JP2002104721A - Finishing system, finishing method and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a finishing system capable of carrying out appropriate finishing treatment according to whether a sheet-like recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper. SOLUTION: This finishing system is provided with a discriminating means 114 for discriminating whether the sheet-like recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, and a control means 113 for controlling the finishing treatment according to the discriminated result of the discriminating means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a finishing system and a finishing method for performing processes such as sorting, stapling, punching and the like (collectively referred to as "finishing processes") on a plurality of types of sheet recording media. . This type of finishing system is typically added to or incorporated into an image forming apparatus such as a copy, fax, or printer.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus provided with such a finishing system.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when copying on a plurality of types of paper, the paper thickness for each paper type is stored in advance, and the binding thickness is calculated from the paper thickness and the number of documents. A system that permits stapling only when the binding thickness does not exceed the maximum binding thickness has been proposed (JP-A-8-6334). Further, there has been proposed to select an appropriate size or the like of a staple based on the binding thickness. Thereby, staple mistakes can be eliminated.

However, recently, digital paper has been used as a sheet-like recording medium on which an image is formed, and therefore, it is necessary to consider a finishing method in accordance with the digital paper.

[0005] The concept of "digital paper" includes the concept of rewritable paper (rewritable recording technology and medium) which is targeted in the hard copy technology field, and the concept of paper-like display (targeted in the display technology field). (E.g., display / apparatus that is easy to read like printed on paper).
Mobutani: "Digital Paper Concepts and Trends" Journal of the Imaging Society of Japan, Vol. 38, No. 2, p115-p121 (1
999)). The basic functions targeted by Digital Paper are:
It is easy to read at the level of printed matter, erasable and re-writable, easy to store images (ideally requires no maintenance energy), and has low writing energy. Further, the goals regarding handling properties are to be portable (portable), thin (ideally the thickness of paper), and roughly bendable (ideally folded into paper). As described in the same document, digital paper display hardware technologies include electrophoresis, twisted ball, thermal rewritable, liquid crystal, electromy, photochromy, thermochromy, thermoplastic, and magnetic particle rotation. , A magnetophoresis method, and the like.

For example, when staples or punches are applied to digital paper of a liquid crystal system, liquid crystal on the entire screen leaks from staple holes or punch holes, and the digital paper loses its function and cannot be reused. The problem described above occurs. In addition, even if digital paper of another system is stapled or punched once, when the display contents of the digital paper are rewritten, the staple holes and punch holes are added to the rewritten image data. On the other hand, there is a problem that noise occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a finishing system or a finishing method capable of performing an appropriate finishing process depending on whether a sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing an appropriate finishing process depending on whether a sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a finishing system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a discriminating means for discriminating whether a sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, Control means for controlling the finishing process in accordance with the result of the determination by the determination means.

In this specification, "digital paper" refers to a thin (sheet-shaped) portable information medium having a memory function of storing digital information and a display function of displaying the stored digital information. As the "digital paper", in addition to a display unit capable of storing and displaying digital information, a control unit (integrated circuit (IC) chip) for controlling the display content of the display unit and a battery as a power supply are integrated. Includes those provided. “Non-digital paper” means a sheet-shaped recording medium other than digital paper. The "non-digital paper" includes plain paper, secondary base paper such as tracing paper, OHP (overhead projector) film, and the like.

In the finishing system of the first aspect, the discriminating means determines whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, and the control means performs the finishing process in accordance with the result of the discrimination by the discriminating means. Control. Therefore, an appropriate finishing process can be performed depending on whether the sheet recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper. For example, stapling and punching of digital paper can be prohibited. Therefore, the digital paper can be reused in a complete state without any staple holes or punch holes.

A finishing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the finishing system according to the first aspect, wherein the determining means determines the type of the digital paper.

Here, the "type of digital paper" refers to the type of digital paper recording system (electrophoretic system, thermal rewritable system, liquid crystal system, etc.), the type of sheet recording medium thickness in each recording system, and the like. Include widely.

In the finishing system according to the second aspect, the determining means determines the type of the digital paper. Therefore, the above-mentioned control means can perform an appropriate finishing process according to the type of digital paper.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the finishing system according to the second aspect, the determining means determines a digital paper recording method including at least an electrophoresis method, a thermal rewritable method, and a liquid crystal method. It is characterized by.

In the finishing system according to the third aspect, the discriminating means discriminates a recording method of digital paper including at least an electrophoretic method, a thermal rewritable method, and a liquid crystal method, so that at least these three recording methods are distinguished from each other. it can. Therefore, by the control means, it is possible to perform an appropriate finishing process according to the recording method of the digital paper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the finishing system according to the third aspect, the determining means applies a voltage between both sides of the digital paper, and applies a density to the digital paper before and after the voltage application. When there is a change, the digital paper recording method is determined to be an electrophoretic method.

According to the finishing system of the fourth aspect, it is accurately determined that the digital paper recording method is the electrophoresis method.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the finishing system according to the third aspect, the discriminating means heats the digital paper, and when there is a density change in the digital paper before and after the heating. It is characterized in that the recording method of the digital paper is determined to be the thermal rewritable method.

According to the finishing system of the present invention, it is accurately determined that the digital paper recording method is the thermal rewritable method.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the finishing system according to the third aspect, the discriminating means detects whether or not the digital paper has an electrode terminal. The recording method of the digital paper is a liquid crystal method.

According to the finishing system of the present invention, it is accurately determined that the recording method of the digital paper is the liquid crystal method.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the finishing system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the control means includes a sorting process,
The stapling process, the punching process, and the folding process are selectively performed or prohibited.

According to the finishing system of the present invention, depending on whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, or when the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper, the digital paper is used. Depending on the type, a suitable finishing process can be performed.

[0025] The finishing method according to claim 8 is characterized in that:
A finishing method comprising: a step of determining whether a sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or a non-digital paper; and a step of controlling finishing processing in accordance with a result of the determination.

According to the finishing method of the present invention, it is determined whether the sheet-shaped recording medium on which the image is formed or the image is formed is digital paper or non-digital paper, and the finishing is performed according to the determination result. Control processing. Therefore, an appropriate finishing process can be performed depending on whether the sheet recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper. For example, stapling and punching of digital paper can be prohibited. Therefore, the digital paper can be reused in a complete state without any staple holes or punch holes.

An image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium by an image forming unit, performing a finishing process on the sheet-shaped recording medium on which the image has been formed, and discharging the sheet. A discriminating means for discriminating whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, and a control means for controlling a finishing process according to a discrimination result of the discriminating means. I do.

In the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the discriminating means determines whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper, and the control means performs finishing processing in accordance with a result of the discrimination by the discriminating means. Control. Therefore, an appropriate finishing process can be performed depending on whether the sheet recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper. For example, stapling and punching of digital paper can be prohibited. Therefore, the digital paper can be reused in a complete state without any staple holes or punch holes.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional structure of a digital color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment to which the finishing system of the present invention is applied.

In this digital color image forming apparatus, an image reader unit 101 for optically reading an original image is provided on a main body 100 with a sheet-like recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a “sheet”).
That. ), The image forming section 115 for forming an image
00, a sheet feeding unit 200 for supplying a sheet to the image forming unit 115 is provided in a lower part of the main body 100, and a finisher unit 3 for performing a finishing process on a sheet after image formation.
00 is provided on each side of the main body 100. A control unit (including an image memory) 113 as a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus is
Inside.

An image reader 101 scans an original placed on a platen glass 103.
It has. The scanner 102 includes an exposure lamp 104 for irradiating a document, and mirrors 105 and 10 for guiding reflected light from the document to a CCD color image sensor 110.
6, 107 and a condenser lens 108. At the time of reading the document, the exposure lamp 104 and the mirror 105 are driven by the motor 112 to move integrally in the left-right direction (sub-scanning direction) in FIG. Thereby, the exposure lamp 1
The image of the original surface irradiated at 04 is mirrors 105 and 10.
The light is incident on the image sensor 110 via the condenser lens 107 and the condenser lens 108, and is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 110 into an electric signal. The multi-valued electrical signals of the three colors R, G, and B obtained by the image sensor 110 are processed by the image signal processing unit 111 into any of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 8 of that
It is converted into bit gradation data (image data). The 8-bit gradation data obtained in the image signal processing unit 111 is stored in an image memory in the control unit 113. In addition,
Image data used for image formation may be input from outside the device via the network 400.

The paper feeding section 200 includes three-stage paper feeding cassettes 120, 121 and 122 each storing a plurality of sheets. At the time of sheet feeding, one sheet is fed from one of the cassettes 120, 121, 122 by sheet feeding rollers 123, 124, 125 under the control of the control unit 113.
The sheet is sent out to the conveyance path 151 one by one and supplied to the image forming unit 115 by the conveyance roller 126. In this example, plain paper which is non-digital paper and digital paper of three types of recording methods (electrophoretic method (or twisted ball method), thermal rewritable method, liquid crystal method) ) Are mixed.

[0034] Facing the transport path 151, it is detected whether the sheet sent from the paper feed unit 200 to the transport path 151 is digital paper or non-digital paper. A detection unit 114 for detecting the recording method of digital paper is provided. Specifically, the detection unit 114 is provided for detecting an electrophoretic digital paper as shown in FIG. 2 and for detecting a thermal rewritable digital paper as shown in FIG. And a liquid crystal type detecting means for detecting digital paper of a liquid crystal type as shown in FIG.

The electrophoretic detection means shown in FIG. 2 includes a voltage application unit 5 for applying a voltage between both surfaces of the digital paper 40.
0, a first density detection unit 51 provided upstream of the voltage application unit 50 with respect to the transport direction a, and a second density detection unit 52 provided downstream of the voltage application unit 50 with respect to the transport direction a. have. Under the control of the control unit 113, the first density detection unit 51 detects the density (density before voltage application) of the opposing portion of the digital paper 40 while transporting the digital paper 40 in the transport direction a at a predetermined transport speed. Subsequently, when the part reaches the position facing the voltage applying unit 50, the voltage applying unit 50 applies a predetermined voltage to the part of the digital paper 40. here,
If the recording method of the digital paper 40 is an electrophoretic method (or a twisting ball method), the portion to which the voltage is applied changes to black (or a predetermined image density). continue,
When the portion reaches the position facing the second density detecting section 52, the second density detecting section 52 uses the digital paper 40.
Is detected at that portion (density after voltage application). Then, the controller 113 compares the density before and after the voltage application, and when there is a density change in the digital paper 40 before and after the voltage application, the recording method of the digital paper 40 is an electrophoresis method (or a twist ball method). Is determined.
Thereby, it is possible to accurately determine that the recording method of the digital paper 40 is the electrophoresis method (or the twist ball method). In the case of plain paper or thermal rewritable digital paper, the density does not change due to voltage application. In addition, in the case of a liquid crystal type digital paper, a density change may occur by applying a voltage. However, since the voltage application by the voltage applying unit 50 is applied from outside a pair of glass substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal, an applied electric field is reduced. It is relatively weak and does not actually cause a concentration change. If the electric field generated by the voltage applying unit 50 is shielded by biasing the electrodes provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of glass substrates, such a change in concentration can be completely prevented.

The thermal rewritable type detecting means shown in FIG. 3 includes a heating unit 60 for heating the digital paper 40,
A first density detection unit 61 provided on the upstream side of the heating unit 60 in the transport direction a;
And a second density detection section 62 provided downstream of 0. Under the control of the control unit 113, the density (the pre-heating density) of the portion facing the digital paper 40 is detected by the first density detection unit 61 while the digital paper 40 is transported at a predetermined transport speed in the transport direction a. Subsequently, when the part reaches the position facing the heating unit 60, a predetermined heat is applied to the part of the digital paper 40 by the heating unit 60. Here, if the recording method of the digital paper 40 is a thermal rewritable method, the heated portion changes to black (or a predetermined image density). Subsequently, when the portion reaches the position facing the second density detecting portion 62, the density (the density after heating) of the portion of the digital paper 40 is detected by the second density detecting portion 62. Then, the controller 113 compares the density before and after the heating, and determines that the recording method of the digital paper 40 is the thermal rewritable method when the density of the digital paper 40 changes before and after the heating. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine that the recording method of the digital paper 40 is the thermal rewritable method. In the case of plain paper, an electrophoretic system (or a twisting ball system), or a digital paper of a liquid crystal system, the density does not change due to heating, or the density change can be substantially ignored.

The electrophoretic detection means shown in FIG.
The first density detectors 51 and 61 in the thermal rewritable type detection means shown in FIG. 3 are omitted, and a predetermined reference density is compared with a density detected by the second density detectors 52 and 62, respectively. Is also good. In general, since the density change speed in the electrophoresis system or the thermal rewritable system is sufficiently faster than the sheet conveyance speed, the first density detection unit 51 in the electrophoresis system detection means shown in FIG. The second concentration detecting section 52 is connected to the voltage applying section 5
Alternatively, the first density detecting section 61 and the second density detecting section 62 in the thermal rewritable type detecting means shown in FIG. 3 may be integrated with the heating section 60, respectively.

The liquid crystal type detecting means shown in FIG. 4 is a pair of liquid crystal type detecting means which are arranged parallel to the sheet surface and separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction a (that is, a direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 4). Electrode detection unit 70. Control unit 113
Detects whether or not the digital paper 40 has an electrode terminal at an edge parallel to the transport direction a by the electrode detection unit 70. The electrode terminals can be detected by, for example, reading the pattern of the electrode terminals using an image sensor, or by sending predetermined information to the electrode terminals on the edge of the digital paper 40 and by using the central portion of the digital paper 40. The change of the image density in the above may be read by a density detecting means (not shown). When the digital paper 40 has an electrode terminal at an edge parallel to the transport direction a, the control unit 113
Determines that the recording method of the digital paper 40 is a liquid crystal method. In the case of a liquid crystal type digital paper, in order to apply a voltage to the liquid crystal, it has a plurality of electrode terminals arranged along at least one of the edges parallel to the transport direction a of the glass substrate sandwiching the liquid crystal. Because. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine that the recording method of the digital paper 40 is the liquid crystal method. Such an electrode terminal is not required in principle if it is a plain paper, an electrophoresis type (or a twist ball type), or a thermal rewritable type digital paper.

As shown in FIG. 1, such an electrophoresis type detecting means, a thermal rewritable type detecting means,
A detection unit 114 including a liquid crystal type detection unit is provided facing the transport path 151. Therefore, the control unit 113
Based on the detection signal from the detection unit 114, the sheet feeding unit 200
From the paper supply unit 200 to the image forming unit 115, based on whether the sheet sent from the printer to the conveyance path 151 is digital paper or non-digital paper, and when the sheet is digital paper, the recording method of the digital paper. The determination can be made in the process of feeding the sheet. Note that the detection unit 114 and the control unit 113 cooperate as a determination unit.

Although not shown, the image forming section 115 shown in FIG. 1 is a first image forming apparatus for forming an image by electrophotography on plain paper and electrophoretic (or twisted ball) digital paper. Means, a second image forming means for forming an image on a thermal rewritable digital paper by a thermal method, and a third image forming means for forming an image on a liquid crystal type digital paper. The image forming unit 115 selects one of the first to third image forming units and sets the image forming conditions according to the control of the control unit 113. This makes it possible to form images on plain paper and three types of digital paper (electrophoretic (or twisted ball), thermal rewritable, and liquid crystal) in appropriate recording methods and conditions. The control unit 1
Reference numeral 13 denotes whether the sheet sent from the sheet feeding unit 200 to the conveyance path 151 is digital paper or non-digital paper, and when the sheet is digital paper, the recording method of the digital paper. Since the determination has already been made in the process of supplying the sheet from 200 to the image forming unit 115, the image forming unit 115 can be appropriately controlled according to the determination result.

When no instruction is given to the finisher unit 300, the sheet passes through the conveyance path 152 and the discharge roller 127 in the one-sided image forming mode.
Is discharged onto the discharge tray 133 as it is. On the other hand, in the double-sided image forming mode, the sheet is switched by the switching claws 141 and 141 driven by a solenoid (not shown).
The transport path 1 that is directed downward from the transport path 152 by 142
Sent to 53. After being once sent to the switchback conveyance path 154 by the conveyance rollers 128 and 129, the conveyance roller 129 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the switchback conveyance path 154 is turned upside down from the previous state (during single-sided image formation). The sheet is sent to a conveyance path 156 communicating with the image forming unit 115. Subsequently, the sheet is sent to the image forming unit 115 with a timing by the conveying roller 130. Thereafter, the image forming unit 115 forms an image on the opposite surface of the sheet. In this manner, the image is formed on both sides of the sheet.

The sheet on which an image is formed on one or both sides by the image forming unit 115 is conveyed to the finisher unit 300 by the discharge roller 127 through the conveying path 152.

The finisher unit 300 includes, in addition to the above-described paper discharge tray 133 and the transport paths 153 and 154, a transport path 158 to which sheets are fed by the switching claw 142 for performing sort processing (sorting) and the like, and a sort mode. And the sort bins 134, 135, and 136 that receive the sheet at the time of (1). The transport path 158 includes, in order from the top, a folding unit 116 that performs folding processing on the sheet, a staple punch unit 117 that performs staple processing and / or punching processing on the sheet, and a sort processing (sorting) processing on the sheet. Switching claws 143 and 144 are provided. Note that sorting, stapling, punching,
Since the folding process (paper folding) itself is well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. This finisher unit 300
Selects a sorting process, a stapling process, a punching process, and a folding process on the sheet sent to the transport path 158 according to the control of the control unit 113. When the control unit 113 prohibits all these finishing processes, the switching claw 141 causes the sheet to be conveyed to the transport path 152.
Is discharged from the discharge roller 127 onto the discharge tray 133 as it is.

As shown in FIG. 5, based on a detection signal from the detection unit 114, the control unit 113 determines whether the sheet sent from the paper supply unit 200 to the conveyance path 151 is digital paper or non-digital paper. Is determined (S1).
If the sheet is digital paper, the first finishing process is selected (S2). On the other hand, if the sheet is non-digital paper, the second finishing process is selected (S3). Therefore, an appropriate finishing process can be performed depending on whether the sheet is digital paper or non-digital paper.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sheet is digital paper (YES in S11), the digital paper is discharged to the sort bin 134.
First sort processing is selected (S12). On the other hand, when the sheet is non-digital paper (plain paper in this example) (NO in S11), for example, the plain paper is
A second sort process, such as discharging to No. 5, is selected (S13). Thus, the digital paper and the non-digital paper can be sorted into different sort bins.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the sheet is digital paper (YES in S21), the first staple, such as prohibiting stapling of the sort bin 134 from which the digital paper has been discharged, is prohibited. A process is selected (S22). On the other hand, when the sheet is non-digital paper (plain paper in this example) (S21
NO), for example, a flag is set to allow stapling of the plain paper, and only when all the sheets discharged to the sort bin 135 are finally plain paper, stapling of the sort bin 135 is permitted. The second stapling process is selected (S23).

Regarding the punching process, the same control as the stapling process can be performed. That is, when the sheet is digital paper, a first punching process is selected, such as prohibiting the punching process for the sort bin 134 from which the digital paper has been discharged. On the other hand, when the sheet is non-digital paper (plain paper in this example), for example, a flag is set to allow punching of the plain paper, and all the sheets discharged to the sort bin 135 are finally plain paper. Only when that sort bin 1
Second, such as allowing punching for 35
Select the punching process.

In this case, it is possible to avoid a problem that, for example, as a result of stapling or punching the digital paper of the liquid crystal system, the liquid crystal on the entire screen leaks from the staple holes or the punch holes and cannot be reused. Also, even with digital paper of another system, when the display contents of the digital paper are rewritten, the problem that existing staple holes and punch holes become noise in the rewritten image data is avoided. it can. And
Digital paper can be reused in perfect condition without staple holes or punch holes.

Also, regarding the folding process, it is possible to control according to whether the sheet is digital paper or non-digital paper. That is, when the sheet is digital paper, the folding process on the digital paper is prohibited, while when the sheet is non-digital paper (plain paper in this example), the folding process on the plain paper is permitted. In this case, the digital paper can be reused in a complete state without any bending marks.

As the first finishing process (S2 in FIG. 5), as shown in FIG. 8, the recording method of the digital paper is determined (S31), and the finishing condition according to the recording method of the digital paper is determined. A, B, and C may be set (S32, S33, S34). This is because thermal rewritable digital paper does not cause staple holes, punch holes, and bending marks to be a serious obstacle in function compared to digital paper of other recording methods. It is. Therefore, for example, as the finishing condition A for the electrophoretic digital paper and the finishing condition C for the liquid crystal digital paper, the sorting process is allowed, but the stapling process, the punching process, and the folding process are prohibited.
In addition, as the finishing condition B for the digital paper of the thermal rewritable method, all sort processing, stapling processing, punch processing, and folding processing are allowed. As described above, by setting the finishing conditions A, B, and C according to the recording method of digital paper, an appropriate finishing process can be performed.

The recording method of the digital paper is not limited to the above-described electrophoresis method, twist ball method, thermal rewritable method, and liquid crystal method, but also includes electromy, photochromy, thermochromy, thermoplastic, magnetic particle rotating method, and magnetophoresis. The method may be used. In those cases, the image forming unit 115 is provided with image forming means corresponding to the recording method, and each image forming means is switched and operated according to the recording method of digital paper.

On the other hand, the non-digital paper may be secondary base paper, OHP film, or the like, other than plain paper.

In this embodiment, the sorting process, the stapling process, the punching process, and the folding process are exemplified as the finishing process. However, in addition to these processes, a bookbinding process, a clip fastening process, and the like can be included. The bookbinding process is prohibited when the sheet is digital paper, while when the sheet is non-digital paper, for example, it is permitted for plain paper and prohibited for secondary base paper and OHP film. You. Since the clipping process only clamps the sheet with the clip, the sheet is not damaged unless the clamping pressure is too high, and there is no problem from the viewpoint of reusing digital paper. Therefore, the clipping process is allowed for both digital paper and non-digital paper. As the clip, for example, a clip called “Gachak” can be used.

In this embodiment, a detecting unit 114 for detecting a digital paper recording system is provided facing the conveyance path 151, and a digital paper is supplied in a process of feeding a sheet from the paper feeding unit 200 to the image forming unit 115. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each paper cassette 1
The detection unit 114 may be mounted on each of 20, 121, and 122, and the type of the sheet stored therein may be determined before feeding. The control unit 113 includes the main body 100
Instead of the print server, the print server may be provided on the external network 400 as a print server, for example.

The image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied may be any type of monochrome / color, and may take various forms such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral.

[0056]

As is clear from the above, according to the finishing systems of claims 1 to 7, an appropriate finishing process can be performed according to whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper.

Similarly, according to the finishing method of the eighth aspect, an appropriate finishing process can be performed depending on whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper.

Similarly, according to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect, an appropriate finishing process can be performed according to whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic cross-sectional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment to which a finishing system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrophoretic detection unit included in a detection unit of the finishing system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a thermal rewritable type detection unit included in a detection unit of the finishing system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal type detection unit included in a detection unit of the finishing system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of controlling a finishing process by a control unit of the finishing system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the control of the finishing process is applied.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example to which the control of the finishing process is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a specific flow of a first finishing process shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 main unit 101 image reader unit 113 control unit 115 image forming unit 200 paper feed unit 300 finisher unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Kenichi Sawada 2-3-1-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term in Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. 3F108 GA02 GA03 GA04 GB01 GB03 GB07 HA02 HA44

Claims (9)

[Claims] A discrimination means for discriminating whether the sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or non-digital paper; and a control means for controlling a finishing process in accordance with a discrimination result of the discrimination means. A finishing system characterized by the following. 2. The finishing system according to claim 1, wherein said determining means determines the type of said digital paper. 3. The finishing system according to claim 2, wherein said determining means determines a digital paper recording method including at least an electrophoresis method, a thermal rewritable method, and a liquid crystal method. 4. The finishing system according to claim 3, wherein said discriminating means applies a voltage between both sides of said digital paper, and when there is a density change in said digital paper before and after the application of said voltage, said digital paper. A finishing system for determining that the recording system is an electrophoretic system. 5. The finishing system according to claim 3, wherein the discriminating means heats the digital paper, and when there is a density change in the digital paper before and after the heating, the recording method of the digital paper is thermal rewritable. A finishing system characterized in that the finishing method is determined. 6. The finishing system according to claim 3, wherein the determination means detects whether or not the digital paper has an electrode terminal, and when the digital paper has the electrode terminal, detects whether the digital paper has an electrode terminal. A finishing system for determining that a recording system is a liquid crystal system. 7. The finishing system according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs control for selecting and performing or prohibiting a sorting process, a stapling process, a punching process, and a folding process. A finishing system characterized by the following. 8. A finishing method comprising: a step of determining whether a sheet-shaped recording medium is digital paper or a non-digital paper; and a step of controlling a finishing process in accordance with a result of the determination. Method. 9. An image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a sheet-shaped recording medium by an image forming unit, and the sheet-shaped recording medium on which the image is formed is subjected to finishing processing and discharged, wherein the sheet-shaped recording medium is a digital paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the paper is a non-digital paper or a non-digital paper; and a control unit configured to control a finishing process according to a determination result of the determination unit.