JPH09251260A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by judging, in the case a front-cover mode has been set, whether the set number of copy sheets is plural or not, and limiting the number of copy sheets to one in the case of the plurality of copy sheets, thereby eliminating the need to provide warning of sorter's abnormal conditions. SOLUTION: This device judges whether the front-cover mode has been set or not, (S1), and in the case of YES, the device judges whether a sorter is usable or not by judging whether the sorter is in abnormal conditions or not, (S2). When the sorter is usable, whether or not the set number of copy sheets is two or more is judged, (S3), and in the case of YES, a sort mode is set, (S4). Then, whether the clear key has been depressed or not is judged, (S5), and in the case of YES, the sort mode is reset and return is caused, (S6). Conversely when the sorter is not usable, whether or not the number of copy sheet is two or more is judged, (S7), and in the case of YES, the number of copy sheets is limited to one, and return is caused, (S8). In the case the set number of copy sheets is not two or more, return is caused as it is.

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 having a cover mode in which a cover such as a colored paper is added to the beginning of a copy bundle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an ADF (automatic document feeder) and a post-processing device (hereinafter
If more than one copy number is specified, it is necessary to sort the sheets using the sorter. Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus, when the cover mode is set, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-173193, the sort mode is automatically set, and at this time, the sheet remains in the sorter and is used. In the impossible state (abnormal state), the cover mode cannot be realized. Therefore, the state of the sorter is constantly monitored, and when the abnormality is detected, the cover mode setting is prohibited.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, the setting of the cover mode is prohibited when the abnormality of the sorter is detected. Therefore, even if only a part of the copy is made, the copy is performed in the cover mode. There is a problem that it is inconvenient because it can not be done. In addition, if the sorter is used meaninglessly, there is a problem that paper remains in the sorter and the sorter becomes unusable more frequently.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operability when making a copy in the cover mode.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a cover mode in which a cover is added to the beginning of a stack of sheets and a sort mode in which sheets are arranged in page order by a sorter. When the mode is set, it is determined whether or not the sorter can be used. When it is not, it is determined whether or not the number of copy sets is two or more without setting the sort mode. It is characterized by having control means for limiting and not issuing a warning of sorter abnormality.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a cover mode in which a cover is added to the beginning of a stack of sheets and a sort mode in which sheets are arranged in page order by a sorter, the sorter is used when the cover mode is set. It is characterized by having control means for determining whether or not it is possible, setting the sort mode when it is available, and resetting the sort mode when the sort mode is cleared in this state.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation unit of FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display screen of the operation unit of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation in the cover mode.

The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 schematically includes a copying machine 100 and a contact glass 8 of the copying machine 100.
ADF 27 that automatically conveys a document on top, and a copier 10
It is composed of a sorter 28 that sorts the sheets discharged from 0. The document on the contact glass 8 is illuminated by the light source 7 of the scanner 5, and its reflected light is reflected by the mirror 2,
3, the lens unit 6, the mirror 4, and the dustproof glass 9 are introduced onto the photoconductor 11, and as a result, a latent image of the original image is formed on the photoconductor 11.

The photosensitive member 11 is rotated clockwise by the main motor 12, is uniformly charged by the charging charger 15, and unnecessary areas are discharged by the eraser 16, and a latent image of the original image is formed by the above exposure. . Photoconductor 11
The upper latent image is developed with toner by the developing device 17, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper P by the transfer charger 21. Next, the photoconductor 11 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 13.
The after-image toner is removed by the above, and the charge is removed by the discharge lamp 14.

A sheet P is selectively fed from one of a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 19 by a sheet feeding roller 18 and is conveyed by a pair of registration rollers 20 so as to coincide with the toner image on the photoconductor 11 and transferred to a transfer charger. The toner image is transferred by 21. Next, the sheet P is separated from the photoconductor 11 by the separation charger 22 and the separation claw 23, and the conveyance belt 2
4, the toner is fixed by the fixing roller 25, and the toner is conveyed to the sorter 28. The sorter 28 can align the sheets P in page order (sort mode) or page by page (stack mode), and can also bind the sheets P by a stapler 29 (staple mode).

As shown in FIG. 2, the main controller 5010 of this apparatus includes a CPU 5011, a ROM 5012, and an R 5012.
An AM 5013, a nonvolatile RAM 5014, a serial I / F 5015, a timer 5016, and the like are included. The main control unit 5010 includes a motor 12 that drives the photoconductor 11, a sheet feeding motor in the sheet feeding unit 5024 and the duplex unit 5025, and various AC loads 502 such as a clutch.
1 and various DC loads 5022, and various sensors 5024 such as a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the fixing roller 25 are connected. Further, the main control unit 5010 has an ADF5.
024, a post-processing device (sorter) 5026, and an operation unit 5020 shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 are serial I / F 50.
15 through which the communication control device 5 is connected.
It is connected to the public line via 028.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 5020 has hard keys such as a numeric keypad 4101 and touch panel keys arranged on the liquid crystal 4102 for displaying operation states and messages. The ten-key pad 4101 is for inputting a number such as the number of copies, and the clear / stop key 4110 is used for clearing the number of copies set via the ten-key 4101 or for temporarily suspending the copy operation.

A guidance key 4103 is used when shifting to a mode for displaying a function explanation or an operating method, and a program key 4104 is used when registering or calling frequently used settings. Brightness control knob 410
6 is used when adjusting the brightness of the display screen of the liquid crystal 4102, and the mode clear / remaining heat key 4107 cancels the setting contents or sets the remaining heat state (pressing for a certain time or more)
Used when doing. A power cutoff key 4108 is used when shifting to a power cutoff mode, and a start key 4109 is used when starting a copy operation.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the display screen of the liquid crystal 4102 includes a message area 4501 for displaying a message such as "Ready to copy" and "Please wait".
The copy number display section 4502 that displays the set number of sheets in the upper stage and the number of copied sheets in the lower stage, the automatic density key 4503 that automatically adjusts the image density, and the automatic paper selection that automatically selects the paper A key 4504 and a paper designation scaling key 4505 for automatically enlarging or reducing an image according to the paper size are provided.

On the screen of the liquid crystal 4102, one sheet of paper is
A sort key 4506 for setting a sort mode for aligning copies in page order, a stack key 4507 for setting a stack mode for aligning sheets for each page, and a staple key 4508 for setting a staple mode for binding sorted sheets. And special document feed key 45
09, scaling key 4510, double-sided / page continuous shooting key 4
511, an erase / move key 4512, and a cover / insert sheet key 4513 are displayed.

When the cover mode is set by the cover / interleaf key 4513, the paper (cover) preset in one of the paper feed cassettes 19 is selected and fed, and the beginning of the copy bundle without performing copying. And is discharged to the sorter 28. Further, when the mode is manually set by each of the above keys, or when the mode is automatically set, the key is displayed in black / white inversion, or the color is changed.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the cover mode is set, and if NO, the process returns, and if YE
In the case of S, in the subsequent step S2, it is determined whether or not the sorter 28 is usable by determining whether or not the sorter 28 is abnormal. If the sorter 28 is usable, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the number of copy sets is two or more. If NO, the process returns. On the other hand, if YES, the sort mode is set in the subsequent step S4. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the clear key 4110 has been pressed. If NO, the process returns. On the other hand, if YES, the sort mode is reset in the subsequent step S6 and the process returns.

If the sorter 28 is not usable in step S2, it is determined in step S7 whether the number of copy sets is 2 or more. If YES, the number of copy sets is limited to one in step S8. Then
To return. If the number of copy sets is not 2 or more in step S7, the process directly returns.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the cover mode is set, it is determined whether or not the sorter can be used. If not, the number of copy sets is set without setting the sort mode. It is judged whether it is 2 or more. When it is 2 or more, the number of copies is limited to 1 and the warning of sorter abnormality is not issued. Therefore, when making a copy in the cover mode, a warning of sorter abnormality is meaningless. Therefore, the operability can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, when the cover mode is set, it is determined whether or not the sorter can be used, the sort mode is set when the sort mode is available, and when the sort mode is cleared in this state. Since the sort mode is reset, the sorter is no longer used meaninglessly, and as a result, the sorter abnormality warning is not meaninglessly issued, and therefore the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an operation unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of the operation unit of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a cover mode.

[Explanation of Codes] 28 Sorter 4513 Cover / Slip Sheet Key 4506 Sort Key 5010 Main Control Section 5011 CPU

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a cover mode in which a cover is added to the top of a stack of sheets and a sort mode in which the sheets are arranged in page order by a sorter, and whether or not the sorter can be used when the cover mode is set. When it is not available, it is determined whether the number of copy sets is 2 or more without setting the sort mode. When it is 2 or more, the number of copies is limited to 1 and the sorter abnormality warning is not issued. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. An image forming apparatus having a cover mode in which a cover is added to the top of a stack of sheets and a sort mode in which the sheets are arranged in page order by a sorter, and whether or not the sorter can be used when the cover mode is set. The image forming apparatus is characterized by having a control means for determining that the sorting mode is set when the sorting mode is available and resetting the sorting mode when the sorting mode is cleared in this state.