JPH11157169A - Image forming apparatus having two-in-one mode - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an image forming apparatus capable of binding, in a good operable condition, a bunch of sheets wherein images are formed by a two-in-one mode. SOLUTION: Manuscripts S which are loaded on a manuscript tray 310 in a face-up condition are supplied from the lower section by two sheets thereof such that the sheet having a lower number of page is disposed at the right side of a device body 100, then an image is formed on one of the sheets. A copy sheet is disposed such that the lower end thereof is on the rear side of the device body 100 and the sheet is discharged in a face-up condition from the left side of the device body 100 by means of a pair of discharge rollers 229. The discharged bunch of sheets are bound by a stapler at a portion of the rear end in the discharging direction at a front side of the device body 100. As a result, the bunch of sheets wherein images are formed by a two-in-one mode are adequately sorted in the order of pages and the bunch of sheets are bound in a condition that each sheet can be readily turned.

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 2 in 1 mode, and more specifically, for example, two originals are conveyed two by two from the lower side to a platen of the image forming apparatus, and one original is conveyed. In an image forming apparatus having a 2 in 1 mode for forming an image on a sheet, a sheet bundle formed in a 2 in 1 mode can be bound in an easy-to-handle state.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an in1 mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image is formed in a mode of copying two originals onto one sheet, that is, in a so-called 2in1 mode, a bundle of originals placed face-down on an original tray is supplied in ascending order from the bottom. Paper and image reading unit (platen)
There is an automatic document feeder to be placed on a document. In this automatic document feeder, when the originals on the original tray are face down and two originals are fed to the platen from the lowermost side of the originals (2 in 1 mode), the right side of one copied sheet There is a problem that a young page is located in the first place. Therefore, the young manuscript (preceding manuscript) previously fed to the image reading unit is temporarily evacuated from the image reading unit, and replaced with the next manuscript (subsequent manuscript), and then the image is read. An automatic document feeder for arranging two originals in each section is used.

When a copy sheet formed in the 2in1 mode is bound by the binding means, one corner of the sheet bundle is bound by the binding means.

[0004]

In the case where a bundle of copy sheets formed by two originals is bound by a binding unit, the positional relationship between the copy sheet discharge direction and the binding unit, and the front / back relationship of the sheets. In some cases, there is a problem that the bound sheet bundle is difficult to turn over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of binding a sheet bundle on which an image has been formed in a 2in1 mode in a state in which it can be easily handled.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The two originals are read side by side on the platen and this image is
In an image forming apparatus having a 2 in 1 mode in which two copy sheets are formed and a copy sheet is bound, a document tray on which the document is placed face-up from the upper side in a page order so that the lower end of the document faces the front side of the apparatus body A document conveying means capable of separating the documents on the document tray one by one from below and transporting the documents onto a platen of the apparatus main body, and arranging the right side as viewed from the front of the apparatus main body in ascending order; Reading means for scanning the upper document from the left as viewed from the front of the apparatus main body, and the lower end of the copy sheet facing the rear side of the apparatus main body, with the copied sheet in the upstream in the discharge direction in the youngest order, and A discharge unit that can be discharged from the left side of the apparatus body in a face-up state, and a rear end of the copy sheet discharged in the discharge direction by the discharge unit, A binding means capable of closing the front side of the Okimoto body, characterized in that it comprises a.

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, a document for forming an image in the 2in1 mode is placed face-up on a document tray with the lower end of the document facing the front side of the apparatus main body. The original is conveyed to the platen from below, and is placed on the platen such that the right side is a young page when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body.

The document on the platen is scanned by the reading means from the left as viewed from the front of the apparatus main body, and the read image is copied to an image forming sheet.

The copied sheet is discharged by the discharge means from the left side of the apparatus main body in a face-up state, with the lower end of the copy sheet facing rearward of the apparatus main body, with the upstream side in the discharge direction being younger. . The discharged copy sheet bundle is bound by the binding means at the rear end in the sheet discharge direction and on the front side of the apparatus main body. Since the binding position of the sheet bundle by the binding means is at the upper left of the sheet bundle,
The page order of the sheet bundle in the 2in1 mode is correctly aligned,
And it is in a state where the sheet is easily turned.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A. Main Body (100) In the main body 100 of FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a platen glass on which a document is placed, 103 denotes an illumination lamp 103 (exposure lamp) serving as a reading unit for illuminating the document, 105, 107,
Reference numeral 109 denotes a scanning mirror (scanning mirror) that changes the optical path of the document, 111 denotes a lens having focusing and zooming functions, and 113 denotes a fourth reflection mirror (scanning mirror) that changes the optical path. An optical system motor 115 drives the optical system, and 117, 119, and 121 are sensors, respectively.

The illumination lamp 103 includes a platen 101
The upper document is scanned from the left as viewed from the front of the apparatus body.

Reference numeral 131 denotes a photosensitive drum, 133 a main motor for driving the photosensitive drum 131, 135 a high-pressure unit, 137 a blank exposure unit, 139 a developing unit,
140 is a developing roller, 141 is a transfer charger, 143 is a separation charger, and 145 is a cleaning device.

Reference numeral 151 denotes an upper cassette, 153 denotes a lower cassette, 171 denotes a manual paper feed port, 155 and 157 denote paper feed rollers, and 159 denotes a registration roller. 161
Is a transport belt that transports the image-recorded paper feed to the fixing side,
Reference numeral 163 denotes a fixing device for fixing the conveyed recording paper by thermocompression bonding, and 167 denotes a sensor used for double-sided recording.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is made of a photoconductor and a seamless photosensitive member using a conductor. The drum 131 is rotatably supported by a shaft and responds to pressing of a copy start key described later. By operating main motor 133,
The rotation starts in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Then drum 1
When the predetermined rotation control and potential control processing (the above processing) of 31 is completed, the document placed on the platen glass 101 is
Illumination lamp 1 integrated with first scanning mirror 105
03, the reflected light of the original is reflected by the first scanning mirror 105, the second scanning mirror 107, and the third scanning mirror 10
9, an image is formed on the drum 131 via the lens 111 and the fourth scanning mirror 113.

The drum 131 is corona-charged by the high-pressure unit 135. After that, the image (original image) irradiated by the illumination lamp 103 is subjected to slit exposure, and an upper electrostatic image of the drum 131 is formed by a known Carlson method.

Next, the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 131 is
The toner is developed by the developing roller 140 of the developing device 139 and visualized as a toner image.
1, the image is transferred onto a transfer sheet as described later.

That is, the transfer paper or the manual paper feed port 171 in the upper cassette 151 or the lower cassette 153
The transfer paper set in the paper feed roller 155 or 1
57, and is sent into the main unit by the registration rollers 159.
Is sent in the direction of the photosensitive drum 131 with more accurate timing, so that the leading end of the latent image and the leading end of the transfer paper coincide.
After that, the transfer paper passes between the transfer charger 141 and the drum 131, so that the toner image on the drum 131 is transferred onto the transfer paper.

After the completion of the transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the drum 131 by a separation charger 143, and the transfer belt 161
Then, the toner is fixed to the fixing device 163 by pressurizing and heating, and then discharged out of the main body 100 by the discharge roller 165 and stacked on the discharge tray 430 shown in the figure.

The drum 131 after the transfer continues to rotate as it is, and its surface is cleaned by a cleaning device 145 including a cleaning roller and an elastic blade.

B. Pedestal (200) The pedestal 200 in FIG. 1 has a deck 201 which can be separated from the main body 100 and can store 2,000 sheets of transfer paper, and an intermediate tray 203 for double-sided copying. Also, the deck 201 that can store 2,000 sheets
The lifter 205 rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 207. Also, 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes a discharge flapper for switching a path between a double-side recording side or multiple recording side path and a discharge side path; 213 and 215, a conveyance path of a conveyance belt; 217, an intermediate tray weight for holding a transfer sheet; 211 and the transport path 21
The transfer paper passing through 3,215 is turned over and stored in the intermediate tray 203 for double-sided copying.

Reference numeral 219 denotes a multiplex flapper for a double-sided recording and a multiplex recording path. The flapper 219 is disposed between the conveyance paths 213 and 215 and guides the transfer paper to the multiplex recording conveyance path 221 by rotating upward. Reference numeral 223 denotes a multiple discharge sensor for detecting the end of the transfer paper passing through the multiple flapper 219. A paper feed roller 225 feeds the transfer paper to the drum 131 through a path 227. Reference numeral 229 denotes a discharge roller (discharge unit) for discharging the transfer paper outside the apparatus.

During double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiplexed copying), first, the discharge flapper 211 of the main body 100 is raised to information, and the copied transfer paper is transported through the transport paths 213 and 215 of the pedestal 200. To the intermediate tray 203. At this time, the multiplex flapper 219 is lowered during double-side recording, and the multiplex flapper 219 is raised during multiplex recording. The intermediate tray 203 can store, for example, up to 99 copy sheets. The transfer paper stored in the intermediate tray 203 is pressed by the intermediate tray weight 217.

At the time of the next backside recording or multiplex recording, the transfer sheets stored in the intermediate tray 203 are fed one by one from the bottom through the path 227 by the action of the paper feed roller 225 and the weight 217. Registration roller 1
It is led to 59.

C. RDF (Circulating Automatic Document Feeder)
(300) As shown in detail in FIG. 3, a stacking tray 310 as a first document tray on which the document bundle S is set is set in the RDF 300.
And a stacking tray (document tray) 350 as a second document tray for setting the document bundle SS. The document placed face-up on the stacking tray 350 has the lower end of the document facing the front of the apparatus body.

Further, on the stacking tray 310 side, a feeding means constituting one part of the document feeding means is provided. This feeding means includes a half-moon roller 331, a separation conveyance roller 332, a separation belt 333, and a separation motor SPR.
MTR, registration roller 335, and entire belt 33
6, a belt motor BELTMTR, a large conveying roller 338, a conveying motor FEEDMTE, and a discharge roller 3.
40, flapper 341 and recycle lever 342
And a paper feed stopper 343, a paper feed sensor ENTS, a reversing sensor TRNS, a paper ejection sensor EJTS, and the like.

Here, the half-moon roller 331, the separation conveyance roller 332 and the separation belt 333 are separated by a separation motor SPRMT.
The document is rotated by R to separate documents one by one from the bottom of the document bundle S on the stacking tray 310.

The registration roller 335 and the full-surface belt 336 rotate the original separated by the belt motor BETMTR to the exposure position (sheet path c) on the original table glass 101 via the sheet paths a and b. Transport. In addition, the transport large roller 338 is a transport motor FEEDM.
The document is rotated by the TR to convey the document on the document table glass 101 from the sheet path c to the sheet path e. The original conveyed along the sheet path e is returned to the original bundle S on the stacking tray 310 by the discharge rollers 340.

The recycle lever 342 detects one cycle of the original. When the original is fed, the recycle lever 342 is placed on the upper part of the original bundle S, and the originals are sequentially fed. One cycle of the document is detected by falling under its own weight when passing through the recycle lever 342.

In the feeding means 330, when a two-sided original is
The original is once guided from sheet paths a and b to c, and then the large conveying roller 338 is rotated to switch the flapper 341 to the dotted line position shown in FIG.
Then, the original is passed over the sheet path b by the registration roller 335, and thereafter the original is conveyed onto the original platen glass 101 by the entire surface belt 336 and stopped, thereby inverting the original. That is, the original is reversed on the sheet paths c to d and b.

The recycle lever 34 passes the originals of the original bundle S one by one through sheet paths a to b to c to d to e.
By transporting the document until it is detected that one cycle has been performed by 2, the number of documents can be counted.

Further, on the right side of the main body of the RDF 300, the sheet original S after the completion of the image reading on the platen 101 is discharged in a direction opposite to the carrying direction to the platen 101. A second document discharge path (sheet path g) to be conveyed to the uppermost portion is configured. A first conveyance roller 343 and a second conveyance roller 344 for conveying the sheet document S are arranged in the sheet path g, and a second discharge roller 345 is provided downstream of the sheet path g. , The sheet S conveyed along the sheet path g
Is discharged to the top of the document bundle S on the document tray 310.

The registration roller 335, the entire belt 3
The transporting means for transporting the original to the platen glass is constituted by 36 and the like.

The original tray 35 is moved by the original conveying means.
The original on 0 is transported onto the platen 101 from the right side when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body, with the lower end thereof facing the front side of the apparatus main body 100.

A mode in which two originals are placed on the platen 101 and copied onto one sheet, a so-called 2 in 1 mode
In the mode, the fed two originals are placed such that the original of the young page is located on the right side when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body.

When these two originals are scanned from the left side of the apparatus main body by the illumination lamp 103 to form an image, the copy sheet is a young page on the upstream side in the discharge direction, and the lower end of the copy sheet is the main body of the apparatus. Facing the back of
And, face up, from the left side of the device body,
The sheet is discharged by a discharge roller 229 (FIG. 1).

Above the sheet path g, the document discharge cover 3
A third document discharge path (sheet path n) is provided, which is arranged so as to branch from the vicinity of the entire surface belt 336 downstream to the sheet path n. A discharge flapper 35 for switching the conveyance path is provided at a branch portion between the sheet path c and the sheet path n.
5 and a discharge flapper solenoid RFLA
The path is switched by swinging between the solid line position and the broken line position in the figure by turning on / off the PSL.
A third discharge roller 362 is provided downstream of the sheet path n, and discharges the sheet document S conveyed in the sheet path n onto the document discharge cover 346.

In the sheet path g, a second sheet discharge sensor LOOPEJTS, which is a transmission type optical sensor for detecting the front end and the rear end of the sheet document S in the sheet discharge path, is arranged.

On the right side of the main body of the RDF 300, a document carrying path (sheet path 1) for receiving a sheet document from outside the body into the RDF body is opened, and a document carrying path joining from the sheet path 1 to the sheet path g. Is configured.

Next, the swinging operation of the document tray 310 will be described. The motor output shaft of the tray swing motor TRAYMTR is coupled to the tray swing arm shaft 348.
A tray swing roller 347 is connected to the lower surface of the document tray 310. The tray swing roller 347 is provided at the tip of the tray swing arm 349, and the opposite side of the tray swing arm 349 is fixed to the tray swing arm shaft 348, and the tray swing arm shaft 348 rotates to rotate the tray swing roller 347. The swing arm 349 swings between the solid line and the broken line position in the figure, and swings the document tray 310 between the solid line position and the broken line position around the swing center.

TRAYUPLMTSW is a document tray 3
10 is an upper limit switch for detecting that the position 10 has reached the upper position (solid line position).
Is a lower limit switch for detecting that the document tray 310 has reached the lower position (broken line position). The tray swing motor TRAYMTR controls the rotation by detecting the upper and lower limit switches.

The stacking tray 350 is also provided with feeding means constituting the other part of the document feeding means.
This feeding means includes a half-moon roller 351, a separation conveyance roller 352, a separation belt 353, a registration roller 354.
, Transport motor RFEEDMTR, and paper feed stopper 35
9, a reserved paper feed sensor RENTS, and a document detection sensor R
The EMPS includes a discharge roller 362 and the like.

When the transport motor RFEEDMTR is turned on, the half-moon roller 351 and the separation transport roller 352 are turned on.
Then, the separation belt 353 rotates to separate the originals one by one from the lowermost part of the original bundle SS on the stacking tray 350.

When the conveying motor RFEEDMTR is turned on to rotate the registration roller 354 and the belt motor BELTMTR is turned on in the reverse direction to rotate the entire belt 336 in reverse, the original separated from the original bundle SS is transferred to the sheet paths k and c. Can be transported.

It should be noted that the belt motor BELTMTR is turned on in the normal direction to rotate the entire belt 336 in the normal direction, and the reserved transport motor RFEEDMTR is turned on in the reverse direction so that the discharge rollers 362 are turned on.
Is reversed, the original on the original platen glass 101 can be discharged onto the upper cover 346 through the sheet path c to the sheet path n.

FIG. 21 shows an example of the arrangement of an operation panel provided on the main body 100 described above. The operation panel has a key group 600 and a display group 700 as described later.

D. Sheet post-processing apparatus (400) The sorter will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. FIG. In the figure, the sorters 400 and 401 comprise a body 402 and a bin unit, and the body 402 is provided with a carry-in roller pair 405 near a carry-in port 404. A flapper 409 that switches the sheet conveyance direction to the conveyance path 406 or 407 is provided downstream of the pair of carry-in rollers 405. One transport path 406 extends substantially in the horizontal direction, and a transport roller pair 410 is disposed downstream of the transport path 406. The other transport path 406 extends downward and a transport roller pair 411 is located downstream of the transport path. And a stapler (binding means) 41 near the roller pair 411.
2 are provided.

The stapler 412 is located at the rear end in the discharge direction of the copy sheet discharged to the bin B, and
00 is arranged at a position for binding the front side. As a result, when the stack of copy sheets in the 2in1 mode is bound by the stapler 412, the binding position of the sheet bundle by the stapler 412 is at the upper left portion of the sheet bundle, so that the sheet can be easily turned.

The carry-in roller pair 405 and the carry roller pair 41
0 and 411 are driven by a transport motor 413 (see FIG. 7). The transport path 406 has a non-sort path sensor S401 for detecting the passage of a sheet, and the transport path 407 has a sort path sensor S402. On the downstream side of the transport roller pairs 410 and 411, a bin unit having a number of bins B is arranged. One end is engaged with the hook 416 of the bin unit 403, and the other end is By maintaining the overlap with the fixed spring 415, the bin unit 403 is supported to be able to move up and down.

Guide rollers 417 and 419 are rotatably supported at the upper and lower portions on the base end side of the bin unit.
The guide rollers 417 and 419 are configured to roll in a guide groove 420 provided in the machine body 402 so as to extend in the vertical direction to guide the bin unit.
Further, a shift motor 421 is provided on the body 402. A lead cam 423 and a sprocket 425 are fixed to a rotating shaft 422 pivotally supported by the body 402.
A chain 426 is stretched between the sprocket 425 and the output shaft of the shift motor 421, whereby the rotation of the motor 421 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 422 via the chain 426.

Further, the bin unit includes a bottom frame 427 having an inclined portion and a vertical portion,
The unit body 431 includes a pair of frames 429 provided vertically on the front and rear sides of the front end 27 and a cover 430 supported by the frame 429. In front of the unit body 431, a sheet P
A reference plate 455 is provided to abut (see FIG. 6) for alignment. A lower arm 433 that is rotated by an alignment motor 432 is located behind the bottom end of the bottom frame 427.
Are rotatably supported (see FIG. 7). Further, an upper arm 435 is fixed to a shaft 436 rotatably supported by the cover 430 at a position facing the lower arm 433 of the cover 430. The center of rotation of the upper arm 435 and the lower arm 433 are fixed. A shaft 437 is erected at the center of rotation.

An alignment rod 439 is provided between the distal end of the lower arm 433 and the distal end of the upper arm 435, and the alignment rod 439 is configured to be rotated by an alignment motor 432. The matching motor 432 is a stepping motor, and the position of the matching rod 439 can be accurately controlled by the number of pulses given to the stepping motor. Reference numeral S403 denotes a matching rod home sensor for detecting the position of the matching rod 439.
Can be controlled by the number of pulses given to the matching rod home sensor and the matching motor 432.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bin B has engagement plates 440 at the front and rear ends thereof. When the engagement plate 440 is engaged with a support plate (not shown) provided inside the frame 429, the bin B is supported on the tip side. Further, a support shaft 441 is fixed to the front and rear sides of the base end of the bin B, and a roller 442 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 441.

Further, a long hole 443 which is longer than the rotation distance of the alignment rod 439 and sufficiently wider than the width of the alignment rod 439 is formed at a predetermined distance from the shaft 437 in the bin B. The base end Ba of the bin B rises perpendicularly to the sheet storage surface Bb. The bin B has a front end inclined upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the body 402, and the inclination causes the sheet P to slide on the sheet storage surface Bb and move the rear end to the base end B.
a, and is aligned in the front-rear direction.

The alignment rod 439 is inserted into the long hole 443 of the bins B1, B2,.
Reference numeral 9 is configured to rotate within the elongated hole 443 to abut and align the sheet P with the alignment reference plate 455. Also,
The lead cam 423 has a groove 423 a slightly wider than the roller 442 and is spirally carved to engage with the roller 442.
Reference numeral 42 is configured to move up and down along the groove 423a. One rotation of the lead cam 423 is equivalent to the rotation of the lead cam 42.
3 is detected by a lead cam sensor S404 disposed in the vicinity of S3. The position of the bin unit 403 is detected by the bin home position sensor S405.

A double stay 445 is provided at the bottom of the bin B.
Is provided. The double stay 445 has a configuration in which the roller 442 is rotatably supported similarly to the bin B, and the double pass unit 446 can be further supported. Double pass unit 446 is the second sorter 4
01 to transport the sheet P to the lead cam 4
23, the two-pass unit 446 is moved to a position facing the second roller pair 411, and the sheet P is conveyed by a two-pass motor 447 (not shown), whereby the sheet discharged from the copier main body 100 is conveyed. P can be stored in the second station.

In the case of the non-sort mode, the paper is discharged to the non-sort tray 430 located at the lowermost portion of the bin B. The presence or absence of the sheet P in the non-sort tray 430 is determined by the non-sort tray paper presence detection sensor S409.
Can be detected by

The presence of the sheet P on the sort bin B can be detected by a sort tray paper presence / absence detection sensor (sheet post-processing position selecting means) S407.

The staplers 412 and 480 are electric staplers. These staplers are swung in the direction indicated by a solid arrow in FIG. 6 by swing motors 450 and 481 (not shown) and moved to the positions shown by solid lines, and are driven by solenoids 440 and 482 (not shown) and swing again. It is oscillated by the motors 450 and 481 and retreats from the bin B and moves to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.

The stapler 480 can be moved in both directions indicated by arrows according to the size of paper to be discharged, and can be stapled at the end of the transfer paper.

The selection of the staplers 412 and 480 will be described later.

The staplers 412 and 480 bind the sheet P in the bin B in this way, and then
1, the bin B is moved by one bin, and the sheets P stacked in the next bin B are bound. Note that S406 is a manual stapling key, and when the manual stapling key S406 is pressed after sorting is completed, a stapling operation is performed.

E. Key Group (600) In FIG. 21, reference numeral 601 denotes an asterisk (*) key, which is used by an operator (user) to set a binding margin amount or a mode setting such as a document frame erasing size setting.
Reference numeral 606 denotes an all reset key, which is pressed to return to the standard mode. A preheating key 602 is pressed when the machine of the main body 100 is set to the preheating state and when the preheating state is released. The key 602 is also pressed when returning from the auto shaft off state to the standard mode.

Reference numeral 605 denotes a copy start key (copy start key) which is depressed to start copying.

Reference numeral 604 denotes a clear / stop key, which has a clear key function during standby (standby) and a stop key function during copy recording. This clear key is pressed to cancel the set number of copies. Also * (asterisk)
Also used to release the mode. The stop key is pressed to interrupt continuous copying. After the copying at the time of pressing is completed, the copying operation is stopped.

Reference numeral 603 denotes a numeric keypad, which is depressed when setting the number of copies. Also used when setting * (asterisk) mode. A memory key 619 can register a mode frequently used by the user. Here, four types of registration, M1 to M4, can be performed.

Reference numerals 611 and 612 denote copy density keys.
Press to manually adjust the copy density. An AE key 613 is depressed when automatically adjusting the copy density in accordance with the density of the document or when canceling the AE (automatic density adjustment) and switching the density adjustment to manual (manual). Reference numeral 607 denotes a cassette selection key.
51, interruption cassette 153, lower paper deck 201
Press to select. When a document is placed on 300, APS (automatic paper selection) can be selected with this key 607. When the APS is selected, a transfer paper cassette having the same size as the original is automatically selected.

Reference numeral 610 denotes an equal-size key, which is depressed when making a copy of the same size (original size). An automatic scaling key 616 is pressed when automatically reducing or enlarging the image of the original according to the size of the specified transfer sheet. Reference numerals 617 and 618 denote zoom keys which are pressed to specify an arbitrary magnification between 64% and 142%. Reference numerals 608 and 609 denote fixed size scaling keys, which are pressed when designating reduction / enlargement of the fixed size.

Reference numeral 626 denotes a double-sided key which is depressed to make double-sided copying from a single-sided original, double-sided copying from a double-sided original, and single-sided copying from a double-sided original. A binding margin key 625 can create a binding margin of a designated length on the left side of the transfer sheet. A photo key 624 is pressed when copying a photo document. A multiple key 623 is pressed when an image is created (combined) on the same side of the transfer paper from two originals.

Reference numeral 620 denotes a document frame erasing key, which is pressed when the user uses the frame erasing of a standard size document, and the size of the document at that time is set by the asterisk key 601.

Reference numeral 621 denotes a sheet frame erasing key, which is pressed when erasing a document frame in accordance with the size of a cassette.

Reference numeral 622 denotes a page continuous shooting key, which is pressed when the left and right pages of the document are copied on separate sheets.

Reference numeral 614 denotes a paper discharge method (staple, sort,
When a stapler that is a group) selection key and that can staple printed paper is connected, staple mode and sort mode can be selected or canceled, and a sorting tray (sorter) is connected. Can select or cancel the sort mode or group mode.

A paper folding selection key 615 is used to select and cancel a Z-fold that folds a recorded sheet of A3 or B4 size into a Z-shaped cross section and a half-fold that folds it in half.

Reference numeral 627 denotes an interrupt key. When pressed during copying, the copying is interrupted and a new copy (hereinafter referred to as interrupt copying) is enabled. If the button is pressed during the interrupt copy mode setting, the interruptable state is released.

Reference numeral 628 denotes a reservation key for registering and canceling reservation copying. When the reservation key 628 is pressed, a copy mode different from the copy mode already set can be set. Here, the copy mode to be registered is set, and when the setting is completed, the reservation setting key 629 is pressed. As a result, the set copy mode is stored in the 805 RAM.

Reference numeral 630 denotes a 2 in 1 mode key for placing a plurality of originals on a platen glass and
The 2in1 mode for forming an image on a sheet of transfer paper can be selected and canceled.

Reference numeral 632 denotes a horizontal / vertical writing original selection key.
The order of placing a plurality of originals when the 2in1 mode is designated by the 2in1 mode key can be selected. When omitted, vertical originals are selected.

Reference numeral 634 denotes an odd / even input key. When the total number of documents in the bundle is an odd number, pressing this key informs the copying machine of the number of documents.

F. Display Group (700) In FIG. 21, reference numeral 701 denotes an LCD (liquid crystal) type message display for displaying information relating to copying, for example, 5 × 7 dots, each of which constitutes one character. The copy magnification set by the magnification keys 608 and 609, the equal magnification key 610, and the zoom keys 617 and 618 can be displayed. The display 701 is a semi-transmissive liquid crystal and uses two colors for a backlight. Normally, a green backlight is turned on, and an orange backlight is turned on in an abnormal state or in a copying disabled state.

Reference numeral 706 denotes an equal-magnification display, which is turned on when equal-magnification is selected. Reference numeral 703 denotes a color developing device display, which lights when a sepia developing device is set. A copy number display 702 displays the number of copies or a self-diagnosis code. Reference numeral 705 denotes a used cassette display, which includes an upper cassette 151, a suspended cassette 153, and a lower deck 201.
Displays whether any of is selected. 704 is A
This is an E display, which lights when AE (automatic density adjustment) is selected by the AE key 613. Reference numeral 709 denotes a preheating indicator, which is a two-color LED of green and orange. The green LED lights when ready (when copying is possible), and the orange lights when waiting (when copying is impossible).

Reference numeral 708 denotes a double-sided copy display which is turned on when one of double-sided copying from a double-sided original and double-sided copying from a single-sided original is selected.

When the RDF 300 is used in the standard mode, the setting of one copy, the density AE mode, the automatic paper selection, the same size, and the one-sided original to the one-sided copy are set. In the standard mode when the RDF 300 is not used, the number of copies is set to one, the density manual mode is set to the same size, and one-sided original to one-sided copy is set. The difference between when the RDF 300 is used and when it is not used depends on whether or not a document is set on the RDF 300.

A power lamp 710 is turned on when a power switch is turned on.

Reference numeral 711 is lit when the interrupt display mode is set on the interrupt indicator and during the interrupt copy.

Reference numeral 712 denotes a reservation registration display, which lights when a reservation copy is registered.

G. Main Body Control Device (800) FIG. 4 shows an example of a circuit configuration of the control device 800 of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 801 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for performing arithmetic control for executing the present invention.
Microcomputer V50 manufactured by C (NEC Corporation)
Use Reference numeral 803 denotes a read-only memory (ROM) in which a control procedure (control program) as shown in FIG. 28 and thereafter is stored in advance, and the CPU 801 controls each component connected via a bus in accordance with the control procedure stored in the ROM. Control. Reference numeral 805 denotes a random access memory (RAM) which is a main storage device used as storage for input data, a work storage area, and the like.

Reference numeral 807 denotes a load for the main motor 133 or the like.
An interface (I / O) for outputting a control signal from the PU 801; an interface 809 for inputting an input signal of the image sensor 121 and the like and sending it to the CPU 801;
Is an interface for input / output control of the key group 600 and the display group 700. These interfaces 807, 809, 811 use, for example, the input / output circuit port uPD8255 of NEC.

Further, a known communication IC (for example, uPD8251) is connected via a bus.
Is further connected to a communication IC on the RDF and sorter side, and exchanges control data necessary for mutual control of the copying machine body with the RDF and the sorter by sequential communication.

The data transmitted from the copying machine to the RDF includes a paper feed signal for urging the original loaded on the RDF to be fed, a discharge signal for urging the original on the platen glass 101 to be discharged, and a reserved original. The data to be sent from the copying machine to the sorter is an image forming mode, a mode for storing in the sorter, a sheet size to be stored, a timing signal, and the like. .

H. RDF Controller (900) FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a controller (900) of the circulating-type automatic document feeder of this embodiment. The control circuit is a one-chip microcomputer (ROM, RAM, etc.) (CPU) 901.
Signals from various sensors are input to an input port of the microcomputer 901. Each load is connected to the output port 1 of the microcomputer 901 via a driver, and control data is exchanged with the copier body via the communication IC 903. The data transmitted from the RDF to the copying machine main body is a feed completion signal indicating completion of feeding of the document onto the platen glass.

(Reservation) Next, the reservation copying operation will be described. Here, the reserved copy is a second copy mode that is already set and is waiting for copying to be started, or a second copy mode different from the first mode being copied is set, and is executed after the copy in the first copy mode is completed. Is a copy by

When the user presses the copy start wait state or the reservation key 628 during the copying operation, the first setting which has already been set is performed.
(Hereinafter referred to as a main screen) (hereinafter referred to as a reservation screen). At this time, the first copy mode that has already been set is stored in the memory M1.

When the reservation screen is displayed, the second copy mode can be set regardless of whether the copying operation is being performed. The setting of the second copy mode is completed by pressing a reservation setting key 629. At this time, the display screen returns to the main screen, and the set second copy mode is stored on the main M2.
A document to be copied by reserved copying is set and placed on the reserved tray 350 with its surface facing upward.

A case will be described where a reserved copy is registered during single-sided mode copying in which a document is set on the RDF 300. When the discharge processing of the final document is completed by the normal copy L operation, a discharge instruction is transmitted to execute the reservation preparation discharge processing. When the reservation preparation discharge process is completed, a document transfer command is transmitted and the reservation tray 3
The document bundle SS on the document 50 is transferred to the document tray 310. In the main body, in the copy operation in the first copy mode, when the discharge is completed and the main motor stops, the display screen displays the set second copy mode, and the memory M1 is stored in the memory M1.
2 is stored, and this is the first copy mode. Then, it becomes possible to newly make a reservation copy registration.

The original is moved from the reserved tray 350 to the original tray 3
When all the data has been transferred onto the printer 10, copying in the set copying mode is started.

I. Sorter control device (1000) Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the sorter 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1001, a read-only memory (RO).
M) 1002, random access memory (RAM) 10
The control device 1000 includes an output port 1004, an input port 1005, an input port 1005, and the like. The ROM 1002 stores a control program, and the RAM 1003 stores input data and work data. Various motors such as the above-described shift motor 416 and solenoid driving means are connected to the output port 1004.
5 is connected with each sensor and switch from S401 to S406 such as the non-sort path sensor S401,
U1001 controls each unit connected via the bus according to the control program stored in ROM002. Further, the CPU 1001 has a serial interface function, performs serial communication with the CPU of the copying machine main body, controls each unit by a signal from the copying machine main body, and outputs an operation signal to the next sorter.

The alignment rod 439 is inserted into the long hole 443 of the bins B1, B2,.
Reference numeral 9 is configured to rotate within the elongated hole 443 to abut and align the sheet P with the alignment reference plate 455. Also,
The lead cam 423 has a groove 423 a slightly wider than the roller 442 and is spirally carved to engage with the roller 442.
Reference numeral 42 is configured to move up and down along the groove 423a. One rotation of the lead cam 423 is equivalent to the rotation of the lead cam 42.
3 is detected by a lead cam sensor S404 disposed in the vicinity of S3. The position of the bin unit 403 is detected by the bin home position sensor S405.

At the bottom of the bin B, a double stay 445 is provided.
Is provided. The double stay 445 has a configuration in which the roller 442 is rotatably supported similarly to the bin B, and the double pass unit 446 can be further supported. Double pass unit 446 is the second sorter 4
01 to transport the sheet P to the lead cam 4
23, the two-pass unit 446 is moved to a position facing the second roller pair 411, and the sheet P is conveyed by a two-pass motor 447 (not shown), whereby the sheet discharged from the copier main body 100 is conveyed. P can be stored in the second station.

In the case of the non-sort mode, the sheets are discharged to the non-sort tray 430 located at the top of the bin B. The presence or absence of the sheet P in the non-sort tray 430 is determined by the non-sort tray paper presence detection sensor S409.
Can be detected by

The existence of the sheet P on the sort bin B can be detected by a sort tray paper presence / absence detection sensor (sheet post-processing position selecting means) S407.

The stapler 412 is an electric stapler. The stapler 412 is swung in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6 by a swing motor 450 (not shown), moves to a position shown by a solid line, performs stapling by a solenoid (not shown), and is swung again by the swing motor 450. Bin B
And move to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.

The stapler 412 is in this way bin B
Then, the bin B is moved by one bin by the shift motor 421 and the sheets P stacked in the next bin B are bound. Note that S406 (FIG. 7) is a manual staple key, and when the manual staple key S406 is pressed after sorting is completed, a stapling operation is performed.

(Single Side Mode Small Document No Document Counting 2in1 Mode) The control flow in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. STE
The original is set at P1, the one-sided copy mode is selected by the mode key 616 from the operation unit at STEP2, the 2in1 mode is selected by the 2in1 mode key 630, and the
The copy process is started by pressing the copy start key 707.

In step 5, as a result of the selection of the original document vertical / horizontal writing selecting means, if the designation is vertical writing, RDF3
A document feed command is sent to the RDF 300 in order to feed the documents on the document tray 00 one by one from the bottom one by one to the RDF 300 (S
6) In order to place a document at both the position A (hereinafter referred to as a left placement position) and the position B (hereinafter referred to as a right placement position) in FIG. A command is transmitted (S8), and the completion of sheet feeding is waited for (S9). Thereafter, if the document left / right placement response (S9 ') from the RDF 300 is an affirmative response, copy processing 1 described later is performed (S1).
0).

After the end of the copy processing 1, it is determined whether or not the document is the last original (S11).
Proceeding to TEP12, a reverse order discharge command for changing the order of the two originals placed on the platen glass and discharging the original,
A forward order feed command for feeding the next original is transmitted (S1
2) Waiting for the completion of the paper ejection processing (S13),
Returning to EP10, the process is repeated.

If the determination in STEP 11 is affirmative, the flow advances to STEP 14 to transmit a reverse order discharge command to change the order of the originals and discharge the originals, wait for the completion of the discharge of the originals (S15), and execute the entire copying process. finish.

If a negative determination is made in STEP 9, the process proceeds to STEP 10, and a copy process 2 described later is executed (S10 ').

After the end of the copy process 2, it is determined whether or not the original is the last original (S11 '). If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to STEP12, where one original is placed on the platen glass. Is transmitted (S12 '), and after the completion of the paper discharge process (S13), the process returns to STEP10. repeat.

If the determination in STEP 11 'is affirmative, the flow advances to STEP 14' to transmit a forward order discharge command for sequentially discharging the originals, and wait for the completion of the original discharge (S1).
5 '), the copying process ends.

If a negative determination is made in STEP 5, the process proceeds to STEP 20, in which a reverse feed command to feed the originals on the original tray of the RDF 300 one by one from the bottom in the reverse order is transmitted to the RDF 300. To put on,
A 2-in-1 original left / right placement command is transmitted to the RDF 300 (S2
2) Wait for paper feeding completion (S23), and then RDR300
If the document left / right placement response (S23 ') is affirmative, copy processing 1 described later is performed (S24).

After the end of the copy process 1, it is determined whether or not the original is the last original (S25).
Proceeding to STEP 26, a forward discharge command for sequentially discharging the two documents placed on the platen glass and a reverse feed command for feeding the next document in a reversed order are transmitted.
Waiting for the completion of the discharge sheet feeding process (S27),
Returning to step 24, the process is repeated.

If a negative determination is made in STEP 23 ', the flow advances to STEP 24', and copy processing 3 to be described later is performed.
Is performed (S24 '), and the flow proceeds to STEP25.

If the determination in STEP 25 is affirmative, the flow advances to STEP 28 to transmit a normal discharge command for sequentially discharging the originals (S28), and wait for the completion of the discharge of the originals (S29). The process ends.

(Copy Process 1) This copy process 1 is a known image forming process, and will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In STEP 1, the optical system starts forward scanning, and when the image sensor detects the image destination (S 1).
2) The original image is formed for the length of the original A together with the exposure of the original A (S3, 4), and after scanning for a predetermined interval (S5), the exposure of the original B and the original are performed similarly to the original A. An image is formed for the length of the B original (S6, 7).

Thereafter, the motor of the optical system is turned off (S
8) The back scan is started (S9), the predetermined back scan control is executed, and the optical system is returned to the predetermined home position (S10, 11, 12, 13), and the copy processing is ended.

(Copy Process 2) This copy process 2 is a known image forming process, and will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In STEP 1, the optical system starts forward scan, and when the image sensor detects the image destination (S 1).
2) The document image is formed for the length of the document A together with the exposure of the document A (S3, 4). Thereafter, the motor of the optical system is turned off (S8), and the back scan is started (S9). By executing the scan control and returning the optical system to the predetermined home position (S10, 11, 12, 13), the copy processing is completed.

(Copy Process 3) This copy process 3 is a known image forming process, and will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In STEP 1, the optical system starts forward scan, and when the image sensor detects the image destination (S
2) A blank scan is performed for the length of the A document (S4), and after scanning for a predetermined sheet interval is completed (S5), a document image is formed for the length of the B document together with exposure of the B document (S6, 7). ),
Thereafter, the motor of the optical system is turned off (S8), the back scan is started (S9), the predetermined back scan control is executed, and the optical system is returned to the predetermined home position (S1).
0, 11, 12, 13), and terminates the copy processing.

(Flow of Control According to the Present Invention) Next, FIG.
The staple position selection processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 shows the positional relationship between the first page and the second page placed on the platen glass and the transfer paper (copy sheet) to be ejected depending on the selection result of the vertical / horizontal document selecting means. It is a figure showing that it changes. That is, in the case of a portrait document, the first page is placed on the left side of the platen glass, and the first page of the transfer paper is on the right side. In the case of a landscape document, the first page is on the right side on the platen glass, and the first page of the transfer paper is on the right side.

When stapling according to this,
The staple position is as shown in FIG. 14 for each of the vertical document and the horizontal document.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the staple position selecting process.

At STEP 1, it is determined whether the mode is the staple mode. If it is the staple mode, proceed to STEP2, otherwise return.

In STEP 2, it is determined whether the format of the document is a horizontal document or a vertical document. This is the vertical / horizontal selection key 63
Judge from the result of 2. In the case of a horizontal document, stapling is performed by the stapler 412 in FIG. 6, and in the case of a vertical document, stapling is performed by the stapler 480.

<Modification of Operation of Stapler> In the above embodiment, the stapling position can be made variable by having a plurality of staplers.

In this example, the number of staplers is one and the stapling position is made variable by moving the stapler.

Referring to FIG. 17, the stapler 412 can move in both directions of the arrow and can swing in the direction of the one-sided arc.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 18. In STEP1, it is determined whether the mode is the staple mode. If it is the staple mode, proceed to STEP2, otherwise return.

In STEP 2, it is determined whether the format of the document is a horizontal document or a vertical document. This is the vertical / horizontal selection key 63
Judge from the result of 2. In the case of a horizontal document, the stapler 412 shown in FIG. 17 is moved to the position A, swings, and staples. In the case of a vertical original, the original moves to the position B, swings, and staples. In this example, there is an advantage that only one stapler is required.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When performing image formation in the 2in1 mode, the operator can place the original bundle on the original tray of the circulating automatic original feeder in the normal page order in which the original bundle is face-up, thereby improving operability. I do. When the copy sheet discharged in the 2in1 mode is bound by the binding means, the rear end in the discharge direction of the copy sheet and the front side of the apparatus main body are bound, so that the pages of the sheet bundle formed in the 2in1 mode are formed. The order is correctly arranged, and the sheet bundle is easily turned.

[0134]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an image is formed in the 2in1 mode, the operator can face up the original bundle on the original tray of the automatic original feeder. Since you can just place them in page order,
Operability is improved. When the copy sheet discharged in the 2in1 mode is bound by the binding means, the rear end of the copy sheet in the discharge direction and the front side of the apparatus main body are bound, so that the pages of the sheet bundle formed in the 2in1 mode are formed. The sheet bundle can be bound in a state where the order is correctly arranged and the sheet bundle is easily turned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation unit and a display unit.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of the automatic document feeder.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the same system.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of the sheet post-processing device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bin tray and the binding unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram related to control of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating control of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing how a document is placed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a copy process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a copy process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a copy process.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a document on a document tray, a document on a platen glass, and a discharge sheet (copy sheet).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a staple selection process.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a bin tray and a binding unit.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a staple position selection process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Document 100 Image forming apparatus (apparatus main body) 101 Platen glass 103 Illumination lamp (reading means) 229 Discharge roller pair (discharge means) 300 Automatic document feeder 310 Document tray 400 Sheet post-processing apparatus 412 Binding apparatus (stapler) 480 Binding apparatus (Stapler) 630 2in1 mode key 1001 Control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a 2 in 1 mode in which two originals are read side by side on a platen, the images are formed on one copy sheet, and the copy sheets are bound, and the lower end of the original is located on the front of the apparatus main body. A document tray on which documents are placed face up from the upper side in a page order so as to face the document side; documents on the document tray are separated one by one from below and conveyed to a platen of the apparatus main body; A document conveying means capable of arranging the document on the platen from the left side when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body, and a reading means for scanning the copied sheet in a discharge direction. Discharge means capable of discharging the copy sheet from the left side of the apparatus main body in a face-up state, with the lower end of the copy sheet facing the rear side of the apparatus main body in the order of younger upstream side An image forming apparatus having a 2in1 mode, comprising: a binding unit that is capable of binding a rear end of a copy sheet discharged by the discharge unit in a discharge direction and a front side of the apparatus main body.