JP4313256B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, in particular, a post-processing apparatus having a punching processing means for punching a recording paper after image formation output from the image forming apparatus main body. Relates to the device.

  Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, a recording hole discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is punched with a binding hole at a desired position. Various proposals have been made in which a post-processing device having a punching means is added as an optional function.

  However, when the recording paper is, for example, an OHP film, punching is not necessary, and when the OHP film is mistakenly punched, a gap between the punch of the punch portion of the punching processing means and the die hole is formed. There was a problem that the OHP film entered, locked, and stopped moving.

Considering such points, conventionally, for example, an image forming apparatus provided with a post-processing device having a punching processing unit that performs punching processing at a predetermined position of a recording sheet after image formation conveyed from an image forming unit. In advance, the device operation unit for inputting various instructions such as the number of copies, the necessity of punching, the attribute of the recording paper on which the image is formed, and the information from the device operation unit are stored, Some are provided with a control means for controlling the drilling process or the like based on a program. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2002-99182

  However, in the configuration described in the above-mentioned patent document, before the user starts the image forming apparatus, if there is an error in the attribute information of the recording paper to be input in advance, or the user forgets to input the information that it is an OHP film. In such a case, the perforation processing unit is driven to perform unnecessary perforation processing on the OHP film, and as described above, the perforation processing unit may be locked and cannot move. It is also conceivable to provide a sensor for discriminating the type of recording paper on the image forming apparatus main body side. However, in this case, when the punching means is not required as an optional function, the function is completely useless. The price will soar.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and even when the user erroneously instructs punching even though the recording paper is an OHP film, punching processing is not performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising a post-processing device having a punching means for performing punching processing at a predetermined position of a recording paper on which image formation has been performed. An upstream side of the punching processing means in the processing apparatus includes a paper transport detection sensor and an OHP discrimination sensor disposed on the downstream side of the paper transport detection sensor. A film detecting means for detecting whether the film is a film is provided, and a control means for controlling the punching processing means based on the detection result of the film detecting means is provided . The punching processing means includes a punch unit for performing the punching process and an OHP. The determination sensor is unitized by providing it integrally with the frame of the punching means.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the OHP discrimination sensor comprises a transmissive sensor, and when the OHP discrimination sensor does not detect the recording paper after the paper conveyance detection sensor detects the recording paper, the control means Then, it is determined that the recording paper is an OHP film, and control is performed so as not to drive the punching processing means.

In the invention described in claim 3 , the paper conveyance detection sensor also functions as a paper detection function for other processing in the post-processing apparatus.

According to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, a paper transport detection sensor and an OHP discrimination sensor disposed on the downstream side of the paper transport detection sensor on the upstream side of the punching processing means in the post-processing device. The film detection means is provided to detect whether the recording paper being conveyed is an OHP film, and the perforation processing means is controlled by the control means based on the detection result. Thus, the punching process is not performed even if the drilling process is instructed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble that the punch portion of the punching device is locked and cannot move due to the punching processing of the OHP film. In addition, when the punching process is not necessary as an optional function, there is an effect that it is not necessary to provide a film detecting means.
In addition, since the OHP discrimination sensor is provided integrally with the perforation processing means and unitized, as an optional function of the post-processing device, an OHP discrimination sensor may be attached only when perforation processing is required. When drilling processing is not necessary as an option, it is not necessary to attach a useless function at all, and it is possible to set the price according to the needs, which is convenient.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, since the OHP discrimination sensor is formed by a transmission type sensor, it is possible to reliably discriminate whether or not it is an OHP film, and the detection signal from the film detection means. Can be used as a trigger signal when drilling is necessary, which is convenient.

According to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the paper transport detection sensor detects the passage of the recording paper during the stapling process or the middle folding process added to the post-processing device, and performs the stapling process or the middle folding process. This is convenient because it can also be used as a trigger signal for other processing such as processing.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 as an image forming apparatus conveys a sheet feeding unit 3 disposed at a lower portion of the apparatus body 2 and a recording sheet 4 fed from the sheet feeding unit 3. Sheet conveying path 5, image forming unit 6 disposed on the downstream side of paper feeding unit 3, fixing unit 7 disposed on the further downstream side of image forming unit 6, image forming unit 6, and An image reading unit 8 disposed above the fixing unit 7 and a punching processing unit that is provided on the side of the apparatus main body 2 and punches the recording paper 4 on which an image output from the apparatus main body 2 is formed. 9 is provided.

  The paper feed unit 3 is composed of, for example, two upper and lower paper feed cassettes 31, and a bundle of recording papers 4 stacked in one of the paper feed cassettes 31 is moved to the uppermost position by rotating the paper feed roller 32. The recording paper 4 is fed one by one to the paper conveyance path 5. The paper transport path 5 transports the recording paper 4 fed from the paper feed section 3 to the image forming section 6 by various roller pairs such as a pair of upper and lower registration rollers 51 and 52 and a transport roller pair 53, and further the image. The recording paper 4 on which the image is formed in the forming unit 6 and the fixing unit 7 is conveyed to the post-processing device 10 provided on the side of the apparatus main body 2 by the discharge roller pair 54. The lower registration roller 52 is for driving, and is formed of, for example, synthetic resin. The upper registration roller 51 is driven, and is formed of rubber, for example.

  When performing image formation, first, an original placed on the contact glass 81 is irradiated with light from an exposure lamp, and the reflected light is photoelectrically formed from a CCD line sensor (not shown) through a reflecting mirror and a lens. By leading to the conversion unit, the image reading unit 8 reads the image information of the document.

  The image forming unit 6 is disposed below the image reading unit 8 and forms a predetermined toner image on the recording paper 4 by an electrophotographic process. The image forming unit 6 has a photoconductive property that is rotatably supported. For example, a drum-shaped photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive member”) 61 that is an image carrier, and a charging device 62, an exposure device 63, and a developing unit around the photosensitive member 61 along the rotation direction thereof. 64, a transfer device 65, a cleaning device 66, and a charge removal device 67.

  The fixing unit 7 is arranged on the downstream side of the image forming unit 6 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 4, and the recording paper 4 on which the toner image is transferred in the image forming unit 6 is sandwiched between a pair of fixing rollers 71 and 72. The toner image is fixed on the recording paper 4 by heating and pressurizing.

  The basic operation state of the copying machine 1 will be briefly described. The charging device 62 uniformly charges the photosensitive member 61 that rotates clockwise in FIG. 1, and the image information read by the image reading unit 8 described above. On the basis of the above, for example, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 61 by a laser beam from an exposure device 63 such as a laser scanning device, and a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 64 to form a toner image. Is formed.

  The recording paper 4 is conveyed from the paper feeding unit 3 to the image forming unit 6 through the paper conveyance path 5 toward the photosensitive member 61 on which the toner image is formed as described above. At this time, the recording paper 4 is conveyed by the registration rollers 51 and 52 in synchronization with the toner image formed on the photoconductor 61. Thereafter, the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 61 is transferred to the recording paper 4 by the transfer device 65 including a transfer roller in the image forming unit 6. Then, the recording paper 4 to which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 61 and conveyed to the fixing unit 7 by the conveying belt 55 or the like to fix the toner image. The recording paper 4 that has passed through the fixing unit 7 is discharged through a discharge port 56 by a discharge roller pair 54.

Then, after the transfer by the transfer device 65, the photoreceptor 61 removes residual toner and residual charge by the cleaning device 66 and the charge removal device, and is charged again by the charging device 62 as necessary.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine 1 described above. The copier 1 includes an image forming unit 6, an image reading unit 8, a paper feeding unit 3, an operation display unit 11 that functions as various input key switches, and a post-processing device 10 that includes an optional punching processing unit 9; Control means 12 for controlling the film detection means 20 and the entire copying machine 1 is provided. The control means 12 controls the punching process of the punching process means 9 described later.

  The control means 12 incorporates a ROM for storing control programs for the apparatus main body 2 and the post-processing apparatus 10 and a RAM for temporarily storing data and storing image data of a document obtained by the image reading unit 8. When a start key (not shown) of the operation display unit 11 is pressed, a control signal for performing a copying operation is sent to the image forming unit 6, the image reading unit 8, the paper feeding unit 3, and the post-processing device 10. Output to each block to control its operation.

  Thus, according to the present invention, the punching processing means 9 connected to the apparatus main body 2 and for punching a predetermined position of the recording paper 4 after image formation conveyed from the copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the main part of the punching processing means in the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The illustrated post-processing device 10 in the present embodiment includes a housing 101 (see FIG. 1), and a paper carry-in port 111 is provided at a position facing the discharge port 56 at one end on the device main body 2 side. A first sheet conveyance path 110 extending from the carry-in port 111 is provided. The paper carry-in port 111 side in the first paper transport path 110 is constituted by a pair of guide plates 112 and 113 formed with the discharge port 56 side opened up and down. Further, a discharge roller pair 114 (see FIG. 1) including a driving roller and a driven roller is disposed at the discharge side end of the first paper conveyance path 110. A second paper transport path 120 is connected from an intermediate portion of the first paper transport path 110, and the second paper transport path 120 is connected to other processes performed thereafter, for example, a staple shown in FIG. The paper passes through the processing unit 150 and the stapling processing unit 150 and extends to the half-folding processing unit 160 via the third paper conveyance path 123.

  A branching claw 131 is provided at a branching portion 130 between the first paper transporting path 110 and the second paper transporting path 120, and this branching claw 131 is operated up and down by, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown). It has come to be. When the electromagnetic solenoid is de-energized, the branching claw 131 is positioned at the lower position shown in the figure, and the recording paper 4 carried in from the paper carry-in port 111 passes through the first paper conveyance path 110. The sheet is conveyed toward the discharge roller pair 114 (see FIG. 1), and is discharged to, for example, a sub-tray 141 that is a non-sort tray. Further, when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized, the branching claw 131 is positioned at the upper position, and the recording paper 4 carried in from the paper carry-in port 111 is transferred from the branch part 130 of the first paper carrying path 110 to the second part. For example, the paper is conveyed toward the staple processing unit 150 (see FIG. 1) through the paper conveyance path 120, and after being subjected to the staple processing, is discharged to the main tray 142 which is a sorting tray. The main tray 142 is disposed below the sub-tray 141 and is movable in the vertical direction.

  Between the pair of guide plates 112 and 113 in the first paper transport path 110 and the branching section 130 of the second paper transport path 120, a punching means 9 as an optional function is disposed. Further, a pair of conveying rollers 115 and 116 are provided before and after (upstream side and downstream side) of the punching processing unit 9 as necessary.

  In the punching processing means 9, a punch portion 91 that performs punching processing and a scrap portion 92 that stores punch scraps disposed below the punch portion 91 are attached to a frame 93. On the upstream side of the punching processing unit 9, a film detection unit 20 including a sheet conveyance detection sensor 22 and an OHP discrimination sensor 21 disposed on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance detection sensor 22 is disposed. Has been. The OHP discrimination sensor 21 is formed of, for example, a transmissive sensor including a light emitting unit 21a and a light receiving unit 21b, and the light emitting unit 21a and the light receiving unit 21b are opposed to each other via the first paper transport path 110. As shown in the figure, it is attached to the frame body 93, is formed integrally with the punch portion 91, and is unitized. The sheet conveyance detection sensor 22 is, for example, a non-contact type reflection sensor, a contact type actuator type sensor, or the like, and is provided so as to detect the recording sheet 4 conveyed through the first sheet conveyance path 110. It has been.

  Next, the punching processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, an operation screen is displayed on the operation display unit 11, and input of a set key, a punch key, a staple key, and a document processing mode key is accepted. When these keys are detected to be pressed, the number of copies (the number of sets) is set, punching processing is performed on the recording paper 4 after image transfer, and the recording paper 4 after image transfer is stapled. Various settings such as a setting for performing processing and a setting for a document processing mode are performed (step S1).

Next, when it is detected that the start key has been pressed (YES in step S2), in accordance with an instruction from the control means 12, for example, the process proceeds to step S3 in order to read an image from a document placed on the contact glass 81. The image reading unit 8 reads the image, and the image information is output to the control unit 12 and stored in the control unit 12. As a result, the image reading process ends, and the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the recording paper 4 is fed from the paper feed unit 3 based on an instruction from the control unit 12, and then the process proceeds to step S5. In the image forming unit 6, various types of information are received based on image information from the control unit 12. The toner image formed on the photosensitive member 61 is subjected to image transfer and fixing processing on the recording paper 4, discharged from the discharge port 56 of the apparatus main body 2, and conveyed to the post-processing apparatus 10.

  Thereafter, in step S6, it is confirmed whether or not there is a setting (in step S1) for performing the punching process at a predetermined position of the recording paper 4 after the punched image is formed. If the setting for performing the punching process is made (YES in step S6), prior to the punching process by the punching processing means 9 in step S9, it is determined whether the conveyed recording paper 4 is an OHP film. It is detected by the detection means 20. That is, the passage of the recording paper 4 is confirmed by the paper conveyance detection sensor 22 in step S7 (YES in step S7), and then the predetermined timing (that is, the recording paper 4 is detected by the paper conveyance detection sensor 22). The time required from the detection position to the detection position of the OHP discrimination sensor 21), when the OHP discrimination sensor 21 remains on in step 8 and the passage of the recording paper 4 is not confirmed (that is, OHP discrimination). When the recording sensor 4 does not detect the recording paper 4 (NO in step S7), the control means 12 determines that the recording paper 4 is an OHP film. Then, the recording paper 4 is discharged to, for example, the sub-tray 141 without performing the punching process (step S10). Further, even if other processing, for example, stapling processing or half-folding processing is set thereafter (in step S1), the paper is discharged to the sub-tray 141 without performing the processing (step S10).

  In step 8, when the OHP discrimination sensor 21 is turned off at the above-mentioned predetermined timing and the passage of the recording paper 4 is confirmed (YES in step S8), the recording paper 4 is OHP. If it is not a film, the control means 12 determines that the punching process is performed by the punching process means 9 in step S9, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, it is confirmed whether or not there is a setting (in step S1) for performing other processing such as stapling processing. For example, if the stapling process is set (YES in step S11), in order to perform the stapling process, for example, the paper reception of the stapling process unit 150 from the branch unit 130 through the second paper transport path 120 is performed. It is conveyed toward the table 151. Thereafter, after aligning and positioning paper in step S12, the staple processing unit 152 performs stapling. After the processing, for example, the paper is discharged onto the main tray 142 (step S13).

  Further, as a subsequent process, when the half-folding process is set, the sheet is conveyed to the middle-folding processing unit 160 via the third sheet conveyance path 123 connected to the extended portion of the second sheet conveyance path 120. Is done. Thereafter, in step S <b> 12, the middle folding process is performed, and, for example, the sheet is discharged onto the middle folding tray 143. Thereafter, in step S14, it is confirmed whether or not the image forming process for the number of copies (set number) set by the control means 12 has been completed. If not (NO in step S14), again, The process proceeds to step S3 to perform image forming processing. If completed (YES in step S14), the copying process ends.

  According to the present embodiment having the above configuration, the paper transport detection sensor 22 and the OHP disposed on the downstream side of the paper transport detection sensor 22 are located upstream of the punching processing means 9 in the post-processing device 10. A film detection means 20 comprising a discrimination sensor 21 is provided to detect whether or not the recording paper 4 being conveyed is an OHP film, and the control means 12 controls the punching processing means 9 based on the detection result. Therefore, even if the user mistakenly instructs the punching process, the punching process is not performed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the trouble that the punch portion of the punching means 9 is locked and cannot move due to the punching process of the OHP film. Further, when the punching process is not necessary as an optional function, there is an effect that it is not necessary to provide the film detecting means 20.

  In addition, since the OHP discrimination sensor 21 is formed of a transmission type sensor, it is possible to reliably determine whether it is an OHP film, and the detection signal from the film detection means 20 is used when punching is required. Since it can be used also as a trigger signal, it is convenient.

  Further, since the OHP discrimination sensor 21 is provided integrally with the punching processing means 9 and is unitized, the OHP discrimination sensor 21 is attached as an optional function of the post-processing apparatus 10 only when punching processing is required. If the drilling process is not necessary as an option, it is not necessary to attach a useless function at all, and the price can be set according to the needs, which is convenient.

  Further, when a non-contact type reflection type sensor is used as the paper conveyance detection sensor 22, the detection accuracy is superior to that of the contact type actuator type sensor, and due to a collision with the recording paper being conveyed. Convenient because there is no wear.

  Further, the paper conveyance detection sensor 22 detects the passage of the recording paper during other processing functions added to the post-processing device, for example, stapling processing or middle folding processing, and performs stapling processing or middle folding processing. This is convenient because it can be used as a trigger signal for other processes.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the copying machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a printer device, a facsimile device, a scanner device, and various functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. It can also be applied to a multi-function machine having both.

  As an application example of the present invention, there is an image forming apparatus provided with a post-processing device having a punching processing means for punching a predetermined position of a recording paper after image formation.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a punching processing unit in a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (copier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Recording paper 6 Image formation part 9 Punching process means 10 Post-processing apparatus 12 Control means 20 Film detection means 21 OHP discrimination sensor 22 Paper conveyance detection sensor 91 Punch part 93 Frame body

Claims (3)

  In an image forming apparatus provided with a post-processing device having a punching processing means for performing punching processing at a predetermined position of a recording paper on which image formation has been performed,
  The recording target that is transported is composed of a paper transport detection sensor and an OHP discrimination sensor disposed downstream of the paper transport detection sensor on the upstream side of the punching processing means in the post-processing device. Film detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper is an OHP film is provided, and control means for controlling the punching processing means based on the detection result of the film detecting means is provided. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a punching unit and an OHP discrimination sensor are integrally provided with respect to a frame body of the punching processing means.   The OHP discrimination sensor comprises a transmissive sensor, and when the OHP discrimination sensor does not detect the recording paper after the paper conveyance detection sensor detects the recording paper, the control means includes: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the recording paper is an OHP film, and the punching processing unit is controlled not to be driven.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveyance detection sensor also functions as a sheet detection function for other processing in the post-processing apparatus.

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