JP4072386B2 - Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying technique capable of feeding a plurality of stacked sheets one by one.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming system such as a copying system, for a first page, an intermediate page, or a final page of a bundle of sheets on which an image has been formed, a cassette provided in the image forming system or a paper feed tray is used. A sheet capable of inserting a special sheet (insert sheet) serving as a “front cover”, “interleaf” or “back cover” is known. In such a system, special paper can be inserted not only from a single paper feed stage but also from other paper feed stages as “front cover”, “interleaf” or “back cover”. A system configured to feed special paper from a dedicated tray is also known. Hereinafter, the operation of inserting an insertion sheet such as special paper as “front cover”, “interleaf” and / or “back cover” is referred to as “interleaf processing”, and the mode for performing such interleaf processing is referred to as “interleaf mode”. "
[0003]
Since insertion of special paper in the slip sheet mode is basically a simple sheet conveyance operation, the insertion position of special paper to be inserted into each bundle (inserted page in the target bundle) or insertion is usually performed. The number of sheets can be arbitrarily set. Further, post-processing such as so-called bundle discharge processing, binding processing, folding processing, and bookbinding processing is performed on a bundle of sheets into which such special paper is inserted in a finisher included in the image forming system. There is also.
[0004]
In an image forming system that supplies an insertion sheet from a cassette, when it is time to insert the insertion sheet into a bundle of sheets, the insertion sheet is supplied from the cassette to the conveyance path through which the sheet on which the image is to be formed passes and the supplied insertion is performed. The sheet is discharged through the conveyance path. Here, since the fixing unit is usually arranged in the middle of the conveyance path through which the sheet on which the image is formed passes, the insertion sheet also passes through the fixing unit in the same manner as the sheet. In this case, when a sheet on which a color image is recorded is used as the insertion sheet, the insertion sheet may be subjected to heat pressure when passing through the fixing unit, and the quality of the recorded image on the insertion sheet may be impaired. .
[0005]
In recent years, with the spread of personal computers and digital cameras, color images can be easily obtained. For this reason, color copy paper or color print paper is often used as the above-mentioned insertion sheet. However, when color copy paper or the like is fed as an insertion sheet from the cassette to the conveyance path, the oil adhered to the surface of the color copy paper. It has also been pointed out that the transport mechanism is contaminated and the reliability of paper transport is significantly reduced.
[0006]
In view of such a problem, an image forming system in which an insert sheet feeder (sheet conveying device) for supplying an insert sheet is provided in the finisher has been developed. As this type of apparatus, for example, those disclosed in JP-A-60-180894, JP-A-60-191932, JP-A-60-204564 and the like are known. In the systems described in these publications, an insertion sheet is supplied from an insertion sheet feeder to a finisher at a desired timing, and the insertion sheet is conveyed and stored (stacked) on a processing tray in the finisher. Further, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus is also guided into the finisher, and is conveyed and stored (stacked) on the processing tray. In such a system, in order to properly insert a cover sheet or the like into a bundle of sheets in the interleaf mode, it is necessary to previously stack the necessary number of special sheets in the page order according to the image contents on the insertion sheet feeder. is there.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When performing the slip sheet processing using the insertion sheet feeder as described above, the sheets fed from the insertion sheet feeder must be reliably supplied into the finisher one by one. However, special paper or the like used as an insertion sheet has various types of paper and images, and is inferior to transfer paper or the like in stability when automatically separating / conveying. For this reason, in practice, there may be a so-called “multi-feed” in which an insertion sheet, which is supposed to be fed only by the insertion sheet feeder, is simultaneously fed to two or more sheets. When such double feeding occurs, the page order in the final sheet bundle including the insertion sheet is deviated from the original one.
[0008]
Such double feeding becomes a problem particularly in a system in which image formation is performed without stopping until the set required number of copies is created. That is, when double feeding of an insertion sheet occurs in such a system, the position of the insertion sheet in a paper bundle created after the occurrence of double feeding is out of order, so the paper and the insertion sheet, processing time, power consumption, etc. In this case, a great deal of waste occurs. In order to solve such problems, the system is temporarily stopped for each unit of the sheet bundle and the double feed confirmation process is performed, so that the double feed occurs more than when the image forming process is not stopped at all. It is considered possible to detect this early. However, even if this method is adopted, if the number of sheets per unit is large, the image forming process will continue until the system is completely stopped. The sheet still exists.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention provides Insert sheet It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to smoothly perform a recovery process after the occurrence of a double feed even when a double feed occurs, and to improve the usability of the user and the reliability of the process.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
One aspect of the present invention is: A sheet bundle in which an insertion sheet is inserted at a selected position of a bundle of sheets on which an image has been formed is created from an insertion sheet stacking unit on which a plurality of insertion sheets each consisting of a plurality of insertion sheets are stacked. In addition, The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus that can send out one sheet at a time. Insert sheet On the transport path and the transport path Insert sheet Thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of each, and Insert sheet Stored in storage means for storing sheet thickness data indicating the thickness, detection value of the thickness detection means, and storage means Insert sheet Compare the thickness data and Insert sheet A double feed judging means for judging the presence or absence of double feed, and the double feed judging means Insert sheet Stored in the storage means and the detected value of the thickness detecting means when it is determined that double feed has occurred. Insert sheet thickness data A multi-feed number determining means for determining the multi-feed number based on When the multi-feed number determined by the multi-feed number determining means is a predetermined number or more, the preparation of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped, and the sheet bundle including the plurality of multi-feed sheets inserted is discharged to a predetermined location. The first recovery process for displaying that the insertion sheet of the insertion sheet stacking section should be reset so that the insertion sheet can be sent out from the head is selected, and when the number of multi-feeds is less than a predetermined number, the multi-feed is performed. A sheet bundle that includes the inserted sheet and the other inserted sheet that are fed in the same way as the other inserted sheets to which the inserted sheet belongs is continuously fed from the inserted sheet stacking unit to cue the next set of inserted sheets. Is discharged to the predetermined location, and the second recovery process for creating the next sheet bundle is selected. Recovery processing selection means.
[0011]
In another aspect of the present invention, a desired image can be formed on a sheet, and a bundle of sheets on which image formation has been performed can be created. Stacked from an insertion sheet stacking unit on which a plurality of insertion sheets each consisting of a plurality of insertion sheets are stacked Insert the specified insertion sheet Selected position An image forming system that can be inserted into the image forming system Insert sheet Each of the transport paths and Insert sheet Storage means for storing the thickness data indicating the thickness of the Insert sheet Thickness detection means for detecting the thickness of the Insert sheet And when the double feed determining means determines that double feed is occurring, the detected value of the thickness detecting means is stored in the storage means. Have Insert sheet A multi-feed number judging means for judging the multi-feed number based on the thickness data; When the multi-feed number determined by the multi-feed number determining means is a predetermined number or more, the preparation of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped, and the sheet bundle including the plurality of multi-feed sheets inserted is discharged to a predetermined location. The first recovery process for displaying that the insertion sheet of the insertion sheet stacking section should be reset so that the insertion sheet can be sent out from the head is selected, and when the number of multi-feeds is less than a predetermined number, the multi-feed is performed. A sheet bundle that includes the inserted sheet and the other inserted sheet that are fed in the same way as the other inserted sheets to which the inserted sheet belongs is continuously fed from the inserted sheet stacking unit to cue the next set of inserted sheets. Is discharged to the predetermined location, and the second recovery process for creating the next sheet bundle is selected. Recovery processing selection means.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming system of the present invention.
[0013]
〔overall structure〕
An image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes an image forming apparatus 10, a folding apparatus 400, and a finisher 500. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reader 200 that reads a document image and a printer 300.
[0014]
A document feeder 100 is mounted on the image reader 200. The document feeder 100 feeds the documents set on the document tray 119 with the image recording surface facing upward one by one from the top page in order to the left in the figure, and also through the curved path through the platen. After the original is conveyed from the left to the right in the drawing so as to pass through the flow reading position on the glass 102, the original is discharged to the external paper discharge tray 112. When the document passes through the sink reading position on the platen glass 102 from the left to the right, the image of the document is read by the scanner unit 104 arranged so as to correspond to the sink reading position. Such a reading method is generally referred to as “original flow reading”. That is, when the document passes through the flow reading position, the light of the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104 is irradiated on the image recording surface of the document, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the lens 108 via the mirrors 105, 106 and 107. It is burned. The light that has passed through the lens 108 forms an image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 109.
[0015]
As described above, when the document is transported so as to pass through the flow reading position from the left to the right in the drawing, the direction orthogonal to the document transport direction is the main scanning direction, and the document transport direction is the sub-scanning direction. Reading scan is performed. Specifically, when the original passes through the reading position, the image sensor 109 reads the original image line by line in the main scanning direction while conveying the original in the sub-scanning direction so that the entire original image becomes optical. The read image is converted into image data by the image sensor 109 and then sent to the image signal control unit 202. Image data output from the image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined processing in the image signal control unit 202 and then input as a video signal to the exposure control unit 110 of the printer 300.
[0016]
In place of the above-described method of document scanning, the document feeder 100 transports the document onto the platen glass 102 and stops it at a predetermined position. In this state, the scanner unit 104 is scanned from left to right in the drawing. It is also possible to adopt a method of reading the original. Such a reading method is generally referred to as “original fixed reading”.
[0017]
When reading a document without using the document feeder 100, first, the document feeder 100 is lifted by the user, and the document is placed on the platen glass 102. Then, the scanner unit 104 is caused to scan from the left to the right in the drawing, thereby reading the document. That is, when the original is read without using the original feeder 100, the above-described original fixed reading is performed.
[0018]
The printer 300 includes an exposure control unit 110 that modulates and outputs laser light based on an input video signal. The laser light output from the exposure control unit 110 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. Here, as will be described later, the exposure control unit 110 outputs laser light so that a correct image, that is, an image that is not a mirror image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111 in the case of fixed document reading.
[0019]
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111 is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 113. The photosensitive drum 111 is fed with paper from any of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual paper feeding unit 125, and the double-sided conveyance path 124 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation. This sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116, and the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer unit 116.
[0020]
The sheet on which the developer image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 117. The fixing unit 117 heats and presses the paper to fix the developer image on the paper. The paper that has passed through the fixing unit 117 passes through the flapper 121 and the discharge roller 118 and is discharged from the printer 300 to the outside (in the present embodiment, toward the folding device 400) one by one.
[0021]
Here, when the sheet is discharged with the image forming surface facing downward (so-called face-down), the flapper 121 is switched, and the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is once guided into the reversing path 122. Then, after the trailing edge of the paper passes through the flapper 121, the paper is switched back and discharged from the printer 300 by the discharge roller 118. Hereinafter, such a discharge form is referred to as “reverse discharge”. The reverse paper discharge is performed when images are formed in order from the first page, such as when an image read using the document feeder 100 is formed or when an image output from a computer is formed. . In these cases, by performing reverse paper discharge, the paper on which the image is formed is discharged in the correct page order.
[0022]
Further, when a relatively hard paper such as an OHP sheet is fed from the manual paper feeding unit 125 and an image is formed on such a paper, the paper is not guided to the reversing path 122 and the image forming surface is changed. The paper is discharged by the discharge roller 118 in an upward state (so-called face up).
[0023]
Further, in the case of double-sided recording in which images are formed on both sides of the paper, the flapper 121 is switched as in the case of face-down. Then, the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is conveyed to the duplex conveyance path 124 via the reverse path 122. The sheet guided to the duplex conveyance path 124 is fed again between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116 at the predetermined timing described above.
[0024]
The paper discharged from the printer 300 is sent to the folding device 400. The folding device 400 can execute a process of folding a sheet into a Z shape. For example, when the paper size is A3 size or B4 size and folding processing is designated, folding processing by the folding device 400 is performed. In other cases, the paper discharged from the printer 300 passes through the folding device 400 and is sent to the finisher 500. The finisher 500 can execute various processes such as bookbinding processing, binding processing, and punching, and feeds an insertion sheet (special paper) such as a cover sheet and a slip sheet inserted between sheets on which images are formed. Inserter 900.
[0025]
[Control system]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller that executes control of the entire image forming system shown in FIG.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes a CPU (not shown), a CPU circuit unit 150 including a ROM 151 and a RAM 152 as a controller. The CPU circuit unit 150 comprehensively controls each of the blocks 101, 153, 201, 202, 209, 301, 401, 501 using a control program stored in the ROM 151. The RAM 152 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with various controls.
[0027]
Among the blocks 101 to 501 in FIG. 2, the document feeder control unit 101 controls driving of the document feeder 100 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150. The image reader control unit 201 performs drive control on the scanner unit 104, the image sensor 109, and the like. Further, the image reader control unit 201 transfers the analog image signal output from the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 202.
[0028]
The image signal control unit 202 converts the analog image signal from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal and performs various processes, converts the input digital signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 301. The image signal control unit 202 performs various processes on the digital image signal received from the computer 210 via the external interface 209, converts the input digital image signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 301. The operation of the image signal control unit 202 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 150. The printer control unit 301 drives and controls the above-described exposure control unit 110 based on the input video signal.
[0029]
The operation unit 153 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state, and the like. The operation unit 153 sends key signals corresponding to various key operations to the CPU circuit unit 150 and causes the display unit to display information corresponding to the signals from the CPU circuit unit 150.
[0030]
The folding device control unit 401 is mounted on the folding device 400. The folding device control unit 401 performs drive control of the entire folding device 400 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.
[0031]
The finisher control unit 501 is mounted on the finisher 500. The finisher control unit 501 performs drive control of the entire finisher 500 as will be described later by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.
[0032]
[Folding device]
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the folding device 400 and the finisher 500 included in the image forming system 1 of FIG.
[0033]
As shown in the figure, the folding device 400 has a folding conveyance horizontal path 402 for receiving the paper discharged from the printer 300 and introducing it into the finisher 500. On the folding conveyance horizontal path 402, a conveyance roller pair 403 and a conveyance roller pair 404 are arranged. Further, a folding path selection flapper 410 is provided at the exit portion (finisher 500 side) of the folding conveyance horizontal path 402. The folding path selection flapper 410 performs path switching so as to guide the sheet on the folding conveyance horizontal path 402 to either the folding path 420 or the finisher 500.
[0034]
When the folding process is performed, the folding path selection flapper 410 is turned on, whereby the sheet is guided to the folding path 420. The sheet guided to the folding path 420 is conveyed to the folding roller 421 and folded into a Z shape. On the other hand, when the folding process is not performed, the folding path selection flapper 410 is turned off, and the sheet is directly sent from the printer 300 to the finisher 500 via the folding conveyance horizontal path 402.
[0035]
[Finisher]
The finisher 500 sequentially takes in the sheets ejected from the folding device 400, aligns a plurality of fetched sheets and bundles them into one bundle, staples the staple end of the bundle of bundled sheets, and takes in Various post-processing such as punching, sorting, non-sorting, and bookbinding processing for punching near the trailing edge of the sheet can be executed.
[0036]
As shown in the figure, the finisher 500 has an entrance roller pair 502 for taking in the paper discharged from the printer 300 and passing through the folding device 400. The entrance roller pair 502 includes a driving roller 502a and a driven roller 502b facing each other. A switching flapper 551 for guiding the sheet to the finisher path 552 or the first bookbinding path 553 is provided on the downstream side of the entrance roller pair 502.
[0037]
The sheet guided to the finisher path 552 is sent toward the buffer roller 505 via the conveyance roller pair 503. The conveyance roller pair 503 and the buffer roller 505 can rotate forward and backward, respectively.
[0038]
An entrance sensor 531 is provided between the entrance roller pair 502 and the transport roller pair 503. In addition, the second bookbinding path 554 is branched from the finisher path 552 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the entrance sensor 531 in the sheet conveyance direction. Hereinafter, this branch point is referred to as “branch portion A”. The branch portion A serves as a branch point to the transport path for transporting the sheet from the inlet roller pair 502 to the transport roller pair 503, and has a one-way mechanism. That is, when the conveyance roller pair 503 is reversed and the sheet is conveyed from the conveyance roller pair 503 side to the entrance sensor 531 side, the sheet is conveyed only from the branch portion A to the second bookbinding path 554 side.
[0039]
A punch unit 550 is disposed between the conveying roller pair 503 and the buffer roller 505. The punch unit 550 is operated as necessary to form a predetermined hole near the rear end of the sheet that has been conveyed.
[0040]
The buffer roller 505 is a roller capable of stacking and winding a predetermined number of fed sheets on the outer periphery thereof. The paper is wound around each of the pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514 from the outer periphery of the buffer roller 505 as necessary. The paper wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed in the rotation direction of the buffer roller 505.
[0041]
A switching flapper 510 is disposed between the pressing rollers 513 and 514, and a switching flapper 511 is disposed downstream of the pressing rollers 514. The switching flapper 510 peels the paper wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505 and guides it to the non-sort path 521 or the sort path 522. Further, the switching flapper 511 separates the paper wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505 and guides the paper to the sort path 522, or the paper wound around the buffer roller 505 is wound around the buffer roller 505 while holding the buffer path. Lead to 523.
[0042]
The sheet guided to the non-sort path 521 by the switching flapper 510 is discharged onto the stack tray 701 via the discharge roller pair 509. In the middle of the non-sort path 521, a paper discharge sensor 533 for performing jam detection and the like is provided.
[0043]
On the other hand, the paper guided to the sort path 522 by the switching flapper 510 is stacked on the processing tray 630 via the transport rollers 506 and 507. The sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630 are subjected to alignment processing, stapling processing, and the like as necessary, and then discharged onto the stack tray 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b. For this reason, the finisher 500 has a stapler 601 for binding sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630. The stack tray 700 is configured to be capable of self-propelling in the vertical direction in the figure.
[0044]
[Bookbinding Department]
As described above, the finisher 500 has the first bookbinding path 553 and the second bookbinding path 554, and the bookbinding unit 800 capable of bookbinding is provided on the downstream side of these paths 553 and 554. Yes. Hereinafter, the bookbinding unit 800 of the finisher 500 will be described. A sheet from the first bookbinding path 553 or the second bookbinding path 554 is introduced into the storage guide 820 by the conveying roller pair 813 and is conveyed so that the leading edge of the sheet is in contact with the movable sheet positioning member 823. A bookbinding entrance sensor 817 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveying roller pair 813. Further, two pairs of staplers 818 and an anvil 819 facing the pair of staplers 818 are arranged in the middle of the storage guide 820. The stapler 818 can bind the center of the sheet bundle in cooperation with the anvil 819 facing each other.
[0045]
A folding roller pair 826 is disposed at a downstream position of the stapler 818, and a protruding member 825 is provided at a position facing the folding roller pair 816. When the protruding member 825 protrudes toward the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 820, the sheet bundle is pushed between the folding roller pair 826 and folded by the folding roller pair 826, and then the origami paper discharge roller pair 827 is moved. Then, it is discharged to the saddle discharge tray 832. A bookbinding paper discharge sensor 830 is disposed downstream of the pair of origami paper discharge rollers 827.
[0046]
Further, when folding the bundle of sheets bound by the stapler 818, the positioning member 823 is lowered by a predetermined distance so that the staple position of the bundle of sheets is located at the approximate center of the folding roller pair 826 after the staple processing is completed.
[0047]
[Inserter]
Further, the inserter 900 included in the finisher 500 will be described. The inserter 900 is provided in the upper part of the finisher 500, as FIG. 3 shows. The inserter 900 sequentially separates inserted sheets used as a cover sheet or a slip sheet stacked on the tray 901 and conveys them to the finisher path 552 or the bookbinding path 553. In this case, an insertion sheet (special paper) is stacked on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 in a normal view as viewed from the operator. That is, the insertion sheets are stacked on the tray 901 with the surface thereof facing up.
[0048]
The inserted sheets on the tray 901 are conveyed by a paper feed roller 902 to a separation unit constituted by a conveyance roller 903 and a separation belt 904, and are sequentially separated and conveyed one by one from the sheet located at the uppermost stage. The sheet feeding roller 902, the conveying roller 903, and the separation belt 904 function as a feeding unit that can feed a plurality of insertion sheets stacked on the tray 901 one by one.
[0049]
A drawing roller pair 905 is disposed on the downstream side of the separation unit including the conveyance roller 903 and the separation belt 904. The insertion sheet separated by the separation unit is guided to the conveyance path 908 in a stable state by the drawing roller pair 905. A paper feed sensor 907 is provided on the downstream side of the drawing roller pair 905. Further, between the paper feed sensor 907 and the entrance roller pair 502, a transport roller pair 906 for guiding the inserted sheet on the transport path 908 to the entrance roller pair 502 is provided. Further, the inserter 900 includes a thickness sensor 909 that detects the thickness of the sheet and the insertion sheet that pass through the finisher path 552. In the present embodiment, a thickness sensor 909 including a micro displacement sensor as shown in FIG. 27 is used. The thickness sensor 909 is disposed on the driven roller 502b side of the entrance roller pair 502, and measures the displacement of the driven roller 502b when a sheet or an insertion sheet passes through the entrance roller pair 502, thereby finishing the finisher path. Measure the thickness of the paper and insert sheet passing 552. The thickness sensor 909 is connected to the CPU circuit unit 50, and the detection value of the thickness sensor 909 is stored in the RAM 53 (storage means).
[0050]
[Finisher control system]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the finisher control unit 501 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the finisher control unit 501 includes a CPU circuit unit 50 including a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, and the like. The CPU circuit unit 50 performs data communication with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 via the communication IC 54, and various programs stored in the ROM 52 based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 150. Is executed to drive and control the finisher 500.
[0051]
When controlling the finisher 500, detection signals from various sensors are taken into the CPU circuit unit 150. The sensors connected to the CPU circuit unit 150 include a paper set sensor 910 in addition to the above-described entrance sensor 531, bookbinding entrance sensor 817, bookbinding paper discharge sensor 830, and paper feed sensor 907. The paper set sensor 910 is for detecting whether or not an insertion sheet is set on the tray 901 of the inserter 900. A driver 520 is connected to the CPU circuit unit 50. The driver 520 drives various motors and various solenoids based on signals from the CPU circuit unit 50. Further, the CPU circuit unit 150 drives various clutches.
[0052]
The motors controlled by the driver 520 include an entrance roller pair 502, a transport roller pair 503, and an entrance motor M1 that drives the transport roller pair 906, a buffer motor M2 that drives the buffer roller 505, a transport roller pair 506, and a discharge roller pair 507. And a discharge motor M3 that drives the discharge roller pair 509, a bundle discharge motor M4 that drives the discharge rollers 680a and 680b, a conveyance motor M10 that drives the conveyance roller pair 813, a positioning motor M11 that drives the sheet positioning member 823, and a protrusion A folding motor M12 that drives the member 825, the folding roller pair 826, and the origami paper discharge roller pair 827, a paper feeding roller 902 of the inserter 900, a conveyance roller 903, a separation belt 904, and a paper feeding motor M20 that drives the drawing roller pair 905 are included. It is.
[0053]
Stepping motors are used as the inlet motor M1, the buffer motor M2, and the paper discharge motor M3. Therefore, these motors M1, M2 and M3 are controlled so that the roller pair to be driven rotates at a constant speed or rotates at a unique speed by controlling the excitation pulse rate. obtain. Further, the inlet motor M1 and the buffer motor M2 can be driven by the driver 520 in the respective forward or reverse rotation directions.
[0054]
A stepping motor is employed as the transport motor M10 and the positioning motor M11, while a DC motor is employed as the folding motor M12. The transport motor M10 can transport the paper in synchronism with the entrance motor M1. The paper feed motor M20 is composed of a stepping motor, and can transport the paper in synchronization with the inlet motor M1.
[0055]
The solenoid controlled by the driver 520 includes a solenoid SL1 for switching the switching flapper 510, a solenoid SL2 for switching the switching flapper 511, a solenoid SL10 for switching the switching flapper 551, and a paper feed shutter of the inserter 900 (in FIG. 3). And a solenoid SL21 that drives the paper feed roller 902 of the inserter 900 up and down.
[0056]
The clutch controlled by the CPU circuit unit 150 transmits the driving force of the folding motor M12 to the protruding member 825 and the driving force of the paper feeding motor M20 to the paper feeding roller 902. The clutch CL10 is included.
[0057]
[Mode selection]
As described above, the finisher 500 of the image forming system 1 can perform various post-processings on the paper. That is, the finisher 500 has a non-sort mode, a sort mode, a staple sort mode (binding mode), and a bookbinding mode as post-processing modes for performing various post-processing. These various post-processing modes can be set using the operation unit 153 described above. When setting the post-processing mode, a menu selection screen as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 153. The user sets a desired post-processing mode according to the menu selection screen illustrated in FIG.
[0058]
Further, the finisher 500 has a slip sheet mode for inserting an insertion sheet as a cover sheet, a final sheet, or a slip sheet into a sheet bundle. When setting the slip sheet mode, a setting screen as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 153. The user sets whether to insert an insertion sheet (special paper) from the inserter 900 or insert the insertion sheet from the manual sheet feeder 125 according to the screen illustrated in FIG. When the insertion sheet supply unit is selected, a setting screen as shown in FIG. 5C is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 153. Using this setting screen, the user can set the number of sheets in the sheet bundle to be inserted. For example, when supplying (inserting) an insertion sheet only as a cover sheet, the user selects only “1” on the screen, and when inserting an insertion sheet into a plurality of positions of a sheet bundle, the desired number of insertion destinations Select the eye on the screen.
[0059]
[Basic operation of finisher]
Next, a procedure for conveying sheets from the printer 300 and the inserter 900 to the processing tray 630 of the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0060]
When the special paper C as an insertion sheet is inserted as a cover onto a paper on which an image has been formed by the printer 300, the special paper C (bundle) is a tray 901 of the inserter 900 as shown in FIG. Set to At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the special paper C is set so that the binding position is left in the drawing when viewed from the user with the image surface facing upward, and the conveyance direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing. Paper is fed to Since the special paper C is set in the same manner as the original in the original feeding apparatus 100, the operability when the special paper C is set can be improved.
[0061]
When the special paper C is set on the tray 901, as shown in FIG. 7, the transport of the uppermost special paper C1 is started and the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side. The special sheet C1 is guided from the transport path 908 into the finisher path 552 through the entrance roller pair 502. When the leading edge of the special paper C1 is detected by the entrance sensor 531, feeding of the paper P1 (see FIG. 8) on which an image is formed by the printer 300 is started.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 8, when the paper P <b> 1 sent from the printer 300 is introduced into the finisher 500, the special paper C <b> 1 is guided to the sort path 522 via the buffer roller 505. At this time, the switching flappers 510 and 511 are both switched to the sort path 522 side.
[0063]
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the special paper C <b> 1 is stored on the processing tray 630 through the sort path 522. At this time, the paper P <b> 1 from the printer 300 is guided into the finisher path 552. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the paper P <b> 1 is guided to the sort path 522 via the buffer roller 505 and is transported to the processing tray 630, as with the special paper C <b> 1. At this stage, as shown in FIG. 10, the paper P2 following the first paper P1 is guided into the finisher path 552. As shown in FIG. 11, the paper P1 is stored so as to be stacked on the special paper C1 already stored in the processing tray 630, and the subsequent paper P2 is stacked so as to be stacked on the paper P1. It is stored in.
[0064]
As described above, each of the papers P1 and P2 from the printer 300 is formed with a mirror image, and each of the papers P1 and P2 is discharged by reverse paper discharge. Accordingly, each of the papers P1 and P2 is stored in the processing tray 630 in a state where the image surface is faced down and the binding position is directed to the stapler 601 side, like the special paper C1. Further, although not shown in FIG. 11, when it is necessary to insert the special paper C into the next paper bundle, the paper P1, P2 constituting the current bundle is being fed. The special paper C to be fed is fed to the conveyance path 908 and is kept in a standby state. By adopting such a configuration, productivity in the sort mode can be improved.
[0065]
[Image formation in bookbinding mode]
FIG. 12A to FIG. 12D show an example of an image forming procedure in the bookbinding mode in the image forming system of FIG.
[0066]
When the bookbinding mode is set in the operation unit 153, the document set on the document feeder 100 is read by the scanner unit 104 in order from the first page. Images of the read originals are sequentially stored in a hard disk (not shown), and the number of originals read at the same time is counted.
[0067]
When the reading of the original is completed, the read original image is classified according to the following equation (1), and the image forming order and the image forming position are determined.
M = n × 4-k (1)
However,
M: Number of originals
n: Number of sheets (integer of 1 or more)
k: any value of 0, 1, 2, 3
It is. Note that detailed description regarding the image forming order and image forming position control is omitted.
[0068]
An image forming procedure in the bookbinding mode will be described on the assumption that the number of read originals is eight. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12A, the original image data (R1 to R8) for eight pages are stored in the hard disk in the order in which they are read.
[0069]
Next, as shown in FIG. 12B, an image forming order and an image forming position are determined for each image data (R1 to R8). According to the example of FIG. 12B, after the above-described mirror image processing is performed, an image based on the data R4 is displayed on the left half of the first surface (front surface) of the paper P1 of the first page, and the data R5 Is formed on the right half of the sheet P1, and then the sheet P1 is guided to the duplex conveyance path 124. Then, the paper P1 is fed again to the transfer unit 116, and an image based on the data R6 is formed on the left half of the second surface (back surface) of the paper P1, and an image based on the data R3 is formed on the right half of the paper P1. . The paper P1 on which the images are formed on both sides in this way is reversely discharged and then sent to the bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500. As shown in FIG. 12C, the paper P1 is turned upside down on the second surface on which the image based on the data R6 and the data R3 is formed and the image based on the data R6 is headed, as shown in FIG. Is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
[0070]
Next, an image based on the data R2 is formed on the left half and an image based on the data R7 is formed on the right half of the first surface (front surface) of the paper P2 on the second page. 124. The paper P2 is also fed again to the transfer unit 116, and an image based on the data R8 is formed on the left half of the second surface (back surface) of the paper P2, and an image based on the data R1 is formed on the right half of the paper P2. Then, after the paper P2 is reversed and discharged, it is sent to the first bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500. As shown in FIG. 12C, the reverse sheet discharge causes the sheet P2 to have the second surface on which the image based on the data R8 and the data R1 is formed face upward and the image based on the data R8 to the top. It is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
[0071]
Further, the sheets P1 and P2 are guided into the storage guide 820 through the bookbinding path 553 of the finisher 500 and stored therein. In the storage guide 820, as shown in FIG. 12D, the sheet P1 is positioned on the protruding member 825 side, and the sheet P2 is positioned on the folding roller pair 826 side. Further, the sheets P1 and P2 are stored in the storage guide 820 in a state where the first surface (front surface) is directed to the protruding member 825 side.
[0072]
Note that the positioning of the sheets P1 and P2 within the storage guide 820 is performed by the positioning member 823.
[0073]
[Interleaf processing in bookbinding mode]
Furthermore, a procedure for conveying a special sheet as an insertion sheet from the printer 300 and the inserter 900 to the storage guide 820 of the finisher 500 in the bookbinding mode as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0074]
When the special sheet C as an insertion sheet is inserted as a cover into a sheet on which an image is formed in the bookbinding mode by the printer 300, the special sheet C1 is placed on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 as shown in FIG. Set. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13A, the special paper C1 is set on the tray 901 with the image surface on which the image R and the image F are formed facing upward, and is fed with the image F at the top. Sent. That is, the special paper C1 is set in a normal view as viewed from the operator, and the special paper C1 is set in the same state as the original in the original feeder 100. As a result, the operability when setting the special paper C1 can be improved.
[0075]
When the special paper C1 is set on the tray 901, as shown in FIG. 14, feeding of the uppermost special paper C1 is started and the switching flapper 551 is switched to the finisher path 552 side. The special sheet C1 is guided from the transport path 908 to the finisher path 552 through the entrance roller pair 502. When the leading edge of the special paper C1 is detected by the entrance sensor 531, feeding of the paper P (see FIG. 15) on which an image has been formed by the printer 300 is started.
[0076]
As shown in FIG. 15, at the stage where the paper P sent from the printer 300 is introduced into the finisher 500, the special paper C <b> 1 is guided to the non-sort path 521 through the buffer roller 505. At this time, the switching flapper 510 is switched to the non-sort path 521 side.
[0077]
When the special paper C1 is further guided to the non-sort path 521 side and conveyed to a position where the trailing edge passes through the entrance sensor 531, the special paper C1 is temporarily stopped as shown in FIG. At this time, the paper P from the printer 300 is guided into the finisher 500. Then, with the special paper C1 stopped, the paper P is guided to the first bookbinding path 553 by the switching flapper 551 and stored in the storage guide 820, as shown in FIG. P is similarly guided to the first bookbinding path 553. At this time, the special paper C2 following the special paper C1 is separated and transported to the front of the transport roller pair 906, and is kept waiting until a predetermined number of sheets P are stored in the storage guide 820.
[0078]
When a predetermined number of sheets P are stored in the storage guide 820, as shown in FIG. 17, the special sheet C1 is fed reversely and enters the storage guide 820 via the branch portion A and the second bookbinding path 554. Led. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, the special paper C1 is conveyed with the image R side as the head, and is placed on the storage guide 820 so as to be superimposed on the bundle of paper P already stored in the storage guide 820. Stored. When the special paper C1 is stored in the storage guide 820, feeding of the special paper C2 following the special paper C1 is started. For example, when the special paper C2 is an inappropriate paper having a size different from the desired size, the special paper C is temporarily stopped as shown in FIG. 16, as shown in FIG. There is no such thing and it is discharged to the stack tray 701 as it is.
[0079]
When the special paper C1 is stored in the storage guide 820 in a state of being overlaid on the bundle of paper P, the protruding member 825 is protruded with respect to the bundle of special paper C1 and paper P as shown in FIG. The As a result, the bundle of the special paper C1 and the paper P is pushed out toward the folding roller pair 826. As a result, the bundle of sheets C1 and P is discharged to the saddle discharge tray 832 while being folded at the center of the bundle (image boundary portion of the image surface) by the folding roller pair 826. In this folded state, as shown in FIG. 20B, when the image F of the special paper C1 is arranged on the cover page, the image R is arranged on the last page. Then, the images on each sheet P are arranged in a predetermined page order, and the orientations of the images on the special sheet C1 and the sheet P coincide with each other. According to the feed control of the special paper C from the inserter 900 and the transport control of the paper P from the printer 300 as described above, the print quality of the special paper C from the inserter 900 and the paper transport of the printer 300 are The paper P and the special paper C can be combined into a book without impairing durability.
[0080]
In the sort mode, the special paper C is once held in the finisher path 552 by the finisher 500 and then the paper P is stored in the storage guide 820. Then, after the paper P is stored in the storage guide 820, the special paper C waiting in the finisher path 552 is stored in the storage guide 820. Therefore, productivity when binding the paper P and the special paper C together can be improved. Furthermore, if necessary, the stapler 818 can bind the bundle at the center when the special paper C is stored in the storage guide 820 so as to overlap the bundle of the paper P.
[0081]
[Multifeed prevention operation in the slip sheet mode]
Next, the multi-feed preventing operation when the slip sheet processing is performed in the image forming system 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0082]
Here, the multifeed prevention operation will be described by taking as an example a procedure for creating a plurality of sheet bundles composed of a total of six sheets P and special sheets (inserted sheets) C. Further, out of one sheet bundle (6 sheets in total), pages 2, 3 and 6 are special sheets C inserted by the inserter 900, and images of the 1, 4 and 5 pages are formed by the image forming apparatus 10. It is assumed that the paper P. Note that the insertion position (insertion page) of the special sheet C in one sheet bundle can be arbitrarily set by the operation unit 153 of the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 24, the special paper C as the insertion sheet is created on the tray 901 of the inserter 900 in order from the top in the second, third, sixth, and second pages in the first created paper bundle. Are set by the user in the order of 2, 3, 6... On the other hand, on the document tray 119 of the document feeder 100, as shown in FIG. 25, a document having an image to be formed on the sheet P of the sheet bundle to be created is placed in the order of 1, Set by the user to correspond to pages 4 and 5.
[0083]
As shown in FIG. 21, when the start key is turned on after the sheet feeding order from the inserter 900 is specified in the operation unit 153 of the image forming apparatus 10 (S <b> 10), the image forming apparatus 10 performs image processing. The timing at which the formed paper P is introduced into the finisher 500 and the insertion timing (paper feed timing) of the special paper C from the inserter 900 are created by the controller (CPU circuit unit 150) of the image forming apparatus 10. It is adjusted according to the sheet bundle (S12).
[0084]
Then, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines whether or not the sheet to be first introduced into the finisher path 552 is the special sheet C from the inserter 900 (S14). In the example described here, first, the paper P is introduced from the image forming apparatus 10 into the finisher path 552 (S16). Further, the CPU circuit unit 150, when it is time to feed the special paper C from the inserter 900 (2nd, 3rd, and 6th pages in this example), the special paper from the inserter 900 to the finisher control unit 501. A command to supply C is sent (S18).
[0085]
Here, in the image forming system 1, when the first sheet bundle is created, the thickness sensor 909 measures the thicknesses of the sheet P and the special sheet C that pass through the finisher path 552, and the sheet P and the special sheet C are measured. Thickness data d1, d2... Dn indicating the thickness of the sheet C (where 1 to n indicate the page number of one sheet bundle, and n = total pages of one sheet bundle) Each is stored in the RAM 53 (S20). As described above, the thickness data d1 to dn measured at the time of creating the first sheet bundle is used to determine whether or not there is double feeding in the finisher path 552 when the second to last sheet bundle is created. Is used as a reference value.
[0086]
After the thickness measurement / storage process of S20, the paper P and the special paper C are stored in the processing tray 630 from the finisher path 552 according to the above-described procedure (S22). The CPU circuit unit 150 determines whether the paper P or special paper C that has passed through the thickness sensor 909 is the last page of the first paper bundle (S24), and the paper P or special paper corresponding to the last page. When C (special paper C from the inserter 900 in this example) is stored in the processing tray 630 from the finisher path 552, the sheet bundle stored in the processing tray 630 is gathered to the finisher control unit 501 (bundled). As a result, a command to discharge the stack tray 700 is sent (S26). Note that in the processing tray 630, a binding process by the stapler 818 may be performed on the sheet bundle.
[0087]
When the first sheet bundle is created in this way, the CPU circuit section 150 starts the creation of the second sheet bundle, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether it is time to introduce C into the finisher 500, and if it is time to start creating the second sheet bundle, the sheet to be introduced into the finisher path 552 is the special paper C from the inserter 900. It is determined whether or not there is (S104). Then, according to the page order of the sheet bundle, the sheet P is introduced from the image forming apparatus 10 into the finisher 500 (finisher path 552) from the inserter 900 in S108.
[0088]
Regarding the sheets (paper P and special paper C) constituting the second and subsequent paper bundles, the thickness is measured by the thickness sensor 909 in the finisher path 552 (S110). The detected value of the thickness sensor 909 is used to determine whether or not there is double feeding in the finisher path 552, together with the thickness data d1 to dn stored in the RAM 53 in S20 (S112). The determination of the presence or absence of double feeding in the finisher path 552 is performed by the CPU circuit unit 50 of the finisher control unit 501.
[0089]
When the CPU circuit unit 50 receives a detection signal indicating the thickness of the passed paper P or special paper C from the thickness sensor 909, the CPU circuit unit 50 sets the number of pages n in the currently produced paper bundle of the paper P or special paper C. Based on this, the corresponding thickness data dn is read from the RAM 53. Then, the CPU circuit unit 50 compares the read thickness data dn with the value Xn (measured thickness) indicated in the detection signal of the thickness sensor 909, and
Xn> α × dn
When the above relationship is satisfied, it is determined that double feed has occurred in the finisher path 552. In the present embodiment, α is set to 1.5, for example.
[0090]
If it is determined in S112 that no double feed has occurred in the finisher path 552, the paper P or special paper C that has passed through the thickness sensor 909 is conveyed to the processing tray 630 (S114). Further, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines whether the sheet P or the special sheet C that has passed through the thickness sensor 909 is the last page of the sheet bundle that is currently being created (S116). When the paper P or the special paper C corresponding to the last page of the paper bundle currently being created has not passed the thickness sensor 909, the processes from S102 to S114 are repeated.
[0091]
When the paper P or special paper C (in this example, the special paper C from the inserter 900) corresponding to the last page of the paper bundle currently being created is stored in the processing tray 630 from the finisher path 552, the image forming apparatus 10 The CPU circuit unit 150 sends a command to the finisher control unit 501 that the bundle of sheets stored in the processing tray 630 should be collected (as a bundle) and discharged to the stack tray 700 (S118). Note that in the processing tray 630, a binding process by the stapler 818 may be performed on the sheet bundle. In step S120, the CPU circuit unit 150 determines whether or not the discharge of the last sheet bundle has been completed. If the discharge of the last bundle has been completed, the CPU bundle unit 150 ends the sheet bundle creation process. In S120, when it is determined that the discharge of the last sheet bundle has not been completed, the processes after S102 are performed again.
[0092]
Next, processing in the case where it is determined in S112 that double feeding has occurred in the finisher path 552 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0093]
In this case, first, the CPU circuit unit 50 of the finisher control unit 501 determines whether or not the sheet double-fed to the finisher path 552 is the special paper C (S202). When the CPU circuit unit 50 determines that the special paper C is double-fed to the finisher path 552, the CPU circuit unit 50 calculates the number of the special paper C that has been double-fed (S204). It is determined whether or not there is (S206).
[0094]
The determination processing in S204 and S206 is performed according to the following procedure. Specifically, in this example, the special paper C is inserted into the second, third, and sixth pages of the paper bundle. However, the special paper C that becomes the second page of any one of the second and subsequent paper bundles is assumed here. Suppose that a double feed occurs during insertion. In this case, the CPU circuit unit 50 detects the thickness data dn of the special paper C (d2, d3, and d6 in this example) out of the thickness data dn stored in the RAM 53 in S20 and the thickness sensor 909. When the thickness X2 measured by the thickness sensor 909 using the value X2 (thickness measured at the time of double feeding) indicated in the signal satisfies the following relational expression, two special sheets C are It is determined that the double feed is made to the finisher path 552. In the following relational expression, β is, for example, β = 0.5.
d2 + βd3 <X2 <d2 + d3 + βd6
Further, if a double feed occurs when the special paper C serving as the sixth page of the paper bundle is inserted, the CPU circuit unit 50 uses the thickness data (d2, d3 and d6) of the special paper C and the thickness sensor 909. When the thickness X6 measured by the thickness sensor 909 satisfies the following relational expression using the value X6 (thickness measured at the time of double feeding) indicated by the detection signal of two sheets of special paper C Is determined to have been double fed to the finisher path 552.
d6 + βd2 <X6 <d6 + d2 + βd3
[0095]
To generalize this, let g be the number of bundles of sheets created by a series of processing, and i is the total number of special sheets C inserted into one bundle of sheets by the inserter 900 (3 in this example). Sheet), the tray 901 is loaded with g × i special sheets C. Of the special papers C loaded on the tray 901, the number of double feeds when the jth special paper C (j = 1, 2,... G × i) is sent out is t (in this example, 2). ) Is determined from the thickness data dn (d2, d3, d6 in this example) of the special paper C stored in the RAM 53 as dd (1), dd (2). , Dd (g × i) (in this example, dd (1), dd (2)..., Dd (g × i) = X2, X3, X6, X2, X3, X6 .., X2, X3, and X6), it may be determined whether or not the following relational expression is satisfied.
dd (j) + dd (j + 1) +... + βdd (j + t−1) <Xn (thickness measured during double feeding) <dd (j) + dd (j + 1) +... + βdd (j + t)
As a result, using the thickness data dn stored in the RAM 53, it is possible to execute the double feed number determination process (S204, S206).
[0096]
If it is determined in S206 that the number of special paper C that has been multi-fed exceeds two (three or more), the special paper C that has been multi-fed is discharged from the finisher path 552 to the processing tray 630. (S208). Then, at the stage where the multi-feed special paper C is stored in the processing tray 630, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 temporarily stops the production of the paper bundle (S208). Further, the incomplete sheet bundle in the processing tray 630 is discharged to the stack tray 700, and a screen as shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 153 by the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10. It is displayed (S210).
[0097]
Here, when three or more special papers C are fed, the creation of the paper bundle is temporarily stopped for the following reason. That is, a large number of special papers C are often fed due to static electricity or the like. In such a case, the user should check the loading state of special papers C. However, this is because it is reliable in ensuring the reliability of the subsequent processing. Further, when three or more special papers C are double-fed, an error may occur in the determination result of the number of double-fed sheets after the occurrence of double-fed due to an air layer or the like existing between the special papers C Therefore, the creation of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped.
[0098]
In S210, first, as shown in FIG. 26A, a screen for prompting resetting of the special paper C is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 153 so that the special paper C can be sent from the top. Is done. Further, when the OK button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 26A and the completion of the re-setting of the special paper C is confirmed, the display unit of the operation unit 153 displays on the display unit as shown in FIG. Then, a screen for prompting the user to restart the creation of the sheet bundle by turning on the start key is displayed. The CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines whether or not the start key is turned on by the user (S212). When the start key is turned on, in S218, various settings for creating the next sheet bundle are made. And the process from S102 in FIG.
[0099]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S206 that the special paper C is being fed twice, the special paper C is cued in S214. Specifically, the cueing process of S214 is performed as follows. For example, in this example in which the special paper C is inserted into pages 2, 3 and 6 of the paper bundle, the special paper C to be the second page of a certain paper bundle together with the special paper to be the third page of the paper bundle In the case of double feeding, in addition to the special paper C that should be the second and third pages that have been double fed, the special paper C that should be the sixth page of the subsequent paper bundle is also discharged to the processing tray 630. Is done. That is, in S <b> 214, all the special sheets C for the sheet bundle that has undergone double feeding are conveyed to the processing tray 630. During this time, the image forming apparatus 10 is in a standby state, and the feeding of the paper P from the image forming apparatus 10 is suspended.
[0100]
As described above, by performing an appropriate cueing process based on the number of sheets to be fed, it is possible to first insert the special sheet C to be fed next from the tray 901 into the next sheet bundle. Further, it is possible to improve the usability of the image forming system 1 by recovering the trouble caused by double feeding without stopping the preparation of the sheet bundle as much as possible (minimizing the operation interruption time).
[0101]
When the special paper C and the unnecessary special paper C that follow are discharged to the processing tray 630, the incomplete special paper C and the like in the processing tray 630 are discharged to the stack tray 700 as a bundle ( S216). At this time, if post-processing such as stapling is specified, post-processing for an incomplete sheet bundle is not required, so the instruction to perform post-processing is canceled and post-processing for an incomplete bundle is not performed. Not done. The once-released post-processing command is reset after completion of discharging an incomplete sheet bundle. When the discharge of the incomplete sheet bundle is completed, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 performs various settings for creating the next sheet bundle in S218, and again performs the processing from S102 in FIG. Proceed.
[0102]
Further, a process when it is determined in S202 that the paper P has been double fed will be described. In this case, the double fed paper P is discharged to the stack tray 701 that is not currently used (S220). Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the paper P that has been multi-fed into the paper bundle being prepared already stored in the processing tray 630 from being mixed at this stage. When the double fed paper P is discharged to the stack tray 701, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the image forming apparatus 10 performs various processes so that an image to be formed on the double fed paper P is printed on the next paper P. Setting is performed (S222). Then, when the adjustment is completed, the CPU circuit unit 150 proceeds with the processing from S102 in FIG. 22 again.
[0103]
As described above, in the image forming system 1 according to the present invention, even when the special paper C is double fed to the finisher path 552, the creation of the paper bundle is automatically resumed from the first page of the next paper bundle. Can be done. Even if the paper P is double-fed to the finisher path 552, the double-fed paper P should be discharged to the unused stack tray 701 and originally formed on the double-fed paper P. The image is automatically formed on the next sheet P, and the sheet bundle can be continuously created.
[0104]
Further, in the image forming system 1, even when the special paper C is double-fed to the finisher path 552, the number of double-fed special papers C can be calculated. It is possible to appropriately select the recovery process for canceling according to the number of double feeds. That is, in the image forming system 1, when the number of double feeds exceeds a predetermined number, the first recovery process from S208 to S212 for temporarily stopping the work is selected so that the confirmation work can be performed. When the number of sheets to be sent is equal to or less than the predetermined number, the second recovery process of S214 and S216 for automatically recovering the original state is selected. As a result, it is possible to improve user convenience and process reliability.
[0105]
In this embodiment, the thickness measurement of the paper P and the special paper C is performed on the downstream side of the joining point of the paper P and the special paper C, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a thickness sensor may be arranged on the upstream side of the transfer unit 116 of the image forming apparatus 10 so that the thickness measurement is performed immediately after the paper P is fed from the document tray 119. Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether or not the paper P is double-fed before the image is formed on the paper P, and it is possible to prevent wasteful image formation on the double-fed paper P.
[0106]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, Insert sheet to be inserted at a selected position in a bundle of imaged paper Even when double feeding occurs, recovery processing after the occurrence of double feeding can be performed smoothly, and user convenience and process reliability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG.
3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a folding device and a finisher included in the image forming system of FIG. 1;
4 is a block configuration diagram of a finisher control unit that controls the finisher of FIG. 2; FIG.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are schematic views illustrating setting screens displayed on the display unit of the operation unit, respectively.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of transporting a sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to a finisher processing tray.
FIGS. 12A to 12D are schematic diagrams illustrating an example of an image forming procedure in the bookbinding mode in the image forming system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for conveying the insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of conveying an insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the finisher storage guide.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for conveying an insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of conveying an insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for conveying the insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure of conveying an insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for conveying the insertion sheet from the image forming apparatus and the inserter to the storage guide of the finisher.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of bookbinding by folding processing and binding processing in the finisher.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining a multi-feed preventing operation during interleaf processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining a multi-feed preventing operation during interleaf processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining a multi-feed preventing operation during interleaf processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for stacking an insertion sheet on a tray.
FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram for explaining a procedure for stacking documents on a tray.
FIGS. 26A and 26B are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed on the operation unit when a predetermined number of inserted sheets are double-fed. FIG.
FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram for explaining a thickness sensor used for the double feed prevention operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming system
10 Image forming apparatus
50 CPU circuit
51 CPU
52 ROM
53 RAM
54 Communication IC
100 Document feeder
116 Transfer section
118 discharge roller
119 Document tray
150 CPU circuit
153 Operation unit
500 Finisher
501 Finisher control unit
502 Inlet roller pair
502a Driving roller
502b Follower roller
552 Finisher Pass
630 processing tray
700,701 Stack tray
900 Inserter
901 tray
902 Paper feed roller
903 Transport roller
904 Separation belt
905 Roller pair
906 Pair of transport rollers
907 Paper feed sensor
908 Transport path
909 Thickness sensor
910 Paper set sensor
A branch
C, C1, C2 special paper
P, P1, P2 paper

Claims (2)

A sheet bundle in which an insert sheet is inserted at a selected position of a sheet bundle on which an image has been formed is created from an insert sheet stacking unit on which a plurality of sets of insert sheets each composed of a plurality of insert sheets are stacked. In the sheet conveying apparatus that can send out one by one,
A conveyance path through which the insertion sheet is conveyed;
A thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the insertion sheet in the conveying path;
Storage means for storing sheet thickness data indicating the thickness of each inserted sheet ;
A double feed determination means for comparing the detected value of the thickness detection means with the thickness data of the insertion sheet stored in the storage means, and determining whether or not there is double feed of the insertion sheet in the conveyance path;
When it is determined by the multi-feed determining means that double feeding of the insertion sheet has occurred, the multi-feed determining means determines the weight based on the detected value of the thickness detecting means and the insertion sheet thickness data stored in the storage means. A double feed number judgment means for judging the number of feeds;
When the multi-feed number determined by the multi-feed number determining means is a predetermined number or more, the creation of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped, and the sheet bundle including the plurality of multi-feed sheets inserted is discharged to a predetermined location. The first recovery process for displaying that the insertion sheet of the insertion sheet stacking section should be reset so that the insertion sheet can be sent out from the head is selected, and when the number of multi-feeds is less than a predetermined number, the multi-feed is performed. A sheet bundle that includes the inserted sheet and the other inserted sheet that are fed in the same way as the other inserted sheets to which the inserted sheet belongs is continuously fed from the inserted sheet stacking unit to cue the next set of inserted sheets. Recovery process selecting means for selecting a second recovery process for discharging the sheet to the predetermined place and creating the next sheet bundle ;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: A desired image can be formed on a sheet, and a bundle of sheets on which an image has been formed can be created. From an insertion sheet stacking unit on which a plurality of insertion sheets each including a plurality of insertion sheets are stacked In an image forming system capable of inserting a stacked predetermined insertion sheet into a selected position of a sheet bundle,
A conveyance path through which the insertion sheet is conveyed;
Storage means for storing thickness data indicating the thickness of each insertion sheet;
A thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of each insertion sheet;
A double feed determination means for comparing the detected value of the thickness detection means with the thickness data of the insertion sheet stored in the storage means, and determining whether or not there is double feed of the insertion sheet in the conveyance path;
When it is determined by the multifeed determining means that double feed has occurred, the number of double feeds is based on the detected value of the thickness detecting means and the thickness data of the inserted sheet stored in the storage means A multi-feed number judging means for judging
When the multi-feed number determined by the multi-feed number determining means is a predetermined number or more, the creation of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped, and the sheet bundle including the plurality of multi-feed sheets inserted is discharged to a predetermined location. The first recovery process for displaying that the insertion sheet of the insertion sheet stacking section should be reset so that the insertion sheet can be sent out from the head is selected, and when the number of multi-feeds is less than a predetermined number, the multi-feed is performed. A sheet bundle that includes the inserted sheet and the other inserted sheet that are fed in the same way as the other inserted sheets to which the inserted sheet belongs is continuously fed from the inserted sheet stacking unit to cue the next set of inserted sheets. Recovery process selecting means for selecting a second recovery process for discharging the sheet to the predetermined place and creating the next sheet bundle ;
An image forming system comprising:

Images