STACKING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

Abstract

A stacking apparatus for loading a recording medium output from an image forming apparatus includes a movable tray that is ejectable to an outside of the stacking apparatus after the recording medium output from the image forming apparatus is stacked on the movable tray, and a hardware processor that controls a position of the movable tray based on a current position of the movable tray and a setting condition for determining control content of the movable tray, wherein the hardware processor stores the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus, when the movable tray is currently positioned on the outside of the stacking apparatus and the setting condition satisfies a storage condition for executing storage control for moving the movable tray from the outside to an inside of the stacking apparatus so as to store the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-188142, filed on Oct. 3, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Technological Field

The present disclosure relates to a stacking apparatus and an image forming system.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there has been proposed an apparatus in which, when a movable tray on which a sheet is placed and which is movable to either the inside or the outside of the apparatus is moved from the inside to the outside of the apparatus, and then, the sheet is removed from the movable tray, the movable tray is moved from the outside to the inside of the apparatus so as to be stored inside the apparatus (see, for example, JP 06-138728 A). There has also been proposed an apparatus in which, when a movable tray, which has received a sheet from a vertically movable tray due to the descent of the vertically movable tray to a sheet delivery position, is moved from the inside to the outside of the apparatus, and then, the sheet is removed from the movable tray, the movable tray is moved from the outside to the inside of the apparatus so as to be stored inside the apparatus (see, for example, JP 2014-114109 A).

However, according to the prior art as disclosed in JP 06-138728 A and JP 2014-114109 A, the movable tray is not stored inside the apparatus unless the sheet is removed from the movable tray. In other words, in the prior arts disclosed in JP 06-138728 A and JP 2014-114109 A, an operation according to the presence or absence of the sheet placed on the movable tray is performed. Therefore, if the sheet continues to be left on the movable tray which has been moved from the inside to the outside of the apparatus, the movable tray is continuously on the outside of the apparatus in the prior arts disclosed in JP 06-138728 A and JP 2014-114109 A, so that the movable tray will block the passage of a worker. Accordingly, it may not be possible to ensure the line of flow of the worker according to the abovementioned prior arts.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is accomplished in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to ensure the line of flow of a worker.

To achieve the abovementioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stacking apparatus for loading a recording medium output from an image forming apparatus, and the stacking apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises a movable tray that is ejectable to an outside of the stacking apparatus after the recording medium output from the image forming apparatus is stacked on the movable tray, and a hardware processor that controls a position of the movable tray based on a current position of the movable tray and a setting condition for determining control content of the movable tray, wherein the hardware processor stores the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus, when the movable tray is currently positioned on the outside of the stacking apparatus and the setting condition satisfies a storage condition for executing storage control for moving the movable tray from the outside to an inside of the stacking apparatus so as to store the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a stacking apparatus provided on the rear stage side of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the stacking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the stacking apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E are views showing an example of control of the position of a movable tray according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are left side views of the stacking apparatus for illustrating an example of storage control or re-ejection control of a movable platform included in the movable tray according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of detecting the position of a worker of a sheet stacked on the movable tray or a pushcart according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example in which an output destination of the sheet output from the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is switched to an output destination different from the movable tray;

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show an example of detecting that, after a sheet is delivered to the movable tray, time to discharge a sheet placed on a delivery tray to the outside of the apparatus is approaching according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of changing a storage position of the movable tray according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of changing a re-ejection position of the movable tray according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a setting screen of a storage condition and a re-ejection condition according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating how to control the movable tray according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a storage condition determination process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a re-ejection condition determination process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a stacking apparatus 5 provided on the rear stage side of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the stacking apparatus 5 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The image forming apparatus 1 discharges a sheet P, which is a recording medium, to the stacking apparatus 5. The stacking apparatus 5 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 on the side where the sheet P is discharged. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 is on the front side of the stacking apparatus 5, and thus, the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 can be stacked on the stacking apparatus 5. Various kinds of data can be received and transmitted between the image forming apparatus 1 and the stacking apparatus 5 by a communicator 39 provided in a housing 30 of an image forming apparatus body 3. An image reader 2 is provided on the top of the image forming apparatus 1. The image reader 2 includes, for example, an in-line unit, and generates read data corresponding to a printed matter by reading the printed matter in a main scanning direction according to the fed printed matter. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 33 that forms an image on the sheet P placed on a sheet feeding unit 34. Besides the image reader 2, an operation display 4 is also provided on the top of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation display 4 includes a display 41 and an operator 42. The operation display 4 receives an operation performed by a worker via the operator 42, and displays information on the display 41. A controller 31 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O interface, and the like which are not shown. The CPU reads out a program from the ROM according to the processing content, develops the read program in the RAM, and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 in cooperation with the developed program.

The image reader 2 includes an automatic document feeder and a document image scanner (which are not shown) for automatically reading a document. The document image scanner can read an image through a platen glass. The document image scanner reads, for example, an image of a document, and the read image is stored in a memory (not shown) and is used for image formation by the image forming unit 33. The image forming unit 33 is provided on a conveyance path 32 and on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet P. The sheet P placed on the sheet feeding unit 34 is fed out and conveyed toward the image forming unit 33. The image forming unit 33 includes photosensitive members 334 prepared for respective colors such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and charging devices 331, exposure devices 332, and developing devices 333 are provided around the respective photosensitive members 334.

Images are exposed by the exposure devices 332 on the surfaces of the photosensitive members 334 charged by the charging devices 331, on the basis of the image information of the document stored in the memory (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing devices 333 to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 336. The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 336 is transferred onto the sheet P conveyed along the conveyance path 32 while being pressed by a secondary transfer roller 337. The toner image pressed and transferred by the secondary transfer roller 337 is heated and pressurized by a fixing unit 35 to be fixed on the sheet P. Thus, a printed matter is printed by the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the image forming unit 33 transfers the image to the sheet P by performing the image formation with an electrophotographic process. Drum cleaning devices 335 are provided around the photosensitive members 334, respectively. The drum cleaning devices 335 remove residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 336. The conveyance path 32 is a path for feeding and conveying the sheet P from the sheet feeding unit 34. Specifically, the image forming unit 33 and the fixing unit 35 form an image on the sheet P fed from the sheet feeding unit 34, and the sheet P is discharged to the stacking apparatus 5 by a sheet discharge unit 36 provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path 32. The controller 31 of the image forming apparatus 1 may control the stacking apparatus 5 via the communicator 39.

The stacking apparatus 5 includes, inside a housing 50, a controller 51, a sub path 52a, a relay path 53a, and a main path 54a. The controller 51 includes a CPU, an ASIC or firmware, and a memory, which are not shown, and executes various kinds of control. The sub path 52a is provided with a sub sheet discharge outlet 52b on the rear end. The sub sheet discharge outlet 52b is positioned to face a sub tray 56 shown in FIG. 2. The sub tray 56 is provided on the top of the stacking apparatus 5 as shown in FIG. 2. Returning to FIG. 1, the relay path 53a is provided with a relay sheet discharge outlet 53b on the rear end. Therefore, the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 is conveyed through the relay path 53a to the rear side of the stacking apparatus 5. The main path 54a is provided with a main sheet discharge outlet 54b on the rear end. The main sheet discharge outlet 54b is disposed to face the movable tray 55. The movable tray 55 is capable of loading the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 thereon, and then, discharging the loaded sheet P to the outside of the apparatus, and is disposed below the sub tray 56 and the main sheet discharge outlet 54b (see FIG. 2). The movable tray 55 includes a removable tray 55a and a movable platform 55b. The removable tray 55a is removable from the movable platform 55b with the sheet P stacked thereon. The movable platform 55b moves the removable tray 55a either to the outside or to the inside of the apparatus with the removable tray 55a placed thereon. When the worker carries only a stack of sheets P for moving the sheets P stacked on the stacking apparatus 5 to a working table or the like for postprocess, misalignment may occur on the aligned sheets. To prevent such a situation, the removable tray 55a is used such that the stack of sheets P is carried for the postprocess together with the removable tray 55a.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the stacking apparatus 5 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E are views showing an example of control of the position of the movable tray 55 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the stacking apparatus 5 includes a delivery tray 57, a discharge unit 81, a driver 82, a display 83, a storage 84, an imager 85, a communicator 86, a receiving position detector 61, a delivery position detector 62, a tray ejection detector 63, a shutter open/close detector 64, an upper limit detector 65, an operator 66, a timer 67, and a distance detector 68, in addition to the controller 51, the sub tray 56, and the movable tray 55 described above. The delivery tray 57 will be described later. The discharge unit 81 includes a discharge roller 81A and a switching unit 81B. The discharge roller 81A discharges the sheet P to any one of discharge destinations which are the movable tray 55, the sub tray 56, and the rear side of the stacking apparatus 5. The switching unit 81B is provided downstream of the discharge roller 81A, and switches the discharge destination of the sheet P discharged by the discharge roller 81A.

The receiving position detector 61 detects whether or not the movable tray 55 is on the receiving position of the sheet P. The receiving position detector 61 is disposed around the receiving position of the sheet P, and is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric unit. The delivery position detector 62 detects whether or not the movable tray 55 is on the delivery position of the sheet P. The delivery position detector 62 is disposed around the delivery position of the sheet P, and is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric unit. The tray ejection detector 63 detects whether or not the movable platform 55b ejects the removable tray 55a to the outside of the apparatus. The tray ejection detector 63 is disposed below or around the movable platform 55b, and is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric unit. The shutter open/close detector 64 detects an open/close state of a shutter (not shown). The shutter open/close detector 64 is provided around an opening (not shown) provided in the front side of the housing 50, and is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric unit. The upper limit detector 65 detects whether or not the stacking height of the sheets P stacked on the movable tray 55 has reached a threshold height of the movable tray 55. The upper limit detector 65 is disposed in the internal space of the housing 50, and is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric unit.

The driver 82 includes an electric motor and an actuator (not shown), and moves the movable tray 55. The controller 51 controls the position of the movable tray 55 by the driver 82 on the basis of the detection results of the receiving position detector 61 and the delivery position detector 62. The controller 51 also controls the position of the movable platform 55b by the driver 82 on the basis of the detection result of the tray ejection detector 63. The controller 51 also controls the position of the shutter (not shown) by the driver 82 on the basis of the detection result of the shutter open/close detector 64.

The controller 51 controls the position of the movable tray 55 on the basis of a current position of the movable tray 55 and setting conditions for determining the control content of the movable tray 55. When the movable tray 55 is currently positioned outside the apparatus and the setting condition satisfies a storage condition for executing storage control for moving the movable tray 55 from the outside to the inside of the apparatus so as to store the movable tray 55 inside the apparatus, the controller 51 stores the movable tray 55 inside the apparatus. When the movable tray 55 is currently positioned inside the apparatus due to the storage control and the setting condition satisfies a re-ejection condition for executing re-ejection control for ejecting again the movable tray 55 from the inside to the outside of the apparatus, the controller 51 ejects again the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus.

The operator 66 is composed of, for example, a touch panel or a hard key, and receives various kinds of operations performed by the worker. The operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the storage control in response to the operation performed by the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55. The operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control in response to the operation performed by the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55. When the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the storage control, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. When the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition.

The timer 67 is configured from, for example, a real-time clock (RTC) circuit, and measures various times. The timer 67 measures a storage waiting time after the movable tray 55 is positioned outside the apparatus. The timer 67 measures a re-ejection waiting time after the movable tray 55 is positioned inside the apparatus. The controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition when the storage waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds a storage time-out period. The controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition when the re-ejection waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds a re-ejection time-out period.

The distance detector 68 includes, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, and detects the distance to an object. The distance detector 68 outputs data of the distance between the object and the movable tray 55 or between the object and the stacking apparatus 5 on the basis of the detection result. The distance detector 68 detects the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or a pushcart 7 shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E. The controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition when the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or greater than a departure detection distance. The departure detection distance is set to a threshold distance by which it is regarded that the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E moves away from the movable tray 55. When the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or less than an approach detection distance, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. The approach detection distance is set to a threshold distance by which it is regarded that the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E approaches the movable tray 55. The communicator 86 can perform communication in accordance with various communication protocols. The communicator 86 communicates with a portable device 88 carried by the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or a mounted device 87 mounted on the pushcart 7 illustrated in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E. The imager 85 includes an imaging element such as a charged-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), and captures an image as an electric signal by converting incident light into charges. The imager 85 captures an image of the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E. The controller 51 detects the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E on the basis of at least any one of the detection result of the distance detector 68, the communication result of the communicator 86, and the image capture result of the imager 85. To identify the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E, the controller 51 uses at least one of the communication result of the communicator 86 and the image capture result of the imager 85.

The storage 84 is formed by, for example, a semiconductor memory, and stores various kinds of data used to control the stacking apparatus 5. Various kinds of data stored in the storage 84 can be displayed by the display 83. The display 83 is formed by, for example, a liquid crystal display.

Next, a process from removal of the sheets P stacked on the movable tray 55 to normal storage will be described with reference to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E. FIG. 4A shows a state in which ejection of the sheet P and the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus is completed. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the worker inserts the pushcart 7 into the movable platform 55b, and the movable platform 55b or the pushcart 7 ascends or descend to deliver a stack of sheets P to the pushcart 7. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the stack of sheets P is removed together with the removable tray 55a by the pushcart 7, and only the movable platform 55b is left outside the apparatus. FIG. 4D shows a state in which the worker sets again the removable tray 55a to the movable platform 55b, and the storage operation for storing the movable tray 55 is performed. When the storage operation for storing the movable tray 55 is completed, the sheet P to be output from the image forming apparatus 1 can be stacked. FIG. 4E shows a state in which the movable tray 55 moves up to the main sheet discharge outlet 54b after the storage operation for storing the movable tray 55 is completed. Note that the movable tray 55 may ascend to a height corresponding to the main sheet discharge outlet 54b before being stored inside the apparatus. That is, when the removable tray 55a is removed from the movable platform 55b and then attached to the movable platform 55b again, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are left side views of the stacking apparatus 5 for illustrating an example of storage control or re-ejection control of the movable platform 55b included in the movable tray 55 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the movable platform 55b is stored inside the apparatus when the storage condition is satisfied. As described above, the storage condition is satisfied when the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the storage control, the storage waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds the storage time-out period, or the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or greater than the departure detection distance. FIG. 5B shows a state in which the movable platform 55b is ejected again to the outside of the apparatus when the re-ejection condition is satisfied. For example, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition when the removable tray 55a is not placed on the movable platform 55b and the movable platform 55b is housed in the apparatus. As described above, the re-ejection condition is satisfied when the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control, the re-ejection waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds the re-ejection time-out period, or the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or less than the approach detection distance.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of detecting the position of the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In a case where the detection result of the distance detector 68 is used, the controller 51 continues to compare the detection result with the departure detection distance or the approach detection distance. In a case where the communication result of the communicator 86 is used, the controller 51 detects the position on the basis of position information or information regarding intensity of radio waves by wireless communication between the communicator 86 and the mounted device 87 or the portable device 88. In a case where the image capture result of the imager 85 is used, the controller 51 individually identifies the worker or the pushcart 7 by a face authentication function, ID information, a logo sticker, or the like.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example in which an output destination of the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is switched to an output destination different from the movable tray 55. As shown in FIG. 7, an image forming system is configured in which the image forming apparatus 1, a post-processing apparatus 91, the stacking apparatus 5, and a post-processing apparatus 92 are arranged in this order. When the output destination of the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 is switched to the post-processing apparatus 91, it is expected that the worker works around the stacking apparatus 5. Therefore, it may be better to temporarily store the movable platform 55b so as not to block the line of flow of the worker. To this end, the controller 51 acquires output destination information as shown in FIG. 3. Returning back to FIG. 7, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition, when the output destination of the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 is switched to an output destination different from the movable tray 55.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B show an example of detecting that, after a sheet P1 is delivered to the movable tray 55, time to discharge a sheet P2 placed on the delivery tray 57 to the outside of the apparatus is approaching according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8A is a view showing that, after the sheet P1 is delivered to the movable tray 55, the movable tray 55 is ejected to the outside of the apparatus, and the sheet P2 is currently stacked on the delivery tray 57. FIG. 8B is a view showing that the removable tray 55a is removed together with the stack of sheets P1, and the movable platform 55b is temporarily stored. The delivery tray 57 is capable of delivering the sheet P2 stacked thereon to the removable tray 55a. In other words, in a case where the time to discharge the sheet P2 on the delivery tray 57 is approaching, and the movable platform 55b is now temporarily stored, it is highly likely that the worker will soon return to set again the removable tray 55a to the movable platform 55b. In view of this, the movable platform 55b is allowed to be ejected again automatically. Specifically, the controller 51 determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition, when the height of the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 exceeds the threshold height.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of changing the storage position of the movable tray 55 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, a work passage Y_1 in a workroom and the position of an apparatus may be separated by a line on the floor surface or the like. For example, the work passage Y_1 and a non-work passage Y_2 are separated. In this case, it is assumed that the movable platform 55b does not have to be completely housed in the apparatus. Therefore, the storage position can be changed in order to shorten the re-ejection time of the movable platform 55b as much as possible. Specifically, the storage position can be set within a range X where the movable tray 55 is movable by the driver 82 and outside the work passage Y_1 of the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55. When the storage position is thus set, the controller 51 can cause the driver 82 to execute the storage control in accordance with the preset storage position.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of changing the re-ejection position of the movable tray 55 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 10, the work passage Y_1 and the non-work passage Y_2 are separated. In this case, it is assumed that the movable platform 55b does not have to be completely ejected again to the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, the re-ejection position can be changed in order to shorten the re-ejection time of the movable platform 55b as much as possible. Specifically, the re-ejection position can be set within the range X where the movable tray 55 is movable by the driver 82. When the re-ejection position is thus set, the controller 51 can cause the driver 82 to execute the re-ejection control in accordance with the preset re-ejection position.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a setting screen of the storage condition and the re-ejection condition according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In advanced settings of external device communication in FIG. 11, various communication settings for enabling communication with the mounted device 87 or the portable device 88 can be set. Further, in advanced settings of pushcart departure detection in FIG. 11, a departure detection distance with respect to the device set in the advanced settings of the external communication device can be set. In advanced settings of pushcart approach detection in FIG. 11, an approach detection distance with respect to the device set in the advanced settings of the external communication device can be set. That is, the storage condition is set using the operator 66, and when there is a plurality of storage conditions, priority is set for each condition. Similarly, the re-ejection condition is set using the operator 66, and when there is a plurality of re-ejection conditions, priority is set for each condition.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating how to control the movable tray 55 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S11, the controller 51 determines whether or not the ejection of the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus has been completed. When determining that the ejection of the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus has been completed (step S11; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S12. When determining that the ejection of the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus has not been completed (step S11; N), the controller 51 continues the process in step S11. In step S12, the controller 51 determines whether or not the removal of the removable tray 55a and a stack of sheets P by the worker has been completed. When determining that the removal of the removable tray 55a and a stack of sheets P by the worker has been completed (step S12; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S13. When determining that the removal of the removable tray 55a and a stack of sheets P by the worker has not been completed (step S12; N), the controller 51 continues the process in step S12. In step S13, the controller 51 executes a storage condition determination process, and proceeds to the process in step S14. The details of the storage condition determination process will be described later with reference to FIG. 13.

In step S14, the controller 51 determines whether or not the storage mode is normal storage. When determining that the storage mode is the normal storage (step S14; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S15, executes the normal storage in step S15, and ends this routine. When determining that the storage mode is not the normal storage (step S14; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S16. In step S16, the controller 51 determines whether or not the storage mode is temporary storage. When determining that the storage mode is the temporary storage (step S16; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S17. When determining that the storage mode is not the temporary storage (step S16; N), the controller 51 returns to the process in step S13. In step S17, the controller 51 executes the temporary storage, and proceeds to the process in step S18. In step S18, the controller 51 executes a re-ejection condition determination process, and proceeds to the process in step S19. The details of the re-ejection condition determination process will be described later with reference to FIG. 14.

In step S19, the controller 51 determines whether or not a re-ejection flag is on. When determining that the re-ejection flag is on (step S19; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S20. When determining that the re-ejection flag is not on (step S19; N), the controller 51 returns to the process in step S18. In step S20, the controller 51 executes re-ejection and proceeds to the process in step S21. In step S21, the controller 51 determines whether or not the re-ejection has been completed. When determining that the re-ejection has been completed (step S21; Y), the controller 51 returns to the process in step S13. When determining that the re-ejection has not been completed (step S21; N), the controller 51 continues the process in step S21.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the storage condition determination process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S31, the controller 51 determines whether or not the removable tray 55a is placed on the movable platform 55b. When determining that the removable tray 55a is placed on the movable platform 55b (step S31; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S37 to set the storage mode to the normal storage in step S37, and ends the storage condition determination process. When determining that the removable tray 55a is not placed on the movable platform 55b (step S31; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S32. The controller 51 determines whether to determine the storage condition. When determining that the storage condition is to be determined (step S32; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S33. When determining that the determination of the storage condition is not performed (step S32; N), the controller 51 ends the storage condition determination process.

In step S33, the controller 51 determines whether or not the operator 66 has received an instruction to execute the storage control. When determining that the operator 66 has received an instruction to execute the storage control (step S33; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S36. When determining that the operator 66 has not received an instruction to execute the storage control (step S33; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S34. In step S34, the controller 51 determines whether or not the storage waiting time has exceeded the storage time-out period. When determining that the storage waiting time has exceeded the storage time-out period (step S34; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S36. When determining that the storage waiting time has not exceeded the storage time-out period (step S34; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S35. In step S35, the controller 51 determines whether or not the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 becomes equal to or greater than the departure detection distance. When determining that the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 becomes equal to or greater than the departure detection distance (step S35; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S36. When determining that the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 does not become equal to or greater than the departure detection distance (step S35; N), the controller 51 ends the storage condition determination process. In step S36, the controller 51 sets the storage mode to temporary storage, and ends the storage condition determination process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the re-ejection condition determination process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S51, the controller 51 determines whether or not the operator 66 has received an instruction to execute the re-ejection control. When determining that the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control (step S51; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S55. When determining that the operator 66 has not received an instruction to execute the re-ejection control (step S51; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S52. In step S52, the controller 51 determines whether or not the re-ejection waiting time has exceeded the re-ejection time-out period. When determining that the re-ejection waiting time has exceeded the re-ejection time-out period (step S52; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S55. When determining that the re-ejection waiting time has not exceeded the re-ejection time-out period (step S52; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S53.

In step S53, the controller 51 determines whether or not the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 becomes equal to or less than the approach detection distance. When determining that the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 becomes equal to or less than the approach detection distance (step S53; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S55. When determining that the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 does not become equal to or less than the approach detection distance (step S53; N), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S54. In step S54, the controller 51 determines whether or not the height of the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 exceeds the threshold height. When determining that the height of the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 has exceeded the threshold height (step S54; Y), the controller 51 proceeds to the process in step S55. When determining that the height of the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 has not exceeded the threshold height (step S54; N), the controller 51 ends the re-ejection condition determination process. In step S55, the controller 51 turns on the re-ejection flag, and ends the re-ejection condition determination process.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the movable tray 55 is currently positioned outside the apparatus and the setting condition satisfies the condition for executing the storage control, the movable tray 55 is stored inside the apparatus. Therefore, in a case where the movable tray 55 is currently positioned outside the apparatus and the setting condition satisfies the condition for executing the storage control, the movable tray 55 is stored inside the apparatus, even if the sheet P is not removed from the movable tray 55. Thus, the movable tray 55 is not present around the stacking apparatus 5. Therefore, the line of flow of the worker can be ensured.

In the present embodiment, when the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the storage control in response to the operation performed by the worker, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. Therefore, the storage condition can be satisfied by using the operation performed by the worker as a trigger. Thus, the storage control can be started at the timing intended by the worker.

In the present embodiment, when the storage waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds the storage time-out period, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. Therefore, the storage condition can be satisfied according to the storage time-out period. Thus, the timing of starting the storage control can be controlled according to time.

In the present embodiment, when the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or greater than the departure detection distance, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. Therefore, the storage condition can be satisfied according to the departure detection distance. Thus, the timing of starting the storage control can be controlled according to distance.

In the present embodiment, when the output destination of the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 1 is switched to an output destination different from the movable tray 55, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. Therefore, the storage condition can be satisfied according to the output destination of the sheet P. Thus, the timing of starting the storage control can be controlled according to the output destination of the sheet P.

In the present embodiment, when the removable tray 55a is removed from the movable platform 55b and then attached to the movable platform 55b again, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition. Therefore, the storage condition can be satisfied according to the attachment/detachment state of the removable tray 55a. Thus, the timing of starting the storage control can be controlled according to the attachment/detachment state of the removable tray 55a.

In the present embodiment, when the movable tray 55 is currently positioned inside the apparatus due to the storage control and the setting condition satisfies the condition for executing the re-ejection control to eject again the movable tray 55 from the inside to the outside of the apparatus, the movable tray 55 is ejected again to the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, even if the movable tray 55 is stored inside the apparatus with the sheet P still placed thereon, and the sheet P placed on the movable tray 55 is to be removed, the movable tray 55 is ejected again to the outside of the apparatus when the movable tray 55 is currently positioned inside the apparatus due to the storage control and the setting condition satisfies the condition for executing the re-ejection control. Thus, the waiting time until the movable tray 55 is ejected again from the inside to the outside of the apparatus can be reduced. Accordingly, a decrease in working efficiency can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, when the removable tray 55a is not placed on the movable platform 55b and the movable platform 55b is housed in the apparatus, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. If the removable tray 55a is not placed on the movable platform 55b, there is a possibility that the stack of sheets P is carried by the pushcart 7 or the like together with the removable tray 55a. In this case, the removable tray 55a may be carried after the stack of sheets P is removed. Therefore, the waiting time can be shortened by ejecting the movable platform 55b to the outside of the apparatus.

In the present embodiment, when the operator 66 receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control in response to the operation performed by the worker, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. Therefore, the re-ejection condition can be satisfied by using the operation performed by the worker as a trigger. Thus, the re-ejection control can be started at the timing intended by the worker.

In the present embodiment, when the re-ejection waiting time measured by the timer 67 exceeds the re-ejection time-out period, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. Therefore, the re-ejection condition can be satisfied according to the re-ejection time-out period. Thus, the timing of starting the re-ejection control can be controlled according to time.

In the present embodiment, when the distance detected by the distance detector 68 becomes equal to or less than the approach detection distance, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. Therefore, the re-ejection condition can be satisfied according to the approach detection distance. Thus, the timing of starting the re-ejection control can be controlled according to distance.

In the present embodiment, when the height of the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 exceeds the threshold height, it is determined that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition. Since the movable platform 55b is ejected to the outside of the apparatus, the removable tray 55a can be placed on the movable platform 55b. Therefore, the sheet P stacked on the delivery tray 57 can be prepared to be delivered to the removable tray 55a.

In the present embodiment, the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 is detected on the basis of at least any one of the detection result of the distance detector 68, the communication result of the communicator 86, and the image capture result of the imager 85. Therefore, it is possible to detect the case where the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 moves away from the movable tray 55 and the case where the worker or the pushcart 7 approaches the movable tray 55 from multiple viewpoints. Thus, the distance between the movable tray 55 and the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7 can be more reliably detected. To identify the worker of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or the pushcart 7, at least one of the communication result of the communicator 86 and the image capture result of the imager 85 is used. Therefore, even if there is a plurality of workers of the sheet P stacked on the movable tray 55 or pushcarts 7, one of them can be identified from the workers or the pushcarts, whereby each of the workers or pushcarts 7 can be individually detected.

In the present embodiment, the storage position can be set within the range X where the movable tray 55 is movable by the driver 82 and outside the work passage Y_1 of the worker, i.e., within the non-work passage Y_2. Therefore, instead of storing the movable tray 55 inside the apparatus, the movable tray 55 can be stored such that a part of the movable tray 55 is outside the apparatus, that is, stored at a position near the ejection position. Thus, the time taken for the re-ejection operation during the re-ejection can be reduced with the line of flow of the worker being ensured.

In the present embodiment, the re-ejection position can be set within the range X where the movable tray 55 is movable by the driver 82. Therefore, instead of ejecting again the movable tray 55 to the outside of the apparatus, the movable tray 55 can be ejected again such that a part of the movable tray 55 is inside the apparatus, that is, ejected again at a position near the storage position. Thus, it is possible to consider the lines of flow of other workers as well as to increase the work efficiency of the worker.

In the present embodiment, the storage condition is set using the operator 66, and when there is a plurality of storage conditions, priority is set for each condition. Therefore, the storage control can be performed according to any one of the plurality of storage conditions.

In the present embodiment, the re-ejection condition is set using the operator 66, and when there is a plurality of re-ejection conditions, priority is set for each condition. Therefore, the re-ejection control can be performed according to any one of the plurality of re-ejection conditions.

While the stacking apparatus 5 according to the present disclosure has been described above based on the present embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

For example, in the present embodiment, an operation example using the operator 66 of the stacking apparatus 5 has been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the operation may be performed using the operator 42 of the image forming apparatus 1.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the sheet P is output to the movable tray 55 has been described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It is only sufficient that a recording medium is output to the movable tray 55. In other words, anything other than sheets may be output to the movable tray 55.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stacking apparatus for loading a recording medium output from an image forming apparatus, the stacking apparatus comprising: a movable tray that is ejectable to an outside of the stacking apparatus after the recording medium output from the image forming apparatus is stacked on the movable tray; anda hardware processor that controls a position of the movable tray based on a current position of the movable tray and a setting condition for determining control content of the movable tray,wherein the hardware processor stores the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus, when the movable tray is currently positioned on the outside of the stacking apparatus and the setting condition satisfies a storage condition for executing storage control for moving the movable tray from the outside to an inside of the stacking apparatus so as to store the movable tray inside the stacking apparatus.

2. The stacking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an operator that receives an instruction to execute the storage control in response to an operation performed by a worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition when the operator receives the instruction to execute the storage control.

3. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a timer that measures a storage waiting time after the movable tray is positioned outside the stacking apparatus,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition when the storage waiting time measured by the timer exceeds a storage time-out period.

4. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a distance detector that detects a distance between the movable tray and the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or a pushcart,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition when the distance detected by the distance detector becomes equal to or greater than a departure detection distance.

5. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition, when an output destination of the recording medium output from the image forming apparatus is switched to an output destination different from the movable tray.

6. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable tray includes:a removable tray that is removable with the recording medium being stacked on the movable tray; anda movable platform that moves the removable tray to either the outside or the inside of the stacking apparatus with the removable tray being placed on the movable platform,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the storage condition, when the removable tray is removed from the movable platform, and then, attached again to the movable platform.

7. The stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor ejects again the movable tray to the outside of the stacking apparatus, when the movable tray is currently positioned inside the stacking apparatus due to the storage control, and the setting condition satisfies a re-ejection condition for executing re-ejection control for ejecting again the movable tray from the inside to the outside of the stacking apparatus.

8. The stacking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movable tray includes:a removable tray that is removable with the recording medium being stacked on the movable tray; anda movable platform that moves the removable tray to either the outside or the inside of the stacking apparatus with the removable tray being placed on the movable platform,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition, when the removable tray is not placed on the movable platform, and the movable platform is stored inside the stacking apparatus.

9. The stacking apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an operator that receives an instruction to execute the re-ejection control in response to an operation performed by a worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition when the operator receives the instruction to execute the re-ejection control.

10. The stacking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a timer that measures a re-ejection waiting time after the movable tray is positioned inside the stacking apparatus, wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition when the re-ejection waiting time measured by the timer exceeds a re-ejection time-out period.

11. The stacking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a distance detector that detects a distance between the movable tray and the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or a pushcart,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition when the distance detected by the distance detector becomes equal to or less than an approach detection distance.

12. The stacking apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a delivery tray capable of loading the recording medium and delivering the loaded recording medium to the removable tray,wherein the hardware processor determines that the setting condition satisfies the re-ejection condition, when a height of the recording medium stacked on the delivery tray exceeds a threshold height.

13. The stacking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a communicator that communicates with a portable device carried by the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or a mounted device mounted on the pushcart; andan imager that captures an image of the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or the pushcart,wherein the hardware processor detects a distance between the movable tray and the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or the pushcart based on at least any one of a detection result of the distance detector, a communication result of the communicator, and an image capture result of the imager, anduses at least one of the communication result of the communicator and the image capture result of the imager to identify the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray or the pushcart.

14. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a driver that moves the movable tray,wherein the hardware processor causes the driver to execute the storage control according to a preset storage position,the preset storage position being settable to a position within a range where the movable tray is movable by the driver and outside a work passage of the worker of the recording medium stacked on the movable tray.

15. The stacking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a driver that moves the movable tray,wherein the hardware processor causes the driver to execute the re-ejection control according to a preset re-ejection position,the preset re-ejection position being settable to a position within a range where the movable tray is movable by the driver.

16. The stacking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage condition is set using the operator, andwhen there is a plurality of the storage conditions, priority is set for each of the storage conditions.

17. The stacking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the re-ejection condition is set using the operator, andwhen there is a plurality of the re-ejection conditions, priority is set for each of the re-ejection conditions.

18. An image forming system comprising: the stacking apparatus according to claim 1; andthe image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording medium,wherein the image forming apparatus outputs the recording medium on which the image is formed to the movable tray.