JP5316054B2 - Sheet processing apparatus, sheet processing system, image forming apparatus, sheet processing control method, and sheet processing control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper (hereinafter also simply referred to as a sheet) that has been carried in from the front stage and discharges it to the rear stage, and a plurality of such sheet processing apparatuses are connected. The present invention relates to a sheet processing system, an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus or the sheet processing apparatus, a sheet processing control method, and a sheet processing control program for executing the sheet processing control method by a computer.

  Image formation in which an image forming apparatus and a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses (post-processing apparatuses) that perform post-processing such as alignment processing, binding processing, punching processing, and bookbinding processing are performed on a sheet output from the image forming device The system is known. In such an image forming system, post-processing for a sheet is realized by transferring a signal between sheet processing apparatuses. Such a system in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses are connected is realized by operating a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses in synchronization. Therefore, the invention described in Patent Document 1 or 2 is known as a technique that pays attention to synchronization in such a system.

  Among them, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-10659) discloses a communication unit that communicates with a connected connection device, and a control unit that performs communication for each connection device at an arbitrary timing via the communication unit. Storage means for temporarily storing some or all of various signals received from the upstream machine, and the control means stores the various signals in the storage means when receiving various signals from the upstream machine during conveyance of the sheet-like recording medium. The invention is characterized in that a part of or all the various signals temporarily stored and temporarily stored in accordance with the transport position of the sheet-like recording medium being transported are transmitted to the downstream device.

  In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 3959589), configuration information for recognizing the system configuration is identified by each post-processing device from one end to the other end of the multi-stage connected post-processing devices. Forward transfer means for transferring information while sequentially adding information, and return transfer for sequentially transferring configuration information to which identification information of all post-processing devices is added from the post-processing device at the other end toward the post-processing device at one end The invention is characterized by comprising means.

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is such that when a command is transferred from upstream to downstream equipment between sheet processing apparatuses connected by daisy chain connection, the command is transferred in synchronization with the sheet conveyance state. The invention described in Patent Document 2 includes an outward path transfer unit and a return path transfer unit, and recognizes configuration information of sheet processing apparatuses connected by daisy chain connection among all the sheet processing apparatuses.

  However, the techniques proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot synchronize the states of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. To synchronize the states, the states of all the sheet processing apparatuses in the image forming apparatus or the like are not used. It was necessary to grasp / maintain and synchronize.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to perform synchronization management in individual sheet processing apparatuses when operating a sheet processing apparatus group that processes sheets on which an image is formed in a sheet processing system in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses are connected. To improve the reliability in the sheet processing system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first means includes communication means capable of communicating with another device, storage means for storing information received from the communication means, received information via the communication means and the storage means, Control means for controlling transmission information, and a sheet processing apparatus that is used in connection with another machine, wherein the control means receives the operation result information from the other machine on the downstream side. If the operation status of the device matches the received operation result information, the operation result information is immediately transferred to the other device on the upstream side, and the operation result information received from the other device on the downstream side and the operation of the own device When the state does not match, the operation result information is held in the storage means, and the received operation result information is transferred to another upstream device until the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information. It is characterized by deferring.

  The second means is the first means, in which the control means, when the operation request information received from the other upstream device is operation request information for a connected sheet processing apparatus group including the own device, The transfer or hold process is performed.

  According to a third means, in the second means, the control means, when the operation request information received from the upstream device is operation request information for a sheet processing apparatus other than the own device, The operation result information received from the device is immediately transferred to the upstream device without being suspended.

  The fourth means is the second means wherein the control means completes the stop until the operation of the own apparatus stops when the operation request information is a stop request and the operation result information is a stop completion. The transfer of the operation result information to the upstream device is suspended.

  The fifth means is the second means in which the operation request information is an activation request, the operation result information is activation completion, and the activation completion operation is performed until the apparatus is activated to accept a seat. The transfer of the result information to the upstream device is suspended.

  The sixth means is characterized by a sheet processing system in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses according to any one of the first to fifth means are connected.

  A seventh means is the sixth means, wherein when the operation request information received from the upstream is the operation request information for the sheet processing apparatus group, the control means Generates the result information and transfers the operation result information in response to the upstream device, and the other device connected to the other upstream side does not generate the operation result information and receives the operation received from the downstream device. The result information is transferred to the upstream device in a state where it matches the state of the own device.

  The eighth means is characterized in that, in the seventh means, the own device connected to the final stage generates operation result information even for operation request information that does not require an operation state to be changed. .

  A ninth means is characterized in that the image forming apparatus includes a sheet processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth means.

The tenth means comprises a communication means capable of communicating with another machine, and a storage means for storing information received from the communication means, and a sheet processing control of a sheet processing apparatus used in connection with the other machine When the operation result information is received from the other device on the downstream side and the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information, the operation is immediately performed on the other device on the upstream side. When the result information is transferred and the operation result information received from the other device on the downstream side does not match the operation state of the own device, the operation result information is held in the storage means, and the operation state of the own device is received. The transfer of the received operation result information to another device on the upstream side is suspended until it matches the operation result information.

First first means capable of communicating communication means with other devices, and a storage means for storing information received from said communication means, the sheet processing control in the sheet processing apparatus to be used in conjunction with other machines Is a sheet processing control program to be executed by a computer, and when the operation result information is received from the other device on the downstream side, if the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information, The operation result information is stored in the storage means when the operation result information immediately transferred to the other upstream device and the operation result information received from the downstream other device and the operation state of the own device do not match. And holding the transfer of the received operation result information to another device upstream until the operation state of the own device coincides with the received operation result information.

  In the embodiment described later, the communication means is in the first to third UARTs 1022, 1023, 1032, the storage means is in the first and second RAMs 1025, 1035, and the control means is in the first and second CPUs 1021, 1031. The sheet processing apparatus corresponds to the first to third sheet processing apparatuses 101, 102, and 103, or the folding apparatus 200, the stacking apparatus 300, and the finisher 400, and the image forming apparatus corresponds to the copying machine 100 or the printer 150, respectively.

  Further, in the first means, the condition judgment that the operation result information is received from the other downstream device coincides with the received operation result information in steps S106 and S206. In this case, the process of immediately transferring the operation result information to the other upstream device is performed in steps S107, S112, and S207, S212. Is not matched, the operation result information is held in the storage means, and the received operation result information is transferred to the other upstream device until the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information. The process to be suspended corresponds to steps S107, S108, S109, steps S207, S208, and S209.

  In the second means, the condition judgment that the operation request information received from the other upstream apparatus is the operation request information for the connected sheet processing apparatus group including the own apparatus is performed in steps S103-Y and S203. Corresponds to -Y.

  In the third means, when the operation request information received from the upstream device is operation request information for a sheet processing apparatus other than the own device, the operation result information received from the downstream device is suspended. The process of immediately transferring the data to the upstream device corresponds to steps S104, S111, S112, and steps S204, S211 and S212.

  In the fourth means, the condition determination that the operation request information is a stop request is in step S103, and the condition determination that the operation result information is stop completion is in step S107, and the stop is completed until the operation of the own machine stops. The process of deferring the transfer of the operation result information to the upstream device corresponds to steps S108 and S109, respectively.

  In the fifth means, the condition determination that the operation request information is an activation request is in step S203, the condition determination that the operation result information is activation completion is in step S207, and the apparatus is ready to accept the sheet. The process of deferring the transfer of the operation result information of the completion of activation to the upstream device until the activation corresponds to steps S208 and S209, respectively.

  In the seventh means, when the operation request information received from the upstream is the operation request information for the sheet processing apparatus group, the own device connected to the final stage generates the operation result information to generate the upstream device. The process of transferring the operation result information in response to the operation corresponds to steps S301 to S306, and the other device connected to the other upstream side does not generate the operation result information and receives the operation received from the downstream device. The process of transferring the result information to the upstream device in a state that matches the state of the own device corresponds to steps S112 and S212.

  In the eighth means, the process of generating the operation result information is skipped from step S303 to step S306 even for the operation request information for which the own device connected to the final stage does not need to change the operation state. It corresponds to the process to do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when operation result information is received from another device on the downstream side, if the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information, the upstream side immediately When the operation result information is transferred to the other device and the operation result information received from the other device on the downstream side does not match the operation state of the own device, the operation result information is held in the storage unit, Since the transfer of the received operation result information to the other upstream apparatus is suspended until the operation state matches the received operation result information, the synchronization management of the state of the sheet processing apparatus group that processes the sheet on which the image is formed Can be easily implemented, and the reliability of the sheet processing apparatus and the sheet processing system can be improved.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an outline of a system configuration as a copying machine. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an outline of a system configuration as a printer. FIG. It is a figure which shows the connection form of each apparatus of the sheet processing system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows a part of internal structure of a 2nd sheet processing apparatus and a 3rd sheet processing apparatus, and the connection relation of both. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of receiving the stop operation request information which requests | requires the operation stop of an apparatus from an upstream machine with a 2nd sheet | seat processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in case the 2nd sheet | seat processing apparatus receives the starting operation request information which requests | requires the operation start of an apparatus from an upstream machine. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a third sheet processing apparatus connected to the final stage of the sheet processing system.

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

  1 and 2 are diagrams showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing system including a sheet post-processing apparatus as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Of these, FIG. 1 shows an outline of a system configuration as a copying machine, and FIG. 2 shows an outline of a system configuration as a printer.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming system according to the present embodiment basically includes a copying machine 100, a folding device 200, a stacking device 300, and a finisher 400. The copying machine 100 includes a scanner 110 that reads a document image and converts it into an electrical signal, an automatic document feeder 120 that transports the document one by one to the scanner 110, and an image electrical signal read by the scanner 110 from a sheet feeder 130. A sheet processing apparatus group including the folding apparatus 200, the stacking apparatus 300, and the finisher 400 is connected to the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus 140. The image forming apparatus 140 forms an image on the fed paper. The system is configured.

  In this system, a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 140 is folded by a folding apparatus 200 that is one of sheet processing apparatuses, is conveyed to the finisher 400 via the stacking apparatus 300, and the sheet is fed by the finisher 400. After the alignment and stapling process are performed, the sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 410 of the finisher 400. Alternatively, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 140 is conveyed to the stacking apparatus 300 via the folding apparatus 200, aligned by the stacking apparatus 300, and stacked on the stacking tray in the stacking apparatus 300.

  The printer system shown in FIG. 2 has a system configuration in which a folding apparatus 200 and a finisher 400 as a sheet processing apparatus group are connected to a printer 150 including an image forming apparatus 140 and a paper feeding apparatus 130. In this printer system, data is transferred from an external device (not shown) (for example, a local or network-connected personal computer) to the image forming apparatus 140PR, and printing is performed on paper fed from the paper feeding device 130. After the folding process is performed by the folding apparatus 200 or after the folding process is bypassed, the sheet is sent to the finisher 400, and after alignment and stapling are performed, the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 410. The functions, mechanisms, and the like of these devices are well known as described in Patent Document 1 and will not be described in detail.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection form of each device of the sheet processing system in the present embodiment. In the figure, first to third sheet processing apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 are connected in this order at the subsequent stage of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, the first sheet processing apparatus 101 is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and connected to the second sheet processing apparatus 102 on the downstream side, and the second sheet processing apparatus 102 is connected to the first sheet processing apparatus on the upstream side. Is connected to the third sheet processing apparatus 103 on the downstream side, and the third sheet processing apparatus 103 is a final stage apparatus here, and the second sheet processing apparatus 102 on the upstream side. Connected and no devices are connected downstream.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a part of the internal configuration of the second sheet processing apparatus 102 and the third sheet processing apparatus 103 and the connection relationship therebetween. The second sheet processing apparatus 102 includes a first UART 1022 that is a communication means with the upstream side, a first RAM 1025 that is a temporary storage means for received information, and a second UART 1023 that is a communication means with the downstream side. The first CPU 1021 that controls the second sheet processing apparatus 102 is connected through the bus 1024. The third sheet processing apparatus 103 includes a third UART 1032 that is a means for communicating with the upstream side, and a second RAM 1035 that is a temporary storage means for received information, and controls the third sheet processing apparatus 103 via the bus 1034. Connected to the second CPU 1031. Since the second sheet processing apparatus 103 is not connected to any downstream side, no communication means for the downstream side is provided.

  The second sheet processing apparatus 102 is connected from the upstream first UART 1022 to the image forming apparatus 100 or the first sheet processing apparatus 101 (not shown) via a line 1026. Further, the second UART 1023 on the downstream side is connected to the third UART 1032 on the upstream side of the sheet processing apparatus 103 via a line 1036. The first to third sheet processing apparatuses 101, 102, and 103 function as a mechanism for realizing a post-processing function, a ROM for holding a control program, a CPU work area, and a data buffer. Although other devices such as a RAM are also provided, the illustration is omitted.

  In this embodiment, UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) is used as means for communicating with other devices, but the type of communication means is not limited. Although the RAM is used as the temporary storage means, the type of the storage means is not limited in the same manner.

  FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure when the second sheet processing apparatus 102 receives stop operation request information for requesting to stop the operation of the apparatus from an upstream machine (the first sheet processing apparatus 101 or the image forming apparatus 100). It is a flowchart.

  In the figure, the second sheet processing apparatus 102 waits to receive an operation request from the upstream side, and when receiving the operation request (step S101-Y), the second sheet processing apparatus 102 requests an operation request from the downstream third sheet processing apparatus 103. Is transferred (step S102). Next, the content of the operation request is determined (step S103). If it is “stop”, the process proceeds to step S104. If it is not “stop”, the process for another operation request is executed (step S113). Finish.

  On the other hand, in step S104, it is determined whether or not the own machine needs to process the “stop” operation request. For example, when the user's own door is open by the user, it is already stopped, so there is no need to perform processing for the stop. If the process for the stop is not necessary, it waits for the reception of the “stop end information” from the downstream in step S111. When the “stop end information” is received, the received “stop end information” is sent to the upstream device (first To the sheet processing apparatus 101) (step S112), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if a stop process of the own device is necessary in step S104, the stop process is started (step S105). The own machine stop process means a process of stopping the motor in operation or retracting the post-processing mechanism, and the processing content and necessary processing are also performed by the sheet processing apparatus and the required post-processing. Time is different. In step S105, only the stop process is started, and the process proceeds to step S106 without waiting for the stop process of the own machine to end.

  In step S <b> 106, it waits to receive “stop end information” from the downstream device, here, the third sheet processing apparatus 103. When the “stop end information” is received from the third sheet processing apparatus 103, it is determined whether or not the stop processing of the own apparatus has ended (step S107). If the stop process of the own machine has been completed (step S107-Y), the “stop end information” received in step S106 is transferred to the upstream device, here the first sheet processing apparatus 101 ( Step S112).

  If the stop processing of the own device is not completed at the time of the determination in step S107 (step S107-N), “stop end information” is stored in the RAM 1025 which is temporary storage means and held (step S108). Thereafter, it waits for the end of the stop process of the own device (step S109). When the own device is stopped and stopped (step S109-Y) and the state matches the “stop end information” that is the operation result information received from the downstream side, the “stop end information” is extracted from the RAM 1025, and the upstream device (first Sheet processing apparatus 101) (step S112).

  FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure when the second sheet processing apparatus 102 receives start-up operation request information for requesting operation start of the apparatus from an upstream machine (first sheet processing apparatus 101 or image forming apparatus 100). It is a flowchart.

  In the figure, the second sheet processing apparatus 102 waits to receive an operation request from the upstream side, and when receiving the operation request (step S201-Y), the second sheet processing apparatus 102 requests an operation request from the downstream third sheet processing apparatus 103. Is transferred (step S202). Next, the content of the operation request is determined (step S303). If it is “startup”, the process proceeds to step S204. If it is not “startup”, processing for another operation request is executed (step S213). Finish.

  On the other hand, in step S204, it is determined whether or not the own device needs to process the “startup” operation request. For example, the case where the processing of the own machine is not necessary is, for example, a case where it is known from the operation mode that another sheet processing apparatus upstream from the own machine is the final discharge destination. The aircraft does not need to operate. If processing for activation is not necessary, the process waits for reception of “activation completion information” from the downstream in step S211, and when “activation completion information” is received, the received “activation completion information” is transferred to the upstream device (first To the sheet processing apparatus 101) (step S212), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the startup process of the own device is necessary in step S204, the startup process is started (step S205). The activation process started in step S205 refers to an operation start process of a mechanism for receiving and transporting a sheet and a mechanism operation for preparing for post-processing performed in the own machine. Depending on the post-processing to be performed, the processing content and required time are different. In step S205, only the activation process is started, and the process proceeds to step S206 without waiting for the activation process of the own device to end.

  In step S <b> 206, it waits for reception of “start-up end information” from the downstream device, here, the third sheet processing apparatus 103. When “start-up end information” is received from the third sheet processing apparatus 103, it is determined whether or not the start-up process of the own apparatus is finished (step S207). If the activation process of the own machine has been completed (step S207-Y), the “activation completion information” received in step S206 is transferred to the upstream device, here the first sheet processing apparatus 101 ( Step S212).

  If the activation process of the own device has not been completed at the time of the determination in step S207 (step S207-N), the “activation completion information” is stored and held in the RAM 1025 which is a temporary storage unit (step S208). Thereafter, it waits for the start-up process of the own device to end (step S209). When the own device is stopped and stopped (step S209-Y) and the state matches the “start end information” that is the operation result information received from the downstream side, the “start end information” is extracted from the RAM 1025, and the upstream side device (first Sheet processing apparatus 101) (step S212).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the third sheet processing apparatus 103 connected to the final stage of the sheet processing system.

  In the figure, the system waits for an operation request from the upstream device (second sheet processing apparatus 102 in this embodiment) (step S301), and receives an operation request from the upstream side (step S301-Y). The content of the request is determined (step S302). If it is “startup”, the process proceeds to step S303, and if it is another operation request, the process for the other operation request is executed in step S307, and the process ends.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not activation processing is necessary in the own device. If not necessary, the process skips to step S306 to generate “activation end information”, which is sent upstream, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the startup process is necessary in step S303, the startup process starts in step S304, waits for the startup process to end in step S405, generates startup end information in step S307, and Send it out.

  Even when the operation request in the third sheet processing apparatus is “stop”, the “start” in FIG. 7 is simply replaced with “stop”, and the process itself is the same, so the description is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the third sheet processing apparatus 103 connected to the final stage does not hold the communication means to the downstream side, but even if the final stage sheet processing apparatus holds the communication means, Similar processing is possible when no other sheet processing apparatus is connected to the downstream side.

  In the present embodiment, the first post-processing 103 connected to the final stage generates responses to “stop” and “start”. However, depending on the requested post-processing, the sheet processing that needs to be operated It is also possible to configure the device at the last stage of the device to generate a response.

  Further, in the present embodiment, only the processing for the operation requests “stop” and “start” is shown, but other operation requests can also be operation requests for a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses (post-processing apparatuses). It is obvious that the synchronization processing between the sheet processing apparatuses can be performed by the same processing, and it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and covers all technical matters included in the technical idea described in the claims.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
1) When the operation state of the own device does not match the operation result information received from the downstream, the operation result information from the downstream is held without being sent upstream, and the operation state information of the own device and the operation result information from the downstream are Since they are sent upstream after matching, the operation result information can be sent in a state in which the state of the own apparatus and the downstream sheet processing apparatus are matched.
2) Only when an operation request is made to a connected sheet processing apparatus group including the own machine, since the state of the own machine and the operation result information received from the downstream coincide with each other and are sent upstream, synchronization is necessary. As a result, the operation result information can be transmitted in a state in which the state of the own apparatus and the downstream sheet processing apparatus are matched.
3) In the case of an operation request to a sheet processing apparatus other than the own apparatus, the operation result information received from the downstream is immediately transferred to the upstream side, so that the information can be efficiently relayed and transferred.
4) Since the stop completion information received from the downstream in response to the stop request is held until the own machine stops, the result state upstream in the state where the stop state of the own machine and the downstream sheet processing apparatus is synchronized. Can be sent out.
5) Since the activation completion information received from the downstream in response to the activation request is held until the own machine is activated, the result status is upstream in a state in which the activation state of the own machine and the downstream sheet processing apparatus is synchronized. Can be sent out.
6) Since the result state can be sent upstream in a state where the states of the connected sheet processing apparatus groups are synchronized, it is easy to handle as a system, and the reliability can be improved.
7) Since the final-stage sheet processing apparatus generates and sends the operation result information, the processing content in each connected sheet processing apparatus can be simplified, and the reliability can be improved.
8) Since the last-stage sheet processing apparatus generates and sends out the operation result information even for the operation request information that does not require the operation state to be changed, the processing content in each connected sheet processing apparatus is simplified. The reliability can be improved.
9) Since the sheet processing apparatus connected to the final stage has no communication means for the downstream side, the cost can be reduced.
There are effects such as.

  The present invention provides a post-processing function such as an alignment process, a binding process, a punching process, a folding process, and a bookbinding process at the subsequent stage of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a digital multifunction peripheral, or a printing apparatus. The present invention can be applied to a sheet processing system or an image forming system in general in which at least one post-processing device such as a dawn device, a binding device, a folding device, a stacking device, a slip sheet device, and a bookbinding device is connected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Copier 101,102,103 Sheet processing apparatus 150 Printer 200 Folding apparatus 300 Stacking apparatus 400 Finisher 1021, 1031 CPU
1022, 1023, 1032 UART
1025,1035 RAM
1026,1036 lines

JP 2007-10659 A Japanese Patent No. 3995989

Claims (11)

Communication means capable of communicating with other devices;
Storage means for storing information received from the communication means;
Control means for controlling reception information and transmission information via the communication means and the storage means;
A sheet processing apparatus used in conjunction with another machine,
The control means includes
When the operation result information is received from the other downstream device, if the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information, the operation result information is immediately transferred to the other upstream device. ,
When the operation result information received from the other device on the downstream side does not match the operation state of the own device, the operation result information is held in the storage means, and the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information. The sheet processing apparatus suspends transfer of the received operation result information to another apparatus on the upstream side. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means performs the transfer or hold processing when the operation request information received from another upstream device is operation request information for a connected sheet processing apparatus group including the own device. Sheet processing apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2,
If the operation request information received from the upstream device is operation request information for a sheet processing apparatus other than the own device, the control unit does not hold the operation result information received from the downstream device. A sheet processing apparatus characterized in that it is immediately transferred to an upstream device. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2,
When the operation request information is a stop request and the operation result information is a stop completion, the control means transfers the operation result information of the completion of the stop to the upstream device until the operation of the own device stops. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is suspended. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The operation request information is a start request, the operation result information is start completion, and the transfer of the operation result information of the start completion to the upstream device is suspended until the own apparatus starts to accept a sheet. A sheet processing apparatus. 6. A sheet processing system, wherein a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses according to claim 1 are connected. The sheet processing system according to claim 6,
The control means includes
When the operation request information received from the upstream is the operation request information for the sheet processing apparatus group, the own device connected to the last stage generates the operation result information and responds to the upstream device to obtain the operation result. Transfer information,
The other device connected to the other upstream side does not generate operation result information, and transfers the operation result information received from the downstream device to the upstream device in a state where it matches the state of the own device. Sheet processing system. The sheet processing system according to claim 7,
The sheet processing system characterized in that the own machine connected to the last stage generates operation result information even for operation request information that does not require an operation state to be changed. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. Communication means capable of communicating with other devices;
Storage means for storing information received from the communication means;
A sheet processing control method for a sheet processing apparatus used in conjunction with another machine,
Operation results received when the operation status of the own device was received when receiving operation result information from another device on the downstream side
If it matches the information, immediately transfer the operation result information to the other upstream device,
If the operation result information received from another device on the downstream side does not match the operation status of the device
The result information is stored in the storage means, and the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information.
The sheet processing control method is characterized in that the transfer of the received operation result information to another apparatus on the upstream side is suspended until a predetermined time is reached . Communication means capable of communicating with other devices;
Storage means for storing information received from the communication means;
A sheet processing control in a sheet processing apparatus used in conjunction with other machines.
A sheet processing control program for execution by a computer ,
When the operation result information is received from another device on the downstream side, if the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information, the operation result information is immediately transferred to the other device on the upstream side. Procedure and
When the operation result information received from the other device on the downstream side does not match the operation state of the own device, the operation result information is held in the storage means, and the operation state of the own device matches the received operation result information. A procedure for deferring the transfer of the received operation result information to the other device on the upstream side ,
Sheet processing control program, characterized in that it comprises.

Images