EP1755006A1 - Datenübertragung zwischen Blattnachbearbeitungsmodulen - Google Patents

Datenübertragung zwischen Blattnachbearbeitungsmodulen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1755006A1
EP1755006A1 EP06254313A EP06254313A EP1755006A1 EP 1755006 A1 EP1755006 A1 EP 1755006A1 EP 06254313 A EP06254313 A EP 06254313A EP 06254313 A EP06254313 A EP 06254313A EP 1755006 A1 EP1755006 A1 EP 1755006A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet post
sheet
processing device
paper sheet
signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP06254313A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Hitoshi Hattori
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2006001511A external-priority patent/JP5118303B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2006133744A external-priority patent/JP4881058B2/ja
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP1755006A1 publication Critical patent/EP1755006A1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/50—Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H43/00—Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
    • G03G15/6555—Handling of sheet copy material taking place in a specific part of the copy material feeding path
    • G03G15/6573—Feeding path after the fixing point and up to the discharge tray or the finisher, e.g. special treatment of copy material to compensate for effects from the fixing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/10—Modular constructions, e.g. using preformed elements or profiles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/40—Identification
    • B65H2511/415—Identification of job
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/50—Timing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/24—Post -processing devices
    • B65H2801/27—Devices located downstream of office-type machines
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/00016—Special arrangement of entire apparatus

Definitions

  • the present patent application generally relates to a sheet post-processing device, a sheet post-processing system including a plurality of the sheet post-processing devices, and an image forming system including the sheet post-processing system having the plurality of the above-described sheet post-processing device.
  • the image forming system includes a relay control unit is mounted between the image forming device and each sheet processing device so that the relay control unit can control operations of each sheet processing device.
  • a relay control unit can determine the operation time for a corresponding sheet processing device that performs a specific function of various sheet processing operations, and, after a given period of the operation time has elapsed, transmit information of the sheet processing operation to each sheet processing device.
  • Another image forming system employs a known data communication method using a technique in which data transmission is controlled.
  • one sheet post-processing system employs a known technique using a skewing part and connecting units that perform a multistage connection to simplify connecting mechanism and control software.
  • the skewing part receives a paper sheet discharged from an image forming device in a skewed state and discharges the paper sheet to a first sheet post-processing device on the basis of one end portion thereof.
  • the connecting units are respectively provided in and controlled by a plurality of sheet post-processing devices so as to discharge the paper sheet from the skewing part or from an upstream device connected thereto to a downstream device also connected thereto.
  • the relay control unit may require space and costs, which can be a problem.
  • the operation times determined by the relay control unit generally have variations due to slippage in conveying paper sheets. When the degree of the variation is large, the information cannot be transmitted at a correct timing, which can cause errors.
  • a driver of corresponding conveying rollers initiates the conveying rollers at the start of conveyance of the paper sheet, a period of rotation of the conveying rollers may become unnecessarily long. Especially when the sheet post-processing device is used for processing high-volume paper sheets in high speed, such unnecessary long period of rotation of the conveying rollers may cause a shorter life of the rollers.
  • the above-described sheet post-processing system including a plurality of sheet post-processing devices is generally connected to an image forming device, forming an image forming system.
  • Such system has the same problems as described above.
  • the present invention has been made, taking the above-mentioned circumstances into consideration.
  • At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a sheet post-processing device that includes a conveying member configured to convey a sheet-like recording medium, a processing unit configured to perform a given operation to the recording medium conveyed by the conveying member, characterised in that a communication unit is provided, configured to communicate with an external device connected to the sheet post-processing device for the given operation performed by the processing unit, and a control unit is provided, configured to control, via the communication unit, information passing between the sheet post-processing device and the external device at a desired timing.
  • the external device to which the sheet post-processing device of the present invention may be connected, may be upstream or downstream of the sheet post-processing device, the control unit controlling information received from the external device or transmitted to the external device, at a desired timing.
  • the sheet post-processing device of the present invention may be connected to other sheet post-processing devices, both upstream and downstream in the sheet feeding direction.
  • At least one further embodiment of the present patent application provides an image forming system that includes an image forming device configured to form an image on a surface of a recording medium, and a plurality of the above-described sheet post-processing devices connected to at least one different sheet post-processing device thereof.
  • the external device to which each sheet post-processing devices is connected may be another sheet post-processing device of the system or a device external to the system. Preferred and/or optional features are set out in claims 2-15 and 17.
  • a communication unit corresponds to communication modules 6a2a, 6a2b, 6b2a, 6b2b, 6c2a, 6c2b, 6c2c, 6d2a, and 6e2a.
  • a control unit corresponds to control modules or units 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1.
  • a storing unit corresponds to storing units 6a3, 6b3, 6c3, 6d3, and 6e3.
  • An image forming device corresponds to an image forming device 1.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic view of the image forming system 200 in the form of a printer, which is mounted neither with such the scanner 3 nor with such the circulation type automatic document feeder 4. Aside from the scanner 3 and the circulation type automatic document feeder 4, the image forming system 200 has the same structural arrangement of the image forming system 100 as the above-described copier.
  • a paper sheet received from the image forming device 1 is conveyed or forwarded through an inlet sheet conveying path A in which a sheet post-processing mechanism for applying the post-processing operations to a single paper sheet is disposed.
  • a punching unit 7, which serves as a processing unit, in the sheet post-processing device 6 in Figure 3 serves as a perforation mechanism including a hopper 8.
  • the paper sheet is then sorted and transferred into one of an upper sheet conveying path B, an intermediate sheet conveying path C, and a lower sheet conveying path D by means of path selectors 28 and 29 and turning guides 37 and 38.
  • the paper sheet When the paper sheet has passed the path selector 28 and the turning guide 37 into the upper sheet conveying path B, the paper sheet is conveyed through a position mounted with an upper sheet discharging sensor 40, through a pair of outlet rollers 11, and is guided to a proof tray 22.
  • the paper sheet When the paper sheet has passed the path selector 28 and the turning guide 37 and has been guided by the path selector 29 and the turning guide 38 to the lower sheet conveying path D, the paper sheet is conveyed to a staple tray 14 where adjustment and staple binding operation are carried out.
  • Paper sheets transferred onto the staple tray 14 by respective pairs of conveying rollers 34, 35, and 36, each of which serving as a conveying member, are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction by a jogger fence 16 as a processing unit, and further the feed direction of the paper sheets is adjusted with reference to a rear end fence 31, which serves as a processing unit, by a knock roller 12.
  • a sheet stack conveying roller 17b which serves as a conveying member and is supported by a sheet stack guide plate (not shown), approaches another sheet stack conveying roller 17a, which serves as a conveying member, by the rotation of the sheet stack guide plate, and thereby the sheet stack is clamped therebetween to maintain its attitude and the rear end fence 31 is shifted to the position indicated by the broken line in Figure 3.
  • the staple process is carried out at a given position, and then fed upward by a discharge hook 15, so that the paper sheets are discharged into an outlet tray 21 by a pair of discharge rollers 19 serving as a conveying roller, and then accumulated therein.
  • a sheet discharge sensor 46 detects the condition of discharging the paper sheets to the outlet tray 21, and a sheet surface detection sensor 47 detects the amount of accumulated paper sheets on the outlet tray 21.
  • the outlet tray 21 when the top sheet of the accumulated paper sheets has reached to a given height, the outlet tray 21 is moved to a downward direction by a fixed or given amount so that a further amount of paper sheets can be accumulated.
  • a hook position detection sensor 45 detects the home position of the discharge hook 15. Based on the result of the above-described detection, a discharge belt 18 is controlled.
  • an inlet sensor 39 for detecting a paper sheet supplied from the image forming device 1 is disposed, and a pair of conveyor rollers 32 and the punching unit 7 are disposed downstream thereto, and further the path selector 28 and the turning guide 37 are disposed downstream thereto.
  • the path selector 28 is maintained in the state shown by a solid line in Figure 3 by a spring (not shown).
  • a solenoid (not shown) is turned on, the path selector 28 rotates counterclockwise, as indicated by an alternate long and short dashed lines shown in Figure 3, so that paper sheets are sorted into the lower sheet conveying path D.
  • the solenoid is turned off, the paper sheets are sorted into the upper sheet feeding path B.
  • the path selector 29 is maintained in the state shown by a solid line in Figure 3 by another spring (not shown).
  • another solenoid (not shown) is turned on, the path selector 29 rotates clockwise, as indicated by an alternate long and short dashed lines shown in Figure 3, so that the paper sheets are sorted into the intermediate sheet conveying path C.
  • the solenoid is turned off, the paper sheets are further fed to the lower sheet conveying path D, and fed by the pairs of conveying rollers 34 and 35.
  • the turning guides 37 and 38 have a roller shape so as to guide the paper sheets to smoothly turn at a sharp angle and serve to assist the sorting of the paper sheets by means of the path selectors 28 and 29. In this case, paper sheets in a direction changed by the path selectors 28 and 29 come into contact with the turning guides 37 and 38, and then are moved together therewith. Accordingly, the turning guides 37 and 38 serve to reduce the feeding resistance for the paper sheet at a branching section having a smaller radius of nature.
  • the shift roller 13 is mounted, which roller is capable of moving the paper sheets by a specified distance in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction.
  • the shift function results from the movement of the paper sheets in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction by a driving unit (not shown).
  • the movement of the paper sheets transferred to the intermediate sheet conveying path C by a pair of conveying rollers 33 and the turning roller 38 by the shift roller 13 by such a specified distance in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction causes to provide an appropriate amount of shift for the paper sheets both in the feeding direction and in the direction perpendicular thereto, so that the paper sheets are discharged by the pair of discharge rollers 19 serving as a conveying member, preset the shifted state, one end portion of which is supported rotatably with respect to the sheet discharge guide plate 20, and then stacked in the outlet tray 21.
  • the timing in the above processes is determined on the basis of the paper detection information from a roller shift sensor 41, the sheet size information and others.
  • a staple tray sheet discharge sensor 43 is mounted in the lower sheet conveying path D.
  • the paper discharging sensor 43 makes it possible to detect whether or not a sheet of paper exists in the lower sheet conveying path D.
  • a paper detecting signal may be used as a trigger signal for aligning the paper sheet when discharging the paper sheet into the staple tray 14.
  • the paper sheets transferred to the lower sheet conveying path D are sequentially fed by the pairs of conveyor rollers 34, 35 and 36, and aligned in the staple tray 14 after stacked.
  • the trailing end of the paper sheets discharged into the staple tray 14 is adjusted with reference to the rear end fence 31.
  • the rear end fence 31 is designed so as to rotate around the center axis of the sheet stack conveying roller 17a. In the case of stacking the paper sheets into a sheet stack, one end portion of the rear end fence 31 on the solenoid side is moved by a solenoid, and the other end portion of the rear end fence 31 is inserted into the feed line, thereby enabling the paper sheets to be stacked into a sheet stack.
  • the paper sheets stacked in the staple tray 14 are temporarily dropped or moved downward by means of the knock roller 12, and then the lower end thereof is aligned.
  • the knock roller 12 receives an oscillating motion with respect to the center at a supporting point 12a from a knock solenoid (not shown). Such an oscillating motion intermittently acts on the paper sheets supplied to the staple tray 14 to collide them with the rear end fence 31. In this case, the knock roller 12 rotates such that the paper sheet rotated counterclockwise by a timing belt moves towards the rear end fence 31.
  • the alignment of the paper sheets stacked in the staple tray 14 in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction is carried out by jogger fences 16.
  • the jogger fences 16 are driven via the timing belt by a rotation reversible jogger motor (not shown), and reciprocally move in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction.
  • the pressing of the end surface of the sheet stack by the movement causes the paper sheets to be aligned in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction. This action is carried out either during the stacking process or after final sheets has been stacked in accordance with requirement.
  • a sheet detection sensor 44 mounted on the staple tray 14 is used as a so-called sheet detecting sensor for detecting whether or not a sheet of paper exists on the staple tray 14.
  • the knock roller 12, the rear end fence 31, and the jogger fences 16 constitutes an alignment mechanism for aligning the sheet stack both in a direction parallel to the paper feed direction and in a direction perpendicular thereto.
  • the pairs of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b cause a mechanism (not shown) to apply a press and release action. After the sheet stack passes between the pairs of conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b in the release state, these rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b press the sheet stack and then convey them.
  • the pairs of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b are capable of becoming either in or out of contact with each other by a pressure release motor (not shown).
  • the pairs of sheet conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b are rotated by a stepping motor (not shown), a pulley (not shown), and a timing belt (not shown).
  • the feeding distance of the sheet stack can be adjusted by controlling the rotation rate of the stepping motor.
  • Both of the pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and 17b and the pair of sheet stacking conveying rollers 30a and 30b can be separately disposed in a pair wise manner, and the press contact distance therebetween can be freely adjusted.
  • the staple unit 9 includes a stitcher 9a (in this specification, the unit is referred to as a stitcher, although it is traditionally referred as a driver) for projecting a needle and a clincher 9b for bending the end portion of the needle driven into the sheet stack.
  • the stitcher 9a and the clincher 9b are separately structured and the staple unit 9 is supported movably in the direction perpendicular to the sheet stack feed direction by a stapler moving guide 10.
  • the stitcher 9a and the clincher 9b include a mutual position determining mechanism and a movement driving mechanism (both not shown).
  • the staple position of the sheet stack in the feed direction is determined from the conveying of the sheet stack by the pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and 17b. Thereby, the staple can be stopped at various positions for the sheet stack.
  • a middle folding mechanism is positioned downstream in the sheet conveying direction for the staple unit 9 (downstream in the case of folding the paper sheet, and spatially the under side).
  • the middle folding mechanism includes the pair of folding rollers 24, the folding plate 23, and a stopper 25.
  • a sheet stack stapled at the center of the paper sheet in the feed direction is conveyed by the pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and 17b until it comes into contact with the stopper 25, and then the reference position for folding the sheet stack is determined by temporarily releasing the nipping pressure of the sheet stack conveying roller 17b.
  • the sheet stack is held by applying the nipping pressure between the pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 30a and 30b thereto, and then the stopper 25 is moved back and decoupled from the trailing end of the sheet stack, so that the sheet stack is conveyed by a given distance and set in the folding position on the basis of the sheet size signal supplied from the main body of the image forming device 1.
  • the sheet stack which is conveyed to the folding position (normally the center of the sheet stack in the sheet feeding direction) and stopped there, is inserted into a spacing between the pair of folding rollers 24 by the folding plate 23, so that the pair of folding rollers 24 causes the sheet stack to be folded at the center by pressing and rotating the sheet stack. In this case, if the sheet stack by a larger size, it is conveyed to a downstream position in the feed direction by a greater distance than at the position.of the stopper 25.
  • the sheet conveying path on the downstream side curved at an area far away from the stopper 25 to guide the end of the sheet stack into the horizontal direction.
  • the stopper 25, which serves as an alignment mechanism is designed such that the stopper 25 can be rotated around the center axis of the sheet stack conveying roller 30a, and that the end portion of the stopper 25 on the solenoid side is driven by the solenoid, and the end portion is away from the sheet conveying path.
  • the folded sheet stack is discharged into a center-folded sheet discharging tray 27 by a center-folded sheet discharging roller 26, and then stacked therein.
  • Sensors 48 and 49 in the center-folded section detect whether or not a sheet of paper exists therein.
  • a sensor 51 in the center-folded sheet discharging tray 27 detects whether or not the sheet stack is placed on the center-folded sheet discharging tray 27. It is used to count the number of sheet stacks discharged from the empty state and to monitor the full state of the center-folded sheet discharging tray 27.
  • a fold end stopper position detecting sensor 50 detects the end position of the sheet stacks in the case when the stopper 25 is either activated or deactivated.
  • Figure 4 shows a schematic structure of a sheet post-processing system 300 in which a plurality of sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e are connected, along with the accompanying image forming device 1.
  • the image forming device 1 is connected with a document feeding device 4, a high-volume sheet feeding device 2, and a plurality of sheet post-processing devices or first through fifth sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e.
  • the first sheet post-processing device 6a is connected with one upstream device, which is the image forming device 1, and one downstream device, which is the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
  • the second sheet post-processing device 6b is also connected with one upstream device, which is the first sheet post-processing device 6a, and one downstream device, which is the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
  • the third sheet post-processing device 6c is connected with one upstream device, which is the second sheet post-processing device 6b, and two downstream devices, which are the fourth and fifth sheet post-processing devices 6d and 6e.
  • the fourth sheet post-processing device 6d is the most downstream device and is connected with one upstream device, which is the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
  • the fifth sheet post-processing device 6d is the most downstream device and is connected with one upstream device, which is the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
  • FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the sheet post-processing system 300 in which various modules or units including respective communication modules for the first through fifth sheet post-processing devices 6a through 6e are described.
  • the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e also include control modules or units 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1, respectively, serving as a transmission unit for sending and receiving data at respectively given timings or intervals.
  • the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e include storing units 6a3, 6b3, 6c3, 6d3, and 6e3, respectively, for arbitrarily storing and reading respective received signals.
  • UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
  • a memory or a hard disk drive is used as a storing unit according to the volume of data to be stored therein.
  • a memory and a HDD are used.
  • any other storing unit that can temporarily store target information may be applied to the present patent application.
  • Each of the control modules 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown), a read-only memory (ROM) (not shown), and a random access memory (RAM) (not shown).
  • CPU central processing unit
  • ROM read-only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • the CPU executes programs stored in the ROM by using the RAM as a working area, and thus the control of each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e is carried out, based on the programs.
  • the communication module 6a2a of the first sheet post-processing device 6a receives paper sheet information from the image forming device 1 and stores the paper sheet information in the first storing unit 6a3 thereof.
  • the paper sheet information contains information necessary for processing the paper sheet fed from the image forming device 1, for example, the size, thickness, ID, a request of sheet post-processing operation to a specific sheet post-processing device, and so forth.
  • the first sheet post-processing device 6a receives a paper sheet, performs the sheet post-processing operation according to a request of sheet post-processing operation issued from the image forming device 1, and conveys or forwards the processed paper sheet to the second sheet post-processing device 6b, which is a downstream device of the first sheet post-processing device 6a.
  • the first sheet post-processing device 6a performs no specific sheet post-processing operation and simply forwards the paper sheet to the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
  • the first sheet post-processing device 6a transmits the paper sheet information stored in the first storing unit 6a3, to the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
  • the second sheet post-processing device 6b can obtain the paper sheet information before receiving the paper sheet.
  • the second sheet post-processing device 6b can perform its sheet post-processing operation under the proper and stable condition. Further, even when the content of a request of the sheet post-processing operation is changed, the sheet post-processing operation can avoid unnecessary interruption. Thereby, a series of sheet post-processing operations can be performed in high and stable speed.
  • the second sheet post-processing device 6b When the paper sheet processed in or passed through the first sheet post-processing device 6a is fed, the second sheet post-processing device 6b receives the paper sheet information from the first sheet post-processing device 6a and stores the paper sheet information in the second storing unit 6b3 thereof. When discharging or forwarding the paper sheet to the third sheet post-processing device 6c, the second sheet post-processing device 6b transmits the paper sheet information stored in the second storing unit 6b3, to the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
  • the sheet post-processing device 6c performs the operation similar to those performed by the first and second sheet post-processing devices 6a and 6b. That is, when the paper sheet processed in or passed through the second sheet post-processing device 6b is fed, the third sheet post-processing device 6c receives the paper sheet information from the second sheet post-processing device 6b and stores the information in the third storing unit 6c3 thereof. And, when the paper sheet is discharged to the outside of the third sheet post-processing device 6c or to one of the sheet post-processing devices 6d and 6e connected thereto as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the third sheet post-processing device 6c transmits the paper sheet information stored in the third storing unit 6c3, to the downstream sheet post-processing device.
  • a paper sheet forwarding signal is transmitted to the downstream device after the paper sheet information has been sent.
  • the downstream device can confirm the paper sheet information by receiving the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • the paper sheet information receiving operation is performed such that a currently operating device or a local sheet post-processing device, which is connected to an upstream device and a downstream device, receives paper sheet information during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the "local sheet post-processing device” represents any one of the first, second, and third sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, and 6c while the fourth and fifth sheet post-processing devices 6d and 6e are the most downstream devices, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
  • the sheet post-processing operations are controlled by the CPU (not shown) of the control module or unit of each sheet post-processing device.
  • the CPU of the local first sheet post-processing device basically controls the operations of the following flowcharts.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet information from an upstream device of the local sheet post-processing device in step S101.
  • step S101 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet information from the upstream device, the determination result in step S101 is YES, and the process goes to step S102.
  • step S101 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the paper sheet information from the upstream device, the determination result in step S101 is NO, and the process of step S101 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the paper sheet information.
  • the CPU temporarily writes the paper sheet information, including the size, thickness, ID, the request of sheet post-processing operation, and so forth, in a storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S102, and determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet forwarding signal in step S103.
  • step S103 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet forwarding signal from the upstream device, the determination result in step S103 is YES, and the process goes to step S104.
  • step S103 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the paper sheet forwarding signal from the upstream device, the determination result in step S103 is NO, and the process of step S103 goes back to step S101.
  • step S104 the CPU confirms the paper sheet information and stores the information in the storing unit.
  • the paper sheet information sending operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to transmit paper sheet information during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at a specified position of the paper sheet.
  • step S201 When the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at the specified position, the determination result in step S201 is YES and the process goes to step S202.
  • step S201 When the leading edge of the paper sheet has not yet come at the specified position, the determination result in step S201 is NO and the process of step S201 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet comes at the specified portion.
  • the CPU transmits the paper sheet information that is stored in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S202, and transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal to the downstream device in step S203.
  • each sheet post-processing device of the present example embodiment receives corresponding paper sheet information, stores the received information, and transmits the stored information when discharging the paper sheet to the downstream device.
  • information other than the information necessary for each paper sheet for example, information of destination, a speed of conveying the paper sheet, and so forth, is not necessarily transmitted during the sheet feeding operation. That is, in this case, the local sheet post-processing device can transmit information other than the information necessary for each paper sheet, to the downstream device instantly on receiving the information.
  • FIG. 10 a schematic diagram is described to show a start timing of driving the pair of conveying rollers 32, which have been stopped, of the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
  • the specific diagram of Figure 10 shows one example of the roller driving operation, which also can be applied to the operation performed between the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e.
  • the paper sheet information followed by the paper sheet forwarding signal is transmitted.
  • the second sheet post-processing device 6b starts rotating the pair of conveying rollers 32 when receiving the paper sheet information followed by the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • the pair of conveying rollers 32 can prevent the rotations thereof for an unnecessarily long time, which can extend the lives of the rollers and other parts. That is, by starting the rotation of the pair of conveying rollers 32 at the receipt of the paper sheet information by the communication module 6b2a of the second sheet post-processing device 6b, the rotation period of the pair of conveying rollers 32 may become shorter and the lives of the pair of conveying rollers 32 may become longer.
  • step S301 of the flowchart in Figure 11 the CPU of a local sheet post-processing device determines whether the pair of conveying rollers thereof remains stopped.
  • step S301 When the pair of conveying rollers is stopped, the determination result in step S301 is YES, and the process goes to step S302.
  • step S301 When the pair of conveying roller is rotated, the determination result in step S301 is NO, and the CPU completes the procedure.
  • step S302 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • step S302 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the paper sheet forwarding signal, the determination result in step S302 is YES, and the process goes to step S303.
  • step S302 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the paper sheet forwarding signal, the determination result in step S302 is NO, and the process of step S302 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • step S303 the CPU initiates the rotation of the pair of conveying rollers, and completes the procedure.
  • the received signal storing operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to transmit a signal from the upstream device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received various information signals from the upstream device.
  • the various information signals include the paper sheet information necessary for processing the paper sheet fed from the upstream device, for example, paper sheet information of the size, thickness, ID, a request of sheet post-processing operation to a specific sheet post-processing device, and so forth.
  • the various information signals can include a single information signal even through the term is used in plural in the example embodiments of the present patent application.
  • step S401 When the local sheet post-processing device has received various information signals from the upstream device, the determination result in step S401 is YES, the process goes to step S402.
  • step S401 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received various information signals from the upstream device, the determination result in step S401 is NO, the process of step S401 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the various information signals.
  • step S402 the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals in a storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device, and the process goes to step S403.
  • the local sheet post-processing device receives the paper sheet, conveys the paper sheet therein, performs the sheet post-processing operation according to the request of the sheet post-processing operation contained in the paper sheet information, and discharges or forwards the paper sheet to the downstream device.
  • the local sheet post-processing device simply transmits the paper sheet to the downstream device without performing any sheet post-processing operation therein.
  • step S403 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the processed paper sheet has come at a specified position, for example, whether the leading edge of the paper sheet has been present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
  • step S403 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the determination result in step S403 is YES and the process goes to step S404.
  • step S403 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the determination result in step S403 is NO and the process of step S403 goes back to step S401.
  • the CPU transmits the information signals including the paper sheet information stored in the storing unit, to the downstream device in step S404, and determines whether the signal transmission has been completed in step S405.
  • step S405 When the signal transmission has been completed, the determination result in step S405 is YES and the CPU completes the process.
  • step S405 When the signal transmission has not yet been completed, the determination result in step S405 is NO, and the process goes back to step S401.
  • the downstream device can receive the information signals including the paper sheet information of the corresponding paper sheet. Therefore, the downstream device can perform the sheet post-processing operation in a proper and stable manner. Further, even when the paper sheet information of the corresponding paper sheet has been changed, the sheet post-processing operation can be continuously performed without temporarily stopping the operation. Therefore, a high-speed sheet post-processing operation can be performed.
  • the downstream device when the downstream device has received various information signals from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the received various information signals, into the storing unit of the downstream device.
  • the downstream device When the paper sheet has come at a specified position, for example, when the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the downstream device transmits the information signals stored therein to a further downstream device connected to the downstream device.
  • each sheet post-processing device includes the corresponding storing unit for temporarily writing or storing a portion of or whole information signals received from the upstream device with respect to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the sheet post-processing devices except the most downstream device When the whole sheet post-processing devices except the most downstream device receive information signals from the upstream device during the sheet feeding operation, the sheet post-processing devices except the most downstream device temporarily write the various information signals to the corresponding storing unit, and transmits the portion of or whole information signals stored therein, according to the position of the paper sheet in the local sheet post-processing device. Therefore, the downstream device can perform the sheet post-processing operation in an accurate and stable manner. Further, when the content of the paper sheet information of the corresponding paper sheet has been changed, the sheet post-processing operation can be continuously performed without temporarily stopping. Therefore, a high-speed sheet post-processing operation can be performed.
  • the received signal storing operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to transmit information signals one by one by a fixed or given amount or length of byte thereof, from the upstream device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the local sheet post-processing device when the local sheet post-processing device receives various information signals from the upstream device, the local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes the received information signals in the storing unit thereof. At this time, the information signals are stored in an orderly sequence so as to easily recognize the receipt order of the received information signals.
  • each storing unit of the sheet post-processing devices a series of storage areas are provided to write information signals received from the upstream device.
  • Each storage area is basically provided for a series of various information signals of one paper sheet.
  • the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device provides a storage area A having addresses including a top address "a".
  • the addresses of the storage area A are represented by a variable "A”.
  • the various information signals received by the local sheet post-processing device are temporarily written into the storage area A one by one in the orderly sequence starting from the top address "a". That is, the writing of the various information signals starts from the address having the smallest number.
  • the local sheet post-processing device transmits the various information signal including the paper sheet information stored therein to the downstream device. Also at this time, the received information signals are sequentially read out starting from the top address "a" and are transmitted in the orderly sequence thereof to the downstream device.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device specifies the variable "A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address "a" thereto in step S501, and determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a fixed or given amount of various information signals transmitted from the upstream device.
  • step S502 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the fixed amount of various information signals, the determination result in step S502 is YES and the process proceeds to step S503.
  • step S502 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received various information signals, the determination result in step S502 is NO and the process of step S502 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives a fixed or given amount of information signals.
  • the CPU temporarily writes the received information signal in the top address "a” in step S503, and increments the variable "A” by one as a fixed or given amount of the information signals in step S504, and the process proceeds to step S505.
  • step S505 the CPU determines whether the paper sheet has come at the specified position.
  • step S505 When the paper sheet has come at the specified position, the determination result in step S505 is YES and the process proceeds to step S506.
  • step S505 When the paper sheet has not yet come at the specified position, the determination result in step S505 is NO, and the process of step S505 goes back to step S502.
  • the CPU repeats the steps S502 through S505 until no more sequential information signals of the corresponding paper sheet is transmitted.
  • step S505 After the determination result in step S505 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step S506, reads out and transmits the received information signal from the top address "a" to the downstream device in step S507. The CPU then increments the variable "A" by one as the fixed amount of the information signals in step S508, and the process proceeds to step S509.
  • step S509 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S509 the determination result in step S509 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S509 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S509 is NO, and the process goes back to step S507 to repeat steps S507 through S509 until no more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the downstream device Similar to the operation performed by the local sheet post-processing device, when receiving various information signals from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the received information signals, into the storing unit thereof.
  • the downstream device transmits the information signals stored therein to the further downstream device. Also in this case, the CPU controls to transmit the information signals in the orderly sequence thereof.
  • the sequence order of the signals may be changed.
  • the above-described condition may cause, for example, the disorder of the requests.
  • a signal A represents a signal to indicate the request of the sheet post-processing operation and a signal B represents a signal to fix the request
  • the fixing timing of the request may change.
  • the request of the sheet post-processing operation indicated by the signal A may be fixed when the signal B is received.
  • the request indicated by the signal A may not be fixed until the next signal B is received.
  • the signals of the present example embodiment can be controlled to properly manage the addresses stored in the storage area, thereby the signals can be kept in the orderly sequence.
  • the received signal storing operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to transmit a signal from the downstream device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the paper sheet forwarding signal is provided for informing a timing of forwarding a paper sheet.
  • the local sheet post-processing device transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal to the downstream device.
  • the downstream device can recognize a timing of a paper sheet to be fed.
  • the paper sheet information including the size, thickness, ID, the request of the sheet post-processing operation, and so forth are temporarily written or stored in the storage area A in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device, and transmitted while keeping the orderly sequence with respect to the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • Respective transmission timings of signals other than the paper sheet forwarding signal are sequentially transmitted immediately before or after the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • signals other than the paper sheet forwarding signal are referred to as "information signals" to distinguish from the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • the communication procedure in the flowchart of Figure 14 is basically similar to the procedure shown in the flowchart of Figure 13, except that the communication procedure of Figure 14 uses the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device specifies the variable "A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address "a" thereto in step S601, and the process proceeds to step S602.
  • step S602 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received an information signal of various information signals transmitted from the upstream device.
  • step S602 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a fixed or given amount of various information signals, the determination result in step S602 is YES and the process proceeds to step S603.
  • step S602 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received various information signals, the determination result in step S602 is NO, and the process of step S602 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives information signals.
  • the CPU temporarily writes the received information signal in the top address "a” in step S603, and increments the variable "A” by one as the fixed amount of the information signals in step S604, and the process proceeds to step S605.
  • step S605 the CPU determines whether the paper sheet forwarding signal has been received.
  • step S605 When the paper sheet forwarding signal has been received, the determination result in step S605 is YES, and the process goes to step S606.
  • step S605 When the paper sheet forwarding signal has not yet been received, the determination result in step S605 is NO, and the process goes back to step S602.
  • step S606 When the paper sheet has come at the specified position, the determination result in step S606 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S607.
  • step S606 When the paper sheet has not yet come at the specified position, the determination result in step S606 is NO, and the process of step S606 repeats until the paper sheet comes at the specified position.
  • step S606 After the determination result in step S606 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A” in step S607, reads out and transmits the received information signal by the fixed amount of information signals, from the top address "a” to the downstream device in step S608. The CPU then increments the variables "A” by one in step S609, and the process proceeds to step S610.
  • step S610 When the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals, the determination result in step S610 is YES, and the process goes to step S611.
  • step S610 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S610 is NO, and the process goes back to step S608 to repeat steps S608 through S610 until no more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the storing unit.
  • the CPU then transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal in step S611, and terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the downstream device Similar to the operation performed by the local sheet post-processing device, when receiving various information signals from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the received information signals, into the storing unit thereof.
  • the downstream device transmits the information signals stored therein to the further downstream device. Also in this case, the CPU controls to transmit the information signals in the orderly sequence thereof.
  • the controls of the operations performed by the CPU may become complicated and the size of the storage capacity for the operations may increase.
  • the controls may be simplified and the size of the storage capacity may be reduced, but the interval times of the information signals in sending and those in receiving may become different. Even when the interval times of the information signals are changed, it is necessary to determine which signal corresponds to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter.
  • the local sheet post-processing device may receive the information signals including the paper sheet information, then receive the paper sheet forwarding signal, and confirm the contents of the information signals.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can easily apply the paper sheet information included in the information signals to the paper sheet corresponding to the paper sheet forwarding signal.
  • the information signals may sequentially be transmitted immediately before or after the paper sheet forwarding signal has been transmitted, without changing the sequence order of the paper sheet forwarding signal and the information signals. Therefore, the sheet post-processing operation can be performed without making the operation control to be complex and the size of the storage capacity to be increased.
  • the CPU may perform parallel processing. Since the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device may take the operation procedures for the plurality of paper sheet stacks same as the operation procedure taken for a single paper sheet as described above, the description of the detailed procedures is omitted.
  • the communication procedure of the operation according to the third example embodiment is similar to the communication procedure of the second example embodiment. Except that the communication procedure performed in the third example embodiment issues the leading edge discharging signal as the paper sheet forwarding signal. Specifically, in the communication procedure according to the third example embodiment of the present patent application, the leading edge discharging signal is transmitted from the communication unit of the upstream device to the communication unit of the local sheet post-processing device. The communication unit of the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal before or after the leading edge of a paper sheet is discharged. The above-described transmission of the leading edge discharging signal can make the local sheet post-processing device recognize the timing of the leading edge of a paper sheet to be conveyed or fed.
  • the other parts, structures, and functions are same as those used in the first and second example embodiments. Therefore, the same reference numbers as those used in the first and second example embodiment are given, and the description of these parts, structures, and functions are omitted in the third example embodiment.
  • the operation of transmitting the leading edge discharging signal may be performed by the local sheet post-processing device to receive and transmit the leading edge discharging signal for informing the timing of conveying or feeding the leading edge of each paper sheet during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S701 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal. By receiving the leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of conveyance of the paper sheet.
  • step S701 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S701 is YES and the process proceeds to step S702.
  • step S701 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S701 is NO, and the process of step S701 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can confirm various information requests or signals, determine which request or signal corresponds to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter, and perform a paper sheet receiving operation, for example, of rotating a sheet conveying motor, of moving the jogger fences 16 to a standby position according to its size, etc. in step S702.
  • step S702 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines, in step S703, whether the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at a discharging position, for example, whether the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
  • step S703 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at the discharging position, the determination in step S703 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S704.
  • step S703 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not at the discharging position, the determination in step S703 is NO, and the process of step S703 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet comes at the discharging position.
  • step S704 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and completes the procedure.
  • the local sheet post-processing device performs the operation as shown in the flowchart of Figure 15. That is, when the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at the discharging position, or when the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the CPU of the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device. By receiving the leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of conveyance of the paper sheet.
  • the local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes the information signals including the paper sheet information, and transmits the information signals without changing the sequence order of the information signals with respect to the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the information signals are transmitted to the downstream device at the timing immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the information signals received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a first paper sheet or a paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a second paper sheet or a paper sheet 2 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 1, and the information signals received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 3 are collectively stored in one group unit as Group 2.
  • the information signals are stored respectively as Group 3, Group 4, and so on.
  • the local sheet post-processing device When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the local sheet post-processing device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device. Immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1. When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position, the local sheet post-processing device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3, Group 4, and so on.
  • the local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes the information signals including the paper sheet information, and transmits the leading edge discharging signal and the information signals without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • the information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the communication procedure that is taken when the plurality of paper sheets are fed is basically same as the communication procedure in the flowchart of Figure 15.
  • the whole signals are transmitted without changing the sequence order.
  • the downstream device When the information signals and the leading edge discharging signal are transmitted from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device performs its operation in a same manner as the local sheet post-processing device. That is, the downstream device temporarily writes the information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging signal and the information signals to the further downstream device.
  • each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e needs to recognize the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet. If the recognition of the timing fails, it may be difficult to assuredly determine which signal corresponds to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter. Further, if the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet cannot properly be recognized, the paper sheet receiving operation cannot be performed at an appropriate timing.
  • the paper sheet receiving operation may include operations of rotating a sheet conveying motor, of moving the jogger fences 16 to a standby position according to its size, etc.
  • the leading edge discharging signal may be transmitted as the paper sheet forwarding signal to the communication device of the downstream device at the timing before or after the leading edge of the paper sheet is discharged, and the downstream device can recognize the conveyance of the leading edge of the paper sheet by receiving the leading edge discharging signal. Thereby, the uncertainty of the determination and the inappropriateness of the timing can be reduced or prevented.
  • the communication procedure of the operation according to the fourth example embodiment of the present patent application is similar to the communication procedure of the third example embodiment. Except that the communication procedure performed by the fourth example embodiment writes or stores a portion or whole set of the information signals as a group unit. Further, in the fourth example embodiment, information signals can be transmitted by a flexible amount or length of byte thereof, from the upstream device to the downstream device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
  • a portion or whole set of the information signals received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 2 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 1
  • a portion or whole set of the information signals received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 3 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 2.
  • the information signals are written or stored as Group 3, Group 4, and so on.
  • the upstream device When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device. Immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the upstream device transmits the portion of whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1. When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and immediately transmits the portion or whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3, Group 4, and so on. At this time, the received signals including the leading edge discharging signal and the corresponding information signals are transmitted without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • step S801 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device, for example, determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
  • step S801 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S801 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S802.
  • step S801 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S801 is NO, and the process of step S801 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the CPU starts the task of the paper sheet 2, which is a second paper sheet of the stack of paper sheets, in step S802, specifies the variable "A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address "a” thereto in step S803, and the process proceeds to step S804.
  • step S804 the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position, for example, whether the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
  • step S804 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S804 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S810.
  • step S804 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is not present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S804 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S805.
  • step S805 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 from the upstream device.
  • step S805 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2, the determination result in step S805 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S809.
  • step S805 determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device in step S806.
  • the "information signals" in step S806 represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2.
  • step S806 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals, the determination result of step S806 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S807.
  • step S806 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received information signals, the determination result of step S806 is NO, and the process goes back to step S804.
  • the CPU repeats the steps S804 through S806 until the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position or the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
  • step S806 After the determination result in step S806 becomes "YES", the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the information signals in Group 1, starting from the top address "a" in the storing area A, in step S807. The CPU then increments the variable "A” by the number of addresses "N” according to the flexible amount of the information signals in step S808, and the process goes back to step S804. The CPU repeats steps S804 through S808 until no more sequential information signals for Group 1 is transmitted.
  • step S805 After the determination result in step S805 becomes "YES", the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 has come at the discharging position in step S809.
  • step S809 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 has come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S809 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S810.
  • step S809 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 has not yet come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S809 is NO, and the process of step S809 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position.
  • the CPU After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 at the discharging position is confirmed in step S809, the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device in step S810, and determines whether the received information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S811.
  • step S811 When the received information signals still remain in the storing unit, the determination result in step S811 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S812.
  • step S811 When the received information signals have completely transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the determination result in step S811 is NO, and the CPU terminates the process.
  • step S811 After the determination result in step S811 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step S812, and reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 1, starting from the top address "a” to the downstream device in step S813. The CPU then increments the variable "A" by one in step S814, and the process proceeds to step S815.
  • step S815 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 1 with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S815 When the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 1, the determination result in step S815 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S815 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S815 is NO, and the process goes back to step S813 so as to repeat steps S813 through S815 until no more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the communication procedures of the flowcharts shown in Figures 17A and 17B are basically similar to the communication procedure of the flowchart shown in Figure 16. Except, the CPU starts the task of the paper sheet 3 in step S902 of the flowchart of Figure 17A, and starts the task of a paper sheet 4 in step S902 of the flowchart of Figure 17B. Further, a storing area B including the top address "b" and a variable “B” is applied in the communication procedure shown in Figure 17A, and a storing area C including the top address "c" and a variable "C” is applied in the communication procedure shown in Figure 17B.
  • the communication procedures of the respective tasks of the paper sheets 2 and 3 are described. Since the communication procedures of the respective tasks of the paper sheet 2 and 3 are basically similar to each other, the description of the communication procedure of the task of the paper sheet 3 is additionally generated to the description of the communication procedure of the task of the paper sheet 2.
  • step S901 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (the paper sheet 3 in Figure 17B) from the upstream device.
  • step S901 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3), the determination result in step S901 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S902.
  • step S901 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3), the determination result in step S901 is NO, and the process of step S901 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3).
  • the CPU starts the task of the paper sheet 3 in step S902 (the task of the paper sheet 4 in Figure 17B).
  • the CPU specifies the variable "B" (the variable "C” in Figure 17B) representing the storage area B (the storing area C in Figure 17B) so as to assign the top address "b" (the top address "c” in Figure 17B) thereto in step S903, and the process proceeds to step S904.
  • step S904 the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 in Figure 17B) has come at the discharging position, for example, whether the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
  • step S904 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3) is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S904 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S910.
  • step S904 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3) is not at the discharging position, the determination result in step S904 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S905.
  • step S905 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4) from the upstream device.
  • step S905 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4), the determination result in step S905 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S909.
  • step S905 determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device.
  • the "information signals" in step S906 represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3.
  • the information signals represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 4.
  • step S906 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals, the determination result of step S906 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S907.
  • step S906 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the information signals, the determination result of step S906 is NO, and the process goes back to step S904.
  • the CPU repeats steps S904 through S906 until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
  • step S906 After the determination result in step S906 becomes "YES", the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the information signals in Group 2 (Group 3 in Figure 17B), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address "c") in the storing area B (or the storing area C) in step S907. The CPU then increments the variable “B” (the variable “C” in Figure 17B) by the number of addresses "N” according to the flexible amount of the information signals in step S908, and the process goes back to step S904. The CPU repeats steps S804 through S808 until no more sequential information signals for Group 2 (or Group 3) is transmitted.
  • step S905 After the determination result in step S905 becomes "YES", the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the leading edge of the paper sheet 4 in Figure 17B) has come at the discharging position in step S909.
  • step S909 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4) has come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S909 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S910.
  • step S909 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4) has not yet come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S909 is NO, and the process of step S909 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4) comes at the discharging position.
  • the CPU After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (the leading edge of the paper sheet 4 in Figure 17B) at the discharging position is confirmed in step S909, the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device in step S910, and determines whether the received information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S911.
  • step S911 When the received information signals still remain in the storing unit, the determination result in step S911 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S912.
  • step S911 When the received information signals have completely transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the determination result in step S911 is NO, and the CPU terminates the process.
  • step S911 After the determination result in step S911 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "b" to the variable "B" (or the top address "c” to the variable "C” in Figure 17B) in step S912, and reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 2 (or Group 3), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address "c") to the downstream device in step S913. The CPU then increments the variable "B" (or the variable "C") by one in step S914, and the process proceeds to step S915.
  • step S915 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 2 (or Group 2) with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S915 When the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 2 (or Group 3), the determination result in step S915 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S915 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S915 is NO, and the process goes back to step S913 so as to repeat steps S913 through S915 until no more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area B (or the storing area C) of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the timing of transmission of the leading edge discharging signal may delay according to the number or amount of the information signals.
  • the delay of the timing of transmitting the last leading edge discharging signal may greatly depend on the number or amount of the information signals.
  • the downstream device controlled to start driving its conveying motor depending upon the receipt of the leading edge discharging signal may cause a delay to start the conveying motors, which can cause deterioration in performance of conveying paper sheets.
  • Transmission of the information signals immediately before the leading edge discharging signal may cause a sheet post-processing device to make the interval between the receipt of the information signals and the transmission thereof to be the longest interval. That is, the sheet post-processing device may cause a delay in transferring the signal to the downstream sheet post-processing device, which cannot make it to prepare the paper sheet receiving operation depending on the requirements of the signal.
  • sheet post-processing devices in the present example embodiment can:
  • the communication procedures of the tasks according to the fifth example embodiment are similar to the communication procedure of the second example embodiment. Except that the communication procedure performed in the fifth example embodiment issues, in addition to the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge discharging signal also as the paper sheet forwarding signal. Specifically, in the communication procedures in the flowcharts of Figures 18 and 19 according to the fifth example embodiment of the present patent application, the leading edge discharging signal is transmitted from the communication unit of the upstream device to the communication unit of the local sheet post-processing device before or after the leading edge of a paper sheet is discharged, and the trailing edge discharging signal is transmitted from the communication unit of the upstream device to the communication unit of the local sheet post-processing device before or after the trailing edge of a paper sheet is discharged.
  • the above-described transmissions of the leading edge discharging signal and the trailing edge discharging signal can make the local sheet post-processing device recognize the respective timings of the leading and trailing edges of a paper sheet to be conveyed or fed, respectively.
  • the other parts, structures, and functions are same as those used in the first and second example embodiments. Therefore, the same reference numbers as those used in the first and second example embodiment are given, and the description of these parts, structures, and functions are omitted in the fifth example embodiment.
  • the leading edge discharging signal is used to inform the timing of conveying the leading edge of a paper sheet
  • the trailing edge discharging signal is used to inform the timing of conveying the trailing edge of the paper sheet.
  • the flowchart of Figure 18 shows the task of processing the leading edge of a paper sheet
  • the flowchart of Figure 19 shows the task of processing the trailing edge of a paper sheet.
  • the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of the leading edge of the paper sheet to be discharged.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can confirm various information requests or signals, determine which request or signal corresponds to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter, and perform a paper sheet receiving operation, for example, of rotating a sheet conveying motor, of moving the jogger fences 16 to a standby position according to its size, etc.
  • the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of the trailing edge of the paper sheet to be discharged. For example, even when the length of a paper sheet is not informed, the local sheet post-processing device can determine whether a paper jam has occurred if the trailing edge discharging signal is received.
  • the downstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the further downstream device.
  • the downstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the further downstream device.
  • step S1001 of the flowchart of Figure 18 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal from the upstream device.
  • step S1001 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S1001 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1002.
  • step S1001 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S1001 is NO, and the process repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal.
  • the CPU starts the task of processing the trailing edge of the paper sheet in step S1002, starts the paper sheet receiving operation in step S1003, and determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at the discharging position in step S1004.
  • step S1004 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1004 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1005.
  • step S1004 When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1004 is NO, and the process of step S1004 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet comes at the discharging position.
  • step S1004 After the determination result in step S1004 becomes "YES", the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device in step S1005, and terminates the process.
  • step S1101 of the flowchart of Figure 19 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal from the upstream device.
  • step S1101 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S1101 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1102.
  • step S1101 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the trailing edge discharging signal, the determination result in step S1101 is NO, and the process of step S1101 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging signal.
  • the CPU starts the trailing edge receiving operation in step S1102, and determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet has come at the discharging position in step S1103.
  • step S1103 When the trailing edge of the paper sheet is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1103 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1104.
  • step S1103 When the trailing edge of the paper sheet is not present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1103 is NO, and the process of step S1103 repeats until the trailing edge of the paper sheet comes at the discharging position.
  • step S1103 After the determination result in step S1103 becomes "YES", the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and completes the process.
  • the leading edge discharging signals that are indicated as “S1” and “S3” and the trailing edge discharging signal that is indicated as “S2” remain in a standby mode while these signals S1, S2, and S3 are transmitted from a device 1 representing an upstream device to a device 2 representing a local sheet post-processing device, and from the device 2 to a device 3 representing a downstream device.
  • each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e needs to recognize the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet.
  • the downstream device cannot perform the paper sheet receiving operation at an appropriate timing, as previously described.
  • the downstream device needs to recognize the timing of receiving the trailing edge of the paper sheet so as to detect a defect, for example a paper jam.
  • a defect for example a paper jam.
  • the downstream device may fail to determine the detection of the paper jam and so forth.
  • the communication procedure performed in the fifth example embodiment therefore, uses both the leading edge discharging signal and the trailing edge discharging signal as the paper sheet forwarding signal that are transmitted before or after the leading and trailing edges of a paper sheet are discharged, respectively.
  • the downstream device can recognize the conveyance or passage of the leading and trailing edges of a paper sheet, respectively.
  • the present example embodiment can:
  • the communication procedures of the tasks according to the sixth example embodiment of the present patent application are similar to the communication procedures of the fifth example embodiment. Except that each of the communication procedures performed by the sixth example embodiment stores a portion or whole set of the information signals as a group.
  • a portion or whole set of the information signals received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 1-1 as shown in Figure 21
  • a portion or whole set of the information signals received between the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 2 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 1-2 as shown in Figure 22.
  • the information signals are written or stored as Group 2-1 in Figure 23A, Group 2-2 in Figure 23B, and so on.
  • the upstream device When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device. Immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the upstream device transmits the portion of whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1-1. When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and immediately transmits the portion or whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1-2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 2-1, Group 2-2, and so on. At this time, the received signals including the leading edge discharging signals, the trailing edge discharging signals, and the corresponding information signals are transmitted without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of conveyance of the leading edge of the paper sheet.
  • the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the timing of conveyance of the trailing edge of the paper sheet.
  • the local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes or stores the information signals including information of the size, thickness, and ID of the paper sheets, the request of the sheet post-processing operation, and so forth, and transmits the information signals without changing the sequence order thereof with respect to the leading edge discharging signal and the trailing edge discharging signal.
  • the information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal or immediately after the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal, depending on the discharging signal to which the information signals correspond.
  • the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device when the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, then immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1-1.
  • the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device when the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, then immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1-2.
  • the upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, then immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 2-1. Further, when the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, then immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 2-2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3-1, Group 3-2, and so on.
  • Each sheet post-processing device temporarily stores the information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge discharging signal, and the information signals without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • the information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal or immediately after the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal.
  • the communication procedure that is taken when the plurality of paper sheets are fed is basically same as the communication procedure as described above.
  • the signals are transmitted without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • the downstream device When the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge discharging signal, and the information signals are transmitted from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device performs in a same manner as the local sheet post-processing device. That is, the downstream device temporarily writes the information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge discharging signal, and the information signals to the further downstream device.
  • step S1201 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device, for example, determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
  • step S1201 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S1201 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1202.
  • step S1201 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S1201 is NO, and the process of step S1201 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1.
  • the CPU starts the task of processing the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 in step S1202, specifies the variable "A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address "a” thereto in step S1203, and the process proceeds to step S1204.
  • step S1204 the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position.
  • step S1204 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1204 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1210.
  • step S1204 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is not present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1204 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S1205.
  • step S1205 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
  • step S1205 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S1205 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1209.
  • step S1205 determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device in step S1206.
  • the "information signals" in step S1206 represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1.
  • each information signal may be transmitted not in a given or fixed amount but in a flexible amount thereof. That is, the length of byte of the address (referred to as "N") to be used may be longer than the length used for writing and storing the fixed amount of the information signals.
  • step S1206 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals, the determination result of step S1206 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1207.
  • step S1206 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received information signals, the determination result of step S1206 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1204.
  • the CPU repeats steps S1204 through S1206 until the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position or the local sheet post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
  • step S1206 After the determination result in step S1206 has become "YES", the CPU temporarily writes the received information signal by the number of addresses "N” corresponding to the flexible amount of information signals in Group 1-1, starting from the top address "a" in the storing area A, in step S1207. The CPU then increments the variable "A” by the number of addresses "N” according to the flexible amount of the information signals in step S1208, and the process goes back to step S1204. The CPU repeats steps S1204 through S1208 until no more sequential information signals for Group 1-1 is transmitted.
  • step S1205 After the determination result in step S1205 becomes "YES", the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position in step S1209.
  • step S1209 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1209 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1210.
  • step S1209 When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has not yet come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1209 is NO, and the process of step S1209 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position.
  • the CPU After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 at the discharging position is confirmed in step S1209, the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device in step S1210, and determines whether the received information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S1211.
  • step S1211 When the received information signals still remain in the storing unit, the determination result in step S1211 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1212.
  • step S1211 When the received information signals have completely transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the determination result in step S1211 is NO, and the CPU terminates the process.
  • step S1211 After the determination result in step S1211 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step S1212, reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 1-1, starting from the top address "a” to the downstream device in step S1213. The CPU then increments the variable "A" by one in step S1214, and the process proceeds to step S1215.
  • step S1215 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 1-1 with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S1215 When the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 1-1, the determination result in step S1215 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S1215 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S1215 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1213 so as to repeat steps S1213 through S1215 until no more sequential information signal of Group 1-1 to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S1301 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
  • step S1301 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S1301 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1302.
  • step S1301 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the determination result in step S1301 is NO, and the process of step S1301 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1.
  • the CPU starts the task of processing the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 in step S1302, specifies the variable "A'" representing the storage area A' so as to assign the top address "a'" thereto in step S1303, and the process proceeds to step S1304.
  • step S1304 the CPU determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position.
  • step S1304 determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the discharging position.
  • step S1304 determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the discharging position.
  • step S1305 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 from the upstream device.
  • step S1305 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2, the determination result in step S1305 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1309.
  • step S1305 determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device.
  • the "information signals" in step S1306 represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2.
  • each information signal may be transmitted not in a fixed amount but in a flexible amount thereof. That is, the length of byte of the address (referred to as "N") to be used may be longer than the length used for writing and storing the fixed amount of the information signals.
  • step S1306 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals, the determination result of step S1306 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1307.
  • step S1306 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received information signals, the determination result of step S1306 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1304.
  • the CPU repeats steps S1304 through S1306 until the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position or the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 or a flexible amount of the information signals.
  • step S1305 After the determination result in step S1305 becomes "YES", the CPU determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position in step S1309.
  • step S1309 When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1309 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1310.
  • step S1309 When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is not yet at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1309 is NO, and the process of step S1309 repeats until the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position.
  • the CPU After the arrival of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 at the discharging position is confirmed in step S1309, the CPU transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device in step S1310, and determines whether the received information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S1311.
  • step S1311 When the received information signals still remain in the storing unit, the determination result in step S1311 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1312.
  • step S1311 When the received information signals have completely transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the determination result in step S1311 is NO, and the CPU terminates the process.
  • step S1311 After the determination result in step S1311 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "a'" to the variable "A'” in step S1312, reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 1-2, starting from the top address "a'" to the downstream device in step S1313. The CPU then increments the variable "A'” by one in step S1314, and the process proceeds to step S1315.
  • step S1315 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 1-2 with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S1315 the determination result in step S1315 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S1315 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S1315 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1313 so as to repeat steps S1313 through S1315 until no more sequential information signal of Group 1-2 to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A' of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the communication procedures of the flowcharts shown in Figures 23A and 23B are basically similar to the procedures of the flowcharts shown in Figures 21 and 22, respectively. Except, the CPU starts the task of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in step S1402 of the flowchart of Figure 23A, and starts the task of the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 in step S1402 of the flowchart of Figure 23B. Further, a storing area B including the top address "b" and a variable "B” is applied in the communication procedures shown in the flowchart of Figure 23A, and a storing area B' including the top address "b'" and a variable "B'” is applied in the communication procedures shown in the flowchart of Figure 23B.
  • the communication procedures of the respective tasks of the leading and trailing edges of the paper sheet 2 are described. Since the communication procedures of the respective tasks of the leading and trailing edges of the paper sheet 2 are basically similar to each other, the description of the communication procedure of the task of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 is additionally generated to the description of the communication procedure of the task of the leading edge of the paper sheet 2.
  • step S1401 the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in Figure 23B) from the upstream device.
  • step S1401 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2), the determination result in step S1401 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1402.
  • step S1401 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2), the determination result in step S1401 is NO, and the process of step S1401 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal (or the trailing edge discharging signal).
  • the CPU starts the task of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in step S1402 (the task of the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 in Figure 23B).
  • the CPU specifies the variable "B" (the variable "B'” in Figure 23B) representing the storage area B (the storing area B' in Figure 23B) so as to assign the top address "b" (the top address "b'” in Figure 23B) thereto in step S1403, and the process proceeds to step S1404.
  • step S1404 the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in Figure 23B) has come at the discharging position.
  • step S1404 determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2) is present at the discharging position.
  • step S1404 determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2) is present at the discharging position.
  • step S1405 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3 in Figure 23B) from the upstream device.
  • step S1405 When the local sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3), the determination result in step S1405 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1409.
  • step S1405 determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device.
  • the "information signals" in step S1406 represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2.
  • the "information signals” represents the various information signals that are received between the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3.
  • step S1406 When the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible amount of the information signals, the determination result of step S1406 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1407.
  • step S1406 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the information signals, the determination result of step S1406 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1404.
  • the CPU repeats steps S1404 through S1406 until the local sheet post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
  • step S1206 After the determination result in step S1206 becomes "YES", the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the information signals in Group 2-1 (Group 2-2 in Figure 23B), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address "b'” in Figure 23B) in the storing area B (or the storing area B') in step S1407. The CPU then increments the variable "B” (the variable "B'” in Figure 23B) by the number of addresses "N” according to the flexible amount of the information signals in step S1408, and the process goes back to step S1404. The CPU repeats steps S1404 through S1408 until no more sequential information signals for Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2) is transmitted.
  • step S1405 After the determination result in step S1405 becomes "YES", the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in Figure 23B) has come at the discharging position in step S1409.
  • step S1409 When the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper sheet 2 has come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1409 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1410.
  • step S1409 When the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper sheet 2 has not yet come at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1409 is NO, and the process of step S1409 repeats until the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position.
  • the CPU After the arrival of the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper sheet 2 at the discharging position is confirmed in step S1409, the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal (or the trailing edge discharging signal in Figure 23B) to the downstream device in step S1410, and determines whether the received information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in step S1411.
  • step S1411 When the received information signals still remain in the storing unit, the determination result in step S1411 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1412.
  • step S1411 When the received information signals have completely transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the determination result in step S1411 is NO, and the CPU terminates the process.
  • step S1411 After the determination result in step S1411 becomes "YES", the CPU assigns the top address "b" to the variable "B" (or the top address "b'” to the variable “B'” in Figure 23B) in step S1412, reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address "b'") to the downstream device in step S1413. The CPU then increments the variable "B" (or the variable "B'") by one in step S1414, and the process proceeds to step S1415.
  • step S1415 the CPU determines whether the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2) with respect to the downstream device.
  • step S1415 When the local sheet post-processing device has completed the transmission of the information signals of Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2), the determination result in step S1415 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing device.
  • step S1415 When the local sheet post-processing device still has the information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the determination result in step S1415 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1413 so as to repeat steps S1413 through S1415 until no more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area B (or the storing area B') of the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
  • the leading edge discharging signals that are indicated as "S1" and “S3" and the trailing edge discharging signal that is indicated as “S2" remain in a standby mode while these signals S1, S2, and S3 are transmitted from a device 1 representing an upstream device to a device 2 representing a local sheet post-processing device, and from the device 2 to a device 3 representing a downstream device.
  • the respective groups of the information signals are transmitted from the upstream device to the downstream device.
  • each group of the information signals is transmitted immediately after the corresponding one of the signals S1, S2, and S3.
  • leading edge discharging signal S1 and the information signals corresponding to the leading edge discharging signal S1 are transmitted as a set of signals as shown in Figure 24, and so are the trailing edge discharging signal S2 and the corresponding information signals, and the leading edge discharging signal S3 and the corresponding information signals.
  • each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e needs to recognize the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet.
  • the downstream device cannot perform the paper sheet receiving operation at an appropriate timing, as previously described.
  • the downstream device needs to recognize the timing of receiving the trailing edge of the paper sheet so as to detect a defect, for example a paper jam.
  • a defect for example a paper jam.
  • the downstream device may fail to determine the detection of the paper jam and so forth.
  • the communication procedure performed in the sixth example embodiment stores the portion or whole set of the information signals as a group.
  • an upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to a downstream device. Immediately after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the upstream device transmits the portion of whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1-1. When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and immediately transmits the portion or whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1-2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 2-1, Group 2-2, and so on.
  • the received signals including the leading edge discharging signals, the trailing edge discharging signals, and the information signals are transmitted without changing the sequence order thereof.
  • the downstream device can properly recognize the leading and trailing edges of a series of paper sheets.
  • the signals are transmitted in the order of the leading edge of the paper sheet 1, the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1, the leading edge of the paper sheet 2, the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2, and so on, which can cause the downstream device to perform the operations smoothly.
  • the present patent application can enhance the effects that can be obtained through the performance in the fifth example embodiment.
  • the local sheet post-processing device performs the operations of the communication procedure to process the information signals in the third through sixth example embodiments.
  • the local sheet post-processing device In a case in which the local sheet post-processing device receives the information signals from the upstream device after the local sheet post-processing device has already transmitted the preceding paper sheet forwarding signal corresponding to the information signals, to the downstream device, the local sheet post-processing device instantly transmits the information signals corresponding to the preceding paper sheet forwarding signal, to the downstream device.
  • the "preceding paper sheet forwarding signal" can be applied to the leading edge discharging signal or the trailing edge discharging signal.
  • the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device determines whether the whole paper sheet forwarding signal(s) transmitted to the local sheet post-processing device have already been transmitted to the downstream device or have not been received from the upstream device in step S1501.
  • step S1501 When the paper sheet forwarding signal(s) in the local sheet post-processing device have already been transmitted or have not been received, the determination result in step S1501 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1502.
  • step S1501 When the paper sheet forwarding signal(s) remain in the local sheet post-processing device, the determination result in step S1501 is NO, and the process of step S1501 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device empties the paper sheet forwarding signals therefrom.
  • step S1502 the CPU determines the local sheet post-processing device has received the information signals.
  • step S1502 When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet received the information signals, the determination result in step S1502 is NO, and the process of step S1502 goes back to step S1501.
  • step S1502 After the determination result of step S1502 has become "YES", the local sheet post-processing device instantly transmits the received signals to the downstream device in step S1503, and terminates the process.
  • the signals can be aligned in the orderly sequence and the information signals can be transmitted in the fastest way.
  • a sheet post-processing system that includes a plurality of sheet post-processing device, each of which receives various signals including paper sheet information by at least one communication module or unit before or after the paper sheet is fed, stores the received signals in the storing unit, and transmits the stored signals before or after the paper sheet is discharged. Further, each of the plurality of sheet post-processing devices of the sheet post-processing system keeps the conveying rollers unrotated until the paper sheet forwarding signal is received. Further, the sheet post-processing system can be connected with an image forming device. With the above-described structures, the sheet post-processing system can perform the sheet feeding operation in a high speed and stable manner and at low cost.
  • the image forming system can perform the sheet feeding operation in a high speed and stable manner and at low cost.
EP06254313A 2005-08-18 2006-08-17 Datenübertragung zwischen Blattnachbearbeitungsmodulen Ceased EP1755006A1 (de)

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JP2005238045 2005-08-18
JP2005267401 2005-09-14
JP2006001511A JP5118303B2 (ja) 2005-09-14 2006-01-06 シート処理装置、シート処理システム及び画像形成装置
JP2006133744A JP4881058B2 (ja) 2005-08-18 2006-05-12 シート処理装置及び画像形成システム

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EP2371567A3 (de) * 2010-03-31 2015-02-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Medienfördervorrichtung, die ein verteiltes Steuersystem aufnimmt
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JP6019847B2 (ja) 2011-08-01 2016-11-02 株式会社リコー 画像形成システム及び用紙搬送方法
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