connected to a partition plate driving device ₂₈ via a clutch CL3. The clutches CL ₁ and CL ₂ operate by the number of sheet documents S stored in the paper feed cassette 15, and at the same time, the light-receiving element 25 operates the partition plate 2.
When it is detected that the sheet original S is missing under the paper feed cassette 15, the arithmetic control circuit 27 operates the clutch _CL3 to evacuate the partition plate 23 from above the paper feed cassette 15. Thereafter, the number of signals from the light receiving element is compared with the preset counter 26, and when a predetermined copy is obtained, the copying operation is automatically stopped. It goes without saying that when n double-sided copies are obtained from n double-sided sheet originals, the copying operation is stopped when the number of signals input from the light receiving element to the arithmetic control circuit is 2n.

3 and 4 show another embodiment of the invention. A partition plate of a paper feed table having a partition plate will be explained using FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

The paper feed tray 29 has a front wall 29a, a rear wall 29b, and a bottom plate 2.
9c and a side plate (not shown), and a paper feed opening 30 is provided at the tip of the bottom plate 29c, so that the sheet S stacked on the paper feed tray 29 can be passed through the opening 30 in front of the paper feed tray. The sheets are fed one by one by a sheet feed roller 31 as a sheet separation and feeding means provided below the wall 29a. A partition plate 32 is provided at the rear of the paper feed tray 29. This partition plate 32 is rotatably supported by a shaft 34 attached to a base plate 33, and is located above the sheet-like objects S stacked beyond the rear wall 29b of the paper feed tray. A gear 35 is integrally pivotally connected to the partition plate 32.
This meshes with a gear 37 rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 attached to the base plate 33. An arm 38 integrally connected to the gear 37 has one end attached to the shaft 36.
The other end is attached to springs 39 and 40. Spring 39 consists of a tension spring adapted to rotate arm 38 in a clockwise direction, and spring 40 is connected at its other end to a solenoid 41. When the solenoid 41 as a partition plate drive device is operating, the arm 38 and the partition plate 32 are located at the solid line positions.

Incidentally, a hole 42 is bored below the partition plate 32 of the bottom plate 29c of the paper feed table, and a sheet-like object detection means consisting of a lamp 43 and a light-receiving element 44 detects the presence or absence of the sheet-like object on the paper feed table. It is detected that S is missing under the partition plate 32. This light receiving element 44
If it is necessary to feed the sheet S again based on the signal from the preset counter and the signal from the preset counter, the solenoid 41 is deenergized and the arm 38 is moved to the shaft 36 by the tension of the spring 39. Rotate clockwise. Therefore, the partition plate 32 is also rotated counterclockwise by the action of the gears 35 and 37 until it is stopped by the stopper 45, and is stopped at the position shown by the dashed line. At this time, the sheet S on the partition plate 32 is completely accommodated in the paper feed tray 29. After the sheet S is stored in the paper feed table 29, the solenoid 41 is energized again and the partition plate 32 is rotated to the position shown by the solid line.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the partition plate is rotated in a plane parallel to the cassette, not only the space required for rotating the partition plate is small, but also sheet originals can be Since the presence or absence of the switch is detected by optical means, it is freed from the constraint of having to specify the mounting position of the switch, unlike sheet document detection means that directly activates the switch using a partition plate. Effects can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a double-sided copying apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining sheet original transport control of an electrophotographic copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 4 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet feeding device showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sheet feeding device of FIG. 3. 2, 15... Paper feed cassette, 24, 43... Light source,
25, 44... Light receiving element, 26... Preset counter, 27... Arithmetic control circuit, 29... Paper feed tray, 3,
16, 31... Paper feed roller, 14, 23, 32...
Partition plate, S...sheet-like body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper feed cassette 2, 15 that accommodates a plurality of sheet originals, and a sheet original in the paper cassette that is separated from the bottom one by one and fed to an exposure unit 4, 18. Sheet separation/feeding means 3, 16, 31, and document transport paths 6, 2 for inverting the sheet original exposed in the exposure section and guiding it above the paper feed cassette.
1 and 22, and a member for partitioning the exposed original and the unexposed original in the paper feeding cassette into upper and lower parts in the paper feeding cassette, the back surface of which shows a reflective surface, and the partition position and this partition. partition plates 23 and 32 rotatably supported in a plane parallel to the paper feed cassette between the retracted position and the paper feed cassette; and a sheet original detecting means comprising light sources 24, 43 and light receiving elements 25, 44 for detecting that there is no sheet original between the reflective surface and the paper feed cassette, and the sheet original detecting means are activated. At this time, the partition plate driving means 2 rotates the partition plate from the partition position to the retracted position and returns it to the partition position again.
8, 41, a preset counter 26 for setting the desired number of copies to be made from one sheet original, and an arithmetic control circuit 27 for issuing an operation command to the partition plate driving device when the sheet original detection means is activated. The number of signals sent from the sheet original detection means to the arithmetic control circuit is compared with the number of copies set in the preset counter, and when a predetermined copy is obtained, the original is sent by the sheet separation and feeding means. A copying machine characterized in that the feeding of the copying machine is stopped.