Image forming apparatus and control method of stapling unit thereof

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and a control method of a stapling unit thereof, the method including selecting a first mode to apply stapling to previously output media, setting options about the first mode, stacking the previously output media on a feeding tray, transporting the stacked previously output media via a transporting path of the image forming apparatus, and applying the stapling to the previously output media according to the options of the first mode. Also provided is an image forming apparatus capable of stapling and discharging a previously output medium without a process of forming an image when a user selects a menu for stapling the previously output medium, thereby avoiding waste of paper and improving convenience for a user.

1 . A method of controlling a stapling unit mounted to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
 selecting a first mode to apply stapling to previously output media;   setting options about the first mode;   stacking the previously output media on a feeding tray;   transporting the stacked previously output media via a transporting path of the image forming apparatus; and   applying the stapling to the previously output media according to the options of the first mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting the options about the first mode comprises:
 selecting a feeding tray on which the previously output media to undergo the stapling are stacked; and   setting a stapling direction and a stapling position of at least one of the previously output media, whether or not the previously output media are sorted.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transporting the previously output media via a transporting path of the image forming apparatus comprises transporting the previously output media via a transporting path of the image forming apparatus without a process of forming an image. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeding tray comprises at least one of a feeding cassette, a manual feeding tray, and an option cassette. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transporting path comprises at least one of a transporting path to form an image and a transporting path of an automatic document feeder (ADF). 
     
     
         6 . A method of controlling a stapling unit of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
 selecting a first mode to apply stapling to previously output media;   sensing whether the previously output media are inserted in a medium discharging unit;   aligning the previously output media inserted in the medium discharging unit and   applying the stapling to the sensed previously output media.   
     
     
         7 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a user interface to select a first mode to apply stapling to previously output media is selected, and to set options about the first mode;   a feeding tray on which the previously output media are stacked;   a transporting unit to transport the stacked previously output media;   a stapling unit to apply the stapling to the previously output media; and   a controller to control the transporting unit to transport the previously output media stacked on the feeding tray to a transporting path of the image forming apparatus depending on the selected first mode, and to control the stapling unit to apply the stapling to the transported previously output media according to the options of the first mode.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the options set about the first mode comprise a selection of a feeding tray on which the previously output media to undergo the stapling are stacked, and setting a stapling direction and a stapling position of at least one of the previously output media, whether or not the previously output media are sorted. 
     
     
         9 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller controls the transporting unit to transport the previously output media via a transporting path of the image forming apparatus without a process of forming an image. 
     
     
         10 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the feeding tray comprises at least one of a feeding cassette, a manual feeding tray, and an option cassette. 
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the transporting path comprises at least one of a transporting path to form an image and a transporting path of an automatic document feeder (ADF). 
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller controls rollers relevant to the transport of the previously output media on the basis of the selected first mode. 
     
     
         13 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a user interface to select a first mode to apply stapling to previously output media;   a medium discharging unit comprising a medium sensing unit to sense the previously output media and a stapling unit to apply the stapling to the sensed previously output media; and   a controller to control the stapling unit to apply the stapling the sensed previously output media if it is determined that the previously output media is inserted in the medium discharging unit.   
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the medium discharging unit further comprises a medium aligning unit to align the inserted previously output media. 
     
     
         15 . A stapling unit of an image forming apparatus, the stapling unit comprising:
 a user interface to select a stapling operation after the image forming apparatus outputs a printed media; and   a controller to control the stapling unit to apply a stapling operation to the previously outputted printed media according to the selection.   
     
     
         16 . The stapling unit of  claim 15 , wherein additional previously outputted printed media are added to the previously outputted printed media, and the controller controls the stapling unit to apply the stapling operation to the additional previously outputted printed media and the previously outputted printed media. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a stapling unit of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
 selecting a stapling operation after the image forming apparatus outputs a printed media; and   controlling the stapling unit to apply a stapling operation to the previously outputted printed media according to the selecting,   wherein additional previously outputted printed media are added to the previously outputted printed media, and wherein the controlling the stapling unit comprises controlling the stapling unit to apply the stapling operation to the additional previously outputted printed media and the previously outputted printed media.