JP2010001090A - Printing system, and program for printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of easily performing binding of a small number of booklets. <P>SOLUTION: Arrangement of image data relative to the paper and a treatment position of post-treatment relative to a bundle of papers are controlled such that a plurality of booklets after cutting become the same booklets respectively when the formed booklets are cut. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system for bundling image-formed sheets and producing a booklet, and a program for the printing system.

  When a booklet is produced by performing bookbinding on a printed material, multiple pages of the original image are imprinted on the front and back of one sheet of printing paper, and the printed material is folded or cut. After performing the post-processing, the bookbinding is performed by gluing.

  For example, in the bookbinding method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of images are printed on one sheet, the sheet is folded to create a signature, and glue binding is performed. Then, after bookbinding, printing is performed in which a plurality of pages of document images are arranged in advance so that each document image is correctly arranged in the document page order and direction.

Further, in the case of producing a plurality of booklets, the printing and bookbinding method disclosed in Patent Document 2 repeatedly prints the same image on the roll paper by the number of booklets, and then cuts the booklet with the cut paper. It is to be produced.
JP 59-96998 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-208573

  In the bookbinding method described in Patent Document 1, one booklet is created by performing post-processing on one printed sheet, but not a plurality of books at the same time.

  Further, in the printing and bookbinding method described in Patent Document 2, the same image is repeatedly printed, and then cut and bundled to produce a booklet. There is an advantage that a large number of booklets can be formed. However, when binding a small number of books, time and cost are unsuitable.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system capable of easily binding a small number of books.

1. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data;
A post-processing unit for bundling sheets formed with the image forming unit to form a sheet bundle, and performing post-processing on the formed sheet bundle to produce a booklet;
An input means for the user to set post-processing;
Control means, and when the post-processing set by the input means is a setting for creating a plurality of booklets,
The arrangement of the image data with respect to the paper and the processing position of the post-processing with respect to the paper bundle are controlled such that when the formed booklet is cut, the plurality of booklets after cutting are the same booklet. Printing system.

  2. 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a flat binding unit that performs a stapling process on an end portion of the sheet bundle.

  3. 2. The printing system according to 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a saddle stitching unit that forms a folded sheet bundle and performs a stapling process in the vicinity of the fold.

  4). 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a middle folding unit that forms a folded sheet bundle.

  5. 2. The printing system according to 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a gluing bookbinding unit that applies glue to one end surface of a sheet bundle and attaches a cover to the coated surface.

  6). The control means arranges the image data on the sheet so that the positional relationship between the cut surface and the post-processing position in the plurality of booklets after cutting is the same. The printing system in any one of.

7). Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data;
A post-processing unit for bundling sheets formed with the image forming unit to form a sheet bundle, and performing post-processing on the formed sheet bundle to produce a booklet;
A setting input means for acquiring post-processing setting information;
A printing system program for causing a printing system to execute an operation of producing a booklet using a computer,
A setting information acquisition step for acquiring post-processing setting information;
When the setting information acquired in the setting information acquisition step is a setting for creating a plurality of booklets, when the formed booklet is cut, the plurality of booklets after cutting become the same booklet. A position determining step for determining the processing position of the post-processing with respect to the arrangement of the image data and the sheet bundle;
An image forming step of forming an image on a sheet based on the arrangement of the image data determined in the position determining step;
A post-processing step of performing post-processing on the formed paper bundle based on the processing position determined in the position determination step;
A program for a printing system, which causes the computer to execute

8). In the position determining step,
8. The printing system program according to 7, wherein image data is arranged on a sheet so that a positional relationship between a cutting surface and a processing position of the post-processing is the same in a plurality of booklets after cutting. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing system capable of easily binding a small number of books.

  Although the present invention will be described based on an embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system including an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus B.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus A is called a tandem color image forming apparatus, and includes an image forming unit A1, a scanner unit 1, an operation display unit 2, and an automatic document feeder D.

  The image forming unit A1 forms an image by an electrophotographic method, and includes an image writing unit 3, a plurality of image creating units 4Y (yellow), 4M (magenta), 4C (cyan), 4K (black), and a belt. And a sheet feeding tray 5, a sheet feeding unit 6, a fixing device 7, a sheet discharge unit 8, and an automatic double-sided copy sheet feeding unit 9.

  An automatic document feeder D (ADF) is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus A. A post-processing apparatus B is connected to the paper discharge unit 8 side on the left side of the image forming apparatus A in the figure.

  The document placed on the document table of the automatic document feeder D is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and an image on one or both sides of the document is read by the optical system of the scanner unit 1 and read into the CCD image sensor 1A.

  The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 1A is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the memory control unit, and then sent to the image writing unit 3.

  In the image writing unit 3, output light from the semiconductor laser is applied to the photosensitive drum 41 of the image creating unit 4 to form a latent image. In the image creating unit 4, processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning are performed. The sheet S conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 5 by the sheet feeding unit 6 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer unit 43. The paper S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7 and sent from the paper discharge unit 8 to the post-processing device B.

  When forming images on both sides of the paper S, after one side image formation is performed by the conveyance path switching gate G0, the image is conveyed downward immediately after passing through the fixing device 7 and sent to the automatic double-sided copy paper feeding unit 9. After reversing the front and back, the image creating unit 4 again performs double-sided image processing, and then the paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 8. The post-processing apparatus B performs post-processing.

  The operation display unit 2 includes a touch panel in which a touch screen is placed on a liquid crystal (LCD) panel. The user can input print conditions and post-processing setting information in a post-processing apparatus described below by inputting or selecting various settings through the operation display unit 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a finisher apparatus B1 as one embodiment of the post-processing apparatus B. The finisher apparatus B1 is installed with its position and height adjusted so that the inlet 11 of the paper S carried out from the image forming apparatus A coincides with the paper discharge section 8 of the image forming apparatus A.

  The conveyance path of the sheet S connected to the sheet conveyance downstream of the inlet section roller pair 12 of the inlet section 11 includes three systems: an upper first conveyance path r1, an intermediate second conveyance path r2, and a lower third conveyance path r3. The paper S is fed to one of the transport paths by branching and switching the angles of the switching gates G1 and G2.

(1) No processing mode (first transport path r1)
The image-formed paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus A is introduced into the inlet portion 11 and conveyed by the inlet portion roller pair 12. The sheet S passes through the right passage 13 of the upper first switching gate G1 and is lifted and transported by the upper transport roller pair 14 and transport roller pair 15 and further sandwiched by the discharge roller pair 16. The paper is discharged onto a fixed paper discharge tray 81 at the upper outside of the machine and sequentially stacked.

  In this paper transporting process, the switching gate G1 is swung by the drive of the solenoid D1 to close the passage 17 and open the passage 13 to allow the paper S to pass through the fixed paper discharge tray 81.

(2) Lifting / discharging tray 82, no processing mode (second transport path r2)
When this transport mode is set, the switching gate G1 closes the passage 13 and keeps the passage 17 open while the solenoid is off, allowing the sheet S to pass through the passage 17.

  The image-formed paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus A passes through the entrance portion 11 and the entrance portion roller pair 12, passes through the passage 17 formed in an open state below the switching gate G1, and is conveyed to the transport roller. Passed by the pair 18, passes through the passage 21 above the second switching gate G 2 obliquely below the second transport path r 2, is sandwiched by the transport roller pair 22, passes through the path 23, and transport roller pair 24. The paper is ejected by the pair of ejection rollers 26 and stacked on a lifting / lowering tray 82 capable of storing a large amount of sheets.

(3) End stapling process (third transport path r3)
The sheet S to be subjected to the end stapling process or the intermediate stapling process is subjected to the image forming process in the image forming apparatus A and sent to the inlet portion 11 of the finisher apparatus B1, and below the inlet roller pair 12 and the first switching gate G1. , Is sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 18 and transported to the third transport path r3.

  In the third transport path r3, the sheet S passes through the passage 31 below the switching gate G2, and is sandwiched and transported by the downstream transport roller pair 32. The sheet S is further nipped by the downstream conveying roller pair 34 and sent out. The sheet S is discharged into the space above the intermediate stacker 35 disposed at an inclination of the first stacking unit 30 and stacked on the intermediate stacker 35 or the intermediate stacker 35. After touching the upper surface of the sheet S and sliding up, the trailing end of the sheet S in the advancing direction is discharged from the pair of conveying rollers 34. Then, the sheet S moves downward due to its own weight, and moves on the inclined surface of the intermediate stacker 35. The leading end of the sheet S in the advancing direction comes into contact with the sheet abutting surface of the end binding movable stopper member (hereinafter referred to as an end binding stopper) 51 near the staple unit 50 and stops.

  Reference numeral 36 denotes a pair of upstream side width aligning means movably provided on both side surfaces of the intermediate stacker 35. The upstream side width aligning means 36 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. When the paper S is discharged onto the intermediate stacker 35, it is opened wider than the paper width and transported on the intermediate stacker 35. When stopping by contacting the edge binding stopper 51, the side edges of the sheets S in the width direction are tapped to perform width alignment (width alignment) of the sheet bundle.

  When a predetermined number of sheets S are stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker 35 at this stop position, the stapling unit 50 performs a binding process to bind the sheet bundle.

  A plurality of discharge belts 38 wound around a drive pulley 37A and a driven pulley 37B are rotatably disposed on a part of the sheet stacking surface of the intermediate stacker 35. The stapled sheet bundle is held on the trailing edge of the sheet S by the discharge claw 38a of the discharge belt 38, is placed on the discharge belt 38, and slides on the mounting surface of the intermediate stacker 35 obliquely upward. It is pushed up and proceeds to the nip position of the discharge roller pair 26. The sheet bundle sandwiched between the rotating discharge roller pair 26 is discharged and stacked on the lift discharge tray 82.

(4) Cover sheet feeding (fourth transport path r4)
The cover sheet feeding unit 40 includes a cover sheet placement unit 41 and a cover sheet feeding unit 42.

  One cover sheet K fed from the cover sheet feeding means 40 passes through the passage 43, passes through the other nip position of the transport roller pair 14, passes through the path 19 and the transport roller pair 18, and then It reaches the intermediate stacker 35 via the transport roller pair 32, the passage 33, and the transport roller pair 34 in the third transport path r3.

(5) Staple processing (fifth transport path r5)
The staple unit 50 has a two-part structure of an upper mechanism 50A and a lower mechanism 50B, and a passage 52 through which the sheet S can pass is formed in the middle.

  Two sets of the staple units 50 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction, and can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction by a driving unit (not shown). With the staple unit 50, the binding needle SP can be applied at an arbitrary position in the paper width direction in accordance with the post-processing setting conditions.

  When the saddle stitching mode is set and the size (length in the transport direction) of the cover sheet K and the sheet S is set or detected, the saddle stitching movable stopper member (hereinafter referred to as the saddle stitching stopper) 53 moves to a predetermined position. Then stop. In conjunction with the activation of the saddle stitching stopper 53, the end stitching stopper 51 is retracted and the passage 52 is opened.

  After the cover sheet K is placed at a predetermined position on the intermediate stacker 35, the sheet S carried out from the image forming apparatus A passes through the third conveyance path r3 from the inlet conveyance section 10 of the finisher apparatus B1, and then is intermediately stacked. The sheets K are sequentially stacked on the upper surface of the cover sheet K placed on the sheet 35, and the end portion of the sheet S is in contact with the saddle stitching stopper 53 and positioned. Reference numeral 56 denotes a downstream side width aligning unit that regulates the width direction of the sheet S at the time of stapling. Like the upstream side width aligning unit 36, each time a sheet S is carried in, the side edge in the width direction of the sheet S is loaded. To match the width.

  Further, during the stapling process, the upstream side width aligning unit 36 and the upstream side width aligning unit 36 are estimated for the time when the sheet S is conveyed against the saddle stitching stopper 53 with respect to the sheet S conveyed on the intermediate stacker 35 and traveling upstream of the staple unit 50. The downstream side width aligning means 56 is simultaneously operated to perform sheet width alignment and align sheets.

  In this way, the sheet S and the cover sheet K that travel on the intermediate stacker 35 and extend over the upstream side and the downstream side with the staple unit 50 as the center are stacked on the upstream side width aligning unit 36 and the downstream side. The width aligning unit 56 accurately performs the width alignment over the entire length of the sheet S.

  After the final sheet S is positioned and placed on the intermediate stacker 35, the staple unit 50 performs a stapling process on the sheet bundle including the cover sheet K and all the pages of the sheet S. The stapling process is performed by driving the binding needle SP at the end of the sheet bundle or at the center of the cover sheet and the sheet S in the transport direction. The latter is also referred to as saddle stitching processing. The binding needle SP is driven from the lower mechanism 50B having the driving driving side toward the upper mechanism 50A having the clinching side.

(6) Folding process (sixth transport path r6)
After the stapling process, the saddle stitching stopper 53 swings to open the passage downstream of the passage 52. A sheet bundle composed of the stapled cover sheet and the sheet S passes through the curved path and the intermediate conveyance roller pair 61 and is guided to the guide plate 63 by the conveyance belt 62 obliquely below, and further conveyed. (Stack base) 64 is transported, and the leading end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction comes into contact with the folding portion movable stopper means 65 and stops at a predetermined position. The folding portion movable stopper means 65 can be moved to a predetermined position by setting or detecting the paper size and driving means.

  The folding means 60 includes a sheet ejecting means 66, a folding roller 67, a conveying belt 68, a pressure roller 69, and the like.

  In response to the folding start signal, the ejecting plate 66A of the paper ejecting means 66 advances obliquely upward, and the leading end of the ejecting plate 66A pushes up the central portion of the sheet bundle composed of the cover K and the sheet S, and passes through the sheet bundle. The nip portion of the folding roller 67 is pushed and swung and separated.

  After the leading end of the ejecting plate 66A passes through the nip portion, the ejecting plate 66A moves backward, and the central portion of the sheet bundle is pressed by the folding roller 67 to form a crease portion. This fold line coincides with the binding position of the binding needle into the sheet bundle by the stapling process described above. This saddle stitching and center folding process can process a maximum of 16 sheets (64 pages). The paper size that can be folded in half is 182 mm to 324 mm in width and 257 mm to 460 mm in length (paper transport direction).

  The central portion of the sheet bundle formed with a fold portion by being pressed by a pair of rotating folding rollers 67 is sandwiched and transported by a pair of transport belts 68 and sent to the nip position of the pair of pressure rollers 69. After the crease portion is further firmly attached at this position, the crease portion is discharged to the booklet discharge portion 100.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a bookbinding apparatus B2 as another embodiment of the post-processing apparatus B. As shown in FIG. The bookbinding apparatus B2 performs case binding processing. A plurality of sheets S (hereinafter referred to as body sheets S1) fed from the image forming apparatus A are bundled to form a bundle of sheets, and a cover sheet S2 is joined to the bundle and the bundle of the body sheets S1 is formed into a U-shape by the cover sheet. Cover and cover to make a booklet. The post-processing apparatus B includes a sheet reversing unit 140, a stacking unit 150, a coating unit 160, a cutting unit 170, and a joining unit 190 that joins a cover sheet to a bundle of sheets. The booklet discharge unit 100 is included. The body sheet S1 conveyed from the image forming apparatus A to the bookbinding apparatus B2 is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 83 through the discharge path 112 or to the sheet reversing section 140 by the switching gate G11 provided in the transfer section 110. Be transported. When the case binding process is not performed in the bookbinding apparatus B2, the paper sheet S1 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 83.

  When the case binding process is executed in the bookbinding apparatus B2, the main body paper S1 is transported to the paper reversing unit 140 via the transport path 113, and after being switched back by the paper reversing unit 140, is transported to the stacking unit 150. A set number of body sheets S1 are stacked in the stacking unit 150, and when the body sheets S1 reach the set number, the stacking unit 150 rotates and the bundle of body sheets S1 is held in a substantially vertical state. Then, an adhesive is applied to the lower surface (also referred to as a pasting surface) which is the back of the bundle of body sheets S1 by the application unit 160, and the cover sheet S2 contacts and adheres to the bundle of body sheets S1. A booklet SD (also referred to as a case book) created by adhering a cover sheet S2 to a bundle of body sheets S1 is discharged to the book discharge unit 110. When the cover sheet S2 is too large, the cutting unit 170 performs cutting so as to have an appropriate length.

  The size of the body paper that can be case-bound is 150 to 307 mm in width and 140 to 221 mm in length (paper transport direction).

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of various booklets created by the printing system. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a booklet (bookbinding product) SA in which staples SP are stapled at the end of the sheet bundle and stapled in the staple unit 50. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the booklet SB (bound product) that has been subjected to the folding process and the stapling process. FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the booklet SC in which two sheets are folded in the folding means 60 and creased. FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a booklet SD (bookbinding product) in which the cover sheet S2 is bonded to the sheet bundle S1 by the bookbinding apparatus B2.

  FIG. 5 is a network diagram of the printing system in the present embodiment. The printing system R and the terminal device P are connected via a network N. By using the printer driver software of the printing system K incorporated in the terminal device P, it is possible to set printing conditions such as post-processing settings. And the said terminal device P and the above-mentioned operation display part 2 function as an input means in which a user sets a post-process.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus A includes a state management unit c100, a scanner unit c120, an ADF control unit c130, an operation control unit c140, and a printer control unit c150.

  The state management unit c100 controls the entire image forming apparatus A and processes image data. The read processing unit c101, DRAM control IC c103, image control CPU c102, program memory c104, system memory c105, and nonvolatile memory c106. A write control unit c108, a compression / decompression ICc 109, and an input / output interface c110. The state management unit c100 functions as a control unit.

  The reading processing unit c101 performs various image processing such as scaling and gradation processing on the image data from the scanner unit c120.

  The image control CPU c102 performs synchronization control among the scanner control unit c122, the ADF control unit c130, the printer control unit c152, and the like.

  The DRAM control unit c103 performs image data writing / reading control.

  The program memory c104 is a ROM storing control programs for the image forming apparatus A and the image forming system, and the system memory c105 is a work RAM.

  The nonvolatile memory c106 stores various parameters used for controlling each unit.

  An image memory c107 stores image data, and includes a compression memory c107A.

  c108 is a writing control unit for controlling an LD (laser diode) which is an exposure light source of the printer unit c150.

  c110 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as a PC (personal computer).

  The scanner unit c120 includes a CCD c121 that reads an image and outputs an image signal, and a reading control unit c122.

  The operation display unit c140 includes an LCD c141 that performs display, and a touch panel and other operation buttons c142.

  The printer unit c150 includes an LDc 151 that writes an image using an LD (laser diode), an image creation unit 4Y that forms an image by an electrophotographic process, a printer control unit c152 that controls each other unit, and a paper discharge control unit c153.

  The paper discharge control unit c153 switches between paper face-up paper discharge and face-down paper discharge.

  The post-processing apparatus B includes a post-processing control unit c200 and a transport mechanism c201. Further, depending on the type of the post-processing apparatus B, a stapling part, a folding part, a gluing part and the like are provided.

  Next, FIGS. 7 and 8 are detailed views of display screens on the control terminal P. FIG. A post-processing setting procedure in the printing system will be described with reference to these drawings.

  The display screen D2 shown in FIG. 7 is a screen for making basic settings for print settings. In the paper column a10 in FIG. 7, the paper size and paper feed tray are set, and in the output column a20, the output method, paper discharge mode, etc. In the bookbinding column a30, the print type (single-sided, double-sided) and post-processing can be set. In the example shown in the figure, it is shown that the stapling process is selected as the post-processing. The selected setting is confirmed by depressing the OK button D10.

  When performing “multiple booklet creation”, the special function button D20 is depressed to shift to the setting screen.

  The display screen D3 shown in FIG. 8 is a screen for setting a special function. When creating a plurality of books, the check box D21 is turned on, and the number of books is selected by the selection column D22. In the example shown in the figure, a setting is made so that two books are created simultaneously. In the image display field a50, an image diagram of the completed booklet is displayed. Further, the cut face can be aligned by checking the check box D23. The details of “multiple volume creation” and “multiple volume creation with trimming surface alignment” will be described later.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the contents of JOB data and page data. The JOB data in FIG. 9 includes information such as “staple position information”, “stapling binding direction”, and “number of sheets created in the multi-booklet creation mode” set on the display screens shown in FIGS. The control program stored in the program memory c104 shown in FIG. 6 grasps the contents of the JOB data and page data shown in FIG. 9 and executes various controls.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a control flow of the printing system according to the present embodiment. The control flow is executed by the state management unit c100.

  In step S10, post-processing setting information is acquired. The post-processing setting information is input by the user mainly by operating the display screens of FIGS. 7 and 8, and is included in the JOB data of FIG.

  If the post-processing information acquired in step S10 is two or more in the JOB data shown in FIG. 9, it is determined that there is a “multiple booklet creation mode” (Yes in step S11), and the next step S12. Execute. On the other hand, when the “multiple booklet creation mode” is not set, an image is formed on the sheet based on the JOB data and page data as usual, and the process ends.

  Here, “page data” is obtained by adding print setting data of the page to image data to be printed on the front and back pages of the paper. Depending on the setting of the post-processing, a plurality of image data that has been reduced, rotated, and the like are combined into one page data, and an image is formed on a sheet based on the combined image data. Further, a plurality of image data may be arranged in one page data in accordance with settings such as post-processing.

  In step S12, the arrangement of the image data and the processing position of the post processing are determined based on the post processing setting information. Details regarding this processing will be described later. Here, “arrangement of image data” means that a plurality of image data is arranged on the printing surface of a sheet based on post-processing setting information. When the arrangement is performed, the image data may be resized according to rotation and enlargement / reduction. If the setting is to create a plurality of booklets, page data for the number of booklets is combined to generate combined page data, and an image is formed on a sheet based on the combined page data. The “post-processing processing position” is, for example, a stapling position with respect to a sheet in the stapling process, or a gluing surface with respect to the sheet in case binding processing.

  In step S13, an image is formed on the sheet based on the image data arranged in step S12.

  In step S14, the sheet on which the image is formed in step S13 is stacked by the stacking unit (for example, the first stacking unit 30) of the post-processing apparatus B to form a sheet bundle.

  In step S15, post-processing is executed based on the processing position determined in step S12, and the process ends. Hereinafter, specific examples of the processing will be described based on the drawings.

[Booklet formation process]
FIG. 11 to FIG. 23 are diagrams showing a process of arranging image data and producing a booklet based on setting of post-processing information.

The post-processing setting information items include, for example, the following types (a) to (d), and the post-processing setting information is set when the user selects a combination of these from the operation display unit 2 or the like.
(A) Types of post-processing include (a1) flat stitching, (a2) saddle stitching, (a3) folding processing, and (a4) case binding.
(B) Binding directions include (b1) left binding, (b2) right binding, and (b3) top binding.
(C) Cutting surface alignment includes (c1) cutting surface alignment and (c2) no cutting surface alignment.
(D) There are 2 to 10 books for setting the number of books to be created.

  In addition, there is a print type setting. Depending on the setting of the printing type, the image forming surface on the paper is switched between single side and double side. Note that some combinations of these may not be selected at the same time. For example, when the creation of a plurality of booklets is set to three or more, (c1) with cut surface alignment cannot be selected at the same time.

[Example of booklet creation by side binding]
First, an example of creating a booklet by setting a side stitch will be described. FIG. 11 shows a process of creating a booklet by arranging n pages of image data in setting of the number of booklets to be created, setting two-sided booklet, single-sided printing, left side stitching, and one-position staple post-processing information. FIG. FIG. 11A shows n page image data. FIG. 11B creates composite image data in which the n pages of image data shown in FIG. 11A are arranged on each of n sheets of paper S (S (1) to S (n)). 9 (corresponding to page data shown in FIG. 9), an image is formed based on the composite image data (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 10).

  Note that the size of the composite image data and the size of the paper (excluding margins and the like) need to match, and are set by the user by referring to the display screens shown in FIGS. .

  FIG. 11C shows a state in which the sheet on which the image is formed in FIG. 11B is stacked on the stacking unit to form a sheet bundle (corresponding to step S14 in FIG. 10).

  FIG. 11D shows a state in which post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle formed in FIG. In the figure, since the post-processing is left flat binding, one place staple, and “multiple booklet creation” is set and the number of books is two, the post-processing device B uses two places for one sheet bundle. The staple SP is hit.

  The booklet shown in FIG. 11D is a finished product (primary finished product) created by the printing system according to the embodiment. The booklet SA1 and SA2 which are the final finished products can be created by cutting the booklet with an external cutting machine along the line C-C shown in FIG. it can. Further, as is clear from the figure, the booklets SA1 and SA2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the layout of image data and the processing position of post-processing are determined based on the post-processing setting information in step S12 shown in FIG. 10, and the booklet is formed based on the determined layout and processing position. Therefore, a plurality of bookbinding can be easily obtained by cutting the formed booklet.

  Further, as described above, the minimum paper size that can be used in the finisher device B1 and the case binding device B2 is restricted by the machine configuration. This restriction determines the minimum booklet size possible for the first finished product. In the present embodiment, since the booklet of the final finished product is produced by cutting the primary finished product into a plurality of pieces, it is possible to produce a booklet of a smaller size than the restriction of the machine configuration.

  FIG. 12 shows the case where the number of booklets to be created is two, single-sided printing, left side stitching, one-point stapling, and post-processing information with trimming surface alignment. It is a figure which shows the process to produce. This is different from FIG. 11 described above in that the setting of post-processing information includes the alignment of the cut surface. In FIG. 12B, two pages of image data shown in FIG. 12A are arranged on n sheets of paper to create composite image data, and an image is formed based on the composite image data. Yes, as shown in the figure, the images arranged two by two are synthesized with their up and down directions reversed. FIG. 12D shows a booklet created by accumulating sheets of images formed in such an arrangement, forming a sheet bundle shown in FIG. 12C, and performing post-processing on the sheet bundle. ).

  As shown in FIG. 12 (d), unlike the booklet shown in FIG. 11 (d), the processing position of the staple SP is also changed in accordance with the change of the image arrangement. The booklet shown in FIG. 11 (d) is a primary finished product, and the booklet is cut by an external cutting machine or the like along the line C-C shown in FIG. 11 and is cut by an external cutting machine along the cutting surface. By cutting, two booklets SA1 and SA2 which are final finished products can be created. Further, the booklets SA1 and SA2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet. Furthermore, in the obtained booklets SA1 and SA2, the cut surfaces are aligned so that the cut surfaces of both booklets are on the right-side spread side. There is a merit that the appearance is improved by setting the cut surface to the facing side. For example, when the alignment of the sheet bundle is not successful, there arises a problem that the end face of the booklet becomes uneven. Since the irregularities are conspicuous on the side of the spread side, the irregularities can be eliminated by cutting the spread side, so that the appearance can be improved.

  FIG. 13 is a view showing various booklets of side binding created in different post-processing settings, and corresponds to FIG. FIG. 13A shows a booklet formed with three created books, and other settings are the same as the conditions shown in FIG. The C1-C1 line and the C2-C2 line are cut surfaces. FIG. 13B shows a booklet created by stapling in two places, and FIG. 13C shows a booklet in which “cutting surface alignment” is further performed on the post-processing setting of FIG. 13B.

[Example of booklet creation by saddle stitching]
Next, an example of booklet creation by saddle stitching setting will be described. FIG. 14 shows a process of creating a booklet by arranging image data of all 8 pages in setting of the number of booklets to be created, setting double-sided printing, double-sided printing, saddle stitching, and 2-position staple post-processing information. FIG. FIG. 14A shows 8 pages of image data. FIG. 14B shows an image formed by arranging the image data of 8 pages shown in FIG. 14A on each side of two sheets of paper (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 10). .

  FIG. 14C shows a state in which the sheet on which the image is formed in FIG. 14B is stacked on the stacking unit to form a sheet bundle (corresponding to step S14 in FIG. 10).

  FIG. 15A is a diagram for explaining a post-processing position for the sheet bundle formed in FIG. In the figure, the FF line is a fold line, and along the fold line, the folding means 60 and the binding means 50 perform a saddle stitch folding process for performing a folding process and a binding process. The booklet shown in FIG. 15B is a finished product (primary finished product) created by the printing system according to the embodiment. In the figure, since the post-processing is left saddle stitching, two-point stapling, and “multiple booklet creation” is set and the number of books is two, the post-processing apparatus B uses four places for one sheet bundle. The staple SP is hit.

  The booklet shown in FIG. 15 (b) is cut by an external cutting machine along the line C-C shown in FIG. 15 (a) with an external cutting machine or the like, so that two final finished products are obtained. Booklets SB1 and SB2 can be created. Further, as is clear from the figure, the booklets SB1 and SB2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet.

  FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. 15, and the booklet is prepared with the post-processing setting “with cut surface alignment”. The booklet shown in FIG. 16 (b) is cut by an external cutting machine along the line C-C shown in FIG. 16 (a) with an external cutting machine or the like, so that two final finished products are obtained. Booklets SB1 and SB2 can be created. Further, in the two booklets SB1 and SB2, the booklets SB1 and SB2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet including the cut surface, as is apparent from FIG.

  FIGS. 17 to 19 are diagrams showing booklets created in different post-processing settings, and correspond to FIG. FIG. 17 shows a booklet formed with three created books, and other settings are the same as the conditions shown in FIG. The C1-C1 line and the C2-C2 line are cut surfaces. FIG. 18 is a booklet created with the setting of right saddle stitching, and FIG. 19 is a booklet created with the setting of top saddle stitching, each having a different spread direction. Other settings are the same as the conditions shown in FIG.

[Booklet creation example by case binding process]
Next, an example of creating a booklet in the case binding process will be described. FIG. 20 shows a process of preparing a booklet by arranging image data of all 10 pages in the setting of post-processing information in the setting of multi-booklet creation and the number of booklets to be created, double-sided printing, case binding, and left binding. FIG. FIG. 20A shows 10 pages of image data. FIG. 20B shows an image formed by arranging two pages of the image data of 10 pages shown in FIG. 20A on both sides of the two sheets (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 10). .

  FIG. 20C shows a state in which the paper on which the image is formed in FIG. 20B is stacked on the stacking unit 150 to form a paper bundle (corresponding to step S14 in FIG. 10).

  FIG. 21A is a diagram for explaining a post-processing position for the sheet bundle formed in FIG. In the same figure, the BB line is an affixing surface to which a cover is pasted, and the cover shown in FIG. 21B is affixed to the affixing surface by the case binding device B2. The booklet shown in FIG. 21C is a finished product (primary finished product) created by the printing system according to the embodiment. The booklet shown in FIG. 20 (c) is cut by an external cutting machine along the line C-C shown in FIG. 21 (a) with an external cutting machine or the like, so that two final finished products are obtained. Booklets SD1 and SD2 can be created. Further, as is clear from the figure, the booklets SD1 and SD2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet.

  FIG. 22 shows that the number of books to be created is set to create multiple booklets, two-sided printing, case binding, left binding, and trimming surface alignment. In the setting of post-processing information, all 10 pages of image data are arranged and booklets are arranged. It is a figure which shows the process to produce. This is different from the above-described FIG. 20 in that there is a cut surface alignment in the setting of post-processing information.

  FIG. 22A shows 10 pages of image data. FIG. 22B shows an image formed by arranging two pages of the image data of 10 pages shown in FIG. 22A on both sides of the two sheets (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 10). . In the example shown in FIGS. 11 to 21 described above, one image data is repeatedly arranged on the same page for the number of books, but in FIG. 22B, the image data arranged on the same page is not the same. Absent.

  FIG. 22C shows a state in which the sheet on which the image is formed in FIG. 22B is stacked on the stacking unit 150 to form a sheet bundle (corresponding to step S14 in FIG. 10).

  FIG. 23A is a diagram for explaining a post-processing position for the sheet bundle formed in FIG. In the same figure, the BB line is a sticking surface to which a cover is pasted, and the cover shown in FIG. 23B is stuck on the sticking surface by the case binding device B2. The booklet shown in FIG. 23C is a finished product (primary finished product) created by the printing system according to the embodiment. The booklet shown in FIG. 23 (c) is cut by an external cutting machine along the line C-C shown in FIG. 23 (a) with an external cutting machine or the like, so that two final finished products are obtained. Booklets SD1 and SD2 can be created. Further, in the two booklets SD1 and SD2, the booklets SB1 and SB2 obtained by cutting are the same booklet including the cut surface, as is apparent from FIG.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system including an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus B. FIG. It is a figure which shows finisher apparatus B1 as one embodiment of post-processing apparatus B. FIG. It is a figure which shows bookbinding apparatus B2 as other embodiment of post-processing apparatus B. FIG. It is a perspective view of various booklets created with a printing system. 1 is a network diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram of a control system of the printing system according to the present embodiment. 4 is a detailed view of a display screen on the control terminal P. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a display screen on the control terminal P. FIG. It is the figure which showed the contents of JOB data and page data. It is a figure which shows the control flow of the printing system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a flat stitch. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a flat stitch. It is a figure which shows the various booklets of a side stitch. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the saddle stitch booklet. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a case binding. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a case binding. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a case binding. It is a figure which shows the process of producing the booklet of a case binding.

Explanation of symbols

A image forming apparatus B post-processing apparatus B1 finisher apparatus 50 stapling section B2 bookbinding apparatus 2 operation display section 10 inlet transport section 30 first stacking section 40 cover sheet feeding means 60 folding means 100 booklet discharge section SA, SB, SC, SD booklet

Claims (8)

Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data;
A post-processing unit for bundling sheets formed with the image forming unit to form a sheet bundle, and performing post-processing on the formed sheet bundle to produce a booklet;
An input means for the user to set post-processing;
Control means, and when the post-processing set by the input means is a setting for creating a plurality of booklets,
The arrangement of the image data with respect to the paper and the processing position of the post-processing with respect to the paper bundle are controlled such that when the formed booklet is cut, the plurality of booklets after cutting are the same booklet. Printing system. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a flat binding unit that performs a stapling process on an end portion of a sheet bundle. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a saddle stitching unit that forms a folded sheet bundle and performs a stapling process in the vicinity of the fold. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a middle folding unit that forms a folded sheet bundle. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is a gluing bookbinding unit that applies glue to one end surface of a sheet bundle and attaches a cover to the coated surface. The control unit arranges image data on a sheet so that a positional relationship between a cutting surface and a processing position of the post-processing in a plurality of booklets after cutting is the same. The printing system according to claim 5. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data;
A post-processing unit for bundling sheets formed with the image forming unit to form a sheet bundle, and performing post-processing on the formed sheet bundle to produce a booklet;
A setting input means for acquiring post-processing setting information;
A printing system program for causing a printing system to execute an operation of producing a booklet using a computer,
A setting information acquisition step for acquiring post-processing setting information;
When the setting information acquired in the setting information acquisition step is a setting for creating a plurality of booklets, when the formed booklet is cut, the plurality of booklets after cutting become the same booklet. A position determining step for determining the processing position of the post-processing with respect to the arrangement of the image data and the sheet bundle;
An image forming step of forming an image on a sheet based on the arrangement of the image data determined in the position determining step;
A post-processing step of performing post-processing on the formed paper bundle based on the processing position determined in the position determination step;
A program for a printing system, which causes the computer to execute In the position determining step,
The printing system according to claim 7, wherein image data is arranged on a sheet so that a positional relationship between a cutting surface and a processing position of the post-processing in a plurality of booklets after cutting is the same. program.

Images