JP2003095526A - Printed matter handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that post-handling such as stapling or punching cannot be performed in an interrupt job when the interrupt job is executed on the way of execution of a job followed by the post-handling such as stapling or punching. SOLUTION: A printed matter handling device for solving the problem has only an evacuating stack part and a returning means of an evacuating paper bundle for returning a paper bundle evacuating in the evacuating stack to an intermediate stack part again. Only by using a substantially existing constitution and changing the control, the printed matter handling device can be provided in a simple constitution and at low cost.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printed matter processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as punching and stapling.
Particularly, it relates to control of the printed matter processing apparatus when there is an interrupt job.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printed matter processing device for performing post-processing such as punching and stapling is attached to a sheet discharging position of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile. When it is desired to perform the post-processing, the post-processing is performed based on the setting made from the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus or the job from the printer driver. A conventional image forming apparatus and a printed matter processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

The printed matter processing apparatus 17 as described above performs post-processing on the sheets sequentially discharged from the image forming apparatus 21, and includes a printed matter processing apparatus control unit 18 and a conveying roller pair (3).
1 to 32), a branching unit 4, a first paper discharge port 5, a second paper discharge port 6, a first paper discharge tray 7, a second paper discharge tray 8, an intermediate stack unit 10, and a sheet bundle conveying unit. 11, post-processing means 1
2. The second discharge tray elevating means 19 and the like. The image forming apparatus 21 includes an image forming apparatus control unit 22 connected to the printed matter processing apparatus control unit 18 via a cable 23, a paper feed cassette 24 on which a plurality of sheets of various sizes are stacked, a vertical conveyance path 25, and a registration roller. Pair 26, electrophotographic image forming device 27, fixing device 28, discharge roller 2
It is composed of 9 and the like.

The image forming apparatus 21 and the printed matter processing apparatus 1
When performing normal printing by using the paper, the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 24 passes through the vertical transport path 25, temporarily adjusts the leading edge by the pair of registration rollers 26, temporarily stops, and is formed by the image forming device 27. The toner image is conveyed again according to the timing of the toner image, the toner image is transferred by the image forming device 27, and then the toner image is fixed on the paper by being heated and nipped by the fixing device 28. It is conveyed at 29 and delivered to the printed matter processing apparatus. When the printed matter processing apparatus 1 receives the above-mentioned sheet, the branching unit 4 is in the state shown by the broken line in the figure, and the pair of conveying rollers (31 to 3).
3) and is discharged from the first discharge port 5 to the first discharge tray 7.

When performing post-processing such as stapling and punching, the printed matter processing device 17 receives the above-mentioned paper,
The branching unit 4 is in the state shown by the solid line in the drawing, and the sequentially printed sheets are stacked on the intermediate stack unit 10 at predetermined positions. When the set number of sheets is reached, the post-processing device 12 performs post-processing for stapling and punching, and the sheet bundle conveying means 11 ejects the sheets from the second sheet ejection port 6 to the second sheet ejection tray 9. To be done. The second discharge tray 9 can be moved up and down, and gradually lowers when the number of stapled sheets is increased.

[0006]

However, since the printed matter processing apparatus 17 as described above is executing the job including the post-processing such as stapling and punching as described above, the intermediate stock section 10 is in use. Since post-processing such as stapling and punching cannot be performed when interrupt copying is performed, 1
Only the sheets can be discharged one by one to the first discharge tray. In addition, it is conceivable to provide a plurality of intermediate stack portions and a plurality of post-processing means, but the printed matter processing apparatus becomes large in size and costly. The present invention is to provide a printed matter processing apparatus capable of interrupting a job involving post-processing even when a job being executed is performing the post-processing.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first invention of the present invention is a printed matter processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as stapling and punching on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus and discharging the sheet. In, the printed matter processing device,
When performing post-processing such as stapling and punching, the post-processing such as stapling and punching is performed on the intermediate stack section that holds a plurality of sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus and the stack of sheets held in the intermediate stack section. A post-processing unit for performing a job, a retracting stack unit for temporarily retracting the sheet stack held in the intermediate stack, and a previous job using the intermediate stack unit to execute the job, When the image forming apparatus has an interrupt job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching, the sheet stack held in the intermediate stack section is retreated to the retraction stack section,
The sheets of the interrupt job are discharged to the intermediate stack section for post-processing, and when this interrupt job ends, the sheet stack of the previous job that was saved is returned to the intermediate stack section and the previous job is restarted. A printed matter processing apparatus having a control means for controlling the printed matter is used.

A second aspect of the present invention is a printed matter processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus and discharges the sheet. The printed matter processing apparatus does not perform the post-processing apparatus. A first paper ejection tray for ejecting paper from the first paper ejection port, and an intermediate stack unit for holding a plurality of paper ejected from the image forming apparatus when performing post-processing such as stapling and punching. Post-processing means for performing post-processing such as stapling and punching on the bundle of sheets held in the intermediate stack portion, and a sheet for discharging the bundle of sheets held in the intermediate stack portion from the second discharge port. A bundle conveying unit, a stack stack unit for temporarily retracting the stack of sheets held in the intermediate stack unit from the second sheet discharge port,
A second paper ejection tray for ejecting the sheet bundle post-processed in the intermediate stack section; a retracted state for ejecting the sheet bundle ejected from the second sheet ejection port to the retract stack section; Second
Sheet discharging unit for switching the sheet bundle discharged from the sheet discharging port of the sheet stack to the second sheet discharging tray, and the sheet stack in the retraction stack section again for the intermediate stack section. When there is an interruption job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching in the image forming apparatus while the previous job is executing the job using the intermediate stack unit Is set to the evacuation state, the sheet stack held in the intermediate stack section is retracted to the evacuation stack section, and the sheets of the interrupt job are sequentially ejected to the intermediate stack section. When the processing is completed and the processing is completed, the post-processing sheet discharge state is set, and the sheet bundle of the interrupt job is discharged to the second sheet discharge tray. Returning the paper bundle in the intermediate stacker, using printed material processing apparatus characterized by re and a resume control means ahead of the job.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus,
If the number of remaining sheets up to the point where the post-processing such as stapling and punching of the previous job is good is less than the predetermined number, continue the post-processing until the point where this post-processing is good, and print on the intermediate stack The printed matter processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the printed matter processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention has an interrupt job standby unit that interrupts an interrupt job after performing post-processing on the sheet and discharging the sheet to the sheet discharge tray.

[0010]

In the first and second aspects of the present invention, the printed matter processing apparatus is provided with the retracting stack section and the retracting sheet bundle returning means for returning the sheet bundle retracted in the retracting stack section to the intermediate stack section again. Can provide a printed matter processing apparatus that solves the above-mentioned object with a simple structure and at low cost only by using the existing structure and changing the control.

Further, the third invention of the present application is such that, when an attempt is made to interrupt a job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching while executing a job which is currently undergoing post-processing such as stapling and punching. , If the number of remaining sheets is enough to empty the intermediate stack part after waiting a while,
Since I will wait for the interrupt job for a while and then interrupt it,
Overall efficiency will be better.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printed matter processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus adopting the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic view of FIG. The same reference numerals are given to the respective constituents that are common to those of the conventional technique of FIG.

The printed matter processing apparatus 1 performs post-processing on the sheets sequentially discharged from the image forming apparatus 21, and includes a printed matter processing apparatus control unit 2, a pair of conveying rollers (31 to 33), a branching unit 4, and a fourth unit. 1, a second paper ejection port 5, a first paper ejection tray 7, a second paper ejection tray 8, a retraction stack section 9,
The intermediate stack unit 10, a sheet bundle conveying unit 11, a post-processing unit 12, a tray elevating unit 13, a retracted sheet bundle returning unit 14, and the like.

The printed matter processing apparatus control unit 2 controls each of the above components, and includes an image forming apparatus 21 and a cable 23.
Connected through.

The carrying rollers (31 to 33) carry the sheets sequentially delivered from the image forming apparatus 21. The branching unit 4 sorts the sheets conveyed to it, and in the case of normal printing, the state is indicated by the solid line in the figure, and the sheets are discharged from the first sheet discharge port 5 to the first sheet discharge tray 7. To discharge. In the state of the broken line in the figure, the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate stack section below. The second discharge tray 8 is
This is a tray from which the post-processed sheet bundle is discharged.

The evacuation stack section 9 is a characteristic part of the present invention, and is a stack of sheets that require post-processing such as stapling and punching, and those that have not been post-processed are retracted. Since it is an unfinished sheet bundle, a mechanism for arranging the sheet bundle and a mechanism for pressing the sheet bundle are provided, which are not shown. The evacuation stack unit 9 is provided with evacuation sheet bundle returning means 14, and the hinge unit 141 is rotated to incline the evacuation stack unit 9, and the sheet bundle returning blades push the sheet stack to the right direction. Are returned to the intermediate stack section 10.

The sheet bundle conveying means 11 has a belt wound around two rollers. The sheet bundle is obliquely stacked on the belt surface, and the lower sheet bundle stopper 111 receives the lower edge of the sheet bundle. The state shown in the drawing is a state in which sheets are stacked, and the sheet bundle conveying means 11 is rotated counterclockwise to move the sheet bundle from the second sheet discharge port to the second sheet discharge tray 8 or the retracted stack section. Discharge to 9. The sheets stacked on the intermediate stack unit 10 are also provided with a mechanism (not shown) for aligning the edges. The second discharge port is provided with a mechanism (not shown) for shifting the discharged sheet bundle laterally in the transport direction.

The post-processing means 12 is means for carrying out post-processing such as stapling or punching holes in the sheet stack stacked on the intermediate stack section 10. Move the front and back in the figure to stop at the set position and perform stapling or punching.

The tray elevating means 13 is provided for moving the second paper discharge tray 8 and the retraction stack section 9 to a position where they are applied to the second paper discharge port 6. Conventionally, there is a mechanism that moves up and down according to the stacking amount of the second paper discharge tray 8. Therefore, although it is a characteristic part of the present invention, it is almost diverted from the past.

The image forming apparatus 21 includes an image forming apparatus control section 22 connected to the printed matter processing apparatus control section 2 via a cable 23, a paper feed cassette 24 having a plurality of sheets of various sizes stacked therein, and a vertical conveyance path. 25, registration roller pair 2
7, an electrophotographic image forming device 27, a fixing device 28, a discharge roller 29, and the like.

FIG. 2A to FIG. 2 show the operation procedure when a job involving post-processing is interrupted during execution of a job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching using the printed matter processing apparatus 1 of the present case. This will be described using (I).

First, FIG. 2A shows the previous job being executed. The sheets transferred from the image forming apparatus 21 are changed in direction by the branching unit 4 and sequentially stacked on the intermediate stack unit 10. If an interrupt job accompanied by post-processing is entered while the preceding job is not completed, the evacuation stack unit 9 causes the ejection position of the second ejection port 6 to exit, as shown in FIG. 2B. Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the sheet bundle of the previous job stacked on the intermediate stack section 10 is discharged to the evacuation stack section 9 by the rotational movement of the sheet bundle conveying means 11. To be done. Next, as shown in FIG. 2D, the second paper ejection tray 8 and the evacuation stack unit 9 on which the sheet bundle is stacked are lowered to move the second paper ejection port 6
The second sheet discharge port is moved to the position, the interrupt job is started, and sheets of the interrupt job are sequentially stacked on the intermediate stack unit 10 as shown in FIG. When the stacking of the interrupt job is completed, as shown in FIG. 2F, post-processing is collectively performed by the post-processing device 12, and the second stack tray 8 is rotated by the sheet bundle conveying means 11.
And the interrupt job ends. When there are a plurality of copies of this interrupt job, the operations (E) to (F) of FIG. 2 are repeated. If multiple copies of the previous job's printed matter have already been printed, if you shift the printed matter of the previous job in the horizontal direction in the transport direction, the user who performed the interrupt job will mistakenly print the previous job together. The mistake of making a mistake is gone. When the interruption job ends, as shown in FIG. 2G, the evacuation stack unit 9 starts moving to the paper ejection position of the second paper ejection port 6, and subsequently, as shown in FIG. , The evacuation stack unit 9 tilts in the direction of returning the sheet bundle to the intermediate stack unit 10, and the sheet bundle returning blade 14
The sheet bundle is again delivered to the sheet bundle conveying means 11 by the trailing edge of the sheet bundle 2, and the sheet bundle conveying means 11 is rotated in the clockwise direction to return to the predetermined position. After that, as shown in (I) of FIG. 2, the previous job is restarted, and the remaining print sheets are sequentially stacked on the intermediate stack section 10. Although not shown thereafter, when printing of the preceding job is completed, post-processing is performed and discharged, and all processing is completed.

The above-mentioned procedure of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 in addition to the third invention. First, a post-processing setting (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 21 is set to an interrupt job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching, and the start key is operated to start the job (S101). . At this time, it is determined whether or not the preceding job is in the process of performing post-processing, and if the post-processing is not being performed, the intermediate stack unit 10
Is not used, this interrupt job is executed (S107), and when this is completed, the previous job is restarted (S107).
108) and the process ends. If the previous job has also been post-processed in S102, then it is determined whether the remaining number of sheets to be stacked on the intermediate stack section of this previous job is equal to or less than a predetermined number (S103). This is because if the previous job is to copy 20 copies of, for example, 10 originals, and perform stapling processing for each copy, and if the fifth copy is currently being printed, this job will be performed midway. Rather than evacuating the unfinished sheet bundle of the 5th set, stack the 10 sheets of the 5th set in the intermediate stack section for staple processing, complete and discharge up to the 5th set, and then interrupt the job. This is because it is more efficient to interrupt. The previous job is 1
This is to copy five copies of 00 originals and perform stapling processing for each copy. If the fifth copy of the first copy is currently being printed, it is necessary to complete the processing of the first copy. , It's still a lot of work, so it's better to start the interrupt. Therefore, when the number of sheets is equal to or less than the predetermined number in S103 described above, the process waits until the post-processing of the previous job is completed (S105), and when the processing is completed (S105), the process proceeds to S107. If the remaining number of the previous job is equal to or larger than the predetermined number in S103, the previous job is saved (S106), and the next S10 is executed.
Proceed to 7.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the present invention. Figure 1
In the printed matter processing apparatus 1 shown in (1), the post-processed interrupt job and the preceding job are discharged to the same second discharge tray 8. Therefore, if the printed matter processing apparatus 15 of this modified example is provided with the third paper discharge tray 16 and the printed matter of the interruption job is ejected here, the user who has performed the interruption job mistakes it for the printed matter of the previous job. It's convenient.

[0025]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the printed matter processing apparatus is provided with the retracted stack section and the retracted sheet bundle returning means for returning the sheet bundle retracted in the retracted stack section to the intermediate stack section again. With the simple configuration and low cost, you can reuse the existing configuration and change the control.
It is possible to provide a printed matter processing apparatus that solves the above object.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is attempted to interrupt a job involving post-processing such as stapling and punching while executing a job currently undergoing post-processing such as stapling and punching. At this time, if the remaining number of sheets is such that the intermediate stack section can be emptied after a short wait, the interrupt job is made to wait a little and then interrupted, so that the overall efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus and a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an outline of an operation of a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing of a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a modified example of a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus and a printed matter processing apparatus according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; printed matter processing device 2; Printed material processing device control unit 3; Transport roller pair (31 to 33) 4; branching means 5: First paper exit 6; second paper exit 7: First output tray 8: Second output tray 9; Evacuation stack section 10; Intermediate stack section 11: Sheet bundle conveying means 12; Post-processing means 13; tray elevating means 14: Retracting sheet bundle returning means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printed matter processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as stapling and punching on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus and discharging the sheet, wherein the printed matter processing apparatus performs image processing when performing post-processing such as stapling and punching. An intermediate stack unit that holds a plurality of sheets discharged from the forming apparatus, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on the stack of sheets held in the intermediate stack unit, and an intermediate stack unit that is held in the intermediate stack. A stack stack unit that temporarily saves a stack of sheets and a post-process such as stapling or punching in the image forming apparatus when a previous job is executing a job using the intermediate stack unit. If there is an interrupt job,
The stack of sheets held in the intermediate stack section was retracted to the retract stack section, the sheets of the interrupt job were ejected to the intermediate stack section, post-processing was performed, and when the interrupt job was completed, they were retracted. And a control unit for returning the sheet bundle of the previous job to the intermediate stack section and restarting the previous job. 2. A printed matter processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus and discharges the sheet, wherein the printed matter processing apparatus is a first sheet that does not undergo a post-processing apparatus. When performing post-processing such as stapling and punching with the first paper ejection tray that ejects paper from the paper ejection port,
An intermediate stack unit that holds a plurality of sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching on the sheet stack held in the intermediate stack unit, and the intermediate stack unit. Hold the stack of paper in the second
Sheet bundle conveying means for discharging the sheet bundle from the second sheet discharge port, a retracting stack section for temporarily retracting the sheet bundle held in the intermediate stack section from the second sheet discharge port, and post-processing in the intermediate stack section. A second paper ejection tray for ejecting the collected sheet bundle,
The retracted state in which the sheet bundle discharged from the second sheet discharge port is discharged to the retract stack section, and the sheet bundle discharged from the second sheet discharge port is discharged to the second sheet discharge tray. The sheet discharge switching means for switching the post-processing sheet discharge state, the retracted sheet bundle returning means for returning the sheet bundle in the retracted stack section to the intermediate stack section again, and the previous job using the intermediate stack section When the image forming apparatus has an interrupt job that involves post-processing such as stapling and punching while the job is being executed, the paper discharge switching unit is put in the retracted state and held in the intermediate stack unit. The stack of paper is retracted to the evacuation stack unit, and the sheets of the interrupt job are sequentially ejected to the intermediate stack unit to perform post-processing. When this is completed, the post-processing ejection state is set and the interruption job is processed. And a control unit for discharging the stack to the second discharge tray, subsequently returning the stack of sheets in the retracted stack section to the intermediate stack section by the retracted sheet bundle returning section, and restarting the previous job again. A printed matter processing device characterized by: 3. The image forming apparatus, if the number of remaining sheets up to a good break point of post-processing such as stapling or punching of the preceding job is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the post-processing step reaches the good break point. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: an interrupt job waiting unit that interrupts an interrupt job after performing post-processing on the printed matter in the intermediate stack unit and discharging the sheet to the discharge tray. The described printed matter processing device.