JP2005329623A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that as the whole image forming system is stopped, and execution of a job becomes impossible caused by that execution of a specified after-processing is impossible, working efficiency is remarkably decreased. <P>SOLUTION: When a cause which makes it impossible to execute the specified after-processing is generated, whether the other processing is possible to execute is checked, and when there exists any one to be executed, execution of the job is continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material and an image forming system that includes a post-processing device that post-processes the image-formed recording material.

  A large-scale image forming system such as an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus and that continuously executes a plurality of jobs is required to have a performance capable of efficiently executing a large amount of image forming work. It is done.

  A copier installed in a copy center uses a reservation function to automatically execute a plurality of jobs continuously. In a network printer, an image formation command is sent from an external device such as a personal computer. A plurality of jobs are executed in succession.

  There are various ideas for efficiently executing such continuous jobs.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a job in which a small number of image formations and a large number of image formations are mixed is executed continuously, a small number of image formations are preferentially executed, whereby a large number of jobs are preceded. It has been proposed to prevent a significant delay in the subsequent job execution that occurs when executed.

In addition, a plurality of sheet feeding units are provided, and when one sheet feeding unit runs out of paper, it is automatically switched to another sheet feeding unit and the job is continuously executed.
JP-A-4-261886

  In the prior art, the entire system is stopped without exception when a stop cause occurs in the post-processing apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem that work efficiency is reduced and desired image formation is not performed. That is, even when a stop cause occurs in the post-processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus can execute the image forming process, but since the image forming apparatus is also stopped, no executable job is executed. This happens.

  For example, if there is a job that performs a binding process among a plurality of reserved jobs and the binding needle is used up during the execution of the job, the image forming job with the binding process is interrupted. Therefore, the subsequent reservation job is left unexecuted.

  Similarly, during execution of a job specifying a specific paper discharge tray, the job is interrupted when the paper discharge tray becomes full, but jobs after the interrupted job are not executed and are left unexecuted. become.

  For this reason, an operator who has made a job reservation needs to operate the machine and issue a job execution command again, which significantly reduces the work efficiency.

  Also, in the network printer, if the interruption is left unattended, the printing work after the interruption becomes impossible.

  Further, when the image forming system receives a plurality of reserved jobs or a plurality of print commands, a subsequent job that can be executed is not executed due to the inability to execute one job. Will occur.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems when a stop cause occurs in a post-processing apparatus that constitutes an image forming system, has high work efficiency, and has no problem that a job is left unfinished. The purpose is to realize a forming system.

The object is achieved by the following invention.
1.
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed recording material, a post-processing device that includes a paper discharge tray for depositing discharged paper, and the image forming apparatus And an image forming system that continuously executes a plurality of jobs.
The control means includes
Storage means for storing a plurality of jobs; and
Job execution means for reading job information from the storage means and executing the job;
Have
The job execution means searches the post-processing device to determine whether there is any unexecutable job that can be executed when an unexecutable job is being executed. An image forming system that executes the executable job in some cases.
2.
In the first aspect, the communication unit includes a communication unit that communicates with an external device, the storage unit stores information on a job received by the communication unit, and the job execution unit executes jobs in the order received. The image forming system described.
3.
3. The image forming system according to 1 or 2, wherein the job execution unit searches for the executable job based on full information on the paper discharge tray.
4).
The binding processing unit as the post-processing unit, wherein the job execution unit searches for the executable job based on needleless information in the binding processing unit. The image forming system described.
5).
5. The image forming system according to any one of 1 to 4, further comprising display means for displaying an incomplete job and its status.
6).
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the job execution unit interrupts a job in which the unexecutable situation has occurred.
7).
6. The image processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein the job execution unit continues image formation without performing post-processing after the job becomes unexecutable for the job in which the unexecutable situation has occurred. Image forming system.
8).
8. The image forming system according to any one of 1 to 7, further comprising an emergency evacuation tray for discharging a sheet relating to a job that cannot be executed.

  According to the invention of any one of claims 1 to 8, even when an unexecutable cause occurs in post-processing, a job in a mode that does not perform post-processing that has become non-executable is executed and the entire system is stopped Therefore, a situation where an executable job is left unexecuted is improved, and work efficiency is improved.

  In an unattended image forming operation without an operator, such as a night-time printing operation, it is often the case that the whole is stopped due to the stoppage of some parts and left unattended, but such a problem is solved. .

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the information of the interrupted job is displayed, it is easy to supplement the interrupted job.

  According to the invention of claim 7 or 8, since at least image formation is performed even for the job in which the cause of the stop has occurred, the work added by interruption of the job is minimized.

  An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Image forming system]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising an image forming apparatus A and post-processing apparatuses FS1 and FS2.

<Image forming apparatus A>
The illustrated image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 1, an image processing unit 2, an image writing unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a paper feed cassette 5, a paper feed unit 6, a fixing device 7, a paper discharge unit 8, and automatic duplexing. A copy feeding unit (ADU) 9 is provided.

  An automatic document feeder DF is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus A. A post-processing device FS1 is connected to the paper discharge unit 8 side on the left side of the image forming apparatus A shown in the figure.

  The document placed on the document table of the automatic document feeder DF is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and an image on one or both sides of the document is read by the optical system of the image reading unit 1, and is read by the CCD image sensor 1A.

  The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 1A is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing unit 2 and then sent to the image writing unit 3.

  In the image writing unit 3, output light from the semiconductor laser is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 4 </ b> A of the image forming unit 4 to form a latent image. In the image forming unit 4, processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning are performed. The paper S fed from the paper feed cassette 5 by the paper feed means 6 is transferred to the paper S by the transfer means 4B. The sheet S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7 and sent from the paper discharge unit 8 to the post-processing device FS1. Alternatively, the single-sided image processed paper S sent to the automatic double-sided copy paper feeding unit 9 by the conveyance path switching plate 8A is again discharged from the paper discharge unit 8 after double-sided image processing in the image forming unit 4.

[Post-processing device FS1]
The post-processing device FS1 includes a receiving unit 10, conveyance units 20, 50, cover sheet paper feeding units 30, 31, a punching processing unit 40, a conveyance unit 50, and a folding processing unit 60.

  Whether the paper S received from the image forming apparatus A in the receiving unit 10 is transported to the post-processing device FS2 without being processed, or is it transported to the post-processing device FS2 after being punched by the punching processing unit 40 Alternatively, the paper is folded by the folding processing unit 60 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 32.

  The sheet S that has been subjected to the folding process in the folding processing unit 60 is also discharged to the fixed discharge tray 32.

  The post-processing device FS1 is provided with additional sheet feeding units 30 and 31 for supplying additional sheets such as cover sheets and insert sheets, and also for the additional sheets fed from the additional sheet feeding units 30 and 31. , Drilling and folding can be performed.

[Post-processing device FS2]
The post-processing device FS2 includes a receiving unit 70, a shift processing unit 71, an intermediate stacker 75, a binding processing unit 80, and a folding unit 90. For the paper S, a shift process, a binding process, a middle folding process, and a saddle stitching process are performed. I do. The post-processing device FS2 also has an additional paper feeding unit 74, and can add additional paper to the paper S received from the post-processing device FS1. Further, the post-processing device FS2 includes a fixed paper discharge tray 73, a lift paper discharge tray 72, and a booklet paper discharge tray 91.

  As described above, the post-processing devices FS1 and FS2 include the fixed paper discharge trays 32 and 73, the lift paper discharge tray 72, and the booklet paper discharge tray 91 as the paper discharge unit.

  The fixed paper discharge tray 32 discharges the paper S that has been folded by the folding processing unit 60, and the paper S is discharged to the fixed paper discharge tray 32 when a folding processing mode other than a booklet is set. Paper.

  The fixed paper discharge tray 73 discharges the paper S without post-processing. As a typical example, a copy mode for copying a small number of sheets, a trial copy mode, and a discharge of residual paper in the machine when a jam occurs. The paper is discharged to a fixed paper discharge tray 73.

  The elevating paper discharge tray 72 is a paper discharge section called a main tray, and is a large capacity tray having a stacking capacity of about 3000 sheets.

  The lifting / lowering tray 72 is discharged in a large copy mode, a print mode based on a print command from an external device, a binding processing mode, a shift processing mode, or the like.

  A booklet SA, which is a bundle of sheets formed in the booklet, is folded onto the booklet discharge tray 91 in a folded portion 90 and discharged. The booklet SA includes a booklet SA that has been subjected to the folding process by the folding unit 90 after the saddle stitching process by the binding processing unit 80 in addition to the booklet that has undergone only the middle folding process.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  CR is a control means, and comprises a job execution means comprising a CPU and storage means MM for storing image data, setting conditions for each job, and the like.

  As shown in Table 1, the storage unit MM stores image data and setting conditions related to jobs based on the order of acceptance.

  Setting conditions include the number of copies, single-sided / double-sided, post-processing, monochrome / color, and the like.

  The job execution means CPU reads the job contents stored in the storage means MM in the order of acceptance and executes the job.

  It should be noted that a priority mode for preferentially executing a specific job can be provided by rearranging the order in Table 1.

  DP is a display unit for displaying various information such as status display and warning display.

  PA is an operation unit, and reservation of a copy job in a copy job, condition setting and mode setting for each job are set in the operation unit PA.

  The IF is an interface that communicates with an external device via a network, and receives information on various conditions and modes in a print job together with image data via the interface IF.

  X1 to X4 are paper discharge units, X1 is a paper discharge unit that discharges paper to the elevating paper discharge tray 72, X2 is a paper discharge unit that discharges paper to the fixed paper discharge tray 32, and X3 is a fixed paper discharge tray. Reference numeral 73 denotes a paper discharge unit that discharges paper, and X4 denotes a paper discharge unit that discharges a bundle of sheets to the booklet discharge tray 91.

  Each paper discharge unit is provided with sensors SS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4 that detect that the paper is full. Reference numerals 40, 60, 71, 80, and 90 denote the punching processing unit, folding processing unit, shift processing unit, binding processing unit, and folding processing unit shown in FIG.

  Bidirectional communication is performed between each of these processing units and the control means CR, and commands such as starting and stopping are transmitted from the control means CR. Is received by the control means CR.

  Processing steps from image formation to post-processing are started by operation of a copy button provided in the operation unit PA or based on an image formation command from the interface IF, but a reserved job is set If the print command is received continuously, the continuous job is automatically executed in the order of reservation or the order of accepting the print command.

  Next, the control in the case where a cause for canceling job execution occurs during image formation (including post-processing) in the post-processing devices FS1 and FS2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The continuous job process is executed based on the reception order stored in the storage unit MM. FIG. 3 shows an example of a job in which folding processing is performed in the folding processing unit 60 and discharged to the paper discharge unit X2.

  In step F1, output by tri-fold processing is designated.

  In F2, the output of the sensor SS2 of the fixed paper discharge tray 32 is read, and when full is detected (Yes in F2), the tri-fold process is stopped (F3).

  The remaining work of the stopped tri-fold processing job, that is, the presence / absence of unimaged image data is checked. If there is a remaining image (Yes in F4), the remaining image data is stored in the storage means MM (F5). An image forming job is searched (F6).

  When the presence of the next job is detected, it is checked whether or not the next job is a folding process using the folding processing unit 60 (F7).

  If step F7 is no, that is, if the next job is not a folding process, the next job is executed. That is, a job that does not convey paper to the paper discharge unit X2, for example, a job that discharges paper to the paper discharge unit X1 without post-processing, a job that discharges paper to the paper discharge unit X1 after shift processing or binding processing, and folding processing After the folding process by the unit 91, a job to be discharged to the paper discharge unit X4 is executed after interruption of a job to discharge the paper to the paper discharge unit X2.

  In step F7, if the folding process unit 60 performs the folding process and the job is to be discharged to the paper discharge unit X2 (Yes in F7), the process returns to step F5.

  In this way, the image forming operation of executing the next job is skipped by skipping the job to be discharged to the paper discharge unit X2, that is, the fixed paper discharge tray 32 that is full.

  As described above, the interruption information of the specific job is displayed on the display unit DP. Since the remaining image data of the interrupted job is stored in the storage unit MM, the operator can form the remaining image by viewing the display later.

  In the above description, the job interruption when discharging to the fixed paper discharge tray 32 has been described. However, even in a job for specifying another paper discharge tray, the job is discharged to another paper discharge tray after the interruption based on the full detection. Image formation is performed to execute a paper job.

  In addition, even when a job execution interruption cause other than the detection of the full tray is detected, if a job in another mode can be executed, the interruption cause occurs and the job is interrupted. Can be executed.

  For example, in the binding processing unit 80, if the binding needle is cut, the binding process is interrupted and the job other than the subsequent binding process is continued.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which when a full paper discharge tray is detected, the paper is discharged to another paper discharge tray and the job is continued.

  The elevating paper discharge tray 72 having a large loading capacity can be used as such an emergency evacuation paper discharge tray.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control in image formation using the paper discharge unit X1 as such an emergency evacuation paper discharge destination.

  In FIG. 4, when the sensor SS2 detects that the paper discharge unit X2 is full (Yes in F2), the paper discharge destination is switched to the paper discharge unit X1, and the job is continued (F50).

  After the job is finished, other jobs are processed, and the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray other than the paper discharge unit X2, and the job is executed. Even a job that performs folding processing in the folding processing unit 60 and is normally discharged to the fixed paper discharge tray 32 is switched to the paper discharge portion X1 (elevating paper discharge tray 72) as shown in FIG. Then, the folded paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit X1, and the job is continuously executed.

  Note that the remaining paper discharge destination of the job whose paper discharge destination has been switched to the paper discharge section X1 from the middle, and the job after the switching, the job whose paper discharge destination has been switched from the paper discharge section X2 to the paper discharge section X1. The paper discharge destination of the related paper is displayed on the display unit DP, for example, in such a manner that “prints of job No. 3, NO. 7... Are in the main paper discharge tray in addition to the internal paper discharge tray.” (F50).

  FIG. 5 shows another embodiment using an emergency evacuation sheet tray.

  In this example, regarding the post-processing in which the cause of interruption occurs, the paper is discharged without post-processing, and the subsequent job is executed.

  In step F2 of FIG. 5, for example, when the cause of the interruption occurs, for example, when the discharge tray is full, the post-processing after the occurrence of the interruption is stopped (F3), and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit X1. The remaining image is formed (F50).

  After the paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit X1 and the remaining portion of the job is executed, the control in FIG. 5 is repeated, and a job in the same post-processing mode as the job in which the cause of interruption occurs is not executed. Then, image formation is performed, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit X1.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of an example of control of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of another example of control of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a flowchart of still another example of control of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

8, X1-X4 Paper discharge unit 32, 73 Fixed paper discharge tray 72 Lifting paper discharge tray CR control means CPU job execution means MM storage means

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed recording material, a post-processing device that includes a paper discharge tray for depositing discharged paper, and the image forming apparatus And an image forming system that continuously executes a plurality of jobs.
The control means includes
Storage means for storing a plurality of jobs; and
Job execution means for reading job information from the storage means and executing the job;
Have
The job execution means searches the post-processing device to determine whether there is any unexecutable job that can be executed when an unexecutable job is being executed. An image forming system that executes the executable job in some cases. 2. The communication unit according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device, wherein the storage unit stores information of a job received by the communication unit, and the job execution unit executes jobs in the order received. The image forming system described in 1. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit searches for the executable job based on full information on the paper discharge tray. The binding processing unit as the post-processing unit, wherein the job execution unit searches for the executable job based on needleless information in the binding processing unit. 3. The image forming system according to 2. 5. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying an incomplete job and its status. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit interrupts a job in which the unexecutable situation has occurred. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit continues the image formation for the job in which the unexecutable situation has occurred without performing post-processing after the unexecutable state. The image forming system described. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency evacuation paper discharge tray on which paper relating to a job that cannot be executed is discharged.

Images