JP2010044429A - Image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in setting post-processing including paper, on which an image formation is carried out by an image forming apparatus and paper that is directly supplied, without passing through the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: With non-image paper to be supplied from PI trays D, E of a post-processing unit 200 as a reference, a reference mode for non-image paper for inserting image paper which is ejected from the image forming apparatus 100 can be selected. The image paper and the non-image paper are loaded to an accumulation section 250, by setting the number of sheets of non-image paper that are to be supplied from the PI trays D, E by a paper supply means 222, an inserting page position for inserting the image paper with the non-image paper as the reference, tray bodies A, B, C for supplying the paper to be inserted, and the inserted number of sheets, etc.; and then inserting the image paper to the inserting position that is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, post-processing apparatuses that perform post-processing such as punching and stapling on paper after image formation have been used. If the post-processing device is equipped with paper feeding means, attach the paper that has not passed through the image forming device as a front cover / back cover to the paper after image formation, or a page in the middle of the paper bundle It is possible to insert an insertion sheet into the sheet (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-89469 A

  However, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “image sheet”) is directly supplied without passing through the image forming apparatus by a sheet feeding unit provided in the post-processing apparatus. When inserting paper (hereinafter referred to as “non-image paper”), since the instruction was made to insert the non-image paper into the image paper on the basis of the image paper, When the number of sheets is large, the operation is complicated.

  It is an object of the present invention to improve operability in post-processing settings including a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus and a sheet that is directly supplied without passing through the image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming system according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus including a plurality of main body trays for storing paper, and post-processing is performed on the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus. A post-processing device including a post-processing unit to be performed, and a paper storage unit that stores paper supplied to the post-processing unit without passing through the image forming apparatus, the paper storage unit, and the main body tray. A main body tray that feeds paper to be inserted when a paper bundle is formed by inserting paper that is fed from one of the main body trays and on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus. And an operation display section that can be set for each position where a sheet is inserted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, in the operation display unit, an image forming mode for setting single-sided or double-sided image formation for the inserted paper is inserted. It can be set for each position.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image forming system further includes a paper detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the paper stored in the paper storage unit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to third aspects, a plurality of the post-processing units are provided, and one of the post-processing units is provided with a folding processing unit that can be folded in three. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the main body tray for feeding the paper to be inserted can be set for each position where the paper is inserted, so that the paper on which image formation has been performed by the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus are passed. It is possible to improve the operability in the setting of the post-processing including the paper that is directly supplied without any problem.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 according to a first embodiment. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming system 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating setting items of the image forming system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed setting item in non-image paper reference | standard mode. It is a flowchart which shows a non-image paper reference mode process. It is a flowchart which shows a PI tray automatic switching process. (A) is an example of non-image paper set on the PI tray D. (B) is an example of two image sheets to be inserted into the 0th page of the non-image sheet. (C) is an example of one sheet of image paper to be inserted into the 20th page of non-image paper. (D) is an example of one sheet of image paper to be inserted into the 40th page of non-image paper. (E) is an example of one sheet of image paper to be inserted into the 60th page of non-image paper. It is a figure for demonstrating the production order of a booklet. It is a flowchart which shows the standby state transfer process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a process with standby in job. It is a time chart which shows processing with standby during a job.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming system 1 in the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a post-processing apparatus 200.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 120, a printer unit 140, and the like.

  The image reading unit 120 includes a scanner unit 121 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) unit 122 that is an automatic paper feeding mechanism. The scanner unit 121 reads reflected light emitted from a light source and reflected by a document by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor. When the ADF unit 122 is used, the originals are conveyed one by one from the bundle of originals set in the ADF unit 122 to the scanner unit 121 and an image is read.

  The document image data read by the image reading unit 120 is subjected to various types of image processing, and is output to the printer unit 140 as print image data.

  The printer unit 140 includes main body trays A, B, and C, a paper feeding unit 141, an image forming unit 142, a paper discharge port 143, and the like.

  The main body trays A, B, and C store paper before image formation for each paper type and paper size.

  The paper feeding unit 141 includes a conveyance roller, a registration roller 141a, and the like, and feeds the paper stored in the main body trays A, B, and C to the image forming unit 142.

  The image forming unit 142 exposes and scans the photosensitive member with a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit based on the image data, and forms an electrostatic latent image. Next, toner is attracted to the photosensitive member by the developing unit, and the toner is transferred to the paper in the transfer unit. Then, an image is formed by thermally fixing the toner to the paper in the fixing unit. The image paper on which image formation has been performed in the image forming unit 142 of the image forming apparatus 100 is discharged from the paper discharge port 143 to the post-processing device 200.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing apparatus 200 includes PI (post inserter) trays D and E, a paper feeding unit 222, a receiving port 230, a punch unit 240, a stacking unit 250, a staple unit 260, a folding processing unit 270, a cutting unit. A unit 280, a fixed paper discharge tray 290a, a lift paper discharge tray 290b, a booklet storage tray 290c, and the like are provided.

  The PI trays D and E store non-image paper for each paper type and paper size. The non-image paper is directly supplied to each post-processing unit of the post-processing device 200 without passing through the image forming apparatus 100. The non-image paper may be a paper on which image formation has been performed in advance.

  The paper feeding means 222 feeds non-image paper stored in the PI trays D and E to each post-processing unit.

  The receiving port 230 receives the image paper discharged from the paper output port 143 of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The punch unit 240 opens punch holes at predetermined positions on the paper.

  On the stacking unit 250, image sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 and / or non-image sheets fed from the PI trays D and E by the sheet feeding unit 222 are stacked. In the case of performing offset paper discharge, an offset process is performed on a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit 250.

  The stapling unit 260 performs a stapling process on a sheet bundle corresponding to the number of sheets stacked on the stacking unit 250. When performing the saddle stitching process, the stapling process is performed at the center of the sheet.

  The folding processing unit 270 forms a crease at a predetermined position on the sheet in response to an instruction such as half-folding or tri-folding.

  The cutting unit 280 includes a cutting blade that can move in a paper transport direction or a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and cuts the paper bundle with the cutting blade (cut processing). The sheet bundle subjected to the cutting process is discharged to the booklet storage tray 290c.

  The fixed paper discharge tray 290a is a tray that discharges paper when a small amount of image is formed. The elevating / discharging tray 290b is a tray that can be raised / lowered according to the thickness of the sheet bundle to be discharged. The booklet storage tray 290c stores booklets that have been cut.

  FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming system 1. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component same as each part demonstrated in FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image control unit 110, an image reading unit 120, an operation display unit 130, a printer unit 140, and the like.

  The image control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a program memory 112, a system memory 113, a nonvolatile memory 114, a reading processing unit 115, a DRAM control IC 116, a writing processing unit 117, a compression / decompression IC 118, an image memory 119, and the like. Consists of

  The CPU 111 reads out various processing programs stored in the program memory 112 and comprehensively controls the processing operations of the respective units of the image forming apparatus 100 in cooperation with the programs.

  The program memory 112 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) and stores various processing programs executed by the CPU 111.

  The system memory 113 is a RAM (Random Access Memory), and forms a work area that temporarily stores various programs executed by the CPU 111 and data related to these programs.

  The nonvolatile memory 114 stores image data read by the image reading unit 120, data used for various processes, and the like.

  The reading processing unit 115 performs digital shading correction processing and A / D conversion processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading unit 120 to generate digital image data. The generated image data is output to the DRAM control IC 116.

  The DRAM control IC 116 performs compression / decompression processing on the image data by the compression / decompression IC 118 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111 and performs input / output control of the image data to the image memory 119. For example, when the reading of the image data is instructed, the DRAM control IC 116 performs a compression process on the image data input from the reading processing unit 115 and stores it in the compression memory 119 a of the image memory 119. In addition, when the print control of the image data is instructed, the DRAM control IC 116 reads the compressed image data from the compression memory 119a, performs the decompression process, and outputs it to the writing processing unit 117.

  The writing processing unit 117 generates printing image data for image formation based on the image data input from the DRAM control IC 116, and outputs it to the printer unit 140.

  The compression / decompression IC 118 performs a compression process or an expansion process on the image data.

  The image memory 119 includes a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and includes a compression memory 119a. The compression memory 119a is a memory for storing compressed image data.

  The image reading unit 120 includes a scanner unit 121, an ADF unit 122, and an image reading control unit 123, as shown in FIG. The image reading control unit 123 controls the scanner unit 121 and the ADF unit 122 according to an instruction from the CPU 111 to execute optical scanning of the document surface, and the read analog image signal is sent to the reading processing unit 115 of the image control unit 110. Output.

  The operation display unit 130 includes a display unit 131, an operation unit 132, and an operation display control unit 133.

  The display unit 131 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various operation screens and various processing results.

  The operation unit 132 includes a hard key such as a numeric key and a start key, and a touch panel provided so as to cover the display unit 131, and an operation signal indicating a pressed key or a touch position of the touch panel is transmitted to the operation display control unit 133. Output.

  The operation display control unit 133 outputs an operation signal operated by the operation unit 132 to the CPU 111. In addition, the operation display control unit 133 causes the display unit 131 to display various operation screens and various processing results in accordance with instructions from the CPU 111.

  The printer unit 140 includes various units related to printing such as the image forming unit 142 and the printer control unit 144. The printer control unit 144 controls the operation of each unit of the printer unit 140 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111 and causes the sheet to form an image based on the image data input from the writing processing unit 117.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing apparatus 200 includes a post-processing control unit 210, paper detection units 221a and 221b, a paper feeding unit 222, a punch unit 240, a stacking unit 250, a staple unit 260, a folding processing unit 270, and a cutting unit. 280 and the like.

  The post-processing control unit 210 comprehensively controls the processing operation of each unit of the post-processing device 200 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111.

  The paper detection means 221a is provided in the PI tray D, and detects the presence or absence of non-image paper stored in the PI tray D. Similarly, the paper detection means 221b is provided in the PI tray E, and detects the presence or absence of non-image paper stored in the PI tray E.

  When it is detected that there is no non-image paper during feeding in any of the PI trays D and E, the post-processing control unit 210 has other trays that store non-image paper of the same size. Sometimes switch to another tray. For example, when paper detection means 221a detects that there is no non-image paper while paper is being fed from PI tray D, when non-image paper of the same size is stored in PI tray E, Switch to PI tray E.

  Next, setting items of the image forming system 1 set in the operation display unit 130 will be described with reference to FIG. When setting each setting item, a setting screen is displayed on the display unit 131, and various settings are performed according to an operation instruction from the operation unit 132.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting items of the image forming system 1 include “number of copies setting”, “image forming mode setting”, “post-processing mode setting”, “main paper feed tray setting”, “insertion function setting”, and the like. There is.

  In “number of copies setting”, the number of copies of a sheet bundle or booklet created in the image forming system 1 is set.

  In “image formation mode setting”, an image formation mode of “single-sided” or “double-sided” is set for image formation in the image forming apparatus 100.

  In “post-processing mode setting”, “no setting”, “offset mode”, “staple mode”, “saddle stitching mode”, and the like are set for post-processing in the post-processing apparatus 200.

  In the “main paper feed tray setting”, any of “main body tray A”, “main body tray B”, “main body tray C”, “PI tray D”, and “PI tray E” is set as the main paper feed tray. The

  In “insert function setting”, whether or not to use the insert function is set. The insertion function refers to the non-image paper fed from the PI trays D and E as the reference when the PI trays D and E are set as the main paper feed tray. A function of inserting image paper fed from one of the trays and image-formed (hereinafter referred to as non-image paper reference mode), or main trays A, B, and C as main paper feed trays Is set, the non-image paper fed from any one of the PI trays D and E based on the image paper fed from the main trays A, B and C and subjected to image formation. Is a function (hereinafter referred to as image paper reference mode).

  When the non-image paper reference mode is selected, “PI tray D” or “PI tray E” is set in “main paper feed tray setting”, and “inserted” is set in “insertion function setting”. .

  FIG. 4 shows detailed setting items in the non-image paper reference mode. As detailed setting items in the non-image paper reference mode, “sheet feeding number setting”, “PI tray automatic switching setting”, “insert page position setting”, “insert paper feed tray setting”, “insert image forming mode setting”, “ The “number of inserted sheets” is set. Note that when setting these detailed setting items, a setting screen is displayed on the display unit 131, and various settings are performed according to operation instructions from the operation unit 132.

  In the “sheet feeding number setting”, the number of non-image sheets to be fed by the sheet feeding unit 222 from the sheet feeding tray (PI tray D or PI tray E) set in the “main sheet feeding tray setting” is set. The Then, “PI tray automatic switching setting” is set to permit or prohibit automatic tray switching when the paper runs out during the paper feeding.

  In the “insert page position setting”, the page number of the non-image paper to be inserted with respect to the non-image paper fed from the PI trays D and E is set. A plurality of insertion page positions can be set. For each insertion page position, “insert paper feed tray setting”, “insert image formation mode setting”, and “insert number setting” are set. In “insert paper feed tray setting”, a paper feed tray (main body tray A, main body tray B, or main body tray C) indicating the paper storage position of the image paper to be inserted before image formation is set. In “insertion image formation mode setting”, an image formation mode of “single-sided” or “double-sided” is set for image formation in the image forming apparatus 100 of the image paper to be inserted. Here, the image formation mode set in “image formation mode setting” in FIG. 3 is invalid. In “insert number setting”, the number of image sheets to be inserted is set.

  When the image paper reference mode is selected, “main tray A”, “main tray B” or “main tray C” is set in “main paper feed tray setting”, and “inserted” is set in “insertion function setting”. Should be set. When the image paper reference mode is selected, the number of image paper feeds based on the image paper, the insertion page position indicating the non-image paper insertion position on the image paper, the insertion paper feed tray ( PI tray D or PI tray E), the number of inserted non-image sheets, and the like are set.

  When the non-image paper reference mode is selected, the post-processing control unit 210 is not fed from the paper feed tray (PI tray D or PI tray E) set in “Main paper feed tray setting”. The image paper is inserted at the insertion position set in the “insert page position setting” of the image paper, and the image paper and the non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250. When the image paper reference mode is selected, the paper is fed from the paper feed tray (main body tray A, main body tray B, or main body tray C) set in the “main paper feed tray setting” to perform image formation. The non-image paper is inserted into the broken image paper, and the image paper and the non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250.

Next, the operation in the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a non-image paper reference mode process executed in the image forming system 1. As a premise of the non-image paper reference mode process, “PI tray D” or “PI tray E” is set in the “main paper feed tray setting” in the setting items of the image forming system 1 shown in FIG. It is assumed that “with insertion” is set in “function setting”, and each item has been set in the detailed setting items in the non-image paper reference mode shown in FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not it is the insertion page position where the image paper should be inserted into the non-image paper (step S1). When it is not the insertion page position (step S1; No), the non-image paper fed from the PI tray D or PI tray E by the paper feeding means 222 is discharged to the stacking unit 250 (step S2), and the process proceeds to step S6. To do.

  If it is the insertion page position in step S1 (step S1; Yes), the non-image paper fed from the PI tray D or PI tray E by the paper feeding means 222 is discharged to the stacking unit 250 (step S3). Next, the paper set from the paper feed tray (main body tray A, main body tray B, or main body tray C) set in “insert paper feed tray setting” is set in “insert image formation mode setting”. The image paper on which image formation has been performed in the image formation mode (single side or double side) is discharged to the stacking unit 250 (step S4). When the insertion page position is 0 page, that is, when a front cover is inserted, the process of step S3 is omitted.

  Next, when the insertion of the image paper is not completed for the number of insertions set in the “insertion number setting” (step S5; No), the process returns to step S4, and the discharge of the image paper is repeated.

  In step S5, when the insertion of the image paper is completed for the number of insertions set in “insertion number setting” (step S5; Yes), or after step S2, the paper supply set in “paper supply number setting” It is determined whether or not the sheet feeding from the PI tray D or PI tray E is completed for the number of sheets (step S6).

  If the paper feed from the PI tray D or PI tray E is not completed for the number of paper feeds set in the “paper feed number setting” (step S6; No), the process returns to step S1, and steps S1 to S1 are performed. The process of S6 is repeated.

  In step S6, when the sheet feeding from the PI tray D or the PI tray E is completed for the number of sheets set in the “sheet feeding number setting” (step S6; Yes), the sheets are stacked on the stacking unit 250. Post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle, and the created sheet bundle is discharged (step S7). When “offset mode” is set in “post-processing mode setting”, offset processing is performed for each copy. When “stapling mode” is set in “post-processing mode setting”, stapling processing is performed by the stapling unit 260 for each copy. When “saddle stitching mode” is set in “post-processing mode setting”, stapling processing is performed on the center of the sheet by the stapling unit 260 for each copy.

  Next, when the creation of the sheet bundle has not been completed for the number of copies set in “Set number of copies” (step S8; No), the process returns to step S1, and the sheet bundle is created for the set number of copies. .

  In step S8, when the creation of the sheet bundle is completed for the number of copies set by the “number of copies setting” (step S8; Yes), the non-image paper reference mode processing is ended.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the PI tray automatic switching process executed when the automatic switching of the PI trays D and E is permitted in the “PI tray automatic switching setting” will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the paper feeding means 222 performs a non-image paper feeding operation from the PI tray (PI tray D or PI tray E) set in the “main paper feeding tray setting” (step S11). ).

  Here, when the sheet feeding from the PI tray D or PI tray E is completed for the number of sheets set in the “sheet feeding number setting” (step S12; Yes), the processing is terminated.

  In step S12, when the sheet feeding from the PI tray D or PI tray E is not completed for the number of sheets set in the “sheet feeding number setting” (step S12; No), the PI tray D being fed Alternatively, the presence or absence of non-image paper stored in the PI tray D or PI tray E is detected by the paper detection means 221a and 221b provided in the PI tray E (step S13).

  If it is detected that there is non-image paper in the PI tray D or PI tray E being fed (step S13; No), the process returns to step S11.

  If it is detected that there is no non-image paper in the PI tray D or PI tray E being fed (step S13; Yes), another PI tray (a PI tray different from the PI tray being fed) The presence / absence of non-image paper is detected (step S14).

  When it is detected that there is non-image paper in another PI tray (step S14; Yes), the non-image paper stored in the other PI tray is detected as having no paper in step S13. It is determined whether or not it is the same size as the other paper (step S15).

  When the non-image paper stored in the other PI tray is the same size as the paper in the PI tray detected as having no paper (step S15; Yes), the non-image paper is switched to another PI tray (step S16). ), A paper feeding operation is executed from another PI tray (step S11).

  If it is detected in step S14 that there is no non-image paper in the other PI tray (step S14; No), if the non-image paper stored in the other PI tray is not the same size in step S15 ( In step S15; No), since there is no sheet, the operation of the image forming system 1 is stopped (step S17), and the PI tray automatic switching process is ended.

  Next, an example in which the non-image paper reference mode process is performed under the setting conditions shown in Table 1 will be described.

  In the setting conditions shown in Table 1, “PI tray D” is set as the main paper feed tray, and a non-image paper reference mode for inserting image paper is set on the basis of the non-image paper fed from the PI tray D. ing. Then, it is set so that two copies of the booklet subjected to the stapling process are created as post-processing.

  As a detailed setting of the non-image paper reference mode, the number of sheets fed from the PI tray D is set to 60 sheets, and automatic tray switching is permitted when the sheet runs out during feeding. Also, as the page position for inserting the image paper, (1) 0th page, (2) 20th page, (3) 40th page, and (4) 60th page of non-image paper are set. The image paper to be inserted into the 0th page is fed from the main body tray A, image formation is performed on both sides, and the number of inserted sheets is two. The image paper to be inserted into the 20th page is fed from the main body tray B, image formation is performed on one side, and the number of inserted sheets is one. The image paper to be inserted into the 40th page is fed from the main body tray B, the image is formed on one side, and the number of inserted sheets is one. The image paper to be inserted in the 60th page is fed from the main body tray A, image formation is performed on both sides, and the number of inserted sheets is one.

  FIG. 7A shows an example of non-image paper set on the PI tray D. FIG. 7B is an example of two image sheets to be inserted into the 0th page of non-image paper. FIG. 7C shows an example of one image sheet to be inserted into the 20th page of the non-image sheet. FIG. 7D shows an example of one image sheet to be inserted into the 40th page of the non-image sheet. FIG. 7E shows an example of one image sheet to be inserted on the 60th page of the non-image sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the booklet creation is started, first, images are formed on both sides of the sheet fed from the main body tray A, and two image sheets are stacked on the stacking unit 250. Next, 20 sheets of non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250 from the PI tray D by the paper feeding unit 222. Next, at the position of the 20th page, an image is formed on one side of the sheet fed from the main body tray B, and one sheet of image sheet is stacked on the stacking unit 250. Next, 20 sheets of non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250 from the PI tray D by the paper feeding unit 222. Next, at the position of the 40th page, an image is formed on one side of the sheet fed from the main body tray B, and one sheet of image sheet is stacked on the stacking unit 250. Next, 20 sheets of non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250 from the PI tray D by the paper feeding unit 222. Next, at the position of the 60th page, image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet fed from the main body tray A, and one sheet of image paper is stacked on the stacking unit 250.

  Then, the stapling unit 260 performs a stapling process on one part of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit 250, and the booklet subjected to the stapling process is discharged.

  Subsequently, the second copy of the booklet is created. The order in which image paper and non-image paper are stacked is the same as in the first copy.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 1 in the first embodiment, since the insertion page position of the image paper can be set based on the non-image paper, the image forming apparatus 100 can form an image. It is possible to improve the operability in the post-processing including the performed image paper and non-image paper.

  Further, when there is no non-image paper in the PI tray D or PI tray E, it is possible to prevent the operation from being stopped due to the absence of paper by switching the paper feed tray.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
The image forming system according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the image forming system 1 shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the configurations thereof are the same. Illustration and description are omitted. In the image forming system according to the second embodiment, the non-image paper reference mode and the image paper reference mode can be selected as in the image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a configuration and processing characteristic of the second embodiment will be described.

  Only when the non-image paper reference mode is selected, the CPU 111 performs the operation in the image forming apparatus 100 even during a job when the image forming operation interval time in the image forming apparatus 100 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The image forming apparatus 100 is set in a standby state after the discharge of the image paper is completed and before preparation for the next image formation is started.

  A job indicates a series of operations relating to image formation and post-processing in the image forming system 1. For example, when outputting a plurality of sheets, a series of operations relating to the output of the plurality of sheets is one job, and when outputting a plurality of copies, a series of operations relating to the output for a plurality of copies is one job.

  The standby state refers to a power saving state in which the fixing unit and the drive system are stopped in the image forming apparatus 100.

  Further, the CPU 111 determines the timing (restart time Tup described later) for returning the image forming apparatus 100 from the standby state based on the job content.

Next, the operation in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating standby state transition processing according to the second embodiment. The standby state transition process is a process executed for each job.

  First, it is determined whether “PI tray D” or “PI tray E” is set in “main paper feed tray setting” (step S21). If the main paper feed tray is set to PI tray D or PI tray E (step S21; Yes), it is determined whether or not “insertion function setting” is set to “inserted” (step S21). S22). When the “insertion function setting” is set to “inserted” (step S22; Yes), that is, when the non-image paper reference mode is selected, processing with standby in the job is executed (step) S23).

  Here, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 and the time chart shown in FIG.

  First, image formation and conveyance are executed, and the elapsed time Tmoni is reset at the start of image formation (step S31). The elapsed time Tmoni indicates the elapsed time since the image formation in the image forming apparatus 100 is started (specifically, the time after the sheet before image formation passes through the registration roller 141a). If the job is finished (step S32; Yes), the process returns to FIG. 9 and the standby state transition process is finished.

  In step S32, if the job has not ended (step S32; No), the image forming operation interval time Tint and restart time Tup from the start of image formation to the start of the next image formation are calculated. (Step S33). The image forming operation interval time Tint and the restart time Tup are calculated by the following equations.

Tint = image paper interval + (paper feed interval from PI tray) x (number of non-image paper)
Tup = Tint−Tb

  The image paper interval refers to the time from when the paper passes through the registration roller 141 a until it is discharged out of the image forming apparatus 100. The paper feed interval from the PI tray indicates the paper feed interval time from the PI tray in the continuous operation. Tb is a preparation time required for returning from the standby state to the image forming operation state.

  Next, when the image forming operation interval time Tint is shorter than the predetermined time T (step S34; No), the process returns to step S31.

  In step S34, when the image forming operation interval time Tint is equal to or longer than a predetermined time T (step S34; Yes), it is determined whether or not the discharge of the image paper from the image forming apparatus 100 is completed. (Step S35). When the discharge of the image paper from the image forming apparatus 100 is completed (step S35; Yes), the operation in the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped (step S36), and the standby state is executed (step S37).

  If the elapsed time Tmoni has passed the restart time Tup (step S38; Yes), the image forming apparatus 100 is restarted to the image forming operation state (step S39), and the process returns to step S31.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the image forming apparatus 100 completes the discharge of the image paper, the image forming apparatus 100 is in a standby state until preparation for the next image formation starts, and the PI tray D or the PI tray E. To non-image paper is continuously fed. When the elapsed time Tmoni elapses the restart time Tup, the image forming apparatus 100 is restarted and feeding from the main body trays A, B, and C is started.

  In step S21 of FIG. 9, when the main paper feed tray is not set to PI tray D or PI tray E (step S21; No), “insertion function setting” is set to “insertion” in step S22. When there is no image (step S22; No), when the image forming operation interval time between jobs is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the standby state is entered (step S24).

  According to the image forming system in the second embodiment, the period from the completion of the image paper discharge in the image forming apparatus 100 to the preparation for the next image formation, that is, when the image forming operation is unnecessary. By setting the image forming apparatus 100 to the standby state, power saving can be achieved. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 can be returned from the standby state based on the job content.

  The description in each of the above embodiments is an example of the image forming system according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each device constituting the system can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the stacking unit 250 on which the image paper and the non-image paper are stacked is provided in the post-processing apparatus 200. However, the image paper and the non-image paper are directly fixed. It is good also as stacking on the paper discharge tray 290a or the raising / lowering paper discharge tray 290b.

  Further, post-processing after image paper and non-image paper are stacked on the stacking unit 250 may be performed not only stapling processing but also various booklet creation processing such as tape binding binding and case binding.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 100 Image forming apparatus 110 Image control part 111 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 Image reading part 121 Scanner part 122 ADF part 123 Image reading control part 130 Operation display part 131 Display part 132 Operation part 133 Operation display control part 140 Printer part 141 Paper feed means 142 Image formation part 144 Printer control part A, B, C Main body tray 200 Post-processing device 210 Post-processing control unit 221a, 221b Paper detection unit 222 Paper feeding unit 240 Punch unit 250 Stacking unit 260 Staple unit 270 Folding processing unit 280 Cutting unit 290a Fixed discharge tray 290b Lifting / discharging tray 290c Booklet storage Tray D, E PI tray

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus including a plurality of main body trays for storing paper;
A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on paper discharged from the image forming apparatus; and a paper storage unit that stores paper supplied to the post-processing unit without passing through the image forming apparatus. An aftertreatment device;
When feeding a sheet from the sheet storage unit and the main body tray, and inserting a sheet fed from one of the main body trays and having an image formed by the image forming apparatus to create a sheet bundle, An image forming system, comprising: an operation display unit configured to set a main body tray for feeding a sheet to be inserted at each position where the sheet is inserted.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein an image forming mode for setting single-sided or double-sided image formation on a sheet to be inserted can be set for each position where the sheet is inserted on the operation display unit. Forming system.   3. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet detection unit configured to detect presence / absence of a sheet stored in the sheet storage unit.   The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a plurality of the post-processing units, each of which includes a folding processing unit that can be folded in three.

Images