JP2001063850A - Image forming device, control method thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stop processing without damaging insert paper in the case of a user erroneously assigning a paper size. SOLUTION: In the case of the generation of an inserter size alarm, image forming action of recording paper in conveyance is stopped, and the recording paper is discharged in a blank paper state (S59). Information about blank paper output in the stopped state of image forming action of recording paper in conveyance is then set (S60). In the case of the generation of the inserter size alarm, the output place of the recording paper is changed so as to be discharged to the same tray as a discharge tray of paper fed from an inserter feed tray (S65). Further, in the case of the discharge of the recording paper being completed, whether the recording paper is the recording paper with which blank paper output information sets is discriminated (S67). In the case of the recording paper with which the blank paper output information is set, a counter for counting the output number of image formed sheets is not put in count-up action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for performing post-processing such as sorting, binding and stacking of sheet materials on which images have been formed, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a sheet processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as sorting, binding, stacking, and punching on an image-formed sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus.

[0003] In such a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet that is not subjected to image formation is inserted into a sheet bundle on which an image has been formed, thereby creating a bundle of non-image forming paper and image forming paper. Inserter) is known.

If the size of the sheet inserted from the inserter is different from the size of the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, alignment, binding, stacking, and the like cannot be performed. For this reason, it is necessary to determine the size of the sheet to be inserted from the inserter. However, if the sheet cassette of the inserter is made the same as the cassette of the sheet tray of the image forming apparatus,
Sheet processing equipment becomes very large,
It becomes a very expensive device.

[0005] In view of this, the size of the sheet to be inserted from the inserter is designated by the user in advance, and it is determined whether or not inconsistency occurs before the start of the image forming operation.

[0006]

However, if the user erroneously specifies a paper size different from the paper size actually set in the inserter, sorting, binding, stacking, etc. are performed according to the size specified by the user. Then, inconsistency occurred and could not be processed correctly.

When such misalignment occurs, if post-processing such as sorting, alignment, and binding is performed, the inserter paper is damaged and the inserter paper cannot be reused. There was a problem that it could not be obtained.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stopping processing without damaging an insert sheet when a user specifies a paper size by mistake, a control method thereof, and a storage medium. I do.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: first sheet material storing means for storing a first sheet material; 1
And an image forming means for forming an image on the first sheet material fed from the sheet material storing means. The processing for stacking by processing the first sheet material on which the image is formed Loading means, transport means for transporting the second sheet material stored in the second sheet material storing means to the processing loading means without passing through the image forming means, and
Size determining means for determining the size of the second sheet material while the second sheet material is being conveyed from the sheet material storing means, and interrupting the image forming operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied as a result of the determination. Control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a size input unit for inputting a size of the second sheet material, wherein the predetermined condition is determined by the size determining unit. Is different from the size input by the size input means.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the predetermined condition is that the determined size is a size that cannot be processed by the processing stacking unit. Features.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects.
A display unit for displaying that the image forming operation has been interrupted by the interruption control unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the size of the input second sheet material is again equal to the size determined by the size determining means. And a restart control unit for restarting the interrupted image forming operation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a sheet material detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means, After the interruption, when it is detected that a new second sheet material is stored in the second sheet material storing means, the image forming apparatus further includes a restart control means for restarting the interrupted image forming operation. And

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the image forming operation is interrupted, the first sheet fed from the first sheet material storing means is provided. Blank paper output information setting means for setting blank paper output information for the sheet material, and changing the output destination of the first sheet material to which the blank paper output information is set to a stacking unit from which the second sheet material is discharged Output destination changing means, wherein the number of output sheets is not counted when discharging the sheet material in which the blank sheet output information is set.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, if the size determined by the size determining means is different from the size input by the size input means, the second And a display means for displaying a message prompting to reset the size of the sheet material and a size setting screen.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the size determined by the size determining means is different from the size input by the size inputting means, the image is displayed on a screen. Display means for displaying a message indicating that the input sizes are different and displaying a pop-up screen for prompting a change of the second sheet material on the screen so as not to overlap the message. And

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, the second sheet material storing means detects the presence or absence of the second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means.
When it is determined that the second sheet material is once removed and re-stacked while the pop-up screen is displayed, the pop-up screen is erased and the image forming operation is resumed. Control means.

An image forming apparatus according to an eleventh aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein the second sheet material storing means detects the presence or absence of a second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means.
When it is determined that the second sheet material has been once pulled out and loaded again while the pop-up screen is displayed, only the input of the size of the second sheet material is permitted. A permission unit, and a restart control unit that restarts the image forming operation when the size of the second sheet material is input by the user based on the permission.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of the image forming apparatus, an image is formed on a first sheet material fed from a first sheet material storage unit for storing the first sheet material, and the image is formed. The first sheet material on which is formed is processed and stacked on the processing stacking unit, and the second sheet material stored in the second sheet material storage unit is processed and stacked without passing through the image forming unit. A step of determining the size of the second sheet material while the second sheet material is being conveyed from the second sheet material storage unit; If the condition is satisfied, the step of interrupting the image forming operation; and, if the image forming operation is interrupted, blank sheet output information for the first sheet material fed from the first sheet material storing means. Setting the first sheet in which the blank page output information is set. Changing the output destination of the material to the stacking unit from which the second sheet material is discharged, and not counting the number of output sheets when discharging the sheet material set with the blank sheet output information. Features.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium which controls an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a first sheet material fed from a first sheet material storage unit for storing the first sheet material. And controls the image forming operation, processes the first sheet material on which the image is formed, loads the first sheet material on the processing stacking unit, and removes the second sheet material stored in the second sheet material storage unit. A storage medium storing a program to be conveyed to the processing stacking unit without passing through the image forming unit, wherein the program is configured to execute the second sheet material during conveyance of the second sheet material from the second sheet material storage unit. A step of determining the size of the sheet material, a step of interrupting the image forming operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied as a result of the determination, and a step of storing the first sheet material when the image forming operation is interrupted. Fed by means A procedure for setting blank sheet output information for one sheet material, and a procedure for changing the output destination of the first sheet material set with the blank sheet output information to a stacking unit from which the second sheet material is discharged And a step of not counting the number of output sheets when discharging the sheet material on which the blank sheet output information is set.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes
1. The present invention is applied to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus 102 and a sheet processing apparatus (finisher) 103. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

The reading / feeding device 101 transports the set document p to a reading position on the document table glass 78, and then transports the document p to a discharge position, and the document fed to the reading position. A lamp 79 for irradiating the document p, a CCD line sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 76 for detecting an image of the document, reflection mirrors 72, 73, and 74 for guiding light from the document p to the CCD 76, and a lens for connecting the image of the document on the CCD 76 It comprises an optical system 52 having a reference numeral 75.

The image forming apparatus 102 includes a plurality of recording paper storage units 53 and 54 on which recording papers (sheets) S (S1, S2) of different sizes are stacked, and a recording paper feeding unit 5 for feeding the recording paper.
5 and 56. The fed sheet S is transported to the sheet transport path 60 via the sheet transport path 57. Reference numeral 61 denotes a laser scanner that forms a latent image (toner image) on the photoconductor of the image forming unit 62 by scanning a laser beam based on the image information read by the optical system 52 described above.

Reference numeral 62 denotes an image forming section for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive member to the sheet S. Image forming unit 62
The sheet S on which an image is formed by the transfer belt 6
3. The toner image on the recording paper is conveyed to the conveyance path of the sheet processing apparatus 103 by the fixing roller 64 and the conveyance roller 65 for softening and fixing the toner image.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a sheet processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a finisher). The finisher 103 has an entrance roller 1 and an inserter 104 for conveying the sheet S fed from the image forming apparatus 102. The inserter 104 is for performing an insert process.

Here, the insert processing means that the sheet I set on the tray 20 of the inserter 104 shown in FIG.
(Hereinafter, referred to as insert paper I) is fed to either the sample tray 85 or the stack tray 86 without passing through the image forming unit 102, and the sheet from the image forming unit 102 sent to the finisher 103 Meanwhile, a process of inserting (inserting) the insert paper I.

The insert paper set detection sensor 27 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the insert paper I is set on the tray 20. On the tray 20 of the inserter 104, a pair of width direction regulating plates 28 are slidably arranged in the width direction of the insert paper I.
The width direction of the insert sheet I placed on the insert sheet I is regulated to ensure the stability of the insert sheet I at the time of feeding.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an internal slide switch that is turned on and off by moving a pair of width direction regulating plates 28. By moving the width direction regulating plate 28, the four internal slide switches are turned on and off on five lines, and the values of the slide switches SW0 to SW4 are added, so that the width of the insert paper is changed as shown in FIG. The size in the direction is identifiable. FIG. 3 is a table showing the size information in the width direction of the insert sheet determined by the slide switches SW0 to SW4. For example, when only the slide switches SW0 and SW3 are “1”, the size information is A4 / A3.

The inserter sheet feed detecting sensor 29 and the inserter sheet detecting sensor 30 are used to detect the insert sheet I being conveyed and to detect the conveying state of the insert sheet I, and to determine the length of the insert sheet I in the conveying direction. It is also used to detect

The insert paper I set in the tray 20 of the inserter 104 has a feed roller 21 which can be moved up and down by a solenoid (not shown), the upper roller is in the transport direction, and the lower roller is in the reverse direction. The sheet is sequentially fed from the uppermost insert sheet set on the tray 20 by the separation roller 22 rotating in the direction. The inserter feed sensor 29 confirms the feed of the insert paper I by detecting the leading end of the fed insert paper I. And
It is sequentially conveyed by conveying rollers 23, 24, 25.

When the leading edge of the insert sheet I is detected by the inserter sheet detection sensor 30, a pulse clock for driving an insert transfer drive motor (not shown) for rotating the insert sheet transfer rollers 23, 24, 25, 26 is provided. Start counting. When the insertion paper feed sensor 29 detects that the rear end of the insert paper I has passed, the counting of the insert conveyance clock is stopped, the measurement of the length of the insert paper I in the conveyance direction is completed, and the count value and the inserter sheet are detected. The length in the transport direction of the insert sheet I is detected from the distance between the detection sensor 30 and the inserter sheet feed sensor 29. Thereafter, the insert sheet I is transported to the transport roller 2 by the transport roller 26.

When the insert sheet I is set on the tray 20 of the inserter 104 in a face-up state by the user, the insert sheet I is sequentially fed from the uppermost insert sheet by the feed roller 21 and the separation roller 22. The insert paper from the inserter 104 is transported by rollers 23, 24, 2
Since the sheet is directly conveyed to the sample tray 85 or the stack tray 86 via 5, 26, the sheet is discharged face down.

A plurality of originals p are set on the original stacking tray 50 in a face-up state by the user. In the reading sheet feeding device 101, reading processing is sequentially performed from the uppermost document. When the recording sheet on which the image forming process has been performed by the image forming unit 102 is fed to the finisher 103 in a face-down state, the sheet is sent once to the conveying roller 66 side, and then switched back and sent to the finisher 103. When the sheet is fed to the finisher 103 in a face-up state, the sheet is fed to the finisher 103 as it is without being fed to the conveying roller 66 so as not to switch back.

That is, when the insert process is performed using the inserter 104, the sheet is switched back on the image forming apparatus 102 side and fed to the finisher 103 in a face-down state, and the sheet is directly sent to the sample tray on the finisher 103 side. 85 or the stack tray 86 in a face-down state. Thereby, the face of the insert sheet I from the inserter 104 and the face of the sheet S from the image forming apparatus 102 can be matched.

Reference numerals 2 and 3 are conveying rollers for conveying the sheet S or the insert sheet I. 31 is a sheet S to be conveyed
Alternatively, it is a sheet detection sensor that detects the passage of the insert sheet I on the entrance side. Reference numeral 50 denotes a punch unit for making a hole near the rear end of the conveyed sheet S or the insert sheet I.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a relatively large-diameter roller (hereinafter, referred to as a buffer roller) disposed on the way of conveyance, and the sheet is pressed against the roll surface by pressing rollers 12, 13, and 14 disposed around the outside. Transport.

Numeral 11 denotes a first switching flapper, which selectively switches between the non-sort pass 4 and the sort pass 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes a second switching flapper, which switches between a buffer path 43 for temporarily storing a sheet S or an insert sheet I and a sort path 8. Reference numeral 33 denotes a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet in the non-sort path 4, and reference numeral 32 denotes a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet in the sort path 8. Reference numeral 6 denotes a transport roller provided in the sort path 8.

An intermediate tray (hereinafter referred to as a processing tray) 82 is provided for temporarily stacking the sheets, aligning the stacked sheets S or the insert sheets I, and performing stapling by the stapling unit 80. And a processing tray unit including an alignment plate 88 for aligning the sheets S or the insert sheets I stacked on the processing tray.

On the discharge end side of the processing tray 82, one discharge roller constituting a bundle discharge roller, here a discharge roller 83b as a fixed side, is arranged. Reference numeral 7 denotes a first discharge roller that is disposed on the sort path 8 and discharges the sheet S or the insert sheet I onto the processing tray 82. Reference numeral 9 denotes a non-sort path 4 for transferring a sheet S or an insert sheet I to a sample tray (first stacking tray).
85 is a second discharge roller for discharging on the upper surface 85.

The swing guide 81 is supported by a swing guide 81. When the swing guide 81 reaches the closed position, the swing guide 81 comes into pressure contact with the lower discharge roller 83b to press the sheet S or the insert on the processing tray 82. An upper discharge roller for discharging the bundle of paper I onto a stack tray (second stacking tray) 86.
A bundle stacking guide 87 abuts and supports the trailing edge (the trailing edge in the bundle discharging direction) of the bundle of sheets stacked on the stack tray 86 and the sample tray 85. Also serves as the exterior.

In the image forming system having the above configuration,
An image forming operation is started when a document is set in the automatic document feeder (DF) 51 of the reading and feeding device 101 and the user performs desired settings from the operation unit 40 and designates start of operation. When the image forming operation is started, first, the reading paper feeder 10
1 and the image forming apparatus 10
In 2, recording paper is started to be fed from the set recording paper storage units 53 and 54, and is conveyed to the image forming unit 62 via a sheet conveyance path. The toner image formed based on the image information read by the reading and feeding device 101 is transferred to a fed sheet, passed through a fixing unit, and fixed on the sheet. Then, in the sheet processing apparatus 103, a process of transporting the insert sheet is performed, and according to an operation mode set by the user on the operation unit 40, a punch process (a punching process), a sheet classification (a sort mode), and a staple process. Processing (staple sort mode) is performed, and the sheet is discharged.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the image forming system. In the figure, reference numeral 171 denotes a CP for performing basic control of the reading paper feeding apparatus 101 and the image forming apparatus 102
U, the ROM 17 in which the control program is written
4. A RAM 175 as a work memory and an input / output port 173 are connected by an address bus and a data bus. Further, to the input / output port 173, various loads (not shown) such as a motor and a clutch for controlling the image forming apparatus 102, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the paper are connected.

The CPU 171 performs input / output control sequentially via the input / output port 173 according to the control program stored in the ROM 174, and executes an image forming operation. The operation unit 40 is connected to the CPU 171, and the CPU 171 controls a display unit and a key input unit provided in the operation unit 40. The operator switches the image forming operation mode and the display via the key input unit to the CPU 1.
71, the CPU 171 displays the states of the reading paper feeder 101 and the image forming apparatus 102 and the operation mode setting by key input.

The CPU 171 is connected to an image processing section 170 for processing a signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor section (CCD sensor) 76 and an image memory section 300 for storing the processed image. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing section 170. The original image formed on the CCD sensor 76 via the lens 75 is input as black luminance data, and is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD sensor 76. The converted image information is input to an analog signal processing unit (not shown), and sample and hold,
After processing such as dark level correction is performed, the A / D converter 501 performs analog-to-digital conversion (A / D conversion). Then, shading correction (correction of variations in a sensor that reads a document and light distribution characteristics of a document illumination lamp) is performed on the digitized signal. After that, it is sent to the log converter 502.

The log conversion unit 502 stores an LUT (look-up table) for converting input luminance data into density data, and outputs a table value corresponding to the input data. The log converter 502 converts the luminance data into density data. After that, the density data is scaled to a desired magnification by the scaling unit 503 and input to the γ correction unit 504. The γ correction unit 504 performs conversion using an LUT in consideration of the characteristics of the printer when outputting density data, and adjusts the output according to the density value set by the operation unit.

Thereafter, the output of the γ correction unit 504 is sent to the binarization unit 505, where the multi-valued density data is binarized and the density value is set to “0” or “25”.
5 ". The 8-bit image data is binarized,
It is converted into 1-bit image data of “0” or “1”. As a result, the amount of image data stored in the image memory unit 300 decreases.

However, when an image is binarized, the number of tones of the image is changed from 256 to two, so that image data having a large number of halftones such as a photographic image generally degrades the image when binarized. Remarkable. Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binary data. Here, an error diffusion method is used as a method for pseudo-halftone expression using binary data. According to this method, when the density of a certain image is larger than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the density data is “255”. When the density is less than a certain threshold value, the density data is “0”.
After the binarization, the difference between the actual density data and the binarized data is distributed to surrounding pixels as an error signal. The distribution of the error is performed by multiplying a weight coefficient on a matrix prepared in advance by the error generated by the binarization and adding the result to surrounding pixels.

As a result, the density average value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be represented in a pseudo binary manner. The binarized image data is sent to the image memory unit 300 and accumulated. The image memory unit 300 includes a high-speed page memory and a large-capacity memory capable of storing a plurality of page image data (a hard disk in the present embodiment).
Having. The plurality of image data stored in the hard disk are output in an order according to the editing mode specified by the operation unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 102. For example, in the case of sorting, the images of the document bundle read from the automatic document feeder (DF) 51 are sequentially output. Alternatively, the image data of the document once stored is read out from the hard disk, and this is repeated and output plural times. Thereby, it can play the same role as a sorter having a plurality of bins.

The image data output from the image memory unit 300 is sent to a smoothing unit 506 provided in the printer unit (image forming apparatus) 102. Smoothing part 5
In step 06, data interpolation is performed so that the line ends of the binarized image become smooth, and the image data is output to the exposure control unit 120. The exposure control unit 120 forms image data on recording paper by the above-described processing.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image memory unit 300. The image memory unit 300 receives the image data from the image processing unit 170 via a memory controller unit 302 in a page memory unit 301 including a memory such as a DRAM.
Write a value image, read an image to the printer unit 102, and a hard disk (HD) 3 which is a large capacity storage device.
04 is accessed for image input / output.

The memory controller 302 generates a DRAM refresh signal for the page memory 301, and arbitrates access to the page memory 301 from the external I / F processor 400, image processor 170, and hard disk 304. Further, according to the instruction of the CPU 171,
A write address to the page memory unit 301, a read address from the page memory unit 301, a read direction, and the like are controlled. Accordingly, the CPU 171 performs a layout process of arranging a plurality of document images in the page memory unit 301, and controls a function of outputting to the printer unit 102, a function of cutting out and outputting only a part of an image, and an image rotating function.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operation unit 40 for setting the copying operation of the image forming apparatus. In the figure, 621
Is a power lamp indicating that the power is on, and is turned on / off in accordance with switching of the power on / off by the power switch 613.

Reference numeral 622 denotes a numeric keypad, which is used to set the number of images to be formed and to input numerical values for mode setting. Reference numeral 623 denotes a clear key, which clears a setting input using the numeric keypad. Reference numeral 616 denotes a reset key for resetting a set mode such as the number of formed images, an operation mode, and a selected paper feed stage to a default value. 614 is a start key,
Pressing the start key 614 starts the image forming operation. Red and green LEDs are provided at the center of the start key 614 to indicate whether or not the start is possible. When the start is not possible, the red LED is turned on.
If it is possible to start, the green LED lights up.

A stop key 615 is used to stop a copying operation. Reference numeral 617 denotes a guide key. When another key is pressed after pressing this key, a description of a function that can be set by the key is displayed on the display panel. To cancel the guide display, the guide key 617 is pressed again. 618 is a user setting key,
Pressing this key allows the user to change the settings of the image forming apparatus. The settings that can be changed by the user include, for example, the time until the settings are automatically cleared, the setting of the default value of the mode when the reset key is pressed, and the like.

Reference numeral 619 denotes an interrupt key. When this key is depressed during an image forming operation, other image forming operations are stopped, and copying can be performed without using the DF 51. 620 is a display panel composed of a liquid crystal or the like,
In order to facilitate detailed mode setting, display contents change according to the setting mode. The surface of the display panel is a touch sensor. In the example of FIG. 7, a copy operation mode setting screen is shown. Keys 624 to 632 are displayed on the display panel 620. By touching the display position of the key, the press of the key is determined, and the mode is set. Reference numeral 627 denotes a paper stage selection key. When this key is depressed, the display panel 620 displays a display for setting from which of the cassettes 53 and 54 paper is fed. Key 628
Reference numerals 631 to 631 denote keys for setting the copy magnification of the copy operation.
Reference numeral 626 denotes an application mode setting key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting an application function mode such as a multiplex operation, a reduced layout mode, and a cover / insert mode is displayed on the display panel 620. For example, a setting key of each application function mode shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and setting of the application mode is enabled. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing setting keys for the application function mode.

Reference numeral 624 denotes a setting key for double-sided operation. For example, a “single-two-side mode” for performing double-sided output from a one-sided original, a “two-sided mode” for performing double-sided output from a two-sided original,
Four types of two-sided mode, that is, “two-sided mode” for outputting two single-sided images from a two-sided original, are set. A sort key 625 is used to set the operation mode of the finisher 103 and the output paper sorting mode using the image memory by pressing this key. The display of the keys in the display panel 620 is as follows.
When the display mode of the key cannot be set in addition to the normal display, the display line is indicated by a dotted line (shaded) to indicate that the key cannot be operated.

In the example of FIG. 7, the setting contents of the copy operation and the current operation state are displayed above and below the display panel 620. On the left side of the application mode key 626 in the display panel 620, there are keys that can be changed by the user, and up to two function keys that can be set on the application mode setting screen can be registered. By displaying the application mode setting key at the position shown in the figure, the registered mode can be set more easily. These keys are collectively called a favorite function key.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the setting of the favorite function key. FIG. 7A is a screen for setting the item of the favorite function key 1. This screen is displayed by pressing the user setting key 618 and then selecting the setting of the favorite function key 1 in the setting item. FIG. 2B shows a screen on which a new key is displayed by selecting an item on the screen of FIG. 1A and pressing the OK key. It becomes selectable.

The insert operation of the image forming system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the basic operation processing procedure. This processing program is RO
M174, and is executed by the CPU 171.

First, the CPU 171 waits for the user to select a copy start operation (copy start key) (step S1). When the copy start operation is selected, the CPU 171 prompts the user before the copy start operation is selected. It is determined whether or not the insert operation (insert mode) has been selected (step S2).

When it is determined that the insert operation has not been selected by the user, after the image forming operation is executed (step S11), it is determined whether or not the job has been completed (step S12). If it is determined that the job has not been completed, the process returns to step S11, and the image forming operation is continued. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the job has been completed, the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the insert operation has been selected by the user,
U171 determines whether or not insert paper is set in the inserter tray 20 (step S3).

If the CPU 171 determines that insert paper is not set in the inserter tray 20, the process returns to step S2 to determine whether insert paper is set in the insert tray 20 or the insert mode is canceled. wait.

On the other hand, in step S3, the inserter tray 2
If it is determined that insert paper is set to 0,
The CPU 171 waits until the size data of the insert sheet is designated by the user (step S4).

When the size data of the insert sheet is designated by the user, the CPU 171 detects the length data in the width direction of the insert sheet designated by the user and the internal slide switches SW0 to SW4 of the width direction regulating plate 28. It is determined whether the width data of the insert sheets are equal (step S5).

When it is determined that the length data of the insert sheet in the width direction specified by the user is not equal to the width data of the insert sheet detected by the internal slide switch of the width direction regulating plate 28, the user again determines that the width data of the insert sheet is not equal. The process returns to step S4 to have the correct size specified.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the length data in the width direction of the insert sheet specified by the user is equal to the width data of the insert sheet detected by the internal slide switch of the width direction regulating plate 28, The size data specified by the user is stored in the memory as the size set data of the insert sheet (step S).
6).

Then, the sheet output operation is sequentially started. At this time, the CPU 171 determines whether or not the page is a page for which insert processing is specified (step S7), and when it is determined that the page is for which insert processing is specified,
An insert operation is performed (step S8). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the page is not a page for which insert processing has been designated, an image forming operation is performed (step S9).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the job has been completed (step S10). If it is determined that the job has been completed, the process returns to step S1. If it is determined that the job has not been completed, the process returns to step S7.
The sheet output operation is sequentially repeated, and the insert operation and the image forming operation are continued.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the insert operation processing in step S8. When the insert processing operation starts in step S8,
The CPU 171 turns on the paper supply solenoid, lowers the paper supply roller 21 (step S21), and starts driving the paper supply motor, separation motor, and inserter transport motor of the inserter (step S22).

Then, the CPU 171 waits for the inserter feed sensor 29 to detect the leading end of the insert paper I (step S23). Inserter feed sensor 29
CPU 1 detects the leading edge of the insert sheet I
71 waits for a predetermined time until the insert sheet I reaches the transport roller 23 (step S24). After a lapse of a predetermined time, C
The PU 171 turns off the paper feeding solenoid and feeds the paper feeding roller 21.
Is raised (step S25). And the CPU 17
1 stops the driving of the sheet feeding motor and the separation motor (step S26).

Thereafter, the CPU 171 waits for the inserter sheet detection sensor 30 to detect the leading end of the insert sheet I (step S27). After detecting the leading end of the insert sheet I by the inserter sheet detection sensor 30, the counting of the clock pulse driving the inserter transport motor is started (step S28). And
It waits for the inserter feed sensor 29 to detect the rear end of the insert sheet I (step S29). After detecting the trailing end of the insert sheet I by the inserter sheet feed sensor 29, the CPU 171 stops counting clock pulses driving the inserter transport motor (step S).
30).

Thereafter, the length of the insert sheet I being transported in the transport direction is calculated from the counted value (step S3).
1). The CPU 171 determines whether the calculated length of the insert sheet I in the transport direction is within a predetermined range with respect to the length of the size set data stored in step S6 in the transport direction, that is, the length of the size set data in the transport direction ± It is determined whether or not it is within a predetermined value range (step S32).

Insert paper I calculated in step S32
CPU 171 sets an inserter size difference alarm (step S32A) when it is determined that the length in the transport direction of the data exceeds the range of the transport direction length of the size set data stored in step S6 ± a predetermined value. The setting of the punching operation for the paper I is released, and the information of the inserter size alarm is set (step S33). Then, the setting of the discharge tray for the insert sheet I is set to the sample tray 85 (step S34).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the calculated length in the transport direction of the insert sheet I is within the range of the length in the transport direction of the size set data stored in step S6 ± the predetermined value, the inserter sheet is detected. Wait for the sensor 30 to detect the rear end of the insert sheet I (step S3).
5). After detecting the rear end of the insert sheet I by the inserter sheet detection sensor 29, the CPU 171 waits for a predetermined time until the rear end of the insert sheet I passes through the transport roller 26 (step S36). Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time,
The CPU 171 stops driving the insert sheet transport motor (step S37).

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the operation of feeding, forming, and discharging recording paper at the time of an inserter size alarm. This processing program is stored in the ROM 174, and is called and executed by the CPU 171 at regular intervals from the main flowchart or as needed.

First, it is determined whether or not the sheet feeding operation is to be started (step S51). The paper feeding operation starts at a predetermined interval of the image forming operation. If the sheet feeding operation is not started, the process returns to step S51 and waits until the sheet feeding operation is started. On the other hand, when starting the sheet feeding operation in step S51,
It is determined whether the recording sheet for starting the sheet feeding operation is one of the output bundles using the inserter 104 (step S5).
2).

If the output bundle does not use the inserter 104, the process proceeds to step S55. On the other hand, if it is one of the output bundles using the inserter 104 in step S52, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned inserter size alarm has occurred (step S53). If the inserter size alarm has occurred, the sheet feeding operation is interrupted to interrupt the image forming operation (step S54), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the inserter size alarm has not occurred in step S53, the sheet feeding operation is started (step S55). It is determined whether the recording sheets S1 and S2 fed from the sheet cassettes 53 and 54 have been conveyed to the image forming start position (step S56). If the recording paper has not been conveyed to the image forming start position, the process returns to step S56 and waits until the recording paper is conveyed. On the other hand, step S56
If the recording paper has been conveyed to the image forming start position in step (i), it is determined whether or not the recording paper being conveyed is one of the output bundles that use the inserter 104 (step S57).

If the output bundle does not use the inserter 104, the process proceeds to step S61, where the inserter 104 is used.
If the output bundle is one of the output bundles, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned inserter size alarm has occurred (step S58). If the inserter size alarm has occurred, the image forming (image forming) operation of the recording paper being conveyed is stopped, and the recording paper is discharged in a blank state (step S59). Thereafter, the image forming operation of the recording paper being conveyed is stopped, and information for outputting a blank paper is set (step S).
60). On the other hand, if the inserter size alarm has not occurred in step S58, the image forming operation is started at a timing with the recording paper (step S61).

The recording paper being conveyed is the finisher 1
It is determined whether or not the sheet has been transported to the entrance 03 (step S62). If the recording paper has not been conveyed to the entrance of the finisher 103, the process returns to step S62, and
It waits for the recording paper to be transported to the entrance of the finisher 103. On the other hand, if the recording paper is conveyed to the entrance of the finisher 103 in step S62,
It is determined whether the recording paper conveyed to the entrance 3 is one of the output bundles that use the inserter 104 (step S63).

If the output bundle does not use the inserter 104, the process proceeds to step S66. On the other hand, if it is one of the output bundles using the inserter 104 in step S63, it is determined whether or not the above-described inserter size alarm has occurred (step S64). When the inserter size alarm is generated, the output destination of the recording paper is set so that when the inserter size alarm is determined, the paper fed from the inserter feed tray 20 is discharged to the same tray 85 as the tray for discharging the paper. Is changed (step S65), and the process proceeds to step S66. On the other hand, if the inserter size alarm has not occurred in step S64, the process directly proceeds to step S66.

It is determined whether or not the discharge of the recording sheet being conveyed has been completed (step S66). If the discharge has not been completed, the process returns to step S66 and waits until the discharge is completed. On the other hand, when the discharge of the recording paper is completed in step S66, it is determined in step S60 whether or not the recording paper is set to the information of blank paper output (step S67). If it is determined in step S67 that the recording paper is not the recording paper for which the blank paper output information has been set, the counter for counting the number of output sheets on which the image has been formed is counted up (step S68), and the process ends. On the other hand, in the case of recording paper for which blank paper output information has been set in step S67, the process ends.

Next, a display example of the display panel 620 of the operation unit 40 when an inserter size alarm occurs will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the display panel 620 when the inserter size alarm occurs and the image forming apparatus stops. On the message line indicating the state of the image forming apparatus located below the display panel 620, a message "inserter size is different" indicating an inserter size alarm is displayed. Also, on the display panel 620, a message indicating that the size of the inserter is to be set and a size setting screen are output (see FIG. 7A).

Thus, the operator is prompted to reset the inserter size. On the screen shown in FIG. 9A, when the operator selects a new size and presses the OK key, the image forming apparatus clears the information of the inserter size alarm, and starts outputting the inserter paper I discharged to the tray 85. Start the job again. At this time, subsequent to the inserter paper I, the image forming of the recording paper on which the normal image formed on the tray 85 is discharged is also executed again. In FIG. 3B, a message "No inserter paper" is displayed, indicating that the set inserter paper is not present.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another display state of the display panel 620 when the inserter size alarm occurs and the image forming apparatus stops. This is a display example when the inserter size alarm occurs and the image forming apparatus stops, and a message line indicating the state of the image forming apparatus located above the display panel 620 indicates that the inserter size alarm is present. The message "The inserter size is different." Is displayed.

On display panel 620, a pop-up screen is displayed so as not to overlap the message line above display panel 620 in order to prohibit operation of touch keys in the panel, and keys such as mode setting are not accepted. Like that. On the pop-up screen, a message "Please change the inserter paper to A3" is displayed, which prompts an operation that the operator must perform.

"A3" of this message is the size of the inserter paper I necessary for operating the job using the interrupted inserter. The cancel key in the pop-up screen is a key for canceling the interrupted job. When the operator presses the cancel key, the image forming apparatus clears the information of the inserter size alarm and cancels the interrupted job. Canceling is performed, and a state of waiting for the start of the next image forming operation is set.

When the inserter paper set detection sensor 27 of the inserter 104 detects that the inserter paper of the inserter 104 has been once pulled out and placed again while the pop-up screen of FIG. The apparatus clears the information of the inserter size alarm and outputs the J from the output of the inserter paper I discharged to the tray 85.
Start OB again. At this time, the image formation of the recording paper on which the normal image is discharged onto the tray 85 following the inserter paper I is also executed again.

Note that the condition for restarting JOB is determined by the inserter paper set detection sensor 27.
It is confirmed that the inserter paper is once pulled out and loaded again (in this case, the inserter paper set detection sensor 27 changes from the ON state to the OFF state and then to the ON state again). The job may be restarted after confirming again that the user has input the size in step. In this case, a size setting screen related to the inserter paper is displayed on the display panel 620, and control is performed such that only this size input operation is permitted and other operations such as mode setting are prohibited. For example,
Disable key input.

Further, in this embodiment, the size input by the user from the operation unit is compared with the size of the inserter paper I. However, the size of the inserter paper I is compared with the size of another recording paper on which an image is formed. The same effect can be obtained even if it is determined whether the size has no problem in performing the post-processing.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a memory map of the ROM 174 as a storage medium. The ROM 174 contains FIG.
0, basic operation processing program module, FIG. 11, FIG.
2 insert operation processing program module, FIG.
3, an operation processing program module at the time of an inserter size alarm in FIG. 14 and the like are stored.

The storage medium for supplying the program module is not limited to ROM, but may be, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,
A D-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

[0097]

According to the present invention, even if the user erroneously specifies a paper size different from the paper size set in the actual inserter, the size of the inserter paper is detected during the feeding of the inserter paper. If the size is different, change the discharge destination of the sheet and interrupt the image forming operation without discharging to the processing tray, without damaging the inserter paper,
The image forming operation can be stopped.

As described above, when the user specifies the paper size by mistake, the processing can be stopped without damaging the insert paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an internal slide switch that is turned on and off by movement of a pair of width direction regulating plates 28;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing, as a table, size information in a width direction of an insert sheet determined by slide switches SW0 to SW4.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit 170.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image memory unit 300.

FIG. 7 shows an operation unit 40 for setting a copying operation of the image forming apparatus.
FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing setting keys for an application function mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing setting of a favorite function key.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a basic operation processing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an insert operation processing procedure in step S8.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an insert operation processing procedure in step S8 following FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation processing procedure of recording sheet feeding, image forming, and sheet discharging at the time of an inserter size alarm.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of recording sheet feeding, image formation, and sheet discharging at the time of an inserter size alarm, following FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display state of the display panel 620 when an inserter size alarm occurs and the image forming apparatus stops.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another display state of the display panel 620 when an inserter size alarm occurs and the image forming apparatus stops.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a memory map of a ROM 174 as a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 27 Insert paper detection sensor 40 Operation unit 85 Tray 101 Reading paper supply device 102 Image forming device (printer unit) 103 Sheet processing device (finisher) 104 Inserter 171 CPU 174 ROM 620 Display panel

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuo Sekiguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideyuki Ikegami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon F term (reference) 3F343 FA07 FB01 HA12 HA14 HA33 HB01 HB04 HC02 KB03 KB04 KB06 KB07 KB12 KB17 KB18 KB20 MA03 MA09 MA15 MA23 MA26 MB03 MB09 MB15 MC21 MC22 MC23 MC28

Claims (13)

[Claims] A first sheet material storing means for storing the first sheet material; and an image forming means for forming an image on the first sheet material fed from the first sheet material storing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing stacking unit configured to process and stack a first sheet material on which an image is formed; and a second sheet material stored in a second sheet material storing unit, the image forming apparatus including: Transport means for transporting the sheet to the processing stacking means without passing through means, and size determining means for determining the size of the second sheet material during transport of the second sheet material from the second sheet material storing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: an interruption control unit for interrupting the image forming operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied as a result of the determination. 2. A size input device for inputting a size of the second sheet material, wherein the predetermined condition is that a size determined by the size determining device is different from a size input by the size input device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is that the determined size cannot be processed by the processing stacking unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying that the image forming operation has been interrupted by said interruption control unit. 5. A restart control unit for restarting the interrupted image forming operation when the input second sheet material size is equal to the size determined by the size determination unit again. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 6. A sheet material detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of the second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means, and after the interruption, a new second sheet material is stored in the second sheet material storing means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a restart control unit that restarts the interrupted image forming operation when it is detected that the image is stored in the unit. 7. A blank sheet output information setting means for setting blank sheet output information for the first sheet material fed from the first sheet material storing means when the image forming operation is interrupted. Output destination changing means for changing an output destination of the first sheet material to which the blank sheet output information is set to a stacking unit from which the second sheet material is discharged, wherein the sheet material to which the blank sheet output information is set When discharging
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of output sheets is not counted. 8. When the size determined by the size determining means is different from the size input by the size inputting means, a message prompting to reset the size of the second sheet material and a display for displaying a size setting screen are displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a unit. 9. When the size determined by the size determining means is different from the size input by the size inputting means, a message to the effect that the input size is different is displayed on a screen, and the message is superimposed on the message. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit configured to display a pop-up screen for prompting a change of the second sheet material on the screen so as to prevent the change. 10. A second sheet material detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means, and wherein the second sheet material is displayed while the pop-up screen is displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a restart control unit configured to delete the pop-up screen and restart the image forming operation when it is determined that the sheet is unloaded and loaded again. 11. A second sheet material detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a second sheet material in the second sheet material storing means, and wherein the second sheet material is displayed while the pop-up screen is displayed. When it is determined that the sheet has been unloaded and re-stacked, a permitting means for permitting only the input of the size of the second sheet material, and a case where the size of the second sheet material is inputted by the user based on the permission. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a restart control unit that restarts the image forming operation. 12. An image is formed on a first sheet material fed from a first sheet material storage unit for storing the first sheet material, and the first sheet material on which the image is formed is processed. A second sheet material stored in the second sheet material storage unit and conveyed to the processing load unit without passing through the image forming unit. A step of determining the size of the second sheet material while the second sheet material is being conveyed from the second sheet material storage unit; and if the result of the determination is that a predetermined condition is satisfied, the image forming operation is interrupted. Setting the blank sheet output information for the first sheet material fed from the first sheet material storing means when the image forming operation is interrupted; and setting the blank sheet output information. The output destination of the first sheet material is discharged by the second sheet material. A step of changing the stacking section which is, when discharging the sheet material to the blank output information is set,
A method for not counting the number of output sheets. 13. An image forming operation which is executed by a computer which controls an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a first sheet material fed from a first sheet material storing section for storing a first sheet material. Controlling the first sheet material on which the image is formed, loading the processed first sheet material on the processing stacking unit, and transferring the second sheet material stored in the second sheet material storage unit without passing through the image forming unit. A storage medium storing a program to be transported to the processing stacking unit, wherein the program determines the size of the second sheet material while the second sheet material is being transported from the second sheet material storage unit And a step of interrupting the image forming operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied as a result of the determination; and a step of interrupting the image forming operation when the image forming operation is interrupted. White for sheet material A step of setting output information; a step of changing an output destination of the first sheet material to which the blank sheet output information is set to a stacking unit from which the second sheet material is discharged; and a step of setting the blank sheet output information. When discharging the sheet material
Not counting the number of output sheets.