JP2020158293A - Sheet loading device, post-processing device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a sheet loading device that can detect presence or absence of sheets on loading means, without additional sheet presence detection means such as a sensor.SOLUTION: There is provided a sheet loading device, including: a plurality of loading means 201, 202 for independently performing an elevating operation; first detecting means 203 for detecting an upper surface position of the loading means or a sheet P loaded on the loading means; and second detecting means 205 for detecting an upper surface position different from the upper surface position detected by the first detecting means of the loading means or the sheet P loaded on the loading means. The loading means has an approach portion 91 into which the first detecting means 203 enters when there is no sheet P on the loading means, and detects presence or absence of a sheet on the loading means depending on a combination of a detection state of the first detecting means 203 and a detection state of the second detecting means 205.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet loading device, a post-processing device and an image forming system.

In recent years, image forming systems have entered the product printing market, and high quality and high productivity are increasingly required. In order to achieve high productivity without stopping the image forming system, there is a demand for increasing the number of sheets (loading number) that can be stored in the finisher or stacker. The shift tray provided in the finisher can be moved in the paper width direction for paper sorting work, and can be raised and lowered according to the height of the loaded paper for top surface detection. For limitless paper ejection, that is, in order to load paper continuously on a plurality of shift trays that move up and down, it is necessary to detect the presence or absence of paper on the shift tray, and the top surface detecting means consisting of a sensor and a filler shifts. It is provided for the tray.

Further, there is known a detecting means for detecting the position of the upper surface of the shift tray based on the angle of the filler when the filler is brought into contact with the shift tray from the upper surface side of the shift tray that moves up and down.

However, the conventional detection means that detects the position of the upper surface of the shift tray by bringing the filler into contact with the shift tray from the upper surface side of the shift tray that moves up and down shifts when the user pulls out the printed paper. It was possible to detect that the tray had risen to the top position and the rise was completed, but it was not possible to detect the presence or absence of paper on the shift tray. Therefore, in limitless paper ejection, the paper is ejected across a plurality of trays, and there is a risk that a plurality of printed matter may be mixed.

In the sheet aftertreatment device of Patent Document 1, the end fence is configured to be tiltable in order to load Z origami on the proof tray, and when the absence of paper on the tray is detected by the paper presence detection means, the end fence is in the home position. It is disclosed to return to.

However, apart from the filler that detects the paper surface height of the stacked sheets, the paper presence / absence detecting means is installed in the proof tray, which causes an increase in cost and complicated control.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a seat loading device capable of detecting the presence / absence of a seat on the loading means without providing an additional seat presence / absence detecting means such as a sensor.

This task includes a plurality of loading means that independently perform an elevating operation, a first detecting means that detects the position of the upper surface of the loading means or a sheet loaded on the loading means, and the loading means or the loading means. The loading means includes a second detecting means for detecting an upper surface position different from the upper surface position detected by the first detecting means of the sheet loaded on the loading means, and the loading means is the first when there is no sheet on the loading means. (1) It has an approach portion into which the detection means enters, and is characterized in that the presence or absence of a sheet on the loading means is detected by combining the detection state of the first detection means and the detection state of the second detection means. It is solved by the seat loading device.

The presence / absence of a seat on the loading means can be detected without providing an additional seat presence / absence detecting means such as a sensor.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the image formation system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the image formation system which comprises the post-processing apparatus 200 and the image formation apparatus 300. It is a partial perspective view of the existing seat loading device provided with a shift tray. It is a partial side view which shows the elevating operation of a shift tray 301. It is a perspective view which shows the detection means. It is a figure which shows the detection means and a shift tray. It is a figure which shows the detection means and a shift tray. It is a schematic side view which shows the existing seat loading apparatus which provided with a plurality of shift trays. It is a figure explaining the problem in the sheet loading apparatus shown in FIG. It is a partial perspective view of the sheet loading device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the existing shift tray 301 (FIG. 11 (a)), and the shift tray 201 (FIG. 11 (b)) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the existing tip side filler 303 (right) and the tip side filler 203 (left) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the existing shielding plate 94 and the shielding plate 95 which concerns on embodiment of this invention when the angle of a filler is aligned. It is a partial perspective view which shows the relationship between the angular position of the front end side filler 203 and the presence / absence of paper. It is a partial perspective view which shows the relationship between the angular position of the front end side filler 203 and the presence / absence of paper. It is a partial perspective view which shows the relationship between the angular position of the front end side filler 203 and the presence / absence of paper. It is a partial perspective view which shows the relationship between the angular position of the front end side filler 203 and the presence / absence of paper. It is a figure which shows the detection state by the combination of a filler and a sensor. It is a figure which shows the operation panel for the limitless paper discharge mode provided in the sheet loading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the operation panel for the limitless paper discharge mode provided in the sheet loading apparatus. It is a flowchart of the limitless paper ejection mode.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 600 is a post-processing device 200 which is a paper processing device, and an image forming device which supplies paper P as a sheet which is a sheet-like medium after image formation to the post-processing device 200. It is equipped with 300. Examples of the image forming apparatus 300 include a copier or a printer.

Although not particularly shown, the image forming apparatus 300 of the present embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including an image processing circuit, a photoconductor, an optical writing apparatus, a developing apparatus, a transfer apparatus, and a fixing apparatus.

When the image forming apparatus 300 is a copying machine, the image processing circuit converts the image data read by the scanner unit into printable image data, and outputs the converted image data to the optical writing apparatus. Similarly, image data input from an external device such as a personal computer is also converted into printable image data, and the converted image data is output to the optical writing device.

The optical writing device writes light to the photoconductor based on the image signal output from the image processing circuit, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. The developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor by light writing with toner. The transfer device transfers the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor visualized by the developing device to the paper P. The fixing device fixes the toner image transferred on the paper P to the paper P.

The paper P on which the toner image is fixed is sent from the image forming apparatus 300 to the post-processing apparatus 200, and the post-processing apparatus 200 performs a desired post-processing. The image forming apparatus 300 of the present embodiment is of the electrophotographic type as described above, but all known image forming apparatus such as an inkjet method and a thermal transfer method can be combined with the post-processing apparatus 200 as the image forming apparatus 300. it can.

As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 200 is attached to the side portion of the image forming device 300, and the paper P discharged from the image forming device 300 is guided to the after-processing device 200.

The post-processing device 200 of the present embodiment has a punching process (punch unit 100), an edge binding process (edge binding stapler S1), a saddle stitching process (saddle stitching stapler S2), and a saddle stitching process for the paper P. Each process such as (folding roller pair 14) and sorting process can be performed.

The inlet portion A of the post-processing device 200 is a portion where the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is first carried in, and is a single-sheet post-processing means (for each sheet of paper P that passes through). In this embodiment, the punch unit 100) is provided as a punching means.

A first discharge transport path B for guiding the paper P to the shift tray 201 is formed above the inlet portion A, and the paper P is transferred to the shift tray 202 on the side of the inlet portion A (left side in FIG. 1). A second discharge transport path C is formed. Further, below the inlet portion A of the post-processing apparatus 200, a binding processing transport path D for guiding the paper P to the binding processing tray portion F for aligning and staple binding is formed.

The inlet portion A is a transport path on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the first discharge transport path B, the second discharge transport path C, and the binding processing transport path D, and is delivered from the image forming apparatus 300 to the post-processing apparatus 200. It constitutes a common transport path for all the sheets P. An inlet sensor for detecting the passage of paper P received from the image forming apparatus 300 is arranged at the inlet portion A, and an inlet roller pair 1, a punch unit 100, and a pre-branch transfer roller pair 2 are sequentially arranged on the downstream side thereof. Have been placed. Further, two branch claws (first branch claw 15 and second branch claw 16) are arranged on the downstream side of the pre-branch transfer roller pair 2 of the inlet portion A.

The first branch claw 15 and the second branch claw 16 are each held in the state shown in FIG. 1 by an urging member such as a spring. That is, the first branch claw 15 is urged so that its tip is downward, and the second branch claw 16 is urged so that its tip is upward. The first branch claw 15 and the second branch claw 16 are each connected to a solenoid.

By turning on each solenoid, the tips of the first branch claw 15 and the second branch claw 16 are displaced from the state shown in FIG. 1, and the transfer path of the paper P passing through the position where each branch claw is arranged is switched. Can be done.

In the aftertreatment device 200, by changing the ON / OFF combination of the solenoids of the first branch claw 15 and the second branch claw 16, the transport path of the paper P passing through the inlet portion A is changed to the first discharge transport path B. , The second discharge transport path C, or the binding processing transport path D.

A shift tray composed of shift trays 201, 202, etc. is located at the most downstream portion of the transfer path of the paper P passing through the inlet portion A, the first discharge transfer path B, and the second discharge transfer path C in the aftertreatment device 200. There is a paper output section. Further, the shift tray discharge unit as the loading means includes a tray shift means for reciprocating the shift trays 201 and 202 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P (paper width direction) and shift trays 201 and 202. It is provided with a tray raising / lowering means for raising / lowering in the vertical direction.

In the binding processing transfer path D, from the upstream side in the transfer direction, the binding processing transfer path 1st roller pair 7, the paper guide claw, the pre-stack sensor, the binding processing transfer path 2nd roller pair 9 and the binding processing transfer path 3rd roller pair 10 and the like are arranged.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the binding processing transfer path D on the downstream side of the third roller pair 10 of the binding processing transfer path has a curved shape. A curve entrance paper detection sensor is arranged at the entrance of the curve, and detects whether or not the paper P has passed at the arranged position. Further, at the exit of this curve, a binding processing delivery roller pair 11 for delivering the paper P that has passed through the binding processing transfer path D to the binding processing tray portion F is arranged.

In the post-processing apparatus 200, the next sheet P cannot be accepted by the binding processing tray unit F while the binding processing is being performed by the binding processing tray unit F. Here, the paper P from the image forming apparatus 300 to the post-processing apparatus 200 is prevented from supplying new paper P to the binding processing tray portion F while the binding processing is being performed by the binding processing tray portion F. If the delivery is stopped, the productivity of the entire image forming system 600 is reduced.

Therefore, the post-processing apparatus 200 temporarily retains the paper P in order to increase the time required for the binding process while maintaining the productivity of the entire image forming system 600, and then simultaneously binds a plurality of sheets of the paper P to the binding processing tray unit. A pre-stack process is performed in which the product is transported to F to gain a substantial amount of time.

The paper P guided to the binding processing tray portion F through the inlet portion A and the binding processing transport path D is subjected to post-treatment such as alignment and staples at the binding processing tray portion F. Further, the paper P is sorted by the paper bundle branching guide member 13 into a transport path toward the shift tray 202 or a transport path toward the paper load tray 401 of the saddle stitch loading tray portion Z.

When the paper is distributed to the transport path toward the shift tray 202, it is guided to the vicinity of the upstream side of the second discharge paper detection sensor in the second discharge transport path C, and is guided to the vicinity of the upstream side of the second discharge paper detection sensor, and is the second like the paper P passing through the second discharge transport path C. The paper is ejected to the shift tray 202 by the output rollers vs. 6.

On the other hand, when the paper is sorted into the transport path toward the paper loading tray 401, it is delivered to the saddle stitching / saddle stitching processing unit G that performs saddle stitching processing on the paper P, and the saddle stitching / middle folding processing unit G performs saddle stitching. Post-treatment such as treatment is performed. The paper P that has undergone post-processing such as the center-folding process passes through the transport path H after the center-folding process and is transported to the paper loading tray 401.

The present invention is not limited to the image forming system 600 including the image forming apparatus 300 and the post-processing apparatus 200. The present invention can also be applied to a paper processing means of an image forming system including an image forming means for forming an image on the paper P and a paper processing means for performing a folding process on the paper P.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a sheet loading device instead of the post-processing device 200. The sheet loading device is obtained by removing the paper processing means (drilling process, edge binding process, folding process, etc.) for performing a predetermined process on the sheet from the post-processing device 200, and the discharged sheet is removed from the shift tray. It is a device for sorting and loading on 201 and 202.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of an image forming system including an aftertreatment device 200 and an image forming device 300.
The post-processing device 200 includes a control circuit equipped with a microcomputer having a CPU 101, an I / O interface 102, and the like, and the CPU 101 includes a CPU of the image forming device 300, each switch of the operation panel 105, and other sensors (not shown). Signal is input via the communication interface 103, and the CPU 101 executes a predetermined control based on the input signal. Further, the CPU 101 drives and controls the solenoid and the motor via the driver and the motor driver, and acquires the sensor information in the device from the interface. Further, the motor driver controls the drive of the motor via the I / 0 interface 102 according to the control target and the sensor, and acquires the sensor information from the sensor. In the control, the program code stored in the provided ROM is read by the CPU 101 and expanded into the provided RAM, and the program is defined by the program code while using the RAM as a work area and a data buffer. It is executed based on.

3 to 8 are views for explaining an existing sheet loading device (paper output tray portion).
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an existing seat loading device provided with a shift tray. The sheet loading device includes a paper ejection roller 307, a shift tray 301, a rear end side filler 305 and a rear end side sensor that detect the rear end side of the paper surface in the transport direction, and a tip side filler 303 and a sensor that detect the front end side of the paper surface in the transport direction. It has S1, S2, S3 (see FIG. 4) and the like.
The shift tray 301 performs an elevating operation for detecting the upper surface and a sorting operation in the paper width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing an ascending / descending operation of the shift tray 301.
When the user removes the paper loaded on the shift tray 301 (FIG. 4 (a)), the shift tray 301 moves to the home position (FIG. 4 (b)). The home position is the standby position (top position).
The shift tray 301 has a home position at a position detected by the rear end side filler 305 or the front end side filler 303, so that the paper on the shift tray 301 always comes to the position detected by the rear end side filler 305 during paper passing. Moves up and down. That is, when the amount of paper loaded on the shift tray 301 increases due to paper ejection, the shift tray 301 descends so that the rear end side filler 305 detects the paper on the shift tray 301, and the loaded paper is released. When taken out, the shift tray 301 rises to the position shown in FIG. 4 (b).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the detecting means.
The detection means includes a filler 303 on the tip side, a shielding plate 94 for the sensor S3 installed behind the filler, a shielding plate 96 for the sensors S1 and S2 installed behind the filler, sensors S1, S2, S3 and the like. .. Top surface detection and fullness detection are performed by one tip side filler 303 and three sensors S1, S2, S3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detection means and a shift tray. FIG. 6A is a partial side view showing a state of the front end side filler 303 at the time of top surface detection, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a detection means at the time of top surface detection.
The tip side filler 303 has a function of detecting a standby position (upper surface position) before printing is started in accordance with the flat paper discharge mode and the staple bundle discharge mode, and the shift tray is full of paper. It has a function to detect the state.

Specifically, the sensor S1 detects the standby position in the staple bundle discharge mode, and the sensor S2 detects the standby position in the flat paper discharge mode. When the shift tray 301 rises and the tip side filler 303 comes into contact with the shift tray 301 and the angle changes, as shown in FIG. 6B, the shielding plate 96 shields the sensor S1 or S2 to detect the upper surface. ..

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detection means and a shift tray. FIG. 7A is a partial side view showing a state at the time of fullness detection, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a detection means at the time of fullness detection.
As shown in FIG. 7A, when Z-origami or curled paper P is loaded on the shift tray 301, the paper loading surface rises and the angle of the tip side filler 303 also increases. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the angle of the tip side filler 303 reaches the position of the sensor S3, the shielding plate 94 shields the sensor S3 to detect the full state.

In the state where the filler angle of the tip side filler 303 is the lowest, the sensor S1 that detects the standby position in the staple bundle discharge mode is in the shielded state, and the tip side filler 303 is loaded on the shift tray or the shift tray. The detection state of the sensor S1 that detects the standby position in the staple bundle discharge mode does not change whether or not the paper is in contact with the paper.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing an existing seat loading device provided with a plurality of shift trays.
The plurality of shift trays 301 and 302 can independently perform an elevating operation for detecting the top surface and a sorting operation in the paper width direction.
Similar to the device shown in FIG. 3, the sheet loading device corresponds to the shift trays 301 and 302, respectively, with a paper ejection roller 307, a rear end side filler 305 for detecting the rear end side of the paper surface in the transport direction, and a rear end side sensor. , Tip side filler 303 for detecting the tip side in the transport direction of the paper surface, sensors S1, S2, S3 and the like are provided.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a problem in the seat loading device shown in FIG.
Since the sheet loading device does not have the paper presence / absence detecting means for the shift trays 301 and 302, it cannot detect whether or not there is paper on the tray by itself. Specifically, in the existing sheet loading device, the shift tray is moved up and down so that the paper surface on the shift tray always comes to the detection position of the rear end side filler 305, so is the paper surface being detected now? I can't tell if it's a shift tray. Therefore, when the next printing is started with the printed matter P1 on the shift tray 301, the next printed matter P2 is first loaded on the shift tray 301 as shown in the figure, and the print amount is large and the shift tray 301 When it is full, the printed matter P2 is then loaded onto another shift tray 302. Therefore, since it is not possible to determine whether or not the paper is on the shift tray, the printed matter P1 and P2 may be mixed when the output paper straddles a plurality of shift trays, or if the sort printing is performed under various conditions, other factors may occur. It may be mixed with printed matter.

Therefore, when printing in large quantities exceeding the load capacity of the shift tray, it is necessary to prevent the printed matter from being mixed by confirming that there is no paper on the shift tray by the paper presence detection means before printing. is there.

10 to 15 are views for explaining a sheet loading device including the paper presence / absence detecting means according to the embodiment of the present invention.
First, FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the seat loading device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The sheet loading device has shift trays 201 and 202 as a plurality of (two in this embodiment) loading means that independently perform an elevating operation and a sorting operation (see FIG. 1).
In FIG. 10, the shift tray 201 has a notch 91 as an entry portion in which the front end side filler 203 comes into contact when there is no paper P in the central portion in the paper width direction. Since the notch 91 has a position deeper than the paper loading surface 92, when the paper P is not on the shift tray 201, the tip side filler 203 is placed on the notch 91 by its own weight to detect that there is no paper. When the paper P is loaded on the shift tray 201, the front end side filler 203 is placed on the paper P to detect the presence of paper.

Next, the shape of the shift tray will be described.
FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an existing shift tray 301 (FIG. 11 (a)) and a shift tray 201 (FIG. 11 (b)) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, in the shift tray 201 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the notch 91 is longer than the existing notch 93 in the paper transport direction by m, so that when the paper is not on the shift tray 201, the tip is The side filler 203 is placed on the notch 91 instead of the paper loading surface 92.

The notch 91 is not only notched in the transport direction so that the front end side filler 203 surely enters the notch 91 when the shift tray 201 moves up and down, but also all the sorting in the paper width direction of the shift tray 201. Also at the position, the front end side filler 203 is cut out in the paper width direction so as to enter the cutout portion 91.

The notch depth is set based on the angle of the tip side filler 203 that can be reliably detected in consideration of the variation at the time of contact of the tip side filler 203.

Further, instead of the notch 91, a hole as an entry portion is formed on the shift tray 201, and when the paper P is not on the shift tray 201, the tip side filler 203 enters the hole by its own weight to detect the absence of paper. You may. The hole may or may not penetrate the shift tray 201.

Next, the paper presence / absence detecting means according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing the existing tip side filler 303 (right) and the tip side filler 203 (left) according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing an existing shielding plate 94 when the angles of the fillers are aligned and a shielding plate 95 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 13A shows the shielding plate 95 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13B shows the entire region covered by the existing shielding plate 94 and the shielding plate 95 of the present embodiment. , FIG. 13 (c) shows the existing shielding plate 94.

The first detecting means detects the position of the upper surface of the shift tray 201 as the loading means or the front end side of the paper P as the sheet loaded on the shift tray 201 in the transport direction. The first detecting means includes the tip side filler 203, the shielding plates 95 and 96 installed on the tip side filler 203, and the sensors S1, S2 and S3 (FIGS. 14 and 15) shielded by the shielding plates 95 and 96. See) and.

The second detecting means detects an upper surface position (upper surface position on the rear end side in the transport direction) different from the upper surface position detected by the first detecting means of the paper P loaded on the shift tray 201 or the shift tray 201. The second detection means has a rear end side filler 205, a shielding plate 97 installed on the rear end side filler 205, and a rear end side sensor Sb shielded by the shielding plate 97 (FIGS. 15 and 17). reference).

The first detection means and the second detection means are individually provided for the plurality of shift trays 201 and 202. By providing detection means for each of the multiple shift trays, when the loading capacity of one shift tray is exceeded, the discharge is switched to the tray that detects that there is no paper, so that the paper is discharged without being mixed with other printed matter. can do.

As shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the tip side filler 203 itself is the same as that of the existing tip side filler 303, but the shape of the shielding plate 95 for the sensor S3 installed behind the filler is different. On the other hand, the shapes of the shielding plates 96 for the sensors S1 and S2 installed behind the filler are the same. As shown in FIG. 13, the shape of the existing shielding plate 94 and the shape of the shielding plate 95 of the present embodiment are set so that the ON / OFF of the sensor detection is reversed. That is, the broken line portion indicates the changed portion, and roughly speaking, the shielding plate 95 of the present embodiment does not exist in the portion covered by the existing shielding plate 94 but exists in the broken line portion (FIG. 13 (FIG. 13). a)) The existing shielding plate 94 does not exist in the portion covered by the shielding plate 95 of the present embodiment, but exists in the broken line portion (FIG. 13 (c)).

14 to 17 are partial perspective views showing the relationship between the angular position of the front end side filler 203 and the presence or absence of paper.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when there is no paper P on the shift tray 201, the front end side filler 203 can rotate to the notch 91 located below the paper loading surface 92. As will be described later, at this position, the sensor S1 functioning as a staple sensor is ON, the sensor S2 functioning as a shift sensor is OFF, the sensor S3 functioning as a full sensor is OFF, and the rear end side sensor Sb is ON. No paper is detected by the combination of ON / OFF. That is, the presence or absence of the sheet on the shift tray is detected by the combination of the detection state of the first detection means and the detection state of the second detection means.

In addition, in FIGS. 14 and 16, the tip side filler 203 is formed in a linear shape, and the tip portion thereof enters the notch portion 91, whereas in FIGS. 15 and 17, the tip side filler 203 is formed in an L shape. Then, the refracted portion enters the notch portion 91.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the paper P is on the shift tray 201, the front end side filler 203 is located on the paper P on the paper loading surface 92. At this position, for example, the sensor S1 functioning as a staple sensor is ON, the sensor S2 functioning as a shift sensor is OFF, the sensor S3 functioning as a full sensor is ON, the rear end side sensor Sb is ON, and these sensors are ON / The presence of paper is detected by the combination of OFF. That is, the presence or absence of the paper P on the shift tray is detected by the combination of the detection state of the first detection means and the detection state of the second detection means.

Specifically, when the rear end side filler 205 detects the position of the paper loading surface 92 of the shift tray 201 or the upper surface position of the paper P on the shift tray 201 (FIGS. 14 to 17), the front end side filler 203 When it has entered the notch 91 (FIGS. 14 and 15), it has detected that there is no sheet on the shift tray 201, and when the tip side filler 203 has not entered the notch 91 (FIGS. 16 and 17). Detects the presence of paper on the shift tray 201.

The tip side filler 203 can detect a position where there is no paper P on the shift tray and enters the notch 91 (FIGS. 14 and 15) and a position where the paper P is in contact with the loaded paper P (FIGS. 16 and 17). Has a configuration. As a result, not only the presence / absence of paper but also the height of the upper surface of the shift tray 201 when there is paper can be detected.

After all, until now, the filler on the tip side detected the upper surface position and the full state during standby, but the shape of the shielding plate 95 for the sensor S3 was reversed from the existing shielding plate, and the notch in the shift tray 201 By providing 91, the sheet loading device itself can detect the presence or absence of paper without providing an additional paper presence / absence detecting means such as a sensor with the same filler configuration. Therefore, it is possible to avoid mixing a plurality of printed materials in limitless paper ejection.

Next, a basic operation for detecting the presence or absence of paper according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
When printing is performed, the shift tray 201 is lowered according to the paper load so as to always hold the position detected by the rear end side sensor Sb (that is, so that the rear end side sensor Sb is turned on). I will go. When the printing is finished and the user takes out the paper P from the shift tray 201, the shift tray 201 rises to a position where the rear end side sensor Sb detects the upper surface thereof and stops.

At the position where the shift tray 201 is stopped, the presence / absence of paper is detected by the filler 203 on the tip side.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when there is no paper P on the shift tray 201, the front end side filler 203 comes into contact with the tray in a state of being in the notch 91 located below the paper loading surface 92. The angle of the tip side filler 203 at this time is A [deg]. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when there is paper P, the front end side filler 203 comes into contact with the paper P on the tray. The angle of the tip side filler 203 at this time is B [deg]. At this time, A> B.

FIG. 18 shows a detection state by a combination of a filler and a sensor.
As described above, there is paper depending on the combination of the angle of the front end side filler 203, the detection state of the sensors S1, S2, S3 on the rear end side of the filler, and the detection state of the rear end side filler 205 and the rear end side sensor Sb. It can be detected.

For example, when no paper is detected, the sensor S1 is ON (shielded state), the sensor S2 is OFF, the sensor S3 is OFF, and the rear end side sensor Sb is ON (shielded state). When fullness is detected, the sensor S1 and the sensor S3 that functions as a fullness sensor are turned off, and the other sensors are turned on (shielded state). The state shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 corresponds to the angle = 0 [deg] of the tip side filler 203, that is, the state shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is a reference, and the state shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is The angle of the tip side filler 203 corresponds to −10 [deg].

Conventionally, the shielding plate 94 shields the sensor S3 (sensor S3, ON state) at a position where the tip side filler 303 is flipped up by the paper loaded, and detects the fullness. Since the shape of the shielding plate 95 provided on the tip side filler 203 is reversed, fullness is detected when the shielding plate 95 is not present, that is, when the sensor S3 is OFF. In addition, when there is no paper P on the shift tray 201, the front end side filler 203 enters the inside of the notch 91 of the tray, but the shielding plate 95 is not detected even at that time (sensor S3, OFF state).

In this way, the shift tray 201 moves up and down by changing the shape of the shielding plate 95 of the front end side filler 203, adding the notch 91 to the shift tray 201, and controlling the presence or absence of paper by combining the detection states of the sensors. On the other hand, the presence / absence of paper on the tray can be detected without adding the presence / absence of paper detection means.

By detecting the presence or absence of paper on the shift tray 201 by the already provided paper presence / absence detection means, when one of the plurality of shift trays is full, the output destination can be switched to the other shift tray. Then, a large amount of paper such as 5000 sheets can be ejected (limitless paper ejection). Also, if you take out the paper on the shift tray that has not been ejected while it is being ejected to the other shift tray, the shift tray is automatically ejected after the currently ejected shift tray is full. By setting to switch between, continuous printing can be performed without stopping the system without mixing the printed matter.

Next, the limitless paper ejection according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
19 and 20 are views showing an operation panel for the limitless paper ejection mode provided in the sheet loading device.
The user can select "Paper ejection by function" or "Paper ejection setting" from the operation panel 105, and by selecting "Paper ejection setting", a large amount of paper is ejected to a plurality of shift trays 201 and 202. Alternatively, a limitless paper ejection mode for alternately ejecting paper can be set. On the other hand, "function-based paper ejection" does not perform limitless paper ejection.

In the sheet loading device according to the present embodiment, when setting the shift trays 201 and 202 to be ejected in this limitless paper ejection mode, when the presence of paper is detected on the set destination shift trays 201 and 202, Stops paper ejection until it is detected that there is no paper (stacked paper ejection is prohibited). As a result, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being ejected with the paper P on the shift trays 201 and 202 and being mixed with the printed matter.

On the other hand, in the limitless paper ejection mode after selecting "Paper ejection setting", the user can set whether to allow or prohibit stacked paper ejection. As a result, if there is no problem even if multiple types of printed matter are mixed depending on the user's usage, the presence / absence of paper detection is set to OFF by allowing stacking and ejecting, and printing is suspended when there is paper on the shift tray. Can be stopped. By stopping the print hold, it is possible to reduce the non-operating time of the image forming system and increase the productivity.

Further, the user can select "output priority" or "order priority" in the tray switching setting.
In the case of "output priority", regardless of the paper ejection order to the shift tray, the current printing is continued and the output (paper ejection) is prioritized.
In the case of "order priority", the paper ejection order to the shift tray is prioritized over the continuation of the current printing.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the limitless paper ejection mode.
When the limitless output setting is not selected from the operation panel 105 (FIG. 2) at the start of printing (S1, YES), when printing is started (S2) and printing is completed (S3, YES), printing is finished as it is. Becomes (S4). On the other hand, if the paper P is taken out before the printing is finished (S3, NO) (S5), the shift tray 201 is raised to the home position (S6), the printing is restarted (S2), and then the printing is finished. Becomes (S4).

If the limitless paper ejection setting is selected from the operation panel 105 (S1, NO) and the stacking paper ejection is not set (prohibited) (S7, NO), printing is started (S7, NO). S8). In this case, in order to avoid stacking and ejecting, printing is not started until the paper P on the shift tray is taken out. After checking the shift tray without the paper P, printing is started and the paper is ejected to the shift tray. become.

First, it is determined whether the shift trays 201 and 202 are full (S9), and if any of the shift trays 201 and 202 is not full, the presence or absence of paper P is confirmed in the non-full shift trays 201 and 202 (S10). .. If there is no paper P in any of the shift trays 201 and 202, printing is started and the paper is discharged to the shift tray without the paper P (S11). After that, if the printing is completed (S12, YES), the printing is completed (S4), but if the printing is not completed (S12, NO), the process returns to step 9 and printing is continued until the printing is completed (S4).

On the other hand, when it is detected that all the shift trays 201 and 202 are full in step 9, "Please take out the paper" is displayed on the operation panel 105 (S16). Next, when the paper P is taken out (S17), the shift tray is raised to move to the home position, and the presence or absence of paper in step 10 is confirmed and the steps below it are performed.

When the stacking / ejecting is set in step 7 (S7, YES), order priority or output priority is selected by the tray switching setting of the operation panel 105 (S19), and printing starts (S20).
In the case of order priority, for example, if the user selects the shift tray 201 as the priority tray out of the two shift trays 201 and the shift tray 202, the paper is discharged to the shift tray 202 when the shift tray 201 is full, but the shift tray When the paper P of the shift tray 201 is taken out during the paper ejection to 202, the order is prioritized and the paper P is switched to the shift tray 201 which is the priority tray and the paper is ejected.

On the other hand, in the case of output priority, for example, when the shift tray 201 of the two shift trays 201 and the shift tray 202 is full, the paper is discharged to the shift tray 202, but the paper of the shift tray 201 is discharged during the paper discharge to the shift tray 202. Even if P is taken out, the paper is not ejected by switching to the shift tray 201, and the output is prioritized and the paper is continuously ejected to the shift tray 202.

First, it is determined whether the shift trays 201 and 202 are full (S21), and if any of the shift trays 201 and 202 is not full, printing is started and the print is discharged to the shift trays 201 and 202 that are not full (S22). .. In this case, other printed matter may be loaded on the shift trays 201 and 202 that are not full, but since stacking and discharging is permitted, the paper is discharged to the tray that is not full.

Next, if the tray switching setting is not output priority but order priority (S23, NO), if printing is finished (S24, YES), printing is finished in the priority tray that is currently being ejected (S25). If the shift tray (priority tray) is full (S26, YES) before the end of printing (S24, NO), the process returns to step 21 and the paper is ejected to the shift trays 201 and 202 that are not full (S22). When it is detected that all the shift trays 201 and 202 are full in step 21, "Please take out the paper" is displayed on the operation panel 105 (S130). Next, when the paper P is taken out (S31), the shift tray rises to move to the home position, returns to step 22, is discharged to the shift trays 201 and 202 that are not full (S22), and the following steps are performed.

On the other hand, in step 26, when the paper P in the priority tray is taken out (S27, YES) before the shift tray is full (S26, NO), the paper ejection order is switched to the priority tray (S28). Returning to step 21, the paper is discharged to a priority tray that is not full (S22). If the paper P in the priority tray is not ejected in step 27 (S27, YES), the process returns to step 22 and ejects to the shift trays 201 and 202 that are not full (S22).

In step 23, if the tray switching setting is output priority (S23, YES), if printing is finished (S29, YES), printing is finished (S25), but before printing is finished (S24, NO), shift is performed. When the tray is full (S26, YES), the process returns to step 21 and discharges to the shift trays 201 and 202 which are not full (S22).

As described above, in the sheet loading device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of elevating shift trays, a front end side filler and a rear end side filler in contact with each shift tray or paper, and a sensor at the rear end of the filler are provided. Each shift tray has an entry for the tip side filler. The presence or absence of paper on the shift tray can be detected by combining the detection state of the front end side filler and the rear end side filler with the detection state of the sensor. Specifically, when there is no paper on the tray, when the rear end side filler detects the upper surface, the front end side filler enters the approach portion of the shift tray, and the angle of this front end side filler is detected by the sensor. Therefore, it is possible to detect the state of no paper. On the other hand, when the paper is passed through the shift tray and the paper is on the tray, the paper on the tip side filler comes out of the entry portion (raises to the same surface as the other tray surface), so that the paper presence state can be detected. ..

91 Notch (entrance)
201, 202 shift tray (loading means)
203 Tip side filler (first detection means)
205 Rear end side filler (second detection means)
P paper (sheet)

JP-A-2006-240753

Claims (12)

Multiple loading means that move up and down independently of each
The first detecting means for detecting the upper surface position of the loading means or the sheet loaded on the loading means, and
The loading means or the second detecting means for detecting the upper surface position different from the upper surface position detected by the first detecting means of the sheet loaded on the loading means is provided.
The loading means has an entry portion into which the first detecting means enters when there is no sheet on the loading means.
A sheet loading device characterized in that the presence or absence of a sheet on the loading means is detected by combining the detection state of the first detection means and the detection state of the second detection means. When the second detecting means detects the upper surface position and the first detecting means is entering the approaching portion, the absence of a sheet on the loading means is detected, and the first detecting means detects the absence of a sheet. The sheet loading device according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of a sheet on the loading means is detected when the vehicle has not entered the approaching portion. The sheet loading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first detecting means and the second detecting means are individually provided for the plurality of loading means. Claims 1 to 3 are characterized in that the first detecting means has a configuration capable of detecting a position where there is no sheet on the loading means and enters the approaching portion and a position where the first detecting means is in contact with the loaded sheet. The sheet loading device according to any one of the above. Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first detecting means includes a tip-side filler, a shielding plate installed on the tip-side filler, and a sensor shielded by the shielding plate. The sheet loading device described in the section. Any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second detection means has a rear end side filler, a shielding plate installed on the rear end side filler, and a sensor shielded by the shielding plate. The sheet loading device according to item 1. The seat loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the approach portion is a notch portion having a position deeper than the seat loading surface. In the limitless paper ejection mode in which a large amount of paper is ejected to the plurality of loading means or the paper is ejected alternately, the presence or absence of a sheet is detected on the loading means of the setting destination when the loading means to be ejected is switched. The sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the paper ejection is stopped until the absence of the sheet is detected. The sheet loading device according to claim 8, wherein in the limitless paper ejection mode, the user can set permission or prohibition of stacked paper ejection. A post-processing apparatus comprising: a paper processing means for performing post-processing on an image-formed sheet, and a sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and a sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An image forming system comprising the image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and the post-processing apparatus according to claim 10.