JP2011168394A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem with a conventional image forming apparatus, wherein the apparatus can not collect and recycle a used clear file and the workability for recycling is also negative. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a manual insertion tray 60 for feeding a sheet 62; a clear file tray 100 for feeding a clear file 112; a sheet determination sensor 71 for determining whether the sheet-like member 62 fed from the manual insertion tray 60 is a sheet 12 for recording an image or the clear file 112; a conveying belt 21 for conveying the fed clear file 112 to the clear file tray 100; and a method of controlling the conveying belt 21 to rotate in a reverse direction and to convey the fed clear file 112 to the clear file tray 100 when the sheet-like member 62 which is determined based on a detection result of the sheet determination sensor 71 is the clear file 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that can use a clear file.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, a plotter, or a complex machine of these, for example, an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head for discharging ink droplets or an image for forming an image by an electrophotographic method Forming devices are known.

  In the present application, the “image forming apparatus” refers to the image formation by applying an image forming material such as ink or toner to a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, or ceramic. This means an apparatus that performs the process, and “image formation” not only applies an image having a meaning such as a character or a figure to the medium but also an image having no meaning such as a pattern to the medium. (For example, simply landing a droplet on a medium) is also meant. In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar one, but includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image, and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

  By the way, when stapling or bookbinding saddle stitching is performed on the output product output by the image forming apparatus, the output product is directly stapled or glued. Can not. Therefore, by folding the paper in half and stapling one adjacent side, a clear file shape that can wrap the output bundle from the outside (simply called a clear file) is created, and the output paper is directly printed by stapling or gluing. There is known a technique in which output sheets are bundled as a bundle so that the output bundle can be easily handled without damage (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-290602 A

  However, a conventional image forming apparatus that outputs a clear file has a problem that the used clear file cannot be collected and reused.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to reuse a clear file.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A manual feed tray for feeding sheet-like members;
A clear file tray for feeding clear files,
Discriminating means for discriminating whether the sheet-like member fed from the manual feed tray is a recording medium for recording an image or the clear file;
Transport means for transporting the fed clear file toward the clear file tray;
And a control unit that controls the transport unit to transport the fed clear file to the clear file tray when the determination result of the determination unit is the clear file. .

  Here, a plurality of the clear file trays are provided, and the clear file tray to which the clear file fed from the manual feed tray is conveyed can be selected according to the number of times of feeding from the clear file tray. .

  Further, when the clear file is fed from a plurality of the clear file trays, the clear file tray can be configured to feed the clear file with a small number of paper feeds.

  In addition, a plurality of detection units may be provided corresponding to the orientation of the clear file fed from the manual feed tray.

  Further, the clear file can be fed every predetermined number of sheets by counting the number of used recording media.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the sheet-like member fed from the manual feed tray is a clear file, the clear file is conveyed to the clear file tray that feeds the clear file. By setting it on the bypass tray, it can be reused, and workability when reusing a clear file is improved.

1 is an explanatory side view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Similarly it is principal part plane explanatory drawing. It is block explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the control part of the apparatus. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of stock control of the clear file by the manual paper feed of the same apparatus. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the control which inserts an output bundle into a clear file. It is side explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the example of the mark formed on the clear file with which it uses for description of distribution of the clear file in the embodiment. It is a flowchart with which it uses similarly for description of distribution control. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of clear file output control similarly. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the example of arrangement | positioning of the paper discrimination | determination sensor in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the other example of arrangement | positioning of the paper discrimination | determination sensor in 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of the count of the sheet output number in the clear file output control in 5th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the same control.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention including a belt conveyance device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the apparatus.

  In this image forming apparatus, a carriage 3 is slidably held in a main scanning direction by a guide rod 1 which is a guide member horizontally mounted on left and right side plates (not shown) and a guide stay (not shown), and a main scanning motor which is a drive motor. 4, the moving scanning is performed in the main scanning direction via the timing belt 5 spanned between the driving pulley 5 and the driven pulley 6.

  The carriage 3 is provided with recording heads 4a and 4b composed of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) (when not distinguished). The “recording head 4” is arranged in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the ink droplet ejection direction is directed downward.

  The recording head 4 has two nozzle rows 4n1 and 4n2, respectively. One nozzle row 4n1 of the recording head 4a receives black (K) droplets, and the other nozzle row 4n2 receives cyan (C) droplets. The one nozzle row 4n1 of the recording head 4b discharges magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row 4n2 discharges yellow (Y) droplets.

  The liquid discharge head constituting the recording head 4 includes a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator that uses a phase change caused by liquid film boiling using an electrothermal transducer such as a heating resistor, and a metal phase change caused by a temperature change. A shape memory alloy actuator using an electrostatic force, an electrostatic actuator using an electrostatic force, and the like provided as pressure generating means for generating a pressure for discharging a droplet can be used.

  In addition, the carriage 3 is equipped with a head tank 9 for each color for supplying liquid of each color to the recording head 8. The head tank 9 is replenished and supplied with liquid from a main tank (liquid cartridge) via a supply tube (not shown).

  On the other hand, the sheet stacking unit 11 is a sheet-like member that records images stacked on the sheet stacking unit (pressure plate) 11 of the sheet feeding tray 10 and feeds the sheet 12 that is a recording medium. The paper 12 is separated and fed one by one with a half-moon roller (paper feed roller) 13 and a paper feed roller 13, and a separation pad 14 made of a material having a large friction coefficient is provided. Is biased to the side.

  A guide member (not shown) for guiding the paper 12, a registration roller 16, a transport guide member 17, and the like to feed the paper 12 fed from the paper feed unit to the lower side of the recording head 8 and transport it. And a sheet holding member 20 having sheet pressing rollers 18 and 19, and a conveyance belt 21 constituting a belt conveyance unit for electrostatically attracting the conveyed sheet 12 and conveying the sheet 12 at a position facing the recording head 4. It has.

  The transport belt 21 is an endless belt, and is configured to wrap around a transport roller 22 serving as a driving roller and a tension roller 23 serving as a driven roller, and circulate in the belt transport direction (sub-scanning direction). is doing.

  A charging roller 26 is provided as charging means for charging the surface of the conveyor belt 21. The charging roller 26 is disposed so as to come into contact with the surface of the conveyor belt 21 and rotate following the rotation of the conveyor belt 21, and applies a predetermined pressing force to both ends of the shaft as a pressing force. The transport belt 21 rotates in the sub-scanning direction when the transport roller 22 is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor 31 via the drive belt 32 and the pulley 33.

  Further, on the downstream side of the image forming area by the recording head 4, a presser roller 41 that is a pressing means such as a spur is disposed facing the tension roller 23, the paper 12 is separated from the transport belt 21, and the transport path A switching claw 44 for switching the sheet 12, a guide member 42 for guiding the paper 12, and a paper discharge stack tray 43 for stacking the paper 12 guided and discharged by the guide member 42 are provided.

  Further, below the transport belt 21, a plurality of sheets of paper 12 guided and fed by the guide member 42 via the switching claw 44 are bundled (a plurality of sheets 12 in a bundle is referred to as an “output bundle”). ) Is disposed in a clear file 112 fed from a clear file tray 100 described later.

  The post-processing device 80 includes a conveying belt 81 wound around a driving roller 82 and a driven roller 83, a stacker 84 for stacking sheets 12, a roller 84 for feeding out an output bundle accommodated in the stacker 84, and a vertical movement. A partition plate 86 that can be arranged and a fill opening plate 87 that opens the clear file 112 on the conveyor belt 81 are provided. Then, in order to discharge the clear file 112 containing the output bundle from the post-processing device 80, a guide member 88 that also serves as a separation member that separates and discharges from the conveying belt 81, and a discharge tray that stacks the discharged output bundle 89 is arranged.

  A duplex unit 50 is mounted on the back side of the apparatus main body. The duplex unit 50 includes sheet reversing rollers 51 and 52. When the conveyance belt 21 reverses after printing on one side is completed, the sheet 12 on which printing on one side is completed is sent to the duplex unit 50, and the reversing rollers 51, 52 The sheet 12 is reversed by 52 so that the other side becomes the printing side, and is fed between the registration roller 16 and the conveying belt 21.

  A multi-manual feed tray 60 is connected above the duplex unit 50. The multi manual feed tray 60 includes a paper feed roller 63 that feeds sheet-like members (paper 12 or clear file 112) stacked on the multi manual feed 61 one by one, and a motor for driving the paper feed roller 63 to rotate ( A driving source) 65, a driving force transmission mechanism 66 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 65 to the sheet feeding roller 63, and a side fence (not shown) for regulating the side of the sheet-like member 52 on the multi-manual feed tray 61. ing. The sheet-like member 62 fed from the multi manual feed tray 60 by the paper feed roller 63 is fed between the pressing roller 18 and the transport belt 21.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet discrimination sensor for discriminating whether the sheet-like member 62 fed from the multi-manual feed tray 60 in the transport path between the press roller 18 and the recording head 4 is the sheet 12 or the clear file 112. 71 is provided on the paper discharge side, and a paper sensor 72 for detecting the paper 12 fed to the processing device 80 is provided on the guide member 42.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 81 including a recovery means for maintaining and recovering the nozzle state of the recording head 4 is arranged in the non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 3. Yes. Further, in the non-printing area on the other side of the carriage 3 in the scanning direction, there is an empty space for receiving a liquid droplet when performing an empty discharge for discharging a liquid droplet that does not contribute to recording in order to discharge the recording liquid thickened during recording or the like. A discharge receiver 82 is disposed.

  A clear file tray 100 that feeds the clear file 112 is disposed below the paper feed tray 10. As a paper feeding unit for feeding the clear file 112 stacked on the file stacking unit 111 of the clear file tray 100, a half-moon roller (paper feeding roller) 113 and a paper feeding roller for separating and feeding the clear file 112 one by one. A separation pad 114 made of a material having a large friction coefficient is provided opposite to 113, and this separation pad 114 is urged toward the paper feed roller 113 side.

  When the clear file 112 is inserted into the bundle of sheets 12 (output bundle) printed by feeding the clear file 112 from the clear file tray 100, the conveying belt 21 is moved in the same direction as when the image is formed. When the clear file 112 that has been fed is transported toward the processing device 80 and the clear file 112 fed from the manual feed tray 60 is stacked on the clear file tray 100, the transport belt 21 is in the opposite direction to that during image formation. And is sent to the clear file tray 100. That is, the conveyance belt 21 also serves as the conveyance means in the present invention.

  Further, since the clear file 112 fed from the manual feed tray 60 is stocked in the clear file tray 110, when the transport belt 21 is moved in a direction opposite to that at the time of image formation, the clear file is moved to the duplex unit 50 side. A guide member (not shown) for blocking the conveyance and guiding it to the paper feed path side, and a guide member (not shown) for blocking the conveyance of the clear file to the paper feed unit 10 side and guiding it to the clear file tray 100 side are provided. Each of these guide members is disposed so as to be swingable and is switched by the actuator means to switch the path.

Next, an outline of the control unit of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an overall block diagram of the control unit.
The control unit 500 includes a CPU 501 that also serves as a control unit that controls the entire apparatus, a ROM 502 that stores programs executed by the CPU 501 and other fixed data, a RAM 503 that temporarily stores image data, and the like. A rewritable non-volatile memory 504 for holding data even while shut off, image processing for performing various signal processing and rearrangement on image data, and other input / output signals for controlling the entire apparatus are processed. ASIC 505.

  In addition, a print control unit 508 for driving and controlling the recording head 4 according to print data, a head driver (driver IC) 509 for driving the recording head 10 provided on the carriage 3 side, and moving and scanning the carriage 3. The main scanning motor 4 that rotates, the sub-scanning motor 31 that rotationally drives the conveyance belt 21, the motor driving unit 510 that drives the manual feeding motor 65 that feeds paper from the multi manual feed tray 60, and the above-described guide member that is not shown in the figure. A drive unit for driving the actuator means to be performed, an AC bias supply unit 512 for applying an AC bias to the charging roller 26, a post-processing control unit 520 for driving and controlling the post-processing device 80, and the like.

  The control unit 500 is connected to an operation panel 514 for inputting and displaying information necessary for the apparatus.

  The control unit 500 has an I / F 506 for transmitting and receiving data and signals to and from the host side, an information processing device such as a personal computer, an image reading device such as an image scanner, an imaging device such as a digital camera, and the like. From the host 600 side via the cable or network via the I / F 506.

  The CPU 501 of the control unit 500 reads and analyzes the print data in the reception buffer included in the I / F 506, performs necessary image processing, data rearrangement processing, and the like in the ASIC 505, and prints the image data. The data is transferred from the unit 508 to the head driver 509. Note that generation of dot pattern data for image output is performed by the printer driver 601 on the host 600 side.

  The print control unit 508 transfers the print data described above as serial data, and outputs a transfer clock, a latch signal, a control signal, and the like necessary for transfer of the print data and confirmation of the transfer to the head driver 509. The head driver 509 drives the heating element 14 based on print data corresponding to one line of the recording head 10 input serially.

  The I / O unit 515 acquires information from various sensor groups 516 mounted on the apparatus, extracts information necessary for controlling the printer, and uses it to control the print control unit 508 and the motor drive unit 510. . The sensor group 515 includes the paper discrimination sensor 71 and the paper sensor 72 described above, a thermistor for monitoring the temperature in the machine, a sensor for monitoring the voltage of the charging belt, an interlock switch for detecting opening and closing of the cover, and the like. The I / O unit 515 can process various sensor information. A detection signal from a temperature / humidity sensor that detects environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) is also input.

Next, the sheet feeding operation from the manual feed tray in the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user sets the sheet-like member 62 on the manual feed tray 60 and starts manual feeding, the sheet-like member 62 is fed. Therefore, based on the detection result of the paper discrimination sensor 71, it is discriminated whether the fed sheet-like member 62 is the paper 12 or the clear file 112.

  For this discrimination, for example, the paper discrimination sensor 71 is constituted by a reflection type photosensor, and the clear fill 112 is marked with a mark indicating a clear file (usage count mark described in an embodiment to be described later). If the optical reflection density of the discrimination sensor 71 is greater than or equal to a threshold value, it is determined that the file is a clear file (because there is a mark) 112, and if it is less than the threshold value, it is determined that the sheet is paper 12 (because there is no mark).

  At this time, when the fed sheet-like member 62 is the paper 12, normal printing is performed as it is and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge stack tray 43 or sent to the post-processing device 80.

  On the other hand, when the fed sheet-like member 62 is the clear file 112, printing is not performed, and the transport belt 21 is moved in the forward direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) until the rear end portion of the clear file 112 is placed on the transport belt 21. ), The conveyance belt 21 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the fed clear file 112 is conveyed to the clear file tray 100. At this time, the clear file 112 is transported to the clear file tray 100 by a guide member (not shown).

  As a result, the clear file 112 can be stacked on the clear file tray 100 only by setting the clear file 112 on the manual feed tray 60. When the clear file 112 is reused, the clear file tray 100 is taken out one by one. There is no need to set again.

  In this way, when the paper fed from the feed tray is a clear file, the clear file is transported to the clear file tray that feeds the clear file. Setting work becomes unnecessary, and workability when reusing a clear file is improved.

Next, a method of inserting the output bundle into the clear file by the post-processing device 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A is an explanatory front view for explaining the same, FIG. 5B is an explanatory plan view thereof, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory side view of a state where the clear file is also opened.
When the paper 12 is set on the stack 84, the vertically movable partition plate 86 rises. At the same time, the clear file 112 is conveyed from the clear file tray 100. When the clear file 112 reaches the partition plate 85, the partition plate 85 descends. Then, two file opening plates 86 made of a thin plate for opening are inserted in the gap between the clear files 112, and each of them is applied with force to open and close the clear file 112. Set using the roller 85 provided in the above. Then, when the output bundle is set in the clear file 112, the sheet is discharged to the clear file discharge tray 89 by the conveyor belt 81.

  In order to make it easier to open the mouth of the clear file 112, a roller (a surface whose surface is covered with rubber or the like is preferable) is provided on the clear file 112, and the roller is brought into close contact with the clear file 112 and rotated. By doing so, the file opening plate 86 may be inserted after the upper side of the clear file 112 is turned.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.
In this embodiment, a plurality of clear file trays 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D are provided (in this example, there are four stages, but two or more stages may be used). Then, the clear file trays 100A to 100D on which the clear file 112 fed from the manual feed tray 60 is stacked are selected (the tray destination to be set is distributed) according to the number of times the clear file 112 is used.

  As a result, consumption of the clear file can be distributed, and the same clear file can be prevented from being used continuously.

Therefore, distribution according to the number of times the clear file is used will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of marks formed on a clear file for explaining clear file allocation, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the sorting control.
Here, as described above, the four-stage clear file trays 100A to 100D are provided, and the clear file 112 is divided into areas 1 to 4 as shown in FIG. An example will be described in which a clear file tray as a sorting destination is selected.

  That is, first, as shown in FIG. 7, when the clear file 112 is used (output), the recording head 3 is driven and controlled to print one predetermined mark 201 at a predetermined position. Note that the shape and number of the marks 201 are not limited thereto. In this case, one mark 201 is printed along each conveying direction of the clear file 112 at each use.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the used clear file 112 is fed from the manual feed tray 60, the mark 201 is read by the paper discrimination sensor 71 and the mark 201 of the number of times of use is detected.

  At this time, if the mark 201 is not detected in the area 1, it is determined that the manually inserted sheet-like member 62 is not the clear file 112 but the paper 12, and normal printing is performed.

  On the other hand, when there is a mark 201 in the area 1 of the fed sheet-like member 62, since the sheet-like member 62 is the clear file 112, it is determined whether or not there is the mark 201 in the area 2. If there is no mark 201 in 2, the manually fed clear file 112 is conveyed and set in the clear file tray 100A (referred to as tray 1).

  Also, if there is a mark 201 in area 2, it is determined whether or not there is a mark 201 in area 3. If there is no mark 201 in area 3, that is, there is a mark 201 in area 1 and area 2, and a mark in area 3. When there is no 201, the manually fed clear file 112 is conveyed and set in the clear file tray 100B (referred to as tray 2).

  If there is a mark 201 in area 3, it is determined whether or not there is a mark 201 in area 4. If there is no mark 201 in area 4, that is, there is a mark 201 in area 1, area 2, and area 3, When there is no mark 201 in the area 4, the manually fed clear file 112 is conveyed and set in the clear file tray 100C (referred to as tray 3).

  When any of the area 201, the area 2, the area 3, and the area 4 has the mark 201, the manually fed clear file 112 is conveyed and set in the clear file tray 100D (referred to as tray 4).

  The mark 201 to be read may be the first mark in each area.

  In this way, the clear file 112 can be stocked according to the number of times of use by selecting the clear file tray as the stock destination according to the number of times of use of the clear file 112 that is manually fed.

Next, a clear file output process when the multi-stage clear file tray is provided will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Here, after printing is started, it is determined whether or not the clear file 112 is set in the clear file trays 100A to 100D in order from the smallest number of times of use, and the clear file 112 with the least number of times of use is output.

  That is, first, it is determined whether or not the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100A (tray 1). When the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100A (tray 1), the clear file tray 100A (tray 1) starts. The clear file 112 is fed, the mark 201 indicating the number of times of use is printed, post-processing is performed as described above, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 89.

  When the clear file 112 does not exist in the clear file tray 100A (tray 1), it is determined whether or not the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100B (tray 2), and the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100B (tray 2). In some cases, the clear file 112 is fed from the clear file tray 100B (tray 2), the mark 201 indicating the number of times of use is printed, post-processing is performed as described above, and the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 89.

  When the clear file 112 does not exist in the clear file tray 100B (tray 2), it is determined whether or not the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100C (tray 3), and the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100C (tray 3). In some cases, the clear file 112 is fed from the clear file tray 100 </ b> C (tray 3), the mark 201 indicating the number of times of use is printed, post-processing is performed as described above, and the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 89.

  When the clear file 112 does not exist in the clear file tray 100C (tray 3), it is determined whether or not the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100D (tray 4), and the clear file 112 exists in the clear file tray 100D (tray 4). In some cases, the clear file 112 is fed from the clear file tray 100D (tray 4), the mark 201 indicating the number of uses is printed, post-processing is performed as described above, and the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 89.

  When there is no clear file 112 in the clear file tray 100D (tray 4), a display requesting the setting of the clear file 112 is performed on the operation panel 514.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the clear file from being used unevenly.

Next, the arrangement of the sheet discrimination sensor in the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG.
Here, the sheet discrimination sensors 71A and 71B are arranged above and below (with respect to the front and back surfaces of the sheet-like member) across the conveyance path (manual feed path) 91 of the sheet-like member 62 fed from the manual feed tray 60. ing. As a result, the mark 201 for the number of times of use can be read regardless of whether the surface on which the display of the mark 201 indicating the number of times of use described above is printed is set up or down, and the work burden on the user can be reduced.

Next, the arrangement of the sheet discrimination sensor in the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG.
Here, the sheet discrimination sensors 71A and 71B are arranged on the left and right (both ends in the width direction) across the conveyance path of the sheet-like member 62 fed from the manual feed tray 60. As a result, the usage number mark 201 can be read regardless of whether the surface on which the display of the mark 201 indicating the usage number is printed is set to the left or right, and the work burden on the user can be reduced.
Leads to.

Next, clear file output control in the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, referring to FIG. 12, the paper sensor 72 is configured by, for example, a reflection type photosensor, and is located near the conveyance switching portion (on the clear file discharge tray 89 side) between the normal discharge tray 43 and the clear file discharge tray 89. Has been placed. Then, the moment when the optical reflection density of the paper sensor 72 exceeds a certain threshold is used as a trigger, and the number of times the trigger is applied is counted, thereby detecting and counting the number of discharged paper 12.

  Referring to FIG. 13, after printing is started, the number of sheets 12 discharged by sheet sensor 72 is counted as described above, and each time a predetermined number (a part of output bundles inserted into one clear file) is counted. Further, the same processing as described in FIG. 9 is performed to determine whether or not the clear file 112 is set in the clear file trays 100A to 100D in ascending order of use, and the clear file 112 is set. Then, the clear file 112 is conveyed from the tray, and at this time, the mark 201 indicating the number of times of use is printed on the clear file 112 to be used as described above and discharged to the discharge tray 89.

  Thereby, it is possible to insert (pinch) into the clear file 112 as a partial output bundle for every predetermined number of printed sheets.

  Note that the control related to various operations in the above-described embodiment is performed by a computer by a program stored in a ROM or the like. This program can be provided by being stored in a storage medium, or provided by downloading through a network such as the Internet. The image forming system can also be configured by combining the image forming apparatus described in the above embodiment and the host side (information processing apparatus).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Carriage 4 Recording head 10 Paper feed tray 12 Paper 21 Conveying belt 60 Manual feed tray 100, 100A-100D Clear file tray 112 Clear file 500 Control part

Claims (5)

A manual feed tray for feeding sheet-like members;
A clear file tray for feeding clear files,
Discriminating means for discriminating whether the sheet-like member fed from the manual feed tray is a recording medium for recording an image or the clear file;
Transport means for transporting the fed clear file toward the clear file tray;
And a control unit that controls the transporting unit to transport the fed clear file to the clear file tray when the determination result of the determining unit is the clear file. An image forming apparatus.   A plurality of the clear file trays are provided, and the clear file tray to which the clear file fed from the manual feed tray is transported is selected according to the number of times of feeding from the clear file tray. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the clear file is fed from a plurality of the clear file trays, the clear file tray is fed with a small number of times of feeding.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detection units corresponding to the orientation of the clear file fed from the manual feed tray.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of used recording media is counted and the clear file is fed every predetermined number.

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