Image forming apparatus capable of being fitted with offset stacker, copying machine equipped with the image forming apparatus, and method of controlling the image forming apparatus
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorHiroyuki Shiraishi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The CPU detects an error in the timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker on the basis of the time when the offset motor signal for driving the offset motor is generated and the time when the initial position sensor is turned ON. Upon detecting an error in the timing of offset stacking, the CPU forces the image formation by the image forming unit and the paper transportation by the paper transporting motor to stop, thus preventing paper from being introduced into the offset stacker.
Claims16
An image forming apparatus which forms images on recording sheets transported by a transport mechanism on a predetermined path using an image forming device, and which can be fitted with an offset stacker that, in discharging the sheets into a discharge tray, offset stacks the sheets in the discharge tray, said image forming apparatus comprising:
- error detection means for detecting an error in a timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker;
- and
- forced stopping means for forcing a stop in operation of the transport mechanism and the image forming device when the error detection means outputs an error detection signal.
A copying machine which includes an image scanner for scanning images on original sheets and an image forming apparatus for forming the images scanned by the image scanner on recording sheets transported by a transport mechanism on a predetermined path using an image forming device, wherein said image forming apparatus is adapted to be fitted with an offset stacker that, in discharging the recording sheets into a discharge tray, offset stacks the recording sheets in the discharge tray, said copying machine comprising:
- error detection means for detecting an error in a timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker;
- and
- forced stopping means for forcing a stop in operation of the transport mechanism and the image forming device when the error detection means outputs an error detection signal.
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus which forms images on recording sheets transported by a transport mechanism on a predetermined path using an image forming device, and which can be fitted with an offset stacker that, in discharging the sheets into a discharge tray, offset stacks the sheets in the discharge tray, said image forming apparatus comprising:
- detecting an error in a timing of offset stacking by the offset stacker;
- and
- forcing a stop in operation of the transport mechanism and the image forming device when the error in the timing of offset stacking is detected.
An image forming system comprising:
- (i) an image forming apparatus which forms images on recording sheets, and which includes a first conveying path that conveys the sheets;
- (ii) an offset stacker connected with the image forming apparatus, said offset stacker including:
- a second conveying path, downstream of the first conveying path, that further conveys the sheets;
- a discharge roller, provided at an end portion of the second conveying path, that discharges the sheets while the sheets are shifted in a direction intersecting perpendicularly with a conveying direction of the sheets;
- a discharge tray that receives the sheets discharged from the discharge roller in a shifted state;
- and
- a sensor disposed in the second conveying path for sensing a timing error in shifting of the sheets by the discharge roller;
- and
- (iii) a controller which controls conveying of the sheets on the first and second conveying paths to be stopped when the sensor senses the timing error.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.