JP2643638B2 - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder, and more particularly, to a method for feeding stacked documents one by one to an image forming apparatus.
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder that discharges each fed document from an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic document feeder disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-231730 has a document storage section, document feed means for supplying documents one by one from a document storage section to a contact glass side of a copying machine, and a copying apparatus. Document return means for returning the document supplied to the contact glass side of the machine to the document storage unit.

In this automatic document feeder, documents are stored in a document storage section in a stacked state. Then, the document feeding means supplies the documents one by one from the document storage unit to the contact glass side of the copying machine. The original after the copying process is returned from the contact glass of the copying machine to the original storage unit by the original returning unit.

[0004]

In the conventional automatic document feeder described above, all the documents once subjected to the copying process are returned to the document storage unit and stacked on the stacked documents. In this configuration, no problem occurs when performing a copying operation on a general document group, but in the case of a document group including a set of a plurality of document bundles having different numbers of copies, the The manuscript must be skipped. Therefore, in this case, time is wasted due to the idle feeding of the document, and the time required for the copying operation becomes longer as a whole.

For example, in a document group in which a document bundle requiring four copies and a document bundle requiring three copies are assembled,
After performing the copying operation for both bundles of documents three times, when performing the copying operation for the documents of the bundle of documents requiring four copies, the copying operation is not performed for the bundle of documents requiring the copying of three blanks. I have to send. Therefore, in this case, the time is wasted by the amount of the empty feed for the bundle of documents requiring three copies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic document feeder capable of shortening a transfer time without performing a useless transfer operation even when a set of document bundles having different numbers of processes is transferred. Is to do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic document feeder according to the present invention is an apparatus for feeding stacked documents one by one to an image forming apparatus and discharging each of the fed documents from the image forming apparatus. This apparatus includes a supply document storage section, a discharge document storage section, document feed means for supplying documents one by one from the supply document storage section to the image forming apparatus side, and a document supply section for supplying a document supplied to the image forming apparatus side. Document return means for returning the document to the storage section, and document discharge means for discharging the document supplied to the image forming apparatus to the discharge document storage section.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic document feeder according to the present invention is an apparatus for feeding stacked documents one by one to an image forming apparatus and discharging each of the fed documents from the image forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a supply document-holding section, the document bundle conditions input
Force receiving means, a discharged document storage section, a document feeding means,
The manuscript returning means, the manuscript discharge means, and the manuscript discharge selection means
Have. The supply document storage unit has multiple
Can be stored. Document bundle
The condition input accepting means is provided for each of the plurality of original bundles.
An input of a document bundle condition including the number of times of processing is received. Manuscript feed
Means for transferring a document from the supply document storage unit to the image forming apparatus side.
Supply one by one. The document return means moves to the image forming apparatus side.
The fed document is returned to the fed document storage unit. Document discharging means
Is a document storage section for discharging documents supplied to the image forming apparatus.
Discharge to The document discharge selection means accepts document bundle condition input
Based on the document bundle conditions received by the means and the current processing status.
The original return means or the original discharge means
Select whether to operate.

The document bundle condition receiving means receives a plurality of document bundles.
Document bundle conditions such as the number of copies and the number of
Remember this. The original discharge selection means determines whether the original
It is supplied to the image forming apparatus based on the current processing status.
If the originals to be returned should be returned to the
Judge whether the paper should be discharged to the paper storage section, and based on this judgment
Select either document return means or document discharge means
Activate. Therefore, a collection of original bundles
When transporting a group of documents consisting of
By inputting and setting, it is supplied to the image forming apparatus again.
Return only the documents that need to be fed to the
Necessary documents can be discharged to the discharged document storage unit, and there is no need to feed documents that do not require processing idle, so that the transport time can be reduced.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an automatic document feeder 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This automatic document feeder 1
It is placed on the upper end surface of the copying machine 2 and can be freely opened and closed by a pair of hinges (not shown) arranged on the back side in FIG. The lower surface of the automatic document feeder 1 faces the contact glass 3 of the copying machine 2.

The automatic document feeder 1 has a case 4 constituting the outer shape thereof. A document feed / return unit 5 is arranged at the left end of the case 4 in the figure, and a document reversal / discharge unit 6 is arranged at the right end of the case 4. Document feed / return unit 5
A discharge document tray 7 is arranged above the case 4 between the document reversing / discharge unit 6 and the document reversing / discharge unit 6. A transport belt 8 facing the contact glass 3 is disposed below the discharged document tray 7. Further, a supply document tray 9 extending obliquely upward from the document feed / return unit 5 is disposed above the discharge document tray 7.

The document feed / return unit 5 includes a supply document tray 9
At the position adjacent to the base of the document stopper 10
, A document pressing plate 11, and a forward feed roller 12. The orientation of the document stopper 10 can be switched between a solid line position and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line by a solenoid (not shown). Thereby, the document stopper 10 can be switched between a posture in which it comes into contact with the front end of the document group placed on the supply document tray 9 and a posture in which the contact is released. The posture of the document pressing plate 11 can be switched between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line by a solenoid (not shown). This allows
The document pressing plate 11 can press the front end of the document group placed on the supply document tray 9 or release the pressing. The forward feed roller 12 can be driven to rotate counterclockwise, and a part thereof is cut away. By rotating the forward feed roller 12 in a counterclockwise direction, the originals on the supply original tray 9 can be sequentially sent from the lower side to the left in FIG.

A supply conveyance path 13 composed of a pair of plate-like members is provided between the portion where the forward feed roller 12 is provided and the left end of the conveyance belt 8 in the drawing. The supply roller 1 is provided at a portion of the supply transport path 13 on the side of the forward feed roller 12.
4 and a separation roller 15 are arranged. Roller 1
Reference numerals 4 and 15 are used to separate the originals sent by the advance roller 12 one by one. Further, a pair of registration rollers 16 is arranged in a portion of the supply conveyance path 13 on the side of the conveyance belt 8. Registration roller pair 1
Numeral 6 corrects the skew of the supplied original.

Above the forward feed roller 12, a return roller 17 is disposed. Return roller 17 and transport belt 8
A return conveyance path 18 composed of a pair of plate members is provided between the pair. A transport roller 19 is arranged in the return transport path 18.

Further, a switching claw 20 is provided at a position adjacent to the contact glass 3 on the copying machine 2 side at the end portion of the supply conveyance path 13. This switching claw 20
The position can be switched between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line around the rotation fulcrum 21. The solid line attitude of the switching claw 20 is the attitude when the original is supplied, and the dashed line is the attitude when the original is returned.

The document reversing / discharging section 6 has a reversing roller 30 having a relatively large diameter. A reversing / discharging path 31 is formed along the outer peripheral surface of the reversing roller 30. The reversing / discharging path 31 is provided between the right end of the conveying belt 8 in the figure and the discharged document tray 7.
Are connected in a C-shape. On the reversing / discharging path 31, the reversing roller 30 and the discharged document tray 7
A switching claw 32 and a discharge roller 33 are provided between the two. The switching claw 32 can be switched between a solid line posture and a dashed line posture by a solenoid (not shown). When the switching claw 32 is in the solid line posture, the inversion / discharge path 3
An inversion path 34 branching from 1 is formed. This reversing path 34
Is branched from the reversing / discharging path 31 at a position corresponding to the upper end of the reversing roller 31 and extends to the right end of the conveying belt 8 in the figure. On the other hand, the switching claw 32 constitutes the reversing / discharging path 31 when in the posture of the dashed line. In this case, the switching claw 32 guides the document from the reversing roller 30 to the discharge roller 33.

The transport belt 8 includes a document feed / return unit 5 and a document reversal / discharge unit 6 along the upper end surface of the contact glass 3.
And extends between them. The transport belt 8 is stretched over a plurality of rollers 35 arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the lower end surface of the transport belt 8 is pressed against the contact glass 3.

FIG. 2 shows a control section 40 of the automatic document feeder 1.
Is shown. The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41 and a ROM 4
2 and a microcomputer including a RAM 43. The main body side control unit 50 of the copying machine 2 is connected to the CPU 41 via the data bus 44. Further, the control section 40 is connected with a loop detection sensor 45 for detecting that the document group placed on the supply document tray 9 has rotated once, and other input / output sections.

In the RAM 43, a copier main body side controller 50 is provided.
An area for storing the operation mode, the number of copies received, and the number of sheets of the original bundle, and an area for storing counters m and n described later are included.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described according to the control flowchart shown in FIG. When the program starts, in step S1 in FIG. 3, initial settings such as setting the original stopper 10, the original pressing plate 11, the forward feed roller 12, and the switching claw 32 to the posture indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 are performed. Here, the operation mode stored in the RAM 43 is set to the normal single-sided mode and the RDH mode (document circulation mode). The number of copies is set to “1”. When the process in step S1 ends, the process moves to step S2.

In step S2, the copier controller 5
From 0, it is determined whether a document supply command has been issued. If the document supply command has not been issued, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the copying machine main body side control unit 50
It is determined whether an instruction to change various conditions, such as the mode, the number of copies, and the number of documents, has been issued. If the condition change command has not been issued, the process proceeds to step S4. Step S4
Then, other general processing is executed. Step S4
When the processing in step is completed, the process returns to step S2.

Here, it is assumed that conditions such as a change in an operation mode and a change in the number of copies have been made by an operator operating keys on a key panel on the copying machine 2 side.
In this case, a condition change command is issued from the copying machine main body side controller 50, and the determination in step S3 becomes Yes, and the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, data such as the operation mode, the number of copies, and the number of original bundles are stored in the RAM 43 based on the signal sent from the copier body side control unit 50.
Update within. Upon completion of the process in the step S5, the process returns to the step S2.

Next, assuming that a copying operation is started on the copying machine 2 side and a document supply command is issued from the copying machine main body side controller 50, the program shifts from step S2 to step S6. In step S6, it is determined whether the operation mode is the original bundle mode. What is Document Bundle Mode?
This is an operation mode for processing a document group including a set of a plurality of document bundles having different numbers of copies.

If it is determined that the mode is the original bundle mode based on the operation mode stored in the RAM 43, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, a process in the document bundle mode shown in FIG. 5 is executed. On the other hand, step S6
In step S8, if it is determined that the mode is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step S8, and the process of the normal mode shown in FIG. 4 is performed. Upon completion of the process in the step S7 or the step S8, the program returns to the step S2.

Next, the operation in the normal mode shown in FIG. 4 will be described. In FIG. 4, in step S10, a counter n which is the number of cycles of a document (a number corresponding to the number of copies) is set to "0". In step S11, the document set on the supply document tray 9 is supplied to the contact glass 3 side. In this case, the forward feed roller 12 is rotated counterclockwise, so that the originals on the supply original tray 9 are supplied one by one from the lowermost one.

In step S12, it is determined based on the information in the RAM 43 whether or not the mode is the duplex mode. The double-sided mode is a mode when a document has image information on both sides. If it is determined in step S12 that the mode is not the duplex mode, the process proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the mode is the duplex mode, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the contact glass 3
The document once supplied is inverted. This reversing operation is performed by rotating the transport belt 8 and the reversing roller 30 in a state where the switching claw 32 is arranged in the posture indicated by the solid line. The original on the contact glass 3 is transported by the conveyor belt 8.
Is supplied to the reversing / discharging path 31 side by the circulation of the reversing roller 30, is reversed by the reversing roller 30, and is supplied again between the contact glass 3 and the transport belt 8 through the reversing path 34.

When the original is turned over, the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, it is determined whether the reading of the document by the copying machine 2 has been completed. This determination is made based on whether or not a reading completion signal has been output from the copying machine main body side control unit 50. When the reading is completed, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the document is turned over again. The processing here is the same as step S14. When the document reversal is completed, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the contact glass 3
Wait for the reading operation on the upper document to be completed. The processing here is the same as step S15. When the reading of the document is completed, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S17, it is determined whether the mode is the RDH mode based on the information stored in the RAM 43.
The RDH mode is a mode in which the document is circulated, and is a mode in which the document once subjected to the image information reading operation is returned to the supply document tray 9 again. If it is determined that the mode is the RDH mode, the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, the round detection sensor 45
Then, it is determined whether or not the document is the last one based on the detection state in step (1). If it is not the final document, the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S18 that the document is the final document, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the counter n is incremented. Upon completion of the process in the step S20, the process shifts to a step S19.

In step S19, it is determined whether the document circulation cycle in the RDH mode is the last cycle. This determination is made by comparing the value of the counter n with the value of the number of copies stored in the RAM 43. If it is not the last cycle,
Move to step S21. In step S21, the original placed on the contact glass 3 is discharged to the supply original tray 9 side. At the time of this discharge, the return conveyance path 18
Is used. Upon completion of the process in the step S21, the process returns to the step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S19 that the cycle is the final cycle, step S22
Move to If it is determined in step S17 that the mode is not the RDH mode, the process also proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the contact glass 3
The upper document is discharged to the discharge document tray 7 via the reverse / discharge path 31. At this time, the switching claw 32
Are arranged in a dashed-dotted line. Upon completion of the process in the step S22, the process shifts to a step S23. In step S23, it is determined based on the signal from the round detection sensor 45 whether or not the discharged original is the final original.
If it is not the final document, the program returns to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the document is the last document, the program returns to the main routine of FIG.

Next, the operation in the original bundle mode of FIG. 5 will be described. In step S30 of FIG. 5, a counter m for recognizing the order of the original document being processed.
And a counter n for recognizing the number of times the original has been processed (the number of copies) are both set to “0”. In step S31, the counter m is incremented. Step S31
When the processing in step is completed, the process proceeds to step S32.

The processing from step S32 to step S44 is the same as the processing from step S11 to step S23 in FIG. 4, and a description thereof will be omitted. However, in step S19 (FIG. 4), it is determined whether or not the last cycle is based on the number of circulations of the document group, whereas in step S40 (FIG. 5), the number of processing times (the number of copies) for each document is determined. It is determined whether or not has reached a predetermined value. Here, it is determined individually whether or not the number of processes specified by the operator has been reached for the m-th document. This determination is made based on the counter m, the counter n, the number of copies in the RAM 43, and the number of original bundles.

In step S23 (FIG. 4), it is determined whether or not the document is the last document based on whether or not the document has completed one cycle. It is determined whether there are no more originals to be processed based on whether there are any originals.

Further, in the document bundle mode, step S2
Step S4 corresponding to Step 2 and Step S23 (FIG. 4)
Between Step 3 and Step S44, there is a step S43a for subtracting the number of original bundles. In step S43a, when the processed document is discharged to the discharge document tray 7 instead of being returned to the supply document tray 9, the number of document bundles stored in the RAM 43 is subtracted. As a result, RA
Number of original bundles stored in M43 and supply original tray 9
The number of original bundles remaining in the original group coincides with the number of original bundles.

An example of the operation in the document bundle mode will be described below. For example, it is assumed that a document bundle having three copies and five documents and a document bundle having eight copies and three documents are sequentially set on the supply document tray 9 in a stacked state. In this case, the operator operates the keys on the key panel of the copying machine 2 to determine that the number of copies in the first document bundle is 3 and the number of documents is 5 and that the number of copies in the next document bundle is It is input in advance that there are three originals for eight copies. This input value is transferred from the copying machine main body control unit 50 to the control unit 40 side, and the stored value in the RAM 43 is updated in step S5 in FIG.

In this example, the determination in step S40 is all No until the second round of the original, and all the originals are returned to the supply original tray 9. Next, in the third cycle, the determination in step S40 is Yes for the first five originals (first original bundle), and the originals are discharged from the contact glass 3 via the reversing / ejection path 31 to the output original tray 7 Is discharged. Then, in step S43a, the number of original bundles of the original bundle stored in the RAM 43 is subtracted. Even if all of the five originals of the first original bundle are discharged to the discharge original tray 7, since three originals of the next original bundle remain in the supply original tray 9, the determination in step S44 is performed. Is No.

With respect to the three originals of the next original bundle, the determination in step S40 is No from the third to seventh rounds. Therefore, these originals are returned to the supply original tray 9 via the return conveyance path 18. However, when these documents have reached the eighth round, the determination in step S40 becomes Yes. Therefore, at this time, the document is discharged from the contact glass 3 onto the discharge document tray 7. All originals are ejected from the original tray 7
, The determination in step S44 is Ye
Since s, the program returns to the main routine.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. (A) Documents for which copying has been completed are sequentially discharged to the discharge document tray 7, and only documents for which copying has not been completed are returned to the supply document tray 9, so that the operator can easily proceed with the copying operation. Can be grasped. In particular, when all copying operations are completed, all the originals in the supply original tray 9 are exhausted and the originals are stored in the discharge original tray 7, so that the operator can easily confirm the end of the copying operation.

(B) Even during the copying operation, the document that has become unnecessary is discharged to the discharge document tray 7, so that the copied document can be used for the next step at an early stage.

(C) Original circulation mode (RDH mode)
Also, if the copying operation is completed, the supply original tray 9
Has no original, the next original can be set without removing the copied original from the supply original tray 9.

(D) Even in the case of processing a document group consisting of a set of a plurality of document bundles having different numbers of copies, the needless operation of feeding the document is not required, so that time wasted due to the idle feeding is eliminated. Copying time is reduced.

(E) Original feed / return unit 5 and original reverse /
Since the discharge sections 6 are disposed at both ends of the case 4, the weight balance of the automatic document feeder 1 is good. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to use a special hinge for connecting the copying machine 2 and the automatic document feeder 1, thereby facilitating the design and reducing the cost.

(F) Since the weight balance is good, the case 4 is unlikely to be twisted or the like, and good conveyance performance (document stop timing performance, oblique conveyance prevention performance, etc.) can be obtained.

[0047]

The automatic document feeder according to the present invention includes not only a supply document storage unit, a document feed unit, and a document return unit, but also a discharge document storage unit and a document discharge unit. Therefore, according to the present invention, even when a document group consisting of a set of document bundles having different numbers of processes is transported, the transport time can be reduced without performing a wasteful transport operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the control unit.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart thereof.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 automatic document feeder 2 copying machine 7 output document tray 9 supply document tray 13 supply transfer path 18 return transfer path 31 reverse / discharge path

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-203060 (JP, A) JP-A-1-177564 (JP, A) JP-A-55-146458 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 152879 (JP, A) JP-A-3-147683 (JP, A) JP-A-63-180630 (JP, A) JP-A-63-11438 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An automatic document feeder for feeding a stack of documents one by one to an image forming apparatus and discharging each of the fed documents from the image forming apparatus, comprising a plurality of document bundles having different processing times. Documents can be stored
And a document containing a number of processing times for each of the plurality of document bundles.
Document bundle condition input receiving means for receiving input of bundle conditions
And a discharged document storage unit. A document is transferred from the supply document storage unit to the image forming apparatus side.
Document feeding means for feeding a document one sheet at a time, document returning means for returning a document supplied to the image forming apparatus to the supplied document storing section, and discharging a document supplied to the image forming apparatus to the discharge document storing section Original discharge means to be executed , and the original bundle received by the original bundle condition input receiving means.
Document return means and
And which one of the document ejection means to operate
Automatic document feeder comprising a document discharge selecting means, the that.