JP2019166694A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a re-printing function capable of suppressing a waste sheet, while suppressing damage of a sheet, even when using an inserter in a printing job.SOLUTION: When detecting absence of a sheet in an inserter in a printing job using the inserter, printing is interrupted, and a sheet before abnormality detection is discharged to a first paper discharge tray, and a sheet after abnormality detection is discharged to a second paper discharge tray. When using a re-printing function, a reutilization procedure is displayed, and a sheet group after abnormality occurrence is supplied to the inserter, and a re-printing processing is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  One type of paper feeder connected to the image forming apparatus is an inserter that inserts a printed sheet or the like into a printed material. When a sheet is fed from the inserter, if the sheet feeding is confirmed regardless of the presence or absence of the sheet immediately before the sheet to be inserted, the inserter pulls the sheet a certain distance into the conveyance path. Since the inserter feeds the sheet in advance without performing the paper feed determination process based on the presence or absence of the immediately preceding paper, it is possible to prevent delays such as paper feed preparation time and improve productivity.

  However, if the preceding sheet suddenly runs out of paper, the sheet that has already been drawn into the conveyance path cannot be discharged and is left behind in the image forming apparatus. This is because if the sheet is forcibly ejected, the page order of the printed matter is not as expected. At this time, the sheet left in the image forming apparatus is interrupted in processes necessary for printing such as development, transfer, and fixing, and thus a normal printed matter cannot be obtained. Accordingly, the sheet left in the image forming apparatus is discarded. Particularly in a commercial printing site where expensive sheets are used, productivity loss occurs due to sheet disposal.

  As a countermeasure for the above problem, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, printing processing is continued even when an abnormality occurs, and the sheet after the abnormality is discharged to a discharge tray different from the sheet before the abnormality occurs. There has been proposed a method of reusing a sheet after the occurrence of an abnormality by supplying a sheet group after the occurrence of an abnormality to a paper feed tray and issuing a reprint instruction. At this time, it is stated that an insertion device (inserter) capable of passing a sheet without passing through a fixing device that damages the sheet is most suitable for a sheet feeding tray for supplying sheets.

JP 2010-266732 A

  According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, a paper feed tray that replenishes a sheet group after the occurrence of an abnormality needs to be a paper feed tray that is not used in a print job. Therefore, if an inserter is used in a print job, it must have a paper feed tray that is likely to damage the sheet.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a reprinting function that suppresses waste sheets while suppressing sheet damage even when an inserter is used in a print job. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a sheet, an operation panel that displays information on the image forming apparatus, and a sheet group conveyed from the image forming apparatus. An interrupting unit that interrupts printing of the image forming apparatus, a control unit that controls display on the operation panel, and a restarting unit that resumes printing, The interruption means interrupts printing when an abnormality of the insertion device is detected, discharges the sheet before the abnormality detection to the first discharge tray, and discharges the sheet after the abnormality detection to the second discharge tray, The display means displays that the insertion means used for printing of the image forming apparatus is urged to replenish the sheet, and the resumption means indicates the sheet printed before being interrupted by the printing interruption means. It is characterized by feeding paper from the insertion device without re-printing.

  According to the present invention, even when an inserter is used in a print job, it is possible to supply a sheet group after the occurrence of an abnormality to the inserter and perform reprint processing. As a result, in a printing system that enables reprinting processing, it is possible to provide a reprinting function that suppresses the generation of discarded sheets while suppressing damage to the sheet, thereby improving productivity.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic hardware configuration of a printing system. It is a schematic diagram showing a mechanical sectional view of the printer engine. It is a schematic diagram showing the software module in a printing system. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed management table in the printing system. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation panel in the printing system. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed on the operation panel in the printing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration as an embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied even to a system in which a connection is made and processing is performed via a network such as a LAN or a WAN as long as the function of the present invention is executed. As shown in the figure, the printing system according to the present embodiment includes a printing apparatus 100 and a host computer 101. The printing apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 are connected to each other via a communication line 105.

  In the present invention, there is no problem even if a plurality of host computers, printing apparatuses, inspection apparatuses and the like are connected. The host computer 101 can acquire input information from a user via an input device (not shown), create a print job to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 100, and transmit the print job to the printing apparatus 100. The controller board 110 performs various data processing and controls the operation of the printing apparatus 100. Here, the controller board 110 is built in the printing apparatus 100. However, in the present invention, there is no problem even if the controller board 110 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 independently.

  The operation panel 120 is an operation panel that accepts various operations from the user by a touch panel method. The printer engine 130 physically prints the image data generated by the controller board 110 on a printing paper (sheet). The printer engine 130 will be described in detail with reference to the mechanical cross-sectional view of FIG.

  Next, the configuration of the controller board 110 will be described. The network communication controller 111 performs communication control with the communication network 105 (external network). The non-volatile memory 112 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores a control program at the time of startup. The RAM 113 is a RAM that reads and records various control programs. The CPU 114 is a CPU that executes a control program read to the RAM 113 and controls the image signal and various devices in an integrated manner. The HDD 115 is an HDD used for the purpose of temporarily or long-term holding a large amount of data such as image data and various setting data.

  Each module is connected to each other via a system bus 116. Further, the system bus 116 connects the controller board 110 and each device in the printing apparatus 100 to each other. The RAM 113 also functions as a main memory and work memory for the CPU 114. In addition to the nonvolatile memory 112, the control program and the operating system are stored in the HDD 115.

<Description of FIG. 2>
FIG. 2 is a mechanical cross-sectional view of the printer engine 130. An image forming unit 200 forms an image to be printed on a sheet. Reference numerals 201 and 202 denote sheet feeding decks. Each sheet feeding deck can store various sheets. In each sheet feeding deck, it is possible to separate only the uppermost sheet of the stored sheets and convey it to the sheet conveyance path 203. Reference numerals 204 to 207 denote developing stations, which form toner images using colored toners of Y, M, C, and K, respectively, in order to form a color image. The toner image formed here is primary-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 208, and the intermediate transfer belt 208 rotates clockwise in the figure, and the toner is transferred to the sheet conveyed from the sheet conveyance path 203 at the secondary transfer position 209. The image is transferred.

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the image fixing unit 210. Reference numeral 211 denotes a fixing unit for fixing the toner image to the sheet. The fixing unit 211 includes a pressure roller and a heating roller. When the sheet passes between the rollers, the toner image is fixed on the sheet by melting and pressing the toner. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 211 is conveyed to 215 through the sheet conveyance path 212. If further melting / crimping is required for fixing depending on the type of sheet, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 211 and is then transported to the second fixing unit 213 using the upper sheet transport path for additional melting / crimping. After being applied, the sheet is conveyed to 215 through a sheet conveyance path 214.

  When the image forming mode is duplex, the sheet is conveyed to a sheet reversing path 216, reversed at 216, then conveyed to a duplex conveying path 217, and image transfer on the second surface is performed at the secondary transfer position 209. Done.

  220 is an inserter for inserting an insertion sheet. The inserter 220 includes an inserter tray 221. Of the sheets stacked on the inserter tray 221 by the paper feeding roller 222, the uppermost paper is conveyed downstream, and only one uppermost paper is reliably conveyed to the conveyance path 224 by the separation roller 223. The inserter tray 221 is provided with an inserter paper presence sensor (not shown), and can detect whether or not paper is stacked on the inserter tray 221. However, when a plurality of slip sheets are set and sheet feeding is continuously performed during a job, skew correction is performed by the registration roller 226 in a stopped state.

  Thereafter, the conveyance to the horizontal path 228 is started by an instruction from the controller board 110, and the presence or absence of the next sheet can be detected only after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the inserter sheet presence / absence sensor. The sheet conveyed to the conveyance path 224 is conveyed by a predetermined amount from the registration sensor 225, the leading end of the conveyance direction is abutted against the stopped registration roller 226, and temporarily stops in a state where a loop is formed. As a result, the skew of the sheet generated during the sheet feeding and conveying operation is corrected.

  Then, after the sheet abuts the registration roller 226 and stops for a predetermined time, the separation roller 223, the registration roller 226, and the paper discharge roller 227 are driven, and the sheet is conveyed through a junction of the conveyance path 224 and the horizontal path 228. Is done. As a result, a sheet can be inserted into a series of sheets conveyed from the image fixing unit 210 at an arbitrary position and conveyed to a subsequent apparatus.

  A finisher 250 adds a finishing process to the conveyed sheet in accordance with a function designated by the user. Specifically, the finisher 250 has a finishing function such as stapling (one or two binding), punching (two or three holes), saddle stitching, or the like. The finisher 250 includes two sheet discharge trays 251 and 252, and the sheet is output to the sheet discharge tray 251 via the sheet conveyance path 253. However, finishing processing such as stapling cannot be performed in the sheet conveyance path 253.

  When finishing processing such as stapling is performed, a finishing function designated by the user is executed by the processing unit 255 via the sheet conveyance path 254 and output to the paper discharge tray 252. The paper discharge trays 251 and 252 can be moved up and down, respectively, and the paper discharge tray 251 can be lowered and the sheets finished by the processing unit 255 can be stacked on the paper discharge tray 251. When saddle stitch bookbinding is designated, the saddle stitch processing unit 256 performs stapling processing at the center of the sheet, and then folds the sheet in half and outputs it to the saddle stitch bookbinding tray 258 via the sheet conveyance path 257.

  The saddle stitch bookbinding tray 258 has a belt conveyor structure, and the saddle stitch bookbinding stack stacked on the saddle stitch bookbinding tray 258 is conveyed to the left side.

<Description of FIG. 3>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a software configuration of the controller board 110 according to the present embodiment. These software modules are stored as programs in the HDD 115, read out to the RAM 113 by the CPU 114, and executed.

  The UI control unit 301 receives an operation on the operation panel 120 and controls display on the operation panel 120 and the host computer 101. A print job analysis unit 302 analyzes print job data received from the host computer 101. A print job management unit 303 manages print job data received from the host computer 101. Specifically, processing such as calling a print job stored in the HDD 115, reflecting a change in print job setting, managing history of a printed job, and the like is performed.

  The print job processing unit 304 performs processing necessary for executing print processing, such as analysis of the received print job, expansion into image data, and image compression / decompression. A print processing execution unit 305 controls a series of printing operations such as paper feeding, paper conveyance, printing, and paper discharge for a print job. A paper discharge number counting unit 306 analyzes the paper discharge information from the printing status of the print processing execution unit 305, counts the number of sheets discharged to the paper discharge tray 251 and the paper discharge tray 252, and outputs the number of discharged sheets storage unit. Save to 307.

  The number of discharged sheets storage unit 307 stores the number of sheets discharged to each discharge tray in the printing apparatus 100 each time a print job is processed. The inserter paper remaining amount determination unit 308 monitors the inserter paper presence sensor on the inserter tray 221 to determine whether or not the inserter 220 has run out of paper. A paper feed management table 309 is a table that is referred to when the printing apparatus 100 feeds a sheet. Details of the paper feed management table will be described later.

<Description of FIG. 4>
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed management table that is referred to when the printing apparatus 100 feeds a sheet. The paper feed management table is generated by analyzing print settings included in the print job by the CPU 114 when the printing apparatus 100 starts print processing of the print job.

  A column 401 represents a job ID. The job ID is an ID that is uniquely assigned to each job received by the printing apparatus 100. A column 402 represents sheet numbers obtained by sequentially numbering sheets used in each job. In the paper feed management table, a row is added for each sheet number. A column 403 represents a sheet feeding tray that is a sheet feeding source of the corresponding sheet. The paper feed tray is determined to be one from the paper designation such as the paper size and paper type included in the print job and the paper information set in the paper feed tray.

  A column 404 represents page numbers of images to be printed for each side (first side and second side) of the corresponding sheet. When the sheet is duplex printing, page numbers are assigned to the first and second sides, respectively. When the sheet is printed on one side, the print page on the second side is “none”. Further, in the case of a sheet that is not accompanied by printing, such as inserter feeding, the print page is “None” on both the first and second sides.

  When the print processing of the print job is started, the CPU 114 first generates a paper feed management table, and then issues a paper feed instruction for each sheet with reference to the paper feed management table. Reference numeral 410 denotes a sheet pointer indicating the current reference position of the sheet feed management table, and the CPU 114 advances the sheet pointer 410 to the next sheet when feeding of each sheet is completed.

<Description of FIG. 5A>
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a print job in which two sheets are inserted from the inserter 201 at the head, and then four sheets are fed from the sheet feeding tray 201 and printed for four copies. .

  FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the sheet discharge order expected when the print job shown in FIG. 4A is started and the sheet feed tray. The first, second, fifth, sixth, ninth, tenth, thirteenth and fourteenth sheets fed from the inserter tray 221 are discharged. On the other hand, the third, fourth, seventh, eighth, eleventh, twelfth, fifteenth and sixteenth sheets are fed from the sheet feeding tray 201 and are subjected to printing processing by the image forming unit 200 and the image fixing unit 210. Paper.

<Description of FIG. 6>
A program of the controller board 110 according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 is stored in the HDD 115 of FIG. 1, read into the RAM 113, and executed by the CPU 114. After the print job is input to the printing apparatus 100 by the host computer 101 and the printing process is started, this flowchart is started.

  In step S <b> 601, the number of discharged sheets counting unit 306 counts the number of sheets discharged to a sheet discharge tray (hereinafter referred to as a first sheet discharge tray) designated by the print job being printed. Thereafter, the counted information is stored in the number of discharged sheets storage unit 307. In step S <b> 602, the inserter paper remaining amount determination unit 308 determines whether there is no paper in the inserter tray 221. If no paper is generated in the inserter tray 221 (Yes), the process proceeds to S603, and if not (No), the process proceeds to S614. In step S <b> 603, the print processing execution unit 305 changes the sheet discharge destination to a discharge tray different from the first discharge tray (hereinafter referred to as a second discharge tray). Thereafter, the sheet on the sheet conveyance path (203, 212, 214, 215, 228, 244, etc.) is conveyed to the second discharge tray.

  In step S604, the number of discharged sheets counting unit 306 counts the number of sheets discharged to the second discharge tray. Thereafter, the counted information is stored in the number of discharged sheets storage unit 307. In step S <b> 605, the print job analysis unit 302 reads “required number of inserted sheets (P)” and “required number of inserted sheets immediately after resuming the job (N)” from the sheet discharge number storage unit 307 and the paper feed management table 309. And “the number of inserted sheets (Q) necessary immediately after job resumption” is obtained. The detailed flow will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 606, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction to set Q sheets “inserted sheets necessary immediately after job restart” on the inserter tray 221 on the operation panel 120. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG. The inserter 220 feeds from the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the inserter tray 221. Therefore, it is necessary to set an insertion sheet required after the sheet in which no paper is generated in the inserter tray 221 at the bottom of the inserter tray 221. When the “Next” button in FIG. 9A is pressed, the process proceeds to S607.

  In step S <b> 607, the print job analysis unit 302 obtains a sheet to be fed from the inserter tray 221 when the reprint process is executed based on the information analyzed in step S <b> 605. Thereafter, the print job management unit 303 changes the sheet feed tray column 403 of the sheet feed management table 309 to “inserter tray” for the sheet fed from the inserter tray 221. The detailed flow will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 608, the print job management unit 304 reverses the orientation of the inserted sheet set on the inserter tray 221 when it is discharged to the discharge tray via the sheet conveyance path (224, 228, etc.). It is determined whether or not the paper is discharged. Note that the orientation of the discharged sheet can be uniquely determined by the configuration of the printing apparatus 100. If the paper is turned over (Yes), the process proceeds to S609. If not (No), the process proceeds to S610.

  In step S <b> 609, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction to turn over the printed matter on the second discharge tray on the operation panel 120. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG. In the inserter 220, the sheet fed from the inserter tray 221 passes through the sheet conveyance paths 224 and 228, so that the front, back, front and back of the sheet when discharged are switched. Therefore, in order to discharge the sheet to the discharge tray in the direction expected by the user, it is necessary to consider the direction of setting the sheet on the inserter tray 221. In S609, by displaying the sheet setting direction on the operation panel 120, the user can set the sheet in the correct direction. When the “Next” button in FIG. 9B is pressed, the process proceeds to S610.

  In step S <b> 610, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction to set the printed matter on the second discharge tray on the inserter tray 221 on the operation panel 120. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG. When the “Next” button in FIG. 9C is pressed, the process proceeds to S611.

  In step S <b> 611, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction to set N sheets of “inserted sheets necessary immediately after job restart” on the inserter tray 221 on the operation panel 120. The inserter 220 feeds from the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the inserter tray 221. Therefore, it is necessary to set the number of insertion sheets originally intended to be fed when no paper is generated in the inserter tray 221 at the top of the inserter tray 221. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 612, the UI control unit 301 determines whether the print restart button has been pressed on the screen illustrated in FIG. 9D displayed on the operation panel 120. If pressed (Yes), the process proceeds to S613; otherwise (No), the process proceeds to S612. In step S <b> 613, the print job execution unit 305 executes print resumption processing from the line where the sheet pointer 410 is in the paper feed management table 309. In step S614, the print job management unit 303 determines whether the print job being executed has ended. If the job is finished (Yes), this flowchart is finished. If not (No), the process proceeds to S601.

<Explanation of FIG. 7>
A program of the controller board 110 according to the flowchart of FIG. 7 is stored in the HDD 115 of FIG. 1, read into the RAM 113, and executed by the CPU 114. This flowchart is started when the analysis of the insertion sheet is requested in S605 described above.

  In step S <b> 701, the print job analysis unit 302 initializes various numerical values related to the insertion sheet. Specifically, “number of inserted sheets necessary after resuming print job (P)” and “number of inserted sheets necessary immediately after resuming job (N)” are initialized to zero. In step S <b> 702, the print job analysis unit 302 refers to the paper feed management table 309 from the number (L) of paper discharged to the first paper discharge tray obtained in step S <b> 601, and the sheet number in which no paper in the inserter tray 221 has occurred. Ask for. Since the sheet before the absence of paper in the inserter tray 221 is discharged to the first discharge tray 221, the sheet number where no paper has occurred in the inserter tray 221 is discharged to the first discharge tray. (L + 1) is the next sheet after the first sheet.

  In step S <b> 703, the print job analysis unit 302 refers to the sheet feed tray having the sheet number obtained in step S <b> 703 and determines whether the sheet feed tray is an inserter tray. If it is the inserter tray (Yes), the process proceeds to S704. If not (No), the process proceeds to S705. In step S <b> 704, the print job analysis unit 302 counts “the number of inserted sheets (P) necessary after restarting the print job”.

  In step S <b> 705, the print job analysis unit 302 determines whether or not the paper feed tray determined in step S <b> 703 has been switched to other than the inserter tray for the first time. If switching has been performed (Yes), the process proceeds to S706, and if not (No), the process proceeds to S707. In step S <b> 706, the print job analysis unit 302 obtains “the number of inserted sheets (N) necessary immediately after job restart”. The number of inserted sheets (N) is obtained by subtracting “sheet number at the time of occurrence of paper out (sheet number analyzed in S702)” from “current sheet number (sheet number analyzed in S703)”.

  In step S <b> 707, the print job analysis unit 302 determines whether all the sheet numbers stored on the paper feed management table 309 have been processed. If all have been processed (Yes), the process proceeds to S708. If not, the process advances to step S703 to refer to the paper feed tray of the next sheet number. In step S <b> 708, the print job analysis unit 302 obtains “the number of inserted sheets (Q) necessary immediately after job resumption”. The number of inserted sheets (Q) is obtained by subtracting “inserted sheets required immediately after job restart (N)” from “total number of inserted sheets required after job restart (P)”.

<Description of FIG. 8>
A program of the controller board 110 according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 is stored in the HDD 115 of FIG. 1, read to the RAM 113, and executed by the CPU 114. This flowchart is started when a request to update the paper feed management table is made in S607 described above.

  In step S <b> 801, the print job analysis unit 302 obtains the sheet number where no paper has occurred in the inserter tray 221 in the same manner as in step S <b> 702. In step S <b> 802, the print job management unit 303 changes the sheet feed tray of the sheet number obtained in step S <b> 801 to “inserter tray”. Further, the print page is changed to “first side: none, second side: none”. Thus, when printing is resumed, a paper feeding operation is performed according to the changed paper feed management table, and the sheet immediately after the resume of the print job is fed from the inserter.

  In step S <b> 803, the print job analysis unit 302 determines whether all sheet numbers that have already been printed have been processed in the paper feed management table 309. The printed sheet numbers are “the number of discharged sheets to the first discharge tray (L)”, “the number of discharged sheets to the second discharge tray (M)” and “inserted sheet necessary immediately after the job is restarted”. The total number of sheets (N) "can be obtained. If all have been processed (Yes), the process proceeds to S804. If not (No), the process proceeds to S802, and the next sheet number is referred to.

  In step S <b> 804, the print job management unit 304 returns the sheet pointer 410 to the sheet number (L + 1) where no paper has occurred in the inserter tray 221. Thus, when printing is resumed, the print job can be resumed from the sheet on which printing has been interrupted.

<Description of FIG. 9>
FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S606. On the screen, an instruction to set an insertion sheet of “number of insertion sheets necessary after job restart (Q)” obtained in S708 is displayed. When the “Next” button shown in 911 is pressed, the process proceeds to S607.

  FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S609. On the screen, an instruction to turn over the printed matter in the second discharge tray (the discharge tray [upper] in FIG. 9) is displayed. As shown in 922, the paper discharge tray displayed on the screen preferably displays information that identifies the paper discharge tray selected by the print processing execution unit 305 in step S603. When the “next” button shown in 921 is pressed, the process proceeds to S610.

  FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S610. On the screen, an instruction to set the printed matter of the second paper discharge tray on the inserter is displayed. As indicated by 932, the paper discharge tray displayed on the screen preferably displays information indicating the paper discharge tray selected by the print processing execution unit 305 in step S603. When the “Next” button shown in 931 is pressed, the process proceeds to S611.

  FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S611. On the screen, an instruction to set an insertion sheet of “number of insertion sheets necessary immediately after job restart (N)” obtained in S706 is displayed. When the “resume printing” button 941 is pressed, the process proceeds to S612.

  Next, FIG. 4B shows changes in the sheet conveyance and paper feed management table when there is actually no paper in the inserter in the print job shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A. A supplementary explanation will be given with reference to FIGS. 5B and 5C.

<Explanation of FIGS. 5B and 5C>
FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the state of each sheet when the fifth and sixth inserted sheets are out of paper in the print job shown in FIG.

  The first, second, third, fourth and fourth sheets before the occurrence of no paper are discharged to the first discharge tray. The fifth and sixth sheets after the occurrence of no paper are discharged to the second discharge tray in S603. The ninth to sixteenth sheets are sheets that have not been printed. Information analyzed by the flowchart of FIG. 6 at this time is shown in FIG. Since the sheets discharged to the first discharge tray are the first, second, third, fourth and fourth sheets, “the number of discharged sheets to the first discharge tray (L)” obtained in S601. Becomes 4. Since the sheets discharged to the second discharge tray are the seventh and eighth sheets, “the number of discharged sheets (M) to the second discharge tray” obtained in S604 is 2.

  “Sheet number (L + 1) at the time of occurrence of paper out” obtained in S702 is 5. “Number of inserted sheets necessary after restarting print job (P)” obtained in S704 is 6. The “number of inserted sheets necessary immediately after job restart (N)” obtained in S706 is 2. The “number of inserted sheets (Q) required immediately after job restart” obtained in S708 is 4.

<Description of FIG. 4B>
FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the paper feed management table changed in the flowchart described in FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows a paper feed management table at the time of FIG. Since the feeding of up to the eighth sheet of the print job has been completed, the sheet pointer points to the sheet 9. FIG. 4B shows a paper feed management table after the flowchart of FIG. 8 is implemented at the time of FIG. 5B. As a result of the processing in step S804, the sheet pointer 410 has returned to the sheet number 5, which is the sheet in which no paper has occurred in the inserter tray 221. Further, by the processing in step S802, the sheet trays and print pages of sheet number 5 to sheet number 10 are changed to “inserter tray 221” and “first side: none, second side: none” (part indicated by 420). . Thus, when printing is resumed, reprinting is performed from sheet number 5, and sheet numbers 5 to 10 are fed from the inserter tray 221.

  With the printing system as described above, even when an inserter is used in a print job, it is possible to supply the sheet group after the occurrence of an abnormality to the inserter and perform reprint processing. As a result, in a printing system that enables reprinting processing, it is possible to provide a reprinting function that suppresses the generation of discarded sheets while suppressing damage to the sheet, thereby improving productivity.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which a sheet left inside the printing apparatus 100 is discharged to the second discharge tray and supplied to the inserter tray 221 so that the sheet is reused. For this reason, when a sheet is reused in any print job, it is necessary to pass through a sheet conveyance path inside the printing apparatus 100.

  However, for example, in a print job in which finishing processing is not specified, a sheet to be reused simply passes through a sheet conveyance path inside the printing apparatus 100, and no additional processing by the printing apparatus occurs. In this case, it is more efficient to reuse the sheet without using a sheet conveyance path that may damage the sheet.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, an example will be described in which a sheet discharged to the second discharge tray is not set on the inserter tray 221 but is set on the first discharge tray to reuse the sheet. .

  In the present embodiment, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described, and the same components will be described using the same reference numerals. The schematic hardware configuration and software module of the printing system according to the second embodiment are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the first embodiment.

<Description of FIG. 10>
A program of the controller board 110 according to the flowchart of FIG. 10 is stored in the HDD 115 of FIG. 1, read into the RAM 113, and executed by the CPU 114. After the print job is input to the printing apparatus 100 by the host computer 101 and the printing process is started, this flowchart is started. In FIG. 10, steps that perform the same processing as the steps described in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In step S <b> 1001, the print job analysis unit 302 determines whether finishing processing (stapling, punching, etc.) in the printing apparatus is necessary for the print job currently being printed. The print job setting is analyzed, and if the finishing process is designated, it is determined that the finishing process in the printing apparatus is necessary (Yes), and if the finishing process is not designated, it is determined that the finishing process is unnecessary (No). As other means, it is also possible to determine from the device configuration of the printing apparatus. If the finisher 250, which is a device that performs the finishing process, is not connected to the printing apparatus 100, the finishing process cannot be performed in the printing apparatus.

  Therefore, it can be determined that the additional processing in the printing apparatus is unnecessary (No). If the finishing process in the printing apparatus is necessary (Yes), the process proceeds to S607, and if not (No), the process proceeds to S1002.

  In step S <b> 1002, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction on the operation panel 120 to set N sheets of “inserted sheets necessary immediately after job restart” on the first paper discharge tray. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG. When the “next” button in FIG. 11A is pressed, the process advances to step S1003.

  In step S <b> 1003, the UI control unit 301 displays an instruction to set the printed material on the second paper discharge tray on the operation panel 120 on the first paper discharge tray. A display example of the operation panel 120 is shown in FIG. When the “Next” button in FIG. 11B is pressed, the process proceeds to S612.

<Description of FIG. 11>
FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S1002. On the screen, an instruction to set an insertion sheet of “number of insertion sheets necessary immediately after job restart (N)” obtained in S706 is displayed. When the “Next” button shown in 1111 is pressed, the process proceeds to S1003.

  FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing the screen displayed in S1003. On the screen, an instruction to set the printed matter of the second discharge tray (discharge tray [upper] in FIG. 11) to the first discharge tray (lower tray in FIG. 11) is displayed. To do. As indicated by reference numerals 1122 and 1123, the paper discharge tray displayed on the screen preferably displays information indicating the paper discharge tray selected by the print processing execution unit 305 in step S603. When the “resume printing” button 1121 is pressed, the process proceeds to S612.

  As in the first embodiment, the sheet conveyance and the change in the paper feed management table when there is actually no paper in the inserter in the print job shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A. A supplementary explanation will be given with reference to FIGS. 5B and 5C.

  If it is determined in S1001 that the finishing process in the printing apparatus is necessary (Yes), the same process as in the first embodiment is performed. The case where it is determined in S1001 that the finishing process in the printing apparatus is not necessary (No) will be described.

  Since the sheet conveyance in the second embodiment is not different from that in the first embodiment, the state of each sheet is the same as that in FIGS. 5B and 5C described in the first embodiment. . In the second embodiment, guidance for setting a sheet to be reused on the first tray by the user's hand is displayed. Accordingly, since the print processing execution unit 305 does not need to consider the sheet to be reused, the sheet pointer is not changed from when printing is interrupted, and the paper feed management table is the same as that shown in FIG.

  With the printing system as described above, it becomes easy to reuse the sheet group after the occurrence of abnormality by the user's hand. As a result, in a printing system that enables reprinting processing, it is possible to provide a reprinting function that suppresses the generation of discarded sheets while minimizing sheet damage, thereby improving productivity.

100 Printing Device 101 Host Computer 110 Controller Board 111 Network Communication Controller 112 Nonvolatile Memory 113 RAM
114 CPU
115 HDD
117 System bus 120 Operation panel 130 Printer engine 200 Image forming unit 210 Image fixing unit 220 Inserter 250 Finisher

Claims (5)

A printing system,
An image forming apparatus for printing an image on a sheet;
An operation panel for displaying information of the image forming apparatus;
Insertion means for inserting an arbitrary sheet into a sheet group conveyed from the image forming apparatus,
Interruption means for interrupting printing of the image forming apparatus;
Control means for controlling display on the operation panel;
Resuming means for resuming printing,
The interruption means interrupts printing when an abnormality of the insertion device is detected, and discharges the sheet before the abnormality detection to the first discharge tray and discharges the sheet after the abnormality detection to the second discharge tray. ,
The display means displays prompting the insertion means used to print the image forming apparatus to replenish a sheet;
The printing system, wherein the restarting unit feeds a sheet printed by the printing interrupting unit until it is interrupted from the inserting device without reprinting. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising:
The display means provides the insertion device with a first insertion sheet (S606) necessary immediately after resuming printing, a sheet discharged to the second paper discharge tray, and a second insertion sheet necessary immediately after resuming printing. A printing system characterized by displaying loading in the order of. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system further comprises:
The display means displays the number of sheets supplied to the first insertion sheet, the number of sheets supplied to the second sheet discharge tray, and the number of sheets supplied to the second insertion sheet. Printing system to do. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing system further includes:
The printing system, wherein the display unit displays a direction of the sheet when the sheet discharged to the second discharge tray is supplied to the insertion unit. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing system further includes:
When the finishing process is not set, the display unit supplies the first insertion sheet necessary immediately after the resumption of printing to the first discharge tray and the sheet discharged to the second discharge tray. A printing system characterized by displaying information for prompting replenishment.