JPH0566585B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Technical Field) The present invention provides a multi-job copying machine equipped with an automatic document feeder and a collating device. The present invention relates to a copying apparatus that sequentially performs a copying operation for each original document.

(Prior art) Conventional copying machines use single-job copying, which repeats the cycle of "inputting data such as the number of copies and variable magnification for a set of documents, and copying based on the input data." Machines were the mainstream. However, with such single-job copiers, after copying one set of originals, the operator must input data for the next set of originals and start copying, so the operator must always stand by near the copying machine. I had to stay there.

Since such a method does not improve the efficiency of copying work, it is possible to store input data such as the number of copies, variable magnification, collation mode, etc. for each set of multiple originals, and make copies based on the stored data. Multi-job copying machines have been proposed, and efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of copying operations.

However, in conventional multi-job copying machines, the number of originals that can be installed in the automatic document feeder and the number of bins that can be used in the collating device are different from the number of originals that can be installed in the automatic document feeder and the number of bins that can be used in the collating device. If the operator is not careful, the number of originals that can be loaded may be exceeded and the originals may jam in the automatic document feeder, or the collating device may jam during a series of copying operations. This has the disadvantage that all the bins become full, making it impossible to control the collating operation of the collating device, resulting in a jam. Therefore, the operator always had to pay attention to the number of original sheets and the number of bins.

(Purpose) The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the conventional examples as described above, and is intended to provide a multi-job copying machine with
A series of copying operations is performed based on the input data related to the series of copying operations, and when the ejected copies are being collated by the collating device, the bin of the collating device becomes full and the collating operation is stopped. A copying device that prevents jams from occurring due to loss of control, and that can be operated at close to the limit of the operating capacity of the collating device when copying a large number of bundles of originals and collating copies. The purpose is to provide

(Structure) Hereinafter, the structure of the present invention will be explained based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a copying machine according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF), 2 is a copying device, and 3 is a collating device.

The ADF 1 transports the original placed at a predetermined position in the ADF 1 one by one to the original scanning section of the copying device 2, and after the copying device 2 finishes scanning the original, the original in the original scanning section is transported to the document ejection section. The ADF main body 4 is configured to transport the ADF main body 4 to the ADF main body 4, and the ADF control unit 5 controls the ADF main body 4 and communicates with the copying apparatus 2.

The copying device 2 includes an operation section 6 for inputting data related to copying operations, and a display section 7 for informing the operator of the status of the ADF 1, the copying device 2, and the collation device 3.
and controls the copying device main body 8 which scans the original in the document scanning section to create a predetermined copy and outputs it to the collation device 3, the operation section 6, the display section 7, and the copying device main body 8. , ADF 1, and a copying device control section 9 that communicates with the collation device 3.

The collating device 3 controls a collating device main body 10 that discharges the copies ejected from the copying device 2 into a predetermined bin in the collating device 3, and a collating device main body 10, and communicates with the copying device 2. It consists of a collating device control section 11 that performs the collating operation. The copying apparatus control unit 9 also includes a ROM 12 in which control and communication programs are set, a RAM 13 for data storage, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows an operation display panel 29 including an operation section 6 and a display section 7 of a copying machine according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, 14 is a magnification key for selecting a magnification ratio;
16 is a numeric keypad for inputting the number of original sheets and the number of copies; 17 is a stop/cancel key for temporarily stopping the operation of the copying machine or canceling the data set by the numeric keypad 16; 18 is an interrupt key for performing interrupt copying. , 19 is a start key for starting the copying operation, 20 is a paper tray selection key for selecting the tray containing copy paper, and 21 and 22 are sort keys for sorting the collation mode of the collation device. and a stack key for stacking, 23 is a duplex mode key for selecting duplex mode for copying from two originals onto one side of one copy paper, and 24 is a duplex mode key for copying from two originals onto one side of one copy paper. A composition mode key 25 is used to select a composition mode for copying, a multi-job key 25 is used to select and cancel a multi-job mode in which data related to multiple copying operations is entered and executed, and 26 and 27 are multi-job modes. In order to input the number of original sheets and the number of copies using the numeric keypad 16, the number of original sheets key and the number of copies key are used to specify which one to input. 28 is an input key for inputting that data input for one copying operation has been completed. . Further, 15 is a display device for displaying the number of original sheets, the number of copies, collation mode, capacity overage, etc.

Next, the operation of the copying machine of the present invention will be explained with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and the input check method in multi-job mode will be described in detail. .

3 and 4 are flowcharts of the main program showing the operation of the copying machine of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the "key input process" is performed when the start key 19 is pressed after inputting the data necessary for the copying operation, such as the number of copies and variable magnification, as in a general copying machine.
The process ends when the multi-job key 25 is pressed and the multi-job mode is selected. Next, if the multi-job mode is not selected, that is, if the start key 19 is pressed, copying processing ("normal mode copying processing") is performed based on the input data, and the copying processing ends. Then, the "key input process" is performed again. When the multi-job mode is selected, as shown in Figure 4, the total number of originals SD and the total number of bins used SC are set to 0, the job counter JN is set to 1, and the number of originals that can be placed in the ADF1 is set to 0. Number of CDs (hereinafter referred to as manuscript capacity),
Then, an ``initial reset'' is performed in which the number of usable bins (hereinafter referred to as bin capacity) CC of the collating device 3 is obtained by communicating with each control section.

Next, data for one copy operation is temporarily saved. Perform "variable reset" to reset variables (number of original sheets DN, number of copies CN, duplex mode flag MF1, collation mode flag MF2, etc.) to zero. Next, "multi-mode key input processing" is performed to input data necessary for one copying operation. In the "multi-mode key input process", the input number of originals and number of copies are saved in DN and CN, respectively. Furthermore, when each mode is selected using the duplex mode key 23 or the composite mode key 24,
Set MF1 to 1 and 2, respectively. Further, when collation mode is selected by sort mode key 21 or stack mode key 22, MF2 is set to 1 and 2, respectively. "Multi-mode key input processing" requires at least the number of originals (DN) and the number of copies.
The process ends when CN is input (1 or more) and the input key 28 is pressed, the multi-job key 25 is pressed to cancel the multi-job mode, or the start key 19 is pressed. When the next multi-job key 25 is pressed, the "key input process" shown in FIG. 3 is performed again. When the start key 19 is pressed, it is determined whether data for one or more copy operations has been input (JN > 1), and if it has not been input (JN = 1), the multi-mode key input If the input has been completed, the saved data Already number of originals DN (), number of copies CN
(), duplex mode flag MF1(), collation mode flag MF2(), etc., performs a series of copying operations from =1 item to JN-1 item ("multi-mode copy processing"). In addition, if at least the number of original sheets DN and the number of copies CN are input and the input key 28 is pressed, the number of original sheets DN and the number of copies
Based on CN, duplex mode flag MF1, and collation mode flag MF2, "mode selection" is performed which selects the optimal collation mode, changes collation mode flag MF2, and ends.

Next, from the number of bins used in the main copy operation and the number of original sheets DN, which are calculated based on the number of originals DN, the number of copies CN, the duplex mode flag MF1, and the collation mode flag MF2, the input copy operation including the main copy operation is calculated. The total number of original sheets SD and the total number of bins used are calculated and compared with the original capacity CD and the bin capacity CC, respectively, and a ``capacity check'' is performed that ends with displaying or canceling a capacity over warning. Next, if the capacity is exceeded, the "multi-mode key input process" is performed again. Also, if the capacity is not exceeded, the number of originals required for the main copy operation DN,
Data such as number of copies CN, duplex mode flag MF1, collation mode flag MF2, etc.
(JN), CN (JN), MF1 (JN), MF2 (JN), etc., and perform "data save" that ends by counting up (+1) the job counter JN.
Perform "variable reset" again. In the above,
DN, CN, MF1, MF2, DN(), CN()
MF1(), MF2(), CC, CD, SD, SC, etc. are stored and saved at predetermined addresses in the RAM 13.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of the "mode selection" subroutine of FIG.

In Figure 5, if the number of manuscripts DN is 1, then
The collation mode is set to stack, MF2=2. Also, if the number of originals DN is not 1, and the number of copies CN is 1, the collation mode is sorted.
MF2=1 is set. Further, if the duplex mode flag MF1 is not 0, that is, the duplex mode or the composite mode is selected, and the number of originals DN is 2, the collation mode is set to stack, that is, MF2=2.

The above operation is set unconditionally even if the collation mode is input in the "Multi-mode key input process" in Figure 4, so for example, if the number of originals DN=
10. Even if stack mode (MF2=2) is selected with the number of copies CN=1, the sort mode (MF2=1) is set in this subroutine, so the number of copies used during the main copy operation is The number of bins in the combiner is 1 instead of 10. Therefore, as the number of used bins of the collating device 3 is reduced, more data for copying operations can be inputted, so that the copying processing time for a series of copying operations becomes longer. During this time, the operator can perform other tasks, making the copying process more efficient and semi-unmanned.

In cases other than the above, if a collation mode is input (MF2≠0), the selected collation mode is given priority, and if no collation mode is input, the collation mode is sorted, that is, MF2= Set to 1. Therefore, since the operator does not necessarily have to select the collation mode, there is an effect that the operation work is reduced and the working time is shortened.

6 and 7 are detailed flowcharts of the "capacity check" subroutine of FIG. 4. Figures 6 and 7
In the figure, if the collation mode is sorting, that is, MF2=1, the number of copies CN is added to the total number of used bins SC. When the collation mode is not sort, that is, MF2=1, and the duplex mode flag MF1 is 0, the number of original sheets DN is added to the total number of used bins SC. Also, if duplex mode flag MF1 is other than 0, that is, duplex mode (MF1 = 1) or composite mode (MF1 = 2) is selected, and the number of originals DN is an even number, DN/2 is added to the total number of used bins SC. If the number is odd, (DN+1)/2 is added.

Next, the total number of used bins SC is the bin capacity CC
If it exceeds, the display 15 will display "Collating machine capacity exceeded" and a "Collating machine capacity over warning" will be issued in which the number added above will be subtracted from the total number of bins in use SC. Also, if the amount has not been exceeded, "collating device capacity over warning cancellation" is performed so that "collating device capacity over" is no longer displayed. Next, the number of originals DN is added to the total number of originals SD, and if the added total number of originals SD exceeds the original capacity CD, "Original capacity over" is displayed on the display 15, and the added originals are The number of sheets DN is the total number of original sheets.
A "manuscript capacity over warning" will be issued which will be subtracted from the SD. If the amount has not been exceeded, "original capacity over warning cancellation" is performed so that "original capacity over" is no longer displayed.

As described above, the document capacity and bin capacity are checked each time data related to one copying operation is input, so the operator needs to check the document capacity and bin capacity when inputting data related to a series of copying operations. Since there is no need to pay attention to the bin capacity and the capacity of the copying machine can be utilized to the maximum, it is effective in reducing copying work and increasing efficiency.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, the number of bins used in the collating device is calculated each time copy data of a copy operation of a group of originals is input, and the number of bins is calculated based on the already input copy data. The total number of used bins B _r is calculated by adding the number of used bins calculated based on the copy data of the copying operation of the newly input group of originals to the total number of bins required for the copying operation executed in Compare the number of bins B _A that can be used in the combined equipment, and when B _r > B _A ,
Since a signal indicating that the total number of bins used is too high is output, the input copy data causes the operator to perform a series of copying operations without knowing that the total number of bins used is too large, and the collation device It is possible to prevent the collation operation from becoming uncontrollable and jams to occur, and also to be issued when the total number of used bins becomes excessive due to the copying data of the copying operation of the newly input group of originals. The operating capacity of the collation device can be improved by having the operator recognize the abnormal operation alarm and execute the copying operation after re-entering the copying data or reducing the number of new copying operations at the time of the relevant input operation. It is possible to perform a copying operation for a plurality of groups of document bundles in a state close to the limit of .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a functional block diagram of the entire copying system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the operation display section, FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow charts of the main program showing the operation of the copying machine, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the "mode selection" subroutine, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts of the "capacity check" subroutine. 2... Copying device, 3... Collating device, 6... Input means, 7... Display means, 9... Control means, 13...
...Memory means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder that automatically transports and supplies documents to a document reading position, an alarm means that issues a warning of abnormal operation, an input means that inputs copy data such as the number of original sheets and the number of copies, and A storage means capable of storing copy data of a plurality of input copy operations, and a control means for sequentially controlling the copy operations based on the copy data stored in the storage means. In a copying machine that obtains the number of usable bins B _A as detection information in a collating device that sequentially collates ejected sheets with bins of a bin number calculating means for calculating the number of bins used in the collating device; and a bin number calculating means for calculating the number of bins used in the collating device; The total number of used bins B T is calculated by adding the number of used bins based on the newly input copy data calculated by the bin number calculation means to the total number of bins required for the copying operation performed based on the total number of bins B _T. a number of used bins calculation means, a total number of used bins B _T calculated by the total number of used bins calculation means, and a number of bins B _A that can be used by the collating device;
and a bin number comparison means for outputting a total used bin number excess signal when B _T >B _A , and when the bin number comparison means outputs a total used bin number excess signal, the control means The copying apparatus is characterized in that it prohibits the storing operation of the copying data of the copying operation of the newly input group of document bundles in the storage means, and controls the warning means to issue an alarm of abnormal operation. .