JP2004196429A - Post-processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a suspension mode among a plurality of modes for temporarily suspending the discharge of sheets to a liftable discharge tray. <P>SOLUTION: The digital copy machine 100 is provided with the post-processing device 3 having the liftable large-capacity discharge tray 8. The document delivered from an ADF2 is printed on a sheet fed from the feeding tray 6 at the copy machine main body 1 with an electrophotographic method, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 8 upon a command. When a user presses a discharge control button 9 for taking out the printed sheet from the discharge tray 8, a controller section (not shown) of the copy machine main body 1 makes a display section to repeatedly display the modes for suspending the discharge of sheets to the discharge tray 8 at a break of jobs, a break of copies or the like in regular intervals. The user selects a desired mode according to the display. The discharge of the sheet is suspended at the break of the selected mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a large-capacity discharge tray that is controlled so that a distance between a discharge port of a print sheet and a surface of the discharged print sheet becomes a predetermined distance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers include a large-capacity paper discharge tray for storing printing paper when performing large-volume printing. The large-capacity paper discharge tray is configured to be able to move up and down in accordance with the amount of print paper stored, and can store hundreds to thousands of papers while being lowered to the lowest position. At the beginning of printing, the large-capacity output tray is stopped at a position where the discharge port to the large-capacity output tray of the image forming apparatus and the paper surface on the large-capacity output tray have a certain height difference, When printed sheets are accumulated as printing proceeds, position control is performed so that the height difference is constant. With such a control, the paper discharged from the discharge port is accumulated on the previously discharged paper without causing a large displacement, so that the printing paper can be stably discharged to the discharge tray. it can.
[0003]
The large-capacity discharge tray has a considerably large up-and-down stroke in order to accumulate a large amount of printing paper. If the user removes paper from the output tray while printing paper is being discharged and accumulated in the large-capacity output tray, the paper accumulation height decreases and the distance between the exit and the top of the paper ( Since the height difference becomes large, the paper discharged thereafter is scattered and discharged to the paper discharge tray, and is not accumulated at a predetermined position on the paper discharge tray.
[0004]
More specifically, a print engine unit that forms and prints images on paper, a sort bin device provided with a sort bin for sorting printed paper and a single tray for discharging a small number of sheets, and for stapling and the like. In a copying machine having an intermediate tray for temporarily storing sheets and a post-processing device having a stack tray for large-capacity discharge, when a stapling instruction is given by a user as a job attribute, the post-processing device is set from the copying machine main body side. The stapling instruction is sent to the intermediate tray in response to the stapling instruction, and the stapler staples the sheet bundle on the tray. A bundle of sheets (sometimes stapled or not stapled) on the intermediate tray is discharged onto a stack tray from a sheet discharge port according to an instruction from the copying machine main body. A sheet sensor is provided near the stack tray. When sheets are accumulated on the tray and detected by the sensor, the control unit of the post-processing device lowers the stack tray until the sheet is no longer detected. By such control, the height difference between the sheet discharge port and the top surface of the sheet bundle on the stack tray is kept constant. The copier also includes a pause key for instructing the post-processing apparatus to temporarily stop the post-processing apparatus when the sheet is taken out of the stack tray and release the pause when the sheet is re-pressed. In such a copying machine, when the user takes out paper from the stack tray while printing paper is being discharged and stored in the stack tray, the user presses the pause key. Then, based on whether or not the job is currently being executed, the control unit of the copier body determines that the job is being executed, and further determines whether or not the job has the post-processing device as the output destination. Stops the print job at a point where cutting is easy, that is, when the stack of sheets accumulated in the compiler tray is discharged to the stack tray, and prohibits continuation of the print job. Then, the post-processing apparatus is caused to display on the state display unit the state indicating that the sheet can be taken out, so that the sheet can be taken out. (See Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2000-253625 (paragraphs (0016), (0017), (0025), (0026), (0027) FIGS. 1 and 2
[0006]
However, in the above-described copying machine, when the pause key is pressed to remove the print paper accumulated from the large-capacity stack tray, the print job currently being executed is temporarily stopped, but a place where printing is good can be freely selected. I couldn't do that. For this reason, if it takes time to adjust the seam between the last ejected sheet and the first sheet after the resumption of printing, or if printing is stopped in the middle of a page, printing paper is wasted. There was a problem.
[0007]
Also, after taking out the printing paper, it is necessary to press the pause key again in order to resume printing. However, in order to press the pause key again, once the taken out printing paper is placed in another place ( Normally, both hands are occupied.) Pressing with a free hand causes the print job to be stopped during that time, resulting in poor productivity.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to allow a user to freely set a print break for temporarily stopping paper discharge when the paper discharge to a vertically movable paper discharge tray provided in the image forming apparatus is to be temporarily stopped. The second purpose is to temporarily discharge the paper in order to take out the printing paper discharged to a vertically movable paper discharge tray (storage device) provided in the image forming apparatus. When the temporary stop state is released, the image forming apparatus automatically releases the stop.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, (1) the invention according to claim 1 is a post-processing apparatus provided with a paper output storage device, wherein a means for instructing a temporary stop of paper output to the paper output storage device, and Means for displaying a plurality of stop modes for temporarily stopping discharge to the discharge storage device; means for selecting a predetermined stop mode from the plurality of displayed stop modes; A post-processing device comprising: means for temporarily stopping paper discharge; and (2) the post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stop modes are displayed. Is a mode in which printing is stopped immediately by an instruction to temporarily stop discharging, or a stop in a print job or a number of copies after a command to temporarily stop printing, or a stop in which a print job or a number of copies stops earlier in a break. Mode (3) The post-processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the means for displaying the stop mode includes a plurality of different stop modes. (4) The post-processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the mode can be displayed continuously and repeatedly at predetermined time intervals. The paper storage device is provided with a means for automatically canceling the pause of the discharge when the distance between the discharge port of the print paper and the surface of the discharged print paper moves to a position of a predetermined distance. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a digital copying machine 100 includes a scanner unit, a document writing unit, a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit (not shown). Main body 1, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2, a stapler (not shown), a vertically movable large-capacity discharge tray 8, A post-processing device (finisher) 3 having a button 9 for temporarily stopping paper discharge to the tray (hereinafter referred to as a paper discharge suppression button) 3, a two-sided reverse paper discharge unit 4, an extended paper feed tray 5, a large capacity paper feed Each unit includes a tray (LCT) 6 and a bin discharge tray 7.
[0011]
In the digital copying machine, an original is placed on an original platen (not shown), printing conditions such as the number of print copies and finishing conditions such as whether or not to perform finishing are input from the operation unit, and a print instruction is transmitted. Then, the read original is sent to the scanner unit (not shown) of the copying machine body 1 by the automatic original feeder 2, and the original is read by the scanner unit. The read manuscript is written on the photoconductor of the photoconductor unit by the manuscript writing unit in the copying machine main body 1, and thereafter, printing is performed by a well-known electrophotographic method. At this time, the printing paper is conveyed from the large-capacity paper feed tray 6 or the extended paper feed tray 5 to the paper feed unit of the printer, and when performing double-sided printing, the paper printed on one side is returned to the double-sided reverse discharge unit 4. Reverse the direction and print the other one side again with the printer. The printed paper is discharged to the vertically movable large-capacity discharge tray 8 or the one-bin discharge tray 7 of the post-processing device 3 by setting in advance by the user. Further, the paper discharge suppression button 9 is used to temporarily stop the paper discharge to the large-capacity paper discharge tray 8.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, the control system of the digital copying machine is divided into a copying machine body 1, an ADF 2, a finisher 3, and a controller 14. Each of these includes a control unit 11, 12, 13, 15 having a CPU and, if necessary, a storage device such as a RAM, a ROM, and a hard disk.
[0013]
The control unit 15 of the controller 14 receives an instruction from a liquid crystal type operation / display unit 17 provided on the upper surface of the copying machine, and displays an operation state of the copying machine on a liquid crystal screen of the operation / display unit 17. Further, the job accepting unit 16 reads the copy 21 or the FAX 22 or the application of the printer 23 stored in the hard disk of the controller 14 according to an instruction from the operation / display unit 17 by the user, and receives a request (job) from the application. Upon receipt and execution timing, an execution request is issued to the control unit 11 of the copying machine body 1.
[0014]
When receiving the execution request, the copier main body 1 instructs the control unit 12 of the ADF 2 to automatically feed the original, and instructs the finishing unit 3 to discharge the paper to the finisher 3 if the execution request is to execute printing. If it is, communication with the finisher 3 is performed, and the control unit 13 of the finisher 3 is instructed to finish and to discharge the sheet to the vertically movable large-capacity discharge tray 8.
[0015]
The large-capacity discharge tray 8 of the finisher 3 is configured to be able to move up and down along the outer casing of the finisher 3 from the vicinity of the bottom surface of the copying machine main body to the discharge port of the finisher 3. Further, for example, a photoelectric discharge tray position detection sensor 18 of a photoelectric type for detecting the position of the discharge tray 8 is provided at an appropriate position of the finisher 3. Then, the output is connected to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 monitors the sensor output so that the height of the paper discharge tray 8 is adjusted so that the upper surface of the paper of the paper discharge tray 8 and the position of the paper discharge port become constant. Control the position. Further, a push button-type paper discharge suppression button 9 is provided at an appropriate position on the outer surface of the casing of the finisher 3. When the user takes out the accumulated printed paper from the paper discharge tray 8, the user presses the button 9 to temporarily stop the paper discharge in the finisher 3.
[0016]
Next, a description will be given of the selection of the mode of the print break state (print break execution mode) when executing the pause of the discharge according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the state of printing break refers to a state where printing is separated by a print job, the number of copies, a page break, or the like.
The digital copying machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 stores, in a HDD device (not shown) of the controller 14, a discharge stop execution mode to be selected when temporarily stopping the discharge as a program together with a mode list. The data is read out to a RAM (not shown) when the power of the digital copying machine is turned on. Further, the controller 14 has a break detecting unit for detecting a print break in order to execute the print break execution mode. The mode name and mode contents of the print separation execution mode are as follows.
[0017]
Mode A: Discharge is temporarily stopped at the end of the currently output print job.
Mode B: Discharge is temporarily stopped when the number of copies currently being output is cut.
Mode C: When the print job or the break of the number of copies appears earlier, the discharge is temporarily stopped.
Mode D: When the discharge control button is pressed, the discharge is temporarily stopped immediately.
[0018]
When the user takes out the stored printed paper from the paper discharge tray 8 during printing, the user presses the paper discharge suppression button 9 and keeps pressing the button, and the control unit 13 receives an operation signal of the press. The control unit 13 notifies the control unit 15 of the controller 14 of the reception via the control unit 11 of the copying machine body 1. In response to this notification, the control unit 15 determines that the paper discharge is to be temporarily stopped, and a time measurement unit (not shown) measures the time to allow the user to select a predetermined mode from the print separation execution modes (programs). Is started, and while the button 9 is kept pressed, the paper discharge stop execution mode is switched and displayed on the operation / display unit 17 at intervals of, for example, 2 seconds based on the mode list according to the pressed time. That is, the operation / display unit 17
Mode A when 0 second or more and less than 2 seconds
Mode B when 2 seconds or more to less than 4 seconds
Mode C when 4 seconds or more to less than 6 seconds
Mode D when 6 seconds or more to less than 8 seconds
Mode A when 8 seconds or more to less than 10 seconds
Mode B when more than 10 seconds to less than 12 seconds
Thereafter, the mode is sequentially displayed by repeating the above.
[0019]
When the user stops pressing the paper discharge suppression button 9, that is, releases the paper discharge suppression button 9 from the pressed state, the control unit 13 notifies the control unit 15 of this, and the control unit 15 changes the mode according to the time at that time. It is determined that the print job has been selected, a flag (mode) corresponding to the selected time is stored, and the job receiving unit 16 is controlled by the stored program to prohibit print job reception. At this time, when the break detecting unit detects a break in the print job or the number of copies, the acceptance of the print job is prohibited at these breaks, and the discharge is temporarily stopped.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation for executing the suspension of the discharge. Referring to the flowchart, when the discharge suppression button 9 is pressed, the suspension operation of the discharge starts (step S ( Hereinafter, abbreviated as S) 10), the time measurement unit of the controller 14 starts measuring time (S11), and the control unit 15 determines whether the accumulated time matches the selection condition of the mode A, that is, 0 seconds or more. It is determined whether it is less than 2 seconds (S12).
If they match (S12, YES), a mode A selection message such as "mode A can be selected" is displayed on the display screen of the operation / display unit 17 (S13).
Then, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the pressed state of the discharge control button 9 has been completed (S19). If the pressed state has been completed (S19, YES), the time measurement ends (S20). The paper discharge is temporarily stopped (S21).
[0021]
If the pressed state of the discharge control button 9 is not completed (S19, NO), the process returns to step S12. At this time, the accumulated time does not match the selection condition of mode A, that is, 2 seconds. Is exceeded (S12, NO), it is determined whether or not the mode B selection condition is met (S14). If they match, a mode B selection message is displayed on the screen (S15), and the pressing of the paper ejection suppression button is waited (S19). If the button is pressed (S19, YES), the time measurement is terminated, and the paper discharge is temporarily stopped in mode B (S20, 21). If the pressing is not completed (S19, NO), the process returns to step S12 to perform the operations of S16 and S17 for mode C, and thereafter performs the same operation (S19, 20, 21) as in the case of modes A and B. Do.
[0022]
If the accumulated time does not meet the selection condition of mode C in step S16 (S16, N0), a selection message of mode D is displayed on the screen (S18), and whether or not the pressed state of the paper discharge suppression button 9 has been completed. If it is determined (S19), and the pressed state is terminated (S19, YES), the measurement of the accumulated time is terminated as described above, and the discharge is temporarily stopped in mode D (S20, 21). If the processing has not been completed (S19, NO), the process returns to step 12, and the above-described operation is repeated from mode A.
[0023]
The display of the mode is displayed by characters or patterns on the display screen of the liquid crystal type operation / display unit 17, but a display method using LEDs of different emission colors, for example, may be adopted instead of the display on the display screen.
[0024]
According to the present embodiment, the user can select and take out the printed paper to be taken out from the large-capacity paper ejection tray 8 at a cut according to the user's preference, such as at the end of the print job or at the cut of the number of copies.
[0025]
Further, a description will be given of the release of the paper discharge suspension state according to the embodiment of the present invention.
When the user takes out the accumulated printed paper from the paper discharge tray during printing, the paper discharge tray position sensor 18 detects this, and the control unit 13 receives the operation signal. The control unit 13 moves the paper discharge tray 8 upward and moves when the distance between the discharge port of the print paper and the mounting surface of the discharged print paper reaches a distance where the discharged print paper is scattered and not stacked. To stop. Further, the control unit 13 notifies the control unit 15 of the controller 14 of the stop operation signal via the control unit 11 of the copier body 1. The control unit 15 cancels the prohibition of the print job that has been temporarily stopped by receiving the notification. The user can manually release the prohibition of the print job by not using a button (not shown) to notify the controller 15 that the paper discharge tray has moved to the predetermined position.
[0026]
According to the present embodiment, when taking out the printing paper from the paper output tray, even if both hands are occupied, the pause of the paper output is automatically released, so that the printing productivity is reduced. Can be prevented.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
Advantageous Effects Corresponding to Claims 1 and 2: The user can select and take out the printed paper to be taken out from the large-capacity paper output storage device at a cut according to the user's preference, such as a cut of a print job or a cut of the number of copies. it can.
Advantageous Effect According to Claim 3: A break in a print job, a break in the number of copies, and the like can be easily selected.
Advantageous Effect According to Claim 4: Since the suspension of the paper discharge is automatically canceled, it is possible to prevent the productivity of printing from lowering.
Advantageous Effect Corresponding to Claim 5: It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus exhibiting the effects corresponding to Claims 1 to 4.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation for executing a temporary stop of paper ejection.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine main body, 2 ... Automatic document feeder (ADF), 3 ... Post-processing apparatus (finisher), 4 ... Double-sided reverse discharge unit, 5 ... Expansion paper feed tray, 6 ... Large capacity paper feed tray (LCT) , 7: 1-bin discharge tray, 8: large-capacity vertically movable discharge tray, 9: discharge control button

Claims (5)

In a post-processing device provided with a discharge storage device,
Means for instructing a temporary stop of discharge to the discharge storage device;
Means for displaying a plurality of stop modes for temporarily stopping paper discharge to the paper discharge storage device according to the instruction;
Means for selecting a predetermined stop mode from the plurality of stop modes displayed,
Means for temporarily stopping discharge to the discharge storage device in the selected stop mode;
A post-processing device comprising: 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for displaying the plurality of stop modes is a mode for immediately stopping according to an instruction to temporarily stop discharge, or a break of a print job or a break of the number of copies after the instruction of stop. Or at least two stop modes among stop modes that stop at a break appearing earlier among print job or copy breaks are displayed. 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for displaying the stop mode enables a plurality of different stop modes to be displayed continuously and repeatedly at predetermined time intervals. 4. The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the discharge storage device moves to a position where a distance between a discharge port of the print sheet and a surface of the discharged print sheet is a predetermined distance, A post-processing device comprising means for automatically canceling the suspension of paper discharge. An image forming apparatus comprising the post-processing device according to claim 1.

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