JP2008094561A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further simplify a postprocessing routine, by reducing the number of postprocessing patterns by easily designating a paper bundle postprocessing position by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The postprocessing side of a paper bundle is designated on the basis of a portrait image or a landscape image formed on paper by combination information of a distinction of the long side or the short side of the paper and a distinction of whether or not to be any side of the right, left, upper and lower sides of the paper, and a staple position of one end part on the designated postprocessing side is designated by combination information of a distinction of whether or not to be the right or the left side and distinction of the upper or lower side. The designated staple position is converted into a code independent on image rotation caused by changing the postprocessing side to the front end or the rear end in the paper feeding direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that conveys paper and forms an image on the paper, and more particularly, post-processing means for performing post-processing such as stapling on a sheet bundle. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus suitable for a case where a sheet having a size capable of vertical feeding and horizontal feeding is used.

When using paper of a size capable of vertical feeding and horizontal feeding, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1 below, since a lot of binding position information for the paper bundle is used, the number of cases is increased. There is a problem that the designation of the post-processing position by the user and the processing of post-processing information by the program become complicated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-241041

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to form an image that makes it easy for a user to specify a post-processing position for a sheet bundle when using a sheet of a size that can be fed vertically and horizontally. To provide an apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of simplifying the post-processing routine by reducing the number of post-processing patterns.

In the first aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
Image forming means for forming an image on the supplied paper based on the supplied image data;
Post-processing means for physically performing post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming means;
Post-processing designating means for designating a post-processing side of a bundle of papers based on a portrait image or a landscape image formed on the paper and a post-processing position for the post-processing side as post-processing information;
Storage means for storing the image data and the designated post-processing information;
Image rotating means for changing the stored image data so that the post-processing side is the front edge or the rear edge in the paper feeding direction;
Control means for causing the post-processing means to perform post-processing based on the stored post-processing information;
Have
The post-processing designation means uses a portrait image or a landscape image formed on the paper as a reference based on combination information of the distinction between the long side or the short side of the paper and the distinction between the left, right, top, and bottom sides of the paper. Specify the post-processing edge of a stack of paper.

  In a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the post-processing designating unit distinguishes whether the staple position at one end on the designated post-processing side is left or right as the post-processing position. It is specified by the combination information of the upper and lower distinction.

  In a third aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the second aspect, the post-processing designation unit converts the designated staple position into a code that does not depend on the change by the image rotation unit.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the post-processing that specifies the post-processing side of the sheet bundle and the post-processing position with respect to the post-processing side as post-processing information based on the portrait image or landscape image formed on the paper. A post-processing designating unit, and a post-processing designating unit that uses the combined information of the distinction between the long side or the short side of the paper and the distinction between the left, right, top, and bottom sides of the paper, Since the post-processing side of the sheet bundle is designated on the basis of the landscape image, there is an effect that it is easy for the user to designate the post-processing side for the sheet bundle.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the post-processing designation unit determines whether the staple position at one end on the designated post-processing side is left or right as the post-processing position, and above or below. Therefore, the user can easily specify the staple position for the sheet bundle.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, the post-processing designation unit converts the designated staple position into a code that does not depend on the change by the image rotation unit, so that the number of post-processing patterns is reduced and post-processing is performed. There is an effect that the routine can be simplified.

  Other objects, configurations and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied.

  This system is configured by coupling a host computer HC having an interactive input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device to an image forming apparatus 10, for example, a multifunction peripheral. For simplification, a configuration in the case where the image forming apparatus 10 is used as a printer will be described below. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10 forms an image on a sheet based on image information supplied from the host computer HC and information set in the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, an image information memory 12, a setting information memory 13, an operation panel 14, an image writing control device 15, a paper transport control device 16, and a post-processing control device 17 are coupled to the system control device 11.

  The system controller 11 temporarily stores the print data supplied from the host computer HC in the image information memory 12. This print data is supplied from the print routine of the application program via the OS API and the printer driver 18 below the OS, and is described in PDL (page description language). The system control device 11 causes the setting information memory 13 to store setting information set by the user operating the operation panel 14 or included in the print data. The setting information memory 13 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory.

  The system control device 11 rewrites the content of the image information memory 12 as necessary based on the content of the setting information memory 13 and supplies this to the image writing control device 15. The image writing control device 15 expands this image information into a bitmap, generates a video signal by adding a synchronization signal thereto, and controls on / off of the laser beam with this signal, whereby the image writing device 15M A desired electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The image writing device 15M causes the toner to adhere to the charging portion on the photosensitive drum to develop the electrostatic latent image, and electrostatically transfers the toner image to a sheet to fix it.

  The system control device 11 drives the paper transport device 16M via the paper transport control device 16 to transport the paper from the paper feed stage to the image writing device 15M, and the paper on which the image has been formed by the image writing device 15M. Then, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray. For the back side image in double-sided printing, the paper is switched back without discharging, and is supplied again to the image writing device 15M to form an image on the opposite side of the paper, and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray. Let

  Based on the post-processing information stored in the setting information memory 13, the system control device 11 performs stapling on the sheet bundle after image formation by the stapling device 17 MS or the punch device 17 MP via the post-processing control device 17. Cause punching. The punching process may be performed for each sheet.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the system control apparatus 11 in FIG.

  In this system control device 11, an EEPROM 113 E 1, EEPROM 113 E 2, DRAM 113 D, HDD 114, scanner 116, NIC 117, and facsimile modem 118 are coupled to the MPU 111 via an interface 112. In FIG. 19, for simplification, a plurality of interfaces are shown as one block. Further, the components 12 to 17 in FIG. 18 are connected to the interface 112.

  The EEPROM 113E1 and the EEPROM 113E2 are, for example, flash memories. The EEPROM 113E1 stores BIOS. The EEPROM 113E2 stores an OS (Operating System), OS upper layer service programs and applications, and OS lower layer device drivers. The DRAM 113D is for a work area, and the HDD 114 is for data storage.

  The scanner 116 is for inputting images for copying and fax transmission. The NIC 117 is coupled to the host computer HC via a cable or a wireless communication medium, and is used for a print job or the like. The modem 118 is for facsimile transmission / reception.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a post-processing setting code.

  FIG. 1A shows a case where the printing orientation is portrait (portrait). When the printing direction is portrait or landscape, the value of the printing direction identification code DIR is set to 0 or 1, respectively.

  The user designates one of the sides L1 to L4 (L) on which the stapling process or the punching process is performed on the sheet bundle as the post-processing side. When the sides L1 to L3 or L4 are designated as post-processing sides, the value of the post-processing side identification code EC is set to 1 to 4, respectively.

  As will be described later, the post-processing side does not necessarily coincide with the binding margin for determining the paper turning direction. However, at the stage where the user designates the post-processing side, the post-processing side matches the binding margin. Therefore, the user may specify the binding margin as the post-processing side.

  As for the stapling position, a position on the post-processing side L as viewed from the center O of the sheet bundle is designated. As shown in FIG. 1B, the stapling position along the post-processing side L is either ST1, ST2 or ST3, and is at the left end portion, the central two locations or the right end portion as viewed from the center O of the sheet bundle. is there. ST1 and ST3 are end (corner) diagonal strikes, and ST2 is a central 2-point strike. Staple positions ST1 to ST3 are represented by staple position identification codes SC = 1 to 3, respectively.

  In the simplest case, the punch process information is the presence / absence information of the punch process along the post-processing side L. FIG. 1C shows the case where the punch process for the post-process side L is present. Punch code PC = 0 and 1 respectively indicate no punching and presence. Depending on the punch device 17MP, the number of holes (usually 2 to 4) can be specified when punching is performed.

  Since the post-processing information is simplified by using the set of the post-processing side identification code EC and the staple position identification code SC and the punch code PC that do not depend on a specific post-processing side as described above, the post-processing information is simplified. The routine can be simplified.

  FIG. 2 shows the structure of post-processing code that is set on the operation panel 14 or set on the screen when the printer driver 18 is activated and stored in the setting information memory 13.

  This post-processing code includes a print orientation identification code DIR = 0 to 1, a post-processing side identification code (post-processing ID) EC = 0 to 4, and a staple position identification code (staple position ID) SC = 0 to 3. The punch code PC = 0 to 1, the binding margin width (mm), and the paper size. EC = 0, SC = 0, and PC = 0 indicate no post-processing, no stapling, and no punch, respectively. Post-processing is performed at the center of the binding margin width.

  The length of the post-processing side is determined by the paper size, the printing direction identification code DIR, and the post-processing side identification code EC. The longitudinal position on the processing side of the staple positions ST1 to ST3 corresponding to each length is stored in the NVRAM 113E2.

  The post-processing side identification code EC designated by the user is copied and stored as a binding margin code (binding margin ID) before the post-processing side identification code is automatically changed.

  FIG. 3 shows a post-processing information setting screen. This screen is displayed by starting up the printer driver 18 and selecting a post-processing tab page.

  The check boxes 20 to 22 are for validating the set character strings in the combo boxes 23 to 25 on the right side thereof.

  When the arrow button of combo box 23 is clicked on with a mouse, a list of post-processing side identification character strings as shown in FIG. This list includes character strings that identify four post-processing edges when the printing direction is portrait and four post-processing edges when landscape. These are "short side (top)", "long side (right)", "short side (bottom)" and "long side (left)", "long side (top)", "short side (right)" , “Long side (bottom)” and “short side (left)”, and post-processing side identification codes EC = 1 to 4 in the case of the portrait shown in FIG. 5 and after the case of the landscape shown in FIG. This corresponds to the processing edge identification code EC = 1 to 4. The “custom setting” in the list of FIG. 4A will be described in a second embodiment described later.

  Since the post-processing edge identification character string is represented by a pair of “long edge” or “short edge” and “upper”, “lower”, “left” or “right”, portrait and landscape Any one of a total of eight post-processing edges can be easily selected.

  When a line in the list of FIG. 4A is clicked with the mouse, the character string is displayed in the text box of the combo box 23, and then the process shown in FIG. 7 is started. This process is for converting the character string into a code for simplifying the process in the program. In the following, the step identification codes in the figure are shown in parentheses.

  (S0 to S4) If the character string includes “upper”, “lower”, “left”, or “right” characters, the process proceeds to steps S1 to S4, respectively. Substitute the value of 4.

  (S5 to S7) If the character string further includes “long side” and the value of the post-processing side identification code EC is an even number, 0 (portrait) is substituted into the print direction identification code DIR. Otherwise, 1 (landscape) is substituted into the print orientation identification code DIR.

  In this way, the post-processing side identification character string is easily encoded.

  Returning to FIG. 3, every time the image display button 26B is pressed, the display and non-display of the post-processing image window 26 are switched. In the post-processing image window 26, the selected post-processing information is displayed as an image on a paper image. In FIG. 3, the check boxes 20 to 22 are all marked with a check mark, so the information displayed in the combo boxes 23 to 25 is imaged in the post-processing image window 26.

  Thereby, the post-processing edge selected by the combo box 23 can be easily confirmed.

  Next, when the arrow button of the combo box 24 is clicked with the mouse, a list of three staple position identification character strings that can be selected according to the post-processing side selected in the combo box 23 is displayed in a drop-down manner. FIGS. 4B to 4E show lists when the selected post-processing side codes EC are 1 to 4, respectively. These lists do not depend on the value of the print orientation identification code DIR.

  The column “setting by user” in FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the staple position identification character string displayed in accordance with the value of the post-processing side identification code EC and the value of the staple position identification code SC corresponding thereto. Since the positions of the four corners of the sheet are represented by a combination of “left” or “right” and “up” or “down”, the staple position can be easily selected without error.

  When a line in the list is clicked with the mouse, the character string is displayed in the text box of the combo box 24, and then the process shown in FIG. 8 is started. This process is for converting the character string into a code for simplifying the process in the program.

  (S10) If the character string “center” is included, the process proceeds to step S11. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S12.

  (S11) 2 is substituted into the staple position identification code SC, and the process of FIG.

  (S12) Both “left” and “up” included in this character string correspond to the value 1, and both “right” and “bottom” correspond to the value 0 and correspond to one character string. Find the sum of two values. For example, if the sum of the character string “upper left” is expressed as [upper left], [upper left] = 1 + 1 = 2, and similarly, [upper right] = 0 + 1 = 1, [lower left] = 1 + 0 = 1, [lower right] = 0 + 0 = 0. These values are generally expressed as [corner].

  (S13) A value of C = [angle] + EC is obtained.

  (S14 to S16) If the value of C is an odd number, 1 is assigned to the staple position identification code SC, and if it is an even number, 3 is assigned to the staple position identification code SC.

  By such processing, the staple position identification character string is easily coded.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the arrow button of the combo box 25 is clicked with the mouse, a list of the number of punch holes for the post-processing side selected in the combo box 23 is displayed in a drop-down manner. The number of holes that can be taken is determined by the punch device 17MP. When a line in the list is clicked with the mouse, the character string is displayed in the text box of the combo box 25, and then the encoding process is started.

  Here, stapling or punching may be prohibited depending on the combination of the paper size selected on the basic tab screen (not shown) and the post-processing edge selected in the combo box 23. In this case, the corresponding character string in the list displayed by pressing the arrow button of the combo box 24 or 25 is grayed out so that it cannot be selected (invalidated).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the gray-out display process started when the arrow button of the combo box 24 or 25 is clicked with the mouse.

  (S20) If the check box 20 is marked and the post-processing side is selected in the combo box 23 (if it is not a custom setting), the process between step S21 and step S27 is performed in the list of the combo box 24. The process is repeatedly executed for all the items inside, and if not, the process proceeds to step S28. All the items are determined by post-processing side selection in the combo box 23.

  (S22) One item is taken out.

  (S23) Refer to a post-processing prohibition table as shown in FIG.

  (S24) The items extracted in step S22, information on whether the selected post-processing side is the long side (L) or the short side (S), and the paper size selected on the basic tab page It is determined whether or not the combination is described in the post-processing prohibition table. For example, when stapling is performed at the center of the long side of the A3 sheet, it corresponds to the first row of this table, so an affirmative determination is made. If a positive determination is made, the process proceeds to step S25, and if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S26.

  (S25) The item extracted in step S22 is grayed out in the combo box list ("center" in FIGS. 4C and 4E), and the process returns to step S22.

  (S26) The items extracted in step S22 are normally displayed in the list of the combo box, and if the processing has not been completed for all items, the process returns to step S22, and if completed, the processing in FIG.

  (S28) All items are grayed out and the process of FIG. 9 is terminated.

  By such processing, selectable post-processing positions can be known before post-processing position selection, so that the operability of post-processing position selection by the user is improved.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing related to the setting content list window, which is started by pressing the setting content list button 27B or an event of a setting content changing operation.

  (S30) When the setting content list display button 27B is pressed, and this pressing is an odd number, the process proceeds to step S31, and when the pressing is an even number, the process proceeds to step S32. If it is not pressed, that is, if it is determined that an operation for changing the setting contents such as clicking an item in the list, a check box or a radio button has been performed on any tab page in the setting window of FIG. Proceed to step S33.

  (S31) The setting contents list window 27 is opened, and the processing of FIG. The setting contents list window 27 displays a list of main contents set on each tab page. The initial setting contents are default contents or previous setting contents.

  The list in FIG. 15 includes “paper source” (paper tray), “paper source”, “paper size”, “print orientation”, “number of copies”, and layout tabs set on the basic tab page. “Combine” (for example, reduce 4 pages and consolidate them into 1 page), “Poster print”, “Scale” and “Double-sided print”, “Staple” and “Punch” set on the post-processing tab page "And the setting contents thereof are displayed. Other items are also displayed by operating the scroll bar. The setting content list window 27 is smaller than the setting window on the right side, and is approximately ¼ the size of the setting window. The downsizing contributes to the addition of vertical and horizontal scroll bars to the right and bottom sides of the list.

  (S32) The setting content list window 27 is closed, and the processing of FIG.

  Through the processing in steps S30 to S32, the setting content list window 27 is switched between display and non-display each time the setting content list display button 27B is pressed.

  (S33) In accordance with the setting content changing operation, the setting content of the setting item is updated.

  (S34) If the setting contents list window 27 is open, the process proceeds to step S35, and if not, the process of FIG. 11 is terminated.

  (S35) If this setting item exists in the setting content list window 27, the setting content is updated.

  Even if there are seven setting tab pages as shown in FIG. 15, it is possible to easily confirm substantially the entire setting contents by looking at the list of processing results, and the relationship with other setting contents. You can understand the prohibition process grayed out. As a result, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of times of setting page switching in order to check whether or not the setting has been made, thereby improving user operability.

  When the OK button 28 is pressed, setting information in the printer driver 18 and image information from the application via the API of the OS are transmitted to the system control device 11 by the printer driver 18, which are respectively set information memory 13 and image information memory. 12.

  Here, the post-processing apparatus can perform post-processing only on the front end or the rear end in the paper feeding direction. In this embodiment, a case where post-processing can be performed only on the front end in the paper feeding direction will be described.

  As described above, the post-processing side can be freely selected by the user except when the post-processing is prohibited under conditions such as the size, as shown in the right column of FIGS. 5 and 6. Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the image so that the front end in the paper feeding direction is the post-processing side. Even if this rotation is performed, since the value of the staple position identification code SC is determined as described above, the arrangement of the staple position identification codes SC on the post-processing side is all the same. That is, as viewed from the center of the sheet, the staple position identification codes SC at the left end and the right end at the front end in the sheet feeding direction are 1 and 3, respectively, and 2 at the center are 2.

  Thus, the post-processing code in FIG. 2 may be given to the post-processing device.

  Depending on the size of the paper, for example, it is prohibited to rotate the image by 90 degrees and laterally feed as in the case of EC = 2 in FIG. 5, but in FIGS. 5 and 6, there is no such prohibition. Shows the case.

  In addition, the setting related to post-processing can generally be performed by the image forming apparatus 10, and the same applies to the present embodiment. That is, the setting screen as shown in FIG. 3 is also displayed on the operation panel 14 and used for copying.

  12 shows an arbitrary one after the image forming apparatus 10 receives and divides single-sided printing data from the host computer HC and stores it in the image information memory 12 and the setting information memory 13 in a print job for which post-processing is designated. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the process of a page. This flowchart mainly shows processing for improving printing efficiency by changing the vertical feed (long side in parallel with the paper feeding direction) to the horizontal feed when the paper can be changed to the horizontal feed.

  (S40) If the post-processing side is a long side, that is, if the value of the print orientation identification code DIR + EC is an even number from the contents of the setting information memory 13, the process proceeds to step S43. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S41.

  (S41) With respect to the corresponding page of the image information, a paper size that can be used for both vertical feeding and horizontal feeding is specified by the image forming apparatus 10, and post-processing information is not punched (PC = 0), and the staple position If the identification code SC is 1 or 3 and the laterally fed paper is set in the paper feed stage, it is determined that the paper feed direction can be changed, and the process proceeds to step S42. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S43. move on.

  (S42) The contents of FIG. 2 are rewritten so that the vertical paper feed is the horizontal feed, and the paper feed stage is changed to the horizontal feed with the same paper size.

  This rewriting is performed as follows. That is, for example, in FIG. 13, when the setting by the user is EC = 1 and SC = 3, the setting is changed to EC = 2 and SC = 1. That is, the post-processing side is changed to an adjacent side including the staple position without changing the staple position. Similarly, when EC = 1 and SC = 1, change to EC = 4 and SC = 3.

  Further, for example, when the setting by the user in FIG. 14 is EC = 2 and SC = 3, the image is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise by the printer driver 18 as described above, and the front end in the paper feeding direction is the post-processing side. . From this state, when EC = 2 and SC = 3, change to EC = 3 and SC = 1. That is, the post-processing side is changed to an adjacent side including the staple position without changing the staple position. Similarly, when EC = 2 and SC = 1, change to EC = 1 and SC = 3.

  In general, when SC = 3, 1 is added to the post-processing edge identification code EC, and the staple position identification code SC is decreased from 3 to 1. Conversely, when SC = 1, the post-processing is performed. 3 is added to the edge identification code EC (however, when EC ≧ 2, 1 is subtracted from the post-processing edge identification code EC) and the staple position identification code SC is increased from 1 to 3.

  Such regularity can simplify the process.

  (S43) If the post-processing edge is the same as the binding margin, that is, if it does not pass step S42, the process proceeds to step S45, and if the post-processing edge is on the right of the binding margin, the process proceeds to step S44R. If the side is on the left of the binding margin, the process proceeds to step S44L.

  (S44R) The rotation angle information is changed so that the image rotates 90 degrees to the left (counterclockwise) with respect to the image information in the image information memory 12, and the process proceeds to step S45.

  (S44L) The rotation angle information is changed so that the image is rotated 90 degrees clockwise (clockwise) with respect to the image information in the image information memory 12, and the process proceeds to step S45.

  By such image rotation, when the post-processed sheet bundle is rolled based on the binding margin, the image writing device 15M can form an image so that the image orientation is the positive direction for all pages. it can.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the staple position identification code SC indicates the staple position as viewed from the point O. Therefore, the value of the staple position identification code SC does not depend on the image rotation, and is subsequent to the binding margin in step S42. It depends only on the shift of the processing edge.

  (S45) The system control device 11 supplies the contents of the image information memory 12 to the image writing control device 15, and the image writing control device 15 forms an image on the paper for the image writing device 15M in response thereto. Let In response to the request from the image writing control device 15, the system control device 11 causes the paper transport device 16M to transport the paper via the paper transport control device 16. Further, the system control device 11 supplies post-processing information to the post-processing control device 17. The post-processing control device 17 causes the stapling device 17MS or the punching device 17MP to execute post-processing when a condition for enabling post-processing is satisfied.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the portrait formed on the sheet based on the combination information of the distinction between the long side or the short side of the sheet and the distinction between the left, right, upper, and lower sides of the sheet. Since the post-processing side of the sheet bundle is designated on the basis of the image or the landscape image, there is an effect that the user can easily specify the post-processing side for the sheet bundle.

  Further, since the staple position at one end on the designated post-processing side is designated by combination information of the distinction between left and right and the distinction above or below, the user can designate the staple position for the sheet bundle. There is an effect that it is easy.

  Furthermore, since the designated staple position is converted into a code that does not depend on image rotation accompanying changing the post-processing side to the front end or the rear end in the paper feeding direction, the number of post-processing patterns can be reduced and the post-processing routine can be more There is an effect that it can be simplified.

  In addition, when using paper of a size that can be fed vertically and horizontally, the concept of post-processing edges different from the binding margin for determining the turning direction is introduced, and the post-processing edges are automatically set according to the post-processing conditions. Since the paper feed direction is changed by making it different from the binding margin, the feed direction can be automatically changed according to the conditions without complicating post-processing designation by the user, which greatly contributes to the improvement of printing efficiency.

  Further, since the post-processing side identification code and the post-processing position identification code for the post-processing side are used, the number of post-processing patterns can be greatly reduced compared to the conventional case, and the post-processing routine can be simplified.

  Next, a case where post-processing is performed on a same-size sheet bundle including a portrait image and a landscape image, or on different-size sheet bundles having the same side length is described as a second embodiment of the present invention. explain.

  In such a case, when the above-mentioned “custom setting” is selected from the list of FIG. 4A, the gray setting display custom setting button 29 shown in FIG. 3 becomes a normal display as shown in FIG. Enable state. When the custom setting button 29 is pressed, a custom post-processing side setting screen as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed.

  In the upper part of the screen, a portrait example image and a landscape example image for a small-size sheet capable of vertical and horizontal feed are juxtaposed. The letter “T” in the example image indicates the orientation of the image. In addition, radio buttons PS1 to PS4 and LS1 to LS4 are arranged corresponding to each of the four sides of both images. The four radio buttons PS1 to PS4 for the portrait example image are grouped and only one of them can be selected, and the same applies to the radio buttons LS1 to LS4 for the landscape example image. Since it is necessary to match the lengths of the post-processing sides of the overlapped sheets, when one radio button of both groups is selected, the selection of the other radio button is linked in a limited manner as will be described later.

  In the middle of the setting screen, portrait example images and landscape example images for large-size paper that can be selected with the short side as the post-processing side are juxtaposed. Corresponding to each of the short sides of both images, radio buttons PL1, PL3 and radio buttons LL2, LL4 are arranged. The two radio buttons PL1 and PL3 for the portrait example image are grouped and only one of them can be selected, and the same applies to the radio buttons LL2 and LL4 for the landscape example image. Since only the short side can be selected, unlike the case of the small size in the upper row, there is no restrictive linkage between the radio button selection of both groups.

  When one of these 12 radio buttons is clicked with a pointing device, a black dot is displayed on the button and a selected state is displayed, and a band-shaped binding margin is displayed on the side of the corresponding exemplary image.

  Here, like the A4 and A3 size paper, the long side of the small size paper and the short side of the large size paper are generally the same length, but the short sides are the same length as the letter and legal. The length of the long side may be different, and such a combination is also a selection target.

  At the bottom of the setting screen, the example image is rotated so that the selected post-processing side corresponds to each of the four example images described above, and the left side in FIG. The left sides are equal in length. In this lowermost image, the paper feeding direction is the left direction or the right direction determined by the post-processing side device.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an event handler process started when any of the radio buttons or the OK button 30 is clicked with the pointing device on the screen of FIG.

  (S50) If the OK button 30 arranged at the bottom of the setting screen is clicked and pressed by the pointing device, the process proceeds to step S57, and the radio button for selecting the post-processing side of the large-size sheet in the middle is displayed on the pointing device. Is clicked, the process proceeds to step S56, and when the radio button for selecting the post-processing edge of the upper small size sheet is clicked with the pointing device, the process proceeds to step S51.

  (S51) Only the radio button is selected for the group to which the clicked radio button belongs.

  (S52) If the side of the example image (one example image) corresponding to the selected radio button is a long side, the process proceeds to step S53, and if the side is a short side, the process proceeds to step S54.

  (S53) If the selected side of the other example image in the upper stage in FIG. 16 is a long side, the process proceeds to step S55, and if not, the process proceeds to step S56.

  (S54) If the selected side of the other example image in the upper stage in FIG. 16 is a short side, the process proceeds to step S55, and if not, the process proceeds to step S56.

  (S55) With respect to the other example image, the radio button on the right side of the radio button in the selected state as viewed from the example image is set in the selected state.

  For example, in FIG. 16, when the radio button PS1 is clicked with the pointing device while the radio button PS4 and the radio button LS1 are selected, the radio button PS1 is selected in step S51, and the radio button PS1 is selected in step S55. LS2 is selected. When the radio button LS4 is clicked with the pointing device in this state, the radio button LS4 is selected in step S51, but since the negative determination is made in step S54, the selection state of the radio button PS1 does not change.

  (S56) If the selection state is changed for one example image in step S51 or if the selection state is automatically changed for the other example image in step S55, the corresponding example image in the lower part of the screen is selected. After that, the post-process side is changed to the image rotated so that the left side becomes the left side, and the process of FIG. 17 ends. The print data from the application via the OS API is changed by the printer driver 18 so as to correspond to the image rotation.

  (S57) For each portrait image and landscape image of each of the small size paper and the large size paper, the post-processing side designated on the screen is encoded (post-processing side code EC in FIG. 1) and set information memory 13 is stored and confirmed.

  When the custom setting button 29 is pressed next time to display the screen of FIG. 16, the four groups of radio buttons are selected based on the data stored in the setting information memory 13, that is, the previous time. It becomes a state.

  In FIG. 16, four types of example images are displayed. Of these, images that are irrelevant to a print job are also selected. However, there is no problem because the user knows that and the processing edge data is not used thereafter.

  In FIG. 16, two of the radio buttons LS1 to LS4 can be selected in response to the selection of one of the radio buttons PS1 to PS4, and one of the radio buttons PL1 and PL3 is selected for these selections. In addition, since one of the radio buttons LL2 and LL4 can be selected, there are a total of 4 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32 combinations of post-processing side selections.

  However, according to the second embodiment, the post-processing side can be easily selected without error by the selection, display, and processing as described above.

  In addition, when the image display button 26B is pressed in FIG. 15, the post-processing image for the different-size sheet bundle is displayed on the window 26, so it is possible to easily confirm the suitability of the finish in advance. The effect when the setting content list display button 27B is pressed is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The post-processing control device 17 may be supplied with the post-processing code shown in FIG.

  The designation of the staple position and the number of punch holes for the selected post-processing side is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. Further, when post-processing is performed on different-size sheets, the post-processing sides having the same length are overlapped with each other, so that the processing shown in FIG. 12 is not performed.

  Note that the present invention includes various other modifications.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the post-processing side is automatically changed from the short side to the long side has been described. However, the present invention only needs to automatically change the post-processing side from one of the short side and the long side to the other. . For example, when the designated post-processing side is a long side and no laterally fed paper is set on the paper stage of the image forming apparatus, the post-processing side is automatically changed from the long side to the short side to enable image formation It may be.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where each side is viewed from the sheet center O in FIG. 1 has been described, but the same result is obtained when viewed from above or below the sheet center O, or from the outside of the sheet to each sheet side. Therefore, in the present invention, it is only necessary to see each side from the center O of the sheet.

  In the above embodiment, the case of single-sided printing has been described. However, it is obvious that the present invention can also be applied to the case of double-sided printing. When forming a back side image by duplex printing, when the image direction is perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, the image is rotated 180 ° so that a bundle of sheets post-processed by the post-processing device is wound based on the binding margin. Sometimes the orientation of the image is the same and positive for all pages.

  Further, the image forming unit is not limited to the laser electrostatic transfer method as long as it forms an image on the supplied paper, and of course, may be an ink jet method or the like.

It is post-processing setting code explanatory drawing. It is a figure which shows the structure of the post-processing code stored in a setting information memory. It is a figure which shows a post-processing information setting screen. FIG. 4 is a content explanatory diagram of a list that is drop-down displayed when an arrow button of the combo box in FIG. 3 is clicked with a mouse. The figure which shows the state and rotation angle which rotated the image so that the post-processing position on these four post-processing sides when these printing directions are portraits, these identification codes, and the front end of a paper feeding direction may become a post-processing side. It is. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing post-processing positions on four post-processing sides and their identification codes when the printing direction is landscape, and a state and rotation angle in which the image is rotated so that the front end in the paper feeding direction is the post-processing side. is there. It is a flowchart which shows the process which converts a post-processing edge identification character string into a post-processing edge identification code and a printing direction identification code. It is a flowchart which shows the process which converts a staple position identification character string into a staple position identification code. It is a flowchart which shows the display method of a post-processing position selection list. It is explanatory drawing of the post-processing prohibition table referred by step S3 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process regarding the setting content list window started by pressing down of the setting content list button 27B or setting content change operation. 10 is a schematic flowchart showing an arbitrary one-page process for mainly improving the printing efficiency by changing the vertical feeding of paper to the horizontal feeding when it can be changed to the horizontal feeding. FIG. 6 is a process explanatory diagram of step S42 in FIG. 5 when the post-processing side is changed to the left side of the binding margin. FIG. 6 is a process explanatory diagram of step S42 in FIG. 5 when the post-processing side is changed to the left side of the binding margin. It is a figure which shows the post-processing information setting screen in the state as which the custom post-processing edge setting was selected based on Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows a custom post-processing edge | side setting screen. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing of an event handler that is started when any radio button or OK button is clicked with a pointing device on the screen of FIG. 16. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the system control apparatus in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 System controller 111 MPU
112 Interface 113E1 ROM
113E2 NVRAM
113D DRAM
114 Hard disk drive 116 Scanner 117 NIC
118 Facsimile Modem 12 Image Information Memory 13 Setting Information Memory 14 Operation Panel 15 Image Writing Control Device 15M Image Writing Device 16 Paper Transport Control Device 16M Paper Transport Device 17 Post-Processing Control Device 17MS Staple Device 17MP Punch Device 18 Printer Driver 20 to 22 Check box 23-25 Combo box 26 Post-processing image window 26B Image display button 27 Setting content list window 27B Setting content list display button 28, 30 OK button 29 Custom setting button HC Host computer DIR Printing orientation identification code L1-L4 , L Post-processing side SC1-SC3, SC Staple position identification code EC1-EC4, EC Post-processing side identification code PC Punch code PS1-PS4, LS1-LS4, PL1, PL3, LL 2, LL4 radio button

Claims (8)

Image forming means for forming an image on the supplied paper based on the supplied image data;
Post-processing means for physically performing post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming means;
A post-processing designating unit for designating a post-processing side of the sheet bundle based on a portrait image or a landscape image formed on the paper and a post-processing position with respect to the post-processing side as post-processing information;
Storage means for storing the image data and the designated post-processing information;
Image rotating means for changing the stored image data so that the post-processing side is the front edge or the rear edge in the paper feeding direction;
Control means for causing the post-processing means to perform post-processing based on the stored post-processing information;
Have
The post-processing designation means uses a portrait image or a landscape image formed on the sheet as a reference based on combination information of the distinction between the long side or the short side of the paper and the distinction between the left, right, top, and bottom sides of the paper. An image forming apparatus, wherein a post-processing side of a sheet bundle is designated.   The post-processing designating unit designates, as the post-processing position, the staple position at one end on the designated post-processing side based on combination information of whether it is left or right and upper or lower distinction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the post-processing designating unit converts the designated staple position into a code independent of the change by the image rotation unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the post-processing designating unit also designates the presence or number of punch holes on the designated post-processing side as the post-processing position.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing designation unit is a host computer coupled to the control unit. If the stored post-processing edge identification code cannot be post-processed by the post-processing means, the post-processing edge identification code is set so that the post-processing means can perform post-processing without changing the post-processing result. A change means for changing whether or not the stored post-processing code can be changed if it is determined whether or not it can be changed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the post-processing position identification code indicates one of both ends of the post-processing side, when the post-processing side is substantially shifted to the one side when viewed from the center of the paper, The post-processing side identification code is updated corresponding to the shift, and the post-processing position identification code is updated so that the post-processing position identification code indicates the other of both ends of the post-processing side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.   The updating means stores the post-processing edge identification code in the storage means as a binding margin code independent of the update before updating the post-processing edge identification code, and is post-processed by the post-processing means. The image data stored in the storage means is changed so that the orientation of the image is the same for all pages when the bundle of sheets is rolled based on the binding margin code. 8. The image forming apparatus according to 7.