JP5445389B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system including a post-processing apparatus that bundles punched sheets and performs bookbinding processing using a ring binder.

  2. Description of the Related Art A bookbinding apparatus that binds a plurality of sheets on which images have been formed by a copier, a printer, or the like, and performs bookbinding processing on the bundle, and an image forming system including the bookbinding apparatus are known.

  The bookbinding process includes a bookbinding process using staples and a bookbinding process using an adhesive. As another bookbinding process, there is a ring bookbinding process. In this method, a punched sheet is bundled and aligned, and a bookbinding process is performed by passing a metal coil through a hole in the aligned sheet bundle or by passing a ring of a ring binder. Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming system including such a ring bookbinding apparatus.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a ring binder in which rings are arranged along the long side of a belt-like surplus portion. The ring binder is formed by molding a piece of paper cut into a predetermined shape.

JP 2009-256070 A JP 2009-119712 A

  An example of a booklet bk created using a ring binder having a belt-like surplus portion is shown in FIG. FIG. 20A is a perspective view showing a state of the booklet bk immediately after being created. In this state, the belt-like surplus portion 92 is exposed on the surface, so that it does not look good. In order to avoid this, the user can turn one sheet at the bottom and turn it over, so that the completed state shown in FIG. The sheet S turned at this time is used as a cover.

  FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining the printing order in the image forming system for creating the booklet bk in the state as shown in FIG. FIG. 21A is a diagram showing the document reading order, FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the order in which image data obtained by reading is printed, and FIG. 21D is a stack in the printing order. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which sheets are stacked in a section to create a sheet bundle, and the created sheet bundle is bound by a ring binder rb.

  In order to obtain a booklet bk as shown in FIG. 20, the final nth sheet (back cover: Rear Cover) is placed on the lowermost layer as shown in FIG. A sheet bundle is created by stacking sheets from the first sheet (front cover) to the (n-1) th sheet in order. Then, a booklet bk as shown in FIG. 20A is created by attaching a ring binder rb to the created sheet bundle. That is, as shown in FIG. 21B, first, n pages of image data are printed on the nth sheet, and then the first to (n-1) th sheets are sequentially printed. Data is being printed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 21A, the reading order of the original is performed from the first sheet to the n-th sheet, but as shown in FIG. 21B, the printing order is the n-th sheet and the first sheet. The second,..., N-1th, and they are different.

  FIG. 21C is a diagram schematically illustrating the execution timing of the reading operation (scan) and the printing operation (print) with the horizontal axis as time. In order to print the nth sheet, it is necessary to finish reading the last nth original, but since the reading is performed last, reading of all the originals is completed as shown in FIG. After that, the first printing was started and there was a problem that productivity was low.

  In view of such a problem, the present invention has an object of improving booklet productivity by enabling printing to be started before reading of all originals is completed.

  The above object is achieved by the invention described below.

1. A document transport unit capable of continuously transporting a plurality of documents placed on the document placement table one by one from the topmost document;
A scanner for reading a document conveyed by the document conveying unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on paper based on image data obtained by reading by the scanner;
A reversing conveyance unit that reverses the front and back of the image-formed paper;
A stack unit for stacking perforated sheets of image-formed paper, and a plurality of sheets arranged along the long side of the strip-shaped surplus portion and the strip-shaped surplus portion of the flat plate in the stack of sheets stacked in the stack unit. A ring binding unit comprising: a ring binding unit that attaches a ring binder composed of a ring and performs bookbinding to create a booklet; and
It is determined that the reading of the (n-1) previous document _(n-1) before the final n original _(n) is completed, and the previous (n-1) original is determined based on the determination. starts image formation on the paper by the image data obtained _(n-1) by _(n-1), followed by the image data _(n-1) from the image obtained by the first document ₍₁₎ The image formation on the paper is performed in the descending order opposite to the order of reading up to the data ₍₁₎ , and finally the image formation on the paper based on the image data _(n) obtained from the last n originals _(n) is performed. A control unit that forms a booklet by performing,
An image forming system comprising:

2. A detection sensor for detecting that the document placed on the document placement table is lost;
2. The image according to 1, wherein reading of the _(n−1) original _(n−1) preceding the final n original _(n) is determined by detection of the detection sensor. Forming system.

3. The image forming surface on the paper based on the image data _(n) by the image forming unit can be selected between the outside of the back cover of the booklet and the inside of the back cover,
3. The image formation according to 1 or 2, wherein when the image is formed on the outside of the back cover, the paper is stacked on the stack portion after the front and back surfaces of the image-formed paper are reversed by the reverse conveying unit. system.

4). Having an operation part,
The last n originals _(n) are placed on the top, and then the first original ₍₁₎ to the previous (n-1) original _(n-1) are placed on the original placing table in ascending order. A high-speed mode that forms a booklet based on a plurality of placed originals can be selected.
When the high-speed mode is selected by an instruction from the user to the operation unit,
The control unit controls to form a booklet by sequentially forming an image based on image data obtained in an order in which the document placed on the document placing table is transported by the document transport unit. The image forming system as described in 1 above.

5. The immediately previous (n-1) of the original _(n-1) by the obtained image data _(n-1) from the first document ₍₁₎ image data obtained by ₍₁₎ descending to the paper to When the image is formed on the sheet based on the image data _(n) obtained from the final document _(n) , and
A case where image formation is sequentially performed based on image data obtained in the order in which the document placed on the document placement table is transported by the document transport unit when the high-speed mode is selected;
5. The image forming system as described in 4 above, wherein the direction of the image formed on the paper is changed by 180 degrees.

6). Having a display,
In the display unit, the last n originals _(n) are placed at the top, followed by the first original ₍₁₎ to the previous (n-1) original _(n-1) in ascending order. 6. The image forming system according to item 4 or 5, wherein an instruction to place the document on the document table is displayed.

7). A punching processing unit for punching a paper image-formed by the image forming unit;
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ring bookbinding unit performs bookbinding on the paper that has been punched by the punching unit.

According to the present invention, it is determined that the reading of the _(n-1) original document _(n-1) before the final n original document _(n) is completed, and the previous one ( n-1) starts image formation on the sheet by the document _(image data obtained by _{n-1) (n-1),} followed by the first sheet from the image data _(n-1) document ₍₁ It performs image formation on the sheet in the reverse order of descending performing the read image to the data ₍₁₎ obtained _by), based on the last image data obtained by the document of the last sheet n _{(n) (n)} By forming an image on a sheet to form a booklet, printing can be started before reading of all originals is completed, and the productivity of the booklet can be improved.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus A, a post-processing apparatus B1, a post-processing apparatus B2, and a post-processing apparatus B3. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an automatic document feeder ADF and a scanner 7. FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of post-processing apparatus B2. It is a figure which shows the ring binder rb before a process. 4A is a top view and FIG. 4B is a side view. It is a figure which shows the ring binder rb after a process. FIG. 5A is a top view and FIG. 5B is a side view. It is a control block diagram of an image forming system. It is a figure explaining a control flow. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a document is placed on an automatic document feeder ADF. FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram showing the reading order of the originals, FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram showing the printing order, and FIG. 9C is a reading operation (scan) and a printing operation (print) with the horizontal axis as time. ) Is a diagram schematically showing the execution timing. FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram showing the stacking order and the position of the belt-like surplus portion 92. FIG. 20A is an example of a booklet created using a ring binder having a belt-like surplus part. FIG. 20A shows the booklet bk placed on the paper discharge tray 202, and FIG. 20B turns the paper. It is a perspective view which shows the booklet bk of a completion state. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet state and image data arrangement at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet state and image data arrangement at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet state and image data arrangement at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet state and image data arrangement at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 illustrated in FIG. It is a figure explaining a control flow. The example of the selection screen displayed on the operation display part 9 is shown. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a document is placed on an automatic document feeder ADF in correspondence with a high-speed mode. 18A is a schematic diagram showing the reading order of documents, FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram showing the printing order, and FIG. 18C is a scanning operation (scan) and printing operation (print) with the horizontal axis as time. ) Is a diagram schematically showing the execution timing. FIG. 18D is a schematic diagram showing the stacking order and the position of the belt-like surplus portion 92. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet state and image data arrangement at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 20A is an example of a booklet created using a ring binder having a belt-like surplus part, FIG. 20A shows a booklet bk immediately after creation, and FIG. 20B shows a booklet bk in a completed state with the paper turned. It is a perspective view shown. FIG. 21A is a schematic diagram showing the reading order of documents, FIG. 21B is a schematic diagram showing the printing order, and FIG. 21C is a scanning operation (scan) and printing operation (print) with the horizontal axis as time. ) Is a diagram schematically showing the execution timing. FIG. 21D is a schematic diagram showing the stacking order and the position of the belt-like surplus portion 92.

  Although the present invention will be described based on an embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[Image forming system]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus A and post-processing apparatuses B1, B2, and B3. Various post-processing can be performed on the paper on which the image is formed (hereinafter also referred to as printing) by the image forming apparatus A by the subsequent post-processing apparatuses B1, B2, and B3. The post-processing apparatus B2 includes a ring bookbinding unit 210 that performs bookbinding processing with a ring binder, and a punching processing unit 240 that performs punching processing. Note that the image forming system shown in the figure is an example, and as another embodiment, a configuration in which the post-processing devices B1 and B3 are not connected, or a configuration in which a plurality of post-processing devices B2 are connected may be used. In the image forming system, each apparatus may be a separate unit or an integrated unit.

[Image forming apparatus A]
The illustrated image forming apparatus A includes a scanner 7, an image forming unit 4, paper feeding / conveying units 5 a and 5 b, a fixing device 8, an automatic document feeder ADF, and an operation display unit 9.

  The image forming unit 4 forms an image on a sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 4 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a cleaning unit, and the like, and forms a monochrome or full color image.

  The sheet feeding / conveying unit 5 a includes a sheet feeding tray on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and conveys the sheets one by one to the image forming unit 4.

  The operation display unit 9 includes a touch panel in which a touch screen is arranged on a display unit constituted by a liquid crystal panel. Various operation screens can be displayed on the operation display unit 9, an insertion position of a band-like surplus portion 92 described later can be set, and whether or not a partition sheet is inserted can be set.

  A toner image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 4 on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding and conveying unit 5a. The paper carrying the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 8 and sent to the subsequent post-processing device B2 or the like. The above is the description of the operation in the single-side mode in which an image is formed on one side of the paper. When executing the duplex mode in which images are formed on both sides of the paper, the paper on which the toner image is formed on one side (side 1) is transported downward on the downstream side of the fixing device 8, and the front, back, front and back of the reverse transport unit R1 paper Is reversed and then returned to the image forming unit 4 through the double-sided conveyance path 6 to form an image on the back surface (side 2).

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the automatic document feeder ADF and the scanner 7. The documents placed on the document placement table 30 of the automatic document feeder ADF are transported one by one from the topmost document by each transport roller. The document conveyed by the conveyance drum 32 is read by the CCD image sensor 17 of the scanner 7 at a reading position on the glass 33. The read original is switched back by the conveying roller 34 and sent to the upper original discharge tray 35. When performing double-sided reading of a document, the document is again transported to the reading position by the transport drum 32 and the back side (side 2) is read.

  The automatic document feeder ADF is provided with a pre-feed detection sensor 31a and a zero sheet detection sensor 31b. In either case, it is detected whether or not there is a document at the detection position. The pre-feed sensor 31a is provided so that the front side of the transport drum 32 is a detection position, and the zero-sheet detection sensor 31b is a position behind the document placement table 30 in the transport direction and detects the trailing edge of the document. Is provided. The detection position of the zero sheet detection sensor 31b is set such that the trailing edge of the document placed on the document placement table can be detected and the document slightly conveyed by the pre-feed cannot be detected.

When a plurality of documents are continuously conveyed, the document is fed (pre-feed) immediately after the trailing edge of the previous document passes the pre-feed detection sensor 31a, and the leading edge is pre-feed. The original is temporarily stopped when it reaches the position of the detection sensor 31a, and then the original is conveyed after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is detected by the zero sheet detection sensor 31b that the document on the document table 30 has run out. By setting the position as described above, the detection timing is the timing when the final document is pre-fed. At this detection timing, the last original (last sheet n) is not read and the previous (n-1) original _(n-1) is being read, or Immediately after termination. That two detection sensors (pre feed detection sensor 31a, the zero Like sensor 31b) by the detection of the read document is completed, the document of one original of the last sheet n _(n) before (n-1) _{( n-1)} .

[Large capacity feeder LT]
The large-capacity sheet feeder LT includes sheet-feeding and conveying sections 5c, 5d, and 5e each having a large-capacity sheet feed tray, and continuously feeds a large amount of sheets from these sheet feed trays. A can be conveyed to A.

[Post-processing device B1]
The first post-processing device B1 is a reverse conveyance device that reverses paper. When the sheet is conveyed as it is without being reversed, the conveyance path 101 is conveyed, and when the sheet is reversed, the sheet is conveyed to the reverse reversing conveyance unit R10 and switched back so that the sheet is turned upside down. Transport to post-processing equipment. Note that the sheet conveyance speed in the post-processing apparatus B1 can be increased to about twice that of the image forming apparatus A. When the sheet is conveyed to the reversing conveyance unit R10, the image is formed by increasing the speed. Since the sheet can be reversed by the post-processing apparatus B1 without widening the sheet interval when images are continuously formed on the sheet by the apparatus A, the influence on the productivity of the image forming apparatus A can be reduced.

[Post-processing device B3]
Before describing the second post-processing device B2, the third post-processing device B3 will be described first. The post-processing device B3 includes a side stitching unit 370, a punching processing unit 340, a folding unit 350, and a saddle stitching unit 380.

  In the flat stitching unit 370, sheets conveyed from the upstream side of the image forming apparatus A or the like are stacked to form a sheet bundle, and a predetermined position close to the end of the sheet bundle by the flat stitching unit 370 with respect to the sheet bundle. Then, the staple is stapled and the flat stitching process is performed. The sheet bundle that has undergone the flat binding process in the flat binding unit 380 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 301.

  The saddle stitching unit 380 performs saddle stitching processing. Similarly, the saddle stitching unit 380 stacks the sheets conveyed from the upstream side to form a sheet bundle, and performs the saddle stitching process by placing a binding needle at a substantially central portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle. The bound sheet bundle is subjected to a middle folding process in which a folded portion 350 on the downstream side is folded at the center portion where the staple is hit. The sheet bundle that has been subjected to the saddle stitching by the saddle stitching unit 380 and the folding unit 350 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 302.

[Post-processing device B2]
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the post-processing device B2. The post-processing device B2 functions as a ring bookbinding device, performs a punching process on a sheet, and performs a bookbinding process by attaching a ring binder having a plurality of rings to the punched sheet.

  Here, the ring binder rb used in the post-processing device B2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the ring binder rb before processing. 4A is a top view and FIG. 4B is a side view. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet-like ring binder rb before processing such as a bending process is a flat plate including a band portion 92 a and a plurality of strips 91 a extending vertically from the long side thereof. Examples of the material include resin films of polyester and cellulose esters. A ring 91 is formed by bending and bending the strip portion of the flat plate shown in FIG. 4 into a cylindrical shape (see FIG. 5). Further, a portion having a predetermined length from the front end c of each strip 91a is joined to the band portion 92a by an adhesive. The band portion 92 a becomes the band-shaped surplus portion 92. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing the ring binder rb after the sheet-like member shown in FIG. 4 is processed. In the ring binder rb, along the long side of the belt-like surplus portion 92. A plurality of rings 91 are arranged side by side.

  Returning to the description of FIG. In the figure, the transport destination of the paper transported from the upstream apparatus can be switched by switching gates G1 and G2. When the post-processing is not performed, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 201 by transporting the paper to the upper transport path. Further, when the conveyed paper is post-processed downstream without being post-processed by the post-processing apparatus B2, the paper can be conveyed to the downstream post-processing apparatus B3 by conveying the paper straight. . When the bookbinding process is performed by the ring binder rb in the post-processing apparatus B2, the sheet is conveyed to the lower conveyance path by the switching gate G2. Further, the post-processing device B2 includes an insertion paper tray 52a, and the loaded insert paper can be conveyed to each conveyance path.

[Perforation processing unit 240]
When the punching process is performed, the sheet conveyed downward by the switching gate G2 is conveyed to the guide member 249 as shown in FIG. The sheet conveyed from the upstream side post-processing device B1 is reversed on the front and back in the U-shaped conveyance path 241 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and then slides down on the inclined surface of the guide member 249, Stops by contacting the stopper 245. Note that a plurality of sheets can be stacked on the guide member 249.

  The width alignment members 243 are disposed on both sides of the guide member 249 in the sheet width direction (direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction), and are used for one sheet or a plurality of sheets placed on the inclined surface of the guide member 249. Alignment in the width direction and alignment in the width direction are performed by tapping both ends with a width alignment member 243.

  A plurality of punches 242 are disposed in the vicinity of the stopper 245. The punching process is performed on the paper by moving all or a part of the punches 242 toward the paper placed on the guide member 249. The perforated sheet or sheets are conveyed to the lower ring binding unit 210 by the conveying roller 248.

  Note that paper that has been punched in advance may be used, and in that case, punching is not necessary. When such a sheet is used, the sheet on which an image is formed on the upstream side is conveyed to the post-processing device B2 in such a direction that the hole position is located on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

[Ring bookbinding section 210]
The ring binding portion 210 is provided with a stack portion composed of a guide member 219, a width alignment member 213, and a stopper 215. Sheets that have been punched in the stack unit or a plurality of sheets punched by the punching unit 240 are placed to form a sheet bundle. The stopper 215 also serves as a clamp mechanism, and holds the sheet bundle such that the hole portion of the sheet bundle protrudes downward.

  The supply unit 211 shows a state in which a plurality of sheet-like ring binders rb before processing are stored. The sheet-like ring binders rb stored in the supply unit 211 are supplied to the ring binding unit 212 one by one. The ring binding portion 212 rotates about a lower shaft, and forms a ring 91 by processing a sheet-like ring binder rb. The bookbinding process is completed by moving the ring 91 of the moved ring binder rb through the hole in the sheet bundle and then joining the leading end c to the band 92a.

  The booklet bk that has been bound is transported downstream by transport belts 250a and 250b having claw portions and stacked on the paper discharge tray 202.

[Control block]
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the image forming system. In the figure, the periphery of the part necessary for the description of the operation of the present embodiment is mainly described, and other parts known as the image forming system are omitted. Further, in the following drawings, in order to avoid duplication of explanation, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and replaced with explanation.

  The image forming apparatus A includes a control unit A10, an image forming unit 4, a scanner 7, an automatic document feeder ADF, an operation display unit 9, a storage unit A11, and a communication unit A12.

  The control unit A10 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores data including programs and various tables, and a RAM that is used as a work area for expanding and executing the programs. The control unit A10 executes various controls of the image forming apparatus A.

  The scanner 7 reads the document based on the print job setting input to the operation display unit 9 and generates image data. The generated image data is processed by the control unit A10 as described above and stored in the storage unit A11 or output to the image forming unit 4. Here, the print job settings include the size of the paper to be used, the paper feed tray, the number of printed sheets, the double-sided / single-sided mode, the type of post-processing, the presence / absence of insert paper, and the like. The type of post-processing includes the number of sheets (thickness) on which a booklet is formed in the case of bookbinding processing using a ring binder.

  The operation display unit 9 includes an operation unit configured by a touch panel in which a touch screen is placed on a display unit configured by a liquid crystal panel. Various operation screens can be displayed by the operation display unit 9. The operation display unit 9 functions as an “operation unit” and a “display unit”.

  A12 is a communication unit which is connected to at least the post-processing device B2 and transmits / receives various data to / from the post-processing device B2.

  The post-processing device B2 includes a control unit B10, a storage unit B11, a communication unit B12, and a ring binding unit 210. The control unit B10 has the same configuration as that of the control unit A10, and executes various controls of the post-processing device B2 according to a program. The communication unit B12 is connected to the image forming apparatus A and transmits / receives various data to / from the image forming apparatus A.

[Control flow]
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a control flow performed jointly by the control unit A10 and the control unit B10 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “control unit”) of the image forming system according to the embodiment.

In step S <b> 11, the conveyance of the document placed on the document placement table 30 is started in response to a start instruction from the user to a copy button (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the arrangement order of the plurality of documents placed on the document placement table 30 is from the first document (front cover: Front Cover) to the last document _{(n )} Are arranged in ascending order (hereinafter, the final document _(n) is simply referred to as “final document _(n) ”).

  In step S12, the scanned original is read by the scanner 7 to acquire image data. The obtained image data is stored in the storage unit A11 with a page counter.

In step S13, based on the outputs of the detection sensors (the pre-feed detection sensor 31a and the zero sheet detection sensor 31b), the document that has been read in step S12 is one sheet before the last document _{n (n)} (n It is determined whether the original _(n-1) is ₍ -1). As described above, when the next document is pre-fed from the document table 30 to the detection position of the pre-feed detection sensor 31a while the previous document is being conveyed to the reading position, the zero-sheet detection sensor 31b Since it can be seen from the no-original signal that the pre-fed original is the final original _{n (n)} , the previous original that has been read is the previous original (n−1) original _(n− ). ₁₎ can be determined.

In the case of a configuration in which the number of originals is input by the user in advance and the number information is stored, or in a configuration in which all originals are skipped and the number of originals is counted before the original image is read and the number information is stored. Based on the stored number-of-documents information and information on the number of already-fed documents, it is determined whether or not it is the _(n−1) document _(n−1) before the last n documents _(n). It is also possible to do.

When the control unit determines that it is not the original document _{(n-1) one} before the final document (step S13: No), reading of the image data is continued by repeating the flow after step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined that the one document before the final document _(n-1) (step S13: Yes), that is one document of the last sheet n _(n) before the (n-1) original _{( When} it is determined that the reading of ( _n-1) has been completed, the control unit starts printing on the sheet by the image forming unit 4 based on the image data stored in the storage unit A11 (step S14). . Details of the printing order will be described later.

In steps S15 and S16, the document of the final document _(n) placed at the bottom of the document placing table 30 at the start of reading is conveyed and read to obtain image data. The obtained image data _(n) of the final document n is printed according to the following page order.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9C, in the present embodiment, printing based on the image data _(n-1) is started when reading of the original _(n-1) one sheet before the final original is completed. be able to. An arrow (p-trigger) in FIG. 9A indicates the timing (the same applies hereinafter).

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing the printing order. After the image formation of the image data _(n−1) of the final document is performed, another sheet of the document _(n−1) one sheet before the final document is performed. Previous document _(n-2) by the obtained image data _(n-2) from the first document ₍₁₎ by the image data obtained ₍₁₎ read the paper in the reverse order of descending was performed until Finally, the image is formed on the sheet based on the image data _(n) obtained from the final document _(n) . In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, the image is arranged in the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction (upside down), as shown in FIG. 9B. In this case, the orientation of the image is 180 degrees different from the case of printing in the high-speed mode described later (the top and bottom are in the opposite direction).

  As shown in FIG. 9D, the booklet created by the ring binding unit 210 is the (n-1) th sheet in the lowermost layer, and one sheet in order from the (n-2) th sheet thereon. The sheets up to the eyes are stacked, and the uppermost sheet thereafter becomes the nth sheet. The belt-like surplus portion 92 is located on the nth sheet, that is, between the nth sheet and the (n−1) th sheet. The booklet bk placed on the paper discharge tray 202 is as shown in FIG. 10A. When the user turns over the top n-th sheet of the booklet bk and turns it over, the booklet bk shown in FIG. A complete booklet can be obtained.

According to this embodiment, the image is formed on the sheet in descending order opposite to the order of reading from the image data _(n−1) to the image data ₍₁₎ , and the sheet is based on the image data _(n) of the final document. The image formation for forming the booklet can be started at the time when the reading of the original _(n-1) one sheet before the final original is completed by performing image formation on the image shown in FIG. Productivity can be improved compared to the conventional example.

[Example]
The arrangement of image data on a sheet in this embodiment will be described. FIGS. 11 to 14 are schematic diagrams for explaining the state of sheets and the arrangement of image data at each position in the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing apparatus B1, and the post-processing apparatus B2 shown in FIG. The example shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is an example in a configuration in which a U-shaped conveyance path 241 is provided in the post-processing apparatus B2 and the reversing process is performed on all sheets. In these drawings, (1) to (5) indicate the order of image formation and conveyance. The first column on the right side shows the state of the sheet carried out from the image forming apparatus A, and the second column is The state of the sheet carried out from the post-processing device B1 is shown, and the third row shows the state of the paper that has been punched by the punching processing unit 240 of the post-processing device B2 and placed on the stack unit. A shaded arrow indicates that a reversing process is performed for turning the paper upside down, and a white arrow indicates that a reversing process is not performed. For example, in the first column of FIG. 11 (1), it is shown that the image based on the image data _(n−1) is arranged in the upside down direction on the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus A. In the second row, the image is reversed by the post-processing device B1 and turned up so that the image surface is downward (shown as a mirror image character in the drawing). The figure shows a state in which the front and back sides are reversed by the conveyance path 241 of the processing unit 240 and the image surface is again directed upward, and then punched by the punch 242 and then placed on the stack unit.

  Through the procedure shown in these drawings, the sheets in the states (2) to (5) are sequentially stacked on the sheets placed in the state (1) in the stack unit, and the final n After the first “back cover” sheet is conveyed, the bookbinding process is performed by the ring bookbinding unit 210 to obtain a booklet bk.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are examples in which one side of a document is read and an image is formed on a sheet in a single side mode based on the obtained image data. FIG. 11 shows an example in which an image of the final document _(n) is formed inside the back cover of the completed booklet, and FIG. 12 shows a case in which an image of the final document _(n) is formed outside the back cover. It is an example. In FIG. 12, as shown in (5), the final sheet (n) is discharged to the post-processing apparatus B2 without being reversed by the post-processing apparatus B1.

  FIG. 13 shows an example in which both sides of the original are read and an image is formed on the paper in the duplex mode based on the obtained image data. Side 1 indicates the first surface (front), and side 2 indicates the second surface (back). As shown in FIG. 13, the second surface of the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus A is on the upper side, and the post-processing apparatus B1 does not perform the reversing process and conveys it as it is to the post-processing apparatus B2. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the images are arranged so that the arrangement of the booklet bk in the completed state and the arrangement of the images of the original bundle placed on the original placement table 30 are the same. That is, the image on the upper surface of the uppermost document in the document bundle is arranged outside the front cover of the booklet bk, and the image on the lower surface of the lowermost document is arranged outside the back cover.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the mixed loading mode in which the double-sided mode and the single-sided mode are mixedly loaded. The setting of the single-sided mode, the double-sided mode, and the mixed loading mode can be set on a setting screen (not shown) of the operation display unit 9.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the final original _(n) and the previous original _(n-1) are single-sided originals, and the other originals are double-sided originals and read and printed. In the example of the figure, the image of the final document _(n) is formed outside the back cover of the booklet bk.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the arrangement and inversion processing of the image data in any of the single-sided mode, the double-sided mode, and the mixed loading mode, printing can be started early, so that productivity can be improved. Can be increased.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19. In the second embodiment, the high-speed mode can be selected in addition to the normal mode shown in FIG.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a control flow performed by the control unit. Before describing the control flow, a method for selecting the high-speed mode will be described. FIG. 16 shows an example of a selection screen displayed on the operation display unit 9. The user can select either the normal mode or the high speed mode by selecting the d1 button or the d2 button shown in FIG. When the high speed mode is selected, an instruction to the user is displayed in the display field d3. By performing such display, it is possible to avoid the formation of an incorrect booklet due to a user's operation error.

In the case of the normal mode, the original bundle placed on the original placement table 30 is n for the lowest back cover, with the _first original ₍₁₎ for the cover as the top as shown in FIG. The first document _(n) is placed in ascending order. On the other hand, in the high-speed mode, it is necessary to replace the lowest _nth document _(n) with the highest. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the last n originals _(n) are set at the top, followed by the first original ₍₁₎ and the last (n-1) originals. _(N-1) are placed on the document placing table in ascending order. A display instructing that is displayed in the display field d3 of FIG.

  The user places the originals rearranged as shown in FIG. 17 on the original placement table 30 and presses the OK button of the operation display unit 9 to confirm the selection of the high speed mode.

The control flow in FIG. 15 is started by a user's start instruction to a copy button (not shown) or the like provided in the image forming apparatus A. In step S21, the control unit determines whether or not the high speed mode is selected. If it is a normal mode (step S21: No), control after the above-mentioned step S11 shown in FIG. 7 will be performed. If the high-speed mode is selected (step S21: Yes), the first document placed on the top of the document placement table 30 is conveyed in the subsequent step S22. In the “normal mode”, the control unit estimates the top document as the first document ₍₁₎ , but in the “high-speed mode”, the control unit estimates this as the final document _(n) and performs subsequent control. I do. In step S23, the conveyed original is read by the scanner 7 to acquire image data. The obtained image data is stored in the storage unit A11 with a page counter. In step S24, printing is started based on the image data obtained in step S23.

FIG. 18 is a diagram corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 21. In the high-speed mode, the original reading order is first read as the first original _(n) as shown in FIG. 18A (step S23). The printing order is performed in the order as shown in FIG. Since this is the same as the reading order of the originals, the printing is started when the reading of the first original _(nth original _(n) ) is completed as shown in FIG. Printing based on _(n) can be started.

  For the second and subsequent sheets, the document is transported and read in order from the top along the document placement table arrangement order (steps S25 and S26). Based on the obtained image data, image formation on the sheet and stack unit are sequentially performed. Carry to. This is performed until the final document ends (step S27: Yes).

  FIG. 19 corresponds to FIG. Unlike the normal mode shown in FIG. 12, the image forming surfaces of the sheets stacked on the stack portion are reversed. In the normal mode, the first to n-1th sheets are placed on the stack in a so-called face-up (and descending order) in which the image forming surface is on the upper side. In the high-speed mode, the opposite face-down (and ascending order) is placed. It is placed in. Also, as shown in these figures, in the high speed mode, the orientation of the image formed on the paper (top and bottom is normal) is the normal orientation, which is 180 degrees different from the normal mode (top and bottom). Is the opposite).

  As described above, in the high-speed mode, the arrangement order of the document bundles placed on the document placement table 30 is changed based on the display instructed by the user on the operation display unit 9, thereby comparing with the normal mode shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore, since printing can be started at an early stage, productivity can be further improved.

A Image forming device 4 Image forming unit R1 Reverse conveyance unit ADF Automatic document feeder 30 Document placement table 31a Pre-feed detection sensor 31b Zero sheet detection sensor 33 Glass 7 Scanner 8 Fixing device 9 Operation display unit B1 Post-processing device R10 Reverse conveyance Part B2 Post-processing device 210 Ring binding part 212 Ring binding part 240 Punching part A10 Control part A11 Storage part A12 Communication part B10 Control part B11 Storage part B12 Communication part bk Booklet rb Ring binder 91 Ring 92 Band-shaped surplus part

Claims (7)

A document transport unit capable of continuously transporting a plurality of documents placed on the document placement table one by one from the topmost document;
A scanner for reading a document conveyed by the document conveying unit;
An image forming unit that forms an image on paper based on image data obtained by reading by the scanner;
A reversing conveyance unit that reverses the front and back of the image-formed paper;
A stack unit for stacking perforated sheets of image-formed paper, and a plurality of sheets arranged along the long side of the strip-shaped surplus portion and the strip-shaped surplus portion of the flat plate in the stack of sheets stacked in the stack unit. A ring binding unit comprising: a ring binding unit that attaches a ring binder composed of a ring and performs bookbinding to create a booklet; and
It is determined that the reading of the (n-1) previous document _(n-1) before the final n original _(n) is completed, and the previous (n-1) original is determined based on the determination. starts image formation on the paper by the image data obtained _(n-1) by _(n-1), followed by the image data _(n-1) from the image obtained by the first document ₍₁₎ The image formation on the paper is performed in the descending order opposite to the order of reading up to the data ₍₁₎ , and finally the image formation on the paper based on the image data _(n) obtained from the last n originals _(n) is performed. A control unit that forms a booklet by performing,
An image forming system comprising: A detection sensor for detecting that the document placed on the document placement table is lost;
The detection of the detection sensor determines that the reading of the _(n-1) original document _(n-1) before the last n originals _(n) is completed. Image forming system. The image forming surface on the paper based on the image data _(n) by the image forming unit can be selected between the outside of the back cover of the booklet and the inside of the back cover,
3. The image according to claim 1, wherein when forming an image on the outside of the back cover, the paper is stacked on the stack portion after the front and back surfaces of the image-formed paper are reversed by the reversing conveyance unit. Forming system. Having an operation part,
The last n originals _(n) are placed on the top, and then the first original ₍₁₎ to the previous (n-1) original _(n-1) are placed on the original placing table in ascending order. A high-speed mode that forms a booklet based on a plurality of placed originals can be selected.
When the high-speed mode is selected by an instruction from the user to the operation unit,
The control unit controls to form a booklet by sequentially forming an image based on image data obtained in an order in which the document placed on the document placing table is transported by the document transport unit. The image forming system according to claim 1. The immediately previous (n-1) of the original _(n-1) by the obtained image data _(n-1) from the first document ₍₁₎ image data obtained by ₍₁₎ descending to the paper to When the image is formed on the sheet based on the image data _(n) obtained from the final document _(n) , and
A case where image formation is sequentially performed based on image data obtained in the order in which the document placed on the document placement table is transported by the document transport unit when the high-speed mode is selected;
5. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the orientation of the image formed on the paper is varied by 180 degrees. Having a display,
In the display unit, the last n originals _(n) are placed at the top, followed by the first original ₍₁₎ to the previous (n-1) original _(n-1) in ascending order. 6. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein an instruction to place the document on the document table is displayed. A punching processing unit for punching a paper image-formed by the image forming unit;
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ring bookbinding unit performs bookbinding processing on the paper that has been punched by the punching processing unit.

Images