JP2014117883A - Printer, printer control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of appropriately performing a recovery operation in response to an error notification from a finishing device.SOLUTION: If receiving error information from a finishing device while a printing job is being executed, a printer stops executing the printing job. When stopping executing the printing job, the printer determines whether to forcibly discharge a print sheet completed with printing present on a transport path of the printer.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a program.

  A printing system that performs high-production and high-efficiency printing such as POD (Print on Demand) includes a large-sized printing apparatus, and various sheet processing apparatuses (finishing apparatuses) are connected to the subsequent stage. In a printing system to which a sheet processing apparatus is connected, if any error occurs, it is required to improve the operator's work efficiency in recovering the error. In particular, when a sheet jam is detected in the printing device, the detection position is compared with the position of each remaining sheet remaining in all the conveyance paths at the time of jam detection, and a technology for automatically discharging the remaining sheet is available. Known (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In addition, when the printing apparatus shifts to the printing stop state, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining sheet in the printing apparatus. There is also known a technology that makes it possible to accept (Patent Document 3).

  In a printing system such as that handled by POD, various sheet processing apparatuses are used, which are provided by various vendors different from the vendors of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the printing apparatus is required to easily connect a sheet processing apparatus that can be provided from these various vendors to the printing apparatus. Therefore, for example, a communication interface can be simplified between the sheet processing apparatus and the printing apparatus. With such a configuration, the printing apparatus does not need to be aware of the capability of the sheet processing apparatus, and only needs to assign a specific output destination of the printing apparatus to the sheet feeding port of the sheet processing apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus executes sheet processing on the sheet received from the sheet feeding port in accordance with an instruction set in the sheet processing apparatus. In other words, after the printing apparatus transports the sheet to the output destination to which the sheet processing apparatus is connected, it is basically unnecessary to control the sheet.

  When an error occurs in the sheet processing apparatus, details of the error are not notified from the sheet processing apparatus to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus does not perform detailed processing such as error recovery operation. Therefore, when an error occurs in the sheet processing apparatus, the details are displayed only on the display unit provided in the sheet processing apparatus, and the printing apparatus only prompts the user to refer to the display unit of the sheet processing apparatus. It is configured.

  With the above configuration, the sheet processing apparatus can be easily connected to the printing apparatus. In other words, while simplifying the communication interface between the sheet processing apparatus and the printing apparatus, it is possible to easily connect various sheet processes inline by adopting a configuration that eliminates the need for the control of the printing apparatus to the sheet processing apparatus. High productivity can be realized.

JP 9-011559 A JP 2008-162745 A JP-A-9-104141

  However, Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not mention error recovery in response to an error notification from a sheet processing apparatus developed by a vendor different from the printing apparatus during job execution. For example, consider a configuration in which the sheet processing apparatus is a saddle binding machine. In such a configuration, when a jam occurs during job execution on a saddle binding machine manufactured by a vendor different from the printing apparatus, or when the staples for saddle binding are used up, the sheet processing apparatus is used for the printing apparatus. Will only be notified that an error has occurred. However, the printing apparatus is in a standby state waiting for staple staple replenishment, whether the sheet in the saddle binding machine made by a vendor different from the printing apparatus is in an abnormal state such as a jam or the like only by the error notification. Cannot be identified.

  Here, let us consider a case where, when an error is notified from the sheet processing apparatus, it is determined as a standby state without considering it as an abnormal state. In that case, even if a jam occurs in the sheet processing apparatus, the printing apparatus retains the remaining sheet in the printing apparatus. As a result, since an error to remove the remaining sheet has occurred in the sheet processing apparatus, the operator must manually remove all the remaining sheets in the printing apparatus in order to resume printing. On the contrary, when an error is notified from the sheet processing apparatus, consider a case where it is regarded as an abnormal state. In this case, even if the staple processing waiting in the sheet processing apparatus occurs, the printing apparatus regards it as an abnormal state and discharges all the remaining sheets in the printing apparatus to the outside. Therefore, in order to resume printing, printing is started again from the first sheet, and the consumables are consumed excessively.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a program for appropriately recovering from an error notification from a finishing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus, and when executing a print job, when error information is received from the finishing apparatus, a stopping unit that stops execution of the print job When the stop unit stops execution of the print job, the determination unit determines whether to forcibly discharge the printed printing paper in the conveyance path of the printing apparatus, and the determination unit And discharging means for forcibly discharging the printing paper in the conveyance path of the printing apparatus when it is determined to be discharged.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can recover appropriately with respect to the error notification from a finishing apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of a printing environment system. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conveyance path periphery of a printing system. It is a figure which shows an example of an operation part. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the process at the time of the error generation in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a warning screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an escape selection screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a jam display screen. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the process at the time of user mode setting change in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the process at the time of the error generation in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a user mode setting reception screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an error operation setting selection screen.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. . The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
[Configuration of the printing environment system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a printing environment system in an embodiment according to the present invention. Hereinafter, since the printing environment system 1 can be used as a POD (Print on Demand) environment, it is also referred to as a POD system 1. The POD system 1 includes a printing system 10, a server 103, and a client 104. The server 103 and the client 104 are general-purpose information processing apparatuses such as PCs. Further, the POD system 1 includes each device used for each finishing process. For example, the POD system 1 includes a paper folding machine 107, a cutting machine 109, a saddle stitch binding machine 110, a case binding machine 108, and a scanner 102. The printing system 10 includes a printing apparatus 100 and a sheet processing apparatus 200. In the present embodiment, for example, a multi-function peripheral (MFP) in which a plurality of functions such as a copy function and a print function are integrated is used as the printing apparatus 100. However, the printing apparatus 100 may be a single function type printing apparatus having only a copy function or only a print function.

  In the present embodiment, the paper folding machine 107, the case binding machine 108, the sheet cutting machine 109, and the saddle stitch binding machine 110 shown in FIG. 1 are referred to as a sheet processing apparatus, like the sheet processing apparatus 200 of the printing system 10. That is, these apparatuses are defined as apparatuses that can execute various sheet processes as finishing processes for sheets (printing paper) printed by the printing apparatus 100. For example, the paper folding machine 107 is an apparatus that can execute a folding process of a sheet printed by the printing apparatus 100. The cutting machine 109 is a device that can execute a cutting process on a sheet printed by the printing apparatus 100 in units of a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets. The saddle stitch bookbinding machine 110 is an apparatus that can execute the saddle stitch bookbinding process for sheets printed by the printing apparatus 100. The case binding machine 108 is a device that can execute case binding processing of sheets printed by the printing apparatus 100.

  However, in order to execute various sheet processing by these sheet processing apparatuses, an operator takes out a printed matter printed by the printing apparatus 100 from a paper discharge unit of the printing apparatus 100, and puts the printed matter on a sheet processing apparatus to be processed. Setting work is necessary. That is, when a sheet processing apparatus other than the sheet processing apparatus 200 of the printing system 10 is used, an intervention operation by an operator is required after printing by the printing apparatus 100. In other words, when the sheet processing is executed by using the sheet processing apparatus 200 of the printing system 10, no operator intervention is required after printing by the printing apparatus 100. This is because the printing system 10 is configured so that a sheet printed by the printing apparatus 100 can be directly supplied from the printing apparatus 100 to the sheet processing apparatus 200. Specifically, the sheet conveyance path inside the printing apparatus 100 is configured to be connectable to the sheet conveyance path inside the sheet processing apparatus 200. As described above, the sheet processing apparatus 200 and the printing apparatus 100 of the printing system 10 are physically connected to each other. Each of the printing apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus 200 includes a CPU and can perform data communication with each other. That is, the printing apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus 200 are electrically connected to each other.

  In the present embodiment, a controller unit 205 (described later) of the printing apparatus 100 controls the printing apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus 200 in an integrated manner. However, when processing is basically completed in the sheet processing apparatus 200, such as status management and control of the sheet processing apparatus 200, the controller unit 205 only conveys the sheet to the sheet processing apparatus 200. That is, no specific instruction and control are performed for processing in the sheet processing apparatus 200. That is, the controller unit 205 of the printing apparatus 100 only receives a sheet conveyance instruction to the sheet processing apparatus 200 and a status signal of the sheet processing apparatus 200 from the sheet processing apparatus 200, and is linked to the sheet processing apparatus 200. Direct instructions and control are avoided as much as possible. In that case, the controller unit 205 executes sheet conveyance to the sheet processing apparatus 200 and minimum processing according to the state of the sheet processing apparatus 200 according to the initial settings set when the sheet processing apparatus 200 is connected. The initial setting includes, for example, the sheet interval during sheet conveyance, whether the sheet conveyance is performed in a direction parallel to the sheet longitudinal direction, or a direction parallel to the short direction, and the like. The printing apparatus 100 prints print data in accordance with a print job transmitted from the server 103, the client 104, or the like via the network 101.

[Configuration of Printing System 10]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a block configuration of the printing system 10. In the present embodiment, all the units shown in FIG. 2 other than the sheet processing apparatus 200 are provided inside the printing apparatus 100. The sheet processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 2 represents not only a single sheet processing apparatus 200 but also a series of inline type sheet processing apparatuses. The sheet processing apparatus 200 is detachable from the printing apparatus 100 and can be provided as an optional apparatus of the printing apparatus 100. With such a configuration, as many inline finishers (finishing apparatuses) as necessary for the POD environment can be configured.

  The copy function of the printing apparatus 100 is a function that stores data received from the scanner unit 201 in a hard disk (HDD) 209 and causes the printer unit 203 to print based on the data. Further, the printing function of the printing apparatus 100 is that a print job and print target data received from an external apparatus such as the server 103 and the client 104 via the external I / F unit 202 are stored in the HDD 209, and the printer is based on the data. This is a function for printing by the unit 203. The printing function can perform both color and monochrome printing.

  The scanner unit 201 performs image processing on image data generated by optically reading a document image placed on a document table. The external I / F unit 202 transmits and receives various data and commands to and from an external device such as a facsimile, a network connection device, and an external dedicated device. The printer unit 203 prints data to be printed stored in the HDD 209 and executes printing on the sheet. The operation unit 204 includes a display unit such as a display and displays a user interface screen for setting each function. The operation unit 204 accepts an instruction from the user by a button, a keyboard, a pointing device, or a touch panel operation on the display. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation unit 204. The operation unit 204 includes a key input unit 402 that can accept a user operation using a hard key, and a touch panel unit 401 that can accept a user operation using a soft key (display key).

  The controller unit 205 is a CPU, for example, and controls the printing apparatus 100 in an integrated manner. A ROM 207 is a read-only memory and stores programs such as a boot program and font information. In addition, the ROM 207 stores a control program for executing processing of a flowchart described later, a display control program for displaying a user interface (UI) screen on the display unit of the operation unit 204, and the like. The control unit 205 reads the programs stored in the ROM 207 into the readable / writable RAM 208 and executes them. The ROM 207 is a program for interpreting PDL (page description language) data received from the server 103 or the client 104 via the external I / F 202 and executing an operation for developing the raster image data (bitmap image data). I also remember.

  The HDD 209 stores various jobs such as a print job and data to be processed by the various jobs. For example, the HDD 209 stores the image data compressed by the compression / decompression unit 210. For example, the controller unit 205 processes a print job stored in the HDD 209 via the scanner unit 201 or the external I / F unit 202. The controller unit 205 processes the image data in the order of print pages. When the controller unit 205 detects that the corresponding page is discharged outside the apparatus, the controller unit 205 deletes the image data from the HDD 209. When the controller unit 205 detects that all the image data for all print pages has been deleted, the controller unit 205 deletes the corresponding print job from the HDD 209. The controller unit 205 can also be controlled to transmit these image data to an external device via the external I / F 202. The compression / decompression unit 210 performs compression / decompression processing on image data stored in the RAM 208 or the HDD 209 by various compression methods such as JBIG and JPEG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration around the conveyance path inside the printing system 10. The case where a copy job is executed will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, a gluing bookbinding machine 200a, a large-capacity stacker 200b, and a saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, which are sheet processing apparatuses 200, are connected to the subsequent stage of the printing apparatus 100. Here, the saddle stitch binding machine 200c is assumed to be a DFD (Document Finishing Device) finisher. The DFD finisher is a finisher made by a vendor (3rd-party) different from the printing apparatus 100.

  An automatic document feeder (ADF) 301 provided in the scanner unit 201 separates a plurality of documents set on a document tray by a user in order from the first sheet and conveys the document onto a platen glass. The reading unit 302 reads an image of a document conveyed on the platen glass with a CCD and generates image data. The controller unit 205 stores the generated image data in a storage area such as the RAM 208 or the HDD 209.

  The printing apparatus 100 is, for example, a tandem type color printer provided with a plurality of photoconductors (drums), and includes paper feed units such as paper feed cassettes 317 and 318, a manual feed tray 320, and any of the paper feed units. Feed the sheet from. The printing apparatus 100 is also connected with a paper feed deck 319 that can store a large number of sheets as a paper feed unit, and can feed sheets from the paper feed deck 319. The printing apparatus 100 transports the sheet fed from one of the above-described feeding units to the registration roller 306 and temporarily stops to synchronize with the intermediate transfer belt 305. In addition, when there is a sheet waiting for transfer at the position of the registration roller 306, the controller unit 205 supplies a sheet for printing the next page to the sheet feeding cassettes 317 and 318, the sheet feeding deck 319, and the manual feed tray 320. Control to feed from either. By feeding paper in this way, it is possible to shorten the conveyance interval of a plurality of sheets, and it is possible to improve printing productivity.

  Image data to be printed that is temporarily stored in the RAM 208 or HDD 209 is transferred to the printer unit 203, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in a laser recording unit (not shown). Are converted into laser beams for recording in the four colors. Then, a laser beam is irradiated on the photoconductor corresponding to each color, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed. Then, toner development is performed with the four color toners supplied from the toner cartridge, and the visualized toner image is temporarily transferred from the photoreceptor to the intermediate transfer belt 305.

  The intermediate transfer belt 305 rotates at a constant speed in the clockwise direction in FIG. When the intermediate transfer belt 305 is rotated to a predetermined position, conveyance of the standby sheet is started at the position of the registration roller 306. Here, the predetermined position is a position where almost the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer position when the leading edge of the image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 305 reaches the secondary transfer position 316. Thus, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 305 is transferred to the sheet at the secondary transfer position 316. The printed sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is further conveyed by the belt 307, the toner is fixed by the pressure and heat from the fixing device 308, and is conveyed out of the apparatus after being conveyed through the sheet conveying path.

  The paper discharge flapper 309 is configured to be swingable about a swing shaft, and specifies the sheet conveyance direction. When the paper discharge flapper 309 swings in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 and is fixed at that position, the sheet discharged from the fixing device 308 is conveyed in the horizontal direction as it is, and is discharged by the paper discharge roller 310. It is conveyed to a glue binding machine 200a which is one of the processing apparatuses 200. In this way, single-sided printing is executed.

  On the other hand, when printing an image on both sides of the sheet, the sheet discharge flapper 309 swings counterclockwise in FIG. 3 and is fixed at that position, and the sheet discharged from the fixing device 308 is directed downward. The route is changed and the sheet is fed into the duplex conveying unit. The double-sided conveyance unit includes a reverse flapper 311, a reverse roller 312, a reverse guide 313, and a double-sided tray 314. The reverse flapper 311 swings around the swing axis and specifies the sheet conveyance direction. When performing double-sided printing, the controller unit 201 swings the reverse flapper 311 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3, and feeds the sheet on which the image is printed on the first surface (front surface) of the sheet to the transport roller 312. Through the reversing guide 313. Then, the reverse roller is temporarily stopped in a state where the rear end of the sheet is held by the reverse roller provided at the entrance of the reverse guide, and then the reverse flapper 311 is swung in the clockwise direction in FIG. Rotate the roller in the opposite direction. Accordingly, the sheet can be switched back and conveyed, and the sheet can be guided to the double-sided tray 314 in a state where the rear end and the front end of the sheet are switched. The sheet is temporarily held on the duplex tray 314, and then the sheet is fed again to the registration roller 306 by the refeed roller 315. At this time, the sheet is conveyed with the second surface (back surface) opposite to the surface to which the toner has been transferred in the first surface transfer process facing the intermediate transfer belt 305. Then, an image is formed on the second surface of the sheet in the same manner as the transfer process on the first surface described above. After the image formed on the second surface of the sheet is fixed by the fixing device 308, the sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed by the paper discharge roller 310 to the glue binding machine 200a which is one of the sheet processing apparatuses 200. The In this way, double-sided printing is executed.

  A sheet on which an image is printed on one or both sides by the printing apparatus 100 is selectively conveyed to the gluing bookbinding machine 200a, the large-capacity stacker 200b, or the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c according to the print settings received via the operation unit 204. Is done. For example, when it is set to execute glue binding, the sheet is conveyed to the glue binding machine 200a, the bookbinding process is executed, and the sheet is discharged to the bookbinding paper discharge unit 331. In the bookbinding process, a plurality of sheets on which images are printed by the printing apparatus 100 are bound and bound by sheets fed from the inserter 332 as necessary. The printed material that has been bound is accumulated in the bookbinding paper discharge unit 331. Further, when it is set to execute the large-volume stacking process, the sheet on which the image is printed by the printing apparatus 100 is conveyed to the large-capacity stacker 200b via the sheet conveying path 330 of the gluing bookbinding machine 200a. . The large-capacity stacker 200b discharges the received sheet to the escape tray 335 or the stacking unit 334.

  When the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c is set to execute sheet processing, the sheets printed by the printing apparatus 100 are sent via the sheet conveyance paths 330 and 333 of each apparatus. To be transported. Here, what kind of processing is executed on the received sheet by the saddle stitch binding machine 200c or where the sheet is discharged is determined according to the setting accepted by the operation unit 336 provided in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. It is determined.

  For example, when the operation unit 336 is set to execute the stapling process, the saddle stitch binding machine 200c accumulates the received sheets on the intermediate tray. Then, when the bundle of sheets to be stapled is aligned on the intermediate tray, the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c staples the bundle of sheets and discharges the sheet to the paper discharge unit 338. Further, when the operation unit 336 is set to execute the saddle stitch bookbinding process, the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200 c executes the saddle stitch bookbinding process for the received sheet and discharges the sheet to the paper discharge unit 339. To do. If nothing is selected for sheet processing in the operation unit 336, the received sheet is discharged to the paper discharge unit 337 without executing any processing.

  As described above, the printing system 10 executes processes such as paper feeding, printing, post-processing, and paper discharge. Note that the printing system 10 includes a sheet detection sensor in a sheet conveyance path included in each of the printing apparatus 100, the gluing bookbinding machine 200a, the large-capacity stacker 200b, and the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c. For example, the sheet detection sensor is provided at an entrance / exit of each apparatus, a branch point of a sheet conveyance path, a junction, or the like. In FIG. 3, examples of positions where the sheet detection sensor is provided are indicated by triangular symbols, and A to Q indicate the sheet detection sensor. The controller unit 205 detects the presence or absence of the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path and the position of the sheet by detecting signals from the sheet detection sensors A to L.

  However, the controller unit 205 does not directly detect signals from the sheet detection sensors M to Q, and a control unit (CPU or the like) of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c detects these signals. Further, the control unit of the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c notifies the controller 205 of the printing apparatus 100 of the status information of the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c according to the detected signal.

  For example, when a signal from a certain sheet detection sensor is continuously detected for a predetermined time or longer, the controller unit 205 or the control unit of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c corresponds to the sensor that continuously transmits the signal. It is determined that a sheet jam has occurred at the position where the sheet is to be moved. Alternatively, when a sheet that has passed through a certain sheet detection sensor does not pass through the next sheet detection sensor for a predetermined time or longer, the controller unit 205 or the control unit of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c determines whether the sheet is between the sheet detection sensors. It is determined that the delay jam is occurring.

  When the controller unit 205 detects that a sheet jam has occurred in the sheet conveyance path in the printing apparatus, the controller unit 205 interrupts printing, and in accordance with a signal from the sheet detection sensor, the position and removal of the sheet to be removed. Display the procedure as guidance. Alternatively, when the control unit of the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c detects that a sheet jam has occurred in the sheet conveyance path in the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, the operation unit 336 determines the position of the sheet to be removed and Display removal procedure as guidance. The control unit of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c further notifies the controller unit 205 of the printing apparatus of the abnormal state information. The abnormal state information notified at that time is limited to the fact that there is an error, and does not represent the detailed information of the error indicating where the stay jam has occurred in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. When the controller unit 205 receives the abnormal state information from the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, the controller unit 205 displays on the display unit of the operation unit 204 that the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c is referred to. On the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c, the detailed error information of the stay jam is displayed.

  The user can grasp where the sheet to be removed exists in the printing system 10 by displaying the operation unit 204 or the operation unit 336. The user opens the door of each part according to the displayed guidance and removes the sheet from the sheet conveyance path. When all the sheets are removed, the user instructs the operation unit 204 to resume printing. When the control unit 205 receives an instruction to resume printing, the control unit 205 resumes printing.

  Sheet detection sensors A-1, A-2, and A-4 as corresponding sheet feeding sensors are provided at the sheet feeding ports of the sheet feeding units of the sheet feeding cassettes 317 and 318, the sheet feeding deck 319, and the manual feed tray 320, respectively. , A-3. These paper feed sensors detect a fed sheet and transmit a sheet detection signal to the controller unit 205. The controller unit 205 counts the number of sheets fed from each sheet feeding unit in accordance with the sheet detection signal received from the sheet feeding sensor. The controller unit 205 holds the counted value in the RAM 208. As a result, the controller unit 205 can grasp the number of sheets fed from each sheet feeding unit in the job being executed.

  In this embodiment, the case where the printing apparatus 100 is a 4D (drum) type color MFP has been described. However, the configuration of the printing apparatus 100 is not limited to this, and may be a monochrome MFP or a 1D (drum) type color MFP. . In the print job, print data received via the external I / F 202 is used instead of the image data from the scanner unit 201. Other points are the same as in the case of the copy job.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a process when an error such as a stay jam occurs in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an error occurs in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. Each process illustrated in FIG. 5 is realized by the controller unit 205 of the printing apparatus 100 reading out and executing a control program from the ROM 207.

  First, in step S <b> 501, the controller unit 205 determines whether any error notification is received from the printing apparatus 100 or the sheet processing apparatus 200 in the printing system 10. If it is determined that an error notification has been received, the process proceeds to S502. Here, the process of S501 is repeated until it is determined that an error notification has been received. In step S <b> 502, the controller unit 205 determines whether print processing is being executed when an error notification is received. If it is determined that printing is not being performed, the process proceeds to S511. If it is determined that printing is being performed, the process proceeds to S503.

  Here, the processing after S511 will be described. In step S511, the controller unit 205 determines whether all of the received error notification factors have been canceled. If it is determined that all error notification factors have been canceled, the process advances to step S513. On the other hand, if at least one error notification factor is detected, the process proceeds to S512. In step S512, the controller unit 205 acquires the detected error notification information, displays the error notification information on the display unit of the operation unit 204, and returns to step S511. Here, when the detected error notification information is an error in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c, a warning screen 601 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed in a pop-up manner to alert the user. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the fact that some error has occurred in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c is displayed, and for details, the user is asked to look at the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. In step S513, the controller unit 205 ends the display of the error notification information and the information about the recovery procedure displayed on the display of the operation unit 204, returns to the printable state, and ends the processing of FIG.

  Again, refer to S502. The processing after S503 when it is determined in S502 that the printing process is being executed will be described. In step S503, the controller unit 205 executes stop processing for all print jobs. At that time, the process of stopping the sheet being conveyed in the printing apparatus is also executed, and the process proceeds to S504. Here, the stop process includes, for example, a control in which a sheet near the fixing device is transported to a position different from the fixing device and then stopped.

  In step S <b> 504, the controller unit 205 determines whether there is a sheet (residual paper) remaining in the printing apparatus 100 based on information from the sheet detection sensor in the printing system 10. If it is determined that there is no remaining paper, the process proceeds to S511. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is residual paper, the process proceeds to S505.

  In step S505, the controller unit 205 determines whether the error notification information received in step S501 includes error notification information from the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. If it is determined that the error notification information from the saddle stitch binding machine 200c is included, the process proceeds to S506. On the other hand, if it is determined that the error notification information from the saddle stitch binding machine 200c is not included, the process proceeds to S508.

  In step S506, the controller unit 205 displays an escape selection screen 701 on whether to automatically escape the remaining paper in the printing apparatus 100 on the operation unit 204, and proceeds to step S507. Here, the escape means that the printed residual paper in the printing apparatus 100 is forcibly discharged from a nearby discharge location even if post-processing is necessary. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the escape selection screen 701. As shown in FIG. 7, the fact that an error with unknown details has occurred in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c is displayed, and an escape process is executed to discharge the remaining paper remaining in the printing apparatus 100 from a nearby paper discharge location. The user can select whether or not to do so.

  In step S <b> 507, the controller unit 205 determines which button 702 or button 703 has been pressed on the escape selection screen 701. If it is determined that the button 702 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S508. If it is determined that the button 703 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S509. In step S <b> 508, the controller unit 205 detects the position of the remaining paper remaining in the printing apparatus 100 and the state of the conveyance path based on the detection signal from the sheet detection sensor in the printing apparatus 100, and can escape each sheet. The paper discharge destination is specified and escape processing is executed. In step S <b> 509, the controller unit 205 determines again whether there are sheets remaining in the printing apparatus 100. If it is determined that there is no remaining sheet, the process proceeds to S511. If it is determined that there is a remaining sheet, the process proceeds to S510. In step S510, the controller unit 205 displays a jam display screen as illustrated in FIG. 8 on the display unit of the operation unit 204 based on a detection signal from the sheet detection sensor based on the position information of the remaining sheet, and the user Prompt the recovery process. The jam display is continued until the user recovery process is completed.

  In FIG. 5, the controller unit 205 displays an escape selection screen 701 in steps S506 to S507. However, when the remaining paper is removed by the user during the display of the escape selection screen 701 and the presence of the remaining paper is no longer detected, the process may proceed to S511.

  As described above, even when error information is received from the saddle stitch binding machine 200c, which is a vendor-made sheet processing apparatus different from the printing apparatus 100, it is possible to allow the user to select a process according to the error information. . In other words, the user looks at the display on the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c and, when automatic escape in the printing apparatus 100 is necessary, the user presses the button 702 according to the instruction displayed on the operation unit 204 of the printing apparatus 100. Press. Therefore, the user can efficiently perform the recovery process with the minimum necessary operation. In addition, when the user looks at the display on the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c and does not need automatic escape in the printing apparatus, the user presses the button 703 in accordance with the instruction displayed on the operation unit 204 of the printing apparatus 100. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the printed material from being discharged unnecessarily. As a result, the efficiency of the printing system can be improved. In the present embodiment, a vendor saddle stitch binding machine 200c different from the printing apparatus 100 has been described. However, even in a non-vendor sheet processing apparatus different from the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus connected to the subsequent stage independently control the own apparatus, and details of error information in the sheet processing apparatus are printed. In the case where 100 cannot be acquired, this embodiment can be applied.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure when an error occurs in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c in the present embodiment. Each process shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is realized when the controller unit 205 of the printing apparatus 100 reads out and executes a control program from the ROM 207.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when the operation unit 204 of the printing apparatus 100 accepts a change in user mode setting. The process illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed before the execution of the print job, and may be performed when the printing apparatus 100 is installed, for example. When the controller unit 205 receives a change in user mode setting, the controller unit 205 displays a user mode setting reception screen 1101 as shown in FIG. In step S901, the controller unit 205 determines whether the error operation setting selection button 1102 has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the process advances to step S902. In step S902, the controller unit 205 displays the error operation setting screen 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12 on the operation unit 204, and the process proceeds to step S903.

  In step S903, the controller unit 205 determines whether a button in the error operation setting screen 1201 has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S904. In step S904, the controller unit 205 determines whether the pressed button is the mode setting button for the buttons 1202 and 1203 or other buttons. If it is determined that the button is other than the buttons 1202 and 1203, for example, the OK button 1204 or the cancel button 1205, the present process of FIG. 9 is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the buttons 1202 and 1203 have been pressed, the process proceeds to S905. In step S905, the controller unit 205 saves the setting corresponding to the pressed button in the HDD 209, and ends the present process in FIG. For example, if it is determined that the button 1203 has been pressed, when the printing apparatus 100 receives error notification information with unknown details from the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, the escape of the remaining paper is automatically executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the button 1202 has been pressed, if the printing apparatus 100 receives error notification information with unknown details from the saddle stitch binding machine 200c, the remaining paper is not automatically escaped.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an error occurs in the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. The processes in S1001 to S1005 and S1008 to S1013 in FIG. 10 are the same as those in S501 to S505 and S508 to S513 in FIG. That is, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in S1006 and S1007.

  In step S <b> 1006, when the controller unit 205 receives error notification information from the saddle stitch binding machine 200 c, the controller unit 205 acquires a setting as to whether or not to automatically escape the remaining paper in the printing apparatus 100 from the HDD 209, and proceeds to step S <b> 1007. In step S1007, the controller unit 205 determines whether the acquired setting content is a setting for performing automatic escape. If it is determined that the automatic escape setting is set, the process proceeds to S1008. On the other hand, if it is determined that the automatic escape is not set, the process proceeds to S1009.

  In the above, the choices on the error operation setting screen 1201 are two choices of whether to automatically escape. However, in addition, every time error information is received from the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, it is possible to display a selection of a mode in which it is possible to select whether or not to perform an escape process each time. When the user selects the option, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, even when it is determined in S1007 that automatic escape is not set, every time error information is received from the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c, the user selects whether to execute escape or not in FIG. A selection screen may be displayed on the operation unit 204.

  In addition, the service person may set whether to automatically escape or not when setting the saddle stitch binding machine 200c. In this case, for example, the service person sets capability information regarding whether or not the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c can notify the printing apparatus 100 of detailed information on errors in the apparatus itself when the saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200c is connected. In such a configuration, the controller unit 205 of the printing apparatus 100 may be set to perform an automatic escape process when detailed information cannot be notified, for example, according to the capability information.

  In the present embodiment, when connecting a sheet processing apparatus that cannot notify detailed information of an error to the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 is set to automatically perform an escape process. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to check the operation unit 336 of the saddle stitch binding machine 200c, and convenience is improved. This is because, for example, when connecting a sheet processing apparatus in which only a specific error such as a stay jam is likely to occur as an error during printing, even when error information from the sheet processing apparatus is received, detailed information on the error This is because is predictable.

  As described above, the printing apparatus side is in a situation while simplifying the mechanism of transmission and exchange of information with a sheet processing apparatus manufactured by a vendor different from the printing apparatus 100 and facilitating development on the vendor side different from the printing apparatus 100. The recovery process at the time of the corresponding error can be executed. Further, even when an error occurs in the printing system, efficient and lean error processing can be executed with the minimum necessary operations.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (8)

A printing device,
When executing a print job, when error information is received from the finishing device, stop means for stopping execution of the print job;
A determination unit that determines whether or not to forcibly discharge printed printing paper in a conveyance path of the printing apparatus when the stop unit stops execution of the print job;
A discharge means for forcibly discharging the printing paper in the transport path of the printing apparatus when the determination means determines that the discharge is forced;
A printing apparatus comprising: Receiving means for receiving a selection as to whether or not to forcibly discharge printed printing paper in the transport path of the printing apparatus;
The determination unit determines to forcibly discharge printed printing paper in a conveyance path of the printing apparatus when the reception unit receives a selection to forcibly discharge;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reception unit is a selection screen for receiving the selection.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection screen is displayed on a display unit when the error information is received from the finishing apparatus.   The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the accepting unit accepts the selection before executing the print job.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error information is information indicating that an error has occurred in the finishing apparatus. A method for controlling a printing apparatus,
When executing a print job, when error information is received from the finishing device, a stop process for stopping execution of the print job;
When the execution of the print job is stopped in the stop step, a determination step for determining whether to forcibly discharge printed print paper in the conveyance path of the printing apparatus;
A discharge step of forcibly discharging the printing paper in the conveyance path of the printing apparatus when it is determined to be forcibly discharged in the determination step;
A control method characterized by comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 7.

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