PURPOSE: To prevent no-load operation and reduce damaging of apparatus by providing a mechanism of detecting the presence or absence of any original between an exposure lamp and a roller.

CONSTITUTION: An original detecting switch S2 detects whether an original exists between an exposure lamp and a roller or not. If the original is held inserted while an auto/manual select switch S1 is kept connected to an auto side contact A, S2 opens and when it is not inserted, the S2 closes. As the S2 goes on, a timer T is started and after its set time, a contact t1 goes off, and the coil of a main relay X is deenergized, whereby a copying machine 4 is disconnected form an electric power source 1.