EP3236319A2 - Sheet post-processing apparatus and sheet binding processing method - Google Patents
Sheet post-processing apparatus and sheet binding processing method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3236319A2 EP3236319A2 EP17160237.8A EP17160237A EP3236319A2 EP 3236319 A2 EP3236319 A2 EP 3236319A2 EP 17160237 A EP17160237 A EP 17160237A EP 3236319 A2 EP3236319 A2 EP 3236319A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- processing
- sensor
- operation mode
- staple
- sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H43/00—Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H37/00—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations
- B65H37/04—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6538—Devices for collating sheet copy material, e.g. sorters, control, copies in staples form
- G03G15/6541—Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing
- G03G15/6544—Details about the binding means or procedure
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6538—Devices for collating sheet copy material, e.g. sorters, control, copies in staples form
- G03G15/6541—Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6582—Special processing for irreversibly adding or changing the sheet copy material characteristics or its appearance, e.g. stamping, annotation printing, punching
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
- B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
- B65H2301/516—Securing handled material to another material
- B65H2301/5161—Binding processes
- B65H2301/51611—Binding processes involving at least a binding element traversing the handled material, e.g. staple
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/24—Post -processing devices
- B65H2801/27—Devices located downstream of office-type machines
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
- G03G2215/00789—Adding properties or qualities to the copy medium
- G03G2215/00822—Binder, e.g. glueing device
- G03G2215/00827—Stapler
Definitions
- the present invention relates to image forming and post-processing technologies in general, and embodiments described herein relate in particular to a sheet post-processing apparatus and a sheet binding processing method.
- a sheet post-processing apparatus which performs a post-processing such as sorting and stapling to sheets to be conveyed from the MFP is connected.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus has a stapler which performs a post-processing of stapling to a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus has a function to perform a staple processing (hereinafter, called a manual staple processing) by a manual operation, as the post-processing of sheets.
- This manual staple processing is performed in the following procedure, for example.
- a user places a sheet bundle that becomes an object to be stapled on a processing tray of a sheet post-processing apparatus.
- the user presses a staple execution button of the sheet post-processing apparatus.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus drives a staple needle into the sheet bundle placed on the processing tray, to perform a staple processing.
- the manual staple processing in the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus might perform a staple processing (a blank binding processing) to a sheet bundle, even when staple needles are used out in the stapler. That is, there was a problem that a conventional sheet post-processing apparatus might perform a blank binding processing to a sheet bundle, in a manual staple processing.
- a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:
- a sheet post-processing apparatus which has a plurality of operation modes and is configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- the controller is configured to judge whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- the controller is configured to judge whether or not to continue the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- the controller is configured to continue the first operation mode if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor.
- the controller is configured to finish the first operation mode if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor.
- the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- the controller transfers the operation mode to a second operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets which are conveyed from an external device to the processing tray.
- the controller when having finished the first operation mode, performs notification of an error to the external device.
- the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the second operation mode.
- the invention also relates to a sheet binding processing method in a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:
- the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- a sheet post-processing apparatus has a plurality of operation modes. Further, the sheet post-processing apparatus has a processing tray, a stapler, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller.
- the processing tray supports sheets.
- the stapler holds a plurality of staples.
- the stapler performs a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray.
- the first sensor detects whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the stapler.
- the second sensor detects that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount.
- the controller judges whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, based on a detection result of the second sensor. Further, the controller judges whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- a sheet post-processing apparatus of an embodiment has a function to perform a staple processing (hereinafter, called a manual staple processing) to sheets to be fed by a manual operation of a user, as a post-processing of sheets.
- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a whole configuration example of an image forming system 1 of an embodiment.
- Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image forming system 1 shown in Fig. 1 .
- the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the image forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet-like medium (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet) such as a form.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 performs a post-processing to a sheet S to be conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2.
- the image forming apparatus 2 has a control panel 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a sheet feeding device 14, a sheet discharge device 15, and an image forming controller 16.
- the control panel 11 has various keys for accepting an operation of a user.
- the control panel 11 accepts an input relating to a kind of a post-processing of a sheet S, for example.
- the scanner 12 has a reading unit to read image information of a copy object.
- the scanner 12 sends the read image information to the printer 13.
- the printer 13 forms an image (hereinafter, called "a toner image") on a photo conductor using a developer such as toner, based on the image information to be transmitted from the scanner 12 or an external device, for example.
- the printer 13 transfers the toner image from the photo conductor to the sheet S.
- the printer 13 applies heat and pressure to the toner image which has been transferred to the sheet S, to make the toner image to be fixed on the sheet S.
- the sheet feeding device 14 feeds the sheets S to the printer 13 one by one, in accordance with a timing in which the printer 13 forms the toner image on the photo conductor.
- the sheet discharge device 15 conveys the sheet S to be discharged from the printer 13 to the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the image forming controller 16 controls an operation of the image forming apparatus 2. That is, the image forming controller 16 controls the control panel 11, the scanner 12, the printer 13, the sheet feeding device 14, and the sheet discharge device 15.
- the image forming controller 16 is formed by a control circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 will be described. To begin with, a configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 , the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is arranged adjacent to the image forming apparatus 2.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 has an operation display panel 20, a waiting device 21, a processing tray device 22, a discharge device 23, a binding processing device 24, and a post-processing controller 25.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 has at least two operation modes of a manual staple mode (a first operation mode) and an online mode (a second operation mode).
- the manual staple mode is a mode to manually or automatically execute a staple processing to sheets to be fed by a manual operation of a user.
- the manual staple mode is a mode to execute a staple processing to sheets fed to the binding processing device, without being accompanied by an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 executes a post-processing which has been designated via the control panel 11, to the sheets S to be conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2, in the online mode.
- the post-processing is a staple processing or a sort processing, for example.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 performs a staple processing to a sheet bundle S' that is a bundle of a plurality of the sheets S which a user has placed on the processing tray device 22, in the manual staple mode.
- a leading end portion of the sheet bundle S' in an entering direction thereof to the processing tray device 22 is an upper side of the sheet bundle S', and a rear end portion thereof at the opposite side is a lower side of the sheet bundle S'.
- the sheet bundle S' placed on the processing tray device 22 is seen from the lower side thereof, its right end portion is a right side of the sheet bundle S', and its left end portion at the opposite side is a left side of the sheet bundle S'.
- the operation display panel 20 is a panel having buttons with which a user performs a manual staple processing, and LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) for display.
- the operation display panel 20 is provided at a position of an upper portion of a main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, where a user can visually recognize and operate it.
- Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operation display panel 20.
- the operation display panel 20 includes an operation device 201 including an instruction button of a manual staple processing and a setting button thereof, and a display device 202 which displays a state of the manual staple processing and so on by turning on the LEDs.
- the operation device 201 has a position setting button 203 for setting a position where a staple processing is to be performed, and an instruction button 204 to instruct transfer to the manual staple mode and execution of the staple processing.
- the position setting button 203 is a button for switching setting as to whether to perform the staple processing at the upper right corner of the sheet bundle S', or to perform the staple processing at the upper left corner of the sheet bundle S'.
- the instruction button 204 is a button for transferring the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 from the on line mode to the manual staple mode.
- the instruction button 204 is a button for instructing execution of the staple processing, in the manual staple mode.
- the display device 202 has LEDs 205, 206, 207.
- the LEDs 205 - 207 are turned off until an instruction to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode is made.
- the LED 205 is turned on when the instruction button 204 is pressed, and thereby the operation mode is transferred to the manual staple mode, and the sheet bundle S' exists on the processing tray device 22.
- the LED 205 starts blinking when the instruction button 204 is pressed while the LED 205 is lighting, and continues blinking during a processing of driving a staple into the sheet bundle S'.
- the LED 205 is turned off when the sheet bundle S' which has been subjected to the staple processing is discharged from the processing tray device 22.
- the LED 206 or the LED 207 is turned on when the instruction button 204 is pressed, and thereby the operation mode is transferred to the manual staple mode. Which of the LED 206 and the LED 207 is turned on is determined in accordance with the setting of the binding position when the previous manual staple mode was finished, for example.
- the LED 206 is turned on when performing the staple processing on the upper right corner of the sheet bundle S' is set, and after the execution of the staple processing, it is changed in a blinking state, and when the sheet bundle S' is discharged from the processing tray device 22, it is turned off.
- the LED 207 is turned on when performing the staple processing on the upper left corner of the sheet bundle S' is set, and after the execution of the staple processing, it is changed in a blinking state, and when the sheet bundle S' is discharged from the processing tray device 22, it is turned off.
- the waiting device 21 makes the sheets S to be conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2 temporarily stay (buffer). For example, while the post-processing of the preceding sheets S is performed on the processing tray device 22, the waiting device 21 makes a plurality of the subsequent sheets S wait.
- the waiting device 21 is disposed above the processing tray device 22. When the processing tray device 22 becomes vacant, the waiting device 21 drops the sheets S which have been stayed, from above the processing tray device 22 toward the processing tray device 22, for example.
- the processing tray device 22 holds, aligns and discharges the sheets S or the sheet bundle S'. For example, the processing tray device 22 aligns the sheet bundle S'.
- the processing tray device 22 discharges the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' which has been subjected to the post-processing such as the staple processing to the discharge device 23.
- the discharge device 23 has a fixed tray 23a and a movable tray 23b.
- the fixed tray 23a is disposed at an upper portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the movable tray 23b is disposed at a side portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the sheets S which have been subjected to the sort processing are discharged to the fixed tray 23a and the movable tray 23b.
- the binding processing device 24 executes a staple processing to the sheet bundle S' which has been aligned by the processing tray device 22. By this means, the sheet bundle S' is bound. That is, the binding processing device 24 performs a staple processing that is an example of a post-processing to the sheet bundle S' held by the processing tray device 22.
- the post-processing controller 25 controls an operation of the whole sheet post-processing apparatus 3 including switching of the operation mode. That is, the post-processing controller 25 controls the operation display panel 20, the waiting device 21, the processing tray device 22, the discharge device 23, and the binding processing device 24.
- the post-processing controller 25 controls the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, at the time of the on line mode, so that the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 operates in accordance with a control signal from the control panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2.
- the post-processing controller 25 includes a control circuit including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.
- Fig. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 in the first embodiment.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 has a conveying path 31 of the sheet S, the waiting device 21 including a waiting tray 32, the processing tray device 22 including a processing tray 33, the binding processing device 24 including a stapler 36.
- a sheet conveying direction means a conveying direction D (an entering direction of the sheet S to the waiting tray 32) of the sheet S to the waiting tray 32 of the waiting device 21.
- an upstream side and a downstream side respectively mean an upstream side and a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction D.
- a leading end portion and “a rear end portion” respectively mean “an end portion at the downstream side” and “an end portion at the upstream side” in the sheet conveying direction D.
- a direction which is in approximately parallel with an upper surface (a conveying surface) of the waiting tray 32 and is also approximately orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction D is called a sheet width direction W.
- the conveying path 31 is provided inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the conveying path 31 has a sheet supply port 31p and a sheet discharge port 31 d.
- the sheet supply port 31p faces the image forming apparatus 2.
- the sheet S is supplied to the sheet supply port 31p from the image forming apparatus 2.
- the sheet S which has passed through the conveying path 31 is discharged to the waiting tray 32 of the waiting device 21 via the sheet discharge port 31d.
- the waiting tray 32 makes a plurality of the sheets wait in the stacked manner, while a post-processing is performed in the processing tray device 22.
- the processing tray device 22 has a processing tray 33, a paddle 34, lateral alignment plates 35.
- the processing tray 33 aligns and supports the sheet bundle S' to be loaded, while the staple processing is executed to the sheet bundle S' by the stapler 36 that is a processing mechanism for performing a post-processing.
- the paddle 34 is provided between the waiting tray 32 and the processing tray 33. When the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' moves from the waiting tray 32 toward the processing tray 33, the paddle 34 rotates, to press the sheets S toward the processing tray 33. Further, the paddle 34 has a plurality of paddles, and rotates in a direction of an arrow A, to move the sheets S which have dropped on the processing tray 33 toward the stapler 36 described later.
- the two lateral alignment plates 35 are provided on the processing tray 33 in the width direction of the sheet S.
- the lateral alignment plates 35 perform alignment of the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' in the sheet width direction W, so as to prevent that the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' is disordered in the sheet width direction W.
- the lateral alignment plates 35 are slidably provided in accordance with a width of the sheet S.
- the lateral alignment plates 35 perform alignment in the sheet width direction W to the sheet bundle S' which a user has placed on the processing tray 33.
- a pair of the lateral alignment plates 35 may be arranged at the most distant positions, so that a user can easily insert the sheet bundle S' into the processing tray.
- the processing tray 33 has a conveying roller 33a, a conveying belt 33b, and a sheet detection sensor 33c.
- the processing tray 33 is provided below the waiting tray 32.
- a plurality of the sheets S which have moved on the processing tray 33 are subjected to alignment in the sheet width direction W by the lateral alignment plates 35, and also are subjected to alignment in the sheet conveying direction D by being conveyed by the conveying belt 33b.
- the conveying belt 33b of the processing tray 33 conveys the sheets S between the stapler 36 and the discharge device 23 by bundle claws (not shown) provided on the conveying belt 33b.
- the stapler 36 is provided at an end portion of the processing tray 33.
- the stapler 36 performs a staple (binding) processing to a bundle of a prescribed number of the sheets S located on the processing tray 33.
- the sheet detection sensor 33c detects whether or not the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' exists on the processing tray 33.
- the sheet detection sensor 33c outputs detection result to the post-processing controller 25.
- the binding processing device 24 has the stapler 36, a cue sensor (a first sensor) 37 and a no-staple sensor (a second sensor) 38 which are provided in the stapler 36.
- the binding processing device 24 adjusts a position of the stapler 36, so as to perform a staple processing to the sheet bundle S' at a positon set by the position setting button 203.
- the stapler 36 houses a staple sheet integrated with a plurality of staples for stapling, and drives the staple(s) into the sheet bundle S'. This staple sheet is integrated with linear staples. For this reason, the stapler 36 performs a cue processing in which a staple to be driven in the next processing is disconnected from a staple sheet, the disconnected staple is folded in a U shape, and is set in a drivable state.
- the cue sensor 37 detects whether or not a staple which is to be driven in the next binding processing has been prepared in the stapler 36. For example, the cue sensor 37 judges the presence or absence of a staple based on a load to be generated at the time of folding a staple, and thereby detects whether or not a staple has been prepared. That is, when a load to be generated at the time of folding a staple is not generated, the cue sensor 37 detects that a staple has not been set. In addition, the cue sensor 37 determines that a staple has been set when the load is generated, and outputs a first detection signal that is a signal indicating the detection result that a staple has been prepared to the post-processing controller 25. When it is detected that a staple has not been prepared by the cue sensor 37, the detection result of the cue sensor 37 indicates that staples have been completely used out or that a staple cue mechanism has failed.
- the no-staple sensor 38 monitors a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet, and detects that a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet becomes not more than a prescribed amount (for example, 30 - 40 pieces). That is, the no-staple sensor 38 detects a near empty state indicating that the staple sheet will soon become empty.
- the no-staple sensor 38 outputs a second detection signal that is a signal indicating the detection result as to whether the remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet has become not more than the prescribed amount, to the post-processing controller 25.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 transmits a signal notifying no-staple to the image forming apparatus 2, based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38.
- the image forming apparatus 2 performs processing up to the image forming operation during processing at present, and halts the subsequent image forming operation.
- the image forming apparatus 2 halts the image forming operation, displays that staple needles have been used out on the control panel 11, and thereby urges a user to replenish staple needles.
- the post-processing controller 25 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 controls the binding processing device 24.
- a functional block relating to the manual staple mode in the post-processing controller 25 according to the embodiment will be described.
- Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a functional block relating to the manual staple mode in the post-processing controller 25.
- the post-processing controller 25 has a communication module 251, a control module 252, a sensor information acquisition module 253, a stapler control module 254.
- the communication module 251 communicates with the control panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2.
- the control module 252 controls the respective modules in the post-processing controller 25 in the manual staple mode.
- the control module 252 communicates with the control panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 via the communication module 251.
- the control module 252 receives an input signal from the operation device 201 of the operation display panel 20, to control a processing relating to the manual staple.
- the control module 252 controls the display (turning on, blinking, turning off of the LEDs 205 - 207) in the display device 202 of the operation display panel 20, based on a state of the processing relating to the manual staple.
- the sensor information acquisition module 253 receives the first and second detection signals respectively from the cue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 of the binding processing device 24, to acquire the detection results in the cue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38.
- the control module 252 controls the stapler control module 254 in accordance with the detection results which the sensor information acquisition module 253 has acquired.
- the stapler control module 254 controls an operation of the stapler 36 in accordance with an instruction from the control module 252.
- Operation (1) When the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is in the online mode, a user presses the instruction button 204, and then places the sheet bundle S' on the processing tray 33.
- the control module 252 When receiving an input signal indicating that the instruction button 204 has been pressed by the operation (1) from the operation display panel 20, the control module 252 starts transferring the operation mode from the online mode to the manual staple mode.
- the control module 252 determines whether or not to transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 from the online mode to the manual staple mode, based on the following three conditions 1 - 3.
- the example described below is an example, and the control module 252 may determine whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode by only the condition 1. And as another example, the control module 252 may make the order of determining the conditions 1 - 3 to be an arbitrary order.
- Condition 1 That a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet is not a prescribed amount or less. If a signal (detection result) from the no-staple sensor 38 is ON (a remaining amount of staples is not more than a prescribed amount), the control module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal (detection result) from the no-staple sensor 38 is ON, the control module 52 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of a no-staple error. By this means, the image forming apparatus 2 displays a message or an icon indicating that a no-staple error has occurred, on the control panel 11, for example. If the detection result from the no-staple sensor 38 is OFF (a remaining amount of staples is more than a prescribed amount), the control module 252 determines a condition 2 described below.
- Condition 2 To obtain permission to stop the online mode from the image forming apparatus 2.
- the control module 252 inquires whether or not the online mode may be stopped, to the control panel 11 of the image forming apparatus 2 via the communication module 251, and acquires its result. If receiving a result (an NG signal) that the online mode cannot be stopped from the control panel 11, the control module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If receiving a result (an OK signal) that the online mode may be stopped from the control panel 11, the control module 252 determines a condition 3 described below.
- Condition 3 That a signal from the cue sensor 37 is ON. If a signal from the cue sensor 37 is ON, the control module 252 transfers the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the case in which a signal from the cue sensor 37 is ON is a case in which a staple to be driven in the next processing has been set in the stapler 36.
- the control module 252 performs a cue processing for making the stapler 36 perform blank driving.
- the case in which the signal from the cue sensor 37 is OFF is a case in which a staple to be driven in the next processing has not been set in the stapler 36.
- the signal of the cue sensor 37 becomes OFF during the binding operation, a possibility that the staples in the stapler 36 have been completely used out is high (a possibility of failure is low).
- the control module 252 acquires again a signal of ON or OFF from the cue sensor 37, after the cue processing. If the signal acquired again from the cue sensor 37 is ON, the control module 252 transfers the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal acquired again from the cue sensor 37 is OFF, the control module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal from the cue sensor 37 is OFF, the control module 252 informs the image forming apparatus 2 of a cue error.
- the control module 252 sets the positions of the waiting tray 32, the processing tray 33, the paddle 34, the lateral alignment plates 35, and the stapler 36 to the respective waiting positions. That is, the control module 252 moves the waiting tray 32, the processing tray 33, the paddle 34, the lateral alignment plates 35, and the stapler 36 to the respective waiting positions.
- the waiting positions of the lateral alignment plates 35 and the stapler 36 are respective positions where they stopped when the manual staple mode was finished at the previous time.
- the control module 252 transmits an instruction of turning on the LED 206 or the LED 207 to the display device 202, in accordance with the waiting position of the stapler 36.
- the control module 252 instructs turning on the LED 205 to the display device 202, in accordance with detection of the sheet bundle S' by the sheet detection sensor 33c. While the LED 205 is lighting during the manual staple mode, the LED 205 indicates that the sheet bundle S' exists on the processing tray 33.
- Operation (2) When the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is in the manual staple mode, a user presses the position setting button 203.
- the control module 252 controls switching of the binding position. In accordance with this control, if the LED 206 is lighting, the control module 252 transmits a control signal to turn off the LED 206 and turn on the LED 207, to the display device 202. If the LED 207 is lighting, the control module 252 transmits a control signal to turn off the LED 207 and turn on the LED 206, to the display device 202.
- the control module 252 instructs the stapler control module 254 so as to switch the position of the stapler 36 to the sheet bundle S'.
- the control module 252 controls lighting of the LED 206 or the LED 207, in accordance with the control of the position of the stapler 36, to display the binding position of the stapler 36.
- Operation (3) When the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is in the manual staple mode, a user presses the instruction button 204.
- the control module 252 makes the staple processing to be executed. In accordance with the execution of this staple processing, the control module 252 transmits a control signal to make the LED 205 during lighting to be blinked to the display device 202.
- the control module 252 instructs the stapler control module 254 so as to make the stapler 36 execute staple processing to the sheet bundle S'.
- the stapler control module 254 makes the stapler 36 perform the staple processing to the sheet bundle S', in accordance with the instruction from the control module 252.
- the stapler control module 254 notifies that the stapler 36 has finished the execution of the staple processing to the control module 252.
- the control module 252 makes the LED 206 or the LED 207 to be blinked, and informs a user of the completion of the staple processing.
- the control module 252 When receiving a signal indicating that the stapler 36 has finished the execution of the staple processing, the control module 252 acquires the detection result of the cue sensor 37 from the sensor information acquisition module 253. When a signal (detection result) from the cue sensor 37 is ON (a state in which a staple has been set), the control module 252 continues the manual staple mode in preparation for the further staple processing. When the detection result of the cue sensor 37 is OFF (a state in which a staple has not been set), the control module 252 performs a home position processing. This home position processing is a processing which transfers the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the online mode, and finishes the manual staple mode.
- Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing transfer of the operation mode to the manual staple mode and the manual staple processing in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- a processing of Fig. 6 is started when a user has pressed the instruction button 204 while the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is in the online mode.
- the user has placed the sheet bundle S' to become an object to be stapled on the processing tray 33 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 determines whether or not a signal (detection result) from the no-staple sensor 38 is ON.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT11.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of a no-staple error.
- the control module 252 finishes the processing to transfer to the manual staple mode, and does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT12.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 inquires of the image forming apparatus 2 about whether or not the online mode may be stopped.
- the control module 252 acquires an OK signal indicating that the online mode may be stopped, or an NG signal indicating that the online mode cannot be stopped, which is the inquiry result, from the image forming apparatus 2.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the control module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode, it finishes the transfer processing of the operation mode to the manual staple mode.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT13.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 acquires a signal from the cue sensor 37, and determines whether the signal from the cue sensor 37 is ON or OFF.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT16.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 transfers the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT14.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 makes the stapler 36 perform blank driving, to perform the cue processing.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 acquires the signal indicating that the cue sensor 37 is ON or OFF again, and determines whether the signal from the cue sensor 37 is ON or OFF.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT16.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 transfers the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT23.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of a cue error.
- the control module 252 finishes the transfer processing to the manual staple processing, and does not transfer the operation mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode.
- the post-processing controller 25 in the first embodiment judges whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode, based on whether or not an amount of staple needles is equal or greater than a prescribed amount. If the post-processing controller 25 judges that the amount of staple needles is equal or greater than the prescribed amount, the post-processing controller 25 performs control for transferring the operation mode to the manual staple mode. If the post-processing controller 25 judges that the amount of staple needles is not equal or greater than the prescribed amount, the post-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode.
- the post-processing controller 25 judges whether or not to continue the manual staple mode, based on whether or not a staple to become an object of the next staple processing is prepared.
- the post-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as to continue the manual staple mode.
- the post-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as not to continue the manual staple mode.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 sets positions of the lateral alignment plates 35 and the stapler 36 and so on to waiting positions.
- the control module 252 turns on the LED 206 or the LED 207, in accordance with the waiting position of the stapler 36.
- the control module 252 turns on the LED 205.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 controls the switching of a binding position. In accordance with this switching control, the control module 252 controls the display of the display device 202. In addition, when a user has not pressed the position setting button 203, the control module 252 does not perform the processing of ACT18, but performs the processing of ACT 19.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 judges whether or not to make the staple processing to be executed, based on whether a user has pressed the instruction button 204 after the processing of ACT 17 or ACT18. When the user has pressed the instruction button 204, the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT20.
- the control module 252 instructs the stapler control module 254 so as to make the stapler 36 execute the staple processing to the sheet bundle S'.
- the stapler control module 254 makes the stapler 36 execute the staple processing to the sheet bundle S', in accordance with the instruction from the control module 252.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 acquires a signal from the cue sensor 37 from the sensor information acquisition module 253, and judges whether or not the signal (detection result) from the cue sensor 37 is ON.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 returns to ACT19.
- the control module 252 continues the manual staple mode in preparation for the following staple processing.
- the processing of the post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT22.
- the control module 252 of the post-processing controller 25 executes a home position processing.
- the control module 252 After the processing of ACT22, in ACT23, the control module 252 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of a cue error. In addition, when it is detected that the instruction button 204 has been pressed in the state that there is no sheet on the processing tray 33, or when it is detected that a predetermined time has passed after the operation mode was transferred to the manual staple mode, the post-processing controller 25 may finish the manual staple mode.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 performs the home position processing, and thereby can return to the online mode without being accompanied by a further operation by the user when the manual staple mode is finished.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 can notify the image forming apparatus 2 of the no-staple error.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 can notify the image forming apparatus 2 of the cue error.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple, based on the detection result of the cue sensor 37, during the manual staple mode.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38, during the online mode. That is, the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 determines whether or not replenishment of staples is necessary, based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38.
- An amount of the sheet bundles S' which a user processes in the manual staple mode might be small (for example, not more than 10 bundles).
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple, based on the detection result of the cue sensor 37 in which the staples can be used up to the last staple, in the case of the manual staple mode.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38. The sheet post-processing apparatus 3 notifies a user of the above-described determination of the presence or absence of a staple, and thereby can urge the user to effectively replenish staples.
- the cue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 are provided for the stapler 36, but embodiments are not limited to this.
- the cue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 may be incorporated in the stapler 36.
- the cue sensor 37 detects whether or not a staple for the next binding processing is prepared, based on a load for bending the staple, but embodiments are not limited to the above embodiment.
- the cue sensor 37 has only to detect whether or not a staple is set at a prescribed position and in a prescribed shape.
- the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of at least one of the embodiments described above has the post-processing controller 25.
- the post-processing controller 25 has functions of the sensor information acquisition module 253, the stapler control module 254, and the control module 252. Accordingly, the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 can prevent a blank binding processing from being performed to the sheet bundle S' in the manual staple mode.
- the function of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 in the above-described embodiments may be realized by a computer.
- a program for realizing this function is recorded in a computer readable recording medium.
- the program recorded in this recording medium may be read and executed by a computer system.
- the computer system called here shall include an OS and a hardware such as peripheral devices.
- the computer readable recording medium includes a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CO-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk drive to be incorporated in a computer system.
- the computer readable recording medium may include one which dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a communication line, in the case of transmitting a program via a network such as Internet, or a communication line such as a telephone line.
- the computer readable recording medium may include one which holds a program for a prescribed time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system which serves as a server or a client, in the case of transmitting a program via a network such as Internet, or a communication line such as a telephone line.
- the above-described program may be one which realizes a part of the above-described function, and may be one which realizes the above described function in combination with the program which has already been recorded in a computer system.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to image forming and post-processing technologies in general, and embodiments described herein relate in particular to a sheet post-processing apparatus and a sheet binding processing method.
- To a conventional image forming apparatus, such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), a sheet post-processing apparatus which performs a post-processing such as sorting and stapling to sheets to be conveyed from the MFP is connected. The sheet post-processing apparatus has a stapler which performs a post-processing of stapling to a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets. The sheet post-processing apparatus has a function to perform a staple processing (hereinafter, called a manual staple processing) by a manual operation, as the post-processing of sheets. This manual staple processing is performed in the following procedure, for example. To begin with, a user places a sheet bundle that becomes an object to be stapled on a processing tray of a sheet post-processing apparatus. Next, the user presses a staple execution button of the sheet post-processing apparatus. By this means, the sheet post-processing apparatus drives a staple needle into the sheet bundle placed on the processing tray, to perform a staple processing.
- The manual staple processing in the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus might perform a staple processing (a blank binding processing) to a sheet bundle, even when staple needles are used out in the stapler. That is, there was a problem that a conventional sheet post-processing apparatus might perform a blank binding processing to a sheet bundle, in a manual staple processing.
- To solve such problems, there is provided a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:
- a processing tray configured to support sheets;
- a stapler configured to hold a plurality of staples and perform a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray;
- a first sensor configured to detect whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared ;
- a second sensor configured to detect that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount; and
- a controller configured to judge whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, based on a detection result of the second sensor, and judge whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- Alternatively, there is provided a sheet post-processing apparatus which has a plurality of operation modes and is configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a processing tray configured to support sheets;
- a stapler configured to hold a plurality of staples and perform a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray;
- a first sensor configured to detect whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared ;
- a second sensor configured to detect that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount; and
- a controller configured to determine presence or absence of the staple based on a detection result of the first sensor, if the operation mode is a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, and determine the presence or absence of the staple based on a detection result of the second sensor, if the operation mode is a second operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the processing tray.
- Preferably, if the amount of the staples is not the prescribed amount or less in the detection result of the second sensor, the controller is configured to judge whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- Preferably still, if the amount of the staples is not more than the prescribed amount in the detection result of the second sensor, the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- Preferably yet, if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- Suitably, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode, and having made the stapler perform the binding processing, the controller is configured to judge whether or not to continue the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- Suitably still, if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to continue the first operation mode.
- Suitably yet, if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to finish the first operation mode.
- Typically, if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- Typically still, when having finished the first operation mode, the controller transfers the operation mode to a second operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets which are conveyed from an external device to the processing tray.
- Typically yet, when having finished the first operation mode, the controller performs notification of an error to the external device.
- Conveniently, if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- Conveniently still, if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the second operation mode.
- The invention also relates to a sheet binding processing method in a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:
- detecting that an amount of staples held by a stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount by a second sensor;
- judging whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform a binding processing to sheets to be manually fed, based on a detection result of the second sensor;
- detecting whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the stapler, by a first sensor different from the second sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode; and
- judging whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor.
- Suitably, the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- judging whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor, if the amount of the staples is not the prescribed amount or less in the detection result of the second sensor.
- Preferably, the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- performing notification of an error, if the amount of the staples is not more than the prescribed amount in the detection result of the second sensor.
- Preferably further, the sheet binding processing method further comprises:
- transferring the operation mode to the first operation mode, if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a whole configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. -
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment. -
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operation display panel of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment. -
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment. -
Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration relating to a manual staple mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment. -
Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing transfer to the manual staple mode and a manual staple processing in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment. - According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus has a plurality of operation modes. Further, the sheet post-processing apparatus has a processing tray, a stapler, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The processing tray supports sheets. The stapler holds a plurality of staples. The stapler performs a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray. The first sensor detects whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the stapler. The second sensor detects that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount. The controller judges whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, based on a detection result of the second sensor. Further, the controller judges whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- Hereinafter, sheet post-processing apparatuses according to embodiments will be further described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same symbols indicate the same or similar portions.
- A sheet post-processing apparatus of an embodiment has a function to perform a staple processing (hereinafter, called a manual staple processing) to sheets to be fed by a manual operation of a user, as a post-processing of sheets.
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a whole configuration example of an image forming system 1 of an embodiment.Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image forming system 1 shown inFig. 1 . The image forming system 1 includes animage forming apparatus 2 and a sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. Theimage forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet-like medium (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet) such as a form. The sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 performs a post-processing to a sheet S to be conveyed from theimage forming apparatus 2. - The
image forming apparatus 2 has acontrol panel 11, ascanner 12, aprinter 13, asheet feeding device 14, asheet discharge device 15, and animage forming controller 16. Thecontrol panel 11 has various keys for accepting an operation of a user. For example, thecontrol panel 11 accepts an input relating to a kind of a post-processing of a sheet S, for example. - The
scanner 12 has a reading unit to read image information of a copy object. Thescanner 12 sends the read image information to theprinter 13. Theprinter 13 forms an image (hereinafter, called "a toner image") on a photo conductor using a developer such as toner, based on the image information to be transmitted from thescanner 12 or an external device, for example. Theprinter 13 transfers the toner image from the photo conductor to the sheet S. Theprinter 13 applies heat and pressure to the toner image which has been transferred to the sheet S, to make the toner image to be fixed on the sheet S. Thesheet feeding device 14 feeds the sheets S to theprinter 13 one by one, in accordance with a timing in which theprinter 13 forms the toner image on the photo conductor. Thesheet discharge device 15 conveys the sheet S to be discharged from theprinter 13 to the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. - The
image forming controller 16 controls an operation of theimage forming apparatus 2. That is, theimage forming controller 16 controls thecontrol panel 11, thescanner 12, theprinter 13, thesheet feeding device 14, and thesheet discharge device 15. Theimage forming controller 16 is formed by a control circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). - Next, the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 will be described. To begin with, a configuration of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 will be described. As shown inFig. 1 , the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 is arranged adjacent to theimage forming apparatus 2. The sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 has anoperation display panel 20, a waitingdevice 21, aprocessing tray device 22, adischarge device 23, a bindingprocessing device 24, and apost-processing controller 25. The sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 has at least two operation modes of a manual staple mode (a first operation mode) and an online mode (a second operation mode). In addition, the manual staple mode is a mode to manually or automatically execute a staple processing to sheets to be fed by a manual operation of a user. In other words, the manual staple mode is a mode to execute a staple processing to sheets fed to the binding processing device, without being accompanied by an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus. - The sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 executes a post-processing which has been designated via thecontrol panel 11, to the sheets S to be conveyed from theimage forming apparatus 2, in the online mode. The post-processing is a staple processing or a sort processing, for example. - The sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 performs a staple processing to a sheet bundle S' that is a bundle of a plurality of the sheets S which a user has placed on theprocessing tray device 22, in the manual staple mode. In the following description, it is decided that a leading end portion of the sheet bundle S' in an entering direction thereof to theprocessing tray device 22 is an upper side of the sheet bundle S', and a rear end portion thereof at the opposite side is a lower side of the sheet bundle S'. It is decided that when the sheet bundle S' placed on theprocessing tray device 22 is seen from the lower side thereof, its right end portion is a right side of the sheet bundle S', and its left end portion at the opposite side is a left side of the sheet bundle S'. - The
operation display panel 20 is a panel having buttons with which a user performs a manual staple processing, and LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) for display. Theoperation display panel 20 is provided at a position of an upper portion of a main body of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3, where a user can visually recognize and operate it.Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of theoperation display panel 20. As shown inFig. 3 , theoperation display panel 20 includes anoperation device 201 including an instruction button of a manual staple processing and a setting button thereof, and adisplay device 202 which displays a state of the manual staple processing and so on by turning on the LEDs. - The
operation device 201 has aposition setting button 203 for setting a position where a staple processing is to be performed, and aninstruction button 204 to instruct transfer to the manual staple mode and execution of the staple processing. Theposition setting button 203 is a button for switching setting as to whether to perform the staple processing at the upper right corner of the sheet bundle S', or to perform the staple processing at the upper left corner of the sheet bundle S'. Theinstruction button 204 is a button for transferring the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 from the on line mode to the manual staple mode. Theinstruction button 204 is a button for instructing execution of the staple processing, in the manual staple mode. - The
display device 202 hasLEDs LED 205 is turned on when theinstruction button 204 is pressed, and thereby the operation mode is transferred to the manual staple mode, and the sheet bundle S' exists on theprocessing tray device 22. TheLED 205 starts blinking when theinstruction button 204 is pressed while theLED 205 is lighting, and continues blinking during a processing of driving a staple into the sheet bundle S'. TheLED 205 is turned off when the sheet bundle S' which has been subjected to the staple processing is discharged from theprocessing tray device 22. - The
LED 206 or theLED 207 is turned on when theinstruction button 204 is pressed, and thereby the operation mode is transferred to the manual staple mode. Which of theLED 206 and theLED 207 is turned on is determined in accordance with the setting of the binding position when the previous manual staple mode was finished, for example. TheLED 206 is turned on when performing the staple processing on the upper right corner of the sheet bundle S' is set, and after the execution of the staple processing, it is changed in a blinking state, and when the sheet bundle S' is discharged from theprocessing tray device 22, it is turned off. TheLED 207 is turned on when performing the staple processing on the upper left corner of the sheet bundle S' is set, and after the execution of the staple processing, it is changed in a blinking state, and when the sheet bundle S' is discharged from theprocessing tray device 22, it is turned off. - The waiting
device 21 makes the sheets S to be conveyed from theimage forming apparatus 2 temporarily stay (buffer). For example, while the post-processing of the preceding sheets S is performed on theprocessing tray device 22, the waitingdevice 21 makes a plurality of the subsequent sheets S wait. The waitingdevice 21 is disposed above theprocessing tray device 22. When theprocessing tray device 22 becomes vacant, the waitingdevice 21 drops the sheets S which have been stayed, from above theprocessing tray device 22 toward theprocessing tray device 22, for example. - The
processing tray device 22 holds, aligns and discharges the sheets S or the sheet bundle S'. For example, theprocessing tray device 22 aligns the sheet bundle S'. Theprocessing tray device 22 discharges the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' which has been subjected to the post-processing such as the staple processing to thedischarge device 23. Thedischarge device 23 has a fixedtray 23a and amovable tray 23b. The fixedtray 23a is disposed at an upper portion of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. Themovable tray 23b is disposed at a side portion of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. The sheets S which have been subjected to the sort processing are discharged to the fixedtray 23a and themovable tray 23b. - The binding
processing device 24 executes a staple processing to the sheet bundle S' which has been aligned by theprocessing tray device 22. By this means, the sheet bundle S' is bound. That is, the bindingprocessing device 24 performs a staple processing that is an example of a post-processing to the sheet bundle S' held by theprocessing tray device 22. - The
post-processing controller 25 controls an operation of the whole sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 including switching of the operation mode. That is, thepost-processing controller 25 controls theoperation display panel 20, the waitingdevice 21, theprocessing tray device 22, thedischarge device 23, and thebinding processing device 24. Thepost-processing controller 25 controls the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3, at the time of the on line mode, so that the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 operates in accordance with a control signal from thecontrol panel 11 of theimage forming apparatus 2. Thepost-processing controller 25 includes a control circuit including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. - Next, configurations of the respective units of the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 in the first embodiment will be described in detail.Fig. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 in the first embodiment. As shown inFig. 4 , the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 has a conveyingpath 31 of the sheet S, the waitingdevice 21 including a waitingtray 32, theprocessing tray device 22 including aprocessing tray 33, the bindingprocessing device 24 including astapler 36. - In addition, in the following description, "a sheet conveying direction" means a conveying direction D (an entering direction of the sheet S to the waiting tray 32) of the sheet S to the waiting
tray 32 of the waitingdevice 21. In addition, in the present specification, "an upstream side" and "a downstream side" respectively mean an upstream side and a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction D. In addition, in the present specification, "a leading end portion" and "a rear end portion" respectively mean "an end portion at the downstream side" and "an end portion at the upstream side" in the sheet conveying direction D. Further, in the present specification, a direction which is in approximately parallel with an upper surface (a conveying surface) of the waitingtray 32 and is also approximately orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction D is called a sheet width direction W. - The conveying
path 31 is provided inside the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. The conveyingpath 31 has asheet supply port 31p and asheet discharge port 31 d. Thesheet supply port 31p faces theimage forming apparatus 2. The sheet S is supplied to thesheet supply port 31p from theimage forming apparatus 2. The sheet S which has passed through the conveyingpath 31 is discharged to the waitingtray 32 of the waitingdevice 21 via thesheet discharge port 31d. The waitingtray 32 makes a plurality of the sheets wait in the stacked manner, while a post-processing is performed in theprocessing tray device 22. - Next, the
processing tray device 22 will be described. Theprocessing tray device 22 has aprocessing tray 33, apaddle 34,lateral alignment plates 35. Theprocessing tray 33 aligns and supports the sheet bundle S' to be loaded, while the staple processing is executed to the sheet bundle S' by thestapler 36 that is a processing mechanism for performing a post-processing. Thepaddle 34 is provided between the waitingtray 32 and theprocessing tray 33. When the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' moves from the waitingtray 32 toward theprocessing tray 33, thepaddle 34 rotates, to press the sheets S toward theprocessing tray 33. Further, thepaddle 34 has a plurality of paddles, and rotates in a direction of an arrow A, to move the sheets S which have dropped on theprocessing tray 33 toward thestapler 36 described later. - The two
lateral alignment plates 35 are provided on theprocessing tray 33 in the width direction of the sheet S. When the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' on the waitingtray 32 drops on theprocessing tray 33, thelateral alignment plates 35 perform alignment of the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' in the sheet width direction W, so as to prevent that the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' is disordered in the sheet width direction W. Thelateral alignment plates 35 are slidably provided in accordance with a width of the sheet S. At the time of the manual staple mode, thelateral alignment plates 35 perform alignment in the sheet width direction W to the sheet bundle S' which a user has placed on theprocessing tray 33. In addition, when the sheet bundle S' is inserted in the processing tray, a pair of thelateral alignment plates 35 may be arranged at the most distant positions, so that a user can easily insert the sheet bundle S' into the processing tray. - The
processing tray 33 has a conveyingroller 33a, a conveyingbelt 33b, and asheet detection sensor 33c. Theprocessing tray 33 is provided below the waitingtray 32. A plurality of the sheets S which have moved on theprocessing tray 33 are subjected to alignment in the sheet width direction W by thelateral alignment plates 35, and also are subjected to alignment in the sheet conveying direction D by being conveyed by the conveyingbelt 33b. The conveyingbelt 33b of theprocessing tray 33 conveys the sheets S between thestapler 36 and thedischarge device 23 by bundle claws (not shown) provided on the conveyingbelt 33b. Thestapler 36 is provided at an end portion of theprocessing tray 33. Thestapler 36 performs a staple (binding) processing to a bundle of a prescribed number of the sheets S located on theprocessing tray 33. Thesheet detection sensor 33c detects whether or not the sheets S or the sheet bundle S' exists on theprocessing tray 33. Thesheet detection sensor 33c outputs detection result to thepost-processing controller 25. - Next, the binding
processing device 24 will be described. The bindingprocessing device 24 has thestapler 36, a cue sensor (a first sensor) 37 and a no-staple sensor (a second sensor) 38 which are provided in thestapler 36. The bindingprocessing device 24 adjusts a position of thestapler 36, so as to perform a staple processing to the sheet bundle S' at a positon set by theposition setting button 203. Thestapler 36 houses a staple sheet integrated with a plurality of staples for stapling, and drives the staple(s) into the sheet bundle S'. This staple sheet is integrated with linear staples. For this reason, thestapler 36 performs a cue processing in which a staple to be driven in the next processing is disconnected from a staple sheet, the disconnected staple is folded in a U shape, and is set in a drivable state. - The
cue sensor 37 detects whether or not a staple which is to be driven in the next binding processing has been prepared in thestapler 36. For example, thecue sensor 37 judges the presence or absence of a staple based on a load to be generated at the time of folding a staple, and thereby detects whether or not a staple has been prepared. That is, when a load to be generated at the time of folding a staple is not generated, thecue sensor 37 detects that a staple has not been set. In addition, thecue sensor 37 determines that a staple has been set when the load is generated, and outputs a first detection signal that is a signal indicating the detection result that a staple has been prepared to thepost-processing controller 25. When it is detected that a staple has not been prepared by thecue sensor 37, the detection result of thecue sensor 37 indicates that staples have been completely used out or that a staple cue mechanism has failed. - The no-
staple sensor 38 monitors a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet, and detects that a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet becomes not more than a prescribed amount (for example, 30 - 40 pieces). That is, the no-staple sensor 38 detects a near empty state indicating that the staple sheet will soon become empty. The no-staple sensor 38 outputs a second detection signal that is a signal indicating the detection result as to whether the remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet has become not more than the prescribed amount, to thepost-processing controller 25. - In the case of the online mode, the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 transmits a signal notifying no-staple to theimage forming apparatus 2, based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38. When receiving the signal notifying no-staple, theimage forming apparatus 2 performs processing up to the image forming operation during processing at present, and halts the subsequent image forming operation. Theimage forming apparatus 2 halts the image forming operation, displays that staple needles have been used out on thecontrol panel 11, and thereby urges a user to replenish staple needles. - In the manual staple mode, the
post-processing controller 25 of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 controls the bindingprocessing device 24. Hereinafter, a functional block relating to the manual staple mode in thepost-processing controller 25 according to the embodiment will be described. -
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a functional block relating to the manual staple mode in thepost-processing controller 25. As shown inFig. 5 , thepost-processing controller 25 has acommunication module 251, acontrol module 252, a sensorinformation acquisition module 253, astapler control module 254. Thecommunication module 251 communicates with thecontrol panel 11 of theimage forming apparatus 2. - The
control module 252 controls the respective modules in thepost-processing controller 25 in the manual staple mode. Thecontrol module 252 communicates with thecontrol panel 11 of theimage forming apparatus 2 via thecommunication module 251. Thecontrol module 252 receives an input signal from theoperation device 201 of theoperation display panel 20, to control a processing relating to the manual staple. Thecontrol module 252 controls the display (turning on, blinking, turning off of the LEDs 205 - 207) in thedisplay device 202 of theoperation display panel 20, based on a state of the processing relating to the manual staple. - The sensor
information acquisition module 253 receives the first and second detection signals respectively from thecue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 of thebinding processing device 24, to acquire the detection results in thecue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38. Thecontrol module 252 controls thestapler control module 254 in accordance with the detection results which the sensorinformation acquisition module 253 has acquired. Thestapler control module 254 controls an operation of thestapler 36 in accordance with an instruction from thecontrol module 252. - Hereinafter, processings of the
control module 252 in accordance with specific operations (1) - (3) of a user will be described. - Operation (1): When the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 is in the online mode, a user presses theinstruction button 204, and then places the sheet bundle S' on theprocessing tray 33. When receiving an input signal indicating that theinstruction button 204 has been pressed by the operation (1) from theoperation display panel 20, thecontrol module 252 starts transferring the operation mode from the online mode to the manual staple mode. Thecontrol module 252 determines whether or not to transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 from the online mode to the manual staple mode, based on the following three conditions 1 - 3. In addition, the example described below is an example, and thecontrol module 252 may determine whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode by only the condition 1. And as another example, thecontrol module 252 may make the order of determining the conditions 1 - 3 to be an arbitrary order. - Condition 1: That a remaining amount of staples in the staple sheet is not a prescribed amount or less. If a signal (detection result) from the no-
staple sensor 38 is ON (a remaining amount of staples is not more than a prescribed amount), thecontrol module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal (detection result) from the no-staple sensor 38 is ON, the control module 52 notifies theimage forming apparatus 2 of a no-staple error. By this means, theimage forming apparatus 2 displays a message or an icon indicating that a no-staple error has occurred, on thecontrol panel 11, for example. If the detection result from the no-staple sensor 38 is OFF (a remaining amount of staples is more than a prescribed amount), thecontrol module 252 determines acondition 2 described below. - Condition 2: To obtain permission to stop the online mode from the
image forming apparatus 2. Thecontrol module 252 inquires whether or not the online mode may be stopped, to thecontrol panel 11 of theimage forming apparatus 2 via thecommunication module 251, and acquires its result. If receiving a result (an NG signal) that the online mode cannot be stopped from thecontrol panel 11, thecontrol module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If receiving a result (an OK signal) that the online mode may be stopped from thecontrol panel 11, thecontrol module 252 determines acondition 3 described below. - Condition 3: That a signal from the
cue sensor 37 is ON. If a signal from thecue sensor 37 is ON, thecontrol module 252 transfers the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. Here, the case in which a signal from thecue sensor 37 is ON is a case in which a staple to be driven in the next processing has been set in thestapler 36. If the signal from thecue sensor 37 is OFF, thecontrol module 252 performs a cue processing for making thestapler 36 perform blank driving. Here, the case in which the signal from thecue sensor 37 is OFF is a case in which a staple to be driven in the next processing has not been set in thestapler 36. In particular, If the signal of thecue sensor 37 becomes OFF during the binding operation, a possibility that the staples in thestapler 36 have been completely used out is high (a possibility of failure is low). - The
control module 252 acquires again a signal of ON or OFF from thecue sensor 37, after the cue processing. If the signal acquired again from thecue sensor 37 is ON, thecontrol module 252 transfers the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal acquired again from thecue sensor 37 is OFF, thecontrol module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. If the signal from thecue sensor 37 is OFF, thecontrol module 252 informs theimage forming apparatus 2 of a cue error. - If the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 transfers in the manual staple mode, thecontrol module 252 sets the positions of the waitingtray 32, theprocessing tray 33, thepaddle 34, thelateral alignment plates 35, and thestapler 36 to the respective waiting positions. That is, thecontrol module 252 moves the waitingtray 32, theprocessing tray 33, thepaddle 34, thelateral alignment plates 35, and thestapler 36 to the respective waiting positions. The waiting positions of thelateral alignment plates 35 and thestapler 36 are respective positions where they stopped when the manual staple mode was finished at the previous time. Thecontrol module 252 transmits an instruction of turning on theLED 206 or theLED 207 to thedisplay device 202, in accordance with the waiting position of thestapler 36. After the operation mode has been transferred to the manual staple mode, thecontrol module 252 instructs turning on theLED 205 to thedisplay device 202, in accordance with detection of the sheet bundle S' by thesheet detection sensor 33c. While theLED 205 is lighting during the manual staple mode, theLED 205 indicates that the sheet bundle S' exists on theprocessing tray 33. - Operation (2): When the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 is in the manual staple mode, a user presses theposition setting button 203. When receiving an input signal indicating that theposition setting button 203 has been pressed by the operation (2) from theoperation display panel 20, thecontrol module 252 controls switching of the binding position. In accordance with this control, if theLED 206 is lighting, thecontrol module 252 transmits a control signal to turn off theLED 206 and turn on theLED 207, to thedisplay device 202. If theLED 207 is lighting, thecontrol module 252 transmits a control signal to turn off theLED 207 and turn on theLED 206, to thedisplay device 202. When theposition setting button 203 is pressed by the operation (2), thecontrol module 252 instructs thestapler control module 254 so as to switch the position of thestapler 36 to the sheet bundle S'. Thecontrol module 252 controls lighting of theLED 206 or theLED 207, in accordance with the control of the position of thestapler 36, to display the binding position of thestapler 36. - Operation (3): When the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 is in the manual staple mode, a user presses theinstruction button 204. When receiving an input signal indicating that theinstruction button 204 has been pressed by the operation (3) from theoperation display panel 20, thecontrol module 252 makes the staple processing to be executed. In accordance with the execution of this staple processing, thecontrol module 252 transmits a control signal to make theLED 205 during lighting to be blinked to thedisplay device 202. Thecontrol module 252 instructs thestapler control module 254 so as to make thestapler 36 execute staple processing to the sheet bundle S'. Thestapler control module 254 makes thestapler 36 perform the staple processing to the sheet bundle S', in accordance with the instruction from thecontrol module 252. Thestapler control module 254 notifies that thestapler 36 has finished the execution of the staple processing to thecontrol module 252. By this means, thecontrol module 252 makes theLED 206 or theLED 207 to be blinked, and informs a user of the completion of the staple processing. - When receiving a signal indicating that the
stapler 36 has finished the execution of the staple processing, thecontrol module 252 acquires the detection result of thecue sensor 37 from the sensorinformation acquisition module 253. When a signal (detection result) from thecue sensor 37 is ON (a state in which a staple has been set), thecontrol module 252 continues the manual staple mode in preparation for the further staple processing. When the detection result of thecue sensor 37 is OFF (a state in which a staple has not been set), thecontrol module 252 performs a home position processing. This home position processing is a processing which transfers the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the online mode, and finishes the manual staple mode. - Next, transfer of the operation mode to the manual staple mode and the manual staple processing in the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 will be described.Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing transfer of the operation mode to the manual staple mode and the manual staple processing in the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. A processing ofFig. 6 is started when a user has pressed theinstruction button 204 while the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 is in the online mode. In addition, it is assumed that after having pressed theinstruction button 204, the user has placed the sheet bundle S' to become an object to be stapled on theprocessing tray 33 of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3. - As shown in
Fig. 6 , in ACT10, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 determines whether or not a signal (detection result) from the no-staple sensor 38 is ON. - Here, when the signal from the no-
staple sensor 38 is ON (YES in ACT10), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT11. In ACT11, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 notifies theimage forming apparatus 2 of a no-staple error. After the processing of ACT11, thecontrol module 252 finishes the processing to transfer to the manual staple mode, and does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. - When a signal (detection result) from the no-
staple sensor 38 is OFF (NO in ACT10), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT12. In ACT12, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 inquires of theimage forming apparatus 2 about whether or not the online mode may be stopped. Next, in ACT12, thecontrol module 252 acquires an OK signal indicating that the online mode may be stopped, or an NG signal indicating that the online mode cannot be stopped, which is the inquiry result, from theimage forming apparatus 2. - When the NG signal is received (NO in ACT12), the
control module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. When thecontrol module 252 does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode, it finishes the transfer processing of the operation mode to the manual staple mode. - When the OK signal is received (YES in ACT12), the processing of the
post-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT13. InACT 13, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 acquires a signal from thecue sensor 37, and determines whether the signal from thecue sensor 37 is ON or OFF. When the signal from thecue sensor 37 is ON (YES in ACT 13), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT16. In ACT16, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 transfers the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. When the signal from thecue sensor 37 is OFF (NO in ACT 13), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT14. In ACT14, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 makes thestapler 36 perform blank driving, to perform the cue processing. Next, in ACT15, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 acquires the signal indicating that thecue sensor 37 is ON or OFF again, and determines whether the signal from thecue sensor 37 is ON or OFF. When the signal from thecue sensor 37 which has been acquired again is ON (YES in ACT 15), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT16. InACT 16, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 transfers the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. When the signal from thecue sensor 37 which has been acquired again is OFF (NO in ACT 15), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT23. InACT 23, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 notifies theimage forming apparatus 2 of a cue error. After the processing of ACT23, thecontrol module 252 finishes the transfer processing to the manual staple processing, and does not transfer the operation mode of the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 to the manual staple mode. - The
post-processing controller 25 in the first embodiment judges whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode, based on whether or not an amount of staple needles is equal or greater than a prescribed amount. If thepost-processing controller 25 judges that the amount of staple needles is equal or greater than the prescribed amount, thepost-processing controller 25 performs control for transferring the operation mode to the manual staple mode. If thepost-processing controller 25 judges that the amount of staple needles is not equal or greater than the prescribed amount, thepost-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as not to transfer the operation mode to the manual staple mode. Further, when the operation mode is the manual staple mode, thepost-processing controller 25 judges whether or not to continue the manual staple mode, based on whether or not a staple to become an object of the next staple processing is prepared. When judging that a staple to become an object of the next staple processing is prepared, thepost-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as to continue the manual staple mode. When judging that a staple to become an object of the next staple processing is not prepared, thepost-processing controller 25 controls the operation mode so as not to continue the manual staple mode. By this means, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 can prevent that a blank binding processing is performed to the sheet bundle S', in the manual staple processing. When the operation mode is once transferred to the manual staple mode, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 can continue the staple processing until the whole staples are used out. - In ACT 17, when the operation mode of the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 is transferred to the manual staple mode, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 sets positions of thelateral alignment plates 35 and thestapler 36 and so on to waiting positions. Thecontrol module 252 turns on theLED 206 or theLED 207, in accordance with the waiting position of thestapler 36. When thesheet detection sensor 33c detects the sheet bundle S' at the time of the manual staple mode, thecontrol module 252 turns on theLED 205. - When a user has pressed the
position setting button 203 after the processing of ACT 17, in ACT18, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 controls the switching of a binding position. In accordance with this switching control, thecontrol module 252 controls the display of thedisplay device 202. In addition, when a user has not pressed theposition setting button 203, thecontrol module 252 does not perform the processing of ACT18, but performs the processing of ACT 19. - In ACT 19, the
control module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 judges whether or not to make the staple processing to be executed, based on whether a user has pressed theinstruction button 204 after the processing of ACT 17 or ACT18. When the user has pressed theinstruction button 204, the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT20. In ACT20, thecontrol module 252 instructs thestapler control module 254 so as to make thestapler 36 execute the staple processing to the sheet bundle S'. Thestapler control module 254 makes thestapler 36 execute the staple processing to the sheet bundle S', in accordance with the instruction from thecontrol module 252. - After the processing of ACT20, in ACT21, the
control module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 acquires a signal from thecue sensor 37 from the sensorinformation acquisition module 253, and judges whether or not the signal (detection result) from thecue sensor 37 is ON. When the detection result of thecue sensor 37 is ON (YES in ACT21), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 returns to ACT19. In ACT19, thecontrol module 252 continues the manual staple mode in preparation for the following staple processing. When the detection result of thecue sensor 37 is OFF (NO in ACT21), the processing of thepost-processing controller 25 proceeds to ACT22. In ACT22, thecontrol module 252 of thepost-processing controller 25 executes a home position processing. After the processing of ACT22, in ACT23, thecontrol module 252 notifies theimage forming apparatus 2 of a cue error. In addition, when it is detected that theinstruction button 204 has been pressed in the state that there is no sheet on theprocessing tray 33, or when it is detected that a predetermined time has passed after the operation mode was transferred to the manual staple mode, thepost-processing controller 25 may finish the manual staple mode. - In this manner, the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 performs the home position processing, and thereby can return to the online mode without being accompanied by a further operation by the user when the manual staple mode is finished. In addition, when detecting a no-staple error, at the time of transferring the operation mode to the manual staple mode, or at the time of executing the manual staple processing, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 can notify theimage forming apparatus 2 of the no-staple error. In addition, when detecting a cue error, at the time of transferring the operation mode to the manual staple mode, or at the time of executing the manual staple processing, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 can notify theimage forming apparatus 2 of the cue error. - The sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple, based on the detection result of thecue sensor 37, during the manual staple mode. The sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38, during the online mode. That is, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 determines whether or not replenishment of staples is necessary, based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38. An amount of the sheet bundles S' which a user processes in the manual staple mode might be small (for example, not more than 10 bundles). Accordingly, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple, based on the detection result of thecue sensor 37 in which the staples can be used up to the last staple, in the case of the manual staple mode. In addition, in the online mode in which there is a possibility that a large amount of the sheet bundles S' are processed, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 determines the presence or absence of a staple based on the detection result of the no-staple sensor 38. The sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 notifies a user of the above-described determination of the presence or absence of a staple, and thereby can urge the user to effectively replenish staples. - In the above-described embodiment, the
cue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 are provided for thestapler 36, but embodiments are not limited to this. Thecue sensor 37 and the no-staple sensor 38 may be incorporated in thestapler 36. Thecue sensor 37 detects whether or not a staple for the next binding processing is prepared, based on a load for bending the staple, but embodiments are not limited to the above embodiment. Thecue sensor 37 has only to detect whether or not a staple is set at a prescribed position and in a prescribed shape. - The sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 of at least one of the embodiments described above has thepost-processing controller 25. Thepost-processing controller 25 has functions of the sensorinformation acquisition module 253, thestapler control module 254, and thecontrol module 252. Accordingly, the sheetpost-processing apparatus 3 can prevent a blank binding processing from being performed to the sheet bundle S' in the manual staple mode. - The function of the sheet
post-processing apparatus 3 in the above-described embodiments may be realized by a computer. In this case, a program for realizing this function is recorded in a computer readable recording medium. The program recorded in this recording medium may be read and executed by a computer system. Here, "the computer system" called here shall include an OS and a hardware such as peripheral devices. In addition, "the computer readable recording medium" includes a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CO-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk drive to be incorporated in a computer system. Further, "the computer readable recording medium" may include one which dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as a communication line, in the case of transmitting a program via a network such as Internet, or a communication line such as a telephone line. Further, "the computer readable recording medium" may include one which holds a program for a prescribed time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system which serves as a server or a client, in the case of transmitting a program via a network such as Internet, or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, the above-described program may be one which realizes a part of the above-described function, and may be one which realizes the above described function in combination with the program which has already been recorded in a computer system. - While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the framework of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and framework of the inventions.
Claims (15)
- A sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:a processing tray configured to support sheets;a stapler configured to hold a plurality of staples and perform a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray;a first sensor configured to detect whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared ;a second sensor configured to detect that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount; anda controller configured to judge whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, based on a detection result of the second sensor, and judge whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- A sheet post-processing apparatus which has a plurality of operation modes and is configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus, comprising:a processing tray configured to support sheets;a stapler configured to hold a plurality of staples and perform a binding processing to the sheets to be supported by the processing tray;a first sensor configured to detect whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared ;a second sensor configured to detect that an amount of the staples held by the stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount; anda controller configured to determine presence or absence of the staple based on a detection result of the first sensor, if the operation mode is a first operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be manually fed to the processing tray, and determine the presence or absence of the staple based on a detection result of the second sensor, if the operation mode is a second operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets to be conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the processing tray.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: if the amount of the staples is not the prescribed amount or less in the detection result of the second sensor, the controller is configured to judge whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: if the amount of the staples is not more than the prescribed amount in the detection result of the second sensor, the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode, and having made the stapler perform the binding processing, the controller is configured to judge whether or not to continue the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to continue the first operation mode.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to finish the first operation mode.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to perform notification of an error.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: when having finished the first operation mode, the controller transfers the operation mode to a second operation mode to perform the binding processing to the sheets which are conveyed from an external device to the processing tray.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when having finished the first operation mode, the controller performs notification of an error to the external device.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode.
- The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: if the staple for performing the binding processing is not prepared in the detection result of the first sensor, the controller is configured to transfer the operation mode to the second operation mode.
- A sheet binding processing method in a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, comprising:detecting that an amount of staples held by a stapler has become not more than a prescribed amount by a second sensor;judging whether or not to transfer the operation mode to a first operation mode to perform a binding processing to sheets to be manually fed, based on a detection result of the second sensor;detecting whether or not the staple for performing the binding processing is prepared in the stapler, by a first sensor different from the second sensor, after having transferred the operation mode to the first operation mode; andjudging whether or not to perform the binding processing by the stapler, based on a detection result of the first sensor.
- The sheet binding processing method according to claim 14, further comprising:judging whether or not to transfer the operation mode to the first operation mode, based on the detection result of the first sensor, if the amount of the staples is not the prescribed amount or less in the detection result of the second sensor.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2016085198A JP2017193416A (en) | 2016-04-21 | 2016-04-21 | Sheet post-processing device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3236319A2 true EP3236319A2 (en) | 2017-10-25 |
EP3236319A3 EP3236319A3 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
Family
ID=58314118
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17160237.8A Withdrawn EP3236319A3 (en) | 2016-04-21 | 2017-03-10 | Sheet post-processing apparatus and sheet binding processing method |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20170305707A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3236319A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2017193416A (en) |
CN (1) | CN107304011A (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6929692B2 (en) * | 2017-04-27 | 2021-09-01 | キヤノン株式会社 | Aftertreatment device |
JP7095314B2 (en) * | 2018-03-05 | 2022-07-05 | 株式会社リコー | Image forming device |
JP7254490B2 (en) * | 2018-11-29 | 2023-04-10 | キヤノン株式会社 | Recording material processing device or image forming system |
JP7310353B2 (en) * | 2019-06-24 | 2023-07-19 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | image forming device |
Family Cites Families (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4523750A (en) * | 1984-08-30 | 1985-06-18 | Xerox Corporation | Copier/duplicator with finishing apparatus having low staple control features |
NL8501337A (en) * | 1985-05-10 | 1986-12-01 | Oce Nederland B V Patents And | COPIER EQUIPPED WITH A SHEET ADAPTER. |
JPS63139876A (en) * | 1986-11-27 | 1988-06-11 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | Sorter with finisher |
JP2698149B2 (en) * | 1988-07-13 | 1998-01-19 | 株式会社リコー | Post-processing control devices such as copying machines |
JPH0435994A (en) * | 1990-05-31 | 1992-02-06 | Toshiba Corp | Paper sheet binding apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same apparatus |
JP2933237B2 (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 1999-08-09 | キヤノン株式会社 | Sheet sorter and image forming apparatus provided with sheet sorter |
JPH04366695A (en) * | 1991-06-14 | 1992-12-18 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Imaging system |
JP2980515B2 (en) * | 1994-05-10 | 1999-11-22 | キヤノン株式会社 | Sheet material post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus |
JP2965497B2 (en) * | 1995-12-06 | 1999-10-18 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Sheet post-processing equipment |
DE19712863C2 (en) * | 1997-03-27 | 2001-01-25 | Eastman Kodak Co | Method and device for operating a device for stapling sheets |
JP4240909B2 (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2009-03-18 | キヤノン株式会社 | Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the apparatus |
US7628207B2 (en) * | 2006-04-18 | 2009-12-08 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | Accumulator for subsea equipment |
JP4819922B2 (en) * | 2009-06-03 | 2011-11-24 | シャープ株式会社 | Image forming apparatus |
JP5772490B2 (en) * | 2011-10-20 | 2015-09-02 | マックス株式会社 | Electric stapler |
JP5769696B2 (en) * | 2012-12-26 | 2015-08-26 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same |
JP6360284B2 (en) * | 2013-07-11 | 2018-07-18 | キヤノンファインテックニスカ株式会社 | Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system provided with the same |
JP6047510B2 (en) * | 2014-02-13 | 2016-12-21 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus |
-
2016
- 2016-04-21 JP JP2016085198A patent/JP2017193416A/en active Pending
-
2017
- 2017-02-08 US US15/427,551 patent/US20170305707A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-03-09 CN CN201710139562.8A patent/CN107304011A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2017-03-10 EP EP17160237.8A patent/EP3236319A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2017193416A (en) | 2017-10-26 |
CN107304011A (en) | 2017-10-31 |
EP3236319A3 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
US20170305707A1 (en) | 2017-10-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11320775B2 (en) | Image forming apparatus and method for controlling same, and storage medium | |
EP3236319A2 (en) | Sheet post-processing apparatus and sheet binding processing method | |
US9022388B2 (en) | Sheet stacking system and method of controlling the same, and storage medium | |
US6826374B2 (en) | Sheet processing apparatus with discharge sheet cover and control based on open/close state of cover | |
JP3595803B2 (en) | Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus | |
US9216873B2 (en) | Sheet stacking apparatus and sheet processing apparatus as well as image forming apparatus | |
US10059557B2 (en) | Post-processing apparatus and image forming system | |
EP2687915A2 (en) | Image forming apparatus for discharging sheets to post-processing apparatus, and image forming system | |
US20180210389A1 (en) | Image forming system, job execution method, and computer readable storage medium storing job execution program | |
JP5884510B2 (en) | Image forming system | |
JP2006062877A (en) | Paper post-processor, paper carrying device and image forming device | |
JP2013088704A (en) | Sheet processing device and image forming apparatus | |
JP2008290847A (en) | Paper post-processing device and image forming apparatus | |
JP2012096917A (en) | Sheet post-processing device | |
JP2008037545A (en) | Image forming system having post-processing device with cutting function | |
JP5712600B2 (en) | Sheet processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, control method for sheet processing apparatus, and control program for sheet processing apparatus | |
JP2004035228A (en) | Sheet conveyance device and image forming system | |
JP2015205769A (en) | Sheet processing device and image formation device | |
JP2015000785A (en) | Sheet processing device and image forming system | |
JP5549606B2 (en) | Paper post-processing device, paper post-processing system, and image forming apparatus | |
JP2013193870A (en) | Sheet processing device and image forming device | |
JP2014157194A (en) | Sheet binding device and image forming apparatus | |
JP2007088749A (en) | Communication control method of post-processing apparatus | |
JPH11263520A (en) | Paper sheet postprocessor | |
JP2005162417A (en) | Sheet post-treatment device and image forming device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: G03G 15/00 20060101AFI20171218BHEP |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20180725 |