JPH07137926A - Image forming system having punch function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To restrain transfer of information from/to a main body to the minimum extent, so as to attempt facilitation of connection to the main body by providing a means for setting and releasing a punch mode on a post processing device side. CONSTITUTION:A paper sheet conveyed from an image forming device 1 is guided to a paper sheet conveying path in a paper sheet post processing device (sorter) 2 and discharged onto a bin after being punched by a punch unit on the conveying way. In this case, a punch selecting/releasing switch and a control panel for performing the selection display, the alarm display and the gas full display are provided on the paper sheet post processing device 2 side in order to control the operation of the punch unit. Thereby, the change on the main body side is restrained to the minimum extent of a mode clear signal and a sort stack signal and to the extent that the main body control unit is not affected. Accordingly, a post processing device having punch function can be easily connected to the main body not taking punch function into account.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system equipped with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing machine, and having a punching function for punching punched holes in discharged paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in some copying machines, printers, etc., a stapling device for binding a plurality of sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and a sheet punching device (punch unit) for punching holes in the sheets. A sheet post-processing device having a sheet is used. One type of this paper post-processing device is a rotary punch unit (rotary punch unit) that punches punching holes for filing by rotating a punch and a die so that they face each other and inserting the blade part at the tip of the punch into the hole of the die. A device having a unit) is known.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional image forming system having the punching function, the operation unit, the display unit, the control unit and the like are configured on the assumption that the post-processing apparatus having the punching function is connected. The punching operation is set / cancelled on the image forming apparatus main body side. For this reason, connecting a post-processing device with a punching function to a system designed as a model without a punching function at the time of development is virtually impossible because it requires a great deal of change in the operation unit, display unit, control unit, etc. It is possible. The invention of claim 1 is made in view of the above points,
The purpose is to set / cancel the punching operation and to have the display unit on the post-processing device side so that the contents of the information about punching when the post-processing device is connected between the system body and the post-processing device are not minimized. To provide an image forming system with a punching function that allows a post-processing apparatus having a punching function to be connected to a system body that does not consider the connection of a post-processing apparatus having a punching function at the time of development with a minimum change. To do.

In the case of the image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the post-processing device controls the fullness of punch residue and the punching operation, the following problems may occur. That is, when a full state of punch residue is detected during a series of punch mode operations, the punch operation is continued during the operation,
It is a general control method to prohibit the subsequent punching operation by detecting fullness after the stop. However, in the case of this system configuration, when punching is selected in the double-sided sheet passing mode, the sheets are stacked in the main body double-sided tray at the time of back side copying despite the series of sheet passing operations. Will be paused. For this reason, if the punch scrap full state is detected at this time, the subsequent punching operation is prohibited, and the ejected paper is mixed with paper with punch holes and paper without punch holes. It will be. The invention of claim 2 is made in view of this point, and its purpose is to consider that a series of operations is in progress until the information of mode clear from the image forming apparatus main body, and the punch residue is full during the operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that is controlled so that punching holes can be punched in all a series of sheets without canceling the punching operation even when the state is detected.

On the other hand, in an image forming system capable of selecting the presence or absence of punch holes, a key is operated to select a punch during sheet passing without punching or to release a punch during sheet passing during punching operation. Inconvenience occurs. The invention of claim 3 is made in view of this point,
An object of the invention is to provide an image forming system in which a punching function setting / releasing means does not work during image formation.

Further, in general, the sheet post-processing device is provided with a detecting means for detecting a paper jam of a conveyed sheet,
The system with punching function is no exception.
In addition, the punching operation and paper ejection are performed asynchronously, and if a paper jam occurs downstream of the punch unit such as the paper ejection unit, it will take some time until the system is completely stopped after the paper jam is detected. For this reason, if the punch operates during this period, a punched hole may be punched at an indefinite position on the sheet due to a paper jam, and there is a risk that the punched hole may be formed on the image surface of the sheet. In this case, the sheet cannot be used as the copied sheet, resulting in waste. The invention according to claim 4 is made in view of this point, and an object thereof is to reduce the number of sheets that cannot be used as copy sheets even when a paper jam occurs so as to prevent waste of sheets. It is to provide a controlled image forming system.

Further, in the system having the punching function of this kind, the punch residue generated when punch holes are punched is deposited on the residue receiver, and when the deposition amount exceeds a certain amount, the accumulated punch residue is retained. It is necessary to detect the fullness of punch residue in order to inform the user of the disposal of paper. In the conventional example, a method of providing a reflection type sensor on the scrap receiver or detecting the weight of punch scraps is adopted, but any of the methods requires a sensor, and the full detection means has a simple structure. It was difficult. The invention of claim 5 is
The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming system capable of detecting a full state of punch residue without using a sensor by counting the number of punches.

Further, in a system for detecting the full state of punch residue by using a sensor, the abnormality is detected when the sensor fails or when the punch residue is not normally collected by the residue due to scattering of the punch residue. Cannot be done, and the system will be severely adversely affected. The invention according to claim 6 is made in view of this point, and an object thereof is to perform punching a predetermined number of times or more by using a full detection sensor and a punch number counting means in combination. When the full detection sensor does not detect the full state, an alarm is issued as if there is something wrong with the punch scrap receiving part, and it is possible to prevent serious trouble due to punch scrap in advance. To provide a system.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a rotary punch unit according to claim 1, which punches filing punch holes in a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. In the sheet post-processing apparatus having the following, the post-processing apparatus has means for setting / releasing the punch mode and means for exchanging information with the image forming means, and of the above-mentioned information, the image forming is performed as the information regarding the punching operation. Information about the mode clear of the device body,
Waiting for information on whether or not the sheet is in the sheet passing mode to the conveyance path in which punching is possible, simplifying the information on punching, and easily connecting to an image forming apparatus which is not premised on the connection of a post-processing apparatus having a punching function. The configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, there is provided a scrap receiver for receiving punch scraps when punch holes are formed, and a full detection means for detecting whether or not the scrap scrap is full. However, when the scrap detector detects that the scrap receiver is full during the operation of the system, the punch mode is controlled so as not to be released or prohibited even after the operation is stopped.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a sheet post-processing apparatus having a rotary punch unit for punching filing punch holes in a sheet ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, means for setting / releasing a punch mode is provided. The punch mode setting / releasing means is controlled so as not to operate during the image forming operation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the third aspect, the detection means for detecting the paper jam of the conveyed paper of the paper post-processing device and the punch means immediately when the paper jam is detected by the detection means. The operation is stopped, and the following paper is controlled so as not to have extra punch holes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the third aspect, there is provided a scrap receiver for receiving punch scraps when punching holes and a coefficient means for counting the number of punches, and the scrap receiver is full. The detection is performed by the coefficient value by the punch number coefficient means, and the punch function is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, there is provided detection means for detecting whether or not the scrap receiver is full, and the waste receiver full control is performed by the number of punches and the full detector. When the number of punches reaches the specified value or more and the full state of the punched dust is not detected by the fullness detector, a warning is issued to detect a sensor defect of the fullness detector or abnormal scattering of punched dust. The configuration is

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine,
2 is a sheet post-processing device. The punch unit 30 is provided in the paper transport path 13, and when punching is performed,
The sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 is guided to the sheet conveying path 13 by the switching claw 12 and punched by the punch unit 30 without disturbing the sheet conveyance during the conveyance and discharged onto the bin 20. To be done. The presence / absence of the sheet discharged onto the bin 20 is detected by the transmission type bin sensors 61 and 62.

The sheet conveyed to the sheet post-processing device 2 passes through the sheet conveying path 13 as shown in FIG.
The trailing edge of the sheet is detected by 9. Punch unit 30
Is driven by a drive motor (not shown), and starts operation when a predetermined time has elapsed after the trailing edge of the sheet is detected, and the punch 31 and the die 32 rotate in directions opposite to each other, A punch hole is punched at a predetermined position on the trailing edge of the sheet. Punch residue 4 generated at the time of punching this punch hole
0 is collected and accumulated in the residue receiver 34 held by the residue receiver holder 33, and when the amount of accumulation reaches a certain amount or more, the fullness detection sensor 35 determines that the punch residue 40 in the residue receiver 34 is full. Detected. In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the drive motor so that the position / speed can be controlled.

In this embodiment, when punch holes are punched in a B5 vertical size sheet, the punch hole positions on the bin 20 and
The positions of the presence / absence of sheets on the bin 20 detected by the bin sensors 61 and 62 coincide with each other, and stapling on the punched B5 vertical size sheet is impossible. In order to solve this problem, in order to prevent the presence / absence detection positions of the sheets by the bin sensors 61 and 62 from overlapping the punch hole positions, the punch hole positions of all size sheets are taken into consideration, and the bin sensor 6
It suffices to change the sheet presence / absence detection position by 1, 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is the sheet post-processing apparatus 2 side that controls the operation of the punch section of this embodiment.
The punch selection / release switch, the selection display, the warning display, and the scrap full display are all provided on the operation panel of the sheet post-processing apparatus 2. The information sent from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 to the sheet post-processing apparatus 2 includes a mode clear signal for canceling the punch mode when the sheet passing mode is changed and the sheet being punched. These are two sort stack signals for determining whether or not the mode is a mode in which the sheet is conveyed to the sheet conveying path 13 on the unit 30 side.

In the case of a general system, a punching operation is selected and a warning is displayed on the operation panel on the main body side. This is to connect a post-processing device having a punching function during system development. In such a system, more information is required as a signal transmitted and received between the main body and the post-processing device. For example, as a signal from this main body to the post-processing device,
Punch selection, signals from the post-processing device to the main body include scrap full information, punch count number, punch operation availability, and the like. However, at the time of system development, when trying to connect such a device to the main body which is not premised on the connection of the post-processing device having the punch function, the switch for punch selection, the display section related to punch, the transmission / reception described above. Implementation of such a system is practically impossible because many changes are required, such as a change in the control system due to the addition of a signal to be used.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, all the switches and displays related to punching are provided on the sheet post-processing device 2 side, and the main body side is changed by a mode clear signal,
Minimize sort stack signals, etc., to the extent that they do not affect the control unit of the main unit, and facilitate post-processing devices with punching functions even for main units that are not configured with the punching function in mind. It is configured to connect.

Further, in this embodiment, the mode clear signal is transmitted to the sheet post-processing device 2 even when the sheet passing mode of the main body is the interrupt mode. here,
If it is inconvenient that the punching function is canceled in the interrupt mode and it becomes impossible to continue after that, the control may be changed so that the mode clear signal is not transmitted in the interrupt mode.

FIG. 4 shows an example of control at the time of punch punch full detection in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in the punch mode, the punching operation is performed for each sheet (step 4-1), and after the operation is stopped (step 4-
2) Wait for reception of the mode clear signal (step 4-
3). Here, when the mode clear signal is not received in step 4-3, full detection processing is not performed, and the process directly proceeds to the next job. On the other hand, when the mode clear signal is received in step 4-3, the full detection sensor 3
5 is checked (step 4-4), and if the punch scrap full state is detected, processing such as full scrap display and prohibition of punch mode is performed (step 4-5). By these controls, it is possible to prevent a defect due to the waste paper full detection when the sheet post-processing device is temporarily stopped in the double-sided sheet passing mode.

FIG. 5 shows an operation relating to punch selection / cancellation in this embodiment. Punch selection / cancellation in this embodiment is controlled by a selection switch on the operation panel of the sheet post-processing apparatus 2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, it is checked whether or not the sheet post-processing device 2 is in operation (step 5-
1) In operation, even if the selection switch is pressed, it is ignored and the setting of the punch mode is controlled not to change during the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 2. Also, step 5-
Check the selection switch only when it is not in operation at 1, and select / cancel the punch mode (step 5-2).
It is carried out.

FIG. 6 shows the punch control operation when the paper jam is abnormal according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
After the copying is started (step 6-1), the paper discharge / punch process is sequentially performed (step 6-2), and the paper jam is checked (step 6-3). If no paper jam has occurred in step 6-3, the same operation is repeated until the copy is completed (step 6-4). On the other hand, step 6-3
When the occurrence of a paper jam is detected in step 1, the punching operation is first stopped so that the punching operation is stopped so that the punching hole does not exist at the indefinite position of the sheet being conveyed (step 6-5). After that, a stopping process by a normal jam is performed (step 6-6) to stop the system.

FIG. 7 shows another control example at the time of detecting the punch residue full according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the punch operation is counted by the means for counting the operation for each punch (step 7-1). Since two punch scraps are produced by one punching operation, and the punch scraps 40 are accumulated on the scrap receiver 34 by accumulating the punch scraps. It can be set in advance by an experiment at the time of developing the device. As a result, the punching operation count value is compared with the above set value (step 7-2), and when the punching operation count number is equal to or more than the set value, it is determined that the scrap receiver 34 is full and the scrap is full. Processing such as display and prohibition of the punch mode is performed (step 7-3). Also,
In the case of this embodiment, the fullness of the punch scraps is detected only by counting the count of the punching operation, and the fullness can be detected without using the fullness detection sensor 35. The punching operation count is cleared by detecting attachment / detachment of the punch residue receiver 34.

FIG. 8 shows still another control example when the punch residue full detection of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the means for counting the operation for each punch (step 8-1), the stack detection sensor 35 also monitors the deposition state of the punch residue 40. Then, when the punching operation by the punching operation count is equal to or more than the set value (step 8-2), the fullness detection sensor 35 is checked (step 8-3), and when the fullness state of the scrap receiver 34 is detected. Then, processing such as full display of waste and prohibition of punch mode is performed (step 8-4). On the other hand, step 8
When the full state of the scrap receiver 34 is not yet detected at -3, it is regarded as an abnormality of the punch unit 30 such as a defect of the full detection sensor 35 or abnormal scattering of punch residue, and a warning is issued (step 8-- 5) The processing such as prohibiting the punch mode is performed to prevent the punch unit 30 from being greatly damaged due to a defective sensor or scattering of punch residue.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to the paper, the paper post-processing side has a punch function selection / cancellation means and minimizes the exchange of information with the main body, so even if the main body is designed without being aware of the punch function during system development. Easy to connect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the punch scrap full state is detected during the punching operation, and the punching mode is controlled so as not to be released or prohibited even after the punching operation is stopped. Even when the operation of the sheet post-processing device is stopped, it is possible to punch all the relevant sheets.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the sheet post-processing device is controlled so that the punch mode cannot be set / released during operation. Therefore, there are sheets with and without punch holes due to erroneous operation during operation. It is possible to prevent a problem in which

Further, according to the fourth aspect, when the conveyed paper is jammed, the punching operation is stopped first, and then another stop processing is performed, so that an unnecessary punch hole is formed in the succeeding paper. In addition, it is possible to prevent the waste of the paper waste.

Further, according to the fifth aspect, since the full detection of the punch scraps is judged by the number of punch operations,
A simple configuration that does not require a full sensor can be achieved.

Further, according to the sixth aspect, since the fullness of the punch scraps is detected by the number of punch operations and the fullness detection sensor, it is possible to prevent the troubles such as the scattering of the punched scraps and the defect of the fullness detection sensor. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system having a punching function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the sheet punching operation of the punch section of the image forming system having the punching function of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system having a punching function of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of control at the time of punch punch full detection of the image forming system having the punch function of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation relating to punch selection / cancellation in the image forming system having the punch function of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a punch control operation of the image forming system having the punching function of the present invention when a paper jam occurs.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another control example when the punch residue full detection of the image forming system having the punch function of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing yet another control example when the punch residue full detection of the image forming system having the punch function of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper post-processing apparatus 12 Switching claw 13 Paper transport path 19 Inlet sensor 20 Bin 30 Punch unit 31 Punch 32 Dice 33 Dust receiving holder 34 Dust receiving 35 Full detection sensor 40 Punch dust 61, 62 Bin sensor

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Mitsuru Ichikawa 28-2-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuji Watanabe 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet post-processing apparatus having a rotary punch unit for punching filing punch holes in a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and means for setting / releasing a punch mode on the side of the post-processing apparatus. It has a means for exchanging information with the image forming means. Among the above information, the information regarding the punching operation is the information regarding the mode clear of the image forming apparatus main body, and whether it is the sheet passing mode to the conveyance path in which the punching operation is possible. An image forming system having a punching function, which can be easily connected to an image forming apparatus which is not premised on the connection of a post-processing apparatus having a punching function by waiting for the information regarding the punching operation. 2. An image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a scrap receiver for receiving punch scraps when punching holes.
And a full detection means for detecting whether or not the waste tray is full. If the waste detection means detects that the waste tray is full during the operation of the system, punching is performed even after the operation is stopped. An image forming system having a punch function, which is controlled so that the mode is not released or prohibited. 3. A sheet post-processing apparatus having a rotary punch unit for punching filing punch holes in a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, having means for setting / releasing a punch mode, and forming an image. An image forming system having a punch function, wherein the punch mode setting / releasing means is controlled so as not to operate during operation. 4. An image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the detecting means for detecting a paper jam of the conveyed paper of the paper post-processing device, and when the paper jam is detected by the detecting means, the punching operation is immediately stopped, An image forming system having a punching function, characterized in that it is controlled so that there are no extra punch holes in the succeeding paper. 5. An image forming system according to claim 3, wherein a scrap receiver for receiving punch scraps when punching holes is formed,
An image forming system having a punching function, comprising: coefficient means for counting the number of punches, and full detection of the scrap receiver is performed by a coefficient value by the punch number coefficient means. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, further comprising a detection means for detecting whether or not the scrap receiver is full, and performing a full control of the scrap receiver by the number of punches and the full detector.
When the number of punches reaches the specified value or more and the full state of the punched dust is not detected by the fullness detector, a warning is issued to detect a sensor defect of the fullness detector or abnormal scattering of punched dust. An image forming system having a punching function.