JP2017005603A - Image formation system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation system capable of identifying a post-processing device in which communication abnormality has occurred.SOLUTION: An image formation system 100 includes: an inserter 2 that is connected in series with an image formation device 1 and a post-processing device capable of operation so as to perform a prescribed post process to a sheet material; stackers 3 and 4 and the like; a first communication path formed from a communication line 9; and a second communication path which is formed by including a signal line 10 and at least part which is formed separately from the communication line 9. The image formation device 1 receives communication abnormality through the second communication path from the post-processing device that has detected the communication abnormality, and identifies the post-processing device in which the abnormality has occurred.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system in which a plurality of paper discharge accessories are connected to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed an image forming system in which a plurality of paper supply accessories and paper discharge accessories can be connected to the image forming apparatus main body. In such an image forming system, various devices constituting the image forming system, such as an image forming apparatus main body, a paper feed accessory, and a paper discharge accessory, are connected by a communication line. Between these various apparatuses, the timing of paper conveyance and information on the paper to be conveyed are exchanged by communication.

  Hereinafter, a system in which two stackers consisting of a stacker A and a stacker B are connected to the image forming apparatus main body as a discharge accessory and a single finisher is connected will be described as an example.

In this system, when a print job for stacking sheets on the finisher is executed, the image forming apparatus main body first notifies each discharge accessory of the type of sheet to be conveyed.
Next, the stacker A receives the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus main body. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the finisher via the stacker B. When sheets are stacked on the finisher's discharge tray, the image forming apparatus main body is notified that the sheets are stacked. As described above, between the paper discharge accessory and the image forming apparatus main body, a command relating to notification of paper type, delivery of paper, and completion of paper stacking is communicated.

  When an abnormality occurs in communication in the system, it becomes impossible to transmit / receive a paper delivery command. As a prior art proposed for coping with a communication abnormality, there is one in which a control signal is duplicated as in Patent Document 1. Also, as in Patent Document 2, there is a device that uses a device having a main and sub relationship, and resets the sub device when the main device detects a communication abnormality.

JP-A-2005-303600 JP 2006-174307 A

  In the image forming system, the communication line is connected to all apparatuses that perform communication, including an image forming apparatus main body, a paper feed accessory, a paper discharge accessory, and the like. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs and communication between devices becomes impossible, it is not immediately known which device caused the communication abnormality. In addition, a device in which a communication abnormality has occurred cannot communicate with another device that the communication abnormality has occurred. Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose a technique for identifying a device that has caused a communication abnormality.

In general, a plurality of paper discharge accessories are connected to the image forming system, and a large number of sheets exist in the transport path during operation. Therefore, if either the image forming apparatus main body or the paper discharge accessory stops due to a communication error, a large number of sheets remain in the apparatus or the paper discharge accessory.
It is natural that the device that caused the communication abnormality stops operating. However, even if the apparatus does not cause a communication abnormality and can discharge the paper normally, the operation is stopped. For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a communication abnormality occurs, the operations of the image forming apparatus main body and the paper discharge accessory are immediately stopped.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming system capable of specifying a post-processing device in which a communication abnormality has occurred. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming system in which a post-processing device in which a communication abnormality occurs can be specified so that the post-processing device can complete paper discharge even when a communication abnormality occurs.

  An image forming system of the present invention that solves the above problems includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet material and discharges the sheet material, and an image forming apparatus that is connected in series to the image forming apparatus and that is predetermined for the sheet material. A plurality of post-processing devices operable to perform post-processing, a first communication path for communicatively connecting the post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus, and the post-processing apparatus through the first communication path. And control means connected to each.

  In this image forming system, the post-processing device and the control unit are communicably connected, and at least a part of the image forming system has a second communication path formed separately from the first communication path. Each of the processing devices has an abnormality detection unit that detects that a communication abnormality has occurred in communication with the control unit through the first communication path, and the control unit transmits the abnormality through the second communication path. An abnormality occurrence signal generated by the post-processing device due to the detection of the communication abnormality by the detecting means is received, and a post-processing device in which an abnormality has occurred in communication through the first communication path is specified. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, the image forming system includes a first communication path that connects the post-processing device and the control unit so that they can communicate with each other, and at least a part of the second communication path that is formed separately from the first communication path. And having. Therefore, even when a communication abnormality occurs in the first communication path, the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality has occurred can notify the control means of the communication abnormality through the second communication path. From this, the control means can specify the post-processing device in which a communication abnormality has occurred.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming system. 5 is a flowchart of processing executed by the image forming apparatus. The flowchart of the process performed with a post-processing apparatus. The flowchart of an abnormality detection process. Explanatory drawing of the data structure in sheet | seat information. The sequence diagram showing the operation | movement at the time of normal. The sequence diagram showing one Example of the operation | movement at the time of abnormality occurrence. The sequence diagram showing the other Example of operation | movement at the time of abnormality occurrence.

  Hereinafter, an example of an image forming system to which the present invention is applied will be described. In the present embodiment, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus main body and a post-processing apparatus such as an inserter described later.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system 100 having an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet material such as paper. For convenience, the image forming apparatus main body is hereinafter simply referred to as an image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the inserter 2, the stacker 3, the stacker 4, the folding machine 5 and the finisher 6 are used as post-processing devices. The plurality of post-processing devices are connected in series to the image forming apparatus 1 to perform predetermined post-processing, and are also referred to as paper discharge accessories.

  The inserter 2 is a device that inserts a sheet material between arbitrary sheet materials, and is a device capable of stacking a large amount of sheet materials. The stacker 3, the stacker 4, and the sheet material are folded and conveyed to a downstream apparatus. The folding machine 5 and the finisher 6 are apparatuses that perform sheet material superposition, stapling, and binding holes.

  Each post-processing apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through a communication line 9. The communication line 9 constitutes a first communication path for communicating information or the like for specifying the post-processing apparatus that is the final discharge destination of the sheet material. In this embodiment, the communication line 9 performs serial communication, connects adjacent post-processing apparatuses so that they can communicate with each other, and connects the image forming apparatus and the inserter 2 disposed downstream of the image forming apparatus. . Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each post-processing device is directly connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through a communication line 9.

  Each post-processing apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 by a signal line 10 provided separately from the communication line 9. The signal line 10 can also be provided so that each of the post-processing devices is directly connected to the image forming apparatus 1. However, in this embodiment, the signal line 10 connects the image forming apparatus and the inserter 2 that is a post-processing apparatus connected downstream thereof, and connects the adjacent post-processing apparatuses to each other. Be placed.

  In this case, the post-processing device that has detected the occurrence of the communication abnormality transmits the occurrence of the communication abnormality to the other post-processing device through the signal line 10. The post-processing device that has received the occurrence of the communication abnormality transmits information for specifying the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality has occurred to the control unit of the image forming apparatus through the communication line 9.

Assuming that the communication path through which the abnormality occurrence signal is communicated is the second communication path, the second communication path is constituted only by the signal line 10 between the image forming apparatus 1 and the inserter 2. On the other hand, for the stacker 3, stacker 4, folding machine 5 and finisher 6 which are post-processing devices provided downstream from the inserter 2, the signal line 10 and the communication line 9 constitute a second communication path.
Accordingly, when the signal line 10 is the third communication path, the second communication path is composed of only the signal line 10 that is the third communication path between the image forming apparatus 1 and the inserter 2. On the other hand, between the other post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus 1, the second communication path is configured by the signal line 10 as the third communication path and the communication line 9 as the first communication path. Is done.

Thus, in any case, at least a part of the second communication path is formed separately from the first communication path. The control unit receives the abnormality occurrence signal through the second communication path.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, communication through the signal line 10 can be simple, for example, to indicate whether or not a communication abnormality has occurred, and for example, a binary signal can be used. The post-processing device that has received the communication abnormality from the signal line 10 transmits information specifying the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality has occurred to the image forming apparatus through the communication line 9. The method for communicating information for specifying the post-processing device to the image forming apparatus 1 is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, serial communication is used. Note that the inserter 2 is the only post-processing apparatus directly connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through the signal line 10. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1 receives the abnormality occurrence signal through the signal line 10, the image forming apparatus 1 can specify that the post-processing apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred is the inserter 2.

  Further, the communication line 9 and the signal line 10 may be either wired communication or wireless communication. In this embodiment, the communication line 9 and the signal line 10 are both wired communication. As will be described later, each post-processing device is operable to transmit an ON / OFF binary signal through the signal line 10. In this embodiment, the ON signal indicates that a communication abnormality has been detected in communication via the communication line 9, and the OFF signal indicates that no communication abnormality has been detected in communication via the communication line 9.

An information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through the LAN 8. In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a portable information terminal is shown as PC 7.
The PC 7 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is connected to the PC 7 by wire or wireless, and receives image data to be printed as a print job. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1 conveys the sheet material, forms an image corresponding to the print job, and sends the image to a downstream apparatus. The PC 7 instructs the image forming apparatus 1 on which of the stackers 3, 4, etc. the sheet material is to be stacked.

Next, referring to a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. 2, a schematic configuration of electrical connection of each device in the image forming system according to the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 shows the image forming apparatus 1, the inserter 2, and the finisher 6 in the image forming system. Note that the stacker 3, the stacker 4, and the folding machine 5 have the same configuration as the inserter 2, and thus description thereof is omitted.
First, the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. In the image forming apparatus 1, a CPU 20 as a control unit shown in FIG. 2 reads and executes a control program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23 which is a read-only memory. At this time, data necessary for the control is appropriately written and read into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22 which is a readable / writable memory. In this embodiment, the CPU 20 that controls the image forming apparatus 1 also functions as a control unit that controls the inserter 2 that is a post-processing apparatus. Note that the control means for controlling the post-processing apparatus is not necessarily provided in the image forming apparatus 1, and may be provided separately from the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus or in any one of the post-processing apparatuses. It may be.

  The RAM 22 of the image forming apparatus 1 stores the arrangement order of the paper discharge accessories that are post-processing devices. In this embodiment, an inserter 2, a stacker 3, a stacker 4, a folding machine 5, and a finisher 6 are connected to the image forming apparatus 1 in this order. Further, this connection configuration is recorded in the RAM 22.

  An abnormality notification signal reception sensor 24 is connected to the CPU 20 via an I / O 25 that is an input / output interface. In this embodiment, a photocoupler is used as a reception sensor. The reception sensor 24 is connected to the output port 36 of the inserter 2 connected to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 1 through the signal line 10. The output port 36 is an output port for outputting an abnormality notification. The CPU 20 is connected to the LAN 19 and communicates with the PC 7 via the LAN 19 to receive a print job. Further, a serial communication unit 21 is connected to the CPU 20 and communicates with other devices through the serial communication unit 21. This communication is performed through the communication line 9.

Next, the inserter 2 will be described. Similar to the image forming apparatus 1, the CPU 30 of the inserter 2 reads and executes the control program stored in the ROM 33. At this time, data necessary for control is appropriately written into and read out from the RAM 32.
The CPU 30 is connected to an output port 36 for notifying abnormality via the I / O 35. The output port 36 detects that an abnormality has occurred in communication through the communication line 9. When the output port 36 detects an abnormality, the output port 36 generates an abnormality occurrence signal resulting from the detection of the communication abnormality. Then, the output port 36 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal to the reception sensor 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 that is the upstream apparatus.

  Similar to the I / O 25 of the image forming apparatus 1, the I / O 35 of the inserter 2 is also provided with an abnormality notification signal reception sensor 34. The reception sensor 34 is connected to an output port (not shown) of the stacker 3 that is an adjacent downstream device, and can receive an abnormality occurrence signal from the output port of the stacker 3. Further, a serial communication unit 31 is connected to the CPU 30. The I / O 35 communicates with other devices through the communication line 9 through the serial communication unit 31. The configurations of the stacker 3, the stacker 4, and the folding machine 5 are the same as those of the inserter 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

Next, the finisher 6 will be described. The CPU 40, RAM 42, ROM 43, and I / O 45 provided in the finisher 6 are the same as the CPU 30, RAM 32, ROM 33, and I / O 35 of the inserter 2, and a description thereof is omitted.
The I / O 45 of the finisher 6 is provided with an abnormality occurrence signal reception sensor 44 and an output port 46 for notifying the folding machine 5 which is an upstream apparatus.

  The output port 46 is connected through a signal line 10 to a reception sensor (not shown) of the folding machine 5 that is an upstream device of the finisher 6. In the image forming apparatus 1 and the inserter 2, receiving sensors 24 and 34 are provided in order to receive signals notifying the abnormality from the downstream apparatus. However, since the finisher 6 is the most downstream device, nothing is connected to the reception sensor 44. Therefore, the reception sensor 44 can be omitted.

  The serial communication unit provided in each of the image forming apparatus 1, the inserter 2, the stacker 3, the stacker 4, the folding machine 5, and the finisher 6 shown in FIG. 1 performs communication with other apparatuses and communication errors. Has a function of detecting a communication abnormality such as Examples of communication errors include a parity error, a checksum error, and an overrun error. These are caused by noise such as lightning, failure of the serial communication unit, deterioration of the communication line 9 and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of processing executed in the image forming apparatus 1. Processing executed by the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described using this flowchart.
In S101, the CPU 20 determines whether a print job has been received from the PC 7 (S101), and determines whether to start processing. If the print job has not been received (S101: N), it is determined whether or not the print job has been received again. If a print job has been received (S101: Y), the process proceeds to S102. The CPU 20 starts processing for a known image forming operation and notifies each post-processing device of the start of the image forming operation (S102).

Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a control command to be executed has been received (S103). This control command includes a command transmitted from the PC 7 and a command issued by the image forming apparatus 1 itself.
When the control command to be executed has not been received (S103: N), the CPU 20 executes S103 again. When the control command to be executed has been received (S103: Y), the CPU 20 determines whether the control command is a paper feed command (S104). This paper feed command is transmitted from the PC 7. If the received control command is a paper feed command (S104: Y), the CPU 20 generates data necessary for control (S105) and stores it in the RAM 22. The data necessary for the control includes at least data for instructing in which post-processing apparatus the sheet material on which an image is formed by the print job is finally discharged and stacked. Hereinafter, this final paper discharge destination is referred to as an output destination. After generating data necessary for control, the CPU 20 transmits information to each post-processing device (S106).

  On the other hand, if the control command is not a paper feed command in S104 (S104: N), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the control command is a main body discharge command (S107). The main body discharge command is a control command generated and issued by the image forming apparatus 1 at a timing when the sheet material is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 to an adjacent apparatus.

  If the control command is a main body discharge command (S107: Y), the CPU 20 transmits a discharge command to the downstream apparatus (S108). By this paper discharge command, the downstream apparatus is notified of the conveyance of the sheet material. In this embodiment, since the inserter 2 is provided downstream of the image forming apparatus 1, the insertion of the sheet material is notified to the inserter 2. Thereafter, the process of the CPU 20 returns to S103 and waits for the reception of a command again.

  When the control command is not a main body discharge command (S107: N), the CPU 20 determines whether or not the command is a discharge completion command (S109). The paper discharge completion command is a command transmitted from the post-processing apparatus that is the output destination of the sheet material to the image forming apparatus 1. This discharge completion command is a command indicating that the sheet material discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 to the downstream post-processing apparatus has been stacked in the output destination post-processing apparatus.

  If the received command is a discharge completion command (S109: Y), the CPU 20 searches for and deletes the control data of the sheet material in the RAM 22 (S110). Thereafter, the RAM 22 is searched again, and it is determined whether or not to end the image forming operation by determining the presence or absence of control data for other sheet materials (S111).

The CPU 20 determines that the image forming operation is not ended when there is control data for another sheet material (S111: N). In this case, since the print job continues, the CPU 20 returns to S103 and waits for the next command.
If there is no control data for other sheet materials in S111, the CPU 20 determines that the image forming operation is to be terminated (S111: Y), and transmits a stop command to the post-processing apparatus (S112). The post-processing device ends the operation upon receiving this end command. Thereafter, the CPU 20 performs a stop process of the image forming apparatus 1 and ends the control (S113).

  On the other hand, if the received command is not a paper discharge completion command in S109, the CPU 20 executes an abnormality determination described later (S114). After executing the abnormality determination in S114, the CPU 20 reads the processing result, and returns to S103 if no abnormality has occurred (S115: N). When an abnormality has occurred (S115: Y), the CPU 20 transmits an emergency stop command, which is a control command for immediately stopping the operation to the post-processing device (S116), and performs a stop process (S113). End control.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of processing executed by the post-processing apparatus. With reference to this FIG. 4, the control performed by CPU of a post-processing apparatus is demonstrated. Since this control is common to all post-processing devices, the following description will be made with an example of control executed by the CPU 30 in the inserter 2 as an example.

  The CPU 30 determines whether an operation start command has been received from the image forming apparatus 1 (S201). The operation start command is transmitted from the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 in S102 of the process shown in FIG. When the operation start command has not been received (S201: N), S201 is executed again. When receiving the operation start command, the CPU 30 determines whether or not a control command has been received (S202). If no command has been received (S202: N), S202 is executed again.

There are four types of control commands as shown below.
(1) Command transmitted from image forming apparatus 1 to post-processing apparatus (2) Command transmitted from adjacent upstream apparatus (3) Command transmitted from adjacent downstream apparatus (4) After paper discharge Commands issued by the processing unit for control purposes

When the control command is received (S202: Y), the CPU 30 determines whether or not the received command is sheet material information regarding the sheet material to be conveyed (S203).
This sheet material information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the adjacent post-processing apparatus in S106 of the process shown in FIG. The sheet material information includes information for instructing a post-processing apparatus that is an output destination of the sheet material. For example, the sheet material may be post-processed by the inserter 2, the stacker 3 and the stacker 4, and the folding machine 5 and discharged from the folding machine 5. In this case, the output destination of the sheet material is the folding machine 5.

When the control command received by the folding machine 5 is sheet material information (S203: Y), the CPU 30 of the inserter 2, which is a post-processing device, stores control data necessary for conveyance in the RAM (S204). In this example, the control data is stored in the RAM 32 of the inserter 2.
The CPU 30 of the inserter 2 determines whether or not the output destination of the sheet material matches the inserter 2 from the received sheet material information (S205).
As a result of the determination, if the output destinations match (S205: Y), the process proceeds to S212 described later. If the output destinations do not match (S205: N), the sheet material information is transmitted to the apparatus provided downstream thereof (S206). In this example, information is transmitted to the stacker 3 which is a device connected downstream of the inserter 2. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S212 described later.

As described above, the sheet material information is relayed by the image forming apparatus 1, the inserter 2, the stacker 3, the stacker 4, the folding machine 5, and the finisher 6.
In S203, when the received command is not sheet material information (S203N), the process proceeds to S207. In S207, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the received command is a paper discharge command notifying that the sheet material has arrived from the upstream apparatus (S207).

If the command is a paper discharge command (S207: Y), the CPU 30 executes a conveying process so that the inserter 2 receives the sheet material (S208). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the output destination of the sheet material in the paper discharge command matches the inserter 2 (S209). If they match (S209: Y), a conveyance completion command is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 (S210), and the process proceeds to S212 described later. The image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not this discharge completion command is received in S109 described with reference to FIG.
When the output destination of the sheet material in the paper discharge command does not match the inserter 2 (S209: N), the CPU 30 transmits a paper discharge command to the downstream apparatus (S211), and the process proceeds to S212 described later. move on.

This paper discharge command is received by the downstream apparatus. As described above, the processing shown in FIG. 4 is also executed in the downstream apparatus. Accordingly, whether or not the paper discharge command transmitted to the downstream apparatus in S211 of the process executed by the inserter 2 is a paper discharge command in S207 of the control flowchart of FIG. 4 executed by the downstream apparatus. It will be judged.
As described above, after the steps S206, S210, and S211 are completed, it is determined in any case whether or not a communication abnormality has occurred (S212). Note that the communication abnormality is detected by the serial communication unit of the post-processing apparatus (serial communication units 31 and 41 in FIG. 2).

In each post-processing device, the abnormality occurrence signal is generated at the output ports 36 and 46, transmitted to the device located upstream thereof through the signal line 10, and detected by the reception sensors 24, 34 and 44 described in FIG. .
When it is determined that a communication abnormality has occurred (S212: Y), the CPU 30 generates an abnormality generated due to the detection of a communication abnormality through the signal line 10 with respect to a device connected upstream. A signal is transmitted (S213). The inserter 2 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal to the image forming apparatus 1. On the other hand, the post-processing device other than the inserter 2 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal to the post-processing device connected upstream thereof. The abnormality occurrence signal is generated at the output port 36 of FIG. For example, the finisher 6 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal to the folding machine 5 through the signal line 10.

  Returning to the description of the example of the inserter 2, the CPU 30 controls the output port 36 and transmits an abnormality occurrence signal to the reception sensor 24 of the image forming apparatus 1 that is an upstream apparatus through the signal line 10. Thereafter, the CPU 30 performs a stop process (S214), and the process ends. In other cases (S212: N), the CPU 30 searches the control data stored in the RAM 32 as described above, and determines whether or not all the sheet materials have been conveyed (S218). If the conveyance has not been completed (S218: N), the processing of the CPU 30 returns to S202 and waits for reception of a command. If the conveyance has been completed (S218: Y), a stop process is performed (S214), and the process ends.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S207 that the received command is not a paper discharge command (S207: N), the CPU 30 checks whether or not an abnormality occurrence signal is transmitted to the reception sensor 34 through the signal line 10 (S215).
When an abnormality occurrence signal is received through the signal line 10 in S215 (S215: Y), the CPU 30 performs a communication abnormality command including information for identifying the post-processing device connected downstream thereof as the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality has occurred. Is generated. Therefore, this communication abnormality command is also an abnormality occurrence signal generated due to the detection of the communication abnormality. Thereafter, the CPU 30 controls the output port 36 and transmits a communication abnormality occurrence signal to the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 through the communication line 9 (S216).
In this case, the second communication path is formed by the signal line 10 used for communication of the abnormality occurrence signal from the downstream apparatus and the communication line 9 used for transmission of the communication abnormality command to the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1. Composed. In the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1, this communication abnormality is processed in S114 described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the CPU 30 of the inserter 2 performs a stop process and ends the process (S217).

Depending on the location where the communication abnormality has occurred, it may not be possible to transmit the communication abnormality to the CPU 20 from the post-processing device via the communication line 9 after receiving the abnormality occurrence signal through the signal line 10.
For example, when an abnormality occurs in the signal line between the stacker 3 and the stacker 4, a communication abnormality is detected in the folding machine 5, and an abnormality occurrence signal is transmitted to the stacker 4 through the signal line 10. The stacker 4 tries to transmit an abnormality occurrence signal to the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 through the communication line 9. However, since a communication abnormality has occurred in the signal line 9 between the stacker 4 and the stacker 3, a communication abnormality command cannot be transmitted to the CPU 20. The same applies to the folding machine 5 and the finisher 6.

However, in this case, a communication abnormality is detected also in the stacker 4, an abnormality occurrence signal is transmitted to the stacker 3 through the signal line 10, and the abnormality occurrence signal can be transmitted from the stacker 3 to the CPU 20 through the communication line 9. Therefore, the CPU 20 can determine that a communication abnormality has occurred in the stacker 4.
Thus, when a communication abnormality occurs in the communication line 9, the CPU 20 can identify the post-processing device adjacent to the downstream side of the location where the communication abnormality has occurred as the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality has occurred.

Next, the abnormality detection process in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described using the flowchart of the abnormality detection process illustrated in FIG. After executing the processing of S109 shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not a communication abnormality command that is an abnormality occurrence signal has been received (S301). This communication abnormality command is transmitted from the post-processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus 1 through the communication line 9 in the process of S216 in the flowchart shown in FIG. If the CPU 20 determines that a communication abnormality command has been received (S301: Y), it records the occurrence of a communication abnormality in the RAM 22 (S302). Next, the CPU 20 identifies the post-processing device as the device X in which an abnormality has occurred from the communication abnormality command (S303), and records it in the RAM 22.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, only the inserter 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 through the signal line 10. Accordingly, when the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 detects an abnormality occurrence signal with the reception sensor 24 through the signal line 10, the CPU 20 specifies that the apparatus in which the communication abnormality has occurred is the inserter 2. Therefore, when an abnormality is detected at the output port of the inserter 2, the second communication path through which the abnormality occurrence signal is transmitted is configured by the signal line 10.

On the other hand, when receiving an abnormality occurrence signal from the communication line 9 through the serial communication unit 21, the CPU 20 specifies a post-processing device in which a communication abnormality has occurred from information included in the abnormality occurrence signal. The contents recorded in the RAM 22 are read in S115 in the above-described processing of FIG. 3, and an emergency stop transmission is executed.
Thereafter, the CPU 20 identifies the output destination of the sheet material being conveyed from the control data stored in the RAM 22 (S304), and the device X or the device downstream from the device X to which the identified output destination device has notified the communication abnormality. It is determined whether or not (S305).

  When the output destination is the device X or a device downstream from the device X (S305: Y), the process is terminated. In other cases (S305: N), it is determined whether or not the discharge of all the sheet materials has been completed (S306). If the discharge of the sheet material has not been completed (S306: N), S306 is executed again. If completed (S306: Y), the process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S115. On the other hand, if it is determined in S301 that no communication abnormality has occurred (S301: N), the absence of abnormality is recorded in the RAM 22 (S307), and the control is terminated.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a data structure in the sheet information. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement order of each data in the data string 900 on the memory when there is one sheet material. Also, the data structure on the memory when there are four sheet materials is shown in the composite data string 906.
In the sheet material information, PRE 901 and NEXT 902 in the data string of FIG. 6 are information indicating the arrangement order of the sheet materials. PRE 901 indicates a sheet material on the downstream side of the sheet material, and NEXT 902 indicates a sheet material on the upstream side of the sheet material. ID 903 represents an ID assigned to each sheet material.

  An output destination 904 is output destination information, in which a post-processing device and a tray to which a sheet material is output are recorded. An operation mode 905 represents an operation mode. The contents of this operation mode differ depending on the type of post-processing apparatus. For example, the finisher 6 is information indicating whether or not stapling is performed.

  As described above, the data string 900 indicates information when there is one sheet material. On the other hand, the composite data column 906 indicates information when there are four sheet materials, and the front and back relations of the sheet materials are stored by the pointers of PRE 901 and NEXT 902.

Next, using the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, how the image forming system in this embodiment operates in cooperation when the control described in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is performed. Explain how. First, FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining an operation in a normal state where no communication abnormality has occurred. This sequence diagram shows a sequence in which an image of one sheet material is formed and stacked on the stacker 4.
First, the operation start command 701 described in S102 of FIG. 3 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to all apparatuses on the transport path. As shown in FIG. 7, the operation start command 701 is transmitted to the inserter 2. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 7, an operation start command is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the stacker 3 and the stacker 4, respectively. The reception of the operation start command corresponds to the operation start command reception determination (S201: Y) in S201 of FIG. 4 executed in each post-processing device.

  Next, when receiving the sheet material information transmitted from the PC 7, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits the sheet material information to the adjacent post-processing device. This corresponds to the step of S106 in FIG. In this embodiment, since the inserter is disposed downstream of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet material information 702 is transmitted to the inserter 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet material information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the inserter 2, but is not transmitted directly from the image forming apparatus 1 to the stacker 3 and the stacker 4.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, the CPU 30 of the inserter 2 determines whether the received command is a control command (S202), and as a result, determines that it is a control command (S202: Y). Thereafter, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the control command is sheet material information (S203), and as a result, determines that the control command is sheet material information (S203: Y). Thereafter, the CPU 30 generates data as described above (S204), and determines whether the output destination of the sheet material matches the inserter 2 (S205). In this example, it is determined that the output destination of the sheet material is not the inserter 2 (S205: N), and the sheet material command 706 is transmitted to the stacker 3 which is a downstream apparatus (S206).

  The same processing is performed in the stacker 3, and the sheet material information is transmitted to the stacker 4 when the CPU of the stacker 3 executes S <b> 206 in FIG. 4. Thus, the sheet material information is transmitted from the inserter 2 to the stacker 4 via the stacker 3.

When the image-formed sheet material is conveyed to the exit of the image forming apparatus 1, a paper discharge command 703 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 to the inserter 2. This corresponds to S108 of FIG. 3 executed by the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1.
The inserter 2 receives the sheet material and, when the sheet material reaches the exit of the inserter 2, transmits a sheet discharge command 707 to the stacker 3 that is a downstream device adjacent to the inserter 2. This corresponds to the execution of S211 in FIG. 4 in the inserter 2 to transmit a paper discharge command to the downstream apparatus.
Similarly, the stacker 3 receives the sheet material sent from the inserter 2, and when the sheet material reaches the exit of the stacker 3, it issues a discharge command to the stacker 4, which is a downstream device adjacent to the stacker 3. Send. This corresponds to the CPU of the stacker 3 executing S211 in FIG. 4 and transmitting a discharge command to the downstream apparatus.

When stacking of sheet materials is completed in the stacker 4 that is the output destination, a discharge completion command 704 is transmitted from the stacker 4 to the image forming apparatus 1. This corresponds to transmitting the transfer completion processing by executing S210 of FIG.
The CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 executes S109 of FIG. 3 and determines whether or not the paper discharge is completed depending on whether or not a paper discharge completion command is received.

Thereafter, the CPU 20 determines the end of the job by executing S111 in FIG. 3 and transmits an operation stop command 705 to the inserter 2. Similarly, an operation stop command is transmitted to the stacker 3 and the stacker 4 which are other post-processing devices. Each post-processing device determines whether or not to stop the operation by executing S218 of FIG.
As described above, the normal control sequence is performed.

  Next, the sequence at the time of abnormality will be described with reference to a sequence diagram showing an embodiment of the operation at the time of occurrence of abnormality shown in FIG. In this example, this corresponds to the case where the post-processing apparatus instructed as the output destination of the sheet material in the print job is a post-processing apparatus downstream from the post-processing apparatus specified to have an abnormality. Note that the same processing as in this example is also performed when the post-processing device identified as having an abnormality is the post-processing device itself instructed as the output destination of the sheet material. The CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 notifies the stop of the operation to each of the post-processing devices upstream from the post-processing device identified as having the abnormality.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the folding machine 5 that is a post-processing device, an abnormality has occurred in communication with the upstream device through the communication line 9. The CPU 30 identifies this folding machine 5 as the post-processing device X in S303 of FIG.
In this print job, the post-processing device that outputs and stacks sheet materials is the finisher 6 disposed downstream of the folding machine, and the number of stacked sheet materials is one. At this time, before the sheet material reaches the finisher, a communication abnormality is detected in the folding machine 5 in communication with the stacker 4 through the communication line 9. Therefore, the folder 5 is the post-processing apparatus X.

As shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 transmits an operation start command 801 to the inserter 2 through the communication line 9. Similarly, the CPU 20 transmits an operation start command to all post-processing devices, that is, the stacker 3, the stacker 4, the folding machine 5, and the finisher 6.
Next, the CPU 20 transmits sheet material information 802 to the inserter 2. As in the example in FIG. 7, the sheet material information 802 transmitted to the inserter 2 is sequentially transmitted to the finisher 6 through the stacker 3, the stacker 4, and the folding machine 5.
Thereafter, as in the normal control sequence in FIG. 7, the CPU 20 transmits a paper discharge command 803 to the inserter 2. The inserter 2 transmits a paper discharge command to the stacker 3 located downstream.

  However, in the example of FIG. 8, after the sheet material is conveyed from the inserter 2 to the stacker 3 and the discharge command is transmitted, the folding machine 5 detects the occurrence of communication abnormality 804 with the stacker 4 through the communication line 9. Detected. In this case, the CPU of the folding machine 5 detects a communication abnormality in S212 of the flowchart of FIG. Thereafter, in S213, the CPU of the folding machine 5 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal 805 to the stacker 4 that is the upstream device through the signal line 10. The stacker 4 determines in S215 of FIG. 4 that it has received the abnormality occurrence signal 805 (S215: Y), and in S216 of FIG. 806 is notified.

  When the CPU 20 receives the communication abnormality command 806 transmitted from the stacker 4 through the communication line 9, the CPU 20 executes S103 of FIG. 3, and then sequentially executes S104, S107, and S109 to perform abnormality determination in S114. The details of the abnormality determination are shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as already described. Then, in S302 shown in FIG. 5, the folding machine 5 is specified as the post-processing apparatus X.

In this example, as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 7, the discharge destination of the sheet material existing in the image forming system is the finisher 6. Therefore, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 specifies that the sheet material discharge destination is the finisher 6 in S304 of FIG. 5, and determines that the sheet discharge destination is downstream from the post-processing apparatus X (S305: Y). As a result, the CPU 20 determines that the sheet material cannot be conveyed to the target discharge destination.
Thereafter, the CPU 20 advances the processing to S115 in FIG. The CPU 20 determines that an abnormality has occurred (S115: Y) and transmits an emergency stop command 807 to the inserter 2. The CPU 20 also transmits an emergency stop command to the stacker 3 and the stacker 4. However, it is not necessary to send an emergency stop command to the folder 5 and the finisher 6. This is because a communication abnormality through the communication line 9 has occurred in the folding machine 5, and even if the folding machine 5 and the finisher 6 are notified of the operation stop through the communication line, they cannot be received due to a communication abnormality.

  In this manner, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the CPU of the folding machine 5 detects that an abnormality has occurred in communication with the stacker 4 through the communication line 9. Thereafter, the CPU of the folding machine 5 notifies the abnormality occurrence signal to the stacker 4 which is an upstream apparatus through the signal line 10. The stacker 4 can notify the image forming apparatus 1 of the occurrence of communication abnormality through the communication line 9. As a result, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 can transmit an operation stop signal through the communication line 9 to the post-processing apparatus on the upstream side of the folding machine 5. Thereby, the post-processing device on the upstream side of the folding machine 5 stops its operation.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing another embodiment of the operation when an abnormality occurs, which is different from the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the post-processing device X that detects the occurrence of an abnormality is located downstream of the post-processing device to which the sheet material is output. In this example, the post-processing device for the sheet material output destination is the stacker 4, and the post-processing device X that detects an abnormality is the folding machine 5 disposed downstream of the stacker 4.

  As in the example described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 transmits an operation start command 901 to the inserter 2, and similarly starts operation to each of the other post-processing devices. Send a command. Further, the CPU 20 transmits sheet material information 902 to the inserter 2, and similarly transmits sheet material information 902 to other post-processing devices.

The CPU 20 transmits a paper discharge command 903 to the inserter 2, and the CPU 30 of the inserter 2 transmits a paper discharge command to the stacker 3.
In a normal time, a discharge command is transmitted from the CPU of the stacker 3 to the CPU of the stacker 4. However, in this example, an abnormality occurrence 904 is detected in the folding machine 5 while the sheet material is being conveyed in the conveyance path of the stacker 3. Then, the CPU of the folding machine 5 transmits an abnormality occurrence signal 905 to the stacker 4 through the signal line 10. The CPU of the stacker 4 transmits a communication abnormality command 906 to the CPU 20 by serial communication through the communication line 9.

  When receiving a communication abnormality occurrence, the CPU 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as in the example of FIG. In this case, the CPU 20 detects an abnormality in S302 of FIG. 5 and identifies that the post-processing device is the folding machine 5 after detecting the abnormality in S303. Since the output destination of the sheet material is upstream of the folding machine 5 that has detected the abnormality, the CPU 20 determines that the output destination of the sheet material is not in the post-processing apparatus X or downstream (S305: N). This indicates that the sheet material can be conveyed to the stacker 4 that is the output destination and stacked on the stacker 4.

In the example of FIG. 8, the emergency stop command 807 is transmitted immediately after the communication abnormality command 806 is notified to the CPU 20, but in this example, a discharge completion command from the stacker 4, which is the output post-processing device, is sent. Post-processing continues until it is received.
Therefore, after receiving the communication abnormality command 906, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the discharge completion command 907 is received from the stacker 4, and determines whether or not the discharge is completed (S306). After receiving the discharge completion command 907 (S306: Y), the CPU 20 transmits an emergency stop command 908 to each of the post-processing devices of the inserter 2, the stacker 3, and the stacker 4. Thereafter, the CPU 20 executes the processes after S115 shown in FIG.

  By executing the processing in this manner, when an abnormality occurs in the post-processing apparatus downstream from the output destination of the sheet material, the emergency stop process is performed after all the sheet materials are discharged in each post-processing apparatus. I do. Therefore, if a communication error occurs in a post-processing device that is downstream of the output destination of the sheet material and does not perform post-processing of the sheet material, the sheet material is used until the output is completed in the post-processing device of the output destination Post-processing can be continued.

  As described above, the image forming system according to the present invention connects the post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus so that they can communicate with each other, and connects the post-processing apparatus and the control means so that they can communicate with each other. At least a part of the second communication path has a second communication path formed separately from the first communication path. Therefore, in one of the post-processing devices, even if an abnormality occurs in communication through the first communication path, it is possible to notify the image forming apparatus of the occurrence of the communication abnormality through the second communication path. At least a part of the second communication path is formed separately from the first communication path. Therefore, the post-processing device communicates with the image forming apparatus via a portion formed separately from the first communication path in the second communication path and a portion where no communication abnormality occurs in the first communication path. Is possible.

  In particular, in one embodiment, adjacent devices constituting an image forming system are connected by a signal line 10. Therefore, when a communication abnormality occurs during the image forming operation, the apparatus in which the communication abnormality has occurred notifies the other apparatus, for example, an upstream adjacent apparatus, that the communication abnormality has occurred. be able to. This notification is performed through the signal line 10.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can communicate with the post-processing device by a notification through the signal line even after a communication abnormality occurs on the communication line 9. From this, the image forming apparatus 1 can specify a post-processing apparatus in which a communication abnormality has occurred, and determine whether there is an apparatus that can convey the sheet material.

As a result, even if a communication error occurs, if the post-processing device where the communication error occurs is downstream of the sheet material output destination, each post-processing device can perform post-processing and paper discharge. Become. In this way, even if a communication abnormality occurs, if the sheet material does not pass through the apparatus in which the communication abnormality has occurred, it is possible to prevent an emergency stop until the conveyance of the sheet material is completed.
On the other hand, when the post-processing device in which the communication abnormality occurs is at the output destination or upstream of the sheet material, the sheet material being conveyed passes through the device in which the communication abnormality has occurred. Therefore, in this case, an emergency stop is performed without waiting for the completion of paper discharge.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Inserter, 3 ... Stacker, 4 ... Stacker, 5 ... Folding machine, 6 ... Finisher, 7 ... PC, 8 ... LAN, 9 ... Communication line, 10 ... Signal line, 19 ... LAN, 20 30, 40 ... CPU, 21, 31, 41 ... serial communication unit, 22, 32, 42 ... RAM, 23, 33, 43 ... ROM, 24, 34, 44 ... reception sensor, 25, 35, 45 ... I / O, 36, 46 ... Output port

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet material and discharging the sheet material;
A plurality of post-processing devices connected in series to the image forming apparatus and operable to perform predetermined post-processing on the sheet material,
A first communication path for communicably connecting the post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus;
An image forming system having a control unit connected to each of the post-processing devices through the first communication path,
The post-processing device and the control means are communicably connected and at least a part thereof has a second communication path formed separately from the first communication path,
Each of the plurality of post-processing devices has an abnormality detection unit that detects that a communication abnormality has occurred in communication with the control unit through the first communication path,
The control means receives an abnormality occurrence signal generated by the post-processing device due to the detection of the communication abnormality by the abnormality detection means through the second communication path, and the first communication path Identifying the post-processing device when an abnormality occurs in communication through
Image forming system. The image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus included in the image forming system are connected to each other by a third communication path provided separately from the first communication path.
At least a part of the second communication path includes a third communication path that connects a post-processing apparatus that detects a communication abnormality and a post-processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus located upstream thereof.
The image forming system according to claim 1. The abnormality detection means is operable to generate a signal that can take a first value indicating that the communication abnormality is not detected and a second value indicating that the communication abnormality is detected. Yes,
When the abnormality detecting unit detects that an abnormality has occurred in communication through the first communication path, the second value signal is adjacent to the upstream side as the abnormality occurrence signal through the third communication path. To send to,
The image forming system according to claim 2. When the post-processing device receives the signal of the second value through the third communication path from the downstream post-processing device, the post-processing device receives information identifying the post-processing device that has detected an abnormality through the first communication path. The included signal is transmitted to the control means as the abnormality occurrence signal,
The image forming system according to claim 3. The control means transmits information indicating a post-processing device that is an output destination of the sheet material to each of the post-processing devices through the first communication path.
The image forming system according to claim 1. When the post-processing device instructed as the output destination of the sheet material is a post-processing device upstream of the post-processing device identified as having occurred, the control means outputs the sheet material. The post-processing is continued in the post-processing device upstream of the post-processing device identified as having the abnormality until the post-processing is completed in the post-processing device designated as the destination. ,
The image forming system according to claim 5. The control means is a post-processing device in which the post-processing device designated as the output destination of the sheet material is specified as the occurrence of the abnormality, or from the post-processing device specified as the occurrence of the abnormality. If it is also a downstream post-processing device, the operation stop is notified to each of the post-processing devices upstream of the specified post-processing,
The image forming system according to claim 5 or 6. The control unit is provided in the image forming apparatus and controls discharge of the sheet material in the image forming apparatus.
The image forming system according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet material and discharging the sheet material;
A plurality of post-processing devices connected in series to the image forming apparatus and operable to perform predetermined post-processing on the sheet material,
A first communication path that connects the post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus so that they can communicate with each other;
The image forming system includes a second communication path in which the post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus are communicably connected and at least a part thereof is formed separately from the first communication path,
Each of the plurality of post-processing devices detects that a communication abnormality has occurred in communication with the image forming apparatus through the first communication path;
The image forming apparatus receives an abnormality occurrence signal generated by the post-processing apparatus due to the detection of the communication abnormality through the second communication path, and causes an abnormality in communication through the first communication path. Characterized by specifying a post-processing device.
Method.

Images