JPH10268709A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device constituted so that an image forming action can be executed in an initial mode without turning on/off a power source even when a postprocessor is abnormal. SOLUTION: In the case that the image forming mode without using a sorter 2 being the postprocessor is set, a device main body 1 can be used even when the sorter 2 cannot be used and a transfer paper on which an image is formed by the device main body 1 is ejected from an ejection port 8. In the case that the image forming mode using the sorter 2 is set, the device main body 1Q cannot be used for forming the image when the sorter 2 cannot be used and the transfer paper on which the image is formed is not ejected from an ejection port 9 and supplied to the sorter 2. However, when the sorter 2 cannot be used, the image forming mode can be returned to the initial mode. Thus, the image forming action can be executed in the initial mode without turning on/off the power source of the device main body 1 even when the sorter 2 is abnormal.

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 equipped with a post-processing device and applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in this type of image forming apparatus, especially a copying machine, various image forming modes are mounted in order to meet various needs of users. As a main image operation for a plurality of originals, for example, a post-processing device such as a sort mode or a stack mode is mounted to improve the productivity of image formation. Further, at present, most image forming apparatuses can be equipped with a post-processing apparatus in order to achieve the above-described image forming mode. However, generally, there is only one discharge port for transfer paper. This is because, in many cases, the post-processing device is often an option, and the post-processing device may be used only in the image forming apparatus main body without being mounted.
In this case, if there are two or more paper outlets, the cost of the apparatus main body is increased. Furthermore, a high-speed machine is currently known as an image forming apparatus having two or more discharge ports. The reason why the high-speed machine is provided with a plurality of paper discharge ports is that the image forming operation cannot be continued due to a jam or the like in the post-processing device during the image forming operation using the post-processing device. In order to increase the efficiency of jam recovery by minimizing residual paper inside the machine,
This is because it is used to switch the paper discharge port on the way.

[0003]

By the way, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a post-processing device, even if the post-processing device is in a cover open (abnormal) state, the image forming mode does not use the post-processing device. Operation is possible. However, if the post-processing device is in an abnormal state and a post-processing mode such as a sort mode or a stack mode is set,
Since the image forming mode cannot be changed or the like, the image forming apparatus cannot be used unless the cover open (abnormal) on the post-processing apparatus is released.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image display apparatus in which an image forming apparatus having a transfer paper discharge port or two or more discharge ports has an image display mode depending on the state of the post-processing apparatus when the image processing mode does not discharge to the post-processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the image forming operation on the apparatus main body side is not affected and the use on the apparatus main body side is made as much as possible to improve the productivity of image formation.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image forming mode in which a post-processing device is not used is set, even if the post-processing device cannot be used, the image forming device is not used. When the main body is not disabled and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body is discharged from the first discharge port, while the image forming mode using the post-processing apparatus is set. The image formation of the image forming apparatus main body becomes unusable due to the unusable state of the post-processing apparatus, and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body is discharged from the second discharge port and supplied to the post-processing apparatus. The object is achieved by providing an image forming apparatus that cannot be used with a return unit that returns the image forming mode to the initial mode when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the image forming mode without using the post-processing device is set,
Even when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, the image forming apparatus main body is not disabled, and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body is discharged from a first discharge port. When the image forming mode using the apparatus is set, the image forming of the image forming apparatus main body is disabled due to the unusable state of the post-processing apparatus, and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed in the image forming apparatus main body is used. Means for returning the image forming mode to the initial mode when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, and The object is achieved by providing control means for causing the image forming apparatus main body to perform an image forming operation without using the post-processing apparatus when returning to the initial mode. That.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the image forming mode without using the post-processing device is set,
Even when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, the image forming apparatus main body is not disabled, and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus main body is discharged from a first discharge port. When the image forming mode using the apparatus is set, the image forming of the image forming apparatus main body is disabled due to the unusable state of the post-processing apparatus, and the transfer paper on which the image has been formed in the image forming apparatus main body is used. Means for returning the image forming mode to the initial mode when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, and The object is achieved by providing a prohibition unit for prohibiting the use of the post-processing device until the unusable state of the post-processing device is released when returning to the initial mode. To.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the operation unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system according to the embodiment. This embodiment comprises a copying apparatus capable of a sort mode and a stack mode. Then, as shown in FIG.
A sorter 2 is mounted as a post-processing device on the discharge side of the printer, and an ADF (automatic document feeder) is mounted on an upper portion of the apparatus main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus main body 1 is a CCD.
A document reading unit 4 including an image sensor, a printing mechanism 5 including a photosensitive drum, a paper feeding unit 6 for supplying a transfer sheet to the printing mechanism 5, and a transfer sheet printed (recorded) by the printing mechanism 5 are discharged. It comprises a paper discharge unit 7 and the like. In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the normal discharge port 8 and the post-processing discharge port 9 are provided, and the transfer sheet is switched to the discharge port branching claw 10 of the discharge unit 7 to transfer the transfer paper to the normal discharge port 8 or the post-processing discharge port 9. Is configured to be able to be discharged to any one of. When the sort mode or the stack mode is not used, the transfer paper is discharged to the normal paper discharge port 8, and when the sort mode or the stack mode is used to supply the transfer paper to the post-processing device 2, The transfer paper is discharged from the post-processing discharge port 9. Here, the sort mode refers to a processing mode in which copies are arranged one by one in page order. The stack mode is a processing mode in which copying is sorted for each page.

Next, the configuration of the operation unit will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a numeric keypad 21 and a mode clear key 2
2, start key 23, clear / stop key 24
, A sort key 25, and a stack key 26. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a sort mode indicator 2 indicating that a sort mode is set is provided on the operation unit.
7, a stack mode indicator 28 indicating the stack mode, a sorter jam indicator 29 indicating that the sorter 2 is jammed, a sorter cover open indicator 30 indicating that the cover of the sorter 2 is open, and a copy Various indicators such as a copy indicator 31 that indicates whether or not it is possible are arranged.

Next, the configuration of a control system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 32 that performs various calculations and controls as described later. This CPU
A RAM (random access memory) 33 capable of reading and writing various data and a read-only ROM (read / write) in which programs for performing various arithmetic processes and controls are stored in advance as described later. Only memory) 34 is connected. Also, the CPU 32 has I
Numeric keypad 21, mode clear key 22, start key 23, clear / stop key 2 via I / O port 35
4, a sort key 25, a stack key 26, a main body cover open / close detector 37 for detecting the open / close of the cover of the apparatus main body 1, and a sorter cover open / close detector 38 for detecting the open / close of the sorter 2 cover. Further, the CPU 32 has a sort mode display 2 via the I / O port 35.
7, stack mode display 28, sorter jam display 2
9, a sorter cover open display 30, a copy enable display 31, and a print red / green display 36 are connected.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the sort mode or the stack mode can be set by pressing the sort key 25 or the stack key 26 shown in FIG. 2, and the control thereof is as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.
First, the sort key control shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the drawings. In this sort key control, first, it is determined whether or not a key depressing flag is set (step 4-1). Here, the presence or absence of the setting of the key depressing flag is determined in order to avoid the resetting of the sort mode which has become unusable due to the detection of an abnormal state of the sorter 2, as described later. To avoid this, when setting the initial mode shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), a key press disable flag is set.

As a result of the above-mentioned determination, if it is set, the sort mode is canceled (step 4-).
6) If it is not set, it is determined that the sort key 25 is pressed (step 4-2). When the sort key 25 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the mode is the sort mode (step 4-3). If the result of this determination is that the mode is the sort mode, the sort mode is canceled (step 4-
7) If the mode is not the sort mode, the sort mode is set (step 4-4), and then the stack mode is reset (step 4-5). In this way, in the sort key control, when the sort key 25 is pressed, the sort mode is canceled if the sort mode is set, and the sort mode is set if the sort mode is not set.

Next, the stack key control shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the drawings. In this stack key control, it is first determined whether or not a key depressing flag is set (step 5-1). As a result of this determination, when it is set, the stack mode is released (step 5-6), and when it is not set, it is determined that the stack key 26 is pressed (step 5-5).
2). Then, when the stack key 26 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the mode is the stack mode (step 5-3). As a result of this determination, if the stack mode is set, the stack mode is canceled (step 5-7). If the stack mode is not set, the stack mode is set (step 5-4), and the sort mode is reset (step 5-5). ). In this way, in the stack key control, when the stack key 26 is pressed, the stack mode is canceled if the stack mode is set, and the stack mode is set if the stack mode is not set.

In this embodiment, when the mode is not the sort mode or the stack mode, the transfer paper is discharged to the normal paper output port 8 shown in FIG. 1, and when the mode is the sort mode or the stack mode, the post-process paper discharge is performed. Paper is discharged from the opening 9 and the sorter 2
To supply. By the way, in the case of the sort mode or the stack mode, since the final discharge port of the transfer paper is the discharge port 11 of the sorter 2 which is the post-processing device, the cover of the sorter 2 is open or jammed. Display, the display 31 does not light up and the main unit 1
Is not allowed. On the other hand, when the mode is not the sort mode or the stack mode, even if the cover of the sorter 2 is opened, the copy enable indicator 31 is turned on, and the copy of the apparatus main body 1 is enabled.

Such control is realized by each process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, and will be described. First, it is determined whether the cover of the apparatus main body 1 is in an open state based on a detection signal of the main body cover opening / closing detector 37 (step 6-1). As a result of this determination, the device body 1
When the cover of the apparatus main body 1 is open, the display 31 can be turned off and the print red display is turned on (steps 6-9 and 6-10). It is determined whether there is an abnormal state of the main body 1 (step 6-2). If the result of this determination is that the apparatus main body 1 is in an abnormal state, the display 31 is turned off and the print red display is turned on (steps 6-9 and 6-10). In some cases, it is determined whether or not the mode is the sort / stack mode (step 6-3).

If the result of this determination is that the mode is not the sort / stacker mode, the copy enable indicator 31 is turned on and the print green display is turned on (steps 6-6, 6--6).
7) On the other hand, in the case of the sort / stacker mode, it is determined whether the cover of the sorter 2 is in the open state based on the detection signal of the sorter cover open / close detector 38 (step 6).
-4). If the result of this determination is that the cover of the sorter 2 is open, a disabling flag for disabling the apparatus main body 1 is set (step 6-8), and copying is possible. The red display is turned on (steps 6-9 and 6-10). On the other hand, when the cover of the sorter 2 is not in the open state, it is determined whether or not the sorter is in an abnormal state (step 6-5).
If the result of this determination is that the sorter 2 is abnormal, after setting the unusable flag (step 6-8), the copyable display 31 is turned off and the print red display is turned on (steps 6-9, 6). -10). On the other hand, if the sorter 2 is not abnormal, the copy indicator 31 is turned on to turn on the print green display (step 6-6,
6-7).

By the way, when the mode is not the sort mode or the stack mode, the transfer paper is discharged to the normal paper discharge port 8 of the apparatus main body 1, so that it is the same as the case where the post-processing device (sorter) is not originally mounted. . Therefore, in this case,
Even if the cover of the sorter 2 is opened during the continuous copying by the apparatus body 1, it is not necessary to immediately stop the copying operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, when not in the sort mode or the stack mode, as shown in FIG.
The copying operation of the apparatus main body 1 is continued without checking for an abnormality of the sorter 2 which is a post-processing apparatus. On the other hand, in the sort mode or the stack mode, when the cover of the sorter 2 is in the open state or the sorter 2 is in the abnormal state, as shown in step 6-8 of FIG. 6 and step 7-8 of FIG.
An unusable flag indicating that the image forming operation of the apparatus main body is disabled is set, and the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 1 is disabled.

Next, the copy interruption control schematically illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this control, first, it is determined whether or not the cover of the apparatus main body 1 is in an open state based on a detection signal of the main body cover opening / closing detector 37 (step 7-1). If the result of this determination is that the cover of the apparatus main body 1 is open,
Suspends the copying operation (step 7-7). On the other hand, when the cover of the apparatus main body 1 is not in the open state, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the apparatus main body 1 (step 7-).
2). As a result of this determination, if an abnormality has occurred in the apparatus main body 1, copying is interrupted (step 7-7). On the other hand, if no abnormality has occurred in the apparatus main body 1, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in the sort / stack mode (step 7-7). Step 7-3).

If the result of this determination is that the mode is not the sort / stacker mode, the copying operation is continued (step 7-).
6) On the other hand, in the case of the sort / stacker mode, it is determined whether the cover of the sorter 2 is in the open state based on the detection signal of the sorter cover open / close detector 38 (step 7).
-4). If the result of this determination is that the cover of the sorter 2 is open, the unusable flag is set (step 7-8), and then the copying operation is interrupted (step 7-).
7). On the other hand, when the cover of the sorter 2 is not in the open state, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the sorter 2 (step 7-5). If the result of this determination is that an abnormality has occurred in the sorter 2, the unusable flag is set (step 7-8), and the copying operation is interrupted (step 7-).
7) Yes. On the other hand, when there is no abnormality in the sorter 2,
The copying operation is continued (step 7-6).

In this embodiment, as described above, if the sort mode or the stack mode is set when the sorter 2 as the post-processing device is in an abnormal state, as shown in step 6-8 in FIG. The unusable flag is set, and the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 1 is disabled. However, in this case, in this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 8, by pressing the mode clear key 22, the initial mode can be reset. For this reason, in this embodiment, the abnormal state of the sorter 2 which is a post-processing device is released, or the power of the device main body 1 is not turned off / on, and the device main body 1 is not used without using the sorter 2. An image forming operation can be executed. Further, in this embodiment, when the sort mode and the stack mode cannot be used once the abnormal state of the sorter 2 is detected and the sort key 25 or the stack key 26 is pressed, the setting of the unusable mode can be avoided. A key depressing flag is set (step 8-3 in FIG. 8), and pressing of the sort key 25 or the stack key 26 is prohibited (step 4-1 in FIG. 4, step 5-1 in FIG. 5). .

Next, the initial mode setting shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the drawings. In this initial mode setting, it is first determined whether or not the unusable flag has been set (step 8-1). If the result of this determination is that the unusable flag has been set, then it is determined whether or not the mode clear key 22 has been pressed (step 8-2). If the result of this determination is that the mode clear key 22 has been pressed, a key press disabled flag is set (step 8-3), and then the image forming mode is set to the initial mode (step 8-4). on the other hand,
If it is determined in step 8-1 that the unusable flag has not been set, then it is determined whether or not the mode clear key 22 has been pressed (step 8-5). If the result of this determination is that the mode clear key 22 has been pressed, the image forming mode is set to the initial mode (step 8-4).

Next, the operation for canceling the abnormality shown in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the drawings. In this abnormality clearing, the jam is cleared (step 9-1), and the error is cleared (step 9-).
2), each determination of cover close (step 9-3) is performed, and when each of these determinations is affirmative,
Reset of the unusable flag and reset of the depressable flag are performed (step 9-4).

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing mode is returned to the initial mode even when the post-processing device is in an unusable state. The image forming operation in the initial mode can be performed without being turned on.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image processing mode is returned to the initial mode even when the post-processing device remains in the unusable state. Since the main body of the forming apparatus performs the image forming operation, even if the post-processing apparatus is in an abnormal state, the power is turned off.
The image forming operation in the initial mode can be performed without turning on the F / ON.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image processing mode is returned to the initial mode even when the post-processing device remains in the unusable state, and when the mode is restored, the unusable state of the post-processing device is released. Until the use of the post-processing device is prohibited, use of the post-processing device can be prevented from being disabled again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing sort key control according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing stack key control according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing copy-permitted control according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing copy suspension control according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting an initial mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of releasing an abnormality according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Sorter (post-processing apparatus) 3 ADF (automatic document feeder) 4 Document reading unit 5 Printing mechanism 6 Paper feed unit 7 Paper discharge unit 8 Normal discharge port 9 Post-processing discharge port 22 Mode clear key 32 CPU 33 RAM 34 ROM 37 Main body cover open / close detector 38 Sorter cover open / close detector

Claims (3)

[Claims] When an image forming mode in which a post-processing apparatus is not used is set, the image forming apparatus main body is not disabled even when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, and the image forming apparatus is not used. The transfer paper on which the image is formed by the main body is discharged from the first discharge port. On the other hand, when the image forming mode using the post-processing device is set, the image is formed by the unusable state of the post-processing device. In the image forming apparatus in which the image forming of the image forming apparatus main body becomes unusable and the image-formed transfer paper cannot be discharged from the second discharge port and supplied to the post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus is used. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a return unit configured to return an image forming mode to an initial mode in a disabled state. 2. When an image forming mode in which a post-processing apparatus is not used is set, the image forming apparatus main body is not disabled even when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state. The transfer paper on which the image is formed by the main body is discharged from the first discharge port. On the other hand, when the image forming mode using the post-processing device is set, the image is formed by the unusable state of the post-processing device. In the image forming apparatus in which the image forming of the image forming apparatus main body becomes unusable and the image-formed transfer paper cannot be discharged from the second discharge port and supplied to the post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus is used. Return means for returning the image forming mode to the initial mode when the image forming apparatus is in the disabled state; and when returning to the initial mode by the return means, the image forming apparatus does not use the post-processing apparatus. An image forming apparatus, comprising: control means for causing a main body to perform an image forming operation. 3. When an image forming mode in which a post-processing apparatus is not used is set, the image forming apparatus main body is not disabled even when the post-processing apparatus is in an unusable state, and the image forming apparatus is not used. The transfer paper on which the image is formed by the main body is discharged from the first discharge port. On the other hand, when the image forming mode using the post-processing device is set, the image is formed by the unusable state of the post-processing device. In the image forming apparatus in which the image forming of the image forming apparatus main body becomes unusable and the image-formed transfer paper cannot be discharged from the second discharge port and supplied to the post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus is used. Return means for returning the image forming mode to the initial mode in the disabled state; and when the return means returns to the initial mode, the unusable state of the post-processing device is released. An image forming apparatus comprising: a prohibition unit for prohibiting use of the post-processing device.