JPH0823413A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an image forming apparatus having a multi-function capable of easily sorting output sheets. [Structure] An image forming apparatus having a facsimile function, a copying function, and a printer function is provided with a multi-stage paper feeding mechanism as shown in the drawing. The first stage of the paper feeding mechanism is, for example, an A4 cassette 1, and the second stage is an A4R (A4 vertical) cassette 2. Then, when the facsimile function and the print function are executed, the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 are executed at the end of each job.
To switch the paper feed to output the output paper to the dedicated output port of each function. Output sheets are mixedly loaded in each output port, but since the orientation is different for each job, the output sheets can be easily sorted by job.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having two or more functions such as an image communication apparatus for transmitting / receiving image information using a communication line such as a telephone line, a copying machine and a printer of a personal computer. In particular, it relates to the sorting of the output paper (hard copy).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the image output method of an image communication apparatus typified by a facsimile, in the case of heat-sensitive roll paper, the sender's telephone number or the like is entered at the leading end and the roll paper of the transmitted length is used. It is output and cut by the auto cutter. Also,
In the image output method of an image forming apparatus represented by a copying machine or a page printer, the size of a designated sheet such as A4 or A3 is output as it is. Recently, a multi-functional machine in which the image communication device and the image forming device are integrated has been developed, and three functions of one device are realized.

[0003]

However, in the case of the multi-function machine as described above, when there is only one discharge port (also referred to as an "output port", hereinafter referred to as an output port), a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a printer. However, there is a problem that all the output sheets are loaded in the same output port.

Therefore, it has been attempted to divide the facsimile, the copying machine, and the printer into dedicated bins by function bins to avoid confusion of output sheets by function. However, in the case of such a multifunction machine, there is often a case where one machine is used on one floor, and the number of users who use one machine is 10 to 20.
It has become a name, and there is still a lot of confusion within the functions of facsimiles and printers. For example, it takes a great deal of time to find one's own in a pile of output sheets of a facsimile.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a multi-function capable of easily sorting output sheets for each job. Is.

In the present specification, "1 job" means "1 communication" in the facsimile function, and "1 copy output" in the copying function and the printer function.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the paper feed stage of the paper feed mechanism is switched every time one job is completed. For details, refer to the following (1) to the image forming apparatus.
Configure as in (4).

(1) An image forming apparatus having at least two functions of an image communication function for transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line, a copying function, and a printer function, which has a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms and the copying function. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed stage switching unit that switches a paper feed stage of the paper feed mechanism every time one job is completed when executing a function other than the function.

(2) An image forming apparatus having at least two functions of an image communication function for transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line, a copying function, and a printer function, which has a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms and the copying function. When a function other than the function is executed, a paper feed stage switching means for switching the paper feed stage in the paper feed mechanism every time one job is completed within the same function, a plurality of output ports, and a function other than the copy function are executed. At this time, the image forming apparatus is provided with an output port switching unit that switches the output port so that the output sheet is output to the output port dedicated to the function of the plurality of output ports.

(3) The image forming apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the paper feed trays switched by the paper feed tray switching means are two trays in which papers of the same size and different orientations are inserted.

(4) The image forming apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the paper feed trays switched by the paper feed tray switching means are two or more trays in which papers of the same size and different colors are put.

[0012]

According to the above-mentioned configurations (1) to (4), since the paper feed tray is switched every time one job is completed, the paper can be easily identified by the paper feed tray. It can be sorted for each job.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an "image forming apparatus" which is Embodiment 1. The present embodiment is a multi-function peripheral having a multi-stage paper feeding cassette as shown in the figure and having a facsimile function, a copying function, and a printer function.
The paper feed tray is changed for each job. For example, when 10 sheets of facsimiles are first sent, the output sheet fed from the first cassette 1 of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is output. Next, when five new facsimiles are sent from the other, the output paper fed from the second cassette 2 is output to the output port dedicated to the facsimile. In this case, the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 contain sheets of the same size, and only different orientations such as A4 and A4R (A4 length) are used. Similarly, when outputting to the printer, the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 are alternately switched and output to the output port dedicated to the printer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of the entire processing in this embodiment. The image data from the functional units of the copy 21, the facsimile 22 and the printer 23 are converted into multi-values, resolution conversion, etc. in the image processing units 24, 25 and 26, respectively.
The optimum image is processed for each function. Next, an image output command is transmitted to the CPU (not shown) on the main body side (27).
When receiving the output command, the CPU on the main body side selects the cassette stage to be fed in accordance with the flow of the flowchart shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in each function of the facsimile and the printer, 1 is added to the variables F and P for each job, and the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 are alternated. To feed.

That is, when the image output command 27 arrives, it is first judged whether or not it is a facsimile according to the flow of FIG.
1), if it is a facsimile, add 1 to the variable F for facsimile to obtain J. If F before adding 1 is 0, then J = 1 when F = 1 (S2, S3), the process proceeds to the paper feed stage routine of FIG. 3 (b) in S4, and it is determined in S21 whether J = 1. , J = 1, the process proceeds to S22, the first cassette 1 is selected and fed (see 29 in FIG. 2), and after image transfer (see 30 in FIG. 2), an output port dedicated to the facsimile (for example, sorter identification) To the bin). When the paper feed stage routine is completed, the process proceeds to S5 and F is set to 1.

If it is not a facsimile in S1, the process proceeds to S6 and it is determined whether it is a printer. If it is a printer, the process proceeds to S7 and 1 is added to the variable P for the printer. If P before adding 1 is 0, then P = 1 and J = 1 (S7, S
8) In S9, the process proceeds to the paper feed stage routine. In S21, it is determined whether J = 1. Since J = 1, the process advances to S22 to select the cassette 1 and feed it. To do.

If it is not a printer in S6, the process proceeds to S11,
Copying is done. At this time, the paper is fed from an appropriate cassette designated by the user.

Next, when there is an image output command 27 and it is judged in S1 that it is a facsimile, F is 1 before adding 1 in S2.
Therefore, F = 2, and J = F in S3, so J = 2. Therefore, in the paper feed stage routine, the second cassette 2 is selected and fed (S
21, S24), and after the image transfer, output to the output port dedicated to the facsimile. When the paper feed stage routine ends, the process moves to S5, and F =
The variable F is set to 2 by J.

In this manner, the paper feed cassette is changed for each job, that is, cassette 1 → cassette 2 → cassette 1 ... In both cases of the facsimile function and the printer function.
As mentioned above, cassette 1 is A4 and cassette 2 is A4R
In this way, by using cassettes of the same size and different orientations for cassette 1 and cassette 2,
Since output sheets having different orientations are output for each job at each output port, the output sheets can be easily sorted for each job.

Incidentally, FIG. 3A is a flow chart when the output ports of the facsimile and the printer are different,
When the output ports of the facsimile and the printer are the same, by setting the variables F and P in FIG. 3A to the same variable J, it is possible to easily sort by jobs even if they are mixed at the output port.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 have the same paper size and different orientations. However, in the present embodiment, the same orientation and the same paper size are used respectively. The sheets are placed in the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 (for example, A4 for both the cassette 1 and the cassette 2), and the sheet feed stage is switched for each job. In this case, the user should put a blank
You can avoid confusion at the output port by inserting colored paper (color paper) in the tier.

(Third Embodiment) In an image forming apparatus having dedicated output ports for a facsimile and a printer, the number of paper feed stages is three.
In the case of a tier, for example, cassette 1 is A4 and cassette 2 is A
4, the cassette 3 is A4R, the first and third stages are blank,
The second stage is colored paper, and in the case of a facsimile, the cassette 1 and the cassette 2 can be automatically switched, and in the case of a printer, the cassette 1 and the cassette 3 can be automatically switched.

As described above, this embodiment uses the method of the second embodiment for the facsimile and the method of the first embodiment for the printer. As in the first and second embodiments, the output paper is used. Can be easily sorted for each job.

(Variation) The present invention is a synthetic paper other than paper,
It can be carried out in the form of using a film or the like. Therefore, in the claims, "paper" is used to include these synthetic papers and films.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The output sheets mixed in the output port can be easily sorted for each job.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to 5 cassettes

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having at least two functions of an image communication function of transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line, a copying function, and a printer function, wherein a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms and the copying function are provided. An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed stage switching unit that switches the paper feed stage of the paper feed mechanism every time one job is completed when executing functions other than the above. 2. An image forming apparatus having at least two functions of an image communication function for transmitting and receiving an image via a communication line, a copying function, and a printer function, wherein a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms and the copying function are provided. When a function other than the copy function is executed, a paper feed stage switching unit that switches the paper feed stage in the paper feed mechanism every time one job is completed, a plurality of output ports, and a function other than the copy function An image forming apparatus comprising: an output port switching unit that switches the output port so that the output sheet is output to an output port dedicated to the function of the plurality of output ports. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper feed stage switched by the paper feed stage switching means is two stages in which sheets of the same size and different orientations are inserted. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper feed trays switched by the paper feed tray switching means are two or more trays in which papers of the same size and different colors are put. apparatus.