Abstract:
An image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus and a laser beam printer, is capable of forming a superimposed image or duplex image on one sheet. The sheet which has been once subjected to the image forming operation and which is going to be subjected to another image forming operation is reintroduced into the image forming station selectively through a flow-through sheet passage or through an intermediate tray on which the transfer sheets are once stacked. A displaceable flapper is provided to direct the sheet selectively to the flow-through passage or to the intermediate tray.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a laser beam printer, more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of forming a superimposed image or duplex image on one sheet, for example. 
     In a conventional apparatus of this type, a sheet passage extending from an outlet of an image forming station to an inlet of the same so that the sheet on which one image is formed at the image forming station is returned through the passage with or without being inversed in its facing orientation, to the inlet of the image forming station, where the opposite or the same side of the sheet is subjected to an additional image forming operation, so that a duplex or superimposed copy can be formed. 
     Since, however, the apparatus is provided only with the returning passage, the image forming operation is not efficient when a plurality of superimposed or duplex reproductions are formed, although a single superimposed or duplex reproduction is to be obtained. This is because, when a plurality of superimposed or duplex reproductions are to be formed, the plural originals are interchanged on the original supporting table for each of the reproductions. 
     In order to improve the apparatus in this point, it is considered that an intermediate tray is disposed in the returning passage so that a plurality of the sheets having the same image are once stacked on the intermediate tray, and the sheets are refed to the image forming station one by one. The efficiency is increased when a plurality of superimposed or duplex copies are to be formed. However, the efficiency is decreased when only one superimposed or duplex reproduction is to be formed, since even in that case, the sheet is refed to the image forming station after it is once stacked on the intermediate tray. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a high speed image forming apparatus. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a high speed image forming apparatus capable of refeeding a sheet on which an image has been formed is refed to the image forming station at a high speed. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus for forming images on a sheet plural times, is provided, which comprises an image forming station for forming an image, sheet refeeding means for refeeding to the image forming station the sheet which has been subjected to the image forming operation of the image forming station, sheet stacking and feeding means for stacking the sheet which has been subjected to the image forming operation of the image forming station and refeeding the sheet toward the image forming station, and displaceable switching means for selectively introducing the sheet either to said sheet refeeding means and to said stacking means. Because of this arrangement, a plurality of sheets can be processed at high speed, and a single sheet can be processed at a high speed. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus for forming images on a sheet plural times, is provided, which comprises an image forming station for forming an image, sheet refeeding means for refeeding to said image forming station a first sheet which has been subjected to image forming operation of the image forming station, when the image forming operation is to be repeated for plural sheets, sheet stacking and feeding means for stacking the subsequent sheet which have been subjected to the image forming operation of said image forming station and refeeding the sheet toward said image forming station, when the image forming operation is to be repeated for plural sheets. Because of this, the sheet can be processed at a high speed even when plural sheets are to be processed. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus without an important feature of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the major part of a sheet refeeding means. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a major part of an intermediate tray. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a switching means. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the control of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram for controlling the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an image forming apparatus which does not include an important feature of the present invention. 
     The image forming apparatus is shown as a copying machine as an example of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 comprises a main frame 3 containing therein an image forming, more particularly copying, station 2. The main frame 3 is provided with an original supporting table 5, a light source 6, a lens system and two cassettes 9a and 9b and other necessary means which are known. Substantially in the center of the main frame 3, there is disposed a photosensitive member 10 in the form of a cylinder within the copying station 2. Around the photosensitive member 10, there are provided two developing devices 11a and 11b containing different color developers, a cleaning device 12, a primary charger 13, a transfer charger 15 and a separation charger 16. The transfer charger 15 is disposed adjacent an end portion of a sheet feeding device 17 having transportation rollers 17a, 17b and 17c. Adjacent the cassettes 9a and 9b, pick up rollers 19a and 19b are disposed. The sheet fed out from either one of the cassettes 9a and 9b is fed by an associated one of transportation rollers couples 20a and 20b through an associated one of passages 21a and 21b to a registration roller couple 22. To the registration roller couple 22, a transfer sheet which has been subjected to an image forming operation at the copying station 2 is guided through a sheet passage 23 located below the main frame of the apparatus 3. Adjacent a trailing end of the transportation device 17, an image fixing station 25 is disposed. Downstream of the image fixing device 25, a first discharging roller couple 26 and a second discharging roller couple 27 which is usually used to discharge the sheet to an outside tray or the like. Between the first discharging roller couple 26 and the second discharging roller couple 27, a flapper 29 and auxiliary flapper 30 actuated by a solenoid 28 are disposed. The flapper 29 constitutes a part of the sheet inversing the transporting means and constitutes a part of sheet non-inversing and transporting means. Usually, the transfer sheet discharged through the first discharging roller couple 26 is conveyed above the flapper 29 taking a position indicated by the solid lines in this Figure. The auxiliary flapper 30 is swung in the direction shown by an arrow by its own transporting force. In response to the swing, a detecting arm 31 operates a photosensor 32 so as to sense the passage of the transfer sheet, while the sheet is being discharged by the second discharging roller couple 27. In a duplex copy mode operation wherein images are formed on both sides of the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is transported halfway by the second discharging roller couple 27 in the same manner as described above, but is not discharged completely. At the time when the trailing edge portion of the transfer sheet is away from the auxiliary flapper 30, the second discharging roller couple 27 which constitutes sheet inversing and transporting means is switched to reversed rotation by operation of the detecting arm 31 and the photosensor 32. By this, the transfer sheet is directed to the passage, while being guided by the auxiliary flapper 30 and a left side of the flapper 29. Therefore, the transfer sheet is refed, in the duplex copy mode, by the second discharging roller couple 27, the flapper 29, the auxiliary flapper 30, the detecting arm 31, and photosensor 32 and the passage 33. 
     In a superimposed copying mode, wherein images are formed on one side of the same transfer sheet, the flapper 29 is displaced to take such a position shown in FIG. 1 by broken lines, by the operation of the solenoid 28 (control means). The transfer sheet discharged by the first discharging roller couple 26, is introduced to the passage 33 by the guiding function of the right side of the flapper 29 as seen in FIG. 1. Therefore, in the superimposed copying operation, the transfer sheet is refed by the first discharging roller couple 26, the flapper 29 and the passage 33. The transfer sheet introduced to the passage 33, is guided to the registration roller couple 22 by the transportation roller couple 35 and 36 and the sheet transporting device 37 having a lateral registration means 37 for aligning one lateral end of the transfer sheet with a reference position. 
     As described above, when the duplex or superimposed images are formed on the same transfer sheet, the transfer sheet which has been subjected to the operation of the image forming station 2 and the fixing station 25, is refed to the image forming station 2 by the sheet refeeding means comprising the flapper 29 or the like and the sheet transporting device 23. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus as an example of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying apparatus 1 is provided with an intermediate tray 40 as a sheet stacking and transporting means, below the copying apparatus of FIG. 1. Since the structure of the copying apparatus is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception of the intermediate tray 40 and the connection therewith, and therefore, the following description will be made mainly with respect to the intermediate tray 40. 
     The intermediate tray 40 has a main frame 41 which can be fixed by suitale means to the bottom of the main frame 3 of the copying apparatus 1. At an upper portion within the main apparatus 41, there is an inlet passage 42 to the intermediate tray 40 to receive smoothly the transfer sheet transported through the passage 33 from the sheet refeeding means having the flapper 29 or the like. A sheet passage switching means 43 is disposed at an inlet portion of the inlet passage 42, opposed to the passage 33. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer sheet switching means 43 includes a number of flapper elements 49 securedly fixed on a shaft 47 rotatably supported between front and rear plates 45 and 46 of the main frame 41. Further, adjacent one end of the shaft 47, an arm member 50 is fixed thereto and is swung by a solenoid 51 (control means). By the swing, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the flappers 49 are switched between a first position indicated by the solid lines wherein the transfer sheet transported from the passage 33 is directed to the sheet transporting passage 23 and a second position indicated by broken lines wherein the transfer sheet conveyed through the passage 33 is introduced into the inlet passage 42. Adjacent the outlet part of the passage 42, there are provided a couple of discharging rollers 52 so as to positively discharge to the intermediate tray 53 the transfer sheet introduced to the inlet passage 42. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, above the intermediate tray 53, a sheet feeding roller 56 is provided to feeding the stacked sheet out of the intermediate tray 53. The refeeding roller 56 is supported by a shaft 55 which is supported by side plates 45 and 46 for vertical movement, and is controlled in its vertical position by unshown solenoid. Further, there are provided a couple of transportation rollers 57 and an outlet passage 56 in order to positively guide and transport the transfer sheet fed out by the refeeding roller 56, to the sheet passage 23. 
     The operation of the apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. 
     In a single superimposing mode wherein only one superimposed copy is to be formed, the number of copies is set at 1 by the number button 60 as shown in FIG. 6, and a superimposed copy mode is selected by the button 51. Then, the solenoid 28 is energized to place the flapper 29 in its first position shown by the broken lines in FIG. 3, by an operation of a controlling device 62 built in the copying apparatus 39. On the other hand, the solenoid 51 is not energized, so that the flapper elements 49 of the switching means 43 takes the first position indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the copying button is actuated, the transfer sheet fed out of the cassette 9a or 9b is transported to the copying station, where a toner image is transferred thereonto. The transfer sheet S is then passed through the image fixing station 25. The transfer sheet discharged from the fixing station 25 is conveyed by the discharging roller couple 26 along the right side of the flapper 29. Then, the sheet is conveyed through the passage 33 and the sheet transfer device 23 (sheet refeeding means) as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 3 and is refed to the copying station 2. Before being introduced to the copying station 2, the transfer sheet is once stopped by the lateral registration means 37 and then refed in response to the next copy starting signal. 
     In a single duplex mode where a single duplex copy is to be obtained, the number of the copies is set at 1 by the button 60, and the duplex copy mode selecting button 63 is depressed. In this case, neither of the solenoid 28 and the solenoid 51 is energized, and therefore, the flapper 29 takes the solid line position in FIG. 3, and the flapper elements 49 take the solid line position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. When the copying operation starts, the transfer sheet having an image on one side thereof discharged by the discharging roller couple 26 is passed above the flapper 29. In response to the signal produced by the photosensor 32, the discharging roller couple 27 and the auxiliary flapper 30 effect the sheet switch back operation, and then, the transfer sheet is fed again to the copying station 2 through the passage 33 and the sheet transporting device 23. 
     In a repeated superimposing mode, wherein a plurality of the same image superimposed copies are to be obtained, the desired number of the copies is set by the number setting button 60, and a repeated superimposing copy selecting button 61 is actuated. As contrasted to the case where only one superimposed copy is to be obtained, the solenoid 28 is not energized so that the flapper 29 takes the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3, while the solenoid 51 is energized so that the flapper elements 49 tak the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 3 and 5. When the copying operation starts, the transfer sheet having been once subjected to the copying operation is switched back by the sheet refeeding means comprising the flapper 29 and the discharging roller couple 27 as in the single duplex copying mode. Then, it is introduced into the inlet passage 42 through the passage 33 along the arrow B in FIG. 3, whereby the transfer sheet is stacked face up on the intermediate tray 53. At the time of completion of the first copy, another original having the image to be superimposed is placed on the original supporting table 5, if necessary. Then, the copying operation resumes, and the sheet feeding roller 56 having been kept at the upper position away from the sheet on the intermediate tray is lowered to contact the topmost sheet on the intermediate tray 53. Simultaneously, the solenoid 51 is deenergized so that the flapper elements 49 are returned to the solid line position. The transfer sheet on the intermediate tray 53 is fed out of the intermediate tray 53 by the feeding roller 56 and is introduced into the copying station 2 through the transportation roller couple 57, the outlet passage 59 and the sheet transporting device 32. At this time, the sheet is once stopped by the lateral registration means 37 and corrected in its lateral deviation, and then immediately refed. 
     In a repeated duplex copying mode wherein plural number of duplex copy sheets are to be produced, the desired number is set by the number setting button 60, and the repeated duplex copy mode selecting button 63 is depressed. As contrasted to the single duplex mode operation, the solenoid 28 is energized so that the flapper 29 takes the broken line position shown in FIG. 3. The following operations are the same as those described with respect to the repeated superimposing copying operation with the exception that the transfer sheets are stacked on the intermediate tray 53 face down. Therefore, the detailed explanation is omitted for the sake of simplicity. 
     As for the sheet restarting signal once stopped by the lateral registration means 37, it may be produced in response to movement of the optical system or the original carriage. For example, two originals are juxtaposed on the original support, and the first image is copied, whereafter the sheet is started to refeed in response to the start of the exposure of the second original. 
     FIG. 7 shows another embodiment, which is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 3 with the exception that a transfer sheet passage sensor 18 is disposed in the transfer device 17. Therefore, the description will be made directly as to the operation. 
     In operation, in the single sheet superimposed copying operation, the number of the copies is set at 1 by the number setting button 60, and the superimposing copy mode selecting button is depressed. When the copy start button is actuated, the transfer sheet S fed out of the cassette 9a or 9b is conveyed to the copying sheet 2, where a toner image is transferred to the sheet. Then, the transfer sheet is conveyed to the image fixing station 25 by the transportation device 17. In the transporting device 17, the passage of the transfer sheet is detected by the transfer sheet passage sensor 18. The signal resulting from the sensing of the passage, is transmitted to a control device 62 built in the copying apparatus 39, and the solenoid 28 is energized, so that the flapper 29 is switched to the broken line position shown in FIG. 7. At this time, the solenoid 51 is not energized, and therefore, the flapper elements 49 of the transfer sheet passage switching means 43 are in the solid line position shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, the transfer sheet, after being discharged from the image fixing device 25, is guided along the right side of the flapper 29 by the discharging roller couple 26. It is conveyed through the passage 33 and the sheet conveying device 23 in the path shown by an arrow A, and refed into the copying station 2. 
     In a single duplex copy mode, the number is set at 1 by the copy number setting button 60, and duplex copying mode selecting button 63 is depressed. In the operation in this mode, neither of the solenoid 28 or the solenoid 51 is energized even when the transfer sheet passaage sensor 18 senses the trasfer sheet, and therefore, the flapper 29 takes the solid line position shown in FIG. 8, and the flapper elements 49 taken the solid line position shown in FIG. 8. Accordingly, the transfer sheet which has received the toner image on its first side and which is discharged by the discharging roller couple 26 is guided above the flapper 29, and thereafter, it is subjected to the switch-back operation by the discharging roller couple 27 and the auxiliary flapper 30 on the basis of the signal from the photosensor 32. The sheet is then refed to the copying station 2 through the passage 33 and the sheet conveying device or passage 23. 
     In the repeated superimposed copy mode, the desired number of copies is set by the number setting button 60, and the superimposed copy mode selecting button 61 is depressed. The first transfer sheet which has received toner image in the copying station 2 is conveyed to the sheet conveying passage 23 by the sheet refeeding means exactly in the same manner as in the single sheet superimposed copy mode. The sheet is stopped by a lateral registration means 37 which is at rest at that time, and the sheet is kept there, and it waits for the second copying operation. When the second transfer sheet is detected by the transfer sheet passage sensor 18, the sense signal is transmitted to the control device. In this case, the solenoid 28 is not energized as contrasted to the case of the first sheet, whereby the flapper 29 takes the solid line position shown in FIG. 8, while the solenoid 58 is energized so that the flapper elements 98 of the transfer sheet switching means 43 take the broken line position shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, the second and the subsequent transfer sheets are, similarly to the case of the single duplex copy mode, are switched back by the sheet refeeding means including the flapper 29 or the like; and then, conveyed through the inlet passage 42 to the intermediate tray as indicated by an arrow B shown in FIG. 8; and subsequently, are stacked face up on the intermediate tray 53. 
     At the time of completion of the first copies for all of the transfer sheets, the original is exchanged as desired, and then, the copying operation is started. Firstly, the first sheet kept in the sheet conveying passage 23 is refed by the lateral registration means 37 into the copying station 2. Subsequently, the sheet feeding roller 56 having been kept at the upper position is lowered so as to contact the topmost transfer sheet on the intermediate tray 53. Simultaneously, the solenoid 51 is deenergized so that the flapper elements 49 are returned to the solid line position. The second and subsequent transfer sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 53 are sequentially picked up by the pick-up roller 57 and is introduced into the copying station 2 by the feeding roller 57 along the outlet passage 59 and the sheet transporting device 23. 
     In the repeated duplex copy mode, the desired number of copies is set by the number setting button 60, and the duplex copy mode selecting button 63 is selected. In this case, the first transfer sheet is, similarly to the previous case, is kept in the sheet conveying passage 23 waiting for the second copying operation. As for the second and subsequent transfer sheet, as contrasted to the case of the first sheet, the solenoid 28 is energized so that the flapper 29 takes the broken line position shown in FIG. 8. The subsequent operations are the same as in the repeated superimposed copy mode with the exception that the transfer sheets are stacked on the intermediate tray 53 face down. 
     According to this embodiment, the transfer passage for the transfer sheet is automatically switched, and the waiting period is reduced, so that the image forming operation becomes more efficient. Additionally, in the plural superimposed copy mode, the time required for the transportation of the transfer sheet is minimized, because the plural sheets are introduced into the image forming station very efficiently. In the single superimposed copy mode, the transfer sheet is automatically not introduced to the intermediate tray but directed to a sheet passage which has higher efficiency of sheet passage, and therefore, the waiting period is minimized in either of the plural sheets mode or in a single sheet mode, whereby the image formation efficiency is increased. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.