JP2002284379A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the intensive stapling easy to be understand by a user. SOLUTION: Printing condition of the printing data is designated, and a printing command and data are generated on the basis of the document information and the setting information with an instruction to start the printing. A host device and an image forming device transmit and receive the printing command and the data. A control unit interprets the command, and judges right or wrong of the stapling in the printing condition, and in the case of YES, the control unit gives priority to a tray for stapling in search and designation. After a series of setting is done, the printing data accumulated in an image forming unit is converted, and a plotter unit forms a recording paper with an image on the basis of the image data. The recording paper formed with the image is carried to a finisher unit by a delivery unit. After confirming the image formation of the printing data over the whole pages and confirming the setting of the stapling, the recording papers on the tray are stapled at a stapling position, and conclusion of the processing over the whole number of copies is confirmed to conclude the processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a composite machine thereof, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of performing a binding process as a post-processing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a document created in a host device is printed out by a printer which is an image forming device connected to the host device, unlike a case where a document is copied by a copying machine, a general user is It is used without being conscious of the size of the recording paper stored in the paper feed tray of the printer and the vertical and horizontal directions of the recording paper. Also,
In recent years, printers connected to a network environment have been frequently used, and when printing using this printer, the printer is often not installed near the user who wants to print. In many cases, printout is performed without considering the state. Furthermore, the use of multifunctional MFPs having not only a printer function for printing input data from a host device but also a copy function for copying a document is increasing. In addition, the selection of post-processing functions and post-processing are more complicated than before, such as the complexity of options for post-processing devices that can be selectively installed and the expansion of mounting of multiple post-processing devices on the same model. It has become.

[0003]

However, since the image forming apparatus having such a configuration is multifunctional, it requires detailed setting for each function. In particular, a post-processing device is added, and the user can operate as a printer. In such a case, the binding may be performed at a position not intended by the user when performing the binding process, and there is a problem in usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus in a printing environment that is easy for a user to understand and that can perform stapling processing intended by the user. Is to do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means is an image forming means for forming an image on recording paper based on input image data and printing conditions, and A plurality of paper feed stages in which various sizes of recording paper are stored in a vertical direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel, or a horizontal direction in which the longitudinal direction is vertical. Paper feeding means for feeding recording paper to the image forming means side, paper discharging means for discharging the recording paper formed by the image forming means, and paper discharged from the paper discharging means are stacked. An image forming apparatus comprising: a binding unit configured to perform a binding process on an integrated sheet bundle; and a control unit configured to control each of the units and perform a binding process by binding sheets on which images are formed. The control unit may record a binding position of the printing condition with respect to the recording paper bundle. And selects the paper feed speed to be the paper feed in response to the imaging direction to the paper.

The second means is that, in the first means, when productivity priority processing is designated as the printing condition, the control means considers the binding processing time of the binding means and the image forming time on the recording paper. The priority is given to selecting the paper feed tray that stores the recording paper that can be processed most efficiently.

A third means is that, in the second means, when the productivity priority processing is designated, the control means stores the recording paper conveyed in a state in which a long side is orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction. The selected paper feed stage is preferentially selected.

A fourth means is the second or third means, wherein the control means gives priority to the binding of the recording sheet at an oblique position.

A fifth means is the first means, wherein the control means executes the binding process by giving priority to any one of an oblique position, a horizontal position, and a vertical position of the recording paper by designating the printing conditions. It is characterized by making it.

In a sixth aspect, in the first or second aspect, the printing condition is input from a host device together with the image data.

According to the above construction, the control means selects the paper feed stage to be fed according to the binding position for the recording paper bundle input as the printing condition and the image forming direction on the recording paper, and forms the image. After the image is formed by the means, the position corresponding to the binding position is bound by the binding means. At that time, a recording sheet suitable for image formation is supplied to the image forming means side from a paper feed stage according to the image forming direction. At this time, the recording paper and the binding position are selected with priority given to the productivity, the binding at an oblique position with respect to the recording paper is preferentially specified, and the binding at the horizontal / vertical position is preferentially performed. This makes it possible for the user to easily perform the intended stapling process.

In the following embodiments, the image forming means is provided in the image forming section 7, the paper feeding means is provided in the paper feeding section 6, the paper discharging means is provided in the paper discharging section 8, and the binding means is provided in the finisher section 9. The control means corresponds to the control unit 9 for the stapler.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the image forming system includes a host device (host computer) 1, an image forming device 2, and a communication unit 3 that connects the host device 1 and the image forming device 2. The image forming apparatus 2 includes the communication unit 3
Interface 4, a control unit 5, a paper supply unit 6 having a plurality of trays (paper supply stages) for accommodating recording papers of various sizes for each size and direction, and image formation for forming received print data on recording paper. A paper discharge unit 8 for discharging and conveying the recording paper on which an image is formed; and a finisher unit 9 having a stapler for performing a binding process. The finisher unit 9 is generally selectively installed at a subsequent stage of the paper discharge unit 6 as an option. Since the present invention is characterized by the control when performing the binding process, it is assumed that the finisher unit 9 having a stapler as an option is provided.

The communication means 3 is a signal cable or a LAN.
The host apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 are connected via the signal cable or the network, and a control signal indicating the state of the image forming apparatus 2 is provided by an interface 4 corresponding to the communication means 3. The print data and print conditions of the document created by the apparatus 1 are exchanged. As will be described later, the printing conditions here include the presence or absence of stapling, and the staple processing includes the staple position, the staple direction, the number of staples (one stapling, two stapling), and the like. included.

The paper feed section 6, image forming section 7, paper discharge section 8, and finisher section 9 are controlled by a control section 5. The control unit 5 interprets a control signal and print data (usually a print command, print data, etc.) received from the host device 1,
The image is processed by the image forming unit 7 and developed into digitized image data.
The control unit 5 also specifies the selection of the recording paper from the paper supply unit 6 and the paper discharge processing method of the paper discharge unit 8 based on the printing conditions, and develops one page of the recording paper. A visible image is formed on recording paper while controlling the timing of the image data by the plotter unit of the image forming unit 7. The recording paper is fed from a paper feed unit 6 having a paper feed stage in which a plurality of types of paper are stored in each stage according to the size and the paper feed direction, and after the visible image is formed, fixing is performed. The paper is discharged by the paper discharge unit 8. In the case of this embodiment, the image forming unit 7 forms an image by, for example, an electrophotographic process, and the recording paper on which the image is formed is selected by the control unit 5 selecting a paper feed stage of the paper feed unit 6. .

The recording paper on which the image has been formed and the image has been fixed is discharged to the finisher unit 9. At this time, if there is a staple binding instruction in the printing conditions, the sheet is conveyed to a tray for performing stapling in the finisher unit 9, that is, a so-called staple tray. When a number of sheets corresponding to the number of copies are accumulated on the tray, a stapling process is executed at a predetermined position of the recording sheet according to the instruction, and the bound recording sheet bundle is discharged.

In this embodiment, when a document or a drawing is created by an application running on the host device 1 and a printing instruction is given by a user, a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 2 of the host device 1 is started. The printing conditions are set. For example, when the image forming apparatus 2 is equipped with a finisher unit 9 having a stapling function as a post-processing device, the stapling pattern is, as shown in FIG. Patterns 1, 3, 11, and 9 for stapling the position of each position, and patterns 15, 13, 5, and 7 for stapling the positions of the upper, lower, left, and right positions one by one.
A pattern 0, 4, 8, and 12 for stapling the position of each corner one by one; a pattern 2 for simultaneously stapling the upper and lower two places on the left side; a pattern 10 for simultaneously stapling the upper and lower two places on the right side; There are 16 patterns, a pattern 14 for stapling two places at the same time and a pattern 6 for stapling the two places on the lower side at the same time.

Here, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 based on the flowchart of FIG. This operation is executed by a CPU (not shown) of the control unit 5 according to a program stored in a ROM (not shown) while using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

Now, the user uses an application or a printer driver to change the printing direction, recording paper size, staple location (select from the positions shown in FIG. 2) and staple pattern, double-sided printing (including binding direction), etc., corresponding to the print data. The printing conditions are specified (step S1). When the print start is instructed by the user (step S2),
The printer driver generates a print command and print data suitable for the output destination image forming apparatus in consideration of the document information and the setting information (step S3).

The host device 1 transmits a print command and print data to the image forming apparatus 2 through the communication means 3 (Step S4). The image forming apparatus 2 receives the print command and the print data via the interface 4 (Step S5), and interprets the print command and the print data in the control unit 5 (Step S6).

At this time, for example, the designation of the staple pattern number assigned as shown in FIG. 2 is determined. When the staple pattern is strictly specified as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, printing conditions such as printing direction, recording paper size, staple location and pattern, double-sided printing specification and binding direction, paper feeding unit 6 Based on a combination of information such as recording paper stored in each paper feed stage, it is determined whether or not the designated stapling process is possible and the necessity of rotating the image formation on the recording paper by 180 degrees.

FIG. 4 (a) shows printing (portrait printing) with the short side of the recording paper up and down so that the recording paper can be read when viewed vertically, and the recording paper is moved in the transport direction of the recording paper. 4B, portrait printing is performed on the recording paper, and the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is aligned with the transport direction when the longitudinal direction is set as the longitudinal direction (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel to the recording paper transport direction). Each condition in the case where the horizontal direction is set so as to be orthogonal is shown. Also, FIG. 5A shows printing (landscape printing) with the long side of the recording paper up and down so that the recording paper can be read and viewed in the horizontal direction. 5B, the landscape direction printing is performed on the recording paper, and the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is set in the vertical direction (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper). The direction is a direction parallel to the recording paper transport direction).

"Release" under each condition shown in FIGS.
"0/180" is a rotation added to the image forming process of the image forming unit 7 by the control unit 5 in order to set the target stapling position when the target stapling position is physically impossible. "Release binding" indicates that the stapling process is released in the case of a combination having a contradiction in the direction of the double-sided printing and the stapling position.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the printing surface of the recording paper, the staple position, and the transport direction in the finisher unit 7. In FIG. 6, the rear end of the transported paper is viewed from the near side.
The case of the diagonal back and two stitches is shown. In addition, it is also possible to perform staple stitching in the vertical direction and the near side.

After interpreting the print command and print data in step S6, it is determined whether the received print command and print data can be stapled based on the print conditions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (step S6).
7). If stapling is possible (Yes), the tray that stores the recording paper to be subjected to stapling such as oblique stitching, horizontal stitching, vertical stapling, and productivity stapling is preferentially searched and designated (step S8).

When the staple pattern is not strictly specified as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the paper feeding unit is controlled based on the printing conditions specifying a part such as diagonal, horizontal / vertical, and productivity priority. 6, a stapling position to the finisher 9, and a designated pattern (mechanically, the above-described two corners of the recording paper are bounded obliquely, horizontally, vertically, or on one side. ), An instruction for double-sided printing to the plotter unit, and an instruction to rotate the recording paper to be processed at the time of image formation by the image forming unit 180 by 180 degrees as necessary. This necessity is determined according to the binding direction and the image forming direction on the recording paper.

In the present embodiment, the productivity priority processing of the productivity priority binding means the following processing.
That is, the direction in which the short side direction of the recording paper is parallel to the transport direction of the recording paper (the direction in which the long side of the recording paper is orthogonal to the recording transport direction) is the transport direction when an image is formed on the recording paper. Since the distance is the shortest, in order to improve the productivity, an image is formed on the recording paper in this direction. By forming an image on the recording paper and transporting the image in such a manner that the longitudinal direction (long side) of the recording paper is set to be a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the recording paper in the relationship between the image forming distance and the transporting distance, the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is obtained. Image is formed as a vertical direction parallel to the recording paper conveyance direction,
The processing time for one recording sheet is reduced by at least the difference between the lengths of the recording sheet in the short side direction and the long side direction. In this way, the priority is given to productivity in order to improve the printing processing time and to bind the bundle of sheets with a stapler to the recording paper which has priority on outputting by this processing.

The stapler is located at the home position when the binding process is not performed. When the stapler is bound, the stapler moves from the home position to the binding position and performs the binding process. The time from the start of the binding operation to the end of the binding operation differs depending on the number, the rotation operation, and the like. Therefore, when processing is performed with priority on productivity, recording paper selection and a binding position are selected in consideration of the above-described recording paper transport direction and binding processing.

After the determination as to whether or not the staple process is performed in step S7, as a priority search for the tray on which the staple process is to be performed, the designation of the staple position as an oblique hitting priority specifies the staple pattern and the paper feed direction. 1. Staple position diagonally, recording paper horizontal (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is orthogonal to the transport direction) 2. Staple position diagonally, recording paper placed vertically (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel to the transport direction) 3. Staple position horizontal or vertical, horizontal recording paper (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is orthogonal to the transport direction) The stapling is performed in the order of horizontal or vertical stapling and vertical placement of the recording paper (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel to the transport direction).

In the designation of the priority for horizontal and vertical hits, 1. Staple position horizontal or vertical, recording paper horizontal (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is orthogonal to the transport direction) 2. Staple position horizontal or vertical, recording paper placed vertically (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel to the transport direction) 3. Staple position diagonally, recording paper horizontal (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is orthogonal to the transport direction) The stapling is performed diagonally and the recording paper is placed vertically (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is parallel to the transport direction).

Further, in the designation of the priority of productivity, 1. Staple position diagonally, recording paper horizontal (direction in which the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is orthogonal to the transport direction) Staple positions are set horizontally or vertically, and the recording paper is placed horizontally (the longitudinal direction of the recording paper is perpendicular to the transport direction). The selection of the recording paper and the setting of the stapling process are performed for each unit.

In any case, as described above, the selection is performed with priority given to productivity in consideration of the movement of the stapler and the image forming time of the recording paper. Note that what is prioritized is performed based on print information input from the host device 1,
Generally, it is preferable to initialize the productivity priority processing.

On the other hand, if the processing based on the printing conditions is not possible (No) in step S7, the process proceeds to the next processing as a setting not to perform the stapling processing.

When a series of settings are made, the electronic image data converted and created from the print data stored in the image forming section 7 is sent to a plotter section, for example, in the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a control section. 5, a latent image is formed by performing optical writing on a photoreceptor by a laser beam based on image data from a storage unit provided in 5, a toner is adhered to the latent image by a developing device to visualize the toner image, The toner image is transferred onto the recording paper and fixed on the recording paper by the fixing unit, whereby an image is formed on the recording paper (step S9).
).

The recording sheet on which an image has been formed on the finisher unit 9 for performing the stapling process set previously is conveyed by the sheet discharging unit 8. At this time, the sheet is sent to the binding tray by the staples of the finisher unit 9 and is discharged onto the tray where the stapling position is adjusted to perform the set stapling process. It is confirmed whether or not all pages of the received print data have been image-formed (step S1).
0).

If there is a remaining page in step S10, (N
o) Returning to step S9, when the image forming process of all pages is confirmed (Yes), it is confirmed whether or not the above-described stapling process is set (step S11). ), The set position of the recording paper on the tray is stapled (step S1).
2) If the stapling process is not set (No), the process proceeds to the next process.

Finally, it is confirmed whether or not the processing for the number of copies specified by the printing conditions has been completed (step S13), and if not completed (No), the flow returns to step S9 to repeat the above-described processing, and the processing is completed. If yes (Yes), the printing process ends.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the image forming process is performed on all pages and the stapling process is performed after the output of one copy of the pages to be stapled, but the printing process for all the pages is completed first. After that, a stapling process of binding with staples may be performed. In this case, a plurality of trays are required as output destinations for loading the completed print sheets for the number of copies.

Based on the above, it is determined whether or not stapling processing for binding a recording sheet on which an image has been formed to each copy according to printing conditions can be set, and the stapling position to be bound based on the designated priority order. By performing the setting to be specified, it is possible to easily perform an executable setting corresponding to this processing.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In addition to judging whether or not stapling processing of printing conditions is possible, it is possible to perform stapling processing that is easy for the user to understand and that is intended in a priority order based on designated conditions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a staple pattern capable of performing a binding process on recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a case where portrait printing is performed on a recording sheet and the printing direction is set vertically with respect to the conveying direction of the recording sheet; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating each condition of a staple pattern when the direction is set as a direction.

FIG. 5A shows a case in which landscape printing is performed on a recording sheet and the landscape direction is set in a horizontal direction with respect to the transport direction of the recording sheet; FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating each condition of a staple pattern in a case where the staple pattern is set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a printing surface of a recording sheet, a staple position, and a transport direction in a finisher unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Communication means 4 Interface 5 Control part 6 Paper supply part 7 Image forming part 8 Paper discharge part 9 Finisher part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/00 376 G03G 21/00 376 384 384 G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 CF term (Reference) 2C087 AB05 AC08 BA01 BA03 BD13 BD16 2H027 ED17 ED29 EE07 FA30 FB06 FB13 FC02 ZA07 3F108 GA02 GA04 GB01 HA02 HA43 3F343 FA01 FB01 FC30 JA01 MA03 MA09 MA23 MB03 MB09 MB13 MC21 MC23 5B021 AA01 BB01 CC07 KK00

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet based on input image data and printing conditions; and a longitudinal direction in which a longitudinal direction of the recording sheet is parallel to a conveying direction, or the longitudinal direction. Paper feeding means having a plurality of paper feed stages in which recording papers of various sizes are stored in a horizontal direction in which the direction is vertical, and feeding the recording paper from the paper feed stage to the image forming means side; Discharging means for discharging the recording paper formed by the image forming means; binding means for collecting sheets discharged from the paper discharging means and performing binding processing on the stacked sheet bundle; A control unit configured to control each of the units and perform a binding process by bundling the sheets on which the images are formed. Select the paper feed source to be fed according to the image forming direction on the recording paper An image forming apparatus comprising Rukoto. 2. When productivity priority processing is designated as the printing condition, the control means considers the binding processing time of the binding means and the image forming time on the recording paper to determine the most efficient recording paper. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stored paper feed tray is selected with priority. 3. When the productivity priority processing is designated,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit preferentially selects a paper feed stage in which the recording paper conveyed in a state where the long side is orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction is stored. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit gives priority to binding the recording sheet at an oblique position. 5. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes the binding process by giving priority to any one of an oblique position, a horizontal position, and a vertical position of the recording sheet according to the designation of the printing condition. Image forming apparatus. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition is input from a host device together with the image data.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 2.