JP2000200017A - Image forming device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to rapidly know that an error is made by selecting a tray to which sheet material should be ejected in accordance with the number of the sheet material to be ejected. SOLUTION: A toner image is fixed on the sheet material P carried along a recording sheet carrying part 121 by a thermal fixing device 111g. When the sheet material P is not carried to a double-sided carrying part 150, it is carried to a paper ejection intermediate roller 111j arranged so that small size paper can be carried. Switching operation is performed to the sheet material P carried to the roller 111j according to a signal from a control part 120 by a paper ejection flapper 126 arranged behind the roller 111j, the sheet material P is selectively ejected to an upper sheet ejection part 113 arranged at the upper part of a device main body 101 and a rear sheet ejection tray 128 arranged at the rear part of the main body 101. The sheet material P ejected to the ejection part 113 is stacked with an image information side downward, and the sheet material P ejected to the tray 128 is stacked with the image information side upward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method applicable to a copying machine, a printer, a printing machine, a facsimile machine, and the like.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, copiers, printers, printing machines,
For sheet materials used in facsimile machines, etc.
Devices and methods for performing image formation are known.

[0004] For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-41339, an automatic paper feeding means for supplying standardized recording paper, a manual paper feeding means for supplying non-standardized recording paper,
A first tray from which a recording sheet on which an image is formed is directly discharged from the transport mechanism in a face-up state, and a second tray from which the recording sheet is discharged from the transport mechanism in a face-down state via a bypass reversing path; In an image forming apparatus provided with a guide member that is set to be switchable in a recording paper discharge direction, a detection unit that detects that recording paper is supplied from the manual feed unit, and a detection signal is output from the detection unit. There is known an image forming apparatus provided with control means for outputting a control signal for switching a discharge direction of the guide member so that a recording sheet is discharged to a first tray side when the recording sheet is discharged.

With this configuration, when a recording paper of a nonstandard size is supplied from the manual feed unit, the guide member is automatically switched by a command from the control means so that the recording paper discharge direction is on the first tray side. The special paper is prevented from being introduced into the detour reversal path. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly selects the reverse discharge mode when forming an image on the special paper, the special paper is not introduced into the bypass reversing path, and the special paper is not Paper jam can be reliably prevented.

[0006]

However, as office space has been reduced in recent years, a so-called composite type image forming apparatus having not only a conventional copying function but also a facsimile function and a printer function has been demanded in the market. In such a composite image forming apparatus, the recording of an image, particularly by receiving a facsimile, is performed at an unspecified time, and is not output by an operator. Need to be treated differently.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, sorting when the printer function is used, that is, only the sorting of plain paper and special paper is considered for the discharge of recording paper. It was necessary to sort recording paper and facsimile receiving paper.

In addition, there is another problem that if only one sheet of output paper from a computer enters between output sheets of a plurality of pages, not only facsimile reception paper, an error occurs in sorting.

Further, when an error report and a communication management report are stacked on a tray from which image information is output with the image information on the bottom, it is difficult to quickly recognize that an error has occurred.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which select a tray to be discharged according to the number of sheets to be discharged in view of the above points. Is to do.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for discharging a sheet material such that an error report or another management report or the like is directed upward. Is to do.

[0012]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials. The first tray from which the image formed on the sheet is discharged face down, the second tray from which the image formed on the sheet is discharged face up, and the number of sheets discharged Control means for discharging to the first tray or the second tray accordingly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means discharges the sheet material to the first tray when a plurality of sheets are discharged, In the case of one sheet, the sheet is discharged to the second tray.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, in addition, the sheet material on which the image is formed is transferred from the transport mechanism via the reverse path to the first tray or the second tray. And a guide member for switching the sheet material discharge direction so as to face one of the trays.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided an image reading means for reading a document on which image information is described, and a sheet material for reading the read image information. And recording means for recording the information in the memory.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the image forming apparatus further comprises:
The apparatus is provided with means for discharging a predetermined notification sheet to the first tray or the second tray.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, in addition, the discharge direction of the guide member is changed so that an error report or another report is discharged to the second tray. It is provided with means for switching.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method for forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials, wherein the image is formed on the sheet materials in accordance with the number of discharged sheet materials. A control step of selecting a first tray from which an image is discharged face down or a second tray from which an image formed on a sheet material is discharged face up and discharging the sheet material It is provided with.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the seventh aspect, when the number of sheets to be discharged is plural, the sheet is discharged to the first tray. In the case of one sheet, the sheet is discharged to the second tray.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the seventh aspect, any one of the first tray and the second tray is provided such that the sheet material on which the image is formed passes through a reversing path from a transport mechanism. A guide member for switching the sheet material discharge direction is used so as to face the front.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming method according to the seventh aspect, further comprising an image reading means for reading a document on which the image information is described, wherein the read image information is stored in a sheet. It is provided with a recording step for recording on the material.

The present invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claims 7-1.
The image forming method according to any one of the above, further comprising a step of discharging a predetermined notification sheet to the first tray or the second tray.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the ninth aspect, further, the discharge direction of the guide member is changed so as to discharge an error report or another report to the second tray. A step for switching is provided.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials, the image formed on the sheet material is changed depending on the number of discharged sheet materials. The control step of selecting the first tray discharged in the orientation state or the second tray discharged in the face-up state in which the image formed on the sheet material is selected and discharging the sheet material is read out. It is stored in the form of a possible program.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, when the number of sheets to be discharged is plural, the sheet is discharged to the first tray. In the case of a sheet, the fact that the sheet is discharged to the second tray is stored in the form of a readable program.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, a sheet material on which an image is formed is transferred from a transport mechanism via a reversing path to either the first tray or the second tray. The step of using the guide member that switches the sheet material discharge direction so as to face is stored in the form of a readable program.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirteenth aspect, the image information read by using an image reading means for reading a document on which the image information is described, and Is stored in the form of a readable program.

The present invention according to claim 17 relates to claims 13 to
16. The storage medium according to any one of 16, wherein a step of discharging a predetermined notification sheet to the first tray or the second tray is stored in the form of a readable program. .

The present invention according to claim 18 is the storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising: switching a discharge direction by the guide member so as to discharge an error report or another report to the second tray. Steps are stored in the form of a readable program.

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention described below has an image reading apparatus for reading a document on which image information is described, and an image forming section for recording the image information on a sheet material. An image forming apparatus having a function of an image forming mode, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: a first tray from which a sheet material on which an image is formed is discharged from a conveying mechanism via a reversing path in a state where image information is faced down; A second tray from which the sheet material is ejected with the image information facing up from the conveyance mechanism; and a guide member for switching a sheet material ejection direction. When a plurality of output documents are provided, the first tray is provided. It is configured to control the switching of the discharging direction by the guide member so that the sheet is discharged and, in the case of one sheet, the sheet is discharged to the second tray.

A second embodiment of the present invention has an image reading apparatus for reading a document on which image information is described, and an image forming section for recording the image information on a sheet material. In the image forming apparatus having a function, the image forming apparatus includes: a first tray on which a sheet material on which an image is formed is discharged from a conveyance mechanism via a reversing path in a state where image information is faced down; A second tray from which image information is discharged from the mechanism in a face-up state, and a guide member for enabling switching of a discharge direction of the sheet material, wherein the guide is configured to discharge reports such as an error report to the second tray. This controls the switching of the discharge direction by the member.

In the above, the sheet material refers to, for example, transfer paper, photosensitive paper, heat-sensitive paper supplied to each device in office equipment such as a copying machine, a printer, a printing machine, a facsimile machine, and other various equipment using sheet materials. Sheets (cut sheets) such as paper, electrostatic recording paper, printing paper, originals, cards, and envelopes. The material is not limited to paper.

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

Embodiment 1 With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an outline of an entire facsimile apparatus constructed according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the facsimile apparatus.

First, an outline of the entire facsimile machine will be described. 3 and 4, reference numeral 101 denotes an apparatus main body, 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a document table configured to stack a plurality of documents S, reference numeral 103 denotes an image reading unit that reads image information of the document S, reference numeral 104 denotes a recording apparatus main body including a laser beam printer, and reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit. An operation unit including input keys and the like, a document transport unit 106, a document pressing unit 107, a contact image sensor 108, a document discharge tray 109, a laser scanner 110, an image forming unit 111, a cassette 112, Paper feed unit 113 is the apparatus main body 10
An upper sheet discharge unit configured so that a plurality of sheets P can be stacked on the upper cover 1, a cartridge cover 114, an ADF (automatic document feeder) cover 115, an external document guide 116, and 117 an external document guide Document holding plate, 118 denotes an inner document guide, 119 denotes a partition between laser scanner 110 and recording apparatus main body 104, 120 denotes a control unit of the facsimile apparatus, 121 denotes a sheet transport unit,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a front cover, 123 denotes a paper discharge cover, 124 denotes a resist transport unit, 125 denotes an MP (multi-paper) paper feed unit that can also serve as a front cover, and 150 denotes a double-sided transport unit.

The image reading unit 103 separates the originals S stacked on the original placing table 102 one by one by a separation roller 106b pressed against a separation pad 106a, and a transfer roller pressed against a transfer roller 106c pressed by a pressing spring. 106d
Thus, a U-turn paper path constituted by a part of the outer document guide 116 and a part of the inner document guide 118 is conveyed. Further, the original S is conveyed to the close contact type image sensor 108 by a paper feed roller 106f or the like pressed against the paper feed roller 106e pressed by a pressing spring, and the original S is deformed by the original pressing portion 107 to deform the original S. Contact type image sensor 108
After reading the image information of the original S while pressing and bringing the original S into close contact, the paper ejection roller 106 pressed against the original S by the pressing spring
The document is discharged to the document discharge tray 109 by a discharge roller 106h pressed against g. During this time, the original S
Are guided by an outer document guide 116 and an inner document guide 118.

The document table 102 is provided with a slider 102a slidable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document S is transported (the width direction of the document S), and the documents stacked on the document table 102 by the slider 102a. Both sides of S can be aligned. The original S
If the document is a long document, by opening the extension document tray 102b, it is possible to prevent the trailing end of the document S from protruding from the document table 102 and hanging down.

The contact image sensor 108 irradiates light from the LED array as a light source to the image information surface of the original S,
The image information is read by forming an image of the reflected light reflected from the image information surface on the sensor element by a SELFOC lens (trademark).

The cassette feeding section 112 is provided in the main body 101 of the apparatus.
It is arranged at the bottom of the. The sheet material P stacked on the sheet feeding cassette 112a is pressed upward by the middle plate spring 112f by the middle plate spring 112f, pressed against the semicircular sheet feeding roller 112b, and separated one by one by the separation pad 112c (the friction piece). (Separation method) and transported. The leading end of the separated sheet material P is detected by the registration sensor 124b after a predetermined time. If the registration sensor 124b does not detect the leading end of the sheet material P within a predetermined time after the start of sheet feeding, it is determined that a jam has occurred, and a display is made on the operation unit 105.

If the registration sensor 124b detects the leading edge of the sheet material P within a predetermined time after the start of sheet feeding, the separated sheet material P is continuously pressed and conveyed by the sheet feeding roller 112b and the separation pad 112c. Is guided to the press-contact nip portion N of the registration roller pair 124a.

The rotation of the pair of registration rollers 124a is stopped when the leading end of the sheet material P reaches the press-contact nip portion N of the pair of registration rollers 124a.
The leading end of the sheet material P abuts against the press-contact nip portion N of the registration roller pair 124a in the rotation stopped state and is received. Thereafter, the sheet material is fed by the sheet feeding roller 112b, so that the sheet material P is somewhat bent. A loop is formed, and the skew of the sheet material P is corrected by parallelizing the tip side of the sheet material P along the nip line of the press-contact nip N by the reaction force of the bending loop.

Next, the registration roller pair 124a is driven at a predetermined control timing, the sheet material P is conveyed, and the registration roller pair 124a and the registration sensor 12
The sheet transport U-turn guide 124d, which is composed of a resist transport guide 124c in which the sheet 4b is disposed, and a part of a main body frame forming a skeleton of the apparatus main body 101, the apparatus main body 10
1 is inverted by the MP guide 125g disposed in the first position.

Further, the sheet material P being fed continues to be transported even after reaching the pre-transfer roller pair 124e, and the TOP sensor 1
24f, the tip position is detected, and the photosensitive drum 111
After the sheet is fed and the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading end of the toner image formed on the sheet a coincides with the leading end of the sheet material P, the sheet is conveyed between the transfer charger 111f and the photosensitive drum 111a.

The side end surface of the sheet material P is regulated by a sheet regulating plate 112d movably mounted in accordance with the sheet size so that skewing and non-feeding do not occur. The image is recorded on the lower surface side of the sheet material P stacked on the sheet cassette 112a.

The presence or absence of the sheet material P is detected by the cassette sensor 112h. The number of sheets that can be stacked in the cassette 112a is about 250,
1 is configured to be pulled out in the front direction (front loading method). The sheet sizes that can be stacked are A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, letter,
There are seven types of legal.

Further, the facsimile apparatus is used in the apparatus main body 10.
The MP (multi-paper) sheet feeding unit 125 can be arranged by removing the front cover 122 arranged on the front surface of the unit 1. An MP (multi-paper) paper feed unit 125 has an openable and closable MP tray 125f, and an MP tray 1
By pulling out the MP extension tray 125e, recording paper of a size that cannot be fully loaded on 25f prevents the trailing end of the recording paper from protruding and hanging down. MP middle plate 12
5c is urged upward by the MP middle plate spring 125h, but since the MP middle plate 125c is pushed down in a standby state by a cam (not shown), the sheet material P can be stacked on the MP middle plate 125c. ing.

The MP from the control unit 120 of the facsimile machine
When a signal for starting sheet feeding is transmitted, a cam (not shown) is rotated, and the stacked sheet material P is pressed against the semicircular MP sheet feeding roller 125a by releasing the pressing of the MP middle plate 125c. Then, the sheets are separated one by one by the MP separation pad 125b (friction piece separation method) and transported. The separated sheet material P is supplied to the MP feed roller 125a and the MP separation pad 1
25b, the roller pair 124 continues to be pressed and transferred.
e.

Within a predetermined time from the start of sheet feeding, TO
If the P sensor 124f does not detect the leading edge of the sheet material P, it is determined that a jam has occurred, and a display is made on the operation unit 105.

Further, the sheet material P being fed continues to be transported even after reaching the pre-transfer roller pair 124e, and the TOP sensor 12
4f, the tip position is detected, and the photosensitive drum 111a is detected.
After the sheet is fed and the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading end of the toner image formed on
The sheet is conveyed between the transfer charger 111f and the photosensitive drum 111a.

Since the MP sheet feeder 125 does not have a registration mechanism, the side edge of the sheet material P is regulated by a sheet regulating plate 125i movably mounted in accordance with the sheet size, so that skew or non-feeding does not occur. ing. The image is recorded on the upper surface side of the sheet material P stacked on the MP tray 125f.

The presence or absence of the sheet material P is determined by the MP sensor 12.
5d. The number of sheets that can be stacked in the MP sheet feeding unit 125 is about 100. By attaching the MP sheet feeding unit 125, a postcard or a business card can be added to a sheet size that can be fed.

The cassette sheet feeding section 112 and a second-stage cassette sheet feeding section having the same configuration as that of the cassette sheet feeding section 112 (not shown) can be separated and combined as options. The number of stackable sheets can be changed from about 250 sheets to about 600 sheets.

The recording device main body 104 is provided with a laser scanner 110 based on an image signal output from the control unit 120.
A modulation signal is emitted from a laser beam oscillator 110a, and the modulated beam is irradiated by a polygon mirror 110b onto a photosensitive drum 111a of an image forming unit 111 to form image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a. The image information is transferred to the sheet material P fed from the sheet feeding unit 112 to the image forming unit 111.

The photosensitive drum 111a is a primary charger 111
b, developing roller 111c and cleaning blade 111
d and is integrally incorporated into the recording cartridge 111e, and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 101. The surface of the photoconductor drum 111a is uniformly charged by the primary charger 111b, and when the scanning light is reflected from the polygon mirror 110b by the return mirror 110c and irradiated on the surface, a latent image is formed. 1
The image is visualized by the toner supplied from 11c.

The photosensitive drum 111a of the image forming unit 111
A transfer charger 111f is disposed in a peripheral portion, and a thermal fixing device 111g is disposed in a sheet conveyance path downstream of the photosensitive drum 111a.

After the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a is transferred by the transfer charger 111f, the sheet material P is conveyed along the recording sheet conveying section 121. The sheet conveyance guide 121a has a conveyance belt 121 at the center.
b, 121c in a V-shape.
The sheet conveyance from the downstream of a to the heat fixing device 111g is assisted, and the sheet material P shorter than the conveyance path length of the photosensitive drum 111a and the heat fixing device 111g can be conveyed without disturbing the toner image.

The sheet material P conveyed along the recording sheet conveying portion 121 is fixed with a toner image by the thermal fixing device 111g. If the sheet material P is not conveyed to the double-sided conveying portion 150, small-size paper can be conveyed. Is conveyed to the sheet discharge intermediate roller 111j arranged at the first position.

The sheet material P conveyed to the discharge intermediate roller 111j is switched by a signal from the control unit 120 by a discharge flapper 126 disposed thereafter, and the upper sheet disposed above the apparatus main body 101 is switched. The paper is selectively discharged to a paper discharge unit 113 and a rear sheet discharge tray 128 arranged at the rear of the apparatus main body 101.

As described above, the sheet material P discharged to the upper sheet discharging portion 113 is stacked with the image information on the lower surface, and
The sheet material P discharged to the rear sheet discharge tray 128 is configured to be stacked with the image information facing upward.

The main unit 101 has a cartridge cover 1
14, the recording cartridge 111e can be pulled out of the apparatus main body 101 and replaced by opening the cartridge cover 114. Further, the cartridge cover 114 is provided with an interlock mechanism, and whether the cartridge cover 114 is open or the recording cartridge 111e is
When it is not set to 1, the recording apparatus main body 104 does not operate. Further, a drum exposure prevention shutter 111i provided on the recording cartridge 111e is adapted to interlock with the setting of the recording cartridge 111e on the apparatus main body 101.
Is opened, the shutter 111i is opened when the recording cartridge 111e is set in the apparatus main body 101, and the shutter 111i is closed when the recording cartridge 111e is taken out of the apparatus main body 101 so that unnecessary exposure of the photosensitive drum 111a is prevented. Has become.

When a jam occurs during recording, the sheet material P staying inside can be taken out by opening any one of the cartridge cover 114, the front cover 122, and the paper discharge cover 123.

The partition section 119 is a duct for separating the laser scanner 110 and the recording apparatus main body 104, and the laser scanner 110 adversely affects the laser scanner 110 due to heat generated from the recording apparatus main body 104 by flowing air by a fan (not shown). This prevents the water vapor evaporated from the sheet material P from condensing and dropping on the sheet material P.

The double-sided conveying section 150 is disposed at the rear of the apparatus main body 101, and the sheet material P conveyed by the heat fixing device 111g.
By switching the flapper 151 based on the image signal output from the control unit 120, the sheet material P can be conveyed to the duplex conveying unit 150. The flapper 151 is switched, and the sheet material P conveyed to the two-sided conveyance unit 150 is subjected to heat and pressure by the heat fixing device 111g by the curling roller pair 152, and the curled sheet material P is generated.
Is corrected, and is conveyed to the switchback roller 153 that is the next conveying means. The sheet material P conveyed to the switchback roller 153 is temporarily
2a is transported onto the cover 112g disposed above the
It is stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body 101.

Thereafter, when the rear end of the sheet material P is conveyed to the vicinity of the switchback roller 153, the rear end of the sheet material P is detected by a sensor (not shown), and before the sheet material P exits the switchback roller 153. The transport stops once. Then, the switchback roller 153 rotates in the reverse direction, and the refeeding unit 154 disposed below the rear lower portion of the duplex conveying unit 150.
Transported to

The skew of the sheet P conveyed to the re-feeding unit 154 is corrected by a plurality of rollers disposed in the re-feeding unit 154, and then reaches the re-feeding roller 155. After passing through the inside of the paper feed cassette 112a, the apparatus main body 1
01 again.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, 3
Reference numeral 00 denotes an entire control system of the facsimile apparatus using an LBP (laser beam printer). Reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus. The MPU 311 and a control program to be executed by the MPU 311 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) ROM 3 which stores the details described later with reference to FIG.
12, a RAM 313 used as a work area for various data processing and a temporary storage unit for image information, and an image processing unit 314 for performing scaling, resolution conversion, and the like of an image.

The CPU 301 is provided with a calendar and a clock function having a well-known configuration, and an area for storing important system setting information such as one-touch key destination information and software switch information in the RAM 313 is powered by a battery backup. Is protected from accidental obstacles.

The control system 300 of the facsimile apparatus includes the CPU 301 described above and the respective elements 302 to 31 described below.
0 through an interface.

The operation unit 302 includes various key switches such as a ten key 315, a function key 316, a one-touch key 317, a start key 318a, and a stop key 318b. The display unit 303 includes an LCD 319 for displaying various messages and various L for displaying transmission modes and the like.
The ED 320a includes a tally lamp 320b for notifying a distant operator of a communication state and occurrence of a failure, and the like.

The reading unit 304 includes a driving unit 3 such as a reading motor.
21, a reading sensor 322 for reading an image, an image processing unit 323 for performing shading processing and binarization of the read image, various sensors 324 for detecting a document, and the like.

The recording unit 305 includes a driving unit 3 such as a recording motor.
25, a recording unit 326 for controlling a laser scanner or an electrophotographic process, an image processing unit 327 for smoothing an image to be recorded, and various sensors 328 for detecting recording paper and the like.

The communication control unit 306 which performs outgoing calls, incoming calls, encoding of image data and the like has a connection unit 329 composed of MODEM, NCU, etc., and a communication network 307 and a handset 308 are connected to the connection unit 329.

The CPU external interface 309 is
An interface for directly transmitting and receiving data to and from the U301. For example, by connecting to an external computer via a line such as RS232C, SCSI, or LAN, the present apparatus is used as a scanner printer of an external computer. HDD (hard disk device) 310
Is used as a large-capacity nonvolatile memory for storing image information and the like.

Next, the basic operation of the LBP will be described with reference to a conceptual diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 400 denotes a semiconductor laser that blinks a laser beam with respect to image data to be recorded; 401, a polygon motor; 402, a polygon mirror rotated by the polygon motor 401; 403, an optical system that performs image formation and tilt correction; 404 is a photodetector, 405 is a return mirror, 406 is a photosensitive drum,
07 is a developing device, 408 is a recording paper, 409 is a conveyance guide,
Reference numeral 410 denotes a fixing device.

In the above configuration, first, the semiconductor laser 4
The laser light emitted from 00 is reflected by the polygon mirror 402 and deflected, and is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 406 via the optical system 403 and the return mirror 405 (main scanning). At this time, the head is caught by the photodetector 404 and the irradiation position is determined. While this main scanning is completed for one line, the photosensitive drum 406 rotates one line (sub-scan).

The image formed on the photosensitive drum 406 as described above is developed by the developing device 407 and is transferred onto the recording paper P (408). The sheet is further conveyed along a conveyance guide 409, is fixed by a fixing device 410, and is discharged.

The photosensitive drum 406 and the developing device 4
07 and the elements of the sub-scanning system such as the fixing device 410 are synchronously driven by a recording motor (not shown), gears, belts and the like.

Next, a detailed description will be given with reference to FIG. 1 when outputting a sheet material. FIG. 1 is a flowchart at the time of the copy operation, which is stored in the form of a program in the ROM 312 (see FIG. 5).

First, a signal from the communication network 307 is
An output signal is transmitted to the communication control unit 306 via the CPU 29 or an output signal from the computer is transmitted via the CPU external interface 309.

Then, the CPU 301 starts storing image data in the RAM 313 in step S 1, and when one page of image information has been stored in the RAM 313,
A signal for feeding the sheet material P is transmitted from 301 to the recording unit 305, the recording motor is driven, and the sheet material P is conveyed from the sheet material feeding unit 112.

The transported sheet material P is controlled by the image processing unit 327 of the recording unit 305 so that the leading end of the sheet material P matches the image.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S2, where the CPU 30
1 determines whether the next page is received from the communication control unit 306 or the CPU external interface 309. If it is determined that there is image information for the next page, the process proceeds to step S3, and an image is formed on the sheet material.

That is, the image information stored in the RAM 313 of the CPU 301 is stored in the image processing unit 32 of the recording unit 305.
7 and ON / OF of the laser based on the signal.
By controlling F, an image of a dot pattern is formed on the photosensitive drum 111a. Photosensitive drum 111a
The electrostatic latent image formed thereon becomes a visible image by the toner in the image processing unit 327 of the recording unit 305. Photosensitive drum 1
The visible image formed on 11a is transferred to a sheet material,
The image just placed on the sheet material is transferred to the heat fixing unit 11 by the transport unit 121 so as not to apply a shock to the sheet material.
1 g, and heat and pressure are applied by the heat fixing device 111 g to form a permanent image.

Thereafter, the small-size paper is conveyed by a discharge intermediate roller 111j arranged so as to be conveyable, discharged to a reversing path by a discharge flapper 126 and discharged by a discharge roller 111h.
As a result, the sheet is discharged to the upper sheet discharge section 113 with the image information facing downward (step S4).

Then, the process proceeds to a step S5, wherein the CPU 30
1 transmits a print signal to the recording unit 305 when the image information of the next page is accumulated for one page. The subsequent printing operation and discharging operation are as described above (steps S6 and S7).

After printing the next page, the process proceeds to step S8,
Further, it is determined whether or not the next page is received. If there is a next page, the process proceeds to step S5, and the RAM 3
13 stores image information. If there is no next page, the process proceeds to step S9, and the image formation ends.

If a signal indicating that the number of received originals is not a plurality is transmitted in step S2, the flow advances to step S1.
Go to 0. Here, an operation equivalent to that in step S3 is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S11, where the CPU 301
The discharge flapper 126 is switched based on the switching signal from the printer, and the sheet material P is curled by the heat and pressure of the heat fixing unit 111g by the rear discharge roller 127 disposed at the rear of the apparatus main body 101. The curl of the material P is corrected and discharged to the rear sheet discharge tray 128.

As described above, the sheet material P is discharged and stacked on the rear sheet discharge tray 128 with the image information facing upward.

As described above, in the present embodiment, only one received document which does not need to be arranged in page order is discharged with the image information on the upper side, and a plurality of received documents is discharged with the image information on the lower side. With this configuration, the trouble that the operator arranges the page order of the received document is eliminated, and
The received manuscript of only one sheet is not mixed with the plurality of received manuscripts, so that it is clearly understood to whom. Thus, an image forming apparatus having a facsimile function with good operability can be provided.

Second Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, a plurality of received originals are normally stacked on an upper sheet discharge unit 113 arranged on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 101 with image information facing downward. You. However, even if the image data cannot be received for some reason during the operation and an error occurs, in the above-described mode, the error report is similarly discharged with the image information facing down. At that time, even if an urgent matter is described in the received document, there is a problem that the receiver does not easily notice the error and the time passes because the image information is on the lower surface.

Therefore, a plurality of pieces of image information are stored in the communication network 30.
7 from the communication control unit 306 via the connection unit 329.
Or an output signal from the computer via the CPU external interface 309 and an error occurs during the image formation, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. I do.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation when an error occurs when outputting a plurality of originals. This flowchart is based on the ROM in the form of a readable program.
312.

In FIG. 2, steps S1 to S11 are the same as those in FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

After the sheets P are discharged and stacked on the upper sheet discharge section 113 in steps S6 and S7, it is determined in step S12 whether or not an error has occurred during image data reception. If no error has occurred, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether there is a next page.

On the other hand, if an error occurs while receiving image data, the CPU 301 creates an error report based on the signal. The error report information is stored in the recording unit 3
The image is transmitted to the image processing unit 327 of No. 05, and by controlling ON / OFF of the laser based on the signal, an image of a dot pattern is formed on the photosensitive drum 111a. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111a is turned into a visible image by the toner in the image processing unit 327 of the recording unit 305. The visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 111a is transferred to the sheet material P, and the image only on the sheet material P is conveyed to the thermal fixing device 111g by the conveying unit 121 so as not to give a shock to the sheet material P. Then, heat and pressure are applied by the heat fixing device 111g, and a permanent image is formed.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S11, where the CPU 3
01 based on the switching signal from the discharge flapper 126
The curl of the sheet P curled by the heat and pressure of the heat fixing device 111g is corrected by the rear discharge roller 127 disposed at the rear of the apparatus main body 101, and the rear sheet discharge is performed. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 128.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when an error occurs when a plurality of sheets are received, the error report is output with the image information on the top side, and the occurrence of the error is immediately detected. Prove. Thereby, an image forming apparatus with good operability can be provided.

Further, if image information such as a communication management report is 1
By arranging such that a received document that fits on a page is discharged with the image information facing upward, it does not mix with other output documents, and eliminates the problem that it is confused with other documents during sorting.

[0099] As described above the effect of the embodiment, in the embodiment of the present invention,
In the case of a plurality of received originals, the sheet material on which the image is formed is discharged from the transport mechanism to the first tray through which the image information is discharged in a reverse direction via the reversing path. By controlling the guide member to switch the discharge direction so that the sheet material is discharged from the transport mechanism to the second tray where the image information is discharged in a face-up state, the plurality of received documents are arranged in the page order, In the case of a single received document that does not need to be arranged in order, in a facsimile image forming mode, the information in which the destination is described is ejected on the top side, so that the recipient of the document is clearly identified. In the image forming mode by the printer, 1
An output operator who has output only one image can clearly distinguish it from other plural output documents.

Further, when an error occurs when a plurality of sheets are received, an error report is output with the image information facing upward, so that the occurrence of the error can be immediately identified. Thus, a facsimile apparatus with good operability can be provided.

Furthermore, by arranging a report such as a communication management report so that the image information is output with the image information on the top side, it is prevented from being mixed with another output document, and is scattered in another document at the time of sorting. Disappears.

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, a tray to be discharged can be selected according to the number of sheets to be discharged.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to discharge a sheet material such that an error report or another management report is directed upward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart during a copy operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when an error occurs when outputting a plurality of documents in the second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a basic operation of an LBP (laser beam printer).

[Explanation of symbols]

101 apparatus main body 102 document mounting table configured to be able to stack a plurality of documents S 103 image reading unit 104 for reading image information of document S 104 recording device main body composed of laser beam printer 105 display unit, input keys, etc. Configuration of Operation Unit 106 Document Conveying Unit 107 Document Pressing Unit 108 Contact Image Sensor 109 Document Discharge Tray 110 Laser Scanner 111 Image Forming Unit 112 Cassette Feeding Unit 113 Upper Sheet Discharge Unit 114 Cartridge Cover 115 ADF (Auto Document Feeder) ) Cover 116 Outer document guide 117 Document presser plate 118 Inner document guide 119 Partition part between image reading unit and main body of recording device 120 Control unit of facsimile machine 121 Sheet transport unit 122 Front cover 123 Discharge cover 124 Regis Conveyance unit 125 MP (multi-paper) paper supply unit 126 Paper discharge flapper 127 Rear paper discharge roller 128 Rear sheet discharge tray 150 Double-sided conveyance unit 154 Refeed unit 300 Control system of facsimile machine using LBP 301 Whole facsimile machine Controlling CPU 302 Operation unit 303 Display unit 304 Reading unit 305 Recording unit 306 Communication control unit 307 that performs outgoing / incoming calls, encoding of image data, etc. 307 Communication network 308 Handset 309 CPU external interface 310 HDD 311 MPU 312 ROM 313 RAM 314 Image processing unit that performs image scaling, resolution conversion, etc. 315 Numeric keys 316 Function keys 317 One-touch keys 318a Start key 318b Stop key 319 LCD 320a Various LEs for displaying transmission mode and the like 320b Tally lamp 321 Drive section such as reading motor 322 Reading sensor 322 for reading an image 323 Image processing section for shading and binarization of a read image 324 Various sensors for detecting a document 325 Drive section such as a recording motor 326 Recording unit 327 Image processing unit 328 for smoothing images to be recorded 328 Various sensors for detecting recording paper 329 Connection unit composed of MODEM, NCU, etc. 400 Semiconductor laser 401 Polygon motor 402 Polygon mirror 403 Optical system 404 Photodetector 405 Folding mirror 406 Photosensitive drum 407 Developing device 408 Recording paper 409 Transport guide 410 Fixing device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Haruhisa Oshinda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takahiro Noguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Nakayama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H027 DB01 DC12 DC14 ED16 ED19 EE07 EE08 EK10 FA02 FA35 FA37 FD08 2H072 CB01 FA01 FB01 3F053 EA02 EA04 EA05 EC01 ED15

Claims (18)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus for forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials, a first tray for discharging an image formed on the sheet material in a face-down state, and a sheet material A second tray for discharging an image formed thereon in a face-up state, and control means for discharging the image to the first tray or the second tray according to the number of sheets to be discharged. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit discharges the sheet material to the first tray when a plurality of sheets are discharged, and discharges the sheet to the first tray when the number is one. The image forming apparatus discharges to the second tray. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sheet member on which an image is formed is transferred from a transport mechanism to one of the first tray and the second tray via a reversing path. An image forming apparatus comprising: a guide member that switches a sheet material discharge direction so as to face. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image reading unit that reads a document on which the image information is described; and a recording unit that records the read image information on a sheet material. An image forming apparatus comprising: 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to discharge a predetermined notification sheet to the first tray or the second tray. An image forming apparatus comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for switching a discharge direction of the guide member so as to discharge an error report or another report to the second tray. An image forming apparatus comprising: 7. An image forming method for forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials, wherein the image formed on the sheet material is faced down according to the number of discharged sheet materials. A first tray to be ejected,
Alternatively, there is provided an image forming method including a control step of selecting a second tray from which an image formed on a sheet material is discharged face up and discharging the sheet material. 8. The image forming method according to claim 7, wherein the controlling step includes discharging the sheet material to the first tray when a plurality of sheets are discharged, and discharging the sheet to the first tray when the number is one. An image forming method, wherein the image is discharged to the second tray. 9. The image forming method according to claim 7, wherein the sheet material on which the image is formed is directed from the transport mechanism to one of the first tray and the second tray via a reversing path. An image forming method using a guide member for switching a material discharging direction. 10. The image forming method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of recording the read image information on a sheet material using image reading means for reading a document on which the image information is described. An image forming method comprising: 11. The image forming method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of discharging a predetermined notification sheet to said first tray or said second tray. An image forming method comprising: 12. The image forming method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of switching a discharge direction of the guide member so as to discharge an error report or another report to the second tray. An image forming method comprising: 13. When forming an image on one or a plurality of sheet materials, an image formed on the sheet material is discharged in a face-down state according to the number of discharged sheet materials. The control step of selecting the first tray or the second tray from which the image formed on the sheet material is discharged face-up and discharging the sheet material is stored in the form of a readable program. A storage medium characterized by the following. 14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the control step includes discharging the sheet material to the first tray when the number of sheets to be discharged is plural, and setting the number of sheets to one when the number of sheets is one. A storage medium characterized in that discharging to a second tray is stored in the form of a readable program. 15. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the sheet material on which the image is formed is directed from the transport mechanism to one of the first tray and the second tray via a reversing path. A step of using a guide member for switching a discharge direction of the recording medium in the form of a readable program. 16. The recording medium according to claim 13, further comprising a recording step of recording the read image information on a sheet material using image reading means for reading a document on which image information is described. A storage medium stored in the form of a readable program. 17. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the step of discharging a predetermined notification sheet to the first tray or the second tray is readable. A storage medium characterized by being stored in the form of a simple program. 18. The storage medium according to claim 15, further comprising: a step of switching a discharge direction of the guide member so as to discharge an error report or another report to the second tray. A storage medium characterized by being stored in the form of a program.