JP2601973B2 - Automatic paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic paper feeder for selectively feeding desired paper from a plurality of types of paper set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper feeder in a copying machine or the like has a cassette type in which a cassette containing a large number of papers is mounted on a paper supply unit and feeds the paper in the cassette, or a paper supply tray for a large number of sheets. 2. Description of the Related Art A tray-type automatic paper feeder, which is placed on a paper tray and feeds the loaded papers one by one by a separation unit or the like, is widely used. If a paper feeder of this type is provided at two or more levels in the paper feeder of a copying machine and the paper is selectively fed of paper of two or more sizes, a plurality of frequently used papers can be loaded. By doing so, it is possible to omit a troublesome operation of exchanging a desired paper cassette or the like.

[0003] That Come to taking sheet feeder cassette type, if set the cassette accommodating the sheet of A ₄ and B ₄ size sheet feeding unit of the copying machine, the paper of a desired size from among the By selecting, paper is automatically fed. In a copier or the like having a paper feed mechanism capable of setting several types of paper in this manner, paper is automatically supplied by selecting a desired size of paper set without replacing a cassette or the like one by one. Paper is very useful.

However, it is often the case that paper of a size that is frequently used is desired to be used not only for the loaded paper but also for paper of another size. In such a case, it is necessary to exchange cassettes, for example, by pulling out one cassette mounted on the upper or lower tier and setting a cassette containing sheets to be used in this portion. At the time of this replacement, if the cassette side selected last time has been replaced, even if the print switch is operated as it is, the replaced desired paper is automatically fed, and no copy size error or the like occurs. But,
When exchanging cassettes, it is not always the case that the cassette selected last time is exchanged, and if exchanged, the user mistakenly thinks that the exchanged cassette has been selected, or selects the exchanged cassette after exchanging the cassette Often, you forget to do something. For this reason, the paper of the exchanged size is not fed, and the undesired paper is automatically fed from the cassette that has been installed before, which often causes a copying error.

If a sheet larger in size than the desired sheet is fed, all necessary images can be copied, and the copy can be used as it is, although the sheet is wasted. However, if a sheet smaller than the sheet of the exchanged size is stored in the other cassette, only a part of a necessary image can be copied, and a copy error occurs. for that reason,
After the operation of selecting the cassette again, the print switch is operated to perform the copying operation again, which is a waste of time and paper.

Therefore, automatic selection has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-75665, entitled "Paper Feeding Method of Recording Apparatus", so that the above-mentioned troublesome work can be omitted. In this example, detecting means for detecting the mounting of a cassette and the presence or absence of a sheet in the cassette are provided in the upper and lower cassette mounting sections, and the cassette is automatically selected in response to the detecting operation of the detecting means.

[0007]

However, as means for realizing Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-75665, it is necessary to detect that the mounted cassette has been pulled out, that is, to set "H" in a state where the cassette is detected. When the signal "L" is output, that is, when no cassette is detected, the sheet feeding means on the side from which the sheet has been pulled out is automatically selected. When the cassette is pulled out, the side from which the cassette has been pulled out is automatically selected in advance before the cassette is mounted and mounted, assuming that the cassette is mounted on the paper feed unit on the side where the cassette has been pulled out. In other words,
According to the method proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-75665, when a cassette is pulled out, it is necessary to select a cassette in advance, that is, automatically select a paper feeding unit on the assumption that another cassette is mounted at that position. become.

Therefore, if a cassette is not mounted, a paper feed unit without a cassette is selected. If the copy switch is operated in this state, no paper is fed, and trouble processing is executed as a paper jam. . for that reason,
The user may distrust the failure of the copier.
Even if the paper is not processed as a paper jam, the copying operation is not started and the copier is erroneously recognized as having failed. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-75665 has a paper feeding means on the selected side, that is, a means for displaying the cassette on the selected side, but this selection display only indicates the side from which the cassette has been pulled out. Is displayed. Therefore, even though there is no cassette, the user selects the paper feeding unit of the cassette and displays this, so that the user may mistakenly mount the cassette.
In other words, since the user wants to select by looking at the display, the user mistakenly thinks that the cassette is mounted in advance, and mistakes the mounting portion. For example, when all the cassettes have been removed, the cassette is finally removed and the mounting section of the cassette is selected and displayed, so that the displayed mounting to the paper feeding section may be mistaken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides an automatic paper feeder that ensures automatic priority selection of a paper feed unit in response to paper being set in one of a plurality of paper feed units. The purpose is to do. Another object of the present invention is to ensure that the paper is set in the paper feeding portion without fail by referring to the display, and that the operation is facilitated to prevent a paper feeding error. is there.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an automatic paper feeder according to the present invention is capable of setting or removing paper in a plurality of paper feed portions provided with paper feed means for feeding paper. It is possible to manually feed the paper by manually selecting the paper feeder with the paper selection key and driving the paper feeder corresponding to the selected paper feed portion in accordance with the paper feed command from the main unit. Detecting means for detecting whether a sheet is set in the sheet feeding portion or in a non-set state where the sheet has been removed; and Irrespective of the detection of the state, in response to the change from the non-set state to the set state, priority selection means for preferentially selecting a paper supply means corresponding to the set side paper; By priority selection means
A storage unit for storing the selected paper supply unit side, a display unit for displaying the selected paper supply unit side, and a storage unit for storing the storage unit.
Drive control of the paper feeding means and the display means according to the contents of the memory
At the same time, the paper selection key and priority selection
The selection operation by the step is prohibited and the contents stored in the storage unit are preserved.
Paper feed section corresponding to the selected paper feed means
The above detection means detects that the paper has been removed
Drive of the selected paper source regardless of the storage contents of the storage unit.
Movement control is stopped, and the detection means
In response to the removal of the selected paper,
Control means for canceling the selection display by the indicating means .

[0011]

The automatic paper feeder according to the above-described configuration of the present invention has the following features.
When the sheet set in a desired one sheet feeding section in the plurality of sheet feeding sections is removed, this removal state is detected by the detecting means. That is, when the sheet set in the sheet feeding portion is removed, the detecting unit detects that the sheet in the sheet feeding portion is not set. In the detection of the non-set state, there is no need to select the sheet feeding unit side of each sheet feeding portion. After the sheet is removed, when a sheet of a desired size is set on the removed sheet feeding portion, the detecting means detects that the sheet is set. Therefore, in response to the change from the non-set state detection by the detection means to the set state, the priority selection means preferentially selects the paper supply means corresponding to the set sheet.

At this time, the priority selection means and the paper selection key
By the selection operation, the storage unit stores the selected sheet feeding means side.
Remember. Therefore, the currently selected paper source is displayed on the display.
Is displayed to let you know the selected paper size, etc.
It becomes possible. Therefore , during the non-copying operation, when the sheet in the selected sheet feeding portion is removed, the selection display is canceled (turned off). By canceling the display, it is possible to know the paper feed portion where the paper is not set, and it is easily understood that the paper needs to be set in the paper feed portion. Further, when the sheet of the currently selected sheet feeding portion is erroneously removed during the copying operation, the sheet feeding means corresponding to the sheet feeding portion records.
Are stored in the storage unit, so that
Sometimes maintained. Therefore , referring to the display on the side where the paper is selected, the paper can be set without fail on the paper supply portion on the removed side. Moreover, the contents of the storage
Regardless of the paper source selected,
Detection of removal of paper prevents drive control of the paper feeding means
Is done. Therefore, if the paper being fed out runs out halfway,
The paper feed operation is not performed even if the paper command is output,
Do not fall into trouble due to jam detection etc.
No.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a copying machine provided with an automatic paper feeder according to the present invention. In the figure, 1
Is a power switch, 2 is a document cover for covering a document table made of a transparent glass plate on which the document is provided provided on the copying machine body,
Reference numeral 3 denotes an operation unit of a copying machine, 4 denotes a print switch, 5 denotes a paper storage cassette mounted on an upper paper supply unit, 6 denotes a paper storage cassette mounted on a lower paper supply unit, and 7 denotes paper after copying is completed. Receiving tray.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the operation unit 3 includes a numerical key 31 for setting the number of copies, an erasure key 32 for erasing the contents such as the number of copies, and an interrupt for performing another copy during continuous copying. Each key has a key 33 and a paper selection key 34 for selecting the mounted cassettes 5 and 6. Reference numeral 35 denotes a display device for displaying the set number of copies, reference numeral 36 denotes a display lamp for indicating the operation of the interrupt key 33, and reference numeral 37 denotes an interlocked with the paper selection key 34 for the cassettes 5 and 6 mounted on the upper or lower stage. A display lamp 38 indicates a selected one, and a reference numeral 38 denotes a size display section for displaying a sheet size in the cassette on the selected side. That is, once the paper selection key 34 is pressed, the lower cassette 6 has been selected, but the upper cassette 5 has been selected as shown in FIG. 3A. At this time, A
₄ size display unit 38 if the paper is intended to be accommodated in the cassette 5 of the sizes, A ₄ of the lamp is lighted. When the paper selection key 34 is pressed again in this state, the lower paper feed unit is selected, and the display lamp 37b indicating the lower paper is turned on as shown in FIG. The size display unit 38 as long as paper to be accommodated in the lower cassette 6 is A ₃ Size
A ₃ of the lamp is lit. Selection of the loaded cassette is performed as described above.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 39 denotes an indicator lamp for performing various checks, such as when a sheet is jammed in the transport path, when the sheet in the cassette runs out, or when maintenance is required. The lamp is driven in
Tell it.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the upper and lower paper feed units according to the present invention. The upper and lower paper feed units are provided with paper feed rollers 9 and 10, respectively, facing the mounting position of the cassette 5.6. Although not shown in the drawing, the paper feed rollers 9, 10 are provided via a one-turn mechanism. 10 rotates one time, and feeds one sheet of paper in the cassette to a transport roller in the main body of the copying machine. The one-rotation mechanism is selectively driven by a selective bias of a solenoid or the like to rotate the corresponding paper feed roller 9 or 10 one rotation.

Four detection switches 1 for detecting the size of the mounted cassette are provided on the front of the mounting portion of the cassette.
1 and 12 are provided respectively. Detection switch 11, 1
2 is pressed by projections corresponding to the size provided on the cassette side, and the cassette size, that is, the paper size is detected based on the state of these projections. Here, if the detection switches 11 _-1 and 12 _-1 are used for detecting the presence or absence of a cassette, eight cassette sizes (paper sizes) can be detected by a combination of the remaining three switches.
Further, in order to detect the presence or absence of a sheet in the loaded cassette 5 or 6, the light receiving element 113 is opposed to the light-emitting lamps 13 and 14 with the cassette interposed therebetween.
114 are provided. On the side of the cassettes 5 and 6, the light emitting lamp 1 is set in a state where there is no paper in the cassette.
A detection window is provided for light 3 and 14 to reach the light receiving elements 113 and 114. When the light receiving elements 113 and 114 receive the light, that is, when the sheet is detected as "absent", the check indicating lamp 39 is turned on to indicate the sheet, and the user is notified that there is no sheet. At this time, if there is no more paper in the selected cassette, the lamp is turned on. However, if sheets are stored in the cassette on the selected side, the lamp does not light even if there is no paper in the cassette on the non-selected side.

According to the sheet feeding device of such a configuration described above, if the cassette 5, 6 accommodating the paper A _4, A ₃ size above lower stage are respectively attached, the user operates the paper selection key 34 Then, after confirming that the lamp of the desired size of paper is turned on, the print switch 4 is pressed. As a result, the paper feed roller 9 or 10 on the selected size side is driven by one rotation, and copying can be performed on a sheet of a desired size. For example, when performing a copy on paper of A ₄ size, viewed size display unit 38 by operating the paper selection key 34, to confirm that the A ₄ size of the lamp is lit, by operating the print switch 4, copying No mistakes are made. In this case, if I know that wearing the cassette 5 of A ₄ size in the upper, select showing the upper by operating the paper selection key 34 lamp 37a
May be operated, and the print switch 4 may be operated. When the print switch 4 is operated and copying is performed in this way, if the paper in the cassette runs out, the paper "NO" lamp is lit to indicate that the paper needs to be replenished.

The present invention not only automatically feeds paper of a desired size by the above-described selection operation but also replaces a cassette (paper) to be used without performing a selection operation when a cassette (paper) to be used is replaced. It also has a configuration to automatically feed the paper inside. In other words, if you want to use paper B ₄ size, pull out the upper cassette 5, B
If a cassette accommodating sheets of _four sizes is mounted on the upper stage, the upper stage paper feed roller 9 is automatically selected even if the lower stage was previously selected. Even if the upper row is selected, the upper row is selected as it is. The exchange of the cassette, FIG lamp 37a indicating that the upper is selected lights as (C), the lamp showing a B ₄ Size display unit 38 is turned on.

According to the present invention, when one of the cassettes is pulled out, a cassette side different from the side from which the cassette has been pulled out is selectively displayed. This cassette 5,6 accommodating the paper A _4, A ₃ size paper feed section of the upper and lower as shown in FIG. 1
In a state but which is mounted, when the now upper cassette is selected, if leaves the upper A ₄ size cassette, Fig 3
An indicator lamp 37 indicating the lower cassette as shown in FIG.
b is lit, it is displayed size such A ₃ simultaneously.

In the case where the cassette is automatically selected as described above, a cassette completely different from the side where the selected sheet is fed during the copying operation is preferentially selected.
An undesired size of paper is fed. In order to prevent this, the present invention inhibits the sheet selection during the copying operation, and always maintains the selected cassette side.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration for realizing the above operation. Figure 11- ₁ and 12- ₁ are detection switch described in FIG. 4 for detecting the cassette 5 and 6 are attached to upper and lower. Detection switches 11-1, 12-1
Are grounded via respective resistors, and the other side is supplied with power + VD. The output of each resistor (voltage generated at the resistor) is supplied to one input terminal of AND gates 48 and 49. Outputs of the AND gates 48 and 49 are connected to a set terminal S and a reset terminal R of a flip-flop 55 composed of two NAND gates via inverters 51 and 52 and differentiating circuits 53 and 54, respectively. Further, each of the connection sections is connected to one input terminal of NOR gates 58 and 59 via differentiating circuits 56 and 57. The other input terminals of the NOR gates 58 and 59 are connected to the inverter 5
Output signals from the first and the second 52 are supplied. The outputs of the NOR gates 58 and 59 are supplied to the reset terminal R and the set terminal S of the flip-flop 55 via the inverters 60 and 61.

The set and reset outputs Q and Q of the flip-flop 55 are applied to respective input terminals of AND gates 62 and 63. The AND gates 62 and 63
The other input terminal is provided with detection signals U and D applied to detection switches 11-1 and 12-1 for detecting the mounting of the upper or lower cassette, respectively. These gates 62, 6
The output of 3 drives the upper and lower display lamps 37a and 37b in the operation unit 3 via the switching circuit 64.

The set and reset outputs Q and / Q of the flip-flop 55 are supplied to input terminals of AND gates 65 and 66 via AND gates 62 and 63. To the other input terminals of the AND gates 65 and 66, a paper feed signal is supplied from a copy control circuit 67 of the copier body in order to feed paper. Therefore, a sheet feed signal is supplied to the next-stage switching circuit 68 via the AND gates 65 and 66, and the switching circuit 68 drives the solenoids 110 and 120 used to drive the sheet feed roller 11 or 12 one rotation. . Here, solenoid 1
Reference numerals 10 and 120 rotate the upper and lower paper feed rollers 11 and 12, and when a paper feed signal is output from the AND gate 65, the solenoid 110 is driven via the switching circuit 68.

[0025] In the circuit configuration as described above, if the flip-flop 55 is set, is selected upper paper feed unit (paper feed roller 9) is, when it is reset lower sheet feeding portion (feeding <br/> Paper roller 10) is selected. The detection switch 11
When -1 is detected and turned ON, a trigger signal (differential signal) for setting the flip-flop 55 is output from the differentiating circuit 53 in order to select the cassette on which the cassette is mounted. Then, the detection switch 12-1
Is ON, a differential output is derived from the differentiating circuit 54,
The flip-flop 55 is reset. In the above configuration, the sheet feeding unit (sheet feeding unit) in which the flip-flop 55 is selected
Means) A storage unit for storing the side is configured, and whether the detection switches 11-1 and 12-1 arranged in the upper and lower paper feed portions are in a set state in which paper is set in the paper feed portion, Or priority detecting means for detecting whether the sheet is in a non-set state to be removed, and preferentially selecting a sheet feeding means corresponding to the set sheet in response to an output signal from the detecting means. Is composed of inverters 51 and 52 and differentiating circuits 53 and 54.

Further, the NOR gates 58 and 59 are connected to the cassette 5
Or, it detects that 6 has been pulled out, and automatically selects the cassette side that is not pulled out.

In the above case, when the cassette 5 or 6 is pulled out, the other cassette is selected, but this is executed only when the AND gates 48 and 49 are opened. To the other input terminals of the AND gates 48 and 49, a signal 46 indicating that a copying operation is being performed is supplied via an inverter 47. Therefore, during the copying operation, the gate 4
8, 49 is not opened, and only the desired cassette side is selected and this state is not changed irrespective of the insertion / removal of the cassette. For example, even if a lower cassette different from the selected upper cassette is pulled out and inserted again, the mounted cassette is not selected.

The above is the circuit configuration for automatically selecting a cassette by cassette replacement in the present invention. The circuit for selecting the loaded cassette by operating the paper selection key 34 is based on the paper selection key 3
One is grounded and the other is supplied with the power supply VD, and the NOR gate 71,
72 are connected to the respective input terminals. The other input terminal of the AND gate 50 is supplied with a signal 46 during the copying operation. The AND gate 50 and the AND gates 48 and 49 described above output the signal 46 during the copying operation.
Is input via the inverter 47, the priority selection of the paper to be set and the selection operation by the paper selection key 34 are prohibited, and the operation by the above-described priority selection and selection key is enabled while the copying machine is not operating. This constitutes control means. Further, the reset output bar Q and the set output Q of the flip-flop are supplied to the other input terminals of the NOR gates 71 and 72, respectively. And Noah Gate 7
The outputs of 1, 72 are passed through inverters 73 and 74,
The signal is input to the reset terminal R and the set terminal S of the flip-flop 55, respectively. In other words, if the paper selection key 34 is pressed (ON) when the copying machine is not operating, a reset signal is output from the NOR gate 71 if the upper cassette has been selected, and the flip-flop 55 is reset. Is selected.

The inverters 60, 61 and 73, 74
Is an inverter with an open collector, which supplies only the "L" signal to the set and reset terminals of the flip-flop 55 and cuts the "H" signal. Although not shown in the circuit of FIG. 5, the configuration for displaying the size of the cassette mounted on the selected side is based on the detection signals from the cassette size detection switches 11 and 12 shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to light the corresponding lamp of the size display part 38. For example, if the upper stage is selected, the detection signal of the lower stage detection switch 12 is ignored, and the upper stage detection switch 11
The corresponding size lamp is driven by the size signal from the controller.

Next, in order to understand the present invention, the operation of the above circuit configuration will be described step by step.

[0031] Now, the sheet feeding portion in the non-operation of the copying machine, in a state where the cassette is not loaded, the cassette accommodating the sheet of A ₄ size to be used, for example, in the upper sheet feeding unit 5
Attach. With this attachment, the detection switch 11-1 is turned on, the output of the inverter 51 is inverted from “H” to “L”, and the differentiated circuit 53 outputs a differentiated signal. As a result, the differential signal is supplied to the set terminal S of the flip-flop 55, the flip-flop 55 is set, and the output Q thereof becomes "H". This set output Q is applied to an AND gate 62. The signal U (“H”) is input to the other input terminal of the AND gate 62 by turning on the detection switch 11-1, and the AND gate 62 is in an operating state. Therefore, the lamp 37a indicating that the upper stage is selected is driven by the set output Q (“H”) via the switching circuit 64. Also, at this time,
By upper is selected, the detection signal of the size detecting switch 11 is enabled, the lamp showing the A ₄ size as shown in FIG. 3 (A) is turned on. Further, in this state, the set output Q of the flip-flop 55 activates the AND gate 65 via the AND gate 62, and the solenoid 110 for selectively driving the upper paper feed roller 9 becomes operable. Then, when the user operates the print switch 4, the copying operation is started, and the copy control circuit 67 outputs a paper feed signal in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive member or the like. AND gate 65 is opened by the sheet feeding signal, that solenoid 110 is actuated, the sheet feeding roller 9 is driven one revolution, the sheet of A ₄ size than the cassette 5 mounted in the upper is fed. This operation is repeated every time a paper feed signal is output.

Next, in the non-operation of the copying machine, while wearing the cassette 5 of A ₄ size in the upper, the cassette 6 A ₃ sizes mounted on the lower part, performs copying on a sheet of the A ₃ Size The case will be described. When the cassette 6 is mounted, the lower detection switch 12-1 is turned on, and the output of the inverter 52 is inverted from "H" to "L". for that reason,
The differential signal is supplied to the flip-flop 55 via the differentiating circuit 54.
And the flip-flop 55 is reset. Accordingly, the reset signal Q of the flip-flop 55 is set to "H", the AND gate 62 is closed, the AND gate 63 is opened, and the lamp 3 indicating that the lower stage is selected.
7b is turned, the lamp indicating the street A ₃ sizes shown in FIG. 3 (B) by the size signal of the lower size detection switch 12 is turned on. At this time, the AND gate 66 for selecting the lower paper feed roller 10 is activated, and after the print switch 4 is operated, if a paper feed signal is output from the copy control circuit 67, this signal is transmitted to the switching circuit 68. The solenoid 120 is driven via the solenoid.

[0033] A ₄ to upper and lower as described above, A in a state _{where three} sizes each cassette 5,6 accommodating the paper are respectively mounted, FIG. 3 if I have lower now cassette 6 is selected
The display shown in (B) is made, and the lower feed roller 10 is driven by one rotation by the output of the feed signal. And
If the user wishes to copy the paper A ₄ size, by operating the paper selection key 34 once, the cassette 5 side of the upper housing the paper A ₄ size is selected. That is, when the contact point of the paper selection key 34 is turned on, a differential signal (“L”) is supplied from the differentiating circuit 69 to each of the NOR gates 71 and 72. The other of the NOR gates 72 has the flip-flop 55 reset since the lower cassette is selected, and the "L" signal of the set output Q is input, so that the NOR gate 72 outputs the "H" signal. I do. Therefore, the output of the inverter 74 with the open collector becomes “L”, and the flip-flop 55 is set.
The display is switched as shown in FIG.
Is selected. If the paper selection key 34 is operated again, the upper one is selected, and the lower one is selected.

Next, the case of exchanging the cassette according to the present invention will be described. Here, a description in a state that each set of the cassette 6 A ₃ size cassette 5 and lower A ₄ size in the upper described as above. It is also assumed that the lower cassette side has been selected. So B
If a copy of _four sizes is desired, it is necessary to replace the cassette containing the paper with the upper or lower paper feed unit.
At this time, when pulling out the upper part of A ₄ size cassette and falls to "L" input from "H" of the differentiating circuit 56, differentiating circuit 56 one of the NOR gate 58 the differential signal ( "L") at that time Supply terminal. The other input terminal of the NOR gate 58 is supplied with the "L" signal of the inverter 52, so that both input terminals are "L", and the output of the NOR gate 58 is "H". Therefore, the output of the inverter 60 becomes “L”, and the flip-flop 55 is reset. However, in this case, the flip-flop 55 is in a reset state, and only that state is maintained.

[0035] In a state of pulling out the upper cassette as described above, if set to desired B ₄ size cassette upper detection switch 11-1 is turned ON. As a result, the output of the inverter 51 is inverted to "L", and the differentiated signal from the differentiating circuit 53 at that time is applied to the set terminal of the flip-flop 55, and the flip-flop 55 is set. Therefore, the replaced cassette in the upper stage is automatically selected, and there is no need to operate the paper selection key 34.

On the other hand, when the lower stage to be replaced is selected, that is, when the lower A3 size cassette is replaced with the B4 size cassette while the flip-flop 55 is reset, the A3 size cassette is removed. Then, the input side of the differentiating circuit 57 falls from "H" to "L". At this time, the differential signal “L” is applied to the NOR gate 59 and the other input terminal of the NOR gate 59 is supplied with the “L” signal from the inverter 51 at the upper stage. Becomes As a result, the output of the inverter 61 becomes "L", and the flip-flop 55 is set. Therefore, the AND gate 63 is closed, and the display lamp 37b displaying the selected lower sheet feed portion is released, that is, turned off. At this time, if it is detected that the cassette is mounted in the upper stage, the AND gate 62 is opened by the set signal Q of the flip-flop 55, and the display lamp 37a indicating that the cassette is selected is turned on. At this time, the selection display is not performed unless a cassette is mounted on the upper sheet feeding portion.

Therefore, since the display of the lower sheet feeding portion which has been selected so far has disappeared, a B4 size cassette can be mounted in the lower sheet feeding portion with reference to the display in which no cassette is mounted. In response to this attachment, the output of the inverter 52 is inverted from "H" to "L", and the flip-flop 55 is reset via the differentiating circuit 54.
The lower exchanged cassette is preferentially selected. If the cassette is replaced with one containing paper of the desired size as described above, the replaced cassette will always be selected with priority, regardless of the upper or lower selection. become. As described above, when any of the cassettes 5 and 6 mounted on the upper and lower paper feeding units is pulled out, the condition is that the cassette is mounted on the other paper feeding unit side.
The mounting cassette side is displayed. If the upper and lower cassettes are pulled out in order, the detection switches 11-1 and 11-1
2-1 is turned off, the AND gates 62 and 63 are closed, and the display lamps 37a and 37b are turned off without lighting.
In other words, when the cassette is pulled out, the indication of the paper feed unit on the side from which the paper was pulled out disappears, so that the paper feed unit on the side where paper is not loaded can be easily known, and the cassette on the paper feed unit that is not loaded Is attached, the cassette is preferentially selected. Therefore, there is an effect of suppressing an operation error or the like.

The above is a description of the selection operation based on the insertion / removal of the cassette while the copying machine is not operating. Next, the operation during the operation of the copying machine will be described. That is, during the operation of the copying machine, the signal 46 is supplied to each of the AND gates 48, 49, and 50 via the inverter 47.
The AND gates 48, 49, and 50 remain closed, and their outputs do not change in the "L" state. for that reason,
Even if the cassette is inserted or removed, the set or reset state of the flip-flop 55 serving as the storage unit does not change, and the paper supply unit on the side selected at the start of the copying operation is kept selected. However, if the cassette on the selected side is removed, the lamp 37a or 37b which is being selectively displayed is turned off. However, if it is desired to maintain the display of the selected lamp 37a or 37b in the same manner as maintaining the currently selected paper feed cassette side even when the cassette is removed, the lamp 37a
And 37b may be input to the switching circuit 64 as they are without connecting them via AND gates 62 and 63. Thus, if the selected cassette is accidentally pulled out during the copying operation, the lighting of the display lamp 37a or 37b on the selected side is maintained, so that the cassette may be mounted again on the side where it was accidentally pulled out. Easy to judge. In particular, during the copying operation, regardless of whether the cassette is inserted or removed, the selected state of the selected paper supply unit is determined by the flip-flop 55.
If the display indicating the selection is continuously maintained, the cassette can be inserted into the cassette that was pulled out incorrectly according to the display, including refilling the paper, etc. Nothing to do. On the other hand,
Flip-flop 55 storing the selected state of paper section
Is selected because it maintains that selection
It outputs a signal that enables driving of the paper feeding unit. But this
Irrespective of the stored contents of the flip-flop 55
The signal is selected by the gate 62 or 63 for paper feeding.
By pulling out the slot, the output is blocked and the AND gate 6
Keep 5 or 66 closed. In other words, during copying operation
, The AND gate 62 or 63 is a detection switch
Because the detection signal of 11-1 or 12-1 is input,
If you pull out the selected cassette, the selected paper
Therefore, the drive control of the unit is prevented. Therefore, the paper
Due to paper feed error caused by driving the paper feed unit when it does not exist
It does not fall into a jam trouble state. Here, as a signal indicating that the copying operation is being performed, a driving signal of a main motor which is a driving source in the copying machine may be used. The main motor and the like are rotated from the time when the print switch is turned on until the end of copying to the final sheet, which is convenient. However, the present invention is not limited to using a drive signal of a main motor or the like as a signal during a copying operation, and may use a signal output during the operation of the copying machine.

[0039]

According to the automatic sheet feeding apparatus of the present invention, when several kinds of sheets are set, and a desired size sheet is selected and fed from among these sheets, the desired size sheet is set, thereby setting the sheet. Since the paper feeding means on the side is automatically selected, the paper of a desired size set is automatically fed with priority without any troublesome paper selecting operation.

Further, during the copying operation, the selected sheet feeding unit is kept in the selected state regardless of the selecting operation, so that the sheet to be fed is not switched during the copying operation. Especially when the paper on the selected side runs out and the paper is replenished or pulled out by mistake, the display of the selected section is maintained as it is. Loading the wrong paper was easier to operate and prevented the selected paper feeder from being driven.
The problem of paper feed error
Become. Moreover, during the non-copying operation , since the display is turned off to inform the user of the state of removing the paper from the paper supply unit, that is, the state of no paper , because the display is not related to the paper feeding operation, if the display is attached to the mark, The paper supply of the attached side is selected with priority, and at the same time, the fact that the paper supply is being selected is illuminated. Therefore, in performing the priority selection, the use value is extremely high and more effective. Works. Therefore, in response to the setting of a sheet of a desired size, the sheet is preferentially selected, so that feeding of an erroneous sheet can be prevented, and no troublesome operation is required. It is possible to easily set and select a desired sheet without making a mistake regardless of whether the side is operating or not operating.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a copying machine provided with an automatic paper feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing details of an operation unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display state of a display unit according to the operation unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the structure of a paper feeding unit for mounting various cassettes according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of a control circuit configuration for realizing the automatic sheet feeder of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Operation Unit 34 Paper Selection Key 37 Upper / Lower Selection Indicator Lamp 38 Size Display 4 Print Switch 5, 6 Paper Storage Cassette 9, 10 Upper / Lower Feed Roller 11, 12 Cassette Size Detection Switch 11-1, 12-1 Cassette Detection switches 13, 113, 14, 114 Paper presence detector 46 Copy operation signal 47 Inverter 48, 49, 50 AND gate 55 Upper and lower selection flip-flop 62, 63 AND gate 64 Upper and lower selection lamp drive switching circuit 67 Copy control Circuit 68 Feeding Roller Selection Drive Switching Circuit 110, 120 Feed Roller Driving Solenoid

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet can be set or removed from a plurality of paper feeding portions provided with paper feeding means for feeding paper, and the paper feeding means is manually selected by a paper selection key, and the selected paper feeding means is selected. In the automatic paper feeder that automatically feeds the paper by driving the paper feeding means corresponding to the paper feeding part on the side in accordance with the paper feeding command from the main body of the device, the setting state where the paper is set in the paper feeding part Or a removed non-set state, and irrespective of the detection of the non-set state by the detection means, in response to a change from the non-set state to the set state, A priority selecting means for preferentially selecting a paper feeding means corresponding to the set paper, and a paper feeding means selected by the paper selecting key and the priority selecting means.
A storage unit for storing the unit side, a display unit for displaying the selected paper supply unit side, and a paper supply unit and a display unit according to the storage contents of the storage unit.
And the paper selection key during copying operation.
And prohibiting the selection operation by the priority selection means, and
While the stored contents of
The detection means detects the removal of paper from the corresponding paper feed section
By selecting, regardless of the storage contents of the above storage unit
Drive control of the paper feeding means is blocked.
The detection means responds to the detection by removing the selected paper.
In response, the automatic paper feeder further comprises control means for canceling the selection display by the display means .