JP2007099479A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing apparatus which can easily distinguish each part in a group in addition to easy separation between groups for a plurality of printed sheet bundles.
An image forming apparatus that sorts a plurality of sheet bundles on which images are formed on a single stacking unit, the image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets, and one sheet bundle on which images are formed. Stapling means for stapling together, means for setting the number of sorting copies for each of the plurality of groups when sorting the sheet bundle into a plurality of groups, and means for controlling the sorting operation based on the set contents.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a digital multifunction machine, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of sorting output paper.

  Conventional printers include printers, copiers, facsimiles, and the like, and multi-function peripherals (hereinafter referred to as MFPs) such as digital multi-function peripherals having these functions.

  There are also printing apparatuses that realize sorting of output paper by connecting a sheet processing apparatus to these printing apparatuses. In this sheet processing apparatus, when a plurality of copies are output, the output is shifted (shifted) or a partition sheet such as colored paper is inserted, so that one stack is set for each copy or for each job. A device has been devised to sort the sheet bundle on the tray for easy discrimination.

  However, in the above-described conventional example, when the sheet bundle is sorted into a plurality of groups, the user cannot specify the number of copies to be sorted. Therefore, when the user sorts the desired number of copies, the user must count the number of copies. It was cumbersome because I didn't. It was cumbersome because the number of copies had to be counted.

  For example, if you want to distribute 10 copies of the output paper bundle to 5 locations in one location, 2 copies to another location, and 3 copies to another location, the user will be bothered to count 5 copies, 2 copies, and 3 copies. was there.

On the basis of such a background, when sorting a sheet bundle into a plurality of groups, it has been proposed that the user can specify the number of copies to be sorted so that the user can easily sort the desired number of copies (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-217372 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, it is easy to distinguish between groups, but no sorting (sorting) is performed for each part in the group. That is, when it is desired to distribute one copy at each distribution destination to which a plurality of copies for one group are distributed, it is necessary to sort the distributed sheet bundle for each copy.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus that can easily distinguish each unit in a group in addition to easy separation between groups.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that sorts a plurality of sheet bundles on which images are formed on one stacking unit, and forms an image on a sheet. And a stapling unit for stapling one set of sheet bundles on which images are formed by the image forming unit, and a group of sheet bundles grouped one by one by the stapling unit. And setting means for setting the number of sorting copies for each of a plurality of groups, and control means for controlling the sorting operation based on the setting contents of the setting means.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet in an image forming system that sorts a plurality of sheet bundles on which images are formed on one stacking unit. A stapling unit that staples a set of sheet bundles each having an image formed thereon by the image forming unit, and a plurality of groups of sheets bundled together by the stapling unit into a plurality of groups. Setting means for setting the number of sorting copies for each group, and control means for controlling the sorting operation based on the setting contents of the setting means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, each of a plurality of groups is sorted by an offset (shift) by a user's desired number of copies, and is further stapled for each copy within each group. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to save the trouble of dividing the sheet bundle of a plurality of copies distributed at each distribution destination one by one.

  Furthermore, since printing is performed on paper fed from a paper feed stage corresponding to each group, there is an effect that printing can be performed on a desired paper corresponding to each group for each distribution destination.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the apparatus. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 200, a document reading unit 300, a paper feeding unit 400, an image forming unit 500, a controller unit 800, a document feeding unit 600, and a sheet processing unit 700. Although not shown, the operation unit 200 is provided above the document reading unit 300. Although not shown, the controller unit 800 is provided inside the image forming apparatus 100.

  When the user gives an instruction to start printing from the operation unit 200, the document D placed on the document feed tray 605 of the document feeding unit 600 is separated one by one by the separation roller 601, and the platen glass is separated by the conveyance roller 602. It is conveyed onto 301. The document D that has passed over the platen glass 301 is discharged onto a discharge tray 604 by a discharge roller 603.

  Light reflected from the light source 302 to the document D passing over the platen glass 301 is read as image data by the CCD image sensor 304 via the lens system 303.

  Image data read by the CCD image sensor 304 is sent to a laser output unit 501 in the image forming unit 500, and laser light based on the image data is output from the laser output unit 501.

  The output laser light passes through the imaging lens system 502, is reflected by the mirror 503, and converges and forms an image on the surface of the photoreceptor 504.

  The photosensitive drum 504 is charged by a primary charger 505 in advance, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation with light. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 506 to form a toner image. The

  The sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 400 is corrected for skew by the registration roller 401 and further sent to the image forming unit 500 at a proper timing.

  In the image forming unit 500, the toner image on the photoconductor 504 is transferred to the sheet S sent by the transfer charger 507. The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 504 by the separation charger 508.

  The separated sheet S is conveyed to the fixing device 510 by the conveying device 509, and the toner image is permanently fixed on the sheet S by heat and pressure by the fixing device 510. The sheet S on which the image is fixed is conveyed to the sheet processing unit 700 by the paper discharge roller 511.

  The sheet S conveyed to the sheet processing unit 700 is conveyed to the processing tray 703 by the conveyance rollers 701 and 702. The sheets S sequentially conveyed to the processing tray 703 are aligned with the sheet bundle by the alignment member 704. The aligned sheet bundle is stapled by a stapling unit (not shown) as necessary according to the designation from the user. Then, it is discharged to the stacking tray 706 by the bundle discharge roller 705.

  In this way, one copy of the original D is completed, and this operation is repeated until the number of copies desired by the user is reached.

  Next, the configuration of the operation unit 200 is shown in FIG. The operation unit 200 includes a numeric keypad 201, a start key 202, and a liquid crystal screen 203. The liquid crystal screen 203 has an arbitrary number of copies shift key 204.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the controller unit 800. In FIG. 10, 1001 is a CPU that controls the entire apparatus and performs various calculations, 1002 is a ROM that stores a program for controlling the system, 1003 is a RAM used as a work area of the CPU 1001 and a buffer, and 1004 is a buffer. HDD that stores a large amount of data to be saved and relatively large image data even when the power is turned off, 1005 is a communication interface (communication I / F) serving as an interface with the network, and 1006 is a scanner that actually performs image reading processing An engine (the document reading unit 300 and the document feeding unit 600 in FIG. 1), 1007 is a printer engine (the sheet feeding unit 400, the image forming unit 500, and the sheet processing unit 700 in FIG. 1) and 1008 that actually perform printing processing. LCD panel and various keys are provided to display information to the user. Or, an operation panel for accepting an instruction input from the user (operation unit 200 of FIG. 1), and, 1009 is an internal bus for transmitting and receiving mutual data connecting the components.

  The RAM 1003 also includes an image memory, which will be described later, and a table of the number of copies of each group and a paper feed stage.

  As a first embodiment, there is a method in which, in the sheet processing unit 700, stapling is performed for each copy, and the alignment position of the sheet is changed by the alignment member 704. This will be described in detail below.

  As an explanation of the present embodiment, an example in which a result as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained will be shown.

  10 copies of a 3 page original are copied and stapled every 3 pages. All 10 copies are sorted into 3 groups. The first group is 5 copies, the second group is 2 copies, the third group is 3 copies, and a total of 10 copies are stacked on the stacking tray 706 as shown in FIG.

  By the processing described below, as shown in FIG. 8, an output result that is stapled for each copy and that is offset (shifted) for each designated number of copies is obtained.

  Next, an outline of how the image forming apparatus 100 performs print processing in order to obtain an output result as shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step 5001, print setting processing is performed. The print setting process is a process in which the user inputs from the operation unit 200 the number of groups, whether to staple, the number of copies for each group, the paper feed tray for each group, and the like.

  When the print setting process is completed, a data input process is performed in step 5002 to input image data. The data input process is a process of reading an image from a document and inputting it as image data. The input image data is stored in the image memory area of the RAM 1003.

  When the input of the image data for all the pages of the original is completed, the process proceeds to step 5003, where an output process for printing and discharging the image based on the image data is performed for all the groups set in the print setting process. Do for a few minutes. Then, the process ends.

  These print setting processing (step 5001), data input processing (step 5002), and output processing (step 5003) will be described in detail below.

  In this embodiment, different types of paper are prepared in the two cassettes 402 and 403 of the paper supply unit 400. Assume that the cassette 402 contains recycled paper and the cassette 403 contains plain paper.

<Print setting process>
First, the print setting process in step 5001 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When an arbitrary number of copies shift key 204 is pressed from the liquid crystal screen 203 in FIG. 2, an arbitrary number of copies shift menu screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 203. On this screen, a group number setting key 2003 is pressed to input the number of groups to be sorted. In this embodiment, since it is desired to sort into three groups, “3” is input. Next, a staple setting key 2004 is pressed, and whether or not stapling is performed for each copy is input from a pull-down menu. In the present embodiment, since it is desired to staple each copy, “staple” is selected and input.

  Thereafter, by depressing the key 2001 to the next setting, the number of groups and whether to staple are determined. Then, the screen shifts to an arbitrary number of copies shift menu screen shown in FIG.

  If the cancel key 2002 is pressed at an arbitrary timing during the above operation, it is possible to return to the previous screen, that is, the screen before entering the menu screen.

  When the key 2001 is pressed from the liquid crystal screen 203 of FIG. 3 to the next setting, an arbitrary number of copies shift menu screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 203. On this screen, the number of copies setting key 2103 is pressed, and the number of copies N1 of the first group is input from the numeric keypad 201. Then, a paper feed stage setting key 2106 is pressed, and the first paper feed stage K1 is input from the pull-down menu. Next, the number of copies setting key 2104 is pressed, the number of copies N2 of the second group is input from the numeric keypad 201, and the number of paper feed stage setting keys 2107 is pressed to input the second group of paper feed stages K2. The same applies to the number of copies and the paper feed stage for the third and subsequent groups, and inputs and sets the number of copies Nn and the paper feed stage Kn for the n-th group. Thereafter, by pressing the setting completion key 2101, the number of copies from the first group to the nth group and the paper feed stage are determined. And it transfers to the screen of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, when the number of groups is greater than 3, the scroll bar 2109 can be used to move to the number of copies of an arbitrary group and a paper feed stage setting key.

  If the cancel key 2102 is pressed at an arbitrary timing during the above operation, it is possible to return to the previous screen.

  When the above print setting process is completed, a table of the number of copies (Nk) and paper feed tray (Kk) of each group as shown in FIG. 9 is created. This table is stored in an area on the RAM 1003, and is referred to in output processing described later.

<Data input processing>
Next, the data input process in step 5002 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 6, when the start key 202 is pressed in step 6001, the process proceeds to step 6002 where one page of the document placed on the document feed tray 605 is read as image data. In step 6003, the read image data is stored in the image memory.

  In step 6004, it is determined whether or not reading of all pages of the document has been completed. If it is determined that reading of all pages has not been completed, the process returns to step 6002 to read the next page.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 6004 that reading of all pages of the document has been completed, the data input process is terminated.

  Through the above processing, image data for all pages of the document D is input.

<Output processing>
Next, the output process in step 5003 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, in step 7001, 1 is substituted into a variable k. In step 7002, a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding stage Kk, and one page of image data is printed on the sheet fed in step 7003. When the paper feed stage Kk is cassette 1, paper is fed from 402 in FIG. 1, and when it is cassette 2, paper is fed from 403. In step 7004, it is determined whether printing of all the pages of one copy is completed.

  If it is determined that printing of all pages has not been completed, the process returns to 702 to print the next page.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 7004 that printing of all pages of one copy has been completed, the process proceeds to step 7005.

  In step 7005, it is determined whether or not stapling is set.

  If it is determined that the setting for stapling is made, one copy on the processing tray 703 is stapled in step 7006. Then, the process proceeds to Step 7007.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 705 that the setting for stapling has not been made, the process advances to step 7007.

  In step 7007, one sheet is discharged from the processing tray 703 to the stacking tray 706. In step 7008, it is determined whether or not Nk sheets have been discharged to the stacking tray 706 for the kth group.

  If it is not determined in step 7008 that the Nk sheet has been discharged, the process returns to step 7002.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 7008 that the Nk sheet has been discharged, the process proceeds to step 7009.

  In step 7009, it is determined whether or not all the sheets have been discharged. If all the sheets have been discharged, this flow is ended.

  On the other hand, if it is not determined in step 7009 that all the sheets have been discharged, the alignment position of the sheet by the alignment member 704 is changed in step 7010 so as to shift in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. This change (movement) of the alignment position will be described in detail later. In step 7011, k is incremented, that is, 1 is added to k. Then, the process returns to step 7002.

  Note that the above-described output processing steps 7002 and 7008 operate with reference to the table of the number of copies (Nk) and the paper feed tray (Kk) of each group as shown in FIG.

  The change (movement) of the alignment position in step 7010 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a view of the vicinity of the stacking tray 706 viewed from directly above. From the processing tray 703 in contact with the right side of the stacking tray 706, the printed paper is discharged in the direction of the discharge direction arrow (“←” in the figure). At this time, the position of the alignment member 704 can be switched between the alignment position A and the alignment position B. In the case of the alignment position A, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge position A, and in the case of the alignment position B, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge position B. That is, every time the position of the alignment member 704 is changed (moved), the paper discharge position can be alternately switched between the paper discharge position A, the paper discharge position B, the paper discharge position A, and the paper discharge position B. ing. Using this mechanism, the paper discharge position can be shifted for each group.

  With the output process described above, a result as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. That is, an output result that is stapled for each copy and offset (shifted) for each designated number of copies is obtained.

  Further, since the group 1 and the group 2 are fed from the cassette 1 and the group 3 is fed from the cassette 2 according to the print setting by the user, the group 1 and the group 2 are set to be recycled paper. The three copies of group 3 are printed on plain paper.

  In the first embodiment, as an example of the method for sorting the sheet bundle, the example in which the alignment position of the sheets is changed by the alignment member 704 of the sheet processing unit is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, a method of sorting sheet bundles by discharging partition materials such as colored paper without forming an image between groups may be used.

  In this case, since only a part of the output processing is different from the first embodiment, only the different processing will be described.

  That is, the flowchart of FIG. 7 is replaced with the flowchart of FIG. In the first embodiment, the alignment position is moved in step 7010 of FIG. 7. In this embodiment, in step 12010 of FIG. 12, after the colored paper is fed from the paper feed stage containing colored paper, image formation is not performed. Without discharging to the stacking tray 706.

  By this processing, a result as shown in FIG. 13 is obtained. In other words, an output result is obtained in which colored paper is discharged for each specified number of copies.

[Other Examples]
As a method for sorting the sheet bundle, the first embodiment shows an example in which the alignment position of the sheet is changed by the alignment member 704 of the sheet processing unit. In the second embodiment, a partition such as colored paper is divided between the groups. Although the example which discharges | emits material was shown, it is not limited to this.

  For example, a method of sorting the sheet bundle by moving the stacking tray 706 and performing offset stacking may be used, or any other method may be used.

  Moreover, although the example which reads and copies a manuscript was shown, it is not limited to this. For example, a document created by various application software (for example, MS-Word) on a host computer connected via a network may be transmitted as print data to the image forming apparatus 100 via a printer driver and printed. I do not care.

  Further, although the operation unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 100 is exemplified as the setting unit for setting the number of sorting copies and the paper feed tray, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100 is connected to a computer via a network and the image forming apparatus 100 is used as a printer, the number of sorting copies and the paper feed stage are set from the print setting screen on the computer screen by the printer driver. Also good.

It is a figure showing the whole apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure showing the liquid crystal screen of the operation part in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the liquid crystal screen of the operation part in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the control flow in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the control flow in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure showing the control flow in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sheet bundle that is offset and stacked on a stacking tray. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a table of the number of copies of each group and a paper feed stage. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit 800. FIG. It is a figure explaining the change (movement) of an alignment position. It is a figure showing the control flow in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sheet bundle in which colored paper is discharged as a partition material between groups and stacked on a stacking tray.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 200 Operation part 201 Numeric keypad 202 Start key 203 Liquid crystal screen 204 Arbitrary copy number shift key 205 Staple key 2101 Setting completion key 2103 to 2105 Copy number setting key 2106 to 2108 Paper feed stage setting key 300 Image reading part 400 Paper feed part 500 Image Forming unit 700 Sheet processing unit 703 Processing tray 704 Alignment member 705 Bundle discharge roller 706 Stacking tray 800 Controller unit

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus for sorting a plurality of sheet bundles on which images are formed on one stacking unit,
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
Stapling means for stapling a bundle of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming means one by one;
A setting means for setting the number of sorting copies for each of the plurality of groups when sorting the sheet bundles one by one by the stapling means into a plurality of groups;
Control means for controlling the sorting operation based on the setting content of the setting means;
An image forming apparatus. A plurality of paper feeding means;
The setting means can also set a plurality of paper feed stages for each group,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit also controls a sheet feeding operation based on a setting content of the setting unit. Having alignment means for aligning the sheet bundle;
3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle is sorted into the plurality of groups by changing the alignment position of the sheet bundle by the alignment unit for each of the number of sorting units set by the setting unit. Forming equipment.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle is sorted into the plurality of groups by discharging the partition material for each of the number of sorting units set by the setting unit. In an image forming system for sorting a plurality of sheet bundles on which images are formed on one stacking unit,
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
Stapling means for stapling a bundle of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming means one by one;
A setting means for setting the number of sorting copies for each of the plurality of groups when sorting the sheet bundles one by one by the stapling means into a plurality of groups;
Control means for controlling the sorting operation based on the setting content of the setting means;
An image forming system. A plurality of paper feeding means;
The setting means can also set a plurality of paper feed stages for each group,
6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit also controls a sheet feeding operation based on a setting content of the setting unit. Having alignment means for aligning the sheet bundle;
7. The image according to claim 5, wherein the sheet bundle is sorted into the plurality of groups by changing the alignment position of the sheet bundle by the alignment unit for each of the number of sorting units set by the setting unit. Forming system.   7. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the sheet bundle is sorted into the plurality of groups by discharging a partitioning material for each number of sorting units set by the setting unit.

Images