JPH06100852B2 - Double-sided or multiple image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Purpose of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a double-sided or multiplex image forming apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both sides of a sheet or forming images on the same side of a sheet a plurality of times, that is, multiple images.

[Conventional technology]

 For convenience, a copying machine will be described below as an example.

A copying machine having a double-sided copying function of forming an image on both sides of a sheet and a multiplex copying function of forming an image a plurality of times on the same side of the sheet is known.

Specifically, the copy execution mechanism and the first
The intermediate tray that temporarily stores the paper sheets after the second copying, and the first copied paper sheets stored in the intermediate tray to the copying execution mechanism again for the second copying processing (double-sided copying / multiple copying). And a mechanism for feeding.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an intermediate tray portion of the above-mentioned double-sided / multiplex copying machine. Reference numeral 38 denotes an intermediate tray on which a sheet P, which has been subjected to the first copying process by a copying execution mechanism (not shown), is introduced and stored via the introducing means 39 (36). In the case of multi-copy (copying a plurality of sheets), the first-time copied sheets P are sequentially fed and sequentially accumulated and stored on the tray 38. The stored paper P is then separated and fed to one sheet 40 for the second copying process.
Then, one sheet is separated from the lower one and is fed again to the copying execution mechanism through the sheet path 20.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, the first-time copied sheet P is generally subjected to image fixing by passing through a heat roller in the copying execution mechanism and is curled to a greater or lesser degree, and the intermediate tray 38 is slightly exaggerated in FIG. As shown, the paper P with the curl is accumulated. For that, the intermediate tray 38
The apparent number of papers that can be stored is reduced. Further, when the accumulation progresses to some extent, the leading edge of the next feeding sheet collides with the curled trailing edge of the sheet P stored in the intermediate tray as shown by the chain double-dashed line, and irregular sheet feeding such as jam trouble occurs. It's easy to do.

In order to increase the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38, the position of the paper feeding means 39 with respect to the intermediate tray 38 must be raised to increase the space between the both 38 and 39. There is such a problem.

Since a large space is provided between the intermediate tray 38 and the paper feeding means 39, the size of the entire copying machine is increased.

It is necessary to provide a mechanism for correctly storing a large amount of curled paper P, for example, a mechanism for sequentially feeding the stored papers on the tray 38 and pressing the stored papers from above, which complicates the machine. Inspire.

When the amount of paper stored in the intermediate tray 38 is large, it becomes difficult to stably and reliably separate and re-feed the large amount of paper up to the last one sheet to the copy execution mechanism, which lacks reliability. It is easy to become a thing.

Further, considering the case where double feeding of paper occurs at the time of the first copying or the second copying, after the total number of the paper P is fed from the intermediate tray 38, the number of fed sheets at the time of the first copying and the intermediate tray. The occurrence of double feed can be detected by comparing the number of sheets re-fed from 38. However, when looking for double feed from the sheets that have been copied the second time, it is difficult to work if there are many sheets, and When copying again, many sheets are wasted.

Therefore, in order to avoid the above problems,
In many copying machines, the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 is often relatively small.

However, if the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 is relatively small, the maximum number of double-sided / multiple copies that can be continuously processed is limited to the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 that has a small number of sheets.

Therefore, when the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 (= maximum number of double-sided / multiplex copies that can be continuously processed) is m and the required number of copies is n, m is the actual copying work.
The number of cases of <n increases.

In such a case, the double-sided / multiple copying is performed by dividing the copying operation into two or more times, and finally making the required number n of copies, and the number of times the original is placed on the original platen. Also has to be replaced, and workability and efficiency are poor.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and even when the required number of double-sided or multiple copies n is larger than the number m of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray (m <n), the image forming process is automatically performed. The purpose is to provide what has been made possible.

B. Configuration of the Invention [Means for Solving Problems] That is, the present invention is an automatic document capable of sending a document on a document table to a reading position, and then returning the document to the document table again after reading. In an image forming apparatus capable of performing double-sided or multiple image forming processing, an automatic document feeder is provided, which includes a sheet feeding device and an intermediate tray for storing image-formed sheets in the process of executing double-sided or multiple image forming processing. When creating a duplex or multiple image-formed product bundle corresponding to the stacked documents by repeating the operation of performing double-sided or multiple image formation for the stacked documents one by one, Is provided with a judgment means for judging whether or not the number exceeds the number m of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray. After performing the corresponding first image formation one by one and storing them in the intermediate tray,
The original is circulated once again to execute the second image forming processing of the original corresponding to each of the first image-formed sheets stored in the intermediate tray, and thereafter, the double-sided or double-sided printing for the remaining originals is performed. The gist of an image forming apparatus is characterized in that a plurality of image forming processes are similarly executed with a maximum number of sheets that can be stored in an intermediate tray as a maximum number of sheets, and a cycle of a document is repeated.

[Action]

With the above-described structure, even if the number n of double-sided or multiple image formations required in connection with the automatic document feeder is larger than the number m of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray, both sides or multiplexes of all sheets are formed. The image-formed product can be automatically obtained.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional front view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus of one embodiment. The apparatus of this example is an electronic copying machine A equipped with a circulating automatic document feeder (RDF device) B and capable of double-sided / multiple copying.

The I copying machine A 1 is an outer casing of the copying machine main body, and 2 is a document table immovably fitted into an opening formed in the upper plate surface of the outer casing, and is a transparent plate such as a glass plate. A sheet document O is automatically fed / discharged on the document table by an RDF device B described later.

3 is a movement for projecting and exposing a document image on the peripheral surface of the rotating photoconductor 4 by sequentially optically scanning the downward image surface of the document in a set position at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the document table from one side to the other side. Type optical system, moving irradiation lamp 3a, moving mirror group
3b / imaging lens 3c / fixed mirror group 3d.

The photoconductor 4 is a drum-type photoconductor that is rotationally driven around the shaft 5 in a direction indicated by an arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed. The photoconductor 4 receives uniform positive or negative charging processing by the charger 6, and the exposure unit 7 By receiving the original image projection exposure by the optical system 3, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the exposed original image pattern are sequentially formed on the peripheral surface. The latent image is then sequentially developed as a toner image by a preselected one of the first developing device 8 and the second developing device 9. The developing surface of the photoconductor is subjected to a uniform potential stabilization process by the charger 10 before transfer, and the transfer charger 11 part synchronizes with the rotation of the photoconductor 4 between the charger and the photoconductor 4. The toner images on the surface of the photoconductor 4 are sequentially transferred to the surface of the transfer material fed from any one of the first to third paper feeding units 15 to 17.

The transfer material that has received the image transfer is sequentially peeled off from the surface of the photosensitive member 4 by the charger 12, is conveyed to the nip portion of the fixing roller pair 23 by the conveying belt 22, and is passed through the fixing roller pair 23 to be subjected to the image fixing process. It After the image transfer, the surface of the photoreceptor 4 is weakened by the charger 13 to reduce the adhesion of the untransferred toner to the surface of the photoreceptor. Then, the cleaner 14 removes the untransferred toner, and is repeatedly used for image formation.

For the paper feeding, when the first paper feeding unit 15 is selected, the transfer material of the paper feeding unit is fed out one by one by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 15a.
The sheet is fed to the transfer unit 11 along the path of the auxiliary conveyance roller 18 → sheet path 15b → sheet path 20 → registration roller 21. In the case of the second paper feed unit 16, the transfer material of the paper feed unit is fed out one by one by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16a, and is fed to the transfer unit 11 through the path of sheet path 16b → sheet path 20 → registration roller 21. To be done. In the case of the third paper feed unit 17, the transfer material of the paper feed unit is fed out one by one by the rotation of the paper feed roller 17a, and the sheet path 17b →
The sheet is fed to the transfer unit 11 along the path of the sheet path 20 → the auxiliary roller 19 → the registration roller 21.

Thus, the transfer material which has passed through the fixing roller pair 23 has a conveyance path after that depending on the case of the predesignated copy mode, that is, the single-sided copy mode, the double-sided copy mode, and the multiplex copy mode. different.

(1) Single-sided copy mode With respect to the first deflector 24 next to the fixing roller pair 23, the first deflector 24 is held in the first switching posture shown by the chain double-dashed line. As a result, the first copied transfer material exiting the fixing roller pair 23 passes through the upper side of the first deflector 24, and is transferred to the copy tray 28 outside the machine along the path of the sheet path 25 → the discharge roller pair 26 → the discharge port 27. One-sided copies are sequentially discharged and stacked.

(2) In the case of double-sided copy mode The first deflector 24 is held in the second switching posture shown by the solid line. As a result, the transfer material that has exited the fixing roller pair 23 and has been copied for the first time is guided to the sheet path 29 along the lower guide surface of the first deflector 24, and the intermediate transfer roller pair 30 → first switching shown by the solid line. Second deflector 31 held in posture
The vertical guide surface is guided to the inside of the switchback passage 33 through the path of the forward / reverse rotation roller pair 32 in the forward rotation driving state. When the passage of the first deflector 31 on the trailing edge of the transfer material is detected by the sensor S1, the forward / reverse rotation roller pair 32 is switched to the reverse rotation driving state by the signal, and the transfer material introduced into the switchback passage 33. Are reversely conveyed and conveyed from the sheet path 34 along the lower guide surface of the second deflector 31 to the intermediate transfer roller pair 36. Reference numeral 37 denotes a third deflector arranged next to the intermediate transfer roller pair 36, which is held in the first switching posture shown by the solid line when the transfer transfer material is of a large size. The transfer material having passed through 36 is introduced into the intermediate tray 38 through the lower side of the third deflector 37 so as to face the first copy image surface upward. When the transport transfer material is of a small size, the third deflector 37 is held in the substantially horizontal second switching posture indicated by the chain double-dashed line, and the transfer material passing through the intermediate transfer roller pair 36 is the third transfer roller. It is introduced along the upper surface of the deflector 37 to the next intermediate transfer roller pair 39 of the deflector 37, and is introduced upward from the roller pair 39 to the intermediate tray 38 for the first copy image surface.

In the case of multi-copy, the transfer material which has been copied for the first time is successively introduced and stacked on the intermediate tray 38 in the above-described manner with the respective image surfaces facing upward.

Thus, the first-time copied transfer material once introduced and stored in the intermediate tray 38 is introduced into the sheet path 20 one by one from the lower one by the pair of separating and feeding rollers 40, and the sheet path 20
The roller pair 41, the roller pair 19, and the registration roller pair 21 are sequentially intermediately conveyed in the inside of 20 and re-fed to the transfer section 11, and on the transfer material surface on the side opposite to the surface on which the first copying has been completed in the transfer section. Upon receiving the second copying (image transfer), it is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member 4 and is re-conveyed by the belt 22 to the fixing roller pair 23, so that the fixing processing of the second copying image is performed. 1st deflector 24 is 2
The transfer material that has been switched and held in the first switching posture shown by the chain line and has left the fixing roller pair 23, that is, the transfer material that has undergone double-sided copying, passes through the path of sheet path 25 → discharge roller pair 26 → discharge port 27. The sheets are sequentially ejected onto the sheet ejection tray 28 outside the machine.

(3) In the case of multiple copy mode The first deflector 24 is held in the second switching posture shown by the solid line. The second deflector 31 is held in the second switching posture shown by the chain double-dashed line. As a result, the transfer material that has exited the fixing roller pair 23 and has been copied for the first time is guided to the sheet path 29 along the lower guide surface of the first deflector 24, and the intermediate transfer roller pair 30
→ Seat path 35 along the upper guide surface of the second deflector 31
→ Passes through the path of the intermediate transfer roller pair 36 and is switched from the roller pair 36 when the transfer transfer material is large size, to the roller pair 36 when the transfer transfer material is small size → is held in the second switching posture shown by the chain double-dashed line They are introduced from the roller pair 39 through the upper side of the third deflector 37 onto the intermediate tray 38, respectively, so as to face the first copy image surface downward.

In the case of multi-copy, the transfer material which has been copied for the first time is sequentially introduced and stacked downward on the image surface on the intermediate tray 38 through the above path.

Thus, the first-time copied transfer material once introduced and stored in the intermediate tray 38 is the same as in the case of double-sided copying in (2) above.
The sheet separating / feeding roller pair 40 re-feeds the sheet from below to the transfer section 11 via the sheet path 20 for one sheet, and the sheet is fed to the transfer section 11 at the first position.
The second copy (image transfer) is received on the same surface as the second copied surface, separated from the surface of the photoconductor 4 and re-conveyed by the belt 22 to the fixing roller pair 23, whereby the second copy image is obtained. Undergo fixing process. The first deflector 24 is switched and held in the first switching posture indicated by the chain double-dashed line, and the transfer material exiting from the fixing roller pair 23, that is, the transfer material after the multiple copying is the sheet path.
The sheets are sequentially discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 28 outside the machine through a path of 25 → sheet discharge roller pair 26 → sheet discharge port 27.

The IIRDF device B 50 is a document tray, and sheet documents O are stacked and set on this tray. Reference numeral 51 is a document separating / feeding mechanism, and 52 is a forward / reverse belt for feeding / discharging a document on the document table 2 of the copying machine A.

(1) First feeding mode This is a feeding mode when the original O is a single-sided image original, and the original O is stacked and set on the tray 50 with the image side facing upward.

The originals on the tray 50 are separated from the lower one by the separating / feeding mechanism 51.
Sheets are separated and sent to the left end of the document table 2 through the path of the sheet path 53 → roller pair 54/55 → sheet path 57, and the belt 52 in the forward rotation a state moves the document table 2 on the document table 2 downward to the right. When the belt 52 is slid and conveyed to a predetermined position on the document table 2, the rotation of the belt 52 is stopped and the belt 52 is held at that position. Next, on the copy machine main unit A side,
A predetermined number of single-sided copy processes for the downward image side of the upper document or a first copy process of double-sided or multiplex copy is executed.

When the optical scanning for a predetermined number of sheets is completed, the belt 52 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction. As a result, the original is slid and conveyed to the left on the original table 2, and the upper surface of the deflector 58 held in the first switching posture shown by the solid line → roller pair 55/56 → sheet path 60
-> Same as 61-> It is returned to the document tray 50 side by the path of the discharge roller pair 62, and is conveyed and discharged onto the document on the tray 50 with the image surface facing upward.

In this manner, the one-sided image originals on the tray 50 are automatically fed and ejected to and from the original table 2 in order from the lower one, so that the one-sided image originals are reproduced on the copying machine main unit A side. A predetermined number of single-sided copy processes, or double-sided or multiplex copy processes are automatically executed.

(2) Second feeding mode This is a feeding mode when the original O is a double-sided image original, and the front surface reversing operation of the original is entered.

Same as the first feeding mode.

When the optical scanning for a predetermined number of sheets is completed, the belt 52 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction. The deflector 58 is held in the second switching posture shown by the chain double-dashed line. As a result, the original is slid and conveyed to the left on the original table 2 and the sheet path 63 below the deflector 58 is conveyed.
→ It is guided into the switchback passage 65 by the path of the forward / reverse rotation roller pair 64 in the forward rotation state. When the sensor S2 detects that the trailing edge of the original has fallen out of the sheet path 63, the forward / reverse rotation roller pair 64 is switched to the reverse rotation drive state by the signal, and the original introduced into the switchback passage 65 is detected. The sheet is reversely conveyed and introduced to the sheet path 61 side. The document passes through the sheet path 61, is spliced by the discharge roller pair 62, and comes out onto the document tray 50. However, it is detected that the trailing edge of the document has passed the branch portion of the sheet path 61 and the branch portion of the document path 60 on the way. When detected in S3, the discharge roller pair 62 is switched to the reverse drive. As a result, the document passes through the sheet path 61 → roller pair 55/56 in reverse drive →
The sheet path 59 is sent to the left end of the document table 2 through a path on the upper surface side of the deflector 58 in the first switching posture state, and is slid and conveyed rightward on the document table 2 by the belt 52 in the normal rotation a state. The conveyed original document on the original table 2 has been turned upside down by passing through the above-mentioned path, and is held at that position by stopping the rotation of the belt 52 when it is conveyed to a predetermined position on the original table 2. To be done. Next, on the side of the copying machine A, a predetermined number of one-sided copying processes for the downward image surface of the document on the document table 2 that has been subjected to the above-mentioned front-back reversal process or a second copying process of two-sided or multiple copying is executed. To be done.

When a predetermined number of optical scans are completed, the belt 52 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and the document is slid and conveyed to the left of the document table 2. Then, the document is the upper surface of the deflector 58 in the first switching posture state → sheet path 59 → the same 60 → the same 61 → the discharge roller pair.
The sheet is discharged onto the document tray 50 without re-reversing in the path 62, or the sheet path 63 below the deflector 58 in the second switching posture state → the switchback path 65 → the sheet path 61 → the path of the discharge roller pair 62. By passing through the sheet, the sheet is re-inverted and discharged onto the document tray 50.

In this way, the two-sided image originals on the tray 50 are automatically fed / reversed / re-fed / discharged to / from the original platen 2 in order from the lower one, so that both sides of the copying machine main body A side are printed. A predetermined number of single-sided copy processes or double-sided or multiplex copy processes based on the image original are automatically executed.

Reference numeral 66 denotes an original circulation detection means, which comprises a detection lever 66a placed on the uppermost position of the original O and a lever position detection sensor 66b.
When the original O on the tray 50 is sent from the bottom, the lever
66a goes down accordingly, and when the original document, which was initially at the top, is sent out, the lever goes down and the sensor 66
It is possible to detect the circulation of the original after reaching the position of b. The lever 66a is automatically placed on the uppermost original again by a returning means (motor or the like) after the original is circulated.

III Finisher C FIG. 2 is an example of a device (finisher) for binding the copy products output from the copying machine main body A as a set of a plurality of booklets by staple driving and the like. The discharge tray 28 (FIG. 1) is removed and removed, and the receiving opening 70 is aligned with the copy processed material discharge opening 27 on the copying machine main unit A side for continuous use.

Copier The output copy products from the machine A side are sequentially introduced and stacked on the tray 73 in the finisher in the route of the discharge port 27 → the receiving port 70 → the sheet path 71 → the roller pair 72. When one set of copy-processed products has been loaded, the binding means 74 is operated and the loaded copy-processed products are collectively bound as a booklet. Next, the stopper means 75 is released and the bound booklet is stacked in the path of the roller pair 76, the path 77, and the roller pair 78.
Delivered to 79. When the booklet is ejected from the tray 73, the stopper means 75 restarts again.

IV Sorter D FIG. 3 shows an example of a distribution / sorting device (sorter, collating device) for the copy processed products output from the copying machine main body A, and like the case of the finisher C, the copying machine main body A side. The receiving port 80 is aligned with the copy processed product discharge port 27 and used.

Copying machine Output from the machine A side Copy processed products proceed through the route of the discharge port 27 → the receiving port 80 → the switching guide 81 → the downward sheet path 82, and a number of switching guides are arranged along the downward sheet path 82. 83 ₁ and 83 ₂ ... sequentially and switching operation of, are classified corresponding roller pairs 84 _1, 84 ₂ ... work by being sequentially addressed one distributed to each bin 85 ₁ - 85 ₂ ... the sorter. Each bottle 85 ₁・ 85 ₂ …
The storage capacity of the copied product is about 30 sheets, for example.

If not classified, the output copy products from the copying machine A side are all introduced to the uppermost tray 88 through the route of the discharge port 27 → the receiving port 80 → the sheet path 86 → the roller pair 87. The storage capacity of the copy processed product in this tray is, for example, about 200 sheets.

When the number of bins for one sorter D is insufficient, it is possible to add another sorter D'to use. Transporting the copy processed material to the extension sorter D'is the outlet 27 → the inlet
80 → Sheet path 86 → Roller pair 87 → Deflector 89 → Sheet path 90 → Roller pair 91 → Same as 92.

V Control Example 1 (FIG. 5) This example is a control example of a mode in which double-sided copying is performed from a double-sided image and the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 2 (FIG. 1). Figure 6 shows RDF
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a page order state of a double-sided original document O stacked and set on a document tray 50 of the apparatus B, in which a young original document having a page is placed on the upper side. The odd pages are facing up and the even pages are facing down. FIG. 7 shows the state of the transfer material on which a double-sided image has been formed, which is to be output and stacked on the discharge tray 28, and the necessary number of copies of the transfer material are stacked in the same order as the original.

In this case, a case where the number of copies exceeds the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 occurs when the number of copies made from the same original document exceeds the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray.

Hereinafter, n is the number of transfer materials (the number of copies) to be created from the same original document, which is input by the operator. Further, m is the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38.

One original is sent from the bottom of the stacked originals O onto the original table 2.

The remaining number of sheets to be created for the sent original is l
Then, first, l = n.

Since the odd number of pages of the original sent out is downward on the original table 2 and does not match the order of the transfer material to be ejected, the front and back of the original are reversed so that the even pages of the original become downward. Re-delivered to stand 2.

When the counter for counting the number of transfer materials in the intermediate tray 38 is k, k = 0 is set first.

The even-numbered pages are exposed, and the image-formed transfer material is stored in the intermediate tray 38.

Each time the exposure of an even number of pages is completed, the remaining number of sheets to be created is reduced by 1, so 1 is subtracted from 1, and one sheet of transfer material is stored in the intermediate tray 38. Is incremented by 1.

When the number of sheets in the intermediate tray 38 reaches m (k = m),
Since even-numbered pages cannot be copied, exposure to odd-numbered pages is started.

Even if k = m is not satisfied, if there is no remaining number of sheets to be created (l = 0), the exposure for odd pages is started.
If l ≠ 0, exposure of even pages is repeated.

The front and back of the original are reversed to expose the odd number of pages.

Image formation of odd pages is stored in the intermediate tray 38,
This is performed on a transfer material on which an even number of pages of images are already formed on one side.

The odd number of pages are exposed until the transfer material in the intermediate tray 38 is exhausted.

If there is no transfer material on the intermediate tray 38 and the remaining number of sheets to be created is not 0 (l ≠ 0), the original document is dealt with by repeating the same operation as described above to return to the exposure of even pages. The required number of double-sided copies can be stacked on the output tray.

If the remaining number of sheets to be created is 0 (l = 0), the original is ejected so as to move to the copying of the original. At this time, the original is discharged with the odd-numbered pages facing upward on the top of the original on the original table.

If the original is circulated once, the copying is completed, and if the original that has not been copied remains, the next original is sent out and the copying is repeated by the same operation as described above.

By repeating the above-described operation, it is possible to stack the required number of image-formed transfer materials on the paper discharge tray 28 in the same order as the originals (FIG. 7).

Note that the above method is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and in the case of making a double-sided copy by an apparatus having a transfer material reversing means in the discharge portion of the image forming apparatus, It is also possible to perform the image formation to be carried out for the second time from an odd number of pages, and to reverse the order of the front and back sides of the pages by discharging the transfer material and then reversing it. Further, in this case, after the image formation on both the front and back sides of the number of sheets of paper stored in the intermediate tray 38 is completed, the image formation of even pages is performed on the transfer material sent from the paper feed tray without returning the originals, and is stored in the intermediate tray. In the case of this transfer material, it is also possible to discharge in the correct order by discharging without reversing after the image formation of odd pages is completed.

Also in the RDF device B, not only the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 but also various arrangements such as an arrangement configuration in which an original can be sent out on the original table without making a U-turn of the original, and whether or not the original is reversed It is different.

VI control example 2 (Fig. 8) In this example, double-sided copying is performed from a double-sided original, and the finisher C
This is an example of control in the case of creating a booklet Q ₁ , Q _2, ... Introduced in (Fig. 2).

Double-sided original O stacked on the original tray 50 of RDF device B
The page order state of is the same as that of FIG. FIG. 9 shows the order of the image-formed transfer materials to be discharged onto the tray 73 in the finisher C. The transfer materials are sequentially discharged from the lowermost one, stacked for one cycle of the original, and then bound. By the action of the means 74, the operation of producing one copy of the booklet Q is repeated by the required number of copies Q ₁ · Q ₂ .

In this case, it is necessary to perform copying that exceeds the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 when the number of documents exceeds the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38.

FIG. 10 illustrates the flow of FIG. 8 as an example, and shows the number of originals is 25 (50 pages), the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 is 10, and the number of prepared copies is 3.

n is the number of copies to be created (n = 3 in the example of FIG. 10), m is the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 (m = 10 in the example of FIG. 10)
Is.

First, if the remaining number of copies to be created is l, first l =
n. A counter a for counting the number of documents is set to a = 0.

The transfer material number counter k in the intermediate tray is set to k = 0.

One original is fed from the bottom of the RDF device B, or the original is inverted so that an even page comes on the lower surface of the original table.

Image scanning of even-numbered pages is performed once, and the created transfer material is stored in the intermediate tray 38. The exposed original document is inverted and discharged, and the odd-numbered pages are placed on the top of the original document.

When one even-page exposure is completed, the intermediate tray 38 has 1
Since the sheet transfer material is accommodated, k = k + 1 and 1, and one original is counted, so a = a + 1.

If the original is not circulated and the number of transfer materials in the intermediate tray 38 does not match the number of sheets that can be stored (k ≠ m), the same operation as above is performed for the next original. Are stored in the intermediate tray 38 (FIG. 10 (a)).

When the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38 reaches m (k =
m), the operation of sending out and returning the original is repeated until the original to be imaged arrives on the same transfer material of the image formed transfer material in the intermediate tray (FIG. 10 (b)).

When the original corresponding to the transfer material in the intermediate tray is reached, the original is scanned, and images are formed on the transfer materials fed out in order from the lowest transfer material in the intermediate tray. A document on which an image has been formed once is ejected, and the same operation is performed on the next document.

The above operation is repeated for the number of transfer materials in the intermediate tray (Fig. 10 (c)).

If all copies to be made have not been completed (l ≠ 0),
Returning to the above, the above operation is repeated (Fig. 11 (d).
(E) and (f)).

If the original circulates once during the even-numbered page exposure, one copy is completed (although the transfer material on which the odd-numbered page image formation is not completed is stored in the intermediate tray).
Therefore, l = l-1.

If the exposure of the even-numbered page in the final part is completed (l = 0), the exposure of the even-numbered page is completed and the process is moved to the above (FIGS. 10 (v) and (w)).

Further, when the number of copies to be created remains (l ≠ 0) and the number of documents counted by the counter a does not exceed the number m of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 38, exposure of odd pages is performed as in the conventional control. Move on to.

At this time, since the original has been circulated once, the original number counting counter a is returned to zero. At this time, it is easy to understand that the original is not skipped and the odd-numbered pages are exposed from the lowermost original.

When the number of originals counted by the original number counter a exceeds the number m of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray, the exposure of even pages is continued, but since the originals have circulated once, a is returned to 0.

Even-numbered page exposure is continued, but if the number of transfer materials loaded on the intermediate tray reaches the number m of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray in this state (k = m), then even-numbered pages are exposed. Since exposure cannot be performed, the exposure is shifted to odd pages (Fig. 10 (m)).

If k has not reached m, the original is sent out and inverted to perform the exposure of the next even page, and the above operation is repeated (FIG. 10 (g)).

By performing the above-mentioned operation, it is possible to make a double-sided copy even in the case of an original exceeding the number of sheets stored in the intermediate tray. Of course, even in this case, the operation order may be different from that of the embodiment depending on the arrangement and the like as in the case of the flow of FIG. 5, but it is included in the present invention.

Further, when the finisher does not perform the binding operation and simply loads the same tray as the above-described tray, the flow shown in FIG. 5 is followed.

VII Control Example 3 In this example, double-sided copying is performed from a double-sided original and the sorter D (third
It is the case of introducing into Figure) and performing classification processing.

That is, by distributing the transfer material on which an image has been formed to each bin of the sorter D, the originals are stored in the respective bins of the same transfer material.
It turns out that it is the same as what is discharged to 28. That is, when the discharge port is a sorter, copying can be performed when the number of copied sheets exceeds the number stored in the intermediate tray by performing the copying operation according to the flow of FIG.

Next, it is known to classify copying by shifting the position of the discharge tray 28 each time a series of copying operations is completed (hereinafter referred to as a swing tray). When the discharge tray is moved every time a sheet is created, the same copying operation as that of the finisher C is performed. That is, if the copying operation is performed in accordance with the flow shown in FIG. 8, copying can be performed when the number of originals exceeds the number accommodated in the intermediate tray 38.

VIII Summary of control system (FIG. 11) FIG. 11 is a summary of the control systems described above. The * mark represents a control system unrelated to the control of the present invention, and therefore its description is omitted.

The present invention is a case of performing double-sided or multiplex copying from a double-sided original, and the control operation is switched depending on the discharge mode of the transfer material on which an image has been formed.

1) When the sheets are discharged to the tray 28 and the number of copies exceeds the number of sheets stored in the intermediate tray, A follows the flow of FIG.

2) When the sheets are discharged to the finisher C and the number of originals exceeds the number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray B, the flow shown in FIG. 8 is followed.

3) When the sheets are discharged to the sorter D and the number of copies exceeds the number of sheets stored in the intermediate tray, C follows the flow of FIG.

4) When the document is ejected to the swing tray and the number of originals exceeds the number accommodated in the intermediate tray, D follows the flow of FIG.

The above 1) to 4) switching is configured to be automatically switched by a transfer material processing device attached to the image forming apparatus, and one image forming apparatus is provided with a plurality of transfer material processing apparatuses. Can be configured to be automatically switched depending on which is selected.

C. Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the user can automatically make a desired copy without paying attention to the number of copies, the number of originals, the number of sheets stored in the intermediate tray, and the type of the transfer material processing device. It can be created.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a double-sided / multiplex copying machine, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a finisher, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a sorter, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an intermediate tray portion. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of control example 1, FIG. 6 is a page sequence chart of a set original, FIG. 7 is an output sequence chart of double-sided copy, FIG. 8 is a flow chart of control example 2, and FIG. Output sequence diagram of the 10th
Figure is a more detailed flow chart of the flow in Figure 8, and Figure 11 is a system diagram of the control system. A is a copying machine, 38 is an intermediate tray, B is an RDF device, C is a finisher, and D is a sorter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder capable of sending a document on a document table to a reading position, reading the document again after reading the document, and forming an image in a double-sided or multiple image forming process execution process. An image forming apparatus equipped with an intermediate tray for storing used sheets and capable of performing double-sided or multiplex image formation processing, can perform double-sided or multiplex image formation corresponding to the originals stacked in the automatic document feeder, respectively. When a double-sided or multiple image-formed product bundle corresponding to the stacked originals is created by repeating the operation for each one original, whether the number of originals exceeds the number m of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray. A determination means for determining whether or not is provided. If the number of sheets exceeds the limit, the first image formation corresponding to the number m of documents that can be stored in the intermediate tray is performed one by one during one cycle of the documents. After housed in the intermediate tray,
The original is circulated once again to execute the second image forming processing of the original corresponding to each of the first image-formed sheets stored in the intermediate tray, and thereafter, the double-sided or double-sided printing for the remaining originals is performed. A double-sided or multiplex image forming apparatus, characterized in that a multiplex image forming process is similarly executed by repeating one cycle of a document with the maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray as a unit.