JP2019077517A - Post-processing device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a post-processing device capable of preventing secret information from leaking especially when a recovery sheet on which the secret information is printed is cut in a large size.SOLUTION: A determination part included in a post-processing device determines an overlapping region in which a printing region of a sheet subjected to recovery printing due to an error obliging a cutting processing to be stopped while carrying out the cutting processing by a cutting part 31 is overlapped with a printing region of a product obtained by the cutting processing before causing the error. A control part causes the cutting part to cut a designated region included in the overlapping region of the sheet subjected to the recovery printing in a smaller size than that of a region other than the designated region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

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

  There is an image forming system having an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet of paper and a post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus respectively perform the image forming process and the post-processing in accordance with setting values of various items regarding the image forming process and the post-processing.

  As post-processing performed by the post-processing apparatus, there is, for example, a cutting process of dividing one sheet of paper into a plurality of pieces to create a product (for example, a business card, a card, a postcard, etc.). This cutting process is performed by a cutting unit (see FIG. 1) provided in the post-processing apparatus. The product created by cutting the sheet by the cutting unit is usually discharged to a stack unit or a discharge tray provided in the post-processing apparatus. In addition, chips and the like generated when the cutting section cuts the sheet are dropped into a waste box provided in the post-processing apparatus.

Here, an outline of the peripheral configuration of the cutting unit included in the post-processing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of a cutting unit. FIG. 1A shows an example in which the downstream end of the sheet S is cut as chips, and FIG. 1B shows an example in which the upstream end of the sheet S is cut as chips. Here, a configuration example of the guillotine cutter 101 given as an example of the cutting unit will be described. In the following description, when the transport direction of the sheet S is from right to left in the figure, the right side in the figure is called "upstream" and the left side is "downstream".

  The sheet S is transported from upstream to downstream in the transport path 100. At this time, the sheet S is nipped by the pair of upstream conveyance rollers 102 disposed upstream of the conveyance path 100 and the pair of downstream conveyance rollers 103 disposed downstream of the conveyance path 100. Then, conveyance of the sheet S is temporarily stopped midway along the conveyance path 100, that is, between the upstream conveyance roller 102 and the downstream conveyance roller 103, and the guillotine cutter 101 cuts the sheet S.

  The guillotine cutter 101 includes an upper cutter 101 a disposed in the upper part of the conveyance path 100 and a lower cutter 101 b disposed in the lower part of the conveyance path 100. As the upper cutter 101a moves downward and the lower cutter 101b moves upward, the end of the sheet S is cut at the cutting position 101c sandwiched between the upper cutter 101a and the lower cutter 101b. Ru. Since the end portion of the cut sheet S is an unnecessary chip, it is dropped into the waste box 104 disposed under the upper cutter 101a and the lower cutter 101b.

  Here, the cutting process may be stopped because a jam or the like occurs while the guillotine cutter 101 cuts a single sheet S. In this case, the sheet S in the middle of cutting is removed from the post-processing apparatus as an unnecessary jammed sheet. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus reprints the content printed on the sheet S removed as jammed sheet on a new sheet S (this process is called "recovery printing"), and the post-processing apparatus performs recovery printing. A cutting process is performed on the completed sheet S (hereinafter referred to as "recovery sheet"). In order to perform such recovery printing and post-processing, for example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known.

  According to Patent Document 1, when a jam occurs at the time of cutting and recovery printing is performed, it is determined whether the cutting portion has been output before the jam, and the recovery printed area and the area output before the jam overlap. A technology is disclosed for discharging a sheet on which recovery printing has been performed to a discharge destination different from the preceding sheet.

JP, 2015-105973, A

  As described above, when jamming occurs, recovery printing is performed after the jammed sheet is removed from the post-processing apparatus, and cutting processing is performed on the recovery sheet. However, there is a case where a part of the jammed paper is already discharged as a product. In this case, the recovery sheet has an overlapping area in which the same content as the product obtained before recovery printing is printed. For this reason, the overlapping area is finely cut by the guillotine cutter 101 and dropped into the scrap box 104 as a chip.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the length from the cutting position 101c to the position of the central axis of the upstream conveyance roller 102 is L1, and the length from the cutting position 101c to the position of the central axis of the downstream conveyance roller 103 is L2. I assume. The upstream conveyance roller 102 and the downstream conveyance roller 103 need to hold the product cut by the guillotine cutter 101, respectively. Therefore, the upstream conveyance roller 102 and the downstream conveyance roller 103 are disposed such that the length L1 + L2 between the upstream conveyance roller 102 and the downstream conveyance roller 103 is shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the product.

  On the other hand, it is necessary to cut the length in the conveyance direction of the overlapping area to a predetermined width (usually about 10 mm or less) in order for the guillotine cutter 101 to drop the chips obtained by cutting the overlapping area of the recovery sheet into the waste box 104 . Since the lengths L1 and L2 described above are both shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the product, chips must be cut from the guillotine cutter 101 and the upstream conveyance roller 102 or the downstream conveyance roller 103 unless the overlapping area is cut below the predetermined width. It is because it can not be caught in the middle and can not be dropped into the waste case 104. For this reason, it was necessary to cut so that the width in the chip transfer direction is sufficiently shorter than the product length. However, if the number of cuttings increases, the recovery paper will be stagnated by the guillotine cutter 101, and the productivity of the post-processing apparatus (for example, the number of products produced per hour) will be greatly reduced.

  For example, when the product is a postcard, recovery paper is often transported such that the longitudinal direction of the postcard is parallel to the transport direction. Here, the size of a typical postcard is 148 mm × 100 mm. For this reason, in order to cut the recovery sheet to a predetermined width (10 mm) or less, the guillotine cutter 101 has to cut at least 14 times from 148 ÷ 10 = 14.8. Then, while the guillotine cutter 101 is cutting, other processes in the post-processing device can not be performed, and the productivity of the post-processing device is reduced.

  Further, in the case of a product such as a postcard by variable printing, for example, confidential information such as an address, an address, a photograph, etc. may be printed on a recovery sheet. Here, when discarding the overlapping area, it is necessary to prevent leakage of confidential information. However, if the postcard is cut by a predetermined width (10 mm) as in the past, a third party obtains chips from the waste box 104 where the cut recovery paper is discarded, and restores the confidential information before cutting. There is a risk that confidential information may be read. In addition, if the entire postcard is cut unnecessarily unnecessarily to have a width of 10 mm, the number of cuttings increases, and the productivity of the post-processing apparatus is reduced.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that, when the area subjected to recovery printing and the area outputted before jamming overlap, discharging only to a discharge destination different from the preceding sheet is disclosed. It was not possible to deal with information leakage when confidential information was printed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent leakage of confidential information from recovery printed sheets.

  In the post-processing apparatus according to the present invention, there is an error that the cutting process must be stopped while the cutting section performs the cutting process for dividing the printed sheet into a plurality of sheets and the cutting process by the cutting section And a recovery unit that determines an overlapping area in which the printing area of the recovery printed sheet printed by recovery printing and the printing area of the product obtained by the cutting process before the occurrence of the error overlap, and the recovery printing completed And a control unit which causes the cutting unit to cut the designated area included in the overlapping area of the sheet in a size smaller than the area other than the designated area.

According to the present invention, since only the designated area included in the overlapping area of the sheet is finely cut, it is possible to prevent, for example, leakage of confidential information of the sheet subjected to recovery printing after occurrence of jam.
Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be apparent from the description of the embodiments below.

It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the cutting section concerning the example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram showing an example of internal composition of a post-processing device concerning an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the sheet conveyed to the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is cut; It is an explanatory view showing an example of composition of a slitter concerning an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing the example of hardware constitutions of the post-processing device concerning the example of 1 embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the example of the function performed with CPU of the post-processing apparatus which concerns on the example of 1 embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the duplication area | region which concerns on the example of one embodiment of this invention. It is an explanatory view showing an example which cuts carefully classified information included in a duplication field concerning an example of an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of cutting processing and paper discharge processing performed by the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same function or configuration will be assigned the same reference numerals and overlapping descriptions will be omitted.

[One embodiment]
<Hardware Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the overall configuration of the image forming system 1.
The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a post-processing apparatus 3.

  Image forming apparatus 2 receives from a PC terminal in accordance with an operation instruction from operation display unit 22 provided in image forming apparatus 2 or a print instruction from a PC (Personal Computer) terminal (not shown) transmitted via a network. Image formation processing (also referred to as printing processing) of the print data is performed. Further, the image forming apparatus 2 can read characters, graphics and the like printed on a sheet fed from an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 21 and output image data. As the image forming apparatus 2, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine combining two or more of these functions are applicable.

  The image forming apparatus 2 employs an electrophotographic method in which an image is formed using static electricity. For example, toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are used. Is a tandem type color image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 2 includes an automatic document feeder 21, an operation display unit 22, a sheet feeding unit 23, an image forming unit 24, an intermediate transfer belt 25 (image carrier), and a secondary transfer unit 27. , And a fixing unit 28.

  The automatic document feeder 21 automatically feeds a document when reading a document. The scanner 21 a provided below the automatic document feeder 21 can read an image of a document placed on the platen glass of the image forming apparatus 2 or a document automatically conveyed by the automatic document feeder 21. .

  The operation display unit 22 has a function as an operation unit for instructing start of a job such as an image forming process, for example. The operation display unit 22 is configured of a touch panel including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and allows the user to display an operation and information. The operation display unit 22 doubles as an operation unit and a display unit. The operation unit may be configured of a mouse, a tablet, or the like, and may be configured separately from the display unit.

  The sheet feeding unit 23 includes a plurality of sheet storage units 23 a capable of storing sheets S having different sheet sizes and sheet types. In the sheet feeding unit 23, when the corresponding sheet storage unit 23 a is selected based on an instruction from the image forming apparatus 2, the sheet S is taken out from the sheet storage unit 23 a and the sheet S is sent to the conveyance path C.

  The image forming unit 24 includes four image forming units 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K in order to form toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image forming unit 24 controls the operations of the image forming units 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K of the image forming unit 24 to form Y, M, C, and K toner images. The image forming apparatus 2 further includes a plurality of rollers (conveying rollers) for conveying the sheet S to the conveyance path C.

  The image forming apparatus 2 charges the photosensitive members of the image forming units 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K in the image forming mode, and exposes the photosensitive members to erase the charges, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive members. Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent images of the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photosensitive members using a developing unit, and toner images of the respective colors are formed. Next, the toner images formed on the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photoconductors are sequentially primary-transferred on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 25 rotating in the direction of the arrow.

  Next, the toner images of the respective colors primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 by the secondary transfer unit 27 (secondary transfer roller) are supplied from the paper supply unit 23 onto the sheet S conveyed by the roller 2. Next transfer. A secondary transfer of the toner images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 25 onto the sheet S forms a color image. The image forming apparatus 2 conveys the sheet S on which the color toner image is formed to the fixing unit 28.

  The fixing unit 28 is a device that performs a fixing process on the sheet S on which a color toner image is formed. The fixing unit 28 fixes the transferred toner image on the sheet S by pressing and heating the conveyed sheet S. The fixing unit 28 includes, for example, an upper fixing roller and a lower fixing roller, which are fixing members. The upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller are disposed in pressure contact with each other, and a fixing nip portion is formed as a pressure contact portion between the upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller.

  A heating unit (not shown) is provided inside the fixing upper roller. The radiant heat from the heating portion heats the roller portion at the outer peripheral portion of the fixing upper roller. The sheet S is conveyed to the fixing nip portion such that the surface (the fixing target surface) on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer portion 27 faces the fixing upper roller. The sheet S passing through the fixing nip portion is pressurized by the upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller and heated by heat of the roller portion of the upper fixing roller. The sheet S on which the fixing process has been performed by the fixing unit 28 is discharged to the post-processing device 3 as a printing sheet or a recovery sheet. The post-processing apparatus 3 is provided with a purge tray 34 serving as a delivery destination of deliverables and the like. Further, in the post-processing apparatus 3, a waste box 35 (an example of a chip storage unit) which is a discharge destination of the chips in the overlapping area cut by the cutting unit 31 and in which the chips are stored is installed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the post-processing apparatus 3.
The post-processing apparatus 3 includes post-processing modules 31a to 31d for performing predetermined post-processing on the sheet S conveyed by the conveyance path D1, the sheet ejection conveyance path switching unit 32, the detection sensor 33a, and the sheet ejection sensors 33b1 to 33b3. , A purge tray 34, a waste box 35, a conveyance path D1, and sheet discharge conveyance paths E1 to E3. The long paper transport path D2 provided in the transport path D1 functions as a buffer when transporting the long paper. The sheet S has first to fourth margins in addition to the area on which the product is printed as shown in FIG. 4 described later. In addition, the post-processing modules 31a to 31d are attachable to and detachable from the post-processing device 3, and the arrangement order can be changed as appropriate. Further, it is also possible to remove at least one of the post-processing modules 31 a to 31 d from the post-processing device 3 depending on the product.

The post-processing module 31a includes a slitter 40 (see FIG. 5 described later) that cuts the sheet S in the transport direction (sub-scanning direction). The post-processing module 31a cuts the first margin between the output on the sheet S and the sheet end.
The post-processing module 31 b includes, for example, a streaking unit that streaks the sheet S cut by the post-processing module 31 a.

The post-processing module 31 c includes a slitter 40 that cuts the sheet S in the transport direction. The position where the slitter 40 of the post-processing module 31c is disposed is different from the position where the slitter 40 of the post-processing module 31a is disposed. The post-processing module 31 c cuts the second margin between the deliverables on the sheet S.
The post-processing module 31 d includes a guillotine cutter 101 (see FIG. 1) that cuts the sheet S cut by the post-processing module 31 c in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the transport direction. The sheet S cut in the main scanning direction by the post-processing module 31 d is subsequently conveyed as a product or a chip.

  In the following description, the post-processing modules 31a, 31c, and 31d for performing cutting processing on the sheet S (print sheet or recovery sheet) are collectively referred to as a cutting unit 31. Also, cutting the sheet S parallel to the transport direction is called "FD (Feed Direction) cutting", and cutting the sheet S in the direction orthogonal to (intersecting) the transport direction "CD (Cross Direction) cutting" Call it FD cutting is performed by the post-processing modules 31a and 31c, and CD cutting is performed by the post-processing module 31d.

  The cutting process includes a first cutting process in which the cutting unit 31 performs an FD cut on the sheet S, which is either a printing sheet or a recovery sheet, and a second cutting process in which the cutting unit 31 performs a CD cutting on the sheet S. Here, the trimming unit 31 is controlled by the control unit 52 shown in FIG. 8 described later to perform the CD trimming after performing the FD trimming on the sheet S. Then, the sheet S is either a product cut into a predetermined size by the cutting unit 31 or a chip.

  The paper discharge conveyance path switching unit 32 switches to any of the paper discharge conveyance paths E1 to E3 according to the conveyance destination of the sheet S which has passed the trimming unit 31. The paper discharge conveyance path E1 (an example of the product conveyance unit) conveys the product to the purge tray 34. The paper discharge conveyance path E2 (an example of the chip conveyance unit) conveys the chips to the waste box 35. The paper discharge conveyance path E3 conveys the deliverables to another processing device (not shown) connected downstream of the post-processing device 3.

  The detection sensor 33a is provided between the post-processing module 31d and the discharged-sheet conveyance path switching unit 32, and detects a product coming out of the post-processing module 31d. Here, when the detection sensor 33a can not detect a product even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined by the control unit 52 that a jam has occurred.

  The purge tray 34 is a discharge destination of the discharge conveyance path E1 switched by the discharge conveyance path switching unit 32. The purge tray 34 can load deliverables. As a product, for example, post-processing is performed by the cutting unit 31 and the product cut into postcard sizes is loaded. The control unit 52 performs control of conveying the resultant product to the purge tray 34 through the paper discharge conveyance path E1. A discharge sensor 33 b 1 is installed in the discharge conveyance path E 1. For this reason, the control unit 52 can detect whether the deliverable conveyed on the paper discharge conveyance path E1 has been reliably discharged to the purge tray 34 based on the detection result of the paper discharge sensor 33b1.

  The waste box 35 is a discharge destination of the discharge conveyance path E2 switched by the discharge conveyance path switching unit 32. In the waste box 35, the chips of the overlapping area cut by the cutting unit 31 are accommodated. The control unit 52 controls the chips in the overlapping area cut by the cutting unit 31 to be conveyed to the scrap box 35 by the sheet discharge conveyance path E2. A discharge sensor 33 b 2 is installed in the discharge conveyance path E 2. For this reason, the control unit 52 can detect whether or not the chips conveyed on the paper discharge conveyance path E2 have been discharged to the trash box 35 based on the detection result of the paper discharge sensor 33b2. In addition, when the waste box 35 is installed directly under the cutting unit 31, the cut chips are dropped directly to the waste box 35, and therefore, the discharge conveyance path E2 is not provided, and the discharge sensor 33b2 is It becomes unnecessary.

  The discharge conveyance path E3 is a discharge conveyance path E3 switched by the discharge conveyance path switching unit 32 when another processing device (not illustrated) is connected downstream of the post-processing device 3 (Example of (1)) for conveying the product to the processing device which is the discharge destination. A sheet discharge sensor 33b3 is installed in the sheet discharge conveyance path E3. Therefore, based on the detection result of the discharge sensor 33b3, the control unit 52 can detect whether the deliverable conveyed through the discharge conveyance path E3 has been reliably discharged to another processing device. However, if all the post-processing is completed in the post-processing apparatus 3 and a product can be obtained, the paper discharge conveyance path E3 may not operate.

Next, the margin of the sheet S cut by the post-processing modules 31a, 31c, and 31d will be described.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing how the sheet S conveyed to the post-processing device 3 is cut.
The sheet S on which the image is printed at the position to be a product is conveyed in the direction from right to left in FIG. 4A. The arrows attached to the left side surface and the lower side surface of the sheet S indicate the cutting direction by the post-processing modules 31a, 31c, and 31d (cutting unit 31). Moreover, the rectangular area which puts and shows an address and an address in FIG. 4A represents the area | region where the postcard as a product was printed.

  The sheet S has a first margin parallel to the sub-scanning direction (conveying direction) between the upper end of the sheet S and the resultant and between the lower end of the sheet S and the resultant. In addition, the sheet S has a second margin parallel to the sub-scanning direction between the product of the sheet S and the product. Further, on the sheet S, a third parallel to the main scanning direction (direction intersecting the transport direction) between the downstream end of the sheet S and the resultant and between the upstream end of the sheet S and the resultant There is a margin. In addition, the sheet S has a fourth margin parallel to the main scanning direction between the product of the sheet S and the product.

Here, a configuration example of the slitter 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of the slitter 40. As shown in FIG.
A side view of the slitter 40 is shown in FIG. 5A. A front view of two sets of slitters 40 is shown in FIG. 5B. As shown in FIG. 5A, the slitter 40 includes an upper slitter blade 41 a disposed on the upper side of the sheet S and a lower slitter blade 41 b disposed on the lower side of the sheet S. The upper slitter blade 41a and the lower slitter blade 41b are both rotary blades, and the upper slitter blade 41a rotates clockwise according to the transport direction of the sheet S transported from right to left in the figure, and the lower slitter The blade 41 b rotates counterclockwise.

A front view of two sets of slitters 40 is shown in FIG. 5B.
The two sets of upper slitter blades 41a are rotatable with a common drive shaft 42a as a drive shaft, and the two sets of lower slitter blades 41b are rotatable with a common drive shaft 42b as a drive shaft.

  One pair of slitters 40 is configured by combining two upper slitter blades 41a and two lower slitter blades 41b. The upper slitter blade 41a and the lower slitter blade 41b are disposed such that there is substantially no gap between the blade tip of the upper slitter blade 41a and the blade tip of the lower slitter blade 41b. The sheet S is cut at a position where the cutting edge of the upper slitter blade 41a and the cutting edge of the lower slitter blade 41b mesh with each other. Therefore, the width L3 between the two upper slitter blades 41a is a width for FD trimming the first margin or the second margin of the sheet S.

It returns to the explanation of FIG. 4 again.
When the sheet S is conveyed to the post-processing module 31a, the first margin of the sheet S is FD-cut as shown in FIG. 4B by the two sets of slitters 40 provided in the post-processing module 31a. Next, when the sheet S is conveyed to the post-processing module 31c, the second margin of the sheet S is FD-cut as shown in FIG. 4C by the two sets of slitters 40 provided in the post-processing module 31c. Next, when the sheet S is conveyed to the post-processing module 31d, the third margin and the fourth margin of the sheet S are moved by the guillotine cutter 101 (see FIG. 1) provided in the post-processing module 31d as shown in FIG. The margins are cut into CDs in order.

<Hardware Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 2.
The image forming apparatus 2 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, and a random access memory (RAM) in addition to the automatic document feeder 21, the operation display unit 22, and the image forming unit 24 described above. 13, storage 14 and communication I / F (Interface) 15. Each unit in the image forming apparatus 2 is connected via a bus.

The CPU 11 is used as an example of a computer that controls the operation of each unit in the image forming apparatus 2. For example, the CPU 11 controls an image forming process (printing operation) of the image forming unit 24 based on a print instruction of the user performed through the operation display unit 22 or performs an object data process of image data according to the present embodiment. To
The ROM 12 is used as an example of a non-volatile memory, and stores programs, data, etc. necessary for the CPU 11 to operate.
The RAM 13 is used as an example of a volatile memory, and temporarily stores information (data) necessary for each process performed by the CPU 11.

The storage 14 is configured by, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores a program for the CPU 11 to control each unit, an OS (Operating System), a program such as a controller, and data. Some of the programs and data stored in the storage 14 are also stored in the ROM 12. The storage 14 is used as an example of a computer readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program executed by the CPU 11. The computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing the program executed by the image forming apparatus 2 is not limited to the HDD, and may be, for example, a solid state drive (SSD), a CD-ROM, or a DVD-ROM. And the like.
The communication I / F 15 is configured by a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, or the like, establishes a connection with the post-processing device 3 and a PC terminal (not shown), and executes transmission and reception of various data.

<Hardware Configuration Example of Post-processing Device>
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a hardware configuration example of the post-processing device 3.
The post-processing apparatus 3 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a storage 44, and a communication I / F 45, in addition to the cutting unit 31 and the discharge conveyance path switching unit 32 described above. Each part in the post-processing device 3 is connected via a bus.

The CPU 41 is used as an example of a computer that controls the operation of each unit in the post-processing device 3. For example, the CPU 41 has a function of executing, for example, a control unit 52 shown in FIG. 8 to be described later for performing control of cutting processing by the cutting unit 31 and selection of a transport path of the cut sheet S.
The ROM 42 is used as an example of a non-volatile memory, and stores programs, data, and the like necessary for the CPU 41 to operate.
The RAM 43 is used as an example of a volatile memory, and temporarily stores information (data) necessary for each process performed by the CPU 41.

  The storage 44 is configured by, for example, an HDD, and stores a program for the CPU 41 to control each unit, an OS, a program such as a controller, and data. Some of the programs and data stored in the storage 44 are also stored in the ROM 42. The storage 44 is used as an example of a computer readable non-transitory recording medium storing a program executed by the CPU 41. The computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing the program executed by the post-processing device 3 is not limited to the HDD, and may be, for example, a recording medium such as an SSD, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc. It may be.

  The communication I / F 45 includes a NIC, a modem, and the like, establishes a connection with the image forming apparatus 2, and transmits and receives various data. When the post-processing device 3 is used alone, the communication I / F 45 is connected to a PC terminal (not shown), and transmission and reception of various data is executed.

  When the post-processing apparatus 3 described above is installed inline with the image forming apparatus 2, various functions executed by the post-processing apparatus 3 are the CPU 11, the ROM 12, the RAM 13, and the storage 14 of the image forming apparatus 2. May be performed using Therefore, a configuration in which the CPU 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, and the storage 44 are removed from the post-processing device 3 is also possible. On the other hand, when the post-processing apparatus 3 is installed offline with respect to the image forming apparatus 2, it is necessary to control the post-processing apparatus 3 itself, so the CPU 41, the ROM 42, the RAM 43, and the storage 44 are required.

<Example of Functional Configuration of Post-processing Device>
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of functions executed by the CPU 41 of the post-processing device 3.
The CPU 41 executes the functions of the determination unit 51 and the control unit 52.

  The determination unit 51 determines an overlapping area in which the printing area of the recovery paper on which recovery printing has been performed due to the occurrence of the error and the printing area of the product obtained by the cutting process before the occurrence of the error overlap. The error is, for example, a jam that has occurred while the cutting process is being performed by the cutting unit 31. When a jam occurs, the cutting process must be stopped.

  The control unit 52 causes the cutting unit 31 to cut the overlapping area of the recovery sheet in a size smaller than the product. Under control of the control unit 52, the cutting unit 31 performs a cutting process of dividing the printing paper or the recovery paper into a plurality of pieces. As described above, the cutting process is a process in which the cutting unit 31 cuts the sheet by a plurality of cutting steps. Then, the control unit 52 switches whether to cut the sheet smaller than the predetermined width in the transport direction or to cut the sheet larger than the predetermined width in the transport direction in the second cutting process based on the designated area. In this way, the width for allowing the cutting unit 31 to cut the designated area including confidential information into a CD is cut to an unreadable size (for example, 1 mm width) from the chips, or cut larger than the product. Is possible.

  Further, the control unit 52 controls the conveyance path D1 to control the cutting unit 31 to pass the recovery sheet. Further, according to the discharged paper conveyance paths E1 to E3 switched by controlling the discharged paper conveyance path switching unit 32, the cut sheets S discharged to the discharged paper conveyance paths E1 to E3 are conveyed to the discharge destination. Take control.

  Further, the control unit 52 can determine whether a jam has occurred based on the detection result input from the detection sensor 33a. Further, the control unit 52 can determine whether or not the conveyance of the deliverables or chips has been normally completed, based on the paper discharge results input from the paper discharge sensors 33b1 to 33b3. The control unit 52 determines that an error (such as a jam) has occurred when the detection sensor 33a and the discharged paper sensors 33b1 to 33b3 do not detect the cut sheet S within a predetermined time, and the post-processing device 3 Control to stop the operation of each part. In this case, the user removes the stagnant sheet S in the post-processing apparatus 3.

  The timing at which the detection sensor 33a detects (turns on) the sheet S differs depending on the size of the product. For example, if the length in the transport direction from the cutting position 101c of the guillotine cutter 101 (see FIG. 1) of the post-processing module 31d to the installation position of the detection sensor 33a is longer than the length in the transport direction of the product, the guillotine cutter 101 After the sheet S is cut, the product is conveyed to the installation position of the detection sensor 33a. In this case, the detection sensor 33a may detect the product after the sheet S is cut. On the other hand, if the length in the conveyance direction from the cutting position 101c of the guillotine cutter 101 of the post-processing module 31d to the installation position of the detection sensor 33a is shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the product, the sheet S is cut by the guillotine cutter 101 The sheet S is conveyed to the installation position of the detection sensor 33a before the sheet feeding. In this case, the detection sensor 33a may detect the sheet S before cutting the sheet S.

Next, a specific cutting method will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing an example of the overlapping area.
As shown in FIG. 9A, images of four postcards of 2 rows × 2 rows are printed on one sheet of printing paper. The image of each postcard includes confidential information such as an address and an address. Then, it is assumed that the paper discharge sensor 33b1 in the purge tray 34 detects that the two postcards of one stage downstream in the transport direction are properly discharged to the purge tray 34. However, if an error (for example, a jam) occurs that requires the cutting process to be stopped while the cutting process is being performed by the cutting unit 31, two postcards in the second and subsequent stages are removed from the post-processing device 3 . Therefore, recovery printing is required from the second and subsequent postcards removed as jammed paper.

  When recovery printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 2 as shown in FIG. 9B, the same content as the postcard that has already been discharged to the purge tray 34 is printed on the first tier postcard downstream of the recovery sheet. . Therefore, the first stage area downstream of the recovery sheet becomes the overlapping area, and it is necessary to discard this overlapping area. At this time, the cutting unit 31 has to cut so that the confidential information is not leaked from the discarded overlapping area.

  Here, the length of the overlapping region in the transport direction is, for example, 148 mm × one row = 148 mm, in consideration of the width of the fourth margin parallel to the transport direction. For this reason, in order to cut the overlapping area into CD by the guillotine cutter 101 as shown in FIG. 1 and discard it in the waste box 35, cut at least 14 times from 148 mm × 10 mm = 14.8, Must be 10 mm wide. However, if the overlapping area is cut to a width of 10 mm, confidential information may be leaked by connecting the cut overlapping areas. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of cuttings of the guillotine cutter 101 while cutting the postcard on which the image of the highly confidential information is printed unreadable, the cutting is performed by the following method.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example of finely cutting confidential information included in the overlapping area.
As shown in FIG. 10A, the user designates an area where confidential information is printed on the recovery sheet as a designated area. This designated area is designated, for example, in a rectangular shape including an image of confidential information such as the address and address of the postcard. However, part of confidential information such as an address and an address may be out of the designated area.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the designated area in the overlapping area of the recovery sheet is cut more finely than usual. For this reason, the designated area is cut, for example, with a width smaller than 10 mm (for example, 1 mm). In this way, it is difficult to read confidential information originally printed, even if it is discarded, in the designated area finely cut. Therefore, leakage of confidential information can be prevented. On the other hand, normal cutting (for example, 10 mm width) is performed about area | regions other than designation | designated area | region, and it becomes a size which can be dropped into scrap box 35 as a chip.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the second row other than the overlapping area printed on the recovery sheet is discharged to the purge tray 34 as a product.

  Further, by providing the waste box 35 directly below the post-processing module 31d without providing the sheet discharge conveyance path E2 in the post-processing apparatus 3, the chips including the cut overlapping area and the like are discharged as they are into the waste box 35 May be

<Example of Post-processing Device Processing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of cutting processing and paper discharge processing performed by the post-processing apparatus 3.
The post-processing device 3 starts processing for the recovery sheet. The control unit 52 controls the conveyance path D1, and the recovery sheet conveyed to the cutting position of the post-processing modules 31a and 31 c is FD-cut by the post-processing modules 31 a and 31 c (S1). By the process of step S1, the first margin and the second margin of the recovery sheet are cut.

  Next, the determination unit 51 determines whether or not the transported recovery sheet includes a range which has been discharged as a product before recovery printing, that is, an overlapping area (S2). When the determination unit 51 determines that the recovery sheet includes the overlapping area (YES in S2), the control unit 52 determines whether there is a confidential area in the overlapping area (S3).

  When it is determined that there is no confidential area in the overlapping area (NO in S3), the control unit 52 recovers so that the downstream end of the overlapping area overlaps with the cutting position 101c of the CD cutting performed by the guillotine cutter 101 of the post-processing module 31d. Transport the paper. Then, the control unit 52 controls the post-processing module 31d to cut the recovery sheet into a CD (S4). At this time, when the paper discharge conveyance path E2 is not provided, the overlapping area is cut to a width of, for example, 10 mm and dropped into the scrap box 35. When the paper discharge conveyance path E2 is provided, the overlapping area is cut into a size larger than 10 mm in width.

  Next, the control unit 52 controls the discharge conveyance path switching unit 32 to switch to the discharge conveyance path E2, causes the cut overlapping area to be conveyed to the discharge conveyance path E2, and the waste box 35 overlaps the overlapping area. Discharge the sheet (S5).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 52 determines that there is a confidential area in the overlapping area in step S3 (YES in S3), the control unit 52 calculates the cutting position of the recovery sheet. Then, under the control of the control unit 52, the recovery sheet is conveyed to the cutting position 101c of the CD cutting performed by the guillotine cutter 101 of the post-processing module 31d (S6). Next, the control unit 52 controls the post-processing module 31d to cut the recovery sheet by CD by the guillotine cutter 101 (S7). At this time, the designated area in the overlapping area is cut into, for example, a 1 mm width narrower than 10 mm width.

  Then, the control unit 52 determines whether cutting of the overlapping area having confidential information is completed (S8). If it is determined that cutting of the overlapping area is not completed (NO in S8), the process returns to step S6 again, and the control unit 52 repeats the CD cutting process. The overlapping area subjected to the CD cutting is conveyed to the scrap box 35 by the sheet discharge conveyance path E2, and is then discharged to the scrap box 35.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the cutting on the overlapping area is finished (YES in S8), the control unit 52 transports the recovery sheet to the cutting position of the product (S9). Then, the control unit 52 controls the post-processing module 31d to cut the CD other than the overlapping area of the recovery sheet (S10).

  Next, the control unit 52 controls the paper discharge conveyance path switching unit 32 to switch to the paper discharge conveyance path E1, conveys the deliverables to the paper discharge conveyance path E1, and discharges the deliverables to the purge tray 34. (S11).

  Next, the control unit 52 determines whether the job received from the PC terminal (not shown) has ended (S12). For the job, for example, the required number of deliverables is set. When the control unit 52 determines that the job is not completed (NO in S12), the control unit 52 returns to step S9 and repeats the subsequent processes until the required number of deliverables is obtained. On the other hand, when the control unit 52 determines that the job has ended (YES in S12), the control unit 52 ends the present process.

  In the post-processing apparatus 3 according to the embodiment described above, when performing CD cutting on the overlapping area of the recovery sheet, the cutting width of the designated area on which the confidential information is printed is larger than a predetermined width (for example, 10 mm) I cut it too narrowly. Therefore, even if the cut overlapping area is discarded, it is possible to prevent information leakage from the discarded overlapping area. Further, by cutting the area other than the confidential information into a size that can be conveyed by the paper discharge conveyance path E2, it is possible to reduce the number of times of cutting and to suppress the decrease in productivity.

  In addition, it is possible to select which of confidentiality and productivity is to be prioritized by switching the cut size of the overlapping portion under a predetermined condition. For example, if the confidentiality of confidential information is low, priority is given to productivity to reduce the number of CD cuts and to roughly cut confidential information, but if the confidentiality of confidential information is high, priority is given to confidentiality. , You can cut the confidential information more finely by increasing the number of CD cuttings.

  In addition, the user can designate a designated area in the recovery sheet in which confidential information is included. Then, this designated area is finely cut. Therefore, secure secrecy can be achieved.

  If the post-processing device 3 is not provided with the discharge conveyance path E2, the area other than the confidential information is cut into a size that can be dropped into the waste box 35 as a waste chip It can also be dropped.

[Modification]
When the post-processing apparatus 3 is configured as an in-line system connected to the image forming apparatus 2, the post-processing apparatus 3 notifies the image forming apparatus 2 of the area obtained as a product before the occurrence of a jam. Then, the image forming apparatus 2 may select processing of printing an image in an area other than the overlapping area as recovery printing without printing the image in the overlapping area with the resultant obtained before the occurrence of the jam. As a result, the image forming apparatus 2 does not have to consume waste toner for forming an image of the overlapping area to be discarded as unnecessary paper. For example, in recovery printing, it is not necessary to print a single-step postcard downstream of the recovery sheet shown in FIG. 9B. If printing of the overlapping area is not performed in this way, for example, in the case of variable printing, the outflow of personal information can be prevented.

  If the confidentiality of the overlapping area is not high, the sheet may be discharged to the scrap box 35 through the sheet discharge conveyance path E2 without cutting the overlapping area into small pieces. As a result, the number of cuttings can be reduced compared to cutting the recovery sheet so that the cutting width in the transport direction is shorter than the lengths L1 and L2 shown in FIG. It becomes possible to prevent the decline in productivity.

  Further, the sheet that can be cut by the post-processing device 3 is not limited to the above-described sheet S. For example, the post-processing device 3 may cut a resinous sheet or the like on which an image is formed by the image forming device 2.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various other applications and modifications can be taken without departing from the scope of the present invention described in the claims.
For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the apparatus and system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to one having all the configurations described. Moreover, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of the embodiment described here with the configuration of another embodiment, and furthermore, to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is possible. Moreover, it is also possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for part of the configurations of the respective embodiments.
Further, control lines and information lines indicate what is considered to be necessary for the description, and not all control lines and information lines in the product are necessarily shown. In practice, almost all configurations may be considered to be mutually connected.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... image formation system, 2 ... image formation apparatus, 3 ... post-processing apparatus, 24 ... image formation part, 31 ... cutting part, 31a-31 d ... post-processing module, 32 ... discharge conveyance path switching part, 34 ... purge tray, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 35 ... Waste box, 40 ... Slitter, 51 ... Judgment part, 52 ... Control part, 101 ... Guillotine cutter, E1-E3 ... Paper discharge conveyance path

Claims (9)

A cutting unit that cuts a printed sheet into multiple sheets;
The printing area of the recovery printed sheet on which recovery printing has been performed due to the occurrence of an error that must stop the cutting process while the cutting process is being performed by the cutting section, and before the error occurs A determination unit that determines an overlapping area in which the print area of the product obtained by the cutting process overlaps;
A control unit that causes the trimming unit to cut a designated area included in the overlapping area of the recovery printed sheet in a size smaller than the area other than the designated area. In the cutting process, a first cutting process in which the cutting unit cuts the sheet in a direction parallel to the sheet conveying direction, and the cutting unit cuts the sheet in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction. Includes a second cutting step,
The control unit switches whether to cut the sheet smaller than the predetermined width in the transport direction or to cut the sheet larger than the predetermined width in the transport direction according to the designated area in the second cutting process. The post-processing apparatus according to 1. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the designated area is an area designated by a user in the recovery printed sheet. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the designated area includes an image of confidential information formed in the recovery printed sheet. And a chip storage unit for storing the chips of the overlapping area cut by the cutting unit;
The cutting unit cuts the designated area out of the overlapping area into an unreadable size, and cuts the area other than the designated area into a size that can be dropped into the chip storage unit as a chip. Post-processing device as described. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a chip conveying unit that conveys the chips from the cutting unit to the chip storage unit. And a deliverable transport unit for transporting the deliverable to a deliverable storage unit in which the deliverable is stored,
The post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit performs control of transporting the deliverable to the deliverable storage unit by the deliverable transport unit. An image forming apparatus for outputting a printed sheet on which an image to be a product is printed;
An image processing system disposed downstream of the image forming apparatus and configured to receive the printed sheet from the image forming apparatus;
A cutting unit for cutting the printed sheet into a plurality of sheets;
The printing area of the recovery printed sheet on which recovery printing has been performed due to the occurrence of an error that must stop the cutting process while the cutting process is being performed by the cutting section, and before the error occurs A determination unit that determines an overlapping area in which the print area of the product obtained by the cutting process overlaps;
An image forming system comprising: a control unit which causes the trimming unit to cut a designated area included in the overlapping area of the recovery printed sheet in a size smaller than an area other than the designated area. 9. The image according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus does not print the image of the overlapping area with the product, and can select the process of printing the image in an area other than the overlapping area as the recovery printing. Formation system.

Images