JP2003231376A - Printed matter treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that sheets are divided into separate volumes to be treated (saddle stitching or second folding) when the number of sheets to be treated in a conventional sheet treatment apparatus is more than the number of sheets capable of being treated at once, and the separate volumes are superposed one upon another to form a booklet subjected to saddle stitching in correct page arrangement but, in this technique, since the separate volumes are not mutually bound, a plurality of the separate volumes must be clamped later at a backbone position but it is difficult to clamp the separate volumes when the number of the separate volumes increases, and mutual binding order of the separate volumes becomes unclear and, if one or more volumes of saddle- stitched booklets are discharged, many separate volumes are discharged and work for classifying the separate volumes by one volume later is generated. <P>SOLUTION: When a plurality of the separate volumes are divided to be discharged, a page becoming an overlap width is provided to be used as a blank page or a mark showing an overlap width and pasted later by user's manual work. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to control of an image forming apparatus to which a printed matter processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as weekly magazine binding and sorting is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image output apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7157178 discloses processing in a separate volume (saddle stitching or saddle stitching when the number of sheets to be processed by a sheet processing apparatus is larger than the number of sheets that can be processed at one time. A technique is disclosed that enables saddle-stitched booklets with a correct page arrangement by folding (center-folding) and stacking the separate volumes.

[0003]

In the above technique, since the separate volumes are not bound to each other, it is necessary to stop a plurality of separate volumes at the spine cover position later, but when the number of separate volumes is large, it is difficult to stop. It was difficult. Also, sometimes it becomes difficult to know the order in which the separate volumes should be bound together. Furthermore, when a plurality of saddle-stitched booklets are ejected, a large number of separate sheets are ejected, and the work of sorting each copy later occurs. The object of the present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention of the present application is a post-processing unit for binding a weekly magazine to a delivered printed matter and a printed matter bundle for each copy. An image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing connected to a printed matter processing apparatus having a sorting control unit, a scanner unit for sequentially reading an original and generating image data, an image memory for storing the image data of the read original in page units, When a weekly magazine binding instruction is given and a copy start instruction is given, an original reading control means for sequentially reading the originals with the scanner and storing the originals in the image memory, and when the number of pages of the originals is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pages, When the printed matter processing apparatus is instructed to bind the first weekly magazine to perform one copy at a time, and when the number of pages of the manuscript is larger than the predetermined number of pages, the first copy is divided into a plurality of separate volumes and the second weekly magazine is printed. Binding instructions When the weekly magazine binding control means for the printed matter processing device and the instruction for the second weekly magazine binding are given, the last page of the first separate volume and the first page of the final separate volume in one copy. An image forming apparatus is used which is characterized in that it has a page and blank page designation means for interrupt-printing blank pages on the first page and the final page of the other volume.

The second invention of the present application is capable of double-sided printing connected to a printed matter processing apparatus having a post-processing means for binding a delivered printed matter to a weekly magazine and a sorting control means for sorting a printed matter bundle for each set. In the image forming apparatus, a scanner unit that sequentially reads a document and generates image data, an image memory that stores the image data of the read document in page units,
When a weekly magazine binding instruction is given and a copy start instruction is given, an original reading control means for sequentially reading the originals with the scanner and storing the originals in the image memory, and when the number of pages of the originals is equal to or less than a predetermined number of pages, When the printed matter processing apparatus is instructed to bind the first weekly magazine to perform one copy at a time, and when the number of pages of the manuscript is larger than the predetermined number of pages, the first copy is divided into a plurality of separate volumes and the second weekly magazine is printed. Weekly magazine binding control means for instructing the printed matter processing device to the printed matter processing device, and when the second weekly magazine binding instruction is issued, the final page and the final volume of the first volume in one copy The first page and the first page and the last page of the other separate volumes have an image forming apparatus characterized by having a symbol page designating means for interrupt printing as the symbol page.

In the third invention of the present application, the same symbol is applied to the last page of the first separate volume and the first page of the second separate volume, and the same code is applied to the first page of the last separate volume and the last page of the previous separate volume. Has the same symbol, and the other volumes have symbol assigning means for printing the same symbol on the last page and the first page of the next volume, respectively, and the image forming apparatus according to the second invention. To use.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of copies are printed and the instruction for binding the second weekly magazine is issued, a sorting instruction means for instructing that the separate volumes of the same portion are sorted at the same position. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects is used.

The fifth invention of the present application uses the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, characterized in that the image forming apparatus has a separate-volume number instructing means for instructing the number of the single separate volume.

[0009]

According to the first invention of the present application, when a weekly magazine binding is instructed even though the number of copies per sheet is large, it is printed in a plurality of separate volumes, but it is the manual work of the user to bind this. To do. At this time, if the pages printed with blank pages by the blank page instruction means of the present application are pasted together with glue or the like, the pages can be bound even if the number of separate volumes is a little large.

In the second invention of the present application, when binding a plurality of separate volumes, a symbol indicating this is printed so that it is easy to see which page is to be pasted.

In the third invention of the present application, when binding a plurality of separate volumes in the second invention, the same symbol is used for the pages to be bonded so that it is not necessary to know which page should be bonded to which page. Print it out.

According to the fourth invention of the present application, when there are a plurality of weekly magazines bound together, and when the number of copies also exceeds, it is convenient to sort the same parts so that they are collected later. is there.

In the fifth invention of the present application, if it is possible to instruct the number of sheets to be used in one separate volume when separating the volumes, it is convenient to be able to create a printed matter according to preference.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus connected to a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention will be described with reference to the schematic view of FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 is a digital copying machine here, and has at least a plurality of types of paper cassettes of different sizes, and is also required to have a double-sided copy function and a memory copy function. A document feeder (DF) 2 is provided on the image forming apparatus 1. When a document is set at the document placement position, the document is automatically fed one by one and conveyed to the document reading position. Is. The printed matter processing device 4 is a device that performs post-processing on the printed matter delivered from the image forming apparatus 1. The printed matter processing apparatus 4 includes a paper discharge port (41 to 43).
Is the first paper ejection port 4 for directly ejecting the copies one by one.
1, a second paper ejection port 42 for ejecting a stapled or punched copy product bundle, a third paper ejection port 43 for ejecting a weekly-stitched copy product, and a first paper ejection port 41 First sorting means 44 for sorting the copied materials, second sorting means 45 for sorting the copied materials discharged from the second sheet discharging opening 41, and copy materials discharged from the third discharging slot 41 A third sorting means 46 for sorting the sheets, a first sheet discharge tray 47 for stacking copy products discharged from the first sheet discharge port 41,
A second paper output tray 48 for stacking copy products discharged from the second paper discharge port 42, and a third paper stack for loading weekly magazine-bound copy products discharged from the third paper discharge port 43. It is composed of a paper discharge tray 49.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention. Specifically, the CPU 11 controls each component of the image forming apparatus 1, and the ROM 1 that stores various programs.
2. Connected to the RAM 13 that stores user choice data, setting data, total count data, various font data, and the like. A sorting control unit, a document reading control unit described in each claim of the present invention,
The weekly magazine binding control means, the blank page designating means, the symbol page designating means, the symbol assigning means, the sorting instructing means, the number of separate sheets instructing means and the like are programs stored in the ROM 12.

The printer section 14 is composed of a paper feeding and conveying means, an image forming means, a fixing device, etc., and a sheet of paper fed from a paper feeding cassette is transferred with a toner image by the image forming means, which is the fixing means. The toner image is fixed by being nipped and heated by the nip between the heat roller and the pressure roller to form a copy. This copy is sequentially delivered to the printed matter processing device 4. In the case of double-sided copying, the fixed copy is stacked on the intermediate stack, and then the toner image is transferred and fixed on the other side, and the printed matter processing device 4 is sequentially operated.
To be delivered to. The operation display unit 16 includes an operation key, L
It is composed of a DC display unit and the like. The user also gives instructions for binding the weekly magazine of the present invention from here. I / F for DF
An interface 17 is connected to the DF3 placed on the image forming apparatus 1 via a cable 24 and controls the DF3. The scanner device 18 is a DF
Light is applied to the originals fed one by one by the halogen lamp 3 and the reflected light is read by the CCD sensor, the analog signal is converted into a digital signal by A / D conversion, and image processing is performed by the image processing unit 19. Bitmap memory 20
Expand to. The CODEC 21 is for decoding the image data in the image memory in order to encode the image data and store it in the image memory 22 efficiently. The image memory 22 is often an image memory using a hard disk for storing image data. The bus 23 is a bus for exchanging data and signals of the above-described components. Although each has a bus for image data and a bus for control signals, they are abbreviated as one here.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow when the weekly magazine binding is selected and copied in the image forming apparatus adopting the present invention.
It will be described based on. First, the original is read and stored in the image memory, and the number of pages of the original is counted (S10).
1). Next, the number of pages of the original image is compared with a predetermined number of pages (S
102). Here, the predetermined number of pages is determined by the ability of the printed matter processing apparatus to perform center-folding in weekly magazine binding, single-sided or double-sided printing, and the like. For example, if it is possible to fold up to 10 half-folds at a time, since it is a weekly magazine binding, it is possible to allocate an original of 4 pages per sheet. In this case, the predetermined number of pages is 40. If the number of pages of the document image is 40 or less in S102, the weekly magazine binding control means instructs to perform the first weekly magazine binding (S103), and the weekly magazine binding booklet is created according to this instruction, and the process ends. To do. In S102, the number of pages of the original image is 40
If the number is larger than the number of sheets, the weekly magazine binding control means instructs to perform the second weekly magazine binding (S105), and then it is determined whether or not it is the automatic separate volume (S106). The case of manually instructing the separate volume is according to the fifth invention of the present application, and the number of pages of one separate volume or the number of pages to be printed is set from the operation display unit (S107). Separate volumes are created based on the settings (S108), and the processing ends when completed. This manual instruction of the separate volume is accompanied by a prohibition in consideration of the instruction of the blank page of the present application while protecting one page of the separate volume. If it is an automatic separate volume in S106, the first separate volume is created (S109). The last page of this first volume is a blank page. When the first volume is completed (S110), the number of pages of the remaining original is then compared with the number of pages obtained by subtracting 1 from the predetermined number of pages (S111). The reason for comparing with the number of pages subtracted by 1 is that since a separate volume has already been specified, at least one blank page is required for the final separate volume. S11
If the number of pages of the remaining manuscript is 1 and is larger than the number of pages obtained by subtracting 1 from the predetermined number of pages, a separate volume other than that of the claim is prepared (S
112), when this other volume is completed (S11)
3) and returns to S111 again. If the number of pages of the remaining manuscript is less than or equal to the number of pages obtained by subtracting 1 from the predetermined number of pages in S111, the final separate volume is created (S114), and the process ends.

The first weekly magazine binding and the second weekly magazine binding of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the predetermined number of originals is set to 40. First, (A) of FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the first weekly magazine binding, and shows a case where a 40-page original is laid out in four pages per sheet. In all the figures, the numbers are broken and the numbers are added, but such numbers are not printed, and it is not intended to eject the broken paper, but to correspond to the pages of the image of the original. Is. First, a manuscript image of pages 2 and 39 from the left is assigned to the front side of the first sheet, a manuscript image of pages 1 and 40 is assigned to the back side, and pages 37 and 4 from the left are assigned to the front side of the second sheet. , The original images of pages 3 and 38 are assigned to the back side, and the original images of pages 20 and 21 are set on the front side of the tenth sheet, and the pages of pages 19 and 22 are set on the back side. The image is assigned. As described above, the ten sheets of paper on which the original images are printed on both sides are stapled in the center by the printed matter processing apparatus 4, then the center is folded and ejected to the ejection tray 49, which is shown on the right side in the drawing. A booklet like this is completed.

FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the second weekly magazine binding. First of all, when creating the first separate volume, the back side of the first sheet will be the front cover and back cover of the first separate volume.
A manuscript image of pages 2, 39 from the left is assigned to the front side of the first sheet, a manuscript image of one page is assigned to the left side of the back side, and a blank page (white 1) is assigned to the right side. Original images of pages 4 and 37 from the left are assigned to the front surface of the second sheet, original images of pages 3 and 38 are assigned to the rear surface, and ...
Original images of pages 20 and 21 are assigned, and original images of pages 19 and 22 are assigned to the back side. As described above, the ten sheets of paper on which the original images are printed on both sides are stapled in the center by the printed matter processing apparatus 4, then the center is folded and ejected to the ejection tray 49, which is shown on the right side in the drawing. The first separate volume like this is completed. Next, create the second separate volume (other than those in the claims) by using the 11th sheet (the first of the second separate sheets) on the back side of the second separate front cover and back cover. Therefore, on the surface of this 11th sheet, 40, 7 from the left
The original image of page 7 is assigned, and the back side becomes blank pages (white 2, white 3 from left). Original images of pages 42 and 75 from the left are assigned to the front surface of the twelfth sheet, original images of pages 41 and 76 are assigned to the rear surface, and 58 and 59 are assigned to the front surface of the twentieth sheet. Original images of pages are assigned to the back side and original images of pages 57 and 60 are assigned to the back side. In this way, the ten sheets of paper on which the original images are printed on both sides are stapled at the center by the printed matter processing apparatus 4, then the center is folded and ejected to the ejection tray 49, which is shown on the right side in the figure. The second separate volume like this is completed. When creating the third separate volume, the back side of the 21st sheet (first of the third separate volume) becomes the front cover and back cover of the third separate volume. Original images of pages 78 and 115 are assigned to the front side, a blank page (white 4) is assigned to the left side of the back side, and 116 pages of original images are assigned to the right side of the back side, and the left side is attached to the front side of the 22nd sheet. To 80, 113 pages of original images, backside 79, 1
A 14-page original image is assigned, ... 96 and 97-page original images are printed on the front surface of the 30th sheet, and 9 pages are printed on the back surface
Document images of pages 5 and 98 are allocated. in this way,
The ten sheets of paper on which the original images are printed on both sides are stapled in the center by the printed matter processing apparatus 4, then the center is folded and ejected to the ejection tray 49. The eye separate volume is completed, and the blank pages of these three separate volumes, that is, white 1 and white 2, and white 3 and white 4 are pasted together to form a single booklet.

In the second invention of the present application, some symbol is printed on the blank page in the above-described embodiment. For example, a symbol indicating that the pages are to be pasted together may be used, or a frame for a glue margin may be used instead of the symbol.
In the third invention of the present application, the pages to which the symbols are attached may have the same symbol. For example, if the above-mentioned white 1 page and white 2 page are printed with a margin A and the white 3 and white 4 pages are labeled with a margin B, the pages to be pasted together even if the separate volumes are separated. There is no mistake.

In the fourth invention of the present application, when a plurality of booklets which are divided into the above-mentioned separate volumes are required, when the booklets are discharged to the paper discharge tray 49 of the printed matter processing apparatus 4, the same parts are discharged to the same position, It is convenient to sort the separate volumes in the next section to different positions before ejecting them.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a weekly magazine binding is instructed even though the number of copies per sheet is large, printing is performed by dividing into a plurality of separate volumes, which is bound by the user. By hand. At this time, if the pages printed with blank pages by the blank page instruction means of the present application are pasted together with glue or the like, the pages can be bound even if the number of separate volumes is a little large.

According to the second invention of the present application, when binding a plurality of separate volumes, a symbol indicating this is printed so that it is easy to understand which page is to be pasted.

According to the third invention of the present application, when binding a plurality of separate volumes in the second invention, the pages to be pasted are the same so that it is not necessary to know which page should be pasted and which page should be pasted. Print the symbol.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of weekly magazines are bound and the number of copies is also plural, the same parts are sorted so that they are gathered together. It is convenient.

If the fifth invention of the present application is used, it would be better if the number of sheets to be used for one separate volume could be specified when separating the volumes.
It is convenient because you can create printed matter according to your preference.

[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 a block diagram of an image forming apparatus and a printed matter processing apparatus adopting the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a weekly magazine binding control means that employs the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of first and second weekly magazine binding according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; Image forming apparatus 3; DF (Document feeder) 4; Printed matter processing device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing, which is connected to a printed matter processing apparatus having post-processing means for binding weekly magazines to delivered printed matter and sorting control means for sorting a printed matter bundle for each copy. A scanner unit that sequentially reads originals and generates image data, an image memory that stores the image data of the read originals in page units, a weekly magazine binding instruction, and a copy start instruction. An original reading control means for sequentially reading with a scanner and storing it in the image memory, and when the number of pages of the original is less than a predetermined number of pages, one copy is performed once.
Is issued to the printed matter processing device, and when the number of pages of the manuscript is larger than the predetermined number of pages, one copy is divided into a plurality of separate volumes and the second printed magazine binding instruction is given to the printed matter processing device. The weekly magazine binding control means to perform, and when the instruction for the second weekly magazine binding is given, the last page of the first separate volume in the set, the first page of the final separate volume, and other than that An image forming apparatus having blank page designation means for interrupt printing blank pages on the first page and the final page of the separate volume. 2. An image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing, which is connected to a printed matter processing apparatus having a post-processing means for binding weekly magazines to the delivered printed matter and a sorting control means for sorting the printed matter bundle for each copy. A scanner unit that sequentially reads originals and generates image data, an image memory that stores the image data of the read originals in page units, a weekly magazine binding instruction, and a copy start instruction. An original reading control means for sequentially reading with a scanner and storing it in the image memory, and when the number of pages of the original is less than a predetermined number of pages, one copy is performed once.
Is issued to the printed matter processing device, and when the number of pages of the manuscript is larger than the predetermined number of pages, one copy is divided into a plurality of separate volumes and the second printed magazine binding instruction is given to the printed matter processing device. When the weekly magazine binding control means to perform and the instruction of the second weekly magazine binding are given, the last page of the first separate volume, the first page of the final separate volume, and the other separate volumes in one copy The first and last pages of the image forming apparatus have symbol page designating means for interrupt printing as symbol pages. 3. A symbol on the last page of the first volume and a symbol on the first page of the next volume have the same symbol, and a symbol on the first page of the last volume and the last page of the preceding volume have the same symbol. 3. The other separate volume has a symbol assigning means for printing the same symbol on the last page and the first page of the next volume, respectively.
The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 4. When a plurality of copies are printed and the instruction for binding the second weekly magazine is given, a sorting instruction means is provided for instructing sorting of the same volume into the same position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a number-of-separations instruction means for instructing the number of sheets of the one volume.