JPH10181238A - Bookbinding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bookbinding device, in which a manuscript does not occupy the first or the last page of a binding matter, when a bookbinding job handles more than the number of sheets allowing to be bound. SOLUTION: A cover Ia, which occupies the first of a sheet bundle and is housed in a fist housing means 42, or a back cover Ib, which occupies the last of the sheet bundle and housed in a second housing means 43, is selectively fed to a bookbinding part 105 by means of a paper feeding means 104. Further, when a bookbinding is performed respectively by dividing a sheet bundle into several sheet bundles, the paper feeding action of the paper feeding means 104 is controlled by a controlling means 200 so as to set the cover Ia to occupy the first of each divided sheet bundle and the back cover Ib to occupy the last of each divided sheet bundle, resulting in not occupying the cover or the last page of a binding matter with a manuscript.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle, and more particularly, to a job processing of a bookbinding apparatus configured to automatically and continuously perform image forming to bookbinding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, since an operation of forming an image on a plurality of sheets and an operation of binding an image-formed sheet are continuously and automatically performed, a plurality of apparatuses for performing a job required for these operations are connected. An online bookbinding apparatus having the above configuration is used.

For example, this on-line apparatus includes a document setting unit for setting a document, an optical system for scanning the document, a paper feeding unit for storing a large number of sheets and feeding the sheets one by one, and the like. A sheet feeding device, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a fed sheet, an inserter device that feeds a sheet on which an image is formed in advance, and bookbinding of an image-formed sheet and an inserted sheet. The bookbinding unit is sequentially connected.

A bookbinding unit used in such a bookbinding apparatus has a sheet aligning tray for sequentially loading and storing a plurality of image-formed sheets discharged from an upstream image forming apparatus and an inserter apparatus, and a sheet aligning tray. A tape heating device that supports an abutting member that abuts and aligns the leading ends of the sheets stacked on the tray and a bind tape that glues the leading ends of the sheet bundle aligned on the sheet aligning tray, and heats the bind tape. Device.

[0005]

By the way, in such a conventional bookbinding apparatus, the number of sheets that can be bound is limited due to the limitations of the equipment. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 53-119047, one JOB is divided into a plurality of bookbinding products.

However, in such a method, one J
When the OB is divided and bound, there is a problem in that the last page of the previous bundle and the first page of the next bundle serving as the cover, which are located between the divided volumes, become originals.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a bookbinding apparatus capable of preventing the first or last page of a book from being a manuscript when handling jobs larger than the number of sheets that can be bound. It is intended for.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a bookbinding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle and, when the number of the sheet bundle is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing the sheet bundle and binding each. Storage means for storing a front cover sheet of the sheet bundle; sheet feeding means for feeding the cover sheet from the storage means to a bookbinding unit; and And control means for controlling the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding means so as to be at the head of each of the divided sheet bundles.

The present invention also relates to a bookbinding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle and, when the number of the sheet bundles is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing and binding each of the sheet bundles. A first storage unit for storing a front cover, a second storage unit for storing a last back cover of the sheet bundle, the cover from the first storage unit, and the back cover from the second storage unit. Paper feeding means for selectively feeding a cover to a bookbinding unit; and when dividing and binding each of the sheet bundles, the cover is the top of each of the divided sheet bundles, and the back cover is And control means for controlling the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding means so as to be the last of each divided sheet bundle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bookbinding apparatus for binding an image-formed sheet bundle and, when the number of the sheet bundle is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing the sheet bundle and binding each. A cover image forming unit that forms an image designated as a cover on the sheet; a sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet on which the cover image is formed by the cover image forming unit to a bookbinding unit; A control unit for controlling a sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit such that a sheet on which the cover image is formed becomes a head of each of the divided sheet bundles when binding each book. It is.

According to the present invention, there is provided a bookbinding apparatus for binding a bundle of sheets on which an image is formed and, when the number of the bundle of sheets is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing the bundle of sheets and binding each. A cover image forming unit that forms an image specified as a cover and an image specified as a back cover on the sheet; and a sheet on which a cover image is formed by the cover image forming unit or a sheet on which a back cover image is formed. A sheet feeding unit for selectively feeding a sheet to the bookbinding unit, and when dividing and binding the sheet bundle, the sheet on which the cover image is formed is the top of each of the divided sheet bundles. And control means for controlling the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding means so that the sheet on which the back cover image is formed is the last of the divided sheet bundles.

Further, as in the present invention, when the front cover of the sheet bundle stored in the storage means is fed by the paper feeding means to the bookbinding section, and when the sheet bundle is divided and bound respectively, the control means is used. By controlling the paper feeding operation of the paper feeding means so that the front cover is at the top of each divided sheet bundle, the front cover of the bound book is prevented from becoming a document.

Further, as in the present invention, the first sheet is supplied by the sheet feeding means.
A front cover of the sheet bundle stored in the storage unit,
Alternatively, the back cover, which is the last sheet bundle stored in the second storage unit, is selectively fed to the bookbinding unit, and when the sheet bundle is divided and bound, the control unit feeds the sheet supply unit. By controlling the paper movement so that the front cover is at the beginning of each split sheet bundle and the back cover is at the end of each split sheet bundle, the book cover or last page is So that it does not become

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the entire bookbinding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an online bookbinding apparatus. The online bookbinding apparatus 100 includes a reading and feeding apparatus 101, an image forming apparatus 102, an operating control apparatus 103, and an inserter apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an inserter) serving as a sheet feeding unit. The bookbinding unit 104 includes a bookbinding unit 105 serving as a bookbinding unit.

The reading and feeding device 101 feeds the set document P to a document reading position, reads the document P, and conveys the document to a discharge position.
F) and an optical system 1 for reading and scanning the original P
And a plurality of recording paper storage units 13 and 14 on which recording papers S of different sizes are stacked, and recording paper feeding units 15 and 16 for feeding the recording paper S. I have.
The fed sheet S is transported to the sheet transport path 20 of the image forming apparatus 102 via the sheet transport path 17.

The image forming apparatus 102 includes the optical system 12
Scanner 21 that scans a laser beam based on image information read by a scanner, a laser scanner 21
Forming unit 22 on which a toner image is formed by scanning
And so on. The sheet S on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit 22 is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 41 of the inserter 104 by the conveyance belt 23 and the conveyance rollers 24.

The inserter 104 includes a sheet storage section 42 as storage means for storing insert sheets Ia and Ib.
43, sheet feeding section 4 for feeding insert sheets Ia, Ib
4, 45, etc. The fed insert sheets Ia and Ib are transported via the paper transport path 41 to the transport path 51 of the bookbinding unit 105.

The bookbinding apparatus 105 includes a sheet aligning section 52 for storing and aligning a sheet S or a sheet I which is conveyed by branching from the sheet conveying path 51, an abutting member 53 to which the leading end of the sheet is abutted, and a binding member. A tape storage unit 60 for storing a tape, a bundle transport unit 61 for transporting the aligned sheet bundle, a tape heating device 54 for heating the aligned sheet bundle and the bind tape, and a vertically movable carriage 55 for transporting the finished bookbinding product , Stacker 5 for storing bookbinding finished products
6, 57; a discharge roller pair 58 for discharging the sheet S conveyed through the sheet conveyance path 51 to a discharge tray 59 outside the machine; and a finisher 51A for switching the conveyance direction of the sheet S or the sheet I to the sheet aligning section 52 or the discharge tray 59. And so on.

An operating control device (hereinafter, referred to as an operation unit) 103 includes a display 32 and an operation keyboard (or a touch panel display) 31 for setting the number of copies, setting the number of copies, editing, processing images, and setting pages. Input of various settings performed by the user, such as editing of the image, and a display indicating the selected mode and the state of the machine are performed.

Incidentally, reference numeral 200 denotes each of these devices 101,
The control device is a control device that controls each operation of 102, 103, 104, and 105.
As shown in FIG. 2, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as C) that performs calculations by a predetermined program and controls the entire processing unit.
PU 2002), ROM 2001 for storing programs and predetermined data, RAM for temporarily storing data in accordance with signal processing, or memory 2001 for reading and writing programs and data, including an IC card and a floppy disk. It comprises an I / O control unit 2003 for transmitting and controlling an output signal.

The CPU 2002 includes a timer for counting time, and the CPU 2002 or the I / O control unit 2003 includes a plurality of registers used for temporarily storing and reading data signals. ing. These are respectively the control device 20
It is controlled by a control signal from 0.

By the way, the user inputs the operation setting of the online bookbinding apparatus 100 by using the operation unit 103. From the input operation setting, the control unit 200 transmits the image data to the reader control unit 201 provided in the reading and feeding apparatus 101. The control unit 202, the printer control unit 203 provided in the image forming apparatus 102, the inserter device control unit 205 provided in the inserter 104, and the finisher control unit 206 provided in the bookbinding apparatus 10 are operated.

That is, when the user sets a document on the ADF 11 of the reading and feeding apparatus 101 and designates the setting of the mode and the start of reading by the operation unit 103, the control unit 200
Operates the reader control unit 201, and thereby the ADF1
Reference numeral 1 denotes an original that is fed one by one and read by the optical system 12. In the optical system 12, the exposed original image is photoelectrically converted by a CCD line sensor and read as an electric signal.

After that, the read image signal is processed by the image signal control unit 202 by the control device 200 in accordance with the user setting from the operation unit 103 described above, and various processes of the image processing unit are performed. Thereafter, the image data is compressed and transferred to the image signal control unit 202. Note that the image signal control unit 202
Is provided with a memory (not shown) for storing the image data.

On the other hand, after all the originals set on the ADF 11 are read and stored in the image signal control unit 202, the user operates the operation unit 103 to operate the image signal control unit 20.
2 is operated to perform various processes of the image processing unit and perform editing. Here, when editing such as enlarged continuous shooting, insertion of a single-sided original between two-sided originals, or insertion of a sheet I from an inserter is performed by this editing work, the number of sheets X in one bundle is:
This is larger than the number of originals set on the ADF 11. At this time, if the bookbinding operation is selected by the user setting, the number of sheets in one bundle is limited due to the restriction of the bookbinding device.

Therefore, the control device 200 determines the number of sheets W that can be bound in one bundle from the thickness of the type of the recording paper sheet S and the paper I constituting the bundle selected from the user's setting and the thickness that can be bound by the bookbinding machine. After the calculation, the number of sheets X in the bundle after the editing operation by the user is compared with the number of sheets W that can be bound, and it is determined whether or not to perform divided binding.

When it is determined that the bookbinding is to be divided and bound, the control device 200 specifies, for example, the maximum number of booklets to be divided and the number of bundles on the display 32 of the operation unit 103 as shown in FIG. The user is caused to display, for example, equal division so as to be equal, division for designating the number of bundles to be divided for each book, and the user selects a division method according to the display.

After the editing work, when the user designates the setting of the mode and the start of bookbinding or copying using the operation unit 103, the control unit 200 causes the printer control unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 102 to operate.
03 is operated. Thereby, the image signal control unit 202
Are sequentially read out from the device, and the read out image is converted into an optical signal for photoconductor exposure. The following is recorded on the sheet S through the charging, exposure, latent image, development, transfer, separation, and fixing steps of a normal electrophotographic process. The sheet S on which the image is formed is conveyed by the conveying belt 23 and the conveying roller 24.
It is transported to the transport path of the subsequent process.

On the other hand, in the inserter 104, the control device 2
00, the inserter control unit 205 is operated according to the user setting from the operation unit 103 described above, and the sheet S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 102 is conveyed to the subsequent process through the conveyance path 41, or the sheet is fed. The insert paper is fed from a third paper storage unit (not shown) in which the insert paper is stored by the units 44 and 45, and is conveyed to a subsequent process via the paper conveyance path 41.

Here, in the case where the setting of the paper storage units 42 and 43 of the inserter 104 is previously performed by the operation unit 103, and the front cover and the back cover are set by the user on the operation screens shown in FIGS. The control device 200 sets the selected front cover and back cover to the first page and the last page of the original at the time of bookbinding, and to the last page of the bundle before hitting between the divided books at the time of divided bookbinding or the first page of the next bundle. Operating the inserter control unit 205 so that each of the sheet storage units 42 and 43
Of paper I, such as thick paper, OHP paper, color print paper, and blank paper, stored in the printer.

This makes it possible to prevent the front cover or the last page of the book from becoming a manuscript when handling more jobs than can be bound. In the present embodiment, the cover Ia is stored in the first paper storage unit 42, the back cover Ib is stored in the second paper storage unit 43, and the insert paper I is stored in the third paper storage unit. I am trying to do it.

In the bookbinding unit 105, the control unit 2
00, the finisher control unit 206 is operated according to the user setting from the operation unit 103 described above, and the sheet S or the sheet I conveyed from the previous process is transferred to the sheet conveying path 5.
1 to the sheet aligning section 52 or the discharge tray 59. Then, the leading end of the sheet S or the sheet I conveyed to the alignment unit 52 hits the abutting member 53,
The matching is performed by the matching unit 52.

On the other hand, the tape storage unit 6
From 0, the bind tape is conveyed to the tape heating device 54. Thereafter, the aligned sheet bundle is held by the bundle conveying unit 61 and conveyed to the tape heating position. Then, the tape heating device 54 bonds the tape and the bundle to complete bookbinding. It should be noted that the completed bookbinding product is transferred to a bundle transfer unit 6 to a transfer position with a vertically movable carriage 55 for transporting the completed bookbinding product.
1 transported. The carriage 55 that has received the bookbinding completed product stores the bookbinding completed product in the stackers 56 and 57.

As described above, the selected front cover Ia and back cover Ib are the first page and the last page of the original at the time of bookbinding, and the last page or the next sheet of the bundle before hitting between the divided books at the time of divided bookbinding. By setting the first page of the book, the cover or the last page of the book can be prevented from being a manuscript when handling more jobs than can be bound.

Next, such a bookbinding operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, when the user inputs a job through the operation unit 103 (y in decision 100), the control device 200 starts a program and the CPU 200
2 operates the reader control unit 201, reads the original set on the ADF 11 by the optical system 12, and stores it as image data in the memory of the image signal control unit 202 (processing 10).
1).

Next, the CPU 2002 determines whether or not a job processing start is input from the operation unit 103 (decision 102). Here, when the job processing start is not input (n in decision 102) and the image data editing is selected (y in decision 104), the image signal control unit 202 is operated and read by input from the operation unit 103. Various edits of the image data are performed (process 105). After that, the edited image is stored and prepared for input of the start of the job processing. If the image data editing is not selected (n of judgment 104), the flow returns to judgment 102 to prepare for the input of the start of the JOB processing.

On the other hand, when a job processing start is input (y in determination 102), the CPU 2002 determines whether bookbinding is selected in the setting of the job input by the user (determination 103). If bookbinding has not been selected (n of determination 103), the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 203, and the
By operating the inserter control unit 205 and the finisher control unit 206, the image data is printed out on the recording paper S (process 106) and discharged to the external tray 59. When the processing of a predetermined job is completed (y in judgment 107), judgment 1
Return to 00 and prepare for the input of the next job.

On the other hand, when the bookbinding operation is selected (y in determination 103), the CPU 2002 determines the information of the sheet type selected in the JOB setting, that is, the sheet S, the thickness of the sheet I, and the maximum bookbinding of the bookbinding machine. The number of bindable sheets W is calculated from the information on the possible thickness (step 108). Then, the number W of bindable sheets is compared with the number X of one bundle set in JOB (determination 109).

Here, when the number X of bound sheets in one bundle is smaller than the number W of bindable sheets (n in decision 109), the CPU 2002
Initializes the number T of bound sheets to X (step 110), stores it in the memory 2001, and sets the sheet number counter N to 0 (step 115). On the other hand, when the number of bound sheets X in one bundle is larger than the number of bindable sheets W (y in decision 109), the CPU
Reference numeral 2002 denotes a designated division method, for example, the number W of bindable books.
W / 2, W such that the number of bundles X becomes uniform
The number of divisions Y is calculated according to the number of divisions of the bundle according to division such as / 3 or a method of designating the number of divisions (step 111), and this division number Y is stored in the memory 2001.

Then, according to the designated job dividing method, the number of each bundle is set to the first bundle T_1, the second bundle T_2. . . T_y
Is calculated (step 112) and stored in the memory 2001.
After that, the CPU 2002 initializes the bookbinding division counter K to 1 (step 113) and sets the number T of booklets of the bundle to T_k.
It is initialized to (= 1) (process 114) and stored in the memory 2001.

Next, the CPU 2002 initializes a sheet number counter N (= 0) of one bundle (step 115), and thereafter, as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether the cover is selected in the setting of 4 (decision 116). Here, when the cover is selected in the setting of the sheet I of the inserter 104 (y in determination 116), the CP
U2002 operates the inserter control unit 205 and the finisher control unit 206, and the first sheet storage unit 4 in which the cover Ia set from the inserter 104 is stored.
From 2, the cover Ia is transported and fed to the sheet aligning section 52 via the paper transport path 41 (processing 117). After this, C
The PU 2002 increments the sheet number counter N (N = N + 1) (Step 118).

Next, the CPU 2002 operates the inserter 104.
It is determined whether or not the insert paper is selected in the setting (decision 119). Note that, in the determination 116, the cover I
If a is not selected (n in decision 116), the CPU
Step 2002 immediately determines whether or not an insert sheet is selected (decision 119).

Here, the inserter 104 is
If the setting of the sheet I is set to the insert sheet (y in judgment 119), the CPU 2002 then sets the value of the sheet number counter N to the number of sheets (pages) into which the insert sheet set in the JOB is inserted. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (decision 121).

Here, when the sheet number counter N is not set to a value for inserting an insert sheet (decision 1)
21), the CPU 2002 operates the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 203, the inserter control unit 205, and the finisher control unit 206 based on the setting, and
The image data of the page is printed out on the recording paper S (process 120), and the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet aligning unit 52.
Thereafter, the sheet number counter N is counted up (N = N + 1) (step 123). If the insert paper is not set (n in decision 119), CP
U2002 immediately prints out the image data of N pages on the recording paper S (process 120).

On the other hand, when the sheet number counter N reaches the value for inserting the set insert sheet (decision 1
21 y), the CPU 2002
5. Operate the finisher control unit 206 to transport and feed the insert paper I from the third paper storage unit storing the set insert paper I to the sheet aligning unit 52 via the paper transport path 41 ( Process 122).

Next, the CPU 2002 counts up the sheet number counter N (N = N + 1) (step 12).
3) Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the back cover Ib is selected by the setting of the inserter 104 by the operation unit 103 (determination 124).

Here, the inserter 104 is
Is set as the back cover Ib (determination 12
4) y), the CPU 2002 compares the number-of-sheets counter N with the number T-1 of sheets in the bundle (decision 125), and N = T
When it is determined to be −1 (y in determination 125), the inserter control unit 205 and the finisher control unit 26 are operated to remove the back cover Ib from the second paper storage unit 43 in which the set back cover Ib is stored. The sheet is conveyed and fed to the sheet aligning section 52 via the sheet conveying path 41 (step 126).

Next, the CPU 2002 counts up the sheet number counter N (N = N + 1) (Process 1).
27) Then, the sheet number counter N and the memory 2001
Is compared with the number T of one bundle stored in
8).

Note that the back cover I
If b is not selected (n in decision 124), the sheet number counter N is immediately compared with the number T of one bundle stored in the memory 2001 (decision 128). When it is determined that the sheet number counter N is not equal to the number T-1 of one bundle stored in the memory 201 (n in the determination 125), the process returns to the determination 119 shown in FIG.

Here, when the value of the sheet number counter N is equal to the number T of one bundle stored in the memory 2001 (y in decision 128), the CPU 2002 operates the finisher control unit 206 to execute the bookbinding operation. (Process 12
9). When it is not determined that N = T (decision 128
N), and returns to the decision 119 shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 2002 determines whether or not the bookbinding division counter K is equal to the bookbinding division number Y stored in the memory 2001 (decision 130). here,
When the bookbinding division counter K is equal to the bookbinding division number Y (y in determination 130), the CPU 2002 determines whether the job has ended next (decision 131), and when it determines that the job has ended (decision 131). Y), judgment 100 shown in FIG.
To prepare for the next job input.

On the other hand, the bookbinding division counter K indicates the bookbinding division number Y.
If not equal to (n in decision 130), the CPU 2002
Counts up the bookbinding division counter K (k = k + 1)
(Process 132), and thereafter, the process returns to process 114 in FIG.
The number T of bound sheets is initialized to T_2 and stored in the memory 2001, and the sheet number counter N (= 0) is initialized (step 115). Thereafter, a series of operations is repeated.

It should be noted that the bookbinding division counter K indicates the bookbinding division number Y.
(Y in decision 130), the CPU 2002
Does not determine that the processing of the predetermined job has been completed (n in the determination 131), returns to the processing 113 shown in FIG. 6, and executes a series of operations until the predetermined job is completed.

As described above, when the sheet bundle is divided and bound, the front cover Ia is located at the head of each divided sheet bundle, and the back cover Ib is located at the end of each divided sheet bundle. By doing so, the cover or the last page of the book can be prevented from becoming a manuscript.

In the above description, the back cover Ib is fed so that the last page does not become a manuscript. However, when only the book cover is required, the back cover Ib is fed. It may be omitted.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the inserter 10
In step 4, instead of feeding the front cover Ia and the back cover Ib to the first page and the last page of the document, specific image data is formed on the sheet, and the sheet on which the specific image is formed is referred to as the front cover and the back cover. Is what you do. The configuration is such that the user can set and input specific image data as a front cover, a back cover, or both on the operation screen (see FIG. 4) of the operation unit 103.

Further, the controller 200 allows the user to operate the operation unit 103 in advance to cover specific image data on the cover,
If the setting input has been performed as the back cover or both, the selected front cover and back cover will be the first and last pages of the original at the time of bookbinding, and between the divided books at the time of split bookbinding. The printer control unit 203 is operated so as to be the last page or the first page of the next bundle,
An image specified as a front cover or a back cover is read from the image signal control unit 202, an image is formed on the sheet S, and the image is conveyed to a conveyance path in a subsequent process.

Next, such a bookbinding operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, when the user inputs a job through the operation unit 103 (y in decision 200), the control device 200 starts a program and the CPU 200
2 operates the reader control unit 201, reads the original set on the ADF 11 by the optical system 12, and stores it as image data in the memory of the image signal control unit 202 (processing 20).
1).

Next, CPU 2002 determines whether or not a job processing start has been input from operation unit 103 (determination 202). Here, when the job processing start is not input (n in decision 202) and the image data editing is selected (y in decision 204), the image signal control unit 202 is operated and read by the input from the operation unit 103. Various editing of the image data is performed (process 205). After that, the edited image is stored and prepared for input of the start of the job processing. If the image data editing is not selected (n in step 204), the process returns to step 202 to prepare for the input of the start of the job processing.

On the other hand, when a job processing start is input (y in determination 202), the CPU 2002 determines whether or not bookbinding is selected in the setting of the job input by the user (determination 203). If bookbinding has not been selected (n in decision 203), the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 203, and the
By operating the inserter control unit 205 and the finisher control unit 206, the image data is printed out on the recording paper S (processing 206) and discharged to the external tray 59. When the processing of the predetermined job is completed (y in judgment 207), judgment 2
Return to 00 and prepare for the input of the next job.

On the other hand, when the bookbinding operation is selected (y in decision 203), the CPU 2002 determines the information of the sheet type selected in the job setting, that is, the sheet S, the thickness of the sheet I, and the maximum bookbinding of the bookbinding machine. The bookbinding possible number W is calculated from the information on the possible thickness (step 208). Then, the number W of bindable sheets is compared with the number X of one bundle set in JOB (determination 209).

Here, when the number of bound sheets X in one bundle is smaller than the number of bindable sheets W (n in decision 209), the CPU 2002
Initializes the number T of bound sheets to X (step 210), stores it in the memory 2001, and sets the sheet number counter N to 0 (step 215). On the other hand, when the number of bound sheets X in one bundle is larger than the number of bindable sheets W (y in decision 209), the CPU
Reference numeral 2002 denotes a designated division method, for example, the number W of bindable books.
W / 2, W such that the number of bundles X becomes uniform
The number of divisions Y is determined according to the number of divisions of the bundle according to division such as / 3 or a method of designating the number of divisions (process 211), and this division number Y is stored in the memory 2001.

Then, according to the designated job dividing method, the number of each bundle is set to the first bundle T_1, the second bundle T_2. . . T_y
Is calculated (process 212) and stored in the memory 2001.
Thereafter, the CPU 2002 initializes the bookbinding division counter K to 1 (process 213), and sets the number T of booklets of the bundle to T_.
k (= 1) (process 214), the memory 2001
To be stored.

Next, the CPU 2002 initializes a sheet number counter N (= 0) for one bundle (step 215), and thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, whether or not a cover is selected by editing the image data by the operation unit 103 as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not (decision 21)
6).

Here, if the cover is selected (y in decision 216), the CPU 2002
2, printer control unit 203, inserter control unit 205,
By operating the finisher control unit 206, the image designated as the cover is read from the image signal control unit 202, and the image data is printed out on the recording paper S by the image forming apparatus 102 operating as the cover image forming apparatus (processing 21).
7). Then, the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet aligning section 52. Thereafter, the CPU 2002 counts up the sheet number counter N (N = N + 1) (Step 21).
8).

Next, the CPU 2002 inserts the inserter 104
It is determined whether or not the insert paper is selected in the setting (decision 219). If the cover is not selected in the judgment 216 (n of judgment 216), the CPU 20
In step 02, it is immediately determined whether or not an insert sheet is selected in the setting of the inserter 104 (decision 219).

Here, the inserter 1 is operated by the operation unit 103.
When the insert sheet is selected in the setting of No. 04 (y in decision 219), the CPU 2002 sets the sheet number counter N
Is determined to be the number of sheets (pages) for inserting the insert sheet set in JOB (determination 221).

Here, when the sheet number counter N is not a value for inserting an insert sheet (decision 2)
21n), the CPU 2002 operates the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 203, the inserter control unit 205, and the finisher control unit 206 based on the settings, and prints out the N-page image data on the recording paper S (processing). 220), the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet aligning section 52.

After that, the sheet number counter N is counted up (N = N + 1) (process 223). If insert paper is not set in the inserter 104 (n in decision 219), N pages of image data are immediately printed out on the recording paper S (processing 22).
0).

On the other hand, when the sheet number counter N has reached the value for inserting the set insert sheet (y in judgment 221), the CPU 2002 sets the inserter
5. Operate the finisher control unit 206 to feed and feed the insert sheet I from the third sheet storage unit storing the set insert sheet I to the sheet aligning unit 52 via the sheet feed path 41 ( Process 222).

Next, the CPU 2002 counts up the sheet number counter N (N = N + 1) (step 22).
3) Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the back cover is selected by editing the image data by the operation unit 103 (determination 224).

If the back cover is selected in the editing of the image data (y in determination 224), the CPU 2002 compares the sheet number counter N with the number of sheets T-1 in the bundle (determination 225). = T-1 (judgment 2
25), the inserter control unit 205 and the finisher control unit 26 are operated to read the image specified as the back cover from the image signal control unit 202, and to store the image data on the recording paper S.
The sheet S is conveyed to the sheet aligning section 52 (step 226). After this, the CPU 2002
Counts up the sheet number counter N (N = N +
1) Perform (process 227).

Then, the CPU 2002 compares the sheet number counter N with the number T of one bundle stored in the memory 2001 (judgment 228). If the back cover has not been selected (n of judgment 224), the sheet number counter N is immediately compared with the number T of one bundle stored in the memory 2001 (judgment 228). The sheet number counter N is stored in the memory 201 as 1
When it is determined that the number is not equal to the number of bundles T-1 (determination 22
5n), the process returns to the determination 219 shown in FIG.

Here, when the value of the sheet number counter N is equal to the number T of one bundle stored in the memory 2001 (y in judgment 228), the CPU 2002 operates the finisher control unit 206 to execute the bookbinding operation. (Process 22
9). When it is not determined that N = T (decision 228)
N), and returns to the determination 219 shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 2002 determines whether or not the bookbinding division counter K is equal to the bookbinding division number Y stored in the memory 2001 (decision 230). here,
When the bookbinding division counter K is equal to the bookbinding division number Y (y in determination 230), the CPU 2002 determines whether the job has been completed next (determination 231), and when it has determined that the job has ended (determination 231). Y), decision 200 shown in FIG.
To prepare for the next job input.

On the other hand, the bookbinding division counter K indicates the bookbinding division number Y.
If not equal to (n of decision 230), the CPU 2002
Counts up the bookbinding division counter K (k = k + 1)
(Process 232), and thereafter, the process returns to process 214 in FIG.
The number T of bound sheets is initialized to T_2, stored in the memory 2001, and initialized to a sheet number counter N (= 0) (processing 215), and thereafter, a series of operations is repeated.

The bookbinding division counter K indicates the bookbinding division number Y.
(Y in decision 230), and the CPU 2002
Does not determine that the processing of the predetermined job has been completed (n of determination 231), the processing returns to the processing 213 shown in FIG. 9, the bookbinding division counter K is initialized to 1, and a series of processing is performed until the predetermined job is completed. Perform the action.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the front cover or the last page of the book can be displayed without making the user feel complicated settings of the front cover and the back cover by dividing the JOB due to the restriction of the bookbinding device. Split binding with a front cover and a back cover can be easily enabled so as not to become a manuscript.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a sheet bundle is divided and bound, the front cover is positioned at the top of each divided sheet bundle, and the back cover is divided. By making the last of the sheet bundle, the cover or the last page of the book can be prevented from becoming a manuscript. This eliminates the need for the user to make complicated settings, makes it easy to perform bookbinding with a cover and a back cover, and improves the operability of the entire apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an entire bookbinding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device of the bookbinding device.

FIG. 3 is a first screen layout diagram of an operation unit of the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a second screen layout diagram of the operation unit of the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a third screen layout diagram of the operation unit of the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining a bookbinding operation of the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another part of the flowchart.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the remaining part of the flowchart.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart for explaining a bookbinding operation of the bookbinding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another part of the flowchart.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the remaining part of the flowchart.

[Description of Reference Numerals] 42 First paper storage unit 43 Second paper storage unit 100 Bookbinding device 102 Image forming device 104 Inserter device 105 Bookbinding device unit 200 Control device Ia Cover Ib Back cover S sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Ishizuka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bookbinding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle and, when the number of the sheet bundles is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing and binding each of the sheet bundles, the booklet becomes the head of the sheet bundle. A storage unit for storing a cover, a paper feeding unit for feeding the cover from the storage unit to a bookbinding unit, and the front of each of the divided sheet bundles when the cover is divided and bound. Control means for controlling a paper feeding operation of the paper feeding means such that 2. A bookbinding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle and, when the number of said sheet bundles is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing the sheet bundle and binding each of the plurality of sheet bundles, the leading edge of the sheet bundle. A first storage unit for storing a cover, a second storage unit for storing a last back cover of the sheet bundle, and selecting the front cover from the first storage unit and the back cover from the second storage unit A sheet feeding means for selectively feeding the sheet bundle to the bookbinding unit; and when the sheet bundle is divided and bound, the front cover is the top of each of the divided sheet bundles, and the back cover is divided. Control means for controlling the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding means so as to be the last of each sheet bundle. 3. A bookbinding apparatus for binding a bundle of sheets on which an image is formed and, when the number of sheet bundles is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing and binding each of the sheet bundles. A cover image forming unit that forms an image designated as a cover, a sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet on which the cover image is formed by the cover image forming unit to a bookbinding unit, and splits and binds the sheet bundle. A control unit for controlling a sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit such that a sheet on which the cover image is formed is a leading end of each of the divided sheet bundles. 4. A bookbinding apparatus for binding a bundle of sheets on which an image has been formed and, when the number of sheet bundles is equal to or more than a predetermined number, dividing and binding each of the sheet bundles. A cover image forming unit for forming an image designated as a cover and an image designated as a back cover, and selectively selecting a sheet on which a cover image is formed by the cover image forming unit or a sheet on which a back cover image is formed. A sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet bundle to the bookbinding unit, wherein the sheet on which the cover image is formed is the top of each of the divided sheet bundles when the sheet bundle is divided and bound, and the back cover image Control means for controlling the sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding means so that the sheet on which is formed becomes the last of the divided sheet bundles.