JP2007145491A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system allowing a postprocessing system to apply a curl correction in the curl correcting direction to paper after forming an image on the basis of indicating information sent from an image forming device, by enabling the image forming device to send the indicating information in the curl correcting direction applied to the paper to the postprocessing system when selecting a paper feeding tray. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming system is composed of the image forming device having an input operation means setting the curl correcting direction applied to the paper loaded in the selected paper feeding tray by selecting the paper feeding tray and the postprocessing system having a curl correcting means applying curl correcting processing to the paper in page unit. The image forming system is characterized in that the image forming device has a first control means sending the indicating information indicating the curl correcting direction applied to the delivering paper to the postprocessing system via a communication means, and the postprocessing system has a second control means controlling the curl correcting means on the basis of the indicating information sent from the first control means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus having curl correcting means for correcting curl on a sheet after image formation.

  The sheet formed and ejected by the image forming apparatus is preferably flat, but usually has a certain direction of bending (curl) with the surface on which the toner image is placed inside. Further, the size of the curl also varies depending on the paper specifications and the toner amount of the image to be formed.

  The paper that has been imaged and discharged is subjected to predetermined post-processing, such as sorting, punching, and binding, in a post-processing device connected to the image forming apparatus. The paper is sequentially placed on the designated paper discharge tray.

  In order to reliably execute the post-processing applied to the paper in the post-processing apparatus and to prevent the occurrence of paper conveyance jam in the post-processing apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the curl of the paper before the post-processing as much as possible. Therefore, there is also a proposal for providing a curl correcting means for correcting the curl of the paper in the image forming apparatus or the post-processing apparatus and controlling the curl correcting conditions of the curl correcting means according to the post-processing applied to the paper (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 and 2.)

  A large-scale image forming system that has started to be used frequently in recent years includes a plurality of paper feed trays on which paper before image formation is placed and a plurality of paper discharge trays for storing paper that has been post-processed after image formation. Used to execute a job to place different quality paper on each of the paper feed trays, form an image on a given paper, perform post-processing, and place it on a given paper ejection tray Is done. Accordingly, it is necessary to set the direction of curl correction to be applied to the paper at the time of setting the job for each paper and each page in correspondence with the job to be executed.

However, it is troublesome to perform such setting every time the job changes, and setting errors are likely to occur.
JP-A-5-309971 (first page) JP 2002-321860 A (page 3-4)

  The present invention has been made in view of the situation as described above, and an object of the present invention is to correct a curl direction to be applied to a sheet fed from the sheet feeding tray when the image forming apparatus selects the sheet feeding tray. The post-processing apparatus implements an image forming system that performs curl correction in the curl correction direction on the paper after image formation based on the instruction information transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

The object is achieved by the invention described below.
1. An image forming apparatus including an input operation unit that selects a paper feed tray and sets a curl correction direction applied to the paper loaded in the selected paper feed tray;
A post-processing device provided with a curl correction means for performing curl correction processing on a sheet by page basis;
An image forming system comprising:
The image forming apparatus has first control means for sending instruction information for instructing a curl correction direction to be applied to the discharged paper to the post-processing apparatus via the communication means,
The image forming system, wherein the post-processing device includes a second control unit that controls the curl correction unit based on the instruction information sent from the first control unit.
2. An image forming apparatus provided with an input operation unit for selecting a job setting and a paper feed tray and inputting specifications of paper to be loaded in the selected paper feed tray;
A post-processing device provided with a curl correction means for performing curl correction processing on a sheet by page basis;
An image forming system comprising:
The image forming apparatus automatically sets a curl correction direction to be applied to a sheet fed from the selected sheet feeding tray when a job is set by the input operation unit and a sheet feeding tray is selected. First control means for determining and sending instruction information for instructing the determined curl correction direction to the post-processing device via the communication means;
The image forming system, wherein the post-processing device includes a second control unit that controls the curl correction unit based on the instruction information sent from the first control unit.
3. The first control unit includes a curl correction direction setting unit that sets a curl correction direction to be applied with reference to the contents of the set job and the specifications of the paper loaded in the selected paper feed tray. 3. The image forming system according to item 2, wherein
4). The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the instruction information for instructing a curl correction direction includes an instruction for prohibiting the paper from being subjected to a curl correction process.

  According to the present invention, the curl correction direction to be applied to the paper fed from each paper feed tray is set in advance for each paper feed tray by the input operation means of the image forming apparatus, so the paper used for image formation If the paper feed tray that is the paper source is known, the curl correction direction to be applied to the paper can be determined. Since the instruction information for instructing the determined curl correction direction is sent to the post-processing device, the post-processing device including the curl correction means for performing the curl correction processing on the paper in units of pages follows the sent instruction information. The paper can be curled in the direction of curling.

  Therefore, by loading the paper whose curl correction direction is known into a predetermined paper feed tray, for example, a large capacity paper feed tray, and setting the curl correction direction in advance, the paper is surely subjected to curl correction. be able to. In addition, occasional errors that set the wrong curl correction direction are reduced.

  Such setting of the curl correction direction is particularly effective when setting a job for an image forming operation for repeatedly supplying a large amount of paper having a predetermined specification from a plurality of paper feed trays including a large capacity paper feed tray. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming system of the present invention.

  The image forming system shown in the figure includes an image forming apparatus G, an automatic document feeder F, a large-capacity paper feed tray L, a first post-processing apparatus A1, a second post-processing apparatus A2, and a third post-processing apparatus A3. The

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the image forming apparatus G, the automatic document feeder F, and the large capacity sheet feeding tray L.

  The image forming apparatus G has an automatic document feeder F at the top of the main body. The main body includes an image reading means 1, an image writing means 2, an image forming means 3, an input operation means 4, a paper feeding means 5, a paper discharge re-feeding device. The sheet feeding unit 6, the fixing unit 7, the control unit C1, and the like are included.

  The automatic document feeder F feeds the documents placed on the document table 11 to the document conveying means 13 one by one by the document separating means 12, and the document conveying means 13 conveys the sent documents to the document discharging means 14. Then, the document discharge means 14 discharges the sent document to the document discharge table 15. The document image is read by a slit 21 provided in the document conveyance path, which is a document image reading position of the image reading unit 1.

  When reading images on both sides of the document, the document which has been read on the first surface is reversed by the document reversing means 16 having a pair of rollers, and is sent again to the document conveying means 13 to re-feed the second surface. Reading is done. The document that has been read is discharged to the document discharge table 15.

  The image reading means 1 is a means for reading a document image to obtain image data. The document image irradiated with light by the lamp 231 at the position of the slit 21 is a first mirror unit 23 and a second mirror unit 24. And an imaging lens 25 to form an image on the image sensor 26 which is a linear CCD. The signal output from the image pickup device 26 is A / D converted by the image processing unit of the control means C1, subjected to processing such as shading correction and image compression, and stored as image data in the memory M1.

  The image writing means 2 is based on the image data that has been called from the memory M1 and subjected to predetermined image processing. The image writing means 2 is uniformly charged by the charging means 32 and rotated by the laser means and the polygon mirror. The surface is scanned to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image on the surface of the photoreceptor 31.

  The electrostatic latent image is reversely developed by the developing unit 34 of the image forming unit 3 to form a toner image on the photoreceptor 31.

  Corresponding to the timing of toner image formation, the sheet P is fed from the large capacity sheet feeding tray L or the sheet feeding means 5 having the plurality of sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR3 and conveyed by the conveying roller 56. The timing roller 39 synchronizes with the toner image formed on the photoconductor for alignment and sends it to the transfer area.

  In the transfer area, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 31 is transferred to the paper P charged to the opposite polarity by the transfer means 35.

  The sheet P carrying the toner image is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member 31 by the action of the separation / elimination means 36 and sent to the fixing means 7.

  In the fixing unit 7, the paper P carrying the toner image is conveyed while being heated and pressurized by the heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72, the toner image is fixed on the paper P, and the first rear side is discharged by the discharge roller 63. It is sent to the processing device A1. The leading edge of the paper P to be sent out is detected by the paper discharge sensor SX, and the first control means C1 receiving the detection signal outputs post-processing information (page information) to be sent to the paper P to be sent out to the second. Send to control means C2. The instruction information for instructing the direction of curl correction performed by the first post-processing apparatus A1 is one piece of information included in this page information.

  When the paper P is turned upside down and sent to the first post-processing apparatus A1, the switching guide 62 guides the paper P to the paper discharge / refeed means 6, switches the paper P back, and discharges the roller 63. Send to.

  Further, when forming images on both sides of the paper P, the paper P that has been fixed on the first side is guided to the paper discharge refeeding means 6 by the switching guide 62 and reversed by the reversing unit 65. Then, the sheet is fed to a conveyance path 66 for paper feeding and used for image formation on the second surface.

  On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 31 after the transfer of the toner image onto the paper P is prepared for the next image formation after the residual toner is removed by the cleaning means 37.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the first to third post-processing devices A1, A2, and A3 connected to the image forming apparatus G.

  The first post-processing apparatus A1 is a post-processing apparatus having two curl correcting means A10 and 20 for correcting the curl of the sheet sent from the image forming apparatus G.

  The sheet P sent from the direction of the arrow a of the image forming apparatus G is selected based on the job contents set by the user in advance using the input operation unit 4 of the image forming apparatus G and instruction information for instructing the curl correction direction. Then, it proceeds on any one of the four paper transport paths k, l, m, and n in the figure. The paper transport path is switched by controlling a paper transport path switching means 200 (not shown in FIG. 3 and shown in FIG. 5), which is a known technical means.

  The paper transport path k is a paper transport path that leads the paper P to the paper discharge tray H1 without performing curl correction or post-processing. The paper transport path l is a paper transport path for sending the paper P to the first curl correcting means A10 that corrects the curl of the paper having a downwardly convex curl, and the paper transport path n has a convex curl downward. This is a paper conveyance path for sending the paper P to the second curl correcting means A20 for correcting the curl of the paper having it. The paper conveyance path m is a paper conveyance path that is sent to the second post-processing apparatus A2 without curling the paper P.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the first curl correction means A10. The first curl correcting means 10 is a known technical means comprising rollers R1, R2, R3 and a belt B wound around the rollers R1, R2. The sheet P that has traveled on the sheet transport path l in FIG. 3 enters the first curl correction means A10 from the arrow l1 in FIG. 4 and proceeds in the direction of the arrow l2. During the progress of the paper P having a downwardly convex curl, the paper P advances along a convex path upward, which is opposite to the curl, by a nip portion N formed by the roller R3 and the belt B. As a result, the downward convex curl is corrected.

  The second curl correcting means 20 shown in FIG. 3 is a means for correcting the curl of the paper in the opposite direction to the first curl correcting means A10, that is, the upwardly convex curl, and the configuration thereof is the same as that of the first curl correcting means A10. It is the same, and the attachment direction differs by 180 degrees.

  Returning to FIG. 3 again, the second post-processing device A2 will be described.

  The second post-processing apparatus A2 is a post-processing apparatus that includes the punching means 110 and the center folding means 120, and is configured by a known technique. The sheet P sent from the first post-processing apparatus A1 has three sheet conveyance paths indicated by b, c, and d in the figure by a job set in advance by the user using the input operation unit 4 of the image forming apparatus G. Selected. The paper transport path b is a path that guides the paper P to the paper discharge tray H2 without performing post-processing.

  The paper transport path c is provided to the second post-processing apparatus A3 as it is when the hole is punched at the end of the paper P and sent to the third post-processing apparatus A3, or the paper P is not subjected to post-processing. This is the course of sending.

  The sheet conveyance path d is a path in which the sheet P sent from the image forming apparatus G is subjected to the folding process by the folding unit 120 one by one or a plurality of sheets. To the second post-processing apparatus A3.

  The third post-processing apparatus A3 is a post-processing apparatus provided with a stapler 210 and a center folding means 220, and is constituted by a known technique. The paper P sent from the second post-processing apparatus A2 is selected in advance by three paper transport paths indicated by f, g, and h in the figure by a job set by the user using the input operation means 4 of the image forming apparatus G. Is done.

  The paper transport path f is a path that guides the paper P to the paper discharge tray H3 without performing post-processing by the third post-processing device A3.

  The paper transport path g is a path that guides the paper P to the large-capacity paper discharge tray H4 without performing post-processing by the third post-processing device A3.

  The sheet conveyance path h is a path for guiding the sheet P to the stapler 210. The stapler 210 accumulates a plurality of sheets P to form a sheet bundle, and performs a binding process with a binding needle on an end portion or a center line of the sheet bundle. . The sheet bundle that has undergone the binding process on the center line proceeds to the sheet conveyance path indicated by the arrow r, undergoes the folding process by the folding unit 220, and is discharged to the sheet discharge tray H20. The sheet bundle that has been subjected to binding processing at the end is sent to the sheet conveyance path indicated by the arrow t, and proceeds to the large-capacity sheet discharge tray H4.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the control relationship of the image forming system.

  The first control means C1 of the image forming apparatus G is a computer system having a CPU (CPU1), a memory M1, and an arithmetic unit, an I / O port, a communication interface, etc. (not shown). There is also a circuit for driving the means. Each means is controlled by executing a program corresponding to the job stored in the memory M1.

  Of the fifth control means C5 of the automatic document feeder F, the second control means C2 of the first post-processing apparatus A1, the third control means C3 of the second post-processing apparatus A2, and the third post-processing apparatus A3. The fourth control unit C4 is also smaller in size than the control unit C1, but includes a similar computer system centered on the CPU. Information exchange between the first control means C1 and other control means is performed via communication means in this example, but other known means can be used as appropriate.

  The first control means C1 is connected to a LAN or a public line via the communication means T1, and can exchange data with other information devices.

  In addition, description in a figure is abbreviate | omitted about the block considered not to be important for description of embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation for setting the paper feed tray and the curl correction direction by the input operation means 4.

  The input operation means 4 is a known input operation means called a touch panel having a display function and an input function.

  First, when the curl correction direction setting program is executed, an image for selecting a paper feed tray is displayed on the screen of the input operation means 4 (step S1). When a paper feed tray is selected by touching a predetermined position of the displayed image (step S2: Y), an image for selecting a curl correction direction to be applied to paper fed from the selected paper feed tray is input. It is displayed on the screen of means 4 (step S3). The curl correction direction means the direction of a force applied to the sheet by bending the sheet in the direction opposite to the curl. That is, if the convex surface of the curl is downward, the curl correction direction is upward. The displayed image for selection has three options of upward correction, downward correction, and no correction (correction prohibited).

  The operator knows the specifications of the paper loaded in the selected paper feed tray, such as the size and thickness (basis weight), and the direction of curling of the loaded paper in the image forming operation to be performed. Since it is possible to know in advance through experiments, the curl correction direction displayed can be selected based on the knowledge (step S4).

  The curl correction direction set corresponding to the paper feed tray is registered in the curl correction table M10 provided in the memory M1 (step S5). Further, if there is a paper feed tray for setting the curl correction direction (step S6: Y), the process returns to step 1; otherwise (step S6: N), the routine is exited.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of the curl correction table M10 in which the curl correction direction is set for each tray.

  The curl correction table M10 is referred to when a paper feed tray is selected when a job is set by the input operation unit 4 of the image forming apparatus G, and the paper P fed from the selected paper feed tray is referred to. The direction of curl correction to be applied to is determined. The determined correction direction is communicated as instruction information from the first control means C1 to the second control means C2 when the paper P fed from the paper feed tray and formed with an image is discharged from the image forming apparatus. Sent via means T2.

  The control means C2 determines whether or not to perform curl correction from the instruction information sent accompanying the sent paper P, and determines the direction in the case of performing curl correction, and the paper conveyance path switching means 200. Is controlled to feed the paper P to a predetermined paper transport path.

  Next, an image forming system having a curl correction direction setting unit that automatically sets a direction of curl correction to be applied to a sheet from a job setting specification or a sheet specification when a paper feed tray is selected will be described. .

  In this system, the option of automatic correction is added to the three options displayed in step S3 of the curl correction direction setting described in FIG. 6, that is, the three options of upward correction, downward correction, and no correction. The

  Automatic correction is an option in which the operator automatically sets the curl correction direction on the curl correction table M10 without setting the curl correction direction such as upward correction or downward correction in correspondence with the tray.

  In order to enable this automatic correction, the specification of the paper P loaded in each tray, for example, the length in the transport direction (paper size), the paper thickness (basis weight), the paper type, etc. It is necessary to register it in M20, or register the specifications of the paper P in the paper table M20 when setting a job.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of the paper table M20. In general, for A4 size (LP = 210) coated paper, the basis weight MP is 72 to 91, plain paper is 62 to 71, and in the case of A being thick paper, the value is 210 to 244. be registered.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of automatically determining the curl correction direction from the specifications of the paper P and the job setting specifications obtained by referring to the paper table M20 when the curl correction direction setting means as a program is executed. It is.

  As described above, when a job is set and a tray to be used in the job is selected, whether or not to perform curl correction is determined in steps 3 and 4 of the flowchart of FIG. Whether to set the direction or to set automatically is selected. When automatic setting is selected, the curl correction direction setting means M40, which is a program, is executed, and the determined correction direction is registered in the curl correction table M10.

  First, it is determined by the job setting whether the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus is a job for forming an image on only one side or an image for forming an image on both sides (step S10). If it is single-sided (step S10: N), “None” is set in the curl correction table M10 so that the paper P fed from the paper feed tray is not subjected to curl correction processing.

  If double-sided processing (step S10: Y), whether or not the length LP in the feed direction of the paper P loaded in the paper feed tray is equal to or greater than a preset value LL (for example, 200 mm). Is determined (step S11). If the length P in the feed direction of the paper P is equal to or greater than the preset value LL (step S12: Y), the paper P fed from the paper feed tray is not subjected to curl correction processing “None” "Is set in the curl correction table M10.

  When the length LP of the paper P in the feed direction is smaller than a preset value LL, the basis weight (1 square meter of paper) is a value indicating the thickness of the paper P loaded in the paper feed tray. It is determined whether or not the hit mass is equal to or greater than a preset value MM (for example, 180 g) (step S13). If the basis weight of the loaded paper P is equal to or greater than the preset value MM (step S13: Y), the paper P fed from the paper feed tray is not subjected to curl correction processing. “None” is set in the curl correction table M10.

  If the basis weight of the loaded paper P is smaller than the preset value MM (step S13: N), the paper type of the paper P loaded in the paper feed tray (for example, plain paper, A paper, B paper, C paper, coated paper, etc.) are determined (step S13). If the paper type of the loaded paper P is registered in the paper type table as not requiring curl correction, the paper P fed from the paper feed tray is subjected to curl correction processing. No “None” is set in the curl correction table M10, and if the paper type of the loaded paper P is registered in the paper type table as requiring curl correction, it is registered in the paper type table. The predetermined curl correction direction is set in the curl correction table M10, and the curl correction direction setting routine is exited.

  Note that the order of the determination processing in step 10, step 11, step 12, and step 13 may be changed as appropriate depending on the target image forming operation.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a paper type table M30 for determining the curl correction direction from the paper type.

  Note that the paper type table M30 is created based on the results of experiments on the relationship between the paper type and the correction direction.

  As described above, the image forming system that can select the paper feed tray and set the direction of curl correction to be performed facilitates setting of the direction of curl correction at the time of job setting and reduces setting errors. Can do. In addition, the image forming system that automatically sets the direction of curl correction by selecting the paper feed tray and inputting the specifications of the paper loaded in the paper feed tray prevents the setting error of the curl correction direction. .

1 is an external view of an image forming system. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming apparatus, an automatic document feeder, and a large capacity sheet feeding tray. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the 1st-3rd post-processing apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram of a 1st curl correction means. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control relationship of the image forming system. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations for setting a paper feed tray and a curl correction direction. It is a conceptual diagram of a curl correction table. It is a conceptual diagram of a paper table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which determines the curl correction direction automatically. It is a conceptual diagram of a paper type table.

Explanation of symbols

4 Input operation means A1-3 First to third post-processing devices A10, 20 Curl correction means C1-5 First to fifth control means G Image forming apparatus L Large capacity paper feed tray P Paper TR1-3 Paper feed tray

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus including an input operation unit that selects a paper feed tray and sets a curl correction direction applied to the paper loaded in the selected paper feed tray;
A post-processing device provided with a curl correction means for performing curl correction processing on a sheet by page basis;
An image forming system comprising:
The image forming apparatus has first control means for sending instruction information for instructing a curl correction direction to be applied to the discharged paper to the post-processing apparatus via the communication means,
The image forming system, wherein the post-processing device includes a second control unit that controls the curl correction unit based on the instruction information sent from the first control unit. An image forming apparatus provided with an input operation unit for selecting a job setting and a paper feed tray and inputting specifications of paper to be loaded in the selected paper feed tray;
A post-processing device provided with a curl correcting means for performing curl correction processing on a sheet by page basis;
An image forming system comprising:
The image forming apparatus automatically sets a curl correction direction to be applied to a sheet fed from the selected sheet feeding tray when a job is set by the input operation unit and a sheet feeding tray is selected. First control means for determining and sending instruction information for instructing the determined curl correction direction to the post-processing device via the communication means;
The image forming system, wherein the post-processing device includes a second control unit that controls the curl correction unit based on the instruction information sent from the first control unit. The first control unit includes a curl correction direction setting unit that sets a curl correction direction to be applied with reference to the contents of the set job and the specifications of the paper loaded in the selected paper feed tray. The image forming system according to claim 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the instruction information for instructing a curl correction direction includes an instruction for prohibiting the paper from being subjected to a curl correction process.

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