Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus which forms images on sheets fed selectively automatically or manually, and finishes copy sheets such as stapling them into booklets and/or stamping them under a control provided by an electronic control system. The control system prohibits simultaneous operations of finishing and feeding sheets manually.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an 
image on a recording material, hereinafter referred to as sheet, supplied 
from a supplier. 
There are occasions when copy sheets (i.e. sheets on which images are 
formed) from a copying machine are stapled into booklets, and a stapler 
for such use is known and used. To achieve the binding process a finisher 
is known and used. There are another occasions when a mark "Confidential" 
or "Circulate" is stamped on copy sheets, and a stamping device for such 
use is known and used. The stapler, stamping device and so on are 
generally called a finisher. The known finishers are designed to handle 
copy sheets having a predetermined size which are stacked in such a number 
as not to exceed the capacity of the finisher. 
However, there are problems involved in operating the known finishers; for 
example: 
(1) When the image forming apparatus is equipped with a manual sheet 
inserting section, it may happen that unsuitable sheets such as those out 
of size for the finishing process are supplied. 
(2) There are occasions when the operation of the finisher must be 
prohibited for particular reasons. For example, when several copy sheets 
are separately needed, they must be obtained without the finishing process 
in order to avoid a jamming of sheets, an error on the finisher and 
wasting staples, etc. 
There are another occasions when the manual sheet insertion mode must be 
prohibited during the finishing mode. 
In these cases the associated operations of the copying operation on sheets 
from the manual sheet insertion section and the finishing process, 
particularly the stapling operation, must be prohibited. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image 
forming means for forming an image on sheets, the apparatus comprising a 
manual sheet insertion section and a finishing means and being capable of 
prohibiting the associated operations of copying on manually supplied 
sheets and finishing them, thereby avoiding the occurrence of sheet 
jamming, failure on the finisher, etc. 
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an image 
forming means which comprises means for forming images on sheets; means 
for feeding the sheets to the image forming means, the sheet feeding means 
including a manual sheet insertion section from which an operator can 
manually feed optional sheets; means for effecting a finishing process on 
the copy sheets; and a control means for banning the associated operations 
of the manual sheet insertion section and the finishing means. 
Preferably, the finishing means comprises a stapler which staples a stack 
of copy sheets into booklets. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an 
image forming means which comprises means for forming images on sheets; 
means for feeding the sheets to the image forming means, the sheet feeding 
means including an automatic sheet feeding section and a manual sheet 
insertion section from which an operator can manually feed optional 
sheets; means for effecting a finishing process on the copy sheets; a 
first means for selecting the use of the manual sheet insertion section; a 
second means for selecting the use of the finishing means; and a control 
means for banning the associated operations of the finishing means and the 
manual sheet insertion section. 
The control means for banning the associated use of the finishing means and 
the manual sheet insertion section can be various as follows: 
(1) The selection of the use of the manual sheet insertion section by the 
first selecting means is prohibited under condition that the use of the 
finishing means is selected. 
(2) The selection of the use of the finishing means is released when the 
manual sheet insertion section is selected by the first selecting means 
under condition that the use of the finishing means is selected, thereby 
effecting the selection of the use of the manual sheet insertion section. 
(3) The selection of the use of the finishing means by the second selecting 
means is prohibited under condition that the manual sheet insertion 
section is selected. 
(4) The selection of the use of the manual sheet insertion section is 
released when the use of the finishing means is selected by the second 
selecting means while the manual sheet insertion section is selected, 
thereby effecting the selection of the use of the finishing means. 
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more 
apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, for the purpose of 
illustration only, embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a copying machine as a typical example of the 
image-forming apparatus. The copying machine includes a detachable 
finisher unit 50. 
COPYING MACHINE 
The copying machine has a main body 1 which stands on a desk 45 and has a 
recirculating document handler 30 (hereinafter called the RDH). The main 
body 1 houses a photosensitive drum 2 (hereinafter called the drum) 
capable of rotating in a direction of arrow (a). Disposed around the drum 
20 are image forming elements such as an optical system 3, a charger 4, a 
developing unit 5, a transfer charger 6, a cleaning device 7, and an 
eraser lamp 8. Since the operations of these elements and the copying 
process thereunder are well known, the explanation will be omitted for 
simplicity. 
An automatic cassette 11 stores sheets fed by a feeder roller 11a one by 
one. Timing rollers 15 feed the sheets to a transfer section 2a 
synchronously with a toner image formed on the drum 20. A conveyor belt 16 
feeds the sheet having the transferred toner image from the drum 20 to 
fixing rollers 17 which fix the toner image on the sheet. Discharging 
roller 18 discharge the copy sheet. 
As shown in FIG. 2 a sensor SE1 is disposed immediately before the 
discharging rollers 18 which detects the copy sheet. 
The reference numeral 10 denotes a manual sheet insertion tray, which is 
hinged to the main body 1 of the copying machine. When it is not in use, 
the tray 10 is folded to come into abutment with a switch SW10, and when 
it is used, the tray 10 is unfolded. A feed roller 10a feeds sheets 
inserted by hand, and a sensor SE10 detects them. 
The RDH 30 includes a tray 31 for placing an original, a sheet feed belt 
32, a pair of sheet feeder rollers 33, a turn-over guide plate 34, a 
conveyor 35 a turn-over roller 36, a pair of discharging rollers 37. The 
RDH 30 circulates originals consecutively from the last page to the first. 
The originals are placed on the tray 31 with the first page on top and the 
last page at the bottom. The last page is pulled out by the belt 32, and 
fed along the plate 34 into between the conveyor belt 35 and a glass panel 
9, and is placed at a predetermined position on the glass panel 9 by the 
belt 35. Then, the original is exposed to light by the optical system 3. 
After it is exposed to light, the original is fed from the glass panel 9 
to the right in FIG. 1, and fed by the pair of discharging rollers 37 
through the turn-over roller 36 so as to be placed face up on the first 
page on the tray 31. In this way the originals are consecutively fed. The 
belt 32, and the conveyor 35 are driven by a motor (not shown). 
The numbers of originals and of sheets are input by a ten-key on each of 
operation panels of the RDH and the main body 1. Every time when a number 
of originals on the tray have been copied, the copying operation is 
temporarily stopped, and a discharging tray 80 is shifted as described 
hereinafter or a stapling and/or stmping operations are executed. Instead 
of using the RDH 30, it is possible that the RDH is raised and an original 
is placed direct on a glass panel. 
FINISHER UNIT 
The finisher unit 50 accommodates the copy sheets discharged from the main 
body 1 on the discharging tray 80 or accommodate them on a stapling tray 
150 on which they are aligned and stacked, and stapled into a booklet. 
Instead of stapling or at the same time as stapling, a desired mark can be 
stamped on the copy sheet. In stapling and/or stamping, the copy sheets 
are placed one by one onto the stapling tray 150. When a desired number of 
originals have been circulated, and a copy end signal is sent, and after 
the last page is aligned on the tray 150, the stapler 190 alone or a 
stapler 190 and the stamping unit 200A are operated so as to bind the copy 
sheets into a booklet by the stapler 190 and/or stamp a desired mark or 
letter on the booklet by the stamp 200A. Booklets are put in a bucket or 
basket 220. 
The finisher unit 50 includes sheet receiving rollers 60, 61, a change-over 
guide 70, a tray 80, a shifting block 90 for shifting the tray 80 
perpendicularly to the sheet discharging direction every time when a 
number of copy sheets corresponding to that of originals are stacked in 
the tray 80, an elevating block 130 for intermittently lowering the tray 
80 so that the height of copy sheet stacks on the tray 80 is virtually 
made constant, a stapling tray 150 having a stapler and a stamp, and a 
guide plate 215 for allowing a finished booklet to drop into the bucket 
220 by gravity. 
A copy sheet receiving section includes a driving roller 60, a follower 
roller 61, and a pair of guides 62, 63 corresponding to the pair of 
discharging rollers 18. The finisher 50 also includes the change-over 
guide 70, guides 64, 69 and 91, and a sensor SE2 for detecting copy sheets 
discharged into the tray 80. 
The change-over guide 70, shaped like a beak, is rotatable around a pivot 
71. 
The change-over guide 70 is operated by turning on a solenoid SLX (FIG. 7) 
connected to an arm (not shown) joined to the pivot 71, and moves from the 
position indicated by full line in FIG. 2 to a position indicated by 
dotted lines in FIG. 2 against a spring (not shown) acting on the arm. 
When the change-over guide 70 is at the position indicated by full line, 
its top surface 70a guides the copy sheets toward the tray 80, and when it 
is shifted to the position indicated by dotted lines, its curved surface 
70b guides the copy sheets toward the stapling tray 150. 
The copy sheets are discharged into the tray 80 by discharging rollers 95 
driven by a motor MX (omitted in FIG. 2 but refer to FIG. 7) and balls 67 
with which they come into contact by gravity. After being discharged, the 
copy sheets are aligned by a rotary paddle 99 coaxial with the discharging 
roller 95. The rotary paddle 99 has a plurality of radial blades. In FIG. 
2, when the paddle 99 rotates in a clockwise direction, it pushes the copy 
sheets at their rearward ends in an opposite direction to the discharging 
direction until they come into abutment with a fixed plate 75. In this way 
the copy sheets are aligned at their one sides. 
The finisher unit 50 sorts the copy sheets by a timely shift of the tray 
80. The discharging rollers 95 and the rotary paddle 99 are mounted so 
that they can be withdrawn so as not to disturb the aligned copy sheets in 
association with the shifting of the tray. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 80 is provided with a plurality of ridges 80a 
on the surface, the ridges extending in a direction in which the copy 
sheets are discharged. A shift frame 100, which constitutes a shift block, 
supports the tray 80 by means of a bracket 85. The rearward end of the 
tray 80 extends to a point adjacent to an upper portion of the fixed plate 
75. Disposed above the rearward end of the tray 80 is an actuator 86 of a 
sensor SE3. The actuator 86 is connected to a lever 87, and they are 
rotatable around a pivot 88, wherein the lowest end of the lever 87 
normally blocks an optical axis of the sensor SE3. The copy sheets are 
gradually stacked on the tray 80, and finally come into abutment with the 
actuator 86 which is raised. As a result, the lever 87 rotates around the 
pivot 88 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, thereby moving away 
from the optical axis of the sensor SE3. Thus the top level of the copy 
sheets is detected, and in response to the detection, the elevator block 
130 is operated to cause the tray 80 to descend. The elevator block 130 
carries the shift block 90 and causes the tray 80 to ascend or descend. 
Referring to FIG. 3, a shifter 131 will be described, which supports the 
shift frame 100 and enables it to ascend and descend. The shifter 131 
includes rollers 136 provided on opposite sides thereof. The rollers 136 
rotate in contact with the inside wall of guide frames 140 which are fixed 
to a main frame (not shown). The shift frame 131 includes pinions 138 
fixed to a shaft 137 on the frame 131. The pinions 138 are in mesh with 
racks 140a formed in the guide frames 140, and are rotated by a reversible 
motor MS (FIG. 7). In accordance with the rotation of the pinions 138, the 
shifter 131 descends and ascends together with the shift frame 100 and the 
tray 80. 
Sensors SE5 and SE6 are disposed below the elevator block 130. These 
sensors are operated when their optical axes are blocked by protrusions 
131b of the shift frame 131. When the sensor SE5 is operated, it indicates 
that the tray 80 is filled up with the copy sheets, which is signalled to 
the main body 1 of the copying machine. Where necessary, some copy sheets 
must be removed. The shift frame 131 descends until its protrusion 131b is 
detected by the sensor SE6. 
STAMPING FUNCTION 
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a stamping unit 200A stamps marks 
"Confidential", "Circulate", etc. on copy sheets stacked in a staple tray 
150. The stamping unit 200A is provided in opposition to a stamp receiving 
plate 300 located toward the side of a base plate 151 of the stapling tray 
150, the side making a reference by which the copy sheets are aligned. The 
stamping unit 200A is driven by the shifter 131. The stamping unit 200A 
includes a stamp block 200 having a stamp 200a which faces in the 
direction of arrow (e) and having a pin 201 freely fitting in a guide slot 
209 of a structure (not shown) so as to be movable in the direction of 
arrow (e). A link 202 is rotatably connected to the stamp block 200 and a 
link 203 is rotatably connected to the link 202 by means of pins 204. The 
link 203 is rotatably connected to the structure by a pin 205, and is 
normally biased upward by a coil spring 206. 
The shifter 131 supporting the shift frame 100 has a horizontal portion 
131a including a bracket 135 which pushes down the pin 204 so as to enable 
the stamp block 200 to move in the direction of arrow (e). In this way a 
desired mark is stamped on the copy sheet stored in the stapling tray 150. 
The stamping is practised immediately after the stapler 190 staples the 
copy sheets into a booklet under a stapling mode and a stamping mode. 
Simultaneously with the completion of the stamping operation the sensor 
SE6 is operated to rotate the motor MS reversely. In this way the shifter 
131 ascends and returns to its original position. The links 202 and 203 
are released from the pressure provided by the brackets 135. The stamp 
200a returns to its original position under the action of the spring 206. 
The stamping unit 200A is not limited to the structure described above. For 
example, it can be operated by a solenoid. A variety of modifications are 
of course possible. 
STAPLING TRAY 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the stapling tray 150, slightly slanted, 
includes the base plate 151, the guide plate 155 and a movable plate 160. 
The base plate 151 is provided with the stamp receiving plate 300 at one 
side, the stamp receiving plate 300 being located in opposition to the 
stamp block 200. 
The stamp receiving plate 300 comprises soft elastic material having a low 
coefficient of friction .mu. so as to smoothly receive, align and 
discharge the copy sheets. The surface of the plate 300 is smooth and 
substantially as high as the surface of the tray. 
More specifically, the illustrated stamp receiving plate 300 comprises a 
soft sponge 301 covered with a polyester film 302. The material of the 
plate 300 is not limited to the filmed sponge but silicone rubber, rubber 
covered with polyester film, or a elastic material coated with a paint 
having low coefficient of friction can be selectively used. In short, any 
material will do if it produces a clear-cut mark on the copy sheets 
irrespective of any decline of the stamping unit 200A, curls of copy 
sheets and an increased thickness of a stack of copy sheets. 
In general, a paper-to-paper coefficient of friction is in the range of 
about 0.3 to about 0.7, normally about 0.4. Accordingly, a coefficient of 
friction .mu. between the surface of the stamp receiving plate 300 and the 
copy sheet is adjusted not to exceed 0.4, more preferably 0.3 or less. The 
illustrated embodiment has a frictional factor .mu. of about 0.2 to 0.3. 
The movable plate 160, intended to restrain the lower ends of copy sheets, 
is rotatably supported by a shaft 161 and connected to a solenoid SLC 
(FIG. 7). When the solenoid SLC is off, the movable plate 160 engages a 
lower part of a guide plate 155 to close the bottom of the stapling tray 
150. When the solenoid SLC is on, the movable plate 160 rotates in the 
direction of arrow (f) around the shaft 161 to release the bottom of the 
stapling tray 150 from closure. 
Disposed at the lower portion of the stapling tray 150 are a paddle wheel 
180 and a stapler 190 for stapling a stack of copy sheets into a booklet, 
a guide roller 195, and a sensor SE7 for detecting the presence of copy 
sheets. As shown in FIG. 5, the paddle wheel 180 is provided with flexible 
vanes 182 radial of a shaft 181, the paddle wheel 180 being rotated in the 
direction of arrow (g) by means of a motor MA (FIG. 7). The vanes 182 
rotate in contact with the copy sheets and cause them to drop one by one 
toward lower shelves 160a and also bring them into abutment with side 
plates (not shown) so as to align them at one sides. 
The stapler 190, indicated in imaginary lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a known 
electric type. The illustrated staple 190 is manufactured by Max Inc. 
which is equipped with an electric motor. It has a bench for receiving the 
staples, the bench being maintained flush with the movable plate 160. The 
copy sheets are stapled at their corners. The stapler 190 is not limited 
to the illustrated one but other types can be used. 
The guide roller 195 is rotatably provided at a lower end of a lever 196 
joined to the guide plate 155. The guide roller 195 prevents their stapled 
portions from increasing in volume. The upper end of the guide plate 155 
extends toward a point adjacent to the change-over guide 70 and guides the 
copy sheets up to the stapling tray 150 in cooperation with another guide 
plate 69. Disposed above the stapling tray 150 feed rollers 165 and 166 
for feeding the copy sheets into the stapling tray 150, and a sensor SE4 
for detecting the presence of the copy sheets. 
The guide plate 155 is provided with regulator levers 156 and 157, and a 
brush 158 for discharging the copy sheets. The regulator levers 156 and 
157 advance into the stapling tray 150, and moves up to a point indicated 
in dotted lines in FIG. 2. They prevent the copy sheets from becoming 
disordered owing to falling down. They are positioned at such a place as 
to be in agreement with the size of the copy sheets ready to be stapled, 
and to regulate the upper ends of the copy sheets. 
The stapled copy sheets are discharged from the stapling tray in the 
following manner: 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the finisher unit 50 has a frame 210 which 
includes projecting members 211 in opposition to the lower ends of the 
copy sheets placed in the stapling tray 150. The movable plate 160 has 
slots 160b corresponding to the respective projecting members 211. After 
copy sheets are stapled into a booklet, the movable plate 160 rotates in 
the direction of arrow (f) so as to open the bottom of the stapling tray 
150, and enable the projecting members 211 to project through the slots 
160b. In this way the projecting members 211 push the lower ends of the 
copy sheets which would otherwise be blocked from discharging from the 
stapling tray because of moving in the direction of (f) while their lower 
ends are engaged with the lower shelves 160a of the movable plate 160. The 
projecting members 211 have slant edges adapted to discharge the copy 
sheets smoothly. 
A guide plate 215 guides the finished booklets and lead them into a bucket 
or basket 220 (FIG. 1). 
OPERATION PANEL AND CONTROL CIRCUIT 
Next, an operation panel 300 of the copying machine will be described: 
The operation panel 300 includes the following operation keys and display 
light emitting diodes (LED): 
301: a key for starting the copying operation; 
302: a 7-segment display for indicating the number of copy sheets and the 
symbol characters denoting the status of the copying machine. 
305/306: an up and down key for setting the density of image. 
307: an interruption key. 
308: a clear-stop key for releasing the registered number and stopping the 
copying operation. 
309: a selection key for selecting a size of a sheet for copying. 
309a to 309d: a display for indicating a selected sheet size. 
310a: a display for indicating the manual sheet insertion mode. 
311 to 320: ten-keys for setting the number of sheets for copying. 
330: a selection key for selecting the finish mode (non-stapling mode, 
stapling mode, stapling-and-stamping mode). 
330a: a display for indicating the stapling mode. 
330b: a display for indicating the stamping mode. 
340: a discharge key for discharging copy sheets from the stapling tray. 
340a: a display for indicating the discharge of copy sheets being in 
progress. 
Referring to FIG. 6b, an operation panel 350 of the RDH 30 will be 
described: 
The operation panel 350 includes a ten-key 351 for inputting the number of 
originals, a display 352 for indicating the input number of originals, and 
a cancellation key 353 for cancelling the display. The number of originals 
is input by the ten-key 351 only when they are placed on the tray 31 of 
the RDH 30. A sensor (not shown) detects the presence of originals on the 
tray 31. 
Referring to FIG. 7, a control system for controlling the main body 1 of 
the copying machine and the finisher unit 50 will be described: 
The control system includes a micro-computer CPU1 (hereinafter referred to 
as the CPU1) for the main body 1 and a micro-computer CPU2 (hereinafter 
referred to as the CPU2) for the finisher unit 50. The CPU1 and CPU2 each 
includes a random-access-memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM), and 
the CPU2 is connected to the CPU1. 
A switch matrix 202 including the key switches 301, 302, 305 to 309, 311 to 
320, 330, and 340 on the operation panel 300, a switch SW10 for indicating 
the inoperative state of a manual sheet insertion tray 10 and a sensor 
SE10 are connected to an input port of the CPU1. The 7-segment display 302 
is connected thereto through the matrix 202 and a decoder 205. An on/off 
signal is transmitted from an output port of the CPU1 to image forming 
elements such as a main electric motor within the main body 1, a motor for 
driving the developing unit. 
The RDH 30 is connected to the CPU1 so that it operates in response to 
instructions of the CPU1. 
A sensor SE7 for detecting the presence of copy sheets in the stapling tray 
150, a sensor SE4 for detecting the copy sheets in transit toward the 
stapling tray 150, a sensor SE2 for detecting sheets in transit toward the 
discharging tray 80, and a sensor SE6 for detecting a lower limit for the 
descent of the protrusion 131b of the shifter 130 are connected to an 
input port of the CPU2. From the output port thereof on/off signals are 
transmitted to a motor MX for discharging the copy sheets onto the tray 
80, a motor for the stapler 190, a solenoid SLX for driving the 
change-over guide 70 to lead the copy sheets from the main body of the 
copying machine either to the stapling tray 150 or to the discharging tray 
80, a motor MS for driving the stamping unit 200A, a solenoid SLC for 
opening the bottom 160 of the stapling tray 150, and a motor MA for 
driving the paddle wheel 180. 
The CPU1 and CPU2 are interconnected in the following manner: 
A clock terminal SCK for the data sample of CPU1 and the output therefor, 
an interruption output terminal PCO, a data output terminal SOUT and a 
data input terminal SIN of the CPU1 are respectively connected to a clock 
input terminal SCK of CPU2, an interruption output terminal INT, a data 
input terminal SIN and the data output terminal SOUT of the CPU2. 
The operation of the main body 1 of the copying machine is started by 
putting the key 301 on the operation panel 300, except for the manual 
sheet insertion copying. The subsequent steps advance in the 
afore-mentioned manner. The size of sheets is previously selected by the 
key 309, and the number of originals are set by the ten-key 351 on the 
operation panel 350 (when RDH is in use). The number of sheets to be 
copied is previously set by the keys 311 to 320 on the operation panel 
300. 
In the case of manual sheet insertion the sensor SE10 at the insertion port 
is made to turn on, and the procedure follows in the same manner as when 
the key 301 is turned on. 
OPERATION MODE OF FINISHER UNIT 
The finisher unit 50 is operable in the non-stapling mode, the stapling 
mode, and the stapling-and-stamping mode. These modes are selected by the 
selection key (rotation key) 330 on the operation panel 300. The 
lighting-up of the LED 330a indicates that the stapling mode is on. The 
lighting-up of the LED 330b indicates that the stamping mode is on. In the 
illustrated embodiment the LED 330b lights up only when the LED 330a is 
on. This means that the stamping mode can be selected only when the 
stapling mode is selected. When the LEDs 330a and 330b are off, the 
non-stapling mode is selected. 
The non-stapling mode is a mode in which copy sheets from the main body 1 
are stacked on the discharging tray 80. At this stage the change-over 
guide 70 is maintained in the position indicated in full line in FIG. 2, 
and the copy sheets are discharged onto the discharging tray 80 from 
between the discharging roller 95 driven by the motor MX and the balls 67. 
The copy sheets are aligned by the paddle 99. Every time when the sensor 
SE3 detects the presence of the copy sheets, the elevator block 130 is 
operated in the afore-mentioned manner, thereby making a distance from the 
nipping portions of the discharging roller 95 and the balls 67 from the 
top surface of the stacked copy sheets a previously fixed distance. 
The discharging tray 80 is automatically shifted by the shift block 90 when 
the number of copy sheets is set to "2 or more" or when RDH 30 is in use 
with the number of stacks of copy sheets being set to "2 or more". More 
specifically, when a previous stack of copy sheets (plural copy sheets 
with the same images as one original or one set of copy sheets 
corresponding to a set of originals) is placed and the sensor SE2 detects 
the discharge of the last sheet, the discharging tray 80 is shifted to the 
right or left. In this way a desired number of stacks are finished. 
The stapling mode is a mode in which the copy sheets from the main body 1 
are stacked on the stapling tray 150, aligned by the paddle wheel 180, and 
stapled into a booklet which is stored in the basket 220. The change-over 
guide 70 is set to the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 by 
energizing the solenoid SLX. The copy sheets are fed into the stapling 
tray 150 through the feed rollers 165 and 166, and aligned by the paddle 
wheel 180. In this mode, when the RDH 30 is in use, the stapler 190 is 
automatically operated after a predetermined set of copy sheets are 
aligned, and when RDH is not in use, the stapler 190 is operated by 
pressing the key 340 on the operation panel. After the stapling is 
completed, the movable plate 160 is opened by energizing the solenoid SLC 
(FIG. 7), thereby allowing the stapled copy sheets to drop. 
The stamping mode is a mode in which the stamping unit 200A produces marks 
on the top page of the desired number of copy sheets on the stapling tray 
150. This mode is performed together with the stapling mode. Subject to 
the discharge key 340 being on, the stamping operation is carried out 
immediately after the copy sheets are stapled into a booklet. To effect 
the stamping operation, the motor MS (FIG. 7) operates the elevator block 
130 so as to lower the shifter 131 together with the discharging tray 80 
until the bracket 135 of the shifter pushes down the pin 204 and the 
sensor SE6 detects the protrusion 131b of the shift 131. The stamp block 
200 is moved toward the copy sheet under the action of the links 202 and 
203. The receiving plate 300 backs up the copy sheets so as to ensure a 
clear-cut mark. After the stamping operation is finished, the movable 
plate 160 is opened. 
In the stapling mode or the stapling-and-stamping mode of the illustrated 
embodiment, the solenoid SLX is turned off in spite of the stapling mode 
being on, if the copy sheets in the stapling tray 150 reaches the maximum 
capacity of the tray 150. As a result, the change-over guide 70 is 
returned to the position indicated by full line in FIG. 2, and the 
following copy sheets are directed toward the discharging tray 80. At this 
state the copying operation continues until a number of sheets 
corresponding to that of originals are copied. If at this state the key 
340 is pressed, the movable plate 160 is opened with the stapler 190 and 
the stamping unit 200A being out of operation, thereby discharging the 
copy sheets. At a later stage the discharged copy sheets and the copy 
sheets on the discharging tray 80 may be compiled and stapled into a 
booklet. If required, a desired mark is stamped. 
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the operation of the to #6 subroutines are 
consecutively called into action. After all the subroutines are finished, 
the routine is finished upon the completion of the operation of the 
built-in timer, and the sequence returns to step #2. 
Step #3 indicates a selection routine for the finish mode, step #3.5 
indicates a routine for handling the manual tray, step #4 indicates a 
routine for judging the stapling operation, step #5 indicates a routine 
for the copying operation, step #5.5 indicates a routine for other 
operations, and step #6 indicates a routine for communication with the 
CPU2. 
Referring to FIG. 9a, the selection routine for the finish mode will be 
described: 
Step #31 checks if the copying operation is in progress. When the operation 
is in progress, the sequence returns to the main routine, but when it is 
not in progress, step #32 checks if the selection key 330 for the finish 
mode has been just turned on (hereinafter referred to as "on edge"). If it 
is found to be not on edge, the sequence returns to the main routine. When 
it is on edge, step #321 checks if the display LED 310a for the manual 
operation is off or not. If the display LED 310a is found to be not off, 
the sequence returns to the main routine, but when it is off, step #33 
checks if the display LED 330a is on or not. If it is found to be on, step 
#34 checks if the display LED 330b is on or not. If it is found to be on, 
step #35 turns off LED 330a and 330b. At Step #34 if LED 330b is not on, 
step #36 checks if the stamp is set or not. If it finds the stamping unit 
not set, the sequence advances to step #35. If it finds the stamping unit 
set, step #37 turns on LED 330b. If Step #33 finds that LED 330a is not 
on, the sequence advances to step #38 which checks if the stapler is set 
or not. When it is not set, the sequence returns to the main routine, and 
when it is set, step #39 turns on the LED 330a. 
When step #37 turns on LED 330b, LED 330a is already on at step #33. In 
this way LED 330b is turned on on condition that LED 330a is on. This 
means that the stamping mode cannot be turned on without turning on the 
stapling mode. 
At step #38, if the stapler is not set, LED 330a cannot be turned on even 
if the key 330 is pressed. Likewise, at step #36, if the stamping unit is 
not set, the LED 330b cannot be turned on even if the key 330 is pressed. 
The only possible thing is that LED 330a is turned off. This means that if 
the main body 1 is not equipped with the finisher unit it is impossible to 
select the stapling mode or the stamping mode even if the key 330 is 
pressed. If the main body 1 is equipped with the finisher unit but the 
finisher unit is not equipped with the stamping unit it is impossible to 
select the stamping mode. In this case, it is only possible to select the 
stapling mode and the non-stapling mode by operating the key 330. 
Referring to FIG. 9c, the routine for operating by the manual tray 10 will 
be described: 
Step #21 checks if SW10 has been just turned off (hereinafter referred to 
as "off edge"), that is, it checks if the opening of the manual tray has 
been detected. If the detection has not been checked, the sequence 
immediately advances to step #24. If step #21 detects that the tray has 
been just opened, step #21a turns off the staple display 330a and the 
stamp display 330b, and release the stapling mode and the stamping mode. 
Step #22 turns on the display 310a, and step #23 makes the number on 
display 302 to nought. 
When step #24 detects that SW10 is on edge, that is, that the manual tray 
has been just closed, the display 310a is turned off at step #25, and the 
number on display 302 is made to "1" at step #26. Then, the sequence 
returns. 
The selection routine for the finish mode shown in FIG. 9a sets a mode such 
as the stapling mode when the key 330 is pressed, if the mode is not in 
the manual mode. Step #3.5, which is the selection routine for the manual 
tray of FIG. 9c, allows the finishing mode to release when the tray is 
opened. However, the routine of FIG. 9b can be adopted for the selection 
routine for the finishing mode, and the routine of FIG. 9d can be adopted 
for the manual tray. 
At the routine of FIG. 9b, if the key 330 is on during the manual mode, the 
mode changes to the finishing mode, and simultaneously the manual mode is 
released (step #391, #392). In the routine of FIG. 9d the mode does not 
change to the manual mode during the finishing mode even if the tray is 
opened (step #21b). 
Combinations of the routine for the finishing mode and the routine for the 
manual tray are summarized as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Routine for Finishing Mode 
("R" means a routine) 
Routine for Manual Tray 
______________________________________ 
R of FIG. 9a + R of FIG. 9c 
R of FIG. 9a + R of FIG. 9d 
R of FIG. 9b + R of FIG. 9c 
R of FIG. 9b + R of FIG. 9d 
______________________________________ 
Referring to FIG. 10, the routine for judging the stapling operation will 
be described: 
Step #41 checks if the discharge key 340 is on edge, and if it is not on 
edge, the sequence immediately returns to the main routine. If it is on 
edge, step #42 judges whether the LED 330a is on or off. If it is on or 
the stapling mode is selected, the sequence advances to step #43. If it is 
off or the non-stapling mode is selected, the sequence advances to step 
#44. 
Step #43 checks if an over-capacity flag described below is set to "1" in 
accordance with which the stapler 190 is started up. If it is "0" or the 
number of accommodated sheets does not exceed the capacity, step #45 sets 
a stapling flag to "1". 
If at step #43 the over-capacity flag is "1" or if at step #42 the LED 330a 
is off, which respectively means that the number of accommodated sheets 
exceeds the capacity in the stapling mode or the non-stapling mode is 
selected, at step #44 the stapling is not performed but sets the 
non-stapling discharge flag to "1". 
The stapling flag is forcibly set to "1" when the discharge key 340 is 
pressed as shown at step #41 on condition that the RDH is not used. If the 
RDH 30 is used, every time when a number of originals input by the ten-key 
351 on the panel 350 of the RDH 30 are copied, and a corresponding number 
of copy sheets are placed on the stapling tray 150, the stapling flag is 
automatically set to "1". 
Referring to FIG. 11, the operation of the main routine under the control 
of the CPU2 will be described: 
According to the routine, the CPU2 is reset, and the program starts. At 
step #10 the CPU2 is initialized by clearing the RAM and setting various 
registers, and the finisher unit 50 is initialized. 
At step #20 a built-in timer in the CPU2 whose value is set at the 
initializing stage are started. At steps #30 to #60 the subroutines are 
consecutively called into action. After all the subroutines are finished, 
the sequence returns to step #20 upon completion of the operation of the 
timer at step #70. 
In the main routine step #30 is a subroutine for checking an over-capacity 
of the stapling tray 150 for accommodating the copy sheets, step #40 is a 
subroutine at which the copy sheets on the tray are stapled by the stapler 
190 into a booklet and discharge it, step #50 is a subroutine at which the 
copy sheets are stapled by the stapler 190 into a booklet and a mark is 
stamped on the top page of the booklet by the stamping unit 200A and the 
booklet is discharged. Step #60 is a subroutine for communication with the 
CPU1. 
Referring to FIG. 12, the over-capacity checking routine will be described: 
Step #301 checks if the mode is the stapling mode, and if it is the 
non-stapling mode, the sequence returns to the main routine. If it is the 
stapling mode, step #302 checks if the number of sheets stacked in the 
stapling tray reaches a prescribed value. If the number does not reach it, 
the sequence returns to the main routine. If the number reaches it, step 
#303 sets the over-capacity flag to "1" and the sequence advances to step 
#304 which turns off the solenoid SLX, thereby leading the copy sheets 
continuously fed from the main body 1 to the discharging tray 80. 
It may be arranged that step #302 checks if the total value of the numbers 
of sheets in the main body 1 and of the sheets in the stapling tray 
reaches the prescribed capacity of the tray. 
Referring to FIG. 13, the stapling subroutine will be described: 
Step #401 checks if the mode is the stapling mode. If it is not the 
stapling mode, the sequence returns to the main routine. If it is the 
stapling mode, the sequence advances to step #402 which aligns the copy 
sheets accommodated in the stapling tray 150. 
Step #403 checks if the non-stapling discharge flag set in the main body 1 
is reset to "0". If it is set to "1", which means that the key 340 on the 
operation panel of the main body 1 is pressed when the number of stacked 
copy sheets exceeds the prescribed capacity during the stapling mode or 
the stamping mode or that the discharging key 340 is pressed during the 
non-stapling mode, at step #406 the copy sheets in the stapling tray 150 
are discharged without being stapled. 
When step #403 finds that the non-stapling discharge flag is "0", step #404 
checks if the stapling flag is "1". If the stapling flag is "0", the 
sequence returns because the sequence of copying operations must continue. 
If the stapling flag is "1", the copy sheets in the stapling tray 150 are 
discharged after they are stapled into a booklet. 
Referring to FIG. 14, the stamping subroutine will be described: 
Step #501 checks if the mode is a stamping mode. If it is not the stamping 
mode, the sequence returns to the main routine. If it is the stamping 
mode, the sequence advances to step #502 which aligns the copy sheets in 
the stapling tray 150. 
Step #503 checks if the non-stapling discharge flag set in the main body 1 
is reset to "0". If it is set to "1", which means that the key 340 on the 
operation panel of the main body 1 is pressed when the number of sheets 
accommodated exceeds the prescribed capacity in the stapling-and-stamping 
mode or that the discharging key 340 is pressed in the non-stapling mode, 
at step #506 the copy sheets in the stapling tray 150 are discharged 
without being stapled and stamped. 
If step 503 finds that the non-stapling discharge flag is "0", step #504 
checks if the stapling flag is set to "1". If the stapling flag is "0", 
the sequence returns to the main routine because the copying operation 
must continue. If the stapling flag is "1", the copy sheets in the 
stapling tray are discharged after they are stapled into a booklet and a 
desired mark is stamped on the top page thereof. 
The detailed description has been given but it should be understood that 
various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the 
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this 
detailed description. 
For example, the key 330 for selecting the finishing mode and the displays 
330a and 330b corresponding to the key 330 are mounted on the operation 
panel 300 of the main body 1, but the key 330 and the displays 330a, 330b 
can be disposed on the finisher unit. Practically, however, it is 
advantageous to mount them on the operation panel of the main body because 
the selection key 330 and displays 330a and 330b can be used when the 
finisher unit is equipped with the stapler alone or with the stamping unit 
alone.