JP2004163908A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that makes it possible to obtain, from a set of documents consiting a plurality of stacks of documents, the output in the state where a set of plurality of stacks of transfer sheets with images transferred thereto in the same order as the document. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with a control part 2 which exerts control such that a document reading part 300 fetches first image data for a plurality of pages and second image data for a plurality of pages, an image forming part 100 transfers the second image data to each transfer sheet per page, a post-processing part applies a finishing process separately to a first stack of transfer sheets with first image data transferred thereto and a second stack of transfer sheets with the second image data transferred thereto. The control part 2 further conducts the operation of leading the first and second stacks of transfer sheets to the ejecting part one after the other so that they are placed in that order until predetermined sets of transfer sheets are prepared. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having functions such as sorting.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, transfer paper on which an image of a document is transferred is arranged in the same page order as the document, and a finishing process such as a stapling process is performed for each copy, and the copy is discharged. There is a printer having a sort function for creating a predetermined number of copies in a bundle (for example, see Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2).

For example, when a set of originals is copied by using three sorts of originals using the sort function, the originals are subjected to finishing processing by copying the originals one by one using the sort function three times. The required number of copies of the three types of original copies are obtained. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an output result when three copies of a document including three types of document bundles A, B, and C are copied using such a sort function. In this case, the bundle of originals A is copied and the bundle of staple-processed copies is output as a set of three copies. Similarly, the original bundles B and C are similarly bundled with copies of the same type. Are output as a set of three parts.
JP 08-248698 A JP 2001-226025 A

  However, as described above, as a result of copying a set of originals in a plurality of types of original bundles, if a bundle of the same type of copies is obtained in a set for the number of copies, It is necessary for the user to perform manual sorting so that a bundle of a plurality of types of copies is made into one set after copying. In particular, when there are many types of document bundles or when the number of copies is large, it is extremely troublesome, and the efficiency of the copying operation is significantly reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a state where a plurality of transfer paper bundles on which images are transferred in the same arrangement as the originals are sorted into one set from a set of originals composed of a plurality of original bundles. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of discharging paper.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that transfers each image data in page units to transfer paper, a post-processing unit that performs finishing processing on the transfer paper after transfer and guides the paper to a discharge unit, An image forming apparatus comprising: an operation unit that receives an image forming instruction; and a control unit that operates the image forming unit and the post-processing unit based on the image forming instruction from the operation unit. A data capturing unit that captures data and second image data for a plurality of pages, wherein the operation unit includes, as the image forming instruction, transfer of a predetermined number of sets of the first and second image data, and And the control unit, based on the sort instruction from the operation unit, outputs the first image data to which the first image data has been transferred to the post-processing unit. After performing a finishing process separately on the transfer paper bundle and the second transfer paper bundle on which the second image data has been transferred, the discharge unit is configured to overlap the first and second transfer paper bundles in this order. Are sequentially performed for the predetermined number of sets.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first image data for a plurality of pages and the second image data for a plurality of pages are captured by a data capturing unit, and the first and second images are captured by an operation unit. When the number of sets for transferring data and the sort instruction are received, the image forming unit transfers the first and second image data to the transfer paper in page units, and the post-processing unit sets the first image data. After the finishing process is individually performed on the first transfer paper bundle to which the data is transferred and the second transfer paper bundle to which the second image data is transferred, the first and second transfer paper bundles are The operation of sequentially leading to the discharge unit and overlapping in this order is performed for the predetermined number of sets. Here, the data taking-in means may be either a mode of optically reading a document placed on a document table or a mode of receiving a transfer from an external memory.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the discharge unit includes a single discharge tray, and the control unit transmits the first image data to a first transfer paper bundle. Following the transfer operation, a transfer operation of the second image data to the second transfer paper bundle is performed, and the operation is repeated by the predetermined number of sets. According to the second aspect of the invention, subsequent to the transfer operation of the first image data to the first transfer paper bundle, the transfer operation of the second image data to the second transfer paper bundle is performed. This operation is repeated for the predetermined number of sets, and the transfer paper after transfer is discharged to one discharge tray.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the finishing process is a stapling process. According to the third aspect of the invention, the first transfer paper bundle and the second transfer paper bundle are individually stapled.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the finishing process is a punching process. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first transfer sheet bundle and the second transfer sheet bundle are individually punched.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the post-processing unit has a predetermined size in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of the transfer paper guided to the discharge unit. The operation unit includes, as the sort instruction, a bundle unit sort instruction for shifting the position of the second transfer paper bundle with respect to the first transfer paper bundle and overlapping the first transfer paper bundle. The control unit is capable of receiving the second transfer paper bundle to the first transfer paper bundle with respect to the first transfer paper bundle based on the bundle unit sort instruction from the operation unit. It is characterized in that the position is shifted by movement. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a bundle unit sort instruction is received by the operation unit, the second transfer paper bundle is orthogonal to the first transfer paper bundle in the transport direction by the position shift unit. The sheet is moved by a predetermined dimension in the direction, guided to the discharge section, shifted in position, and overlapped.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the post-processing section has a predetermined size in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction for the transfer paper guided to the discharge section. The operation unit, as the sort instruction, converts a first set of the first and second transfer paper bundles into a second set of the first and second transfer paper bundles. A bundle set unit sorting instruction to shift the positions of the sets to overlap each other can be received, and the control unit transmits the second instruction to the position shifting unit based on the bundle set unit sorting instruction from the operation unit. (1) A first set consisting of a second transfer paper bundle is shifted by the predetermined dimension with respect to a second set consisting of the first and second transfer paper bundles. Features. According to the invention described in claim 6, when a bundle set unit sorting instruction is received by the operation unit, the first set is predetermined in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction with respect to the second set by the position shift unit. It is moved by the dimension and guided to the discharge section, shifted and overlapped.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the operation unit instructs, as the image formation instruction, whether to execute the stapling process for each of the transfer sheet bundles. An instruction can be received, and the control unit causes the post-processing unit to perform the stapling process based on a stapling instruction from the operation unit. According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when the stapling instruction is received by the operation unit, the staple process is performed by the post-processing unit.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the operation unit instructs, as the image formation instruction, whether to execute the punching process for each of the transfer sheet bundles. An instruction can be received, and the control unit causes the post-processing unit to perform the punching process based on a punch instruction from the operation unit. According to the eighth aspect, when a punch instruction is received by the operation unit, the punch processing is performed by the post-processing unit.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein a document placing portion for placing a document to be copied is placed on the document placing portion. A detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of a placed document; and a display unit for performing a guide display for guiding a user's operation. The data capture unit includes a document bundle placed on the document placement unit. And the controller reads the first and second image data sequentially, and the control unit is configured to read the first and second image data with respect to a bundle of documents placed on the document placing unit by the data capturing unit. After the reading of the first image data is started, when the detection unit detects that the originals of the bundle of originals are no longer in the original placing unit, the user can read the second image data from a new bundle of originals. To select whether or not to read When an image forming instruction for reading the second image data is received by the operation unit, a document bundle newly placed on the document placing unit is displayed on the display unit. The second image data is read by the data capturing means. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, after the first image data is read from the document bundle placed on the document placing unit by the data capturing unit, the user can display the first image data from the new document bundle by the display unit. When a guide display for selecting whether or not to read the second image data is displayed, and when an image forming instruction to read the second image data is received by the operation unit, the data capturing means Thereby, the second image data is read from the document bundle newly placed on the document placing portion.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, after the first transfer paper bundle and the second transfer paper bundle are individually subjected to the finishing process, the first and second transfer paper bundles are sent to the discharge unit. Since the operations of sequentially leading and overlapping in this order are performed for the predetermined number of sets, a plurality of transfer papers on which images are transferred in the same row as the originals from a set of originals composed of a plurality of original bundles are provided. It is possible to obtain an output of a bundle.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the transfer paper after the transfer is discharged to one discharge unit, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of discharge units.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the first transfer paper bundle and the second transfer paper bundle are individually staple-processed, each transfer paper bundle can be identified. .

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the punch processing is individually performed on the first transfer paper bundle on which the first image data is transferred and the second transfer paper bundle on which the second image data is transferred. This facilitates binding for each transfer sheet bundle.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, when the bundle unit sort instruction is received by the operation unit, the second transfer paper bundle is moved by the position shift unit with respect to the first transfer paper bundle in the transport direction. The first transfer sheet bundle and the second transfer sheet bundle are distinguished from each other because they are moved in the vertical direction and guided to the discharge unit, shifted in position and overlapped.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, when a bundle set unit sorting instruction is received by the operation unit, the first set is moved in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction with respect to the second set by the position shift unit. The first set and the second set are made identifiable because they are moved and guided to the discharge unit, shifted in position and overlapped.

  According to the seventh aspect, when the user operates the operation unit to input a stapling instruction, the post-processing unit performs the stapling process.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, when the user operates the operation unit to input a punch instruction, the post-processing unit performs the punching process.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the user places the document bundle on the document placing unit and operates the operation unit according to the guide display displayed on the display unit, so that the data capturing unit The first image data and the second image data can be read from the original bundle.

  FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus includes a copier main body 1 having an image forming unit 100, a document conveying mechanism 200 and a document reading unit 300, which are installed on the upper part of the copier main body 1 and serve as a document presser, and a copier main body 1. And a post-processing unit 500 provided at one side of the copying machine main body 1.

  The document reading unit 300 includes a scanner or the like that generates image data from an image of a document optically acquired, and includes a contact glass 301 and a contact glass 302 on the upper surface thereof. Then, the document reading unit 300 sends image data obtained from a document placed on the contact glass 301 or a document conveyed so as to be in contact with the contact glass 302 by the document conveying mechanism 200 to the control unit 2 described later. Output.

  The document transport mechanism 200 includes a document placement unit 201, a loading drive unit 202 including a pair of loading rollers, a pair of transport rollers 203, a pair of discharge rollers 204, a discharge tray 205, and a document for detecting the presence or absence of a document. A detection switch 206 is provided to automatically convey the originals placed on the original placing portion 201 one by one while making contact with the contact glass 302, and discharge the originals to the paper output tray 205 after scanning the exposure of the originals. .

  The paper feeding unit 400 includes paper feeding cassettes 401 and 402 that store paper of each size, vertical and horizontal types, and a manual paper feeding unit 403. The paper supply unit 400 includes a transport path 404 for transporting paper from the paper cassettes 401 and 402 to the image forming unit 100 and a transport path 405 for transporting paper from the manual paper feed unit 403 to the image forming unit 100. . Each of the paper cassettes 401 and 402 and the manual paper feed unit 403 include a pair of pickup rollers 406, 407, and 408 for taking out the stored paper (transfer paper), and a pair of paper feed rollers that feed the paper one by one to a transport path. 409, 410, and 411.

  The conveyance path 404 includes a pair of conveyance rollers 412 and 413 for conveying the sheet, and a pair of registration rollers 414 for holding the sheet conveyed before the image forming unit 100 at a predetermined position. The transport path 405 joins the transport path 404 on the upstream side of the registration roller pair 414.

  The image forming unit 100 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 101 rotatably supported, a charging unit 102 disposed around the photoconductor 101, a developing unit 103, a cleaning unit 104, and a laser scanning unit 105. , A transfer roller 106, and a fixing roller pair 107. The charging unit 102 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 101 to a predetermined potential. The laser scanning unit 105 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 101 with a laser beam based on the image data transmitted from the control unit 2, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 101.

  Further, the developing unit 103 is for attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image to make the image visible, the transfer roller 106 is for transferring the developed toner image to paper, and the fixing roller pair 107 is for Is to fix the toner image transferred to the paper. Further, the cleaning unit 104 cleans toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 101 after image transfer.

  Further, a paper discharge unit 108 is provided at the upper part of the copying machine main body 1, and the paper conveyed from the fixing roller pair 107 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 109 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 108. The discharge roller pair 110 discharges the paper conveyed from the fixing roller pair 107 to the post-processing unit 500. The discharge branch guide 111 driven according to a control signal from the control unit 2 discharges the paper. The discharge direction can be switched between the discharge roller pair 109 side and the discharge roller pair 110 side.

  The post-processing unit 500 includes a punching unit 501 that performs a punching process as a finishing process on the paper conveyed from the discharge roller pair 110, a carry-in roller pair 502 that conveys the conveyed paper, and a conveyed paper as a paper bundle. The sheet is temporarily conveyed from a paper receiving tray 503, a staple processing unit 504 that performs staple processing as a finishing process on a sheet bundle, a sorting discharge tray 506 that can be raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism 505, and a paper receiving tray 503. The pair of discharge rollers 507 for discharging the discharged sheets to the sort discharge tray 506, the non-sort discharge tray 508 disposed on one side of the upper part of the post-processing unit 500, and the sheet conveyance direction from the pair of carry-in rollers 502. A conveyance branch guide 509 for switching between the 503 side and the non-sort discharge tray 508 side, and Comprising a pair of discharge rollers 510 for discharging the paper Nsoto for discharge tray 508.

  Further, the post-processing unit 500 includes receiving tray loading rollers 511, 512, and 513 that transport the transfer paper to the paper receiving tray 503, and movable guide members 514, 515, and a guide that guides the transfer paper to the paper receiving tray 503. The reference numeral 516 and the stationary guide 517 are provided at different positions at predetermined intervals in the transfer paper carrying direction. Thus, the transfer position of the transfer papers having different sizes or the transfer papers having different lengths in the transport direction depending on the direction of the transfer papers is changed according to the size and the direction of each transfer paper. The staple processing unit 504 enables the staple processing to be carried into the paper receiving table 503 in a state where the edges of the transfer paper are aligned.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the paper receiving table 503. The paper receiving tray 503 shown in FIG. 2 is inclined so that the upper side is located on the side of the sorting discharge tray 506 and the lower end is located on the side of the copying machine body 1. The sheet bundle is discharged to the outside by a receiving member 519 that receives and holds the lower end of the sheet bundle. The conveying unit 520 includes a conveying belt or the like driven by a drive motor (not shown). And a position shifting unit 521 including a width shifting member or the like for shifting the position of the sheet bundle stored in the sheet tray 503 in the left-right direction (the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) on the sheet receiving table 503. Then, the transfer means 520 is driven in response to a control signal from the control unit 2, whereby the transfer paper held by the receiving member 519 is transported to the discharge roller pair 507, and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 507. It is discharged to 506.

  The position shifting unit 521 is disposed on the left side of the sheet receiving table 503 along the transfer sheet transport direction, and shifts the sheet bundle rightward in the drawing with respect to the discharge direction. A member 521a, a left member moving unit 521b for moving the left width shifting member 521a in the left-right direction (width direction), and a sheet bundle disposed on the right side of the sheet receiving table 503 along the transfer direction of the transfer sheet. And a right member moving means 521d for moving the right width shifting member 521c in the left-right direction (width direction). I have.

  The left width shifting member 521a is configured such that a support shaft 521e mounted vertically on the bottom surface is fitted into a left slide hole 521f formed in the paper receiving table 503 and extending in the left-right direction, and extends between the left end side and the center side. It is movable. The left member moving means 521b includes a rack 521g having a support shaft 521e of a left width shifting member 521a mounted on an upper surface, a pinion 521h meshed with the rack 521g, and a left member drive motor 521i for driving the pinion 521h. When the left member drive motor 521i rotates in both forward and reverse directions, the rack 521g moves along the left slide hole 521f, so that the left width shifting member 521a reciprocates between the left end side and the center side. Move.

  The right width shifting member 521c has a support shaft 521j, which is mounted vertically on the bottom surface, is fitted in a right slide hole 521k formed in the sheet receiving base 503 and extending in the left-right direction, and extends between the right end side and the center part side. It is movable. The right member moving means 521d includes a rack 521m having a support shaft 521j of a right width shifting member 521c mounted on an upper surface, a pinion 521n meshed with the rack 521m, and a right member drive motor 521p for driving the pinion 521n. The right member drive motor 521p rotates in both the forward and reverse directions to move the rack 521m along the right slide hole 521k. As a result, the right width shifting member 521c reciprocates between the right end side and the center side. Move.

  In other words, the transfer paper is sorted in the left and right direction for each image data unit by moving the left width moving member 521a and the right width moving member 521c in the left or right direction by the left member moving means 521b and the right member moving means 521d. Will be. The sorted transfer papers are discharged from the paper receiving table 503 onto the sorting discharge tray 506, and are stacked on the sorting discharge tray 506 in this sorted state.

  Thereby, the sheet bundle conveyed to the sheet receiving table 503 is guided by the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c, and can be moved in the width direction along the surface of the sheet receiving table 503 for each bundle. In addition, since the sheet bundle can be discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 while being moved in the width direction, it is possible to discharge the sheet bundle to the sorting discharge tray 506 by shifting the discharging position for each bundle. ing.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the lifting mechanism 505 is configured such that the upper surface of the sheet bundle discharged onto the sorting discharge tray 506 in response to the control signal from the control unit 2 has a top surface suitable for discharging the sheet bundle from the discharge roller pair 507. The position of the sorting discharge tray 506 is raised and lowered so as to be located at the position.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit 100, a document conveying mechanism 200, a document reading unit 300, a paper feeding unit 400, a post-processing unit 500, an operation display unit 600 functioning as various input key switches, and the like, an image storage. The control unit 2 includes a block of the unit 700 and a control unit 2 that outputs a control signal in response to an input signal from the operation display unit 600 and outputs a control signal to each of the blocks to control the operation.

  FIG. 4 is an external view illustrating an example of the operation display unit 600. The operation display unit 600 includes, for example, a touch panel 601 provided with a transparent pressure-sensitive sensor on the surface of a liquid crystal display panel, numeric keys 602 for inputting numerical values such as the number of copies (the number of sets), and an instruction to initialize setting information. A reset key 603 for inputting, a stop / clear key 604 for stopping a copying operation or deleting a numerical value input using the numeric keypad 602, and a start key for inputting an instruction to start a copying operation 605.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of the touch panel 601. The set display 606 is a display unit that displays the number of copies (the number of sets) input using the numeric keypad 602.

  A non-sort key 607 is a key for setting a normal mode in which sheets on which images are formed are discharged to the non-sort discharge tray 508 without being sorted. A normal sort key 608 is used to set a normal sort mode in which sheets on which images are formed are arranged in the same page order as the original, and bundles for each set (set) are discharged to the sort discharge tray 506. The key to do. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, when image data is read from a plurality of bundles of documents in the normal sort mode, the sheets on which images are formed for each bundle of documents are arranged in the same page order as the documents, and the number of sheets is set. The bundle may be discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506, and the discharge position may be shifted for each copy bundle corresponding to each document bundle so that they can be identified.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cascade sort key 609 reads an image of a set of originals composed of a plurality of original bundles, and forms a set of paper bundles formed in the same arrangement as the originals into a set of papers. Is a key for setting a bundle-set-unit sort mode in which is discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506.

  As described above, in addition to the mode in which the bundle set unit sort mode is set by pressing the cascade sort key 609, when the cascade sort key 609 is pressed, for example, the touch panel 601 is operated by the touch panel 601 according to the control signal from the control unit 2. The sub screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and a bundle set unit key 609a for selecting a bundle unit sort mode and a bundle unit key 609b for selecting a bundle unit sort mode described later may be displayed. good.

  Returning to FIG. 5, a staple key 610 is a key for inputting a setting for performing staple processing as finishing processing on a bundle of sheets on which images are formed. The punch key 611 is a key for inputting a setting for performing a punching process as a finishing process on a sheet on which an image is formed. As for the staple process and the punch process, it may be configured to set whether or not to perform the staple process and the punch process for each bundle set, and to perform the staple process and the punch process for each sheet bundle in the bundle set. A configuration in which no is set may be used.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the control unit 2 includes a microcomputer having a built-in ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing a control program of the image forming apparatus, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data, and the like. When the start key 605 is pressed, a control signal for starting a copying operation is transmitted to each of the image forming unit 100, the document conveying mechanism 200, the document reading unit 300, the sheet feeding unit 400, the post-processing unit 500, and the image storage unit 700. It is configured to output to a block.

  When the start key 605 is pressed in the normal mode, the control unit 2 first stores the image data obtained by the document reading unit 300 for each page in the image storage unit 700 including a RAM or the like. Then, the control unit 2 causes the number of copies (the number of sets) to be copied from the image data of the first page, and then causes the number of copies (the number of sets) to be copied from the image data of the second page. By repeating this for each page of the image data stored in the image storage unit 700, the sheet bundle on which the image of the original is transferred in the normal mode is discharged to the non-sorting discharge tray 508.

  When the start key 605 is pressed in the normal sort mode, the control unit 2 first stores the image data obtained by the document reading unit 300 in the image storage unit 700 for each page. Then, the control unit 2 sets the operation of performing the copying operation in the page order from the image data of the first page to the image data of the last page as one set, and executes the operation for the number of copies (the number of sets).

  As a result, the transfer paper on which the image of the original is transferred is arranged in the same page order as the original, and the output position is shifted for each set (set) corresponding to the original bundle to form a bundle for each set. Is discharged to the discharge tray 506. In this case, the control unit 2 performs a finishing process such as a stapling process, a punching process, or a shifting process of a discharge position on the bundle of each copy, and discharges the bundle in a state where the bundle can be identified.

  When the start key 605 is pressed in the setting of the bundle set unit sort mode, the control unit 2 first uses the image data of the first document bundle obtained by the document reading unit 300 as the first image data. The image is stored in the image storage unit 700 for each page. Then, the image data of the next bundle of originals is identifiable as second image data in units of original bundles, stored in the image storage unit 700 for each page, and is repeatedly executed for all the original bundles.

  Then, the control unit 2 first performs an operation of performing a copying operation in the page order from the image data of the first page of the first image data to the image data of the last page. Subsequently, similarly, for the second image data, an operation of performing a copying operation from the image data of the first page to the image data of the last page in the page order is executed, and this copying operation is performed for the image data of all the original bundles. Run repeatedly. In this case, the control unit 2 outputs a control signal for finishing processing to the punch unit 501, the staple processing unit 504, and the position shift unit 521, and outputs a control signal for each of the bundles corresponding to each document bundle. The sheet bundle is subjected to a finishing process such as a stapling process, a punching process, or a process of shifting a discharge position, and the bundle is discharged in an identifiable unit.

  The punch unit 501 is provided between the discharge roller pair 110 and the carry-in roller pair 502, and the sheet carried in from the discharge roller pair 110 is subjected to a punching process one by one by the punch unit 501. Thus, a punching process is performed on the sheet bundle. As described above, the punching unit 501 can quickly perform the punching process by performing the punching process while the sheet is being transported one by one, and the processing time of the image forming process when the punching process is performed is reduced. This is almost the same as the processing time of the image forming process when the process is not executed. Further, since the punching unit 501 performs the punching process while the sheets are conveyed one by one, it is not necessary to perform the punching process after the sheets are bundled, and the punching process is performed on the sheet bundle without using the sheet receiving table 503. Can be applied.

  As a result, the transfer paper on which the images of a set of originals composed of a plurality of original bundles are transferred is arranged in the same arrangement as the originals, and a plurality of copies are bundled so as to correspond to each original bundle. The sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 506. In the bundle set unit sort mode, one set is one set.

  Further, the control unit 2 repeatedly performs the copying operation in which the plurality of copies are obtained as one set by the number of copies (the number of sets). As a result, the set of copies is discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 by the number of copies (the number of sets).

  Note that the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be an image forming apparatus such as a printer that receives digital image data representing a document image from an external device such as a personal computer and performs image formation. The configuration may not include the document reading unit 300. Further, another image forming apparatus such as a facsimile may be used. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which an output method such as a bundle set sort mode or the like is instructed when the facsimile image data stored in the memory is output.

  9 and 10 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. First, for example, the operation screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the operation display unit 600, and when the cascade sort key 609 is pressed to set the bundle set unit sort mode, the numerical value input using the numeric keypad 602 indicates the number of copies. (The number of sets), a setting is made to perform staple processing when the staple key 610 is pressed, and a setting is made to perform punch processing when the punch key 611 is pressed (step S1).

  Next, when the start key 605 is pressed, the copy operation in the bundle set unit sort mode is started, and the variable N indicating the number of the original bundle and the variable S for counting the number of copies (the number of sets) are set to 1. Is initialized (step S2).

  Next, the operation of the document conveying mechanism 200 is controlled by a control signal from the control unit 2, and the documents placed on the document placing unit 201 are conveyed one by one while being in contact with the contact glass 302, Is discharged. When the document comes into contact with the contact glass 302, the image data of the document obtained by the document reading unit 300 is output to the control unit 2 and the image storage unit for each page is output as the image data of the Nth document bundle. 700 (step S3).

  Next, when the document detection switch 206 detects that the document placed on the document placement unit 201 has run out, the control unit 2 determines that the image reading of the Nth document bundle has been completed, and performs an operation. The display unit 600 displays, for example, a reading confirmation screen 612 of the next document bundle shown in FIG. 11, and when the input key 613 indicating that there is a next document is pressed (YES in step S4), for example, FIG. Is displayed on the operation display unit 600 to urge the user to place the next document on the document placing unit 201. When the control unit 2 detects that the start key 605 has been pressed, the control unit 2 adds 1 to the variable N (step S5), and proceeds to step S3 to execute image reading of the next bundle of documents. .

  On the other hand, when the input key 614 indicating that there is no next original is pressed (NO in step S4), the control unit 2 displays a guide screen 616 shown in FIG. In addition to notifying the user that the image reading of the original has been completed and shifting to the image forming operation, and detecting that the start key 605 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S6 to perform the image forming operation.

  Next, referring to FIG. 10, the control unit 2 initializes the variable N and the variable P indicating the page of the document by substituting 1 for performing the image layer forming process (step S6). The operation of the image forming unit 100 and the sheet feeding unit 400 is controlled by a control signal from the control unit 2, and the image of the Pth page of the Nth document bundle read from the image storage unit 700 by the control unit 2 Data is output to the image forming unit 100. Then, the image formed from the image data is transferred by the image forming unit 100 to, for example, the sheet taken out of the sheet feeding cassette 401 and conveyed (step S7).

  Next, the control unit 2 switches the discharge branch guide 111 to the discharge roller pair 110 side, and discharges the sheet on which the image data is transferred by the image forming unit 100 to the post-processing unit 500 by the discharge roller pair 110. . If the setting for performing the punching process has been made (YES in step S8), the punching unit 501 operates according to the control signal from the control unit 2, and the sheet carried into the post-processing unit 500 is subjected to the punching process. After that (Step S9), the sheet is carried into the sheet receiving table 503. On the other hand, when the setting for performing the punching process has not been made (NO in step S8), the sheet carried into the post-processing unit 500 is carried into the sheet receiving table 503 without being subjected to the punching process.

  Next, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the image of the last page of the Nth document bundle has been transferred to the sheet, that is, to the sheet from all the image data of the Nth document bundle stored in the image storage unit 700. It is confirmed whether or not the image forming process has been completed. If the image forming process has not been completed (NO in step S10), 1 is added to the variable P to perform the process on the image data of the next page of the Nth document bundle ( After step S11), the process returns to step S7.

  As described above, by the processes in steps S6 to S11, the sheet bundle on which the images of all the pages of the image data of the Nth document bundle are transferred is carried into the sheet receiving tray 503.

  On the other hand, when the image forming process on the sheet from all the image data of the Nth document bundle is completed (YES in step S10), it is confirmed whether or not the setting for performing the stapling process is performed by the control unit 2. When the setting for performing the stapling process is made (YES in step S12), the stapling process unit 504 operates according to the control signal from the control unit 2 to perform the stapling process on the sheet bundle stocked in the sheet receiving tray 503. After performing (Step S13), the process proceeds to Step S14. On the other hand, if the setting for performing the stapling process is not made (NO in Step S12), the process proceeds to Step S14 without performing the stapling process.

  Next, the control unit 2 confirms whether or not the variable S is an odd number. If the variable S is an odd number (YES in step S14), the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c are set to the positions shown in FIG. Is moved to the left of the sheet receiving table 503 in FIG. 1, that is, in the front direction of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (the side of the user standing on the front of the image forming apparatus), and the sheet bundle stored in the sheet receiving table 503 is moved. It is moved in the front direction while being guided by the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c (step S15). On the other hand, if the variable S is an even number (NO in step S14), the left-side shift member 521a and the right-side shift member 521c are moved to the right of the sheet receiving table 503 in FIG. 2, that is, toward the back of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (The back side of the image forming apparatus, the side opposite to the user standing position), and the bundle of sheets stocked in the sheet receiving table 503 is guided by the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c, and moves in the rear direction. It is moved (step S16).

  Next, a driving unit for moving the receiving member 519 is driven by a control signal from the control unit 2, and the sheet bundle held by the receiving member 519 is transported from the sheet receiving table 503 to the discharge roller pair 507. At the same time, the sheet is discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 by the discharge roller pair 507 (step S17). As a result, when the variable S is an odd number and an even number, that is, the sheet bundle included in the odd set and the sheet bundle included in the even set are shifted in the discharge direction in the front direction and the rear direction, respectively. Since the sheets are discharged, a plurality of sheet bundles that have been subjected to finishing processing such as stapling processing are discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 with their positions aligned in set units, and are combined into one set. In addition, since the plurality of sheet bundles are discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 with their positions shifted alternately in sets, as shown in FIG. 7, the sets for each set can be identified.

  Although the position where the sheet is discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506 is shifted for each set, the discharging position is shifted for each sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is identified by the shift of the discharge position. You may.

  As described above, for example, when the operation display unit 600 detects that the cascade sort key 609 shown in FIG. 5 is pressed, the sub screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. In the configuration in which the bundle unit sort mode is set when the unit key 609b is pressed, if the bundle unit sort mode is set, for example, as shown in FIG. When the bundle is stocked on the paper receiving tray 503, the control unit 2 drives the left member driving motor 521i and the right member driving motor 521p for each sheet bundle, and sequentially sets the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c to the same. The sheet bundle is gradually shifted in the same direction by gradually moving the sheet bundle in the When the first bundle of sheets (the bundle of sheets where N = 1 by adding S) is discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506, the left width shifting member 521a and the right width shifting member 521c are returned to the initial positions. Thus, the discharge position of the first sheet bundle of each set may be aligned at the same position, and the sheet bundle may be discharged in a distinguishable set unit.

  Next, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the image of the last document bundle has been transferred to the sheet, that is, the image forming process on the sheet from the image data of all the document bundles stored in the image storage unit 700 has been completed. If it is not completed (NO in step S18), 1 is added to the variable N to perform processing on the image data of the next document bundle, and the first page of the image data of the next document bundle is added. Then, 1 is substituted for the variable P in order to perform the processing from (step S19), and the process returns to step S7.

  As described above, by the processes in steps S6 to S19, for the image data of all the document bundles, one set of sheet bundles to which the images have been transferred are grouped and discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506.

  Next, the control unit 2 checks the value of the variable S. If the variable S is not equal to the number of copies (the number of sets) (NO in step S20), the variable S is set to 1 in order to perform image formation for the next set. Is added (step S21), and the process returns to step S6. On the other hand, if the variable S is equal to the number of copies (the number of sets) (YES in step S20), the bundle of sheets of the set number of copies (the number of sets) has been discharged to the sorting discharge tray 506. , And the process ends.

  FIG. 15 shows a case where, for example, three sets of copy operations are performed by the setting of performing the stapling process in the bundle set unit sort mode on the three original bundles A, B, and C by the processing of the above-described steps S1 to S21. FIG. In this case, the bundles A, B, and C of the copy bundles A, B, and C to which the images of the original bundles A, B, and C are respectively transferred are combined into one set, and a total of three copies of the same set are provided. can get.

  Note that the post-processing unit 500 has been described as an example in which the set of sheet bundles is shifted to the set discharge tray 506 and the discharge position is shifted for each set, thereby forming a set for each set. Alternatively, the post-processing unit 500 may include a plurality of output bins, switch the bin for discharging the sheet bundle for each set, and discharge one set of sheet bundle for each bin. In this case, a configuration without the position shifting unit 521 may be employed.

  Further, the configuration has been described in which the image forming process is started after the image data of all the original bundles is stored in the image storage unit 700 in the bundle set unit sort mode, but before the image data of all the original bundles is acquired, A configuration may be adopted in which the first set of image formation processing is started, and the image data acquisition processing and the first set of image formation processing are performed in parallel.

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of a configuration of a sheet receiving table illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a figure showing an example of the operation display part concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the operation screen concerning one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a state of a copy when image data is read from a plurality of document bundles in a normal sort mode. FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing an example of a state of a copy in a bundle set unit sort mode. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen for selecting a bundle set unit sort mode and a bundle unit sort mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. It is a figure showing an example of the operation screen concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the operation guide screen concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of the operation guide screen concerning one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a state of a copy in a bundle unit sort mode. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state of a copy output by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a state of a copy output by an image forming apparatus according to a conventional example.

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Copier main body 2 Control unit 100 Image forming unit 101 Photoreceptor 102 Charging unit 103 Developing unit 104 Cleaning unit 105 Laser scanning unit 106 Transfer roller 107 Fixing roller pair 108 Paper discharge unit 109 Discharge roller pair 110 Discharge roller pair 111 Discharge branch guide 200 Document Conveying Mechanism 201 Document Placement Unit 202 Loading Drive Unit 203 Conveying Roller Pair 204 Discharge Roller Pair 205 Discharge Board 206 Document Detection Switch (Detection Unit)
300 Document reading unit (data acquisition means)
301 contact glass 302 contact glass 400 paper feed unit 401, 402 paper feed cassette 403 paper feed unit 404, 405 transport paths 406, 407, 408 pickup rollers 409, 410, 411 paper feed roller pair 412, 413 transport roller pair 414 registration roller Pair 500 Post-processing unit 501 Punch unit 502 Carry-in roller pair 503 Paper tray 504 Stapling unit 505 Elevating mechanism 506 Sort discharge tray 507 Discharge roller pair 508 Non-sort discharge tray 509 Transport branch guide 510 Discharge roller pair 511, 512, 513 Receiving tray loading rollers 514, 515, 516 Movable guide member 517 Stationary guide section 518 Width shift plate 600 Operation display section (operation section, display section)
601 Touch panel 602 Numeric keypad 603 Reset key 604 Stop / clear key 605 Start key 606 Set display 607 Non-sort key 608 Normal sort key 609 Cascade sort key 610 Staple key 611 Punch key 612 Read confirmation screen 613, 614 Input key 615, 616 Guide screen 700 Image storage Department

Claims (9)

  An image forming unit that transfers each image data in page units to a transfer sheet, a post-processing unit that performs finishing processing on the transferred transfer sheet and guides the sheet to a discharge unit, and an operation unit that receives an image forming instruction from a user, A control unit that operates the image forming unit and the post-processing unit based on an image forming instruction from the operation unit, the first image data for a plurality of pages and the second image data for a plurality of pages; A data capturing unit that captures image data, wherein the operation unit receives, as the image forming instruction, a sort instruction including a predetermined number of sets of transfer of the first and second image data and sorting thereof; The control unit may be configured to control the post-processing unit based on a sort instruction from the operation unit to output a first transfer paper bundle on which the first image data has been transferred and a second image data. After the finishing process is individually performed on the second transfer sheet bundle onto which the sheet has been transferred, the operation of sequentially leading the first and second transfer sheet bundles to the discharge section so as to overlap in this order is performed by the predetermined set. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is executed for a few minutes.   The discharge unit includes one discharge tray, and the control unit transfers the second image data to the second transfer sheet bundle following the transfer operation of the first image data to the first transfer sheet bundle. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer operation is performed, and the operation is repeated for the predetermined number of sets.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the finishing process is a stapling process.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the finishing process is a punching process.   The post-processing unit includes a position shift unit that moves a transfer sheet guided to the discharge unit by a predetermined dimension in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction, and the operation unit includes, as the sort instruction, the second transfer sheet A bundle unit sort instruction for shifting the position of the bundle with respect to the first transfer sheet bundle and overlapping the bundle can be received, and the control unit may control the position based on the bundle unit sort instruction from the operation unit. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shifting unit shifts the position of the second transfer paper bundle relative to the first transfer paper bundle by the movement of the predetermined size. 6. Image forming apparatus.   The post-processing unit includes a position shift unit that moves the transfer paper guided to the discharge unit by a predetermined dimension in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction, and the operation unit performs the first and second transfer instructions as the sort instruction. A bundle set unit sort instruction for displacing and overlapping the first set of transfer paper bundles with respect to the second set of first and second transfer paper bundles, A control unit that, based on a bundle set unit sorting instruction from the operation unit, stores the first set including the first and second transfer paper bundles into the first and second transfer paper bundles in the position shift unit; The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a position of the second set is shifted by the movement of the predetermined dimension.   The operation unit can receive, as the image forming instruction, a stapling instruction for instructing whether to execute the stapling process for each of the transfer paper bundles, and the control unit can be configured to respond to the stapling instruction from the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the staple process is performed by the post-processing unit based on the staple process.   The operation unit can receive, as the image forming instruction, a punch instruction for instructing whether or not to execute the punching process for each of the transfer paper bundles, and the control unit responds to a punch instruction from the operation unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the punching process is performed by the post-processing unit based on the punching process.   A document placement unit for placing a document to be copied, a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of a document placed on the document placement unit, and a guide display for guiding a user operation A display unit, wherein the data capturing unit sequentially captures a document from the document bundle placed on the document placing unit and reads the first and second image data, and the control unit After the reading of the first image data by the data capturing unit from the document bundle placed on the document placing unit is started, the document of the document bundle is loaded by the detection unit by the detection unit. When it is detected that the second image data has disappeared from the placement unit, the display unit displays a guide display for the user to select whether or not to read the second image data from a new document bundle, and further performs the operation The second image data by the unit When an image forming instruction to perform reading is received, causing the data capturing unit to read the second image data for a document bundle newly placed on the document placing unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein

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