JP2016033071A - Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a printed matter from being discharged in a method that a user does not intend.SOLUTION: When a printing job is executed and a sheet bundle Sb is discharged to a saddle tray 412, it is informed that a through mode is set as a loading mode of an image forming apparatus in such a case, and a confirmation display screen for confirming whether a collection box 502 for collecting the sheet bundle Sb is installed is displayed. When a normal mode is set as the loading mode of the image forming apparatus and the number of sheet bundles Sb loaded in the saddle tray 412 exceeds the maximum number of sheet bundles Sb which is for preventing a stopper 501a from falling onto a floor, on the other hand, a confirmation display screen for confirming whether to change a normal mode to the through mode is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus including a discharge tray for discharging a bundle of recording sheets (hereinafter referred to as “sheet bundle”) subjected to saddle stitch bookbinding processing (for example, Patent Document 1). The discharge tray has a stopper, and the stopper holds the sheet bundle discharged from the image forming apparatus on the discharge tray, and prevents the sheet bundle from falling on the floor.

JP 2010-168134 A

  When the above-described stopper is provided, when a predetermined number of printed materials (number of bundles) or more are discharged, the discharge tray becomes full and printing is interrupted. In this case, in order to resume printing, the user needs to remove the printed matter from the discharge tray.

  On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the stopper for holding the printed matter on the discharge tray can be removed (opened). When the stopper is removed, the printed material slides down from the discharge tray. However, if a collection box is installed under the discharge tray, the printed product is stored in the collection box. That is, if a collection box capable of storing a larger amount of printed matter than can be loaded on the discharge tray at the same time is installed, the number of printing interruptions can be reduced and the user's labor can be reduced.

  However, for example, there is a case where a user removes the stopper, installs a collection box under the discharge tray, and leaves the image forming apparatus with the collection box with the stopper removed after the printing is completed. In this case, if another user who wants to use the stopper to keep the sheet bundle on the discharge tray starts printing without noticing that the stopper has been removed, the sheet bundle falls to the floor and falls to the floor. Dirt adheres to the sheet bundle. This is contrary to the intention of the user who wished to use the stopper to fasten the sheet bundle to the discharge tray.

  In addition, if a user who wishes to store printed matter in the collection box without using a stopper starts printing without noticing that the stopper is attached, printing is interrupted earlier than the user assumes. End up. In this case, time and labor for removing the printed matter on the discharge tray is generated. Furthermore, if the user is temporarily away from the image forming apparatus after printing is started, printing cannot be resumed when the interruption occurs, and the suspended state continues until the user returns, resulting in lower productivity. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a control method for an image processing apparatus, and a program that can prevent a printed matter from being discharged by a method not intended by a user.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet, a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet bundle including a sheet on which an image is printed by the printing unit, and the conveyance unit. And a discharge tray having a stopper for preventing the stacked sheet bundle from falling on the floor, a detection means for detecting the state of the stopper, and a result of the detection by the detection means. And a notification unit configured to notify the user based on the result.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being discharged by a method not intended by the user.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a printer unit in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows schematically the internal structure of the finisher part in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining a sheet bundle stacking unit in FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the display process performed by CPU in FIG. It is a figure used in order to demonstrate the confirmation display screen displayed in step S604 of FIG. 6, and S606. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 1st modification of the display process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 2nd modification of the display process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 1st print job performed by step S901 of FIG. 9A. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 2nd print job performed by step S902 of FIG. 9A. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 3rd modification of the display process of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming system 100 including an image forming apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An image forming system 100 in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus 101 and a computer terminal 102, and the image forming apparatus 101 and the computer terminal 102 are connected to each other via a network 103. The user instructs the image forming apparatus 101 from the computer terminal 102 to execute a print job, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 in FIG.

  2 includes a scanner unit 201, a printer unit 202, an operation unit 203, a controller 204, and a finisher unit 205. The controller 204 includes a CPU 206, a work memory 207, an image processing unit 208, an image memory 209, an HDD 210, And a network I / F 211.

  The scanner unit 201, printer unit 202, work memory 207, image processing unit 208, HDD 210, and network I / F 211 are connected to each other via the CPU 206. The image memory 209 is connected to the image processing unit 208 and the HDD 210, the network I / F 211 is connected to the network 103, and the finisher unit 205 is connected to the printer unit 202. The scanner unit 201 and the printer unit 202 are connected to an image processing unit 208 via image signal lines 212 and 213, respectively.

  The scanner unit 201 reads a document and acquires image data corresponding to the document. For example, the printer unit 202 prints image data acquired by the scanner unit 201 on a recording sheet. The operation unit 203 includes a hard key and an operation panel, and a user inputs an instruction to the image forming apparatus 101 via the hard key and the operation panel. Note that the operation panel may include a liquid crystal monitor, for example, and information on the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. The finisher unit 205 executes a finishing process such as a staple process or a saddle stitch bookbinding process including two processes of a staple process and a folding process.

  The CPU 206 executes a program stored in the HDD 210 and controls each component of the image forming apparatus 101. The work memory 207 temporarily stores a program executed by the CPU 206 to control each component of the image forming apparatus 101. For example, the image processing unit 208 performs shading processing and various types of filter processing on the image data read by the scanner unit 201. The image processing unit 208 converts the page description language data acquired via the network I / F 211 into image data in a printable format. For example, the image memory 209 temporarily stores image data read by the scanner unit 201. The HDD 210 is a large-capacity storage device and stores image data and various programs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the printer unit 202 in FIG.

  3 includes a polygon mirror 301, mirrors 302 to 313, photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K, toner cartridges 315C, 315M, 315Y, and 315K, developing devices 316C, 316M, 316Y, and 316K, and a transfer belt 317. , A transfer roller 318, cassettes 319 and 320, a manual feed tray 321, a conveyance belt 322, a fixing device 323, a flapper 324, and a pass 325.

  The image data printed on the recording paper is composed of four colors, specifically cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and a semiconductor laser driving unit (not shown). Irradiates the charged photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K with laser beams corresponding to the respective colors via the polygon mirror 301 and the mirrors 302 to 313. As a result, electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K, and the electrostatic latent images are supplied from the toner cartridges 315C, 315M, 315Y, and 315K, and the developing devices 316C, 316M, 316Y, and 316K. As a result, the toner image is generated on the photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K.

  The generated toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 317, and the toner image transferred to the transfer belt 317 is transferred to the surface of the recording paper conveyed from one of the cassettes 319 and 320 and the manual feed tray 321 by the transfer roller 318. Is done. The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 323 via the conveying belt 322, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing device 323. The recording paper on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the path 325 via the flapper 324, and then the direction of travel is changed and the recording paper is discharged from the printer unit 202.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the finisher unit 205 in FIG.

  The finisher unit 205 in FIG. 4 includes a sheet bundle carry-in unit 401, a Z folder 402, a path 403, a roller 404, an escape tray 405, a puncher 406, a stapler 407, a stack tray 408, a saddle stitcher 409, discharge rollers 410a and 410b, A sheet bundle stacking unit 411 is provided, and the sheet bundle stacking unit 411 includes a saddle tray 412.

  A sheet bundle Sb composed of a plurality of recording sheets discharged from the printer unit 202 is carried into the finisher unit 205 from the sheet bundle carry-in unit 401, and is conveyed to the Z folder 402 when the sheet bundle Sb is folded into a Z shape. And folded into a Z shape. When the sheet bundle Sb is not folded into the Z shape, the sheet bundle Sb is conveyed to the roller 404 via the path 403 without being conveyed to the Z folder 402.

  When the finishing process is not performed on the sheet bundle Sb carried into the finisher unit 205 from the sheet bundle carrying-in unit 401, the sheet bundle Sb is discharged as it is to the escape tray 405. Further, when the puncher 406 executes punching processing for forming punch holes in the sheet bundle Sb and / or when the stapler 407 executes staple processing for stapling the sheet bundle Sb, the sheet bundle Sb is stacked. It is discharged to the tray 408. Further, when the saddle stitcher 409 executes the stapling process for the sheet bundle Sb and performs the saddle stitch binding process for executing the folding process for folding the sheet bundle Sb into two, the sheet bundle Sb It is discharged to the saddle tray 412 via 410a and 410b.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining the sheet bundle stacking unit 411 in FIG.

  In addition to the saddle tray 412, the sheet bundle stacking unit 411 of FIG. 5 includes a stopper unit 501, a collection box 502, a mode sensor 503, and a stacking presence / absence sensor 504. The stopper unit 501 includes a stopper 501a and a sheet bundle stacking surface 501b. It is composed of The stopper 501a prevents the sheet bundle Sb stacked on the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b from dropping on the floor.

  One end of the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b is fixed to the finisher unit 205, and the stopper unit 501 is fixed to be rotatable about one end of the fixed sheet bundle stacking surface 501b. The rotation range of the stopper portion 501 is, for example, a range indicated by an arrow d1 in the drawing. One end of the saddle tray 412 is fixed to the finisher unit 205, and one end of the fixed saddle tray 412 is fixed at a higher position in the vertical direction than the other end of the saddle tray 412. Therefore, the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 moves in the direction of the arrow d2 in the drawing.

  The user attaches the stopper portion 501 to the saddle tray 412 or removes the stopper portion 501 attached to the saddle tray 412 from the saddle tray 412 to discharge the sheet bundle Sb to the saddle tray 412 (hereinafter referred to as “stacking mode”). Can be set to a desired discharge method, for example, a normal mode or a through mode described later. Specifically, when the user wants to limit the movement of the sheet bundle Sb in the direction of the arrow d2 in the drawing and keep the sheet bundle Sb on the saddle tray 412, the user sets the stopper portion 501 to the saddle tray as a stacking mode. The normal mode attached to 412 is set (see FIG. 5A). When the user wants to collect the sheet bundle Sb in a collection box installed in advance, the user sets a through mode in which the stopper portion 501 is removed from the saddle tray 412 as a stacking mode (see FIG. 5B). When the user sets the normal mode as the stacking mode, the maximum number of sheet bundles Sb that the stopper 501a can hold (hold) on the saddle tray 412 (hereinafter referred to as “sheet bundle maximum number”) is stored in the HDD 210 in advance. Stored.

  The mode sensor 503 detects whether or not the stopper portion 501 is attached to the saddle tray 412 and determines the stacking mode set by the user. When the stopper portion 501 is attached to the saddle tray 412, the mode sensor 503 determines that the normal mode is set as the stacking mode, and when the stopper portion 501 is removed from the saddle tray 412, the mode sensor 503 It is determined that the through mode is set as the loading mode. That is, since it is determined whether the normal mode is set or whether the through mode is set based on the position of the stopper portion 501 using the mode sensor 503, it is possible to easily determine the stacking mode. It is possible to eliminate the need to provide a new device or the like for discrimination.

  The stacking presence / absence sensor 504 is fixed to the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b of the stopper unit 501, and protrudes from the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b when the normal mode is set as the stacking mode, and the sheet bundle Sb is stacked on the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b. It is detected whether it is done. Note that the stacking presence / absence sensor 504 can determine whether the normal mode or the through mode is set as the stacking mode instead of the mode sensor 503 as shown in FIG. 10 described later.

  Next, display processing as a control method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of display processing executed by the CPU 206 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, first, the print job instructed to be executed by the user is analyzed to determine whether or not the sheet bundle Sb corresponding to the print job is discharged to the saddle tray 412 (step S601). If the sheet bundle Sb is not discharged to the saddle tray 412 as a result of the determination in step S601, a print job is executed to discharge the sheet bundle Sb to a discharge tray other than the saddle tray 412, for example, the escape tray 405 or the stack tray 408. (Step S602) This process ends. As a result of the determination in step S601, when the sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412, it is determined whether or not the through mode is set as the stacking mode (that is, the stopper portion 501 is removed) (step S603). ).

  As a result of the determination in step S603, when the through mode is set as the loading mode, a confirmation display screen 700a (first message) shown in FIG. 7A to be described later is displayed on the operation unit 203 (notified to the user) ( Step S604). As a result of the determination in step S603, when the through mode is not set as the stacking mode, it is determined whether or not the number of sheet bundles Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles (step S605).

  As a result of the determination in step S605, when the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles (when the number is a predetermined number or more), a confirmation display screen 700b (second display) in FIG. 2) is displayed on the operation unit 203 (notified to the user) (step S606). As a result of the determination in step S605, when the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is equal to or less than the maximum number of sheet bundles, step S606 and step S607 are skipped, the print job is executed, and the sheet bundle Sb is transferred to the saddle tray 412. (Step S608) and the process is terminated. Note that step S605 may be skipped, and if the through mode is not set as the stacking mode as a result of the determination in step S603, the process may directly proceed to S608.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, the confirmation display screen 700a includes a confirmation display unit 701a, an OK button 702a, and a cancel button 703a, and the confirmation display screen 700b is as shown in FIG. 7B. A confirmation display portion 701b, an OK button 702b, and a cancel button 703b.

  The confirmation display screen 700a is displayed on the operation unit 203 when the through mode is set as the stacking mode, and the confirmation display unit 701a informs that the through mode is set as the stacking mode, and displays the printed sheet bundle Sb. Display that it is necessary to check whether a collection box to be collected is installed. Further, the confirmation display unit 701a displays that it is necessary to change the loading mode from the through mode to the normal mode when the collection box is not installed. The OK button 702a is pressed when executing a print job, and the cancel button 703a is pressed when canceling execution of a print job.

  The confirmation display screen 700b is displayed on the operation unit 203 when the normal mode is set as the loading mode, and the confirmation display unit 701b notifies that the normal mode is set as the loading mode. In addition, the confirmation display unit 701b warns that printing is stopped in the middle because the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 exceeds the maximum number of sheet bundles, and prevents the printing from being stopped. In addition to changing the loading mode from the normal mode to the through mode, it is displayed that it is necessary to install a collection box. The OK button 702b is pressed when executing a print job, and the cancel button 703b is pressed when canceling execution of a print job.

  Returning to FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the OK buttons 702a and 702b on the confirmation display screens 700a and 700b displayed in steps S604 and S606 are pressed (step S607). As a result of the determination in step S607, when the OK buttons 702a and 702b are pressed, the process proceeds to step S608, the print job is executed, the sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412, and the present process is terminated. On the other hand, when the cancel buttons 703a and 703b are pressed, the execution of the print job is canceled (step S609) and the process is terminated.

  According to the processing of FIG. 6, when it is determined that the normal mode using the stopper unit 501 is set as the stacking mode, and the number of sheet bundles discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles ( In steps S603 and S605), a confirmation display screen 700b for confirming whether or not to change the loading mode from the normal mode to the through mode is displayed (step S606). Since the confirmation display screen 700b displays that the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 exceeds the maximum number of sheet bundles and printing is interrupted on the way, the user can change the stacking mode from the normal mode. Recognize the need to change to mode. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a situation where the user first recognizes that all the sheet bundles Sb are not discharged to the saddle tray 412 when collecting the sheet bundle Sb.

  In the process of FIG. 6, when it is determined that the through mode is set as the stacking mode (step S603), a confirmation display screen 700a is displayed (step S604). The confirmation display screen 700a informs that the through mode is set, and displays that it is necessary to confirm whether or not the collection box 502 for collecting the sheet bundle Sb is installed. Accordingly, since the user who desires printing in the normal mode can recognize that the through mode is set, the sheet bundle Sb falls on the floor and the sheet bundle dropped on the floor by changing to the normal mode. It is possible to avoid contamination of Sb. Further, in the process of FIG. 6, since the user can recognize the necessity of installing the collection box 502 for collecting the sheet bundle Sb, printing is started without the user installing the collection box 502, and the sheet bundle Sb is changed. It is possible to avoid contamination of the sheet bundle Sb falling on the floor and falling on the floor. That is, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being discharged by a method not intended by the user.

  Next, display processing as a first modification of the control method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first modification of the display process of FIG.

  For example, when the user instructs execution of a print job from the computer terminal 102, the processing in FIG. 8 is executed to make the user confirm the confirmation display screens 700a and 700b displayed on the operation unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 101. The In the processing of FIG. 8, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 101 has an authentication function corresponding to this. Note that the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 8 is the same as the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, and therefore only the differences from the processing in FIG. 6 will be described below.

  In FIG. 8, when the through mode is set as the stacking mode as a result of the determination in step S <b> 603, the user who transmitted the print job to the image forming apparatus 101 sends, for example, the user ID or the user ID to the operation unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 101. It is determined whether or not the user has been authenticated by directly inputting the password (step S801). As a result of the determination in step S801, when the user authentication is not executed, the process returns to step S801, and when the user authentication is executed, it is determined again whether or not the through mode is set as the loading mode (step S802). ).

  As a result of the determination in step S802, when the through mode is set as the stacking mode, the process proceeds to step S604, and when the through mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S605. As a result of the determination in step S603, when the through mode is not set as the stacking mode, it is determined whether or not the number of sheet bundles Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles (step S803).

  As a result of the determination in step S803, when the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the process proceeds to step S801, where the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is the maximum sheet bundle. When the number is smaller than the number, steps S604 to S607 and steps S801 and S802 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S608. Note that step S803 may be skipped, and if the through mode is not set as the stacking mode as a result of the determination in step S603, the process may directly proceed to S608.

  According to the processing of FIG. 8, when the user authentication is executed and the through mode is set as the loading mode (steps S801 and S802), or when the user authentication is executed and the normal mode is set as the loading mode. When the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles (steps S801, S802, S605), the above-described confirmation display screens 700a, 700b are displayed (steps S604, 606). . When user authentication is executed, the user is positioned on the operation unit 203, for example, on the image forming apparatus 101 side to directly input a user ID or password, so that the user displays a confirmation display displayed on the operation unit 203. The screens 700a and 700b can be confirmed with certainty, and it can be reliably recognized whether the through mode is set or the normal mode is set.

  In the process of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the through mode is set as the stacking mode (step S603), user authentication is executed (step S801), and whether or not the through mode is set as the stacking mode again. It is determined whether or not (step S802). By the way, in step S603, for example, after determining that the through mode is set as the stacking mode, the stacking mode is changed from the through mode to the normal mode by another user until the user authentication is executed. There is a case. In this case, when a user who has not recognized that the stacking mode has been changed uses the image forming apparatus 101, the image forming apparatus 101 discharges the sheet bundle Sb to the saddle tray 412 in the normal mode. In the normal mode, when the number of sheet bundles Sb to be ejected is larger than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the image forming apparatus 101 automatically stops printing, so that all the sheet bundles Sb are not ejected to the saddle tray 412. The result is contrary to the user's intention. Correspondingly, it is possible to prevent the processing from proceeding while the normal mode is set as the loading mode against the user's intention by determining whether or not the through mode is set again in step S802. it can. Thereafter, all the sheet bundles Sb are collected in the collection box 502 in which the sheet bundle Sb is installed by the through mode set again as the stacking mode, and the printed matter can be prevented from being discharged by a method not intended by the user.

  Next, display processing as a second modification of the control method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second modification of the display process of FIG.

  The process of FIG. 9A is executed when the sheet bundle Sb corresponding to at least two print jobs instructed to be executed by the same user is continuously discharged to the saddle tray 412 in the normal mode or the through mode. In the process of FIG. 9A, the sheet bundles Sb1 and Sb2 corresponding to the two print jobs of the first print job and the second print job that are instructed to be executed by the same user are consecutive in the normal mode or the through mode. A case where the sheet is discharged to the saddle tray 412 will be described as an example.

  In the present modification, in FIG. 9A, a first print job in FIG. 9B described later is executed (step S901), a second print job in FIG. 9C described later is executed (step S902), and the process ends. .

  FIG. 9B is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the first print job executed in step S901 in FIG. 9A. Since the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 9B is the same as the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, only the differences from the processing in FIG. 6 will be described below.

  In FIG. 9B, when the OK buttons 702a and 702b are pressed as a result of the determination in step S607, the stacking mode set when executing the first print job is the normal mode or the through mode. Is stored in the work memory 207 as well as user information related to the user who has instructed execution of the first print job, for example, the user name and the date and time at which execution of the first print job has been instructed. (Step S903), the process proceeds to Step S608.

  FIG. 9C is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the second print job executed in step S902 of FIG. 9A. Since the processes in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 9C are the same as the processes in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, only differences from the process in FIG. 6 will be described below.

  In FIG. 9C, when the sheet bundle Sb2 is discharged to the saddle tray 412 as a result of the determination in step S601, it is set when executing the second print job based on the stacking mode information stored in the work memory 207 in step S903. It is determined whether or not the stacked mode that is set is the same as the stacked mode that was set when the first print job was executed (step S904).

  As a result of the determination in step S904, when the stacking mode set at the time of executing the second print job is the same as the stacking mode set at the time of executing the first print job, it is stored in the work memory 207 in step S903. Based on the stored user information, it is determined whether or not the user who has instructed execution of the first print job and the user who has instructed execution of the second print job are the same (step S905).

  If it is determined in step S905 that the users are not the same, the process proceeds to step S603, and then steps S603 to 607 are executed. If the OK buttons 702a and 702b are pressed as a result of determination in step S607, the loading mode information and The user information is stored in the work memory 207 (step S906), and the process proceeds to step S608. If it is determined in step S905 that the users are the same, steps S603 to 607 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S906.

  As a result of the determination in step S904, when the stacking mode set at the time of executing the second print job is not the same as the stacking mode set at the time of executing the first print job, step S905 is skipped and step is skipped. The process proceeds to S603.

  9A to 9C, the stack mode when the first print job is executed is the same as the stack mode when the second print job is executed, and the first print job is executed. When the instructing user and the user instructing execution of the second print job are the same (steps S904 to S905), the confirmation display screen 700a or the confirmation display screen 700b is not displayed when executing the second print job. In other words, since the confirmation display screen 700a or the confirmation display screen 700b is displayed only when the first print job is executed, the user confirms the confirmation display screen 700a or the confirmation display screen 700b every time the print job is executed. There is no need to do. Thereby, a user's labor can be reduced.

  Next, display processing as a third modification of the control method of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the third modification of the display process of FIG.

  Since the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 10 is the same as the processing in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, only differences from the processing in FIG. 6 will be described below. 10, for example, the sheet bundle stacking unit 411 does not include the mode sensor 503, and the stacking presence / absence sensor 504 detects whether the normal mode is set as the stacking mode or the through mode is set. When executed.

  As a result of the determination in step S601, when the sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412, it is determined whether or not the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb discharged to the saddle tray 412 is two or more (step S1001). If it is determined in step S1001 that the number of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged to the saddle tray 412 is two or more, a print job is executed and one sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412 (step S1002). .

  Next, it is determined whether or not the through mode is set as the loading mode based on the loading presence / absence sensor 504 (step S603). Specifically, when one sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412 and the stacking presence / absence sensor 504 detects that one discharged sheet bundle Sb is stacked on the saddle tray 412, the stacking is performed. It is determined that the normal mode is set as the mode. On the other hand, when the sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412 and the stacking presence / absence sensor 504 detects that the sheet bundle Sb is not stacked on the saddle tray 412, the stack mode is the through mode. Is determined to be set.

  If it is determined in step S603 that the through mode is set as the stacking mode, the process proceeds to step S604. If the through mode is not set as the stacking mode, the process proceeds to step S605. As a result of the determination in step S1001, when the number of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged to the saddle tray 412 is one, steps S1002, S603 to S607 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S608.

  According to the process of FIG. 10, when the number of copies of the sheet bundle Sb to be discharged to the saddle tray 412 is two or more (step S1001), and one copy of the sheet bundle Sb is discharged to the saddle tray 412 (step S1002). Whether the set stacking mode is the through mode or not is determined based on the stacking presence / absence sensor 504 (step S603). The stacking presence / absence sensor 504 for determining whether or not the sheet bundle Sb is stacked on the saddle tray 412 is normally provided in the image forming apparatus 101, so that a new device or the like is not added to the image forming apparatus 101. It is possible to determine whether the normal mode is set as the loading mode or the through mode is set.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the stopper portion 501 is in the state of FIG. 5A, it is referred to as “the stopper is attached”, and when it is in the state of FIG. It was referred to as the "stopper is removed" state. However, when the stopper portion 501 has a shape that can be opened and closed like a door, the state where the door is closed is the state where the stopper is attached, and the state where the door is open is the state where the stopper is open. It is assumed that it has been “removed”.

  Software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program. In the processing, the program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Sb, Sb1, Sb2 Sheet bundle 101 Image forming apparatus 412 Saddle tray 501 Stopper 502 Recovery box 503 Mode sensor 700a, 700b Confirmation display screen

Claims (11)

Printing means for printing an image on a sheet;
Conveying means for conveying a sheet bundle including a sheet on which an image is printed by the printing means;
A stack of sheets conveyed by the conveying means, and a discharge tray having a stopper for preventing the stacked sheet bundle from falling on the floor;
Detecting means for detecting the state of the stopper;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a notification unit configured to notify a user based on a result of the detection unit.   2. The state detected by the detecting means is a state where the stopper is attached at a position for holding a sheet bundle or a state where the stopper is not attached at a position for holding a sheet bundle. The image forming apparatus described.   The notification means displays a first message when the state detected by the detection means is a state where the stopper is not attached to a position for holding a sheet bundle. The image forming apparatus described.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first message notifies the user that the stopper is not attached to a position for holding the sheet bundle. A determination unit that determines the number of sheet bundles conveyed by the conveyance unit;
In the notification means, the state detected by the detection means is a state where the stopper is attached to a position for holding the sheet bundle, and the number of sheet bundles determined by the determination means is a predetermined number or more. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second message is displayed.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second message notifies the user that the stopper is attached to a position for holding the sheet bundle.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs the notification before the printing unit starts printing. An authentication unit for authenticating the user;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs the notification in response to a user being authenticated by the authentication unit.   When the second print job is executed after the first print job is executed, the second print job is executed based on whether or not the user who instructed the execution of the first print job and the second print job is the same. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether notification by the notification unit is necessary. A printing unit that prints an image on a sheet, a conveying unit that conveys a sheet bundle including a sheet on which an image has been printed by the printing unit, and a stack of sheets that are stacked by the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit A control method of an image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge tray having a stopper that prevents a bundle from falling on the floor,
A detection step of detecting the state of the stopper;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising: a notification step of notifying a user based on a result of the detection step.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the image forming apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9.

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