JP2006215154A - Image forming device and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and simple image forming apparatus in which the work efficiency of taking out image-formed sheets in a group mode for continuously forming images on a predetermined number of sheets for every document image. <P>SOLUTION: Ejection of sheets onto a sheet stacking means is temporarily stopped, every time when image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on document images for one page is finished. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier is provided with a post-processing device that stacks sheets on a tray after aligning sheets for each output unit on which an image is formed, or performing post-processing such as stapling. On the other hand, with the recent digitalization of copiers, multifunction machines equipped with functions such as printers and facsimiles have appeared in copiers, and various types of images are output from one copier. Improvement of output productivity is under consideration.

  For example, when outputting N copies of an output set composed of at least one page of image data, in the non-sort mode in which N copies are output for each image data, before the transfer material that is the head of the output set is started Investigate whether the stack tray at the discharge destination can be loaded, and if loading is not possible, investigate other stackable trays that can be loaded, switch the discharge destination, and there are no other stackable trays that can be loaded Has proposed an image forming apparatus in which the operation is interrupted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this image forming apparatus, the output tray can be switched at output breaks so that the productivity of the apparatus does not deteriorate.

In addition, an image forming system has been proposed that can output an output bundle with a cover attached for output in the group mode or non-sort mode, and can be used for partitioning the output bundle (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-39607 A JP 2002-240399 A

  In recent years, the output speed of the image forming apparatus has been improved, and an operation form in which an image-formed sheet is manually supplied to a sheet feeder of an off-line bookbinding apparatus as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-203571 can be seen. It has become.

  In the off-line bookbinding apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-203571, each sheet to be bound is placed on a different paper feed stage of a paper feeder. In the image forming apparatus, a predetermined number of sheets are printed for each original image. In view of work efficiency, it is preferable to output a sheet on which an image is formed in a group mode (also referred to as a non-sort mode) in which images are continuously formed on the sheet.

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the image forming operation itself is stopped if there is no stackable tray even when the paper feeding operation to the offline bookbinding apparatus is temporarily delayed. Therefore, various settings for image formation have to be performed again from the output point when image formation is stopped.

  Further, in the image forming system described in Patent Document 2, the separation of output can be recognized on the cover, but in an image forming apparatus intended for off-line binding, several hundred to several thousand sheets are used once. Even if the cover position can be specified, it is difficult to efficiently separate a bundle of image-formed sheets, and a mechanism for supplying the cover is required. However, it was large and complicated.

  Also, there is a post-processing device having a shift mechanism that shifts the position of the sheet for each output separation. However, as in Patent Document 2, when a large number of sheets are placed, it is difficult to efficiently separate a bundle of sheets. Met.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a small and simple image forming apparatus with improved work efficiency for taking out an image-formed sheet in a group mode in which a predetermined number of sheets are continuously formed for each original image. And

  The object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.

The invention according to claim 1 includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on an original image, a discharge unit that discharges an image-formed sheet, and a sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a predetermined number of sheets for each original image,
When the group mode is executed, there is provided control means for temporarily stopping the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharge means every time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of document image is completed. An image forming apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, every time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of the original image is finished, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit is temporarily stopped. Thus, the work of separating the sheet bundle becomes unnecessary, and for example, the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking means may be supplied as it is to the off-line bookbinding apparatus, and the work efficiency is improved.

  Further, since a cover is not supplied and a mechanism for shifting the sheet is not required, it can be realized with a small and simple configuration.

The invention according to claim 2 includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharging unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, and a sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a predetermined number of sheets for each original image,
A page number setting means for setting the number of pages of the original image for temporarily stopping the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharge means;
When the group mode is executed, every time when the image formation on the predetermined number of sheets based on the original image of the number of pages set by the page number setting unit is completed, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit by the discharge unit is temporarily performed. An image forming apparatus having a control unit for stopping.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, every time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on the original image of the number of pages set by the page number setting unit is completed, the discharge unit applies the sheet stacking unit to the sheet stacking unit. Since the discharge of the sheets is temporarily stopped, it is not necessary to separate the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit. For example, the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit may be supplied as it is to the off-line bookbinding apparatus, and the work efficiency is improved.

The invention according to claim 3 has an operation means for performing a restart operation of sheet discharge,
3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the operation unit restarts a sheet discharge operation, the control unit restarts the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking unit by the discharge unit. An image forming apparatus.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the operation unit restarts the sheet discharge, the sheet discharge to the sheet stacking unit is resumed, so that the sheet stacking unit is as intended by the operator. The sheet is discharged and the working efficiency is improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time setting means for setting a time until the sheet discharge is resumed after the sheet discharge to the sheet stacking means is temporarily stopped.
Timing means for measuring an elapsed time after temporary stopping of discharging of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharging means,
The control means restarts the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking means by the discharge means when the time counted by the time measuring means has passed the time set by the time setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit is resumed when a predetermined time has elapsed after the temporary stop of the sheet discharge, the sheet discharge is not resumed. Work efficiency is improved without being left unattended.

The invention according to claim 5 is an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on an original image, a discharge unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, a first sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, A second sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheets; and a switching unit that switches a discharge destination of the sheet discharged from the discharge unit to the first sheet stacking unit or the second sheet stacking unit. In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a predetermined number of sheets for each original image,
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for controlling a sheet discharge destination by the switching means each time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of document image is completed when the group mode is executed. is there.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the sheet stacking means for discharging the sheet is controlled every time the image formation on the predetermined number of sheets based on the original image of one page is completed. Since only a bundle of sheets on which images are formed based on the same document image is placed on the means, there is no need to separate the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking means. For example, the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking means is used as it is. What is necessary is just to supply to an off-line bookbinding apparatus and work efficiency improves.

The invention according to claim 6 is an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharge unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, a first sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, A second sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheets; and a switching unit that switches a discharge destination of the sheet discharged from the discharge unit to the first sheet stacking unit or the second sheet stacking unit. In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a predetermined number of sheets for each original image,
A page number setting means for setting the number of pages of a document image for executing switching of the sheet discharge destination by the switching means;
Control means for controlling the sheet discharge destination by the switching means each time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on the number of pages of the original image set by the page number setting means is completed when the group mode is executed; An image forming apparatus including the image forming apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, since the sheet stacking unit for discharging the sheet is controlled every time the image formation on the predetermined number of sheets based on the document image for the preset number of pages is completed, Since only a bundle of sheets on which image formation based on a desired number of document images for the desired number of pages is placed on the sheet stacking unit, the work of separating the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit becomes unnecessary, and work efficiency is improved. Will improve.

The invention according to claim 7 is a first sheet detecting means for detecting a sheet stacked on the first sheet stacking means;
Second sheet detecting means for detecting the sheets stacked on the second sheet stacking means,
7. The control unit according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls a sheet discharge destination by the switching unit based on detection results of the first sheet detection unit and the second sheet detection unit. An image forming apparatus.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the sheet discharge destination is controlled based on the detection result of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a sheet based on an original image of an undesired page is stored in one sheet stacking unit. There is no mixing, and the work of separating the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking means becomes unnecessary, and the work efficiency is improved.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the first sheet detection unit detects a sheet and the second sheet detection unit detects a sheet, the control unit detects the first and second by the discharge unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the discharge of the sheet to the second sheet stacking unit is temporarily stopped.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, every time the image formation on the predetermined number of sheets based on the original image is completed, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit is temporarily stopped. This eliminates the need for separation work, improving work efficiency.

The invention according to claim 9 has an operation means for performing a restart operation of sheet discharge,
The control means restarts the discharge of the sheet to the first and second sheet stacking means by the discharge means when the operation of restarting the sheet discharge is performed by the operation means. The image forming apparatus according to 8.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the operation means restarts the sheet discharge, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking means is resumed, so that the sheet stacking means is as intended by the operator. The sheet is discharged and the working efficiency is improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of taking out an image-formed sheet in a group mode in which a small and simple image forming apparatus forms an image continuously on a predetermined number of sheets for each original image. Become.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming system which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  Connected to the image forming apparatus main body 100 are an automatic document feeder 200, a post-processing device 300, and a large-capacity paper feed tray 400, which are peripheral devices.

  The automatic document feeder 200 separates the documents d placed on the document placing table 210 one by one, sends them to the document conveyance path 201, and wraps them on the conveyance drum 202 for conveyance. The original document d being read is read by the original reading unit 110 at the original reading position 111 below the conveying drum 202. The document d that has been read is discharged to a document discharge tray 205 by a first document transport guide 203 having a switching mechanism and a document discharge roller 204.

  When reading images on both sides of the document d, the document d on which the document image on the first surface is read is sent out in the direction of the arrow a by the first document conveyance guide 203 and the reverse roller 206, and the rear end is reversed. It stops once in a state of being pinched by the roller 206. Thereafter, when the reversing roller 206 starts reversing, the document d once stopped is switched to the first document conveying guide 203 with the trailing edge as the leading edge of the document d and the front and back being reversed. It is guided to a second document conveyance guide 207 having a mechanism and sent again to the document conveyance path. The document d sent out is scanned on the second side of the document image, and is discharged to the document discharge tray 205 by the first document transport guide 203 and the document discharge roller 204.

  The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes a document reading unit 110, an image writing unit 120, a toner image forming unit 130, a fixing unit 140, a reversing unit 150, a refeed unit 160, a sheet feeding unit 170, an operation display unit 180, and the like. ing.

  The document reading unit 110 irradiates the document surface of the document d conveyed by the automatic document feeder 200 at the document reading position 111 with the exposure lamp 112, and the reflected light from the first mirror unit 113 and the second mirror. The original image is read by forming an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 117 by the unit 114 and the imaging lens 115.

  The image signal output from the image sensor 117 is A / D converted by an image processing unit to be described later, subjected to processing such as shading correction and compression, and stored as document image information in a storage unit (not shown).

  The stored document image information is image information sent to the network via a communication unit (not shown) when the scanner mode for reading the document and transferring the obtained information to another device is set in the image forming apparatus. When a print mode for creating a hard copy from a document is set, it is used as image information for creating a hard copy.

  The image writing unit 120 forms a latent image by scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 of the rotating image forming unit 130 with a laser beam on the image information read from the storage unit. 121, a polygon mirror 122, a cylindrical lens 123, a plane mirror 124, and the like.

  The toner image forming unit 130 includes a charging unit 132, a developing unit 133, a transfer separating unit 134, and a cleaning unit 135 disposed around the photosensitive drum 131. The photosensitive drum 131 whose peripheral surface is uniformly charged by the charging unit 132 is developed by the developing unit 133 after the latent image is formed by the writing unit 120. A toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the developed photosensitive drum 131, and is transferred to the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 170 by the transfer separation unit 134. The sheet P carrying the toner image is sent to the fixing unit 140 by the transport belt 136, and the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 131 after the transfer of the toner image is removed by the cleaning unit 135, so that the next image formation is performed. Provided.

  The fixing unit 140 conveys the sheet P sent from the toner image forming unit 130 by the heating roller 141 and the pressure roller 142 arranged to face each other while being heated under pressure, thereby transferring the toner image to the sheet P. To settle. In the present invention, the image writing unit 120, the image forming unit 130, and the fixing unit 140 cooperate to function as an image forming unit.

  The reversing unit 150 sends the paper P sent from the fixing unit 140 to the post-processing device 300 by the reversing guide 151 and the paper discharge roller 154.

  When the paper P is reversed and sent out, the reversing guide 151 is switched to the dotted line position in the drawing, the paper P is guided downward, and then the first reversing roller 152 and the second reversing roller 153 are reversed, and the paper P The rear end is changed to the front end and sent to the paper discharge roller 154.

  In addition, when performing so-called double-sided copying, in which image formation is performed on both sides of a sheet, the sheet P that has undergone image fixing on the first side is guided downward by a reversing guide 151 and the rear end is secondly reversed. After being sandwiched between the rollers 153, this is reversed and sent out to the refeed unit 160.

  The re-feeding unit 160 sends the paper P sent from the reversing unit 150 back to the paper feeding / conveying unit 174 of the paper feeding unit 170 to be used for image formation on the second surface.

  The paper supply unit 170 includes paper supply trays 171, 172, and 173 that store the paper P, a plurality of rollers that take out the paper P one by one from these trays and convey the paper P to the paper supply roller 175, a guide member, A sheet feeding / conveying unit 174 and a sheet feeding roller 175. In the present embodiment, a large-capacity paper feed tray 400 on which a large amount of paper P can be stacked is connected to the image forming apparatus 100. The paper P fed from here is fed to the paper feed roller 175 by the paper feed / conveying unit 174 in the same manner as when fed from another paper feed tray.

  The paper feed roller 175 feeds the fed paper P in accordance with the toner image position on the photosensitive drum 131 after correcting the conveyance curve.

  In the present invention, the reversing unit 150, the refeed unit 160, and the sheet feeding unit 170 function as a sheet conveying unit that conveys the paper P in cooperation.

  The operation display unit 180 is a unit in which a display unit for displaying characters and images and an operation unit for a user to input an instruction operation are combined into one unit, and includes a touch panel and push buttons. The operation display unit 180 can perform various settings for the image forming apparatus 100, the automatic document feeder 200, the post-processing apparatus 300, and the large-capacity paper feed tray 400. In the present embodiment, the first discharge is performed. A page number setting means for setting the number of pages of original images that can be discharged before prohibiting the stacked output when the stacked output is prohibited in the paper tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320, the first discharge tray 310. Alternatively, time setting means for setting a time until the sheet discharge is automatically restarted when the discharge of the sheet to the second discharge tray 320 is temporarily stopped, the first discharge tray 310 or the first discharge tray 320 2 has a function as operation means for performing an operation of restarting the discharge of the sheet when the discharge of the sheet to the second discharge tray 320 is temporarily stopped.

  In this specification, “one-page original image” indicates image data or an original formed on one sheet. Therefore, when images are formed on both sides of a sheet, the image data for both sides of the sheet or the original is referred to as “one page original image”. When a Nup image formed by combining image data for N pages or an image based on a document is formed on one sheet surface, the “one page document image” is composed of N pages of image data or a document. And

  The post-processing device 300 is a paper discharge processing device that places the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 and binds it in alignment. In the post-processing apparatus 300, the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 351 and 352, and the first discharge tray 310 or the second sheet stacking unit 310 serving as the first sheet stacking unit is discharged by the discharge rollers 353. The sheet is discharged to a second discharge tray 340 that is a sheet stacking unit. That is, the discharge roller 353 functions as a sheet discharge unit.

  Further, the post-processing apparatus 300 has a function of aligning and binding the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 100. The transport path is switched by a transport path switching mechanism (not shown), and the paper P sandwiched and transported by the transport rollers 351, 352, and 354 is stacked on the processing tray 305, and the bundle of stacked paper P is stapled. A bundle is discharged to the first discharge tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320.

  The first paper discharge tray 310 and the second paper discharge tray 320 are moved up and down by a motor 340 and moved to the position of the discharge roller 353 or the processing tray 301. That is, in this embodiment, the motor 340 functions as a switching unit that switches between the first paper discharge tray 310 or the second paper discharge tray 320 on which the paper P discharged from the discharge roller 353 is stacked. In this example, the post-processing apparatus 300 has two sheet discharge trays. However, one or three or more sheet discharge trays may be provided.

  The first paper discharge tray 310 includes a paper presence / absence sensor 311 that functions as a first sheet detection unit, and the second paper discharge tray 320 includes a paper presence / absence sensor 321 that functions as a second sheet detection unit. A paper presence / absence sensor 331 is attached to each of the paper trays 330 to detect whether or not the paper P is stacked.

  The Z folding machine 303 performs Z folding on the discharged paper P. Further, the bookbinding machine 304 performs bookbinding by collectively folding the bundle of discharged sheets P and performing stapling, and the bound sheet bundle is discharged to the bookbinding discharge tray 330.

  The position sensors 305, 306, 307 and 308 detect the height of the paper P placed on the first paper discharge tray 310, the second paper discharge tray 320 and the bookbinding paper discharge tray 330, and are moved up and down by the motor 340. The positions of the first paper discharge tray 310 and the second paper discharge tray 320 are detected.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually showing the functional structure of the image forming system shown in FIG.

  The image forming system 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, a communication unit 30, an image processing unit 40, and a time measuring unit 50 in addition to the units described with reference to FIG. Note that a description of the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 is omitted.

  The control unit 10 that functions as a control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a work memory, and the like, reads a program stored in the storage unit 20 into the work memory, and performs each unit of the image forming system 1 according to the program. Centralized control.

  The storage unit 20 includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a hard disk drive, and the like, and includes a control program of the control unit 10 and a font used when the control unit 10 generates an image signal. Data, various setting information input from an operation display unit 180 or a host computer (not shown), a print job, and the like are stored.

  The communication unit 30 can communicate with a host computer (not shown) via a communication medium (not shown), and receives various setting information, a print job, and the like transmitted from the host computer, and the image forming system 1. This information is notified to the host computer.

  The image processing unit 40 performs various processes such as A / D conversion, shading correction, and compression on the image signal output from the image sensor 117, and applies to print data read from the storage unit 20. The image forming unit performs an optimum process for forming an image.

  The time measuring unit 50 functioning as time measuring means measures the elapsed time based on the time when the time start trigger is input.

  2 are sections provided to assist understanding of the function of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and are not necessarily realized as a physically independent device or a single device. For example, the function of the control unit 10 may be realized by the cooperation of the CPUs included in each of the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing apparatus 300.

  An example of the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of image forming processing according to the first embodiment in the image forming system 1. In the first embodiment, when the group mode is executed, control is performed to temporarily stop the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit every time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of document image is completed. Is. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the image forming system 1 is powered on.

In step S <b> 101, settings relating to image formation are performed by the operator using the operation display unit 180. The settings are, for example, the number of copies (C ₀ ), the size of the sheet on which the image is formed, the enlargement / reduction ratio, the image formation on both sides or one side of the sheet, the number of pages on which the Nup image is formed.

  In step S101, post-processing is set. The setting of the post-processing can be set by performing a predetermined operation on the operation display unit 180. For example, various screens as shown in FIG. 4 are displayed.

  When a predetermined operation is performed on the operation display unit 180, an output setting screen 61 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed. On the output setting screen 61, a double-sided binding direction setting frame 611, a paper discharge surface setting frame 612, a paper discharge order frame 613, and a post-processing setting frame 614 are displayed. A desired setting is selected in each frame, and an OK button 618 is displayed. When the button is pressed, the selected setting is stored in the storage unit 20, and when the cancel button 617 is pressed, the original screen is restored. When the standard return button 616 is pressed, various settings are changed to standard settings set in advance.

  In the post-processing setting frame 614, a process to be executed in the post-processing apparatus 300 can be selected. In this embodiment, a staple selection button 614a, an overlapping trifold selection button 614b, a saddle stitch selection button 614c, and a sort are selected. A mode selection button 614d, an overlapping folding selection button 614e, a group mode selection button 614f, and a Z folding selection button 614g are displayed.

  When the sort selection button 614d is pressed, a sort mode in which a set corresponding to the number of copies is formed by selecting a sheet group output one sheet at a time based on one set of document images is selected.

  When the group selection button 614f is pressed, a group mode is selected in which a set of sheets for all pages is image-formed with one set of sheets output for the number of copies based on the original image for one page.

  In the description after step S102 in FIG. 3, the case where the group mode is selected on the output setting screen 61 in FIG. 4A will be described.

  When the discharge tray change button 615 is pressed on the output setting screen 61 in FIG. 4A, a discharge tray setting screen 62 as shown in FIG. 4B is displayed.

  A schematic diagram 621 of the image forming system 1 is displayed on the paper discharge tray setting screen 62 so that a paper discharge tray can be selected. In FIG. 4B, the first paper discharge tray selection unit 621a is displayed in reverse, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the first paper discharge tray 310. When the OK button 624 is pressed, the selected setting is stored in the storage unit 20, and when the cancel button 623 is pressed, the screen returns to the output setting screen 61.

  When the upper stack setting button 622 is pressed on the paper discharge tray setting screen 62 in FIG. 4B, an upper stack setting screen 63 as shown in FIG. 4C is displayed. On the upper stack setting screen 63, an upper stack permission setting frame 631 and an automatic restart setting frame 632 are displayed. Desired settings are selected in the respective frames, and when the OK button 634 is pressed, the selected settings are stored in the storage unit 20. When the cancel button 633 is pressed, the sheet return tray selection screen 623 is displayed.

  In the upper stacking permission setting frame 631, it is possible to set whether or not to continue the sheet discharge when the sheet is stacked on the sheet discharge tray selected on the sheet discharge tray setting screen 62. In the present embodiment, a stacking permission button 631a, a job unit prohibition button 631b, and a set unit prohibition button 631c are displayed. Hereinafter, continuing the sheet discharge when the sheets are stacked on the sheet discharge tray is referred to as “up stacking”.

  When the upper stacking permission button 631a is pressed, upper stacking is possible.

  When the job unit prohibition button 631b is pressed, stacking is prohibited in units of print commands.

When the set unit prohibition button 631c is pressed, stacking is prohibited in units of output sets. That is, when the sort mode is selected on the output setting screen 61, processing for avoiding the stacking is performed for each sheet group that is output sheet by sheet based on one set of document images, and the group mode is selected. In other words, a process for avoiding the stacking is performed for each sheet group output for the number of copies based on the original image for one page. In addition, when the set unit prohibition button 631c is pressed, the number of sets for which processing for avoiding the stacking can be arbitrarily set by the set number setting unit 631d, and the set number P ₀ is stored in the storage unit. 20 is stored. If the number of sets is not set, P ₀ is automatically set to 1, and is assumed to be set to 1 in this embodiment. In this case, the set number setting unit 631d displayed on the operation display unit 180 selects the number of pages of the document image for temporarily stopping the sheet discharge to the sheet stacking unit and the document image for switching the sheet discharge destination by the switching unit. It functions as a page number setting means for setting the page number.

  In the automatic restart setting frame 632, when the prohibition of stacking is set, the discharge of the sheet to the discharge tray is temporarily stopped, but the discharge of the sheet is automatically restarted after the temporary stop is started. Until the time setting unit 632a can set the time until the time until the set time T0 is stored in the storage unit 20. Note that ∞ is set when the paper discharge is not automatically resumed. That is, in this case, the time setting unit 632a displayed on the operation display unit 180 functions as a time setting unit that sets the time until the sheet discharge is resumed after the sheet discharge to the sheet stacking unit is temporarily stopped. is there.

  The setting in step S101 may be performed by the operation unit of the host computer connected to the communication unit 30, instead of the operation by the operation display unit 180.

  Returning to FIG. 3, in step S <b> 102, an instruction to start image formation is given by operating the operation display unit 180 or the host computer connected to the communication unit 30.

In step S103, a document image is read. For example, the document image is read by the document reading unit 110 and processed by the image processing unit 40 or received by the communication unit 30, and the document image information processed by the image processing unit 40 is read from the storage unit 20. It is. At this time, the total page number N ₀ of the document image is calculated.

  In step S104, the document image page counter N is initialized.

  In step S105, the document image page counter N is incremented by one.

  In step S106, the document image information of the Nth page is read from the storage unit 20, and the copy counter C is initialized.

  In step S107, an image is formed on one sheet based on the document image information read in step S106. In the case where images are formed on both sides of the sheet in step S107, it is assumed that the processing in step S116 is completed only after the images are formed on both sides of the sheet by the operations of the reversing unit 150 and the refeed unit 160. Also, 1 is added to the copy counter C.

In step S108, the copy counter C is whether or not the set number of copies C ₀ or more in step S101, that is, whether a set of the image forming in the group mode is completed is determined. If the copy counter C is equal to or greater than C ₀ (step S108; YES), the process of step S109 is executed. If the copy counter C is less than C ₀ (step S108; NO), the process returns to step S107, and N Image formation based on the document image information of the page is continued.

In step S109, the document image page counter N is whether or not the total document image page number N ₀ or calculated in step S103, that is, whether all of the image forming according to one image forming instruction is completed To be judged. If the document image page counter N is equal to or greater than N ₀ (step S109; YES), the process ends. If the document image page counter N is less than N ₀ (step S109; NO), the process of step S110 is executed. The

  In step S110, it is determined whether or not prohibition of addition is set in the setting of step S101, that is, whether or not the set unit prohibition button 631c is pressed in the addition setting screen 63 shown in FIG. If the setting for prohibiting overloading is set (step S110; YES), the process of step S111 is executed. If the setting for allowing overloading is set (step S109; NO), image formation based on the next original image page is performed. The process of step S105 is performed to do so.

  In step S <b> 111, the operation of each unit constituting the image forming system is temporarily stopped, and the time measuring unit 50 starts measuring the time T.

  When the process of step S111 is executed, a pause screen 71 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the operation display unit 180 and prompts the operator to press the OK button 711. If the time until the sheet discharge is automatically restarted is set in the time setting unit 632a shown in FIG. 4C, the remaining time 712 until the sheet discharge is restarted is displayed. The

  In step S112, it is determined whether or not an operation for resuming sheet discharge has been performed on the operation display unit 180, that is, whether or not the OK button 711 shown in FIG. 5 has been pressed. In this case, an OK button 711 displayed on the operation display unit 180 functions as an operation unit that performs a sheet discharge restart operation. If the OK button 711 has been pressed (step S112; YES), the process of step S105 is executed to resume image formation and perform image formation based on the next document image page, and if the OK button 711 has not been pressed (step) S112; NO) The process of step S113 is executed.

In step S113, it is determined whether or not the time T when the time measurement is started in step S111 is larger than the time T ₀ set by the time setting unit 632a shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the time for restarting has elapsed. If the time T is greater than T0 (Step S112; YES), the processing in step S105 so as to resume the image formation is executed, if the time T is T ₀ or less (step S113; NO), the process returns to step S112 The pause is continued until the OK button 711 is pressed on the pause screen 71 shown in FIG. 5 or the time for automatically restarting the sheet discharge has elapsed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sheet stacking unit by the discharge roller 353 that is a discharge unit each time image formation on the number of copies (C ₀ ) based on one original image is completed. Since the discharge of the sheet to the first discharge tray 310 is temporarily stopped, the operation of separating the sheet bundle by the first discharge tray 310 becomes unnecessary. For example, the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit is supplied as it is to the offline bookbinding apparatus. The work efficiency is improved.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, a mechanism for supplying a cover or shifting a sheet is not required, so that the present invention can be realized with a small and simple configuration.

  According to the present embodiment, when the sheet discharge restart operation is performed on the pause screen 71, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit is restarted. Sheet discharge is performed and work efficiency is improved.

In addition, when the predetermined time (T ₀ ) set by the time setting unit 632a has elapsed after the sheet discharge is temporarily stopped, the sheet discharge to the sheet stacking unit is resumed. Even if the operation is forgotten, the sheet discharge is not left without being resumed, and the work efficiency is improved.

An example of another operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing according to the second embodiment in the image forming system 1. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the number of copies (C ₀ ) based on an original image having an arbitrary set number (P ₀ ) set by the set number setting unit 631d shown in FIG. That is, every time when the image formation on the sheet is completed, the sheet is discharged to the first discharge tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320, or the discharge of the sheet is temporarily stopped. Similar to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the image forming system 1 is powered on.

  In step S <b> 201, as in step S <b> 101 of FIG. 3, settings related to image formation are performed by the operator using the operation display unit 180.

In the present embodiment, the first discharge tray selection unit 621a and the second discharge tray selection unit 621b are displayed in reverse on the discharge tray setting screen 62 shown in FIG. 310 and the second paper discharge tray 320 are set to discharge the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the set unit prohibition button 631c is pressed on the upper stack setting screen 63 shown in FIG. 4C, and the number of sets (P ₀ ) for which processing for avoiding the upper stack is performed by the set number setting unit 631d is two or more. It is assumed that it is set to.

  In step S202, an instruction to start image formation is issued.

In step S203, as in step S103 of FIG. 3, the document image is read and the total number of pages N ₀ of the document image is calculated.

  In step S204, a document image page counter N and a set number counter P of sheets stacked on one discharge tray are initialized.

  Prior to image formation on the first sheet, in steps S205 to S210, a search is made for a discharge tray on which sheets are not stacked, out of the first discharge tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320.

  In step S205, it is determined whether or not prohibition of addition is set in the setting of step S201, that is, whether or not the job unit prohibition button 631b or the set unit prohibition button 631c is pressed on the addition setting screen 63 shown in FIG. Is judged. When the prohibition of upper stacking is set (step S205; YES), the process of step S206 is executed. When the permission of upper stacking is set (step S205; NO), the process of step S211 is executed.

  In step S206, it is determined whether or not the first paper discharge tray 310 is empty, that is, whether or not the sheet presence / absence sensor 311 installed in the first paper discharge tray 310 has detected sheet stacking. When the first paper discharge tray 310 is empty (step S206; YES), the motor 340 serving as a switching unit operates to move the first paper discharge tray 310 to the height of the discharge roller 353, thereby discharging the sheet. When the destination is switched to the first paper discharge tray 310 (step S207) and sheets are already stacked on the first paper discharge tray 310 (step S206; NO), the process of step S208 is executed.

  In step S208, it is determined whether or not the second paper discharge tray 320 is empty, that is, whether or not the sheet presence / absence sensor 321 installed in the second paper discharge tray 320 has detected sheet stacking. If the second paper discharge tray 320 is empty (step S208; YES), the sheet discharge destination is switched to the second paper discharge tray 320 (step S209), and sheets are already stacked on the second paper discharge tray 310. If there is an error (step S208; NO), an error is displayed on the operation display unit 180 (for example, “please remove the paper in the paper discharge tray and retry the operation”) (step S210), and the process is terminated.

  In step S211, the document image page counter N and the set number counter P are incremented by one.

  In step S212, the original image information of the Nth page is read from the storage unit 20, and the copy counter C is initialized.

  In step S213, an image is formed on one sheet based on the document image information read in step S115, and the copy counter C is incremented by one.

At step S214, the whether or not the copy counter C is the number of copies C ₀ or more set in step S201 is determined. If the copy counter C is equal to or greater than C ₀ (step S214; YES), the process of step S215 is executed. If the copy counter C is less than C ₀ (step S214; NO), the process returns to step S213.

At step S215, the whether the document image page counter N is the total document image page number N ₀ or more, which is calculated in step S203 is determined. If the document image page counter N is greater than or equal to N ₀ (step S215; YES), the process is terminated. If the document image page counter N is less than N ₀ (step S215; NO), the process of step S216 is executed. The

In step S216, it is determined whether or not the set number counter P is greater than or equal to the set number P ₀ set by the set number setting unit 631d in FIG. When the set number counter P is equal to or greater than P ₀ (step S216; YES), the process of step S217 is executed. When the set number counter P is less than P ₀ (step S216; NO), the process returns to step S211. Then, image formation based on the next document image is executed.

Each time the preset number of sets (P ₀ ) of image formation is completed, the processing from step S217 to step S225 is executed in order to perform the discharge tray switching control.

  In step S217, it is determined whether or not prohibition of stacking is set in step S101. When the prohibition of upper stacking is set (step S217; YES), the process of step S218 is executed, and when the permission of upper stacking is set (step S217; NO), the process of step S225 is executed.

  In step S218, it is determined whether or not the first paper discharge tray 310 is empty. If the first paper discharge tray 310 is empty (step S218; YES), the sheet discharge destination is switched to the first paper discharge tray 310 (step S219), and sheets are already stacked on the first paper discharge tray 310. If it is present (step S218; NO), the process of step S220 is executed.

  In step S220, it is determined whether the second paper discharge tray 320 is empty. If the second paper discharge tray 320 is empty (step S220; YES), the sheet discharge destination is switched to the second paper discharge tray 320 (step S221), and sheets are already stacked on the second paper discharge tray 310. If so (step S220; NO), the process of step S222 is executed.

  In step S222, as in step S111 of FIG. 3, the operation of each unit constituting the image forming system is temporarily stopped, and the time measuring unit 50 starts measuring time T. The operation display unit 180 displays the pause screen 71 shown in FIG. 5 and prompts the operator to press the OK button 711. Further, the remaining time 712 until paper discharge is resumed is displayed.

  In step S223, it is determined whether or not an operation for resuming sheet discharge has been performed on the operation display unit 180. When the OK button 711 is pressed (step S223; YES), the process of step S225 is executed. When the OK button 711 is not pressed (step S223; NO), the process of step S224 is executed.

  In step S224, it is determined whether or not the time T when the time measurement is started in step S110 is greater than the time T0 set by the time setting unit 632a shown in FIG. When the time T is larger than T0 (step S224; YES), the process of step S225 is executed. When the time T is equal to or less than T0 (step S224; NO), the process returns to step S223, and the temporary time shown in FIG. The pause is continued until the OK button 711 is pressed on the stop screen 71 or the time for automatically restarting the sheet discharge elapses.

  In step S225, the set number counter P is initialized, and the process returns to step S211 to form an image based on the next document image.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, every time image formation on sheets for the number of copies (C ₀ ) based on the number of sets (P ₀ ) of original images set by the set number setting unit 631d is completed. Since the discharge of the sheet to the first discharge tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320 as the sheet stacking means by the discharge roller 353 as the discharge means is temporarily stopped, the first discharge tray 310 or the second discharge tray 320 is stopped. Thus, the work of separating the sheet bundle becomes unnecessary, and the work efficiency is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, every time image formation on the number of copies (C ₀ ) based on the original image of the set number (P ₀ ) set by the set number setting unit 631d is completed, the sheet Since the sheet discharge unit is controlled, only a bundle of sheets on which image formation based on a desired number of original images is placed is placed on the sheet stacking unit. The work to separate becomes unnecessary, and the work efficiency is improved.

  In particular, since the sheet discharge destination is controlled by the sheet presence / absence sensors 311 and 321 based on the detection result of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a sheet based on an original image of an undesired page is stored in one sheet stacking unit. There is no mixing, and the work of separating the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking means becomes unnecessary, and the work efficiency is improved.

  In this embodiment, the image forming system in which the post-processing device 300 is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body 100 is described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to a single image forming apparatus, The present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses using other image forming methods.

  In addition, an object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium recording a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the recording medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program and the recording medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like is used. it can.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is actual. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each component constituting the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming system which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually showing a functional configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing according to the first embodiment in the image forming system according to the present invention. It is an example of a setting screen displayed on the operation display unit of the image forming system. It is an example of the operation screen displayed on the operation display part of an image forming system. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of image forming processing according to a second embodiment in the image forming system according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Control part 20 Storage part 30 Communication part 40 Image processing part 50 Time measuring part 100 Image forming apparatus main body 110 Document reading part 120 Image writing part 130 Toner image forming part 140 Fixing part 150 Reversing part 160 Refeeding part 170 Paper feed unit 180 Operation display unit 200 Automatic document feeder 300 Post processing device 310 First paper discharge tray 320 Second paper discharge tray 311, 321 Paper presence / absence sensor 340 Motor 400 Large capacity paper feed tray

Claims (9)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharge unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, and a sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, and a predetermined number of sheets for each document image In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on
When the group mode is executed, there is provided control means for temporarily stopping the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharge means every time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of document image is completed. An image forming apparatus. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharge unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, and a sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, and a predetermined number of sheets for each document image In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on
A page number setting means for setting the number of pages of the original image for temporarily stopping the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharge means;
When the group mode is executed, every time when the image formation on the predetermined number of sheets based on the original image of the number of pages set by the page number setting unit is completed, the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking unit by the discharge unit is temporarily performed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that stops the image forming apparatus. Having an operation means for restarting the sheet discharge;
3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the operation unit restarts a sheet discharge operation, the control unit restarts the discharge of the sheet onto the sheet stacking unit by the discharge unit. Image forming apparatus. A time setting means for setting a time until the discharge of the sheet is resumed after the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking means is temporarily stopped;
Timing means for measuring an elapsed time after temporary stopping of discharging of the sheet onto the sheet stacking means by the discharging means,
The control means restarts the discharge of the sheet to the sheet stacking means by the discharge means when the time counted by the time measuring means has passed the time set by the time setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharging unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, a first sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, and a first unit that stacks the discharged sheet 2 sheet stacking means and a switching means for switching the discharge destination of the sheets discharged from the discharge means to the first sheet stacking means or the second sheet stacking means, and a predetermined number of sheets for each document image In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a sheet,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a sheet discharge destination by the switching unit each time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on one page of document image is completed when the group mode is executed. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on a document image, a discharging unit that discharges the image-formed sheet, a first sheet stacking unit that stacks the discharged sheet, and a first unit that stacks the discharged sheet 2 sheet stacking means and a switching means for switching the discharge destination of the sheets discharged from the discharge means to the first sheet stacking means or the second sheet stacking means, and a predetermined number of sheets for each document image In an image forming apparatus capable of executing a group mode for forming an image on a sheet,
A page number setting means for setting the number of pages of a document image for executing switching of the sheet discharge destination by the switching means;
Control means for controlling the sheet discharge destination by the switching means each time image formation on a predetermined number of sheets based on the number of pages of the original image set by the page number setting means is completed when the group mode is executed; An image forming apparatus comprising: First sheet detecting means for detecting sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking means;
Second sheet detecting means for detecting the sheets stacked on the second sheet stacking means,
7. The control unit according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls a sheet discharge destination by the switching unit based on detection results of the first sheet detection unit and the second sheet detection unit. Image forming apparatus. When the first sheet detecting unit detects a sheet and the second sheet detecting unit detects a sheet, the control unit controls the sheet on the first and second sheet stacking units by the discharging unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the discharge of the ink is temporarily stopped. Having an operation means for restarting the sheet discharge;
The control means restarts the discharge of the sheet to the first and second sheet stacking means by the discharge means when the operation of restarting the sheet discharge is performed by the operation means. The image forming apparatus according to 8.

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