JP2007147691A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a waste of sheets and to facilitate taking out a divided set even in the case that an output destination is switched due to the occurrence of abnormality in an image forming apparatus capable of using a plurality of output destinations by switching. <P>SOLUTION: When abnormality occurs in an output destination 1 during processing of the first set out of four sets, each of which consists of a plurality of sheets, and processing is continued without removal of the abnormality, the output destination is switched to another output destination available at this time, and processing of the first set during which the abnormality has occurred is interrupted, and processing is started from the head of the second set, and a part of the first set, which is left unprocessed due to the occurrence of the abnormality, is processed and output after the fourth set is normally processed (in image formation processing and output processing), and thus this part is output to the top part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a predetermined output medium, such as a printer (printing machine), a copying machine, and a facsimile machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for dealing with an abnormality that occurs at the output medium output destination after image formation.

  Some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines can be used by arbitrarily selecting any one of a plurality of discharge destinations for discharging an output medium after image forming processing.

  Here, when an abnormality occurs at the selected discharge destination, a mechanism has been proposed in which the remaining discharge destination is effectively used as much as possible to enable operation to continue (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). .

JP-A-10-265121 JP-A-11-010988

  For example, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to discharge a plurality of sets composed of a plurality of sheets, and when the output destination being output becomes abnormal and cannot be used, an emergency operation mode is output to another output destination. It corresponds by providing.

  Further, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 2, when a change in state is detected, a job break is detected, and the output is switched from the job break to a discharge destination that can be output normally.

  For example, when it is detected that the stack amount at the discharge destination has reached a predetermined amount, the remaining sheets of the first job that have not been discharged are discharged to the first discharge destination, and the job to be executed next There is a first mode in which the sheet on which the image is formed is switched to another discharge destination.

  Alternatively, when it is detected that the load amount of the first discharge destination has reached a predetermined amount during execution of the first job, sheet feeding for forming an image of the second job has already started. In the second mode, the sheet on which the image of the second job is formed is discharged to the first discharge destination, and the remaining jobs are switched to another discharge destination.

  However, in the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the process of outputting a job composed of a plurality of sheet groups and four sets to one discharge destination 1, When an abnormality occurs in the discharge destination 1 during the process, if it is changed to the discharge destination 2 from the middle of the set, as shown in FIG. 6B, the second half of the divided set becomes one of the new discharge destinations 2. It is piled up at the bottom. For this reason, it is difficult for the operator to recognize that the set has been divided, and it is difficult to take out the latter half of the set that has been divided due to the occurrence of an abnormality.

  On the other hand, as shown in the improvement plan shown in FIG. 6C, when the discharge destination is changed, the entire process is performed again from the top of the set, and the processing result at the discharge destination 2 is used. It is conceivable to prevent division. However, in this improvement plan, the processing result at the discharge destination 1 is not used, and wasteful paper output occurs.

  Further, in the first aspect described in Patent Document 2, the set is not divided, but it is possible to cope only when output to the same discharge destination is possible after detecting an abnormality such as overloading.

  Therefore, when an abnormality is detected such that the discharge destination cannot be used immediately, excluding overloading, the second mode must be taken. However, in the second aspect, similar to the mechanism described in Patent Document 1, since the latter half of the divided set is stacked at the bottom of the discharge destination, the same problem as described above occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when an abnormality occurs on the discharge side, when switching to another discharge destination that can be used at that time, processing is performed without causing waste. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for easily taking out a set.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used as a control unit for controlling processing when an abnormality occurs on the discharge side during processing of a set composed of a plurality of sheets, and the abnormality has not been released. Switch to another possible discharge destination, suspend processing of the set in which the error occurred, start processing from the beginning of the next set, and for the second half of the set that was interrupted due to the occurrence of an error, It is possible to perform the processing after the remaining set processed (image forming processing and discharge processing). That is, the second half of the set divided by the occurrence of abnormality is discharged to the top.

  According to the present invention, when processing is to be performed in a state where the abnormality has not been released, the processing is switched to another discharge destination, and the processing is started from the top of the next set, and the remaining sets that have been normally discharged are The latter half of the set that was interrupted after processing can now be processed.

  As a result, in an image forming apparatus capable of switching between a plurality of discharge destinations, even if the output destination is switched when an abnormality occurs, the divided set can be easily taken out without causing waste. That is, since the first half of the divided set can be output to the top of the discharge destination where an abnormality has occurred and the second half can be output to the top of the switched discharge destination, both can be easily removed. . In addition, since processing for the latter half of the abnormal occurrence set is performed at the end of the job, generation of useless output media can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 uses an electrophotographic process to record an image on a predetermined recording medium. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a first feed (feed) including an IOT (Image Output Terminal) module 2 and a feed tray or a manual feed tray (not shown). A paper) module (FFM; First Feeder Module) 5, an output module 7, and a user interface device 8.

  An image reading device (scanner unit) 3 for reading a document image is provided on the first feed module 5 so that the image forming apparatus 1 also has a copying function.

  The IOT module 2 and the first feed module 5 are connected by a first connection module 9a. The IOT module 2 and the output module 7 are directly connected. A second feed module (SFM; Second Feeder Module) or a feed module in the third and subsequent stages can be further provided before the first feed module 5. In this case, the feed modules may be connected by a connection module similar to the first connection module 9a.

  For example, there is a need for high performance and high speed image forming apparatuses, but when the print engine supports 5 colors or more, the fixing unit becomes complicated and large, so the print engine and the fixing unit are the same. It becomes difficult to accommodate in the IOT module.

  In view of this, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the IOT module 2, the feed module 5, and the output module 7 as separate units, so that the main body (IOT module 2) can be changed even if the feed module or the fixing unit is changed. It is possible to improve scalability by minimizing. In the figure, the output module 7 may be further divided into a fixing module and a discharge module as indicated by a one-dot chain line in the center of the output module 7.

  Further, a post-processing device 500 that performs various types of post-processing, storage, and the like for the sheet group discharged by the image forming device 1 is connected to the subsequent stage of the image forming device 1. In the illustrated example, three post-processing devices 500 are cascaded. The entire image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured by an image forming system configured by the image forming apparatus 1 and a plurality of post-processing apparatuses 500 as a plurality of discharge destinations.

  The post-processing device 500 includes a medium transport unit including a discharge destination switching unit 501 that mechanically switches whether the printed paper transported from the upstream is taken into the device or is further sent to the post-processing device 500 in the subsequent stage. 502 is provided.

  Further, the post-processing apparatus 500 accommodates a post-processing unit 504 that performs predetermined post-processing on the printed paper taken into the apparatus by the discharge destination switching unit 501 as necessary, and the printed paper. A plurality of discharge destinations (discharge trays and discharge bins) 506 are provided, and printed sheets received from the image forming apparatus 1 are set and discharged to a predetermined discharge destination 506.

  The post-processing unit 504 provided in the post-processing device 500 is configured to have not only a simple output function but also various post-processing functions as a so-called finishing device. For example, by providing a paper alignment device such as a shift tray or n (n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2) bin output tray, various printing processes such as sort printing, stack printing, and specified bin printing can be performed. It is possible to exert an effect on printing.

  In other words, by providing the shift tray, it is possible to have a stack output function for shifting the output paper little by little when discharging multiple copies. Further, by providing an n-bin output tray, it is possible to have a sort printing function for switching bins (tray) for each copy when printing multiple copies, and by assigning a user to each tray, By designating the bin to be discharged, it is possible to have a designated bin output function that can be arranged without confusion when using one post-processing device 500 by a plurality of users.

  Further, by providing the binding device, it is possible to have a staple processing function for performing processing for binding the printed output medium at a predetermined position. Further, it is possible to have a binding margin setting processing function for finely adjusting the image forming position depending on the presence or absence of the binding margin. Moreover, it can have a punch hole forming processing function. Further, a bookbinding function for performing a bookbinding process such as a booklet output process may be provided.

  The discharge processing device 72 and the post-processing device 500 can be used in an offline state in which the connection with the user interface device 8 is disconnected. The discharge processing can be performed collectively at a timing desired by the user after the image forming processing.

  Although not shown, in addition to the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 500, the image forming system includes a DFE (Digital Front End Processor) that is a terminal device on the host side that passes print data to the image forming apparatus 1 and gives a print instruction. The apparatus can be disposed in front of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The DFE device has a printer controller function, and receives print data from a client terminal described in a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language) that can freely control enlargement, rotation, and deformation of graphics, characters, etc. Then, this print data is converted into a raster image (RIP processing; Raster image process), and the RIP-processed image data and print control information (job ticket) such as the number of printed sheets and paper size are sent to the image forming apparatus 1 to generate an image. The print engine and the paper transport system of the forming apparatus 1 are controlled to cause the image forming apparatus 1 to execute print processing. That is, the printing operation of the image forming apparatus 1 can be configured to be controlled by the printer controller function of the DFE apparatus.

  The print data includes four colors (hereinafter collectively referred to as YMCK) including three colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C) and magenta (M), which are basic colors for color printing, and black (K). Minutes are sent to the image forming apparatus 1.

  Of course, by providing a printer controller function and a rendering function on the image forming apparatus 1 side, print data based on a document file or an image file generated by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer can be transferred without using a DFE apparatus. It can also be configured to receive directly.

  The user interface device 8 supports an easy-to-understand dialogue between the operator and the image forming apparatus 1, and is provided with a color display 8a and a hard control panel 8b beside the color display 8a in order to improve such operability. In addition to providing a user-friendly and easy-to-understand menu by means of color display, a touch panel is combined with the color display 8a so that it can be directly accessed by a soft button on the screen.

  Further, the color display 8a and the hardware control panel 8b are not directly mounted on the base machine (device main body; in this example, the first connection module 9a) as shown in the figure, but the support arm 8c is set up on the base machine. It has been.

  The first feed module 5 is provided with a pickup roller group 54 that pulls out printing paper from the paper tray 52. The first connection module 9 a is provided with a transport roller group 92 that delivers the printing paper transported from the first feed module 5 toward the transport path of the IOT module 2.

  The output module 7 includes a fixing unit 70 that fixes the image transferred to the printing paper by the IOT module 2, and a discharge processing device 72 that serves as a paper output unit that discharges the printing paper on which image transfer has been completed. A paper discharge tray 74 for temporarily storing printed paper without discharging it to the outside of the apparatus and a reverse path 76 for returning the printed paper to the IOT module 2 in a reverse state are provided. The fixing device 70 has a high-speed drive specification so as to be compatible with the high-speed processing of the IOT module 2.

  As the discharge processing device 72, a discharge destination switch that mechanically switches whether a sheet is discharged to a discharge tray 74 of the output module 7 or a post-processing device 500 provided at a subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus 1. Has function.

  The IOT module 2 includes an IOT core unit 20 and a toner supply unit 22. A toner cartridge 24 for YMCK for color printing is mounted on the toner supply unit 22 as a standard set. In addition to the four colors, for example, a gray G toner cartridge 24 as a fifth color component can be mounted as shown by a dotted line in the drawing.

  The IOT core unit 20 has a so-called tandem configuration in which print engines (printing units) 30 corresponding to the above-described color components are arranged in a line in the sheet conveying direction. The developer 34 of the print engine 30 is supplied with toner (colored powder) as a developer from a toner cartridge 24 through a supply path (not shown) (for example, a reserve tank).

  When the gray G toner cartridge 24 as the fifth color component is mounted, the print engine 30 also corresponds to this as shown by the dotted line in the drawing. The print engine 30 can be installed.

  Note that each print engine 30 corresponding to the color material color is arranged in consideration of, for example, the relationship between dark attenuation and the characteristics of each toner, or the difference in the influence due to the color mixture of other toners with the black toner. The order is determined, and the example shown is only an example.

  The IOT core unit 20 conveys the intermediate transfer belt 43, the secondary transfer unit 45, and the printing paper toward the secondary transfer unit 45, and also has a first conveyance path 47 and a secondary transfer having a positioning function (Regi / Aligner). A second conveyance path 48 that conveys the printed printing paper that has passed through the unit 45 toward the output module 7, and a printing sheet that is printed on one side and then reversed by the output module 7 toward the conveyance path 50. A reversing conveyance path 49 is provided. The first transport path 47 has a positioning function (Regi / Aligner).

  Also, the image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 43 in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 43 on the foremost stream side in the belt conveyance direction of the print engine 30 configured in tandem (on the right side of the yellow Y print engine 30 in the figure). A cleaner 44 for removing (cleaning) the image is disposed.

  The IOT core unit 20 has a high-speed printing specification including a motor that can be driven at a higher speed than the motor used in the conventional image forming apparatus 1. Further, the IOT core unit 20 has a high-speed driving specification in which an internal circuit is driven using a high-frequency clock.

  A print engine 30 in the IOT core unit 20 is an ROS having an optical scanning device 31, a photosensitive drum 32, and various members for an electrophotographic process, similar to those used as a printing function part of a printer, a copying machine, or the like. (Raster Output Scanner) based print engine (marking engine). The print engine 30 has a high-speed driving specification corresponding to a high-speed circuit. The toner cartridge 24 and the photosensitive drum 32 are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

  The optical scanning device 31 reflects and deflects laser light (laser beam) emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) toward a photosensitive drum 32 which is an example of a photosensitive member by a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) (not shown). Then, the laser beam modulated by the image information is imaged on the surface to be scanned on the photosensitive drum 32 by a lens group (not shown).

  When forming an image, first, the photosensitive drum 32 rotating at a constant speed is charged by the charger 33 to a predetermined polarity and a predetermined voltage. Next, the printing paper is pulled out one by one from the paper tray 52 by the pickup roller group 54 at a predetermined timing, and fed to the secondary transfer unit 45 through the first connection module 9 a and the first transport path 47.

  When the leading edge of the printing paper is detected by a leading edge detector (not shown), the optical scanning device 31 modulates the image signal (for example, 8 bits for each pixel color component) and the laser beam is driven from the semiconductor laser by the scanner motor. After being emitted toward the polygon mirror and reflected by the polygon mirror, it is guided to the photosensitive drum 32 through the lens group and scans on the photosensitive drum 32.

  On the other hand, the signal from the tip detector is output as a vertical synchronization signal to a recording control unit (not shown) that controls the optical scanning device 31. When the main scanning detector detects the laser beam, it outputs a beam detect signal serving as a horizontal synchronizing signal to the recording control unit. The image signals are sequentially sent to the semiconductor laser in synchronization with the beam detect signal.

  As a result, the laser beam reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror of the optical scanning device 31 scans the photosensitive drum 32 charged by the primary charger 33 through the lens group, so that the image portion or the background portion is selected. Exposure is performed to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 32.

  The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by a developing device 34 to which toner of each color of YMCK or G is supplied, and this toner image is adsorbed on the intermediate transfer belt 43 by a primary transfer device 35. Sequentially multiple transferred. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 32 after the primary transfer is collected from the surface of the photosensitive drum 32 by the cleaner 36.

  The image (toner image) transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 43 is then transferred onto the paper transported from the first feed module 5 via the first connection module 9a, and further output through the second transport path 48. Transported to module 7.

  The toner image is melted and fixed on the paper by the fixing device 70 of the output module 7. Thereafter, the sheet is temporarily held on the sheet discharge tray 74 as necessary, or immediately discharged to the outside of the apparatus via the discharge processing device 72 and delivered to any one of the post-processing devices 500 in the subsequent stage. Alternatively, after the front side printing at the time of double-sided printing, in preparation for the back side printing, the single-sided printed paper is drawn from the paper discharge tray 74 to the reverse path 76 and passed to the reverse conveyance path 49 of the IOT module 2.

  The IOT core unit 20 shown in FIG. 1 is of a one-belt type intermediate transfer IBT (Intermediate Belt Transfer) system including one intermediate transfer belt 43, but is not limited thereto. A two-belt system having two belts or a system in which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 32 is directly transferred to the printing paper without an intermediate transfer member may be used.

  When the IBT method is adopted, the design is performed in consideration of the merits / demerits of 1 belt and 2 belts. For example, the 1-belt system has advantages such as easy belt drive control or less image quality degradation, but the belt length is long (for example, around 4 m) and requires manual replacement (for example, two-person work) ), The maximum unit width is large (for example, about 2 m), and the carry-in / out properties are inferior, and the belt requires module rigidity.

  On the other hand, the 2-belt system has a short belt length (for example, about 2 m) and can be easily replaced, is relatively easy to increase in speed and is highly expandable (speed increase), and has a small maximum unit width (for example, 1 m). Degree), etc. However, there is a risk of image quality degradation, two belt position control (alignment) control is required, the device height (M / C height) becomes high (for example, over 1 m), and the run cost impact of two belts. There are disadvantages such as the above problems.

<Electrical configuration example>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 500 that constitute the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 while paying attention to the print control processing function in the image forming system 1. .

  Here, FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus configured by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, that is, the image forming apparatus 1 and the like using an electronic computer such as a personal computer. It is the figure which showed an example of the hardware constitutions in the case of implement | achieving the post-processing apparatus 500 by software.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 500 can execute a series of image forming functions by dedicated hardware, but can also be executed by software. That is, each functional unit related to the execution of the image forming process is not limited to being configured by hardware, but can be realized by software using an electronic computer (computer) based on a program code that realizes the function. Is also possible. For example, as with the configuration of a general PC (personal computer) main body, a CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), and the like can be provided.

  The execution of a series of image forming processes can be realized by the CPU executing an application program incorporated in the image processing apparatus having this computer configuration. Accordingly, an image forming processing program suitable for realizing the image forming apparatus according to the present invention by software using an electronic computer (computer) or a computer-readable storage medium storing the image forming processing program is invented. It can also be extracted.

  Of course, the configuration is not limited to such a computer, but may be configured by a combination of dedicated hardware that performs each function. By adopting a mechanism for executing processing by software, it is possible to enjoy the advantage that the processing procedure, processing conditions, and the like can be easily changed without changing hardware. Conversely, if it is configured with hardware, high-speed processing can be realized.

  The recording medium causes a change in the state of energy such as magnetism, light, electricity, etc. according to the contents of the program to the reader provided in the hardware resources of the computer, and in the form of a signal corresponding to the change. The program description can be transmitted to the reader.

  For example, a magnetic disc (including a flexible disc), an optical disc (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)), a DVD (which is distributed to provide a program to a user separately from a computer, (Including Digital Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc (including MD (Mini Disc)), or package media (portable storage media) made of semiconductor memory, etc. It may be configured by a ROM, a hard disk, or the like in which a program is recorded that is provided to the user in a state. Or the program which comprises software may be provided via communication networks, such as a wire communication or radio | wireless.

  When a series of image forming processes are executed by software, a computer (an embedded microcomputer or the like) in which a program constituting the software is incorporated in dedicated hardware, or a CPU, logic circuit, storage device, etc. System on a chip (SOC) that implements a desired system by mounting the above functions on a single chip, or general-purpose that can execute various functions by installing various programs Installed from a recording medium on a personal computer.

  For example, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing an image forming processing function is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores program codes stored in the storage medium. By executing the reading, the same effect as that achieved by hardware can be achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the image forming processing function.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the function of performing the image forming process is realized, but also an OS (operating system; basic software) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code ) May perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the function of performing the image forming processing by the processing may be realized.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. There may be a case where the CPU or the like provided in the card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of performing the image forming processing is realized by the processing.

  In such an electronic computer, for example, software similar to that in a conventional image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) such as a copying application, a printer application, a facsimile (FAX) application, or a processing program for other applications is incorporated. It is. A control program for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside via the communication network 900 is also incorporated.

  At this time, the program is provided as a file describing a program code that realizes the function of performing image forming processing. In this case, the program is not limited to being provided as a batch program file, and is not limited to being provided as a batch program file. Depending on the hardware configuration, it may be provided as an individual program module. For example, it may be provided as add-in software incorporated in existing copying apparatus control software or printer control software (printer driver).

  This will be specifically described below. The image forming system is a terminal used by a general user, and is based on a host side device (host computer) 100 such as a personal computer (client PC) that generates document data, and document data output from the host side device 100. An image forming apparatus 1 that performs print output processing is connected by a communication network 900, and a plurality of post-processing apparatuses 500 are cascaded in the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus 1.

  Although not shown, the host-side device has an interface function between the image forming apparatus 1 and a data generation unit that generates image data such as documents and graphics, a central control unit that controls the operation of each unit of the host-side device, and the image forming apparatus 1. And an interface unit. For example, an application program for generating data such as documents and graphics is incorporated in the data generation unit. That is, the host-side apparatus functions as an image forming apparatus that outputs an image to a predetermined output medium using the image forming apparatus 1, and includes means for forming an image on the output medium as application software. .

  The central control unit incorporates an OS (operating system) that is software for controlling the entire host-side device and a printer driver that is software for controlling the image forming apparatus 1.

  As a result, the host side apparatus implements predetermined processing by software based on the program. That is, a program is read from a CD-ROM or the like that stores a program for configuring each functional unit for executing predetermined processing and installed in a hard disk device (not shown), and the program is read from the hard disk device and a CPU (not shown) By executing a predetermined processing procedure, each function can be realized by software.

  The program may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or may be distributed via wired or wireless communication means. In addition, these programs and storage media storing the programs may be provided as versions of existing systems, application programs, or printer drivers. Alternatively, it may be provided as an option program corresponding to a part of functions such as a patch file for realizing each functional part in software.

  On the other hand, a computer system constituting the image forming apparatus 1 having a printer function includes a system control unit 201, a hard disk device, a flexible disk (FD) drive, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk ROM) drive, a semiconductor memory controller, and the like. And a recording / reading control unit 202 for reading and recording data from a predetermined storage medium.

  The system control unit 201 is an example of a CPU 212 that controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 213 that is a read-only storage unit, and an example of a volatile storage unit that can be written and read at any time. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 215 and a RAM (described as NVRAM) 216 which is an example of a nonvolatile storage unit. The NVRAM 216 can store temporary data, for example. In this case, the NVRAM 216 functions as a temporary data storage unit.

  In the above description, the “volatile storage unit” means a storage unit in a form in which the stored contents are lost when the power of the image output terminal 4 is turned off. On the other hand, the “nonvolatile storage unit” means a storage unit in a form that keeps stored contents even when the main power supply of the apparatus is turned off. Any memory device can be used as long as it can retain the stored contents. The semiconductor memory device itself is not limited to a nonvolatile memory device, and a backup power supply is provided to make a volatile memory device “nonvolatile”. You may comprise as follows. Further, the present invention is not limited to a semiconductor memory element, and may be configured using a medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

  In such a configuration, the CPU 212 controls the entire system via the system bus. The ROM 213 stores a control program for the CPU 212 and the like. The RAM 215 is configured by an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or the like, and stores program control variables, data for various processes, and the like. The RAM 215 stores an electronic document (not limited to character data but may include image data) acquired by a predetermined application program, image data acquired by the image reading device 3 provided in the apparatus itself, and externally. An area for temporarily storing acquired electronic data and the like is included.

  In addition, the computer system constituting the image forming apparatus 1 includes a function input unit (corresponding to the user interface device 8) serving as a user interface, an instruction input unit 223 having a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, an operation guidance screen, processing results, and the like. Display output unit 224 for presenting the predetermined information to the user.

  Further, the computer system constituting the image forming apparatus 1 does not perform all the processing of each functional part related to the image processing of the image processing apparatus by software, but performs a part of these functional parts by dedicated hardware. A processing circuit may be provided.

  Although the mechanism performed by software can flexibly cope with parallel processing and continuous processing, the processing time becomes longer as the processing becomes complicated, so that a reduction in processing speed becomes a problem. On the other hand, it is possible to construct an accelerator system with a higher speed by using a hardware processing circuit. Even if the processing is complicated, the accelerator system can prevent a reduction in processing speed and can calculate a high throughput.

  For example, the image forming apparatus 1 generates an interface (IF) unit having an interface (IF) function and print output data such as a binary signal of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K, for example. An image processing unit 240, an abnormality notifying unit 250 for notifying the user of various information (abnormality occurrence information) related to the occurrence of an abnormality such as the occurrence of an abnormality and an abnormality occurrence sheet, and a mass storage device such as a hard disk (HDD) An image storage unit 260 that stores print instruction information or image data. In the figure, the image storage unit 260 is provided in the recording / reading control unit 202 used as the entire image forming apparatus 1, but a dedicated image storage unit 260 is provided separately from this. May be.

  The computer system is provided with an image output device. This image output apparatus uses, for example, a conventional job image forming process for printing a print job image sent from the host-side apparatus 100 using electrophotographic, thermal, thermal transfer, inkjet, or similar conventional image forming processes. A visible image is formed (printed) on paper. For this reason, the image output apparatus includes, for example, a raster output scan-based print engine unit 310 for operating as a digital printing system.

  As an interface unit, in addition to a system bus that is a transfer path of processing data (including image data) and control data, for example, mediation of communication data in a communication network 900 with a host-side device 100 such as a host computer is mediated. A printer IF functioning as an interface function between a scanner IF part 234 that functions as an interface between the communication IF part 232 that performs the image reading apparatus 3 (see FIG. 1) that functions as an image input apparatus, and a print engine part 310 as an image output apparatus IF section 236.

  The image processing unit 240 includes an image input unit 242 that captures image data of a job to be processed from the host-side device 100 and the image reading device 3, an interpreter unit (PDL interpretation unit) 244 that interprets PDL data, and an interpreter unit 244. It has a rendering unit (drawing unit) 246 that generates bitmap data used by the print engine unit 310 by drawing and developing based on the received interpretation command and the read image fetched from the image reading device 3. The rendering unit 246 passes the generated bitmap data to the print engine unit 310, and the print engine unit 310 forms an image on the printing paper according to the bitmap data.

  For example, a drawing command having an instruction type such as an image drawing command, a graphic drawing command, or a font drawing command is sequentially input to the printer driver from an application program incorporated in the host-side device 100. The printer driver converts the drawing command into a print command that can be understood by the image forming apparatus 1 and outputs the print command to the interface unit. The print command input to the interface unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 through the communication network 900. The image forming apparatus 1 prints an image on a sheet (image output) in accordance with the received print command.

  For example, a print command is passed to the image forming apparatus 1 in a page description language (PDL) format in which enlargement, rotation, and deformation of figures and characters can be freely controlled. The image data created by PDL is composed of a command and a data sequence in which drawing commands and data representing an image, a figure, and characters in an arbitrary position in a page are arranged in an arbitrary order, and is an image that is a page printer. On the forming apparatus 1 side, in order to print in accordance with the print command received by the interpreter unit 244, the rendering command is interpreted for each output unit (for each page) and rendered (drawn and developed) by the rendering unit 246 before printing.

  Further, the abnormality notification unit 250 notifies the rendering unit 246 of error report information indicating abnormality occurrence information such as the occurrence of an abnormality, the first half part or the second half part of the set divided by the abnormality occurrence, and the discharge destination of the remaining sets. In response to this, the rendering unit 246 also draws and develops the error report information received from the abnormality notification unit 250.

  That is, the abnormality notification unit 250 uses the rendering unit 246 to form and output information related to the occurrence of an abnormality on an output medium before or after the set output following the set divided by the occurrence of the abnormality. It is. It should be noted that the error report may be output immediately after the first half of the set that is divided due to the occurrence of an abnormality, not only before or after the set output following the set that is divided due to the occurrence of an abnormality.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 is a hardware function element related to the print output process. The system control unit 201 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 1 to control the print output process and the print output process according to the command of the system control unit 201. In addition to the print engine unit 310 that performs the above, the medium transport control unit 320 that feeds and discharges paper from the first feed module 5 to the print engine unit 310, and the post-processing device control unit 330 that controls the post-processing device 500, Is provided.

  The system control unit 201 activates the image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, and the post-processing device control unit 330 when performing the printing process, and outputs units generated by the image processing unit 240. Minute bitmap data is supplied to the print engine unit 310. Based on an instruction from the system control unit 201, the medium conveyance control unit 320 takes the output medium from a predetermined feeding tray or manual feed tray of the first feed module 5 illustrated in FIG. 1 and passes it to the print engine unit 310.

  In parallel with this, the print engine unit 310 performs printing as an output medium based on bitmap data supplied via the printer IF unit 236, specifically, bitmap data generated by the rendering unit 246. An image is formed on a sheet of paper and output.

  The post-processing device control unit 330 has a discharge destination switching control unit 332 that switches which of the plurality of post-processing devices 500 discharge the paper.

  On the other hand, each post-processing device 500 has a computer configuration similar to the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a CPU 512 that controls the operation of each part of the post-processing device 500 via a system bus, and a read-only memory. A ROM 513, which can be written and read as needed, and a RAM 515, which is an example of a volatile storage unit, and an NVRAM 516, which is an example of a nonvolatile storage unit.

  In addition, each post-processing device 500 includes a discharge destination switching unit 501 that switches whether the printed paper conveyed from the upstream side is sent to the discharge destination 506 in the own device or further to the post-processing device 500 in the subsequent stage. A medium conveyance control unit 520 to be controlled, a post-processing control unit 530 that controls various post-processing in the post-processing unit 504 such as stack output, sort output, and staple processing, and an abnormality detection unit 540 are provided.

  The abnormality detection unit 540 includes, for example, a discharge system 506 such as a conveyance system in the medium conveyance unit 502 including the discharge destination switching unit 501 and an overload amount of discharged sheets (a discharge tray has reached a predetermined amount). And an abnormality such as a failure occurring in each part of the post-processing unit 504, such as a staple breakage in the binding device or a sheet aligning device. It should be noted that a known technique may be arbitrarily applied to these abnormality detection mechanisms, and a specific description thereof is omitted here.

  Here, the system control unit 201 is a control function unit that controls an image forming processing operation in the image forming apparatus 1. As a configuration unique to the present embodiment, an abnormality in each output destination of the discharge processing device 72 and the post-processing device 500 is described. A function is provided that causes each unit to execute adaptive processing according to the occurrence or cancellation of the abnormality when it occurs.

  The system control unit 201 cooperates with the discharge destination switching control unit 332 of the post-processing device control unit 330, so that the discharge destination and the post-processing unit during output processing of the discharge processing device 72 and the post-processing device 500 can be used abnormally. When it runs out, it automatically switches the transport destination to another discharge destination or post-processing section. That is, the system control unit 201 and the post-processing device control unit 330 constitute a control unit according to the present invention.

  At this time, as a set discharge order peculiar to the present embodiment, the control unit configured by the system control unit 201 and the post-processing device control unit 330 causes an abnormality on the discharge side when processing a set including a plurality of sheets. When the restart instruction is issued without the abnormality being canceled, the processing is switched to another discharge destination that can be used at that time, and the processing of the set in which the error has occurred is interrupted, and the next set of the set in which the error has occurred For the second half of the set that started processing from the beginning of the set and was suspended due to the occurrence of an error (the group of sheets following the set that could not be output), Control is performed so that the processing proceeds in accordance with the first processing procedure to be performed.

  Note that the first processing procedure unique to this embodiment may be fixedly applied as an apparatus. However, depending on the user's request, the process may be restarted from the top of the set in which an abnormality has occurred. Or you may enable it to select whether it is set as the 1st process procedure peculiar to this embodiment. In this way, for example, according to the number of sheets in one set, it is selected whether paper is not wasted or whether all post-processing is automatically performed even when paper is wasted. There is an advantage that you can. When expensive paper is used or when a large amount of paper is wasted (when the number of sheets in a set is large), it is determined that it is better to automatically perform post-processing even if the paper is somewhat wasted. It is convenient to use different cases.

<Specific processing procedure>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure focusing on the discharge processing. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the processing sequence of sets when an abnormality occurs in the processing procedure of this embodiment.

  Here, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, a description will be given in the form of a typical print process for receiving print job data from the host-side device 100. The data to be processed is not limited to print job data, and any data may be used. In the copy process in which the print process is performed according to the read image (so-called copy job data) received from the image reading device 3, the process described later is the same. Applicable to.

  First, when print instruction information (so-called print job) transmitted from the host-side apparatus 100 is received (S100), the system control unit 201 once holds the print instruction information in the image storage unit 260 using the hard disk device (S102). ).

  Here, the print instruction information includes print condition information such as the number of copies, paper size, discharge destination, and presence / absence of post-processing, in addition to the main body of print image information so-called information described in the PDL format. Here, one print instruction information is referred to as a job, and one sheet group constituting a job as a processing unit for performing post-processing is referred to as a set (so-called part).

  Next, the image processing unit 240 interprets the PDL data in the print job, generates bitmap data (output image data) for image formation (S104), and stores the bitmap data in the image storage unit 260 (S104). S106).

  Next, the system control unit 201 continues the process while determining the presence / absence of an abnormality detection notification from the abnormality detection unit 540 of the post-processing device 500 (S110). First, the medium conveyance control unit 320 of the post-processing device control unit 330 sends a sheet (printing paper) from the first feed module 5 or the like to the print engine unit 310 (the print engine 30 in FIG. 1) on the IOT module 2 side according to the print instruction information. (S112). The print engine unit 310 reads the image formation bitmap data stored in the image storage unit 260 at a predetermined timing, and starts an operation of forming an output image on the sheet according to the bitmap data (S114).

  Accordingly, the discharge destination switching control unit 332 of the post-processing device control unit 330 selects the post-processing device 500 that is actually used as the discharge destination 1 from the plurality of post-processing devices 500 according to the print instruction information ( S120). Thereafter, the post-processing device control unit 330 sets the discharge destination 506 in the processing device 500 selected as the discharge destination 1, the presence / absence of post-processing such as stack output, sort output, and staple processing, and the discharge destination 506 to be used. 500 is instructed (S122).

  In the post-processing device 500, the abnormality detection unit 540 continues the process while performing the abnormality detection process (S130). First, in accordance with an instruction from the post-processing device control unit 330, the medium transport control unit 520 first selects the printed paper transported from the upstream side as the discharge destination 1, and the post-processing device 500 has its own discharge destination 506. Then, the other post-processing apparatus 500 is further transported to the post-processing apparatus 500 in the subsequent stage (S132).

  When the post-processing device 500 selected as the discharge destination 1 is transported to its own discharge destination 506, the post-processing control unit 530 performs various post-processing according to instructions from the post-processing device control unit 330, if necessary. Then, the printed paper is discharged to the outside of the apparatus (S134).

  In this process, the abnormality detection unit 540 detects an abnormality in the discharge destination 506 such as a conveyance system in the medium conveyance unit 502 including the discharge destination switching unit 501, an overloading amount of discharged sheets, a staple breakage of the binding device, or a sheet aligning device. Whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the post-processing unit 504 or the like is detected (S130). If an abnormality is detected (S130-YES), the process is immediately stopped (S142), and the occurrence of the abnormality is detected in the image forming apparatus 1. To the system control unit 201 (S144). Thereafter, when the abnormality is canceled (S146-YES), the abnormality detection unit 540 notifies the system control unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 1 of the abnormality cancellation (S148).

  Upon receiving the abnormality notification, the system control unit 201 of the image forming apparatus 1 holds in the RAM 215 which sheet of the job has been stopped (S110-YES, S152), and immediately interrupts the job operation. By instructing 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, and the post-processing apparatus control unit 330, the image forming operation and the sheet conveyance are temporarily stopped (S154). Further, the system control unit 201 displays the fact that an abnormality has occurred on the display output unit 224 and notifies the operator (S156).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 201 stands by until a restart instruction is given (S160). When there is a restart instruction (S160-YES), the system control unit 201 instructs the image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, and the post-processing apparatus control unit 330 to issue a job restart instruction. Then, the image output and the conveying operation are resumed.

  In this example, when an abnormality occurs, the operation is temporarily stopped and a restart instruction is waited. However, the process may be automatically shifted to a process described later.

  When the system control unit 201 does not wait for the restart instruction (that is, the state in which the abnormality is not canceled) or the abnormality is not canceled in the processing device 500 as the discharge destination 1 that has notified the occurrence of the abnormality, the instruction input unit 223 is When the job resumption is instructed via the control unit 340, the job is notified to the discharge destination switching control unit 332 of the post-processing device control unit 330 (S164-NO). In response to this, the discharge destination switching control unit 332 selects one of the normal post-processing devices 500 that can be used at that time as the discharge destination 2 (S168). At this time, it is preferable to notify the user of the information of the switched discharge destination 2. By doing so, the user can first go to the discharge destination 2 after the completion of the processing and obtain the output result without being confused.

  In addition, when the output destination is switched due to an abnormality in the discharge destination or the post-processing unit, the system control unit 201 starts the output from the top of the next set, and has successfully discharged the subsequent set of sheets that could not be output. Whether or not the second half of the abnormal set is discharged at the end of the set, that is, at the end of the job, or whether the output order is changed from the middle of the set to the discharge order is determined (S170). This abnormal discharge order mode can be selected in advance by the user.

  When the mode for discharging the second half of the abnormal occurrence set is selected at the end of the job (S170-YES), the system control unit 201 reads from the RAM 215 which sheet of the job was stopped, and in the middle of the set It is then determined whether or not the operation has been stopped (S172). When the operation is stopped in the middle of setting (YES in S172), the discharge destination switching control unit 332 switches the post-processing apparatus 500 from the discharge destination 1 to the discharge destination 2, and then outputs an image from the top of the next set. The image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, and the post-processing apparatus control unit 330 are instructed to resume the conveyance operation (S174). Of course, even in this resumption process, the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 500 continue the processing while detecting the abnormality of the discharge destination 2.

  When the post-processing apparatus 500 selected as the discharge destination 2 finishes the post-processing and output processing for each set until the end of the job (S176-YES), the system control unit 201 determines that the sheet of the set in which an abnormality has occurred. To the end of the set, that is, the image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, so that the image forming operation is resumed for the second half of the set for which processing has been interrupted due to an abnormality. Then, the post-processing device controller 330 is instructed (S178), and the processing is completed (S198).

  At this time, the system control unit 201 notifies the user of the occurrence of an abnormality using voice information or character information. For example, it is determined whether or not the error report output mode is set (S180). In the error report output mode, at the end of the first half of the set in which an error has occurred or the continuation of the sheet in which an error has occurred (in this example, an error has occurred) Before or after the second half of the set), the abnormality notification unit 250 is instructed to insert and output an error report indicating the occurrence of an abnormality or the discharge destination of the other party of the divided set (see FIG. 5 described later). Reference) (S182).

  By notifying the user of the occurrence of abnormality using character information such as an error report or a sounding body such as a speaker, when the user first goes to the discharge destination 1 and obtains an output result after the processing is completed, the error report By looking at the information, it becomes easier to recognize where the latter half of the set divided by the occurrence of an abnormality or the remaining set is located in the post-processing device 500 or in which discharge destination 506 without any confusion. Can be acquired.

  In addition, when the user first goes to the discharge destination 2 and obtains the output result after the processing is completed, by looking at the error report information, the first half of the set divided by the occurrence of the abnormality is where the post-processing device 500 or its It becomes easy to recognize which discharge destination 506 is inside, and the first half can be acquired without being confused.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, if an abnormality occurs in the discharge destination 1 during the processing of the first copy in the four sets, another post-processing device 500 that can operate normally is switched as the discharge destination 2. In the second set, the set that is output from the beginning of the next set (second copy in this example) and that has failed after discharging all remaining sets (fourth copy in this example) (first copy in this example) The latter half of the sheet, that is, the sheet group following the set in which an abnormality has occurred is discharged.

  For the set in which an abnormality has occurred, the first half before the occurrence of the abnormality is selected as the discharge destination 1 and is discharged to the top of the post-processing device 500 that has not been released due to the occurrence of the abnormality, and the second half after the occurrence of the abnormality is the discharge destination 2 Since it is discharged to the uppermost part of the post-processing apparatus 500 selected as, the user can easily recognize that the set has been divided due to the occurrence of an abnormality, and both can be easily taken out. In addition, since the output is finally performed from the latter half of the set in which the abnormality has occurred, it is possible to prevent generation of useless paper output and to improve productivity.

  On the other hand, when the operation is stopped at the set switching portion, specifically, at the head portion of the next set (S172-NO), the image is output when the operation is stopped, that is, the discharge destination is switched from the head of the interrupted set. The image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium conveyance control unit 320, and the post-processing apparatus control unit 330 are instructed to resume the conveyance operation (S192). Then, the system control unit 201 completes the process (S198) when the set output process is completed until the end of the job (S196-YES).

  In addition, when the discharge control mode in which the output destination is switched from the middle of the set is selected (S170-NO), the system control unit 201 discharges from the place where the operation is stopped, that is, from the middle of the interrupted set (interruption point). The image processing unit 240, the print engine unit 310, the medium transport control unit 320, and the post-processing device control unit 330 are instructed to switch the destination and restart the image output and transport operation (S194). Then, the system control unit 201 completes the processing (S198) when the output processing of the set is completed until the end of the job (S196-YES).

  Further, the system control unit 201 stops operation when an instruction to restart the job is given via the instruction input unit 223 after the abnormality in the post-processing apparatus 500 that has notified the occurrence of the abnormality is canceled (S164-YES). In other words, from the middle of the interrupted set (interruption point), the image output unit 240, the print engine unit 310, and the medium conveyance are performed so that the image output and conveyance operation can be resumed using the discharge destination 1 without switching the discharge destination. The controller 320 and the post-processing device controller 330 are instructed (S195). Then, the system control unit 201 completes the process (S198) when the set output process is completed until the end of the job (S196-YES).

<Error report output processing>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of error report output processing. The error report output is performed for the purpose of notifying the user that the output paper remains halfway to another discharge destination as necessary. When the user instructs a job, the error report is output. Can be specified via the instruction input unit 223.

  When an error occurs in the post-processing device 500 in the error report output mode and the restart is instructed without the abnormality being canceled (S164-NG), it is switched from a middle of the set to another discharge destination, In order to notify the user of the discharge destination information used before or after the abnormality, an error report in which a message, an explanatory diagram, or the like is printed is output to assist the recovery operation of the user.

  As an output position of this error report, for example, as in the first mode shown in FIG. 5 (A), the stacked body discharged by the post-processing apparatus 500 that has been used before the occurrence of an abnormality, that is, the sheet in which an abnormality has occurred. A mode of outputting last (A1 in FIG. 5A) can be taken. In order to adopt this first mode using the post-processing apparatus 500 that has been selected as the discharge destination 1 in the state in which an abnormality has occurred, post-processing such as stapling, punching, bookbinding processing, etc. in which the abnormality has occurred is performed. This is possible in the case of a failure that is impossible but paper output is possible. Needless to say, this first mode cannot be adopted in an abnormal state where paper output is impossible. This first aspect is advantageous when it is difficult to recognize a failure in the post-processing apparatus that was used before the occurrence of an abnormality.

  Alternatively, in the stacked body discharged by the post-processing apparatus 500 selected as the discharge destination 2 to be used after the occurrence of an abnormality, before the output of the continuation of the sheet where the abnormality has occurred (lower) (in this example, the output of the second half of the first part) The 2nd mode (dotted line sheet A2 of Drawing 5 (A)) outputted to the front can be taken. This second aspect is advantageous in that it can be used as a separator between normal sheets and abnormal sheets when abnormally generated sheets and normally processed sheets are likely to coexist.

  Alternatively, a third mode (A3 in FIG. 5A) that is output after the output of the sheet in which an abnormality has occurred (upper) (after the output of the second half of the first copy in this example) can be adopted. This third aspect is advantageous in that it can recognize that an abnormality has occurred when the sheet is taken out, so that the user can reliably recognize the occurrence of the abnormality.

  For example, when the printing surface is discharged downward, the second mode is adopted, and when the printing surface is discharged upward, the third mode is adopted. For example, as shown in FIG. The paper that had been output halfway remains in 1. The error report is printed with a message such as “Please superimpose because the continuation is output below this report.” In both cases, the first page of the set is divided directly under the report.

  Even when the printing surface is discharged downward, by taking the third mode, even if the output of the normal set is downward, the report as shown in FIG. 5B is output upward. can do. In this case, the first page of the set in which the top of the downward discharge is divided is not the first page of the divided set immediately below the report.

  In addition, the error report may be made noticeable to the user by changing the output size, output orientation, or output position (offset) of the paper to that of the main body.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which such changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Further, the above embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims (claims), and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. Absent. The embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. Even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, as long as an effect is obtained, a configuration from which these some constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of post-processing devices 500 are provided as discharge destinations at the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus 1, and any one of the post-processing devices 500 and a plurality of discharge destinations (discharge trays) mounted thereon can be switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in an image forming apparatus that can switch and use a plurality of discharge destinations (discharge trays) mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 itself, processing when an abnormality occurs at any of the discharge destinations As an order countermeasure, the procedure described in the above embodiment can be applied as it is.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence which paid its attention to the discharge process. It is a figure explaining the processing order of the set at the time of abnormality occurrence in the processing procedure of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining an example of an error report output process. It is a figure explaining the discharge order of a prior art, and its improvement plan.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... IOT module, 3 ... Image reading apparatus, 5 ... 1st feed module, 7 ... Output module, 8 ... User interface apparatus, 9a ... 1st connection module, 20 ... IOT core part, 22 ... Toner supply unit, 30 ... print engine, 31 ... optical scanning device, 43 ... intermediate transfer belt, 47, 48 ... transport path, 49 ... reverse transport path, 52 ... paper tray, 54 ... pickup roller group, 70 ... fixing unit, 72: Discharge processing device, 74: Discharge tray, 76 ... Reverse path, 92 ... Conveying roller group, 100 ... Host side device, 201 ... System control unit, 202 ... Recording / reading control unit, 212, 512 ... CPU, 213 513: ROM, 215, 515 ... RAM, 216, 516 ... NVRAM, 223 ... Instruction input unit, 224 ... Display output unit, 232 ... Communication IF unit 234 ... Scanner IF unit, 236 ... Printer IF unit, 240 ... Image processing unit, 242 ... Image input unit, 244 ... Interpreter unit, 246 ... Rendering unit, 250 ... Abnormality notification unit, 260 ... Image storage unit, 310 ... Print engine , 320 ... Medium transport control unit, 330 ... Post processing device control unit, 332 ... Discharge destination switching control unit, 500 ... Post processing device, 501 ... Discharge destination switching unit, 502 ... Medium transport unit, 504 ... Post processing unit, 506 ... Discharge destination, 520 ... Medium transport control unit, 530 ... Post-processing control unit, 540 ... Abnormality detection unit, 900 ... Communication network

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a predetermined output medium,
When processing a set consisting of multiple sheets, an error occurs on the discharge side, and when the error is not cleared, when processing continues, switch to another discharge destination that can be used at that time. , Suspend processing of the set in which the error occurred, start processing from the beginning of the next set, and for the second half of the set that was suspended due to the occurrence of the error, after processing the remaining set that was processed normally An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a process to proceed according to a first processing procedure for performing the process. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a predetermined output medium,
When processing a set consisting of multiple sheets, an error occurs on the discharge side, and when the error is not cleared, when processing continues, switch to another discharge destination that can be used at that time. , Suspend processing of the set in which the error occurred, start processing from the beginning of the next set, and for the second half of the set that was suspended due to the occurrence of the error, after processing the remaining set that was processed normally A processing procedure mode receiving unit that receives an instruction of either a first processing procedure for performing processing or another procedure other than that;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the process to proceed according to a procedure received by the processing procedure mode receiving unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality notification unit that notifies information related to the occurrence of the abnormality. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abnormality notifying unit notifies information on a discharge destination of a set divided due to the occurrence of abnormality as information relating to the occurrence of the abnormality. The said abnormality notification part forms and outputs the information regarding the said abnormality generation on the said output medium before the set output of the continuation of the set divided | segmented by abnormality generation, The output of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image forming apparatus. The said abnormality notification part forms and outputs the information regarding the said abnormality generation on the said output medium after the set output of the continuation of the set divided | segmented by abnormality generation, The output of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Image forming apparatus.

Images