JP2000025982A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an image forming device from stopping temporarily during image forming operation by estimating the sheet number of documents placed on a document placement means from the traveling amount of a document conveyance means obtained by a traveling amount measuring means. SOLUTION: A traveling amount measuring means 352 of a document conveyance means measures the traveling amount from the home position of a sheet feeding roller. An estimating member 353 estimates the rough sheet number of documents placed on a document tray from the volume thickness of the documents on the tray. The number of the sheets capable of being delivered to a sorter which sorts and loads the sheets automatically or a sheet processor which binds and stacks a plurality of sheets is searched by a searching means 362 which is at a limit value of the sheet processor, and is compared with that of the sheets to be copied. If the total number of the sheets exceeds the number of the sheets which the sorter is capable of storing, a warning message is indicated on the display part 361 of a copying machine body when copying operation is designated for the number of sheets capable of being stored in the sorter or the sheet processor which binds and loads a plurality of sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document feeder for feeding and placing a document, and an image forming apparatus provided with a device for accommodating an image-formed sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, there is provided an automatic document feeder which automatically feeds a document sequentially to a platen glass. This automatic document feeder is mounted on a document tray provided therein. The originals are separated one by one from the set of originals, and are conveyed and placed at a predetermined position of an image reading unit of the image forming apparatus main body. The document placed on the platen glass is scanned by the image input unit of the image forming apparatus main body to scan the placed document, and the image is read, and the image forming apparatus copies an image to a sheet. Done. The sheets on which the images have been copied are discharged to an apparatus for automatically sorting and stacking or an apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets.

In addition to the above conventional example, the following is a second conventional example in which the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body is speeded up on a sheet.

A document feeder for speeding up the operation of copying an image onto a sheet separates and separates documents one by one from a bundle of documents stacked on a document tray, as in the first conventional example. A first document conveying means for conveying, and a document separated by the first document conveying means, conveyed to a second document conveying means, and an image reading of the image forming apparatus main body by the second document conveying means. The document is conveyed to a predetermined position of the copy unit.

However, in the second conventional example, as a method of reading an image by the image reading section of the image forming apparatus main body, in the first conventional example, a second document conveying means is used to read the image of the image forming apparatus main body. Conveys documents to the image input unit
After loading, the image input unit scans the placed document to read an image. In the second conventional example, however, the image input unit is connected to the image forming apparatus main body. The image scanning operation of the image input unit performed in the first conventional example is performed by fixing the document at an arbitrary position and conveying the document at an arbitrary speed on the image input unit by the second document conveying unit. And the speed of image reading operation and the speed of image copying operation on a sheet by the image forming apparatus main body are increased. As in the first conventional example, sheets on which images are copied are automatically sorted and stacked. And a device that binds and stacks a plurality of sheets.

[0006]

However, the apparatus for automatically sorting and stacking image-copied sheets, the apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets, and the like in the above-mentioned prior arts have been described. Has limitations.

[0007] Therefore, during the copying operation of the original to the sheet in the image forming apparatus main body, the loading capacity of the apparatus for automatically sorting and stacking these image-copied sheets or the apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets is reduced. When the stacking exceeds the limit, the copying operation of the image forming apparatus main body is temporarily stopped.
Then, when an already stacked sheet is removed from the apparatus for automatically sorting and stacking the copied sheets or the apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets, the copying operation is performed again.

As described above, unexpected copying may be temporarily stopped during copying by the image forming apparatus main body.

The temporary suspension of the copying operation occurs because there is a limit on the stacking of the apparatus for automatically sorting and stacking the sheets on which the images are copied and the apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets. The number of documents placed on the automatic document feeder and the setting of the number of copies of the image forming apparatus largely depend on the setting.

Further, if the sheet binding device attempts to execute sheet binding beyond the number of sheets that can be bound at one time, the safety circuit provided in the sheet binding means operates, and the sheet is not bound. In some cases, forcibly binding sheets may cause a failure of the apparatus.

According to the present invention, when the number of sheets to be formed on an image exceeds the number of sheets that can be accommodated in an apparatus for sorting and stacking image-copied sheets or an apparatus for binding and stacking sheet bundles, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a warning message is displayed to a user in advance of an image forming operation, so that the apparatus during image formation can be prevented from interrupting the operation. .

[0012]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Document placement means capable of loading a plurality of documents, document transportation means capable of swinging on a document placed on the document placement means,
Home position detection means for detecting a home position at a position where the document conveyance means is separated from the document placement means; and a position of the document conveyance means when the document conveyance means lands on a document on the document placement means. Document transport means for detecting the position of the document transport means, means for measuring the amount of movement of the document transport means, and placing the document on the document placing means from the amount of movement of the document transport means determined by the movement amount measurement means Means for predicting the number of sheets of the original, image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet based on the original image of the original fed by the original conveying means, and a sheet formed by the image forming means. Discharging means for discharging from the apparatus body,
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to a second aspect of the present invention has means for designating a copy mode of the document, wherein the copy number estimating means and the copy mode designating means make one copy of the original on the stacking means. It is characterized by comprising a calculating means for calculating the number of copy sheets.

The invention according to claim 3 is means for designating the number of copies of the document of the document placing means, and for outputting from the discharge means based on the number of documents predicted by the prediction means and the number of copy sheets by the calculation means. Means for predicting the total number of discharged sheets.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the original conveying means is driven by a pulse motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and the moving amount measuring means of the original conveying means is adapted to operate the original conveying means when there is no original on the original placing means. The difference between the amount of movement of the original conveying means and the amount of movement of the original conveying means when there is an original on the original placing means is measured by the rotation amount of the pulse motor, and the amount of movement of the original conveying means is measured. It is characterized by doing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the document conveying means is integrated with the driven spindle and has the document conveying means position detecting means integrally therewith, and the home position detecting means sets the home position. An elevating member to be detected,
A swing member that is rotatable about the support shaft, is restricted in rotation within a predetermined range with respect to the elevating member, is supported by the elevating member, and swings by supporting the document conveying means. And the document conveying means position detecting means is in a state in which the swing member is not detected when the document conveying means is separated from the document placing means or a document on the document placing means. When the document conveying means lands on the document placing means or the document on the document placing means and the swinging member is detected by the document conveying means position detecting means, the rotation of the elevating member is detected. It is characterized by outputting a signal to stop.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus having a binding unit for binding a plurality of sheets discharged by the discharging unit, and a sheet stacking unit for stacking a sheet bundle bound by the binding unit. Means for determining whether or not the binding means can bind the number of sheets calculated by the calculation means, and display means for displaying a determination result of the determination means. .

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus having a plurality of sheet stacking means for sorting and stacking the sheets discharged by the discharge means, wherein the total copy sheet number is predicted by the prediction means. Determining means for determining whether or not the number of sheets can be accommodated by the sheet processing apparatus, and displaying means for displaying a result of the determination that the sheet can be accommodated;
It is characterized by having.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Description of the Entire Apparatus> In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a well-known copying machine main body, which is composed of an image input unit 200 (hereinafter referred to as a reader unit) and an image output unit 300 (hereinafter referred to as a printer unit). Reference numeral 2 denotes a document feeder 2 (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF) according to the present invention.

<Explanation of Reader Unit> The reader unit 200 optically reads image information recorded on a sheet document, photoelectrically converts the image information, and inputs the data as image data. The reader unit 200 contacts the wide belt 7 of the ADF 2 described later. The scanner unit 204 includes a platen glass (hereinafter, referred to as a platen) 3, a lamp 202, a scanner unit 204 having a first mirror 203, a second mirror 205, a third mirror 206, a lens 207, and an image sensor 208.

<Description of Printer> Printer 300
Is a known image forming apparatus main body, and its configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 301 denotes an upper cassette for storing sheets on which images are to be formed. Sheets in the cassette are separated one by one by the action of a separation claw (not shown) and a feeding roller 302, and are guided to registration rollers 303.

Similarly, reference numeral 304 denotes a lower cassette for storing sheets on which images are to be formed. Sheets in the cassette are separated one by one by the action of a separation claw (not shown) and a feeding roller 305, and are guided to a registration roller 303. I will

Reference numeral 306 denotes a manual feed tray on which sheets on which images are to be formed can be placed, and sheet materials are guided to the registration rollers 303 via the rollers 307 one by one.

Reference numeral 308 denotes a sheet stacking device (hereinafter referred to as a cassette deck) for storing a large number of sheets on which images are formed.
An intermediate plate 308a that is moved up and down by a motor or the like (not shown) is provided.
The sheet is separated one by one by the action of No. 9 and guided to the registration roller 303 via the transport roller 310.

Reference numeral 311 denotes a photosensitive drum (image forming means);
Reference numeral 12 denotes a developing device, 313 denotes a transfer charger, and 314 denotes a separation charger. These components constitute an image forming unit of the printer 300, and form a sheet based on the image data read by the reader 200. An image copying operation is performed.

Reference numeral 315 denotes a conveyor belt for conveying an image-formed sheet, 316 denotes a fixing device, and 317 denotes a conveyance roller. Reference numeral 318 denotes a flapper, which is a sheet conveying path to a discharge roller (discharge unit) 319 and an intermediate tray 3 described later.
Switching of the sheet conveyance path to 21 is performed.

The sheet on which an image has been formed is guided to a discharge roller 319 by a flapper 318 and conveyed into a sorter 320.

The sorter 320 includes a non-sort tray 320
a, sort bin tray 320b, non-sort tray discharge roller 320c, sort bin tray discharge roller 320d
When the non-sort tray 320a and the sort bin tray 320b (both sheet stacking means) move up and down, it is possible to sort the sheets on which images have been formed. Note that a discharge tray or the like (not shown) may be attached instead of the sorter 320. Reference numeral 363 denotes a stapler (binding means) for binding the sheet bundle stacked on the sorter 320 or the sheet bundle on the above-mentioned discharge tray (not shown).

Further, the printer 300 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with means capable of forming images on both sides of the same sheet material and forming a plurality of images on one side of the same sheet material. The configuration is shown below.

Reference numeral 321 denotes an intermediate tray which temporarily stores a sheet on which an image has been once formed, via the flapper 318 and the conveying roller 322.

323 is a conveyor belt 324 is a flapper, 3
25 is a conveyor belt 326 is a conveyor roller.

When an image is formed on both sides of the same sheet, the intermediate tray 32 passes through the conveying roller 322, the conveying belts 323 and 325, the path 327 and the conveying roller 326.
1 to convey the sheet. At this time, the image formed on the sheet is facing upward.

When forming a plurality of images on one side of the same sheet, the conveying roller 322, the conveying belt 323, and the path 3
The sheet is conveyed to the intermediate tray 321 through. At this time, the image formed on the sheet faces downward.

The sheet conveyed and placed on the intermediate tray 321 is divided into auxiliary rollers 329 and 330, a forward / reverse separation roller pair 3
By the operation of the sheet 31, the sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 321 are separated one by one from below, and the sheets are separated from the conveying rollers 332, 333, 334 and the conveying rollers 310,
The sheet is again conveyed to the image forming section via the registration roller 303. The image forming method and the processing after the image formation are performed in the same manner as described above, and the image is discharged to the sorter 320 or a discharge tray (not shown) instead of the sorter 320.

<Schematic Description of ADF> The ADF 2 is provided with a document tray 4 on which a sheet document P is placed, and the sheet documents P placed on the document tray 4 are arranged in order from the topmost sheet. The sheets are separated and conveyed one by one by separation means described later. Further, the sheet P is conveyed and placed at a predetermined position on the platen 3 of the reader unit 200 by the wide belt 7, and the image of the sheet document P is read by the scanner unit 204 of the reader unit 200. It is discharged to the tray 10.

The ADF 2 according to the present invention is provided with a sheet document reversing means described later, which reverses the front and back of the document sheet placed on the document tray 4 and automatically moves the document sheet to a predetermined position on the platen 3. There is also provided a means that can be conveyed and mounted on the device.

[Detailed Description of ADF 2] <Description of Document Tray 4> On the document tray 4 in FIG. 1, a pair of sheet document P width regulating plates (not shown) is slidable in the width direction of the sheet document P. Are arranged and regulate the width direction of the sheet document P placed on the document tray 4,
Stability when the sheet document P is fed by the feed roller 5 is ensured.

As shown in FIG. 3, a rotating stopper 21 is provided at the downstream end of the document tray 4 in the sheet document P transport direction, so that the sheet document P placed on the document tray 4 can be moved. When the sheet document P is placed on the document tray 4 and is regulated by the projecting stopper 21, the sheet document P cannot be advanced downstream in the sheet document P transport direction.

<Description of Sensor on Document Tray 4> As shown in FIG. 3, near the upstream portion of the stopper 21 in the sheet document P transport direction, it is detected that the sheet document P is placed on the document tray 4. A document detection sensor pair 40a and 40b, which are transmission-type optical sensors, is provided.

In the middle of the document tray 4, the sheet trailing edge P which is a reflection type optical sensor is detected in order to determine whether the placed sheet document P is a half size (small size) document. A sensor 41 is provided. The document trailing edge detection sensor 41 is located at a distance of 225 mm from the stopper 21 and is turned on when a sheet document P larger than a half-size (small-size) document is placed on the document tray 4. is there. It is determined whether or not the sheet document P on the document tray 4 is a half-size (small) document based on the on / off state of the trailing edge detection sensor 41.

A final document detection sensor 43, which is a reflection type optical sensor, is provided between the document detection sensor pair 40a, 40b and the trailing edge detection sensor 41. During conveyance, the sheet original P
Is the last sheet document P on the document tray 4.

Further, the length of the sheet document P placed on the document tray 4 in the width direction is detected by a document width detection sensor 44 provided on the sheet document width regulating plate (not shown).

<Description of Sheet Document P Separation / Conveyance Unit> A lifting arm (lifting / lowering) that swings with respect to the rotation center C1 of the separation conveyance roller 8 as shown in FIG. Member) 51, and the elevating arm 51
Support plates 51a and 51b are provided before and after. The support plates 51a and 51b are provided with an arm shaft 51c which is supported through.

The swing arm (swing member) 53 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 57 denotes the separation / conveyance roller 8 similarly to the lifting arm 51.
Swings about the rotation center C1 of the arm shaft 51,
The swing is restricted by c. Further, the swing arm 53,
A paper feed roller (document conveying means) 5 is provided at the tip of 57.

As shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed roller 5 is normally restrained by the arm shaft 51c together with the swing arms 53 and 57, and is separated by the upper guide plate 52 (suppressed by the pin 51g). A position retracted upward (home position) is set so as not to hinder the work of placing the sheet document P on the document tray 4.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG.
The lifting arm 51 is driven by a swing motor 103 (stepping motor), swings around the rotation axis center C1 of the separation / conveyance roller 8, and moves from the position (uppermost position) in FIG.
Can be moved and stopped at an arbitrary position (the lowest position).

As shown in FIG. 7, when the sheet document P on the document tray 4 is conveyed, the paper feed roller 5 is rotated by a swing arm 53, 57 which rotates about a rotation center axis C1.
The paper feed roller 5 descends by its own weight with the movement of the sheet, and the paper feed roller 5 lands on the uppermost sheet of the sheet document P and stops.

By rotating the paper feed roller 5 in this state, the sheet original P is shifted from the uppermost sheet of the sheet original P by one.
The sheets are sequentially separated and transported. At this time, the upper separation guide plate 52 is suppressed to a position indicated by a broken line in the figure by a stopper (not shown).

In the state shown in FIG. 7, the swing arms 53, 5
The arm shaft 51c supporting the arm 7 is disengaged from the swing arms 53 and 57 when the paper feed roller 5 lands on the original surface. At this time, the relative positional relationship between the swing arms 53 and 57 and the lift arm 51 starts to shift.
This shift amount is a part of the swing arms 53 and 57.
The oscillating position sensors 46 and 47 are provided by oscillating arm flags 54 and 55 and oscillating position sensors (document conveying means position detecting means) 46 and 47 attached to the elevating arm 51.
When the swing arm flags 54 and 55 are shut off, the lifting arm 51 is subjected to stop control, and the swing arms 53 and 57 are also changed by receiving stop control.

In this state, the swing arms 53 and 57 and the paper feed roller 5 are placed under their own weight on the sheet documents P stacked on the document tray 4, and the sheet documents P are always stably fed. It is possible to give power.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a paper feed roller home sensor 45, which is a transmission type optical sensor, is mounted on a fixed support plate 56 above the elevating arm 51. Elevation arm flag 51 provided
When d shields the sensor optical path of the paper feed roller home sensor 45, it detects that the elevating arm 51 is at the standby position, which is the home position.

As described above, the raising / lowering arm 51 is provided with the oscillating position sensors 46 and 47 which move integrally therewith. The oscillating arm flag 54 formed on the upper edge of the oscillating arms 53 and 57 is provided. , 55 can be detected.

The state shown in FIG. 6 is the retracted position when the sheet original P is continuously fed.
Since there is no need to return to the home position (the state of FIG. 4), the paper feed roller 5 is controlled to stop intermediately at a position separated by the minimum amount (about 3 to 5 mm) from the sheet document P.

With this configuration, the paper feed roller 5
Can be minimized, and the landing vibration of the paper feed roller 5 on the sheet document P is reduced, which contributes to the improvement of the paper feeding performance.

Further, it is possible to minimize the time until the start of feeding of the next sheet document P, and it is possible to perform feeding control with a shortened feeding interval.

When the paper feed roller 5 starts the feeding operation in a bound state due to the impact when it lands on the sheet document P, the pressure balance of the downstream feeding roller against the sheet document P is lost, and the paper feeding roller 5 starts feeding. The possibility of generating skew is increased.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of paper feed rollers 5 arranged in the width direction each have an independent suspension structure and are easily equalized to the sheet document P. Is possible.

Downstream of the stopper 21 in the conveying direction, a well-known separating belt 6, a separating and conveying roller 8 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a separating section) and a first feeding roller 16 are provided, each of which is indicated by an arrow (see FIG. 4). ), The sheet document P conveyed by the paper feed roller 5 is separated.

<Description of Sheet Document P Transport Path> As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet document P feed path (a) and the sheet document P feed path (b) extend from the document tray 4 to the platen 3 of the reader 200. , And a sheet original P feeding path (c), which is bent (curved to the left) and connected to the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3, and A transport path for transporting and placing the document P on the platen 3 is configured (normal sheet document feed path).

Further, the sheet original feeding path (b) constitutes a sheet original reversing feeding path (h), a sheet original reversing feeding path (f), and a sheet original reversing feeding path (i), The sheet document P is conveyed from the document tray 4 to the sheet document reversal feed path (h), the sheet document reversal feed path (f), and the sheet document reversal feed path (i). By passing through the P supply / discharge path (e), the sheet document P is turned upside down, conveyed to the platen conveyance path (d) on the platen 3, and placed (pre-reversal sheet document feed path).

Further, a sheet document reversing path (g) different from the sheet reversing feeding path (i) is branched from the sheet document reversing feeding path (f). A sheet document P on the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 is connected to a sheet document P supply / discharge path (e), a sheet document reversal feed path (f), and a sheet document reversal path. (G) The sheet document P is turned over by switchback conveyance using the sheet document feeding path (c), and is again conveyed and placed on the platen conveyance path (d) on the platen 3. (Reverse sheet document feeding path).

The sheet original P on the platen 3 is
After the image reading by the scanner unit 204 is completed, the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 and FIG.
The paper discharge tray 10 passes through the sheet document discharge path (I) shown in FIG.
(Sheet document discharge path).

Further, the ADF 2 is provided with an openable manual document tray 14 as shown in FIG.
The set original (one original) is transported to the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 through the manual feed path (k) and can be placed (manual sheet original feed path).

<Description of Roller Arrangement> Next, the sheet original conveying path and the arrangement of each roller will be described with reference to FIGS.

The sheet original transport path (a) is a sheet original where the sheet original conveyed by the paper feed roller 5 is conveyed downstream by a separation section composed of a separation belt 6 and a separation feed roller 8. It is a transport path.

A first feeding roller 16 is provided between the sheet original feeding path (a) and the sheet original feeding path (b), and the first feeding roller 16 is The sheet document P sent from the printer 8 is restrained to prevent the sheet document P from being skewed and conveyed.

The separation / conveyance roller 8 is provided with a one-way mechanism. When the sheet P separated by the separation units 6 and 8 is pulled out of the separation unit by the first feeding roller 16. To reduce the load.

A second feeding roller 9 is disposed between the sheet original conveying path (b) and the sheet original conveying path (c), and the second feeding roller 9 reaches here. A predetermined amount of loop is formed on the sheet document P, and the sheet document P
Is corrected and prevented.

The sheet original reversal feed path (h), the sheet original reversal feed path (f), and the sheet original reversal feed path (i)
A first reversing roller 17 and a second reversing roller 18 are provided, and are configured in a loop shape to reverse the front and back of the sheet document P. These sheet document reversing feed paths (h),
By transporting the sheet document P in (f) and (i), the sheet document P is transported upside down.

The ADF 2 further includes a manual feed roller 1
A sheet document P set in the manual document tray 14 is fed to a platen transport path (d) on the platen 3.

Between the manual feed roller 13 and the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3, a manual registration roller 11 is provided.
Is provided, and a predetermined amount of loop is formed on the sheet document P fed from the manual document tray 14 to correct and prevent skew.

The manual registration roller 11 is
The relay of sheet document discharge from the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 is performed. A sheet discharge roller 12 is provided in the sheet document discharge path (I), and discharges the discharged sheet document P to the discharge tray 10.

<Description of Intra-Pass Flapper> The positions and operations of the respective flappers on the conveyance path of the sheet document P will be described with reference to FIGS.

A reversing sheet feeding flapper 22 is provided downstream of the second feeding roller 9 in the sheet document conveying direction, and switches between a sheet document P feeding path (c) and a sheet reversing feeding path (h). Do.

The flapper is located at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure when the sheet document P is transported to the sheet document reversal feed path (h), the sheet document reversal feed path (f), and the sheet document reversal feed path (i). When the sheet document P is transported to the sheet document P feeding path (c) and the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3, the sheet document P is located at the dashed line position in the figure.

A reversing flapper 23 is provided downstream of the second reversing roller 18 in the sheet document conveying direction, and switches between a sheet document reversing feed path (i) and a sheet document P reversing path (g).

When the sheet document P conveyed from the sheet document P feeding path (b) and the sheet document reversing feeding path (h) is turned upside down, the reversing flapper 23 is located at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3, the sheet document P from the platen transport path (d) on the sheet 3 is reversed through a sheet document supply / discharge path (e), a sheet document reversal feeding path (f), and a sheet document P reversal path (g). It is located at the position of the chain line.

A one-way flapper 24 (mylar or the like) may be provided at the junction of the sheet original reversing feed path (h) and the sheet original supply / discharge path (e) near the upstream of the first reverse roller 17 for conveying the sheet original. ) Is provided to serve as a guide when the sheet document P is transported from the sheet document reversal feeding path (h) to the sheet document reversing feeding path (f), and to transfer the sheet document P to the sheet document reversing path. (G) When the sheet is fed from the sheet original reversing feed path (f) to the platen conveying path (d) on the platen 3 through the sheet original supply / discharge path (e),
The sheet document P is prevented from entering the sheet document reversing feed path (h) in the reverse direction.

Platen 3 in sheet original reversal supply / discharge path (e)
In the vicinity, there is provided a supply / discharge flapper 25 which moves in conjunction with the reversing sheet supply flapper 22. When the sheet document P is transported from the sheet document supply / discharge path (e) to the platen transport path on the platen 3, FIG. At the position indicated by the solid line, the leading end of the sheet document P entering the platen transport path on the platen 3 is prevented from colliding with the end of the platen 3.

When the sheet P is transported from the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 to the sheet original supply / discharge path (e), the sheet P is located at a position indicated by a chain line in FIG. The sheet document P from d) can be skimmed.

A paper discharge flapper 26 is provided between the platen 3 and the manual feed registration roller 11 to convey the sheet document P from the manual sheet document feed path (k) to the platen feed path (d) on the platen 3. In this case, the leading end of the sheet document P entering the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 is prevented from colliding with the end of the platen 3 at the solid line position in the drawing.

When discharging the sheet document P from the platen 3 to the sheet document discharge path (I), the flapper 26 is located at the position indicated by the dashed line in the figure, and is conveyed from the platen conveyance path (d) on the platen 3. The coming sheet original P can be skimmed.

A one-way manual flapper 27 is provided at the confluence of the sheet original discharge path (I) and the manual sheet original transport path (k). When discharging the document P, the sheet document P is prevented from entering the manual sheet document conveying path (k).

A manual shutter 28 is provided near the downstream of the manual paper feed roller 13 in the sheet original transport direction, and is used to manually feed the sheet original P after copying from the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3. The manual sheet sheet P set on the document tray 14 is prevented from entering the manual registration rollers 11. At this time, the conveying force is set low so that the manual feed roller 13 and the sheet document P slip.

<Arrangement of Sensors in Path> Next, FIGS. 2 and 3
The position of each sensor on the conveyance path of the sheet document P and its operation will be described with reference to FIG.

A separation sensor 30, which is a transmission type optical sensor, is provided between the separation conveyance roller 8 and the first feeding roller 16, and detects the sheet document P conveyed by the separation conveyance roller 8. .

A skew detection sensor 31, which is also a transmission type optical sensor, is provided at the same position as the separation sensor 30 in the sheet original conveyance direction and at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. In cooperation therewith, the skew amount of the fed sheet document P can be detected.

Downstream of the first feed roller 16 in the sheet document conveying direction, a mixed detection sensor 32 for detecting a sheet document P by moving a flag is provided. During this, it is possible to detect that sheet documents P of different sizes are set on the document tray 4.

A pre-registration sensor 35, which is a transmissive optical sensor, is disposed upstream of the second feeding roller 9 in the sheet original conveying direction. The sheet original P feeding path (a) and the sheet original P feeding A leading end and a trailing end of the sheet document P that has passed through any one of the feeding path (b), the sheet document P feeding path (c), and the sheet document reversing path (g) are detected.

Further, a post-registration sensor 39, which is also a transmissive optical sensor, is provided downstream of the feed roller 9 in the sheet original conveying direction, and detects a leading end and a trailing end of the sheet original P. The stop position of the sheet document P is controlled.

A reversing sensor 50, which is a transmissive optical sensor, is provided in the sheet document supply / discharge path (e), and the sheet document P discharged from the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 or The sheet original P entering the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 is detected.

In the sheet original reversing feed path (i), an inversion detecting sensor 3 for detecting the sheet original P by moving a flag is provided.
3 is provided to detect that the sheet document P has been guided to the sheet document reversal feeding path (i) by the switching of the reversing flapper 23.

A manual registration sensor 34, which is a transmission type optical sensor, is provided downstream of the manual registration roller 11 in the sheet original discharging direction, and detects a sheet original P from a manual sheet original conveyance path (k). At the same time, the sheet document P discharged from the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 to the sheet document P discharge path (I) is detected.

A manual document detection sensor 60 for detecting a sheet document P by moving a flag is provided on the side of the manual document tray 14 of the manual paper feed roller 13, and the sheet document P is set on the manual document tray 14. Detect that.

<Description of Driving System> Next, the ADF of the present invention will be described.
The second drive system will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a drive system diagram showing motors and solenoids for driving each transport roller and flapper.

Reference numeral 100 indicates a separation motor, and in this embodiment, a DC brush motor is used. A clock plate 100a composed of a plurality of slits is provided on the motor shaft of the separation motor 100, and is proportional to the motor rotation speed when the separation motor 100 is rotated by the slit and the separation clock sensor 100b which is a transmission type optical sensor. The generated clock pulse is generated.

The separation motor 100 drives the separation belt 6 and the separation / conveyance roller 8 as the separation section in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Further, the drive is transmitted to the paper feed roller 5 via the separation clutch 106.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a transport motor that can be rotated forward and backward. In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used. The transport motor 101 drives the second feeding roller 9, the first reversing roller 17, and the second reversing roller 18.

On the driven roller shaft of the second feeding roller 9,
A clock plate 101a composed of a plurality of slits is provided, and a clock pulse is generated when the transport motor 101 is rotated by the slits and an inverted clock sensor 101b which is a transmission type optical sensor. If a slip occurs while the sheet document is being conveyed by the second feeding roller 9, the slip amount can be measured from the number of clock pulses and the number of drive clocks of the conveyance motor 101.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a belt motor, and in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used. The belt motor 102 drives the driving roller 36 that drives the wide belt 7, and further transmits the rotation of the driving roller 36 to the turn roller 37 by the wide belt 7.

The drive is transmitted from the turn roller 37 to the manual registration roller 11 so that the transport speed of the original on the platen 3 and the transport speed of the manual registration roller 11 are equalized.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a swing motor, and in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used. Swing motor 1
Numeral 03 drives the swing arms 53 and 57 of the paper feed roller.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a paper discharge motor, and in this embodiment, a DC motor is used. A clock plate 104 having a plurality of slits is provided on a motor shaft of the paper discharge motor 104.
a discharge motor 10 is provided by a slit and a discharge clock sensor 104b which is a transmission type optical sensor.
When 4 rotates, a clock pulse proportional to the number of rotations of the motor is generated.

[0107] The paper discharge motor 104
2. The drive is transmitted to the manual paper feed roller 13.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a stopper solenoid, which drives the stopper 21 at the paper feed end of the document tray 4. The stopper 21 is at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure when the stopper 21 is off, and swings to the position indicated by the chain line in the figure when the stopper 21 is on.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a separation clutch, which transmits the drive of the separation motor 100 to the sheet feeding roller 5, the separation belt 6, and the separation conveyance roller 8.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a path switching solenoid which drives the reverse sheet feeding flapper 22 and the supply / discharge flapper 25. When the solenoid is off, the reversing sheet flapper 22 and the supply / discharge flapper 25 are respectively at the solid line positions in the figure. When the solenoid is on, the reversing sheet flapper 22 and the supply / discharge flapper 25 are respectively It swings to the dashed line position in the figure.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a reverse flapper solenoid, which drives the reverse flapper 23. When the solenoid is off, the reversing flapper 23 is at the solid line position in the figure, and when turned on, swings to the dashed line position in the figure.

A discharge flapper solenoid 109 drives the discharge flapper 26 and the manual feed shutter 28. When the solenoid is off, discharge flapper 2
6. The manual shutter 28 is at the position indicated by the chain line in the figure, and when turned on, swings to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure.

<Description of Reading Position> FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an upper sheet document P reading position, and positions of R1, R2, and R3 in FIG.

The sheet document P reading position R1 (first image destination) is a reading position in the double-sided sheet document mode and the manual sheet document mode, and the sheet document P placed with the sheet document edge aligned with this position. The image of the sheet document P is read by the scanner unit 204 of the reader 200 of the copying machine main body 1 performing scanning (fixed reading mode).

The sheet document P reading position R2 (second image destination) is a reading position for a half-size document in the single-sided sheet document P mode. In this position, the scanner unit 204 of the copier body 1 is fixed, and While transporting the document P to the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3,
The image of the sheet document P is read (flow reading mode).

The sheet document P reading position R3 (third image destination) is a reading position of the sheet document P when the large size in the single-sided sheet document P mode and the half size (small size) document are fed vertically. Also at this position, the scanner unit 204 of the copying machine main body 1 is fixed, and the image of the sheet document P is read while the sheet document P is transported to the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3 (flow reading mode). .

In FIG. 9, L1 is the distance from the nip point of the second feeding roller 9 to R1, and L2 is the second feeding roller 9
L3 indicates the distance from the nip point of the second feed roller 9 to R3.

L4 shown in FIG. 10 is obtained from the first image destination R1.
L5 indicates the distance to a stop position for standby of a half-size (small-size) document placed on the left side of the platen 3, and L5 indicates the distance between the leading edge of the sheet document P stopped at the standby position and the second image tip R2. , L6 are distances between the trailing edge of the preceding sheet document P and the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet document P (paper distance);
Reference numeral 7 denotes a distance from the first image destination R1 to the manual feed registration roller 11.

When the length of the half-size (small size) document in the transport direction is Lph, the stop position of the half-size (small size) document is set such that L7 <[L4 + 2 × L6 + Lph] L2> [L5-Lph] As shown in FIG. 10, even when Pn and Pn-1 are stopped in the platen transport path (d) on the platen 3, the trailing end of the preceding sheet document Pn-2 is a manual registration roller. The rear end of the sheet document Pn, which passes through the nip 11 and is waiting for image formation, passes through the nip of the second feeding roller 9.

[Sheet Document Reading Method According to the Present Invention]
Since the sheet document reading method (sequence) is not so involved in the present invention, a brief description will be given below in the order of half-size single-sided document, half-size double-sided document, large-size single-sided document, large-size double-sided document, and manual-feed document.

<Half-size one-sided document transport mode> In the half-size one-sided document transport mode, the sheet document P on the document tray 4 is fed by the sheet feed roller 5 shown in FIG. 8), the sheet feeding path (a), the sheet feeding path (b), the sheet feeding path (c), and the platen feeding path (shown in FIG. 2) by the second feeding roller 9 and the wide belt 7. After d), the second stroke R
2, the image of the sheet document P is read by the reader 200, and the image is copied to the sheet by the printer 300. Thereafter, the sheet document P is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 through the platen transport path (d) and the sheet document discharge path (I).

When a plurality of sheet documents P are placed on the document tray 4, the above sequence is continuously repeated until the last sheet detection sensor 43 is turned off.

<Large-size one-sided original transport mode> In the large-size one-sided original transport mode, the same operation as in the half-size one-sided original transport mode is performed.
The upper sheet document P is fed by a sheet feeding roller 5 shown in FIG. 1, a separation unit (separation belt 6, separation conveyance roller 8), a second feeding roller 9, and a wide belt 7 as shown in FIG. (A), the sheet original feeding path (b), the sheet original feeding path (c), and the platen conveying path (d) to the third image destination R.
3 and the image of the sheet document P is read by the reader 200 and the printer 3
At 00, the image is copied on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet document P is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 through the platen transport path (d) and the sheet document discharge path (I).

When a plurality of sheet documents P are placed on the document tray 4, the above sequence is continuously repeated until the last sheet detection sensor 43 is turned off.

<Transport mode for half-size double-sided original> In the case of the half-size double-sided original transport mode, the document tray 4
The upper sheet document P is illustrated by a paper feed roller 5, a separation unit (separation belt 6, separation conveyance roller 8), a second feeding roller 9, a first reversing roller 17, and a second reversing roller 18 shown in FIG. 2, sheet original feeding path (a), sheet original feeding path (b), sheet original reversing feeding path (h), sheet original reversing feeding path (f), sheet original reversing feeding path (i) After the sheet document P is turned over by being conveyed to the first reversing roller 17 and the second reversing roller 1 shown in FIG.
8. By the wide belt 7, the sheet original reversing feeding path (i), the sheet original reversing feeding path (f), the sheet original feeding / discharging path (e), and the platen conveying path (d) shown in FIG. The sheet is conveyed to the first image destination R <b> 1, the back side image of the sheet document P is read by the reader 200, and the image is copied on a sheet by the printer 300. Thereafter, the sheet document P is transferred to the wide belt 7 shown in FIG.
By being conveyed to the platen conveyance path (d), the sheet document supply / discharge path (e), the sheet document reversal feed path (f), and the sheet document reversal path (g) by the reversing roller 17 and the second reversing roller 18, After the sheet document P is turned over, the second document feed roller 9 and the wide belt 7 feed the sheet document feed path (c).
The sheet original P is transported again to the first image destination R1 via the platen transport path (d), and
Is read, and the printer 3
At 00, the image is copied on the recording sheet S.

As described above, the sheet document P from which the front and back images have been read is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 through the platen transport path (d) and the sheet document discharge path (I).

When a plurality of sheet documents P are placed on the document tray 4, the above sequence is continuously repeated until the last sheet detection sensor 43 is turned off.

<Full-size double-sided original transport mode> In the large-size double-sided original transport mode, the same operation as in the half-size double-sided original transport mode is performed.
The upper sheet document P is illustrated by the paper feed roller 5, the separation unit (separation belt 6, separation conveyance roller 8), the second feeding roller 9, the first reversing roller 17, and the second reversing roller 18 shown in FIG. 2, sheet original feeding path (a), sheet original feeding path (b), sheet original reversing feeding path (h), sheet original reversing feeding path (f), sheet original reversing feeding path (i) After the sheet document P is turned over,
The sheet document P is supplied to the first reversing roller 17 shown in FIG.
By the reversing roller 18 and the wide belt 7, the sheet document reversing feed path (i), the sheet document reversing feeding path (f), the sheet document feeding / discharging path (e), and the platen transport path (d) shown in FIG. Then, the sheet P is conveyed to the first image destination R1, the back side image of the sheet document P is read by the reader 200, and the image is copied to the sheet by the printer 300. Thereafter, the sheet document P is fed by the wide belt 7, the first reversing roller 17, and the second reversing roller 18 shown in FIG. 1 to the platen conveyance path (d), the sheet document supply / discharge path (e), and the sheet document reversal feeding. After the sheet document P is conveyed to the path (f) and the sheet document reversing path (g), the sheet document P is turned over, and then the sheet document feeding path (c) is fed from the second feeding roller 9 and the wide belt 7. Through the platen transport path (d),
The sheet is conveyed to the first image destination R1 again, and the reader 200 reads the front side image of the sheet document P, and the printer 300 copies the image on the recording sheet S.

As described above, the sheet document P from which the front and back images have been read is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 through the platen transport path (d) and the sheet document discharge path (I).

When a plurality of sheet documents P are placed on the document tray 4, the above sequence is continuously repeated until the last sheet detection sensor 43 is turned off.

<Manual Document Transport Mode> In the manual document transport mode, the manual document detection sensor 60 shown in FIG.
When it is detected that the sheet document P is placed on the manual document tray 14, the manual sheet feeding roller 13, the manual registration roller 11, and the wide belt 7 cause the manual sheet document conveying path (k) and the platen conveying path shown in FIG. (D), the sheet is conveyed to the first image destination R1, and the image of the sheet document P is read by the reader 200;
An image is copied on a sheet by the printer 300. Thereafter, the sheet document P is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 10 through the platen transport path (d) and the sheet document discharge path (I).

<Description of Operation> Next, a method of detecting the number of stacked originals on the ADF 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, a plurality of originals to be copied are placed on the original tray 4 provided on the ADF 2 in this embodiment (S1). Next, an operation unit (not shown) provided in the copying machine main body 1 sets the original copy mode to 1
Settings such as single-sided copying for copying one sheet at a time, double-sided copying for copying an original one sheet at a time, and 2-in-1 copying for reducing a plurality of originals and copying them to a sheet are performed (S2). Means 355 for the number of copies of
(FIG. 11).

It is to be noted that, when the original is placed on the original tray 4,
The input of the copy mode or the like by the operation unit is permitted even when those processes are performed before or after.

Next, when a copying operation start switch (not shown) provided on the copying machine body 1 is pressed, the document tray 4
Before the originals placed on top of each other are separated and conveyed one by one, the lifting arm 51 driven by the swing motor 103 rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in FIG. The roller 5 is driven from the home position as shown in FIG. 4 until the roller 5 lands on the sheet document P placed on the document tray 4 as shown in FIG.

When the paper feed roller 5 lands on the sheet document P, the swing arms 53 and 57 stop, and the lift arm 5
1 rotates, the flag 5 of the swing arms 53 and 57 is
4 and 55 are swing position sensors 4 integrated with the lift arm 51
6 and 47, the lifting arm 51
Stops rotating.

Further, since the swing motor 103 for driving the paper feed roller 5 in the above operation is constituted by a pulse motor, the oscillation of the paper feed roller 5 is performed while counting the number of pulses for driving the pulse motor. The amount of movement of the paper feed roller 5 from the home position is measured by revolving around the rotation center C1 and moving (this measuring means is a measuring means 352 of the document conveying means shown in FIG. 11) ( S3).

Further, since the distance from the tray 4 to the home position of the paper feed roller 5 when there is no document on the tray 4 is a fixed value, knowing the moving amount of the paper feed roller 5 enables The thickness of a document placed on the document tray 4 is predicted from the thickness of the document placed on the document tray 4. 353) (S4).

The number of copy sheets is calculated by the calculating means 357 based on the number of originals predicted by the above-described number of originals predicting means 353 and the copy mode. Based on the calculation result, the stapler 363 binds the sheet bundle. Whether stapling is possible is determined by stapling determination means 365
Is determined by

Next, the number of sheets to be copied is roughly predicted by the predicting means 359 for the total number of copied sheets in consideration of the number of copies specified by the operation unit.

For example, if the copy mode is the one-sided mode and the number of copies is set to 10, the document tray 4
If the number of originals is predicted to be 50, the total number of sheets to be copied (N) is calculated and predicted to be 500 (S5).

Further, the sheets can be discharged to a sorter (sheet processing device) 320 provided as an optional device of the copying machine 1 for automatically sorting and stacking the sheets and a sheet processing device for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets. The maximum number of sheets is searched by the limit value search means 362 of the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 11 (S6), and is compared with the number of sheets to be copied (S7).
When the number of sheets (M) that can be accommodated in the sheet processing apparatus 320 is exceeded, the number of sheets that can be accommodated in the apparatus that automatically sorts and stacks sheets or the sheet processing apparatus that stitches and stacks a plurality of sheets is copied. When the operation is designated, a warning message is displayed on the display unit (display means) 361 of the copying machine body 1.

Referring to the above example, when the number of sheets to be copied is calculated to be 500 sheets, the sheets can be discharged to a sorter 320 for automatically sorting and stacking the sheets or an apparatus for binding and stacking a plurality of sheets. Then, a warning message is displayed on the display unit 361 of the copying machine main body 1 based on the comparison result to confirm the copying operation.

Further, when there is a possibility that the number of sheets placed on the document tray 4 may exceed the upper limit of the number of sheets of the apparatus for binding sheets based on the predicted value of the number of documents, the display means of the copying machine main unit 1 may be used. A warning message may be displayed at 361 to confirm the copying operation.

As described above, the number of sheets S discharged from the copying machine main body 1 depends on the sorter 320 for sorting and stacking the discharged sheets and the sheet processing apparatus for binding and stacking the sheet bundle of the discharged sheets. If the number of sheets that can be accommodated exceeds
By displaying a warning message to the user in advance, it is possible to prevent the copying operation of the copying machine body 1 from being interrupted halfway.

[0146]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Prior to starting image formation on a recording sheet, the number of originals placed on the original placing means is predicted, and the total number of image forming sheets on which images are to be formed by the apparatus main body is predicted.
For example, it is possible to confirm a copying operation when a sheet discharged from the apparatus main body cannot be accommodated in a downstream sheet processing apparatus, thereby preventing the image forming operation from being temporarily interrupted during the image forming operation. be able to.

When the number of originals placed on the original placing means is estimated, the sheet bundle of sheets discharged from the apparatus main body is bound by the binding means. This can be confirmed in advance, and damage to the binding means and temporary interruption of the image forming operation can be prevented.

When the number of copy sheets in the apparatus main body exceeds the number of sheets that can be accommodated in the sheet processing apparatus, and when the number of sheets on which images are formed exceeds the number of sheets that can be bound by the binding means, this is displayed on the display means. Thus, the user can confirm the image forming operation before starting it, and can prevent the image forming operation from being temporarily interrupted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing a path section of a document feeder of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a drive system of the document feeder.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the separation unit and the sheet feeding unit when the sheet feeding roller of the document feeder is at the uppermost position.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of the separation unit and the sheet feeding unit when the sheet feeding roller of the document feeder is at the lowest position.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional side view of the separation unit and the sheet feeding unit when the sheet feeding roller of the document feeder is in a standby position.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side view of the separation unit and the sheet feeding unit when the sheet feeding roller of the document feeder is at a document landing position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the document feeder.

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a document reading position of the document feeder.

FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a document reading position of the document feeder.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram related to control of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

P Sheet document S Recording sheet 1 Copy machine body (image forming apparatus body) 5 Paper feed roller (document conveying means) 45 Paper feed roller home sensor (home position detecting means) 46, 47 Swing position sensor (document conveying means) Position detecting means) 51 Lifting arm (lifting member) 54, 55 Swing arm flag 103 Swing motor (drive means) 311 Photosensitive drum (image forming means) 319 Discharge roller (discharge means) 320 Sorter (sheet processing device) 352 Document Measuring means of transport means 353 Document number predicting means 355 Document copy number specifying means 356 Copy mode specifying means 357 Copy sheet number calculating means 359 Total copy sheet number predicting means 361 Display means 362 Sheet processing device limit value Search means 363 stapler (binding means) 365 stapling possible Judgment means

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Riki Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takayuki Fujii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. F term (reference) 2H027 DB08 FA02 FA21 FA22 GB01 2H076 BA13 BB09 3F048 AA01 AB01 AB02 BC00 BC04 CA05 EA01 3F108 GA01 HA02 HA45

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An original placing means capable of stacking a plurality of originals, an original conveying means swingable on an original placed on the original placing means, and the original conveying means comprising: Home position detecting means for detecting a home position at a position distant from the means, and document conveying means position detecting means for detecting a position of the document conveying means when the document conveying means lands on a document on the document placing means. Means for measuring the amount of movement of the document conveying means; means for estimating the number of documents placed on the document placing means from the amount of movement of the document conveying means determined by the moving amount measuring means; Image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet based on a document image of a document fed by the document conveying means; discharging means for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming means from the apparatus main body; An image forming apparatus, comprising a. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for designating a copy mode of said document, wherein said means for predicting the number of documents and said means for designating said copy mode calculate the number of copies of one copy of the document on said stacking means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit. 3. A means for designating the number of copies of a document of said document placing means, and all sheets discharged from said discharge means based on the number of documents predicted by said prediction means and the number of copy sheets by said calculation means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means for predicting the number of sheets. 4. The original conveying means is driven by a pulse motor capable of rotating forward and reverse, and the moving amount measuring means of the original conveying means is provided with a moving amount of the original conveying means when there is no original on the original placing means. And measuring the difference between the amount of movement of the original conveying means when the original is present on the original placing means by the rotation amount of the pulse motor, and measuring the amount of movement of the original conveying means. Any one of claims 1 to 3
An image forming apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. An elevating / lowering member integrated with a driven spindle and integrally with the document conveying means position detecting means, wherein the home position detecting means detects a home position. A swinging member that is rotatable about the support shaft, is restricted in rotation within a predetermined range with respect to the elevating member, is supported by the elevating member, and supports the document conveying means. The document conveying means position detecting means is configured to detect the swing member when the document conveying means is separated from the document placing means or a document on the document placing means. When the document conveying means lands on the document placing means or the document placing means and the swinging member is detected by the document conveying means position detecting means, Stop The image forming apparatus of claims 1 to 4 any one of claims and outputs the No.. 6. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a binding unit that binds a plurality of sheets discharged by the discharging unit; and a sheet stacking unit that stacks a sheet bundle bound by the binding unit. 3. An image according to claim 2, further comprising: means for determining whether or not the number of sheets calculated by said calculation means can be bound; and display means for displaying a result of the determination by said determination means. Forming equipment. 7. A sheet processing apparatus having a plurality of sheet stacking means for sorting and stacking the sheets discharged by the discharge means, wherein the number of sheets predicted by the total number of copy sheets is calculated by the sheet processing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the apparatus is storable; and a display unit configured to display a determination result of the storability.