JP2016203451A - Bookbinding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform bookbinding processing so that contamination of a sheet end face which is generated during transport of a text sheet does not exist on a small-opening side of a booklet.SOLUTION: When a quality management mode is selected as an application mode, as a contamination prevention countermeasure on a small-opening side of a booklet to be produced, a printer 10 and a bookbinding device 20 are controlled so as to perform printing reverse order processing for making a print order of pieces of print data a reverse order, top-bottom reverse processing for reversing a top-bottom direction by rotating an orientation of a print image of a text sheet P1 by 180° in a horizontal direction, and direction reverse processing for controlling the switch part 21d so that the text sheet after being subjected to two-sided printing is guided to a front jacket introduction part 23 and then is guided to a registration part 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a bookbinding system for producing a booklet by binding a bundle of text sheets printed by a printing apparatus with a cover sheet using a bookbinding apparatus.

  Conventionally, a bookbinding device is connected as a post-processing device of a printing device which is a main device, and text sheets and cover sheets are printed based on the contents of a booklet produced by the printing apparatus. A bookbinding system is known in which a booklet is produced by performing a binding process on a sheet bundle with a cover sheet (for details, refer to Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2014-159090 A

  By the way, in an apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when double-sided printing is performed on a text sheet, the direction is passed through a closed loop circulation path having a switchback path for switching the front and back of the printed text sheet in the transport direction. Inversion processing is performed.

  However, the circulation path has a shape that causes the paper immediately after printing, which is horizontally transported, to rise rapidly due to the structure of the apparatus. Therefore, the end surface of the paper tends to hit the roller surface of the transport roller, and the transport roller to be transported upward is the paper immediately after printing. Ink tends to adhere to the roller surface. For this reason, there is a problem in that the ink adhering to the roller surface adheres to the end surface of the paper and becomes dirty due to the contact between the transport roller surface and the end surface of the paper during the ascending transport.

  With normal printing processing, even if ink adheres to the paper end surface, dirt cannot be visually recognized. However, when a bundle with a certain number of sheets overlapped, the area of the end surface of the entire paper bundle increases, so There was a problem that the stains were conspicuous and the finished booklet looked bad.

  Further, a booklet produced by a bookbinding system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is printed in ascending order on the front side and the back side in the booklet form 1 (text: double-sided printing, cover: left-bound), and booklet form 2 ( (Text: double-sided printing, front cover: right binding) are printed in descending order on the back side and front side. In both booklet forms, it was necessary to take measures to prevent contamination.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and when a booklet is produced, the bookbinding process is performed so that the dirt on the end face of the paper generated during the conveyance of the text paper does not appear on the fore edge side of the booklet. The purpose is to provide a bookbinding system.

The bookbinding system according to claim 1 includes a printing unit that forms a predetermined image on a text sheet;
A closed-loop circulation path including a reversing unit that conveys the front and back of the text paper while reversing the front and back of the text paper when the text paper is printed on both sides;
A printing device having
A text transport path for transporting the text paper printed by the printing device;
An alignment unit that receives and aligns a plurality of the body sheets conveyed through the body sheet transport path;
A case binding unit that forms a booklet by binding the cover sheet so that the front end side of the sheet bundle aligned by the alignment unit is the back side of the booklet;
Connected to the downstream end of the branch path branched from the body conveyance path, a cover introduction section for introducing the cover sheet from the outside of the housing;
The text sheet disposed at a branch point between the text conveyance path and the branch path, and selectively guiding the text sheet sent from the upstream side to the alignment section or the cover page introduction section, and the guide guided to the cover page introduction section A switching unit for guiding the text sheet to the alignment unit;
A bookbinding apparatus comprising:
When performing double-sided printing on the body paper, the printing order of the print data is reversed and the printing order of the front and back sides is reversed, and the orientation of the print image on the body paper is rotated 180 degrees horizontally to A control unit for performing a direction reversal process for controlling the switching unit so as to be guided to the alignment unit, after guiding the text sheet after double-sided printing to the front cover introducing unit, and reversing the direction,
It is characterized by having.

Further, the bookbinding system according to claim 2 is the bookbinding system according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode of the bookbinding system is as follows:
A speed priority mode in which the reverse printing process, the upside down process, and the reverse direction process are not performed;
A quality maintenance mode for performing the printing reverse order processing, the upside down processing, and the reverse direction processing;
Set
The quality maintaining mode and the speed priority mode are selectively implemented according to mode setting information set by a setting unit.

  According to the bookbinding system described in claim 1, even when the paper is switched back through the circulation path of the printing apparatus during double-sided printing and dirt is attached to the end surface of the paper, printing reverse order processing, top-to-bottom reversal processing, Also, by performing the direction reversal process, this dirty paper end face will always be on the back side of the booklet, so that when the book becomes a booklet, high quality bookbinding processing is realized without smearing on the small edge side Can do.

  Further, according to the bookbinding system described in claim 2, it is possible to selectively switch the operation mode by setting and inputting the mode setting information from the setting unit according to the booklet quality and productivity required by the user. There is an effect that the degree of freedom increases.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bookbinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram in the system. (A) is a figure which shows the inversion state of the printing image at the time of a top-and-bottom inversion process, (b) is a figure which shows the example of a printing when double-sided printing is performed in the descending order set by the printing reverse order process, (c) FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing example when duplex printing is performed in ascending order set in the printing reverse order process. (A)-(b) is a figure which shows the conveyance state of the text paper at the time of a direction inversion process. (A) is a figure which shows the state of the text paper at the time of duplex printing and left binding in the speed priority mode in this system, and (b) is the text paper at the time of double-sided printing and left binding in the quality maintenance mode in this system. (C) is a diagram showing the state of the text sheet when duplex printing and right binding are performed in the quality maintenance mode in this system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment, and all other forms, examples, operation techniques, and the like that can be implemented by those skilled in the art based on this form are included in the scope of the present invention. .

  In the present specification, in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the words “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right” are used to indicate directions and positions. Matches the top, bottom, left, and right.

[1. About system configuration]
First, the configuration of the bookbinding system 1 of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the bookbinding system 1 of this example includes a printing apparatus 10 and a bookbinding apparatus 20.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding apparatus 20 are each provided with a control unit (printing control unit 17, bookbinding control unit 28). A configuration may be adopted in which any one of 20 is provided with a control unit that performs the processing of both apparatuses and controls the bookbinding system 1 as a whole. For example, when the printing apparatus 10 is a main apparatus and the bookbinding apparatus 20 is positioned as a peripheral device (post-processing apparatus), the printing apparatus 10 may be provided with a control unit that controls the entire system.

  Further, a booklet production job in which the production conditions of a booklet produced by the bookbinding system 1 are set is not shown, which is mounted on an external terminal such as a PC (personal computer) or a tablet terminal, the printing apparatus 10 or the bookbinding apparatus 20. It is set from an operation input unit (consisting of various input keys, a liquid crystal panel, a touch panel, etc.). The booklet production job includes print image data on the body paper P1 and cover paper P2 constituting the booklet, booklet binding method information (right binding and left binding), printing method information on the body paper P1 (double-sided printing), and body paper. Various information necessary for producing a booklet such as the number information of P1 and the size information of the booklet is included.

<1-1. Printer>
The printing apparatus 10 performs printing on the print medium P. The printing apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding unit 11, a conveyance unit 12, a printing unit 13, a communication unit 14, a paper discharge unit 15, a reversing unit 16, and a print control unit (corresponding to a control unit in claims) 17. And a setting unit 18 and a housing 19 for storing or holding each unit.
The print control unit 17 includes an interface unit (not shown), and receives a print job (including print data) requesting bookbinding processing from a terminal device (not shown) via a network.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a circulation path R1 is set in the casing 19 of the printing apparatus 10 as a transport path for the print medium P (text sheet P1 or cover sheet P2). This circulation path R1 is replaced with the normal path R2 for transporting the image-formed print medium P to the paper discharge unit 15 and the normal path R2 again after the front and rear in the transport direction of the print medium P with the image formed on the surface are interchanged. This is a closed loop circuit constituted by an inversion route R3 for returning. The print medium P is image-formed while being conveyed in the counterclockwise direction in the figure along the circulation path R1, and is switched back through the reverse path R3 as necessary.

  In addition, the upstream side of the printing unit 13 in the circulation path R <b> 1 is connected to a paper feeding path R <b> 4 that connects the paper feeding unit 11. Further, the downstream side of the printing unit 13 in the circulation path R <b> 1 is connected to a communication path R <b> 5 that extends toward the bookbinding apparatus 20. Note that the downstream end of the communication path R5 is connected to the upstream end of the text transport path Ra of the bookbinding apparatus 20 described later. In the following description, upstream and downstream mean upstream and downstream in the transport path.

The paper feeding unit 11 is arranged on the most upstream side of the transport path, and feeds the printing medium P serving as the body paper P1 and the cover paper P2 to the printing unit 13.
The paper feeding unit 11 is partly exposed to the outside of the housing 19 and is loaded on the external paper feeding base 11a on which the print medium P mainly serving as cover paper P2 is loaded, and on the external paper feeding base 11a. An external paper feed roller 11b that picks up the cover paper P2 one by one and feeds it to the printing unit 13, and a plurality of print media P that are arranged in the housing 19 and are mainly used as the text paper P1 are stacked. An internal paper feed tray 11c, and a plurality of internal paper feed rollers 11d that pick up a specified print medium P among the text sheets P1 stacked on the internal paper feed tray 11c one by one and feed them to the printing unit 13. I have. The external paper feed roller 11b and the internal paper feed roller 11d are each driven by a motor (not shown).

The transport unit 12 transports the print medium P in a predetermined direction within the circulation path R1.
The transport unit 12 is disposed near the junction of the paper feed path R4 and the reversing path R3, temporarily stops the print medium P transported from the paper feed unit 11 or the reversing unit 16, and then passes to the printing unit 13 at a predetermined timing. A registration roller 12a that is conveyed toward the belt, a belt conveyance unit 12b that conveys the print medium P conveyed from the registration roller 12a by suction onto the belt, and a plurality of pairs of upper surface conveyance rollers. An upper surface transport unit 12c that transports the transported print medium P so as to make a U-turn from the right to the left along the normal path R2. The registration rollers 12a, the belt conveyance unit 12b, and the upper surface conveyance unit 12c are driven by motors (not shown).

  The printing unit 13 includes a plurality of line-type inkjet heads (not shown) in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the print medium P, and is conveyed by the belt conveyance unit 12b. It is disposed above the belt conveyance unit 12b so as to print an image by ejecting ink from the inkjet head onto P.

  The contact unit 14 sends the printed print medium P to the bookbinding apparatus 20 during bookbinding printing. The communication unit 14 is arranged at a branch point between the normal route R2 and the communication route R5 and is conveyed from the belt conveyance unit 12b and the switching unit 14a that switches the conveyance route of the print medium P between the normal route R2 and the communication route R5. And a contact roller 14b that transports the printed printing medium P and sends it to the bookbinding apparatus 20.

The paper discharge unit 15 is connected to the downstream end of the normal path R2, and discharges the printed print medium P.
The paper discharge unit 15 includes a paper discharge table 15a on which the discharged print medium P is stacked, and a paper discharge roller 15b that conveys the print medium P conveyed by the upper surface conveyance unit 12c and discharges it to the paper discharge table 15a. And.

The reversing unit 16 is provided in the reversing path R3, and after reversing the front and back of the single-side printed printing medium P transported from the normal path R2, the direction reversing process is performed in which the front and back in the transport direction are switched while transporting the reversing path R3. And conveyed to the registration roller 12a.
The reversing unit 16 includes a reversing roller 16a that transports the print medium P transported by the upper surface transport unit 12c temporarily to the switchback unit 16b and then transports it to the refeed roller 16c. Is transferred from the upper surface transport section 12c, the switchback section 16b which is a space for temporarily transporting the paper, the refeed roller 16c which transports the print medium P transported by the reversing roller 16a to the registration roller 12a, and the upper transport section 12c. A switching gate 16d is provided for guiding the print medium P to the reversing roller 16a and guiding the print medium P unloaded from the switchback portion 16b to the refeed roller 16c by the reversing roller 16a. The reversing roller 16a and the refeed roller 16c are each driven by a motor (not shown).

The print control unit 17 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and is a computer program necessary for driving the printing apparatus 10 to execute a booklet production job transmitted from a connected PC (personal computer). And a central processing unit that executes control processing and various processes of the entire printing apparatus 10 by reading and processing various application software.
Note that the printing control related to the prevention of edge stains in the bookbinding system 1 of this example will be described in detail later.

  The setting unit 18 is an input device that includes, for example, operation keys, a display / input panel, and the like, and is provided outside the housing 19. The setting unit 18 is operated in a predetermined manner when setting various setting information necessary for the printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding apparatus 20 in addition to operation mode selection information (mode setting information) and booklet production job settings described later by the user. Then, the operation signal is output to the corresponding output destination (print control unit 17 or bookbinding control unit 28).

  In the present embodiment, the setting unit 18 is described as being configured outside the casing 19 of the printing apparatus 10, but may be included in each of the printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding apparatus 20, for example. Alternatively, the setting unit 18 may not be directly mounted on the printing apparatus 10 or the bookbinding apparatus 20, but may be configured to use an external terminal (for example, a PC or a tablet terminal) that communicates with the printing apparatus 10 or the bookbinding apparatus 20 by wired or wireless connection. Good.

<1-2. Bookbinding device>
The bookbinding apparatus 20 creates a booklet by the case binding function. Bookbinding transport unit 21, alignment unit 22, cover sheet introduction unit 23, clamp unit 24, adhesive application unit 25, molding unit 26, discharge unit 27, bookbinding control unit (corresponding to the control unit of the claims) ) 28 and a housing 29 for storing or holding each part.

  As shown in FIG. 1, among the transport paths in the bookbinding apparatus 20, the text transport path Ra that guides the text sheet P <b> 1 transported from the printing apparatus 10 to the alignment unit 22 and the downstream side of the text transport path Ra are branched. A cover sheet conveyance path Rb that guides the cover sheet P2 to the forming unit 26 and a branch path Rc that connects the downstream side of the main body conveyance path Ra and the cover sheet introduction unit 23 are provided.

The bookbinding transport unit 21 transports the text sheet P1 and the cover sheet P2 in a predetermined direction in the bookbinding apparatus 20.
The bookbinding transport unit 21 takes in the text sheet P1 or cover sheet P2 from the communication unit 14 of the printing apparatus 10 and transports it to the text transport path Ra, and the text sheet P1 and cover sheet transported by the introduction roller 21a. The upper roller 21b that conveys P2 upward and conveys the cover sheet P2 conveyed from the cover introduction section 23 downward, and the cover sheet P2 conveyed by the upper roller 21b through the cover conveyance path Rb, the molding unit 26. The main body paper P1 is switched from the main text transport path Ra to the branch path Rc so that the main text paper P1 is guided to the front cover introduction section 23 and the main text paper transported to the front cover introduction section 23. The transport path of the text sheet P1 is returned from the branch path Rc so that P1 is switched back and guided to the aligning unit 22. A switching unit 21d for switching to Rd, a text sheet P1 transported by the upper roller 21b and a feed roller 21e for sending back the transported text sheet P1 from the cover sheet introduction unit 23 to the aligning unit 22, and a cover transport path Rb And a horizontal conveyance roller 21 f that conveys the cover sheet P <b> 2 led to the molding unit 26. The introduction roller 21a, the upper roller 21b, the lower roller 21c, the feed roller 21e, and the horizontal transport roller 21f are each driven by a motor (not shown).

The aligning unit 22 is disposed at the downstream end of the text transport path Ra and aligns a plurality of printed text sheets P1.
The alignment unit 22 includes a paper tray 22a that receives the text paper P1 that is sent from the delivery roller 21e and drops, a reference plate 22b that regulates the leading end position of the text paper P1 stacked on the paper tray 22a in the paper transport direction, and a reference An end fence 22c that aligns the positions of the plurality of body sheets P1 stacked on the sheet tray 22a together with the plate 22b in the sheet transport direction (sheet width direction), and the sheet length direction of the plurality of body sheets P1 stacked on the sheet tray 22a. And a pair of side fences 22d for aligning the positions.

  The cover sheet introduction unit 23 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) that is arranged with a part exposed above the housing 29, and supplies printed cover sheet P2 from the outside at a predetermined timing. . Further, the cover sheet introduction unit 23 is connected to the downstream end of the branch path Rc, temporarily receives the text sheet P1 transported from the text transport path Ra through the branch path Rc, and switches the front and back in the transport direction of the text sheet P1. Perform direction reversal processing.

  Further, when the cover sheet P2 is printed by the printing apparatus 10, the cover sheet introduction unit 23 temporarily receives the cover sheet P2 conveyed from the text conveyance path Ra via the branch path Rc, and performs predetermined molding by the molding unit 26. It is sent out again toward the text transport path Ra like a switchback in accordance with the timing.

The clamp unit 24 sandwiches (clamps) a sheet bundle made up of a plurality of text sheets P1 stacked on the sheet tray 22a of the alignment unit 22 in the thickness direction, and carries out the sheet bundle from the alignment unit 22.
The clamp part 24 is located above the molding part 26 and is connected to the rotary shaft 24b via the connection member 24a. The clamp portion 24 includes an upper clamp 24c and a lower clamp 24d. The upper clamp 24c and the lower clamp 24d are provided to face each other, and the upper clamp 24c is relatively close to the lower clamp 24d. Alternatively, it is configured to be movable so as to be separated from each other, and the downstream end of the sheet bundle in the sheet conveyance direction is sandwiched in the thickness direction. The rotary shaft 24b can be moved in the left-right direction and the up-down direction by a drive mechanism (not shown). The upper clamp 24c and the lower clamp 24c are operated together with the forward and reverse rotational movements around the central axis of the rotary shaft 24b. The sheet bundle sandwiched by 24d can be moved to the adhesive application unit 25, the molding unit 26, and the like.

The adhesive application unit 25 is disposed on the right side of the forming unit 26 and applies a hot melt adhesive to the back surface of the sheet bundle conveyed by the clamp unit 24.
The adhesive application unit 25 includes an adhesive storage unit 25a for storing an adhesive (hot melt adhesive) for bonding the sheet bundle and the cover sheet P2, and an adhesive stored in the adhesive storage unit 25a on the outer peripheral surface. An applicator roller 25b that contacts the back surface of the sheet bundle in an attached state and attaches an adhesive is provided.

The forming unit 26 is disposed on the downstream side of the horizontal conveying roller 21f, and forms a booklet by binding the sheet bundle with the cover sheet P2.
The forming unit 26 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction so as to approach and separate from each other, and a pair of back folding plates 26a that fold the boundary between the back cover portion and the cover portion of the cover paper P2, and the back surface of the sheet bundle And an abutting plate 26b which is abutted via the cover sheet P2.

  Further, the above-described clamp part 24, adhesive application part 25 and molding part 26 constitute a "case binding part" in the claims, and the front end side of the sheet bundle received by the alignment part 22 from the front end side The cover sheet P2 is bound and bound so as to be on the back side of the booklet to form the booklet.

The discharge unit 27 is disposed at a lower portion in the housing 29 and discharges the booklet to the outside of the housing 29.
The discharge unit 27 includes a guide member 27a that guides the booklet dropped from the right side of the forming unit 26 after being formed by the forming unit 26 to the transport conveyor 27b. The discharge unit 27 receives the booklet from the guide member 27a and transports the booklet to the left. And a discharge conveyor 27c that receives the booklet dropped from the transfer conveyor 27b, transfers it to the right, and discharges it to the receiving stand 27d outside the housing 29. The conveyor 27b and the discharge conveyor 2c are each driven by a motor (not shown).

  The bookbinding control unit 28 is constituted by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and a computer program necessary for driving the bookbinding apparatus 20 to execute a booklet production job transmitted from a connected PC (personal computer). It is a central processing unit that executes various control processes and various processes of the bookbinding apparatus 20 by reading various application software and performing program processing. The bookbinding control related to the prevention of edge stains in the bookbinding system 1 of this example will be described in detail later.

[2. Measures to prevent stains on the booklet side]
Next, in the bookbinding system 1 of this example, a printing process and a conveying process of the text sheet P1 that is a measure for preventing smearing on the booklet edge to be produced will be described.

In the bookbinding system 1 of this example, when producing a booklet with the text sheet P1 subjected to double-sided printing, when the conventional bookbinding process is performed, the text sheet P1 passes through the normal path R2 in the printing apparatus 10. When the end face in the conveyance direction of the body paper P1 hits the conveyance roller, dirt on the roller surface adheres, and when it is completed as a booklet, there is a problem that the dirt appears on the fore edge side depending on the form of the booklet and looks bad.
For this reason, in this system, printing processing and conveyance processing are performed so that the end surface on the side to which dirt is attached during booklet preparation is on the back cover side so that the paper end surface does not appear on the small edge side of the booklet.

(2-1. Processing by printing apparatus)
In the printing apparatus 10, the print control unit 17 controls the printing unit 13 to define the booklet binding method (right binding or left binding) among the information included in the booklet production job as the printing process for the text sheet P <b> 1. Based on the binding method information and the printing method information indicating the printing method (double-sided printing) of the body paper P1, the top-and-bottom inversion process for rotating the orientation of the image printed on the body paper P1 by 180 ° in the horizontal direction is performed.

This top-to-bottom reversal processing is performed when the binding method information included in the booklet production job is “left binding” and the printing method information is “double-sided printing”, and the binding method information is “right binding” and the printing method information is “double-sided printing”. This is a process that is performed in some cases.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the direction of the print image to be printed on the text sheet P1 is rotated 180 degrees horizontally from the front direction of the apparatus, which is the first image direction, and the top-to-bottom direction of the image The printing process is performed in the state where the second image is reversed and the rear side of the apparatus is turned.

  Note that “apparatus front direction” is a direction in which a print image is printed such that the background side edge of the text sheet P1 is the front side (front side of the paper) of the printing apparatus 10 in FIG. The “orientation” is an orientation in which the print image is printed such that the top edge of the text sheet P1 in FIG. 1 is the front side (front side) of the printing apparatus 10.

  In addition to the upside down process, the print control unit 17 causes the end in the discharge direction of the text sheet P1 to be the back surface (glue surface) when the text sheet P1 is discharged to the alignment unit 22 of the bookbinding apparatus 20. Also, reverse printing order processing is performed in which the printing order (ascending order or descending order) is reversed from the conventional one and the front and back printing order is reversed.

Here, “descending order” in the printing order is the order of printing from the last page of the booklet toward the first page, and “ascending order” is the order of printing from the first page of the booklet toward the last page.
In addition, the conventional printing order is the same as described in the above-mentioned “Problem to be Solved by the Invention”, in the ascending order when the text is double-sided printing and left-binding, and the text is double-sided printing and right-binding. In this case, the order is descending. Accordingly, when the reverse printing process is performed, the order is descending when the text is double-sided printing and left-binding, and the order is ascending when the text is double-sided printing and right-binding.
Further, the conventional front and back printing order is printing in the order of the front side and the back side of the paper in the ascending order, and printing in the order of the back side and the front side of the paper in the descending order. Accordingly, the printing order of the front and back when performing the reverse printing order processing is printing in the order of the back and front of the paper in the ascending order, and printing in the order of the front and back of the paper in the descending order.

In the case of “descending order”, when the above relationship is illustrated, and “descending order”, when 26 pages A to Z are printed on both sides as shown in FIG. 3B, “Y → Z, W → X , A → B ”, the printing order of the front and back of each sheet is ascending order, but printing is performed in descending order when viewed in odd page (or even page) units.
Further, in the case of performing the reverse printing process and “ascending order”, as shown in FIG. 3C, when 26 pages from A to Z are printed on both sides, “B → A, D → C... → "Y" and the printing order of the front and back of each sheet is descending, but printing is done in ascending order when viewed in odd pages (or even pages).
When the print data is an odd number of pages, the last page is controlled to be blank.

(2-2. Processing by bookbinding apparatus)
In the bookbinding apparatus 20, the bookbinding control unit 28 controls the upper roller 21 b, the lower roller 21 c and the switching unit 21 d of the bookbinding transport unit 21, and the cover sheet introduction unit 23. Of the information included in the booklet production job, when the printing method information is double-sided printing, the body paper P1 is carried into the cover introduction unit 23 and the direction inversion process is performed.

In this direction reversal process, as shown in FIG. 4A, first, the switching unit 21d is switched so that the text sheet P1 transported along the text transport path Ra by the introduction roller 21a is guided to the cover sheet introducing unit 23. .
Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the upper roller 21b is driven in a state where the transport direction of the text sheet P1 is switched, and the text sheet P1 is guided along the branch path Rc according to the guidance of the switching section 21d. It is conveyed to 23.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the switching unit 21 d is switched so that the text sheet P <b> 1 conveyed to the cover sheet introduction unit 23 is guided to the alignment unit 22.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the main body paper P1 waiting at the cover introduction section 23 is switched back, and the front and rear in the transport direction are switched, and along the return transport path Rd according to the guidance of the switching section 21d. It is conveyed to the alignment unit 22.

  As described above, in the bookbinding system 1 of the present example, as described above, as a measure for preventing contamination on the booklet fore side to be produced, as described above, based on the binding method information and the printing method information included in the booklet production job for the booklet to be produced, When the body sheet P1 is discharged to the aligning unit 22 of the bookbinding apparatus 20, the discharge direction end of the body sheet P1 is the rear surface. To be loaded. Thereafter, the adhesive application process in the adhesive application unit 25 and the booklet molding process in the molding unit 26 are performed.

  As a result, even if the paper end face is contaminated by switching back through the circulation path R1 of the printing apparatus 10 as in duplex printing, the dirty paper end face always comes to the back side of the booklet. When a booklet is produced, high-quality bookbinding processing can be realized without stains appearing on the fore edge side.

  As described above, when the upside down process and the reverse printing process by the printing apparatus 10 and the direction inversion process by the bookbinding apparatus 20 are performed, the sheet bundle of the text sheets P1 stacked on the alignment unit 22 is face up or face down. Loaded with. Therefore, as a matter of course, the cover sheet P2 conveyed to the forming unit 26 is carried into the forming unit 26 so that the orientation of the cover sheet P2 in the vertical direction matches the image direction of the text sheet P1 stacked on the aligning unit 22.

[3. About operation mode]
Next, the operation mode in this system will be described.
In this system, as a measure for preventing the above-mentioned smearing on the booklet side, three processes, top-to-bottom reversal processing, printing reverse order processing, and reversal processing, are performed based on binding method information and printing method information included in the booklet production job of the booklet to be produced. Are executed in each of the printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding apparatus 20. However, if a measure for preventing dirt on the fore edge is taken, the bookbinding time will be slightly longer than the conventional bookbinding time by the time of the direction reversal processing on the bookbinding apparatus 20 side.

  Therefore, in this system, as an operation mode at the time of producing a booklet, a measure for preventing the stain on the fore edge side selected when driving and controlling the printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding device 20 as a measure for preventing the stain on the fore edge of the booklet as described above. In the “quality maintenance mode”, for example, when the printing apparatus 10 is newly introduced or immediately after cleaning the transport roller, the user who does not care about book stains is unlikely. Two modes of “speed priority mode” that are selected when priority is given to the production speed of the booklet are provided.

  Then, according to the booklet quality and productivity required by the user, the user himself / herself sets and inputs mode setting information from the setting unit 18 so that the two modes can be selectively switched.

  As described above, since the system configuration is such that a desired operation mode can be appropriately selected according to the degree of completion of the booklet requested by the user, an effect that the degree of freedom of system operation is increased can be achieved.

[4. About processing operation]
Next, an example of processing operation in the bookbinding system 1 described above will be described.
In this case, there are two modes: "Speed priority mode" that does not take measures against booklet's fore-edge stains with priority on booklet production speed, and "Quality maintenance mode" that takes the above-mentioned booklet foreside anti-stain measures. It is an example of processing operation in each operation mode.

<4-1. Speed priority mode>
First, the processing operation in the speed priority mode will be described.
Here, as an example of a booklet created in the present system, an example of processing operation when the text sheet P1 is printed on both sides and left-bound is shown. In addition, since processing (for example, gluing processing, molding processing, etc.) related to booklet production after the text sheet P1 is stacked on the alignment unit 22 is the same as the conventional one, the description thereof is omitted.

  When producing a booklet, a user selects a job for creating a booklet from the setting unit 18 provided in the printing apparatus 10 serving as a main device, and mode setting information for setting a speed priority mode as an operation mode setting. Enter the setting.

  Next, when the printing apparatus 10 confirms that the speed priority mode is set as the operation mode for the selected job, the booklet in which “double-sided printing” is set as the printing method information and “left binding” is set as the binding method information. Run the production job in speed priority mode.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, the printing process starts without performing the top-and-bottom reversing process or the printing reverse order process. Next, the printed text sheet P1 is conveyed to the bookbinding apparatus 20 via the communication path R5. Since the text sheet P1 transported from the printing apparatus 10 is not subjected to the direction reversal process, it is transported to the aligning unit 22 through the text transport path Ra, and the process is terminated.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, the body paper P1 is stacked face down when discharged to the paper tray 22a, and the dirty paper end face is on the edge edge, but after the printing process, the alignment unit The speed of transporting up to 22 is the same as before.
Although not shown in FIG. 5, the processing operation when performing double-side printing and right binding of the text sheet P1 in the speed priority mode includes all of the upside down process, the reverse printing process, and the switchback process. First, it is a double-sided printing process in descending order, and the order of front and back printing is the order of back and front. Further, when the paper is discharged to the paper tray 22a, the paper is stacked face up, and the dirty paper end face is on the edge side, but the speed at which the paper is conveyed to the alignment unit 22 after the printing process is the same as before.

<4-2. Quality maintenance mode>
Next, the processing operation in the quality maintenance mode will be described.
Here, among the booklet forms created in the present system, the booklet edge described above for booklet form 1 (text: double-sided printing, cover: left binding) and booklet form 2 (text: double-sided printing, cover: right binding). The processing operation when the anti-dirt prevention measures are taken will be described.

  Note that the processing (for example, gluing processing, molding processing, etc.) relating to booklet production after the text sheet P1 is stacked on the aligning unit 22 is the same as in the past, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(Processing operation in booklet form 1)
When producing a booklet, a user selects a job for creating a booklet and mode setting information for setting a quality mode as an operation mode setting from a setting unit 18 provided in the printing apparatus 10 as a main device. Enter the settings.

  Next, when the printing apparatus 10 confirms that the quality maintenance mode is set as the operation mode for the selected job, the printing apparatus 10 displays “double-sided printing” as the printing method information and “left binding” as the binding method information. Execute a booklet production job with the setting in the quality maintenance mode.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the orientation of the print image is rotated 180 degrees horizontally from the front side of the apparatus by the top / bottom reversal process so that the top / bottom direction of the image is reversed. To do. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, by reverse printing order processing, the printing order of the body paper P1 is set to double-sided printing in descending order, and the front and back printing order is set to the front and back order. When the upside down process and the reverse printing process are completed, the printing process is started.

  Next, the printed text sheet P1 is conveyed to the bookbinding apparatus 20 via the communication path R5. Since the text sheet P1 conveyed from the printing apparatus 10 performs the direction reversal process, the switching unit 21d is switched so as to be carried into the cover sheet introduction unit 23 through the text conveyance path Ra. Thus, the text sheet P1 is guided from the text transport path Ra to the branch path Rc by the switching unit 21d and transported to the cover sheet introducing section 23.

  Next, when the text sheet P1 is transported to the cover sheet introducing section 23, the switching section 21d is configured to transport the text sheet P1 from the cover sheet introducing section 23 to the aligning section 22 with the front and back in the transport direction being switched by switchback. Switch. As a result, the text sheet P1 is guided from the branch path Rc to the return conveyance path Rd by the switching unit 21d and conveyed to the alignment unit 22. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the text sheet P1 is loaded face up when discharged to the sheet tray 22a, and the dirty sheet end face is on the back side.

(Processing operation in booklet form 2)
When producing a booklet, a user selects a job for creating a booklet and mode setting information for setting a quality mode as an operation mode setting from a setting unit 18 provided in the printing apparatus 10 as a main device. Enter the settings.

  Next, when the printing apparatus 10 confirms that the quality maintenance mode is set as the operation mode for the selected job, the printing apparatus 10 displays “double-sided printing” as the printing method information and “right binding” as the binding method information. Execute a booklet production job with the setting in the quality maintenance mode.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, the orientation of the print image is rotated 180 degrees horizontally from the front side of the apparatus by the top / bottom reversal process so that the top / bottom direction of the image is reversed. To do. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, by reverse printing order processing, the printing order of the body paper P1 is set to ascending duplex printing, and the front and back printing order is set to the back and front order. When the upside down process and the reverse printing process are completed, the printing process is started.

  Next, the printed text sheet P1 is conveyed to the bookbinding apparatus 20 via the communication path R5. Since the text sheet P1 conveyed from the printing apparatus 10 performs the direction reversal process, the switching unit 21d is switched so as to be carried into the cover sheet introduction unit 23 through the text conveyance path Ra. Thus, the text sheet P1 is guided from the text transport path Ra to the branch path Rc by the switching unit 21d and transported to the cover sheet introducing section 23.

  Next, when the text sheet P1 is transported to the cover sheet introducing section 23, the switching section 21d is configured to transport the text sheet P1 from the cover sheet introducing section 23 to the aligning section 22 with the front and back in the transport direction being switched by switchback. Switch. As a result, the text sheet P1 is guided from the branch path Rc to the return conveyance path Rd by the switching unit 21d and conveyed to the alignment unit 22. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the text sheet P1 is stacked face down when discharged to the sheet tray 22a, and the dirty sheet end face is on the back side.

  As described above, in the bookbinding system 1 described above, as a measure for preventing contamination on the side of the booklet to be produced, the top and bottom of the print image to be printed based on the binding method information and the printing method information included in the booklet production job of the booklet to be produced Top-and-bottom reversal processing for reversing the direction by 180 °, printing reverse-order processing for reversing the printing order (ascending order or descending order) of the body paper P1 and reversing the printing order of the front and back, and direction reversal by the bookbinding device 20 The printing apparatus 10 and the bookbinding apparatus 20 are controlled by combining the three processes.

  As a result, when the text sheet P1 is discharged to the aligning unit 22 of the bookbinding apparatus 20, the text sheet P1 is stacked so that the end portion in the discharge direction is the back surface. Even if the paper end surface is contaminated by passing through the circulation path R1, the soiled paper end surface always comes to the back side of the booklet. Bookbinding processing can be realized.

  In addition, as the operation mode for booklet production, there are two modes, a quality maintenance mode that implements measures to prevent dirt on the small edge side, and a speed priority mode that is selected when priority is given to the production speed of the booklet. Depending on the productivity, the user himself / herself can set and input mode setting information from the setting unit 18 and can selectively switch between the two modes. Therefore, the degree of freedom in system operation can be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user sets the quality mode (speed priority mode or quality maintenance mode) from the setting unit 18 of the printing apparatus 10, but a terminal (not shown) that transmits a print job. On the side, the quality mode setting may be performed on the printer driver, and a print job including the quality mode setting may be transmitted to the printing apparatus 10 side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bookbinding system 10 ... Printing apparatus 11 ... Paper feed part 12 ... Conveyance part 13 ... Printing part 14 ... Contact part 15 ... Paper discharge part 16 ... Reversing part 17 ... Print control part (control part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Setting part 19 ... Housing | casing of printing apparatus 20 ... Bookbinding apparatus 21 ... Bookbinding conveyance part 22 ... Matching part 23 ... Cover sheet introduction part 24 ... Clamp part 25 ... Adhesive application part 26 ... Molding part 27 ... Ejection part 28 ... Bookbinding Control unit (control unit)
29 ... Case of bookbinding apparatus P ... Print medium (P1 ... Paper sheet, P2 ... Cover sheet)
R1 ... circulation route R2 ... normal route R3 ... reverse route R4 ... feed route R5 ... contact route Ra ... text transport route Rb ... cover transport route Rc ... branch route Rd ... return transport route

Claims (2)

A printing section for forming a predetermined image on the body paper;
A closed-loop circulation path including a reversing unit that conveys the front and back of the text paper while reversing the front and back of the text paper when the text paper is printed on both sides;
A printing device having
A text transport path for transporting the text paper printed by the printing device;
An alignment unit that receives and aligns a plurality of the body sheets conveyed through the body sheet transport path;
A case binding unit that forms a booklet by binding the cover sheet so that the front end side of the sheet bundle aligned by the alignment unit is the back side of the booklet;
Connected to the downstream end of the branch path branched from the body conveyance path, a cover introduction section for introducing the cover sheet from the outside of the housing;
The text sheet disposed at a branch point between the text conveyance path and the branch path, and selectively guiding the text sheet sent from the upstream side to the alignment section or the cover page introduction section, and the guide guided to the cover page introduction section A switching unit for guiding the text sheet to the alignment unit;
A bookbinding apparatus comprising:
When performing double-sided printing on the body paper, the printing order of the print data is reversed and the printing order of the front and back sides is reversed, and the orientation of the print image on the body paper is rotated 180 degrees horizontally to A control unit for performing a direction reversal process for controlling the switching unit so as to be guided to the alignment unit, after guiding the text sheet after double-sided printing to the front cover introducing unit, and reversing the direction,
A bookbinding system comprising: As the operation mode of the bookbinding system,
A speed priority mode in which the reverse printing process, the upside down process, and the reverse direction process are not performed;
A quality maintenance mode for performing the printing reverse order processing, the upside down processing, and the reverse direction processing;
Set
The bookbinding system according to claim 1, wherein the quality maintenance mode and the speed priority mode are selectively implemented according to mode setting information set by a setting unit.