JP2014193562A - Image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system which allows an operator to perform post-processing operation by manual operation without trouble regardless of a paper discharge state.SOLUTION: The image formation system comprises: a print part for printing a received printing job with respect to a sheet; a discharge part for discharging the sheet to which printing is performed by the print part; a post-processing part for setting a post-processing mode for performing post-processing operation with respect to plural sheets discharged by the discharge part and capable of switching a classification mode and classification operation for each job with respect to the plural sheets discharged by the discharge part; and a control part for controlling the print part so as to print a post-processing position for rear surface to a rear surface of a final page of the printing job with respect to at least the print part and controlling the post-processing part so as to perform classification operation when determined that the post-processing operation cannot be performed when the post-processing operation is performed.

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system that incorporates a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on paper printed by a printing unit in an image forming system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming system, an image forming system in which a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as a stapling operation or a punching operation on a sheet printed by a printing unit is known.

In the post-processing unit, the maximum allowable number of sheets is determined for the stapling operation and the punching operation, and the post-processing operation may be performed beyond that number. In the case of a stapling operation, when a staple needle is inserted into a sheet bundle, buckling may occur in the middle of the sheet bundle, resulting in incomplete binding. In the case of a punching operation, an excessive load is applied to the motor that performs the punching operation. When the punching operation is stopped, the entire image forming system is stopped, and the operation time of the image forming system is reduced. Problems that affect productivity occur.

Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the recording paper exceeds the maximum number of sheets to be stapled, the post-processing apparatus is switched to the sort mode, and control is performed so as to prohibit the staple on the recording paper bundle and discharge the recording paper bundle. Technology is disclosed.

JP-A-5-169875

In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the sheet bundle is switched to the sort mode and discharged in the post-processing apparatus, the normal time and the operation time can be reduced without stopping the image forming system due to an abnormality in the post-processing unit. Similarly, the paper can be discharged.

However, an operator who uses the image forming system must manually perform a stapling operation on a sheet bundle. In this case, there is a problem that the position, direction, number, etc. of the staples cannot be recognized immediately by simply taking out the sheet bundle.

Further, in view of the recent printing situation of a bundle of sheets, when double-sided printing and binding are performed, the post-processing form such as stapling or punching determines the final finished state of the printed matter. Therefore, if stapling or punching is performed at a position different from the intention of the creator who created the printed material, the user who uses the printed material may be in a confused situation.

When the creator who created the printed material performs printing and the creator himself manually performs the stapling operation, the post-processing operation is often performed as intended. However, due to the diversification of printed materials in recent years, when a large amount is printed collectively, the creator of the printed material may be different from the operator who prints the printed material using the apparatus. In such a case, since the creator and the operator are different, there is a problem that a stapling operation is performed at an unintended position, and the printed matter is deteriorated to be recreated.

Furthermore, for example, when printing and outputting the staple position on the surface of the sheet bundle so as to clarify the staple position, the apparatus may be changed depending on the discharge status such as face-down discharge or face-up discharge. It is difficult for an operator who uses and prints a printed matter to immediately recognize from which direction he or she can staple.

In view of the above circumstances, when post-processing operations such as a punching operation and a stapling operation are not possible, the present invention switches to the sort mode and discharges, and prints the post-processing position for the back side on the last page of the print job. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming system capable of performing post-processing operations manually without being confused by an operator who uses the apparatus to print a printed matter, regardless of the paper discharge status. To do.

(1)
A printing unit that prints the received print job on paper;
A discharge unit for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit;
A post-processing mode for performing a post-processing operation on the paper discharged from the paper discharge unit can be set, and a sorting mode for performing a sorting operation for each job on the paper discharged by the discharge unit; A post-processing unit configured to be switchable,
When performing the post-processing operation, if it is determined that the post-processing operation is impossible, the post-processing unit performs a sorting operation,
A control unit that controls the printing unit to print a post-processing position for the back side at least on the back side of the final page of the print job with respect to the printing unit;
An image forming system comprising:

The image forming system according to (1), wherein the control unit further controls the printing unit to print a front surface post-processing position on a surface of a first page of the print job.

(3)
The image processing apparatus according to (2), wherein the control unit performs control so that sort mode conditions and print designation conditions for front and back post-processing positions can be set.

According to the first image forming system of the present invention, when a post-processing operation such as a stapling operation or a punching operation cannot be performed, the output is switched to the sort mode and discharged on the last page of the print job. By providing control so as to print, it is possible to provide an image forming system that allows an operator who prints a printed matter using the apparatus to perform manual post-processing without being confused regardless of the discharge state. it can. Further, since the post-processing position is printed on the back surface of the final page, it is not necessary to print on all pages.

According to the second image forming system of the present invention, since the surface post-processing position is printed on the paper, not only face-down paper discharge but also face-up paper discharge is considered. Regardless of the paper status, the post-processing instruction position is added, so that the operator can perform stapling and punching without being more confused.

According to the third image forming system of the present invention, the printability of the post-processing position can be set according to the operator's request, so that the operability is improved.

Schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system in the present embodiment Overall view of the post-processing apparatus in this embodiment 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of an image forming system in the present embodiment. Control flow diagram showing the control configuration of the image forming system in the present embodiment Schematic diagram showing a state of a sheet bundle discharged from the image forming system in the present embodiment

The image forming system according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 100 according to this embodiment includes an external paper feed tray 102, an internal paper feed tray 104, an external paper feed roller 106, an internal paper feed roller 108, a registration roller 110, and a conveyance. A belt 112, a printing unit 114, a lifting conveyance roller 116, a horizontal conveyance roller 120, a switching unit 122, a discharge conveyance roller 124, a post-processing device 200, a paper discharge table 214, a reverse conveyance roller 126, A reversing roller 128, a refeed roller 130, a display unit 132, a paper feed system transport path FR, a normal transport path CR, a discharge system transport path DR, and a reverse transport path SR are provided.

The external paper feed tray 102 and the internal paper feed tray 104 carry sheets used for printing. The external paper feed tray 102 is partly exposed outside the image forming system 100.

Similar to the external paper feed tray 102, the internal paper feed tray 104 is loaded with sheets used for printing. The internal paper feed tray 104 is installed inside the image forming system 100.

The external paper feed roller 106 and the internal paper feed roller 108 take out sheets one by one from the external paper feed table 102 and the internal paper feed table 104 and convey them to the registration rollers 110 along the paper feed system conveyance path FR.

The registration roller 110 temporarily stops the paper conveyed from the external paper supply roller 106, the internal paper supply roller 108, and the re-feed roller 130 described later, and then performs skew correction, and supplies the paper to the conveyance belt 112 and the printing unit 114. Transport toward.

The conveyance belt 112 is disposed on the downstream side of the registration roller 110 and conveys the sheet conveyed by the registration roller 110 while adsorbing the sheet to the conveyance surface formed on the surface of the conveyance belt 112. The conveyor belt 112 is an annular endless belt that is stretched between a driving roller and a driven roller. A number of belt holes (not shown) that are through holes for adsorbing and holding paper are formed in the transport belt 112. The conveyance belt 112 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by driving the driving roller, and conveys the sheet sucked and held on the conveyance surface in the right direction in FIG.

The printing unit 114 includes a line-type inkjet head that is disposed above the transport belt 112 and has a plurality of nozzles arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper transport direction. The printing unit 114 prints an image by ejecting ink from the nozzles of the inkjet head onto the paper conveyed by the conveyance belt 112.

The ascending conveyance roller 116 conveys the sheet, which is delivered from the conveyance belt 112 while nipping the sheet, and is printed by the printing unit 114, toward the horizontal conveyance roller 120 in the ascending direction in FIG.

The horizontal transport roller 120 transports the paper delivered from the ascending transport roller 116 from right to left in FIG. 1 while nipping the paper. The horizontal conveyance roller 120 is disposed along the normal conveyance path CR.

The switching unit 122 is configured to switch the paper transport path between the discharge transport path DR and the reversal transport path SR. The switching unit 122 is disposed at a branch point between the discharge system transport path DR and the reverse system transport path SR.

In this embodiment, when double-sided printing is performed on a sheet, the switching unit 122 is configured to convey the single-sided printed sheet to the reverse conveyance roller 126 side so that the sheet is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path SR side. Switch to.

The reverse conveyance roller 126 conveys the sheet switched by the switching unit 122 from the normal conveyance path CR toward the reverse roller 128.

The reversing roller 128 temporarily transports the single-sided printed paper to the reversing transport path SR and then transports it to the refeed roller 130. The reverse roller 128 is disposed on the reverse conveyance path SR. The reverse conveyance path SR is a space for temporarily carrying paper. The reverse conveyance path SR is formed below the post-processing device 200.

The re-feed roller 130 conveys the sheet conveyed by the reverse roller 128 toward the registration roller 110. The refeed roller 130 is disposed on a path formed by the reverse roller 128 and the registration roller 110. The sheet on which one side is printed is conveyed from the registration roller 110 to the conveyance belt 112, printed by the printing unit 114, and conveyed by the ascending conveyance roller 116 and the horizontal conveyance roller 120.

Further, when paper is discharged by single-sided printing or double-sided printing, when it reaches the switching unit 122 in the normal conveyance path CR, it is switched to the discharge system conveyance path DR and conveyed from the switching unit 122 while being nipped by the discharge conveyance roller 124. Is done.

The discharge conveyance roller 124 receives the sheet from the horizontal conveyance roller 120 and conveys the sheet toward the post-processing conveyance roller 202 of the post-processing device 200 while performing the nip.

The post-processing transport roller 202 is disposed in the post-processing apparatus 200 and receives printed paper from the discharge transport roller 124. The post-processing transport roller 202 delivers the paper to the discharge roller 204 disposed in the post-processing apparatus 200.

When a post-process such as stapling or punching is performed on a single printed sheet or sheet bundle, it is conveyed from the discharge roller 204 to the post-processing unit 212, where the post-process is performed, and the reverse discharge roller 206 is moved. Then, it is discharged to the paper discharge table 214. When post-processing is not performed, the paper is discharged from the discharge roller 204 to the paper discharge table 214 via the reverse discharge roller 206.

The display unit 132 is a panel for operating an instruction from the user in the image forming system 100, and is provided on the upper surface of the image forming system 100.

Next, the operation of the sheet in the post-processing apparatus 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The post-processing apparatus 200 includes a post-processing conveyance roller 202, a discharge roller 204, a reverse discharge roller 206, a support member 208, a post-processing delivery roller 210, a post-processing unit 212, and a paper discharge table 214. ing. In the present embodiment, in the discharge in the post-processing apparatus 200, when discharging one sheet at a time, that is, in the case of a single sheet, or when discharging a plurality of sheets at once, that is, as a sheet bundle. Depending on the case, the discharging operation is different.

In this embodiment, when discharging a single sheet, the post-processing transport roller 202 discharges the sheet one by one from the normal discharge path CR, receives the sheet from the discharge transport roller 124, and transports it. Further, the discharge roller 204 nips the sheet conveyed from the post-processing conveyance roller 202. Then, the reverse discharge roller 206 receives the paper from the discharge roller 204 and discharges the paper one by one to the paper discharge table 214.

In the present embodiment, the post-processing device 200 is configured to be able to set the sort mode. In the sort mode, according to the predetermined number of jobs received by the image forming system 100, the paper discharge table 214 is driven by a driving unit such as a motor (not shown) in the direction of the paper, that is, in the paper discharge direction. The paper is configured to perform a sorting operation on the paper and discharge it.

In the present embodiment, when discharged as a bundle of sheets, the post-processing device 200 performs post-processing such as stapling and punching by the post-processing unit 212 and discharges it. First, sheets are discharged one by one from the normal discharge path CR, and the post-processing transport roller 202 receives and transports the sheets from the discharge transport roller 124.

Further, the discharge roller 204 nips the sheet conveyed from the post-processing conveyance roller 202. Further, the reverse discharge roller 206 nips the sheet conveyed from the discharge roller 204 and moves from the left direction to the right direction toward the post-processing unit 212 in the direction opposite to the discharge direction, that is, the sheet surface of FIG. And rotate to transport. The reversed paper is discharged to the support member 208 and sent to the post-processing unit 212 by the post-processing sending roller 210.

The post-processing unit 212 performs a stapling or punching operation on a predetermined number of predetermined locations based on the received job. The sheet bundle that has undergone the post-processing operation is sent to the reverse discharge roller 206 via the support member 208 by the post-processing sending roller 210. The reverse discharge roller 206 is nipped at the time of reversal, but when discharging the sheet bundle, the nip is released. For this reason, the sheet bundle is discharged from the reverse discharge roller 206 toward the sheet discharge table 214.

In the present embodiment, as an example of the post-processing unit 212, a stapling operation for binding a sheet bundle with a needle and a punching operation for making a through hole in a sheet bundle with a punch have been described. The post-processing unit 212 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes a stamp operation for performing a stamping process on a sheet, a trimmer operation for cutting around the sheet, and a folding operation for performing a folding process on the sheet.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the control block in this embodiment is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, the image forming system 100 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 301. The image forming system 100 includes a receiving unit 303, a control unit 305, a paper feeding unit 307, a printing unit 309, a reversing unit 311, a post-processing unit 313, and a discharge unit 315.

The PC 301 is connected to the image forming system 100 and transmits job data necessary for printing to the image forming system 100 by a user operation. Job data includes information on printing on paper related to the binding direction such as double-sided printing and binding directions such as long-edge binding and short-edge binding, information on post-processing printing such as staple operation, presence / absence of punching operation, presence / absence of sorting, image Information about the image such as image processing for density and printing is included.

The receiving unit 303 receives job data from the personal computer 301. The control unit 305 receives job data from the reception unit 303. The control unit 305 performs overall control of the image forming system 100.

The paper feeding unit 307 starts paper feeding in response to a command from the control unit 305, that is, a command to feed paper one by one to the paper feeding unit 307 when printing is started.

Next, when the printing unit 309 starts paper feeding, the printing unit 309 forms an image on a sheet in accordance with a command from the control unit 305, that is, a command to form an image on the sheet in accordance with job data.

When the job data includes double-sided printing, the control unit 305 controls the reversing unit 311 to invert the sheet and feed the sheet to the printing unit 309 again. The reversing unit 311 reverses the paper printed by the printing unit 309 and conveys the paper to the printing unit 309 again.

The control unit 305 controls the post-processing unit 313 to perform post-processing operations such as a stapling operation, a punching operation, and a sorting operation when the job data includes information that requires post-processing. . The post-processing unit 313 performs post-processing on a single sheet or sheet bundle.

When the print job is completed, the control unit 305 controls the discharge unit 315 to discharge a single sheet or a sheet bundle that has been subjected to post-processing. The discharge unit 313 discharges a single sheet or a post-processed sheet bundle to the sheet discharge table 214.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, a control flow operation in the present embodiment will be described. In the control flow, the control unit 305 controls the entire image forming system 100. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the process is started when the user transmits job data relating to a print job from the PC (step 401).

Next, the image forming system 100 receives a print job (step 403). The control unit 305 determines whether there is a post-processing operation such as stapling or punching for the received job data (step 405).

If there is no post-processing operation in the print job (No in step 405), the print job is printed by the image forming system 100 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 214 (step 407). Then, the print job ends (step 409).

If the print job has a post-processing operation (Yes in step 405), it is determined whether the post-processing operation is impossible (step 411).

Here, in this embodiment, the case where the post-processing operation is impossible is, for example, a case where the allowable amount of staple or punch in the post-processing unit 212 exceeds a threshold value. In the post-processing operation, considering the size of the staple needle, the load on the motor during stapling, and the load on the motor during punching, the number of sheets is limited to a predetermined number. When a print job is received exceeding this predetermined number, the post-processing unit 212 cannot perform post-processing. Further, when the consumables in the post-processing are lacking, the post-processing operation is impossible. Here, the consumable in the post-processing is, for example, a needle in the stapling operation and ink in the stamping operation.

When the post-processing operation is possible (No in step 411), the print job is printed by the image forming system 100, and after the post-processing operation is performed by the post-processing unit 212, the print job is discharged to the paper discharge table 214. (Step 413). Then, the print job ends (step 415).

If the post-processing operation is impossible (Yes in step 411), the image forming system 100 switches to the sort mode in which the post-processing apparatus 200 discharges a predetermined number of sheets and performs the sorting operation for each copy (step 417). ). When the mode is switched to the sort mode, the job data is printed (step 419).

Here, it is a print job that should have been stapled or punched originally, but when it is ejected in sort mode, which part should be post-processed, such as stapled or punched, Just looking at the printed material is not immediately obvious.

Further, when double-sided printing is performed, considering the case of so-called face-up discharge that is discharged with the front side facing up, or the so-called face-down discharge that is discharged with the back side facing up, There is also the possibility of fluctuations depending on the bundle discharge status.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, printing is performed so that the back surface post-processing position is printed on the back surface of the final page of the print job, as shown on the back surface of the staple operation and the back surface of the punch operation. It is comprised so that a part may be controlled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to control to print the post-processing position for the front surface on the front surface of the staple operation and the front surface of the punch operation in addition to the back surface. In the present embodiment, the user who has acquired the printed material from the paper discharge tray can immediately understand which position and in which direction the post-processing operation should be performed. That is, by making the printing form indicating the post-processing position for the front surface different from the printing form for printing the post-processing position for the back surface, the operator can immediately understand the post-processing form.

Subsequently, a control flow in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the post-processing operation is impossible and the mode is switched to the sort mode (No in Step 417), the job data is printed (Step 419). When printing the job data in the sort mode, control is performed so that the post-processing position is printed on the back side of the last page (step 421). Then, with at least the post-processing position printed on the back side, a sort operation is performed by the paper discharge stand 214, and a single sheet or sheet bundle is discharged (step 423), and a series of print operations for job data is completed. (Step 425).

Note that the user may arbitrarily set the selection of whether to discharge in the sort mode when post-processing is impossible, or to move the printer itself so as to warn the user of an error as an error.

Further, regarding the printing of the post-processing position of the stapling operation, the user can arbitrarily select whether to print on the back surface, print on the front surface, print on both sides, or not print on both. Furthermore, the user may be able to select a plurality of printing forms for the front surface post-processing position and the back surface post-processing position. In the present embodiment, since the user can set as described above, there is an effect that the discharge mode corresponding to the user can be selected.

As described above, the present invention has been described according to the present embodiment, but it should not be understood that the description and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming system 102 External paper feed stand 104 Internal paper feed stand 106 External paper feed roller 108 Internal paper feed roller 110 Registration roller 112 Conveyor belt 114 Printing unit 116 Ascending conveyance roller 120 Horizontal conveyance roller 122 Switching unit 124 Discharge conveyance roller 126 Conveying roller 128 Reversing roller 130 Refeed roller 132 Display unit FR Feeding system conveying path CR Normal conveying path DR Discharging system conveying path SR Reverse conveying path 200 Post-processing device 202 Post-processing conveying roller 204 Discharging roller 206 Reverse discharging roller 208 Support Member 210 Post-processing delivery roller 212 Post-processing unit 214 Paper discharge table 301 Personal computer (PC)
303 Reception Unit 305 Control Unit 307 Paper Feed Unit 309 Printing Unit 311 Reversing Unit 313 Post-Processing Unit 315 Ejecting Unit

Claims (3)

A printing unit that prints the received print job on paper;
A discharge unit for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit;
A post-processing mode for performing a post-processing operation on the paper discharged from the paper discharge unit can be set, and a sorting mode for performing a sorting operation for each job on the paper discharged by the discharge unit; A post-processing unit configured to be switchable,
When performing the post-processing operation, if it is determined that the post-processing operation is impossible, the post-processing unit performs a sorting operation,
A control unit that controls the printing unit to print a post-processing position for the back side at least on the back side of the final page of the print job with respect to the printing unit;
An image forming system comprising: The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further controls the printing unit to print a post-processing position for a front surface on a front surface of a first page of the print job. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs control so as to set a sort mode condition and a print designation condition for front and back post-processing positions.