JPS6361662B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to mode switching control for a copying machine having a plurality of copying modes.

In response to the diversification of office work, copiers are required to have a variety of copying functions, and one copying machine that has multiple copying modes and can select one copying mode to perform copying operations is becoming increasingly popular. It's on the market. Examples of various copy modes include full size copying, variable size copying (reducing and enlarging) copying, copying materials of various sizes that can be loaded at the same time to make copies of any size, 3D original copying and sheet copying. Copying originals or loading already copied materials on one tray,
There are a wide variety of methods, such as those that use a sorter to perform automatic bookkeeping, as well as single-sided copying and double-sided copying.

When using a copying machine having these multiple copying modes, an operator must specify a desired copying mode to the copying machine and then begin copying work. If you make a mistake in this specification or forget to specify it and start copying, the desired copy will not be made and it will be a complete waste.

In contrast, it has been proposed that this type of copying machine is normally set in one copying mode. This is based on the fact that although there are a wide variety of copying modes required for general office work, if we analyze actual copying operations, most of them concentrate on copying in one copying mode. For example, although there is a need for reduced copying, it has been found that the majority of office copies are full size copies. At times like this, if you leave the copying machine in reduced copy mode after making copies in reduced copy mode, the next operator will not be able to do it as usual.
If you continue the copy operation, you will end up with a reduced copy even though you intended to make a full size copy.

In order to prevent this from happening, the system automatically returns to the same-size copy mode after the reduced copy is completed and before the next operator arrives.

In this way, a normally used mode such as the same-size copy mode will be called the first mode, and a special mode that is only occasionally used, such as the reduced copy mode, will be called the second mode.

Conventionally, as a means of returning to the first mode before the next operator comes when the machine is in the second mode, the system switches to the first mode unless further copying is performed within a certain period of time after the second mode of copying is completed. The method of returning it is being taken. This is because the time required to exchange originals is approximately fixed, so if no copying is performed for a longer time than that, it is assumed that all copying in that mode has been completed.

However, in this case, the set time is determined based on the assumption that the document exchange will take place within a certain period of time, but in actual copying work there are various ways in which document exchange takes place, and it is assumed that the document exchange will be completed within that time. cannot necessarily be said. For example, when copying irregular pages from a book, etc., the user must search for the pages while exchanging originals, which takes a very long time. Therefore, in the conventional method described above, the copy mode is reset during document exchange, which is extremely inconvenient. If the fixed time period is set so that the copy mode does not return to the first mode even in such a case, the copy mode may not return to the first mode until the next operator makes a copy. , the intended purpose is not achieved.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above drawbacks and
To provide a copying machine that can greatly reduce the possibility of erroneous copying due to erroneous specification of a copy mode.

The present invention provides a copying machine that performs copying in either a first copy mode or a second copy mode according to a selection designation by a designation means, by closing a document cover that holds a document on a document table. If the second copy mode is selected and designated, the second copy mode is canceled when a predetermined time of the timer means expires, and the second copy mode is reset by the copying operation. To provide a copying machine characterized in that it is configured to convert into one copy mode.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a copying machine characterized in that the above-mentioned timer means is configured to be reset by opening the document cover.

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a copying machine to which the present invention can be applied. This copying machine is a powder development transfer type electrophotographic copying machine.

1 is a transparent document placement table, on which the document to be copied is placed _.
Place the document with its leading edge aligned with the reference position ₁₁ on the document mounting table, and press it with the document cover 2. Below the document table 1 are a document illumination lamp 3, a movable mirror 4,
5. The rotated in-mirror lens 6, mirror 7, and photosensitive drum 8 are arranged at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure. Further, a fan 50 is provided to cool the document table which is heated by the document illumination lamp.

When a copy button (not shown) is pressed, the photosensitive drum 8 begins to rotate clockwise in the drawing, and is charged and irradiated with light by each charger and each lamp, which will be described later.
At the same time, the original illumination lamp 3 and movable mirrors 4 and 5, which are movable parts of the optical system, move to the positions indicated by broken lines in the figure. When the photosensitive drum 8 completes a predetermined rotation, an exposure start signal is issued, and the original illumination lamp 3 and first mirror 4 move from the broken line position shown in the figure to the right at the same speed as the circumferential speed of the photosensitive drum 8. The second mirror 5 also starts moving rightward from the position shown by the broken line at half the speed. An image of the original O _B illuminated from below by the original illumination lamp 3 is formed on the photosensitive drum 8 at the exposure section 9 by an optical system comprising movable mirrors 4, 5, an in-mirror lens 6, a mirror 7, etc. When the exposure is completed according to the signal according to the size, the original illumination lamp 3 and the movable mirrors 4 and 5
stops moving to the right in the drawing, immediately returns to the opposite direction, that is, to the left in the drawing, and repeats the above operation according to the number of copies specified in advance by a button (not shown). When the exposure for the designated number of sheets is completed, the document illumination lamp 3 and the movable mirrors 4 and 5 return to the predetermined positions indicated by solid lines in the figure and stop. Note that the speed of movement to the left in the figure is faster than the speed of movement to the right in the figure to increase copying efficiency.

The photosensitive drum 8 has a photosensitive layer covered with a transparent insulating layer, and rotates clockwise in the drawing as described above. The photosensitive drum 8 is first subjected to AC static elimination by a pre-AC static eliminator 10 which is supplied with an AC high voltage current from a high voltage power source (not shown), and at the same time the lamp 11
The primary charger 1 is exposed to light to erase charges on the surface of the insulating layer and inside the photosensitive layer, and is then supplied with a (+) high voltage current from a high voltage power source (not shown).
2, it is charged to (+). Next, when reaching the exposure section 9, the image from the illumination section 13 is slit-exposed, and at the same time, the AC static eliminator 14, which is supplied with AC high-voltage current from a high-voltage power supply (not shown),
undergoes static electricity removal. The photosensitive drum 8 is then exposed to light by the lamp 15.
forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image forming apparatus and enters the developer 16. The developing device 16 consists of a container 17 containing developer, a developing roller 18, and a doctor blade 19, and the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 8 is visualized by the developer magnetically attracted to the developing roller 18. .

Next, the transfer paper P fed from the paper feed unit comes into close contact with the photosensitive drum 8, and the image on the photosensitive drum 8 is transferred onto the transfer paper P by being charged by the transfer charger 20 with a (+) high voltage current from the high voltage power supply. transcribed. After the transfer, the transfer paper P is neutralized by a separation static eliminator 21 to which AC high voltage current is supplied from a high voltage power source, and the adhesion force with the photosensitive drum 8 is weakened. Subsequently, the transfer paper P is sucked by the roller 23 at the 22nd section, separated from the photosensitive drum 8, and guided to the fixing section 26 by the belt 24 and guide 25. The remaining developer on the photosensitive drum 8 is wiped off by the edge portion ₂₇₁ of the blade cleaner 27 that is pressed against it, and the next cycle is repeated again. After the photosensitive drum 8 repeats the cycle for a predetermined number of sheets using a button (not shown), it continues to rotate and performs the above-described process.
The internal charge of the photosensitive layer is removed by static elimination using the AC static eliminator 14 and full-surface exposure using the lamp 15.
It rotates a predetermined amount and then stops in preparation for the next time.

On the other hand, the transfer paper P is stored in a cassette 28 or a paper feed deck 29 in the paper feed section at the lower left of the machine. Various cassettes 28 are prepared according to the sizes of several types of transfer paper, and can be easily replaced as necessary. The paper feed deck 29 is also configured so that transfer paper of several sizes can be stored with a simple operation as required. The transfer paper P stored in the cassette 28 or the paper feed deck 29 is pressed against the paper feed rollers 30 and 31 with a predetermined pressure, regardless of the amount. When the photosensitive drum 8 reaches a predetermined position, the paper feed roller 30 or 3 selected in advance by a button (not shown) is activated.
1 starts rotation and sends out the transfer paper P to the right in the figure. Subsequent paper feeding is performed by paper feeding means after the roller pair 32, 32' or 33, 33'. The transfer paper P has roller pairs 36, 36', 37,
37', guided to the photosensitive drum 8 by guides 38, 38' or 39, 39' and 40, 40', 41, 41', and brought into close contact with the photosensitive drum 8 after being synchronized with the image on the photosensitive drum 8. Then, as described above, the image is transferred by being charged by the transfer charger 20.
As described above, the transfer paper P that has completed the transfer is neutralized by the separation static eliminator 21, separated from the photosensitive drum 8 at the 22nd section, and transferred to the fixing section 26 by the belt 24 and guide 25 driven by rollers. sent. In the fixing section 26, the transfer paper P having an unfixed image on its surface is fixed under a predetermined pressure when it passes between rollers 42 and 43 that are pressed against each other with a predetermined pressure and rotate at the same circumferential speed. . Fixing section 26
Finally, the transfer paper P that has come out is removed from the charge remaining on the surface by a static eliminator 44, and then transferred to the guide 4.
5 and 46 to discharge rollers 47 and 48, and is discharged onto a tray 49.

Next, an example in which an auto feeder section for sheet documents is added to this copying machine will be explained with reference to FIG. 1st in the diagram
The same numbers as those in the drawings indicate the same parts as in the copying machine of FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted here to avoid duplication.
In FIG. 2, an auto feeder section 51 is provided at the upper left part of the machine body, and the auto feeder optical system includes a document illumination lamp 52, a fixed mirror 53,
It has a movable mirror 54. During the copying operation using the original platen 1 as described in the example of FIG _. 3′, shown by the broken line in the figure, to expose
It is arranged at a position where the optical path is not obstructed even if it moves to positions 4' and 5', that is, at the first position indicated by the broken line in the figure. When using the auto feeder, the above-mentioned document illumination lamp 3 and movable mirrors 4 and 5 stop at the solid line position shown in the figure, and the auto feeder movable mirror 5
4 moves to the right from the first position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and stops at the second position indicated by the solid line. At this time, the auto feeder original illumination lamp 52, mirror 53, movable mirror 54, in-mirror lens 6, fixed mirror 7
An optical path for the auto feeder is formed by this.

When stacked sheet originals O _S are placed on the sheet original insertion table 55, the uppermost sheet original O _S ' is separated by separation/feeding rollers 56 and 57, which rotate to feed the sheet originals in opposite directions. While moving forward, it is fed between the guides 58 and 59, and the tip is detected by the detection element 60, and it is temporarily stopped.

When the photosensitive drum 8 rotates to a predetermined position, the sheet original O _S ' is again conveyed between the guide glass 63, the guide plate 64, etc. in synchronization with the photosensitive drum 8 by the rollers 56, 57 and the rollers 61, 62. , illuminated by a lamp 52, the sheet original
The image of O _S ' is formed on the photosensitive drum 8 by a mirror 53, a movable mirror 54, an in-mirror lens 6, and a fixed mirror 7. Next, the sheet original _O
9 and 70 into the document tray 71. This operation is continuously performed until the sheet original _OS on the sheet original insertion table 55 runs out.

The aforementioned sheet original insertion table 55 is supported by a shaft 72, and the original tray 71 is supported by a shaft 73 so as to be freely rotatable in the counterclockwise direction shown in the figure. When the auto feeder is not in use, it can be rotated counterclockwise in the figure and stored in the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, so that it can be used as a workbench.

Note that a fan 74 is provided for cooling the guide glass 63 heated by the auto feeder document illumination lamp 52.

By using an auto feeder, it is possible to copy long originals. Therefore, a large-sized cassette 28' is sometimes used, but in this embodiment, the storing section of the large-sized cassette 28' is arranged in a part where the body has become larger due to the addition of an auto feeder. The structure is designed to eliminate wasted space inside the aircraft.

Next, I will explain the third part about variable magnification copying with this copying machine.
This will be explained using figures.

Two basic operations are required to perform a variable size copy.

(1) Adjusting the optical path length by moving the lens or mirror of the imaging optical system or replacing the lens, or moving the mirror. (2) Converting the relative speed between the movement of the photoreceptor and the scanning of the original. A variable-magnification copy is performed using the auto-feeder optical system by the following operations.

That is, the auto feeder document exposure lamp 52 and mirror 53 are fixed at the positions shown in the figure,
The optical path length is corrected by moving the movable mirror 54 and the in-mirror lens 6 to the position shown in the broken line according to the magnification.
By changing the speed of 0, the sheet document transport speed _V1 is multiplied by the reciprocal of the magnification n by the speed V of the photosensitive drum 8.
Variable-magnification copying is performed by setting the speed to V ₁ =V/n and satisfying the above conditions.

The present invention will most commonly be applied to copying machines having such a variable size copying function.

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned copying machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

For convenience of explanation, the same-size copying mode of this copying machine will be referred to as the first mode, and the reduced copying mode will be referred to as the second mode. In addition, the copy mode that uses the original platen 1 is the first mode, the auto feeder section 51 is the second mode, or the paper feed deck 29 is the first mode, and the cassette 28 is the first mode. The same is true even if the copy mode used is set to the second mode.

Normally, priority is given to the first mode, which is the same size copy, and by pressing the print button A, a copy operation in the same size copy mode is performed.

Next, when performing reduced copying, which is the second mode, the operator presses reduced copying (second mode) designation button B on the operation section of the copying machine. Then, the second mode priority function C is activated and the second mode takes priority over the first mode, and when the print button A is pressed, the second mode copying operation is performed.

When the copying operation is completed, the operator should close the document cover 2.
, take out the original on the original placing table 1, and replace it with a new original. Next, close the document cover 2 and press print button A again to make the next copy. At this time, the switch 163 detects that the document cover 2 is closed and sets the timer D. The timer D produces an output signal after a certain period of time,
Reset the second mode priority function C. Therefore, the second mode is maintained until the second mode priority function C is reset by the timer D after the document cover 2 is closed, and if the operator presses the print button A again during this period. In this case, timer D is reset by a signal from print button A, and the copier performs the same second mode of copying.
After the operator has finished making the desired number of copies, he opens the original cover 2, takes out the original, closes the original cover 2 again, leaves the copying machine, and waits until the next operator starts making copies. , the second mode priority function C is reset by the timer D and prepared for the first mode. Usually this time is
The time is set to about 5 to 15 seconds so that there is enough time to press print button A after setting the original and closing the original cover 2.

As described above, in the present invention, if the copy operation is not started within a predetermined time after closing the document cover, the second mode returns to the first mode, so a new operator can copy without checking the copy mode. This prevents starting the operation and obtaining an undesired copy.

Furthermore, no matter how long it takes to replace the original (usually done with the original cover open), the copy mode will not be reset. Furthermore, after the copying operation is completed, the user closes the document cover before leaving the copying machine, so the timer advances and the user returns to the first mode by the time the next operator arrives. Furthermore, the time from closing the document cover to pressing the print button does not vary much depending on the operator or copying conditions, so there is no need to worry about exceptions.
This is very useful as it allows the timer to be set to a fairly short time.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a further improvement of the first embodiment.

In addition to the first embodiment, the document cover 2
When the switch 163 is opened, it is detected by the switch 163,
This is to reset timer D.

In this way, if you try to make a copy and close the original cover 2, and then try to set the original again because the original is misaligned, etc., the timer D will be reset when you open the original cover 2. Therefore, even if the print button A is not pressed within a predetermined time from the time when the document cover 2 is first closed, the second mode will not be reset. As in the previous example, when the original is reset and the original cover is closed again, timer D starts.

As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides the following effects.

(b) When copying irregular pages of a book, etc., even if it takes time to replace the original, the copy mode does not return to the first mode, preventing copy mistakes.

(b) When the operator finishes copying, this is reliably determined and the timer is activated to return to the first mode, thereby preventing the next operator from copying incorrectly.

As described above, the present invention is extremely useful because it can prevent mistakes and provide a copying machine that is easy to use and has a plurality of modes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the copying machine shown in FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a document cover section equipped with a switch used in the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the device of the present invention. 1...Document placement table, 1 ₁ ...Reference position, 2...
Original cover, 3... Original illumination lamp, 4, 5...
...Movable mirror, 6... In-mirror lens, 7...
Mirror, 8... Photosensitive drum, 9... Exposure section, 10
... Front AC static eliminator, 11 ... Lamp, 12 ... Primary charger, 13 ... Lighting section, 14 ... AC static eliminator,
15...Lamp, 16...Developer, 17...Container, 18...Developing roller, 19...Doctor blade, 20...Transfer charger, 21...Separation static eliminator,
22... Suction section, 23... Roller, 24... Belt, 25... Guide, 26... Fixing section, 27...
Blade cleaner, 27 ₁ ...Etsujibe, 28...
...Cassette, 29...Paper feed deck, 30, 31...
... Paper feeding roller, 32, 32', 33, 33'... Paper feeding means, 36, 36', 37, 37'... Roller, 38, 38', 39, 39', 40, 40',
41, 41'... Guide, 42, 43... Fixing roller, 44... Static eliminator, 45, 46... Guide,
47, 48...Discharge roller, 49...Tray, 5
1...Auto feeder section, 52...Lamp for document illumination, 53...Fixed mirror, 54...Movable mirror, 55...Sheet original insertion table, 56, 57...
Separation/feed roller, 58, 59...Guide, 60
...Detection element, 61, 62...Roller, 63...
Guide glass, 64... Guide plate, 65, 66... Roller, 67, 68... Guide, 69, 70... Ejection roller, 71... Document tray, 72, 73...
Axis, 74... Juan.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a copying machine configured to perform copying in either the first copy mode or the second copy mode according to the selection designation by the designation means, the document cover that holds the document on the document table is closed. A timer means is provided which is started by a copying operation and reset by a copying operation, and when the second copying mode is selected and designated, the second copying mode is canceled when the timer means times out a predetermined time. , a copying machine configured to convert to the first copying mode. 2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the timer means is configured to be reset by opening the document cover.