JPH07114232A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an image from blurring, etc., due to the change of speed at the time of the image reading by stabilizing an original sidelong reading speed with the uniform speed, in an image forming device capable of the sidelong reading and the fix reading of the sheet original jointly. CONSTITUTION:In the device including the constitution and the control means capable of the sidelong reading and the fix reading of the sheet original P jointly, by setting the original leading end standby position (H-l1) in the prescribed position on the platen 105 and setting the distance l1 between this position and the leading end of the sidelong reading image position (exposure position) H as the prescribed runaway section, the speed of the sheet original P at the time of starting the sidelong reading can be stabilized with the same speed as the transfer reading speed by the read-out means (processing speed), thus the image blur, expansion and contraction due to the change of speed at the time of exposure of the sheet original P (at the time of reading the original) can be eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer having a sheet material conveying device for conveying and placing a sheet material at a predetermined position such as an image reading section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic document feeder has a document circulation type (R
DF) and non-circulating (ADF) devices exist, the former RD
In the case of F, when the document passes through the exposure unit, the device that completes the exposure and discharges the document above (or below) the document placing unit, and even when plural sets are set, the document is sequentially recirculated. There is a supported device.

As described above, the combination of the flow-reading mode in which the exposure is completed while the document is being moved and the RDF is different from the fixed reading mode in which the document is temporarily stopped and then the exposure device is moved along the document area. Since the loss time of the exposure apparatus movement time is eliminated, it contributes to the reduction of the document replacement time, which leads to the speed-up technology and high productivity technology of the copying system. There is an advantage that the original can be circulated at a slower moving speed with respect to the mode, which leads to a silent technology.

From the example of combination with RDF,
There is also a system that enables high speed and high productivity of a copying system in combination with flash exposure technology. Although detailed description on the flash exposure technique is omitted, compared to the above-described exposure apparatus, it is configured to complete exposure on all sides of a document at the same time, and it is necessary to provide a high-output light source and a belt-type exposure device. Large size, high cost,
Due to the increase in power consumption, the devices in which this technology is used are currently limited to some large high-speed machines.

In the latter ADF device, the original is fixed at a predetermined position on the platen, and the exposure of the copy is repeated several times by reciprocating the exposure device. After the end, the original is discharged onto a predetermined discharge tray. By repeating this operation in sequence, it is possible to copy multiple copies of a series of originals.As a copying system, by combining with a sorter on the output side, it is not necessary to circulate the originals many times. Has the advantage of being relatively less damaged.

In the presence of the above-mentioned conventional techniques, various proposals have been made in recent years in order to achieve high speed and noise reduction.

As a first example, in a sheet material conveying device, a document on a sheet mounting table is placed in either of two paper feeding means provided at both ends of the sheet mounting table depending on conditions such as the size of the document and mode. The applicant of the present application has devised a device for automatically selecting and feeding paper, feeding the paper, and conveying the paper to the image reading unit of the copying machine body to form an image.

For example, in an original recirculating system, FIG.
In the original fixed reading mode (paper is fed from the first paper feeding means side) as described above, a plurality of sheet originals P stacked on the sheet original placing table 304 are made into one sheet by the first separating means 306. The sheets are separated into sheets, conveyed by the sheet feeding unit 338, and sequentially stacked at arbitrary positions on the platen 303.
The image reading unit (optical system) 380 in 01 is moved in the direction a to read an image and the sheet is reloaded on the sheet stacking table 304 by the discharging unit 311. In the original flow reading mode (paper is fed from the side of the second paper feeding means), the plurality of sheet originals P stacked on the original tray 304 are separated one by one by the second separating means 314 and fed. Home position of the optical system 380 conveyed by the paper unit 315 (illustrated by a broken line)
The optical system 380 is fixed at a position L from the platen 3
03 An image is read during conveyance of the sheet original P conveyed at a constant speed by the upper wide belt 307, and is stacked on the sheet original placing table 304 by the discharging means 311.

When the flow-reading mode is selected, for example, a user places a small-sized document (A4, B5, LTR, etc.) on the document tray 034, and a start key (not shown) of the copying machine main body. Is turned on, the first inlet sensor 322 is turned on, and the sheet material length detection sensor 368 is turned off, the process proceeds in the flow reading mode. First,
The document tray 304 descends to a predetermined position around the 340 as a fulcrum, and the stopper (sheet bundle conveying means) 321 conveys the sheet originals P to the second separating means 314 side, and the position of the bundle conveying position detection sensor 328. Until the bundle conveying position detection sensor 328 is turned on, the sheet is fed from the second feeding unit 315, is fed to the platen 303, and is copied by the above-described original flow reading mode to be a sheet original. Is discharged onto the document tray 304 from the paper discharge roller 311. In addition, every time the sheet is ejected, the stopper 321 pushes the trailing edge of the sheet original toward the second separating portion to improve the consistency, and when another round is made, all the sheet originals are ejected and then bundled and conveyed in a batch. As a second example in which the operation of feeding and re-copying is performed, a non-circulating type, that is, an apparatus (FIG. 19 and FIG. 20) for performing flow reading in an ADF apparatus has been devised.

In the apparatus of this structure, when the original is conveyed onto the platen, the exposure device is fixed at a predetermined position on the lower part of the platen to perform the flow reading, and after completion, the original is discharged to the discharge tray. When making multiple copies, stop the original document once at the position where the original reading was finished without ejecting the original document after the end of the original reading, and then move the exposure device back and forth by a predetermined number of times. Then, after completion, the original is ejected to the ejection tray, and a plurality of copy sheets can be created.

[0011]

However, in the device devised above, for example, in the case of the device of the first example,
Since it is a document recirculation type processing device, it is suitable for high document exchange speed and high productivity in the flow reading mode, and it is also suitable for noise reduction as described above.
In order to obtain a plurality of copies, the original must be circulated a set number of times, for example, the stress exerted on the original when passing through the separating means of the above apparatus, the curling of the original when passing through a bending path, etc. The system has a structure that is difficult to implement as a system having high reliability because the original document is largely damaged, and the probability of conveyance failure during document handling is high.

Further, in the case of the apparatus of the second example (FIGS. 19 and 20), since the document is a system that does not recirculate, there is no problem in terms of damage to the document, but the document replacement time is made faster, and However, considering the high accuracy of registration (registration) between the original and the transfer sheet, many problems remain.

For example, in the apparatus of the second example shown in FIG. 19, the reading position of the continuous reading is 1002 or 1
Although it is provided at the position of 003, for example, when performing small-size flow scanning, if the paper interval is constant in the 1 to 1 mode, the predetermined productivity can be secured even if the predetermined productivity is secured. In the case of, the distance from the image timing sensor 1004 to the flow reading position lx
Since the document length is long, the document replacement time becomes long.

That is, when the combined mode of flow reading and fixed reading is executed, the wide belt 1005 cannot move while the original is fixedly read by moving the optical system. The paper must be on standby upstream of the picking sensor 1004.
x becomes large, it takes time to replace the original, and it is not possible to adapt to high productivity. If the distance lx from the image timing sensor to the flow reading position is shortened in order to improve productivity, the trailing edge of the document will be OFF, ON, etc. of the drive system on the upstream side during the flow scanning (separation, paper feeding). The image blurring occurs due to a shock, etc., and the image reliability is deteriorated, or the large-sized scanning becomes impossible, resulting in an insufficient copying system. The device of FIG. 20 has the same problem.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus capable of using both the flow reading and the fixed reading of a sheet original, the original reading reading speed is stabilized at a constant speed so that the image blurs and extends due to a change in speed during image reading. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that eliminates defects such as shrinkage.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an image reading means for reading a sheet original on a platen glass of an image forming apparatus and a sheet original on the platen glass. An image forming apparatus having an automatic document feeder for feeding, fixing the image reading means at an arbitrary position, and reading an image during conveyance of a sheet document fed by the automatic document feeder, and capable of image scanning scanning. At the time of the image flow reading, the document moving speed when the leading end portion of the document standing by at a predetermined position on the platen reaches the flow reading image destination position is set to be equal to the flow reading scanning speed. The distance between the document leading edge standby position on the platen and the flow reading image destination position is arranged so as to have a predetermined run-up section, and the document moving operation is possible. It characterized by having a that control circuit.

Further, the image forming apparatus has an image reading means for reading a sheet original on the platen glass and an automatic document feeder for feeding the sheet original on the platen glass, and the image reading means is located at an arbitrary position. An image is scanned by scanning an image while the sheet document is fixed and is fed by the automatic document feeder, and the sheet document is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the platen, and then the image reading means is moved to move the image. In an image forming apparatus capable of continuously performing fixed reading scanning for reading the document, the document moving speed when the leading edge of the document waiting at a predetermined position on the platen reaches the flow reading image destination position during the image flow reading. Between the original document leading edge standby position on the platen and the flow reading image destination position so that the speed becomes equal to the flow reading scanning speed. Distance was arranged to have a predetermined approach section, and characterized by having a control circuit which makes it possible the original movement.

Further, the image forming apparatus has an image reading means for reading a sheet original on the platen glass and an automatic document feeder for feeding the sheet original on the platen glass, and the image reading means is located at an arbitrary position. The image is read while the sheet document is fixed and is fed by the automatic document feeder, and the image is read and scanned, and then the sheet document is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the platen, and then the image reading unit is moved. In an image forming apparatus capable of continuously performing a fixed reading scan for reading an image, between the flow reading exposure position and the reading start position of the reading unit in the original fixed reading scan for moving the image reading unit to read the image. The distance shall consist of the maximum scannable size and the deceleration / stop approach distance of the drive system. And it features.

[0019]

According to the present invention, in an apparatus including a configuration and a control means capable of simultaneously performing flow reading and fixed reading, the document leading edge standby position is set at a predetermined position on the platen, and the flow reading image destination position ( By setting the distance to the exposure position) to a predetermined approach section, it becomes possible to stabilize the sheet original at the same speed as the flow reading speed (process speed) at the start of flow reading, and blur images due to speed changes during exposure. It becomes possible to eliminate the expansion and contraction.

Further, even in the mode of combined use of flow reading and fixed reading (generally referred to as mixed mode hereinafter), the leading edge of the sheet original is timed from the position inside the platen to perform the flow reading and fixed reading scanning. ,
Since the interval between each document (paper interval) can be reduced, it is possible to support high-speed and quiet operation when forming an image by the amount of the shorter document interval than when performing fixed-flow scanning with fixed timing from outside the platen area. It will be possible. In addition, since the distance between the original document standby position and the reading position can be set short when the sheet original document is scanned, the registration can be performed with high accuracy.

Further, in the combined mode of the sheet original of the flow reading and the fixed reading (in the mixed mode), the distance between the flow reading image destination (reading position) and the standby position of the document to be flow read is driven. After the end of the system acceleration region, the velocity becomes constant. Actually, the natural vibration of the drive system (overshoot, mandashoot) after reaching a certain speed,
The shortest run-up distance that does not affect the image is set to an open position, and the acceleration of the drive system deceleration is taken into consideration in order to reliably and accurately stop at the fixed reading position after the continuous reading reading. By setting the distance between the position at the panning read image destination and the fixed read image destination position in consideration of the shortest stop approach distance, it is possible to perform high-precision registration and higher productivity.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic document feeder according to the present embodiment (in the present embodiment, an RDF that can circulate is used as an embodiment, and therefore will be abbreviated as RDF hereinafter).

The basic document flow of the RDF of this embodiment will be briefly described. First, the document group P placed on the processing tray 2 of the RDF 1 is divided into the A direction side (switch path) and the B direction side (closed loop path) depending on the setting mode and the document size. As an example, in the case of a large size (for example, B4, A3 size, etc.), or in the double-sided copy mode, etc., paper is fed from the A direction side (switchback path), and passes through a predetermined path PH1 (not described), It is positioned at a predetermined position on the platen 105 of the image forming apparatus 100, and is returned from the C direction side (paper discharge path PH2) after the exposure operation by the optical system is completed, and then returned to the processing tray 2 again.

Reference numeral 3 on the processing tray is a recycle lever, which is a partition member for separating a copy-finished document group and a pre-copy document group. When the copy button (not shown) is turned on, the recycle lever 3 is turned on. Placed on top of the manuscript. Since the original is separated and conveyed from the lowermost sheet, the recycle lever 3 placed on the uppermost original at the same time when the copy is turned on, the recycle lever 3 is placed on the original placing surface 2a when all the lower originals are sent to the platen. Further downward, it is recognized that the circulation of the original document for one cycle is completed. Although detailed description of the structure is omitted, 5, 5'and 5 "are separating and feeding means, 6'is a conveying roller for guiding the original to the platen 2, 6 is a reversing roller, and 16 is a discharging roller. Platen 1
The original discharged from 01 is again guided to the platen or tray 2.

Next, in the small size single-sided copy mode, the paper is fed from the B direction, passed through a predetermined path PH3 (not described), positioned at a predetermined position on the platen 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, and exposed. After the operation is completed, the sheet is returned from the C direction side (sheet discharge path PH2) and then returned onto the processing tray 2.
Similarly, 9 and 9'and 9 "are separate feeding means, 10 is a conveying roller, 11 is a registration roller on the B direction side (closed loop path), and 12 is more advantageous for handling thick paper or the like. In this case, the backup roller is provided in the turn path portion.At this time, the tray 4 descends until it becomes substantially horizontal, and 13 is a manual-pass path sheet feeding port, and the backup roller 12 is also used as a manual-feeding roller. 14 is a turn flapper,
Normally, when feeding paper from the B direction side, the platen edge portion 105
is located above a and guides the original so that it does not get caught in the platen edge 105a, and when manually feeding in the manual feed mode, even when one original is fed from the manual feed path feed port 13, the platen edge portion 105a In order to scoop the document from the platen edge part when it is returned to the E direction again after the copying is completed after the sheet is fed and fed,
The platen edge portion 101a is retracted below. Although briefly described above, this configuration is the same as the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 5-22158, and therefore redundant description is omitted.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the drive system in this embodiment.

First, the conveyor belt 40 on the platen 105.
In the present embodiment, a stepping motor 51 is used as a driving means (means for transferring the original onto the platen). One of the purposes of using the stepping motor is that the controllability is good, that is, the control response of starting / stopping is good. Further, in this embodiment, the conveyor belt 4 is used.
0 (backup roller driven by the conveyor belt)
This is because the constant velocity between the registration rollers 11 is required with high accuracy (details will be described later).

Further, the backup roller 12 is driven by the turn roller 8 which is driven by the conveyor belt 40, and the drive force is transmitted so that the peripheral speed of the conveyor belt 40 and the peripheral speed thereof are constant. The registration roller 11 on the closed loop path side is driven by a stepping motor 64. As described above, the purpose of using the stepping motor is to attach importance to the uniform speed with the conveyor belt (to ensure high precision registration). As described above, in the present embodiment, the conveyor belt 40 and the registration roller 11 are driven by the stepping motor. However, by the PLL control of the DC motor, the constant velocity control in the transfer section, or one drive source and the clutch means. By turning on and off the clutch, etc.,
The transport belt and the registration roller may be simultaneously operated by the same drive source. Further, 65 is a clock disk attached to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 64, and 66 is a means for detecting a step out of the stepping motor 64 which is a clock detection sensor.

The separation motor 52 drives the switch-back side separation feeding means 5, 5 ', 5 "in forward rotation, and the parallel rotation in closed loop side separation feeding means 9, 9', 9". Also, it is possible to drive the conveying roller 10 in a closed loop.
The separate motor shaft has a clock disk 53 for speed control,
A clock sensor 54 is provided. Further, during reverse rotation, the drive from the separation motor 52 is transmitted to the separation feeding means 9, 9 ', 9 "via the clutch 70, and the separation feeding means 9, 9', 9" is turned on and off by the clutch. It is possible to selectively activate and deactivate. In addition, the transport roller 1
A clock disk 67 is mounted on the roller shaft of the driven roller 10 ′ that is pressed against 0, and the document feed speed and amount can be counted by the output of the clock count sensor 68.

Further, a reversing motor 55 is mounted so as to be able to drive the reversing roller as a driving means for resisting and reversing on the switchback side. In this example,
The reversing motor 55 is a DC motor, and by the PLL control,
A constant speed control between the conveyor belt 40 and the reversing roller 6 is possible. Further, a clock disk 56 and a clock detection sensor 57 for enabling PLL control are attached to the reversing motor shaft (note that the reversing motor is a stepping motor which is synchronized with the above-mentioned belt motor (constant speed control)). Alternatively, the discharge roller 16 in the switchback path is driven by the discharge motor 61. A clock disk 62 and a clock sensor 63 are provided to the discharge motor so that the paper can be transferred to and from the reversing roller 6 and speed can be controlled during document discharge.
Is installed. Further, a tray lifting motor 59 is attached as a drive source for enabling the document tray 2 to move up and down during closed loop sheet handling.

Further, by means of the contact shutter 41 at the time of setting the original, the leading end side of the set original is closed-loop separating and feeding means 9, 9 ', when starting the closed-loop sheet handling.
The bundle is transported until it reaches the 9 ″ input port, and the bundle transport drive means at this time and the bundle transport as a drive means for jogging again the originals returned after the closed loop sheet handling to the separating and feeding means side. The motor 60 is a stepping motor in this embodiment.

Further, as described above, the recycle motor 58 is mounted in the tray side regulating plate 4 as a drive source for driving the recycle lever 3 as a partition for the set original and the processed discharged original. .

Next, the solenoid will be explained. First, the weight 42 for assisting the sheet feeding on the switchback side.
A weight solenoid 71 is mounted to operate the shutter 41, a shutter solenoid 72 is mounted to drive the shutter 41 so that the shutter 41 is rotated and retracted at the time of sheet feeding, and when the switchback is reversed, the sheet is discharged and double-sided. For rotating the reversal flapper 15 for switching reversal for
A reverse flapper solenoid 73 is attached. Also, on the closed loop side, the partition rotation solenoid 74 and the pressurizing solenoid 75 rotate together with the closed loop weight shaft in order to operate the closed loop weight for partitioning the sheet feeding assistance and the closed loop mode. Installed on. Further, the closed loop path flapper 14 that switches the position with respect to the platen 105 at the time of carrying in and ejecting the sheet at the time of manually feeding is rotated. The solenoid 76 is also attached so that the flapper 14 shaft can rotate.

Next, the in-pass sheet sensor and the image reading position will be described. First, to simplify the explanation from the switchback side, an empty sensor 30 that detects that a document has been set on the tray 2, a separation sensor 31 that detects that the document has been separated, the registration of the document, and the timing of skewing It is provided with a switchback registration sensor 32 for shifting, a reversing sensor 33 for detecting that the original is returned from the platen by switchback, and a paper discharge sensor 39 for detecting discharge of the sheet. The detailed function of each sensor is described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 5-22158, and will be omitted.

Next, the path sensor on the closed loop side will be described. First, the empty sensor 31 is shared. A document set sensor 34 is provided for detecting whether the set document has a half size (A4, LTR, B5) longer than that according to the presence or absence of the trailing edge of the document when setting the document. In the case of the half size (that is, when the empty sensor 30 is ON and the document setting sensor 34 is OFF), it is determined that the document is a half size document and the paper is fed from the closed loop side (actually, the empty sensor 30, the document setting sensor 34, And document width detection (not shown) are also performed at the same time, and in the present embodiment, A4, LTR, and B5 are determined).

In the original set sensor 34, the tray 2 is lowered during the closed loop feeding, and the shutter 41 is moved in the F direction (FIG. 1) to move the bundle of set originals to the front end (closed loop feeding side end). Is detected, the movement of the shutter 41 is stopped at the point where the leading edge of the original has moved to a position suitable for separation (moving a predetermined amount of clock from the leading edge detection). For that purpose, it also plays a role as a document bundle leading edge detection sensor. Reference numeral 35 is a closed-loop separation sensor, 36 is a closed-loop registration sensor, a closed-loop registration sensor that performs skew feeding timing, 37 is an image sensor that determines the positioning of the original on the platen, and 38 is a manual feed set and paper ejection sensor. is there.

Next, when the original is fixed and the optical system is moved, the home position of the exposure start of the optical system at the time of scanning is the G first image destination (fixed image destination), and is moved to the right by a distance L. The position of the second image destination (following reading image destination) H indicates a scanning point at the time of non-stop scanning in which the optical system is fixed and the document is read while being transported.

Next, the image forming apparatus main body 1 to which the RDF is attached
The outline of 00 will be described with reference to FIG.

The configuration of the optical system is well known, and the third mirror 101, the second mirror 102, the first mirror 103, the document illumination lamp 104, the zoom lens 106, and the fourth mirror 111 are used to document information on the platen 105. Can be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 107. The optical system is configured such that the original is fixed at a fixed position and the exposure unit 133 reciprocates on the platen to read an image, and the exposure unit is fixed and locked at a fixed position when the original moves. (Locking means will be described later), and the image is read and can be read both ways.

Next, 108 is a drum cleaner, 109 is a pre-exposure lamp, 110 is a primary charger, 112 is a blank exposure lamp, 113 is a potential sensor, 114 is a toner hopper, 115 is a developing device, and 116 is a multi-feeder. , 11
7 is a side tray, 118 is a roller electrode, 119 is a pre-transfer charger, 120 is a registration roller, 121 is a re-feeding unit (both sides), 122 is a transfer / separation charger, 123 is an upper front tray, and 124 is a lower front. Tray, 125 is a transport unit, 126 is an intermediate tray, 127 is a second transport unit, 1
28 is a fixing device, 129 is a waste toner collecting container, 130 is a paper discharge unit, and 200 is a copy sheet output side device (sorter). The description of the process relationship of the image forming apparatus is omitted because it is well known.

In order to explain the sheet flow of this embodiment, the paper feed roller 132, the registration sensor 131, and the registration roller 120 will be used in the following description, taking the paper feed configuration of the image forming apparatus as an example.

In this embodiment, since the flow reading is carried out, the timing of feeding, registering, transferring and separating the main body of the copying machine and the flow of the original of the original processing apparatus, especially the original handling up to the image reading position. In, the synchronism with each process of the main body of the copying machine is important. Before explaining the synchronization with the main body of the copying machine in this embodiment, the flow of the sheet material peculiar to the document processing apparatus will be described.

As described above (FIG. 1), the document processing apparatus in this embodiment has a switchback path for feeding in the direction A, which is similar to that of Japanese Patent Application No. 4-359306. Is omitted. 4 (a) to FIG. 8 (r) will be described with respect to the flow of the sheet material in the mixed mode (hereinafter referred to as the mixed mode) in which the continuous reading and the fixed reading are used together by feeding from the B direction side. It is carried out using.

First, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the original P is set on the tray. In the state of (a),
When the empty sensor 30 detects a document and the document setting sensor 34 is OFF, that is, when the document length is within a predetermined storage space, a copy start signal in a predetermined mode is issued from the copying machine body. , The tray 2 descends to the descending position 2 '(shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure) around the swing fulcrum 101 in the direction I when the information indicates the mixed mode, and when the descending operation is completed, the document is applied. The member shutter 41 bundle-transfers the document group P in the J direction. The amount of bundle transfer by the shutter 41 is stopped depending on the position where the leading edge of the document group P has passed the document set sensor 34 and advanced by a predetermined amount (a transfer amount sufficient for the documents to be separated well by the separating / feeding unit 9). Then, the document P _n is fed out from the lowermost part of the document group P (FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d)).

FIG. 4D shows a state in which the original P _n has hit the registration roller 11. Each manuscript is a cash register 1
One part is a known skew feeding structure (the leading end of the document is aligned with the stopped roller nip part, and the upstream conveying rollers 10, 1
A resist loop is formed between 0 and 0 ', and skew feeding correction during separation and conveyance is performed. After a predetermined time, the registration roller 11
Starts to rotate, and the document P _n starts to be conveyed.

FIG. 5E shows the position where the trailing edge of the original has passed through the separation sensor 35, and in this state, the next original P _n-1 is separated and fed. Returning to the previous description, in the state of FIG. 4D, after the registration loop, the registration roller 11 and the conveying rollers 10 and 10 'have different driving sources, but as described above, the driven roller 10' of the conveying roller 10 is different.
Of which the clock disc is provided on the shaft, the conveying speed of the original P _n by the clock disc and the clock count sensor are possible recognition, based on an output of said clock sensor, the conveying speed of the original P _n The registration roller 11 rotates in a synchronized continuous manner (that is, a control circuit is configured to rotate the rotation speed of the stepping motor 64 that drives the registration roller in synchronization with the clock signal).

As will be described in detail later, immediately before the leading edge of the original P _n is nipped by the backup roller 12 which is rotatable by the drive from the wide belt 40, the conveyance rollers 10, 10 ′, the registration roller 11, etc. From speed control,
(Conveyance ← → Register uniform speed control) Clock for driving the wide belt, that is, synchronous control of the stepping motor 51 for driving the wide belt 40 and the registration driving stepping motor 64 (registration stepping motor by the clock of the stepping motor 51) 64 synchronous control)
The peripheral speeds of the wide belt 40, the backup roller 12, and the registration roller 11 are controlled to be constant speed, and the control is switched to belt ← → registration, constant speed control.

In the state immediately after switching the constant velocity control, the trailing edge of the original is nipped by the conveying rollers 10 and 10 'in FIG. 5 (h). 1 includes a one-way clutch that allows the transport roller (not shown) to freely rotate in the feeding direction. Even if the peripheral speed of the registration roller is faster than the peripheral speed of the transport roller, the registration roller 11 pulls the document at the peripheral speed of the registration roller. It is configured to open. Return again, but Fig. 5 (e)
Indicates a state in which the trailing edge P _n ′ of the original document can be moved from the conveying rollers 10 and 10 ′ by the above (belt ← → registration constant velocity control).

In this embodiment, in order to make the apparatus compact, when the drive system is started up by the belt ← → registration constant velocity control as shown in FIG. 5E, the trailing edge P _n ′ of the original P _n is , conveying rollers 10, 10 'are taking the configuration of the nip is as such sheet path length, the belt ← → of the original P _n when the drive system were raised by registration such deceleration control rear P _n' is By setting the paper path length so that the conveying rollers 10 and 10 'are removed, the one-way clutch (not shown) on the conveying rollers 10 and 10' side can be eliminated (FIG. 11). reference).

In FIG. 11, the length lp in the feeding direction of the maximum scannable size original Ps may be reduced by a predetermined amount with respect to the distance ls between the conveying roller pair 10S and the turn roller pair 12S.

In the state of FIG. 5 (f), the wide belt 40, the backup roller 12, and the registration roller 11 are controlled at a constant speed by the constant speed control of belt ← → registration, and the original P _n enters the platen 105. Shows the state.
At this time, the next current P _n-1 is the pair of conveying rollers 10, 10 '.
And its tip is passed, distal end P _n-1 of P _n-1 'is, P _n
The sheet is continuously conveyed to the rear end P _n ′ at a conveying speed that does not catch up. Further, the original P _n-1 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 10 and ₁ driven by the separation motor 52 in FIG.
In the state where 'rear end P _n-1 in the middle is conveyed P _n-1 "is separate and feed means 9, 9 in' does not pass through the nip point of 0, disconnect clutch 70 (FIG. 2) is OFF, the transport Rollers 10, 1
0'continues to rotate, but separating and feeding means 9, 9 ',
9 "is stopped, and thereafter, the original P _n-1 is pulled out from the separating and feeding means 9 by the conveying rollers 10 and 10 '.

In order to obtain a good separating function and reduce the load at the time of pulling out by the above-mentioned constitution,
The feed roller 9 and the conveyance assisting roller (the half-moon roller 9 ″ incorporates a one-way clutch that allows free rotation in the feeding direction. FIG. 5G shows a state in which P _n and P _n−1 are further conveyed. Further, regarding P _n−1 , similarly to P _n , the registration roller 11 and the skew feeding correction are about to be performed by the registration roller 11.

In FIG. 5 (h), the tip of P _n is a predetermined distance l from the flow-reading image destination (second image destination) H.
₁ Indicates a state where the robot is temporarily stopped at a position away from it. This time,
The wide belt 4 that performs the flow reading exposure scanning at the rear end of the document P _n
In order not to be affected by a drive source other than 0 drive, it is not nipped by the upstream conveying roller pair,
The brake or the like at the time of the de-drive system is released (in the embodiment example of the main body, it is described as instantaneous stop, but it does not have to be stopped). At this time, P _n-1 is in a state in which a predetermined amount of advance (Δ l) is completed from the nip portion of the registration roller 11 by the direct conveyance → registration constant velocity control. This time between P _n of the rear end and P _n-1 of the front end of the paper is separated _{l (n, n-1)} .

Further, the tip position of P _n is determined by the image sensor 37.
This is a state in which a predetermined clock has been fed from the time when the tip of P _n passes through, and the distance of l ₁ is always recognized by the control circuit (not shown). In the state of FIG. 5 (h), P _n is started to be conveyed by an image permission signal (standby signal) from the copying machine main body and a predetermined slow running section is started.
After l _s (l _s <l ₁ ), the speed becomes equal to the process speed of the copying machine (when copying at the same size). In the case of variable-magnification copying, a relative speed difference (original handling speed and transfer material transfer speed difference) is added to the process speed for handling at a predetermined flow-reading speed according to the magnification.

[0055] Then, the P _n determines the tip feed amount of the tip of the P _n by not shown control circuit H (second image tip)
At the time of coincidence with (after the tip of P _n has passed the image sensor 34,
At the end of the total clock until the tip of P _n reaches H),
An image signal is issued from the document processing apparatus, and image formation is started on the photosensitive drum 107 of the copying machine body (see FIG. 6).
(I)). At this time, the document feed speed and the process speed of the main body are immediately synchronized at a constant speed, and the flow reading is started while the document is fed (the optical system is fixed) to read the image.

P _n is the time when the trailing end P _n ′ of the time point P _n at which the flow reading is completed at a constant speed has passed H (the lapsed position is also recognized in the control circuit by the wide belt conveyance clock). , When the trailing edge of document P _n has passed H)
Then, an optical system return signal (when the number of copies is two or more) is issued to the copying machine main body control circuit from a control circuit (not shown) in the document processing apparatus, and the optical system exposure unit 133 (FIG. 3) causes the first exposure The movement to the image destination G is started.

FIG. 6 (j) shows a state in which the optical system exposure unit 133 has moved from H to G. When the leading edge of the original P _n reaches the eleventh image destination (fixed reading image destination) after the end of the flow reading, the wide belt drive is stopped, and the original P _n (the same applies to P _n-1 ) is stopped. ). The positions of P _n and P _n-1 at this time are also recognized by a control circuit (not shown) in the document processing apparatus by the wide belt conveyance clock.

Then, in the state of FIG. 6 (j), when the setting mode is a plurality of copies m, the remaining m-1 scanning is performed on the original P.
_With respect to _n , this time is performed by the reciprocating movement (X direction) of the exposure unit 133 of the optical system. Of course, when the setting mode is a part of the original P _n , the optical system exposure unit 133 is fixed at the H position, and a single copy is created by simply scanning the original P _n while it is being transported. The system exposure unit 133 remains fixed at the H position, and the next P
_n−1 , P _n−2, ..., P ₁ may be sequentially read and exposed.

With such a set number of copies, it is possible to continuously carry out the flow reading and the fixed reading scanning of the original, so that the output side of the copy paper, for example, the capacity of the sorter (specifically, the sorter's capacity). If the number of copies is set to (the number of bins), the document bundle P _n finishes scanning for the number of copies during the feeding and placing operation of one circulation of documents. That is, in the conventional flow-reading scan, the number of times of circulation of the document is set several times, whereas in the present embodiment, the flow-reading scan fixed read-scan is used together during a series of document feeding operations. When the number of circulations is once (when the capacity is on the sorter side), not only all the scans are completed, but also one scanning is completed during the document replacement operation. Moreover, the speed may be slower than the scanning speed (the conventional document exchange speed is considerably higher than the scanning speed (1000 to 1300 ^mm / _sec )).

Further, with reference to FIG. 9, a little more explanation will be added regarding the document standby position during the flow scanning.

The original is raised by driving the belt 40 from a standby position which is separated from the original H by a distance of l ₁ on the upstream side. FIG. 10 shows a rising line diagram (time-speed) of the belt drive motor (stepping motor) 51 at that time.

[0062] Figure 10 is time on the horizontal axis, is a graph illustrating the velocity on the vertical axis belt drive motor as figures, at t ₁ hour after step excitation from (to) v ₁ to v _2, constant Get up to speed. Actually, this v ₂ is the document transfer speed at the time of scan scanning, and coincides with the process speed of the main body of the copying machine at the same size copying. The area S ₁ in FIG. 10 means the traveling distance and corresponds to the distance l _s in FIG. 5 (h). In this embodiment, l ₁ > l _s
(L ₁ is a feeding distance at the time of scanning scanning).

This is in consideration of the minimum vibration damping time in which the characteristic pulsation of the drive system of the belt 40 at the time of rising is damped and the image blur does not occur. Distance l
It goes without saying that if ₁ is short, the time required to start the flow reading and reading is shortened, and the productivity of the system is improved. Further, after the end of the scanning scanning, the document is transferred from the S position to the S position and stopped, but when the document passes through the scanning image destination H, the document is naturally transferred at a constant speed and the document is substantially stopped. The distance necessary for this is l ₂ (a fixed reading image destination where scanning is performed by moving the optical system in the first image destination, l ₂ in FIG. 6 (j)). Figure 6
L _w is the (j), substantially decelerated, be a stop section view 1
This corresponds to an area S ₃ of 0. The reason for l ₂ > l _w is to set a constant speed section of l ₂ −l _w even after the image reading is finished, and allow a margin so that the image is not affected even if variations due to registration deviation occur. It is also for shortening the time until the stoppage.

After the document is stopped at the position S'in FIG. 9, the scanning is performed by the movement of the optical system in consideration of the allowance of the natural vibration of the belt drive system at the time of the stop. There is.

The explanations are repeated, but in FIG.
The original P _n-1 is conveyed ← → by registering the constant velocity control of the register, and after the end of advance by a predetermined amount Δl from the nip of the registration roller 11, the belt P is switched to the constant velocity control of the belt ← → the register, and the original P is moved.
_{The n-1} starts moving from the state shown in FIG. 5 (h), and from the time when the leading edge of the _Pn-1 passes the image tip sensor 37, counting of the conveyance cloak of the document _Pn-1 is started.

When the original P _n-1 stops at the position shown in FIG. 6 (j), the stop position is dominated by the previous original P _n , but until the original P _n-1 reaches the H position next time. Since the leading edge of the original P _n-1 has passed the image sensor 37 and the distance between the position H and the image sensor has not changed, P _{n-1 in} FIG. The tip is H from the state
Fig. 5 shows the state where the remaining clock until reaching
In the state of (h), if the image front signal is issued from the control circuit of the document processing device to start the flow reading, the registration accuracy of the document can be guaranteed.

With respect to the succeeding originals P _n-2 P _n-2 P ₁ , the flow reading registration is performed under the same control. The distance l ₂ to H at a distance l _1, P _n-1 to H in the original P _n, albeit slight variations due to variations of the previous unloading of and distance △ l in a predetermined amount by the foregoing registration roller, As described above, since the arrival point of the leading edge of the original is defined by the number of clocks from the image sensor 37 in each original, fluctuations in the reading start position H during the continuous reading and the original leading end stop position during the fixed reading occur. Holds down to a minimum and guarantees stable leading edge registration accuracy for both non-stop reading and fixed reading.

[0068] In FIG. 5 (h), part by skimming from the predetermined number of copies of the number fixed reading minus (stationary original, well-known configuration of an optical system moving) original P _n the exposure is completed for the pair of reversing rollers 7 Is transferred in the direction, and enters the discharging process. The reversing roller pair 7 is driven by PLL control of the reversing motor 55 so that the peripheral speed of the wide belt 40 and the peripheral speed of the reversing roller are controlled at a constant speed. Even when the paper is conveyed over the reversing rollers, it is possible to receive the conveyance with minimal loop formation and pulling.

Further, in FIG. 6 (l), the leading end of P _n is nipped by the paper discharge roller 16. Discharge roller 16
Is driven by the paper discharge motor 61, and has a wide belt peripheral speed,
Although the document is rotated at a speed faster than the reversing roller peripheral speed, when the document is conveyed over the reversing roller 7 and the discharge roller 16, the reversing roller 7 having a strong conveying force is predominantly delivered and the rear end is reversed. When the roller nip point has passed, the sheet is discharged at the peripheral speed according to the speed control system with a good discharge stacking property due to the peripheral speed specific to the discharge roller (Fig. 7).
(M)).

Specifically, when P _n passes through the nip of the reversing roller 7, the space between the original document P _n-1 and the succeeding original P _n-1 is temporarily widened at a speed higher than the peripheral speed of the reversing roller 7 so that P _n When the trailing edge has passed the sheet discharge sensor 39, the speed at which the discharged sheet can be stacked is good, and in the system of this embodiment, the linear velocity is 200 to 40.
It has slowed down to about 0 ( ^mm / _sec ).

In FIG. 7 (n), the original P _n for which the paper discharge has been completed lands on the existing stacked sheets before processing. In this state, the shutter 41 is driven by the shutter drive stepping motor 60 after a predetermined timing, and the discharged document P _n is jog-aligned in the J direction (FIG. 7 (n)).

The document handling operation described above is repeated, and, for example, the final page P _n of a series of documents P is circulated in a designated manner (a plurality of circulations are performed when the number of copies exceeds the capacity of the output side of copy paper). ) Is completed and the sheet is discharged, that is, the final circulation is entered and the first sheet of the original P is discharged, the partition member 43 is placed on the original stack P (see FIG. 7 (o)). It The partition member 43 is driven by the solenoid shown in FIG. That is, when the solenoid is turned on, the partition member 43 is placed on the original stack P by the weight of the partition member, and the sheet for which the final circulation scanning has been completed is prevented from entering the sheet feeding section 9 or 9 '. (At this time, the pressing force applied to the document stack by the partition member is very light, and is not such that the sheet feeding auxiliary roller 9 ″ and the lowermost sheet are positively assisted in conveyance).

The solenoid 75 is adapted to operate when the partition member needs to positively apply a pressing force (to assist the feeding) to the document stack P. That is, the post-separation sensor 3 separates the originals within a time t determined in the paper feeding sequence.
When not detected by 5, the solenoid 75 operates to press the document bundle by the partition member 43 with a predetermined load W, and the sheet feeding auxiliary roller 9 ″ positively moves to the lowermost sheet (just the sheet being separated and fed). It is designed to give a good feeding power.

As described above, a mechanism is adopted in which the partition member 43 is provided with a pressing force of the stairs by the two solenoids 74 and 75. (Detailed mechanism is omitted.)
Then, FIG. 7 (P) shows a state in which the final document P _{n in the} final circulation is discharged. After P _n is discharged, the tray 2 again rises to the initial state (when the original is set) (FIG. 8 (q)).

[0075] Then, the tip P _a of the original bundle P is, tray 2
Shutter 41 until it slightly protrudes from tip _{2a of}
In this way, the bundle is transferred in the k direction to improve the operability of taking out the original bundle P (FIG. 8 (r)).

This concludes the description of the series of sheet flow operations on the document processing apparatus side.

Now, the operation of the main body optical system will be described. In FIG. 22, the optical system device 140 having the optical path of the folding mirror system includes the first mirror 103 and the halogen lamp 14.
1, a first mirror shade 142, a second reflector shade 143, a third reflector shade 144, a first mirror holder 145, and the like, a first mirror stand 146, a second mirror 102, a third mirror 101, and a second mirror stand. The second mirror base 148 including the base 147, the zoom lens 149, and the fourth mirror 111
The original image on the platen glass 105 is transmitted onto the photosensitive drum. The drive pulley 150 is reciprocally rotated by the drive force of a drive motor (not shown), and the wire 151 wound around the drive pulley 150 by the rotational drive.
Is arranged so that the first mirror base 146 and the second mirror base 148 can be moved below the platen glass 105 at a predetermined speed.

In the case of fixed original reading, the first mirror stand 146
Is a document P fixedly placed on the platen glass 105.
Is scanned at a constant speed in the direction of arrow Z with the first image tip G as the leading edge, and the original P is exposed. When the exposure of the original P is completed, the first mummy table 146 is again inverted in the direction of the arrow Y and returns to the first image destination G again. When the number of copies or the number of copies is plural, the scanning is again performed in the direction of the arrow Z. To start. When performing the flow-reading mode and the mix mode, in addition to the fixed reading operation described above, it is necessary to stop the first mirror 146 at the second image destination H.

As shown in FIG. 23, the first mirror stand 146 is usually at the home position of the mirror system (position where the exposure section is at X), and when the operation command of the flow reading or the mixed mode is received, the first mirror stand 146 is moved downward. It moves in the direction of arrow Z, or moves while exposing and scanning, and stops at the second image destination H. After that, the original P having the upper surface of the platen glass 105 transferred at a constant speed by the RDF 1 (not shown) is transferred to the second
Exposure scanning is performed with the image tip H stopped. In this flow-reading mode, the RDF 1 is issued at the registration timing as described above, and the registration roller 120 of the copying apparatus main body moves in accordance with the signal to perform registration of the transfer paper. It is indispensable that the first mirror stand 146 is the second image destination H.
It means to stop exactly (Fig. 24).

In order to achieve this, in the present invention, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the first mirror stand 146 and the second mirror stand 1
It has a mechanical lock mechanism 152 for positioning 48. First mirror base 146 and second mirror base 14
A rotary support plate 154 having an engagement pin 153 is arranged coaxially with the drive pulley 150 for moving the drive pulley 8. A solenoid 155 is provided below the rotary support plate 154.
Also, a lock arm 157 that is rotated by the connecting arm 156 in the direction of arrow W → ← V is provided on the abutment 158, and the normal lock arm 157 is the solenoid O
It is stopped at the position shown in the figure (retracted position) by the FF state and the tension spring 159.

When performing flow reading, the drive pulley 150
Rotates in the direction of arrow T and guides the first mirror base 146 to the second image tip H, but at the second image tip H, the first mirror 14
16, the predetermined solenoid 155 is displaced in the direction of arrow V as shown in FIG. 16, and when it is turned on, the connecting arm 156 displaces the lock arm 157 to the solid line position (operating position) in the figure. In FIG. 17, the drive pulley 1
By the rotation of the rotary support plate 154 coaxial with 50, the engagement pin 153 advances in the direction of arrow T with respect to the lock arm 157 in the operating position and abuts on both take-up portions Q at the tip of the lock arm 157, Is pushed up in the direction of mark P.

The lock arm of the connecting arm 156 is set to 157.
The engaging portion N with is an elongated hole, and the lock arm is configured to be displaceable in the arrow P direction from the operating position. The engaging pin 153 pushes up the lock arm 157 in the arrow R direction, and then the arrow T It continues to rotate in the direction and contacts the wall portion M of the lock arm 157 and stops. After pushing up the lock arm 157 in the direction of arrow R, the lock arm 157 continues to rotate in the direction of arrow T and comes into contact with the wall portion M of the lock arm 157 to stop.

The lock arm 157 has a tension spring 159.
Reaches the solid line position in the figure, engages with the engagement pin 153, stops the drive pulley 150, and causes the first mirror 14th
Stop 6 in place. Further, when the engagement pin 153 engages with the lock arm 157, it is usually controlled so as to enter after being sufficiently decelerated in consideration of impact at the time of engagement.

When the first mirror No. 146 is separated from the second image destination H for the flow reading and returned to the first image destination G, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the engagement pin 153 is connected to the lock arm 157.
The chamfered portion L on the inner circumference of the lock arm is pushed up from the engaged state with and to reverse in the direction of arrow K. After that, the engagement pin 1
When 53 is completely separated from the lock arm 157, the solenoid 155 is already in the OFF state at that time, and the lock arm 157 is returned to the retracted position by the tension spring 159.

Next, a brief description will be given of the movement of the original and the movement of the optical system and the movement on the paper feed side when a series of copy operations are performed in the mixed mode.

FIG. 12A shows a state in which a sheet is placed on the tray. Illustrated copy start button of the copying machine main body The sensor 30 is ON (ON), the document size sensor 34 is (OFF), and information in the width direction of the document (FIG. 1).
The length detecting means in the width direction (not shown) is built in by the regulating plate 4 and a member in the opposing direction of the regulating plate 4. By
Tray 2 when the non-passing path (Figure 1, B) is selected
Rotates clockwise around the left end of the tray as a fulcrum (FIG. 12 (b)). Then, the trailing edge bundle pressing member pushes the trailing edge of the original bundle P and transfers the bundle to the right side sheet feeding portion 9 (FIG. 13).
(C)).

Optical system, 101, 102, 103, 10
4 and 133 are X1 ₁ at the point where the flow reading mode is confirmed
The movement starts in the direction (FIG. 12 (b)). Then, the exposure unit 133 is stopped and locked at the H position of the panning reading image destination position (FIG. 13C).

The lowermost sheet P ₁ of the original P is also shown in FIG.
At the time of reaching the position of 3 (d) (flow reading standby position),
The sheet P ′ ₁ on the transfer paper side has also started to be fed. P ₁
When the sheet reaches the position of R, as described above, R is the number of clocks after the document P ₁ passes through the image-edge sensor 38.
It is recognized by the DF side and sends a standby position arrival signal to the main body side. Upon receiving the signal, the CPU on the main body side transmits an exposure start permission signal (not shown) to the RDF side. Upon receiving this permission signal, the RDF side starts starting the document P ₁ . Then, when the leading edge of the original reaches the flow-reading image destination position H, an image destination signal is transmitted from the RDF side to the main body side, and image forming exposure is started (FIG. 14E).

At this time, the timing at which the document reaches the image leading edge position is also recognized by the clock from the image leading edge sensor 38 that the leading edge of the document has advanced.

Then, in FIG. 14 (f), the original P
₁ represents a state where the flow reading exposure is performed. Then, from the exposure position 134 of the drum 107 on the main body side to the transfer position 1
35, the distance ld from the registration roller 120 to the transfer portion, and the relationship of the exposure end distance ld are ld-lp≈lk, the registration roller 120 is turned on, and the leading edge of the transfer paper and the leading edge of the image are Figure 14 that fits
(F). When the trailing edge of the original P ₁ passes through the exposure position, the optical system back signal (from RDF) causes the optical system to start returning in the X ₂ direction (first image destination) (FIG. 15 (g)).

At the point where the optical system reaches the home position of the first image destination (home position sensor not shown),
This time, the normal optical system moves (the document P ₁ is fixed),
Perform exposure. Fixed reading mode is started. At this time, the original P ₁ has already reached the first image destination (fixed reading image destination G). FIG. 15H shows a state in which the main body optical system has started and the optical system exposure unit 133 has reached the first image destination G.
FIG. 16I shows a state where exposure is performed by moving the optical system.

Then, after that, when the set number of copies is n, the optical system is reciprocated to repeat n-1 exposures (since one exposure is made in the flow-reading, scanning by movement of the optical system is performed. Is n-1 times).

The timing with respect to the transfer sheet at the time of exposure due to the movement of the optical system is well known, and therefore its explanation is omitted.

12 to 17 show a state in which two copies are being made. Fixed reading exposure is performed once each. In addition, when creating a copy bundle of one copy, fixed reading need not be performed.
The optical system is designed to perform only the flow reading exposure while being fixed to the flow reading destination H.

After the reading by moving the optical system is completed, the flow reading exposure by the next original P ₂ is performed, so that the optical system does not return to the first G, and after the exposure is completed, the optical system continues in the X ₁ direction. After a predetermined distance (deceleration stop section), the optical system exposure unit 133 is again positioned and locked at the flow-reading destination H (FIG. 16 (i). Then, according to the _second original P2. Scanning is started, and the original P passes through the left end of the platen during the scanning exposure of the second sheet.
It is discharged to the tray 2 again. Since it is the same as the timing relationship P ₁ , it is omitted (FIG. 17 (k), FIG. (L)).

Thereafter, the same operation is repeated for the number of originals P, and a series of copying operations are completed. -RDF control device ... Fig. 27 Fig. 27 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the RDF control device of the present embodiment. The control circuit is a one-chip microcomputer (CPU) 30 having a built-in ROM, RAM, etc.
1, and the signals of the various sensors described above are input to the input port of the microcomputer 301.

The slide volume for detecting the document width is connected to the analog / digital conversion terminal of the microcomputer 301, and the value of the slide volume is set to 255.
It is configured so that it can be detected continuously in stages.

Further, the above-mentioned loads are connected to the output port of the microcomputer 301 via a driver. Particularly, in the reversing motor 55, a well-known PLL circuit is connected to the front stage of the driver, and a rectangular wave signal of an arbitrary frequency is input to the PLL circuit from the rectangular wave output terminal GENO of the microcomputer 301. It is possible to perform speed synchronization control with the belt motor 51 by changing the frequency.

The CP registration motor 64 is a well-known stepping motor pattern controller (abbreviated as SPC).
Is connected to the front stage of the driver, and a rectangular wave recording terminal GE of the microcomputer 301 is connected to the SPC via a selector.
A rectangular wave signal having an arbitrary frequency is input from Nl, and speed synchronization control with the belt motor 51 can be performed by changing the frequency of this signal. Further, the output from the separation motor encoder 54 is connected to the other side of the selector, and the speed synchronization control with the separation motor 52 can be performed by switching the selector to this side.

Further, the control data is exchanged with the main body of the copying machine through the communication IC 302, and as the received data, the flow reading speed data (V) from the main body, one side /
There are document transport mode data such as double-sided / following scanning, document feeding trigger, document replacement (starting scanning) trigger, and document ejection trigger.
There are signals for completion of each operation of exchange / paper discharge, detected document size data, a final document signal for notifying the break of the document stack, and an image destination signal in the flow reading mode.

The control procedure (control program) as shown in FIG. 28 and subsequent figures is stored in advance in the built-in ROM, and each input / output is controlled in accordance with the control procedure. (Main Flow) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described based on the main flow chart shown in FIG.

The empty sensor 30 detects whether or not the original is set, and the copy key on the main body 10 (not shown) is pressed to start the operation (mainl). At this time, it is determined whether the document trailing edge sensor 34 is off (m
ain2) If the determination is affirmative, the copy mode transmitted from the main body 100 is determined (main3), and if it is the flow-reading copy mode, the flow proceeds to (main5) and the main body 10
If the flow-reading speed data (V) sent from 0 can be implemented in the RDF of the present invention, and if the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to (main6) and a series of flow-reading modes described later is performed. The copy process is executed and the operation ends. (M
In ain4), if the determination is negative, (m
In step a7), it is determined whether or not a high-speed continuous feed mode is possible in which two or more originals are placed on the platen 105 and copy processing is performed (in the present embodiment, the single-sided original copy mode is high speed). If the determination is affirmative (main8), the process proceeds to (main8) to execute a series of copying processes in a high-speed continuous transmission mode, which will be described later, and end the operation. (Main
If the determination is negative in 2), the flow proceeds to (main9) to execute a series of copying processes in the normal switchback mode described later, and the operation is finished.

Here, the mode selection according to the document size is
In the present control example, the selection is restricted only by the feeding direction by turning on / off the document trailing edge sensor 34, but as described above, by the combination with the document width detecting means by the slide volume provided under the document tray (not shown). Mode selection may be restricted according to the size of the original. [Flow-reading Mode] Next, the flow-reading mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In RDF1, the operation of the main stream reading mode includes the operation of the mix mode described above. Therefore, the operation of the mix mode will be described at the same time.

A tray down process described later is performed to move the document tray 2 to the lower limit position (draftseql), and a document bundle transport process described later is performed to move the document stack P to the right side (draftseq2). A clockwise separation process, which will be described later, is performed in order to separate only one document at the bottom (draftSeq3). After that, the document is fed in the clockwise direction so as to be placed one upstream from the scanning destination H (dr.
aftseq4) is performed, and when a document replacement (flow start reading) trigger is received from the main body 100, an original flow reading process is performed (draftseq) in order to perform image reading while the optical system 133 of the main body 100 is fixed at a predetermined position.
5) The document is moved to the position of the fixed image destination G at a predetermined speed. After that, clockwise paper discharge processing (draftseq6)
By doing this, the document is discharged onto the document tray 2.

In addition, during a clockwise separation process (dra
If the final document determination of ftSeq3) is negative, the right document separating process for the next document is activated during the right paper feeding process (draftSeq4) of the next step, thereby enabling continuous document feeding.

Further, a clockwise paper discharge process (draftse)
After the completion of q6), if it is the final document, a tray-up process (draftseq7) described later is performed to return the document tray 2 to the initial position.

Also, the original flow reading process (draftSe)
q5) After finishing, if you want to form multiple images,
In 00, the optical system 133 can be returned to the home position on the fixed image destination G side, and thereafter, fixed reading can be performed by moving the optical system 133 a desired number of times. [High-speed continuous transfer mode] Next, the high-speed continuous transfer mode will be described with reference to FIG.

To move the document tray 2 to the lower limit position, a tray down process described later is performed (doubleseq),
Further, a document bundle conveying process to be described later is performed to move the document bundle P to the right (doubleseq2), and thereafter, a clockwise separation process to be described below is performed to separate only one document at the bottom (doubleseq3). The platen 105
Right-handed paper feed processing is performed to place it on the upper right edge (dub
lessq4). Further, a document moving process is performed to move to the position of the fixed reading image destination G on the platen 105 (do.
ubleseq 5). After that, the image of the original image is read by fixed reading, which is performed while moving the optical system 133 of the main body 100 (doubleseq6),
When completed, the document is rotated clockwise to return the document to the document tray 2 (doubleseq 6).

Also, a clockwise separation process (dou
If the final manuscript judgment of bleseq 3) is negative,
Right side paper feed process (doubleseq4) in the next step
It enables continuous document feeding by activating the right separation process for the next document.

Further, intermittent sheet discharge processing (doublese)
q7) After the end, if it is the final document, a tray-up process (doublesq8) described later is performed and the document tray 2
To the initial position. [Normal Switchback Mode] Next, the normal switchback mode will be described with reference to FIG.

A switchback separation process, which will be described later, is performed to separate only one lowermost document from the document stack P on the document tray 2 (swseql), and when completed, the document is placed on the platen 105. The switchback sheet feeding process is performed (swseq2). After that, an image reading process by fixed reading is performed by scanning the document while moving the optical system of the main body 100 (sw.
seq3), and thereafter, in order to return the original document to the original document tray 2, an intermittent paper discharge process described later is performed (swseq4).

Since this mode is not directly related to the essence of the present invention, its details will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the above-mentioned various processes will be described in detail. (Tray UP Processing) The tray UP processing by the RDF 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In order to raise the document tray 2 to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the tray elevating motor 59 is driven until the tray position detecting sensor 20 is turned on, and the tray position detecting sensor 2 is driven.
When 0 is turned on, the tray lifting motor 59 is stopped. (Tray UDOWN processing) Tray D by the RDF1
The OWN process will be described with reference to FIG.

In order to lower the original tray 2 to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the tray elevating motor 59 is driven until the tray position detecting sensor 20 is turned off.
When is turned off, the tray lifting motor 59 is stopped. (Bundle Transport Processing) The bundle transport processing will be described with reference to FIG.

In the bundle conveying process, the bundle conveying motor 60 is turned on (orgsfeedl) in order to convey the original bundle P on the original tray 2 in the direction F in FIG. After that, the document trailing edge sensor 34 detects the leading edge of the document stack P (org
document feed is performed by the stopper unit until a predetermined distance elapses (orgfee2).
d3). At this time, the moving distance of the bundle of documents by the bundle conveying motor 60 is managed by an internal timer of the CPU 301. After that, the bundle conveying motor 60 is turned off and the processing ends (orgsfeed4). (Clockwise separation process) The clockwise separation process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the clockwise separation processing, if the original is the first original (rsepal), the recycle motor 58 is turned on to operate the recycle lever 3 for detecting the break of the original bundle P (rsepa2). After that, the separation motor 52 is turned on so as to separate only the lowest document of the document stack (rsepa3). At this time, the speed of the separation motor 58 is controlled so as to be substantially synchronized with the flow reading speed (v) designated by the main body 100. In addition, in the high-speed continuous transmission mode, the speed is not limited to this, and control is performed at an arbitrary speed. If the closed-loop registration sensor 36 detects the leading edge of the document by proceeding through the sheet path PH3 (rsepa
4) The speed control for driving the separation motor 58 at a low speed is started, the separation loop timer is started (rsepa5), and after this set time ends (rsepa).
6), the CP registration motor 64 is driven in the separation motor synchronization mode, and at the same time, the advance timer for feeding the leading edge of the document to the downstream side of the closed loop registration roller 11 by a predetermined amount is started (rsepa7), and after the set timer (rsepa).
8) Turn off the separation motor 58 and stop the CP registration motor 64 in the lock mode (rsepa
9). Through this process, the document is closed loop registration roller 11
As a result, a predetermined amount of data is sent to the advanced position. This predetermined amount LO is a distance L until the peripheral speed of the closed loop registration roller stabilizes when the CP registration motor 64 is started up in the belt motor synchronous mode in the clockwise paper feeding process described later.
l, and the closed-loop registration roller 11 from the image sensor 37.
It is an arbitrary distance that satisfies the relationship of the lower era when the distance to is L2.

LO ≦ L2−L1− formula Further, in the flow reading mode and when the preceding document exists, the document movement amount during the movement process of the preceding document described later is as follows.
Since the amount of movement of the original document during the clockwise feeding process described later depends on it, the distance from the fixed read image destination G to the panning read image destination H is L4, and the distance from the panning read image destination to the panning read standby position is 1 Assuming that the distance from the fixed image reading destination G to the nip position of the closed loop registration roller pair 11 is L5, the LO takes an arbitrary value that satisfies the relationship between the above equation and the following equation.

LO.ltoreq.L5- (L4 + 1) * 2-formula (clockwise paper feeding process) The clockwise paper feeding process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the clockwise paper feeding process, the original should be conveyed from the sheet path PH4 to the sheet path PH5, and when the belt motor 51 is the first original or at the high speed continuous feeding mode, at an arbitrary speed. Also, in the case of the second and subsequent sheets of the non-stop reading mode (including the mix mode), in relation to the later-described clockwise movement (avoiding non-stop reading) processing,
The driving is started at the flow reading speed (v) designated by the main body 100, and at the same time, the CP registration motor 64 is turned on in the belt motor synchronization mode. Further, at this time, the separation motor 52 is turned on and controlled so as to drive the closed-loop path transport roller pair 10/10 ′ with the CP registration motor 64 at the same speed. At the same time, a clockwise resize check counter that counts according to the clock signal input from the CP registration motor encoder detection sensor 66 is started (rentl), and the count amount until the trailing edge of the document passes through the closed loop registration sensor 36 is held. Based on the data, the document size is determined in advance by the clockwise size check process shown in FIG. 42 (r
ent2). When the leading edge of the document is detected by the image destination sensor 37 (rent3), the separation motor 52 is turned off, and at the same time, the document is fed to the platen 105 at the above-described standby reading image destination standby position (one upstream from the following reading image destination H). side)
CP driving belt motor 51 to stop at
The flow reading standby position counter that counts the belt motor drive clock generated inside U301 is started (rent4). The belt motor is decelerated and stopped (rent 5) at the time when the flow-reading standby position counter that has started is finished. At this time, the distance required for extinction is subtracted from the flow reading standby position counter.

The distance 1 from the flow-reading image leading position H to the flow-reading standby position is 1 when the belt motor 51 is started up at a specified speed (v) from the main body 100 in the clockwise movement process described later. When L3 is the distance until the peripheral speed of is stable, it is an arbitrary distance that satisfies the following relationship.

However, in the high-speed continuous transfer mode, this limitation is removed. (Movement Processing) (Available for Flowing Reading Processing) A moving processing (avoiding scanning processing) will be described with reference to FIG.

In the moving process (which also serves as the continuous flow process), the entire surface belt 40 is driven and the original is passed through the sheet path PH.
5, in order to move within the PH6, the belt motor 51 in the flow reading mode (including the mixed mode)
At the flow-reading speed (V) designated by 0, the belt motor drive clock is driven at an arbitrary speed in the high-speed continuous feed mode, and the belt motor drive clock generated inside the CPU 301 driving the belt motor 51 is started to count. At this time, an image edge counter corresponding to the distance 1 from the flow-reading image destination Η to the flow-reading standby position and a stop corresponding to the amount of deceleration stop loss subtracted from the distance from the fixed image-reading destination G to the flow-reading standby position Count two of the counters (mvl). When the image destination counter ends, an image destination signal is transmitted to the main body 100 (mv2). Further, the belt motor 51 continues to move, and when the stop counter ends, the belt motor 51 is decelerated and stopped (mv3).

As a result, the document passes through the flow-reading image destination Η at a predetermined speed (the speed (v) specified by the main body 100), which enables the main-body 100 to form the flow-reading image and at the same time, the fixed-reading can be performed. The movement to the image destination G can be completed. After that, the main body 100 is provided with the optical system 13 if necessary.
As described above, it is also possible to perform the fixed document reading in which the image is read by moving the image reading unit 3. (Clockwise Paper Discharge Processing) The clockwise paper discharge processing will be described with reference to FIG.

In the clockwise discharge processing, the platen 10
In order to eject the document on 5, the belt motor 51 / reversing motor 55 is turned on at a specified speed (v) from the main body 100 in the flow reading mode (including the mix mode) and at an arbitrary speed in the high speed continuous feeding mode ( If the document is conveyed from the sheet path P7 to the sheet path P2 and the leading edge of the document is detected by the paper discharge sensor 39 (dlejctl).
2) Then, the paper discharge motor 61 is turned on at an arbitrary speed higher than the speed of the reversing motor 55 (dlejct3), and when the paper discharge sensor 39 detects the trailing edge of the document (dlejc).
t4), the reversing motor 55 is turned off, and the discharge counter for determining the distance for discharging the document onto the document tray 2 is started while the discharge motor 61 is performing the low speed control for stacking the discharged sheets. (Dlejct5). When the paper discharge counter is completed (dlejct6), the paper discharge motor 61 is turned off (dlejct7), and a paper discharge drop timer that starts an interval until the document falls on the document tray 2 is started (dl
ejct8) and after the completion (dlejct9), the closed-loop paper ejection jogging process is performed to align the ejected documents (dlejctlO), and the clockwise paper ejection process is completed. (Switchback separation process) The switchback separation process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the switchback separation process, if the first document is the first document (lsepal), the recycle motor 58 is turned on to operate the recycle lever 3 for detecting the break of the document bundle P, and at the same time, the document bundle P is detected. The separation motor 52 is turned on to carry out the judgment (lsep
a2). Further, a jogging process, which will be described later, is performed to align the document bundle P in the width direction (lsepa3). Then, when the jogging process is completed, the shutter solenoid 72 is turned on (lse to lower the shutter 41 so that only the lowest document in the document stack is separated).
If the switchback registration sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the document (lsepa5), the speed control for starting the separation motor 52 at a low speed is started, and the separation loop timer is started (lsep).
a6) After this set time is over (lsepa7), the separation motor 52 is turned off (lsepa8), so that the original can be abutted against the nip portion of the registration roller pair 6, 6'at a low speed, so that the original is prevented from being damaged. At the same time, the collision noise can be reduced, and further, the vehicle stops when a predetermined amount of loop is formed. As a result, even if skewing occurs at the time of separation, the skewing is corrected.

Further, in order to reduce the time required for document replacement, the separation motor 52 and the reversing motor 55 are driven at an arbitrary speed, and at the same time, a pre-set timer of an arbitrary value is started (lsepa9), and after this timer ends ( lsepa
lO), the separation motor 52, and the reversing motor 55 are turned off to complete the advance operation (lsepall). (Switchback Paper Feeding Process) The switchback paper feeding process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the switchback paper feeding process, the belt motor 5 is driven in order to drive the registration roller pair 6, 6'and the entire surface belt 40 to convey the original document to the sheet path PН1.
1. The reversing motor 55 is turned on, and at the same time, the size check counter for counting by the clock signal input from the reversing motor encoder detection sensor 57 is started (lentl). Then, at the same time when the document is conveyed and its rear end passes through the registration sensor 32 (lent2), the size check counter is stopped (ent3), and the document size is determined by the size check process shown in FIG. 43 based on the data. In addition, copy the original to platen 1
The registration counter that counts the belt motor drive clock generated inside the CPU 301 that drives the belt motor 51 to stop at a predetermined position on 05 is started (lent3). At the time when the started registration counter ends (lent4), the belt motor is decelerated and stopped to accurately stop the document (lent5). At this time, the value of the registration counter is
The loss for deceleration shall be subtracted. (Intermittent Paper Discharge Process) The intermittent paper discharge process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the intermittent paper discharge process, the platen 105
In order to eject the upper original, the belt motor 51 / reverse motor 55 is turned on at an arbitrary speed (lejctl), the original is conveyed from the sheet path P7 to the sheet path P2, and the front end of the original is detected by the paper ejection sensor 39. When it is detected (lejc
t2), the paper discharge motor 61 is turned on at an arbitrary speed higher than the speed of the reversing motor 55 (lejct3), and when the paper discharge sensor 39 detects the trailing edge of the document (lejct).
4) The reversing motor 55 is turned off, and the discharge motor 61 is controlled at a low speed for discharging and stacking the discharged document while the document tray 2 is loaded.
A paper discharge counter that determines the distance for discharging the paper upward is started (lejct5). When the paper discharge counter ends (lejct6), the paper discharge motor 61 is turned off (lej
ct7), and activates the discharge drop timer that takes an interval until the document falls on the document tray 2 (lejct
8) After the end (lejct9), a paper ejection jogging process is performed to align the ejected documents (lejctlO),
The intermittent paper discharge process ends. (Jogging Process) The flow of the jogging process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The jogging process initializes JOG-CN that determines the number of times the jogging is first performed (jog-CN).
l), the jog solenoid 77 for pushing out the jog guide of the width regulating member is turned on, and at the same time, a timer JOG-TM that can be set arbitrarily is started (jog-TM).
2) When the timer JOG-TM has finished the set time (jog3), the jogging solenoid 77 is turned off to return the jogging guide to the initial state, and the timer JOG-TM is started (jog4) in the same manner as above, and the timer When the set time is over, increase the number of times jogging is performed (jog5), and the jogging guide's round-trip path becomes 3
Until the process ends (jog6), the process returns to (jog2) and is repeated. As a result, the document stack P is aligned in the width direction, and skewing, lateral registration, etc. can be prevented. (Paper Discharge Jogging Processing) The flow of the paper discharge jogging processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The discharge jogging process is performed by the jogging solenoid 7 for pushing out the jogging guide of the width regulating member.
Timer EJO that can be set at the same time when 7 is turned on
Start G-TM (ejogl), timer EJ
When CT_JOG-TM finishes the set time (ejog
2) The jogging solenoid 77 is turned off to return the jogging guide to its initial state (ejog3). As a result, the document stack P is aligned in the width direction, and skewing, lateral registration, etc. can be prevented. (Closed Loop Discharge Jogging Processing) The flow of the closed loop discharge jogging processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The discharge jogging process is performed by the jogging solenoid 7 for pushing out the jogging guide of the width regulating member.
Timer EJC which can be set at the same time when 7 is turned on
When T_JOG-TM is started (dejogl) and the timer EJCT_JOG_TM has finished the set time (dejog2), the jogging solenoid 77 is turned off (dejo) to return the jogging guide to the initial state.
g3). As a result, the document stack P is aligned in the width direction,
It is possible to prevent skewing and lateral cash register.

After the above processing is completed, the bundle conveying motor 60 is turned on in the F direction, and at the same time, the timer EJ which can be arbitrarily set.
Start CT_LJOG_TM (dejog
4) When the timer EJCT_LJOG_TM has finished the set time (dejog 5), the timer EJCT_L which can be arbitrarily set at the same time as stopping the bundle conveying motor 60
Start JOG_WAIT_TM (dejog
6), after EJCT_LJOG_WAIT_TM ends (d
7), a timer EJCT_L that can be arbitrarily set at the same time when the bundle conveying motor 60 is turned on in the direction opposite to F
When JOG_TM is started (dejog8) and the timer EJCT_LJOG_TM ends the set time (dejog9), the bundle conveying motor 60 is stopped (d).
ejoglO). (Size Check Processing) The size check subroutine will be described with reference to FIG.

In this size check subroutine, as the document size determination means, the size check counter data is added with the distance from the nip position of the registration roller pair 6, 6'to the registration sensor 32 and the amount of advancement performed in the left separation processing. The corrected size becomes the true original size.
At this time, the original is conveyed by the pair of registration rollers 6 and 6 ', and the feed amount and the count value by the clock from the reversing motor encoder detection sensor 57 surely match. After that, according to the corrected size data, A5, B
Size determination of 5, A4, B5R, A4R, B4, A3, etc. is performed. (Clockwise Size Check Process) The clockwise size check subroutine will be described with reference to FIG.

In the clockwise size check subroutine, the size check counter data is used as the document size determination means in the size check counter data for the distance from the nip position of the closed loop registration roller 11 to the closed loop registration sensor 36 and the amount of advancement performed in the clockwise separation process. The true original size is obtained by adding and correcting. At this time, the document is being conveyed by the closed loop registration roller 11, and the feed amount and the count value by the clock from the CP registration motor encoder detection sensor 66 surely match. After that, according to the corrected size data, A5, B5, A4, B5R, A4R, B
4, size determination such as A3 is performed. <Other Embodiments> In this embodiment, when the original copy is performed in the mixed mode, the first sheet at the time of exchanging the original is scanned while being scanned by scanning, and is transferred, and the remaining number of times of scanning is reciprocally moved by the optical system. According to the embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the scanning is performed by fixing the originals and scanning the number of copies for one original.
For example, when scanning n times, the first n-
In FIG. 1, the same effect can be obtained even if the original is fixed and scanning is performed by the reciprocating movement of the optical system, and the original is exchanged while scanning the last one scanning while scanning.

FIG. 18 shows the arrangement of the optical system that enables the above configuration. G is the first image destination during fixed reading scanning by fixing the original and reciprocating the optical system, and the optical system reciprocates in the Q direction when the original is set. In this state, the first n-1 scannings are repeated. In FIG. 18A, after the scanning is completed n-1 times, the optical system has an auxiliary feeding distance (in FIG. 5 (h)) corresponding to the rising of the original 1 from the G to the H reading image destination at a constant speed (flow reading speed). 18 (b), which is moved to the left and locked (distance corresponding to l ₁ ). Then, in that state, the original 1 is transferred to the left side of the platen while the nth scanning of the first original is being scanned and read (FIG. 18C). At the same time, the positioning of the second document is stopped at the image destination G when scanning the fixed document. At that time, the exposure position of the optical system is set at the time when the trailing edge of the first original has finished the flow reading.
Moving from H to G again, scanning is continued by moving the optical system. By repeating the above operation, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the drawing, the rising advance distance of the optical system at the time of scanning due to the movement of the optical system is omitted, but in reality, a predetermined amount of auxiliary distance is required.

[0138]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By enabling both scanning and fixed scanning in combination, it is possible to perform non-stop scanning during sheet document replacement operation, and it is possible to perform non-scanning scanning of the next original during sheet original replacement operation. It becomes possible and normally, the exchange operation is performed at the linear speed TOP of about 1300 ^mm / _sec. However, even if the document exchange speed is not increased, the document exchange is performed at the same speed as the image forming process speed of about 500 ^mm / _sec. be able to.

Further, since the required productivity in reading the sheet original is obtained, the reliability for noise reduction and original damage prevention is improved while maintaining high productivity.

Further, when determining the positional relationship between the flow-reading image destination and the fixed read-image image destination, the sheet original is stopped and the start-up control (minimum distance required to reach the flow-reading speed) is taken into consideration. Means, sheet originals, etc. are arranged, and the paper interval between the preceding original document and the subsequent original document is kept constant, and continuous reading and fixed reading are possible, so high productivity, noise reduction, and original damage The reliability of prevention is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic document feeder (RDF) applied to an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing a configuration of a drive system of the RDF.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the image forming apparatus in which the RDF is also mounted.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the RDF showing the flow of sheet originals in the mixed mode.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the RDF showing the flow of the sheet original in the mixed mode.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the RDF showing the flow of the sheet original in the mixed mode.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the RDF showing the flow of the sheet original in the mixed mode.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the RDF showing the flow of the sheet original in the mixed mode.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the relationship between the flow reading position and the fixed reading position.

FIG. 10 is a rising waveform diagram of the belt drive motor.

FIG. 11 is a positional relationship diagram between a sheet original and a conveyance roller.

FIG. 12 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the operation of the sheet original, the optical system, and the copy sheet in the same mix mode.

FIG. 13 is a schematic explanatory diagram of operations of a sheet original, an optical system, and a copy sheet in the same mixed mode.

FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory diagram of operations of the sheet original, the optical system, and the copy sheet in the same mix mode.

FIG. 15 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the operation of the sheet original, the optical system, and the copy sheet in the same mix mode.

FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory diagram of operations of the sheet original, the optical system, and the copy sheet in the same mix mode.

FIG. 17 is a schematic explanatory view of the operation of the sheet original, the optical system, and the copy sheet in the mixed mode.

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional side view of an RDF applied to an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal side view of the proposed ADF.

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal side view of the proposed ADF.

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal side view of the proposed RDF.

FIG. 22 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional side view of the optical system when the sheet original is at the first image destination (original fixed reading).

FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the optical system unit at the home position.

FIG. 24 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional side view of the optical system when the sheet original is at the second image destination (original flow scanning).

FIG. 25 is a side view of an optical system drive pulley and an optical system lock mechanism.

FIG. 26 is an operation diagram of the pin lever when the optical system is locked.

FIG. 27 is an RD applied to the image forming apparatus according to the invention.
The block diagram of the control apparatus of F.

FIG. 28 is a main flowchart of the operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a flow chart of the flow-reading copy mode (including mix mode).

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of high speed continuous transfer mode.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a normal switchback mode.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of tray-up processing of the same.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of tray down processing of the same.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a bundle carrying process.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a clockwise separation process.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a clockwise paper feeding process.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of movement processing (also serves as flow-reading processing in the flow-reading mode).

FIG. 38 is a flowchart of a clockwise paper discharge process.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of switchback classification processing.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart of the left side paper feeding process.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of the same intermittent discharge processing.

FIG. 42 is a flow chart of a size check subroutine.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of a clockwise size check subroutine.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart of the jogging process.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a paper discharge jogging process.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart of closed loop paper ejection jogging processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

P sheet original PH3 sheet original transport path A direction Switchback path Paper feeding direction B direction Closed loop path Paper feeding direction C direction Switchback path Paper feeding direction E direction Manual paper ejection direction F direction Closed loop separation direction G Fixed reading destination H Flow Image reading destination I direction Tray descending direction J direction Bundle transport direction l ₁ Distance from the flow reading image destination to the flow reading standby position l ₂ Distance required for the sheet document to substantially stop l First feed amount 1 (n, n-1) ) Space between originals in mixed mode (rear edge to leading edge) ls Run-up area (rise distance) C0 Leading distance when rotating clockwise Ll CP distance required for stable start up of registration roller L2 CP distance from registration roller to image sensor L3 Full-belt start-up and distance required for stability L4 Fixed reading image destination G to flow reading image destination H
Distance L5 Distance from the fixed image destination G to the nip position of the closed loop registration roller pair 11 1 Circular automatic document feeder (RDF) 2 Sheet stacking table (processing tray) 20 Tray position detection sensor 40 Conveyor belt (entire surface) Belt) 100 image forming apparatus 105 platen glass 133 exposure unit of optical system (reading unit) 300 control unit (control unit)

Front page continued (72) Inventor Riki Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichi Nakamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akemi Yoshida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshinori Isobe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tokuji Kaneko 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshio Mizuno 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yasuhide Hishikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading a sheet original on a platen glass and an automatic document feeder for feeding the sheet original on the platen glass, and the image reading unit at an arbitrary position. In an image forming apparatus capable of image flow scanning for reading an image during conveyance of a sheet document which is fixed and is fed by the document automatic conveyance device, a document which is waiting at a predetermined position on the platen at the time of the image flow reading. The distance between the document leading edge standby position on the platen and the flow reading image destination position so that the document moving speed when the leading edge reaches the flow reading image destination position is equal to the flow reading scanning speed. Is arranged so as to have a predetermined run-up section, and has a control circuit for enabling the document moving operation. 2. An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading a sheet original on a platen glass and an automatic document feeder for feeding the sheet original on the platen glass, and the image reading unit at an arbitrary position. An image is scanned by scanning an image while the sheet document is fixed and is fed by the automatic document feeder, and the sheet document is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the platen, and then the image reading means is moved to move the image. In an image forming apparatus capable of continuously performing fixed reading scanning for reading the document, the document moving speed when the leading end of the document waiting at a predetermined position on the platen reaches the flow reading image destination position during the image flow reading , The distance between the document leading edge standby position on the platen and the flow reading image destination position on the platen so as to be the same as the flow reading scanning speed. It was arranged to have a predetermined approach section, and an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a control circuit which makes it possible the original movement. 3. An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading a sheet original on a platen glass and an automatic document feeder for feeding the sheet original on the platen glass, and the image reading unit at an arbitrary position. The image is read while the sheet document is fixed and is fed by the automatic document feeder, and the image is read and scanned, and then the sheet document is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the platen, and then the image reading unit is moved. In an image forming apparatus capable of continuously performing a fixed reading scan for reading an image, between the flow reading exposure position and a reading start position of a reading unit in an original fixed reading scan for moving the image reading unit to read an image. The feature is that the distance consists of the maximum scannable size length and the deceleration stop stop run distance of the drive system. An image forming apparatus. 4. The leading edge of the sheet-reading original document and the next original sheet are synchronized with the stoppage of the next original sheet from the standby position in synchronization with the stoppage of the transfer operation for the following sheet-reading scanning. A standby position where the next original is fed and scanned when the original and the next original are transported while the leading original is stopped at the fixed fixed reading position after the original reading is completed and the original reading is completed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the positions of the flow-reading image destination and the fixed image-reading destination and the run-up distance are set so that the distance relationship is such that the image is stopped at a predetermined distance. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the flow-reading document standby position is located inside the platen.