JP2017103512A - Image formation apparatus, method of controlling image formation, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire a top-side image and a reverse-side image read in acquisition order meeting a sheet conveyance condition and a sheet post-processing condition.SOLUTION: There is provided an image formation apparatus comprising first read means of reading a top-side image of a document, a second read means of reading a reverse-side image of the document, printing means of printing on a top surface or reverse surface of a sheet the top-side image read by the first read means or the reverse-side image read by the second read image, and post-processing means of performing predetermined post-processing on the sheet having been printed by the printing means, the image formation apparatus comprising: determining means of determining acquisition order of the top-side image read by the first read means and the reverse-side image read by the second read means based upon a combination condition of a paper feeding condition for sheets specified by the printing means and a post-processing condition for sheets specified by the post-processing means when the printing means prints the images on both the sides of the sheet; and output means of outputting to the printing means the top-side image and reverse-side image acquired according to the acquisition order determined by the determining means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus that includes an automatic document feeder (ADF), conveys documents placed on the automatic document feeder one by one, and reads images on the front and back sides of a double-sided document using separate reading units. There is. If such an image reading apparatus is used, it is not necessary for the image reading apparatus to reverse the front side and the back side of the original, so that the original can be read faster.

  In the image reading apparatus, the image data on the back side is first transferred to a storage device in the image forming apparatus. As a result, there is known a technique for performing a faster copying operation on various types of originals in an image output apparatus capable of simultaneous writing on both sides which forms an image on the back side first (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-025072 A

On the other hand, there are a vertical path system and a horizontal path system as paper transport systems of the printer engine constituting the image forming apparatus. In addition, there are a switchback method and a non-switchback method as a paper conveyance method to the saddle unit of the finisher connected to the image forming apparatus.
For example, there is a function to fold a printed output sheet that has been printed on both sides by a finisher connected to the image forming apparatus. When the printed output paper is folded in half, which side comes inside the fold differs depending on the paper transport method to the saddle unit of the finisher.
Therefore, in order to create a product desired by the user, it is necessary to control the image output order to the printer in accordance with the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the print settings. When the image data transfer order from the image reading apparatus capable of simultaneous reading on both sides to the controller is fixed, the controller needs to temporarily store the image data, change the order, and output it to the printer. That is, the start of print output is awaited until the controller acquires a necessary image.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to acquire a front image and a back image that are read in an acquisition order adapted to sheet conveyance conditions and sheet post-processing conditions. It is to provide a mechanism.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
A first reading unit that reads a front image of a document, a second reading unit that reads a back image of the document, a front image read from the first reading unit, or a back image read from the second reading unit; An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints on a front surface or a back surface of the sheet; and a post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on the sheet printed by the printing unit, wherein the printing unit prints images on both sides of the sheet. When printing, a surface image read by the first reading unit based on a combination condition of a sheet feeding condition specified by the printing unit and a post-processing condition of the sheet specified by the post-processing unit A determination unit that determines an acquisition order of the back image read by the second reading unit, a front image acquired according to the acquisition order determined by the determination unit, and the back image And output means for outputting to the serial printing means,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire a front image and a back image that are read in an acquisition order adapted to the sheet conveyance condition and the sheet post-processing condition.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of a scanner part. It is a block diagram explaining the image processing by a reader control apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a printer unit. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a post-processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an operation part. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing order of document images on output paper when print settings are made. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 400]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of the image forming apparatus 400 on which the controller unit 100 as an electronic component is mounted.

  In FIG. 1, a controller unit 100 is connected to a scanner unit 200, which is an image input device, and controls input of image information. In addition, the controller unit 100 is connected to the LAN 600, and performs transmission of a transmission job through the controller unit 100. The controller unit 100 is connected to a printer unit 300 that is an image output device, and controls output of image information. The controller unit 100 is connected to the LAN 600, receives a print job via the LAN 600, and performs print output. Further, the controller unit 100 provides a copy function by controlling the scanner unit 200 to read image data of a document and controlling the printer unit 300. The CPU 111 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 400 and operates based on a program stored in the RAM 112.

A ROM 113 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. The storage unit 114 stores system software, image data, a program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 400, and the like. The programs stored in the ROM 113 and the storage unit 114 are loaded into the RAM 112, and the CPU 111 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 400 based on the programs.
The image processing unit 115 performs image correction on the image data input from the scanner I / F 117. A network I / F 116 is connected to the LAN 600 and controls input / output of various information via the network. A scanner I / F 117 connects the scanner unit 200, which is an image input device, and the controller unit 100, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The operation unit I / F 118 is an interface that connects the operation unit 150 and the controller unit 100, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 150 to the operation unit 150.

  In addition, the operation unit I / F 118 transmits information input by the user from the operation unit 150 to the CPU 111. A printer I / F 119 connects the printer unit 300, which is an image output device, and the controller unit 100, and performs image data processing for synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data and print output. The operation unit 150 includes an input device for a user to perform an execution instruction for a function of the image forming apparatus 400 and an operation setting when the function is executed. The operation unit 150 includes a display device for notifying the user of the state of the image forming apparatus 400.

[Configuration of Scanner Unit 200]
FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the scanner unit 200 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, the scanner unit 200 includes a reader control device 210, an automatic document feeder (ADF unit) 230, a reading device (scanner unit) 220, a memory (DRAM) 240, and a scanner I / F 250. The reading device 220 is an image reading unit that reads a document placed on a document table. An optical scanning system including an exposure lamp, a mirror, and a lens, and an image such as a CCD or a CMOS that reads a document image and converts it into an electrical signal. It consists of sensors. The automatic document feeder 230 is a document transport unit that transports documents one by one from a document stack placed on a document stacking table, and includes a feed roller, a discharge roller, a document detection sensor, and the like.

  Further, in a reader apparatus that supports the simultaneous reading function of both sides of a document, an image sensor for reading an image on the back side of the document is installed on a document transport path of the automatic document feeder. When reading a document using the double-sided simultaneous reading function, the reader device reads images on both sides of the document by feeding and conveying the document once. The reader control device 210 is a control unit that controls the reader device, and is connected to the automatic document feeder 230, the reading device 220, the memory 240, and the scanner I / F 250. In response to a request from the controller unit 100, the reader control device 210 controls the automatic document feeder and the reading device. The reader control device 210 performs image processing such as color misregistration correction, luminance correction, and blank sheet detection on the read image data.

  Thereafter, the image data is transferred to the controller unit 100 through the scanner I / F 250 in response to a request from the controller unit 100. At this time, the image data read by the reading device 220 or the automatic document feeder 230 is stored in the memory 240 as necessary. The reader control device 210 reads an image from the memory 240 after receiving a request from the controller unit 100 and transfers the image data to the controller unit 100. The reader control device 210 can also perform a scaling process after reading an image from the memory 240.

[Outline of Image Processing in Reader Control Device 210]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating image processing performed by the reader control device 210 shown in FIG. These processing blocks can also be provided for the output from the front surface CCD line sensor 58 (see FIG. 5) and the output from the rear surface CCD line sensor 20, respectively. Analog image data is output from the front surface CCD line sensor 58 and the rear surface CCD line sensor 20 (see FIG. 5).
In FIG. 3, an A / D converter 211 digitally converts analog image data. The read image processing unit 212 performs processing such as shading correction, MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) correction, and high-frequency suppression processing for matching the levels of the highlight (white) and dark (black) portions of the read image data. The blank sheet detection processing unit 260 refers to the image data 213 processed by the read image processing unit 212 and determines whether the image data is blank. The reader control device 210 stores the image data 213 processed by the read image processing unit 212 and the blank page detection result 214 by the blank page detection processing unit 260 in the memory 240.

[Configuration of Printer Unit 300]
FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the printer unit 300 shown in FIG.
4, the printer unit 300 includes a printer control device 310, a paper feeding device 320, a printing device 330, a paper discharge device 340, and a printer I / F 350. The paper feeding device 320 includes a paper feeding cassette for stacking printing paper and a paper feeding device for transporting paper from the paper feeding cassette to the printing device. The printing device 330 includes a photosensitive member on which a latent image is formed, a laser device that forms a latent image on the photosensitive member, an optical system such as a lens and a mirror, a developing device that forms a toner image on the photosensitive member, and toner on the photosensitive member. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that transfers and fixes an image onto printing paper. The paper discharge device 340 includes a paper discharge tray for stacking printed paper, a paper discharge roller for transporting the paper printed by the printing device to the paper discharge tray, and finishing processing such as stapling and punching on the printed paper. It consists of a processing device.
The printer control device 310 is connected to the paper feeding device 320, the printing device 330, the paper discharge device 340, and the printer I / F 350. The printer control device 310 sends the request from the controller unit 100 and the image data transferred from the controller unit 100 to the printing device 330 through the printer I / F 350 to form an image on the printing paper.

[Cross Section of Image Forming Apparatus 400]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. In particular, (a) corresponds to a monochrome (monochrome) image forming apparatus, and (b) corresponds to a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image with four-color toner.
First, the scanner unit 200 will be described. In the present embodiment, the sheet feeding conditions specified by the printing unit are different between FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. Specifically, FIG. 5A shows a configuration in which the sheet is fed in the short direction, and FIG. 5B shows a configuration in which the sheet is fed in the longitudinal direction.
The scanner unit 200 has a fixed reading mode and a flow reading mode.
The fixed reading mode is a method of reading a document set on the pressure plate glass 52 by the front surface CCD line sensor 58 when the user presses a start key 152 described later without setting the document on the document tray 1. The ADF unit 230 and the back surface CCD line sensor 20 are not used because an optical motor (not shown) is driven to read the document while sliding the front surface reading unit 59 to the right.

The flow reading mode is a method in which the front surface reading unit 59 is fixed and the original is conveyed and read. The ADF unit 230 includes a document tray 1 that can move up and down to place a document bundle composed of at least one sheet, and a pickup roller 2 that feeds a document on the top surface of the document bundle into the apparatus. Prior to the start of document conveyance, the pickup roller 2 is lowered, and a lifter motor (not shown) is driven to raise the document tray 1. When the document on the top surface of the document bundle reaches the feeding position, the paper surface detection flag 9 that rotates in conjunction with the pickup roller 2 in contact with the top surface of the document bundle blocks the paper surface detection sensor 10 and outputs ON. Then, the raising of the document tray 1 is stopped. When the feeding operation is started, the document fed by the pickup roller 2 is separated into one sheet by the action of the separation roller pair 3 including the feed roller 4 and the retard roller 5.
This separation is realized by a known retard separation technique. The separated document is conveyed by the drawing roller pair 6 and the conveyance roller pair 13 via the post-separation sensor 11 and the pre-registration sensor 14, and the document is abutted against the registration roller pair 15. As a result, the document is formed in a loop shape, and the skew in the conveyance of the document is eliminated. The document S that has passed through the registration roller pair 15 is conveyed toward the flow reading glass 51 and is sent to the platen upstream roller pair 16 and the platen roller 17.
Here, the platen roller 17 is in contact with the flow reading glass 51, and the surface of the document passing through the platen roller 17 is irradiated with the light source lamp 53. The reflected light can pass through mirrors 54, 55, 56 and lens 57, and the surface CCD line sensor 58 can read the surface image of the document. The document fed by the platen roller 17 passes through the platen downstream roller pair 18 and is sent to the back surface reading roller 19.
The back side reading roller 19 is in contact with the moving glass 22, and in the double side reading mode, the back side of the document passing through the back side reading roller 19 is irradiated by the light source lamp 21, and the reflected light is reflected by the back side CCD line sensor 20. It is possible to read the back image. The document fed by the back surface reading roller 19 is discharged to the document discharge tray 25 by the discharge roller pair 24 through the discharge sensor 23. Image data output from the front surface CCD line sensor 58 and the rear surface CCD line sensor 20 is subjected to predetermined processing and then stored in the memory 240 as necessary. The image data stored in the memory 240 is read by a request from the controller unit 100 and then transferred to the controller unit 100.

Next, the printer unit 300 will be described.
In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the recording paper conveyance path is different, so each will be described. Note that (a) in FIG. 5 is referred to as a horizontal pass machine, and (b) in FIG. 5 is referred to as a vertical pass machine.
First, the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5A will be described.
In the printer unit 300 of FIG. 5A, reference numeral 331 denotes a laser driver that drives the laser emission unit 332, and emits laser light corresponding to the image data output from the controller unit 100 to the laser emission unit 332. Let The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 333, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 333. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 333 by a developing device 334.

  The printer unit 300 includes a cassette 321, a cassette 322, a cassette 323, and a cassette 324 each having a drawer shape as the paper feeding device 320. Paper is replenished by pulling out each paper feed cassette, replenishing paper in the drawer and closing the cassette.

The printer unit 300 feeds recording paper from any of the cassettes 321, 322, 323, and 324 and conveys the recording paper to the transfer unit 335 through the conveyance path 341. The transfer unit 335 transfers the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 333 onto the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 337 by the conveying belt 336, and the developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 337. Thereafter, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 337 passes through the conveyance path 345 and the conveyance path 344 and is discharged. When the printing surface is reversed and discharged, the paper is guided to the conveyance path 346 and the conveyance path 348, and the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction, and passes through the conveyance path 347 and the conveyance path 344. If duplex recording is set, after passing through the fixing unit 337, the recording paper is guided from the conveyance path 346 to the conveyance path 343 by the flapper 349, and then the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction. Thus, the sheet is guided to the conveyance path 348 and the refeed conveyance path 342.
The recording paper guided to the refeed conveyance path 342 passes through the conveyance path 341 at the timing described above and is fed to the transfer unit 335. Regardless of single-sided or double-sided recording, the recording paper discharged from the conveyance path 344 is conveyed to the post-processing apparatus.
For this reason, in the printer having such a configuration, in order to eject the paper from the conveyance path 344 face-down during double-sided printing, it is necessary to perform control so as to perform transfer printing on the back surface after performing surface transfer.

Next, the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5B will be described.
In FIG. 5B, the printer unit 300 includes a printer unit body 800A, an image forming unit 800B that forms an image on a sheet, and a fixing unit 820. A discharge space S for discharging a sheet is formed between the scanner unit 200 and the printer main body 800A. A sheet feeding device 830 is provided at the lower part of the printer main body and constitutes a sheet feeding unit, 815 is a toner cartridge, 100 is an image forming operation of the image forming unit 800B, and a sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding device 830. It is a controller part which is a control means which controls etc.

  The image forming unit 800B is of a four-drum full-color system, and forms four toner images of a laser scanner 810 and four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The process cartridge 811 is provided. Here, each process cartridge 811 includes a photosensitive drum 812, a charger 813 as a charging unit, a developing unit 814 as a developing unit, and a cleaner as a cleaning unit (not shown).

  In addition, the image forming unit 800B includes an intermediate transfer unit 800C disposed above the process cartridge 811. The intermediate transfer unit 800C includes an intermediate transfer belt 816 wound around a driving roller 816a and a tension roller 816b. The intermediate transfer unit 800 </ b> C includes a primary transfer roller 819 that is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 816 and contacts the intermediate transfer belt 816 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 812.

  Here, the intermediate transfer belt 816 is formed of a film-like member and is disposed so as to be in contact with each photosensitive drum 812, and is rotated in the arrow direction by a driving roller 816a driven by a driving unit (not shown). Then, by applying a positive transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 816 by the primary transfer roller 819, each color toner image having a negative polarity on the photosensitive drum 812 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 816 in a multiple transfer manner. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 816.

A secondary transfer roller 817 constituting a secondary transfer unit that transfers a color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 816 to a sheet is provided at a position facing the driving roller 816a of the intermediate transfer unit 800C. . The sheet feeding device 830 includes a pickup roller 871 that is a sheet feeding unit disposed above the sheet feeding cassette 828 and the like, and in parallel with an image forming operation on the intermediate transfer belt 816, the sheet feeding cassette 828. The sheet P accommodated in the sheet is fed.
Thereafter, the sheet P fed by the sheet feeding device 830 is conveyed to the registration roller pair 840, and the skew feeding is corrected by the registration roller pair 840. After the skew is corrected, the sheet P is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit by the registration roller pair 840 at a timing when the color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 816 and the leading edge of the sheet coincide.

  In the secondary transfer portion, the toner images formed by the image forming portion 800B are transferred onto the sheet P at once. Next, the sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred in this manner is conveyed to the fixing unit 820, and is fixed on the sheet P as a color image by receiving heat and pressure in the fixing unit 820. Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged into the discharge space S by the discharge roller pairs 825a and 825b, and is stacked on the stacking unit 850 protruding from the bottom surface of the discharge space S. When images are formed on both sides of the sheet S, after the image is fixed, the sheet P is conveyed to the re-conveying path R by a pair of reversing rollers 822 that can be rotated in the normal direction. Thereafter, it is conveyed again to the image forming unit 800B.

  Here, in addition to the pickup roller 871, the sheet feeding device 830 includes a feed roller 872 that is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 871 in the sheet feeding direction and serves as a conveyance roller that conveys the sheet fed by the pickup roller 871. ing. Further, a retard roller 873 that is supported so as to be press-contactable to the feed roller 872, press-contacts the feed roller 872, and can be rotated (driven rotation) with respect to the feed roller 872 is provided.

  The feed roller 872 and the retard roller 873 constituting the first conveyance roller pair (separation roller pair) that conveys the sheet together with the feed roller 872 constitute a separation unit that separates the sheet fed by the pickup roller 871. In addition, when the sheet is sent out by the pickup roller 871 and passes through the separation unit, the sheets separated one by one are conveyed to the registration roller pair 840 by the drawing roller 874 and the roller constituting the second conveyance roller pair. .

Therefore, in the printer 800 having such a configuration, it is necessary to perform control so that the transfer printing on the front surface is performed after the transfer of the back surface is performed in order to eject the paper to the pair of discharge rollers 825a and 825b face down during double-sided printing. .

[Cross sectional view of post-processing equipment]
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a post-processing device connected as the paper discharge device 340 of the printer unit 300. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the conveying paths until the saddle discharge tray 585 and the saddle stitching processing tray 761 are discharged are different from each other. In the present embodiment, the switching attribute for the post-processing apparatus to switch the sheet conveyance direction is different between FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B. Specifically, FIG. 6A includes a configuration in which a printed sheet is conveyed without switching back, and FIG. 6B illustrates a configuration in which the printed sheet is switched back and conveyed. It adopts a configuration to switch between.

First, the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.
The finisher 500 includes a rear end binding device 510 that binds the rear end of the bundled paper, a bookbinding device 550 that binds the bundled paper into a booklet, and the like. The finisher 500 can perform non-sort processing and sort processing. The finisher 500 includes a sheet stacking device 570. The sheet stacking device 570 stacks sheets discharged from the upper tray 571A, the lower tray 571B, and the discharge outlet 572 of the finisher main body 500A.
When connected to the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5A, the sheet conveyed from the conveyance path 344 is received in the finisher 500 by the entrance roller pair 502.

  When the printer unit 300 shown in FIG. 5B is connected, a buffer path (not shown) is provided between the paper discharge roller pair 825 b and the entrance roller pair 502, and the conveyed paper is received in the finisher 500. .

  The sort path 552 guides the paper received by the entrance roller pair 502 to the paper discharge conveyance roller pair 560 during the sort process, the non-sort process, and the trailing edge binding process. The bookbinding path 553 guides the sheet received by the entrance roller pair 502 to the bookbinding apparatus 550. The flapper 551 is provided at a branch point between the sort path 552 and the bookbinding path 553, and selects the sort path 552 and the bookbinding path 553. In the case of the non-sorting process, the paper guided to the sorting path 552 by the flapper 551 is discharged onto the upper tray 571A or the lower tray 571B that can be moved up and down by the normal rotation of the paper discharge conveyance roller pair 560 that can be rotated forward and backward. . Note that a punch unit (not shown) for punching the vicinity of the rear end of the conveyed paper may be attached between the apparatus main body and the finisher 500.

  In the case of sort processing, the paper guided to the sort path 552 by the flapper 551 is stacked on the processing tray (intermediate tray) 530 by the forward rotation operation of the paper discharge conveyance roller pair 560 and the subsequent reverse rotation operation. The Then, the paper is aligned at the side edge and the rear edge. The sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 530 are subjected to alignment processing, stapling processing by the stapler 540, and the like as necessary. It is discharged onto the tray 571b. On the other hand, the bookbinding apparatus 550 includes two staplers 580 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the bookbinding path 553, a pair of folding rollers 581 for folding a sheet bundle, a protruding member 582, and the like.

  The sheets are sequentially fed from the bookbinding path 553 to the storage guide 583, and the leading end (lower end) is received by a stopper 584 that can be raised and lowered to form a bundle. The bundled sheets are bound by a stapler 580 at an intermediate portion in the sheet conveyance direction. The pair of folding rollers 581 and the protruding member 582 are arranged to face each other with the storage guide 583 therebetween. When the sheet bundle is bound, the stopper 584 descends while supporting the sheet bundle so that the bound portion of the sheet bundle is positioned between the folding roller pair 581 and the protruding member 582. Thereafter, the protruding member 582 protrudes toward the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 583, pushes the bound portion of the sheet bundle, and pushes the sheet bundle into the nip of the pair of folding rollers 581. The folding roller pair 581 rotates, conveys the sheet bundle while being folded, and discharges it to the saddle discharge tray 585. The discharged sheet bundle is in the form of a booklet.

  Further, by using the bookbinding device 550, it is possible to fold only the intermediate portion of the sheet without binding with the stapler 580, and discharge it to the saddle discharge tray 585. At this time, the surface of the sheet conveyed from the conveyance path 344 (FIG. 5A) or the discharge roller pair 825b (FIG. 5B) is disposed inside the fold, face-down during duplex printing. It will be.

  The upper tray 571A and the lower tray 571B are attached to the finisher main body 500A so as to be movable up and down. The upper tray 571A and the lower tray 571B include an upper tray motor 573A and a lower tray motor 573B as drive sources that rotate forward and backward, and pinion gears 574A and 574B that are rotated by the upper tray motor 573A and the lower tray motor 573B. The pinion gears 574A and 574B mesh with a rack (not shown) formed on a part of the column 575 of the finisher body 500A. Therefore, the upper tray 571A and the lower tray 571B are moved up and down along the column 575 as the upper tray motor 573a and the lower tray motor 573b rotate and the pinion gears 574A and 574B rotate.

Next, the switchback type post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 6B will be described.
The finisher 700 may be configured to operate according to a command from the controller of the printing apparatus, or may be configured to operate based on a unique controller.
When connected to the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5A, the sheet conveyed from the conveyance path 344 is received in the finisher 700 by the conveyance roller pair 711.

  When the printer unit 300 shown in FIG. 5B is connected, a buffer path (not shown) is provided between the paper discharge roller pair 825 b and the conveyance roller pair 711, and the conveyed paper is received in the finisher 700. .

  The sheet conveyed from the printing apparatus is discharged to one of the stacking trays 760A and 760B and the saddle stitching processing tray 761 according to the type of finishing process set by the user. For example, when the finishing process is not executed, the paper is discharged to the stacking tray 760A via the transport rollers 712 to 715. When the normal stapling process is executed, the paper is discharged to the stacking tray 760B, and when the saddle stitching process described later is executed, the paper is discharged to the saddle stitching processing tray 761. For example, the transport path from the sheet entrance of the finisher 700 to the stacking trays 760A and 760B is, for example, the first transport path.

  The paper transported from the printing apparatus is transported by transport roller pairs 711, 717, and 718 until the rear end of the paper reaches the rear end detection sensor 722. When the trailing edge of the sheet is detected by the trailing edge detection sensor 722, the pair of conveyance rollers 717 and 718 holding the sheet is stopped.

  Next, the paper is switched back by reverse rotation of the transport roller pair 717 and 718, and the transport roller pair 716 transports the paper until the leading edge of the paper reaches the leading edge detection sensor 720. When the leading edge detection sensor 720 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the pair of conveying rollers 716 sandwiching the sheet is decelerated and the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the nip of the skew correction roller pair 725.

  Even after the leading edge of the sheet hits the nip of the skew correction roller pair 725, the conveyance roller pair 716 continues to rotate for a while. Then, after the paper forms a loop in the loop space, the conveyance roller pair 716 stops.

  Next, the skew feeding correction roller pair 725 starts to rotate. If the sheet is skewed, the skew correction is corrected by the skew correction roller pair 725. Then, the sheet whose skew has been corrected is conveyed in the direction of the conveying roller pair 719. When the leading edge detection sensor 721 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the sheet is transported by a predetermined amount from that time, and the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the stopper 732. At this time, the sheet is positioned by the stopper 732 so that the binding position by the stapler 730 comes to the center of the sheet.

By repeating the above operation, a plurality of sheets are sequentially conveyed to the conveyance path 750 (accumulation tray). When all the sheets constituting the bookbinding product are conveyed into the conveyance path 750 (storage tray), the sheets are aligned in the width direction by a width direction alignment plate (not shown), and the sheet bundle is formed inside the conveyance path 750. Form.
At this time, the paper transported into the transport path 750 (accumulation tray) is transported sequentially from the paper corresponding to the inside of the text of the bookbinding product, and transported so that the paper corresponding to the bookbinding cover is the last. . If it is set to perform the saddle stitching process, the stapler 730 performs the binding process on the sheet bundle. When the sheet bundle is bound by the stapler 730, the stopper 732 supporting the sheet bundle moves to the downstream side in the transport direction. Accordingly, the sheet bundle moves downstream in the transport direction.

The stopper 732 positions the sheet bundle so that the central portion of the sheet bundle comes to the position of the thrust plate 731. Then, the tip of the abutting plate 731 comes into contact with the portion where the fold of the sheet bundle positioned by the stopper 732 is formed, and the sheet bundle is pushed into the nip of the folding rollers 740A and 740B to form a crease in the sheet bundle. . The sheet bundle on which the folds are formed by the folding rollers 740A and 740B is discharged to the saddle stitching processing tray 761 by the bundle conveying roller pair 741A and 741B.
At this time, the paper conveyed from the conveyance path 344 (FIG. 5A) and the discharge roller pair 825b (FIG. 5B) is face-down during double-sided printing, and the back surface is arranged inside the fold. Will be.

[Operation unit 150]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the operation unit 150 illustrated in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 7, a liquid crystal operation panel 151 is a combination of a liquid crystal and a touch panel, displays an operation screen, and sends information to the controller unit 100 when a display key is pressed by the user. Main mode setting and status display are performed here. The start key 152 is used when starting an operation of reading and printing a document image or for instructing start of other functions. The start key incorporates LEDs of two colors, green and red, indicating that start is possible when the green is lit, and that start is not possible when the red is lit. The stop key 153 serves to stop the operation during operation. The hard key group 154 is provided with a numeric keypad, a clear key, a reset key, a guide key, and a user mode key.

[Both copy sequences obtained from the front image and printed from the front image]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a double-sided copy processing example using the scanner unit 200 capable of simultaneous reading on both sides. In FIG. 8, the controller unit 100 receives image data from the scanner unit 200 in the order of the front side and the back side, and transmits the image data to the printer unit 300 in FIG. Each step is realized by the CPU 111 of the controller unit 100 executing a stored control program.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram simply illustrating exchange of image reading and image output between the scanner unit 200, the printer unit 300, and the controller unit 100. The controller unit 100 and the reader control device 210 exchange with each other via the scanner I / F 250. The controller unit 100 and the printer control device 310 exchange with each other via the printer I / F 350.
First, the exchange with the scanner unit 200 will be described.
In step S <b> 1001, the controller unit 100 issues a front side document feed request to the reader control device 210. In the document feed request, the operation mode is designated by the automatic document feeder 230. In step S <b> 1002, when the reader control device 210 receives a document feed request from the controller unit 100, it determines the designated operation mode and instructs the automatic document feeder 230 to start document feed.
In step S <b> 1003, the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the start of document feeding. In the document feeding start notification, information such as an abnormality during feeding, document size, and presence / absence of the next document is notified. The automatic document feeder 230 has a configuration in which the placed documents are separated one by one and automatically fed.

  In step S <b> 1004, the controller unit 100 receives a document feed start notification, and acquires an area for receiving image data read by the scanner unit 200 in the controller unit 100 from the memory (RAM 112).

  When the memory for acquiring the image data can be acquired, the controller unit 100 notifies the reader control device 210 of a surface reading execution request in step S1005. In the read execution request, parameters necessary for image processing and image reading performed by the scanner unit, such as a scan start position and a variable magnification, are specified.

In step S <b> 1006, when the reader control device 210 receives a reading execution request from the controller unit 100, image reading by the reading device 220 and the automatic paper feeding device 230 is started. As a result, the automatic paper feeder 230 carries the paper, and the front CCD line sensor 58 and the back CCD line sensor 20 start reading the original.
In step S <b> 1007, the reader control device 210 notifies the start of image data transfer indicating that preparation for the read execution request from the controller unit 100 is complete.

In step S <b> 1008, the reader controller 210 performs necessary image processing on the image data read by the surface CCD line sensor 58 and transfers the surface image data to the controller unit 100. On the other hand, the image data read by the back surface CCD line sensor 20 is stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 (S1009).
In step S <b> 1010, when the reading of the original by the front surface CCD line sensor 58 and the rear surface CCD line sensor 20 is completed, the automatic paper feeder 230 notifies the reader control device 210 of the end of image reading. When the transfer of the image data to the controller unit is completed (S1008), the reader controller 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the completion of the transfer of the image data on the front surface in S1011.
Upon completion of image reading (S1010) and transfer of image data to the controller unit (S1008), the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of completion of surface reading in S1012.

  In step S <b> 1013, when the controller unit 100 receives the front image data transfer end from the reader control device 210 (S <b> 1011), the front surface image data transferred to the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is stored in the HDD (storage unit 114). save.

  In step S <b> 1016, the controller unit 100 issues a back side document feed request to the reader control device 210. In this sequence, front side and back side control is simply described, but the back side paper feed request can be issued when the front side paper feed start notification (S1003) is received.

  The back side image data has already been stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 (S1009). Therefore, the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the start of document feeding on the back side (S1017). In this sequence, front side and back side control is simply described, but the back side document feed start notification can be issued when the end of image reading (S1010) is received.

  In step S <b> 1018, the controller unit 100 receives a back side document feed start notification (S <b> 1017) and acquires an area for receiving the back side image data read by the scanner unit 200 from the memory (RAM 112).

When the memory for acquiring image data can be acquired, the controller unit 100 notifies the reader control device 210 of a back side read execution request (S1020). The back side image data has already been stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 (S1009). For this reason, the reader control device 210 notifies the back side image data transfer start indicating that it is ready in response to the back side read execution request (S1020) from the controller unit 100 (S1021).
In step S <b> 1023, the reader control device 210 transfers the back surface image data stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 to the controller unit 100.
In step S <b> 1026, the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the completion of the back side image data transfer upon completion of the back side image data transfer to the controller unit (S <b> 1023). In step S <b> 1027, the controller 100 is notified of the completion of reading of the back surface when the transfer of the back side image data to the controller unit is completed (S <b> 1023).

In S1028, when the controller unit 100 receives the back side image data transfer end (S1026) from the reader controller 210, the back side image data transferred to the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is stored in the HDD (storage unit 114). save.
Next, the exchange with the printer unit 300 will be described.
When the controller unit 100 receives the completion of the transfer of the image data on the front side in S1011, the controller unit 100 requests the printer control apparatus 310 to feed the front side in S1014. In step S <b> 1015, upon receiving a paper feed request (S <b> 1014) from the controller unit 100, when the printer control device 310 starts feeding output paper, the controller unit 100 is notified of the paper feed start.

  When the controller unit 100 receives the paper feed start notification from the printer control device 310 (S1015), the controller unit 100 notifies the image data transfer start (S1019). Thereafter, the image data on the front surface held in the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is used to transfer the image to the printer control device 310 (S1022). When the printing of the image transferred from the controller unit 100 is completed, the printer control device 310 notifies the completion of the printing of the image transferred to the controller unit 100 (S1024).

  Upon receiving the print completion notification (S1024) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 releases the surface image data transfer memory (RAM 112) acquired in S1004 (S1025).

When the controller unit 100 receives the front side print completion notification in step S1024, it makes a paper feed request to the printer control device 310 in step S1029. In this sequence, the front side and back side controls are simply described, but the back side paper feed request can be issued when the front side paper feed start notification (S1015) is received.
In S1030, upon receiving a paper feed request (S1029) from the controller unit 100, when the printer control device 310 starts feeding the back side of the output paper, the controller unit 100 is notified of the paper feed start.

  When the controller unit 100 receives the paper feed start notification (S1030) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 notifies the back side image data transfer start (S1031). After that, the image data is transferred to the printer control device 310 using the back side image data held in the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 (S1032). When the printing of the image transferred from the controller unit 100 is completed, the printer control device 310 notifies the completion of the printing of the image transferred to the controller unit 100 (S1033).

  Upon receiving the print completion notification (S1033) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 releases the surface image data transfer memory (RAM 112) acquired in S1018 (S1034).

  In this sequence, it is described that the image data held in the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is directly transferred to the printer control device 310. This can also be controlled so that the memory (RAM 112) is released when the storage of the image data in the storage unit 114 is completed.

  At this time, the controller unit 100 can perform control so that image data to be transferred to the printer control device 310 is read again from the storage unit 114 to the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 and then transferred.

[Both copy sequences obtained from the front image and printed from the back image]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is a double-sided copy processing example using the scanner unit 200 capable of simultaneous reading on both sides. In FIG. 9, the controller unit 100 receives image data from the scanner unit 200 in the order of the front side and the back side, and transmits the image data to the printer unit 300 in FIG. The controller unit 100 and the reader control device 210 exchange with each other via the scanner I / F 250. The controller unit 100 and the printer control device 310 exchange with each other via the printer I / F 350. Each step is realized by the CPU 111 of the controller unit 100 executing a stored control program. Further, since the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8 are used, only differences from FIG. 8 will be described.

  When the image data is transmitted in the order of the back side and the front side in the exchange with the printer unit 300, the controller unit 100 requests the printer controller 310 to feed the front side to the printer controller 310 in S 1014 upon receiving the transfer completion of the back side image data in S 1026. Will do.

When the controller unit 100 receives the paper feed start notification (S1015) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 notifies the start of image data transfer (S1019). After that, the image data is transferred to the printer control device 310 using the back side image data held in the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 (S1032). When the printing of the image transferred from the controller unit 100 is completed, the printer control device 310 notifies the completion of the printing of the image transferred to the controller unit 100 (S1024).
In step S1035, the controller unit 100 acquires a memory (RAM 112) for reading the surface image data stored in the storage unit 114. In step S <b> 1036, the controller unit 100 reads the surface image data stored in the storage unit 114 into the memory (RAM 112).
When the controller unit 100 receives the front side print completion notification in step S1024, it makes a paper feed request to the printer control device 310 in step S1029. In step S <b> 1030, upon receiving a paper feed request from the controller unit 100, when the printer control device 310 starts feeding the back side of the output paper, the controller unit 100 is notified of the paper feed start.

  When the controller unit 100 receives a paper feed start notification from the printer control device 310, it notifies the back side image data transfer start (S1031). Thereafter, the image data of the front surface read to the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is used to transfer the image to the printer control device 310 (S1022). When the printing of the image transferred from the controller unit 100 is completed, the printer control device 310 notifies the completion of the printing of the image transferred to the controller unit 100 (S1033).

  Upon receiving the print completion notification (S1033) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 releases the surface image data transfer memory (RAM 112) acquired in S1035 (S1037).

  As described above, when the image data is acquired from the surface image from the scanner unit 200, it is necessary to temporarily store the image data in the storage unit 114 of the controller unit 100 and to control the transmission order of the images to the printer unit 300. For this reason, the print output of the top sheet is awaited.

[Print order by combination of printer unit and post-processing device for duplex printing]
FIG. 10 illustrates a case where each print setting is performed by combining the printer unit 300 in FIGS. 5A and 5B and the post-processing apparatus in FIGS. 6A and 6B in duplex printing. The order of printing original images on output paper is shown.
In FIG. 5, the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5A is referred to as a horizontal pass machine, and the printer unit 300 in FIG. 5B is referred to as a vertical pass machine. In addition, the conveyance method to the saddle discharge tray 585 in FIG. 6A is referred to as a non-switchback type, and the conveyance method to the saddle stitching processing tray 761 in FIG. 6B is referred to as a switchback type. Further, the front image of the document is denoted by (a), and the back image of the document is denoted by (b).
First, the case where the output destination is a tray (571A, 571B, 760A, 760B) will be described.
5A prints the front image (a) of the document when the output paper is fed, and prints the back image (b) of the document when the paper is fed again. 5B prints the back image (b) of the document when the output paper is fed, and prints the front image a of the document when the paper is fed again. By controlling the printing order in this way, the products stacked in page order face down on the tray are discharged.

Next, a case where the folding is designated will be described.
When the folding is specified, the output destination is the saddle discharge tray (585, 761). In the case of folding in half, it is possible to specify whether the surface image (a) of the document is printed inside the fold or whether the surface image a of the document is printed outside the fold. Therefore, depending on the configuration of the printer unit and the post-processing device The printing order is different.

  When printing the front surface image a of the document inside the fold, in the configuration in which the non-switchback type post-processing device shown in FIG. 6A is connected to the horizontal path machine shown in FIG. The front image a of the original is printed when the paper is fed, and the back image (b) of the original is printed when the paper is fed again. When the switchback type post-processing device of FIG. 6B is connected to the horizontal path machine of FIG. 5A, the back image (b) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The front image a of the original is printed at the time of refeeding.

  In the configuration in which the non-switchback type post-processing apparatus of FIG. 6A is connected to the vertical path machine of FIG. 5B, the back side image (b) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The front image (a) of the original is printed at the time of refeeding. When the switchback type post-processing device of FIG. 6B is connected to the vertical path machine of FIG. 5B, the front image (a) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The back side image (b) of the original is printed at the time of refeeding. By controlling the printing order in this way, the deliverables as specified by the user are discharged.

  When printing the front surface image a of the document on the outside of the fold, in the configuration in which the non-switchback type post-processing device shown in FIG. 6A is connected to the horizontal path machine shown in FIG. The back side image (b) of the original is printed when the paper is fed, and the front side image (a) of the original is printed when the paper is fed again. When the switchback type post-processing device of FIG. 6B is connected to the horizontal path machine of FIG. 5A, the front surface image (a) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The back side image (b) of the original is printed at the time of refeeding.

  In the configuration in which the non-switchback type post-processing device of FIG. 6A is connected to the vertical path machine of FIG. 5B, the front surface image (a) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The back side image (b) of the original is printed at the time of refeeding. When the switchback type post-processing device of FIG. 6B is connected to the vertical path machine of FIG. 5B, the back image (b) of the document is printed when the output paper is fed, The front image (a) of the original is printed at the time of refeeding. By controlling the printing order in this way, the deliverables as specified by the user are discharged.

[Scan Process Flow]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of scan processing executed by the controller unit 100 shown in FIG. The program related to the processing shown in the flowchart is controlled by the CPU 111 of the controller unit 100 by sequentially reading the program stored in the ROM 113 and the storage unit 114 into the RAM 112 and executing the program.
In step S1101, it is determined whether the image transfer from the reader control device 210 to the controller unit 100 is performed from the front side image or the back side image. In step S1102, a document feed request (either S1001 or S1016) is issued to the reader controller 210.

  In S1103, it is determined whether a document feed start notification (either S1003 or S1017) from the reader control device 210 has been received. If it is determined in S1103 that a document feed start notification has been received, the process advances to S1104. If it is determined in S1103 that the document feed start notification has not been received, it waits for the document feed start notification to be received.

  In S1104, image reception processing is performed. At this time, a reading execution request (either S1005 or S1020) is issued to the reader control device 210 based on the image transfer order (from the front image / from the back image) determined in S1101.

  In step S1105, it is determined whether a reading completion notification (either S1012 or S1027) has been received from the reader control device 210. If it is determined in step S1105 that a read completion notification has been received, the process advances to step S1106. If it is determined in S1105 that a read completion notification has not been received, a read completion notification is awaited.

  In step S1106, it is determined whether the reading of both sides is completed (reception of images on both sides). Further, the image to be transferred next is determined from the image transfer order (from the front image / from the back image) determined in S1101. If it is determined in step S1106 that both-side reading has been completed, the process advances to step S1107. If it is determined in step S1106 that the reading of both sides has not been completed, the process returns to step S1102, and the double-sided image is received by repeating the processing.

  In step S <b> 1107, it is determined from the information notified by the document feed start notification whether reading of all the documents placed on the automatic document feeder 230 has been completed. If it is determined in S1107 that reading of all originals has not been completed, the process returns to S1102 and repeats the process. If it is determined in step S1107 that all the originals have been read, the process ends.

[Image reception processing flow]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of the image reception process in FIG. The program related to the processing shown in this flowchart is controlled by the CPU 111 of the controller unit 100 by sequentially reading and executing the programs stored in the ROM 113 and the storage unit 114 to the RAM 112.

  In S1201, an image receiving memory is acquired. In step S1202, it is determined whether a memory for receiving images has been acquired. If it is determined in S1202 that the image receiving memory has been acquired, the process advances to S1203. If it is determined in S1202 that the image receiving memory has not been acquired, the process waits until the memory can be acquired.

  In S1203, a reading execution request (either S1005 or S1020) is issued to the reader controller 210. At this time, the reader controller 210 is instructed to transfer either the front image or the back image.

  In step S1204, it is determined whether a reading completion notification (either S1012 or S1027) has been received from the reader control device 210. If it is determined in step S1204 that a read completion notification has been received, the process advances to step S1205. If it is determined in step S1204 that a read completion notification has not been received, reception of a read completion notification is awaited. In S1205, the image data transferred from the reader control device 210 is stored in the HDD (storage unit 114) in the memory acquired in S1201.

In step S1206, it is determined whether the image memory can be released. If it is determined in step S1206 that the image memory can be released, the process advances to step S1207. If it is determined in step S1206 that the memory should not be released, the memory is released and waits for improvement.
In S1207, the memory acquired in S1201 is released, and the process ends.

[Image acquisition order judgment flow]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. This example is an example of the image acquisition order determination process in FIG. The program related to the processing shown in this flowchart is controlled by the CPU 111 of the controller unit 100 by sequentially reading and executing the programs stored in the ROM 113 and the storage unit 114 to the RAM 112.

  In step S1301, it is determined whether both copies (double-sided original reading + double-sided printing) are set. If it is determined in S1301 that both copies are made, the process proceeds to S1302. If it is determined in S1301 that both copies are not made, the process proceeds to S1306.

  In S1302, it is determined whether the printer unit 300 is a vertical pass machine (FIG. 5B) or a horizontal pass machine (FIG. 5A). If it is determined in S1302 that the machine is a vertical path machine, the process advances to S1303. If it is determined in S1302 that the machine is a horizontal path machine, the process advances to S1312. Which type of printer unit 300 is used may be fixed information for each image forming apparatus, or may be stored as capability information by the printer unit 300 and acquired from the controller unit 100 by a capability inquiry. .

  In S1303, it is determined whether or not the folding is set. If it is determined in step S1303 that the two-fold setting is set, the process advances to step S1304. If it is determined in S1303 that the two-fold setting has not been set, the process advances to S1311 to determine that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back image, and the process ends.

  In step S1304, the finisher connected to the printer unit 300 is determined. If it is determined in S1304 that a switchback type finisher (FIG. 6B) is connected, the process advances to S1305. If it is determined in S1304 that a non-switchback finisher (FIG. 6A) is connected, the process advances to S1308. The finisher information may be held by a finisher connected to the controller unit, or may be held by the printer unit 300 as capability information and acquired from the controller unit 100 by a capability inquiry.

  In step S1305, the printing surface setting of the read document image is determined. If it is determined in S1305 that the surface of the document is printed inside the fold, the process proceeds to S1306. If it is determined in S1305 that the surface of the document is printed outside the fold, the process proceeds to S1307.

  In step S1306, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the surface image, and the process ends. In step S1307, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back image, and the process ends.

  In step S1308, the print side setting of the read original image is determined. If it is determined in S1308 that the surface of the document is printed inside the fold, the process proceeds to S1309. If it is determined in step S1308 that the surface of the document is printed outside the fold, the process advances to step S1310.

  In step S1309, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back surface image, and the process ends. In step S1310, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the surface image, and the process ends.

  In S1312, it is determined whether or not the folding is set. If it is determined in S1312 that the folding is set, the process proceeds to S1313. If it is determined in S1312 that the setting for folding in half is not performed, the process proceeds to S1320, where it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the surface image, and the process ends.

  In step S1313, the finisher connected to the printer unit 300 is determined. If it is determined in S1313 that the switchback type finisher (FIG. 6B) is connected, the process advances to S1314. If it is determined in S1313 that the non-switchback finisher (FIG. 6A) is connected, the process advances to S1317. The finisher information may be held by a finisher connected to the controller unit, or may be held by the printer unit 300 as capability information and acquired from the controller unit 100 by a capability inquiry.

  In step S1314, the print side setting of the read original image is determined. If it is determined in S1314 that the surface of the document is printed inside the fold, the process proceeds to S1315. If it is determined in S1314 that the front side of the document is printed outside the fold, the process proceeds to S1316. In step S1315, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back image, and the process ends. In step S1316, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the surface image, and the process ends.

  In step S1317, the printing surface setting of the read document image is determined. If it is determined in S1317 that the surface of the document is printed inside the fold, the process proceeds to S1318. If it is determined in step S1317 that the front side of the document is printed outside the fold, the process advances to step S1319.

  In step S1318, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the surface image, and the process ends. In step S1319, it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back surface image, and the process ends.

[Both Copy Sequence when Obtained from Back Image and Printed from Back Image]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. In this example, both-side copy processing using the scanner unit 200 capable of simultaneous reading on both sides is performed. In FIG. 14, the controller unit 100 receives image data from the scanner unit 200 in the order of the back side and the front side, and transmits the image data to the printer unit 300 in FIG. The controller unit 100 and the reader control device 210 exchange with each other via the scanner I / F 250. The controller unit 100 and the printer control device 310 exchange with each other via the printer I / F 350. Since the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 8 and 9 are used, only differences from FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described.

  The controller unit 100 determines whether the image transfer from the reader control device 210 to the controller unit 100 is performed from the front side image or the back side image (S1101). In the configuration shown in this example, the image acquisition order is S1311, and it is determined that image data is acquired from the scanner unit 200 from the back image. Based on the determined order of image acquisition, the reader controller 210 is notified of a back side read execution request in S1005 ′.

  Accordingly, the reader control device 210 notifies the start of image data transfer indicating that preparation for back side image data transfer is ready in response to a read execution request from the controller unit 100 (S1007 ′). The reader controller 210 transfers the back side image data read by the back side CCD line sensor 20 to the controller unit 100 (S1008 ′). On the other hand, the image data read by the front surface CCD line sensor 58 is stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 (S1009 ′). When the transfer of the image data to the controller unit (S1008 ′) is completed, the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the end of the transfer of the back side image data in S1011 ′.

  Upon completion of image reading (S1010) and completion of transfer of image data to the controller unit (S1008 ′), the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of completion of reading of the back surface in S1012 ′.

Next, the controller unit 100 notifies the reader control device 210 of a surface reading execution request (S1020 ′). The image data of the front surface is already stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 (S1009 ′). For this reason, the reader control device 210 notifies the start of image data transfer on the front surface indicating that it is ready in response to the front surface read execution request (S1020 ′) from the controller unit 100 (S1021 ′).
In S1023 ′, the reader control device 210 transfers the surface image data stored in the memory 240 of the scanner unit 200 to the controller unit 100.
In step S1026 ′, the reader control device 210 notifies the controller unit 100 of the end of image data transfer on the surface when the surface image data transfer to the controller unit (S1023 ′) ends. In S1027 ′, the completion of reading of the back surface is notified to the controller unit 100 when the transfer of the image data of the front surface to the controller unit is completed (S1023 ′).

  On the other hand, since it is only necessary to transmit the back side image data to the printer unit 300, the controller unit 100 receives the back side image data transfer end in step S1011. You will be able to make requests.

  When the controller unit 100 receives the paper feed start notification (S1015) from the printer control device 310, the controller unit 100 notifies the start of image data transfer (S1019). Thereafter, the image data on the back side stored in the memory (RAM 112) of the controller unit 100 is used to transfer the image to the printer control device 310 (S1022 ′). Further, the front surface image is transferred to the back surface of the recording paper (S1032 ′).

  As described above, when the controller unit 100 prints an image on both sides of a sheet, the controller unit 100 acquires the front side image and the back side image based on the combination condition of the sheet feeding condition and the sheet post-processing condition. To decide. Then, the controller unit 100 transfers the front image and the back image acquired according to the determined acquisition order to the printer control device 310. By performing such control, it is possible to start printing of the leading sheet without storing image data in the storage unit 114 of the controller unit 100. As a result, the time until the leading sheet is printed is shortened, and it is possible to provide a convenient image forming apparatus in which the user does not feel stress. As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated according to the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium. It can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  110 Controller

Claims (12)

A first reading unit that reads a front image of a document, a second reading unit that reads a back image of the document, a front image read from the first reading unit, or a back image read from the second reading unit; An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints on a front surface or a back surface of the sheet; and a post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on a sheet printed by the printing unit,
When the printing unit prints an image on both sides of the sheet, based on a combination condition of a sheet feeding condition specified by the printing unit and a post-processing condition of the sheet specified by the post-processing unit, Determining means for determining an acquisition order of a front image read by the first reading means and a back image read by the second reading means;
An output means for outputting the front image acquired according to the acquisition order determined by the determining means and the back image to the printing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding condition is specified by a conveyance direction of the sheet fed by the printing unit.   2. The sheet post-processing condition specified by the post-processing unit is specified by a combination of a switching attribute for switching the sheet conveyance direction and a post-processing attribute performed on the sheet. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing attribute that the post-processing unit performs on the sheet is that the folding process is to fold the sheet in half.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching attribute for the post-processing unit to switch the conveyance direction of the sheet is to switch the conveyance direction by switching back and conveying the sheet.   2. The attribute for specifying a conveyance direction of a sheet fed by the printing unit is one of a direction in which a sheet is conveyed in a longitudinal direction and a direction in which a sheet is conveyed in a short direction. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first image memory that stores a surface image read by the first reading unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit includes a second image memory that stores a back image read by the second reading unit.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front side image and the back side image of the document fed automatically are read by feeding the document once.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second reading unit reads a back side image of a document conveyed downstream of the first reading unit. A first reading unit that reads a front image of a document, a second reading unit that reads a back image of the document, a front image read from the first reading unit, or a back image read from the second reading unit; A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints on a front surface or a back surface of the sheet; and a post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on a sheet printed by the printing unit,
When the printing unit prints an image on both sides of the sheet, based on a combination condition of a sheet feeding condition specified by the printing unit and a post-processing condition of the sheet specified by the post-processing unit, A determination step of determining an acquisition order of the front image read by the first reading unit and the back image read by the second reading unit;
An output step of outputting the front image acquired according to the acquisition order determined in the determination step and the back image to the printing unit;
An image forming apparatus control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 11.

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