POST-PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

Provided is a post-processing device capable of executing sheet post-processing on printed sheets piled on mail boxes with simplicity. The post-processing device includes one or more mail boxes on which printed sheets are to be piled up, a post-processing part for performing specified sheet post-processing on the fed sheets, and a sheet feed part capable of feeding the sheets piled on the one or more mail boxes, respectively, to the post-processing part.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-264058 filed on Dec. 26, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a post-processing device and an image forming apparatus and, in particular, relates to a technique of performing sheet post-processing on printed sheets.

Conventionally, there has been known a post-processing device (finisher, sheet sorting device) including a plurality of mail boxes (discharge trays) and serving for sorting and discharging printed sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus main body as they are classified into the individual mail boxes depending on sheet size or sheet margin size or the like.

There has also been known a device in which such a conventional post-processing device as described above is provided with a mechanism for performing sheet post-processing such as staple processing or punch processing on printed sheets before discharge. There has further been known a post-processing device which allows sheet post-processing to be executed manually on bundles of sheets carried in by a user.

However, there are some cases where since a user has executed a printing job without inputting conditions for sheet post-processing before the execution of the printing job, the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on sheets piled in the mail boxes after the execution of the printing job. In this case, with such conventional post-processing devices as described above, it would be necessary for the user to repeat laborious processes of taking out sheets piled on the mail boxes one by one and then manually performing the sheet post-processing on the taken-out sheets.

SUMMARY

A post-processing device in one aspect of the present disclosure includes one or more mail boxes on which printed sheets are to be piled up, a post-processing part for performing specified sheet post-processing on the fed sheets, and a sheet feed part capable of feeding the sheets piled on the one or more mail boxes, respectively, to the post-processing part.

Otherwise, an image forming apparatus in another aspect of the present disclosure includes the post-processing device as defined above, and a job execution part for executing a printing job of discharging the sheets to any one of the one or more mail boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a multifunction printer which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction printer;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of an operation screen that allows copy-job executive conditions to be inputted;

FIG. 4A is a view showing an example of the operation screen that allows a sort condition and a classifying condition to be inputted, where ‘SETTING: NO’ has been inputted for the sort condition;

FIG. 4B is a view showing an example of the operation screen that allows a sort condition and a classifying condition to be inputted, where ‘SETTING: YES’ has been inputted for the sort condition;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the operation screen that allows post-processing conditions to be inputted;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operation in execution of a copy job;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of information to be stored in a discharge-sheet information storage part;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operation of sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to mail boxes; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operation in execution of a post-processing job.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinbelow, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus including a post-processing device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a multifunction printer will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus below. However, without being limited to this, the image forming apparatus may be, for example, a copier, a printer, a facsimile device or the like.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a multifunction printer 1 which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction printer 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multifunction printer 1 includes a document reading part 5, a document feeder unit 6, a main body section 100, a post-processing device 3, a communication part 8, and an operation section 7.

The document reading part 5 includes a scanner 51 composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an exposure lamp or the like, and a document base 52, as well as a document reading slit 53, formed from a glass or other transparent member. The scanner 51 is made up so as to be movable by an unshown driver part. For reading a document placed on the document base 52, the scanner 51 set in a position facing the document base 52 is moved along a document surface, during which the scanner 51 scans a document image, thereby acquiring its image data and outputting those data to a control section 10. Also, for reading a document fed by the document feeder unit 6, the scanner 51 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53, during which the scanner 51 acquires an image of the document via the document reading slit 53 in synchronization with a document conveyance operation by the document feeder unit 6. Thus, the scanner 51 outputs the obtained image data to the control section 10.

The document feeder unit 6 includes a document placement part 601, a sheet feed roller 602, a document conveyance part 603, and a document discharge part 604. The sheet feed roller 602 rolls out a necessary number of document sheets set on the document placement part 601, one by one, and then the document conveyance part 603 conveys the rolled-out document sheets to a reading position of the scanner 51 in succession. The scanner 51 reads images of conveyed document sheets successively, and the read document sheets are discharged to the document discharge part 604.

The document feeder unit 6 is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the main body section 100 so that its front side can be moved upward. Moving the front side of the document feeder unit 6 so as to make a top surface of the document base 52 opened makes it possible for a user to place a reading-object document, e.g. double-spread book or the like, on the top surface of the document base 52.

The main body section 100 includes a manual feed tray 460, a plurality of sheet feed cassettes 461, a plurality of sheet feed rollers 462, an image forming section 4, a discharge port 209, a discharge tray 48, and the control section 10.

Each sheet feed roller 462 pulls out a sheet from the manual feed tray 460 or the sheet feed cassette 461 on which sheets are accommodated, and feeds the sheet to the image forming section 4.

The image forming section 4 executes printing process, for forming an image shown by image data inputted to the control section 10, on sheets conveyed by the sheet feed rollers 462 under control by the control section 10. The image forming section 4 discharges a sheet printed by the printing process to the discharge tray 48. Otherwise, the image forming section 4 conveys a sheet printed by the printing process via the discharge port 209 to the post-processing device 3.

In more detail, the image forming section 4 includes a sheet conveyance part 41, an optical scanner 42, a photoconductor drum 43, a developing part 44, a transfer part 45, and a fixing part 46.

The sheet conveyance part 41 includes a conveyance roller 413 for feeding a sheet conveyed by a sheet feed roller 462 to the photoconductor drum 43, a conveyance roller 414 for conveying a printed sheet via the discharge port 209 to a post-processing part 32, a conveyance roller 415 for discharging a printed sheet to the discharge tray 48, and the like.

The optical scanner 42 outputs a laser beam based on image data inputted to the control section 10 to scan the photoconductor drum 43 with this laser beam, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 43. The developing part 44 deposits toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 43 to form a toner image. The transfer part 45 transfers the toner image on the photoconductor drum 43 to the sheet. The fixing part 46 heats a sheet having the toner image transferred thereto to fix the toner image on the sheet.

The control section 10 performs operation control for individual sections and parts of the multifunction printer 1. The control section 10 is made up by including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for executing specified arithmetic processing, a nonvolatile memory such as EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) in which specified control programs have been stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data, peripheral circuits of these, and the like.

The control section 10 makes the CPU execute control programs stored in the nonvolatile memory or the like to provide operations as, for example, a condition accepting part 11 (selection accepting part, sheet-feed condition accepting part, post-processing accepting part), a job execution part 12, and an alarm notification part 13. Also, the control section 10 uses part of a RAM storage area as a discharge-sheet information storage part 14 (first storage part, second storage part).

The condition accepting part 11 accepts input of job executive conditions. The job execution part 12 executes a job by using executive conditions accepted by the condition accepting part 11. Details of the input method for the job and the job executive conditions will be described later. Details of the alarm notification part 13 and the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 will also be described later.

The post-processing device 3 is removably provided in the main body section 100. The post-processing device 3 includes a conveyance inlet 301, a sheet conveyance part 302, a stack tray 303, a four mail boxes 304a to 304d, classification parts 31, a post-processing part 32, and discharge-sheet feed parts 33 (sheet feed part). Hereinafter, the four mail boxes 304a to 304d will generically be referred to as mail boxes 304.

The sheet conveyance part 302 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers (indicated by double-circle marks without reference signs in FIG. 1) disposed along a sheet conveyance path. The sheet conveyance part 302 rotationally drives the conveyance rollers involved so that the printed sheet having been conveyed via the conveyance inlet 301 is conveyed along the sheet conveyance path.

On the stack tray 303 and the mail boxes 304, printed sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 are discharged and piled up.

Each classification part 31 is rotated by an unshown solenoid under control by the job execution part 12 to change over a sheet conveyance direction. By this function, the classification parts 31 classify conveyance destinations of printed sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 to any one of the stack tray 303, the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, and a later-described intermediate tray 321.

For example, for discharge of a printed sheet to the stack tray 303, the relevant classification part 31 changes over a conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 to a direction D1 shown in FIG. 1, temporarily storing the sheet on the later-described intermediate tray 321. Thereafter, the classification part 31 changes over the conveyance direction of the sheet, which has been conveyed from the later-described intermediate tray 321 by the sheet conveyance part 302, to a direction D2 shown in FIG. 1 to make the sheet discharged to the stack tray 303.

Also, for discharge of a printed sheet to a specified mail box 304, the relevant classification part 31 changes over the conveyance direction of a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 to a direction D3 shown in FIG. 1, and thereafter changes over the direction to a direction toward the specified mail box 304.

The post-processing part 32 includes an intermediate tray 321. In the intermediate tray 321, a printed sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 is temporarily stored. The post-processing part 32 performs a sheet post-processing on the printed sheet stored in the intermediate tray 321 under control by the job execution part 12. The sheet post-processing includes punch processing of boring binding holes in a sheet, and staple processing of stitching a staple needle into a sheet. The sheet subjected to the sheet post-processing by the post-processing part 32 is conveyed from the intermediate tray 321 along the direction D2 shown in FIG. 1 by the sheet conveyance part 302 and the classification part 31, thus discharged to the stack tray 303.

The discharge-sheet feed parts 33 discharge printed sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 to the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively. Also, the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 are enabled to feed printed sheets, which are piled up on the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, to the intermediate tray 321.

More specifically, each discharge-sheet feed part 33 includes a rotation-driving drive roller 331, a sheet feed roller 332, and an endless belt 333 stretched between the drive roller 331 and the sheet feed roller 332.

For discharge of a printed sheet to the mail boxes 304, a relevant discharge-sheet feed part 33 is set into a first posture indicated by solid line by means of an unshown solenoid under control by the job execution part 12. Then, the discharge-sheet feed part 33 rotates the drive roller 331 clockwise under control by the job execution part 12, thereby discharging the printed sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 into the mail box 304.

Meanwhile, for execution of sheet post-processing by the post-processing part 32 on a printed sheet piled on the mail boxes 304, the discharge-sheet feed part 33 feeds a printed sheet piled on the mail boxes 304 to the intermediate tray 321. In this case, the discharge-sheet feed part 33 is set into a second posture indicated by dotted line in FIG. 1 by means of an unshown solenoid under control by the job execution part 12. In the second posture, the sheet feed roller 332 is brought into contact with the uppermost sheet out of the printed sheets piled up on the mail box 304.

Then, the discharge-sheet feed part 33 rotates the drive roller 331 counterclockwise under control by the job execution part 12, by which the sheet feed roller 332 and the endless belt 333 are driven into rotation counterclockwise. By this operation, the discharge-sheet feed part 33 conveys the uppermost sheet to the sheet conveyance part 302. By the sheet conveyance part 302 and the classification parts 31, the sheet conveyed by the discharge-sheet feed part 33 is conveyed along a direction D4 shown in FIG. 1 to the intermediate tray 321 and temporarily stored in the intermediate tray 321. The sheet thereafter subjected to sheet post-processing by the post-processing part 32 is conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 302 and the classification parts 31 from the intermediate tray 321 along the direction D2 shown in FIG. 1, thus discharged to the stack tray 303.

The communication part 8 is provided inside the multifunction printer 1. The communication part 8 is a communication interface circuit connected to an unshown network such as LAN (Local Area Network) to perform transmission and reception of various types of data with external devices such as personal computers connected to the network.

For example, the communication part 8 receives image data to be used for a later-described print job from an external device, and outputs the received image data to the control section 10. Further, for execution of a later-described transmission job, the communication part 8 transmits image data, which has been inputted from the document reading part 5 to the control section 10, to an external device.

The operation section 7 is provided so as to allow various operational instructions to be inputted by a user. The operation section 7 includes a touch panel device 71, an operating key part 72, a loudspeaker 73, and switches 74.

The touch panel device 71 includes a display part 711 such as a liquid crystal display. Also, the touch panel device 71 has a capacitance-type touch panel function. The touch panel function refers to a function of detecting a soft key or other screen component displayed on the display part 711, which a user has touched with an indicator such as finger or pen, based on a change in capacitance resulting when the user brings the indicator close to the display part 711. In addition, the touch panel function is not limited to the capacitance-type one and may be, for example, ultrasonic- or optical-type one.

The operating key part 72 includes various types of keys such as ten keys for inputting numerical values or symbols and a start key for instructing an execution start for later-described various jobs. The loudspeaker 73 outputs a specified alarm sound such as a so-called beep.

The switches 74 are switches for changing over an execution-object job. Jobs executable for the multifunction printer 1 include, for example, a transmission job, a copy job, a print job and a post-processing job.

The transmission job refers to a job that image data inputted from the document reading part 5 to the control section 10 is transmitted to an external device by the communication part 8.

The copy job refers to a job that the image forming section 4 is made to execute a printing process by using image data inputted from the document reading part 5 to the control section 10. The print job refers to a job that the image forming section 4 is made to execute a printing process by using image data inputted from the communication part 8 to the control section 10. Hereinafter, the copy job and the print job that compel the image forming section 4 to execute the printing process will generically be referred to as printing job.

The post-processing job refers to a job that printed sheets piled in the mail boxes 304 are fed to the intermediate tray 321 by the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 and then the post-processing part 32 is made to execute a specified sheet post-processing on relevant printed sheets stored in the intermediate tray 321.

The switches 74 include, for example, a switch for changing over an execution-object job to the transmission job, a switch for changing over the execution-object job to the copy job, a switch for changing over the execution-object job to the print job, and a switch for changing over the execution-object job to the post-processing job.

When a switch 74 is depressed to changes over the execution-object job, the condition accepting part 11 displays an operation screen corresponding to the execution-object job after the changeover on the display part 711. The operation screen corresponding to a job refers to an operation screen that allows executive conditions for the relevant job to be inputted.

Hereinbelow, details of the method of inputting print-job executive conditions using an operation screen corresponding to a printing job. FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the operation screen W1 that allows copy-job executive conditions to be inputted. For example, when the switch 74 for changing over the execution-object job to the copy job is depressed, the condition accepting part 11 displays the operation screen W1 corresponding to the copy job on the display part 711 as shown in FIG. 3.

In the operation screen W1, provided are seven soft keys SK1 to SK7 for inputting seven executive conditions contained in ‘SIMPLE SETTING’ for copy-job executive conditions. The soft key SK1 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘NUMBER OF COPIES.’ The soft key SK2 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘SHEET.’ The soft key SK3 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘SCALE DOWN/UP.’ The soft key SK4 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘DOUBLE SIDE/DIVIDE.’ The soft key SK5 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’ The soft key SK6 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘PAGE CONSOLIDATE.’ The soft key SK7 is provided for inputting an executive condition ‘SORT/CLASSIFY.’

Representatively of the seven soft keys SK1 to SK7, the soft key SK5 and the soft key SK7 will be explained. Hereinafter, an executive condition ‘SORT’ contained in the executive condition ‘SORT/CLASSIFY’ will be referred to as sort condition. Also, an executive condition ‘CLASSIFY’ contained in the executive condition ‘SORT/CLASSIFY’ will be referred to as classifying condition.

The soft key SK5 is a soft key for inputting, as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image has been formed by execution of the copy job, the destination being selected from among the stack tray 303, the mail boxes 304a to 304d, and the discharge tray 48.

When a touch operation of the soft key SK5 is detected by the touch panel device 71, the condition accepting part 11 displays, in superimposition on the soft key SK5, six soft keys corresponding to six set values, ‘LEFT TRAY,’ ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ ‘MAIL BOX 4,’ ‘MIDDLE TRAY’ which can be inputted as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ respectively. It is noted that ‘LEFT TRAY’ refers to the stack tray 303, ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ refer to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c and mail box 304d, respectively, and ‘MIDDLE TRAY’ refers to the discharge tray 48.

Then, when a touch operation of any one of the six soft keys is detected, the condition accepting part 11 accepts the set value corresponding to the touch-operated soft key as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’

For instance, FIG. 3 shows an example in which after a touch operation of the soft key SK5, the set value ‘LEFT TRAY’ for the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ has been inputted by a touch operation of the soft key indicative of ‘LEFT TRAY.’ In this case, the condition accepting part 11 accepts the set value ‘LEFT TRAY’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’ The job execution part 12 controls the sheet conveyance part 302 and the classification parts 31 so that the printed sheet having an image formed thereon by execution of the copy job is discharged to the stack tray 303 indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’

Next, the soft key SK7 will be explained. FIG. 4A is a view showing an example in which ‘SETTING: NO’ has been inputted as the sort condition in an operation screen W2 that allows a sort condition and a classifying condition to be inputted. FIG. 4B is a view showing an example in which ‘SETTING: YES’ has been inputted as the sort condition in the operation screen W2 that allows a sort condition and a classifying condition to be inputted.

When a touch operation of the soft key SK7 is detected by the touch panel device 71, the condition accepting part 11 displays an operation screen W2 that allows a sort condition and a classifying condition to be inputted as shown in FIG. 4A.

In the operation screen W2, provided are a soft key SK21 corresponding to the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ for the sort condition, and a soft key SK22 corresponding to the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ for the sort condition. As to the soft key SK21 and the soft key SK22, any one of these, whichever it is, can be selected by touch operation. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as the sort condition, a set value corresponding to one selected soft key out of the soft key SK21 and the soft key SK22.

For instance, it is assumed that the user has selected the soft key SK21 by touch-operating the soft key SK21. In this case, the condition accepting part 11 accepts, as the sort condition, the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK21, and moreover displays the soft key SK21 in a specified selected state. It is noted that the term ‘selected state’ refers to a state that allows selection to be discerned. For example, in FIG. 4A, the condition accepting part 11 displays the soft key SK21 in a black-and-white inverted state.

In the case where the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job so as to discharge printed sheets in a number of copies for every page. In the case where the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job so as to discharge printed sheets on a one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers.

For instance, it is assumed that a copy job of printing out three-page sheets on a two-copy basis is executed as the printing job. In this case, when the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK21 in FIG. 4A, executes the copy job in such a fashion as to discharge two copies of the first-page sheet, then two copies of the second page sheet, and two copies of the third page sheet. Meanwhile, when the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK22 in FIG. 4A, executes the copy job in such a fashion as to discharge the first copies of three-page sheets in increasing order of page numbers, and thereafter the second copies of the three-page sheets in increasing order of page numbers.

The condition accepting part 11, when having accepted the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the sort condition, displays on the operation screen W2 a soft key SK23 corresponding to the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ for the classifying condition, and a soft key SK24 corresponding to the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ for the classifying condition. As to the soft key SK23 and the soft key SK24, only either one of those two keys, whichever it is, is selectable as in the case of the soft key SK21 and the soft key SK22. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as the classifying condition, a set value corresponding to a selected soft key out of the soft key SK23 and the soft key SK24.

In the case where the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job in such a fashion that printed sheets to be discharged in a quantity of the set number of copies for each page according to the sort condition are discharged to a discharge destination indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’ Meanwhile, when the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job in such a fashion that printed sheets to be discharged in a quantity of the set number of copies for each page according to the sort condition are discharged so as to be classified into different mail boxes 304 on a page-by-page basis.

For instance, it is assumed that a copy job of printing out two copies of three-page sheets is executed as the printing job. Then it is also assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition. In this case, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK23 in FIG. 4A, executes the copy job in such a fashion that two copies of the first-page sheet are discharged to a discharge destination indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ and thereafter two copies of the second-page sheet are discharged to the discharge destination, and thereafter two copies of the third-page sheet are discharged to the discharge destination.

Meanwhile, for example, it is assumed that a copy job of printing out three copies of three-page sheets is executed. Then, it is also assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition. In this case, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK24 in FIG. 4A, executes the copy job in such a fashion that three copies of the first-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively, and thereafter three copies of the second-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively, and thereafter three copies of the third-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively.

The condition accepting part 11, when having accepted the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ as the sort condition, displays on the operation screen W2, as shown in FIG. 4B, a soft key SK25 corresponding to the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ for the classifying condition, and a soft key SK26 corresponding to the set value ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ for the classifying condition. As to the soft key SK25 and the soft key SK26, only either one of those two keys, whichever it is, can be selected by touch operation as in the case of the soft key SK21 and the soft key SK22. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as the classifying condition, a set value corresponding to a selected soft key out of the soft key SK25 and the soft key SK26.

In the case where the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job in such a fashion that printed sheets to be discharged on a one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers according to the sort condition are discharged to a discharge destination indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’ Meanwhile, when the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, the job execution part 12 executes the printing job in such a fashion that printed sheets to be discharged on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers according to the sort condition are discharged so as to be classified into different mail boxes 304 on the one-copy basis.

For instance, it is assumed that a copy job of printing out two copies of three-page sheets is executed as the printing job. Then it is also assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition. In this case, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK25 in FIG. 4B, executes the copy job in such a fashion that three-page sheets of the first copy are discharged in increasing order of page numbers to a discharge destination indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ and thereafter three-page sheets of the second copy are discharged in increasing order of page numbers to the discharge destination.

Meanwhile, for example, it is assumed that a copy job of printing out three copies of three-page sheets is executed as the printing job. Then, it is also assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition and the set value ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition. In this case, the job execution part 12, as shown above the soft key SK26 in FIG. 4B, executes the copy job in such a fashion that three copies of the first-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively, and thereafter three copies of the second-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively, and thereafter three copies of the third-page sheet are classified and discharged to the mail boxes 304a, 304b, 304c, respectively.

As described above, for execution of a printing job in which the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ has been accepted as the sort condition and moreover the set value ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, as well as for execution of a printing job in which the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the sort condition and moreover the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, the job execution part 12 discharges sheets on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers to each of the mail boxes 304. That is, for execution of the printing job in which sheets are classified and discharged to any ones of the four mail boxes 304, the job execution part 12 discharges sheets on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers to the relevant mail boxes 304, respectively.

Reverting to FIG. 3 for reference, tab keys TK1 to TK6 are provided in lower part of the operation screen W1. The tab key TK1 is provided for displaying the operation screen W1 as it is. The tab key TK2 is provided for displaying, instead of the operation screen W1, an operation screen in which a plurality of executive conditions contained in the copy-job executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING’ can be inputted. Similarly, the tab keys TK3, TK4, TK5, TK6 are provided for displaying, instead of the operation screen W1, operation screens in which a plurality of executive conditions contained in copy-job executive conditions ‘COLOR/IMAGE QUALITY,’ ‘LAYOUT/EDIT,’ ‘APPLICATION/OTHERS,’ and ‘PROGRAM,’ respectively, can be inputted.

As to the six tab keys TK1 to TK6, any one of those keys can be selected by a user with touch operation. When the tab key TK1 is selected, the condition accepting part 11 displays the operation screen W1 as it is. When any one of the tab keys TK2 to TK6 is selected, the condition accepting part 11 displays, instead of the operation screen W1, an operation screen corresponding to the selected tab key on the display part 711.

Representatively of the five tab keys TK2 to TK6, the tab key TK2 will be explained. Hereinafter, the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING’ will be referred to as post-processing condition. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an operation screen W3 that allows post-processing conditions to be inputted.

It is assumed that a user has selected the tab key TK2 by touch operation of the tab key TK2. In this case, the condition accepting part 11, as shown in FIG. 5, displays the operation screen W3 corresponding to the selected tab key TK2 on the display part 711.

The condition accepting part 11, when having accepted the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ or ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ as the classifying condition, displays four soft keys SK31a to SK31d corresponding to the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, on the operation screen W3 as shown in FIG. 5.

The soft key SK31a is provided for displaying, in an area DA3, soft keys by which sheet post-processing executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ to be performed by the post-processing part 32 on sheets discharged to the mail box 304a can be inputted. Similarly, the soft keys SK31b, SK31c, SK31d are provided for displaying, in the area DA3, soft keys by which the sheet post-processing executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ to be performed by the post-processing part 32 on sheets discharged to the mail box 304b, 304c, 304d, respectively, can be inputted. Hereinafter, the sheet post-processing executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ and ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ will be referred to as staple condition, punch condition, and post-processing type condition, respectively.

Representatively of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d, the soft key SK31a will be explained. It is assumed that a user has selected the soft key SK31a by touch operation of the soft key SK31a.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the condition accepting part 11 displays, in the area DA3, six soft keys SK32a to SK32f indicative of set values of staple conditions, four soft keys SK33a to SK33d indicative of set values of punch conditions, three soft keys SK34a to SK34c indicative of set values of post-processing type conditions, an input display field A31 for the set value of a sheet post-processing executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS’ to be used when a later-described set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ as a post-processing type condition, and an input display field A32 for the set value of a sheet post-processing executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS PER COPY SET.’

As to the six soft keys SK32a to SK32f, only any one of those keys can be selected by touch operation. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as a staple condition, a set value corresponding to a soft key selected from among the six soft keys SK32a to SK32f.

The soft key SK32a indicates a set value ‘SETTING: NO’ indicative that staple processing is prohibited. The soft key SK32b indicates a set value ‘UPPER LEFT’ indicative that one staple needle is stitched at an upper left portion of a sheet. The soft key SK32c indicates a ‘UPPER RIGHT’ indicative that one staple needle is stitched at an upper right portion of a sheet. The soft key SK32d indicates a set value ‘LEFT TWO’ indicative that two staple needles are stitched at a left portion of a sheet. The soft key SK32e indicates a set value ‘UPPER TWO’ indicative that two staple needles are stitched at an upper portion of a sheet. The soft key SK32f indicates a set value ‘RIGHT TWO’ indicative that two staple needles are stitched at a right portion of a sheet.

For instance, it is assumed that a user has selected the soft key SK32b by touch operation of the soft key SK32b. In this case, the condition accepting part 11, while accepting ‘UPPER LEFT’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK32b as the staple condition, displays the soft key SK32b in a selected state as shown in FIG. 5.

As to the four soft keys SK33a to SK33d, only any one of those keys can be selected by touch operation. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as a punch condition, a set value corresponding to a soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK33a to SK33d.

The soft key SK33a indicates a set value ‘SETTING: NO’ indicative that punch processing is prohibited. The soft key SK33b indicates a set value ‘LEFT TWO HOLES’ indicative that two binding holes are bored at a left portion of a sheet. The soft key SK33c indicates a set value ‘UPPER TWO HOLES’ indicative that two binding holes are bored at an upper portion of a sheet. The soft key SK33d indicates a set value ‘RIGHT TWO HOLES’ indicative that two binding holes are bored at a right portion of a sheet.

For instance, it is assumed that a user has selected the soft key SK33b by touch operation of the soft key SK33b. In this case, the condition accepting part 11, while accepting ‘LEFT TWO HOLES’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK33b as the punch condition, displays the soft key SK33b in a selected state as shown in FIG. 5.

As to the three soft keys SK34a to SK34c, only any one of those keys can be selected by touch operation. The condition accepting part 11 accepts, as a post-processing type condition, a set value corresponding to a soft key selected from among the three soft keys SK34a to SK34c.

The soft key SK34a indicates a set value ‘PER COPY SET’ for the post-processing type condition. The soft key SK34b indicates a set value ‘BATCH’ for the post-processing type condition. The soft key SK34c indicates a set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ for the post-processing type condition.

For instance, it is assumed that a user has selected the soft key SK34a by touch operation of the soft key SK34a. In this case, the condition accepting part 11, while accepting ‘PER COPY SET’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK34a as the post-processing type condition, displays the soft key SK34a in a selected state as shown in FIG. 5.

It is assumed that the user has selected the soft key SK34b by touch operation of the soft key SK34b. In this case, the condition accepting part 11, while accepting ‘BATCH’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK34b as the post-processing type condition, displays the soft key SK34b in a selected state.

When the user has selected the soft key SK34c, the condition accepting part 11, while accepting ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ corresponding to the selected soft key SK34c as the post-processing type condition, displays the soft key SK34c in a selected state and moreover sets the input display field A31 and the input display field A32 to input-enabled state. That is, when the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition, the user is enabled to input numerical values in the input display field A31 and the input display field A32 by using the ten keys contained in the operating key part 72.

In addition, when the user has selected the soft key SK34a or SK34b, i.e., when the set value ‘PER COPY SET’ or set value ‘BATCH’ as the post-processing type condition, the condition accepting part 11 sets the input display field A31 and the input display field A32 input-disabled. In this case, the user is disabled from inputting numerical values into the input display field A31 and the input display field A32 with use of the ten keys contained in the operating key part 72.

When the set value ‘PER COPY SET’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 perform the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition on sheets, on a one-copy sheet basis, discharged to a mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key selected out of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d.

When the set value ‘BATCH’ for the post-processing type condition, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 perform the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition in batch processing on the whole sheets discharged to the mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d.

The condition accepting part 11, when having accepted the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ as the post-processing type condition, accepts a numerical value inputted in the input display field A31 as the executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS’ and moreover accepts a numerical value inputted in the input display field A32 as the ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS PER COPY SET.’

In this case, the job execution part 12 performs first processing of making the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed the intermediate tray 321 with a number of sheets counting equal to the executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS PER COPY SET’ out of the sheets discharged to a mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d. The job execution part 12 performs second processing of making the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition on the sheets fed by the first processing while sheets to be succeedingly fed by the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 keeps on standby until the sheet post-processing is ended. The job execution part 12 repeats the first processing and the second processing to a number of times equal to the executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS.’

That is, FIG. 5 shows that a set value ‘UPPER LEFT’ has been accepted as the staple condition, a set value ‘LEFT TWO HOLES’ has been accepted as the punch condition, and a set value ‘PER COPY SET’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition, where these conditions are executive conditions for the sheet post-processing to be executed by the mail box 304a.

In this way, the user, when having selected the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ or ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ for the classifying condition with use of the operation screen W2, is enabled to input sheet post-processing executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to a mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d by using the soft keys displayed in the area DA3 of the operation screen W3.

It is assumed that any one of the sheet post-processing executive condition ‘STAPLE’ or ‘PUNCH’ to be executed on sheets discharged to the mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key accepted by the condition accepting part 11 and selected by the user from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d is other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO.’ In this case, the condition accepting part 11 accepts the mail box 304 corresponding to the selected soft key as the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING OBJECT’ contained in the post-processing conditions. Hereinafter, the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING OBJECT’ will be referred to as post-processing object condition.

Meanwhile, it is assumed that the executive condition ‘STAPLE’ and ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to a mail box 304 corresponding to a soft key selected by the user from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d and accepted by the condition accepting part 11 are both ‘SETTING: NO.’ In this case, the condition accepting part 11 does not accept the mail box 304 corresponding to the selected soft key as the post-processing object condition.

In addition, it is assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the classifying condition has been accepted, moreover the set value ‘LEFT TRAY’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ and moreover the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ as the sort condition has been accepted. That is, a print job by which printed sheets are discharged to the stack tray 303 on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers is executed. In this case, in the operation screen W3, the condition accepting part 11 does not display the soft keys SK31a to SK31d, the soft key SK34c, or the input display field A31 and the input display field A32, but displays only the soft keys SK32a to SK32f, the soft keys SK33a to SK33d, and the soft key SK34a to SK34b in the area DA3.

That is, in this case, with use of the soft keys displayed in the area DA3 within the operation screen W3 as described before, the user is enabled to input the executive conditions ‘STAPLE’ and ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets having been conveyed to the intermediate tray 321 before discharged to the stack tray 303 and moreover input the set values ‘PER COPY SET’ and ‘BATCH’ only for the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE.’

Also, when the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition and the any one of the four set values ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ has been accepted as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ the condition accepting part 11 displays, on the operation screen W3, the soft keys SK33a to SK33d, the soft keys SK34a to SK34c, and the input display fields A31, A32 in the area DA3 without displaying the soft keys SK31a to SK31d.

That is, in this case, with use of the soft keys displayed in the area DA3 within the operation screen W3 as described before, the user is enabled to input the executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ and ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets having been discharged to the mail box 304 indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION.’

In this case, it is assumed that any one of the executive conditions ‘STAPLE’ and ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing accepted by the condition accepting part 11 is set to other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO.’ In this case, the condition accepting part 11 accepts the mail box 304 indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ as the post-processing object condition.

Also, in the case where the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ is set to ‘MIDDLE TRAY,’ i.e., where printed sheets are discharged to the discharge tray 48, the condition accepting part 11 does not display the operation screen W3 even if the tab key TK2 is selected in the operation screen W1.

Hereinbelow, operation during the execution of print jobs will be described. In this description, the alarm notification part 13 and the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 will be described in detail. In addition, the following description will be made on operation involved in executing a copy job of copying a 20-page document in a quantity of five sets, as a concrete example. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operation in execution of a copy job. FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of information to be stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operation of sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to the mail boxes 304.

As shown in FIG. 6, after the user has depressed the switches 74 for changing over the execution-object job to the copy job, the condition accepting part 11 accepts executive conditions for the copy job inputted with use of operation screens corresponding to the copy job such as the operation screens W1 to W3 (S1).

Then, when the start key contained in the operating key part 72 is depressed, the job execution part 12 starts execution of the copy job using the executive conditions accepted at step S1 (S2).

When the condition accepting part 11 has accepted at step S1 ‘SETTING: NO’ as the classifying condition (S3: NO) and moreover accepted ‘LEFT TRAY’ or ‘MIDDLE TRAY’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ (S7: NO), the job execution part 12 is to discharge printed sheets to a discharge destination indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ (S8).

For example, it is assumed that, at step S1, the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition, moreover the set value ‘LEFT TRAY’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ has been accepted and moreover the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ as the sort condition has been accepted. That is, it is assumed that the copy job having been started at step S2 is a copy job of discharging printed sheets to the stack tray 303 on the one-copy sheet basis and in increasing order of page numbers. It is also assumed that the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the staple condition or the punch condition has been accepted.

In this case, the job execution part 12, at step S8, makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing on sheets conveyed to the intermediate tray 321 with use of the executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ and ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing, thereafter discharging the sheets to the stack tray 303. Step S8 is a known process and so its detailed description more than this is omitted.

Meanwhile, when the condition accepting part 11 has accepted, at step S1, ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ or ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ as the classifying condition (S3: YES), the job execution part 12 discharges printed sheets to each of the mail boxes 304 on the one-copy sheet basis and in increasing order of page numbers (S4).

Also when the condition accepting part 11 has accepted, at step S1, the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the classifying condition and moreover accepted any one of the four set values ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ (S3: NO, S7: YES), the job execution part 12 discharges printed sheets to each of the mail boxes 304 on the one-copy sheet basis and in increasing order of page numbers while disregarding the sort condition (S4).

Then, the job execution part 12 stores, into the discharge-sheet information storage part 14, the number of copies and the number of sheets per copy set with respect to the printed sheets discharged by the execution of the copy job started at step S2, as well as the total number of the printed sheets discharged the mail boxes 304 (S5).

For example, it is assumed that execution of a copy job of copying five sets of 20-page sheets, to which ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ or ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ as the classifying condition has been accepted, is started. In this case, the job execution part 12 discharges one set of 20-page printed sheets in increasing order of page numbers to each of the four mail boxes 304a to 304d at step S4, and thereafter further discharges one copy of 20-page printed sheets in increasing order of page numbers to the mail box 304a.

Therefore, at step S5, the job execution part 12 stores, in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14, a copy number ‘2’ of printed sheets discharged to the mail box 304a, a number ‘20’ of discharged sheets per copy set, and a total number ‘40’ of sheets in association with ‘MAIL BOX 1’ indicative of the mail box 304a, as shown in FIG. 7.

Also, at step S5, the job execution part 12 stores, in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14, a copy number ‘1’ of printed sheets and a number ‘20’ of discharged sheets per copy set discharged to the mail boxes 304b, 304c, 304d in association with ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ indicative of the mail boxes 304b, 304c, 304d, respectively, as well as a total number ‘20’ of sheets discharged to each of the mail boxes 304b, 304c, 304d.

Then, if there is no mail box 304 accepted as the post-processing object condition at step S1 (S6: NO), the job execution part 12 ends the copy job started at step S2.

Meanwhile, if there is at least one mail box 304 accepted as the post-processing object condition (S6: YES), then the job execution part 12 executes the operation shown in FIG. 8. Hereinafter, a mail box 304 accepted as the post-processing object condition will be referred to as an accepted mail box.

If there is at least one accepted mail box (S6: YES), the job execution part 12 makes the executive process branch in correspondence to the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to the individual accepted mail boxes (S10).

Hereinafter, the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to the accepted mail boxes will be referred to as post-processing type condition corresponding to an accepted mail box. Similarly, the executive condition ‘STAPLE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to the accepted mail boxes will be referred to as staple condition corresponding to an accepted mail box. The executive condition ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets discharged to the accepted mail boxes will be referred to as punch condition corresponding to an accepted mail box. Also, under the condition that the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition corresponding to an accepted mail box, the accepted executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS’ will be referred to as number of feed sheets corresponding to the accepted mail box, and accepted executive condition ‘NUMBER OF FEED SHEETS PER COPY SET’ will be referred to as number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to an accepted mail box.

It is assumed that the set value ‘PER COPY SET’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition corresponding to an accepted mail box (S10: ‘PER COPY SET’). In this case, the alarm notification part 13 decides whether or not the number of discharged sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is beyond a specified upper-limit number (S21). The upper-limit number of sheets is an upper-limit value of number of sheets that can be stored in the intermediate tray 321 is stored in a ROM or the like beforehand.

If the number of discharged sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is beyond the upper-limit number (S21: YES), the alarm notification part 13 makes the loudspeaker 73 output a specified alarm sound and moreover displays on the display part 711 a message that the sheet post-processing cannot be done on the sheet discharged to the accepted mail box (S11). Thus, the alarm notification part 13 notifies of an alarm indicative that the sheet post-processing cannot be done on the sheet discharged to the accepted mail box. Thereafter, step S12 is carried out.

If the number of discharged sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is not beyond the specified upper-limit number (S21: NO), then the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed sheets counting the number of discharged sheets per copy set, out of the sheets piled up in the accepted mail box, to the intermediate tray 321 (S22). Then, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the accepted mail box on sheets fed at step S22 (S23).

The job execution part 12 repeats the execution of steps S22 and S23 to a number of times equal to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 (S24). In addition, the job execution part 12 keeps on standby for execution of the succeeding step S22 until the sheet post-processing in step S23 is ended.

For example, it is assumed that, at step S21, the accepted mail box is the mail box 304a indicated by ‘MAIL BOX 1.’ It is also assumed that the upper-limit number is ‘40.’ In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the number of discharged sheets per copy set stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is ‘20,’ which is not beyond the upper-limit number ‘40.’ Also, the number of copies corresponding to the ‘MAIL BOX 1’ stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is ‘2.’

Therefore, at step S22, the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed, to the intermediate tray 321, sheets corresponding to the number ‘20’ of discharged sheets per copy set out of the sheets piled on the mail box 304a. Then, at step S23, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the mail box 304a on the ‘20’ sheets fed at step S22. Then, the job execution part 12 keeps on standby for the succeeding step S22 until the sheet post-processing in step S23 is ended. In this way, the job execution part 12 repeats execution of the steps S22 and S23 to two times equal to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14.

On the other hand, it is assumed that, at step S10, the set value ‘BATCH’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition corresponding to the accepted mail box (S10: batch). In this case, the alarm notification part 13 decides whether or not the total number of sheets corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is beyond a specified upper-limit number (S31).

If the total number of sheets corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is beyond the specified upper-limit number (S31: YES), the alarm notification part 13 makes the loudspeaker 73 output a specified alarm sound and moreover displays on the display part 711 a message that the sheet post-processing cannot be done on sheets discharged to the accepted mail box (S11). Thereafter, step S12 is carried out.

If the total number of sheets corresponding to the accepted mail box stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is not beyond the specified upper-limit number (S31: NO), then the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed to the intermediate tray 321 the relevant total number of sheets out of the sheets piled on the relevant mail box 304a (S32). Then, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the accepted mail box on the sheets fed in step S32 (S33).

For example, it is assumed that, at step S31, the accepted mail box is the mail box 304b indicated by ‘MAIL BOX 2.’ It is also assumed that the upper-limit number is ‘40.’ In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the total number of sheets corresponding to ‘MAIL BOX 2’ stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 is ‘20,’ which is not beyond the upper-limit number ‘40.’

Therefore, at step S32, the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed, to the intermediate tray 321, sheets corresponding to the relevant total number ‘20’ of sheets out of the sheets piled on the mail box 304b. Then, at step S33, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the mail box 304b on the ‘20’ sheets fed at step S32.

Otherwise, it is assumed that, at step S10, the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition corresponding to the accepted mail box (S10: DETAIL SPECIFY). In this case, the alarm notification part 13 decides whether or not the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box is beyond the specified upper-limit number (S41).

If the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box is beyond the specified upper-limit number (S41: YES), Then, the alarm notification part 13 makes the loudspeaker 73 output a specified alarm sound and moreover displays on the display part 711 a message that the sheet post-processing cannot be done on the sheets discharged to the relevant accepted mail box (S11). Thereafter, step S12 is carried out.

If the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail box is not beyond the specified upper-limit number (S41: NO), then the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed to the intermediate tray 321 the relevant number of feed sheets per copy set out of the sheets piled on the relevant mail box (S42). Then, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the accepted mail box on the sheets fed in step S42 (S43).

The job execution part 12 repeats the execution of steps S42 and S43 to a number of times equal to the number of feed sheets corresponding to the accepted mail box (S44). In addition, the job execution part 12 keeps on standby for execution of the succeeding step S42 until the sheet post-processing in step S43 is ended.

For example, it is assumed that, at step S41, the accepted mail box is the mail box 304a indicated by ‘MAIL BOX 1.’ It is also assumed that the upper-limit number is ‘40.’ It is also assumed that, at step S1, the set value ‘20’ has been accepted as the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to ‘MAIL BOX 1.’ It is also assumed that, at step S1, the set value ‘2’ has been accepted as the number of feed sheets corresponding to the ‘MAIL BOX 1.’

In this case, the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to ‘MAIL BOX 1’ is not beyond the upper-limit number ‘40.’ Therefore, at step S42, the job execution part 12 makes the discharge-sheet feed parts 33 feed, to the intermediate tray 321, sheets corresponding to the number ‘20’ of feed sheets per copy set out of the sheets piled on the mail box 304a. Then, at step S43, the job execution part 12 makes the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing indicated by the staple condition and the punch condition corresponding to the mail box 304a on the ‘20’ sheets fed at step S42. Then, the job execution part 12 keeps on standby for the succeeding step S42 until the sheet post-processing in step S43 is ended. In this way, the job execution part 12 repeats execution of the steps S42 and S43 to two times equal to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail box.

The job execution part 12 repeats the processing of step S10 and its following ones until the sheet post-processing on the sheets discharged to all the accepted mail boxes, respectively (S12)

Next, operation during the execution of a post-processing job will be described. In addition, the following description will be made on a case, as a concrete example, in which the copy job executed immediately before execution of this post-processing job is a copy job of copying a 20-page document in a quantity of five sets and then classifying and discharging printed sheets to the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, and executing no sheet post-processing on the sheets discharged to the four mail boxes 304a to 304d. That is, the information shown in FIG. 7 is stored in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 by the execution of the copy job. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operation in execution of a post-processing job.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the user has depressed the switch 74 for changing over the execution-object job to the post-processing job, (S51: YES), the condition accepting part 11, as shown in FIG. 5, displays on the 711 an operation screen W3 similar to that of the case in which the set value ‘PAGE-BASE CLASSIFY’ or ‘COPY-BASE CLASSIFY’ as the classifying condition.

That is, with use of the operation screen W3, the user is enabled to input the executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ and ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets having been discharged to the mail box 304 corresponding to a soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d by the execution of the immediately last printing job.

Also, the user is enabled to place a sheet, which is other than the sheets discharged by the last printing job, onto any one of the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, and then input the executive conditions ‘STAPLE,’ ‘PUNCH,’ and ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing to be executed on other sheets placed on the mail box 304 corresponding to the soft key selected from among the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d with use of the operation screen W3. However, in this case, in order that the sheet post-processing is properly executed on the other sheets, the user is required to select the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ as the executive condition ‘POST-PROCESSING TYPE’ for the sheet post-processing and then properly input the number of feed sheets for the other sheets and number of feed sheets per copy set into the input display fields A31, A32.

By the user having inputted the post-processing condition with use of the operation screen W3, the condition accepting part 11 accepts the post-processing conditions (S52). Thereafter, when the start key contained in the operating key part 72 is depressed, the job execution part 12 starts execution of the post-processing job indicated by the post-processing condition accepted at step S52 (S53). Thereafter, the above-described operation shown in FIG. 8 is carried out.

As described above, according to the constitution of the above-described embodiment, printed sheets piled on the mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, are fed to the post-processing part 32 by the discharge-sheet feed parts 33, and the fed sheets can be subjected to specified sheet post-processing by the post-processing part 32. As a result, without involving time and labor of the user for taking out one by one the printed sheets piled on the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, and manually performing the sheet post-processing on the taken-out sheets, the printed sheets piled on the four mail boxes 304a to 304d, respectively, can be subjected to sheet post-processing with simplicity.

Also, only by performing simple operations of selecting, with use of the operation screen W3, soft keys corresponding to mail boxes 304 on which sheets to be subjected to sheet post-processing are piled out of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d and thereafter selecting a set value other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the set value for the staple condition and the punch condition, the user can feed sheets piled on the selected mail boxes 304 to the post-processing part 32 so that the sheets can be subjected to sheet post-processing.

Further, there are some cases where the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on sheets discharged by an executed printing job during a time period after execution of a printing job and before execution of a next printing job. In this case, according to the constitution of the above embodiment, only by performing simple operation of selecting, with use of the operation screen W3, a soft key corresponding to the mail box 304 on which the discharged sheets are piled, out of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d, thereafter selecting a set value other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the set value for the staple condition and the punch condition, and moreover selecting the set value ‘BATCH’ as the set value for the post-processing type condition, the user can feed all of sheets discharged to the selected mail box 304 to the post-processing part 32 by the printing job and execute the sheet post-processing on all the sheets.

Further, there are some cases where the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on the sheets discharged by an executed printing job on the one-copy sheet basis during a time period after execution of a printing job and before execution of a next printing job. In this case, according to the constitution of the above embodiment, only by performing simple operation of selecting, with use of the operation screen W3, a soft key corresponding to the mail box 304 on which the discharged sheets are piled, out of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d, thereafter selecting a set value other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the set value for the staple condition or the punch condition, and moreover selecting the set value ‘BATCH’ as the set value for the post-processing type condition, the user can repeat, to a number of times equal to the number of copies of the discharged sheets, the operation of feeding the sheets discharged to the selected mail box 304 to the post-processing part 32 by the printing job and executing the sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis.

As a result, the user is enabled to obtain bundles of sheets that have been sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis out of the sheets discharged to the selected mail box 304 by the last printing job, in a quantity of a number of copies equal to that of the sheets discharged to the selected mail box 304 by the printing job.

Also, there are some cases where the user desires to perform, at an arbitrary timing, sheet post-processing on bundles of sheets of the user's own on the one-copy sheet basis. In this case, according to the constitution of the above embodiment, the user make the bundles of sheets of the user's own piled on the mail box 304 and thereafter depress the switch 74 for changing over the execution-object job to the post-processing job to display the operation screen W3. Then, with use of the operation screen W3, the user is only required to perform simple operation of selecting a soft key corresponding to the mail box 304 out of the four soft keys SK31a to SK31d, thereafter selecting a set value other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the set value for the staple condition or the punch condition, selecting the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ as the set value for the post-processing type condition, and inputting a number of feed sheets corresponding to the mail box 304 as well as a number of feed sheets per copy set.

As a result, the user is enabled to posture, to a number of times equal to the inputted number of feed sheets, the operation of feeding the sheets piled on the mail box 304 to the post-processing part 32 on the basis of the inputted number of feed sheets per copy set, and executing the sheet post-processing on the basis of the sheets counting the number of feed sheets per copy set, i.e., on the one-copy sheet basis.

Consequently, the user can obtain, at an arbitrary timing, bundles of sheets having been subjected to the sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis on the sheets piled on the selected mail box 304, in a quantity of a number of copies equal to the inputted number of feed sheets.

Also, according to the constitution of above embodiment, the user can input, as required, at the user's discretion, sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets piled on each of accepted mail boxes on the accepted-mail-box basis.

Also, according to the constitution of the above embodiment, the user, by sensing a notification alarm, can more easily become aware of being going to perform the sheet post-processing on sheets counting larger than the upper-limit number of sheets.

Also, according to the constitution of the above embodiment, execution of the printing job of discharging sheets to any one of the four mail boxes 304 causes the sheets to be discharged to each of the mail boxes 304 on the one-copy basis in increasing order of page numbers. Therefore, it is more easily achievable to feed the sheets piled on the mail boxes 304 to the post-processing part 32 on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers by the discharge-sheet feed parts 33. As a result, it is more easily achievable to make the post-processing part 32 execute the sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis with respect to the sheets piled on the mail boxes 304.

In addition, the above-described embodiment is only an exemplary illustration of an embodiment according to this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the above-described embodiment. For example, the disclosure may be changed or modified into modified embodiments as described below.

(1) If the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ has been accepted as the classifying condition (S3: NO) and if any one of four set values ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ has been accepted as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ (S7: YES), then the job execution part 12 may discharge printed sheets according to a sort condition at step S4 instead of discharging the printed sheets on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers by disregarding the sort condition.

In accordance with this, when the condition accepting part 11 has accepted the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the sort condition, has accepted the set value ‘SETTING: NO’ as the classifying condition, and moreover has accepted any one of the four set values ‘MAIL BOX 1,’ ‘MAIL BOX 2,’ ‘MAIL BOX 3,’ and ‘MAIL BOX 4’ as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ it is allowable that the soft keys SK34a to SK34c and the input display fields A31, A32 are not displayed in the area DA3 on the operation screen W3.

Then, it is assumed that any one of the executive conditions ‘STAPLE’ and ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing, which has been accepted by the condition accepting part 11 with use of the operation screen W3 is other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO.’ In this case, the condition accepting part 11 may accept mail boxes 304 indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ as the post-processing object condition. In this case, it is allowable that the steps S10, S21 to S24, S41 to S44 may be omitted, and that the job execution part 12 does not store the number of copies of printed sheets discharged to the individual mail boxes 304 as well as the number of discharged sheets per copy set in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 at step S5. That is, it is also allowable that the post-processing part 32 is enabled to execute only the same sheet post-processing as in the case where the set value ‘BATCH’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition.

(2) It is also allowable that the control section 10 does not operate as the alarm notification part 13 with the steps S21, S31, S41 and S11 (FIG. 8) omitted. In this case, however, there is a fear that sheets beyond the upper-limit number may be fed to the intermediate tray 321, causing paper jam or other abnormalities to occur.

(3) The post-processing part 32 may be made capable of executing punch process of punching a binding hole at only one predetermined place in a sheet, and a staple process of stitching a staple needle at only one predetermined place in a sheet. Also, the post-processing part 32 may be made capable of executing only either one of the punch process and staple process.

In accordance with this, instead of the five soft keys SK32b to SK32f indicative of the five set values of the staple condition, only one soft key indicative of the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ for the staple condition may be provided on the operation screen W3. Also, instead of the three soft keys SK33b to SK33d indicative of the three set values of the punch condition, only the soft key indicative of the set value ‘SETTING: YES’ for the punch condition may be provided on the operation screen W3. That is, it may also be arranged that the user can select whether to perform specified sheet post-processing on sheets fed to the post-processing part 32.

(4) With neither the soft key SK34c nor the input display fields A31, A32 provided on the operation screen W3, the steps S41 to S44 may be omitted. That is, it may be arranged that the condition accepting part 11 does not accept the set value ‘DETAIL SPECIFY’ as a post-processing type condition.

(5) With no soft key SK34a provided on the operation screen W3, the steps S21 to S24 may be omitted. In accordance with this, it may also be arranged that the job execution part 12 does not store the number of copies of printed sheets discharged to the individual mail boxes 304 as well as number of discharged sheets per copy set in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14 at step S5. That is, it may be arranged that the condition accepting part 11 does not accept the set value ‘PER COPY SET’ as a post-processing type condition.

(6) With no soft key SK34b provided on the operation screen W3, the steps S31 to S33 may be omitted. In accordance with this, it may be arranged that, at step S5, the job execution part 12 does not store the total number of printed sheets discharged to the mail boxes 304 in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14. That is, it may be arranged that the condition accepting part 11 does not accept the set value ‘BATCH’ as a post-processing type condition.

(7) With neither the soft keys SK34a to SK34c nor the input display fields A31, A32 provided on the operation screen W3, the steps S10, S21 to S24, S41 to S44 may be omitted. In accordance with this, it may be arranged that, at step S5, the job execution part 12 does not store the number of copies of printed sheets discharged to the mail boxes 304 as well as the number of discharged sheets per copy set in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14. That is, it may be arranged that the post-processing part 32 is capable of executing only the same sheet post-processing as in the case where the set value ‘BATCH’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition.

(8) With neither the soft keys SK34a to SK34c nor the input display fields A31, A32 provided on the operation screen W3, the steps S10, S31 to S33, S41 to S44 may be omitted. In accordance with this, it may be arranged that, at step S5, the job execution part 12 does not store the total number of printed sheets discharged to the mail boxes 304 in the discharge-sheet information storage part 14. That is, it may be arranged that the post-processing part 32 is capable of executing only the same sheet post-processing as in the case where the set value ‘PER COPY SET’ has been accepted as the post-processing type condition.

(9) The number of mail boxes 304 included in the post-processing device 3 is not limited to four and has only to be any number of one or more.

In particular, on condition that the post-processing device 3 includes one mail box 304, it may be arranged that no soft keys SK23 to SK26 for inputting the classifying conditions are displayed on the operation screen W2. That is, it may be arranged that the condition accepting part 11 does not accept any classifying condition.

It may also be arranged that the condition accepting part 11, when having accepted the one mail box 304 as the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION,’ displays no soft keys for selecting the one mail box 304 on the operation screen W3. In addition, it is assumed that any one of the executive conditions ‘STAPLE’ and ‘PUNCH’ for the sheet post-processing accepted by the condition accepting part 11 with use of the operation screen W3 is other than the set value ‘SETTING: NO.’ In this case, it may be arranged that the condition accepting part 11 accepts the one mail box 304 indicated by the executive condition ‘DISCHARGE DESTINATION’ as the post-processing object condition.

As described hereinabove, the post-processing device 3 according to the present disclosure includes one or more mail boxes 304 (304a to 304d) on which printed sheets are to be piled up, a post-processing part 32 for performing specified sheet post-processing on a fed sheet, and sheet feed parts (discharge-sheet feed parts 33) capable of feeding, to the post-processing part 32, sheets piled on each of the one or more mail boxes. With this constitution, printed sheets piled on the individual mail boxes can be fed to the post-processing part by the sheet feed parts, and specified sheet post-processing can be executed on the fed sheets never the post-processing part. As a result, without involving time and labor of the user for taking out one by one the printed sheets piled on the individual mail boxes and manually performing the sheet post-processing on the taken-out sheets, the printed sheets piled on the four mail boxes can be subjected to sheet post-processing with simplicity.

The post-processing device may further include a selection accepting part (condition accepting part 11) for accepting selection of at least one mail box out of one or more mail boxes, where the sheet feed parts may feed sheets piled on the individual accepted mail boxes, which are the mail boxes accepted by the selection accepting part. With this constitution, only by performing simple operation of selecting mail boxes on which sheets that the user desires to perform sheet post-processing, the user can feed sheets, which are piled on the selected mail boxes, to the post-processing part 32 and perform the sheet post-processing on the sheets.

The post-processing device may include a first storage part (discharge-sheet information storage part 14) for storing a total number of sheets discharged to the mail boxes by execution of a last printing job, where the sheet feed parts may feed a total number of sheets occur the accepted mail box stored in the first storage part out of sheets piled on the selected mail boxes.

There are some cases where the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on sheets discharged by an executed printing job during a time period after execution of a printing job and before execution of a next printing job. In this case, according to this constitution, the user has only to perform simple operation of selecting a mail box on which the discharged sheets are piled. By this operation, all the sheets discharged to the selected mail box by the printing job can be fed to the post-processing part, and sheet post-processing can be executed on all the sheets.

The post-processing device may further include a second storage part (discharge-sheet information storage part 14) for storing a number of copies, as well as a number of discharged sheets per copy set, of sheets discharged to individual mail boxes by execution of a last printing job, where the sheet feed parts may repeat a process of feeding sheets counting a number of discharged sheets per copy set corresponding to the accepted mail boxes stored in the second storage part, out of sheets piled on the accepted mail boxes, and a process of keeping on standby for next sheet feeding until sheet post-processing on the fed sheets is ended, to a number of times of execution of these processes corresponding to a number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail boxes stored in the second storage part.

There are some cases where the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on sheets discharged by an executed printing job on a one-copy basis during a time period after execution of a printing job and before execution of a next printing job. In this case, according to this constitution, the user has only to perform simple operation of selecting a mail box on which the discharged sheets are piled. By this operation, the process of feeding the sheets discharged to the selected mail box by the printing job to the post-processing part on the one-copy sheet basis and executing sheet post-processing on the sheets on the one-copy sheet basis can be repeated to a number of times equal to the number of copies of the discharged sheets.

As a result, the user can obtain a bundle of sheets having been subjected to sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis on the sheets discharged to the selected mail box by the last printing job, in a quantity of a number of sheet sets equal to that of the sheets discharged to the selected mail box by the printing job.

The post-processing device may also include a sheet-feed condition accepting part (condition accepting part 11) for accepting input of a number of copies of sheets, as well as a number of feed sheets per copy set, fed from each accepted mail box to the post-processing part 32, where the sheet feed part may repeat a process of feeding sheets counting a number of fed sheets per copy set corresponding to the mail boxes accepted by the sheet-feed condition accepting part, out of the sheets piled on the individual mail boxes, and a process of keeping on standby for next sheet feeding until the sheet post-processing on the fed sheets is ended, to a number of times of execution of these processes corresponding to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail boxes accepted by the sheet-feed condition accepting part.

There are some cases where the user desires to perform sheet post-processing on a bundle of sheets owned by the user on a one-copy sheet basis at any arbitrary timing. In this case, according to this constitution, the user has only to perform simple operation of, after piling the owned bundle of sheets on a mail box, selecting the mail box and inputting a number of copies of the sheets piled on the mail box as well as a number of fed sheets per copy set. By this operation, the process of making the post-processing part 32 feed the sheets piled on the mail box to the post-processing part 32 in units of the inputted number of feed sheets per copy set and execute sheet post-processing on the basis of the number of feed sheets per copy set, i.e. on the one-copy sheet basis, can be repeated to a number of times equal to the inputted number of copies. As a result, the user can obtain a bundle of sheets having been subjected to sheet post-processing on the one-copy sheet basis on the sheets piled on the selected mail box at any arbitrary timing, in a quantity of a number of copy sets equal to the inputted number of copies.

The post-processing device may also include a post-processing accepting part (condition accepting part 11) for accepting input of sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets fed from each accepted mail box to the post-processing part 32, where the post-processing part 32 may perform sheet post-processing corresponding to the accepted mail box accepted by the post-processing accepting part on sheets fed from the accepted mail box. With this constitution, the user can input, as required, at the user's discretion, sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets piled on each of accepted mail boxes on the accepted-mail-box basis.

The post-processing device may also include an alarm notification part 13 for notifying of an alarm when a larger number of the sheets than a predetermined upper-limit number are fed to the post-processing part 32. With this constitution, the user, by sensing a notification alarm, can more easily become aware of being going to perform the sheet post-processing on sheets counting larger than the upper-limit number of sheets.

Also, the image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes the post-processing device 3, and the job execution part 12 for executing a printing job of discharging the sheets to any of the one or more mail boxes. Therefore, by extending the printing job, printed sheets discharged to each of the mail boxes can be fed to the post-processing part 32 by the sheet feed parts, and specified sheet post-processing can be performed on the fed sheets by the post-processing part 32. By this operation, without involving time and labor of the user for taking out one by one the printed sheets discharged to the individual mail boxes after execution of the printing job and manually performing the sheet post-processing on the taken-out sheets, the printed sheets discharged to the individual mail boxes by execution of the printing job can be subjected to sheet post-processing with simplicity.

Preferably, the job execution part 12, in executing the printing job, discharges the sheets on a one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers. With this constitution, sheets are discharged on the one-copy basis in increasing order of page numbers by execution of the printing job of discharging sheets to any of the one or more mail boxes. Therefore, it is easily achievable to feed sheets piled on the mail boxes to the post-processing part 32 on the one-copy basis and in increasing order of page numbers by the sheet feed parts. Thus, it is easily implementable for the post-processing part 32 to execute sheet post-processing on sheets piled on the mail boxes on the one-copy sheet basis.

That is, according to the present disclosure, there can be provided a post-processing device and an image forming apparatus which are capable of easily executing sheet post-processing on printed sheets piled on the mail boxes.

Claims

1. A post-processing device comprising:

one or more mail boxes on which printed sheets are to be piled up;

a post-processing part for performing specified sheet post-processing on the fed sheets; and

a sheet feed part capable of feeding the sheets piled on the one or more mail boxes, respectively, to the post-processing part.

2. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a selection accepting part for accepting selection of at least one mail box, wherein

the sheet feed part feeds sheets piled on the accepted mail boxes, which are mail boxes accepted by the selection accepting part.

3. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

a first storage part for storing a total sheet number of the sheets discharged to the mail boxes by execution of a last printing job, wherein

the sheet feed part feeds sheets counting the total sheet number corresponding to the accepted mail boxes stored in the first storage part, out of the sheets piled on the accepted mail boxes.

4. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

a second storage part for storing a number of copies, as well as a number of discharged sheets per copy set, of the sheets discharged to the individual mail boxes by execution of a last printing job, wherein

the sheet feed part repeats a process of feeding sheets counting the number of discharged sheets per copy set corresponding to accepted mail boxes stored in the second storage part out of the sheets piled on the accepted mail boxes, and a process of keeping on standby for next sheet feeding until the sheet post-processing for the relevant fed sheets is ended, to a number of times equal to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail boxes stored in the second storage part.

5. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

a sheet-feed condition accepting part for accepting input of a number of copies, as well as a number of feed sheets per copy set, of the sheets to be fed from the accepted mail boxes to the post-processing part, wherein

the sheet feed part repeats a process of feeding sheets counting the number of feed sheets per copy set corresponding to accepted mail boxes accepted by the sheet-feed condition accepting part out of the sheets piled on the accepted mail boxes, and a process of keeping on standby for next sheet feeding until the sheet post-processing for the relevant fed sheets is ended, to a number of times equal to the number of copies corresponding to the accepted mail boxes accepted by the sheet-feed condition accepting part.

6. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising

a post-processing accepting part for accepting input of the sheet post-processing to be executed on sheets fed from each accepted mail box to the post-processing part, wherein

the post-processing part performs the sheet post-processing corresponding to the accepted mail box accepted by the post-processing accepting part on the sheets fed from the accepted mail box.

7. The post-processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

an alarm notification part for notifying of an alarm when the sheets counting larger than a predetermined upper-limit number of sheets are fed to the post-processing part.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the post-processing device as defined in claim 1; and

a job execution part for executing a printing job of discharging the sheets to any one of the one or more mail boxes.

9. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein

in executing the printing job, the job execution part discharges the sheets on a one-copy base and in order of page numbers.