JPH1097113A - Post-processing device for image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit the resumption of the action of an image forming device and to enable a user to safely execute work while the taking-out work of a paper bundle is executed by actuating an ejection means in accordance with the input of a start key, inhibiting the input of the start key and displaying the input receiving state of a pause key. SOLUTION: When a copying action is stopped by depressing the pause key 27, it cannot be resumed without depresing the key 27 again. That means, since the copying action is not resumed even when the start key is depressed by the different user, safety is secured. Besides, since timing in which a paper can be taken out is precisely recognized by viewing the turning-on state of a display element 28, the taking-out work is safely executed. Since the actuation of the ejection means can be inhibited by the input of the key 27 in such a way, the paper bundle can be safely taken out from a stacker tray 18 when it is taken out from the tray 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus having a stapler, a stacker tray and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying apparatus, a post-processing apparatus having a stapler, a stacker tray, and the like is sometimes attached to a copying machine main body in order to improve work efficiency after copying a document.

When the post-processing apparatus is used, in a normal use state, a user sets a predetermined number of originals in an automatic original feeder of a copying machine, sets the number of copies, and sets the number of copies in the copying machine main body. When you press the provided start, the copy machine first makes copies of one set of originals sequentially,
One copy of the original is discharged toward an intermediate tray provided with a stapler. In the intermediate tray, copies of one set of originals are stapled by a stapler to form a copy bundle, and are discharged to a stacker tray. Thereafter, similarly, the next copy bundle is sequentially stacked on the previously discharged copy bundle. When the height of the copy bundle discharged to the stacker tray becomes higher than a predetermined height, the stacker tray is lowered by a predetermined distance, and the copy bundle from the stapler is stably placed on the uppermost copy bundle on the stacker tray. So that it is discharged. When the predetermined number of copies are completed, the user takes out the predetermined number of copies from the stacker tray and ends the operation.

On the other hand, in this type of copying machine, a "stop key", a "pause key", an "interruption key" and the like are provided at an upper portion of the copying machine main body. "Stop key"
Is used for forcibly terminating the copying operation when the copying operation is started by setting the number of copies incorrectly or when the copying operation is started by mistake. The “pause key” is used to temporarily stop the copy operation, and the “interrupt key” is used to interrupt the current work and give priority to another copy operation. .

When the copying operation is stopped by using these keys, the copying operation can be restarted by pressing a predetermined key of an operation unit provided at the upper part of the copying apparatus. For example, when the "stop key" is pressed to stop the copy operation, the "start key" may be pressed, and when the "pause key" is pressed to stop the copy operation, the "pause key" may be pressed again. . Also,
When the copy operation is stopped by pressing the “interruption key”, the “start key” may be pressed after the “interruption key” is pressed again. That is, the operation of the copying apparatus in the stopped state can be easily started.

However, the post-processing device of the image recording device is
If a compiler tray or stacker tray from which a user can directly take out paper is provided, and the compiler tray or stacker tray includes a movable part, the operation of the copying apparatus in a stopped state may be performed depending on the situation. Can be easily started, there may be a danger to the user. For example, when user A tries to take out a completed copy from the stacker tray of the post-processing device,
When another user B comes and presses the “start key”, the copy operation resumes, the stacker tray moves vertically, the stacker tray hits a part of the body of the user A, or the stacker tray There is a safety problem that a part of the body of the user A may be pinched between the user and other components. There is also a similar problem when paper is taken out of the compiler tray.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for a user who has previously performed an image forming operation such as a copying operation while taking out a sheet bundle from a stacker tray, a compiler tray, or the like. It is an object of the present invention to prohibit the restart of the operation of the user and to allow the user to work safely.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an intermediate tray for stacking sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus; and a discharge means for discharging a sheet bundle stacked on the intermediate tray to a discharge tray. A post-processing device for a recording device, an operation control unit that activates the ejection unit in response to an input of a start key that instructs a start of a recording operation of the image recording device, and a pause key that inhibits input of the start key.
Display means for displaying the input acceptance state of the pause key.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a post-processing apparatus of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

The post-processing apparatus 1 is generally removably mounted on the paper discharge side of the image recording apparatus main body 2. Although not shown in FIG. 1, as is well known, an automatic document feeder that feeds a document to a document reading device, a document reading device that scans the fed document by scanning an image, is provided inside the image recording device main body 2. Image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method for forming a toner image on the surface of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum based on image information of a read original and transferring the toner image onto paper A paper storage unit for supplying paper to the printer, a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred onto the paper to the paper, and various instructions to the image recording device and an operation state of the image recording device. An operation unit and the like are provided. The operation unit is provided with a start key (not shown in FIG. 1) for starting a copying operation. FIG. 1 shows only the discharge paper sensor 3 and a pair of discharge rolls 4 provided on the downstream side of the fixing device as the components of the image recording apparatus main body 2.

The paper discharged from the image recording apparatus main body 2 to the post-processing apparatus 1 by the discharge roll 4 is sorted by the switching gate 5 into a paper path 6 for the top tray and a paper path 7 for the stacker tray. The switching gate 5 is an operation unit (not shown in FIG. 1) provided on the image recording apparatus main body 2 side.
The posture is switched based on the instruction from.

The paper fed to the paper path 6 for the top tray is conveyed by the paper conveyance rolls 8a, 8b, 8c and discharged to the top tray 9. The paper fed to the stacker tray paper path 7 is transported by paper transport rolls 10a, 10c and 10c, and one set of papers corresponding to one set of originals functions as an intermediate tray. It is stored inside. The compiler tray 11 is provided so as to be inclined with the sheet discharge side on the upper side. Below the compiler tray 11, a compiler tray driving solenoid mechanically connected to the compiler tray 11 to move the compiler tray 11 up and down is provided. 12 are arranged. The amount of paper in the compiler tray 11 is detected by a compiler tray paper sensor 13, and the compiler tray drive solenoid 12 is driven according to the detected amount of paper. Thereby, the paper in the compiler tray 11 can always be sent out from an appropriate height.

A stapler 14 for binding one set of sheets accommodated in the compiler tray 11 is disposed below and below the compiler tray 11. Immediately above the compiler tray 11, a stapler 14 is provided. A paddle roll 15 for contacting the sheet inside and sending the sheet to the exit side of the compiler tray 11 is arranged, and a discharge roll pair 16 is provided at the exit side of the compiler tray 11. The discharge roll pair 16 is a fixed discharge roll 16
a and a movable discharge roll 16b, and the movable discharge roll 16b is driven by a discharge roll elevating motor 17, so that the fixed discharge roll 16a and the movable discharge roll 16b are
It can be separated and connected. The discharge roll pair 16 is open until one set of sheets is stored in the compiler tray 11. Then, 1 in the compiler tray 11
When the set sheets are stored and stapled by the stapler 14, the movable discharge roll 16b is
6a, one set of sheets stapled by the stapler 14 is pinched, and the discharge roll pair 16 is rotated in this state to convey the sheet bundle and discharge it to the stacker tray 18.

The compiler tray 11 is bendable from an intermediate portion. When the stapler 14 binds one set of sheets, the back portion of the compiler tray 11 is bent downward by the motor 19.

The stacker tray 18 is provided to be vertically movable by a stacker tray lifting drive motor 20. The height of the paper stacked on the stacker tray 18 is
It is detected by a stacker tray paper sensor 21 arranged near the stacker tray 18, and the stacker tray lifting drive motor 20 is driven according to the detected height of the paper. Thus, the height of the top of the sheets stacked on the compiler tray 11 is always constant, and the sheets can be stably discharged to the compiler tray 11.

The paper transport rolls 8a, 8b, 8c and the paddle roll 15 are driven to rotate by a motor 22, and the paper transport roll 10a is driven to rotate by a motor 23.
The paper transport rolls 10b and 10c are driven to rotate by a motor 24, and the fixed discharge roll 16a is driven to rotate by a motor 25.

An operation section 26 for the post-processing apparatus is provided above the post-processing apparatus 1.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a pause key 27 for temporarily stopping an image forming operation in the image forming apparatus or canceling the pause, and a display element such as an LED whose lighting state is controlled in conjunction with the operation of the pause key 27. 28 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram showing an electric system of the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the post-processing apparatus 1 described above.
FIG. 2 shows only a minimum part necessary for explaining the present invention.

The image forming apparatus main body 2 includes an operation section 32 including various keys such as a start key 31 for inputting various instructions to the image forming apparatus, and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus. Control part 3 consisting of
3, for example, an image forming apparatus control unit 34 for controlling an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, such that a sheet conveying device in an image forming apparatus main body 2 conveys a sheet along a predetermined path at a predetermined timing. A paper transport device control unit 35 to be controlled and a communication interface 36 for performing communication with the post-processing device 1 are provided.

Further, the post-processing apparatus 1 includes a post-processing apparatus operation section 26 having the pause key 27 and the display element 28 described above, a stack tray control section 38 to which a paper presence / absence sensor 37 and the like are connected, and a paper presence / absence sensor 39. And a staple control unit 44 to which the staple position detection sensor 43 and the like are connected, and the image forming apparatus main body 2. A communication interface 45 for performing communication by the CPU and a control unit 46 including a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the entire post-processing device 1 are provided.
The paper presence sensor 37 corresponds to the compiler tray paper sensor 13 shown in FIG.

The stack tray controller 38 controls the operation of raising and lowering the stacker tray 18. The compiler controller 40 controls the operation of the compiler centering on the compiler tray 11. The control unit 42 controls the conveyance of the sheet in the post-processing apparatus 1, and the staple control unit 44 controls the stapler 1
4 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the post-processing device of the above-described image recording apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows processing when the pause key 27 is pressed, FIG. 3B shows the contents of the apparatus stop processing in the flowchart of FIG. 3A, and FIG. , The processing when the start key 27 is pressed.

When the pause key 27 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the image recording apparatus is currently operating (step 10).
1) If the operation is in progress, the display element 28 is turned on and off (step 102), and the user is informed that it is in the preparation stage before the paper can be taken out.
The process enters a device stop process (step 103).

In the apparatus stop processing, as shown in FIG. 3B, the apparatus waits until the discharge of one set of sheets in the compiler is completed (step 201), and stops the operation of the apparatus (step 202). .

Next, the presence or absence of paper in the compiler is detected by the compiler tray paper sensor 13 (step 10).
4) If there is a sheet, the display element 28 is kept blinking because it is still under preparation (step 105). When the paper in the compiler runs out, the display element 28 is continuously lit to notify the user that the paper can be taken out. (Step 105) When the pause key 27 is pressed, if the apparatus has already been stopped, the compiler detects whether or not paper is present (Step 107). Since this is the middle stage, the display element 28 is turned on and off (step 108). If there is no paper in the compiler, the current lamp state is determined (step 109).
If it is in the continuous lighting state, it is turned off (step 11).
0), and turn on if it is off (step 11).
1).

On the other hand, when the start key 31 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the image recording apparatus is currently in a pause state as shown in FIG. 3C (step 301). The image recording apparatus can be started (step 302). If the image recording apparatus is already in the pause state, the start is prohibited (step 204).

Next, a specific operation example of the above-described image recording apparatus will be described. When a start key 31 provided on the image forming apparatus main body 2 is pressed, a copying operation is started, and sheets after copying are sequentially stacked on the stacker tray 18.

After the copying operation is started, the post-processing device 1
When the pause key 27 provided on the copier 2 is pressed, the image forming apparatus main body 2 is notified via the communication interface 45 that the pause key 27 is pressed on the copying machine main body 2. Further, the control unit 46 causes the display element 28 disposed beside the pause key 27 to blink, thereby indicating that the sheet is reserved for paper removal.

When processing of one set corresponding to one set of the document currently being processed is completed and the operation of the image recording apparatus is stopped, the display of the display element 28 is switched from the blinking state to the continuous lighting state, and the paper Indicates that the printer can be removed.

When the user has finished taking out the paper, the copying operation can be started by pressing the pause key 27 again.

As described above, when the copy operation is stopped by pressing the pause key 27, the copy operation cannot be restarted without pressing the pause key 27 again.
Even when another user B presses the start key 31 while the user A is taking out the paper, the copying operation is not started, and the safety of the user A can be ensured. Also,
The user A can accurately know the timing at which the sheet can be taken out by observing the lighting state of the display element 28, and can safely perform the work.

The lighting state of the display element 28 described above is summarized as follows. Note that the lighting state of the display element 28 means the following state.

Off: Indicates that the camera is not in a pause state.

Blinking: Indicates a pause reservation state. That is,
It shows a period from when the pause key 27 is pressed to when the bundle of sheets in the stacker tray 18 can be taken out.

Continuous lighting: Indicates a state in which a bundle of sheets in the stacker tray 18 can be taken out. At this time,
Prohibit the image forming operation in the job using the compiler.

FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram showing each lighting state in the above-described display device.

(A) Light-off state → blinking state-When the pause key is pressed during the image forming operation in the job using the compiler-When the pause key is pressed other than during the image forming operation in the job using the compiler, paper is sent to the compiler. When there is (B) Blinking state → off state ・ When the pause key is pressed in a blinking state other than the image forming operation in the job using the compiler (C) Blinking state → continuous lighting ・ When image formation stops in the blinking state When there is no paper in the compiler ・ When the compiler runs out of paper in a blinking state other than during the image forming operation in the job using the compiler. Is pressed, and there is no paper in the compiler. (E) Continuous lighting → Lighting off.-When the pause key is pressed while lighting. When the clear timer expires

[0038]

Since the operation of the discharge means can be prohibited by inputting the pause key, the sheet bundle can be safely taken out from the discharge tray.

Further, since the post-processing apparatus is provided with a pause key, it is possible to release the pause by pressing the pause key at a short moving distance after the sheet is taken out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a post-processing device of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a basic block diagram illustrating an electric system of an image forming apparatus main body and a post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a post-processing device of the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram between lighting states in the display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Post-processing apparatus, 2 ... Image recording apparatus main body, 3 ... Discharge paper sensor, 4 ... Discharge roll, 5 ... Switching gate, 6 ... Paper passage for top tray, 7 ... Paper passage for stacker tray, 8
a, 8b, 8c: paper transport roll, 9: top tray, 1
0a, 10c, 10c: paper transport roll, 11: compiler tray, 12: compiler tray drive solenoid,
13 Compiler tray paper sensor, 14 Stapler, 15 Paddle roll, 16 Discharge roll pair, 16a
... Fixed ejection roll, 16b ... Movable ejection roll, 17 ... Ejection roll elevating motor, 18 ... Stacker tray, 19 ... Motor, 20 ... Stacker tray elevating drive motor, 21 ... Stacker tray paper sensor, 22, 23, 24, 25 ... Motor, 26 ... post-processing device operation unit, 27 ... pause key,
28: display element, 31: start key, 32: operation unit,
33: control unit, 34: image forming device control unit, 35: paper transport device control unit, 36: communication interface, 37: paper presence / absence sensor, 38: stack tray control unit, 39: paper presence / absence sensor, 40: compiler control unit 41, a paper traveling detection sensor, 42, a paper transport device control unit, 43, a staple position detection sensor, 44, a staple control unit, 40
... Compiler control unit, 45 ... Communication interface, 46
… Control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing apparatus for an image recording apparatus, comprising: an intermediate tray for stacking sheets discharged from the image recording apparatus; and a discharge means for discharging a bundle of sheets stacked on the intermediate tray to a discharge tray. An operation control means for operating the ejection means in response to an input of a start key for instructing a start of a recording operation of the image recording apparatus; a pause key for inhibiting the input of the start key; and an input accepting state of the pause key is displayed. A post-processing device for an image recording apparatus, comprising: 2. A display form on the display means is different from a period from the input of the pause key to a stop of the operation of the image recording device and a period after the operation of the image recording device is stopped. Item 3. A post-processing device of the image recording device according to Item 2.