JP2001026343A - Sheet processing device, control method and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent malfunction to be caused by the difference in the size of a sheet to be set by a user and the size of a sheet set in an inserter actually. SOLUTION: Before and after the size of a sheet to be transferred from an inserter 900 is fixed, the timer value to be set on a piling jam timer for detecting the piling of sheets is changed. During the period until the size of a sheet to be transferred from the inserter 900 is fixed, the timer value in the piling jam timer of each sensor (a paper feeding sensor 907, an entrance sensor 531, paper discharge sensor 533) is set to the maximum size that the inserter 900 can handle so that the piling jam may not be detected carelessly. When the sheet size is fixed, the timer value is set to fit to the actual sheet size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus for stacking sheets on which images are formed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mode such as a cover mode or a slip sheet mode in which a sheet (hereinafter, a special sheet) different from a normal recording sheet is inserted into a first page, a last page, or a middle page of a recording sheet. There is a copying apparatus provided. By setting these modes by the operation unit of the copying apparatus, for example, paper of different colors or color copy paper can be inserted as a cover, or can be inserted as an arbitrary number of sheets as partition paper.

[0003] As a method of supplying a special sheet, a sheet is supplied from a special cassette provided on the copying apparatus main body side, or a paper supply section for supplying a special sheet is provided on a sheet processing apparatus side such as a finisher. A method of supplying a special sheet from a paper section has been proposed.

[0004]

However, if the size of the special sheet set on the operation unit is different from the size of the special sheet actually set in the sheet feeding unit due to a setting error of the user or the like, the jam may be reduced. False detection may occur,
When a jam occurs, the user must remove the sheet.If the sheet is torn or soiled during the removal of the sheet, the user must prepare the same sheet again. Must be performed, which increases unnecessary labor and labor for the user, and may increase the cost. Therefore, it is desired to prevent the above-described problem caused by the difference between the size of the special sheet set by the user and the size of the special sheet actually set in the sheet feeding unit.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus which can be connected to an image forming apparatus and stacks sheets formed by the image forming apparatus. First loading means for loading, transport means for transporting sheets loaded on the first loading means and sheets formed by the image forming apparatus, and the first loading transported by the transport means A second stacking unit for stacking sheets from the unit and a sheet from the image forming apparatus; a size detecting unit for detecting a size of the sheet stacked on the first stacking unit;
Based on a condition for detecting a sheet conveyance error, based on a condition for detecting a sheet conveyance error of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, and prior to the sheet size detection by the size detection unit, The conveyance of the sheets stacked on the first stacking unit is started by the conveyance unit, and control is performed so that the condition of the abnormality detection unit differs before and after the size of the sheet is determined by the size detection unit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus having control means.

The present invention is also connectable to an image forming apparatus, and includes a first stacking means for stacking sheets, a sheet stacked on the first stacking means, and an image formed by the image forming apparatus. Transport means for transporting the sheet, the second loading means for loading the sheet from the first loading means and the sheet from the image forming apparatus transported by the transport means, and the first loading means. Sheet processing including size detection means for detecting the size of a stacked sheet, and abnormality detection means for detecting a conveyance error of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means based on a condition for detecting a conveyance error of the sheet. In the control method of the apparatus, prior to the detection of the sheet size by the size detection unit, the conveyance of the sheets stacked on the first stacking unit is started by the conveyance unit. A control step of controlling the condition of the abnormality detecting means to be different before and after the size of the sheet is determined by the size detecting means. is there.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on input data, wherein the first loading means for loading sheets, and the first loading means Transport means for transporting the sheet loaded on the means and the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means, and loading the sheet from the first loading means and the sheet from the image forming means transported by the transport means A second stacking unit that performs the operation, a size detection unit that detects a size of the sheet stacked on the first stacking unit,
Based on a condition for detecting a sheet conveyance error, based on a condition for detecting a sheet conveyance error of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit, and prior to the sheet size detection by the size detection unit, The conveyance of the sheets stacked on the first stacking unit is started by the conveyance unit, and control is performed so that the condition of the abnormality detection unit differs before and after the size of the sheet is determined by the size detection unit. An image forming apparatus having a control unit is provided.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a copying apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying apparatus 1000 includes a document feeding unit 100, an image reader unit 200 and a printer unit 300, a folding unit 400, a finisher 500, and an inserter 900.

Referring to FIG. 1, on a tray 1001 of a document feeding section 100, an upright state is viewed from a user, and
It is assumed that a document is set in a face-up state (a state where an image is formed is facing upward), and the binding position of the document is located at the left end of the document. Documents set on the tray 1001 are sequentially moved left by one by one from the top page by the document feeding unit 100 (in the direction of the arrow in the figure).
That is, the sheet is conveyed with the binding position at the leading end. Then, the original is further placed on the platen glass 102 through the curved path.
The paper is conveyed from left to right on the top, and then
12 is discharged. At this time, the scanner unit 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a state where the document is held at a predetermined position, and the document is read by passing the document from left to right on the scanner unit 104. The above-mentioned reading method is referred to as "moving original reading". Original is platen glass 102
When the document passes above, the document is irradiated by the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108.

It is also possible to perform a document reading process by temporarily stopping the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 100 on the platen glass 102 and moving the scanner unit 104 from left to right in this state. This reading method is referred to as original fixed reading. When reading a document without using the document feeding unit 100, the user lifts the document feeding unit 100 and sets the document on the platen glass 102. In this case, the fixed original reading described above is performed.

The image data of the document read by the image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined image processing and sent to the exposure control unit 110. Exposure control section 110 outputs a laser beam according to the image signal. The laser beam is scanned by the polygon mirror 110a while the photosensitive drum 111 is being scanned.
Irradiated on top. On the photosensitive drum 111, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by a developing unit 113 and is visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the recording paper is a cassette 114, 115,
The sheet is conveyed to the transfer unit 116 from one of the manual sheet feeding unit 125 and the double-sided conveyance path 124. Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to recording paper in the transfer unit 116. The recording paper after the transfer is subjected to a fixing process in a fixing unit 117.

The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is once guided to a path 122 by a flapper 121, is switched back after the trailing end of the recording paper has passed through the flapper 121, and is conveyed to a discharge roller 118 by the flapper 121. Then, the recording paper is discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118. As a result, the surface on which the toner image has been formed can be discharged from the printer unit 300 in a face-down state. This is referred to as reverse paper discharge.

As described above, when the recording paper is discharged face-down to the outside of the apparatus, the image forming process is performed sequentially from the first page, for example, when the image forming process is performed using the document feeding unit 100, When performing image forming processing on image data from a computer, the page order can be made uniform.

The OH transported from the manual paper feeder 125
When an image forming process is performed on a hard sheet such as a P sheet, the printer unit 300 is driven by the discharge roller 118 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing upward (face up) without guiding the sheet to the path 122. Discharged from

When image forming processing is performed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided straight from the fixing unit 117 toward the discharge roller 118, and the sheet is switched back immediately after the rear end of the sheet has passed through the flapper 121. Flapper 12
1 leads to a double-sided conveyance path.

Next, the image forming processing methods in the case of fixed original reading and the case of moving original reading will be described with reference to FIG.

In the case of fixed original reading, the scanner unit 1
The document image is scanned by scanning the document 04 from left to right. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, a reading scan in which the main scanning direction is Sy and the sub-scanning direction is Sx is performed on the document image, and the image of the document is read by the image sensor 109. With respect to the image read by the image sensor 109, the image read in the main scanning direction Sy is sequentially converted into laser light by the exposure control unit 110, and the laser light is scanned by the polygon mirror 110a (scanning in the direction of the arrow in the drawing). 2) to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111. When the electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized as a toner image and the toner image is formed on a sheet, a normal image (non-mirror image) which is not a mirror image is formed on the sheet.

On the other hand, in the case of the moving original reading, as shown in FIG. 2B, a reading scan is performed on the original image in the main scanning direction Sy and the sub scanning direction Sx. Is read. At the time of original scanning, since the original is transported from left to right, the sub-scanning direction is opposite to the sub-scanning direction at the time of fixed original reading. Therefore, the image read by the image sensor 109 is a mirror image of the original image, and it is necessary to correct the mirror image to a normal image. Therefore, in the case of original scanning, mirror image processing is performed to convert the image read by the image sensor 109 into a normal image. In mirror image processing,
As a process of switching the main scanning direction to the reverse direction, a process of reversing an image read in one direction of the main scanning direction in the direction opposite to the one direction of the main scanning direction is performed.

That is, the mirror image processing of the present embodiment corresponds to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, a process for rotating the read image by 180 degrees and outputting the read image is referred to as a mirror image process.

The image read by the image sensor 109 by the mirror image processing is converted into a normal image, and the photosensitive drum 1
An electrostatic latent image after mirror image processing is formed on 11. When the electrostatic latent image thus formed is visualized as a toner image and the toner image is formed on a sheet, a normal image that is not a mirror image is formed on the sheet. Further, by inverting and discharging the sheet on which the image has been formed, the sheet on which the toner image has been formed can be discharged from the outside (the printer unit 300) with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing downward. Then, if the rear end side of the sheet discharged by the reverse discharge is stapled by a stapler 601 of the finisher 500 described later, when the sheet is viewed from the surface on which the image is formed, the left side of the sheet with respect to the image is Can be bound.

Mirror image processing can be performed by changing the sub-scanning direction to the opposite direction. In this case, however, the mirror image processing cannot be performed unless the reading processing of the image of one page of the original is completed, or the mirror image processing cannot be performed. Considering that the left end side of the sheet is bound to the image by the rear end binding after the paper, mirror image processing by exchanging in the main scanning direction is preferable.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sheet discharged from printer unit 300 by discharge roller 118
It is sent to 00. The folding processing section 400 performs a folding process so as to fold the sheet into a Z shape. For example,
In the case of A3 size or B4 size sheet and the designation of the folding process is performed by the operation unit, the folding process is performed on the sheet discharged from the printer unit 300. On the other hand, in other cases, the sheet discharged from the printer unit 300 is sent to the finisher 500 without performing folding processing.

An inserter 900 is provided on the finisher 500. The inserter 900 is for inserting a sheet different from the normal recording paper into the first page, the last page, or the middle page of the recording paper.
This is for inserting an interleaf or cover sheet between sheets on which an image is formed at 00. In the finisher main body 500, processes such as a bookbinding process, a binding process, and a punching process are performed on a sheet bundle including the sheet conveyed from the printer unit 300 and the sheet from the inserter 900.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the copying apparatus 1000. The CPU circuit unit 150 has a CPU (not shown), and follows the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the settings of the operation unit 1, and according to the settings, the original feed control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, and the image signal control unit 202. , The printer control unit 301, the folding process control unit 401, the finisher control unit 501, and the external I / F 203. The document feed control unit 101 controls the document feed unit 100, the image reader control unit 201 controls the image reader unit 200, the printer control unit 301 controls the printer unit 300, the folding process control unit 401 controls the folding process unit 400, Finisher control unit 50
1 controls the finisher 500. The operation unit 1 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like, and transmits a key signal corresponding to an operation of each key by the user to the CPU circuit unit 150. At the same time, the corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and as a work area for operations involved in control. An external I / F 203 is an interface between the copying apparatus 1000 and an external computer 204, develops print data from the computer 204 into a bitmap image, and converts the print data as image data into an image signal control unit 202.
Output to Further, an image of a document read by the image sensor 209 is output from the image reader control unit 201 to the image signal control unit 202. Printer control unit 301
Outputs the image data from the image signal control unit 202 to the exposure control unit 110.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for describing the image signal control unit 202 in detail. Image signal control unit 202
Has an image processing unit 203, a line memory 204, a page memory 205, and a hard disk 206. The image processing unit 203 performs an editing process according to an image correction process and settings from the operation unit 1. In the line memory 204, the above-described process of switching the main scanning direction, that is, the mirror image process is performed. The image output from the line memory 204 is input to the printer control unit 301 via the page memory 205. The hard disk 206 is used for a process of changing the page order, that is, for an electronic sort.

Next, the configuration of the folding section 400 and the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 illustrates the folding processing unit 400 and the finisher 50 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a zero.

The folding section 400 has a transport path 402 for introducing the sheet discharged from the printer section 300 and guiding the sheet to the finisher 500 side. On the transport path 402, transport roller pairs 403 and 404 are provided.
Further, a switching flapper 410 provided near the transport roller pair 404 is for guiding the sheet transported by the transport roller pair 403 to the folding path 420 or the finisher side 500.

When performing the folding process, the switching flapper 410
Is switched to the folding path 420 side, and the sheet is folded
Lead to zero. The sheet guided to the folding path 420 is conveyed to the folding roller 421 and is folded into a Z shape. on the other hand,
When the folding process is not performed, the switching flapper 410 is switched to the finisher side 500, and the sheet discharged from the printer unit 300 is directly fed via the transport path 402.

The configuration of the finisher 500 will be described. The finisher 500 takes in the sheet from the printer unit 300 conveyed through the folding unit 400,
To perform processing for aligning a plurality of fetched sheets and bundling them as one sheet bundle, stapling processing (stapling processing) for stapling the rear end side of the sheet bundle, sorting processing, non-sort processing, bookbinding processing, and the like. belongs to.

As shown in FIG. 5, the finisher 500
Is the printer unit 3 transported via the folding unit 400
The apparatus has an inlet roller pair 502 for taking in the sheet from 00 into the apparatus. Downstream of the entrance roller pair 502, the sheet is fed to the finisher path 552 or the first bookbinding path 5.
A switching flapper 551 for leading to 53 is provided.

The sheet guided to the finisher path 552 passes through a pair of conveying rollers 503 and is supplied to a buffer roller 505.
Conveyed toward. The transport roller pair 503 and the buffer roller 505 are configured to be able to rotate forward and backward.

Inlet roller pair 502 and transport roller pair 503
Between them, an entrance sensor 531 is provided. still,
A second bookbinding path 554 branches from the finisher path 552 near the upstream of the entrance sensor 531. Hereinafter, this branch point is referred to as branch A.

The branch A branches from the entrance roller pair 502 to the transport path for transporting the sheet to the transport roller pair 503. The transport roller pair 503 is rotated in the reverse direction.
The sheet is fed into the entrance sensor 531 from the conveying roller pair 503 side.
When the sheet is conveyed to the side, a branch having a one-way mechanism is formed so that the sheet is conveyed only to the second bookbinding path 554 side.

The transport roller pair 503 and the buffer roller 50
5, a punch unit 550 is provided.
The punch unit is operated as necessary, and performs a punching process near the rear end of the sheet conveyed via the conveying roller pair 503.

The buffer roller 505 includes a transport roller pair 5
The roller 505 is a roller capable of winding a predetermined number of sheets conveyed through the roller 503, and is pressed by the pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514 while the roller 505 is rotating. The sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed in a direction in which the buffer roller 505 rotates.

A switching flapper 510 is provided between the pressing roller 513 and the pressing roller 514.
A switching flapper 511 is provided on the downstream side of 14. The switching flapper 510 separates the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505 and guides the sheet to the non-sort path 521 or the sort path 522.

The switching flapper 511 is
This is for separating the sheet wound on the sheet 05 from the buffer roller 505 and leading the sheet to the sort path 522. Further, the sheet is guided to the buffer path 523 in a state where the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 is wound.

The sheet guided to the non-sort path 521 by the switching flapper 510 is discharged onto the sample tray 701 via the discharge roller pair 509. In the middle of the non-sort path 521, a paper discharge sensor 533 for detecting a jam or the like is provided.

On the other hand, the sheet guided to the sort path 522 by the switching flapper 510 is
07, and is stacked on an intermediate tray (hereinafter, processing tray) 630. The sheet group stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630 is subjected to alignment processing and stapling processing in accordance with settings from the operation unit 1, and thereafter, a discharge roller 680.
a and 680b are discharged onto the stack tray 700. Note that the above-described stapling processing is performed by the stapler 601.
It is performed by The stack tray 700 is configured to be able to run in the vertical direction by itself.

The first bookbinding pass 553 or the second bookbinding pass 5
The sheet from 54 passes through the bookbinding entrance sensor 817 and is stored in the storage guide 820 via the pair of conveying rollers 813. The sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 813 is conveyed until the leading end of the sheet comes into contact with the movable sheet positioning member 823. The transport rollers 81
The bookbinding entrance sensor 817 is arranged on the upstream side of the third. Further, two pairs of staplers 818 are provided on the downstream side of the transport roller 813, that is, in the middle position of the storage guide 820, and an anvil 819 is provided at a position facing the stapler 818. The stapler 818
Is configured to cooperate with the anvil 819 to bind the center of the sheet bundle.

A folding roller pair 826 is provided on the downstream side of the stapler 818, and a projecting member 825 is provided at a position facing the folding roller pair 826. By projecting the protruding member 825 toward the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 820, the sheet bundle is pushed out between the folding roller pair 826, and the folding roller pair 826 is pushed.
Is folded by Then, the sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 832 via a sheet discharge roller 827. Discharge roller 827
A bookbinding discharge sensor 830 is arranged on the downstream side of.

When the sheet bundle bound by the stapler 818 is folded, the positioning member 823 is moved so that the staple position of the sheet bundle comes to the center position (nip point) of the folding roller pair 826 after the stapling process is completed. It is lowered by a predetermined distance from the place where the staple processing is performed. Thus, the sheet bundle can be folded around the position where the stapling process has been performed.

Next, the inserter 900 provided above the finisher 500 will be described. The inserter 900 is for feeding sheets set on the tray 901 to any of the sample tray 701, the stack tray 700, and the tray 832 without passing through the printer unit 300. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a user sets a cover (or interleaf) sheet in a tray 901 of the inserter 900 in a face-up state (a state in which the front surface is up) by the user. The sheet bundle stacked on the tray 901 by the user is sequentially separated one by one, and is conveyed to the finisher path 552 or the bookbinding path 553. Hereinafter, the configuration of the inserter 900 will be described.

The sheet bundle stacked on the tray 901 is conveyed by a paper feed roller 902 to a separation section including a conveyance roller 903 and a separation belt 904. Then, the sheet is separated one by one from the uppermost sheet by the conveying roller 903 and the separation belt 904. Then, the separated sheet is conveyed to a conveyance path 908 by a pair of extraction rollers 905 close to the separation unit, and conveyed to a pair of entrance rollers 502 via a pair of conveyance rollers 906.

Note that the paper feed roller 902 and the transport roller 903
A paper set sensor 910 for detecting whether or not a sheet is set is provided therebetween. In the vicinity of the pair of pull-out rollers 905, a pair of pull-out rollers 90
5, a paper feed sensor 907 for detecting whether or not the sheet has been conveyed is provided. A transport path 908 for transporting a sheet from the inserter 900 joins a transport path 402 for transporting a sheet from the printer unit 300 near the upstream side of the entrance roller pair 502.

Next, the configuration of the finisher control section 501 for controlling the drive of the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the finisher control unit 501 of FIG.

The finisher control section 501 has a CPU circuit section 510 composed of a CPU 511, a ROM 512, a RAM 513, etc., as shown in FIG. The CPU circuit section 510 communicates with the CPU circuit section 150 provided on the copying apparatus main body side via the communication IC 514 to perform data conversion, and performs ROM conversion based on an instruction from the CPU circuit section 150.
The drive control of the finisher 500 is performed by executing various programs stored in the finisher 500. Also, the CPU circuit unit 5
Reference numeral 10 has a jam timer (not shown) for detecting a jam.

When the drive control of the finisher 500 is performed, detection signals from various sensors are input to the CPU circuit section 150. Various sensors include an inlet sensor 531,
Bookbinding entrance sensor 817, bookbinding discharge sensor 830, paper feed sensor 907, paper set sensor 910, paper discharge sensor 53
And the like (see FIG. 5).

The CPU circuit section 510 includes a driver 520
Are connected, and the driver 520 is connected to the CPU circuit unit 5.
Based on the signal from the motor 10, various motors, solenoids, clutches CL1, clutch CL10, and the like are driven.

Various motors include an inlet roller pair 50.
2, an inlet motor M1 that is a driving source of the transport roller pair 503 and the transport roller pair 906, a buffer motor M2 that is a drive source of the buffer roller 505, and a transport roller pair 506;
A discharge motor M3 that is a driving source of the discharge roller pair 507 and the discharge roller pair 509, a bundle discharge motor M4 that is a driving source of the discharge rollers 680a and 680b, and a transport roller pair 813
, A protruding member 825, a pair of folding rollers 826, and a pair of folding and discharging rollers 8.
Motor M12, inserter 90
A feed motor M20, which is a drive source of the feed roller 902, the transport roller 903, the separation belt 904, and the pair of pull-out rollers 905.

The inlet motor M1, the buffer motor M2, and the paper discharge motor M3 are composed of stepping motors. By controlling the excitation pulse rate, the pair of rollers driven by each motor can be rotated at a constant speed, or can have a unique speed. Can be rotated with. The inlet motor M1 and the buffer motor M2 can be driven by the driver 520 in respective forward and reverse rotation directions.

Transport motor M10 and positioning motor M1
1 includes a stepping motor, and a folding motor M12.
Consists of a DC motor. The transport motor M10 is configured to be able to transport a sheet in synchronization with the speed of the entrance motor M1.

The sheet feeding motor M20 is composed of a stepping motor, and is configured to be able to convey the sheet in synchronization with the speed of the entrance motor M1.

The switching flapper 510 is used as a solenoid.
And a switching flapper 5
11, a solenoid SL10 for switching the switching flapper 551, a solenoid SL20 for driving a paper feed shutter (not shown) of the inserter 900, and a solenoid SL21 for vertically moving the paper feed roller 902 of the inserter 900.

Next, a method for setting the operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (a) and 7 (b)
Shows a screen displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 1 of the copying apparatus main body 1000. The screen is a touch panel, and the function is executed by touching the frame of the displayed function.

On the screen shown in FIG. 7A, the user can select an operation mode such as a non-sort mode, a sort mode, a staple sort mode (binding mode), and a bookbinding mode.

On the screen shown in FIG. 7B, a cover mode and a slip sheet mode can be set, and sheets for the cover sheet and slip sheet can be set from the inserter 900 or the manual feed unit 125 to the first page of the recording sheet, the last page. It can be set to be inserted into a page or a middle page.

Next, the inserter 900 and the printer unit 3
The sheet conveyance from 00 to the processing tray 630 in the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 8 to 13 show a state in which a sheet is conveyed from the inserter 900 and the printer unit 300, respectively.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter 900 and sheets from a printer unit 300 are stored on a processing tray 630 of No. 00.

In this embodiment, the sheet conveyed from the inserter 900 is used as a cover sheet, and one sheet from the inserter 900 and two sheets conveyed from the printer unit 300 are set as one copy, and the processing tray Shall be stored in

When a sheet of the sheet bundle C is inserted as a cover into a sheet on which an image has been formed by the printer unit 300, the sheet bundle C is placed on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 by the user as shown in FIG. Set.
At this time, on the tray 901 of the inserter 900, the sheet bundle C is in a face-up state (the surface on which the image is formed is facing upward) and the binding position is on the left side, that is, in an upright state. Is set by the user (see FIG. 8A). The sheet set on the tray 901 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, when the user sets the sheet bundle C on the tray 901 and presses a start key (not shown) on the operation unit 1, the inserter 900 is inserted.
Separation section (conveying roller 903 and separation belt 904)
, The uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle C (hereinafter, referred to as sheet C1) is sequentially separated and conveyed to the conveyance path 908. At this time, the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 as shown in the figure.

The uppermost sheet C 1 of the sheet bundle C conveyed to the conveyance path 908 is conveyed to the buffer roller 505 side. As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet C1 is conveyed to the buffer roller 505 with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward (face down).

Further, from the transport path 906, the entrance roller pair 5
In response to the leading edge of the sheet C1 conveyed through the sheet feeder 02 passing through the entrance sensor 531, sheet conveyance from the printer unit 300 to the inside of the finisher 500 is started. The sheets conveyed from the printer unit 300 into the finisher 500 are referred to as sheets P1 and P2 (see FIGS. 10 to 13), and the sheet P2 is conveyed following the sheet P1.

Next, referring to FIG.
10 and 511 are both switched to the sort path 522 side, and the sheet C conveyed to the buffer roller 505 is
1 is directed to the sort path 522. At this time, following the sheet C1, the sheet P1 from the printer unit 300 is conveyed into the finisher 500. As shown in the figure, the sheet P1 is guided to the finisher 500 with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward. The details will be described below.

In this embodiment, the image reader 200 performs reading processing of a document set in the document feeding section 100, and performs image forming processing in the printer section 300 so that an image of the read document is formed on a sheet. Do. As for the reading method of the original, the original reading is performed.

As described above, in the case of original scanning,
A mirror image process (that is, a process of rotating the input image by 180 degrees) is performed on the read image so that a normal image is formed on the sheet. Then, an image subjected to the mirror image processing is formed on the sheet. When the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged from the printer unit 300, the reverse discharge is performed so that the surface on which the image is formed faces downward (face down). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the sheets P1 and P2
Is sent to the finisher 500 with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward.

The sheet C1 conveyed to the sort path 522
Is transported to the processing tray 630 with reference to FIG. On the other hand, the sheet P1 from the printer unit 300 conveyed subsequent to the sheet C1 is conveyed to the buffer roller 505 via the finisher path 552, and is guided to the sort path 522. At this time, following the sheet P1, the conveyance of the sheet P2 from the printer unit 300 to the inside of the finisher 500 is started. When the second copy is output, at this time, the separation of the sheet (in this case, the sheet C2) following the sheet C1 stacked on the tray 901 is performed by the separation unit of the inserter 900.

Next, referring to FIG. 12, sheet C1 is
The sheet is stored in the storage tray 630 with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward and the binding position on the stapler 601 side. Further, the sheet P1 following the sheet C1 is conveyed toward the processing tray 630 in the same manner as the sheet C1.
The sheet P2 following the sheet P1 is guided to the main body of the finisher 500 and is conveyed toward the buffer roller 505. These sheets P1 and P2 are sequentially conveyed and stored in the storage tray 630.

When outputting the second copy, at this time,
The sheet C2 for the cover of the second copy is conveyed to the conveyance path 908 following the sheet P2, and while the sheet P2 is conveyed to the processing tray 630, the sheet C2 is near the conveyance roller pair 906. Stop temporarily. Then, in response to the preceding sheet P2 of the first set being stored in the storage tray 630, the conveyance of the sheet C2 is restarted.

Next, referring to FIG. 13, sheet P1 is
The sheet P1 subsequent to the sheet P1 is stacked and stored on the sheet C1 already stored in the processing tray 630, and is stacked and stored on the sheet P1 (see FIG. 13A). The sheet P1 and the sheet P2
Has been subjected to mirror image processing so as to be a normal image. When a sheet is conveyed from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500, the printer unit 300
Side, the sheet P is inverted and discharged, so that the sheet P
1 and sheet P2, the surface on which the image is formed faces downward (face down), and the binding position is stapler 601.
Is stored in the processing tray 630 in the side state.

As a post-process, when the binding process is performed on the sheet bundle including the plurality of sheets, the sheet P2
Is performed by the stapler 601 in accordance with the fact that is stored in the processing tray 630. When the sheet bundle on which the stapling process has been performed by the stapler 601 is viewed from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 13A, the state is as shown in FIG. In the case where the stapling process is performed on the sheet bundle including the sheet from the inserter and the sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit 300 in this manner, in this embodiment, the image orientation and the binding position of each sheet match. . Therefore, in a case where the sheet from the inserter 900 and the sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit 300 are mixed, both the first page processing and the post-processing can be performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as processing for aligning the direction of the image of the sheet set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 with the direction of the image input from the image reader 200, the input image is processed. A process of rotating the image by 180 degrees (mirror image processing in this embodiment) is performed, an image subjected to mirror image processing is formed on a sheet, and the sheet from the inserter 900 and the sheet on which the image is formed are placed on a processing tray at 630 (or , A storage guide 82 described later
0).

Thus, the sheet from the inserter 900 and the sheet from the printer unit 300 are transferred to the processing tray 630.
In the case where the sheets are mixedly loaded (or a storage guide 820 described later), the direction of the sheet image from the inserter 900 and the direction of the sheet image from the printer unit 300 can be matched. Therefore, it is easy to align the sheets at the time of the post-processing, and it is possible to prevent a problem that occurs when the post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle in which the sheets from the inserter 900 and the sheets from the printer unit 300 are mixed.

As for the conveyance of the sheet to the processing tray 630, the sheet set in the inserter 900 is inverted and conveyed to the processing tray 630. Similarly, the sheet on which an image is formed by the printer unit 300 is also inverted. The sheet is conveyed from the inserter 900 to the processing tray 630 before the sheet is conveyed from the printer unit 300. Thus, when the sheet from the inserter 900 and the sheet on which the image is formed by the printer unit 300 are mixed, both the first page processing and the post-processing can be performed. For example, a stapler 60 is attached to a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray 630.
When the stapling process is performed in Step 1, the image orientation and the binding position of each sheet can be matched as shown in FIG.

Further, the tray 1001 of the document feeding section 100
Of the original to be set in the tray (the direction in which the original is loaded on the tray 1001) and the tray 90 of the inserter 900.
1 are set in the same direction (the direction in which the sheets are stacked on the tray 901) (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 8), and when viewed from the user, the user is in an upright state and faces up (an image is formed). Each tray can be set in a state where the surface is facing upward). Therefore, when using the cover mode and the slip sheet mode, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of the user and improve operability for the user.

In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, the feeding direction (right to left) of the originals stacked on the tray 1001 of the original feeding unit 100 and the tray 901 of the inserter 900 are described.
The sheet feeding direction (from left to right) is opposite to that of the sheets stacked on each tray, and each tray is configured to face the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus can be downsized and the inserter 900 can be used.
The sheet setability with respect to is improved.

In this embodiment, the image reader unit 200
Although the case where the image of the original is input has been described,
Referring to FIG. 3, the present invention can be applied to a case where image data is input from external computer 210. Also in this case, rotation processing (in this embodiment, referred to as mirror image processing) on the input image is performed as necessary in consideration of the orientation and binding position of the image of the sheet set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900. Then, a processed image is formed on a sheet, the sheet is inverted and discharged, and the sheet is discharged to the finisher 500. Thereby, the inserter 9
In a case where the sheets from 00 and the sheets from the printer unit 300 are mixed, the first page processing and the post-processing can be compatible. Then, when post-processing such as stapling is performed on a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets stored in the processing tray 630, the image orientation and the binding position of each sheet can be matched.

In FIGS. 8 to 13, the case where the sheet from the inserter 900 is inserted into the first page of the sheet from the printer unit 300 as the cover mode has been described. The present invention can be applied to a case where a sheet from the inserter 900 is inserted between sheets as a separating sheet for interleaving paper.

Next, the bookbinding process will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is performed when the operation mode set by the user on the display panel of the operation unit 1 shown in FIG. 7 is the bookbinding mode. FIG. 14 is a view for explaining image forming processing in the bookbinding mode in the copying apparatus 1000 shown in FIG.

When the bookbinding mode is designated, the original feeding unit 1
The originals set on the tray 1001 are sequentially read from the first page, the read images of the originals are sequentially stored in the hard disk 206 in the image signal control unit 202, and the number of read originals is counted. When the document reading process is completed, the read document images are classified according to the following equation (1), and the image forming order and the image forming position are determined.

M = n × 4-k (1) (M represents the number of documents. N is an integer of 1 or more, and represents the number of sheets used when forming an image of the read document. Is any value of 0, 1, 2, and 3).

The image forming process in the bookbinding mode will be described with an example where the number of read originals is eight.
As shown in FIG. 14A, eight pages of original image data (R1, R2, R3, R
4, R5, R6, R7, R8) are stored in the reading order.

Then, an image forming order and an image forming position are determined for each image data (R1 to R8). Thus, as shown in FIG. 14B, an R4 image is formed on the left half of the first surface (front surface) of the first page sheet P1, and an R5 image is formed on the right half thereof. Is done. still,
The image formed on the sheet is an image after the mirror image processing has been performed as described above.

The sheet P1 on which the images of R4 and R5 have been formed is transferred again to the transfer unit 11 via the double-sided conveyance path 124.
6 is sent. Then, on the second surface (back surface) of the sheet P1, an image of R6 is formed on the left half, and an image of R3 is formed on the right half. The sheet P1 on which images are formed on both sides is discharged from the printer unit 300 as it is (that is, as it is on the back side), and is conveyed to the first bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500.

The printer unit 300 to the finisher 500
When the sheet P1 is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 14C, the second surface on which the image of R6 and R3 are formed faces upward, and the image of R6 is at the top, and an arrow in the figure is used. Conveyed in the direction. As shown in the figure, an image of R5 is formed on the back side of the portion where the image of R6 is formed.
R4 is formed on the back side of the portion where the image of No. 3 is formed.

Following the above-described processing, an R2 image is formed on the left half and an R7 image is formed on the right half of the first surface (front surface) of the second sheet P2 (FIG. 14 ( b)
reference). The image formed on the sheet is an image after the mirror image processing has been performed as described above.

The sheet P2 on which the images of R2 and R7 are formed is transferred again to the transfer unit 11 via the double-sided conveyance path 124.
6 is sent. Then, on the second surface (back surface) of the sheet P2, an R8 image is formed on the left half and an R1 image is formed on the right half. The sheet P2 on which images are formed on both sides is discharged from the printer unit 300 as it is (that is, as it is on the back side), and is conveyed to the first bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500.

The printer unit 300 to the finisher 500
When the sheet P2 is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 14C, the second surface on which the image of R8 and R1 are formed faces upward, and the image of R8 is at the top, and an arrow in the figure is used. Conveyed in the direction. As shown in the figure, an image of R7 is formed on the back side of the portion where the image of R8 is formed.
An R2 image is formed on the back side of the portion where the one image is formed.

The sheets P1 and P2 are stored in the storage guide 82 via the first bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500.
It is sequentially guided and stored in 0. In the storage guide 820, as shown in FIG. 14D, the sheet P1 protrudes toward the protruding member 825, and the sheet P2 following the sheet P1.
Are stored on the folding roller pair 826 side, respectively. Also, the first surface (front surface) of each sheet P1, P2
Are stored so as to face the protruding member 825 side.
The positioning of the sheets P1 and P2 in the storage guide 820 is performed by a positioning member 823.

Next, the inserter 900 in the bookbinding mode is set.
15 to 22 regarding sheet conveyance from the printer unit 300 to the storage guide 820 in the finisher 500.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 15 to 21 are diagrams for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter 900 and the printer unit 300 to the storage guide 820 in the finisher 500 in the bookbinding mode. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of performing bookbinding by performing binding processing and folding processing in the finisher 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

When bookbinding is performed by inserting the sheet C1 as a cover into a sheet after image formation, the sheet C1 is set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 as shown in FIG. The sheet C1 is set by a user, and as shown in FIG. 15A, the tray 901 is set with the surface on which the image R and the image F are formed facing upward.
And the image is fed with the image F at the top.

That is, the sheet C1 is set in an upright state and face-up state as viewed from the user, and the setting state of the sheet (the direction in which the sheets are stacked on the tray 901) corresponds to the setting of the original in the original feeding unit 100. This is the same as the state (the direction in which the originals are stacked on the tray 1001). Accordingly, operability when setting a sheet on the inserter 900 can be improved.

When the user sets a sheet bundle including the sheet C1 on the tray 901, and presses a start key (not shown) on the operation unit 1, as shown in FIG. Paper is started. In this case,
The switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side. The sheet C1 is guided from the conveyance path 908 to the finisher path 552 via a pair of entrance rollers. Then, when the leading end of the sheet C1 is detected by the entrance sensor 531, feeding of the sheet (the sheet P1 shown in FIG. 17) from the printer unit 300 is started.

Next, referring to FIG.
10 has been switched to the non-sort path 521 side. Then, the sheet C1 is guided to the non-sort path 521 via the buffer roller 505, and the sheet P1 conveyed from the printer unit 300 is guided to the finisher.

When the sheet C1 is guided to the non-sort path 521 side and conveyed to a position where the rear end of the sheet passes through the entrance sensor 531, as shown in FIG.
1 is temporarily stopped. The position at which the sheet C1 is stopped is a position at which the sheet C1 is not driven by at least the entrance roller pair 502.

On the other hand, sheet P1 from printer section 300
Is guided into the finisher 500, and the sheet C1
18, the sheet P1 is moved by the switching flapper 551 to the first binding path 5 as shown in FIG.
It is guided by 53 and stored in the storage guide 820. Further, the sheet P2 follows the sheet P1 in the first bookbinding pass 5.
It is led to 53.

In this embodiment, the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 and the sheets P1 and P2 from the printer unit 300 are used.
An example is given of the case where bookbinding is performed with a total of three sheets as a part. However, when the second copy is output, at this point, the sheet bundle set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 follows the sheet C1. The sheet C2 is separated and conveyed. The sheet C2 separated by the separation unit of the inserter 900 is conveyed to a position before the conveying roller pair 906, and the position (conveyance) until all the sheets P1, P2, and C1 are stored in the storage guide 820. (A position before the roller pair 906).

The sheets P1 and P2 are stored in the storage guide 8.
The conveyance of the sheet C1 is restarted in response to the sheet C1 being stored. More specifically, as shown in FIG.
Is reversely fed to the storage tray 820 side, and the branch A, the second
It is guided into the storage guide 820 via the bookbinding path 554. The sheet P1 and the sheet P2 are stored in the storage guide 820 in a state shown in FIG.

At this time, since the sheet C1 is reversely fed, as shown in FIG. 20, the sheet P1 and the sheet P1 which have been conveyed with the image R side at the top and already stored in the storage guide 820. The sheets are stacked and stored on a sheet bundle made of P2.

When outputting the second copy, the sheet C1 is output.
Is stored in the storage guide 820, the conveyance of the sheet C2 resumes so that the sheet C2 following the sheet C1 is conveyed to the buffer roller 505 side. Also,
For example, when the sheet C2 is an inappropriate sheet having a size different from the predetermined size, the sheet is directly discharged to the sample tray 701 as shown in FIG. In such a case, in the state shown in FIG.
The sheet C2 is discharged onto the sample tray 701 via the buffer roller 505 without stopping the conveyance of the sheet C2.

After the sheet C1 is stored in the storage guide 820, referring to FIG. 22 (a), the projecting member 82 protrudes from the sheet bundle including the sheet C1 and the sheets P1 and P2.
5 is pushed out, and the sheet bundle is extruded toward the pair of folding rollers 826. The sheet bundle extruded toward the pair of folding rollers 826 is folded at the center (the image boundary portion of the image surface) by the pair of folding rollers 826 and is discharged to the saddle discharge tray 832.

The sheet bundle folded in this manner is
As shown in FIG. 22B, the image F of the sheet C1 is arranged on the cover page, and the image R of the sheet C1 is arranged on the last page. Further, the images of the sheets P1 and P2 are arranged in the page order, and the directions of the images of the sheets C1, P1 and P2 match.

As described above, when the bookbinding process is performed on a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets, the inserter 9 is used.
The sheet feed control from the printer unit 300 and the conveyance control of the sheet from the printer unit 300 cause the images of the sheet (in this case, the sheet C1) from the inserter 900 to be arranged on the first page and the last page. (In this case, the sheets P1 and P2) can be arranged in page order, and the orientations of the images can be matched.

In the state where the sheet C1 is stored in the storage guide 820, the sheet bundle including the sheet C1 and the sheets P1 and P2 can be bound at the center by the stapler 818. In this case, as shown in FIG. 22B, the left end of the bound sheet bundle is the binding position.

Next, processing related to drive control of the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart relating to the processing for determining the operation mode for finisher 500. This processing is executed by the CPU circuit unit 510 in the finisher control unit 501 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150.

First, it is determined whether or not a finisher start signal for instructing the finisher 500 to start operation is input to the finisher control unit 501 (step S2301). The processing in step S2301 is performed by the operation unit 1
In this case, the process is repeated until the user presses a start key for instructing the start of copying, and a finisher start signal is input from the CPU circuit unit 150 to the finisher control unit 501.

If it is determined in step S2301 that a finisher start signal has been input to the finisher control unit 501, driving of the inlet motor M1 is started (step S2302). Next, it is determined based on the data from the communication IC 514 whether or not there is a paper feed request to the inserter 900 (step S2303). The feed request to the inserter 900 is sent to the finisher control unit 501 when the user selects an inserter on the setting screen displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 1 shown in FIG.

If it is determined in step S2303 that there is a paper feed request to the inserter 900, a pre-inserter paper feed process is performed (step S2304). still,
A detailed description of the pre-inserter sheet feeding process in step S2304 will be described later with reference to FIG.

At step S 2303, inserter 9
If there is no paper feed request for 00, or
If the pre-inserter sheet feeding process is completed in step S2304, a sheet feeding signal is output to the CPU circuit unit 150 of the copying apparatus main body 1000 via the communication IC 514 (step S2305). The CPU circuit section 150 that has received the sheet feed signal starts the image forming process.

Next, from the CPU circuit section 150 to the communication IC 5
It is determined whether or not the operation mode set by the operation unit 1 is the bookbinding mode based on the post-processing mode data received via the server 14 (step S2306). The setting of the operation mode is performed by the user on the operation mode setting screen displayed on the display panel of the operation unit 1 shown in FIG.

If it is determined in step S2306 that the set operation mode is the bookbinding mode, bookbinding processing is performed (step S2307). Step S23
A detailed description of the bookbinding process 07 will be described later with reference to FIG. Upon completion of the bookbinding process in step S2307, the process returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S2306 that the set operation mode is not the bookbinding mode, it is determined whether the set operation mode is any of the non-sort mode, the sort mode, and the staple sort mode. (Step S2308).

If it is determined in step S2308 that the set operation mode is the non-sort mode, non-sort processing is performed (step S2309).
The non-sort processing in step S2309 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S2308 that the set operation mode is the sort mode, a sort process is performed (step S2310). A detailed description of the sorting process in step S2310 is described in FIG.
Will be described later.

If it is determined in step S2308 that the set operation mode is the staple sort mode, a staple sort process is performed (step S23).
11). The detailed description of the staple sort process in step S2311 will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the non-sort processing is completed in step S2309, or when the sort processing is completed in step S2310, or when step S23
If the staple sort process is completed in step 11,
The driving of the inlet motor M1 is stopped (step S231).
2) Return to step S1 and wait for input of a finisher start signal.

Steps S2307 and S23
09, step S2310, or step S2311, if it is determined in step S2303 that there is a sheet feed request to the inserter 900, first, the pre-inserter sheet feeding process in step S2304 is performed.

Next, a detailed description will be given of the pre-inserter sheet feeding process in step S2304 with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating details of the pre-inserter sheet feeding process in step S2304 in FIG. This process is performed when it is determined in step S2303 in FIG. 23 that there is a paper feed request to the inserter 900, and is performed by the CPU circuit unit 510 in the finisher control unit 501.

In the pre-inserter feed process, first, a pre-feed check is performed (step S2400). Step S2
At 400, it is checked whether or not there is a sheet on the tray 901 of the inserter 900, and information on sheet designation data and the like from the operation unit 1 is checked.
000 is sent to the CPU circuit unit 150.

A pre-feeding check is performed in step S2400, and if it is confirmed that the feeding conditions for feeding sheets from the inserter 900 are satisfied, pre-separation processing is performed (step S2401). As the pre-separation processing, first, the shutter solenoid SL20 (see FIG. 6) is turned on so as to open the paper feed shutter (not shown) of the inserter 900. Next, the sheet feeding roller 902 is lowered, and the tray 901 is moved.
The pickup solenoid SL21 is turned on so as to land on the sheet. Further, the clutch CL10 is turned on so as to transmit the driving force of the paper feed motor M20 to the paper feed roller 902.

When the process of step S2401 is completed, the driving of the sheet feeding motor M20 is started after a predetermined time, and the separation roller 903, the separation belt 904, and the pull-out roller pair 905 in the inserter 900 are rotated (step S2).
402). By the processing in step S2402, the uppermost sheet (sheet C1 in this embodiment) of the sheet bundle (sheet bundle C in this embodiment) is separated, and the conveyance path 908 is used.
Conveyed toward.

Next, a first transport process is performed (step S2).
403). In the process of step S2403, the feeding state of the sheet C1 is monitored by the sheet feeding sensor 907, and when the leading end of the sheet C1 is detected by the sheet feeding sensor 907,
The clutch CL10 is turned off, and the counting operation of the clock from the clock sensor provided in the sheet feeding motor M20 is started. Then, the counted value is a predetermined value (hereinafter, referred to as a
N1), the driving of the sheet feeding motor M20 is stopped. The counting operation is performed until the sheet feed sensor 907 detects the rear end of the sheet C1.

The process in step S2403 is a step for temporarily stopping the sheet conveyed from the inserter 900 via the pull-out roller pair 905 at a position (see FIG. 18) before the conveying roller pair 906.

CPU circuit unit 1 of copying apparatus main body 1000
It is checked whether there is a request to re-feed the sheet C1 to the inserter 900 from step 50 (step S2404). The process of step S2404 is performed by the CP of the copying apparatus main body 1000.
CPU from the U circuit unit 150 to the finisher control unit 501
This process is repeated until a request to refeed the sheet C1 is issued to the circuit unit 510.

At step S2404, sheet C1
If there is a re-feed request, the second transport process is performed (step S2405). In the process of step S2405,
Sheet C stopped at a position before the conveying roller pair 906
Feed motor M20 for guiding the feed roller 1 to the inlet roller pair 502 side.
Is restarted, and at the same time, the buffer motor M2 and the paper discharge motor M3 are driven. When the trailing end of the sheet C1 is detected by the sheet feed sensor 907, the counting operation started in the process of step S2403 ends, and
The length of the sheet C1 in the transport direction is calculated based on the value counted from the start of counting to the end of counting.

Next, the length of the sheet C1 in the conveyance direction calculated in step S2405 and the above-described step S240
Based on the designated size data acquired at 0, it is checked whether or not the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 has an appropriate size (step S2406).

In step S2406, inserter 90
If it is determined that the sheet C1 from 0 is not the proper size, the switching flapper 510 is switched to the non-sort path 521, and the sheet C1 is discharged onto the sample tray 701 via the non-sort path 521. At the same time, the CPU circuit unit 1 of the copying apparatus main body 1000 notifies that a sheet of an inappropriate size has been conveyed from the inserter 900.
50 (step S2407). Then, an inserter stop process is performed (step S2412), and this process ends, and the flow shifts to step S2305 in FIG. 23 described above.

In the above-described step S2412, the image forming signal prohibition signal sent to the CPU circuit section 150 in step S2400 is released, and the sheet feeding motor M20 is released.
Stop driving. The sheet set sensor 910 detects whether or not there is a sheet on the tray 901 of the inserter 900. If the sheet is still in the tray 901, the shutter solenoid SL20 is kept turned on.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2406 that the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 has an appropriate size, the operation mode set by the operation unit 1 is determined (step S2408).

In step S2408, if the determined operation mode is the non-sort mode, a non-sorting sheet feeding process is executed (step S2409). Step S
In the process of 2409, the sheet C from the inserter 900
1 is discharged onto the sample tray 701. Step S2
Upon completion of the process in S409, the flow shifts to step S2412.

If it is determined in step S2408 that the determined operation mode is the sort mode or the staple mode, the pre-stack paper feeding process is executed (step S2).
410), and proceeds to step S2412.

In the process of step S2410, the switching flappers 510 and 511 are switched to the sort path 522, and the sheet C1 is guided to the processing tray 630. still,
The sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is stacked on the processing tray 630 with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward. On the processing tray 630, sheet alignment processing is performed. Further, the binding process can be performed by using the stapler 601 to perform a binding process on a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets stacked on the tray.

If it is determined in step S2408 that the determined operation mode is the bookbinding mode, a pre-binding sheet feeding process is performed (step S2411). Step S241
In the process 1, the switching flapper 510 is switched to the non-sort path 5
21 and conveys the sheet C1 to a position where the leading end of the sheet C1 reaches the non-sort path 521 (FIG. 17).
reference). Then, the trailing end of the sheet C1 is
3 is stopped, the driving of the buffer motor M2 and the discharge motor M3 is stopped, and the sheet C1
In the non-sort path 521. In the bookbinding mode, in the present embodiment, the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is temporarily on standby in the non-sort path 521, but the position where the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is temporarily stopped is determined by the rear end of the sheet C1. A position is set so as to pass through the roller pair 503 and not receive the conveying force of the conveying roller pair 503. After performing the process in step S2411, the process moves to step S2412.

The pre-inserter sheet feeding process shown in FIG.
Prior to the conveyance of the sheet from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500, the inserter 900 transmits the sheet to the finisher 50.
This is a process for carrying the sheet to zero. In particular, in the cover mode, the cover size can be known in advance by the processing of step S2406 and the like, and the system down due to the mismatch between the sheet size from the inserter 900 and the sheet size from the printer unit 300 is minimized. I can do it.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The non-sort processing in step S2309 in FIG. 23 will be described. This processing is performed when it is determined in step S2308 in FIG. 23 that the operation mode is the non-sort mode.

In the non-sort processing, first, the switching flapper 510 is used to discharge the sheet onto the sample tray 701.
Is driven (see FIG. 5), and the switching flapper 510 is switched to the non-sort path 521 (step S2501).
At this time, the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side.

Next, it is determined whether or not the finisher start signal for the finisher 500 has been turned on (step S2502). The process of step S2502 is a process for confirming whether or not a sheet is conveyed from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500. If it is determined in step S2502 that the finisher start signal has been turned on, the entrance sensor 53
1 is turned on (step S).
2503).

In step S2503, the printer unit 300
This is a step for detecting whether or not the sheet has been conveyed from the printer into the finisher 500. When the leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the printer unit 300 reaches the position where the entrance sensor 531 is located, the sensor 531 is turned on. In addition, the entrance sensor 531 detects that the sheet is completely
1, that is, the rear end of the sheet is
It stays on until it goes out of 1.

If it is determined in step S2503 that the entrance sensor 531 is not on, the flow returns to step S2502. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2503 that the entrance sensor 531 has been turned on, the buffer motor M2 and the discharge motor M3 are started, and
Next, the process waits until the sheet discharge sensor 533 is turned off (that is, until a sheet passes the sensor 533) (step S2504), and when the sheet is turned off, step S2 is performed.
Return to 502.

If it is determined in step S2502 that the finisher start signal has been turned off, it is checked whether all sheets from the printer unit 300 have been discharged onto the sample tray 701 (step S2505). In step S2505, all sheets from the printer unit 300 are stored in the sample tray 701.
If it is determined that the paper has not been discharged upward, step S2
Return to 502.

If it is determined in step S2505 that all sheets from the printer unit 300 have been discharged onto the sample tray 701, the driving of the switching flapper 510, the buffer motor M2, and the discharge motor M3 is stopped (step S2506). This processing ends. After the end of the process, the flow shifts to step S2312 shown in FIG.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The sorting process in step S2310 in FIG. 23 will be described. This processing is performed when it is determined in step S2308 in FIG. 23 that the operation mode is the sort mode.

In the sorting process, first, the processing tray 630
The switching flapper 511 is driven to convey the sheet upward (see FIG. 5), and the switching flapper 51 is moved to the sort path 522 side.
1 (step S2601). In this case,
The switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side.

Next, it is determined whether a finisher start signal for the finisher 500 has been turned on (step S2602). The process of step S2602 is a process for confirming whether or not a sheet is conveyed from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500. If it is determined in step S2602 that the finisher start signal has been turned on, the entrance sensor 53
1 is turned on (step S).
2603).

In step S2603, the printer unit 300
This is a step for detecting whether or not the sheet has been conveyed from the printer into the finisher 500. When the leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the printer unit 300 reaches the position where the entrance sensor 531 is located, the sensor 531 is turned on. In addition, the entrance sensor 531 detects that the sheet is completely
1, that is, the rear end of the sheet is
It stays on until it goes out of 1.

If it is determined in step S2603 that the entrance sensor 531 is not on, the flow returns to step S2602. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2603 that the entrance sensor 531 has been turned on, a sort paper sequence is started (step S26).
04).

As the sort sheet sequence in step S2604, multitask processing is performed by the CPU 511 of the CPU circuit section 510, and starting and stopping of the buffer motor M2 and acceleration / deceleration control of the discharge motor M3 are performed.
In addition, by performing these processes, the sheet interval between the sheet to be conveyed to the processing tray 630 and the subsequent sheet is adjusted, and the sheet is provided on the tray 630 every time a sheet is stored in the processing tray 630. An alignment process is performed on the sheet by the alignment member (not shown). Then, a bundle discharge process to the stack tray 700 is performed in response to the completion of the bundle stacking on the processing tray 630.

After executing the processing in step S2604,
It waits until the entrance sensor 531 is turned off (step S2605).
Return to 2.

If it is determined in step S2602 that the finisher start signal has been turned off, it is checked in step S2604 whether all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge processing have been discharged onto the stack tray 700 (step S2604). S2606).

If it is determined in step S2606 that all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge processing have not been discharged onto the sample tray 700, the process returns to step S2602. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge process have been discharged onto the sample tray 701, the driving of the switching flapper 511 is stopped (step S2607),
This processing ends. After the end of the process, the flow shifts to step S2312 shown in FIG.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The staple sort process in step S2311 in FIG. 23 will be described. This processing is performed in step S230 of FIG.
8 is a process performed when it is determined that the operation mode is the staple sort mode.

In the staple sort process, first, the switching flapper 51 is used to convey a sheet onto the processing tray 630.
1 (see FIG. 5), and switches the switching flapper 511 to the sort path 522 (step S2701).
At this time, the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side.

Next, it is determined whether or not the finisher start signal for the finisher 500 has been turned on (step S2702). The process of step S2702 is a process for confirming whether or not a sheet is conveyed from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500. If it is determined in step S2702 that the finisher start signal has been turned on, the entrance sensor 53
1 is turned on (step S).
2703).

In step S2703, the printer unit 300
This is a step for detecting whether or not the sheet has been conveyed from the printer into the finisher 500. When the leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the printer unit 300 reaches the position where the entrance sensor 531 is located, the sensor 531 is turned on. In addition, the entrance sensor 531 detects that the sheet is completely
1, that is, the rear end of the sheet is
It stays on until it goes out of 1.

If it is determined in step S2703 that the entrance sensor 531 is not in the ON state, the flow returns to step S2702. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2603 that the entrance sensor 531 has been turned on, a staple sort paper sequence is started (step S2704).

As the staple sort paper sequence of step S2704, the CPU 51 of the CPU
The multi-task processing is performed by 1 to start and stop the buffer motor M2 and to control the acceleration / deceleration of the paper discharge motor M3. In addition, by performing these processes, the sheet interval between the sheet to be conveyed to the processing tray 630 and the subsequent sheet is adjusted, and the sheet is provided on the tray 630 every time a sheet is stored in the processing tray 630. An alignment process is performed on the sheet by the alignment member (not shown).
Then, in response to the completion of the stack stacking on the processing tray 630, the stapler 601 performs stapling processing on the sheet bundle, and performs bundle discharging processing to the stack tray 700.

After executing the processing in step S2704,
It waits until the entrance sensor 531 is turned off (step S2705), and when it is turned off, step S270.
Return to 2.

If it is determined in step S2702 that the finisher start signal has been turned off, it is checked in step S2704 whether all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge processing have been discharged onto the stack tray 700 (step S2704). S2706).

If it is determined in step S2706 that all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge process have not been discharged onto the sample tray 700, the process returns to step S2702. On the other hand, if it is determined that all the sheet bundles to be subjected to the bundle discharge process have been discharged onto the sample tray 701, the driving of the switching flapper 511 is stopped (step S2707).
This processing ends. After the end of the process, the flow shifts to step S2312 shown in FIG.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The bookbinding process in step S2307 in FIG. 23 will be described. The processing is performed in step S2306 in FIG.
This processing is performed when it is determined that the operation mode is the bookbinding mode.

In the bookbinding process, first, it is determined based on the size information whether or not the size of the sheet conveyed from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500 is a size suitable for bookbinding (step S2801). If it is determined in step S2801 that the sheet size is not a size suitable for bookbinding, the process ends, and the process returns to step S2301 in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2801 that the sheet size is suitable for bookbinding, a bookbinding initial operation is performed (step S2802). In the bookbinding initial operation in step S2802, the transport motor M10
Is driven to rotate the bookbinding roller pair 813 so that the sheet can be conveyed. At the same time, the switching solenoid SL10 is driven to switch the switching flapper 551 to the first bookbinding path 553 so that the sheet from the printer unit 300 is guided to the storage guide 820. In addition, the width adjustment member (not shown) is positioned so as to have a width having a predetermined amount of margin with respect to the sheet width, and the distance from the sheet positioning member 823 to the staple position of the stapler 818 is determined by the length in the sheet conveyance direction. The positioning motor M11 is rotated by a predetermined number of steps so as to be 1/2 of the value.

Next, it is determined whether or not a sheet from the printer unit 300 has been conveyed into the storage guide 820 based on a signal from the bookbinding entrance sensor 817 (step S280).
3) If the sheet has not been conveyed into the storage guide 820, the process returns to step S2802.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2803 that the sheet from the printer unit 300 has been conveyed into the storage guide 820, the wrapping member (not shown) is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed, and stored in the storage guide 820. An alignment operation in the sheet width direction is performed on the sheet (step S2804).

Next, it is determined whether or not the sheet processed in step S2804 is the last sheet of sheets to be subjected to bookbinding processing as one bundle (step S2805). It returns to step S2802.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2805 that the sheet is the last sheet, an image formation inhibition signal is output to the CPU circuit unit 150 so as not to convey the sheet from the printer unit 300 to the finisher 500 (step S2805).
2806).

Next, it is determined whether or not the user has designated paper feed from the inserter 900 on the screen of the operation unit 1 shown in FIG. 7B (step S2807).
If it is determined that the sheet feeding from the inserter 900 has been designated, an inserter sheet feeding process is performed (step S28).
08). The inserter sheet feeding process in step S2808 will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2807 that sheet feeding from the inserter 900 has not been designated, stapling processing is performed on the sheet bundle aligned in the storage guide 820 using the stapler 818. (Step S2809).

After executing the processing in step S2809,
A bundle transport process is executed (step S2810). In the bundle conveying process in step S2810, the positioning motor M is used to transport the sheet bundle by the distance between the staple position of the stapler 818 and the nip position of the folding roller pair 826.
1 is driven to lower the sheet positioning member 823, and the transport motor M10 is driven again to rotate the transport roller pair 813.

After performing the processing in step S2810,
A folding control process is performed (step S2811). In the folding control process of step S2811, the clutch CL1 is driven, and at the same time, the folding motor M12 is driven to move the protrusion member 825 toward the pair of folding rollers 826 (the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 22A).

By the folding control process, the center of the sheet bundle (that is, the staple position on the sheet) is guided to the nip point of the pair of folding rollers 826, and the sheet bundle is folded by the pair of folding rollers 826. The projecting member 82
5 is configured to be capable of reciprocating operation by a cam mechanism, and stops driving of the clutch CL1 when a sensor (not shown) detects that the projecting member 825 has made one reciprocation.

After executing the processing in step S2811,
It is checked whether or not the folded sheet bundle is discharged to the discharge tray 832 based on the detection signal from the bookbinding discharge sensor 830 (step S2812). Note that the bookbinding discharge sensor 830 detects the rear end of the folded sheet. Step S2812 is repeated until it is confirmed that the sheet bundle has been discharged to the discharge tray 832.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2812 that the sheet bundle has been discharged to the discharge tray 832, the driving of the folding motor M12 is stopped (step S2).
813), it is determined whether or not this sheet bundle is the last sheet bundle to be bound (step S2814).

If it is determined in step S2814 that this is the last sheet bundle to be bound, bookbinding mode end processing is performed (step S2815). In the bookbinding mode end processing in step S2815, the above-described width shifting member and sheet positioning member 823 are respectively moved to predetermined standby positions. Further, the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side. Then, the bookbinding mode ends. After executing the processing of step S2815, step S230 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
Return to 1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2814 that the sheet bundle is not the last sheet bundle to be bound,
The image formation prohibition signal is released, and the fact is notified to the CPU circuit unit 150 (step S2816), and step S28 is performed.
Return to 02.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
The inserter sheet feeding process in step S2808 in FIG. 28 will be described. This processing corresponds to step S2807 in FIG.
Is performed when it is determined that the sheet feeding from the inserter 900 is specified.
This is a process for guiding the sheet from 00 to the storage guide 820.

In this embodiment, prior to the inserter sheet feeding process, the pre-inserter sheet feeding process shown in FIG. 24 is executed. Step S241 of the pre-inserter sheet feeding process in FIG.
By the pre-binding book feeding process, the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is already waiting in the non-sort path 521 (see FIG. 17).

In the inserter feeding process, first, reverse conveyance of a sheet from the inserter 900 waiting in the non-sort path 521 is started (step S2900).
In the reverse conveyance of step S2900, the non-sort path 5
Sheet C from inserter 900 waiting in 21
19, the rotation direction of the inlet motor M1 and the buffer motor M2 is set to the reverse direction, and the driving of these motors is started. At the same time, the driving of the transport motor M10 is started.

Next, it is determined whether or not the rear end of the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 conveyed from the non-sort path 521 to the second bookbinding path 554 is detected by the entrance sensor 531 (step S2901). Step S
Step 2901 is repeated until the entrance sensor 531 detects the rear end of the sheet C1.

In step S2901, when the entrance sensor 531 detects the trailing end of the sheet C1 from the inserter 900, finisher driving stop processing is performed (step S2902). In the finisher drive stop processing of step S2902, the drive of the entrance motor M1 and the buffer motor M2 is stopped. That is, step S2901
In, the conveyance of the sheet C1 is continued until the rear end of the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is detected.

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the sheet bundle currently being processed is the last sheet bundle to be bound (step S).
2903), if it is determined that it is not the last sheet bundle, a start command for starting the above-described pre-inserter sheet feeding process is issued (step S2904). When the start command is issued, the pre-inserter sheet feeding process is performed in parallel with the bookbinding process described above.

Next, it is determined whether or not the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 has been conveyed into the storage guide 820 based on the detection signal from the bookbinding entrance sensor 817 (step S2905). In step S2905, the storage guide 8
This process is repeated until the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 is conveyed into the sheet 20. Note that the bookbinding entrance sensor 817 detects the trailing edge of the sheet. If it is determined in step S2903 that the currently processed sheet bundle is the last sheet bundle to be subjected to bookbinding processing, the process advances to step S2905.

If it is determined in step S2905 that the sheet C1 from the inserter 900 has been conveyed into the storage guide 820, the width shifting member (not shown) is operated after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the sheet C1 stored in the storage guide 820 is operated. An alignment operation is performed on the sheet in the sheet width direction (step S2906). Then, this process ends, and FIG.
The process moves to step S2809.

Next, referring to FIGS. 30 and 31, insert paper is fed from the inserter 900 and the finisher 50 is fed.
A description will be given of the detection of a jam when a sheet is discharged to a non-sort tray (synonymous with a sample tray) 701 via a transport path inside the printer. FIG. 30 shows the inserter 9
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sheet conveyance status from 00 to a non-sort tray 701.

From the inserter 900 to the non-sort tray 7
With reference to FIGS. 30 and 5, the sheet on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 includes a sheet feeding roller 902, a conveying roller 903, and a separation unit in the inserter 900 including a separation belt. Finisher 5 via roller pair 905 and paper feed sensor 907
00, and then a pair of transport rollers 906,
Inlet roller pair 502, entrance sensor 531, transport roller pair 503, punch unit 550, pressing rollers 512, 51
3. The sheet is discharged to the non-sort tray 701 via the sheet discharge sensor 533 and the discharge roller pair 509. At this time, the paper feed sensor 907, the entrance sensor 531 and the paper discharge sensor 533
Is used to detect a jam such as a delay jam and a stay jam of a sheet.

In FIG. 30, d1 is a paper feed sensor 907
Indicates the distance from the entrance sensor to the entrance sensor 531, and d2 indicates the distance from the entrance sensor to the paper discharge sensor 533. In this embodiment, the sheet A having a length (synonymous with the sheet length) less than d1 in the sheet conveyance direction (feed direction) is conveyed from the tray 901 of the inserter 900 to the non-sort tray 701, and the sheet conveyance direction (feed direction). The description will be made in comparison with the case where the sheet B having the length (same as the sheet length) of d1 or more is conveyed from the tray 901 of the inserter 900 to the non-sort tray 701.

Arrows (1) to (5) in the figure indicate the conveyance status of the sheet A (sheet length <d1) from the inserter 900 in chronological order from (1). For example, (1)
Indicates that the leading end of the sheet A has reached the sheet feeding sensor 907, and (2) indicates that the trailing end of the sheet A is
(3) indicates that the leading end of the sheet A has reached the entrance sensor 531, (4) indicates that the rear end of the sheet A has exited the entrance sensor 531,
(5) indicates that the leading end of the sheet A has reached the sheet ejection sensor 533.

Similarly, arrows (a) to (e) show the transport status of sheet B (sheet length ≧ d1) from inserter 900 in chronological order from (a). For example, (a)
Indicates that the leading edge of the sheet B has reached the paper feed sensor 907, and (b) indicates that the leading edge of the sheet B has reached the entrance sensor 531.
(C) indicates that the rear end of the sheet B has passed through the paper feed sensor 907, (d) indicates that the rear end of the sheet B has passed through the entrance sensor 531,
(E) indicates that the leading end of the sheet B has reached the sheet ejection sensor 533.

The check timing for jam detection is as follows.
Referring to FIG. 6, ROM 5 of finisher control unit 501
12 is stored in advance, and the occurrence of a jam is determined based on whether or not there is a sheet in each sensor unit at a predetermined timing. When a jam occurs, a code (jam code) by which the contents of the jam can be identified from the finisher control unit 501 to the CPU circuit unit 150 of the copying machine main body via the communication IC 514.
Is sent.

The entrance sensor 531 is a sensor for detecting a jam such as an entrance delay or an entrance stagnation. The jam condition of the entrance delay jam is determined, for example, by setting the O
N, the entrance sensor 531 does not turn on even after a predetermined time has elapsed (that is, the sheet
In this case, “16” is transmitted to the copying machine as a jam code. The jam condition of the jam at the entrance is such that the sheet is detected by the entrance sensor 531 (that is, after the entrance sensor 531 is turned ON) and the sheet is conveyed for a predetermined distance (for example, paper length + 100 mm). This is the case where the sensor 531 does not come off (that is, the sensor 531 does not turn off). At this time, “26” is transmitted to the copying machine main body as the jam code.

The paper discharge sensor 533 is a sensor for detecting a jam such as a non-sort delay or a non-sort stay. The jam condition of the non-sort delay jam is a predetermined distance (for example, 348+) after the entrance sensor 531 is turned on.
This is the case where the sensor 533 does not detect a sheet even if the sheet is conveyed by 150 mm). At this time, “18” is transmitted to the copying machine main body as a jam code. The jam condition of the non-sort stay jam is such that the sheet does not fall out of the sensor 533 even if the sheet is conveyed for a predetermined distance (for example, sheet length + 100 mm) after the sensor 533 detects the sheet (that is, after the sensor 533 is turned on). (That is, the sensor 533 is not turned off.) At this time, “28” is transmitted to the copying machine main body as the jam code.

A paper feed sensor 907 is a sensor for detecting a jam such as a conveyance delay or a conveyance stagnation. The jam condition of the transport delay jam is, for example, the feed motor M of the inserter.
This is a case where the paper feed sensor 907 does not turn on within a predetermined distance (for example, 600 mm) conveyance after the 20 is turned on (the sheet has not reached the paper feed sensor 907). In this case, the jam code is “1A”. Is transmitted to the copier body. Further, the jam condition of the jammed conveyance is determined after the sensor 907 detects the sheet (that is, the sheet feeding sensor 9).
07 is turned on) a predetermined distance (for example, paper length + 10
0 mm), the sheet does not fall out of the sensor 907 (that is, the sheet feeding sensor 907 does not turn off).
At this time, “2A” is transmitted to the copying machine main body as the jam code.

The above-described paper feed sensor 907 and entrance sensor 5
When detecting a delay jam or a stay jam of a sheet by various sensors such as the sheet ejection sensor 533, a jam timer (not shown) for detecting the jam (hereinafter, a delay jam timer and a stay jam timer) is used. For example, a timer value for a time required to convey a sheet by a predetermined distance is set in the stay jam timer, and the timer is operated when the sensor is turned on. If the sensor is not OFF when the timer expires, it is detected as a stagnant jam.

In this embodiment, the tray 9 of the inserter 900 is
At the time when the sheet is set to 01, the length in the width direction (length in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction) of the sheet set in the inserter 900 is detected. The length (synonymous with the paper length) is detected while the sheet is being conveyed from the inserter 900, and when the sheet passes through the paper feed sensor 907 (the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sensor 907). The length of the sheet in the transport direction is detected by counting the sheet feed amount from the time until the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the sensor 907 (see steps S2403 to S3405 in FIG. 24 described above).

Then, before and after the length of the sheet to be conveyed (in this case, synonymous with the length in the sheet conveying direction and the sheet length) is determined, the timer value to be set in the jam timer is made different. I have to. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining the processing in the case of detecting a jam on a sheet. Here, FIG.
The sheet A and the sheet B shown in FIG.
Note that the magnitude relationship between the lengths of the sheets A and B in the transport direction of each sheet is set as sheet A <d1 ≦ sheet B.

When the sheet to be conveyed from the inserter 900 is the sheet A (sheet length <d1), the state of the sheet A shown in (1) of FIG. 30 (state in which the leading end of the sheet A reaches the sheet feed sensor 907) , The size detection of the sheet A in the sheet feeding direction is started with reference to FIG. 31, and the timer value of “max_len” is set as the timer value in the retention jam timer for detecting the retention jam by the paper feed sensor 907.
A value corresponding to “gth + stay_mergin” is set. "M
“ax_length” means the maximum size that the inserter 900 can handle (corresponding to the length in the sheet conveyance direction in this embodiment), and is 432 mm in this embodiment. This is to prevent a careless jam detection. Further, “stay_mergin” means a detection margin for detecting a stay jam, and in this embodiment, 50 m
m. Note that the inserter 900 can handle sheets that can be stacked on the tray 901 of the inserter and that can be normally conveyed from the tray 901 to a paper output tray (for example, the trays 701 and 702 or the tray 832) via the inside of the finisher 500. A possible sheet. Therefore,
Sheets that are too large for the tray 901 of the inserter, or sheets from the inserter 900 to the finisher 5
A sheet having a large size that does not enter the supply port for supplying the sheet to 00 is not handled by the inserter 900.

Regarding the jam detection method after this point, for example, even after the time required to convey the sheet by 432 mm + 50 mm has elapsed since the feed sensor 907 was turned on, the feed sensor 907 has not been turned off yet. In this case (that is, when the trailing edge of the sheet has not passed through the paper feed sensor 907), it is determined that a conveyance jam has occurred.

Next, when the sheet A is in the state of (2) shown in FIG. 30 (the state in which the rear end of the sheet A has passed through the paper feed sensor 907), referring to FIG. At the same time, the stay jam timer for detecting the stay jam by the paper feed sensor 907 is cleared, and FIG.
(The state in which the leading end of the sheet A has reached the entrance sensor 531), the retention jam timer for detecting the retention jam by the entrance sensor 531 has a timer value of "dete".
A value corresponding to “ct_length1 + stay_mergin” is set.

"Detect_length1" means the length of the actual transport direction (feed direction) of the sheet A detected by counting the sheet feed amount when the sheet passes through the paper feed sensor 907. In the present embodiment, XAmm. Also, “stay_mergin” means a detection margin for staying jam detection similarly to the above, and in this embodiment, 50 mm
And

Regarding the jam detection method after this point, for example, if the entrance sensor 531 has not been turned off even after the time required to convey the sheet equivalent to XAmm + 50 mm has elapsed since the entrance sensor 531 was turned on. It is determined that a jam at the entrance has occurred.

Next, when the sheet A is in the state (4) shown in FIG. 30 (the rear end of the sheet A has passed through the entrance sensor 531), the retention jam timer for detecting the retention jam by the entrance sensor 531 is used. Is cleared, and FIG.
In the state (5) (a state in which the leading end of the sheet A has reached the paper discharge center 533), a value corresponding to “detect_length1 + stay_mergin” as a timer value for a stagnant jam timer for detecting a stagnant jam by the paper discharge sensor 533. Is set.

Regarding the jam detection method after this point, for example, the discharge sensor 533 has not been turned off even after the time required to convey the sheet equivalent to XAmm + 50 mm has elapsed since the discharge sensor 533 was turned on. In this case, it is determined that a non-sort staying jam has occurred.

On the other hand, when the sheet conveyed from the inserter 900 is the sheet B (sheet length ≧ d1), the state of the sheet B shown in FIG. 30A (the state in which the leading end of the sheet B reaches the paper feed sensor 907) ), The size detection of the sheet B in the sheet feeding direction is started with reference to FIG. 31, and the timer value is set to “max” as the timer value for the stagnant jam timer for detecting the stagnant jam by the paper feed sensor 907.
A value corresponding to “_length + stay_mergin” is set. “Max_length” means the maximum size that the inserter 900 can handle (the size in this case is the length in the sheet conveyance direction).
mm. “Stay_mergin” means a detection margin for detecting a stay jam.
0 mm.

Regarding the jam detection method after this point,
For example, when the sheet feed sensor 907 is turned on,
If the paper feed sensor 907 has not been turned off even after the time required to convey 32 mm + 50 mm has elapsed, it is determined that a conveyance jam has occurred.

Next, when the sheet B is in the state shown in FIG. 30B (state in which the leading end of the sheet B has reached the entrance sensor 531), the retention jam timer for detecting the retention jam by the entrance sensor 531 is used. As the timer value, a value corresponding to “max_length + stay_mergin” is set as described above.

[0209] With respect to the length in the sheet conveying direction, the sheet B is longer than the sheet A, and the length is longer than the distance d1 from the paper feed sensor 907 to the entrance sensor 531.
At the stage shown in FIG. 30B, the size of the sheet (the length in the sheet conveying direction) is not determined (that is, the sheet feeding sensor 9).
07 has not been detected in the sheet feeding direction). Therefore, the value to be set in the stay jam timer for stay jam detection by the entrance sensor 531 is set to the maximum size that the inserter 900 can handle. This is to prevent a careless jam detection.

[0210] Regarding the jam detection method after this point, for example, if the entrance sensor 531 has not been turned off after the time required to convey the sheet by 432 mm + 50 mm has elapsed since the entrance sensor 531 was turned on. It is determined that a jam at the entrance has occurred.

Next, when the sheet B is in the state (c) shown in FIG. 30 (a state in which the rear end of the sheet B has passed through the paper feed sensor 907), the size of the sheet B is determined with reference to FIG. At the same time, the stay jam timer for detecting the stay jam by the paper feed sensor 907 is cleared, and when the state shown in FIG. 30D (the rear end of the sheet B has passed through the entrance sensor 531), the entrance is stopped. The stay jam timer for detecting the stay jam by the sensor 531 is cleared, and FIG.
0 (e) (the leading edge of the sheet B is
Is reached), a value corresponding to “detect_length2 + stay_mergin” is set as the timer value in the stay jam timer for detecting the stay jam by the paper discharge sensor 533.

[0212] "detect_length2" means the actual length of the sheet B in the conveying direction detected by counting the sheet feed amount when the sheet passes through the paper feed sensor 907, and is XBmm in this embodiment.

Regarding the jam detection method after this point, for example, even after the time required to convey the sheet equivalent to XB mm + 50 mm has elapsed since the discharge sensor 533 was turned on, the discharge sensor 533 has not been turned off yet. In this case, it is determined that a non-sort staying jam has occurred.

The timer values to be set in the stay jam timer in each of the paper feed sensor 907, the entrance sensor 531 and the paper discharge sensor 533 will be described. As described above, the staying jam detection is performed for each sensor using the staying jam timer. In the present embodiment, the staying jam detection is performed three times in total. Note that the first jam detection starts when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sheet feeding sensor 907, and the second jam detection starts when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the entrance sensor 531. From the time when the leading edge of the sheet reaches 533, the third stay jam detection is started.

Referring to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, when the sheet to be conveyed is sheet A,
, The timer value of the staying jam timer is set to the maximum (longest) size (432 mm in this embodiment) that the inserter 900 can handle. This is to prevent a careless jam detection. Next, when the staying jam is detected by the entrance sensor 531, the trailing end of the sheet has already passed through the sheet feeding sensor 907, that is, the sheet
24 is completed (steps S2403 to S2405 in FIG. 24).
), And the sheet size (in the present embodiment, the length in the sheet conveyance direction) can be detected (determined), so that the timer value of the stay jam timer in the entrance sensor 531 matches the actually detected sheet size. . Next, also in the detection of the staying jam by the paper discharge sensor 533, the sheet size is adjusted to the actually detected sheet size as in the previous case. As described above, after the sheet size is determined, a value corresponding to the actual sheet size is used.

On the other hand, in the case where the sheet to be conveyed is the sheet B and the paper jam sensor 907 detects a stay jam, the timer value of the stay jam timer is set to the inserter 9.
00 is set to the maximum (longest) size that can be handled (432 mm in this embodiment). This is to prevent a careless jam detection. next,
In the case where the stay jam is detected by the entrance sensor 531, unlike the case of the sheet A, the rear end of the sheet has not yet passed through the paper feed sensor 907, that is, the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction is detected (determined). Is not performed, the timer value of the stagnant jam timer in the entrance sensor 531 is set to the maximum (longest) size that the inserter 900 can handle (similar to the previous stagnant jam detection) so that the stagnant jam is not carelessly detected. In this embodiment, it is adjusted to 432 mm). Next, when the staying jam is detected by the sheet ejection sensor 533, the trailing edge of the sheet has already passed through the sheet feeding sensor 907, that is, the sheet feeding amount counting process when the sheet passes through the sheet feeding sensor 907 is performed. Since the length has been completed and the length of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction has been detected (determined), the timer value of the stay jam timer in the sheet discharge sensor 533 is adjusted to the actually detected sheet size. As mentioned above,
When the sheet size is determined after the start of the staying jam detection, the timer value of the staying jam timer is adjusted to the actual sheet size from the next staying jam detection.

In this embodiment, the case of the non-sort mode has been described with reference to FIG. 30, but the present invention can be applied to the case of the sort mode and the bookbinding mode. A program for realizing the processing (function) described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31 is stored in the ROM 51 of the finisher control unit 501.
2 may be stored as a program code, and the CPU 511 of the finisher control unit may read the code and execute the function, or may store the program code in the ROM 151 of the CPU
(Not shown) may be read out and executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the size (in the present embodiment, the length in the sheet conveying direction) of the sheet set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 is detected during the sheet conveying operation from the inserter 900. And yet
The size of the sheet is directly detected using the sheet conveying operation (steps S2403 to S2 in FIG. 24).
405), before and after the size of the sheet to be conveyed from the inserter 900 is determined, the timer value to be set in the stay jam timer for detecting the stay of the sheet is made different, and the sheet is conveyed from the inserter 900. Until the size of the sheet to be determined is determined, the inserter 900 can handle the timer value of the stagnant jam timer in each sensor so that the stagnant jam is not inadvertently detected (in this embodiment, the longest size). , 432 mm), and according to the determination of the sheet size,
The timer value is set to a value corresponding to the actual sheet size.

[0219] Thereby, without lowering the productivity,
In addition to preventing erroneous detection when detecting a staying sheet jam, a problem caused by a difference between a sheet size set in the tray 901 of the inserter 900 and a sheet size set by the user on the operation unit 1 is prevented. You can do it.

For example, although the size of the sheet actually set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 is A3 (the length in the sheet conveying direction is 420 mm),
A4 (the length in the sheet conveying direction is set to 210 m
m), a value obtained by adding a detection margin (for example, 50 mm) of a staying jam (for example, 50 mm) to the size (in this case, 210 mm) set by the user (that is, 210 mm + 50 mm) as a timer value. Although the sheet is set on the jam timer and the sheet from the inserter 900 is normally conveyed, the sheet is passing through a sensor for detecting a jam (for example, the sheet feeding sensor 907) (in this case, Paper feed sensors 907 to 21
The timer times out at the position where the sheet is conveyed by 0 mm + 50 mm), whereby the finisher control unit 501 makes an erroneous determination that a stagnant jam has occurred, stops the sheet conveying operation, and erroneously notifies the copying machine main body. It is possible to prevent such a problem that the transmitted information is transmitted. The present embodiment is also effective, for example, when the size of a sheet set in the inserter 900 is a size of a nonstandard sheet that cannot be selected by the operation unit 1.

Further, even when the actual length of the sheet (length in the sheet conveying direction) conveyed from the inserter 900 is not known on the copying machine main body side, the jam detection can be performed accurately. In addition to being able to detect staying jams carelessly, unnecessary labor and labor for the user can be reduced, and an effect of preventing an increase in cost can be obtained.

For example, when a jam is detected, the sheet conveying operation is stopped. Therefore, the user must perform a sheet removing operation (an operation for removing a sheet stopped inside the apparatus). However, if the sheet is torn or soiled in the sheet removing operation, the user must prepare the same sheet again. Therefore, if the retention jam is inadvertently detected, the number of sheet removal operations performed by the user is increased by that amount, and the possibility of sheet damage or contamination during the sheet removal operation increases. In the present embodiment, in order to avoid such a problem as much as possible, careless jam detection is not performed.

The sheets handled by the inserter 900 are special sheets with high added value (for example, sheets on which images such as photographs are formed, cover sheets of catalogs, glossy paper, colored sheets, etc.), and sheets currently used. It is more likely that the sheet is a sheet (for example, color output paper) that cannot be created by a copying machine (for example, a black-and-white copying machine), and the above-described effect is further enhanced.

The stay jam timer is the maximum sheet size (432 mm in this embodiment) that can be handled by the inserter 900 until the sheet size (in this embodiment, the length in the sheet conveyance direction) is determined. However, in order to compensate for a sheet having a size that is very short compared to the maximum size, in this embodiment, as described above, not only the detection of a stagnant jam in each sensor but also a delay jam timer is set. In addition, delay jam detection in each sensor (the paper feed sensor 907, the entrance sensor 531 and the paper discharge sensor 533) is also performed. Then, in consideration of a sheet having a size much shorter than the maximum size, a jam margin is determined in advance so that the jam can be detected by the delayed jam detection prior to the jam detection by the staying jam detection (FIG. 31). , 100 mm), based on which, the value to be set in the delay jam timer is set, so that the actual stay jam detection for a sheet having a size very short compared to the maximum size described above is delayed. It is also possible to prevent problems such as deterioration of quality from occurring. .

[0225]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Prior to detecting the sheet size by the size detecting means,
Starting the conveyance of the sheets stacked on the first stacking means,
Since the condition of the abnormality detecting means is controlled so as to be different before and after the sheet size is determined by the size detecting means, erroneous detection of a jam can be prevented without lowering the productivity, and the first stacking means can be prevented. It is possible to prevent a problem caused by a difference between the size of the sheet loaded on the sheet and the size of the sheet set by the user, to reduce unnecessary labor and labor for the user, and to prevent an increase in cost. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a copying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing an image forming processing method in each of a case of fixed original reading and a case of moving original reading.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for describing in detail an image signal control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a folding processing unit and a finisher.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a finisher control unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets when sheets from an inserter and sheets from a printer unit are stored on a processing tray.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing bookbinding processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer unit to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a flow of sheets from an inserter and a printer unit to a storage guide in a finisher in a bookbinding mode.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer unit to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a flow of sheets from an inserter and a printer unit to a storage guide in a finisher in a bookbinding mode.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer unit to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer unit to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a flow of a sheet from an inserter and a printer unit to a storage guide in a finisher in a bookbinding mode.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer unit to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode.

FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a flowchart of an operation mode determination process.

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a flowchart of a pre-inserter sheet feeding process.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a flowchart of non-sort processing.

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a flowchart of a sorting process.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a staple sort process.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a flowchart of bookbinding processing.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of an inserter sheet feeding process.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining a sheet conveyance state from an inserter.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a jam detection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1000 Copier 100 Document feeder 200 Image reader 300 Printer 400 Folding unit 500 Finisher 900 Inserter 150 CPU circuit unit 151 ROM 152 RAM 501 Finisher control unit 511 CPU 512 ROM 513 RAM 907 Feed sensor 531 Inlet sensor 533 Discharge Paper sensor

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Okamoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H027 DC14 DC19 EE02 FA27 3F048 AA01 AA02 AA05 AB01 BA07 BA08 CA03 EA00 3F050 AA04 BC04 BD02 CE08 LA01 LA02 LA07 LB03 9A001 HH34 JJ35 KK42

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus that can be connected to an image forming apparatus and stacks sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus, wherein: a first stacking unit that stacks the sheets; and a first stacking unit. Transporting means for transporting the sheets loaded on the sheet and the image-formed sheet by the image forming apparatus; and loading the sheets from the first loading means and the sheets from the image forming apparatus transported by the transporting means. A second stacking unit; a size detection unit for detecting a size of the sheet stacked on the first stacking unit; and a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit based on a condition for detecting a sheet conveyance abnormality. Abnormality detection means for detecting the conveyance abnormality of the sheet, and prior to the detection of the sheet size by the size detection means, A sheet processing apparatus comprising: control means for starting conveyance by the conveyance means, and controlling the conditions of the abnormality detection means to be different before and after the sheet size is determined by the size detection means. . 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls a maximum size of the sheet that can be normally conveyed from the first stacking unit to the second stacking unit until the size of the sheet is determined by the size detection unit. After the size of the sheet is determined by the size detection unit, the data according to the sheet size detected by the detection unit is controlled to be the condition of the abnormality detection unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The sheet loaded on the first loading means is loaded by a user.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 4. A first stacking means which can be connected to the image forming apparatus and stacks sheets, and conveys a sheet stacked on the first stacking means and a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus. Transporting means, a second loading means for loading a sheet from the first loading means and a sheet from the image forming apparatus transported by the transporting means, and a sheet loaded on the first loading means Control method for a sheet processing apparatus, comprising: size detection means for detecting the size of a sheet; and abnormality detection means for detecting a conveyance abnormality of a sheet conveyed by the conveyance means based on a condition for detecting a conveyance error of the sheet. In the above, prior to the detection of the size of the sheet by the size detection means, the conveyance of the sheets stacked on the first stacking means is started by the conveyance means, The method of the sheet processing apparatus characterized by comprising a control step of controlling so as to vary the condition of the abnormality detecting means before and after the size of the sheet by detecting means is determined. 5. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet based on input data, wherein the first stacking unit stacks the sheet, and the first stacking unit stacks the sheet. Transporting means for transporting the sheet formed by the image forming means and the sheet formed by the image forming means; and Loading means; size detecting means for detecting the size of the sheets stacked on the first loading means; and sheet conveyance error of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means based on conditions for detecting sheet conveyance abnormality. Abnormality detection means for detecting the size of the sheet, and prior to the detection of the sheet size by the size detection means, the conveyance of the sheet stacked on the first stacking means An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the abnormality detection unit so that the condition is different between before and after the sheet size is determined by the size detection unit.