JP2003104623A - Sheet treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet treating device including a sheet ejecting part capable of certainly preventing the construction from becoming large-sized and the control from complication by managing well without increasing sensors for change of the sensed contents in the neighbourhood of the sheet ejection part, the change being generated depending upon whether a sheet handling device is installed. SOLUTION: If a post-processing device 5 and a junction transport unit 8 are installed on a printer 2, a transport guide 85 of the junction transport unit 8 is located on the outside of the sheet ejection hole 38 of a sheet ejection part so that a sheet ejection tray 29 formed on the oversurface of the printer 2 remains out of service, and a sensor 35 located on the way of a sheet transport path from the printer 2 to post-processing device 5 can not sense whether the tray 29 accommodates any sheets of paper P. Therefore, an arm 36a is changed to an arm 36b, and a transport path for the sheets P is secured between the bottom of the arm 36b abutting to the sheet P and the oversurface of the lower transport guide 85, and sensing is made for whether any sheet P exists on the transport guide 85, if a jam with sheets has occurred, what the size of the sheet P is, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus to which a sheet handling apparatus is selectively added and which switches an object to be detected by a detection sensor in accordance with the addition state of the sheet handling apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A processing operation in a sheet processing apparatus is one in which a sheet is conveyed from a paper feed section through a processing section and then discharged to a sheet discharge section. In order to execute the processing operation normally,
Stable transport of paper in the transport path,
It is necessary to properly store the paper on the paper discharge tray provided in the paper discharge unit. Therefore, the processing operation of the sheet processing apparatus is
It must be started after confirming that the paper can be stored in the paper output tray, and the paper output unit of the paper processing device detects the transport state of the paper in the vicinity of the paper exit and
It is necessary to detect the storage state of the paper on the paper discharge tray.

However, in general, a sensor detects a single state by a single detection method, and detects a plurality of detection contents such as a sheet conveyance state and a sheet storage state in a sheet discharge section of a sheet processing apparatus. In order to detect, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of sensors in the paper discharge section, which leads to an increase in the size of the device to secure a mounting space for the sensors, and the control of the detection signal processing by each sensor is complicated. Turn into.

Therefore, as a conventional sheet processing apparatus, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-116470 discloses a device in which a fixing roller also serves as a discharge roller, and a single sensor arranged downstream of the fixing roller in the sheet conveying direction. Discloses a configuration in which the sheet discharge state and the sheet storage state on the sheet discharge tray are detected.

Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-124271 discloses a device for feeding a sheet from a cut sheet feeder and a single-cut sheet feeding mechanism to a platen. A configuration is disclosed in which a single sensor provided in a common passage extends to detect a paper feed state, presence / absence of a paper, and a carry amount of a paper. According to these configurations, a single sensor can detect a plurality of detection contents of the sheet, and it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the apparatus and complexity of control.

[0006]

However, in the conventional sheet processing apparatus, it is possible to cope with a change in the sheet conveyance state in the sheet discharge section depending on whether the sheet handling apparatus as an optional device is mounted in the sheet discharge section. There is no sensor that changes the detection contents of the sensor, and it is necessary to provide a sensor in the paper input part of the paper handling device in duplicate with the sensor provided in the paper output part of the paper processing device. However, there is a problem in that the control becomes complicated and the control becomes complicated.

That is, in a sheet processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus that forms an image in the image forming section while the sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding section to the sheet discharging section, a punching process or a stapling process is performed on the sheet after the image formation. There is a paper handling device such as a post-processing device that can be selectively installed as an optional device, and the paper handling device is installed by connecting the paper input part to the paper output part of the paper processing device. It Therefore, the paper transport path configured in the paper handling device is continuous with the paper transport path configured in the paper processing device, and the paper that has passed through the paper discharge unit of the paper processing device is handled from the paper input unit. It is continuously transported into the device. Further, in order for the sheet processing apparatus to recognize whether or not the sheet handling apparatus is attached, a sensor for detecting the sheet handling apparatus is required in the vicinity of the paper discharge section of the sheet processing apparatus.

Therefore, when the paper handling device is mounted, it is not necessary to detect the storage state of the paper on the paper ejection tray in the paper ejection part of the paper processing device, while in the paper entry part of the paper handling device. Conventionally, it is necessary to detect whether the paper is being conveyed or whether the paper handling device is installed, and it is not possible to change the content of paper detection that detects the storage state of paper on the paper ejection tray in the paper ejection unit of the paper processing device. In the above configuration, it is necessary to separately provide a sensor that detects the transport state of the paper in the paper input unit of the paper handling device and a sensor that detects whether or not the paper handling device is mounted.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily change the detection content of a sensor provided in the paper discharge section of the paper processing apparatus, so that the paper processing caused by whether or not the paper handling apparatus is mounted. It is possible to respond to changes in the detected contents near the paper discharge section of the device without adding a sensor, and even if a paper handling device is selectively added, the size of the device becomes large and the control becomes complicated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of surely preventing the above.

[0010]

The present invention has the following structure as means for solving the above problems.

(1) In a sheet processing apparatus equipped with a sheet handling device selectively mounted, and a sensor having a first state relating to the sheet as a detection content when the sheet handling device is not mounted, When the device is installed,
It is characterized in that the content detected by the sensor is changed to a second state relating to the sheet.

In this structure, the detection content of the existing sensor is changed when the state of the sheet to be detected changes depending on whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted. Therefore, even if the state of the paper to be detected changes, it is not necessary to additionally provide a sensor, a space for arranging a plurality of sensors in an adjacent position is omitted, and a detection signal of which sensor is selected. No need to control such as.

(2) The sensor is a sensor that detects a state relating to the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member due to the contact with the sheet, and the movable member is detachable according to the mounting state of the sheet handling device. Is characterized by.

In this structure, the movable member, whose displacement is detected by the sensor when it comes into contact with the sheet, is attached or detached depending on whether or not the sheet handling apparatus is attached. Therefore, the movable member for detecting the displacement of the sensor is attached / detached depending on whether or not the paper handling device is attached, and the detection content of the sensor changes.

(3) When the paper handling device is mounted, the first
The movable member used for the sensor when the state of (3) is detected is removed.

In this structure, the movable member whose displacement is detected when the sheet is brought into contact with the sheet by the sensor whose detection content is the first state is removed when the sheet handling apparatus is mounted. Therefore, the sensor that detects the first state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member when the sheet handling device is not attached does not detect the first state when the sheet handling device is attached. . As a result, the detection content of the sensor based on the displacement of the movable member changes depending on whether or not the paper handling device is mounted.

(4) When the paper handling device is mounted, the second
It is characterized in that a movable member used for a sensor when the state of (1) is detected is attached.

In this structure, the movable member, whose displacement is detected when it comes into contact with the sheet by the sensor having the second state as the detection content, is attached when the sheet handling apparatus is mounted. Therefore, the sensor that does not detect the second state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member in the state where the sheet handling device is not attached detects the second state when the sheet handling device is attached. . As a result, the detection content of the sensor based on the displacement of the movable member changes depending on whether or not the paper handling device is mounted.

(5) When mounting the paper handling device, the first
The movable member used for the sensor when the state is the detection content is replaced with the movable member used for the sensor when the second state is the detection content.

In this structure, the movable member for detecting the first state is attached by the sensor when the sheet handling device is not attached, and the second member is attached by the sensor when the sheet handling device is attached. A movable member for detecting the state is attached. Therefore, the sensor detects the first state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member when the sheet handling device is not mounted, and the sensor detects the first state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member when the sheet handling device is mounted. Detect the second state of. Accordingly, different states of the sheet are detected by the single sensor depending on whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted.

(6) Based on the detection signal of the sensor,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a control section for discriminating a mounting state of the sheet handling apparatus.

In this structure, it is determined whether or not the paper handling device is installed based on the detection signal of the sensor which changes according to the mounting state of the paper handling device. Therefore, the presence or absence of the paper handling device is detected by an existing sensor that detects a specific state of the paper, and it is necessary to set a dedicated sensor or a manual operation to detect whether the paper handling device is installed. There is no.

(7) Based on the detection signal of the sensor,
It is characterized by including a control unit for recognizing the detection content of the sensor.

In this structure, the detection content of the sensor is recognized according to whether the paper handling device is mounted or not, based on the detection signal of the sensor which changes according to the mounting state of the paper handling device. Therefore, even when the detection content of the sensor changes according to the mounting state of the paper handling device, the detection content of the sensor is recognized based on the detection signal, and it is not necessary to set and input the detection content of the sensor by manual operation. .

(8) Of the portions detected by the sensor in the movable member used for the sensor when the first state is the detection content and the movable member used for the sensor when the second state is the detection content It is characterized by different shapes.

In this structure, the content detected by the sensor is firstly determined in accordance with the state of whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted.
When the state is changed to the second state or the second state, one of the two movable members in which the shapes of the detection portions of the sensor are different from each other is selectively attached. Therefore, when the movable member is replaced according to the mounting condition of the paper handling device, the detection signal of the sensor changes, and whether or not the paper handling device is mounted without requiring a new sensor or setting input by manual operation, and The content detected by the sensor is accurately recognized.

(9) The first state is a sheet discharge state in the sheet discharge section.

In this configuration, the sensor for detecting the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge unit when the paper handling device is not mounted indicates the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge unit when the paper handling device is mounted. It will not detect. Therefore, when the sheet handling device is mounted and the sheet is not ejected to the ejection section, the sensor does not detect the ejection state of the sheet in the ejection section, and the sensor is used to detect other states. You can

(10) The second state is characterized in that the sheet is conveyed in the sheet handling device.

In this structure, the sensor for detecting the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge section when the paper handling device is not mounted indicates the conveyance state of the paper in the paper handling device when the paper handling device is mounted. To detect. Therefore, when the paper handling device is mounted and the paper is not ejected to the paper ejection unit, the sensor that does not need to detect the ejection state of the paper in the paper ejection unit detects the conveyance state of the paper in the paper handling device. .

[0031]

1 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus including a printer which is a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is
A printer 3, a scanner function, an automatic document feeder 4, a post-processing device 5, a multi-stage sheet feeding unit 6, a relay feeding unit 8 and a double-sided feeding unit 10 are arranged around the printer 2 in the center. Peripheral functions have been added centering around. The printer 2 is mounted on a multi-stage paper feeding unit 6 which also serves as a mounting table.
Is located above. The post-processing device 5 is mounted on the right side surface of the printer 2, the relay transport unit 8 is mounted on the top surface of the printer 2, and the double-sided transport unit 10 is mounted on the left side surface of the printer 2.

In the above structure, the post-processing device 5
The relay transport unit 8 corresponds to the paper handling device of this invention.

The printer 2 forms an image based on not only the image data read from the original by the scanner 3 but also the image data input from an external device such as a personal computer. Inside the printer 2, an electrophotographic process section 20 centering on the photosensitive drum is arranged on the left side of a substantially central portion in the vertical direction, and a paper supply section 21 is arranged on the lower side. The paper supply unit 21 includes a paper storage tray 210 that stores paper, and a feeding mechanism 21 that separates and feeds the paper stored in the paper storage unit 210 sheet by sheet.
1 is provided.

One sheet of paper supplied from the paper supply unit 21 is conveyed between the photoconductor drum in the electrophotographic process unit 20 and the transfer unit, and the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum is transferred. To be done. The paper is supplied to the paper supply unit 21 by pulling out the paper storage tray 210 to the front side of the printer 2. Formed on the lower surface of the printer 2 is a sheet receiving port 27 for receiving the sheet fed from the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 6 to the electrophotographic process section 20.

Inside the printer 2, above the electrophotographic process section 20, there is arranged a fixing device 23 which heats and presses the paper on which the toner image is transferred by the electrophotographic process section 20 to melt and fix the toner image. ing. Fixing device 2
The sheet that has passed 3 is guided to the relay conveyance unit 8.

Inside the printer 2, a process control for controlling the electrophotographic process in the electrophotographic process unit 20 is provided above and below a laser scanning unit (LSU) 22 which constitutes a part of the electrophotographic process unit 20. The unit (PCU) board and the printer controller 24 that accommodates the interface board that receives the input of the image data from the outside of the apparatus, the image data input through the interface board is subjected to predetermined image processing, and L
Image control unit (I
An image control unit 25 including a CU) board, a power supply unit 26 that supplies electric power to each of the boards and the control unit, and the like are arranged.

The multi-stage sheet feeding unit 6 is an external sheet feeding device and is provided with three sheet feeding sections 61 to 63. The sheets accommodated in the sheet accommodating trays of the sheet supply units 61 to 63 are separated and conveyed one by one by the separating and supplying unit, and communicate with the sheet receiving port 27 of the printer 2 on the upper surface of the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 6. The sheet is conveyed toward the sheet discharge port 65. In the multi-stage paper feeding unit 6, one of the paper feeding units 61 to 63 which accommodates a paper of a selected size is selectively operated. The paper supply to the paper supply units 61 to 63 is performed by pulling out the paper storage tray to the front side of the multi-stage paper feeding unit 6. In this example, the sheet supply units 62 and 63 store sheets of the same size.

The post-processing device 5 performs, for example, stapling processing on the image-formed paper discharged from the printer 2 directly or via the relay conveyance unit 8. For this reason, the post-processing device 5 includes a carry-in roller 5 that guides a sheet inside.
0 is provided, and on the downstream side of the carry-in roller 50 in the paper transport direction, the paper transport path is divided into a transport path that passes through the staple processing unit and a transport path that does not pass through the staple processing unit according to the set processing mode. Switching gate 5 branching into
2 are arranged.

The scanner 3 has an automatic reading mode for sequentially exposing and scanning the originals on a sheet, which are automatically supplied by the automatic original feeding device 4, to read an original image, and a manuscript of a book person or an automatic original feeding device. 4 is provided with a manual reading mode in which a manuscript of a sheet person who cannot be self-supplied is manually set to read a manuscript image.
The originals set on the transparent original placing table 30 move along the original placing table 30 in a predetermined speed relationship with each other.
The exposure scanning is performed by the scanning unit 31 and the second scanning unit 32. The image of the original document that has been exposed and scanned is transferred to the photoelectric conversion element 34 via optical components such as a mirror and an imaging lens 33.
The scanner 3 outputs an electric signal which is imaged on the light receiving surface of and is converted by the photoelectric conversion element 34 in accordance with the amount of received light.

The automatic document feeder 4 conveys the document placed on the document set tray 40 toward the upper surface of the document placing table 30 and discharges the scanned document onto the document discharge tray 42. 41 is provided. Further, the automatic document feeder 4 uses the document table 3 for documents that cannot be automatically supplied.
In order to be able to place it on the upper surface of 0, the upper surface of the document placing table 30 can be freely opened and closed with the back side as a fulcrum.

The relay transport unit 8 is mounted on the printer 2 at the upper part of the discharge tray 9 provided on the top of the printer 2.
A transport unit in which a paper input unit is continuously attached to the paper output unit and the paper on which the image discharged from the printer 2 is recorded is introduced toward the post-processing device 5 located on the downstream side of the printer 2. Is. In the middle of the paper transport path 84 in the relay transport unit 8, the paper is transferred onto the upper surface 82 of the relay transport unit 8.
Another sheet conveying path 83 for guiding the sheet to the discharge tray 9 formed by the upper surface 54 of the post-processing device 5 is branched. The paper discharge destination is selected to either the post-processing device 5 or the paper discharge tray 9 by switching the gate 81 arranged at the branch portion of the transport path.

The paper discharge tray 9 is also used as a reverse conveyance path for the sheet, and when combined with the external double-sided conveyance unit 10, realizes a double-sided image forming mode for forming images on both sides of the sheet. Therefore, the paper discharge roller 28 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions. A gate 81 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 23 in the conveyance path 64 extending from the paper supply units 21, 61 to 63 to the electrophotographic process unit 20 and the fixing device 23. In the double-sided image forming mode, after the sheet on which the image formation on the first side is completed is guided to the sheet conveying path 83 via the gate 81, the front and rear ends in the sheet conveying direction are reversed before reaching the discharge tray 9. In this state, it is pulled back into the printer 2. This sheet is guided to the electrophotographic process section 20 again via the inside of the double-sided transport unit 10 with the second surface facing the photosensitive drum. The sheet on which images have been formed on both sides is guided to the sheet discharge tray 9 or the post-processing device 5 via the gate 81.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing the structure of the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 5 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 together with the relay conveyance unit 8, and is selectively attached as an optional device of the image forming apparatus 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are not mounted, the image-formed paper that has passed through the electrophotographic process section 20 and the fixing device 23 of the printer 2 is passed through the paper discharge roller 28. The paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 29 formed on the upper surface of the printer 2.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing the structure in the vicinity of the paper discharge portion of the printer in the image forming apparatus, and shows a state in which the post-processing device and the relay conveying device are not mounted. A paper discharge unit including a paper discharge roller 28 and a sensor 35 is formed above the printer 2 that constitutes the image forming apparatus 1. The paper discharge roller 28 is pivotally supported between the transport guide 39 and the paper discharge port 38. In addition, the sensor 35
Is attached to the end of the top cover 37 of the printer 2 outside the paper exit 38, and detects the upper end of the arm 36a that is swingable about the middle above the outside of the paper exit 38. To do.

For example, the sensor 35 is a photo sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are opposed to each other with a gap provided between them.
A space between the light emitting element and the light receiving element is selectively shielded by the upper end of the swingable arm 36a. The lower end of the arm 36a is located above the paper ejection tray 29 and has a paper ejection port 38.
It is located below the lower edge.

Therefore, when the storage amount of the paper P on the paper discharge tray 29 is less than the predetermined amount and the paper P discharged from the paper discharge port 38 can be stored on the paper discharge tray 29, the arm 36a by its own weight. In the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the space between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 35 is shielded by the upper end of the arm 36a. On the other hand, when the storage amount of the paper P on the paper discharge tray 29 exceeds a predetermined amount and the paper P discharged from the paper discharge port 38 cannot be stored on the paper discharge tray 29, the upper surface of the paper P contacts the lower end. As a result, the arm 36a swings to the posture shown by the broken line in FIG.
An arm 36a is provided between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 35.
No longer shielded by the top edge of the. As described above, in a state in which the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are not attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the storage state of the paper P in the paper discharge tray 29 (the paper discharge tray 29 is based on the detection signal of the sensor 35). Is full, etc.) can be detected.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the structure in the vicinity of the paper discharge portion of the printer in the image forming apparatus, and shows a state in which the post-processing device and the relay conveying device are mounted. FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the paper discharge portion of a printer in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted. . FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the paper discharge portion of the printer in another image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and shows a state in which the post-processing device and the relay conveyance device are not mounted. FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge portion of a printer in an image forming apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted. There is.

With the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 mounted, the conveyance guide 85 of the relay conveyance unit 8 is located outside the paper ejection port 38 in the paper ejection section, and the sensor 35 is It is located in the middle of the paper transport path from the printer 2 to the post-processing device 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in this state, the paper discharge tray 29 formed on the upper surface of the printer 2 is not used. Therefore, the sensor 35
Cannot detect the storage state of the paper P in the paper discharge tray 29.

Further, when the arm 36a having the shape shown in FIG. 3 exists between the paper discharge port 38 of the printer 2 and the conveyance guide 85 of the relay conveyance unit 8, the arm 36a swings to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. Even in the moved state, the lower end of the arm 36a is located below the upper surface of the lower transport guide 85. Therefore, the transfer path of the paper P in the relay transfer unit 8 is blocked by the arm 36a, which hinders the transfer of the paper P from the printer 2 into the relay transfer unit 8.

Therefore, when the relay conveyance unit 8 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 together with the post-processing apparatus 5, the arm 36a shown in FIG. 3 is changed to the arm 36b shown in FIG. As a result, when the arm 36b in contact with the paper P swings to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, a gap is formed between the lower end of the arm 36b and the upper surface of the lower transport guide 85, and the relay transport is performed. It is possible to secure a conveyance path for the paper P in the unit 8 and to discharge the paper 3 in the printer 2.
8 to detect the conveyance state of the paper P passing through the conveyance guide 85 of the relay conveyance unit 8 (presence or absence of the paper P in the conveyance guide 85, whether the paper P has jammed, and size of the paper P). be able to.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
6b may be attached in advance to a position corresponding to the sensor 35 of the printer 2 in a part of the relay conveyance unit 8 such as the upper conveyance guide 85. As a result, when the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, it is not necessary to attach the arm 36b after removing the arm 36a from the printer 2, thus improving workability. can do. Further, when a plurality of types of relay conveyance units 8 can be selectively attached to the image forming apparatus 1, a complicated work of selecting an arm to be attached according to the type of the relay conveyance unit 8 to be attached. Can be eliminated.

On the other hand, in the state where the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are not attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the paper discharge port 38
When it is not necessary to detect the discharge state of the paper P from the sheet or the storage state of the paper P in the discharge tray 29, as shown in FIG. 6, an arm is provided on the downstream side of the discharge port 38 in the paper transport direction. Therefore, the sensor 35 may not be used. For example, in the printer 2, when the sensor provided on the upstream side of the paper discharge roller 28 in the paper transport direction detects the paper transport state or the paper discharge state, the sensor is not necessarily provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 28. Need not be provided.

However, when the post-processing device 5 and the relay transport unit 8 are mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, it is necessary to detect the transport state of the paper P in the relay transport unit 8. In this case, the paper transport is performed. It is necessary to provide a sensor downstream of the paper discharge roller 28 in the direction.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 in which the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are selectively mounted as optional devices, the sensor 35 is attached in advance above the discharge port 38 of the printer 2, Only when the relay conveyance unit 8 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 together with the post-processing apparatus 5, the arm 36b shown in FIG. It is possible to detect the transport state of the paper P passing therethrough.

Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the arm 36b is connected to the relay conveyance unit 8 such as the upper conveyance guide 85.
At a position corresponding to the sensor 35 of the printer 2 in a part of
By attaching in advance, when the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the work of selecting and attaching the arm according to the type of the relay conveyance unit 8 to be attached becomes unnecessary. It is possible to improve the property.

Further, in the relay transport unit 8 mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, part of the transport path such as the upper transport guide 85 is openable / closable in consideration of the convenience of the jam treatment of the paper P. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the sensor 35 attached to the printer 2 may be used to detect the open / closed state of the transport guide 85 and the like. As a result, it is not necessary to provide the relay conveyance unit 8 with a sensor for detecting the open / closed state, and the design can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In the above structure, the arm 36
A and 36b correspond to the movable member of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the main parts of the control section of the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus 1
The control unit 100 is configured by connecting input / output devices such as an operation panel control unit 110, a printer control unit 24, an image control unit 25, and a sensor unit 104 to a CPU 101 having a ROM 102 and a RAM 103. Also, CPU1
A control unit 120 of an optional device selectively attached to the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to 01. CPU 101
Controls each input / output device in accordance with a program written in advance in the ROM 102, and temporarily stores the data input / output during this period in the RAM 103.

In particular, the CPU 101 partially executes different control depending on whether or not the optional device is attached to the image forming apparatus 1. As described above, when the optional devices are the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8, the CPU 101 causes the operation panel control unit 110 to perform post-processing functions such as stapling by the user when the devices are mounted. In addition to changing the transfer path and the operation of the post-processing device in the post-processing device 5 depending on whether or not to select, whether the post-processing device 5 and the relay transfer unit 8 are mounted as described above. According to the sensor 35
Change the detection content of. Therefore, the CPU 101
In controlling the image forming apparatus 1, it is necessary to recognize whether or not these optional devices are mounted.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arms 36a and 36b are exchanged to change the detection content of the sensor 35 depending on whether or not the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are mounted. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B), in the arms 36a and 36b, the sensor 35
By making a difference in the shape of the upper end portion that opens and closes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of
The signal waveform of the sensor 35 input to U101 is shown in FIG.
Change as shown in (C) and (D).

That is, the arm 3 is attached to the upper end of the arm 36b.
A slit 91 not formed at the upper end of 6a is formed. Figure 9
In (A), when the arm 36a is displaced from the state shown by the solid line in the figure to the state shown by the broken line in the figure, and the upper end of the arm 36a blocks the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 35, the detection of the sensor 35 is detected. The signal changes from off to on as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in FIG. 9B, when the arm 36b is displaced from the state shown by the solid line in the figure to the state shown by the broken line in the figure, the upper end portion of the arm 36b is located between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the sensor 35. After being blocked by, the slit 91 is once opened while passing and is blocked again by the upper end of the arm 36b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9D, the detection signal of the sensor 35 is turned off, then turned off, and then turned on again. In this example, the detection signal of the sensor 35 is turned on when the paper is not detected and turned off when the paper is detected.

As a result, the CPU 101 causes the sensor 3
It is possible to easily recognize whether or not the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1 based on the signal waveform from 5, and the signal waveform shown in FIG. When it is determined that the discharge tray 29 is full, when the signal waveform shown in FIG. 9D is input, the sheet P exists in the transport guide 85 of the relay transport unit 8. It can be determined that the state.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1, a sensor for only detecting the mounting state of the post-processing apparatus 5 and the relay transport unit 8, a dip switch for inputting the mounting state of the post-processing apparatus 5 and the relay transport unit 8, etc. Since it is not necessary to provide the operation member of, the configuration of the device can be simplified.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the image forming apparatus 1 in which the sensor 35 is not used in the state where the optional device is not mounted, whether the CPU 101 receives the detection signal from the sensor 35 via the sensor unit 104. Based on whether or not the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 are attached to the image forming apparatus 1, it can be recognized.
With this configuration as well, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a sensor that only detects the mounting state of the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8, a dip switch that inputs the mounting state of the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8, and the like. Since it is not necessary to provide the operation member of, the configuration of the device can be simplified. This also applies to the configuration shown in FIG. 7.

When the relay conveying unit 8 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 and the sensor 35 cannot detect or does not need to detect the image, the post-processing apparatus 5 and the relay conveying unit are arranged on the image forming apparatus 1. With the unit 8 not mounted, as shown in FIG. 10A, an arm 36a attached to detect the storage state of the paper P in the paper discharge tray 29 by the sensor 35 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. With the post-processing device 5 and the relay transport unit 8 mounted, as shown in FIG. 10 (B), the post-processing device 5 and the relay transport unit 8 may be in a stationary state by contact with the relay transport unit 8.
With this configuration as well, the CPU 101 causes the sensor unit 104 to
Based on the detection signal of the sensor 35 input via
A sensor that can recognize the mounting state of the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 in the image forming apparatus 1 and only detects the mounting state of the post-processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8 in the image forming apparatus 1, It is not necessary to provide an operation member such as a DIP switch for inputting the mounting state of the processing device 5 and the relay conveyance unit 8, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

In any of the above embodiments,
An example of a printer of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet as a sheet processing apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet discharged from the sheet processing apparatus as a sheet handling apparatus that is selectively attached to the sheet processing apparatus Also, the relay conveyance unit that guides the sheet to the post-processing apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other sheet processing apparatuses and sheet handling apparatuses.

Also, regarding a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses having the same structure that can be connected to each other by connecting one sheet input section to the other sheet discharge section, one sheet processing apparatus and the other sheet processing apparatus are connected. The present invention can be similarly implemented as a sheet handling device.

[0068]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) It is necessary to add an additional sensor by changing the detection content of the existing sensor when the state of the sheet to be detected changes depending on whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted. Can be eliminated. by this,
Even if a paper handling device is selectively added, there is no need to provide a space for arranging a plurality of sensors at positions close to each other at the connection portion between the paper processing device and the paper handling device, and the device can be downsized. Can be converted. Also,
It is not necessary to perform the process of selecting the detection signal of any sensor, and it is possible to prevent the control from becoming complicated.

(2) Whether or not the paper handling device is attached is determined by attaching or detaching the movable member whose displacement is detected by the sensor when it comes into contact with the paper depending on whether or not the paper handling device is attached. Accordingly, the detection content of the existing sensor can be changed. As a result, it is possible to cope with a change in the state of the sheet to be detected due to a change in the attachment / detachment state of the sheet handling apparatus without adding a sensor.

(3) By removing the movable member, whose displacement is detected when it comes into contact with the sheet by the sensor having the first state as the detection content, when the sheet handling apparatus is mounted, the sheet handling apparatus can be operated. Whether the sensor that was detecting the first state of the paper when not mounted is not able to detect the first state of the paper when the paper handling device is mounted, and whether the paper handling device is mounted Accordingly, the detection content of the sensor based on the displacement of the movable member can be changed.

(4) By attaching a movable member, whose displacement is detected when it comes into contact with a sheet by a sensor having the second state as a detection content, when the sheet handling apparatus is mounted, the sheet handling apparatus can be installed. A sensor that does not detect the second state of the sheet in a state where the sheet handling device is not attached can detect the second state of the sheet when the sheet handling device is attached,
The detection content of the sensor based on the displacement of the movable member can be changed depending on whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted.

(5) The movable member for detecting the first state is attached by the sensor when the sheet handling device is not attached, and the second state is detected by the sensor when the sheet handling device is attached. By mounting the movable member for the sheet handling device, the sensor can detect the first state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member in the state where the sheet handling device is not mounted, and the state where the sheet handling device is mounted. Then, the sensor is allowed to detect the second state of the sheet based on the displacement of the movable member. Accordingly, different states of the sheet can be detected by the single sensor depending on whether or not the sheet handling device is mounted.

(6) Existing to detect a specific state of the paper by determining whether or not the paper handling apparatus is mounted based on the detection signal of the sensor which changes according to the mounting state of the paper handling apparatus It is possible to detect whether or not the paper handling device is installed by the sensor of 1., and prevent an increase in size and cost of the device by providing a dedicated sensor for detecting whether or not the paper handling device is installed. Therefore, the mounting work can be simplified by eliminating the need for manual setting.

(7) The paper handling is performed by recognizing the detection content of the sensor according to whether the paper handling device is mounted or not, based on the detection signal of the sensor which changes according to the mounting condition of the paper handling device. Even when the mounting state of the device changes, the detection content of the sensor can be recognized without manually inputting the detection content of the sensor.

(8) Depending on the state of whether the paper handling device is mounted or not, the content detected by the sensor is the first state or the second state.
When the state is changed to one of the two states, by selectively attaching one of two movable members having different shapes of the detection portion of the sensor, the movable member is exchanged according to the mounting state of the sheet handling apparatus to replace the sensor. The detection signal can be changed. This enables the presence or absence of the paper handling device to be installed without the need for new sensors or manual setting input.
Also, the content detected by the sensor can be accurately recognized.

(9) A sensor for detecting the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge section when the paper handling device is not attached,
By making it impossible to detect the discharge status of the paper in the paper discharge section when the paper handling device is installed, the sensor is set in the paper discharge section when the paper is not discharged to the paper discharge section by mounting the paper handling apparatus. The discharge state of the paper can be prevented from being detected, and the existing sensor can be used to detect other states.

(10) The sensor for detecting the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge section when the paper handling device is not mounted can detect the conveyance state of the paper in the paper handling device when the paper handling device is mounted. By
In a state where the paper is not discharged to the paper discharge unit by mounting the paper handling device, the sensor that does not need to detect the discharge state of the paper in the paper discharge unit can detect the transport state of the paper in the paper handling device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a printer which is a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view showing a configuration of a main body portion of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge unit of the printer in the image forming apparatus, showing a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are not attached.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge unit of a printer in the image forming apparatus, showing a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted.

FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge portion of a printer in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted. .

FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge unit of a printer in another image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and shows a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are not attached.

FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge portion of a printer in an image forming apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted. There is.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a control unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a shape of an arm detected by a sensor and a waveform of a detection signal of the sensor in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a paper discharge unit of a printer in an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, in a state in which a post-processing device and a relay conveyance device are mounted and in which they are mounted. It shows the displacement of the arm in each of the absence states.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-image forming apparatus 2-Printer (paper processing device) 3-scanner unit 5-Post-processing device (paper handling device) 8-Relay transport unit (paper handling device) 28-Paper discharge roller 29-output tray 35-sensor 36a, 36b-arm (movable member) 38-Paper exit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Sao             22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside the company F-term (reference) 2H072 AA17 FC16                 3F048 AA01 AB01 BA04 BA05 BA07                       BA08 BA14 BB02 BB10 CC01                       CC03 CC04 CC11 DA09 DB12                       DB17 DB18 DC02 DC09 EB39                       EB40                 3F054 AA01 AC01 BA01 BC14

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A sheet having a sensor for selectively mounting a sheet handling device which is continuous in a sheet transport path and having a sensor for detecting a first state relating to the sheet in a state where the sheet handling device is not mounted. In the processing device, when the paper handling device is mounted, the content detected by the sensor is changed to a second state related to the paper. 2. A sensor for detecting a state relating to a sheet based on a displacement of the movable member due to contact with the sheet, wherein the movable member is detachable according to a mounting state of a sheet handling device. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the sheet handling apparatus is mounted, a movable member used as a sensor when the first state is detected is removed. 4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the sheet handling apparatus is attached, a movable member used as a sensor for detecting a second state as a detection content is attached. 5. When the sheet handling device is mounted, the movable member used for the sensor when the first state is the detection content is replaced with the movable member used for the sensor when the second state is the detection content. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is performed. 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that determines a mounting state of the sheet handling apparatus based on a detection signal of the sensor. 7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit for recognizing the detection content of the sensor based on the detection signal of the sensor. 8. The shape of the detection portion of the sensor in the movable member used in the sensor when the first state is the detection content and in the movable member used in the sensor when the second state is the detection content The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that 9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first state is a sheet discharge state in a sheet discharge section. 10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second state is a sheet conveyance state in a sheet handling apparatus.