JP5058482B2 - Sheet processing system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing system and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a sheet processing system including an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine and a sheet processing apparatus such as a finisher or a stacker and a control method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers are connected to post-processing apparatuses (sheet processing apparatuses) such as finishers and sorters, and have a relatively small print volume such as personal use at home or business use at an office. Has been used in.

  However, today, image forming apparatuses are being used in large fields of print volumes such as variable printing and on-demand publishing instead of bookbinding in the printing industry due to high image quality and high speed. Along with this, a plurality of post-processing devices having various functions such as sorting, sorting, binding, and folding of sheets output from the image forming apparatus are connected to the image forming apparatus in combination to form a sheet processing system. Some are in use.

  As an apparatus in which a post-processing apparatus is connected to an image forming apparatus for an individual or an office, for example, a copying machine shown in FIG. In this copying machine, the apparatus main body 101 that is an image forming apparatus and a finisher 119 that is a sheet processing apparatus are connected, and a sheet is conveyed by a CPU circuit unit 200 that controls the entire copying machine and a CPU 221 of a finisher control unit 211 that controls the finisher. Is controlled. Further, it is described that the CPU circuit unit 200 and the finisher control unit 211 may be integrated.

On the other hand, for the printing industry, some image forming apparatuses are connected to post-processing devices such as finishers, binders, stackers, sorters (sheet sorting devices), and gluing devices. And it is proposed that the height of the sheet delivery port and the sheet receiving port between these devices be the same, so that the combination of the post-processing devices and the order of the combination can be performed freely (for example, Patent Documents). 2).
JP 2004-269165 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-286931

  However, the above prior art has the following problems. That is, in a sheet processing system in which a plurality of post-processing devices are connected to an image forming apparatus, each post-processing device performs processing such as stapling on the sheet, thereby changing the form of the sheet and receiving it on the next device. There are cases when it is passed.

  For example, the above-described Patent Document 1 describes a finisher having a stapling function for binding a plurality of sheet bundles and a sheet folding function for folding a sheet bundle. This finisher has a configuration in which a stacker and a sheet sorting device can be connected downstream thereof. In some cases, a sheet having a size or thickness different from that of the sheet formed by the image forming apparatus is delivered to the stacker or the sheet sorting apparatus.

  In Patent Document 2, an apparatus having a Z-folding function for z-folding a sheet is described. When a stacker or a sheet sorting apparatus is connected downstream of this apparatus, a sheet having a size or thickness different from that of the sheet formed by the image forming apparatus may be delivered to the stacker or the sheet sorting apparatus. is there.

  For this reason, the stacker and sheet sorting device connected downstream of the image forming apparatus can offset the nip position of the sheet conveyance roller according to the thickness of the sheet conveyed from the upstream, or change the curl removal amount during sheet conveyance Control is required. In this case, it is necessary to notify the stacker and the sheet sorting apparatus of sheet change information including the size and thickness of the next sheet to be delivered, processing applied to the sheet, and the like.

  On the other hand, in a configuration in which a CPU exists in each of the image forming apparatus and the sheet processing apparatus as in the copier in Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the CPU in the image forming apparatus to grasp change information of all sheets. Then, the CPU in the image forming apparatus needs to individually notify the CPUs in the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses at the timing when the sheet is transferred. As a result, as the number of sheet processing apparatuses increases, the control performed by the image forming apparatus becomes more complicated, and it becomes difficult to expand the sheet processing system by adding sheet processing apparatuses.

  Further, it is difficult to integrate the CPU of the image forming apparatus and the CPUs of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses from the viewpoint of CPU performance.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and enables sheet processing to properly control sheet conveyance based on sheet information notified from another sheet processing apparatus. It is an object to provide a system and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, a sheet processing system according to the present invention is connected to a first sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a received sheet and conveys the received sheet, and to a downstream side of the first sheet processing apparatus. In the sheet processing system configured to include a second sheet processing apparatus, the first sheet processing apparatus stores storage information for storing sheet information notified from the apparatus that has conveyed the sheet, and the received sheet. A first processing unit that performs a folding process or a stapling process on the sheet, and a sheet that has been subjected to the folding process or the stapling process is stored in the storage unit when the sheet is conveyed to the second sheet processing apparatus. for sheets subjected to the folding process or the stapling process of the sheet information, it indicates that the folding or the staple processing is performed Change the information, the for the folding process the sheet either not be carried out of the stapling, the changing means does not change while the information indicating that it is not carried out both with the folding of the staple processing, The sheet information changed by the changing unit by performing the folding process or the stapling process or the sheet information not changed by performing neither the folding process nor the stapling process is the second sheet process. Notification means for notifying the apparatus, wherein the second sheet processing apparatus curls the sheet by pressing the sheet between two rollers against the sheet conveyed from the first sheet processing apparatus. A second processing means for performing the removal processing, and the folding processing or the sheet information notified from the first sheet processing apparatus; When there is information indicating that the serial stapling process is performed, characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling so as not to perform processing by said second processing means.

In order to achieve the above object, a control method according to the present invention includes a first sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on a received sheet and conveys the received sheet, and a first sheet connected to a downstream side of the first sheet processing apparatus. In a control method of a sheet processing system configured to include two sheet processing apparatuses, a storage step of storing, in a storage unit, sheet information notified to the first sheet processing apparatus from an apparatus that has conveyed the sheet; A first processing step for performing a folding process or a stapling process on the received sheet; and a step of conveying the sheet subjected to the folding process or the stapling process from the first sheet processing apparatus to a second sheet processing apparatus. to, for sheet subjected to the folding process or the stapling process of the sheet information stored in the storage in the storage means, the folding process also Change the information indicating that the staple processing is performed, that for the sheets either not be carried out of the folding process and the stapling process, not performed both with the folding of the staple processing a changing step to accept the information indicating, it has been modified by neither performing the said sheet information or said folding process has been changed by changing step stapling by performing the folding process or the stapling process 2 a notifying step of notifying the second sheet processing apparatus having no sheet information from the first sheet processing apparatus, to the first sheet processing apparatus sheet conveyed into the second sheet processing apparatus from a second processing step of performing processing for removing curl in the sheet by pressing the sheet between one of the rollers, the first sheet processing When the sheet information notified from the apparatus to the second sheet processing apparatus includes information indicating that the folding process or the stapling process has been performed, the processing is not performed in the second processing step. And a control step for controlling.

According to the present invention, a sheet processing apparatus that has received a sheet can appropriately perform sheet processing based on sheet information .

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sheet processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the sheet processing system includes a color image forming apparatus 101 and a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses include a sheet feed deck 105 that feeds sheets to the color image forming apparatus 101, a finisher 102 that performs post-processing of the image-formed sheets, a stacker 103, and a sorter 104.

  FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a network system including the sheet processing system of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the color image forming apparatus 101, the finisher 102, the stacker 103, the sorter 104, and the paper feed deck 105 are connected to each other via an inter-device communication network 120.

  The color image forming apparatus 101 is connected to the PC terminal 110 via the LAN 100. The color image forming apparatus 101 includes a controller unit 3000 and a printer control 3100. The controller unit 3000 receives image data and document data sent from the PC terminal 110 in response to a user print command, and manages jobs. The printer control unit 3100 forms a visible image on the sheet based on the received image data and the like, and conveys the sheet.

  The finisher 102, the stacker 103, the sorter 104, and the paper feed deck 105 include a finisher control unit 3200, a stacker control unit 3300, a sorter control unit 3400, and a paper feed deck control unit 3500 for performing sheet conveyance and sheet processing, respectively. .

  Images and documents created on the PC terminal 110 are set in various sheet processing modes such as a non-sort mode, a sort mode, and a saddle mode on a user interface (UI) screen (not shown), and a color image is transmitted via the LAN 100. Sent to the forming apparatus 101.

  The color image forming apparatus 101 forms an image according to received image data and the like, and exchanges sheet information and timing information necessary for sheet processing via the inter-apparatus communication network 120, and is set by the PC terminal 110. Sheet processing is executed, and a sheet is output.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing the configuration of the color image forming apparatus 101 of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the controller unit 3000 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, an external I / F unit 304, a PDL control unit 305, an internal I / F unit 306, and an operation unit 307.

  The CPU 301 is connected to a ROM 303 that stores a control program and a RAM 302 that stores data for processing via an address bus and a data bus. The CPU 301 communicates with an external I / F unit 304 for performing communication with the outside via the LAN 100, a PDL control unit 305 that performs processing, storage, and image processing of received data, and a printer control unit 3100. An internal I / F unit 306 to be performed is connected. Further, an operation unit 307 is connected to the CPU 301.

  The CPU 301 controls display means (not shown) and key input means of the operation unit 307. The user instructs the CPU 301 to switch the display via the key input means. The CPU 301 displays the operation state of the apparatus and the operation mode set by key input on the display unit of the operation unit 305.

  The printer control unit 3100 includes a CPU 311, a RAM 312, a ROM 313, an internal I / F unit 315, a device control unit 314, and an inter-device I / F unit 316.

  The CPU 311 performs basic control of the image forming operation. The CPU 311 is connected to a ROM 313 that stores a control program and a RAM 312 that stores data for performing an image forming operation via an address bus and a data bus.

  It is assumed that the ROM 313 stores a control program described later. The device control unit 314 is an electric circuit including an input / output port for controlling each component. The internal I / F unit 315 exchanges image signals and timing signals with the controller unit 3000. The inter-apparatus I / F unit 316 exchanges sheet information and timing information with the sheet processing apparatus via the inter-apparatus communication network 120.

  The CPU 311 receives an image signal via the controller unit 3000 and the internal I / F unit 315 in accordance with the contents of the control program, and controls the device control unit 314 to execute an image forming operation. At the same time, the CPU 311 exchanges sheet information and timing information with the sheet processing apparatus via the inter-apparatus I / F unit 316, and executes a sheet conveying operation.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the external I / F unit 304 of FIG.

  4, the external I / F unit 304 includes a core unit 501, a computer interface unit 503 connected to the PC terminal 110 via the LAN 100, a formatter unit 504, and an image memory unit 505.

  The computer interface unit 503 is an interface unit that performs data communication with the PC terminal 110, and includes a local area (LAN) I / F, a serial I / F, an SCSII / F, and a Centro I / F for data input of a printer. Etc. The computer interface unit 503 receives image data and sheet processing mode information set in the image data from the PC terminal 110 and notifies the PC terminal 110 of the state of the color image forming apparatus 101.

  Since the image data received from the PC terminal 110 is described by a dedicated printer code, the formatter unit 504 converts the image data into raster image data that can be formed by a printer unit (not shown). The converted raster image data is developed in the image memory unit 505 by the formatter unit 504.

  The core unit 501 controls and manages each data transfer performed between the computer interface unit 503, the formatter unit 504, and the image memory unit 505.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PDL control unit 305 in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the PDL control unit 305 includes a page memory 401, a memory controller 402, a compression / decompression unit 403, and a hard disk 404.

  Image data sent from the external I / F unit 304 to the PDL control unit 305 is written into the page memory 401 by the memory controller 402. Thereafter, the image data written in the page memory 401 is sent to the printer unit via the internal I / F unit 306 or stored in the hard disk 404. The stored image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 403 and written to the hard disk 404 as compressed data.

  The memory controller 402 also reads out the image data stored in the hard disk 404 to the page memory 401. At that time, the compressed image data read from the hard disk 404 is expanded via the compression / decompression unit 403, and the restored image data is written into the page memory 401.

  The memory controller 402 generates a DRAM refresh signal to be sent to the page memory 401. Also, arbitration of access from the external I / F unit 304 and the hard disk 404 to the page memory 401 is performed. Further, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 301, control for determining a write address to the page memory 401, a read address from the page memory 401, a read direction, and the like is performed.

  Through these processes, the CPU 301 arranges a plurality of document images in the page memory 401 and performs layout, and then outputs a function to the printer unit via the internal I / F unit 306 or a function to cut out and output only a part of the image. It is possible to control the function of image rotation.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each control unit of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses in FIG. The finisher control unit 3200, stacker control unit 3300, sorter control unit 3400, and paper feed deck control unit 3500 in each sheet processing apparatus have the same configuration.

  In FIG. 6, a CPU 711 controls sheet conveyance and sheet processing. The CPU 711 is connected via an address bus and a data bus to a ROM 713 that stores a control program and a RAM 712 that stores control data. It is assumed that the ROM 713 stores a control program described later.

  The device control unit 714 is an electric circuit including an input / output port for controlling each component of the sheet processing apparatus. The inter-apparatus I / F unit 716 transmits / receives sheet information and timing information to / from another sheet processing apparatus or the color image forming apparatus 101 via the inter-apparatus communication network 120.

  The CPU 711 executes a sheet conveying operation and sheet processing based on sheet information and timing information received from another sheet processing apparatus or the color image forming apparatus 101 via the inter-apparatus I / F unit 716 according to the contents of the control program. To do.

  Next, an image forming operation in the sheet processing system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the color image forming apparatus 101 and the paper feed deck 105.

  In the color image forming apparatus 101, the image forming unit has the following configuration. Photosensitive drums 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d as image bearing members are pivotally supported at the centers thereof, and are rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow by a drive motor (not shown). Roller chargers 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, scanners 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, developing devices 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and photosensitive drum cleaning devices facing the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d in the rotational direction. 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are arranged. The roller chargers 12a to 12d give a uniform charge amount to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d.

  Next, the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d are exposed to light beams such as laser beams modulated by the scanners 13a to 13d according to the recording image signal, thereby forming electrostatic latent images thereon. Further, the electrostatic latent images are visualized by developing devices 14a to 14d that respectively store four color developers (toners) such as black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The visualized visible image is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 30. Thereafter, the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d is collected by the photosensitive drum cleaning devices 15a to 15d. By the process described above, image formation with each toner is sequentially performed.

  Next, the sheet feeding unit includes a portion for storing the sheet P, a roller for conveying the sheet P, a sensor for detecting the passage of the sheet P, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet P, and the sheet P. A guide (not shown) for transporting along the transport path is provided.

  21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d are cassettes, and 27 is a manual feed tray for storing sheets P. 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are pickup rollers for feeding the sheets P from the cassettes 21a to 21d one by one from the top.

  A plurality of sheets P may be sent out by the pickup rollers 22a to 22d, but only one sheet is reliably separated by the BC rollers 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d. The single sheet P separated by the BC rollers 23 a to 23 d is further conveyed by the drawing rollers 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d and the pre-registration roller 26, and is conveyed to the registration roller 25.

  The sheet P stored in the manual feed tray 27 is separated by the BC roller 29 and conveyed to the registration roller 25 by the pre-registration roller 26.

  Next, the intermediate transfer unit will be described in detail.

  30 is an intermediate transfer belt. As a material thereof, a conductive elastic layer made of urethane rubber, silicon rubber, CR rubber or the like is formed on a base layer made of PI or the like, and its surface is made of a surface made of fluororesin or FKM. Forming a layer. A drive roller 32 transmits driving force to the intermediate transfer belt 30, and includes a tension roller 33 that applies an appropriate tension to the intermediate transfer belt 30 by urging a spring (not shown), and a secondary transfer region across the intermediate transfer belt. It is supported by the driven roller 34 to be formed.

  The drive roller 32 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). Primary transfer rollers 35a for applying a high pressure for transferring a toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 30 are disposed on the back of the intermediate transfer belt 30 at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 11a to 11d with the intermediate transfer belt 30 interposed therebetween. 35b, 35c, and 35d are arranged. A secondary transfer roller 36 is disposed so as to face the driven roller 34, and a secondary transfer region is formed by a nip with the intermediate transfer belt 30. The secondary transfer roller 36 is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt with an appropriate pressure.

  A cleaning device 50 for cleaning the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer belt 30 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer region on the intermediate transfer belt 30. The cleaning device 50 includes a conductive fur brush 51, a bias roller (not shown) for applying a bias to the fur brush, and a waste toner box 52 that stores waste toner.

  The fixing unit 700 includes a fixing roller 702 having a heat source such as a halogen heater therein, a pair of rollers 701 to which pressure is applied to the roller, an attaching / detaching mechanism (not shown) of the external heating roller 703 and the external heating roller, and the above-described rollers. The sheet discharge roller 44 is configured to convey the sheet P discharged from the pair. Note that the roller 701 may include a heat source.

  On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the registration roller 25 stops and temporarily stops the rotation of the roller upstream of the registration roller 25, and the upstream roller including the registration roller 25 includes the registration roller 25 in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit. The rotational drive is resumed. The sheet P is sent out to a secondary transfer area described later.

  The sheet P on which the image is transferred in the secondary transfer area and the image is fixed in the fixing unit 700 passes through the inner paper discharge roller 44, and then the conveyance destination is switched by the switching flapper 73. When the switching flapper 73 is on the face-up discharge side, the sheet P is conveyed in the direction of the outer discharge roller 45 and is transferred to the next sheet processing apparatus.

  On the other hand, when the switching flapper 73 is on the face-down paper discharge side, the sheet P is conveyed in the direction of the reverse rollers 72 a, 72 b, 72 c and discharged to the face-down paper discharge tray 3.

  A plurality of sensors are arranged in the conveyance path of the sheet P in order to detect the passage of the sheet P. The sheet feeding retry sensors 64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d, the registration sensor 67, the inner discharge sensor 68, There are a face-down paper discharge sensor 69, a double-side pre-registration sensor 70, a double-sided paper re-feed sensor 71, and the like.

  The cassettes 21a to 21d that store the sheets P are provided with cassette paper presence / absence sensors 63a, 63b, 63c, and 63d that detect the presence or absence of the sheets P, and the manual feed tray 27 contains the sheets P on the manual feed tray 27. A manual tray paper presence / absence sensor 76 for detecting the presence / absence of the paper is disposed.

  Next, the paper feed deck 105 will be described.

  Reference numeral 60 denotes a pickup roller, 61 denotes a paper feed roller, and 62 denotes a drawing roller, which convey the recording sheet P. The conveyance path of the sheet P is provided with a deck paper feed sensor 65 and a deck pulling sensor 66 to detect the passage of the sheet P. Reference numeral 75 denotes a deck paper presence / absence sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet P in the paper feed deck.

  Next, a case where the sheet P is conveyed from the sheet feeding deck 105 will be described.

  When a color feed forming instruction is sent from the color image forming apparatus 101 to the paper feed deck 105 via the inter-device communication network 120 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the job, the paper feed deck 105 starts conveying the stored sheets. To do.

  A plurality of sheets P stored in the sheet feed deck 105 are conveyed to the sheet feed roller 61 by the pickup roller 60, and only one sheet is reliably separated by the sheet feed roller 61 and conveyed to the drawing roller 62. When the paper feed deck 105 receives a delivery request from the color image forming apparatus 101 via the inter-device communication network 120, the paper feed deck 105 delivers the sheet P to the color image forming apparatus 101.

  The sheet P delivered to the color image forming apparatus 101 is conveyed to the registration roller 25 via the pre-registration roller 26. At that time, the registration roller 25 is stopped and the leading edge of the paper hits the nip portion. Thereafter, the registration roller 25 starts rotating in accordance with the timing at which the image forming unit starts to form an image. The rotation timing is set so that the transfer material P and the toner image primarily transferred from the image forming unit onto the intermediate transfer belt exactly coincide with each other in the secondary transfer region.

  On the other hand, in the image forming unit, when an image forming operation start signal is issued, a high voltage is applied to the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11d that is the most upstream in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the process described above. By the transferred transfer roller 35d, primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 in the primary transfer region. The primarily transferred toner image is conveyed to the next primary transfer area.

  Here, image formation is performed with a delay by the time during which the toner image is conveyed between the image forming units, and the next toner image is transferred with the leading edge of the image aligned on the previous image. Thereafter, the same process is repeated, and eventually the four color toner images are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 30.

  Thereafter, when the sheet P enters the secondary transfer region and contacts the intermediate transfer belt 30, a high voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 36 in accordance with the passing timing of the sheet P. Then, the four-color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt by the above-described process are transferred onto the surface of the sheet P. Thereafter, the sheet P is guided to the fixing roller nip portion. The toner image is fixed on the paper surface by the heat of the roller pair 41a and 41b and the pressure of the nip. Thereafter, the sheet is transferred to the next sheet processing apparatus by the sheet discharge roller 45 or discharged to the face-down tray 3 according to the switching direction of the switching flapper.

  Next, the sheet conveying operation and sheet processing of the finisher 102 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the finisher 102.

  The finisher 102 includes an entrance roller 120, a conveyance roller 121, a discharge conveyance roller 126, and a bundling roller 127 configured by a pair of rollers for conveying a sheet. An entrance sensor S1 and a pre-discharge sensor S2 for detecting the sheet position are provided on the conveyance path. The entrance transport roller 121 and the discharge transport roller 126 are driven by the entrance transport motor M2.

  Further, the bundling roller 127 can be largely opened and closed by the swing unit 137. Then, the swinging unit 137 can create three states by controlling the open / close position: a self-weight state in which the roller is pinched by its own weight, a nip state in which the roller is strongly pinched, and a separated state in which the roller is completely separated. It is possible.

  When the first sheet is stacked on the processing tray 129, the bundling roller 127 operates in its own weight state. After the sheet trailing edge has passed through the discharge conveyance roller 126, the sheet is decelerated and stopped at a predetermined position, and then reverse to the sheet conveyance direction. A stacking operation is performed on the processing tray 129 by performing a return operation of rotating in the direction. The bundle roller 127 is transported by a predetermined return amount, and then is separated to receive the next sheet.

  When the second and subsequent sheets are stacked, the bundling roller 127 is in a separated state. Then, after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the discharge conveyance roller 126, the bundle roller 127 is landed at a predetermined position at a position where it is in its own weight state, and then a return operation is performed to rotate in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction. Loading on the processing tray 129 is performed. Then, like the first sheet, the bundling roller 127 is transported by a predetermined return amount, and then is separated to receive the next sheet.

  The sheets stacked on the processing tray 129 are aligned by the alignment unit 144 and are bound by the staple unit 132 when a predetermined number of sheets are bundled. The staple unit 132 is configured to slide the clinching unit 166 from the front to the front in the drawing direction, and can change the binding position (front, back, two places) of the sheet bundle.

  When the stacked sheet bundle is bound and completed as a sheet bundle, the bundling roller 127 is brought into a nip state by the swing unit 137. Then, the trailing edge assist unit 134 that is a mechanism for pushing out the sheet bundle from the trailing edge portion and the bundle discharging roller 127 perform a discharge operation in synchronization with each other, thereby delivering the sheet bundle to the next sheet processing apparatus.

  The finisher 102 also folds a sheet loaded on the saddle processing tray 185 and a flapper 186 that switches a conveyance path, a saddle conveyance roller 180 configured with a roller pair for conveying the sheet to a saddle unit having a bookbinding function. The folding roller 182 is provided. Further, a veneer 181 and a paper discharge roller 183 for conveying the bound sheet bundle to an adjacent apparatus are provided.

  The saddle conveying roller 180 is driven by a saddle conveying motor M10, the folding roller 182 and the saddle discharging roller 183 are driven by a folding motor M11, and the thrusting plate 181 is driven by a thrusting motor (not shown).

  The sheet guided to the saddle portion by the flapper 186 is sent to the processing tray 185 by the saddle conveying roller 180, and the folding plate 181 is abutted against the sheet and is folded by the folding roller 182. The folded sheet is delivered to the next apparatus by a saddle discharge roller 183.

  Next, the sheet conveying operation and sheet processing of the stacker 103 will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the stacker 103.

  In FIG. 9, the stacker 103 includes a first stack unit 810 and a second stack unit 820.

  The first stack unit 810 includes an entrance roller 811, conveyance rollers 812 and 813, and a discharge conveyance roller 814 configured as a roller pair on a conveyance path for conveying a sheet, and uses a motor (not shown) as a drive source.

  The roller pair and the conveyance guide can control the displacement between the rollers in the vertical direction by controlling the swing unit 815. Further, the flapper 816 switches the conveyance path and guides the sheet to the stack 817.

  The second stack unit 820 includes an entrance roller 821, conveyance rollers 822 and 823, and a discharge conveyance roller 824 configured as a roller pair on a conveyance path for conveying a sheet, and uses a motor (not shown) as a drive source. The roller pair and the conveyance guide can control the displacement between the rollers in the vertical direction by controlling the swing unit 825. Further, the flapper 826 switches the conveyance path and guides the sheet to the stack 827.

  Next, the sheet conveying operation and sheet processing of the sorter 104 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the sorter 104.

  The sorter 104 sorts the sheets conveyed by the entrance roller 911, the discharge roller 912 or the entrance roller 921, and the discharge roller 922 into any of the sort bins 930-1 to 930-18.

  The entrance roller 911, the paper discharge roller 912, and the conveyance guide can control the displacement between the rollers in the vertical direction by controlling the swing unit 913. Similarly, the entrance roller 921, the paper discharge roller 922, and the conveyance guide can control the displacement between the rollers in the vertical direction by controlling the swing unit 923.

  The rollers 914, 915, the rollers 916, and the roller pressing means 917 are sheet curl removing mechanisms, and the rollers 916 can be pressed against the conveying path by the pressing means 917 to remove the sheet curl. The sorter 104 moves up and down using a motor (not shown) as a driving source, and stores sheets from the conveyance path in a desired sort bin.

  Next, a sheet processing operation in the sheet processing system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the sheet processing operation of the sheet processing system.

  First, when printing, the user sets printing conditions necessary for printing from the PC terminal 110 through a user interface screen (not shown). In the present embodiment, “A4 size” is selected as the paper size, “plain paper” is selected as the paper type, “paper feed deck 105” is selected as the paper feed stage, and “staple” is selected as the sheet processing. Shall be.

  The color image forming apparatus 101 receives print data sent from the PC terminal 110 as a job, and issues a sheet feed instruction for printing to the sheet feed deck 105 based on the print conditions of the job. The paper feed deck 105 feeds sheets A1, P2, and P3 of “A4 size” and “plain paper” to the color image forming apparatus 101 in accordance with a paper feed command from the color image forming apparatus 101.

  The color image forming apparatus 101 forms an image on the sheets P <b> 1 to P <b> 3 conveyed from the paper feed deck 105. Thereafter, the color image forming apparatus 101 conveys the image-formed sheets P <b> 1 to P <b> 3 to the finisher 102.

  The finisher 102 performs a stapling process on the sheets P <b> 1 to P <b> 3 and then conveys the sheets to the stacker 103. The stacker 103 conveys the sheets P1 to P3 to the sorter 104. The sorter 104 discharges the conveyed sheets P1 to P3 to the sort bin. FIG. 12 shows the data structure of the sheet information used for executing these series of operations.

  In FIG. 12, the sheet information includes a sheet ID 1201, a sheet size 1202, a sheet type 1203, a sheet binding number 1204, and a sheet folding number 1205.

  The sheet ID 1201 stores ID information for identifying the sheet to be conveyed. The sheet size 1202 stores information for identifying the size of the conveyed sheet. For example, A4, A3, B5, etc.

  The sheet type 1203 stores information for identifying the type of sheet to be conveyed. For example, thin paper, plain paper, thick paper, and the like. The sheet binding number 1204 stores information for identifying whether or not stapling processing has been performed on the conveyed sheet. “0” is stored for a sheet that has not been stapled, and the number of staples is stored for a sheet that has been stapled.

  The sheet folding number 1205 stores information for identifying whether saddle folding processing has been performed on the conveyed sheet. “0” is stored for a sheet that has not undergone saddle folding, and the number of folded sheets is stored for a sheet that has undergone saddle folding.

  Returning to FIG. 11, when the paper feed deck 105 feeds the sheet P1 to the color image forming apparatus 101, the CPU 711 in the paper feed deck control unit 3500 generates the sheet information 1301 shown in FIG. To do.

  In the generated sheet information 1301, “1” indicating the sheet ID of the sheet P1 is stored in the sheet ID 1201, “A4” is stored in the sheet size 1202, and “plain paper” is stored in the sheet type 1203. Since the binding process and the folding process are not performed on the sheet P1, “0” is stored in the sheet binding number 1204 and the sheet folding number 1205, respectively.

  Similarly, the CPU 711 in the paper feed deck control unit 3500 receives the sheet information 1302 shown in FIG. 13B and the sheet information shown in FIG. 13C corresponding to the sheets P2 and P3 fed to the color image forming apparatus 101. 1303 are stored in the RAM 712, respectively.

  Next, the sheet feeding deck 105 sends sheet information 1301, 1302, and 1303 to the color image forming apparatus 101 via the inter-apparatus communication network 120 at a timing before each of the sheets P1 to P3 is conveyed to the color image forming apparatus 101. Notice.

  The color image forming apparatus 101 sequentially receives sheet information 1301, 1302, and 1303 from the sheet feeding deck 105 and stores them in the RAM 312 in the printer control unit 3100 as sheet information 1304 shown in FIG.

  Next, image formation is performed on each of the sheets P <b> 1 to P <b> 3 conveyed from the color image forming apparatus 101. The sheet information 1301, 1302, and 1303 are notified to the finisher 102 via the inter-device communication network 120 at a timing before the sheets are conveyed to the finisher 102.

  The finisher 102 sequentially receives sheet information 1301, 1302, and 1303 from the color image forming apparatus 101, and stores them in the RAM 712 in the finisher control unit 3200 as sheet information 1304. Next, a stapling process is performed on the sheets P1 to P3 conveyed from the color image forming apparatus 101, and the sheet information 1304 is changed to the sheet information 1305 shown in FIG.

  Since the finisher 102 bound the three sheets P1 to P3 and stapled them into one bundle, in the sheet information 1305, the value of the sheet ID 1201 is changed to “1”. The value of the sheet size 1202 is changed to “A4” because the bound sheet bundle is A4 size.

  The sheet type 1203 is changed to “plain paper” because the bound sheet bundle is plain paper. In the sheet binding number 1204, since the three sheets P1 to P3 are stapled into one bundle, “0” is changed to “3”. The sheet folding number 1205 is changed to “0” because the saddle folding process is not performed on the sheets P1 to P3.

  The finisher 102 notifies the stacker 103 of sheet information 1305 via the inter-device communication network 120 at a timing before the sheet bundle in which the sheets P1 to P3 are bound is conveyed to the stacker 103.

  The stacker 103 receives the sheet information 1305 from the finisher 102 and temporarily stores it in the RAM 712 in the stacker control unit 3300. Next, the CPU 711 in the stacker control unit 3300 obtains the thickness of the sheet bundle from the value of the sheet type 1203 and the value of the number of sheets bound 1204 in the stored sheet information 1305. In order to convey the sheet bundle, the entrance roller 811, the conveyance rollers 812 and 813, the discharge conveyance roller 814, and the conveyance guide are controlled in the vertical direction by the swing unit 815 based on the obtained thickness of the sheet bundle. To do. Then, the roller interval is adjusted and changed so that the sheet bundle can be conveyed.

  Next, the stacker 103 conveys the sheet bundle received from the finisher 102 and notifies the sorter 104 of sheet information 1305 via the inter-device communication network 120 at a timing before being conveyed to the sorter 104.

  The sorter 104 receives the sheet information 1305 from the stacker 103 and temporarily stores it in the RAM 711 in the sorter control unit 3400. Next, the CPU 711 in the sorter control unit 3400 obtains the thickness of the sheet bundle from the value of the sheet type 1203 and the value of the number of sheets bound 1204 in the stored sheet information 1305. In order to convey the sheet bundle, the entrance roller 911, the paper discharge roller 912, and the conveyance guide are controlled in the vertical direction by the swing unit 913 based on the obtained thickness of the sheet bundle. Then, the roller interval is adjusted and changed so that the sheet bundle can be conveyed. The sorter 104 conveys the sheet bundle received from the stacker 103 and discharges it to the sort bin.

  According to the above embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus that has changed the form of the conveyed sheet changes the sheet information and notifies the downstream sheet processing apparatus. Accordingly, the color image forming apparatus 101 can easily control a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses, and the sheet processing apparatus that has received a sheet can appropriately control the sheet conveyance based on the sheet information.

  In addition, it is possible to easily add a sheet processing apparatus to the sheet processing system, and it is possible to provide a highly scalable sheet processing system that can freely change the connection order of the sheet processing apparatuses.

  In the above embodiment, the data of the sheet binding number 1204 is changed when the finisher 102 performs the stapling process. However, when the saddle folding process is performed, the sheet folding number 1205 can be changed. It is. Also in this case, the subsequent stacker 103 and sorter 104 perform the same operation according to the changed data.

In another embodiment, the sorter 104 receives sheet information having the data structure of FIG. 12 from the stacker 103 via the inter-device communication network 120 and stores it in the RAM 711 of the sorter control unit 3400. Good.
In that case, the CPU 711 refers to the value of the sheet type 1203 and the values of the sheet binding number 1204 and the folding number 1205. Only when the sheet type is either thin paper or plain paper, and when the number of sheets to be bound and folded is 0, rollers 914, 915, rollers 916, rollers, which are curl removal mechanisms when the received sheets are conveyed. The pressing means 917 is activated to execute decurling of the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the sort bin. At this time, the pressing amount of the roller pressing means can be adjusted according to the type of the sheet.

  The object of the present invention is also achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus. In that case, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. The program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like can be used. Further, optical disks such as CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD ± R, DVD-RAM, DVD ± RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and the like can be used. The program code may be downloaded via a network.

  The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. That is, when the OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. When the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  The functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. That is, the present invention can be applied to the case where the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say, it is included in

  In this case, the program is supplied by downloading directly from a storage medium storing the program or from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a network system including the sheet processing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a configuration of the color image forming apparatus 101 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external I / F unit 304 in FIG. 3. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the PDL control part 305 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each control unit of the sheet processing apparatus in FIG. 1. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a color image forming apparatus 101 and a paper feed deck 105. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the finisher 102. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the stacker 103. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing each drive system of the sorter 104. FIG. It is a figure explaining sheet processing operation of a sheet processing system. It is a figure which shows the data structure of sheet information. It is a figure which shows an example of the sheet information transmitted / received. It is a figure which shows an example of the sheet information transmitted / received.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Color image forming apparatus 102 Finisher 103 Stacker 104 Sorter 105 Paper feed deck 120 Inter-device communication network 3000 Controller part 3100 Printer control part 3200 Finisher control part 3300 Stacker control part 3400 Sorter control part 3500 Paper feed deck control part

Claims (4)

A sheet processing system configured to include a first sheet processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a received sheet and conveys the sheet, and a second sheet processing apparatus connected to the downstream side of the first sheet processing apparatus In
The first sheet processing apparatus has storage means for storing sheet information notified from an apparatus that has conveyed a sheet;
First processing means for performing folding processing or stapling processing on the received sheet;
When the sheet subjected to the folding process or the stapling process is conveyed to the second sheet processing apparatus, the sheet information stored in the storage unit is subjected to the folding process or the stapling process. For the sheet that has been changed to information indicating that the folding process or the stapling process has been performed and neither the folding process nor the stapling process has been performed, which of the folding process and the stapling process is performed. Change means that does not change the information indicating that the
The sheet information changed by the changing unit by performing the folding process or the stapling process or the sheet information not changed by performing neither the folding process nor the stapling process is the second sheet process. A notification means for notifying the device,
The second sheet processing apparatus performs a process of removing the curl of the sheet by pressing the sheet between two rollers with respect to the sheet conveyed from the first sheet processing apparatus. When,
Control for controlling not to perform the processing by the second processing means when the sheet information notified from the first sheet processing apparatus includes information indicating that the folding processing or the stapling processing has been performed. And a sheet processing system.   The sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a conveyance roller interval when conveying the sheet according to the notified sheet information.   2. The sheet information includes a size and type of the sheet, a number of bindings indicating whether or not the stapling process has been performed, and a number of foldings indicating whether or not the folding process has been performed. Or the sheet processing system of 2. A sheet processing system configured to include a first sheet processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on a received sheet and conveys the sheet, and a second sheet processing apparatus connected to the downstream side of the first sheet processing apparatus In the control method of
A storage step of storing in the storage means the sheet information notified from the apparatus that has conveyed the sheet to the first sheet processing apparatus;
A first processing step for performing folding processing or stapling processing on the received sheet;
When the sheet subjected to the folding process or the stapling process is conveyed from the first sheet processing apparatus to the second sheet processing apparatus, the folding process or the stapling of the sheet information stored in the storage unit is stored. For a sheet that has been processed, the information is changed to information indicating that the folding process or the stapling process has been performed. For a sheet that has not been subjected to either the folding process or the stapling process , the folding process is performed. A change step that does not change the information indicating that neither the processing nor the stapling is performed ,
The folding or the first sheet processing sheet information that is not changed by neither performing the said and stapled sheet information or the folding process is changed in the changing step by performing stapling processing A notification step of notifying the second sheet processing apparatus from the apparatus;
A second processing step of performing a process of removing the curl of the sheet by pressing the sheet between two rollers with respect to the sheet conveyed from the first sheet processing apparatus to the second sheet processing apparatus; ,
When the sheet information notified from the first sheet processing apparatus to the second sheet processing apparatus includes information indicating that the folding process or the stapling process has been performed, in the second processing step And a control step of controlling so as not to perform the process.

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