JP2004094002A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can flexibly cope with an increase in the number of sheets of documents to be sandwiched and the size of recording paper when sandwiching printed documents including reproductions by a cover for performing covered binding by a staple (staple-binding) or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: a number-of-sheets counting means for counting the number of manuscripts to be read; and a number-of-sheets judgment means for comparing the value of the number of sheets counted by the number-of-sheets counting means and a prescribed number-of-sheets value and outputting a judgment signal based on a result of comparison. In the image forming apparatus, the size of the cover recording paper is selected based on the judgment signal from the number-of-sheets judgment means by a cover recording paper selection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine including a post-processing device that wraps a printed (including a copy) document entirely with a cover and binds the bag with staples (staple binding). It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When printing a confidential document such as a company secret in a recent office, post-processing that performs confidential processing of the document so that the text of the confidential document printed out from the image forming apparatus is not exposed to human eyes even in the office. The use of an image forming apparatus provided with the apparatus is increasing.
[0003]
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-165136, a double-sized sheet of a confidential document is folded to a half size, the confidential document is wrapped with the folded double-sized sheet, and then stapled by staples. An image forming apparatus including a post-processing device is disclosed.
[0004]
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-286640, although not limited to confidential processing, a normal recording sheet formed with an image having a half size of the cover recording sheet so as to be sandwiched between the two folded cover recording sheets is used. A stapled binding envelope forming apparatus for stapling a cover recording sheet and a normal recording sheet after the sheet is discharged is disclosed, together with a detailed mechanism relating to folding and recording sheet discharge.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a post-processing apparatus or a bag-bound envelope forming apparatus cannot cope with the following cases, and therefore, appropriate confidential processing is not performed and a problem occurs in a post-processing portion of the image forming apparatus.
(1) A case where the number of confidential documents to be printed out is too large to be stapled with one staple.
(2) Stapling can be performed because the number of confidential documents to be printed is too large, but the confidential documents are too thick. Cases in which normal confidential processing cannot be performed.
(3) An appropriate size (double the size of the confidential document paper) for wrapping the confidential document to be printed out is not set in the image processing apparatus, or the confidential document itself is too large in size. Confidential documents cannot be concealed, and confidential processing cannot be performed normally.
[0006]
In addition, even if it is known that such a problem may occur, it is troublesome for a person to judge whether confidential processing is possible for each confidential document, and it is difficult to make an accurate judgment. .
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the related art, and is intended to sandwich a printed document (including a copy) with a cover and bind the staple (staple binding) with the number of documents to be sandwiched. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of flexibly responding to the number of sheets and the size of recording paper.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The inventors have analyzed cases in which the above confidential processing cannot be dealt with, and have found that there is a certain relationship between the occurrence of a defect and the thickness and size of the confidential document. .
In other words, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is provided to solve the above-mentioned problem, comprises a normal recording paper selecting means for selecting a normal recording paper size, and a cover recording paper selecting means for selecting a cover recording paper size. Means, an image forming means for forming an image read from a document on the selected normal recording paper, a means for folding the cover recording paper from a substantially central portion in a recording paper transport path, and two of the two. A normal recording paper discharge means for discharging the normal recording paper on which the image is formed on the cover recording paper in an opened state, and stapling the opening of the cover recording paper together with the discharged normal recording paper. In the image forming apparatus comprising a cover recording paper closing means, and forming a bag-bound document in which the normal recording paper on which the image is formed is sandwiched by the cover recording paper, a number counting means for counting the number of the read originals, Said A number determining means for comparing the number counted by the number counting means with a set specified number and outputting a determination signal based on the comparison result, wherein the cover sheet selecting means includes the number determining means. The size of the cover recording paper is selected based on the determination signal from the CPU.
[0009]
Accordingly, when the number of sheets counted by the number counting means is equal to or smaller than the set specified number of sheets, it is determined that the opening of the cover recording sheet can be stapled together with the discharged ordinary recording sheet. Since the cover recording paper selection means selects a cover recording paper having a paper size twice as large as that of the normal recording paper, appropriate confidential processing can be surely performed. At this time, the total thickness of the confidential document for the predetermined number of sheets is calculated based on the premise that sheets having a thickness within the predetermined thickness range are used, and the relationship between the total thickness and the stapleable thickness is calculated. It is good to judge from.
Further, the specified number of sheets is used as a first specified value for determining whether or not stapling is possible, and the maximum value of the number of sheets that can be appropriately wrapped with double-size paper even when it is determined that stapling is possible is defined as a second specified value. The value may be set as a value, and control may be performed such that a cover recording sheet having a sheet size larger than twice the normal recording sheet size is selected in a range from the second specified value to the first specified value.
[0010]
Here, the size of the recording paper may be an A-series or B-series paper size specified by JIS. For example, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the A3 size are 297 × 420 mm, the A4 size is 210 × 297 mm, the B4 size is 257 × 365 mm, and the B5 size is 182 × 257 mm.
Also, the double size means a size relationship where the paper area is doubled, for example, a relationship between A3 size for A4 size and B4 size for B5 size.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the number counted by the number counting unit is larger than the specified number. It is characterized by comprising control means for not accepting an operation for creating a stapled document.
[0012]
As a result, it is determined that the number of sheets counted by the number counting means is larger than the predetermined number of sheets, and the opening of the cover recording paper cannot be stapled together with the discharged normal recording paper. In this case, an error message may be displayed, for example, to prevent the operation of creating a bound document, so that occurrence of a failure can be prevented.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an image reducing unit configured to change a size of an image formed on the normal recording paper at a predetermined magnification. The normal recording paper selecting means selects the size of the normal recording paper so as to be 以下 or less of the size of the cover recording paper selected by the cover recording paper selecting means. The image reducing means changes the image size based on the size.
[0014]
Accordingly, confidential processing can be performed even when there is no cover recording sheet having a sheet size twice or more the size of a normal recording sheet on which an image is to be formed (for example, B4 size). For example, when the normal recording paper on which an image is to be formed is B4 size, A3 size recording paper is selected as a selectable cover recording paper size, and A4 size recording paper is selected as the corresponding normal recording paper. Is selected, an 82% reduction process is performed so that the image size, which was originally B4 size, falls within the A4 size.
It should be noted that before the image reduction process, the staple determination may be made based on the number of sheets counted by the number counting unit.
If it is determined that stapling can be performed, a confirmation message is displayed as to whether or not the reduction of the normal recording paper size is to be automatically set. It is good to make it select whether to stop.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine includes a reading unit 50 for reading an image of a document taken in from an automatic document feeder 1 (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF (Auto Document Feeder)), and an image data read by the reading unit 50. A writing unit 57 for writing a pattern based on the photoreceptor 15, a first tray 8, a second tray 9, a third tray 10 in which recording sheets of a predetermined size are stored in the respective trays, and a recording sheet before transfer. The first to third paper feed units 11 to 13 for transporting, the vertical transport unit 14, the photoconductor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the developing unit 27 for forming an image on the recording paper, the finisher 100, and the Normal recording paper selection means and cover recording paper selection means to select automatically or by specifying the size Defined number value and a controller for controlling the mechanism of the entire copying machine and a count determination means and image reduction means is set (not shown).
[0016]
The ADF 1 has a sheet counting means (not shown) for counting up the number of documents each time one document is fed. The feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are configured to be driven by a transport motor (not shown).
[0017]
The first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 usually store recording papers of different sizes, and the size of the recording paper stored in each of them is recognized. The recording paper used here is copy paper managed so that the weight per sheet (basis weight) and the thickness are within a certain range. Further, the orientation of the recording paper is arranged in a direction suitable for the bag-binding confidential processing described later.
[0018]
The photoconductor 15, the transport belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and the first to third paper feeding units 11 to 13 are driven by a main motor. Is transmitted and driven by a paper feed clutch (not shown). The vertical transport unit 14 is configured to transmit and drive the drive of the main motor by an intermediate clutch (not shown).
[0019]
The finisher 100 includes a folding unit (not shown) that folds the cover recording sheet into two from the central portion in the transport path, and a normal image forming unit that forms an image on the cover recording sheet that is arranged in an open state on the staple tray 108. A recording paper discharging means (not shown) for discharging the recording paper, and a stapler 106 for stapling the opening of the folded front cover recording paper together with the discharged normal recording paper are provided. Of these, a mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-286640 is preferably applied to the folding means and the recording paper discharging means.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows an operation unit in the copying machine according to the present invention.
The operation unit 30 has a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a preheat key 35, a reset key 36, and an initial setting key 37. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 has various function keys and image formation. A message indicating the status of the device is displayed.
[0021]
When the operator touches the key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted to black. When the details of the function need to be specified (for example, the type of page printing), touching a key displays a setting screen for the detailed function. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses the dot display, the optimal display at that time can be graphically performed.
[0022]
By pressing the initial setting key 37, the initial state of the machine can be arbitrarily customized. It is possible to arbitrarily set the size set when the paper size stored in the machine is set or when the reset key of the copy function is pressed. In addition, it is also possible to select an application etc. which is preferentially selected when there is no operation for a certain period of time, to set the transition time to low power according to the International Energy Star plan, and to set the transition time to auto-off / sleep mode. It is possible to set. When the preheating key 35 is pressed, the machine shifts from the standby state to the power reduction state, and lowers the fixing temperature and turns off the display of the operation unit. The preheating state means a low power state according to the International Energy Star Program. To release the preheating state, the off state / sleep state, and shift to the standby state, the preheating key is pressed again.
[0023]
A general processing flow from copying of an original in a copying machine to stapling of a recording sheet on which an image is formed will be described below with reference to FIGS.
(1) When the print key 34 on the operation unit 30 is pressed after the bundle of originals is placed on the original platen 2 of the ADF 1 with the image side facing up, the feed rollers 3 are set one by one from the bottom original. The sheet is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding belt 4. The fed document is read by the reading unit 50 to read the image data of the document on the contact glass 6, and then discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. At this time, the document size is detected by the reading unit 50 when reading the image data. Further, the number counting means counts up the number of originals each time one original is fed. When the document set detection 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the next document is continuously fed onto the contact glass 6.
[0024]
(2) Based on the detected document size, the recording paper selecting means selects a recording paper of an appropriate size from the recording papers stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10, respectively. The paper is fed by the first paper feeder 11, the second paper feeder 12, and the third paper feeder 13, and is transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 15.
[0025]
(3) The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57 and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. Next, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred while the recording paper is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and is discharged by the paper discharge unit 18 to the finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus.
[0026]
(4) The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the recording paper conveyed by the paper discharging unit 18 of the main body toward the normal paper discharging roller 102 and the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, it is possible to discharge the paper to the normal paper discharge tray 104 via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 downward, the sheet can be conveyed to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107.
[0027]
(5) The recording paper stacked on the staple table 108 is aligned with the jogger 109 for paper alignment every time one sheet is discharged, and is stapled by the stapler 106 when a part of the copy is completed. The recording paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the stapling completed paper discharge tray 110 by its own weight.
[0028]
In FIG. 1, a normal discharge tray 104 is a discharge tray that can move forward and backward. The paper discharge tray unit 104 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth and sorts the discharged copy paper easily for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory.
[0029]
When images are formed on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 and formed is not guided to the discharge tray 104 side, and the branch claw 112 for path switching is operated. By setting it on the upper side, it is once stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111. Thereafter, the recording paper stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111 is re-fed from the duplex paper supply unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and the branch claw 112 for switching the path. Is set on the lower side, and guided to the discharge tray 104. As described above, the double-sided paper feed unit 111 is used when creating images on both sides of the recording paper.
[0030]
Hereinafter, a flow until a stapled document forming the basis of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, a bound document is wrapped so that a bundle of image-formed normal recording paper, which is a copy of a confidential document original, is sandwiched between two folded cover recording papers. The cover recording paper is stapled together with the normal recording paper at a predetermined position on the opening side of the paper.
[0031]
The content to be printed out by the operation unit 30 is set to be a bag-bound document (S1). Then, after placing the confidential document original on the original platen 2 on the ADF 1 with the image side up, the operator presses the print key 34 on the operation unit 30 (S2). The sheet is fed one by one to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4, and after the image data of the document is read, the sheet is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. At this time, the document size is detected by the reading unit 50 when reading the image data. Further, the number of originals is counted up by the number counting means each time the feeding of one original is completed (S3).
[0032]
After the counting up, the result of the number counting means is notified to the number determining means, and the number counted by the number determining means is compared with the set first specified number value (S4). Here, the number of sheets that can be stapled is set as the first specified number of sheets. The value of the first prescribed number of sheets is determined by the size of the staples, the thickness per recording sheet to be used, and the like, and is usually 100 sheets.
[0033]
If the number of confidential documents is too large and exceeds the staplable number (100) (No in step S4), an error message "Limited number of documents. Please reduce the number of documents." Is displayed (S5), a message to stop the bag-binding document creation process is displayed (S6), and the document creation process ends.
[0034]
If the number of confidential documents is less than the staplable number (100) (Yes in step S4), the first to third trays 8 by the normal recording paper selecting means based on the document size information detected in step S3. Any one of the recording papers set in the sheets 9 and 10 is selected as the normal recording paper, and the cover recording paper selecting means selects a recording paper having a size twice as large as the selected recording paper. It is determined whether or not the recording paper is set in the first to third trays 8, 9, and 10 (S7). For example, when the document size is the B5 size, the normal recording paper is the B5 size, and it is determined whether or not there is a B4 size recording paper that is twice as large.
At this stage, it is usually also determined whether or not there is a recording sheet of the same size as the document size. However, here, it is assumed that there is a corresponding size.
[0035]
If the size twice as large as the document size exceeds the maximum size of the recording paper set in the copying machine (No in step S7), the error message "The document is too large." Is displayed (S8), an error message "There is no paper of a size suitable for the cover" is displayed (S9), and a confirmation message as to whether or not the document can be reduced, "Are you sure you want to reduce the document to a suitable size?" Is displayed (S10). The operator inputs an instruction for this message.
[0036]
If the document is not reduced (No in step S10), a message to stop the bag-binding document creation process is displayed (S6), and the document creation process ends.
[0037]
If the document can be reduced (in the case of Yes in step S10), the cover recording paper selecting means selects the maximum recording paper size set in the copying machine to continue the bag-bound document forming operation, and the cover paper is selected. The normal recording paper selecting means selects the size of the normal recording paper so that the size of the recording paper is equal to or less than 1/2 of the size of the recording paper, and the image reducing means changes the image size based on the selected size of the normal recording paper. . After the work is completed, the process proceeds to step S11.
[0038]
If the recording paper having a size twice as large as the document size is on the recording paper set in the copying machine (Yes in step S7) or Yes in step S10, the number of sheets counted by the number-of-sheets determining means is determined. The numerical value is compared with the set second fixed number value (S11). Here, the maximum value of the number of sheets that can be appropriately wrapped with double-size paper is set as the second specified number of sheets.
[0039]
The second prescribed sheet number value is the distance from the end of the normal recording paper to the stapling position, the effective thickness per sheet when the normal recording paper is stacked, and the position where the cover recording paper is stapled from the opening end. Is determined based on the allowable distance to the vehicle. For example, the distance L1 from the end of the normal recording paper to the stapling position is 14 mm, the effective thickness t per sheet when the normal recording paper is stacked is 0.08 mm (80 μm), and the cover recording paper is in the opening portion. Assuming that the allowable distance L2 from the end to the stapling position is 10 mm, the difference 4 mm between L1 and L2 is obtained by dividing the effective thickness t per sheet when ordinary recording papers are stacked. The number of sheets is the second specified number of sheets. In this case, it is assumed that the thickness of the normal recording paper is approximately shifted from the edge of the normal recording paper at the opening end of the cover recording paper.
[0040]
If the number of confidential original documents is too large and exceeds the second specified number of sheets (50) (No in step S11), the cover sheet selecting means causes a recording sheet one size larger than the cover sheet size in the copying machine to be printed. It is checked whether or not there is any recording paper set in (1) (S12).
[0041]
If there is no recording paper one size larger (No in step S12), it is considered that there is no suitable recording paper, and an error message "Original is too large." Is displayed on liquid crystal touch panel 31 (S8). Then, the process proceeds to step S9. This is, for example, the case where B5, A4, and A3 size recording papers are set in the first to third trays 8, 9, and 10 in the copying machine, the normal recording paper is A4 size, and the cover recording paper is A3 size. is there.
[0042]
If the number of confidential documents is within the second prescribed number value (50) (Yes in step S11), the recording paper (for example, B4 size) is twice as large as the normal recording paper (for example, B5 size). Is folded in half from the center in the transport path in the finisher 100 as a cover recording sheet, and is placed on the staple table 108 before the normal recording sheet on which the image read from the document of the confidential document is formed. Then, the cover recording paper folded in half is held in an open state by lifting one end of the cover recording paper, and the recording paper is normally discharged into the opening in such a manner that the recording paper is sandwiched between the cover recording paper. Then, when a part of the copy is completed, the opening of the cover recording paper is stapled together with the normal recording paper by the stapler 106 to form a stapled document, and the stapled document is stored in the stapling completed output tray 110 by its own weight. This completes the binding document creation work.
[0043]
If there is a recording sheet set in the copying machine that is one size larger than the cover recording sheet size (No in step S12), the cover recording sheet selecting unit sets the recording sheet larger by one size. Is selected as the cover recording sheet, the same operation as above is performed for the two-fold folding of the cover recording sheet, and the bookbinding document creation operation ends. As an example here, B5, B4, and A3 size recording papers are set in the first to third trays 8, 9, and 10 in the copying machine, the normal recording paper is B5 size, and the cover recording paper is B4 size. In this case, a case where a cover recording sheet of A3 size is newly selected corresponds to this case.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the number of sheets counted by the number counting means is equal to or smaller than a specified number of sheets, each normal recording sheet discharged through the opening of the cover recording sheet. It is determined that stapling can be performed, and a cover recording sheet having a sheet size twice as large as that of the normal recording paper is selected by the cover recording sheet selection means, so that appropriate confidential processing can be reliably performed.
Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the number of sheets counted by the number counting means is larger than a predetermined number of sheets, and the normal recording sheet discharged through the opening of the cover recording sheet is used. If it is determined that the stapling cannot be performed, an error message is displayed or the like, so that the operation for creating the stapled document itself can not be accepted, and the occurrence of a malfunction can be prevented.
Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to cope with confidential processing even when there is no cover recording sheet of a sheet size twice or more that of a normal recording sheet on which an image is to be formed in the image forming apparatus. It becomes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a copying machine that is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit in the copying machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing a state of a double-bound document according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow until a facsimile-bound document is created by a copying machine, which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)
2 Platen
3 Feed roller
4 feed belt
5 Discharge roller
6 Contact glass
7 Original set detection
8 First tray
9 Second tray
10 Third tray
11 1st paper feed unit
12 Second paper feed unit
13 Third paper feed unit
14 Vertical transport unit
15 Photoconductor
16 Conveyor belt
17 Fixing unit
18 Paper output unit
19 Output tray
27 Developing unit
50 reading unit
51 Exposure lamp
52 1st mirror
53 lenses
54 CCD Image Sensor
55 Second mirror
56 Third mirror
57 Writing Unit
58 Laser output unit
59 Imaging lens
60 mirror
100 Finisher
101 Branch deflector
102, 103 Paper discharge transport roller
104 Output tray
105, 107 Stapler transport roller
106 stapler
108 Staple tray
109 Jogger
110 Staple Completion Output Tray
111 Double-sided conveyance unit
112 reversing unit
113 Double-sided paper feed path
114 Reversing paper discharge transport path

Claims (3)

Normal recording paper selecting means for selecting the size of the normal recording paper, cover recording paper selecting means for selecting the size of the cover recording paper, and image forming means for forming an image read from a document on the selected normal recording paper Means for folding the cover recording paper into two from a substantially central part in the recording paper transport path, and discharging the normal recording paper on which the image is formed on the cover recording paper in a state of being folded and opened in two. Normal recording paper discharge means, and cover recording paper closing means for stapling an opening of the cover recording paper together with the discharged normal recording paper, and the normal recording paper on which an image is formed is sandwiched between the cover recording papers. In an image forming apparatus for creating a document bound in a closed bag,
Number counting means for counting the number of read originals,
Comparing the number value counted by the number counting means and the set specified number value, and a number determining means for outputting a determination signal based on the comparison result,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the cover recording paper selecting means selects the size of the cover recording paper based on a determination signal from the number determining means. 2. The image according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that does not accept an operation of creating a bag-binding document when the number of sheets counted by the number-of-sheets counting unit is larger than the specified number of sheets. Forming equipment. An image reducing unit that changes a size of an image formed on the normal recording paper at a predetermined magnification, wherein the normal recording paper selecting unit is １ ／ of a size of the cover recording paper selected by the cover recording paper selecting unit; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the normal recording paper is selected as follows, and the image reducing unit changes the image size based on the selected size of the normal recording paper. .

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