JP2023175193A - image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming system capable of adjusting image intervals within the same job.SOLUTION: An image forming system comprises: an image forming unit that forms images on consecutive recording materials based on an image forming job; and a control unit that accepts settings for intervals between multiple images to be formed on the recording materials in the image forming job, and controls image forming operation of the image forming unit on the basis of the set intervals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system that forms images on continuous paper.

2. Description of the Related Art Label printing systems are known as image forming systems that form images on recording materials such as roll paper. The label printing system uses a cutting die with a cutting blade prepared in advance to cut out the portion of the roll paper on which multiple label images are formed in the post-printing process. A die cutting process is performed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Generally, in an image forming apparatus, the interval between images formed on a recording material is fixed. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare dies for cutting out images with the same spacing in accordance with the spacing between the images to be formed. In this way, the interval between the cutout areas set in the image cutting device is also fixed depending on the image cutting die.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-202754

However, when cutting out an image, a plurality of image cutting devices may be prepared. In this case, if different image spacings are prepared depending on the image die-cutting die in each image die-cutting device, for example, an image spacing suitable for image die-cutting device A may be used for other image die-cutting devices. Device B will have an incompatible image spacing.
In the image forming system described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, image intervals between different jobs are controlled in a plurality of jobs using a die for image cutting. However, within the same job, the interval between images formed on recording material cannot be controlled. For this reason, when performing image die-cutting processing, the image die-cutting devices that can be used are limited, and it is necessary to separately prepare a die for image die-cutting according to the image spacing, which may reduce productivity. An increase in costs will occur.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an image forming system that can adjust image intervals within the same job.

The image forming system of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms images on consecutive recording materials based on an image forming job, and an image forming unit that receives settings for intervals between a plurality of images to be formed on recording materials in the image forming job. and a control section that controls the image forming operation of the image forming section based on the interval.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming system that can adjust image intervals within the same job.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image die-cutting device. FIG. 3 is a side view of a die-cutting roller portion of the image die-cutting device. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an image forming system. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control section of the image forming system. 12 is a flowchart for setting an image interval on a setting screen of a storage unit. It is an example of the setting screen of a memory|storage part. 3 is a flowchart for setting an image interval on an image forming condition setting screen. This is an example of a setting screen for image forming conditions.

Examples of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
Note that the explanation will be given in the following order.
1. Overview of image die cutting device 2. image forming system

<1. Overview of image die cutting equipment>
Prior to explaining the image forming system of this embodiment, an overview of the image die cutting device will be explained. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an image die-cutting device that performs a general die-cutting process. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image die cutting device. FIG. 2 is a side view of the die-cutting roller portion of the image die-cutting device.

In the image die-cutting device 30, a roll paper R is set as a recording material on which a label image is formed. The rolled paper R is set in a paper feed section as a paper feed roll R1 in a wound state. The front end side of the roll paper R set as the paper feed roll R1 is fixed to a winding roller of a winding device (not shown). Then, the roll paper R is wound up as an output roll R2 by a winding roller.

A label image is formed on the roll paper R shown in FIG. 1 based on image forming job 1 (J1 in the figure). On the roll paper R, a circular label image 33 is repeatedly printed in the image forming area (dotted chain line) of job 1 in the feeding direction. The label images 33 are formed at regular intervals along the conveyance direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, above the roll paper R, a die-cutting roller 31 made of a magnetic cylinder or the like is arranged. The die-cutting roller 31 is equipped with a die-cutting blade 32 having a blade at a position matching the shape of the product. Further, a facing roller 34 made of an anvil roller or the like is arranged at a position facing the die-cutting roller 31 with the roll paper R interposed therebetween.
Then, when the label image to be processed formed on the roll paper R is sent, the die-cutting blade 32 of the die-cutting roller 31 is pressed against the roll paper R in accordance with the image position and timing. As a result, the recording material is cut out in accordance with the shape of the label image.

<2. Image forming system>
Next, an embodiment of an image forming system will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 3 uses a roll-shaped recording material S, which is continuous paper, as a recording material, and forms an image on this recording material S. The image forming system 1 includes, from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording material S, a paper feeding device 10, an image forming device 40, and a collecting device 60. The image forming system 1 includes a supply adjustment section 20 between the paper feeding device 10 and the image forming device 40, and a collection adjustment section 50 between the image forming device 40 and the collection device 60.

The paper feeding device 10 includes a support shaft 11 that rotatably holds a recording material S wound around the support shaft 11, and a plurality of rollers that feed the recording material S wound around the support shaft 11 at a constant speed. A paper feeding section including a conveying section 14 that conveys the paper to the adjusting section 20 is provided. Note that the shape of the recording material S is not limited to roll-shaped continuous paper. The recording material S may have a foldable shape or a long paper shape, for example. Further, the paper feeding device 10 is an example of a recording material supply device that supplies recording materials to the image forming apparatus 40.

The supply adjustment section 20 transports the recording material S transported from the paper feeding device 10 to the image forming section 46 of the image forming apparatus 40 . The supply adjustment section 20 barrels the recording material S in order to absorb the speed difference between the feeding and conveying speed of the recording material S from the paper feeding device 10 and the conveying speed of the recording material S in the image forming section 46. Then, the feeding of the recording material S to the image forming section 46 is adjusted.

The image forming apparatus 40 includes a control section 41, an operation display section 42, a scanner section 43, a transport section 44, an image processing section 45, an image forming section 46, a fixing section 47, and the like. Note that the image forming apparatus 40 may include the above-described paper feeding device 10 within the image forming apparatus 40 as a recording material supply section.

The control unit 41 centrally controls each configuration of the image forming system 1 and the image forming apparatus 40 . The image processing section 45 performs image processing on the image data input from the scanner section 43 and the control section 41 and outputs it to the image forming section 46 . Details of the configurations of the control section 41 and the image processing section 45 will be described later.

The operation display unit 42 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various operation buttons, the status of the device, the operating status of each function, etc. on the display screen according to instructions from display signals input from the control unit 41. I do. The LCD display screen is covered with a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure type) touch panel that consists of transparent electrodes arranged in a grid pattern, and the XY coordinates of the point of effort pressed with a finger or touch pen are expressed as voltage values. The detected position signal is output to the control unit 41 as an operation signal. Further, the operation display unit 42 includes various operation buttons such as numeric buttons and a start button, and outputs operation signals to the control unit 41 based on button operations.

The scanner unit 43 exposes and scans the surface of a document placed on a document table using a light source, receives reflected light from the surface of the document, photoelectrically converts the received reflected light using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and converts the received reflected light into image data. is generated and output to the image processing section 45 (FIG. 4).

The image forming section 46 forms an image on the recording material S conveyed from the supply adjustment section 20 using an electrophotographic method based on the image data of each page inputted from the image processing section 45 . The image forming section 46 is provided with a recording material conveyance path in which a conveyance belt, conveyance rollers such as registration rollers, and a motor (not shown) for driving these are arranged. An image is formed on the recording material S while being conveyed.

The image forming section 46 includes four sets of exposure sections 461, photoreceptors 462, development sections 463, primary transfer rollers 464, intermediate transfer belts 465, and secondary transfer rollers corresponding to each color component of Y, M, C, and K. 466. Four sets of exposure section 461, photoreceptor 462, development section 463, and primary transfer roller 464 corresponding to each color component are arranged in the order of Y, M, C, and K from upstream.

The exposure section 461 includes a laser light source, a polygon motor, a polygon mirror, a plurality of lenses, and the like. The exposure unit 461 irradiates and exposes the charged photoconductor 462 with laser light from a laser light source and a polygon mirror based on the recording material conveyance speed, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 462.
The developing section 463 supplies toner of a predetermined color (Y, M, C, or K) onto the exposed photoreceptor 462 to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 462 .
The primary transfer roller 464 is provided facing the photoreceptor 462. A primary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the primary transfer roller 464, and by pressing a predetermined position on the intermediate transfer belt 465 against the photoreceptor 462, the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 462 is transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 464. 465 (primary transfer). The primary transfer rollers 464 of Y, M, C, and K sequentially press predetermined positions of the intermediate transfer belt 465 against the photoreceptor 462, so that a color toner image in which layers of each color are superimposed is written on the intermediate transfer belt 465. .

The intermediate transfer belt 465 is a semiconductive endless belt that is suspended and rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers, and is driven to rotate as the rollers rotate, and conveys the written toner image to the secondary transfer roller 466. .
The secondary transfer roller 466 is applied with a bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner, and transfers (seconds) the color toner image written on the intermediate transfer belt 465 onto the recording material S by nipping and conveying the conveyed recording material S. Next transfer).

The fixing unit 47 heats and presses the toner image transferred to the recording material S to fix the toner image on the recording material S. The fixing unit 47 includes a fixing roller 471 having a built-in halogen heater, etc., and a pressure roller as a pressure member that presses the fixing roller 471, which is disposed at a position facing the fixing roller 471 across the recording material conveyance path. 472. Further, the fixing unit 47 includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the fixing roller 471. The fixing unit 47 heats and applies the toner image on the recording material S while nipping and conveying the recording material S to which the toner image has been transferred in a nip portion formed between the fixing roller 471 and the pressure roller 472. Press to fix.
The fixing unit 47 also includes a position change mechanism (not shown) that adjusts the position of the fixing roller 471 in order to adjust the nip pressure at the nip portion between the fixing roller 471 and the pressure roller 472 and release the pressure contact. have

The collection adjustment section 50 is installed downstream of the image forming apparatus 40 and upstream of the collection device 60 in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. The collection adjustment unit 50 is a device that transports the recording material S transported from the image forming device 40 to the collection device 60, and adjusts the transport speed of the recording material S in the image forming device 40 and the recording speed in the collection device 60. In order to absorb the speed difference between the conveyance speed of the recording material S, the recording material S is held slack, and the discharge of the recording material S from the image forming apparatus 40 is adjusted.
The collection device 60 includes a paper discharge section that winds up the recording material S conveyed from the collection adjustment section 50 by a support shaft 61 at a constant speed via a plurality of rollers.

[System configuration]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a system block diagram of the configuration of the image forming system 1. Note that the explanation of the configurations that overlap with the explanation of the image forming system 1 shown in FIG. 3 above will be omitted below.
As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 40 includes a control section 41, an operation display section 42, a transport section 44, an image processing section 45, an image forming section 46, a fixing section 47, a storage section 48, and a communication section 49. Be prepared. The paper feeding device 10 includes a control section 12 , a communication section 13 , a transport section 14 , and a storage section 15 .

The control unit 12 of the paper feeding device 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. (not shown). The CPU of the control unit 12 reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM, develops them in the RAM, and, in accordance with the developed programs, communicates with the communication unit 13 connected to the paper feeding device 10 via a system bus (not shown), and transports the paper. The operation of each part of the paper feeding device 10, such as the section 14 and the storage section 15, is controlled in an integrated manner.
The storage unit 15 stores programs executed by the control unit 12 and is also used as a work area for the control unit 12 .
The communication unit 13 transmits and receives data to and from the communication unit 49 of the image forming apparatus 40 that constitutes the image forming system 1 . Further, the communication unit 13 transmits and receives data to and from communication units such as the supply adjustment unit 20, the collection adjustment unit 50, and the collection device 60 (not shown) via the communication unit 49 of the image forming apparatus 40.
The conveying unit 14 feeds out and conveys the recording material S stored in the paper feeding device 10 , and feeds the recording material S to the image forming apparatus 40 .
Note that the collecting device 60 can also have a similar configuration to the above-described paper feeding device 10.

The control unit 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. (not shown). The CPU of the control unit 41 reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM, develops them in the RAM, and, in accordance with the developed programs, controls the operation display unit 42, the transport unit 44, and the image forming apparatus 40 connected via the system bus. The operation of each section of the image forming apparatus 40, such as the image processing section 45, the image forming section 46, the fixing section 47, the storage section 48, and the communication section 49, is controlled in an integrated manner.
Further, the control unit 41 controls the paper feeding device 10 and the collection device 60 via the communication unit 49.

The storage unit 48 is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) or a flash memory. The storage unit 48 stores programs executed by the control unit 41 and is also used as a work area for the control unit 41 . The storage unit 48 also stores image forming conditions set in an image forming job, recording material information including the size and type of the recording material S, and the like. Furthermore, the image forming conditions stored in the storage unit 48 include, for example, execution conditions in the image forming unit 46 including intervals between images successively formed on the recording material S, and execution conditions in the fixing unit 47. Can be mentioned.

The communication unit 49 of the image forming apparatus 40 transmits and receives data to and from the communication unit 13 of the paper feeding device 10 . Further, the communication unit 49 transmits and receives data with communication units such as the supply adjustment unit 20, the collection adjustment unit 50, and the collection device 60 (not shown).

The image processing unit 45 acquires image data from the input job information and performs image processing. The image processing unit 45 performs image processing such as shading correction, image density adjustment, and image compression on the acquired image data as necessary under the control of the control unit 41. The image data processed by the image processing section 45 is then transmitted to the image forming section 46.
The conveying section 44 conveys the recording material S fed from the paper feeding device 10 to the image forming section 46, the fixing section 47, etc. under the control of the control section 41.
The image forming section 46 receives the image data subjected to image processing by the image processing section 45, and forms an image on the recording material S conveyed to the image forming section 46 by the conveying section 44 based on this image data.

The operation display unit 42 includes a display unit configured with a display such as a liquid crystal display device, and an operation unit configured with a touch panel, a plurality of keys, etc. provided over the display. The operation display section 42 is an example of a display section and an operation section, and displays an instruction menu for the user, information regarding acquired image data, and the like. Further, the operation display section 42 receives input of various instructions, characters, numbers, and other data through user operations, and outputs input signals to the control section 41 .

[Configuration of control unit]
Next, the functional configurations of the control section 12 of the paper feeding device 10 of the above-described image forming system 1 and the control section 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram of the control section 12 of the paper feeding device 10 and the control section 41 of the image forming apparatus 40.

The control unit 12 of the paper feeding device 10 includes a communication control unit 121 and a conveyance control unit 122. Note that the control section of the collecting device 60 can also be configured in the same manner as the control section 12 of the paper feeding device 10.
The control section 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 includes a communication control section 411 , a transport control section 412 , an image formation control section 413 , a display control section 414 , an operation control section 415 , and a condition management section 416 .

The communication control unit 121 of the control unit 12 of the paper feeding device 10 controls transmission and reception of data via the communication unit 13 (FIG. 4) of the paper feeding device 10. The communication control section 411 of the control section 41 of the image forming apparatus 40 controls transmission and reception of data via the communication section 49 (FIG. 4) of the image forming apparatus 40. The control unit 12 of the paper feeding device 10 and the control unit 41 of the image forming device 40 communicate with each other via the communication units 13 and 49 of each device by the communication control unit 121 and the communication control unit 411, respectively. control.

The transport control unit 122 of the control unit 12 of the paper feeding device 10 controls the driving of the transport unit 14 of the paper feeding device 10 to adjust the transport speed of the recording material S, start the transport of the recording material S, Controls stopping, etc.

The conveyance control unit 412 controls the driving of the conveyance unit 44 of the image forming apparatus 40, thereby adjusting the conveyance speed of the recording material S, and controlling the start and stop of conveyance of the recording material S. The conveyance control unit 412 controls, for example, adjusting the conveyance speed of the recording material S, and starting and stopping the conveyance of the recording material S. Note that this conveyance control is performed in conjunction with the conveyance control in the paper feeding device 10 and the collecting device 60.

The image forming control section 413 controls image forming operations in the image forming section 46 of the image forming apparatus 40. Further, the image forming control unit 97 obtains image forming conditions from data stored in the storage unit 48 or the like. For example, the image formation control unit 413 obtains the image interval value stored in the storage unit 48. Then, the image forming control section 413 sets operating conditions for each component of the image forming section 46 based on the data acquired from the storage section 48 and the like. Further, the image forming control section 413 sets operating conditions for each component of the image forming section 46 according to image forming conditions inputted by the user or the like via the operation display section 42, for example, the value of the image interval. Then, the image forming control section 413 controls the operation of each component of the image forming section 46 according to the set operating conditions, and forms an image on the recording material S based on the image data. Thereby, the image formation control unit 413 repeatedly forms a plurality of images on the recording material S at equal intervals using the set image interval value.

The display control section 414 controls the display operation of the operation display section 42 of the image forming apparatus 40 . The display control section 414 displays predetermined information on the display section of the operation display section 42 by transmitting a predetermined display signal to the display section. For example, the display control section 414 causes the operation display section 42 to display the image forming condition setting screen read out by the condition management section 416 from the storage section 48 . The display control unit 414 causes the operation display unit 42 to display a plurality of settable image interval values corresponding to the image die-cutting device, and presents selectable information to the user who inputs the image forming job.

The operation control unit 415 accepts input operations by a user or the like via the operation display unit 42 . For example, on the setting screen displayed on the operation display unit 42, selection of setting condition items and input operations by the user or the like are accepted.

The condition management unit 416 manages image forming conditions in an image forming job, for example, execution conditions input as a job, condition settings by a user, etc., various image forming conditions and history stored in the storage unit 48, etc. do. Then, the condition management unit 416 sets image forming conditions for the job based on setting conditions input by a user or the like, various items of image forming conditions stored in the storage unit 48, and the like. For example, the condition management unit 416 accepts image interval settings in an image forming job. Then, the condition management unit 416 sets the intervals between images to be repeatedly formed on the recording material S at equal intervals using the image intervals set in the image forming conditions.
Further, the condition management section 416 displays various conditions such as image forming conditions and setting items stored in the storage section 48 on the operation display section 42 via the display control section 414. Then, operations such as inputting, changing, and adding setting items by a user or the like are received via the operation control unit 415. Then, the contents such as items and values operated by the user etc. are stored in the storage unit 48.

[Image interval settings (1)]
Next, image interval setting processing in the image forming system 1 will be explained. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for setting the image interval. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, an example of setting the image interval on the setting screen of the storage unit 48 will be described.

First, the condition management unit 416 reads a specified image interval from the storage unit 48 and sets image forming conditions using the read image interval (step S1). This process is performed, for example, when an image forming job is input to the image forming system 1. A condition management unit 416 reads various setting conditions corresponding to the image forming job from the storage unit 48 and sets image forming conditions in the image forming system 1. At this time, the condition management unit 416 sets the image interval as one item of the image forming conditions.

Next, the condition management unit 416 determines whether the setting screen of the storage unit 48 has been selected by the user or the like (step S2). For example, when a user or the like manually operates the operation display section 42, the operation control section 415 receives this operation. Condition management section 416 receives a signal from operation control section 415 and detects that the setting screen of storage section 48 has been selected. Then, the display control unit 414 causes the operation display unit 42 to display the setting screen read out from the storage unit 48 by the condition management unit 416. An example of the setting screen of the storage unit 48 is shown in FIG. The setting screen shown in FIG. 7 shows the address of the storage unit 48, upper and lower selection buttons, and soft keys such as a numeric keypad.

If the setting screen is selected (Yes in step S2), the condition management unit 416 determines whether the image interval setting has been changed on the setting screen in the storage unit 48 (step S3). In this process, the operation control section 415 receives a manual input operation by a user or the like on the setting screen displayed on the operation display section 42 . Then, the condition management unit 416 determines whether the operation received by the operation control unit 415 by the user or the like is a change in the image interval setting stored in the storage unit 48 . For example, on the setting screen for the storage section 48 shown in FIG. 7, a user or the like sets the address of the storage section of the image forming apparatus 40 using soft keys such as up and down selection buttons and a numeric keypad. Then, ON (1) or OFF (0) is selected and set for the set address value.

If the image interval setting stored in the storage unit 48 has been changed (Yes in step S3), the condition management unit 416 stores the changed image interval in the storage unit 48 and performs image formation using this image interval. Conditions are set (step S4).
If the setting screen is not selected (No in step S2), if the image interval setting stored in the storage unit 48 is not changed (No in step S3), or after setting the image forming conditions, the process according to this flowchart ends. do.

[Image interval settings (2)]
Next, as an image interval setting process in the image forming system 1, a flowchart of an example of setting the image interval on the image forming condition setting screen is shown in FIG.

First, the condition management unit 416 reads a specified image interval from the storage unit 48, and sets image forming conditions using the read image interval (step S10). This process is similar to step S1 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 described above.

Next, the condition management unit 416 determines whether the image forming condition setting screen has been selected by the user or the like (step S11). For example, when a user or the like manually operates the operation display section 42, the operation control section 415 receives this operation. The condition management unit 416 receives a signal from the operation control unit 415 and detects that the image forming condition setting screen for the image forming job has been selected. Then, the display control section 414 causes the operation display section 42 to display the image forming condition setting screen read out from the storage section 48 by the condition management section 416. On the setting screen, various setting items stored in advance in the storage unit 48 and a plurality of values that can be set for each item are presented. For example, the condition management unit 416 causes the display control unit 414 to display a plurality of values that can be set in advance as image intervals on the setting screen. FIG. 9 shows an example of the image forming condition setting screen. The setting screen shown in FIG. 9 is an example of a screen for setting an image interval as an image forming condition, and displays selectable image interval settings and soft keys for adding image interval settings.

If the image forming condition setting screen is selected (Yes in step S11), the condition management unit 416 determines whether the image interval setting has been changed on the image interval setting screen (step S12). In this process, the operation control section 415 receives a manual operation by a user or the like on the setting screen displayed on the operation display section 42 . Then, the condition management unit 416 determines whether the settings of the image forming conditions have been changed by the operation received by the operation control unit 415 from the user or the like. For example, on the image interval setting screen shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether a soft key for an image interval of 1.0 mm or an image interval of 0.3 mm, which can be selected by the user or the like, is selected. When the user or the like selects to change the image forming conditions, the condition management unit 416 accepts this changing operation and sets the image forming conditions with the image interval value changed.

If the image interval setting has not been changed (No in step S12), the condition management unit 416 determines whether or not addition of image interval setting has been selected on the image interval setting screen (step S13). In this process, the operation control section 415 receives an operation by a user or the like on the setting screen displayed on the operation display section 42. Then, the condition management unit 416 determines whether the operation received by the operation control unit 415 by the user or the like is an operation for adding image interval settings. For example, on the image interval setting screen shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether a soft key for adding image interval settings has been selected.

If adding the image interval setting is selected (Yes in step S13), the condition management unit 416 stores the added image interval setting in the storage unit 48 (step S14). In this process, the condition management unit 416 receives a selection by the user or the like to add image interval settings, and reads out a new value addition screen from the storage unit 48 as an image interval setting screen. Then, the display control unit 414 causes the operation display unit 42 to display the new value addition screen read out by the condition management unit 416. Then, on the screen for setting a new value for the image interval, the operation control unit 415 receives input of the value for the image interval on the operation display unit 42 by the user, etc., and outputs the input to the condition management unit 416. The condition management unit 416 adds the new value received from the operation control unit 415 as an image forming condition for the image interval, and stores it in the storage unit 48 .

If the image forming condition setting screen is not selected (No in step S11), if the image interval setting is changed (Yes in step S12), if adding the image interval setting is not selected (No in step S13), or , after the image interval setting is added, the condition management unit 416 sets the image forming condition using the set or changed image interval (step S15).
After setting the image interval of the image forming conditions, the process according to this flowchart ends.

According to the above-described process, when executing an image forming job in the image forming system 1, the image interval is set in the setting of the image forming conditions stored in the storage unit 48 or in the setting of the image forming conditions that can be set by the user or the like. can be set to any value. Therefore, the image interval can be adjusted within the same job. As a result, it is possible to set an arbitrary image interval according to the image cutting die in the image die cutting device, which reduces productivity and increases costs due to limitations on the image die cutting device and the image die cutting die. etc. can be suppressed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the configuration of the present invention.

1 Image forming system, 10 Paper feeding device, 11, 61 Support shaft, 12, 41 Control unit, 13, 49 Communication unit, 14, 44 Conveyance unit, 15, 48 Storage unit, 20 Supply adjustment unit, 30 Image die cutting device , 31 die-cutting roller, 32 die-cutting blade, 33 label image, 34 opposing roller, 40 image forming device, 42 operation display section, 43 scanner section, 45 image processing section, 46 image forming section, 47 fixing section, 50 collection adjustment Department, 60 Collection device, 97, 413 Image forming control section, 121, 411 Communication control section, 122, 412 Conveyance control section, 414 Display control section, 415 Operation control section, 416 Condition management section, 461 Exposure section, 462 Photoreceptor , 463 developing section, 464 primary transfer roller, 465 intermediate transfer belt, 466 secondary transfer roller, 471 fixing roller, 472 pressure roller, R1 paper feed roll, R2 output roll

Claims (7)

an image forming unit that forms images on successive recording materials based on an image forming job;
a control unit that receives settings for image intervals between the plurality of images formed on the recording material in the image forming job, and controls image forming operations of the image forming unit based on the set intervals. Formation system. The control unit includes:
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of images formed on the recording material are set at equal intervals. The control unit includes:
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system receives a user's operation for setting the image interval, and controls the image forming operation based on the accepted image interval. The control unit includes:
4. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein, in the setting operation by the user, a plurality of preset values are presented to the user, and the image interval is set by accepting selection of a value by the user. The image forming system according to claim 4, further comprising a storage unit that stores the plurality of values. a display unit that displays a setting screen based on control of the control unit;
an operation unit that receives input from the user and outputs it to the control unit,
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the control unit displays the settable image interval corresponding to the image die cutting device as the plurality of values on the setting screen. The control unit includes:
The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein the image forming system accepts addition of a new value by the user to the image interval value stored in the storage unit.

Images