JPS6154692B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a means for switching between a paper feed section and a storage section.

Conventionally, it has two storage compartments, one with a tray and the other with a tray.
In an image forming apparatus having a sorter, each storage section is normally selected and used by switching between the storage sections by operating a push button. However, immediately after turning on the power of a conventional image forming apparatus, it is impossible to determine whether the storage section is a tray or a sorter. Therefore, the user must press a button to select the desired storage section. or,
A similar operation was required when the person in front used the sorter as a storage unit to form an image and the person after him made copies using the tray as a storage unit.

In addition, in image forming apparatuses that have multiple paper feed units that feed transfer paper of different sizes, materials, colors, etc., each paper feed unit is normally selected and used by switching between paper feed units by operating a push button. . For example, if the size of the paper source is different and one feeder feeds A4 transfer paper and the other feeds B4 transfer paper, conventionally, immediately after turning on the power of such an image forming apparatus, the paper feeder feeds A4 size transfer paper. It is not possible to determine whether it is the paper feed section that feeds transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as A4 paper feed section) or the paper feed section that feeds B4 size transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as B4 paper feed section). Therefore, the user must press a button to select the desired paper feed section. Also, if the person in front of you used the B4 paper feeder to form an image, and the person behind you made a copy in A4 size, a similar operation was required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a control means for switching between a storage section and a paper feeding section, which enables image formation to be performed as automatically as possible without unnecessary operating procedures as described above. be.

That is, the present invention provides at least one of the paper feed sections 52A and 52B for feeding the sheet-like image carrier to the image forming section or the storage sections 14 and 18 for receiving and storing the sheet-like image carrier on which an image has been formed. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed sections, one of the plurality of paper feed sections including the standard paper feed section 52A or the standard storage section 1
input means PBT, PBS or
PBA, PBB, a storage means CK2 which holds the selection signal inputted by the input means and whose holding state is changed by the input means, and a paper feed section selected based on the selection signal or the selected paper feed section. Display means for displaying the storage section LT, LS or LA, LB
and means R9 for detecting power on to the device,
R10, C2, Q3, a signal generating means Q4 which generates a pulse signal SK2 immediately after the power is turned on when the above-mentioned detection means detects the power-on, and a standard paper feed in response to the pulse signal from the above-mentioned signal generating means immediately after the power is turned on. 52A or the standard storage section 14 in the storage means K2, and means (FIG. 3 or 5) for causing the display means to display a display indicating the standard paper feed section or the standard storage section (FIG. 3 or 5). The present invention provides an image forming apparatus.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electronic copying machine to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, 1 is a mesh-like photosensitive drum having a transparent insulating layer, a photoconductive layer, and a conductive layer from the surface (for example, detailed in Published Patent No. 19455 of 1975), 2
is the primary charger, 3 is the secondary charger, 4 is the lamp, 5
is a document table, 6 is a modulation charger, 7 is an insulated drum, 8
9A is a developing device, 9A is a roller that feeds A4 size transfer paper 10A, 9B is a roller that feeds B4 size 10B transfer paper, 11 is a transfer charger, 12 is a conveyor belt, 13 is a fixing roller, 14 is a tray, 18 is a sorter, 20 is 10 bins, 52A is 10 transfer paper
The cassette 52B supplies the transfer paper 10B. The document on the document table 5 is subjected to slit exposure using the lamp 4 while moving the mirror 15, and the rotating photosensitive drum 1, which has been charged in advance by the primary charger 2, is subjected to secondary charging by the secondary charger 3 at the same time as this exposure. The image is illuminated to form a primary electrostatic latent image. A secondary electrostatic latent image is formed from the primary latent image on the surface of an insulating drum 7 by a modulation charger 6, and the secondary image is developed by a developer 8. The toner image is transferred by the charger 11 to the transfer paper 10A or 10B fed from the paper feed cassette 52A or 52B, the transfer paper 10A or 10B is conveyed, and the toner image is fixed by the heat roller fixing device 13. and discharged to the sorter 18 or tray 14.
Since the primary latent image does not disappear even after the secondary latent image is formed, the photosensitive drum 1 is further rotated and the charger 6 continuously forms the secondary latent image, and the transfer paper 10 is sent one after another to the transfer section. The image is then transferred, fixed, and ejected.

Note that 16 is a lamp that removes charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and 17 is a cleaning section that removes toner from the surface of the insulating drum 7.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the operation display panel of the apparatus shown in FIG. In the figure, 21 is a copy start button, 22 is a setting key for the number of copies, 23 is a set number of copies display,
PBT is the tray selection key, PBS is the sorter selection key, 26 is the display indicating whether the current storage is a sorter or tray, PBA is the A4 size cassette selection key, PBB
is a B4 size cassette selection key, and 28 is its display.

When the tray 14 is selected as the storage section, the conveyance belt 19 shown in FIG. When the sorter 18 is selected as the storage section, the belt 19 is set at the position indicated by the solid line, and the transfer paper 10 is discharged from the second discharge roller 51 and stored in the sorter.
Furthermore, when A4 size is selected, if there is A4 size transfer paper in the main paper feed cassette 52A, that is specified. Reference numeral 52B is a sub-cassette, and when the main cassette runs out of paper, if there is paper of the same size as the main cassette 52A, the drive of the paper feed roller 9 is automatically switched and paper is fed from the sub-cassette 52B. . In addition, the main cassette 52A holds 2000 to 3000 sheets,
The sub cassette 52 can store 500 to 1000 sheets of paper. The paper sent to the sorter 18 is carried by the constantly rotating belt 55 and sent to the pins. Guide claws a to i are provided for each pin, and detectors 61, 62
Each time the paper is detected, the guide claws are operated in order to direct the paper toward the pins and store it in each pin.

Next, switching control between the tray and the sorter, which are storage units, will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a switching control circuit for the tray and sorter, and FIG. 4 shows a timing chart for each part. SL1 is the tray sorter switching solenoid, K1, K2 and K3
is a relay, LT is a tray use indicator lamp, LS is a sorter use indicator lamp, Q1 is a unijunction transistor (hereinafter referred to as UJT), CPY is a copy signal, EC1 is the terminal voltage of capacitor C1, ER5
is the terminal voltage of resistor R5, SK2 is the coil S of K2
and SSL indicate the input signals to the solenoid SL1, respectively. The key to select the tray as the storage section is PBT, and the key to select the sorter is
When key PBT is pressed on PBS, latching relay K2
A voltage is applied to the coil S, and the contact K2-1 is connected to the a side. Even if relay K2 is no longer energized, it remains in this state because it is a latching relay. When contact K2-1 is connected to the a side, the exit position indicator lamp LT lights up and the indicator 26 in Fig. 2
to inform the user. Solenoid at the same time
Current flows through SL1 and operates solenoid SL1. The electromagnetic plunger 63 pulls the lever 64, and the pair of upper and lower conveyor belts 19 move to the position indicated by the dotted line, that is, to the tray side paper discharge exit. When the sorter selection key PBS is pressed, voltage is applied to the coil R of the relay K2, which connects the contact K2-1 to b, and the exit position indicator lamp LS lights up to notify the user, at the same time the solenoid SL1 is de-energized. , the plunger 63 is also released, the lever 64 is extended, and the conveyor belt 19 moves to the position indicated by the solid line, that is, to the sorter side paper discharge exit.

Next, we will describe the operation of the control circuit when the sorter 18 is selected as the storage section. When the copy button 21 is pressed at time T1 in FIG. 4 and the copy signal CPR reaches the "1" level, the relay K1 is turned on and the contact K1-1 The normally closed contact of the relay K2 is opened and the relay K2 does not operate even if the PBS or PBT keys are pressed, creating a so-called switching prohibited state. At the same time, contacts K1-2 are closed and capacitor C
Stop charging 1. When the copying is completed at time T2, the copy signal CPY goes to the "0" level, the relay K1 is turned off, the contact K1-1 is closed, the inhibited state is released, and switching becomes possible. At the same time, the contact K1-2 is opened and charging of the capacitor C1 is started via the resistors R2 and R3. A charging circuit consisting of resistors R2, R3 and capacitor C1 is connected to the emitter of UJTQ1, and when the open circuit voltage ratio of UJTQ1 is η, the voltage of capacitor C1 reaches 24×η [V], that is, time T ₃ In UJTQ1, the resistance between the base and emitter becomes low, and the charge of capacitor C1 is discharged through resistor R5, and a voltage is generated across resistor R5. This is a well-known oscillation circuit, and the oscillation period of this oscillation circuit can be adjusted by a variable resistor R2, but here it is selected to be about 30 seconds to 60 seconds. The oscillation output of this oscillation circuit is the voltage across resistor R5.
ER5, and its output is amplified by transistors Q2 and Q4 and input to coil S of relay K2. In other words, the coil S of relay K2 is at the copy end time.
At time T ₃ , which is 30 to 60 seconds after T ₂ , the magnet is energized and switches the contact K2-1 to the a side, energizing the solenoid SL1, activating the electromagnetic plunger 63, and moving the conveyor belt 10 to the position indicated by the dotted line on the tray 14 side. Move to. However, the key between time T ₂ and T ₃
When PBS is pressed, relay K3 is turned on, and as a result, contact K3-1 is closed only when the key PBS is pressed, discharging capacitor C1, so that belt 19 remains in the position shown by the solid line, and at time _T5 . When the copy button 21 is pressed, the paper is discharged to the sorter 18 side.

Next, after the belt 19 moves to the tray 14 side, if the key PBS is pressed at time _T6 and the copy button 21 is not pressed during the time interval of 30 seconds to 60 seconds, the oscillation circuit is activated again at time T6. ₇ causes oscillation, which is amplified by transistors Q2 and Q4, and relay K
Since the coil S of No. 2 is energized and the contact K2-1 is connected to the a side, the solenoid SL1 is energized, the electromagnetic plunger 63 is operated, and the conveyor belt is set on the tray 14 side.

Here, the operation immediately after the power switch is turned on will be described. Immediately after turning on, it is unclear whether the contact K2-1 of the relay K2 is on the a side or the b side. So the resistance R
Using a time constant circuit of 9, R10 and capacitor C2, transistor Q3 is operated immediately after power is turned on, and a pulse with a certain width is applied to coil S of relay K2 to set contact K2-1 to the a side. Immediately after the power is turned on, the charge on the capacitor C2 is 0, so it is charged by the resistors R9 and R10. Until this charging is completed, transistor Q3 operates and R
Transistor Q4 is activated via 7. The collector current of transistor Q4 flows through coil S of relay K2. As a result, the contact K2-1 is connected to the a side, the solenoid SL1 is energized, the electromagnetic plunger 63 is operated, and the conveyor belt is set on the tray side.

Incidentally, the belt may be set after a certain period of time after the power is turned on.

Further, in this embodiment, a paper ejection outlet is provided for each storage section, but it is also possible to keep the paper ejection exit constant and switch only the storage section by moving it.

Further, in this embodiment, the switched mode is set to the relay side, but the user is free to choose which mode to set.

Next, switching of the paper feed cassette will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 5 is a control circuit diagram for switching the paper feed cassette, and the only difference from Figure 3 is the area surrounded by the broken line X and the selection keys changed from PBT and PNS to PBA and PBB. , Components that function similarly to those in Figure 3 have the same symbol twice. FIG. 6 shows signal waveform diagrams of each part.
PBA is a push button key for A size cassette instruction, PBB is a push button key for B4 cassette instruction,
21 is a copy button, LA is an A4 cassette use indicator lamp, LB is a B4 cassette use indicator lamp, K1 is a relay that holds the copy signal CPY, K2 is a latching relay, and relays K1 and K2 cause A4 cassette to be used.
Select cassette indication solenoid SLA or B4 cassette indication solenoid SLB. EC1 is the terminal voltage of the capacitor C1, ER5 is the terminal voltage of the resistor R5, SK2 is the pulse input signal to the coil S of the relay K2, SA is the pulse input signal to the solenoid SLA, and SB is the pulse input to the solenoid SLB. The signals are shown respectively.

When the switch PBA is pressed, voltage is applied to the coil S of the latching relay K2, and the contact K2-1 becomes a.
connected to the side. (Even if K2 is no longer energized, it remains in this state because it is a latching relay). This causes the lamp LA to light up and notify the user. At the same time, the solenoid SLA is turned on, and the plunger 65A shown in the first figure, which is actuated by the solenoid SLA, is activated, and the lever 66A is pulled, causing the roller 9B to separate from the B4 size transfer paper 10B and come to the position shown by the dotted line. On the other hand, the plunger 65B is released and the roller 9A comes to the position indicated by the solid line, so preparations for feeding the A4 size transfer paper 10A from the cassette 52A are completed.By pressing the copy button 21, the roller 9A rotates and the A4 transfer paper is transferred. Paper 10A
is fed. Here, the rollers 9A and 9B may both rotate, or only 9A may rotate.

Also, if you press the B4 size selection key PBB, the K2-
1 is connected to the b side, the B4 indicator lamp LB lights up, and the solenoid SLB turns on.
The plunger 65B is activated, the lever 66B is pulled, and the roller 9A is separated from the A4 size transfer paper 10A and comes to the position indicated by the dotted line. On the other hand, since the plunger 65A is released and the roller 9B comes to the position indicated by the solid line, preparations for feeding the B4 size transfer paper 10B from the cassette 52B are completed, and by pressing the copy button 21, the transfer paper 10B is fed. . Next, the operation when the B4 size selection key PBB is pressed and then the copy button 21 is pressed will be described. When the switch PBB is pressed at time T ₀ in FIG. 6 and the copy button 21 is pressed at time T ₁ , copying starts in the reduction mode, the copy signal CPY becomes "1" level, relay K1 is turned on, and contact K1-1 is pressed. will open, so even if you press the key PBA, relay K2 will open.
doesn't work. This creates a so-called switching prohibited state. Another contact K1-2 related to relay K1
is closed, so capacitor C1 is not charged.
When the copying is completed at time _T2 , the copy signal becomes the "0" level, the relay K1 is turned off, the contact K1-1 is closed, the inhibited state is released, and switching becomes possible. Also, at the same time, the contact K1-
2 is opened, and charging of the capacitor C1 is started via the resistors R2 and R3. Resistance R2, R
3 and a capacitor C1 is connected to the emitter of a unijunction transistor (hereinafter referred to as UJT) Q1, and UJTQ
If the open circuit voltage ratio of 1 is η, when the voltage of capacitor C1 reaches 24×η [V], that is, at time _T3 , UJTQ1 has a low resistance between the pace and emitter, and the charge of capacitor C1 is discharged through resistor R5. A voltage is generated across resistor R5. This is a well-known oscillation circuit, and the oscillation period of this oscillation circuit can be adjusted by variable resistor R2, but here it is 30 seconds to 30 seconds.
Choose around 60 seconds. The oscillation output of this oscillation circuit is a voltage across resistor R5, and this output is amplified by transistors Q2 and Q4 and input to coil S of relay K2. In other words, the coil S of relay K2 is set at a time 30 to 60 seconds after the copying end time _T2 .
It is energized at _T3 and switches the contact K2-1 to the a side to set A4 size copy mode (hereinafter referred to as A4 mode). However, if the copy button 21 is pressed again between time _T2 and time _T3 , copying will be performed in the B4 size copy mode (hereinafter referred to as B4 mode). Also, after switching to A4 mode, the time
When the key PBB is pressed at _T4 , the relay K3 is turned on, which causes the contact K3-1 to close only when the key PBB is pressed, discharging the capacitor C1.
If you press the copy button 21 at time _T5 while in B4 mode, you can obtain a B4 size copy.

Next, after switching to A4 mode, press the switch PBB at time T ₆ , and then
If the copy button 21 is not pressed between 30 and 60 seconds, the oscillation circuit oscillates again at time _T7 , and the coil S of the relay K2 is energized via the transistors Q2 and Q4, and the contact K2-1 is switched to the a side. is connected to A4 mode.

Here we will describe the operation immediately after the power switch is turned on.
Immediately after turning on, it is unclear whether the contact K2-1 of the relay K2 is on the a side or the b side. Therefore, resistance R9, R
10 and a time constant circuit of capacitor C2, operate transistor Q3 immediately after turning on the power, and apply a pulse with a certain width to coil S of relay K2.
Set to A4 mode. Immediately after power on, capacitor C2
Since the charge is 0, it is charged by resistors R9 and R10. Until this charging is completed, transistor Q3 operates, and also operates transistor Q4 via R7. The collector current of transistor Q4 flows through coil S of relay K2. As a result, contact K2-1 is connected to the a side, solenoid SL4 is turned on, and the A4 mode is set.

In this embodiment, it is set to always switch to A4 mode, but the user is free to choose which mode to switch to.

Further, although this embodiment has described switching only the size, since the paper feed cassette is replaceable, it is of course possible to switch cassettes differentiated by the material or color of the transfer paper.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cassette was selected by operating a plunger using a solenoid to separate the rollers from the transfer paper, but it was also possible to control the rotation drive unit of each roller without separating the rollers. Therefore, it is also possible to select a cassette.

In addition, although the above explanation has been explained separately for switching the storage section and switching the paper feed, the present invention can also switch both the storage section and the paper feed section to the normal use mode at the same time, and the control circuit It is also possible to switch only one by operating only one.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, after an image is formed using a storage section that is not normally used by a user in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, or after an image is formed using a storage section that is not normally used by a user, If an image formation instruction is not given within a certain period of time after selection, or after the power is turned on, the storage section can be automatically switched to the normally used storage section without the need for specifying the storage section.

Similarly, if the user does not issue an image formation instruction within a certain period of time after forming an image using a paper source that is not normally used, or after selecting a paper source that is not normally used, Or, immediately after turning on the power, it is possible to automatically switch to the normally used paper feeding section without having to operate the paper feeding section.

Furthermore, it is also possible to automatically switch both the storage section and the paper feed section to the normally used storage section and paper feed section at the same time.

As described above, the present invention is effective in promoting simplification of operation of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic copying machine according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the operation display panel of the device shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a storage section switching control circuit diagram in the present invention, Fig. 4 is a signal waveform diagram of each part of the circuit in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 6 is a diagram of a paper feed section switching control circuit according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a signal waveform diagram of each part of the circuit of FIG. 9A, 9B, 19 are rollers, 10A, 10B are transfer paper, 14 is a tray, 18 is a sorter, 12 is a conveyor belt, 20 is a pin, 21 is a copy button, 5
2A, 52B are cassettes, 63, 65A, 65B
indicates the plunger, LT, LS, LA, and LB indicate the indicator lamps, and PBT, PSS, PBA, and PBB indicate the keys.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Paper feed sections 52A and 52B for feeding sheet-like image carriers to the image forming section or storage section 14 for receiving and storing sheet-like image carriers on which images have been formed;
In an image forming apparatus in which at least one of the paper feed sections 18 and 18 is plural, one of the plurality of paper feed sections including the standard paper feed section 52A
input means PBT, PBS or PBA, PBB for inputting a selection signal to select one of the plurality of storage sections including the standard storage section 14; , and storage means CK2 whose holding state is changed by the input means; and display means LT, LS or LA, LB for displaying the selected paper feed section or the selected storage section based on the selection signal; Means R9, R for detecting power on to the device
10, C2, and Q3; signal generating means Q4 that generates a pulse signal SK2 immediately after power is turned on when the detection means detects power on; and standard sheet feeding in response to the pulse signal from the signal generating means immediately after power is turned on. 52A or the standard storage section 14 in the storage means K2, and means (FIG. 3 or 5) for causing the display means to display a display indicating the standard paper feed section or the standard storage section (FIG. 3 or 5). image forming apparatus.