JP2020016713A - Image forming system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming system including a function to divide and cut a sheet, and when a defect occurs in an image, make available a portion with no defects of the image on the sheet to prevent the occurrence of waste.SOLUTION: An image forming system 1 comprises: an image forming unit 20 that forms a plurality of images on a sheet; a cutting unit 610 that cuts the sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit 20; and a control unit 11 that reads the images on the sheet with a reading unit 410 before cutting processing performed by the cutting unit 610 and determines the presence or absence of a defect for each of the plurality of images. When determining that a defect is present in any one of the images, the control unit 11 divides the sheet into normal areas not including the defect and defective areas including the defect, and causes the cutting unit 610 to execute cutting such that the normal areas have a first size corresponding to an image size of the plurality of images and the defective areas have a second size different from the first size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a program.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet is connected to an inspection apparatus that in-line inspects the sheet on which the image is formed for defects such as image stains, density unevenness, misregistration, and poor color tone. Systems are known.
In such an image forming system, a sheet determined to have a defect is ejected to a tray different from a tray from which a normal item is being ejected as a defective product (scratch) and an image formed on the sheet determined to be defective is determined. Has been proposed to prevent defective products from being mixed with normal products by forming a new paper on a sheet (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, a cutting device has been developed that forms multiple small-size images such as business cards on one sheet of paper, cuts the sheet at each of the vertical and horizontal positions, divides it into multiple card-shaped sheets, and discharges them to a dedicated tray. ing.

JP 2007-322465 A

  However, when the paper is divided into a plurality of pieces, if the inspection is performed using the technique of Patent Document 1, the paper determined to be defective is rejected as a defective product. However, one sheet is repelled, and it is necessary to re-form even an image portion having no defect, resulting in waste.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system having a function of dividing and cutting a sheet, when a defect occurs in an image, by enabling use of a portion having no defect in the image of the sheet and suppressing waste. is there.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming system comprising:
An image forming unit that forms a plurality of images on paper,
A cutting unit for cutting a sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit,
An inspection unit that reads an image on a sheet before the cutting process by the cutting unit and determines whether or not each of the plurality of images has a defect;
If the inspection unit determines that any of the images has a defect, the paper is divided into a normal region containing no defect and a defective region containing a defect, and the normal region is the image size of the plurality of images. A control unit configured to execute cutting by the cutting unit such that the defective area has a second size different from the first size.
It is characterized by having.

An image forming unit that forms a plurality of images on a sheet;
A cutting unit for cutting a sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit,
Computer of an image forming system equipped with
An inspection unit that reads an image on a sheet before the cutting process by the cutting unit and determines whether or not each of the plurality of images has a defect;
If the inspection unit determines that any of the images has a defect, the paper is divided into a normal region containing no defect and a defective region containing a defect, and the normal region is the image size of the plurality of images. A control unit that executes cutting by the cutting unit such that the defective area has a second size different from the first size.
This is a program that functions as

  According to the present invention, in an image forming system having a function of dividing and cutting a sheet, when a defect occurs in an image, a portion having no defect in the image of the sheet can be used, and occurrence of waste can be suppressed. it can.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming system. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a cutting part. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations of the image forming system. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a series of operations of the image forming system. It is an example showing a sheet having no defect in an image. It is an example showing a sheet having a defect in an image. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a method for cutting a defective area. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a method for cutting a defective area. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a method for cutting a defective area. FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing an example of a method for cutting a defective area. It is an example of a setting screen for a user to specify a discharge destination. It is a figure for explaining a recovery picture. It is a figure for explaining a recovery picture. It is an example showing a sheet having a defect in an image. It is an example showing a sheet having a defect in an image.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
First, the configuration of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming system 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming system 1 includes a paper feeding unit 100, an image forming apparatus 200, an inserter 300, an image reading unit 400, a purge unit 500, a cutting unit 600, a paper discharging unit 700, and the like. These units have a tandem configuration in which the units are connected in series along the sheet transport direction.
The image forming system 1 of the present embodiment forms a plurality of small-size images such as business cards on one sheet of paper by the image forming apparatus 200, and cuts the sheet vertically and horizontally by a cutting unit 600 to form a plurality of cards. Paper can be generated.

[Paper feeding unit]
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 100 includes a plurality of paper feeding trays T1, and transports and feeds the paper stored in each paper feeding tray T1 to the image forming apparatus 200.

(Image forming apparatus)
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 200 includes an image forming unit 20, and the image forming unit 20 forms an image on a sheet. The paper to be used can be fed from either the paper feed tray T1 of the paper feed unit 100 or the paper feed tray T2 provided inside the image forming apparatus 200.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 200 includes, for example, a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an image generation unit 16, an image reading unit 17, an image memory 18, an image It comprises a processing unit 19, an image forming unit 20, and the like.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls various units of the image forming system 1 by reading and executing various programs from the storage unit 12.

  The storage unit 12 stores a program readable by the control unit 11 and the like, a file used when executing the program, and the like. As the storage unit 12, a large-capacity memory such as a hard disk can be used.

The operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 are user interfaces provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 200 as shown in FIG.
The operation unit 13 generates an operation signal according to a user operation and outputs the operation signal to the control unit 11. As the operation unit 13, a keypad, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 14, or the like can be used.
The display unit 14 displays an operation screen or the like according to an instruction from the control unit 11. As the display unit 14, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OELD (Organic Electro Luminescence Display), or the like can be used.

For example, the operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 are used when the user instructs the image forming mode. As the image forming mode, for example, there are a normal mode in which one image is formed on one sheet and a multi-imposition mode in which a plurality of images are formed on one sheet. At this time, the image forming side of the sheet can be designated as one side or both sides.
The operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 are used when the user instructs whether or not to perform a cutting process for cutting a sheet, various settings regarding the cutting process, and the like.
Such an instruction by a user operation is added to the job information of the image forming job.

The communication unit 15 communicates with an external device on the network, for example, a user terminal, a server, another image forming device, or the like.
The communication unit 15 is a job of an image forming job including data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data) in which an instruction to form an image is described in a page description language (PDL) from a user terminal or the like via a network. Receive information.
The job information includes, for example, when the user performs an instruction operation on the user terminal, the instruction items (image forming mode, execution / non-execution of cutting processing, various settings related to cutting processing, and the like).

  The image generation unit 16 rasterizes the PDL data received by the communication unit 15 and generates bitmap image data.

  The image reading unit 17 reads a document surface and generates bitmap image data. As the image reading section 17, a scanner 171 provided below the platen glass 173 as shown in FIG. 1 can be used, and an automatic document reading device (ADF: Auto Document Feeder) 172 is provided, and a document is sent to the scanner 171. Can also be sent automatically.

  Here, in the image generation unit 16 and the image reading unit 17, when the setting of the multi-imposition mode is included in the job information, image data in which a plurality of images are stored on one sheet is generated.

  When the image data generated by the image generation unit 16 and the image reading unit 17 has pixel values of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), the control unit 11 and a dedicated color conversion unit The image data is converted into image data having pixel values of four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black), and is stored in the image memory 18. The pixel value is a data value representing the shading of the image. For example, an 8-bit data value represents the shading of 0 to 255 gradations.

  The image memory 18 is a buffer memory that temporarily stores image data generated by the image generation unit 16 or the image reading unit 17. As the image memory 18, a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) or the like can be used.

  The image processing unit 19 reads out image data from the image memory 18 and performs various types of image processing such as density correction processing and halftone processing. The density correction process is a process of converting each pixel value of the image data so that the density characteristics of the image on the paper become the target density characteristics. The halftone process is a process for reproducing a halftone in a pseudo manner, such as a dither process or an error diffusion process.

The image forming unit 20 forms an image of four colors on a sheet according to the pixel values of four colors C, M, Y, and K of each pixel of the image data processed by the image processing unit 19.
The image forming unit 20 includes four writing units 21, an intermediate transfer belt 22, a secondary transfer roller 23, a fixing device 24, a plurality of paper feed trays T2, and the like.

  The four writing units 21 are arranged in series (tandem) along the belt surface of the intermediate transfer belt 22, and form images of respective colors of C, M, Y, and K. Each writing unit 21 has the same configuration except that the color of the image to be formed is different, and as shown in FIG. A roller 2f is provided.

  In each writing unit 21, after charging the photoconductor 2b by the charging unit 2d, the exposure unit 2a emits a laser beam modulated based on image data, and scans the rotating photoconductor 2b to scan the electrostatic latent image. To form The developing unit 2c supplies toner onto the photoconductor 2b to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 2b. The images formed on the photoconductors 2b of the four writing units 21 in this manner are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 22 by the respective primary transfer rollers 2f (primary transfer). An image composed of each color is formed on the belt 22. After the primary transfer, the toner remaining on the photoconductor 2b is removed by the cleaning unit 2e.

  When paper is fed from the paper feed tray T1 or T2, an image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 22 onto the paper by the secondary transfer roller 23 (secondary transfer), and the paper is heated and pressed in the fixing device 24, Perform fixing processing. When an image is formed on both sides of a sheet, the sheet may be conveyed to a conveyance path, the sheet surface may be reversed, and then the sheet may be conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 23 again.

[Inserter]
The inserter 300 is a device capable of storing sheets for front and back covers, sheets on which images have been formed, and the like, and feeding the sheets between the sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus 200.

[Image reading unit]
The image reading unit 400 is disposed downstream of the inserter 300, and reads an image forming surface of a sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming apparatus 200 before the sheet is conveyed to the purge unit 500, and obtains the image. The read data is output to the control unit 11.
The image reading unit 400 includes, for example, a reading unit 410.
The reading unit 410 includes a first scanner 410A and a second scanner 410B, and each scanner is arranged at a position capable of reading the front side and the back side of a sheet conveyed on a conveyance path.
The first scanner 410A and the second scanner 410B are, for example, a line in which CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) are linearly arranged in a direction (width direction of the paper) perpendicular to the paper transport direction and parallel to the paper surface. It is composed of sensors and can read the entire area of the paper.
Hereinafter, when the first scanner 410A and the first scanner 410A are not particularly distinguished, the first scanner 410A and the first scanner 410A are collectively referred to as a scanner 410.
The reading unit 410 and the control unit 11 constitute an inspection unit.

[Purge unit]
The purge unit 500 is a device that can switch the transport path of the sheet transported from the image reading unit 400 from the direction in which the sheet is transported to the downstream cutting unit 600 to the direction in which the sheet is discharged to the outside.
The purge unit 500 includes a purge tray T3. For example, when there is a sheet that is determined to perform image formation again on the entire sheet, the sheet is discharged to the purge tray T3.

[Cutting unit]
The cutting unit 600 is a device that can cut and separate the sheet conveyed from the purge unit 500.
The cutting unit 600 includes, for example, a cutting unit 610 and a paper discharge tray T4 provided above the cutting unit 600.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the cutting unit 600.
The cutting unit 610 includes, for example, an FD slitter 601, a CD cutter 602, a waste box (paper waste storage box) 603, a card tray (normal product storage tray) 604, a gate 605, and the like.

The FD slitter 601 is a slitter that has a pair of round blades in the vertical direction, and the round blades are arranged along the paper transport direction (FD direction).
The FD slitters 601 are provided in plural sets (10 sets in this embodiment) in parallel along the width direction of the sheet (CD direction).
Each of the FD slitters 601 can cut the paper in the transport direction by rotating the upper and lower blades as the paper is transported. For this reason, it is possible to divide the paper into a plurality of areas in the width direction as the paper is transported.

The CD cutter 602 is arranged downstream of the FD slitter 601.
The CD cutter 602 has cutting blades 602a and 602b arranged such that the blades face each other. Each of the cutting blades 602a and 602b is formed in a plate shape whose longitudinal direction extends along the width direction of the sheet.
The CD cutter 602 can cut the paper sandwiched between the two along the width direction by approaching the upper and lower blades as the paper is transported. For this reason, it is possible to divide the paper into a plurality of areas in the transport direction as the paper is transported.

  One sheet is divided and cut by the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602, so that a plurality of card-shaped sheets (normal products) can be generated.

The waste box 603 is a box body that is installed below the CD cutter 602 and has an opening 603a on its upper surface. The waste box 603 stores cut pieces that have been generated and cut by the CD cutter 602 and that have fallen.
A lower cutting blade 602b is provided inside the opening 603a.
Here, the size of the opening 603a is set in advance so that the dimension of the receiving area (substantial opening) remaining after the cutting blade 602b is installed has a predetermined value. Thus, the maximum length of the cut pieces that can be discharged to the waste box 603 in the transport direction is determined.
For example, the length L1 of each area of the opening 603a before and after the cutting blade 602b in the transport direction is set to 15 mm.

The card tray 604 is a box that is installed on the downstream side of the CD cutter 602 and below the transport path and has an opening 604a on the upper surface thereof.
The card tray 604 is a tray for storing card-shaped paper (normal products) generated by cutting the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602.
Here, the size of the opening 604a is set in advance so that its dimension becomes a predetermined value. As a result, the maximum length of the sheet that can be discharged to the card tray 604 in the transport direction is determined.
For example, the length L2 of the opening 604a in the transport direction is set to 250 mm.

The gate 605 is provided on the transport path on the downstream side of the CD cutter 602, and switches the traveling direction of the sheet passing through the CD cutter 602.
When the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602 cut a card-shaped sheet or a sheet having a size smaller than that of the card-shaped sheet, the gate 605 conveys the sheet to the card tray 604.
Further, the gate 605 conveys a sheet of a size larger than this to the sheet discharge unit 700 or the sheet discharge tray T4.

  In addition, the trimming unit 600 may include, for example, a pair of skew correction rollers for correcting skew of the sheet, a sensor for detecting the leading end of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, and the like as a mechanism for cutting the sheet accurately.

[Discharge unit]
The paper discharging unit 700 includes a main paper discharging tray T5 provided at the most downstream in the paper transport direction of the image forming system 1 and a sub paper discharging tray T6 provided above the paper discharging unit 700. Discharge the transported paper.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 200 controls the operation of each unit configuring the image forming system 1, but such a configuration is an example and It is not limited. For example, a control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming system 1 may be separately provided, or a control unit may be individually provided for each unit.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, an operation of the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The image forming system 1 of the present embodiment forms a plurality of small-sized images such as business cards on one sheet by the image forming apparatus 200 (image forming process), and cuts the sheet vertically and horizontally by a cutting unit 600. This is for generating a plurality of card-shaped sheets (cutting processing).
Further, at this time, the image formed on the sheet is read by the image reading unit 400 to determine the presence or absence of a defect in the image. An image is formed again on the sheet in the defective area (defective area) (recovery processing), and a high-quality output can be produced.
Hereinafter, a series of flows of the operation of such a system will be described.

4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the flow of the operation of the image forming system 1 described above.
The control unit 11 of the image forming system 1 executes such processing according to the program stored in the storage unit 12, triggered by the input of the image forming job.
The job information of the image forming job includes an image forming mode, the number of pages of paper on which an image is formed, the number of each page, image data to be formed on each page, whether or not cutting processing is performed, and various settings related to cutting processing. Have been.

  First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a paper feed request (step S101). If there is no paper feed request (step S101: NO), the control unit 11 repeats step S101.

  On the other hand, if there is a paper feed request (step S101: YES), the controller 11 feeds paper from the designated paper feed tray (paper feed tray T1 or paper feed tray T2) (step S102).

  Next, the control unit 11 performs an image forming process on one or both sides of the sheet based on the job information (Step S103).

  Next, the control unit 11 causes the reading unit 410 to read the image forming surface of the sheet, obtain read data, and output the read data to the control unit 11 (step S104).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether there is no defect in the image (Step S105).
For example, the control unit 11 compares the read data acquired by the reading unit 410 with the image data used for image formation, and determines that there is a defect in the image where a difference between the images occurs.
Note that image defects are, for example, image stains, density unevenness, misregistration, poor color tone, and the like. If the occurrence of these can be recognized, a method of determining whether or not an image has a defect is a method. There is no particular limitation.

  If there is no defect in the image (step S105: YES), the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a setting for executing the cutting process based on the job information (step S106), and executes the cutting process. If there is no setting (step S106: NO), the process proceeds to step S124 described below.

  On the other hand, when there is a setting to execute the cutting process (step S106: YES), the control unit 11 performs the cutting process by the cutting unit 610 (step S107), and switches the gate 605 to generate the generated card-shaped paper ( The normal product is discharged to the card tray 604 (step S108), and the process proceeds to step S124 described later.

FIG. 6 is an example showing a sheet P in which the image has no defect and the entire surface of the image is cut as a normal area.
Here, it is assumed that the paper P is transported so that its longitudinal direction is along the transport direction (FD direction). In FIG. 6, broken lines indicate cutting positions by the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602.
In the example of FIG. 6, 25 images are formed on the sheet P, five in each of the vertical and horizontal directions. A blank area is provided between adjacent images. The sheet P is divided into five areas “A” to “E” in the width direction by ten sets of FD slitters 601. Further, the paper P is divided by the CD cutter 602 into five areas “1” to “5” in the transport direction.
As a result, 25 card-shaped papers (normal products) on which images can be specified with the combination of the areas "A" to "E" and the areas "1" to "5" can be specified. Generated. At this time, since a blank area is provided between adjacent images, the blank area is cut off.

The cutting positions of the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602 are set according to the number, size, and position of images formed on a sheet.
By arranging the FD slitter 601, the cutting position in the width direction of the sheet, the number of cutting, and the like can be changed.
Further, the cutting position in the sheet conveyance direction, the number of cuts, and the like can be changed according to the operation timing of the CD cutter 602.

In the cutting section 610, the sheet is cut in the order of the FD slitter 601 and the CD cutter 602 from the leading end side in the conveying direction as the sheet is conveyed.
Thereby, the cut piece whose length in the transport direction is shorter than the length L1 (15 mm) of the receiving area of the opening 603a of the waste box 603 falls and is stored in the waste box 603.
The generated card-shaped paper (normal product) is stored in the card tray 604.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when there is a defect in the image in step S105 (step S105: NO), the control unit 11 specifies a defect position on the sheet (step S109).

FIG. 7 is an example showing a sheet P having a defect in one of the images.
In FIG. 7, 25 images similar to those in FIG. 6 are formed, and among them, there is a defect in the image at the position specified by the area “B” in the paper width direction and the area “3” in the transport direction.
In this example, the control unit 11 specifies the defect position on the sheet as (B-3).

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a cutting setting (step S110). If there is no cutting setting (step S110: NO), the entire sheet is subjected to recovery. The sheet is discharged to the purge tray T3 (step S111), the page number (sheet number) of the sheet is stored in the storage unit 12 (step S112), and a recovery request is made (step S113).

  If there is a cut setting in step S110 (step S110: YES), the control unit 11 divides the sheet into a normal area and a defective area based on the specified defect position, and sets the cutting conditions ( The setting of the trimming position, trimming width, trimming frequency, etc. is performed (step S114).

Here, the normal region of the sheet is subjected to the cutting process to have a size (first size) corresponding to the image size of the image based on the setting related to the cutting process included in the job information, and a normal product is generated. Is discharged to the card tray 604.
On the other hand, the defective area of the paper is cut into a size (second size) different from the normal product, and is sent to one of the three discharge destinations of (1) a waste box, (2) a card tray, and (3) a paper discharge tray. Is discharged.
Hereinafter, setting of cutting conditions for each discharge destination will be described.

<(1) When discharging to a waste box>
The method (1) is a method in which the defective area is dropped onto the waste box 603 so that the defective area does not mix with the card tray 604.
For example, in FIG. 7, the defect position is (B-3) as described above.
At this time, since the cutting unit 610 cuts the sheet at a time in the width direction by the CD cutter 602 extending in the sheet width direction, when the defect position is (B-3), the sheet is cut from the same column (B- Since only 3) cannot be cut out, the control unit 11 sets the third row (5 sheets) of (A-3), (B-3), (C-3), (D-3), and (E-3). Is classified as a defective area. The other area of the sheet is a normal area.
Then, the control unit 11 sets cutting conditions so that the defective area is dropped onto the waste box 603 so that the defective area is not mixed in the card tray 604.
At this time, the width of the cut piece that can be dropped on the waste box 603 is determined by the restriction of the length L1 (15 mm) of the receiving area of the opening 603a.
Therefore, the control unit 11 sets the maximum width (15 mm) that can be dropped into the opening 603a as the cutting width.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the length of the image in the transport direction including the blank area between the images is 110 mm, 110 mm = 15 mm × 7 + 5 mm. And cut it.
The number of times of cutting can be reduced as a whole by setting the defective area including the blank areas at both ends of the defective image.
Based on these settings, after the cutting of the second row is completed, the control unit 11 performs seven cuts in the third row with a cutting width of 15 mm using the CD cutter 602, and sets the third row as a cut piece. Then, it is stored in the waste box 603.
Since the fourth and subsequent rows are normal areas, the control unit 11 returns the control of the CD cutter 602 after the end of the third row.

  When the image of the defective area includes, for example, personal information, the cutting width is preferably set to be smaller than the maximum width (15 mm) (for example, 2 to 14 mm). According to the setting of the cutting width, the number of times of cutting is also set.

<(2) When discharging to card tray>
According to the method (1), the number of times the CD cutter 602 is cut increases, so that the time required for cutting increases and productivity decreases, and the replacement frequency increases due to the life of the cutting teeth, resulting in high cost and downtime. There is a disadvantage.
The method (2) is a method in which a defective area is cut into a size different from a normal product and discharged to the card tray 604 for the purpose of reducing such disadvantages.
Using the example of FIG. 7, first, the control unit 11 classifies the third column (five images) as a defective area and classifies the other areas as normal areas in the same manner as (1). .
Next, the control unit 11 sets cutting conditions such that cutting is performed once at the center of the third row in the transport direction, as shown by a bold line in FIG. 9, for example.
As a result, the third row is cut so that the length in the transport direction is smaller than the normal product, and the third row is discharged to the card tray 604. Therefore, even if the paper (NG product) in the defective area is smaller than the normal product and the normal product and the NG product are mixed in the card tray 604, the user can identify the defective product.

Instead of cutting the NG product into a smaller size than the normal product, it is also possible to discharge the paper P as a large size without dividing the third and fourth rows of the paper P as shown in FIG. is there.
In this case, the third and fourth columns are defective areas, and the other areas are classified as normal areas. In the third and fourth columns, cutting conditions are set so as not to cut.
In this case, the fourth row is also targeted for recovery, but is ejected to the card tray 604 in a size larger than the normal product, so that there is an advantage that the NG product can be more easily removed.
At this time, the maximum length that can be discharged to the opening 604a of the card tray 604 is determined, and sheets longer than the maximum length cannot be discharged.
For example, when a sheet up to 250 mm can be discharged to the card tray 604, and when one image is 100 mm and the margin area is 5 mm, two images (105 mm × 2 + 5 mm = 215 mm) can be discharged to the card tray 604. Becomes
In the case where one image is limited, an NG product having a size larger than a normal product cannot be discharged. Therefore, a method of cutting and discharging the NG product smaller than a normal product is adopted.

<(3) When discharging to the paper output tray>
The method (2) has a smaller number of times of cutting than the method (1) and is advantageous from the viewpoint of productivity and the life of the cut teeth. However, the normal product and the NG product are discharged to the same card tray 604. Therefore, although it can be determined, sorting is required.
The method (3) is a method of discharging the defective area to the discharge tray T4 for the purpose of reducing such disadvantages.
At this time, a plurality of rollers are provided in the paper transport path, and the paper is transported to the discharge tray T4 by the rotation of the rollers. Therefore, the required length of the paper is determined by the length between the rollers. For example, when the maximum section length between the rollers is 230 mm in the transport path from the CD cutter 602 to the paper discharge tray T4, a sheet of 230 mm or more can be transported.
For example, when one image is 100 mm and the margin area is 5 mm, a sheet length of three images (105 mm × 3 + 5 mm = 320 mm) is required to convey the image to the discharge tray T4.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 11 sets the third to fifth columns (15 images) as a defective area, and classifies the other areas as normal areas.
Then, for the above-described reason, the control unit 11 sets cutting conditions so that cutting is not performed between the third and fifth rows, that is, cutting is not performed at the time when the second row is completed, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray T4. Let it.
At this time, compared with the first example of the above (1) and (2), the number of objects to be recovered is increased, but by reducing the number of times of cutting, the decrease in productivity is small and the life of the cutting teeth is prolonged. In addition, since the NG product can be discharged to the paper discharge tray T4, the classification process for the normal product is not required.

  Although the cutting conditions for discharging to any one of the three discharge destinations have been described above, the user can arbitrarily select which discharge destination to use.

FIG. 12 is an example of a setting screen G for the user to specify a discharge destination.
As shown in FIG. 12, the setting screen G has a “trash box selection unit” g10, a “card tray selection unit” g20, and a “discharge tray selection unit” g30.

The “trash box selection unit” g10 is used to select a waste box.
The “trash box selection unit” g10 has a “cut width setting unit” g11, and when a waste box is selected, “maximum length” or “fixed length” can be selected. When “maximum length” is designated, the maximum length in the device configuration is set as (15 mm) in the example of (1) above. When "fixed length" is specified, a value less than the maximum length can be specified.

The “card tray selection unit” g20 is used to select a card tray.
The “card tray selecting unit” g20 includes a “size setting unit” g21, and when a card tray is selected, either “discharge in a size smaller than normal product” or “discharge in a size larger than normal product” Size is selectable.

  The “discharge tray selection unit” g30 is used to select a discharge tray.

  In the setting screen G, when the image is read, when it is detected that the image contains specific characters (personal information such as name, address, telephone number, etc.), the “trash box selection unit” g10 is automatically selected. There is a check box G40 for setting to be performed. In the state where the check box G40 is checked, if a specific character is included in the image, the "trash box selection unit" g10 is automatically selected.

The discharge destination can also be set for each job using the setting screen G.
Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a place where an NG product (defective area) is discharged is displayed on the display unit 14 and the user is notified, thereby prompting a removal operation when the NG product is discharged to the card tray 604 or the discharge tray T4.

Referring back to FIG. 4, after setting the cutting conditions as described above, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the sheet has a normal area that can be discharged as a normal product after the cutting is performed (step S114). If this is not the case (step S114: NO), the process proceeds to step S111.
In other words, as a result of setting the cutting conditions, if the entire area of the sheet is classified as a defective area, it is determined that there is no normal area that can be discharged as a normal product after the execution of the cutting.

  On the other hand, if there is a normal area that can be ejected as a normal product after cutting has been performed (step S114: YES), the control unit 11 determines whether the normal area of the sheet being transported has reached the cutting unit 610 (step S114). Step S116).

  If the normal region has not reached the cutting unit 610 (step S116: YES), the control unit 11 executes a normal region cutting process based on the cutting setting of the job information (step S117), and switches the gate 605. Then, the normal product is discharged to the card tray 604 (step S118), and the process proceeds to step S122 described below.

  When the normal region has not reached the cutting unit 610 (step S116: NO), the control unit 11 performs the cutting process based on the cutting conditions set in step S114 (that is, the cutting process of the defective region is performed). (Yes) (Step S119), the NG product is discharged to the designated discharge destination (Step S120).

  Next, the control unit 11 stores the recovery sheet number and the recovery image in the storage unit 12 (Step S121). The recovery image is an image included in the defective area. Note that a column number may be stored instead of the recovery image.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the cutting of the entire area of the sheet has been completed (step S122), and if not completed (step S122: NO), returns to step S116 and repeats the subsequent processing. .

  On the other hand, when the cutting of the entire area of the sheet is completed (step S122: YES), the control unit 11 creates a recovery image based on the recovery sheet number stored in the storage unit 12 and the recovery image, A recovery request is made (step S123).

Here, creation of a recovery image will be described.
The recovery process is a process of forming an image included in a defective area on a sheet again.

For example, in the example of FIG. 8, since the third column of the sheet P is a defective area, an image of the third column of the sheet P is formed on a new sheet P1 as shown in FIG. Then, only the third row is subjected to a cutting process based on the job information and is discharged to the card tray 604. In this case, by not cutting the first and second rows and the fourth and fifth rows, the sheet can be discharged to the card tray 604 in an identifiable manner. Accordingly, the paper may be discharged to the paper discharge tray T4.
Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the defective area which was in the third column of the sheet P in the example of FIG. 8 may be arranged in the first column of the new sheet P1. Thus, when defective areas occur in a plurality of sheets, by arranging them in the first and second rows, waste of recovery sheets can be reduced.

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not all the image forming processes including the recovery image have been completed (step S124), and if not completed (step S124: NO), the process returns to the step S101 and thereafter. Repeat the process.
On the other hand, when the process has been completed (step S124: YES), the present process is completed.

In the above example, one defect is present in one sheet. However, when there are a plurality of defects, a defective area is determined according to the positions of the plurality of defects.
For example, as shown in FIG. 15, when a defective image occurs in the third and fifth columns, the third to fifth columns, which have a length that can be discharged to the discharge tray T4, are regarded as defective areas and are set in the discharge tray T4. It may be discharged.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, when there is a defective image on the front surface and the back surface of the sheet, the defective area is determined according to the position.
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when there are defective images in the fourth and fifth columns on the front surface and the third column on the rear surface, the third to fifth columns may be set as defective areas and discharged to the discharge tray T4. good.

[Effects of Embodiment]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming system 1 includes the image forming unit 20 that forms a plurality of images on a sheet and the cutting that cuts the sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit 20. And a control unit 11 that reads an image on a sheet by the reading unit 410 before the cutting process by the cutting unit 610 and determines whether each of the plurality of images has a defect.
If the control unit 11 determines that there is a defect in any of the images, the control unit 11 divides the sheet into a normal region containing no defect and a defective region containing the defect, and the normal region has the image size of a plurality of images. And the cutting unit 610 performs cutting so that the defective area has a second size different from the first size.
For this reason, in the image forming system 1 having the function of dividing and cutting a sheet, when a defect occurs in an image, a portion having no defect in the image of the sheet can be used, and waste can be suppressed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 includes a plurality of discharge units for discharging a sheet, and discharges the defective area from one of the plurality of discharge units corresponding to the second size. .
For this reason, the defective area can be discharged from a discharge section suitable for the size (second size).

Further, according to the present embodiment, control unit 11 causes a defective area to be discharged from one discharging unit designated by a user operation.
For this reason, a defective area can be discharged from an arbitrary discharge unit of the user.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of discharge units are configured such that the trimming unit 610 cuts a normal area of the sheet, and the trimming box 603 stores paper scrap generated by trimming the sheet. And a discharge tray T4 capable of discharging sheets not printed by the cutting unit 610.
For this reason, the defective area can be discharged from a discharge section suitable for the size (second size). In addition, an existing configuration can be used as the discharge unit.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when discharging the defective area into waste box 603, control unit 11 can set the second size to a specified value specified by a user operation.
For this reason, it is possible for the user to arbitrarily and finely cut. For example, it is particularly effective when cutting an image containing personal information or the like.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when discharging the defective area to the card tray 604 or the discharge tray T4, the control unit 11 sets the second size to a value that is an integral multiple of the first size.
For this reason, it is possible to discharge the defective area by setting the second size to an appropriate size while minimizing the number of times of cutting.

Further, according to the present embodiment, image forming unit 20 forms a plurality of images so as to have a blank area between adjacent images, and control unit 11 sets second size to an integral multiple of first size. And the length of the margin area are set to a value obtained by adding them.
Therefore, when a plurality of images are formed so as to have a blank area between adjacent images, the second size can be set to a size in consideration of the blank area.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that there is a defect in a plurality of images, control unit 11 determines a defective area according to the positions of the plurality of defects.
For this reason, a defective area of an appropriate size can be set according to the positions of a plurality of defects.

Further, according to the present embodiment, image forming unit 20 can form an image on both sides of a sheet, and control unit 11 can determine whether there is a defect in an image on both sides of the sheet, If it is determined that there is a defect on both sides of the sheet, a defective area is determined according to the position of the defect on both sides of the sheet.
For this reason, a defective area of an appropriate size can be set according to the position of the defect on both sides of the sheet.

Further, according to the present embodiment, control unit 11 causes storage unit 12 to store recovery information regarding an image included in the defective area, and causes image forming unit 20 to store the recovery image based on the recovery information on a new sheet. Let it form.
Therefore, the image included in the defective area can be formed on the sheet again.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 causes the cutting unit 610 to cut only the area where the recovery image of the new sheet is formed in the first size.
For this reason, when cutting the recovery image, it is possible to minimize the number of times of the cutting process.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 controls the cutting position in the sheet conveyance direction to change the second size.
Therefore, control for changing the second size can be easily performed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 can execute a plurality of jobs having different image forming conditions, and can set a cutting condition regarding a cutting process of a defective area for each job according to a user operation. It is.
Therefore, it is possible for the user to arbitrarily perform the cutting process of the defective area according to the job.

Further, according to the present embodiment, control unit 11 causes display unit 14 to display the discharge destination of the defective area.
Therefore, the user can easily recognize the discharge destination of the defective area.

  As described above, the embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, when forming a plurality of images on a sheet, a configuration in which a blank area is provided between adjacent images has been described as an example, but a plurality of images having no blank area are formed. You may.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the sheet is cut in the transport direction and the width direction is described as an example. However, the sheet may be cut to a size that does not cut in the width direction (does not use the FD slitter 601). It is.

Further, the image forming system 1 may be configured not to include the inserter 300, the purge unit 500, and the paper discharge unit 700.
If the purge unit 500 is not provided, in step S111, instead of the purge tray T3 of the purge unit 500, another paper discharge tray (for example, a paper discharge tray installed at the most downstream of the image forming system 1). The paper may be discharged to the printer.

1 Image Forming System 100 Paper Feed Unit 200 Image Forming Apparatus 11 Control Unit (Inspection Unit)
12 storage unit 13 operation unit 14 display unit G setting screen 15 communication unit 16 image generation unit 17 image reading unit 18 image memory 19 image processing unit 20 image forming unit 300 inserter 400 image reading unit 410 reading unit (inspection unit)
500 Purge unit T3 Purge tray 600 Cutting unit 610 Cutting unit 601 Slitter 602 Cutter 603 Waste box (discharge unit, paper waste storage box)
603a Opening 604 Card tray (discharge unit, normal product storage tray)
604a Opening 605 Gate T4 Paper output tray (output unit)
700 paper output unit P, P1 paper

Claims (15)

An image forming unit that forms a plurality of images on paper,
A cutting unit for cutting a sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit,
An inspection unit that reads an image on a sheet before the cutting process by the cutting unit and determines whether or not each of the plurality of images has a defect;
If the inspection unit determines that any of the images has a defect, the paper is divided into a normal region containing no defect and a defective region containing a defect, and the normal region is the image size of the plurality of images. A control unit configured to execute cutting by the cutting unit such that the defective area has a second size different from the first size.
An image forming system comprising: Equipped with multiple discharge units for discharging paper,
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit discharges the defective area from one discharge unit corresponding to the second size among the plurality of discharge units. 3.   3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit discharges the defective area from the one discharge unit designated by a user operation. The plurality of discharge units,
A paper waste storage box that stores paper waste generated by the cutting unit cutting the paper,
A normal product storage tray configured to store the first size normal product generated by the cutting unit cutting the normal region of the sheet;
A paper discharge tray capable of discharging paper that has not been printed by the cutting unit,
The image forming system according to claim 2, further comprising: The control unit includes:
When discharging the defective area into the paper waste storage box,
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the second size can be set to a specified value specified by a user operation. The control unit includes:
When discharging the defective area to the normal product storage tray or the discharge tray,
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the second size is set to a value that is an integral multiple of the first size. The image forming unit forms the plurality of images so as to have a blank area between adjacent images,
The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets the second size to a value obtained by adding a value of an integral multiple of the first size and a length of the margin area.   8. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the inspection unit determines that the plurality of images have defects, the control unit determines the defective area according to positions of the plurality of defects. Item 10. The image forming system according to item 1. The image forming unit is capable of forming an image on both sides of a sheet,
The inspection unit is capable of determining the presence or absence of a defect on the image on both sides of the paper,
9. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the inspection unit determines that both sides of the sheet have a defect, the control unit determines the defective area according to the position of the defect on both sides of the sheet. 9. The image forming system according to claim 1. The control unit includes:
The storage unit stores the recovery information regarding the image included in the defective area,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms a recovery image based on the recovery information on a new sheet.   The image forming system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit causes the cutting unit to cut only the area of the new sheet on which the recovery image is formed at the first size.   The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the second size by setting a cutting position in a sheet conveyance direction. The control unit can execute a plurality of jobs having different image forming conditions,
13. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a cutting condition relating to a cutting process of the defective area can be set for each job in accordance with a user operation.   14. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes a display unit to display a discharge destination of the defective area. 15. An image forming unit that forms a plurality of images on paper,
A cutting unit for cutting a sheet on which the plurality of images are formed by the image forming unit,
Computer of an image forming system equipped with
An inspection unit that reads an image on a sheet before the cutting process by the cutting unit and determines whether or not each of the plurality of images has a defect;
If the inspection unit determines that any of the images has a defect, the paper is divided into a normal region containing no defect and a defective region containing a defect, and the normal region is the image size of the plurality of images. A control unit that executes cutting by the cutting unit such that the defective area has a second size different from the first size.
Program to function as.