JPH068971B2 - Copier with document detection function - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a document detection sensor that detects the size of a document placed on a document table, and to prevent the developer from adhering to unnecessary portions on the photoconductor. The present invention relates to a copying machine having a document detection function with a trimming means for

<Summary of the Invention> In summary, the copying machine having the document detection function according to the present invention is based on the size detected by the document detection sensor even when the print switch is turned on before the document cover is closed. By providing the automatic trimming means for operating the trimming means in accordance with the unnecessary portion set in, the paper of the correct size can be fed even with the original cover open, and a high quality copied image can be obtained. It was made possible.

<Prior art and its drawbacks> A copying machine having a document detection function includes a document detection sensor corresponding to all sizes that can be copied in the vicinity of the document table, and detects the size of a document placed on the document table. . The copy magnification is obtained from the document size data thus detected and the input paper size data. Alternatively, the paper size is obtained from the input copy magnification. In general, a copying machine having the above-described document detection function is provided with an original detection sensor and an open / close detection sensor near the document table. The open / close detection sensor detects the open / closed state of the document cover. After the open / close detection sensor detects that the document cover is closed to a certain angle, the document detection sensor detects the size. This is to wait for the document placement position on the document table to be determined.

However, in the above-described conventional copying machine having a document detection function, the size of the document is not detected until the document cover is closed to a certain angle. Therefore, when copying a three-dimensional object such as a thick document or a spread book, the document cover is not detected. When the copy process is performed with the
There is a drawback that improper paper is fed and miscopy occurs. Further, of the light of the light source distributed to the document table, a part other than the range of the document is not reflected, and the developer adheres to an unnecessary part of the surface of the photoconductor, causing a loss and being transferred to the edge of the sheet, There is a drawback that the image forming state deteriorates.

<Objects of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to effectively use a blank lamp provided in a copying machine, and to detect the size of an original without the original detection sensor being affected by the operation of the open / close detection sensor. Documents that can detect an error and can supply a proper paper and maintain a good image formation state even when performing a copying process with the document cover open when copying a three-dimensional object. It is to provide a copying machine having a detection function.

<Structure and Effect of the Invention> A copying machine having a document detecting function of the present invention is provided with a document detecting sensor corresponding to a plurality of sizes in the vicinity of a document table and an open / close detecting sensor for detecting an open / closed state of a document cover. A copying machine having a document detecting function, comprising a blank lamp facing a surface of a photoconductor in a process section, and trimming means for lighting a blank lamp facing a unnecessary portion of the surface of the photoconductor during a copying process. While the detection sensor detects the open state of the document cover, the document size detection unit that detects the document size based on the output signal of the document detection sensor repeatedly at predetermined time intervals and the document size detected by the document size detection unit are displayed. The document size storage means that updates and stores sequentially and the open / close detection sensor detects the open state of the document cover. And an automatic trimming means for operating the trimming means by setting the unnecessary portion based on the document size stored in the document size storage means when the print switch is turned on during that period. Is characterized by.

According to the present invention having the above configuration, the original size is detected by the original size detecting means at predetermined time intervals even when the original cover is opened, and the detection result is updated and stored in the original size storage means. Therefore, even when the copying process is performed with the document cover opened during the copying operation of a three-dimensional object, the copy magnification and the paper size should be properly set according to the document size stored in the document size storage means. You can

Further, an unnecessary portion of the surface of the photoconductor is set based on the original size detected by the original size detecting means, and trimming processing is performed according to this unnecessary portion, so that the exposure by the reflected light from the original cover is performed. A latent image is not formed even on an unnecessary portion of the surface of the photoconductor which is not present, and thus it is possible to prevent the loss of the developer and prevent the deterioration of the image.

Further, this trimming process is executed for the range set based on the document size detected most recently with the document cover opened, so that the document and its placement direction can be changed while the document cover is opened. Even if changed, the trimming process can be accurately performed on the original to be actually copied, and the desired copy image can be reliably obtained.

<Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of a copying machine having a document detecting function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A photoconductor drum 22 is provided in the center of the inside of the copying machine main body 21, and constitutes a copying process section 23. On the right side of the copying process unit 23, a paper feeding unit 27 including a paper feeding tray 24 and paper cassettes 25 and 26 is configured. Further, on the left side of the copying process unit 23, a paper discharge unit 31 including a paper discharge roller 30 is configured. Paper feeder 27
A sheet conveying path 28 is formed between the sheet feeding section 31 and the copying process section 23.

The copying machine body 21 is mounted on a cabinet 32. The cabinet 32 is provided with a large-sized paper cassette 33 that can store about 1500 sheets. Also,
A sorter 34 is attached to the outside of the paper output unit 31. The sorter 34 stores the discharged sheets in a bin 35.
A document table 1 made of transparent hard glass is formed on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 21. A document cover 10 is provided on the document table 1 so as to be openable and closable.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a copying machine having the above document detecting function.

In FIG. 1, the document cover 10 has been removed.
A document table 1 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 21 of the copying machine substantially at the center thereof. On the upper surface of the copying machine main body 21, light receiving elements 3 to 9 are provided.
Is provided. Reflectors 2a and 2b are openably and closably attached to the upper surfaces of these light receiving elements 3 to 9. Light emitting elements 13 to 19 are provided in the lower part of the document table which faces the light receiving elements 3 to 9 with the document table 1 interposed therebetween.
Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting elements 13 to 19 is reflected by the reflectors 2a and 2b after passing through the document table 1, and the light receiving elements 3 to 19 are transmitted.
The light is received by each of the nine. A pair of the light receiving elements 3 to 9 and the light emitting elements 13 to 19 constitutes a sensor. In particular, the light receiving elements 3 to 8 and the light emitting elements 13 to 18 are original detection sensors, and the light receiving elements 9 and the light emitting elements 19 are opened and closed. It is a detection sensor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the external appearance of the copying machine having the document detecting function.

Light from the light emitting elements 13 to 19 provided on the lower surface of the document table 1 is distributed in the direction of the document table 1 as indicated by a broken line in the drawing.
The light transmitted through the platen 1 is reflected on the inner surface of the reflector 2a and is received by the light receiving elements 3-9. The reflectors 2a and 2b are provided above the light receiving elements 3 to 9 so as to be openable and closable. An elastic force in the opening direction is applied to the reflectors 2a and 2b by an elastic material (not shown). The manuscript cover 10 is provided so as to be openable and closable by using the ends of the upper surface of the copying machine body 21 on the side of the reflectors 2a and 2b as hinges. When the document cover 10 is closed to cover the document table 1, the reflectors 2a and 2b are closed to cover the upper surfaces of the light receiving elements 3 to 9. On the other hand, as shown in the figure, when the document cover 10 is opened, the reflectors 2a and 2b open the upper surfaces of the light receiving elements 3 to 9 by the elastic force of the elastic material. The document cover 10 is opened, and the reflectors 2a and 2b
Is opened to a certain angle, the light from the light emitting elements 13 to 19 reaches the light receiving elements 3 to 9.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control unit of the copying machine having the above-mentioned document detecting function.

The MCPU 47 controls the operation of the copying process. This M
SCPU41 connected to CPU47 via internal bus
Controls data input / output on the document table and the operation panel. The SCPU 41 has an open / close detection sensor 9 (hereinafter, light receiving elements 3 to 9) via an I / O interface 44.
Only the one is called a sensor. ) And the detection data of the document detection sensors 3 to 8 are input. In addition, the operation panel control unit 46
Key input data of the operation panel 50 is input from.
The input data is stored in the RAM 43. In particular, the document size data input from the document detection sensors 3 to 8 or the operation panel 50 is stored in the memory area M1. This memory area M1 corresponds to the document size storage means of the present invention. On the other hand, the SCPU 41 outputs control data to the operation panel control unit 46 via the I / O interface 44. Based on this data, the operation panel control unit 46 displays on the display provided on the operation panel 50. What is displayed here is, for example, the size of the document detected by the document detection sensors 3 to 8. SC
The ROM 42 connected to the PU 41 has a memory area M
The control data of the operation panel 50 corresponding to the data stored in No. 1 is stored.

Further, the SCPU 41 transmits the document size data stored in the memory area M1 to the MCPU 47. MCPU4
7 temporarily stores the transmitted document size data in the RAM 49. From the MCPU 47 to the blank lamp controller 45 via the I / O interface 51 based on the document size data stored in the RAM 49.
The control data of is output. R connected to MCPU47
The OM 48 has a blank lamp 11 corresponding to each document size.
Control data is stored together with the control programs of other devices involved in the copying process.

5 (A) to 5 (C) are flowcharts of the document detecting operation in the copying machine.

First, step n1 (hereinafter “step ni” is simply referred to as “n
i ”), it is determined whether or not the copying machine main body 21 has warmed up and is in the ready state. If the ready state is n1, the process proceeds to n2, and the open / close detection sensor 9 is turned on. Generally, in the standby state, the original cover 10 closes the original table 1. In this state, the light from the light emitting element 19 does not reach the open / close detection sensor 9, and the open / close state is detected. The detection sensor 9 is in an off state.The original cover 10 must be opened in order to set an original on the original table 1 at the start of copying work, and the open / close detection sensor 9 is opened when the original cover 10 reaches a certain angle. At n2, it is determined whether or not the document can be set by detecting the on / off state of the open / close detection sensor 9 by utilizing the above. If the open / close detection sensor 9 remains off in step 1, the original cannot be set on the original table 1 and the copying operation cannot be started. Therefore, a prompt for setting the original is displayed in n3. When the open / close detection sensor 9 is turned on at n2, the process proceeds to n4 and n5, where the contents of the memory area M1 of the RAM 43 is cleared at n4, and the display of the operation panel 50 is cleared at n5. It can be said that this is the preparation stage for the document detection function.

After that, the sizes of the documents placed on the document table 1 are detected in n6 to n23. That is, in n6, it is determined whether or not the document detection sensor 8 is in the on state.
When the sensor 8 is not turned on in n6, the process proceeds to n7, and it is determined whether or not the document detection sensors 3 to 7 are turned off. If the document detection sensors 3 to 7 are turned off at n7, that is, if all the document detection sensors 3 to 8 are turned off, the process proceeds to n8 and the memory area M1 is selected.
The A3 size is stored in and the A3 size is displayed on the document size display of the operation panel 50. If all of the document detection sensors 3 to 7 are not turned off in n7, the process proceeds to n24. When n8 is completed, the process proceeds to n24. On the other hand, n
If the document detection sensor 8 is turned on in step 6,
Proceed to 9. As described above, in n6 to n8, the on / off states of the document detection sensors 3 to 8 corresponding to all sizes of A3 size or smaller are detected, and when all of these are off, the placed document is placed. Is determined to be A3 size.

At n9 to n11, the on / off state of the document detection sensors 3 to 7 corresponding to the size smaller than the B4 size is determined,
When all of these are off, the size of the placed document is determined to be B4 size, and B4 is stored in the memory area M1.
The size is stored and displayed on the document size display. At n12 to n14, the on / off states of the document detection sensors 3 to 6 corresponding to the size smaller than the A4 size landscape (hereinafter referred to as A4R) size are determined, and if all of them are turned off, they are set. It is determined that the original size is A4R size, and the memory area M is determined in n14.
The A4R size is stored in 1 and displayed on the document size display.

At n15 to n17, the on / off state of the document detection sensors 3 to 5 corresponding to the size smaller than the horizontal size of B5 (hereinafter referred to as B5R) size is determined. When all of these document detection sensors 3 to 5 are off,
The size of the set original is judged to be B5R size and n
At 17, the B5R size is stored in the memory area M1 and displayed on the document size display. n18-n
At 20, the on / off state of the document detection sensors 3 and 4 corresponding to the size smaller than the A4 size is determined.
When all of these document detection sensors 3 and 4 are off, the size of the document set is judged to be A4, and n
At 20, the A4 size is stored in the memory area M1 and displayed on the document size display.

At n21, the on / off state of the document detection sensor 3 corresponding to the B5 size is determined. When the document detection sensor 3 is off, the size of the set document is set to B5.
The size is determined, and the size B5 is stored in the memory area M1 in n22, and this is displayed on the document size display. When the document detection sensor 3 is turned on in n21, that is, when all the document detection sensors 3 to 8 are turned on, the undetectable state is displayed in n23 and the process proceeds to n24.

As described above, the ON / OFF state is sequentially determined from the document detection sensors 3 to 8 corresponding to the largest size, and the largest of the document detection sensors that are turned OFF is the size to be placed. Judge that it is the size of the original.
In any of n7, n10, n13, n16, and n19, when one of the document detection sensors is in the ON state, the document placement position is defective, and in such a case, the process directly proceeds to n24. In each of these,
It may be possible to display that the document set position on the document table 1 is defective.

When the above document detection operation is completed, the process proceeds to n24, and the on / off state of the open / close detection sensor 9 is determined. n2
When the open / close detection sensor 9 is OFF in 4, that is, when the document cover 10 closes the document table 1, the process proceeds to n30, and the document size data stored in the memory area M1 is transmitted to the MCPU 47 of the main body. . If the original cover 10 is still open and the open / close detection sensor 9 is turned on in n24, the process proceeds to n25. n25
Then, it is determined whether or not the document size manual input mode is selected. When the manual input mode is selected, the process proceeds to n26, and it is determined whether or not it is the irregular size mode. If it is in the custom size mode in n26, the process proceeds to n27 and the operator inputs the custom size. The custom size input here is stored in the memory area M1 of the RAM 43. n2
6 when not in the irregular size mode and n27
Is completed, the process returns to n24. The size of the original is an irregular size, and when manually inputting this size, the index provided on the original table is referred to, and the numerical value facing the edge position of the original is keyed in. Therefore, the original cover 10 must be kept open until the input of the irregular size is completed. The operations of n24 to n27 are repeated until the input of the irregular size is completed and the original cover 10 is closed.

If it is not in the manual input mode of the document size in n25, the process proceeds to n28, and it is judged whether or not the print switch is operated. That is, while selecting the automatic detection of the document size by the document detection sensor, the document cover 10
If is left open, the process proceeds to n28, and it is determined whether or not the print switch has been operated. If the print switch is not operated in n28, n4
Then, the document detecting operation is repeated. Therefore, when the document cover cannot be closed when copying a three-dimensional object, the processes of n4 to n25 → n28 → n4 are repeatedly executed. The processing of n2 to n23 corresponds to the document size detecting means of the present invention. When the print switch is turned on at n28, at n29, the MCPU 47 is instructed to perform the operation of the trimming means, that is, the lighting control of the blank lamp 11, and the process proceeds to n30. At n30, the document size data stored in the memory area M1 is transmitted to the MCPU 47, and the document detection operation ends.

After that, the MCPU 47 performs a copying process based on the transmitted document size data. When the operation of the trimming means is instructed, the blank lamp 11 is controlled to be turned on. The above operations of n28 and n29 correspond to the automatic trimming means of the present invention.

As described above, according to this embodiment, after the document size data is stored in the memory area M1, the document cover 10
If the print switch is operated before the block is closed, the MCPU 47 is instructed to perform the trimming operation, and the document size data currently stored in the memory area M1 is transmitted to the MCPU 47. Therefore, even when the document cover 10 cannot be closed when copying a three-dimensional object, the trimming means can be effectively used to obtain a high-quality image. Moreover, since the on / off state of the print switch is discriminated after the size of the original of the irregular size is stored in the memory area M1, the effect can be exerted even on the irregular-sized three-dimensional object.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a copying machine having an original detection function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 is an external view of the main part of the copying machine. Perspective view, 4th
The figure is a block diagram of a control unit of the copying machine, and FIGS. 5A to 5C are flowcharts showing a part of the operation of the copying machine. 1 ... original table, 3-8 ... original detection sensor, 9 ... open / close detection sensor, 10 ... original cover, 11 ... blank lamp.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-57-102667 (JP, A) JP-A-59-53862 (JP, A) JP-A-60-115959 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 185942 (JP, A) JP 61-5245 (JP, A) JP 61-6672 (JP, A) JP 61-6673 (JP, A) JP 61-156072 (JP, A) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-151574 (JP, A) Actually developed 59-141349 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A document detecting sensor corresponding to a plurality of sizes and an open / close detecting sensor for detecting an open / closed state of a document cover are provided in the vicinity of a document table, and a blank lamp facing a surface of a photoconductor is provided in a copying process section. In a copying machine having a document detection function, which comprises a trimming means for lighting a blank lamp facing an unnecessary portion of the surface of the photoconductor during the copying process, while the open / close detection sensor detects the open state of the document cover. Document size detecting means for repeatedly detecting the document size based on the output signal of the document detecting sensor at predetermined time intervals, document size storing means for sequentially updating and storing the document size detected by the document size detecting means, and the opening / closing means. When the print switch is turned on while the detection sensor is detecting the open state of the document cover, A copying machine having a document detection function, comprising: an automatic trimming unit that sets the unnecessary portion based on the document size stored in the size storage unit and operates the trimming unit.