JP2015001702A - Image formation system and binding processing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system capable of making time needed for total image formation processing including post processing shorter than before.SOLUTION: An image formation system includes: a manuscript reader 300 for reading an image from a manuscript; an image formation device 200 for performing image formation based on an image read by the manuscript reader 300; an eco-stapler for performing eco-staple processing to a sheet material bundle in which a plurality of sheet materials on which an image is formed by the image formation device 200 are bundled; and a pin stapler for performing pin staple processing to the sheet material bundle. The image formation device 200 counts the number of sheets of a manuscript read by the manuscript reader 300. The image formation device 200 starts image formation and instructs the pin stapler to perform pin staple processing if the counted number of the manuscript exceeds the number of sheets capable of performing eco-staple processing even when the total sheets of the manuscript have not been counted yet.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a multifunction peripheral and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing after image formation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for binding a sheet material bundle in which a plurality of sheet materials such as paper on which an image is formed is bundled.

  An image forming system may be provided with a post-processing device for performing various post-processing on a sheet material on which an image is formed by the image forming device. As this type of post-processing apparatus, for example, a sheet binding processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “needle stapler”) including a stapler that binds a bundle of sheet materials using a binding member such as a metal needle. .)It has been known. The binding process by the stapler is hereinafter referred to as “needle staple process”.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the growing awareness of ecology, a sheet binding processing device (hereinafter referred to as “eco-stapler”) that binds a sheet material bundle without using a binding member has been proposed as a post-processing device for an image forming system. The binding process by the eco stapler is hereinafter referred to as “eco staple process”.

  The needle stapling process is capable of performing a strong binding process because of the use of a needle, but requires environmental consideration when disposing. The eco-stapling process does not use a needle and thus does not cause a problem in environmental considerations at the time of disposal. However, the binding force is weaker than the staple process. As described above, since the staple staple processing and the eco staple processing have advantages and disadvantages, it is necessary to determine which one to select when actually binding the sheet material bundle. Conventionally, there has been proposed an apparatus for selecting which binding processing is performed depending on the number of sheet material bundles. In Patent Document 1, when the number of sheet material bundles to be subjected to the binding process is known in advance, the staple stapling process or the eco stapling process is performed according to the number of sheets.

  In Patent Document 2, eco-staple processing cannot be selected, but a plurality of needle staplers having different needle sizes for binding processing are provided, and a needle stapler to be used is selected according to the number of sheet material bundles. The post-processing apparatus moves the selected stapler to the binding position after the sheet material bundle is discharged to the binding position.

JP 2004-167700 A JP-A-2-233296

  The post-processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 does not have a mechanism for moving the stapler, and the positions of the needle stapler and the eco stapler are fixed. In the binding process, it is necessary to determine which sheet binding processing apparatus is to be used at the start of sheet material discharge, and to discharge the sheet material to the binding position of the determined sheet binding processing apparatus. Therefore, when the number of sheet materials is unknown, the sheet materials cannot be discharged until the total number of sheet material bundles is determined, and the time required for the entire image forming process is increased. Since the post-processing apparatus of Patent Document 2 requires a mechanism for moving the multi-needle stapler, the apparatus becomes large and expensive.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an image forming system capable of efficiently performing a stapler and an eco-stapler, and shortening the time required for the entire image forming process including post-processing as compared with the prior art. The main issue is to provide.

  An image forming system of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a document tray on which a plurality of documents are placed, a feeding unit that feeds a document placed on the document tray, and whether or not a document is on the document tray. Document detecting means for detecting, Document reading means for reading an image from a document fed by the feeding means, Image forming means for forming an image based on an image read by the document reading means, Document feeding A counter for counting the number of documents fed by the means, a first binding processing means for performing a binding process on a sheet material bundle obtained by binding a plurality of sheet materials on which images are formed by the image forming means, and the sheet A second binding processing unit that performs a binding process on the bundle of materials by a method different from the first binding processing unit, and the document detection before the number of documents counted by the counter exceeds a predetermined number. In response to the detection of the absence of the document by the means, it is determined that the image forming means starts image formation and the binding processing by the first binding processing means is performed, and the document detection means determines the absence of the document. In response to the number of documents counted by the counter before the detection being greater than the predetermined number, the image forming unit starts image formation and the binding processing by the second binding processing unit is performed. And control means for determining what to do.

  According to the present invention, before the total number of originals is confirmed, if the number of read originals exceeds a predetermined number, image formation is started and a binding process is instructed to the second binding processing means. Therefore, the time required for the entire image forming process including post-processing can be made shorter than before.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. The internal block diagram of a post-processing apparatus. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing of the position of the sheet material bundle at the time of a binding process. (A), (b) is a detailed block diagram of an eco stapler. The block diagram of a control apparatus. FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a selection screen. (A)-(c) is a timing chart of the operation | movement by an image forming system. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the document reading device. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image forming processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of document feeding processing. The flowchart showing the procedure of post-processing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Image forming system]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 200 such as a copier or a multifunction peripheral, an original reading apparatus 300, an operation apparatus 600 including a numeric keypad input unit 601, and a post-processing apparatus 500.

  The document reading apparatus 300 includes a document table, and reads a document placed on the document table to generate image data. The image data is sent to the image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200 performs image forming processing based on the image data sent from the document reading apparatus 300, and forms an image on a sheet material such as paper. The sheet material on which the image is formed is discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing apparatus 500. The post-processing apparatus 500 performs post-processing on the sheet material discharged from the image forming apparatus 200. In the present embodiment, a binding process for a bundle of sheet materials in which a plurality of sheet materials are bundled is performed. The operation device 600 is an input interface for the user to input instructions to the image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the post-processing apparatus 500. A series of processing such as document reading, image formation, and binding processing is performed in accordance with a user instruction. The operation device 600 also includes a display, and provides various information to the user. The operation device 600 is configured as a touch panel, for example.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200 has four colors, yellow (hereinafter referred to as “Y”), magenta (hereinafter referred to as “M”), cyan (hereinafter referred to as “C”), and black (hereinafter referred to as “K”). A color image forming apparatus including a corresponding image forming unit. The image forming unit includes photosensitive drums 101a to 101d on which electrostatic latent images are formed and developing units 109a to 109d for developing the electrostatic latent images. By developing the electrostatic latent image, toner images of respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drums 101a to 101d. The electrostatic latent images are formed by laser scanners 100a to 100d that perform exposure according to image data generated by the document reading apparatus 300. The symbol “a” represents Y, “b” represents M, “c” represents C, and “d” represents K.

  The intermediate transfer belt 104 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 by the intermediate transfer roller 105. The toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 101a to 101d are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 104. The transfer roller 106 transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 104 to a sheet material conveyed in the direction of the arrow from a paper feed cassette (not shown). The sheet material to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 107. The fixing device 107 fixes the image on the sheet material by thermocompression bonding the toner image to the sheet material. The sheet material on which the image is fixed is discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing apparatus 500.

  The motor 111 drives the photosensitive drums 101a to 101c. The motor 102d also drives the photosensitive drum 101d, the developing device 109d, and the intermediate transfer roller 105. The motor 110 drives the developing devices 109a to 109c. The fixing motor 108 drives the fixing device 107.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 in FIG. 2 is an example, and the configuration is not limited to the above configuration as long as the image forming process is performed on the sheet material and the sheet material is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 500.

[Post-processing equipment]
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the post-processing apparatus 500. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the position of the sheet material bundle during the binding process. The post-processing device 500 is a sheet binding processing device, and includes an eco-stapler as a first binding processing mechanism that performs binding processing of a sheet material bundle. Further, the post-processing device 500 includes a needle stapler as a second binding processing mechanism that performs a binding process using a method different from the eco-stapler. The post-processing apparatus 500 sequentially takes in the sheet materials discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 and performs post-processing. Post-processing includes processing to bundle a plurality of sheet materials into a sheet material bundle, needle stapling processing to bind the sheet material bundle with a binding member, eco-staple processing to bind the sheet material bundle without using the binding member, sorting processing, Non-sort processing etc.

  The post-processing apparatus 500 takes in the sheet material discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 by the entrance roller pair 502. The post-processing apparatus 500 conveys the sheet material taken in by the inlet roller pair 502 to the buffer roller 505 by the conveying roller pairs 503 and 504. A conveyance sensor 531 provided between the entrance roller pair 502 and the conveyance roller pair 503 detects passage of the sheet material.

  The buffer roller 505 is provided with pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514 on the outer periphery thereof, and a predetermined number of conveyed sheet materials can be stacked and wound. During the rotation of the buffer roller 505, the sheet material is wound around the buffer roller 505 by the pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514. The buffer roller 505 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the sheet material wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed in the rotation direction of the buffer roller 505.

  A switching flapper 511 is provided between the pressing roller 513 and the pressing roller 514. A switching flapper 510 is provided on the downstream side of the pressing roller 514. By the operations of the switching flapper 511 and the switching flapper 510, the sheet material wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed to any one of the non-sort path 521, the buffer path 523, and the sort path 522. In the case of being conveyed to the non-sort path 521 and the sort path 522, since a predetermined number of sheets are stacked by the buffer roller 505, they are conveyed as a sheet material bundle.

  When the sheet material bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the non-sort path 521, the switching flapper 511 operates. The switching flapper 511 has its tip moved to the buffer roller 505 side, peels the sheet material bundle wound around the buffer roller 505, and guides it to the non-sort path 521. The sheet material bundle guided to the non-sort path 521 is discharged to the sample tray 701 through the conveyance roller pair 509. A conveyance sensor 533 that detects passage of the sheet material bundle is provided on the non-sort path 521.

  When the sheet material bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the buffer path 523, neither the switching flapper 510 nor the switching flapper 511 operates, and the respective leading ends are positioned away from the buffer roller 505. The sheet material bundle is conveyed to the buffer path 523 while being wound around the buffer roller 505. On the path of the buffer path 523, a conveyance sensor 532 that detects the passage of the sheet material bundle is provided.

  When the sheet material bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the sort path 522, the switching flapper 511 does not operate and the switching flapper 510 operates. The switching flapper 510 has its tip moved toward the buffer roller 505, peels off the sheet material bundle wound around the buffer roller 505, and guides it to the sort path 522. The sheet material bundle guided to the sort path 522 is discharged onto the processing tray 630 via the conveying roller pair 506 and 507. On the path of the sort path 522, a conveyance sensor 534 that detects the passage of the sheet material bundle is provided.

  The sheet material bundle discharged to the processing tray 630 is subjected to eco-stapling processing or needle stapling processing. The sheet material bundle discharged to the processing tray 630 is pulled back to the rear end side in the conveying direction by a knurled belt 661 and a paddle 660 that are driven in synchronization with the conveying roller pair 507. The pullback amount is determined by the binding position where the binding process is performed. When the eco stapler 550 is used, the sheet material bundle is pulled back until it hits the eco staple aligning plate 690 as shown in FIG. The eco-stapler 550 performs the binding process on the sheet material bundle stacked at this position without using a binding member such as a needle.

  As shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the eco-staple alignment plate 690 can move up and down in the vertical direction with respect to the stacking surface of the sheet material bundle of the processing tray 630. At the time of eco-staple processing, as shown in FIG. 4C, the eco-staple alignment plate 690 is positioned so as to protrude from the stacking surface of the sheet material bundle of the processing tray 630. At the time of staple staple processing, as shown in FIG. 4D, the eco-staple alignment plate 690 is retracted so as not to protrude from the stacking surface of the sheet material bundle of the processing tray 630.

  At the time of the staple staple processing, after the eco-staple alignment plate 690 is positioned as shown in FIG. 4D, the sheet material bundle is aligned by the knurled belt 661 and the paddle 660 as shown in FIG. 4B. It is pulled back until it hits the plate 691. The staple staple aligning plate 691 is fixed to the processing tray 630. The stapler 602 performs stapler processing on the sheet material bundle stacked at this position. The stapler 602 can be moved along the outer periphery of the processing tray 630 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and can be bound at a binding position set by the user. As described above, the stop position of the sheet material bundle on the processing tray 630 is different between the eco stapling process and the needle stapling process.

  The processing tray 630 is provided with an alignment member 641 so as to sandwich the sheet material bundle. The alignment member 641 is movable perpendicular to the sheet material bundle conveyance direction. The alignment member 641 performs alignment processing on the sheet material bundle discharged onto the processing tray 630. By performing the alignment process each time a sheet material is stacked on the processing tray 630 one by one, even when a large amount of sheet materials are bound, it is possible to provide a sheet material bundle with reduced sheet material displacement. it can. The positions of the eco stapler 550 and the needle stapler 602 may be reversed. In that case, the alignment plate 691 is used during the eco-staple processing, and the alignment plate 690 is used during the needle stapling processing.

  The sheet material bundle subjected to the alignment process and the binding process is discharged onto the stacking tray 700 by a discharge roller pair 680 including discharge rollers 680a and 680b. The discharge roller 680b is supported by the swing guide 650. The swing guide 650 swings so that the discharge roller 680b comes into contact with the uppermost portion of the sheet material bundle stacked on the processing tray 630. When the discharge roller 680b is in contact with the uppermost part of the sheet material bundle stacked on the processing tray 630, the discharge roller pair 680 directs the sheet material bundle stacked on the processing tray 630 toward the stacking tray 700. Can be discharged.

  The in / out tray 670 protrudes upward when the sheet material bundle is stacked on the processing tray 630. As a result, the sheet material bundle conveyed by the conveying roller pair 507 is prevented from drooping or returning poorly, and the sheet material bundle on the processing tray 630 is aligned.

  The stacking tray 700 can be moved up and down. The paper surface detection sensor 540 detects the uppermost surface of the stacking tray 700 or the sheet material bundle on the stacking tray 700. Depending on the detection result of the paper surface detection sensor 540, the stacking tray 700 is controlled to move up and down so that the uppermost surface of the sheet material bundle is at a certain position. The paper presence / absence detection sensor 541 detects the presence / absence of a sheet material on the stacking tray 700. The sample tray 701 is not movable up and down like the stacking tray 700, and is fixed at the position shown in FIG.

[Details of Eco stapler]
FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of the eco stapler 550. 5A is a perspective view of the eco-stapler 550, and FIG. 5B is a diagram when the eco-stapler motor M13 is removed from the eco-stapler 550 and viewed from the direction of the arrow 560 in FIG. 5A.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the eco stapler 550 includes an eco staple motor M13, gears 551 and 555, step gears 552 to 554, and a rotation shaft 556. As shown in FIG. 5B, the eco stapler 550 includes a cam 557, a roller 558, an upper arm 559, a frame 1013, a lower arm 1012, a shaft 1011, an upper tooth 1010, and a lower tooth 1014.

  The rotation of the eco staple motor M13 is transmitted to the gear 555 via the gear 551 and the step gears 552 to 554. The gear 555 is attached to the rotation shaft 556, and the rotation shaft 556 is also rotated by the rotation of the gear 555. A cam 557 is attached to the rotation shaft 556. The cam 557 moves the upper arm 559 up and down via the roller 558 by the rotation of the rotation shaft 556.

  Upper arm 559 is provided with upper teeth 1010, and swings about axis 1011 as cam 557 rotates. The lower arm 1012 is fixed to the frame 1013 and provided with lower teeth 1014. By swinging the upper arm 559, the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014 are engaged with each other. During the eco-stapling process, a sheet material bundle is sandwiched between the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014. As the sheet material bundle is sandwiched between the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014, irregularities are formed in the thickness direction. In this state, the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014 mesh with each other, so that the eco stapler 550 presses (presses) the sheet material bundle.

  The pressed sheet material bundle is fastened so that the fibers on the surface are exposed by being stretched, and the fibers of the sheet material are entangled with each other by being further pressed. Since the binding process is performed in this manner, the sheet can be bound without using a binding member such as a needle.

[Control device]
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a control device for controlling the operation of the image processing system.

  The image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the operation apparatus 600 are mainly controlled by the image forming control unit. The image formation control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. The CPU 201 controls the image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the operation apparatus 600 by using the RAM 203 as a work area and appropriately reading and executing programs from the ROM 202.

  The CPU 201 of the image formation control unit, based on instructions input from the operation device 600, the motors 110, 111, 102 d, the laser scanner 100, the fixing device 107, the fixing motor 108, and the paper transport motor 109 in the image forming apparatus 200. To control the operation. By controlling these operations, an image is formed on the sheet material in accordance with an image formation instruction from the operation device 600. The CPU 201 of the image formation control unit can send and receive data to and from the post-processing apparatus 500 via a communication interface (IF) 908.

  The post-processing apparatus 500 is controlled mainly by the post-processing control unit 951. The post-processing control unit 951 includes a CPU 952, a ROM 953, and a RAM 954. The CPU 952 uses the RAM 954 as a work area based on data received from the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication interface (IF) 916, and reads and executes a program from the ROM 953 as appropriate, thereby controlling the post-processing apparatus 500. Do. Data received from the image forming apparatus 200 includes job information, sheet material delivery notification, binding processing notification, and the like.

  The post-processing apparatus 500 includes an inlet motor M1, a buffer motor M2, a paper discharge motor M3, solenoids S1 and S2, and conveyance sensors 531 to 534 for conveying the sheet material. The entrance motor M1 drives the entrance roller pair 502 and the transport roller pairs 503 and 504. The buffer motor M2 drives the buffer roller 505. The paper discharge motor M3 drives the conveyance roller pair 507 and 509. The solenoid S1 drives the switching flapper 511. The solenoid S2 drives the switching flapper 510.

  The post-processing device 500 also performs a bundle processing motor M4, a swing motor M8, a retracting tray motor M11, a tray lifting motor M12, a paper surface detection sensor 540, and a paper presence / absence detection sensor for performing post-processing such as sorting processing. 541. The bundle discharge motor M4 drives the discharge roller pair 680. The swing motor M8 drives the swing guide 650. The in / out tray motor M11 drives the in / out tray 670. The tray lifting / lowering motor M12 moves up and down the stacking tray 700.

  Further, the post-processing device 500 includes a front alignment motor M5, a rear alignment motor M6, a paddle motor M7, a staple staple motor M9, a staple staple moving motor M10, an eco staple motor M13, and an eco staple alignment plate for performing a binding process. A drive motor M14 is provided. The front alignment motor and the rear alignment motor M6 drive the alignment member 641. The paddle motor M7 drives the paddle 660. The needle staple motor M9 drives the needle stapler 602. The staple staple moving motor M10 moves the staple stapler 602. The eco staple motor M13 drives the eco stapler 550 as described with reference to FIG. The eco staple alignment plate drive motor M14 moves the eco staple alignment plate 690 up and down. The post-processing device 500 also includes a needle presence / absence detection unit 914 that detects the presence / absence of a needle in the stapler 602.

  The post-processing device 500 receives an instruction for post-processing performed by the operation device 600 from the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication interface 916. The post-processing control unit 951 performs post-processing based on the received instruction. Particularly in the present embodiment, binding processing is instructed as post-processing. The post-processing control unit 951 controls each unit used for the binding process, such as the staple staple motor M9, the staple staple moving motor M10, and the eco staple motor M13, in accordance with a binding process instruction.

  The user uses the operation device 600 to select whether or not to perform the binding process. FIG. 7 is an exemplary view of a selection screen for performing such selection. When performing the image forming process, the user selects whether or not to perform the binding process from the selection screen. In this embodiment, the selection of whether to perform the staple stapling process or the eco stapling process is performed on the image forming system side.

[Operational form]
FIG. 8 is a timing chart of a series of operations from reading of a document to image formation, binding processing, and discharge by the image forming system. FIG. 8A shows a timing chart when there are four documents. FIG. 8B is a conventional timing chart when there are 10 documents. FIG. 8C is a timing chart according to the present embodiment when there are 10 documents. In the present embodiment, the maximum number Me that allows the eco-stapler 550 to perform the binding process on the sheet material whose paper type is plain paper is “4”.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the document reading apparatus 300. A document stack (document bundle) 302 is placed on the document tray 301. Presence / absence of the document bundle 302 on the document tray 301 is detected by the document detection sensor 304. The document bundle 302 on the document tray 301 is taken into the document reading apparatus 300 one by one by the paper feed roller 303.

  The document taken into the document reading apparatus 300 is transported by the transport roller 305 and detected by the transport detection sensor 310 provided on the downstream side of the document detection sensor 304 in the document feeding direction. The transported document has its transport path reversed to the discharge tray 309 side by the reverse roller 306, and the reading sensor 307 reads images such as characters and photographs displayed on the document. The read image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 as image data. The document whose image has been read by the reading sensor 307 is discharged to a discharge tray 309 by a discharge roller 308.

  In this way, the document reading apparatus 300 reads and reads the documents one by one and discharges them to the discharge tray 309. Whether or not there is a next document on the document tray 301 is determined by the document detection sensor 304 when the trailing edge of the document passes the document detection sensor 304 (strictly, after a predetermined time has passed after passing). This is performed depending on whether or not a document is detected. When the conveyance detection sensor 310 detects the trailing edge of the document, the document reading device 300 starts feeding the next document on the document tray 301. Detection results of the document detection sensor 304 and the conveyance detection sensor 310 are input to the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit. The CPU 201 can determine the presence or absence of a document on the document tray 301 from the detection result of the document detection sensor 304, and can count the number of documents based on the detection result of the conveyance detection sensor 310.

  When there are four documents placed on the document tray 301 of the document reading apparatus 300 (FIG. 8A), image formation control is performed when the trailing edge of the fourth document passes the document detection sensor 304. The CPU 201 confirms that there is no next original. It is possible to start the image forming process when the reading of the first original is completed and image data based on the read image is generated. However, it is unclear at this point how many documents are in total. Since the number of documents is unknown, it is not determined which of the eco stapler 550 and the stapler 602 is used for the binding process. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 200 cannot start the conveyance of the sheet material and the image forming process.

  In the example of FIG. 8A, it is determined that there is no fifth original at time T1, and the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit determines that the number of originals is four. Since the eco-stapling process is possible if the number of documents is four, the image forming apparatus 200 starts the conveyance of the sheet material and the image forming process according to the determination result, and performs the eco-stapling process on the post-processing apparatus 500. Instruct. The post-processing apparatus 500 performs an eco-stapling process by the eco-stapler 550 on the sheet material bundle after the image formation is completed. The post-processing apparatus 500 discharges the sheet material bundle that has undergone the eco-stapling process to the stacking tray 700. The discharge completion timing is time T2.

  When there are ten documents placed on the document tray 301 of the document reading device 300, the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit conventionally has a point in time when the trailing edge of the tenth document passes the document detection sensor 304. It is confirmed that the next original does not exist (FIG. 8B).

  In the example of FIG. 8B, it is determined that the eleventh original does not exist at time T3, and the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit determines that the number of originals is ten. Since there are ten originals, the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit determines that the eco-staple process is not possible and only the staple staple process is possible. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus 200 starts sheet material conveyance and image forming processing, and instructs the post-processing device 500 to perform staple stapling processing. The post-processing device 500 performs a staple processing by the stapler 602 on the sheet material bundle after the image formation is completed. The post-processing apparatus 500 discharges the sheet material bundle that has undergone the staple stapling process to the stacking tray 700. The discharge completion timing is time T4.

  By the way, when there are 10 originals, it is found that there are 5 or more originals when the original detection sensor 304 detects the fifth original. In this embodiment, at this point, the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit can determine that the eco-staple process is not possible. In the example of FIG. 8C, at the time T5 when the fifth original is detected, the image forming apparatus 200 can determine that only the staple processing is possible.

  At time T5, since reading of all the documents on the document tray 301 has not been completed, the total number of documents is unknown. However, it is determined that the stapler 602 is used for the binding process. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus 200 starts the conveyance of the sheet material and the image forming process at the timing of time T5, and instructs the post-processing apparatus 500 to perform the staple stapling process. The post-processing apparatus 500 performs a binding process using the stapler 602 on the sheet material bundle after the image formation is completed. The post-processing device 500 discharges the sheet material bundle that has been subjected to the binding process to the stacking tray 700. The discharge completion timing is time T6.

  As is apparent from FIGS. 8B and 8C, the process of the present embodiment includes the process of the entire image forming system including the document reading process and the binding process in comparison with the conventional process (T4). -It ends in a short time by T5). Therefore, it is possible to efficiently perform image forming processing including post-processing.

[Image formation processing]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of image forming processing executed by the CPU 201 of the image forming control unit of the image forming apparatus 200. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of document feeding processing executed by the CPU 201 of the image forming control unit of the image forming apparatus 200. The document feeding process is performed in parallel with the image forming process of FIG. A computer program for performing document feeding processing is referred to as a “document feeding task”.

  The CPU 201 of the image forming control unit of the image forming apparatus 200 activates a document feeding task based on an image forming instruction input from the operation device 600 after a document is placed on the document tray 301 by the user. (S901). By starting the document feeding task, the CPU 201 starts the document feeding process of FIG. When the document feeding process is started, the CPU 201 sets the count value “N” of the counter for counting the number of documents to “0” (S1001). The count value “N” is a register value stored in the RAM 203 of the image forming apparatus 200.

  After setting the count value “N” of the counter to “0”, the CPU 201 reads a plurality of documents on the document tray 301 one by one on the condition that the document detection sensor 304 detects the presence of a document. The conveyance into 300 is started (S1002). The CPU 201 waits for the conveyance detection sensor 310 to detect the trailing edge of the document that has started conveyance (S1003). When the conveyance detection sensor 310 detects the trailing edge of the document (S1003: Y), the CPU 201 updates the count value “N” (adds “1”) (S1004). The count value may be added when the conveyance detection sensor 310 detects the presence of a document. Thereafter, the CPU 201 determines whether the next document remains on the document tray 301 by the document detection sensor 304 (S1005). If it remains (the document detection sensor 304 detects the presence of a document) (S1005: Y), the CPU 201 returns to the process of step S1002. The CPU 201 repeats the processing of steps S1002 to S1005 until there is no document on the document tray 301 (the document detection sensor 304 detects that there is no document).

  When all the documents on the document tray 301 are exhausted (S1005: N), the CPU 201 sets a feeding end flag indicating that the feeding of the document is ended to “ON” (S1006). The feeding end flag is a 1-bit flag stored in the RAM 203 of the image forming apparatus 200. The document feeding process is completed as described above. The counter taunt value “N” is the total number of documents. Although omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the image of the document fed by the document feeding task is read by the reading sensor 307.

  The CPU 201 of the image forming control unit of the image forming apparatus 200 sets the count value “N” representing the number of originals in parallel with the image feeding process as described above to the maximum number Me that can be ecostapled (this embodiment) It is determined whether or not the number is 4 or less in the form (S902). For example, after step S1004, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the count value “N” is equal to or less than the maximum number Me that can be subjected to the eco-staple process.

  If the count value “N” is equal to or less than the maximum number Me (S902: Y), the CPU 201 confirms the feeding end flag (S903). If the feeding end flag is “OFF” (S903: N), since the document feeding process is not completed, the CPU 201 compares the count value “N” with the maximum number Me again (S902). . If the feeding end flag is “ON” (S903: Y), it is determined that the document feeding process is completed and the total number of documents is equal to or less than the maximum number Me. The CPU 201 determines that the eco-stapling process is possible because the total number of documents is equal to or less than the maximum number Me.

  When the CPU 201 confirms that the feeding end flag is “ON”, the CPU 201 performs conveyance of the sheet material and image forming processing (S904). Thereafter, the CPU 201 notifies the post-processing apparatus 500 of the start of the job, the delivery notification of the sheet material on which the image is formed, and the determination notification of the eco-stapling process (S905).

  When the image forming process ends (S9051: Y), the CPU 201 instructs the post-processing apparatus 500 to execute the eco-staple process (S9052). The CPU 201 determines that the image forming process is completed after confirming that all the sheet materials on which the image has been formed are discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing apparatus 500. In this way, the eco-stapling process is instructed to the post-processing apparatus 500.

  In step S902, when the count value “N” is larger than the maximum number Me that can be subjected to the eco-staple process (S902: N), the CPU 201 determines that the eco-staple process is disabled and only the staple staple process is possible. . The CPU 201 performs conveyance of the sheet material and image forming processing (S906). Here, unlike the conventional case, the document feeding process is not completed at the start of the image forming process. Thereafter, the CPU 201 notifies the post-processing apparatus 500 of job start, delivery notification of the sheet material on which the image is formed, and notification of determination of the staple stapling process (S907).

  When the image forming process ends (S908: Y), the CPU 201 instructs the post-processing device 500 to execute the staple processing (S909). The CPU 201 determines that the image forming process is completed after confirming that all the sheet materials on which the image has been formed are discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing apparatus 500. In this way, the staple processing is instructed to the post-processing device 500.

  The above processing is image formation for one sheet of sheet material bundle, but by repeating the above processing, a plurality of copies of image can be formed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of post-processing (binding processing) executed by the CPU 952 of the post-processing control unit 951 of the post-processing device 500.

  The CPU 952 of the post-processing control unit 951 of the post-processing device 500 stands by until a job start notification is received from the CPU 201 of the image forming control unit of the image forming device 200 in step 905 or step S907 in FIG. 10 (S1100: N ). Upon receiving the job start notification (S1100: Y), the CPU 952 confirms which of the eco-staple processing determination notification and the staple stapling processing determination notification is received (S1101).

  When the determination notification of the eco-staple process is received (S1101: Y), the CPU 952 drives the eco-staple alignment plate driving motor M14 to raise the eco-staple alignment plate 690 as shown in FIG. S1102). After raising the eco-staple alignment plate 690, the CPU 952 waits until one sheet material is received from the image forming apparatus 200 (S1103: N). The CPU 952 determines receipt of the sheet material by the conveyance sensor 531 detecting the trailing edge of the sheet material.

  When one sheet material is received (S1103: Y), the CPU 952 drives each roller in the post-processing apparatus 500 and conveys the sheet material to the processing tray 630. The CPU 952 performs alignment processing on the sheet material conveyed to the processing tray 630 by driving the front alignment motor M5 and the rear alignment motor M6 (S1104). After the alignment process, the CPU 952 repeats the process from step S1103 until receiving an execution instruction of the eco-staple process from the image forming apparatus 200 (S1105: N). By repeating the processing from step S1103, the sheet material bundle on which one part of the image has been formed is aligned in the processing tray 630.

  When the alignment process for one sheet material bundle on which image formation has been completed is completed, the CPU 952 receives an instruction to execute the eco-staple process from the image forming apparatus 200, which is instructed in step S9052 in FIG. 10 (S1105: Y). The CPU 952 drives the eco-staple motor M13 in accordance with the execution instruction for the eco-staple process, and executes the eco-staple process (S1106). After the end of the eco-stapling process, the CPU 952 drives the bundle discharge motor M4 to discharge the bound sheet material bundle to the stacking tray 700 (S1112).

  When the determination notification of the staple staple processing is received from the image forming apparatus 200 (S1101: N), the CPU 952 drives the eco staple alignment plate drive motor M14, and as shown in FIG. 690 is lowered (S1107). In the present embodiment, eco-staple processing or needle stapling processing is performed as post-processing. Therefore, the CPU 952 of the post-processing device 500 may determine that the staple staple processing has been automatically determined when the notification of determination of the eco staple processing is not received from the image forming apparatus 200 in step S1101.

  After the eco-staple alignment plate 690 is lowered, the CPU 952 performs the same processing as the processing of steps S1103 and S1104 during the eco-stapling processing until receiving an instruction to execute staple stapling (S1108 and S1109). Thereafter, the CPU 952 receives an instruction to execute the staple processing from the image forming apparatus 200, which is instructed in step S909 in FIG. 10 (S1110: Y). The CPU 952 drives the staple staple motor M9 in accordance with the execution instruction for the staple staple process, and executes the staple staple process (S1111). After the staple processing is completed, the CPU 952 drives the bundle discharge motor M4 to discharge the bound sheet material bundle to the stacking tray 700 (S1112).

  In this way, the binding process ends. The eco-stapler 550 can be replaced with another binding method having a binding capability different from that of the needle stapler 602.

  As described above, even when the document reading process is in progress, the eco-stapling process cannot be performed when the eco-stapler 550 reads more than the maximum number of documents that can be eco-stapled. In the image forming system according to the present embodiment, it is determined that the eco-stapling process is not possible at this time and the needle stapling process is possible, and the image forming process is started. For this reason, it is possible to start image forming processing more quickly than the conventional processing in which all the originals are read and the number of originals is confirmed, and the image forming processing including post-processing is completed in a shorter time than before. Can be made.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 ... Image forming apparatus, 300 ... Document reading apparatus, 500 ... Post-processing apparatus, 600 ... Operation apparatus, 201,952 ... CPU, 550 ... Eco stapler, 602 ... Needle stapler

Claims (7)

A document tray for placing a plurality of documents,
A feeding means for feeding a document placed on the document tray;
Document detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a document on the document tray;
A document reading unit that reads an image from the document fed by the feeding unit;
Image forming means for forming an image based on an image read by the original reading means;
A counter for counting the number of documents fed by the feeding means;
A first binding processing unit that performs a binding process on a sheet material bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of sheet materials on which images are formed by the image forming unit;
A second binding processing means for performing a binding process on the sheet material bundle by a technique different from the first binding processing means;
In response to the document detection means detecting the absence of the document before the number of documents counted by the counter exceeds a predetermined number, the image forming means starts image formation and the first binding process In response to the fact that the number of originals counted by the counter before the original detection means detects the absence of the original is greater than the predetermined number, the image forming is determined. And a control unit that causes the image forming unit to start image formation and determines to perform the binding process by the second binding processing unit.
Image forming system.   A conveyance detection unit configured to detect a document fed by the feeding unit on a downstream side of the document detection unit in the document feeding direction; and the counter is based on a detection result of the conveyance detection unit. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the count is updated. A processing tray on which the sheet material bundle is stacked;
Each of the first binding processing means and the second binding processing means performs binding processing at different positions on the stacking surface of the processing tray.
The image forming system according to claim 1. Projecting on the stacking surface of the processing tray and retractable from the stacking surface, the sheet material bundle projects against the stacking surface during the binding process by the first binding processing means, and the second binding A first alignment plate that retracts from the stacking surface at the time of binding processing by the processing means;
A second alignment plate against which the sheet material bundle is abutted during the binding processing by the second binding processing means,
The image forming system according to claim 3. The predetermined number of sheets is a maximum number of sheets that allow the first binding processing unit to perform a binding process.
The image forming system according to claim 1. The first binding processing means performs binding processing by forming unevenness in the thickness direction on the sheet material bundle and pressing it,
The second binding processing means performs a binding process using a binding member,
The image forming system according to claim 1. A document tray for placing a plurality of documents, a feeding unit for feeding documents placed on the document tray, a document detecting unit for detecting presence or absence of documents on the document tray, and a feeding unit. An original reading unit that reads an image from a sent original, an image forming unit that forms an image based on an image read by the original reading unit, and a plurality of sheet materials on which an image is formed by the image forming unit An image comprising: a first binding processing unit that performs a binding process on a sheet material bundle; and a second binding processing unit that performs a binding process on the sheet material bundle by a method different from the first binding processing unit. A method performed by a forming system comprising:
Counting the number of documents fed by the feeding means;
In response to the fact that the document detection means detects the absence of the document before the counted number of documents exceeds a predetermined number, the image forming means starts image formation and the first binding processing means Determining to perform the binding process;
Before the document detection means detects the absence of a document, the image forming means starts image formation in response to the counted number of documents being greater than the predetermined number, and the second Determining to perform the binding process by the binding processing means of,
Binding processing control method.