JP2008139605A - Inserter and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device for improving the convenience, by simply preventing double feeding of inserting paper sheets. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device 1 includes a body part 10 for forming images on recording paper sheet; and an inserter 30 for conveying to insert insertion paper sheets between ejection paper sheets of the body part 10, by being connected to the body part 10 and having a paper feed part 31 for feeding prescribed paper sheets. The image forming device includes an identifier detecting part 33 for detecting a identifier 35, on the insertion paper sheet or an exclusive sheet in each sheet, when a plurality of the insertion paper sheets is inserted in the inserter 30, detecting the identifier 35 with the identifier detecting part 33 to monitor the order of the insertion paper sheets, and stopping image formation, when the order of the insertion paper sheets is deviated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inserter that inserts and discharges a predetermined sheet for discharge from a main body that forms an image on a recording sheet, and an image forming apparatus including the inserter.

  A conventional image forming apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This image forming apparatus includes a main body for forming an image and an inserter for inserting a predetermined insertion sheet. When the page formed in the main body becomes a preset page, the paper set in the inserter is fed. Accordingly, a cover sheet, a tabbed sheet, or the like can be inserted between the recording sheets that are image-formed and discharged from the main body.

  When the image formation is made up of a plurality of copies, insertion sheets such as a cover and a tabbed paper are sequentially stacked on the inserter by the number of copies. At this time, when the insertion sheet is mistakenly fed, the insertion sheet is not inserted at a position where each subsequent section is normal. For this reason, this image forming apparatus can set the number of copies to interrupt image formation. As a result, the user can confirm whether or not the insertion sheet is inserted at a normal position, and insertion defects can be reduced.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-2526 (page 3 to page 11, FIG. 23)

  However, according to the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, there is a problem in that the user needs to confirm whether or not the insertion sheet is double-fed, which is inconvenient. Also, if double insertion of an insertion sheet occurs immediately after the start of image formation, the insertion failure is repeated up to the number of copies at which image formation is interrupted. As a result, there is a problem that the convenience of the image forming apparatus is further deteriorated because the correction of the insertion position by manual work becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an inserter that can easily prevent double feeding of insertion sheets and improve convenience, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a main body that forms an image on a recording paper, and a paper feeding unit that is connected to the main body and feeds an insertion sheet, and is discharged from the main body. In an image forming apparatus including an inserter for inserting and inserting the insertion sheet therebetween, the inserter includes an identifier detection unit that detects an identifier provided for each copy when inserting a plurality of the insertion sheets. The identifier detection unit detects the identifier, monitors the order of the insertion sheets, and stops image formation when the order of the insertion sheets is deviated.

  According to this configuration, the insertion sheet is installed in the paper feeding unit of the inserter, and the insertion sheet is inserted by the inserter when a recording sheet on which an image is formed and discharged by the main body unit reaches a predetermined page. When a plurality of sets of images are formed, a plurality of sets of insertion sheets are set in the sheet feeding section. An identifier such as a predetermined printed mark is attached to each bundle of inserted sheets. When the insertion sheet is fed, the identifier is read by an identifier detection unit including a photodiode. As a result, the order of the insertion sheets is monitored, and when the order is shifted due to double feeding, the image forming of the main body is stopped.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the identifier is provided on the insertion sheet. According to this configuration, an identifier provided on an insertion sheet such as a cover is detected by the identifier detection unit, and the order of the insertion sheets is monitored.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the identifier is provided on a dedicated sheet disposed between each part of the insertion sheet. According to this configuration, a sheet bundle in which a dedicated sheet having an identifier is sandwiched between a plurality of inserted sheets is installed in the sheet feeding unit. The identifier detection unit detects the identifier of the dedicated sheet and monitors the order of the inserted sheets.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, a first discharge unit that discharges the recording sheet on which the image is formed and the insertion sheet and a second discharge unit that discharges the dedicated sheet are provided. It is a feature.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the identifier includes a predetermined mark, barcode, or ID tag.

  In addition, the present invention is connected to a main body unit that forms an image on recording paper, and has a paper feeding unit that feeds the insertion paper, and the insertion paper is inserted and conveyed between the discharges of the main body unit. The inserter includes an identifier detection unit that detects an identifier provided for each copy when a plurality of types of the insertion sheets are inserted, and the identifier detection unit detects the identifiers to determine the order of the insertion sheets. It is characterized by monitoring.

  According to the present invention, in the inserter configured as described above, the identifier includes a predetermined mark, barcode, or ID tag.

  According to the present invention, the inserter includes the identifier detection unit that detects the identifier provided for each of a plurality of copies of the insertion sheets, and monitors the order of the insertion sheets, so that it is possible to easily detect double feeding of the insertion sheets. Can do. Therefore, the convenience of the image forming apparatus can be improved. Further, since the image formation is stopped when the order of the insertion sheets is deviated, only one copy of the insertion sheet is defective. As a result, the insertion position can be easily corrected manually, and the convenience of the image forming apparatus can be further improved.

  According to the present invention, since the identifier is provided on the insertion sheet, the order of the insertion sheets can be easily monitored.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the identifier is provided on the dedicated sheet arranged between each part of the insertion sheet, the order of the insertion sheets can be easily monitored. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide an identifier for each insertion sheet such as a cover sheet and the dedicated sheet can be used repeatedly, the convenience of the image forming apparatus can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the first discharge unit for discharging the image-formed recording sheet and the insertion sheet and the second discharge unit for discharging the dedicated sheet are provided, it is necessary to manually remove the dedicated sheet. Thus, it is possible to easily obtain a bundle of recording sheets in which insertion sheets are inserted.

  According to the present invention, since the identifier is made up of a predetermined mark, barcode or ID tag, the identifier can be easily detected by the identifier detector.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a color copying machine, and includes a main body unit 10, an inserter 30, and a post-processing device 50. The main body 10 forms an image on a recording sheet. The inserter 30 inserts a predetermined insertion sheet between the sheet discharges of the main body 10 and conveys it. The post-processing device 50 performs sorting, punching processing, and the like of the recording paper on which the image is formed.

  The main body unit 10, the inserter 30, and the post-processing device 50 are each provided with a control unit. The control unit of the main body unit 10 communicates with the control unit of the inserter 30 and the post-processing device 50 to control the operations of the inserter 30 and the post-processing device 50.

  A document transport section 11 that transports a document is provided on the upper portion of the main body section 10. The document transport unit 11 includes a document feed tray and a document transport unit (both not shown), and transports the document supplied from the document feed tray for reading. The conveyed document is read by an image sensor 12 such as a CCD.

  A recording paper feeding unit 16 that feeds recording paper is provided below the main body unit 10. The recording paper feeding unit 16 includes a plurality of paper feeding cassettes 16b and 16c and a paper reversing unit 16a. The paper reversing unit 16a reverses the recording paper on which the image is formed on one side when forming images on both sides of the recording paper.

  The image forming unit 5 is disposed above the recording paper feeding unit 16. The image forming unit 5 forms an image on the recording paper supplied from the recording paper feeding unit 16 via the recording paper conveyance path 17. The image forming unit 5 includes a plurality of photosensitive drums 14 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors. The recording paper is conveyed by an endless conveying belt 15 facing the photosensitive drum 14. A fixing device 17 is provided at the subsequent stage of the photosensitive drum 14.

  The photosensitive drum 14 is charged and irradiated with laser light in accordance with image information read by the image sensor 12. As a result, the charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is erased and an electrostatic latent image is formed. Toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14 to visualize the toner image. The toner image formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 14 is transferred onto the recording paper conveyed on the conveying belt 15 in an overlapping manner. The recording sheet on which the toner image is transferred is fixed by the fixing device 17. As a result, an image is formed on the recording paper, and the recording paper is discharged from the main body unit 10.

  The inserter 30 is provided with a paper feeding unit 31 for installing insertion paper for insertion. The insertion sheet is composed of a slip sheet such as a sheet with a tag, a front cover or a back cover formed of thick paper. The paper feeding unit 31 is formed in a tray shape protruding above the inserter 30 so that paper can be easily set. A conveyance path 32 is provided in the middle of the inserter 30. The conveyance path 32 conveys the recording sheet discharged from the main body unit 10 and conveys the insertion sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 31.

  An identifier detection unit 33 is provided between the paper feeding unit 31 and the conveyance path 32. The identifier detection unit 33 is composed of a photodiode or the like, and reads and detects an identifier 35 (see FIG. 4) formed of a mark having a predetermined shape provided on the insertion sheet. The identifier 35 may be formed by a barcode, and the identifier detection unit 33 may be a barcode scanner. Alternatively, the identifier 35 may be formed by an ID tag, and the identifier detector 33 may be an ID tag reader.

  The post-processing device 50 includes a conveyance path 51 that conveys a sheet. The recording paper on which the image is formed and the insertion paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 31 are discharged from the inserter 30 and conveyed by the conveyance path 51. The conveyance path 51 is provided with a punching part 52 for punching a sheet passing through the conveyance path 51 by punching for filing.

  A paper discharge unit 57 for storing paper is provided at the subsequent stage of the conveyance path 51. The paper discharge unit 57 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays 57a to 58e, and sorts and stores the respective units according to the number of recording sheets on which images are formed.

  The conveyance path 51 has a branch path 51a that branches upward and a branch path 51b that branches downward. The branch path 51a guides the paper passing through the transport path 51 to the paper discharge tray 57a. The branch path 51 b guides the paper to the temporary storage unit 53. The temporary storage unit 53 is provided with a stapler 54 that performs stapling processing on paper. A temporary storage unit 55 is provided below the temporary storage unit 53. The temporary storage unit 55 is provided with a pressing unit 56 that presses the center of the sheet and folds the sheet in half. The booklet D formed by folding the paper in half is stored in the storage unit 58.

  FIG. 2 shows a setting screen of the image forming apparatus 1 by an operation panel (not shown) operated by the user. On the setting screen, the “number of copies” item can set the number of copies. In the “sort” item, whether or not to sort the discharged sheets when copying a plurality of copies is set. The item “double-sided / single-sided mode” selects whether to copy on both sides of the recording paper or on one side.

  In the “staple mode” item, whether or not to perform a staple mode in which staple processing is performed by the stapler 54 is set. In the case of performing the staple mode, whether to perform one-point binding or two-point binding is selected in the “binding method” item. In the item “punch mode”, whether or not to perform a punch mode in which a hole is machined by the hole punching portion 52 is set.

  In the “booklet mode” item, whether or not to perform the booklet mode in which the sheet is folded in half by the pressing unit 56 is set. In the “insert mode” item, whether or not to perform an insert mode for inserting a sheet by the inserter 30 is set. When performing the insert mode, one or a plurality of page numbers to be inserted are set in the “insert page number” item.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, when a document is set on the document transport unit 11, the document is transported and an image of the document is read by the image sensor 12. The read image information is sent to the image forming unit 13. The image forming unit 13 forms an image on the recording paper supplied from the recording paper feeding unit 16. The recording paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 57 via the transport path 32 of the inserter 30 and the transport path 51 of the post-processing device 50.

  At this time, if it is set to perform the punch mode, the punching unit 52 punches the recording paper. When it is set to perform the staple mode, the temporary storage unit 53 temporarily stores the bundle of sheets, and the stapler 54 performs the staple process. When the booklet mode is set, the sheet bundle that has passed through the temporary storage unit 53 is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 55 and the sheet is folded in two by the pressing unit 56. The booklet D folded in half is stored in the storage unit 58.

  Further, when it is set to perform the insert mode, the insert mode operation is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the figure, the operations of the punch mode, the staple mode, and the booklet mode are omitted because the flowchart is complicated.

  In step # 11, it is determined whether or not the insertion sheet is set in the sheet feeding unit 31 of the inserter 30 and the document to be copied is set in the document conveying unit 11 of the main body unit 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the insertion sheet is arranged in the sheet feeding unit 31 in such a manner that “front cover”, “interleaf 1”, “interleaf 2”, and “back cover” are one copy and a plurality of copies are sequentially stacked. Yes. An identifier 35 is provided at the front “cover” of each part. The identifier 35 may be provided other than the cover. In step # 12, it is determined whether an instruction to start image formation is given. When the insertion sheet and the original are set and there is an instruction to start image formation, the process proceeds to step # 13.

  In step # 13, 1 is substituted into a variable i indicating the page number and a variable j indicating the order of the inserted sheets. For example, in the example of FIG. 4, “front cover” is j = 1, and “back cover” is j = 4. A paper feed command shown in FIG. 5 is sent from the control unit of the main body unit 10 to the control unit of the inserter 30. In step # 14, it is determined whether or not an insertion sheet is to be inserted into the current page (i-page) by the paper feed command. If it is not necessary to insert the current page, the process proceeds to step # 33.

  If it is necessary to insert the current page by the paper feed command, the insertion paper is fed from the paper feed unit 31 in step # 15. In step # 21, it is determined whether or not the variable j indicating the order of the inserted sheets is 1. If the variable j is not 1, it is not “cover” and the identifier 35 is not provided, so the process proceeds to step # 31. When the variable j is 1, an identifier 35 is provided for “cover”. Accordingly, the identifier 35 is read by the identifier detector 33 at step # 22.

  In step # 23, it is determined whether or not the identifier 35 is detected. When the identifier 35 is detected, the reply status shown in FIG. 5 is returned from the control unit of the inserter 30 to the control unit of the main body unit 10, and the process proceeds to step # 31. If the identifier 35 is not detected, the insertion sheets are double-fed and the order is shifted. For this reason, the reply status is not sent from the inserter 30 to the main body 10, and notification is made by the main body 10 in step # 39 to complete the image formation.

  In step # 31, a variable j indicating the order of the inserted sheets is incremented. In step # 32, the insertion sheet is conveyed by the conveyance paths 32 and 51 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 57. In step # 33, the original is read by the original conveying section 11. In step # 34, the image forming unit 13 forms an image on the recording paper. In step # 35, the recording paper on which an image is formed by the main body 10 is conveyed by the conveyance paths 32 and 51 and discharged to the paper discharge unit 57.

  In step # 36, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page (in the case of a plurality of copies, the last page of each part). If it is not the last page, the variable i indicating the number of pages is incremented in step # 37, and steps # 14 to # 37 are repeated.

  When the last page is reached, the process proceeds to step # 38, and it is determined whether or not all the set copies have been completed. If all the copies have not been completed, the process proceeds to step # 13. At this time, when sorting is performed, the paper discharge trays 57a to 57e are switched. Then, Steps # 13 to # 38 are repeatedly performed, and when all the copies are completed, the insert mode is terminated.

  According to the present embodiment, the inserter 30 includes the identifier detection unit 33 that detects the identifier 35 provided for each copy of the plurality of insertion sheets, and monitors the order of the insertion sheets. Can be detected. Therefore, the convenience of the image forming apparatus 1 can be improved. Further, since the image formation is stopped when the order of the insertion sheets is deviated, only one copy of the insertion sheet is defective. Thereby, the correction of the insertion position by manual operation is simplified, and the convenience of the image forming apparatus 1 can be further improved.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the operation in the insert mode is different. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the insertion sheet according to the present embodiment includes a “dedicated sheet”, “cover”, “interleaf 1”, “interleaf 2”, and “back cover” as one copy, and a plurality of copies are sequentially stacked. The paper feed unit 31 is arranged. The “dedicated sheet” provided with the identifier 35 is provided between the respective sections in order to monitor the order of the inserted sheets, and is not inserted between the recording sheets discharged after image formation.

  Further, the dedicated sheet is guided to the paper discharge tray 57a by the branch path 51a (see FIG. 1) of the post-processing device 50. At this time, if the recording paper on which the image is formed consists of a plurality of copies, the recording paper is sorted and stored in the paper discharge trays 57b to 58e. In other words, the first paper discharge unit for storing the insertion paper and the recording paper excluding the dedicated sheet includes the paper discharge trays 57b to 58e, and the second paper discharge unit for storing the special sheet includes the paper discharge tray 57a.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the insert mode of this embodiment. Steps # 11 to # 23 and steps # 33 to # 39 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In step # 23, it is determined whether or not the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 31 is a “dedicated sheet” and the identifier 35 is detected. When the identifier 35 is detected, the reply status shown in FIG. 5 is returned from the control unit of the inserter 30 to the control unit of the main body unit 10, and the process proceeds to step # 24. In step # 24, the dedicated sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge tray 57a (second sheet discharge unit) by the conveyance paths 32 and 51 and the branch path 51a.

  In step # 25, the insertion sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit 31. That is, the “cover” placed after the “dedicated sheet” is fed, and the process proceeds to step # 31. In step # 31, a variable j indicating the order of the inserted sheets is incremented. In step # 32, the inserted sheet is conveyed by the conveying paths 32 and 51 and discharged to one of the discharge trays 57b to 57e (for example, the discharge tray 57b). Thereby, the insertion sheet is stored in the first paper discharge unit. In step # 35, the recording paper on which the image is formed is stored in the first paper discharge unit.

  According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the identifier 35 is provided on a dedicated sheet disposed between each part of the insertion sheet, the order of the insertion sheet can be easily monitored. In addition, it is not necessary to provide the identifier 35 on each insertion sheet such as a cover, and the dedicated sheet can be used repeatedly. Therefore, the convenience of the image forming apparatus 1 can be further improved.

  In addition, since the first discharge section (57b to 57e) for discharging the recording sheet and the insertion sheet on which the image is formed and the second discharge section (57a) for discharging the dedicated sheet are provided, the dedicated sheet is manually operated. There is no need to remove the recording paper bundle into which the insertion paper is inserted.

  In the present embodiment, the paper discharge unit 57 having the first and second paper discharge units is attached to the post-processing device 50. If the post-processing device 50 is not provided, the paper discharge unit 57 is attached to the inserter 30. Also good.

  In the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus 1 is formed of a color copying machine, but may be another image forming apparatus such as a monochrome copying machine or a printer. That is, the same effect can be obtained in the image forming apparatus in which the paper can be inserted by the inserter 30.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, the present invention can be used for an inserter that inserts and discharges a predetermined sheet for discharging from a main body that forms an image on a recording sheet, and an image forming apparatus including the inserter.

1 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation in the insert mode of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an insertion sheet of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between a main body unit and an inserter of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the example of the insertion paper of the image forming apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the insert mode of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Main body part 11 Document conveying part 12 Image sensor 13 Image forming part 14 Photosensitive drum 15 Conveying belt 16 Recording paper feeding part 17 Fixing device 30 Inserter 31 Paper feeding part 32 Conveying path 33 Identifier detecting part 35 Identifier 50 Post-processing device 51 Conveying path 52 Perforated part 53, 55 Temporary storage part 54 Stapler 56 Pressing part 57 Paper discharge part 57a Paper discharge tray (second paper discharge part)
57b to 57e Paper discharge tray (first paper discharge unit)

Claims (7)

  A main body unit that forms an image on a recording sheet and a paper feeding unit that is connected to the main body unit and feeds an insertion sheet, and inserts the insertion sheet between the discharges of the main body unit and conveys the insertion sheet. In an image forming apparatus including an inserter, an identifier detection unit that detects an identifier provided for each copy when inserting a plurality of the insertion sheets is provided in the inserter, and the identifier detection unit detects the identifier. An image forming apparatus that monitors the order of the insertion sheets and stops image formation when the order of the insertion sheets is deviated.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is provided on the insertion sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is provided on a dedicated sheet disposed between each part of the insertion sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a first discharge unit that discharges the image-formed recording sheet and the insertion sheet, and a second discharge unit that discharges the dedicated sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifier includes a predetermined mark, a barcode, or an ID tag.   In an inserter connected to a main body for forming an image on recording paper and having a paper feeding section for feeding an insertion paper, and inserting and feeding the insertion paper between paper discharges of the main body. An identifier detection unit that detects an identifier provided for each copy when inserting a plurality of types of the insertion sheets, and the identifier detection unit detects the identifier and monitors the order of the insertion sheets. Characteristic inserter.   The inserter according to claim 6, wherein the identifier includes a predetermined mark, a barcode, or an ID tag.

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