JPH11236165A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which effectively used the sorting function of a sorter, delivers documents to a plurality of places, and automatically sorts the documents appropriately even when the number of delivery is different according to the place to be delivered. SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 is provided with output number setting means 108, 200 to set the output number of the document for a plurality of paper discharge bins for each paper discharge bin, an image forming means 106 to form an image of the document on paper sheets of the set output number, and a sorter control means 107 to select the bin to discharge the paper in the prescribed order from a plurality of paper discharge bins, and discharge the image-formed paper.

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, and more particularly, to a sorter that can effectively and automatically sort image-formed sheets into a plurality of output bins by effectively using a sorter sorting function. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a conveyed image-formed sheet is sorted into a plurality of discharge bins and discharged to facilitate sorting of a plurality of sheets after image formation. In many cases, a so-called sorter (paper discharge storage device) is mounted.

For example, for one document or document to be copied or printed out, for example, "output a document (or document) of one page to a five-sheet sorter" is set, and a first output bin is Sorting has been performed in which documents are discharged one copy at a time to five discharge bins.

Further, the number of sorting patterns is increased by utilizing the alternate discharge function, and sheets are sorted into a larger number than the number of discharge bins and discharged. And discharge to the next bin (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-37017).

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, when the distribution destinations of the documents extend to a plurality of locations and the number of distributions differs depending on the distribution destinations, the final sorting of the documents is not performed. After all, it must be performed manually by the user, and the fact is that the sorter sorting function of the image forming apparatus is not fully utilized.

In view of the above problems, the present invention makes effective use of the sorter sorting function, and automatically automatically distributes documents to a plurality of locations and the number of copies to be distributed differs depending on the respective distribution destinations. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of correspondingly sorting.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus configured to sort a conveyed image-formed sheet into a plurality of paper discharge bins and discharge the paper. Output copy number setting means for setting the number of output copies of a document to a plurality of discharge bins for each discharge bin; image forming means for forming an image of the document on a sheet with the set number of output copies; A sorter control means for selecting a bin to be discharged from the bin in a predetermined order and discharging the image-formed sheet.

One of the features of the present invention is that the number of output copies of a document to each discharge bin can be set individually for each bin. This makes it possible to sort the sheets on which images have been formed with different numbers of copies for each discharge bin, and it is possible to automatically cope with the case where the distribution destination of a document is over a plurality of locations and the number of distributions differs depending on each distribution destination. .

In order to make more effective use of the sorting function of the sorter, there is further provided an output form selecting means for selecting whether collated or non-collated as the output form of the image-formed paper for a plurality of pages of the original. Preferably, the means selects a discharge bin in accordance with the selected output mode, and discharges the image-formed sheet.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the number of output copies can be set for each of a plurality of output bins, and the output form can be set as required. Even in the case where the number of distributions differs depending on each distribution destination, image formation and sorting of a document corresponding to the required number of distribution destinations and distribution copies can be performed by one image forming and sorting instruction operation.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings. 1 to 17 show a preferred embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a digital copying machine, but can also be applied to a printer and other image forming apparatuses.

First, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the structure and functions of a digital copying machine will be briefly described. FIG. 6 shows an overall configuration of an example of a digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied. When originals are stacked on the original feeding device 501, the originals are sequentially conveyed one by one onto an original platen glass surface 502. When the document is conveyed, the lamp 5 of the scanner section 500
03 lights up and the scanner unit 504 moves to irradiate the original. The reflected light from the original is reflected on mirrors 505, 5
06, 507, and after passing through a lens 508, a CCD image sensor unit 509 (hereinafter referred to as CCD).
). The image information input to the CCD 509 is photoelectrically converted here and input to the printer unit 600.

A signal input to the printer section 600 is converted into an optical signal by an exposure control section 601 and irradiates the photosensitive member 602 in accordance with an image signal. The latent image formed on the photoreceptor 602 by the irradiation light is developed by the developing device 603, while the development and the timing are performed in synchronization with the transfer paper stacking unit 60.
4, 605, the transfer paper is conveyed, and the developed image is transferred in the transfer unit 606. The transferred image is fixed by the fixing unit 6
After the sheet is fixed to the transfer sheet at 07, the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge unit 608 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper discharge unit 608 is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 620, and to the uppermost bin of the sorter when the sort function is not working. I have.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of the digital copying machine of this embodiment. The digital copier 100 has an operation panel unit 20 for making various settings for operating the copier.
0, an operation panel setting storage unit 102 that stores settings of the operation panel unit 200, and 1
ADF unit 103 that automatically feeds a document to a platen, a scanner unit 104 that reads an image of a document and converts it into digital image data, an image data storage unit 105 that stores image data transmitted from the scanner unit 104, and an image data storage unit 105 A printer unit 106 that prints image data transmitted from the printer unit on paper, a sorter unit 107 that sorts the paper printed and conveyed by the printer unit 106, and a control unit 108 that controls the operation and processing of each unit. .

FIG. 2 shows a screen 201 of the operation panel section 200 and an arrangement of various keys 202 and 203.

Next, an outline of the copying / sorting operation of the digital copying machine will be described. Setting screen 2 on operation panel section 200
When the setting relating to the sorting is made in 01, the setting is stored in the operation panel setting storage unit 102. When the start key 202 on the operation panel unit 200 is turned on after the setting work relating to the sorting is completed, if the original is placed on the ADF unit 103, the ADF operates, the original is sent to the scanner unit 104, and the scanner Operation starts. Similarly, when the original is placed directly on the scanner unit 104, the scanner operation starts immediately when the start key 202 is turned on.

The image data digitized by the scanner operation is stored in the image data storage unit 105, and the setting relating to the sorting stored in the operation panel setting storage unit 102 is reflected on the stored data, so that the printing operation and the sorting are performed. Operation starts.

Next, an example of a sorting setting method on the setting screen 201 on the operation panel unit 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the process, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of the setting screen. When setting sorting, a sorting method is selected in step S301 of FIG. The conventional sorting method of discharging a fixed number of output sheets to each output bin is a “basic sorting” method, and the sorting method of the present invention in which a plurality of different output copies can be set for each output bin. Choose the "evolving sorting" method and choose it. FIG. 4A shows an example of the setting screen W10.

If the “developing sorting” method is selected,
The process proceeds to step S302 in FIG. 3 to select whether the document is “single page” or “multiple page”. FIG. 4B shows an example of the setting screen W11.

If the original is selected as "multiple pages", the flow advances to step S303 to proceed to step S304 described later.
In step S305, a destination bin to be sorted is selected. FIG. 4C shows an example of the setting screen W12. In this case, there are icons for designating the number of paper discharge bins provided in the copying machine, for example, fifteen in the example.

In step S304, the number of copies to be output to an arbitrary discharge bin selected in step S303 is individually set. The number of output copies is set by inputting a key from the numeric keypad 203 of the operation panel unit 200. Next, the process proceeds to step S305, in which the output form is called "sort" in the setting of the conventional copying machine, so-called collation (for example, 1-2-3,1-
2-3, 1-2-3 ...) or so-called non-collation (1-1-1,2-2-2,3-3-3) called "non-sort" in the setting of the conventional copier.・
..) and end the process. FIG. 5A shows an example of a setting screen W13 for performing the settings in steps S304 and S305 for each bin.

If "basic sorting" is selected in step S301, the flow advances to step S308 to select "non-sort", "sort" or "group", and in step S309, output to a discharge bin. The number of copies is set and the process ends. FIG. 5B shows an example of the setting screen W14.

If "single-page document" is selected for the original in step S302, the output form is sorted (collated) by default, and in step S306 the output bin to be sorted is selected, and in step S307 the output bin is selected. The number of output copies to the paper bin is set, and the process ends. Step S3
The setting screen at 06 is the same as that shown in FIG. 4C, and the setting screen at step S307 is the same as that shown in FIG.

Next, control executed by the control unit 108 of the digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall processing, and FIGS.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a flowchart showing print control processing.
In FIG. 7, when the processing is started, first, the setting of the sorting method is executed (step S1), and the start key is turned on.
(Step S2) and the start key is
N, the originals on the ADF unit 103 are conveyed one by one and read, and the data of all the originals are stored in the image data storage unit 10.
2 (step S3), and print control is executed (step S4).

When the print control shown in FIGS. 8 to 13 is started, initial values are set to bin number parameters X, Y, A, B, and C for controlling bins of the sorter unit 107 (see FIG. 8). Step S11). X and Y are parameters used in basic sorting and are set to 1. A, B and C are parameters used in advanced sorting and the number of bins at the top where the number of copies is not 0 is set. Is set. For example, assuming that a set number of copies is assigned to each discharge bin as shown in FIG. 14, the initial values of A, B, and C are two.

Next, in step S12, the sorting method set by the method shown in FIG. 3 is determined, and based on the determination,. Non-sorting with basic sorting,. Sort by basic sort, group by basic sort,.
The manuscript is sorted on a single page by advanced sorting, the manuscript is sorted on multiple pages by advanced sorting,. Either of the six types of control, that is, non-sorting of originals on a plurality of pages by progressive sorting, is executed.

When the non-sorting control is performed in the basic sorting, first, as shown in FIG. 8, the first document is stored based on the image data of the first document stored in the image data storage unit 105. A copy is created (step S2
1). The created copy is ejected to the ejection bin 1 (step S22), and this operation is repeated until the set number of copies of the same document is created (step S23). When the set number of copies have been made, it is determined whether there is image data of the next original (step S).
24) If there is, the image data of the next original is read from the image data storage unit 105, that is, address setting is performed to update the original page (step S25), and the processing of steps S21 to S23 described above is repeated. It is. Then, when the set number of copies has been made for all the originals, the processing is terminated.

When the sort control is performed in the basic sorting, as shown in FIG. 9, when the first copy is made based on the image data of the first document (step S31). The created copy is discharged to the bin of bin number X (step S32). The first copy is the output bin 1. Until a set number of copies of the same document are created (step S33), the bin number X is updated each time one copy is created (step S34), and the paper is discharged in the order of the discharge bins 2, 3,. I do. When the set number of copies has been created, it is determined whether there is image data of the next original (step S35). If there is the next original, the bin number X is reset to the initial value of 1 (step S35).
36), the image data of the next original is stored in the image data storage unit 10
5 is set (step S37), and the processing of steps S31 to S34 described above is repeated. Then, when the set number of copies has been created for all the originals, the processing is terminated.

When the group is controlled by the basic sorting, as shown in FIG. 10, when the first copy is created based on the image data of the first document (step S41). The created copy is discharged to the bin with the bin number Y (step S42). The first copy is the output bin 1. Until the set number of copies of the same document are created (step S43), the copies created in the same delivery bin are discharged. When the set number of copies has been created, it is determined whether there is image data of the next document (step S44). If there is image data of the next document, the copy of the next document is discharged to the next output bin. In addition to updating the bin number Y for printing (step S45), an address for reading the image data of the next original from the image data storage unit is set (step S46), and the processing of steps S41 to S43 is performed. Repeated.
Then, when the set number of copies has been made for all the originals, the processing is terminated.

When the control of a single page of a document is executed by advanced sorting, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first copy is created based on the image data of the document (step S51). The created copy is discharged to the bin with the bin number A (step S52). For example, assuming the setting of FIG. 14, the first bin number A is 2. Until copies of the set number assigned to the bin number A are created (step S53), the copies are discharged to the same discharge bin. If the set number of copies has been created, it is determined whether there is a discharge bin to be discharged next, that is, whether there is a bin whose set number is not 0 (step S54), and if so, the bin number A is updated. Then (step S55), the processing of steps S51 to S53 described above is repeated. Then, when the set number of copies has been created for all the bins, the process ends.

When the control of sorting (collating) a plurality of pages of an original is performed by advanced sorting, as shown in FIG. 12, the first copy is performed based on the image data of the first original. Is created (step S61), the created copy is discharged to the bin of bin number B (step S61).
62). For example, assuming the setting of FIG. 14, the first bin number is 2. Then, it is determined whether there is image data of the next document (step S63). If there is, address setting for reading out the image data of the next document from the image data storage unit 105 is performed (step S64). Make a copy of the original and discharge the copy to the same bin. This process is repeated until the first copy is created for all originals. If the set number of copies assigned to the bin number B has not been created (step S65), the image data of the first document is stored in the image data storage unit in order to create a copy of the first document again. Address setting for reading from the memory 105 is performed (step S6).
6), the processing of the above-described steps S61 to S64 is repeated. Then, if the set number of copies has been created, it is determined whether there is a paper discharge bin to be discharged next, that is, whether there is a paper discharge bin whose set number is not 0 (step S67). The number B is updated (step S68), and the above-described steps S61 to S66 are performed.
Is repeated. Then, when the set number of copies are created for all the bins, the process is terminated.

In the above-mentioned advanced sorting method of multiple sorting, the first bin is the department A, the second bin is the department B,.
If the 10th bin is assigned in advance by associating each bin with each department such as J department, the copy discharged to each bin can be sent to the corresponding department as it is. In addition,
In this case, in a digital copying machine having a stapling function, if the stapling is performed for each department using the function, the digital copying machine can be placed in an envelope as it is and distributed / shipped to the relevant department.

When non-sorting (non-collating) control is performed on a plurality of pages of a document by advanced sorting, as shown in FIG. When a copy is created (step S71), the created copy is discharged to the bin of bin number C (step S72). For example, assuming the setting of FIG. 14, the first bin number is 2. Bin number C for the same manuscript
Until copies of the set number of copies assigned to are made (step S73), copies are continuously discharged to the same bin. Unless the set number of copies assigned to bin number C has been created for all the originals (step S
74), the image data of the next original is stored in the image data storage 10
5 is set (step S75), and the above-described steps S71 to S73 are repeated. If copies of the set number assigned to the bin number C are created for all the originals, it is determined whether there is a next bin to be discharged, that is, whether there is a bin whose set number is not 0 (step S76). ),
If there is, the address setting for reading out the image data of the first document from the image data storage unit 105 to make a copy of the first document again is performed (step S77), and the bin number C is updated (step S77). Step S78),
Steps S71 to S75 described above are repeated. Then, if the set number of copies has been created for all the paper discharge bins, the process ends.

FIG. 15 schematically shows non-sorting (non-collating), sorting (collating), and basic sorting of groups. The figure shows a case where three copies of three pages are printed on three discharge bins 1, 2, and 3 for convenience. The numbers shown in the paper in the figure represent pages.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an advanced sort in which a document is a single page. FIG. 14 shows an example of the assumption of FIG.

FIG. 17 schematically shows a comparison between sorting and non-sorting of a plurality of pages of a document in advanced sorting. FIG. 14 shows the assumption of FIG. 14 as an example.

FIG. 18 shows a modified example in the case of sorting a plurality of pages by advanced sorting. In the case where a plurality of copies are sorted and output for each discharge bin, as shown in FIG. 18, a function of alternate discharge and a function of displacing the discharge position and discharging may be used.

Note that, in each case of the basic sorting shown in FIG. 15 and the multiple sorting non-sorting in the advanced sorting shown in FIG. 17, the print execution form (one set for each set) shown in the above flowchart is used. Instead of performing the printing repeatedly a plurality of times, all the necessary printing is completed for each page, and after completing the printing, the next printing is performed (every page as shown in FIG. 16). (A mode in which the print is executed) may be adopted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a digital copying machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a setting screen and an arrangement of keys on an operation panel unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a sorting setting method in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for the sorting.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for the sorting.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overall structure of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of control of a control unit in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of control of copying and discharging.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a flowchart of control subsequent to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a flowchart of control subsequent to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flowchart of control subsequent to FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of control subsequent to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a flowchart of control subsequent to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a discharge bin and the setting of the number of copies.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of non-sorting, sorting, and basic sorting of groups in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of sorting in the case of a single page as an advanced sorting in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of sorting in the case of sorting of a plurality of pages in the advanced sorting and non-sorting of a plurality of pages in the advanced sorting in the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the sorting in the case of sorting a plurality of pages by the advanced sorting in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 digital copying machine (image forming apparatus) 102 operation panel setting storage unit 103 ADF unit 104 scanner unit 105 image data storage unit 106 printer unit (image forming unit) 107 sorter unit (sorter control unit) 108 control unit (output number setting unit) , Output mode selection means) 200 operation panel unit (output number setting means, output mode selection means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus configured to sort the conveyed image-formed paper into a plurality of paper discharge bins and discharge the paper; Means for setting the number of output copies each time, image forming means for forming the image of the original on paper with the set number of output copies, and selecting a bin to be discharged from a plurality of discharge bins in a predetermined order. And a sorter control means for discharging the image-formed sheet. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output mode selection unit for selecting whether the output mode of the image-formed sheet for the plurality of pages of the document is collated or non-collated. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge bin is selected, and the image-formed sheet is discharged.