JPH08106191A - Image forming apparatus having trial copy function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When performing the main copy after performing the trial copy, the recorded transfer sheets obtained as a result of both copies are discharged onto the same discharge tray and stacked in a mixed state. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving a problem caused by the above. In an image forming apparatus having an input means for setting desired copy conditions and a test copy mode for checking the copy performance under the set copy conditions, a transfer sheet having an image recorded during the test copy is provided. An ejecting unit for ejecting is provided separately from the ejecting unit for normal copying.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is an improvement of an image forming apparatus having a trial copy function for checking whether or not the copy state in the set copy mode is good before executing the original copy job. In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of eliminating a problem caused by a transfer sheet ejected as a result of a trial copy being mixed with a transfer sheet ejected as a result of a main copy on a discharge tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile machine, a toner image is transferred onto a transfer paper in an image forming section,
An image is formed by fixing, and the transfer paper on which the image is formed is discharged and stacked on a discharge tray. By the way, in the actual use of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, depending on the original copy job, that is, prior to the main copy, the image density, the binding margin, and the setting conditions of the editing function such as the magnification change, etc. are set. The image formation content that will be obtained is
In order to know in advance whether or not it will be in line with the operator's intention, only one test copy is performed, and the quality of the image on the transfer paper obtained as a result of the test copy (copy quality, performance)
After confirming the above, this copy is often executed.

Conventionally, as a technique for improving the difficulty of handling a document when using an automatic document feeder, if no scanning is performed after a trial copy, a normal copy is automatically made by a timer. There is one (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-1162). In addition, as other proposals related to the trial copy, there is a technique of performing a remaining copy by inputting a continuation signal after the trial copy (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-11641), charging, discharging, and development ON / OFF during the trial copy.
A technique for changing the timing (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-42245), when a test copy is made when an automatic document feeder is provided, and the result of the test copy is good,
A technique in which the main copy is performed, and if the result of the trial copy is not good, the trial copy is performed again (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-1
88166), a technique in which an image is formed on a transfer paper only once during a trial copy prior to combining and double-sided copying and is ejected outside the apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2962).
No. 62) is known.

However, in these conventional techniques, the discharge destination of the recorded transfer paper obtained as a result of the trial copy is on the same discharge tray as the discharge destination of the transfer paper obtained by the main copy, and When the recorded transfer paper obtained as a result of copying is discharged onto the same tray, the trial copy paper is mixed with the main copy paper, which necessitates sorting later, which is complicated. In addition, it often happens that the test copy paper is forgotten and the test copy is bound in a mixed state.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and when the trial copy is performed and then the main copy is performed, the recorded transfer sheets obtained as a result of both the copies are placed on the same discharge tray. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of solving a problem caused by being discharged and stacked in a mixed state. Further, in order to make it easier for the operator to check the quality of the image forming surface of the recording paper obtained as a result of the test copy, the test copy paper is discharged to the upper part of the image forming apparatus with the image forming surface facing upward. (EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of reducing operation time during continuous use. Also, by using the discharge port for the trial copy as the discharge port for the jammed paper (the residual transfer paper after the jammed paper), the trial copy paper and the jammed paper are configured to be easily discarded together. (EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus which eliminates the trouble of discarding a trial copy paper each time copying is performed.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having an input means for setting desired copying conditions and a trial copy mode for checking the copying performance according to the set copying conditions. In addition, an ejecting unit for ejecting the transfer sheet having the image recorded during the trial copy is provided separately from the ejecting unit during normal copying. The discharge unit for discharging the transfer paper having undergone the image recording during the test copy is provided on the upper surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The discharge unit for discharging the transfer paper having undergone the image recording during the test copy is also used as a discharge unit for discharging the residual transfer paper when a jam occurs.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus (copying machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus of FIG. It is equipped with a paper feed tray (LCT) and a sorter. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an automatic document feeder 2 arranged at an upper portion, a paper feed tray 3 which can be put in and taken out from the front of the apparatus, and a discharge tray for a transfer sheet on which an image recording by a trial copy is received. It has a (paper discharge unit) 4, a ten-key unit 5, a display unit (touch panel = input means) 6, a paper discharge tray 7, and the like.

In the internal structure explanatory view of FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 7 is shown.
Large capacity tray (LCT) 10 and sorter 1 instead of
1 is provided. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the recorded transfer sheet to be discharged to the discharge tray 7 is discharged to the sorter 11. The automatic document feeder 2 reverses the document inserted from the paper feed port 15 at the reversing unit 16 and conveys it onto the contact glass CG by the conveyance force of the belt 17 to receive an image. After reading, the document is discharged to the document tray 18.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed unit 20 having a paper feed tray 3, a reading optical system 21 for irradiating a document on a contact glass CG with reading light to read an image, and a reading optical system 21. An image forming unit 22 that receives the reflected light from the document and forms an image on the transfer paper. Reading optical system 21
Has a light source 25, a reflection mirror 26, and the like. The image forming unit 22 includes an endlessly stretched photoreceptor belt 30 running in the arrow direction, a writing unit 31, a developing device 32, and
It has a transfer device 33, a fixing device 34, and the like.

The trial copy discharge tray 4 has a branch discharge path 37 which is switched by a branch claw 36 arranged in the middle of a transport path 35 extending from the fixing device 34 toward the discharge tray 7 or the sorter 11. If the transfer paper, which is located at the end portion and is ejected from the fixing device 34 by rotating the branch pawl 36 by the solenoid 38 shown in FIG. 2, is a trial copy paper, the branch paper ejection path 37.
Will be transported to the side. In the case of the transfer paper obtained as a result of the main copy, it is normally conveyed through the conveyance path 35. FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) show the operation of the branch claw 36. The branch claw 36 rotatably supported about the shaft 36a is a fixed transfer obtained as a result of normal copying. When the paper is discharged, the transfer paper is guided to the sorter side by closing the branch discharge path 37 side as shown in (a). On the other hand, in the case of the transfer paper obtained as a result of the trial copy,
As shown in (b), only the branch discharge path 37 is opened and guided to the trial copy discharge tray 4 side. This switching operation is performed by a solenoid 38 that operates based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown).
Is performed by the action of.

Next, FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an example of the ten-key unit 5, and FIG. 4B is a block diagram of an example of the display unit (touch panel) 6. A characteristic configuration of this embodiment is that the ten key unit 5 is provided with a key 40 for trial copy. When the test copy key 40 is turned on, the test copy is executed, and the transfer sheet having the image recorded thereon is discharged onto the discharge tray 4.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. In the case of performing a normal copy (a copy other than the trial copy) in FIG. 2, when a document is set in the automatic document feeder 5 and the copy start key 41 is turned on, the document is conveyed one by one onto the contact glass CG. Then, the reading optical system 21 exposes the original surface. The reflected light of the document is irradiated by the writing unit 31 onto the photoconductor 30 that is uniformly charged in advance, and the electrostatic latent image formed there is
A visual image is formed by the developing device 32, and the visible image is transferred onto the transfer paper fed from the paper feed tray 3 at the position of the transfer device 33. The transfer sheet that has received the transfer is fixed by the fixing device 34, is sent to the conveyance path 35, and is discharged to the sorter 11 (the discharge tray 7 in FIG. 1). At this time, the branch claw 36 opens the transport path 35 connected to the sorter 11 as shown in FIG.

Next, when the copying conditions such as the image density, the binding margin, and the scaling factor are set (changed), it is safe to check the copy quality and the image contents before the main copying. For this reason, a trial copy is made. When performing a trial copy, it is sufficient to turn on the trial copy key 40 shown in FIG. 3A, and by turning on the key 40,
The automatic document feeder feeds only one of the document bundle onto the contact glass, and an image is formed on the transfer sheet by the same operation as in the case of normal copying. During this test copy, the branch claw 36 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3B by the operation of the solenoid 38, so that the transfer paper (test copy paper) discharged from the fixing device 34 is discharged for test copy. It is discharged onto the paper tray 4.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, since the main copy paper and the trial copy paper are discharged to the special discharge section, it is not necessary to manually sort each copy, and the necessary main copy is required. Only paper can be taken out. Further, since the trial copy discharge tray 4 is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, the operator can easily recognize the copy quality and performance of the trial copy paper, and the time for continuous use can be shortened. Further, if the test copy paper is ejected so that the image surface thereof faces upward, it is possible to save the trouble of picking up the copy paper and turning it over, so that further time reduction can be realized.

Next, FIG. 5 is an external view of another image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus of FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 5 includes an automatic document feeder 2 arranged at the top, a paper feed tray 3 that can be put in and taken out from the front of the device, a ten-key unit 5, a display unit (touch panel) 6, and the like. . A transport unit 50, a sorter / stapler 51, and a large-volume paper feed tray 52 are connected to the image forming apparatus 1. Since the automatic document feeder 2, the reading optical system 21, and the image forming unit 22 perform the same operations as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the same parts are allotted with the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The transport unit 50 has a discharge port (main body discharge port) 5 from the fixing device 34.
The transfer paper received from No. 5 is passed through the conveyance path 56 to the sorter /
Is a means for conveying to the inlet 57 of the stapler 51,
In this embodiment, a switching claw 70 is provided at the receiving port 58 of the transport unit 50, and the transport path 56 and the jam tray 71 are provided.
The characteristic is a configuration in which the path to the head can be selectively switched.

That is, FIG. 7 shows a transport unit and a sorter /
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the structure of the stapler. A switching claw 70, which is configured to be rotatable by a solenoid (not shown) like the branch claw of FIG. A solenoid (not shown) is actuated to rotate so as to guide the transfer sheet to the jam tray 71 side. The jam tray 71 is a tray for receiving the transfer paper remaining in the image forming apparatus main body when a jam occurs on the sorter side, and the switching claw 70 remains by opening the path of the jam tray 71. The transfer sheet is discharged onto the jam tray 71 and is not conveyed to the sorter side. During normal copying, when the copy start key 41 is turned on, the switching claw 70 rotates in the direction of opening the transport path 56, and the transfer paper is sequentially discharged onto each bin constituting the sorter.

When a jam occurs in the sorter or the image forming apparatus 1 during normal copying, a controller (not shown) actuates the solenoid by a jam detection signal from the jam detecting means to transfer the jam to the jam tray 71. The path is opened, and the transfer sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus after the jam on the sorter side or the transfer sheet remaining in the apparatus body after the jam processing in the apparatus body is discharged onto the jam tray 71.

In the present invention, the transfer sheet having undergone the test copy is ejected onto the jam tray 71 at the time of the test copy.
When N is turned on, a control unit (not shown) operates a solenoid (not shown) to open the jam tray 71 side by the switching claw 70 to eject the trial copy paper onto the jam tray. Since the jam tray is also used as the trial copy paper discharging unit in this way, it is not necessary to provide a special paper discharging unit, which is advantageous in terms of space, and the trial copying paper can be discarded together with the jam paper. There is no need to dispose of the trial copy paper each time the trial copy is made, unlike the conventional case.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the actual copy is performed after the trial copy, the recorded transfer sheets obtained as a result of both copies are discharged onto the same discharge tray. It is possible to solve a problem caused by stacking in a mixed state. Further, in order to make it easy for the operator to check the quality of the image forming surface of the recording paper obtained as a result of the test copy, the test copy paper is discharged to the upper part of the image forming apparatus with the image forming surface facing upward,
Therefore, it has become possible to shorten the operation time during continuous use. Furthermore, by using the discharge port for the trial copy as the discharge port for the jammed paper (residual transfer paper after the jammed paper), the trial copy paper and the jammed paper can be easily disposed together, so that the trial copy can be performed. It is possible to eliminate the trouble of discarding the trial copy paper every time copying is performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the device shown in FIG.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are views showing the main configuration of the apparatus of FIG.

4A and 4B are configuration explanatory views of a numeric keypad portion and a display portion.

FIG. 5 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a numeric keypad portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image forming apparatus, 2 automatic document feeder, 3 paper feed tray, 4 paper discharge tray (paper discharge section), 5 numeric keypad section, 6
Display unit (touch panel), 7 paper discharge tray, 10 large capacity paper feed tray (LCT), 11 sorter, 16 reversing unit, 17 belt, 20 paper feeding unit, 21 reading optical system, 22 image forming unit, 25 light source, 26 Reflective mirror,
30 photoconductor belt, 31 writing section, 32 developing device, 33 transfer device, 34 fixing device, 35 conveying path, 36 branching claw, 37 branching discharging path, 38 solenoid, 40 test copy key, 41 copy start key, 50 transport unit, 51 sorter / stapler, 52 large-volume paper feed tray, 55 discharge port (main body discharge port), 56 transport path, 57 inlet, 58 receiving port, 7
0 switching claw, 71 jam tray.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Input means for setting desired copying conditions,
In an image forming apparatus having a test copy mode for checking the copy performance according to the set copy conditions, a discharge unit for discharging the transfer paper on which the image is recorded during the test copy is used as a discharge unit for a normal copy. An image forming apparatus having a trial copy function, which is provided separately from the image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus having a test copy function according to claim 1, wherein the discharge section for discharging the transfer paper having undergone the image recording at the time of the trial copy is provided on the upper surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus. . 3. The discharge unit for discharging the transfer paper having undergone image recording during the trial copy is also used as a discharge unit for discharging the residual transfer paper when a jam occurs. Image forming apparatus having a trial copy function of.