Digital copying machine capable of two-sided copying

A digital copying machine capable of two-sided copying, which forms an image on one side of a paper sheet, transports the paper sheet through a sheet re-feeding path provided with a sheet turning over unit, forms an image on the other side of the paper sheet, and finally delivers the paper sheet outside. When two-sided copy mode is set in accordance with an instruction from the user, paper sheets are supplied at sheet intervals shorter than sheet intervals at which paper sheets are supplied in one-sided copy mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
(1) Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a copying machine which performs two-sided 
copying, more particularly to a digital copying machine having a 
circular-type duplex function. 
(2) Related Art 
Digital copying machines having a circular-type duplex function have been 
proposed in the past. With the digital copying machine of this type, 
two-sided copying in a two-sided copy mode is performed in the following 
manner. 
A copying sheet fed from a sheet cassette is transported to a toner image 
transferring position, where a toner image is transferred onto one side of 
the copying sheet. The copying sheet is then transported to a fixing unit, 
by which the toner image is fixed onto the sheet surface with heat. The 
copying sheet with an image copied on one side is returned to the toner 
image transferring position through a sheet re-feeding path including a 
sheet turning over device. Another image is ther formed on the other side 
of the copying sheet in the same manner. The copying sheet with an image 
formed on each side is discharged outside the copying machine without 
passing through the sheet re-feeding path. The passage starting from and 
ending back in the toner image transferring position via the sheet 
re-feeding path is called a circular transport path. When performing 
two-sided copying on a plurality of copying sheet successively, copying 
sheets simultaneously containable in the circular transport path are fed 
from a sheet cassette, and two-sided copying is performed on all the 
sheets. The same number of copying sheets are then fed from the sheet 
cassette, and the same process is repeated until two-sided copying is 
completed on a predetermined number of copying sheets. 
When a one-sided copy mode is selected, copying sheets with an image formed 
on one side are discharged outside the copying machine without passing 
through the sheet re-feeding path. 
With the copying machine having the above structure, an interval between 
copying sheets is determined in advance so that the heat-fixing of a toner 
image is not adversely affected when performing one-sided copying on a 
plurality of copying sheets successively. In the case of large size 
sheets, the sheet intervals are made long so as to prevent the fixing unit 
from cooling, while in the case of small size sheets, the sheet intervals 
are made short. 
With the conventional copying machine, however, there is a problem that the 
two-sided copying speed is sometimes lower than the one-sided copying 
speed, depending on the sheet size in successive copying. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The first object of the present invention is to provide a digital copying 
machine which performs two-sided copying at a higher copying speed than a 
conventional copying machine. 
The second object of the present invention is to provide a digital copying 
machine which performs two-sided copying at a higher copying speed, 
without raising the heating temperature of the fixing unit. 
The third object of the present invention is to provide a technique of 
performing two-sided copying at a higher copying speed, which can be 
applied to a conventional copying machine. 
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a digital copying 
machine which performs two-sided copying at a high copying speed 
regardless of copying sheet size. 
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide an image forming 
method desirably applicable to the copying machine of the present 
invention. 
The first, second, third, and fourth objects can be achieved by providing a 
digital copying machine capable of two-sided copying, which forms an image 
on one side of a copying sheet, transports the copying sheet through a 
sheet re-feeding path provided with a sheet turning over unit, forms an 
image on the other side of the copying sheet, and finally discharges the 
copying sheet, comprising: an image forming mode setting unit for setting 
either a one-sided copy mode or a two-sided copy mode in accordance with 
an instruction from a user; a sheet supplying unit for supplying copying 
sheets one by one; an image forming unit for forming an image on a copying 
sheet being supplied; a sheet transporting unit for leading a copying 
sheet with an image formed on one side of it to the sheet re-feeding path 
in the two-sided copy mode, and discharging a copying sheet with an image 
formed on each side of it in the two-sided copy mode or a copying sheet 
with an image formed on one side of it in the one-sided copy mode. 
With such structure, the control unit controls the sheet feeding unit so 
that two-sided copying is performed at sheet intervals shorter than in 
one-sided copying. As a result, more two-sided copies can be made in a 
unit time, because two-sided copying is performed at a higher speed. 
The first, second, third, and fourth objects of the present invention may 
also be achieved by providing a digital copying machine capable of 
two-sided copying, which forms an image on one side of a copying sheet fed 
from a sheet feeding tray, stores the copying sheet temporarily in a 
two-sided copy tray, forms an image on the other side of the copying sheet 
re-fed from the two-sided copy tray, and finally discharges the copying 
sheet, and which comprises a sheet re-feeding unit for re-feeding copying 
sheets from the two-sided copy tray at intervals shorter than intervals at 
which the sheet feeding tray feeds copying sheets. 
With this structure, the copying sheets on the two-sided copy tray are 
re-fed at sheet intervals shorter than sheet intervals at which copying 
sheets are fed from a sheet feeding tray, so that two-sided copying can be 
performed on more copying sheets at a higher copying speed. 
The fifth object of the present invention can be achieved with an image 
forming method using a digital copying machine comprising: an image 
forming mode setting unit for setting either a one-sided copy mode or a 
two-sided copy mode in accordance with an instruction from a user; a sheet 
supplying unit for supplying copying sheets one by one; an image forming 
unit for forming an image on a copying sheet being supplied; a sheet 
transporting unit for leading a copying sheet with an image formed on one 
side of it to a sheet re-feeding path in the two-sided copy mode, and 
discharging a copying sheet with an image formed on each side of it in the 
two-sided copy mode or a copying sheet with an image formed on one side of 
it in the one-sided copy mode, comprising the steps of judging whether the 
one-sided copy mode or the two-sided copy mode has been set, and in the 
two-sided copy mode, supplying copying sheets at sheet intervals shorter 
than sheet intervals at which copying sheets are supplied in the one-sided 
copy mode. 
According to this method, in the two-sided copy mode set through an 
instruction sent from a user, copying sheets are fed at sheet intervals 
shorter than the sheet intervals predetermined for the one-sided copying. 
As a result, more two-sided copies can be made, because the two-sided 
copying is performed at a higher speed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
First Embodiment 
FIG. 1 shows the overall structure of the digital copying machine of the 
embodiment of the present invention. The digital copying machine consists 
of a reading unit 100 for reading an original document and a printer unit 
200 for printing an image from the original document read by the reading 
unit 100. 
The reading unit 100 comprises a document transport unit 500 for 
transporting an original document fed from a document feeding tray and for 
turning the original document over when necessary, and a scanning system 
10 for reading the original document and converting the read image into 
image signals. 
The printing unit 200 comprises an optical system 60 for exposing a 
photosensitive drum 71, an image forming system 70 for developing an 
electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure and for transferring and 
fixing the image onto a copying sheet, and a re-feeding unit 600 for 
turning over a copying sheet and sending it back to the transferring 
position. 
The document transport unit 500 consists of a document: feeding tray 510, a 
discharge tray 511, transport rollers 512, 513, and 514, and a transport 
belt 515. An original document placed on the document feeding tray 510 is 
carried onto a document glass plate 18. The original document is then read 
by a scanner 19 and discharged onto the discharge tray 511. 
The scanning system 10 comprises an exposure lamp 11 attached to the 
scanner 19 moving below the document glass plate 18, a first mirror 12, 
fixed mirrors 13a and 13b, a converging lens 14, a photoelectric 
conversion unit 16 formed by a CCD array or the like, and a scanner motor 
M2. An original document transported from the document transport unit 500 
onto the document glass plate 18 is read by the photoelectric conversion 
unit 16 and converted into electric signals. 
The optical system 60 consists of a semiconductor laser 62, a polygon 
mirror 65 for deflecting a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 
62, a scanning lens 69, and reflecting mirrors 67a, 67b, and 67c. An 
electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the surface of the 
photosensitive drum 71 to the laser beam. 
The image forming system 70 is made up of a development transfer system 
70A, a transport system 70B, and a fixing system 70C. The development 
transfer system 70A includes the photosensitive drum 71, and it also 
includes, in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 71, a sensitizing 
charger 72, a developing unit 73, a transfer charger 74, a separating 
charger 75, and a cleaning unit 76. After the electric latent image has 
been formed on the photosensitive drum 71, a toner image is formed and 
transferred onto the surface of a copying sheet. 
The transport system 70B comprises cassettes 80a and 80b for accommodating 
copying sheets, a paper guide 81, an intermediate roller 87, a timing 
roller 82, a transport belt 83, and transport rollers 86a, 86b, and 86c 
for transporting a copying sheet fed from the re-feeding unit 600 when 
copying an image on both sides of the copying sheet. The transport system 
70B receives, carries, and discharges copying sheets. The paper cassettes 
80a and 80b are provided with feeding rollers 80c and 80d, respectively. 
Paper sheets are delivered one by one from a selected paper cassette 
through the rotation of the feeding rollers 80c and 80d. When performing 
two-sided copying, the copying sheet passes through the transport rollers 
86a, 86b, and 86c, the timing roller 82, the transport belt 83, and the 
re-feeding unit 600. 
The fixing system 70C comprises a fixing roller 84 for fixing toners on a 
copying sheet with heat and a transport roller 85. A heater (not shown in 
FIG. 1) for heating the fixing roller 84 has a heat value equal to the 
amount of heat absorbed by the copying sheets passing successively through 
the fixing roller 84 per unit time when repeating one-sided copying. 
The re-feeding unit 600 comprises a switching claw 601 for switching 
between discharging and re-feeding, a transport roller 602, a switchback 
roller 603, and a switchback sensor SE61. In a two-sided copy mode, a 
copying sheet transported through the transport roller 85 is turned over 
and fed to the transport roller 86a of the transport system 70B. 
The above process of re-feeding a copying sheet is performed by the 
re-feeding unit 600 as follows. The left edge of the switching claw 601 is 
lifted upward by a solenoid (not shown in FIG. 1), and a copying sheet is 
transported through the transport roller 85. The transported copying sheet 
is led to the transport roller 602 and reaches the switchback roller 603, 
which pulls the copying sheet downward. If the switchback sensor SE61 
detects the bottom edge of the copying sheet, the rotational direction of 
the switchback roller 603 are reversed to turn the copying sheet over. The 
copying sheet is then led to the transport roller 86a. When the copying 
sheet should be discharged onto a discharge tray 621, the left edge of the 
switching claw 601 moves downward to discharge the copying sheet onto the 
discharge tray 621 through the discharging roller 604. 
As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 700 is provided on the upper part of 
the main body. The operation panel 700 includes a liquid crystal touch 
panel 91, a 10-key pad 92 for inputting the number and magnification of 
copies to be made, a clear key 93 for clearing the number and 
magnification of copies, a panel reset key 94 for resetting all set values 
to the standard values, a stop key 95 for stopping a copying operation, a 
start key 96 for starting a copying operation, a mode set key 97 for 
setting either a two-sided copy mode or a one-sided copy mode, and a paper 
select key 98 for selecting the size of a copying sheet. The size of a 
copying sheet selected by the paper select key 98 is indicated by a paper 
size display unit 98a. For instance, A4Y indicates A4 paper sheets placed 
transversely, and B5T indicates B5 paper sheets placed longitudinally. The 
transverse setting is to set paper sheets in a direction perpendicular to 
the sheet transport direction, and the longitudinal setting is to set 
paper sheets in a direction parallel to the sheet transport direction. The 
liquid crystal touch panel 91 receives instructions as to density, 
magnification, and paper size. It also displays the current job status of 
the copying machine. 
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit 300 of the digital copying 
machine. The control unit 300 comprises a scanning system control unit 
310, an image signal processing unit 320, a memory unit 330, and a printer 
control unit 340. 
The scanning system control unit 310 controls all the operations of the 
scanning system 10 when reading an original document. The operations of 
the scanning system 10 include switching on and off the photoelectric 
conversion element 16 and the exposure lamp 11, and the operation of the 
scanner 19 driven by the scanner motor M2. 
The image signal processing unit 320 processes image signals outputted from 
the photoelectric conversion element 16 to obtain the optimum reproduction 
images, and outputs the processed image signals as image data to the 
memory unit 330. 
The memory unit 330 comprises an image memory, a compressor, and an 
expander. The image data outputted from the image signal processing unit 
320 are compressed and temporarily stored into the memory unit 330. 
The printer control unit 340 controls the components of the printer unit 
200. In accordance with the image data stored in the memory unit 330, the 
printer control unit 340 controls the output of the semiconductor laser 
62, the sheet supply from the paper cassette 80a or 80b, the transport 
operation of paper sheets, the rotation of the photosensitive drum 71, and 
the electric supply to the chargers. All of these operations are 
collectively and synchronously controlled. The printer control unit 340 
also determines the intervals between paper sheets being transported and 
the paper size, depending on the copy mode, and controls the sheet supply 
and sheet transport so as to perform a copying operation at the determined 
sheet intervals. Paper sheets can be supplied at the determined sheet 
intervals by adjusting the drive intermission of the feeding roller 80c or 
80d to the determined sheet intervals. 
In the one-sided copy mode, a sheet interval value is selected from the 
values of sheet intervals for one-sided copying stored in an internal 
memory, in accordance with the size of the supplied copying sheet. Even in 
the two-sided copy mode, when the circulation cycle has already been 
performed an odd number of times, a sheet interval for one-sided copying 
is set. Here, one circulation cycle refers to a process of printing the 
front side of each of a predetermined number of copying sheets and then 
printing the back side of each of the copying sheets. When the circulation 
cycle has been performed an even number of times in the two-sided copy 
mode, sheet intervals are selected from sheet intervals stored in the 
internal memory in accordance with the size of a copying sheet supplied. 
The sheet intervals for two-sided copying stored in the internal memory of 
the printer control unit 340 are shorter than the sheet intervals for 
one-sided copying. The sheet intervals in the two-sided copy mode are made 
shorter so that the number of copies to be made in one circulation cycle 
is at least one larger than in the one-sided copy mode. The reason why the 
sheet intervals in the two-sided copy mode can be shorter than in the 
one-sided sheet intervals is that the amount of heat taken from the fixing 
roller by paper sheets in the two-sided copy mode is smaller. For 
instance, if the number of paper sheets passing through the fixing roller 
in the two-sided copy mode is the same as in the one-sided copy mode, the 
amount of heat taken away from the fixing roller per unit time in the 
two-sided copy mode is smaller than in the one-sided copy mode, because in 
the two-sided copy mode, paper sheets passing through the fixing roller 
have already been heated at the time of printing on the front side, but in 
the one-sided copy mode, paper sheets passing through the fixing roller 
have not been heated at all. When the circulation cycle process is to be 
performed for an odd number repetition, the sheet intervals for one-sided 
copying are set so that the copying speed will not be too fast by setting 
short sheet intervals. The setting of sheet intervals is shown in the 
control charts of FIG. 4, but it will be described later in detail. 
The printer control unit 340 performs the paper supply and the printing in 
accordance with the control flow chart shown in FIG. 5, especially when in 
the two-sided copy mode. Before describing the operation, the 
characteristic steps of the control flow chart are described below. 
In step S101, the printer control unit 340 determines the number of paper 
sheets held in the circular transport path. Thus, the number M of paper 
sheets to be printed in one circulation cycle is determined. More 
specifically, the number M is determined by dividing the circular 
transport path length L by the total of the sheet length x and the sheet 
interval length. The circular transport path length L is the length of the 
passage through which paper sheets are transported. As shown in FIG. 1, 
paper sheets are transported through the circular transport path 
consisting of the timing roller 82 as the starting point, the transport 
belt 83, the re-feeding unit 600, and the transport rollers 86a to 86c. 
The paper sheets are then sent back to the timing roller 82. (The 
transport path length L will be the same even if it starts from and ends 
in the position where a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 71 
is transferred onto the surface of a paper sheet.) 
In steps S103, S105, and S106, the printer control unit 340 performs 
two-sheet transport printing when the integral part of the determined 
value M is "2", three-sheet transport printing when the integral part of 
the value M is "3", and four-sheet transport printing when the integral 
part of the value M is "4". When performing the two-sheet transport 
printing, two paper sheets are taken out of a paper cassette at sheet 
intervals d, the front side of each paper sheet is printed, the re-feeding 
unit 600 turns each paper sheet over, and then an image is printed on the 
back side of each paper sheet. Likewise, the three-sheet transport 
printing and the four-sheet transport printing are performed for three 
paper sheets and four paper sheets, respectively. 
Intervals between electrostatic latent image formation on the 
photosensitive drum 71 by a laser beam from the photosensitive laser 62 
are determined from sheet feeding intervals. After the feeding roller has 
fed the predetermined number of paper sheets, the printer control unit 340 
suspends the rotational drive of the feeding roller until two-sided 
copying is completed on the fed paper sheets. 
The following explanation is for the operation of the printer control unit 
340, with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 4 and 5. 
As shown in FIG. 4, if the copying machine is currently in the two-sided 
copy mode (step S10), and if the circulation cycle is performed for the 
first time (step S20), one of the shorter sheet interval values d6 to dll 
for two-sided copying is selected in accordance with the paper size 
designated through the operation panel (step S40, and steps S41 to S46). 
For instance, if the size A4Y is designated, the sheet interval value d8 
corresponding to the paper size A4Y is selected (step S43). 
As shown in FIG. 5, the number M of paper sheets to be printed in one 
circulation cycle is determined (step S101). Here, the circular transport 
path length L is set at 1120 mm, and the sheet interval value d8 is set at 
70 mm. The value M, which indicates the number of sheet paper held in the 
circular transport path, can be determined as follows: 
EQU M=L/(x+d)=1120/(210+70)=4 
where the sheet length (paper size A4Y) x is 210 mm. Since the value M is 4 
(steps S102 and S104), the four-sheet transport printing is performed 
(step S106). 
The next circulation cycle is the second-time circulation cycle, i.e., the 
circulation cycle process is to be performed for an even number repetition 
(steps S10 and S20), and a sheet interval value d2 for one-sided copying 
is selected (steps S30 and S33). If the sheet interval d2 is set at 110 
mm, the value M is determined as follows: 
EQU M=1120/(210+110)=3.5 (step S101) 
The value M is judged to be 3.ltoreq.M.ltoreq.4 (steps S102 and S104), and 
the three-sheet transport printing is performed (step S105). From the 
above description, it is clear that when using a sheet interval value for 
one-sided copying, the three-sheet transport printing is performed, and 
when using a sheet interval value for two-sided copying, the four-sheet 
transport printing is performed. 
Likewise, when the circulation cycle process is performed for an odd number 
repetition (steps S10 and S20), the two-sided copying sheet interval value 
d8 is selected (steps S40 and S42), and the four-sheet transport printing 
is performed (steps S101, S102, S104, and S106). When the circulation 
cycle process is performed for an even number repetition, the one-sided 
copying sheet interval value d2 is selected (steps S30 and S32), and the 
three-sheet transport printing is performed (steps S101, S102, S104, and 
S105). 
In the digital copying machine of this embodiment, a two-sided copying 
sheet interval is shorter than a one-sided copying sheet interval. For 
instance, when using a one-sided copying sheet interval value, three-sheet 
transport printing is performed, and when using a two-sided copying sheet 
interval value, four-sheet transport printing is performed, so that one 
more copy can be made in one circulation cycle, and that the copying 
process can be speeded up. Furthermore, in the two-sided copy mode, the 
copying speed is controlled by using a one-sided copying interval value 
when the circulation cycle process is performed for an odd number 
repetition, in order to prevent the copying speed from being too fast, and 
the temperature of the fixing roller from dropping. Thus, deterioration of 
the toner fixing can be avoided. 
The following is the results of comparisons between the digital copying 
machine of this embodiment and a conventional copying machine. When using 
a paper sheet size A4Y, the two-sided copying speed A1 of the digital 
copying machine of this embodiment is 31.12 cpm (copies per minute), which 
is 13% faster than the two-sided copying speed A2, 27.69 cpm, of the 
conventional copying machine. The one-sided copying speed A3 of this 
embodiment is 30 cpm, and it became apparent that the copying speed A1 is 
not very different from the copying speed A3. 
The above copying speeds are determined as follows. 
(1) Firstly, the sheet transporting speed V of the transport system of the 
digital copying machine of this embodiment is set at 160 mm/sec, the sheet 
length of A4Y paper x is set at 210 mm, and the circular transport path 
length L is set at 1120 mm. 
In this embodiment, the four-sheet transport printing and the three-sheet 
transport printing are repeated in turn. Therefore, in order to determine 
the copying speed A1, the copying times required for the four-sheet 
transport printing and the three-sheet transport printing are calculated. 
In the case of the four-sheet transport printing, four paper sheets pass 
through the circular transport path at sheet intervals d8 (=70 mm), as 
shown in FIG. 6A. The front side of each paper sheet is printed first, and 
after that, the back side is printed. Accordingly, the copying time T4 
required for printing eight images on both sides of the four paper sheets 
is determined by dividing two circular transport path lengths L by the 
transporting speed V. 
EQU T4=(1120+1120)/V=14 (sec) 
Likewise, in the case of the three-sheet transport printing, three paper 
sheets pass through the circular transport path at sheet intervals d2 
(=110 mm), as shown in FIG. 6B. Between the front-side printing of the 
third paper sheet and the back-side printing of the first paper sheet, 
there is an interval longer than the sheet interval, 110 mm. Accordingly, 
the copying time T3 required for printing six images on both sides of the 
three paper sheets is determined by dividing the circulation path length 
plus the three sheet lengths and sheet intervals by the transporting speed 
V. 
EQU T3=(1120+960)/V=13 (sec) 
When performing two-sided copying in this embodiment, the four-sheet 
transport printing and the three-sheet transport printing are repeated in 
turn. Accordingly, the copying time T1 required for printing one image in 
this embodiment is determined by dividing the four-sheet copying time T4 
and the three-sheet copying time T3 by the number of printed images (8+6). 
EQU T1=(T4+T3)/(8+6)=(14+13)/14=1.928 (sec) 
The copying speed to be determined here is the number of images formed per 
minute. Accordingly, the two-sided copying speed A1 is determined by 
dividing 60 seconds by the coping time required for one image. 
EQU A1=60/T1=31.12 cpm 
(2) Likewise, the two-sided copying speed A2 of the conventional digital 
copying machine is determined as follows. 
In the conventional two-sided copy mode, the fixed sheet interval value d2 
is used for printing images on A4Y size paper sheets, and the value M is 
3.5. Accordingly, three-sheet transport printing is repeated. 
Using the copying time T3 (=13) for printing six images determined above, 
the copying speed A2 is calculated by the following equation. 
EQU A2=60/(T3/6)=27.69 cpm 
(3) The one-sided copying speed is determined as follows. 
The one-sided copying sheet interval value d2 is 110 mm, and the copying 
time T required for printing an image on a paper sheet is determined by 
dividing the sheet length x plus a predetermined sheet interval value d by 
the transporting speed V. 
EQU T=(x+d2)/V=(210+110)/160=2 (sec) 
Accordingly, the copying speed A2 is determined as follows. 
EQU A3=60/2=30 cpm 
When performing two-sided copying by the digital copying machine of this 
embodiment, the sheet intervals are changed depending on whether the 
circulation cycle has been repeated for an even or an odd number times. 
However, the setting of sheet intervals is not limited to this manner, but 
the first circulation cycle may be performed at short sheet intervals, and 
the second and third circulation cycles may be performed at normal sheet 
intervals. This process may be repeated. For instance, when using A4Y size 
paper sheets, four-sheet transport printing and three-sheet transport 
printing are repeated in the following order: 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3, . . . 
Using the copying times T4 and T3, the average copying speed A4 is 
determined by the following equation. 
##EQU1## 
This copying speed A4 is the same as the one-sided copying speed. 
The digital copying machine of this embodiment selects from two-sheet 
transport printing, three-sheet transport printing, and four-sheet 
transport printing, depending on the determined value M, but printing is 
not limited to this manner. Specifically, a table containing sheet size 
data, sheet interval data, and corresponding printing process types 
(two-sheet, three-sheet, and four-sheet transport printing) may be 
provided for the printer control unit. Referring to the table, the printer 
control unit may perform two-sided copying at sheet intervals in 
accordance with the sheet size, and select transport printing process 
corresponding to the sheet size. 
Second Embodiment 
The digital copying machine of the second embodiment is substantially the 
same as the digital copying machine of the first embodiment, except for 
the transport path length L, the sheet interval data stored inside the 
printer control unit 340, and the control operations of the printer 
control unit 340. Accordingly, the following description focuses on the 
different aspects, while explanations for the common parts are omitted. 
In this embodiment, the transport path length L is substantially the same 
as twice or a larger integral multiple of the total of the length of a 
paper sheet of a specified size in a specified direction plus, and a sheet 
interval used in the one-sided copy mode. 
More specifically, the transport path length is set at 1280 mm, which is 
four times 320 mm, the total of the length of an A4Y paper sheet in the 
transporting direction (210 mm) and the sheet interval used in the 
one-sided copy mode (110 mm). 
Inside the printer control unit 340, sheet interval values d=ds and d=dw 
(ds&gt;dw) are stored, and ds is set at 110 mm. 
With a digital copying machine of the above structure, the number of A4Y 
paper sheets simultaneously containable in the circular transport path is 
limited to four either at the one-sided copy mode sheet intervals (110 mm) 
or the two-sided copy mode sheet intervals (70 mm). 
Even if paper sheets are supplied at the one-sided copy mode sheet 
intervals when in the two-sided copy mode, the copying speed will be 
substantially the same as in the case where paper sheets are supplied at 
the two-sided copy mode sheet intervals. Accordingly, even in the 
two-sided copy mode, there is no need to make the sheet intervals shorter 
than the one-sided copy mode sheet intervals. 
When feeding paper sheets of a specified size in a specified direction, the 
paper sheets are supplied at the one-sided copy mode sheet intervals, even 
in the two-sided copy mode. When feeding paper sheets of a different size 
from the specified size in the two-sided copy mode, the paper sheets 
should be supplied at sheet intervals shorter than the one-sided copy mode 
sheet intervals. 
It should be understood that the specified sheet size in the specified 
direction is not limited to A4Y. It may be legal pad size in a transverse 
direction, for instance. 
The control operations of the printer control unit 340 of this embodiment 
are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, except that 
the process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 7 is performed instead of the 
process shown in the flow chart of FIG. 4. Accordingly, the following 
explanation is mainly for the flow chart of FIG. 7. 
The flow chart of FIG. 7 shows the process of setting sheet intervals. 
The sheet interval value is set at ds in step S203, ds being the one-sided 
copy mode sheet interval value, in any of the following cases: where the 
copying machine is not in the two-sided copy mode in step S201; where the 
sheet size is judged to be A4Y in step S202, though the copying machine is 
in the two-sided copy mode; and where the copying machine is in the 
two-sided copy mode in step S201, the sheet size is judged to be other 
than A4Y in step S202, and the circular cycle process is judged to be 
performed for an even number repetition in step S204. 
The sheet interval value is set at dw in step S205, dw being smaller than 
the one-sided copy mode sheet interval value ds, in the case where the 
copying machine is in the two-sided copy mode in step S201, the sheet size 
is judged to be other than A4Y in step S201, and the circular cycle 
process is judged to be performed for an odd number repetition in step 
S204. 
The present invention can be applied to a digital copying machine provided 
with a two-sided copy tray. In the digital copying machine of the first 
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the two-sided copy tray having the same 
structure as the paper cassettes 80a and 80b is disposed ranging from the 
mid-point between the switchback roller 603 and the transport roller 86a 
to the mid-point between the transport roller 86c and the intermediate 
roller 87. The two-sided copy tray is provided with a re-feeding roller 
which is the same as the feeding rollers 80c and 80d. In this case, the 
transport rollers 80a to 80c and the adjacent part of the transport path 
are removed. With this two-sided copy tray, paper sheets turned over by 
the sheet re-feeding unit 600 for two-sided copying are introduced into 
the two-sided copy tray and re-fed to the main body of the copying machine 
by rotating the re-feeding roller. 
When printing images on both sides of a paper sheet stored on the two-sided 
copy tray, paper sheets are fed to the main body of the copying machine at 
sheet intervals shorter than the sheet intervals at which paper sheets for 
front-side printing are fed. Accordingly, the processing speed of the 
back-side printing is higher because the sheet intervals are shorter, and 
the overall copying speed is thus increased. Transporting and printing can 
be performed at shorter sheet intervals as described above, because the 
paper sheet stored on the two-sided copy tray have already been heated 
through the front-side printing, and the temperature of the fixing roller 
does not drop drastically. 
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example 
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that 
various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart 
from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being 
included therein.