JP2020095189A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve usability when a manual staple mode is released without a recording material is inserted to the position of a sensor and a recording material is left intact in a processing tray.SOLUTION: An image forming system of the present invention comprises image forming means, a processing tray, detection means, a staple unit, ejection means, an ejection tray, control means capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode, and switching means for switching the operation mode of the control means to the second mode. When a recording material is not detected by the detection means even when a prescribed time elapses after the operation mode is switched to the second mode by the switching mode, the control means causes an ejection operation for ejecting the recording material inserted into the processing tray to the ejection tray by the ejection means to be executed without causing the staple process by the staple unit to be executed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system having an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and a post-processing apparatus for executing stapling processing on the recording material conveyed from the image forming apparatus.

A post-processing apparatus that receives a recording material ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer and performs post-processing includes one that performs stapling processing on the received recording material (hereinafter, referred to as a stapling process). The function is called automatic stapling). Further, among other post-processing apparatuses, there is one that executes stapling processing on a recording material inserted from outside the apparatus main body by a user (hereinafter, this function is referred to as manual stapling).

Patent Document 1 describes a post-processing apparatus that realizes two functions by one staple unit without separately providing a staple unit that performs automatic stapling and a staple unit that performs manual stapling. In this post-processing apparatus, when the user inserts a recording material into the processing tray that executes automatic stapling from the discharge port of the post-processing apparatus and presses the manual stapling execution button, the staple processing is performed on the inserted recording material. Is executed.

The post-processing apparatus of Patent Document 2 is provided with a sensor that detects that a recording material is inserted in a processing tray that executes manual stapling. In this post-processing device, the execution of manual stapling is permitted when the sensor detects the recording material. As a result, it is prevented that the sheet is stapled even though the sheet is not inserted at the correct position and the sheet is left blank.

JP, 2005-206298, A JP, 2014-218341, A

In the configuration of Patent Document 2, if the user does not insert the recording material to the position of the sensor, the manual stapling may be automatically canceled because the execution of the manual stapling is not permitted. As a result, the recording material remains on the processing tray. Furthermore, when an automatic stapling job or the like is executed on the same processing tray, the recording material newly conveyed from the image forming apparatus and the recording material remaining on the processing tray collide with each other, and a jam occurs. there is a possibility.

An object of the present invention is to improve usability when the manual stapling mode is released without inserting the recording material to the position of the sensor and the recording material is left on the processing tray.

An image forming system of the present invention for achieving the above object includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, a processing tray on which a recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is placed, and Detecting means for detecting the recording material placed on the processing tray, stapling unit for performing stapling processing on the recording material placed on the processing tray, and recording for which the stapling processing is performed by the stapling unit. A discharge unit configured to discharge the material from the processing tray through a discharge port, a discharge tray on which the recording material discharged by the discharge unit is placed, and a recording material conveyed from the image forming unit are stored in the processing tray. The first mode in which the recording material is discharged to the discharge tray via the recording medium and the recording material inserted into the processing tray from the outside of the apparatus main body via the discharge port is detected by the detection unit, and On the other hand, in the image forming system having a control unit capable of switching the second mode for executing the stapling process and a switching unit switching the operation mode of the control unit to the second mode, the control unit includes: If the detection unit does not detect the recording material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation mode was switched to the second mode by the switching unit, the stapling unit does not perform the stapling process. The discharging operation of discharging the recording material inserted in the processing tray by the discharging means to the discharging tray is performed.

According to the present invention, usability can be improved when the manual stapling mode is canceled without inserting the recording material to the position of the sensor and the recording material is left in the processing tray.

Diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system Overhead view of post-processing equipment Control block diagram of image forming system Detailed view of post-processing control section Flowchart showing the operation of the post-processing control unit in the first embodiment FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the post-processing device in Embodiment 1. Flowchart showing the operation of the post-processing control unit in the second embodiment

[Example 1]
In this embodiment, an operation when the manual stapling mode is released without the user inserting the sheet bundle for manual stapling to the position of the sensor will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system 1 including an image forming apparatus 101 and a post-processing apparatus 29 in this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 101 is an electrophotographic color laser beam printer. The image forming apparatus 101 includes photosensitive drums 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K configured by coating an organic photoconductive layer on the outer circumference of an aluminum cylinder for each station arranged in parallel for the number of development colors. Here, Y represents yellow, M represents magenta, C represents cyan, and K represents black, and will be omitted below unless necessary. The image forming apparatus 101 includes a charger 7, a laser scanner 10, a developing device 8, a toner cartridge 11, an intermediate transfer belt 12, a primary transfer roller 6, a secondary transfer roller 9, and a fixing device 13.

When the printing operation is started, the photosensitive drum 5 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (the arrow direction in the drawing) by a drive motor (not shown). The charger 7 has a charging sleeve 7S (7YS, 7MS, 7CS, 7KS) for charging the photosensitive drum 5. The surface of the photosensitive drum 5 charged by the charging sleeve 7S is exposed by the laser scanner 10. The laser scanner 10 exposes the photosensitive drum 5 based on the input image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 5. The developing device 8 has a developing sleeve 8S (8YS, 8MS, 8CS, 8CK) in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 5. The developing sleeve 8S supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 5 to visualize the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

The intermediate transfer belt 12 is an endless belt stretched by a driving roller 18a and driven rollers 18b and 18c. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is rotated in the clockwise direction (the arrow direction in the drawing) by the drive roller 18a while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 5. Then, the toner images are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the primary transfer roller 6 (hereinafter, referred to as primary transfer). A color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 by overlapping and transferring the toner images of the respective colors onto the intermediate transfer belt 12.

Paper P (recording material) is placed on the paper feed cassette 2 or the multi-tray 3. The paper feed roller 4 feeds the paper P from the paper feed cassette 2 or the multi-tray 3 to the transport path 25. The sheet P fed to the transport path 25 is transported by the transport roller 24 toward the registration sensor 19. When the registration sensor 19 detects the leading edge of the paper P, the paper P is further conveyed by a fixed amount and abuts against the registration roller 23 that is stopped. As a result, the sheet P is bent (also called a loop). The registration roller 23 re-conveys the stopped sheet P toward the secondary transfer roller 9 so that the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is timed. The sheet P is nipped and conveyed by the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 9, and the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are collectively transferred to the sheet P (hereinafter, referred to as secondary transfer). When the secondary transfer is performed, the secondary transfer roller 9 moves to the position indicated by the solid line and contacts the intermediate transfer belt 12, but when the secondary transfer is not performed, the secondary transfer roller 9 moves to the position indicated by the dotted line. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 12.

The fixing device 13 fixes the transferred toner image on the paper P while conveying the paper P. The fixing device 13 includes a fixing roller 14 that heats the sheet P and a pressure roller 15 that presses the sheet P against the fixing roller 14. The fixing roller 14 and the pressure roller 15 are formed in a hollow shape, and heaters 16 and 17 are arranged inside thereof. The cleaning device 21 cleans the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cleaned toner is stored in the cleaner container of the cleaning device 21.

The post-processing device 29 receives the discharged paper P from the image forming apparatus 101, and performs post-processing on the received paper P. For example, it has a function of sorting the received paper P into a plurality of paper discharge trays 30 and 31 (discharge trays), a function of executing a stapling process (binding process), and collecting a plurality of paper P. When the sheets P are sorted into the discharge trays 30 and 31, the motors (not shown) for raising and lowering the discharge trays 30 and 31 move the discharge trays 30 and 31 up and down.

A case where the stapling process is performed on the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 101 will be described. When the trailing edge of the sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 to the post-processing apparatus 29 passes through the conveying roller pair 35 and reaches the sheet discharging roller pair 36, the sheet discharging roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 are rotated in the reverse direction. Then, the paper P is drawn into the staple tray 32 and stacked. After a predetermined number of sheets P are stacked on the staple tray 32, the stapling unit 33 performs stapling processing. The stapled bundle of sheets P is ejected to the ejection tray 30 or the ejection tray 31 by the ejection roller pair 36 through the ejection port 41 (ejection port) formed in the apparatus main body 42. Hereinafter, this function is called automatic stapling.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a case will be described in which a stapling process is performed on a sheet bundle inserted from the outside of the apparatus main body 42 by a user. Hereinafter, this function is called manual stapling.

FIG. 2 is a bird's-eye view of the post-processing device 29 in this embodiment. The post-processing device 29 is provided with a manual stapling mode transition button 201 and a manual stapling execution button 202 (hereinafter referred to as transition button 201 and execution button 202, respectively). The post-processing device 29 also includes a sheet detection sensor 204 that detects the sheet bundle 203 inserted in the staple tray 32. The post-processing apparatus 29 of this embodiment is configured to execute manual stapling when the user inserts the sheet bundle 203 into the staple tray 32 from the sheet discharge port 41. Here, the sheet discharge port 41 is an opening through which the sheet bundle stapled in the automatic stapling passes when being discharged to the sheet discharge tray 30 or 31.

When performing the manual stapling, the post-processing device 29 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 of FIG. 1 to the positions indicated by the dotted lines by pressing the transition button 201 by the user. Further, the discharge port cover 38 provided near the discharge roller pair 36 is also moved to the position indicated by the dotted line. The paper discharge port cover 38 is a member that covers a part of the paper discharge port 41 so that the user cannot access the inside of the apparatus main body 42 while the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the like are rotating. This prevents the user from interfering with the insertion of the sheet bundle 203. The sheet bundle 203 inserted from the outside of the apparatus main body 42 through the sheet discharge port 41 is detected by the sheet detection sensor 204. When the sheet detection sensor 204 detects the sheet bundle 203, the post-processing device 29 enters a manual stapling execution waiting state. Then, when the execution button 202 is pressed by the user, an instruction to execute the stapling process is issued, and the post-processing device 29 performs the stapling process by the stapling unit 33. After the manual stapling process is completed, the post-processing device 29 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 shown in FIG. Let At this time, the discharge port cover 38 also moves to the position indicated by the solid line together with the discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37, but the discharge port cover 38 does not cover the discharge port 41 entirely. Therefore, even if the sheet discharge port cover 38 moves to the position indicated by the solid line, it is possible to discharge the sheet bundle 203 to the sheet discharge tray 30 or 31. The size of the area where the discharge port cover 38 covers the discharge port 41 at the position of the solid line is larger than the size of the area where the discharge port cover 38 covers the discharge port 41 at the position of the dotted line. In this way, the paper discharge roller pair 36, the pull-in roller 37, and the paper discharge port cover 38 are configured to be movable between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the dotted line.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 and the post-processing apparatus 29. The controller 301 communicates with an external device 300 such as a host computer to receive print data. Further, the controller 301 controls the image forming apparatus 101 and the post-processing apparatus 29 in an integrated manner, the engine control unit 302 controls the image forming apparatus 101, and the post-processing control section 303 controls the post-processing apparatus 29. There is. Reference numeral 304 denotes a serial signal line for transmitting a command signal from the controller 301 to the engine control unit 302 and 305 for transmitting a command signal from the controller 301 to the post-processing control unit 303. Reference numeral 306 denotes a serial signal line for transmitting status data from the engine control unit 302 to the controller 301 in response to a command signal, and 307 for transmitting status data from the post-processing control unit 303 to the controller 301. The controller 301 performs control by transmitting command signals to the engine control unit 302 and the post-processing control unit 303 and receiving status data from the engine control unit 302 and the post-processing control unit 303. In this way, when a plurality of devices are connected and operate, the controller 301 centrally manages the control and state of each device, and maintains the consistency of the operation between each device. The controller 301 and the engine control unit 302 are provided in the image forming apparatus 101, and the post-processing control unit 303 is provided in the post-processing device 29.

The post-processing control unit 303 carries the sheet according to the command signal from the controller 301. Further, the post-processing control unit 303 can switch and control automatic stapling and manual stapling. Further, when performing automatic stapling, the post-processing control unit 303 controls the stapling unit 33 and performs stapling processing on the bundle of sheets P discharged from the image forming apparatus 101. When performing manual stapling, the post-processing control unit 303 controls the stapling unit 33 and performs stapling processing based on input signals from the shift button 201, the execute button 202, and the paper detection sensor 204. The post-processing control unit 303 also includes a time measuring unit 308, a release determination unit 309, and a staple end processing unit 310. The time measuring unit 308 measures the time that has elapsed since the paper detection sensor 204 detected the paper P, and the cancellation determination unit 309 determines whether to cancel the manual stapling mode.

FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the post-processing control unit 303 in this embodiment. The post-processing control unit 303 has a CPU 400 and communicates with the controller 301 via the serial communication unit 427. The serial communication unit 427 connects the CPU 400 and the controller 301 with a plurality of signal lines including the serial signal lines 305 and 307. When the print data 428 is notified to the controller 301 via the external device 300, the controller 301 notifies the CPU 400 via the serial communication unit 427 of the paper discharge operation start signal 423, the pending operation presence/absence signal 424, and the like. Here, the paper discharge operation start signal 423 is a signal notifying the timing at which the paper P is conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 to the post-processing device 29. Further, the pending operation presence/absence signal 424 indicates that when a new print instruction is notified from the external device 300 during the manual stapling mode, the processing of the print data 428 corresponding to the print instruction is suspended. It is a signal. Further, the CPU 400 notifies the controller 301 of the paper discharge operation status signal 425, the mode transition signal 426, etc. via the serial communication unit 427. Here, the paper discharge operation status signal 425 is a signal indicating the processing state of the paper P inside the post-processing device 29. The mode transition signal 426 is a signal notifying that the manual stapling mode has been released.

Motor drivers 410 and 411 are connected to the output terminals of the CPU 400. The motor driver 410 drives the paper discharge motor 401. By rotating the paper discharge motor 401 forward or backward, the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 can be rotated forward or backward. The paper P can be discharged to the paper discharge tray 30 or 31 by the positive rotation of the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37, and the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 rotate in the reverse direction. , The paper P can be pulled into the staple tray 32. The motor driver 411 drives the separation motor 402. When the separation motor 402 rotates forward or backward, the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 can be moved to the contact position or the separation position. The contact position is a position where the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 come into contact with the paper P placed on the staple tray 32, and the separated position is the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 are stapled. This position is separated from the sheet P placed on the tray 32. The sheet detection sensor 204 uses the pull-up 413 and inputs the sensor state (ON signal or OFF signal) to the CPU 400 via the buffer 414. The shift button 201 and the execute button 202 input the pressed state (ON signal or OFF signal) of the button to the CPU 400. The staple motor drive signal 415 of the staple unit 33 is connected to the output terminal of the CPU 400, and the home position sensor signal 416 of the staple unit 33 is connected to the input terminal. Here, the home position sensor signal 416 is a signal indicating whether or not the stapler is located at the home position. When performing the staple operation, the CPU 400 drives the staple motor in the staple unit 33 via the staple motor drive signal 415 to perform the staple processing. Then, the CPU 400 stops the staple motor via the staple motor drive signal 415 according to the input value of the home position sensor signal 416.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the post-processing control unit 303 when executing manual stapling in this embodiment. The control based on FIG. 5 is executed based on a program stored in the ROM or the like of the CPU 400 mounted in the post-processing control unit 303.

This flowchart is started by the user pressing the shift button 201. When the flowchart starts, first, the post-processing control unit 303 switches the operation mode to the manual stapling mode. Then, the post-processing control unit 303 transmits a mode transition signal 426 to the controller 301 via the serial communication unit 427 to notify that the operation mode has transitioned to the manual staple mode (S501). When a new print instruction is notified from the external device 300 while the post-processing control unit 303 is in the manual stapling mode, the controller 301 suspends the processing of the print data 428 corresponding to the print instruction, The print data 428 is stored in the internal ROM or the like. Then, the controller 301 transmits a pending operation presence/absence signal 424 to the post-processing control unit 303 in order to notify that there is print data 428 for which processing is suspended. Subsequently, the post-processing control unit 303 resets the count value of the timer counter T in the time measuring unit 308 to 0 second, and starts measuring the elapsed time after shifting to the manual staple mode (S502). Then, the post-processing control unit 303 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 to the separated positions, respectively, and also raises the paper discharge port cover 38 (S503). This prepares for the insertion of the sheet bundle from the sheet discharge port 41 by the user.

When the sheet detection sensor 204 detects the insertion of the sheet bundle by the user in step S<b>504, the post-processing control unit 303 resets the count value of the timer counter T to 0 seconds (S<b>505 ), and the user presses the execution button 202. Stand by (S506). When the pressing of the execution button 202 by the user is detected in S506, the post-processing control unit 303 executes manual stapling by the stapling unit 33 (S507). After that, the post-processing control unit 303 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 to the contact position and lowers the paper discharge port cover 38 (S509). Further, the post-processing control unit 303 rotates the sheet discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 to discharge the manually stapled sheet bundle to the sheet discharge tray 31 (S510). The post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode and sends a mode transition signal 426 to the controller 301 to notify that the manual stapling mode has been released (S511). After canceling the manual stapling mode, the controller 301 controls the engine control unit 302 and the post-processing control unit 303 to start the printing operation if there is print data 428 that is being held.

In S504, when the insertion of the sheet bundle by the user is not detected, the cancellation determination unit 309 refers to the count value of the timer counter T, and whether the elapsed time after shifting to the manual staple mode has reached the predetermined time. It is determined whether or not (S508). If the elapsed time has not reached the predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 returns to the detection of sheet bundle insertion in S504. On the other hand, when the elapsed time has reached the predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 to the contact position and lowers the paper discharge port cover 38 (S509). Further, the post-processing control unit 303 rotates the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 in the direction in which the bundle of paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 30 or 31 (S510). The post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode and sends a mode transition signal 426 to the controller 301 to notify that the manual stapling mode has been released (S511). After canceling the manual stapling mode, the controller 301 controls the engine control unit 302 and the post-processing control unit 303 to start the printing operation if there is print data 428 that is being held. Thus, the control of this flowchart is completed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the post-processing device 29 in this embodiment. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the shift button 201 is pressed by the user and the operation mode of the post-processing control unit 303 shifts to the manual stapling mode. In FIG. 6A, the sheet P1 is inserted in the staple tray 32 of the post-processing device 29, but the sheet detection sensor 204 cannot detect the sheet P1. The paper P1 has reached the position corresponding to the paper discharge roller pair 36, but has not reached the position corresponding to the paper detection sensor 204. This is because the user did not insert the paper P1 to the back side of the staple tray 32. When a predetermined time elapses after the operation mode of the post-processing control unit 303 shifts to the manual stapling mode, the post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the paper discharge roller pair 36 is performing the discharge operation as the manual stapling mode is released. As a result, the paper P1 inserted by the user can be moved from the staple tray 32 to the paper discharge tray 31. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6C, the sheets P2 conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 can be stacked on the staple tray 32 and an automatic staple job or the like can be executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the manual stapling mode is released, the sheet stack is discharged regardless of the detection result of the sheet stack, so that the sheet stack remains in the processing tray after the manual stapling mode is released. You can avoid the situation.

In the present embodiment, the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 are moved to the contact position, and then these rollers are controlled to rotate, but the order may be reversed. That is, after the rotation of the pair of discharge rollers 36 and the pull-in roller 37 is started, these rollers may be controlled to be moved to the contact position.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, since the discharging operation is performed every time the manual stapling mode is released, the processing takes time. Further, even when there is no sheet bundle in the processing tray, the discharge operation is performed uniformly, which requires unnecessary processing time.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the manual stapling mode is released, the operation of pulling in the sheet bundle is performed, and the discharging operation is performed only when the sensor detects the sheet bundle. As a result, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary discharging operation and complete the discharging operation in the minimum time. The description of the main part is similar to that of the first embodiment, and only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described here. Note that, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the paper discharge roller pair 36 is provided at a position closer to the paper discharge tray 31 than the paper detection sensor 204 in the paper bundle discharge direction.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the post-processing control unit 303 when executing manual stapling in this embodiment. The control based on FIG. 7 is executed based on the program stored in the ROM or the like of the CPU 400 mounted in the post-processing control unit 303.

This flowchart is started by the user pressing the shift button 201. The control of S701 to S703 is the same as the control of S501 to S503 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

When the sheet detection sensor 204 detects the insertion of the sheet bundle by the user in step S<b>704, the post-processing control unit 303 resets the count value of the timer counter T to 0 seconds (S<b>705 ), and the user presses the execution button 202. Stand by (S706). When the pressing of the execution button 202 by the user is detected in S706, the post-processing control unit 303 executes manual stapling by the stapling unit 33 (S707). After that, the post-processing control unit 303 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 to the contact position and lowers the paper discharge port cover 38 (S708). Further, the post-processing control unit 303 rotates the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 to discharge the manually stapled paper bundle to the paper discharge tray 31 (S709). The post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode, and sends a mode transition signal 426 to the controller 301 to notify that the manual stapling mode has been released (S716). After canceling the manual stapling mode, the controller 301 controls the engine control unit 302 and the post-processing control unit 303 to start the printing operation if there is print data 428 that is being held.

In S704, when the insertion of the sheet bundle by the user is not detected, the cancellation determination unit 309 refers to the count value of the timer counter T, and whether the elapsed time after shifting to the manual staple mode has reached the predetermined time. It is determined whether or not (S710). When the elapsed time has not reached the predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 returns to the detection of sheet bundle insertion in S704. On the other hand, when the elapsed time has reached the predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 moves the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the drawing roller 37 to the contact position and lowers the paper discharge port cover 38 (S711). Further, the post-processing control unit 303 resets the count value of the timer counter T to 0 seconds (S712). Further, the post-processing control unit 303 rotates the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 in the direction in which the sheet bundle is pulled into the apparatus main body 42 (S713).

In step S<b>714, when the sheet detection sensor 204 detects the sheet bundle, the post-processing control unit 303 causes the post-processing control unit 303 to rotate the sheet discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37, and thus the sheet bundle that has been subjected to the manual stapling process. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 31 (S709). The post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode, and sends a mode transition signal 426 to the controller 301 to notify that the manual stapling mode has been released (S716).

In step S714, when the sheet detection sensor 204 has not detected the sheet bundle, the cancellation determination unit 309 refers to the count value of the timer counter T. The cancellation determination unit 309 determines whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the pull-in operation by the paper discharge roller pair 36 and the pull-in roller 37 has reached the second predetermined time (S715). Here, the second predetermined time is assumed to be shorter than the predetermined time described in S710. When the elapsed time has not reached the second predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 returns to the detection of the sheet bundle in S714. On the other hand, if the elapsed time has reached the second predetermined time, the post-processing control unit 303 releases the manual stapling mode, and sends a mode transition signal 426 to the controller to notify that the manual stapling mode has been released. It transmits to 301 (S716). Thus, the control of this flowchart is completed.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the manual stapling mode is released, by detecting the sheet inserted in the processing tray by rotating the sheet discharge roller in the direction of pulling the sheet bundle into the apparatus main body. It will be possible. Then, by performing the discharge processing of the sheet bundle according to the detection result, it is possible to avoid the state where the sheet bundle remains in the processing tray after the manual stapling mode is released. Further, as compared with the first embodiment, it is possible to perform control so that unnecessary discharge processing is not performed.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the automatic stapling job is described as an example of the process performed after the manual stapling mode is released, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not necessary for the image forming apparatus 101 to be completed by itself, and it may be a print instruction using the post-processing apparatus 29. As shown in FIG. 1, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the sheet P passes through the staple tray 32 while the sheets P are discharged to the sheet discharge trays 30 and 31, for example, the printed sheet P is discharged. It may be a print instruction for executing a stacking process of stacking on the trays 30 and 31.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the shift button 201 and the execute button 202 may not be provided in the post-processing device 29, and may be provided in the image forming device 101. Further, the shift button 201 and the execute button 202 do not have to be physical buttons as shown in FIG. 2, but may be virtual buttons displayed on a display or the like.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the configuration in which the manual stapling process is executed by pressing the execution button 202 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a manual stapling process may be automatically executed when the sheet detection sensor 204 detects a sheet bundle. In this case, the execute button 202 is unnecessary.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the example of the laser beam printer is shown, but the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and a printer of another printing method such as an inkjet printer, Alternatively, it may be a copying machine.

1 Image Forming System 29 Post-Processing Devices 30, 31 Paper Ejection Tray 32 Staple Tray 33 Staple Unit 36 Ejection Roller Pair 101 Image Forming Device 201 Manual Staple Mode Transition Button 204 Paper Detection Sensor 301 Controller 303 Post-Processing Control Section

Claims (9)

An image forming means for forming an image on the recording material,
A processing tray on which a recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming unit is placed;
A detection means for detecting the recording material placed on the processing tray;
A stapling unit that performs stapling processing on the recording material placed on the processing tray;
A discharging unit configured to discharge the recording material, which has been subjected to the stapling process by the stapling unit, from the processing tray through a discharge port,
A discharge tray on which the recording material discharged by the discharging means is placed;
A first mode in which the recording material conveyed from the image forming unit is discharged to the discharge tray via the processing tray, and a recording inserted into the processing tray from outside the apparatus main body via the discharge port. Control means capable of switching a second mode for performing the stapling process on the recording material in a state where the material is detected by the detecting means;
An image forming system having a switching unit for switching the operation mode of the control unit to the second mode,
The control means performs the stapling process by the stapling unit when the detection means does not detect the recording material even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation mode was switched to the second mode by the switching means. An image forming system, wherein a discharging operation for discharging the recording material inserted in the processing tray by the discharging means to the discharging tray is executed without executing the discharging operation. When the detection unit does not detect the recording material even after the predetermined time has passed since the operation mode was switched to the second mode by the switching unit, the control unit performs the stapling process by the stapling unit. The recording material inserted into the processing tray by the ejecting means without performing the above, and then the ejecting means executes the ejecting operation when the detecting means detects the recording material. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the detecting unit does not detect the recording material, the operation of the discharging unit is stopped. The discharging means is a roller movable between a contact position in contact with a recording material placed on the processing tray and a separated position separated from the recording material placed in the processing tray,
When the operation mode of the control means is switched to the first mode, the control means moves the roller to the contact position, and when the operation mode is switched to the second mode, the control means The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the roller moves the roller to the separated position. When the detection unit does not detect the recording material even after the lapse of the predetermined time period after the operation mode is switched to the second mode by the switching unit, the control unit sets the roller at the separated position. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the image forming system is moved to the contact position. Having a cover that moves together with the roller and covers a part of the discharge port,
An area of the cover that covers the discharge port when the roller moves to the contact position is larger than an area that the cover covers the discharge port when the roller moves to the separated position. The image forming system according to claim 3 or 4. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the discharging direction of the recording material by the discharging unit, the discharging unit is arranged at a position closer to the discharging tray than the detecting unit. Forming system. The state in which the detection unit does not detect the recording material even though the recording material is inserted into the processing tray from the outside of the apparatus body means that the recording material inserted in the processing tray corresponds to the discharging unit. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system has reached a position, but has not reached a position corresponding to the detection unit. The first mode is to cause the stapling unit to execute the stapling process on the recording material conveyed from the image forming unit to the processing tray, and to discharge the recording material subjected to the staple processing by the discharging unit. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image forming system is in a mode of discharging to a tray. In the second mode, the stapling unit has an instruction unit for issuing an instruction to execute the stapling process,
The control unit waits for the execution instruction from the instruction unit and executes the execution while the recording material inserted into the processing tray from the outside of the apparatus main body through the discharge port is detected by the detection unit. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the stapling process is performed on the recording material in response to an instruction.

Images