JPH05306066A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent paper sheets from being discharged in dispersed state, without carrying out the binding processing, etc. by selecting each execution of the posterior processing and taking-out processing for the paper sheet and carrying out control so that the posterior processing is compulsorily carried out when only the taking-out processing is selected. CONSTITUTION:An image forming device, e.g. a copying machine is equipped with a copying machine body control part 250, automatic original document transporting device control part 251, and a sorter control part 252 for a sorter and a paper sheet taking-out device, and these devices are connected each other. Further, the sorter control part 252 outputs each control signal to each display part L1, L2, etc., which receives each detection signal from each selecting key K1-K4. Further, with the copying machine body control part 250, an operating panel 250a is connected. In this case, each execution for the prescribed posterior processing and taking-out processing for the paper sheet accommodated in the sorter is selected from the operating panel 250a. When only the taking-out processing is selected, motors and solenoids are controlled by the control parts 250 and 251 so that the posterior processing is compulsorily executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a post-processing device that performs post-processing on an image-formed sheet and a take-out device that takes out the post-processed sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine may be equipped with a sorter for sorting and storing the sheets subjected to the image forming process. Also, a sorter having a stapling device for binding the sorted sheets has already been provided.

As a conventional sorter of this type, for example, there is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-231757.
In these devices, a plurality of paper trays (hereinafter referred to as "paper receivers" for sorting and storing the paper discharged from the main body of the copying machine.
A bin) is arranged so as to be vertically movable.
Further, a stapling device is arranged on one end side of the bin, and the sheets in the bin that have moved to the position where the stapling device is arranged are bound.

However, in the device disclosed in the above publication,
Since the bound sheets are stored in the bin as they are, the sorting process and the binding process cannot be performed for the number of copies exceeding the number of bins. Therefore, when performing a large amount of copy processing, it is necessary for the operator to take out the bound paper from the bin. In addition, JP-A-63-1
In the sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 65270, a tray for storing bound sheets is provided in addition to a sort bin for sorting sheets. Then, the sorted sheets are once introduced into the tray, the sheets accommodated in the tray are bound, and the sheets are discharged to the stack section. In the sorter having such a structure, the number of copies more than the number of bins provided in the sorter can be bound without the operator having to take out the sheets in the bin one by one.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5270, when the processing mode is selected, if the sorting mode and the ejection mode are selected without selecting the staple mode due to an erroneous operation of the operator, for example, the sorted sheets are separated in the stack section. Will be housed in.

In the conventional sorter, when the number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins is set, first, the number of copies equal to the number of bins must be set as the number of processing copies, and after the processing is completed, the remaining number of copies must be set again. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to take out the processed paper one by one, but it is necessary to set the number of copies to be processed many times, and the workability is poor. An object of the present invention is to prevent the sheets from being scattered in the stack portion due to an erroneous operation by the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to enable limitless processing to be performed by a simple operation.

[0008]

An image forming apparatus according to a first invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet,
A paper receiver that stores the paper discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a post-processing unit that performs a predetermined post-processing on the paper stored in the paper receiver, and a paper receiver that receives the paper post-processed by the post-processing unit. And a process control unit for forcibly executing the post-process when only the take-out process is selected by the selecting unit. .

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body, a sheet receiver, a post-processing means, a take-out means, and a selecting means, which are similar to the above, and further the take-out processing by the selecting means. When only one is selected, the processing control means for prohibiting the take-out processing is provided. Third
The image forming apparatus according to the invention includes an image forming apparatus main body, a sheet receiver, a post-processing unit, a take-out unit, and a selecting unit, and only the take-out process is selected by the selecting unit. At this time, a selection abnormality notifying means for notifying the selection abnormality is provided.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body, a paper receiver, a post-processing means, a take-out means, and a selecting means, which are similar to the above. The image forming apparatus includes a start instructing unit for instructing the start of the image forming operation, and a post-selection receiving unit for receiving selection of execution of the post-process and the take-out process after the start instructing unit instructs the start of the image forming operation.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a copy number setting means for setting the number of sheets of the image forming sheet, and an image forming apparatus main body. A plurality of paper receivers for storing the stored papers, a post-processing unit for performing a predetermined post-processing on the papers stored in the paper receivers, a take-out unit for taking out the papers post-processed by the post-processing unit from the paper receivers, If the selection means for selecting the execution of the post-processing and the take-out processing and only the post-processing is selected by the selection means, and the number of processing sets set by the number-of-copies setting means is larger than the number of paper receivers, a plurality of paper receivers Of the post-processed sheets are detected, and processing control means for forcibly executing the take-out process for these post-processed sheets is provided.

[0012]

In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, an image is formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus main body, and the sheet is discharged to the sheet receiver. When the post-processing is selected by the selection unit, the predetermined post-processing is performed on the paper stored in the paper receiver. When the take-out process is selected, the post-processed paper is taken out from the paper receiver.

Here, if only the take-out process is executed without executing the post-process, the paper is taken out without performing the binding process, for example, and the paper is ejected in the separated state. Therefore, the processing control unit forcibly executes the post-processing when only the extraction processing is selected. Therefore, even if the operator erroneously selects only the take-out process, the sheets are not ejected in pieces.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second and third aspects of the invention, when only the take-out process is selected, the take-out process is prohibited or the selection abnormality is notified to call the operator's attention. This prohibits the sheets from being discharged in pieces. In the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the post-selection receiving unit receives the selection of the post-processing and the take-out processing after the start of the image forming operation. Therefore, even when the operator forgets to set the processing mode and starts the image forming operation, the post-processing and the take-out processing can be performed.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the paper processed by the main body of the image forming apparatus is discharged to a plurality of paper receivers. Post-processing and take-out processing are performed on the sheets of the plurality of sheet receivers by the selection of the selection unit.
At this time, if only post-processing is selected, and if the number of processing copies is set more than the number of paper receivers, it is detected that post-processed papers are stored in all of the plurality of paper receivers,
The take-out process is forcibly executed on these post-processed sheets.

Therefore, even if the number of processing copies is set to be more than the number of paper receivers, if post-processed papers are accommodated in all the paper receivers, the take-out processing is automatically performed, and the limitless operation is simple. Processing can be performed.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Overall Structure and Copying Machine Main Body FIGS. 1 and 2 show the overall structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the copying machine is a copying machine main body 1
And a staple sorter (hereinafter, simply referred to as a sorter) 2 arranged on the left side of the copying machine main body 1, and a sheet take-out device 3 arranged on the front side (front side of the device) of the sorter 2. .. As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine main body 1 includes a case 5, an image forming unit 6 arranged in the center of the case 5,
The image forming unit 6 includes a document scanning unit 7 disposed above the image forming unit 6, and a sheet conveying device 8 that supplies a sheet to the image forming unit 6 and discharges a sheet from the image forming unit 6.

The image forming section 6 has a photosensitive drum arranged in the center, and a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a paper separating device and a cleaning device arranged around the photosensitive drum. The document scanning section 7 includes an optical system 9 arranged above the image forming section 6, a document table 10 arranged above the optical system 9, and an automatic document feeder 1 provided on the document table 10.
1 and. The automatic document feeder 11 has a document placing portion 12 provided on the upper surface of the case and a document feeding portion 13 including a document moving belt and the like arranged inside the case.

The sheet conveying device 8 has a sheet supply path arranged on the upstream side of the image forming section 6 in the sheet conveying direction and a sheet discharge path arranged on the downstream side, and on the way of the sheet discharge path. A fixing device 14 is provided in the. Further, on the downstream side of the fixing device 14, a discharge roller 15 for discharging the paper to the sorter 2 side, and a reversing device 1 for reversing the paper.
And 6 are provided.

At the lower part of the case 5, there are provided an intermediate transport path 17 for transporting the sheet that has passed through the reversing device 16 and an intermediate tray 18 for temporarily storing the sheet. Below the intermediate tray 18, a plurality of paper feed cassettes 19 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. On the lower right side of the case 5,
A paper feed deck 20 for continuously supplying a large amount of paper is arranged. A manual paper feed path 21 is arranged above the paper feed deck 20.

The sorter sorter 2, the bin unit 27 including a driving unit 26 for driving a plurality of bins 25 and the bin 25 in the vertical direction
And a conveyance unit 28 arranged between the copying machine main body 1 and the bin unit 27 to convey the paper from the copying machine main body 1 to the bin unit 27, and a conveyance unit upstream of the bin unit 27 (copier main body 1 side). And a processing unit 29 disposed below the unit 28.

The bin unit 27 has a support frame 30 which covers both side portions of the bin 25 and a part of the end portion on the paper discharge side. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the bottle 25 is formed of a flat plate member. Then, the notch 25a for taking out the paper is provided from the front end side in the discharge direction toward the inside.
Are formed. Further, a notch 25b for width adjustment is formed from the side portion on the rear side (apparatus back side) toward the inside, and further, two cutouts for taking out the sheet by the processing unit 29 are provided at the end portion on the sheet introducing side. The notches 25c are formed at predetermined intervals. In addition, the notch 25b for width adjustment is
The side of the bin 25 formed on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction is inclined from the center of the paper toward the paper discharge direction. As a result, when the paper is discharged onto the bin 25, the front end of the paper is guided to the inclined side 25g, and the paper is discharged smoothly. Further, as the side 25g is inclined, as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, as compared with the conventional bin formed in parallel with the leading end surface of the paper, the area (A ) Becomes small, and the sagging of the bottle, which may occur during bottle molding, can be prevented.

Holders 31 are formed on both sides of the tip of the discharge side of the bottle 25. Further, trunnions 32 projecting outward are provided on both sides of the introduction side end. The holder 31 of each bottle is supported by a support portion 30a (see FIG. 2) formed at the discharge side end of the support frame 30. The trunnion 32 meshes with the groove of the spiral cam 33 that constitutes the drive unit 26. A biasing member 34 for pressing the sheets accommodated in the lower bin 25 is provided on the back surface of the bin 25.

In this way, the bottle 25 is supported by the support portion 30a.
Also, it is supported by the spiral cam 33 and, as shown in FIG. 2, is arranged so as to be inclined so that the discharge side end portion is located above. A vertical wall portion 25d protruding upward is formed at the end portion of the bin 25 on the introduction side to prevent the sheets accommodated in the inclined bin 25 from dropping downward. A plurality of ribs 25e are formed on the upper surface of the bin 25 along the paper discharge direction.

The drive unit 26 of the bin unit 27 is used for the bin 2
At the front and rear ends of the introduction side of 5, there is a pair of spiral cams 33 arranged so as to face each trunnion 32. The spiral cam 33 has a spiral groove on its surface, and is vertically arranged from the upper part to the lower part of the sorter 2. The upper end and the lower end of each spiral cam 33 are rotatably supported by the frame of the sorter 2, and a pulley 35 is fixed to the lower end as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. A drive pulley 36 is fixed to the lower end of the spiral cam 33 provided on the rear side of the apparatus among the pair of spiral cams 33. As shown in FIG. 4, a drive motor 39 is connected to the drive pulley 36 via a belt 37 and a pulley 38. In this way, the rear spiral cam 33 is rotated by the motor 39, and this rotation is transmitted to the front spiral cam 33 via the belt 40 and the pulley 35. Therefore, the pair of front and rear spiral cams 33 rotate in synchronization.

The spiral grooves 33a formed on the outer surface of the spiral cam 33 are formed at substantially the same pitch in the upper and lower parts, but as shown in FIGS. Two pitches in the central portion) are formed wider than the other pitches. As a result, the bin 25, which is moved up and down by the spiral cam 33, is provided in the portion corresponding to the discharge port of the transport unit 28 and the upper portion of the processing unit 29 and the lower portion of the processing unit 29, compared to other portions. A discharge / treatment opening and a discharge opening having a wide vertical interval are formed.

As a result, the processing unit 29 can be surely introduced into and taken out from the bin 25 located at the processing position.
On the other hand, the space between the lower bin of the bin 25 located at the take-out opening is slightly narrowed like the other portions. However, since there is no paper already on the lower bin 25, there is no problem when the stacker hand mechanism 170, which will be described later, is introduced into or taken out from the bin 25 located at the take-out opening.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a detection plate 45 for detecting the rotational position of the spiral cam 33 is fixed to the upper end of the spiral cam 33. The detection plate 45 has a notch 45a for angle detection. On the other hand, around the detection plate 45, a photo sensor 46 for rotation control and a 3 /
A photo sensor 47 for four-rotation lowering control is provided. These photosensors 46 and 47 are arranged at positions shifted by 1/4 rotation. The bin unit 27 is provided with a support pin 48 for guiding the vertical movement of the bin unit 27. The support pin 48 meshes with the spiral groove 33 a of the spiral cam 33.

Photosensors 49a and 49b (see FIG. 4) are arranged at the upper and lower ends of the bin unit 27 so that the optical axis is located near the introduction end of the bin 25. Each of the bins 2 so that the optical axis formed by these photosensors 49a and 49b can pass through each bin 25.
5, a hole 25f (see FIG. 3) for passing the optical axis is formed at a corresponding position. As a result, it is possible to detect whether or not the paper is stored in the bin 25.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a drop prevention mechanism 50 is provided between the processing unit 29 and the bin unit 27 to prevent the paper from dropping from the inclined bin 25. It is arranged. The fall prevention mechanism 50
It has two stoppers 51 as shown in FIG. 9 and a solenoid 52 for changing the posture of the stopper 51. The two stoppers 51 are fixed to the rotating shaft 53 arranged in the front-rear direction at predetermined intervals. Rotating shaft 53
Is rotatably supported by front and rear support frames 2a and 2b. Further, the rear end of the rotating shaft 53 is connected to the connecting members 54a, 5a.
It is connected to the plunger of the solenoid 52 via 4b. When the solenoid 52 is off, the stopper 51 takes the fall prohibition posture shown in FIG.
Take the drop allowable posture shown in 0.

With such a configuration, the paper with the trailing end curled is transferred into the bin 25 and is prevented from falling even when the paper exceeds the standing wall portion 25d. 8 and 11
As shown in FIG.
And a base table 56 that is slidable with respect to the fixed frame 55 and that can be pulled out to the front side of the device.
A movable table 57 movable with respect to the base table 56, a stapling device 58 arranged on the movable table 57, a punching device 59, and a pair of processing hand units arranged on both sides of the punching device 59. 60a, 60
b.

A motor 61 for moving the table is fixed to the lower surface of the base table 56 on the rear side of the apparatus. On the other hand, a pulley 62 is fixed to the front side of the base table 56 in the apparatus, and a timing belt 64 is stretched between the pulley 62 and a pulley 63 fixed to the tip of the stepping motor 61. This timing belt 6
4 includes a connecting portion 57 formed on the lower surface of the moving table 57.
a is connected, and the movable table 57 moves on the base table 56 by the circulation of the timing belt 64. A bearing 65 is fixed to the lower surface of the moving table 57 as shown in FIG.
Guide shaft 6 arranged in the front-back direction on the base table 56
It is possible to move along 6. Further, a plurality of guide rollers 67 are provided on the side of the moving table 57, and the guide rollers 67 are guided by the support portion 56 a of the base table 56.

A detection plate 68 is fixed to the lower surface of the front end of the moving table 57, and a photo sensor 69 for detecting a home position is provided at a reference position of the base table 61.
Is fixed. Here, as shown in FIG. 11, when the moving table 57 is located at the home position,
The stapling device 58 performs binding processing on the corners on the front end side of the sheets taken out from the bin 25. The position of this binding process is a processing reference position when performing the binding process of only one point.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic structure of the stapling device 58. The stapling device 58 includes a lower jaw member 70,
An upper jaw member 71 rotatably attached to the lower jaw member 70, and a drive unit 72 for lowering the upper jaw member 71.
And a return mechanism 73 for returning the upper jaw member 71 to the initial position
It consists of and. The lower jaw member 70 is rotatable with respect to the support member 74 fixed on the moving table 57 within a predetermined range with one end as a fulcrum. As a result, the position of the entire stapling device 58 can be adjusted in the vertical direction within a predetermined range. A paper guide 75 for guiding the paper from the bin 25 is fixed to the partition frame 76 on the bin 25 side of the stapling device 58. A paper detection hole is formed in a part of the paper guide 75, and a reflective sensor 77 for detecting a paper jam during the binding process is provided below the paper detection hole.

The processing hand units 60a and 60b are
As shown in FIG. 13, a mounting plate 80, a hand mechanism 81 mounted on the mounting plate 80, and a paper ejection mechanism 82.
And a drive mechanism 83 for moving these two mechanisms 81, 82 back and forth in the bin direction. The lower part of the mounting plate 80 is fixed to the moving table 57. Further, the upper portion is bent in the lateral direction, and a guide groove 80a for guiding the forward and backward movement of the hand mechanism 81 is formed in the bent portion.

The hand mechanism 81 is fixed to the slide plate 84 and has an upper hand 85 and a lower hand 86. The upper hand 85 is formed in an L shape when viewed from the front, and has a gripping portion 85 a extending toward the bin 25 and a gripping portion 8 a.
5a and a base portion 85b extending in a direction orthogonal to 5a. One end of the base portion 85b is rotatably fixed to the slide plate 84. The other end of the base portion 85b is connected to a solenoid 87 for opening and closing the hand mechanism 81 via a spring 88. The lower hand 86 has a grip portion 86a extending toward the bin 25 side and a base portion 86b extending opposite to the grip portion 86a with a fulcrum mounted rotatably mounted on the slide plate 84 as a boundary. The base portion 86b is in contact with an abutting portion 85c formed on the base portion 85b of the upper hand 85, and the upper hand 85 and the lower hand 86 operate in an interlocking manner. Base 86b of the lower hand 86
One end of a spring 89 is locked to the spring 89.
The other end is locked to the upper part of the slide plate 84. Due to the spring force of the spring 89, the lower hand 86 and the upper hand 8
5 is opened, and the solenoid 87 is turned on and retracted, so that the upper hand 85 and the lower hand 86 are closed.

The paper ejecting mechanism 82 includes an arm 90,
Driving solenoid 91, arm 90 and solenoid 91
And a lever 92 for connecting with. A push plate 93 that pushes the edge of the sheet is fixed to the tip (bin side) of the arm 90. A guide groove 90a that is long in the forward and backward direction is formed in the arm 90.
A pin 94 fixed to the slide plate 84 is locked to a. A pin 95 is fixed to the rear end of the arm 90,
One end of the lever 92 is locked to the pin 95. The central portion of the lever 92 is rotatable around the fulcrum pin 96. The other end of the lever 92 is connected to the plunger of the solenoid 91 via a pin 97. With such a configuration, when the plunger of the solenoid 91 advances and retreats, the lever 92 rotates about the fulcrum pin 96, and the arm 90 can assume the retracted position shown by the solid line in FIG. 13 and the return position shown by the alternate long and short dash line. .

The drive mechanism 83 has a motor 100 for moving the slide plate 84. A drive pulley 101 is fixed to the motor 100. Also, the mounting plate 8
A driven pulley 102 is rotatably mounted on the first bin side, and a timing belt 103 is hung between the drive pulley 101 and the driven pulley 102. A part 84a of the lower part of the slide plate 84 is fixed to the timing belt 103. Further, the pin 104 and the bearing 105 are mounted on the upper portion of the slide plate 84,
The pin 104 slidably penetrates the guide groove 80a. A moving bearing 106 is provided on a part of the slide plate 84.
Are fixed, and the bearing 106 is supported by the guide shaft 107 fixed to the mounting plate 80. These guide grooves 80a, the timing belt 103, and the guide shaft 10
7 is inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the bin 25 moved to the discharge / processing opening.

With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 14, the hand mechanism 81 moves the home position, which is the processing position for binding processing, the standby position near the end of the bin 25, and the paper in the bin 25. The grip position can be taken. An open position for returning the paper into the bin 25 is set between the grip position and the standby position, and the hand mechanism 81 releases the grip of the paper at this open position. on the other hand,
In the home position, the push plate 93 fixed to the tip of the arm 90 of the ejecting mechanism 82 is located at the retracted position retracted by the distance L from the home position of the hand mechanism 81,
In the open position, the bin 25 reaches the center of the grip of the hand mechanism 81.
It sticks out to the side.

As shown in FIG. 8, on the front side of the stapling device 58, a paper fixing mechanism 110 for fixing the paper at the time of paper processing is provided. As shown in FIG. 15, the sheet fixing mechanism 110 includes a fixing frame 112 fixed to a front frame 111 of a sorter, an upper hand 113 and a lower hand 114, and both hands 113 and 114.
And a solenoid 115 for driving the. The upper hand 113 and the lower hand 114 each have a gripping portion 113 extending along the sliding direction of the moving table 57.
a and 114a. Also, both hands 113, 1
The pin 14 is rotatably attached to the fixed frame 112 by a pin 116. The lower hand 114 has a pin 116
It has a base 114b extending upward from the above, and is formed in an L shape. Further, a contact portion 114c protruding toward the upper hand 113 side is formed near the pin 116,
It is in contact with the base 113b of the upper hand 113. Also,
The holding portion 113a of the upper hand 113 has a spring 1 for opening.
One end of the spring 17 is locked, and the other end of the spring 117 is locked to the upper portion of the fixed frame 112. This opening spring 1
The upper hand 113 and the lower hand 114 are opened by 17. On the other hand, a plunger of a solenoid 115 is connected to a base 114b of the lower hand 114 via a spring 118. When the plunger of the solenoid 115 is retracted, both hands 113 and 114 are closed.

As shown in FIG. 16, the front frame 111 of the sorter 2 has a take-out port so that the sheets in the bin 25 at the position A (take-out opening) in the figure can be taken out to the front side of the apparatus. 111a is formed. The take-out port 111a can be opened and closed by a shutter member 121 for width adjustment. As is clear from FIGS. 16 and 17, the shutter member 121 extends in the vertical direction,
It is arranged at a position where the end of the fixed-size minimum size sheet can contact. A guide locking portion 121a is formed at a part of a side end portion of the shutter member 121 on the sheet discharge side (bin tip side). Further, a guide locking portion 121b is formed at a substantially central portion in the lateral direction of the shutter member 121, the guide locking portion 121b protruding forward and further being bent toward the sheet introduction side. The front frame 111 has an outlet 1
A vertical notch 111b for sliding that is continuous with 11a is formed. The shutter member 121 is arranged on the inner side of the front frame 111 inside the apparatus, and each locking portion 121.
The a and 121b penetrate the notch 111b and extend to the outside of the device of the front frame 111. The guide members 122a, 122 are provided at the edges of the notch 111b of the front frame 111.
b is fixed. The guide portions 122a and 122b
The locking portions 121a and 121b of the shutter member 121.
Is slidably locked.

A drive mechanism 12 for driving the shutter member 121 is provided outside the front frame 111.
5 are arranged. The drive mechanism 125 has a support frame 126 having a C-shaped cross section.
A motor 127 for driving the shutter member 121 is fixed inside 26. On the other hand, the shutter member 121
A rack 128 is vertically fixed to the outer surface of the. The rack 128 extends into the support frame 126 through the notch 111b of the front frame 111.
A gear train 129 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 127 to the rack 128 is provided in the support frame 126. With such a configuration, the shutter member 121 can take the open position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 16 and the closed position shown by the solid line. In the open position, the paper in the bin 25 corresponding to the take-out port 111a can be taken out toward the front side of the apparatus, and in the closed position, take-out from the take-out port 111a is prohibited.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, a width adjusting device 135 is provided behind the device facing the shutter member 121.
Are arranged. The width aligning device 135 includes the width aligning plate 1.
36 and a moving mechanism 137 for moving the width-shifting plate 136 in the front-rear direction of the apparatus. Width plate 1
As is clear from FIG. 16, 36 are in the total of three bins 25, that is, the bin 25 located at the discharge / treatment opening and the take-out opening and the bin 25 located on the discharge / treatment opening one stage above. It has a vertical width that allows the widths of the sheets to be adjusted. The moving mechanism 137 is, as shown in FIG. 19, a width-shifting frame 1 fixed to a rear frame 138 of the apparatus.
Have 39. The width-shifting frame 139 is inserted through the notch 140 formed in the rear frame 138, and a part of the width-shifting frame 139 enters the inside of the apparatus. A slide bearing 141 is fixed to an upper portion of the frame 139, and a moving motor 142 is fixed to a lower portion thereof. Slide bearing 1
A guide shaft 143 is supported on the guide shaft 41.
A front mounting plate 144 is fixed to one end of 43. The front mounting plate 144 extends in the vertical direction and is locked to the upper and lower pins 145 fixed to the back surface of the width-shifting plate 136. A spring 146 is arranged between the front mounting plate 144 and the width-shifting plate 136 so that the width-shifting plate 136 is elastically pushed. A rear mounting plate 147 is fixed to the rear end of the guide shaft 143, and this rear mounting plate 147 also extends in the vertical direction. A connecting plate 148 is fixed between the front and rear mounting plates 144 and 147 in parallel with the guide shaft 143. A rack 149 having substantially the same length as the connecting plate 148 is fixed to the lower surface of the connecting plate 148. The rack 149 meshes with a pinion gear 150 rotatably attached to the lower portion of the frame 139. A pulley 150a is integrally fixed to the pinion gear 150.
0a is connected to the drive pulley 152 of the motor 142 via the timing belt 151. Also, the connecting plate 14
A detection part 148a is formed in a part of
The home position of the width-shifting plate 136 is detected by the home position detecting photosensor 153 fixed to 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 28 of the sorter 2 has an introducing section 28a, a sorting carrying-in path 28b branched from the introducing section 28a, and a non-sorting carrying-in path 28c. There is. An introduction roller 160 and a branch claw 161 are provided in the introduction portion 28a. The sorting carry-in path 28b includes the introducing section 28a and the sorting bin 2
5, and guides the paper to the discharge / processing opening formed by the spiral cam 33. The non-sorting carry-in path 28c is provided between the non-sorting bin 162 arranged at the upper part of the sorter 2 and the branching part 28a, and guides the paper to the non-sorting bin 162 in the non-sorting mode.

Paper Removing Device FIGS. 20 and 21 show the overall structure of the paper removing device 3. 20 is a front view of the paper take-out device 3 as seen from the front side, and FIG. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram of the paper take-out device 3 as seen from the right side of the device. The range Y portion of FIG. 21 is a diagram of FIG. 20 viewed from the Z direction.

The paper take-out device 3 holds the processed paper in the bin 25 located at the take-out opening and draws the paper into the paper take-out device 3, and the stacker hand mechanism 170 allows the stacker hand mechanism 170 to front the device. Ejection mechanism 171 for ejecting the sheet attracted to
And a stack section 172 for accommodating discharged sheets. Then, the stacker hand mechanism 170,
The ejection mechanism 171 and the stack portion 172 are arranged in the main body frame 169.

As shown in FIG. 22, the stacker hand mechanism 170 includes a moving frame 175, an upper hand 176,
It has a lower hand 177 and a solenoid 178 for driving the respective hands 176, 177. Upper hand 17
6, a substantially central portion of the 6 is rotatably attached to the moving frame 175 by a pin 179. The lower hand 177 has a rear end rotatably attached to the moving frame 175 by a pin 180. Each hand 17
Gripping members 181 and 182 for gripping the end portions of the sheets in the bin 25 are fixed to the tips of the Nos. 6 and 177. One end of a spring 183 is locked to the rear end of the upper hand 176, and the other end of the spring 183 is locked to the moving frame 175. Further, an abutting portion 176a is formed on the rear end side of the pin 179 of the upper hand 176, and the abutting portion 176a abuts a part of the lower hand 177. With such a configuration, the spring force of the spring 183 causes the upper hand 176 and the lower hand 177 to be in the open state shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. An engaging portion 177a is formed on a part of the lower hand 177, and the engaging portion 177a is connected to a plunger of a solenoid 178 via a spring 184. Therefore, as the plunger of the solenoid 178 is retracted, both hands 176 and 177 are moved to the positions shown in FIG.
The closed state is shown by the solid line of 0.

The moving frame 175 can be set at the take-out position (175a) and the retracted position (175b) shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 23 by the moving mechanism 190 shown in FIG. The moving mechanism 190 is arranged on the upper part of the sheet take-out device 3 as shown in FIG. Moving mechanism 190
Has a frame 192 supported by the frame 191 of the take-out device 3. The device is provided in the front-rear direction of the apparatus, one end of which is the frame 191, and the other end is the frame 19.
It has a guide shaft 193 supported by 2. The moving frame 175 has a bearing 194 slidably supported by the guide shaft 193, and is movable along the guide shaft 193 in the front-rear direction of the apparatus. A stepping motor 196 is fixed to the upper surface of the frame 192 through a motor supporting member 195. Further, on the upper surface of the frame 192, a two-stage pulley 197 is provided on the front side of the device.
Is rotatably mounted, and a pulley 198 is rotatably mounted on the rear side. A timing belt 199 is spanned between the pulley below the two-stage pulley 197 and the pulley 198. A drive pulley 200 is fixed to the tip of the motor 196.
The timing belt 201 is stretched between the upper pulley and the two-stage pulley 197. Moving frame 175
On the upper surface of the joint member 202, a joint member 202 is provided so as to project above the frame 192.
Is connected to the timing belt 199. With such a configuration, when the motor 196 rotates, the moving frame 175 moves in the front-rear direction of the device along the guide shaft 193.

The discharge mechanism 171 has a plurality of guide plates 210, 211 and 212 for guiding the paper, as shown in FIGS. 20, 21 and 24. The first guide plate 210 is arranged at almost the same height and at the same inclination as the bin 25 located in the extraction opening.
The paper is ejected on the 0. In addition, the second guide plate 211
Are continuously provided above the first guide plate 210 and on the front side of the first guide plate 210, and the lower end thereof can be opened and closed centering on the support pin 213. As shown in FIG. 24, the second guide plate 211 and the third guide plate 212 are arranged at positions facing each other across the movement path of the stacker hand mechanism 170.

Further, the discharge mechanism 171 has a motor 216 supported by a support frame 215, as shown in FIG. The support frames 215 are arranged on both sides of the moving path of the stacker hand mechanism 170. Further, below the first guide plate 210, there is a rotating shaft 217 arranged substantially parallel to the mounting surface of the first guide plate 210. Pulleys 21 are provided on both ends of the rotating shaft 217 and substantially in the middle thereof.
8a, 218b, 218c are fixed. In addition, the support frame 215 has a driving roller 219a, 219b.
Are rotatably arranged at predetermined intervals. These drive rollers 219a and 219b are connected to pulleys 218c and 218b fixed to the rotary shaft 217 by timing belts 220a and 220b, respectively, and are rotationally driven. Each drive roller 219a, 21
Driven rollers 221a and 221b are in pressure contact with 9b, respectively. The sheet pulled toward the front side by the hand mechanism 170 is sandwiched between the rollers 219a and 219b and the driven rollers 221a and 221b, and the stack section 17 is formed.
You will be guided to the 2nd side. Each driven roller 221a, 221b
21 is rotatably attached to the tip of the swivel arm 222 as shown in FIG. 21, and sandwiches the paper with a predetermined pressing force. In the middle of the discharge path of the discharge mechanism 171, a pair of transmissive optical sensors 223a and 223b (see FIG.
4) is arranged to detect a jam in the discharge section.

Here, as is apparent from FIG. 24, the rotating shaft 217 and the pair of discharging rollers 219 in the discharging mechanism 171.
a, 221a and 219b, 221b, etc. have the same inclination as the inclination of the bin 25, and the left side in the drawing is located above. Therefore, when these roller pairs are rotated at the same speed, the right corner of the paper in FIG. 24 first falls on the stack 172, and this corner is easily damaged. Therefore, the roller pair 219a, 2 located above
21a has a higher discharge speed than the roller pair 219b, 221b on the lower side. That is, the rotation speed is increased. Therefore, the sheet discharged by these roller pairs falls into the stack section 172 at substantially the same time after passing through the postures shown in to as shown in FIG. Therefore, damage to one corner can be avoided.

The stack portion 172 is used by the paper take-out device 3
It can be pulled out from the main unit to the front side of the device. As shown in FIG. 21, the stack portion 172 includes a substantially horizontal horizontal tray 230 and a rotating tray 232 that is rotatably attached to the side wall of the stack portion 172 by a pin 231 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction. is doing. A roller 233 is attached to the free end of the rotating tray 232. On the other hand, the stack unit 1 of the paper take-out device 3
On the side wall of the portion in which 72 is accommodated, a guide member 234 that inclines upward toward the rear from a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction.
Is provided. Then, the roller 2 of the rotating tray 232
The 33 is adapted to move on the guide member 234. Therefore, when the stack unit 172 is housed in the paper take-out device 3 (FIG. 21), the paper is housed in a bent posture in which the rear of the device is inclined upward, and the stack unit 172 is held.
When the tray is pulled out to the front, the rotary tray 232 is in a substantially horizontal posture, which makes it easy to take out the paper.

Control Block The copying machine main body 1 of this copying machine has a copying machine main body control section 250 as shown in FIG. 26, and the automatic document feeder 11 has an RDH control section 251. Further, the sorter 2 is provided with a sorter control unit 252, and the sorter control unit 252 controls the sorter 2 and the sheet take-out device 3. Each control unit 250-2
52 has a microcomputer including a ROM, a RAM and a CPU. The sorter control unit 252 has a configuration shown in FIG.
Various selection keys K1, K2, K3 and K4 provided on the operation panel 253 of the sorter as shown in FIG. . Further, the sorter control unit 252 is connected to the motors and solenoids of the sorter 2 and the sheet take-out device 3, and further the L of the sorter operation panel 253 is connected.
EDs (display units) L1 and L2 are connected to other output units. The sorter control unit 252 is a copy machine main body control unit 25.
0, and the RDH control unit 251 is also connected to the copying machine main body control unit 250. Copier body control unit 250
An operation panel 250a and the like on which various keys such as keys for selecting each mode and ten keys are arranged are connected to the.

The key K1 on the sorter operation panel 253 is a key for raising the bin unit 27, and the key K2 is a key for lowering the bin unit 27. The key K3 is a key for selecting a process (hereinafter, referred to as a multi-process) for performing the process in the processing unit 29 and the take-out process of the sheet take-out device 3 in parallel. The key K4 is the processing unit 29
Is a key for instructing execution of processing in
DL1 and L2 are multi-processing and processing unit 2 respectively
It is for indicating the on or off state of the process in 9.

General Operation In this apparatus, various operation modes can be designated on the copying machine main body 1 side. That is, it is possible to set whether or not the sorting process is performed during the discharging process, whether or not the processed sheets are discharged to the stack unit 172, and whether the stapling process or the punching process is performed by the processing unit 29 of the sorter 2. it can. Further, by selecting the multi-processing, it is possible to execute the processing with the number of copies equal to or larger than the number of bins.

[0056] When the sorting sorting mode is selected, the paper that has been discharged from the copying machine main body 1 is transported to the sorting introduction passage 28b side by the branching claw 161, each bin of the bin unit 27 2
Introduced in 5. Each of the bins 25 of the bin unit 27 sequentially rises or descends as the spiral cam 33 rotates, and sorts the introduced sheets. Bottle 2
At the time of vertical movement of 5, the space between the upper and lower bins 25 becomes large in the discharge / processing opening and the take-out opening below it. At this time, if the trailing edge of the paper is curled upward, it may exceed the standing wall portion 25d of the bin 25. However, when the bin 25 is moved, the stopper 51 is in a fall-prohibited posture, which causes the paper to fall into the bin. It can be prevented from falling from 25.

On the other hand, when the non-sort mode is selected, the sheet is sent to the non-sort carry-in path 28c by the branch claw 161. The sheets conveyed by the non-sort carrying-in passage 28c are sequentially discharged to the non-sort bin 162. When the mode for performing the post-processing stapling processing or punching processing is selected, the processing is performed on the sheets stored in the bin 25.

In this case, after the sorting process is completed, if the lowest bin among the bins containing the paper is located at the ejection / processing opening (if the number of originals is an odd number), it remains as it is. Start post-processing. Further, when the bottom bin is not located at the ejection / processing opening (when the number of originals is an even number), each bin 25 is moved so that the bottom bin is located at the ejection / processing opening.

Next, the stopper 51 is placed in a drop-permitting posture, the processing hand units 60a and 60b are projected, and the hand mechanism 81 grips the edge of the paper in the bin 25. In this state, rotate the spiral cam 33 3/4 rotation,
The bottle 25 located at the discharge / processing opening is lowered by a predetermined amount. In this position, the lowermost portion of the sheet edge portion gripped by the hand mechanism 81 is located above by the standing wall portion 25d of the bin 25. Next, when the hand units 60a and 60b are retracted and returned to the home position, the trailing edge of the sheet moves to the processing position of the stapling device 58. Then, the grip of the sheet is released. The processing hand units 60a and 60b to be used are selected according to the paper size. That is, when the size in the width direction is small, only one hand unit 60a is used, and when it is large, both hand units 60a and 60b are used.

When stapling the front corner of the sheet (single point printing), the stapling device 58 is in this state.
To drive the staple processing. Further, in the case where the binding process is performed on the corner on the rear side of the device (in-depth cutting), the stapling device 58 is moved to the rear of the device by moving the moving table 57, and the stapling process is performed at a predetermined position.
Similarly, when the binding process is performed at two points on the front side and the rear side of the apparatus (two-point hitting), the stapling device 58 is stopped at a predetermined position and the stapling processing is performed. When performing the punching process, the moving table 57 is similarly moved in the front-rear direction and the punching device 59 is driven. When performing these processes, after moving the sheet to the processing position and before releasing the grip of the sheet by the hand mechanism 81,
The sheet fixing device 10 holds and fixes the corner of the front side of the sheet corresponding to the rear side of the front end of the stapling device 58. This ensures that the paper does not shift during processing,
Processing can be performed at the correct position.

When the processing is completed, the sheet is again gripped by the hand mechanism 81, and the processing hand units 60a, 6
0b is projected and the paper is moved above the bin 25. Then, the hands 85 and 86 are opened to release the grip of the paper.
In this state, the arm 90 of the paper ejecting mechanism 82 is projected to push the rear end of the paper. Then, the trailing edge of the paper is the hand 85,
It is removed from 86 and returned to the bin 25.

In this way, after the gripping is released by the hands 85 and 86, the rear end of the sheet is projected by the arm 90, so that the sheet can be reliably returned from the hands 85 and 86 into the bin 25. When these processes are completed, the hand mechanism 81 is once moved to the home position, and then the spiral cam 33 is further rotated 1/4. As a result, the bin 25 containing the processed paper is moved to the take-out opening.

Width Alignment Processing When a sheet is introduced into the bin 25 during the sort processing, the paper width alignment processing is executed. Further, at the time of post-processing, the processing hand units 60a, 60b
Similar paper width adjustment processing is executed before the paper is gripped. In this case, the shutter member 121 is lowered to block the extraction port 111a. Then, the width-shifting plate 136 is moved forward by a predetermined amount according to the paper size. As a result, the sheets in the bin 25 are pushed to the front side and sandwiched between the shutter member 121 and the width-shifting plate 136 so that their widths are aligned.

When the multi -processing mode is selected, in parallel with the above-mentioned post-processing, the take-out processing for taking out the processed paper in the bin 25 to the front side is performed. In this case, the stacker hand mechanism 170 moves to the rear side (bin side) with respect to the bin 25 located at the take-out port 111a,
The front end of the paper in the bin 25 is gripped. When the stacker hand mechanism 170 grips the edge of the sheet, the moving mechanism 190 moves the hand mechanism 170 to the front side. Then, the paper in the bin 25 is taken out from the ejection port 111.
It is pulled to the front side of the apparatus from a along the first guide plate 210 of FIG. At this time, the roller pair of the ejection mechanism 171 is rotating in synchronization with the moving speed of the hand mechanism 170. The hand mechanism 170 moves to the front side, and the discharge mechanism 17
When it comes to the first roller portion, the end portion of the paper is pinched by the roller pair. When this is detected, the rotation of the hand mechanism 170 and the roller pair is once stopped, and the hands 176 and 176 of the hand mechanism 170 are stopped.
177 is opened to release the grip of the paper. Then, by further moving the hand mechanism 170 to the front side, the paper leaves the hands 176 and 177 and remains on the discharge mechanism 171 side. By rotating the roller pair of the discharge mechanism 171 in this state, the sheet is conveyed to the front side of the apparatus and guided downward along the second guide plate 211. Then, the sheet is stored in the stack unit 172.

By executing such multi-processing, even if the number of bins is 20, for example, sorting processing and post-processing can be performed on 20 or more sheets of paper.
A limitless sorter can be realized. Stack part 172
When taking out the paper stored in the
Pull out 2 to the front side of the device. Then, the rotating tray 232
Moves around the fulcrum pin 231 while moving forward along the guide member 234, and rotates clockwise in FIG. Then, when the stack portion 172 is pulled out to the maximum, the rotating tray 232 is in a substantially horizontal posture, and the sheets in the stack portion 172 can be easily taken out.

Here, when the sheet is discharged by the roller pair of the discharging mechanism 171, since the sheet discharging speed of the roller pair located on the upper side in FIG. 25 is increased, the sheet is dropped on the stack portion 172. Then, the falling posture becomes a posture shown in and after FIG. 25, the lower end hits the tray of the stack unit 172 without tilting, and damage to the corners of the sheet is prevented.

When performing maintenance on the stapling device 58 and the like, the cover 260 on the front side of the sorter 2 is opened,
The base table 56 is pulled out from the sorter 2 to the front side.
In this state, the stapling device 58, the punching device 59, and the hand units 60a, 60 on the base table 56.
Since b can be taken out of the sorter 2, maintenance can be easily performed. Control Operation This copier is controlled by the copier body controller 250 and the sorter controller 252 as follows.

When the main switch of the control unit on the main body of the copying machine is pressed, first, in step S1.
In, initial settings such as setting the number of copies to one are made. Next, in step S2, condition input processing such as receiving an input for setting the number of copies is performed,
In step S3, operation mode selection processing is performed, in step S4, copy processing is performed, and in step S5, post-processing is performed. In this example, the stapling process and the multi-process will be described as examples of the post-processes.

Mode Selection Processing The mode selection processing in step S3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Shown in. In this mode selection process, first, step S10.
At, it is determined whether the mode confirmation flag f2 is on or off. Here, the mode confirmation flag f2 indicates that the operation mode is confirmed (for example, during copy processing).
Is on and off if not determined. In the initial state, the mode confirmation flag f2 is off, so the process moves from step S10 to step S11. Since the flag f2 is on when the copy process is being performed, the mode selection process is exited in this case. In step S11,
It is determined whether or not the key for selecting the sort mode has been pressed. Further, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the ejection mode is selected, and in step S13, it is determined whether or not the staple mode is selected. Here, the discharge mode is
This is a processing mode in which the sheets in the bin 25 are taken out from the stack section 172 of the sheet taking-out device 3, and in this case, both stapling and discharging are performed in parallel (multi-processing). This multi-processing is performed by the operation panel 253 on the sorter side.
It is selected by the key K3 provided on the.

When the key for selecting the sort mode is pressed, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the sort mode has already been set. If the sort mode has already been set, the process proceeds to step S15 and the operation mode is set to the non-sort mode. If the sort mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S16 and the sort mode is set. In this way, by pressing the key for selecting the sort mode, the sort mode can be selected or the set sort mode can be canceled.

When the key (multi-key K3) for selecting the discharge mode is pressed, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S17. In step S17, it is determined whether the discharge mode has already been selected. If it has been selected, the process proceeds to step S18 and the non-ejection mode is set. If the discharge mode is not selected, the process proceeds from step S17 to step S19. In step S19, it is determined whether the staple mode is selected. If the staple mode is not selected and the discharge mode is selected, the sheets are discharged without the stapling process, and the sheets are scattered in the stack unit 172. For this reason,
When the discharge mode is set and the staple mode is not set, steps S19 to S19 are performed.
After shifting to 20, the ejection mode is set and the staple mode is forcibly set. If the staple mode has already been set, step S19
To S21, the discharge mode is set.

Next, when the key for selecting the staple mode is pressed, the steps S13 to S13 are performed.
Move to 22. In step S22, it is determined whether the staple mode has already been set. If not set, the process proceeds to step S23 to set the staple mode. If the staple mode has already been set, the process proceeds from step S22 to step S24 to cancel it. In step S24, the non-staple mode is set. Next, in step S25, it is determined whether the discharge mode is selected. If the discharge mode is set, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, an error message is displayed. That is, when the non-staple mode and the discharge mode are selected, the sheets are scattered in the stack unit 172 as described above. For this reason, an error message is displayed on the display to call attention to the operator. When this error message is displayed, a signal for setting the discharge mode is not sent to the control unit 252 on the sorter side, and the discharge process is prohibited. If the discharge mode is not set, the process directly returns from step S25 to the main routine.

Copy Processing Next, the copy processing of step S4 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S30, it is determined whether the copy acceptance permission flag f3 is on or off. When the copy acceptance permission flag f3 is on, the acceptance of the copy is permitted. In this case, steps S30 to S3
Move to 1. If it is off, copy processing is prohibited and this processing routine is exited. In step S31, it is determined whether the copy processing flag f4 is on or off. The copy processing flag f4 is ON, indicating that processing is in progress. If it is off, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, it is determined whether the copy button has been pressed. If not pressed, the process returns to the main routine.
If the copy button is pressed to start the copy process, the process proceeds to step S33. Step S3
In 3, the mode confirmation flag f2 and the copy processing flag f4 are turned on and the process returns to the main routine.

If the copy processing flag f4 is on, the process proceeds from step S31 to step S34. In step S34, it is determined whether the copy count setting flag f5 is on. Here, the number-of-copies setting flag f5 is set according to the number of copies (the number of copies) set by the operator and the number of bins 25. To execute. If the number-of-copies setting flag f5 is already on, the process proceeds to step S36. In this step S36, normal copy processing is executed. That is, the image information of the original is read, the paper size is determined, the paper corresponding to the determination result is fed from the paper feed cassette, the image forming operation is performed, and the paper is carried out to the sorter side.

Next, in step S37, it is determined whether the copy processing end flag f6 is on or off. When the processing including the sort processing by the sorter 2 is completed, the flag f6 is turned on. If the number of copies preset by the operator is equal to or larger than the number of bins, the flag f6 is turned on when the processing for the number of bins is completed. If it has not been completed, the process returns to the main routine and repeats the copy process and the like. If the flag f6 is on, the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, it is determined whether the post-processing mode is selected. If it is selected, the stapling process shift permission flag f7 is turned on, the copy acceptance permission flag f3 is turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. The stapling process shift permission flag f7 is ON and is “permitted”. On the other hand, if the post-processing is not selected, the process proceeds to step S40. Step S40
Then, the copy acceptance permission flag f3 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S41 in FIG.

In step S41, it is determined whether or not there is a sheet on the bin 25. When there is a sheet on the bin, the process proceeds to step S42, the mode confirmation flag f2 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the key for selecting the post-process is pressed during the copy process or after the copy process and the sort process are completed. This key is prepared on the operation panel 250a of the copying machine main body 1 so that it can be selected later even if the post-processing has not been selected before the start of copying. When post-processing is selected after the start of copying, the process proceeds from step S43 to step S44. Step S44
Then, it is determined whether or not the post-processing execution switch K4 on the operation panel 253 on the sorter 2 side has been pressed. Waiting for this switch to be pressed, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, the mode confirmation flag f2 is turned on, the post-processing shift permission flag f7 is turned on, and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, when there is no paper on the bin 25, the process proceeds from step S41 to step S46. In step S46, it is determined whether or not the variable Y indicating the remaining number of copies is "0". The remaining number of copies Y is a value obtained by subtracting the number of bins from the preset number of copies (B) set by the operator, and is set to "0" when the number of bins is less than or equal to the number of bins. If the number of remaining copies Y is "0", the process proceeds to step S47.
In step S47, the mode determination flag f2, the copy processing flag f4, the copy number determination flag f5, and the copy processing end flag f6 are turned off, and the process returns to the main routine. If the number of remaining copies Y is not "0", the process proceeds from step S46 to step S48. Step S48
Then, the copy number confirmation flag f5 and the copy processing flag f6 are turned off, the copy acceptance permission flag f3 is turned on, and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, the number setting process of step S35 will be described. As shown in FIG. 33, in the number-of-sheets setting process, first, in step S50, it is determined whether or not the sort mode is selected. If the sort mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S51. Step S
In 51, the preset number B is set as the remaining number Y, and the preset number B is set as the processing number A.
Further, the copy number setting flag f5 is turned on and the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, if the sort mode is selected, the process proceeds from step S50 to step S58. In step S58, it is determined whether or not it is the first number setting process. In the case of the first processing, the process proceeds to step S52. In step S52, the preset copy number B is set as the remaining copy number Y, and the process proceeds to step S53. In the case of the second and subsequent processes, step S52 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S53. Step S53
Then, it is determined whether the remaining number of copies Y is equal to or less than the number of bins (in this example, "20"). If the number of remaining copies B exceeds the number of bins, NO is determined in step S53,
Control goes to step S54. In step S54, the number of copies A is set to "20", the remaining number of copies Y is set to "Y-20", and the process proceeds to step S56. In step S56, the copy number setting flag f5 is turned on and the process returns to the main routine.

If the number of remaining copies Y is less than or equal to the number of bins, the process proceeds from step S53 to step S57. In step S57, the number of remaining copies Y is set as the number of copies A to be processed,
The remaining number of copies Y is set to "0", the number of copies setting flag f5 is turned on, and the process returns to the main routine. By such processing, the preset number of copies initially set is, for example, “3”.
In the case of "0", the number of processed copies A is divided into "20" and "10". Further, for example, in the case of "50", the number of processed copies A is divided into "20", "20", and "10".

Post- Processing on Copying Machine Main Body Next, the post-processing control on the copying machine main body side will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, first, in step S60, it is determined whether the post-process shift permission flag f7 is on or off. If it is off, the process directly returns to the main routine. If the flag f7 is on, step S
Move to 61. In step S61, it is determined whether the post-processing end flag f8 is on or off. The post-processing end flag f8 is turned on when the processing for the number of processed copies A in FIG. 33 is completed. For example, when only the sorting process is completed, the process proceeds from step S61 to step S62. In step S62, it is determined whether the remaining number of copies Y is "0". If Y is not "0", the process proceeds to step S63, multi processing is designated, and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the number of remaining copies Y is less than or equal to the number of bins, Y is set to "0" in step S57 of FIG. 33, and in this case, the process proceeds to step S64. In step S64, it is determined whether multi-processing is designated. If multi-processing is specified, step S6
If the multi-process is not designated, the process goes to step S65 to return to the main routine as no multi-process.

When the post-processing for the number of processed copies A is completed, the post-processing end flag f8 is turned on as shown in, for example, step P46 of FIG.
The procedure moves from 61 to step S66. In step S66, it is determined whether the remaining number of copies Y is "0".
If it is "0", the process proceeds to step S67, and the post-processing end flag f8, the post-processing transfer permission flag f7, the copy processing end flag f6, the copy number setting flag f5, the copy processing flag f4, and the mode confirmation flag f2 are respectively set. Turn off and return to the main routine. If the number of remaining copies Y is not "0", the process proceeds to step S68, the post-processing end flag f8, the post-processing transfer permission flag f7, the copy processing end flag f6, and the copy number setting flag f5 are turned off, and the copy acceptance permission flag is set. Turn on f3 and return to the main routine.

Sorter-side control On the sorter side, the sorter control unit 252 executes the control shown in FIG. First, in step P1, initial setting is performed. In this initial setting, processing such as returning each part to the initial position and turning off the solenoid is executed.
Next, in step P2, it is determined whether or not there is a condition input such as an operation mode or flag data from the copying machine main body control unit 250. In step P3, the copying machine main body control unit 25
It is determined whether or not the condition sent from No. 2 is the non-sort mode, it is determined in step P4 whether it is the sort mode, and in step P5 it is determined whether it is the post-processing mode. In step P6, it is determined whether or not the post-processing execution key K4 is pressed on the operation panel 253 on the sorter 2 side. In step P7, it is determined whether or not the bin unit raising key K1 is pressed. Then, it is judged whether or not the key K2 for lowering the bin unit is pressed, and further, in step P9, the key K for multi-processing is set.
It is determined whether or not 3 is pressed.

When various conditions such as the operation mode and the flag data are changed and the condition is input from the copying machine main body control section 252, the process proceeds from step P2 to step P10 to set the operation mode according to the condition. Set. When the non-sort mode is set by the conditional processing of step P10, the process shifts from step P3 to step P11. In step 11, the branch claw 161 is switched to guide the sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 1 to the non-sort carry-in path 28c side, and the sheet is discharged to the non-sort bin 162.

In the case of the sort mode, the process shifts from step P4 to step P12 to execute the sort process. In the case of the post-processing mode, the process proceeds from step P5 to P13 to execute the post-processing. Further, when the post-processing execution key K4 is pressed from the operation panel 253 of the sorter 2, the process proceeds from step P6 to step P14. In Step P14, stapling processing is executed. Therefore, the operator can manually feed the sheet into the bin 25 and perform the stapling process on the sheet. When the bin unit raising key K1 is pressed, the process proceeds from step P7 to step P15, and the bin unit 27 is raised by one bin. Conversely, when the bin lowering key K2 is pressed, the process moves from step P8 to step P16 to lower the bin unit 27 by one bin. If the multi-processing key K3 is pressed, the process proceeds from step P9 to step P17. In Step P17, the multi-processing mode is reversed. That is, when the multi-processing mode is set and the multi-processing key K3 is pressed, the multi-processing mode is set, and conversely, when the multi-processing mode is not set, the multi-processing key K3 is set. If is pressed, the multi-processing mode is set. Based on this mode set state, the mode selection process of steps S12 and S17 to S21 described above is executed.

Sort Process When the sort mode is selected, the sort process shown in FIG. 37 is executed. In this case, first, step P2
When 0, sort conveyance processing is performed. That is, the branch claw 161 is switched to sort the sheets from the copying machine main body 1 into the carry-in passage 2 for sorting.
8b side to drive the motor 39 to drive the bin unit 2
While sequentially moving each bin 25 of No. 7 up and down, the paper is ejected to the bin 25 located at the ejection / processing opening.

Next, in Step P21, the width aligning plate 136
Move to the front side to start the width adjustment operation. Next, in step P22, it is determined whether or not the sheet introduced into the sorter 2 is the final sheet. If it is not the final sheet, the process proceeds to step P23. In Step P23, it is determined whether or not the moving direction of the bin needs to be changed.
When all the bins are moving upward or downward from the discharge / processing opening, it is necessary to change the moving direction. In this case, the process moves from step P23 to step P24 to change the moving direction of the bin unit 27. If there is no need to change, the process moves from step P23 to step P25 to move one bin in the same direction.
In this way, when the sheets are sorted into the bins 25 and become the final sheets, the steps P22 to P26 are performed.
Move to. In Step P26, the introduction section 2 of the sorter 2
The drive of 8a is stopped.

When the width adjusting operation in step P21 is started, the processing shown in FIG. 38 is executed. In this width adjusting process, the motor 142 is driven in Step P27, and the pulleys 152 and 150a and the timing belt 1 are driven.
Rotate the pinion 150 via the 51 and the rack 149
The width-shifting plate 136 is projected via the. After projecting by a predetermined distance, the width-shifting plate 136 is retracted by the operation reverse to the above in step P28. Here, the width-shifting plate 13
The protrusion amount of 6 is controlled by the paper size. By such a width adjusting process, the sheets in the bin 25 are aligned on the front side of the apparatus.

Post -Processing When the post- processing mode is selected, the processes of FIG. 39 and thereafter are executed. First, in step P30, it is determined whether or not the bin unit 27 is located above the discharge / processing opening. If the bin unit 27 is not located above the discharging / processing opening at the time when the sorting process is completed, the process proceeds to step P31 and (A-1) (A: the number of processing units, for example, the number of bins is 20). 19 for individual
Bin 25 of the individual). If it is located above, the process proceeds from step P30 to step P32. In Step P32, the number of processing copies A (see FIG. 33) is set as a variable X indicating which bin is to be processed. Next, in Step P33, it is determined whether or not multi-processing is designated. If the multi-processing is not designated, the process proceeds to step P35.

In Step P35, the stapling process described later is executed. Next, in step P36, the bin 25 is lowered by one bin, and in step P37, the variable X is set to "1".
The subtraction is performed, and the process proceeds to step P38. In Step P38, it is determined whether or not the variable X has become "0". If it is not "0", the process proceeds to step P35 and step P35.
~ The process of step P38 is repeatedly executed. When the stapling process is completed for all the bins containing the sheets, YES is determined in step P38, the flag f8 is turned on in step P39, and the process returns to the main routine.

If YES in step P33, the process moves to step P40. In Step P40, it is determined whether or not the variable X is "0". In the cases other than the final bin, it is determined as NO in Step P40 and the process proceeds to Step S41. In Step P41, it is determined whether the variable X is A or not. That is, it is determined whether the bin to be processed is the first bin. If it is the first bin, the process proceeds to step P42, and the process 1 described later is executed. For the second and subsequent bins, step P4
The process moves from 1 to step P43 to execute a process 2 described later. If the final bin is reached, proceed to step P40 for YE
If S is determined, the process proceeds to step P44. Step P
In step 44, the processing 3 described later is executed, and in step P45, 1
The bin is raised, and the flag f8 is turned on in step P46 to return to the main routine. The process in Step P45 is
This is because when the paper is ejected from the copying machine body 1, the paper is received at the ejection / processing opening.

By such post-processing, when the preset number B is 25 and the number of bins is 20, for example, the number of processed copies "20" is first set as the variable X. This "2
When the post-processing for "0" part is completed, the condition is "A = 5".
When the multi-processing is designated, the remaining number of processing “5” is set as the variable X, and the same post-processing is executed.

In process 1, the process shown in FIG. 41 is executed. In this process, the width adjustment process of step 50 and the hand protrusion process of step P51 are executed in parallel. The width adjusting process in step P50 is the same as the process shown in steps P21 and P27. Further, in the hand projecting process of step P51, the solenoid 52 is turned on to bring the stopper 51 into the drop allowable posture as shown in FIG. Next, the motor 100 is driven to circulate the timing belt 103, and the slide plate 84 is projected to the bin 25 side. As a result, the tip of the processing hand mechanism 81 moves into the notch 25c of the bottle 25. Here, the paper size is detected during the above-mentioned copy processing,
Hand unit 60 to be used according to this paper size
a and 60b are selected.

Next, in Step P52, the hand mechanism 81
Turn on the solenoid 87 to move the paper edge to the hand 85, 8
Hold by 6. Next, the spiral cam 33 is rotationally controlled to lower the bin 25 by 3/4. By lowering the bin 25 by 3/4, the end portions of the sheets gripped by the hands 85 and 86 are moved to the vertical wall portion 25d of the bin 25.
It is a position where you can get over.

Next, the processes of step P54, step P55 and step P56 and subsequent steps are executed in parallel. In Step P54, the motor 127 is driven to drive the rack 12
The shutter member 121 is lifted via 8. Further, in step P55, the width aligning plate 136 is retracted. Next, in Step P56, the motor 100 is rotated in the opposite direction to the above, and the processing hand mechanism 81 is retracted to return to the home position. As a result, the paper is taken out to the stapling position. Next, in Step P57, the stapling process described later is executed. When the stapling process ends, step P
Moving to 58, the processing hand mechanism 81 is projected. As a result, the stapled paper is moved above the bin 25. Next, in Step P59, the solenoid 8
7 is turned off to open the hands 85 and 86 to release the grip of the paper. Then, in Step P60, the solenoid 91
Is turned on and the arm 90 is projected. As a result, the trailing edge of the sheet is pushed, and is reliably separated from the hands 85 and 86 and accommodated in the bin 25. After that, in step P61, the hand mechanism 81 is returned to the home position, and in step S62, the bin 25 is lowered by ¼ and the bin 25 containing the stapled paper is moved to the front take-out position facing the take-out port 111a. In step P63, the variable X is decremented by "1" and the process returns to step P33 in FIG.

For the second and subsequent bins, step P40 and step P41 of FIG.
42, and process 2 as shown in FIG. 42 is executed. In this process 2, the width adjustment start process in step P70, the process for stapling in step P71 and subsequent steps, and the process for taking out the stapled paper from the step P72 to the front side of the apparatus are executed in parallel. It The processing in steps P71 and P73 is the same as the processing in steps P51 and P52 described above. In Step P74, it is determined whether or not the sheet has been pulled forward 30 mm by the stacker hand mechanism 170, which will be described later. It waits until it is pulled out and moves to Step P75. Here, waiting for the stacker hand mechanism 170 to pull out 30 mm in step P74 is because the stacker hand mechanism 170 cannot hold a sheet if the bin for the stapling process is executed before the start of the forward take-out process. Because. Step P76
Width-shift save processing in step P77 to step P8
The processing in 3 is exactly the same as the processing in steps P55 and P56 to P61 in the above-described processing 1.

While performing the stapling process as described above, the take-out process to the front side of the apparatus is executed in parallel. That is, first, in step P72, the stacker hand mechanism 1
70 is projected to the rear (bin 25 side). Then, in Step P85, the solenoid 178 is turned on, and the hands 176 and 177 grip the front side of the sheet. Next, in Step P86, the motor 196 of the moving mechanism 190 is driven, and the stacker hand mechanism 170 is pulled out to the front side of the apparatus via the timing belt 199. At the same time as this step P86DH, the roller pair of the discharging mechanism 171 is rotated in synchronization with the moving speed of the stacker hand mechanism 170. By moving the stacker hand mechanism 170, the stapled paper in the bin 25 is taken into the paper take-out device 3. Next, in Step P87, it is determined whether or not the stacker hand mechanism 170 has reached the sheet grip release position. At this position, the front end of the sheet is sandwiched by the roller pair of the ejection mechanism 171. After waiting for the stacker hand mechanism 170 to reach the grip release position, the process proceeds to step P88. In Step P88, the drawer of the stacker hand mechanism 170 and the rotation of the roller pair are temporarily stopped, and the solenoid 178 is turned off to release the grip of the sheet. Next, in Step P89,
The stacker hand mechanism 170 is further retracted to the front side. Next, in Step P90, the stacker hand mechanism 17
It is determined whether 0 has retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the sheet discharged by the roller pair. Stacker hand mechanism 1
After waiting for 70 to be withdrawn, the routine goes to Step P91, and the roller pair is turned on. As a result, the sheet is conveyed to the front side, is guided downward along the second guide plate 211, and is accommodated in the stack portion 172.

As described above, since the roller pair is temporarily stopped during the drawing of the paper to separate the paper from the stacker hand mechanism 170, the paper is surely discharged from the stacker hand mechanism 170 without using a special member. It can be delivered to the mechanism 171 side. Next, in Step P92, it is determined whether or not the paper has passed through the ejection mechanism 171 and dropped into the stack unit 172. After waiting for the paper to pass, the process proceeds to step P93. In Step P93, it is determined whether or not the bin 25 has been lowered by ¼, and the process shifts to Step P94 after the bin 25 is lowered. Step P9
In step 4, the stacker hand mechanism 170 is again projected to the sorter 2 side to prepare for taking out the next bin of paper.

When the stapling process and the paper discharging process are completed, the variable X is set to "1" in step P95.
Subtract. For the last bin, process 3 in FIG. 43 is executed. In this process 3, since the stacker hand mechanism 170 has already protruded to the bin 25 side by the process 2, the paper gripping process in step P100 is started. The processing in steps P100 to P107 is exactly the same as the processing in steps P85 to P92 in processing 2 described above. After waiting for the sheet to pass in step P107, the process proceeds to step P108. In Step P108, the rotation of the roller pair of the ejection mechanism 171 is stopped. Next, in Step P109, the shutter member 121 is lowered to close the take-out port 111a. When these processes are completed, the process returns to the main routine.

Next, the control operation of the stapling process will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In Step P110, it is determined whether or not the stapling process is performed by one-point printing. The one-point printing is a process of performing a stapling process on a front edge portion of a sheet in a state where the standard position of the sheet, that is, the stapling device 58 is located at the home position. In step P111, it is determined whether or not the stapling process is performed at two points, that is, at two points in the paper width direction. When performing the stapling process for only one reference position, the process proceeds from step P110 to step P112. In Step P112, the driving unit 72 of the stapling device 58
Is driven to lower the lower jaw portion 71 to perform the stapling process. If two-point hitting is instructed, the process shifts from step P111 to step 113. Step P1
At 13, the sheet fixing device 110 grips the front end of the sheet. Next, in Step P114, the stapling device 58 is moved to one of the two-point positions corresponding to the paper size. Then, in Step P115, the stapling device 58 is driven to execute the stapling process. Next, in step SP116, the stapling device 58 is moved to another stapling position. Then, in Step P117, the same stapling process as described above is executed. When the stapling process is completed, in step P118, the stapling device 58 is moved to the home position and the stapling process is completed.

On the other hand, when performing so-called deep punching, that is, stapling processing on the corner portion on the trailing edge side opposite to the one-point punching to the reference position, steps P110 and P111.
In either case, the determination is NO and the step P119 is performed.
Move to. In Step P119, the above-mentioned Step P
Similar to 113, the paper fixing device 110 grips the front end of the paper. Then, in step P120, the stapling device 58 is moved to the corner of the paper on the back side of the device. Then, in Step P121, the same stapling process as described above is executed. Then, in step P122, the stapling device 5
8 is moved to the home position and the stapling process is completed.

[0102]

As described above, in the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the post-processing means and the take-out means, the post-processing is forcibly executed when only the take-out processing is selected. It is possible to prevent the sheets from being ejected in pieces without performing any processing.

Further, in another invention, when only the take-out process is selected, the take-out process is prohibited or the selection abnormality is notified, and similarly, the sheets are ejected in a disjointed state. Is prevented. Further, in another invention, since the selection of the post-process and the take-out process is accepted after the start of the image forming operation, the post-process and the take-out process can be performed even if the operator forgets to specify the process.

In still another invention, when the number of processing copies is set to be equal to or larger than the number of paper receivers, it is detected that post-processed papers are stored in all the paper receivers, and these papers are forcibly taken out. Since post-processing is continued, limitless processing can be performed with a simple operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bottle provided in a sorter of the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic configuration diagram of a sorter.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a drive unit of the bin unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rotation detection plate and a sensor for controlling the movement of the bottle.

7 is a sectional front view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a processing unit.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the paper drop prevention mechanism.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the paper drop prevention mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a drive unit of the processing unit.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the stapling apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a processing hand unit.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view of the processing hand unit.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the sheet fixing device.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a shutter member and its drive unit.

FIG. 17 is a sectional plan view of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the width adjusting device.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the width adjusting device.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional front view of the paper ejection device.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of the paper ejection device.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the stacker hand mechanism.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a moving mechanism of the stacker hand mechanism.

FIG. 24 is a front view of the discharge mechanism.

FIG. 25 is an operation explanatory view of the discharge mechanism.

FIG. 26 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of the operation panel of the sorter.

FIG. 28 is a main control flowchart of the copying machine main body.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of mode selection processing.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of mode selection processing.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of copy processing.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of copy processing.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a number of sheets setting process.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of post-processing.

FIG. 35 is a main control flowchart of the sorter.

FIG. 36 is a main control flowchart of the sorter.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of sort processing.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart of width adjustment processing.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of post-processing.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart of post-processing.

41 is a flowchart of the process 1 of FIG. 39.

42 is a flowchart of the process 2 in FIG. 39. FIG.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of processing 3 in FIG. 39.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart of stapling processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copying Machine Main Body 2 Sorter 3 Paper Extracting Device 25 Bin 58 Staple Device 59 Punching Device 250 Copying Machine Main Body Control Unit 250a Operation Panel 252 Sorter Control Unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Keiji Okumura, 1-2-2, Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Jun Miyoshi, 1-2-2, Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Within Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet receiver for storing the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body, and a predetermined post-processing for the sheet stored in the sheet receiver. A post-processing unit for performing the post-processing, a take-out unit for taking out the paper post-processed by the post-processing unit from the paper receiver, a selection unit for selecting execution of the post-process and the take-out process, and a take-out process only by the selection unit. When is selected, processing control means for forcibly executing the post-processing,
An image forming apparatus including. 2. An image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet receiver for storing the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body, and a predetermined post-processing for the sheet stored in the sheet receiver. A post-processing unit for performing the post-processing, a take-out unit for taking out the paper post-processed by the post-processing unit from the paper receiver, a selection unit for selecting execution of the post-process and the take-out process, and a take-out process only by the selection unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing control unit that prohibits the take-out processing when is selected. 3. An image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet receiver for storing the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body, and a predetermined post-processing for the sheet stored in the sheet receiver. A post-processing unit for performing the post-processing, a take-out unit for taking out the paper post-processed by the post-processing unit from the paper receiver, a selection unit for selecting execution of the post-process and the take-out process, and a take-out process only by the selection unit. An image forming apparatus including: a selection abnormality notifying unit that notifies selection abnormality when is selected. 4. An image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet receiver for storing the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body, and a predetermined post-processing for the sheet accommodated in the sheet receiver. A post-processing unit for performing a post-processing, a take-out unit for taking out the paper post-processed by the post-processing unit from the paper receiver, a selection unit for selecting execution of the post-process and the take-out process, and an image of the image forming apparatus main body An image including start instruction means for instructing the start of the forming operation, and post-selection acceptance means for accepting the selection of execution of the post-processing and the take-out processing after the start instruction means instructs the start of the image forming operation Forming equipment. 5. An image forming apparatus main body for forming an image on a sheet, a copy number setting unit for setting the number of copies of the image forming sheet, and a plurality of sheets for accommodating the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body. Receiver, post-processing means for performing predetermined post-processing on the paper stored in the paper receiver, take-out means for taking out the paper post-processed by the post-processing means from the paper receiver, post-processing and take-out processing If only the post-processing is selected by the selecting means and the number of processing copies set by the copy number setting means is larger than the number of paper receivers, An image forming apparatus including a processing control unit that detects that all post-processed sheets are accommodated and forcibly executes the take-out process for these post-processed sheets. .