Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Shigeru Mita

Kunio Hasegawa

Mitsuo Hasebe

Toyoo Okamoto

Minoru Iwamoto

Yasuhiko Saka

Kohsuke Tsunashima

Abnormality diagnosing method in which a highly reliable abnormality diagnosis of an image forming apparatus can be initiated immediately following the delivery of the image forming apparatus to a user.

Abnormality diagnosing method, condition appraisal apparatus, image forming apparatus, management apparatus and management system

A reproduction apparatus (11) including an electrostatic copying machine (12) or the like is operative to produce single copies of a plurality of documents using an automatic document feed device (14) or a plurality of copies of a single document. The copies are discharged onto a sorting device (18); (91); (121); (141) for stacking the copies in either of two positions on a tray (23); (93); (122); (190) thereof. In the automatic feed mode the original documents, after being fed through the automatic feed device (14), are discharged into a discharge unit (19) having a cover (21). If the cover (21) is opened within a predetermined length of time to remove the documents after termination of the copying operation in the automatic feed mode the sorting device (18); (91); (121); (141) is actuated to shift the copies from one position to the other. The same operation is effected in the multiple copy mode if a next copying operation is initiated within the predetermined length of time. The sorting device (91); (121); (141) preferably includes a fixed tray (93); (122); (190) and a movable sheet engaging member (96); (129); (149) which is toggled between two stable positions for shifting the copies to one or the other of the positions on the tray (93); (122); (190). In this manner, the copies are sorted in sets in the automatic feed mode and according to the original documents in the multiple copying mode.

Reproduction apparatus comprising sorting device

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Saitama, Japan

Shigeru Mita