Sheet processing apparatus having a sheet insertion function, control method therefor, image forming apparatus, and program for implementing the control method

A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and a control method therefor that generates a sheet bundle by placing an insertion sheet on sheets that have been subjected to image formation and discharged from an image forming apparatus, as well as an image forming apparatus, and a program for implementing the control method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, where a sheet, such as a color sheet, an OHP sheet, or a pre-printed sheet on which printing has been carried out, placed on a manual feed tray can be inserted at a specified page in a sheet bundle discharged from the image forming apparatus and where a sheet that has been subjected to image formation by a color image forming apparatus can be inserted into a sheet bundle having been subjected to image formation by an image forming apparatus capable of only black and white output. This image forming apparatus has modes such as a front cover mode where a sheet is inserted at a front page of a sheet bundle, a back cover mode where a sheet is inserted at a final page of a sheet bundle, and an interleaving mode where a sheet is inserted at a desired page between the front page and the final page of a sheet bundle, and therefore a sheet can be inserted at a desired page in a sheet bundle.

A sheet inserter that is connected to a sheet discharge side of an image forming apparatus is also known. The inserter has a cassette in which sheets to be inserted are stored, receives recording sheets on which image formation has been performed after discharge from the image forming apparatus, inserts a sheet fed from the cassette between desired recording sheets, and then discharges a sheet bundle in which the sheet has been inserted according to the cover mode, the interleaving mode, or the like from a discharge opening thereof.

A post-processing apparatus that is connected to an image forming apparatus and includes, in addition to a cassette that stores insertion sheets, a finisher that carries out a sheet aligning process and/or a binding process is also known. This post-processing apparatus combines the functions of a finisher and inserter. An image forming apparatus that can clearly inform the user of a difference in orientation of a cover is also known (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2000-89613).

However, the various conventional apparatuses described above have the following problem. When sheets are inserted as the front cover and the back cover of a sheet bundle, if there is only one sheet insertion tray such as a manual feed tray or an inserter, it will be necessary for the user to change the orientation of the insertion sheets so as to be alternately face up and face down, so that there has been an operability problem in that it is troublesome to set the sheets.

To cope with this, it would be conceivable to provide two inserters, to set sheets in a face-up state as front covers in a one inserter, and to set sheets in a face-down state as back covers in the other inserter. However, since two inserters are provided in this case, the apparatus size is increased and there can be an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus, a control method therefor, and an image forming apparatus which are capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size, as well as a program for implementing the control method.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus, a control method therefor, and an image forming apparatus which permit insertion sheets for a front cover and insertion sheets for a rear cover to be set with the same orientation without having to set the insertion sheets so as to be alternately face-up and face-down in advance, as well as a program for implementing the control method.

To attain the above objects, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus capable of executing at least one of a front cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed and a rear cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, comprising an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet stacking tray on which at least one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, a first conveying section that conveys one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-down state, a second conveying section that conveys the other of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-up state, and a conveying controller that causes one of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the front cover and causes the other of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the rear cover.

Preferably, the sheet processing apparatus further comprises an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet and a double-sided conveying section that conveys the sheet, on one side of which an image has been formed by the image forming section to the image forming section again, to have an image formed on another side of the sheet by the image forming section, each of the first conveying section and the second conveying section includes the double-sided conveying section.

To attain the above objects, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus comprising an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets to be inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, at desired pages thereof, the insertion sheets comprising a plurality of types of insertion sheets and being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet stacking tray on which the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, a sheet inserting section that inserts at least one of the insertion sheets into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed and which are to be stacked on the sheet stacking tray, an insertion sheet inverting section that inverts front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet insertion controller that controls the sheet inserting section to insert each of the insertion sheets into a bundle of the sheets on which images have been formed, at a desired page thereof, and an insertion sheet inversion controller that controls the insertion sheet inverting section to invert the front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section in accordance with a type of the insertion sheet.

To attain the above objects, in a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet, an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet stacking tray on which at least one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming section are stacked, a first conveying section that conveys one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-down state, a second conveying section that conveys the other of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-up state, and a conveying controller that causes one of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the front cover and causes the other of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the rear cover.

To attain the above objects, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet, an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets to be inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming section, at desired pages thereof, the insertion sheets comprising a plurality of types of insertion sheets and being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet stacking tray on which the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and the sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming section are stacked, a sheet inserting section that inserts at least one of the insertion sheets into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming section and which are to be stacked on the sheet stacking tray, an insertion sheet inverting section that inverts front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section, a sheet insertion controller that controls the sheet inserting section to insert each of the insertion sheets into a bundle of the sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming section, at a desired page thereof, and an insertion sheet inversion controller that controls the insertion sheet inverting section to invert the front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section in accordance with a type of the insertion sheet.

To attain the above objects, in a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a sheet processing apparatus which includes an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets for a front cover and insertion sheets for a rear cover, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, and a sheet stacking tray on which at least one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, the sheet processing apparatus being capable of executing at least one of a front cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for the front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed and a rear cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for the rear cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, comprising a first conveying step of causing a first conveying section to convey one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-down state, a second conveying step of causing a first conveying section to convey the other of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-up state, and a conveying controlling step of causing one of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the front cover and causes the other of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the rear cover.

To attain the above objects, in a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a sheet processing apparatus which includes an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets to be inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, at desired pages thereof, the insertion sheets comprising a plurality of types of insertion sheets and being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, and a sheet stacking tray on which the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, comprising an insertion sheet inverting step of inverting front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section in accordance with a type of the insertion sheet, and a sheet inserting step of inserting each of the insertion sheets into a bundle of the sheets on which images have been formed and which are to be stacked on the sheet stacking tray, at a desired page thereof.

To attain the above objects, in a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executable by a computer for implementing a control method for a sheet processing apparatus which includes an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets for a front cover and insertion sheets for a rear cover, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, and a sheet stacking tray on which at least one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, the sheet processing apparatus being capable of executing at least one of a front cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for the front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed and a rear cover insertion mode in which an insertion sheet for the rear cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, comprising a first conveying step of causing a first conveying section to convey one of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-down state, a second conveying step of causing a first conveying section to convey the other of the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover stored in the insertion sheet storing section to the sheet stacking tray in a face-up state, and a conveying controlling step of causing one of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the front cover and causes the other of the first conveying section and the second conveying section to convey the insertion sheets for the rear cover.

To attain the above objects, in a eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer for implementing a control method for a sheet processing apparatus which includes an insertion sheet storing section that stores insertion sheets to be inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, at desired pages thereof, the insertion sheets comprising a plurality of types of insertion sheets and being set with a same orientation in the insertion sheet storing section, and a sheet stacking tray on which the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked, comprising an insertion sheet inverting step of inverting front and rear sides of at least one of the insertion sheets conveyed from the insertion sheet storing section in accordance with a type of the insertion sheet, and a sheet inserting step of inserting each of the insertion sheets into a bundle of the sheets on which images have been formed and which are to be stacked on the sheet stacking tray, at a desired page thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1is a diagram showing the construction of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus10is comprised of an image forming apparatus main body, which includes a printer100and an image reader200, and a finisher500as the sheet processing apparatus. An original feeding device400is mounted on the image reader200and feeds originals set face-up on an original tray401one at a time in order from an uppermost original leftward as viewed inFIG. 1via a curved path402and stops the fed original at a predetermined position on a platen glass201. In this state, the original is read by causing a scanner unit202to scan from left to right.

When the scanner unit202scans the original, the read surface of the original is irradiated with lamp light from the scanner unit202and light reflected by the original is guided via mirrors211,212,213to a lens214, passes through the lens214and forms an image on an image pickup surface of an image sensor203. The optically read image is converted to an image signal and outputted by the image sensor203. The image signal outputted from the image sensor203is subjected to predetermined image processing by an image signal controller281(seeFIG. 5), and is then inputted as a video signal to an exposure controller120inside the printer100.

FIG. 2is a diagram showing a sheet conveying operation in a single-sided mode in which images are formed on only one side of sheets in the image forming apparatus10. The exposure controller120inside the printer100modulates and outputs laser light based on the inputted video signal. This laser light is scanned by a polygon mirror, not shown, to be irradiated onto a photosensitive drum115. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum115in accordance with the scanning of the laser light. This electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum115is converted to a visible image (a developer image) using a developer supplied from a developing unit117.

After a sheet fed from one of cassettes101ato101dor a sheet fed from a manual feed tray105via a conveying path147is stopped with a leading edge of the sheet abutting a registration roller113, the sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum115and a transfer section118in timing synchronized with a start of irradiation of the laser light. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum115is transferred onto the fed sheet in the transfer section118. By having the conveying of the sheet temporarily stop with the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller113, any skewing of the sheet is corrected.

When the sheet onto which the developer image has been transferred has been conveyed to a fixing section121, the developer image is fixed to the sheet through the application of heat and pressure by the fixing section121. The sheet that has passed the fixing section121is guided by a flapper133to a conveying path142and is discharged via a discharge roller111from the printer100to the external finisher500. At this time, the sheet is discharged in a so-called “face-down” state where the surface on which an image has been formed faces down, and accordingly, if image formation is carried out in order from the uppermost original, the order of a bundle of discharged sheets will be the correct page order, that is, the order in which image formation is carried out. Note that inFIG. 2, for ease of explanation, numerals showing page numbers are added to the surfaces of the sheets (here, numerals showing pages “1”, “2”, and “3” are added to the (upper) surfaces of the sheets). Such numerals are used in the same way in the following drawings.

FIGS. 3A to 3Gare diagrams showing a conveying operation for a sheet in a double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet. In the same way as the single-sided mode, after a sheet fed from one of the cassettes101ato101dor a sheet fed from the manual feed tray105via the conveying path147is stopped with the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller113, the sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum115and the transfer section118. In the transfer section118, a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum115is transferred onto the fed sheet (a surface that is a second page). When the sheet passes the fixing section121, an image is formed on one surface of the sheet.

By switching an orientation of the flapper133, the sheet is guided from a conveying path141to a conveying path143, with the sheet being stopped in a state where the leading edge of the sheet is inserted between a nip of inverting rollers112(seeFIG. 3A). When the orientation of the flapper133has been switched, the inverting rollers112are driven in reverse and the sheet is guided from the conveying path143to a double-sided conveying path145(seeFIG. 3B), guided to a conveying path146by a flapper131, and again stops with the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller113(seeFIG. 3C). At this time, the front and rear sides of the sheet are inverted.

After this, the sheet is fed between the photosensitive drum115and the transfer section118once again and in the transfer section118, a developer image formed on the photosensitive drum115is transferred onto the other surface (a surface that is a first page) of the fed sheet (seeFIG. 3D). The sheet then passes the fixing section121and after the image has been formed on the other surface of the sheet, the orientation of the flapper133is switched, the sheet is guided from the conveying path141to the conveying path142, and is discharged via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the external finisher500(seeFIG. 3E).

At this time, the sheet is discharged with the surface of the sheet on which image formation has been carried out second (the surface that is the first page) facing down. In this way, to make the page order match when the sheet is discharged from the printer100to the external finisher500, image formation is carried out first on the rear surface of the sheet. Note that although in the present embodiment, when double-sided image formation is carried out on a plurality of sheets, image formation is carried out on a plurality of sheets (in this example, two sheets) in parallel, it is also possible to form images on both front and rear surfaces of a sheet before starting image formation on a following sheet.

Once the sheet discharged from the printer100has been sent to the finisher500; the sheet is discharged onto a bundle discharge belt503by a discharge roller501inside the finisher500(seeFIGS. 3F and 3G). More specifically, an intermediate processing tray, not shown, is disposed in parallel with the bundle discharge belt503in a front-rear direction in the figures (a depth direction for the image forming apparatus10) at a position that is several millimeters higher than the bundle discharge belt503, and the sheet is discharged onto this intermediate processing tray. The discharged sheet falls due to its own weight in a lower right direction as viewed in the figures along the intermediate processing tray, not shown, which is inclined in the same way as the bundle discharge belt503and has low friction, and the bundle discharge belt503. In addition, by rotating a fan-shaped return roller502anticlockwise inFIG. 3G, a frictional member provided on an arc of a return roller502is placed in contact with the sheet to assist the falling of the sheet to the lower right as viewed inFIG. 3G, with the end of the sheet abutting a stopper plate504. By doing so, an aligning operation is carried out for ends of sheets in the vertical direction (feeding direction).

Aligning plates506are provided at near and far positions in the depth direction as viewed inFIG. 3G(in the front-rear direction for the image forming apparatus) on the intermediate processing tray (not shown), and by driving the aligning plates506whenever a sheet is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray, an operation that aligns ends of the sheets discharged onto the intermediate processing tray in the width or transverse direction is carried out.

FIG. 4is a diagram showing a stacking state of sheets discharged onto the intermediate processing tray in the double-sided mode. When a predetermined number of sheets have been discharged and stacked onto the intermediate processing tray, the bundle discharge belt503is driven and the stacked sheet bundle is discharged onto a stack tray507. When execution of a stapling process has been set, a bundle of sheets to be stapled is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray and an end aligning operation is carried out for the sheets by the aligning plates506. After this, a stapler505is driven to carry out a stapling operation, and the stapled sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray507by the bundle discharge belt503. The stapler505is freely movable in the width direction relative to the sheet bundle on the intermediate processing tray and therefore can carry out the stapling operation at a desired position in the depth direction inFIG. 4(in the front-rear direction for the image forming apparatus10).

FIG. 5is a block diagram showing the construction of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus. The controller includes a CPU circuit150, an original feeding device controller480, an image reader controller280, an image signal controller281, a printer controller180, an operation display section controller680, and a finisher controller580. The image signal controller281is connected to an external computer283via an external interface (I/F)282.

The CPU circuit150includes a CPU151, a ROM152, and a RAM153and carries out overall control of the respective parts of the image forming apparatus10by having the CPU151execute control programs stored in the ROM152. The RAM153temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for computational processes when the CPU151executes the control programs.

The original feeding device controller480controls the original feeding device400in accordance with an instruction from the CPU circuit150. The image reader controller280controls the scanner unit202, the image sensor203, and the like to transfer an analog image signal outputted from the image sensor203to the image signal controller281.

The image signal controller281converts the analog image signal from the image sensor203to a digital signal, then carries out various processes on the digital signal, converts the processed digital signal to a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer controller180. Further, the image signal controller281carries out various processes on a digital image signal inputted from the computer283via the external I/F282, converts the processed digital image signal to a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer controller180. The operation of the image signal controller281is controlled by the CPU circuit150.

The operation display section controller680exchanges information between an operation display section600(seeFIG. 6) and the CPU circuit150. As described later, the operation display section600includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display section for displaying setting states, and the like, outputs key signals corresponding to operations of the respective keys to the CPU circuit150, and displays corresponding information based on signals from the CPU circuit150on the display section. The printer controller180drives the exposure controller120based on the inputted video signal.

FIG. 6is a view showing the appearance of the operation display section600in the image forming apparatus. A start key602that starts an image forming operation, a stop key603that suspends the image forming operation, a ten key604to612,614used to set numerical values (for example, the number of copies) and the like, an ID key613, a clear key615, a reset key616, and the like are disposed in this operation display section600.

A liquid crystal display section620, on which a touch panel is formed, is disposed on an upper part of the operation display section600, with soft keys being provided on the screen thereof. For example, the image forming apparatus10according to the present embodiment has various processing modes such as “non-sort” (group), “sort”, and “staple-sort” (binding mode) as post-processing modes of the finisher500. These processing modes are set by input operations made using the operation display section600. A setting of a mode that inserts a front cover/rear cover/interleaved sheet is also made via the touch panel.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare views showing soft keys displayed on the display section620. In an initial screen of the display section620shown inFIG. 7A, when a “sorter” key621, which is a soft key, is selected, a menu selection screen shown inFIG. 7Bis displayed on the display section620and a setting of a processing mode is made via this menu selection screen.

Next, a manual feeding mode in which image formation is carried out on a sheet fed from the manual feed tray105will be described.FIGS. 8A and 8Bare views showing a setting key for manual feeding mode displayed on the display section620and a display state thereof.FIGS. 9A and 9Bare diagrams showing how a sheet is conveyed in the manual feeding mode in the image forming apparatus10.

When image formation is to be carried out on a sheet set on the manual feed tray105, when a “sheet selection” key625, which is a soft key, is selected in the initial screen shown inFIG. 7A, the display screen of the display section620switches to a sheet selection screen shown inFIG. 8A. In this sheet selection screen, sheet sizes and the like set in the cassettes101ato101dand the manual feed tray105are displayed. If a “manual feed” key627is selected and an “OK” key623is pressed in this state, the display screen returns to the initial screen shown inFIG. 8B, so that an indication that the manual feed tray105is selected is displayed on the display section620.

When the start key602is pressed after numerical values and the like have been set using the ten key604to612,614, the image forming apparatus10starts an image forming operation. When a manual feeding roller106is brought into contact with an upper surface of a sheet bundle placed on the manual feed tray105to start conveying sheets into the printer100from an uppermost sheet in the sheet bundle, the uppermost sheet is separated from the sheet bundle and conveyed by a pair of manual feed separation rollers107. A flapper130is provided downstream of the pair of manual feed separation rollers107, and as shown inFIG. 9A, the sheet is guided to the conveying path147and is conveyed until the leading edge abuts the registration roller113.

After this, as shown inFIG. 9B, in the same way as in the image forming operation shown inFIG. 2, the sheet is conveyed from the transfer section118to the fixing section121, is guided to the conveying path142by the flapper133, and is discharged via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the external finisher500.

Next, the “front cover mode/interleaving mode/rear cover mode” of the image forming apparatus10will be described.FIGS. 10A to 10Eare views showing setting keys for “front cover mode/interleaving mode/rear cover mode” displayed by the display section620and display states thereof. When an “application mode” key628, which is a soft key, is selected in the initial screen shown inFIG. 7A, the display screen of the display section620is switched to a display screen shown inFIG. 10Awhere various modes are selected. Here, when a “front cover/interleaving/rear cover” key635is selected, the display screen switches to a screen shown inFIG. 10Bwhere “front cover mode”, “interleaving mode” or “rear cover mode” can be selected.

FIGS. 11A and 11Bare diagrams useful in explaining “front cover mode”, “interleaving mode” and “rear cover mode”. As shown inFIG. 11A, in “front cover mode”, a designated sheet is inserted into a sheet bundle for each copy to be made at the front page thereof. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 11B, in “interleaving mode”, a designated sheet is inserted into a sheet bundle for each copy to be made at a desired page thereof. For example, “interleaving mode” is set when inserting color printout sheets into a bundle of recording sheets outputted from a black and white image forming apparatus. As shown inFIG. 10C, when “front cover mode” or “rear cover mode” has been selected in the screen shown inFIG. 10B, the display screen of the display section620returns to the initial screen (seeFIG. 10E).

On the other hand, when the interleaving mode is selected in the screen shown inFIG. 10B, the display screen of the display section620switches to an interleaved page selection screen shown inFIG. 10Dto set the number of the page in the sheet bundle at which a sheet is to be inserted. In the interleaved page selection screen, the inserted page number is inputted by pressing the ten key604to612, and/or614and when the “OK” key623is pressed after such input, the display screen returns to the initial screen (seeFIG. 10E). In the present embodiment, in any of “front cover mode”, “interleaving mode” and “rear cover mode”, a sheet set on the manual feed tray105is fed as a sheet to be inserted, so that as shown inFIG. 10E, a state where the manual feed tray105is selected is displayed on the display section620.

FIGS. 12A to 12Iare diagrams showing a sheet conveying operation in “mode I” of the image forming apparatus10. In the sheet conveying operation in “mode I”, to produce a sheet bundle, image formation is carried out on one sheet fed from the cassette101a, a front cover is inserted into the sheet bundle at the first page thereof, and a rear cover is inserted at the third page, and therefore insertion sheets for the front cover and the rear cover are placed face-up on the manual feed tray105.FIG. 13is a diagram showing insertion sheets for the front cover and rear cover that are placed face up on the manual feed tray105. InFIGS. 12A to 12I, “I” and “II” designate the numbers of the insertion sheets being fed. It should be noted that when “mode I” is selected, an indication that instructs the user to place the insertion sheets for the front cover and the rear cover face up is displayed on the operation display section600.

The insertion sheet (I) inserted at the first page as the front cover is conveyed by the manual feeding roller106and the pair of manual feed separation rollers107into the printer100and is guided to a conveying path148by the flapper130. The insertion sheet (I) is conveyed until a leading edge thereof abuts a pair of double-sided conveying rollers (interleaving registration rollers)108. In the same way as the registration roller113, the pair of double-sided conveying rollers108corrects any skewing of the insertion sheet (I) fed from the manual feed tray105. After this, the insertion sheet (I) is guided to the conveying path143by flappers132,133, and134(seeFIG. 12B), and when a trailing end of the insertion sheet (I) has passed the flapper134, the sheet stops in a state where the sheet is nipped by the inverting rollers112(seeFIG. 12C). When the orientation of the flapper134is switched and the inverting rollers112are driven in reverse, the insertion sheet (I) is guided from the conveying path143to an inverting path149and is then conveyed via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-down state (seeFIG. 12D).

At the same time as the insertion sheet (I) is conveyed to the finisher500, a sheet fed from the cassette101aby a feeding roller102ais conveyed to the registration roller113and is then conveyed from the transfer section118to the fixing section121and guided to the conveying path142by the flapper133(seeFIGS. 12C to 12F). After this, the sheet on which an image has been formed is discharged via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-down state (seeFIG. 12G).

The insertion sheet (II), i.e., a sheet for the third page that is the rear cover, is conveyed into the printer100by the manual feeding roller106and the manual feed separation rollers107, and is guided to the conveying path148by the flapper130. After this, the sheet is conveyed until a leading edge thereof abuts the pair of double-sided conveying rollers (interleaving registration rollers)108(seeFIG. 12F). As described above, in the same way as the registration roller113, the double-sided conveying rollers108correct any skewing of the insertion sheet (II) fed from the manual feed tray105. After this, the insertion sheet (II) is guided via the double-sided conveying path145by the flappers132,133to the conveying path142(seeFIGS. 12G,12H), and is discharged via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-up state (seeFIG. 12I).

FIGS. 14A to 14Iare diagrams showing a sheet conveying operation in “mode II” of the image forming apparatus10. In the sheet conveying operation in “mode II”, priority is placed on productivity, and to produce a sheet bundle, image formation is carried out on one sheet fed from the cassette101a, a front cover is inserted into the sheet bundle at the first page thereof and a rear cover is inserted at the third page, and therefore insertion sheets for the front cover are placed face-down and insertion sheets for the rear cover are placed face-up on the manual feed tray105.FIG. 15is a diagram showing insertion sheets for the front cover that are placed face-down on the manual feed tray105and insertion sheets for the rear cover that are placed face-up. It should be noted that when “mode II” is selected, an indication instructing the user to place the insertion sheets for the front cover face down on the manual feed tray105and the insertion sheets for the rear cover face up on the manual feed tray105is displayed on the operation display section600. Mode I and mode II are selected using the operation display section600.

The insertion sheet (I) inserted at the first page as the front cover is conveyed into the printer100by the manual feeding roller106and the manual feed separation rollers107and is guided to the conveying path148by the flapper130(seeFIG. 14A). The insertion sheet (I) is conveyed until a leading edge thereof abuts the double-sided conveying rollers108. In the same way as the registration roller113, the double-sided conveying rollers108correct any skewing of the insertion sheet (I) fed from the manual feed tray105. After this, the insertion sheet (I) is guided by the flappers132,133to the conveying path142(seeFIG. 14B), and is conveyed via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-down state (seeFIGS. 14C,14D). In this way, in the sheet conveying operation in “mode II”, productivity is improved compared to the sheet conveying operation in “mode I” by an amount corresponding to a front-rear inverting process being unnecessary for the insertion sheets for the front cover.

At the same time as the insertion sheet (I) is conveyed to the finisher500, a sheet conveyed from the cassette101aby the feeding roller102ais conveyed to the registration roller113, then conveyed from the transfer section118to the fixing section121, and is guided to the conveying path142by the flapper133(seeFIGS. 14C to 14F). The sheet on which image formation has been carried out is then discharged via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-down state.

Next, the insertion sheet (II) inserted at the third page as the rear cover is conveyed into the printer100by the manual feeding roller106and the manual feed separation rollers107and is guided to the conveying path148by the flapper130. The insertion sheet (II) is conveyed until a leading edge thereof abuts the double-sided conveying rollers108. As described above, in the same way as the registration roller113, the double-sided conveying rollers108correct any skewing of the insertion sheet (II) fed from the manual feed tray105. After this, the insertion sheet (II) is guided by the flappers132,133via the conveying path145to the conveying path142(seeFIG. 14G), and is conveyed via the discharge roller111from the printer100to the finisher500in a face-up state (seeFIGS. 14H,14I).

FIG. 16is a flowchart showing the procedure of a conveying mode selection process. A program for this process is stored in the ROM152inside the CPU circuit150and is executed by the CPU151. When an image forming operation starts, the set conveying mode for sheets is determined (a step S21). When the conveying mode is “mode I”, a sheet conveying process for “mode I” shown inFIG. 17, described later, is carried out (a step S22). On the other hand, when the conveying mode is “mode II”, a sheet conveying process for “mode II” shown inFIG. 18, described later, is carried out (a step S23). After this, the present process is terminated.

FIG. 17is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sheet conveying process for “mode I” in the step S22of the conveying mode selection process shown inFIG. 16. When the sheet conveying process for “mode I” starts, first it is determined whether “front cover mode” is set (step S1). When “front cover mode” is set, the flappers130,131,132,133, and134are controlled (step S2), and then the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover is conveyed from the manual feed tray105(step S3). At this time, as described above, the orientation of the flapper134is switched so that the insertion sheet (I) is guided from the conveying path143to the inverting path149. After this, the process proceeds to a step S4. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S1that “front cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to the step S4.

After this, the flappers132,133are controlled (step S4), and a sheet that has been conveyed from the cassette101aand on which an image has been formed is conveyed to the finisher500(step S5). Next, it is determined whether there is a sheet on which image formation is to be carried out next (step S6), and when there is a sheet on which image formation is to be carried out, the process returns to the step S5to have the sheet on which image formation has been carried out conveyed. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S6that there is no sheet on which image formation is to be carried out next, it is determined whether “rear cover mode” is set (step S7). When “rear cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to a step S10. On the other hand, when “rear cover mode” is set, the flappers130,131,132, and133are controlled (step S8), and then the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is conveyed (step S9). At this time, as described above, the orientation of the flapper133is switched so that the insertion sheet (II) is guided via the double-sided conveying path145to the conveying path142. After this, it is determined whether the bundle-generating operation has been carried out for the number of copies set using the operation display section600(step S10), and when this is the case, the present process is terminated. On the other hand, when there are still remaining copies, the process returns to the step S1and the same process are repeated. By doing so, a sheet bundle such as those shown inFIG. 11Adescribed above is produced on the finisher500.

FIG. 18is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sheet conveying process for “mode II” in the step S23of the conveying mode selection process shown inFIG. 16. When the sheet conveying process for “mode II” starts, first it is determined whether “front cover mode” is set (step S31). When “front cover mode” is set, the flappers130,131,132, and133are controlled (step S32), and the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover is conveyed from the manual feed tray105(step S33). At this time, as described above, the orientation of the flapper133is switched so that the insertion sheet (I) is guided via the double-sided conveying path145to the conveying path142. After this, the process proceeds to a step S34. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S31that “front cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to the step S34.

After this, the flappers132and133are controlled (step S34), and a sheet that has been conveyed from the cassette101aand on which an image has been formed is conveyed to the finisher500(step S35). Next, it is determined whether there is a sheet on which image formation is to be carried out next (step S36), and when there is a sheet on which image formation is to be carried out, the process returns to the step S35to have the sheet on which image formation has been carried out conveyed. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S36that there is no sheet on which image formation is to be carried out, it is determined whether “rear cover mode” is set (step S37).

When “rear cover mode” is set, the flappers130,131,132, and133are controlled (step S38), and the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is conveyed (step S39). At this time, in the same way as for the insertion sheet (I), the orientation of the flapper133is switched so that the insertion sheet (II) is guided via the double-sided conveying path145to the conveying path142. After this, the process proceeds to a step S40. On the other hand, when “rear cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to the step S40.

It is next determined whether the operation has been carried out for the number of copies set using the operation display section600(step S40), and when there are still remaining copies, the process returns to the step S31. On the other hand, when the operation has been carried out for all of the copies, the present process is terminated. By doing so, a sheet bundle such as that shown inFIG. 11Adescribed above is produced on the finisher500.

In this way, according to the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, in the sheet conveying process for “mode I”, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation on the manual feed tray105without setting the insertion sheets so that the image-formed surfaces thereof alternately face up and down. That is, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover can be placed with the same orientation (for example, face-up) on the manual feed tray105provided on the image forming apparatus10. The operability of the apparatus can therefore be improved. Also, since a single manual feed tray is sufficient for setting the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover, the apparatus can be miniaturized and an increase in cost can be suppressed.

Also, since switching can be made between “mode I” and “mode II”, when the user gives priority to productivity, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover are set respectively face-down and face-up on the manual feed tray105of the image forming apparatus10and neither sheet passes through the conveying path143and the inverting path149, so that the efficiency of the conveying operation, and in turn the productivity of the production of sheet bundles, can be improved.

Although an example where the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover are set face up on the manual feed tray has been given in the above embodiment, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover may be set face down on the manual feed tray, and in this case, the insertion sheets for the front cover are conveyed to the intermediate processing tray of the finisher500in the face-down state without being inverted, with the insertion sheets for the rear cover being inverted to become face up and then conveyed to the intermediate processing tray of the finisher500. By doing so, there is increased freedom when setting the insertion sheets on the manual feed tray, which improves the usability of the apparatus. In addition, although an example where the insertion sheets are inserted from the manual feed tray has been given in the above embodiment, it is also possible to apply the present invention to the case where the insertion sheets are placed on an inserter tray, not shown, attached to the finisher500and the sheets are fed one at a time.

FIG. 19is a diagram showing the construction of an image forming system comprised of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus2000is comprised of an image reader2200, and a printer2300. An original feeding device2100is mounted on the image reader2200. The original feeding device2100feeds set originals leftward as viewed inFIG. 19one at a time in order from an uppermost original, conveys the originals via a curved path over a platen glass2102from left to right, and then discharges the originals onto a discharge tray2112. At this time, a scanner unit2104is fixed at a predetermined position, and by passing an original over the scanner unit2104from left to right, an operation that reads the original is carried out. This reading operation is called “moving original reading method”. When the original passes over the scanner unit2104, light from a lamp2103inside the scanner unit2104is irradiated onto the original and light reflected from the original is guided via mirrors2105,2106, and2107and a lens2108to an image sensor2109. Note that it is also possible to read the original by having the original conveyed by the original feeding device2100stop on the platen glass2102and then moving the scanner unit2104from left to right. This reading operation is called “stationary original reading method”. When an original is read without using the original feeding device2100, the user lifts up the original feeding device2100and sets the original on the platen glass2102. In this case, a reading operation is carried out according to the stationary original reading method.

After image processing has been carried out on the image of the original read by the image sensor2109, an image signal for the image is sent to an exposure controller2110. The exposure controller2110outputs laser light in accordance with the image signal. When the laser light is irradiated onto a photosensitive drum2111, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum2111. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum2111is developed by a developing unit2113. The developer (toner) on the photosensitive drum2111is transferred by a transfer section2116onto a sheet fed from one of cassettes2114,2115, a manual feeding unit2125, and a double-sided conveying path2124.

The sheet onto which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing section2117and a fixing process for the developer is carried out by the fixing section2117. The sheet that has passed the fixing section2117is temporally guided to a path2122by a flapper2121. After a trailing end of the sheet has passed the flapper2121, the conveying direction of the sheet is reversed (the sheet is switched back) and the sheet is guided to a discharge roller2118by the flapper2121. By doing so, the sheet is discharged from the printer2300by the discharge roller2118in a state where the surface on which an image has been formed faces down. This discharge operation is called “inverted discharge”. By discharging sheets face down, in the case where images are formed in order from a first page, such as when images of originals read using the original feeding device2100are printed and when image data outputted from a computer is printed, the sheets on which images have been formed will be discharged in the correct page order.

It should be noted that when image formation is carried out on a stiff sheet, such as an OHP sheet, fed from the manual feeding unit2125, the sheet is not guided to the path2122and is discharged from the discharge roller2118in a state where the surface with the formed image faces up. Also, when images are formed on both surfaces of a sheet, the sheet is guided straight to the discharge roller2118from the fixing section2117, and immediately after a trailing end of the sheet has passed the flapper2121, the sheet is switched back, and is guided to the double-sided conveying path2124by the flapper2121.

Here, when the stationary original reading method is carried out, in the sub-scanning direction, an original is read from the right end of the original to the left end and an image is formed in order from the right end of the original. On the other hand, regarding the main scanning direction, an image read in a predetermined direction by the image sensor2109is sent as it is to the exposure controller2110so that an image is formed without becoming a mirror image. However, when the moving original reading method is carried out, an original is read from the left end of the original to the right end so that the sub-scanning direction becomes opposite to when the stationary original reading method is carried out. If the read image were sent to the exposure controller2110in the read state, a mirror image would be formed. For this reason, a mirror image process is carried out by switching the main scanning direction to the opposite direction so that an image that would be formed as a mirror image is corrected to a proper image. After this, by sending the corrected image to the exposure controller2110, the proper image is formed.

Also, as described above, by carrying out inverted discharge, the trailing end of the sheet becomes the left end of an image, so that by carrying out a binding process on the trailing ends, the left ends of images are bound. Note that although it is possible to carry out a mirror image process by switching the sub-scanning direction to the opposite direction, in view of the inability to carry out the mirror image process until the reading is complete for one entire page and the left ends of images being bound by a binding process performed on the trailing ends after inverted discharge, it is more preferable to switch the main scanning direction.

The sheets discharged from the discharge roller2118are fed into a folding apparatus2400. The folding apparatus2400carries out a process that folds the sheets in a Z shape. When a folding process has been designated for sheets that are A3 or B4 size, such sheets are subjected to the folding process by the folding apparatus2400, with other sheets being fed directly into a finisher2500. The finisher2500carries out a stitching process, a punching process and/or the like on the sheets.

FIG. 20is a block diagram showing the construction of a controller that controls the entire image forming system. The controller includes a CPU circuit2150, an original feeding device controller2101, an image reader controller2201, an image signal controller2202, a printer controller2301, an operating section3001, a folding device controller2401, and a finisher controller2501. The image signal controller2202is connected to an external computer2210via an external interface (I/F)2209.

The CPU circuit2150includes a CPU2155, a ROM2151, and a RAM2152and carries out overall control of the respective parts of the image forming system by having the CPU2155execute control programs stored in the ROM2151. The RAM2152temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for computational processes when the CPU2155executes the control programs.

The original feeding device controller2101controls the original feeding device2100. The image reader controller2201controls the image reader2200. The printer controller2301controls the printer2300. The folding device controller2401controls the folding apparatus2400. The finisher controller2501includes a CPU2511, a ROM2512, and a RAM2513and controls the finisher2500and an inserter unit2900by having the CPU2511execute control programs stored in the ROM2512. The RAM2513temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for computational processes when the CPU2511executes the control programs. An insert mode key, not shown, that can set “insert mode” is provided on an operating section3001, and by pressing this insert mode key, it is possible to set and cancel the insert mode.

The external I/F2209provides interface for the computer2210, expands print data into image data, and outputs the image data to the image signal controller2202. The image signal read by the image sensor2109is outputted to the image signal controller2202from the image reader controller2201, and image data outputted from the image signal controller2202to the printer controller2301is inputted to the exposure controller2110.

FIG. 21is a diagram showing the construction of the sheet processing apparatus of an image forming system2000. The sheet processing apparatus is comprised of the folding apparatus2400and the finisher2500. In the folding apparatus2400, a sheet discharged from the printer2300is guided and conveyed to a folding conveying horizontal path2402. At this time, the presence of the sheet (“sheet on/off”) on the folding conveying horizontal path2402is detected by a folding conveying horizontal path sensor2430. When the folding process is not carried out on the conveyed sheet, a folding path selecting flapper2410is turned off and the sheet is conveyed directly to the finisher2500. On the other hand, when the folding process is carried out on the sheet, the folding path selecting flapper2410is turned on and the sheet is conveyed to a folding conveying path2420, is subjected to the folding process, and then the folding path selecting flapper2410is turned off to convey the sheet to the finisher2500.

In the finisher2500, the conveyed sheet is fed into a saddle selection flapper2551. When the saddle selection flapper2551is on, the sheet is sent to a saddle conveying path2553that carries out a stitching process.

When the saddle selection flapper2551is off, the conveyed sheet is detected by an intake sheet conveying path sensor2531and is guided to a punch unit2550by a pair of conveying rollers2503. The punch unit2550carries out hole punching on the conveyed sheet as necessary. In addition, the conveyed sheet is pressed by a large conveying roller2505and pressing rollers2512,2513that contact the large conveying roller2505. The sheet is discharged via a sample path2521onto a sample tray2701by a discharge roller2509. A switching flapper2510switches a conveying destination of the sheet between the sample path2521and a sort path2522. A switching flapper2511switches the conveying destination of the sheet between the sort path2522and a buffer path2523where sheets are temporarily stored.

A sheet conveyed via the sort path2522is discharged onto an intermediate tray (processing tray)2630by a discharge roller2507and is thereby temporarily placed on the intermediate tray2630. In the processing tray2630, a sheet process for aligning, stapling, and the like is carried out. A stapler2601binds the sheets placed on the processing tray2630into a bundle, and is freely movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The stapler2601moves along the end of sheets and carries out a stapling process that binds the sheets at two places, for example. A bundle of sheets that has been subjected to the stapling process and placed on the processing tray2630is conveyed as a bundle by a bundle discharge roller2680, and is discharged as a bundle onto a stack tray2700.

Here, the stack tray2700and the sample tray2701have respectively independent motors and can be independently moved in an up-down direction. The punch unit2550has a punching section and a transverse register detecting section. In the punching section, a punch driven by a punch driving motor and a die engage while rotating. During operation, when the trailing end of a sheet is detected, the punch unit2550drives the punch driving motor in predetermined timing and punches holes in the sheet being conveyed. At this time, by making the rotational speed of the pair of conveying rollers2503mentioned above equal to the rotational speed of the punch and the die, it is possible to punch holes in the sheet being conveyed. The transverse register detecting section is provided with a sensor, not shown, that detects an inner end of the sheet being conveyed, and can position the punch in the transverse direction by having the entire punch moved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction (i.e., has the punch moved transversely), having such transverse movement stopped when the inner end of the sheet is detected, and having the punch holes at this position.

Insertion sheets that are to be inserted into recording sheets on which images have been formed are placed on an inserter tray2910. The inserter2900separates sheets one at a time from the top of the insertion sheets placed on the inserter tray2910, and conveys the insertion sheets into the finisher2500via an inserter conveying path2908. The insertion sheets are then conveyed to a horizontal path2552inside the finisher2500and are conveyed in that state inside the finisher2500and discharged onto a predetermined tray.

In this way, an insertion sheet is fed from the inserter tray2900and is conveyed inside the finisher2500in desired timing, so that the insertion sheet is inserted between sheets conveyed from the printer2300, thus carrying out an insert process for a single bundle. As a specific example, one insertion sheet from the inserter2900is discharged onto the processing tray2630and after this, sheets discharged from the printer2300are placed on the processing tray2630, so that a sheet bundle that has the insertion sheet from the inserter2900as a front cover can be produced. Accordingly, in the finisher2500, it is possible to produce sheet bundles that have sheets on which images have been formed in advance as the front covers, and/or have been subjected to the binding process or punching process.

FIGS. 22A to 22Fare diagrams showing a conveying operation for insertion sheets in “mode I” of the sheet processing apparatus. First, insertion sheets (I) for the front cover and insertion sheets (II) for the rear cover are both placed in a face-up state on the inserter tray2910(seeFIG. 22A). After this, in the same way as in the first embodiment, when a printer controller1301starts an image forming operation after “front cover” and “rear cover mode” have been set by the user via the operating section3001as shown inFIGS. 10A to 10E, first, an insertion sheet (I) for the front cover is separated by an inserter separation roller2903and is conveyed to the inserter conveying path2908. It should be noted that when “mode I” has been selected, an indication instructing the user to place the insertion sheets for the front cover and the rear cover face up is displayed on an operation display section of the operating section3001.

The finisher controller2501switches the orientations of the flappers2551,2510,2511to guide the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover to the processing tray2630via the conveying paths2552,2522(seeFIG. 22B). After the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover has been conveyed to the processing tray2630, a sheet (1) on which an image has been formed is conveyed to the folding conveying horizontal path2402and is discharged onto the processing tray2630in the same way as the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover (seeFIG. 22C).

After being separated by the inserter separation roller2903, an insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is conveyed to the inserter conveying path2908. At this time, the finisher controller2501changes the orientation of the flapper2551to guide the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover to the saddle conveying path2553. After the trailing end of the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover has passed the flapper2551, the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is stopped (seeFIG. 22D) and the orientation of the flapper2551is switched to guide the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover to a conveying path2554(seeFIG. 22E). After this, after the orientations of the flappers2510,2511are switched to guide the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover to the processing tray2630, the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is placed on the processing tray2630(seeFIG. 22F).

In the sheet conveying operation in “mode II”, priority is placed on the productivity of producing sheet bundles, and insertion sheets (I) for the front cover are placed face up and insertion sheets (II) for the rear cover are placed face down on the inserter tray2910. Next, the orientation of the flapper2551is switched so that in the same way as the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover, the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is directly conveyed from the conveying path2908to the conveying path2552without passing the saddle conveying path2553. It should be noted that when “mode II” has been selected, an indication instructing the user to place the insertion sheets for the front cover face up and the insertion sheets for the rear cover face down is displayed on the operation display section of the operating section3001.

A sheet conveying process in the image forming system with the above construction will now be described. In the same way as in the first embodiment, when the image forming operation starts, the CPU2511inside the finisher controller2501executes a processing program stored in the ROM2512to determine the conveying mode for sheets. When a result of this determination is that the conveying mode is “mode I”, a sheet conveying process for “mode I” is carried out. On the other hand, when the conveying mode is “mode II”, a sheet conveying process for “mode II” is carried out (seeFIG. 16).

FIG. 23is a flowchart showing the procedure of the sheet conveying process for “mode I” in the second embodiment. A program for this process is stored in the ROM2512of the finisher controller2501and is executed by the CPU2511. First, the CPU2511determines whether “front cover mode” is set (step S51). When “front cover mode” is set, the flappers2551,2510, and2511are controlled (step S52) and the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover is conveyed from the inserter tray2910(step S53). At this time, as described above, the flapper2551is switched to guide the insertion sheet (I) for the front cover from the conveying path2908directly to the conveying path2552. After this, the process proceeds to a step S54. On the other hand, when “front cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to the step S54.

The flappers2410,2551,2510,2511are controlled (step S54) so that a sheet on which an image has been formed and which has been discharged from the printer2300is conveyed to the processing tray2630of the finisher2500(step S55). After this, it is determined whether there is a next sheet on which an image has been formed (step S56), and when there is the next sheet on which an image has been formed, the process returns to the step S55and the sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed in the same way. On the other hand, when there is no next sheet on which an image has been formed, it is determined whether “rear cover mode” is set (step S57).

When “rear cover mode” is set, the flappers2551,2510, and2511are controlled (step S58) and an insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover is conveyed (step S59). At this time, as described above, the orientation of the flapper2551is switched to guide the insertion sheet (II) for the rear cover from the conveying path2908to the saddle conveying path2553. After this, the process proceeds to a step S60. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S57that “rear cover mode” is not set, the process proceeds directly to the step S60. It is then determined whether the bundle-generating operation has been carried out for the number of copies set using the operating section3001(step S60). When the operation has not been carried out for all of the set number of copies, the process returns to the step S51. When the operation has been carried out for all of the set number of copies, the present process is terminated.

In this way, a sheet bundle such as that shown inFIG. 11Adescribed above is produced on the processing tray2630. After the sheet bundle has been subjected to post-processing on the processing tray2630, the sheet bundle is discharged onto the stacker tray2700by the bundle discharge roller2680.

In the procedure of the sheet conveying process for “mode II”, the same process as the step S52during “front cover mode” in the procedure of the sheet conveying process for “mode I” shown inFIG. 23is carried out in the step S58during “rear cover mode”, but aside from this, the process for “mode II” is the same as for “mode I”, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

In this way, according to the second embodiment, the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover can be placed with the same orientation (face up) on the inserter tray of the sheet processing apparatus. As a result, it is possible to improve the user operability. Also, a single inserter tray is sufficient, so that the apparatus can be miniaturized and an increase in cost can be suppressed.

In addition, by making it possible to switch between “mode I” and “mode II”, when the user gives priority to the productivity of the production of sheet bundles, “mode II” is selected and placing the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover are placed respectively in a face-up state and a face-down state on the inserter tray, which makes it possible to have the sheets omit the saddle conveying path2553, so that high productivity can be achieved.

Although in the above embodiment, an example where both the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover are set face up on the inserter tray has been given, both the insertion sheets for the front cover and the insertion sheets for the rear cover may be set face down on the inserter tray. In this case, the insertion sheets for the rear cover may be conveyed onto the processing tray2630in a face-up state without being inverted and the insertion sheets for the front cover may be conveyed to the processing tray2630in a face-down state after being inverted. By doing so, there is increased freedom when setting the insertion sheets on the inserted tray, so that user-friendliness can be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments and can be applied to any construction that can achieve the functions described in the appended claims or the functions of either of the constructions of the above described embodiments.

It is to be understood that the object of the present invention may also be accomplished by supplying a system or an apparatus with a storage medium in which a program code of software which realizes the functions of either of the above described embodiments is stored, and causing a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read out from the storage medium realizes the functions of either of the embodiments described above, and hence the program code and the storage medium in which the program code is stored constitute the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-088101 filed Mar. 24, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.