JP2020032704A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a collation error in page order of deliverables on a discharge tray even when switching between discharge trays is conducted on the basis of detection of full load and cancellation of the full load.SOLUTION: An image formation device restricts setting for a discharge tray that does not have any sheet existence detection sensor so as to be set as the lowest priority at a setting screen for setting an order of priority for discharge trays.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of discharge trays.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing a large number of sheets such as hundreds of sheets continuously, if the maximum number of sheets that can be stacked on the paper discharge tray is stacked on the paper discharge tray, the print job cannot be continued and is temporarily stopped. Then, the print job is restarted by having the user remove the paper from the paper output tray.

  In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper output trays, the operation of the apparatus when performing the continuous printing as described above is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163,197. A technique used as a paper slot is disclosed. In this case, the two paper discharge trays are regarded as large-capacity paper discharge trays, paper is discharged from the lower part, and when the lower paper discharge port is determined to be full, the paper discharge port is switched to the upper paper discharge port. It is the content.

  Furthermore, in this document, after the lower discharge tray is full and the discharge destination is switched to the upper discharge tray, the paper stacked on the lower discharge tray is removed, and the paper can be discharged to the lower discharge tray. A technique is disclosed in which the paper discharge to the lower paper discharge tray is restarted when the condition becomes "1".

  A full load detection unit as a premise of the above-described technology and a sheet presence detection unit that determines whether a sheet has been removed will be described.

  The full load detecting means generally uses a method of making a determination using a sensor arranged at a predetermined height on a paper discharge tray. According to this method, when the sheets are stacked to a predetermined height, the sensor is turned on, and it is determined that the sheets are full.

  As the sheet presence detection means, a method of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet with respect to a sheet bundle on the sheet discharge tray by using a sensor disposed on the sheet discharge tray is generally used. According to this method, if at least one sheet is stacked, the sheet is determined to be “present”, and if all of the sheets are removed, the sheet is determined to be “absent”.

  By the way, some low-cost image forming apparatuses are provided with a sheet re-detection unit but are not provided with a sheet presence / absence detection unit. In such a configuration, after it is determined that a certain discharge tray is full, it is necessary to remove the paper in order to resume discharge to the same discharge tray, but it is determined whether to resume discharge. Is performed when the full load is released by the full load detecting means.

JP 2001-238041 A

  Since the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is discharged while being heated by the fixing unit, the discharged sheet is curved due to the application of heat and pressure. As a result, the height of the sheet bundle on the sheet discharge tray is increased from the original. However, as time passes, the influence of heat on the sheet is reduced, the curved state is also eliminated, and the height of the sheet bundle is reduced.

  As described above, the height of the sheet bundle on the sheet discharge tray decreases as time elapses. Therefore, the full load detection method of detecting the full load based on the sheet height is released without elapse of time without removing the sheet. there is a possibility.

  Here, a case is assumed in which the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used in an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which the lower sheet discharge tray does not have the sheet presence / absence detection means and the sheet is removed when the full load is released. . In this case, the height of the paper on the paper discharge tray is automatically reduced with the passage of time, and the full load is released accordingly, so that the paper discharge to the lower paper discharge tray is restarted.

  In such a case, the page order of the printed matter on the paper discharge tray becomes inappropriate without the user's intention. For example, when a large number of 10-page originals are copied, the sheets are discharged in reverse order, such as 10th page, 9th page, and 8th page. Then, when full loading is detected when a certain number of copies of the fifth page are discharged to the lower discharge tray, the sheets on and after the fourth page are discharged to the upper discharge tray. Thereafter, the paper discharge to the upper paper discharge tray is continued. However, when the height of the sheet bundle on the lower paper tray is reduced due to the passage of time and full loading is released, the paper discharge destination is switched to the lower paper tray. If the last page printed at the top is the fourth page at that time, the third page is discharged to the bottom.

  As a result, up to the fifth page of one copy is discharged to the lower tray, and the third page of another copy is stacked thereon, and the page order of the sheet bundle becomes inappropriate. .

  According to the present invention, even if the image forming apparatus does not have a sheet presence / absence detection sensor on the sheet discharge tray, it is possible to prevent the page order of the stacked sheets from becoming inappropriate due to the detection of the full load and the change of the discharge tray due to the release of the full load. The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes:
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A first discharge tray having sheet detection means for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means and detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
First full load detecting means for detecting that the first discharge tray is full of sheets;
A sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, and a second discharge tray not having a sheet detecting unit for detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
Setting means for setting a priority for selecting the first and second discharge trays based on a user's instruction;
In accordance with the priority order set by the setting unit, the paper discharge tray from which the sheet is discharged is determined, and the sheets are fully loaded by the first full load detection unit while the sheets are being discharged to the first paper discharge tray. Is detected, control means for controlling to discharge sheets to a discharge tray different from the first discharge tray;
And wherein the setting unit is configured not to set the priority of the first discharge tray lower than that of the second discharge tray.

  According to the present invention, even in an image forming apparatus that does not have a sheet presence / absence detection sensor on a discharge tray, the page order of stacked paper becomes inappropriate due to the detection of full load and switching of the discharge tray by canceling the full load. Can be prevented.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of discharge to a finisher discharge tray. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of discharge to a main body discharge tray. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen of a discharge tray. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen of a discharge tray. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of setting a paper discharge tray. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine in a process of setting a discharge tray. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining transition of a discharge state to a discharge tray. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a transition of a discharge state to a discharge tray, which is continued from FIG. 9C. FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a transition of a discharge state to a discharge tray, which is continued from FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of setting a discharge tray according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen of a discharge tray according to the second embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
The basic configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 has a configuration in which a finisher 2 is attached to an upper portion. The image forming apparatus 1 prints an image on a sheet P (also referred to as a sheet) fed from the sheet feeding cassette 100, and after printing on one of the main body discharge tray 160, the finisher discharge tray 161 and the finisher discharge tray 171. Paper. When performing double-sided printing, the image forming apparatus 1 reverses the sheet P printed on the first side by the double-sided reversing unit 180, and then conveys the sheet for printing on the second side again.

  The finisher 2 includes a shift mechanism that moves the sheet in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. The finisher 2 shifts and discharges the printed paper P in the width direction on the finisher discharge tray 161 and the finisher discharge tray 171 for sorting, and staples the paper for discharge. It is possible to perform a binding process.

  These printing operations are started when the CPU 200 shown in FIG. 2 receives a print job from an external device 210 such as a computer via the external I / F 211 (print mode). When the user executes the copy mode in which the image of the document is copied using the image reading unit 191, the CPU 200 acquires the copy setting information from the operation display unit 190 and transmits the image data from the image reading unit 191. To get.

  The CPU 200 controls printing of the image forming apparatus according to a control program stored in the ROM 201. At that time, the CPU 200 writes and reads image data to be printed on the RAM 202.

  By controlling the image forming unit 220, the CPU 200 can transfer the formed toner image to the paper P by the transfer roller 122 and fix the toner image to the paper P by the fixing unit 130. Further, the CPU 200 conveys the sheet printed on the first side to the two-side reversing unit 180 by switching the direction of the two-side flapper 140, inverts the front and back by the two-side reversing unit 180, and performs printing on the second side. .

  The CPU 200 obtains user setting information from the operation display unit 190. The CPU 200 displays print information, a warning, and the like on the operation display unit 190. The CPU 200 causes the image reading unit 191 to read an image of a document. The CPU 200 obtains, from the signal of the main body full load detection sensor 163, a detection result of whether or not the main body discharge tray 160 is full.

  The CPU 200 obtains, via the finisher I / F 230, a detection result of whether or not the finisher discharge tray 161 is full from the signal of the finisher full load detection sensor 164 provided in the finisher 2. Similarly, a detection result as to whether or not the finisher discharge tray 171 is full is obtained from the signal of the finisher full load detection sensor 174.

  The CPU 200 acquires a detection result of the presence or absence of a sheet on the finisher discharge tray 161 from a signal of the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 162 as a sheet detection unit provided in the finisher 2 via the finisher I / F 230. Similarly, a detection result of the presence / absence of paper on the finisher discharge tray 171 is obtained from the signal of the paper presence / absence detection sensor 172.

  The CPU 200 drives the finisher transport motor 231 provided in the finisher 2 via the finisher I / F 230.

  Next, a basic operation of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When acquiring the print information from the external device 210 such as a personal computer, the CPU 200 starts the printing operation.

  The CPU 200 starts feeding the sheet P from the sheet cassette 100 by the pickup roller 102 based on the print information. Then, the CPU 200 separates and feeds the paper P one by one to a registration roller (hereinafter, referred to as a registration roller) 110 by the paper feed roller 103. The CPU 200 can detect the presence / absence state of the paper P in the paper feed cassette 100 by the cassette paper presence / absence sensor 101.

  The CPU 200 irradiates a laser beam from a laser irradiation unit included in the image forming unit 220 based on the image data radiated based on the image data included in the print information, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 120. . Further, the CPU 200 causes the developing device 121 to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image. After transporting the paper P to the registration roller 110, the CPU 200 transports the paper P to the transfer roller 122 at a timing synchronized with the toner image, and transfers the toner image to the paper P.

  The CPU 200 conveys the paper P on which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing unit 130, and fixes the toner image on the paper P by applying heat and pressure in the fixing unit 130.

  When the fixing conveyance sensor 131 detects the leading end of the paper P on which the image formation is completed, the CPU 200 switches the directions of the double-sided flapper 140, the paper discharge flapper 141, and the FIN flapper 173 according to the conveyance destination of the paper P.

  When discharging the sheet P to the main body discharge tray 160, the CPU 200 switches the double-sided flapper 140 to the direction of the solid line in FIG. 1 and switches the discharge flapper 141 to the direction of the solid line in FIG. Then, the CPU 200 causes the paper P to be conveyed to the paper discharge rollers 142 and discharges the paper P to the main body discharge tray 160 with the print surface facing downward.

  When the paper P is discharged to the finisher discharge tray 161, the CPU 200 switches the double-sided flapper 140 to the direction of the solid line in FIG. 1, switches the discharge flapper 141 to the direction of the broken line in FIG. Switch to the direction. Then, the CPU 200 conveys the sheet P to the finisher entrance roller 150, and then conveys the sheet P to the finisher discharge roller 151, and discharges the sheet P to the finisher discharge tray 161 with the print surface facing downward.

  When the paper P is discharged to the finisher discharge tray 171, the CPU 200 switches the double-sided flapper 140 to the direction of the solid line in FIG. 1, switches the discharge flapper 141 to the direction of the broken line in FIG. Switch to the direction. Then, the CPU 200 conveys the sheet P to the finisher entrance roller 150, and then conveys the sheet P to the finisher discharge roller 175, and discharges the sheet P to the finisher discharge tray 171 with the print surface facing downward.

  The two-sided printing will be described. In order to print on the second side after printing on the first side of the sheet P, the CPU 200 switches the double-sided flapper 140 to the direction of the broken line in FIG. Then, CPU 200 transports sheet P to double-sided reversing section 180 and then transports sheet P to double-sided reversing guide 170. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the fixing and conveyance sensor 131 detects the rear end of the sheet P, the CPU 200 switches the double-sided flapper 140 to the direction indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 and reverses the conveyance direction by the double-side reversing unit 180. Then, the CPU 200 causes the sheet P to be conveyed to the registration rollers 110 via the double-sided conveyance path 181. Subsequent operations are the same as the printing of the first side.

Next, detection of paper presence will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the finisher discharge tray 161. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating the paper discharge tray 161 in a state where there is no paper. The paper presence / absence detection sensor 162 outputs a signal indicating that there is no paper. We recognize that there is not. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the paper discharge tray 161 during paper discharge. At this time, since the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 162 outputs a signal indicating that there is no sheet on the finisher discharge tray 161, the CPU 200 recognizes that no sheet is stacked on the finisher discharge tray 161.

  FIG. 3C shows a state after the sheet has been discharged to the finisher discharge tray 161. When the sheet P falls on the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 162 and presses the sensor downward due to the weight of the sheet, the flag sensor constituted by a photocoupler or the like is turned on. Therefore, the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 162 outputs a signal indicating that there is a sheet in the finisher discharge tray 161, and thus the CPU 200 recognizes that there is a sheet in the finisher discharge tray 161. Thus, the presence / absence detection of the sheet on the finisher discharge tray 161 is performed. Since the finisher discharge tray 171 has the same configuration, the description is omitted.

  Next, detection of full loading of the main body discharge tray 160 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the main body discharge tray 160 in a state where sheets are not stacked. Since the main body full load detection sensor 163 outputs a signal indicating OFF, the CPU 200 recognizes that the main body discharge tray 160 is not full. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the main body discharge tray 160 in which sheets are stacked until the main body discharge tray 160 is fully loaded. With the stacked sheet bundle, the main body full load detection sensor 163 is pushed upward and outputs a signal indicating ON, so that the CPU 200 recognizes that the main body discharge tray 160 is full.

  FIG. 4 (c) is a view of the fully loaded state of FIG. 4 (b) viewed from the transport direction. Immediately after being discharged to the discharge tray, the paper is curved (curled) due to the application of heat and pressure by the fixing unit. FIG. 4C illustrates a state in which the curved sheets are stacked and the height of the sheet bundle on the main body discharge tray 160 is increased.

  When the time elapses from the state of FIG. 4C, the heat of the sheet decreases to the vicinity of the surrounding air temperature, so that the state of curving due to the weight of the sheet itself is eliminated. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the height of the sheet bundle is reduced as compared with the fully loaded state. FIG. 4E is a view of FIG. 4D viewed from the transport direction.

  In the state of FIG. 4D, since the height of the stacked sheets is reduced, the main body full load detection sensor 163 outputs a signal indicating OFF, and thus the CPU 200 recognizes that the main body discharge tray 160 is not full. . In this way, even if the user does not remove the paper, the full load is released over time.

  The setting of the discharge tray from the operation display unit 190 will be described with reference to FIGS. By pressing a predetermined key on the operation display unit 190, a screen shown in FIG. 5A is displayed. In the initial setting, the priority order of the discharge trays from which the sheets are preferentially discharged in the copy job is tray C (171) for the first priority, tray B (161) for the second priority, and tray A (160) for the third priority. ). In the figure, the numbers indicate the priority. Similarly, regarding the priority order of the discharge trays in the printer job, the first priority is tray C, the second priority is tray B, and the third priority is tray A. These priorities can be changed based on a user's instruction. That is, the priority can be switched by touching each button on the setting screen shown in FIG. Further, as shown in a setting screen shown in FIG. 5B, the tray C can be used as the first priority and the tray A as the second priority without using the tray C in the copy job. This setting screen functions as setting means for setting the priority order. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6A, if all trays are made unusable, the paper cannot be discharged, so that the OK button cannot be pressed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the setting is made so that the tray A which is the main body discharge tray is used, and even if there is a tray set to a lower priority than the tray A, the OK button cannot be pressed. It has become. The CPU 200 determines a discharge tray from which sheets are to be discharged for each copy mode and print mode based on the set priority order.

  Next, control relating to the above-described setting of the paper discharge tray will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 200 determines a discharge tray that can be used in a copy job (S101). This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 200 sets 1 to the flag Result (S201). Result = 1 indicates that the setting of the paper discharge tray is possible. The flag Result is provided in the RAM 202. Next, the CPU 200 determines whether any of the discharge trays that can be used in the copy job has not been selected (S202). If no tray is selected, the CPU 200 sets the flag Result to 0 (S203) and ends this subroutine. For example, a selection state as shown in FIG.

  If any of the paper discharge trays has been selected, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the tray A is set to be usable in the copy job (S204). If the setting is such that tray A is not used, CPU 200 ends this subroutine.

  When the tray A is set to be usable, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the tray A is set to the lowest priority in the copy job (S205). If tray A has the lowest priority, CPU 200 ends this subroutine. For example, a setting state as shown in FIG. If the tray A is set to a priority other than the lowest priority in the copy job, the CPU 200 sets 0 to the flag Result (S206), and ends this subroutine. For example, a selection state as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, it is determined whether or not the state selected on the discharge tray setting screen in the copy job can be set.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 7 again, the CPU 200 subsequently makes a determination on a printer job by a similar subroutine (S102).

  Next, from the results of S101 and S102, the CPU 200 determines whether 1 is set in the flag Result for both the copy job and the printer job (S103). If both are set to the flag Result, the CPU 200 sets a state in which the OK button can be pressed on the discharge tray setting screen (S104). Next, CPU 200 determines whether or not the OK button has been pressed (S105). If the OK button is pressed, the CPU 200 saves the priority setting set in the copy job and the printer job at that time in the RAM 202 (S106), and ends the setting of the discharge tray.

  If the flag Result is not set to 1 at S103, the CPU 200 sets a state in which the OK button cannot be pressed (S107). Next, CPU 200 determines whether or not the cancel button has been pressed (S108). If the cancel button is pressed, the CPU 200 ends the setting of the paper discharge tray. If the cancel button has not been pressed, the CPU 200 returns to S101, and performs the determination for each application again.

  As described above, according to the priority order of the paper discharge trays set by the control shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8, there is no switching to the main body paper discharge tray 160 without the paper presence / absence detection sensor after the full load detection. Therefore, when the control for automatically switching the paper discharge tray is performed, it is possible to prevent the page order of the product on the paper discharge tray from being inconsistent.

  In the following, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the priority order of the discharge trays is set, a case where the copy job is performed more than the number of sheets that can be stacked on the discharge trays will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, sheets are stacked on the paper discharge tray 161. Thereafter, the paper discharge tray 161 becomes full as shown in FIG. 9B, and as shown in FIG. 9C. Then, the discharge destination is switched to the discharge tray 160. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10D, the discharge tray 160 is also full, and the copy job is stopped.

  Thereafter, as the time elapses, the curving of the sheet is eliminated, and the main body full load detection sensor 163 or the finisher full load detection sensor 164 is turned off. The case where the main body full load detection sensor 163 or the finisher full load detection sensor 164 is turned off will be described.

  When the height of the bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray 161 decreases, as shown in FIG. 11G, the finisher full load detection sensor 164 is turned off, but the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 162 remains on. It is. Therefore, the CPU 200 can determine that the paper on the paper discharge tray 161 has not been removed, and controls the copy job so as not to discharge the copy job to the paper discharge tray 161. When the paper presence / absence detection sensor 162 detects that there is no paper, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 161. Note that a restart button may be displayed on the operation display unit 190, and the discharge to the discharge tray 161 may be restarted when the user presses the restart button.

  When the height of the sheet bundle on the sheet discharge tray 160 decreases, the main body full load detection sensor 163 is turned off as shown in FIG. In the case of the conventional control, it is determined that the sheet on the sheet discharge tray 160 has been removed, and the discharge of the sheet to the sheet discharge tray 160 is restarted (FIG. 10F). However, according to the control of the present embodiment, since the sheets are finally discharged to the discharge tray 160 before the stop of the copy job, the discharge of the sheets to the discharge tray 160 is performed even when the discharge tray 160 is fully loaded. Will not be resumed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the page order of the product from being inconsistent. When the paper output tray 160 is full, the CPU 200 causes the operation display unit 190 to display a message prompting the user to remove the sheet bundle on the paper output tray 160 and a button for allowing the user to confirm that the removal has been performed. May be displayed. That is, the confirmation button is removed to function as information input means. In this case, when the user presses the confirmation button after removing the sheet bundle on the discharge tray 160, the discharge of the sheets to the discharge tray 160 is restarted. However, if the discharge to the discharge tray 161 has already been resumed when the confirmation button is pressed, the discharge to the discharge tray 160 is performed after the discharge tray 161 is full.

  As described above, according to the control of the present embodiment, when setting the priority order of the discharge trays from the operation display unit 190, the discharge trays without the paper presence / absence detection sensor cannot be selected except for the lowest priority order. I have. As a result, even if the height of the stacked sheet bundle is reduced with the lapse of time and the sheet re-state is released as described with reference to FIG. Thus, the convenience of the device can be prevented from lowering.

(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the operation of the flowchart of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment is replaced by the flowchart of FIG. 12, and the description of the operation display unit 190 of FIGS. 5 and 6 is replaced by FIG. The other explanation is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The setting of the discharge tray will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the CPU 200 executes S101 to S103, and details are as described in the first embodiment. If the flag Result is set to 0 in either copy or print in S103, the CPU 200 adds a warning message 1001 to the setting screen displayed on the operation display unit 190 as shown in FIG. 13 (S301). ). If the flag Result is set to 1 in S103, the CPU 200 displays the output tray setting screen without giving the warning message 1001 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B (S302). ).

  Steps S105, S106, and S108 are the same as in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, a warning message 1001 is given to the discharge tray setting screen, but pressing of the OK button is not prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to set a priority order of the discharge tray desired by the user, and warn of a possibility that the page order may be inconsistent in each discharge tray. Instead of the setting screen shown in FIG. 13, a warning message that changes the screen design of the operation display unit 190 may be used, or a method that displays the warning message 1001 only when the OK button is pressed may be used.

1 Image Forming Apparatus 160 Main Body Discharge Tray 161 Finisher Discharge Tray 162 Paper Presence Detection Sensor 163 Main Body Full Load Detection Sensor 164 Finisher Full Load Detection Sensor 171 Finisher Discharge Tray 172 Paper Presence Detection Sensor 200 CPU

Claims (7)

Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A first discharge tray having sheet detection means for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means and detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
First full load detecting means for detecting that the first discharge tray is full of sheets;
A sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, and a second discharge tray not having a sheet detecting unit for detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
Setting means for setting a priority for selecting the first and second discharge trays based on a user's instruction;
In accordance with the priority order set by the setting unit, the paper discharge tray from which the sheet is discharged is determined, and the sheets are fully loaded by the first full load detection unit while the sheets are being discharged to the first paper discharge tray. Is detected, control means for controlling to discharge sheets to a discharge tray different from the first discharge tray;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the setting unit prevents the priority of the first discharge tray from being set lower than the priority of the second discharge tray. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A first discharge tray having sheet detection means for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means and detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
First full load detecting means for detecting that the first discharge tray is full of sheets;
A sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged, and a second discharge tray not having a sheet detecting unit for detecting the presence or absence of the discharged sheet;
Setting means for setting a priority for selecting the first and second discharge trays based on a user's instruction;
In accordance with the priority order set by the setting unit, the paper discharge tray from which the sheet is discharged is determined, and the sheets are fully loaded by the first full load detection unit while the sheets are being discharged to the first paper discharge tray. Is detected, control means for controlling to discharge sheets to a discharge tray different from the first discharge tray;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the setting unit issues a warning when the priority of the first discharge tray is set lower than that of the second discharge tray. The print job includes a print job in a copy mode for reading an image of a document and forming an image on a sheet, and a print job in a print mode for receiving an image from a computer and forming an image on a sheet.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a priority order of a discharge tray in each of the copy mode and the print mode. A second full load detecting unit that detects that the second discharge tray is full of sheets;
In the state in which the first full load detecting unit detects full loading, the second full load detecting unit detects that the second discharge tray is full of sheets, and thereafter, the control unit detects the full load. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet is not discharged to the second discharge tray even if the second full load detecting unit stops detecting the full load. Forming equipment. When the second full load detecting unit detects a full load, the second full load detecting unit includes a removal information input unit that receives, from a user, information indicating that a sheet on the second paper output tray has been removed,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the removal information input unit receives the information, the control unit restarts discharging the sheet to the second discharge tray. 6.   The control unit may include, when the removal information input unit receives the information, when the first full load detection unit detects a full load, if a sheet is being discharged to the first discharge tray, 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet is discharged to the second discharge tray.   After the first full load detecting unit detects a full load, the control unit may control the first full load detecting unit to stop detecting the full load even if the first full load detecting unit stops detecting the full load while the sheet detecting unit detects the sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is not discharged to a discharge tray.

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