Image forming method with stacking control
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorNobuyoshi Kakigi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes discharge bins in which image-formed sheets are stacked, and uses a bin elevating motor to switch discharging into one discharging bin. The image forming apparatus in provided with a sensor for detecting the amount of stacked paper in one discharging bin to which discharging can be performed. When the operational discharging bin is changed, the discharging bins are moved by the bin elevating motor, whereby the sensor detects the amount of stacked paper in the discharging bin to which discharging can be performed after the moving. Subsequently, the sensor directs a start of image formation.
Claims12
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- image forming means for forming images on sheets;
- a plurality of sheet stacking means in which said sheets are stacked;
- selector means for selecting one sheet stacking means;
- moving means for moving to a predetermined position the sheet stacking means selected in accordance with the selection by said selector means;
- detection means for detecting the sheet-stacked condition of the selected sheet stacking means at said predetermined position;
- and
- control means performing control so that, when one sheet stacking means is changed, said moving means moves the sheet stacking means, and after said detection means detects the sheet-stacked condition of the sheet stacking means, image formation by said image forming means is started.
An image forming method comprising the steps of:
- forming images on sheets;
- selecting any one of a plurality of sheet stacking means;
- moving the selected sheet stacking means to a predetermined position;
- detecting the sheet-stacked condition of the selected sheet stacking means at the predetermined position;
- and
- performing control so that, when one sheet stacking means is changed the sheet stacking means is moved, and after the sheet-stacked condition of the sheet stacking means is detected, image formation is started.
A stacker comprising:
- stacking means for stacking sheets on which images are formed;
- discharging control means for performing either of face-down discharging and face-up discharging onto said stacking means;
- detection means for detecting the amount of said sheets stacked on said stacking means;
- and
- full-stack detecting means for detecting a full stack in accordance with a first amount of the stacked sheets detected by said detection means when the face-down discharging is performed by said discharging control means, and detecting a full stack in accordance with a second amount of the stacked sheets, which is less than said first amount of the stacked sheets, detected by said detection means.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- image forming means for forming images on sheets;
- a plurality of sheet stacking means for stacking said sheets;
- control means for activating a first mode for stacking said sheets by the sheet stacking means specified by an external unit, and a second mode for stacking said sheets by
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.