Image forming apparatus having auto/manual exposure amount setting mode changing means

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on an original image of an original on an image carrying member, the apparatus having auto exposure amount setting mode and manual exposure amount setting mode, comprises device (4) for emitting a light to the original image to expose the image carrying member using a reflected light from the original image device (201) for detecting a density of the original image by the reflected light, device (33) for receiving an operation by an operator in the manual exposure amount setting mode to vary an exposure amount onto the image carrying member, the receiving device being moved from a first position to a second position by the operation, device (70) for setting the exposure amount according to a varied amount by the receiving device operation, first energizing device (71) for energizing the emitting device on the basis of a result of detecting of the detecting device in the auto exposure amount setting mode, second energizing device (71) for energizing the emitting device according to the setting of the setting device, device (70) for determining a varying condition that a difference between the first position and the second position is larger than a predetermined value, and device (70) for changing the auto exposure amount setting mode to the manual amount setting mode when the determining device determines the varying condition in the auto exposure amount setting mode.

Description: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, e.g. an electronic copy machine, according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1. In general, an electronic copy machine comprises an auto density control mode, which automatically adjusts density control of an image lamp in accordance with density of an original document, and a manual density control mode which can arbitrarily change density of a image regardless of density of the original document. In a conventional apparatus of the above-identified type, as described in Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No. 2-39168 (a copy machine) changing development bias voltage by a slide volume, when being in the manual density control mode, data at the position of the slide volume is read and development bias voltage is adjusted based on data. In this machine, in order to set manual density, a slide volume on the operation panel is moved to suitable density position and mode of this machine is changed to manual mode. However, in the machine having above automatic mode changing function, when the operator touches the slide volume by mistake, the mode is changed to manual mode opposite to the operator's intention. Therefore, it is a problem that if the operator makes copies not knowing he changed to manual mode, the copies would probably become poor in quality. DE-A-38 10 219 discloses a copying machine having an auto exposure amount setting mode and a manual exposure amount setting mode. Normally, the machine is in the auto exposure amount setting mode, but when the operator decides to change the brightness of the copy he can actuate an up button or a down button so as to increase and decrease the density of the copy, respectively. When one of said buttons is actuated, the machine is automatically switched into the manual exposure amount setting mode without any further operation. That is, there is a problem similar to that mentioned hereinabove with respect to the slide volume adjustment. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent an unintentional change to a manual exposure amount setting mode from auto exposure amount setting mode by an unintentional small movement of the receiving means. This object is achieved by this invention according to claim 1. According to the present invention as claimed, the changing means changes to the manual exposure amount setting mode from the auto exposure amount setting mode only when an amount of movement of the receiving means is greater than the predetermined value. Therefore, when the operator touches the slide volume and moves it a little by mistake, the auto mode isn't changed to manual mode and it is possible to prevent the apparatus from changing the mode. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the main structure of an electric circuit relating to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing one example of an exposure amount control operation relating to the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a structural view showing an electronic copy machine as an example of the image forming apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a plane view showing one example of an operation panel relating to the embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 schematically shows an electronic copy machine as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. An original paper holding plate (transparent glass) 2 is fixed onto the upper surface of a main body of a copy machine 1. An auto original paper feeding device 50, which automatically feeds the original paper to a position to be mounted (standard set value), is provided on the upper portion of the original manuscript paper holding plate 2, and a plurality of documents can be continuously fed. Since the auto original paper feeding device 50 freely opens and closes to the original paper holding plate 2, the original papers can be manually set one by one. The original papers mounted on the document holding plate 2 are exposed and scanned by reciprocating an optical system, which comprises an exposure lamp 4and mirrors 5, 6, and 7, along the lower surface of the document holding plate 2. In this case, the mirrors 6 and 7 are moved at a 1/2 speed of the mirror 5 so as to maintain an optical path length. Light reflected upon the document by scanning the optical system, that is, radiation of the exposure lamp 4, is reflected upon the mirrors 5, 6, and 7. Thereafter, the reflected light passes through a variable power lens block 8 and is further reflected upon mirrors 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 and guided to a photosensitive drum 10, and an image of the original paper is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. A density of the original paper is detected by means of an optical sensor 201 detecting a reflected light emitted from the exposure lamp 4. A signal from the sensor is supplied to a microprocessor 70 to be described later. The exposure amount setting in the auto mode is determined in accordance with a signal from the sensor 201. The photosensitive drum 10 is rotated in a direction of arrow c, and the surface is charged by a charger 11. Thereafter, the image is slit-exposed by an exposing section Ph, thereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by adhesion of toner by a developing device 12. The developing device 12 is detachable from the main body of the copy machine 1. Moreover, code data (not shown) showing a color of contained toner is stored in a side surface of the developing device 12. Due to this, if the developing device 12 is inserted to the main body of the copy machine 12, code data is read by a sensor (not shown) provided in the main body of the copy machine 1, and the color of toner can be automatically discriminated. On the other hand, paper (material to be transferred) is taken out of a selected upper stage paper feeding cassette 13-1, a lower stage paper feeding cassette 13-2, and a third stage (additional) paper feeding cassette 113 one by one by delivery rollers 14-1, 14-2, or 114 and a pair of rollers 15-1 and 15-2, or 115. Paper taken out of the cassettes is guided to a pair of resist rollers 19 through paper guiding paths 16-1 and 16-2 or 116, and sent to a transferring section by the pair of resist rollers 19. The paper feeding cassettes 13-1 and 13-2 are detachably provided on the lower end portion of the right side of the main body of the copy machine 1. Moreover, the third stage paper cassette 113 is detachably provided on the right side portion of a paper feeding apparatus 17 provided as an option of the main body of the copy machine 1. One of the paper feeding cassettes 13-1, 13-2 and 113 can be selected in an operation panel to be described later. The size of paper, which is stored in the respective paper feeding cassettes 13-1, 13-2 and 113, is detected by each of cassette size detecting switches 60-1, 60-2, and 160. Each of the cassette size detecting switches 60-1, 60-2, and 160 comprises a plurality of microswitches, which are turned on/off in accordance with the insertion of the cassette of the different size. Moreover, the state of paper, which is stored in the respective paper feeding cassettes 13-1, 13-2 and 113, is detected by each of empty detectors 61-1, 61-2, and 161. Each of the empty detectors 61-1, 61-2, and 161 comprises, for example, a reflection type of optical sensor. Moreover, a manual guide 13a is provided on the upper surface portion of the paper feeding cassette 13-1. The paper, which is inserted through the manual guide 13a, is guided to the pair of the rollers 15-1 by the delivery roller 14a. Thereafter, the paper is sent in the same manner as the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette 13-2. The paper sent to the transferring section is closely attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 at the portion of a transferring charger 20, and a toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred by the action of the charger 20. The transferred paper is electrostatically separated from the photosensitive drum 10 by the function of a separation charger 21, and sent to a pair of fixing rollers 23, which is provided in the final end portion as a fixing device, by a feeding belt 22. Then, a transfer image is fixed by passing the fixing rollers 23. Thereafter, paper is delivered to a tray 26, which is positioned in the outside of the main body 1, by a pair of delivery rollers 24 and 25. After transferring, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is removed by a cleaner 27, and an after image is erased by an elimination lamp 28, so that the photosensitive drum 10 is returned to an initial state. A cooling fan 29 prevents the temperature of the main body 1 from being increased. Moreover, in the mutual portion between the delivery rollers 24 and 25, there is provided a distribution gate 40 distributing the fixed papers to the tray 26 or the paper feeding device 17. The papers distributed to the paper feeding device 17 by the distribution gate 40 are sent to the transferring section again as the papers are maintained as they are or in a state that the front and back are reversed. Thereby, a multiple copy is performed on the same surface of paper or a perfect copy is performed on one paper. Fig. 4 shows a main part of an operation panel provided in the main body 1. In this drawing, the operation panel 30 has a copy key 30a, a ten key 30b, a state display section 30c, a cassette selection key 30d, a state display section 30e, a magnification setting key 30f, a zoom key 30g, a magnification displaying section 30h, and a copy density setting section 30i. The copy key 30a instructs the start of the copy, the ten key 30b sets a number of copies, the state display section 30c displays an operating state of each section and jam of paper, and the cassette selection key 30d selects upper, lower, or third stage paper feeding cassetters 13-1, 13-2 and 113. The cassette display section 30e displays a size of paper to be selected in the cassette, the magnification setting key 30f sets an enlargement or reduction ratio of the copy based on a predetermined relationship, the zoom key 30g sets an enlargement or reduction ratio at random, the magnification displaying section 30h displays a set magnification, and the copy density setting section 30i sets copy density. The copy density setting section comprises an auto exposure amount setting key 30-1 of a momentary switch setting an auto exposure amount setting mode, a display LED 30-2 displaying the set auto exposure amount setting mode, and a slide volume 30-3 for adjusting exposure amount in the manual exposure amount setting mode. Fig. 1 shows a main portion of an electronic circuit. A microcomputer 70 detects the input from a key section 31 such as the ten key 30b of the operation panel 30, the auto exposure amount setting key 30-1, controls the output to a display section 32 such as the state displaying section 30c, the display LED 30-3. Moreover, the microcomputer 70 controls a high pressure transformer (not shown) driving various chargers and a lamp regulator 71 of the exposure lamp 4. Moreover, a density detecting sensor 201 detecting density of the original paper, a RAM 72 storing an A/D convert value in which the value of the slide volume 30-3 is read and A/D-converted, a ROM 73 storing exposure amount data for determining exposure amount at the time of the auto exposure amount setting mode, a parallel-series converter 74 parallel-series converts exposure amount data at the time of the manual exposure amount setting mode or exposure amount data at the time of the auto exposure amount setting mode, are connected to the microcomputer 70. The output of the parallel-series converter 74 is supplied to the lamp regulator 71 via the D/A converter 75, and an AMP 76. An operation of the control of the copy density in the above-mentioned structure will be explained. Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of processing of the exposure amount setting operation. It is assumed that a power of the main body of the copy machine 1 is turned on. A value VSL1 of the slide volume 30-3 is read and A/D-converted in step ST1. The A/D converted value VSL1 is stored in, for example, an area of RAMa of RAM 72 in step ST2. Thereafter, the beginning of exposure amount is set in step ST3. Of course, the set amount is different from above value of VSL1. In this embodiment, the auto exposure amount setting mode is set. Sequentially, it is discriminated whether the auto exposure amount setting key 30-1 is turned on or off in the step ST4. If the auto exposure amount setting key 30-1 is turned on, the auto exposure amount setting mode is set in step ST5, and the display LED 30-2 of the operation panel 30 is turned on. If the auto exposure amount setting mode key 30-1 is turned off, the manual exposure amount setting mode is set in step ST6, and the processing goes to step ST7. In this case, the display LED 30-2 of the operation panel 30 is turned off. In step ST7, the value VSL2 of the slide volume 30-3 is read and A/D-converted again. Then, an absolute value VDF of the difference between the present A/D convert value VSL2 and the A/D convert value VSL1 stored in the RAM 72 is calculated. The difference value VDF is stored in, for example, an area of RAMb of RAM 72 in step ST8. In step ST 9, the A/D convert value stored in, for example, the area of RAMa of RAM 72 is rewritten by the value VSL2 of the slide volume 30-3 which is read and A/D-converted in step ST7. Then in step ST10, the difference data VDF between VSL1 and VSL2 is compared with a predetermined reference value VR (ST10). This reference value VR is set in consideration of the operator's miss level or a degree of an error of reading by the microcomputer 70. In a word, this reference value VR should be large than a degree which the operator's miss finger touch usually vary the slide volume value. Above companion of data (ST10) is explained by a following equation (1). |(VSL1) - (VSL2)| > VR And, the difference value VDF is, more concretely, a digital data according a varied voltage value of the slide volume 30-3 between the beginning of move and the end. If the difference data is larger than the reference value, that is, it is discriminated that the slide volume 30-3 is moved to a certain degree, the mode is reset to the manual exposure mode in step ST11. Due to this, if the copy key 30a of the operation panel 30 is operated, exposure of the exposure lamp 4 is controlled by exposure data, which is determined by the new A/D converting value stored in the area of RAMa of RAM 72. On the other hand, if the difference data is smaller than the reference value, it is discriminated that there is no change in the slide volume, and the processing goes to step ST4. Then, the above-mentioned steps are repeated. In other words, if the copy key 30a is operated in this state, exposure of the exposure lamp 4 is automatically determined in accordance with data o: ROM 73 in the case of the auto exposure mode. In the state that the manual exposure mode is set in advance, similar to the above-mentioned reset, exposure of the exposure lamp 4 is controlled by exposure data, which is determined by the new A/D converting value stored in the area of RAMa of RAM 72. As mentioned above, the manual exposure mode can be changed from the auto exposure mode only by operating the slide volume according to the operator intention. In other words, the change of the auto exposure amount setting mode to the manual exposure amount setting mode can be performed only by moving the slide volume without operating the auto exposure amount setting key. Thereby, there is no need of the complicated operation in which the slide volume is controlled after turning of the auto exposure amount setting mode. As a result, the operation can be easily simplified. It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. It is of course that various modifications can be made. Furthermore, since the reference value VR for comparison is set an value which is larger than the degree of operator's miss influence, the changing mode from auto mode to manual mode is carried out only when the operator moved certainly the slide volume 33 by his intention.

Claims: An image forming apparatus for forming an image of an original on an image carrying member, the apparatus having an auto exposure amount setting mode and a manual exposure amount setting mode, comprising: means (4) for emitting light to the original to expose the image carrying member using light reflected from the original; means (201) for detecting a density of the original by the reflected light; receiving means (33) for receiving an operation by an operator in the manual exposure amount setting mode to vary an exposure amount of the image carrying member, the receiving means being moved from a first position to a second position by the operation; setting means (70) for setting the exposure amount according to an amount of operation by the receiving means; first energizing means (71) for energizing the emitting means on the basis of a result of detection of the detecting means in the auto exposure amount setting mode; and second energizing means (71) for energizing the emitting means according to the setting of the setting means (70); characterized by means (70) for determining the difference between the first position and the second position of the receiving means (33) and comparing this difference with a predetermined value, said predetermined value being larger than an error value of reading of the operation receiving means (33), and means (70) for changing from the auto exposure amount setting mode to the manual amount setting mode when the determining means determines that the difference is larger than the predetermined value in the auto exposure amount setting mode, and for maintaining the auto exposure amount setting mode when the difference is determined to be smaller than the predetermined value. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the changing means (70) includes a RAM (72) storing the predetermined value. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving means includes a momentary switch provided on an operation panel (30). An image forming apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized by further comprising a parallel/series converter (74) and a D/A converter (75) which are provided between the changing means (70) and the energizing means (71). An image forming apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiving means includes a slide volume device (33), a light emission diode (30-2) is formed on the operation panel, for displaying the auto exposure amount setting mode and the manual exposure amount setting mode; a read only memory (73) is connected to the determining means; means (74) are connected between the determining means and the energizing means, for converting parallel signals to series signals; and means (75) are connected between the determining means and the energizing means, for converting digital signals to analog signals.

Inventors: TAKAHASHI KAZUTAKA, TAKAHASHI, KAZUTAKA, Takahashi, Kazutaka, c/o Intellectual Property Div
Applicants: TOSHIBA KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G03G15
IPC codes: G03G21, G03G15, G03B27