JPH1152629A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent remaining sheets and new sheets from being mixed by discharging newly image-formed sheets to discharged sheet storage means other than one specified discharged sheet storage means according to a set discharge mode in case of sheets remaining in an intermedite tray at the time of starting image formation anew. SOLUTION: In case of photocopying anew from a state of sheets remaining in an intermediate tray 19, at the time of a sorting mode being set as a discharge mode and the number of set photocopied sheets being the maximum bin number or more, the execution authorized number of photocopied sheets to be actually photocopied is reduced to the maximum bin number - 1. Sheets image-formed by new photocopying are discharged only onto first to nineteenth bins 5201-5219, and the sheets remaining in the intermediate tray 19 are discharged onto a twentieth bin 5220 when a forced discharge key is pressed. The sheets remaining in the intermediate tray 19 and discharged, and the sheets discharged by new photocopying are not therefore discharged onto the same bin.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a double-sided image forming function and a sorting function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, those having a function of forming images on both sides of a recording sheet (usually paper) are known.
For example, when performing a two-sided copy in a copying machine, the copying machine is usually provided separately from a tray provided for storing sheets (in the case of paper, so-called blank paper) on which images are not formed on any side. Further, an intermediate storage means such as an intermediate tray for temporarily storing a sheet on which single-sided copying has been performed is provided. When performing double-sided copying, first, as in the case of performing single-sided copying on the front side (first side), image formation is performed on a sheet supplied from a tray that stores sheets on which no image is formed. Done. In the case of single-sided copying, the sheet is discharged out of the copier as it is. In the case of double-sided copying, the sheet on which the image has been formed on the front side is temporarily stored in an intermediate tray and then sent out from the intermediate tray. After the image is formed on the back surface (second surface) of the sheet, the sheet is discharged outside the copying machine. When performing double-sided copying of a plurality of copies, a plurality of copies of one-sided copied sheets are temporarily stored in the intermediate tray, and then these sheets are sequentially discharged from the intermediate tray, and images are sequentially formed on the back surface of the sheets. You.

However, during two-sided copying, if a user inputs a key such as a copy stop key to stop copying for some reason, or if sheets are not placed on a tray for storing sheets on which images are not formed. Gone,
If the user leaves the place because the sheet to be replenished is not close at that time and the copying machine is left, the copying machine may be stopped with sheets remaining in the intermediate tray.

[0004] Various proposals have been made regarding the handling of the sheets remaining on the intermediate tray when a new double-sided copy is to be started again with the sheets remaining on the intermediate tray. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-249
In the publication No. 775, when a double-sided copy mode is newly set when sheets remain in the intermediate tray,
It has been proposed to forcibly discharge the sheet remaining on the intermediate tray to the outside of the apparatus without forming an image on the back surface (second surface) where no image is formed.

On the other hand, apart from such a double-sided copying function, a plurality of bins, trays, etc. for storing sheets on which an image is formed and discharged to the outside of the copying machine are provided. For example, when making a copy of a document, the document is sorted into groups (in other words, documents) and discharged onto different bins, or the pages are aligned (in other words, page order) and discharged onto different bins. A copying machine having a so-called sorting function capable of performing such operations is also known. In such a copying machine, a so-called sorter that can sort and discharge the copied sheets into any of a plurality of bins according to a discharge mode such as a group mode or a sort mode set by a user. It has.

[0006]

However, in a copying machine having a two-sided copy function and a sort function, an intermediate tray for performing a two-sided copy and a sorter for storing copied and discharged sheets are usually stored. In a copying machine having a plurality of bins, sheets remain on the intermediate tray for some reason, and from that state, a new two-sided copy is performed for a plurality of originals, and the copied sheets are sorted and placed on a plurality of bins. When the method taught in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-249775 is applied to the sheet remaining in the intermediate tray when the sheet is discharged, the sheet remaining in the intermediate tray and forcibly discharged and the sheet discharged by a new copy are discharged. Sheets may be mixed on the bin. When the sheets are mixed in this way, the user who newly makes a copy
It is necessary to sort necessary sheets (desired double-sided copied sheets) and unnecessary sheets (sheets remaining in the intermediate tray and forcibly discharged). This sorting operation is complicated, and it is unnecessary for a new user to do so unless sheets remain in the intermediate tray. Further, a new copy is executed after the sheets remaining on the intermediate tray are discharged, so that the end of the copy is delayed by that much.

In the above description, the copying machine has been described as an example. However, similar problems also occur in an image forming apparatus such as a printer other than the copying machine. Therefore, the present invention has an intermediate storage means such as an intermediate tray for temporarily storing a sheet having an image formed on one side in order to form an image on both sides of the sheet, and according to a discharge mode such as a group mode or a sort mode. An image forming apparatus having a discharge sheet storage unit such as a plurality of bins for storing a sheet formed with an image and discharged to the outside of the apparatus in a sorted state, wherein a sheet remains in an intermediate storage unit Also, when a new image is formed and the sheet on which the image is formed is sorted into a plurality of discharge sheet storage units and discharged, in such discharge sheet storage unit, the sheet remaining in the intermediate storage unit and discharged, An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use image forming apparatus that does not include sheets newly formed and discharged.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet based on document image information. Intermediate storage means for temporarily storing an image-formed sheet; and two or more discharge sheet storage means for storing a plurality of sheets formed with images and discharged to the outside of the apparatus in a sorted state. An image forming apparatus comprising: a means for setting a sheet discharge mode; a sheet presence / absence detection means capable of detecting the presence / absence of a sheet in the intermediate storage means; and a sheet to any one of the discharge sheet storage means. A sheet discharge unit capable of discharging the sheet; and a control unit for controlling which sheet is discharged to the discharged sheet storage unit by the sheet discharge unit. The control means, when a sheet is present in the intermediate storage means by the sheet presence / absence detection means, and when a new image formation is to be started, the sheet discharge means has the discharge sheet storage means Image forming means for discharging the newly formed sheet to a discharge sheet storage means other than the predetermined one discharge sheet storage means in accordance with the discharge mode set by the discharge mode setting means. Provide equipment.

Examples of the image forming apparatus include a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine thereof. According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the case where double-sided image formation is performed from a state in which there is no sheet in the intermediate storage means such as an intermediate tray, a sheet having an image formed on one surface (first surface) is double-sided image formed. The number of sheets is temporarily stored in the intermediate storage means. Then, the sheets stored in the intermediate storage unit are sequentially discharged from the intermediate storage unit, and an image is sequentially formed on the other surface (second surface) of the discharged sheet. An image is formed. Sheets having images formed on both sides are sequentially discharged to one of a plurality of bins, trays, and other discharge sheet storage units provided outside the apparatus by the sheet discharge unit under the control of the control unit. The control unit responds to a discharge mode set by the sheet discharge mode setting unit, for example, a discharge mode (for example, a group mode, a sort mode, a non-sort mode, or the like) set by an operation panel or the like provided in the image forming apparatus. The sheet discharge means is configured to determine which one of a plurality of discharge sheet storage means to sequentially discharge sheets to be discharged from the apparatus, and to discharge the sheet to the determined discharge sheet storage means. Control. As a result, the sheet discharged out of the apparatus is
Depending on the discharge mode, for example, in a group mode or a sort mode, the sheets are discharged while being sorted into a plurality of discharge sheet storage units.

After the double-sided image is formed, usually no sheet remains in the intermediate storage means. When a new double-sided image formation is performed from a state in which the sheet remains in the intermediate storage unit for some reason, the presence or absence of the sheet in the intermediate storage unit is detected by the sheet presence / absence detection unit. Controls the sheet discharging means so as to discharge the sheet to the discharging sheet storing means other than the predetermined one of the plurality of discharging sheet storing means in accordance with the discharge mode. That is, the control unit does not discharge the sheet to the predetermined one discharge sheet storage unit. In the case where the image forming apparatus includes first to N-th (N is an integer of 2 or more) N discharged sheet storage units, for example,
Assuming that one of the predetermined discharge sheet storage means is the Nth discharge sheet storage means, the first to (N-1) th sheet discharge destinations are used as sheet discharge destinations in new double-sided image formation. It is a discharge sheet storage means. In this case, the control means may control the first to (N)
-1) It is determined to which of the discharge sheet storage means the sheet is to be discharged, and the sheet discharge means is controlled so as to discharge the sheet to the determined discharge sheet storage means. However, in the case where the number of discharge sheet storage units that can be used for sheet discharge is reduced by one in this manner, the sheet discharge destination becomes insufficient and a desired image cannot be formed. The number of discharged sheet storage means that can be used as a sheet discharge destination is reduced by one (N-
1) In a case where the image formation of N copies is performed in the sort mode in the case of only the number, the user is informed that the desired image formation cannot be performed, and the start of the image formation is prohibited, or The user may be notified by the notification means, and the maximum possible number of copies ((N-1) copies in this example) may be formed.

In the case where image formation has been completed with sheets remaining in the intermediate storage means for some reason,
In other words, when the sheet detection unit detects that a sheet is present in the intermediate storage unit, and when a new image is to be formed, the control unit sends the predetermined one discharge to the sheet discharge unit. If the sheet in the intermediate storage unit is discharged at a predetermined timing to the sheet storage unit, as described above, even when a new double-sided image is formed from a state in which the sheet remains in the intermediate storage unit, It is possible to prevent the sheet remaining in the intermediate storage unit and discharged outside the apparatus and the sheet discharged by new image formation from being mixed in the discharged sheet storage unit.

There are various possible timings of discharging the sheet from the intermediate storage unit to a predetermined one discharge sheet storage unit. For example, from the state where the sheet remains in the intermediate storage unit, it is possible to perform double-sided image formation or single-sided image formation. In the case of forming an image, the sheet is automatically discharged before the image is formed, the sheet is automatically discharged after the image formation is completed, or the sheet remaining in the intermediate storage unit in the image forming apparatus is forcibly discharged. It is conceivable to provide key input means for giving an instruction to perform forced ejection, and to eject when a user or the like gives an instruction to perform forced ejection from the key input means for forcing ejection. In the case where the sheet is to be automatically discharged after a new double-sided image formation is completed, the double-sided image formation must be performed with the sheet remaining in the intermediate storage unit. If the sheets discharged for image formation on the other side (second side) are sequentially discharged from the sheet conveyed to the intermediate storage means at the end, desired double-sided image formation can be performed. it can.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image is formed on only one side of a sheet when a single-sided image is formed from a state in which no sheet remains in the intermediate storage means, or when a sheet is left in the intermediate storage means. In the case where a single-sided image is formed, the same as the case where a double-sided image is formed from a state where a sheet does not remain in the intermediate storage unit and a case where a new double-sided image is formed from a state where a sheet remains in the intermediate storage unit Done in However, in the case of single-sided image formation, a sheet having an image formed on one side is not stored in the intermediate storage unit, but is discharged directly to the discharge sheet storage unit.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an analog copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. This copier has a double-sided copy function for copying a document image on both sides of a sheet and a discharge mode (a sort mode, a group mode, and a non-sort mode in this example) in which a plurality of copied sheets are set. It has a sort function for sorting. As will be described in detail later, the copier has an intermediate tray for temporarily storing sheets formed on one side for double-sided copying, and a state in which a plurality of sheets discharged to the outside of the copier are sorted. In this example, 20
One bin is provided.

The copier has a scanning optical system O for scanning and reading an image of a document placed on a platen glass GL.
S, a printing unit P for forming a toner image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method based on a document image read by a scanning optical system OS, and a sheet on which a toner image is formed by the printing unit P according to a discharge mode. And a sorter 5 for discharging to any of a plurality of (in this example, 20) bins. An operation panel 4 is provided on the upper part of the copying machine for instructing a user to start copying.
Is provided. Further, a cover 3 that is openably and closably mounted is disposed above the platen glass GL. Note that, instead of the cover 3, an automatic document feeder (ADF) also serving as a cover may be assembled so as to be openable and closable.

Hereinafter, the scanning optical system OS, the printing unit P, and the sorter 5 will be described in detail in order. The scanning optical system OS also serves as an exposure device that performs image exposure on the photosensitive drum PC, and illuminates the document placed on the platen glass GL with an illumination lamp 10 and guides reflected light from the document to the lens LN. Reflection mirrors M1, M2, M3, lens L
N, and a reflection mirror M4 for guiding the image light passing through the lens LN to the photosensitive drum PC. Lighting lamp 1
0 and the reflection mirror M1 are supported by the carriage C1, and the reflection mirrors M2 and M3 are supported by the carriage C2.

The printing section P includes a photosensitive drum PC on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, devices disposed around the photosensitive drum PC, and a fixing device 1 for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet.
7. Sheet trays 18a and 18 for storing sheets
b, and an intermediate tray 19 for performing the duplex copying. A charger 11 is provided around the photosensitive drum PC,
Developing device 12, transfer charger 13, separation charger 1
4, a cleaner 15 and an eraser 16 are sequentially arranged.

The sheet trays 18a and 18b are arranged at the lower part of the copying machine. In this embodiment, a plurality of sheets (blank sheets) on both sides of which no image is formed are stored in these sheet trays. . Conveyance paths 201, 202, and 21 are sequentially provided from these sheet trays to a transfer position where the photosensitive drum PC and the transfer charger 13 face each other, as a conveyance path for sheet conveyance. Note that a roller group for conveying a sheet is provided in these conveyance paths. Similarly, a roller group for sheet conveyance is provided in a conveyance path described later. The paper stored in the upper sheet tray 18a is
1a, it can be sent to the transport path 202, and can be transported to the transfer position via the transport path 21. Similarly, the sheets stored in the lower sheet tray 18b can be sent out to the transport path 201 by the paper feed roller group 181b, and can be transported to the transfer position via the transport paths 202 and 21.

Sensors SE1 and SE2 are arranged near the sheet feed ports of the sheet trays 18a and 18b, respectively.
The sheet conveyed to can be detected. A sensor SE3 is disposed immediately before the position where the conveyance path 201 and the conveyance path 21 join, and can detect a sheet passing through the position. The detection signal of each of these sensors is
It is input to a computer CP described later (see FIG. 3).

A sheet conveying belt 22 is disposed between the fixing device 17 and a separation position where the photosensitive drum PC and the separation charger 14 are opposed to each other. Downstream of the fixing device 17 in the sheet conveyance direction,
Transport paths 23 and 24 are provided, and a transport direction switching claw 26 is disposed at a branch point between the two transport paths. The switching claw 26 is oriented upward in FIG. 1 (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1) or downward (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1) by a solenoid SOL1.
The sheet can be distributed to any one of the transport paths (the transport path 23 or the transport path 24) by the swing of the claw 26. A receiving port 51 for the sorter 5 is provided at the end of the transfer path 23, and the intermediate tray 1 is provided at a end of the transfer path 24.
9 are arranged. A sensor SE5 is disposed near the position immediately before the intermediate tray 19 in the transport path 24, and can detect a sheet that passes through the transport path 24 and is loaded into the intermediate tray 19. The detection signal of the sensor SE5 is input to the computer CP.

The intermediate tray 19 has a box shape with an open upper side, and sheets are carried into the tray 19 through the opening. On the bottom 191 of the intermediate tray 19,
Push-up plate 1 supported swingably about shaft 1921
92 are provided. The push-up plate 192 can be swung by driving means including a motor (not shown). When a sheet is carried into the intermediate tray 19, the push-up plate 192 is arranged so as to be flush with the bottom surface 191. When the sheet stored in the intermediate tray 19 is carried out from the tray, the sheet is supplied to a sheet feeding roller group 28 (strictly, one roller in the roller group 28) disposed above the tray 19. , The push-up plate 192 is swung so as to raise the sheet. As a result, the sheets received in the intermediate tray 19 from the upper side and once stacked and stored are sent out to the transport path 25 leading to the transport path 21 in order from the uppermost sheet by the sheet feed roller group 28 and the push-up plate 192. be able to. That is, the sheets stored in the tray 19 are sent out in order from the sheet most recently carried into the intermediate tray 19. A sensor SE4 is provided below the intermediate tray 19, and can detect whether or not there is a sheet in the intermediate tray 19. Intermediate tray 19
A sensor SE6 is disposed in the vicinity of the transport path 25 immediately after the paper feed port, and is discharged from the intermediate tray 19 to the transport path 25.
A sheet passing through the inside can be detected. Immediately before the converging position of the conveyance path 25 and the conveyance path 21, the sensor S
E7 is arranged, and a sheet passing through the position can be detected. These sensors SE6, SE7, SE
The detection signal of No. 4 is input to the computer CP.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation panel 4. The operation panel 4 includes a start key 41 for instructing a copy start, a numeric keypad 42 for inputting a numerical value (number) such as the number of copies, a clear key 46 for clearing the input numerical value, and a copy stop. A stop key 47 for instructing, a copy mode setting key 43 for selecting and setting a copy mode (in this example, one-sided copy mode or two-sided copy mode), a discharge mode (in this example, non-sort mode, sort mode) Or a group mode), a discharge mode setting key 48 for selecting and setting, a sheet feeding port setting key 44 for selecting a sheet feeding port (in other words, a sheet tray), and sheets remaining in the intermediate tray 19. Discharge key 4 for instructing to forcibly discharge
9. A display panel 45 for displaying various messages, the number of copies to be set, and the like is provided. In the display panel 45, a DUP warning display lamp 451 for lighting up and indicating that the sheets remain in the intermediate tray 19, and a message indicating that the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42 cannot be performed. Warning indicator lamp 452 for lighting and showing
Is provided.

Copy mode display LEDs 43a and 43b for lighting and displaying whether the set copy mode is the one-sided copy mode or the two-sided copy mode,
Also provided are selective feed port display LEDs 44a and 44b that light up and display whether the set paper feed port is the upper sheet tray 18a or the lower sheet tray 18b. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred at the transfer position is a selected tray (in this example, the upper sheet tray 18a, the lower sheet tray 18b, or the intermediate tray 1).
9), the paper feed port setting key 44 is used to perform a single-sided copy and a first-side (front side) copy in the case of a double-sided copy.
The sheet feeding port is set for a tray (in this example, an upper sheet tray 18a or a lower sheet tray 18b that stores blank paper) that stores a sheet to which a toner image is to be transferred. Selected paper feed port display LEDs 44a, 44
“b” is for lighting and displaying the paper feed port and paper size selected by the paper feed port setting key 44.

The operation panel 4 is provided with discharge mode display LEDs 48a, 48b and 48c for lighting and displaying whether the set discharge mode is the non-sort mode, the sort mode or the group mode. I have. Note that the sort mode means that when n copies of m documents are to be copied, a set of copy sheets of the first to m-th documents is used as a set and n bins of which are different from each other (as will be described later). This is a mode in which the paper is discharged on the upper side. In the group mode, when copying n copies of m documents, the copy sheets of the first to m-th documents are sorted on different bins and discharged,
In addition, this mode is a mode in which copy sheets of the same document are discharged n sheets on the same bin. In the non-sort mode, when copying n copies of m originals, the sorting as described above is not performed, the copy sheets of the first original are placed on one bin, and the copy sheets of the second original are placed on one bin. Original copy sheet is n
A mode in which the sheets are sequentially discharged in the form of a unit.

The sorter 5 is provided with 20 bins 5201 to 5220 in this embodiment in order to store a plurality of sheets discharged outside the copying machine in a sorted state. These bins are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Confronting these bins and the transport path 23 of the printing unit P,
Between the receiving port 51 serving as a sheet carrying-in port of the sorter 5, a transport path 53 following the receiving port 51 and a transport path 54 extending vertically following the transport path 53 and facing each bin are provided. Have been. Each bin is provided with a discharge roller 56 and a swingably supported claw 55, and the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path 54 is supported by a corresponding claw by a driving device (not shown). The paper is discharged through the discharge roller 56 onto the bin. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the claws 55 provided for the fourth bin 5204 from the top stand. One of the nails 55 designated by a bin counter, which is a control parameter of the computer CP, is set up like the fourth nail 55 from the top shown in FIG.
5 is sleeping like nails other than the fourth nail 55 from the top shown in FIG. When the bin counter is k, the k-th claw from the top in FIG. 1 stands, and the sheet is discharged onto the k-th bin from the top. Such a sorter itself is already known, and other known sorters can be employed.

The scanning optical system OS, the printing unit P, the controlled parts in the sorter 5, the operation panel 4, the sensors SE1 to SE7, and the like are all connected to the computer CP as shown in FIG. Computer CP
Includes a read-only memory (not shown) and a random access memory (not shown) storing a control program and the like for each device.

Under the control of the computer CP, each device of the copying machine operates the copy number (number of copies) and copy mode (one-sided copy mode or two-sided copy mode in this example) set by key input on the operation panel 4. The one-sided copy and the two-sided copy are performed by operating as follows based on the discharge mode (in this example, the non-sort mode, the sort mode or the group mode), the input information of the sensors SE1 to SE7, and the like.

The one-sided copy is performed as follows. The document to be copied is placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass GL with the cover 3 opened by the user. When the start key 41 is pressed, image reading by the scanning optical system OS is started. In the image reading by the scanning optical system OS, the illumination lamp 10 mounted on the carriage C1 is turned on to drive the carriage C1 at a predetermined speed in the sub-scanning direction X, and the carriage C2 is also moved in the same direction by 1/1/2 of the carriage C1. This is done by driving at a speed of 2. As a result, the entire document is optically scanned. During this time, the image light emitted from the illumination lamp 10 and reflected by the original is sequentially reflected by the reflection mirrors M1, M2,
The light is guided to the imaging lens LN via M3. Imaging lens L
The light that has passed through N is sequentially guided to the exposure position of the photosensitive drum PC by the reflection mirror M4.

At this time, the photosensitive drum PC is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1 at a predetermined speed, and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charging charger 11. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the charged photosensitive drum PC at the exposure position by the image forming light of the original image guided by the reflection mirror M4. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 12 to become a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto a copy sheet by the transfer charger 13.

The sheet stored in the sheet tray (either the upper sheet tray 18a or the lower sheet tray 18b) selected by the sheet feeding port setting key 44 of the operation panel 4 passes through the transport path 21. It is transported to the transfer position. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum PC by the separation charger 14 and is conveyed to the fixing device 17 by the sheet conveying belt 22. In the fixing device 17, the paper holding the toner image passes between the heating roller 171 heated to a predetermined fixing temperature and the pressure roller 172 pressed by the heating roller 171 while being pinched. Then, the toner image is fixed on the paper under pressure. The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is guided to the transport path 23 by the switching claw 26 turned downward (dotted line position in FIG. 1), carried into the sorter 5, and discharged onto the bin indicated by the bin counter. The above operation,
One-sided copying is completed by repeating the process a predetermined number of times (usually, the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42). The predetermined number will be described later.

In the case of double-sided copying, the sheet stored in the sheet tray (upper sheet tray 18a or lower sheet tray 18b) selected by the sheet feeding port setting key 44 is processed in the same procedure as in the case of single-sided copying. The toner image is transferred and fixed to the first surface (front surface), and the sheet on which single-sided copying is performed is guided to the transport path 24 by the switching claw 26 turned upward (solid line position) in FIG. It is once carried into the tray 19. The image formation on one side of the sheet is repeated a predetermined number of times (usually, the number of sheets set by the ten keys 42), and the single-sided copy of the predetermined number of times (the predetermined number of sheets) is made in the intermediate tray 19. The sheets are temporarily stored in a stack. The predetermined number will be described later.

Image reading and image copying are performed in the same manner for the second document. At this time, the sheet conveyed to the transfer position is the one-sided copied sheet temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 19. , The paper feed roller group 28, the push-up plate 192, and the like,
It is sent to. Note that the first side (front side) of the paper
When the image formation on the intermediate tray 19 has been completed for a predetermined number of sheets, the selected sheet feeding port is switched to the sheet feeding port of the intermediate tray 19. When this sheet is fed into the transport path 21 by the transport path 25, it is turned upside down from the image formed on the first surface, and therefore, at the transfer position, the surface opposite to the surface on which the image has already been formed. The toner image is transferred to the (back side). Then, the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 17 in the same manner as described above. In this case, the toner image is guided to the transport path 23 by the switching claw 26 turned downward, is loaded into the sorter 5, and is placed on the bin indicated by the bin counter. The sheet is ejected. Normally, such an operation is performed until there is no more paper temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 19, and the double-sided copy is completed.

In the case of double-sided copying, normally, no paper remains in the intermediate tray 19 as described above.
While the duplex key is being executed, the stop key 47 of the operation panel 4 is pressed to interrupt the duplex copy, and the intermediate tray 1 is stopped.
In some cases, the copier may stop with paper remaining in the printer. Hereinafter, the operation of the copying machine regarding the handling of the paper when the paper remains in the intermediate tray 19 and the process of determining which of the plurality of bins of the sorter 5 should discharge the paper will be described. This will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main routine.

When the power switch of the copying machine is pressed to turn on the power, the computer CP is initialized (step S1 in FIG. 4). When the initial setting is completed, the timer of the computer CP is set to a predetermined time,
The process is started (S2), and the subsequent processes (S3 to S10) are repeated at the set time intervals. First, it is determined whether copying is in progress (S3). When copying is not being performed (S3: NO), after performing mode key processing (S4), input processing (S5) and forced discharge processing (S6), discharge processing (S7), DUP paper existence processing (S8), and warning Processing (S
9) and other processing (S10) are sequentially performed, and after the timer set in step S3 is completed (S1).
1) One routine ends, and the process returns to step S2.

When copying is in progress (S3: YE
S), the processes of the above-mentioned steps S7 to S10 are performed, and after the timer is finished (S11), one routine is finished, and the process returns to step S2 again. Hereinafter, mode key processing (S4), input processing (S5), forced discharge processing (S6), and discharge processing (S), which are subroutines of the main routine shown in FIG.
7), DUP paper presence processing (S8), warning processing (S9), and other processing (S10) will be described in further detail. (A) Mode key processing FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the mode key processing. In the mode key processing, when the copy mode setting key 43 of the operation panel 4 is pressed, the copy mode (in this example, one-sided copy mode or two-sided copy mode) is switched, and the discharge mode setting key 48 is pressed. At this time, the discharge mode (in this example, the non-sort mode, the sort mode, or the group mode) is switched.

When the copy mode setting key 43 is pressed and an on-edge of the key 43 (a state change when the state changes from the off state to the on state, the same applies hereinafter) is detected (S40).
1: YES), it is determined what the current copy mode is (S402). When the one-sided copy mode is set and the one-sided copy mode display LED 43a is lit (S402: YES), the copy mode is changed to the two-sided copy mode and the two-sided copy mode display LED 43
b is turned on (S403), and one-sided copy mode display LE
D43a is turned off (S404), and the duplex copy flag is set to "1" (S405).

When the two-sided copy mode is set and the one-sided copy mode display LED 43a is turned off (S402: NO), the copy mode is changed to the one-sided copy mode, and the one-sided copy mode display LED 43a is turned on (S406). ), Double-sided copy mode display LED4
3b is turned off (S407), and the duplex copy flag is reset to "0" (S408).

When the discharge mode setting key 48 is pressed, the key 4
8 is detected (S409: YES),
It is determined what the current discharge mode is (S41).
0, 411). When the non-sort mode is set and the non-sort mode display LED 48a is lit (S410: YES), the sort mode display LED 48b
Is turned on (S412), and the non-sort mode display LED
48a is turned off (S413), and the discharge mode is changed to the sort mode (S414).

When the sort mode is set and the sort mode display LED 48b is lit (S41).
0: NO, S411: YES), group mode display L
The ED 48c is turned on (S415), the sort mode display LED 48b is turned off (S416), and the discharge mode is changed to the group mode (S417). When the group mode is set (S410: NO, S41
1: NO), the non-sort mode display LED 48a is turned on (S415), the group mode display LED 48c is turned off (S419), and the discharge mode is changed to the non-sort mode (S420).

As described above, in the mode key processing, each time the copy mode setting key 43 is pressed, the copy mode is set to the next copy mode in the order of one-sided copy mode → two-sided copy mode → single-sided copy mode. The copy mode is switched. Each time the discharge mode 48 is pressed, the discharge mode is switched to the next set discharge mode in the order of non-sort mode → sort mode → group mode → non-sort mode. (B) Input Process Next, the input process (step S5 in FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG. In the input process, when the clear key 46 or the numeric keypad 42 of the operation panel 4 is pressed, the number of copies is set.

When the clear key 46 is pressed and the on-edge of the key is detected (S501: YES), the number of copies (the number of copies) performed on one document is set to "1" (S502). The clear flag is set to "1" (S503). When the on-edge of the clear key 46 is not detected (S501: NO), the clear flag is set to “0” (S509).

When the ten key 42 is pressed and the on-edge of the key is detected (S504: YES), the number of copies is set to the value (number) input by the ten key 42 (S505), and the ten key flag is set. It is set to "1" (S506), the number of copies set in S505 is displayed on the display panel 45 (S507), other input processing is performed, and the process returns to the main routine. When the ten key 42 is not pressed (S504: NO), the ten key flag is set to "0" (S510), other input processing is performed (S508), and the process returns to the main routine.

As described above, in the input process, the number of copies is set to "1" when the clear key 46 is pressed, and is set to the value input by the key when the ten key 42 is pressed. . (C) Forced Ejection Processing Next, the forced ejection processing (step S6 in FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG. In the forced ejection process, a process is performed when the forced ejection key 49 of the operation panel 4 is pressed.

When the forcible ejection key 49 is pressed and the on-edge of the key is detected (S61: YES), there is paper in the intermediate tray 19 and the DUP paper presence flag is "1" (S62: YES). The sheet in the intermediate tray 19 is forcibly discharged to the twentieth bin 5220 of the sorter 5 (S63), and the forced discharge flag is set to "1" to indicate that the forcible discharge is being performed (S64). Note that D
The UP paper presence flag is set to “1” when there is a sheet in the intermediate tray 19 and to “0” when there is no sheet in the tray 19 in a DUP paper presence process (see FIG. 9) described later. Is set. The forced ejection of the sheets in the intermediate tray 19 to the twentieth bin 5220 is performed as follows.
The process is continued until the DUP paper presence flag is no longer "1", that is, until the sheets in the intermediate tray 19 are exhausted (S65, S62), and when there are no more sheets in the intermediate tray 19 (S62: NO), the forced ejection is performed. Flag is "0"
Is reset to (S66).

As described above, in the forced ejection process, when the forced ejection key 49 is pressed, if there is a sheet in the intermediate tray 19, the sheet is forcibly ejected to the twentieth bin until there is no more sheet in the tray. Is performed. (D) Discharge Process Next, the discharge process (Step S7 in FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG. In the discharge process, the copied sheet is placed in any bin of the sorter 5 (in this example, bin 52
01 to 5220) is set, and the sheet is discharged onto the bin indicated by the set bin counter.

When the copying of one document is completed (S71:
YES), the sheet copied to the bin indicated by the bin counter is discharged (S72). When the first copy is started, the bin counter is set to “1”, so the first copy sheet is stored in the first bin 52.
01 is discharged. If the discharge mode is the sort mode (S73: YES), the bin counter is incremented by "1" in order to make the bin from which the next copied sheet is discharged the next bin after the previous discharged bin. (S74).

If the discharge mode is the group mode (S73: NO, S75: YES), after copying of one original is completed for the number of permitted copies to be described later (S76: YES), The bin counter is incremented (S74). If the discharge mode is the non-sort mode (S73: NO, S75: NO),
The bin counter is not incremented, and during copying, the bin counter is maintained at "1" set at the start of copying, and all copy sheets are discharged onto the first bin 5201.

As described above, in the discharging process, the process of switching the value of the bin counter according to the discharging mode is performed, and the process of discharging the copy sheet to the bin indicated by the bin counter is performed. The copied sheet is discharged according to the discharge mode. (E) Processing with DUP Paper Next, the processing with DUP paper (step S8 in FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG.

When there is a sheet in the intermediate tray 19 and the sensor SE4 is turned on (S81: YES), D
The UP paper flag is set to "1" (S82). When there is no sheet in the intermediate tray 19 (S8
1: NO), the DUP paper presence flag is set to “0” (S83). When the DUP paper presence flag is set to “1”, the lamp 45 provided on the operation panel 4
1 is turned on to notify the user that sheets are left in the intermediate tray 19. The user can use the lamp 45
By seeing that 1 is lit, it is possible to know that sheets remain in the intermediate tray 19, and the forced ejection key 49
By pressing, the sheets in the tray 19 can be forcibly discharged.

Thus, in the processing with DUP paper,
The DUP paper presence flag is set to “1” or “0” according to the presence or absence of a sheet in the intermediate tray 19. (F) Warning Processing Next, the warning processing (step S9 in FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (F-1) When the Eject Mode is the Sort Mode When the clear key 46 is depressed, clear processing for the number of copies (S501 to S503 in FIG. 6) is not performed (S901: NO), and the eject mode is sorted. If the mode is the mode (S902: YES), the following processing is performed because it may not be possible to copy as set depending on the number of copies set by the ten keys 42. Whether or not the number of copies has been cleared is determined by the clear flag.

That is, the number of copies is set by the ten keys 42 (S903: YES), the DUP paper presence flag is "1", sheets remain in the intermediate tray 19, and the copy set by the ten keys 42 If the number is larger than (maximum number of bins-1) (20-1 = 19 in this example) (S905: YES), the number of permitted copies to be actually copied is reduced to (maximum number of bins-1). (S
906), the display lamp 452 is turned on (S90).
7) The user is notified that the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42 cannot be performed, so that the number of copies permitted to be executed (the maximum number of bins-1) is performed. When the discharge mode is the sort mode,
When the value of the bin counter becomes larger than the value of the number of permitted copies, it is reset to "1" again. Therefore, in this case, the sheets copied by the above-described ejection processing (see FIG. 8) are the first to nineteenth bins 5201 to 5201.
On the 5219, the sheets are sorted in a form corresponding to the sort mode and discharged. That is, the sheet on which the image is formed by the copy is not discharged onto the twentieth bin 5220.

Even if sheets remain in the intermediate tray 19 (S904: YES), when the number of copies set by the ten keys 42 is equal to or less than (maximum number of bins-1) (S904).
905: NO), the display lamp 452 is turned off (S
910), the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42 as the number of permitted execution copies is made. In this case, the copied sheets are sorted into a form corresponding to the sort mode on the first to first (set number of copies) bins and discharged. Therefore, also in this case, on the 20th bin 5220,
The sheet on which an image is formed by such copying is not discharged.

Even if no sheet remains in the intermediate tray 19 (S904: NO), if the number of copies set by the ten keys 42 is larger than the maximum number of bins (20 in this example) (S908: YES). The number of copies permitted to be actually executed is reduced to the maximum number of bins (S90).
9) The display lamp 452 is turned on (S907) to inform the user that the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42 cannot be performed.
Therefore, in this example, 20 copies are made.

If no sheets remain in the intermediate tray 19 and the set number is equal to or less than the maximum number of bins (S904: N
O, S908: NO), the display lamp 452 is turned off (S910), and the ten key 4
2 so that the number of copies set in step 2 is performed. (F-2) When the Eject Mode is the Group Mode When the clear key 46 is depressed, clear processing of the number of copies (S501 to S503 in FIG. 6) is not performed (S901: NO), and the eject mode is the group mode. If (S902: NO), the display lamp 452 is turned off for the time being (S910).

If the discharge mode is the group mode (S911: YES), the following processing is performed because it may not be possible to copy as set depending on the number of originals. With sheets remaining in the intermediate tray 19,
When the DUP paper presence flag is “1” (S912: YE
S) When the value of the bin counter corresponding to the bin number of the discharge destination and incremented in the discharge process (see FIG. 8) is the maximum number of bins (20 in this example) (S913: YES), When the next sheet is discharged, the sheet is discharged to the twentieth bin 5220.
In order to prevent the sheet from being discharged to the bin 5220, the display lamp 452 is turned on (S914) to notify the user that the sheet cannot be discharged in a form corresponding to the group mode any more, and the copying is terminated in this example. When the value of the bin counter is smaller than the maximum number of bins (S913: N
O), the display lamp 452 is kept off (S9).
15) Continue copying. Therefore, also in this case, the copied sheet is not discharged onto the twentieth bin 5220.

When no sheet remains in the sheet lay 19 and the DUP paper presence flag is "0" (S912: N
O), when the value of the bin counter is (maximum number of bins + 1) (20 + 1 = 21 in this example) (S91)
6: YES), the display lamp 452 is turned on in the same manner as described above (S917), and the user is informed that the sheet cannot be discharged any more in a mode corresponding to the group mode, and the copying is terminated in this example. When the value of the bin counter is smaller than (maximum number of bins + 1) (S916: NO), the display lamp 452 is kept off (S918).
Continue copying.

As described above, in the case where the discharge mode is the group mode and the sheets remain on the intermediate tray 19, the sheets are not discharged onto the twentieth bin 5220. Even if no sheet remains in the intermediate tray 19, in this example, the bin for discharging the sheet is set to 20.
Since only one copy is provided, the copy is terminated when there are no more discharge destinations. In any case, in the group mode, depending on the number of originals,
Although it is determined whether or not copying can be performed to the end in the form corresponding to the group mode, in this example, since the number of originals is not detected at the time of starting copying, the bin counter of the sequentially incremented bin counter is not determined. Based on the value, the user is notified that the desired copy cannot be made during the copy as described above. When the number of documents can be detected at the time of starting copying, the user may be notified at the time of starting copying that the desired copy cannot be made, or the copying may be performed to the extent possible as in the present example. The warning may be issued from. For example, if a circulation type document feeder is provided and copying is performed, first the document is cycled in the document feeder, the number of documents is counted, and then the copy is started. At this point, the number of documents can be recognized. Alternatively, even if the copying machine is a digital copying machine and the copying operation is performed after reading the images of all the originals, the number of originals can be recognized at the start of copying. (F-3) When the discharge mode is the non-sort mode The number clear processing has not been performed (S901: NO),
When the discharge mode is the non-sort mode, the indicator lamp 4
52 is turned off (S918), the number of copies set by the numeric keypad 42 is performed, and the first bin 5201 is set.
On top all sheets are ejected. (G) Other Processing Other processing (step S10 in FIG. 4) is a step collectively showing processing other than the above. For example, sequence control of a copy operation is performed.

As described above, in the copying machine according to the present invention, when a new copy is to be performed from a state in which sheets remain on the intermediate tray 19, the sort mode is set as the discharge mode. When the set number of copies is equal to or greater than the maximum number of bins (20 in this example), the number of permitted copies for actually executing copying is reduced to (maximum number of bins-1), and an image is formed by a new copy. Sheets are the first to nineteenth bins 5201 to 52
It is only discharged above In other words, the sheet on which the image is formed by the new copy is not discharged onto the twentieth bin 5220. The sheets remaining in the intermediate tray 19 are forcibly ejected by a user or the like.
Is pushed out onto the twentieth bin 5220. Accordingly, the sheets remaining and discharged on the intermediate tray 19 and the sheets discharged by the new copy are not discharged onto the bin at the same time, in other words, they may be mixed on the same bin. Without the need for the user to separate these sheets,
It is easy to use.

Further, in a case where a new copy is to be made from a state in which sheets remain on the intermediate tray 19, the sheets discharged by the new copy are also stored in the twentieth bin 5220 at times other than the above. The sheet remaining on the intermediate tray 19 to be discharged because it is not discharged above,
It is possible to prevent a sheet discharged by a new copy from being discharged onto the bin and mixed together.

In the above description, an analog copying machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a printer other than the analog copying machine.

[0061]

According to the present invention, there is provided an intermediate storage means such as an intermediate tray for temporarily storing a sheet having an image formed on one side in order to form an image on both sides of the sheet. An image forming apparatus having discharge sheet storage means such as a plurality of bins for storing in a sorted state sheets formed on an image and discharged to the outside of the apparatus according to a discharge mode, wherein the intermediate storage means From the state where the sheet remains, form a new image,
Also in the case where the sheet on which an image is formed is sorted and discharged to a plurality of discharge sheet storage units, the discharge sheet storage unit and the sheet remaining and discharged in the intermediate storage unit and a new image formed and discharged. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use image forming apparatus without mixing sheets.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an analog copying machine including a sorter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel provided in the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a main routine showing control contents performed by a computer of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a mode key process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an input process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a forced ejection process shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a discharging process shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a DUP paper presence process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a part of the warning process shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of the warning process shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 OS Scanning optical system C1, C2 Carriage 10 Illumination lamp M1, M2, M3, M4 Reflection mirror LN Imaging lens P Printing unit PC Photoreceptor drum 11 Charging charger 12 Developing device 13 Transfer charger 14 Separation charger 15 Cleaner 16 Main eraser 17 Fixing Device 18a, 18b Sheet tray 19 Intermediate tray 201, 202, 21, 23, 24, 25 Transport path 22 Sheet transport belt 26 Switching claw SOL1 Solenoid 3 Cover 4 Operation panel 41 Start key 42 Numeric keypad 43 Copy mode setting key 43a, 43b Copy Mode display LED 44 Paper feed port setting key 44a, 44b Select paper feed port display LED 45 Display panel 451 DUP warning display lamp 452 Warning display lamp 46 Clear key 47 Stop key 48 Eject Exit mode setting key 49 Forced ejection key 5 Sorter 51 Sheet entrance of sorter 5 5201 to 5220 Bins 53, 54 Transport path in sorter 5 55 Switching claw 56 Discharge roller CP Computer SE1 to SE7 Sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet based on document image information, and an intermediate storing means for temporarily storing a sheet having an image formed on one side for forming an image on both sides of the sheet An image forming apparatus comprising two or more discharged sheet storing means for storing a plurality of sheets on which images are formed and discharged to the outside of the apparatus in a sorted state, wherein a sheet discharging mode is set. Means for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the intermediate storage means; sheet discharge means for discharging a sheet to any of the discharge sheet storage means; and sheet discharge means. Control means for controlling which sheet is to be discharged to the discharge sheet storage means, wherein the control means is provided by the sheet presence / absence detection means. When it is detected that a sheet is present in the intermediate storage unit, and when a new image is to be formed, the sheet discharge unit is configured to discharge a sheet other than a predetermined one of the discharge sheet storage units. An image forming apparatus, wherein a sheet on which a new image is formed is discharged to a sheet storage unit according to a discharge mode set by the discharge mode setting unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the presence or absence of a sheet in the intermediate storage unit is detected by the sheet presence / absence detecting unit, the sheet discharging unit performs the predetermined operation when a new image is formed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stored in the intermediate storage unit is discharged to one discharge sheet storage unit at a predetermined timing.