Copying machine with a reservation function

A copying machine which can stop or interrupt a copying operation of reserved originals even when it is still in the middle of a copying operation so as to permit the copying of un-reserved originals. The interruption takes place when a human body sensor detects a person coming up to the copying machine, or when a timer counts up a predetermined time. Also, the copying machine has a first counter which counts a first predetermined time after the end of the copying operation. If no copying operation is performed during the first predetermined time, a second counter starts to count a second predetermined time immediately after the first predetermined time. During the counting of the second predetermined time, a copy start button is made invalid. When the second predetermined time is counted, the reserved copying operation starts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to a copying apparatus and more 
particularly, to a copying machine provided with a reserve function, for 
automatically copying reserved originals set on an original tray. 
A conventional copying machine with a reserve function allows no 
interruptions of the copying process by the copying of other originals 
once the copying of reserved originals has started, unless copying of the 
reserved originals is completed. For this reason, once copying of the 
reserved originals has started, a user walking up to a copying machine 
with new originals, other than the reserved ones, has to wait until the 
copying of reserved orginals is completed. This causes time loss, an 
inconvenience when the number of copies is too large, and machine 
inefficiency, when urgent copies, other than those that are reserved, can 
not be made. 
Also, the conventional copying machine with a reserve function has a 
feature such that when a user is successively making copies of un-reserved 
and reserved originals, reserved original copying operation starts when a 
predetermined time elapses after un-reserved original copying is 
completed. 
Under the above condition, if the copying operation for the un-reserved 
originals is carried out one-by-one, through the steps of opening a cover, 
setting the original on a platform, closing the cover and depressing the 
copy button, there may be a case when the user takes a long time between 
the steps which is longer than the allotted predetermined time. If this 
happens, the reserved original copying operation starts, resulting in a 
drawback whereby the user may be confused because it will be difficult to 
distinguish between the un-reserved copy and the reserved copy since 
reserved copying starts in the middle of the process. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an essential object of the present invention to provide 
a copying machine with a reserve function which performs copying of 
reserved originals when normal copying of un-reserved originals is not 
performed, and can interrupt the reserved copying operation when urgent 
copying of un-reserved originals is required. 
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a copying 
machine with a reserve function which distinguishes between reserved and 
un-reserved copying by inhibiting the operation of un-reserved copying 
before the start of reserved copying. 
In accomplishing these and other objects according to one preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a copying machine 
having a determining means for judging whether or not the copying machine 
is in a condition for copying originals other than reserved ones during 
the reserved copying operation, and means for copying originals prior to 
the copying of reserved ones when the judging means determines that a 
situation is available for copying originals other than reserved ones. 
According to the present invention, for example, when a user approaches the 
copying machine to make normal (un-reserved) copies, during the execution 
of reserved copying, the machine interrupts reserved copying to permit 
normal copying. Thus, it is possible to give priority to urgent copying 
over reserved copying and to avoid time loss while waiting for the end of 
a large-quantity of reserved copying and to increase copying machine 
efficiency. In addition, if a time period for reserved copying is set at a 
time such as a lunch break, when normal copying is not so frequently 
performed, non-urgent reserved copying or reserved copying in large 
quantities ca be performed without disturbing the use of the machine for 
normal copying. This secures proper, efficient use of the copying machine 
with a reserve function. 
Further, the copying machine includes a judging means for determining, when 
reserved original copying is reserved, whether or not a predetermined time 
period has elapsed from the end of normal copying before the reserved 
copying operation, and an inhibiting means for inhibiting normal copying 
before the start of reserved copying, after the judging means has 
determined that the predetermined time period has elapsed. 
According to the construction of the present invention, when normal copying 
occurs within a specified time after the previous normal copying has ended 
and before the start of reserved copying, normal copying is allowed to 
continue execution, but after the specified time has elapsed, normal 
copying operation is inhibited. Consequently, when normal copying is 
performed within the specified time, normal copying cannot be interrupted 
by reserved copying. On the other hand, if normal copying is not carried 
out after the specified time has elapsed, the machine starts reserved 
copying based on the determination that normal copying is not being 
carried out. This provides a clear distinction between normal copying and 
reserved copying, leading to improved manipulation characteristics of the 
copying machine and eliminates user confusion. 
The copying machine according to the present invention has an improved 
arrangement which can stop or interrupt a copying operation of reserved 
originals even when it is still in the middle of the reserved copying 
operation so as to permit the copying operation of un-reserved (normal) 
originals. The interruption takes place when a human body sensor detects a 
person coming up to the copying machine, or when a timer counts up a 
predetermined time. Also, the copying machine has a first counter which 
counts a first predetermined time after the end of the normal copying 
operation. If no copying operation is performed during the first 
predetermined time, a second counter starts to count a second 
predetermined time immediately after the first predetermined time. During 
the counting of the second predetemined time, a copy start button is made 
invalid. When the second predetermined time is counted, the reserved 
copying operation starts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted 
that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the 
accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 is a view showing the whole construction of a copying machine with a 
reservation function according to one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention. 
In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 designates a body of a copying machine 
having built-in copying mechanism containing a photosensitive drum 2. Body 
1 is provided with paper feed cassettes 3 and 4. Numerals 5 and 6 
represent empty cassette sensors for detecting papers loaded in the 
respective cassettes. 
Numeral 7 represents an ADF (automatic document feeder) mounted on top of 
the copying machine body 1 having two reserved-original trays 9 and 10. 
Numeral 8 is an original conveyor belt which transfers reserved originals 
from the reserved-original trays 9 and/or 10 to an exposure position of 
the copying machine body 1. After the end of an exposure process, the 
exposed originals are discharged to an original discharge tray 13 on top 
of ADF 7. When both reserved original trays 9 and 10 are mounted with 
reserved originals, copying is performed in the order from the upper to 
the lower stage. Numerals 11 and 12 indicate original sensors arranged on 
reserved-original trays 9 and 10, respectively. Original sensors 11 and 12 
comprise light emitting and receiving elements which detect an original 
being sent by the light received and reflected by a reflector sheet (not 
shown) provided on the reserved-original tray. When reserved originals are 
set on the tray 9 or 10, the quantity of light received by the sensor 11 
or 12 is very low, and thereby, the sensor 11 or 12 detects the presence 
of the originals. Numerals 18a and 18b are paper-feed rollers which feed 
reserved originals on the original trays 9 and 10, respectively. 
The copying machine body 1 is provided with a sorter 14. Sorter 14 has a 
plurality of bin stages 15 with the bottom bin stage 16 dedicated to 
receive reserved copies. Copied papers produced during reserved copying 
are discharged into bin 16. Numeral 17 is an empty-bin sensor for 
detecting copied papers in bin 16. 
ADF operation section 31, shown in FIG. 2, is provided with an upper tray 
reserve key 32 and a lower tray reserve key 33, and a reserve memory key 
34. Upper-tray reserve key 32 and lower-tray reserve key 33 are provided 
with reserved original-tray indicators 35 and 36, respectively. Numerals 
37 and 38 are indicators for indicating that the upper or lower paper-feed 
cassette is reserved. Numeral 39 is an indicator for indicating the lack 
of originals on the tray, and 40 is an indicator for indicating that the 
originals have yet to be removed from the tray after copying has been 
completed. 
The reserving procedure is such that a reserve key of a vacant 
reserved-original tray is pressed. Original display 39 flashes on and off 
and induces original setting. At this point, reserved-original tray 
indicators 35 and 36 on the selected reserved-original tray also flash. 
Upon setting of reserved originals on the reserved-original tray, original 
display 39 turns off. The number of originals, size of copy paper, and 
copying conditions, such as depth of color, are inputted and reserve 
memory key 34 is pushed down. By the depression of key 34, the reserve 
setting is complete, and thereupon, the reserve-indication lamp of the 
selected reserved-original tray stops flashing and turns on continuously. 
If empty bin sensor 17 detects that dedicated reserve bin 16 is occupied, 
a reserve setting can not be completed even with reserve memory key 34 
pushed down. 
As shown in FIG. 3, a human body sensor 19 is provided at the front of 
copying machine body 1. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the human body sensor 19 is a pyroelectric detector 20 
comprising a pyroelectric-type infrared sensor. For example, infrared rays 
having wavelength peaks of 10 micrometers are radiated from a human body 
at 30.degree. C. Pyroelectric detector 20 is highly sensitive to this 
wavelength peak. Symbol 21 represents a condenser mirror for converging 
infrared rays L radiated from a human body in a wide visual angle. 
FIG. 5a shows a human-body detecting circuit using the human-body-detecting 
sensor 19. The output of pyroelectric detector 20 is amplified by a first 
stage amplifier 22 and introduced into an amplifier 23 with the 
direct-current component cut off. The output from the amplifier 23 is 
inputted into third and fourth comparators 24 and 25. The output from the 
amplifier leaves the intermediate potential in the non-stationary state 
only when the sensor shifts from the condition of detecting a human body 
to no detection, or in the reverse situation, and then returns to the 
stationary state. If the output of amplifier 23 leaves the intermediate 
potential, third and fourth comparators 24 and 25 are turned on and they 
then turn on the output transistor 26. Activated transistor 26 informs a 
CPU (Central Processing Unit) 27 in the control section that a human body, 
or a user, has approached or left the machine. 
FIG. 5b illustrates wave patterns at junctions or positions of J1 through 
J5 in the human-body-detecting circuit as shown in FIG. 5a. 
FIG. 6 illustrates the operation when reserved copying is performed 
assuming that reserved originals are set on the reserved-original tray and 
copying is prepared. Step n1 determines whether normal copying or 
preparation should be continued (step n2). If normal copying is not being 
performed, step n3 determines whether reserve copying has been set. When 
it is judged that a reservation has been made, it starts a timer (not 
shown) built in CPU 27 and monitors the approach of a user until the end 
of the timed interval (steps n4 and n5). When human body sensor 19 detects 
the approach of a human body, it returns to the condition for receiving 
normal copying (step n1). If no human body approach has been detected 
until the end of the timed interval, reserved copying is started (step 
n6). If the human body sensor 19 detects an approaching human body, even 
after the start of reserved copying, the reserved copying is interrupted 
and it returns to a normal copy receiving condition (step n1). Step n7 is 
the condition in which the output power has returned. This construction 
permits normal copying even if reserved copying is being executed because 
normal copying has priority over reserved copying. 
The above embodiment shows the case in which normal copying is carried out 
while reserved copying is executed by way of sensing the approach of a 
user who intends to make normal copies. According to another embodiment of 
the present invention, a time period setting section is provided in the 
ADF operation section 31, as shown in FIG. 7, to preset execution time 
periods for performing reserved copying. 
In FIG. 7, numeral 50 is an indicator for displaying set time periods, 51 
are input keys for keying in the time, 52 and 53 are start-set and 
stop-set keys, respectively, and 54 and 55 are indicators for displaying 
set conditions by start-set key 52 and stop-set key 53. To set the 
execution time period for reserved copying, the reserve start time is 
first keyed in by input keys 51, and start-set is made by pressing 
start-set key 52. Then, the reserve end time is keyed in by input keys 51, 
and stop set is made by pressing stop-set key 53. 
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing the operation of reserved copying when the 
execution time period is set by the above time-period-setting section. 
First, step n10 determines whether a reserve start time exists. If not, 
only normal copying can be performed (steps n11 and n12). After the 
reserve start time (step n10) has been reached, reserved copying starts 
until the reserve end time (steps n13 and n14) is reached. Such action 
causes reserved copying to be executed only during a preset time period. 
Thus, if a time period for executing non-urgent copying or copying in 
large quantities is set in a low-use time period, reserved copying can be 
performed without disturbing normal copying. 
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the second embodiment of the present invention 
will be described hereinafter. 
FIG. 9 illustrates an essential construction of a controller for monitoring 
the timers for reserved copying. T1 and T2 are first and second timers 
comprising ICs. Timer T1 is triggered by a copy-end signal S1 and counts a 
predetermined time t1. During the counting of time t1 by timer T1, if 
original detecting sensors 11 and 12 detect originals, and cassette empty 
sensors 5 and 6 detect papers loaded in the respective cassettes, a timer 
reset signal S2 is inputted to stop timer T1. However, if timer T1 
completes counting time t1, a trigger signal is sent from timer T1 and 
timer T2. This trigger signal can also be used as an invalid signal key S3 
to inhibit key operation and to turn the copy-start button (not shown) off 
indicating that the copying operation can not be started by the copy start 
button. At the end of a predetermined time t2, timer T2 produces a reserve 
copy start signal S4 to start reserved copying. Copy end signal S1 and 
timer reset signal S2 are produced from the control section (not shown) 
provided in the copying machine body 1, and an invalid signal key S3 and 
the reserve copy start signal S4 are inputted to the control section. 
FIG. 10 shows the operation of sequentially performed reserved copying and 
normal copying. The reserved originals are set on the reserved-original 
tray in preparation for reserved copying. Before the start of reserved 
copying, normal copying of originals other than reserved ones is started 
by the copy start button PSW pressed at step n1. When a large volume of 
copying is to be performed, copying is repeated until it ends (steps n2 
and n3). When the copying operation is complete, timer T1 starts (step 
n4). If no copying is performed during the counting of timer T1 (steps n5, 
n6 and n9), the key operation becomes invalid at the end of counting. In 
other words, when the copying other than the reserved copying is completed 
and after counting the time t1, the ready lamp is turned off (step n10). 
This inhibits the start of copying other than the reserved copying. When 
time t1 is counted, the second timer T2 starts (step n10). When timer T2 
counts time t2, the reserved copying operation starts (steps n11 and n12). 
When reserved copying starts, a start sound producing means (not shown), 
provided at the ADF operation section 31, produces a starting sound for 
indicating the start of the reserved copying operation and, at the same 
time, timers T1 and T2 are reset (n12). 
If an operation for normal copying is made before timer T1 counts time t1, 
the copying operation just requested will be started prior to the start of 
reserved copying (steps n5, n6 and n9). Keying in the copying conditions 
or the sensor turning-on are regarded as an operation for normal copying 
(steps n5 and n6). In this case, timer T1 must be reset before starting 
the normal copying based on the keyed-in copying conditions (steps n7 and 
n8). 
According to the second embodiment of the present invention, since reserved 
copying does not start, if normal copying operation is requested before 
timer T1 counts time t1, normal copies can be continued without any 
interruption by the reserved copying operation. Here, at step n6, the 
request of the normal copying operation can be detected either by the 
detection of a reserved original setting, the detection of a reserved 
cassette setting, opening and closing of the original cover, or error 
detections in either the copying machine body 1 or ADF 2. 
In the above described embodiment, timer T2 is started at the end of 
counting tl of timer T1, but timer T2 can be started simultaneously with 
the start of timer T1. In this case, time t2 is greater than time t1. 
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples 
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted here 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.