JP2021088122A - Image forming device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable trimming at a desired position to be made even though a user does not perform a setting concerning trimming processing corresponding to a device configuration, in executing a job of trimming a sheet.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises: post-processing modules M1-M4 that trim a sheet being conveyed along a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction to cut off a portion of the sheet as a trimmed piece; and an image forming control part 16 that performs control by which a trimming designated position included in the job is shifted so that a position at which the sheet is trimmed is within a trimming allowable area preset for the post-processing modules M1-M4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

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

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus equipped with a post-processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a cutting unit) having a function of cutting an unnecessary portion as a cutting piece from a paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body is known. Has been done.
In such a device, a technique for changing the setting related to the cutting process according to the situation has been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for moving an image forming position and a cutting position so as to avoid stains on the final output product.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-42994

By the way, in the cutting process, the cuttable area of the paper is limited depending on the configuration of the device that performs the cutting process. For example, if the cutting piece generated by the cutting process is too short, it will be too light and cannot be expected to fall due to its own weight, so it must be longer than the specified length. Need to be. For this reason, the cutting piece must have a length within a predetermined range set according to the device configuration, and in order to realize this, the paper cutting position is set to a cuttable area determined according to the device configuration. Need to fit in.
Normally, profile data for setting a cuttable area is stored, and a job for performing cutting processing corresponding to this profile is executed.
However, for example, when a job that performs a cutting process that does not correspond to the profile is submitted, the user may need to redo the setting so that the cutting piece has a length suitable for the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program capable of cutting paper at a desired position when executing a job of cutting paper, without the user having to make settings related to the cutting process according to the device configuration. That is.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus of the present invention
A cutting part that can cut the paper to be transported along the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction and cut off a part of the paper as a cutting piece.
A control unit that controls the shift of the designated cutting position included in the job so that the cutting position of the paper fits in the cuttable area set for the cutting unit.
It is characterized by having.

In addition, the program of the present invention
A computer of an image forming apparatus having a cutting portion capable of cutting a conveyed paper along a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and cutting off a part of the paper as a cutting piece.
This is a program that functions as a control means for controlling the shift of the designated cutting position included in the job so that the cutting position of the paper fits in the cuttable area preset for the cutting portion.

According to the present invention, when executing a job of cutting paper, it is possible to cut at a desired position without the user making settings related to the cutting process according to the device configuration.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the image formation system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the control structure of an image formation system. It is a figure which shows an example of a trimmer function setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a profile creation screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a cutting position shift process. (A) is a diagram showing that the cutting position is in an inappropriate state, and (b) is a diagram showing that the cutting position is in an appropriate state. (A) and (b) are diagrams showing that the cutting position is in an inappropriate state, and (c) is a diagram showing that the cutting position is in an appropriate state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Constitution]
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body 100, a relay unit RU, a post-processing unit 200, and a finisher FS.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 forms a color image by an electrophotographic method based on the image data obtained by reading an image from a document or the image data received from an external device.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus main body 100 includes an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a document reading unit 13, an image forming unit 14, a paper feeding unit 15, and an image forming control unit 16. A storage unit 17, a controller IF (Inter Face) 18, and an image processing unit 19 are provided.

The operation unit 11 includes a touch panel formed so as to cover the display screen of the display unit 12, various operation buttons such as a number button and a start button, and outputs an operation signal based on the user's operation to the image formation control unit 16. To do.

The display unit 12 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various screens according to an instruction of a display signal input from the image formation control unit 16. For example, the display unit 12 displays a trimmer function setting screen G1 (see FIG. 3) and a profile creation screen G2 (see FIG. 4), which will be described later.

The document reading unit 13 includes an ADF (automatic document feeding device), a scanner, and the like, and outputs image data obtained by scanning an image of a document to an image formation control unit 16.

The image forming unit 14 forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 15 based on the image data processed by the image processing unit 19.
The image forming unit 14 is a photoconductor drum 141Y, 141M, 141C, 141K corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), an intermediate transfer belt 142, and a secondary transfer roller. It is configured to include 143, a fixing portion 144, a density sensor 145, an inversion portion 146, and the like.

The photoconductor drum 141Y is uniformly charged and then scanned and exposed by a laser beam based on the yellow image data to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, yellow toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 141Y, and development is performed.
The photoconductor drums 141M, 141C, and 141K are the same as the photoconductor drum 141Y except that the colors to be handled are different, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

The toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor drums 141Y, 141M, 141C, and 141K are sequentially transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 142 (primary transfer). That is, a color toner image in which four color toner images are superimposed is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 142.
The color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 142 is collectively transferred onto the paper by the secondary transfer roller 143 (secondary transfer).

The fixing unit 144 includes a heating roller that heats the paper on which the color toner image is transferred, and a pressure roller that pressurizes the paper, and fixes the color toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing.

The reversing section 146 includes a reversing path (switchback path) in which the front and back surfaces of the paper that has been fixed by the fixing section 144 are inverted and conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 143. In the image forming apparatus 1, when the image is formed on both sides of the paper, the front and back sides of the paper are inverted by the reversing unit 146, and when the image is formed on only one side of the paper, the front and back surfaces of the paper are inverted by the reversing unit 146. The paper is conveyed to the relay unit RU without being inverted.

The paper feed unit 15 includes paper feed trays T11 to T13, and supplies paper to the image forming unit 14. Paper types and sizes predetermined for each paper feed tray are stored in the paper feed trays T11 to T13.

The image formation control unit 16 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a memory.
The CPU reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM, and centrally controls the operation of each part of the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the programs. Further, when performing post-processing on the output paper, the CPU issues an instruction to the post-processing unit 200 to execute a predetermined post-processing.
The ROM is composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various processing programs, parameters and files necessary for executing the program, and the like.
The memory is composed of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like, and temporarily stores various data such as image data related to a program and various image processes.

The storage unit 17 is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a semiconductor memory that stores various data such as programs and image data. Data such as program data and various setting data are readable and writable in the storage unit 17 from the image formation control unit 16. For example, the storage unit 17 stores profile data related to the cutting process.

The controller IF18 receives the image data input from the external device.

The image processing unit 19 performs image processing necessary for the image data stored in the storage unit 17, the image data obtained by reading the image from the document by the document reading unit 13, and the image data input from the external device, and then performs the image processing. The processed image data is transmitted to the image forming unit 14. Image processing includes gradation processing, halftone processing, color conversion processing, and the like. The gradation process is a process of converting the gradation value of each pixel of the image data into a gradation value corrected so that the density characteristic of the image formed on the paper matches the target density characteristic. The halftone processing includes error diffusion processing, screen processing using a systematic dither method, and the like. The color conversion process is a process of converting each RGB gradation value into each CMYK gradation value.

The relay unit RU is installed between the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the post-processing unit 200, and has a function of synchronizing with the conveying speed of the paper conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 100.

The post-processing unit 200 is a device that performs post-processing on the paper output from the relay unit RU as needed. Examples of the post-processing include slitter processing, dobb slitter processing, CD cutting processing, crease processing, FD / CD sewing machine processing, and the like. Post-processing is not essential, and the post-processing unit 200 executes only when instructed by the image forming apparatus main body 100. If there is no post-treatment, the post-treatment unit 200 directly conveys the conveyed paper to the finisher FS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the post-processing unit 200 includes a transport unit 210, post-processing modules M1 to M4 (cutting unit), a purge tray T1 for discharging paper to be purged from the post-processing unit 200, and post-processing. The processing unit 200 includes a card tray T2 for discharging paper cut to the size of a business card / card, and a post-processing control unit 220.

The transport unit 210 transports the paper transported from the relay unit RU to the post-processing modules M1 to M4, and the paper that has been post-processed by the post-processing modules M1 to M4 is stored in various trays (purge tray T1, card tray T2) or. Transport to finisher FS.

The conveying unit 210 bypasses the straight conveying path 211 having a bending correction function for correcting the bending of the paper conveyed to the post-processing module M1 and the long paper conveyed to the post-processing module M1 in the CD direction (paper width direction). A long unit 212 having a CD matching function for matching the paper, and a reverse paper ejection path 213 for reversing the paper (paper up to a standard size) after post-processing by the post-processing modules M1 to M4 and discharging the paper to the finisher FS. A combined path 214 that serves as both a discharge path for discharging paper to the purge tray T1 and a reversing path for reversing the paper (paper up to a standard size) and a reversing path for reversing long paper after post-processing by the post-processing modules M1 to M4. It is configured to include a long unit 215 as a route.

The post-processing modules M1 to M4 perform post-processing on the conveyed paper. The post-processing modules M1 to M4 perform post-processing in a state where a part of the paper is housed in the space path (reversed paper ejection path 213, combined path 214 or long unit 215).

The post-processing control unit 220 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a memory.
The CPU reads various processing programs stored in the ROM and centrally controls the operation of each part of the post-processing unit 200 according to the programs. For example, the CPU transmits information to the image forming control unit 16 of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and causes the post-processing modules M1 to M4 to perform post-processing based on a preset profile.

The finisher FS has a function of stapling, folding, drilling, and the like on the paper after image formation.

Here, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of the trimmer function setting screen G1 and the profile creation screen G2 displayed on the display unit 12 of the image forming apparatus main body 100.
The user can use these screens to set the contents of the profile related to the cutting process before executing the print job.

As shown in FIG. 3, the trimmer function setting screen G1 has an on button B11 for setting the execution of automatic cutting position shift (details will be described later) to be permitted, an off button B12 for setting not to be permitted, and an image position interlocking shift (details). Is provided with an on button B13 for setting the execution of (described later) to be permitted, an off button B14 for setting not to be permitted, and a button B15 for shifting to the profile setting mode.
When the user selects and operates the button B15, the profile creation screen of FIG. 4 is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the profile creation screen G2 has an input field g21 for inputting data in the setting items related to the cutting process, and a creation completion button B21 for instructing that the input of data related to each item is completed. , A cancel button B22 for canceling the input of data relating to each item is provided. When the creation completion button B21 is pressed, the cutting position or the like set in the cutting setting is displayed as an image IM imitating the paper displayed in the upper left portion of the profile creation screen G2.

[motion]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations executed by the image forming apparatus 1. This process is a process that is executed when the operation of the printing start instruction is performed via the operation unit 11 or the like. Further, as a premise, a profile related to the cutting process is set in advance.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the image formation control unit 16 refers to the job information and determines whether or not the print job includes post-processing (step S1).
Then, when the job is not a print job including post-processing (step S1: NO), the image formation control unit 16 shifts to step S4 described later.

Further, in the case of a print job including post-processing (step S1: YES), the image formation control unit 16 determines whether or not the cutting process is set (step S2), and the setting to perform the cutting process is set. If not (step S2: NO), the process proceeds to step S4 described later.

Further, when the cutting process is set (step S2: YES), the image forming control unit 16 is also referred to as a cutting position included in the print job (cutting position designated by the print job, “cutting designated position”). It is determined whether or not the specified cutting position is within the range that can be executed by the post-processing modules M1 to M4 of the post-processing unit 200 by comparing the cuttable area set based on the profile with the cuttable area (referred to as). Step S3).

Then, when the range is within the executable range (step S3: YES), the image formation control unit 16 executes the print job without shifting the designated cutting position (step S4), and ends this process.

On the other hand, if it is not within the executable range (step S3: NO), the image formation control unit 16 determines whether or not the execution of the automatic cutting position shift is set to "permit" (step S5).

Then, if "permission" is not set (step S5: NO), the image formation control unit 16 ends this process. In this case, a predetermined message may be displayed on the display unit 12.

On the other hand, when "permit" is set (step S5: YES), the image formation control unit 16 shifts the designated cutting position so as to fall within the range that can be executed by the post-processing modules M1 to M4. Then, the print job is executed (step S6), and this process is completed.
Specifically, the image formation control unit 16 calculates the amount of deviation of the designated cutting position from the cuttable area set based on the profile, and shifts the amount of deviation from the designated cutting position. Let it be the shift amount. Then, the image formation control unit 16 notifies the post-processing unit 200 of the calculated shift amount, and starts image formation.
In the post-processing unit 200, the stop position of the paper with respect to the post-processing modules M1 to M4 is changed according to the shift amount under the control of the post-processing control unit 220, so that the paper is cut at the position corresponding to the cutting position after the shift. Will be done.

Further, at this time, when the "image position interlocking shift" is set to "permit", the image formation control unit 16 shifts the image position with respect to the paper according to the shift amount of the cutting position. The forming device main body 100 is controlled.
In the image forming apparatus main body 100, for example, the image forming unit 14 may change the image forming timing with respect to the paper to shift the image position, or by changing the paper conveying speed or the paper conveying start timing. The image position may be shifted.
If the "image position interlocking shift" is not set to "permit", the image formation control unit 16 forms an image on the paper without shifting the image position, so that only the cutting position is changed. It becomes.

FIG. 6A is an image diagram showing a case where the cutting position included in the print job is outside the range of the cuttable area set based on the profile, and FIG. 6B is the cutting position and the image. It is an image diagram after shifting the formation position. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, R1 indicates a cuttable area on the rear end side of the paper in the transport direction, and R2 indicates a cuttable area on the front end side of the paper.
In the case of the example of FIG. 6A, the cuttable area R1 on the rear end side of the paper is 10 to 13 mm on the profile. Here, in FIG. 6A, a print job in which the cutting allowance on the rear end side of the paper is specified to be 15 mm is executed, and the specified cutting position is outside the cuttable area R1, so cutting is performed as it is. Processing cannot be executed.
On the other hand, in FIG. 6B, the cutting position is shifted to the upstream side in the paper transport direction by 5 mm, and the cutting position is controlled so as to be within the cuttable area R1. Further, in FIG. 6B, the image position is also shifted to the upstream side in the paper transport direction by 5 mm, so that the user's desired output can be obtained.

Here, consider a case where the image formable region R3 is set for the paper as shown in FIG. 7A. Note that FIG. 7A illustrates a case where a plurality of cuttable regions R1 exist on the rear end side of the paper, but the number of cuttable regions R1 is particularly due to the configuration of the post-processing unit 200. Not limited.
As shown in FIG. 7 (a), when the image-forming region R3 exists and the cutting position is shifted in the same manner as in the example of FIG. 6 (b), the image of the paper is formed as shown in FIG. 7 (b). The image may extend beyond the possible region R3.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 7C, the image does not protrude from the image formable region R3, the cutting position on the rear end side of the paper fits in the cuttable area R1, and the cutting position on the front end side of the paper is It is preferable that control for shifting the image position and the cutting position is performed at a position within the cuttable area R2.

[effect]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the post-processing modules M1 to M4 capable of cutting the conveyed paper along the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and cutting off a part of the paper as a cutting piece. An image forming control unit 16 that controls shifting the cutting designated position included in the job so that the cutting position of the paper fits in the cuttable area set in advance for the post-processing modules M1 to M4. ..
Specifically, the image formation control unit 16 calculates a shift amount for shifting the cut designated position from the difference between the cuttable area and the cut designated position, and shifts the cut designated position based on the shift amount.
Therefore, when executing the job of cutting the paper, the paper can be cut at a desired position without the user making settings related to the cutting process according to the device configuration.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the image forming unit 14 for forming an image on the paper is provided, and when the cutting designated position is shifted, the image forming control unit 16 is provided with the same amount as the shift amount of the cutting designated position. Controls to shift the image position on the paper.
Therefore, since the image formation position is also shifted in conjunction with the cutting position, it is possible to obtain an output as if it were centered without the user having to make settings.

Further, according to the present embodiment, an image forming region is set for the paper, and the image forming control unit 16 shifts the cutting designated position so that the image position on the paper is the image forming region. If it is outside, the shift amount of the cut designated position is adjusted so that the image position on the paper fits in the image formable area.
Therefore, when the cutting position is shifted, the image position with respect to the paper can be contained in the image formable area without the user setting.

The present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed without departing from the gist thereof.

In the above embodiment, the image forming control unit 16 and the post-processing control unit 220 are provided, but one of them may control the entire image forming apparatus 1.

1 Image forming device 100 Image forming device main body 11 Operation unit 12 Display unit 13 Document reading unit 14 Image forming unit 15 Paper feeding unit 16 Image forming control unit (control unit)
17 Storage 18 Controller IF
19 Image processing unit 200 Post-processing unit 210 Transport unit 220 Post-processing control unit (control unit)
M1 to M4 post-processing module (cutting part)
R1, R2 Cuttable area R3 Image formable area

Claims (5)

A cutting part that can cut the paper to be transported along the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction and cut off a part of the paper as a cutting piece.
A control unit that controls the shift of the designated cutting position included in the job so that the cutting position of the paper fits in the cuttable area set for the cutting unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising. The control unit calculates a shift amount for shifting the cut designated position from the deviation amount of the cut designated position with respect to the cuttable area, and shifts the cut designated position based on the shift amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Equipped with an image forming part that forms an image on paper
The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit shifts the image position on the paper by the same amount as the shift amount of the cut designated position when the cut designated position is shifted. Image forming device. An image formable area is set for the paper,
By shifting the cut designated position, the control unit shifts the cut designated position so that when the image position on the paper is outside the image formable region, the cut designated position is within the image formable region. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shift amount of the image is adjusted. A computer of an image forming apparatus having a cutting portion capable of cutting a conveyed paper along a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and cutting off a part of the paper as a cutting piece.
A program that functions as a control means for controlling the shift of the designated cutting position included in the job so that the cutting position of the paper fits in the cuttable area set for the cutting portion.

Images