JPH01203169A - Image forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform recording operation smoothly even for such number of sheets as exceeding over the number of bins in a sorter by providing an intermediate tray for temporarily containing the recording sheets when the recording times exceeds over the number of the bins and discharging the contained recording sheets to the sorter upon completion of recording operation. CONSTITUTION:When copy operation is carried out,m an optical section 2 scans and exposes a document placed on a contact lense 4 and a toner image is formed on a copy sheet fed from a sheet feed section 6 in an image processing section 3. Then the copy sheet is carried through a guideboard 11 to a bin 17 of a sorter 14. The count of a counter for counting the number of copy sheets is compared with the number of bins, and when the count exceeds over the number of bins, a solenoid is excited to switch the guide 11 so as to carry the following copy sheets from a guide section 12 through a path 18 to an intermediate tray 20. Upon finish of copy operation, the copy sheets contained in the intermediate tray 20 are discharged to a sorter 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, a printer, etc. that is equipped with a sorter and is capable of refeeding paper.

(Prior Art) When an image forming apparatus 1 equipped with a sorter, such as a copying machine, performs copying accompanied by a sorting operation, the desired number of copies may exceed the number of sorting bins. For this purpose, for example,
In Japanese Patent No. 183564, copy sheets that cannot be stored in a sorting bin are stored in a non-sorting bin.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem in that when the number of original documents increases, the copy sheets stored in the non-sort bins must be distributed.

(Purpose of the Invention) This invention was made in view of the above problem, and even when the number of recorded sheets exceeds the number of sort bins when distributing recording sheets using a sorter, an intermediate tray for refeeding sheets is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively utilize and sort images.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sorter and a refeedable image forming apparatus.
It has a counter that counts the number of recording times and a determination means that compares the counted value of the counter with the number of bins of the sorter, and when the counted value of the counter is greater than the number of bins of the sorter, the number of sheets exceeding the number of bins of the sorter is recorded. It is characterized in that the paper is temporarily stored in an intermediate tray, and after the recording operation is completed, the recording paper stored in the intermediate tray is discharged to a sorter.

(Function) Even if the number of copies exceeds the number of sort bins, the excess number of recording sheets is temporarily stored in an intermediate tray for re-feeding, and the recording sheets are again fed to the sorter and sorted.

(Example) Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a copying machine main body, in which an optical section 2 for scanning and exposing an original is provided at a predetermined position in the upper part of the main body, and a paper feed section 6 is provided on the right side surface.

A copy paper conveyance path 7 is disposed at the bottom of the copying machine 1, and an image processing section 8. A fixing device 10 is provided, a guide plate 11 is provided downstream of the fixing device 10, and a sorter 14 is provided on the left side of the copying machine 1. Here, the sorter 14 has a sort bin 17 and a distributor 16, and during sorting, the distributor 16
moves from the starting position indicated by 16-A to the position indicated by 16-B, and copies are distributed to each sorting bin 17. Furthermore, an intermediate tray 8 for double-sided copying and composite copying is provided at the bottom of the copy paper conveyance path 7.

When a copying operation is performed with the above configuration, the optical section 2 scans and exposes the original on the contact glass 4, and the image processing section 8 forms a toner image on the copy paper fed from the paper feed section 6, and then copies it. The paper is sent to a sorter 14 via a guide plate 11 shown by a solid line. The copy sheets sent to the sorter 14 are transferred to the sorting bin 17 via a distributor] 6 that moves from a position 16-A to a position 16-B. Further, the guide plate 11 is positioned by a switching guide solenoid (not shown) at a position where the copy paper is sent to the sorter and a position where the copy paper is sent to the guide 1' plate 12 for double-sided copying.
Normally, the guide plate 11 is positioned at the position where the copy sheets are sent to the sorter, but when the count value of the counter that counts the number of copies is compared with the number of bins, and the count value of the counter exceeds the number of bins, the guide plate 11 moves the copy paper to the guide section 12. At the feeding position, the copy paper is fed from the guide section 12 through the passage 18 to the intermediate tray 20.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine which is the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

After the copying operation is started at nl, the counter is reset at n2, copy paper is fed at n3, the number of fed copy paper is counted at n4, and the counted value is compared with the number of sorter bins at n5. Ru. When the count value does not exceed the number of bins of the sorter, n30. At n31, the copy sheets are sent to the bin one by one, and at n31
At step 32, it is determined whether or not the copying has been completed, and if the copying has not been completed, the process returns to n3 and the above operations are performed. If it is determined that copying is complete at n32, the bin returns to the initial position (Fig.
6- position) and the copying is completed.

Also, when it is judged at n5 that the count value exceeds the number of bins of the sorter, the switching guide solenoid is turned on at n6 and the copy paper is sent to the intermediate l/ray 20, and each time it is judged at n8 whether or not copying is finished. If the copy is not completed, the process returns to n3. If it is judged at n8 that copying is complete, the switching guide solenoid is turned off at n9, and it is judged at n10 whether or not the bin is at the initial position. If it is at the initial position, the counter is reset again and at n12 and n13 the intermediate tray is turned off. Copy paper is supplied from 20 and is fed without forming two images.

The number of supplied copy sheets is counted in nl4, and the number of supplied copies is counted in n15.
The count value is compared with the number of bins of the sorter, and when it is determined that the count value exceeds the number of bins of the sorter, the guide solenoid is switched on again at n16, and the process returns to nlo, where the above operation is performed. Further, when the counted value does not reach the number of bins of the sorter at n15, copy sheets are stored in the sorter at n17 and n18.

At n19, it is determined whether or not there is any copy paper remaining in the intermediate tray. If there is, the process moves to n12, and if there is no copy paper remaining, the sorter bin is returned to the initial position and copying is completed.

(Effects of the Invention) Even when the number of copies exceeding the number of sort bins is to be copied, a series of recording operations can be performed without interrupting the copying operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine. 14... Sorter 20... Intermediate tray

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus equipped with a sorter and capable of refeeding paper, comprising a counter for counting the number of recordings and a determination means for comparing the count value of the counter with the number of bins of the sorter, and the count value of the counter is the number of bins of the sorter. When the number of recording sheets exceeds the number of bins of a sorter, the number of recording sheets exceeding the number of bins of a sorter is temporarily stored in an intermediate tray, and after the recording operation is completed, the recording sheets stored in the intermediate tray are discharged to the sorter. .