JP2014054819A - Maintenance system of image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform maintenance in an image forming apparatus by effectively using a time during a post-processing operation that does not eject a sheet of paper from the image forming apparatus in a post-processing device.SOLUTION: A maintenance system for an image processor is provided. An image processor 1 includes: an image forming apparatus 10 having paper feeding means 15, image formation means 25, paper ejection means 45, maintenance means 40 for automatically performing maintenance of one of the paper feeding means, the image formation means, and paper ejection means and control means 49 for commanding the maintenance means 40 to perform maintenance; and a post-processing device 50 for performing post-processing to a sheet of paper P which is sequentially ejected from the paper ejection means and has been subjected to image formation. The control means 49 commands the maintenance means 40 to perform maintenance by using a time during post-processing that does not eject the sheet of paper P subjected to image formation from the paper ejection means 45 in the post-processing device 50.

Description

  According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus configured by connecting an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, maintenance in the image forming apparatus is performed using a time during a post-processing operation performed in the post-processing apparatus. The present invention relates to a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus configured as described above.

  In recent years, printing apparatuses such as inkjet printers, stencil printing apparatuses, and laser printers, and image forming apparatuses that can form images on paper using a copying machine perform printing or copying on a large amount of paper.

  When a post-processing device is connected to this type of image forming apparatus, a user can perform a paper sorting process, a binding process, a folding process, a bookbinding process in the post-processing apparatus for a large number of sheets sequentially discharged from the image forming apparatus. There is an image forming system configured to perform various necessary post-processing (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In the image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 1, although illustration is omitted here, a printer having a plurality of conveyance paths for conveying a sheet, a folding device connected to the printer, a bookbinding device, a finisher, etc. A post-processing device and an operation display device are provided.

  In the above-described image forming system, maintenance can be partially performed during the image forming process and the post-processing.

  At this time, among the plurality of conveyance paths, the conveyance path that can be maintained for the conveyance path-related portion is determined according to the type of image forming process and post-processing being performed, and the conveyance that has been determined to be maintainable The path is displayed on the operation display device, and the plurality of transport paths are covered with a plurality of exterior covers that are opened and closed independently of each other.

  According to the image forming system having the above-described configuration, even when the system is in operation, the exterior cover of the conveyance path that is determined to be maintainable is opened, and maintenance such as replacement, cleaning, and adjustment of conveyance path-related parts is performed. It states that it will be possible.

JP 2005-346013 A

  By the way, in the image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, for example, when maintenance is performed in the printer, the sheet fed from the sheet cassette is provided in the printer in a process of forming an image. A transport path provided in the step of discharging the image-formed sheet to the outside of the apparatus, and a step of transporting again the sheet that has been turned upside down after the single-sided image formation in the double-sided recording mode to the image forming unit It is possible to perform maintenance on parts related to the transport path on the precondition that the transport path is provided with a plurality of transport paths and the exterior cover covers these transport paths. When a certain conveyance path is identified and maintenance is performed on this conveyance path related part, the system is operating during the maintenance, so the image forming system is stopped. It is to be able to reduce.

  However, when performing maintenance such as cleaning and parts replacement for the image forming unit that forms an image on the paper in the printer, unlike the case where maintenance is performed on the above-described conveyance path related parts, image formation is performed. Since the image forming unit must be maintained after the system is stopped, such as cleaning and replacement of parts, it is necessary for image formation on paper in the printer and post-processing on paper in the post-processing device. This causes a problem that productivity is lowered.

  Accordingly, in an image processing apparatus including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, maintenance of the image forming apparatus is performed by the image forming apparatus in the post-processing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus configured to be able to effectively use a time during a post-processing operation that is not discharged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 includes a paper feeding unit that sequentially feeds paper, and an image forming unit that forms an image on the fed paper. A sheet discharge unit that sequentially discharges the sheets on which images have been formed, a maintenance unit that automatically performs maintenance on any of the sheet feeding unit, the image forming unit, and the sheet discharge unit, and the maintenance An image forming apparatus having control means for instructing timing for performing maintenance on the means;
A post-processing device having post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge means;
When the image processing apparatus is configured with
The control means instructs the maintenance means to perform maintenance using a time during a post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. This is a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to the first aspect,
The post-processing apparatus includes a first paper stacking position and a first paper stacking position in which the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit is set on a paper receiving tray for each number of paper divisions via the post-processing unit. In the offset operation for offsetting to the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position, the image is discharged from the paper discharge unit. A paper sorting device configured to prevent the formed paper from being discharged is applied,
The control means includes a maintenance set number for performing maintenance, a memory for storing a maintenance allowable range in which an allowable range is set for the maintenance set number, and a counter for counting the maintenance total number after the reset. In the above, when the maintenance cumulative number reaches the maintenance allowable range, if there is an offset operation within the maintenance allowable range, the maintenance is performed using the offset operation time, while the offset is within the maintenance allowable range. If there is no operation, the maintenance system of the image processing apparatus forcibly performs maintenance based on the set number of maintenance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to the second aspect,
The control means includes a first offset operation time for offsetting from the first sheet stacking position to the second sheet stacking position, and a first offset operation time for offsetting from the second sheet stacking position to the first sheet stacking position. A maintenance system for an image processing apparatus that performs maintenance by giving priority to the longer one of the first and second offset operation times when the two offset operation times are different. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet discharge unit that sequentially discharges a sheet on which an image has been formed, and maintenance are automatically performed on the image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a maintenance unit; and a control unit that instructs the maintenance unit to perform maintenance.
A post-processing device having post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge means;
When the image processing apparatus is configured with
The control means instructs the maintenance means to perform maintenance using a time during a post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. This is a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus.

  According to the maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to claim 1, maintenance is performed on any of the paper feeding unit, the image forming unit, the paper discharging unit, and the paper feeding unit, the image forming unit, and the paper discharging unit. Image forming apparatus having a maintenance unit that automatically performs a maintenance process, a control unit that instructs the maintenance unit to perform maintenance, and a post-processing unit that includes a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed paper When the image processing apparatus is configured with the apparatus, the control means in the image forming apparatus uses the time during the post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. Since the maintenance means in the image forming apparatus is instructed to perform maintenance, image formation on the paper in the image forming apparatus and paper in the post-processing apparatus are performed. It is possible to suppress a decrease in productivity with respect to the post-processing.

  According to the maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to claim 2, as the post-processing apparatus, the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge means is supplied for each number of paper divisions via the post-processing means. The first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position set on the receiving tray are alternately offset to perform paper sorting, and are offset to the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position. When a paper sorting device is applied so that the paper on which images have been formed is not discharged from the paper discharge means during the offset operation, the control means in the image forming apparatus allows the cumulative number of maintenance sheets to be within the allowable maintenance range. If there is an offset operation within the allowable maintenance range, maintenance is performed using the offset operation time while the offset operation is within the allowable maintenance range. Since it is performing the forced maintenance based on the absence if maintenance predetermined number, in particular, when there is an offset operation within the maintenance allowable range, it is possible to perform maintenance by effectively utilizing the offset operation time.

  According to the maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to claim 3, the control means in the image forming apparatus includes a first offset operation time for offsetting from the first sheet stacking position to the second sheet stacking position. When the second offset operation time for offsetting from the second sheet stacking position to the first sheet stacking position is different, the longer one of the first and second offset operation times is prioritized. Since maintenance is performed, it is possible to afford more time by performing maintenance during the longer offset operation time.

  According to the maintenance system of the image processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the image forming unit and the paper discharge unit, the maintenance unit that automatically performs maintenance on the image forming unit, and the maintenance unit are maintained. When the image processing apparatus is configured to include an image forming apparatus having a control unit that instructs the timing to be performed, and a post-processing apparatus having a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed paper, image formation The control means in the apparatus performs maintenance on the maintenance means in the image forming apparatus using the time during the post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. Since the command is issued, it is possible to suppress a decrease in productivity with respect to image formation on the paper in the image forming apparatus and post-processing on the paper in the post-processing apparatus. That.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus in an image processing apparatus maintenance system according to the present invention. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an image forming apparatus applied to a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. (A)-(f) is the operation | movement diagram typically shown in order to demonstrate the operation | movement which performs head cleaning (maintenance) with respect to an inkjet head part in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sheet sorting apparatus applied to a maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is the longitudinal cross-section which showed the paper sorting apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(r) is the operation | movement diagram typically shown in order to demonstrate the sheet | seat sorting operation | movement in a sheet sorting apparatus. It is a timing diagram for demonstrating the maintenance operation | movement performed within an image processing apparatus, (a) shows the case of the comparative example with respect to an Example, (b) is the figure which showed the case of the Example. It is a flowchart at the time of performing the maintenance operation | movement in the Example shown in FIG.7 (b). It is a figure for demonstrating a specific example using a numerical value with respect to the maintenance operation | movement of the Example shown in FIG. (A) to (d) are timing charts showing whether or not there are first and second offset operation times within the allowable maintenance range when the cumulative number for maintenance reaches the allowable maintenance range. is there.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus maintenance system according to the present invention will be described in detail in the order of items with reference to FIGS.

<Image processing device>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing apparatus in an image processing apparatus maintenance system according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 1 includes a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a stencil printing apparatus, and a laser printer, an image forming apparatus 10 that can form an image on paper P using a copying machine, and the like. It is electrically connected to the apparatus 10 via an interface I / F, and is divided into, for example, jobs for a large amount of paper P on which images are formed by printing or copying in the image forming apparatus 10, or The sheet sorting apparatus 50 is an example of a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing so as to be divided into a plurality of parts for each predetermined number of sheets and stacked on the paper tray 61 (FIGS. 4 to 6).

  In this case, in the embodiment, a case where an ink jet printer is applied as an example of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described below.

  The above-described image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation panel unit 12 that operates the entire image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding unit (hereinafter referred to as a sheet feeding unit) 15 that feeds a sheet P, and a sheet P that is fed. An image forming unit (hereinafter referred to as an inkjet head unit) 25 that forms an image, and a belt platen unit 30 that opposes the inkjet head unit 25 so as to be movable up and down and conveys paper P while sucking air during printing. ing.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is movably provided so as to be movable back and forth between the inkjet head unit 25 and the lowered belt platen unit 30 and automatically performs head cleaning (maintenance) on the inkjet head unit 25. Maintenance means (hereinafter referred to as a maintenance unit) 40 is provided.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper discharge unit (hereinafter referred to as a paper discharge unit) 45 for discharging the image-formed paper P toward the paper sorting device 50, and a CPU 49a, ROM 49b, RAM 49c, counter 49d, A control unit (hereinafter referred to as a first control unit) 49 that has a maintenance timing command unit 49e and controls the image forming apparatus 10 as a whole is provided.

  On the other hand, the paper sorting device 50 includes post-processing means 60, 61, 80, and 90 described below in order to perform post-processing on the image-formed paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 of the image forming apparatus 10. Have.

  Specifically, the paper sorting device 50 drops the paper P sequentially discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 and stacks it on the paper pedestal 61 (FIGS. 4 to 6). A pair of left and right side fence plates 71 for restricting the left and right side edges in the width direction of the paper P stacked on the paper tray 61; 72 (FIGS. 4 to 6) is provided with a side fence plate moving mechanism unit 70 that moves the sheet 72 in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet P discharge direction according to the sheet size.

  Further, the paper sorting device 50 is provided on an offset guide plate 82 (FIGS. 4 to 6) suspended above the paper receiving tray 61 on the upstream side in the discharge direction of the paper P, and a portion below the offset guide plate 82. An offset guide plate moving mechanism 80 for moving the suspended first paper abutting member 83 (FIGS. 5 and 6) forward and downward or upward and rearward by a predetermined offset amount for each paper section, and downstream in the paper discharge direction The end fence plate 92 (FIGS. 4 to 6) suspended above the paper receiving tray 61 and facing the offset guide plate 82 with a space therebetween, and a second portion suspended below the end fence plate 92. 2 End fence plate moving mechanism 90 for moving sheet abutting member 93 (FIGS. 5 and 6) forward or backward by a predetermined offset amount for each sheet section, and CPU 100a, ROM inside 00b, RAM 100c, a timing command unit 100d and a second control unit 100 for controlling the overall paper sorting device 50.

  In the image processing apparatus 1, various signals are transmitted between the first control unit 49 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 and the second control unit 100 provided in the sheet sorting apparatus 50 via the interface I / F. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The second control unit is not provided in the sheet sorting apparatus 50, and only the control unit (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 10 is used. The paper sorting device 50 may be configured to be collectively controlled.

  In addition, when maintenance is automatically performed for any of the paper feeding unit 15, the image forming unit (inkjet head unit) 25, and the paper discharge unit 45 provided in the image forming apparatus 10, The first control section 49 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 performs maintenance in the image forming apparatus 10 by effectively using the time during the post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge section 45 in the post-processing apparatus 50. It is characterized by doing.

  At this time, in the embodiment, when maintenance is performed in the image forming apparatus 10, the head cleaning (cleaning) is automatically performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 provided in the image forming apparatus 10. The case will be described below.

  When maintenance is automatically performed on the paper feeding unit 15 and the paper ejection unit 45 in the image forming apparatus 10 periodically, for example, a conveyance roller for conveying the paper P, a conveyance guide plate, and the like are cleaned. A maintenance unit (not shown) capable of (maintenance) may be installed in the image forming apparatus 10, and in this case as well, the paper feeding unit effectively uses the time during the post-processing operation that is the technical idea of the present invention. 15. Maintenance may be performed on the paper discharge unit 45.

<About image forming apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an image forming apparatus applied to the maintenance system for the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, a casing 11 that is an exterior of the image forming apparatus 10 is formed in a box shape, and an operation panel unit 12 is installed above the casing 11.

  Although the detailed illustration is omitted here, the operation panel unit 12 described above includes a start key, a stop key, a numeric keypad, a print number setting key, a paper sorting number setting key, and A3, A4, B4, for example. B5, a paper size setting key for setting a paper size such as a postcard size, a paper type input key for inputting the type of paper P such as thin paper, plain paper, and thick paper having different paper qualities, an enlargement / reduction key, and an alarm display section A liquid crystal panel and the like are provided.

  Next, in the paper supply unit 15, the paper supply base 16 on which a plurality of sheets P are stacked outside the paper supply hole 11 a 1 opened on the left side plate 11 a side of the housing 11 is driven by the motor 17 with the first encoder 17. It is installed so that it can move up and down. At this time, any one type of paper P among A3, A4, B4, B5, postcard size and the like is selectively stacked on the paper feed tray 16.

  In addition, a paper feed roller 18 is rotatably provided above the paper feed tray 16, and the paper feed roller 18 abuts on the uppermost paper P as the paper feed stand 16 moves upward, so that Upper sheet P is being fed.

  Further, the uppermost sheet P fed by the sheet feeding roller 18 is one sheet while being nipped and conveyed between the sheet roller 19 and the sheeting plate 20 provided downstream of the sheet feeding roller 18 in the sheet conveying direction. The paper P is separated one by one to prevent double feeding, and then the uppermost sheet P is conveyed toward at least two or more pairs of conveyance rollers 21 installed downstream.

  At this time, the sheet feeding roller 18, the separating roller 19, and at least two or more pairs of conveying rollers 21 are each counterclockwise by transmitting the rotation of the second encoder-equipped motor 22 via a reduction mechanism (not shown). The sheet P is rotated and is conveyed at a predetermined conveyance speed.

  Furthermore, a registration roller pair 23 is installed downstream of at least two or more pairs of conveyance rollers 21, and the registration roller pair 23 corrects the skew of the paper P generated during paper feeding or paper conveyance. .

  At this time, the registration roller pair 23 receives the rotation of the third encoder-equipped motor 24 via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown), and the rotation stop state and the rotation state based on a command from the first control unit 49. Has been selectively switched.

  The registration roller pair 23 stops rotating when the leading end of the transport direction of the paper P transported here abuts, and the transport of the paper P is continued while the rotation is stopped. A sag T is formed on the upstream side of the sheet, and after a certain amount of sag T is formed, the registration roller pair 23 is rotated at the sheet conveyance speed, thereby correcting the skew of the sheet P while correcting the skew of the sheet P with the inkjet head. The paper is conveyed toward the portion 25 and the belt platen portion 30.

  Next, the ink jet head unit (image forming unit) 25 is fixedly installed at a substantially central portion in the housing 11.

  In the inkjet head unit 25, a plurality of line-type inkjet heads are mounted on the head mounting plate 26 corresponding to a plurality of colors of ink.

  Specifically, inkjet heads 27C, 27K, and 27M that discharge ink of each color of C (cyan), K (black), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction. , 27Y are arranged in a staggered manner in 2 columns (in the direction of the paper) × 3 rows (in the direction perpendicular to the paper).

  In addition, positioning pins 28 are attached to both the left and right ends of the head mounting plate 26 downward, and the positioning pins 28 are used to position the maintenance unit 40 below the inkjet head unit 25 during head cleaning.

  Next, the belt platen unit 30 is installed below the inkjet head unit 25 so as to be movable up and down while facing the inkjet head unit 25 so as to be freely contacted and separated by the lifting mechanism 31.

  When the belt platen unit 30 is raised by the lifting mechanism 31 and approaches the ink jet head unit 25 and faces the inkjet head unit 25, printing (printing) can be performed on the paper P. On the other hand, the belt platen unit 30 is moved up and down. The maintenance unit 40 can be advanced and retracted when it is lowered by 31 and is separated from the ink jet head portion 25 and faces it.

  Here, the belt platen portion 30 is formed in a rectangular shape with an air box 32 connected to be lifted by a lifting mechanism 31 opened at the top, and a plurality of air suction holes (not shown) are formed therein. Two endless belt platens 33 having a belt shape are provided between a drive pulley 35 that is driven to rotate at a constant conveyance speed by a motor 34 with a fourth encoder, and a driven pulley 36 that is driven by the drive pulley 35. The intermediate pulley 37 is passed through endlessly.

  Then, at least one sheet P conveyed on the endless belt platen 33 during printing on the sheet P is conveyed downstream while air is sucked by the air suction unit 38 installed inside the endless belt platen 33. doing.

  Next, the maintenance unit 40 is movably installed in a state of being retracted to the lower right of the belt platen unit 30. As an example of maintenance performed in the image forming apparatus 10, the maintenance unit 40 automatically cleans (cleans) the ink ejection surfaces of the inkjet heads 27 </ b> C, 27 </ b> K, 27 </ b> M, and 27 </ b> Y for multiple colors of the inkjet head unit 25. Is what you do.

  Accordingly, the maintenance unit 40 is movable by the moving mechanism 41 so as to advance and retreat between the ink jet head portion 25 and the lowered belt platen portion 30.

  In the maintenance unit 40, a box body 42 that is movably connected by a moving mechanism 41 is formed in a rectangular shape with an upper portion opened, and a plurality of head cleaning members 43 are formed inside the box body 42C for a plurality of colors. , 27K, 27M, and 27Y.

  Ink of each color removed by cleaning the inkjet heads 27C, 27K, 27M, and 27Y by the plurality of head cleaning members 43, dust adhering to each ink discharge surface, and the like can be stored in the box body 42. ing.

  The head cleaning (maintenance) operation using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described later.

  Next, in the paper discharge unit 45, at least two pairs or more of conveyance rollers 46 and paper discharge rollers 47 are installed on an extended line along the paper conveyance path on the endless belt platen 33, and two or more pairs of conveyance rollers 45 are conveyed. The image-formed paper P conveyed by the roller pair 46 and the paper discharge roller 47 passes from the paper discharge hole 11b1 opened to the right side plate 11b side of the housing 11 to the paper sorting device 50 (FIGS. 4 and 5). It is discharged towards.

  Next, the first control unit 49 for the image forming apparatus is installed at an appropriate position in the housing 11.

  The CPU 49a in the first control unit 49 controls the operation panel unit 12, the paper feeding unit 15, the inkjet head unit 25, the belt platen unit 30, the maintenance unit 40, and the paper discharge unit 45, respectively. ing.

  The ROM 49b in the first control unit 49 stores an operation program for the image forming apparatus 10 and the like.

  The RAM 49c in the first control unit 49 temporarily stores various information that can be changed in the image forming apparatus 10. For example, maintenance can be performed using the maintenance unit 40 as various information that can be changed. Maintenance set number (FIGS. 8 and 9) when performing maintenance, a maintenance allowable range (FIGS. 8 and 9) in which an allowable range is set for the maintenance set number, and when paper is sorted in the paper sorting device 50 Information such as the paper size, the number of paper divisions (FIGS. 8 and 9) and the number of paper divisions set by the user using the operation panel unit 12 is stored.

  Further, the counter 49d in the first control unit 49 counts the total number of maintenance sheets (FIGS. 8 and 9) and the number of sheets sorted (FIGS. 8 and 9) during maintenance.

  Also, the maintenance timing command unit 49e in the first control unit 49 commands the maintenance unit 40 for maintenance timing when maintenance is performed, and the maintenance timing shown in FIG. 8 described later according to the maintenance timing command unit 49e. Operation is to be performed.

  Here, the maintenance operation when the head cleaning is performed on the inkjet head unit 25 in the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, FIG. 3A shows that printing is in progress. In this printing state, the belt platen unit 30 is lifted through the lifting mechanism 31 and approaches the lower side of the ink jet head unit 25 so as to face each other.

  Then, the endless belt platen 33 wound around the drive pulley 35 and the driven pulley 36 is rotated, and the inkjet heads 27C, 27K, 27M, Images are printed using 27Y, and printed paper P is sequentially discharged.

  At this time, the maintenance unit 40 is retracted to the lower right of the inkjet head unit 25 via the moving mechanism 41.

  Next, FIG. 3B shows the start of maintenance by interrupting printing. At the start of this maintenance, the printing has been interrupted, so the paper P has been discharged. Then, after the endless belt platen 33 stops rotating, the belt platen unit 30 is lowered by the elevating mechanism 31 and separated from the inkjet head unit 25. Thereafter, the maintenance unit 40 is moved between the inkjet head unit 25 and the belt platen unit 30 by the moving mechanism 41.

  Next, FIG. 3C shows that the maintenance unit is moving. During the maintenance unit movement, the maintenance unit 40 is moved via the moving mechanism 41 so as to face the lower side of the ink jet head unit 25. Thereafter, the belt platen unit 30 is raised by the elevating mechanism 31, and the maintenance unit 40 is placed on the endless belt platen 33 whose rotation is stopped.

  Next, FIG. 3D shows that maintenance is in progress. During this maintenance, the ink discharge surfaces of the inkjet heads 27C, 27K, 27M, and 27Y are caused to enter the box 42 of the maintenance unit 40 placed on the endless belt platen 33 whose rotation is stopped, so that the maintenance unit 40 Each of the ink ejection surfaces is automatically cleaned (cleaned) with respect to the ink jet heads 27C, 27K, 27M, and 27Y by the plurality of head cleaning members 43 attached in the box 42.

  At this time, the first control unit 49 (FIGS. 1 and 2) discharges the ink of each color from the inkjet heads 27C, 27K, 27M, and 27Y by purging, the ink of each color adhering to each ink discharge surface, Cleaning the dust adhering to the ink ejection surface.

  Next, FIG. 3E shows the end of maintenance. At the end of the maintenance, the belt platen unit 30 is lowered by the elevating mechanism 31 and the maintenance unit 40 is separated from the inkjet head unit 25 by the moving mechanism 41.

  Next, FIG. 3F shows the maintenance unit retraction. In this maintenance unit retreat, the maintenance unit 40 is retreated to the lower right of the inkjet head unit 25 by the moving mechanism 41. Thereafter, when the belt platen unit 30 is raised by the elevating mechanism 31, the belt platen unit 30 approaches and faces the inkjet head unit 25, so that printing on the paper P is possible.

  The maintenance operation when the head cleaning is performed on the inkjet head unit 25 in the image forming apparatus 10 described above is the time during the post-processing operation in which the image-formed sheet P is not discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 in the sheet sorting apparatus 50. The offset operation time is effectively used periodically, and this technical idea is the gist of the present invention. This will be described in the section of maintenance timing described later.

<About paper sorting device (post-processing device)>
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sheet sorting apparatus applied to the maintenance system for the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section showing the sheet sorting apparatus.

  The sheet sorting apparatus 50 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is installed outside the right side plate 11 b of the housing 11 on the paper discharge side of the image forming apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the paper discharge unit 45 installed inside the right side plate 11b of the casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 includes at least two pairs of transport rollers 46 and a paper discharge roller 47 as described above. The paper P on which the image has been formed is sequentially discharged from the paper discharge roller 47 toward the paper receiving tray 61 provided in the paper sorting apparatus 50 along the paper discharge direction. Yes.

  In the sheet sorting apparatus 50 described above, a plurality of sheet guide fence plates 51 are vertically attached at intervals to the outside of the right side plate 11b of the casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, and each sheet guide fence plate 51 is an image. The rear end portion of the paper P stacked on the paper receiving tray 61 is restricted while restricting the rear end portion in the discharge direction of the paper P discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 in the forming apparatus 10.

  Next, the paper receiving tray 61 is located between the right side plate 11b of the casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the front side plate 52 that is disposed opposite to the right side plate 11b on the downstream side in the discharge direction of the paper P. And can be moved up and down in the vertical direction by the paper base lifting mechanism 60.

  The above-described paper receiving tray 61 has a bottom plate portion 61a having a maximum size capable of stacking, for example, A3 size paper P. The front surface 61a1 positioned on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction and the paper P It is formed in a rectangular plate shape surrounded by a rear surface 61a2 positioned on the upstream side in the discharge direction and left and right side surfaces 61a3 and 61a4 in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper P discharge direction.

  Further, the paper receiving tray 61 has a top plate 61b slightly higher than the bottom plate 61a at a substantially central portion between the left and right side surfaces 61a3 and 61a4 on the bottom plate 61a and a predetermined width in the paper width direction. And projecting along the paper discharge direction.

  Further, on the bottom plate portion 61a of the paper tray 61, gap portions 61c and 61d are set to have predetermined widths along the left and right sides of the upper surface plate portion 61b, and the paper P is passed through the gap portions 61c and 61d. In order to sit down in an appropriate shape, a plurality of sets of left and right inclined surface portions 61e and 61f are formed as a pair so as to project symmetrically.

  At this time, the inclined surface portions 61e and 61f of each set are formed to be inclined so that the height gradually increases toward the left and right side surfaces 61a3 and 61a4.

  On the top plate 61b of the paper tray 61 and the inclined surfaces 61e and 61f of each set, a large quantity of about 4000 sheets of any one kind of paper P such as A3, A4, B4, B5 and postcard size is loaded. Since it is possible, the raising / lowering amount of the paper receiving tray 61 is set to about 400 mm to 500 mm.

  Next, in the paper cradle raising / lowering mechanism section 60 that raises and lowers the paper cradle 61, paper that detachably supports the paper cradle 61 from the right side surface 61a4 side to the left side surface 61a3 side of the bottom plate portion 61a of the paper base 61. A cradle support member 62 is provided.

  The above-described paper cradle support member 62 has a pair of L-shaped plate portions 62a and 62b that are vertically and symmetrically attached to the right side surface 61a4 of the bottom plate portion 61a with a space in the front-rear direction. A support base 62c (FIG. 5) that is connected to each lower end portion of the L-shaped plate portions 62a and 62b at a right angle and detachably supports the paper receiving tray 61 is horizontally directed toward the left side 61a3 of the bottom plate 61a. Are integrally formed.

  At this time, the support base part 62 c of the paper base support member 62 is formed in a rectangular base shape having a size smaller than the bottom area of the bottom plate part 61 a of the paper base 61.

  Further, brackets 63A and 63B are provided on the front and rear sides of the pair of L-shaped plate portions 62a and 62b of the paper cradle support member 62 in the same manner as the pair of L-shaped plate portions 62a and 62b of the paper cradle support member 62. It is provided vertically.

  The above-mentioned front and rear brackets 63A and 63B are connected to the upper and lower connecting rods 64 (only the upper side is shown) through a pair of L-shaped plate portions 62a and 62b of the paper cradle support member 62, and the upper and lower connections. A driving shaft 65 is rotatably supported between the rods 64 in parallel with the connecting rod 64.

  A DC motor 66 and a gear box 67 connected to the DC motor 66 are attached to the front bracket 63A. A final gear (not shown) in the gear box 67 meshes with a driving gear (not shown) attached to the front end of the driving shaft 65 and the rear end of the driving shaft 65. Also, a driving gear (not shown) is attached.

  Further, front and rear racks 68A and 68B are elongated in the vicinity of the sides of the front and rear brackets 63A and 63B, and these front and rear racks 68A and 68B are attached to the front and rear ends of the drive shaft 65, respectively. Since the driving gear (not shown) is engaged, the paper cradle support member 62 can be self-propelled in the vertical direction by the driving force of the DC motor 66 integrally with the front and rear brackets 63A and 63B.

  Then, when the DC motor 66 is operated to drive a driving gear (not shown) attached to the front and rear ends of the driving shaft 65 along the front and rear racks 68A and 68B, the paper receiving base The paper receiving table 61 detachably supported on the support table 62c of the support member 62 can be moved up and down.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a paper height position detecting optical sensor 53 is provided on the right side plate 11b of the casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the front side plate 52 facing the right side plate 11b at a distance. The light emitting part and the light receiving part are attached to face each other.

  This paper height position detecting optical sensor 53 is a height position of the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the paper receiving tray 61 on which the paper P is not stacked or a paper loaded on the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the paper receiving tray 61. The sheet height position of the uppermost sheet P among P is detected.

  Accordingly, when the paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 in the image forming apparatus 10 falls on the paper receiving tray 61, the paper discharge position where the paper P is discharged and the paper P are stacked. The sheet fall height H (FIG. 5) set between the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper tray 61 that is not present or the uppermost sheet P stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper tray 61 is approximately. It is detected by the paper height position detecting optical sensor 53 so as to be constant.

  Accordingly, the second control unit 100 causes the paper receiving tray 61 to reach the paper height position according to the stacking amount of the paper P via the DC motor 66 based on the detection result from the paper height position detecting optical sensor 53. Since the paper P is lifted up and down, the paper P discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 falls to the position of the substantially constant paper drop height H and is normally stacked on the paper receiving tray 61 while maintaining a normal posture. It has become.

  In addition, below the front and rear racks 68A and 68B, a paper full detection optical sensor (not shown) for detecting that the paper P is full on the paper receiving tray 61 is installed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in the side fence plate moving mechanism unit 70, a pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are arranged vertically opposite to each other at left and right in the paper receiving tray 61.

  At this time, the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long along the discharge direction of the paper P, and the paper side that regulates the left and right side end portions in the width direction of the paper P The end regulating surfaces 71a and 72a are formed flat so as to face each other inward, and a plurality of holes 71b and 72b are formed through each intermediate portion to allow air between the sheets to escape. Therefore, the paper P discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 can be dropped on the paper receiving tray 61 without being affected by air resistance.

  The moving mechanism for moving the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 is a back surface of a top plate (not shown) that covers the top of the paper sorting device 50 as an example of a support member provided above the paper receiving tray 61. Is attached to the side.

  That is, the first geared motor 74 is attached so as to be able to rotate forward and backward via the first motor bracket 73 supported on the back side of the top plate (not shown).

  The first geared motor 74 rotationally drives a first timing belt 75 that is stretched between a pair of left and right timing pulleys that are spaced apart from each other in the paper width direction. A pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are attached to the pair of left and right sliders 76 and 77 connected to the first timing belt 75, and the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 are integrated with the pair of left and right sliders 76 and 77. , 72 are movable along two first guide shafts 78, 79 provided along the paper width direction.

  As described above, if the first geared motor 74 is rotated forward, for example, the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are moved inward (or outward) from each other. Since the side fence plates 71 and 72 move outward (or inward), the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 can regulate the left and right side edges in the paper width direction according to the width size of the paper P. It has become.

  Next, the offset guide plate moving mechanism unit 80 is provided in the housing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 immediately below the paper discharge unit 45 so that the sheets P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 in the image forming apparatus 10 can fall. The right side plate 11b is attached as a unit.

  In this offset guide plate moving mechanism portion 80, the offset guide plate 82 attached to the first bracket 81 (FIG. 5) is linked to the paper discharge direction by the link mechanism 85 (FIG. 5) connected to the motor 84 (FIG. 5). It is movable forward and downward or rearward and upward.

  The above-described offset guide plate 82 offsets the stacking position on the rear end side of the paper P on the paper receiving tray 61 by a predetermined offset amount in the paper discharge direction at the time of paper sorting, which will be described later, and alternates back and forth by the offset operation. The rear end of the paper P stacked at the set first and second paper stacking positions is restricted.

  Further, in the lower part of the front surface of the offset guide plate 82, the first paper abutting member 83 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is aligned with the front surface of the offset guide plate 82 so that the rear end portion of the paper P can be regulated. It is mounted so that it can move up and down about 20 mm and can move down by its own weight.

  Next, the end fence plate moving mechanism unit 90 is provided on the front surface 61 a 1 side of the bottom plate portion 61 a of the paper tray 61.

  In the end fence plate moving mechanism 90, an end fence plate 92 is integrally fixed to a second bracket 91 formed using a sheet metal material. The end fence plate 92 is fixed to the offset guide plate 82 described above. The sheet P is vertically suspended so as to be opposed by a length in the discharge direction of the paper P, and the end fence plate 92 is movable along the paper discharge direction integrally with the second bracket 91.

  The above-described end fence plate 92 can be moved integrally with the second bracket 91 according to the length size in the discharge direction of the paper P, and on the paper receiving tray 61 on the front end side of the paper P at the time of paper sorting described later. The front end portion of the paper P stacked on the first and second paper stacking positions set alternately by the offset operation is offset by offsetting the stacking position by a predetermined offset amount in the paper discharge direction.

  Further, in the lower part of the rear surface of the end fence plate 92, the second paper abutting member 93 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is aligned with the rear surface of the end fence plate 92 so that the front end portion of the paper P can be regulated, for example, 20 mm. The second sheet abutting member 93 can be moved upward by operating the electromagnetic solenoid 94 (FIG. 5).

  At this time, the end fence plate 92 is movable in the front-rear direction, but unlike the offset guide plate 82, it does not move in the vertical direction. The reason for this is that the end fence plate 92 maintains a certain height above the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61 because the paper receiving tray 61 descends in accordance with the paper stacking amount when sorting paper, which will be described later. ing.

  Here, the moving mechanism that moves the end fence plate 92 integrally with the second bracket 91 is attached to the back side of a top plate (not shown) that covers the top of the sheet sorting device 50.

  That is, the second geared motor 96 is attached so as to be able to rotate forward and backward via a second motor bracket 95 supported on the back side of the top plate (not shown).

  The second geared motor 96 rotationally drives a second timing belt 97 that is stretched around a pair of front and rear timing pulleys that are spaced apart from each other in the paper discharge direction. Then, a second bracket 91 that integrally supports the end fence plate 92 is attached to one slider (not shown) connected to the second timing belt 97, and the second bracket 91 is integrally formed with one slider. The supported end fence plate 92 is movable along the two second guide shafts 98 and 99 provided along the paper discharge direction.

  As described above, if the second geared motor 96 is rotated forward, for example, the second bracket 91 and the end fence plate 92 are integrally moved to the rear side (or the front side), while the second geared motor 96 can be reversed. For example, the second bracket 91 and the end fence plate 92 are integrally moved to the front side (or the rear side).

  Next, the second control unit 100 for the sheet sorting apparatus is installed at an appropriate position in the sheet sorting apparatus 50.

  Then, the CPU 100a in the second control unit 100 controls the paper cradle elevating mechanism unit 60, the side fence plate moving mechanism unit 70, the offset guide plate moving mechanism unit 80, and the end fence plate moving mechanism unit 90, respectively. doing.

  The ROM 100b in the second control unit 100 stores an operation program for the sheet sorting apparatus 50 and the like.

  The RAM 100 c in the second control unit 100 temporarily stores various information that can be changed in the sheet sorting apparatus 50.

  Further, the timing command unit 100d in the second control unit 100 is a first control unit in which the timing of sheet sorting and offset operation in the sheet sorting device 50 is provided in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2). 49.

  Next, using the paper sorting apparatus 50 configured as described above, the paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 in the image forming apparatus 10 is separated on the paper receiving tray 61 in the paper sorting apparatus 50. The operation to be performed will be briefly described in the order of operation with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6R schematically show the operation in the paper sorting mode in the paper sorting device 50 in the order of operation.

  In FIG. 6, the height position of the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the paper receiving tray 61 on which the paper P is not stacked, or the paper height position of the uppermost sheet P stacked on the paper receiving tray 61 is shown. In order to detect, light transmitting type paper height position detecting light attached to the right side plate 11b side of the casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the front side plate 52 side facing the right side plate 11b with a space therebetween. For convenience of illustration, the sensor 53 is shown only in FIGS. 6A, 6G, and 6M, and in the other figures, the paper height position is indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the paper height position detecting optical sensor 53 is shown. Is omitted.

  Here, when a large number of sheets P are sorted using the sheet sorting apparatus 50, the size of the sheet P is detected in the image forming apparatus 10 in advance, and the sheet size is determined by the first control unit 49 ( Assume that the lengths in the discharge direction of the sheets P stored in FIGS. 1 and 2) and stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61 are the same.

  In addition, the predetermined number of sheets for stacking the sheets P sequentially discharged from the sheet discharge unit 45 on the paper receiving tray 61 for each sheet classification is set to be constant in advance for each sheet classification, and the number of sheet classification is also set in advance. It is set and stored in the first control unit 49 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Further, when the paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge section 45 is offset on the paper receiving tray 61 back and forth in the paper discharging direction and is divided into a plurality of times, the first on the paper receiving tray 61 is displayed. A paper stacking position and a second paper stacking position are set, and the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position are alternately offset and repeated.

  At this time, the first sheet stacking position is such that the offset guide plate 82 is opposed to the paper receiving tray 61 and the end fence plate is opposed to the offset guide plate 82 by a length in the discharge direction of the sheet P. 92 is a standby position waiting on the upstream side in the paper discharge direction.

  On the other hand, the second paper stacking position is such that the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 with respect to the paper receiving tray 61 are located downstream of the first paper stacking position in the paper discharge direction. The position is offset by a fixed amount.

  Of the plurality of paper divisions, odd-numbered paper division is performed at the first paper stacking position, while even-numbered paper classification is performed at the second paper stacking position.

  First, FIG. 6A shows a state in which the paper tray 61 is waiting at the standby position before the paper P is stacked on the paper tray 61.

  Here, the height of the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper tray 61 on which the paper P is not stacked is set to the right side plate 11b side of the casing 11 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the image forming apparatus 10 and the right side plate 11b. Is detected by a light transmission type paper height position detecting optical sensor 53 attached to the front plate 52 side facing with a distance from the paper discharge position of the paper P discharged from the paper discharge section 45. The paper cradle 61 stands by at a position where the paper drop height H to the upper surface plate portion 61b of the cradle 61 becomes substantially constant.

  Further, the offset guide plate 82 suspended from the right side plate 11 b side of the housing 11 is disposed above the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the paper receiving tray 61 and slightly from the rear surface 61 a 2 of the bottom plate portion 61 a of the paper receiving tray 61. The first paper abutting member 83 attached to the lower part of the offset guide plate 82 is capable of regulating the trailing edge of the falling paper P, waiting for the first paper separation, and falling down. It hangs down toward the cradle 61 side. Therefore, the first paper abutting member 83 can regulate the rear end portion of the paper P in the discharge direction together with the offset guide plate 82.

  The end fence plate 92 suspended from the front plate 52 is disposed above the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61 and has a length in the discharge direction of the paper P stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61b. The second paper abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is capable of restricting the front end portion of the falling paper P while waiting for the first paper sorting at the corresponding position. Since the solenoid 94 (FIG. 5) is in the OFF state, the solenoid 94 (see FIG. 5) hangs down toward the paper receiving tray 61 by its own weight and is in soft contact with the paper receiving tray 61. Therefore, the second paper abutting member 93 can regulate the front end portion in the discharge direction of the paper P together with the end fence plate 92.

  Next, FIG. 6B shows a state in which the paper P is discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 and the first paper sorting is performed as an example of the odd-numbered paper sorting.

  Here, the offset guide plate 82 and the first paper abutting member 83, and the end fence plate 92 and the second paper abutting member 93 are all in the same state as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, at the time of the first paper sorting, the first paper stacking position (first paper between the offset guide plate 82 and the first paper abutting member 83 and the end fence plate 92 and the second paper abutting member 93 is used. Loading position) is set.

  The paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 falls between the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 and is sequentially stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61. The front end portion of the sheet P thus abutted against the second sheet abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 restricts the leading end position of the sheet P.

  Further, every time a preset number of sheets P are stacked, the height position of the uppermost sheet P stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the sheet receiving tray 61 is detected by the sheet height position detecting optical sensor 53. Therefore, the paper receiving tray 61 is connected via the DC motor 66 (FIG. 4) so that the paper drop height H set between the paper discharge position of the paper P and the uppermost paper P is substantially constant. Is lowered. As the paper tray 61 is lowered, the second paper abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is separated from the upper surface plate portion 61 b of the paper tray 61.

  Thereafter, when the paper P is stacked on the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61 by a predetermined number of paper sorting, the paper receiving tray 61 stops descending and the first paper sorting ends.

  Next, FIG. 6C shows a state before the second paper sorting in a state where the image formation on the paper P is stopped in the image forming apparatus 10 and the paper P is not discharged from the paper discharge unit 45. The state which starts the 1st offset operation | movement which operate | moves as a step is shown.

  At this time, the first offset operation is performed after the paper sorting is completed at the first paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61 and then at the second paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61. This includes all operations up to before sorting, and during this first offset operation, the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 are offset from the first sheet stacking position to the second sheet stacking position. Yes.

  When the first offset operation is started after the first paper sorting is finished and the lowering of the paper receiving tray 61 is stopped, the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are opened, closed, and opened. .

  Here, the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are temporarily opened by a predetermined amount outward from the left and right side end portions of the paper P stacked on the paper receiving tray 61, thereby forming a pair of left and right side fences. Since the restriction of the left and right side edges of the paper P by the plates 71 and 72 is released, the paper P can be prevented from being caught on the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 generated during the paper sorting. Paper loading disturbance due to damage or slanting can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, in order to correct the stacking deviation in the paper width direction that occurs when the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are temporarily opened by a predetermined amount, the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 are closed again and opened again. Thus, the sheet stacking failure on the paper receiving tray 61 is surely prevented.

  Next, FIG. 6D shows a state in which the paper receiving tray 61 is temporarily lowered as the first offset operation performed before the second paper sorting. Here, when the paper tray 61 is temporarily lowered, the first paper abutting member 83 attached to the lower part of the offset guide plate 82 and the second paper abutting member attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92. 93 can be separated from the uppermost sheet P, which is the first sheet stacked on the sheet receiving tray 61.

  At this time, at the first paper stacking position, the first lowering amount D1 when the paper receiving tray 61 is lowered after the pair of left and right side fence plates 71, 72 are opened, closed, and opened is the paper height position, This is the distance from the lowermost sheet P stacked on the lowered paper tray 61.

  At the first sheet stacking position, the first sheet abutting member 83 attached to the lower portion of the offset guide plate 82 in the next step shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second sheet abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is moved up, so that the second sheet abutting member 93 in the first sheet stacking position is moved. The first descending amount D1 is set to a large value so that the first sheet abutting member 83 does not come into contact with the uppermost sheet P on the lowered sheet tray 61.

  Next, in FIG. 6E, as a first offset operation performed before the second paper sorting, the offset guide plate 82 is moved to the lower right (+ side) along the paper P discharge direction. As a predetermined amount of offset to the right, for example, about +30 mm is moved and about 5 mm is moved downward, and the first sheet abutting member 83 attached to the lower part of the offset guide plate 82 is moved down by its own weight. ing. On the other hand, the second paper abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is moved upward by the on operation of the electromagnetic solenoid 94 (FIG. 5).

  Next, FIG. 6F shows a first offset operation that is performed before the second paper sorting, in which the end fence plate 92 is moved in the discharge direction of the paper P while the second paper abutting member 93 is moved upward. For example, about +30 mm is moved to the right (+ side) along the predetermined offset amount.

  Next, FIG. 6G shows the second sheet attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 with the electromagnetic solenoid 94 (FIG. 5) turned off as the first offset operation performed before the second sheet division. The abutting member 93 is moved downward by its own weight.

  Next, FIG. 6 (h) shows a paper receiving platform in which the uppermost sheet P on the lowered paper receiving tray 61 reaches the paper height position as the first offset operation performed before the second paper sorting. 61 is raised, and the rising amount of the paper receiving tray 61 may be increased by the first lowering amount D1 of the paper receiving tray 61 described in FIG.

  Then, the first sheet abutting member 83 attached to the lower part of the offset guide plate 82 is softened on the uppermost sheet P divided on the first sheet stacked on the sheet receiver 61 by the rising of the sheet receiver 61. And the second sheet abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is brought close to the upper surface plate portion 61b of the paper receiving tray 61, thereby offsetting the offset guide plate 82 to the right. A second paper stacking position (second paper stacking position) is set between the end fence plate 92 and the end fence plate 92.

  Next, FIG. 6 (i) again closes the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72 opened in the stage of FIG. 6 (c) as the first offset operation performed before the second paper sorting. Accordingly, when the second paper sorting is performed in the next step shown in FIG. 6J, the left and right side edge portions of the paper P can be regulated by the pair of left and right side fence plates 71 and 72.

  Next, in FIG. 6J, the paper P is sequentially discharged again from the paper discharge unit 45 in the image forming apparatus 10, and the second paper division is performed. As a result, the paper P to be sorted for the second time is stacked with an offset of, for example, about 30 mm to the right on the uppermost paper P that has been sorted for the first time.

  Next, the states shown in FIGS. 6 (k) to 6 (q) show a second offset operation that operates as a pre-stage for performing the third paper sorting.

  At this time, the second offset operation is performed after the paper sorting is completed at the second paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61 and then at the first paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61. All the operations up to before the sorting are performed, and during this second offset operation, the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 are offset from the second sheet stacking position to the first sheet stacking position. The first paper stacking position has been returned.

  Here, only the second offset operation that performs a different operation with respect to the first offset operation will be described, and the description of the same operation as the first offset operation will be omitted and only illustrated.

  Then, during the second offset operation performed before the third paper division, each process of FIG. 6 (l), FIG. 6 (m), FIG. 6 (n), and FIG. It differs from the first offset operation performed before.

  That is, FIG. 6L shows a state in which the paper receiving tray 61 is lowered as the second offset operation performed before the third paper sorting, but at the second paper stacking position, The second lowering amount D2 when the paper receiving tray 61 is lowered after the side fence plates 71 and 72 are opened, closed, and opened is the paper receiving stand at the first paper stacking position described above with reference to FIG. The first descent amount D1 of 61 is set to a smaller value.

  The reason for this is that the first sheet abutting member 83 attached to the lower portion of the offset guide plate 82 in the next step shown in FIG. 6 (m) is used as the uppermost sheet P that has been divided into sheets at the second sheet stacking position. The first sheet abutting member 83 is returned to the standby position together with the offset guide plate 82 while the second sheet abutting member 93 attached to the lower part of the end fence plate 92 is moved upward. Then, without considering the contact of the first and second paper abutting members 83 and 93 with the uppermost paper P on the lowered paper cradle 61, the paper cradle 61 in the second paper stacking position is not taken into consideration. Since the second descending amount D2 can be set to a value smaller than the first descending amount D1 at the first sheet stacking position, the sheet sorting time can be shortened.

  Further, in FIG. 6M, the offset guide plate 82 is moved obliquely to the upper left (− side), and the second sheet abutting member 93 attached to the lower portion of the end fence plate 92 is moved upward.

  In FIG. 6 (n), the end fence plate 92 is moved to the left (− side) while the second sheet abutting member 93 is moved upward.

  Further, in FIG. 6 (p), the paper tray 61 is raised so that the uppermost sheet P on the lowered paper tray 61 reaches the paper height position. What is necessary is just to raise only the 2nd fall amount D2 of the paper stand 61 demonstrated in FIG.6 (l).

  Accordingly, the third paper stacking position (first position) is between the offset guide plate 82 moved to the left by about −30 mm and the upper side by about 5 mm and the end fence plate 92 moved to the left by about −30 mm. Sheet loading position) is set, and the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 return to the same standby position as the first time.

  Thereafter, in FIG. 6 (r), the paper P can be discharged again and the third paper division can be performed.

  Hereinafter, when the paper division is repeated a plurality of times, the first offset operation and the second offset operation are alternately repeated, and the offset guide plate 82 and the end fence plate 92 are set to a predetermined offset for each paper division. By alternately moving the sheet P forward or backward with respect to the sheet discharge direction, the stacking position of the sheets P stacked and stacked on the sheet receiving tray 61 is alternately offset back and forth with respect to the sheet discharge direction.

  When the preset number of paper divisions is reached, all the paper divisions are completed.

  In the above-described paper sorting mode shown in FIG. 6, in particular, the second control unit 100 (FIGS. 1 and 4) provided in the paper sorting device 50 performs the paper sorting on the first and second paper stacking positions. When the offset guide plate 82 and the first paper abutting member 83 are offset, and the end fence plate 92 and the second paper abutting member 93 are offset, the paper tray 61 in the second paper stacking position is set. The lowering amount D2 and the rising amount are set smaller than the lowering amount D1 and the rising amount of the paper receiving tray 61 at the first paper stacking position, so that the lowering time and the rising of the paper receiving tray 61 at the second paper stacking position are set. The time can be shortened compared with the case of the first paper stacking position.

  Accordingly, the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) related to the first offset operation performed between FIGS. 6C to 6I is the first offset operation time T1 performed between FIGS. 2 is longer than the second offset operation time T2 (FIG. 7) required for the offset operation 2. However, since the second offset operation time T2 is shortened, the total offset movement time is shortened. Can contribute to improving productivity.

  Further, the second control unit 100 in the paper sorting apparatus 50 moves to the first and second paper stacking positions according to the difference in the lowering and rising amounts of the paper receiving tray 61 at the first and second paper stacking positions. Since the paper discharge start interval is controlled, the paper P can be discharged to the first and second paper stacking positions set on the paper receiving tray 61 with good timing and reliability.

<Maintenance timing>
FIG. 7 is a timing diagram for explaining a maintenance operation performed in the image processing apparatus. FIG. 7A shows a comparative example with respect to the embodiment, and FIG. 7B shows a case of the embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the offset timing is the first and second offsets performed in the paper sorting apparatus 50 (FIG. 3) constituting a part of the image processing apparatus 1 (FIG. 1). The first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 related to the operation are shown.

  At this time, the first offset operation time T1 has been described with reference to FIGS. 6C to 6I after the paper sorting is completed at the first paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61. As described above, the first offset operation is performed before the next sheet sorting is performed at the second sheet stacking position set on the sheet receiving tray 61, and the offset guide plate 82 is used during the first offset operation. And the end fence plate 92 are offset from the first paper stacking position corresponding to the second paper stacking position.

  On the other hand, the second offset operation time T2 is as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 (k) to (q) after the paper sorting is completed at the second paper stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61. The second offset operation is performed before the next sheet sorting is performed at the first sheet stacking position set on the paper receiving tray 61. During the second offset operation, the offset guide plate 82 and The end fence plate 92 is offset from the second paper stacking position corresponding to the first paper stacking position and returned to the first paper stacking position.

  The maintenance timing indicates a maintenance time M required for maintenance performed in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 2) constituting a part of the image processing apparatus 1 (FIG. 1).

  At this time, the maintenance time M is a time for performing head cleaning on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 as described above with reference to FIGS.

  The printing operation is an operation for printing on the paper P in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 2). The printed paper P is sequentially sent to the paper sorting device 50 (FIG. 3), and this paper sorting is performed. In the apparatus 50, the sheets are separated by being alternately offset to the first sheet stacking position and the second sheet stacking position set on the sheet receiving tray 61.

  At this time, the printing operation in the image forming apparatus 10 is interrupted during the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 in which the first and second offset operations are performed in the sheet sorting apparatus 50.

  As described above, when the offset timing, the maintenance timing, and the printing operation are defined, in the case of the comparative example with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, the maintenance unit 40 is included in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 2). Since the print operation is forcibly interrupted regardless of the offset operation in order to perform head cleaning on the ink jet head unit 25 using the image forming apparatus, image formation (printing) on the paper P in the image forming apparatus 10 is performed. As a result, a problem arises in that the productivity of both the paper sorting apparatus 50 and the paper sorting into the paper P decreases.

  Therefore, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 in which the image-formed paper P is not discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 into the paper sorting apparatus 50. By effectively using either one of the offset operation times (T1) and (T2), the head cleaning is performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 2). The maintenance timing is adjusted to the offset timing.

  At this time, as described above, since the first offset operation time T1 is longer than the second offset operation time T2, the first offset operation time is longer as shown in FIG. 7B. A person who performs maintenance during the offset operation time T1 can afford time.

  However, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the maintenance time M is longer than the first offset operation time T1, the range of T1 is a time during which the printing operation is interrupted with the first offset operation. However, the range of M-T1 is a time during which the printing operation is forcibly interrupted.

  Thereby, in the case of the embodiment, by overlapping the maintenance timing with the offset timing, the time for forcibly interrupting the printing on the paper P at the time of maintenance can be significantly shortened compared to the comparative example. It is possible to suppress a decrease in productivity with respect to image formation (printing) on the paper P in the apparatus 10 and paper sorting in the paper sorting apparatus 50.

  Further, the case where the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B is performed will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for performing the maintenance operation in the embodiment shown in FIG. Moreover, FIG. 9 is a figure for demonstrating a specific example using a numerical value with respect to the maintenance operation | movement of the Example shown in FIG. Further, FIGS. 10A to 10C show the state of whether or not the first and second offset operation times are within the maintenance allowable range when the cumulative number for maintenance reaches the maintenance allowable range. It is the timing diagram shown.

  Before describing the flow of performing the maintenance operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, (a) to (f) shown in FIG.

  First, (a) in FIG. 8 shows the accumulated number of maintenance sheets after reset. This maintenance cumulative number (a) is obtained after the maintenance cumulative number (a) is reset when the inkjet head unit 25 is maintained using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 2). Corresponds to the cumulative number of printed sheets P, and is counted by the counter 49d (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the first control unit 49.

  Next, (b) in FIG. 8 shows the maintenance set number of sheets. This maintenance set number (b) is used when the head cleaning (maintenance) is periodically performed at a predetermined timing with respect to the inkjet head unit 25 in order to maintain the printing performance on the paper P in the image forming apparatus 10. A predetermined timing value is set in advance corresponding to the number of printed sheets P, and this maintenance set number (b) is stored in the RAM 49c (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the first control unit 49. Stored in

  Next, (c) in FIG. 8 shows the number of sheets sorted. This sheet sorting number (c) is set and set by the user using the sheet sorting number setting key provided in the operation panel unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 when sorting sheets in the sheet sorting apparatus 50. The sheet number (c) is also stored in the RAM 49c of the first controller 49, and the current sheet number is counted by the counter 49d (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the first controller 49 during the sheet classification. Has been.

  Next, (d) in FIG. 8 shows the allowable maintenance range. The allowable maintenance range (d) is a range in which, for example, ± α sheets is set as an allowable range for the maintenance set number (b) shown in FIG. 8B, and the maintenance set number (b) ± If it falls within the allowable maintenance range (d) of α sheets, maintenance is allowed in the image forming apparatus 10, and this allowable maintenance range (d) is also stored in the RAM 49 c of the first control unit 49. Yes.

  Next, (e) in FIG. 8 will be described later in step S5 in the flowchart.

  Next, (f) in FIG. 8 shows an offset flag. This offset flag is set to “1” during the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) in which the first offset operation is performed, while the second offset operation time T2 in which the second offset operation is performed. In FIG. 7, “0” is set.

  As described above, after defining the maintenance total number (a), the maintenance set number (b), the paper sorting number (c), the maintenance allowable range (d), and the offset flag (f). The number in parentheses in FIG. 8 indicates the numerical value of the specific example shown in FIG. 9 described later.

  Here, the operation flow shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7 for the maintenance operation that is the main part of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the job offset printing is started, first, in step S1, printing is performed on the paper P in the image forming apparatus 10, and the printed paper P is sequentially discharged toward the paper sorting apparatus 50. Thus, for example, when the paper P is sorted for the first time at the first paper stacking position on the paper receiving tray 61, the offset flag is set to “0”.

  At this time, in the image forming apparatus 10, the maintenance total number (a) and the paper division number (c) are counted by the counter 49 d of the first control unit 49 every time the paper P is printed.

  Next, in step S2, when the first control unit 49 confirms that the counted number of paper divisions has reached the preset paper division number (c), the first paper stacking position on the paper receiving tray 61 is reached. This completes the first paper sorting. Thereafter, since the printed paper P is not discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 to the paper sorting apparatus 50, the offset flag (f) is switched from “0” to “1” here, and the first shown in FIG. During the first offset operation time T1, the first offset operation is started.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the first control unit 49 determines whether or not the counted maintenance cumulative number (a) is within the maintenance allowable range (d) stored in the RAM 49 c of the first control unit 49. Ask.

  At this time, the allowable maintenance range (d) is set, for example, to ± 50 sheets (950 sheets to 1050 sheets) with respect to the maintenance set sheet number (b) set to 1000 sheets, for example.

  In step S3, when the first control unit 49 determines that the maintenance cumulative number (a) is within the allowable maintenance range (d) (YES), the process proceeds to step S4.

  On the other hand, if the first control unit 49 determines that the maintenance cumulative number (a) is not within the allowable maintenance range (d) in step S3 (NO), the process proceeds to step S9 described later.

  Next, in step S4, the first control unit 49 asks whether or not the offset flag (f) = “1” is long.

  At this time, when the first and second offset operations are alternately repeated at the offset timing of the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 7B, the first offset operation time T1 is the second. Longer than the offset operation time T2. Accordingly, during the first offset operation time T1 having a long offset operation time, the offset flag (f) is set to “1” and the first offset operation is performed, while the second offset operation time is short. During the offset operation time T2, the offset flag (f) is set to “0” and the second offset operation is performed.

  If the first control unit 49 determines that the offset flag (f) = “1” is not long in step S4 (NO), the process proceeds to step S5.

  On the other hand, when the first control unit 49 determines that the offset flag (f) = “1” is long in step S4 (YES), the process proceeds to step S7 described later.

  Next, in step S5, the first control unit 49 calculates the total number (e) for maintenance during the next offset operation.

  At this time, as the maintenance total number (e) at the next offset operation, the counted maintenance total number (a) and the set sheet sorting number (c) are added in the CPU 49a of the first control unit 49. , The addition result (e) = (a) + (c) is stored in the RAM 49c of the first control unit 49.

  After that, in step S6, the first control unit 49 performs maintenance in which the maintenance total number (e) = (a) + (c) for the next offset operation obtained by calculation is stored in the RAM 49c. It asks whether it is within the allowable range (d).

  Then, in step S6, the first control unit 49 determines that the cumulative total number for maintenance (e) = (a) + (c) obtained during the next offset operation is not within the allowable maintenance range (d). If so (NO), the process proceeds to step S7.

  On the other hand, in step S6, if the cumulative total number for maintenance (e) = (a) + (c) obtained during the next offset operation is within the maintenance allowable range (d), the first control unit 49 When it is determined (in the case of YES), the process proceeds to step S9 described later.

  Next, in step S7, maintenance is automatically executed in accordance with the offset movement operation.

  That is, in step S7, if it is determined in step S4 that the offset flag (f) = “1” is long, the offset operation is performed as described above with reference to FIG. The head cleaning is automatically performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 in accordance with the first offset operation time T1 that is long.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the maintenance total number (e) for the next offset operation obtained by calculation in step S6 is not within the allowable maintenance range (d), the second offset operation time is short. The head cleaning is automatically performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with the offset operation time T2.

  Next, in step S8, the first control unit 49 resets the counted maintenance cumulative number (a).

  Thereafter, in step S9, the first control unit 49 asks whether or not to end the job printing. If the job printing is not ended (in the case of NO), the first control unit 49 returns to step S1. On the other hand, when the job printing is finished in step S9 (YES), the printing is finished by ending this flow.

  In FIG. 8, the flow in the case where the offset operation is not performed when the cumulative number of maintenance sheets (e) reaches within the allowable maintenance range (d) is omitted. In this case, FIG. This will be described later in d).

  Here, in order to make the flow operation at the time of performing the maintenance operation of the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 8 easier to understand, a specific example will be described using specific numerical values in FIG. 9 with reference to FIG. explain.

  In the specific example when the maintenance operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is performed, the total number of maintenance (a) reaches 920 at the start of the job flow operation. The maintenance set number (b) is set to 1000. In addition, the set value of the sheet sorting number (c) is set to 20 sheets. Further, since the allowable maintenance range (d) is set to ± 50 sheets for the allowable range of ± α sheets with respect to the maintenance set number of sheets (b), the allowable maintenance range (d) is 950 sheets to 1050 sheets. If the sheet is set and falls within the allowable maintenance range (d), it is allowed to perform maintenance in the image forming apparatus 10.

  From the above, when 80 sheets of paper P are printed after the start of the job flow operation, the total number of maintenance sheets (a) matches the set value of the maintenance set number of sheets (b) = 1000 sheets.

  The offset flag (f) is set to “0” at the start of the job flow operation, and thereafter, the first offset operation corresponding to the time when the offset flag (f) is “1” and the offset flag (f) The second offset operation corresponding to “0” is repeated, and “1” → “0” → “1” →... Are alternately switched for each offset operation.

  The first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) corresponding to when the offset flag (f) is “1” is the second offset operation time T2 corresponding to when the offset flag (f) is “0”. Longer than (FIG. 7).

  Here, the job flow operation is started from the state in which the maintenance cumulative number (a) is 920 sheets, and the first sheet on the paper tray 61 for the paper P having the sheet sorting number (c) of 20 sheets. When the first paper sorting is performed at the paper stacking position, the cumulative number of maintenance sheets (a) is 940 in steps S1 and S2, and the first paper sorting is completed, so that the offset flag (f) is changed from “0”. Switch to “1”.

  Thereafter, in step S3, the first control unit 49 determines that it is not within the maintenance allowable range (d) of 950 to 1050 sheets with respect to the accumulated number of maintenance sheets (a) that has reached 940 sheets. Maintenance is not performed in the image forming apparatus 10, and the first offset operation is performed in response to the offset flag (f) = “1” to offset from the first sheet stacking position to the second sheet stacking position. Then, the process returns to steps S1 and S2 via step S9.

  Then, when the above steps S1 and S2 are repeated again, the second paper sorting is performed at the second paper stacking position on the paper receiving tray 61 for the paper P having the paper sorting number (c) of 20 sheets. In Steps S1 and S2, the total number of maintenance sheets (a) is 960, and the second paper sorting is completed, so the offset flag (f) is switched from “1” to “0”.

  Thereafter, in step S3, the first control unit 49 determines that the maintenance allowable range (d) of 950 to 1050 sheets is within the maintenance allowable range (d) with respect to the total number of maintenance sheets (a) that has reached 960 sheets. .

  Thereafter, in step S4, the first control unit 49 asks whether or not the offset flag (f) = “1” with a long offset operation time.

  At this time, if the offset flag (f) is “1”, the first control unit 49 determines that the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) when the first offset operation is performed is long. Therefore, in step S7, head cleaning is performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 corresponding to the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7).

  In the specific example described above, the offset flag (f) becomes “0” when the cumulative number of maintenance sheets (a) reaches 960, so that the process cannot immediately proceed to step S7, and the first offset Maintenance corresponding to the operation time T1 (FIG. 7) cannot be executed.

  On the other hand, if the offset flag (f) is “0”, the first control unit 49 determines that the second offset operation time T2 (FIG. 7) when the second offset operation is performed is short, A second offset operation is performed in response to the offset flag (f) = “0”, and is offset from the second paper stacking position to the first paper stacking position and returned to the first paper stacking position. .

  If it is determined that the offset flag (f) = “1” is not long in step S4, the maintenance total number (e) for the next offset operation is calculated in step S5. To do. In the case of the specific example described above, (e) = (a) + (c) = 960 sheets + 20 sheets = 980 sheets.

  Thereafter, in step S6, the first control unit 49 asks whether or not the cumulative total number (e) for maintenance at the time of the next offset operation obtained by calculation is within the allowable maintenance range (d). In the case of the specific example, it is determined whether the total number of maintenance sheets (e) = 980 sheets obtained during the next offset operation obtained by calculation is within the maintenance allowable range (d) of 950 sheets to 1050 sheets. become.

  When it is determined that the cumulative total number (e) for maintenance at the time of the next offset operation obtained by the calculation is within the allowable maintenance range (d), the above steps S1 and S2 are repeated again via step S9. Therefore, since the current cumulative number of maintenance (a) reaches 980 and the offset flag (f) becomes “1”, the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) having a long offset operation time in step S7. ), The head cleaning is automatically performed on the inkjet head unit 25 using the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the cumulative total number (e) for maintenance at the time of the next offset operation obtained by calculation is not within the allowable maintenance range (d), the offset flag (f) is “0”, so step S7. Thus, maintenance is performed in the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with the second offset operation time T2 (FIG. 7) having a short offset operation time.

  Accordingly, when the maintenance cumulative number (e) reaches the maintenance allowable range (d), if the first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7) is long within the maintenance allowable range (d), Maintenance is performed in the image forming apparatus 10 in accordance with the long first offset operation time T1 (FIG. 7).

  On the other hand, when there is only the second offset operation time T2 (FIG. 7) having a short offset operation time within the maintenance allowable range (d), the image is adjusted to the short second offset operation time T2 (FIG. 7). Maintenance is performed in the forming apparatus 10.

  When the maintenance operation according to the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 8 is performed, the set values are set to appropriate values for the maintenance set number of sheets, the number of sheets to be sorted, and the maintenance allowable range. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, when the maintenance cumulative number reaches the maintenance allowable range, are the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 within the maintenance allowable range? There will be 4 different states.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10A, when there is only the first offset operation time T1 within the maintenance allowable range, the maintenance is performed corresponding to the first offset operation time T1 having a long offset operation time. Maintenance time M elapses. At this time, as described above with reference to FIG. 7B, when the maintenance time M is longer than the first offset operation time T1, the range of T1 is within the printing operation accompanying the first offset operation. Although the time is interrupted, the range of M-T1 is the time when the printing operation is forcibly interrupted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, when there is only the second offset operation time T2 within the allowable maintenance range, maintenance is performed corresponding to the second offset operation time T2 having a short offset operation time. The maintenance time M elapses. At this time, if the maintenance time M shown in FIG. 10B is the same as the maintenance time M shown in FIG. 10A, the forced interruption time of the printing operation becomes longer than that in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 are within the allowable maintenance range, the offset operation time is long as described in the previous flow operation. Since the first offset operation time T1 is prioritized, maintenance is performed corresponding to the first offset operation time T1, and the maintenance time M elapses.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10D, when the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 are not within the allowable maintenance range, the maintenance M is forcibly performed based on the maintenance set number. Therefore, since the printing operation is forcibly interrupted, the productivity may deteriorate as in the comparative example with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, but the specific example shown in FIG. As described in the example, in the case where the first and second offset operations are performed in which the maintenance allowable range is set to 950 to 1050 sheets and the sheet sorting number is set to about 20, the example shown in FIG. Does not occur.

  According to the maintenance system of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention described above, the maintenance unit 40 that automatically performs maintenance on any one of the paper feeding unit 15, the image forming unit 25, and the paper discharge unit 45; The image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 49 that instructs a maintenance timing to the maintenance unit 40, and post-processing units 60, 61, 80, and 90 that perform post-processing on the image-formed paper P. When the image processing apparatus 1 is configured to include the post-processing device 50, the control unit 49 in the image forming apparatus 10 is configured so that the image-formed paper P is not discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 in the post-processing device 50. Since the time during the processing operation is used, the maintenance unit 40 in the image forming apparatus 10 is instructed to perform maintenance. And image formation on the sheet P at the inner, the decrease in productivity with respect to the post-processing to the sheet P in in the post-processing device 50 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the maintenance system of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, as the post-processing device, the image-formed paper P sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 is passed through the post-processing units 60, 61, 80, and 90. Thus, the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position set on the paper tray 61 are alternately offset for each paper sorting number, and the paper sorting is performed, and the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position are set. The control unit 49 in the image forming apparatus 10 is applied when the paper sorting device 50 configured so that the image-formed paper P is not discharged from the paper discharge unit 45 during the offset operation for offsetting to the paper stacking position. When the total number of maintenance sheets is within the allowable maintenance range, if there is an offset operation within the allowable maintenance range, maintenance can be performed using the offset operation time. On the other hand, if there is no offset operation within the allowable maintenance range, maintenance is forcibly performed based on the number of maintenance settings, so the offset operation time is effective especially when there is an offset operation within the allowable maintenance range. It can be used for maintenance.

  Further, in the maintenance system for the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the control means 49 in the image forming apparatus 10 includes a first offset operation time T1 for offsetting from the first paper stacking position to the second paper stacking position, When the second offset operation time T2 for offsetting from the second sheet stacking position to the first sheet stacking position is different, the longer offset operation time of the first and second offset operation times T1 and T2 Since the maintenance is performed with priority, the maintenance during the longer offset operation time can afford time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing apparatus, 10 ... Image forming apparatus,
15 ... paper feeding means (paper feeding part), 25 ... image forming means (inkjet head part),
27C, 27K, 27M, 27 ... inkjet head,
30 ... belt platen,
40 ... maintenance unit, 41 ... moving mechanism, 43 ... head cleaning member,
45 ... paper discharge means (paper discharge unit), 49 ... control unit (first control unit),
50. Paper sorting device,
51: Paper guide fence plate, 52: Front side plate, 53: Optical sensor for detecting paper height position,
60 ... Paper cradle lifting mechanism 61, Paper cradle,
70: Side fence plate moving mechanism,
71, 72 ... a pair of left and right side fence plates,
80: Offset guide plate moving mechanism,
81: First bracket, 82: Offset guide plate, 83: First paper abutting member,
90 ... End fence plate moving mechanism,
91 ... 2nd bracket, 92 ... End fence board, 93 ... 2nd paper abutting member,
100 ... 2nd control part, 60, 61, 80, 90 ... post-processing means,
I / F ... interface, P ... paper,
M: maintenance time, T1, T2: first and second offset operation times.

Claims (4)

Paper feeding means for sequentially feeding paper, image forming means for forming an image on the fed paper, paper discharge means for sequentially discharging paper on which images have been formed, image forming means, and paper discharge An image forming apparatus comprising: a maintenance unit that automatically performs maintenance on any of the units; and a control unit that instructs the maintenance unit to perform maintenance.
A post-processing device having post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge means;
When the image processing apparatus is configured with
The control means instructs the maintenance means to perform maintenance using a time during a post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus maintenance system. The post-processing apparatus includes a first paper stacking position and a first paper stacking position in which the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge unit is set on a paper receiving tray for each number of paper divisions via the post-processing unit. In the offset operation for offsetting to the first paper stacking position and the second paper stacking position, the image is discharged from the paper discharge unit. A paper sorting device configured to prevent the formed paper from being discharged is applied,
The control means includes a maintenance set number for performing maintenance, a memory for storing a maintenance allowable range in which an allowable range is set for the maintenance set number, and a counter for counting the maintenance total number after the reset. In the above, when the maintenance cumulative number reaches the maintenance allowable range, if there is an offset operation within the maintenance allowable range, the maintenance is performed using the offset operation time, while the offset is within the maintenance allowable range. 2. The maintenance system for an image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if there is no operation, maintenance is forcibly performed based on the set number of maintenance sheets.   The control means includes a first offset operation time for offsetting from the first sheet stacking position to the second sheet stacking position, and a first offset operation time for offsetting from the second sheet stacking position to the first sheet stacking position. 3. The image processing according to claim 2, wherein when the two offset operation times are different, the maintenance is performed with priority given to the longer one of the first and second offset operation times. Equipment maintenance system. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet discharge unit that sequentially discharges the image-formed sheet, a maintenance unit that automatically performs maintenance on the image forming unit, and a maintenance that is performed on the maintenance unit An image forming apparatus having control means for instructing the timing to perform
A post-processing device having post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed paper sequentially discharged from the paper discharge means;
When the image processing apparatus is configured with
The control means instructs the maintenance means to perform maintenance using a time during a post-processing operation in which the image-formed paper is not discharged from the paper discharge means in the post-processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus maintenance system.

Images