JP6132096B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image, an intermediate apparatus that can stack and convey sheets, and a post-processing apparatus that forms a booklet by bundling a plurality of sheets.

  Conventionally, in order to absorb the difference between the productivity of the image forming apparatus and the productivity of the post-processing apparatus, two sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are overlapped by an intermediate unit (RU) to the post-processing apparatus. A technique for discharging is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). With this technique, it is possible to absorb the productivity difference between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus, and connect and operate the post-processing apparatus with low productivity to the image forming apparatus with high productivity. Furthermore, the post-processing device can operate without being conscious of whether or not two sheets are stacked in the intermediate device, and various post-processing devices can be connected.

JP 2008-303061 A

  By the way, two sheets of paper are scheduled to be stacked by the intermediate unit (RU), and the second sheet may not reach the overlapping part of the intermediate unit due to the occurrence of JAM in the image forming apparatus or the like. As a result, only the first sheet is left in the overlapping portion of the intermediate device. In this case, it is conceivable to discharge only one sheet, which has been discharged to the overlapping portion in advance, to the post-processing apparatus.

However, if the second sheet to be stacked is the final sheet of a bundle (booklet), when only one sheet is ejected from the intermediate apparatus, the post-processing apparatus uses this one sheet as the final sheet. It is a problem that a booklet is formed in a state where it is determined that there is one sheet missing. This is because the post-processing apparatus does not have a means for confirming the number of sheets sent from the intermediate apparatus, and the image forming apparatus or the intermediate apparatus has only one sheet or two sheets stacked. This is because the information on whether or not the information has been received is not notified.
In order to prevent such a missing booklet formation, in the above case, only the first sheet is left in the intermediate device in the intermediate device, and the user is prompted to take out processing as JAM. This problem occurs when JAM occurs in the image forming apparatus, and it is burdensome for the user to perform JAM processing on both the image forming apparatus and the intermediate apparatus.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and even when JAM occurs and an appropriate number of sheets are not discharged to the overlapping portion of the intermediate apparatus, the JAM processing is facilitated and an inappropriate booklet is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that avoids the formation of the image.

That is, among the image forming systems of the present invention, the first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
A booklet post-processing unit that forms a booklet by bundling a plurality of sheets of images formed by the image forming apparatus;
A first stacking unit from which the booklet formed by the booklet post-processing unit is discharged;
A second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit in which paper is discharged;
And a post-processing apparatus having a conveyance of the sheet to the first stacking section, and a conveying Switching Operation place unit for switching the transport and sheet into the second stacking portion,
Have overlapping portions overlapping a plurality of sheets of paper, said rear handle sheet on which the image is formed on the attached the image forming apparatus between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing device, as a sheet bundle stacked in the overlapping portion An intermediate device to deliver to the device;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming system.
When the sheets of the final sheet bundle for forming the booklet are transferred from the intermediate apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the booklet post-processing unit prints a plurality of sheets including the sheets of the final sheet bundle. Forming,
When the paper that is the last sheet scheduled to be stacked by the stacking unit and the final sheet of the booklet for booklet formation by the post-processing device becomes abnormal paper and does not reach the stacking unit, A sheet discharged prior to the abnormal sheet and discharged to the stacking unit by the intermediate device is transported to the post-processing device, and is discharged to the second stacking unit by an operation of the transport switching unit. .

  The image forming system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image forming system according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit plans to stack a plurality of sheets in the intermediate apparatus and forms a final bundle for forming a booklet in the post-processing apparatus. In the case of non-standard paper, the paper sent to the stacking unit by the intermediate device prior to the abnormal paper is conveyed to the post-processing device and discharged to the first stacking unit.

  In the image forming system according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit does not form the booklet on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus without the booklet post-processing unit. When the sheet that is the final sheet that is to be stacked in the stacking unit becomes an abnormal sheet and does not reach the stacking unit, the intermediate device precedes the abnormal sheet by the intermediate device. The sheet discharged to the overlapping portion is conveyed to the post-processing device and discharged to the first stacking portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising an insertion paper feeding device that is provided between the intermediate device and the booklet post-processing section and for inserting insert paper. ,
The control unit can set whether or not to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, and after the abnormality of the paper occurs and the system is stopped due to completion of the discharging operation to the second stacking unit In the recovery operation of
In the case of setting to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, an image is formed from a page in which an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus,
When the setting is made so that the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit is not reused, the image forming apparatus forms an image from the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit.

An image forming system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus;
A first stacking unit that discharges paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus;
A sheet is discharged and a second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit;
And a post-processing apparatus having a conveyance of the sheet to the first stacking section, and a conveying Switching Operation place unit for switching the transport and sheet into the second stacking portion,
Have overlapping portions overlapping a plurality of sheets of paper, said rear handle sheet on which the image is formed on the attached the image forming apparatus between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing device, as a sheet bundle stacked in the overlapping portion An intermediate device to deliver to the device;
An insertion paper feeder for inserting insert paper, provided between the intermediate device and the post-processing unit;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming system.
When the sheet bundle just before the insert sheet is inserted is transferred from the intermediate apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the insertion sheet feeder inserts the insert sheet immediately after the sheet bundle. ,
The control unit has a final sheet that is to be stacked by the stacking unit, and the next page of the final sheet is an insert sheet from the insertion sheet feeding device becomes an abnormal sheet. If it does not reach, the sheet discharged by the intermediate device to the stacking unit prior to the abnormal sheet is transported to the post-processing device and discharged to the second stacking unit by the operation of the transport switching unit. It is characterized by.

In the image forming system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the control unit can set whether or not to recycle the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit. In the recovery operation after the system stops due to the completion of the discharge operation to the second stacking unit, the setting is determined,
In the case of setting to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, an image is formed from a page in which an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus,
When the setting is made so that the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit is not reused, the image forming apparatus forms an image from the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit.

In an image forming system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the abnormal paper is a paper jammed in a conveyance path for conveying the paper .

  An image forming system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image forming system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the control unit detects a paper jam of the paper.

An image forming system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the image forming system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the abnormal sheet is generated in the image forming apparatus or the intermediate apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when JAM occurs in an image forming apparatus or the like, it is possible to reduce the user's JAM processing operation and to prevent inappropriate booklet formation.

It is a figure which shows the mechanical outline | summary in one Embodiment of the image forming system of this invention. Similarly, it is a figure which shows a control block. Similarly, it is a diagram for explaining a normal procedure of stacking sheets of paper by an intermediate apparatus and transporting the sheets to a post-processing apparatus. Similarly, it is a diagram for explaining in detail the initial state of the normal procedure of stacking sheets in the intermediate apparatus and transporting them to the post-processing apparatus. Similarly, it is a diagram for explaining in detail the state in the final stage of the normal procedure of stacking sheets with an intermediate apparatus and transporting them to the post-processing apparatus. In the conventional image forming system, when the intermediate sheet is stacked and transported to the post-processing apparatus, when two sheets are scheduled to be stacked and the final sheet in the bundle becomes JAM, the sheet is discharged from the intermediate apparatus as it is. It is a figure explaining the state which the subject produced. Similarly, in the procedure of stacking sheets in the intermediate apparatus and transporting them to the post-processing apparatus, when two sheets are scheduled to be stacked and the final sheet in the bundle becomes JAM, there is a problem of performing JAM processing by leaving it in the intermediate apparatus. It is a figure explaining a state. Similarly, in the procedure of stacking sheets with the intermediate device and transporting them to the post-processing device, when a sheet that is not the final sheet in a bundle becomes JAM, there is a problem in that the sheet is discharged as it is from the intermediate device. It is a figure explaining the state which does not exist. Similarly, in the procedure for stacking sheets that are not bundled and processed by the intermediate device and transporting them to the post-processing device, when the final sheet becomes JAM, the sheet is directly removed from the intermediate device. It is a figure explaining the state which discharged | emitted and the subject has not arisen. Similarly, when a sheet that is not subjected to post-bundling processing is stacked in the intermediate device and transported to the post-processing device, when two sheets are scheduled to be stacked and the next page is JAM, the intermediate device FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a problem is caused by discharging the sheet as it is. In an embodiment of the image forming system according to the present invention, in the procedure of stacking sheets in the intermediate apparatus and transporting them to the post-processing apparatus, when two sheets are scheduled to be stacked and the final sheet in the bundle becomes JAM, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for discharging a sheet to a sub-tray with a “purge discharge instruction”. Similarly, in the recovery operation, the image forming device reprints from the same page as the paper ejected to the sub-tray, or the paper ejected to the sub-tray is set in the insertion feeder and the image is printed on the same page as the abnormal paper. It is a figure explaining the procedure printed by a forming apparatus. Similarly, when a sheet that is not subjected to post-bundling processing is stacked in the intermediate device and transported to the post-processing device, when two sheets are scheduled to be stacked and the next page is JAM, the intermediate device FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for discharging the paper to the sub-tray. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining a discharge procedure in the post-processing device according to whether or not abnormal paper is generated. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for determining a two-sheet stacking condition in the stacking unit of the intermediate apparatus. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for determining a discharge method in the post-processing apparatus. Similarly, it is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for determining a discharge method in the post-processing apparatus depending on the presence or absence of an insert sheet. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining the details of the discharge procedure in the post-processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 10 that forms an image on a sheet, an intermediate apparatus 20, and a post-processing apparatus 30 are connected in order. In the image forming system of the present embodiment, these devices are indispensable. However, the present invention may include other devices, for example, a large-capacity paper feed tray, an intermediate device, and a rear device. For example, an insertion sheet feeding device may be provided between the processing devices. Further, other post-processing devices may be connected in multiple stages.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 on the upper side, and a document fed by the automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 is received by an image reading unit 130 shown in FIG. Image reading is possible. The document can be read on a platen glass (not shown).

  Further, the LCD 14 of the operation display unit 140 is installed at a position where the platen glass is not positioned on the upper side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 10. The LCD 14 is composed of a touch panel, and can be operated by an operator and information can be displayed. The LCD 14 serves as both an operation unit and a display unit. The operation unit may be configured with a mouse, a tablet, or the like, and may be configured separately from the display unit. The LCD 14 may be movable.

  A plurality of paper feed trays 11 (two stages in the figure) are arranged on the lower side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 10. In the image forming apparatus 10, a paper feed unit 120 that feeds paper fed from any of the paper feed trays 11 is provided, and the paper feed unit 120 is connected to the paper transport unit 121. . The paper transport unit 121 includes a transport path 12 and a transport roller (not shown), and the transport path 12 is connected to the transport path of the intermediate device 20. An image forming unit 110 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 12. The image forming unit 110 includes a photoconductor 110A, a charger, an LD, a developing device, and a transfer unit (not shown) arranged around the photoconductor 110A. Further, the image forming unit 110 is disposed on the conveyance path 12 on the downstream side of the photoconductor 110A. A fixing device (not shown) is arranged.

  On the downstream side of the fixing device, the conveyance path 12 is connected to the conveyance path of the intermediate device 20, and is branched on the downstream side of the fixing device to join the conveyance path 12 on the upstream side of the image forming unit 110. The path 12A is connected.

In the image forming unit 110, the surface of the photoconductor 110 </ b> A is uniformly charged before image writing by the charger, and the photoconductor 110 </ b> A having the surface uniformly charged by the LD is irradiated with a semiconductor laser to thereby apply the photoconductor 110 </ b> A. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 110A by the LD with the toner member. By this development processing, a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 110A. The transfer unit transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 110 </ b> A to the paper conveyed from the paper feed tray 11. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photoreceptor 110A and conveyed to the fixing device. The toner member remaining on the photoconductor 110A is removed by a cleaning unit (not shown).
The fixing device heats the conveyed paper and fixes the toner image transferred to the front side of the paper as an output image. The sheet on which the fixing process has been performed is conveyed to the intermediate device 20 through the conveyance path 12 or is reversed through the reverse conveyance path 12A and then returned to the conveyance path 12 on the upstream side of the image forming unit 110. .

The intermediate apparatus 20 has a conveyance path 22 connected to the conveyance path 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 and connected to the post-processing apparatus 30 at the subsequent stage. The transport path 22 has a superimposing unit 230 that superimposes and transports a predetermined number of sheets conveyed through the transport path 22, and the superimposing unit 230 has the superimposing path 23.
The sheets stacked by the superimposing unit 230 can be transported to the post-processing apparatus 30 side at a predetermined timing, and the sheets are stacked on the post-processing apparatus 30 side through the transport path 22 without stacking the sheets on the superimposing unit 230. Paper can also be conveyed.

The post-processing device 30 has a transport path 32 connected to the transport path 22 of the intermediate device 20, and has a flat binding unit 331 having a flat binding function as a booklet process in the middle of the transport path 32. . The flat binding unit 331 corresponds to the booklet post-processing unit of the present invention.
The invention of the present application is not limited to the booklet processing, but can include saddle stitching, center folding, bookbinding processing, etc. The present invention is not limited to a specific process, and The processing apparatus may be capable of two or more types of booklet processing.

  In this embodiment, in the post-processing device 30, the side stitching unit 331 performs the side stitching process on the paper conveyed from the intermediate device 20 according to the post-processing setting. If post-processing execution is not set, paper is discharged straight without performing post-processing.

The post-processing device 30 has a main paper discharge tray 36A and a sub paper discharge tray 36B. A paper path to the main paper discharge tray 36A and a paper to the sub paper discharge tray 36B are provided on the transport path 32. A conveyance switching unit 33 for switching between the above-described conveyances. The transport switching unit 33 can switch whether the paper transported through the transport path 32 is transported to the main paper discharge tray 36 </ b> A, discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36 </ b> B, or transported to the stacker unit 330.
The configuration of the transfer switching unit 33 is not particularly limited, and any configuration that can perform path switching may be used, and the transfer switching unit 33 may be configured by a movable gate or the like. In the conveyance path 32, a conveyance path 32A that reaches straight to the main discharge tray 36A via the transfer switching unit 33, a transfer path 32B that reaches the sub discharge tray 36B, and the stacker unit 330 reach the main discharge tray 36A. Branches to the transport path 32C.

  Further, the post-processing apparatus 30 has an insertion paper feeding unit 370 having an insertion tray 37, and a sheet set on the insertion tray 37 can be inserted between sheets as an insert sheet such as a cover insertion sheet. A sheet can be inserted into the conveyance path 32 between the intermediate device 20 and the side stitching portion 331.

Next, functional blocks of the image forming system 1 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image processing unit 105, an image reading unit 130, an image forming unit 110, an operation display unit 140, a CPU 100, a ROM 101, a RAM 102, a post-processing device I / F 150, and the like.

  The image processing unit 105 performs various types of image processing on image data of a document image read by the image reading unit 130 or image data stored in an HDD (not shown).

  The image reading unit 130 irradiates the original with light from a light source (not shown), and reads the image data of the original image based on the reflected light. The read image data is notified to the image forming unit 110 and stored in the HDD or the like.

  The image forming unit 110 forms an image on a sheet based on image data read by the image reading unit 130 and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 105 or image data acquired from the outside. As a method for forming an image on a sheet, an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a laser printing method, or the like can be considered.

  The operation display unit 140 can be configured by a display unit and an operation unit or an apparatus in which these units are combined. In this embodiment, the display unit and the operation unit are integrally formed by the LCD 14. The operation display unit 140 can input various settings related to image formation and post-processing on a sheet, and the image forming apparatus 10 and the post-processing apparatus 30 can respectively input to the sheet according to the contents of the input various settings. An image is formed and post-processing is performed. In addition, from the operation display unit 140, it is possible to input information regarding the paper type and the amount of paper.

  The CPU 100 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10 based on information notified from each unit in the image forming apparatus 10. Further, the CPU 100 can control these devices by transmitting control commands to the intermediate device 20 and the post-processing device 30. That is, the CPU 100 functions as a control unit of the present invention.

  Various programs or data are stored in the ROM 101, and the CPU 100 reads the programs or data from the ROM 101 and controls the image forming apparatus 10.

  The RAM 102 is a place for temporarily storing a program or data necessary for the CPU 100 to control the image forming apparatus 10. The HDD or the like stores image data read by the image reading unit 130.

  The post-processing device I / F 150 is an interface that exchanges various types of information with the intermediate device 20 and the post-processing device 30.

The intermediate apparatus 20 includes a front I / F 210 for communicating with the post-processing machine I / F 150 of the image forming apparatus 10.
In the intermediate apparatus 20, a sheet conveyance unit 220 including a conveyance path 22 and a conveyance roller (not illustrated) is provided, and an overlapping unit 230 that overlaps two sheets is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 22. The overlapping portion 230 corresponds to the overlapping portion of the present invention. In this embodiment, the number of overlapping portions 230 is set to a maximum of two, but the invention of the present application is not limited to the number of overlapping portions that can be overlapped, but three or more. May be possible.

The CPU 200 controls the operation of the entire intermediate device 20 based on information notified from each unit in the intermediate device 20. Further, the intermediate device 20 can be controlled by operating according to an instruction from the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10.
Various programs or data are stored in the ROM 201, and the CPU 200 reads the programs or data from the ROM 201 and controls the intermediate device 20.

  The RAM 202 is a place for temporarily storing a program or data necessary for the CPU 200 to control the intermediate device 20.

  The input unit 240 receives various types of input information and transmits the information to the CPU 200, detects the paper conveyed by the sensor 241, and transmits the detection result to the CPU 200. Thereby, a stack of sheets in the overlapping unit 230 can be detected.

  The output unit 250 outputs necessary drive voltages to various loads 251 and drives the conveyance rollers of the paper conveyance unit 220 and the like.

  The post-stage I / F 260 is an interface for exchanging various types of information with the post-processing device 30, and further interposed between the image forming device 10 and the post-processing device 30, between the image forming device 10 and the post-processing device 30. It is also possible to exchange information.

The post-processing device 30 includes a front-stage I / F 310, and the front-stage I / F 310 is an interface that exchanges various types of information with the rear-stage I / F 260 of the intermediate device 20.
The post-processing device 30 includes a paper transport unit 320 having a transport path 32 and transports the paper within the post-processing device 30.
A stacker unit 330 for stacking sheets is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 32, and a flat binding unit 331 is provided on the downstream side thereof.
The side binding unit 331 performs side binding on a plurality of sheets, and receives the sheets stacked by the stacker unit 330 and performs side binding. The stacker unit 330 and the side stitching unit 331 constitute a booklet post-processing unit of the present invention.

The CPU 300 controls the operation of the entire post-processing device 30 based on information notified from each unit in the post-processing device 30. Further, the post-processing apparatus 30 can be controlled by operating according to an instruction from the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10.
Various programs or data are stored in the ROM 301, and the CPU 300 reads the programs or data from the ROM 301 and controls the post-processing device 30.

  The RAM 302 is a place for temporarily storing a program or data required when the CPU 300 controls the post-processing device 30.

  The input unit 340 receives various types of input information and transmits the information to the CPU 300. The input unit 340 detects the sheet conveyed by the sensor 341 and transmits the detection result to the input unit 340. Thus, the arrival of the sheet at the stacker unit 330 can be detected, and the bundle can be sent to the side stitching unit 331 to start the booklet processing.

  The output unit 350 outputs a driving voltage, and can supply the driving voltage to various loads 351. For example, the driving load of the side stitching unit 331 is operated in accordance with the driving of the conveyance roller and the start of booklet processing.

  The insertion paper feeding unit 370 is for inserting insert paper into the paper and has an insertion tray 37.

The main tray unit 360 is a unit that operates the main paper discharge tray 36A that discharges booklets. Further, the post-processing device 30 includes a sub discharge tray 36B different from the main discharge tray 36A. The main paper discharge tray 36A corresponds to the first stacking portion of the present invention, and the sub paper discharge tray 36B corresponds to the second stacking portion of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit are described as being provided in the same post-processing apparatus. However, when there are a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, the first stacking unit is provided. And the second stacking unit may be provided in different post-processing apparatuses.

  Note that while the preceding sheets are stacked in the stacker unit 330 and the post-processing is performed by the side stitching unit 331, the side stitching process requires a predetermined time. While the two preceding and succeeding sheets are overlapped, an operation of waiting until the preceding sheet is discharged from the stacker unit 330 is performed.

When the final sheet of the set is discharged to the stacker unit 330, the side binding unit 331 performs a side binding process on the plurality of sheets from the first sheet to the last sheet as a unit. .
The image forming apparatus 10 notifies the post-processing device 30 that the sheet is the final bundle at the time of feeding. This is because, when it is necessary to secure the time for post-processing to the next unit, it is necessary to notify the time from the post-processing device 30. At this timing, a necessary time is obtained from the post-processing device 30, and the time is waited by the resist of the image forming apparatus 10 or the like.
By performing the operation as described above, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to interrupt the feeding of the succeeding sheet while the side binding process is being performed on the preceding sheet. Productivity can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which sheets are conveyed to the post-processing apparatus 30 while the sheets are overlapped by the intermediate apparatus 20 and a bundle is formed on the 100th sheet.
The sheets superposed two by two in the intermediate device 20 are sequentially sent to the post-processing device 30 two by two. In the post-processing device 30, the transport direction is switched to the transport path 32 </ b> C by the transport switching unit 33, and the sheets are stacked on the stacker unit 330 of the post-processing device 30. When the 100th sheet corresponding to the final sheet of the booklet is superimposed on the intermediate apparatus 20 and sent to the post-processing apparatus 30 and stacked on the stack unit 330, it is the final sheet transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10. Based on the information, 100 sheets stacked on the stack unit 330 are sent to the side stitching unit 331 to perform side stitching.

The above operation will be further described in detail with reference to FIGS.
When image formation is sequentially performed on the first sheet and the second sheet in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 4A), the first sheet is stacked on the overlapping unit 230 of the intermediate apparatus 20, Further, a third sheet is fed in the image forming apparatus 10 ((2) in FIG. 4).
As the conveyance of the sheet proceeds, the second sheet reaches the superimposing unit 230 and is conveyed to the post-processing device 30 in a state where the first and second sheets are superimposed, and the inside of the image forming apparatus 10 Then, the fourth sheet is fed (FIG. 4 (3)).
The third sheet is stacked as the first sheet in the overlapping section 230, and the image forming apparatus 10 feeds the next sheet (fifth sheet) (FIG. 4 (4)).

When the above procedure is performed in sequence, the 100th sheet as the last page of the bundle is fed by the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 5 (5)). The image forming apparatus 10 notifies the post-processing device 30 that the sheet is the final bundle (paper for executing the binding process) at the time of feeding the 100th sheet (final bundle) (FIG. 5 (5)). At this time, the post-processing device is notified in place of the information indicating that the ID 99 is the bundle final sheet.
In the intermediate apparatus 20, the 99th and 100th sheets are overlapped and sent to the post-processing apparatus 30 (FIG. 5 (6)). In the post-processing apparatus 30, 100 sheets are stacked on the stacker unit 330. The In the post-processing device 30, since the sheets of ID 99 notified as the final bundle from the image forming apparatus 10 are stacked, an appropriate booklet is formed by sending it to the flat binding unit 331 and performing booklet processing (FIG. 5 (7)). The formed booklet is discharged to a predetermined main discharge tray 36A through the conveyance paths 32 and 32A (FIG. 5 (8)).

Next, a description will be given of the case where the 100th sheet, which is the final sheet of the bundle, is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 and becomes JAM as an abnormal sheet. To do.
The 99th sheet, which is the preceding sheet, is stacked in the intermediate apparatus 20, and the 100th sheet is an abnormal sheet in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 6 (1)).
In the image forming apparatus 10, the sheet remaining in the intermediate apparatus 20 is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 30 with the occurrence of the abnormal paper (FIG. 6 (2)).
In the post-processing apparatus 30, the image forming apparatus 10 has received a notification that the ID99 sheet is the last sheet in the bundle. For this reason, in the post-processing device 30, even if the ID99 sheets are conveyed as a single sheet, the stacker unit 330 assumes that the final sheet of the bundle is stacked and sends it to the side binding unit 331 to perform side binding (see FIG. 6 (3)).
The formed booklet is discharged to the main discharge tray 36A as determined in advance ((4) in FIG. 6). However, in actuality, the 100th sheet is not included and is stapled, resulting in a missing page.

Next, another processing example will be described with reference to FIG.
When the abnormal paper is generated, the intermediate device 20 is stacked with the 99th paper as the preceding paper, and the 100th paper is abnormal paper in the image forming apparatus 10 (FIG. 7). (1)).
The CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 does not discharge the 99th sheet remaining in the intermediate apparatus 20 due to the occurrence of an abnormal sheet, but leaves it in the intermediate apparatus 20 and processes it as JAM paper (FIG. 7 (2)). )).
The paper needs to be removed by the user. For the user, in addition to removing the JAM paper generated in the image forming apparatus 10, an extra JAM paper removing operation that does not cause a paper jam occurs, resulting in an increase in the burden.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a case where a final sheet that is to be stacked on the stacking unit and is not the final bundle of sheets is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 and becomes JAM and becomes abnormal. The operation will be described based on this.
For example, when processing 100 booklets, the 97th sheet is stacked on the intermediate device 20, and the 98th sheet, which is not the final sheet of the bundle, is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 and becomes JAM and becomes an abnormal sheet. (FIG. 8 (1)).
In this case, the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 sends only the 97th sheet from the intermediate apparatus 20 to the post-processing apparatus 30 and stacks it on the stacker unit 330 ((2) in FIG. 8).
In the stacker unit, since the last sheet of the bundle is not sent, the sheets are left stacked.
The image forming apparatus 10 removes the JAM paper and reprints from the same page as the abnormal paper, that is, 98 pages (FIG. 8 (3)). In this example, since the last sheet of the bundle is not an abnormal sheet, the process can be continued without any problem after the JAM sheet is removed from the image forming apparatus 10.

Next, in the case where the last sheet to be stacked on the stacking unit and the last sheet is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 and becomes JAM and becomes an abnormal sheet, that is based on FIG. The operation will be described. However, the sheet is not subjected to bundle processing and is discharged straight.
The intermediate apparatus 20 conveys the sheets to the post-processing apparatus 30 while stacking two sheets at a time, and the two sheets are sent to the post-processing apparatus 30 and discharged to the main discharge tray 36A. The 99th sheet is stacked on the intermediate device 20, and the 100th sheet, which is the final sheet, is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 to become JAM and become an abnormal sheet (FIG. 9 (1)). .
The CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 discharges the 99th sheet stacked in the intermediate apparatus 20 to the post-processing apparatus 30 as an abnormal sheet is generated (FIG. 9 (2)).
Since the sheet of ID99 is in the straight mode, the sheet is discharged to the main discharge tray 36A without being stacked on the stacker unit 330 ((3) in FIG. 9).
In this example, the processing can be continued without any problem by removing the JAM paper and reprinting the 100th sheet with the image forming apparatus 10.

Next, when the insert sheet is fed from the insertion tray 37 of the insertion sheet feeding unit 370, the last sheet to be stacked on the stacking unit 230 and the sheet of the next page being the insert sheet is the image forming apparatus. 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 when a paper jam occurs in the paper 10 and JAM becomes an abnormal paper.
In this example, since the 53rd insert sheet is inserted after the 51st sheet and the 52nd sheet, the 53rd insert sheet is set in the insertion tray 37. The CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the post-processing device 30 that the preceding sheet into which the insert sheet is inserted has been fed. In the notification, ID 51 is notified as the preceding sheet before insertion.
The 52nd sheet is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10, becomes JAM, and becomes an abnormal sheet (FIG. 10 (1)).
The CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 sends one sheet of the 51st sheet stacked on the intermediate apparatus 20 to the post-processing apparatus 20 (FIG. 10 (2)).
In the post-processing device 30, the 53rd sheet is inserted by the insertion sheet feeding unit 370 on the assumption that the preceding sheet into which the insert sheet is inserted is sent. In the post-processing apparatus 30, an output product without the 52nd sheet is obtained, resulting in a missing page (FIG. 10 (3)).
In this example, the post-processing device 30 having the booklet post-processing unit is described, but the post-processing unit is not limited to the one that performs the booklet processing.

  In the above examples, the problem occurs in the case where JAM paper is generated in the image forming apparatus 10. However, even when JAM is generated in the intermediate apparatus 20 before reaching the overlapping unit 230, The JAM paper information is acquired by the CPU 200 and transmitted to the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10, thereby causing the same problem.

Next, the operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When the intermediate device 20 forms 100 booklets while overlapping two sheets, the final sheet that is to be stacked on the overlapping unit 230 is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10. JAM becomes abnormal paper (FIG. 11 (1)).
In the intermediate apparatus 20, one 99th sheet is sent to the post-processing apparatus 30 based on the purge discharge instruction (FIG. 11 (2)).
The 99th sheet of ID is purge discharged paper, and the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 issues a purge discharge instruction to the post-processing apparatus 30. In the post-processing device 30, the conveyance switching unit 33 is switched based on the purge discharge instruction to change the discharge destination to the sub discharge tray 36B. Accordingly, the 99th sheet is discharged to the sub discharge tray 36B without being sent to the stacker unit 330 (FIG. 11 (3)).
The restart (recovery operation) after JAM processing in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 can be set in the recovery operation, and can set whether or not to reuse the paper discharged to the sub paper discharge tray. The setting may be determined by machine setting, or may be set by the user through the operation display unit 140.
When the setting is made so that the paper discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36B is not reused, the CPU 100 causes the image forming apparatus 10 to reprint the page discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36B and the page that has become abnormal paper. Thus, the process can be continued (FIG. 12 (4) -A).
In the case of setting to reuse the paper discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36B, the 99th paper discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36B is set in the insertion paper feed unit 370 (FIG. 12 (4) -B ), The CPU 100 performs reprinting from the 100th page which has become an abnormal sheet in the image forming apparatus 10, conveys the sheet set in the insertion sheet feeding unit 370, and conveys the 100th sheet as a subsequent process. . In the recovery operation, the operation may be started by determining whether a sheet is set in the insertion paper feeding unit 370.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment. When an insert sheet is inserted between sheets, a sheet that is the last sheet to be stacked on the overlapping portion, and the sheet of the next page is an insert sheet is illustrated. When a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10 and JAM becomes abnormal paper, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
The 53rd insert sheet is set in the insertion tray 37, the 51st sheet is stacked in the intermediate apparatus 20, and the 52nd sheet is jammed in the image forming apparatus 10 to become JAM. The paper is abnormal (FIG. 13 (1)).
The CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 sends one sheet of the 51st sheet stacked in the intermediate apparatus 20 to the post-processing apparatus 20 by the “purge discharge instruction” (FIG. 13 (2)).
In the post-processing device 30, the conveyance switching unit 33 is switched according to the purge discharge instruction of the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10 to change the discharge destination to the sub discharge tray 36 </ b> B, and the 51st sheet is sent to the stacker unit 330. Instead, it is discharged to the sub discharge tray 36B (FIG. 13 (3)).
In the recovery operation, processing similar to that in FIG. 12 can be performed according to the setting as to whether or not to reuse the paper discharged to the sub paper discharge tray 36B.
In this example, the post-processing device 30 having a booklet post-processing unit is described. However, the post-processing unit 30 is not limited to the one that performs the booklet processing, and the invention of the present application regardless of the presence or absence of the booklet processing. The effect of can be obtained.

  In the above example, even when JAM occurs in the intermediate apparatus 20 before the JAM reaches the superimposing unit 230, the JAM information is acquired by the CPU 200 and transmitted to the CPU 100 of the image forming apparatus 10. The same control can be performed. Even in this case, the intermediate device 20 can recover the processing without generating two JAMs.

Next, a discharge procedure in the post-processing apparatus according to the presence or absence of abnormal paper will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by the control unit of the present invention.
When the operation of the image forming system is started, the post-processing device 30 determines whether the two-sheet overlapping condition is satisfied (step s1). If two sheets are overlapped (YES in step s1), it is determined whether the first sheet is two overlapped (step s2). If the two-sheet stacking condition is not satisfied (step s1, NO), only one sheet is discharged (step s9), and it is determined whether it is the JOB last sheet (step s10). If it is a JOB last sheet (step s10, YES), the process is terminated. If it is not a JOB last sheet (step s10, NO), the process returns to step s1 to continue the process.

  If it is determined in step s2 that it is the first of the two stacked sheets (step s2, YES), it is retained in the stacker (overlapping unit) of the intermediate device and it is determined whether there is a stop request condition (step s3). ). If it is the first of the two stacked sheets (step s2, NO), the first sheet staying in the stacker (stacking section) is overlaid and discharged (step s8), and it is determined whether it is the JOB last sheet (step s8). s10). If it is a JOB last sheet (step s10, YES), the process is terminated. If it is not a JOB last sheet (step s10, NO), the process returns to step s1 to continue the process.

  The determination in step s4 is made by determining whether a paper jam (abnormality) has occurred by the control unit. If no abnormality has occurred (step s4, NO), the process returns to step s1 to continue the process. If an abnormality has occurred (step s4, YES), the discharge method is determined (step s5). If it is normal discharge (step s5, normal), normal discharge is performed (step s6), and the process is terminated. If it is purge discharge (step s5, purge), purge discharge is performed (step s7), and the process is terminated.

Next, a detailed procedure for determining the double overlap condition in FIG. 14 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by the control unit of the present invention.
With the start of the process, it is determined whether the first sheet is a two-layer stack (step s20). If it is the second sheet (step s20, NO: second sheet), it is determined whether the paper conditions are the same as the first sheet (step 21). If the paper conditions are not the same as those for the first sheet (step s21, NO), the process ends as a NO determination. If the paper conditions are the same as those for the first sheet (step s21, YES), the process ends as a YES determination.
If it is the first sheet in step s20 (step s20, YES: first sheet), it is determined whether it is the final sheet (step s22). If it is the final paper (step s22, YES), it is determined whether the paper conditions are the same as those of the second sheet (step s23). If it is not the last sheet (step s22, NO), the process ends as a NO determination.
If it is determined in step s23 that the paper condition is the same as that of the second sheet (step s23, YES), the process ends as a YES determination. finish.

Next, the detailed procedure of the discharge method determination in FIG. 15 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by the control unit of the present invention.
Along with the start of the process, it is determined whether or not it is in the post-processing mode (step s30). If it is in the post-processing mode (step s30, flat stitching), it is determined whether it is a bundle final sheet (step s31). If it is the final sheet of the bundle (step s31, YES), the purge is discharged and the process is terminated.
If the straight mode is selected in step s30 (step s30, straight mode), or if it is not the final bundle of sheets in step 31 (step s31, NO), the normal discharge is performed and the process is terminated.

Next, details of another example in the discharge method determination of FIG. 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
With the start of processing, it is determined whether the next sheet is a cover insertion sheet (step s40). If the next sheet is a cover insertion sheet (step s40, YES), purge discharge is performed and the process is terminated. If the next sheet is not a cover insertion sheet (NO in step s40), the normal discharge is performed and the process is terminated.

Next, details of the discharge procedure in the post-processing apparatus will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by the control unit of the present invention.
As the process starts, the post-processing mode is determined (step s50). In the straight mode (step s50, straight mode), it is determined whether the purge process is performed (step s51). If the purge process is not performed, the straight sheet discharge is performed (step s53). s54).
In the case of the sub-tray mode (step s50, sub-tray mode), the sub-tray is discharged. In the case of the side stitching mode (step s50, side stitching mode), it is determined whether the purge process is performed (step s52), and if it is the purge process (step s52, YES), the sub-tray is discharged (step s54). If not (NO in step s52), discharge to the stacker unit is performed (step s55).

  After straight discharge (step s53), the transfer gate (transfer switching unit) is switched in the straight direction (step s56), and after the sub-tray discharge (step s54), the transfer gate (transfer switching unit) is switched in the sub-tray direction (step s57). In the stacker discharge, the transfer gate (transfer switching unit) is switched in the stacker direction (step s58).

After switching to the straight direction (step s56) or after switching to the sub-tray direction (step s57), it is determined whether it is the JOB last sheet (step s61). After switching to the stacker direction (step s58), it is determined whether the copy is the final sheet (step s59).
If it is not the final copy sheet (step s59, NO), it is determined whether it is a JOB last sheet (step s61). If it is a copy final sheet (step s59, YES), a side binding process is performed, a booklet is discharged to the main paper discharge tray 36A (step s60), and it is determined whether the copy is the final sheet (step s61).

  In the determination of whether the job is the last paper (step s61), if the job is the last paper (step s61, YES), the process ends. If the job is not the last job (step s61, NO), the process returns to step s50 to perform the process. continue.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, unless the range of this invention is made, an appropriate change is possible and it is in the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Conveyance path 20 Intermediate apparatus 22 Conveyance path 30 Post-processing apparatus 32 Conveyance path 33 Conveyance switching part 36A Main discharge tray 36B Sub discharge tray 37 Insertion tray 100 CPU
110 Image forming unit 150 Post-processor I / F
200 CPU
210 Previous I / F
230 Overlapping unit 260 Later I / F
310 Previous I / F
330 Stacker unit 331 Flat binding unit 370 Insert paper feeding unit

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
A booklet post-processing unit that forms a booklet by bundling a plurality of sheets of images formed by the image forming apparatus;
A first stacking unit from which the booklet formed by the booklet post-processing unit is discharged;
A second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit in which paper is discharged;
And a post-processing apparatus having a conveyance of the sheet to the first stacking section, and a conveying Switching Operation place unit for switching the transport and sheet into the second stacking portion,
Have overlapping portions overlapping a plurality of sheets of paper, said rear handle sheet on which the image is formed on the attached the image forming apparatus between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing device, as a sheet bundle stacked in the overlapping portion An intermediate device to deliver to the device;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming system.
When the sheets of the final sheet bundle for forming the booklet are transferred from the intermediate apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the booklet post-processing unit prints a plurality of sheets including the sheets of the final sheet bundle. Forming,
When the paper that is the last sheet scheduled to be stacked by the stacking unit and the final sheet of the booklet for booklet formation by the post-processing device becomes abnormal paper and does not reach the stacking unit, A sheet discharged prior to the abnormal sheet and discharged to the stacking unit by the intermediate device is transported to the post-processing device, and is discharged to the second stacking unit by an operation of the transport switching unit. Image forming system.   In the case of a sheet that is scheduled to be stacked by the intermediate apparatus and is not the final sheet of a bundle for booklet formation by the post-processing apparatus, the control unit performs the above-described intermediate apparatus by using the intermediate apparatus before the abnormal sheet. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet sent to the stacking unit is conveyed to the post-processing device and discharged to the first stacking unit.   The control unit, when discharging the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus to the first stacking unit without forming the booklet in the booklet post-processing unit, the final sheet to be stacked in the stacking unit When the sheet is an abnormal sheet and does not reach the stacking section, the sheet discharged to the stacking section by the intermediate device prior to the abnormal sheet is conveyed to the post-processing apparatus, 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is discharged to a first stacking unit. Provided between the intermediate device and the booklet post-processing unit, and having an insertion paper feeding device for inserting insert paper,
The control unit can set whether or not to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, and after the abnormality of the paper occurs and the system is stopped due to completion of the discharging operation to the second stacking unit In the recovery operation of
In the case of setting to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, an image is formed from a page in which an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image from the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit in a case where the sheet discharged to the second stacking unit is set not to be reused. The image forming system described in 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus;
A first stacking unit that discharges paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus;
A sheet is discharged and a second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit;
And a post-processing apparatus having a conveyance of the sheet to the first stacking section, and a conveying Switching Operation place unit for switching the transport and sheet into the second stacking portion,
Have overlapping portions overlapping a plurality of sheets of paper, said rear handle sheet on which the image is formed on the attached the image forming apparatus between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing device, as a sheet bundle stacked in the overlapping portion An intermediate device to deliver to the device;
An insertion paper feeder for inserting insert paper, provided between the intermediate device and the post-processing unit;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the image forming system.
When the sheet bundle just before the insert sheet is inserted is transferred from the intermediate apparatus to the post-processing apparatus, the insertion sheet feeder inserts the insert sheet immediately after the sheet bundle. ,
The control unit has a final sheet that is to be stacked by the stacking unit, and the next page of the final sheet is an insert sheet from the insertion sheet feeding device becomes an abnormal sheet. If it does not reach, the sheet discharged by the intermediate device to the stacking unit prior to the abnormal sheet is transported to the post-processing device and discharged to the second stacking unit by the operation of the transport switching unit. An image forming system. The control unit can set whether or not to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, and after the abnormality of the paper occurs and the system is stopped due to completion of the discharging operation to the second stacking unit In the recovery operation of
In the case of setting to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit, an image is formed from a page in which an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus forms an image from the paper discharged to the second stacking unit in the image forming apparatus when setting not to reuse the paper discharged to the second stacking unit. The image forming system described in 1. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal sheet is a sheet jammed in a conveyance path for conveying the sheet .   The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit detects a paper jam of the paper. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal sheet is generated in the image forming apparatus or the intermediate apparatus.

Images