To prevent a sheet from being removed from a discharge tray before stapling by alarming that a stale means is operated when an object is detected within a prescribed range near the discharge tray by an object detecting means at a prescribed timing before the operation of the staple means.
When a sheet after copying is discharged to a discharge tray 22, a signal for driving a staple device 25 situated in a position not interfering with the discharge of the sheet in discharge to a stapling position is outputted from a master CPU. When it is detected that a part of a human body is present near the discharge tray 22 by human body sensor 37 (37a-37c) just after the output or after the lapse of a prescribed time, a voice composer is instructed so as to output a message by voice, and the message is outputted through a speaker 4. Thus, stapling is surely performed, and an alarm can be emitted only when an operator erroneously removes the sheet.
YAMAMOTO HIRANAGA
HORIUCHI TAKAO
NISHIYAMA HARUO
Next Patent: JAM TREATMENT DEVICE FOR SORTER