JP2000198615A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform sorting operation normally even when a trial printing is carried out on the way of the sorting operation and the sorting operation is resumed after the trial printing. SOLUTION: In a memory means 87, a pin position information showing the stopping position of the pin when the sorting operation to pin line 62 is selected and the sorting operation is stopped, is stored. A non-sort paper ejecting stand 63 is moved to a paper outlet then the trial printing is carried out by a control means after the operation is resumed when the sorting operation is selected by a operation panel 51. After the trial printing, based on the pin position information stored in the memory means 87, a pin in the pin line 62 in which the sorting operation is discontinued is moved to the paper outlet and the sorting operation is resumed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus such as a stencil printing machine, a copying machine, a laser beam printer, and the like, and a collating apparatus for sorting printed matters discharged from the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, collating work of a plurality of copies is
Although a plurality of printed originals have been manually handled one by one, recently, a small collating device has been attached to a copying machine or the like, and the work of sorting the originals has been greatly improved. This technology has also been adopted in the field of printing presses that perform multi-sheet printing, and has enabled high-speed sorting of multiple copies.

In a stencil printing machine, an original to be printed is read, the read original image is thermally stencil-formed on a stencil sheet, wrapped around a printing drum, and rotated, and a paper fed from a paper feeding section is pressed by a press roller section. And press it towards the plate body. As a result, the ink that has passed through the perforated portion of the stencil sheet from the plate body is transferred to the paper, and a printed matter based on the original image is obtained.

By the way, in order to obtain a printed matter having the same image as the original by the stencil printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is necessary to adjust the position of a sheet to be overlaid on the stencil sheet. The determination of the position adjustment is performed by performing printing while slightly shifting the printing position, that is, test printing, and confirming the printed matter obtained thereby.

[0005] Test printing is effective for confirming that a normally dark print is discharged after the apparatus is temporarily stopped and the ink is replaced when the image of the print becomes thin due to ink exhaustion. is there. In addition, when paper runs out during printing, it is also effective to temporarily stop the machine and replenish the paper, and then adjust the change in the paper position before and after the paper is replenished and return it to the proper position. It is.

[0006]

However, in the conventional stencil printing apparatus, even if a collating device is used to perform trial printing during the sorting operation, only the operation of sequentially storing printing paper in the sort bin is performed. In some cases, test printing could not be performed.

On the other hand, there is a stencil printing apparatus that can perform test printing. However, the ink has been exhausted during the sorting operation to replace the ink, or the paper has run out and the paper has been added. If the sorting operation is continued after this, there are the following problems.

In the case of a stencil printing apparatus that performs test printing on a sort bin, the same printed matter is overlapped.

Further, in the case of a stencil printing apparatus which outputs test prints to a non-sort discharge tray and sorts from the beginning of the sort bin at the start of the next sort operation, there is a problem that a bin having a large number of prints and a bin having a small number are generated. Was.

In the case of the stencil printing apparatus having any configuration, in order to obtain a normal collated printed matter, the operator must be skilled in the operation of the apparatus and manage the printing state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming system capable of performing a normal printing operation even when a test printing is performed during the sorting operation and the sorting operation is restarted after the test printing is completed.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus 2 for forming a desired image on a sheet and discharging the printed matter, and a plurality of apparatuses for distributing and storing the printed matter to be sorted. And a non-sorted output tray 63 for storing printed materials that are not to be sorted. The bin row 62 and the non-sorted output tray 63
The printed matter discharged from the paper discharge port 67 via the image forming apparatus 2 is moved to the bin 69 of the bin row 62 or the non-sort paper discharge table 63 by the relative movement between
Forming system 1 having a collating device 3 to be stored in
A storage means 87 for storing bin position information indicating a stop position of the bin 69 when the operation is stopped when the sorting operation for the bin row 62 is selected, and an operation return when the sorting operation is selected. Later, the non-sorted sheet ejection tray 63 and the sheet ejection outlet 67 are aligned and test printing is executed. After the execution of the test printing, the storage unit 87 is executed.
And control means 85 for repositioning the bins 69 of the bin row 62 and the paper discharge port 67, the sorting operation of which has been interrupted based on the bin position information stored in the storage unit 85, and restarting the sorting operation. And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stencil printing apparatus 2 for discharging a printed matter of a desired image made on a stencil sheet 5;
A plurality of bins 69 for distributing and storing the prints to be sorted are arranged. The bins 62 are movable in the vertical direction. The bins 62 are movable in the vertical direction in conjunction with the bins 62, and store the prints not to be sorted. A non-sorted paper output tray 63;
The non-sorted paper ejection tray 63 or the bin 69 of the bin row 62 is moved to the position of the paper ejection port 67 by being connected to the paper ejection port 67 of the stencil printing apparatus 2, and is discharged through the stencil printing apparatus 2. In the image forming system 1 including the collating device 3 for storing the printed matter discharged from the paper slot 67 in the non-sorted paper discharge tray 63 or the bin 69 of the bin row 62, the sorting operation for the bin row 62 is selected. Storage means 87 for storing bin position information indicating the bin stop position when the operation is stopped, and the non-sorted sheet ejection table 6 after returning to the operation when the sorting operation is selected.
3 is moved to the paper discharge port 67 to perform test printing,
A control unit 85 for moving the bin 69 of the bin row 62 in which the sorting operation has been interrupted to the discharge port 67 and restarting the sorting operation based on the bin position information stored in the storage unit 87 after the execution of the test printing. And characterized in that:

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system 1 of the second aspect, there is provided a reference position detecting means 79 for detecting a reference position of the bin row 62 and the non-sort discharge tray 63 with respect to the discharge port 67. , The control means 85,
The movement of the bin row 62 and the non-sort discharge tray 63 to the discharge outlet 67 is controlled starting from the reference position detected by the reference position detection means 79.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming system 1 according to the second or third aspect, further comprising bin movement detecting means 84 for outputting a signal in response to each movement of the bin row 62 at intervals of one bin. The control unit 85 determines the position of the bin 69 in the bin row 62 based on a signal output from the bin movement detection unit 84, and controls the movement of the bin row 62 with respect to the paper discharge port 67 at intervals of one bin. It is characterized by.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 is schematically configured to include a stencil printing device 2 as an image forming device and a sorter 3 as a collating device.

The stencil printing apparatus 2 has a cylindrical plate cylinder 4 rotatably supported by a machine frame (not shown) around its own central axis.
It has. The plate cylinder 4 is configured to have a porous structure, and has a clamp mechanism 6 that locks one end of the stencil sheet 5 on the outer peripheral portion. The plate cylinder 4 is driven by the power of a plate cylinder drive motor (not shown).
It is rotated intermittently or continuously in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

Inside the plate cylinder 4, a printing ink supply means 1 is provided.
5 are provided. The printing ink supply means 15 is provided so that the outer peripheral surface thereof comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4. The printing ink supply means 15 includes a squeegee roller 16 rotatable around its own central axis, and a doctor roller 17 extending along the generatrix direction of the squeegee roller 16 at a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the squeegee roller 16. And The printing ink supply unit 15 includes a squeegee roller 16.
Are rotated in the same direction as the plate cylinder 4 in synchronization with the rotation of the plate cylinder 4, so that the printing ink in the ink reservoir 18 is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4.

With the rotation of the squeegee roller 16, the printing ink in the ink reservoir 18 passes through the gap between the squeegee roller 16 and the doctor roller 17. A printing ink layer having a uniform thickness is formed. The printing ink layer is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4 with the rotation of the squeegee roller 16 and used for printing. Plate cylinder 4 facing squeegee roller 16
A press roller 20 for pressing the printing paper 19 against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4 is provided at an outer position of the printing paper.

In FIG. 1, a diagonally lower left part of the plate cylinder 4 is
A paper feed table 21 for setting the printing paper 19 fed between the plate cylinder 4 and the press roller 20 is provided.
The paper feed table 21 is moved up and down by a driving device (not shown) in accordance with the loaded amount of the set printing paper 19.

A paper feed mechanism 22 is provided near the paper feed table 21. The paper feed mechanism 22 includes a paper feed roller 23 made of rubber or the like, and a pair of timing rollers 24. The paper feed roller 23 picks up one sheet at a time from the top of the printing paper 19 loaded on the paper feed table 21 and conveys it to the timing roller 24 side. The timing roller 24 prints the printing paper 1 sent from the paper feeding roller 23.
9 is temporarily held in a bent state, and the printing paper 19 is sent out to the press roller 20 at an appropriate timing.

In FIG. 1, a sheet feeding table 21 is arranged around the plate cylinder 4.
A plate discharging mechanism 31 is provided above the printer. Plate discharging mechanism 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a used stencil sheet 5 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4, which is peeled off with the rotation of the plate cylinder 4 and accommodated in a plate discharge.

In FIG. 1, a sheet feeding mechanism 2 is arranged around a plate cylinder 4.
The printing paper separating claw 32 is provided at a position facing the printing paper separating claw 2. The printing paper separating claw 32 is for removing the printed paper 19 on which printing has been completed from the plate cylinder 4. The printed paper 19 peeled off by the printing paper separating claw 32 is conveyed to the discharge port 34 side by the paper discharge device 33 composed of a belt conveyor device.

In FIG. 1, above the paper discharge device 33,
A stencil sheet 5 in the form of a continuous sheet wound in a roll is stored in a stencil storage unit (not shown).

In FIG. 1, a plate making mechanism 41 is provided between the base paper storage section 35 and the plate cylinder 4. Plate making mechanism 41
Has a thermal head 42 and a platen roller 43 facing the thermal head 42. Plate making mechanism 41
Performs the stencil making of the stencil sheet 5 supplied from a stencil storing section (not shown) in a thermosensitive manner.

In the thermal head 42, heating elements that selectively generate heat in accordance with an image information signal read by an image reading device 36 such as a scanner provided above the plate making mechanism are arranged in a horizontal line, that is, in a main scanning direction. A plurality are arranged at intervals.

The stencil sheet made by the plate making mechanism 41 is conveyed to the plate cylinder 4 by a stencil conveying mechanism (not shown). The perforated stencil sheet is cut by a cutter device (not shown) when a predetermined amount is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 4.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the operation panel 51 provided in the stencil printing apparatus 2. The operation panel 51 includes a plurality of key groups 5 operated by the user.
And a display unit 53.

As shown in FIG. 2, a key group 52 includes a test printing key 52a for instructing a test printing operation, a plate making / printing switching key 52b for switching and instructing a plate making operation or a printing operation, a sort operation or a sort operation. A sort mode switching key 52c for switching and instructing a non-sort operation, a start key 52d for starting a printing operation, a stop key 52e for stopping a printing operation, and a numeric keypad 52f for inputting the number of prints are provided. Is done.

The display unit 53 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and displays various messages relating to settings and operations, in addition to displaying the number of prints input by the ten keys 52e.

Next, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the sorter in the image forming system, FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the sorter as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the sorter as viewed from the front.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sorter 3 as a collating device is provided with a transport device 61, a bin row 62, and a non-sort discharge tray 63 in a casing 64 forming an outer casing.

The transporting device 61 is connected to the discharge port 34 of the stencil printing apparatus 2, and print paper 1 discharged from the discharge port 34.
9 is conveyed to the paper discharge port 67 side by a belt conveyor device 66 while being sucked by the suction device 65. A paper passage sensor 68 as a paper passage detection unit for detecting whether or not the printing paper 19 has passed is provided on the paper discharge port 67 side of the belt conveyor device 66.

The bin row 62 sorts and distributes the printing papers 19 from the stencil printing machine 2 conveyed via the conveying device 61 for each copy, and stores the same. And a plurality of bins 69 composed of Case 6
At two locations on the front side of 4, cam columns 70 for vertically moving each bin 69 in the vertical direction of the housing 64 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each cam column 70 is linked to a motor 81 via a speed reduction mechanism 80 described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, each bin 69 is
4 are arranged in layers at regular intervals in the vertical direction. On the front side of each bin 69, a roller shaft 72 having rollers 72a at both ends to be engaged with the spiral groove 71 of the cam column 70 is provided. A roller shaft 73 having rollers 73a at both ends is also provided on the rear side of each bin 69. On both sides of the bin row 62, movable frames 74 that move up and down in conjunction with the bin row 62 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, before and after the movable frame 74, a long groove 75 through which the roller shaft 72 on the front side of each bin 69 penetrates, and rollers 73a of the roller shaft 73 on the rear side of each bin 69 are provided. A support groove 76 is formed to abut against and keep the interval between the bins 69 constant. Each bin 69
The roller shaft 72 on the front side of the movable frame 74 is
5 and the guide groove 77 of the housing 64, and is engaged with the spiral groove 71 of the cam column 70.

The bin row 62 is driven along a guide groove 77 in a state where the interval between the bins 69 is kept constant by driving a motor 81 to be described later and synchronously rotating the cam column 70 via a speed reduction mechanism 80. Can move up and down in the vertical direction of the housing 64.

The non-sorted sheet discharge tray 63 is for stacking and storing printed materials that are not to be sorted, that is, normal printed materials, test prints for confirming the print position / image, and first prints for plate making confirmation. The non-sort output tray 63 is located at a predetermined interval from the lowermost bin of the bin row 62,
Two places on the front side are engaged with the spiral grooves 71 of the cam column 70. The non-sort discharge tray 63 can move up and down in the vertical direction of the housing 64 in conjunction with the bin row 62 by synchronous rotation of the cam columns 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, a shielding plate 78 is provided on the cam column 70 at a position spaced from the uppermost bin of the bin row 62 by a predetermined distance. The shielding plate 78 is engaged with the spiral groove 71 of the cam column 70 at two places on both sides, and the respective bins 6 are rotated by synchronous rotation of the cam columns 70.
2 and the non-sorted sheet discharge tray 63 can be moved up and down in the vertical direction of the housing 64.

As shown in FIG. 3, a home position sensor 79, for example, a reflection type optical sensor is provided as a reference position detecting means on the movement locus of the light shielding plate 78. The home position sensor 79 detects the position where the light is blocked by the shielding plate 78 as the home position (reference position) of the bin row 62 and the non-sort discharge tray 63 with respect to the discharge port 67.

Each cam post 70 is linked to a motor 81 as a driving means via a speed reduction mechanism 80 having a plurality of gear trains so that the bin train 62 moves up and down at one bin interval by one rotation. I have. As shown in FIG.
A detection disk 83 having a notch 82 is attached to the base end side of the cam column 70 at the location. Detection disk 8
A bin shift sensor 84 composed of, for example, a transmission type optical sensor is provided as a bin shift detecting unit on the rotation locus including the three notches 82.

The bin shift sensor 84 determines that the bin row 62 is 1
When moved up and down by the amount of the bin, the notch 82 of the detection disk 83 is positioned on the optical axis and light is transmitted, and light is cut off in other portions to output on / off signals. It has become. Thus, the bin shift sensor 84 detects that the bin row 62 has moved up and down at one bin interval each time the cam column 70 makes one rotation.

The position of each bin 69 is determined by controlling the number of times the bin shift sensor 78 reacts every time the bin row 62 moves up and down at intervals of one bin after the home position is detected by the home position sensor 73. Means 8
The determination is made in step 5.

In the sorter 3 having the above-described configuration, the cam columns 70 are rotated synchronously by the driving of the motor 81 during the sorting operation, and the bin 69 for storing the printed paper is placed in the paper outlet 67.
The bin row 62 moves up and down until it is located at. Then, when it is detected that the printed paper is conveyed by the belt conveyor device 66 and has passed the paper passage sensor 68, the cam columns 70 are rotated synchronously until the next bin 69 is located at the paper discharge port 67. By repeating this operation, printed sheets are sequentially stacked and sorted in each bin 69 of the bin row 62.

On the other hand, during normal printing, test printing, and first printing operation, the cam columns 70 are synchronously rotated by driving the motor 75 so that the non-sorted sheet discharge table 63 is positioned at the sheet discharge port 67. Then, the normal print, the test print, and the first print printed by the stencil printing apparatus 2 are stacked on the non-sort discharge tray 63 via the belt conveyor device 66.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to the operation of the sorter. On the stencil printing machine 2 side,
Control means (CP
U) 85 are provided. The control unit 85 includes an operation panel 51, a ROM 86 and a RAM 87 as storage units.
In addition, a paper passage sensor 68, a home position sensor 79, a bin shift sensor 84, and a driving driver 88 as driving means on the sorter 3 side are connected.

The ROM 86 stores a series of programs related to plate making printing. The RAM 87 stores bin position information at the time of sorting operation, the number of prints input from the operation panel 51, and setting contents of various modes as needed. The drive driver 88 inputs a drive signal to the motor 81 in accordance with a control command from the control unit 85 to move the bin row 62 and the non-sorted sheet discharge tray 63 up and down. The control unit 85 is configured to execute a program shown in FIGS.
Each mechanism in the apparatus is controlled so that the operation of FIG. 13 is executed.

Next, the operation of the image forming system having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

After the power is turned on, when the initialization for operating the apparatus is completed, the apparatus enters an idle state. Operation panel 51
Plate / printing switching key 52b, sort mode switching key 5
By the operation 2c, the prepress / print mode is set to prepress or printing, and the sort mode is set to non-sort or sort (ST1 to ST8).

Here, each time the plate making / printing switching key 52b is pressed, a plate making operation instruction and a printing operation instruction are switched. Similarly, every time the sort mode switching key 52c is also pressed, the sort mode instruction and the non-sort mode instruction are switched.

Next, when the number of prints is input using the ten keys 52f of the operation panel 52 and the input of the number of prints is completed (ST
9-Yes), waiting for input of the start key 52d.
Here, if the number of prints is not input (ST10-N
o), returning to the idle state, and repeating the plate making / printing key processing, the sort mode key processing, and the print number input processing (ST)
1 to ST9).

When the start key 52d is pressed (ST1)
0-Yes), a process corresponding to the settings of the plate making / printing mode and the sort mode is executed.

If the plate making / printing mode is set to plate making (ST11-No), a SUB: plate making routine, which will be described later, is executed, and the process returns to the idle state. Plate making /
If the print mode is set to print (ST11-Ye
s) Move to the sorter mode determination.

When it is determined that the plate making / printing mode is printing and the sorter mode is sorting (ST12-Yes),
SUB: Executes the processing of a sort routine described later. If it is determined that the plate making / printing mode is printing and the sorter mode is non-sorting (ST12-No), the SU
B: Execute the processing of the non-sort routine and return to the idle state.

SUB: Plate Making Routine A document is set on the image reading device 36 to read a document image (ST21), and the previously used stencil sheet 5 is peeled off from the plate cylinder 4 to perform plate discharge processing (ST22). Next, a stencil sheet 5 is thermally formed on the stencil sheet 5 with the original image read by the image reading device 36 to form a new plate (ST23). (ST24).

Next, the home position sensor 79 is turned on.
Each cam column 70 is driven to rotate synchronously until the
Is raised (ST25, ST26). When the home position sensor 79 is turned on (ST26-Yes), the rotation drive of each cam post 70 is stopped, and the movement of the bin row 62 is stopped (ST27). At this home position, the non-sort discharge tray 63 is set in the discharge outlet 67. continue,
The belt conveyor device 66 of the transport device 61 is rotationally driven (ST28), and the printing drum 19 is rotated and the printing paper 19 is sent between the printing drum 4 and the press roller 20 to print the first print (ST29).

The belt conveyor 66 of the conveyor 61
Indicates that the first print is conveyed and the paper passage sensor 6
8 is driven to rotate from ON to OFF.
When the paper passage sensor 68 is switched from ON to OFF (ST30-Yes), it is determined that the first print has passed the belt conveyor 66, and the belt conveyor 66 is stopped (ST31). In this state,
The stencil making state is confirmed by the first print output to the non-sort sheet discharge tray 63. Then, since the printing operation can be shifted to in the future, the prepress / print mode is set to printing.

SUB: Non-sort The cam columns 70 are driven to rotate synchronously until the home position sensor 79 is turned on, and the bin row 62 is raised (ST).
41, 42). When the home position sensor 79 is turned on (ST42-Yes), the rotation driving of each cam post 70 is stopped, and the movement of the bin row 62 is stopped (ST43).
At this home position, the non-sort discharge tray 63 is set in the discharge outlet 67. Subsequently, the belt conveyor device 66 of the transport device 61 is driven to rotate (ST44), and the plate cylinder 4 is rotated.
Is rotated, and the printing paper 19 is sent between the plate cylinder 4 and the press roller 20 for printing.

This printing operation is performed one by one until the number of prints set by the ten keys 52f of the operation panel 51 becomes zero (ST45 to ST48). At this time, the sheet passing sensor 68 is used for subtracting the number of printed sheets. When the number of prints becomes 0 (ST45-No), it is determined that the set number of print papers has passed through the belt conveyor 66, and the belt conveyor 66 is stopped (ST4).
9).

SUB: Sort Each cam column 70 is driven to rotate synchronously until the home position sensor 79 is turned on, and the bin row 62 is raised (ST).
51, 52). When the home position sensor 79 is turned on (ST52-Yes), the rotation driving of each cam post 70 is stopped, and the movement of the bin row 62 is stopped (ST53).
This position becomes the position of the 0th bin, and this bin position information is stored in the storage means 87 (ST54).

In this state, if there is no ink (ST55)
-Yes), the belt conveyor device 66 is stopped (ST
56) Replenish the ink (ST57). Then SU
B: The process of the trial printing routine is executed. If there is no paper (ST58-Yes), the belt conveyor 6
6 is stopped (ST59), and sheets are replenished (ST6).
0). Thereafter, the processing of the SUB: trial printing routine is executed.

If there is ink and paper (ST55-Ye
s, ST58-Yes), the cam posts 70 starting from the home position until the bin shift sensor 84 is turned on.
Are driven synchronously to lower the bin row 62 (ST6).
1, 62). When the bin shift sensor 84 is turned on (ST
62-Yes), the rotation drive of each cam post 70 is stopped,
The movement of the bin row 62 is stopped (ST63). And
The value obtained by adding 1 to the bin position information at that time is used as new bin position information, and this bin position information is stored in the storage means 87 (ST64). Thereafter, the belt conveyor device 66 is driven to rotate (ST65), and the printing drum 19 is rotated and the printing paper 19 is fed between the printing drum 4 and the press roller 20 to perform printing.

This printing operation is performed one by one until the number of prints set by the ten keys 52f of the operation panel 51 becomes zero. That is, if the number of prints is greater than 0 (S
(T66-Yes), one sheet is printed (ST67), and it is determined whether or not the printed sheet is conveyed on the belt conveyor device 66 and the sheet passage sensor 68 is turned on (S67).
T68). At this time, the sheet passing sensor 68 is used for subtracting the number of printed sheets.

After the paper passage sensor 68 is turned on (ST68-Yes), if the paper passage sensor 68 remains on due to, for example, a paper jam (ST69-Ye).
s), the rotation of the belt conveyor device 66 is stopped (S)
T70), error processing is performed (ST71). Then, S
UB: Executes test print routine processing.

When the paper passage sensor 68 switches from ON to OFF (ST68-Yes, ST69-No), it is determined that the printed paper has passed the belt conveyor 66, and the count value of the number of printed sheets is decremented by one (1). ST72).
At this time, the printed paper that has passed through the belt conveyor device 66 is sent to the bin 69 located at the paper outlet 67.

If the stop key 52e is pressed during the above operation (ST73-Yes), the belt conveyor 66 is stopped (ST74). Thereafter, the processing of the SUB: trial printing routine is executed. If the stop key 52e is not pressed (ST73-No) and the bin position information at that time indicates the maximum number of bins (ST75-Yes), it is determined that the printed paper has been sent to all the bins 69 and ST5 is executed.
Return to 1. That is, after the bin row 62 is moved to the first bin again, the operation of shifting to ST51 is repeated. On the other hand, when the bin position information does not indicate the maximum number of bins (ST
75-No), it is determined that the bin 62 to be fed still remains, and the process returns to ST55. Then, when the number of prints becomes 0 (ST66-No), the belt conveyor device 66 is stopped (ST76).

SUB: Test Printing When the stop key 52e of the operation panel 52 is pressed during the sorting operation, or when the operation of the apparatus is interrupted by a jam such as a paper jam, the bin position information at that time is displayed as the interrupted bin. It is stored in the storage means 87 as position information (ST81).

In this state, the process waits until the start key 52d or the trial printing key 52a of the operation panel 52 is pressed.
Then, when the start key 52d is pressed (ST82-
Yes), the cam columns 70 are driven to rotate synchronously until the bin 69 located at the discharge port 67 at that time is the same as the position indicated by the interrupted bin position information in the storage means 87, and the bin row 62 is moved at intervals of one bin. It is lowered (ST83 to ST87). Thereafter, the process returns to SUB: sort.

On the other hand, when the trial printing key 52d is pressed (ST88-Yes), the home position sensor 7
The cam columns 70 are driven to rotate synchronously until 9 turns ON, and the bin row 62 is raised (ST89, 90). When the home position sensor 79 is turned on (ST90-Yes),
The rotation drive of each cam post 70 is stopped, and the movement of the bin row 62 is stopped (ST91). At this home position, the non-sort discharge tray 63 is set in the discharge outlet 67.

Then, the bin position information at that time is set to 0,
This bin position information is stored in the storage means 87 (ST9).
2). Thereafter, the belt conveyor device 66 is driven to rotate (ST93), the printing drum 19 is rotated, and the printing paper 19 is fed between the printing drum 4 and the press roller 20 to perform one test print (ST94). Then, the rotational drive of the belt conveyor device 66 is stopped (ST95). At this time, the test-printed paper is sent to the non-sort discharge tray 63 located at the discharge outlet 67. Then, S
Returning to T82, the process waits for the start key / test printing process.

As described above, in the image forming system according to the above-described embodiment, for example, when the paper jams in the transport path during the sorting operation, the printing operation by the stencil printing apparatus 2 and the sorting operation by the sorter 3 are automatically stopped. Is done.

When the printing operation and the sorting operation are stopped, the jam is removed, and test printing is executed to confirm whether the sorting operation can be performed normally in the future. The test printing is executed by pressing a test printing key 52a on the operation panel 51. When the test print key 52a is pressed, the sorter 3 stores the position of the bin 69 in which the next printed material must be placed in the storage means 87, and the cam columns 70 until the non-sorted discharge tray 63 is positioned at the discharge outlet 67. To rotate up and down synchronously.

When the non-sort discharge tray 63 moves to the discharge outlet 67, the stencil printing machine 2 executes test printing and outputs the printed matter to the non-sort discharge tray 63. The user checks the test print to confirm that the image is normal.
Then, when the start key 52d is pressed, the cam columns 70 rotate synchronously, and the bins 6 stored in the storage means 87 are stored.
The bin row 62 is automatically moved until the position 9 is reached, and the sorting operation is restarted. As a result, the collated materials stored in the bin 69 are not wasted, and even when a jam occurs, all the same printed materials can be created as the collected materials in the bin 69.

By the way, as the sorter 3 of the embodiment, the type in which the bin 69 moves has been described as an example, but the relative movement between the paper discharge port 67 and the bin row 62 causes the bin 62 to be moved. Any configuration can be used as long as the printed materials are sorted, and the present invention can be applied to a bin fixed sorter.

The configuration of a fixed bin sorter to which the present invention is applied will be briefly described. In this fixed bin sorter, a row of bins composed of a plurality of bins is fixedly arranged in the vertical direction of the housing, and a non-sort discharge tray is fixedly arranged at a predetermined interval from the lowest bin in the bin row. In the vertical direction on the front side of the bin row to which the printed paper is fed, a transport device provided with a fan or a blower for sucking and holding the printed paper is provided. An indexer is provided in the vertical direction along the transport path of the transport device as a paper guide means for transporting the printed paper sucked and held by the transport device and transported into each bin. A home position sensor for detecting a home position (reference position) of the indexer is provided above the bin row.
The indexer is driven up and down at intervals of one bin from the home position as a starting point, and sends the printed paper conveyed by the conveying device to each bin or the non-sort discharge tray from the discharge outlet.

[0076]

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the sort operation can be performed normally even when the test print is performed during the sort operation and the sort operation is restarted after the test print is completed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of an operation panel provided in the stencil printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a sorter in the image forming system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the sorter of FIG. 3 as viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the sorter of FIG. 3 as viewed from the front.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to the operation of the sorter.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the image forming system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the image forming system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a plate making subroutine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a non-sort subroutine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a sort subroutine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of a sort subroutine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of a trial printing subroutine.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming system 2 stencil printing device 3 sorter 5 stencil sheet 19 printing paper 62 bin row 6
3 Non-sorted paper ejection tray, 67 ... paper ejection outlet, 68 ... paper passage sensor, 69 ... bin, 79 ... home position sensor,
84: bin shift sensor, 85: control means, 87: storage means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a desired image on a sheet and discharging the printed matter, a bin row including a plurality of bins for distributing and storing the printed matter to be sorted, and a non-sorted discharging sheet for storing the printed matter not to be sorted A printed matter discharged from the paper discharge port via the image forming apparatus by a relative movement between the bin row and the non-sort paper discharge table and the paper discharge port. An image forming system comprising: a collating device that is stored in the non-sort sheet ejection tray; and a storage that stores bin position information indicating a bin stop position when operation is stopped when a sort operation on the bin row is selected. Means, after the operation returns when the sorting operation is selected,
A test print is executed by aligning the non-sorted sheet ejection tray with the paper ejection outlet, and after the execution of the test print, the bin operation of the bin row in which the sort operation is interrupted based on the bin position information stored in the storage unit is executed. An image forming system comprising: a control unit that aligns a bin with the discharge port and restarts a sorting operation. 2. A stencil printing apparatus which discharges a printed matter of a desired image made on a stencil sheet, a plurality of bins for distributing and storing the printed matter to be sorted, and a bin row movable in a vertical direction; A non-sorted paper output tray that is movable in the vertical direction in conjunction with the printer, and has a non-sorted paper output tray that stores printed materials that are not to be sorted; A collating device for moving the bin to the position of the discharge port and storing the printed matter discharged from the discharge port via the stencil printing apparatus in the non-sorted discharge table or the bins of the bin row. A storage unit that stores bin position information indicating a stop position of a bin when operation is stopped when a sort operation on the bin row is selected, and the sort operation is selected. After the operation the return of when you're,
The non-sorted sheet ejection tray is moved to the sheet ejection outlet to perform test printing, and after executing the test printing, the bins in the bin row in which the sorting operation is interrupted based on the bin position information stored in the storage unit. An image forming system comprising: a control unit configured to move the sheet to the discharge port and restart the sorting operation. 3. A reference position detecting means for detecting a reference position of the bin row and the non-sort discharge table with respect to the discharge port, wherein the control means starts from a reference position detected by the reference position detecting means. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the bin row and the non-sort discharge tray to the discharge outlet is controlled. 4. A bin movement detecting means for outputting a signal in response to each movement of the bin row at one bin interval, wherein the control means controls the bin row by a signal output from the bin movement detecting section. 4. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the position of the bin is determined, and the movement of the bin row with respect to the discharge port is controlled at intervals of one bin.