JPH0538889A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To continue the take-away of papers from an image forming device to a sheet after-treatment device, even in the case of paper clogging in a sorter and depleted or stacked over staples in a stapler. CONSTITUTION:A condition detecting means 470 detects any paper clogged up in sorters 400 and 401 and any abnormal condition such as staple depleting from a stapler and stacked over. The take-away of papers is continued by changing the number of the papers receivable in a sorter 100 according to the detected content. In this way the image forming function by an image forming device 100 can be performed efficiently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system provided with a plurality of sheet post-processing devices (hereinafter referred to as sorters) for classifying, storing and stapling sheets after image formation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sheets formed with an image by a copying machine as an image forming apparatus are classified and stored in a bin of a sorter.
Further, there is known an image forming apparatus that staples with a stapler. In such a device, the set value of the number of storable sheets of the sorter sent from the sorter to the system main body is
It was uniquely determined by the number of bottles.

[0003]

However, since the set value of the number of sheets that can be stored in the conventional sorter is uniquely determined as described above, when an abnormality such as a paper jam or a needle-less state occurs in the sorter, the sorter can be used. Even if there is a place where continuous paper discharge is possible, the system main body is unconditionally stopped until it is released, and there is a problem that the operating efficiency of the image forming apparatus is reduced.

When the number of sheets to be discharged exceeds the number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter (hereinafter referred to as stackover), the sheet discharging operation is not continued unless the sheets are removed from all the trays of the sorter after the sheet discharging. In other words, even if you remove the sheets from some trays of the sorter, the set value for the number of sorters that can be stored from the sorter to the main unit is constant.
The main body could not detect the number of sheets that should be continuously discharged, and the paper was not discharged from the main body.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter is changed by changing the number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter by means of status detection means such as paper jam detection means, staple-free detection means, and paper presence detection means for detecting sheets in the sort tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of continuously discharging a sheet from a sheet.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a sheet (P) attached to an image forming apparatus (100) and discharged from the image forming apparatus (100). Sheet post-processing device for sorting and storing (40
0), the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400) is set to the image forming device (1).
00) to the image forming apparatus (10).
0) discharges the sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus (400) (411), and status detection means (470) to detect the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus (400), paper jam, and other conditions. And having the status detecting means (470)
The number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400) is made variable according to the detection content of the above.

A plurality of sheet post-processing devices (40
0, 401) and the sheet post-processing device (400, 40)
1) a paper jam detecting unit (460) for detecting the paper jam, and the paper jam detecting unit (46).
0), the sheet post-processing device (40
It is characterized in that the number of sheets (0, 401) to be stored is reduced to enable continuous sheet discharge to the sheet post-processing device (400, 401).

Further, a plurality of sheet post-processing devices (400, 401) provided with a stapler (412) for stapling the discharged sheet (P), and the stapler (41
Needle-less detection means for detecting the needle-free in 2) (S408)
The sheet post-processing device (40) is configured to reduce the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400, 401) according to the detection content of the staple-free detection unit (S408).
It is characterized in that continuous paper discharge to 0, 401) is possible.

Further, the sheet post-processing device (400, 4
01) has a paper presence detecting means (S407) for detecting the presence of paper in each storage location (B), and the paper presence detecting means (S)
If the planned number of discharged sheets exceeds the storable number according to the detection content of 407), the sheets (P) are removed from a part of the storing places after the completion of the sheet discharge to the sheet post-processing device (400, 401). The feature is that the number of storable sheets is increased to enable the start of paper discharge.

A plurality of sheet post-processing devices (40
0, 401) and the sheet post-processing devices (400, 40)
1) paper presence detecting means (S407) for detecting the presence of paper in each storage location, and the paper presence detecting means (S40).
If the planned number of discharged sheets exceeds the number of sheets that can be stored according to the detection content of 7), one of the sheet post-processing devices (400 /
401) while the other sheet post-processing device (401 /
It is characterized in that the number of sheets that can be stored in 400) has been increased to enable continuous paper discharge.

[0011]

According to the above configuration, the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400) is communicated to the image forming apparatus (100), and the number of sheets (P) that can be stored is the image forming apparatus (100). The sheet is ejected to the sheet post-processing device (400) by the sheet ejecting means (411). The number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400) or a state such as a paper jam is detected by the status detection means (470), and the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device (400) is variable according to the detected content. .. As a result, the sheet post-processing device (400)
By reducing the number of sheets that can no longer be stored from the number of sheets that can be stored, the sheet can be continuously discharged from the image forming apparatus (100) to the sheet post-processing apparatus (400).

Further, the sheet post-processing device (400, 40
When the sheet discharge to 1) is a stackover, the sheet presence detecting means (S407) of the storage location (B) of the sheet post-processing device (400, 401) may discharge a part of the storage location during (or after) the discharge. When it is detected that the tray has been emptied, the set value of the number of storable sheets in the sheet post-processing device that notifies the main body side is increased by the number of sheets that can be discharged to the vacant storage location (B), and Even after the original number of sheets that can be stored in the processing apparatus has been discharged, the increased number of sheets that can be stored continues to be discharged.

The reference numerals in parentheses are shown for reference to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a sheet post-processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. There is.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a copying machine main body,
Reference numeral 200 is a pedestal having a double-sided processing function of turning over a sheet as a recording medium in double-sided recording and a multiplex recording function of performing recording a plurality of times on the same sheet, and 300 is a cyclic automatic device for automatically feeding an original. Document feeders (hereinafter referred to as RDFs) are shown respectively, and these pedestal 200 and RDF 300 can be freely combined and used with the copying machine main body 100. Hereinafter, the copier body 100, the pedestal 200, and the RDF3
00 will be sequentially described.

A. Copying Machine Main Body (100) In the copying machine main body 100 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 is a platen glass on which an original is placed, 103 is an illumination lamp (exposure lamp) for illuminating the original, 105, 107, 109,
Reference numeral 113 indicates a scanning mirror for changing the optical path of reflected light, and reference numeral 111 indicates a lens having focusing and zooming functions. Reference numeral 115 is an optical system motor for driving the optical system, 1
Reference numerals 17, 119 and 121 denote sensors, respectively.

Reference numeral 131 is a photosensitive drum 133 is a main motor for driving the photosensitive drum 131, 135 is a high voltage unit, 137 is a blank exposure unit, 139 is a developing device, 140 is a developing roller, 141 is a transfer charging device, 143.
Is a separation charger, and 145 is a cleaning device.

Reference numeral 151 is an upper cassette, 153 is a lower cassette, 171 is a manual paper feed port, 155 and 157 are paper feed rollers, and 159 is a registration roller. Further, reference numeral 161 is a conveyor belt that conveys a sheet (recording paper) on which an image is recorded to the fixing device side, 163 is a fixing device that fixes the conveyed recording paper by thermal fixing, and 167 is used during double-sided recording. It is a sensor.

The surface of the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 131 is composed of a photoconductor and a seamless photoconductor using a conductor, and is rotatably supported. The photosensitive drum 131 serves as a copy start key which will be described later. 2 is rotated by the main motor 133 that operates in response to the pressing operation. Then, when the predetermined rotation control and potential control processing (preprocessing) of the photosensitive drum 131 is completed, the document loaded on the platen glass 101 is printed. Is illuminated by an illumination lamp 103 that is integrally formed with the first scanning mirror 105, and the reflected light of the original is reflected by the first scanning mirror 105, the second scanning mirror 107,
An image is formed on the photosensitive drum 131 via the third scanning mirror 109, the lens 111, and the fourth scanning mirror 113.

The photosensitive drum 131 is a high voltage unit 135.
Is discharged by corona. After that, the image (original image) irradiated by the illumination lamp 103 is slit-exposed, and an electrostatic image is formed on the photosensitive drum 131 by the known Carlson method.

Next, the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 131 is
It is developed by the developing roller 140 of the developing device 139 and is visualized as a toner image, and this toner image is transferred to the transfer charger 14.
1 is transferred onto the sheet as described later.

That is, the sheets in the upper cassette 151 or the lower cassette 153, or the manual paper feed port 1
The sheet set at 71 is sent to the inside of the copying machine main body 100 by the paper feed roller 155 (or 157) and is sent to the photosensitive drum 131 by the registration roller 159 at a precise timing, and the leading edge of the latent image and the leading edge of the sheet. And are matched. After that, the transfer charger 141 and the photosensitive drum 1
The toner image on the photosensitive drum 131 is transferred onto the sheet by passing the sheet between the sheet 31 and the sheet 31. After the transfer is completed, the sheet is separated from the photosensitive drum 131, guided to the fixing device 163 by the conveyor belt 161, and fixed by the pressure and heating action. After that, the sheet is discharged to the outside of the copying machine main body 100 by the discharge roller 165, and is stacked on the discharge tray 403.

The photosensitive drum 131 after the transfer of the toner image is
The rotation is continued as it is, and the surface thereof is cleaned by the cleaning device 145 including a cleaning roller and an elastic blade.

B. Pedestal (200) The pedestal 200 is a deck 2 that can be separated from the copying machine main body 100 and can store 2,000 sheets.
01 and an intermediate tray 203 for double-sided copying. Further, the lifter 205 of the deck 201 rises according to the amount of sheets so that the sheets always contact the sheet feeding roller 207. Reference numeral 211 denotes a paper discharge flapper that switches between a double-sided recording side or multiplex recording side path and a discharge side path.
Numerals 213 and 215 are conveyance paths of the conveyance belt, and 217 is an intermediate tray weight for holding sheets. Paper ejection flapper 211
The sheet that has passed through the transports 213 and 215 is turned over and stored in the double-sided copy intermediate tray 203. Code 2
Reference numeral 19 denotes a multiple flapper which switches between double-sided recording and multiple recording paths. The multiple flapper 19 is provided between the transport paths 213 and 215 and rotates upward to transport the sheet for multiple recording.
Lead to 1. Reference numeral 223 is a multiple sheet discharge sensor for detecting the trailing edge of the sheet passing through the multiple flapper 219, and 225 is a path 22.
Paper feeding rollers 229 for feeding the sheet to the photosensitive drum 131 side through 7 are ejection rollers for ejecting the sheet to the outside of the apparatus.

When performing double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multi-sided recording (multiplex copying) of the sheet, first, the sheet discharge flapper 211 of the copying machine main body 100 is raised to transfer the copied sheet to the conveying paths 213 and 215 of the pedestal 200. It is stored in the intermediate tray 203 via. At this time, the multiple flapper 219 is lowered during double-sided recording, and the multiple flapper 219 is raised during multiplex recording. The intermediate tray 203 can store up to 99 sheets, for example. The sheets stored in the intermediate tray 203 are stored in the intermediate tray weight 21.
Pressed by 7.

During double-sided recording or multiplex recording to be performed next, the sheets stored in the intermediate tray 203 are operated one by one from the bottom by the sheet feeding roller 225 and the weight 217, and the copying machine through the path 227. It is guided to the registration roller 159 of the main body 100.

C. RDF (Circulating Automatic Document Feeder 300) As shown in FIG. 4, the RDF 300 includes a stacking tray 310 as a first document tray on which the document stack S is set,
A stacking tray 350 as a second original tray for competing for a set of originals SS is provided.

Further, the stacking tray 310 side is provided with a feeding means which constitutes one part of the document feeding means. This feeding means includes a half-moon roller 331, a separation / conveyance roller 332, a separation belt 333, and a separation motor 371.
A registration roller 335, a full-face belt 336, a belt motor 372, a conveyance large roller 337, a conveyance motor 380, a discharge roller 340, a flapper 341,
Recycle lever 342, paper feed stopper 343, paper feed sensor 373, reversal sensor 374, paper discharge sensor 375
Etc.

Here, the half-moon roller 331, the separation / conveyance roller 332, and the separation belt 333 are rotated by the separation motor 371 to separate the originals S one by one from the lowermost part of the original stack S on the stack tray 310.

Further, the registration roller 335 and the entire surface belt 336 rotate the original document separated by the belt motor 372 and separate the original document through the sheet paths a and b, and the original table glass 101.
The sheet is conveyed to the upper exposure position (sheet path c). The conveyance large roller 337 is rotated by the conveyance motor 380 to move the document on the platen glass 101 from the sheet path c to the sheet path e.
Transport to. The document conveyed to the sheet path e is returned to the document stack S on the stacking tray 310 by the discharge roller 340.

Further, the recycle lever 342 detects one circulation of the original document, and when the original document feeding is started, the recycle lever 342 is placed on the upper part of the original document bundle S, and the original documents are sequentially fed to the end of the final document. Recycle lever 342 at the end
One cycle is detected by falling due to its own weight when exiting.

In the above-mentioned feeding means, when a two-sided original is used, the original is once guided to the sheet paths a, b, c, then the large transport roller 337 is rotated, and the flapper 341 is switched to the dotted line position shown in FIG. Guide the leading edge of the document to sheet path d,
Next, the sheet passes through the sheet path b by the registration roller 335, and thereafter, the original is placed on the original table glass 10 by the entire surface belt 336.
The document is inverted by being conveyed to the upper side and stopped.
That is, the document is reversed on the path of the sheet paths c-d-b.

It should be noted that the originals of the original bundle S are passed one by one through the sheet paths a to b to c to d to recycle lever 34.
The number of documents can be counted by transporting the document until it is detected that one circulation has occurred in step 2.

Further, on the right side of the main body of the RDF 300, the sheet original S after the image reading on the original platen glass 101 is carried out to the side opposite to the carrying-in direction to the original platen glass 101, and the originals on the stack tray 310 are conveyed. A second document discharge path (sheet path g) that is carried out to the top of the stack S is configured.
A first transport roller 343 and a second transport roller 344 for transporting the sheet original S are arranged in the sheet path g, and a second paper discharge roller 345 is provided on the downstream side of the sheet path g. Then, the sheet bundle S conveyed through the sheet path g is discharged to the uppermost portion of the document bundle S on the document tray 310.

Above the sheet path g, the document discharge cover 3 is provided.
46 is arranged to form a third document discharge path (sheet path n) in which the sheet path c branches from near the downstream side of the full-face belt 336 and extends to the sheet path n. A sheet discharge flapper 355 for switching the conveyance path is arranged at a branch portion between the sheet path c and the sheet path n. The sheet discharge flapper solenoid 383 is turned on / off to switch between a solid line position and a broken line position in the figure. The path is switched by swinging. A third paper discharge roller 362 is provided downstream of the sheet path n, and discharges the sheet document S conveyed through the sheet path n onto the document discharge cover 346.

A second sheet discharge sensor 376, which is a transmissive optical sensor for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet original S in the sheet discharge path, is arranged in the sheet path g.

On the right side surface of the RDF 300 main body, an original carry-in path (sheet path m) for receiving the sheet original S from the outside of the main body is opened, and an original carry-in path for joining the sheet path m to the sheet path g. Is configured.

Next, the swinging operation of the document tray 310 will be described.

The motor output shaft of the tray swing motor 387 is connected to the tray swing arm 349. A tray swing roller 347 is coupled to the lower surface of the stacking tray 310. The tray swinging roller 347S is the tray swinging arm 3
The base of the tray swing arm 349, which is provided at the tip of 49, is fixed to the swing arm shaft 348. As the swing arm 348 rotates, the tray swing arm 349 swings between the solid line position and the broken line position in the figure, thereby moving the document tray 310 around the swing center between the solid line position and the broken line position in the figure. Rock.

The tray upper limit switch 377 detects that the document tray 310 has reached the upper position (solid line position), and the tray lower limit switch 3
Reference numeral 79 is for detecting that the document tray 310 has reached the lower limit position (broken line position), and the tray swing motor 387 controls the upper and lower limit switches 377, 379.
The rotation is controlled by the detection of.

Further, the stacking tray 350 side is also equipped with a feeding means which constitutes the other part of the document feeding means. This feeding means includes a half-moon roller 351, a separation / conveyance roller 352, a separation belt 353, and a registration roller 3.
54, reserved conveyance motor 389, paper feed stopper 359
A reserved paper feed sensor 390 and a document detection sensor 391
And a paper discharge roller 362 and the like.

When the reserved conveyance motor 389 is turned on, the half-moon roller 351, the separation conveyance roller 352, and the separation belt 353 rotate to separate the originals one by one from the bottom of the original bundle SS on the stacking tray 350. To do.

Further, the reserved conveyance motor 389 is turned on to rotate the registration roller 354, and the belt motor 372.
When the full-belt belt 336 is rotated in reverse by turning on the reverse direction, the original sheet paths k and m separated from the original bundle SS can be conveyed to g.

The belt motor 372 is turned on in the forward direction to rotate the entire surface belt 336 in the forward direction, and the reserved conveyance motor 38
9 is turned on in the reverse direction and the discharge roller 362 is rotated in the reverse direction, the document on the platen glass 101 is moved from the sheet path c to the sheet path n.
The sheet can be discharged to the upper cover 346 through the sheet.

FIG. 3 shows the layout of the operation panel provided in the copying machine main body 100 described above. The operation panel includes a key group 600 and a display group 700 as described below.
And have.

D. Key Group (600) In FIG. 3, reference numeral 601 denotes an asterisk (*) key, which is used when the operator sets a mode such as a binding margin amount or a document frame erasing size setting. Reference numeral 60
An all reset key 6 is pressed to return to the standard mode. Reference numeral 602 is a preheat key, which is pressed to bring the machine of the copying machine main body 100 into a preheat state and to release the preheat state. The preheat key 602 is also pressed when returning from the auto shutoff state to the standard mode.

Reference numeral 605 is a copy start key (copy start key), which is pressed when copying is started.

A clear / stop key 604 functions as a clear key during standby (standby) and as a stop key during copy recording. This clear
The stop key 604 is pressed to release the set number of copies. It is also used when canceling the * (asterisk) mode. Also, clear stop key 6
04 is also pressed when interrupting continuous copying. When the key 604 is pressed, the copying operation is stopped after the copying is completed.

Reference numeral 603 is a ten-key pad which is used when setting the number of copies and when setting the * (asterisk) mode. Reference numeral 619 denotes a memory key, which allows the user to register the modes that the user frequently uses, and here, four types of M1 to M4 arranged in the vertical direction can be registered.

Reference numerals 611 and 612 are copy density keys, which are pressed when manually adjusting the copy density. Reference numeral 613 denotes an AE key, which is pressed when the copy density is automatically adjusted according to the density of the original or when the AE (automatic density adjustment) is canceled and the density adjustment is switched to manual (manual). .. Reference numeral 607 denotes a cassette selection key, which is pressed when selecting the upper cassette 151, the interruption cassette 153, and the lower paper deck 201. When a document is placed on the RDF 300, APS (automatic paper selection) can be selected by the cassette selection key 607. When APS is selected, a cassette of sheets having the same size as the original is automatically selected.

Reference numeral 610 is a unity-size key, which is pressed to make a unity-size (original size) copy. Reference numeral 616 denotes an auto variable magnification key, which is pressed when automatically reducing or enlarging the image of the original according to the size of the designated sheet (transfer sheet). Reference numerals 617 and 618 denote zoom keys, which are 6
Used when designating any scaling factor between 4 and 142%. Reference numerals 608 and 609 denote fixed-size variable keys,
This is pressed to specify reduction / enlargement of the standard size.

Reference numeral 626 denotes a double-sided key, which is pressed to make a double-sided copy from a single side, a double-sided copy from a double-sided original, or a single-sided copy from a double-sided original. Reference numeral 625 is a binding margin key, which can create a binding margin of a specified length on the left side of the copy paper. Reference numeral 624 is a photographic key, which is pressed when copying a photographic document. Reference numeral 623 denotes a multi-key, which is pressed when creating (combining) images from two originals on the same surface of a sheet (copy paper).

Reference numeral 620 is an original frame erasing key, which is pressed when the user uses the frame erasing of a standard size original, and the size of the original at that time is set by the asterisk key 601. Reference numeral 621 denotes a sheet frame erasing key, which is pressed to erase the frame of the original in accordance with the size of the cassette. Reference numeral 622 denotes a page continuous shooting key, which is pressed when the left and right pages of the original are separately copied on different sheets.

Reference numeral 614 is a sheet discharge method (staple, sort, group) selection key, which selects a staple mode or a sort mode when a stapler capable of stapling printed sheets is connected. When the sorting mode (grouper) can be canceled and the sorting tray (sorter) is connected, the sorting mode or the group mode can be selected or canceled. Reference numeral 615 denotes a paper folding key, which allows selection and cancellation of Z-folding in which a recorded sheet of A3 or B4 size is folded into a Z-shaped cross section and half-folding in which the sheet is folded in half.

Reference numeral 627 is an interrupt key, and when pressed during copying, the copying is interrupted and a new copying (hereinafter referred to as interrupt copying) becomes possible. If the button is pressed while the interrupt copy mode is set, the interrupt enable state is canceled.

Reference numeral 628 is a reservation key, which allows registration / cancellation of reservation copying. When the reservation key 628 is pressed, a copy mode different from the copy mode already set can be set. Here, the copy mode to be registered is set, and when the setting is completed, the reservation setting key 629 is pressed. As a result, the set copy mode is set in the RAM 805.
Remembered above.

E. Display Group (700) In FIG. 3, reference numeral 701 is an LCD (liquid crystal) type message display for displaying information regarding copying.
For example, 1 represents one character with 5 × 7 dots, and can display a message for 40 characters and a copy magnification set by the standard scaling keys 608 and 609, the normal magnification key 610, and the zoom keys 617 and 618. The display 701 is a semi-transmissive liquid crystal and uses two colors for the backlight. Normally, a green backlight is lit, and an orange backlight is lit when there is an abnormality or when copying is not possible.

Reference numeral 706 denotes a unity-magnification display, which lights up when the unity-size is selected. Reference numeral 703 is a color developing device indicator, which lights up when the sepia developing device is set. Reference numeral 702 denotes a copy number display, which displays a copy number or a self-diagnosis code. Reference numeral 705 denotes a used cassette indicator, which includes the upper cassette 151 and the middle cassette 15.
3. Which of the lower deck 201 is selected is displayed. Reference numeral 704 is an AE display, and the AE key 6
Lights when AE (automatic density adjustment) is selected by 13. Reference numeral 709 denotes a preheat indicator, which is a two-color LED of green and orange. The preheat indicator 709 is green when ready (when copying is possible) and orange when waiting (copying is not possible). Lights up.

Reference numeral 708 denotes a double-sided copy display, which is turned on when either double-sided copy from double-sided original or double-sided copy from single-sided original is selected.

When the RDF 300 is used in the standard mode, the number of copies is 1, the density AE mode, automatic paper selection, normal size, single-sided copy to single-sided copy are set.
1 copy in standard mode when RDF300 is not used
Sheet, density manual mode, normal size, single-sided original to single-sided copying are set. The difference between when the RDF 300 is used and when it is not used is determined by whether or not a document is set on the RDF 300.

Reference numeral 710 is a power lamp.
Lights when the power switch is turned on. Reference numeral 711 is an interrupt indicator, which lights up when the interrupt copy mode is set and during interrupt copy. Reference numeral 712 is a reservation registration display, which lights up when reservation copying is registered.

F. Main Body Control Device (800) FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration of the control device 800 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 801 is a central processing unit (CP) that performs arithmetic control for carrying out the present invention.
U), which is, for example, NEC (a microcomputer V50 manufactured by NEC Corporation) is used. Reference numeral 803 is a read-only memory (ROM) in which a control procedure (control program) as shown in FIG. The CPU 801 controls each constituent device connected via the bus in accordance with the control procedure stored in the ROM 803. Reference numeral 805 is a main storage device used as a storage area for input data, a storage area for work, and the like. Random access memory (RAM).

Reference numeral 807 denotes an interface (I / O) for outputting a control signal from the CPU 801 to the load of the main motor 133 or the like, and 809 an interface for inputting an input signal of the image sensor 121 or the like to send to the CPU 801.
An interface 11 controls input / output of the key group 600 and the display group 700. For these interfaces 807, 809 and 811, for example, the input / output circuit port uPD8255 of NEC is used.

Further, a known communication IC (for example, uPD8251) is connected via a bus.
Is further connected to a communication IC on the RDF side, and exchanges control data necessary for mutual control of the copying machine main body 100 and the RDF 300 by sequential communication.

The data transmitted from the copying machine main body 100 to the RDF 300 includes a paper feed signal for prompting the feeding of the originals stacked on the RDF 300, a paper ejection signal for prompting the ejection of the originals on the original platen glass 101, and a reserved original. This is a paper feed / discharge mode that determines the form of paper feed / discharge including the original.

G. RDF Control Device (900) FIG. 5 shows the control of the circulating type automatic document feeder (90) of this embodiment.
It is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of (0). The control circuit
It is mainly composed of a one-chip microcomputer (CPU) 901 having a built-in ROM, RAM and the like, and various sensor signals are inputted to input ports I1 to I15 of this microcomputer 901. Further, each load is connected to the output ports O1 to O17 of the microcomputer 901 through the drivers D1 to D17, and the communication IC 903 is further provided.
Control data is exchanged with the main body 100 of the copying machine via the. The data transmitted from the RDF 300 to the copying machine main body 100 is a paper feed completion signal or the like indicating the completion of feeding the original onto the original platen glass 101.

(Reservation) Next, the reservation copying operation will be described. Here, the reserved copy is a second copy mode that is set after the copy is completed and the second copy mode different from the first mode that is already set and is waiting for the start of copying or is being copied is set. It is a copy by.

When the reservation key 628 is pressed in the state of waiting for the start of copying or during the copying operation, a display different from the display screen (hereinafter referred to as the main screen) of the first copying mode which has already been set (hereinafter referred to as the reservation screen). That is). At this time, the first copy mode which has already been set is stored in the memory M1.

When the reservation screen is displayed, the second copy mode can be set regardless of whether the copy operation is in progress. The setting of the second copy mode is completed by pressing the reservation setting key 629. At this time, the display screen returns to the main screen,
The set second copy mode is stored on M2. The document to be copied by reserved copying is set on the reserved tray 350 with the front side facing up.

A description will be given of the case where the reservation copy is registered during the single-sided mode copy in which the original is set on the RDF 300. When the paper discharge process of the final document is completed by the normal copying operation, a paper discharge command is transmitted to perform the reservation preparation paper discharge process. When the reservation preparation paper discharge process is completed, the CPU 801 sends a document transfer command to the CPU 901 to transfer the document bundle SS on the reservation tray 350 to the document tray 310. In the copying machine main body 100, in the copying operation in the first copying mode, when the discharge of the paper is completed and the main motor 133 is stopped, the display screen displays the set second copying mode, and the contents of the memory M2 are displayed in the memory M1. Store, and it becomes the first copy mode. And
Reservation copy registration becomes possible newly.

Documents are transferred from the reserved tray 350 to the document tray 3
When everything is transferred onto the CPU 10, the CPU 801 starts copying in the set copy mode.

Next, the sorter will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7.

In the figure, the sorters 400 and 401 are
It comprises a machine body 402 and a bin unit 403, and this machine body 402 is provided with a carry-in roller pair 405 in the vicinity of the carry-in entrance 404. A flapper 409 for switching the sheet conveyance direction to the conveyance path 406 or the conveyance path 407 is disposed downstream of the carry-in roller pair 405. The one transport path 406 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and the transport roller pair 410 is disposed downstream thereof. Further, the other transport path 406 extends downward, a transport roller pair 411 is disposed downstream thereof, and a stapler 412 is provided near the transport roller pair 411.
Are arranged.

A pair of carry-in rollers 405 and a pair of carry rollers 41
0 and 411 are driven by the conveyance motor 413 (see FIG. 8). A non-sort path sensor S401 that detects the passage of a sheet is provided on the transport path 406, and a sort path sensor S402 is provided on the transport path 407. Further, the conveying roller pairs 410 and 41
A bin unit 403 having a large number of bins B is arranged on the downstream side of 1, and one end is engaged with a hook 416 of this bin unit 403, and the other end is fixed to the body 402 by a spring 415. By holding the bin unit 403, the bin unit 403 is supported so as to be able to move up and down.

Guide rollers 417 and 419 are rotatably supported on the upper and lower portions of the base side of the bin unit 403, and these guide rollers 417 and 419 are connected to the machine body 4 described above.
02 is provided with a guide groove 420 extending vertically.
It is configured to roll inside to guide the bin unit 403. In addition, the shift motor 4
21 are provided. A lead cam 423 and a sprocket 425 are fixed to a rotary shaft 422 pivotally supported by the machine body 402. A chain 426 is stretched around the sprocket 425 and the output shaft of the shift motor 421, and the rotation of the shift motor 421 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 422 via the chain 426.

Further, the bin unit 403 includes a bottom frame 427 composed of an inclined portion and a vertical portion, and a pair of frames 429 and 429 vertically provided on the front side and the back side of the bottom frame 427. Unit body 4 composed of a supported cover 430
Has 31. On the front side of the unit main body 431, an alignment plate 45 that abuts and aligns the sheet P (see FIG. 6).
5 are provided. And the bottom frame 427
A lower arm 433 that is rotated by a matching motor 432 (see FIG. 8) is rotatably supported on the rear side of the base end of the (see FIG. 7). Further, the lower arm 433 of the cover 430 is attached to a shaft 436 rotatably supported by the cover 430.
An upper arm 435 is fixed at a position opposed to, and a shaft 437 is provided at the center of rotation of the upper arm 435 and the center of rotation of the lower arm 433.

A matching rod 439 is provided on the tip of the lower arm 433 and the tip of the upper arm 435. The aligning rod 439 is configured to rotate by a aligning motor 432. The matching motor 432 is
In the stepping motor, the position of the alignment rod 439 is
It can be controlled accurately by the number of pulses given to the stepping motor. Further, reference numeral S403 is a matching rod home sensor for detecting the position of the matching rod 439.
The position of the alignment bar home sensor S403 and the alignment motor 43
It can be controlled by the number of pulses given to 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bin B has engaging plates 440 formed on the front side and the back side of the tip, respectively. The engagement plate 440 engages with a support plate (not shown) provided inside the frame 429, so that the front end side of the bin B is supported. A support shaft 441 is fixed to each of the front and rear sides of the base end of the bin B, and a roller 442 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 441.

Further, a long hole 443 which is longer than the rotation distance of the alignment rod 439 and is sufficiently wider than the width of the alignment rod 439 is formed in the bin B at a predetermined distance from the shaft 437. The base end portion Ba of the bin B stands upright with respect to the sheet storage surface Bb. The front end of the bin B is tilted upward by a predetermined angle with respect to the machine body 402, and the tilt causes the sheet P to slide on the sheet storage surface Bb and the rear end to the base end portion B.
It comes in contact with a and is aligned in the front-back direction.

The alignment rod 439 is fitted into the elongated holes 443 of the bins B1, B2 ...
9 is configured to rotate in the elongated hole 443 to abut and align the sheet P with the alignment reference plate 455. Also,
The lead cam 423 is provided with a groove 423a which is slightly wider than the roller 442 and is formed in a spiral shape.
2, the roller 442 is configured to move up and down along the groove 423a by the rotation of the lead cam 423. It should be noted that one rotation of the lead cam 423 indicates that the lead cam sensor S404 disposed near the lead cam 423 is provided.
Detected by. The position of the bin unit 403 is detected by the bin home position sensor S405.

A double stay 445 is provided at the bottom of the bin B.
Is provided. In this double stay 445, similarly to the bin B, the roller 442 is rotatably supported,
Further, the double pass unit 446 is supported. The double pass unit 446 is the second sorter 4
The sheet P is conveyed to 01, and the lead cam 4
23 is rotated to move the two-pass path unit 446 to a position facing the second transport roller pair 411, and the
By conveying the sheet P by the continuous path motor, the sheet P discharged from the copying machine main body 100 can be stored in the second continuous row.

The presence of the sheet P on each sort bin B indicates that the sort tray paper presence detecting means S provided in each sort tray.
407.

The stapler 412 is an electric stapler. This stapler 412 is swung in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 by a swing motor 450 (not shown) and moved to the position shown by the solid line. And moves from the bin B to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG.

In this way, the stapler 412 is in the bin B.
The inner sheets P are bound, the bin B is moved one bin by the shift motor 421, and the sheets P stacked in the next bin B are bound. Note that S406 is a manual stapling key, and when the manual stapling key S406 is pressed after the sorting is completed, the stapling operation is performed.

The presence or absence of staples in the stapler can be detected by the staple detection sensor S408 shown in FIG.

The sorters 400 and 401 are, as shown in FIG. 8, a central processing unit (CPU) 1001, a read only memory (ROM) 1002, a random access memory (RAM) 1003, an output port 1004, an input port 1005. And a control device 1000 including the above. A control program is stored in the ROM 1002,
Input data and work data are stored in the RAM 1003.

Further, the output port 1004 is connected to various motors such as the shift motor 421 described above and solenoid driving means, and the input port 1005 is connected to each sensor and switch from S401 to S408 such as a non-sorted path sensor. Then, the CPU 1001 controls each unit connected via the bus according to the control program stored in the ROM 1002. Further, the CPU 1001 has a serial interface function, and the copying machine main body 10
The signal from 0 controls each part and outputs an operation signal to the next sorter.

Next, the operation of the sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In the sort mode, first, step 300
Then, the number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter is initialized and transmitted to the main body of the copying machine through serial communication. This will be described later with reference to FIG. Next, at step 301, the bin unit 403 is moved from the main body of the copying machine to the designated bin via serial communication. Then, in step 302, it is determined whether or not there is a sorter start signal, and if there is a sorter start signal, the process proceeds to step 303. If there is no sorter start signal, the process proceeds to step 321.

In step 303, it is judged whether or not the size confirmation signal is present.
Go to 2 respectively. In step 304, the size data is stored in the RAM 1003, and then in step 305
Wait for the paper ejection signal from the copier body. When the sheet discharge signal is received, the program proceeds to step 306 and retracts the aligning rod to a position where the ejected sheet does not hit the aligning rod.

Next, it is determined whether the discharged sheet is a sheet to be stored in the own sorter or a sheet to be stored in the next sorter. If the sheet is to be stored in the own sorter, the program proceeds to step 308. Step 308
Then, a conveying operation for accommodating the sheets in the bin is performed, and then, in step 309, the alignment rod 439 is moved to the side to align the accommodated sheets.

Thereafter, the program proceeds to step 310 to judge the presence / absence of the shift inversion signal, and if there is no shift inversion signal, the program proceeds to step 311 to shift one bin.
If it is determined in step 310 that there is a shift inversion signal, the process proceeds to step 312. If it is an upward shift, the shift direction is changed to the downward direction, and if the shift direction is the downward direction. Change to upward. Upon completion of step 311 or step 312, the program proceeds to step 320. If it is determined in step 307 that the sheet is to be stored in the next sorter,
The program proceeds to step 313 and the bin unit 40
Raise 3 and move to the position of the double pass.

After that, the double pass motor is turned on (step 314), and the feeding operation for feeding the sheet to the double pass unit is performed (step 315). Next, Step 31
In step 6, a double pass timer that measures the time for sending the sheet conveyed to the double pass to the next sorter is set, and in step 317, the double pass timer is up until it is up. If the timer is up in step 317, the sheet has reached the next sorter, so in step 318 the double pass motor is turned off, and in step 319, it is downshifted by 1 bin to 2
Return from the continuous path to the normal bin position, step 320
Proceed to.

In step 320, the number of sheets that can be stored is increased when the paper is removed during paper ejection, and the set value is sent to the main body of the copying machine via serial communication. This will be described later with reference to FIG. After step 320, the process returns to step 302.

In step 321, it is determined whether the discharge of the planned number of sheets has been completed. If completed, the process returns. If not, the process proceeds to step 322. In step 322, it is determined whether the discharged paper is removed from the tray, and if it is removed, the number of sheets that can be stored is increased and the paper is communicated to the main body.
This will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the procedure of the carrying operation will be described with reference to FIG.

From the copying machine main body 100 to the sorters 400 and 4
As a transport operation when 01 receives a sheet, first, at step 501, the transport motor 413 is turned on. Then, in the next step 502, it is determined which of the non-sort path 406 and the sort path 407 is selected. If the non-sort path 406 is selected, the process proceeds to step 503, which is detected by the non-sort path sensor S401. If the sort path 407 is selected, the sort path sensor S402 detects step 504.
Proceed to.

Then, step 505 or step 5
At 06, each path sensor is used to detect a delay jam and a stay jam of the sorter. Next, in step 507, a counter is set to measure the time when the conveyance motor 413 is ejected, and in step 508, it is determined whether or not the counter set in step 507 has finished counting, and the counter counts. If it is up, the process proceeds to step 509 and the transport motor 413
To stop the operation.

Next, the stapling operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 601, the stapler 412 is
The oscillating motor 450 is turned on in order to move, and the oscillating motor 450 is driven until the stapler 412 moves to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. Next, in step 602, the stapler solenoid 440 is driven to perform stapling. Then, in step 603, the stapler 412
6 drives the swing motor 450 until it moves to the retracted position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, and in the subsequent step 604, it is judged whether or not stapling has been completed for all the bins B1 to Bn. In step 605, one bin shift is performed, and in order to perform the next stapling, the process returns to step 601 and steps 602 to 604 are repeated, and when completed, the stapling operation ends.

Next, the jam detection processing of the sorter will be described with reference to FIG. In step 801, a delay jam timer for detecting a delay jam is set. Then, in step 802, is the pass sensor S402 on?
In other words, see if the paper is passing. When the pass sensor is off,
At step 803, it is determined whether the timer counter is counting up. If it is counting up, it is determined that there is a delay jam, and the routine proceeds to step 804, where jam processing is performed. If it has not counted up, the process returns to step 802. If the pass sensor S402 is turned on before the count-up, the process proceeds to step 805, and the timer counter for detecting the jam jam is set.

Next, in step 806, the path sensor S4
Check if 02 is on. When the pass sensor is on, in step 807, it is determined whether the stay jam timer is counting up. If the count is up, it is determined that there is a stay jam, and the process proceeds to step 808 to perform jam processing. If it has not counted up, the process returns to step 806. If the pass sensor is turned off before the count-up, it returns as normal.

The delay jam timer, stay jam timer and path sensor S402 constitute a paper jam detecting means (jam detecting means) 460 (FIG. 1).

Further, the paper presence detection sensor S407, the staple-free detection sensor S408, and the jam detection means 460 constitute a status detection means 470 for detecting the status of the sheet post-processing apparatus 400.

Next, the initial setting of the number of sheets that can be stored will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 101, the total number of bins that can be stored is set to 40, which is the total of 20 bins of each of the sorters 400 and 401. Then, in steps 102 and 103, it is determined whether or not there are staples in the staple mode, and if so, the number of storable bins is reduced to 20 in step 105.
If not, it is determined in step 104 whether the bin of the sorter 401 is empty. If the bin is not empty, the process proceeds to step 105 and the number of storable bins is similarly reduced. If it is empty, proceed to step 106.

At steps 106 and 107, it is determined whether or not the sorter 400 has staples in the staple mode, and if so, the number of storable bins is reduced by 20 at step 109. If not, step 108 determines if the bin of sorter 400 is empty. If the bin is not empty, the process proceeds to step 109 to similarly reduce the number of storable bins. If empty, proceed to step 110. In step 110, the storable number is calculated from the storable bin number, and the set value is serially communicated to the main body 100.

Next, the setting of the number of storable sheets when a paper jam occurs will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 201, it is determined whether the sorter 400 has a paper jam. Sorters 400 and 401 for paper jams
Since both cannot be discharged, the number of storable bins is set to 0 in step 202, and the process proceeds to step 206. If the paper is not jammed, the routine proceeds to step 203, where it is determined whether or not the sorter 401 is jammed. If the paper is jammed, it can be stored in the sorter 400, so the number of storable bins is set to 20 in step 204, and the process proceeds to step 206. If the paper is not jammed, the number of storable bins is set to 40 in step 205 and the process proceeds to step 206. In step 206, the number of storable sheets is calculated from the number of storable bins, and the set value is serially communicated to the main body 100.

Next, setting of the number of sheets that can be stored when paper is removed from the tray during paper discharge will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in step 401, it is determined whether or not paper is being discharged to the sorter 401. If paper is being discharged to the sorter 401, the process proceeds to step 403, and the signal input source of the paper presence detection sensor of the tray of the sorter is set to the sorter 401. .. Also, sorter 4
If the sheet is being discharged to 00, the flow advances to step 402 to set the signal input source to the sorter 400. Next, the paper presence detection sensor S40 of the uppermost tray of the sorter set in step 404.
The signal of 7 is used as the input source. Then, in step 405, it is determined from the signal whether there is paper in the tray, and if there is paper, the process proceeds to step 408.

If there is no paper, it is judged in step 406 whether the tray has already been discharged. If the tray has already been discharged, it is determined that the paper has been removed, and step 40
Increase the number of storable bins by 1 by 7. If the tray has not been discharged, the process proceeds to step 408. In step 408, it is determined whether all the trays of the sorter being monitored are seen,
If not completed, the signal input source is moved to the next tray in step 409, and the process proceeds to step 405. If completed, in step 410, the number of storable sheets is calculated from the number of storable bins, and the set value is serially communicated to the main body 100.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16, a procedure for setting the number of storable sheets when the paper is removed after being discharged to all trays will be described.

First, in step 701, the signal input source of the paper presence detection sensor S407 of the sort tray is set to the uppermost tray of the sorter 401. Then, in step 702, it is determined from the signal whether there is paper in the tray. If there is paper,
Go to step 705. If there is no paper and it is found in step 703 that the tray has already been discharged, it is determined that the paper has been removed, and the number of storable bins is incremented by 1 in step 704. Step 7 if the tray has not been ejected
Go to 05.

In step 705, it is determined whether or not there is a tray to be seen next, and if there is a tray, the signal input source is set to the next tray in step 706. If not, step 708
Proceed to. In step 708, it is determined whether the current signal input source is the sorter 401, and if so, the process proceeds to step 707, where the signal input source is set to the uppermost tray of the sorter 400, and the process proceeds to step 1 702. If not, that is, if the signal input source is the sorter 400, the process proceeds to step 709, the storable number is calculated from the storable bin number, and the set value is serially communicated to the main body 100.

[0117]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an abnormality such as a paper jam or a stapler stapling occurs in the sheet post-processing device (sorter), or when stacking over, paper is discharged or If there is a sort tray from which paper has been removed after discharging, the status detection means of the sorter changes the number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter and informs the main body of the image forming apparatus of the sort tray to transfer it from the image forming apparatus to the post-processing apparatus. There is an effect that the paper discharge can be continued.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a sorter attached to an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the same.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of the circulating automatic document feeder.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus and the circulating automatic document feeder in the same manner.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bin portion of the sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sorter.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the same sort mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a transport operation of the same.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of stapling operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a jam detection operation of the same.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for setting the number of sheets that can be stored.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for setting the number of sheets that can be stored.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for setting the number of sheets that can be stored.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for setting the number of sheets that can be stored.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S document stack P sheet B tray (storage place) 100 image forming apparatus (copier body) 200 pedestal 300 recycle automatic document feeder (RDF) 400, 401 sheet post-processing device (sorter) 412 stapler 446 two-pass unit S402 Sheet path sensor S407 Sort tray paper presence detection sensor S408 Needle detection means (needle detection sensor) 460 Paper jam detection means (jam detection means). 470 Status detection means 1001 Control means (CPU)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Kobayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a sheet post-processing apparatus attached to an image forming apparatus for classifying and storing sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, wherein the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus is the same as that of the image forming apparatus. A sheet discharging unit that communicates with the apparatus and discharges the number of sheets to the sheet post-processing apparatus by the image forming apparatus; and a status detecting section that detects the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus, a situation such as a paper jam, etc. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device is variable according to the detection content of the situation detection unit. 2. A plurality of the sheet post-processing devices, and a paper jam detection unit that detects a paper jam of each of the sheet post-processing devices, the sheet according to the detection content of the paper jam detection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of sheets to be stored in the post-processing device is reduced to enable continuous sheet discharge to the sheet post-processing device. 3. A plurality of sheet post-processing devices having a stapler for stapling the discharged sheets, and a staple-free detection unit for detecting staple-free of the stapler, the staple-free detection unit. 2. The number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing device is reduced in accordance with the detected content of the sheet post-processing device to enable continuous discharge to the sheet post-processing device.
The image forming apparatus described. 4. The sheet post-processing apparatus further comprises a paper presence detecting means for detecting the presence of paper at each storage location, and the planned number of discharged sheets exceeds the storable number according to the detection content of the paper presence detecting means. In this case, the image formation according to claim 1, wherein the sheets can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus by increasing the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus by removing the sheets from a part of the storage locations after the completion of the sheet discharge. apparatus. 5. A plurality of the sheet post-processing devices, and a paper presence detection unit that detects the presence of paper in each storage location of each sheet post-processing device, wherein the contents detected by the paper presence detection unit are included. Accordingly, when the planned number of sheets to be discharged exceeds the number of sheets that can be stored, one sheet post-processing apparatus can increase the number of sheets that can be stored in the other sheet post-processing apparatus while the sheet is being discharged, and continuous sheet discharge is possible. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.