Image forming device and image forming method

Abstract

To provide an image forming method and an image forming device that executes multiple print jobs in succession and sequentially discharges sheets on which images are formed, allowing each sheet to be easily distinguish with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An image forming device 10 includes: an image forming unit 40 that executes multiple print jobs in succession to form an image on a sheet; a sheet discharge unit 5 that discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit 40 onto a discharge tray 8; and a drive processing unit 64 that is provided on the discharge tray 8 and rotates a rotatable rotary tray 81 on which the sheet discharged onto the discharge tray 8 is placed. After the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges a first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job has been formed onto the rotary tray 81, when the image forming unit 40 executes a second print job following the first print job, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81 on which the first sheet has been placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method. [Background technology]

[0002] When an image forming apparatus receives multiple print jobs sent from an external device, it executes the multiple print jobs in sequence and discharges sheets (printed materials) on which images are formed to a discharge tray. Conventionally, when multiple printed materials corresponding to multiple print jobs are discharged to the same discharge tray, there are known techniques that enable sorting of each printed material. For example, there are known techniques for allocating discharge positions to the left or right for each printed material (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and for rotating the discharge tray in a predetermined direction for each printed material (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-025585 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-312516 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technique of allocating discharge positions poses the problem of making the discharge mechanism more complex, and the technique of rotating the discharge tray poses the problem of making the rotation drive process more complex because multiple rotation angles are set.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can easily distinguish each sheet with a simple configuration in an image forming apparatus that executes multiple print jobs continuously and sequentially ejects sheets with images formed on them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet discharge unit, and a drive processing unit. The image forming unit executes a plurality of print jobs in succession to form images on sheets. The sheet discharge unit discharges sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming unit to a discharge tray. The drive processing unit is provided in the discharge tray and rotates a rotatable rotating tray on which sheets discharged to the discharge tray are placed. After the sheet discharge unit discharges a first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job has been formed onto the rotating tray, when the image forming unit executes a second print job subsequent to the first print job, the drive processing unit rotates the rotating tray on which the first sheet is placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.

[0007] An image forming method according to another aspect of the present invention is an image forming method executed by a computer, which includes the steps of: executing multiple print jobs in succession to form an image on a sheet; discharging the image-formed sheet to an output tray; rotating a rotatable tray provided on the output tray and capable of placing the sheet discharged to the output tray on it; and, after discharging the first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job has been formed onto the rotary tray, rotating the rotary tray on which the first sheet is placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction when executing a second print job following the first print job. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method can be provided that can easily distinguish each sheet with a simple configuration in an image forming apparatus that executes multiple print jobs continuously and sequentially ejects sheets with images formed on them. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a rotary tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a rotary tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of job information registered in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharging method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6D] FIG. 6D is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6E] FIG. 6E is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6F] FIG. 6F is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6G] FIG. 6G is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6H] FIG. 6H is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7C] FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a specific example of a sheet discharge method in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the image forming process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has a function of executing a printing process for forming an image on, for example, a sheet, which is a sheet-like image-forming medium such as paper or an envelope.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a sheet storage section 1, a sheet supply section 2, a sheet conveying section 3, an image forming section 40, a sheet discharge section 5, a discharge tray 8, a control section 6, a memory section 7, and a communication section 11.

[0013] The image forming unit 40 executes the electrophotographic printing process. The image forming unit 40 executes a print job sent from an external device to form an image on a sheet. The image forming unit 40 executes multiple print jobs in succession to form an image on a sheet. Specifically, the image forming unit 40 includes an image creating unit 4, an optical scanning unit 46 (exposure unit), a transfer unit 44, and a fixing unit 47. The image creating unit 4 includes a photoconductor 41, a charging unit 42, a developing unit 43, and a photoconductor cleaning unit 45.

[0014] 1 is a color image forming apparatus having a tandem image forming unit 40. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 has four image forming units 4 corresponding to four colors of toner 9, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

[0015] The transfer unit 44 includes an intermediate transfer belt 44a, four primary transfer units 44b corresponding to the four image forming units 4, a secondary transfer unit 44c (also referred to as an intermediate transfer unit), and a belt cleaning unit 44d.

[0016] The sheet supply unit 2 sends out the sheets stored in the sheet storage unit 1 to a conveying path 30. The sheet conveying unit 3 conveys the sheets along the conveying path 30.

[0017] The intermediate transfer belt 44a and the drum-shaped photoconductor 41 in the image forming unit 4 are rotated by a driving mechanism (not shown). The charging unit 42 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 41. The optical scanning unit 46 writes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 41.

[0018] The developing unit 43 develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 41 with toner 9. As a result, an image of the toner 9 is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 41.

[0019] The primary transfer units 44b (hereinafter also referred to as "primary transfer rollers") transfer the toner images (toner images) on the surfaces of the photoconductors 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 44a. Specifically, each primary transfer roller 44b is disposed opposite each photoconductor 41 across the intermediate transfer belt 44a and in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 44a. Each primary transfer roller 44b is movable in the vertical direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and, as necessary, presses against each photoconductor 41 via the intermediate transfer belt 44a to form a primary transfer nip, or separates from it. In the primary transfer nip, the toner images formed on each photoconductor 41 are transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44a. Then, as the intermediate transfer belt 44a rotates, the toner images on each photoconductor 41 are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 44a at a predetermined timing, forming a full-color toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44a in which four color toner images (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) are superimposed. The photoreceptor cleaning unit 45 removes the toner 9 remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 41 .

[0020] The secondary transfer unit 44c (hereinafter also referred to as the "secondary transfer roller") transfers the toner 9 image on the intermediate transfer belt 44a onto the sheet transported along the transport path 30. Specifically, the secondary transfer roller 44e faces the drive roller 44c across the intermediate transfer belt 44a and presses against the intermediate transfer belt 44a to form a secondary transfer nip. Then, the secondary transfer roller 44e transfers the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 44a onto the sheet at the secondary transfer nip.

[0021] The fixing unit 47 heats the toner 9 image transferred onto the sheet, thereby fixing the toner 9 image (an example of an image of the present invention) to the sheet. The belt cleaning unit 44d removes the toner 9 remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 44a.

[0022] The sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet onto which the toner 9 image has been fixed by the fixing unit 47 to the discharge tray 8. That is, for each print job, the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet onto which the image has been formed by executing the print job to the discharge tray 8. The sheet discharge unit 5 executes the sheet discharge process in accordance with commands from the control unit 6.

[0023] Here, multiple print jobs may be input consecutively to the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, if multiple sheets corresponding to each of the multiple print jobs are discharged to the same discharge tray, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the sheets for each print job (or user). Conventional technologies for sorting sheets include a technique for distributing the discharge position to the left or right for each sheet, and a technique for rotating the discharge tray in a predetermined direction for each sheet. However, these techniques result in problems such as a complicated discharge mechanism and complicated rotation drive processing due to the multiple rotation angles. In contrast, the image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment has a simple configuration that makes it possible to easily distinguish between the sheets, as described below.

[0024] Specifically, the discharge tray 8 is provided with a rotary tray 81 on which sheets on which images are formed are placed. As shown in Fig. 1, the rotary tray 81 is disposed close to the discharge opening of the sheet discharge section 5 so that the sheets discharged from the sheet discharge section 5 are placed on the rotary tray 81.

[0025] 2 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of the rotating tray 81. The rotating tray 81 includes a drive unit 82, a rotating shaft 83 connected to the drive unit 82 to rotate, a rotating table 84 connected to the rotating shaft 83 to rotate, a guide member 85, and a slit 86. The drive unit 82 includes a stepping motor, a gear unit that transmits the driving force generated by the rotation of the output shaft of the stepping motor to the rotating shaft 83, and the like. The drive unit 82 is driven in accordance with commands from the control unit 6. The rotating table 84 rotates in response to the drive of the drive unit 82. Sheets discharged from the sheet discharge unit 5 are placed on the rotating table 84.

[0026] The guide members 85 are provided at four locations on the turntable 84 and regulate the position of a sheet placed on the turntable 84. That is, the guide members 85 fix the sheet on the turntable 84. For example, the guide members 85 are arranged at the positions of the vertices of a square when the rotating tray 81 is viewed in a plane (top view). The guide members 85 have an L-shaped outer shape and are arranged so that the bending point of the L faces the inside of the square (the rotation center of the turntable 84). The guide members 85 include a pair of guide members 85 (first guide members) that regulate the lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a first orientation (e.g., landscape orientation), and a pair of guide members 85 (second guide members) that regulate the lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a second orientation (e.g., portrait orientation) perpendicular to the first orientation. Each pair of guide members 85 fixes the sheet by sandwiching the sheet from the sides.

[0027] The guide member 85 may have a height up to the position of the discharge roller of the sheet discharge section 5.

[0028] 3, sheets P1 to P4 of the same size can be placed on the turntable 84 in a first orientation (landscape) and a second orientation (portrait). In FIG. 3, sheet P1 represents the printed matter of a first print job (e.g., print instructions from user A), sheet P2 represents the printed matter of a second print job following the first print job (e.g., print instructions from user B), sheet P3 represents the printed matter of a third print job following the second print job (e.g., print instructions from user C), and sheet P4 represents the printed matter of a fourth print job following the third print job (e.g., print instructions from user D). By placing sheets P1 to P4 with their orientations alternated relative to the turntable 84, it becomes easy to distinguish between sheets P1 to P4.

[0029] The slit 86 is an opening for adjusting the position of the guide member 85, and is formed so as to be movable in diagonal directions relative to each side of the square that represents the positional relationship of the guide member 85. The lower end of the guide member 85 is inserted through the slit 86, and the guide member 85 is slidable between both ends of the slit 86. For example, the position of the guide member 85 can be adjusted depending on the size of the sheet.

[0030] The following describes a specific configuration for controlling the driving of the rotary tray 81. Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

[0031] The control unit 6 includes control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit that stores in advance information such as control programs for causing the CPU to execute various types of processing. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing executed by the CPU. The control unit 6 may also include electronic circuits that realize the various types of processing.

[0032] The storage unit 7 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 7 is a storage device such as a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (registered trademark), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 7 stores various control programs, such as an image formation program for causing the control unit 6 to execute the image formation process (see FIG. 8) described below, and various data.

[0033] The control unit 6 includes a reception processing unit 61, an image processing unit 62, a discharge processing unit 63, and a drive processing unit 64.

[0034] The reception processing unit 61 receives a print job instruction (print job) for forming an image on a sheet from an external device such as a user terminal to the image forming apparatus 10. For example, when a user of the user terminal selects the image forming apparatus 10 and performs an operation (print instruction) to submit a desired print job, the reception processing unit 61 receives the print job. Upon receiving the print job, the reception processing unit 61 registers the reception date and time, job name, and user ID for the print job in job information D1 (see FIG. 5) in the storage unit 7.

[0035] Job information D1 includes information about print jobs whose printing process is not yet completed (i.e., print jobs currently being executed and print jobs waiting to be executed). As shown in FIG. 5, job information D1 includes information indicating the "reception time," "print job name," "user ID," and "status" for each print job. The reception time is information about the date and time when the image forming apparatus 10 received the print job, for example, from a user terminal. The print job name is the name of the print job. For example, the control unit 6 registers a name including identification information (number) corresponding to the order in which the print job was received in the "print job name" field. The user ID is the user ID of the user corresponding to the print job. The user corresponding to the print job is the user who is requesting execution of the print job. For example, if the print job is received from a print host device (user terminal) via communication unit 11, the control unit 6 acquires the user ID received together with the print data from the print host device as the user ID of the user corresponding to the print job. Furthermore, if the print job is a print job accepted through the operation display unit (not shown) of the image forming device 10, the control unit 6 acquires the user ID of the user currently logged in to the image forming device 10 as the user ID of the user corresponding to the print job.

[0036] 5 shows a state in which the reception processing unit 61 simultaneously or successively receives a first print job ("Job 1") that User A (user ID "0001") instructed to print at time T1, a second print job ("Job 2") that User B (user ID "0002") instructed to print at time T2, a third print job ("Job 3") that User C (user ID "0003") instructed to print at time T3, and a fourth print job ("Job 4") that User D (user ID "0004") instructed to print at time T4. Also, as shown in the "Status" column of FIG. 5, the first print job is currently being executed, and the second to fourth print jobs are waiting.

[0037] The image processing unit 62 causes the image forming unit 40 to execute image formation processing for forming an image corresponding to the print job on a sheet. Specifically, the image processing unit 62 causes the image forming unit 40 to sequentially execute a plurality of print jobs registered in the job information D1 (see FIG. 5). Here, the image processing unit 62 causes the first print job, second print job, third print job, and fourth print job to be executed in this order.

[0038] The discharge processing unit 63 causes the sheet discharge unit 5 to execute a discharge process for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image processing unit 62. Specifically, the discharge processing unit 63 causes the sheet on which an image corresponding to the print job has been formed to be discharged (placed) onto the rotary tray 81 of the discharge tray 8 in accordance with the execution of the print job.

[0039] Here, the discharge processing unit 63 discharges sheet P1 onto the rotary tray 81 in response to the execution of a first print job, discharges sheet P2 onto the rotary tray 81 in response to the execution of a second print job following the first print job, discharges sheet P3 onto the rotary tray 81 in response to the execution of a third print job following the second print job, and discharges sheet P4 onto the rotary tray 81 in response to the execution of a fourth print job following the third print job.

[0040] The drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81. Specifically, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81 based on the execution timing of the print job and the discharge timing of the sheet. Specifically, after the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet P1 on which the image corresponding to the first print job is formed onto the rotary tray 81, when the image forming unit 40 executes a second print job following the first print job, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81 on which the sheet P1 is placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction (for example, the forward direction). A specific example will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6H.

[0041] First, when the image forming unit 40 executes the first print job, the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet P1, on which an image corresponding to the first print job (character image "ABC") is formed, onto the turntable 84 (see FIG. 6A). When the sheet P1 is discharged landscape-oriented onto the turntable 84, the drive processing unit 64 drives the rotary tray 81 to rotate the turntable 84 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see FIG. 6B). As a result, the sheet P1 is rotated 90 degrees to portrait orientation. Thereafter, the image processing unit 62 executes the second print job. In this way, the image forming unit 40 forms the image corresponding to the second print job on the sheet after the turntable 84, on which the sheet P1, on which the image corresponding to the first print job is formed, is rotated 90 degrees.

[0042] When the image forming unit 40 executes the second print job, the sheet ejection unit 5 ejects sheet P2, on which an image corresponding to the second print job (character image "DEF") is formed, onto sheet P1 on the turntable 84 (see FIGS. 6C and 6D). When sheet P2 is ejected landscape onto sheet P1 on the turntable 84, the drive processing unit 64 drives the rotary tray 81 to rotate the turntable 84 another 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see FIG. 6E). As a result, sheet P2 is rotated 90 degrees to portrait orientation. Thereafter, the image processing unit 62 executes a third print job. When the image forming unit 40 executes the third print job, the sheet ejection unit 5 ejects sheet P3, on which an image corresponding to the third print job (character image "GHI") is formed, onto sheet P2 on the turntable 84 (see FIG. 6F).

[0043] When sheet P3 is discharged landscape onto sheet P2 on turntable 84, drive processing unit 64 drives rotary tray 81 to rotate turntable 84 another 90 degrees in direction d1 (see FIGS. 6F and 6G). As a result, sheet P3 is rotated 90 degrees to portrait orientation. Thereafter, image processing unit 62 executes a fourth print job. When image forming unit 40 executes the fourth print job, sheet discharge unit 5 discharges sheet P4, on which an image corresponding to the fourth print job (character image "JKL") is formed, onto sheet P3 on turntable 84 (see FIG. 6H).

[0044] As described above, when the first to fourth print jobs are executed consecutively, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81 (rotary table 84) by 90 degrees each time a print job is executed. Furthermore, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary tray 81 (rotary table 84) by 90 degrees in the same direction (direction d1 in FIG. 6) each time a print job is executed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheets P1 to P4 are stacked on the rotary tray 81 so that their orientations alternate. For example, on the rotary tray 81, sheet P1 is placed horizontally, sheet P2 is placed vertically on sheet P1, sheet P3 is placed horizontally on sheet P2, and sheet P4 is placed vertically on sheet P3. This allows the user to easily distinguish between sheets P1 to P4.

[0045] In another embodiment, the drive processing unit 64 may rotate the rotary tray 81 (rotary table 84) by 90 degrees in a different direction each time a print job is executed. For example, if the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary table 84 on which the sheet P1 is placed by 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see FIG. 6B), and then the image forming unit 40 executes the second print job and the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet P2 onto the sheet P1 on the rotary table 84 (see FIG. 7A), the drive processing unit 64 rotates the rotary table 84 by 90 degrees in the direction d2 (the opposite direction to the direction d1) (see FIGS. 7A and 7B). Then, the image forming unit 40 executes the third print job and the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the sheet P3 onto the sheet P2 on the rotary table 84. Then, the drive processing unit 64 rotates the turntable 84 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see Figure 7C), the image forming unit 40 executes the fourth print job, and the sheet discharge unit 5 discharges sheet P4 onto sheet P3 on the turntable 84.

[0046] In this way, the drive processing unit 64 may alternately switch the rotation direction of the rotary tray 81 (rotary table 84) between the forward direction (clockwise) and the reverse direction (counterclockwise) for each print job.

[0047] [Image formation processing] An example of the procedure of the image formation process executed by the control unit 6 in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described below with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 8. Note that the respective processing steps executed by the control unit 6 are referred to as steps S11, S12, etc. Note that one or more steps included in the image formation process described here may be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the order of execution of the steps in the image formation process may be different as long as the same operational effect is achieved. Furthermore, although the description here takes as an example a case where the steps in the image formation process are executed by the control unit 6 (computer) of the image forming apparatus 10, in other embodiments, the steps in the image formation process may be executed in a distributed manner by a plurality of other processors.

[0048] Here, the present invention can be understood as an invention of an image forming method that executes one or more steps included in the image forming process.

[0049] <Step S1> In step S1, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a print job exists. Specifically, the control unit 6 references job information D1 (see FIG. 5) to determine whether or not a print job has been registered. If the control unit 6 determines that a print job exists (S1: Yes), it shifts the process to step S2. The control unit 6 waits until a print job is registered in job information D1 (S1: No).

[0050] <Step S2> In step S2, the control unit 6 executes the print job. For example, when the control unit 6 acquires the first print job, the control unit 6 forms an image (character image "ABC") corresponding to the first print job on a sheet.

[0051] <Step S3> In step S3, the control unit 6 discharges the sheet on which the image is formed onto the discharge tray 8. Specifically, the control unit 6 discharges the sheet P1 on which the image corresponding to the first print job (character image "ABC") is formed onto the turntable 84 (see FIG. 6A).

[0052] <Step S4> In step S4, the control unit 6 determines whether or not there is a print job following the print job. Specifically, the control unit 6 references job information D1 to determine whether or not a subsequent print job has been registered. If the control unit 6 determines that there is a subsequent print job (S4: Yes), it proceeds to step S5. If the control unit 6 determines that there is no print job following the print job (S4: No), it ends the image forming process.

[0053] <Step S5> In step S5, the control unit 6 rotates the rotary tray 81. Specifically, the control unit 6 rotates the rotary table 84 of the rotary tray 81 by 90 degrees in the direction d1. For example, the control unit 6 rotates the rotary table 84 on which the sheet P1 is placed by 90 degrees in the direction d1. After step S5, the control unit 6 shifts the process to step S2.

[0054] Returning to step S2, the control unit 6 executes the subsequent print job. For example, when the control unit 6 acquires a second print job following the first print job, it forms an image corresponding to the second print job (character image "DEF") on a sheet. Then, in step S3, the control unit 6 discharges the sheet P2 on which the image corresponding to the second print job (character image "DEF") has been formed onto the sheet P1 on the turntable 84 (see FIGS. 6C and 6D).

[0055] If there is a third print job following the second print job (S4: Yes), the control unit 6 further rotates the turntable 84 on which the sheets P1 and P2 are placed by 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see FIGS. 6D and 6E). When the control unit 6 acquires the third print job, it forms an image corresponding to the third print job (the character image "GHI") on the sheet. Then, in step S3, the control unit 6 discharges the sheet P3 on which the image corresponding to the third print job (the character image "GHI") has been formed onto the sheet P2 on the turntable 84 (see FIG. 6F).

[0056] If there is a fourth print job following the third print job (S4: Yes), the control unit 6 further rotates the turntable 84, on which the sheets P1 to P3 are placed, by 90 degrees in the direction d1 (see FIG. 6G). When the control unit 6 acquires the fourth print job, it forms an image corresponding to the fourth print job (character image "JKL") on the sheet. Then, in step S3, the control unit 6 ejects the sheet P4, on which the image corresponding to the fourth print job (character image "JKL") has been formed, onto the sheet P3 on the turntable 84 (see FIG. 6H). When there are no more print jobs registered in the job information D1 (S4: Yes), the control unit 6 ends the image formation process.

[0057] As described above, image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes image forming unit 40 that executes a plurality of print jobs in succession to form an image on a sheet, sheet discharge unit 5 that discharges the sheet on which the image has been formed by image forming unit 40 onto discharge tray 8, and drive processing unit 64 that is provided on discharge tray 8 and rotates rotatable tray 81 on which the sheet discharged onto discharge tray 8 is placed. After sheet discharge unit 5 discharges the first sheet on which an image corresponding to the first print job has been formed onto rotary tray 81, when image forming unit 40 executes a second print job following the first print job, drive processing unit 64 rotates rotary tray 81 on which the first sheet has been placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.

[0058] According to the above configuration, the orientation of the first sheet of a first print job and the orientation of the second sheet of a second print job following the first print job can be shifted by 90 degrees, making it easy to distinguish between the first and second sheets. Furthermore, setting the rotation angle to 90 degrees does not complicate the rotation drive process. Therefore, it is possible to easily distinguish between the sheets with a simple configuration.

[0059] Furthermore, the image forming unit 40 forms an image corresponding to the second print job on the sheet after the rotary tray 81 on which the first sheet is placed has rotated 90 degrees.

[0060] Furthermore, drive processing unit 64 rotates rotating tray 81 by 90 degrees each time a print job is executed. Furthermore, drive processing unit 64 may rotate rotating tray 81 by 90 degrees in the same direction each time a print job is executed, or may rotate rotating tray 81 by 90 degrees in different directions each time a print job is executed.

[0061] The rotating tray 81 may also include a first guide member 85 that regulates the lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a first orientation, and a second guide member 85 that regulates the lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation.

[0062] The first guide member 85 and the second guide member 85 are provided on the rotating tray 81 so as to be slidable in a direction oblique to the first direction and the second direction, respectively. This allows the position of the guide members 85 to be adjusted according to the size of the sheet and the sheet to be fixed.

[0063] [Disclosure Note] The following is a summary of the disclosure extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0064] <Appendix 1> an image forming unit that executes a plurality of print jobs in succession to form images on sheets; a sheet discharge unit that discharges a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit onto a discharge tray; a drive processing unit provided on the discharge tray and configured to rotate a rotatable rotating tray on which the sheet discharged onto the discharge tray is placed; Equipped with An image forming device in which, after the sheet discharge unit discharges a first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job is formed onto the rotating tray, when the image forming unit executes a second print job that follows the first print job, the drive processing unit rotates the rotating tray on which the first sheet is placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.

[0065] <Appendix 2> the image forming unit forms an image corresponding to the second print job on the sheet after the rotary tray on which the first sheet is placed is rotated by 90 degrees; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

[0066] <Appendix 3> the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees each time the print job is executed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

[0067] <Appendix 4> the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees in the same direction each time the print job is executed. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

[0068] <Appendix 5> the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees in different directions each time the print job is executed; 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

[0069] <Appendix 6> the rotating tray includes a first guide member that regulates a lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a first orientation, and a second guide member that regulates a lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees each time the print job is executed. 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

[0070] <Appendix 7> the first guide member and the second guide member are provided on the rotating tray so as to be slidable in a direction oblique to the first direction and the second direction, respectively; 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10: Image forming device 5: Sheet discharge section 8: Output tray 6: Control section 61: Reception processing unit 62: Image processing section 63: Discharge processing section 64: Drive processing unit 81: Rotating tray 82: Drive unit 83: Rotation axis 84: Rotating table 85: Guide member 86: Slit

Claims

1. an image forming unit that executes a plurality of print jobs in succession to form images on sheets; a sheet discharge unit that discharges a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit onto a discharge tray; a drive processing unit provided on the discharge tray and configured to rotate a rotatable rotating tray on which the sheet discharged onto the discharge tray is placed; Equipped with An image forming device, wherein after the sheet discharge unit discharges a first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job is formed onto the rotating tray, when the image forming unit executes a second print job that follows the first print job, the drive processing unit rotates the rotating tray on which the first sheet is placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.

2. the image forming unit forms an image corresponding to the second print job on the sheet after the rotary tray on which the first sheet is placed is rotated by 90 degrees; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees each time the print job is executed; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees in the same direction each time the print job is executed; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees in different directions each time the print job is executed; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. the rotating tray includes a first guide member that regulates a lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a first orientation, and a second guide member that regulates a lateral position of the sheet when the sheet is placed in a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, the drive processing unit rotates the rotary tray by 90 degrees each time the print job is executed; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

7. the first guide member and the second guide member are provided on the rotating tray so as to be slidable in a direction oblique to the first direction and the second direction, respectively; The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 .

8. executing a plurality of print jobs in succession to form images on a sheet; Discharging the image-formed sheet to a discharge tray; rotating a rotary tray provided on the discharge tray and rotatable on which the sheet discharged onto the discharge tray is placed; After discharging a first sheet on which an image corresponding to a first print job has been formed onto the rotary tray, when a second print job following the first print job is to be executed, rotating the rotary tray on which the first sheet has been placed by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction; A computer-implemented image formation method.

Images