Electrophotography – Machine operation – Job mode
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-04-17
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Job mode
C399S407000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet processing apparatus which is used in an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a laser-beam printer or the like, and which performs processing, such as sorting, binding and the like, for sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some apparatuses for conveying, mounting and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus or the like, in order to prevent degradation in the processing capability due to sheet processing at the downstream side requiring a relatively long processing time, such as a bundle-binding operation, a portion where a sheet is temporarily stopped is provided at a conveying portion, in order to temporarily interrupt conveyance of the sheet. Thereafter, a plurality of sheets are conveyed together with another sheet conveyed from the upstream side, in order to secure a time for sheet processing at the downstream side and prevent a decrease in the overall efficiency of sheet processing. In some of such apparatuses, when the system enters a non-operating state due to a sheet jam or the like, in order to prevent occurrence of curl of a sheet to a degree more than necessary and prevent the sheet from remaining within the apparatus from the viewpoint of maintenance of the system, the sheet is automatically discharged when the sheet is present at a temporarily stopped portion.
However, an apparatus in which a sheet is automatically discharged when the system is operating and the sheet is present at a temporarily stopped retracted portion is not present.
In the above-described situation, problems may arise, such as a failure in sheet conveyance or sheet alignment due to simultaneous conveyance of sheets having different conveying speeds in a superposed state.
Furthermore, when there is a sheet which is temporarily stopped in order to perform the above-described processing, there is a problem such that another sheet cannot be conveyed to the conveying path for the stopped sheet or to another portion requiring driving for a portion for conveying the stopped sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the same, and more particularly, to provide a sheet processing apparatus in which, when sheets having different conveying conditions are included in sheet conveying means, an excellent sheet conveying property, and an excellent sheet aligning property after sheet discharge are realized by preventing simultaneous conveyance of a plurality of sheets from the sheet conveying means.
In accordance with these objects, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus comprising sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet and placing a sheet in a waiting state by temporarily stopping conveyance of the sheet, the sheet conveying means operable in one of at least a first mode, a second mode and a third mode, and sheet-conveying-condition detection means for detecting a conveying condition for each sheet. In the first mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means without placing the sheet in a waiting state. In the second mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means and putting the sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of the sheet conveying means in accordance with conveyance of a succeeding sheet, and conveying preceding and succeeding sheets in a superposed state. In the third mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means and putting the sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of the sheet conveying means and conveying the preceding sheet separately from the succeeding sheet. Control means switch the sheet conveying means from the second mode to the third mode when the sheet-conveying-condition detection means has detected that a sheet having a different sheet conveying condition is included within a plurality of sheets to be discharged from the sheet conveying means in a superposed state when in the second mode.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes the above-described sheet processing apparatus, a main body having therein image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and discharging means of a main body for discharging the sheet having the image formed thereon by the image forming means to the sheet processing apparatus.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an image forming apparatus in which a preceding sheet is temporarily stopped in a waiting state in a sheet conveying path and is then conveyed together with a succeeding sheet upon arrival of the succeeding sheet includes the steps of detecting whether or not a sheet conveying condition for the succeeding sheet is the same as a sheet conveying condition for the preceding sheet, and restarting conveyance of the preceding sheet in a waiting state separately from the succeeding sheet when a result of the detection is negative.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus has image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet and placing the sheet in a waiting state by temporarily stopping conveyance of the sheet having the image formed thereon, the sheet conveying means operable in one of at least first mode, a second mode and a third mode, and sheet-conveying-condition detection means for detecting a conveying condition for each sheet. In the first mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means without placing the sheet in a waiting state. In the second mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means without placing the sheet in a waiting state. In the second mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet driving means and putting the sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of the sheet conveying means in accordance with conveyance of a succeeding sheet, and conveying preceding and succeeding sheets in a superposed state. In the third mode, a sheet is conveyed by driving the sheet conveying means and putting the sheet conveying means in the waiting state, thereafter releasing the waiting state of the sheet conveying means, and conveying the preceding sheet separately from the succeeding sheet. Control means switch the sheet conveying means from the second mode to the third mode when the sheet-conveying-condition detection means has detected that a sheet having a different sheet conveying condition is included within a plurality of sheets to be discharged from the sheet conveying means in a superposed state in the second mode.
According to the above-described configuration, when simultaneously conveying a plurality of sheets using a sheet temporarily awaited by the sheet conveying means, if a different condition with respect to a “sheet conveying condition” serving as one of conditions relating to the sheet conveyance, such as the speed of a sheet, and the like, an operation of conveying one or a plurality of sheets in a waiting state is resumed, and simultaneous conveyance of a plurality of sheets having different conveying conditions is prohibited, so that an excellent sheet conveying property and an excellent sheet aligning property are realized.
When there is a sheet which is temporarily awaited, conveyance of a different sheet at the conveying path or at another portion requiring driving for a portion for conveying the awaited sheet is detected. An operation of conveying one or a plurality of sheets in a waiting state is resumed, and conveyance of the other sheet to the conveying path or the other portion is allowed in the above-described manner, so that sheet processing having a high degree of freedom is realized.
As described above, according to the present invention, since simultaneous discharge of sheets ha
Fukazu Yasuo
Miyake Norifumi
Moriyama Tsuyoshi
Murata Mitsushige
Okamoto Kiyoshi
Beatty Robert
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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