JP2007290208A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which eliminates the work of confirming the condition of a tab paper bundle set in a tray to feed tab papers which is singly provided and resetting the tab paper bundles and prints documents in which ordinary papers and tab papers are intermingled with each other, which are given tabs in accordance with a specified binding direction. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device 2 decides on and records a paper feeding form (the direction of the tabs of the tab papers transferred to an image transfer section 18, the shifting direction of tab positions in the setting direction of the specified tab paper bundle) of tab papers 25 set in a tab paper feed tray 24 which is to be recorded in tab paper management information 9 for management and the rotation angle of a page image to be transferred, the image forming sequence of the page image, the delivery direction of papers to which the page image is transferred, in the binding direction specified by a user which are recorded in printing job management information 16 in image formation output setting information 14 and performs the control of printing of documents in which the ordinary papers and the tab papers are intermingled with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and in particular, an image forming apparatus that performs single-sided or double-sided printing on a sheet bundle document in which tab paper and regular paper are mixed (hereinafter referred to as normal paper tabbed mixed document). The image when the image is transferred after being set in the orientation of the tab to be attached (hereinafter referred to as the binding direction) and the orientation of the tab when specified with respect to the paper feed tray and fed to the image transfer section The rotation angle of the page image to be transferred to the paper is set based on the binding direction determined by the vertical direction of the paper and the paper feed form of the tab paper specified by the type of tab paper bundle set in the paper feed tray. , Page image print order, paper image transfer method (face-up, face-down) settings, page image formation output order and the tab image specified in the print job Based on over page number, to a technique for adjusting the tab position of the tab sheet is conveyed to the image transfer unit.

  Conventionally, an “image forming method and apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been disclosed as a technique relating to an image forming apparatus that prints a normal paper tab sheet mixed document.

The technology of Patent Document 1 has a tab insert function that can print a document with tab sheets inserted, regardless of whether the document to be printed is vertical writing or horizontal writing (the binding direction is right binding or left binding). Then, the vertical direction of the image to be transferred onto the sheet is rotated by 180 degrees in accordance with the binding direction, and tabs can be attached in accordance with the direction of the desired binding direction.
JP2003-198835A.

  However, in the tab insert function of the technique of Patent Document 1, the tab position output order differs depending on the binding direction (right binding, left binding), so the tab position of the tab sheet to be fed is shifted from the bottom to the top. Tab sheets need to be re-set, such as checking the tab position of a stack of tab sheets set in the paper feed tray and switching the tab order, each time the binding direction is changed, A printing error due to a tab sheet bundle setting error or a reduction in work efficiency due to a tab sheet bundle replacement operation has been caused.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that prints a normal paper tabbed mixed document with a single paper feed tray on which a tab paper bundle is set, a tab specified by the binding direction specified by the user is attached. Even if the orientation changes, check the status of the tab sheet bundle (tab sheet bundle type (for right and left binding), tab orientation, and tab position shift direction) set in the paper feed tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of printing a normal paper and tab sheet mixed document without an operation or an operation of resetting a tab paper bundle in accordance with a designated binding direction.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 has a first tray for setting tab paper having a tab at one end and a second tray for setting normal paper having no tab. A plurality of pages of images are formed on the tab sheet set in the first tray and the normal sheet set in the second tray, and the sheet bundle in which the tab sheet on which the image is formed and the normal sheet are mixed. In the image forming apparatus that outputs the sheet bundle, the instruction means for instructing the binding direction of the sheet bundle, the rotation angle of the image formed on the tab sheet and the normal paper corresponding to the binding direction instructed by the instruction means, and the order of image formation discharge And a control means for switching the discharge surface.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means is such that the binding direction specified by the instruction means is left-binding, and the left-binding tab sheet is rotated 180 degrees on the first tray. Set the rotation angle of images to be formed on tabbed paper and regular paper to 180 degrees, the order of image formation discharge is the order starting from the first page, and the discharge side is switched to back side discharge. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means is such that the binding direction indicated by the instruction means is right binding, and the tab sheet for left binding is rotated 180 degrees on the first tray. Set the rotation angle of the image to be formed on the tab paper and the normal paper to 0 degree, the order of image formation and discharge to be the reverse order starting from the last page, and switching the discharge surface to surface discharge. Features.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means is such that the binding direction indicated by the instruction means is left-binding, and the right-binding tab sheet does not rotate on the first tray. When set, the rotation angle of the image formed on the tab paper and the normal paper is set to 180 degrees, the image forming and discharging order is reversed from the last page to the top, and the discharging surface is switched to the surface discharging. And

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the control means includes a start position of the tab sheet set on the first tray and a start position of the tab sheet of the sheet bundle. Are different from each other on the tab sheet set in the first tray until the start position of the tab sheet set in the first tray is equal to the start position of the tab sheet in the sheet bundle prior to image formation. It is characterized by discharging without forming an image.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus that feeds the tab paper from the single paper feed tray and prints the normal paper tab sheet mixed document, the normal paper tab sheet mixed document is printed. Regular paper tabs without the need to perform the task of replacing the tab sheet bundle set in the paper feed tray by changing the binding direction specified by the user, and checking the status of the tab paper bundle set in the paper feed tray It is possible to simplify the printing operation of the paper mixed document.

  Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 2 is a device that prints a document based on a print job received from a print host 1 via a host interface 5, and in particular, is fed from a single tab paper feed tray 24. The tab paper 25 to be fed and the normal paper 23 fed from the normal paper feed tray 22 to be switched, the insertion position of the tab paper 25 designated by the user with the page number of the original image, and the designated One-sided printing or two-sided printing of a normal paper tabbed mixed document is performed based on the tab direction according to the binding direction.
The image forming apparatus 2 includes a main control unit 3, a storage unit 26, an image processing unit 4, an image forming unit 20, a tab paper feed tray 24, a normal paper feed tray 22, a paper discharge tray 13, and an empty feed tab paper discharge. A tray 12 is provided.

  The main control unit 3 controls the entire image forming apparatus 2 to print a normal paper tab sheet mixed document, and detects and analyzes various input operations of the user on the operation panel 6. Display control of various operation screens, analysis of print jobs received from the print host, binding direction, single-sided, double-sided type, number of printed pages of original image, number of copies, Print job analysis control for acquiring the page number of the original image to be transferred to the tab sheet, a tab specified in the vertical direction of the image transferred from the tab sheet feeding tray 24 to the tab sheet 25 conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 An image formation order for transferring page images to paper based on a combination of the binding direction of the paper and the tab direction shift direction and the binding direction specified in the print job (hereinafter referred to as the printing order). Print order setting control to set the image), image processing control to convert the image of the page image transferred by the image transfer unit 18 into an image rotated by 180 degrees, selection of the normal paper feed tray 22 and the tab paper feed tray 24 Paper feed tray selection switching control for switching, paper discharge control for switching the paper discharge method of whether the paper to which the image is transferred is discharged face-up or face-down, and paper reversal feeding in duplex printing If you want to print a regular paper tabbed mixed document using the paper transport control, the page number of the original image to which the page image is transferred to the tab paper 25, and the print order set by the print order setting control, insert it first. The image is not transferred to the tab sheet 25 until the tab position of the tab sheet 25 fed from the tab sheet feeding tray 24 matches the tab position of the tab sheet 25 to be printed. Adjust control tab position to implement the air-feed discharge to.

  The image forming unit 20 includes an image transfer unit 18 (for example, an image transfer unit that transfers a toner image to a sheet in the case of a laser printer) that transfers a page image to a sheet (normal sheet 23 or tab sheet 25), a normal sheet 23, In the case of performing double-sided printing, the paper feed tray selection switching unit 19 that switches the paper feed of the tab paper 25, after transferring the image to the transfer surface of the first image, the image to be transferred to the second image transfer surface A sheet for transferring the next page image to the second transfer surface by reversing the sheet in a direction in which the upper end and the lower end in the top and bottom direction are transferred to each other in the direction of the same side and conveying the sheet to the folded image transfer unit 18. Further, it performs conveyance control, and further switches the paper return conveyance unit 11 for switching the paper discharge method (face-up, face-down) when discharging the paper onto which the page image is transferred. That a tray and a paper ejection tray switching unit 21 for switching to discharge the sheet to transfer the image to a different tray.

  The image processing unit 4 generates a page image of the document image to be output to the image transfer unit 18 based on the print job analysis result by the main control unit 3, and the rotation angle value recorded in the image formation output information 14. Based on the above, image processing for converting the generated page image into a rotated image is performed.

The tab position detection sensor 27 feeds the tab paper so that the tab position can be detected when the tab paper 25 having the maximum number of banks that can be handled by the image forming apparatus 2 is fed from the tab paper feed tray 24. A plurality of tab sheets 25 immediately after being fed from the tray 24 are set at equal intervals on a virtual line perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper transport path, and the passage time of the paper transported by each sensor is measured. It is a sensor for specifying the position of the tab based on the information indicating the monitoring position of the sensor that has detected the different measured value corresponding to the measured value of the other sensor and the width of the tab.

  The storage unit 26 has paper feed tray management information 8, tab paper management information 9, page image buffer 10, image formation output setting information 14, and print job analysis information 16. The paper feed tray management information 8 is shown in FIG. As shown, the state of each paper feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus 2 is set as the state of the tray corresponding to the tray identification information assigned to each paper feed tray, and the type of paper set in the paper feed tray (normally This is information for recording and managing the paper size and the paper size).

  The paper feed tray management information 8 manages the type and size of the paper set in the paper feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus 2. In particular, among the paper feed trays managed by the paper feed tray management information 8 In the management data corresponding to the paper feed tray on which the tab paper is set, the tab paper is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 in the setting direction of the tab paper bundle designated for the paper feed tray, and the image is transferred. In this case, information indicating the direction in which the tab is attached is recorded and managed with reference to the vertical direction of the transferred image.

  In the storage unit 26, the tab sheet management information 9 stores and manages the number of banks, the tab sheet feeding form, and the bank number, as shown in FIG.

  The number of banks indicates the number of types of tab positions that can be provided by one set of tab sheet bundles set in the paper feed tray, and is acquired by user input from the tab sheet bundle setting screen displayed on the operation panel 6. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tab sheet feeding mode is set in a tab sheet bundle preset direction for the tab sheet feeding tray 24 due to the sheet feeding / conveying mechanism in the image forming apparatus 2. When the tab sheet set in the designated setting direction is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 and the page image transferred by the transfer unit 18 is not rotated, the tab sheet is aligned in the vertical direction of the image transferred to the tab sheet. It is determined by a combination of the binding direction of the tab sheet 25 determined in this way and the type of tab sheet bundle (for right binding and left binding) set in the tab sheet feeding tray 24.
FIG. 2A shows the case where the tab sheet set in the tab sheet bundle setting direction specified in the tab sheet feeding tray 24 is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 and the image is transferred. When the image to be transferred is not rotated, the tab sheet feed tray 24 is set in the designated tab sheet bundle setting direction with respect to the top / bottom direction of the transferred image. An example of when a tab sheet bundle for right binding is set is shown (hereinafter referred to as right binding normal).

  FIG. 2B shows the case where the tab sheet set in the tab sheet bundle setting direction specified in the tab sheet feeding tray 24 is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 and the image is transferred. When the image to be transferred is not rotated, the tab sheet feed tray 24 is set in the designated tab sheet bundle setting direction with respect to the top / bottom direction of the transferred image. An example of when a tab sheet bundle for left binding is set is shown (hereinafter referred to as right binding reverse).

  FIG. 2C shows the case where the tab sheet set in the tab sheet bundle setting direction specified in the tab sheet feeding tray 24 is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 and the image is transferred. When the image to be transferred is not rotated, the tab sheet feed tray 24 is set in the specified tab sheet bundle setting direction with respect to the top / bottom direction of the transferred image. An example of when a tab sheet bundle for left binding is set is shown (hereinafter referred to as “left binding normal”).

  FIG. 2D shows a case where the tab sheet set in the tab sheet bundle setting direction specified in the tab sheet feeding tray 24 is conveyed to the image transfer unit 18 and the image is transferred. When the transferred image is not rotated, the tab sheet bundle setting direction specified for the tab sheet feeding tray 24 in which the direction of the tab can be right-bound with respect to the vertical direction of the transferred image. Shows an example when a tab sheet bundle for right binding is set (hereinafter referred to as left binding reverse).

  In the tab sheet management information 9 of FIG. 1 again, the bank number is used to manage the tab position of the next tab sheet to be fed based on the tab position shift direction managed in the tab sheet feed mode. Identification information.

  By representing the bank number recorded in the tab sheet management information 9 with the tab position of the tab sheet 25 detected by the tab position detection sensor 27, it is expressed in the tab sheet feed form of the tab sheet management information 9. It is confirmed whether or not the tab sheet 25 is correctly conveyed in the tab position shift direction.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 2 prints the tab position of the tab sheet to which the page image is first inserted and the page image is transferred when the normal sheet tab sheet mixed document is printed in the determined document image printing order. The tab position of the tab sheet to be inserted first is specified based on the page number of the document image to be transferred to the tab sheet specified in, the number of tab banks, and the printing order. It is determined whether or not the tab position of the tab sheet to be fed next managed by the information 9 matches, and if not, the tab sheet blank feed control is performed so that both tab positions match. Do.

  In the storage unit 26, as shown in FIG. 5, the image formation output information 14 is information for recording and managing control information related to print control of a normal paper tab sheet mixed document for each print job. Print order indicating the print order to be transferred to the paper, page image rotation angle indicating the value of the rotation angle when performing image rotation processing on the page image transferred to the paper, paper discharge when discharging the printed paper The paper discharge method is recorded and managed for each print job.

  The print job analysis information 16 is information in which an analysis result obtained by analyzing a print job received from the print host 1 via the host interface 5 is recorded, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Yes, for both double-sided and single-sided printing, binding direction when a normal paper tabbed mixed document is printed, the number of copies, the number of pages of the original image, and the page number of the original image printed on the tab paper 25 are recorded and managed. .

  The page image buffer 10 prints a page image generated by the image processing unit 4 or an image obtained by rotating the page image by the rotation angle value recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 as the transfer setting of the page image. This is an area for temporarily storing until the print processing by the job is completed.

  Next, transfer the image based on the tab paper feed form and the binding direction for the normal paper tab paper mixed document printed in the double-sided printing or single-sided printing specified in the print job or in the print job. The setting of the rotation angle of the page image output to the unit 18, the printing order of the page image for transferring the page image onto the paper by the image transfer unit 18, and the setting of the paper discharge method when discharging the paper on which the image is transferred. Examples of this will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, an example of single-sided printing of a normal paper tab sheet mixed document by a combination of the tab sheet feeding form and the binding direction specified in the print job will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the binding direction acquired from the tab sheet feeding form does not match the binding direction specified in the print job, and the tab sheet feeding form is set to the left as an example when the tab position shift direction is normal. When binding is specified as normal binding and the binding direction specified in the print job is specified as right binding, the print order is set so that the page image is printed in the descending order of the page number of the original image and the reverse order from the last page. Then, the transfer processing for transferring the image obtained by rotating the page image 180 degrees to the paper is set, and the paper discharge method for the printed paper is set to the paper discharge method for discharging the image transfer surface face up. The tab position of the tab sheet that is expected to be printed by inserting the tab sheet first in the set printing order is specified, and the tab position of the specified tab position and the tab sheet fed from the paper feed tray are specified. Position If you do not match, perform the sky feed of the tab paper, adjust the tab position.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows an example in which the binding direction acquired from the tab paper feed form does not match the binding direction specified in the print job, and the tab position shift direction of the tab paper feed form is reverse. When the tab sheet feeding form is left-binding reverse and the binding direction specified in the print job is right-binding, the transfer is performed by transferring the rotation angle of the page image to be transferred to the paper to the paper by 180 degrees. Set the print order to transfer the page images in ascending order of the page number of the original image in order from the first page. Select the setting for the paper discharge method to be discharged when down.

  Next, FIG. 9 illustrates an example in which the binding direction acquired from the tab paper feed form matches the binding direction specified in the print job, and the tab position shift direction of the tab paper feed form is reverse. When the tab sheet feeding form is right-bound reverse and the binding direction specified in the print job is right-bound, the transfer that transfers the page image to be transferred to the paper with the image rotated by 0 degrees Set the print order to transfer the page image in the descending order of the page number of the original image and reverse the order from the last page. The paper transfer method for transferring the image is the one-sided image transfer method. Select the setting of the paper discharge method for discharging the paper face up.

  Next, an example of double-sided printing of a normal paper tab sheet mixed document by a combination of the tab paper feeding form and the binding direction specified in the print job will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12.

  When the binding direction acquired from the tab sheet feeding form does not match the binding direction specified in the print job and the tab position shift direction of the tab sheet feeding form is normal, for example, as shown in FIG. As described above, when the tab sheet feeding form is left-bound normal and the binding direction specified in the print job is right-bound, the transfer setting for transferring the page image to be transferred to the sheet with the image rotated by 180 degrees. If you create a print order that transfers page images in descending order from the last page in the descending order of the page number of the original image, and then transfer to the paper in order from the top in the created print order Then, a printing order is set in which the printing order of the page images that are expected to be transferred to the same sheet in double-sided printing is interchanged within each sheet.

  The tab position of the tab sheet to be inserted first in the set printing order is set to the number of banks of the tab sheet bundle set in the tab sheet feeding tray 24, and the page number of the original image instructed to transfer the image to the tab sheet. If the specified tab position does not match the tab position of the tab sheet to be fed, the tab sheet 25 is skipped until both tabs match, A paper discharge method is selected in which the transfer surface of the first image by printing is discharged face up.

  When the binding direction acquired from the tab paper feed form does not match the binding direction specified in the print job and the tab position shift direction obtained from the tab paper feed form is reverse, for example, as shown in FIG. As described above, when the tab sheet feeding form is the left binding reverse and the binding direction specified in the print job is the right binding, the transfer of transferring the page image to be transferred to the sheet as an image rotated by 180 degrees. Settings are made, the printing order of page images is set in ascending order of the page number of the document image, and the printing order is transferred in order from the first page, and the transfer surface of the first image by duplex printing is discharged face down. Select the paper ejection method.

  When the binding direction acquired in the tab sheet feeding form and the binding direction specified in the print job do not match, and the shift direction of the tab position specified from the tab sheet feeding form is reverse, for example, As shown in FIG. 12, when the tab sheet feeding form is right-bound reverse and the binding direction specified in the print job is right-bound, the page image transfer setting for transferring the page image to the sheet at a rotation angle of 0 degrees. And set the print order to print in the reverse order from the last page where the page image print order is the descending order of the page number of the original image, and the page image that is expected to be transferred to the same paper Set the final printing order in which the printing order was changed within each paper, specify the tab position of the tab paper on which to print the image by inserting the tab paper in the set printing order, and specify If the tab position of the tab sheet does not match the tab position of the tab sheet to be fed, the tab sheet is fed forward and the first image transfer surface by duplex printing is discharged face-up. Select and set the method.

  Next, the operation of single-sided printing of a normal paper tab sheet mixed document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 2 reads the binding direction specified in the print job from the print job analysis information 16 (S101), reads the tab sheet feed form recorded in the tab sheet management information 9, and feeds the tab sheet to be fed. 25 binding directions are acquired (S102), and further, the tab position shift direction in the binding direction acquired from the tab sheet feed form is acquired (S103).

  When the binding direction specified in the print job matches the binding direction of the tab sheet to be fed acquired from the tab sheet feeding form (YES in S104), the image forming apparatus 2 transfers the image in the image transfer unit 18. The setting for transferring the page image to the paper as an image rotated by 0 ° is recorded in the image forming output setting information 14 (S105).

  It is determined whether the shift direction of the tab position acquired in step S103 is reverse or normal (S106).

  When the shift direction of the tab position is normal (S106 normal), the image forming apparatus 2 selects the setting of the paper discharge method in which the image transfer surface by the image transfer unit 18 is discharged face down, and the image formation output setting The information is recorded in the information 14 (S107), and the printing order for transferring the page image in order from the first page is set in ascending order of the page number of the document image and recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 (S108).

  Returning to the discrimination process in step S106 again, the binding direction specified in the print job matches the binding direction of the tab sheet read from the tab sheet feeding form, and the tab position of the tab sheet to be fed is shifted. When the direction is reverse (reverse S106), the image forming apparatus 2 selects the setting of the paper discharge method in which the transfer surface of the page image by the image transfer unit 18 is discharged face-up to the image forming output setting information 14 Record (S114) and set the print order of the page image transferred by the image transfer unit 18 in the descending order of the page number of the original image and the reverse order from the last page to set the image formation output setting. The information 14 is recorded (S115).

  Returning to the determination process in step S104 again, if the binding direction specified in the print job does not match the binding direction acquired from the tab sheet feed form (NO in S104), the image forming apparatus 2 sends the image transfer unit 18 to the image transfer unit 18. Then, a setting for transferring the page image to be transferred to a sheet with an image obtained by rotating the rotation angle of the page image by 180 degrees is selected and recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 (S112).

  Next, it is determined whether the shift direction of the tab position read from the tab sheet feed form in the process of step S103 is normal or reverse (S113), and the shift direction of the tab position is reverse (S113). Reverse), the setting of the discharge method in which the transfer surface of the page image is discharged face-down is selected and recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 (S107), and the first page in ascending order of the page number of the document image The printing order for transferring the page images to the paper in order is set and recorded in the image forming output setting information 14 (S108).

  Returning to the determination process in step S113 again, when the tab position shift direction is normal (normal in S113), the image forming apparatus 2 sets a paper discharge method for discharging the image transfer surface face-up. The image forming output setting information 14 is selected and recorded (S114), and the printing order for transferring the page image in the descending order from the last page in the descending order of the page number of the original image is set and the image forming output setting information 14 is set. (S115).

  The printing order recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 in step S108 or step S115, the number of tab sheet banks managed in the tab sheet management information 9, and the tab sheet recorded in the print job analysis information 16 are displayed. Based on the number of inserted tab sheets per part calculated based on the page number of the document image to be inserted and printed, the tab position of the tab sheet to be inserted first is specified, and the specified tab position and Then, the tab sheet is fed so that the tab positions scheduled to be fed managed by the tab sheet management information 9 coincide with each other to adjust the leading tab position (S109), and the image is displayed in step S108 or step S115. For setting the printing order recorded in the formation output setting information 14, and for transferring the page image recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 in steps S105 and S112. Based on the setting value of the rotation angle and the setting of the paper discharge method recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 in step S107 or step S114, single-sided printing of a normal paper tab sheet mixed document is performed for each part ( S110), when a plurality of print copies are designated and the print processing for all the designated copies has not been completed (YES in S111), the tab position adjustment process in step S109, step S110 based on the image formation output setting information 14 The one-sided printing process is repeated part by part.

  When printing for all the number designated by the number of copies has been completed (NO in S111), the single-sided printing process for the normal paper tab sheet mixed document is terminated.

  Next, a double-sided printing operation for a normal paper tab sheet mixed document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 2 reads and acquires the binding direction specified by the print job from the print job analysis information 16 (S201), reads the tab sheet feed form of the tab sheet management information 9, and feeds the tab to be fed. The paper binding direction is acquired (S202), and further, the tab position shift direction in the acquired tab paper binding direction is read from the tab paper feed form (S203).

  The binding direction specified in the print job acquired in step S201 is compared with the binding direction of the tab sheet to be fed acquired in step S202 (S204), and the binding direction specified in the print job is compared with the supply direction. When the binding directions of the tab sheets to be printed match (YES in S204), the image forming apparatus 2 rotates the page image with respect to the setting of the transfer processing of the page image that transfers the page image to the paper in the image transfer unit 18. The setting for processing the angle at 0 degree is recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 (S205).

The image forming apparatus 2 determines whether the tab position shift direction read in step S203 is normal or reverse (S206).

  When the shift direction of the tab position is normal (normal in S206), the image forming apparatus 2 selects a paper discharge method setting in which the transfer surface of the first image in double-sided printing is discharged face-down. The printing order of the page images recorded in the formation output setting information 14 (S207) and transferred to the paper by the image transfer unit 18 is set in the ascending order of the page number of the original image, and the printing order is sequentially transferred from the first page. It records in the image formation output setting information 14 (S208).

  Returning to the determination process in step S206 again, when the tab position shift direction acquired from the tab sheet feeding form is reverse (reverse in step S206), the image forming apparatus 2 determines that the transfer surface of the first image in double-sided printing is The setting of the paper discharge method to be discharged face-up is selected and recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 (S209), and transferred in the descending order of the page number of the original image and in reverse order from the last page. An order is created (S210), and further, a printing order is created in which the printing order of page images that are expected to be transferred to the same sheet in the printing order created in step S210 is interchanged within each sheet, and image formation output is performed. It records in the setting information 14 (S211).

  Returning to the determination process in step S204 again, if the binding direction specified in the print job does not match the binding direction acquired from the tab sheet feed form (NO in S204), the image forming apparatus 2 performs the page image transfer process. As a setting, a setting for transferring after rotating the rotation angle of the page image by 180 degrees is selected and recorded in the image forming output setting information 14 (S212).

  Next, a determination process of the tab position shift direction read from the tab sheet feeding form is performed (S213). If the tab position shift direction is normal (normal in S213), the discharge method setting process in step S209, The print order setting process in steps S210 and S211 is performed.

  On the other hand, when the tab position shift direction acquired from the tab sheet feed form is reverse (S213 reverse), the image forming apparatus 2 performs the discharge method selection setting process in step S207 and the print order setting process in step S208. Do.

  When the image forming apparatus 2 completes the setting process of the rotation angle, the printing order, and the paper discharge method for the page image transfer process based on the combination of the binding direction specified in the print job and the tab sheet feeding form, the image forming apparatus 2 When printing processing is performed in the printing order recorded in the output setting information 14, the tab position of the tab sheet that is inserted first and the document image is printed is specified, and the feed managed by the tab sheet management information 9 is specified. If the tab positions of the scheduled tab sheets do not match, the tab sheets are fed forward and tab position adjustment processing is performed (S214), and the page image recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 is rotated. Processing, transfer of the page image according to the printing order recorded in the image formation output setting information 14, discharge the paper transferred by the paper discharge method recorded in the image formation output setting information 14, and output the normal paper sheet. Treating each part-sided printing of a paper mixed document (S215).

  When a plurality of print copies are designated, and when all the designated print processes have not been completed (YES in S216), the image forming apparatus 2 performs a tab that is performed prior to the print process by the process of step S214. Position adjustment processing, partly based on the rotation angle, printing order, and paper discharge method set for the page image transfer processing recorded in the image formation output setting information 14 shown in step S205 above. The double-sided printing process is repeated, and when the printing process for all the specified number of copies is completed (NO in S216), the double-sided printing process is terminated.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention feeds tab paper from a single paper feed tray and prints a normal paper tabbed mixed document in a tab orientation that matches the binding direction specified by the user. Available to the device.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a tab sheet feeding form determined by a setting direction of a tab sheet bundle specified for a sheet feeding tray that feeds tab sheets and a type of tab sheet bundle actually set. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of paper feed tray management information. FIG. The figure which shows the example of tab sheet management information. The figure which shows the example of image formation output setting information. The figure which shows the example of print job analysis information. The figure which shows the 1st process image which prints one side of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. The figure which shows the 2nd process image which prints one side of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. The figure which shows the 3rd processing image which prints one side of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. The figure which shows the 1st process image which prints both sides of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. The figure which shows the 2nd process image which prints both sides of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. The figure which shows the 3rd process image which prints both sides of a normal paper tab paper mixed document. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of single-sided printing in a normal paper tab sheet mixed document printing process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of double-sided printing in normal paper tab sheet mixed document printing processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print host 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Main control part 4 Image processing part 5 Host interface 6 Operation panel 8 Paper feed tray management information 9 Tab paper management information 10 Page image buffer 11 Paper return conveyance part 12 Blank feed tab paper discharge tray 13 Output tray 14 Image formation output setting information 16 Print job analysis information 18 Image transfer unit 19 Paper feed tray switching unit 20 Image forming unit 21 Paper output tray switching unit 22 Normal paper feed tray 23 Normal paper 24 Tab paper feed tray 25 Tab paper 26 Storage unit 27 Tab position detection sensor

Claims (5)

A first tray for setting a tab sheet provided with a tab at one end; a second tray for setting a normal sheet having no tab; and the tab sheet set on the first tray; In an image forming apparatus that forms a plurality of pages of images with normal paper set in a second tray and outputs a sheet bundle in which the tab paper on which the images are formed and the normal paper are mixed.
Instruction means for instructing the binding direction of the sheet bundle;
A control unit that switches a rotation angle of an image formed on the tab sheet and the normal sheet, an order of image formation and discharge, and a discharge surface corresponding to a binding direction instructed by the instruction unit. Forming equipment. The control means includes
When the binding direction instructed by the instruction means is left binding, and the tab sheet for left binding is set on the first tray after being rotated by 180 degrees, the image formed on the tab sheet and the normal sheet 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle is 180 degrees, the order of image forming and discharging is set to the first order starting from the first page, and the discharging surface is switched to back surface discharging. The control means includes
When the binding direction instructed by the instruction means is right binding, and the tab sheet for left binding is set on the first tray by being rotated 180 degrees, the image formed on the tab sheet and the normal sheet 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle is set to 0 degrees, the image forming and discharging order is reversed from the last page to the top, and the discharging surface is switched to surface discharging. The control means includes
When the binding direction instructed by the instructing means is left binding, and the right binding tab sheet is set in the first tray without being rotated, the images formed on the tab sheet and the normal sheet 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle is set to 180 degrees, the order of image formation and discharge is reversed from the last page to the top, and the discharge surface is switched to surface discharge. The control means includes
When the start position of the tab sheet set on the first tray is different from the start position of the tab sheet of the sheet bundle, the start of the tab sheet set on the first tray prior to the image formation. 5. The sheet is discharged without forming an image on the tab sheet set on the first tray until the position of the tab sheet of the sheet bundle becomes equal to the start position of the tab sheet. The image forming apparatus described in 1.

Images