Copying apparatus

An indication mechanism is controlled in a timing after the size of an original to be used for a copying operation is detected prior to the copying operation so as to indicate the size of a copy paper and a copying magnification to be automatically selected which are based on an action mode which has been set and the detected size information, and a mode changing action which corresponds to the indication is controlled to be performed prior to the copying operation basing on a copying action starting signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a copying apparatus, and more 
particularly, to a copying apparatus which is arranged to detect the size 
of an original to be copied in a predetermined timing prior to a copying 
operation and perform copying the original in a selection mode which has 
been based on the detected size information wherein an automatic paper 
selection mode for automatically selecting a paper feed outlet which 
accommodates a sheet of paper which corresponds to the size of an original 
and an automatic magnification selection mode for automatically selecting 
a copying magnification by the sizes of the paper and original are 
provided. 
2. Description of Related Art 
The applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a copying 
machine of this kind. In the copying machine, it is arranged to 
automatically detect the size of an original placed on a platen glass 
accompanying by an original setting action of covering the original with 
an original cover. When a copying operation is performed in a selection 
mode already set based on a detected size information, a size of paper to 
be selected and the information on a copying magnification which are 
decided by the mode and detected size of original are indicated with 
further action of changing a mode to the indicated mode for the following 
copying operation. 
Besides, there is also a copying machine known which is arranged to detect 
the size of an original accompanying by the actions of setting and 
covering the original, and indicate a copying magnification and the size 
of a paper to be selected which are decided by a selection mode and the 
detected size information with further action of changing a mode to the 
indicated mode. 
In the copying machine already proposed by the applicant of the present 
invention, however, a magnification and size of paper to be selected which 
are decided by a selection mode and a detected size information are not 
indicated until a copying operation is started. The operator of the 
machine is, therefore, obliged to operate the machine without having such 
an indication and not able to make sure the size of paper and copying 
magnification selected until a copying operation is started. Accordingly, 
it causes anxiety to the operator if the copying operation is performed 
with an anticipated mode. 
In the above-mentioned copying machine known, it is arranged to indicate 
the size of a paper and a copying magnification before a copying operation 
is performed so that the operator is able to operate the machine without 
having any anxiety. However, when an original cover is closed, a copying 
magnification changing action is executed and a projection lens is moved. 
Accordingly, a size of a paper and a copying magnification are changed 
corresponding to a mode indicated before the original cover is closed for 
copying operation, a mode changing action is conducted again with another 
movement of the projection lens causing the lens to move excessively. The 
starting time of copying operation is delayed with such an action. 
Moreover, when an original is set and the projection lens is started to 
move, copying operation can not be started during the movement of the 
lens. The operator can not, therefore, leave from the machine immediately 
after an original is set which is defective in working efficiency. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus 
which is capable of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus 
which is capable of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems by 
skillful improvement wherein the timing for indicating the size of a paper 
and a copying magnification to be automatically selected based on a 
detected size of an original and the copying action mode already set, and 
the timing for changing a mode to an indicated copying action mode are set 
relative to the operation of original setting action and the following 
copy starting action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described hereinafter 
referring to the accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows an electrophotographic copying machine to which the present 
invention is applied. 
The main body 1 of the machine is provided with the same copying mechanism 
as that of a conventional copying machine. In the center of the main body 
1, there is provided a photoconductive drum 2 which is driven 
counterclockwise. Around the photoconductive drum 2, there are 
subsequently provided in the driving direction of the photoconductive drum 
2 a main eraser lamp 3, a subcharger 4, a suberaser lamp 5, a main charger 
6, a developing device 7, a transfer charger 8, a separation charger 9 for 
separating a transfer sheet, a blade-type cleaning device 10 and other 
necessities. 
The photoconductive drum 2 is electrified by the chargers 4 and 6 every 
time a copying operation is performed after residual electric charge is 
erased by irradiation of the eraser lamps 3 and 5. On the charged portion 
of the photoconductive drum 2, an original image is exposed by optical 
system 11 provided thereabove. The photoconductive drum 2 and other main 
mechanisms are driven by a main motor M1. 
The optical system 11 is provided under a platen glass 12 on the upper 
surface of the main body 1 so that an original image can be scanned. The 
optical system is composed of a light source 13, a first mirror 14, a 
second mirror 15, a third mirror 16, a projection lens 17 and a fourth 
mirror 18. A mark M3 represents a scanning motor which moves the light 
source 13, the first, second and third mirrors 14-16 between the solid 
line and phantom line for scanning an original. If the circumferential 
speed of the photoconductive drum 2 is designated as V and a magnification 
as n, the light source 13 and the first mirror 14 are moved at the speed 
of V/n, and the second and third mirrors are moved at V/2n. The V/n is a 
speed for a scanning action. 
An image of the original placed on the platen glass 12 is scanned by the 
light source 13, the first and second mirrors 14, 15 in the range 
positioned between the solid line and phantom line. An original image at 
each scanning position is subsequently projected on the surface of the 
photoconductive drum 2 by the projection lens 17 through the first mirror 
14, second mirror 15, third mirror 16 and fourth mirror 18 thereby forming 
an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an original image on the 
charged surface of the photoconductive drum 2. 
When the projection lens 17 is moved in the direction of optical axis, a 
projection magnification of an original image onto the photoconductive 
drum 2 is varied and it causes to vary copying magnification. The 
projection lens 16 is driven by a variable power motor M4. A motor M5 
moves the fourth mirror 18 between the positions of solid line and phantom 
line corresponding to the variation of magnification to rectify an optical 
length accompanied by the variation in magnification. 
On the left side of the main body 1, an automatic paper feed cassette 20a 
is mounted on the upper paper feed outlet and an automatic paper feed 
cassette 20b on the lower paper feed outlet respectively. Transfer sheets 
accommodated in the automatic paper feed cassette 20a and 20b are 
selectively fed into the main body 1 by respective paper feed rollers 22 
and 23. The transfer sheet thus fed is transported to a pair of timing 
rollers 26 which are pressed in contact with each other passing through 
pair of transport rollers 24, 25, 31 and is temporarily stopped thereat. 
The leading end of the sheet is matched with the nip section of the timing 
roller 26 to prevent the sheet from being skewed. 
On the photoconductive drum 2, an electrostatic latent image formed by the 
image exposure is developed with toner and visualized. The toner image 
after developing process is then transferred by the transfer charger 8 
onto the transfer sheet fed into a transfer section. In the transfer 
process, the transfer sheet fed by the timing roller 26 closely contacts 
the photoconductive drum 2 in the transfer section, and the toner image on 
the photoconductive drum 2 is transferred onto the transfer sheet by 
corona discharge of the transfer charger 8. 
Then, after the transfer process, the transfer sheet is separated from the 
photoconductive drum 2 by corona discharge of the separation charger 9 and 
the strength of the transfer sheet itself. The transfer sheet is then 
sucked onto a transport belt 27 provided with an unillustrated air suction 
means and is transported to the right side in FIG. 1 with the clockwise 
rotation of the belt 27. The toner of the image transferred on the 
transfer sheet is fused and fixed onto the transfer sheet when it passes 
through a fixing device 28. After the fixing process, the transfer sheet 
is discharged to the outside of the main body 1 passing through a pair of 
discharge rollers 29. 
On each paper feed outlet, there are provided switches 401-404 and 405-408 
respectively for detecting the size of a transfer sheet. The switches are 
microswitches which are arranged to detect the size of transfer sheets 
accommodated in the automatic paper feed cassettes 20a and 20b. They 
further detect whether the sheets are accommodated in the longitudinal 
direction or in the lateral direction relative to the paper feeding 
direction. 
The size of transfer sheet applicable to copying operation, i.e. the sizes 
possible for setting into each paper feed outlet are, for instance, A3, 
A4, A5, B4, B5 in JIS Standard, and the sheets in sizes A4 and A5 may be 
set in both longitudinal and lateral directions relative to the paper 
feeding direction. The switches 401-405 and 405-408 also detect whether 
each of the automatic paper feed cassettes 20a and 20b is attached or 
detached which means that they also detect indirectly whether transfer 
sheet is accommodated in each paper feed outlet or not. The size and the 
direction of transfer sheet set in the paper feed outlets are detected by 
four-bit code corresponding to the combination of turning on and off of 
the switches 401-404 and 405-408, and are stored in the RAM of 
microcomputer CPU1 in the control circuit shown in FIG. 9. 
On the platen glass 12 of the main body 1, there is provided an automatic 
document feeder 300 (hereinafter called as ADF. A sensor 311 in the ADF 
300 detects whether an original is in an original tray 304 or not. A motor 
301 rotates a transport belt 305 of the ADF 300, while a motor 302 drives 
a paper feed roller 306 to feed an original on the original tray 304 to 
the ADF 300. The original is transported to a predetermined position which 
is set for image exposure on the platen glass 12 by the rotation of the 
transport belt 305. The feeding operation of the original at this stage is 
detected by an original feeding sensor 310. 
A reversing unit 330 is connected with the rear end of the ADF 300, and the 
original being sent from the platen glass 12 by the rotation of the 
transport belt 305 of the ADF 300 may be forwarded to the reversing unit 
330 by operating a changeover claw 331 or discharged onto a discharge tray 
341. When an original on the platen glass 12 is discharged to the side of 
the reversing unit 330, it is detected by an original discharge sensor 
312, while when an original is discharged onto the original discharge tray 
341, it is detected by an original discharge sensor 313. A reversing 
roller 307 provided for the reversing unit 330 is driven by a reversing 
motor 303, and it can reversely transport the original forwarded to the 
unit 330 back to the platen glass along the circumferential surface of the 
roller 307. Since the transport belt 305 is reversely driven at this 
stage, the original may be transported to a predetermined position on the 
platen glass. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10, an original cover switch 601 and an 
unillustrated magnet are disposed on the main body 1 and ADF 300. The 
original cover switch 601 comprises a reed switch and is turned on by 
sensing the magnet when the ADF 300 is closed so that the opening and 
closing actions of the ADF 300 can be detected. When the original cover 
switch 601 is turned on and an original is set on the original tray 304, 
the control of the ADF 300 is correlated with that of the main body 1 and 
an operation mode of the copying machine is changed over to the ADF mode. 
In FIGS. 2 through 7, there are shown original size detecting mechanisms. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a long sensor support arm 40 is disposed in the 
optical system, the position of which is away from but nearest to the 
platen glass 12 on substantially the same plane of movement as that of the 
exposure lamp 13. The basic end side 40a of the sensor support arm 40 is 
positioned on the side of a reference end (marked by A in the figure), and 
the arm is pivotally supported by a frame 101 of the main body 1 through a 
coil spring 41 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The arm is retractably provided 
between one side of the platen glass 12 which is a returning position (I) 
as shown by a phantom line and a size detecting position (II) which is a 
predetermined position on the platen glass 12 shown by a solid line, and 
is energized by the coil spring 41 so as to have returning behavior to the 
returning position (I). 
The sensor support arm 40 is retractably driven by turning on and off a 
solenoid 42. The sensor support arm 40 and the solenoid 42 are connected 
with each other through an L-type crank lever 43 as shown in FIG. 3. The 
crank lever 43 is pivotally supported at its center, and one end 43a of 
the lever is connected to a movable shaft 42a of the solenoid 42, while 
the other end of a pin portion 43b is connected to an end 40a of the 
sensor support arm 40 through a link 44. When the power is not applied to 
the solenoid 42, the sensor support arm 40 is returned to the returning 
position (I) shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 by the restoring force of the 
coil spring 41. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the returning position (I) is 
the position where the arm is retracted from the lower position to the 
side position of the platen glass 12. On the other hand, the crank lever 
43 is stood as shown by a solid line correlatively with the returning 
movement of the sensor support arm 40. 
When the power is applied to the solenoid 42, it causes to rotate the crank 
lever 43 clockwise as shown in FIG. 3. Since the force of the solenoid 42 
is stronger than that of the coil spring 41, the sensor support arm 40 is 
moved by the solenoid 42 to the side of the size detecting position (II) 
in FIGS. 2 and 3 against the coil spring 41. A stopper 45 is provided at 
the size detecting position (II) to stop the sensor support arm 40 being 
moved and accurately position and retain the leading end 40b of the sensor 
support arm 40 at a predetermined size detecting position (II) under the 
platen glass 12. In the present embodiment, a swinging angle .theta. is 
set at 30.degree.. 
In the sensor support arm 40, four sensors 46, 47, 48, 49 are spaced apart 
in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 5, each sensor 46-49 
comprises a light emitting element 46a for emitting light in the slanting 
direction and a light receiving element 46b for receiving light from the 
above. Accordingly, when there is no original on the platen glass 12 as 
shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the light emitting element 46a 
passes through the platen glass 12 and no light enter into the light 
receiving element 46b. On the other hand, when there is an original OD on 
the platen glass 12 as shown in FIG. 15, the light emitted from the light 
emitting element 46a irradiates the surface of the original positioned 
above the light receiving element 46b so that irregular reflection light 
enters into the light receiving element 46b. The light receiving element 
46b thus becomes "Low" level by the entrance of the irregular reflection 
light. The light emitting element and light receiving element of each one 
of the sensors 46-49 are synchronized by a synchronous circuit 50 shown in 
FIG. 7 so as to cause the light receiving element 46b to receive only the 
light from the light emitting element 46a. 
At a state that the sensor support arm 40 is moved to the size detecting 
position (II) in FIG. 2, the size of an original can be detected by 
detecting signals of each sensor 46-49. More particularly, referring to 
FIG. 2, when an original of B5 size is longitudinally placed on the platen 
glass 12 as shown by the mark B5T, only the sensor 48 is positioned under 
the original to become "Low" level (refer to 5 of Table 1). When an 
original of A4 size is longitudinally placed as shown by the mark A4T, the 
sensors 48 and 49 are positioned under the original to become "Low" level 
(refer to 13 of Table 1). 
A sensor output when an original of A3 size is longitudinally placed is 
shown in .circle. 16 of Table 1, a sensor output when an original of B4 
size is longitudinally placed is shown is shown in .circle. 15 of Table 
1, a sensor output when an original of A4 size is laterally placed is 
shown in 4 of Table 1, and a sensor output when an original B5 size is 
laterally placed is shown in 3 of Table 1 respectively. 
The sensor output patterns shown 2, 6-.circle. 12 and .circle. 14 of 
Table 1 are not the patterns used in the primary original size detecting 
operation. Corresponding to possible flotation of an original from the 
surface of the glass by bending of the original or the like, sizes of 
originals are specially set. 
In the case where a small-sized originals are placed on the platen glass, 
i.e. an A5 size original in longitudinal placement (A5T), or an A5 size 
original in lateral placement (A5Y), B6 size original in longitudinal 
placement (B6T) an A6 size original in longitudinal placement (A6T) the 
latter of which are not shown in FIG. 2, all the sensors 46-49 are out of 
the positions of the originals to become "High" level so that the size of 
the originals can not be judged by output of the sensors. In the present 
embodiment, it is arranged to read a size data from the size memory which 
can preliminarily be set and the data is adopted as the size of originals. 
The sizes which can be set in the size memory are A5T, A5Y, B6T, A6T, and 
unknown (warning is given as unjudgeable). 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Size 
Sensor 49 Sensor 48 
Sensor 47 
Sensor 46 
Detection 
______________________________________ 
1 H H H H Size Memory 
2 H H H L (A4Y) 
3 H H L H B5Y 
4 H H L L A4Y 
5 H L H H B5T 
6 H L H L (A3) 
7 H L L H (B4) 
8 H L L L (A3) 
9 L H H H (A4T) 
10 L H H L (A3) 
11 L H L H (B4) 
12 L H L L (A3) 
13 L L H H A4T 
14 L L H L (A3) 
15 L L L H B4 
16 L L L L A3 
______________________________________ 
FIG. 8 shows an operation panel wherein the keys designated by the 
following reference numerals are provided. 71: print button for starting a 
copying operation; 80-89: ten keys for registering the number of copy 
sheets or the like; 90: interruption key for performing another copying 
operation; 91: clear/stop key (serves as a stop key for stopping 
multi-copying, and also for clearing the number of sheets specified); 92: 
paper selection key; 99a, 99b: magnification selection keys for equal 
magnification, two stage reduction, two stage extension; 74: magnification 
upgrading key for raising copying magnification at step unit; 75: 
magnification downgrading key for reducing copying magnification at step 
unit; 95: selection keys for automatic sheet selection, automatic 
magnification selection, manual selection; 72: two-figure indication 
segment for indicating the number of sheets or the like; 76: four-figure 
indication segment for indicating copying magnification; 92a-92f: paper 
size indication; 97a, 97b: indication for longitudinal and lateral 
placement of copy paper; 98a-98e: indication for magnification selection; 
95a-95c: indications for automatic paper selection, automatic 
magnification selection and manual mode selection. 
FIG. 9 shows a control circuit of a microcomputer CPU 1 for controlling the 
main body 1 of the copying machine and a microcomputer CPU 2 for 
controlling the optical system. To the input-output terminals of the 
microcomputer CPU 1, various keys and indications shown in the figure are 
connected. To the output terminal, various parts, LED matrix (indications 
72, 76, 92, 95, 97, 98) are connected, and they are controlled by the 
microcomputer CPU 1 through a decoder. RAM is connected to the 
microcomputer CPU 1 and the memory is backed up by batteries. Bus 214 is a 
communication line provided for connecting with other microcomputers CPU2 
and CPU3. To the input terminal, there are connected sensors 46-49 for 
detecting the size of originals, original cover switch 601 for detecting 
the opening and closing of the ADF300, size detecting switch 602 (refer to 
FIG. 10), and a mode key 93 for setting original size detecting mode. 
Input-output port of the microcomputer CPU2 is connected to a scanning 
motor control circuit 216 which controls the scanning motor M3 and a 
variable power lens control circuit 217 which controls the variable motor 
M4 provided for moving the projection lens 17. Signals are inputted from 
the switch SW500 in the optical system and the switch SW501 which transmit 
a timing signal for rotating the timing roller 26 when magnification is 
changed. The microcomputer CPU2 communicates with the microcomputer CPU1 
through the bus 214. 
Description will now be made on a flow of original size detecting operation 
in the present embodiment referring to (1) through (4) in FIG. 10. 
(1) ADF300 is opened for placing an original on the platen glass 12. At 
this stage, both the original cover switch 601 for detecting the opening 
and closing of the ADF300 and the size detecting switch 602 are turned 
off. The size of the original is not known at this time. 
(2) An original is placed on the platen glass 12 and the ADF300 is still 
kept open. At this stage, the original cover switch 601 is turned off, 
however, the size detecting switch 602 is turned on whereby signals from 
the sensors 46-49 are read to detect the size of the original. 
(3) ADF300 is completely closed, and both the original cover switch 601 and 
the size detecting switch 602 are turned on. At this stage, an automatic 
paper selection mode (APS) or an automatic copying magnification selection 
mode (AMS) based on the data detected on the size of the original at (2) 
above are processed (more particularly, in the case of APS, search is made 
for paper size or paper feed outlet, in the case of AMS, magnification is 
calculated), and only the result is indicated. 
(4) When the print key 71 is pressed, paper feed outlet or magnification is 
changed basing on the result of (3) above, and copying operation is 
started. 
The above procedures may be summarized as shown in the following Table 2. 
TABLE 2 
______________________________________ 
Corresponding 
Print SW 
Cover SW Size SW Action 
______________________________________ 
Off Off Off Size Unknown 
Off Off On Size Detection 
Off On On APS/AMS Processing, 
Indication of Paper 
Feed Outlet/Magnifi- 
cation 
On On On Changeover of: 
Paper Feed Outlet/ 
Magnification 
Copy Start 
______________________________________ 
Description will now be made in detail on concrete controls referring to 
the flowchart shown in FIGS. 11 through 16. 
It is to be noted that `on edge` in the following description means a 
condition wherein keys, switches and sensors are changed from off state to 
on state, and `off edge` means a condition wherein keys, switches and 
sensors are changed from on state to off state. 
FIG. 11 schematically shows the contents of a program of the microcomputer 
CPU1 which controls the main body 1. 
When the microcomputer CPU1 is reset to start the program, initialization 
of the microcomputer CPU1 for clearing RAM, setting of various 
registrations, and initialization of the apparatus are performed (step 
#1). Then, an internal timer stored in the microcomputer CPU1 with the 
value set in the initialization is started (step #2). Various subroutine 
processing, i.e. copying mode setting processing (step #3), original size 
detecting mode setting processing (step #4), original detecting processing 
(step #5), APS/AMS processing (step #6) and copying operation processing 
(step #7) are subsequently performed. Data communication with the 
microcomputers CPU2 and CPU3 is then conducted (step #8). When all the 
subroutine processing are completed, the program is returned to step #2 
upon completion of one routine after the internal timer initially set is 
finished (step 9). Utilizing the time which is used for the one routine, 
calculation for various timers in the subroutine is performed. Completion 
of each timer is judged by the number how many times one routine was 
repeated. 
In the copying mode setting processing described at step #3 above, copying 
mode is subsequently changed in the order of AMS, APS, and MANUAL every 
time the selection key 95 provided on the operation panel is operated. 
Simultaneously, mode indications of 95a and 95b on the operation panel are 
conducted corresponding to the changed copying mode. 
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of the original size detecting mode setting 
process subroutine at step #4. Output of the original size detecting 
sensors 46-49 are all set at "High" level to be handled as small-sized 
originals under A5 size. In other words, the small-sized originals are 
handled with the size of original set hereat. 
When the mode key 93 is pressed (step #401), judgment is made whether the 
present mode is in the original size detecting mode which is set (step 
#402), and if it is in the mode which is set, the mode is released to 
finish the processing (step #403). If it is not in the mode which is set, 
the program proceeds to setting mode (#410). Then, if it is the present 
mode (step #411), judgment is made as to which key is to be operated among 
the ten keys 80-89 on the operation panel (step #412), and corresponding 
to the key judged, original size is stored in the size memory (step 
#413-417) and the processing is completed. If it is 0 key, size is 
unknown, 1 key for A6T, 2 key for B6T, 3 key for A5T, 4 key for A5Y, no 
key or keys other than the above, size memory is not changed. 
FIGS. 13 and 14 show flowcharts of the original size detecting processing 
routines at step #5. Counter number for controlling the state of 
processing in the routine is first judged, and according to the number, 
processing is branched as shown in the chart (step #501). Processing under 
the following each counter value is performed one time for one routine. 
If counter is "0", judgment is made whether the original cover switch 601 
is turned off or not, in other words, whether the ADF300 is opened or not 
(step #502), and if the ADF300 is opened, counter is set to "1" and flag 
FAUTO is set to "0" (steps #503, 504). The FAUTO is a flag which shows 
that original size detection has normally completed, and when the original 
cover switch 601 is turned on, counter is set to "1" which will be 
described later. 
If counter is "1", the program proceeds to step #510 to reset the size of 
original, i.e. size is unknown. After the size detecting switch is turned 
off (step #511), if the scanning is not being performed (step #512). the 
solenoid 42 is turned on (step 513) to pivotally move the sensor support 
arm 40 to a location under the platen glass 12. At the same time, the 
timer T1 is started (step #514) and counter is set to "2" (step #515). 
With the timer T1, a time is set from the time the end portion of the 
sensor support arm 40 is brought in contact with the stopper 45 till the 
time the arm is retained at a proper position as shown in FIG. 2. 
When counter became "2", counter is set to "3" (step #521) after completion 
of the T1 timer (step #520). The sensor support arm 40 is thus retained at 
a proper position. The size detecting switch 602 is kept turned on until 
completion of the timer T1, i.e. when the ADF300 is going to be closed 
(sep #522), counter is set to "1" (step #523) and solenoid 42 is turned 
off (step #524) to wait for the time the size detecting switch is turned 
off again. 
At counter "3", a size is detected (step #531) after the size detecting 
switch is turned on (step #530), then the solenoid 42 is turned off to 
retract the sensor support arm 40 from below the undersurface of the 
platen glass, and counter is set to "4" (steps #532-#533). 
At counter "4", flag FAUTO is set to "1" and counter is set to "0" (steps 
#541-542) after the original cover switch 601 is turned on with closing of 
the ADF300 (step #540). When the flag FAUTO is set, proper paper search or 
magnification calculation is conducted at the APS/AMS routine (step #6). 
On the other hand, in the case where the size detecting switch is turned 
off while waiting for turning on of the original cover (step #543), in 
other words, when the ADF300 is opened again, the counter is set to "1" 
(step #544), and the above process is performed again. 
As described above, sensor is read at an on-edge time point when the size 
detecting sensors is changed from off to on state, and at the time point 
the original cover switch 601 is turned on, flag FAUTO is set to "1" which 
starts the APS/AMS processing. 
FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the size detecting process subroutine at step 
#531. Output signals of the sensors 46-49 are inputted first (step #550), 
and original size is set according to the Table 1 if all the sensors are 
not turned off (step #553). If all the sensors are turned off, the size 
data set in the size memory in the original size detecting mode setting 
routine (step #552) is made as original size (step #552). 
FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the APS/AMS process subroutine at step #6. In 
the case of APS or AMS mode (step #601), judgment is made whether flag 
FAUTO is "0" or not (step #602). If the FAUTO is "0", the original size 
detecting process is not normally completed and original size is not 
known, and therefore, when the print key 71 is turned on (step #603), a 
warning is indicated (step #604). If the FAUTO=1 at step #602, judgment is 
made whether the original size data detected is known or unknown (step 
#610), and if it is unknown, a warning is indicated (step #604). If it is 
known and under APS mode (step #611), proper paper size and paper feed 
outlet are searched (step #612) and they are indicated (step #613). If it 
is not under APS mode (i.e. under AMS mode), magnification is calculated 
(step #614) and it is indicated (step #615). Thereafter, when a copying 
operation is started (step #616), paper feed outlet and magnification are 
changed to the ones indicated at steps #613 and #615. In the case of NO at 
step #601, the warning indication is released (step #620) to complete the 
processing. 
The above embodiment may be summarized that the size of an original to be 
used for copying operation is detected in a predetermined timing before a 
copying operation is started. In the first timing before a copying 
operation is started after the detection is made, the mode which is set at 
this time and the size of paper and copying magnification to be 
automatically selected by the size information obtained by the detection 
are indicated at a proper time before the copying operation is started 
after an original is set. The operator can, therefore, make sure the 
indication before the start of a copying operation and the copying 
operation can be accomplished without having any fear that the copying is 
made under unanticipated mode. 
In the second timing which includes the timing for starting copying 
operation, mode is changed to the mode indicated. Accordingly, in the case 
where indicated mode is not changed, copying operation can be performed 
earlier without interfering with a starting operation so that operational 
and working efficiency are not impaired. 
Even when indicated mode is changed, copying operation is performed by only 
changing a mode to correspond with a mode to be changed in the second 
timing so that any inconvenience that the copy is made under unanticipated 
mode may be avoid. 
In the case where indicated mode is not proper, an operation for changing a 
mode to a desired mode can be performed without unnecessary actions and 
consumption of time so that durability and copying efficiency are 
improved. 
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples 
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.