JP3655442B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that performs post-processing on transfer paper that has been subjected to image forming processing and discharged, or an image forming apparatus that has a function of recognizing specific data in a document.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus that performs post-processing such as stapling on transfer paper that has been subjected to image formation processing has a function of recognizing the number of original bundles because there is a limit on the number of sheets that can be stapled on transfer paper. It was. A conventional means for recognizing the number of document bundles is to count the number of documents one by one when the document bundle is fed to the image data reading unit by a document feeder or the like, and then count the total number of documents. It was determined whether stapling can be performed.
[0003]
As a conventional example 1 in which the technical field of the present invention is similar, there is a “character recognition device” disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-241357 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-241358. This conventional example relates to optical character recognition, and is characterized by extracting a character image from an image signal including a character string and recognizing the extracted character image from four different directions by 90 degrees. Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the document bundle is counted one by one by a document feeder or the like and the total number of documents is counted, it takes time to determine whether or not stapling can be performed, and the operator can perform other tasks. Will reduce productivity when you want to do.
[0005]
Further, the character recognition device of the conventional example 1 has vertical writing and horizontal writing, and it is optimal to apply this character recognition device to a mail piece in which the direction of the written character is unknown. If the function of this character recognition device is applied to an image forming apparatus in which the directions are aligned and it is not necessary to determine the direction of the characters, unnecessary operations are included.
[0006]
The present invention recognizes the total number of document bundles instantaneously to determine whether or not the stapling function can be executed, and immediately notifies the operator when the stapling function cannot be executed. An object is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention reads an image reading unit, a storage unit that stores a plurality of document data read by the image reading unit, and an image data stored by the storage unit. A reading unit; a print output unit that prints and outputs the image data read by the reading unit; a post-processing unit that aligns and staples the image-formed transfer paper printed out by the print output unit; and an operation An input means for a person to set various operation modes, and a control means for controlling the respective means. Of the first manuscript that was fed first Recognizing the total page number data entered in the image data, it is determined whether or not the post-processing means can be executed.
[0008]
Further, the control means may inform the operator that the post-processing means cannot be executed when it is determined that the post-processing means cannot be executed.
[0009]
Further, the control means may determine whether or not the post-processing means can be executed based on the total page number data set at an arbitrary position in the image data.
[0010]
Further, when the control means informs the operator that the post-processing means cannot be executed, if there is no function change request from the operator within a certain time, the control means may execute processing other than the post-processing means.
[0011]
Further, it is preferable that the control unit can arbitrarily set the time from when the operator is informed that the post-processing unit cannot be executed to when the processing other than the post-processing unit is executed.
[0012]
In addition, when the stapleable number of sheets is input from the input unit, the control unit may determine whether or not post-processing by the post-processing unit can be executed based on the input stapleable number of sheets.
[0013]
Further, the control means may control each means according to the setting of whether or not to execute post-processing by the post-processing means input from the input means.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 14 show an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an automatic document feeder 1 (hereinafter referred to as ADF1), an operation unit 20, a reading unit 50, a writing unit 70, a finisher 19, a first tray 8, a second tray 9, a third tray 10, a first tray. The sheet feeding device 11, the second sheet feeding device 12, the third sheet feeding device 13, the vertical conveyance unit 14, and the photoconductor 15 are configured.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the operation unit 20.
The operation unit 20 includes a liquid crystal display 21, a start key 22, a clear / stop key 23, a numeric key 24, a staple mode key 25, an enter key 26, a mode clear key 27, a duplex mode key 28, and the like. A message 21 indicates the mode set by each key, the number of copies, and the state of the image forming apparatus.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 60. The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which an original is placed, an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, an A / D converter 57, and the like. An output unit 71, an imaging lens 72, and the like, and a laser diode 71 that is not shown in the drawing and a polygon mirror that is rotated at a constant high speed by a motor are configured inside the laser output 71. Is done.
[0018]
The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed to a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed to a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically operated at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change.
[0019]
The exposure lamp 51 irradiates the original image with light passing through the contact glass 11. The reflected light of the light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 is transmitted through the contact glass 6 and reflected in the order of the first mirror 52, the second mirror 55, and the third mirror 56, and then condensed by the lens 53 to be a CCD image. It enters the sensor 54. The CCD image sensor 54 receives the reflected light of the document condensed by the lens 53, and reads the image information of the document by converting the incident light into an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity. Further, the image magnification can be changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the horizontal direction in FIG.
[0020]
Image reproduction is performed on the photoreceptor 15. The writing unit 70 includes a laser diode (not shown), and laser light emitted from the writing unit 70 is irradiated onto the surface of the photoconductor 15 through a rotating polygon mirror, an imaging lens, and a mirror. The surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged at a high potential in advance by corona discharge by charging. When this surface is irradiated with laser light emitted from the writing unit 70, the charging potential changes according to the intensity of the light. That is, a potential distribution corresponding to the intensity of the laser light emitted from the laser diode provided in the writing unit 70 is formed on the photoconductor 15. The image data written on the photoconductor 15 by the writing unit 70 forms an image on the transfer paper by the photoconductor 15, is conveyed by the conveyance belt 16, fixes the image formed by the fixing unit 17, and is fixed by the discharge unit 18. It is discharged to the finisher 19.
[0021]
Note that the feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are driven by a conveyance motor 41.
[0022]
Further, the photoconductor 15, the conveyance belt 16, the fixing unit 17, and the paper discharge unit 18 are driven by a main motor 42. Each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 is driven by transmitting the driving of the main motor 42 by the paper feeding members 32 to 34, and the vertical conveying unit 14 is driven by the intermediate member 31.
[0023]
Optical scanning systems such as the exposure lamp 51, the first mirror 52, the second mirror 53, the lens 53, and the CCD image sensor 54 are driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown).
[0024]
Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
First, the operator designates a character / number recognition range. The horizontal and vertical axes of the screen are set on the liquid crystal display 21 as the x-axis and y-axis, and the x-axis and y-axis are separated in millimeters, and a display with a number for each division is output. The operator inputs a number in the range of the liquid crystal display 21 corresponding to the position on the document with the total number of pages from the operation unit using the numeric keypad 24 and the enter key 26 for the x axis and the y axis, respectively. The control unit stores the input character and number recognition position in the memory. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a description example of the total page number data described in a document.
[0025]
Next, the operator sets the original bundle on the original table 2 in the ADF 1 with the original having the total number of pages at the bottom and the original surface facing up. When the start key 22 on the operation unit 20 is pressed, the document set detector 7 detects whether or not a document is set on the document table 2. When the document set detector 7 detects the document on the document table, the document is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4 in order from the bottom document.
[0026]
Further, the transfer sheets loaded on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first sheet feeder 11, the second sheet feeder 12, and the third sheet feeder 13, respectively. The sheet is conveyed to a position where it is brought into contact with the photoreceptor 15 by the conveyance unit 14.
[0027]
When receiving a command to start image reading, the control unit drives the scanner of the reading unit 50 to read the image data, and stores the read image data in the image memory 102.
[0028]
When the original set detector 7 confirms that no original remains on the original table 2, the read original bundle is discharged by the feeding belt 4 and the discharge roller 5.
[0029]
The control unit recognizes the total document page number data using the character / number recognition unit 103. The control unit causes the RAM 83 to output the image data of the document first fed onto the contact glass 6 among the image data stored in the image memory 102. The character / number recognition unit 103 sequentially digitizes the character / number recognition range image data stored in the memory in advance among the image data output to the RAM 83 and outputs it to the CPU 81. The CPU 81 recognizes the value. When it is recognized, the value of the total number of pages of the original is returned. When it is not recognized, 0 is returned as a value to the character / number recognition unit. The recognition result is stored in the data area on the RAM 83.
[0030]
The total number of pages of the original recognized by the above processing is compared with the staple limit number stored in advance in the memory.
[0031]
When the total page number data of the document exceeds the staple limit number data, an indication that “the number of staples exceeds the limit” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21 to make the operator recognize this.
[0032]
When the operator inputs the command “Stop all operations”, all operations are stopped. Further, when an instruction “release the staple function and execute the image forming process” is issued, only the staple function is canceled and the image forming process is performed.
[0033]
Further, when no setting change request is received from the operator even after the standby time preset by the operator and stored in the memory is exceeded, the stapling function is automatically canceled and only the image forming process is executed.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship of each part of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The image data photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 54 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 57. The image data converted into the digital signal is corrected by the shading correction processing unit 58 for variations in light sensitivity of individual pixels.
[0035]
The image signal subjected to the shading correction is subjected to MTF correction (modulation transfer function) by the image processing unit 59, a scaling process for performing a scaling process for the input image signal in accordance with a specified scaling ratio, and a gamma for removing the background of the input image signal. Correction and the like are performed and output to the selector 60.
[0036]
The selector 60 can switch the output destination of the input image signal to the image memory controller 101 or the writing unit 70 according to the setting of the operator.
[0037]
The image memory controller 101 can input and output image signals bidirectionally with the selector 60, and stores the image signals transmitted from the selector 60 in the image memory 102 in accordance with the operator's settings.
[0038]
The IPU control unit 80 for setting the image memory controller 101 and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 70 includes a CPU 81 and a ROM 82 and a RAM 83 for storing and reading programs and data.
[0039]
Further, the CPU 81 can write and read data in the image memory 102 via the image memory controller 101.
[0040]
Next, operation examples of the image processing unit (hereinafter referred to as IPU) 80 and the base control unit (hereinafter referred to as BCU) 90 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0041]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the IPU 80. When a command is received (S101 / YES), it is first checked whether or not the apparatus is set to the staple mode. If the apparatus is set to the staple mode (S102 / YES), the printed transfer paper is stapled. Processing is performed (S103).
[0042]
When the staple mode is not set (S102 / NO), an image input process is performed (S105), and only the image output process (S107) is performed on the read image data.
[0043]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the IPU 80. When the staple mode set command is received from the operator (S201 / YES), the apparatus is set to the staple mode, the count flag is reset (S202), and stored in the memory in the image data by the character / number recognition unit. The data at the position indicated by the recognition position is recognized.
[0044]
When a reset command is received (S201 / NO), the staple mode flag is reset (S203).
[0045]
When the flag is set / reset, data in the document number data area is deleted (S204) and each counter is cleared (S205).
[0046]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a third operation example of the IPU 80. When receiving the image data read start command, the IPU 80 drives the scanner to read the image data, and stores the read image data in the image memory (S301).
[0047]
When the apparatus is set to the staple mode (S302 / YES) and the count flag is OFF (S303 / NO), the characters in the image data stored in the image memory 102 and the number recognition position data Is recognized by the character / number recognition unit 103 (S304). After completion of recognition, a count flag is set (S305), and the recognition result is transmitted to the BCU unit (S306).
[0048]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the BCU 90. Even if the operator inputs the staple mode key 25 or the like when the apparatus is operating (job execution flag ON) (S403 / YES) with the document set on the document table 2 (S401 / YES) No key input is accepted while the device is in operation. When the staple mode is already set (S404 / YES), when the operator inputs the staple mode, the staple mode of the apparatus is canceled (S405), and the liquid crystal display 21 displays that the staple mode has been cleared (S405). S406).
[0049]
When the apparatus is on standby (job execution flag OFF) and the staple mode is not set (S404 / NO), when the operator presses the staple mode key 25, the staple mode flag is turned ON (S407). And the display shows that the staple mode is set (S408). When the staple mode is set and all the originals on the platen 2 have been removed, or when the mode clear key 27 is pressed, the staple mode is canceled and the fact that this function has been canceled is displayed on the display. .
[0050]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the BCU 90.
When the start key 22 is pressed (S501 / YES), the document is set on the document table 2 (S504 / YES), and the staple mode is set (S505 / YES), the staple mode setting command is sent to the IPU 80. (S506), the transport motor 41 of the ADF 1 is driven to feed the document to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 (S507), and after the feeding is finished, a reading start command is sent to the IPU 80 (S508), Start reading image data.
[0051]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The BCU unit 90 compares the document number data received from the IPU unit 80 with the staple limit number stored in the memory (S601). If the number of documents is within the staple limit number (S602 / YES), the document set detector 7 determines whether the document remains on the document table 2.
[0052]
When the document set detector 7 determines that the document remains on the document table 2 (S613 / YES), the ADF 1 causes the document on the document table 2 to be fed onto the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4. Are fed to a predetermined position (S614), and the original is read (S615). If it is determined that no document remains on the document table 2 (S613 / NO), the scanned document on the contact glass 6 is discharged (S616), and then an image output start command is transmitted to the IPU 80.
[0053]
If the number of documents exceeds the staple limit (S602 / NO), the liquid crystal display 21 displays that the number of documents exceeds the staple limit (S603), and starts the reset counter (S609). .
[0054]
The BCU unit 90 compares the standby time value stored in the memory with the counter value. If the operator does not input one of the operation commands (1. Cancel job, 2. Cancel and execute the stapling function) until the counter value matches the standby time value (S610 / YES), stapling The function is canceled (S606), and the image forming process is executed.
[0055]
When the operator inputs the setting of “Cancel job” within the waiting time, all the mode settings are reset (S608). Further, when the operator inputs the setting “Release and execute staple”, only the staple function is canceled and the image forming process is executed.
[0056]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a second operation example according to the present embodiment. The BCU unit 90 compares the document number data received from the IPU unit 80 with the staple limit number stored in the memory (step S701). If the number of documents is within the staple limit number (step S702 / YES), first, the document set detector 7 determines whether or not the document remains on the document table.
[0057]
When the document set detector 7 determines that the document remains on the document table (step S707 / YES), the ADF 1 causes the document on the document table 2 to be fed onto the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4. Are fed to a predetermined position (step S710), and the original is read (step S711). If it is determined that no document remains on the document table 2 (step S707 / NO), the read document on the contact glass 6 is discharged (step S712), and then an image output start command is sent to the IPU unit 80. Send.
[0058]
If the number of documents exceeds the limit of staples (step S702 / NO), the LCD 21 displays “The number of documents exceeds the limit of staples. 1: Cancel job, 2: Cancel staple. A message “execute” is displayed (step S703).
[0059]
When the operator designates the cancellation of the job “1” with the numeric keypad 24 and the enter key 26 (step S705 / YES), all the mode settings and flags are reset (step S709). When execution of “2” is canceled and execution is input (step S705 / NO), the staple mode is canceled (step S706), and the job is executed.
[0060]
Next, a function capable of arbitrarily setting the stapling limit number by the operation unit 20 will be described. This function is a function that allows the operator to arbitrarily change the number of sheets that can be stapled, and is a function that is effective when changing the finisher to another finisher having a different number of sheets that can be stapled.
[0061]
The operator inputs the changed number of staples of the finisher using the numeric keypad and enter key of the operation unit 20. When the stapling possible sheet number is input, the staple limiting sheet number stored in a memory (not shown) in the BCU unit 90 is changed to the input numerical value.
[0062]
Whether or not the BCU unit 90 can execute the stapling process by comparing the changeable number of staples stored in the memory and the document number data recognized by the character / number recognition unit 103 and received from the IPU unit 80 as described above. Thus, the determination based on the number of staples that can be replaced by the replaced finisher can be easily realized.
[0063]
Next, a function capable of arbitrarily setting the set / reset of the staple enable / disable detection mode from the operation unit 20 will be described. This function is effective when the operator pulls out several originals from the original bundle and the total number of pages written on the original does not match the number of originals actually set in the ADF. It is.
[0064]
A method for setting and resetting the staple enable / disable detection mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the staple mode key 25 is pressed (step S801 / YES), the document set detector 7 is ON (step S802 / YES), and both the job execution flag and the staple mode flag are not ON (step S803). , S804 / NO), a message “Do you want to detect whether staples are possible? / 1: Do it? 2: Do not do it” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 21 (Step S807). If the staple mode flag has already been turned on in step S804, the staple flag is turned off and the subsequent processing is terminated (step S805).
[0065]
If the operator inputs “1” stapling enabled / disabled detection using the numeric keypad 24 and the enter key (YES in step S809), the staple enabled / disabled detection mode is executed (step S811). If there is an input of “2” indicating that the stapling possibility / impossibility detection is not performed (step S809 / NO), the stapling possibility / impossibility detection mode based on the total page number recognition is not executed. In this case, the staple mode is not canceled.
[0066]
According to the above embodiment, by recognizing the total number of pages recorded at a predetermined position of the first original fed by the ADF 1 and determining whether or not the recognized value is within the staple limit number. It is possible to make a quicker and more accurate determination than when the ADF 1 counts the number of sheets by feeding the original and then determines whether the number is within the staple limit number of sheets. Productivity is improved.
[0067]
Further, since the position where the total number of pages can be recognized can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to deal with documents of various formats, and the effectiveness of the apparatus can be expanded.
[0068]
In addition, even if the total number of original pages exceeds the stapling limit, this can be quickly displayed on the display unit, so that the operator does not leave the apparatus and the subsequent operations are performed by the operator. It will no longer cause problems such as different from what you expect.
[0069]
In addition, when the total number of pages of the document exceeds the staple limit number and the setting is not changed by the operator within a certain time, only the staple function can be canceled and other processing can be performed. The job interruption time can be shortened and the productivity of the apparatus can be prevented from being lowered. Further, the operator does not have to wait until all the operations of the apparatus are completed by changing the function from the beginning, thereby improving the productivity.
[0070]
In addition, when the staple function cannot be executed, the operator can arbitrarily set the time until the job is restarted.In the case of a frequently used device, the job restart time can be set short to prevent a decrease in productivity. In addition, in the case of a device with low frequency of use, by setting a long job restart time, it is possible to easily reflect the operator's intention and to make the mode suitable for the use state of the device, thereby improving productivity.
[0071]
In addition, since the number of stapleable sheets can be arbitrarily set by the operation unit 20, various types of post-processing apparatuses having different stapleable sheet numbers can be used in the present apparatus.
[0072]
In addition, since setting / resetting of the stapling enable / disable detection mode can be arbitrarily set, the operator removes several originals from the original bundle, and sets the total number of pages written on the original and the actual ADF. For example, when the number of originals does not match, the mode can be easily changed according to the usage status of the apparatus.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the image forming apparatus of the present invention recognizes the total number of pages recorded at a predetermined position of the first document fed first by the document feeder. By determining whether or not the value is within the staple limit number of sheets, it is faster than when the document feeder determines that the value is within the staple limit number after counting the number of sheets by feeding the document. It is possible to make an accurate judgment, and it is not necessary for the operator to pay attention to the apparatus for a long time, thereby improving productivity.
[0074]
Further, since the position where the total number of pages can be recognized can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to deal with documents of various formats, and the effectiveness of the apparatus can be expanded.
[0075]
In addition, even if the total number of original pages exceeds the stapling limit, this can be quickly displayed on the display unit, so that the operator does not leave the apparatus and the subsequent operations are performed by the operator. It will not be different from what you expected.
[0076]
Also, when the total number of original pages exceeds the staple limit and the setting change request is not issued by the operator within a certain time, only the staple function can be canceled and other processing can be executed. As a result, the job interruption time can be shortened and the productivity of the apparatus can be prevented from being lowered. In addition, productivity is improved because the operator does not wait until all the operations of the apparatus are completed by redoing the function setting from the beginning.
[0077]
In addition, when the staple function cannot be executed, the operator can arbitrarily set the time until the job is restarted, so in the case of a frequently used device, the job restart time can be set short to prevent a decrease in productivity. Further, in the case of an apparatus that is not frequently used, the mode can be set in accordance with the use state of the apparatus, such as setting a long job restart time and easily reflecting the operator's intention, thereby improving productivity.
[0078]
In addition, since the number of stapleable sheets can be arbitrarily set by the input unit, various types of post-processing units having different stapleable sheet numbers can be used.
[0079]
In addition, it is possible to easily set whether to perform post-processing using the post-processing unit from the input unit, so that an operator can extract a plurality of originals from a bundle of documents. When the total page data written at the position does not match the actual number of originals, it can be used according to the usage status of the image forming apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial external view showing a configuration example of an operation panel.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing a configuration example of a reading unit and a writing unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of the embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram showing a connection relation of each part of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a description example of total page number data described in a document.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the IPU.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the IPU.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a third operation example of the IPU.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a first operation example of the BCU.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the BCU.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a second operation example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a third operation example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ADF
2 Document table
3 Feeding roller
4 Feeding belt
5 Discharge roller
6 Contact glass
7 Document set detector
8 First tray
9 Second tray
10 Third tray
11 First feeding device
12 Second paper feeder
13 Third paper feeder
14 Vertical transport unit
15 photoconductor
16 Conveyor belt
17 Fixing unit
18 Paper discharge unit
19 Finisher
20 Operation unit
21 Liquid crystal display
41 Conveyor motor
42 Main motor
50 reading unit
70 writing unit
80 IPU
90 BCU
101 Memory controller
102 Image memory
103 characters, number recognition unit

Claims (7)

Image reading means; storage means for storing a plurality of document data read by the image reading means;
Reading means for reading the image data stored by the storage means;
Print output means for printing and outputting the image data read by the reading means;
Post-processing means for aligning and stapling the image-formed transfer paper printed out by the print output means;
An input means for an operator to set various operation modes;
Control means for controlling each means,
The control means recognizes the total page number data entered in the image data of the first document fed first, and determines whether or not the post-processing means can be executed. Forming equipment.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the post-processing unit cannot be executed, the control unit notifies the operator that the post-processing unit cannot be executed.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the post-processing unit can be executed based on total page number data written at an arbitrary position in the image data.   The control means executes processing other than the post-processing means when there is no function change request from the operator within a certain time after notifying the operator that the post-processing means is not executable. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The control means is characterized in that the operator can arbitrarily set a time from when the operator is informed that the post-processing means cannot be executed to when a process other than the post-processing means is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   When the stapleable number of sheets is input from the input unit, the control unit determines whether or not post-processing by the post-processing unit can be executed based on the input stapleable number of sheets. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The said control means controls each said means according to the setting of whether the post-processing means input from the said input means performs post-processing, or not. Image forming apparatus.

Images