JPH07295314A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an OHP sheet and a plain paper to which copying has been already performed in a form suitable for each using condition. CONSTITUTION:This image recorder where an image is recorded on a fed recording paper is provided with a finisher 12 to which the recording paper where the image has been already recorded is ejected, a stapler 17 filing the recording paper housed in the bin 13 of the finisher 12, and a paper sensor 9 detecting the kind of the fed recording paper. When the recording paper detected by the sensor 9 is the plain paper, the stapler 17 is actuated, and when it is the OHP sheet, the stapler 17 is not actuated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus having a stapling function for binding a sheet after image recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying machine equipped with a sorter and a stapler, sheets of paper after copying are discharged to each bin of the sorter, and a bundle of sheets stored in each bin is bound by the stapler. Further, in a copying machine, not only plain paper but also OHP (overhead project)
An image can be formed on a sheet for (or) (hereinafter referred to as an OHP sheet).

Considering a case where an OHP sheet is created from a document of a conference as a conference material, it is often necessary to make a copy for the number of participants in addition to the OHP sheet. In this case, in the conventional copying machine, the image of the first original is first copied on the OHP sheet by one copy, and then by the required number of copies on the plain paper. OHP after copying
Sheets and plain paper are discharged one by one into each bin of the sorter. The above operation is repeated for each document, and one copy is stored in each bin of the sorter. Next, the sheets and the bundle of sheets in each bin are bound by a stapler.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, OHP
The sheets are used one by one placed on the platen glass of the OHP device. Therefore, if the OHP sheets are bound by the stapler, it is necessary to remove the binding needle at the time of use, which is troublesome. Along with OH
There is a problem in that the P sheet is flawed and stains the projected image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain an OHP sheet and plain paper after copying in a form suitable for the usage mode.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a fed recording paper, and a paper discharge tray from which the recording paper after recording is discharged and a paper discharge tray A stapler for binding the stored recording papers, a recording paper sensor for detecting the type of the fed recording papers, and when the recording papers detected by the recording paper sensor are plain papers, the stapler is operated to operate the OHP. And a stapler control device that makes the stapler inoperative when it is a sheet.

[0007]

When the image recording is started by giving the stapling instruction, when the recording paper is a mixture of plain paper and OHP sheet, the stapling process is executed when the recording paper after recording is plain paper. However, if the sheet is an OHP sheet, the stapling process is not performed.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The features of the present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which the image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.

In the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, a platen glass 2 for placing an original is arranged on the upper surface of a copying machine main body 1, and an image reading system 3 and a belt-shaped photosensitive member 4 are provided below the platen glass 2. Each device of the system 5 is arranged. Paper feed trays 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 are provided inside the copying machine 1, and an OHP tray 7 is attached to the side surface of the copying machine 1. Inside the copying machine body 1, the paper feed trays 6-1 and 6 are provided.
A paper transport system 8 for transporting the recording paper from -2, 6-3 or from the OHP tray 7 toward the transfer portion of the photoconductor 4.
And the paper on which the image is recorded is plain paper or OH
A sheet sensor 9 for detecting whether the sheet is a P sheet is provided. A user interface 10 including a display and operation keys is attached to the upper part of the copying machine main body 1, and the automatic document feeder 1 is mounted on the platen glass 2.
1 is attached. Furthermore, the OHP of the copying machine body 1
A finisher 12 is attached to the side surface opposite to the tray 7 side.

The document to be copied is the automatic document feeder 11
Thus, the image of the original is scanned by the image reading system 3 which is fed one by one to a predetermined position on the platen glass 2 and moves along the lower surface of the platen glass 2. The reflected light from the original is once converted into an image signal by the image sensor in the image reading system 3 and subjected to predetermined image processing,
The laser beam is supplied to the raster output scanner, and the laser beam from the raster output scanner is applied to the photoconductor 4.

The image recording system 5 records an image by, for example, an electrophotographic system, and as is well known, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning device are provided around the photosensitive member 4. Etc. (none of which are shown) are sequentially arranged.

The surface of the photoconductor 4 is uniformly charged by a charging device and exposed to light corresponding to the image of the original, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 4. . This electrostatic latent image is developed with toner in a developing device to generate a toner image. In synchronization with the generation of the toner image, the paper feed trays 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 or the OH
Recording paper from the P tray 7 is transferred to the photosensitive member 4 by the paper transport system 8.
The toner image on the photoconductor 4 is transferred onto the recording paper by a transfer device (not shown), and the toner image corresponding to the original image is recorded on the recording paper. Also,
Toner remaining on the photoconductor after transfer is a cleaning device
(Not shown) and ready for the next imaging cycle. After recording, the recording paper passes through a fixing device (not shown),
The toner image is fixed on the recording paper. The recording paper after fixing is sent to the finisher 12.

The finisher 12, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of bins 13a, 13b, 13 that can move up and down integrally
c, ..., and the top tray 1 fixedly provided at the upper end
4 and a first paper transport path 15a for discharging the recording paper discharged from the copying machine main body 1 into any one of the plurality of bins 13.
And a second paper transport path 15b for discharging the recording paper discharged from the copying machine main body 1 to the top tray 14, and a switch for switching between the first paper transport path 15a and the second paper transport path 15b. Gate 16 and multiple bins 13
Drive unit (not shown) that drives the bottle in the vertical direction, and the bin 1
3 and a stapler 17 that binds the bundle of recording sheets discharged to the sheet 3. The position of the stapler 17 in the vertical direction is fixed, and which bin is used to bind the paper is determined by the bin 1
It is determined by moving the whole 3 up and down.

The plurality of bins 13 move up and down according to the designated operation mode, and discharge the recording paper to each bin in a predetermined form. That is, in the sort mode, a set of copies of continuous pages is discharged in one bin, and in the stack mode, the set number of copies of the same page is discharged in one bin.

For example, when three copies of two originals D1 and D2 are made on plain paper, in the sort mode, the copies are discharged to each bin in the order shown in Table 1. Note that, for example, reference numeral C2-3 in the table indicates that it is the third copy of the second document.

[0017]

[Table 1] As a result, the bin 13a is in the order of C1-1 and C2-3 from the bottom, the bin 13b is in the order of C1-2 and C2-2 from the bottom, and the bin 13c is in the order of C1-3 and C2 from the bottom. The copies are stacked in the order of -1.

In the stack mode, copies are discharged to each bin in the order shown in Table 2.

[0019]

[Table 2] As a result, the bin 13a has C1-1, C1-2, and
In order of C1-3, and from the bottom on the bottle 13b, C2-
Copies are stacked in the order of 1, C2-2, C2-3.

In a normal copying operation, papers of different sizes are stored in the paper feed trays 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3, respectively, but the OHP mode operation for forming an image on the OHP sheet is performed. Sometimes, for example, the paper feed tray 6-
1, 6-2 are used as interleaving paper trays, papers of different colors to be interleaving papers are stored in these paper feeding trays 6-1, 6-2, and interleaving papers are provided between OHP sheets after recording. insert. Note that plain paper is stored in the paper feed tray 6-1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric circuit in the copying machine shown in FIG.

The control unit 21 includes the user interface unit 2
2 (corresponding to the user interface 10 in FIG. 1), the automatic document feeder 23 (the automatic document feeder 1)
1), the image reading unit 24 (corresponding to the image reading system 3),
The operations of the image processing device 25, the image forming unit 26 (corresponding to the image recording system 5), and the finisher 27 (corresponding to the finisher 12) are controlled. The control unit 21 is controlled by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU (central processing unit), a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory), and the like, as is well known.

The image data from the document reading unit 24 is supplied to the image processing unit 25 and subjected to predetermined image processing, and then supplied to the image forming unit 26, and an image corresponding to the document image is obtained on the recording paper.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the user interface 10. Front part 31 of the user interface 10
A CRT display 32 is arranged as a display device, and various operation keys such as a ten key 33, a start key 34, and a function selection key 35 are arranged. The function selection key 35 is for selecting various applied copying operations such as OHP slip sheet processing described below, in addition to the normal basic copying operation. In addition, a transparent touch screen is provided on the front surface of the CRT display 32.
By touching a predetermined portion on the display surface of the RT display 32 with a finger, information corresponding to the touched position can be input.

FIG. 5 shows an “OHP interleaf” window 41 displayed on the CRT display 32 of the user interface 10 when the “OHP interleaf” mode is selected on the user interface 10. "OHP
In the "interleaf sheet" window 41, a normal "OHP interleaf sheet" mode in which only the OHP sheet is copied and the interleaf sheet is inserted between the OHP sheets after copying, or copying from the same original to the OHP sheet and plain paper A plurality of keys 41a to 41d for selecting the "OHP interleaving paper + plain paper" mode in which copying is continuously performed and interleaving paper is inserted between OHP sheets after copying is displayed. Although not shown, the CRT display 32 is provided with a staple mode selection window in the finisher 12 for instructing binding of the copies ejected to each bin with the stapler 17.

Next, regarding the operation when the "OHP interleaving paper + plain paper" mode is selected in the above-mentioned copying machine,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation mode of the finisher 12 is set to either the sort mode or the stack mode, and the number of sheets to be copied is already set.

When the staple mode is selected on the user interface 10 (step 101) and the copy start button is pressed (step 102), whether or not the "OHP interleaving paper + plain paper" mode is selected, that is, the key 41c is pressed. It is determined whether or not it is on (step 103),
If it is not on, the process proceeds to another process (step 104).
If it is on, paper feed control (step 105), copy control (step 106), discharge control (step 107)
Are sequentially performed. The processing of steps 105 to 107 is repeated until the number of copied sheets Madecount reaches the set number (step 108). Next, it is determined whether or not the OHP sheet feeding is completed (step 109), and the OH
If the P sheet feeding is not completed, the process returns to step 105. When the OHP feeding is completed, it is next determined whether or not copying of all the originals is completed (step 110). If the originals remain, the automatic original feeding device 11 reads the next original in the image reading unit. It is pulled onto the platen glass 5 of No. 2 (step 111), and the process returns to step 105. When the copying of all the originals is completed, stapling processing is performed in the finisher 12, that is, sheet binding by the stapler 17 is performed (step 112).

Details of the paper feed control in step 105, the ejection control in step 107, and the stapling process in step 112 will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the paper feed control. First, it is determined whether or not the original is the even-numbered sheet (step 201), and if it is not the even-numbered sheet, that is, if it is the odd-numbered sheet, it is determined whether or not the OHP sheet feeding is completed (step 202). ), If it is not finished, it is judged whether or not the interleaf paper feeding is finished (step 203),
If not completed, the designated interleaving paper tray, for example, the paper feed tray 6-2 is selected (step 204), and the interleaving paper is fed from this interleaving paper tray (step 205).
The process ends.

Next, if the number of originals is an odd number and the OHP sheet feeding is not finished, but the interleaf sheet feeding is finished, the process goes through steps 201, 202 and 203 to step 206. Go to the designated OHP tray, eg OH
The P tray 7 is selected, OHP sheets are fed from the OHP tray (step 207), and the process is terminated.

Next, when the number of originals is an odd number and the OHP sheet feeding is completed, the process proceeds to step 208 through steps 201 and 202, and the designated plain paper tray,
For example, the paper feed tray 6-1 is selected, plain paper is fed from this plain paper tray (step 209), and the process is terminated.

When it is determined in step 201 that the number of originals is an even number, the number of copied sheets Madecount
Is determined to be equal to the set number (step 21
0) If they are not equal, the designated plain paper tray is selected (step 211), the plain paper is fed from this plain paper tray (step 212), and the process ends.

Next, when the number of originals is an even number and the number of copied sheets Madecount is equal to the set number, the process proceeds from step 210 to step 203, and the processes of steps 204 to 207 described above are performed.

By the processing shown in FIG. 7 described above, the interleaf paper feeding and the OHP paper feeding are performed once for the first original, and thereafter, the plain paper is repeatedly fed until the set number of sheets is copied. To be done.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the discharge control. However, this flowchart is for the case where the interleaving paper and the OHP sheet are discharged to the first bin, that is, the uppermost bin 13a, and the plain paper is discharged to the second bin and thereafter, that is, the bins after 13b. The process is shown.

First, it is judged whether or not the operation mode of the finisher 12 is the sort mode (step 30).
1) If it is the sort mode, it is determined whether or not the original is an even numbered sheet (step 302). If it is not the even numbered sheet, that is, if it is the odd numbered sheet, the interleaf paper feeding is completed. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step 303), and if it has not been completed, it is discharged to the first bin, that is, the bin 13a (step 304), and the processing ends.

If it is determined in step 303 that the slip sheet processing is completed, the bin position is raised by one stage.
(Step 305) and then discharged to the bottle (Step 30
6), the process ends.

If it is determined in step 302 that the number of originals is an even number, the number of copied sheets Madecount
Is determined to be equal to the set number (step 30
7) If they are not equal, they are discharged to the nth to second bins (step 308), the position of the bin is lowered by one step (step 309), and the process ends. If they are equal, then they are discharged to the first bin, ie bin 13a.
(Step 304), the process ends.

Next, in step 301, the finisher 1
When it is determined that the operation mode of No. 2 is not the sort mode, that is, the stack mode, it is discharged to the bin (step 310), and then it is determined whether or not the original is an even-numbered sheet (step 311). If it is an odd number, the position of the bin is raised by one step (step 312), and the operation of step 312 is repeated until the number of copied sheets Madecount becomes equal to the set number (step 31).
3). When the number of copied sheets Madecount becomes equal to the set number of sheets, the processing ends.

If it is determined in step 311 that the number of originals is an even number, the number of copied sheets Madecount
Is determined to be equal to the set number (step 31
4) If not equal, end the process as it is, and if equal, return the bin position to the home position
(Step 315).

According to the processing shown in FIG. 8 described above, in the sort mode, the slip sheet and the OHP sheet are discharged to the first bin, and the plain paper is stored in each bin in a sorted state.

In the stack mode, the slip sheet and the OHP sheet are discharged to the first bin, and the set number of plain papers are discharged to the second and subsequent bins.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the discharge control when the slip sheet and the OHP sheet are discharged to the top tray 14. The steps corresponding to those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals.

First, it is judged whether or not the operation mode of the finisher 12 is the sort mode (step 30).
1) If it is the sort mode, it is determined whether or not the original is an even numbered sheet (step 302). If it is not the even numbered sheet, that is, if it is the odd numbered sheet, the interleaf paper feeding is completed. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step 303), and if it has not been completed, it is discharged to the top tray 14 (step 401), and the processing ends.

If it is determined in step 303 that the slip sheet processing has been completed, the bin position is raised by one stage.
(Step 305) The first to nth bins are discharged (Step 402), and the process ends.

If it is determined in step 302 that the number of originals is an even number, the number of copied sheets Madecount
Is determined to be equal to the set number (step 30
7) If they are not equal, they are discharged to the nth to 1st bins (step 403), the position of the bin is lowered by one step (step 309), and the process is terminated. If they are equal, they are discharged to the top tray 14 (step 40
1), the process ends.

Next, in step 301, the finisher 1
If it is determined that the second operation mode is not the sort mode, that is, the stack mode, it is determined whether or not the document is an even-numbered sheet (step 404), and if it is not an even-numbered sheet, that is, an odd-numbered sheet. In case of eyes, OHP
It is determined whether or not the sheet feeding is completed (step 4
05) If not finished, the sheet is discharged to the top tray 14 (step 406), and the process is finished. OHP
If the sheet has been fed, eject it to the bin.
(Step 407), the position of the bin is raised by one step (Step 408), and the process is ended.

If it is determined in step 404 that the number of originals is an even number, the number of copied sheets Madecount
Is determined to be equal to the set number (step 40
9) If not equal, discharge to bin (step 4
10), the position of the bin is raised by one step (step 411), and the process is terminated. If they are the same, the sheets are discharged onto the top tray 14 (step 412), and the process is terminated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing stapling control. It should be noted that this flowchart corresponds to an example in which the slip sheet and the OHP sheet shown in FIG. 8 are discharged to the first bin.

First, it is judged whether or not the staple mode is set (step 501). If the staple mode is not set, the process is terminated. If it is the staple mode, it is judged whether or not it is the sort mode (step 502). If it is not the sort mode, that is, if it is the stack mode,
The process is terminated as it is.

In the staple mode and the sort mode, it is detected whether or not the paper in the bin is an OHP sheet (step 503), and if it is not the OHP sheet, it is stored in the bin. The existing sheets are bound by the stapler 17 (step 504), and then the process proceeds to step 505. If the paper in the bin is an OHP sheet, step 505 is performed without performing stapling processing.
Proceed to. In step 505, the number of copied sheets Madeco
It is determined whether or not unt is equal to the set number, and if it is equal, the process is terminated, and if it is not equal, the position of the bin is raised by one step (step 506) and the process returns to step 503.

Whether or not the paper in the bin is an OHP sheet is detected by the paper sensor 9 provided in the copying machine main body 1 according to the type of paper being conveyed.
You can know in 1.

By the process shown in FIG. 10 described above, even when copying is continuously performed on the plain paper and the OHP sheet, the stapling process is performed only on the plain paper in the sorted state, and the OHP sheet is printed. On the other hand, the stapling process is not performed.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing stapling control when the interleaf sheet and the OHP sheet as shown in FIG. 9 are discharged to the top tray. The steps corresponding to the steps in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The difference between the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is only that the step 503 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is deleted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, and the basic operation is the same. Since it is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, detailed description will be omitted. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the stapling process is performed on all the sheets in the bin. This is because the OHP sheet is stored in the top tray and does not exist in the bin.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the plain paper and the OHP sheet can be continuously connected based on one copy instruction, and the plain paper is stapled. Since the stapling process is not performed on the OHP sheet, a copy of the plain paper and the OHP sheet can be obtained in a form suitable for the usage mode.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which an image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a finisher including a stapler.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric circuit in the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a user interface.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an OHP slip sheet window displayed on the user interface.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing in the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing paper feed control.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a discharge control when discharging a slip sheet and an OHP sheet into a first bin.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a discharge control when discharging a slip sheet and an OHP sheet to a top tray.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing stapling control when a slip sheet and an OHP sheet are discharged to the first bin.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing stapling control when a slip sheet and an OHP sheet are discharged to the top tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body, 2 ... Platen glass, 3 ... Image reading system, 4 ... Photoconductor, 5 ... Image recording system, 6-1, 6-2, 6
-3 ... Paper feed tray, 7 ... OHP tray, 8 ... Paper transport system, 9 ... Paper sensor, 10 ... User interface, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic document feeder, 12 ... Finisher, 21 ... Control part, 22 ... User interface part, 23 ... Automatic document feeder, 24 ... Image reading part, 25 ... Image processing part, 26 ...
Image forming unit, 27 ... Finisher, 31 ... Front part, 32
... CRT display, 33 ... Numeric keypad, 34 ... Start key, 35 ... Function selection key, 41 ... "OHP interleaving paper" window

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a fed recording paper, comprising a discharge tray for discharging the recording paper after recording, and a stapler for binding the recording paper stored in the discharge tray. A recording paper sensor for detecting the type of the fed recording paper; and when the recording paper detected by the recording paper sensor is plain paper, the stapler is operated, and when it is an OHP sheet, the stapler is disabled. An image recording apparatus comprising: a stapler control device that operates.