JP6467934B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming program, and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming program, and an image forming method.

  There is a field called production printing intended for commercial printing and basic printing in offices.

  In the production printing market, the variety of post-processing (binding, punching, etc.) that can be processed in-line (a series of processes from printing to post-processing) and the printer main body (image forming apparatus main body) is the point of differentiation from other companies. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, production printing is characterized by a small number of lots of TDV (Total Document Value), and the number of shipments of one type of peripheral device is not so many. Therefore, rather than developing a peripheral device for post-processing (post-processing device) in-house, contract with a peripheral third-party vendor (peripheral device vendor) to create an interface part and sell the third-vendor peripheral device under its own brand. In many cases, this is more cost effective.

  Note that the interface of the company's peripheral device (in-house peripheral device) has complicated specifications in order to control the peripheral device in detail. For this reason, even when the interface is disclosed to the peripheral device vendor and the interface unit is created, it is difficult for both the peripheral device vendor and the company to handle it, and it may require considerable costs. The cost advantage to use is reduced.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to simplify the interface between the company and the third-party peripheral device to make it a general-purpose specification and facilitate the connection with the third-party peripheral device.

  As described above, when the interface is simplified and general-purpose specifications are used, information such as the delivery of instructions (commands) from the main body of the image forming apparatus to the third-party peripheral device or a fatal error that has occurred in the third-vendor peripheral device However, it is difficult to exchange detailed information unique to third-party peripheral devices.

  In this type of post-processing peripheral device, there are bundle processing and single-sheet processing as post-processing types for transfer paper, but third-party peripheral devices have interfaces for acquiring post-processing type information at each company. They are different and it is difficult to integrate them into a general-purpose specification. The single sheet process performs post-processing for each transfer sheet, and the bundle process performs post-processing by bundling a plurality of transfer sheets.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of single sheet processing and bundling processing. FIG. 1A illustrates a case where one end of each transfer sheet is punched as an example of single sheet processing, and FIG. As an example, a case where a plurality of transfer sheets are stapled is shown. One-sheet processing includes one-sheet folding and creasing in addition to punching. In addition to staples, bundle processing includes case binding, ring binding, overlap folding, and the like. In the ring binding, since each transfer paper is punched and then passed through the ring, both the single-sheet processing and the bundle processing are performed on the transfer paper.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an instruction from the controller (image forming apparatus main body) to the engine (image forming apparatus main body, peripheral device) in the one-sheet processing and bundle processing.

  FIG. 2A shows a case where one end of each transfer sheet is punched as an example of one-sheet processing, and a print instruction and a punch instruction are output for each transfer sheet from the controller.

  FIG. 2B shows an example of stapling a plurality of transfer sheets as an example of the bundling process, and the controller issues a print instruction for each transfer sheet up to the fourth sheet constituting one copy. Then, a stapling instruction is output.

  As described above, since the operation required for the controller differs between single-sheet processing and bundle processing, it is necessary to know the type of post-processing before starting the operation. However, as described above, the post-processing is performed with the simplified and general-purpose interface. The type information cannot be notified from the third vendor peripheral to the image forming apparatus main body. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus main body, it is necessary to design the software while fixing it to either the bundle process or the single sheet process.

  As a result, it is necessary to change the software design when the image forming apparatus main body is made compatible with another third-vendor peripheral device, which increases the cost and time required for that, and the cost advantage of using the third-vendor peripheral device. There was a problem of being killed.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the conventional problems described above, and an object, the corresponding without changing the software design regardless of the type of post-processing of the connected in-line peripheral device It is to make it possible.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an image forming apparatus having an image forming apparatus main body and an interface box inserted on a connection path between the image forming apparatus main body and a peripheral device, the interface box, the type of information the serial憶領area that will be recorded in the post-processing to be executed by said peripheral device, said image forming apparatus main body startup before crisis憶領been kind of the post recorded area and a notifying means for notifying before Symbol image forming apparatus information, the image forming apparatus main body, based on the type of information of the notified the post, at least one of the print commands and after beauty treatment command with the issuance means to issue, it said issuing means, when the type of information of the post-processing indicates one process, the print command and the rear processing for one sheet is repeated until the last page is completed When a command is issued and the post-processing type information indicates bundle processing, the print command for one sheet is repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the post-processing for one bundle is performed after the completion of the final page. When a processing command is issued and the post-processing type information indicates both single-sheet processing and bundle processing, the print command and post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed Then, after completion of the last page, the post-processing command for one bundle is issued .

In the present invention, it may be compatible to without changing the software design regardless of the type of post-processing of the connected in-line peripheral device.

It is a figure which shows the example of 1 sheet processing and bundle processing. It is a figure which shows the example of the instruction | indication from a controller to an engine in 1 sheet processing and bundle processing. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection of an image forming apparatus main body and a 3rd vendor peripheral device. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus main body. FIG. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an internal work peripheral machine and a 3rd vendor peripheral machine. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an interface box. It is a figure which shows the example of a software structure. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

<Configuration>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the third vendor peripheral device 14.

  FIG. 3A shows an example in which a third vendor peripheral device 14 is connected to the downstream side of the transfer sheet flow of the image forming apparatus main body 11. Broken arrows in the figure indicate the flow of the transfer paper. An interface box 13 is connected between the end of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the third vendor peripheral device 14.

  FIG. 3B shows an example in which an internal work peripheral device 12 is connected to the downstream side of the transfer paper flow of the image forming apparatus main body 11 and a third vendor peripheral device 14 is connected to the internal work peripheral device 12. Yes. An interface box 13 is connected between the in-house peripheral device 12 and the third vendor peripheral device 14. The image forming apparatus main body 11 and the in-house peripheral device 12 are connected by an interface based on a predetermined specification. A plurality of in-house peripheral devices 12 arranged between the image forming apparatus main body 11 and the third vendor peripheral device 14 may be provided. In this case, the interface box 13 is connected between the internal peripheral device 12 and the third vendor peripheral device 14 that are arranged at the downstream end of the transfer paper flow.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  4, the image forming apparatus main body 11 includes a main body 1110 capable of realizing various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a printer function, a document box function, and a utility function, and an operation unit 1120 that receives a user operation. Prepare. The main body 1110 and the operation unit 1120 are connected via a dedicated communication path 1130 so that they can communicate with each other. The communication path 1130 may be, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, but may be of any standard regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. Note that the main body 1110 can perform an operation according to the operation received by the operation unit 1120. The main body 1110 can also communicate with an external device such as a client PC (personal computer), and can perform an operation according to an instruction received from the external device.

  The main body 1110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1111, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1112, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1113, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1114, and a communication I / F (Interface) 1115. , A connection I / F 1116 and an engine unit 1117, which are connected to each other via a system bus 1118.

  The CPU 1111 comprehensively controls the operation of the main body 1110. The CPU 1111 controls the overall operation of the main body 1110 by executing a program stored in the ROM 1112 or the HDD 1114 using the RAM 1113 as a work area (work area), and the above-described copy function, scanner function, printer function, document box. Various functions such as functions and utility functions are realized. The communication I / F 1115 is an interface for connecting to a network. The connection I / F 1116 is an interface for communicating with the operation unit 1120 via the communication path 1130. The engine unit 1117 is hardware that performs general-purpose information processing and processing other than communication for realizing a copy function, a scanner function, and a printer function. For example, a scanner (image reading unit) that scans and reads an image of a document, a plotter (image forming unit, etc.) that prints on a sheet material such as paper, a finisher that sorts printed sheet materials, and a document A specific option such as ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that automatically feeds the document can be provided.

  The operation unit 1120 includes a CPU 1121, ROM 1122, RAM 1123, flash memory 1124, communication I / F 1125, connection I / F 1126, operation panel 1127, and external connection I / F 1128, which are a system bus 1129. Are connected to each other. The CPU 1121 comprehensively controls the operation of the operation unit 1120. The CPU 1121 controls the overall operation of the operation unit 1120 by executing a program stored in the ROM 1122 or the flash memory 1124 using the RAM 1123 as a work area, and displays information (image) according to the input received from the user. Implement various functions. The communication I / F 1125 is an interface for connecting to a network. The connection I / F 1126 is an interface for communicating with the main body 1110 via the communication path 1130. The operation panel 1127 accepts various inputs according to the user's operation, and various information (for example, information according to the accepted operation, information indicating the operation status of the image forming apparatus main body 11, information indicating a setting state, and the like). Etc.). Furthermore, in addition to or instead of this, an operation unit such as a hardware key and a display unit such as a lamp may be provided. The external connection I / F 1128 is an interface for connecting to a device such as an IC card reader.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the in-house peripheral device 12 and the third vendor peripheral device 14.

  In FIG. 5, the in-house peripheral device 12 or the like includes a CPU 1201, a RAM 1202, a ROM 1203, a flash memory 1204, a connection I / F 1205, and an engine unit 1206 that are connected to each other via a bus 1207. The engine unit 1206 is a part that executes post-processing in the in-house peripheral device 12 or the like. The CPU 1201 performs overall control of the operation of the engine unit 1206 by executing a program stored in the ROM 1203 or the flash memory 1204 using the RAM 1202 as a work area. The connection I / F 1205 is an interface with a device connected to the in-house peripheral device 12 or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the interface box 13.

  In FIG. 6, the interface box 13 includes a CPU 1301, a RAM 1302, a ROM 1303, a flash memory 1304, and a connection I / F 1305 that are connected to each other via a bus 1306.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example of the image forming apparatus main body 11, the in-house peripheral device 12 (which does not exist in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3A), the interface box 13, and the third vendor peripheral device 14.

  In FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus main body 11 includes a control unit 111 and an application unit 112. The control unit 111 controls processing (image formation, paper feed / discharge, etc.) in the image forming apparatus main body 11 by executing the application unit 112, and an in-house peripheral device 12 connected to the image forming apparatus main body 11. The communication is performed with the interface box 13 and the third vendor peripheral device 14 to control the operation.

  The in-house peripheral device 12 includes a control unit 121. The control unit 121 communicates with the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 to control processing in the in-house peripheral device 12.

  The interface box 13 includes a control unit 131. The interface box 13 is supplied with power from the image forming apparatus main body 11 or the in-house peripheral device 12. The control unit 131 converts data between the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 or the control unit 121 of the in-house peripheral device 12 and the control unit 141 of the third vendor peripheral device 14 (selection of instructions / commands to be passed and the like) Format conversion and the like, and notifies the control unit 111 of post-processing type information recorded in the rewritable area 134 of the storage area 132 when the image forming apparatus main body 11 is activated.

  The storage area 132 is provided with a fixed area 133 and a rewritable area 134, and fixed information used for processing of the control unit 131 is recorded in the fixed area 133. In the rewritable area 134, information on the post-processing type (single sheet processing, bundle processing, both, etc.) of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is recorded by a service person or the like when connected to the third vendor peripheral device 14.

  Since printing applications in the image forming apparatus main body 11 are diverse, such as copying, document boxes, printers, utilities, and SDK applications, passing the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 from the application has an effect on software changes. It's not a good way to think. Since single-sheet processing or bundle processing is determined by the characteristics of the connected third-vendor peripheral device 14, post-processing type information is notified in advance from the third-vendor peripheral device 14 to the controller of the image forming apparatus main body 11. preferable. However, unlike the internal work peripheral device 12, the third vendor peripheral device 14 often cannot be controlled from the image forming apparatus main body 11 side (for example, the third vendor peripheral device 14 has a power supply different from that of the image forming apparatus main body 11). There are many models that exist independently), and it is also difficult to have the third-party peripheral device 14 notify its own post-processing type information. Therefore, the interface box 13 located between the third vendor peripheral device 14 and the in-house peripheral device 12 or the image forming apparatus main body 11 is assigned this responsibility. The interface box 13 is provided with a rewritable area 134 so that post-processing type information determined by the connected third vendor peripheral device 14 can be rewritten.

  The third vendor peripheral device 14 includes a control unit 141. The control unit 141 communicates with the control unit 131 of the interface box 13 and controls processing in the third vendor peripheral device 14.

<Operation>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the above-described embodiment, and mainly shows processing of the control unit 111 in the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  In FIG. 8, when the image forming apparatus main body 11 is activated by power-on or the like (step S101), the control unit 131 of the interface box 13 sends information on the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 from the rewritable area 134 to the image forming apparatus main body. 11, the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 reads post-processing type information (step S <b> 102).

  Next, when receiving a print start instruction from the user (step S103), the control unit 111 branches the process according to the post-processing type of the connected third vendor peripheral device 14 (step S104).

  When the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is single-sheet processing (single-sheet processing in step S104), the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 issues a print command for one transfer sheet (step S105). ) A post-processing command for one transfer sheet is issued (step S106), and it is determined whether the last page is completed (step S107). If the final page has not been completed (No in step S107), the process is repeated from the issue of the print command for one transfer sheet (step S105). If the last page has been completed (Yes in step S107), it is determined whether the last page has been completed (step S108). If the final part has not been completed (No in step S108), the process is repeated from the issue of the print command for one transfer sheet (step S105). When the process is completed up to the final part (Yes in step S108), the process ends. That is, when the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is single-sheet processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and repeated until the final part is completed. .

  When the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is bundle processing (bundle processing in step S104), the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 issues a print command for one transfer sheet (step S109). It is determined whether or not the process has been completed up to the final page (step S110). If the final page has not been completed (No in step S110), the process is repeated from the issue of the print command for one transfer sheet (step S109). When the last page is completed (Yes in step S110), a post-processing command for one bundle of transfer sheets is issued (step S111), and it is determined whether the final page is completed (step S112). If the final part has not been completed (No in step S112), the process is repeated from the issue of the print command for one transfer sheet (step S109). When the process is completed up to the final part (Yes in step S112), the process is terminated. That is, when the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is bundle processing, the print command for one sheet is repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the post-processing command for one bundle is completed after the completion of the final page. Is repeated until the final part is completed.

  When the post-processing types of the third vendor peripheral device 14 are both single-sheet processing and bundle processing (both in step S104), the control unit 111 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 issues a print command for one transfer sheet. (Step S113), a post-processing command for one transfer sheet is issued (Step S114), and it is determined whether or not the final page is completed (Step S115). If the final page has not been completed (No in step S115), the process is repeated from the issue of the print command for one transfer sheet (step S113). When the last page is completed (Yes in step S115), a post-processing command for one bundle of transfer sheets is issued (step S116), and it is determined whether the final page is completed (step S117). If the final part has not been completed (No in step S117), the process is repeated from the issuance of a print command for one transfer sheet (step S113). When the process is completed up to the final part (Yes in step S117), the process ends. That is, when the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device 14 is both single-sheet processing and bundle processing, the print command and post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the final page After completing the above, issue a post-processing command for one bundle and repeat until the final part is completed.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to cope without changing the software design regardless of the post-processing type of the third vendor peripheral device connected inline.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can. In other words, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the details of the specific examples and the accompanying drawings.

<Correspondence between Terms in Embodiment and Terms in Claims>
The rewritable area 134 is an example of a “storage area”. The control unit 131 is an example of “notification means”. The control unit 111 is an example of “issuing means”.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Image forming apparatus main body 111 Control part 112 Application part 12 Internal work peripheral device 121 Control part 13 Interface box 131 Control part 132 Storage area 133 Fixed area 134 Rewritable area 14 Third-vendor peripheral machine 141 Control part

JP 2012-238188 A JP 2014-35380 A

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus having an image forming apparatus main body, and an interface box inserted on a connection path between the image forming apparatus main body and a peripheral device,
The interface box is
A serial憶領region type of information of the post-processing is Ru is recorded to be executed by said peripheral device,
And notifying means for notifying the type of information of the post recorded before Kiki憶領zone at the start of the image forming apparatus main body prior Symbol image forming apparatus main body
With
The image forming apparatus main body includes:
Based on the notified type information of the post-processing, issuing means to issue at least one of the print commands and after beauty treatment command
Equipped with a,
The issuing means includes:
When the post-processing type information indicates single-sheet processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed,
When the post-processing type information indicates bundle processing, the print command for one sheet is repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the post-processing command for one bundle is issued after completion of the final page. ,
When the post-processing type information indicates both single-sheet processing and bundle processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the final page is completed. An image forming apparatus which issues the post-processing command for one bundle later . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
An image forming apparatus comprising an in-house peripheral device inserted on a connection path between the image forming apparatus main body and the interface box. A computer constituting the image forming apparatus;
Recorded in the serial憶領area provided in the inserted interface box on the connection path between the image forming apparatus main body and the peripheral equipment, the type of information of the post-processing to be executed by said peripheral device, said image forming apparatus during startup of the body, and notifying means for notifying the image forming apparatus main body from the interface box,
Based on the notified type information of the post, to function as issuing means for issuing at least one of the print commands and after beauty treatment command in the image forming apparatus main body,
The issuing means includes:
When the post-processing type information indicates single-sheet processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed,
When the post-processing type information indicates bundle processing, the print command for one sheet is repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the post-processing command for one bundle is issued after completion of the final page. ,
When the post-processing type information indicates both single-sheet processing and bundle processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the final page is completed. An image forming program that issues the post-processing command for one bundle later . A method executed by a computer constituting an image forming apparatus,
Recorded in the serial憶領area provided in the inserted interface box on the connection path between the image forming apparatus main body and the peripheral equipment, the type of information of the post-processing to be executed by said peripheral device, said image forming apparatus A notification step of notifying the image forming apparatus main body from the interface box when the main body is activated;
Based on the notified type information of the post, and a issuing step of issuing at least one of the print commands and after beauty treatment command in the image forming apparatus main body,
In the issuing step,
When the post-processing type information indicates single-sheet processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed,
When the post-processing type information indicates bundle processing, the print command for one sheet is repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the post-processing command for one bundle is issued after completion of the final page. ,
When the post-processing type information indicates both single-sheet processing and bundle processing, the print command and the post-processing command for one sheet are repeatedly issued until the final page is completed, and the final page is completed. An image forming method , wherein the post-processing command for one bundle is issued later .