JP2007045093A - Image forming device, image forming system, program and post-processing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which suitably performs post-processing of a book in which different printing conditions are mixed and divides it. <P>SOLUTION: An image control CPU 11 stores printing data received from a host terminal 200 in a compression memory 26 of an image memory 25 and stores page setting information included in the printing data and printing setting information in a RAM 13. An image based on the printing data is formed on transfer paper conveyed from a paper feed tray at a printer section 50, and the transfer paper is conveyed to a post-processing device 2. The image control CPU 11 judges a page where the image type or the size of the transfer paper is changed on the basis of the page setting information and printing setting information, determines the page as the dividing position in all pages, and sets the separation information of the paper feed information of the page. The post-processing device 2 accumulates the transfer paper on the basis of the paper feed information transferred from the image control CPU 11 and, when the transfer paper of the page, in which the separation information is set, is conveyed, staples it with a stapler 72 for unloading. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a program, and a post-processing control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming system that forms an image on a recording medium based on print data transmitted from an external device such as a personal computer or print data read and generated from a scanner or the like is known. Further, recent image forming apparatuses are provided with post-processing functions for performing various processes on a recording medium after image formation. Specifically, there is a post-processing function for binding a booklet by stapling, punching, or the like. For example, two-point binding is performed in the cover mode or double-sided mode regardless of whether the binding mode is selected by the staple mode selection key. In addition, an image forming system that automates stapling setting is known (see Patent Document 1).

  Also, there is a function called booklet division printing that staples the recording medium for each page set by the user, divides one booklet, and performs post-processing. The user can set output conditions at the time of image formation and various conditions for booklet division printing by changing setting items on the print setting screen displayed on the external device or the image forming apparatus. A print setting screen 251 in which the post-processing tag TG2 shown in FIG. 12 is selected is a setting screen for performing detailed settings for booklet division printing, and a cover setting area A10 (Front Cover Page) for setting insertion of a cover page. A back cover setting area A11 (Back Cover Page) for setting the insertion of the back cover page and a booklet division setting area A12 (Per Page Setting) for setting the booklet division are included.

The user presses the add button BT4 in the booklet division setting area A12 to display a page number (Page Number), stapling position and number (Stapling), punch position and number (Punch). Enter booklet division information such as The booklet division information D1 in FIG. 12 indicates that stapling is not performed on a bundle of recording media of 1 to 5 pages, and the booklet division information D2 indicates that stapling is performed at one location on a bundle of recording media of 6 and 7 pages. ing. By performing post-processing based on the booklet division information D1 and D2, the image forming apparatus divides one booklet BL3 into a paper bundle R5 without stapling and a paper bundle R7 with stapling as shown in FIG. can do.
JP 7-196231 A

  By the way, the print data for image formation can set image forming conditions such as the size of the recording medium and the orientation of the image at the time of image formation for each page. However, for example, in the case of print data in which a vertical image and a horizontal image are mixed, stapling is performed by the same method (for example, two-point binding) in the technique of Patent Document 1. For this reason, when different image forming conditions are mixed in one booklet, the user needs to perform setting for each page in the booklet division printing described above.

  However, in booklet division printing, the user knows the page number of the vertical image and the page number of the horizontal image in advance, and the number of bundles to be divided into booklets in consideration of the page number and the position and number of staples. The booklet division information must be input one by one, and the input operation is very complicated. Also, as the number of vertical and horizontal image pages increases, such as vertical image pages, horizontal image pages, vertical image pages, and so on, the input becomes complicated, and booklet division information is set. Mistakes are more likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize an image forming apparatus and the like for appropriately post-processing and dividing a booklet in which different image forming conditions are mixed. It is.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided:
Image forming means for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
The post-processing means includes division post-processing means for performing the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition with reference to the division position.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The determining means determines a change in the image type and determines a page where the image type changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3,
The determining means is characterized by determining switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as a change in the image type.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page in which the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. .

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The determining unit includes a sheet direction determining unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The determining unit includes a selection condition determining unit that determines a change in an image forming condition selected by the selecting unit.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7,
The selection unit is characterized in that it selectively selects from the plurality of image forming conditions.

The invention according to claim 9 is:
An image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording medium for each page on a recording medium and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the recording medium on which the image has been formed communicates with each other. In an image forming system that is connected in a possible manner,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
The post-processing device includes:
The image processing apparatus includes post-processing means that performs post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position.

The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 9,
The post-processing means includes division post-processing means for performing the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition with reference to the division position.

The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 9 or 10,
The determining means determines a change in the image type and determines a page where the image type changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 11,
The determining means is characterized by determining switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as a change in the image type.

The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page where the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. Yes.

The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 13,
The determining unit includes a sheet direction determining unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. .

The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 14,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The determining unit includes a selection condition determining unit that determines a change in an image forming condition selected by the selecting unit.

The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to claim 15,
The selection unit is characterized in that it selectively selects from the plurality of image forming conditions.

The invention described in claim 17
In an image forming system in which a terminal device and an image forming apparatus are communicably connected,
The terminal device includes a designation unit that designates a post-processing method,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming means for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing by the designated post-processing method on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 17,
The post-processing means includes division post-processing means for performing the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition with reference to the division position.

The invention according to claim 19 is the invention according to claim 17 or 18,
The determining means determines a change in image type and determines a page where the image type changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 20 is the invention according to claim 19,
The determining means is characterized by determining switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as a change in the image type.

The invention according to claim 21 is the invention according to any one of claims 17 to 20,
The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page in which the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. .

The invention according to claim 22 is the invention according to any one of claims 17 to 21,
The determining unit includes a sheet direction determining unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 23 is the invention according to any one of claims 17 to 22,
The terminal device
A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The determining unit includes a selection condition determining unit that determines a change in an image forming condition selected by the selecting unit.

The invention described in claim 24 is the invention described in claim 23,
The selection unit is characterized in that it selectively selects from the plurality of image forming conditions.

The program according to claim 25 is stored in a computer.
An image forming function for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
A determination function for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing function for performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
It is characterized by realizing.

The program according to claim 26,
A computer connected to an image forming apparatus for performing post-processing on the recording medium that performs image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image forming conditions and image data for each page;
A specification function to specify the post-processing method,
A determination function for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing function for causing the image forming apparatus to perform control to perform post-processing by the designated post-processing method on the recording medium on which the image is formed with reference to the determined division position;
It is characterized by realizing.

The invention according to claim 27 is the invention according to claim 25 or 26,
The post-processing function has a division post-processing function that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming conditions.

The invention according to claim 28 is the invention according to any one of claims 25 to 27,
The determination function is characterized in that a change in image type is determined and a page in which the image type changes is determined as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 29 is the invention according to claim 28,
The determination function is characterized by determining switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as a change in the image type.

The invention according to claim 30 is the invention according to any one of claims 25 to 29,
The determination function includes a paper size determination function that determines a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page where the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. .

The invention described in claim 31 is the invention described in any one of claims 25-30,
The determination function includes a paper direction determination function that determines a change in orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 32 is the invention according to any one of claims 25 to 31,
Further realizing the selection function to select from multiple image forming conditions,
The determination function has a selection condition determination function for determining a change in the image forming condition selected by the selection function.

The invention of claim 33 is the invention of claim 32, wherein
The selection function is characterized in that an alternative is selected from the plurality of image forming conditions.

The program according to claim 34 is:
A computer connected to an image forming apparatus that performs image formation based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page on a storage medium for each page and performs post-processing on the recording medium;
A post-processing specification function for specifying the content of post-processing;
A split position specifying function for specifying whether to automatically determine the split position in all pages,
A condition designating function for designating the type of image forming condition as reference information when automatically determining the division position;
A transmission function for transmitting to the image forming apparatus the content of the designated post-processing, whether to determine the division position automatically, and the type of the image forming condition;
It is characterized by realizing.

The post-processing control method according to claim 35,
An image forming step of performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
A determination step of determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing step of performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
It is characterized by including.

The invention of claim 36 is the invention of claim 35, wherein
The post-processing step includes a post-division processing step that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming conditions.

The invention of claim 37 is the invention of claim 35 or 36,
The determining step is characterized in that a change in image type is determined, and a page in which the image type changes is determined as a division position in all pages.

The invention described in claim 38 is the invention described in claim 37,
The determining step is characterized by determining switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as a change in the image type.

The invention according to claim 39 is the invention according to any one of claims 35 to 38,
The determining step includes a paper size determining step of determining a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determining a page where the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. .

The invention according to claim 40 is the invention according to any one of claims 35 to 39,
The determining step includes a sheet direction determining step of determining a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determining a page where the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages.

The invention according to claim 41 is the invention according to any one of claims 35 to 40,
A selection step of selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The determining step includes a selection condition determining step for determining a change in the image forming condition selected in the selecting step.

The invention of claim 42 is the invention of claim 41,
The selecting step is characterized in that an alternative is selected from the plurality of image forming conditions.

  According to the invention described in claims 1, 9, 17, 25, 26, 34, and 35, a page whose image forming conditions change is set as a division position, and post-processing is performed on the recording medium with reference to the division position. A booklet in which different image forming conditions are mixed can be appropriately post-processed.

  According to the second, tenth, eighteenth, twenty-seventh and thirty-sixth aspects of the present invention, since the same post-processing is performed on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming conditions, a booklet containing different image forming conditions can be used for the same image. It is possible to appropriately divide each recording medium under the formation conditions.

  According to the third, eleventh, nineteenth, twenty-eighth and thirty-seventh aspects of the present invention, since the page where the image type changes is determined as the division position, a booklet in which different image types are mixed can be appropriately post-processed.

  According to the invention described in claims 4, 12, 20, 29 and 38, in order to determine the change between the vertical image and the horizontal image as a change in image type, a booklet including the vertical image and the horizontal image is The image page recording medium and the horizontal image page recording medium can be divided and appropriately post-processed.

  According to the invention described in claims 5, 13, 21, 30, and 39, since the page where the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed changes is determined as the division position, a booklet in which recording media of different sizes are mixed is used. Each size can be divided and appropriately post-processed.

  According to the invention described in claims 6, 14, 22, 31, and 40, since a page in which the orientation of the recording medium on which the image is formed changes is determined as the division position, a booklet having a different orientation of the recording medium is provided for each orientation. It can be divided and appropriately post-processed.

  According to the seventh, fifteenth, twenty-third, thirty-two, and thirty-first aspects of the present invention, since the page on which the selected image forming condition changes is determined as the division position, the user can set the determination criterion of the division position as the desired image It can be selected from the forming conditions.

  According to the invention described in claims 8, 16, 24, 33 and 42, the user can alternatively select the criteria for determining the division position from the desired image forming conditions.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system when the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic multifunction peripheral and the terminal device is applied to a host terminal will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus is applied to a multi-function peripheral. However, the present invention can be appropriately applied as long as an image is formed on a recording medium such as a printer, a FAX, or a copier.

[Outline of image forming system]
First, an outline of the image forming system SY will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the image forming system SY. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system SY is configured such that the multifunction peripheral 100 and the host terminal 200 are connected via a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) to enable data communication. It is configured. However, the communication method between the multifunction device 100 and the host terminal 200 is not limited to this, and may be directly connected by, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or a parallel port, or may be connected by a wireless method. .

  The multi-function device 100 uses the print data 292 (refer to FIG. 4) transmitted from the host terminal 200 and the print data read from the scanner unit 30 as a transfer medium (recording paper) for image formation for each page. ) Do on top.

  The host terminal 200 is configured by a general personal computer on which a printer driver 291 corresponding to the multifunction peripheral 100 and application software for creating document data and image data are installed. Although the terminal device is applied to the host terminal 200, for example, the terminal device can be appropriately applied to an electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  When the user issues a print instruction for document data or image data to be printed created on the host terminal 200 side by operating the mouse 232 of the input unit 230, the data is sent to the multifunction peripheral 100 as print data 292 by the printer driver 291. It is transmitted via the communication network N. In addition, when instructing the start of printing, the user can specify the contents of post-processing such as the position and number of staples and punches. The multi-function device 100 receives the print data 292, forms an image on a transfer sheet based on the data, and discharges it to a paper discharge tray.

  FIG. 2 is an example of a print setting screen 251 displayed on the display unit 250 when the user issues a print instruction on the host terminal 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the print setting screen 251 in which the basic setting tag TG1 is selected includes a paper setting area A1, an output setting area A2, a post-processing setting area A3, and an output image area A4.

  The paper setting area A1 includes a printing direction A11 (Orientation) with respect to the paper (transfer paper), an original size (Original Size), an output paper size A13 (Output Size), a zoom ratio (Zoom), a paper feed tray (Paper Source), and the like. Is an area to set. In the print direction A11, either a vertical image (portrait image) or a horizontal image (landscape image) can be selected, and the same direction as the print direction 314 of the print data 292 is set. As the output paper size A13, the same size (Same as original size) as the transfer paper size 313 of the print data 292, A4, A3, or the like can be selected. Accordingly, the size and direction of the transfer paper can be set as settings at the time of printing. For example, even in the same A4 size, different vertical and horizontal directions can be set.

  The output setting area A2 is an output method (Output Method) for setting whether to print or output a file, the number of copies (Copies), a paper output tray (Output Tray), a paper output mode (Output Order) such as face down or face up, This is an area for setting sort (Collate), sorting (Offset), and the like. The output image area A4 is an area for displaying an output image when an image is formed with the setting contents set in the paper setting area A1, the output setting area A2, and the post-processing setting area A3.

  The post-processing setting area A3 includes a binding position as a post-processing position that is a post-processing position such as stapling and punching, the presence / absence and number of staples, the presence / absence of punches, and punch holes. This is an area for setting the number and the like. The user turns on the staple check C1 and sets the number of staples in the staple method setting area A30, or turns on the punch check C2 and sets the number of punch holes in the punch method setting area A32. This specifies the post-processing method.

  Further, an OK button BT1, a cancel button BT2, and an automatic division setting button BT3 are displayed on the print setting screen 251. The user presses the OK button BT1 to start print output with the contents set on the print setting screen 251 or interrupts the setting with the cancel button BT2. The automatic division setting button BT3 is a button for displaying an automatic division setting screen 252 for specifying and setting an automatic division mode among two division modes of booklet division printing and an automatic division mode. .

  The automatic division mode is an operation mode in which all continuous pages on which images have been formed are automatically divided into pages whose image forming conditions change, and the same post-processing is performed for each bundle of divided transfer sheets. Here, dividing a page means dividing a plurality of pages into groups of one or more pages. When setting the automatic division mode, the user turns on the staple check C1, the punch check C2, or the booklet division check C10 of FIG. 12, and then presses the automatic division setting button BT3 to automatically display the automatic division mode shown in FIG. The division setting screen 252 is displayed and set. When these checks are OFF, the automatic division setting button BT3 is invalid.

  The automatic division setting screen 252 includes a division reference setting area E1, a post-processing execution switching check C3, and a post-processing execution condition setting area E2. The division standard setting area E1 is a selection for designating a division standard as reference information when automatic division is performed, and can be selected from “Nothing”, “Image Kind”, and “Paper Size”. . The division criterion is set to “no setting” by default, and when “no setting” is selected and set, the division mode of booklet division printing is the other designated division mode.

  The designated division mode is an operation mode in which post-processing is performed on the recording medium for each page set and designated by the user to divide one copy of the booklet. For each page range on the print setting screen 251 in FIG. The post-processing method is designated and set, and the booklet is divided for each set page range. Accordingly, when “image type” and “paper size” are designated as the division criteria, booklet division printing is in an automatic division mode.

  The post-processing execution switching check C3 is an area for switching whether or not to divide one booklet into a part for executing post-processing and a part for not executing in the automatic division mode. The post-processing execution condition setting area E2 is an area for selecting a condition of a part for executing the post-processing when the post-processing execution switching check C3 is turned on. The conditions that can be set are division reference setting areas E1. Varies depending on the selected split criteria.

  When the post-processing execution switching check C3 is OFF as shown in FIG. 3A, the post-processing execution condition setting area E2 is invalidated, and when it is turned ON as shown in FIG. 3B, it is validated. For example, when the user clicks the division reference setting area E1 with the mouse 232, a division reference list LST1 as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed. When the user operates the input unit 230 as the selection unit and selects, for example, an image type from the list LST1, the image type (image forming condition) in the page setting information 293 changes from a vertical image to a horizontal image or a horizontal image. A part of the booklet is divided by post-processing such as stapling with a place where the image changes from vertical to vertical as a break. In addition, when the paper size is selected from the division reference list LST1, post-processing is performed with a place where the size (image forming condition) of the transfer paper on which the image is formed is changed, and a part of the booklet is divided.

  On the other hand, when the user turns on the post-processing execution switching check C3, the division reference setting area E2 can be selected as shown in FIG. For example, when the user selects an image type in the division criterion setting area E1, a vertical image (portrait image) and a horizontal image (landscape image) can be selected in the post-processing execution condition setting area E2. Is selected, the vertical image page is post-processed, and the horizontal image page is not post-processed. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, the booklet division is automatically performed based on the change in image forming conditions in all pages without inputting fine booklet division information for each page in the designated division mode of booklet division printing. become.

[Configuration of host terminal]
Next, the functional configuration of the host terminal 200 will be described using the block diagram of FIG. According to FIG. 4, the host terminal 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 210, an input unit 230, a display unit 250, an I / F unit 270, and a storage unit 290.

  The CPU 210 executes processing based on a predetermined program in response to an input instruction, and inputs / outputs instructions to each functional unit and data. Specifically, the CPU 210 reads a program stored in the storage unit 290 in accordance with an operation signal input from the input unit 230, and executes processing according to the program. Then, the processing result is displayed on the display unit 250.

  The input unit 230 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse 232, and outputs a pressed signal of a pressed key, a position signal of the mouse 232, and the like to the CPU 210. In the present embodiment, the input unit 230 functions as a designation unit that designates a post-processing method such as stapling or punching on the print setting screen 251 in FIG.

  The display unit 250 is configured by a CRT (Cathode-ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like, and displays and outputs various screens based on display data input from the CPU 210. The I / F unit 270 that functions as a transmission function is a functional unit for connecting to the communication network N to perform data communication, and includes a modem, a LAN interface, a USB, and the like.

  The storage unit 290 includes an IPL program that is initialized when the host terminal 200 is activated, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various initial setting values, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data related to execution of the program. The functional unit is configured to include a storage medium such as a non-volatile memory capable of reading and writing various data, and performs reading and writing to these storage media.

  According to FIG. 4, the storage unit 290 stores a printer driver 291 and print data 292 print setting information 294. The printer driver 291 is a program for controlling the multifunction peripheral 100, and displays the print setting screen 251 shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, stores the setting contents of the print setting screen 251, print data 292, and print settings. Transfer of the information 294 to the multifunction peripheral 100 is realized.

  The print data 292 includes, for example, image data 295 obtained by converting a document created by a user using a document creation application program and the like, and page setting information 293 as an image forming condition for each page. . One copy of the recording medium for all pages on which an image is formed based on the print data 292 is referred to as a “booklet”.

  The page setting information 293 is setting information for each page when the multifunction peripheral 100 forms an image based on the print data 292, and all pages when printed based on the image data 295 as shown in FIG. The number 300 and the print condition 311 for each page range 310 are configured. The print conditions 311 include an image type 312 (vertical image or horizontal image) and a transfer paper size 313 (A4 size, A3 size, etc.), and are set in advance by the user or the print settings input in FIG. Created based on data created by the application.

  The print setting information 294 is data representing the setting contents set on the print setting screen 251, and is configured to include setting data for normal printing 410 and booklet division printing 420. The setting data for the normal printing 410 includes stapling presence / absence 411, stapling number 412, punching presence / absence 413, punching hole number 414, and binding position 415, and the contents set in the post-processing setting area A3 in FIG. 2 are stored. .

  The setting data of the booklet division printing 420 includes a booklet division designation presence / absence 421, a division mode 422, a designated division setting 423, and an automatic division setting 430. The booklet division designation presence / absence 421 is setting data as to whether or not to perform booklet division printing. When the designated division mode check C10 in FIG. 12 is turned ON, the “image type” is set in the division reference setting area E1 of the automatic division setting screen 252. "Or" transfer sheet size "is selected, it is stored as" booklet divided ".

  The division mode 422 is an operation mode of the above-described booklet division printing, and when “no setting” is selected in the division reference setting area E1, “specified division mode”, “image type”, or “transfer sheet size” is selected. If it is, the “automatic division mode” is stored.

  The designated division setting 423 is setting data in the designated division mode. As shown in FIG. 12, the presence / absence of stapling 425, the number of staples 426, the presence / absence of punch 427, the punch hole based on the booklet division information D1 and D2 input by the user. The number 428 and the binding position 429 are stored for each page range 424.

  The automatic division setting 430 is setting data in the automatic division mode, and includes a division reference 431 set on the automatic division setting screen 252 in FIG. 3 and a post-processing execution condition 432. As the division reference 431, any one of “no setting”, “image type”, and “transfer sheet size” selected by the user in the division reference setting area E1 is stored, and “no setting” is stored by default. The post-processing execution condition 432 stores “vertical image” and “horizontal image” of the image type, “A4” and “A3” of the transfer paper size, and the like according to the user selection in the post-processing execution condition setting area E2. When the post-processing execution switching check C3 is OFF, “none” is stored.

  The CPU 210 stores the contents set by the user in the print setting screen 251 and the automatic division setting screen 252 as the print setting information 294, and confirms that the user has issued a print instruction (for example, pressing the OK button BT1). When detected, the print data 292 and the print setting information 294 are transmitted to the multi-function peripheral 100 via the I / F 270.

[Configuration of MFP]
Next, the functional configuration of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the external appearance and internal configuration of the multifunction device 100, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the multifunction device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a main body 1 provided with an operation display unit 20 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) unit 40, and a post-processing device (FNS) that is optionally connected thereto. A finisher 2 and a large capacity tray unit 3. Further, according to FIG. 7, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes the control unit 10, the operation display unit 20, the scanner unit 30, the printer unit 50, the controller 60, the post-processing device 2, and the large capacity tray unit 3.

  The control unit 10 includes an image control CPU 11, a program memory 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a nonvolatile memory 14, a read processing unit 18, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) control IC 15, a compression IC 16, a decompression IC 17, an image memory 25, and A write processing unit 19 is provided.

  The image control CPU 11 is a functional unit that comprehensively controls each functional unit constituting the multi-function peripheral 100, and the system program and supply stored in the program memory 12 based on the operation signal output from the operation display unit 20. Various processing programs such as a paper information creation program are read out and loaded in the RAM 13 to perform processing according to the program.

  Specifically, the image control CPU 11 stores print setting information 294 and print data 292 transmitted from the host terminal 200 via the controller 60 in the compression memory 26 of the image memory 25. Further, the image control CPU 11 performs paper feed information creation processing described later according to the program read from the program memory 12, creates the paper feed information table 130 based on the page setting information 293 included in the print data 292, and the like. Transfer to the processing device 2. The paper feed information table 130 is a data table for setting, for each page, a paper feed tray for feeding transfer paper, a post-processing method performed in the post-processing apparatus 2, and the details thereof will be described later.

  The program memory 12 is configured by a ROM or the like, and stores various programs such as a system program and a paper feed information creation program according to the present embodiment. The RAM 13 includes a memory area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the image control CPU 11 and data related to the execution of these programs. For example, the page setting information 293 and the print setting information 294 received from the host terminal 200 are provided. Remember. The nonvolatile memory 14 includes a semiconductor memory that can read and write data, and stores various setting data related to the multifunction peripheral 100.

  The read processing unit 18 converts the analog image signal read by the scanner unit 30 into digital image data and outputs the digital image data to the DRAM control IC 15. Based on the control of the image control CPU 11, the DRAM control IC 15 compresses the image data input from the reading processing unit 18 and the image data input from the controller 60 by the compression IC 16 and writes the compressed image data in the compression memory 26. To memorize temporarily.

  When there is an instruction to output image data from the image control CPU 11, the DRAM control IC 15 decompresses the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 26 by the decompression IC 17 and temporarily stores it in the page memory 27. When the print control is instructed from the image control CPU 11, the DRAM control IC 15 reads out the uncompressed image data from the page memory 27 in units of pages and outputs it to the write processing unit 19. The DRAM control IC 15 outputs control data input from the controller 60 via the PCI bus BS1 to the image control CPU 11.

  Each of the compression IC 16 and the decompression IC 17 is an IC that performs image data compression processing and decompression processing under the control of the DRAM control IC 15. The image memory 25 is constituted by a DRAM and includes a compression memory 26 and a page memory 27. The compression memory 26 temporarily stores the image data compressed by the compression IC 16 under the control of the DRAM control IC 15. The page memory 27 is a memory for temporarily storing uncompressed image data to be printed before printing. The writing processing unit 19 generates a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal based on the image data input from the decompression IC 17 and outputs it to the printer unit 50.

  The operation display unit 20 includes an operation display CPU 21, an LCD 22, and an operation panel 23. The operation display CPU 21 performs display control of the LCD 22 based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11 and outputs an operation signal input from the operation panel 23 to the image control CPU 11.

  The LCD 22 displays various setting screens, image status display, operation status of each function, and the like on the screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the operation display CPU 21. The operation panel 23 includes operation keys and a touch panel, and the touch panel is formed integrally with the LCD 22. The operation panel 23 outputs an operation signal to the operation display CPU 21 in accordance with a user's operation key pressing operation or touch panel contact operation.

  The scanner unit 30 includes a scanner control unit 31 and a scanner 32. The scanner control unit 31 drives and controls the CCD and the like based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11. The scanner 32 includes a platen glass, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and a light source. The reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the document is imaged by the CCD and photoelectrically converted to read the image of the document. The analog image signal of the image is output to the reading processing unit 18.

  The ADF unit 40 shown in FIG. 7 automatically feeds documents placed on the document tray T1 one by one onto the platen glass of the scanner unit 30 based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11.

  The printer unit 50 serving as an image forming unit includes a printer control unit 51, an LD (Laser Diode) 81, a photosensitive drum 82, a charger 83, a developing unit 84, a transfer unit 85, a fixing unit 86, and a paper feed for supplying transfer paper. The trays 87a to 87e are configured to include a paper feed roller for transporting the transfer paper along the transport path (shown by a thick line in FIG. 6) for transporting the transfer paper, a transport path switching plate 90, a reversing unit 91, and the like. Yes. In the present embodiment, transfer sheets having different sizes or feeding directions are stored in the sheet feeding trays 87a to 87e, respectively. The printer control unit 51 controls the operation of each unit in the printer unit 50 based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11 and relays data communication between the image control CPU 11 and the FNS control unit 71.

  Specifically, the printer control unit 51, for example, from the paper feed tray 87a for an A4 portrait image and from the paper feed tray 87b for an A4 landscape image, the image type 312 and transfer for each page range 310. The transfer paper corresponding to the paper size 313 is fed from any of the paper feed trays 87a to 87e, and the transfer paper is transported on the transport path. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 82 is charged by the charger 83, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 82 with laser light by the LD 81 based on the PWM signal input from the writing processing unit 19. Then, the toner is adhered to the region including the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 82 by the developing device 84.

  Next, the transfer unit 85 forms toner by transferring the toner onto the transfer paper conveyed from any of the paper feed trays 87 a to 87 e, fixes the image by the fixing device 86, and then discharges it to the post-processing device 2. When performing double-sided printing, the transfer paper on which one side is printed is conveyed to the reversing unit 91 via the conveying path switching plate 90 and the reversing path, and the reversing unit 91 reverses the front and back and re-conveys to the photosensitive drum 82. Then, an image is formed on the reversed surface and fixed, and then discharged to the post-processing apparatus 2.

  The post-processing apparatus 2 as post-processing means includes an FNS control unit 71, a stapler 72 as a finisher, and a punch unit 73. The stapler 72 temporarily stores the transfer paper conveyed from the main body 1 in a stacker, and then performs a stapling process for stapling and binding the transfer paper. The punch unit 73 performs a punching process in which the transfer paper conveyed from the main body 1 is temporarily stopped in the unit to open a punch hole.

  The FNS control unit 71 controls the stapler 72 and the punch unit 73 based on the paper feed information table 130 input from the image control CPU 11 via the printer control unit 51, and performs stapling processing or punching processing on the transferred transfer paper. To do. Then, the transfer paper is discharged to either the main tray Ta1 or the sub-tray Ta2 specified in the paper feed information table 130.

  The controller 60 includes a controller control CPU 61, an I / F unit 62, a DRAM control IC 63, and an image memory 64. The I / F unit 62 is a communication interface for connecting to a communication network N such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a modem, and transmits / receives data to / from the host terminal 200.

  The controller control CPU 61 converts the print data 292 input via the I / F unit 62 into image data in a data format that can be printed by the multifunction peripheral 100 in a predetermined page description language, and outputs the image data to the DRAM control IC 63. The DRAM control IC 63 controls reading / writing of image data to / from the image memory 64 and data transfer with the DRAM control IC 15 on the main body 1 side.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the paper feed information table 130. As shown in FIG. 8, the paper feed information table 130 is a data table that stores and stores transfer paper size, paper feed tray, post-processing information, separation information, finisher, and paper discharge tray in association with each page. The post-processing information is data indicating a post-processing method applied to the transfer paper of each page. Separation information is data indicating whether or not the transfer sheet is a page (division position) for automatic division, and “none” is set by default.

  For example, in the paper feed information table 130 of FIG. 8B, printing of the first page is performed by feeding “A4” size transfer paper from the paper feed tray of “Tray 1”, and printing paper after printing. Is transported to the stapler 72 and stapled at one place, and then discharged from the main tray Ta1. In addition, among the five pages of paper supply, “1 stapling” is performed for pages 1 to 3, and stapling is not performed for pages 4 and 5. The third page separation information “Yes” indicates that the transfer page of the third page is a page for dividing the booklet, among 5 consecutive pages. It shows that it is divided into two groups of pages. Each time the main body 1 transports the transfer paper to the post-processing device 2, the main body 1 transmits the paper feed information corresponding to the page of the transfer paper to the post-processing device 2.

  When the post-processing information is not set in the paper feed information received from the main body unit 1, the FNS control unit 71 as the post-division processing unit discharges the paper as it is to the paper discharge tray indicated by the paper discharge destination information. When the post-processing information method is set, the transfer paper is conveyed to the finisher of the paper discharge destination information and temporarily accumulated, and the pages having the separator information “accumulated” are accumulated. For example, if the paper feed information feed tray is a paper feed tray that feeds in the vertical direction, the paper is stapled to the upper left in the longitudinal direction of the paper bundle R1 in FIG. 11B and fed in the horizontal direction. In the case of the paper feed tray, post-processing based on the paper feed information is performed such that stapling is performed on the upper right in the longitudinal direction of the paper bundle R2, and the accumulated transfer paper is bundled.

[Specific operation example of image forming system]
Next, a specific operation of the image forming system SY will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10, and a method of creating paper feed information will be described in detail.

  First, the operation of the host terminal 200 will be described as follows. When the CPU 210 of the host terminal 200 detects a print instruction for the print data 292, the CPU 210 displays the print setting screen 251 shown in FIG. 2 on the display unit 250 (step S100), and operates the input unit 230 as a designation unit and a selection unit. In response to this, an input of a user's print setting is accepted (step S102). When it is detected that the OK button BT1 is clicked (step S104; Yes), the setting content of the print setting screen 251 is stored in the storage unit 290 as the print setting information 294, and is transmitted to the multi function peripheral 100 together with the print data 292. (Step S106).

  In contrast, the operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 is as follows. When the image control CPU 11 of the multifunction peripheral 100 receives the print setting information 294 and the print data 292 from the host terminal 200 via the controller 60, the print setting information 294 and the page setting information 293 included in the print data 292 are stored in the RAM 13. The print data 292 is stored in the compression memory 26 (step S200).

  Then, paper feed information is created for each page (step S202), transferred to the post-processing device 2 (step S206), and image formation is performed for each page based on the page setting information 293 (step S206). Specifically, the transfer paper of the transfer paper size indicated by the page setting information 293 is conveyed from any of the paper feed trays 87a to 87e, and if the image type of the page setting information 293 is a vertical image, the print data 292 is displayed. The image based on the image is formed in the vertical direction on the conveyed transfer paper, and if it is a horizontal image, the image is formed in the horizontal direction.

  When the image control CPU 11 transports the image-formed transfer paper to the post-processing device 2, the FNS control unit 71 performs post-processing on the transported transfer paper according to the paper feed information transferred from the image control CPU 11 and discharges the paper. It is discharged to the tray (step S208).

  Next, a method for creating paper feed information in step S204 will be described. The image control CPU 11 creates the paper feed information for each page by sequentially performing the paper feed information creation processing of FIG. 9C and FIG. That is, the image control CPU 11 sets (sets) the transfer paper size and the paper feed tray of the paper feed information based on the transfer paper size 313 and the image type 312 included in the page setting information 293 (steps S300 to 302). ). Then, the post-processing information is set based on the post-processing method of the normal printing 410 and the designated division setting 423 of the print setting information 294 (step S304), and the delimiter information is set by performing the delimiter information determination set process shown in FIG. (Step S305), discharge destination information is set based on the print setting information 294 (Step S306).

  In the delimiter information set process in step S305, the following process is performed based on the print setting information 293 and the page setting information 293 corresponding to the setting pattern on the print setting screen 251 in FIG.

  First, the stapling check C1 or the punching check C2 on the print setting screen 251 is turned on to specify a post-processing method, and the stapling / punching presence / absence 411, 413 of the normal printing 410 is determined, and the image control CPU 11 performs post-processing. If it is determined that there is (Step S400; present) and it is determined not to perform booklet division printing based on the booklet division designation presence / absence 421 (Step S402; No), image formation is performed based on the total number of pages 300 in the page setting information 293. It is determined whether or not the page to be processed is the last page (partition) of one booklet (step S404).

  If it is determined that it is a section break (step S404; Yes), “Yes” in the section information is set in the paper feed information (step S406), and if it is determined that it is not a section break (step S404; No) ), The post-processing information set process is terminated as it is. Therefore, in the case of normal printing in which only post-processing is designated, when the paper feed information with this separation information “Yes” is transferred to the post-processing device 2, that is, when the transfer paper is accumulated up to the last page. Is post-processed.

  Next, when it is determined in step S400 that there is post-processing, and it is determined that booklet division printing is to be performed based on the booklet division designation presence / absence 421 (step S402; Yes), the image control CPU 11 determines the division mode 422 ( Step S408).

  If it is determined that the division mode 422 is the designated division mode (step S408; designation), the designated division setting 423 is acquired (step S410), and the page currently printed is the last in the page range 424 of the designated division setting 423. It is determined whether or not the page is a page (step S412). If the image control CPU 11 determines that it is the last page in the page range 424 and the current page is a separator page (the last page of the bundle) for booklet division printing (step S412; Yes), the process proceeds to step S406. If it is determined that the page is not a separator page (step S412; No), the post-processing information set process is terminated as it is. For this reason, in the designated division mode, booklet division printing is performed for each page based on the booklet division information preset by the user, and post-processing is performed.

  Next, when it is determined in step S402 that booklet division printing is to be performed and it is determined that the division mode 422 is the automatic division mode (step S408; automatic), the image control CPU 11 acquires the automatic division setting 430 (step S414). ).

  If the post-processing execution condition 432 for the automatic division setting 430 has not been set (step S416; No), the page setting information 293 is referred to and the printing condition for the previous page is the same as the current printing condition. Is determined (step S420). If the printing conditions are the same (step S420; No), it is assumed that the page of the paper feed information to be created is the first page of the bundle of transfer papers to be post-processed, and the page to be fed next is printed. It is determined whether the conditions and the printing conditions of the current page are the same based on the division criterion 431 as a criterion (step S422).

  When the image control CPU 11, which is a determination unit and a selection determination unit, determines that the printing conditions of the next paper to be fed are not the same (changed) based on the printing conditions 311 for each page range 310 of the page setting information 293. (Step S422; No), the current page is determined as the division position. Then, the process proceeds to step S406, where “present” is set in the page break information of the determined division position.

  For example, when the division criterion 431 is an image type, an image type associated with each page range 310 in the page setting information 293 indicates whether the next page and the current page have the same image type. Judgment based on 312. Then, the image control CPU 11 as the image type determination unit, for example, when the image type of the fourth page of the current page is a vertical image, the image type of the fifth page of the next page is a horizontal image, and the printing conditions have changed. Sets “Yes” in the delimiter information.

  When the division reference 431 is the transfer sheet size, the transfer sheet associated with the page range 310 indicates whether the size of the next transfer sheet to be fed and the current transfer sheet size are the same. Judge based on size. For example, when the image control CPU 11 as the paper size determining means determines that the current transfer paper size of the third page is A4 and the next fourth page is A3, and the transfer paper size has changed, FIG. As shown in (a), “present” is set in the separation information of the paper feed information on the third page. That is, when the image type or transfer paper size (image forming condition) of the next page changes, the image control CPU 11 determines the current page as a division position and performs post-processing on a bundle of transfer paper up to the page. In order to perform the process, the sheet feed information delimiter information is set. The image control CPU 11 sets the transfer paper size, paper feed tray, post-processing information, and separation information as shown in FIG. 8A, and then sets the finisher and paper discharge tray in step S306.

  On the other hand, if it is determined from the page setting information 293 that the printing conditions of the next page are the same and the printing conditions do not change (step S422; No), the post-processing information set process is performed with the separation information remaining “None”. finish. In this way, when the image type or transfer paper size that becomes the division criterion 431 does not change between the next page and the current page, the post-processing is not yet performed, and the set of delimiter information is continuously stored in order to accumulate the transfer paper. Not performed.

  On the other hand, in step S420, it is determined that the current page is the first page of a bundle of transfer sheets to be post-processed, unlike the printing conditions of the previous page (step S420; Yes), and the next page to be fed is printed. When it is determined that the condition is the same as the printing condition of the current page using the division criterion 431 as a criterion (step S424; No), the separation information remains “none”. If the first page of the bundle (current page) is not the same as the printing condition of the next page (step S424; Yes), that is, if the image type or transfer paper size is different every other page, The post-processing information of the paper feed information is cleared, and the post-processing of the page is canceled (step S426). Therefore, if the image type or transfer paper size of every other page is different, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray without any post-processing. However, for example, it is not necessary to cancel the one that can be post-processed by one sheet, such as the post-processing of folding the transfer paper.

  If it is determined in step S416 that the post-processing execution condition 432 for the automatic division setting 430 has been set (step S416; Yes), the image control CPU 11 refers to the page setting information 293 and executes the post-processing for the current page. It is determined whether or not the condition 432 is satisfied (step S418). For example, when the post-processing execution condition 432 is A4 size and the transfer paper size 313 of the current page is A4 size, it is determined that the current page satisfies the post-processing execution condition 432 (step S424; Yes). ), A paper feed information delimiter is set in the processing from step S420. If the transfer paper size 313 is A3 size, it is determined that the current page does not satisfy the post-processing execution condition 432 (step S418; No), and 4 in the paper feed information table 130 in FIG. 8B. As in the page, post-processing information for the current page is cleared (released) (step S426). When the post-processing information is canceled in this way, in the discharge destination information set in step S306, the finisher is set to the paper feed information in which the post-processing information is set. For this reason, when the current page does not satisfy the post-processing execution condition 432, the paper is discharged without being subjected to post-processing, and when the post-processing execution condition 432 is satisfied, the post-processing is performed and discharged. It becomes like this.

  Here, in the above-described image forming system SY, as shown in FIG. 11A, paper for six pages is fed, and after each transfer paper is image-formed based on the page setting information 293, the paper is fed. Assume that the paper is discharged (discharged) based on the information. When the image type of the page setting information 293 of the booklet BL1 is set as the vertical image and the sixth page as the horizontal image as shown in FIG. 11B, the fourth page, the fifth page, Since the image type (image forming condition) changes in step 4, the fourth page is determined as the division position, and the delimiter information “present” is set in the paper feed information of the page. Also, the delimiter information “present” is set in the paper feed information of the sixth page, which is the last page of the booklet BL1. As a result, the booklet BL1 is divided and discharged into a sheet bundle R1 of 1 to 4 pages and a sheet bundle R2 of 5 and 6 pages.

  When a vertical image is set as the post-processing execution condition 432, the horizontal image paper bundle R2 in FIG. 11B is discharged without being stapled. In this case, automatic division is performed with a pattern of the sheet bundle R1 that has been stapled and the sheet bundle R2 that has not been stapled.

  Further, when the transfer paper size of the page setting information 293 is set as A4 size for pages 1 to 3 and A4 size for pages 4 to 6 as shown in FIG. 11C, the third page and the fourth page Since the transfer paper size (image forming conditions) changes, the third page is determined as the division position, and the separation information “present” is set in the paper feed information of the page. As a result, the booklet BL2 is divided into a sheet bundle R3 of 1 to 3 pages and a sheet bundle R4 of 4 to 6 pages and discharged. At this time, both the sheet bundles R3 and R4 are stapled at the upper left in the longitudinal direction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the image type of the transfer paper on which the image has been formed and the image forming conditions of the transfer paper size change, the delimiter information is set in the paper feed information of the changed page, and the paper feed The information is transferred to the post-processing device 2. Thus, the post-processing device 2 accumulates the transfer paper up to the page on which the delimiter information is set and performs post-processing, so that it can automatically divide up to the page where the image forming conditions have changed. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image forming system in which a booklet in which different image forming conditions are mixed is appropriately post-processed and divided.

[Modification]
In addition, the applicable range of this invention is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above, It can change suitably, For example, you may make it as follows. First, the set of delimiter information is determined based on the image type 310 of the printing condition 311 and the transfer paper size 313. For example, the transfer paper feed direction determined according to the image type 310, that is, the transfer paper, is determined. The paper orientation determination means may be realized by making a determination based on the printing direction of the image. The delimiter information may be set based on the chapter or section format information included in the print data 292. In this case, the image control CPU 11 can be realized by extracting the format information included in the print data 292 and setting the delimiter information in the paper information of the page immediately before the extracted page. Can be automatically divided into sections.

  In addition, character extraction and image extraction in the print data 292 may be performed, and the delimiter information may be set on a page between the page including the character and the page including the image. Thereby, a page including an image can be separated from a character page.

  Further, as an example of the post-processing method, stapling and punching have been described. However, for example, post-processing for binding one end of the transfer paper, post-processing such as flat binding, multi-folding, and saddle stitching may be performed. The processing is preferably processing for processing the recording medium.

  Further, the print data 292 and the print setting information 294 are generated on the host terminal 200 side and transmitted to the multifunction device 100, but may be generated on the multifunction device 100 side. In this case, the print setting information 294 can be generated by causing the operation display unit 20 to display the print setting screen 251 shown in FIGS. 2 and 12 on the LCD 22 and accepting the user's setting input. At the time of reading from the ADF unit 40, the reading direction (image type) and size (transfer paper size) of the original are discriminated, and the image type and transfer paper size are converted into image data read by the scanner 32 as page setting information 293. By adding, print data 292 can be generated.

  The paper feed information is created on the multifunction peripheral 100 side, but may be created on the host terminal 200 side based on the print data 292 and the print setting information 294. In that case, the sheet feeding division creation program is held in the storage unit 290 of the host terminal 200, and the CPU 210 executes this program. Thus, the system configuration of the image forming system SY is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.

1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. The figure which shows an example of the print setting screen which selected the basic setting tag. The figure which shows an example of an automatic division | segmentation setting screen. The block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of a host terminal. (A) is a page setting information, (b) is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of print setting information. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance and a cross section of a copying machine. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a copier. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a paper feed information table. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a specific operation of the image forming system. The flowchart for demonstrating the processing content of a post-processing information set process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution result of an image forming system in an automatic division mode. The figure which shows an example of the print setting screen which selected the post-processing tag. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution result of an image forming system in a booklet division mode.

Explanation of symbols

SY image forming system 100 MFP 1 main body 2 post-processing device 3 large capacity tray unit 10 control unit 11 image control CPU
12 Program memory 13 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Operation display part 30 Scanner part 40 ADF part 50 Printer part 60 Controller 71 FNS control part 72 Stapler 73 Punch unit 130 Paper feed information table 200 Host terminal 210 CPU
230 Input unit 232 Mouse 250 Display unit 251 Print setting screen
252 Automatic division setting screen 270 I / F unit 290 Storage unit 292 Print data 293 Page setting information 294 Print setting information 430 Automatic division setting 431 Division criterion 432 Post-processing execution condition

Claims (42)

Image forming means for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit includes a divided post-processing unit that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines a change in the image type and determines a page where the image type is changed as a division position in all pages.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as the change in the image type.   The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page in which the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The determination unit includes a sheet direction determination unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5. A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit includes a selection condition determination unit that determines a change in the image formation condition selected by the selection unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit selects one of the plurality of image forming conditions. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation on a recording medium for each page on a recording medium and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the recording medium on which the image has been formed communicates with each other. In an image forming system that is connected in a possible manner,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
The post-processing device includes:
An image forming system comprising post-processing means for performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position.   The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the post-processing unit includes a divided post-processing unit that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition. .   11. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the determination unit determines a change in the image type and determines a page in which the image type is changed as a division position in all pages.   The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the determination unit determines switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as the change in the image type.   The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page in which the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. The image forming system according to claim 9.   The determination unit includes a sheet direction determination unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. Item 14. The image forming system according to any one of Items 9 to 13. The image forming apparatus includes:
A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
15. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the determining unit includes a selection condition determining unit that determines a change in the image forming condition selected by the selecting unit.   The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the selection unit selects one of the plurality of image forming conditions. In an image forming system in which a terminal device and an image forming apparatus are communicably connected,
The terminal device includes a designation unit that designates a post-processing method,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming means for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
Determining means for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing by the designated post-processing method on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
An image forming system comprising:   18. The image forming system according to claim 17, wherein the post-processing unit includes a divided post-processing unit that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition. .   The image forming system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the determining unit determines a change in the image type and determines a page where the image type is changed as a division position in all pages.   The image forming system according to claim 19, wherein the determination unit determines switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as the change in the image type.   The determining unit includes a paper size determining unit that determines a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page in which the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. The image forming system according to any one of claims 17 to 20.   The determination unit includes a sheet direction determination unit that determines a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. Item 22. The image forming system according to any one of Items 17 to 21. The terminal device
A selection means for selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
23. The image forming system according to claim 17, wherein the determining unit includes a selection condition determining unit that determines a change in the image forming condition selected by the selecting unit.   24. The image forming system according to claim 23, wherein the selection unit selectively selects from the plurality of image forming conditions. On the computer,
An image forming function for performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
A determination function for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing function for performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
A program to realize A computer connected to an image forming apparatus for performing post-processing on the recording medium that performs image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image forming conditions and image data for each page;
A specification function to specify the post-processing method,
A determination function for determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing function for causing the image forming apparatus to perform control to perform post-processing by the designated post-processing method on the recording medium on which the image is formed with reference to the determined division position;
A program to realize   27. The program according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the post-processing function has a post-division processing function that refers to the division position and performs the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming conditions.   The program according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the determination function determines a change in an image type and determines a page in which the image type is changed as a division position in all pages.   29. The program according to claim 28, wherein the determination function determines switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as the change in the image type.   The determination function includes a paper size determination function that determines a change in size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determines a page where the size of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. The program according to any one of claims 25 to 29.   The determination function includes a paper direction determination function that determines a change in orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determines a page in which the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. Item 25. The program according to any one of Items 25 to 30. Further realizing the selection function to select from multiple image forming conditions,
32. The program according to claim 25, wherein the determination function has a selection condition determination function for determining a change in an image forming condition selected by the selection function.   The program according to claim 32, wherein the selection function selects one of the plurality of image forming conditions. A computer connected to an image forming apparatus that performs image formation based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page on a storage medium for each page and performs post-processing on the recording medium;
A post-processing specification function for specifying the content of post-processing;
A split position specifying function for specifying whether to automatically determine the split position in all pages,
A condition designating function for designating the type of image forming condition as reference information when automatically determining the division position;
A transmission function for transmitting to the image forming apparatus the content of the designated post-processing, whether to determine the division position automatically, and the type of the image forming condition;
A program to realize An image forming step of performing image formation on a recording medium for each page based on print data including image formation conditions and image data for each page;
A determination step of determining a page where the image forming condition changes as a division position in all pages;
A post-processing step of performing post-processing on the image-formed recording medium with reference to the determined division position;
A post-processing control method comprising:   36. The post-processing control according to claim 35, wherein the post-processing step includes a post-division processing step of referring to the division position and performing the same post-processing on recording media of continuous pages having the same image forming condition. Method.   The post-processing control method according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the determining step determines a change in the image type and determines a page where the image type changes as a division position in all pages.   The post-processing control method according to claim 37, wherein the determining step determines switching between a vertical image and a horizontal image as the change in the image type.   The determining step includes a paper size determining step of determining a change in the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed and determining a page where the size of the recording medium is changed as a division position in all pages. The post-processing control method according to any one of claims 35 to 38.   The determination step includes a paper direction determination step of determining a change in the orientation of the recording medium during the image formation and determining a page where the orientation of the recording medium changes as a division position in all pages. 40. A post-processing control method according to any one of Items 35 to 39. A selection step of selecting from a plurality of image forming conditions;
The post-processing control method according to any one of claims 35 to 40, wherein the determining step includes a selection condition determining step of determining a change in the image forming condition selected in the selecting step.   42. The post-processing control method according to claim 41, wherein the selecting step selectively selects from the plurality of image forming conditions.

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