JP2003002526A - Image forming device and after-treatment control method of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve productivity when after-treatment is applied to a transfer material and a special type of paper together and to minimize unnecessary copying operation. SOLUTION: In an image forming device having a first conveying means such as an entrance roller pair 502 for conveying paper P on which an image is formed by an image forming device body, a second conveying means such as a paper feeding roller 902 for conveying paper C loaded on an inserter tray 901, a treatment tray 630 for bundling a desired number of paper conveyed respectively by the first conveying means and the second conveying means into one bundle, a pair of bundle delivery rollers 680a and 680b for delivering a bundle of paper on the treatment tray 630 in the bundled state, and a stack tray 700 for loading the bundle of paper delivered from the treatment tray 630 in the bundled state, an operation part 153 for displaying and putting in various information is provided, and the number of interruption-set bundles Nb for temporarily stopping operation of the image forming device is entered in advance from the operation part 153 so as to temporarily stop operation of the image forming device with the number of interruption-set bundles Nb entered from the operation part 153.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a post-processing method for performing post-processing by combining a transfer material on which an image is formed and a special paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with modes such as a cover mode and a slip sheet mode. It is possible to insert special paper supplied from the provided cassette. Normally, the sheet into which the special sheet has been inserted is subjected to post-processing such as binding processing and folding processing in a finisher mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus to be bound into a book.

In the method of supplying the special paper from the cassette, at the timing of inserting the special paper, the special paper is fed from the cassette to the same conveyance path as the paper on which the image is formed, and the fed special paper is fed. The paper is discharged via the above-mentioned transport path. Here, a fixing unit is arranged in the middle of the transport path, and the special paper passes through the fixing unit like the paper.

However, when a color image print original is used as the special paper, the quality of the print image may be impaired by the heat and pressure when the special paper passes through the fixing section. Further, in recent years, color copy paper is often used as the special paper, and when this color copy paper is supplied from a cassette, conveyance of the paper feed mechanism is deteriorated due to oil adhering to the surface of the color copy paper, and The reliability of the conveyance of the may deteriorate significantly.

Further, a special paper feeder for supplying the special paper is provided in the finisher, and the special paper is supplied from the finisher. Examples of this type of apparatus include JP-A-60-180894 and JP-A-60-1.
There are those described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. In the apparatuses described in these, specifically, first, a special sheet serving as a cover sheet is supplied from a special sheet feeder to the finisher, and the cover sheet is conveyed to the intermediate tray and loaded. Next, the paper discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus is guided into the finisher and conveyed to the intermediate tray. At this time, from the image forming apparatus main body,
The sheets are ejected in face-down eject form from the first page in order, and on the intermediate tray, the front cover and the sheets are stacked in an inverted state and aligned.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, once the special paper fed from the special paper feeder is double-fed, the order of all the output bundles thereafter becomes different. However, there was a problem that unnecessary copying operation was performed. Further, when the special sheet and the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus are mixed again, there is a problem that a new special sheet must be prepared. In other words, the user needs to constantly monitor the image forming operation in order to perform bookbinding using the cover mode, the interleaf mode, and the like, which causes a problem that the time and physical load is very large. It was happening.

An object of the present invention is to improve productivity when post-processing is performed by combining a transfer material and a special paper,
Moreover, unnecessary copying operations can be minimized, and even if a slip sheet mode is set, problems such as double feeding can be detected early and the appropriate post-processing operation can be restored. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing control method that can be performed.

[0008]

The structure of a typical image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is a first conveying means for conveying a sheet on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a mounting means. Second transporting means for transporting the sheets placed on the loading tray, and a processing tray for bundling a desired number of sheets transported by the first transporting means and the second transporting means into one bundle And various information is displayed and input in an image forming apparatus including a stack discharge unit that discharges a bundle of sheets on the processing tray and a stack tray that stacks the bundle of sheets discharged from the processing tray. To input the number of sheet bundles that has an operation unit and temporarily stops the operation of the image forming apparatus from the operation unit, and temporarily stop the operation of the image forming apparatus with the number of sheet bundles input from the operation unit. Special To.

Further, a typical post-processing control method for an image forming apparatus of the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide a first conveying means for conveying a sheet on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a stacking device. A desired number of sheets conveyed on the processing tray is made into one bundle by the second conveying means for conveying the sheets placed on the tray, and the sheet bundle on the processing tray is stacked by the bundle discharging means. A method of controlling post-processing of an image forming apparatus for discharging a bundle of sheets, wherein the number of sheet bundles for temporarily stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus is input in advance from an operation unit that displays and inputs various information, and the operation unit is used. It is characterized in that the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped at the input number of sheets.

According to the above configuration, the number of interruptions can be set from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped by the set number of interruptions.
It is possible to determine whether a desired bundle of sheets has been created. That is, since it is possible to detect the double feeding of the sheets conveyed by the first conveying means or the second conveying means at an early stage, it is possible to minimize the unnecessary operation if there is any unnecessary operation. It is possible to improve the sex.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However,
The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration and various conditions of the device to which the present invention is applied, and are particularly specific. Unless otherwise stated, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

(Overall Structure) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part structure of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus comprises an image forming apparatus main body 10, a folding device 400, and a finisher 500. The image forming apparatus main body 10 reads an original image, and an image reader 200 and a printer 30.
Equipped with 0.

A document feeder 100 is mounted on the image reader 200. The document feeder 100 feeds the documents set upward on the document tray one by one from the first page in the left direction, flows them on the platen glass 102 from the left through a curved path, and passes through the reading position. The sheet is conveyed to the right, and then discharged toward the external discharge tray 112. When the document passes through the flow reading position on the platen glass 102 from left to right, the image of the document is read by the scanner unit 104 held at the position corresponding to the flow reading position. This reading method is generally called a document original reading method. In particular,
When the document passes the flow reading position, the reading surface of the document is illuminated with the light of the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104,
The reflected light from the document is reflected by the mirrors 105, 106, 107.
Is guided to the lens 108 via. The light that has passed through the lens 108 forms an image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 109.

By transporting the document so that it passes from the left side to the right side of the flow reading position, the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the document is the main scanning direction, and the transport direction is the sub-scanning direction. A read scan is performed. That is, when the document passes through the flow reading position, the document image is read line by line in the main scanning direction by the image sensor 109 while the document is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction to read the entire document image. The read image is converted into image data by the image sensor 109 and output. The image data output from the image sensor 109 is subjected to a predetermined process in an image signal control unit 202 (see FIG. 2) described later, and then the printer 300.
Is input as a video signal to the exposure control unit 110.

The original feeding device 100 conveys the original onto the platen glass 102 and stops it at a predetermined position.
In this state, the original can be read by scanning the scanner unit 104 from left to right. This reading method is a so-called fixed original reading method.

When reading a document without using the document feeding device 100, first, the user feeds the document feeding device 1 by the user.
00 is lifted to place the original on the platen glass 102, and the original is read by scanning the scanner unit 104 from left to right. That is, when a document is read without using the document feeder 100, the document fixed reading is performed.

The exposure control section 110 of the printer 300 modulates and outputs laser light based on the input video signal, and the laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photoconductor drum 111. Here, as will be described later, the exposure control unit 110 outputs a laser beam so that a correct image (an image that is not a mirror image) is formed at the time of original fixed reading.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111 is
The developer supplied from the developing device 113 visualizes a developer image. Further, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, a sheet is fed from each of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual sheet feeder 125 or the double-sided transport path 124, and the sheet is fed between the photoconductor drum 111 and the transfer section 116. Transported in between. The developer image formed on the photoconductor drum 111 is transferred onto the paper fed by the transfer unit 116.

The paper on which the developer image is transferred is fixed to the fixing unit 117.
Then, the fixing section 117 fixes the developer image on the paper by applying heat and pressure to the paper. The sheet that has passed the fixing unit 117 is ejected from the printer 300 to the outside (folding device 400) via the flapper 121 and the ejection roller 118.

Here, when the sheet is discharged with its image forming surface facing downward (face down), the sheet having passed through the fixing section 117 is once guided into the reversing path 122 by the switching operation of the flapper 121, and the sheet is then fed. After the trailing edge passes through the flapper 121, the sheet is switched back and discharged from the printer 300 by the discharge roller 118. Hereinafter, this paper discharge form is referred to as reverse paper discharge. The reverse discharge is performed when forming an image read by using the document feeder 100 or when forming an image sequentially from the first page such as when forming an image output from a computer. The paper order after discharge is the correct page order.

Further, when a hard paper such as an OHP sheet is fed from the manual paper feeding section 125 and an image is formed on this paper, the image forming surface is directed upward without guiding the paper to the reversing path 122. The sheet is discharged (face up) by the discharge roller 118.

Further, when double-sided recording for forming images on both sides of the sheet is set, the sheet is guided to the reverse path 122 by the switching operation of the flapper 121 and then conveyed to the double-sided conveyance path 124, and then the double-sided conveyance path. The control of re-feeding the sheet guided to 124 between the photoconductor drum 111 and the transfer unit 116 is performed at the timing described above.

The sheet discharged from the printer 300 is sent to the folding device 400. The folding device 400 performs a process of folding a sheet into a Z shape. For example, A3 size or B
When the sheet is a 4 size sheet and the folding process is designated, the folding device 400 performs the folding process. In other cases, the sheet discharged from the printer 300 is folded by the folding device 40.
It passes through 0 and is sent to the finisher 500. The finisher 500 is provided with an inserter 900 for feeding a special sheet such as a cover sheet and a slip sheet to be inserted into a sheet on which an image is formed. The finisher 500 performs various processing such as bookbinding processing, binding processing and punching.

(System Block Diagram) Next, the configuration of the controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus is shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

The controller, as shown in FIG.
The U circuit unit 150 is provided, and the CPU circuit unit 150 is a CPU.
(Not shown), ROM 151, RAM 152 built-in,
Each block 101, 153, 201, 202, 209, 3 is controlled by the control program stored in the ROM 151.
01, 401, 501 are controlled comprehensively. RAM15
Reference numeral 2 temporarily holds control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control.

The document feeder control unit 101 drives and controls the document feeder 100 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150. The image reader control unit 201 controls driving of the scanner unit 104, the image sensor 109, and the like described above, and transfers the analog image signal output from the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 202.

The image signal control unit 202 converts the analog image signal from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal and then performs each process, converts the digital signal into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 301. Further, the digital image signal input from the computer 210 via the external I / F 209 is subjected to various processes, the digital image signal is converted into a video signal, and the video signal is output to the printer control unit 301. The processing operation by the image signal control unit 202 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 150. The printer control unit 301 drives the above-described exposure control unit 110 based on the input video signal.

The operation unit 153 has a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating the setting state, and the like, and a CPU circuit unit outputs a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key. Output to 150 and CP
Corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on the signal from the U circuit unit 150.

The folding device control unit 401 is mounted on the folding device 400, and controls the drive of the entire folding device by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.

The finisher control section 501 is mounted on the finisher 500 and exchanges information with the CPU circuit section 150 to control the drive of the entire finisher. The details of this control will be described later.

(Folding Section) Next, the configurations of the folding device 400 and the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configurations of the folding device 400 and the finisher 500 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the folding device 400 has a folding conveyance horizontal path 402 for introducing the paper discharged from the printer 300 and guiding it to the finisher 500 side. A pair of conveyance rollers 40 is provided on the folding conveyance horizontal path 402.
3 and a conveyance roller pair 404 are provided. Also,
The exit of the folding conveyance horizontal path 402 (finisher 500
On the side), a folding path selection flapper 410 is provided. The folding path selection flapper 410 performs a switching operation for guiding the sheet on the folding conveyance horizontal path 402 to the folding path 420 or the finisher side 500.

Here, when folding processing is performed, the folding path selection flapper 410 is turned on, and the sheet is folded in the folding path 42.
Lead to zero. The sheet guided to the folding path 420 is conveyed to the folding roller 421 and folded into a Z shape. On the other hand, when the folding process is not performed, the folding path selection flapper 410 is turned off, and the sheet is directly sent from the printer 300 to the finisher 500 via the folding conveyance horizontal path 402.

(Finisher main section) Finisher 5
Reference numeral 00 denotes a process for sequentially taking in the sheets discharged through the folding device 400, aligning the plurality of taken-in sheets into a bundle, stapling the stapled rear end of the bundled sheet bundle, and taking in the sheets. Post-processing of each sheet such as punching for making holes near the trailing edge, sorting, non-sorting, and bookbinding is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the finisher 500 has a pair of entrance rollers 502 for guiding the paper discharged from the printer 300 through the folding device 400 to the inside. A switching flapper 551 for guiding the sheet to the finisher path 552 or the first bookbinding path 553 is provided downstream of the entrance roller pair 502.

The sheet guided to the finisher path 552 receives the buffer roller 505 through the pair of conveying rollers 503.
Sent to. 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
An inlet sensor 531 is provided between them. A second bookbinding path 554 branches off from the finisher path 552 near the upstream side of the entrance sensor 531 in the sheet conveyance direction. Hereinafter, this branch point is referred to as a branch A. This branch A
Forms a branch from the entrance roller pair 502 to the conveyance roller pair 503 for conveying a sheet, but the conveyance roller pair 503 reverses to convey the sheet from the conveyance roller pair 503 side to the entrance sensor 531 side. In that case, the second binding pass 55
It forms a branch having a one-way mechanism that is transported only to the four sides.

Conveying roller pair 503 and buffer roller 50
A punch unit 550 is provided between the sheets 5, and the punch unit 550 operates as necessary to punch near the trailing edge of the conveyed sheet.

The buffer roller 505 is a roller on which a predetermined number of sheets of paper sent to the outer periphery of the buffer roller 505 can be stacked and wound, and the pressing roller 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the roller as necessary.
It is wound by 12,513,514. The paper wound around the buffer roller 505 is the buffer roller 5
It is conveyed in the rotating direction of 05.

A switching flapper 510 is arranged between the pressing rollers 513 and 514, and a switching flapper 511 is arranged downstream of the pressing roller 514. Switching flapper 5
Reference numeral 10 is a non-sort path 52 for separating the paper wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505.
1 or a flapper for guiding to the sort path 522, and a switching flapper 511 separates the paper wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505 and winds the paper wound around the sort path 522 or the paper wound around the buffer roller 505. Buffer pass 5 in state
It is a flapper to lead to 23.

The sheet guided to the non-sort path 521 by the switching flapper 510 is discharged onto the sample tray 701 via the pair of discharging rollers 509. A paper discharge sensor 533 for jam detection and the like is provided in the middle of the non-sort path 521.

The sorting flapper 510 causes the sort path 52
The sheet guided to 2 is stacked on an intermediate tray (hereinafter, referred to as a processing tray) 630 via transport rollers 506 and 507. The sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630 are subjected to alignment processing, stapling processing, and the like as necessary, and then discharged onto the stack tray 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b. A stapler 601 is used for the staple processing for binding the sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630. The operation of this stapler 601 will be described later. The stack tray 700 is configured to be self-propelled in the vertical direction.

(Bookbinding section) The sheets from the first binding path 553 and the second binding path 554 are stored in the storage guide 820 by the pair of transport rollers 813, and further transported until the leading edge of the sheet contacts the movable sheet positioning member 823. To be done.
The bookbinding entrance sensor 81 is provided on the upstream side of the pair of transport rollers 813.
7 are arranged. Further, two pairs of staplers 818 are provided at an intermediate position of the storage guide 820, and the staplers 818 are configured to bind the center of the sheet bundle in cooperation with the anvil 819 facing the stapler 818.

A folding roller pair 826 is provided at a position downstream of the stapler 818. A protruding member 825 is provided at a position facing the folding roller pair 816. By projecting the projecting member 825 toward the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 820, the sheet bundle is pushed between the folding roller pair 826 and the folding roller pair 826.
Origami paper discharge roller 827 after being folded by
And is discharged to the saddle discharge tray 832. A booklet discharge sensor 830 is provided on the downstream side of the origami discharge roller 827.
Are arranged.

When folding the sheet bundle bound by the stapler 818, the positioning member 823 is moved down by a predetermined distance so that the staple position of the sheet bundle is at the center position of the folding roller pair 826 after the stapling process is completed. .

(Insert Section) The inserter 900 is provided on the top of the finisher 500, and sequentially separates the cover sheet and the sheet bundle forming the interleaf sheet stacked on the tray 901 and conveys them to the finisher path 552 or the bookbinding path 553. . Here, on the tray 901 of the inserter 900,
The special sheets are stacked in a normal view as seen from the operator. That is, the special sheets are stacked on the tray 901 with the surface thereof facing upward.

The special paper on the tray 901 is conveyed by a paper feed roller 902 to a separation section composed of a conveyance roller 903 and a separation belt 904, and is sequentially separated and conveyed one by one from the uppermost paper.

A pull-out roller pair 9 is provided on the downstream side of the separating section.
05 is arranged, and the special sheet separated by the pair of pull-out rollers 905 is stably guided to the transport path 908. A paper feed sensor 9 is provided on the downstream side of the pull-out roller pair 905.
07 is provided, and a conveyance roller 906 for guiding the special sheet on the conveyance path 908 to the entrance roller pair 502 is provided between the paper feed sensor 907 and the entrance roller pair 502.

(Finisher Block Diagram) Next, a finisher control section 501 for driving and controlling the finisher 500.
The configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the finisher control unit in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the finisher control section 501 has a CPU circuit section 560 including a CPU 561, a ROM 562, a RAM 563 and the like. The CPU circuit unit 560 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side via the communication IC 564 to exchange data, and based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150, R
The various programs stored in the OM 562 are executed to control the drive of the finisher 500.

When this drive control is performed, the CPU circuit section 150 receives detection signals from various sensors. The various sensors include an entrance sensor 531, a bookbinding entrance sensor 817, a bookbinding paper ejection sensor 830, and a paper feed sensor 90.
7. There is a paper set sensor 910. The paper set sensor 910 is a sensor for detecting whether or not special paper is set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900. A driver 570 is connected to the CPU circuit unit 560, and the driver 570 drives a motor and a solenoid based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 560. Also,
The CPU circuit unit 150 drives the clutch.

Here, as the motor, a pair of inlet rollers 5
02, a transport roller pair 503, an inlet motor M1 that is a drive source of the transport roller 906, a buffer motor M2 that is a drive source of the buffer roller 505, a transport roller 506, a transport roller 507, and a discharge source that is a drive source of the discharge roller pair 509. A motor M3, a bundle discharge motor M4 that drives the discharge rollers 680a and 680b, a transport motor M10 that is a drive source of the transport roller pair 813, a positioning motor M11 that is a drive source of the sheet positioning member 823, a projecting member 825, and a pair of folding rollers. 826, a folding motor M12 that is a drive source of the origami paper discharge roller 827, and a paper feed roller 9 of the inserter 900.
02, a conveyance roller 903, a separation belt 904, and a paper feed motor M20 that is a drive source for the pull-out roller pair 905.

The inlet motor M1, the buffer motor M2, and the paper discharge motor M3 are stepping motors, and by controlling the excitation pulse rate, the roller pair driven by each motor is rotated at a constant speed or at its own speed. You can The inlet motor M1 and the buffer motor M2 can be driven by the driver 570 in the forward and reverse directions of rotation.

Conveyor motor M10, positioning motor M11
Is a stepping motor, and the folding motor M12 is D
It consists of a C motor. The carry motor M10 is configured to be able to carry the paper in synchronization with the entrance motor M1 in speed.

The paper feed motor M20 is composed of a stepping motor, and is constructed so that the paper can be conveyed in synchronization with the speed of the entrance motor M1.

A switching flapper 510 is used as the solenoid.
SL1 for switching the switching flapper 511, solenoid SL2 for switching the switching flapper 551, and solenoid S for driving the paper feed shutter (not shown in FIG. 3) of the inserter 900.
There is a solenoid SL21 for driving the paper feed roller 902 of the inserter 900 up and down.

As the clutch, a clutch CL for transmitting the drive of the folding motor M12 to the projecting member 825.
1. There is a clutch CL10 for transmitting the drive of the paper feed motor M20 to the paper feed roller 902.

(Operation Unit) Next, an example of selecting the post-processing mode using the operation unit 153 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples of screens regarding post-processing mode selection of the operation unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

The present image forming apparatus has various processing modes such as non-sort, sort, staple sort (binding mode), bookbinding mode, etc. as the post-processing mode, and the special paper as the interleaf paper mode for the cover sheet, the final sheet or the middle. It is set so that it can be inserted into paper. The operation unit 1 is used to set such a processing mode.
It is performed by an input operation from 53. For example, when setting the post-processing mode, the menu selection screen shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the operation unit 153, and the processing mode is set using this menu selection screen. Further, for example, when setting the interleaving paper mode, the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the insertion setting operation unit 153, and the insertion of the special paper is performed from the inserter 900 using this screen, or by manual feeding. Paper section 1
It is possible to set the number of sheets to be inserted from 25 and set the number of sheets to be inserted on the screen shown in FIG. It is possible to select only "1" when the special paper is fed only on the front cover, and to select and set the desired number when there are a plurality of sheets to be inserted.

When the inserter is selected on the screen shown in FIG. 5B, regardless of the screen shown in FIG.
On the screen of (d), it is possible to select whether or not to set the number of interruptions that allows interruption. Figure 6
When it is selected to set the number of interruptions in (d),
The number of interruptions can be input from a ten key not shown in FIG. 6 (e).

(Outline of Finisher Operation) Next, the sheet conveyance from the inserter 900 and the printer 300 to the processing tray 630 in the finisher 500 in the sort mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. 7 to 12 are views for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and the printer to the processing tray in the finisher in the sort mode in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

When the sheet C is to be inserted as the cover sheet into the sheet after the image formation, the sheet is set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7A, the sheet C is set so that the image surface is facing upward and the binding position is left when viewed from the operator, and is fed in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The set state of the paper C is the same as the set state of the original in the original feeding apparatus 100, and the operability when setting the paper C can be improved.

When the paper C is set on the tray 901,
As shown in FIG. 8, the feeding of the uppermost sheet C1 is started, and the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side. The sheet C1 is guided from the transport path 908 through the pair of entrance rollers 502 into the finisher path 552, and when the leading edge of the sheet C1 is detected by the entrance sensor 531, the sheet after image formation from the printer 300 (shown in FIG. 9). The feeding of the paper P1) is started.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The sheet P1 fed from 0 is guided into the finisher 500, and the sheet C1 is guided to the sort path 522 via the buffer roller 505. At this time, the switching flappers 510 and 511 are both switched to the sort path 522 side.

Paper C1 led to this sort path 522
Are stored on the processing tray 630 as shown in FIG. At this time, the sheet P1 from the printer 300 is guided into the sort path 522. As shown in FIG. 11, the sheet P1 is guided to the sort path 522 via the buffer roller 505 and is conveyed toward the processing tray 630, as with the sheet C1. Further, the paper P2 following the paper P1 is guided into the finisher path 552.
Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the sheet P1 is stacked and stored on the sheet C1 already stored in the processing tray 630, and the subsequent sheet P2 is stacked and stored on the sheet P1.

Here, each paper P from the printer 300
1 and P2 have mirror-image-processed images formed thereon, and the respective sheets P1 and P2 are ejected by reversing ejection, so that the respective sheets P1 and P2 have the same image surface as the sheet C1. The paper is stored in the processing tray 630 with the binding position facing downward and the binding position facing the stapler 601. Also, this figure 1
Although not shown in FIG. 2, when there is a special sheet for the next bundle, the special sheet is fed to the transport path 908 to stand by while the sheets P1 and P2 forming the current bundle are being fed. Has been done. With this configuration, productivity in the sort mode processing can be improved.

(Outline of bookbinding operation) Next, image formation in the bookbinding mode will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining image formation in the bookbinding mode in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

When the bookbinding mode is designated, the originals set on the original feeding device 100 are sequentially read from the first page, and the images of the read originals are sequentially read by the hard disk 20.
6, and the number of originals read at the same time is counted.

When the reading of the original is completed, the read original images are classified by the following equation (1), and the image forming order and the image forming position are determined. In the following equation (1), M is the number of documents, n is an integer of 1 or more, and the number of sheets is k, 0, 1,
It is either a value of 2 or 3. Detailed description of the image forming order and the image forming position control will be omitted.

[0071]     M = n × 4-k (1)

The image formation in the bookbinding mode will be described by taking as an example the case where the number of read originals is eight.
As shown in (a), the hard disk 206 stores document image data (R1 to R8) for eight pages in the order of reading.

The image forming order and the image forming position are determined for each image data (R1 to R8). As a result, as shown in FIG. 13B, after the above-mentioned mirror image processing is performed, the first surface (front surface) of the paper P1 of the first page is
An R4 image is formed on the left half and an R5 image is formed on the right half,
The sheet P1 is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 124. Then, the paper P1 is fed again to the transfer unit 116, and the R6 image is formed on the left half of the second surface (rear surface) and the R3 image is formed on the right half of the second surface (rear surface). Then, the sheet P1 on which images are formed on both sides in this way is reversed by the reverse sheet discharge and discharged, and then sent to the bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500. With respect to the sheet P1 by this reverse discharge, as shown in FIG. 13C, the second surface on which the R6 image and the R3 image are formed is directed upward and the R6 image is set in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Be transported.

Next, the R2 image is formed on the left half and the R7 image is formed on the right half of the first surface (front surface) of the paper P2 of the second page, and this paper P2 is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 124. The sheet P2 is fed again to the transfer unit 116,
R8 image on the left half of the second surface (rear surface) and R1 on the right half
An image is formed. Then, the sheet P2 is reversed and discharged, and then the first bookbinding path 5 of the finisher 500.
Sent to 53. As a result of this reverse ejection, as to the paper P2, as shown in FIG. 13C, the second surface on which the R8 image and the R1 image are formed is directed upward and the R8 image is set in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Be transported.

Each of the sheets P1 and P2 has a finisher 500.
It is guided and stored in the storage guide 820 via the bookbinding path 553. In the storage guide 820, as shown in FIG. 13D, the sheet P1 is projected by the protruding member 825.
On the other hand, the sheet P2 is configured to be accommodated on the folding roller pair 826 side. In addition, each paper P1, P2
The first surface of the is stored facing the protruding member 825.

The positioning of the sheets P1 and P2 in the storage guide 820 is performed by a positioning member 823.

(Summary of Bookbinding + Inserter Operation) Paper conveyance from the inserter 900 and the printer 300 to the storage guide 820 in the finisher in the bookbinding mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 21. 14
20 to 20 are views for explaining the flow of sheets from the inserter and printer to the storage guide in the finisher in the bookbinding mode in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 21 is the folding process and the binding process in the finisher of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which makes into a book by.

When the sheet C1 is inserted as a cover sheet into a sheet after image formation for bookbinding, the sheet C1 is set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14A, the sheet C1 is set on the tray 901 with the image surface on which the image R and the image F are formed facing upward, and is fed with the image F at the top. That is, the sheet C1 is set in a normal view as seen from the operator, and the set state of the sheet C1 is the same as the set state of the document in the document feeder 100. Therefore, it is possible to improve the operability when setting the paper C1.

When the sheet C1 is set on the tray 901, as shown in FIG. 15, the feeding of the uppermost sheet C1 is started, and the switching flapper 551 causes the finisher path 5 to move.
It is switched to the 52 side. The sheet C1 is guided from the transport path 908 through the pair of entrance rollers 502 into the finisher path 552, and when the leading edge of the sheet C1 is detected by the entrance sensor 531, the sheet after image formation from the printer 300 (shown in FIG. 16). The feeding of the paper P) is started.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The paper P fed from 00 is guided into the finisher 500, and the paper C1 is guided through the buffer roller 505 to the non-sort path 521 side. At this time, the switching flapper 510 is switched to the non-sort path 521 side.

When the sheet C1 is further guided to the non-sort path 521 side and conveyed until the rear end passes through the entrance sensor 531, the sheet C1 is temporarily stopped as shown in FIG. At this time, the paper P from the printer 300 is
It is guided into the finisher 500. Then, with the sheet C1 stopped, the sheet P is guided to the first bookbinding path 553 by the switching flapper 551 and stored in the storage guide 820 as shown in FIG. Then, the user is led to the first binding path 553. At this time, the sheet C2 following the sheet C1 is separated and conveyed to a position before the conveyance roller 906, and a predetermined number of sheets are stored in the storage guide 820.
Wait until it is stored in.

When a predetermined number of sheets P are stored in the storage guide 820, the sheet C1 is reversed and fed into the storage guide 820 via the branch A and the second bookbinding path 554 as shown in FIG. Be guided. At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the sheet C1 is conveyed with the image R side first, and is stacked and stored on the bundle of sheets P already stored in the storage guide 820. When the sheet C1 is stored in the storage guide 820, the feeding of the sheet C2 following the sheet C1 is started. Here, for example, when the paper C2 is an inappropriate paper having a size different from the predetermined size, as shown in FIG. 20, the paper C2 is discharged to the sample tray 701 without being temporarily stopped in the state shown in FIG. It

After the sheets C1 are stacked and stored in the stacking guide 820 on the stack of sheets P, the projecting member 825 is projected to the stack of the sheets C1 and P and the stack is directed toward the folding roller pair 826. Is pushed out. This bundle is folded by the folding roller pair 826 at the center of the bundle (image boundary portion of the image surface), and the saddle discharge tray 832 is formed.
Is discharged to. In the folded state in this way, as shown in FIG. 21B, the image F of the paper C1 is arranged on the cover page, the image R is arranged on the last page, and the images of the respective papers P are arranged in page order. And again, paper C1, paper P
The orientations of the images are matched.

As described above, by the paper feed control of the paper C1 from the inserter 900 and the conveyance control of the paper P from the printer 300, the image R of the paper C1 is the cover page and the image R is the last page in the bookbinding state. Since the images of the sheets P are arranged in the page order and the orientations of the images are matched, the printing quality of the special sheet from the inserter 900 and the sheet conveyance durability of the printer 300 are not impaired.
The sheets and the special sheets can be combined into a book, and in this sort mode, the finisher 500 temporarily waits for the insertion of the special sheets in the finisher path 552 and then guides the sheets into the storage guide 820. Since the special paper that is stored and is waiting in the finisher path 552 after the storage of the paper is guided to the storage guide 820 and stored, it is possible to improve the productivity when binding the paper and the special paper together. You can

If necessary, the stapler 818 can bind the bundle of sheets C at the central portion in a state where the sheets C1 are stacked and stored in the bundle of sheets P in the storage guide 820.

(Explanation of Operation by Flowchart)
The operation of this apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Hereinafter, the main body paper feed control, the continuation determination processing, and the continuation means determination processing are controlled by software in a multitasking manner and can be processed in parallel.

A desired sheet is loaded on the inserter 900,
Mixed feeding to the output bundle is possible by sequentially feeding at arbitrary timing. Specifically, in particular, the second and third special sheets out of a bundle of five sheets are fed from the inserter 900,
When the first, fourth, and fifth sheets are image-formed from the image forming apparatus main body 10 and one bundle is desired to be formed, or when several bundles are to be formed,
In the inserter 900, one bundle is set in the tray 901 in the order of feeding. That is, in the example above,
Set the second bundle, the third bundle, the second bundle, the second bundle, the third bundle, and so on. Here, the number of special sheets to be fed from the inserter 900 can be set by the operation unit 153 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 and the number of sheets is not specified.

Here, an embodiment for creating a sheet bundle in the slip sheet mode will be described with reference to the above-mentioned example and FIG.

First, the input setting from the operation unit when the inserter mode is selected as the post-processing mode will be described based on the operation units of FIGS. 5 and 6 and the flowchart of FIG. When the inserter is selected from the screen shown in FIG. 5B, regardless of the screen shown in FIG.
On the screen of (d), it is possible to select whether or not to set the number of interrupted sheets of the sheet bundle that allows the operation of the apparatus to be temporarily interrupted (S351). When it is selected to set the number of interruptions in FIG. 6D, the number of interruptions can be input from the ten keys in FIG. 6E (S353).
The input numerical value is replaced with the interrupted copy number Nb (S35
5), the number of interruptions Nb is less than or equal to the total number of copies N (Nb ≦
It is determined whether it is N) (S357). Here, when the number of interrupted copies Nb is less than or equal to the total number of copies N, the interrupted number of copies Nb is set, and when the number of interrupted copies Nb is set to be larger than the total number of copies N, the interrupted copy number is set again from the numeric keypad as an erroneous input. (S353).

Next, the main body paper feed control will be described with reference to FIG. The first, fourth, and fifth originals are set on the original feeding device 100, and the second and third sheets of the number of bundles to be created are set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900. The inserter 900 is operated by the operation unit 153 of the image forming apparatus main body 10.
The paper feed order is designated, and thereafter, various setting inputs relating to the temporary suspension of the above-described apparatus operation are performed, and the copy start key is turned on (S201). The sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 10 by the created bundle and the paper feed timing from the inserter 900 are adjusted in the image forming apparatus main body 10 (S203). The image forming apparatus main body 10 determines whether the first sheet is the sheet fed from the inserter 900 (S205), and in the above example, the first sheet is the image formed sheet from the image forming apparatus main body 10. The finisher 50
The paper is discharged to 0 (S600). Image forming apparatus main body 10
Determines whether the paper is the last paper (S207), and if it is not the last paper, controls the next paper. The second sheet waits until a sheet interval that allows the first sheet to precede (S203), and at the sheet feeding timing, the inserter 9
It is determined whether the paper is fed from 00 (S205), and the inserter 9
The second sheet is fed from 00 to the finisher 500 (S
500). The above operation is repeated for the third and fourth sheets,
The final sheet of the first bundle of the fifth sheet is reached (S207), and one bundle of sheets is discharged to the stack tray 700 of the finisher 500. At this time, the sheet bundle discharged to the processing tray 630 can be bound by the stapler 818.

Next, the sheet bundle created as described above is
It is judged whether or not the interruption set number is Nb (S209), and when it is not the interruption set number, the creation of the next bundle is controlled. When the number of copies is set to be interrupted, the operations of the image forming apparatus main body 10 and the finisher 500 are temporarily stopped (S213). When the operation of the image forming apparatus main body 10 is stopped, the interposer continuation flag is set to OFF so that the processes after the (Nb + 1) th bundle cannot be performed (S214).

In the above flow chart, S50
The inserter sequence of 0 and the transfer sheet sequence of S600 are processes for controlling and managing the conveyance of each sheet. The former is a process from the inserter tray 901 to the processing tray 630 in the finisher 500, and the latter is a process from the image forming apparatus 10 to the finisher 500. It means to convey to the tray 630.

As described above, the number of interrupted copies can be set on the operation screen of the image forming apparatus, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped at the set number of interrupted copies to create a desired sheet bundle. You can judge whether or not. In other words, since double feeding of the paper fed from the inserter can be detected early, if there is a wasteful copying operation, it can be minimized and productivity can be improved. .

Further, in case of creating (Nb + 1) bundles or more in the flowchart of FIG. 22, it is set whether to continue or end in the continuation determination process (S215 in FIG. 22).
The same process can be selected on the screen of the operation unit 153 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, using the flowchart of FIG.
“Yes” on the screen of the operation unit 153 of FIG.
The continuation determination process when is selected will be described.

In the continuation determination process 1 of FIG. 24, the number of interrupted copies N
When the sheet bundle of b is created and the image forming apparatus main body 10 is stopped, continuation is selected on the screen of the operation unit 153 of FIG. 6F, and a sheet bundle of (Nb + 1) bundles or more is created. When the start key of the operation unit 153 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 is pressed (S301), the continuation flag is turned on (S3).
03).

When the continuation determination process is performed,
In step S217 of FIG. 22, the image forming apparatus body 10 determines whether the continuation flag is ON or OFF.
The processing after 203 is restarted from the first sheet. When “No” (end) is selected on the screen of the operation unit 153 of FIG. 6F, the next copy job is on standby.

The continuation determination process is not limited to the continuation determination process 1 shown in FIG. For example, in FIG.
The continuation determination process 2 shown in FIG. 5 or the continuation determination process 3 shown in FIG. 3 may be used.

As in the continuation determination processing 2 of FIG. 25, it is possible to automatically restart the timer. Number of interruptions N
When the sheet bundle of b is created and the image forming apparatus main body 10 is stopped, a timer is automatically set whether to create a sheet bundle of (Nb + 1) or more. When creating a sheet bundle of (Nb + 1) sheets or more, after stopping the image forming apparatus main body 10,
The timer is reset (S311), waits for a predetermined time (2000 ms here) (S313), and the continuation flag is set to O.
N (S315).

Alternatively, as in the continuation determination processing 3 in FIG. 26, it is possible to restart the processing by combining the copy key and the timer. When the image forming apparatus 10 is stopped after the sheet bundle having the interrupted number Nb is created, (Nb + 1)
Set whether to create a paper stack of more than a stack. (Nb
To create a sheet bundle of +1 or more, the timer is reset after the image forming apparatus main body 10 is stopped (S32).
1) If the copy key is turned on within a predetermined time (here, 2000 ms) (S323), the continuation flag is turned on (S327). In addition, a predetermined time (here, 2000m
Even if the copy key is not turned on within s) (S32
5), the continuation flag is turned on by the timer (S32)
5).

As described above, instead of the continuation determining process shown in FIG. 24, the continuation determining process shown in FIG. 25 or 26 may be used.

Further, a flow chart for setting the processing operation after the temporary interruption will be described with reference to FIG. After the processing of the Nb portion is completed and the copying operation is temporarily interrupted, the state of the output bundle can be confirmed, and it can be selected whether or not to set the next interrupted copy number again (S361). When continuation is selected in FIG. 6F and setting of the number of interruptions is selected in FIG. 6D, the number of interruptions can be input from the ten-key pad in FIG. 6E (S363). ). The input numerical value is replaced with the interrupted copy number Nc (S365), and it is determined whether the interrupted copy number Nc is less than or equal to the total copy number N-Nb (Nc≤N-Nb) (S367). If the number of interrupted copies Nc is less than or equal to the total number of copies N-Nb, the number of interrupted copies Nc is set, and the number of interrupted copies Nc is the total number of copies N-N.
If it is set to be larger than b, the number of interruptions is set again from the ten keys as an erroneous input (S363).

The above setting process is continuously performed until the total N copies are completed. Of course, it is also possible to process all the remaining copies after confirming the stability of the finish of the sheet bundle at the Nb part.

As described above, after it is temporarily stopped at the set number of interruptions and it is judged whether or not a desired sheet bundle is created, it is possible to select whether to continue or end the operation again. Because the number of copies can be changed,
It is possible to continue the copying operation while confirming the stability of the sheet bundle, and it is possible to widen the user's choice.

[0104]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The number of interrupted copies can be set from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus, and by suspending the operation of the image forming apparatus at the set number of interrupted copies, it is possible to determine whether a desired bundle of sheets has been created. That is, since it is possible to detect the double feeding of the sheets conveyed by the first conveying means or the second conveying means at an early stage, it is possible to minimize the unnecessary operation if there is any unnecessary operation. It is possible to improve the sex.

Further, after it is determined whether the desired sheet bundle is created by temporarily suspending the set number of interruptions, it is possible to select whether to continue or end the operation again, and further change the interruption setting number. Therefore, it is possible to continue the copying operation while confirming the stability of the sheet bundle, and it is possible to widen the selection range of the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the entire image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the finisher.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation unit

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation unit

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the finisher.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 18 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 19 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 20 is an operation explanatory diagram of the bookbinding mode using the inserter.

FIG. 21 is an operation explanatory diagram of a bookbinding mode using an inserter.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of main body paper feeding control using interleaving paper mode.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of interrupted copy number setting processing.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of continuation determination processing.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of continuation determination processing.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of continuation determination processing.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of interrupted copy number setting processing.

[Explanation of symbols] [Explanation of symbols]

A ... Branch C, C1, C2 ... Paper CL1 ... Clutch CL10 ... Clutch M1 ... Inlet motor M10 ... Conveyor motor M11 ... Positioning motor M12 ... Folding motor M2 ... Buffer motor M20 ... Paper feed motor M3 ... Paper ejection motor M4 ... Bundle discharge motor P, P1, P2 ... Paper F, R ... image SL1 ... Solenoid SL10 ... Solenoid SL2 ... Solenoid SL20 ... Solenoid SL21 ... Solenoid 10 ... Image forming apparatus main body 100 ... Document feeder 101 ... Document Feeder Control Unit 102 ... Platen glass 103 ... Lamp 104 ... Scanner unit 105, 106, 107 ... Mirror 108 ... Lens 109 ... Image sensor 110 ... Exposure control unit 110a ... Polygon mirror 111 ... Photosensitive drum 112 ... Output tray 113 ... Developer 114, 115 ... Cassette 116 ... Transferring part 117 ... Fixing unit 118 ... Ejection roller 121 ... flapper 122 ... Inversion path 124 ... Double-sided transport path 125 ... Manual paper feeder 150 ... CPU circuit section 151 ... ROM 152 ... RAM 153 ... Operation unit 200 ... Image reader 201 ... Image reader control unit 202 ... Image signal control unit 206 ... Hard disk 209 ... External I / F 210 ... Computer 300 ... Printer 301 ... Printer control unit 400 ... Folding device 401 ... Device control unit 402 ... Folding conveyance horizontal path 403 ... Pair of transport rollers 404 ... Pair of transport rollers 410 ... Folding path selection flapper 420… Fold path 421 ... Folding roller 500 ... Finisher 501 ... Finisher control unit 502 ... Entrance roller pair 503 ... Conveying roller pair 505 ... Buffer roller 506, 507 ... Conveyor roller 509 ... Ejection roller pair 510, 511 ... Switching flapper 512, 513, 514 ... Pressing roller 521 ... Non-sorted path 522 ... Sort path 523 ... Buffer path 531 ... Entrance sensor 533 ... Paper discharge sensor 550 ... Punch unit 551 ... Switching flapper 552 ... Finisher pass 553 ... First binding pass 554 ... Second binding pass 560 ... CPU circuit section 561 ... CPU 562 ... ROM 563 ... RAM 564 ... Communication IC 570 ... Driver 601 ... Stapler 630 ... Processing tray 680a, 680b ... Discharge roller 700 ... Stack tray 701 ... Sample tray 813 ... Pair of transport rollers 817 ... Booklet entrance sensor 818 ... Stapler 819 ... Anvil 820 ... Storage guide 823 ... Sheet positioning member 825 ... Projection member 826 ... Pair of folding rollers 827 ... Origami paper ejection roller 830 ... Booklet ejection sensor 832 ... Saddle discharge tray 900 ... Inserter 901 ... tray 902 ... Paper feed roller 903 ... Conveyor roller 904 ... Separation belt 905 ... Pulling roller pair 906 ... Conveying roller 907 ... Paper feed sensor 908 ... Transport path 910 ... Paper set sensor

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koji Shimizu             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Takayuki Okada             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Katsuaki Hirai             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AS02 BB10 CK04 CK06                       HH03 HJ02 HK15 HN04 HN15                       HN22                 2H027 DA46 DE07 DE09 ED21 ED29                       ED30 EE07 EF09 EH10 FA02                       FA08                 3F050 BB02 BD02 CD05 CE01 LA02                       LB03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first conveying means for conveying a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus main body, a second conveying means for conveying a sheet placed on a placing tray, and the first conveying means. Means and a processing tray for making a desired number of sheets conveyed by the second conveying means into one bundle, and a bundle discharging means for discharging the sheet bundle on the processing tray in a bundle,
An image forming apparatus having a stacking tray for stacking sheet bundles discharged from the processing tray, and a sheet bundle having an operation unit for displaying and inputting various information and temporarily stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus, wherein the number of sheets is input in advance from the operation unit, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped by the number of sheet bundles input from the operation unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped, whether to continue or end the operation of the image forming apparatus is selected by an input from the operation unit. The image forming apparatus described. 3. When the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped and then continuation is selected by an input from the operation unit, the number of sheets for temporarily stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus is again set to the operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of inputting from a unit. 4. A processing tray is carried by a first carrying means for carrying a sheet on which an image is formed in the main body of the image forming apparatus and a second carrying means for carrying a sheet placed on a placing tray. A method for controlling post-processing of an image forming apparatus, wherein a desired number of sheets are bundled into a bundle, and the bundle discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle on the processing tray to a stacking tray. An image characterized in that the number of sheet bundles for temporarily stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus is input in advance from the operation unit to operate, and the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped by the number of sheet bundles input from the operation unit. Post-processing control method for forming apparatus. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped, whether to continue or end the operation of the image forming apparatus is selected by an input from the operation unit. A post-processing control method for an image forming apparatus as described. 6. When the operation of the image forming apparatus is temporarily stopped and then continuation is selected by an input from the operation unit, the number of sheet bundles for temporarily stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus is again set to the operation. The post-processing control method of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the post-processing can be input from a unit.