JPH07228405A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an image forming apparatus that automatically changes a paper discharge unit according to a change in size of a paper to be fed. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper ejection units, a detection unit detects a size of a paper sheet supplied to the apparatus body, switches a paper ejection path based on the detection data, and ejects the paper to a predetermined paper ejection unit. Is configured to do.

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 such as a copying machine or a facsimile, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having two or more paper discharge parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-59655, there is provided a moving mechanism for automatically moving a discharge tray in accordance with the size of paper fed from a paper feed section. Automatic size control devices are known. According to such an adjusting device, it is not necessary to check the size of the sheet to be fed each time the image forming process is performed and to align the position of the discharge tray in accordance with the size. However, with such an apparatus alone, for example, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of paper feed cassettes, when the paper runs out in one of the paper feed cassettes, the paper feed operation continues from the other paper feed cassettes. If the papers of different sizes are fed, it may not be possible to properly deal with the papers that are configured to be printed. That is, since the paper discharge tray is moved in accordance with the size of the fed paper, for example, when paper of a size smaller than the already discharged and stacked recording paper is fed, the movement mechanism causes the paper tray to move. Try to move it to a smaller size, but it is blocked by the stack of recording papers, which puts an excessive load on the machine.
Further, sheets of different sizes are further stacked on the stacked recording sheets, and recording sheets of different sizes are mixed.

Various proposals have heretofore been made to sort the sheets on which the image information is recorded in order to prevent the mixture of the sheet sizes.

For example, in JP-A-60-97165, when the storage destination information is recorded on the original to be copied, the information is read together with the print data and the information is recorded on the recording paper. A configuration is disclosed in which recording paper is stored in a predetermined storage unit based on the recorded storage destination information. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily change the storage destination of paper simply by changing the storage destination information. I am trying.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-126081, a document sent from a plurality of externally connected data processing devices is scanned, and image information of the document is electrostatically copied onto a sheet to print data during execution of the printer. It has been proposed to classify and store the recorded recording paper in a bin of a sorter provided corresponding to each data processing device based on the discrimination of the processing device.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-56540,
Recording is performed only when the paper size of each paper feed unit and the paper discharge unit size match in the paper feed and discharge unit control mechanism of the recording apparatus that has two or more paper feed units and an operable paper discharge unit. A possible arrangement is disclosed.

[0007]

However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Sho 6
In the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 0-97165, the sheets cannot be sorted unless the storage destination information is recorded in the original to be copied, and the purpose can be achieved only with a very limited number of objects. Furthermore, since all of the originals to be copied are relied upon, if one of the attached paper feed cassettes, as pointed out above, runs out of paper, the other paper feed cassette will be used. In the image forming apparatus configured so that the paper feeding operation is performed subsequently, it is not possible to take appropriate measures when paper of different sizes is fed.

Similarly, the configuration proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-126081 cannot deal with the above situation because the bin of the sorter corresponds to each data processing device.

In the configuration of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-56540, it is possible to prevent the recording of a paper size that does not match the size of the paper discharge unit and prevent the mixture of paper sizes. The recorded sheets cannot be sorted.

As described above, in the conventional configuration, in an image forming apparatus having two or more paper discharge parts, the paper discharge parts cannot be automatically changed according to the size of the paper to be fed. However, it is necessary to manually switch the paper discharge unit for each paper as needed.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that automatically changes a paper discharge unit according to a change in size of a paper to be fed or a paper feed unit that has performed a feeding operation.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper discharge units,
This can be solved by detecting the size of the sheet supplied to the apparatus main body by the detection unit, switching the sheet discharge path based on the detection data, and discharging the sheet to a predetermined sheet discharge unit.

It is preferable that the detection data is collated with the accommodation size data of each sheet discharge unit and only one appropriate sheet discharge unit is selected.

In the image forming apparatus having a plurality of sheet feeding units and a plurality of sheet discharging units, the sheet feeding operation is performed by preliminarily establishing a correspondence relationship between each sheet feeding unit and each sheet discharging unit. When the paper discharge path is switched so that the paper is conveyed to the corresponding paper discharge section and the paper supply section in which the paper feeding operation is performed is changed, the paper discharge path is switched accordingly. It is also solved by controlling so that.

It is preferable that only one sheet discharging section suitable for the sheet size to be accommodated in the sheet feeding section is selected in the correspondence relationship in advance.

It would be even more convenient if the above-mentioned automatic switching instruction was designated and canceled by operating the operation panel.

[0017]

The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing a laser printer according to the present invention, a sheet picked up by a sheet feeding roller 2 from a sheet feeding cassette 1 is conveyed to an image forming section. In the image forming section, the photoconductor 4 uniformly charged by the charging charger 3 is exposed by the optical unit 5 which has received image information and is subjected to predetermined processing, and the latent image formed is visualized by the developing device 6. The toner visualized image is transferred onto a sheet which has been imaged and conveyed by the transfer device 7, and is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 8 to fix the image. Photoreceptor 4 with toner image transferred
The cleaning device 9 removes the residual toner from the surface, and prepares for the subsequent image forming processing.

The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 8 is switched based on the size information recognized by the detection means (not shown) when the sheet cassette 1 is loaded or when the sheet is fed by the sheet feed roller 2. First and second transport path switching claw 1
In accordance with 0 and 11, the sheet is guided to one of the A, B, and C sheet discharge units 12, 13, and 14 which are predetermined according to the size information and is discharged.

The instruction to which sheet discharge section is to be discharged according to the size information is determined by, for example, driving from an operation panel (not shown), and the size information recognized by the detection means (not shown) at the time of sheet feeding is determined. , Is sent to the printer control unit via the controller connected to the host computer, an instruction is issued to the paper ejection control unit corresponding to each paper ejection unit, each switching pawl is adjusted according to the instruction, and the conveyance path is set. Specified. This control function is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a laser printer provided with a paper ejecting section that is suitable for stacking and has different paper sizes. For example, the A discharge unit 32 has a size suitable for stacking A4 horizontal size sheets, the B discharge unit 33 has a size suitable for stacking B5 horizontal size sheets, and
The paper discharge unit 14 has a size that occupies a considerable portion of the upper surface of the main body housing. Therefore, when the paper feed cassette 1 is loaded or when the paper is fed by the paper feed roller 2, the size of the paper to be fed is recognized by the detection means (not shown), and an appropriate ejection is performed based on the size information. The paper section is selected, and the first and second transport path switching claws 10 and 11 are switched. In the image forming process itself, similarly to the above, the photoconductor 4 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 3 and a latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 4 by exposure from the optical unit 5, and the formed latent image is formed. Becomes a toner image by the developing device 6, is transferred to a sheet by the transfer device 7, and the sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 8 is sent according to the conveyance path specified by the switching of the switching claw,
The paper is ejected to the selected paper ejection unit.

FIG. 4 shows a laser printer provided with a plurality of paper feed cassettes 41 and 42. When the paper is fed from any of the selected paper feed cassettes, the image forming process is performed on the paper as in the above two examples.

At the time of selecting the paper feed cassettes 41 and 42 or when the paper is fed by the respective paper feed rollers 43 and 44 and passes through the confluence point 45 of the transport paths, a detection means (not shown)
The size is recognized, and the first is based on the size information.
And the second transfer path switching claws 10 and 11 are switched,
A, B, C paper ejection unit 1 which is predetermined according to the size information
The sheet is guided to any one of 2, 13, and 14 and discharged.

With this configuration, when the first selected paper feed cassette runs out of paper, both paper feed operations are performed even if the other paper feed cassette continues to perform paper feeding operation. If the size of the paper stored in the cassette is the same, it will be discharged to the same paper discharge unit, and if the size is different, it will be discharged to another paper discharge unit.
Even if the paper feeding operation continues from different paper cassettes,
Since the sorting is automatically performed, sheets of different sizes are not mixed and sheets of the same size are not divided into different discharge units.

The configuration is basically the same as that of FIG. 4, but instead of detecting the paper size, the paper feed cassette in which the paper feeding operation is performed is detected, and the corresponding one is determined in advance by the mounting position of the cassette. First to guide the paper to the ejected paper
Alternatively, the second transport path switching claws 10 and 11 may be switched. In this way, the detection can be simplified. However, in such a case, the size of the sheets to be stored must be limited depending on the mounting position of the cassette.

FIG. 5 shows a plurality of paper feed cassettes 51 and 5.
2. The manual paper feed section 53 and the A, B, and C paper discharge sections 32 and 33, each of which has a different size suitable for stacking,
1 shows a laser printer equipped with 14. For example, the A discharge unit 32 has a size suitable for stacking A4 horizontal size sheets, the B discharge unit 33 has a size suitable for stacking B5 horizontal size sheets, and the C discharge unit 14 has a size that occupies a considerable portion of the upper surface of the main body housing. When paper is fed from any of the selected paper feed units, the above 3
The image is subjected to an image forming process in the same manner as in one example.

At the time of selection of the paper feed unit (paper feed cassettes 51 and 52, manual paper feed unit 53) or each paper feed roller 5
When a sheet is fed at 4, 55, 56 and passes through the confluence point 57 of the transport paths, its size is recognized by a detection unit (not shown), and an appropriate sheet discharge unit is selected based on the size information. The switching of each of the first and second transport path switching claws 10 and 11 is performed. Of the A, B, and C paper ejection units 32, 33, and 14 that are predetermined according to the size information, the paper is fed according to the transport path specified by the switching of the switching claw, and is ejected to the selected paper ejection unit. To be done.

Similar to the case of FIG. 4, the configuration is basically the same as that of FIG. 5, and instead of detecting the paper size, the paper feeding cassette in which the paper feeding operation is performed is detected and the mounting position of the cassette is detected. The first and second transport path switching claws 10 and 1 so that the corresponding ones guide the paper to a predetermined paper discharge unit.
You may make it switch 1.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the paper discharge unit setting by the operation panel. In order to set the paper ejection unit, a predetermined key on the operation panel is pressed to call the paper ejection unit automatic change mode. As a confirmation, it is selected whether or not to automatically change the sheet discharge unit, and if the automatic change is to be performed, then a change mode is selected. That is, it is selected whether the paper discharge unit is selected according to the paper size, or the paper discharge unit is selected by a paper supply unit that operates simply. Further, when automatically switching the paper discharge unit size adapted to the paper feed size, processing is performed as a mode for automatically adjusting the paper feed size / paper discharge unit size.

In addition, in the change mode depending on the paper size and the change mode by the paper feed unit, if the automatic setting is not performed, the respective controls are sequentially performed. That is, in the change mode according to the paper size, the paper size that can be sequentially adapted to each paper discharge unit is confirmed, and the transport path is determined according to the result. In the change mode by the paper feed unit, the paper discharge units applicable to the respective paper feed units are sequentially confirmed. In this way, various paper ejection control settings are made.

[0031]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the size of the sheet supplied to the apparatus main body is detected by the detecting means, the sheet discharging path is switched based on the detected data, and the sheet is discharged to a predetermined sheet discharging section. Since it is configured to perform the above, it is possible to automatically prevent the mixing of sheets of different sizes, and it is not necessary to make the setting for each sheet.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the detection data is collated with the accommodation size data of each sheet discharge section and only one appropriate sheet discharge section is selected.
Appropriate sorting of paper can be automatically performed, and paper can be prevented from being accidentally discharged to a paper discharge unit that is too small.

According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the paper feed units and the paper discharge units are made to correspond to each other in advance, and the paper discharge unit corresponding to the paper feed unit in which the paper feeding operation is performed is connected to the paper discharge unit. When the paper discharge path is switched so that the paper is conveyed and the paper supply unit that performs the paper feeding operation is changed, the paper discharge path is controlled accordingly. Only the sheets common to each set are discharged to the respective sheet discharge units, and it is not necessary to set each sheet.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is configured to select only one paper discharge unit suitable for the size of the paper to be accommodated in the paper feed unit in the corresponding relationship in advance. Appropriate sorting can be performed automatically, and it is possible to prevent paper from being accidentally discharged to a paper discharge unit that is too small.

In the image forming apparatus according to the third or sixth aspect of the invention, since the designation and cancellation of the automatic switching instruction are performed by operating the operation panel, it is possible to give the paper discharge processing flexibility. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible to easily stop the automatic selection of the paper ejection unit or change the settings of the paper ejection unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control function block diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another configuration.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing still another configuration.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing still another configuration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of paper ejection unit setting by the operation panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Feed Cassette 2 Paper Feed Roller 3 Charging Charger 4 Photoreceptor 5 Optical Unit 6 Developing Device 7 Transfer Device 8 Fixing Unit 9 Cleaning Device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper discharge units, the size of the paper supplied to the apparatus main body is detected by a detection unit, and the paper discharge path is switched based on the detection data to reach a predetermined paper discharge unit. An apparatus characterized in that it is configured to eject paper. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection data is collated with the accommodation size data of each paper discharge unit, and only one suitable paper discharge unit is selected. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an instruction for automatic switching is designated and canceled by operating an operation panel. 4. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed units and a plurality of paper discharge units, wherein each paper feed unit and each paper discharge unit have a corresponding relationship in advance, and a paper feed operation is performed. When the paper discharge path is switched so that the paper is conveyed to the corresponding paper discharge section and the paper supply section in which the paper feeding operation is performed is changed, the paper discharge path is switched accordingly. A device that is controlled as follows. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein only one sheet discharging unit suitable for a sheet size to be accommodated in the sheet feeding unit is selected in the preliminarily corresponding relationship. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an instruction for automatic switching is designated / released by operating an operation panel.