JP5223652B2 - Bookbinding system and replacement bookbinding method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bookbinding system for automatically replacing a booklet that has been bound to a ring by being connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a digital multifunction peripheral having a combination of these functions, The present invention also relates to a replacement bookbinding method executed in the bookbinding system.

  One of the functions of a conventional post-processing device of an image forming apparatus is to punch multi-hole punch holes one by one at the edge of the binding side of the paper, and stack them one by one on the paper discharge tray in the page order. There was a function. The output product thus obtained was then finished as a ring-bound product by binding with a metal coil or a plastic ring using an off-line apparatus or jig. On the other hand, a plurality of types of work devices, such as punch processing devices and stipple processing devices, are connected in a line (in series) to the image forming apparatus, and punch processing and stipple processing are performed on paper on which images have been formed by the image forming apparatus. There are known paper processing systems that perform a desired paper processing by performing various processes such as the above, or a paper processing system that creates a paper bundle.

  Among them, the functions related to the bookbinding process include a function to perform binding processing at the edge and center of the paper, a function to perform binding processing by pressing the edge of the paper against glued tape, and a plurality of bindings on the binding side of the paper bundle. It is generally known that after a hole is drilled, a metal coil, a plastic ring, or the like is used for binding and finishing as a ring-bound product. In recent years, ring binding that aligns sheets after punching and punches a large number of holes on the binding side of the sheet bundle, and then binds the sheet bundle by passing a metal coil or plastic ring through the hole. In addition, ring-binder devices that can be executed in-line have begun to appear, contributing greatly to productivity improvement.

As a technique related to this type of ring binder binding apparatus, for example, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the binding processing apparatus includes a binding mechanism mechanism that executes a binding process by a punch mechanism and a binder, and when the paper is fed from a printing apparatus such as a copying machine, the paper is punched by the punch mechanism. The paper alignment slider is positioned by sandwiching the left and right sides, and punch holes are processed by the punch block and die, and then the paper is sent to the paper tray of the binding processing unit. The paper is aligned, the ring-type binder is clamped by a pusher, the ring-type binder is attached to the punch hole of the paper, and the bound booklet is discharged to the stack tray. Patent Document 2 discloses an example of a ring binder.
JP 2005-138549 A Japanese Patent No. 3641825

  The advantage of the ring binding performed by the ring binder device is that the page can be replaced by removing the ring member after bookbinding. In other words, when binding is performed with glue and bookbinding, the page cannot be replaced, and even if one page is to be replaced somewhere, it is necessary to print out all the pages including the replacement page and perform bookbinding again. Further, when binding with a stapler and binding, the stapler bites into a bundle of sheets (booklet) when the stapler is removed for page replacement, which may damage the booklet sheet. Further, when the stapler is pulled out, the trace remains, and when bookbinding is performed again, the stapler needle is not inserted into the hole after the booklet is pulled out as it is and the booklet is usually always displaced. This means that the aesthetics of the booklet are impaired.

  However, in the case of ring binding, a ring hole (punch hole) for ring binding is originally perforated, so that even if the ring is removed, the bundle of paper sheets constituting the bound booklet is damaged. However, since no new holes are made, the pages can be replaced without affecting the bound paper. When replacing pages in this way, conventionally, after removing the ring, the pages to be replaced are replaced and the bookbinding process is performed. At that time, the replacement page is printed in advance, the page to be replaced is extracted from the bound sheet bundle, and the extracted page is replaced with the pre-printed replacement page. It was not mechanical.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to automatically perform the process of removing the page to be replaced from the booklet from which the ring member has been removed, printing and replacing the page to be replaced, and ring binding. There is.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a bookbinding apparatus that performs ring-binding on a booklet composed of a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed, and the bookbinding. provided before the apparatus, a bookbinding system having a sheet feeding apparatus capable feeding paper with respect to the binding device, the transport path, the transport of the bookbinding apparatus, conveys the sheet from the preceding to the subsequent stage For a first alignment tray branched from the path, punching means for punching paper aligned on the first alignment tray, second alignment tray, and paper aligned on the second alignment tray A ring binding unit configured to perform ring binding, wherein the paper feeding device includes a paper feeding tray on which a booklet of a ring booklet from which a ring member has been removed is placed, and the paper feeding device is placed on the paper feeding tray Said phosphorus The ring-bound booklet sheet from which the members are removed is conveyed to the bookbinding apparatus, and the bookbinding apparatus discharges the sheet to be replaced out of the sheets conveyed from the sheet feeding apparatus to the outside, and discharges the discharged sheet. A replacement sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus is inserted into a page position to be replaced in place of the sheet, a sheet not to be replaced and a sheet to be replaced are stacked on a second alignment tray, and a ring is attached to the replacement sheet. When no hole is formed, a ring hole is punched by the punching means on the first alignment tray before being stacked on the second alignment tray, and the replacement sheet at all the replacement target page positions is drilled. Ring binding is executed by the ring binding means on the booklet in which insertion and ring hole drilling have been completed .

According to the present invention, disconnect the pages of replacement target from the booklet-ring member is removed, replaced by printing a page to be replaced, it can be automatically performed as processing for ring binding. At that time, even when the replacement paper is not drilled with a ring hole, the ring hole can be automatically drilled for ring binding.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of the appearance of a bookbinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system configuration of this bookbinding system will be briefly described below.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus main body 1 is composed of a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP-Multi Function Peripheral, hereinafter also referred to as MFP) having at least two functions among a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. . The MFP 1 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 2 and an operation panel 3 with a display device. An inserter 4 is connected downstream of the MFP 1 in the paper discharge direction. The inserter 4 is provided with two paper feed trays 5 and 6 so that a sheet on which an image has been formed or a sheet that cannot pass through the image forming apparatus can be inserted into a booklet. A ring binder binding device 7 is connected to the further downstream side of the inserter 4, and a post-processing device 8 is connected to the most downstream side. In the ring binder binding apparatus 7, the booklet paper to be ring bound is punched in the ring binder binding apparatus 7 for the paper in which no ring hole is formed, and multi-hole punch holes are formed and aligned. , Ring bound. Although a detailed description of the functions of the post-processing device 8 is omitted, it is a publicly known device that incorporates a punch device or a stipple device having about 1 to 4 holes and performs various types of staple binding, paper alignment, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7. This ring binder binding apparatus 7 is a so-called ring binding apparatus used online. Hereinafter, the mechanism, operation, and function of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 will be described in order.

  The ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 includes a horizontal conveyance path 10, alignment trays 13 and 22, a bundle conveyance unit 30, a final bundle conveyance unit 32, and a stack tray 34 along the conveyance path, and also holds a sheet bundle. And a ring binding portion 29 for performing ring binding. A paper feed port 40 is provided on the most upstream side of the horizontal conveyance path 10 in the sheet conveyance direction, and receives sheets from the preceding stage, MFP 1 in FIG. Further, a paper discharge port 41 is provided on the most downstream side, and the paper is discharged to the post-processing device 8 in the subsequent stage, FIG. The paper fed from the MFP 1 through the paper feed port 40 is transported through the horizontal transport path 10 of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7. When the sheet is not ring-bound, it is transported horizontally as it is and transported from the paper discharge port 41 to the downstream post-processing device 8. In the case of ring binding, the paper is switched back by the reverse roller 11 located downstream of the horizontal conveyance path. At that time, the switching claw 12 is switched and conveyed to the punch portion obliquely below. A plurality of conveyance roller pairs are arranged on the sheet conveyance path including the horizontal conveyance path 10 to convey the sheet along the sheet conveyance path.

  In the punch section, the end in a direction parallel to the paper transport direction (hereinafter referred to as a lateral direction) is aligned on the alignment tray 13 by a jogger 14 that abuts the paper edge from a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction. It is done. On the other hand, the front end of the paper in the conveyance direction is abutted against a front end abutting stopper 20 that protrudes into the conveyance path of the alignment tray 13 to determine the position of the front end of the paper in the conveyance direction. That is, the alignment tray 13 and the stopper 20 determine the position of the paper in the horizontal direction and the conveyance direction (vertical direction). When the paper is abutted against the leading edge abutting stopper 20, the paper is given a conveying force by the conveying roller 15 with a torque limiter, thereby eliminating the damage at the leading edge of the paper.

  When the paper is positioned, the cam 19 inside the punch unit 16 is rotated, the punch 18 is pushed down, and punch holes arranged in a line at a predetermined interval are formed in the paper with the die 17. The punch hole is located at a predetermined distance from the stopper 20. The punch unit 16 is a multi-hole punch for ring binding. The paper for which the drilling of the ring holes has been completed is retracted from the conveyance path of the leading end abutting stopper 20 to be released from the contact state, and further conveyed downstream. Further, punch scrap generated by drilling is stored in the punch scrap hopper 21.

  Next, the sheet is conveyed to the alignment unit. In the aligning unit, a large number of sheets to be booked are received one by one in the aligning tray 22 and stacked while being aligned. The alignment tray 22 includes a horizontal alignment jogger 23 and a vertical roller 24 that presses the paper in the paper conveyance direction. The horizontal direction is aligned by the jogger 23 while aligning the paper conveyance direction (vertical direction) with a fence (not shown). .

  After the number of sheets to be booklet is stacked on the alignment tray 22 and aligned, the clamp 25 holds the vicinity of the binding side of the sheet under pressure. A ring cartridge holder 26 is provided in the vicinity of the alignment tray 22, and a ring cartridge 27 is accommodated in the ring cartridge holder 26. A large number of rings 28 are stacked in the ring cartridge 27. In the present embodiment, a known plastic ring of a type in which the circumference is divided into three is used.

  After the number of sheets to be bound are stacked on the alignment tray 22 and aligned, the ring binding portion 29 is rotated to the lower part of the ring cartridge 27 to take the ring. The ring binding portion 29 takes one link, rotates while holding the one, and passes below the clamp portion 25 to pass the ring through the hole opened at the lower end of the sheet bundle. Thereafter, ring binding is performed by a bind mechanism (not shown). The booklet subjected to the ring binding is received by the discharge claw 31 provided on the belt of the bundle conveyance unit 30 after the rotating bundle conveyance unit 30 moves below the clamp unit 25 and then the clamp 25 is released. It is transferred to the bundle transport unit 30.

  Thereafter, the bundle conveyance unit 30 rotates counterclockwise and moves to a position that is substantially straight with the final bundle conveyance unit 32. Then, the booklet is delivered to the final bundle conveyance unit 32 by the discharge claw 31 provided on the belt of the bundle conveyance unit 30. From the final bundle conveying section 32, the booklet is conveyed by the discharge claw 33 provided on the belt, and is discharged to the stack tray 34. The stack tray 34 moves up and down according to the stack amount.

  The inserter 4 is installed between the MFP 1 and the ring binder binding apparatus 7, and the sheets placed on the paper feed trays 5 and 6 are placed between predetermined sheets of paper conveyed from the MFP 1 to the ring binder binding apparatus 7. In general, it has a function of inserting it as a slip sheet at the front cover, back cover, or desired page position of a booklet. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the booklet from which the ring which is a binding tool is removed is placed on the paper feed tray 5 or 6, and the booklet is supplied from the inserter 4 to the ring binder bookbinding device 7. In the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, a sheet at the page position to be replaced (hereinafter also referred to as a replacement target sheet) is discharged without being sent to the ring binding unit 29 side. In the MFP 1, a new sheet on which an image is formed to be replaced and inserted is sent before or after the replacement target sheet. As described above, the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 performs punching processing on the newly inserted page instead of discharging the replacement target paper, and sends it to the ring binding unit 29 to perform ring bookbinding. Details will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of an online control configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. That is, in an online image forming system, an inserter 4 is connected to an MFP (image forming apparatus) 1, a ring binder binding apparatus 7 is connected to the inserter 4, and a post-processing apparatus is connected to the ring binder binding apparatus 7. (Finisher) 8 is connected. The MFP 1, the inserter 4, the ring binder binding apparatus 7, and the post-processing apparatus 8 include CPUs 1 U, 4 U, 7 U, and 8 U and communication ports, respectively, and the MFP 1 and the inserter 4, the inserter 4 and the ring binder binding apparatus 7, and the ring binder binding apparatus 7. The post-processing devices 8 can communicate with each other via a communication port provided in each. The operation panel 3 is connected to the MFP 1 via a bus, and a display described later is executed on the display unit 3a according to a display instruction from the CPU 1U of the MFP 1, and is provided on the operation unit 3 by key input from a soft key on the touch panel 3b. An operation input is performed from the user to the MFP 1 by key input using a hard key. With such a display configuration and an input configuration, the operation unit 3 functions as a user interface. Further, the control of the display unit 3a and the touch panel 3b of the operation unit 3 is executed by the operation unit CPU 3U, and a function as a user interface is realized by the CPU 3U.

  CPUs 1U, 3U, 4U, 7U, and 8U respectively mounted on the MFP 1, the operation unit 3, the inserter 4, the ring binder bookbinding device 7, and the post-processing device 8 are also included in the MFP 1, the ring binder bookbinding device 7 and the post-processing device 8. Various controls are performed by executing the programs stored in the ROMs mounted on the RAMs using the RAM as a work area. Thereby, display control and processing control described below are performed. Each of these devices is connected in a line (in-line) electrically in series via the communication port and mechanically in series via at least the horizontal conveyance path 10, and in the case of online processing Are communicated with the CPU 1U of the MFP 1 and controlled under the control of the CPU 1U of the MFP 1. Note that in-line in this embodiment means that punching, ring binding processing, replacement processing, or post-processing from image formation is performed in one sheet flow.

  In addition to the CPUs 4U, 7U, and 8U, the inserter 4, the ring binder binding device 7, and the post-processing device 8 include sensors 4S, 7S, and 8S, motors 4M, 7M, and 8M, clutches and solenoids 4CS, 7CS, and 8CS, respectively. The communication with each part and the front and / or back is controlled by the CPU 4U, 7U, 8U.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the MFP 1 main body according to the present embodiment. The MFP 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 1U, a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an NVRAM 103, an operation unit 3, a power transmission control unit 106, an image memory 107, and an image processing unit 108, which are connected to the CPU 1U by a bus 112 and controlled by the CPU 1U. Is done. Also connected to the bus 112 are a paper feed unit 109, a paper discharge unit 110, a fixing unit 111, an image forming unit 120, an input / output I / O 104, and a communication port 105, which are also controlled by the CPU 1U. The input / output I / O 104 receives print data from a stand-alone personal computer or a personal computer connected via a network, or image information read by the scanner from a scanner. Is used for communication with a subsequent apparatus such as the inserter 4 for processing paper. Each subsequent device communicates with the preceding and / or subsequent devices via a communication port provided in each device, and operates in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1U of the MFP 1. The control of this operation is directly performed by the CPUs 4U, 7U, 8U provided in the respective devices 4, 7, 8.

  The image forming unit 120 includes an optical writing unit 121 and an engine control unit 122. The engine control unit 122 is a unit (not shown) in the engine control unit 122 that is described below with respect to each unit related to image formation, in other words, a print engine related to image formation. Control. Therefore, the CPU 1U functions as a main CPU.

  As described above, the CPU 1U includes the ROM 101 and the RAM 102, and controls the entire image forming apparatus and each unit by executing a program stored in the ROM 101 while using the RAM 102 as a work area. The NVRAM 103 functions as a non-volatile memory for storing product data, and can replace the product data when replacing the PCB.

  As described above, the operation unit 3 is a user interface for an operator to perform operation input of the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment. The electrical control unit 106 is an I / O for general mechanical control control of electrical components of the image forming apparatus 1. Do F. Further, the image memory 107 stores image information for image processing and image information after image processing, and stores image data to be processed by the image processing unit 108 and processed image data.

  The engine control unit 122 controls the transfer paper conveyance in each part of the developing unit 123, the primary transfer unit 124, the secondary transfer unit 125, the photosensitive drum, the charging unit, the cleaning unit, the charge eliminating unit, and the image forming unit 120 The image data input from the input / output I / O 104 and processed by the image processing unit 108 is transferred as a visible image on a transfer sheet and output. Since the configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and the image forming procedure are known, the description of each part of the MFP 1 and the operation of each part is omitted here.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing a display state of the display unit 3a of the operation unit 3. FIG. The lower layer of the display unit 3a has a touch panel 3b configuration. By touching or pressing a display button (key display unit) for setting the function of the display unit 3a, the function displayed by the display button is displayed. The function is selected and executed.

  FIG. 5 shows a setting screen when the ring bind special setting tab 51 is selected, and single page specification and continuous page specification can be performed from this setting screen. That is, it is possible to make a selection input regarding the processing of the page to be replaced from the setting screen of FIG. In the drawing, a replacement page designation button 52, a continuous page designation button 53, and a punch operation instruction button 54 for a page without substitution are displayed on the display unit 3a. After touching the substitution page designation button 52, a hardware (not shown) is displayed. Enter the page number of the replacement page from the numeric keypad. As a result, the page number to be replaced is displayed on the replacement page display section 55. When the pages to be replaced are designated as continuous pages, the continuous page designation button 53 is touched and the start page and end page are designated from the numeric keypad, the start page is replaced with the replacement start page display unit 56 and the end page display unit 57 is replaced. Each end page 57 is displayed. The presence / absence of the punching operation for the page without replacement is selected by the “Yes” and “No” buttons 58.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display state of the display unit 3a for page processing after replacement. This setting screen is a display screen when the ring bind special setting tab 51 is selected. The ring bind special setting tab 51 is selected, and a stamp presence / absence selection button 62 is selected for the paper after the ring bind replacement. A selection button 63 for cutting processing, a selection button 64 for punching processing, and a selection button 65 for discard folding are provided, and setting of each processing is performed by selecting either “Yes” or “No” from the selection buttons 62 to 65. Is possible.

  In the following, processing when a page is replaced and ring binding is performed will be described.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the second page of a five-page booklet which is ring-bound is replaced. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the second and fourth pages of the booklet are replaced. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when pages 2 to 4 of the booklet are continuously replaced. In these replacement processes, pages 2-A (FIG. 7A), 2-A, 4-A (FIG. 8A), 2-A, 3-A, 4-A (booklet) before replacement. FIG. 9 (a) is a bundle of sheets from which the ones bound by the ring member 28 have been removed, so that the ring hole is opened, but the page 2-B of the sheet to be newly replaced (FIG. 9A). 7 (b)), 2-C, 4-C (FIG. 8 (b)), 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D (FIG. 9 (b)) are sent from the MFP 1 after image formation. Since it comes, the ring hole is not drilled. Therefore, a punch hole is opened upstream of the ring binder binding apparatus 7 or the ring binder binding apparatus 7.

  The page replacement process shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 can be input from the display screen (operation screen) of the display unit 3a shown in FIG. This display screen is touched on the ring binding setting tab 51, and then the display screen is scrolled by touching the “Previous” button 59f or the “Next” button 59n on the display screen. Display the screen. From this display screen, a page to be replaced can be specified from a booklet of a plurality of pages set in advance in the paper feed tray 5 or 6 of the inserter. Then, if only two pages are to be replaced as shown in FIG. 7, after pressing the replacement page designation button 53, “2” is selected with the numeric keypad, and two pages and four pages are to be replaced as shown in FIG. Select “2” and “4” using the numeric keypad. As a result, the selected page “2” or “2” and “4” are displayed on the replacement page display section 55, and if there is no mistake in the designated page, a start key (not shown) is pressed. As a result, the specified page is automatically replaced.

  In the case of continuous pages as shown in FIG. 9, the continuous page designation button 53 is touched, and the start page and end page are designated using the numeric keypad. After the setting, the replacement page start page is displayed on the replacement start page display unit 56, and the replacement page end page is displayed on the replacement end page display unit 57. In the case of FIG. 9, “2” is displayed on the replacement start page display portion 56 and “4” is displayed on the replacement end page display portion 57. It is also possible to specify both non-continuous pages and continuous pages.

  If the booklet before replacement has no punch holes, it is possible to select “Yes” or “No” for the punch operation from the punch operation instruction button 54 of the page without replacement. FIGS. 7 to 9 are examples in which punch holes are already opened, and thus “None” is selected.

  7 to 9, although described as pages, in this specification, the page number and the number of sheets from the first sheet are equivalent, and the second page corresponds to the second sheet.

The actual sheet passing operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 10. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the page when passing a single page (second page), and FIG. 10A shows the order of passing the paper to the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7. FIG. 10B shows the stacking order of pages in the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, and FIG. 10C shows the state of pages discharged from the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 by replacement.
This example is an example in which two pages are replaced as shown in FIG. 7. When replacing, first, the booklet before replacement is set in one of the paper feed trays 5 and 6 of the inserter 4, and A page to be copied and replaced is set in ADF2. In this state, the replacement page designation button 52 is touched from the display screen of FIG. 5 described above, and “2” is input from the numeric keypad. As a result, “2” is displayed on the replacement page display section 55, and a start (copy) switch (not shown) is pressed in this state. As a result, the system starts operation, and the copy operation of the page to be replaced starts.

  Since the first page (1-A) is a page that is not replaced, the first page (1-A) fed from the inserter 4 is conveyed as shown in FIG. Since the second page (2-A) is a page set to be replaced, it was printed by the image forming apparatus 1 between the first page (1-A) and the third page (3-A). Insert and pass the second page (2-B). At this time, since the second page (2-A) before the replacement exists between the first page (1-A) and the third page (3-A), the first page (1-A) And the second page (2-B) after replacement are inserted between the second page (2-A) or between the second page (2-A) and the third page (3-A). However, FIG. 10 shows an example of insertion between the second page (2-A) and the third page (3-A).

  Thereafter, all the pages set in the inserter 4 are fed, conveyed to the alignment tray 22 of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, and ring-bound by the above-described operation. On the way, the second page (2-A) becomes unnecessary during ring binding, and is therefore sent, for example, from the discharge port 41 to the downstream machine by straight conveyance and discharged from the post-processing device 8 (FIG. 7). (C)). As shown in FIG. 17, the proof discharge tray 43 is provided in the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 as shown in FIG. 17, and the proof discharge tray 43 provided in the horizontal conveyance path 10 discharges the proof discharge tray 43 to the proof discharge tray 43. Anyway.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a booklet to be replaced is set on the paper trays 4 and 5 of the inserter 4, a new sheet (page) to be replaced is set on the ADF 2 of the MFP 1, and the display unit of the operation unit 3 is displayed. By designating the page to be replaced from 3a, the target page can be automatically replaced and ring binding can be performed.

  In this embodiment, a sheet (page) to be newly replaced is supplied by copying, but the printer function of the MFP 1 can also be used. In this case, the page to be replaced may be designated on the printer driver screen on the personal computer instead of the operation unit 3.

  Further, when the replacement mode is the replacement of the second page and the fourth page as shown in FIG. 8, the replacement is performed by the operation as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of a page when passing a single page when two pages are replaced. FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show the same state as FIG. Show. Furthermore, when the replacement mode is the replacement of 3 pages continuously from the second page to the fourth page as shown in FIG. 9, the replacement is performed by the operation as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the state of pages when passing through three pages continuously, and FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C show the same state as FIG.

  Control of CPU 1U of MFP 1 at this time will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the control procedure in the replacement mode, which is executed by the CPU 1U of the MFT1. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the inserter operation, which is executed by the CPU 4U of the inserter 4. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the ring binder operation, which is executed by the CPU 7U of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7.

  When the replacement mode operation starts in the MFP 1, it is first checked whether or not the sheet fed from the sheet feeding trays 5 and 6 of the inserter 4 is a replacement page, as shown in FIG. 20 (step S101). If it is a replacement page in this check (step S101-Yes), the CPU 1U sets the transport destination of the paper fed from the inserter in the post-processing device (finisher) 8 (step S102), and the paper feeding operation from the inserter 4 is performed. It waits for a possible timing (step S103). When the sheet feeding operation from the inserter 4 becomes possible, in other words, when it becomes a timing at which the inter-paper distance at the insertion position can be secured (step S103-Yes), the CPU 1U supplies the paper to the inserter 4 from the inserter 4. The start of the paper operation is instructed (step S104), and the conveyance destination of the paper on which image formation is performed is set in the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7. When the sheet feeding operation of the MFP 1 main body becomes possible (step S107-Yes), the sheet feeding operation is performed from the MFP 1 (step S108), and this operation is repeated until the last page is reached (step S114-No). Meanwhile, since presence of the punching operation is set in the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 in step S106, after alignment on the alignment tray 13, a punch hole is opened by the punch unit 16, and ring binding becomes possible.

  On the other hand, if the paper fed from the inserter 4 is not a replacement page in step S101, the CPU 1U sets the transport destination of the paper fed from the inserter 4 in the ring binder binding apparatus 7 (step S109), and performs the punch operation. The presence or absence is confirmed (step S110). When the punching operation is present (step S110-Yes), the presence of the punching operation of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 is set (step S111), and the timing at which the paper feeding operation from the inserter 4 is enabled is waited (step S112). . If there is no punching operation (step S110-No), the process skips step S111 and waits for the timing when the paper feeding operation is possible (step S112). When the sheet feeding operation becomes possible, that is, when the sheet spacing distance can be secured as described above, an instruction is given to the sheet feeding operation from the inserter 4 (step S113), and the sheet feeding from the inserter 4 is finally performed. The processing from step S101 is repeated until the page is reached.

  Then, when the final page is reached in step S114, the ring binder binding apparatus 7 is instructed to perform ring binding (step S115). As a result, the booklet replaced on the alignment tray 22 and the aligned booklet is ring-bound, and when all the sheets have been discharged (step S116), the process ends.

  When the inserter operation starts in the inserter 4, as shown in FIG. 21, it is checked whether or not the paper feed from the paper feed trays 5 and 6 of the inserter 4 is started (step S 201), and the paper feed from the inserter 4 is started. (Step S201-Yes), the punch operation information of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, the ring bookbinding operation, and the paper discharge destination of the paper to be conveyed are transmitted from the MFP 1 (Steps S202, S203, S204), respectively. When the paper operation becomes possible (step S205—Yes), the paper feeding operation from the inserter 4 is started (step S206).

  On the other hand, if the paper feed from the inserter 4 is not started in step S201, the MFP 1 transmits the punch operation information of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, the ring bookbinding operation, and the discharge destination of the transported paper (steps S207, S208, S209). Further, it is checked whether or not the sheet is fed from the upstream side of the inserter 4 (step S210). In the present system configuration, paper feeding from the upstream side of the inserter 4 means paper feeding from the paper feeding unit 109 of the MFP 1, for example. If the sheet is fed from the upstream side in this check, the conveying operation to the apparatus located downstream of the inserter 4, here the ring binder binding apparatus 7 is executed (step S211).

  If it is a paper feeding operation from the inserter 4 in step S206 or a paper feeding operation from a device on the upstream side of the inserter 4 in step S211, the paper has been fed or conveyed in any case. In step S212, it is determined whether or not the sheet is the final process of the replacement process (the final sheet of the booklet). If it is the final process, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step S201. The processing from step S202 or step S207 is repeated until the final processing. As a result, the replacement process can be performed automatically regardless of whether the booklet before replacement is set in the inserter 4 or in the paper feed unit 109 of the MFP 1.

  When the ring binder (ring binding) operation starts, the ring binder binding apparatus 7 checks whether the received paper is a ring binding target paper as shown in FIG. 22 (step S301). If there is, it is conveyed along the conveyance path to the alignment tray (stack unit) 22 side of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 (step S302). Next, the presence / absence of the punching operation is checked (step S303). If the punching operation is present (step S303-Yes), after the alignment on the alignment tray 13 in the middle of conveyance, the punching process is performed by the punch unit 16 (step S305). . Next, the sheet is discharged onto the alignment tray 22 and a sheet alignment operation is performed (step S305), and the sheet bundle is aligned and stacked on the alignment tray 22. If there is no punching operation (No at Step S303), the alignment operation on the alignment tray 22 is performed without performing the punching operation (Step S305), and stacking is performed. The processing from step S301 to step S305 is processed for the number of sheets constituting the booklet, and then discharged from the alignment tray 22 to the bundle transport unit 30 (step S306). Next, if it is a target of ring binding (Step S307-Yes), the ring binding unit 29 executes ring binding on the discharged sheet bundle as described above (Step S308), and the final bundle. The paper is discharged from the transport unit 32 to the stack tray (ring binder discharge unit) 34 (step S309). The determination of the presence or absence of the punching operation in step S303 is based on the selection result of the punching operation instruction button 54 for the page without replacement shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the paper received in step S301 is not subject to ring binding (step S301-No), the transport path (horizontal transport path 10) to the post-processing device 8 is transported to the discharge port 41 (step S310). A carry-out process to the post-processing device 8 is executed (step S311). These processes are repeated until the end of the target number of sheets (step S312—No), and the process ends when the final process is completed.

  The replaced old page is discharged from the ring binder binding device 7 to the proof discharge tray 43 outside the apparatus or to the discharge tray of the post-processing device (finisher) 8 as shown in steps S310 to S312. At that time, when working, it may become unclear whether the page before replacement or the page after replacement. In order to prevent the occurrence of such a problem, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the state of the sheet after the ring binding replacement from the display unit 3 a is changed to “stamp”, “cut”, “punch”, and “discarded folding”. Can be specified to execute the processing. The processing states of the “stamp”, “cutting”, “punch”, and “discard folding” are shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 15, and 16, respectively.

  That is, on this display screen, the ring bind setting tab 51 is touched, and then the “previous” button 59f or “next” button 59n on the display screen is touched to scroll the display screen. Is displayed, and “stamp”, “cut”, “punch”, and “discard” are selected from “Yes” and “No” from this display screen. When the stamp “YES” is selected, the stamp “Done” is pressed on the replaced page (2-A) as shown in FIG. For example, the stamp (8-A) is disposed on the post-processing device 8, the paper feed unit of the inserter 4, or the horizontal conveyance path 10 of the ring binder bookbinding device 7 and replaced and discarded. Stamped when passing through the installation position. When the booklet before replacement is set in the paper feeding unit 109 of the MFP 1, an image may be formed on the page (2-A) to be replaced instead of the stamp.

  When “cut” is selected on the display unit 3a in FIG. 6, the page (2-A) to be replaced is cut along a conveyance direction at a predetermined location as shown in FIG. The trimmer 98 to be cut is provided in the subsequent stage of the inserter 4 and in the previous stage of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 as shown in FIG. By this cutting, the upper side of the sheet is conveyed to a dust box (not shown) of the trimmer 98, and the lower side is conveyed to the post-processing device 8, and is discharged from the post-processing device 8.

  When punching is performed on the display unit 3a in FIG. 6, the page (2-A) to be replaced is conveyed to the post-processing device 8 and punched by the punch unit of the post-processing device 8 as shown in FIG. In this example, since the punch of the post-processing device 8 is two holes, the two punch holes are formed at positions different from the ring holes. It should be noted that the punching position of the two holes can be set to a desired position in the transport direction at the punch timing.

  When “Discard” is selected on the display unit 3a in FIG. 6, the page (2-A) to be replaced is subjected to folding processing along a conveyance direction at a predetermined location as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 19, the folding unit 99 for performing the folding process is provided in the subsequent stage of the inserter 4 and in the previous stage of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7. The folding unit 99 may be between the ring binder binding apparatus 7 and the post-processing apparatus 8, but if the ring binder binding apparatus 7 is provided with a proof discharge tray 43 as shown in FIG. It is preferable to arrange between the inserter 4 and the ring binder binding apparatus 7.

  As a result, the replaced page (2-A) to be discarded is not likely to be confused with the page before replacement due to stamping, cutting, punching holes, folding, or the like.

  In addition, although the series of operations has been described with the operation using the inserter 4, it may be set in the paper feed unit 109 (paper feed device) or the paper feed tray of the MFP 1. However, since the paper constituting the booklet does not pass through the fixing unit 111 inside the MFP 1 when the inserter 4 is used, the influence on the paper used for ring binding is small, and the heater is turned on when the paper passes through the fixing unit 111. The heater is not turned on, and power consumption can be reduced accordingly.

  The bookbinding system control procedure described so far is configured as a replacement bookbinding program that can be executed by the CPUs 1U, 4U, and 7U. The replacement bookbinding program is recorded on a recording medium and can be executed by other bookbinding systems by being read by another computer.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
1) Forming an image transported from the MFP 1 to the removed page position by removing the sheet at the page position to be replaced from the booklet of the ring booklet from which the ring member fed from the inserter 4 has been removed by the ring bind bookbinding device 7 Since a replacement sheet that has already been inserted is inserted into a bookbinding state, the replacement target page at a desired position can be automatically replaced with a replacement sheet that has been printed in the system including the MFP 1, the inserter 4, and the ring-binding bookbinding device 7. it can.
2) The inserter 4 feeds each page of the booklet to be replaced in the page order to the ring-binding bookbinding apparatus 7 side, inserts the replacement sheet before or after the page position fed from the inserter 4, and then replaces the page. Since the paper at the target page position is removed, reliable replacement is possible.
3) Since the sheets that have been replaced are sequentially collected in the alignment tray section, aligned with the booklet, and then bound in a ring, bookbinding can be performed without losing the page order.
4) The page position to be replaced can be specified by the user by inputting from the replacement page specifying button 52 or the continuous page specifying button 53 of the operation unit 3 of the MFP 1 and the numeric keypad. Can be replaced.
5) Since the inserter 4 is provided in the conveyance path between the MFP 1 and the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, it is possible to reliably supply the replacement sheet from the MFP 1 and discard the replaced sheet in the ring bind bookbinding apparatus 7. it can.
6) The inserter 4 is provided in the conveyance path between the MFP 1 and the ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7, and the paper constituting the booklet to be replaced does not pass through the fixing unit 111 inside the MFP 1, so that the influence on the paper to be ring-bound Can be minimized.
7) When each sheet of the booklet to be replaced is supplied from the sheet feeding unit 109 of the MFP 1, the fixing heater is turned on when the sheet passes through the fixing unit 111, but the inserter 4 is connected to the MFP 1 and the ring binder binding apparatus 7. Since each of the sheets does not pass through the fixing unit 111 and the fixing heater is not turned on, power consumption can be reduced accordingly.
8) The ring binder bookbinding apparatus 7 does not perform the punching process when the ring hole is already punched in the paper conveyed to the punch unit 16 position, so that the ring hole is not misaligned and punched. There is no loss of the above aesthetics.
9) Stamp stamping, paper cutting, punch punching, or folding processing is performed on the paper at the page position discarded as the replacement target, so that the paper discarded after replacement can be identified, and the user's usability Can be improved.
There are effects such as.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, All the technical matters contained in the technical thought described in the claim are object.

  The present invention is applied to a bookbinding system that removes a ring member from a ring-bound booklet and replaces pages. The image forming apparatus is not limited to a printing machine (printer) equipped with a print engine such as an electrophotographic method, a droplet discharge method such as an ink jet or a gel jet, and printing by offset printing, convex printing, on-demand printing, etc. A machine can also be used. Also, a plurality of post-processing devices (finishers) can be connected and used as a system for executing a plurality of functions.

1 is a front view illustrating an appearance of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the ring binder binding apparatus which concerns on Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an online control configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control circuit of the MFP main body according to the present embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state (ring bind replacement page setting screen) of the display unit of the operation unit of the MFP. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display state (paper setting screen after ring binding replacement) of a display unit of an operation unit of the MFP. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when replacing the 2nd page of the booklet which consists of 5 pages bound by ring. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when replacing the 2nd page and the 4th page of the booklet which consists of 5 pages bound by ring. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when replacing the 2nd page to the 4th page of the booklet which consists of 5 pages bound by a ring. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the page at the time of paper passing when replacing a single page (2nd page). It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the page at the time of paper passing when replacing the 2nd page and the 4th page of a single page. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the page at the time of paper passing when replacing 3 pages continuously. It is a figure which shows the state by which the stamp was pressed on the paper discarded after replacement. It is a figure which shows the state which cut | disconnected the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a figure which shows the state which punched the hole other than a ring hole in the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a figure which shows the state which performed the folding process to the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a figure which shows the structure of the ring binder bookbinding apparatus provided with the proof paper discharge tray which discharges the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of a bookbinding system provided with the trimmer which cuts the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of a bookbinding system provided with the folding unit which performs a folding process to the paper discarded after replacement | exchange. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of replacement mode. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of inserter operation | movement. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of a ring binder operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP (image forming device)
1U CPU
3 Operation unit 3a Display unit 3b Touch panel 4 Inserter 4U CPU
7 Ring binder binding device 7U CPU
16 Punch unit 22 Alignment tray 29 Ring bind part 52 Replacement page designation button 53 Continuous page designation button 62 Stamp presence / absence selection button 63 Cutting processing selection button 64 Punch processing selection button 65 Disposal folding selection button 98 Trimmer 99 Folding unit 109 Paper feeder

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
A bookbinding apparatus that performs ring-binding with ring-binding means on a booklet composed of a plurality of sheets of images formed;
A paper feeding device provided in a preceding stage of the bookbinding device and capable of feeding paper to the bookbinding device;
A bookbinding system comprising:
The bookbinding apparatus transports the paper from the front stage to the rear stage, a first alignment tray branched from the transport path, a punching means for punching the paper aligned on the first alignment tray, a second A ring binding means for performing ring binding on sheets aligned on the alignment tray and the second alignment tray;
The paper feeding device includes a paper feeding tray on which a booklet of a ring book with a ring member removed is placed;
The paper feeding device conveys the ring booklet paper from which the ring member placed on the paper feeding tray is removed to the bookbinding device,
The bookbinding apparatus includes:
Out of the paper conveyed from the paper feeding device, the paper to be replaced is discharged to the outside,
Insert a replacement sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus at a page position to be replaced instead of the discharged sheet,
Stack the paper not to be replaced and the paper to be replaced on the second alignment tray,
If no ring hole is formed in the replacement sheet, the hole is punched by the punching means on the first alignment tray before being stacked on the second alignment tray;
A bookbinding system in which ring binding is executed by the ring binding means on a booklet in which insertion of the replacement paper and ring hole perforation are completed at all replacement target page positions . The bookbinding system according to claim 1,
The paper feeding device feeds paper to the bookbinding device according to the page order of the booklet,
Before Symbol replacement sheet is inserted before or after the page location,
Bookbinding system wherein the bookbinding apparatus wherein by discharging the sheet of the page located outside, characterized by the Turkey bundling the paper conveyed before and after the inserted sheet. The bookbinding system according to claim 1 or 2,
A bookbinding system comprising: a designation unit that designates the page position to be replaced . The bookbinding system according to claim 3 ,
The bookbinding system, wherein the designation unit is set in an operation unit attached to the image forming apparatus . A bookbinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The bookbinding system, wherein the sheet feeding device is provided after the image forming apparatus and before the bookbinding apparatus . A bookbinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The bookbinding system, wherein the paper feeding device is an inserter that inserts another paper between papers conveyed from the image forming apparatus . A bookbinding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Bookbinding system the paper feed device which is a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding sheets to the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
A bookbinding apparatus that performs ring-binding with ring-binding means on a booklet composed of a plurality of sheets of images formed;
A paper feeding device provided in a preceding stage of the bookbinding device and capable of feeding paper to the bookbinding device;
A bookbinding method for bookbinding by replacing paper,
The bookbinding apparatus transports the paper from the front stage to the rear stage, a first alignment tray branched from the transport path, a punching means for punching the paper aligned on the first alignment tray, a second A ring binding means for performing ring binding on sheets aligned on the alignment tray and the second alignment tray;
The paper feeding device includes a paper feeding tray on which a booklet of a ring book with a ring member removed is placed;
A step of transporting, in the paper feeding device, a paper to be replaced in a booklet of a ring binding booklet from which the ring member placed on the paper feeding tray is removed;
In the bookbinding apparatus,
A step of discharging the replacement target paper out of the paper conveyed from the paper feeding device;
Inserting a replacement sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus into a page position to be replaced instead of the discharged sheet;
Loading the non-replaceable paper and the replaceable paper on the second alignment tray;
If no ring hole is formed in the replacement sheet, the step of punching the ring hole by the punching means on the first alignment tray before being stacked on the second alignment tray;
A step of performing ring binding by the ring binding means on the booklet in which insertion of the replacement paper and ring hole perforation have been completed at all replacement target page positions;
Replacement bookbinding method characterized in that comprises a.

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