JP6601061B2 - Sheet body accommodation apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet body accommodation apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, when it is detected that there is no sheet in the first sheet storage unit including the sheet feeding unit, and when it is detected that sheets are stacked in the adjacent second sheet storage unit, By automatically moving the sheet bundle stored in the second sheet storage unit to the first sheet storage unit automatically, it is possible to save the trouble of stopping the copying operation and replenishing the sheet. .

JP 2000-168968 A

  For example, in the background art such as Patent Document 1, since the sheets cannot be supplied unless the sheets in the first sheet storage unit are exhausted, if the supply is performed during the job, the image forming operation is temporarily stopped in the middle of the job. There are challenges.

  In consideration of the above-described facts, the present invention provides a sheet body accommodation apparatus capable of reducing the fact that a job is stopped halfway as compared with the case of replenishing after the sheets in the accommodation section provided with the sheet feeding means are exhausted, An object is to obtain an image forming apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet bodies are stacked and accommodated in layers on the first sheet stacking table , and are moved up and down with respect to the take-out device , whereby the sheet bodies are sequentially taken out from the uppermost sheet body. 1 of the sheet accommodating portion, and on the second sheet stacking table which is provided in a different position from that of the first sheet body containing portion, the sheet body is accommodated are stacked in layers 2 A sheet body housing portion provided with the sheet body housing portion, and a transfer mechanism portion that transports the sheet body housed in the second sheet body housing portion to the first sheet body housing portion while maintaining a layered state. In the state where the sheet body remains in the first sheet body accommodating portion, at least the uppermost layer of the sheet body accommodated by being stacked on the first sheet stacking table is more than the upper surface of the second sheet stacking table. in even a low state, by the transfer mechanism, the actual transfer of the sheet And a, a transfer means for.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, the transfer means is in a state where the sheet body remains in the first sheet body accommodating portion, and the sheet body by the take-out device. When the take-out of the sheet is on standby or interrupted , the transfer mechanism unit causes the sheet body to be transferred.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the detection for detecting the remaining amount of the sheet body of the first sheet body housing portion and the second sheet body housing portion. And the transfer means is configured such that the uppermost surface of the sheet body of the first sheet body housing portion is the second sheet body as the remaining amount of the first sheet body housing portion by the detecting means. It is detected that the remaining amount is lower than the second sheet stacking base of the storage unit in the height direction, and the presence of the sheet member is detected in the second sheet storage unit. In this case, the sheet body is transferred.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet body is transferred from the second sheet body housing portion to the first sheet body housing portion. Rutoki, at least the upper surface of the sheet body which is superposed on the first sheet stacking plate is in a position lower than the second sheet stacking stand top.
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first paper stacking table is movable in a vertical direction by a first lifting device, The upper surface of the first paper stacking table is movable to a position lower than the upper surface of the second paper stacking table .
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet body stacked in the first sheet body accommodating portion is adapted to the height of the sheet body. raising the second sheet stacking table, the second sheet stacking stand top, further comprising a second lifting device to high than the uppermost sheet of said first sheet accommodating portion.
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet body is transferred from the second sheet body housing portion to the first sheet body housing portion. Is repeated a predetermined number of times, the transfer is executed after the sheet body in the first sheet body housing portion is exhausted.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet body accommodation device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and an image forming surface of the sheet body taken out from the first sheet body accommodation portion by the takeout device. In addition, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the received image information, a conveyance monitoring unit that interrupts the image forming process when a conveyance failure occurs in the sheet member in the image forming unit, and a predetermined image forming processing amount An image quality adjustment means for interrupting the image formation processing when the image quality adjustment time for adjusting the image quality at the time of image formation is set for each image. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not a condition for causing the transfer mechanism unit to execute a transfer operation during a period when the image forming process is not executed, including interruption.

According to the present invention , it is possible to reduce the fact that the job is stopped halfway as compared with a case where the sheet is supplied after the storage unit having the sheet feeding unit is exhausted.

Further , the down time required for replenishing the sheet body can be reduced more than the down time when the sheet body is replenished after the sheet body is exhausted.

Furthermore, the possibility of replenishment, the sheet material remaining can be determined by comparing a threshold.

In addition , the sheets can be replenished from another storage unit before the sheets in the storage unit including the sheet feeding unit are used up.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a sheet storage unit according to the present embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the replenishment operation control apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which classified the supplementary operation performed with the supplementary operation control apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment according to the function. FIG. 6 is a control flowchart showing a main routine that starts when the power is turned on in the replenishment operation control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for paper replenishment processing control executed in step 124 or step 134 in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a sheet storage unit showing a flow of a sheet replenishing operation performed in cooperation with the lifting device and the extrusion device according to the present embodiment (part 1); FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a sheet storage unit showing a flow of a sheet replenishing operation performed in cooperation with the lifting device and the extrusion device according to the present embodiment (part 2). FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a sheet storage unit showing a flow of a sheet replenishing operation performed in cooperation with the lifting device and the extrusion device according to the present embodiment (part 3); FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a sheet storage unit in a case where an elevating device is provided on both the first sheet stacking table and the second sheet stacking table according to Modification 1;

  FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 is roughly classified into an image forming unit 12 and a paper storage unit 14. A post-processing unit may be provided on the downstream side of the image forming unit 12.

  The image forming unit 12 is provided with a main control unit 20 that controls the entire core business image forming apparatus 10 on the upper surface of the casing 18. The main control unit 20 includes a touch panel UI (user interface) 22.

  The main control unit 20 includes a conveyance control unit, a scanning exposure control unit, a development control unit, a transfer control unit, and a fixing control unit, and manages the control of each unit.

  The UI 22 has a function of receiving an input instruction from the user and notifying the user of information related to image processing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 12 is covered with a casing 18, and each color light scanning unit 24 that scans a light beam emitted according to image information from the main control unit 20, and light A plurality of photosensitive drums for each of a plurality of colors (YMCK) on which a so-called electrostatic latent image is formed by receiving the light beam scanned by the scanning unit 24, and toner or the like to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 26 A developing unit 28 that develops by supplying a developer, a transfer unit 32 that transfers an image visualized by the development to a sheet P as an example of a sheet member, and an image on the transferred sheet P are fixed. And a fixing unit 34.

  The transfer unit 32 includes an intermediate transfer belt 36. The intermediate transfer belt 36 is wound around a plurality of rollers to form an inverted triangular peripheral circuit in the state shown in FIG.

  The paper P sent to the transfer unit of the image forming unit 12 having the above-described configuration is taken out from the tandem type paper feed tray unit 40 according to the present embodiment provided in the paper storage unit 14.

  That is, the paper P can be stacked and stored in the paper feed tray unit 40 (details will be described later). It should be noted that a plurality of paper feed tray sections 40 may be provided to accommodate different sizes of paper P, respectively.

  Below the image forming unit 12, a paper transport unit 42 that transports the paper P is provided. The paper transport unit 42 has a function of guiding the paper P to the transfer unit (that is, the lowest position in FIG. 1) which is the apex of the inverted triangular peripheral circuit in the intermediate transfer belt 36.

  Further, the image forming unit 12 of the present embodiment monitors the conveyance state of the paper P by providing a sensor (not shown) at an appropriate position on the conveyance path for conveying the paper P, and forms an image when a paper jam occurs. A function (conveyance monitoring means) for interrupting image formation of the unit 12 is provided.

  Further, the image forming unit 12 according to the present embodiment periodically performs white balance, image density, color balance, image forming position, etc. when the image forming process reaches a predetermined processing amount (for example, the number of processed sheets). A function (image quality adjusting means) for temporarily interrupting the image forming process in order to perform adjustments related to the image quality is provided.

(Paper Tray 40)
The tandem type paper feed tray unit 40 has two sheet stacking units (hereinafter referred to as “first”) as an example of a sheet body storage unit in a horizontal direction (for example, a horizontal direction having a predetermined allowable error range). Sheet loading table 50 "and" second sheet loading table 52 ") are arranged. The first paper stacking base 50 is an example of a first sheet body storage unit, and the second paper stacking base 52 is an example of a second sheet body storage unit.

(First paper stacking base 50)
On the first paper stacking table 50, papers to be sent to the image forming unit 12 are stacked in layers.

  The second paper stacking base 52 has a stack of paper for replenishing the first paper stacking base 50.

  The first paper stacking table 50 can be moved in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 (for example, the vertical direction having a predetermined allowable error range) by an elevating device 54 as an example of an elevating mechanism.

  In addition, a sending device 56 for sending the paper P to the image forming unit 12 is disposed at the top of the first paper stacking base 50 in the upward direction. The delivery device 56 includes a pickup roller 58.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting device 54 winds or winds a wire 60, one end of which is fixed to the first paper stacking base 50, by a lifting motor 64 that is a driving source via a plurality of pulleys 62. By taking out, it is possible to move up and down while maintaining a horizontal balance.

  Here, when there is an instruction to send the paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50 to the image forming unit 12, the sending device 56 causes the topmost paper P of the first paper stacking stand 50 to be sent out. The pickup roller 58 starts to be driven in contact with the pickup roller 58.

  Thus, the uppermost sheet P of the first sheet stacking table 50 is taken out by the pickup roller 58 and sent to the image forming unit 12.

  In other words, the first paper stacking base 50 is configured to gradually rise each time the paper P is sent out.

  At this time, the upper surface of the first paper stacking table 50 can take both a lower position and a higher position than the upper surface of the second paper stacking table 52.

(Second paper stacking base 52)
The second paper stacking base 52 is provided with an extrusion device 66 as an example of a transfer mechanism unit. The pressing device 66 allows a vertical wall-shaped pressing portion 68 to reciprocate from the left end position (home position) in FIG. 2 to the right end position (pressing completion position) along the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower end portion of the pressing portion 68 is partially extended below the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52, and is an endless belt wound around a plurality of rollers 70. 72 is fixed.

  A pressing motor 74 as a drive source is connected to a specific roller 70 among the plurality of rollers 70 via a transmission. For this reason, the specific roller 70 is rotated by the driving force of the pressing motor 74, and accordingly, the belt 72 can circulate along a trajectory along the plurality of rollers 70 (reciprocating movement according to the present embodiment). It has become.

  By the reciprocating movement of the belt 72, the pressing portion 68 of the pressing device 66 moves along the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52.

  That is, the pressing portion 68 moves from the home position (left end in FIG. 2) to the press completion position (right end in FIG. 2). At this time, the paper P loaded on the second paper stacking base 52 is pushed out toward the first paper stacking base 50 by the pressing unit 68.

  Here, the elevating device 54 provided on the first paper stacking table 50 and the extrusion device 66 provided on the second paper stacking table 52 are a replenishment operation control device 76 (see FIG. 1), the operation is controlled in cooperation with each other.

  The replenishment operation control device 76 is connected to the main control unit 20 and controls the replenishment operation of the paper P in the paper feed tray unit 40.

  That is, when the paper P is pushed out to the first paper stacking base 50 by pushing out the paper P from the second paper stacking base 52, at least the upper surface of the paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50 is It is assumed that the position is lower than the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52.

  In the replenishing device as an anti-comparative example, when the paper is replenished from the second tray to the first tray on the side where the feeding device is provided, it is generally replenished after the paper is exhausted from the first tray. It is.

  In contrast, the replenishment mechanism of the present embodiment can replenish the paper P from the second paper stacking base 52 while the paper P remains on the first paper stacking base 50. Yes. In other words, in this embodiment, the replenishable time (condition) is expanded as compared with the comparative example.

  For example, when the image formation stop factor occurs and the image formation is interrupted, when the number of sheets P stacked on the first sheet stacking table 50 is less than a predetermined amount, By performing replenishment from the paper stacking base 52, it is possible to avoid running out of paper during the next image forming process.

  Alternatively, in order to prevent the paper P from being replenished in the middle of a series of jobs, it may be considered that the paper is replenished in advance from the second paper stacking base 52 before the start of the job.

  Image formation stop factors include image quality adjustment execution, paper jams during conveyance of the image forming unit, and the like.

(Mode 1) When paper runs out during image formation in the image forming unit 12 (Mode 2) When paper jam occurs at a place other than the paper storage unit 14 during paper transport in the image forming unit 12 ( Form 3) When the image forming unit 12 is in a standby state where no image is formed (Form 4) The required number of sheets obtained before image formation of a series of jobs is larger than the remaining amount of the first sheet stacking base 50 Case (Embodiment 5) When image formation processing is interrupted by image quality adjustment Note that the image formation stop factor is not limited to Embodiments 1 to 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the replenishment operation control device 76 includes a microcomputer 78. The microcomputer 78 has a CPU 80, a RAM 82, a ROM 84, an input / output port (I / O) 86, and a bus 88 such as a data bus and a control bus for connecting them.

  The I / O 86 is connected with an elevating motor 64 as a drive source of the elevating device 54 and an extrusion motor 74 as a drive source of the extruding device 66 as output devices.

  The I / O 86 includes, as input devices, a first remaining amount sensor 90 as an example of a detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking table 50, and a second sheet stacking table 52. Is connected to a second remaining amount sensor 92 as an example of a detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of sheets stacked.

  In addition, the I / O 86 includes, as input devices, a home position sensor 94 that detects that the pushing portion 68 of the pushing device 66 is at the home position, and the pushing portion 68 of the pushing device 66 is at the pushing completion position. An extrusion completion position sensor 96 for detecting is connected.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram in which control mainly for paper replenishment in the replenishment operation control device 76 of FIG. Each block in FIG. 4 is classified by function, and the hardware configuration is not limited. For example, a part or all of the block diagrams described in this functional block diagram can be stored as a program in the ROM 84 of FIG. 3 and processed by the CPU 80 in software. The program is stored and provided not only in the ROM 84 but also in a hard disk, a disk type recording medium represented by CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), and a memory card type recording medium represented by SD (Secure Digital). It is good also as a form provided via a communication line network.

  The replenishment operation control device 76 includes a first remaining paper amount confirmation unit 100 and a second remaining paper amount confirmation unit 102.

  A first remaining amount sensor 90 is connected to the first sheet remaining amount confirming unit 100 and confirms the remaining amount of the sheets P loaded on the first sheet stacking table 50 at an appropriate time. For example, the first remaining amount sensor 90 is positioned above the uppermost layer on which the expired paper P is stacked on the first paper stacking base 50, and the first paper stacking base 50 is positioned at the top by the lifting device 54. The remaining amount of paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50 is determined according to the time from when the first remaining amount sensor 90 detects the uppermost paper P after starting to rise at a constant speed from the lower position. Calculate the quantity. That is, the relationship between the calculated time and the remaining amount is a proportional relationship in which the remaining amount of paper is large when the time is relatively short, and the remaining amount of paper is small when the time is long.

  In addition, a second remaining amount sensor 92 is connected to the second sheet remaining amount confirmation unit 102, and confirms the remaining amount of the sheets P loaded on the second sheet loading table 52 at an appropriate time.

  The first remaining paper amount confirmation unit 100 and the second remaining paper amount confirmation unit 102 are connected to the replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104.

  The replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104 is connected to an image formation status monitoring unit 106. The image formation status monitoring unit 106 receives information (hereinafter referred to as “image formation information”) about the image formation progress status in the image forming unit 12 from the image forming unit controller.

  The replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104 determines whether or not a replenishment operation is necessary based on the remaining amount of paper on the respective paper stacking bases (the first paper stacking base 50 and the second paper stacking base 52) and the image formation information. Is determined.

  Here, in the replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104, when the image formation stop factor (see the first to fifth embodiments described above) is generated from the image formation information and the image formation is interrupted, the second sheet stacking base It is determined that it is time to replenish the first paper stacking base 50 from 52 (first condition).

  Further, in the replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104, the uppermost layer of the sheets P stacked on the first sheet stacking base 50 is the first layer of the first sheet stacking unit 50 during the time calculated by the first sheet remaining amount confirmation unit 100. When the paper stacking base 50 is positioned at the lowest position, a threshold value that is lower (lower) than the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52 is set. The replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104 determines that it is time when replenishment from the second paper stacking base 52 to the first paper stacking base 50 is possible when the time falls below the threshold value. (Second condition).

  When both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, replenishment from the second paper stacking base 52 to the first paper stacking base 50 can be executed.

  The replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104 is connected to the elevation control unit 108 and the extrusion control unit 110. When it is determined that the supplementation operation is necessary, the replenishment operation necessity control unit 104 controls the elevation control unit 108 and the extrusion control unit 110. The paper replenishment from the second paper stacking base 52 to the first paper stacking base 50 is executed.

  A lift motor 64 that is a drive source of the lift device 54 is connected to the lift control unit 108.

  Further, the extrusion control unit 110 is connected to an extrusion motor 74 that is a drive source of the extrusion device 66, and a home position sensor 94 and an extrusion completion position sensor 96 that detect a home position position and an extrusion completion position of the extrusion unit 68. Is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a warning output unit 112 is connected to the replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104. For example, when a replenishment operation is necessary but there is an abnormal state such as when there is no paper P on the second paper stacking base 52, an abnormality signal is output from the replenishment operation necessity determination unit 104 to the warning output unit 112. In the abnormal signal output unit 112, the warning information is output to, for example, the UI 22 of the image forming apparatus 10 and notified to the user.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a control flowchart illustrating a main routine that is started when the power is turned on in the replenishment operation control device 76.

  In step 120, the remaining amount information of the first sheet stacking table 50 is acquired. Next, in step 122, the remaining amount information of the second sheet stacking table 52 is acquired, and the process proceeds to step 124.

  In step 124, paper replenishment processing (see FIG. 6) is executed. The paper replenishment process will be described later.

  In the next step 126, image formation information is acquired. For example, information corresponding to processing in the image forming unit 12 such as job reception and paper take-out instruction is acquired. Note that in this step 126, information regarding an image formation interruption factor such as a paper jam or image quality adjustment during image formation may be acquired.

  In the next step 128, it is determined whether or not the image forming process is completed. If an affirmative determination is made, the process returns to step 120 and the above steps are repeated.

  If a negative determination is made in step 128, that is, if an image forming process is being performed, the process proceeds to step 130, where the paper P is sent from the first paper stacking base 50 to the image forming unit 12 by the sending device 56.

  In the next step 132, it is determined whether an image formation interruption factor has occurred (the first condition is satisfied). If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 126.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 132, a paper replenishment process (see FIG. 6) is executed, and the process proceeds to step 134.

  Here, each mode in which an image formation interruption factor occurs (first condition is satisfied) will be described in detail.

(Form 1) When the paper runs out during image formation in the image forming unit 12 This form 1 is a replenishment operation that can naturally be performed in the comparative example described above. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the replenishment operation can be performed even when the paper P remains on the first paper stacking base 50 (see the second and subsequent embodiments).

(Mode 2) When a paper jam occurs at a location other than the paper storage unit 14 during the conveyance of the paper in the image forming unit 12, if a paper jam occurs, the image formation is naturally interrupted. At this time, when a paper jam occurs at a location unrelated to the paper storage unit 14, a replenishment operation is possible.

(Mode 3) In a standby state in which no image is formed by the image forming unit 12 In the mode 3, a replenishment operation is executed if the second condition is satisfied during the standby of the image forming unit 12. .

(Form 4) When the necessary number of sheets obtained before image formation of a series of jobs is larger than the remaining amount of the first sheet stacking table 50 The replenishment operation 4 is performed by, for example, a PC (personal computer) on a communication line network ) And the like, the number of sheets processed in the series of jobs can be recognized before processing. Therefore, when the number of sheets to be processed is larger than the remaining amount of sheets on the first sheet stacking table 50, the sheets P are replenished in advance to the first sheet stacking unit 50, so that the sheets are processed during the series of jobs. It is avoided that P is lost.

(Mode 5) When image formation processing is interrupted by image quality adjustment Image quality adjustment is programmed in advance so as to be executed periodically (for example, every fixed number of processed sheets). Formation is interrupted. Since the sheet storage unit 14 is not involved in the image quality adjustment, a replenishment operation is possible.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of paper replenishment processing control executed in step 124 or step 134 in FIG. 7 to 9 are front views showing the operation states of the first paper stacking base 50 and the second paper stacking base 52 by the lifting device 54 and the extrusion device 66 when processing is performed in each step of FIG. FIG.

  In step 150, it is determined whether or not there is a sheet on the second sheet stacking base 52. If a negative determination is made in step 150, the process proceeds to step 172 described later.

  If an affirmative determination is made at step 150 (see FIG. 7A), the routine proceeds to step 152 where it is determined whether or not the first paper stacking base 50 can be refilled. That is, when the remaining amount of paper is less than a predetermined threshold value and the first paper stacking table 50 is moved to the lowest position by the lifting device 54, the uppermost sheet surface is the upper surface of the second paper stacking table 52. It is judged whether it is possible to make it lower.

  When a negative determination is made in step 152 (see FIG. 7A), the process proceeds to step 172 described later.

  If the determination in step 152 is affirmative (see FIG. 7B), the lifting / lowering device 54 is controlled to proceed to step 154 where the uppermost sheet surface of the first sheet stacking table 50 is the second layer surface. The sheet is moved so as to be lower than the upper surface (the lowermost sheet surface) of the paper stacking base 52 (see FIG. 7C). Specifically, the first paper stacking base 50 is lowered to the lowest position, but the uppermost sheet surface of the first paper stacking base 50 is higher than the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52 (the lowermost sheet surface). However, it is not necessary to lower it to the lowest position.

  In the next step 156, the pusher 66 is controlled to start moving the pusher 68 from the home position position to the push completion position (see FIG. 8A). By this movement, the paper P stacked on the second paper stacking base 52 moves so as to overlap the paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50 (see FIG. 8B). .

  In the next step 158, it is determined whether or not the pushing portion 68 has been detected at the pushing completion position. If an affirmative determination is made in step 158 (see FIG. 8C), the process proceeds to step 160. At this time, the paper P stacked on the second paper stacking base 52 is superposed on the paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50, and the replenishment is completed.

  In step 160, the extrusion device 66 is controlled to start the movement of the pushing portion 68 from the pushing completion position to the home position (movement direction determination) (see FIG. 9A).

  In the next step 162, it is determined whether or not the pushing portion is detected at the home position. If an affirmative determination is made in step 162 (see FIG. 9B), the process proceeds to step 164.

  In step 164, the operation of the extrusion unit 68 is stopped, and then the process proceeds to step 166, where the first sheet stacking table 50 is raised to a position where it can be taken out by the take-out device 66, and the process proceeds to step 168.

  That is, by controlling the elevating device 54 to raise the first paper stacking table 50, the uppermost sheet P of the first paper stacking table 50 is taken out by the take-out device 56 and sent to the image forming unit 12. (See FIG. 9C).

  In step 168, the remaining amount information of the first sheet stacking table 50 is acquired, and then the process proceeds to step 170, the remaining amount information of the second sheet stacking table 52 is acquired, and the process proceeds to step 172.

  Step 172 is a step that shifts also in the negative determination in step 150 or the negative determination in step 152.

  In step 172, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of paper on the first paper stacking base 50 is sufficient. If an affirmative determination (sufficient) is made, the process proceeds to step 174. 176.

  In step 174, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount of paper on the second paper stacking base 52 is sufficient. If the determination is affirmative (sufficient), this routine ends.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 174, the process proceeds to step 176. That is, if a negative determination is made in either step 172 or step 174, the process proceeds to step 176.

  In step 176, a warning for prompting paper supply to the paper feed tray unit 40 is notified. Note that the notification may be any of display of characters and images through vision, speaker output such as sound and voice through hearing, and a combination thereof. Further, communication to a terminal owned by an administrator may be used.

(Modification 1)
In the present embodiment, the lifting device 54 is provided for the first paper stacking table 50, but a lifting device that lifts and lowers the second paper stacking table 52 may be provided. In this case, the height position of each other can be relatively changed by using the lifting devices together.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the first paper stacking base 50 and the second paper stacking base 52 are at the lowest position (see FIG. 10A), they are stacked on the first paper stacking base 50. The second paper stacking base 52 is raised in accordance with the height of the paper P being applied (see FIG. 10B), and the upper surface of the second paper stacking base 52 is placed on the first paper stacking base. By setting it higher than the uppermost 50th sheet, the sheet can be replenished to the first sheet stacking table 50 by the extrusion device 66. According to the first modification, it is possible to increase the remaining amount of paper that can be replenished, which is the second condition. For example, the setting range of the threshold value that determines whether the second condition is satisfied is expanded.

(Modification 2)
In the present embodiment and the first modification, when the number of sheets P stacked on the first sheet stacking table 50 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, the second sheet stacking table 52 starts the first sheet stacking process. The paper P is replenished to the paper stacking table 50.

  However, in this case, the relatively old paper P stays in the lower layer area of the first paper stacking base 50. Therefore, a program for using up the paper P stacked on the first paper stacking base 50 may be added.

  For example, after the paper is replenished from the second paper stacking base 52 to the first paper stacking base 50, the next time the paper P on the first paper stacking base 50 is exhausted, it is replenished. By repeating this, the paper P is used up every other time at the paper replenishment time.

  According to the second modification, the so-called “first-in first-out” principle is maintained, and the deteriorated paper P does not remain.

(Modification 3)
In this embodiment, the elevating device 54 has a wire drive structure. However, the wire drive structure is not limited to the wire drive structure, and a jack-up structure by the pressure of an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like, or a linear drive structure by a rack and pinion. For example, a push-up structure using a biasing means such as a spring, or other lifting device may be used. In any case, the lifting / lowering device 54 only needs to have a function of bringing the uppermost sheet P stacked on the first sheet stacking table 50 into contact with the pickup roller 58 of the feeding device 56 with a constant pressure. . The same applies to the case where an elevator device is provided on the second paper stacking base 52 as in the second modification.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming part 14 Paper storage part 18 Case 20 Main control part 22 UI
24 optical scanning unit 26 photoconductor drum 28 developing unit 32 transfer unit 34 fixing unit 36 intermediate transfer belt P paper 40 paper feed tray unit 42 paper transport unit 50 first paper stacking base 52 second paper stacking base 54 lifting device 56 Delivery device 58 Pickup roller 60 Wire 62 Pulley 64 Lifting motor 66 Extrusion device 68 Pressing unit 70 Roller 72 Belt 74 Pressing motor 76 Replenishment operation control device 78 Microcomputer 80 CPU
82 RAM
84 ROM
86 I / O port (I / O)
88 Bus 90 First remaining amount sensor 92 Second remaining amount sensor 94 Home position sensor 96 Extrusion completion position sensor 100 First sheet remaining amount confirmation unit 102 Second sheet remaining amount confirmation unit 104 Replenishment operation necessity determination unit 106 Image formation status monitoring unit 108 Lift control unit 110 Extrusion control unit 112 Warning output unit

Claims (8)

A sheet body that is stacked and accommodated in a layered manner on the first sheet stacking base , and is moved up and down with respect to the take-out device; on the second sheet stacking table and the first sheet accommodating portion provided in a different position, the seat body and a second sheet accommodating portion housed being layered A sheet body accommodating portion;
A transfer mechanism for transferring to the first sheet body housing section while maintaining the layer shape of the sheet body housed in the second sheet body housing section;
In a state in which the sheet body remains in the first sheet body accommodating portion, at least the uppermost layer of the sheet body accommodated and stored on the first sheet stacking base is higher than the upper surface of the second sheet stacking base. A transfer means for transferring the sheet body by the transfer mechanism in a low state ;
A sheet body accommodation apparatus. When the transfer means is in a state in which the sheet body remains in the first sheet body storage unit, and when the take-out of the sheet body by the take-out device is on standby or interrupted , the transfer mechanism unit The sheet body accommodation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet body is transferred. And further comprising detection means for detecting respective remaining sheet bodies of the first sheet body housing portion and the second sheet body housing portion,
The transfer means is configured such that the uppermost surface of the sheet body of the first sheet body housing portion is the second sheet of the second sheet body housing portion as the remaining amount of the first sheet body housing portion by the detecting means . When the remaining sheet quantity is detected to be lower than the remaining amount that is lower in the height direction than the sheet stacking table , and the presence of the sheet body is detected in the second sheet body housing portion, The sheet body accommodation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet is transferred. When the sheet body is transferred from the second sheet body accommodating section to the first sheet body accommodating section, at least the upper surface of the sheet body stacked on the first sheet stacking base is the second sheet. The sheet body accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet body accommodation device is located at a position lower than an upper surface of the loading table . The first sheet stacking table can be moved in the vertical direction by a first lifting device, and the upper surface of the first sheet stacking table can be moved to a position lower than the upper surface of the second sheet stacking table. sheet accommodating device according to any one of a claims 1 4. The second sheet stacking base is raised in accordance with the height of the sheet stacks stacked in the first sheet receiving section, and the upper surface of the second sheet stacking base is placed on the first sheet. The sheet body accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second elevating device configured to be higher than the uppermost sheet of the body accommodation portion.   After the transfer of the sheet body from the second sheet body housing portion to the first sheet body housing portion is repeated a predetermined number of times, the transfer is executed after the sheet body of the first sheet body housing portion is exhausted. The sheet body accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The sheet body accommodation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An image forming unit that forms an image on the image forming surface of the sheet body taken out from the first sheet body housing unit by the take-out device based on received image information;
A conveyance monitoring unit that interrupts the image forming process when a conveyance failure occurs in the sheet in the image forming unit;
Image quality adjustment means for interrupting the image formation processing when the image quality adjustment time is set for adjusting the image quality at the time of image formation set for each predetermined image formation processing amount;
Image formation that includes the interruption of the image forming process in the conveyance monitoring unit or the image quality adjusting unit, and determines whether a condition for causing the transfer mechanism unit to execute a transfer operation is satisfied during a period when the image forming process is not executed. apparatus.