JP2002003063A - Image forming device and sheet delivery control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a labor for removing a sheet with an excess tab. SOLUTION: When an operation part 172 is operated, the number of sheets with a tab used is set and respective inserted page of the sheet with a tab is set, it is judged whether or not a sheet with an excess tab is generated from the number of inserted sheet with a tab set and the number of sheet with a tab set. In the case where the sheet with an excess tab is generated, a delivery tray selection from the operation part 172 is made inactive. An output sheet is delivered to a default delivery tray among a plurality of delivery trays and the sheet with an excess tab is delivered to the delivery trays other than the default delivery tray.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of inserting a tab sheet into a predetermined position of an output sheet bundle and a sheet discharge control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is provided a tab interleaving mode in which a tabbed sheet is inserted into a predetermined position in an output bundle made of normal-size sheets, and a document in which a tabbed sheet is found can be created. Copiers and printers have been proposed. Tabbed sheets to be used are combined into a bundle by combining a predetermined number of sheets. For example, five sheets with tabs constitute one set of five sheets. However, when five tabbed sheets are set while only three tab interleaving positions are set, two extra tabbed sheets are generated.

[0003] In view of this, there have been proposed a type in which a user pulls out excess tabbed sheets from the beginning and sets them, and a type in which surplus tabbed sheets are automatically discharged for each copy output.

[0004] On the other hand, copiers and printers having an image storage device have also been known. Such copiers and printers have the advantage of being able to generate a plurality of copies in one image input process, and have the same plurality of copies. The output of a unit is not equipped with a sorter-type discharge processing device that delays the completion of the final output bundle by generating multiple copies at the same time, but a finisher-type discharge process that generates output bundles part by part. Many are equipped with devices.

[0005] Such a finisher type discharge processing apparatus also includes a plurality of discharge units and stacking units, and uses a stacking unit for each type of job and for each job application. In some cases, the discharge / stack unit can be set for each job type or for each job so that access can be simplified when the user comes to pick up.

However, even if the same type of finisher is used, even if the output bundle is discharged to the same discharge unit and stacking unit, the independence of each bundle is maintained. There is also a type provided with only a loading section and a loading section.

From the above, an image forming apparatus that provides a tab interleaving mode, has a finisher type discharge processing device, and automatically discharges excess tabbed sheets can be considered.
In such an image forming apparatus, if the discharge processing device includes a plurality of discharge units and stacking units, another discharge / stacking unit other than the discharge / stacking unit currently discharging / stacking the output bundle.
If you discharge and load the excess tabbed sheet on the loading section,
The work of the user after the end of the job may be omitted.

[0008]

However, depending on the configuration of the discharge processing apparatus, if the output bundle is discharged and stacked as set in the discharge and stacking section depending on the positional relationship between the discharge section and the stacking section, one copy is required. It may not be possible to discharge the excess tabbed sheet generated every time to another stacking unit.

For example, two discharge outlets, a straight discharge outlet and a post-processing discharge outlet, are provided, and two loading trays, discharge trays A and B, are provided. The discharge tray A has a straight discharge outlet and a post-processing discharge outlet. When the output tray B can load only the output bundle from the post-processing output port, the output bundle in the tab interleaving mode is set to the output from the post-processing output port to the output tray A when the output tray B can load only the output bundle from the post-processing output port. In this case, the excess tabbed sheet cannot be discharged to the discharge tray B.

When the discharge processing device is of a type having only a single discharge portion and a stacking portion, the sheet with excess tabs must be discharged to the same stacking portion. The surplus tabbed sheets are inserted by the number of sheets at each break and stacked. At this time, for example, if the form of the output bundle desired by the user is a sort output without post-processing such as staples, a surplus tabbed sheet is attached to each copy, and after the job is completed, the user The removal process had to be performed, which was very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a sheet discharge control method which can solve the above-mentioned problems and can reduce the trouble of removing excess tabbed sheets.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply unit for supplying a set tabbed sheet, a plurality of storage units for storing discharged output sheets, and the plurality of storage units. Setting means for setting the number of tabbed sheets to be used in an image forming apparatus having a selection means for selecting a storage means for storing output sheets discharged from Page setting means for setting each insertion page of the tabbed sheets for the number of sheets set by the method, the number of tabbed sheets to be inserted set by the insertion page setting means, and the tab set by the number setting means Determining means for determining whether or not a surplus tabbed sheet is to be generated from the number of attached sheets, and when the determination means makes an affirmative determination,
An inactive means for inactivating the selecting means, and, when the selecting means is inactivated by the inactive means, discharging an output sheet to a default storing means of the plurality of storing means; And a discharge control means for discharging the excess tabbed sheet to storage means other than the storage means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided post-processing means for performing post-processing on the output sheet bundle before discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus. The storage unit from which the output sheet bundle is discharged can be prevented from being the default storage unit.

[0014] In the second aspect, the post-processing means can post-process the surplus tabbed sheets as one discharge bundle when the determination means makes a positive determination.

[0015] In the third aspect, the post-processing means can prevent the post-processing when the number of surplus tabbed sheets is one.

In the present invention, the post-processing means can perform a stapling process.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply means for supplying a set tabbed sheet, a plurality of accommodation means for accommodating the discharged output sheet, and an output discharged from the plurality of accommodation means. In the discharge control method for an image forming apparatus having a selection unit for selecting a storage unit for storing a sheet, the number of tabbed sheets to be used is set, and each insertion page of the tabbed sheet is set. When, from the set number of tabbed sheets to be inserted and the set number of tabbed sheets, a determining step of determining whether or not an excess tabbed sheet is generated, and a positive determination is made in the determining step An inactive step of inactivating the selecting means; and Default discharges the output sheet in the storage means of the storage means, characterized in that a discharge control step of discharging the surplus tabbed sheet containing means other than the default storage means.

A post-processing step of performing post-processing on the output sheet bundle before discharging to the outside of the apparatus, wherein the discharging control step is performed after the post-processing step when the post-processing is active. The storage unit from which the processed output sheet bundle is discharged can be prevented from being the default storage unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing step, when an affirmative determination is made in the determination step, the post-processing can be performed with the excess tabbed sheets as one discharge bundle.

In the present invention, in the post-processing step, when the number of surplus tabbed sheets is one, post-processing can be omitted.

In the present invention, the post-processing step can perform a stapling process.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
An embodiment will be described. This is the automatic document feeder 180
2 is an example of the image forming apparatus 100 having the structure shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a platen glass for placing a document fed by the automatic document feeder 180. A scanner 102 has a document illumination lamp 103 and a scanning mirror 104, and optically scans a document on the platen glass 101. The reflected light from the original is scanned by scanning mirror 104.
And the reflection mirrors 105 and 106 cooperate with each other to guide the light signal to the lens 108 and to pass the optical signal through the lens 108 to C
It is guided to a CD (charge coupled device) sensor 109. The light signal is converted into an electric signal by the CCD sensor 109, and is subjected to predetermined image processing described later, and is output as an image signal.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an exposure control unit, which comprises a laser, a polygon scanner, or the like, and scans the photosensitive drum 110 with a laser beam 129 modulated based on an image signal.

Around the photosensitive drum 110, a primary charger 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charger 118, a cleaning device 116, and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are provided.

In the image forming section 126, the photosensitive drum 110 is rotated by a motor (not shown) in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2 and charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112. Is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is developed by the developing device 121 and is visualized as a toner image.

Reference numeral 131 denotes an upper cassette, and 132 denotes a lower cassette 132 for storing sheets.
The sheets stored in the upper cassette 131 or the lower cassette 132 are fed by pickup rollers 133 and 134, and are fed to registration rollers 137 by feed rollers 135 and 136. Registration roller 137
Is supplied to the transfer belt at a predetermined timing, and the toner image is transferred onto the paper by the transfer charger 118.
Is transferred.

The residual toner on the photosensitive drum after the transfer is
The residual charge is removed by the pre-exposure lamp 114 and cleaned by the cleaner device 116.

The sheet after the transfer is separated from the transfer belt 130, and the toner image on the sheet is charged by the pre-fixing chargers 139, 1
40, is sent to the fixing device 141, and is fixed by pressure and heat by the fixing device 141.
By 42, it is discharged out of the main body 100.

Reference numeral 150 denotes a deck provided in the main body, which can store, for example, 4000 sheets of paper. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 rises according to the amount of paper so that the paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152. A multi-bypass 153 is capable of storing 100 sheets of paper.

Reference numeral 154 denotes a paper discharge flapper for switching the path between the double-side recording side or the multiple recording side and the paper discharge side. The paper sent from the paper discharge roller 142 is
Switching to the double-sided recording side or the multiple recording side is performed by the discharge flapper 154. Reference numeral 158 denotes a lower transport path for reversing the paper sent from the paper discharge roller 142.
The sheet is turned over to guide the sheet to the re-feed tray 156. Reference numeral 157 denotes a multiplex flapper for switching the path between double-sided recording and multiplex recording. The flapper is tilted leftward so as to guide the sheet directly to the lower transport path 158 without passing through the reverse path 156. Reference numeral 159 denotes a paper feed roller, which feeds the paper through the path 160 to the photosensitive drum 126.
Side.

Reference numeral 161 denotes a discharge roller, which is disposed near the discharge flapper 154.
The paper switched to the discharge side by 4 is discharged to the discharge port. At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiple copying), the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward and the copied paper is stored in the re-feed tray 156 via the transport paths 155 and 158. At the time of double-sided recording, the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted to the right. On the other hand, at the time of multiplex recording, the multiplex flapper 157 is tilted to the left. The sheets stored in the re-feed tray 156 are fed one by one from the
9 through the path 160 to the registration roller 137.

When the sheet is inverted and discharged to the discharge port, the discharge flapper 154 is raised upward and the flapper 157 is discharged.
Is tilted to the right, the fixed sheet is conveyed to the conveying path 155 side, and after the rear end of the sheet passes through the first feed roller 162, the sheet is conveyed to the second feed roller side by the reversing roller 163 and discharged. The paper is turned over by the rollers 161 and discharged to the discharge port. Reference numeral 190 denotes a paper discharge processing device that aligns and binds discharged paper.

If the post-processing operation such as sorting and stapling is not set in the operation unit 172 (FIG. 1), the paper from the discharge port does not pass through the processing tray 193, and
The sheets are discharged one by one to a discharge tray 191 through a conveyance path 194. On the other hand, if the post-discharge bundle processing operation is set in the operation unit 172, the paper from the discharge port
And are stacked and aligned on the processing tray 193. When the discharge of a part of the image formation is completed, the sheet bundle is stapled and discharged to either the discharge tray 191 or 192. When the post-discharge bundle post-processing operation is set, the bundle is basically discharged to the discharge tray 192, but when the sheet is fully loaded, control is performed to switch to the discharge tray 191. The discharge trays 191 and 192 are controlled to move up and down by a motor (not shown), and are moved so that the lower tray to be stacked is at the position of the processing tray before the image forming operation starts.

Reference numeral 196 denotes a non-image forming sheet insertion device, which is positioned above the sheet discharge processing device 190. When a setting for performing a non-image forming sheet insertion operation such as a cover mode is set on the operation unit 172 (FIG. 1), the non-image forming sheet stored in the non-image forming sheet insertion device 196 in advance is transferred to the transport path 197. , And is discharged to the same discharge port as the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 by being merged with the transport path 194 or the transport path 195.

Referring to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes the same part as in FIG. CPU (central processing u
nit) 171 and ROM (read only memory) 174
, A random access memory (RAM) 175, and an input / output port 173 are mutually connected via an address bus and a data bus.

The ROM 174 stores a control program. The CPU 171 controls each unit according to a control program in the ROM 174. CPU 171 is R
R that performs input / output control sequentially through input / output port 173 according to the contents of OM 174 to execute an image forming operation
The AM 175 is used as a work area of the CPU 171. The input / output port 173 includes the image forming apparatus 10.
Various loads (not shown), such as a motor and a clutch, for controlling each part of the control unit 0, and inputs (not shown) of a sensor for detecting the position of the paper are connected.

Reference numeral 172 denotes an operation unit which is connected to the CPU 171 and instructs the CPU 171 to switch the image forming operation mode and display through key input by the operator.
The display of the state of the image forming apparatus 100 from the CPU 171 and the operation mode setting by key input are performed.

Reference numeral 170 denotes an image processing unit, which is a CPU 171.
And processes the electric signal from the CCD sensor 109. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image memory unit,
It is connected to U171 and stores the image data from the image processing unit 170. Reference numeral 4 denotes an external I / F processing unit which processes image data from a computer as binary image data.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the image processing section 170 of FIG. 3, 3, 4, and 109 indicate the same parts as in FIG. 1, and 120 indicates the same parts as in FIG. CCD sensor 1
The original image formed at 09 is input as black luminance data, and is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD sensor 109. The converted image information is input to an analog signal processing unit (not shown), where sample and hold, dark level correction, and the like are performed.

Reference numeral 301 denotes an A / D conversion / shading correction unit, which performs analog-to-digital conversion on a signal after sample / hold, dark level correction, etc., and performs shading correction on the obtained digital signal. (Correction of variations in reading sensors and light distribution characteristics of a document illumination lamp). Reference numeral 302 denotes a log conversion unit, which is an LUT for converting luminance data into density data.
(Look-up table) is stored, and the luminance data is converted into density data by outputting a table value corresponding to the data from the A / D conversion / shading correction unit 301.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a scaling unit for scaling the image data from the log conversion unit 303 to a desired magnification. Reference numeral 304 denotes a γ correction unit, and the magnification unit 30
When outputting density data for the data from 3,
The conversion by the LUT in consideration of the characteristics of the printer is performed, and the output is adjusted according to the density value set by the operation unit 172. Reference numeral 305 denotes a binarizing unit, and the γ correcting unit 30
The multi-valued density data from 4 is binarized and the density value is set to 0 or 255.

Since the 8-bit image data is binarized and converted to 0 or 1 l-bit image data, the amount of image data stored in the image memory unit 3 is reduced. However, when the image is binarized, the number of gradations of the image is changed from 256 to two. Therefore, when image data having a large number of halftones such as a photographic image is binarized, the image is generally significantly deteriorated. Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binary data.

Here, an error diffusion method is used as a method for pseudo-halftone expression using binary data. This method is used when the density of an image is larger than a certain threshold.
If the density data is equal to or less than a certain threshold value, the density data is binarized as 0 density data, and the difference between the actual density data and the binarized data is used as an error signal.
This is a method of allocating to surrounding pixels. The distribution of the error is performed by multiplying a weight coefficient on a matrix prepared in advance by an error generated by the binarization and adding the multiplied error to surrounding pixels. As a result, the density average value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be represented in a pseudo binary manner.

The binarized image data is sent to the image memory unit 3 where it is stored. The image data from the computer input from the external I / F processing unit 4 is
Since it has been processed as binary image data by the external I / F processing unit 4, it is sent to the image memory unit 3 as it is. The image memory unit 3 has a high-speed page memory and a large-capacity storage (hard disk) capable of storing a plurality of page image data.

The plurality of image data stored in the hard disk are output in an order according to the editing mode specified by the operation unit 172 (FIG. 1). For example, in the case of sorting, the images of the document bundle read from the automatic document feeder 180 (FIG. 2) are sequentially output. The image data of the document once stored is read from the hard disk, and this is repeated a plurality of times and output. Thereby, it can play the same role as a sorter having a plurality of bins.

The image data output from the image memory unit 3 is sent to a smoothing unit 306 in the printer unit 2. The smoothing unit 306 performs data interpolation so that the line ends of the binarized image become smooth, and outputs image data to the exposure control unit 120.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the image memory unit 3 of FIG. 4, reference numerals 4,170 denote the same parts as in FIG. 1, and reference numeral 2 denotes the same parts as in FIG. Reference numeral 401 denotes a page memory unit including a memory such as a DRAM. The page memory unit 401 writes a binary image from the external I / F processing unit 4 and the image processing unit 170 via the memory controller unit 402. An image is read out to the printer unit 2 and an image input / output access to the hard disk 404 as a large-capacity storage device is performed. Reference numeral 402 denotes a memory controller which generates a DRAM refresh signal for the page memory 401, and arbitrates access to the purge memory 401 from the image I / F processing unit 4, the image processing unit 170, and the hard disk 404. Things. The memory controller 402 controls a write address to the page memory unit 401, a read address from the page memory unit 401, a read direction, and the like according to an instruction from the CPU 171 (FIG. 1). Accordingly, the CPU 171 performs layout by arranging a plurality of document images in the page memory unit 401 and controls a function of outputting to the printer unit 2, a function of cutting out and outputting only a part of an image, and an image rotating function.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the external I / F processing unit 4 of FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numerals 3 and 170 denote the same parts as in FIG. 1, and reference numeral 2 denotes the same parts as in FIG. The external I / F processing unit 4 fetches the binary image data of the reader unit 1 into the external I / F processing unit via the image memory unit 3 as described above,
The binary image data from the external I / F is output to the printer unit 2 via the image memory unit 3 to form an image. External I
/ F processing unit 4 includes a core unit 606 and a facsimile unit 501
A hard disk 502 for storing communication image data of a facsimile unit, a computer interface unit 503 connected to the external computer 11, a formatter unit 504, and an image memory unit 505.

The facsimile unit 501 is connected to a public line via a modem (not shown), and receives facsimile communication data from the public line and transmits facsimile communication data to the public line. Facsimile part 5
01 is a facsimile function, such as sending a facsimile at a designated time or sending image data in response to an inquiry of a designated password from a partner.
02, a fax image is stored and processed.

After the image is once transferred from the image processing unit 170 to the facsimile unit 501 and the facsimile hard disk 602 via the image memory unit 3, the image processing unit 170 and the image memory unit 3 are transferred to the facsimile function. You can send a fax without using it. The computer interface unit 503 is an interface unit that performs data communication with an external computer, and includes a LAN (local area network), a serial I / F,
Centro 106 for data input of SCSI I / F printer
And so on. Via this I / F, the statuses of the printer unit 2 and the image processing unit 170 are notified to an external computer,
The image read by the image processing unit 170 is transferred to an external computer according to an instruction from the computer.

Further, it receives print image data from an external computer. Since the print data notified from the external computer via the computer interface unit 503 is described by a dedicated printer code, the formatter unit 504 converts the code into a raster image formed by the printer unit 2 via the image memory unit 3. Convert to image data. The formatter unit 504 develops raster image data in the image memory unit 505. The image memory unit is used as a memory in which the formatter unit 504 expands raster image data as described above, or when an image of the image processing unit 170 is sent to an external computer via the computer interface unit 503 (image scanner function). And the image memory unit 3
The image data sent from the computer interface unit 503 is once expanded in the image memory unit, converted into a format of data to be sent to an external computer, and transmitted from the computer interface unit 503.

The core unit 506 includes a facsimile unit 501, a computer interface unit 503, and a formatter unit 5.
04, the data transfer between the image memory unit 505 and the image memory unit 3 is controlled and managed. Thus, even if the external I / F processing unit 4 has a plurality of image output units or the image memory unit 3 has only one image transfer path,
Under the management of the core unit 506, exclusive control and priority control are performed, and image output is performed.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of keys, lamps, a display panel and the like of the operation unit 172 of FIG. In FIG.
Is a power lamp indicating that the power is on. The power switch 613 turns on and off the power lamp 621 in accordance with the switching of the power on / off. A numeric keypad 622 is used to set the number of images to be formed and to input numerical values for mode setting. On the facsimile setting screen, it is used to input a telephone number. Reference numeral 623 denotes a clear key for clearing the settings entered with the ten keys 622. Reference numeral 616 denotes a reset key for returning the set number of images to be formed, an operation mode, a mode such as a selected paper feed stage to a default value.

Reference numeral 614 denotes a start key. When the start key 614 is pressed, an image forming operation is started. In the center of the start key 614, a red and green LED (light emitting dio) (not shown) indicating whether or not the start is possible.
If there is a de) and cannot start, a red LED
Lights up, and when it is possible to start, the green LED lights up. A stop key 615 is used to stop the copying operation. Reference numeral 617 denotes a guide key. When another key is pressed after pressing this key, a description of a function that can be set by the key is displayed on the display panel. To cancel the guide display, the guide key 617 is pressed again. Reference numeral 618 denotes a user setting key. When this key is pressed, the user can change the settings of the image forming apparatus. The settings that can be changed by the user include the time until the settings are automatically cleared, settings related to timer settings, and settings for all functions common to printer copying, such as settings for a dedicated tray.

FIG. 7 shows a screen displayed on the display panel 620 for setting general functions common to the printer copy. In this example, setting of a dedicated tray is possible. FIG. 8 shows a dedicated tray setting screen displayed on the display panel 620 after the dedicated tray setting key 701 in FIG. 7 is pressed. In this screen, copy job,
For each job type of the printer job, it can be assigned to either output tray A or output tray B.
If both trays are set, the output destination switches according to the output mode (sort, non-sort, etc.) for that type of job. In this screen setting, a copy job is assigned to tray A and a printer job is assigned to tray B.

Reference numeral 619 denotes an interrupt key. If this key is depressed during an image forming operation, other image forming operations can be stopped and copying can be performed without using the automatic document feeder 180.

Reference numeral 620 denotes a display panel composed of a liquid crystal or the like, and the display contents change according to the setting mode in order to facilitate detailed mode setting. The surface of the display panel 620 is a touch sensor. FIG. 6 shows an example of a copy operation mode setting screen. Reference numerals 624 to 631 denote keys. By touching the display positions of these keys, it is determined that the key has been pressed, and the mode is set. Reference numeral 627 denotes a sheet selection key. When this key is pressed, the cassette 131,
132, a deck 150, or a manual tray 153 is displayed on the display panel 620 to set whether to feed paper. Keys 628 to 631 are used to set the copy magnification of the copy operation. Reference numeral 626 denotes a setting key for an application mode. When this key is pressed, a multiplex operation, a reduced layout mode,
A screen for setting an applied function mode such as a cover / insert mode is displayed on the display panel 620. For example, setting keys for each applied function mode are displayed as shown in FIG. 9 to enable setting of the applied mode.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show a tab interleaving mode setting screen displayed when the tab interleaving mode key 801 is pressed on the screen of FIG. FIG.
Is a setting screen for setting a tab sheet feeding stage. In this screen, the paper feed tray for setting tab paper is restricted.
In this figure, only the third paper feed stage and the fourth paper feed stage are candidates for the tab paper feed stage. Other paper feed stages are shaded to indicate that they cannot be set.

FIG. 11 sets the type (the number of tabs) of the tabbed sheet to be used in the execution of the mode. FIG. 12 shows a screen for setting the tab interleaving position. If the number of insertion positions is not divisible by the number of tabs based on the number of insertion positions set on this screen and the setting of the number of tabs set in FIG. 11, extra tabs are generated in the set of tabs. 1 in that case
When a set is discharged, the excess tabbed sheet paper is discharged to a discharge place other than the discharge / loading place of the print job.

Reference numeral 624 denotes a setting key for double-sided operation. For example, a "single-two-side mode" for performing double-sided output from a one-sided original, a "two-sided mode" for performing double-sided output from a two-sided original, and two single-sided originals for two-sided original Three types of double-sided mode, that is, “two-sided mode” for performing output, are set. 625 is a sort key,
Pressing this key sets the operation mode of the paper discharge processing device 190 and the output paper sorting mode using the image memory. The display of the keys in the display panel 620 is not limited to the normal display, but when the mode of the display key is inevitable, the display line is indicated by a dotted line (shaded) to indicate that the key cannot be operated. It has become.

In the example of FIG. 6, the contents of the set copy operation and the current operation state are displayed above the display panel 620. In addition, at the upper left of the screen, there is a display indicating which screen of this function screen is in each of the function modes described later. In the example of FIG. 6, a setting screen of copy A is shown. In the example of FIG. 6, the characters are indicated by characters, but a symbol indicating each may be used. Further, below the display panel 620, the operation state of another function mode described later is displayed in a range that can be displayed in one line.

The example of FIG. 6 shows that the copy B is being output to the printer unit. A key that can be changed by the user is provided next to the application mode key 626 in the display panel 620, and up to two function keys that can be set on the application mode setting screen can be registered. By displaying the application mode setting key at the position shown in the figure, the registered mode can be set more easily. Reference numeral 632 denotes a proof print mode key. When the sorting mode is set in the paper discharge processing setting key and a plurality of copies are output, the printing operation is stopped for one day when the output of one copy is completed, and the user is provided with a finish. Let me confirm
If OK, continue, and if NG, stop, select a proof print mode. 633 is a discharge tray key. Although the initial value of the discharge tray for each job type is set by the user setting key 618, the discharge tray of the job can be individually set on a screen displayed by pressing this key.

In FIG. 6, reference numerals 601 to 612 denote operation units 6 for setting each function of a copying operation and a system operation.
20 are a key and LED display for switching the display of No. 20. 601 604 607 610 are respectively
It is a key to switch each function. This key is composed of a translucent key button, and a display lamp such as an LED (not shown) is provided inside the key. When an operation screen is selected by pressing these keys, a lamp inside the key is turned on. This lamp inside each key is controlled so that only the lamps inside the keys of the selected operation function screen are turned on, and the lamps inside the other keys are turned off.

A green LED 603 is located on the right of each key.
606, 609, and 612 are arranged, and these LEDs represent the operation status of each function by lighting control of the LEDs.
For example, the LED 606 of the copy B is controlled to be turned off while the copy B is in the standby state, and is controlled to blink when the copy B is performing the output operation as in the example of FIG. When the image of the copy B is stored in the hard disk 304 of the image storage and the print operation of the copy B is not performed, the lighting is controlled. Similarly, for example, the fax LED 609 is controlled to blink during the communication operation, the printing operation, and the reading operation, and the facsimile unit hard disk 40
If there is a facsimile image in 2, the lighting is controlled.

To the left of each key are red LEDs 602 and 6
05, 608, and 611 are arranged. These LEDs indicate that an abnormal situation of each function has occurred by controlling the lighting of the LEDs. For example, the copy B LED 605
However, when an error such as a paper-out interruption or jam occurs, the LED
605 is controlled to blink.

At this time, by pressing the copy B function key 604 and switching the display of the operation unit to copy B, the status of copy B is displayed on the display panel 620, and the details of the abnormal status can be confirmed. These function switching keys can be pressed at any time irrespective of the operation status of each function, and the operation unit can be switched. As in this example,
When the copy A function and the copy B function can be switched, keys other than the keys on the display panel 620 such as the stop key, start key, and reset key described above are functions selected by the function switching keys 601 and 604. Operated on.

For example, in the example of FIG. 6, even if the stop key is pressed while the copy A operation screen is displayed, the copy operation cannot be stopped for the copy B output operation. To stop the copy operation of copy B, copy B
After pressing the function key 604, the stop key 615 is pressed. The data set by the user setting key 618 is provided in each screen where the copy A and copy B operation units are selected, and the setting operation can be performed independently in each screen.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the control program stored in the ROM 174 of FIG.
When a request to start a new job A is issued, it is determined in step 902 whether or not the image forming mode set in the job A is a tab interleaving mode. If it is determined that the image forming mode is the tab interleaving mode, in step 903, it is determined whether or not a surplus tabbed sheet per copy is generated based on the tab number setting and the tab insertion position number. .

If it is determined that a surplus tabbed sheet is generated, it is determined in step 904 whether a mode using the post-processing tray 193 such as the staple mode is set at the same time.

If it is determined that the mode using the post-processing tray 193 has been set, step 905 is executed.
, The setting of the exclusive tray for job A is changed to the discharge tray 192.
(FIG. 2) is determined. At this time, it is determined whether the discharge tray of this job A is set by the discharge tray setting key 633 or by the initial value of the dedicated tray according to the job type.

In either case, if the tray 192 has been set, in step 906, the discharge tray is reset to the tray 191. This is the post-processing device 19
At 0, when a discharge sheet is conveyed along a path leading to the tray 192 via the processing tray 193, there is no path for discharging a surplus tabbed sheet to be discharged to another tray at the end of one copy output. It is.

At step 907, the image forming operation is started.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 902 that the tab interleaving mode is not set,
If the setting is not made to generate a sheet with excess tabs, or if the post-processing mode for discharging through the processing tray 193 is not set in step 904, the setting is made. Step 90 without changing
At 7, the image forming operation is started. After starting the sheet feeding operation in step 907, it is determined in step 908 whether or not a part of the output has been completed.

If it is determined in step 908 that output of a part has not been completed, step 907 is executed.
And the image forming operation is started again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 908 that the partial output has been completed, it is determined again in step 909 whether or not a surplus tabbed sheet is generated with the current settings.

If it is determined in step 909 that a surplus tabbed sheet is generated, in step 910, the discharge tray is temporarily switched from the tray 191 currently set as the output tray to the tray 192, and the generated tray is generated. The excess tabbed sheets are discharged to the tray 192 by the number of sheets,
The uppermost sheet of the tab sheet feeder is the first sheet of a set of tabs.

In step 911, it is determined whether the output of the last copy has been completed. If it is determined in step 909 that no extra tabbed sheet is generated, the process proceeds to step 911. If it is determined in step 911 that the output of the last copy has been completed, the end processing of job A is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 911 that the output of the final copy is not completed, the process returns to step 906, switches the discharge tray to the tray 192, and again executes step 90.
Step 7 and subsequent steps are repeated.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program stored in the ROM 174 of FIG. 1 in the present embodiment.

When a request to start a new job A is generated, an image forming operation in an image forming mode according to the print operation mode of job A is started in step 1002. In step 1003, 1 in job A
It is determined whether or not the output of the part has been completed. If it is determined that the output of the part has not been completed, step 1002
Then, the remaining image forming operation is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1003 that the output of a part has been completed, post-processing is performed by the paper discharge processing device 190 in step 1004 in accordance with the post-processing mode set for job A. Then, in step 1005, job A
It is determined whether or not the tab interleaving mode is set in the setting of the image forming mode. If it is determined in step 1005 that the tab interleaving mode is not set, the process proceeds to step 1008.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1005 that the tab interleaving mode is set,
At 06, it is determined whether or not a sheet with extra tabs per copy is generated based on the setting numbers of the number of tabs and the number of tab insertion positions. If it is determined in step 1006 that no extra tabbed sheet per copy is generated, the process proceeds to step 1008.

If it is determined in step l006 that an extra tabbed sheet per copy is generated, step 1
At 007, the tabbed sheet corresponding to the surplus tabbed sheet per copy is automatically discharged to the sheet discharge processing device 190,
In addition, post-processing such as stapling is performed, and a process of combining the surplus tabbed sheet bundles is performed.

Then, in step 1008, it is determined whether the output of the last copy has been completed. Step 1008
If it is determined that the output of the last copy has not been completed, the process returns to step 1002 so as to output the next copy, and starts the image forming operation. On the other hand, step 1008
If it is determined that the output of the last copy has been completed, the end processing of job A is performed.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the configuration described above, it is possible to reduce the trouble of removing the excess tabbed sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit 170 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image memory unit 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external I / F processing unit 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of keys, lamps, a display panel, and the like of an operation unit 172 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for setting general functions common to printer copy.

8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dedicated tray setting screen displayed after a dedicated tray setting key 701 in FIG. 7 is pressed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a setting key for each application function mode.

FIG. 10 shows a tab interleaf mode key 80 on the screen of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tab interleaving mode setting screen displayed when 1 is pressed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tab number setting screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen for setting a page into which a tabbed sheet is to be inserted.

FIG. 13 shows the ROM of FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control program stored in 174.

FIG. 14 shows the ROM of FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control program stored in 174.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Printer section 3 Image memory section 4 External I / F processing section 100 Image forming apparatus 170 Image processing section 171 CPU 172 Operation section 173 I / O 174 ROM 175 RAM

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Rieko Akiba 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tadaaki Saita 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated F term (reference) 3F050 CA08 CB06 LA01 LB03 LB12 3F054 AA01 AB03 AC01 BA02 BF08 BF22 DA01 3F107 AA01 AB01 AC01 CA03

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A supply unit for supplying a set tabbed sheet, a plurality of storage units for storing discharged output sheets, and a unit for storing output sheets discharged from the plurality of storage units. An image forming apparatus having a selection means for selecting the storage means of the number of sheets with tabs, a number setting means for setting the number of tabbed sheets to be used, and a number of tabbed sheets for the number of sheets set by the number setting means. An insertion page setting unit for setting each insertion page; a tabbed sheet number set by the insertion page setting unit; and a tabbed sheet number set by the number setting unit. Determining means for determining whether or not an error occurs; and inactive means for inactivating the selecting means when an affirmative determination is made by the determining means. When the selection means is deactivated by the inactive means, the output sheet is discharged to a default storage means of the plurality of storage means, and the output sheet is discharged to storage means other than the default storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge control unit configured to discharge a tabbed sheet. 2. The post-processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a post-processing unit configured to perform post-processing on the output sheet bundle before discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus, wherein the discharge control unit performs the post-processing when the post-processing unit is active. An image forming apparatus, wherein a storage unit for discharging an output sheet bundle post-processed by a unit is not set as a default storage unit. 3. The post-processing means according to claim 2, wherein:
An image forming apparatus, wherein when the determination unit makes an affirmative determination, post-processing is performed on the excess tabbed sheets as one discharge bundle. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the post-processing means includes:
An image forming apparatus wherein no post-processing is performed when the number of surplus tabbed sheets is one. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the post-processing unit performs a stapling process. 6. A supply means for supplying a set tabbed sheet, a plurality of storage means for storing discharged output sheets, and a storage means for storing output sheets discharged from the plurality of storage means. The number of tabbed sheets to be used is set, and the setting is performed when each insertion page of the tabbed sheet is set. A determining step of determining whether or not a surplus tabbed sheet is generated based on the number of inserted tabbed sheets and the set number of tabbed sheets. An inactive step of inactivating the plurality of storage means when the selection means is inactivated in the inactive step. A discharge control step of discharging the output sheet to the default storage means and discharging the excess tabbed sheet to storage means other than the default storage means. 7. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a post-processing step of performing post-processing on the output sheet bundle before discharging the sheet from the apparatus, wherein the discharging control step includes: A storage unit for discharging the post-processed output sheet bundle is not set as a default storage unit. 8. The paper discharge control method according to claim 7, wherein in the post-processing step, when the determination in the determination step is affirmative, the post-processing is performed with the excess tabbed sheet as one discharge bundle. . 9. The paper discharge control method according to claim 8, wherein the post-processing step does not perform post-processing when the number of surplus tabbed sheets is one. 10. The sheet discharge control method according to claim 7, wherein the post-processing step performs a stapling process.