JP6136739B2 - Conveyance control device, image forming system, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance control device, an image forming system, and a program.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133830 discloses a technique for temporarily storing a print sheet in an intermediate stacker and discharging the print sheet from the intermediate stacker to a discharge tray when a user who has the right to receive the print sheet inputs a discharge request. It is disclosed.

JP 2007-84276 A

  An object of the present invention is to carry out, in a predetermined order, media on which images that satisfy the criteria are formed, even if media on which images that do not meet the criteria are included in a plurality of media. .

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a conveyance control apparatus conveys a plurality of media each having a sequence of images formed in a predetermined order along a first path and a second path and a third path branched from the first path. Conveying means, containing means for containing the medium conveyed by the third path, and among the medium, a first medium satisfying a certain standard for the image is conveyed by the first path, and the image is The second medium that does not satisfy the standard is conveyed in the second path, the image is formed after the second medium, and the third medium in which the image satisfies the standard is conveyed in the third path, and the second medium is conveyed. The fourth medium on which the image formed on the two media is formed and the image satisfies the reference is accommodated in the accommodating means and the switching means for switching the medium path so that the fourth medium is conveyed on the first path. The third medium is accommodated In order, and infeed means for feeding in the first path so as to be conveyed more recently than the fourth medium, the image forming means for forming an image on the medium, the second medium is the second The image formation is stopped when transported by the path, and when the time corresponding to the amount of the third medium accommodated in the accommodation unit has elapsed since the image formation was stopped, And instructing means for instructing to restart the formation .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the conveyance control device according to the first aspect , wherein the instructing unit is configured to change the size in the conveyance direction of the third medium or the resolution of an image formed on the medium. The instruction is performed by changing the time.

The conveyance control device according to claim 3 of the present invention conveys a plurality of media on which a series of images, each having a predetermined order, are formed, on the first path and the second path and the third path branched from the first path. Conveying means, containing means for containing the medium conveyed by the third path, and among the medium, a first medium satisfying a certain standard for the image is conveyed by the first path, and the image is The second medium that does not satisfy the standard is conveyed in the second path, the image is formed after the second medium, and the third medium in which the image satisfies the standard is conveyed in the third path, and the second medium is conveyed. The fourth medium on which the image formed on the two media is formed and the image satisfies the reference is accommodated in the accommodating means and the switching means for switching the medium path so that the fourth medium is conveyed on the first path. The third medium is accommodated The second medium is the second medium with respect to the feeding means for feeding the first path so as to be conveyed after the fourth medium and the image forming means for forming an image on the medium. stopping the formation of the image when being conveyed by the path, if the amount of the third medium being accommodated in the accommodation section becomes equal to or less than the threshold value, an instruction instructing means so as to resume the formation of the image It is characterized by providing .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system that forms a series of images in a predetermined order on a plurality of media, and the conveyance control device according to any one of the first to third aspects. And a determination device that determines whether an image formed on a medium by the image forming apparatus satisfies a certain standard.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for transporting a plurality of media on which a series of images, each having a predetermined order, are formed, by a first path, a second path branched from the first path, and a third path. One transport device, a storage device that stores the medium transported by the third path, a switching device that switches the path through which the medium is transported to one of the first, second, and third paths, and the storage A second control device that transports a medium from the device to the first path, a computer of a transport control device that controls the switching device, and among the media, the first medium that satisfies a certain standard is the image A second medium that is transported in the first path and the image does not satisfy the standard is transported in the second path, and the image is formed after the second medium and the image satisfies the standard. The medium is the third path A switching means for switching the path of the medium so that an image formed on the second medium is formed and a fourth medium satisfying the reference is transported along the first path; A feeding means for controlling the two conveying devices and feeding the third medium accommodated in the accommodating device into the first path so that the third medium is conveyed after the fourth medium in the order of accommodation ; The image forming means for forming an image on the medium stops the image formation when the second medium is transported by the second path, stops the image formation, and then stops the image formation in the storage device. When a time corresponding to the amount of the third medium accommodated has elapsed, the image forming apparatus functions as an instruction unit that instructs to restart the formation of the image .
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for transporting a plurality of media on which a series of images, each having a predetermined order, are formed, on a first path and a second path and a third path branched from the first path. One transport device, a storage device that stores the medium transported by the third path, a switching device that switches the path through which the medium is transported to one of the first, second, and third paths, and the storage A second control device that transports a medium from the device to the first path, a computer of a transport control device that controls the switching device, and among the media, the first medium that satisfies a certain standard is the image A second medium that is transported in the first path and the image does not satisfy the standard is transported in the second path, and the image is formed after the second medium and the image satisfies the standard. The medium is the third path A switching means for switching the path of the medium so that an image formed on the second medium is formed and a fourth medium satisfying the reference is transported along the first path; A feeding means for controlling the two conveying devices and feeding the third medium accommodated in the accommodating device into the first path so that the third medium is conveyed after the fourth medium in the order of accommodation; The image forming means for forming an image on the medium stops image formation when the second medium is conveyed along the second path, and the third medium accommodated in the accommodating device is stopped. It functions as an instruction means for instructing to resume the formation of the image when the amount becomes equal to or less than a threshold value.

According to the first, third , fourth , fifth , and sixth aspects of the invention, even when a plurality of media on which an image that does not satisfy the criterion is included, an image that satisfies the criterion is formed. Media can be unloaded in a predetermined order.
According to the first and third aspects of the invention, the amount of medium accommodated in the accommodating means can be reduced as compared with the case where image formation is not stopped.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the beginning of the medium conveyed after resumption and the rear end of the third medium is greater than when image formation is resumed at a timing unrelated to the amount of the third medium. It can be made smaller.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, compared with the case where an instruction is issued regardless of the size of the third medium or the resolution of the image, a collision occurs between the head of the medium conveyed after the restart and the rear end of the third medium. Can be difficult.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the head of the medium transported after the restart and the rear end of the third medium is smaller than when the instruction is issued regardless of the amount of the third medium accommodated. It can be easy to become .

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of an image formation part. The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a conveyance control apparatus. The figure which expands and shows a switching apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional configurations of an image forming apparatus and a conveyance control apparatus. The figure which shows an example of the mode of the medium conveyed. The figure which shows an example of the order in which a medium is conveyed. The flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the conveyance control apparatus in a conveyance control process. The figure which shows an example of a function structure of each apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of 1st correlation data. The figure which shows an example of the order in which a medium is conveyed. The flowchart which shows an example of the conveyance control process of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the 1st and 2nd coefficient table. The figure which shows an example of a function structure of the conveyance control apparatus in a modification. The figure which shows an example of a time table.

[1] First Embodiment [1-1] Hardware Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. In this example, an image forming system 1 including an image forming apparatus 10, a determination apparatus 20, a conveyance control apparatus 30, and a post-processing apparatus 40 is illustrated. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding unit 11 and an image forming unit 12 and forms images on a plurality of media P accommodated in the paper feeding unit 11.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming unit 12. The image forming unit 12 includes a developing unit 13, an intermediate transfer unit 14, a secondary transfer unit 15, a transport unit 16, a fixing unit 17, and a control device 18. The developing unit 13 includes a plurality of developing units that respectively develop black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toner images, and represents a toner image that represents an image of each color indicated by the image data. Develop each. Further, the developing unit 13 primarily transfers the developed toner images of respective colors to the intermediate transfer unit 14. The intermediate transfer unit 14 includes an endless belt, and holds the toner images of the respective colors primarily transferred from the developing unit 13 on the belt. The secondary transfer unit 15 forms a nip region and secondarily transfers the toner image held by the intermediate transfer unit 14 to the medium P conveyed to the nip region. The transport unit 16 transports the medium P transported from the paper feed unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 to the nip part, and transports the medium P onto which the toner image has been secondarily transferred at the nip part to the fixing unit 17. Hereinafter, the direction in which the transport unit 16 transports the medium P is referred to as a transport direction A0. The fixing unit 17 fixes the toner image formed on the medium P to the medium P by applying heat and pressure, for example.

  The control device 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a real-time clock. The CPU stores a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit using the RAM as a work area. To control the operation of each device. The real time clock calculates the current date and time and notifies the CPU. The control device 18 includes a hard disk and stores data and programs used by the CPU for control. The control device 18 is connected to a line such as a wired LAN (Local Area Network), receives image data transmitted from an external device, and controls each unit so as to form an image indicated by the received image data. .

  For example, based on image data indicating a series of images in which the order is determined, the image forming unit 12 sequentially transfers the series of images indicated by the image data to the medium P that is sequentially conveyed from the paper supply unit 11. To form. The series of images referred to here is a group of images representing the contents of each page of a publication such as a magazine, a book, or a photo book. When an image is formed on the medium P, if the medium P is inclined with respect to the transport direction A0 or wrinkles are generated on the medium P, the formed image may not match the image indicated by the image data. is there. If the medium P is used in a publication, such medium P needs to be removed. In the image forming system 1, in order to find such a medium P, the determination device 20 determines an image formed on the medium P.

  The determination device 20 is a device that determines whether an image formed on a medium by the image forming apparatus 10 satisfies a certain standard. In the present embodiment, the determination device 20 includes a reading unit 21 such as a scanner, and the reading unit 21 reads an image formed on the medium P carried out from the image forming apparatus 10. The read image and the image on the medium P are read. When the image indicated by the image data used in forming the image matches, it is determined that the criterion is satisfied. In the following, an image determined by the determination device 20 to match (satisfy the criterion) is referred to as a “good image”, and an image determined to not match (does not satisfy the criterion) is referred to as a “defective image”. . The determination apparatus 20 is connected to a line such as a wireless LAN, and outputs result data indicating the determination result to the image forming apparatus 10 and the conveyance control apparatus 30. Specifically, the determination device 20 includes image data indicating an image used for determination, and an image (that is, an image formed on the medium P) indicated by the image data is determined as either a good image or a defective image. Data indicating whether the determination is made is output as result data.

  The post-processing device 40 is a device that performs post-processing such as cutting and binding to the medium P. The post-processing device 40 includes a tray 41 and carries the post-processed medium P onto the tray 41. The medium P thus carried out is in a state of being stacked on the tray 41 as shown in FIG. The plurality of media P carried out to the tray 41 are preferably configured so that images formed on each of them, that is, a series of images are arranged in order. On the other hand, as described above, it is desirable that those media P do not include media on which an image determined to be a defective image is formed. When the plurality of media P are stacked on the tray 41, the transport control device 30 prevents a medium on which a defective image has been formed from being included in the series of media P formed on each of the media P. It is a device that controls the conveyance so that images are arranged in order.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the transport control device 30. The transport control device 30 includes a control device 31, a first transport device 32, a switching device 33, a tray 34, a storage device 35, and a second transport device 36. The control device 31 has the same configuration as the control device 18 shown in FIG. 2 and controls the operation of each device provided in the transport control device 30. The control device 31 is connected to the determination device 20 via a line such as a wireless LAN. Result data output from the determination device 20 is supplied to the control device 31.

  The first transport device 32 includes a plurality of rotating members such as rollers, and is an example of a transport unit that transports the medium P along a first path and a second path and a third path that branch from the first path. In the present embodiment, the first transport device 32 transports a plurality of media on which a series of images in a predetermined order are formed. In the example of FIG. 3, the first, second, and third paths are indicated by R1, R2, and R3. The first route R1 is a route in which the medium P carried out from the determination device 20 is carried in and carried out to the post-processing device 40. The second path R2 is a path through which the medium P on which the image determined as a defective image by the determination device 20 is discharged. The third path R3 is a path for transporting the medium P temporarily held inside the transport control device 30 in order to perform the above-described transport control.

The switching device 33 is a device that switches the path along which the medium P is transported to one of the first path R1, the second path R2, and the third path R3. Details of the switching device 33 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the switching device 33. The switching device 33 includes a first partition 331 and a second partition 332. The first partition 331 is a member that rotates about the shaft 333 and partitions the first path R1 and the second path R2. The second partition 332 is a member that rotates about the shaft 334 and partitions the first path R1 and the third path R3.

  The control apparatus 31 controls the 1st partition 331 and the 2nd partition 332 so that it may be in each state shown to Fig.4 (a), (b), and (c). In FIG. 4A, the first partition 331 and the second partition 332 partition each path so that the medium P is conveyed to the first path R1. 4B, the first partition 331 and the second partition are arranged so that the medium P is transported to the second path R2, and in FIG. 4C, the medium P is transported to the third path R3. 332 partitions each path.

The tray 34 accumulates the medium P conveyed through the second path R2.
The storage device 35 is an example of a storage unit that stores the medium P transported through the third path R3. In the storage device 35, the medium P is stored from the opening 321 on the upper side in the vertical direction, and the medium P is carried out from the opening 322 provided on the side surface on the lower side in the vertical direction.
The second transport device 36 includes a plurality of rotating members such as rollers, and unloads the medium P from the opening 322 of the storage device 35 and transports it to the first route R1 along the fourth route R4 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a location where the medium P transported by the second transport device 36 joins the first path R1 is referred to as a joining location Q1.

[1-2] Functional Configuration The image forming apparatus 10 and the conveyance control apparatus 30 perform a conveyance control process for controlling the conveyance of the medium P based on the above hardware configuration. The functions described below are realized by controlling the devices by executing the programs stored in the control devices 18 and 31, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional configurations of the image forming apparatus 10 and the conveyance control apparatus 30. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a forming unit 101 and a re-forming unit 102, and the conveyance control device 30 includes a switching unit 301 and a feeding unit 302.

[1-2-1] Forming means 101
The forming unit 101 is an example of a unit that forms a series of images in a predetermined order on a plurality of media P, respectively. The forming unit 101 is a function realized by the paper feeding unit 11 and the image forming unit 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, when image data indicating such an image is transmitted from an external apparatus, the forming unit 101 conveys the medium P from the sheet feeding unit 11 one sheet at a specific interval, and a series of images indicated by the received image data. An image is formed in order on each medium P being conveyed.

[1-2-2] Reforming means 102
The re-forming unit 102 is an example of a unit that forms the image on the medium P again when the image formed by the forming unit 101 is determined as a defective image by the determination device 20. The re-forming unit 102 is a function realized by the paper feeding unit 11 and the image forming unit 12. Result data is supplied from the determination device 20 to the re-forming unit 102.

  The re-formation unit 102 forms the image on the medium P when the result data indicates that the image indicated by the image data included in the supplied result data is a defective image. Hereinafter, an image formed on the medium P by the re-forming unit 102 is referred to as a “re-formed image”. In this embodiment, the re-formation unit 102 is an image in which development by the developing unit 13 shown in FIG. 2 is started when result data is supplied (that is, an image that is being formed. Next, the image indicated by the result data is formed as a re-formed image. The relationship between the image being formed and the re-formed image will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a conveyed medium. In FIG. 6, ten media p1 to p10 carried out from the paper supply unit 11 are shown. In this example, an image formed on the medium p1 is determined, and the state at the moment when it is determined as a defective image is shown. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the toner image is secondarily transferred to the medium p <b> 6, and the image is already primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer unit 14. In this example, it is assumed that three images are primarily transferred. These forming images will be formed on media p7, p8 and p9, respectively, in this example. Accordingly, the re-forming unit 102 forms a re-formed image on the medium p10 conveyed next to the medium p9. The re-forming unit 102 outputs re-formed image data indicating the formed re-formed image to the switching unit 301.

[1-2-3] Switching unit 301
The switching unit 301 is an example of a unit that switches a route along which the medium P is conveyed. The switching unit 301 is a function realized by the control device 31 and the switching device 33. The switching unit 301 switches the path according to whether or not the image formed on the medium P satisfies a certain standard. In the present embodiment, the reference that is satisfied when the image formed on the medium P is a good image, that is, the image read from the medium P by the determination device 20 and the image used for forming the image on the medium P are used. A criterion that is satisfied when the image indicated by the image data matches is used.

  Hereinafter, among the media P, a medium on which a good image is formed, that is, a medium on which the formed image satisfies the standard is referred to as a first medium, and a medium on which a defective image is formed, that is, the formed image satisfies the standard. The medium that does not exist is called the second medium. A medium in which an image is formed after the second medium and the image satisfies the standard is referred to as a third medium. In the switching unit 301, the result data output from the determination device 20, that is, data indicating whether the image formed on the medium P is determined to be a good image or a defective image is sequentially displayed each time the medium is determined. Supplied. The switching unit 301 determines whether the medium P conveyed from the determination apparatus 20 is the first medium, the second medium, or the third medium based on the content indicated by the supplied result data, and the first medium P1. Are transferred along the first path R1, the second medium P2 is transferred along the second path R2, and the third medium P3 is switched along the third path R3.

  Further, in the image forming system 1, when the second medium, that is, the medium in which the formed image does not satisfy the standard is found, the re-forming unit 102 forms the re-formed image on the medium P as described above, and the re-formed image Data is output to the switching means 301. The switching unit 301 matches the image indicated by the output reconstructed image data with the image indicated by the result data output from the determination device 20 and forms an image formed on the medium P (in this case, a reconstructed image). As a result, the medium P is switched so that the medium P is transported through the first path R1. The medium P is a medium on which an image formed on the second medium (that is, an image determined to be a defective image) is formed and the image satisfies the criteria, and is hereinafter referred to as a fourth medium. That is, the switching unit 301 switches the path so that the fourth medium is transported along the first path R1. When the switching unit 301 switches the route of the fourth medium, the switching unit 301 notifies the sending unit 302 to that effect.

[1-2-4] Delivery means 302
The sending means 302 is an example of a means for sending the third medium accommodated in the accommodation device 35 to the first path R1 so that the third medium is conveyed after the fourth medium in the order of accommodation. The feeding means 302 is a function realized by the control device 31 and the second transport device 36. When notified from the switching means 301 that the route of the fourth medium has been switched, the feeding means 302 operates the second transport device 36 to transport the third medium, and sends it to the first path R1. The feeding means 302 continues this feeding until the third medium accommodated in the accommodation device 35 is exhausted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order in which media are conveyed. In this example, a series of 30 images (numbers 1 to 30 in the figure indicate the order from the top of each image) are formed on a plurality of media P, respectively. FIG. 7A shows the order in which these series of images are formed by the image forming apparatus 10. In this example, a first medium on which first to fourth images determined to be good images are formed, and a second medium on which a fifth image determined to be defective images are formed. In addition, the third medium on which the sixth to thirteenth images determined to be good images are formed, the fourth medium on which the fifth re-formed image determined to be a good image is formed, and then The third medium on which the 14th to 30th images determined as good images are formed is shown.

FIG. 7B shows the order in which the medium P shown in FIG. 7A is carried out from the transport control device 30 through the first path R1. In this example, after the first medium on which the first to fourth images are formed, the fourth medium on which the fifth re-formed image is formed is carried out, and thereafter, the sixth to thirty-th images are displayed. The formed third medium is carried out in order. In FIG. 7A, the fifth image is formed next to the thirteenth image, and then the fourteenth image is formed. That is, the order in which the images are formed is not the order determined for the series of images. On the other hand, in FIG. 7B, the images formed on the plurality of media are arranged in a predetermined order. That is, when a plurality of media are carried out through the first path R1, the images formed on the media are arranged in a predetermined order.
The sending unit 302 sends the third medium P3 to the first path R1 as described above, and notifies the forming unit 101 when the sending is finished.

[1-2-5] Forming means 101
In this embodiment, the forming unit 101 notifies the sending unit 302 that the formation of a series of images has been completed. Even if other image data is received, the forming unit 101 receives the third medium P3 from the sending unit 302. Until the notification of the completion of sending (or that the sending will be finished soon) is notified, the process waits without starting the formation of an image using the image data. The forming unit 101 starts image formation when the notification from the sending unit 302 is received.

[1-3] Operation The conveyance control device 30 performs the above-described conveyance control process based on the above configuration.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the transport control device 30 in the transport control process. The conveyance control device 30 starts conveyance control processing when the image forming device 10 starts forming an image, the determination device 20 determines the formed image, and receives the result data. The transport control device 30 first receives result data from the determination device 20 (step S11).

  Next, the transport control device 30 determines whether or not the image formed on the medium P is determined to be a good image based on the received result data (step S12), and is not a good image (that is, a defective image). (NO in this case), the medium P (in this case, the second medium P2) is conveyed along the second path R2 (step S13). Then, the transport control device 30 determines whether or not the output of the result data from the determination device 20 has been completed (step S20), and when it is determined that the output has not ended (NO), the transport control device 30 returns to step S11 and operates. Do. Specifically, the conveyance control device 30 determines that the output of the result data is finished when the next result data has not been output even after a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed since the result data was received. to decide.

  If it is determined that the image is a good image in step S12 (YES), the transport control device 30 determines whether the medium P is a medium on which an image is formed after the second medium ( If it is determined that it is not (NO) in step S14), the medium P (in this case, the first medium P1) is transported along the first path R1 (step S15). Specifically, when the conveyance control device 30 has not yet performed the operation of step S13 after starting the conveyance control process, the conveyance control device 30 determines that the medium is not a medium on which an image is formed after the second medium. If the operation in step S13 has been performed, it is determined that the medium has an image formed after the second medium.

  If the transport control device 30 determines in step S14 that the image is formed after the second medium (YES), it determines whether the image formed on the medium P is a re-formed image. Judgment is made (step S16). If the transport control device 30 determines that the image is a re-formed image (YES) in step S16, the transport control device 30 transports the medium P (in this case, the fourth medium) through the first path R1 (step S17). The feeding of the three media P3 to the first path R1 is started (step S18). The conveyance control device 30 performs the operation of step S20 after steps S15 and S18.

  If it is determined in step S16 that the image is not a re-formed image (NO), the transport control device 30 transports the determined medium P (in this case, the third medium P3) along the third path R3 (step S3). S19). Then, the transport control device 30 performs the operation of step S20, and when it is determined that the output is finished (YES), it is determined whether or not the feeding of the third medium P3 to the first path R1 is completed. (Step S21). The conveyance control device 30 repeats the operation of step S21 until it is determined that the feeding is completed (YES). When it is determined that the feeding is completed, the conveyance control device 30 notifies the image forming apparatus 10 that the feeding of the third medium is completed ( Step S22), the conveyance control process is terminated. Steps S11 to S17 and S19 are operations performed by the first transport device 32 and the switching unit 301. Steps S18, S21 and S22 are operations performed by the sending means 302.

[1-4] Effects According to First Embodiment In the present embodiment, as described in the description of FIG. 7, the order in which images are formed is not the order determined for a series of images. Even when a plurality of media are carried out through the first path R1, the images formed on the media are arranged in a predetermined order. According to the present embodiment, even when a medium on which an image that does not satisfy the standard is included in a plurality of media, the medium on which an image that satisfies the standard is formed is unloaded in a predetermined order. Will be.

[2] Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the image formation on the medium is continued even after the feeding of the third medium is started. However, in the second embodiment, when the third medium is fed, the feeding to the medium is continued. Image formation stops.

[2-1] Functional Configuration FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each device in the second embodiment. In this example, a transport control device 30a including an instruction unit 303 is shown in addition to the units shown in FIG. When the feeding of the third medium is completed, the sending unit 302 notifies the switching unit 301 to that effect. On the basis of this notification, the switching unit 301 determines that a medium in which the formed image does not satisfy the standard (that is, defective) with respect to a medium that is transported from the first path R1 after the third medium sent by the sending means 302. Until the medium on which the image is formed is transported as the second medium, the medium on which the formed image satisfies the standard (that is, the medium on which the good image is formed) is transported as the first medium on the first path R1. Switch route to. The switching unit 301 notifies the instruction unit 303 of the result of determining whether the medium conveyed from the determination device 20 is the first, second, third, or fourth medium.

  The instruction unit 303 stops image formation when the second medium P2 is transported through the second path R2 with respect to the image forming unit (the image forming unit 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like) that forms an image on the medium P. This is an example of means for instructing resumption of image formation when a predetermined condition (hereinafter referred to as “resumption condition”) is satisfied. In this embodiment, the instruction unit 303 resumes when the time corresponding to the amount of the third medium P3 accommodated in the accommodation device 35 (hereinafter referred to as “accommodation amount”) has elapsed after the image formation is stopped. An instruction is given to resume image formation assuming that the condition is satisfied. That is, image formation is stopped for the time designated by the instruction unit 303. Hereinafter, this time is referred to as “stop time”. The accommodation amount is represented by, for example, the number of third media P3 accommodated.

The instruction unit 303 stores first correlation data indicating a correlation between the stop time and the capacity.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first correlation data. In this example, the correlation between the stop time T and the accommodation amount U is represented by a graph in which the vertical axis indicates the stop time T (unit: second) and the horizontal axis indicates the storage amount U (unit: sheet). For example, the correlation is shown in which the stop time T is T1 seconds when the capacity U is one, and the stop time T increases in proportion to the increase of the capacity U. The instruction unit 303 counts the number of transported third media based on the content notified from the switching unit 301 and uses the counted number as the accommodation amount U. When the instruction unit 303 is notified that the second medium P2 has been conveyed from the switching unit 301, the instruction unit 303 specifies the stop time T corresponding to the counted storage amount U by the first correlation data, and specifies the specified stop time. Instruction data for instructing to stop image formation is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 until T elapses.

  The instruction data is supplied to the forming unit 101 and the reforming unit 102. The forming unit 101 stops the image formation as indicated by the supplied instruction data, and maintains the state until the stop time T elapses. The re-forming unit 102 forms a re-formed image on the medium P based on the result data supplied from the determination device 20 as described in the first embodiment before the instruction data is supplied. When the instruction data is supplied thereafter, the re-forming unit 102 stops the image formation based on the instruction data until the stop time T elapses (that is, the result data indicating that the defective image is determined is supplied). However, a re-formed image is not formed). The forming unit 101 and the re-forming unit 102 restart image formation after the stop time T has elapsed. In this way, the instruction unit 303 performs the above instruction by transmitting instruction data.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the order in which media are transported. In this example, the series of images shown in FIG. 7 are formed on a plurality of media P, respectively. FIG. 11A shows the order in which these series of images are formed by the image forming apparatus 10. In this example, as in the example of FIG. 7, the first medium is the first medium and the fifth is the second medium. When switching by the switching unit 301 is performed so that the second medium is conveyed along the second path R2, the instruction unit 303 instructs to stop image formation. At this time, the sixth to thirteenth images for which image formation has already started are conveyed to the storage device 35 as the third medium. After the thirteenth image, the re-forming unit 102 forms a fifth image as a re-formed image on the fourth medium.

  In the image forming system 1, when the image formation is resumed after the stop time T elapses, the top of the medium conveyed after the resumption, that is, the medium P on which the 14th image is formed passes through the first path R <b> 1. When transported, the third medium stored in the storage device 35 is all sent to the first path R1 and passes through the junction Q1 before reaching the junction Q1 shown in FIG. Yes. In other words, the correlation between the stop time T and the accommodation amount U is determined so as to be so. Specifically, the time Ta required from the start of image formation until the head of the medium on which the image is formed reaches the joining point Q1, and all the third media in each accommodation amount U are the first path R1. The time Tb (U) required to be sent to is measured in advance, and T = Tb (U) −Ta + α is determined as the correlation. α represents the distance between the transported media. Note that the instruction unit 303 may change the size of α in accordance with the size of the transported medium in the transport direction, and the length obtained by adding a safety margin to the distance between the media is defined as α. Also good.

  By determining the first correlation data as described above, the medium P on which the 14th image is formed is carried out from the first path R1 after the medium P on which the 13th image is formed. . Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, for the medium that is transferred from the first path R1 after the third medium, the switching unit 301 satisfies the first path R1 when the formed image satisfies the standard. Since switching is performed so that the images are transported, when the 14th and subsequent images satisfy the criteria, they are transported on the first route R1 as the first medium as shown in FIG. Note that the switching unit 301 regards a medium that is transported from the determination device 20 after the third medium is fed as a medium that is transported from the first path R1 after the third medium. Switch.

  FIG. 11B shows the order in which the medium P shown in FIG. In this example, after the first medium on which the first to fourth images are formed, the fourth medium on which the fifth re-formed image is formed is unloaded, and then the image formation is stopped. The 6th to 13th third media stored in the storage device 35 are carried out, and the media on which the 30th image is formed are sequentially carried out as the first media. Thus, even when the order in which the images are formed is not the order determined for the series of images, when the images are transported from the transport control device 30, the images formed on the plurality of media P are in that order. They are arranged on the street.

[2-2] Operation FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a conveyance control process according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the transport control device 30 performs operations from step S11 (reception of result data) to step S20 (determination of whether or not output of result data is finished) shown in FIG. At that time, the conveyance control device 30 instructs the image forming unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 to stop the image formation after the operation of step S13 (conveyance by the second path) (step S31). . Step S31 is an operation performed by the instruction unit 303. If the conveyance control device 30 determines in step S20 that the output of the result data has been completed (YES), it terminates the conveyance control process.

[2-3] Effects According to Second Embodiment In the present embodiment, image formation stops when the second medium is conveyed along the second path. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the medium sandwiched between the second and fourth media is accommodated in the accommodating device 35 as the third medium, but the medium after the fourth medium is conveyed as the first medium. It is not accommodated in the accommodation device 35. If the image formation is not stopped here, the medium formed after the fourth medium is also accommodated in the accommodating device 35 as the third medium. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the amount of medium accommodated in the accommodation unit is reduced as compared with the case where image formation is not stopped.

  Further, when the image formation is stopped for the stop time T as described above, the longer the stop time T, the smaller the amount of the medium on which the image is formed per unit time and the lower the productivity. Should be as short as possible. More specifically, the shorter the stop time T and the smaller the distance between the trailing edge of the third medium fed into the first path and the leading edge of the medium conveyed after resumption, the more per unit time An image is formed and productivity is improved. The time required until all of the accommodated third medium is sent out to the first path varies according to the accommodation amount (the amount of the third medium accommodated in the accommodation device 35). In the present embodiment, the amount of storage, that is, the amount of the third medium, is resumed by restarting image formation at a timing corresponding to the amount of storage (specifically, when a stop time T corresponding to the amount of storage has elapsed). Compared to the case where the image formation is restarted at a timing not related to the above, the distance between the top of the medium transported after the restart and the rear end of the third medium is easily reduced, and the productivity of image formation is improved.

[3] Modifications Each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of the implementation of the present invention, and may be modified as follows. Moreover, you may implement each embodiment mentioned above and each modification shown below, combining each as needed.

[3-1] Capacity In the second embodiment, the capacity, that is, the amount of the third medium P3 accommodated in the accommodation device 35 is represented by the number of the third media P3 accommodated in the embodiment. However, it may be expressed in a different way. As a specific example, there is a method in which a weight corresponding to the size in the transport direction is assigned to each of the accommodated third media, and a value obtained by summing those weights is used as the accommodation amount. For example, A4 horizontal (the long side of the medium is conveyed sideways. In this case, the size in the conveyance direction is the length of the short side of the medium), B4 horizontal, A4 vertical, and B4 vertical. Weights of 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 are determined for the size of the medium.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, if the size of the third medium in the transport direction is A4 length, the capacity of the eight third media on which the sixth to thirteenth images are formed is 1.4 × 8 = 11.2. It is expressed. The larger the size of the medium in the conveyance direction, the longer the time required for conveyance, and the longer the time required for all the accommodated third media to be sent to the first path R1. The larger the size in the conveyance direction of the medium, the larger the accommodation amount, so that the stop time determined according to the accommodation amount also increases, and the image is resumed until all the third media are sent to the first path R1. It is easy to secure a stop time so that the medium on which the is formed does not reach the joining point Q1.

[3-2] Method of Determining Stop Time T The instruction unit 303 may determine the stop time T by a method different from the example of FIG. For example, the instruction unit 303 uses correlation data representing a correlation that changes by a quadratic equation, not the correlation that changes by a primary equation like the first correlation data shown in FIG. The stop time T may be determined by using a table associated with T. Further, an upper limit may be set for the stop time T according to the number of media that can be accommodated in the accommodation device 35.

[3-3] Changing Stop Time The instruction unit 303 may further change the stop time determined as described above. For example, the instruction unit 303 performs the instruction by changing the stop time T according to the size of the third medium in the transport direction or the resolution of the image formed on the medium. The instruction unit 303 changes the stop time T by multiplying the coefficient K, for example. The instruction unit 303 stores a first coefficient table in which the size of the third medium in the conveyance direction and the coefficient K are associated or a second coefficient table in which the resolution of the image formed on the medium is associated with the coefficient K. Yes.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first and second coefficient tables. FIG. 13A shows an example of the first coefficient table. In this example, the size (unit: mm) of the third medium in the conveyance direction of “300 or more”, “200 or more and less than 300” and “less than 200” is “1.50”, “1.25”, and “1”. .00 ”are associated with each other. For example, the instruction unit 303 sets “not less than 200 and less than 300” when the stop time T corresponding to the amount of storage is 10 seconds and 297 mm which is the length of A4 is the size in the transport direction of the third medium. The stop time T is changed to a time of 12.5 seconds obtained by multiplying the associated coefficient K of “1.25” by 10 seconds.

  FIG. 13B shows an example of the second coefficient table. In this example, the resolutions of the images “300 or more”, “150 or more and less than 300”, and “less than 150” (unit: dpi (dot per inch)) are “1.00”, “1.25”, and “1”. .50 ”are associated with each other. For example, when the stop time T corresponding to the capacity is 10 seconds and the image resolution is 130 dpi, the instruction unit 303 sets a coefficient K of “1.50” associated with “less than 150” to 10 The stop time T is changed to a time of 15.0 seconds multiplied by the second.

  As described above, the larger the size of the medium in the conveyance direction, the longer the time required until all of the accommodated third medium is sent to the first path R1. Further, as the image resolution is lower, the speed at which the image is formed increases, and the time required for the first medium to reach the joining point Q1 after the image formation is resumed is shortened. In any of these cases, it is necessary to make the stop time T longer so that the medium conveyed after the image formation is resumed and the third medium do not collide at the joining point Q1. . In this modification, for example, by changing the stop time T as in the example of FIG. 13, the image formation is resumed as compared with the case where an instruction is issued regardless of the size in the transport direction of the third medium or the resolution of the image. The collision between the medium conveyed after being performed and the third medium is less likely to occur.

[3-4] Resumption Condition The instruction unit 303 uses a resumption condition (condition for resuming image formation) that is satisfied based on the stop time T in each of the above examples. A resumption condition that is satisfied based on the amount may be used. For example, when the amount of the third medium stored in the storage device 35, that is, the storage amount is equal to or less than the threshold value, the instruction unit 303 instructs the image formation to be restarted assuming that the restart condition is satisfied. Do.

  This threshold value is, for example, the above-described time Ta (time required from the start of image formation until the top of the medium on which the image is formed reaches the joining point Q1) and time Tb (U) (each stored amount U The time required until all of the third medium is sent to the first path R1) is determined. For example, the smallest accommodation amount Umin among the times Tb (U) greater than the time Ta may be determined as the threshold value. If the difference between the time Ta and the time Tb (U) is too small, the distance between the media may become too short. If this difference is less than the threshold value, it is one step larger than the accommodation amount Umin. It is good also considering the accommodation amount as a threshold value.

  The capacity that is larger by one level is simply a capacity that is one more when the capacity is expressed by the number of sheets, and when the capacity is expressed by weighting as in the above-described modification, the weight is the first. The capacity increased by one sheet of three media. In this case, the instruction unit 303 instructs the image forming apparatus 10 to resume image formation by transmitting instruction data instructing to resume image formation to the image forming apparatus 10 when the storage capacity U becomes Umin or less. To do. Accordingly, the distance between the top of the medium transported after the restart and the rear end of the third medium is smaller than in the case where the instruction is made regardless of the amount of storage, that is, the amount of the third medium stored in the storage unit. It becomes easy.

[3-5] Adjustment of Conveyance Speed In the second embodiment, the stop time is set so that the medium conveyed after the image formation is resumed and the third medium do not approach each other at a certain distance at the junction Q1. T is determined. In the example described with reference to FIG. 11, the stop time T is determined using the correlation of the stop time T = Tb (U) −Ta + α. However, for example, when the rotating member of the second transport device 36 shown in FIG. 3 sends out the third medium from the storage device 35, slippage occurs between the medium and the rotating member, which is longer than the expected time Tb (U). The time required for all three media to be sent to the first path R1 may become longer. In this case, processing for avoiding medium collision (hereinafter referred to as “avoidance processing”) may be performed.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the transport control device according to the present modification. In this example, a conveyance control device 30b including a switching unit 301, a sending unit 302b, an instruction unit 303, and an adjusting unit 304 is shown. The sending unit 302b includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the medium in the fourth path R4 shown in FIG. 3, measures the position and speed of the third medium in the fourth path R4, and supplies the measurement data to the adjusting unit 304. . The instruction unit 303 also supplies the instruction data to the adjustment unit 304 when transmitting the instruction data to the image forming apparatus 10.

  When the distance between the leading edge of the medium on which the image is formed and the trailing edge of the third medium (hereinafter referred to as “first distance”) is less than the threshold value, the adjusting means 304 is less than the threshold. An example of means for adjusting the transport speed of the first transport device 32 so that the transport speed on the upstream side of the first path R1 relative to the position where the third medium is fed (that is, the joining point Q1) is slower than that on the downstream side. It is. The adjustment unit 304 is a function realized by the control device 31.

  The adjusting unit 304 calculates the first time when the head of the medium on which the image is formed after the restart reaches the joining point Q1 from the stop time T indicated by the supplied instruction data. In addition, the adjustment unit 304 calculates a second time at which the rear end of the third medium passes through the joining point Q1 from the supplied measurement data. Further, the adjusting unit 304 calculates the current transport speed in the first path R1 from the rotational speed of the rotating member provided in the first transport device 32. The adjustment unit 304 calculates a value obtained by multiplying the difference between the first time and the second time by the calculated conveyance speed as the first distance.

  The adjusting unit 304 uses, for example, the above-described α (a value representing a distance between transported media) as a threshold value. The adjustment unit 304 performs the calculation of the first distance at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 0.1 second), and controls the first conveyance device 32 when the calculated first distance is less than the threshold value. The rotation speed of each rotating member is changed, and the conveyance speed is adjusted as described above. When the transport speed is adjusted in this way, the time at which the head of the medium on which the image is formed after the restart instruction reaches the joining point Q1 is delayed as compared with the case where the transport speed is not adjusted. Thereby, compared with the case where a conveyance speed is not adjusted as mentioned above, it becomes difficult for media to contact.

[3-6] Sending when image formation is stopped halfway The sending unit 302 may send the third medium at a timing different from that in each of the above-described embodiments. An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium is used to adjust the density of the image and the positional deviation of the toner image formed by each developing unit even during the image formation (this is also referred to as setup). Some temporarily stop image formation. Hereinafter, such a stop is referred to as “halfway stop”. If the image forming apparatus 10 includes such an image forming unit, the sending unit 302 moves the third medium through the first path R1 when the image forming unit stops forming a series of images. To send.

  Some stoppages are stopped for a few seconds while others are stopped for a few minutes. If the feeding of the third medium is not completed when the halfway stop is performed, the feeding unit 302 feeds the third medium when the next halfway stop is performed. In this way, the third medium is fed each time the feeding unit 302 is stopped halfway, so that the third medium is not fed while the image formation is stopped. Less media. Thereby, compared with the same case, it becomes difficult to occur that the third medium cannot be stored in the storage device 35. Further, when used together with the feeding in the first embodiment, the start of the next image formation is accelerated, and when used together with the feeding in the second embodiment, the stop time T is shortened. In these cases, productivity of image formation is also improved.

[3-7] Feed Start Timing The feed unit 302 may vary the timing at which the third medium is fed into the first path R1. For example, the delivery means 302 responds to the speed (hereinafter referred to as “first transport speed”) at which the medium P is transported through the first path R1 after it is found that the image formed on the fourth medium satisfies the standard. When the specified time (hereinafter referred to as “speed response time”) has elapsed, the third medium P3 is sent to the first path R1. The sending means 302 stores a time table in which the first transport speed is associated with the speed corresponding time.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time table. In this example, the first transport speed (unit: mm per second) of “less than 100”, “100 or more and less than 200” and “200 or more”, and speed correspondence times of “2”, “1.5” and “1”. (Unit is second) is associated with each other. The first transport device 32 is controlled by the control device 31 to transport the medium P at the first transport speed. For example, when the first transport speed is 150 mm per second, the feeding unit 302 sets 1.5 seconds associated with the first transport speed in the time table as the speed corresponding time.

  The result data output from the determination device 20 is supplied to the sending unit 302. When the result data indicates that the re-formed image is determined to be a good image, it was found that the time when the content of the result data was read satisfied the image formed on the fourth medium. It is time. In the above example, the sending unit 302 sends the third medium P3 to the first path R1 when 1.5 seconds have elapsed from this time.

  More specifically, the feeding means 302 is a time required for transporting the medium P along the fourth path R4 from the opening 322 shown in FIG. 3 to the joining point Q1 (that is, a time required for feeding the medium P). , Hereinafter referred to as “delivery time”) is stored in advance, and delivery is started when a time obtained by subtracting the delivery time from the speed corresponding time has elapsed after the above time. As a result, the third medium P3 joins the first path R1 when 1.5 seconds elapse after it is found that the image formed on the fourth medium satisfies the standard.

  The first conveyance speed may change depending on the speed of the process for forming an image in the image forming apparatus 10 and the content of the post-processing in the post-processing apparatus 40. When the first transport speed changes, the time at which the fourth medium reaches the joining point Q1 changes. In the present modification, as described above, the third medium is sent to the first path R1 at the timing according to the first transport speed, so that the third medium is sent to the first path R1 in accordance with the changing time. It will be. This makes it easier for the distance between the top of the third medium and the fourth medium to approach the target length compared to when the third medium is sent to the first path R1 at a timing not related to the speed response time.

  The first transport speed may vary depending on the process speed at which an image is formed as described above. The process speed depends on the size of the medium in the transport direction or the resolution of the image formed on the medium. May change. Therefore, the sending means 302 may send the third medium to the first path when the time corresponding to the size or resolution has passed instead of the first transport speed. Also in this case, as described above, the distance between the head of the third medium and the fourth medium can be easily approximated to the target length.

[3-8] Notification of End of Feeding In the first embodiment, the sending unit 302 determines that the sending of the third medium P3 is finished to the forming unit 101 rather than actually ending the sending. You may make it notify that a sending will be complete | finished shortly before this time. The determined time is, for example, the above-described time Ta, that is, the time required from the start of image formation until the top of the medium on which the image is formed reaches the joining point Q1. In this case, the forming unit 101 starts forming an image based on the next image data by a time Ta before the end of the feeding. As a result, the distance between the rear end of the medium on which the image of the previous image data is formed and the beginning of the medium on which the image of the next image data is formed is smaller than when such notification is not performed. The productivity of image formation is improved.

[3-9] Notification of End of Sending In the first embodiment, the forming unit 101 may start forming an image of the next image data regardless of the notice of the end of sending. In this case, if the third medium is stored in the storage device 35, the medium on which the image of the next image data is formed is also stored in the storage device 35 as the third medium even if the formed image is determined to be a good image. Will be terminated. Then, when all of the third medium accommodated with sufficient time until the image forming apparatus 10 receives the next image data is sent to the first path R1, the images formed thereafter are good. If it is determined as an image, it is conveyed to the first route R1.

[3-10] Determination by Determination Device The determination device may make a determination different from the above. The determination device determines, for example, whether or not a predetermined image (for example, a logo or a watermark image) is formed at a predetermined position of the image formed on the medium, or has a common density in the image. It may be determined whether or not the density in a portion that should be kept constant. In short, as long as the determination apparatus determines whether or not an image formed on the medium by the image forming apparatus 10 satisfies a certain standard, the determination apparatus may perform any determination.

[3-11] Hardware Configuration In each of the above-described embodiments, the image forming apparatus 10, the determination apparatus 20, the transport control apparatus 30, and the post-processing apparatus 40 are different casings, but are provided in a common casing. It may be done. In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus forms a color image on a medium by an electrophotographic method. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to this, and may form a monochrome image. An image may be formed by an inkjet method. In short, the image forming apparatus only needs to function as a unit that forms a series of images in a predetermined order on a plurality of media P, respectively.

[3-12] Operation according to a certain matter The tables used in the operation described with reference to FIG. For example, the number of rows in the table may be any number as long as it is two or more. Moreover, what is arranged in ascending order (or descending order) may be rearranged in descending order (or ascending order), or may be rearranged regardless of such order. Further, without using a table, the contents of each cell may be represented by numerical values, and values calculated using mathematical formulas may be used. In the example of FIG. 13A, for example, the size (unit: mm) in the transport direction of the third medium is used as it is, and a value obtained by dividing this size by 200 is used as the coefficient K. In this case, for example, if the size is 250 mm, the coefficient K of 250/200 = 1.25 is calculated. In short, in these operations, other matters (coefficient K in the example of FIG. 13 (a)) according to certain matters (the size in the transport direction of the third medium in the example of FIG. 13 (a)). It only has to be decided.

[3-13] Category of Invention The present invention can be understood as the above-described conveyance control device and image forming system, for example. In addition, the present invention can also be understood as a processing method for realizing processing performed by these apparatuses and systems. The process here is, for example, a transport control process shown in FIG. The present invention can also be understood as a program for causing a computer including a control device such as these devices and system to function as the means shown in FIG. This program may be provided in the form of a recording medium such as an optical disk storing the program, or may be provided in the form of being downloaded to a computer via a network such as the Internet, and making it available for installation. You may do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming system, 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Paper feed part, 12 ... Image forming part, 13 ... Developing part, 14 ... Intermediate transfer part, 15 ... Secondary transfer part, 16 ... Conveying part, 17 ... Fixing , 18 ... control device, 20 ... determination device, 21 ... reading unit, 30 ... transport control device, 31 ... control device, 32 ... first transport device, 33 ... switching device, 331 ... first partition, 332 ... second Partition, 34 ... tray, 35 ... storage device, 36 ... second transport device, 40 ... post-processing device, 41 ... tray, 101 ... forming means, 102 ... re-forming means, 301 ... switching means, 302 ... feeding means, 303 ... Instruction means, 304 ... Adjustment means

Claims (6)

Transport means for transporting a plurality of media on which a series of images each having a predetermined order are formed, respectively, on a first path and a second path and a third path branched from the first path;
Storage means for storing the medium conveyed in the third path;
Among the media, a first medium in which the image satisfies a certain standard is transported in the first path, a second medium in which the image does not satisfy the standard is transported in the second path, and the second medium A third medium on which the image is formed and the image satisfies the criterion is conveyed along the third path, and an image formed on the second medium is formed and the image satisfies the criterion. Switching means for switching the path of the medium so that the medium is conveyed along the first path;
A feeding means for feeding the third medium accommodated in the accommodation means into the first path so that the third medium is conveyed after the fourth medium in the order of accommodation ;
With respect to the image forming means for forming an image on the medium, the image forming is stopped when the second medium is transported by the second path, and the image forming is stopped and then stored in the storing means. And an instruction means for instructing to resume the formation of the image when a time corresponding to the amount of the third medium has elapsed . The conveyance control according to claim 1 , wherein the instruction unit performs the instruction by changing the time according to a size in a conveyance direction of the third medium or a resolution of an image formed on the medium. apparatus. Transport means for transporting a plurality of media on which a series of images each having a predetermined order are formed, respectively, on a first path and a second path and a third path branched from the first path;
Storage means for storing the medium conveyed in the third path;
Among the media, a first medium in which the image satisfies a certain standard is transported in the first path, a second medium in which the image does not satisfy the standard is transported in the second path, and the second medium A third medium on which the image is formed and the image satisfies the criterion is conveyed along the third path, and an image formed on the second medium is formed and the image satisfies the criterion. Switching means for switching the path of the medium so that the medium is conveyed along the first path;
A feeding means for feeding the third medium accommodated in the accommodation means into the first path so that the third medium is conveyed after the fourth medium in the order of accommodation;
An amount of the third medium accommodated in the accommodating unit that stops image formation when the second medium is conveyed along the second path with respect to the image forming unit that forms an image on the medium. Instruction means for instructing to restart the formation of the image when the value becomes equal to or less than a threshold value;
A conveyance control device comprising: The conveyance control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An image forming apparatus that forms a series of images in a predetermined order on a plurality of media, and
An image forming system comprising: a determination device that determines whether an image formed on a medium by the image forming device satisfies a certain standard. A first transport device that transports a plurality of media on which a series of images in a predetermined order are formed, respectively, on a first path, a second path that branches from the first path, and a third path, and transports on the third path A storage device for storing the medium, a switching device for switching a path through which the medium is transported to one of the first, second, and third paths, and transporting the medium from the storage device to the first path A computer of a transport control device comprising a second transport device;
By controlling the switching device, among the media, a first medium in which the image satisfies a certain criterion is conveyed in the first path, and a second medium in which the image does not satisfy the criterion is in the second path. And the third medium that satisfies the reference is transported in the third path to form the image formed on the second medium and the image is formed on the second medium. Switching means for switching the path of the medium so that the fourth medium whose image satisfies the criterion is conveyed along the first path;
Sending in which the second transport device is controlled to feed the third medium stored in the storage device into the first path so that the third medium is transported after the fourth medium in the order of storage. Means ,
The image forming unit that forms an image on the medium stops image formation when the second medium is transported by the second path, and stops the image formation and then stores the image in the storage device. A program for functioning as instruction means for instructing to resume the formation of the image when a time corresponding to the amount of the third medium is passed . A first transport device that transports a plurality of media on which a series of images in a predetermined order are formed, respectively, on a first path, a second path that branches from the first path, and a third path, and transports on the third path A storage device for storing the medium, a switching device for switching a path through which the medium is transported to one of the first, second, and third paths, and transporting the medium from the storage device to the first path A computer of a transport control device comprising a second transport device;
By controlling the switching device, among the media, a first medium in which the image satisfies a certain criterion is conveyed in the first path, and a second medium in which the image does not satisfy the criterion is in the second path. And the third medium that satisfies the reference is transported in the third path to form the image formed on the second medium and the image is formed on the second medium. Switching means for switching the path of the medium so that the fourth medium whose image satisfies the criterion is conveyed along the first path;
Sending in which the second transport device is controlled to feed the third medium stored in the storage device into the first path so that the third medium is transported after the fourth medium in the order of storage. Means,
The amount of the third medium accommodated in the accommodating device by stopping image formation when the second medium is conveyed along the second path with respect to the image forming means for forming an image on the medium. Instructing means for instructing to resume the formation of the image when the value becomes equal to or less than the threshold value
Program to function as.

Images