WO1999050713A2

WO1999050713A2 - Copying machine capable of setting exact dimensions of the area to be copied

Info

Publication number: WO1999050713A2
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Kyu Kim
Original assignee: Sang Kyu Kim
Priority date: 1998-03-30
Filing date: 1999-03-29
Publication date: 1999-10-07
Also published as: WO1999050713A3; AU2962399A; KR19990076212A

Abstract

A copying machine capable of setting exact dimensions of the area to be copied is disclosed. The copying operation of the copying machine is performed in a copy paper-based mode operation (3) or an original document-base mode operation (3'). In a copy paper-base mode copying operation (3), the copying machine clearly copies the image of an original document on a selected copy paper while automatically enlarging or reducing the size of the image without leaving any black margin on the copy paper. Therefore, the copying machine provides a desired and exact copied document at one time during an enlarging or reducing copying operation. In an original document-base mode copying operation (3'), the copying machine provides a clear copied document free from any black margin. The copying machine thus provides exact, clear and desirable copied documents while conserving toner and copy paper.

Description

COPYING MACHINE CAPABLE OF SETTING EXACT DIMENSIONS OF THE AREA TO BE COPIED

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to copying machines and, more particularly, to a copying machine capable of setting exact dimensions of the area to be copied, the copying machine allowing a user to easily set the exact dimensions of an effective copying area while perceiving the set dimensions from a displaying means prior to starting a copying process, said copying machine thus providing exact, clear and desirable copied documents free from any black margin.

Background Art

Fig. 4 is a view, showing the construction and operation of a typical copying machine. In the operation of the above copying machine, the external surface of a photoconductive drum 28 is uniformly and electrically charged due to a coronal discharge of an electrifier 25. Since the photoconductive drum 28 is rotated around its rotating shaft, the charged external surface of the drum 28 is exposed to light. In such a case, light is emitted from a light source or an exposure lamp 22 and is reflected from an original document laid on a glass window of the copying machine. During such a light exposure, light from the exposure lamp 22 passes through an optical path comprising four reflection mirrors 23 and one lens unit 24, and finally forms an electrostatic latent image on the external surface of the photoconductive drum 28. The electrostatic latent image, formed on the drum 28, is equal to the image appearing on the original document, but may be controlled in axial amplification by the mirrors 23 and the lens unit 24. The electrostatic latent image, formed on the drum 28, is, thereafter, developed using toner as the latent image carrying portion of the drum 28 passes over a developer 27 during a rotating action of the drum 28. The latent image on the drum 28 is thus changed into a visual image. The visual image is, thereafter, transcribed from the drum 28 onto a copy paper 31 by a transcriber 32. In such a case, the copy paper 31 is fed from a paper cartridge to a desired position inside the machine by a feed roller 20.

During the visual image transcription process, the copy paper 31 is brought into close contact with the photoconductive drum 28 due to an electrostatic force. The copy paper 31 is, thereafter, separated from the drum 28 by a paper separator 33. After the paper separation process, the copy paper 31 is fed by a feed belt 30 so as to pass through the nip between the compression and heating rollers 34 and 35 of a fixing unit 40. The visual image on the copy paper 31 is thus fixed by the compression pressure and heat of the two rollers 34 and 35. Thereafter, the copy paper 31 or a copied document, carrying the fixed image, is delivered from the copying machine onto a delivery tray 39. During such a copying operation, both toner and electrostatic latent image remain on the drum 28 after the drum 28 passes over the transcriber 32. The remaining toner is removed from the drum 28 by a toner cleaner 29, while the latent image is removed from the drum 28 by a latent image removing lamp 37.

However, the above typical copying machine is problematic in that the machine does not have any means for allowing a user to set or know exact dimensions of the area to be copied. The copying machine thus may undesirably leave a black margin on each copied document after a copying operation. That is, there may be a difference in size between a selected copy paper and an original document, particularly, an open page of a book smaller than the selected copy paper. In such a case, a black margin is formed on the copy paper at a margin outside the boundary of the original document laid on the glass window. Such black margins spoil the appearance of copied documents and waste toner.

During a copying operation while enlarging or reducing the copying size, the typical copying machine may fail to provide an exactly copied document, but undesirably provide a poorly copied document with either the total image not being copied or the image being exceedingly reduced in size. This forces a user to repeatedly operate the copying machine until a desired and exact copied document is obtained.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine, which is capable of setting exact dimensions of the area to be copied, thus allowing a user to easily set the exact dimensions of an effective copying area while perceiving the set dimensions from a displaying means prior to starting a copying process, which provides exact, clear and desirable copied documents free from any black margin while conserving toner and copy paper, and which is convenient to users.

In order to accomplish the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a copying machine, comprising: mode select and dimension setting means for allowing a user to select a copying operational mode based on a size of a selected copy paper and to set exact dimensions of an effective copying area of the copying machine in accordance with a size of an original document to be copied, the mode select and dimension setting mean outputting signals in response to a mode selecting and dimension setting operation performed by the user, thus allowing the copying machine to copy the total image of the original document on a selected copy paper while automatically enlarging or reducing the size of the image without leaving any black margin on the copy paper; a microprocessor outputting control signals in response to the signals from the mode select and dimension setting means; and displaying means for displaying the exact dimensions of the effective copying area at a position around a glass window of the copying machine in response to the control signals from the microprocessor, the displaying means thus allowing the user to easily set the exact dimensions of the effective copying area by controlling the mode select and dimension setting means and to perceive the exact dimensions of the effective copying area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine provided with a means for setting and displaying exact dimensions of the area to be copied in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the copying machine of Fig.

1, showing the copying area setting and displaying means in detail;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a copying machine provided with a means for setting and displaying exact dimensions of the area to be copied in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view, showing the construction and operation of a typical copying machine.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Figs. 1 and 2 show a copying machine provided with a means for setting and displaying exact dimensions of the effective copying area in accordance with the primary embodiment of this invention. As shown in the drawings, the dimension setting and displaying means of the copying machine "A" generally comprises two parts: a dimension displaying part and a dimension setting part. In the primary embodiment, the dimension displaying part comprises two units: a copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 and an original document-base mode displaying unit 3'. Both displaying units 3 and 3' are longitudinal units provided along each of the left and rear edges of a glass window 1 while being abreast with each other and being parallel to each of the left and rear edges of the glass window 1. That is, each of the two displaying units 3 and 3' comprises one horizontal part, extending along the rear edge of the glass window 1, and one vertical part extending along the left edge of the glass window 1. The two displaying units 3 and 3' have the same size which is equal to the maximum effective copying size offered by the copying machine. In the present invention, each of the two displaying units 3 and 3' is designed to be lighted when it is activated, with the lighted length of each unit 3, 3' being controllable by a user. In the primary embodiment, each displaying unit 3, 3' comprises a plurality of LEDs (light emit diodes) which are regularly arranged along an associated edge of the glass window 1. The lighted length of each unit 3, 3' is controlled by a user as will be described later herein. On the other hand, the dimension setting part, used for controlling the two displaying units 3 and 3', is provided on a key pad 6 of the copying machine. The above key pad 6 is placed on the top wall of the copying machine at a position outside the front edge of the glass window 1 in a conventional manner. The above dimension setting part comprises two mode select buttons 5 and 5' surrounded by four dimension control buttons 7 and 7'. That is, first and second mode select buttons 5 and 5' are respectively used for selecting two operational modes associated with the two displaying units 3 and 3'. In the dimension setting part, the two select buttons 5 and 5¹ are positioned to face each other and are surrounded by the four dimension control buttons 7 and 7 ' at the four quarters. Of the four dimension control buttons 7 and 7 ' , two buttons 7 are for controlling the lighted length of the vertical part of each unit 3, 3'. The two buttons 7 are thus so-called up/down buttons. Meanwhile, the remaining two buttons 7' are for controlling the lighted length of the horizontal part of each unit 3, 3', thus being so-called left/right buttons. Each of the four dimension control buttons 7 and 7' is marked with a symbol "+" or "-" on its top surface, thus being used for enlarging or reducing the lighted length of each unit 3, 3' .

The above copying machine is operated as follows. For example, the copying operation of the machine is performed while selecting an operational mode based on the size of an original document, with a conventional A4-sized copy paper being selected to be used for copying an original document or a book having a size smaller than the A4-sized copy paper. The original document or the book is primarily laid on the glass window 1. Thereafter, the second mode select button 5' is pushed by a user, and so all the LEDs of the vertical and horizontal parts of the original document-base mode displaying unit 3' are turned on. Thereafter, exact dimensions of the area to be copied are set as follows. The LEDs of the unit 3' are controlled by a user so that the lighted lengths of the vertical and horizontal parts of the unit 3' exactly equal the dimensions of the book. That is, the LEDs of the vertical part of the above unit 3' are controlled by manually operating the up/down buttons 7 until the lighted length of the vertical part exactly equals the vertical size of the book. On the other hand, the LEDs of the horizontal part of the unit 3' are manually controlled by operating the left/right buttons 7' until the lighted length of the horizontal part exactly equals the horizontal size of the book. After setting the exact dimensions of the area to be copied as described above, a start button 8 is pushed, thus allowing the copying machine to perform a copying operation in the original document-base mode. In such a copying operation, the effective copying area is limited as expressed by the lighted unit 3'. The remaining part or the margin exceeding the limited copying area is free from toner, thus being left untoned. Therefore, it is possible for the copying machine to provide an A4-sized copied document with an untoned margin. The copying machine thus conserves toner and provides a clean document free from any black margin. On the other hand, the copying operation may be performed while selecting another operational mode based on the size of a selected copy paper. In such a case, an original document or a book is laid on the glass window 1 prior to pushing the first mode select button 5 so as to activate all the LEDs of the vertical and horizontal parts of the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3. Thereafter, exact dimensions of the area to be copied are set by operating the buttons 7 and 7 ' in the same manner as that described for the original document-base mode. That is, the LEDs of the vertical part of the above unit 3 are controlled by the up/down buttons 7 until the lighted length of the vertical part exactly equals the vertical size of the book. The LEDs of the horizontal part of the unit 3 are controlled by the left/right buttons 7' until the lighted length of the horizontal part exactly equals the horizontal size of the book. In the present invention, the construction and operation of the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 is similar to that of the original document-base mode displaying unit 3'. However, it is preferable to form the two units 3 and 3¹ using different color LEDs, thus allowing the two units 3 and 3¹ to be distinguishable from each other. For example, the original document-base mode displaying unit 3' may be formed using red LEDs, while the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 may be formed using green LEDs. After setting the exact dimensions of the area to be copied as described above, a start button 8 is pushed, thus allowing the copying machine to perform a copying operation in the copy paper-base mode. In such a copying operation, the effective copying area is limited as expressed by the lighted unit 3, and so the total image of the original document is copied on a selected copy paper while being automatically enlarged or reduced in scale in accordance with the size of the selected copy paper. The delivered copied document is thus free from any black margin. For example, when the copy paper-base mode copying operation is performed with an A4-sized copy paper being selected for copying an original document which is twice as large as the A4-sized copy paper, the total image of the original document is clearly copied on the A4-sized copy paper while being automatically reduced in scale by 50 %. Therefore, the above displaying unit 3, associated with the copy paper-base mode copying operation, allows a user to somewhat exactly know the enlarged or reduced scale of the image copied on a selected copy paper.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a copying machine provided with a means for setting and displaying exact dimensions of the area to be copied in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention. In the second embodiment, the copying machine has a copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 while being free from the original document-base mode displaying unit 3' different from the primary embodiment . In the second embodiment, the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 is designed to display exact dimensions of the effective copying area in addition to a function of removing any black margin from a copied paper. In order to accomplish the above object, the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 of this embodiment is operated in conjunction with a conventional equal button (100% button, not shown) provided on the copying machine.

In an operation of the copying machine according to the second embodiment, the equal button is pushed prior to adjusting the lighted lengths of the vertical and horizontal parts of the displaying unit 3 by operating the four dimension control buttons 7 and 7' in the same manner as that described for the primary embodiment. Thereafter, the start button 8 is pushed so as to start a copying operation. In such a case, the copying machine delivers a 100%-sized copied paper. Since the effective copying area is limited by the unit 3 as described above, the copied paper is free from any black margin. Therefore, the copying machine, with the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 according to the second embodiment, displays the effective copying area and removes any black margin from a copied paper. The copying machine of the second embodiment also has a mode select button 5. When the mode select button 5 is pushed, the copying machine performs a copying operation based on the size of a selected copy paper. In such a case, the copy paper-base mode copying operation is carried out in the same manner as that described for the primary embodiment. That is, the total image of the original document is copied on a selected copy paper while being automatically enlarged or reduced in scale in accordance with the size of the selected copy paper.

Of course, it should be understood that the copying machine of this invention may be designed to have an original document-base mode displaying unit 3' while being free from the copy paper-base mode displaying unit 3 different from the second embodiment. In such a case, the copying machine has a function of removing any black margin from a copied paper. In the above description, LEDs are used as the dimension displaying units 3 and 3¹. However, it should be understood that the dimension displaying units 3 and 3' may be formed using LCD panels (liquid crystal display panels), ELs (electronic light emit sheets), light emit plastic materials, a mechanical light emitting means and etc. in place of the LEDs. When LCD panels are used as the displaying units 3 and 3', it is not necessary to separately form the units 3 and 3' on the top wall of the copying machine along the edges of a glass window 1. Such LCD panels may be directly formed on appropriate portions of the glass window 1 during a process of manufacturing the glass window 1.

In addition, the two dimension displaying units 3 and 3' may be formed along the front and right edges of the glass window 1 in place of the rear and left edges.

The above copying machine, with the dimension displaying units 3 and 3' and the control buttons 5, 5' 7 and 7', is automatically controlled by a conventional microprocessor (not shown) as follows. That is, when a user operates either of the two mode select buttons 5 and 5', a selected button 5, 5' outputs a mode select signal to the microprocessor. Upon receiving the mode select signal from either mode select button 5, 5', the microprocessor outputs a control signal to an associated dimension displaying unit 3, 3', thus activating and lighting the associated displaying unit 3, 3 Thereafter, when the dimension control buttons 7 and 7' are operated by the user, the control buttons 7 and 7' output dimension signals to the microprocessor. Upon receiving the dimension signals from the dimension control buttons 7 and 7', the microprocessor outputs control signals to the activated displaying unit 3, 3', thus exactly controlling the lighted lengths of the vertical and horizontal parts of the activated displaying unit 3, 3'. The copying machine thus allows the user to exactly perceive both a selected copying operational mode and the dimensions of the effective copying area prior to performing a selected mode copying operation. During the mode select and dimension setting process, the microprocessor outputs a signal to the key pad 6 of the copying machine so as to display an amplification. The microprocessor also appropriately controls the copying mechanism of the machine so as to allow the copying mechanism to exactly perform a copying operation in accordance with both the selected operational mode and the controlled dimensions of the effective copying area.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a copying machine capable of setting exact dimensions of the area to be copied. The copying machine thus allows a user to easily set the exact dimensions of an effective copying area while perceiving the set dimensions from a displaying means prior to starting a copying process. The copying operation of the copying machine may be performed in a copy paper-base mode operation or an original document-base mode operation. In a copy paper- base mode copying operation, the copying machine clearly copies the total image of an original document on a selected copy paper while automatically enlarging or reducing the size of the image without leaving any black margin on the copy paper. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to repeatedly operate the copying machine until a desired and exact copied document is obtained during an enlarging or reducing copying operation.

In an original document-base mode copying operation, the copying machine provides a clear copied document free from any black margin. The copying machine thus provides exact, clear and desirable copied documents while conserving toner and copy paper. This is convenient to users .

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. A copying machine, comprising: mode select and dimension setting means for allowing a user to select a copying operational mode based on a size of a selected copy paper and to set exact dimensions of an effective copying area of the copying machine in accordance with a size of an original document to be copied, said mode select and dimension setting mean outputting signals in response to a mode selecting and dimension setting operation performed by the user, thus allowing the copying machine to copy the image of the original document on a selected copy paper while automatically enlarging or reducing the size of the image without leaving any black margin on the copy paper; a microprocessor outputting control signals in response to the signals from the mode select and dimension setting means; and displaying means for displaying the exact dimensions of the effective copying area at a position around a glass window of the copying machine in response to the control signals from the microprocessor, said displaying means thus allowing the user to easily set the exact dimensions of the effective copying area by controlling the mode select and dimension setting means and to perceive the exact dimensions of the effective copying area.

2. The copying machine according to claim 1, wherein said displaying means is provided along both one vertical edge and one horizontal edge of the glass window, thus allowing the user to exactly set the dimensions of the effective copying area in accordance with the size of the original document laid on the glass window.

3. A copying machine, comprising: mode select and dimension setting means for allowing a user to select a copying operational mode based on a size of an original document to be copied and to set exact dimensions of an effective copying area of the copying machine in accordance with a size of the original document, said mode select and dimension setting mean outputting signals in response to a mode selecting and dimension setting operation performed by the user, thus allowing the copying machine to copy the image of the original document on a selected copy paper without leaving any black margin on the copy paper; a microprocessor outputting control signals in response to the signals from the mode select and dimension setting means; and displaying means for displaying the exact dimensions of the effective copying area at a position around a glass window of the copying machine in response to the control signals from the microprocessor, said displaying means thus allowing the user to easily set the exact dimensions of the effective copying area by controlling the mode select and dimension setting means and to perceive the exact dimensions of the effective copying area.

4. The copying machine according to claim 3, wherein said displaying means is provided along both one vertical edge and one horizontal edge of the glass window, thus allowing the user to exactly set the dimensions of the effective copying area in accordance with the size of the original document laid on the glass window.