JPS63295328A - Picture image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operating property and reduce wastefulness by providing a control means which takes a picture image forming medium out of housing members installed on a paper feeding part and which feeds it to an image transferring part. CONSTITUTION:At the time of detecting variation in the output of a paper size detecting switch 601 or 602 by a control part 93, control is shifted from an ordinary copying operation handling routine to a cassette device handling routine. For example, when the output of the paper size detecting switch 601 is judged varied, judgment is formed to be the installation of the paper feeding cassette 13 to an upper side paper feeding part 61 and the content of a rotating direction latch 94 is set so as to rotate a paper feeding motor 83 counterclockwise. After that, as a copying key 301 is operated, each part is controlled by the control part 93 while the send-out roller 15 or 16 of the paper feeding part 61 or 62 side on which the paper feeding cassette 13 is installed is automatically driven to execute a copying operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention is applicable to, for example, an electronic copying machine that takes out a sheet of paper from a paper feed cassette set in the main body of the device and forms an image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

(Prior Art) As is well known, in an electronic copying machine, in addition to a manual paper feed unit that manually feeds paper as an image forming medium to an image forming unit, a paper feed cassette (storage member) is used to store paper as an image forming medium. A paper feeding unit is provided that automatically feeds a sheet of paper (hereinafter simply referred to as paper) to the image forming unit.

In this type of electronic copying machine, the size of paper stored in the paper cassette is predefined, and the size of the paper is detected according to the cassette installed in the paper feed section, and the size of the paper is displayed on the operation panel. It is now displayed. In other words, the paper feed cassette that stores paper is provided with a plurality of protrusions that indicate the paper size stored in each cassette, and the paper feed section of the copying machine body has a number of protrusions that indicate the size of the paper stored in each cassette. A detection switch composed of a plurality of microswitches that are turned on/off by the protrusion is provided.

The paper size detected by the detection switch is displayed on the operation panel, and by operating the operation panel based on this display to select and specify the paper source, the paper size that is detected by the detection switch is displayed. Paper is fed from a paper feed section to which a paper cassette is attached.

By the way, in the case of a copying machine equipped with multiple paper feed units as described above, when the paper feed cassette is replaced due to a change in paper size, or when the paper feed cassette is installed and removed to replenish paper, the new paper feed power may be increased. When the jet is attached, a selection designation operation must be performed using the operation panel during the image forming operation. If this selection specification operation is neglected, paper will not be fed from the paper feed unit to which the paper cassette is installed, resulting in image formation (also called transfer or copying) on paper of a different size than the desired size. There was a problem with it being put away.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) This invention solves the problem that if you neglect to select and specify the paper feed section when installing the paper feed cassette, unnecessary image formation (copy error) will occur on paper of a different size than the desired size. ), which results in poor operability.An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that improves operability and reduces waste.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming medium stored in the storage member is taken out by the taking out means and is fed to the image forming section. In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of parts,
a detection means for detecting that a storage member has been attached to the paper feed section; and a detection means for controlling a take-out means according to the detection result of the detection means to remove the image from the storage member attached to the paper feed section; and a control means for taking out the forming medium and supplying it to the image transfer section.

(Function) The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper feed units that take out an image forming medium stored in a storage member by a take-out unit and supply it to an image forming unit, when the storage member is attached during an image forming operation. In this case, the image forming medium is automatically fed from the paper feeding unit to which the storage member is attached.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show an image forming apparatus of the present invention, such as a copying machine. That is, on the top surface of the copying machine main body 1, there is a document table (transparent glass) 2 that supports the document.
is fixed. The document table 2 is provided with a fixed scale 21 that serves as a reference for setting the document, and furthermore, a document cover 11 and a work table 12, which can be opened and closed, are provided near the document table 2.

The original placed on the original platen 2 is exposed by an optical system consisting of an exposure lamp 4, mirrors 5, 6.7 being reciprocated in the direction of arrow a along the lower surface of the original platen 2. It is meant to be scanned.

In this case, mirror 6.7 is moved at half the speed of mirror 5 so as to maintain the optical path length. The light reflected from the original by the scanning of the optical system, that is, the light reflected from the original by the light irradiation of the exposure lamp 4, is reflected by the mirrors 5, 6.7, passes through the variable magnification lens block 8, and then passes through the mirror. 9 and guided to the photoreceptor drum 10, so that an image of the document is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10.

The photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in the figure in synchronization with the optical system, and first, the surface thereof is charged by the charging device 11. Thereafter, the image is subjected to slit exposure at the exposure section ph, thereby forming an electrostatic a image on the surface.

This electrostatic latent image is made visible by applying toner by the developing die 12.

On the other hand, the paper (image forming medium) P is removed from the paper feed cassette (storage member) 13.
Alternatively, the paper P taken out is taken out one by one by 16, and the taken out paper P is guided to a pair of registration rollers 19 through a paper guide path 17 or 18, and this pair of registration rollers 19
The paper is fed to the transfer section (image forming section) by the following steps. Here, the paper feed cassette 13.13 has an upper side,
They are removably provided in the lower paper feed sections 61 and 62, and either one can be selected on the operation panel described later. In addition, each of the above paper feed cassettes 13.13
are paper size detection switches 60. and 60., respectively, serving as detection means. ．． At step 602, the size of the paper stored inside is detected.

The paper size detection switch 60. ．． 602, for example, as shown in FIG.
Microswitches so, sl, s2. s
3, respectively.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows the paper feed cassette 13, and the paper size detection switch 60, . 60
2, there are microswitches so, sl, s2 . A protrusion 63 is provided to turn on/off s3, and a label 64 indicating the paper size is attached to the side surface.

That is, when the paper feed cassette 13 is attached to the paper feed section 61, 62, the protrusion 63 provided on the paper feed cassette 13 activates the micro switch sO.

sl, s2. The on/off state of s3 is changed.

And these microswitches sO, s-1°s2.
The on/off state of s3 is detected by the switches 60, . The paper size is detected by reading the output of step 602 by a control unit, which will be described later.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the paper P sent to the transfer section is brought into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the portion of the transfer charger 20, and due to the action of the charger 20, the paper P is brought into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10.
The toner image on 0 is transferred. The transferred paper P is electrostatically peeled off from the photoreceptor drum 10 by the action of a peeling charger 21, and is sent by a conveyor belt 22 to a pair of fixing rollers 23 as a fixing device provided at the end of the conveyor belt 22. .

By passing through this, the transferred image is fixed,
After fixing, the paper P is discharged to a tray 25 outside the main body 1 by a pair of paper discharge rollers 24. After the photosensitive drum 10 has been transferred, the charge is removed by the charger 26, residual toner on the surface is removed by the cleaner 27, and the residual image is erased by the charge removal lamp 28, so that the drum 10 returns to its initial state. It is now possible to do so. Note that two cooling fans are used to prevent the temperature inside the main body 1 from rising.

FIG. 6 shows the operation panel 30 provided on the main body 1. This operation panel 30 includes a copy key 301 for instructing the start of copying (also called image formation or transfer), a numeric keypad 302 for setting the number of copies, etc., and a display section 303 for displaying the operating status of each part, paper jam, etc. , a paper size specification key 304 for specifying the copy size by selecting the upper and lower paper feed sections 61 and 62, a paper size display 305 for displaying the specified paper size, and a predetermined copying enlargement/reduction ratio. Magnification setting key 30 set in relation to
6. Zoom key 60 to steplessly set enlargement/reduction magnification
7. A magnification display section 308 that displays the set magnification and a density setting section 309 that sets the copy density are provided.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of the take-out mechanism in the paper feed section 61, 62. That is, the paper P in the paper feed cassette 13 is pushed up by the push-up plate 72 which is pushed up by the urging force of the spring 71, and the paper P is pushed up against the delivery roller 1 with appropriate pressure.
5 or 16, and this delivery roller 15
Alternatively, the paper sheets are taken out by the paper sheet 16, peeled off by the peeling claw 73, and guided one by one through the paper guide path 17 or 18 to a pair of registration rollers 19.

In this case, the delivery rollers 15 and 16 are either fixed type or movable type that presses the paper P using its own weight or a spring (not shown) to stabilize the pressure. Further, the peeling claws 73 are fixed to the front corners of the cassette 13, or are movable to the upper and lower sides of the paper P and to stabilize the pressing pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, the delivery rollers 15 and 16 have shafts 15a and 16 of the delivery rollers 15 and 16, respectively.
It is driven by roller gears 81 and 82 respectively provided on 16a. That is, a motor gear 84 is provided on the rotating shaft of a paper feeding motor 83 that can rotate in a clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise (CCW) direction.
Idle gears 85 and 86 are fitted into the idle gears 85 and 86, and an idle gear 87 is fitted into the idle gear 86. These motor gears 84 and idle gears 85, 86, 87
is supported by an arm 88 and is rotatable around the axis of the paper feed motor 83. Further, the delivery roller 15, the roller gear 81, and the delivery roller 1
For example, a one-way clutch is provided between the registration roller pair 6 and the roller gear 82, and the paper P is connected to the registration roller pair 1.
When the feed rollers 15 and 1
6 are configured so that they do not each serve as a resistance.

Therefore, when the upper paper feeding section 61 is selected, the arm 88 is tilted toward the roller gear 81, so that
Roller gear 81 and idle gear 85 are fitted together. When the motor 83 is rotated counterclockwise, this rotation is transmitted to the idle gear 85 via the motor gear 84.
, roller gear 81, and delivery roller 15. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the paper P is taken out from the paper feed cassette 13 by the delivery roller 15, passes through the paper guide path 17, and is fed from the pair of registration rollers 19 to the transfer section. . Further, when the lower paper feeding section 62 is selected, the arm 88 is tilted toward the roller gear 82, so that the roller gear 82 and the idle gear 87 are fitted together.

When the paper feed motor 83 is rotated clockwise, this rotation is transmitted to the idle gears 86 and 87, the roller gear 82, and the delivery roller 16 via the motor gear 84. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the paper P is taken out from within the paper feed cassette 13 by the feed roller 16, passes through the paper guide path 18, and is fed from the pair of registration rollers 19 to the transfer section. .

FIG. 12 shows the main part of the control circuit.

That is, the operation panel 30, the paper size detection switch 6
01,602, memory 91, and the paper feed section 61.6
The control unit 9 includes a paper feed drive unit 92 that drives the take-out mechanism of No. 2, and the like.
3 and configured.

In addition, the control section 93 also includes the static elimination lamp 2.
8. A high voltage transformer that drives the various chargers, a blade solenoid of the cleaner 27, and a pair of fixing rollers 23.
A heater, a lamp regulator (both not shown) for driving the exposure lamp 4, and the like are connected.

The paper feed drive section 92 includes the paper feed motor 83, a rotation direction latch 94 as a storage means, and the rotation direction latch 9.
The motor driver 95 controls the rotational direction of the motor 83 based on the contents held in the motor 83.

As shown in the table below, the memory 91 includes microswitches sO, sl, s2 . The correspondence between the on/off state of s3 and the paper size is stored.

In the control section 93, microswitches sO, sl.

s2. Paper size detection switch 60□ by continuously scanning the on/off state of s3.

The paper sizes of the cassettes set in the upper and lower paper feed sections 61 and 62 are detected from the output of 60□ and the contents (table) of the memory 91, and this result is displayed on the operation panel 30.
It is now displayed as .

Furthermore, when the operator operates the paper size designation key 304 on the operation panel 30 during copying, the control section 93 controls each section and also controls the paper feed section 61 or 62 in which the specified paper feed cassette 13 is set. The contents of the rotation direction latch 94 are changed by the signal selecting the rotation direction latch 94.

In this case, for example, if the upper paper feed section 61 is selected,
The contents of the rotation direction latch 94 are set to rotate the paper feed motor 83 counterclockwise. For example, when the lower paper feed section 62 is selected, the rotation direction latch 94
is set to rotate the paper feed motor 83 clockwise.

Further, in the control unit 93, the paper size detection switch 60 controls the installation of the paper cassette 13 by replacing the paper cassette 13 or replenishing paper during copying.
When a change in output of 1.60□ is detected, the contents of the rotation direction latch 94 are changed by a signal that selects the paper feed section 61 or 62 on the paper size detection switch side where this change in output is detected. . In this case, for example, when it is detected that the paper feed cassette 13 is attached to the upper paper feed section 61, the contents of the rotation direction latch 94 are set to rotate the paper feed motor 83 counterclockwise.
When it is detected that the paper feed cassette 13 is attached to the lower paper feed section 62, the paper feed motor 83 is set to rotate clockwise.

Next, the operation when the paper feed cassette is installed will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that this control is performed by the paper size detection switch 60 when the paper feed cassette 13 is installed. ．． 602 is activated as an interrupt process when a change in the output is detected.

For example, if the control unit 93 detects a change in the output of the paper size detection switch 60□ or 602, control is transferred from the normal copying operation processing routine to the cassette loading processing routine, thereby prohibiting other interrupts. be done. And the paper size detection switch 60]
Alternatively, wait until the output of the microswitches so, sl, s2 . The on/off state of s3 is read, and it is determined whether the output of the paper size detection switches 601 and 602 satisfies the contents (table) of the memory 91. If the conditions are satisfied, the change in output is detected by the paper size detection switch 60 of the upper paper feed section 61;
, or the paper size detection switch 60□ of the lower paper feed section 62.

As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the paper size detection switch 601 is present, it is determined that the paper feed cassette 13 is attached to the upper paper feed section 61, and the contents of the rotation direction latch 94 move the paper feed motor 83 counterclockwise. When it is determined that the paper size detection switch 602 is set (changed) to rotate as shown in FIG. The paper feeding motor 83 is set to rotate clockwise.

Next, the paper size of the installed paper feed cassette 13 is determined from the on/off status of each microswitch so, sl, s2, s3 and the contents (table) of the memory 91 on the operation panel 3.
Displayed as 0.

After this, that is, when the paper size is being displayed on the operation panel 30, or each of the microswitches s
O, sl, s2. The on/off status of s3 is stored in memory 91.
If it is determined that the above conditions are not satisfied, the interrupt processing is terminated and the normal copying operation processing routine is returned to.

That is, when the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted, the delivery roller 15 or 16 of the paper feed section 61 or 62 on the side where the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted is enabled. Therefore, when the operator operates the copy key 301 after this, each part is controlled by the control part 93, and the delivery roller 15 or 16 of the paper feed part 61 or 62 side where the paper feed cassette 13 has been installed is is automatically driven, and the above-described copying operation is performed on the paper P fed from the attached paper feed cassette 13.

As mentioned above, by detecting the installation of a paper cassette and controlling the rotational direction of the paper feeding motor, paper is automatically loaded from the paper cassette in the paper feeding unit where the cassette was installed immediately before copying. It is designed so that paper is fed. This makes it possible to form an image on the paper stored in the loaded cassette even if you forget to specify the paper selection when installing the paper cassette. You can be sure to get a copy. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wasted use of consumables such as paper and toner due to unnecessary image formation on paper different from the size of the hanger (copying mistakes), and to provide a convenient copying machine with good operability. It is something that can be done.

Additionally, since the existing paper size detection switch is also used to detect the insertion of a cassette, it can be easily achieved by simply changing a part of the software without making any equivalent changes to the copier's hardware. be.

Note that in the above embodiment, a copying machine with a fixed original table (optical system moving type) was used as an example of the image forming apparatus.
For example, the device is not limited to this, as long as it feeds image forming media of different sizes by selectively switching between multiple paper feed cassettes set in the main body of the device. ) copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and drawing machines such as X-Y plotters.

It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can improve operability and reduce waste.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation when a paper feed cassette is installed in a copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Fig. 3 shows the configuration of the copying machine, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view, Fig. 3 is a side sectional view, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the paper size detection switch, and Fig. 5 is a view of the paper feeder. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the paper cassette, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation panel, and FIG.
9 to 9 are diagrams each showing a configuration example of the ejecting mechanism in the paper feeding section, FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams shown to explain the operation of the ejecting mechanism, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the main part of the control circuit. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Copying machine main body, 2... Document table, 10... Photosensitive drum, 13... Paper feed cassette, 15.16...
Sending roller, 17.18...Paper guide path, 30...
Operation panel, 304...Paper size specification key, 305
...Paper size indicator, 601, 602...Paper size detection switch (detection means), 61...Upper paper feed section, 62...Lower paper feed section, 63...Protrusion, 73・・・
・Peeling claw, 81.82...Roller gear, 83...
Paper feeding motor, 84... Motor gear, 92... Paper feeding drive unit, 93... Control unit, 94... Rotation direction latch, sQ. sl, s2. s3...Micro switch. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 8 P Figure 10 Figure 11

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper feed sections that take out an image forming medium stored in a storage member by a take-out means and supply it to an image forming section, the storage member is attached to the paper feed section. a detection means for detecting this; a detection means for controlling the extraction means according to the detection result of the detection means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for taking out an image forming medium from a storage member attached to the paper feeding section and supplying the medium to an image transfer section. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means also serves as a detection means for detecting the size of the image forming medium stored in the storage member. (3) The control means has a storage means for holding the output signal from the detection means, and controls the extraction means based on the contents held in the storage means. The image forming apparatus according to scope 1.