JP2003300659A - Sheet processing device and image forming device therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform optimum sheet loading by detecting the operation in a case that a stack tray for loading sheets makes abnormal lifting, thus determining an exact position of the stack tray. <P>SOLUTION: This sheet processing device B comprises the stack tray 18 for loading the sheets, a stacker motor 209 for lifting the stacker tray 18, an encoder 226 and a stacker motor clock sensor 227 for detecting the lifting amount of the stacker tray 18, and an MPU for detecting if a present position of the stacker tray 18 is a prescribed one, based on the detection of the lifting amount of the stacker tray 18 by the encoder 226 and the stacker motor clock sensor 227. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

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 on which sheets are stacked, and an image forming apparatus which includes the sheet processing apparatus in a main body of an apparatus and forms an image on the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet processing apparatus is provided in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus as one of constituent elements of the image forming apparatus, an image is formed in the apparatus body, and the sheet is discharged from the apparatus body. Are to be loaded.

There is a case where an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document is provided on the upper part of the main body of the image forming apparatus in order to reduce the labor required for image forming processing such as copying.

Further, the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus is provided with a sorting process for aligning and classifying sheets on which images are formed,
A sheet processing apparatus such as a finisher or a stitcher that performs at least one process such as a binding process for selectively binding a sheet bundle, a folding process for selectively folding a sheet bundle, and a stack process for stacking and accommodating sheets and sheet bundles. Is attached.

As described above, the image forming apparatus has the automatic document feeder and the sheet processing device as a part of its constituent elements in the main body of the apparatus, and is adapted to perform comprehensive image formation.

In the sheet processing apparatus, the processed sheet and the unprocessed sheet are stacked on a tray as a stacking means. The sheet stack loaded on the tray is configured to detect whether or not the sheet stack is stacked at a predetermined height or more, that is, whether or not the sheets are full, by a detection unit such as a distance measuring sensor.

[0007]

However, in the conventional sheet processing apparatus, when the user's body carelessly touches the tray to move the tray in the vertical direction, or rarely, the sheet is overloaded. When the tray is lowered carelessly, the detection position of the tray may be misaligned, and the tray may be erroneously detected, so that the accurate stacking amount of sheets cannot be detected.

According to the present invention, the accurate position of the stacking means is detected by detecting the operation when the stacking means is lifted abnormally by touching the stacking means on which the sheets are stacked with the user's body. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of making a determination and performing an optimum sheet stacking process, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus in an apparatus body.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, a drive unit for moving the stacking unit up and down, and a lifting amount of the stacking unit. An ascending / descending amount detecting unit for detecting, and an abnormality detecting unit for detecting whether or not the current position of the stacking unit is a predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking unit by the ascend / descend amount detecting unit. I have it.

The abnormality detecting means of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention controls the driving means based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stacking means by the amount of elevation detection.

When the abnormality detecting means of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the stacking means is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. The driving means is controlled to stop the lifting and lowering of the stacking means.

When the abnormality detecting means of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the stacking means is not a predetermined position, based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. The driving means is controlled to move the loading means up and down to an arbitrary position.

The sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes a top surface detecting means for detecting the top surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking means, and the abnormality detecting means includes the top surface by the top surface detecting means. When it is detected that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface of the detecting means, the driving means is controlled.

When the abnormality detecting means of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means, the drive is performed. By controlling the means, the lifting and lowering of the stacking means is stopped.

When the abnormality detecting means of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position on the basis of the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means, the drive is performed. The stacking means is moved up and down to an arbitrary position by controlling the means.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and any one of the above-mentioned sheet processing apparatuses for processing the image formed sheet. There is.

To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a stacking means for stacking sheets, a driving means for moving the stacking means up and down, and the stacking means. An ascending / descending amount detecting means for detecting an ascending / descending amount of the means, and an abnormality for detecting whether or not the current position of the stacking means is a predetermined position based on the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means detected by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. And a detection means.

The abnormality detecting means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is adapted to control the driving means based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means.

When the abnormality detecting means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the stacking means is not the predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. , Controlling the drive means,
The lifting of the loading means is stopped, or the loading means is raised and lowered to an arbitrary position.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention has an uppermost surface detecting means for detecting an uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking means, and the abnormality detecting means is the uppermost surface detecting means by the uppermost surface detecting means. When it is detected that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface, the driving means is controlled.

When the abnormality detecting means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means, the drive is performed. The loading means is controlled to stop moving up and down, or the loading means is moved up and down to an arbitrary position.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and then stacking the sheet on the stacking means, and driving means for moving the stacking means up and down. , Whether or not the current position of the stacking means is a predetermined position, based on a lift amount detecting means for detecting a lift amount of the stacking means and a detection of the lift amount of the stacking means by the lift amount detecting means. And an abnormality detecting means for detecting.

The abnormality detecting means of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is adapted to control the driving means on the basis of the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a copying machine, which is an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus as a part of its components in an apparatus body, will be described with reference to the drawings. explain.

The image forming apparatus includes a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile and a composite machine of these. The sheet processing apparatus is not only provided in the main body of the copying machine, but is also provided in a printer, a facsimile, or the like.

(Copier) As shown in FIG.
Is constructed by connecting a sheet processing apparatus B to an apparatus main body A of a copying machine. Further, the sheet processing apparatus B has a finisher unit C that sorts the sheets on which images are recorded by the apparatus main body A for each number of copies, and a stitcher unit D that performs bookbinding processing to bind and fold a plurality of sheets. ing. The stitcher unit D does not necessarily have to be provided.

The apparatus main body A of the copying machine optically reads the original automatically fed from the original feeding apparatus 1 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body A by the optical unit 2 and uses the information as a digital signal to form an image forming means. For example, it is transmitted to the image forming unit 3 to send plain paper or an overhead projector (OH
The image of the original is copied onto a sheet such as P) paper.

A plurality of sheet cassettes 4 accommodating sheets P of various sizes are provided below the apparatus main body A.
It should be noted that only one sheet cassette 4 is shown and the others are omitted. The sheet in the sheet cassette 4 is sent to the image forming unit 3 by the transport roller 5. On the photosensitive drum 3b of the image forming unit 3, by the laser light from the light irradiation unit 3a based on the image information read by the optical unit 2,
A latent image is formed. This latent image is toner-developed into a toner image. Therefore, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3b is transferred to the sheet sent to the image forming unit 3. After that, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 6, where heat and pressure are applied by the fixing device 6 to permanently fix the toner image.

In the single-sided recording mode in which an image is formed on one side of the sheet, the sheet is sent from the apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B. In the double-sided recording mode in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet with the image recorded on one side passes through the resending path 7 by switchback conveyance,
The image is again conveyed to the image forming unit 3 and an image is formed on the other surface. The sheet with the images formed on both sides is also fed from the apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B at the end.

Sheets are supplied by the sheet cassette 4
It can be performed not only from the tray but also from the multi-tray 8.

(Sheet Processing Apparatus) The finisher unit C in the sheet processing apparatus B (see FIG. 2), in addition to the normal discharge mode (normal mode) for discharging the sheet as it is when discharging the sheet to the stack tray 18, The sheet can be processed according to each mode such as the offset mode and the staple mode.

That is, in the normal mode, the conveying roller 15, the upstream discharge roller pair 16, and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 are moved from the main assembly A of the apparatus to the finisher unit C.
The sheets discharged to the stack are sequentially conveyed to the stack tray 1
It is designed to be discharged to 8. Downstream discharge roller pair 1
7, the swing roller 17b is brought into contact with and separated from the stationary roller 17a. The stationary roller 17a is rotated by the sheet discharge drive motor 40 (see FIG. 3). The nip between the stationary roller 17a and the swing roller 17b is the sheet discharge port 36 (see FIG. 4A).

The stack trays 18 are provided in a plurality of stages so as to be vertically movable. The stack tray 18 of the plurality of stages
Is vertically movable integrally by a drive source built in the lower part.

In sorting and discharging, a plurality of stack trays 18 are sequentially moved up and down to the downstream discharge roller pair 17 which is a sheet discharge port, so that the downstream discharge roller pair 17 sorts the sheets P by the number of copies. In this state, it is discharged to the stack tray 18.

In the offset mode and the staple mode, the finisher unit C of the sheet processing apparatus B performs the offset process or the staple process and discharges the sheets to one stack tray 18 in a sorted state. Further, in the interrupt mode, the sheet is discharged to the upper tray 19 without being discharged to the stack tray 18.

The offset mode means that when the sheets are sorted by the number of copies and discharged to the stack tray 18, when the first sheet of each part is discharged, the side guide 11 is moved to move the first sheet. The sheet is shifted by a predetermined amount in the width direction of the sheet (direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction), and the second and subsequent sheets of each portion are normally ejected so that the boundaries of the sheets of each portion can be visually recognized. It is an operation mode for discharging.

In the staple mode, when the sheets are sorted by the number of copies and discharged to the stack tray 18, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the staple tray 12 to form a sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is stapled. This is an operation mode in which staples are stapled by and the sheets are ejected for each copy.

On the other hand, the stitcher unit D (see FIG. 1) in the sheet processing apparatus B guides the sheets discharged from the apparatus main body A by the vertical path 60, aligns them by the number of copies of the sheet bundle, and further staples them. The sheet bundle is stapled by the unit 61, and is folded by the folding unit 63.
It is designed to be folded into a booklet.

The operation of the stitcher unit D will be briefly described. The vertical path 60 guides the sheet discharged from the apparatus main body A. The stopper 62 receives the lower end of the sheets and aligns them in units of the number of sheets in the sheet bundle. After that, the staple unit 61 staples the sheet bundle on the stopper 62 at, for example, two positions at the center position in the sheet length direction (sheet conveyance direction). The binding location is not limited to two locations. It can be anywhere.

Next, the stopper 62 descends until the binding position of the sheet bundle reaches the nip position of the folding roller 78.
Move the sheet stack. After that, the pushing plate 79 thrusts the sheet bundle in the thickness direction and pushes the sheet bundle into the nip of the folding roller 78. The folding roller 78 holds and conveys the sheet bundle at the nip to fold it in half. The sheet bundle folded into two and formed into a booklet is discharged to the stack tray 106.

The sheet processing apparatus B, as shown in FIG.
It is controlled by the MPU 200. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram for vertically moving the stack tray in the sheet processing apparatus. As the control means, for example, the MPU 200 internally stores a program corresponding to the operation description to be described later, and executes the program to execute the sheet processing. Control within the processing device and communication with a control unit (not shown) of the device main body A are performed. The MPU 200 includes a distance measuring sensor 54, a stack sensor 53, a sheet ejection drive motor 4
0, the drive motor rotation detection sensor 55 that detects the number of rotations of the sheet discharge drive motor 40, the stacker motor 20
9, a stacker motor clock sensor 227 for detecting the pulse amount of the encoder 226 provided on the output shaft of the stacker motor 209, the tray unit 58 (stack tray 1
The tray home position sensor 228 for detecting the home position of 8) is connected. Also, MPU2
00 is also connected to a control unit (not shown), each sensor, and the like in the apparatus main body A.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the tray unit 58, the drive unit of the tray unit 58, and the position detection unit of the tray unit 58.

A configuration for recognizing the stacking amount of sheets on the stack tray 18 (height of stacked sheets) will be described with reference to FIG.

The three stack trays 18 are fixed to the tray frame 57 to form a tray unit 58. The three stack trays 18 are the finisher unit C.
It is possible to move up and down (elevate) integrally with the finisher frame 59. The vertical movement of the tray unit 58, that is, the vertical movement of the stack tray 18 is performed by transmitting the forward / reverse drive of the stacker motor 209 to the rack portion 58a provided in a part of the tray unit 58 by the pinion gear 225. Tray unit 5
8 is vertically movable with respect to the finisher frame 59 in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

An encoder 226 is mounted on the output shaft of the stacker motor 209. The stacker 18 lift amount is determined by the stacker motor clock sensor 227.
By detecting the pulse amount of the encoder 226, it is possible to know how many pulses the tray unit 58 has moved up and down from the home position which is the initial position. To detect the home position of the stack tray 18, the tray home position sensor 228 is set by the tray unit flag 57a provided below the tray frame 57.
It is done by being detected by.

When the MPU 200 receives a signal for starting the copy operation from the apparatus main body A, first, the tray home position sensor 228 detects the tray unit flag 57a and confirms that the tray unit 58 is at the home position. After that, the MPU 200 starts the stacker motor 209 to raise the tray unit 18. Then, the MPU 200 positions the predetermined stack tray 18 at a predetermined position with respect to the downstream discharge roller pair 17 based on the detection signal of the distance measuring sensor 54. The stack tray 18 receives the sheet discharged from the downstream discharge roller pair 17.

Then, in order to keep the position of the uppermost surface of the sheets on the stack tray 18 at a position separated from the downstream discharge roller pair 17 by a predetermined distance, the stack tray 18 keeps the sheet (or sheet bundle) stacked. To a predetermined amount.

The MPU 200 can recognize how many clocks the tray unit 58 has moved up and down from the home position, that is, the amount by which the stack tray 18 is moved up and down.

From the above configuration, the finisher unit C
Confirms the position of the stack tray 18 and the position (level detection) of the uppermost surface of the sheets on the stack tray 18, and recognizes the stacking amount (height of stacked sheets) of the sheets stacked on the stack tray 18. You can do it.

(Mixed Loading Detection) When the discharged sheets already stacked on the stack tray 18 are different in size or sheets discharged in different sheet processing modes, the same size sheets or the same processing sheets are stacked. Since the stackability is poorer than that, it is necessary to limit the number of sheets that can be stacked as mixed loading.

Therefore, a stack sensor 53 for detecting whether or not the sheets are stacked on the tray is provided substantially in the center of the stack tray 18.
When the sheets P are stacked on No. 8, they are handled as mixed loading under the following conditions.

(1) Sheets P stacked on the stack tray 18 are discharged from the finisher unit C,
If it is not a stacked sheet. The finisher unit C in the present embodiment refers to the detection signal of the stack sensor 53 when starting image formation, and does not refer to this after the image formation is started. Here, if the detection signal of the stack sensor 53 is referred to even after the sheet is further discharged after the image formation is started, the first discharged sheet may be erroneously recognized as mixed loading. Is.

(2) When sheets P of different sizes are discharged and stacked on the stack tray 18 by the finisher unit C.

(3) Sheets P are discharged and stacked on the stack tray 18 by the finisher unit C in different processing modes.

(Detection of Stacking Amount) Level detection of the sheets stacked on the stack tray 18 or the uppermost surface of the sheet bundle is performed by a distance measuring sensor 54 provided above the swing guide 20. The distance measuring sensor 54 has a light emitting unit that irradiates the sheet bundle with light rays such as infrared rays, and a light receiving unit that receives the light rays diffusely reflected by the sheet bundle, and measures the angle of this reflected light to perform level detection. It has become.

When a sheet or the like is discharged onto the stack tray 18, the trailing edge of the sheet P may be caught by the finisher unit C and may not settle down. If level detection is performed in such a state, accurate level detection may not be possible. Therefore, when the sheet P is discharged, the stack tray 18 once moves up and down, and then rises again so that the sheet P settles on the stack tray 18.

The distance measuring sensor 54 is the stack tray 1
When detecting the level of the sheets P stacked on the sheet 8, it is desirable to detect the level when the stack tray 18 moves up. However, actually, when the stack tray 18 is lifted up, the next sheet P is already discharged, so that the sheet on the stack tray 18 cannot be seen because it is blocked by this.

In this way, if the level detection is performed when the stack tray 18 is lowered, there is a possibility that the sheet P is not yet settled at that moment. For this reason,
When the MPU 200 performs the level detection operation twice or more at predetermined intervals by the distance measuring sensor 54 and continuously acquires a value within the error range, the MPU 200 acquires the value as a detection result acquired. There is. As a result, it is possible to perform the determined actual level detection, and the production capacity of the sheet processing apparatus can be exerted.

In addition, the position of the stack tray 18 after being raised is controlled so that the height of the stacking surface is always constant based on the data obtained by the level detection (paper height control).

As described above, the stacking amount of the sheets P stacked on the stack tray 18 is detected by detecting the position of the stack tray 18 and the level, and exceeds the predetermined stacking amount determined by the processing mode and the sheet size. If it is judged that it is full, it is recognized as being full.

However, even when it is detected that the sheets are full, the sheets P on the stack tray 18 may not be settled down due to the curled state or the trailing end portion being caught. For this reason, there is a case where it is judged that the device is not fully loaded but fully loaded, and the apparatus is stopped, which may reduce productivity.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the uppermost surface of the sheets on the stack tray 18 has a predetermined height or more,
That is, when it is continuously detected that the stacked amount of the sheets on the stack tray 18 exceeds the predetermined amount a plurality of times, it is determined that the sheets are full, and the apparatus is stopped. More specifically, the stack tray 18 is moved up and down, and the stacking amount of sheets on the stack tray 18 is detected for each operation (or after the end of the operation), and the stacking amount of this sheet exceeds a predetermined amount. When this is detected a plurality of times consecutively (three times in the present embodiment),
For the first time, it is judged that the seats are full, and the finisher C is stopped.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above,
The full-sheet detection of the sheets is performed every time a predetermined number of sheets (for example, five sheets) are discharged to the stack tray 18.

As a result, it is possible to detect whether or not the stacked amount of sheets exceeds a predetermined amount after eliminating the curling of the sheets or the catching of the trailing edge of the sheets that has occurred on the stack tray 18. Nevertheless, when it is continuously detected that the stacked amount of sheets exceeds the predetermined amount, it is determined that the sheets are full, and the apparatus is stopped.

(System stop timing at full load detection)
However, even when the sort process is in progress, if the image formation is stopped by the above-described detection of the full load, the sheet bundle in the sort process is stacked on the stack tray 18. Since the process ends, handling of stacked sheets may be complicated.
On the other hand, a certain amount of margin is usually set for the full load detection on the stack tray 18, and even if the full load is detected, the stack tray 18 can still be loaded.

Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus B of this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 5, image forming and stacking operations (S1
In the middle of 01), when the MPU 200 detects the full load of the sheets as described above (S102), the MPU 200 determines that the MP
Based on various data stored in the U and communication data (sheet bundle number information, image forming information, sheet conveying information, etc.) from the control unit of the apparatus main body A, it is determined whether one bundle is finished (S103). If the image formation for one bundle is not completed, the image formation is not stopped and is continued until the image formation for one bundle is completed. By doing so, the stack tray 18 can be detected by detecting the full load.
Even if the sheet bundle is removed from the stack, the stack tray 18 does not actually have the sheet bundle in the middle of the sorting process, and the handling becomes simple.

Then, the distance measuring sensor 54 detects full loading,
Furthermore, when the sorting process is not in progress, the MPU 200
Causes the image recording to be stopped because it is the detection of full load (S1
04).

(Timing of Stopping System when Abnormal Pulse is Detected) However, when the full load control is performed as described above, the stack tray 18 may move up and down when the user's body carelessly touches the stack tray 18. Also, rarely,
The stack tray 18 may be lowered due to the weight of discharged sheets due to overloading. In such a case, there is a possibility that the full load detection may be erroneously recognized and the subsequent sheet processing may be affected.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the stack tray 18 moves up and down abnormally, the encoder 226 on the output shaft of the stacker motor 209 detects that an abnormal pulse has come in, so that the stack tray 18 is full. , It is determined whether it is an abnormal lift.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, image formation,
During the stacking operation (S301), the MPU 200 confirms the elevation of the stack tray 18 (S302), and when an abnormal pulse is detected in the stopped state (S30).
3) The stack tray 18 is operating abnormally. That is, it is conceivable that the user's body carelessly touches the stack tray 18 and the stack tray 18 moves vertically. Therefore, MPU200
Various data stored in the MPU and communication data (sheet bundle number information, image forming information, sheet conveying information, etc.) from the control unit of the apparatus main body A terminates the sheet discharging operation of one job, that is, the sequence. It is determined whether or not (S304).

When the MPU 200 determines that the sequence is completed as described above, it immediately stops the system (S305) and notifies the user of the abnormal state by the alarm of the display unit 9 provided in the apparatus main body A. (S30
6) Stop the stack tray 18 and image recording, or prepare for the next operation. Here, if the abnormal pulse is not detected while the stack tray 18 is stopped, the end of the sequence is confirmed (S307) to prepare for the next operation.

When the MPU 200 determines that the sequence is not completed as described above (S304), the distance measuring sensor 54 detects the position of the uppermost sheet on the stack tray 18. The MPU 200 is a distance measuring sensor 5
The stacker motor 2 is adjusted so that the distance between the sheet discharge port 36 and the uppermost sheet detected by the sheet 4 is a predetermined distance.
09 to control the position of the stack tray 18 by moving the stack tray 18 up and down (S308, S30).
9). The distance between the sheet discharge port 36 and the topmost sheet is
After reaching the predetermined distance, the MPU 200 causes the sheet processing apparatus B to continue the sheet stacking operation (S301).

However, the MPU 200 determines that the sheet processing apparatus B is in an abnormal state when the distance does not reach the predetermined distance even if the position of the stack tray 18 is adjusted (S309), and immediately determines the system. Stop (S3
05), the alarm of the display unit 9 provided in the apparatus main body A notifies the user of the abnormal state (S306), and stops the stack tray 18 and the image recording or prepares for the next operation.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the system is not operating (S311) and an abnormal pulse is detected (S312), the MPU 200 moves the stack tray 18 up and down to the home position (HP). By doing so (S313), the next operation may be prepared.

Stopping and raising / lowering the stack tray 18 referred to here means, for example, applying a current to the stack motor 209,
It means holding an arbitrary position or moving up and down to an arbitrary position.

Incidentally, in the flow chart of FIG. 6, (S30
In 4), when the MPU 200 determines that the sequence has been completed as described above, the system is not immediately stopped and the stack is prepared for the next sheet stacking operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The tray 18 may be moved to a predetermined position. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, the same processes as those in FIG.
The description of the processing is omitted.

The sheet processing apparatus B of this embodiment is an MPU.
When 200 determines that the sequence has ended as described above, the detection operation of the distance measuring sensor 54 is stopped. If the detection operation of the distance measuring sensor 54 is continued, for example, when the user removes a sheet from the stack tray 18, the sheet is erroneously detected, which causes a malfunction of the sheet processing apparatus B. Is. For this reason,
In (S304) of FIG. 8, when the MPU 200 determines that the sequence ends, the MPU 200 enters an operating state in which the distance measuring sensor 54 can detect the sheet.

Then, the distance measuring sensor 54 detects the position of the uppermost sheet on the stack tray 18. M
The PU 200 controls the stacker motor 209 so that the distance between the sheet discharge port 36 detected by the distance measuring sensor 54 and the uppermost sheet becomes a predetermined distance, and the stack tray 18 is moved up and down to move the stack tray 18. The position of is adjusted (S310, S311).

When the distance between the sheet discharge port 36 and the uppermost sheet reaches a predetermined distance, the sheet processing operation is ended. Thus, when an abnormal pulse is detected (S
Also in 303), the sheet processing apparatus B can accurately perform the next sheet processing operation by moving the stack tray 18 to a predetermined position. If the stack tray 18 is not moved to a predetermined position, the position of the sheet first discharged from the sheet processing apparatus B to the stack tray 18 and stacked may not be determined in the next sheet processing operation. , The integrity of the sheet may decrease.

However, in (S310, S311), if the MPU 200 adjusts the position of the stack tray 18 but does not reach the predetermined distance (S311), MP
The U200 determines that the sheet processing apparatus B is in an abnormal state and immediately stops the system (S31
2) The alarm of the display unit 9 provided in the apparatus main body A notifies the user of the abnormal state (S313) and stops the stack tray 18 and image recording, or prepares for the next operation.

By controlling in this way, even if the stack tray 18 is lowered due to overloading,
It is possible to detect these abnormalities, prevent erroneous recognition of the full sheet detection, and perform optimal sheet processing.

As described above, when the full load of sheets is detected and the sheet processing apparatus is stopped, a message is displayed on the display unit 9 so as to remove the stacked sheets (or the sheet bundle) from the stack tray 18. To encourage the user.

In the present embodiment, the case where the user's body touches the stack tray 18 and the stack tray moves up and down due to the user's carelessness has been described. This is also effective when the stack tray 18 due to loading is lowered carelessly.

The sheet processing apparatus B of this embodiment has the following advantages.

(1) The sheet processing apparatus B is mainly composed of stacking means for stacking sheets, for example, the stack tray 18, and driving means for moving the stack tray 18 up and down, for example, the stacker motor 209 and the stack tray. As an ascending / descending amount detecting means for detecting an ascending / descending amount of the stack tray 18, for example, an encoder 226 and a stacker motor clock sensor 227, and a stack tray 18 Since the MPU 200, for example, is provided as an abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not the current position is a predetermined position, the abnormal operation of the stack tray is detected regardless of whether the current position is in operation or not, and the subsequent sheet is detected. It is possible to prevent the processing operation from being hindered. Further, since the sheet processing apparatus B can detect an abnormal operation of the stack tray, it can perform optimum sheet processing.

(2) The sheet processing apparatus B is the MPU 200
However, since the stacker motor 209 is also controlled based on the detection of the vertical movement amount of the stack tray 18 by the encoder 226 and the stacker motor clock sensor 227, it is necessary to accurately grasp the current position of the stack tray 18. You can For example, the sheet processing apparatus B
Accurately grasps whether the stack tray 18 is at the home position or not, and can perform optimal sheet processing.

(3) The sheet processing apparatus B is the MPU 200
However, based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stack tray 18 by the encoder 226 and the stacker motor clock sensor 227, the current position of the stack tray 18, for example, when the user touches the stack tray 18,
When it is detected that the sheet discharge port 36 is not at the predetermined position, the stacker motor 209 is controlled to stop the stack tray 18 from moving up and down, so that the user is notified of the abnormal state. Can be made. In addition, it is possible to prevent inconsistent stacking of sheets.

(4) The sheet processing apparatus B is the MPU 200
However, based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stack tray 18 by the encoder 226 and the stacker motor clock sensor 227, the current position of the stack tray 18, for example, when the user touches the stack tray 18,
When it is detected that the sheet discharge port 36 is not at a predetermined position, the stacker motor 209 can be controlled to move the stack tray 18 up and down to an arbitrary position. When the predetermined position is set, the subsequent sheet processing operation can be continued.
Further, when the arbitrary position is set as the place where the user can easily perform the maintenance management, the user can easily perform the maintenance management.

(5) The sheet processing apparatus B also includes, for example, a distance measuring sensor 54 as the uppermost surface detecting means for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the stack tray 18, and the MPU
Based on the detection of the uppermost surface of the sheet by the distance measuring sensor 54, the current position of the uppermost surface is set to a predetermined value with respect to the sheet discharge port 36 by touching the stack tray 18 with the user's body. Since it is also possible to control the stacker motor 209 when it is detected that the sheet is not in the position, various measures can be taken thereafter, and the sheet processing can be reliably performed.

(6) The sheet processing apparatus B is the MPU 200
However, based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the distance measuring sensor 54, the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position with respect to the sheet discharge port 36, for example, when the user's body touches the stack tray 18. When the stack tray 18 is detected, the stacker motor 209 is controlled to stop the lifting and lowering of the stack tray 18, so that the user can be notified of the abnormal state. In addition, it is possible to prevent inconsistent stacking of sheets.

(7) The sheet processing apparatus B is the MPU 200
However, based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the distance measuring sensor 54, when it is detected that the current position of the uppermost surface is not the predetermined position, the stacker motor 209 is controlled to stack the stack tray 1
Since 8 is moved up and down to an arbitrary position, when the arbitrary position is set to a predetermined position, the subsequent sheet processing operation can be continued. Further, when the arbitrary position is set as the place where the user can easily perform the maintenance management, the user can easily perform the maintenance management.

Copier (image forming apparatus) E of this embodiment
Is provided with, for example, an image forming unit 3 as an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and any one of the above-described sheet processing apparatuses B capable of accurately stacking sheets, the sheet may be damaged. Absent.

Further, as the image forming apparatus of this embodiment,
For example, the control unit of the sheet processing apparatus B is integrally configured in the configuration of the apparatus main body A described above, and the control unit of the image forming apparatus controls the entire image forming apparatus and the sheet processing apparatus. May be.

Further, as the image forming apparatus of this embodiment,
For example, the configuration of the apparatus main body A and the sheet processing apparatus B described above
Alternatively, the control unit of the image forming apparatus may be configured to control the whole.

[0095]

According to the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, even when the stacking means moves up and down abnormally, for example, when the stacking means is lowered due to overloading of the sheets, the accurate stacking means position is not detected. Therefore, the optimum sheet processing can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a finisher unit of the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram for raising and lowering a stack tray in the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a stack tray of the sheet processing apparatus and its periphery. (A) It is a front view. (B) It is a perspective view.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control when a stack tray is fully loaded with sheets.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control when an abnormal pulse is detected during operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating control when an abnormal pulse is detected during non-operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control different from that in FIG. 6 when an abnormal pulse is detected during operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

P sheet A body of copying machine (image forming apparatus) B sheet processing apparatus C finisher unit D stitcher unit E copying machine (image forming apparatus) 3 image forming unit (image forming means) 18 stack tray (stacking means) 54 measurement Distance sensor (uppermost surface detecting means) 200 MPU (abnormality detecting means) 209 Stacker motor (driving means) 226 Encoder (elevation amount detecting means) 227 Stacker motor clock sensor 227 (elevation amount detecting means)

Continued front page    F term (reference) 3F054 AA01 AC02 BA04 BD02 BF03                       BF07 CA11 CA16 CA23 CA32                       DA16

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, a driving unit that raises and lowers the stacking unit, a lift amount detecting unit that detects a lift amount of the stacking unit, and a lift of the stacking unit by the lift amount detecting unit. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: an abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the current position of the stacking unit is a predetermined position based on the detection of the amount. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detecting unit controls the driving unit based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stacking unit by the amount of elevation detection. 3. When the abnormality detecting means detects that the current position of the stacking means is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means, the abnormality detecting means causes the driving means to operate. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stacking unit is controlled to stop the lifting and lowering of the stacking unit. 4. The drive means when the abnormality detecting means detects that the current position of the stacking means is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stacking unit is controlled to move up and down to an arbitrary position. 5. An uppermost surface detecting means for detecting an uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking means, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects the uppermost surface of the uppermost surface detecting means by the uppermost surface detecting means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is controlled when it is detected that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the above. 6. The abnormality detecting means controls the driving means when it detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lifting and lowering of the stacking unit is stopped. 7. The abnormality detecting means controls the driving means when it detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the stacking unit is moved up and down to an arbitrary position. 8. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 for processing the image-formed sheet. Image forming apparatus. 9. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a stacking means for stacking the sheets, a driving means for moving the stacking means up and down, an ascending / descending amount detecting means for detecting an ascending / descending amount of the stacking means, An image forming device, comprising: an abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the current position of the stacking unit is a predetermined position based on the detection of the vertical movement amount of the stacking unit by the lift amount detecting unit. apparatus. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the abnormality detecting unit controls the driving unit based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stacking unit by the amount of elevation detection. 11. The drive means when the abnormality detecting means detects that the current position of the stacking means is not a predetermined position based on the detection of the ascending / descending amount of the stacking means by the ascending / descending amount detecting means. The control is performed to either stop the lifting and lowering of the stacking means or to lift and lower the stacking means to an arbitrary position.
The image forming apparatus according to item 0. 12. The uppermost surface detecting means for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking means, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects the uppermost surface of the uppermost surface detecting means by the uppermost surface detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drive unit is controlled when it is detected that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position based on the above. 13. The abnormality detecting means controls the driving means when it detects that the current position of the uppermost surface is not a predetermined position, based on the detection of the uppermost surface by the uppermost surface detecting means. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the raising / lowering of the stacking unit is stopped or the stacking unit is raised / lowered to an arbitrary position. 14. An image forming apparatus for stacking a sheet on a stacking unit after forming an image on the sheet, a drive unit for moving the stacking unit up and down, and a lift amount detecting unit for detecting a lift amount of the stacking unit. An image, comprising: an abnormality detection unit that detects whether or not the current position of the stacking unit is a predetermined position based on the detection of the lift amount of the stacking unit by the lift amount detecting unit. Forming equipment. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the abnormality detecting unit controls the driving unit based on the detection of the amount of elevation of the stacking unit by the amount of elevation detection.