JPH0867424A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To detect the mis-matching between the number of sheet materials, on which double sided recording or multiple recording is made, stored in a temporary storing tray and the number of sheets re-fed from the temporary storing tray. CONSTITUTION: For a series of multiple sheet materials stored in a temporary storing tray 23 and delivered from it, when the number of sheets to be delivered is the same as the number of sheets to be re-fed, the existence of the dividing operation of a cycle lever 30a is judged. Then, when the dividing operation of the cycle lever 30a is present, the conformance or non-conformance of the number of sheets to be delivered with the number of sheets to be re-fed is judged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile, which is provided with a sheet material re-feeding mechanism for performing double-sided or multiple recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing double-sided or multiplex recording, management of the number of sheet materials discharged to a temporary storage tray (temporary storage means), management of the number of sheet materials re-fed from the temporary storage tray, and The presence / absence of the sheet material on the temporary storage tray is detected by the discharged sheet number detection sensor, the refeed detection sensor, and the sheet presence / absence sensor in that order. For example, due to the mismatch between the number of sheets discharged to the temporary storage tray and the number of sheets re-fed from the temporary storage tray when the absence of sheet material on the temporary storage tray is detected, double feeding of re-feeding is detected. It was

Depending on such a method of managing the number of sheet materials on the temporary storage tray, after the sheet material for double-sided or multi-recording is stored in the temporary storage tray,
Only when the re-feeding of all the stored sheet materials from the temporary storage tray was completed, the mismatch between the number of stored sheets and the number of re-delivered sheets was detected.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-described image forming apparatus having a sheet material re-feeding mechanism for performing double-sided or multiple recording, a state where a part of the preceding series of sheet materials remains. When the sheet material succeeding the preceding sheet material is discharged to the temporary storage tray, the mismatch between the number of stored sheets and the number of re-feed sheets cannot be detected until the end of all image forming operations. , All output sheets could be wasted.

Further, the dedicated sheet presence / absence sensor provided on the temporary storage tray makes an erroneous detection with a light weight sheet material or the like in the case of the sheet detection using the detection lever which operates when the sheet material is loaded. In some cases, in the optical detection method, there is also an erroneous detection due to paper dust or the like blocking the optical path.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the mismatch between the number of sheets of sheet material for double-sided or multiplex recording in the temporary storage means and the number of sheets re-fed from the temporary storage means is corrected before the completion of all image forming operations. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that detects each of a series of divisions and avoids the possibility that all output sheet materials after double feeding are wasted, and that does not cause erroneous detection.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and discharge means (21) for discharging the sheet material (S) on which an image is formed in the image forming section (7). ), A temporary storage means (23) for temporarily storing the sheet material (S) discharged from the discharge means (21), and the sheet material (S) stored in the temporary storage means (23) for the image formation. Re-feeding means (3) for re-feeding to the section (7)
In the image forming apparatus (1) including (1), a discharged sheet number detecting means (22) for detecting the number of sheet materials (S) discharged from the discharging means (21) to the temporary storing means (23). A re-feed sheet number detecting means (35) for detecting the number of sheet materials re-fed by the re-feeding means (31) from the temporary storing means (23), and on the temporary storing means (23). It is characterized by comprising a break detection means (30) for detecting a break between the discharged preceding sheet material (S) and the succeeding sheet material (S). In the image forming apparatus (1).

The delimiter detection means (30) is set between the preceding sheet material (S) and the sheet material (S) succeeding the preceding sheet material (S) and the delimiter member (30a). ) And motion detecting means (30b, 30c) for detecting the partition motion by the partition member (30a).

Further, regarding a series of a plurality of sheet materials (S) stored and discharged in the temporary storage means (23), the number detected by the discharged sheet number detection means (22) and the re-feed sheet number detection When the number of sheets detected by the means (35) matches, it is determined whether or not there is a separating operation of the separating member (30a), and when the separating operation of the separating member (30a) is performed, the discharged number of sheets is detected. Means (2
The number of sheets detected by 2) and the re-feed sheet number detecting means (35)
It is advisable to judge whether or not the number of sheets detected by is coincident.

Preferably, the delimiter detection means (3
0) may detect whether or not the separating member (30a) is performing a separating operation after a predetermined time has elapsed after the re-feeding operation was started.

Further, the division detecting means (30) is
After a lapse of a predetermined time after the separating operation of the separating member (30a) is completed, the separating member (30a)
May be detected by the operation detecting means (30b, 30c) whether or not is reset between the preceding sheet material (S) and the following sheet material (S).

The delimiter detection means (30) operates again after the delimiter detection member (30a) has performed the delimitation operation to detect the presence or absence of the sheet material (S) on the temporary storage means (23). It is good to detect.

In particular, the delimiter detection means (30) is provided with the delimiter member (3) when the image forming apparatus (1) is powered on.
0a) is activated to detect the presence or absence of the sheet material (S) on the temporary storage means (23).

[0014]

Based on the above construction, a series of a plurality of sheet materials (S) stored in and discharged from the temporary storage means (23)
With regard to the above, when the number of sheets detected by the discharged sheet number detecting means (22) and the number of sheets detected by the re-feeding sheet number detecting means (35) match, if the separating member (30a) performs a separating operation, The number of sheet materials discharged to the storage means (23) is equal to the number of sheet materials re-fed from the temporary storage means (23), and the sheets are discharged to the temporary storage means and re-fed from the temporary storage means. It is determined that the sheet material that has been fed is not double-fed. On the other hand, the number of sheet materials discharged to the temporary storage means (23) and the temporary storage means (2
When the number of sheets re-fed from 3) matches,
When the separating member (30a) does not perform the separating operation, it can be detected that the sheet material (S) is double-fed at the time of discharging to the temporary storage means (23).

Further, when the number of sheets discharged by the discharged sheet number detecting means (22) is smaller than the number of sheets detected by the re-feed sheet number detecting means (35) when the separating member (30a) is operated for the dividing operation. It is possible to detect that the sheets are being double-fed during the re-feeding.

The reference numerals in the parentheses are for the purpose of contrasting with the drawings, and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an electronic copying type copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. A copying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a circulating automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as “RDF”) 2 for automatically feeding a document and an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) 3. I have it. The RDF 2 can be freely used in combination with the device body 3.

The apparatus main body 3 is provided with a document table glass 5 as a document table on the upper part. An optical system 6 as an image reading means is provided below the optical system 6.
Is provided with a document illumination lamp (exposure lamp) 6a, a scanning mirror 6b, a zoom lens 6c, and a motor (not shown). The exposure lamp 6a illuminates the document while scanning with the motor, and reflects light from the document. The scanning mirror 6b and the zoom lens 6c irradiate the photosensitive drum 7a described later.

An image forming section 7 is disposed below the optical system 6, and this image forming section 7 has a photosensitive drum 7a which is rotatably arranged in the direction of arrow R7.
A high voltage unit 7b, a blank exposure unit 7c, a potential sensor 7d, a developing device 7e, a transfer charger 7f, which are sequentially arranged around the photosensitive drum 7a along the rotation direction thereof.
It is provided with a separation charger 7g and a cleaning device 7h.

The photosensitive drum 7a is rotationally driven by a main motor (not shown), is corona-charged by the high-voltage unit 7b, and then is irradiated with reflected light of the original from the optical system 6.
It is configured to form an electrostatic latent image. And
This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 7e and visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, a paper feed cassette 9 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 3, and the first-stage cassette 9a, the second-stage cassette 9b, the third-stage cassette 9c, and the fourth-stage cassette 9d have a third-stage cassette 9c and a fourth-stage cassette 9c. Feeding rollers 10a and 10b for feeding the sheet material S are arranged above the tip of the cassette 9d. Pickup rollers 11a and 11b are provided near the feeding rollers 10a and 10b, and further, conveying rollers 12a and 12b are provided downstream thereof.
b, 12c, and 12d are arranged so that the sheet material S is conveyed to the registration roller 13 provided near the image forming unit 7. Further, in the vicinity of the image forming unit 7, a multi-manual manual feed 14 for manually feeding the sheet material S to the image forming unit 7 is arranged.

A transport belt 15 for transporting the image-formed sheet material S downstream is disposed downstream of the image forming section 7. A toner image is formed on the downstream side of the transport belt 15 by heating. A fixing device 16 for fixing the sheet material S is provided. In the vicinity of the fixing device 16, there is provided a paper discharge flapper 17 that switches between a path A ₂ for carrying both sides and multiplex recording and a path A _{1 for} discharging the apparatus main body 3 out of the machine. Ejection roller 1 is on the path A ₁ when ejecting outside
9 is provided.

A transport path 20 for a sheet material S to be double-sided and for multiple copying is provided below the fixing device 16, and a temporary storage tray for discharging the sheet material S to a temporary storage tray 23 described later is provided downstream thereof. Discharging roller (discharging means) 21
A discharge sensor (discharge number detection unit) 22 for detecting the discharge of the sheet material S, and a temporary storage tray (temporary storage unit) 23 for mounting the sheet material S are arranged.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the temporary storage tray 23 has a transport direction regulating plate 25 for positioning the sheet material S placed on the temporary storage tray 23 in the transport direction.
And a width-direction regulating plate 26 that positions in the left-right direction in the conveying direction.
And the width direction regulation plate 26 are the conveyance direction regulation plate drive motor 2
7 and width direction regulation plate drive motor 29 (see FIG. 1 for both)
4 and 5, the structure can be independently changed in the directions of arrows B and A shown in FIG. 4 according to the properties of the sheet material S such as the sheet material size, the number of sheet materials, and the sheet material thickness.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a transport direction regulation plate provided on the temporary storage tray 23 to regulate the transport direction position.

The conveying direction regulating plate 25 is configured to move in the direction of arrow B by the conveying direction regulating plate drive motor 27 as shown in FIG. 6a. That is, when copying is started after the double-sided and multi-recording modes have been selected, the transport direction regulation plate 25 moves to the position E corresponding to the size of the sheet material S.
And waits until the sheet material S is stored, and each time the sheet material S is stored in the temporary storage tray 23, it moves to the position F, stops for a predetermined time, and then returns to the position E. I am supposed to do it. Then, the alignment position F is variable according to the number of stored sheets, and in this embodiment, as the number of stored sheets increases, the movement amount from the position E to the position F is reduced. Has become
By performing such control by the control means 100, which will be described later, the sheet materials S stacked on the temporary storage tray 23 are sequentially arranged from the lowest sheet material, as shown in FIG.
And a structure in which the sheets are stacked apart from the re-feed roller 31 described later.

Although not shown, the width-direction regulating plate 26, like the conveying-direction regulating means 25, is adapted to move to a position corresponding to the sheet material size at the start of the double-sided and multiple recording mode.

As shown in FIG. 4, the width direction regulating plate 26 is provided with a break detecting device (break detecting means) 30 for detecting a break of a series of sheet materials S. The demarcation detection device 30 will be described in detail later.

The temporary storage tray 23 having an oblique structure in order to assist in reaching the re-feed separation belt 33, which will be described later, has a re-feed roller (re-feeding means) at its tip, as shown in FIG. 31, a re-feeding / delivering roller 32 and a re-feeding / separating belt 33 are abutted further downstream thereof, and the sheet material S is re-feeded one by one. There is. Further, a re-feed detection sensor (re-feed sheet number detection means) 35 for detecting re-feed is provided near the re-feed / delivery roller 32 and the re-feed / separation belt 33. Further, a multiple flapper 36 is disposed further downstream, and a downstream side of the multiple flapper 36, an upper side, a reverse transport path 37 for reversing the image forming surface of the sheet material S at the time of multiplex recording, and a lower side again. Conveyance path 3 for conveying the sheet material S to the forming unit 7.
9 and conveying rollers 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d are branched and arranged.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the control device 100 of this embodiment. The control device 100 includes a CPU 101 that controls the entire copying machine according to a control procedure stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 102, and a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a control procedure (control program) of the apparatus main body 3. 102, a random access memory (RAM) 103 which is a main storage device used as a storage area for input data and a working storage area, an output of a control signal of the CPU 101 with respect to a load such as a main motor, and a signal such as a sensor I / O 10 to input and send to CPU 101
4 and.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement configuration example of the operation panel 200 provided in the apparatus main body 3 described above.

In FIG. 3, the asterisk (*) key 2
01 is pressed by the operator (user) in the setting mode such as the binding margin amount setting and the document frame erasing size setting, and the cursor key 202 is used when selecting a setting item in the setting mode. Further, the OK key 203 is used when confirming the setting contents in the setting mode.

The all set key 205 is used when returning to the standard mode and when returning from the auto shutoff state to the standard mode.

A copy start key (copy start key) 207 is used to start copying.

The clear / stop key 209 has the functions of a clear key during standby (standby) and a stop key during copy recording. This clear key is also used when releasing the set number of copies. The stop key is pressed when interrupting continuous copying, and the copying operation is stopped after the copying at the time of pressing is completed.

The numeric keypad 210 is used for setting the number of copies and for setting the * (asterisk) mode. The memory key 211 is configured so that the user can register four modes, M1 to M4, which are frequently used by the user. Copy density keys 212 and 213
Used when adjusting the copy density manually. The AE (automatic density adjustment) key 215 is used to automatically adjust the copy density according to the density of the original, or AE (automatic density adjustment).
This is used when you cancel the and switch the density control to manual. The copy sheet selection key 216 is used to select the first-stage cassette 9a, the second-stage cassette 9b, the third-stage set 9c, the fourth-stage cassette 9d, and the multi-manual feed 14. Further, the copy paper selection key 216 is an APS (automatic paper cassette selection) function in the RDF including the APS.
When is selected, a cassette having the same size as the original is automatically selected.

The same size key 217 is used when making a copy of the same size (original size), and the auto scaling key 219 automatically reduces or enlarges the image of the original according to the size of the specified sheet material S. Used when specifying.

The double-sided key 220 is pressed to make a double-sided copy from a single-sided original, a double-sided copy from a double-sided original, or a single-sided copy from a double-sided original. The binding margin key 221 is used to create a binding margin of a specified length on the left side of the sheet material S. The photo key 222 is pressed when copying a photo original, and the multiplex key 223 is used when creating (combining) an image on the same surface of the sheet material S from two originals.

The document frame erasing key 225 is pressed when the user erases the frame of a standard size document after setting the size of the document with the asterisk key 201. The sheet frame erasing key 226 is used to erase the frame of the original in accordance with the copy paper size.

When the front cover mode setting key 227 is pressed, the front cover, the back cover, and the slip sheet are inserted.

The page continuous copy key 229 is used to continuously copy the left and right pages of a spread book.

When the staple sorter is connected, the sheet discharge method selection key 230 for selecting the staple sort, sort, and group discharge methods is used to select the swipe staple sort mode, the sort mode, the group mode, or a selection mode thereof. It is configured to be able to cancel.

The reservation key 231 is used when starting and setting the copy mode for a reserved document placed on a reservation tray (not shown), and the reservation setting key 232 is used when the reservation mode is set. It is used as a confirmation key.

The guide key 233 is pressed when the explanation of the function corresponding to various keys is displayed on the message display.

An LCD (liquid crystal) type message display 235 for displaying information relating to copying by characters or figures in 96 × 192 dots is, for example, the ten key 21.
The number of copies set with 0, the standard scaling keys 236, 237,
Copy magnification set with the same size key 217 and zoom keys 239 and 240, the paper size selected with the paper selection key 216,
A message indicating the state of the apparatus main body 32, a guide message indicating the operating procedure, and other setting contents of various modes are displayed.

The AE display 241 lights up when AE is selected by the AE key 215. Preheat indicator 242
Lights up in the preheating state.

When the RDF2 is used in the standard mode, the number of copies is 1, the density AE mode, automatic paper selection, normal magnification, single-sided copy to single-sided copy are set. RD
In the standard mode of F2 when not in use, the number of copies is 1, the density manual mode is set, and the setting is set to single-sided copying from a single-sided original. The difference between the use and non-use of RDF2 is RDF
It is determined by whether or not the original is set in 2.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

When the operator selects a copy condition on the operation unit 200 shown in FIG. 3 and presses the copy start key 207, the sheet material S placed on the paper feed cassette 9 is removed by the feed rollers 10a and 10b. The pick-up rollers 11a and 11b and the conveying rollers 12a and 12 are separated one by one.
It is conveyed to the upper part of the apparatus main body 3 by b, 12c and 12d. Then, after the registration roller 13 is timed so that the leading edge of the toner image and the leading edge of the sheet material S coincide with each other, the toner is fed to the photosensitive drum 7a and transferred to the transfer charger 7f.
The toner image is transferred by. After this transfer, the sheet material S
Is separated from the photosensitive drum 7a by the separation charger 7g, guided to the fixing device 16 by the conveyor belt 15, and is pressurized and overheated to fix the toner image. And
When the sheet material S is image-formed only on one side,
The sheet material S is conveyed to the path A ₁ guided by the switching of the paper discharge flapper 17, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 3 by the discharge roller 19. The surface of the photosensitive drum 7a is cleaned by the cleaning device 7h.

On the other hand, when performing double-sided and multiplex recording on the sheet material S, the sheet material S is conveyed to the conveying path 20 by switching the sheet discharge flapper 17, and is temporarily stored on the temporary storage tray 23 by the temporary storage tray discharge roller 21. Is discharged. Then, the discharged sheet material S is detected by the discharge sensor 22.

The sheet material S stacked on the temporary storage tray 23 is fed downstream by the re-feed roller 31 and separated one by one by the re-feed delivery roller 32 and the re-feed separation belt 33. Sheet material S is separated and conveyed. Then, the conveyed sheet material S receives the re-feed sensor 35.
Detected by.

When performing double-sided recording, the sheet material S is
The sheet is conveyed to the conveying path 39, fed again to the photosensitive drum 7a, and an image is formed on the back surface of the image forming surface. On the other hand, when performing multi-recording, the sheet material S is once conveyed to the reversing conveyance path 37 by the switching of the multi-layer flapper 36, and after being reversed, is fed to the photosensitive drum 7a through the conveyance path 39, and the image is transferred. The image is formed again on the forming surface. When the sheet material S is inverted and ejected from the apparatus main body 3, the sheet material S is conveyed to the conveyance path 20 by the switching of the ejection flapper 17, inverted, and then ejected outside the apparatus by the ejection roller 19. . Next, the operation of the transport direction regulation plate 25 and the width direction regulation plate 26 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8.

First, it is judged whether or not the copy start key 207 is pressed (S101), and when the temporary storage tray 23 is used in the double-sided or multiplex mode, the regulation plates 25 and 26 are used.
Is initially moved to a position corresponding to the sheet material size (S10
2). When the sheet material S after the image formation is discharged to the temporary storage tray 23, the sheet material S waits for the trailing edge of the sheet to pass the final discharge sensor 22 (S103). It is determined whether or not the size is A4 or more) (S104), and if the size is large, the wait time is set to T ₁ (S105), and if the size is small, the wait time is set to T ₂ (S106) and the movement is performed. Adjust the start timing. The wait time is in the relationship of T ₁ > T ₂ , and is determined from the time when the sheet material S lands on the temporary storage tray 23. Waiting for the wait time to elapse (S107), the alignment movement amount is calculated from the relational expression of (initial movement amount X- (number of storages x movement variable amount Y)) according to the number of stored sheets (S108). In order to determine the moving speed, it is determined whether or not the sheet material S size is a large size (A4 length or more) (S109), and if it is a large size, the moving speed is set to V ₁ (S110), and the small size. If so, the moving speed is set to V ₂ (S111). The moving speed has a relationship of V ₂ > V ₁ and is determined from the properties of the waist material S of the seam S. The alignment movement is started according to the thus calculated alignment movement amount and movement speed (S112), the completion of the alignment movement is waited (S113), the number of stored sheets is increased by one (S114), and the number of stored sheets is predetermined. It is determined whether the number of sheets is N sheets (S115), and only when the number of sheets is N, the conveyance direction regulation plate 25
The position is moved back by Zmm (S116). This is to improve the storability according to the number of stored sheets. After that, it is judged whether or not it is the final sheet material S (S117), and if it is not the final sheet material S, the next sheet material S is awaited to be discharged (S10).
3) If it is the final sheet material S, the process ends.

As described above, the movement method and the timing of the regulation plates 25 and 26 are made variable according to the size of the sheet material S or the number of stored sheets. However, although not shown, temperature, humidity, thickness of the sheet material S, Sheet material S depending on the position of the paper feed stage
It is also possible to change the movement method or timing according to various conditions such as the curl amount of the. By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The preceding sheet material S discharged above and the preceding sheet material S
A section detecting device 30 for detecting a section from the sheet material S subsequent to the sheet is attached to one width direction regulating plate 26. Further, the delimiter detection device 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), a cycle lever 30a as a separating member set between the preceding sheet material S and the preceding sheet material S, and an operating means for detecting the separating operation by the cycle lever 30a. The cycle detection flag 30b and the cycle detection sensor 30c are provided. The cycle detection flag 30b is used for the cycle lever 30.
It is integrated with a and can be freely rotated by a cycle motor (not shown). Cycle lever 30a
5A by rotating the cycle detection flag 30b in the direction of arrow C by the cycle motor after the final sheet material S of the series of sheet materials S is discharged to the temporary storage tray 23 by the series of copying operations. ), The sheet material S can be placed on the stored sheet material S. In this state, the cycle detection sensor 30c is in the off state and detects that the sheet material S is in the temporary storage tray 23. After that, when the sheet material S on the temporary storage tray 23 is fed in order from the lowest position with the re-feeding operation, and the sheet material S stacked under the cycle lever 30a disappears, as shown in FIG. The cycle lever 30a falls by its own weight, and the cycle detection flag 30b turns on the cycle detection sensor 30c to detect that the series of final sheet materials S are gone.

In the copy mode from the one-sided original to the both sides of the sheet material S, the original is copied every other page from the last page (for example, when the number of originals is 5, 5 pages, 3
The first page of the original is copied and stored in the temporary storage tray 23, and then the remaining pages are re-fed from the storage tray so that the first page of the original comes to the front according to the number of originals. Copying (for example, when the number of originals is five, copying two pages on the back side of the first page and four pages on the back side of the third page) (hereinafter referred to as "skip mode"), and sets a plurality of copies. At this time, except for the first and last circulation of the document, before the sheet material S is exhausted in the temporary storage tray 23 as shown in FIG. 7B, the next series of sheet materials is not shown on the cycle lever 30a. S is loaded. Then, except for the first and last circulation of the document in the skip mode, the sheet material S fed from the paper feed cassette (9) and the sheet material S re-fed from the temporary storage tray 23 are alternately image-formed. Along with this, the sheet material S after image formation is alternately discharged to the temporary storage tray 23 and to the outside of the apparatus main body 3. Therefore, the sheet material S of the temporary storage tray 23 is discharged to the temporary storage tray 23 before the completion of refeeding of the series of sheet materials S for one circulation of the original document from the temporary storage tray 23. It The operation of the entire configuration described above will be described below. FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the cycle lever 30a when the power is turned on.

First, waiting for the main switch to be turned on (S201), first, the cycle lever 30a is rotated to detect whether or not the sheet material S remains in the temporary storage tray 23 (S202). Cycle lever 3
0a for a predetermined time, the cycle detection sensor 30c is detected again or it is determined whether the so-called cycle lever 30a is idling (S203). If the cycle lever 30a is not idling, the sheet material S is temporarily stored in the storage tray 23. Therefore, it is determined that the temporary storage tray sheet material S is present, the flag F1 is set (S204), and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the cycle lever 30a in the double-sided mode or the multiplex mode.

First, it is determined whether or not the copy start key 207 is pressed (S301), and in the double-sided or multiplex mode in which the temporary storage tray 23 is used, it is determined whether the temporary storage tray sheet material present flag F1 is set. If it is determined (S302), that is, if the sheet material S remains in the temporary storage tray 23, a warning message is displayed (S309), and the process ends. If the temporary storage tray sheet material present flag F1 is not set, it is determined whether or not there is a temporary stop request due to the absence of the sheet material S of the paper feed cassette 9 (S303). The process ends without rotating the lever 30a. This is because the operation of the cycle lever 30a is continuously executed at the time of continuation, and if it is rotated, an accurate section cannot be detected. If there is no suspension request, the system waits for the end of a series of storage (S304). Usually, the series of divisions is for each set number of sheets, and in the skip mode, it is a division by one circulation of the document stack.

When this series of storage is completed, the cycle lever 30a is rotated (S305), the operation waits for a predetermined time to complete the operation (S306), and the paper presence / absence determination valid flag F2 is set (S307). Then, it is determined whether the job is the final job (S308), and if it is not the final job, the process is repeated from the determination of the suspension (S303).

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of judgment of a break by the cycle lever 30a and judgment of inconsistency between the number of stored sheet materials S and the number of sheets re-fed.

First, it is determined whether the sheet can be re-fed from the temporary storage tray 23 (S401). This is a state in which the sheet materials S are stored in the temporary storage tray 23, the alignment operation is completed, and the feeding operation of the image forming surface is completed. If re-feeding is possible, re-feeding is started (S402), waiting for the trailing edge of the sheet material S after feeding to pass the re-feeding sensor 35 (S403), after which sheet material presence / absence determination is valid. Flag F
It is determined whether or not 2 is set (S404), and if not set, the re-feeding operation is continued next (S40).
2), if set, cycle detection sensor 30c
Is on, that is, whether or not the absence of the sheet material is detected (S405).
The number of stored sheets is compared with the number of sheets to be re-fed (S406). If the numbers are equal, the number of sheets does not match, and a warning message is displayed (S414). In addition, the cycle detection sensor 30
Even when c is detecting that there is no sheet material, the number of stored sheets is compared with the number of sheets to be re-fed (S407). Further, it is determined whether the job is the final job (S409), and if the job is the final job, it is repeatedly determined whether the sheet can be re-fed (S401). On the other hand, if the number of stored sheets and the number of re-delivered sheets do not match, it is determined whether or not the mode is reconfirmable (S41).
0) If it can be reconfirmed, the cycle lever 30a is rotated again (S411), and after waiting for a predetermined time (S412), it is determined again whether the cycle detection sensor 30c detects the absence of the sheet material. (S413), if there is no sheet material, the warning message is displayed (S414), and the process ends, but if sheet material is present by reconfirmation, the next re-feeding operation (S402) is continued. Here, the re-confirmable mode is the next sheet material S until all the sheet materials S are fed from the temporary storage tray 23.
Is a mode in which the sheet is not discharged to the temporary storage tray 23, and in the skip mode, the above state is not satisfied, and therefore reconfirmation is impossible.

[0063]

As described above, by providing the detecting means for detecting a series of divisions of the sheet material S temporarily stored in the temporary storing means, the mismatch between the number of stored sheets and the number of re-delivered sheets is temporarily stored. It is possible to detect every series of divisions before the image forming operation of all the sheet materials S that have been performed is completed, and it is possible to avoid that all the output sheet materials S after being double-fed are wasted.

Further, since the presence / absence of the sheet material S placed in the temporary storage means can be detected by the division detecting means, a dedicated sheet presence / absence sensor is not required, and the presence / absence of the sheet material S is detected by a simple structure. It will be possible.

By using a partition member as the partition detection means, the possibility of erroneous detection can be reduced as compared with the case of using a dedicated lever for detecting sheet material by a detection lever or an optical system detection system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an entire image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a control device for the apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation panel arranged in the apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a temporary storage tray in the embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are vertical cross-sectional views of a section detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 (a) and 6 (b) are sectional views of a conveyance direction regulating plate in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the regulation plate.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the regulation plate.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the break detection device when the power is turned on.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the break detection device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a delimiter determination operation of the delimiter detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Forming Apparatus (Copier) 7 Image Forming Section 17 Paper Ejection Flapper 19 Ejecting Roller 20 Conveying Path 21 Ejecting Means (Temporary Storage Tray Ejecting Roller) 22 Ejection Number Detecting Means (Ejecting Sensor) 23 Temporary Storage Means (Temporary Storage Tray) 25 Conveyance Direction Restriction Plate 26 Width Direction Restriction Plate 27 Conveyance Direction Restriction Plate Drive Motor 29 Width Direction Restriction Plate Drive Motor 30 Separation Detection Unit (Separation Detection Device) 30a Separation Member (Cycle Lever) 30b Operation Detection Unit (Cycle Detection Flag) 30c Action detecting means (cycle detecting sensor) 31 Re-feeding means (re-feeding roller) 32 Re-feeding sending roller 33 Re-feeding separation belt 35 Re-feeding number detecting means (re-feeding detection sensor) 36 Multiple flapper 37 Inversion Transport path 39 Transport path 100 Control device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A discharging means for discharging a sheet material on which an image is formed in an image forming section, a temporary storing means for temporarily storing the sheet material discharged from the discharging means, and a sheet material stored in the temporary storing means. An image forming apparatus including a sheet re-feeding unit that re-feeds the sheet toward the image forming unit, and a discharged sheet number detecting unit configured to detect the number of sheet materials discharged from the discharging unit to the temporary storing unit, Re-feed sheet number detecting means for detecting the number of sheet materials re-fed by the re-feeding means from the temporary storing means, a preceding sheet material discharged onto the temporary storing means, and the preceding sheet material An image forming apparatus comprising: a section detecting unit that detects a section between the sheet material and the sheet material that follows the sheet material. 2. The separation detecting means is a separation member set between the preceding sheet material and a sheet material succeeding the preceding sheet material, and an operation detecting means for detecting a separation operation by the separation member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The number of sheets detected by the discharged sheet number detecting unit and the number of sheets detected by the re-feeding sheet number detecting unit match in a series of a plurality of sheet materials stored in the temporary storing unit and discharged. At the same time, it is determined whether or not there is a separating operation of the separating member, and when the separating operation of the separating member is performed, the number of sheets detected by the discharged sheet number detecting means and the number of sheets detected by the re-feeding sheet number detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein it is determined whether or not they match. 4. The separation detecting means detects whether or not the separation member is performing a separation operation after a lapse of a predetermined time after the refeed operation is started. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The separation detecting means resets the separation member between the preceding sheet material and the following sheet material after a predetermined time has elapsed after the separation operation of the separation member is completed. It is detected by the motion detecting means whether or not it is present.
The image forming apparatus according to the item. 6. The partition detecting means detects the presence or absence of a sheet material on the temporary storage means by operating again after the partition detecting member performs the partitioning operation. Any one of claim 5
The image forming apparatus according to the item. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the separation detecting unit detects the presence or absence of the sheet material on the temporary storage unit by operating the separation member when the image forming apparatus is powered on. apparatus.