Image forming apparatus, method of controlling same and storage medium therefor

• US 20010021036A1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyake, Norifumi, Okamoto, Kiyoshi, Fujii, Takayuki, Moriyama, Tsuyoshi, Nakamura, Shinichi, Ohki, Naoyuki, Nimura, Mitsuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/414 of mode of operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/415 of job
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 33/04 by inserting marker slips in pile or stream
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/655 Placing job divider sheet between set of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00869 Cover sheet adding means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0032 with a medium handling apparatus, e.g. a sheet sorter handling thin or filamentary material, e.g. sheets B65H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00591 from the scanning position H04N1/00572 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00602 Feed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00623 Selectively inputting media from one of a plurality of input sources, e.g. input trays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00633 selectively to one of a plurality of output trays H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00639 Binding, stapling, folding or perforating, e.g. punching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00641 Sorting, reordering or inverting postal sorting or sorting individual articles B07C
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32635 of reproducing apparatus or receiver, e.g. out of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32667 Restarting a communication or performing a recovery operation

Abstract

There are provided an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided, which are capable of conveying an insert sheet of a proper page in carrying out a recovery process and simplifying the recovery process, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method. When a printing start instruction is input and an insert mode has been set, an insert sheet is fed. It is determined whether the insert sheet is for a top page of a copy (bundle) or not. When the insert sheet for the top page is detected, a proper printing operation in the insert mode is started. If the insert sheet is not determined to be for the top page, it is judged that the insert sheet has not been correctly set on the inserter tray, and then the insert sheet is discharged to a non-sort tray. Then, insert sheets are discharged to the non-sort tray until the insert sheet for the top page is detected.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading images recorded on originals;

image forming means for forming images on blank sheets based on the read images;

stacking means for stacking a plurality of insert sheets which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means;

inserter means for reading out the stacked insert sheets and inserting same between the sheets having images formed thereon;

designating means for designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means;

detecting means for detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means; and

discharging means operable when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first, for discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected.

2. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the image forming apparatus further comprising selecting means capable of selecting between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging means discharges insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

3. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 1

, further comprising post-processing means for stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and for carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets.

4. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 3

, wherein said discharging means discharges said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a conveyance path for insert sheets, and wherein said detecting means is provided on said conveyance path for insert sheets.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading images recorded on originals;

image forming means for forming images on blank sheets based on the read images;

stacking means for stacking a plurality of insert sheets which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means;

inserter means for reading out the stacked insert sheets and inserting same between said sheets having images formed thereon;

designating means for designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means;

detecting means for detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means;

interrupting means for interrupting a sheet inserting operation of said inserter means when at least one of the insert sheets has jammed while being inserted by said inserter means; and

discharging means operable when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first after the apparatus has recovered from the interruption by removing the at least one jammed insert sheet, for discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected, and for further discharging insert sheets from said stacking means up to an insert sheet immediately preceding a same type of sheet as the at least one jammed insert sheet.

7. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 6

, for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the image forming apparatus further comprising selecting means capable of selecting between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging means discharges insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

8. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 6

, further comprising post-processing means for stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and for carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets.

9. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein said discharging means discharges said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

10. An image forming apparatus according to

claim 6

, comprising a conveyance path for insert sheets, and wherein said detecting means is provided on said conveyance path for insert sheets.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading images recorded on originals;

image forming means for forming images on blank sheets based on the read images;

stacking means for stacking a plurality of insert sheets which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means;

inserter means for reading out the stacked insert sheets and inserting same between said sheets having images formed thereon;

mixed stacking means for stacking in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon;

insert sheet discharging detecting means for detecting that said insert sheets have been discharged to said mixed stacking means; and

sheet feeding control means responsive to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means, for controlling such that feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means be started.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading images recorded on originals;

image forming means for forming images on blank sheets based on the read images;

stacking means for stacking a plurality of insert sheets which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means;

inserter means for reading out the stacked insert sheets and inserting same between said sheets having images formed thereon;

mixed stacking means for stacking in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon;

image formed sheet discharging detecting means for detecting that said sheets having image formed thereon have been discharged to the mixed stacking means; and

reading control means responsive to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means, for controlling such that reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means be started.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading images recorded on originals;

image forming means for forming images on blank sheets based on the read images;

stacking means for stacking a plurality of insert sheets which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means;

inserter means for reading out the stacked insert sheets and inserting same between said sheets having images formed thereon;

mixed stacking means for stacking in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon;

insert sheet discharging detecting means for detecting that said insert sheets have been discharged to said mixed stacking means;

sheet feeding control means responsive to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means, for controlling such that feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means be started;

image formed sheet discharging detecting means for detecting that said sheets having image formed thereon have been discharged to the mixed stacking means; and

reading control means responsive to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means, for controlling such that reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means be started.

14. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means, by designating means;

detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first by detecting means when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means; and

discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected, by discharging means when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first.

15. A control method according to

claim 14

, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the control method further comprising a step of selecting by selecting means between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging step comprises discharging insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

16. A control method according to

claim 14

, further comprising the steps of stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets, by post-processing means.

17. A control method according to

claim 16

, wherein said discharging step comprises discharging said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

18. A control method according to

claim 14

, wherein said detecting means is provided on a conveyance path for insert sheets.

19. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means, by designating means;

detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first by detecting means when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means;

interrupting a sheet inserting operation of said inserter means by interrupting means when at least one of the insert sheets has jammed while being inserted by said inserter means; and

discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected, and further discharging insert sheets from said stacking means up to an insert sheet immediately preceding a same type of sheet as the at least one jammed insert sheet, by discharging means, when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first after the apparatus has recovered from the interruption by removing the at least one jammed insert sheet.

20. A control method according to

claim 19

, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the control method further comprising a step of selecting by selecting means between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging step comprises discharging insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

21. A control method according to

claim 19

, further comprising the steps of stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets, by post-processing means.

22. A control method according to

claim 21

, wherein said discharging step comprises discharging said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

23. A control method according to

claim 19

, wherein said detecting means is provided on a conveyance path for insert sheets.

24. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means.

25. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting reading reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means.

26. A control method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting sheet feeding of said blank sheet to said image forming means when discharging of said insert sheet has been detected by said insert sheet discharging detecting means;

detecting with an image formed sheet discharging detecting means that said sheet having image formed thereon has been discharged to said mixed stacking means; and

starting feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means;

detecting by image formed sheet discharging detecting means that said sheets having image formed thereon have been discharged to said mixed stacking means; and

starting reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means.

27. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions of a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means, by designating means;

detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first by detecting means when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means; and

discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected, by discharging means when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first.

28. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 27

, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the control method further comprising a step of selecting by selecting means between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging step comprises discharging insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

29. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 27

, wherein the control method further comprises the steps of stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets, by post-processing means.

30. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 29

, wherein said discharging step comprises discharging said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

31. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 27

, wherein said detecting means is provided on a conveyance path for insert sheets.

32. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions of a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

designating at least one position in said sheets having images formed thereon for insertion of at least one of the insert sheets by said inserter means, by designating means;

detecting an insert sheet to be inserted first by detecting means when a plurality of positions have been designated by said designating means;

interrupting a sheet inserting operation of said inserter means by interrupting means when at least one of the insert sheets has jammed while being inserted by said inserter means; and

discharging insert sheets from said stacking means until the insert sheet to be inserted first is detected, and further discharging insert sheets from said stacking means up to an insert sheet immediately preceding a same type of sheet as the at least one jammed insert sheet, by discharging means, when said detecting means detects that the insert sheet read out by said inserter means is not the insert sheet to be inserted first after the apparatus has recovered from the interruption by removing the at least one jammed insert sheet.

33. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 32

, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of trays for stacking said plurality of insert sheets in a divided manner, the control method further comprising a step of selecting by selecting means between two types of stacking modes consisting of a first stacking mode in which a same type of insert sheets are stacked on each of said plurality of trays and a second stacking mode in which plural types of insert sheets are stacked in order in which they are inserted on each of said plurality of trays, and wherein said discharging step comprises discharging insert sheets from said stacking means when said second stacking mode is selected by said selecting means.

34. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 32

, wherein the control method further comprises the steps of stacking said sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means in a fashion mixed with insert sheets inserted by said inserter means, and carrying out post-processing on the mixedly stacked sheets, by post-processing means.

35. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 34

, wherein said discharging step comprises discharging said insert sheets to a location other than said post-processing means.

36. A machine readable storage medium according to

claim 32

, wherein said detecting means is provided on a conveyance path for insert sheets.

37. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions of a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means.

38. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions of a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading with reading means image recorded on an original;

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting reading reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means.

39. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions of a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reading images recorded on originals by reading means;

forming images on blank sheets based on the read images by image forming means;

reading out insert sheets from a plurality of insert sheets stacked by stacking means, which are fed in a manner bypassing image formation by said image forming means and inserted between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and inserting the read out insert sheets between the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means, by inserter means;

detecting by insert sheet discharging detecting means that said insert sheets have been discharged to mixed stacking means that stacks in a mixed fashion the sheets having images formed thereon by said image forming means and insert sheets to be inserted by said inserter means between the sheets having images formed thereon; and

starting sheet feeding of said blank sheet to said image forming means when discharging of said insert sheet has been detected by said insert sheet discharging detecting means;

detecting with an image formed sheet discharging detecting means that said sheet having image formed thereon has been discharged to said mixed stacking means; and

starting feeding of said blank sheets to said image forming means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said insert sheet discharging detecting means;

detecting by image formed sheet discharging detecting means that said sheets having image formed thereon have been discharged to said mixed stacking means; and

starting reading of said insert sheets by said inserter means in response to detection of discharging of said insert sheets by said image formed sheet discharging detecting means.