Control for multiple-mode copying apparatus

Claim 2

A multiple-mode copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for selecting a desired one of a plurality of possible copying modes to conduct the copying operation; first control means for causing, in response to the function of said selecting means, the copying operation to be conducted according to a particular copying mode thus selected; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying; and second control means for causing, when said feeding means is set in an operable condition, the copying operation to be conducted according to a particular mode without selection by said selecting means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said copying modes, provide for changes in image magnification, and said selected mode is a mode with a particular rate of magnification change.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said copying modes, provide for copying the image on a sheet of a desired size, and said selected mode is a mode for copying on a particular sheet size.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said copying modes, provide for reproducing the original image in a desired color, and said selected mode is a mode for copying with a particular color.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein a glass plate for supporting an original is disposed at said copying position, said feeding means being capable of feeding originals to said glass plate and stopping said originals thereon and being rendered pivotable away from said position, and said second control means being adapted to select said particular copying mode when said feeding means is set on said position.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said first control means is operable to enable the mode selection by said mode selecting means when said feeding means is separated from said position.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said second control means causes the copying operation to be conducted according to a particular mode regardless of the mode selection by said mode selecting means.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said feeding means includes a drive source and a switch to be closed when said feeding means is set on said position for copying, said second control means being adapted to select said particular mode in response to the activation of said drive source and said switch.

Claim 10

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; and means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T, wherein said drive means stops after said time T but before said operation of said starting means, thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying.

Claim 11

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; and means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T, wherein said drive means stops after said time T but before said operation of said starting means, thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to the claim 9, wherein said copying material being a seamless photosensitive member for permitting image transfer therefrom.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to the claim 9, further comprising means for starting the advancement of said copying material after the start of operation of said feeding means and prior to the start of operation of said starting means.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to the claim 9, further comprising means for rotating the photosensitive member for cleaning the same during said time.

Claim 15

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying; and further comprising means for detecting the setting of said document in said position and adapted to prevent the operation of said starting means in response to the detection signal.

Claim 16

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying; and further comprising means for detecting the setting of said document in said position and adapted to prevent the operation of said starting means in response to the detection signal.

Claim 17

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material, said means including a reciprocating member for scanning said document; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying and for ejecting said document therefrom after a copy image formation is made therefrom; means for setting the desired number of copies to be made from said original document; means disposed at a predetermined position along the path of movement of said reciprocating means for detecting the presence of said reciprocating means at said position; first control means for controlling said image forming means, and being responsive to said setting means, to cause repetitive reciprocating motions of said reciprocating member for the number of times set by said setting means, thereby obtaining the copies of said set number; second control means responsive to said detecting means during a final one of said repetitive reciprocating motions for controlling said ejecting means in response to the said detection.

Claim 18

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material, said means including a reciprocating member for scanning said document; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying and for ejecting said document therefrom after a copy image formation is made therefrom; means for setting the desired number of copies to be made from said original document; means disposed at a predetermined position along the path of movement of said reciprocating means for detecting the presence of said reciprocating means at said position; first control means for controlling said image forming means, and being responsive to said setting means, to cause repetitive reciprocating motions of said reciprocating member for the number of times set by said setting means, thereby obtaining the copies of said set number; second control means responsive to said detecting means during a final one of said repetitive reciprocating motions for controlling said ejecting means in response to the said detection.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to the claim 14, wherein said determined position is a position wherein the reciprocating member changes the direction of displacement thereof after completion of the scanning operation.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to the claim 14, wherein said second control means is adapted to feed the succeeding original document to said position for copying in response to said detection signal.

Claim 21

A copying apparatus, comprising: processing means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means adapted to feed a first original document to a position for copying, then ejecting said first original document from said position after copy image formation by said processing means and feeding a second original document to said position for copying; first control means for generating signals for controlling the function of said processing means, including means for generating a signal for use in stopping image forming operations before termination of copying of a desired number of copies; second control means for generating signals for controlling the function of said original feeding means; and means for controlling the function of said feeding means in response to the control signals supplied from said first control means and also controlling the function of said processing means in response to the control signals supplied from said second control means.

Claim 22

A copying apparatus, comprising: processing means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means adapted to feed a first original document to a position for copying, then ejecting said first original document from said position after copy image formation by said processing means and feeding a second original document to said position for copying; first control means for generating signals for controlling the function of said processing means, including means for generating a signal for use in stopping image forming operations before termination of copying of a desired number of copies; second control means for generating signals for controlling the function of said original feeding means; and means for controlling the function of said feeding means in response to the control signals supplied from said first control means and also controlling the function of said processing means in response to the control signals supplied from said second control means.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to the claim 17, wherein said first control means is for detecting the jamming of the copying material and generating a signal for interrupting the function of said processing means, and for prohibiting the feeding of said second original document in response to the detection signal of the jamming of said copying material.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to the claim 17, wherein said control means is for prohibiting the ejection of the first original document in said original feeding means in response to the detection signal of the jamming of said copying material.

Claim 25

A copying apparatus comprising: means for feeding a document to a copying station having a platen; means for stopping the document on the platen and for ejecting it after termination of copying; document detecting means provided on the feeding path; means for generating a jam check signal at a determined timing in; relation to a controlled timing of said ejection; and means for identifying the presence of jamming of the document from the time relationship of the detecting function and said jam check signal.

Claim 26

A copying apparatus comprising: means for feeding a document to a copying station having a platen; means for stopping the document on the platen and for ejecting it after termination of copying; document detecting means provided on the feeding path; means for generating a jam check signal at a determined timing in; relation to a controlled timing of said ejection; and means for identifying the presence of jamming of the document from the time relationship of the detecting function and said jam check signal.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to the claim 20, wherein said stopping and ejecting means is adapted to function for a period in excess of the time required for said copying material to reach said detecting means, and said jam check signal is generated corresponding to the end of said functioning period of said stopping and ejecting means.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to the claim 20, wherein said detecting means is a reflective optical sensor for detecting the presence of the document at said position for copying.

Claim 29

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for feeding an original document to a position for copying; means for forming a copy image of the original document fed to said position for copying, said means comprising means for illuminating said original document for imagewise exposure, wherein illumination is terminated after repeated exposure; a controlling optical element comprising a light-emitting element and a photodetector and provided in the vicinity of said position for copying; and control means for controlling one of said feeding means and said exposure means in response to said optical element in such a manner that the sensing operation thereof is conducted during a period excluding a predetermined period while said illuminating means is in operation.

Claim 30

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for feeding an original document to a position for copying; means for forming a copy image of the original document fed to said position for copying, said means comprising means for illuminating said original document for imagewise exposure, wherein illumination is terminated after repeated exposure; a controlling optical element comprising a light-emitting element and a photodetector and provided in the vicinity of said position for copying; and control means for controlling one of said feeding means and said exposure means in response to said optical element in such a manner that the sensing operation thereof is conducted during a period excluding a predetermined period while said illuminating means is in operation.

Claim 31

An apparatus according to the claim 23, wherein said position for copying is a glass plate for supporting the original document, and said optical means is a reflective sensor for detecting the presence of the original document on said glass plate.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to the claim 23, wherein said illuminating means is provided with a reciprocating member for scanning the original document, and said control means is adapted to cause said optical element to perform the sensing operation thereof during the displacement in one direction of said reciprocating member.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to the claim 23, wherein said optical element comprises a photo-detector and plural light-emitting elements.

Claim 34

A member detecting apparatus, comprising: a light-eitting element provided in the vicinity of said member; a photodetecting element for detecting the light emitted by said light-emitting element and reflected by said member thereby identifying the presence thereof; and means for supporting a plurality of said light-emitting elements in combination with said photodetecting element in such a manner that the light is emitted in different directions which are non-parallel with said member adjacent to a predetermined position along the path of said member, and that the changes of light reflected by said member are sensed by said photodetecting element thereby assuring exact detection of said reflected light by said photodetecting element.

Claim 35

A member detecting apparatus, comprising: a light-eitting element provided in the vicinity of said member; a photodetecting element for detecting the light emitted by said light-emitting element and reflected by said member thereby identifying the presence thereof; and means for supporting a plurality of said light-emitting elements in combination with said photodetecting element in such a manner that the light is emitted in different directions which are non-parallel with said member adjacent to a predetermined position along the path of said member, and that the changes of light reflected by said member are sensed by said photodetecting element thereby assuring exact detection of said reflected light by said photodetecting element.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to the claim 27, wherein said member is a web, and said supporting means supports said light-emitting elements at respectively different distances from said web.

Claim 37

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding said original document to a copying position and for ejecting said original document from said position after completion of the copy image formation; means for setting the desired number of copies to be formed from said original document; means for detecting the presence of said original document in said position for copying; means for controlling said feeding-ejecting means and said image forming means in response to said detecting means in such a manner as to prohibit the ejection of said document; and means for generating a signal for interrupting the function of said image forming means, wherein said control means controls said image forming means in such a manner as to make copies of the remaining number within said set number at the time of resumed copy operation after generation of the interruption signal.

Claim 38

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding said original document to a copying position and for ejecting said original document from said position after completion of the copy image formation; means for setting the desired number of copies to be formed from said original document; means for detecting the presence of said original document in said position for copying; means for controlling said feeding-ejecting means and said image forming means in response to said detecting means in such a manner as to prohibit the ejection of said document; and means for generating a signal for interrupting the function of said image forming means, wherein said control means controls said image forming means in such a manner as to make copies of the remaining number within said set number at the time of resumed copy operation after generation of the interruption signal.

Claim 39

An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said detecting means is also adapted to perform jam detection.

Claim 40

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding said original document to a copying position and for ejecting said original document from said position after completion of the copy image formation; means for setting the desired number of copies to be formed from said original document; means for detecting the presence of said original document in said position for copying; means for controlling said feeding-ejecting means and said image forming means in response to said detecting means; means for generating a signal for interrupting the function of said image forming means; and means for prohibiting the ejection of the original document in response to said interruption signal, said control means being adapted to control said image forming means in such a manner as to make copies of the remaining number within said set number.

Claim 41

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding said original document to a copying position and for ejecting said original document from said position after completion of the copy image formation; means for setting the desired number of copies to be formed from said original document; means for detecting the presence of said original document in said position for copying; means for controlling said feeding-ejecting means and said image forming means in response to said detecting means; means for generating a signal for interrupting the function of said image forming means; and means for prohibiting the ejection of the original document in response to said interruption signal, said control means being adapted to control said image forming means in such a manner as to make copies of the remaining number within said set number.

Claim 42

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying; and means for starting the advancement of said copying material after the start of operation of said feeding means and prior to the start of operation of said starting means.

Claim 43

A copying apparatus comprising: means for forming a copy image of an original document on a copying material; means for feeding an original document to a position for copying, said means comprising drive means adapted to be in operation for a time T in excess of the time required for feeding and setting said document to said position; means for starting the image forming operation of said image forming means after said time T thereby preventing eventual disalignment of said document on said position for copying; and means for starting the advancement of said copying material after the start of operation of said feeding means and prior to the start of operation of said starting means.

Claim 44

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for feeding an original document to a position for copying; means for forming a copy image of the original document fed to said position for copying, said means comprising means for illuminating said original document; a controlling optical element comprising a light-emitting element and a photodetector, said element being provided in the vicinity of said position for copying; and control means for controlling said optical element in such a manner that the sensing operation thereof is conducted while said illuminating means is not in operation, wherein said illuminating means is provided with a reciprocating member for scanning the original document, and said control means is adapted to cause said optical element to perform the sensing operation thereof during the displacement in one direction of said reciprocating member.

Claim 45

A copying apparatus, comprising: means for feeding an original document to a position for copying; means for forming a copy image of the original document fed to said position for copying, said means comprising means for illuminating said original document; a controlling optical element comprising a light-emitting element and a photodetector, said element being provided in the vicinity of said position for copying; and control means for controlling said optical element in such a manner that the sensing operation thereof is conducted while said illuminating means is not in operation, wherein said illuminating means is provided with a reciprocating member for scanning the original document, and said control means is adapted to cause said optical element to perform the sensing operation thereof during the displacement in one direction of said reciprocating member.