JP2007246228A - Sheet processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain sheet sizes and improve operability as a result. <P>SOLUTION: A folding device for applying a predetermined process to carried-in paper sheets is provided with a plurality of sheet size sensors juxtaposed in a direction orthogonal to the paper sheet carrying direction to detect the length in the width direction of inserted paper sheets; a narrowing means for narrowing down standard sheet sizes of the inserted paper sheets to two sheet sizes, which are a standard vertical size and a standard lateral size, based on the detection result by the sheet size sensors; a display means for displaying the results narrowed by the narrowing means on an operation part (Step 409); and a paper sheet size selection key for selecting the sheet sizes based on the results displayed by the display means (Step 410). In accordance with the selection results of the paper sheet size selection key, paper sheet sizes are set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention specifies a size of a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, recording paper, an OHP sheet, or a film (referred to simply as “sheet” in the present specification, and more specifically as “paper” in the embodiment). The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus having a function and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.

As this type of technology, for example, the invention described in Patent Document 1 or 2 is known. Among these, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique that enables a paper folding function to be used by inputting a size even on a paper whose size is unknown by manual paper feeding. Further, in Patent Document 2, when a plurality of sensors are arranged in a lateral direction with respect to a paper feed conveyance path and a transfer paper width range is detected, and there are a plurality of sizes in the same width range, A technique is described in which the length is detected, the detected value is compared with the data for each transfer paper size stored in the RAM, the transfer paper size is determined, selected and set, and the eraser is controlled based on the size. .
JP-A-1-117174 JP-A-4-264464

  As described above, in Patent Document 1, the paper folding function can be used by inputting a size. However, it is necessary to input the size of manually fed paper, and it is possible to reduce errors and simplify the size input. There is no particular consideration for the conversion.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to install multiple sensors in the width direction of the paper, which increases the cost. In addition, when there are a plurality of sizes in the same width range, the size must be determined by further detecting the length of the transfer paper, which is inefficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and a problem to be solved is to easily obtain a sheet size, thereby improving operability.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first means is a sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a sheet that has been carried in, and a plurality of inserted sheets arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Detection means for detecting the length in the width direction, narrowing means for narrowing the standard sheet size of the inserted sheet into two sheet sizes of a fixed length and a fixed width from the detection result by the detection means, and a result narrowed by the narrowing means Display means for displaying on the operation unit, and selection means for selecting the sheet size from the result displayed on the display means, wherein the sheet size is set according to the selection result of the selection means .

  In the first means, in the first means, any one of “fixed in the vertical direction”, “fixed in the horizontal direction”, and “does not fix in the vertical and horizontal directions” in advance in the sheet insertion direction. A setting means for setting is provided.

  The third means provides a temporary stop period immediately after the start of sheet conveyance when the setting means sets “does not fix vertically or horizontally” in the second means, and the display is performed during the stop period. The display for selecting the sheet size is performed on the means.

  The fourth means is characterized in that, in the second or third means, an irregular sheet size is displayed on the display means as the settable sheet size.

  A fifth means is characterized in that, in the fourth means, when a standard size or an irregular size is selected by the selection means, a folding mode capable of folding at the sheet size is narrowed down and displayed on the display means. To do.

  The sixth means is characterized in that, in the fifth means, a display for prompting confirmation of the insertion direction of the title column of the sheet uniquely determined by the sheet size and the folding mode is performed on the display means.

  The seventh means is that in the sixth means, the title column insertion direction of the sheet inserted before the selection of the sheet size and folding mode is the title column insertion direction prompted for confirmation displayed on the display means. If they are different from each other, it is characterized in that a sheet discharge means for discharging the inserted and temporarily stopped sheet to the outside of the apparatus is provided.

  The eighth means includes a changing means for changing a period for performing a display prompting confirmation of the insertion direction of the title column in the sixth means, and when the period changed by the change has passed, And a sheet discharge unit that discharges the stopped sheet to the sheet insertion opening side.

  A ninth means includes a conveyance control means for conveying the sheet to a predetermined processing side in the sixth means when the stop time of the temporarily stopped sheet has passed a preset time. It is characterized by having.

  The tenth means conveys the sheet to a predetermined processing side or stops the sheet when the stop time of the temporarily stopped sheet has passed a preset time in the sixth means, It is characterized by comprising a transport direction selecting means for selecting whether or not to eject the paper to the insertion port side.

  In the eleventh means, in the first means, the standard size of the inserted sheet is displayed, or it is selected from all the standard sizes that can be selected without displaying, and the sheet size is input. A mode selection means for performing mode selection is provided.

  A twelfth means is characterized in that, in any one of the first to eleventh means, the predetermined process is a folding process.

  A thirteenth means is characterized in that the image forming apparatus includes the sheet processing apparatus according to the first to twelfth means.

  In the embodiment described later, the detecting means is the paper size sensor 14, the narrowing means, the setting means, the changing means, the conveyance control means is the post-processing device control means 320, the display means is the display unit 20, and the selection means is paper. The size selection key 602, the paper discharge means to the transport roller pair 13, the transport direction selection means to the post-processing device control means 320, the start key 603 and the stop key 604, and the mode selection means to control the mode selection key 607 and the post-processing device. The sheet processing apparatus corresponds to the means 320, the sheet folding apparatus 1, and the image forming apparatus corresponds to the reference numeral 200.

  According to the present invention, the fixed sheet size of the inserted sheet is narrowed down to two sheet sizes of the fixed length and the fixed width from the detection result by the detecting means, the narrowed result is displayed on the operation unit, and the sheet size is determined from the display result. Since the selection is made, the sheet size can be easily obtained, the subsequent operation is simplified, and the operability is improved.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of a paper folding apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a manual feed portion of the present invention viewed from above in FIG. It is a top view.

  In FIG. 1, the paper folding apparatus 1 is connected to the back side of the image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200 copies a desired image, and a sheet on which the image is copied (hereinafter referred to as “paper”). Are sent to the paper folding device 1 and simultaneously, the copy paper size, the paper folding method, various paper folding mode conditions, etc. are sent to the paper folding device 1 via the serial cable. In accordance with these pieces of information from the image forming apparatus 200, the paper folding apparatus 1 is configured to be able to automatically fold copy paper that has been carried in.

  The image forming apparatus 200 accommodates a wide roll of paper, and the image is transferred by cutting the roll according to the document size information and the paper size cut information, and passing through an image transfer unit such as a photosensitive drum. The image transferred by the fixing device 210 is fixed, and a large-size copy is created. As the roll paper, a tracing paper, a film sheet or a roll of any kind of paper is used, and a plurality of roll papers can be mounted. Although not shown, a paper cutting means is provided between the paper drawing section from the roll paper and the image transfer section, and the paper is cut and copied from the roll paper according to the paper size obtained by detecting the size of the original. The operation is automatically performed.

  The paper folding device 1 carries in the paper on which the image has been transferred by the image forming apparatus 200 (online), the connecting portion 2 as a first paper carry-in port, and the end face (ear) folding portion 3 that folds the end face (ear) of the front end of the paper. The bellows folding unit 4 that folds the paper into the bellows shape in the transport direction, the transport switching unit 5 that switches the transport direction of the paper folded in the bellows shape, the cross folding unit 6 that folds the paper whose transport direction is switched, and the cross folding unit 6 A reversing unit 7 for reversing the front and back of a sheet folded in A4 size, a rotating unit 8 for rotating the sheet, and a tray 9 are provided.

  Further, the paper folding apparatus 1 has a manual feed portion 11 that constitutes a manual feed base 12 as a second paper carry-in port, and is configured so that paper can be inserted without passing through the image forming apparatus main body 200 (offline). . Further, an online operation for carrying in and folding a sheet on which an image has been transferred by the image forming apparatus 200 is performed from the operation unit 220, and the operation unit 220 is provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 200.

  Further, an offline operation for folding a sheet without passing the sheet through the image processing apparatus 200 by the manual feed unit 11 of the sheet folding apparatus 1 is performed by the operation unit 20 configured in the sheet folding apparatus 1.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 employs an electrophotographic type, but instead of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an ink jet, thermal transfer, or other known image forming apparatus may be employed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming system 300 including the image forming apparatus and the paper folding apparatus according to the present embodiment.
An image forming system 300 includes an image forming apparatus 330 that forms an image on an arbitrary sheet by a known electrophotographic method, and a post-processing apparatus that performs an optional folding process on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 330 (Paper folding device) 310. Among these, the image forming apparatus 330 uses the image forming apparatus control unit 340 as a core, and includes a serial communication unit 331, an operation unit control unit 332, a reading control unit 333, a writing control unit 334, a paper feed conveyance unit 335, and an image forming unit 336. A fixing control means 337 and a memory control means 338. Further, the post-processing device 310 has the post-processing device control unit 320 as a core, the operation unit control unit 311, the bellows folding control unit 312, the cross folding control unit 313, the conveyance switching control unit 314, the serial communication unit 315, the ear (end face). ) Folding / punch control means 316, reversal / rotation control means 317, and paper size determination means 318 are provided. The image forming apparatus 330 and the post-processing apparatus (paper folding apparatus) 310 include serial communication units 315 and 331, respectively. These serial communication units are connected by a serial cable 350, and information is exchanged.

  In this embodiment, information output from the image forming apparatus 330 to the post-processing apparatus (paper folding apparatus) 310 includes, for example, paper size, paper folding method, presence / absence of stamp, stamp position, binding margin, vertical / horizontal paper folding correction. The information from the paper folding device includes a jam signal in the paper folding device, error information, and folding count information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the paper size and folding type. In the online operation in which the sheet on which the image is transferred by the image forming apparatus 200 is carried into the sheet folding apparatus 1 and the folding process is performed, the folding process is performed on the sheet as shown in FIG. The operation at this time is as follows.
First, the operation unit 220 provided in the image forming apparatus 200 is set to a paper folding setting screen to determine the size of the copy paper, and then the types of paper folding that can be performed with the copy paper size are set. In the paper folding apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, A0 vertical (501), A1 vertical (502), A1 horizontal (503), A2 vertical (504), A2 horizontal (505), A3 vertical (506), A3 horizontal ( 507), A4 portrait (508), A4 landscape (509), and the like. A0 vertical, A1 vertical, A1 horizontal, A2 vertical, A2 horizontal, A3 vertical, and A3 horizontal are respectively basic fold (531), bag fold (532), file fold (533), and cross fold (534). Several types of folding methods can be selected. These folding methods fold in a bellows shape perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction, and further fold in a direction (cross shape) perpendicular to the bellows-like folding depending on the paper size. This standard size paper folding method is referred to as a “standard folding mode (530)”. Separately, a folding method in which the paper is folded only in a bellows shape is referred to as “long folding mode (540)”. This long folding mode 540 only folds the paper into a bellows shape into a width of 140 mm (541), 170 mm width (542), 174 mm width (543), 210 mm width (544), 297 mm (545) width, etc. In addition to the standard size, the paper size that can be supported is also applicable to a non-standard size paper.

  An image reading device 205 is provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 200, and a manual paper feed table 208 is arranged in the lower part thereof. When a sheet is set on the manual sheet feeding table 208, the sheet is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 207, and is supplied to the image forming unit 206 in synchronization with the image formed on the photosensitive member. As described above, the image forming unit 206 forms a latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface of the photosensitive member, develops the latent image with toner, transfers the toner to a sheet, and fixes it by the fixing device 210. The so-called electrophotographic image forming process. The recorded paper on which the toner is fixed by the fixing device 210 is discharged by the recorded paper discharge roll 211 to the post-processing device 1 with a paper folding function when paper folding is performed. When paper folding is not performed, the paper is discharged into the main body by the upper paper discharge roller 209 by a switching claw (not shown).

  When folding a sheet as described above, the sheet is sent to the post-processing apparatus 1 with a sheet folding function by the recorded sheet discharge roll 211. The paper passes through the connecting portion 2 and is sent to the end face folding portion 3, and when the paper end face is folded, the end face folding portion 3 folds the end face of the front end of the paper. At this time, the sheet end face (so-called ear portion) is folded while the sheet is conveyed. After the end surface of the sheet is folded by the end surface folding unit 3, the sheet is folded into a bellows shape in the transport direction by the bellows folding unit 4 and sent to the transport switching unit 5. The paper folded in a bellows shape sent to the conveyance switching unit 5 is subjected to skew correction (see FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and if there is a punch, the paper folded in a bellows shape is punched. Then, the sheet is fed to the cross fold 6. The paper folded into a bellows shape sent to the cross folding section 6 is folded again into a bellows shape in a direction orthogonal to the bellows folding, and is folded into an A4 size.

  Depending on the type of folding, the sheet is reversed by the reversing unit 7 so that the sheet folded in A4 size is placed on the bottom when the sheet is ejected to the tray 9, and further, the orientation of the drawing is reversed when the sheet is ejected to the tray 9. The paper is rotated 90 degrees right and left by the rotating unit 8 so that the sheets are the same in the folding direction so as to be aligned, and discharged to the tray 9.

  An offline operation for inserting a sheet from the manual feed portion 11 of the sheet folding apparatus 1 and folding the sheet without passing through the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6. This control is executed by a CPU (not shown) of a control circuit provided in the post-processing device control means 320. This CPU reads a program code stored in a RAM (not shown), develops it in a RAM (not shown), and executes the program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, five paper size sensors S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4 are installed in the manual feed base 12 in the paper width direction (direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction). S1 is A1T and A2Y, S2 is A2T and A3T, S3 is A3T and A4Y, and S4 is A4T (where T is portrait and Y is landscape), respectively. Yes. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, it is a position where the sheet width of each A-line regular size of 841 mm width, 594 mm width, 420 mm width, 297 mm width, and 210 mm width can be recognized.

  The side fence 15 of the manual feed portion 11 is a guide for inserting the paper straight into the manual feed roller pair 13 according to the width of the paper P. Accordingly, the side fence 15 is configured to be movable in the paper width direction. At that time, if one of them is adjusted, the proximity / separation operation is performed in synchronization with each other so that the other follows. A manual feed roller pair 13 is provided in the vicinity of the manual feed entrance, and the paper size sensor 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the manual feed roller pair 13. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of paper size sensors 14 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction, and are arranged from S0 to S4 in accordance with the size width inside the end face of each paper size width.

  When carrying in the paper P from such a manual feed base 12, first, the side fence 15 of FIG.2 and FIG.3 is matched with the width of the paper P to be folded, the paper P is set on the manual feed base 12, and the paper P is shown in the figure. Insert in the direction of arrow 1. Since the paper P is inserted on the basis of the center, S4 of the paper size sensor 14 is turned on for any size paper P (step 401). Also, using this as a trigger, the determination of the paper size starts (step 402). When the paper P is detected by the paper size sensor 14 and the abutting time of the front end of the paper against the pair of carry rollers 13 has elapsed for a certain time (step 403), the carry motor starts to drive (step 404) and simultaneously carries manually. The entrance roller clutch installed on the roller is turned on (step 405). Thereby, the manual feed roller pair 13 starts to rotate.

  The pair of transport rollers 13 stops after transporting the paper P after being driven for a fixed distance (several tens of millimeters) (steps 406, 407, and 408). As a result, the leading end portion of the sheet P stops in a state where it is held by the conveying roller pair 13. Further, since the paper size is determined because the paper size sensor 14 is turned on, the paper size information is displayed on the operation unit 220 (step 409), and the paper size and the folding mode are set (step 410). When the leading edge of the sheet is added to the conveying roller pair 13, the operator does not fall from the sheet folding device 1 even if the operator releases his / her hand from the sheet P. In this state, when a certain time further elapses (step 411), the conveyance motor starts driving at a high speed (step 412), the inlet roller clutch is turned on (413), and the conveyance roller pair 13 is restarted. The paper is conveyed into the paper folding device.

  The subsequent operations are similar to the online operation.

  In the present embodiment, the standard paper size of the inserted paper P is narrowed down to two paper sizes, the standard vertical and the standard horizontal, from the detection result by the paper size sensor 14, and the narrowing result is displayed on the operation unit 220, and the paper size is selected from these Can be selected and set. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sheet size, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining the sheet size. In other words, the paper size can be obtained by the combination of the detection outputs of the paper size sensor 14, and further the paper size can be obtained.

  For example, when the paper P is inserted from the manual feed table 12 shown in FIG. 3, if the paper size sensor 14 from S1 to S4 is ON and S0 is OFF, the paper size is determined based on the processing of the flowchart of FIG. The means determines that the paper insertion width is 594 mm (steps 453 and 454). Further, since the sheet insertion width is 594 mm in FIG. 9 (step 483), it is determined that the sheet size is A1 portrait or A2 landscape (step 484).

  Similarly, when the paper folding apparatus recognizes a paper width size of 841 mm (steps 451, 452-step 481), the standard size of the paper is A0 vertical or A1 horizontal (step 482). Similarly, when the paper folding device recognizes a paper width size of 420 mm (steps 451, 453, 455-step 485), the standard size of the paper is A2 portrait or A3 landscape (step 486). Similarly, when the paper folding apparatus recognizes a paper width size of 297 mm (steps 451, 453, 455, 457, 458-step 487), the standard size of the paper is A3 portrait or A4 landscape (step 488). When the paper width size is 297 mm or less (steps 451, 453, 455, 457, 459), the standard size of the paper is set to A4 portrait (step 489).

  Therefore, the post-processing apparatus with a paper folding function does not select one of nine types (501 to 509) of all paper sizes that can be selected based on the paper size recognized by paper insertion as shown in FIG. Instead, the corresponding paper size can be selected from the paper sizes narrowed down to the standard vertical size and the standard horizontal size. In the example of FIG. 5, when the inserted paper width is 594 mm, the paper size is narrowed down to A1 length or A2 width (502a, 505a). The narrowed paper size is displayed on the operation unit 20 of the post-processing apparatus with a paper folding function. FIG. 10 is a front view of the operation unit 20 shown in FIG. 1, and the paper size is displayed on the paper size display unit 601 of the operation unit 20. Further, when the paper size selection key 602 is pressed, A1 portrait (502a) and A2 landscape (505a) are alternately displayed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, before inserting the paper, the paper size automatic recognition setting means preliminarily sets the paper insertion size to “fix to the vertical size”, “fix to the horizontal size” or “horizontal size to the vertical size”. Also, the three patterns are set. Thus, for example, when the paper size automatic recognition setting is set to “fix to the vertical size” and the paper is inserted from the manual feed table 12 shown in FIG. 3, the paper size sensor 14 from S1 to S4 is turned on. If S0 is OFF, the apparatus determines that the paper insertion width is 594 mm (step 454), and further determines the paper size of the insertion paper to be “A1 portrait”. In this case, the paper size display unit 601 of the operation unit 20 with the paper folding function displays A1 portrait (502a), and even if the paper size selection key 602 is pressed, the display of the paper size display unit 601 does not change. Set to.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the length of the paper in the width direction determined by the paper insertion is given to the operation unit 20 configured in the paper folding device 1 during the paper sheet selection pause period during the paper size selection period. Originally, the two standard paper sizes of the narrowed standard vertical size and the standard horizontal size, the type of folding, and the like are displayed (step 409), and the paper size can be set (step 410). Thereafter, when the start key 603 in the operation unit 20 is pressed, the manual feed roller pair 13 is rotated again, the paper P is transported in the direction of the arrow, the paper is sent to the end face folding unit 3, and the folding operation is started.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a sheet is inserted, based on the length in the width direction of the sheet, a selection is made from two standard sheet sizes, a standard vertical size and a standard horizontal size. Among them, an irregular size (510) can also be selected. For example, when a paper having a paper size of 500 mm in width and 800 mm in length is folded with a bellows fold: 210 mm, the paper folding apparatus prompts the user to select A2 portrait or A3 landscape when the paper is inserted. . However, the irregular size as described above does not correspond to any regular size narrowed down by the apparatus. Therefore, there are three options for the paper size: “Standard Size: Vertical”, “Standard Size: Horizontal”, and “Custom Size”. When handling custom size paper, select “Custom Size”. Get it. In this case, the paper size display unit 601 of the operation unit with a paper folding function 20 displays A1 portrait (502a), and then presses the paper size selection key 602 to display A2 landscape (505a). Further, when the paper size selection key 602 is pressed, a “----” display indicating an irregular size is displayed. Thereafter, each time the paper size selection key 602 is pressed, the standard vertical, standard horizontal, and irregular sizes are displayed in a toggle.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a paper size is selected, only the folding mode (530, 540) corresponding to the paper size can be selected. For example, in the operation unit 20 shown in FIG. 10, when the paper size is selected as the A1 vertical standard size, the folding mode display unit 605 displays “standard” corresponding to the folding codes 1 to 4 shown in FIG. 11. Both the “bellows folding mode (540)” corresponding to the folding codes 10 to 14 of FIG. 11 can be selected in the same manner as the “folding mode (530)”. However, when the irregular size is selected, the folding codes 10 to 14 are selected. Only the “bellows folding mode (540)” corresponding to the above can be selected.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a sheet provided with a title column. The processing of the sheet provided with the title column is performed in steps 431 and 435-439 instead of step S411 in the case of the offline operation shown in FIG. 6, and the processing from step 421 to step 430 in FIG. The processing from step 401 to step 410 in FIG. 6 is the same, and the processing in steps 432 and 433 is the same as that in steps 412 and 413. Based on this premise, a process for a sheet provided with a title column will be described.

  That is, when the paper size is selected and the folding mode is further selected, the insertion direction of the title column is determined for the paper P to be inserted into the paper folding apparatus 1. The insertion direction of the title column of the insertion sheet P is either forward or backward in the sheet insertion direction. Also, the insertion direction of the title block is determined by a combination of the paper size and the folding mode. Therefore, when the paper size and the folding mode are selected from the paper size washing machine 602 and the mode selection key 607 during the paper suspension period after the paper is inserted (step 430), the title is selected according to the combination of the corresponding paper size and the folding mode. The column insertion direction is determined. Therefore, it is confirmed whether the direction of the title column of the paper that has already been inserted into the paper folding device 1 and the title column determined by the combination of the paper size and the folding mode is the same. A prompt display (insertion direction confirmation display) 606 is displayed on the operation unit 20.

  Accordingly, if the title column position of the already inserted paper P is different from the insertion direction of the title column shown on the operation unit 20, a key such as the stop key 604 is pressed (steps 431 and 434). Thus, the conveying roller pair 13 is driven in reverse (step 435) and conveyed to the paper insertion slot (steps 436, 437, 438, 439). If the start key 603 and the stop key 604 are not operated even after a predetermined time for confirming the title column insertion direction, the transport is performed in the same manner as when the stop key 604 is pressed (step 435-Yes). The roller pair 13 is driven in the reverse direction and conveyed to the paper insertion opening (steps 435, 436, 437, 438, 439).

  On the other hand, if the start key 603 or the stop key 604 is not operated even after a predetermined time for confirming the title column insertion direction has elapsed (step 431-No, 434-No), the start key 603 is pressed. Similarly to the above, the conveyance roller pair 13 is driven to rotate forward (step 432), the paper is taken into the apparatus (step 433), and the paper is folded in the folding mode that has been set.

  Further, the operation of the post-processing apparatus with a paper folding function when the start key 603 and the stop key 604 are not operated even after a predetermined time for confirming the insertion direction of the title block is operated as if the stop key 604 was pressed. It is possible to set whether to operate as if the start key 603 is pressed. As a result, in the case of an operation equivalent to the stop key 604, the transport roller pair 13 is driven in the reverse direction and transported to the paper insertion opening (step 435) in the same manner as when the stop key 604 is pressed (step 434-Yes). 436, 437, 438, 439). If the setting is equivalent to that of the start key 603 (step 431-Yes), the conveyance roller pair 13 is driven to rotate forward, the sheet is taken into the apparatus (steps 432, 433), and the folding mode that has been set is set. Fold the paper with.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to set not to automatically detect the size. In this case, the paper size and the folding mode are selected before inserting the paper, and the paper is inserted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
1) Since the standard paper size of the inserted paper is narrowed down to the two paper sizes of the standard vertical and the standard horizontal from the detection result by the detection means, it is possible to reduce paper size input errors.

2) The paper insertion direction can be set in advance to be fixed in the vertical direction, fixed in the horizontal direction, or not fixed in the vertical or horizontal direction. Size input mistakes can be eliminated.

3) In a setting where neither vertical nor horizontal is fixed, a temporary stop period is provided immediately after the start of sheet size sheet conveyance, and the paper size is selected and set during the stop period. The paper size input is time-divided and the operability can be improved.

4) In addition to the standard vertical and the standard horizontal, an irregular paper size is also displayed on the operation unit, and can be selected and set. Therefore, the paper size that can be handled is increased and operability can be improved.

5) Since the possible folding modes are narrowed down after the paper size is determined, input errors in the folding mode can be reduced.

6) Since the insertion direction of the title column determined from the paper size selected after the paper is inserted and the folding mode can be confirmed before the folding process, folding errors can be reduced.

7) Folding is started even when the title column insertion direction determined from the paper size and folding mode selected after inserting the paper is different from the title column position of the paper already inserted into the paper folding device. Since the sheet can be taken out before, it is possible to prevent unnecessary folding mistakes.

8) Even when the operation after the confirmation display in the title column is not performed, the inserted sheet is automatically discharged out of the apparatus, so that the influence on the next operation can be eliminated.

9) Even if the operation after the confirmation display in the title column is not performed at all, the inserted paper is automatically folded and ejected. However, folding is completed automatically, and recovery from an operation error can be performed.

10) Since the operation of the apparatus after being left for a certain period of time, which is the confirmation period in the title column, can be selected, the operability can be improved.

11) Since the standard size of the inserted paper is displayed or not displayed, it is possible to select a mode from whether to select from all the standard sizes that can be selected and to input the paper size. There are more choices and operability can be improved.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a paper folding device in the image forming system of FIG. 1. It is the top view which looked at the manual feed part of this invention from the upper direction of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus system 300 according to the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the paper size and the kind of folding. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence by offline operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a paper size sensor, a sensor arrangement position, and a paper size. It is a flowchart which shows the determination procedure of a paper dimension. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a paper size determination procedure. It is a front view of the operation part of the paper folding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a folding code | cord | chord and folding mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of offline operation about the paper with which the title column is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,310 Paper folding apparatus 3 End surface (ear | edge) folding part 4 Bellows folding part 5 Conveyance switching part 6 Cross folding part 7 Inversion part 8 Rotating part 9 Tray 11 Manual feed part 12 Manual feed stand 13 Conveying roller pair 14 Paper size sensor 15 Side fence DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Display part 200,330 Image forming apparatus 300 Image forming system 320 Post-processing apparatus control means 340 Image forming apparatus control means 601 Paper size display part 602 Paper size selection key 603 Start key 604 Stop key 605 Fold mode display part 606 Insertion direction confirmation Display 607 Mode selection key

Claims (13)

In a sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a carried-in sheet,
Detecting means for detecting the length in the width direction of a plurality of inserted sheets arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction;
Narrowing means for narrowing down the standard sheet size of the inserted sheet to two sheet sizes of a fixed length and a fixed width from the detection result by the detection means;
Display means for displaying the result narrowed down by the narrowing means on the operation unit;
Selecting means for selecting a sheet size from the result displayed on the display means;
And a sheet size is set according to a selection result of the selection means.   It is characterized by comprising setting means for setting in advance one of “fixed in the vertical direction”, “fixed in the horizontal direction”, and “not fixed in either the vertical or horizontal direction” with respect to the sheet insertion direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   When “not fixed vertically or horizontally” is set by the setting unit, a temporary stop period is provided immediately after the start of sheet conveyance, and display for selecting the sheet size is performed on the display unit during the stop period. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2.   4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an irregular sheet size is also displayed on the display unit as the settable sheet size.   5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when a standard size or an irregular size is selected by the selection unit, a folding mode that can be folded at the sheet size is narrowed down and displayed on the display unit.   6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a display for prompting confirmation of an insertion direction of a title column of a sheet that is uniquely determined by a sheet size and a folding mode is displayed on the display unit.   When the title column insertion direction of the sheet inserted before the selection of the sheet size and the folding mode is different from the insertion direction of the title column prompted to be displayed displayed on the display means, the inserted and paused sheet The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a sheet discharge unit that discharges the sheet to the outside of the apparatus. Change means for changing the period for displaying the prompt to confirm the direction of the title block,
A discharge unit that discharges a paused sheet to the sheet insertion port after insertion and conveyance when a period changed by the change has elapsed;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:   7. The conveyance control unit according to claim 6, further comprising a conveyance control unit configured to convey the sheet to a predetermined processing side when a preset time of the paused sheet has elapsed. Sheet processing equipment.   A conveyance direction for selecting whether the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined processing side or discharged to the sheet insertion port side when a preset time of the paused sheet has elapsed. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a selection unit.   It has mode selection means for selecting the standard size of the sheet to be inserted or not, and selecting from among all the standard sizes that can be selected and selecting the sheet size input. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process is a folding process.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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