JPH11240668A - Sheet discharge device and picture image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from forgetting to take out a sheet by providing a display part to display that the sheet is discharged onto a paper discharge base in a plural display forms and displaying one of a plural the display forms on the paper discharge base to discharge the sheet in correspondence with it in accordance with the same job. SOLUTION: A sheet is discharged to an open bin and a job ID of job to discharge the sheet is stored in correspondence with the bin at the time of printing on a staple sorter. In accordance with information of the job ID corresponding to this bin, LEDs 1-5 provided on each of the bins are lighted in correspondence with a display form of the number of the LEDs to light, etc., for each of the jobs, and flashing and lighting out of a set of the LEDs 1-5 is carried out in correspondence with whether the sheet on the bin of a part of a plural number of the bins to discharge the sheet in correspondence with the job is removed or whether the sheet on all of the bins is removed. Consequently, it is possible for a user to easily confirm even in the case when the same job discharges the sheet on a plural number of the paper discharge bases and to prevent forgetting to take the sheet.

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 connected to an image forming apparatus for forming image data of a document group read by an image reading apparatus or image data received from an external device on paper, and The present invention relates to a sheet discharging device for discharging formed sheets and an image forming system including the image forming device and such a sheet discharging device to which the image forming device is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of conventional printers, there is known a printer having a plurality of discharge bins in a sheet discharge section. When such a printer is shared and used by a plurality of users, the output sheets may be mixed on the discharge bin.

To prevent this, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of paper is provided in each of a plurality of discharge bins, and paper is not discharged for each job (a series of processes from reading of an image to a group of documents to printing). 2. Description of the Related Art A printer for selecting a discharge bin and discharging a sheet is provided.

Further, in such a printer, since the capacity of the discharge bin is limited, printing must be stopped when paper is full on the discharge bin. In order to prevent such stoppage of printing, there is provided a printer which, when the paper is full on the discharge bin, outputs the paper to another discharge bin.

[0005]

However, in a printer that separates and outputs sheets as described above, the user sometimes forgets to take out the discharged sheets, which impairs the operability of the user who executed this job. Further, the operability of other users may be impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper discharge device capable of improving user operability and an image forming system to which the paper discharge device is connected. It is.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising:
An image forming apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet group from image data based on processing a job including forming an image on a sheet group based on image data received from an external device; And a sheet discharging device for separating and discharging the sheet on which an image has been formed.

The paper discharge device is provided in correspondence with each of a plurality of paper discharge trays for discharging paper on which an image has been formed and the plurality of paper discharge trays, and discharges paper in a plurality of display forms. A display unit that indicates that paper is being discharged onto the table, and a sensor that is provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of paper discharge tables and detects whether or not paper is being discharged onto the paper discharge table; When a sheet on which an image based on a job has been formed is discharged, sheets are discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays based on detection by a sensor, and a plurality of sheets are discharged onto a discharge tray on which sheets are discharged based on the same job. A first control unit for controlling the display unit to display one of the display modes corresponding to the first and the same job when the display is performed on the display unit while being controlled by the first control unit. The paper has been removed from all of the output trays used by , And a second control means for controlling so as to make changes to the display mode of the display unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a sheet on which an image based on a job has been formed is discharged, the sheet is discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays, and the sheet is discharged based on the same job. One of a plurality of display forms is associated with a paper discharge table that is displayed on the display unit. From this state, when the paper is removed from all of the plurality of paper discharge trays used by the same job, the display form of the display unit is changed.

[0010] With this arrangement, when sheets are ejected on a plurality of sheet trays by the same job, the user can confirm the sheets at a glance, and a display for preventing the user from forgetting to take out the sheets is displayed. This improves the operability of the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for processing a job including forming an image on a sheet group based on image data of a document group read by an image reading device or image data received from an external device. The sheet discharge device is connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet group based on image data based on the image data, and separates and discharges sheets on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus.

The paper discharge device is provided for each of a plurality of paper discharge trays for discharging paper on which an image has been formed, and a plurality of paper discharge trays, and discharges paper in a plurality of display forms. A display unit that indicates that paper is being discharged onto the table, and a sensor that is provided in correspondence with each of the plurality of paper discharge tables and detects whether or not paper is being discharged onto the paper discharge table; When a sheet on which an image based on a job has been formed is discharged, sheets are discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays based on detection by a sensor, and a plurality of sheets are discharged onto a discharge tray on which sheets are discharged based on the same job. A first control unit for controlling the display unit to display one of the display modes corresponding to the first and the same job when the display is performed on the display unit while being controlled by the first control unit. Paper is removed from some of the output trays used by When a second control means for controlling so as to apply a first change in the display form of the display unit, the first
When the paper is removed from all of the plurality of paper discharge trays used by the same job while the display is being performed while being controlled by the control means, the display form of the display is changed. Third to control to make the second change
Control means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a sheet on which an image based on a job has been formed is discharged, the sheet is discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays, and the sheet is discharged based on the same job. One of a plurality of display forms is associated with a paper discharge table that is displayed on the display unit. From this state, when a sheet is removed from a part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job, a first change is made to the display form of the display unit. In addition, when the paper is removed from all of the plurality of paper discharge trays used by the same job, a second change is made to the display form of the display unit.

Thus, when sheets are ejected on a plurality of sheet trays by the same job, the user can confirm the sheets at a glance, and a display for preventing the user from forgetting to take out the sheets is displayed. This improves the operability of the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet discharging apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the first change is a part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job. A third change to be made to the form of the display unit corresponding to the paper ejection table of
A fourth change is added to the form of the display unit corresponding to the remaining discharge trays excluding the above-mentioned part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a sheet on which an image based on a job has been formed is discharged, the sheet is discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays, and the sheet is discharged based on the same job. One of a plurality of display forms is associated with a paper discharge table that is displayed on the display unit. From this state, if a sheet is removed from a part of the plurality of output trays used by the same job, this one of the plurality of output trays used by the same job is removed. A third change is made to the form of the display unit corresponding to the discharge tray of the set, and the display unit corresponding to the remaining discharge trays except a part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job is changed. A fourth change is made to the form of the display. In addition, when the paper is removed from all of the plurality of paper discharge trays used by the same job, a second change is made to the display form of the display unit.

In this way, when sheets are ejected on a plurality of output trays by the same job, the user can confirm at a glance the display, and a display for preventing the user from forgetting to take out the sheet is displayed. This improves the operability of the user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and the sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects connected to the image forming apparatus. In.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when sheets are ejected on a plurality of sheet ejection trays by the same job, the user can check at a glance, and the user forgets to take out the sheets. Is displayed to prevent the user's operation, and the operability of the user is improved.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming system including a staple sorter and a digital copying machine connected to the staple sorter according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an outline of the overall configuration of an image forming system comprising a staple sorter 10 and a digital copying machine 200 connected to the staple sorter 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

In the digital copying machine 200, a user operation is input via the operation panel 150 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) when forming an image. In response to a user's operation input, the circulating automatic document feeder 500 installed at the top of the digital copier 200 can copy documents one by one from a group of documents stacked on a predetermined document feed tray. Dispense onto platen glass. When an exposure process is performed on a document on the platen glass, the document transport device 500 sequentially discharges the document from the platen glass to a document discharge tray.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the digital copying machine 200 forms an image on a sheet from an image of a document read by an exposure process by an electrophotographic method, and the sheet on which the image is formed is The sheet is conveyed to the staple sorter 10 and discharged onto a non-sort tray 20 of the staple sorter 10 or a discharge bin of the bin assembly 30 described later.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of the digital copying machine 200.

The digital copying machine 200 is mainly composed of an automatic document feeder 500 for feeding a document and turning over the document as required, a reading device IR for reading a document image and generating image data, and a reading device IR. Memory unit 23 for temporarily storing image data obtained by device IR
0 and a printer PRT for printing on copy paper based on image data stored in the memory unit 230
And an operation panel 150 (installed on the upper surface of the digital copier 200 (in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface)) for inputting operations, and an external input / output control unit 250 for exchanging data with the outside. Is done.

In the automatic document feeder 500, when a document set on the document feed tray 501 is instructed to be printed, the document on the lowermost layer is automatically placed on the platen glass 215.
When the reading device IR is set at the upper reading position and the reading by the reading device IR is completed, the document is discharged onto the discharge tray 502.

The reading device IR comprises a scanning system 210 and an image signal processing unit 220. In the scanning system 210, first, an image of a document set at a reading position is exposed by an exposure lamp 211 attached to a scanner 216 moving below the original. Light reflected from the document passes through a reflection mirror and a condenser lens 212 and is input to photoelectric conversion elements 213 and 214 using a CCD array or the like. Subsequently, the signals obtained by these scanning systems 210 are sent to the image signal processing unit 220. The image signal processing unit 220 performs image processing such as binarization processing, image quality correction, scaling, and image editing on the input signal. The image data subjected to the image processing is stored in the memory unit 23
0 is stored.

The printer PRT includes a print processing unit 24.
0, an optical system 260, an image forming system 270, and a paper transport system 280. The print processing unit 240 includes a memory unit 230
The optical system 260 is driven based on the image data from. In the optical system 260, the semiconductor lasers 261 and 262 operate based on a signal controlled by the print processing unit 240.
Each emits a laser beam. These are combined by a dichroic mirror 263, reflected by a polygon mirror 265 rotated by a motor 264, and radiated toward a photoconductor 271 of an image forming system 270 through a main lens 266.

In the image forming system 270, first, the photosensitive member 271
Is charged by the charging charger 272, and then is irradiated with a laser beam from the optical system 260. Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 271. Subsequently, the developing device 273 places toner on the electrostatic latent image. The toner image on the photoconductor 271 is transferred to a paper transport system 280.
Is transferred to the copy paper fed from the paper feed cassette 280a or 280b. Thereafter, the paper is transported to the fixing device 282 by the paper transport belt 281,
After the toner is fixed on the paper by heat and pressure, the toner is discharged toward the receiving roller pair 81 of the staple sorter 10 (see FIG. 4) connected to the digital copying machine 200.

The external input / output control unit 250 exchanges data between the local network (LAN) and the public telephone line (PSTN) and the memory unit 230. The external input / output control unit 250 mainly includes a facsimile conversion unit that exchanges data with the memory unit unit 230 during a facsimile operation and performs conversion such as a pixel density and a code or a system, and an image data and control signal during a facsimile operation. Transmission and reception of control signals and image data between the G3 unit, which is connected to a telephone line and controls communication with the PSTN, and performs communication control such as modulation and demodulation, and is connected to a LAN and connected to an external LAN. It is composed of a network control unit for performing network control.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of operation panel 150 provided on the upper surface of digital copying machine 200.

The operation panel 150 displays a copy condition and an internal state of the digital copier 200 on a liquid crystal display, and a touch panel 151 for inputting a predetermined operation for setting copy conditions and the like. A numeric keypad 152 for inputting a numerical value such as a magnification, a reset key 153 for resetting copy conditions set by a user input, an interrupt key 154 for performing interrupt processing for the current processing, and a copy start operation And a start key 155 for instructing the user.

Next, the configuration of the staple sorter 10 will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the staple sorter 10.

The staple sorter 10 is roughly composed of a paper transport section 80 and five-stage discharge bins 311 to 315 (hereinafter, referred to as “bins”).
Bin assembly 3 having bins 311 to 315)
0, a stapling unit 70 for performing stapling processing on the sheet bundle as necessary, a take-out unit 40 driven by the motor M70 to take out the sheet bundle on the bins 311 to 315 and deliver it to the sheet bundle transport gate 100;
It includes a non-sort tray 20 and a sheet bundle conveying gate 100 that moves up and down and conveys a sheet bundle extracted from the bins 311 to 315 by the extraction unit 40 onto the non-sort tray 20.

In the following, referring to FIG.
0, bin assembly 30, and sheet bundle transport gate 100 will be mainly described.

First, the paper transport section 80 will be described.
The paper transport section 80 is a digital copier 200 (see FIG. 1).
Roller pair 81 for receiving paper discharged from the printer
A first transport unit 83 for transporting the paper in a substantially vertical direction, a switching claw 82 for switching the transport direction of the paper to the first transport unit 83 side or the paper bundle transport gate 100 side,
And a second transport unit 90 for transporting the paper in a substantially horizontal direction from the first transport unit 83 to the bin assembly 30 side.

Here, the switching claw 82 is connected to the solenoid S
It is possible to rotate around the support shaft 82a based on ON / OFF of L50.

When the solenoid SL50 is off, the switching claw 82 is set to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the sheet discharged from the digital copying machine 200 and received by the receiving roller pair 81 is guided by the curved right side surface of the switching claw 82 and sent to the first transport unit 83.

When the solenoid SL50 is on, the switching claw 82 rotates clockwise from the position shown in FIG. At this time, the sheet discharged from the digital copying machine 200 and received by the receiving roller pair 81 is guided by the upper surface of the switching claw 82 and the guide plate 79 and is conveyed onto the non-sort tray 20 through the sheet bundle conveying gate 100 described later. You.

The first transport section 83 includes guide plates 84 to 87 for guiding the sheet, a pair of transport rollers 88 for transporting the sheet,
A punch unit 75 for forming a binding hole at the leading end or the trailing end of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction is provided in the middle section. The second transport section 90 includes a pair of transport rollers 91 and 92 for transporting the paper, and guide plates 93 and 94 for guiding the paper. The guide plate 94 is attached to a side plate portion of the guide plate 93 and transports the paper. The roller 91 is mounted on one end of the guide plate 94. This second transport unit 90
Is approximately 9 from the position shown in FIG.
It can be rotated 0 degrees in the direction of arrow a.

In the staple sorter 10, bins 311 to 31
When the paper is distributed to 315, the second transport unit 90 is set to the position shown in FIG. 4, and the paper transported from the first transport unit 83 by the transport rollers 91 and 92 is sent to the bin assembly 30 side. When the sheet bundle is taken out from the bins 311 to 315 onto the non-sort tray 20 using the sheet bundle transport gate 100, the second transport unit 90 rotates about 90 degrees in the direction of arrow a around the support shaft 95, and Retreat from the transport position.

Further, the sensor SE21 is provided in the second transport section 90.
Is installed, and this sensor SE21 is
The sheet bundle stored in the bin 315 and the sheet bundle extracted from the bins 311 to 315 are detected.

The receiving roller pair 81 and the conveying roller pair 8
8, 89, conveying rollers 91 and 92, bins 311 to 311
15 for taking out a sheet bundle from the sheet bundle 15 and transferring it to the sheet bundle transport gate 100
The zero take-out rollers 42 and 43 are rotated by a motor M50 via a driving force transmission unit (not shown).

Next, the bin assembly 30 will be described. The bin assembly 30 includes five-stage bins 311 to 315
Each of the bins 311 to 315 is installed at a predetermined interval. Each pin 32 provided on the lower end side of each bin 311 to 315 engages with a spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft (not shown) installed in the vertical direction. The bins 311 to 315 are moved up and down by forward / reverse rotation.

As for the bin assembly 30, the position shown in FIG. 4 is the home position. In this home position, the first bin 311 faces the transport rollers 91 and 92, and the second bin 312 faces the staple unit 70. Hereinafter, the bin 3 facing the transport rollers 91 and 92
The positions of 11 to 315 are defined as position X1, and the positions of bins 311 to 315 facing staple unit 70 are defined as position X2.
And

When the drive shaft is reversed by one rotation from the state where the first bin 311 is at the position X1, the first bin 311 moves to the position X.
Second, the second bin 312 descends to a position in contact with the third bin 313. When the first bin 311 is at the position X2,
The bundle of sheets on the first bin 311 can be bound by the staple unit 70. After the bundle of sheets is bound, if the drive shaft is rotated forward one rotation, the first bin 311 is again moved to the position X.
1 and the second bin 3102 rises to the position X2.
In a state where the first bin 311 is at the position X1, the first bin 3
The stapled sheet bundle on 11 is taken out by the user.

The bin assembly 30 includes respective bins 311 to 311.
A sensor (not shown) for detecting that the drive shaft 15 is set at the home position, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the drive shaft has rotated once and the bins 311 to 315 have been raised by one pitch. ) Is installed. Further, a sensor S for detecting the presence or absence of paper in each of the bins 311 to 315 is provided.
E341 to SE345 are attached.

Next, the sheet bundle transport gate 100 will be described. The sheet bundle conveying gate 100 includes a pair of gate rollers 102 and 103 in a box 101 and a sheet guide plate 1.
04 and 105, and the rollers 102 and 103 are rotated forward / reverse by the motor M21. The sheet bundle transport gate 100 is moved up and down by being guided by a guide member (not shown), and a motor M20 is installed as a drive source thereof.

The home position of the sheet bundle conveying gate 100 is the position shown in FIG. At this home position, the sheet bundle transport gate 100 is
4 is conveyed to the left in FIG. 4 by rotation of the rollers 102 and 103, and is fed onto the non-sort tray 20.

The sheet bundle conveying gate 100 can perform a stacking operation of moving up and down the staple sorter 10 and conveying the sheets on the bins 311 to 315 onto the non-sort tray 20. To enable stacking operation,
Above the non-sort tray 20, the non-sort tray 2
A sensor SE33 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on
A sensor SE23 for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20 (the upper surface of the non-sort tray 20 when there is no sheet) is provided. Further, a sensor SE20 for detecting that the sheet bundle transport gate 100 is at the home position and a sensor SE22 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet bundle in the sheet bundle transport gate 100 are provided.

In the staple sorter 10, these stacking operations can be performed in parallel with the stapling process on the sheet bundle on the bin set at the position X2.

Further, on the outer surface of the staple sorter 10, LEDs 1 to 5 are provided. FIG. 5 shows LEDs 1 to 5
It is a figure showing the position where is installed.

The staple sorter 10 includes bottles 311 to 31
315 are provided corresponding to each of the LEDs 315. The LEDs 1 to 5 are provided for controlling the control unit shown in FIG. 6 to execute the control shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 while using the bin information management table shown in FIG. The display according to the presence or absence is performed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the image forming system. The control unit stores a program for operating the staple sorter 10 in the ROM 171.
, A CPU 170 for executing the program, a RAM 172 for storing information necessary for executing the program, and a CPU 173 for controlling the digital copying machine 200.

The CPU 170 is provided with reference to FIG.
A sensor SE20 for detecting that the sheet bundle transport gate 100 is at the home position, an SE21 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet bundle in the second transport unit 90, a sheet bundle transport gate 10.
A sensor SE22 for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet bundle within 0;
A sensor SE23 for detecting the top surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20, a sensor SE33 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the non-sort tray 20, and each bin 311
To the presence / absence of a sheet on the sensor SE341 to SE315
The detection signal from SE345 is input.

Further, the CPU 170 outputs a motor M20 for moving the sheet bundle transport gate 100 up and down, a motor M21 for rotating the rollers 102 and 103 in the sheet bundle transport gate 100, and various rollers in the staple sorter 10. To the motor M50, a motor M60 for driving a drive shaft for moving the bins 311 to 315 up and down, a motor M70 for driving the take-out unit 40, and a solenoid SL50 for driving a switching claw 82 for switching a sheet conveyance direction. Is output.

The CPU 170 further includes a reading device IR of the digital copying machine 200 and a memory unit 23.
0, a CPU 173 that controls each part of the printer device PRT and the operation panel 150 (see FIG. 2) is connected. C
A signal requesting the start of the printing process is transmitted from the PU 170 to the CPU 173, a signal notifying the end of the printing process is transmitted and received from the CPU 173 to the CPU 170, and the timing with which the digital copying machine 200 prints an image on a sheet is adjusted. The sheet is discharged by the staple sorter 10.

In the staple sorter 10 as described above,
Next, the bin information management table as shown in FIG.
The data is stored in the RAM 172 while being created and updated by the RAM 70, and is used to execute control based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a bin information management table stored in the RAM 172. Each of “bins 1 to 5” in the bin information management table corresponds to bins 311 to 315 (FIG.
), The sensors SE341 to SE345 detect whether or not the sheets have been discharged to the bins 1 to 5, respectively. “Present” and “absent” of “discharged paper” indicate these detection results. The “job ID” is a number assigned to the job in the order of registration, and is different from the job ID 1 in the bin information management table in FIG.
One job may cause paper to be ejected to two or more bins.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the CPU 170 (see FIG. 6) in the staple sorter 10 (see FIG. 4).

When the program for turning on the power is started, the staple sorter 10 first checks and prepares the bin information in step 1 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S) according to the procedure shown in FIG. Display processing for the LEDs 1 to 5 based on the information is performed.

In S2, it is determined whether or not printing is in progress. If printing is not being performed (NO in S2), S
At 3, it is determined whether there is a print request. If there is no print request (NO in S3), the process returns to S1, and if there is a print request (YES in S4), the process proceeds to S5.

On the other hand, if printing is in progress (Y in S2)
ES), it is determined whether the paper discharged in S4 exceeds the bin capacity. If the discharged paper does not exceed the bin capacity (NO in S4), the process proceeds to S1, and if the discharged paper exceeds the bin capacity (YE in S4).
In steps S) and S5, it is determined whether there is an empty bin (a bin from which no paper has been discharged) based on the “discharged paper” (see FIG. 7) in the bin information management table. If there is no empty bin, the process proceeds to S1, and if there is an empty bin, the process proceeds to S6.

In step S6, a vacant bin is selected, each unit is controlled to discharge sheets to this bin, and a signal requesting the start of a printing process is sent to the CPU 173 (see FIG. 6) for controlling the digital copying machine 200. Reportedly. Based on this, the paper is discharged onto the bin determined to be empty in S5. Subsequently, in S7, the job ID of the discharged sheet is stored on this bin, and the process proceeds to S1.

As described above, the staple sorter 1
At 0, when printing is performed, the paper is discharged to an empty bin, and the job ID of the job that discharged the paper is stored corresponding to the bin. The display of the LEDs 1 to 5 is controlled by using the information of the job ID corresponding to this bin as described below.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the bin information check / step S1 shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a creation / display processing routine.

In the bin information check / creation / display process,
First, in S11, based on the detection by the sensors SE341 to SE345, paper presence / absence information indicating whether or not paper has been discharged onto each of the bins 311 to 315 is acquired.
, The job ID information is searched. In S13, S11
The bin information management table is updated based on the paper presence / absence information acquired in step S12 and the job ID information retrieved in step S12.

Subsequently, in S14, all the indications of the LEDs 1 to 5 are turned off, and in S15, N indicating the job ID is set to 1.

At S16, the LED display form corresponding to the bin corresponding to the bin from which the sheets of the job having the job ID "N" are discharged is displayed. For example, this N
As a display form corresponding to the job ID, LEDs 1 to 5 including five LEDs arranged in the left and right directions as shown in FIG.
Can be sequentially turned on from the left end.
(If the job ID is 1, the leftmost LED is turned on, and if the job ID is 2, the leftmost LED and the L
Turn on ED. Next, in S17, it is determined whether or not there is paper in all bins used by the job with the job ID "N". Unless “all bins used by job with job ID“ N ”have paper” (paper is removed from some bins among all bins used by job with job ID “N”) (If) (NO in S17), S18
The LEDs corresponding to all the bins used by the job with the job ID “N” blink, and the process proceeds to S19.

If there is paper in all the bins used by the job with the job ID "N" (if the paper is left in all the bins used by the job with the job ID "N") (YES in S17), the process in S18 is skipped, and the process proceeds to S19.

In S19, N corresponding to the job ID is 1
In S20, it is determined whether N is larger than the number of jobs being processed by the image forming system. N
Is not larger than the number of jobs (at S20, N
O), the process proceeds to S16, and if N is greater than this number of jobs (YES in S20), the process returns.

As described above, in the staple sorter of the image forming system, the display mode such as the number of LEDs lit for each job corresponds to the LED provided in each bin.
Is turned on, and a set of LEDs (LED1 to LED1) is set according to whether the paper on some of the bins from which the paper is discharged corresponding to the job or the paper on all the bins is removed. 5) is turned on and off.
In this way, when sheets are ejected on a plurality of sheet ejection trays by the same job, the user can confirm the sheets at a glance, and a display is displayed to prevent the user from forgetting to take out the sheets. Operability is improved.

In the above embodiment, when the paper on some of the plurality of bins from which the paper is discharged corresponding to the job is removed, the LED corresponding to the bin from which the paper has been removed by the user. And the LEDs corresponding to the remaining bins from which the paper is discharged and the paper is not removed by the user corresponding to the same job are blinked. Indication of the LED corresponding to each of a plurality of bins from which paper is ejected in response to a job, such that the corresponding LED is turned off and only the LED corresponding to the remaining bin in which the paper is not removed by the user blinks. Can be set in plural.

In the above embodiment, the display is changed by turning on, off, and blinking the LED.
The display can be changed using the color of the LED, the number indicating the job ID, or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an overall configuration of an image forming system including a staple sorter 10 and a digital copying machine 200 connected to the staple sorter 10, which is one of embodiments of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine 200.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining a configuration of an operation panel 150 provided on an upper surface of the digital copying machine 200.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the staple sorter 10.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing positions where LEDs 1 to 5 are installed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the image forming system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a bin information management table stored in a RAM 172.

FIG. 8 shows a CPU of the staple sorter 10 (see FIG. 4);
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure 170 (see FIG. 6).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a bin information check / creation / display processing routine in S1 of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-5 LED 10 Staple sorter 20 Non-sort tray 30 Bin assembly 40 Take-out unit 70 Staple unit 75 Punch unit 80 Paper transport unit 100 Paper bundle transport gate 150 Operation panel 170 CPU for controlling staple sorter 10 171 ROM 172 RAM 173 Digital copy CPU controlling digital copying machine 200 Digital copier 311 to 315 Output bin SE341 to SE345 Sensor for detecting presence or absence of paper 500 Automatic document feeder

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI G03G 21/00 370 G03G 21/00 370 (72) Inventor Koji Naito 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Osaka International Building Minolta Stock Inside the company (72) Inventor Hiroaki Ikeda 2-3-113 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for processing a job including formation of an image on a sheet group based on image data of a group of documents read by an image reading device or image data received from an external device. A paper discharge device connected to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a group and separating and discharging paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus, the paper discharge device for discharging the paper on which an image has been formed. A plurality of paper output trays, a display unit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of paper output trays, and displaying that paper is being discharged onto the paper output trays in a plurality of display formats; and A sensor that is provided corresponding to each of the paper output trays and detects whether or not paper has been discharged onto the paper output tray; and
The display unit discharges paper onto a plurality of paper output trays based on detection by the sensor, and associates one of a plurality of display forms with a paper output tray on which paper is discharged based on the same job. A first control unit that controls the display unit to display a plurality of paper output trays that are used by the same job when the display unit is performing display while being controlled by the first control unit. A second control unit for controlling to change the display form of the display unit when the paper is removed from all of the paper discharge units. 2. A method for processing a job including forming an image on a sheet group based on image data of a document group read by an image reading device or image data received from an external device, and converting the image data into a sheet. A paper discharge device connected to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a group and separating and discharging paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus, the paper discharge device for discharging the paper on which an image has been formed. A plurality of paper output trays, a display unit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of paper output trays, and displaying that paper is being discharged onto the paper output trays in a plurality of display formats; and A sensor that is provided corresponding to each of the paper output trays and detects whether or not paper has been discharged onto the paper output tray; and
The sheet is discharged onto a plurality of discharge trays based on the detection by the sensor, and one of a plurality of display forms is associated with the discharge tray on which the paper is discharged based on the same job. First control means for controlling the display unit to display, and a plurality of discharge trays used by the same job when the display is performed on the display unit while being controlled by the first control means. A second control unit that controls the display form of the display unit to make a first change when a sheet is removed from a part of the sheet discharge trays; While the display is being performed on the display unit, if the paper is removed from all of the plurality of paper discharge trays used by the same job, a second change is made to the display form of the display unit. And third control means for controlling to add Paper discharge device. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first change is a third change added to a form of a display unit corresponding to a part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: changing a form of a display unit corresponding to a remaining discharge tray except a part of the plurality of discharge trays used by the same job. Paper discharge device according to the above. 4. An image forming system, comprising: the image forming apparatus; and the sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, which is connected to the image forming apparatus.