JP2012083587A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily taking out a sheet from a first discharge part even if the sheet after an image forming process is discharged to the first discharge part, with an operation panel located at a closed position for closing at least a part of an opening surface of the first discharge part.SOLUTION: When receiving a start command of a copy (S11: YES) in a state where an operation device is located at the closed position (S12; YES) and the discharge destination of the sheet is set to an in-body discharge part (S13: YES), a control unit displays a displacement reception screen on a touch panel of an operation device (S14). When a user selects an automatic rotation of the operation device on the displacement reception screen (S15; YES), the control unit actuates a motor to displace the operation device to an open position (S16). The control unit discharges the sheet after the image forming process to the in-body discharge part (S17).

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an operation panel having an in-body discharge tray and a tilt mechanism.

  Some image forming apparatuses include an image reading unit at the top, an image forming unit and a paper feeding unit at the bottom, and an in-body discharge unit between the top and the bottom. Some image forming apparatuses further include an operation panel on which an operation element is arranged, and an angle of the operation panel can be changed using a tilt mechanism (see Patent Document 1).

  The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a switch that can be operated in the vertical direction, and changes the angle of the operation panel according to the amount of pressing of the switch. When the switch is pressed upward, the image forming apparatus rotates the operation panel upward until the surface of the operation panel faces upward. When the switch is pressed downward, the surface of the operation panel is The operation panel is rotated downward until it faces outward.

  The image forming apparatus is used by healthy persons with the operation panel surface facing upward, and is used by short persons, such as children and wheelchair users, with the operation panel surface facing outward. Used.

JP 2007-81248 A

  In the image forming apparatus, at least a part of one side surface of the in-cylinder discharge portion is blocked by the operation panel in a state where the surface of the operation panel faces the outward direction of the side surface. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus, if the paper after the image forming process is discharged to the in-body discharge portion with the operation panel surface facing outward, the operation panel becomes an obstacle, and the paper is taken out. Hinder.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that does not hinder the removal of discharged paper even when image formation is performed on the paper in a state where the surface of the operation panel faces outward. To do.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first discharge unit, a second discharge unit, an operation panel, and a control unit. The first discharge unit has an open surface on at least one side surface, and the sheet after the image forming process is discharged. The second discharge unit is a different discharge destination from the first discharge unit, and the sheet is discharged. The operation panel is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be displaceable within a predetermined range including a closed position for closing at least a part of the open surface and an open position for opening the open surface. The control means has setting means for setting the paper discharge destination to the first discharge portion or the second discharge portion, in a state where the paper discharge destination is set to the first discharge portion and the operation panel is located at the closed position. When the paper is discharged, a control process for discharging the paper after the image forming process to the second discharge unit is performed.

  In this configuration, the first discharge portion is, for example, an in-body discharge portion, and an open surface is formed on at least one side surface. The second discharge unit is, for example, an external discharge tray or a discharge tray included in the post-processing device. The paper after the image forming process is set to either the first discharge unit or the second discharge unit. The operation panel is attached to the apparatus main body, and is displaceable between a closed position that closes at least a part of the open surface of the first discharge portion and an open position that opens the open surface of the first discharge portion. . The control means performs a control process for discharging the sheet to the second discharge unit when the sheet is discharged in a state where the sheet discharge destination is set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel is located at the closed position.

  It is preferable to further include a displacement means for displacing the operation panel from at least the closed position to the open position. In this case, the control process is a process of discharging the sheet after the image forming process to the second discharge unit or displacing the operation panel to the open position.

  In this configuration, the control unit determines whether to discharge the sheet to the second discharge unit when the sheet is discharged in a state where the discharge destination of the sheet is set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel is in the closed position. Then, a control process for discharging the sheet to the first discharge unit by displacing the operation panel to the open position is performed.

  Thus, the image forming apparatus can discharge the sheet to the second discharge unit or open the operation panel even when the sheet discharge destination is set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel is in the closed position. By displacing the sheet to the position and discharging the sheet to the first discharge unit, the sheet after the image forming process can be easily taken out.

  It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a receiving unit that receives image data from an external device, and the operation panel includes a receiving unit that receives an instruction to start image forming processing. In this case, the control means receives the image data in the state where the paper discharge destination is set to the first discharge portion and the operation panel is located at the closed position, or the reception means instructs the start of the image forming process. If received, control processing is performed.

  In this configuration, the control means receives image data from an external device such as a personal computer or a fax machine or copies the paper with the paper discharge destination set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel positioned at the closed position. When a start instruction for image forming processing including a print start instruction for image data and a printing process for stored data is received, control processing is performed.

  Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can discharge the sheet to the second discharge unit or displace the operation panel to the open position before discharging the sheet. When the operation panel is displaced to the open position, the paper is taken out after the operation panel is displaced to the open position.

  The operation panel has a receiving unit that receives an instruction to start image forming processing and an instruction information selection operation that indicates whether to change the paper discharge destination or whether to displace the operation panel. Is preferred. In this case, the accepting unit is configured to wait until the paper is ejected after accepting the image forming process start instruction in a state where the paper ejection destination is set to the first ejection unit and the operation panel is located at the closed position. The instruction information selection operation is accepted. The control means controls whether to perform control processing based on the instruction information.

  In this configuration, the operation panel, for example, determines whether or not to change the paper discharge destination to the second discharge unit and the instruction to start the image forming process including the copy start instruction and the printing process of the stored data. And a selection operation of instruction information indicating whether or not to displace the panel to the open position. The operation panel first receives a copy start instruction. The operation panel accepts an instruction information selection operation when the paper discharge destination is set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel is in the closed position. Based on the instruction information, the control unit determines whether or not to discharge the sheet to the second discharge unit, or whether to displace the operation panel to the open position and discharge the sheet to the first discharge unit.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus continuously performs copying by positioning the operation panel at a desired tilt position, and discharges the paper after the image forming process to the second discharge unit before taking out the paper from the first discharge unit. Alternatively, the operation panel can be displaced to the open position, and convenience can be improved. In addition, the image forming apparatus can discharge to a different second discharge unit for each copy, and convenience can be improved.

  It is preferable that the configuration further includes a paper feeding unit, an image reading unit, and an image forming unit. The paper feeding unit is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body and stores paper before image forming processing. The image reading unit is arranged on the upper part of the apparatus main body and reads an image of a document. The image forming unit is disposed above the paper feeding unit, and performs image forming processing on a sheet before image forming processing. The first discharge unit is disposed in a space formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit.

  In this configuration, the first discharge unit is disposed in the interior of the apparatus main body and in the space between the image reading unit and the image forming apparatus.

  Thereby, since a 1st discharge part is a trunk | drum discharge part, an apparatus main body can be reduced in size.

  The operation panel is preferably configured to be attached to the open surface side and the front end side of the paper in the paper discharge direction.

  In this configuration, the operation panel is attached to a position away from the paper discharge location, that is, a position that does not interfere with the visual recognition of the paper discharge location.

  Thereby, the image forming apparatus can easily recognize whether or not the sheet is discharged to the first discharge unit.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the paper discharge destination after the image forming process is set to the first discharge portion, and the operation panel is located at the closed position where at least a part of the open surface of the first discharge portion is closed. By discharging the paper after the image forming process to the second discharge unit, the paper after the image forming process can be easily taken out.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of an external appearance of an image forming apparatus in a state where an operating device is located at an open position. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the image forming apparatus in a state where the operation device is located at a desired tilt position. It is a figure which shows the simple mechanism of an operating device. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus having an external paper discharge tray. It is an example of the display part of an operating device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the control part at the time of copy operation. It is a figure which shows an example of a displacement reception screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the control part of PC at the time of print operation. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the control part at the time of print operation. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of a control unit during a copy operation according to Embodiment 2. It is a figure which shows an example of a designation | designated reception screen. It is a figure which shows the other example of the open position and closed position of an operating device.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated based on drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 110 and an automatic document processing apparatus 120. The apparatus main body 110 includes an image reading unit 20, an image forming unit 30, and a paper feeding unit 40, and has a so-called in-body paper discharge shape.

  The image reading unit 20 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 110 and includes a scanner unit 90 and a document placing table 92, and an automatic document processing apparatus 120 is attached to the upper part. The document placing table 92 is made of a hard plate glass and is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 110. The automatic document processing device 120 automatically conveys the document on the document placing table 92. The document feeder 120 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of arrow M, and the document can be placed manually by opening the document table 92. The scanner unit 90 reads an image of a document placed on the upper surface of the document placement table 92 and an image of a document conveyed by the automatic document processing device 120.

  The paper feed unit 40 is disposed below the apparatus main body 110 and includes a paper feed cassette 81 and a paper feed cassette 82. The paper feed cassette 81 is a tray for storing sheets used for image formation, and is provided below the exposure unit 1 of the apparatus main body 110. In addition, paper used for image formation can be placed in the manual paper feed cassette 82.

  The image forming unit 30 includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, a photosensitive drum 3, a cleaner unit 4, a charger 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, and a fixing unit 7.

  The image forming unit 30 is disposed below the image reading unit 20 and above the sheet feeding unit 40. The image forming unit 30 handles image data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Accordingly, four developing devices 2, photosensitive drums 3, cleaner units 4, and chargers 5 are provided so as to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors. Black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are respectively provided. Is set.

  The charger 5 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential.

  The exposure unit 1 exposes the charged photosensitive drum 3 according to image data, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image according to the image data on the surface thereof. The developing device 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 3 with toners of four colors (YMCK) and converts them into toner images. The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61, a driving roller 62, a driven roller 63, an intermediate transfer roller 64, and a cleaning unit 65. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to each color for YMCK. The driving roller 62, the driven roller 63, and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate by stretching the intermediate transfer belt 61. Each intermediate transfer roller 64 sequentially superimposes and transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 to form a color toner image (multicolor toner image) on the intermediate transfer belt 61. . This multicolor toner image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer roller 10 disposed at the contact position between the sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 61. The fixing unit 7 heats and pressurizes the sheet on which the multicolor toner image is transferred, and fixes the multicolor toner image on the sheet.

  In addition, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61 is removed and collected by the cleaning unit 65 because it causes toner color mixing in the next process.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B, the sheet after the image forming process is discharged to an in-body discharge portion (corresponding to the first discharge portion of the present invention) 50. In FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the automatic document processing device 120 and the external paper discharge tray (corresponding to the second discharge portion of the present invention) 70 are omitted. . In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the automatic document processor 120 and the external paper discharge tray 70 are not shown.

  The in-body discharge unit 50 is a space formed between the image reading unit 20 and the image forming unit 30, and is disposed near and above the fixing unit 7. The in-body discharge part 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a front surface (corresponding to an open surface of the present invention) and a part of the left side surface are open. On the bottom surface of the in-cylinder discharge unit 50, a discharge tray 91 for collecting sheets after image formation processing face down is provided. On the right side surface of the in-body discharge unit 50, a sheet discharge unit 51 provided at the first end in the width direction X of the apparatus main body 110 is provided.

  The image forming apparatus 100 further includes an operation device (corresponding to an operation panel of the present invention) 130 on the front surface of the apparatus main body 110. The operation device 130 is attached to the front surface of the image reading unit 20 and an end opposite to the first end where the paper discharge unit 51 is disposed in the width direction X. The operation device 130 is separated from the paper discharge unit 51 in the width direction X, and does not hinder the visibility of the paper discharged from the paper discharge unit 51.

  The operation device 130 is attached to the front surface of the image reading unit 20, and an operation table 32 of the image reading unit 20 is provided on a portion of the front surface of the image reading unit 20 excluding the location where the operation device 130 is disposed. The operation table 32 forms a continuous surface on the upper surface of the image reading unit 20, and overlaps with a part of the operation device 130 in the front-rear direction Y orthogonal to the width direction X of the apparatus main body 110.

  The operation device 130 is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the image reading unit 20 shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 5B, and is not inclined, and FIG. It is configured to be rotatable via a tilt mechanism (corresponding to the displacement means of the present invention) between a maximum inclination position inclined at a predetermined maximum inclination angle toward the front side shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the tilt mechanism includes a spindle (not shown) provided in the image reading unit 20, a gear 71, and a gear 72 provided in the operation device 130. The support shaft is provided on the front surface of the image reading unit 20 and rotatably supports the operation device 130. The gear 71 is attached to the tip of the support shaft and meshes with the gear 72. The operation device 130 is selected from the non-tilt position, the maximum tilt position, and one or a plurality of predetermined positions between the non-tilt position and the maximum tilt position in a state where the gear 71 and the gear 72 are engaged with each other (see FIG. 4). A tilt posture is held at a desired tilt position shown in FIG. 4A as an example.

  When the operation device 130 is located at the non-tilt position, the front surface of the in-cylinder discharge part 50 is opened, and when it is located at a position other than the non-tilt position, at least a part of the front surface of the in-cylinder discharge part 50 Is closed. Hereinafter, the non-tilt position is referred to as an open position, and other positions other than the non-tilt position are referred to as closed positions.

  In addition, the image reading unit 20 includes a motor 73. The motor 73 supplies driving force to the gear 71. When the driving force is supplied from the motor 73 to the gear 71, the operating device 130 is displaced from the closed position to the open position.

  Next, the function and configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the apparatus main body 110 includes an external paper discharge tray 70 and a storage unit 300 in addition to the image reading unit 20, the image forming unit 30, the paper feeding unit 40, and the in-body discharge unit 50 described above. ing.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a sensor 74 in addition to the motor 73 described above. The sensor 74 detects that the controller device 130 is located at the open position, and outputs a detection signal.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the external paper discharge tray 70 protrudes from one side surface of the image forming unit 30 and accommodates the paper after the image forming process. As shown in FIG. 7B, the external paper discharge tray 70 may be paper discharge trays 70A, 70B, and 70C that the post-processing apparatus 700 has. The number of paper discharge trays 70A to 70C included in the post-processing device 700 is not limited to three.

  The storage unit 300 stores a paper discharge destination for discharging the paper after the image forming process. The paper discharge destination is updated based on an operation instruction from the operation device 130. By default, the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50.

  For example, the operation device 130 includes a touch panel 131 illustrated in FIG. The operation device 130 includes a monochrome copy start instruction button 131A and a color copy start instruction button 131B, and accepts monochrome copy and color copy start instructions. The operation device 130 also accepts various operations related to copying.

  The control unit 200 controls each functional unit and the operation device 130. Next, a processing flow of the control unit 200 when a copy operation is received will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 200 waits until the operation device 130 detects pressing of the monochrome copy start instruction button 131 </ b> A or the color copy start instruction button 131 </ b> B (S <b> 11: NO). When the operation device 130 detects that the monochrome copy start instruction button 131A or the color copy start instruction button 131B is pressed (S11: YES), the control unit 200 detects whether the operation device 130 is in the closed position. (S12). If the sensor 74 outputs a detection signal, the controller 200 is positioned at the open position (S12: NO), so the controller 200 refers to the storage unit 300 and discharges the paper after the image forming process. It discharges first (S18).

  If the sensor 74 does not output a detection signal, the controller 200 is positioned at the closed position (S12: YES), so the control unit 200 refers to the storage unit 300 and the paper discharge destination is in-cylinder discharge. It is determined whether it is set in the section 50 (S13). Since the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 (S13: YES), the control unit 200 displays the displacement acceptance screen 133 shown in FIG. 10 on the touch panel 131 of the operation device 130 as an example (S14). . On the displacement reception screen 133, a selection operation for determining whether or not to displace the operation device 130 to the open position is received.

  When detecting that the YES button 132A is pressed on the displacement acceptance screen 133, that is, when the user selects the automatic rotation of the operation device 130 (S15: YES), the control unit 200 drives the motor 73 to perform the operation. The device 130 is displaced to the open position (S16). The control unit 200 discharges the paper after the image forming process to the in-body discharge unit 50 (S17). In addition, when the control unit 200 detects that the NO button 132B is pressed on the displacement reception screen 133, that is, when the user does not select the automatic rotation of the operation device 130 (S15: NO), the control unit 200 performs the process of S17. Do.

  In addition, the control unit 200 determines that the operation device 130 is in the closed position (S12: YES), the sheet discharge destination is set to the external discharge tray 70, and is not set to the in-body discharge unit 50. (S13: NO), the paper after the image forming process is discharged to the external paper discharge tray 70 (S18).

  As described above, the control unit 200 displaces the operation device 130 to the open position when the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 and the operation device 130 is located at the closed position, thereby performing image forming processing. The subsequent paper can be easily taken out from the in-body discharge unit 50. In addition, since the controller 200 displaces the operation device 130 to the open position before discharging the paper after the image forming process to the in-body discharging unit 50, the control unit 200 is displaced during taking out the paper after the image forming process. Injuries caused by the operation device 130 inside hitting the user can be prevented.

  Further, the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the operation device 130 is displaced to the open position every time copying is performed. As a result, the control unit 200 continuously performs copying by positioning the operating device 130 at a desired tilt position, and moves the operating device 130 to the open position at the timing of taking out the paper after image forming processing from the in-body discharge unit 50. It can be displaced, and convenience can be improved.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 for the processing flow of the PC control unit and the control unit 200 when an information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a PC) connected to the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print operation. To explain.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit of the PC waits until a print start instruction is accepted (S21: NO), and when accepted (S21: YES), transmits image data to be printed to the image forming apparatus 100. (S22).

  As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 100 waits until image data is received (S31: NO). When the control unit 200 receives the image data (S31: YES), the controller device 130 is positioned at the closed position (S12: YES), and the storage unit 300 is referred to set the paper discharge destination to the in-cylinder discharge unit 50. If so (S13: YES), a displacement acceptance instruction for accepting the displacement of the controller device 130 is transmitted to the PC (S34).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit of the PC waits until receiving a displacement acceptance instruction (S23: NO), and if received (S23: YES), selects whether to displace the operating device 130 to the open position. A displacement acceptance screen for accepting an operation is displayed (S24). When receiving the displacement of the operation device 130 to the open position (S25: YES), the control unit transmits to the image forming apparatus 100 that the operation device 130 is displaced to the open position (S26). When the controller does not accept the displacement of the operation device 130 to the open position (S25: NO), the control unit transmits to the image forming apparatus 100 that the operation device 130 is not displaced to the open position (S26).

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 100 waits until receiving the presence or absence of the displacement of the operation device 130 (S35: NO). When receiving the presence / absence of displacement of the operation device 130 (S35: YES), the control unit 200 performs the processes of S16 and S17 when displacing the operation device 130 to the open position (S36: YES). If not displaced to the open position (S36: NO), the process of S17 is performed.

  In addition, when the controller device 130 is in the open position (S12: NO) or even when the controller device 130 is in the closed position (S12: YES), the control unit 200 stores the paper stored in the storage unit 300. Is set in the external paper discharge tray 70 (S13: NO), the paper after the image forming process is discharged to the paper discharge destination stored in the storage unit 300 (S18).

  As described above, when printing the image data received from the PC, the control unit 200 sets the operation device when the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 and the operation device 130 is located at the closed position. By displacing 130 to the open position, it is possible to easily take out the paper after the image forming process from the in-body discharge unit 50. In addition, since the controller 200 displaces the operation device 130 to the open position before discharging the paper after the image forming process to the in-body discharging unit 50, the control unit 200 is displaced during taking out the paper after the image forming process. Injuries caused by the operation device 130 inside hitting the user can be prevented.

  Further, the control unit 200 receives the presence / absence of the displacement of the operation device 130 from the PC, and opens the operation device 130 only when taking out the paper after the image forming process from the in-body discharge unit 50 immediately after the printing operation. It can be displaced to a position, and convenience can be improved.

  Next, only the difference between the image forming apparatus 100 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the image forming apparatus 100 ′ according to the second embodiment, the processing of the control unit 200 is different. A processing flow of the control unit 200 when a copy operation is received will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the processes of S11 to S13 and S18 are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the external paper discharge tray 70 will be described as paper discharge trays 70A, 70B, and 70C that the post-processing apparatus 700 has.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 200 is one example because the operation device 130 is located at the closed position (S12: YES), and the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 (S13: YES). 14 is displayed on the touch panel 131 of the controller device 130 (S44).

  The designation reception screen 133 receives a paper discharge destination selection operation. The designation acceptance screen 133 displays the pressed tray setting buttons 133A, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133B, 133A, 133B, 133A, 133B, and 133B when the pressing of the execution button 133D is detected. The paper discharge trays 70A, 70B, and 70C corresponding to 133C are received as paper discharge destinations. Further, the designation reception screen 133 displays the paper discharge tray 70A whose paper discharge destination is the default when the press of the execution button 133D is detected without detecting the press of the paper discharge tray setting buttons 133A, 133B, and 133C. Accept as a paper discharge destination.

  When the control unit 200 detects the pressing of the execution button 133D after detecting the pressing of the paper discharge tray setting button 133B on the designation receiving screen 133, the user designates the paper discharge destination as the paper discharge tray 70B. In this case (S45: YES), the sheet after the image forming process is discharged to the discharge tray 70B (S47). In addition, when the control unit 200 detects only pressing of the execution button 133D on the designation reception screen 133, that is, when the paper discharge destination is not designated by the user (S45: NO), the control unit 200 performs the post-image forming process. The paper is discharged to the default paper discharge tray 70A (S46).

  As described above, the control unit 200 discharges the paper after the image forming process to the external paper discharge tray 70 when the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 and the operation device 130 is located at the closed position. Thus, it is possible to easily take out the paper after the image forming process.

  In addition, the control unit 200 accepts a paper discharge destination selection operation for each copy, so that it can be discharged to different paper discharge trays 70A to 70C for each copy, and convenience can be improved.

  When the PC connected to the image forming apparatus 100 receives an instruction to start printing, the control unit 200 sets the paper discharge destination to the in-body discharge unit 50 and the operation device 130 is in the closed position. When this is done, a setting acceptance instruction for instructing the setting of the paper discharge destination is transmitted to the PC. Then, the control unit 200 may receive any one of the paper discharge trays 70A to 70C from the PC as a paper discharge destination.

  By doing so, the control unit 200 also prints the image data received from the PC when the paper discharge destination is set to the in-body discharge unit 50 and the operation device 130 is in the closed position. The paper after the image forming process can be discharged to the external paper discharge tray 70. As a result, the control unit 200 can easily take out the paper after the image forming process.

  Further, the control unit 200 receives any one of the paper discharge trays 70A to 70C as the paper discharge destination from the PC, so that the image forming process can be performed even when the paper after the image forming process is not taken immediately after the printing operation. Since the processed paper is discharged to the external paper discharge tray 70, the paper after the image forming process can be easily taken out. As a result, the control unit 200 can improve convenience.

  The control unit 200 performs the processing described in the first and second embodiments when a copy operation is received. However, the control unit 200 also performs the processing described in the first embodiment when receiving a data printing operation in the image forming apparatus 100. , 2 is performed.

  In addition, the control part 200 performs the process shown in the above-mentioned Example 1, 2 also when it has a FAX function and also receives FAX data from a FAX apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiment, the non-tilt position is the open position, and the other positions excluding the non-tilt position are the closed positions. However, as shown in FIG. 15A, the open position may be the position of section α and the closed position may be the position of section β. The section α indicates a position displaced from the non-tilt position by a predetermined amount toward the maximum tilt position, and the section β indicates from the end position of the section α to the maximum tilt position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, the open position may be the position of the section α, and the closed position may be the position of the section β. Section α indicates a position displaced from the non-tilt position by a predetermined amount toward the maximum tilt position, and section β indicates a position from the position displaced from the maximum tilt position toward the non-tilt position by a predetermined amount to the maximum tilt position. Shows the position. At this time, for example, in the first embodiment, when the controller device 130 is located in the section β, the controller device 130 is displaced to a position in the section α. When the controller device 130 is located between the section α and the section β and in the section α, the controller device 130 is not displaced. In this case, two sensors are provided, and each sensor is used to pass a position displaced by a predetermined amount from the maximum tilt position toward the non-tilt position, and a predetermined amount from the maximum tilt position toward the non-tilt position. It is only necessary to detect passing through a position that is displaced by a distance.

  The above description of the embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Image reading part 30 ... Image forming part 40 ... Paper feed part 50 ... In-cylinder discharge part 70 ... External paper discharge tray 70A, 70B, 70C ... Paper discharge tray 100 ... Image forming apparatus 110 ... Apparatus main body 130 ... Operation apparatus 132 ... Displacement reception screen 133 ... Designation reception screen 200 ... Control unit

Claims (6)

A first discharge unit having an open surface formed on at least one side surface and discharging the paper after the image forming process;
A second discharge unit that is a discharge destination different from the first discharge unit, wherein the sheet is discharged;
An operation panel attached to the apparatus main body so as to be displaceable within a predetermined range including a closed position for closing at least a part of an open surface of the first discharge section and an open position for opening the open surface;
Setting means for setting the discharge destination of the paper to the first discharge portion or the second discharge portion; the discharge destination of the paper is set to the first discharge portion; and the operation panel is located at the closed position An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform a control process of discharging the sheet after the image forming process to the second discharge unit when the sheet is discharged in a state where the sheet is discharged. A displacement means for displacing the operation panel from at least the closed position to the open position;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control process is a process of discharging the sheet after the image forming process to the second discharge unit or displacing the operation panel to the open position by the displacing unit. A receiving means for receiving image data from an external device;
The operation panel includes a receiving unit that receives an instruction to start an image forming process.
The control means receives the image data when the paper discharge destination is set to the first discharge portion and the operation panel is located at the closed position, or the reception means forms an image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control process is performed when a process start instruction is received. The operation panel includes a reception unit that receives an instruction to start an image forming process, and an operation for selecting instruction information indicating whether to change a discharge destination of the sheet or whether to displace the operation panel. ,
The receiving unit discharges the sheet after receiving an instruction to start the image forming process in a state where the discharge destination of the sheet is set to the first discharge unit and the operation panel is located at the closed position. Until the instruction information selection operation is accepted,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls whether to perform the control process based on the instruction information. An image reading unit disposed on an upper portion of the apparatus body for reading an image of a document;
A paper feeding unit disposed at a lower part of the apparatus main body and storing paper before image forming processing;
An image forming unit that is disposed above the sheet feeding unit and that performs an image forming process on the sheet before the image forming process;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first discharge unit is disposed in a space formed between the image reading unit and the image forming unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel is attached to an open surface side of the first discharge unit and to a leading end side of the sheet in the discharge direction of the sheet.

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