Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Multiple supplies
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-27
2001-06-12
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Multiple supplies
C271S009050, C271S009060, C399S369000, C399S016000, C399S367000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244585
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus which selectively feeds one type of paper from multiple types of paper stored in a paper feeding portion to a processing portion where a predetermined process is implemented.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In a sheet processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus which feeds a sheet of paper from a paper feeding portion to a processing portion and performs a predetermined process for the fed paper, it is necessary to feed the paper of a size which corresponds to the process therefor. For example, in a copier for duplicating the image of an original onto a sheet of paper, it is necessary to feed the paper, which corresponds to the image size of the original and the copy magnification, to the processing portion. Various types of paper, different in material and thickness are fed in correspondence with the use of the sheets after processing. For example, when a cover page is duplicated in a copier, a different type of sheet, dissimilar in material and thickness from those used for duplication of the content images may be used.
In this way, among sheet processing apparatus to which different types of sheets may be fed from the paper feeding portion to the processor, there are models in which plural types of paper are accommodated beforehand in the paper feeding portion in order to allow for easy change of the paper to be fed, and one type of paper to be fed to the processing portion can be selected from plural types of paper accommodated in the paper feeding portion by operating the control means such as paper selection keys etc., in accordance with the processing conditions. In such a sheet processing apparatus, every time the control means is operated, the type of paper to be fed to the processing portion is switched and selected from the plural types of paper accommodated in the paper feeding portion, in the predetermined sequential order.
However, in a case of a sheet processing apparatus which can accommodate many types of paper in the paper feeding portion, the operator may have to operate the control means repeatedly many times before the operator's desired selection of paper as the type of paper to be fed to the processing portion, needing time-consuming complicated procedures for selecting the type of paper to be fed to the processing portion, resulting in degradation of operating efficiency of the sheet processing apparatus.
Japanese Patent Publication Sho 62 No. 40257 discloses a configuration in which when new paper is loaded, the type of paper newly loaded will be selected and fed to the processing portion regardless of the operated state of the control means. Thus, this disclosure demonstrated that, when the operator has loaded the desired type of paper to be used into the paper feeding portion, the newly loaded paper will be automatically selected and fed to the processing portion without any operation via the control means, thus making it possible to simplify the selecting task of the type of paper to be fed to the processing portion. This disclosure also mentioned that it is possible to prevent waste of paper due to erroneous paper feed when the operator forgot to operate the control means after the paper has been loaded in the paper feeding portion.
However, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Sho 62 No. 40257, when new paper has been loaded, the operator cannot select the paper to be fed to the processing portion through the operation of the control means. That is, it becomes impossible to reflect the operator's intention for the choice of the paper to be fed to the processing portion. Therefore, when a type of paper which is not the one to be fed to the processing portion is newly loaded to the paper feeding portion, for example, as in the case where an operator notices that, among the plural types of paper, a type of paper which should be stored in the paper feeding portion but is not the desired one to be fed to the processing portion is used up and supplies the paper, or as in the case where another operator other than the operator who is going to select the paper type supplies the paper to the paper feeding portion, paper which is not desired by the latter operator will be fed to the processing portion, thus giving rise to a failure to feed correct paper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus which, when new paper was loaded to the paper feeding portion, sets up the newly loaded paper as the one to be fed to the processing portion waiting for the operator's operation through the control means so as to perform the selecting task of the paper to be fed to the processing portion in a correct and efficient manner.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a sheet processing apparatus which selects and feeds one type of paper from plural types of paper accommodated in paper feeding portion to a processing portion to execute a predetermined process for the paper, is characterized in that paper to be fed to the processing portion is selected from the plural types of paper stored in the paper feeding portion by switching from one to another in a predetermined sequential order from the paper which was loaded to the paper feeding portion last.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above first feature, further includes a time measuring means for measuring the time which has elapsed from the last time when paper was loaded to the paper feeding portion, and is characterized in that, during the period before time measured by the time measuring means reaches the predetermined time, paper to be fed to the processing portion is selected from the plural types of paper stored in the paper feeding portion by switching from one to another in a predetermined sequential order from the paper which was loaded to the paper feeding portion last.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above first feature further includes a control means that allows for designation of the paper to be fed from the paper feeding portion to the processing portion, and is characterized in that every time the control means is operated, paper to be fed to the processing portion is selected from the plural types of paper by switching the feeder position from one to another in a predetermined sequential order from that to which paper was loaded last.
In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above second feature further includes a control means that allows for designation of the paper to be fed from the paper feeding portion to the processing portion, and is characterized in that every time the control means is operated, paper to be fed to the processing portion is selected from the plural types of paper by switching the feeder position from one to another in a predetermined sequential order from that to which paper was loaded last.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above first feature is characterized in that the processing portion is an image forming processing portion for forming images on the paper fed from the paper feeding portion.
In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above second feature is characterized in that the processing portion is an image forming processing portion for forming images on the paper fed from the paper feeding portion.
In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus having the above third feature is characterized in that the processing portion is an image forming processing portion for forming images on the paper fed from the paper feeding portion.
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Nomura Tatsuo
Yoshiura Syoichiro
Miller Johnathan R.
Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Walsh Donald P.
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