U.S. patent application number 14/810772 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-04 for image forming apparatus that controls way of discharging sheet bundles, control method for image forming apparatus, and storage medium.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Junichi Mori.
Application Number | 20160031669 14/810772 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55179281 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160031669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mori; Junichi |
February 4, 2016 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT CONTROLS WAY OF DISCHARGING SHEET
BUNDLES, CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE
MEDIUM
Abstract
An image forming apparatus which is capable of preventing
printed matter from being discharged in a way that is not intended
by a user. A printer unit prints an image on a sheet. A sheet
bundle including a sheet on which the image has been printed by the
printer unit is conveyed and stacked on a discharging tray, which
has a stopper that prevents the stacked sheet bundle from falling
down to the floor. A state of the stopper is detected, and based on
the detected state, notification is provided to the user.
Inventors: |
Mori; Junichi; (Toride-shi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
55179281 |
Appl. No.: |
14/810772 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
270/1.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 31/22 20130101;
B65H 2801/06 20130101; B65H 31/02 20130101; B65H 43/06 20130101;
B65H 2404/692 20130101; G03G 15/502 20130101; B65H 2511/30
20130101; B65H 2301/4212 20130101; G03G 15/6544 20130101; B65H
2511/30 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H 2405/11152 20130101;
B65H 2405/1124 20130101; B65H 31/24 20130101; B65H 2701/18271
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 26/00 20060101
B65H026/00; B65H 31/22 20060101 B65H031/22; B65H 39/10 20060101
B65H039/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2014 |
JP |
2014-156081 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit
configured to print an image on a sheet; a conveying unit
configured to convey a sheet bundle including a sheet on which the
image has been printed by said printing unit; a discharging tray
configured to have the sheet bundle, which has been conveyed by
said conveying unit, stacked thereon and have a stopper that
prevents the stacked sheet bundle from falling onto a floor; a
detection unit configured to detect a state of the stopper; and a
notification unit configured to provide notification to a user
based on a result of the detection by said detection unit.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
state detected by said detection unit is a state in which the
stopper is attached to the discharging tray in a position to hold
the sheet bundle or a state in which the stopper is not attached to
the discharging tray in the position to hold the sheet bundle.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when
the state detected by said detection unit is a state in which the
stopper is not attached to the discharging tray in a position to
hold the sheet bundle, said notification unit displays a first
message.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
first message informs the user that the stopper is not attached to
the discharging tray in the position to hold the sheet bundle.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a determination unit configured to determine the number
of sheet bundles that are conveyed by said conveying unit, and
wherein said notification unit displays a second message when the
state detected by said detection unit is a state in which the
stopper is attached to the discharging tray in a position to hold
the sheet bundle, and the number of sheet bundle determined by said
determination unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined
value.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
second message informs the user that the stopper is attached to the
discharging tray in a position to hold the sheet bundle.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
notification unit provides the notification before printing is
started by said printing unit.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising an authentication unit configured to perform
authentication of the user, and wherein said notification unit
provides the notification in response to the user being
successfully authenticated by said authentication unit.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a judgment unit configured to, when a second print job
is to be executed after a first print job is executed, judge
whether the notification by said notification unit is necessary
based on whether a user who has ordered execution of the first job
and a user who has ordered execution of the second job are the
same.
10. A control method for an image forming apparatus which has a
printing unit that prints an image on a sheet, a conveying unit
that conveys a sheet bundle including a sheet on which the image
has been printed by the printing unit, and a discharging tray on
which the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying unit is stacked
and which has a stopper that prevents the stacked sheet bundle from
falling down to a floor, comprising: a detection step of detecting
a state of the stopper; and a notification step of providing
notification to a user based on a result of the detection in said
detection step.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a
program for causing a computer to execute a control method for an
image forming apparatus which has a printing unit that prints an
image on a sheet, a conveying unit that conveys a sheet bundle
including a sheet on which the image has been printed by the
printing unit, and a discharging tray on which the sheet bundle
conveyed by the conveying unit is stacked and which has a stopper
that prevents the stacked sheet bundle from falling down to a
floor, the control method comprising: a detection step of detecting
a state of the stopper; and a notification step of providing
notification to a user based on a result of the detection in the
detection step.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a storage
medium.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses are known which
have a discharging tray onto which bundles of recording sheets that
have been subjected to a saddle-stitching process are discharged
(hereafter referred to as "sheet bundles") (see, for example,
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2010-168134). The
discharging tray has a stopper, which holds sheet bundles
discharged from an image forming apparatus on the discharging tray
to prevent the sheet bundles from falling down to the floor.
[0005] In the case where the discharging tray is equipped with the
stopper described above, the discharging tray becomes full and
printing is suspended when printed matter more than a predetermined
number of sheets (a predetermined number of bundles) is discharged.
In this case, to resume printing, a user needs to remove the
printed matter from the discharging tray.
[0006] On the other hand, it is also conceivable that the stopper
for holding printed matter on the discharging tray is configured to
be removable (openable). When the stopper is removed from the
discharging tray, printed matter slips off the discharging tray,
but if a collecting box is placed in advance below the discharging
tray, the printed matter is put in the collecting box. Namely, if a
collecting box in which a larger amount of printed matter than an
amount allowed to be stacked on the discharging tray at a time is
placed, the number of times printing is suspended decreases to
reduce time and effort for a user.
[0007] However, there are cases where, for example, a certain user
removes the stopper, places the collecting box under the
discharging tray, and after printing is completed, carries the
collecting box with the stopper removed and leaves the image
forming apparatus. In this case, when another user who desires to
hold sheet bundles on the discharging tray using the stopper starts
printing without being aware that the stopper has been removed, the
sheet bundles fall down to the floor, and dirt is adhered to the
sheet bundles on the floor. This is contrary to the intention of
the user who desired to hold the sheet bundle on the discharging
tray using the stopper.
[0008] Also, when a user who desires to put printed matter in the
collecting box without using the stopper starts printing without
being aware that the stopper is attached to the discharging tray,
printing is suspended earlier than expected by the user. This
requires time and effort to remove printed matter from the
discharging tray. Further, if a user temporarily stays away from
the image forming apparatus after printing is started, printing
cannot be resumed when printing is suspended, and the state of
suspension continues until the user comes back, resulting in low
productivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides an image forming apparatus
and a control method therefor, which are capable of preventing
printed matter from being discharged in a way that is not intended
by a user, as well as a storage medium.
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming
apparatus comprising a printing unit configured to print an image
on a sheet, a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet bundle
including a sheet on which the image has been printed by the
printing unit, a discharging tray configured to have the sheet
bundle, which has been conveyed by the conveying unit, stacked
thereon and have a stopper that prevents the stacked sheet bundle
from falling onto a floor, a detection unit configured to detect a
state of the stopper, and a notification unit configured to provide
notification to a user based on a result of the detection by the
detection unit.
[0011] According to the present invention, a state of the stopper
provided in the discharging tray on which printed matter is stacked
is detected, and based on the detected state, notification is
provided to the user. This prevents printed matter from being
discharged in a way that is not intended by the user.
[0012] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
(with reference to the attached drawings).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an
arrangement of an image forming system including an image forming
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of a printer unit in FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of a finisher unit in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams useful in explaining a sheet
bundle stacking unit in FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display
process which is carried out by a CPU in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views useful in explaining confirmation
display screens displayed in steps S606 and S606 in FIG. 6.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a first variation of the
procedure of the display process in FIG. 6.
[0021] FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing a second variation of the
procedure of the display process in FIG. 6. FIG. 9B is a flowchart
showing the procedure of a first print job which is executed in
step S901 in FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C is a flowchart showing the procedure
of a second print job which is executed in step S902 in FIG.
9A.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a third variation of the
procedure of the display process in FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an
arrangement of an image forming system 100 including an image
forming apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] The image forming system 100 in FIG. 1 has the image forming
apparatus 101 and a computer terminal 102, and the image forming
apparatus 101 and the computer terminal 102 are connected together
via a network 103. A user operates the computer terminal 102 to
instruct the image forming apparatus 101 to, for example, execute
print job.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of the image forming apparatus 101 in FIG. 1.
[0027] The image forming apparatus 101 in FIG. 2 has a scanner unit
201, a printer unit 202, an operating unit 203, a controller 204,
and a finisher unit 205, and the controller 204 has a CPU 206, a
work memory 207, an image processing unit 208, an image memory 209,
an HDD 210, and a network I/F 211.
[0028] The scanner unit 201, the printer unit 202, the work memory
207, the image processing unit 208, the HDD 210, and the network
I/F 211 are connected to one another via the CPU 206. The image
memory 209 is connected to the image processing unit 208 and the
HDD 210, the network I/F 211 is connected to the network 103, and
the finisher unit 205 is connected to the printer unit 202. The
scanner unit 201 and the printer unit 202 are connected to the
image processing unit 208 via image signal lines 212 and 213,
respectively.
[0029] The scanner unit 201 reads an original and obtains image
data corresponding to the original. The printer 202 prints, for
example, image data, which is obtained by the scanner unit 201, on
a recording sheet. The operating unit 203 has hardware keys, an
operating panel, and so on, and a user inputs instructions to the
image forming apparatus 101 through the hardware keys and the
operating panel. It should be noted that the operating panel may
have, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and for example,
information on the image forming apparatus 101 is displayed on the
liquid crystal monitor. The finisher unit 205 carries out a
finishing process such as a stapling process, or a saddle stitching
process including two processes, i.e. a stapling process and a
folding process.
[0030] The CPU 206 controls the component elements of the image
forming apparatus 101 by executing programs stored in the HDD 210.
The work memory 207 temporarily stores, for example, programs which
are executed by the CPU 206 so as to control the component elements
of the image forming apparatus 101. The image processing unit 208
subjects, for example, image data read by the scanner unit 201 to a
shading process and various types of filtering processes. The image
processing unit 208 also converts page description language data,
which is obtained by way of the network I/F 211, into image data in
a printable format. The image memory 209 temporarily stores, for
example, image data read by the scanner unit 201. The HDD 210,
which is a high-capacity storage device, stores image data and
various programs.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of the printer unit 202 in FIG. 2.
[0032] The printer unit 202 in FIG. 3 has a polygon mirror 301,
mirrors 302 to 313, photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and
314K, toner cartridges 315C, 315M, 315Y, and 315K, developing
devices 316C, 316M, 316Y, and 316K, a transfer belt 318, a transfer
roller 318, cassettes 319 and 320, a manual feed tray 321, a
conveying belt 322, a fixing device 323, a flapper 324, and a path
325.
[0033] Image data which is printed on a recording sheet is
comprised of four colors, i.e. cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y),
and black (K), and a semiconductor laser drive unit (not shown)
irradiates the photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K,
which are electrically charged, with laser light corresponding to
the respective colors by way of the polygon mirror 301 and the
mirrors 302 to 313. As a result, electrostatic latent images are
formed on the photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K, and
the electrostatic latent images are developed by tonner supplied
from the toner cartridges 315C, 315M, 315Y, and 315K and the
developing devices 316C, 316M, 316Y, and 316K, and this forms toner
images on the photosensitive drums 314C, 314M, 314Y, and 314K.
[0034] The generated toner images are transferred onto the transfer
belt 317, and at the transfer roller 318, the toner images
transferred onto the transfer belt 317 are transferred onto a
surface of a recording sheet conveyed from any one of the cassettes
319 and 320 and the manual feed tray 321. The recording sheet onto
the surface of which the toner images have been transferred is
conveyed to the fixing device 323 via the conveying belt 322, and
the toner images are fixed onto the recording sheet by the fixing
device 323. The recording sheet with the toner images fixed thereon
is conveyed to the path 325 via the flapper 324, then changes the
direction in which it is headed, and is discharged from the printer
unit 202.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an internal
arrangement of the finisher unit 205 in FIG. 2.
[0036] The finisher unit 205 in FIG. 4 has a sheet bundle
bringing-in unit 401, a Z-folding machine 402, a path 403, rollers
404, an escape tray 405, a puncher 406, a stapler 407, a stack tray
408, a saddle stitcher 409, discharging rollers 410a and 410b, and
a sheet bundle stacking unit 411, and the sheet bundle stacking
unit 411 has a saddle tray 412.
[0037] A sheet bundle Sb comprised of a plurality of recording
sheets discharged from the printer unit 202 is brought into the
finisher unit 205 from the sheet bundle bringing-in unit 401, and
when the sheet bundle Sb is to be folded in a Z-form, the sheet
bundle Sb is conveyed to the Z-folding machine 402 and folded in a
Z-form. When the sheet bundle Sb is not to be folded in a Z-form,
the sheet bundle Sb is conveyed to the rollers 404 via the path 403
without being conveyed to the Z-folding machine 402.
[0038] When no finishing process is to be carried out for the sheet
bundle Sb brought into the finisher unit 205 from the sheet bundle
bringing-in unit 401, the sheet bundle Sb is directly discharged
onto the escape tray 405. When the puncher 406 is to carry out a
punching process in which it punches the sheet bundle Sb and/or
when the stapler 407 is to carry out a stapling process in which it
staples the sheet bundle Sb, the sheet bundle Sb is discharged onto
the stack tray 408. When the saddle stitcher 409 has carried out a
stapling process for the sheet bundle Sb and also has carried out a
saddle stitching process in which it folds the sheet bundle Sb in
two, the sheet bundle Sb is discharged onto the saddle tray 412 via
the discharging rollers 410a and 410b.
[0039] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams useful in explaining the sheet
bundle stacking unit 411 in FIG. 4.
[0040] The sheet bundle stacking unit 411 in FIGS. 5A and 5B has a
stopper unit 501, a collecting box 502, a mode sensor 503, and a
stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 as well as the saddle
tray 412 described above, and the stopper unit 501 is comprised of
a stopper 501a and a sheet bundle stacking surface 501b. The
stopper 501a prevents the sheet bundles Sb stacked on the sheet
bundle stacking surface 501b from falling down to the floor.
[0041] One end of the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b is fixed
to the finisher unit 205, and the stopper unit 501 is fixed so as
to pivotally rotate about the fixed end of the sheet bundle
stacking surface 501b. The stopper unit 501 rotates in, for
example, a range indicated by an arrow d1 in the figure. One end of
the saddle tray 412 is fixed to the finisher unit 205, and the
fixed end of the saddle tray 412 is at a higher level than the
other end of the saddle tray 412 with respect to a vertical
direction. Thus, the sheet bundle Sb discharged onto the saddle
tray 412 moves in a direction indicated by an arrow d2 in the
figure.
[0042] By attaching the stopper unit 501 to the saddle tray 412 or
removing the stopper unit 501 attached to the saddle tray 412 from
the saddle tray 412, the user selects a desired way, for example, a
normal mode or a through mode, to be described later, as a way of
discharging the sheet bundle Sb onto the saddle tray 412 (hereafter
referred to as "the stacking mode").
[0043] Specifically, when the user desires to hold the sheet bundle
Sb on the saddle tray 412 by restricting movement of the sheet
bundle Sb in the direction indicated by the arrow d2 in the figure,
he or she selects the normal mode in which the stopper unit 501 is
attached to the saddle tray 412 as the stacking mode (see FIG. 5A).
When the user desires to collect the sheet bundle Sb into the
collecting box 502 placed in advance, he or she selects the through
mode in which the stopper unit 501 is removed from the saddle tray
412 as the stacking mode (see FIG. 5B). It should be noted that
when the user selects the normal mode as the stacking mode, the
maximum number of sheet bundles Sb allowed to be held on the saddle
tray 412 by the stopper 501a (hereafter referred to as "the maximum
number of sheet bundles") is stored in advance in the HDD 210.
[0044] The mode sensor 503 detects whether or not the stopper unit
501 is attached to the saddle tray 412 and determines the stacking
mode selected by the user. When the stopper unit 501 is attached to
the saddle tray 412, the mode sensor 503 determines that the normal
mode is selected as the stacking mode, and when the stopper unit
501 is removed from the saddle tray 412, the mode sensor 503
determines that the through mode is selected as the stacking
mode.
[0045] Namely, whether the normal mode is set or the through mode
is set is determined based on the position of the stopper 501 using
the mode sensor 503, and hence the stacking mode is easily
determined, which eliminates the need to have an additional device
or the like for determination.
[0046] The stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 is fixed to
the sheet bundle stacking surface 501b of the stopper unit 501, and
when the normal mode is selected as the stacking mode, the
stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 projects out from the
sheet bundle stacking surface 501b to detect whether or not any
sheet bundle Sb is stacked on the sheet bundle stacking surface
501b. It should be noted that in place of the mode sensor 503, the
stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 may determine whether the
normal mode or the through mode is selected as the stacking mode as
will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.
[0047] A description will now be given of a display process which
is a control method for the image forming apparatus according to
the embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display
process which is carried out by the CPU 206 in FIG. 2.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 6, first, the CPU 206 analyzes a print job
of which execution has been ordered by the user and determines
whether or not sheet bundles Sb corresponding to the print job are
to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 (step S601). As a result
of the determination in the step S601, when the sheet bundles Sb
are not to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412, the CPU 206
executes the print job and discharges the sheet bundles Sb onto a
discharge tray other than the saddle tray 412, for example, the
escape tray 405 or the stack tray 408 (step S602) and terminates
the present process. As a result of the determination in the step
S601, when the sheet bundles Sb are to be discharged onto the
saddle tray 412, the CPU 206 determines whether or not the through
mode is selected as the stacking mode (that is, whether or not the
stopper unit 501 has been removed) (step S603).
[0050] As a result of the determination in the step S603, when the
through mode is selected as the stacking mode, the CPU 206 displays
a confirmation display screen 700a (first message) in FIG. 7A, to
be described later, on the operating unit 203 (provide notification
to the user) (step S604). As a result of the determination in the
step S603, when the through mode is not selected as the stacking
mode, the CPU 206 determines whether or not the number of sheet
bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is greater
than the maximum number of sheet bundles (step S605).
[0051] As a result of the determination in the step S605, when the
number of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray
412 is greater than the maximum number of sheet bundles (i.e.
greater than a predetermined value), the CPU 206 displays a
confirmation display screen 700b (second message) in FIG. 7B, to be
described later, on the operating unit 203 (provide notification to
the user) (step S606). On the other hand, as a result of the
determination in the step S605, when the number of sheet bundles Sb
to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is equal to or smaller
than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the CPU 206 skips the
steps S606 and S607, executes the print job, discharges the sheet
bundles Sb onto the saddle tray 412 (step S608), and terminates the
present process. It should be noted that when it is determined in
the step S603 that the through mode is not selected as the stacking
mode, the process may directly proceed to the step S608 with the
step S605 skipped.
[0052] Here, the confirmation display screen 700a has a
confirmation display section 701a, an OK button 702a, and a cancel
button 703a as shown in FIG. 7A, and the confirmation display
screen 700b has a confirmation display section 701b, an OK button
702b, and a cancel button 703b as shown in FIG. 7B.
[0053] The confirmation display screen 700a is displayed on the
operating unit 203 when the through mode is selected as the
stacking mode, and the confirmation display section 701a informs
the user that the through mode is selected as the stacking mode and
indicates that it is necessary to check whether the collecting box
502 in which sheet bundles Sb are collected after printing is
placed. Also, when the collecting box 502 is not placed, the
confirmation display section 701a indicates that it is necessary to
change the stacking mode from the through mode to the normal mode.
The OK button 702a is depressed to execute a print job, and the
cancel button 703a is depressed to cancel execution of a print
job.
[0054] The confirmation display screen 700b is displayed on the
operating unit 203 when the normal mode is selected as the stacking
mode, and the confirmation display section 701b informs the user
that the normal mode is selected as the stacking mode. The
confirmation display section 701b also warns that printing will be
suspended halfway because the number of sheet bundles Sb to be
discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is greater than the maximum
number of sheet bundles, and indicates that it is necessary to
change the stacking mode from the through mode to the normal mode
and place the collecting box 502 so as to prevent printing from
being suspended. The OK button 702b is depressed to execute a print
job, and the cancel button 703b is depressed to cancel execution of
a print job.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 6 again, the CPU 206 determines whether or
not the OK button 702a, 702b on the confirmation display screen
700a, 700b displayed in the step S604, S606 has been depressed
(step S607). As a result of the determination in the step S607,
when the OK button 702a, 702b has been depressed, the process
proceeds to the step S608, in which the CPU 206 in turn executes
the print job, discharges the sheet bundles Sb onto the saddle tray
412, and terminates the present process. On the other hand, when
the cancel button 703a, 703b has been depressed, the CPU 206
cancels execution of the print job (step S609) and terminates the
present process.
[0056] According to the process in FIG. 6, when it is determined
that the normal mode in which the stopper mode 501 is used is
selected as the stacking mode (NO in the step S603), and the number
of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is
greater than the maximum number of sheet bundles (YES in the step
S605), the confirmation display screen 700b is displayed to check
whether or not to change the stacking mode from the normal mode to
the through mode (step S606).
[0057] Since the confirmation display screen 700b indicates that
the number of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle
tray 412 is greater than the maximum number of sheet bundles, and
printing will be suspended, the user recognizes the need to change
the stacking mode from the normal mode to the through mode. This
circumvents a situation in which the user does not recognize that
all sheet bundles Sb have not been discharged onto the saddle tray
412 until he or she collects the sheet bundles Sb.
[0058] Moreover, according to the process in FIG. 6, when it is
determined that the through mode is selected as the stacking mode
(YES in the step S603), the confirmation display screen 700a is
displayed (step S604). The confirmation display screen 700a informs
the user that the through mode is selected and also indicates that
it is necessary to check whether or not the collecting box 502 in
which the sheet bundles Sb are to be collected is placed.
[0059] As a result, the user who desires to perform printing in the
normal mode recognizes that the through mode is set, and hence by
changing the stacking mode to the normal mode, the user prevents
the sheet bundles Sb from falling down to the floor and prevents
dirt from being adhered to the sheet bundles Sb that have fallen
down to the floor. Further, according to the process in FIG. 6,
since the user recognizes the need to place the collecting box 502
in which the sheet bundles Sb are to be collected is placed, a
situation in which printing is started without the collecting box
502 being placed by the user, the sheet bundles Sb fall down to the
floor, and dirt is adhered to the sheet bundles Sb that have fallen
down to the floor is avoided. Namely, printed matter is prevented
from being discharged in a way that is not intended by the
user.
[0060] A description will now be given of a display process which
is a first variation of the control method for the image forming
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a first variation of the
procedure of the display process in FIG. 6.
[0062] The display process in FIG. 8 is carried out so as to have
the user to see the confirmation display screen 700a, 700b
displayed on the operating unit 203 of the image forming apparatus
101 when execution of a print job is ordered by the user through
the computer terminal 102. Accordingly, the process in FIG. 8 is
based on the assumption that the image forming apparatus 101 has an
authentication function. It should be noted that processes in steps
S601 to S609 in FIG. 8 are the same as those in the steps S601 to
S609 in FIG. 6, and therefore, only features different from the
processes in FIG. 6 will be described below.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 8, as a result of the determination in the
step S603, when the through mode is selected as the stacking mode,
the CPU 206 determines whether or not a user who sent a print job
to the image forming apparatus 101 has directly input, for example,
a user ID and a password to the operating unit 203, and
authentication of the user has been performed (step S801). As a
result of the determination in the step S801, when authentication
of the user has not been performed, the process returns to the step
S801, and when authentication of the user has been performed, the
CPU 206 determines again whether or not the through mode is
selected as the stacking mode (step S802). As a result of the
determination in the step S802, when the through mode is selected
as the stacking mode, the process proceeds to the step S604, and
when the through mode is not selected, the process proceeds to the
step S605.
[0064] On the other hand, as a result of the determination in the
step S603, when the through mode is not selected as the stacking
mode, the CPU 206 determines whether or not the number of sheet
bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is greater
than the maximum number of sheet bundles (step S803).
[0065] As a result of the determination in the step S803, when the
number of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray
412 is greater than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the
process proceeds to the step S801, and when the number of sheet
bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is equal to or
smaller than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the process
proceeds to the step S608 with the steps S604 to S607 and the steps
S801 and S802 skipped. It should be noted that when it is
determined in the step S603 that the through mode is not selected
as the stacking mode, the process can directly proceed to the step
S608 with the step S803 skipped.
[0066] According to the process in FIG. 8, when authentication of
the user has been performed (YES in the step S801), and the through
mode is selected as the stacking mode (YES in the step S802), the
confirmation display screen 700a described above is displayed (step
S604). When authentication of the user has been performed (YES in
the step S801), the normal mode is selected as the stacking mode
(NO in the step S802), and the number of sheet bundles Sb to be
discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is greater than the maximum
number of sheet bundles (YES in the step S605), the confirmation
display screen 700b described above is displayed (step S606).
[0067] It should be noted that when authentication of the user is
to be performed in the step S801, the user is close to the image
forming apparatus 101 so as to directly input, for example, a user
ID and a password to the operating unit 203, the user realizably
sees the confirmation display screen 700a, 700b displayed on the
operating unit 203 in the step S604, S606 and reliably recognizes
whether the through mode is set or the normal mode is set.
[0068] Moreover, according to the process in FIG. 8, whether or not
the through mode is selected as the stacking mode is determined
(step S603), authentication of the user is performed (step S801),
and whether or not the through mode is selected as the stacking
mode is determined again (step S802).
[0069] In the step S603, for example, there may be a case where
before authentication of the user is performed after it is
determined that the through mode is selected as the stacking mode,
the stacking mode is changed from the through mode to the normal
mode by another user. In this case, if the user who has not
recognized that the stacking mode was changed uses the image
forming apparatus 101, the image forming apparatus 101 discharges
sheet bundles Sb onto the saddle tray 412 in the normal mode. In
the normal mode, when the number of sheet bundles Sb to be
discharged is greater than the maximum number of sheet bundles, the
image forming apparatus 101 automatically suspends printing, and
hence all the sheet bundles Sb are not discharged onto the saddle
tray 412 against a user's will.
[0070] To cope with this, whether or not the through mode is
selected is determined again in the step S802 to prevent the
process from proceeding while the normal mode is still selected as
the stacking mode against a user's will. After that, in the through
mode selected as the stacking mode again, all the sheet bundles Sb
are collected into the placed collecting box 502, and this prevents
printed matter from being discharged in a way that is not intended
by the user.
[0071] A description will now be given of a display process which
is a second variation of the control method for the image forming
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0072] FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing a second variation of the
procedure of the display process in FIG. 6.
[0073] The process in FIG. 9A is carried out when sheet bundles Sb
corresponding to at least two print jobs of which execution has
been ordered by the same user are successively discharged onto the
saddle tray 412 in the normal mode or the through mode. In the
process in FIG. 9A, it is assumed, for example, that sheet bundles
Sb1 and Sb2 corresponding to a first print job and a second print
job, respectively, of which execution has been ordered by the same
user are successively discharged onto the saddle tray 412 in the
normal mode or the through mode.
[0074] According to this variation, the first print job in FIG. 9B
(step S901), to be described later, and the second print job in
FIG. 9C (step S902), to be described later, are successively
executed.
[0075] FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first
print job which is executed in the step S901 in FIG. 9A. Processes
in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 9B are the same as those in the steps
S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, and therefore, only features different from
the processes in FIG. 6 will be described below.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 9B, as a result of the determination in
the step S607, when the OK button 702a, 702b has been depressed,
the CPU 206 stores, in the work memory 207, stacking mode
information indicative of whether the stacking mode selected when
the first print job is to be executed is the normal mode or the
through mode and also stores, in the work memory 207, user
information on a user who has ordered execution of the first print
job, for example, a user name and a date and time at which
execution of the first print job was ordered (step S903), followed
by the process proceeding to the step S608.
[0077] FIG. 9C is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second
print job which is executed in the step S902 in FIG. 9A. Processes
in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 9C are the same as those in the steps
S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, and therefore, only features different from
the processes in FIG. 6 will be described below.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 9C, as a result of the determination in
the step S601, when the sheet bundle Sb2 is to be discharged onto
the saddle tray 412, the CPU 206 determines whether or not the
stacking mode selected when the second print job is to be executed
is the same as the stacking mode when the first print job was
executed based on the stacking mode information stored in the work
memory 207 in the step S903 (step S904).
[0079] As a result of the determination in the step S904, when the
stacking mode selected when the second print job is to be executed
is the same as the stacking mode selected when the first print job
was executed, the CPU 206 determines whether or not the user who
has ordered execution of the first print job and the user who has
ordered execution of the second print job are the same based on the
user information stored in the work memory 207 in the step S903
(step S905).
[0080] As a result of the determination in the step S905, when the
users are not the same, the process proceeds to the step S603, and
then the processes in the steps S603 to S607 are carried out. As a
result of the determination in the step S607, when the OK button
702a, 702b has been depressed, the CPU 206 stores the stacking mode
information and the user information in the work memory 207 (step
S906), followed by the process proceeding to the step S608. As a
result of the determination in the step S905, when the users are
the same, the process proceeds to the step S906 with the steps S603
to S607 skipped.
[0081] As a result of the determination in the step S904, when the
stacking mode selected when the second print job is to be executed
is not the same as the stacking mode selected when the first print
job was executed, the process proceeds to the step S603 with the
step S905 skipped.
[0082] According to the processes in FIGS. 9A to 9C, when the
stacking mode selected when the second print job is executed is the
same as the stacking mode selected when the first print job was
executed, and the user who ordered execution of the first print job
and the user who ordered execution of the second print job are the
same (steps S904 and S905), the confirmation display screen 700a or
the confirmation display screen 700b is not displayed when the
second print job is to be executed.
[0083] In other words, the confirmation display screen 700a or the
confirmation display screen 700b is displayed only when the first
print job is to be executed, and hence the user does not have to
see the confirmation display screen 700a or the confirmation
display screen 700b each time a print job is to be executed. This
reduces time and effort for the user.
[0084] A description will now be given of a display process which
is a third variation of the control method for the image forming
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0085] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third
variation of the display process in FIG. 6.
[0086] Processes in steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 10 are the same as
those in the steps S601 to S609 in FIG. 6, and therefore, only
features different from the processes in FIG. 6 will be described
below. It should be noted that the process in FIG. 10 is carried
out, for example, when the sheet bundle stacking unit 411 does not
have the mode sensor 503, and the stacked-sheet presence-absence
sensor 504 is used to detect whether the normal mode or the through
mode is selected as the stacking mode.
[0087] As a result of the determination in the step S601, when
sheet bundles Sb are to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412, the
CPU 206 determines whether or not the number of sheet bundles Sb to
be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is two or more (step S1001).
As a result of the determination in the step S1001, when the number
of sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is
two or more, the CPU 206 executes the print job and discharges one
of the sheet bundles Sb onto the saddle tray 412 (step S1002).
[0088] Then, based on the result of detection by the stacked-sheet
presence-absence sensor 504, the CPU 206 determines whether or not
the through mode is selected as the stacking mode (step S603).
Specifically, when one of the sheet bundles Sb is discharged onto
the saddle tray 412, and the stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor
504 detects that the discharged one of the sheet bundles Sb is
stacked on the saddle tray 412, the CPU 206 determines that the
normal mode is selected as the stacking mode. On the other hand,
when one of the sheet bundles Sb is discharged onto the saddle tray
412, but the stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 detects that
no sheet bundle Sb is stacked on the saddle tray 412, the CPU 206
determines that the through mode is selected as the stacking
mode.
[0089] As a result of the determination in the step S603, when the
through mode is selected as the stacking mode, the process proceeds
to the step S604, and when the through mode is not selected as the
stacking mode, the process proceeds to the step S605. As a result
of the determination in the step S1001, when the number of sheet
bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is one, the
process proceeds to the step S608 with the processes in the steps
S1001 and S603 to S607 skipped.
[0090] According to the process in FIG. 10, when the number of
sheet bundles Sb to be discharged onto the saddle tray 412 is two
or more (step S1001), and one of the sheet bundles Sb is discharged
onto the saddle tray 412 (step S1002), whether or not the through
mode is selected as the stacking mode is determined based on a
result of detection by the stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor
504 (step S603). The image forming apparatus 101 is usually
equipped with the stacked-sheet presence-absence sensor 504 which
is for use in determining whether or not sheet bundles Sb are
stacked on the saddle tray 412, and hence whether the normal mode
or the through mode is selected as the stacking mode is determined
without additionally providing the image forming apparatus 101 with
any new device or the like.
[0091] Although in the embodiment described above, the state in
which the stopper unit 501 lies in the position in FIG. 5A is
referred to as the state in which "the stopper is attached", and
the state in which the stopper unit 501 lies in the position in
FIG. 5B is referred to as the state in which "the stopper is
removed". However, when the stopper unit 501 is configured to be
openable and closable like a door, a state in which the door is
closed is a state in which "the stopper is attached", and the state
in which the door is opened is the state in which "the stopper is
removed".
Other Embodiments
[0092] Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized
by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes
computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)
recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more
fully as a `non-transitory computer-readable storage medium`) to
perform the functions of one or more of the above-described
embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the
functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus
by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.), a flash memory
device, a memory card, and the like.
[0093] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0094] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2014-156081, filed Jul. 31, 2014, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
* * * * *