JP6398232B2 - Post-processing apparatus, image forming system, and post-processing apparatus crimping method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that perform a binding operation by sandwiching and pressing a sheet bundle (sheet bundle) on which a predetermined number of sheets are stacked with a needleless type binding tool having a concave-convex tooth shape structure and pressing them. The present invention relates to a system and a post-processing apparatus pressure binding method.

  Conventionally, in a press binding device (binding tool) mounted on a post-processing device provided integrally or separately with an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet bundle in which a predetermined number of sheets are stacked is used. A configuration of a needleless type has been developed in which a sheet bundle is bound without using a metal needle by performing a binding operation by sandwiching and pressing with a stapler having an uneven tooth shape structure and crimping the sheet bundle.

  By the way, in the existing crimping and binding apparatus, since new paper cannot be received in the apparatus during the crimping and binding operation, it is necessary to provide a paper output interval for each copy. Therefore, the printing operation including the binding operation is simple. Compared with the printing time when the printing operation is continuously performed, the productivity is reduced by the total number of binding operations.

  Therefore, in order to increase productivity, adjacent paper bundles are alternately placed in different postures and alternately placed at different staple positions to prevent waiting between paper bundles, or equipped with a sorter, press There has also been proposed a method for ensuring productivity equivalent to that in the case of performing a continuous printing operation by preparing a tack region. However, in any of these methods, it is necessary to secure a predetermined arrangement space for the sheet bundle, or a space for holding the sorter or a space for stopping the sheet bundle is required. It will be converted.

  A technical device for avoiding such an increase in the size of the apparatus and preventing the productivity from being lowered has been proposed. As a well-known technique, the productivity of paper processing is increased in consideration of the conveyance start timing. When performing the edge binding process and the saddle stitching process with the same stapler on the same processing tray (Patent Document 1, Paper Processing Apparatus and Image Forming System) (see Patent Document 1) By moving the position of the restricting plate, the “sheet post-processing device” that prevents the reduction of productivity due to movement of the trailing end restricting plate and stapler and shortens the processing time in the staple sort mode in the half size and saddle mode ( Patent Document 2).

  The technique according to Patent Document 1 described above aims to increase productivity, checks whether the clincher has returned to the home position, and detects that the clincher has returned to the home position, and conveys the sheet bundle (sheet bundle). Start (in short, start feeding for the next paper bundle before the stapling of the previous paper bundle is completed) reduces the waiting time between paper bundles and suppresses the decline in productivity However, the problem that productivity is lowered compared with the printing time in the case where the printing operation is simply performed continuously cannot be solved.

  Further, the technique according to Patent Document 2 has an effect of preventing a decrease in productivity when the size of each sheet bundle is different, but stapling processing for a sheet bundle of the same size when the size does not change ( There is a problem that there is no effect in the crimping and binding operation).

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its technical problem is to effectively reduce the productivity due to the crimping and binding operation of the sheet bundle regardless of the size without increasing the size of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming system that can be improved, and a crimping method for the post-processing apparatus.

To solve the above technical problem, first means of the present invention is a post-processing apparatus which performs binding Ji operation by the fastening tool crimping the sheet bundle of sheets stacked predetermined number at a predetermined position, the binding A binding number control means for determining the number of sheets to be bound, which is the number of sheets to be bound together in one press binding operation by a tool , and at least one of a first page and a last page as a boundary between a plurality of parts of the sheet bundle against crimping binding portion of the paper surface corresponding to the page crimp stitching operation of the plurality of the sheet bundle on which a toner image is formed, and a crimping binding control means for causing at one time together in accordance with the binding sheets sheets characterized in that the Ru equipped.

In order to solve the above technical problems, a second aspect of the present invention, the post-processing device for crimping binding method of performing the binding Ji operation by the fastening tool crimping the sheet bundle of sheets stacked predetermined number at a predetermined place a is, the number of stapled sheets control unit, a number of stapled sheets control step of determining the sheet number of stapled sheets is the number of the sheets stapled together in a single crimping stapling operation by the stapling instrument, by crimping binding control means, the sheet bundle the first page or the last of the plurality of crimping stapling operation of the sheet bundle on which the toner image has been formed for crimping binding portion of the paper surface corresponding to at least one of the pages of a page as a boundary between the plurality of the It characterized by having a a crimp stitching control step of causing a time collectively accordance sheet number of stapled sheets.

  According to the present invention, after binding a plurality of sheet bundles according to the number of sheets to be bound together with a binding tool and performing crimping binding at once, it is easily separated as a sheet bundle having a desired number of sheets by a desired number of sheets. A toner image is formed in advance on the crimped binding portion of at least one paper surface of the first page and the last page, which are the boundaries between a plurality of parts of the sheet bundle, and fiber contact between the papers during the crimping is obstructed. Since it is easy to peel off after crimping by using the weakening property, it is possible to efficiently create multiple sheet bundles by reducing the number of crimping operations as much as possible, and as a result, without increasing the size of the device It is possible to effectively improve the decrease in productivity due to the crimping and binding operation of the sheet bundle regardless of the size.

It is a schematic diagram for explaining the technical outline of the crimping and binding method for post-processing apparatus of the present invention step by step when performing the two-part and two-part crimping and binding operation, and (a) shows four sheets as a sheet bundle. FIG. 5B is a diagram relating to a step of forming a toner image selectively, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a step of crimping and binding four sheets, and FIG. 5C is a schematic diagram showing a step of separating a bundle of two sheets after crimping and binding. is there. It is the schematic diagram which showed the operation time of the crimping | binding operation | movement at the time of applying the crimping | binding method for post-processing apparatuses of this invention demonstrated by FIG.1 (a)-(c) with the case of normal binding operation | movement. . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment including a post-processing apparatus to which the pressure-binding method for a post-processing apparatus of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 2 is applied. is there. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a printer unit of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a block diagram relating to a binding control unit configured as a hardware function of a printer unit of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 4. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process related to control of a bound sheet number determination process by a bound sheet number control unit included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a bound sheet bundle after being subjected to crimping binding processing by a binding tool under the control of the crimping binding control unit included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a sheet image of each page is developed in order to explain the formation of a toner image performed by an image processing unit included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG. 5. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process when an abnormality occurs related to control of a bound sheet number determination process by a bound sheet number control unit included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a sheet image of each page is developed when the sheet remaining in the binding portion of the post-processing apparatus matches the number of divisions when the abnormality described in FIG. 9 occurs. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a sheet image of each page is developed when the sheet remaining in the binding position of the post-processing apparatus when the abnormality described in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of developing a sheet image of each page in order to explain an embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit described in FIG. 8. It is the schematic which showed the basic composition of the image forming system for forming the toner image demonstrated in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating color selection data for a crimped binding location on a display screen of a user interface in order to describe another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit described in FIG. 8. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a sheet image of each page is developed in order to explain another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit described in FIG. 14. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a paper image of each page is developed in order to explain another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit described in FIG. 8.

  Hereinafter, the post-processing apparatus, the image forming system, and the post-processing apparatus pressure binding method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, a technical outline of the crimping method for post-processing apparatus of the present invention will be briefly described. The post-processing apparatus pressure binding method of the present invention, when performing a binding operation so that a predetermined number of paper sheets are stacked and sandwiched by pressing with a staple-less type binding tool having a concave-convex tooth shape structure, and pressed. Image processing step for forming a toner image by image processing on the first and the last page of the sheet surface of the sheet bundle, which is the boundary between a plurality of copies of the sheet bundle, and the number control of the binding A binding number control step for controlling the number of sheets to be bound according to the number of copies of the sheet bundle to be bound together by means of pressure binding by a binding tool, and a plurality of sheets of the sheet bundle on which toner images are formed by the pressure binding control means. In accordance with the number of sheets to be bound in the binding number control step, the sheets are crimped together with a binding tool at a time, and a plurality of sheets of the bundle of sheets that are collectively crimped and bound are combined with a predetermined number of sheets at the toner image location. And crimping binding control step to be separated as a sheet bundle of a predetermined number of copies, and has a.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the technical outline of the crimping and binding method for a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention step by step in the case of performing two-part and two-part crimping and binding operations. FIG. FIG. 5B is a diagram relating to the selective toner image forming stage for the four sheets, and FIG. 5B is a diagram relating to the crimping and binding stage in which the four sheets are stacked, and FIG. It is a schematic diagram regarding the separation step of the sheet bundle.

  Referring to FIG. 1A, here, a state where a toner image is added to the second back surface and the third front surface of the four sheets constituting the sheet bundle is shown. This toner image forming stage corresponds to the fact that the toner image is formed on the first and the last pages that are the boundary between the plural parts of the sheet bundle in the image processing step described above. To do.

  Referring to FIG. 1B, here, a state is shown after a binding operation is performed in such a manner that a stack of four sheets is sandwiched and pressed by a binding tool, and a dotted line portion is crimped. . This crimping and binding stage corresponds to the fact that a plurality of parts of the sheet bundle on which the toner images are formed in the above-described crimping and binding control step are combined and crimped and bound by the binding tool at a time.

  Referring to FIG. 1 (c), after the two sheets of paper bundle are pressed together at this time, the toner image formed in the crimp section of the section boundary hinders the crimping of the section boundary sheet, and the sheet bundle. Is easily separated into two parts (due to the property that the fiber contact between the papers during crimping is hindered and the crimping is weakened), so the user can separate the two parts into two parts by lifting the paper bundle. It shows how it was done. This separation step corresponds to the fact that a plurality of sheets of the bundle of sheets that have been crimped and bound together in the above-described crimping and binding control step can be separated into a predetermined number of sheets of sheets of a predetermined number of sheets at the toner image location. As a result, since the same result as that obtained when a plurality of crimping and binding operations are performed in one crimping and binding operation can be obtained, the number of crimping and binding operations can be reduced, and the productivity is improved by reducing the number of operations. .

  Incidentally, in the above-described binding number control step, there is a limit (upper limit) on the number of sheets to be stacked, so that the binding is controlled by the binding tool controlled by the binding control step so that an abnormality such as a jam does not occur at a time. The number of sheets to be bound is determined and controlled according to the number of copies of the bundle of sheets to be bound together.

  FIG. 2 compares the operation time of the crimping and binding operation when applying the crimping and binding method for a post-processing apparatus of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. It is the shown schematic diagram.

  Referring to FIG. 2, in the normal binding operation shown in the upper part, it is necessary to provide a sheet output interval for each copy in order to perform the first binding operation and the second binding operation. The operation time is required for the number of times. On the other hand, if the crimping and binding method for post-processing apparatus of the present invention shown in the lower part is applied, a plurality of sheet bundles can be created by a single crimping and binding operation. If this is done, the binding operation for the first copy is no longer necessary, and only the binding operation for the second copy is required. This shows that the operation time can be shortened by reducing the number of binding operations as much as possible.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a basic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment provided with a post-processing device 206 to which the above-described crimping method for post-processing device of the present invention is applied.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a paper surface and a post-processing device 206 used for paper binding. In the configuration shown in FIG. A post-processing device 206 is attached to the device.

  Among these, the image forming apparatus includes a reading device 201 that reads an image of a document (paper), an operation unit 200 on which a user operates the device, an image forming unit 202 that forms a toner image and transfers it to a paper, and a bundle of paper. Paper trays 203 and 204, and a fixing device 205 that heats and pressurizes toner transferred onto the paper and fixes the toner onto the paper. The post-processing device 206 is installed at the paper exit of the image forming apparatus, and has a function of holding a plurality of papers onto which images have been transferred, aligning the held paper bundles, and binding them with the binding tool 207. The binding tool 207 deforms the sheet by holding the sheet bundle with a pair of concave and convex tooth-shaped staplers, and binds the sheet by entwining the fibers of the sheet. In other words, the binding tool 207 here functions as a needleless type crimping and binding device (stapling device) that performs a binding operation by sandwiching and pressing the stapler against the sheet bundle and crimping the sheet bundle. is there.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer unit 300 of the image forming system described above.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a printer unit 300 that is hardware that realizes image formation is connected to a controller 310 that receives a print instruction from a user and sends a print request to the printer unit 300 via a bus 320. In the printer unit 300, the CPU 301 performs control of the entire printer unit 300 including reception of image data input from the controller 310 and transmission / reception control of control commands, a ROM 303 storing a control program for the printer unit 300, and a ROM 303. Receives image data from the RAM 302 as a work area when executing the program stored in the memory, the NVRAM 304 as an area for storing control parameters for printer control such as the holding time of the binding tool 207, and the controller 310. And change the resolution to the expanded data. Image processing ASIC 305 that performs image processing such as gradation processing, edge processing, and pattern synthesis, writing control ASIC 306 that controls a laser diode that receives image data from image processing ASIC 305 and writes a charge latent image on a photoconductor, Peripheral machine IF307 which is an interface which transmits / receives the data with the processing apparatus 206 is each connected by the bus | bath 320, and is comprised.

  Incidentally, the NVRAM 304 is different from the RAM 302 in that the parameters are non-volatile. In the printer unit 300, the parameters on the RAM 302 are developed by the CPU 301 when the power is turned on.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram relating to a binding control unit configured as a hardware function of the printer unit 300 of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 4 described above.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the binding control unit is configured as a hardware function of the post-processing device 206 mounted in the image forming apparatus. In terms of the functional configuration, a color such as full color / monochrome from the controller 310 is formed. The print request including the mode information and the number of prints for each copy is managed to make a conveyance request, and the print request management unit 400 that provides the print number information and the image processing ASIC 305 to control the print image on the paper surface. And at least one of the first page and the last page as a boundary between a plurality of copies of the sheet bundle based on the print number information for each copy included in the print number information from the print request management unit 400 An image processing unit 401 that forms a toner image by image processing on the crimped binding portion of the paper surface, and a print number information from the print request management unit 400 , The number of sheets to be printed at one time is determined based on the number of printed sheets for each copy included in the information and the number of sheets that can be bound by the post-processing device 206 set in advance. The sheet conveyance operation is controlled according to the conveyance request from the binding number control unit 402 and the print request management unit 400, and the timing of the binding operation is determined based on the binding number information from the binding number control unit 402, and the binding operation is performed. Conveyance control means 404 that makes a request, and crimping binding control means 403 that controls the crimping and binding operation in the binding tool 207 of the post-processing device 206 in response to a binding operation request from the conveyance control means 404.

  Among these, the binding number control means 402 includes the number information of printed sheets and the device for the number of sheets to be bound for the number of sheet bundles to be bound at one time by the crimping binding by the binding tool 207 controlled by the crimping binding control means 403. And control based on the information on the number of sheets that can be bound. Further, the crimping binding control unit 403 collects a plurality of sheets of the sheet bundle on which the toner image is formed according to the number of sheets to be bound and performs the crimping binding by the binding tool 207 at the same time. Can be separated as a predetermined number of sheet bundles of a predetermined number of sheets at the toner image portion.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process related to the control of the sheet binding number determination process by the binding number control unit 402 included in the binding control unit shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in the sheet binding number determination process, after first performing a process of substituting 0 for [number of bindings] (step S101), the [number of bindings] and the number of prints of the next job are added together. It is determined whether or not the number of sheets that can be bound by the post-processing device 206 has been exceeded in the next job (step S102). As a result of this determination, if the number of sheets that can be bound is not exceeded, the process of updating the number of bindings (step S103) is performed with the value obtained by adding [number of bindings] and [number of next jobs] as the value of [number of bindings]. After that, it is determined whether or not there is a next job (step S104). As a result of this determination, if there is a next job, the process proceeds to the next job determination (step S105), and the process returns to before the determination (step S102) whether or not the number of sheets that can be bound by the post-processing device 206 has exceeded the above-described next job. The subsequent processing is repeated. As a result, when there is a job after that, a new binding number determination is performed from the next job.

  In addition, as a result of determining whether or not the number of sheets that can be bound by the post-processing apparatus 206 has exceeded the previous next job (step S102), it is determined whether or not the number of sheets that can be bound is exceeded and whether there is a next job ( As a result of step S104), in the case where there is no next job, in any case, after performing the process of notifying the number of bindings (step S106) for notifying the conveyance control means 404 of the number of bindings, the operation process is ended.

  Incidentally, the operation process of FIG. 6 is applied to the case where the number of sheets to be bound is determined by using the number of printed sheets information of a plurality of jobs at the start of printing. It is also possible to determine the number of bindings by introducing a determination (step S102) as to whether or not the number of sheets that can be bound by the processing device 206 has been exceeded.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view exemplifying a bound sheet bundle that has been subjected to the pressing and binding process by the binding tool 207 under the control of the pressing and binding control unit 403 included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG. 5.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in the bound sheet bundle, a desired print image is printed on the inner side of the sheet surface and is bound at the binding portion in the upper left corner.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a developed paper image of each page in order to explain the formation of the toner image performed by the image processing unit 401 included in the binding control unit illustrated in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 8, here, two copies of four-sided printing (two printed sheets) of four pages per copy are printed, and the number of sheets that can be bound by the post-processing device 206 is six (double-sided printing). 12 pages). In this case, the first page and the last page for forming the toner image are the first page and the fourth page for both the first and second copies, respectively. It is. Further, here, a black and rectangular toner image is additionally formed at the overlapping position as the binding portion, and in double-sided printing, the toner image forming positions are symmetrical on the front surface (odd page) and the back surface (even page). Is shown. Furthermore, in the case of double-sided printing, the image formation order of the four pages is in the order of p.2 → p.1 → p.4 → p.3. Therefore, the images (toner images are displayed in the order shown in FIG. Are added (printed) by image processing.

  Note that the interleaf operation is not performed in the embodiment shown in FIG. When the interleaf operation is performed, the image formation order is different, but the position where the image is added is the same. In addition, when performing single-sided printing, the above-described image is added only to the first page of the copy.

  By the way, the above-described binding number control unit 402 determines the number of crimped copies at the time of occurrence of an abnormality when an abnormality occurs in a state in which a plurality of sheets of a bundle of sheets are bundled together by the binding tool 207 under the control of the crimping binding control unit 403. It is preferable to have a function of determining the number of copies of a sheet bundle to be bound at one time. By providing such a function, it is possible to reduce the number of times of binding of the sheet bundle after the abnormal recovery by discharging the dischargeable sheet bundle first.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation process at the time of occurrence of an abnormality (jam) related to the control of the bound sheet number determination process by the bound sheet number control unit 402.

  Referring to FIG. 9, when the occurrence of a jam is detected as the occurrence of an abnormality in the printing mechanism of the image forming apparatus, the sheet remaining at the binding position of the post-processing apparatus 206 is the same as the number of divisions. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step S201). As a result of this determination, if the remaining sheets match the number of copies of the set, after performing the binding process by the binding tool 207 (step S202), the sheet discharge for discharging the bundle of sheets bound at that time After performing the process of (Step S203), the process proceeds to the jam processing standby (Step S204). Further, as a result of determining whether or not the sheet remaining at the binding position of the first post-processing device 206 matches the number of copies of the copies (step S201), the remaining sheets are determined as the number of copies of the copies. If they do not match, the process proceeds to jam processing standby (step S204).

  Incidentally, the specific processing content of the jam processing standby is performed in the same manner as the behavior when a jam occurs in a general image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a developed paper image of each page when the paper remaining in the binding position of the post-processing device 206 matches the number of divisions when the abnormality (jam) described in FIG. 9 occurs. FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 10, here, when printing two copies of four-page printing (two printed sheets) per copy, printing all the second copy pages (first to fourth pages). It shows a situation where a jam has occurred on the paper. In such a case, the print sheets that reach the position of the binding tool 207 are sheets up to the first copy (first to fourth pages), and as a result of the determination in FIG. 9 (step S201), the binding process for these sheets (S202). Is implemented. As a result, even when a jam occurs, the binding process can be performed for the first copy in the same manner as in the normal operation.

  FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a developed paper image of each page when the paper remaining in the binding position of the post-processing device 206 does not match the number of divisions when the abnormality (jam) described in FIG. 9 occurs. FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, here, in the case where two copies of four-page printing (two printed sheets) are printed per copy, the second copy of the second copy (third and fourth pages). ) Is jammed on the printing paper. In such a case, the print sheets that reach the position of the binding tool 207 are sheets up to the second copy and the first sheet (first page and second page), and as a result of the determination (step S201) in FIG. The binding process (S202) is not performed. If the binding operation is performed, the page becomes insufficient and the incomplete second copy is discharged.

  Furthermore, several embodiments can be exemplified for the toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 described above. For example, it is possible to exemplify a case where the toner image has a yellow tone or an invisible color tone. When the toner image has a yellow tone, yellow is the most inconspicuous on white paper with a general full-color CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) imaging system. The image can be made inconspicuous so that the final image is not greatly affected. Further, even when the toner image has an invisible color base, it is possible to make the image for inhibiting the press-inhibition inconspicuous so that the final image is not greatly affected.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the development of the toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 illustrated in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 12, here, as a technique for adding a toner image to be formed at the binding position of the sheet by the image processing unit 401, for the first page, the second page, the first page, and the fourth page binding section, A toner image is added using only yellow toner, which is the most inconspicuous color among toner colors generally used in image forming apparatuses, or only some colorless toner dedicated to glossing.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of an image forming system for forming the toner image described in FIG. Here, compared to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 3, the image forming unit 202 has a five-color image forming unit provided with a colorless toner supply mechanism 208 that supplies colorless toner in addition to a general CMYK four-color image forming system. The difference is the configuration of the image system. However, with respect to the configuration of all five color image forming systems related to the image forming unit 202 here, for example, colorless toner is used for two color image forming systems of K (black) color and R (red) color, for example. For example, the number of colors of the total image formation may be different.

  In addition, the toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 can have an arbitrary color tone selected by the user through the user interface (UI). In such a case, by allowing the user to select an arbitrary color, for example, when performing printing and crimping on colored paper, the crimped binding portion is made the same color as the colored paper so that the image of the binding portion does not stand out. Can do.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating color selection data for a crimped binding location on a display screen of a user interface (UI) in order to describe another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 described in FIG. FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 14, here, a view in which an arbitrary mask color can be registered on the user side from a user interface (UI) on the controller 310 is provided, and the mask color information subjected to registration processing is held in the NVRAM 304, and an image is displayed. It shows how a toner image of a color registered by the user is formed in the binding portion by adding to a sheet with reference to the toner image when the processing unit 401 forms it. However, it is assumed that the mask color information is held in the NVRAM 304 here, but the area to be held may be another area such as the RAM 302 or the ROM 303.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which a sheet image of each page is developed in order to explain another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 described in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 15, here, the printing paper in the image forming apparatus is not limited to white paper, and consideration is given to the case where printing on colored paper is performed. In such a case, the user can display on the display screen shown in FIG. If a color similar to colored paper is set as a mask color and toner images of similar colors set for the first page and the second page of the first page and the fourth page are formed, the binding section FIG. 4 shows how the toner image added to the position can be made inconspicuous.

  In addition, with respect to the toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401, it is also preferable to set the color tone having the largest toner remaining amount detected by the existing toner remaining amount detecting unit. In such a case, it is possible to prevent only the consumption of the specific toner color from being increased and the replacement time from being advanced by using only the specific toner for inhibiting the press bonding. In other words, it is possible to prevent the toner consumption of a specific color from being significantly biased with the formation of the toner image on the binding portion, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the downtime of the image forming apparatus. Become.

  In addition, toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 is not formed on the first page and the last page of the sheet surface that do not require separation after crimping and binding of a plurality of sheets of the sheet bundle by the crimping binding control unit 403. It is also preferable to do so. In such a case, by not forming and adding a toner image to a page that does not require separation of a plurality of parts of a sheet bundle, it is possible not to generate an extra image in the finished image and to reduce extra toner consumption. it can.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a developed paper image of each page in order to explain another embodiment of toner image formation performed by the image processing unit 401 described in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 16, here, a toner image is not formed on the first page and the last page of the binding sheet bundle, and specifically, double-sided printing of 4 pages per copy (the number of printed sheets is 2). In the case of printing two copies of a sheet of paper, a rectangular toner image is not added to the position where the binding portion overlaps on the first copy, the first page, and the second copy of the fourth page. A state where a rectangular toner image is formed and added to the binding portion of the fourth page of the second copy and the first page of the second copy is shown. As a result, the first page 4 and the second page 1 that are part separators are output in a state where crimping is inhibited from the first page according to the principle described above. The same effect can be obtained while the toner consumption is smaller than in the case described in FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment of the crimping and binding process of the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment described above, the case where the paper bundle is configured in two parts in the configuration of the paper bundle has been described in order to simplify the description. The present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed in the embodiments because the present invention can be applied regardless of the number of sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 Operation part 201 Reading apparatus 202 Image forming unit 203,204 Paper tray 205 Fixing apparatus 206 Post-processing apparatus 207 Binding tool 208 Colorless toner supply mechanism 300 Printer part 301 CPU
302 RAM
303 ROM
304 NVRAM
305 Image Processing ASIC
306 Write control ASIC
307 Peripheral machine IF
310 controller 320 bus 400 print request management means 401 image processing means 402 binding number control means 403 pressure binding control means 404 conveyance control means

JP 2005-263356 A JP 2006-36480 A

Claims (9)

A post-processing device for performing binding Ji operation by the fastening tool crimping the sheet bundle of sheets stacked predetermined number at a predetermined position,
A binding number control means for determining the number of sheets to be bound, which is the number of sheets to be bound together in one crimping binding operation by the binding tool;
First page or last at least one of the crimping stapling operation of the plurality of the sheet bundle on which the toner image has been formed for crimping binding portion of the paper surface corresponding to the page of the page as a boundary between the plurality of the sheet bundle and a crimp stitching control means for causing at one time together in accordance with the sheet number of stapled sheets,
Post-processing apparatus, characterized in that Ru comprising a. Before Symbol toner image is yellow keynote,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. Before Symbol toner image is an invisible color keynote,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. Before SL toner image is arbitrary color tones the user selects a color by the user interface,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. Before SL toner image is the most frequently color tones of the toner remaining amount detected by the toner remaining amount detecting means,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. The sheet bundle constituting each part is not formed with toner images on the first page and the last page which are the boundaries between the respective parts that do not require separation into the respective parts after the crimping and binding by the crimping and binding control unit .
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. And an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the paper, to paper bundle the paper superimposed predetermined number, image forming with a post-processing apparatus that performs a binding operation by binding tool for crimping a predetermined portion of the sheet bundle A system ,
The post-processing device is a post-processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An image forming system. The image forming apparatus includes an image processing unit that forms the toner image by image processing on a crimped binding portion of at least one paper surface of the first page and the last page as a boundary between a plurality of portions of the sheet bundle. ,
The image forming system according to claim 7. A post-processing device for crimping binding method of performing the binding Ji operation by the fastening tool crimping the sheet bundle stacked predetermined number of sheets in a predetermined position,
A binding number control step of determining a number of sheets to be bound, which is the number of sheets to be bound together in one crimping binding operation by the binding tool, by a binding number control unit;
By crimping stitching control means, the first page or the sheet bundle having the toner image formed for crimping binding portion of the paper surface corresponding to at least one of the pages of the final page to be a boundary of the plurality of the sheet bundle crimping stapling operation of the plurality of copies, and the crimping binding control step of causing a time collectively in accordance with the sheet number of stapled sheets,
A crimping method for post-processing apparatus, comprising: