Sheet post-processing device, image forming apparatus having the device and error handling method therefor

An error handling method with respect to a sheet that is not suitable for post-processing in an image forming apparatus having a sheet post-processing device that conducts the post-processing on the discharged sheet, wherein:

• said sheet post-processing device comprises:
• a first sheet discharge path through which the sheet transported from said image forming apparatus is transported to a sheet stacking means disposed in said image forming apparatus;
• first sheet discharge path open/close means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path, and closes said first sheet discharge path to temporarily support the sheet transported from said image forming apparatus, or opens said first sheet discharge path to transport the sheet transported from said image forming apparatus to said sheet stacking means;
• and
• processing means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path and conducts post-processing with respect to the sheet temporarily supported by said first sheet discharge path open/close means;
• said image forming apparatus comprises:
• image forming means that forms an image on the sheet;
• said sheet stacking means;
• and
• sheet discharge path change-over means that changes over a discharge path, to which the sheet discharged from said image forming apparatus is discharged, to any one of said first sheet discharge path and a second sheet discharge path along which the sheet discharged from said image forming apparatus is discharged directly to said sheet stacking means;
• and
• said method comprises the steps of:
• judging whether the error handling operation is conducted or not;
• and
• if said error handling operation is conducted, controlling at least any one of said first sheet discharge path open/close means and said sheet discharge path change-over means to conduct said error handling operation.

A sheet post-processing device, comprising:

• a first sheet discharge path through which a sheet transported from an image forming apparatus is transported to sheet stacking means disposed in said image forming apparatus;
• first sheet discharge path open/close means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path, and closes said first sheet discharge path to temporarily support the sheet transported from said image forming apparatus, or opens said first sheet discharge path to transport the sheet transported from said image forming apparatus to said sheet stacking means;
• binder which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path and conducts post-processing with respect to the sheet temporarily supported by said first sheet discharge path open/close means;
• sheet discharge path change-over controller that controls sheet discharge path change-over means that changes over a discharge path, to which the sheet discharged from said image forming apparatus is discharged, to said first sheet discharge path or a second sheet discharge path through which the sheet discharged from said image forming apparatus is discharged directly to said sheet stacking means;
• error handling operation necessity judging means that judges whether error handling operation that should be conducted with respect to a sheet unsuitable for the post-processing by said processing means is conducted or not;
• and
• error handling controller that controls at least one of said first sheet discharge path open/close means and said sheet discharge path change-over controller to conduct said error handling operation.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a first sheet discharge path through which a sheet transported from an image forming means is transported to sheet stacking means;
• first sheet discharge path open/close means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path, and closes said first sheet discharge path to temporarily support the sheet transported from said image forming means, or opens said first sheet discharge path to transport the sheet transported from said image forming means to said sheet stacking means;
• processing means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path and conducts post-processing with respect to the sheet temporarily supported by said first sheet discharge path open/close means;
• sheet discharge path change-over control means that controls sheet discharge path change-over means that changes over a discharge path, to which the sheet discharged from said image forming means is discharged, to said first sheet discharge path or a second sheet discharge path through which the sheet discharged from said image forming means is discharged directly to said sheet stacking means;
• error handling operation necessity judging means that judges whether error handing operation that should be conducted with respect to a sheet unsuitable for the post processing by said processing means is conducted or not;
• and
• error handing means that controls at least one of said first sheet discharge path open/close means and said sheet discharge path change-over means to conduct said error handling operation.

An error handling method with respect to a sheet that is not suitable for post-processing in an image forming apparatus having a sheet post-processing device that conducts the post-processing on the discharged sheet, wherein:

• said image forming apparatus comprises:
• a first sheet discharge path through which the sheet transported from an image forming means is transported to a sheet stacking means;
• first sheet discharge path open/close means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path, and closes said first sheet discharge path to temporarily support the sheet transported from said image forming means, or opens said first sheet discharge path to transport the sheet transported from said image fanning means to said sheet stacking means;
• and
• processing means which is disposed in said first sheet discharge path and conducts post-processing with respect to the sheet temporarily supported by said first sheet discharge path open/close means;
• sheet discharge path change-over means that changes over a discharge path, to which the sheet discharged from said image forming means is discharged, to any one of said first sheet discharge path and a second sheet discharge path along which the sheet discharged from said image forming means is discharged directly to said sheet stacking means;
• and
• said method comprises the steps of:
• judging whether the error handling operation is conducted;
• and
• if said error handling operation is conducted, controlling at least any one of said first sheet discharge path open/close means and said sheet discharge path change-over means to conduct said error handling operation.