Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To suppress the deterioration of usability when the opening / closing operation of an FU tray is carried out.SOLUTION: An image forming device is equipped with an image forming portion 180, a discharge tray 115 to which a recording material is discharged, a discharge tray 410 that is disposed on the downstream side of the discharge tray 115 and to which the recording material is discharged, an FU tray 116 that is provided between the image forming portion 180 and the discharge tray 115, forms a part of a carrying path carrying the recording material to the discharge tray 115 in a close state, and becomes a discharge tray to which the recording material is discharged in an open state, and an FU tray opening / closing sensor 117 that detects an open / close state of the FU tray 116. At the time of forming an image, when the FU tray 116 discharges the recording material to the discharge tray 410 in the close state, if the FU tray 116 is switched to the open state (S403 YES), the recording material is discharged to the FU tray 116 (S404), and if the FU tray 116 is switched to the close state again (S403 NO), the recording material is discharged to the discharge tray 410 again (S405, S407).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been provided an image forming apparatus including a tray (hereinafter referred to as an FU tray) that forms a part of a conveyance path through which a recording material is conveyed in a closed state and serves as a discharge tray from which the recording material is discharged in an open state. For example, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the FU tray is in an open state (open state), it is used as a discharge tray for the image-formed recording material. On the other hand, when the FU tray is in a closed state, it forms a part of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed, and the image-formed recording material can be discharged to a discharge tray provided on the more downstream side of the conveyance path. And the opening / closing operation of the FU tray for switching between being used as a part of the conveyance path or as a discharge tray is left to the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, during continuous printing with the FU tray closed and the recording material being discharged to the discharge tray on the more downstream side of the conveyance path, if the FU tray is opened by the user, the conveyance path to the downstream discharge tray will be interrupted. As a result, the recording material being conveyed will be discharged onto the opened FU tray. After that, when the FU tray is closed by the user and the conveyance path to the downstream side is formed again, the recorded material on which an image has been formed will be discharged to the downstream discharge tray again. At this time, if a plurality of downstream discharge trays are provided, the recording material may be discharged to a discharge tray different from the discharge tray where the recording material was discharged before the FU tray was opened. Also, in the case of a printing job for printing a plurality of recording materials, when the opening and closing operation of the FU tray is performed, the recorded materials on which images have been formed will be discharged dispersedly to a plurality of discharge trays, so it is necessary to check all the discharge trays where the discharge may occur. Furthermore, when the recording materials are discharged dispersedly to a plurality of discharge trays, it is necessary to gather them into a bundle of one recording material, and at that time, there is a possibility of making mistakes such as misordering or misorienting the pages, or forgetting to integrate some of the pages.

[0005] The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress a decrease in usability when the opening and closing operation of the FU tray is performed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0007] (1) An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, a first discharge tray from which the recorded recording material is discharged, a second discharge tray that is disposed downstream of the first discharge tray and from which the recorded recording material is discharged, and provided between the image forming unit and the first discharge tray, forming a part of a conveyance path that conveys the recording material to the first discharge tray in a closed state, and an opening / closing member that serves as a third discharge tray from which the recording material is discharged in an open state, and opening / closing detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the opening / closing member, and when forming an image on a plurality of recording materials, if the recording material is being discharged to the second discharge tray while the opening / closing member is in the closed state, when the opening / closing member switches to the open state, the recording material is discharged to the third discharge tray, and when the opening / closing member switches back to the closed state again, the recording material is discharged to the second discharge tray again. An image forming apparatus characterized by this.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in usability when the opening / closing operation of the FU tray is performed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Examples

[0012] [Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus main body 100, a sorting device 400, and optional paper feed cassettes 200 and 300 according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 122 is made of an organic photoreceptor or an amorphous silicon photoreceptor and is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in the direction of the arrow (clockwise direction) in the figure. The circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by a charging roller 123. From the laser optical box 109, laser light modulated (ON / OFF conversion) corresponding to the pixel signals obtained by converting the image information input from an image signal generation device (not shown) such as an image reading device or a computer is emitted. The laser light emitted from the laser optical box 109 is deflected by a reflecting mirror 108 that is rotationally driven by a scanner motor 158 (see FIG. 3) and is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 122. As a result, the photosensitive drum 122 is exposed, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the photosensitive drum 122. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 122 is developed by attaching toner by a developing device 121, and a toner image is formed. Note that the photosensitive drum 122, the charging roller 123, and the developing device 121 are integrated as a detachable process cartridge 120.

[0013] On the other hand, from the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus main body 100, a recording material S is fed one by one by a paper feed roller 102 and a separation roller 103, and is conveyed to a transfer roller 107 by a paper feed cassette conveyance roller 104 and a conveyance roller 105. Then, the transfer roller 107 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 122 to the conveyed recording material S. The formation of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 122 is started in accordance with the timing when a conveyance sensor 106 that detects the recording material S being conveyed on the conveyance path detects the leading edge of the recording material S. By applying a voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the transfer roller 107, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 122 to the recording material S. The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 122 and is conveyed to a fixing device 130.

[0014] The fixing device 130 includes a fixing sleeve 133 heated by a heater 132, and a pressure roller 134 that contacts the fixing sleeve 133 to form a nip portion and presses the recording material S passing through the nip portion. The toner image on the recording material S conveyed to the fixing device 130 is heated and pressed when passing through the nip portion, and is fixed to the recording material S. The recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is then conveyed by an FU roller 111 driven by a DC brushless motor 622 (see FIG. 3) and an FD roller 112 driven by a stepping motor 623 (see FIG. 3), and is discharged to a discharge tray 115.

[0015] When performing double-sided printing, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the rear end of the recording material S with a toner image fixed on the surface passes through the sensor 110 in the fixing device 130, the rotation direction of the stepping motor 623 is reversed. As a result, the recording material S is conveyed by the FD roller 112 to the double-sided conveyance path L1. The recording material S conveyed to the double-sided conveyance path L1 passes through the double-sided conveyance sensor 113 and is conveyed again to the transfer roller 107 by the double-sided conveyance roller 114. Then, the recording material S conveyed to the transfer roller 107 has a toner image transferred to the back surface, and after the transferred toner image is fixed to the recording material S in the fixing device 130, it is discharged to a discharge tray 115 (the first discharge tray).

[0016] The FU (face-up) tray 116, which is an opening / closing member, forms part of the conveyance path in the downstream direction from the FU roller 111 and has two functions: it is a discharge tray (third discharge tray) where the recording material S conveyed by the FU roller 111 is discharged. When the FU tray 116 is in the closed state (shown by the solid line in the figure), it forms part of the conveyance path that conveys the recording material S conveyed by the FU roller 111 to the discharge tray 115 or the like. On the other hand, when the FU tray 116 is in the open state (shown by the dashed line in the figure), it serves as a discharge tray where the recording material S conveyed by the FU roller 111 is discharged as it is with the printed surface with the toner image fixed facing upward (face-up (FU)). The FU tray opening / closing sensor 117 detects the open / closed state of the FU tray 116. When the FU tray opening / closing sensor 117 detects that the FU tray 116 is in the open state (the state shown by the dashed line in the figure), a predetermined switching operation is performed, and the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 130 is discharged onto the FU tray 116.

[0017] Also, when feeding the recording material S from the MP tray 140, the recording material S stacked on the MP tray 140 is fed by the MP paper feed roller 142 to the MP separation roller 143. Then, the MP separation roller 143 separates the fed recording material S into single sheets and conveys it to the conveyance roller 105. The recording material S conveyed to the conveyance roller 105 is further conveyed and then conveyed to the transfer roller 107. The recording material S conveyed to the transfer roller 107 has the toner image on the photosensitive drum 122 transferred thereto in the same manner as the recording material S fed from the paper feed cassette. The transferred toner image is fixed to the recording material S in the fixing device 130, and then the recording material S is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 100 (for example, the discharge tray 115).

[0018] The optional paper feed cassettes 200 and 300 are paper feed cassettes that can be additionally installed in addition to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. When feeding the recording material S from the optional paper feed cassettes 200 and 300, similar to the feeding from the paper feed cassette, the recording material S is fed from the optional paper feed cassettes 200 and 300 to the optional separation rollers 203 and 303. Then, the optional separation rollers 203 and 303 separate the supplied recording material S so that it becomes one sheet and convey it to the optional conveyance rollers 204 and 304. The recording material S conveyed to the optional conveyance rollers 204 and 304 is further conveyed to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. After being conveyed to the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, the recording material S is subjected to image formation in the same manner as the recording material S fed from the paper feed cassette or the MP tray 140.

[0019] The main body 100 of the image forming apparatus includes a switching member 118, a conveyance guide 127, an FD roller 112, a discharge tray 115, and a full-load sensor 126 (see FIG. 3) on the downstream side of the conveyance path formed by the FU tray 116. The discharge tray 115 is provided at the upper part of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. Also, the full-load sensor 126 contacts the uppermost recording material S discharged to the discharge tray 115 by the full-load sensor flag 125 shown in the figure. Then, as the loading amount of the discharged recording material S increases, the full-load sensor 126 detects the loading state by the position of the full-load sensor flag 125 moving upward in the figure. When the full-load sensor 126 detects the full-load state of the discharge tray 115, the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus stops image formation until the recording material S fully loaded on the discharge tray 115 is removed. Note that the switching member 118 is configured to be switchable by a flapper solenoid 618 (see FIG. 3) between a position (shown by a solid line in the figure) where the recording material S that has passed through the fixing device 130 is conveyed to the sorting device 400 and a position (shown by a broken line in the figure) where it is discharged to the discharge tray 115. Also, the display unit 499 is a display unit for notifying the user of the state of the image forming apparatus and the like.

[0020] [Configuration of Sorting Device] Next, the sorting device 400 configured to be installable on the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described. The conveyance guide 401 receives the recording material S guided and conveyed by the switching member 118 and the conveyance guide 127 in the image forming apparatus main body 100, and conveys it inside the sorting device 400. The conveyance guide 401 has a plurality of branch portions, and detachable second discharge trays, namely discharge trays 410, 411, and 412, are arranged at each branch portion. The switching members 402 and 403 are configured to be switchable by flapper solenoids 489 and 491 (see FIG. 3), which are actuators, to the positions indicated by solid lines or broken lines shown in FIG. 1. For example, when discharging the recording material S to the discharge tray 410, the switching members 402 and 403 are switched to the positions indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1 respectively, and the recording material S is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 442 and the discharge roller pair 443, and the recording material S is discharged to the discharge tray 410. Also, when discharging the recording material S to the discharge tray 411, the switching member 402 is switched to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, the switching member 403 is switched to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure, and the recording material S is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 442 and the discharge roller pair 444 and discharged to the discharge tray 411. Further, when discharging the recording material S to the discharge tray 412, the switching member 403 is switched to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and the recording material S is discharged to the discharge tray 412 by the discharge roller pair 445.

[0021] The presence / absence sensors 420, 421, and 422 for the discharge trays detect whether the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 are attached respectively. Also, the full-load sensors 433, 434, and 435 (see FIG. 3) detect that the loading amount of the recording material S loaded on the corresponding discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 has reached a predetermined amount or more based on the states of the full-load sensor flags 430, 431, and 432 that contact the recording material S. Note that the full-load sensor flag 431 is integrated with the discharge tray 410, and the full-load sensor flag 432 is integrated with the discharge tray 411.

[0022] [Functional Blocks of the Control Unit] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus includes, as a control unit, a printer control unit 502 that controls the image forming apparatus main body 100, and a sorting apparatus control unit 503 that controls the sorting apparatus 400. Further, the image forming apparatus includes a controller 501 that is an interface unit between the external device 500 and the printer control unit 502 and the sorting apparatus control unit 503.

[0023] The controller 501 communicates with an external device such as an external device 500 such as a host computer, and receives a print request. Then, the controller 501 that has received the print request transmits a print instruction designating print conditions created from the data included in the print request to the printer control unit 502 via a serial I / F (interface). Further, the display unit 499 displays the state of the image forming apparatus based on the display data transmitted from the controller 501.

[0024] The printer control unit 502 controls each image forming mechanism based on the print instruction received from the controller 501. Specifically, the printer control unit 502 controls a recording material conveyance mechanism 511 including a paper feed roller 102, an FU roller 111, a switching member 118, etc., to convey and discharge the recording material S. Further, the printer control unit 502 controls an image forming unit 180 including a laser optical box 109, a developing device 121, a photosensitive drum 122, a transfer roller 107, etc., to form an image on the recording material S, and controls a fixing device 130 to fix the toner image on the recording material S.

[0025] The opening / closing detection unit 516 detects whether the FU tray 116 that constitutes the opening / closing mechanism 515 is in an open state (the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1) or a closed state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1) based on the detection result of the FU tray opening / closing sensor 117 that detects the state of the opening / closing mechanism 515. The full-load detection unit 521 detects the arrival of the paper at the discharge tray 115 and the full-load state of the discharge tray 115 by controlling the full-load detection mechanism 522 having the full-load sensor 126 (see FIG. 3). The sorting destination selection unit 518 determines the discharge destination of the recording material S based on the sorting destination information notified from the controller 501 via the serial I / F and the detection result of the opening / closing detection unit 516. Specifically, the sorting destination selection unit 518 selects and determines any one of the discharge tray 115, the FU tray 116, and the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 of the sorting device 400 as the sorting destination where the recording material S can be conveyed and discharged. When the sorting destination determined by the sorting destination selection unit 518 is any one of the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 of the sorting device 400, the conveyance direction switching control unit 517 switches the switching member 118 to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1.

[0026] Also, the controller 501 acquires the sorting destination information determined by the sorting destination selection unit 518 of the printer control unit 502 via the serial I / F. When the sorting destination acquired by the controller 501 from the printer control unit 502 is any of the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 of the sorter 400, the controller 501 transmits the designation information of the discharge tray of the sorting destination to the sorter control unit 503 via the serial I / F. The sorter control unit 503 controls each control mechanism based on the sorting destination designation information received from the controller 501. Specifically, the sorter control unit 503 transmits control instructions to the conveyance motor control unit 507 and the conveyance direction switching control unit 508 from the recording material conveyance control unit 504 having the sorting control unit 505 and the discharge tray control unit 506 based on the sorting destination designation information received from the controller 501. The recording material conveyance mechanism 512 drives the pair of conveyance rollers 442, the pairs of discharge rollers 443, 444, 445, and the switching members 402, 403. The conveyance motor control unit 507 and the conveyance direction switching control unit 508 control the recording material conveyance mechanism 512 to convey the recording material S conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 100 into the sorter 400. Further, the discharge tray presence / absence detection mechanism 513 includes the discharge tray presence / absence sensors 420, 421, 422. The recording material conveyance control unit 504 controls the discharge tray presence / absence detection mechanism 513 by the discharge tray presence / absence detection unit 509 to detect the presence / absence of the discharge trays 410, 411, 412. Further, the full load detection mechanism 514 includes the full load sensors 433, 434, 435 (see FIG. 3). The recording material conveyance control unit 504 controls the full load detection mechanism 514 by the full load detection unit 510 to detect the arrival of the recording material S at the discharge trays 410, 411, 412 and the full load state of the discharge trays 410, 411, 412.

[0027] The user notification request units 519, 520 each notify the controller 501 of information when a situation that should be notified to the user, such as paper jams or actuator failures in the image forming apparatus, occurs in the printer control unit 502 or the sorter control unit 503. Specifically, the user notification request units 519, 520 transmit a display request for displaying notification information to the user to the controller 501 via the serial I / F.

[0028] [Hardware Configuration of the Control Unit] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration related to the control units of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the sorting apparatus 400 of the present embodiment.

[0029] (Image Forming Apparatus Main Body) The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes a CPU 601 that controls the image forming apparatus main body 100, a timer 602 that generates control timing, a ROM 603 that stores the control program of the CPU 601, a RAM 604 that stores data and the like, and an I / O port 606. The CPU 601, the timer 602, the ROM 603, the RAM 604, and the I / O port 606 are connected via a bus 605. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the CPU 601, the timer 602, the ROM 603, the RAM 604, the bus 605, and the I / O port 606 are provided in the printer control unit 502.

[0030] Connected to the I / O port 606 are a heater drive circuit 611 that drives the heater 132 of the fixing device 130 and a DC brushless motor drive circuit 612 that drives the DC brushless motor 622. Also connected to the I / O port 606 are a stepping motor drive circuit 613 that drives the stepping motor 623 and a scanner motor drive circuit 615 that drives the scanner motor 158. Further, connected to the I / O port 606 are a FU tray open / close sensor input circuit 614 that inputs the output of the FU tray open / close sensor 117 to the I / O port 606 and a solenoid drive circuit 617 that drives the flapper solenoid 618 that switches the switching member 118. And connected to the I / O port 606 is a full load sensor input circuit 616 that inputs the output of the full load sensor 126 to the I / O port 606.

[0031] The CPU 601 controls the drive circuits connected to the I / O port 606 via the bus 605, thereby driving the heater 132, the DC brushless motor 622, the stepping motor 623, the scanner motor 158, and the flapper solenoid 618. Further, the CPU 601 can detect the state of the FU tray open / close sensor 117 and the state of the full load sensor 126 by acquiring the signals input from the input circuit connected to the I / O port 606 via the bus 605.

[0032] (Sorting device) The sorting device 400 includes a CPU 450 that controls the entire sorting device 400, a timer 451 that generates control timing, a ROM 452 that stores a control program for controlling the operation of the CPU 450, a RAM 453 that stores data and the like, and an I / O port 455. The CPU 450, the timer 451, the ROM 452, the RAM 453, and the I / O port 455 are connected via a bus 454. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the CPU 450, the timer 451, the ROM 452, the RAM 453, the bus 454, and the I / O port 455 are provided in the sorting device control unit 503.

[0033] The following circuits are connected to the I / O port 455. That is, a conveyance motor driver 470 that drives the conveyance motor 471 in the sorting device 400, and input circuits 484, 485, 486 for the output of the discharge tray presence sensors 420, 421, 422 to input the output to the I / O port 455 are connected. Further, solenoid drive circuits 487, 490 that drive the flapper solenoids 489, 491, which are actuators for switching the switching members 402, 403, are connected to the I / O port 455. Furthermore, full load sensor input circuits 481, 482, 483 for inputting the outputs of the full load sensors 433, 434, 435 to the I / O port 455 are connected to the I / O port 455.

[0034] The CPU 450 drives the conveyance motor 471 by controlling the conveyance motor driver 470 connected to the I / O port 455 via the bus 454. When the conveyance motor 471 is driven, the conveyance roller pair 442, the discharge roller pairs 443, 444, 445 are driven, and the recording material S conveyed from the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus is conveyed to the designated discharge trays 410, 411, 412.

[0035] Also, the CPU 450 drives the flapper solenoid 489 by controlling the solenoid drive circuit 487 connected to the I / O port 455 via the bus 454. A switching member 402 is connected to the flapper solenoid 489. When the signal output from the CPU 450 to the solenoid drive circuit 487 is in the ON state, the flapper solenoid 489 switches the switching member 402 to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, and the recording material S is conveyed to the discharge tray 411. On the other hand, when the signal output from the CPU 450 to the solenoid drive circuit 487 is in the OFF state, the flapper solenoid 489 switches the switching member 402 to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the recording material S is conveyed to the discharge tray 410. Also, the CPU 450 drives the flapper solenoid 491 by controlling the solenoid drive circuit 490 connected to the I / O port 455 via the bus 454. A switching member 403 is connected to the flapper solenoid 491. When the signal output from the CPU 450 to the solenoid drive circuit 490 is in the ON state, the flapper solenoid 491 switches the switching member 403 to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, and the recording material S is conveyed to the discharge tray 412. On the other hand, when the signal output from the CPU 450 to the solenoid drive circuit 490 is in the OFF state, the flapper solenoid 491 switches the switching member 403 to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the recording material S is conveyed toward the discharge trays 410 and 411.

[0036] The CPU 450 acquires signals input from the discharge tray presence sensors input circuits 484, 485, 486 connected to the I / O port 455 via the bus 454. Based on the acquired input signals, the CPU 450 can confirm the presence or absence states of the discharge trays 410, 411, 412 by the discharge tray presence sensors 420, 421, 422. Also, the CPU 450 acquires signals input from the full sensors input circuits 481, 482, 483 connected to the I / O port 455 via the bus 454. Based on the acquired input signals, the CPU 450 can confirm the full states of the discharge trays 410, 411, 412 by the full sensors 433, 434, 435.

[0037] (Controller) The image forming apparatus main body 100 has a CPU 550 that controls the entire controller 501, a timer 551 that generates control timings, a ROM 552 that stores a control program for controlling the CPU 550, a RAM 553 that stores data and the like, and an I / O port 555. And the CPU 550, the timer 551, the ROM 552, the RAM 553, and the I / O port 555 are connected via the bus 554.

[0038] Also, the I / O port 555 of the controller 501 and the I / O port 606 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 are connected via serial communication drivers 556, 620 that perform two-way serial communication respectively. Similarly, the I / O port 555 of the controller 501 and the I / O port 455 of the sorting device 400 are connected via serial communication drivers 557, 492 that perform two-way serial communication respectively. The serial communication unit 467 controls the two-way serial communication between the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the controller 501 and the two-way serial communication between the sorting device 400 and the controller 501. The two-way communication between the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the sorting device 400 is relayed by the controller 501.

[0039] When the controller 501 receives a printing request from an external device 500 (Fig. 2) connected by the serial communication unit 467 or the like, it performs the following processing. That is, the controller 501 notifies the CPU 601 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 (which is also the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502) of image data, the sorting destination of the recording material S, etc. as printing information via the serial communication unit 467, and instructs the start of printing. In addition, the controller 501 notifies the CPU 450 of the sorting device 400 (which is also the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503) of the conveyance notice of the recording material S and the discharge destination information of the conveyed recording material S. The CPU 601 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the CPU 450 of the sorting device 400 perform a printing operation based on the control instructions and notification information received from the controller 501. Further, information such as paper jams occurring in each device of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the sorting device 400, the full state of the discharge tray, and the detection status of the presence or absence of the discharge tray is notified to the controller 501 via the serial communication unit 467. When a situation where printing cannot be continued occurs, the controller 501 instructs the CPU 601 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the CPU 450 of the sorting device 400 to interrupt printing. In addition, based on the information notified from the CPU 601 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 or the CPU 450 of the sorting device 400, the controller 501 displays information that needs to be notified to the user on the display unit 499 of the image forming apparatus main body 100.

[0040] [Discharge Tray Switching Control Associated with FU Tray Opening / Closing Operation during Printing] Next, the switching control of the discharge tray, which is the discharge destination for discharging the recording material, associated with the opening and closing operation of the FU tray 116 during printing will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the switching control sequence of the discharge tray associated with the opening and closing operation of the FU tray 116, and shows the processing of the opening and closing detection unit 516 and the sorting destination selection unit 518 shown in FIG. 2. The processing shown in FIG. 4 is started when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on and the printer control unit 502 is activated, and is executed by the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502. In this embodiment, when the CPU 550 of the controller 501 receives a printing request from the external device 500, it transmits a printing start instruction (image forming start instruction) to the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502. At that time, when the CPU 550 of the controller 501 notifies the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502 of the sorting destination (discharge destination) for discharging the recording material S, it shall notify the sorting destination where the recording material S can be discharged. Further, if there is no change in the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 during the printing of the recording material S, the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502 shall discharge the recording material S to the sorting destination instructed by the CPU 550 of the controller 501.

[0041] In step (hereinafter referred to as S) 400, the CPU 601 acquires the detection result of the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 by the FU tray open / close sensor 117. In S401, the CPU 601 determines whether there is a change in the open / closed state of the FU tray 116. If the CPU 601 determines that there is a change in the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 (from the open state to the closed state, or from the closed state to the open state), the process proceeds to S402. If it determines that there is no change in the open / closed state, the process returns to S400.

[0042] In S402, the CPU 601 determines whether the image forming apparatus is executing the image forming operation (printing) of the recording material S (during printing?). If the CPU 601 determines that the image forming apparatus is executing the image forming operation of the recording material S (during printing), the process proceeds to S403. If it determines that the image forming operation of the recording material S is not being executed, the process returns to S400.

[0043] In S403, the CPU 601 determines whether the FU tray 116 is in an open state (Is the FU tray in an open state?) based on the detection result of the FU tray opening / closing sensor 117. When the CPU 601 determines that the FU tray 116 is in an open state (i.e., it detects a change from the closed state of the FU tray 116 to the open state), the process proceeds to S404. On the other hand, when the CPU 601 determines that the FU tray 116 is not in an open state (i.e., it detects a change from the open state of the FU tray 116 to the closed state), the process proceeds to S405. In S404, the CPU 601 determines the sorting destination where the recording material S is to be discharged for the FU tray 116, and controls the recording material conveyance mechanism 511 to discharge the image-formed recording material S to the FU tray 116. Further, the CPU 601 controls the user notification request unit 519 to notify the controller 501 of the "FU tray opening / closing exists" information via the serial communication unit 467, and returns the process to S400. When the CPU 550 of the controller 501 receives the "FU tray opening / closing exists" information, it may display the "FU tray opening / closing exists" information on the display unit 499 or further transmit the information to the external device 500. Thereby, the user can know that the printed recording material S is discharged in a dispersed manner to the discharge tray 115 or the discharge tray of the sorting device 400 and the FU tray 116.

[0044] In S405, the CPU 601 determines whether the sorting destination of the recording material S notified from the CPU 550 of the controller 501, that is, whether the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is the FU tray 116. When the CPU 601 determines that the sorting destination of the recording material S notified from the CPU 550 is the FU tray 116, since the designated FU tray 116 is in a closed state and the recording material S cannot be discharged, the process proceeds to S406. On the other hand, when the CPU 601 determines that the notified sorting destination of the recording material S is not the FU tray 116, the process proceeds to S407.

[0045] In S406, the CPU 601 determines a sorting destination for the recording material S other than the FU tray 116. At this time, the CPU 601 may select a predetermined sorting destination previously stored in the ROM 603 of the printer control unit 502 as the sorting destination for discharging the recording material S. Also, when the CPU 550 of the controller 501 notifies the CPU 601 of the sorting destination (FU tray 116) of the recording material S, the CPU 550 may also notify the sorting destination information for discharging the recording material S when the FU tray 116 is closed. Then, when the CPU 601 detects a state change of the FU tray 116 from the open state to the closed state, the CPU 601 may select the sorting destination notified from the CPU 550 as the sorting destination for discharging the recording material S.

[0046] Furthermore, the CPU 601 notifies the determined sorting destination information of the recording material S to the CPU 550 of the controller 501 via the serial I / F, and controls the conveyance direction switching control unit 517 (FIG. 2) to switch the state of the switching member 118. Specifically, when the determined sorting destination of the recording material S by the CPU 601 is the discharge tray 115, the CPU 601 controls the solenoid drive circuit 617 that drives the flapper solenoid 618 so that the recording material S is discharged to the discharge tray 115, and sets the switching member 118 to the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when the determined sorting destination of the recording material S by the CPU 601 is the discharge tray of the sorting device 400, the CPU 601 controls the solenoid drive circuit 617 so that the recording material S is conveyed to the sorting device 400, and sets the switching member 118 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1.

[0047] Also, when the CPU 550 of the controller 501 determines that the sorting destination notified by the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502 is one of the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 of the sorting device 400, the following processing is performed. That is, the CPU 550 transmits the designation information of the discharge tray of the sorting destination to the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 via the serial I / F. When the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 receives the designation information of the discharge tray of the sorting destination from the CPU 550, it controls the conveyance motor driver 470 to drive the conveyance motor 471. Further, the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 controls the solenoid drive circuits 487 and 490 that drive the flapper solenoids 489 and 491 to switch the switching members 402 and 403 so that the recording material S is discharged to the designated discharge trays 410, 411, and 412.

[0048] Furthermore, the CPU 601 controls the user notification request unit 519 to notify the controller 501 of "with FU tray opening / closing" information via the serial communication unit 467, and returns the process to S400. When the CPU 550 of the controller 501 receives the "with FU tray opening / closing" information, it may display the "with FU tray opening / closing" information on the display unit 499 or further transmit the information to the external device 500. As a result, the user can know that the printed recording material S is discharged in a dispersed manner to the discharge tray 115, the discharge trays of the sorting device 400, and the FU tray 116.

[0049] In S407, the CPU 601 determines a discharge tray other than the FU tray 116 as the sorting destination of the recording material S. In this case, since the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is not the FU tray 116, it can be determined that the FU tray 116 was opened during continuous printing and then closed. Therefore, at the start of image formation, the CPU 601 determines the sorting destination of the recording material S notified from the CPU 550 of the controller 501 as the sorting destination of the recording material S, and notifies the CPU 550 of the controller 501 of the determined sorting destination information of the recording material S via the serial I / F. Then, the CPU 601 controls the conveyance direction switching control unit 517 (FIG. 2) so that the recording material S is discharged to the sorting destination of the recording material S notified from the CPU 550 of the controller 501, and switches the state of the switching member 118. Specifically, when the sorting destination notified from the CPU 550 is the discharge tray 115, the CPU 601 performs the following processing. That is, the CPU 601 controls the solenoid drive circuit 617 that drives the flapper solenoid 618 so that the recording material S is discharged to the discharge tray 115, and sets the switching member 118 to the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when the sorting destination notified from the CPU 550 is the discharge tray of the sorter 400, the CPU 601 controls the solenoid drive circuit 617 so that the recording material S is conveyed to the sorter 400, and sets the switching member 118 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1. Also, when the sorting destination notified from the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502 to the CPU 550 of the controller 501 is any of the discharge trays 410, 411, and 412 of the sorter 400, the CPU 550 of the controller 501 performs the processing described in S406.

[0050] Furthermore, the CPU 601 controls the user notification request unit 519 to notify the controller 501 of the "with FU tray opening / closing" information via the serial communication unit 467, and returns the process to S400. Then, when the CPU 550 of the controller 501 receives the "with FU tray opening / closing" information, it may display the "with FU tray opening / closing" information on the display unit 499 or further transmit the information to the external device 500 to notify the user. Thereby, the user can know that the printed recording material S is discharged in a dispersed manner to the discharge tray 115, the discharge tray of the sorting device 400, and the FU tray 116, and the usability can be improved.

[0051] Also, the CPU 550 of the controller 501 notifies the sorting device control unit 503 of the "with FU tray opening / closing" information from the CPU 601, so that the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 can perform the following processes on the stacked paper bundles that have been discharged. For example, when the sorting device 400 has an offset function for shifting the position of the recording material discharged to the discharge tray, the following process becomes possible. That is, the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 can adjust the discharge positions on the discharge tray of the already discharged recording material and the recording material to be discharged next so as to shift them, and stack each paper bundle at different positions on the same discharge tray. Also, for example, when the sorting device 400 has a function of collectively shifting the positions of the bundles of recording materials already discharged to the discharge tray, the following process becomes possible. That is, the CPU 450 of the sorting device control unit 503 can shift the positions of the bundles of the already discharged recording materials, so that the recording materials to be discharged later can be stacked on the same tray as bundles of recording materials with different discharge positions.

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in usability when the opening / closing operation of the FU tray is performed.

Embodiment

[0053] In Example 1, an example was described in which when the FU tray is opened from the closed state during printing, the recording material is discharged to the FU tray, and when the FU tray is closed from the opened state, the recording material is again discharged to the designated discharge tray. In the case of Example 1, since the recording material is discharged to the FU tray during the period when the FU tray is open, in the case of a printed matter composed of a plurality of recording materials, the recording materials will be dispersed and discharged to the designated discharge tray and the FU tray. In the case of a printed matter composed of a plurality of recording materials, it is desirable that they be discharged onto the same discharge tray. In Example 2, an example will be described in which the recording material is discharged to the same discharge tray even when the FU tray is opened during printing. Note that the configurations of the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the sorting apparatus 400 in this example are the same as those in Example 1, and the same reference numerals as those in Example 1 are used for the same apparatuses and members, so the description here is omitted.

[0054] [Execution Control of Image Formation Associated with Opening / Closing Operation of FU Tray during Printing] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control sequence for controlling the execution of an image forming operation in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116. The process shown in FIG. 5 is started when the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on and the printer control unit 502 is activated, and is executed by the CPU 601 of the printer control unit 502. In Example 1, when the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116 is performed, the discharge destination of the printed recording material S is switched according to the open / closed state of the FU tray 116. On the other hand, in this example, when the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116 is performed during the execution of a print job, the execution of the print job is temporarily stopped, and when the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 returns to the state before the temporary stop of the print job, the execution of the print job is resumed again. Note that a "temporary stop flag" described later, which indicates whether the image forming apparatus is in the middle of temporarily suspending the image forming operation of the recording material S, is provided in the RAM 604 of the printer control unit 502, and is set to OFF by the CPU 601 when the printer control unit 502 is activated.

[0055] In S500, the CPU 601 acquires the detection result of the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 by the FU tray open / close sensor 117. In S501, the CPU 601 determines whether there is a change in the open / closed state of the FU tray 116. If the CPU 601 determines that there is a change in the open / closed state of the FU tray 116 (from the open state to the closed state, or from the closed state to the open state), the process proceeds to S502. If the CPU 601 determines that there is no change in the open / closed state, the process returns to S500.

[0056] In S502, the CPU 601 determines whether the image forming apparatus is executing the image forming operation (printing) of the recording material S (during printing?). If the CPU 601 determines that the image forming apparatus is executing the image forming operation of the recording material S (during printing), the process proceeds to S503. On the other hand, if the CPU 601 determines that the image forming operation of the recording material S is not being executed or the image forming operation is on hold (printing is on hold), the process proceeds to S507.

[0057] In S503, when the CPU 601 continues the image forming operation of the recording material S, since the recording material S will not be discharged to the discharge tray designated by the CPU 550 of the controller 501, the CPU 601 determines whether it is possible to temporarily stop the image forming operation (temporarily stop printing?). If the CPU 601 determines that it is possible to temporarily stop the image forming operation (temporarily stop printing), the process proceeds to S505. If the CPU 601 determines that it is impossible to temporarily stop the image forming operation (temporarily stop printing), the process proceeds to S504.

[0058] In S504, the CPU 601 continues the image forming operation until it reaches a state where the image forming operation can be stopped (continues until it reaches a state where printing can be temporarily stopped). Here, the case where the image forming operation cannot be temporarily stopped corresponds to a case where there is a recording material S during image formation, for example, when the toner image on the photosensitive drum 122 is being transferred to the recording material S or when the recording material S on which the toner image has been transferred is passing through the nip portion of the fixing device 130. If the image forming operation stops when the toner image on the photosensitive drum 122 is being transferred to the recording material S, it will lead to the occurrence of image defects, so it is necessary to continue the image forming operation until the transfer to the recording material S is completed. Also, when the recording material S on which the toner image has been transferred is passing through the nip portion of the fixing device 130, if the conveyance of the recording material S stops while passing through the fixing device 130, the fixing device 130 will be damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the conveyance of the recording material S until the recording material S passes through the nip portion and the toner image on the recording material S is fixed to the recording material S. Note that when the CPU 601 detects a change in the FU tray 116 from the closed state to the open state, if the recording material S will be discharged to the FU tray 116 when it is conveyed until it passes through the fixing device 130, for example, the recording material S may be temporarily retracted to the duplex conveyance path L1.

[0059] In S505, the CPU 601 controls the recording material conveyance mechanism 511 to stop the conveyance of the recording material S, controls the image forming unit 180 to stop image formation on the recording material S, controls the fixing device 130 to stop the fixing operation of the toner image on the recording material S, and temporarily stops printing. In S506, the CPU 601 sets the pause flag provided in the RAM 604 of the printer control unit 502 to ON. Further, the CPU 601 controls the user notification request unit 519 to notify, via the serial communication unit 467, the controller 501 of the information prompting the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116, and returns the process to S500. When the CPU 550 of the controller 501 receives the information prompting the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116, it may display the information prompting the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116 on the display unit 499 or further transmit the information to the external device 500 to notify the user. When the user prompted by the displayed information performs the opening / closing operation of the FU tray 116, the temporarily stopped printing is resumed, and the usability can be improved.

[0060] In S507, the CPU 601 acquires the information of the pause flag provided in the RAM 604 and determines whether the image forming operation has been temporarily stopped (is printing temporarily paused?). If the pause flag is ON, the CPU 601 determines that the image forming operation has been temporarily stopped and proceeds to S508. On the other hand, if the pause flag is OFF, the CPU 601 determines that the image forming operation is not being performed (printing is not being performed) and returns the process to S500.

[0061] In S508, the CPU 601 controls the recording material conveyance mechanism 511 to resume the conveyance and discharge of the recording material S so as to discharge the recording material S to the discharge destination where the recording material S was discharged before the temporary stop. Further, the CPU 601 controls the image forming unit 180 to resume image formation on the recording material S, and controls the fixing device 130 to resume the fixing operation of fixing the toner image on the recording material S. In S509, the CPU 601 sets the pause flag provided in the RAM 604 of the printer control unit 502 to OFF and returns the process to S500.

[0062] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in usability when the FU tray is opened and closed.

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 115 Discharge tray 116 FU tray 117 FU tray open / close sensor 180 Image forming unit 410 Discharge tray

Claims

1. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, A first discharge tray from which the recording material on which the image is formed is discharged, A second discharge tray that is disposed downstream of the first discharge tray and from which the recording material on which the image is formed is discharged, An opening / closing member that is provided between the image forming unit and the first discharge tray, forms a part of a conveyance path that conveys the recording material to the first discharge tray in a closed state, and serves as a third discharge tray from which the recording material is discharged in an open state, Opening / closing detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the opening / closing member, and When forming an image on a plurality of recording materials, if the recording material is being discharged to the second discharge tray with the opening / closing member in the closed state, when the opening / closing member switches to the open state, the recording material is discharged to the third discharge tray, and when the opening / closing member switches back to the closed state again, the recording material is discharged to the second discharge tray again. An image forming apparatus characterized by this.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the opening / closing detection means detects a change in state of the opening / closing member from the closed state to the open state, the discharge destination of the recording material is switched to the third discharge tray.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the opening / closing detection means detects a change in state of the opening / closing member from the open state to the closed state, the discharge destination of the recording material is switched according to the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is the third discharge tray, the discharge destination of the recording material is switched to a predetermined discharge destination or the discharge destination when the opening / closing member is closed as instructed at the start of image formation.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined discharge destination and the discharge destination instructed at the start of image formation are the first discharge tray.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined discharge destination and the discharge destination instructed at the start of image formation are the second discharge tray.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is not the third discharge tray, the discharge destination of the recording material is switched to the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is the first discharge tray.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the discharge destination of the recording material at the start of image formation is the third discharge tray.

10. It has offset means for adjusting the discharge position of the recording material discharged to the second discharge tray, The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the offset means discharges the recording material to be discharged from now on to a position shifted from the discharge position of the recording material already discharged to the second discharge tray.

11. It includes a display unit for displaying the state of the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when a change in the state of the opening / closing member is detected, the display unit displays that the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing member has been performed.

Images