JPS6052438A - Automatic selecting apparatus for form-sheet size - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the labor for the selective operation for the form-sheet size by selecting the form-sheet size according to the priority order registered beforehand, when the operation is started after the assigned size is reset, in a copying machine equipped with at least three paper feeding cassettes or paper feeding trays. CONSTITUTION:The priority order is determined beforehand on the basis of the size of a form sheet, and the priority order of N pieces (N>=3) of paper feeding cassettes is memorized into a memory 23 by a register switch 22. The state of the memorized second memory 25 is detected on the basis of the operation of a size assigning switch 24 after the input of a start instruction, and the output signal corresponding to the assigned size is output into an actuator 30. When size assignment reset mode is formed or a user does not assign the size of a form sheet, an instruction is transmitted into the actuator 30 so that the supply is carried-out from the cassette for the form-sheet size having the higher priority order, on the basis of the outputs of the form-sheet size sensors 31-30+N.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic paper size selection device, and particularly to a copying machine having N (N≧3) paper feed cassettes or paper feed trays. The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically selecting paper according to a preset priority order based on paper size.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in a copying machine equipped with multiple paper feed trays (or paper feed cassettes), when the paper size specification is reset, the paper size selection is based on the installation position of the tray.
For example, priorities are determined based on whether the trays are in the upper or lower trays, or depending on the amount of paper that can be accommodated (which tray has the largest capacity), and processing is performed based on these priorities. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in demand for copying machines that use paper feed cassettes 1.2.3 consisting of multiple stages of three or more stages as shown in Figure 1. The control process was complicated and difficult to determine and execute.

Also, a method has been considered in which the lower stage is an elevator tray and the upper and middle stages are cassettes.

In this case as well, the 201 priority size is A4, for example, and by specifying the upper row, the
Even if the user is supposed to select a paper feed cassette of size , there is a possibility that the user accessing the paper may switch to other cassettes one after another. Then, for example, As
When an A4 size paper cassette is installed in the lower shelf, and the user tries to resume copying after the previous specified size has been reset, the user wants size A, but 1 is displayed. Since priority is given to the upper row, paper of size A and size K will be fed as is. Therefore, in order to press the button for supplying the A size paper, it was necessary to operate the cassette designation switch again and set the designated cassette to the lower stage, which was a hassle.

Furthermore, when multiple trays are used, it is difficult and complicated to control the selection order of the trays depending on which tray can accommodate a large amount of paper.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and even if the user randomly replaces cassettes, the cassettes or trays can be changed according to the priority order based on the initially registered size without having to re-register the specified cassette. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper size selection device that allows selection of +i).

[Structure of the invention]

In a copying machine equipped with a large number of paper feed trays or paper feed cassettes, the selection criteria for selecting which tray or cassette to feed paper from is not based on the storage location of the paper feed tray or paper feed cassette. (Use an automatic paper size selection device configured to first register paper size priorities and supply paper from the corresponding cassette according to the priority order.) Rather than being busy,
This aims to achieve the above objective.

In other words, especially if you do not set the specified size again, first determine whether or not the paper size registered as number 1 (priority order) exists, and if it exists, select the paper cassette of that size. Select, if no, second
Automatic selection is performed in five steps: determining whether or not the paper size registered as the number exists.

Therefore, even if you run out of paper midway through, if you do not specify paper again, paper of the desired size will be automatically selected according to the registered priority order.
Copying continues.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An automatic paper size selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figure 2, this paper size automatic selection device consists of a control circuit consisting of a processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) lO, its peripheral circuits, and an actuator that executes commands issued by this control circuit. It consists of 30. When the control circuit starts copying other than the CPU,
a start switch 21 for starting calculation;
a registration switch 22 for registering paper size priorities;
First memory 23 for storing registered priorities
, a size designation switch 24 for setting the designated size halfway after starting, a second memory 25 for storing the designated paper size, and detection of the paper size of the paper feed cassette installed in the first stage. A first sensor 31 detects the paper size of the paper feed cassette installed in the second stage, and a second sensor 32 detects the paper size of the paper feed cassette installed in the Nth stage. The controller is configured to have an N-th sensor (30+N) that detects information from these peripheral circuits, and the CPU calculates the information from these peripheral circuits, and causes the actuator 30 to execute a command based on the result of the calculation.

Next, the specific control operation of the paper size automatic selection control circuit 1 will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the user determines the priority order based on the paper size, and presses the registration switch 22 to select the first &j! When the first size to the Nth priority size are registered, the priority order is registered. (Step 101) Then, a start operation (Step 102) is entered.

Next, the state of the second memory 25 based on the operation of the size designation switch 24 is detected, and it is determined whether the user has designated the paper size. (Step 103
) Then, the user specifies the paper size (y
Hls), reads the user-specified size and instructs the actuator 301C to supply the read paper size (step 104).Next, check whether the size specification reset mode (Job RecoveryMode) (hereinafter referred to as recursive mode) is entered. If not, the process returns to the user-specified size supply operation (step 104). (Line 201) Also, when the recursive mode is entered again (Line 202) and when the user has not specified the paper size (
Line 203) detects the presence or absence of paper of the first size by sensor I (step 106), M↓l[
When paper of the previous size exists (yhs) (line 2o4), the actuator is commanded to feed from the cassette of the registered paper size (step 1o).
7) After this, return to the start and repeat the same operations, starting with the operation to determine whether the user has specified the paper size (step 1o3).
.

Furthermore, when there is no paper of the first destination size (IJ O) (line 2o5), the sensor 11 detects the presence or absence of the paper of the second priority size (step 108). When a paper cassette of the second priority size exists (ygs) (line 209), the actuator is commanded to supply paper from the cassette of the paper size. IC step 109) After this, the process returns to the start and repeats the operation (step 103) of determining whether or not the user has specified the paper size.

K) Togi s where paper of the second priority size does not exist
(NO) (line 21O), the presence or absence of paper of the third priority size is detected by the sensor (2) trap. (Step 110)
When paper of the third priority size exists (YB!8
) (line 211) commands the actuator to supply paper from the cassette of the paper size in question (step 111). After that, the process returns to the start and again determines whether the user has specified the paper size (
Similar operations are repeated from step 103).

In this way, paper selection is automatically performed according to the pre-registered priority order. Furthermore, even if the paper runs out during copying, the paper is automatically selected according to the priority order, so copying can be continued without the need to operate the size designation switch again.

As described above, according to the paper size automatic selection device 1,
Even if the user randomly sects the cassette, the paper size according to the first registered priority is always selected during recursion, so the desired size paper can be selected without having to perform selection operations again. supply can be carried out.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, paper is supplied from the paper cassette (or tray) based on the paper size rather than the position of the paper cassette.
If the designated size for copying or copying is reset after one user randomly replaces the caret, the trap will also automatically supply paper of the desired size according to the pre-registered priority order. It is possible to save the effort of performing a paper size selection (designation) operation again. Also, if you run out of paper while copying, if you do not select the paper size again, the next priority size paper will be selected and you can continue copying. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a copying machine having a normal three-stage cassette, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic paper size selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the specific control operation of a control circuit. 1, 2.3... Paper feed cassette, 10... Central processing if, 21... Start switch, 22... Registration switch, 23... First memory, 24... Size specification Switch, 25...Second memory, 30...Actuator, 31...Sensor ■, 32...Sensor ■.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a copying machine that has N1 (N≧3) paper feed cassettes or paper feed trays, the priority order of paper sizes is registered in advance from 1st to Nth, and copying is performed after the specified size is reset. An automatic paper size selection device comprising a control system configured to always select a paper size according to the priority order at the start of operation.