JPS63318572A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid copying errors due to misoperation by providing a paper detector which can identify transparent paper and semi-transparent paper from opaque paper and automatically transferring images on one side of the transparent paper, thereby discharging it. CONSTITUTION:The titled device is provided with the paper detector 6 which can identify the transparent paper and the semi-transparent paper from the opaque paper. A transfer paper conveyer has a single-side transfer route and a double-side transfer function, both of which a switching claw 19 can switch alternately. If the paper detector 6 detects the transparent or semi-transparent paper, a selected double-side transfer mode is released to switch the transfer paper conveyer to the single-side transfer route. Thus, if operation is in the middle of the double-side transfer mode, it can be interrupted easily to transfer on the transparent or semi-transparent paper. Then the operation is easily reset to the double-side transfer mode to transfer images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying apparatus, and more particularly to a copying apparatus having a double-sided copying function.

2. Description of the Related Art Copying apparatuses having a double-sided copying function for copying on both sides of a copy paper are widely used.

In addition to normal non-transparent paper, transparent paper such as O
HP paper or translucent paper, such as second original paper, is used, but for double-sided copying, transparent paper or translucent paper is not normally used due to its nature.

With conventional copying machines, there are cases where you select double-sided copying and press the print button without realizing that transparent or semi-transparent paper is set in the paper feeder, or when you do not realize that you are in double-sided copying mode. If you load transparent or semi-transparent paper into the paper feeder and press the print button, a double-sided copy will be made on the transparent or semi-transparent paper, resulting in a copy error.

When loading paper into the paper feed device, it is possible to determine whether the paper is transparent or semi-transparent, and to disable duplex copying if it is transparent or semi-transparent. This is possible, but when the paper feed device is used to set a cassette containing paper, the paper is stacked when it is set, so it is difficult to detect whether it is transparent or translucent paper. Even if it is detected, the duplex copying mode must be canceled to start copying, making the operation cumbersome.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and can easily interrupt the duplex copying mode even in the middle of the duplex copying mode, copy transparent paper or translucent paper, and then easily return to the duplex copying mode. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus that can perform copying operations.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention has a paper detection device that can distinguish between transparent paper and translucent paper from non-transparent paper, and has a single-sided copying path and a double-sided copying function that allow the copy paper conveyance device to switch between them. and, when the paper detection device detects either transparent paper or translucent paper, the selected double-sided copying mode is canceled and the copy paper conveying device is switched to a single-sided copying path. do.

The structure and operation of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiment shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a paper feed device 1 includes a removable first paper cassette 1a, a second paper cassette 1b, and a third paper cassette IC.
It is made up of.

A single sheet of copy paper can be delivered from each paper feed cassette la, lb, and IC by a paper feed roller 2.

The copy paper sent out from the first paper feed cassette 1a is guided to the registration rollers 4 by the first paper feed roller 3a, and the copy paper sent out from the second paper feed cassette lb is guided to the registration rollers 4 by the second paper feed roller 3b. The copy paper sent out from the third paper feed cassette 1c is introduced into the middle of the return path 5, and the copy paper is fed into the return path 5.
is guided to the registration rollers 4.

A registration sensor 6 is arranged in front of the registration roller 4. The registration sensor 6 functions as a paper detection device that can distinguish between transparent paper and semi-transparent paper.

The copy paper sent out by the registration roller 4 passes through the transfer and fixing path 8 and the discharge 1-89 and is discharged to the discharge tray 10 through the first conveyance path, the transfer and fixation path 8, the branch path 11, the intermediate path 12, and the return path. The second VA feeding path is circulated and conveyed to the registration rollers 4 through a path 5, and is reversed to the registration rollers 4 through a transfer and fixing path 8, a branch path 11, a reversing path 13, an intermediate path 12, and a return path 57. The third conveyance path and the third conveyance path are conveyed along one of the conveyance paths.

In the transfer/fixing path 8, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 7 is transferred to the copy paper under the action of the transfer charger 14, and the copy paper is separated from the photoreceptor 7 by the action of the separation charger 15, and transferred to the fixing device M17 by the conveyance bell 1-16. sent to. The fixed copy paper is sent out from the transfer/fixing path 8 by a fixing/discharging roller 18.

The path of the copy paper sent out from the transfer/fixing path 8 is switched between the ejection path 9 and the branch path 11 by switching with a first switching claw 19 . When the first transport path is selected, the copy paper is guided to the discharge path 9, and when the second and 3111th transport paths are selected, the copy paper is guided to the branch path 9.

For normal one-sided copying, the first conveyance path is selected.

In the discharge path 9, the copy paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 10 by a paper discharge roller 20.

When the copy paper guided through the branch path 11 is sent out through the branch path 11 by the first intermediate roller 21, the second switching claw 22 switches between the intermediate path 12 and the reverse path 13.

When the second vi transport path is selected, the copy paper is guided to the intermediate path 12, and when the third transport path is selected, the copy paper is guided to the reversing path 13.

The copy paper passing through the second conveyance path is NF; and sent to the transfer and fixing path 8 by the registration rollers 4 again. In this case, the copy paper is transferred both when passing through the transfer fixing path 8 for the first time, that is, during the first copying, and when circulating and passing through the transfer fixing path 8 again, that is, during the second copying. The same surfaces of the two contact the photoreceptor 7.

When the copy sheet guided to the reversing path 13 reaches a predetermined position, it is sent to the intermediate path 12 by the driving of the reversing roller 23, and, contrary to when it was conveyed to the branch path 11, the leading and trailing edges are reversed and the front and back sides are reversed. It is sent from the intermediate path 12 to the return path 5 in a reversed state. A second intermediate roller 24 is arranged in the return path 5 to apply a feeding force to the copy paper.

The image forming process on the photoreceptor 7 is out of the scope of the present invention and will not be described here, but a toner image is formed through the well-known steps of charging, exposing, and developing.

The operation unit 25 of the copying apparatus shown in FIG.
A combination mode selection key 27 for combining and copying images of one or two originals is provided, and a duplex mode indicator light 28 and a combination mode indicator light 29 are provided to indicate the operation of each selection key as necessary. In addition to the start key 30, the operation section 25 is provided with various necessary keys such as a number key (10 key), a density setting key, a magnification selection key, and a color development selection key, and the display section displays necessary information. However, explanations of parts not particularly related to the present invention will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation control device has a CPU, for example, a microcomputer, which receives signals from each key on the operation unit 25 and inputs information from various sensors such as a registration sensor, and the signals from the CPU are transferred to a transistor. Various operating members such as paper feed rollers are controlled via the array.

When operating the copying machine, the desired copy mode, number of copies,
Enter the copy image density, etc., then turn on Print-○
The copy will start.

In the copying process, the explanation of the exposure scanning system and the image forming system on the photoreceptor will be omitted, and the conveying process of the copy paper, that is, the transfer paper will be explained with reference to the flow shown in FIG.

When the print 80 is turned on, the main drive motor is turned on, and the conveyor belt 16, the fixing roller of the fixing device 17, and
The fixing paper discharge roller 18 is driven.

At the same time, timers T and T are set. Timer T
1 time-up, the paper feed clutch is turned on and the paper feed roller of the selected cassette is driven.

When the registration sensor 6 detects the passage of copy paper fed from the cassette, the timer T! and set the timer T.
The copy paper is fed until the time-up of 2 and stops feeding. At this time, the registration sensor 6 detects whether the copy paper is transparent or translucent based on the detection output of the registration sensor 6, using a circuit configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

In FIG. 5, for example, if the output vl of the registration sensor 6 is 1≧3(v), it means that there is no copy paper.
The output V1 of the registration sensor 6 is 1.5 (V)≦v,
If <3 (V), it means that the output V is V +
<1.5 (V) Teal (!: tk is determined to be ordinary copy paper (PPC paper).

When the output ■1 of the registration sensor 6 is 3V or higher and it is detected that there is no paper, it is determined that the copy paper has not yet reached the registration sensor 6, and if the timer T remains unchanged even after time-up, It is determined that there is an abnormality in copy paper transport, and the main motor and paper feed clutch are set to 0FFL, and the operation unit 2 is set to 0FFL.
A jam is displayed on the display section 5.

When the output of the registration sensor 6 detects that it is OHP paper or the second original, the duplex mode is set to 0FFI.
,, even if the duplex mode is selected on the operation unit 25 before copying starts, the selection is canceled.

If the output v1 of the registration sensor 6 detects that the paper is non-transparent, the process continues.

The paper feed clutch is set to 0F due to the time-up of timer T2.
When the FL copy paper is stopped and the timer T is timed up, the registration clutch is turned on and drives the registration roller 4, and the copy paper is sent to the transfer belt 16 and the fixing device 17 in the transfer fixing conveyance path 8, and at the same time, the timer T4 is activated. Set.

When the copy paper is sent out by the fixing sheet discharge roller 18 of the fixing device 17 and the fixing sheet discharge sensor 31 is turned ON, the registration clutch is turned OFI and the registration roller 4 is stopped. Even if the timer T4 times up, if the fixing paper ejection sensor 31 is OFF, it is determined that there is an abnormality, and the main motor and the registration clutch are turned off.A jam message is displayed on the display section of the OFF L operation section 25.

The copy paper that has normally passed through the fixing paper ejection sensor 31, that is, the copy paper that has normally passed through the transfer fixing conveyance path 8, will be The switching claw 19 is switched to the first Wi feed path, and the paper is ejected to the ejection tray 10 by the ejection roller 20 through the ejection path 9. Whether the paper is ejected or not is detected by the paper ejection sensor 32. When the paper ejection sensor 32 is turned on, a timer TS is set, and when the timer T times out, the main motor is turned off by 0FFL1%.

When the composite mode key 27 is pressed and the composite mode is selected, the second transport path is selected, and the transfer fixing transport path 8
The copy paper that has passed normally is guided to the branch path 11 by the first switching claw 19, and is then operated according to the composition mode subroutine. The copy paper is sent to the branch path 1 by the intermediate sensor 33.
1 is confirmed to have passed, and the second switching claw 22 switches the intermediate path 12 to reach the registration roller 4. The process after the detection by the registration sensor 6 in front of the registration roller 4 is exactly the same as described above. After the 0 composite copying is completed, the copy paper is transferred to the paper output tray 10 by the first conveyance roller as in the case of normal single-sided copying. is discharged.

When the duplex mode key 26 is pressed to select the duplex mode, the third Iqi feeding path is selected, and the copy paper that has passed through the transfer fixing feeding path 8 is transferred to branch path 1 by the first switching pawl 19.
1 and then operated according to the duplex mode subroutine. The copy paper is transferred to the branch path 11 by the intermediate sensor 33.
is confirmed to have passed, and is switched by the second switching claw 22 and guided to the reversing path 13. When the copy paper reaches a predetermined position, a timer T6 is set by detection by the intermediate sensor 33, for example, and when the timer expires after a predetermined time has elapsed, the reversing roller 23 is driven to reverse the copy paper and move it along the return path 34 to the intermediate path. 12, and is guided back and forth and upside down, and reaches the registration rollers 4.

The steps after the detection by the registration sensor 6 in front of the registration roller 4 are exactly the same as described above.

The copy paper after double-sided copying is
g! The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 10 by the feeding path.

Even if the duplex mode is selected, if the registration sensor 6 detects that the paper is transparent or translucent paper as described above, the duplex mode is turned off and the normal copying mode is entered. In the double-sided mode, when the first switching claw 19 is switched to the 31st flQ feeding path so that the second switching claw 22 guides the guide to the reversing path 13, the transparent paper Or, when translucent copy paper is fed, the duplex mode is canceled by detection by the registration sensor 6, so the first switching claw 19 and the second switching claw 22 are set to the first
It is switched to become the Ii feed path. In other words, the switching is made so that the copy paper is guided from the transfer and fixing conveyance path 8 to the discharge path 9.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the copying error of making double-sided copies on transparent paper or semi-transparent paper while the duplex mode is set.

According to the present invention, one-sided copying is always automatically performed on transparent copy paper before it is ejected, so if you interrupt the copying operation during duplex copying and set transparent paper, the copy mode will change to double-sided. Even if the copy mode is changed, simply pressing the print button will automatically switch to normal one-sided copying without having to change the copy mode, making the operation much easier and avoiding copying mistakes caused by operational errors. .

According to the present invention, the resist sensor can be used to detect both transparent paper and translucent paper, and there is no need for expensive additional parts, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of the copying apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the operation section, and FIG. 3 is a prong diagram of the operation control device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example of the circuit of the registration sensor, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper quality and the output of the registration sensor, and FIG. 6 is a flow diagram. 5... Return path 6... Registration sensor (paper detection device) 8... Transfer fixing conveyance path 9... Ejection path 11... Branch path 12... Intermediate path 13... Reverse path ( (and 1 other person) Figure 2 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] A copying apparatus having a double-sided copying function includes a paper detection device that can distinguish transparent paper and translucent paper from non-transparent paper, and a copy paper conveying device has a single-sided copying path and a double-sided copying path that can be switched to each other. . A copying apparatus, characterized in that when the paper detection device detects either transparent paper or translucent paper, the selected duplex copying mode is canceled and the copy paper conveying device is switched to a single-sided copying path.