JP2002240399A - Imaging system, its controlling method and storage medium, imaging apparatus, its controlling method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system, its controlling method and a storage medium, an imaging apparatus, its controlling method and a storage medium in which an image can be outputted in non-sort mode or group mode for any one of cover sheet setting, pasted sheet setting and back cover sheet setting. SOLUTION: When read-out of a document is started in copy job, a page counter N is initialized to 1. When a cover sheet is specified, a cover sheet is fed from a specified sheet feed stage, when a pasted sheet is specified, a pasted sheet is fed from a specified sheet feed stage, and when a plurality of pasted sheets are specified, a specified number of cover sheets are fed. Sheets for N-th page are outputted for a set number of copies. When a back cover sheet is specified, a back cover sheet is fed from a specified sheet feed stage. Upon finishing output up to N page, the page counter N is incremented by 1. The process is repeated until all pages are outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming system, a control method thereof, and a storage medium, and an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a non-sort mode, a sort mode, or a sort mode is generally used as a discharge mode (output mode) for discharging (outputting) recording paper on which image formation has been completed. Group mode can be set.
If no such output mode is set,
Normally, it is output in non-sort mode. Some of such image forming apparatuses are capable of setting a separate sheet such as a front cover setting for forming a cover on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed, a slip sheet setting for forming a back cover, and a back cover setting for forming a back cover. .

In the output mode of recording paper when such separate sheet setting is made, usually, only the sort mode can be set. Therefore, when the cover setting, interleaf setting, back cover setting, etc. are performed, confirm that the output mode is the sort mode, or switch to the sort mode if another output mode is set. Output.

[0004]

However, it is troublesome to check the sort mode and switch to the sort mode each time the cover is set. In addition, even when the cover is set, if the recording paper can be output in the non-sort mode or the group mode, the usability of the user is improved.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of outputting in a non-sort mode or a group mode regardless of setting of a cover setting, a slip sheet setting, a back cover setting, a control method thereof, and a storage medium. And an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a storage medium.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system, comprising: at least one type of separate sheet setting for setting a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed; An image forming apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of types of paper discharge modes that determine a method of discharging the recorded paper,
In an image forming system having an image control device that controls the image forming device via a network, the image control device detects a type of the separate sheet setting and a type of the discharge mode. Discharge mode detecting means, and a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on the type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting means and the type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detecting means. And a discharge sequence control means for controlling the discharge order.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system of the first aspect, the image forming apparatus includes an inserter for feeding the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. Features.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming system, comprising: setting at least one type of separate sheet for setting a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed; A method for controlling an image forming system, comprising: an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of types of paper discharging modes for determining a paper discharging method; and an image control apparatus controlling the image forming apparatus via a network. The apparatus further includes a separate sheet setting detecting step of detecting the type of the separate sheet setting, a discharge mode detecting step of detecting the types of the plurality of discharge modes, and a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting step. A discharge order control step of controlling a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on the type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection step. To.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of the fourth aspect, the image forming apparatus feeds the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. It is characterized by having an inserter.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control method of the fourth or fifth aspect, the image forming apparatus includes a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet. Features.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium including at least one type of separate sheet setting for setting a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed and discharging the recording sheet on which the image has been formed. A readable program storing a program for executing a control method of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of types of paper discharge modes for determining a method and an image control apparatus for controlling the image forming apparatus via a network Storage medium, wherein the program is:
A separate sheet setting detection module for detecting the type of the separate sheet setting by the image control device; a discharge mode detection module for detecting the plurality of discharge mode types; and a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detection module A discharge order control module that controls a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection module.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one type of separate sheet setting for setting a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed and discharging the recording sheet on which the image has been completed. A separate sheet setting detecting means for detecting the kind of the separate sheet setting, a sheet discharging mode detecting means for detecting the kind of the sheet discharging mode, Discharge order control means for controlling the discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording paper based on the type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detection means and the type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection means. It is characterized by having.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inserter for feeding the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth or ninth aspect, a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a control method of an image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one type of separate sheet setting for setting a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed and a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed. A separate sheet setting detecting step of detecting the type of the separate sheet setting, and a discharge setting detecting the type of the plurality of sheet discharging modes. A paper mode detecting step, and controlling a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording paper based on the type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting step and the type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detecting step. And a discharge order control step.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, further comprising an inserter for feeding the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. Features.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect, further comprising a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet.

In order to achieve the above object, the storage medium according to the present invention is characterized in that at least one type of separate sheet setting for forming a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed and a discharge of the recording sheet on which the image has been completed. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing a control method of an image forming apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of discharge modes for determining a method, wherein the program is a separate sheet setting detection module for detecting a type of the separate sheet setting A discharge mode detection module that detects the types of the plurality of discharge modes; a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detection module; and a type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection module. A discharge order control module that controls a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on the output order.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a monochrome scanner 100 capable of reading a monochrome original and a color scanner 110 capable of reading a color original as an image input device, a low-speed monochrome printer (low-speed monochrome printer) 120 as an image forming device, and a medium-speed monochrome Printer 130 and high-speed double-sided monochrome printer 140
And a color printer 150, an offline finisher 160 capable of performing post-processing of print paper offline, a server computer 170 having a large-capacity storage, a personal computer 180 for an individual user, and the like, connected to the LAN 10 such as Ethernet (registered trademark). A forming system 1 is configured. In this image forming system 1, a black-and-white scanner 100 and a low-speed black-and-white printer 120 are connected by a black-and-white video bus 11. The color scanner 110 and the color printer 1
50 are connected by the color video bus 12.

Black-and-white scanner 100 and color scanner 1
An image control device 200 for performing image reading control and image transfer control is connected to each of the devices 10 by a dedicated bus (not shown).

The online finishers 124, 134, 144, which can instruct post-processing of printed recording paper online, respectively, for the low-speed monochrome printer 120, the medium-speed monochrome printer 130, the high-speed double-sided monochrome printer 140, and the color printer 150. , 154 are connected.

FIG. 2 shows the image control apparatus 200 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 2, an image control device 200 (Co
controller unit) is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information. On the other hand, the controller is connected to the monochrome scanner 100 or the low-speed monochrome printer 120,
On the other hand, it is connected to a LAN 10 or a public line (WAN) 20.

The CPU 201 is a controller for controlling the entire system. The RAM 202 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 201, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. ROM2
A boot ROM 03 stores a system boot program. The HDD 204 is a hard disk drive, and stores system software, image data, and the like.

An operation unit I / F 206 includes an operation unit (UI) 21
The interface unit is for connecting to the operation unit 210, and outputs image data to the operation unit 210. The operation unit 210 displays an image based on the image data. The information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 210 is transmitted to the CPU 2.
Play the role of telling 01.

The network 209 is connected to the LAN 10, and inputs and outputs information via the public line 20. The Modem 220 is connected to the public line 20 and inputs and outputs information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 207.

An image bus I / F 205 connects the image bus 208 for transferring image data at high speed and the system bus 207, and is a bus bridge for converting a data structure. The image bus 208 is configured by a high-speed bus such as a PIC bus.

The following various devices are arranged on the image bus 208. Raster image processor (RI
P) 230 expands the PDL code into a bitmap image. The device I / F unit 240 connects the image control device 200 to the black-and-white scanner 100 and the low-speed black-and-white printer 120, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 250 performs correction, processing, editing, and the like on input image data. The printer image processing unit 260 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on print output image data. The image rotation unit 270 rotates image data. The image compression unit 280 compresses and decompresses multi-valued image data to JPEG, and converts the binary image data to JBI.
G, MMR and MH are subjected to compression / expansion processing.

The HDD 204 stores information such as an image output speed and an installation position for each node connected to the network (LAN 10) for each address.

FIG. 3 shows the black-and-white scanner 100 shown in FIG.
It is a schematic perspective view which shows the outline of.

The black-and-white scanner 100 irradiates the image of the original with light, reads image information from the original by scanning with a CCD licensor (not shown), and converts the read image information into electrical signals as raster image data 30. . A document is set on a tray 102 of a document feeder 101. When the user operates the operation unit 210 (see FIG. 2) to issue an instruction to start reading, the image control device 20
0 gives the instruction to the scanner 100. Upon receiving the instruction, the scanner 100 moves to the document feeder 10.
In step 1, the document is fed one by one to read the image on the document.

FIG. 4 shows a low-speed monochrome printer 1 shown in FIG.
It is a schematic perspective view which shows the outline of 20.

A low-speed black-and-white printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) 120 forms the raster image data 40 (see FIG. 2) as an image on recording paper. The image forming method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt (both not shown), an ink jet method in which ink is ejected from a minute nozzle array and an image is printed directly on recording paper, and the like. is there.

The printing operation is started by an instruction (raster image data 40) from the CPU 201. A plurality of paper feed stages are provided inside the printer 120 so that the size of the recording paper and the direction of the recording paper can be selected, and a plurality of paper feed cassettes 122a,
122b, 122c, 122d are mounted. Further, the printer 120 may be provided with a manual feed tray for manually feeding recording sheets having different sizes and other sheet members having different sizes and materials.

The paper discharge tray 123 receives recording paper on which printing has been completed. When the finisher 124 is mounted on the printer 120, the printed recording paper is conveyed to the finisher 124. A stapler unit 125 (post-processing unit) is mounted on the finisher 124. 5 by this stapler unit 125
It is possible to bind zero recording paper or bind 100 recording paper.

The inserter unit 126 is mounted on the finisher 124. This inserter unit 1
26 is a paper feed cassette 122a, 122b, 122c, 1
It can be used as one paper feed stage as in 22d. Since the inserter unit 126 is mounted on the finisher, the paper fed therefrom does not pass through an image forming unit or a fixing device (neither is shown) in the printer 120. For this reason, printing (image formation) cannot be performed, but paper can be inserted (assembled) into printed recording paper without being affected by heat. If a color-printed original is placed, it is possible to discharge (output) a mixture of colors.

When printing on both sides of the recording paper, the recording paper is reversed in the printer 120 after printing the image on one side. Then, in accordance with the instruction 40 from the CPU 201, the image is printed on a surface that has not been printed yet (to be assembled).

Next, the device I / F 240 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the device I / F 240 of FIG.

In FIG. 5, an image bus I / F controller 241 is connected to the image bus 208 and controls a bus access sequence of the image bus 208. The image bus I / F controller 241 is connected to the device I / F
Each device in F240 is controlled. Further, the image bus I / F controller 241 generates control signals to the external scanner 100 and printer 120.

The scan buffer 242 includes the scanner 10
The image data sent from 0 is temporarily stored, and the stored image data is output in synchronization with the image bus 208. The serial / parallel / serial / serial conversion unit 243 sequentially arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 242 and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 208. Parallel serial / serial / parallel converter 2 part 4
Reference numeral 4 decomposes or arranges the image data transferred from the image bus 208 and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer 245. The print buffer 245 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image bus 208 and outputs the stored image data in synchronization with the image bus 208.

Here, the processing procedure of the image scanning will be described below. The image data sent from the scanner 100 is
Similarly, the data is stored in the scan buffer 242 in synchronization with a timing signal sent from the scanner 100.

When the image bus 208 is a PIC bus and the buffer contains image data of 32 bits or more, 3
The 2-bit image data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 243 on a first-in first-out basis. Serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 24
The 32-bit image data converted in step 3 is the image bus I /
The data is transferred to the image bus 208 via the F controller 241. If the image bus 208 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is transferred from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial conversion unit 243 on a first-in first-out basis.
Send to Serial-parallel / parallel-serial converter 2
The serial image data converted at 43 is an image bus I / F
The data is transferred to the image bus 208 via the controller 241.

Next, a processing procedure at the time of image printing will be described. When the image bus 208 is a PCI bus, 32-bit image data sent from the image bus 208 is transferred to the image bus I / F.
The data is received by the controller 241 and sent to the parallel / serial / serial / parallel converter 244. The image data is decomposed into the number of input data bits of the printer 120 by the parallel-serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 244 and stored in the print buffer 245. Further, the image bus 208 is IEEE
In the case of E1394, the serial image data sent from the image bus 208 is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 241.
And sends it to the parallel / serial / parallel conversion unit 244. The parallel serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 244 converts the image data into the number of input data bits of the printer 120 and stores the converted data in the print buffer 245. The image data in the buffer is sent to the printer 120 on a first-in first-out basis in synchronization with a timing signal sent from the printer 120.

Next, the scanner image processing section 250 will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the scanner image processing section 250 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 6, an image bus I / F controller 251 is connected to the image bus 208 and controls a bus access sequence of the image bus 208. Also,
Each device in the scanner image processing unit 250 is also controlled.

The filter processing section 252 is a spatial filter and executes a convolution operation. Editing unit 2
53, for example, recognizes a closed area surrounded by a marker pen from input image data and executes various image processing processes such as shadowing, shading, and negative / positive reversal on the image data in the closed area. . When changing the resolution of the read image, the scaling unit 254 performs an enlargement or reduction by performing an interpolation operation in the main scanning direction of the raster image. Zooming in the sub-scanning direction is performed by changing the scanning speed of an image reading line sensor (not shown). The table processing unit 255 converts the image data, which is the read luminance data, into density data. Binarization processing unit 2
Reference numeral 56 binarizes the multivalued grayscale image data by error diffusion processing or screen processing. The image data on which these processes have been completed is transferred to the image bus 208 via the image bus I / F controller 251 again.

Next, the printer image processing section 260 will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the printer image processing unit 260 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 7, an image bus I / F controller 261 is connected to the image bus 208 and controls a bus access sequence of the image bus 208. Also,
Each device in the printer image processing unit 260 is also controlled.
The resolution conversion processing unit 262 converts the image data received via the LAN 10 or the public line 20 into the resolution of the printer 120 (resolution conversion). The smoothing processing unit 263 performs a process of smoothing jaggies of the image data after the resolution conversion. The “jaggy” is a jagged line in a diagonal line or a curve.

Next, the image rotation processing section 270 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image rotation processing section 270 of FIG.

In FIG. 8, an image bus I / F controller 271 is connected to the image bus 208 and controls a bus sequence of the image bus 208. Further, the image bus I / F controller 271 controls the image rotator 272 to set a mode and the like, and also controls the timing for transferring image data to the image rotator 272. The processing procedure of the image rotation unit 272 will be described below.

When the CPU 201 sets image rotation control to the image bus I / F controller 271 via the image bus 208, the image bus I / F controller 271 controls the image rotation unit 272 to rotate the image based on the setting. Make the necessary settings for. Items to be set are, for example, image size, rotation direction, angle, and the like. After the setting is completed, the CPU 201 again operates the image bus I / F controller 271.
For image data transfer. According to this permission, the image bus I / F controller 271 starts transfer of image data from each device on the RAM 202 or the image bus 208. Here, the size is 32 bits, and the size of the image to be rotated is 32 × 32 (bits). When transferring image data to the image bus 208, image transfer is performed in units of 32 bits. The image handled here is assumed to be binary.

As described above, in order to obtain a 32 × 32 (bit) image, it is necessary to perform the above-described unit data transfer 32 times, and it is necessary to transfer image data from discontinuous addresses ( (See FIG. 10).

The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is written in the RAM 273 such that it is rotated at a desired angle at the time of reading. For example, if the rotation is 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, the first transmitted 32 bits
Is written in the Y direction (see FIG. 11). At the time of reading, the image is rotated by reading in the X direction.

Image rotation of 32 × 32 (bit) (RAM
After the writing to the image 273 is completed, the image rotating unit 272 reads the image data from the RAM 273 by the above-described reading method, and transfers the image to the image bus I / F controller 271.

The image bus I / F controller 271 that has received the rotated image data transfers the data to the RAM 202 or each device on the image bus 208 by continuous addressing.

This series of processing is repeated until the processing of the required number of pages is completed and there is no processing request from the CPU 201.

Next, the image compression processing section 280 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image compression processing section 280 of FIG.

In FIG. 9, an image bus I / F controller 281 is connected to the image bus 208 and controls a bus access sequence of the image bus 208. Also,
It also performs timing control for exchanging data between the input buffer 282 and the output buffer 285, and controls such as mode setting for the image compression unit 283. The RAM 284 is connected to the image compression unit 283. The processing procedure of the image compression processing unit 280 configured as described above is executed as follows.

The CPU 201 via the image bus 208
(See FIG. 2) makes settings for image compression control in the image bus I / F controller 281. With this setting, the image bus I / F controller 281 performs settings necessary for image compression on the image compression unit 283. For example, settings such as MMR compression and JBIG expansion. After making this setting, the CPU 201 again permits the image bus I / F controller 281 to transfer image data. In accordance with this permission, the image bus I / F controller 281
02 or each device on the image bus 208 starts transferring image data. The received image data is temporarily stored in the input buffer 282, and the image is transferred at a constant speed in response to an image data request from the image compression unit 283.
At this time, the input buffer 282 determines whether image data can be transferred between the image bus I / F controller 281 and the image compression unit 283. When it is impossible to read image data from the image bus 208 and write an image to the image compression unit 283, control is performed so that data transfer is not performed. Hereinafter, such control is referred to as handshake.

The image compression section 283 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 284. Here, the reason that the image data is temporarily stored in the RAM 284 is that several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing during image compression. This is because it is necessary to prepare image data for the lines.

The compressed image data is immediately sent to the output buffer 285. In the output buffer 285,
Image bus I / F controller 281 and image compression unit 283
Is performed, and the image data is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 281.

The image bus I / F controller 281 stores the transferred (compressed or decompressed) image data in the RAM.
202 or each device on the image bus 208.
This series of processing is performed by the image compression unit 283 until the processing request from the CPU 201 disappears, for example, when the required number of pages have been processed, or when an error occurs during compression and decompression. This is repeated until a stop request is issued.

In the image forming system configured as described above, one or a plurality of images input from the scanner 100 or the Network 209 are treated as a document (document) and can be stored in an image recording area called a box. Image data and attribute data in the box are recorded on the HDD 204.

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a copy basic screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

In the copy basic screen 300, reference numeral 301 denotes an application mode button which is pressed when various copy functions are used. When the application mode button 301 is pressed, an application mode screen 400 described below and shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. Reference numeral 302 denotes an output mode change button. The output mode change button 302 is used for sorting,
Press this button to change each output mode such as group, staple sort, and non-sort. When the output mode change button 302 is pressed, an output mode setting screen 800 displayed as “Sorter: select type” shown in FIG. 17 is displayed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying an application mode screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

The application mode screen 400 is displayed when the application mode button 301 is pressed. Cover / Insert button 4
Reference numeral 01 is used when a cover sheet (separate sheet) is attached (assembled) or a slip sheet (separate sheet) is inserted (assembled) on the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed. The balloon 402 is a cover / insert button 40
This is displayed when 1 is pressed. This balloon 402 displays a part of the setting contents on the cover / insert sheet selection screen 600 shown in FIG. Here, the fact that the setting for combining the front cover and the back cover (separate sheet) is made is indicated by a balloon of “front cover + back cover”.

FIG. 14 is a view exemplifying a paper feed stage selection screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

The cover / insert sheet selection screen 500 shown in FIG.
Is displayed when the cover paper selection button 602, the back cover (separate paper) paper selection button 603, and the slip sheet paper selection button 604 shown in FIG. 15 are pressed. here,
The user presses the inserter feed stage selection button 501 to select feed from the inserter unit 126 (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a cover / insertion sheet setting screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

The cover / interleaf setting screen 600 is a screen for selecting the type of cover / interleaf and the paper feeding position, and is displayed when the cover / interleaf button 401 is pressed. To use the front cover, press the cover button 601; to use the back cover, press the back cover button 605; to use the interleaf, press the interleaf button 606.
Is pressed, the chapter button 607 is pressed. When these buttons are pressed, a paper feed stage can be individually selected.
When the cover sheet selection button 602 is pressed after the cover button 601 is pressed, a cover paper feed source can be selected. When the user presses the back cover button 605 and then presses the back cover paper selection button 603, a paper feed source for the back cover can be selected. When the user presses the slip sheet button 606 and then presses the sheet selection button 604 for the slip sheet, the sheet feeder for the slip sheet can be selected. Pressing an OK button 608 after these selections completes the setting.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of the cover / insert sheet setting screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

On the cover / interleaf setting screen 700, the cover button 701 and the back cover button 703 have been pressed. Further, the operation of the cover paper selection button 702 and the back cover paper selection button 704 both causes the inserter unit 1 to operate.
26 is selected as the paper feed stage.

FIG. 17 is a diagram exemplifying an output mode setting screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG.

In FIG. 17, an output mode setting screen 800 entitled “Sorter: type selection screen” is displayed on the copy basic screen 300 with an output mode change button 302.
Displayed when is pressed. A sort button 801 turns on / off the sort mode setting, a group button 802 turns on / off the group mode setting, and a staple sort button 803 turns on / off the staple mode setting. When the setting cancel button 804 is pressed, the setting of the output mode is canceled and the mode changes to the non-sort mode. Shift button 805
An on / off button for setting whether to shift the output bundle for each copy. When the user presses an OK key 806, the settings made up to that point become valid. The sort button 801 and the shift button 805 are inverted. This state indicates that each function is on. When the OK key 806 is pressed in this state, the shift sort setting is enabled, the output mode setting screen 800 closes, and the shift sort setting screen 900 (FIG. 18) is displayed.

FIG. 19 is a diagram exemplifying the shift sort setting screen of FIG.

The contents set on the output mode setting screen 800 are displayed on the shift sort setting screen 900. When the output mode change button 901 is pressed, the screen returns to the output mode setting screen 800. The content of the currently set output mode is displayed in the balloon 902. In this example, "Shift sort" is displayed.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing output control processing in the non-sort group mode. This process is executed when the output mode is set to the non-sort mode or the group mode. When a start key (not shown) provided on the operation unit 210 (FIG. 2) is pressed, a copy job starts and reading of a document is started.

First, in step S5001, the page counter N is initialized to 1. This page counter indicates the number of pages of the text currently being output excluding the front cover, slip sheet, and back cover.

Next, in step S5002, it is determined whether or not a cover is designated. If the cover is designated, the cover sheet is fed from the designated paper feed stage and output (step S500).
3), proceed to the next step S5004. Step S50
If the result of determination in step 02 is that there is no cover specification, step S
The processing proceeds to step S5004 without passing through the step 5003.

In step S5004, it is determined whether or not a slip sheet is designated. If there is a slip sheet designation, the slip sheet is fed from the designated sheet feed stage and output (step S500).
5) The process proceeds to the next step S5006. At this time, if there are a plurality of interleaf sheet designations, all interleaf sheets for the designated number are output.
If the result of determination in step S5004 is that there is no slip sheet designation, the flow advances to step S5006 without passing through step S5005.

In step S5006, the Nth page is output for the set number of copies. In the next step S5007, it is determined whether or not the back cover is designated. If the back cover is designated, the back cover sheet is fed from the designated paper feed stage and output (step S5008), and the flow advances to the next step S5009. If the result of determination in step S5007 is that there is no back cover designation, the flow advances to step S5009 without passing through step S5008.

In step S5009, step S50
Since the output up to N pages has been completed by the processing up to 08, the page counter N is incremented by 1 and the process proceeds to the next step S5010.

In step S5010, it is determined whether all pages have been output. If there are pages left,
Returning to step S5002, the processing up to this point is repeated. If all pages have been output as a result of the determination in step S5010, this process ends.

According to the processing shown in FIG. 19, when the cover job is designated when the copy job starts and the reading of the original is started (YES in step S5002), the cover sheet is fed from the designated sheet feeding stage. Output (Step S5003).
If there is a slip sheet designation (YE in step S5004)
S), the interleaf paper is fed from the designated paper feed stage and output (step S5005). N for the set number of copies
The sheet of the page is output (step S5006).
If the back cover is specified (YE in step S5007)
S), the back cover paper is fed from the designated paper feed stage and output (step S5008). If there are pages to be output (NO in step S5010), step S50
02 and repeat the processing up to this point. Therefore, even when any of the settings such as the cover setting, the interleaf setting, and the back cover setting is performed, the output of the cover and the like can be performed regardless of the mode.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an output order when the inserter is set to the cover.

A manuscript (1002, 100
An example is shown in which a cover (Pageα) fed from an inserter is added to a copy of (3,1004). Here, the number of copies is three. The cover is fed from the inserter and is not copied.

Reference numerals 1005 to 1016 indicate output results in the conventional group mode and non-sort mode.
First, a cover is fed from the inserter and output. Since there are three copies, three covers from 1005 to 1007 are output.

Next, as the first page of the text, PageA
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1008 to 1010 are output.

Next, as the second page of the text, PageB
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1011 to 1013 are output.

Next, as the third page of the text, PageC
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1014 to 1016 are output. In this way, all output ends.

On the other hand, reference numerals 1021 to 1032 show output results when the output control processing described in the flowchart of FIG. 19 is executed.

First, only one cover page 1021 of Pageα is fed from the inserter and output. Next, the Page 100 document 1002 is copied and output as the first page of the text. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1022 to 1024 are output. As a result, the output of the first page has been completed, and the output of the second page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover page 1025 of Pageα is fed from the inserter and output. Next, the Page 100 manuscript 1003 is copied and output as the second page of the text. Since the number of copies is 3, 1026 to 10
Up to 28 copies are output. This gives 2
Since the output of the page has been completed, the output of the third page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover page 1026 of the page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, the Page 100 document 1004 is copied and output as the third page of the text. Since the number of copies is 3, 1030 to 10
Up to 32 copies are output. This gives 3
Since the output of the page is completed, all output ends.

By performing such output control, the output bundle can be attached with a cover even in the output in the group mode or the non-sort mode, and can be used for partitioning the output bundle.

FIG. 21 is a diagram exemplifying an output order when the inserter sets the cover and the slip sheet.

A manuscript (1102, 110
3, 1105) is combined with a cover (Pageα) fed from an inserter and an interleaf (Pageβ). Here, the number of copies is three. Since the cover and the slip sheet are fed from the inserter, they are not copied.

Reference numerals 1111 to 1125 indicate output results in the conventional group mode and non-sort mode.
First, a cover is fed from the inserter and output. Since there are three copies, three covers 1111 to 1113 are output.

Next, as the first page of the text, PageA
Original 1102 is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1114 to 1116 are output.

Next, as the second page of the text, PageB
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1117 to 1119 are output.

Next, a slip sheet is fed from the inserter and output. Since there are three copies, 1120 to 112
Two to three slip sheets are output.

Next, as the third page of the text, PageC
Is copied and output. 3 copies
Therefore, three copies from 1123 to 1125 are output. In this way, all output ends.

On the other hand, 1131 to 1145 are output results when the output control described in the flowchart of FIG. 19 is executed.

First, only one cover 1131 of Page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, only one interleaf sheet 1132 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output.

Next, as the first page of the text, PageA
Original 1102 is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1133 to 1135 are output. As a result, the output of the first page has been completed, and the output of the second page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover 1136 of the page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, only one interleaf paper 1137 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output.

Next, as the second page of the text, PageB
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1138 to 1140 are output. As a result, the output of the second page is completed, and the output of the third page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover sheet 1141 of Page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, only one interleaving sheet 1142 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output.

Next, as the third page of the text, PageC
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1143 to 1145 are output. Thus, the output of the third page is completed, and all the outputs are completed.

By performing such output control, it is possible to output the output bundle with the cover sheet and the slip sheet even in the output in the group mode or the non-sort mode, and it can be used for partitioning the output bundle.

FIG. 22 is a diagram exemplifying the output order when the inserter sets the front cover and the back cover.

A manuscript with three pages of text (1202, 120
3, 1204) is combined with a cover (Pageα) and a back cover (Pageγ) fed from an inserter. Here, the number of copies is three. The front cover and the back cover are fed from the inserter and are not copied.

Reference numerals 1211 to 1225 show output results in the conventional group mode and non-sort mode.
First, a cover is fed from the inserter and output. Since there are three copies, three covers from 1211 to 1213 are output.

Next, as the first page of the text, PageA
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1214 to 1216 are output.

Next, as the second page of the text, PageB
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1217 to 1219 are output.

Next, as the third page of the text, PageC
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1220 to 1222 are output.

Next, the back cover is fed from the inserter,
Is output. Since there are 3 copies, 1223 to 12
Up to 25 back covers are output.

On the other hand, 1231 to 1245 are output results when the output control described in the flowchart of FIG. 19 is executed.

First, only one cover page 1231 of Pageα is fed from the inserter and output.

Next, as the first page of the text, PageA
Is copied and output. Since the number of copies is 3, three copies from 1232 to 1234 are output.

Next, only one back cover 1235 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output. As a result, the output of the first page has been completed, and the output of the second page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover 1236 of Page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, the Page 120 document 1203 is copied and output as the second page of the text. Since the number of copies is 3, 1237 to 12
Three copies up to 39 are output.

Next, only one back cover 1240 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output. As a result, the output of the second page is completed, and the output of the third page is subsequently executed.

Only one cover 1241 of the page α is fed from the inserter and output. Next, the Page 120 document 1204 is copied and output as the third page of the text. Since the number of copies is 3, 124 to 12
Up to 44 copies are output.

Next, only one back cover 1245 of the designated Pageβ is fed from the inserter and output. Thus, the output of the third page is completed, and all the outputs are completed.

By performing such output control, even in the output in the group mode or the non-sort mode, the output bundle can be output with the front cover and the back cover attached, and the output bundle can be used for partitioning the output bundle.

Although the above processing has been described as being executed by the image control apparatus, the control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus may execute the above processing.

Further, an arbitrary storage medium storing the above control method supplies a program for executing the above control method to the image control apparatus or the control unit of the image forming apparatus, and stores the program in the CPU of the image control apparatus or the MPU (not shown). Either one may execute the program. Alternatively, the storage medium may supply the program to a control unit of the image forming apparatus, and any one of a CPU or an MPU (not shown) of the image forming apparatus may execute the program. Examples of the storage medium include a hard disk and a ROM
and so on.

In addition, instead of one of the CPU and the MPU of the image control device, a circuit (not shown) that performs the same operation as the above may realize the above-described embodiment. Alternatively, instead of one of the CPU and the MPU of the control unit of the image forming apparatus, a circuit (not shown) that performs the same operation as the above may realize the above-described embodiment.

The program supplied by the storage medium is written into a memory (not shown) provided in a function expansion board (not shown) inserted into the image control device or a function expansion unit (not shown) connected to the image control device. After that, the CPU (not shown) provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit
May execute a part or all of the program.
Alternatively, after the program supplied by the storage medium is written into a memory (not shown) provided in a function expansion board (not shown) inserted into the image forming apparatus or a function expansion unit (not shown) connected to the image forming apparatus, A CPU (not shown) provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit may execute a part or all of the program.

[0140]

As described in detail above, the image forming system according to claim 1, the control method of the image forming system according to claim 4, the storage medium according to claim 7, and the image according to claim 8. According to the control method of the image forming apparatus, the control method of the image forming apparatus, and the storage medium of the fourteenth aspect, the discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet is controlled based on the type of the discharge mode and the type of the separate sheet setting. Therefore, there is no restriction on the combination of the type of the discharge mode and the type of the separate sheet setting. As a result,
User convenience is improved.

According to the image forming system of the second aspect and the control method of the image forming system of the fourth aspect, and according to the image forming apparatus of the ninth aspect and the control method of the image forming apparatus of the twelfth aspect, recording is performed. A separate sheet can be fed by the inserter when the sheet is discharged. Thus, the separate sheet is not transported over a long distance inside the image forming apparatus.
Therefore, the chance of damaging the attached sheet is significantly reduced.

According to the image forming system of the third aspect and the control method of the image forming system of the fifth aspect, and according to the image forming apparatus of the tenth aspect and the control method of the image forming apparatus of the thirteenth aspect, a separate sheet is provided. Can be fed from the manual tray. The size of the manual tray is not limited. Therefore, separate sheets of various sizes and various materials can be fed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image control device 200 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an outline of a black-and-white scanner 100 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an outline of a low-speed monochrome printer 120 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device I / F unit 240 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner image processing unit 250 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer image processing unit 260 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image rotation processing unit 270 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image compression processing unit 280 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating image rotation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a method of rotating an image.

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a copy basic screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG. 2;

13 is a diagram exemplifying an application mode screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view exemplifying a paper feed stage selection screen displayed on an operation unit 210 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a cover / insertion sheet setting screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a cover / insertion sheet setting screen displayed on the operation unit 210 in FIG. 2;

17 is a diagram exemplifying an output mode setting screen displayed on an operation unit 210 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 18 is a diagram exemplifying a shift sort setting screen.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating output control processing in a non-sort group mode.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an output order when an inserter is set to a cover;

FIG. 21 is a diagram exemplifying an output order when an inserter sets a cover and a slip sheet.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an output order when an inserter sets a front cover and a back cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Ethernet (network) 100 Black-and-white scanner 110 Color scanner 120 Low-speed black-and-white printer (image forming apparatus) 124 Finisher 126 Inserter unit (inserter) 130 Medium-speed black-and-white printer (image forming apparatus) 140 High-speed double-sided black-and-white printer (Image forming apparatus) 150 Color printer (Image forming apparatus) 200 Image controller

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which at least one type of separate sheet setting for assembling a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed and a plurality of types of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which the image has been completed are selectable. In an image forming system having an apparatus and an image control apparatus that controls the image forming apparatus via a network, the image control apparatus includes: a separate sheet setting detecting unit configured to detect a type of the separate sheet setting; A discharge mode detecting means for detecting a type, the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting means and a type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detecting means. And a discharge order control means for controlling a discharge order of the images. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an inserter that feeds the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. 3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet. 4. An image forming apparatus in which at least one type of separate sheet setting for assembling a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed and a plurality of types of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed can be selected. A control method of an image forming system having an apparatus and an image control apparatus for controlling the image forming apparatus via a network,
A separate sheet setting detecting step of detecting the type of the separate sheet setting, a discharging mode detecting step of detecting the plurality of discharging mode types, and a type and the discharging mode of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting step A discharge order control step of controlling a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the discharge mode detected by the detection step. 5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an inserter that feeds the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. 6. The control method for an image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet. 7. Image formation in which at least one type of separate sheet setting for assembling a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed and a plurality of types of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed can be selected. A readable storage medium storing a program that executes a control method of an image forming system having an apparatus and an image control apparatus that controls the image forming apparatus via a network, wherein the program includes:
A separate sheet setting detection module for detecting the type of the separate sheet setting by the image control device; a discharge mode detection module for detecting the plurality of discharge mode types; and a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detection module And a discharge order control module that controls a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection module. 8. An image forming apparatus in which at least one type of separate sheet setting for assembling a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed and a plurality of types of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed can be selected. In the apparatus, a separate sheet setting detecting means for detecting the type of the separate sheet setting, a discharge mode detecting means for detecting a type of the discharging mode, a type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting means and the discharging An image forming apparatus comprising: a discharge order control unit that controls a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the discharge mode detected by a mode detection unit. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an inserter for feeding the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a manual tray for feeding the separate sheet. 11. An image forming apparatus capable of freely selecting at least one type of separate sheet setting for forming a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which an image has been formed and a plurality of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which the image has been formed. In the control method, the separate sheet setting detecting step of detecting the type of the separate sheet setting, the discharge mode detecting step of detecting the types of the plurality of discharge modes, and the type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detecting step And a discharge order control step of controlling a discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on a type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection step. Method. 12. The control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an inserter for feeding the separate sheet when the recording sheet is discharged. 13. The control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a manual feed tray for feeding the separate sheet. 14. An image forming apparatus capable of freely selecting at least one type of separate sheet setting for assembling a separate sheet on a recording sheet on which image formation has been completed and a plurality of discharge modes for determining a method of discharging the recording sheet on which image formation has been completed. A readable storage medium storing a program for executing the control method, wherein the program comprises: a separate sheet setting detection module for detecting the type of the separate sheet setting; and a discharge sheet for detecting the plurality of discharge mode types. A mode detection module, and controls the discharge order of the separate sheet and the recording sheet based on the type of the separate sheet setting detected by the separate sheet setting detection module and the type of the discharge mode detected by the discharge mode detection module. A storage medium comprising a discharge order control module.