JPH0655875A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically dispose of a predetermined number of sheets of transfer paper after image formation processing by only presetting the number of manuscripts such that when the number of times of image formation processing is completed corresponding to the preset number of manuscripts, a stapler is driven to automatically perform stapling processing of a predeter mined number of forms sheaf by sheaf. CONSTITUTION:A stapler 10 is provided in a sorter control 2 to perform stapling processing of transfer paper, on which pictures on manuscripts have been formed. A storage unit 16 stores the number of manuscripts set by a setting unit 13. In addition, when the number of times of image formation processing in accordance with the respective manuscripts corresponds to a value stored in the storage unit 1, a control unit 1 drives a stapler 10 for stapling processing of transfer paper which have been subjected to image formation processing. As a result, only presetting of the number of manuscripts permits a predetermined number of sheets of transfer paper after image formation processing to be automatically subjected to stapling processing sheaf by sheaf without the use of any automatic manuscript feeding device like a conventional apparatus.

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 such as a copying machine, and more specifically, a sorter is provided with a stapler, and a transfer sheet after an image of an original is formed can be stapled. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus of this type includes a sorter having a stapling function and an automatic document feeder.
Corresponding to the documents automatically fed by the automatic document feeder, the stapling process can be performed only on each bundle of the transfer sheets, which are subjected to the image forming process and sorted into the sorter by an appropriate number of copies. . Therefore, in such a conventional apparatus, when a predetermined number of originals (for example, originals stapled and bundled) are processed without using the automatic document feeder, the transfer paper after the image forming processing is processed according to the number of copies. Although the sorters can be sorted, there is an inconvenience that the operator must manually operate the stapler to perform staple processing. Therefore, the present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and as described above, even when image formation processing is performed for a predetermined number of originals without using the automatic document feeder, the transfer after the processing is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a function capable of automatically and appropriately stapling paper according to the required number of copies.

[0003]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the main means adopted by the present invention is, as the gist of the invention, a sorter provided with a stapler and a transfer paper after an image of an original is formed. In an image forming apparatus capable of performing a stapling process, a setting unit for setting the number of originals, a storage unit for storing the number of originals set by the setting unit, and the number of image forming processes corresponding to each original are The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that drives the stapler to perform stapling processing on the transfer sheet after image formation when the value corresponding to the value stored in the storage unit is reached. .

[0004]

In the image forming apparatus having the above structure, the predetermined number of originals is set in advance (when the required number of copies of the transfer paper after the image forming process is two or more, the required number of copies is set at the same time as in the conventional case). Then, when the number of image forming processes corresponding to each document becomes equal to this set value, the stack of transfer sheets after the image forming process is automatically stapled.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings for the understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments are examples of embodying the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation section of the image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of main parts in the image forming apparatus. For example, a copying machine according to this embodiment has a main body control unit for controlling a main body of a copying machine (not shown), a sorter control unit for controlling a sorter connected to the main body of the copying machine, and an operation for operating the copying machine. It is configured to include the unit 3 and the like. And
The main body control unit 1 is connected to the sorter control unit 2, the operation unit 3, the image forming unit 4, the sheet conveying unit 5, the sheet feeding unit 6, the mode storage unit 7, and the like. Further, the sorter control unit 2 is connected with a bin unit lifting motor 8, a paper transport motor 9, a stapler 10, a transport path changing unit 11, a position detection sensor 12 for detecting the home position of the bin unit, and the like. There is. The operation section 3 includes an input section 13 for inputting a preset number and the number of originals, a print button 14, a mode selecting section 15 for selecting an operation mode of a sorter or a stapler, a number storage section 16 for storing the preset number and the number of originals, and a copy. It has a counter 17 for counting the number of copies and the number of originals. In the above copying machine, the number of originals is simply set in advance, and a predetermined number of sheets (preset number) of sheets after copying are automatically stapled for each bundle.

Subsequently, the processing procedure in this case is shown in FIG.
~ It demonstrates based on FIG. In addition, S1, S2, ...
.. indicates each processing step. First, in S1, the non-sort mode is stored in the mode storage unit 7, and
The set number of documents, the preset number of copies, and the document counter 17a are reset, respectively, and the apparatus is initialized. Subsequently, in S2, the copy counter 17b is also reset. Then, in S3, when the copy number is input from the input unit 13, this input number is stored in the number storage unit 16 as the preset number (S4). afterwards,
In S5, it is determined whether or not the bin unit is in the home position, and if not, the bin unit is moved to the home position (S6). Further, the presence / absence of the paper on the bin is determined, and under the condition that the paper on the bin is removed (S7, S8), the printer waits until the print button 14 is operated in S9. When the number of originals is input from the input unit 13 in S10 during this standby, this input number of originals is stored as the number of originals set in the number storage unit 16 (S11), and staple processing is performed while using the sorter. The staple sort mode is stored in the mode storage unit 7 (S12). Incidentally, the above S1
If the number of originals is not input at 0, processing corresponding to either the mode using the sorter or the mode not using the sorter is performed under the premise that the stapling process is not performed (S13, S14, S15, S1
6). When the number of copies and the number of originals are set as described above and the print button 14 is operated in S9, the process shifts to the staple sort mode. Incidentally, if the number of copies has not been input in the previous period S3, that is, if only a part of the copy is to be made, 1 is set as the number of preset copies (S17, S18), and if it is not the sort mode or staple sort mode ( S1
9), the conventionally known non-sort mode processing is executed (S20 to S23).

Continuing from the above procedure, in the staple sort mode, first, in step S24, the pawl for changing the path for conveying the sheet to the sorter is switched to the sort side so that the sheet can be stored in the bin. After determining whether or not the unit is at the home position, a process for determining the moving direction of the bin unit is performed (when the bin unit is at the home position, the bin unit is located below When the bin unit is not at the home position, the bin unit is located at the upper position and is lowered for accommodating sheets) (S25, S26, S27). In the subsequent copy process (S28), 1 is added to the copy number counter 17b for each copy process (S29), and the value of the copy number counter 17b becomes equal to the preset number stored in the number storage unit 16. Until (S30), the bin unit is moved (S31) and continues. After the copy processing corresponding to one original is completed, it is confirmed in S32 that the staple sort mode is stored, then 1 is added to the original counter 17a (S33), and the value of the original counter 17a is changed. The step is repeatedly returned to S2 until it is determined that the number of originals set in the number storage section 16 is equal to the set number (S34).
That is, this series of processes is repeatedly executed until the copy process for all the documents is completed. When it is determined that the copy processing for all the originals has been completed as described above (S34), the staple processing is performed by the number corresponding to the number of copies (S35, S36). In this way, after all the processing is completed and it is determined that the paper on each bin is removed (S37), the processing returns to the initial state. Since the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, it is possible to automatically perform the stapling process for each bundle of a predetermined number of copies after the copying process by simply setting the number of originals in advance. it can.

[0008]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of originals is set in the image forming apparatus which has the stapler in the sorter and can staple the transfer paper after the image of the original is formed. Setting means, storage means for storing the number of originals set by the setting means, and when the number of image forming processes corresponding to each original reaches a value corresponding to the value stored in the storage means, Since the image forming apparatus is characterized by including a control means for driving the stapler to perform stapling processing on the transfer paper after the image formation, as in the case of the conventional apparatus, for example, an automatic document feeder is used. Even if it is not necessary, by simply setting the number of originals in advance, a predetermined number of copies of the transfer paper after the image forming processing can be automatically stapled for each bundle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a main part of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of main parts in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of main parts in the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body control part 2 ... Sorter control part 3 ... Operation part 10 ... Stapler 13 ... Input part 16 ... Number storage part 17 ... Counter 17a ... Original counter 17b ... Copy number counter S1-S37 ... Processing step

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location B65H 37/04 D 9037-3F G03G 15/00 113 7369-2H 114 7369-2H (72) Inventor Keiji Okumura Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. 1-22-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka (72) Inventor Jun Miyoshi 1-2-2 28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a stapler on a sorter and capable of stapling a transfer sheet after an image of an original is formed, setting means for setting the number of originals, and setting by said setting means. When the number of image forming processes corresponding to each document reaches a value corresponding to the value stored in the memory, the stapler is driven to drive the image formation after image formation. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that staples a transfer sheet.