JP3718655B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a slip sheet function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between the transfer sheets loaded on the discharge tray and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the slip sheet tray. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus including an interleaf inserter that feeds paper toward a conveyance path.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an image forming apparatus equipped with a slip sheet tray in the paper discharge unit, when printing while inserting slip sheets, if the number of slip sheets decreases and the slip sheets suddenly run out, the transfer sheet is closed to increase productivity. Since it started with, paper is discharged without inserting the slip sheet. In that case, the user may manually insert the slip sheet later, or the portion when the slip sheet is lost in the staple mode may be wasted.
[0004]
In addition, when the user prepares a specific slip sheet and tries to use only the slip sheet, there is a possibility that the number of slip sheets is originally small. In that case, if the number of sheets that does not run out of slip sheets is set under the management of the user, the productivity does not have to be reduced.
[0005]
Even if the transfer sheet is discharged without being inserted because the slip sheet is lost during normal paper discharge, it is relatively easy to sandwich the slip sheet by the user. However, if there is no interleaving paper in the staple mode and an incomplete part remains on the stapling table, the transfer paper and interleaving paper in the stapling table can be used if recovery is possible from the interleaving paper, but the interleaving paper to be inserted. If transfer paper enters and the page order goes wrong when there is not enough paper, it is necessary to start over from the beginning during recovery.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a trouble in the slip sheet mode.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes an interleaf tray for stacking interleaf inserted between transfer sheets stacked on a paper discharge tray, and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the interleaf tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an interleaf inserter that feeds interleaving paper toward the transfer paper transport path upstream of the paper discharge tray, when the number of interleaving paper sheets reaches a predetermined number or less, the start feeding, have a function to be performed after the presence confirmation slip sheet to be inserted immediately before the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray in a plurality of stages, the passage of the transfer sheet passing through the confluence of the slip sheet transfer sheet When the time is t and the time when the transfer paper fed from the farthest paper feed tray reaches the junction is T, the transfer paper is fed when the remaining number of interleaving papers is T / t or more. The most important feature is an occasional image forming apparatus .
[0008]
The invention described in claim 2 has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between transfer sheets stacked on a discharge tray, and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided in the slip sheet tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an interleaf inserter that feeds toward the transfer paper conveyance path on the upstream side of the paper discharge tray, when the number of interleaf sheets reaches a predetermined number, the transfer paper feed starts immediately before It has a function to be performed after confirming the presence of the interleaving paper to be inserted, and also determines whether or not to start feeding the transfer paper based only on the presence / absence of interleaving paper, or based on the judgment whether or not the interleaving paper has become a predetermined number or less. An image forming apparatus having a function of performing or switching is a main feature.
[0009]
The invention described in claim 3 has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between transfer sheets stacked on a discharge tray, and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the slip sheet tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with an interleaf inserter that feeds toward the transfer paper conveyance path on the upstream side of the paper discharge tray, when the number of interleaf sheets reaches a predetermined number, the transfer paper feed starts immediately before It has a function to perform after confirming the existence of the interleaving paper to be inserted, and the image forming apparatus is provided with a stapler, and when in the staple mode, when the interleaving paper reaches a predetermined number or less, the transfer paper feeding start is inserted immediately before The main feature is an image forming apparatus having a function of starting transfer paper transfer by cutting off before confirming the presence of interleaving paper .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration will be described together with the operation. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of the present invention. A document bundle placed on the document table 2 in the automatic document feeder (ADF) 1 with the image surface of the document facing up is pressed when a start key 34 on the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. It is fed from the top manuscript. The fed original is read at the ADF original reading position 3.
[0012]
The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 11, the second tray 12, and the third tray 13 are fed by the first paper feeding device 14, the second paper feeding device 15, and the third paper feeding device 16, respectively, and are vertically conveyed. The unit 17 abuts against the registration roller 18. Thereafter, the registration roller 18 is rotated at the timing of writing an image on the photoconductor 19 to convey the transfer paper to the position of the photoconductor 19.
[0013]
The image data read by the reading unit 20 is written on the photoconductor 19 by a laser from the writing unit 21 to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image passes through the developing unit 22 to form toner. An image is formed. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive member 19 is transferred while the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveying belt 23 at the same speed as the rotation of the photosensitive member 19. Thereafter, the transfer paper on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit 24 is conveyed to the post-processing device 40.
[0014]
The transfer paper that has entered the post-processing device 40 is discharged to either the upper discharge tray 42, the lower discharge tray 43, or the staple table 44 by switching the branching claw 41. At the time of stapling, after a part of the transfer paper bundle is conveyed to the staple table 44, the transfer paper bundle is stapled by the stapler 45 and discharged to the lower discharge tray 43.
[0015]
A mechanism for inserting the slip sheet from the slip sheet inserter 46 before and after the transfer sheet will be described. When inserting a slip sheet in front of a transfer sheet fed from a sheet feeding device, a gap is formed between the transfer sheet and the transfer sheet transported earlier according to the number of inserted sheets. Then, the interleaving paper loaded on the interleaving paper tray 47 is fed, waited before the junction point A, inserted between the transfer papers, and sent to the post-processing device 40.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the remaining amount of paper is detected in the slip sheet inserter. (A) shows a state in which the slip sheet is fully loaded in the slip sheet tray 47, and (b) shows a state in which the slip end on the slip sheet tray 47 is reduced and the near end sensor detects the near end of the slip sheet.
[0017]
An example of the remaining paper amount detection of the interleaf inserter 46 will be described with reference to FIG. When the slip sheet bundle is set on the slip sheet tray 47, the slip sheet tray 47 is raised and the slip sheet is pressed against the pickup roller 48. Thereafter, the pick-up roller 48 rotates to feed the slip sheets one by one. The filler attached to the slip sheet tray 47 rises together with the slip sheet tray 47, but it can be determined that the remaining amount of the slip sheet is small when the filler shields the near-end sensor (light transmission sensor or the like) 49 disposed on the upper part.
[0018]
The remaining amount at the time of detection can be adjusted by the mounting position of the near-end sensor 49. Although not shown, a slip sheet presence / absence sensor (such as a light reflection sensor) that can detect whether a slip sheet is placed on the slip sheet tray 47 is mounted, and the sheet feeding operation is stopped when the slip sheet runs out. .
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of the operation unit. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a mode clear key 35, and an initial setting key 36. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 includes function keys 37, the number of copies, and image formation. A message indicating the status of the device is displayed.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit. When the operator touches a key displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the key indicating the selected function is inverted in black. In addition, when it is necessary to specify the details of the function (for example, if it is variable magnification, the variable magnification value, etc.), the detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the key. Thus, since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically perform an optimal display at that time.
[0021]
In FIG. 3, 31-1 is a message area for displaying messages such as “Ready to copy” and “Please wait”, 31-2 is a copy number display section for displaying the set number of sheets, and 31-3 is a staple binding. A key for setting a position, 31-4 is a sort key for designating a process for arranging copies in order of pages, 31-5 is a stack key for designating a process for sorting copies by page, and 31-6 is an enlargement. A scaling key for setting a reduction ratio, 31-7 is a duplex key for setting a duplex mode, and 31-8 is a slip key for selecting a slip mode. The selected mode is shaded.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional problem (b) and a process (c) of the present invention in the case (a) in which the transfer paper and the interleaving paper are alternately passed. For example, when the transfer paper and the slip sheet are alternately passed as shown in FIG. 5A, the position of the paper feed tray for feeding the transfer paper to the position of the slip paper tray 47 as shown in FIG. When the distance is far, in order to pass the paper so as not to reduce the productivity, it is necessary to start feeding the transfer paper by giving up before detecting the presence or absence of the interleaf inserted immediately before.
[0023]
Then, for example, when it is detected that there is no third interleaving paper, the subsequent transfer paper has started to be fed, so the transfer paper is ejected with no interleaving paper sandwiched as shown in FIG. Loaded on the tray. After that, even if the slip sheet is added to the slip sheet tray 47, it cannot be recovered, the part is in an incomplete state, and the user needs to insert the slip sheet later. Alternatively, in the case of stapling, it is necessary to redo all of them, and wasteful printing is performed.
[0024]
Therefore, in the present invention, the remaining amount of the slip sheet is detected. That is, when the remaining amount of interleaving paper is low, the transfer paper is fed after confirming the presence or absence of the interleaving paper to be inserted immediately before. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, since the transfer paper is not fed when the interleaving paper is exhausted, recovery can be performed by adding the interleaving paper, and finishing can be finished with the interleaving paper inserted in the apparatus. it can.
[0025]
If the near-end state can be detected when the remaining amount of the slip sheet is detected, it is determined whether the unfinished state portion as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of the timing of the transfer paper and the interleaf paper passing through the junction A when 10 interleaf papers are inserted between the transfer papers, and FIG. 7 shows the second example. It is explanatory drawing.
[0026]
In order not to start parting off the transfer sheet, sheet feeding is started when the number of sheets that cannot be confirmed yet is less than or equal to the near-end number of sheets inserted immediately before. In FIG. 6, the number of near ends is five, and in FIG. 7, the number of near ends is six. In this case, if the time T to reach the confluence point A after feeding the transfer paper takes as much time as the six interleaving sheets pass as shown in the figure, in the case of FIG. In the case of FIG. 7, the paper can be passed with the maximum productivity while the gap between the papers opens and the productivity decreases. In other words, if the transfer time T of the transfer paper and the passing time t of one interleaving paper are T / t sheets or more, if near-end is detected, an incomplete portion can be prevented from being formed.
[0027]
The confirmation of the presence or absence of the previous slip sheet can only be made after the previous slip sheet has been fed. Therefore, when the feeding of the transfer sheet is started after confirming the presence or absence of the interleaving paper after the interleaving paper near end, the productivity decreases as the joining point A becomes farther. Depending on the user, it may be possible to prepare slip sheets for the number of sheets to be used in advance, or it may be assumed that it is faster to manually insert slip sheets later than when productivity drops. is there. In view of this, it is possible to switch and select from the operation unit 31 whether the transfer paper is cut off and the productivity is not lowered, or whether the productivity is lowered or not finished in an unfinished portion.
[0028]
In the near end, when the transfer paper is cut off and feeding is started and the interleaving paper runs out, as mentioned in the explanation of claim 1, the user inserts the missing interleaving paper later by hand in normal paper ejection. However, in the case of stapling, paper in the middle of a copy cannot be stapled, so paper is wasted. Also, it is not convenient to let the user select it every time with the function of claim 2 .
[0029]
Therefore, in the case of normal paper discharge, the transfer paper should be cut off so as not to reduce the productivity, and in the staple mode, the transfer paper should be fed after checking for the presence of interleaving paper. Switch automatically on the device side.
[0030]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a first control example (corresponding to each of the inventions according to claims 1 to 3 ). When there is a transfer paper feed request (S1), it is determined whether or not the insertion of a slip sheet is necessary immediately before (S2). If it is not a slip sheet, the paper feed is started immediately (S5). In the case of a slip sheet, it is determined whether the slip sheet is in a near-end state (S3). When it is not in the near-end state, that is, when sufficient interleaf sheets are stacked, the transfer sheet feeding is started immediately. In the near-end state, the paper feeding is suspended until the presence or absence of the previous slip sheet can be confirmed (Y in S4). In the meantime, if there is no interleaving paper (Y in S6), the process is finished without feeding the transfer paper.
[0031]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a second control example (corresponding to the invention described in claim 2 ). When there is a transfer paper feed request (S1), it is determined whether or not the insertion of a slip sheet is necessary immediately before (S2). If it is not a slip sheet, the paper feed is started immediately (S7). In the case of a slip sheet, it is determined whether or not it is a productivity-oriented mode, that is, a mode for starting the transfer paper parting (S3). In the productivity-oriented mode, only the presence or absence of the slip sheet at that time is confirmed (S4). When it is not in the productivity-oriented mode, the slip-sheet near-end state is confirmed (S5), and thereafter, the same control as in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed (S6-S8).
[0032]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a third control example (corresponding to the invention of claim 3 ). When there is a transfer paper feed request (S1), it is determined whether or not the insertion of a slip sheet is necessary immediately before (S2). If it is not a slip sheet, the paper feed is started immediately (S7). In the case of a slip sheet, it is determined whether or not the staple mode is set (S3). When the mode is not the staple mode, only the presence or absence of the slip sheet at that time is confirmed (S4), and if it is, the paper feeding is started. When in the staple mode, the interleaf near-end state is confirmed (S5), and thereafter, the same control as in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed (S6 to S8).
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is no problem that the user manually inserts the slip sheet later, and the recovery operation can be performed reliably.
[0034]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the user can select whether to place importance on productivity or on the recovery operation, user convenience is improved.
[0035]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the troublesomeness of switching can be reduced by automatically switching to the recovery operation in the staple mode in which the recovery operation is supposed to be prioritized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating how a remaining amount of paper is detected in a slip sheet inserter.
FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of an operation unit.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional defect (b) and a process (c) of the present invention in a case where a transfer sheet and a slip sheet are alternately passed (a).
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first example of timing of a transfer sheet and a slip sheet that pass through a joining point A when ten slip sheets are inserted between transfer sheets.
FIG. 7 is also an explanatory diagram showing a second example.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a first control example (corresponding to each invention according to claims 1 to 3 ).
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a second control example (corresponding to the invention according to claim 2 ).
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a third control example (corresponding to the invention of claim 3 ).
[Explanation of symbols]
11 First tray 12 Second tray 13 Third tray 40 Post-processing device 42 Upper discharge tray 43 Lower discharge tray 46 Interleaf inserter 47 Interleaf tray 49 Near-end sensor

Claims (3)

It has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between the transfer sheets loaded on the discharge tray and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the slip sheet tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a slip sheet inserter that feeds paper toward the transport path, when the number of slip sheets reaches a predetermined number or less, the transfer paper feed is started after the presence of the slip sheet to be inserted immediately before is confirmed. have a function to perform,
The image forming apparatus has a plurality of stages of paper feed trays, the transfer paper passing time passing through the joining point of the interleaf and transfer paper is t, and the transfer paper fed from the farthest paper feed tray reaches the joining point. An image forming apparatus characterized in that when the reaching time is T, the transfer sheet is fed when the remaining number of interleaving sheets is equal to or greater than T / t. It has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between the transfer sheets loaded on the discharge tray and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the slip sheet tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a slip sheet inserter that feeds paper toward the transport path, when the number of slip sheets reaches a predetermined number or less, the transfer paper feed is started after the presence of the slip sheet to be inserted immediately before is confirmed. as well as it has a function to perform,
An image having a function of switching whether to determine whether or not to start feeding a transfer sheet based only on whether or not there is a slip sheet, or based on a determination whether or not the number of slip sheets is equal to or less than a predetermined number. Forming equipment. It has a slip sheet tray for stacking slip sheets to be inserted between the transfer sheets loaded on the discharge tray and a slip sheet remaining amount detecting means provided on the slip sheet tray. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a slip sheet inserter that feeds paper toward the transport path, when the number of slip sheets reaches a predetermined number or less, the transfer paper feed is started after the presence of the slip sheet to be inserted immediately before is confirmed. have a function to perform,
The image forming apparatus includes a stapler. In the staple mode, when the number of interleaving paper sheets reaches a predetermined amount or less, the transfer paper is fed after confirming the presence of the interleaving paper to be inserted immediately before normal paper ejection. An image forming apparatus characterized by having a function of starting to feed transfer paper by giving up before checking for the presence of interleaving paper.

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