JP2001203835A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device, capable of forming the required number of images without cancelling or changing a job even when a memory becomes full and having a sort function of high productivity. SOLUTION: This device has two modes of a read mode 1 (mechanical sort) for copying completely written image data in the order of pages for every required number and a read mode 2 (electronic sorting) for copying the images of each of pages one by one, in the order of pages. When the image data of the first page are completely written into a memory unit, image formation in the read mode 1 is started and the image formation in the read mode 1 is continued, until the image data of all the pages are completely written. When the image data of all the pages are written completely, the mode is switched to the read mode 2 and image formation is continued (#334: YES→#335).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a sort function used for forming a plurality of copies of an image of the same page. More specifically, the present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus having both functions of mechanical sorting and electronic sorting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers have been provided with a sort function for sorting, in page order, image-formed sheets, such as conference materials, over a plurality of pages. Such sort functions include:
Mechanical sorting and electronic sorting. In the machine sort, the required number of copies of the image of the same page is formed, and one copy is sorted and stored in each bin. By repeating this in the order of pages, materials for a plurality of pages are completed. On the other hand, in the case of the electronic sort, which is limited to the digital image forming apparatus, the image of each page is output in the order of the pages, materials for a plurality of pages are created one by one, and the process is repeated until the required number of copies is completed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems. That is, the image forming apparatus using the machine sort has an advantage that the image forming operation of the same page can be started at the same time as reading the image because the image forming operation of the same page is repeated plural times. Until the end, no completed document is completed. For this reason, there is a case where even one copy is inconvenient for a user who needs the material quickly. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus using the electronic sort, the image forming operation in the page order is repeated for the required number of copies. On the other hand, the image data occupies the memory for a long time. For this reason, if the memory is over during the image reading operation, change the number of copies to 1 to perform image formation without using the memory, or discard the job when the memory is over. Invites situations such as getting lost. Therefore, the required number of copies cannot be formed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional image forming apparatus. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a required number of copies without changing or discarding a job even when the memory becomes full, and having a sorting function with high productivity. Is to do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image forming apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above problem receives image data for each page, accumulates the image data in a memory, and stores an image based on the image data read from the memory. An image forming apparatus for forming and outputting images on a medium, and for a job for forming a plurality of copies of an image, a machine sort mode in which the required number of copies of an image of the same page is output in the order of pages;
An electronic sort mode that repeats until the number of copies required to output the page order of each image of each page is obtained, and
When the reception of the image data of the first page is completed, the image formation in the machine sort mode is started, and when the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, the mode is switched to the electronic sort mode.

Alternatively, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image data receiving means for receiving image data for each page, a memory for storing the received image data, and an image data output means for outputting the image data stored in the memory. An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium based on the image data output from the image data output unit; a machine sort mode executing unit for outputting the required number of copies of an image of the same page in page order; An electronic sort mode executing means for repeating the output of each set of pages in the page order until a required number of copies are obtained, and starting the image formation by the mechanical sort mode executing means when the reception of the image data of the first page is completed. When the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, the sort mode is switched to the image formation by the electronic sort mode executing means. Those having a de switching means.

That is, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has two sort modes. That is, there are two types of modes: a machine sort mode in which the required number of copies of an image on the same page are output in the order of pages; It is. In this image forming apparatus, when a job for forming a plurality of copies of an image is executed, the image formation in the machine sort mode is started when the reception of the image data of the first page is completed. Then, the image formation in the machine sort mode is continued until the reception of the image data of all pages is completed. At this time, output is performed for each required number of copies in the order of pages from the image data for which reception has been completed. The reason why the machine sort mode is executed first is that it is necessary to secure as much free memory as possible because the memory capacity required for storing all pages is unknown before the reception of all pages is completed. .

When the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, there is no need to worry about the free space in the memory, and the mode is switched to the electronic sort mode. In the electronic sort mode, the image of each page is set to 1 based on the image data after the page on which the image is formed in the machine sort mode.
Copies are output page by page. As described above, since the image formation in the machine sort mode is started before the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, there is no time loss and the productivity is high. In addition, since the electronic sort mode is executed after the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, at least one completed product can be quickly delivered to the user.

Further, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus of the present invention has image data deleting means for deleting image data of a page from a memory when a required number of copies of a page have been formed. Specifically, when image formation is performed in the machine sort mode,
The image data of the page on which the required number of copies of the image have been formed is deleted from the memory. In this way, the image data stored in the memory can be prevented from being full,
The required number of copies can be formed.

Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a reception control means for stopping reception of image data until a free area is formed in the memory when the memory is full before the reception of image data of all pages is completed. It is desirable to have Then, even while the reception of the image data is stopped, the image forming of the received image data is performed in the machine sort mode,
As described above, the image data of the page on which the required number of copies of the image have been formed is deleted from the memory so that an empty area is created in the memory. By doing so, the required number of copies of the image can be formed without losing the time spent for image formation.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a copying apparatus 100 with a post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image forming unit 90 and a staple sorter 10. The image forming section 90 further includes a document reading section 91, an electrophotographic section 92, and a paper cassette section 93. The document reading unit 91 has a function of writing the read image data to the memory unit while processing the image data and reading the image data from the memory unit as needed. Staple sorter 10
Is a device that performs post-processing such as sorting, punching, and stapling on an image-formed sheet discharged from the electrophotographic unit 92 of the image forming unit 90.

As shown in FIG. 2, the staple sorter 10 has an outer shape in which a non-sort tray 20 and a bin assembly 30 partially protrude from the machine frame 11. The bin assembly 30 has a number of bins 31. A receiving roller pair 81 is provided inside the machine casing 11 at an upper right position for receiving a sheet from the image forming unit 90. Below this, there are provided a first transport path 80 and a second transport path 50 for guiding the received sheets to the bin assembly 30 and accumulating them on any one of the bins 31. That is, each bin 31 is a tray for stacking the sheets discharged from the image forming unit 90.

A take-out unit 40 for taking out a bundle of sheets once accumulated on the bin 31 is attached to the second conveyance path 50. A staple unit 70 for stapling a bundle of sheets on the bin 31 is provided below the second transport path 50. Receiving roller pair 8
A sheet transport gate 60 for discharging sheets or a bundle thereof onto the non-sort tray 20 is provided slightly to the upper left of 1. A switching claw 82 having a substantially triangular shape is provided at a position immediately to the left of the pair of receiving rollers 81.
A movable guide 83 is provided immediately to the left. Above these, a guide plate 84 is provided.

The copying machine 100 with a post-processing device can perform two types of sorting processing, mechanical sorting and electronic sorting, when copying a plurality of copies of a document covering a plurality of pages. The machine sort is a process of continuously forming an image of the same page and sorting the images one by one into each bin 31. This copying operation is repeated for all pages of the document. on the other hand,
The electronic sorting is a process of forming an image of each page continuously for all pages and partially completing each page. This copying operation is repeated for the required number of copies. These two sorting processes are selectively used by control described later.

In the copier 100 with the post-processing device configured as described above, in the image forming unit 90, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 91 is received by the memory unit and temporarily stored. Then, an image forming operation is performed on the stored image data by the electrophotographic unit 92. At the same time, a sheet is supplied from the sheet cassette unit 93, and an image is formed on the sheet. Image forming unit 9
The sheet on which the image is formed by the electrophotographic unit 92 of No. 0 is discharged to the outside of the copying apparatus 100 via the inside of the staple sorter 10. Staple sorter 10 from receiving roller 81
The sheet guided to the inside of the first conveying path 80 and the second conveying path 80
The paper is discharged to each bin 31 through the transport path 50 or discharged onto the non-sort tray 20 via the paper transport gate 60.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the copying machine 100 with the post-processing device. CPU 200 for copier
Are the CPU 291 for the document reading unit and the CP for the electrophotographic unit.
U292, the CPU 293 for the paper cassette unit, the CPU 220 for the staple sorter, and the operation panel unit OP cooperate with each other. The operations of the image forming unit 90 and the staple sorter 10 are controlled in accordance with instructions input from the operation panel OP and information read from the document reading unit 91.

Next, a sorting process which is a feature of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine for controlling the copying apparatus 100 with the post-processing device. In # 1 of FIG. 4, various initial settings of the copying apparatus 100 with the post-processing device are performed. In the input process of # 2, information input from the operation panel OP is processed so that an image desired by the operator is formed. The setting for copying a plurality of copies of a document covering a plurality of pages according to the present embodiment is also performed in # 2. In # 3,
As will be described later, the document reading unit 91 reads image data of a document, temporarily stores them in a memory unit, and then reads the image data from the memory unit as necessary. In the subsequent step # 4, a process of copying image data to a sheet conveyed from the paper cassette unit 93 in the electrophotographic unit 92 is performed. Further, post-processing including sorting processing is performed in # 5, and finally other processing is performed in # 6.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of # 3, that is, the document reading process.
In the document reading process, in # 31, the image of the document is read, and the image data is processed and written to the memory unit. In the subsequent step # 32, an operation of appropriately reading out the image data written in the memory unit is performed. These steps will be described in more detail.

FIG. 6 shows a subroutine of # 31. First, in # 311, it is determined whether or not there is enough free space in the memory unit. If there is enough free space (# 3
11: Yes), a write operation to the memory unit is performed. If there is not enough free space in the memory unit (# 311: No), the process directly returns. That is, the reading of the document is stopped until a sufficient free area is created in the memory unit. The image data already written in the memory unit is discarded when the necessary number of copies have been completed. Thereby, an empty area is created in the memory unit. Then, the determination of # 311 is No to Ye
Then, reading of the document is restarted.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a subroutine of # 32. In # 321, it is determined whether the read mode is determined. The read mode is a distinction between which type of sorting processing, the above-described mechanical sort or electronic sort, is performed. If the read mode has not been determined, that is, if the copying of the image data has not been started yet (# 321: No), the process proceeds to # 322, and it is determined whether the write operation has been completed up to the last page. . If the write operation has not been completed (# 322: No), the read mode is set to "1"(# 323). On the other hand, if the write operation has been completed up to the last page (# 322: Yes), the read mode is set to "2"(# 324). The operation in the reading mode 1 is a sorting process of a machine sort method. In this mode, the bin 31 is switched for each sheet. On the other hand, the operation in the reading mode 2 is a sorting process of the electronic sort system.
In this mode, one part of the sheet is discharged to the same bin 31, and the next one part of the sheet is switched and discharged from the bin 31.

When the read mode is determined in step # 323 or # 324, the read count is set to "1" in step # 325. Then, in # 326, the read image is set to “0”. In # 327, the moving direction of the bin 31 is set to “0”. That is, it is in a state where reading of image data is to be started.

Then, in the next step # 328, an operation of reading image data from the memory unit is executed. As a result, one set image is output.
If the read mode has already been determined in # 321, that is, if the copying of the image data has already been started (# 321: Yes), # 3 is set.
The process directly goes to # 328, bypassing the processes of # 22 to # 327.

Subsequently, in step # 329, it is determined whether the read mode is "1", that is, whether or not the machine is sorted. If the sort is a mechanical sort (# 329: Yes), it is determined in # 330 whether or not the number of readings matches the set number. That is, it is determined whether the output of the required number of copies has been completed for the current read image. If the number of readings matches the set number (# 330: Ye
s), discard the current read image data (# 33)
1). This is because the output of the required number of images has been completed. Then, the read image is switched to the image of the next page (# 332). In # 333, bin 3
1 is switched.

Then, it is determined whether the writing to the memory unit has been completed up to the last page (# 33).
4). If the processing has been completed up to the last page (# 33)
4: Yes), the read mode is switched to "2"(# 335), and the routine returns. That is, when the writing to the memory unit is completed during the output, the sort is switched from the mechanical sort to the electronic sort when the output of a certain page is completed. If the writing to the memory unit has not been completed (# 334: No), the process returns without switching the read mode.

Returning to # 330, if the number of readings does not match the set number of sheets (# 330: No), the number of readings is incremented (# 336). And #
At 335, the bin 31 is moved by one in the set direction. The direction of movement at this time is # 327 or # 3
33 is the latest direction set. in this way,
The same image is repeatedly output for the set number of sheets, and sorted into each bin 31 one by one. And return.

Returning to step # 329, if the read mode is not "1"(# 329: No), that is, if the read mode is "2", processing is performed by electronic sorting. For this reason, it is first determined at # 338 whether or not the read image is the image of the last page of the document. If it is the image of the last page (# 338: Yes), # 3
Proceeding to 39, it is determined whether or not the number of readings matches the set number. If the number of times of reading does not match the set number (# 339: No), the process proceeds to # 340, and the number of times of reading is incremented. Then, in # 341, the setting image is switched to the image of the first page among the images remaining in the memory unit. Then, in step # 342, the bin 31 is moved and the process returns. In the read mode 2, an electronic sort for outputting one bundle of sheets to the same bin 31 while sequentially switching read images is performed.

Returning to # 339, if the number of readouts matches the set number of sheets (# 339: Yes), # 34
Proceed to step 3 to discard all image data relating to the job. This is because the output of the required number of sheets has been completed for all pages. Further, returning to # 338, if the read image is not the image of the last page (# 338: No), the read image is switched to the image of the next page (# 344). #
After the process of 343 or # 344, the process returns.

As described above in detail, the copying machine 100 with the post-processing device according to the present embodiment has two modes, the read mode 1 (mechanical sort) and the read mode 2 (electronic sort). I have. Then, in the case of copying a plurality of copies of a document covering a plurality of pages, when the writing of the image data of the first page to the memory unit is completed, the image formation in the read mode 1 is started (# 322: Y
es → # 323), image formation in read mode 1 is continued until writing of image data of all pages is completed (# 334: No). At this time, copying for each required number of copies is performed in the order of pages from the image data for which writing has been completed. Then, the image data for which the necessary number of copies have been copied is discarded (# 331). For this reason, before the completion of the writing in which the memory capacity required for all pages is not determined, a free area is secured in the memory unit as much as possible.

In the read mode 1, if the memory is full before the writing of the image data of all pages is completed, the writing of the image data is stopped until there is a free area in the memory (#). 31
1: No). Then, when the free area is secured by the completion of copying of the required number of copies of the image data, the writing of the image data is restarted (# 311: Yes → #
312). Thus, even if the memory becomes full, the job can be continuously executed without discarding the job.

When the writing of the image data for all pages is completed, the read mode is switched to "2" and the image formation is continued (# 334: Y).
es → # 335). This is because it is no longer necessary to worry about the free space of the memory. Then, the image of each page is copied one by one in the order of pages from the image data after the page on which the image formation is performed in the read mode 1. For this reason, the read mode 2 is executed after the writing of the image data of all pages is completed, so that a completed sheet bundle is completed quickly. In particular, when final processing such as stapling is performed on a sheet bundle, the final processing can be started early, so that there is no loss of time and productivity is high.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, naturally, the present invention can be variously modified and modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the present embodiment, as an example of receiving image data, writing of image data read to copy an image of a document into a memory unit has been described. However, a memory unit of image data received together with a print command from a personal computer or the like is described. May also be written to.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, even when the memory becomes full, the necessary number of copies can be formed without discarding the job and the sorting function with high productivity. An image forming apparatus provided with:

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine with a post-processing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a staple sorter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the copying machine with a post-processing device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main routine of control of a copying machine with a post-processing device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of a document reading process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a memory unit write operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a memory unit read operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a memory unit read operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a memory unit read operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Staple sorter 90 Image forming section 91 Document reading section 92 Electrophotographic section 93 Paper cassette section 100 Image forming apparatus with post-processing device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C087 BC04 BC05 BC06 BD01 CA05 CA13 CB02 DA02 2H027 ED22 EH04 FB19 FC07 FD08 2H072 AA31 5C062 AA02 AB35 AB40 AB42 AB46 AB53 AC10 AC23 AC38 9A001 BZ03 HH34 JJ35 KK42

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus that receives image data for each page, stores the image data in a memory, and forms an image based on the image data read from the memory on a medium and outputs the image. For the job to be performed, a machine sort mode in which the required number of copies of the image of the same page is output in page order,
An electronic sort mode in which the output in the page order for each copy is repeated until the required number of copies are obtained, and when the reception of the image data of the first page is completed, the image formation by the machine sort mode is started, and the image data of all pages is output. An image forming apparatus that switches to an electronic sort mode when reception of the image is completed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when image formation of a required number of copies for a certain page is completed, image data of the page is deleted from the memory. . 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the memory is full before the reception of the image data of all pages is completed, a free area is created in the memory. An image forming apparatus, which stops receiving image data. 4. An image data receiving means for receiving image data for each page, a memory for storing the received image data, an image data output means for outputting the image data stored in the memory, and the image data output means. An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium based on the image data output from the unit, a machine sort mode executing unit for outputting the required number of copies of the same page in the order of pages, and a part of the image of each page An electronic sort mode execution means for repeating the output in the page order of each page until the required number of copies are obtained;
Sort mode switching means for starting image formation by the machine sort mode execution means when the reception of image data of the page is completed, and switching to image formation by the electronic sort mode execution means when reception of the image data of all pages is completed. An image forming apparatus comprising: 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an image data deleting unit that deletes image data of the page from the memory when image formation of a required number of copies for a page is completed. Image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the memory becomes full before the reception of image data of all pages is completed, the memory is freed until an empty area is created. An image forming apparatus comprising reception control means for stopping reception of image data by an image data receiving unit.