KR20100046608A - Image forming apparatus and control method of stapling unit thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An image forming apparatus and a control method of stapling unit thereof are provided to reduce the waster of unnecessary paper by performing a stapling operation for the previously outputted medium. CONSTITUTION: A user selects a first mode for a stapling operation of an outputted medium(S110), and sets up an option for the first mode(S120). In addition, the user loads the outputted medium on a paper tray(S130), and a control unit transfers the medium to a transfer path of an image forming apparatus(S140). In addition, the control unit performs stapling operation according to the option for the transferred outputted medium(S150).

Description

Image forming apparatus and stapling unit control method of image forming apparatus {IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF STAPLING UNIT THEREOF}

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling a stapling unit of the image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a stapling unit controlling method of the image forming apparatus. It is about.

The image forming apparatus forms an image to be printed on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus may be implemented as a printer, a copy machine, a fax machine, or a multifunction device having two or more functions.

In recent years, image forming apparatuses are increasingly being demanded as office automation devices such as multifunction devices that perform functions such as scanners and faxes as well as printing functions for outputting documents. Image forming apparatuses are increasingly developed with high performance in order to expand their inherent functions.

Accordingly, an electric stapler for stapling a printed or copied output may be provided in the image forming apparatus.

In order to perform the stapling function on the above output, the user selects a menu for printing or copying, and selects a stapling option from the selected menu. The image forming apparatus feeds the recording medium loaded in the paper feeder to form an image, and when image forming of the last recording medium is completed, stapling is performed to discharge the recording medium.

However, in some cases, when the user is not accustomed to using the menu of the image forming apparatus, the printing may be completed without selecting the stapling option.

As described above, when the user wants to perform stapling on the output medium which is already ejected due to the image being formed, the user counts documents manually and performs stapling manually, or performs all printing processes including image forming again. shall.

Therefore, if the user inadvertently selects the stapling option in the print setting or only wants to staple the printed output in the past, performing the image forming process again may cause waste of unnecessary paper. The manual stapling may cause inconvenience to the user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of discharging by performing stapling without feeding an image forming process when the user selects a menu for performing only stapling on the pre-output medium. An image forming apparatus and a stapling unit control method of an image forming apparatus which reduce paper waste and improve user inconvenience are provided.

The above object is a control method of a stapling unit mounted to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: selecting a first mode for stapling a pre-output medium; Setting options for the first mode; Loading the pre-output medium in a paper tray; Transferring the loaded pre-output medium to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus; And stapling the pre-output medium according to the option of the first mode.

The setting of the option for the first mode may include selecting a paper feeding tray on which a recording medium to be stapled is loaded; The method may further include specifying at least one of the number of recording media to be stapled, whether the recording media is classified, a stapling direction, and a stapling position.

In the transferring of the image forming apparatus to the transfer path, the pre-output medium may be transferred to the transfer path of the image forming apparatus without image formation.

The paper feeding tray may include at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual paper feed tray, and an optional cassette.

In addition, the transfer path may include at least one of a transfer path for image formation and a transfer path of the ADF.

On the other hand, the object of the present invention is a method of controlling a stapling unit of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: selecting a first mode for stapling an output medium; Detecting insertion of the pre-output medium into a discharge unit; The method may also be achieved by a method of controlling a stapling unit of the image forming apparatus, which includes stapling the sensed output medium. Here, the method may further include aligning the recording medium inserted into the discharge unit.

On the other hand, the object is an image forming apparatus, comprising: a user interface for selecting a first mode for performing stapling on a pre-output medium, and for specifying an option for the first mode; A paper feed tray on which the pre-output medium is loaded; A transfer unit for transferring the loaded pre-output medium; A stapling unit for stapling the output medium; The transfer unit is controlled to transfer the pre-output medium loaded on the paper feed tray to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus in response to the selected first mode, and the option of the first mode is applied to the transferred pre-output medium. It can also be achieved by an image forming apparatus including a control unit for controlling the stapling unit to perform stapling accordingly.

The option for the designated first mode may include selecting a paper feed tray loaded with a recording medium to be stapled, number of recording media to be stapled, classification of recording media, and stapling. It may include at least one of direction and stapling positioning.

The controller may control the transfer unit to transfer the pre-output medium to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus without image formation.

In addition, the paper feed tray may include at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual paper feed tray, and an optional cassette.

In addition, the transfer path may include at least one of a transfer path for image formation and a transfer path of the ADF.

The controller may control only the rollers related to the transfer of the pre-output medium in response to the selected first mode.

On the other hand, the above object is, an image forming apparatus, comprising: a user interface for selecting a first mode for stapling an output medium; A discharge unit including a sheet detection sensor for sensing the pre-output medium, and a stapling unit for stapling the detected pre-output medium; When the insertion of the pre-output medium into the discharge unit is detected, the image forming apparatus may include a control unit which controls the stapling unit to perform stapling on the detected pre-output medium. Here, the discharge unit may further include a paper alignment unit for aligning the inserted pre-output medium.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus and the stapling unit control method of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the user selects a menu to perform stapling only on the pre-output medium, the image forming process is performed on the fed pre-output medium. By providing an image forming apparatus that can be discharged by stapling without waste, there is an effect of reducing unnecessary paper waste and improving user inconvenience.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2 and 3 is a view showing an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. . The image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention may be implemented as a printer, a copy machine, a fax machine, or a multifunction device having two or more functions.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention may be connected to an external device such as the host device 200. The user may log in through the host apparatus 200 to access the image forming apparatus 100 and transmit a print command and print data including a stapling option to the image forming apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention performs printing on at least one sheet of print data.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 may include a paper feeding unit 110, an image forming unit 120, a fixing unit 130, a conveying unit 140, a discharge unit 150, a user interface 160, and a display unit. 170, a communication unit 180, and a control unit 190. The delivery unit 150 may include a stapling unit 151, a paper sensor 152, and a paper alignment unit 153.

The paper feeding unit 110 supplies a recording medium (paper) on which an image is printed from at least one paper tray 111. The paper feeding unit 110 may include a paper feed tray 111 on which a recording medium is loaded, an automatic paper feeder (ADF) (not shown), and a double-sided automatic paper feeder (DADF) (not shown) according to a supply method of a recording medium. And a pickup roller 112 for picking up the recording medium. The paper feed tray 111 may include at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual paper feed tray, and an optional cassette.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 3, as an optional cassette provided on one side of the image forming apparatus 100, a stapling dedicated tray 113 on which a recording medium is loaded It may further include.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the paper feed tray 111 and the stapling tray 113 of the image forming apparatus 100 is loaded with the output mediums P1 and P2. The pre-output mediums P1 and P2 are output documents that have already been image-formed and do not require a separate image forming process.

The image forming unit 120 forms an image to be printed on at least one sheet based on the print data when there is a print command. Here, the printing is received from the outside through the host apparatus 200 including printing for copying after scanning the document, printing of received fax data, and a server, or from inside (HDD) or outside of the image forming apparatus 100 ( Printing of the print data stored in the USB memory).

2 and 3, the image forming unit 120 includes an exposure unit 121, a developing unit 122, and a transfer unit 123.

The exposure unit 121 scans light to form an electrostatic latent image based on the print data. The developing unit 122 supplies toner to form a visible image. Then, the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit 100 passes between the developing unit 122 and the transfer unit 123 by the transfer unit 140, at which time the visible image is transferred to the recording medium.

The fixing unit 130 is formed by the image forming unit 110 to fix the image transferred to the recording medium to the recording medium by thermal compression. The fixing unit 120 according to the present invention may include a heat roller having a heating means (heater) (not shown) therein to generate heat, and a pressure roller in close contact with the heat roller to form a fixing nip. The heat roller and the pressure roller are engaged and rotated at a predetermined pressure to fix the image on the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the image formed by the image forming unit 110. The heating means (heater) provided in the heat roller may be implemented as a halogen lamp, a heating wire, an induction heater. Here, the image forming process in the present invention may include a fixing process.

The transfer unit 140 transfers the pre-output medium fed from the feeder 110 to pass through the image forming unit 120 and the fixing unit 130, and may be implemented as a transfer belt. Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the pre-output medium fed from the stapling-only tray 113 is transferred to the discharge unit 150 without passing through the image forming unit 120 and the fixing unit 130. It is possible.

The discharge unit 150 includes a discharge roller for discharging the pre-output medium on which the image is printed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100. The discharge unit 150 performs a post-processing function on the discharged paper, and may include a stapling unit 151. In addition, the discharge unit 150 collects at least one of a stacker, a finisher, a shorter, and a puncher that collects the discharged paper and stacks or sorts or sorts the sorted paper. It may further include.

On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the delivery unit 150 may further include a paper sensor 152 for detecting the paper and a paper alignment unit 153 for aligning the paper. The paper aligning unit 153 may be implemented as a paper guide arranged in parallel or perpendicular to the discharge direction of the paper to align the paper.

The user interface 160 receives a command from a user. The user interface 160 may be a key button (hereinafter, referred to as a hard key or keypad) provided in the image forming apparatus 100, or may be generated by a printer driver or a separate application, and may be input from the user. ) May include a graphical user interface (GUI).

The image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention may include a first mode and a second mode as an operation mode according to whether an image is formed on paper. In the first mode, the pre-output medium P1 is loaded on the paper feed tray 111, and the loaded pre-output medium is transferred to the transfer path of the image forming apparatus 100 without stapling and stapled and discharged to the outside. In the second mode, the recording medium loaded in the paper feed tray 111 is fed, and the corresponding post-processing is performed according to the option set through the image forming process and discharged to the outside.

Accordingly, the user interface 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 selects a first mode (or stapling only mode) for stapling the output medium P1 loaded in the paper feed tray 111. , Specifies options for the first mode. Here, the option may include at least one of the selection of the paper feed tray loaded with the pre-output medium to be stapled, the number of pre-output medium, whether the pre-output medium is classified, the stapling direction and the stapling position.

In some cases, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform stapling on all pre-output media loaded in a predetermined paper feed tray without setting an option for the first mode.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an Execute Now Mode and a Tray Stapling Mode as a first mode.

In the immediate execution mode, as shown in FIG. 2, the user detects the pre-output medium P3 inserted into the discharge unit 150 in the reverse direction of the paper discharge direction and performs stapling thereto.

In the tray stapling mode, stapling is performed by transferring the pre-output medium so that the pre-output medium loaded on the paper feed tray 111, the ADF, or the like passes through the transfer path without image formation and fixing. When the tray stapling mode is selected, the user interface 160 may select at least one paper feed tray on which a pre-output medium to be stapled is loaded. In addition, in the tray stapling mode, as shown in FIG. 3, the output medium loaded in the stapling-only tray 113 may be directly transferred to the discharge unit 150 to perform stapling.

The user may perform a login process for inputting an ID and password assigned to each user account through the user interface 160. Here, the login may include a login in the administrator mode, which may be set and changed for all environments of the image forming apparatus 100 without access restriction without separate. When the user's login or the administrator mode login is performed, the image forming apparatus 100 performs identification and authentication for the user.

Meanwhile, the user interface 120 of the present invention may be implemented as a remote user interface (RUI) displayed on a host device 200 such as a PC that may be externally connected to the image forming apparatus 100 through the communication unit 180. May be When the user interface 120 is implemented as an RUI, the user may log in at the host apparatus 200 connected to the image forming apparatus 100 to select the first mode and the option of the image forming apparatus 100.

The display unit 170 may display a setting and operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 to the user, and may display a GUI screen for receiving various commands from the user. The display unit 170 may include a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and a driving unit (not shown) capable of driving the TFT-LCD.

When the user selects the first mode, the display unit 170 selects one of the immediate execution mode and the tray stapling mode, and displays the stapling option designation screen to the user corresponding to the selected mode. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 performs stapling on the output medium according to the stapling option set by the user.

4 is a diagram illustrating a selection screen of a first mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, when the user selects the first mode icon 10 including the stapling direction, the image forming apparatus 100 may display various stapling options in response to the selected first mode. In accordance with the specified stapling option, stapling can be performed on the output media loaded in the paper feed tray.

The communication unit 180 performs data communication with the host device 200 and an external device including a server. The communicator 180 may include a wired / wireless communication module capable of network connection with an external device such as the host device 200 by a local or predetermined protocol, or a USB port connectable to a portable storage medium such as a USB memory. In addition, the communication unit 180 may include a fax communication module that converts data read by a scanning unit (not shown) into a fax signal or transmits a fax signal from the outside, and transmits the scan data by a predetermined protocol to a host device. (200), or perform a scan to host (scan to host), a scan to server function to send to an external device such as a server, or may be sent to the outside through an email (scan to e-mail) have.

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 100 may include setting information about the first mode, print data received from the outside, scan images generated through the scanning unit, user registration information set for each user account, user authentication information, permission information, and the like. The apparatus may further include a storage unit (not shown) in which various kinds of information are stored. The storage unit may include an internal storage medium such as an HDD, or an external or portable storage medium such as a USB memory or a memory card (memory stick, CF card, MMC).

The controller 190 controls the image forming apparatus 100 as a whole. In detail, when the first mode for stapling the output medium is selected through the user interface 170, the controller 190 receives an option for the selected first mode through the user interface 170. The transfer unit 140 is controlled so that the pre-output medium loaded in the paper feed tray 111 passes the transfer path of the image forming apparatus and transfers the pre-output medium, and the stabilization of the transferred pre-output medium in accordance with the option of the first mode. The stapling unit 151 is controlled to perform the fling. The controller 190 controls the discharge unit 150 to discharge the output medium on which stapling is performed to the outside.

Here, when the first mode is selected, the controller 190 controls the image forming unit 120 and the fixing unit 130 so as not to perform image forming and fixing on the pre-output medium passing through the transfer path. That is, the controller 190 operates only the rollers related to the transfer of the pre-output medium in response to the selected first mode, and operates the OPC drum, the developing roller, the charging roller (including corona charge), the toner supply roller, and the LSU. The device, the cutting roller (including the BLADE), the fixing unit and the like are controlled to be excluded. Also, the transport path may include at least one of a transport path for image formation and a transport path of the ADF.

The controller 190 controls the stapling unit 151 to perform stapling in response to the selected first mode and option. Here, the control unit 190 controls the paper sorting unit 153 to perform the paper sorting for the paper output medium transferred to the delivery unit 150 through the paper sensor 152, and the status of the sorted paper output medium Fling can be performed.

For example, when the tray stapling mode is selected among the first modes, the user may load the paper feed tray 111 on which the output medium to which stapling is to be performed through the user interface 160 is loaded, Specify options such as the number of output mediums to be flapped, whether the output medium is classified, the stapling direction, and the stapling position.

The image forming apparatus 100 discharges the pre-output medium P1 from the paper feed tray 111 according to the designated stapling option, and transfers the pre-output medium P1 without performing image formation and fixing as shown in FIG. 2. To perform stapling and discharge it to the outside.

Here, when the selected paper tray is a stapling-only tray 113 as shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 discharges and transfers the output medium P2 from the stapling-only tray 113 to perform stapling. And discharge to the outside.

In addition, for example, when the Execute Now Mode is selected in the process of selecting the first mode, the user selects the immediate execution mode and the output medium P3 is reversed in the paper discharge direction to the discharge unit 150. When inserting, the control unit 190 detects whether the pre-output medium P3 is inserted through the paper sensor 152, and the stapling unit 151 to perform stapling on the detected pre-output medium P3. ). Here, the controller 190 may perform alignment with respect to the pre-output medium P3 inserted according to the user's selection by using the paper alignment unit 153.

Meanwhile, when the transfer of the pre-output medium loaded in the selected paper tray 111 is completed, the image forming apparatus 100 performs stacking by additionally loading the pre-output medium in the corresponding paper tray 111. It may be implemented so that the user can select whether or not. Here, when the user selects to additionally load the pre-output medium through the user interface 160, and further loads the pre-output medium in the paper feed tray 111, the controller 190 adds the pre-output medium to the added pre-output medium. The transfer unit 140 is controlled to perform the transfer, and when the transfer of the added pre-output medium is completed, one stapling is performed on all transferred pre-output media and the pre-output medium is discharged.

In addition, when the number of transferred pre-output media reaches the stapling limit number of the image forming apparatus 100, it is determined whether or not to perform stapling separately, and stapling two or more times according to the selection result. It may be.

Hereinafter, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the above configuration, the stapling control process will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a stapling unit of the image forming apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the user may select a first mode in which stapling of the output medium is performed through the user interface 160 (S110). Here, the selected first mode may be a tray stapling mode. If the tray first mode is selected in step S110, an option for the first mode may be designated (S120).

That is, the user may select the paper feed tray 111 or 113 on which the pre-output medium P1 or P2 for stapling is loaded through the user interface 160. Here, the selected paper feed tray may include at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual paper feed tray, and an optional cassette. In addition, the paper feed tray may further include at least one of a stapling-only tray 113 or an automatic paper feeder (ADF) as an optional cassette.

In addition, the user may designate at least one of the number of output mediums to be stapled, whether the output medium is classified, the stapling direction, and the stapling position. Here, in step S120, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform stapling on all the pre-output media loaded in the selected paper tray without specifying the number of sheets, classification, stapling direction, and stapling position of the pre-output media. It may be.

Next, the user loads the pre-output medium P1 or P2 into the paper feed tray selected in step S120.

The controller 190 transfers the pre-output medium loaded in step S130 to the transfer path of the image forming apparatus 100 without image formation in response to the first modes set in steps S110 and S120 (S140). Here, the transport path may include at least one of a transport path for image formation and a transport path of the ADF.

The controller 190 performs stapling on the output medium transferred in step S140 according to the option specified in step S120, and discharges the paper (S150). Here, the controller 190 may perform paper alignment with respect to the output medium transferred in step S140, and stapling the aligned output medium.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 100 loads the pre-output medium and stapling the pre-output medium loaded in the paper feed tray selected in step S120 through the user interface 160, when the transfer of step S140 is completed It may be selected whether or not to perform (S160).

In step S160, if the user selects to load the pre-output medium to perform stapling and the user adds the pre-output medium to the paper feed tray, the controller 190 transfers the added pre-output medium and performs stapling to print the paper. To discharge (S170).

Meanwhile, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention may perform stapling on the pre-output medium inserted into the discharge unit 150 without transferring the pre-output medium.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the stapling unit of the image forming apparatus 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the user may select a first mode in which stapling of the output medium is performed through the user interface 160 (S210). Here, the selected first mode includes an Execute Now Mode.

In response to the selection of step S210, the paper sensor 152 detects whether or not the pre-output medium P3 is inserted into the discharge unit 150 (S220).

When it is detected in step S220 that the pre-output medium P3 is inserted into the discharge unit 150, the paper alignment unit 153 aligns the detected pre-output medium (S230).

In addition, the controller 190 performs stapling on the output medium inserted in step S220 and discharges it to the outside (S240).

Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention does not inadvertently select a stapling option in a print setting through a first mode in which a stapling using an existing transfer path is performed on a previously output document. Otherwise, even if stapling is to be performed only on the output that has been output in the past, unnecessary reprinting can be reduced and the user can be provided with convenience.

As mentioned above, the present invention has been described in detail through preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be variously implemented within the scope of the claims.

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

2 and 3 illustrate an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a selection screen of a first mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating a stapling unit control method of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: image forming apparatus 110: paper feeding unit

120: image forming unit 130: fixing unit

140: transfer unit 150: discharge unit

151: stapling unit 152: paper detection unit

153: Paper alignment unit 160: User Interface

170: display unit 180: communication unit

190: control unit 200: host device

Claims (15)

In the control method of the stapling unit mounted to the image forming apparatus, Selecting a first mode for stapling the pre-output medium; Setting options for the first mode; Loading the pre-output medium in a paper tray; Transferring the loaded pre-output medium to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus; And Stapling the pre-output medium according to the option of the first mode. The method of claim 1, Setting an option for the first mode may include: Selecting a paper feed tray loaded with a pre-output medium on which the stapling is to be performed; Stapling unit control of the image forming apparatus, characterized in that further comprising the step of specifying at least one of the number of the output medium to be stapled, whether the classification of the output medium, the stapling direction and the stapling position Way. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The transferring to the transfer path of the image forming apparatus, The stapling unit control method of the image forming apparatus, characterized in that for transferring the pre-output medium to the transfer path of the image forming apparatus without image formation. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The paper feed tray, A stapling unit control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that it comprises at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual feed tray, and an optional cassette. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The transfer path, A stapling unit control method of an image forming apparatus, characterized in that it comprises at least one of a transfer path for image formation and a transfer path of the ADF. In the control method of the stapling unit of the image forming apparatus, Selecting a first mode for stapling the pre-output medium; Detecting insertion of the pre-output medium into a discharge unit; Stapling the detected pre-output medium; and controlling the stapling unit of the image forming apparatus. The method of claim 6, Stapling unit control method of the image forming apparatus further comprising the step of aligning the output medium inserted into the discharge unit. In the image forming apparatus, A user interface for selecting a first mode for stapling an output medium and specifying an option for the first mode; A paper feed tray on which the pre-output medium is loaded; A transfer unit for transferring the loaded pre-output medium; A stapling unit for stapling the output medium; The transfer unit is controlled to transfer the pre-output medium loaded on the paper feed tray to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus in response to the selected first mode, and the option of the first mode is applied to the transferred pre-output medium. And a controller for controlling the stapling unit to perform stapling according to the present invention. The method of claim 8, The option for the first mode specified above is At least one of selecting a paper feed tray loaded with the output medium to which the stapling is to be performed, number of sheets of the output medium to be stapled, whether to classify the output medium, the stapling direction, and the stapling position designation. Image forming apparatus comprising a. The method according to claim 8 or 9, The control unit, And the transfer unit controls the transfer unit to transfer the pre-output medium to a transfer path of the image forming apparatus without image forming. The method according to claim 8 or 9, The paper feed tray, And at least one of a paper feed cassette, a manual feed tray, and an optional cassette. The method according to claim 8 or 9, The transfer path, And at least one of a transport path for image formation and a transport path of the ADF. The method according to claim 8 or 9, The control unit, And only the rollers associated with the transfer of the pre-output medium correspond to the selected first mode. In the image forming apparatus, A user interface for selecting a first mode for stapling the pre-output medium; A discharge unit including a sheet detection sensor for sensing the pre-output medium, and a stapling unit for stapling the detected pre-output medium; And a controller configured to control the stapling unit to perform stapling on the detected pre-output medium when the insertion of the pre-output medium into the discharge unit is detected. The method of claim 14, The discharge unit further comprises a paper alignment unit for aligning the inserted pre-output medium.

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