JP6958280B2 - Image formation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming system.

Conventionally, there has been known an image forming system in which a paper processing device is connected to an image forming device so that paper processing such as saddle stitching can be performed online on the paper on which an image is formed.
In recent years, in such an image forming system, paper other than standard paper, for example, paper having a longer length in the transport direction than standard paper (long paper), paper having a high surface smoothness (coated paper), etc. There is an increasing demand for image formation.

However, in the image forming system as described above, since the transport path until the image-formed paper is discharged is longer than that in the case of the image forming apparatus alone, problems such as jam may occur. In particular, long paper and coated paper have a remarkable tendency as compared with standard paper.
For example, in the case of long paper, since the number of transport rollers that nip the long paper during transport increases, tension and slack are likely to occur between the transport rollers due to setting errors of each transport roller, and jams are likely to occur. Become. Further, when long paper is straddled over a plurality of devices, it takes time to perform jam processing such as cutting the paper, and productivity is lowered.
Further, in the case of coated paper, the coated paper tends to stick to the guide plate due to the electrostatic attraction due to friction with the guide plate forming the transport path, so that the longer the transport path, the more likely the jam is to occur.

As one of the countermeasures against such a problem, when a jam occurs in the image forming system, a technology that saves the trouble of removing the paper by purging and discharging the paper to the paper discharge tray of the paper processing device near the place where the jam occurs. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-343661

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 reduces the time and effort required for jam processing, and although it enables the processing after the occurrence of jam to be performed quickly, it does not suppress the occurrence of jam itself.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is to suppress the occurrence of jam in an image forming system in which a paper processing device is connected to an image forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming system of the present invention
In an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a paper processing apparatus for transporting or processing paper formed by the image forming apparatus.
Multiple output trays for placing ejected paper, and
An extraction means for extracting a paper output tray capable of ejecting paper from the plurality of output trays based on the paper information related to the paper and the tray information related to the output tray.
From the output trays extracted by the extraction means, a selection means for selecting one output tray for ejecting paper so that the paper transport distance is the shortest, and
Equipped with a,
The selection means is characterized in that, when a plurality of output trays capable of ejecting paper are extracted by the extraction means, the most upstream output tray is selected as the one output tray .

According to the present invention, in an image forming system in which a paper processing device is connected to an image forming apparatus, the occurrence of jam can be suppressed.

It is a schematic block diagram of an image formation system. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the paper processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the output tray selection process. It is a schematic block diagram of the image formation system of another aspect.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

[Configuration of image formation system]
First, the configuration of the image forming system 10 in the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming system 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 10 includes an image forming device 20 and a paper processing device 30.

The image forming apparatus 20 is an apparatus for forming an image on the paper P.
As the paper P, the image forming apparatus 20 includes not only standard size standard paper, but also paper (long paper) having a length in the transport direction of the paper or more, and paper surface smoothness having a predetermined value. Image formation can also be performed on the above-mentioned paper (coated paper).
The standard paper is stored in the paper feed trays T1 and T2 for each predetermined paper type and size, and is supplied to the image forming unit 25. For example, long paper or coated paper may be fed into the device from a manual feed tray, a paper feed device, or the like (both not shown) externally connected to the image forming device 20 and supplied to the image forming unit 25. can.

The paper processing apparatus 30 is configured to include one or a plurality of paper processing units, and the paper P image-formed by the image forming apparatus 20 is subjected to folding processing, punching processing, binding processing, and cutting processing, if necessary. Etc. are processed.
The type and number of paper processing units constituting the paper processing apparatus 30 are not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper processing apparatus 30 includes the paper processing units 30A, 30B, 30C, and the like. It is configured to include 30D, 30E, and 30F.

Further, the paper processing device 30 is equipped with at least one of two types of paper ejection trays (paper ejection tray A and paper ejection tray B). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two output trays A and one output tray B are mounted. The paper ejection trays A are the paper ejection trays A1, A2 ... In order from the upstream side with respect to the paper P conveying direction, and the paper ejection tray B is the paper ejection trays in order from the upstream side. Let it be B1, B2 ... Here, since there is only one output tray B, there is only one output tray B1.

The output tray A (first output tray) is a tray capable of ejecting paper P such as long paper, coated paper, and standard paper.
This paper ejection tray A has a longer length in the paper ejection direction than the paper ejection tray B. For example, even if the paper P has a length of about 1000 mm in the paper ejection direction, the paper ejection tray A can be placed on it. Is.
Further, ribs are formed on the surface of the paper ejection tray A to reduce the contact area with the ejected paper P to reduce friction when the paper P is placed. ..
Further, it is preferable that the paper ejection tray A is mounted so as to extend in the space above the paper processing unit in the subsequent stage. This is to prevent the overall length of the image forming system 10 from becoming unnecessarily long.

The output tray B (second output tray) is a tray capable of ejecting paper P other than long paper, such as coated paper and standard paper.
The output tray B is a general-sized output tray designed according to the length of standard paper in the paper ejection direction.

Both the output tray A and the output tray B are removable from the predetermined unit of the paper processing device 30.
The predetermined unit is a unit having a mounting mechanism 36 for mounting the output tray A or the output tray B. The mounting mechanism (second detection unit) 36 includes a sensor that detects when the paper ejection tray A or the paper ejection tray B is mounted, and the output signal of the sensor is provided by the paper ejection tray A and the paper ejection tray B. By making it different, it is possible to identify which of the output tray A and the output tray B is attached.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper discharge trays A (paper discharge trays A1 and A2) are mounted on the paper processing units 30B and 30E, and the paper discharge tray B (discharge) is mounted on the paper processing unit 30F. A paper tray B1) is attached.

[Configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 20 includes, for example, a control unit (extracting means, selecting means) 21, an operating unit 22, a display unit 23, an image reading unit 24, an image forming unit 25, a conveying unit 26, and a communication unit. 27, a storage unit 28, a detection unit 29, and the like are provided.

The control unit 21 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU reads various processing programs stored in the ROM, develops them in the RAM, and centrally controls the operation of each part of the image forming apparatus 20 according to the expanded programs.

The operation unit 22 includes a touch panel formed so as to cover the display screen of the display unit 23, various operation buttons such as a number button and a start button, and outputs an operation signal based on the user's operation to the control unit 21.

The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various screens according to instructions of display signals input from the control unit 21.

The image reading unit 24 includes an ADF (automatic document feeding device), a scanner, and the like, and outputs the image data obtained by reading the image of the document to the control unit 21.

The image forming unit 25 forms an image on the paper P based on the image data read by the image reading unit 24 or the image data received from the external device.
The image forming unit 25 has, for example, a known configuration for forming an image on the paper P by an electrophotographic method in which a rotating photoconductor is sequentially charged, exposed, developed, transferred, and cleaned. The method is not limited to the electrophotographic method.

The transport unit 26 includes a transport roller for transporting the paper P, and transports the paper P in the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, the transport unit 26 transports the paper P fed from the paper feed trays T1 and T2, the manual feed tray, and the like to the image forming unit 25, and processes the paper P image-formed by the image forming unit 25. Transport to device 30.

The communication unit 27 is an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device such as a paper processing device 30 connected via a network. The communication unit 27 transmits job information to the paper processing device 30 under the control of the control unit 21.

The storage unit 28 is composed of a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like, and stores various data. For example, job information is stored in the storage unit 28. The job information is information for instructing image formation input to the image forming apparatus 20. The job information includes setting information such as page-by-page data including image data, image formation conditions for each image data, and paper processing conditions.

The detection unit 29 includes, for example, a media sensor, and optically detects the surface roughness of the paper P and the length in the transport direction.

[Paper processing device configuration]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the paper processing apparatus 30.
As shown in FIG. 3, the paper processing device 30 includes a paper processing device control unit 31, a paper processing unit 32, a transport unit 33, a communication unit 34, a storage unit 35, and the like.

The paper processing device control unit 31 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU reads various processing programs stored in the ROM, develops them in the RAM, and centrally controls the operation of each part of the paper processing apparatus 30 according to the expanded programs.

The paper processing unit 32 performs paper processing such as folding processing, punching processing, binding processing, and cutting processing on the paper P in each paper processing unit.

The transport unit 33 includes a transport roller for transporting the paper P, and transports the paper P in the paper processing device 30.

The communication unit 34 is an interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device such as an image forming device 20 connected via a network.

The storage unit 35 is composed of a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like, and stores various data.

[Operation of image formation system]
Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

In the image forming system 10 of the present invention, after performing an image forming process on the paper P, a paper ejection tray selection process for selecting a paper ejection tray for ejecting the paper P according to the type of the paper P is performed. Will be executed.
In this paper ejection tray selection process, the paper ejection tray for ejecting the paper P is selected so that the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the output tray selection process.
For example, the control unit 21 starts the paper ejection tray selection process triggered by the completion of the image forming process in the image forming apparatus 20.
In the image forming system 10, as an initial setting, the paper P is ejected to the paper ejection tray (the output tray B1 in FIG. 1) located at the most downstream in the transport direction of the paper P of the image forming system 10. It is assumed that it is set. This initial setting can be arbitrarily changed according to the user operation.

First, the control unit 21 acquires tray information of all the output trays mounted on the paper processing device 30 (step S1).
Specifically, the control unit 21 sets the mounting positions of all the output trays including the output tray A and the output tray B, the number of each of the output tray A and the output tray B, the output tray A and the output paper. Information on the length of each tray B in the paper ejection direction is acquired as tray information.
The mounting position of each output tray can be obtained from the output position of the output signal of the sensor of the mounting mechanism 36 provided in the paper processing units 30A to 30F and the like.
Further, the number of each of the output tray A and the output tray B can be obtained from the number of output signals indicating each of the output tray A and the output tray B.
Information on the lengths of the output tray A and the output tray B in the paper ejection direction is preset and stored.

Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the paper P is a long paper (step S2).
Specifically, the control unit 21 acquires information on the length of the paper P in the transport direction as paper information from the detection signal of the detection unit 29, and the paper P has a length of the paper P having a length in the transport direction of a predetermined value or more. Determine if it is a scale paper.

Then, when it is determined that the paper P is a long paper (step S2: Yes), the control unit 21 is a paper discharge tray (paper discharge tray) on which the long paper can be placed among all the mounted paper discharge trays. A) is extracted (step S3), and the most upstream side of the extracted output trays A is selected as the tray on which the paper P is ejected (step S4).
For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the output tray A1 is selected.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the paper P is not a long paper (step S2: No), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the paper P is coated paper (step S5).
Specifically, the control unit 21 acquires information on the surface smoothness of the paper P as paper information from the detection signal of the detection unit 29, and the paper P is a coated paper having a surface smoothness of a predetermined value or more. Judge whether or not.

Then, when it is determined that the paper P is the coated paper (step S5: Yes), the control unit 21 discharges the coated paper out of all the mounted paper ejection trays (discharging). Paper tray A and paper ejection tray B) are extracted (step S6), and the most upstream output paper tray among the extracted paper ejection tray A and paper ejection tray B is selected as the tray for ejecting the paper P. (Step S7).
For example, in the example of FIG. 1, the output tray A1 is selected.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the paper P is not coated paper (step S5: No), the control unit 21 selects a tray to eject the paper P according to the setting (step S8), and ends this process.
For example, if there is no change in the initial setting, the output tray B1 provided at the most downstream in the paper transport direction of the image forming system 10 will be selected.

In this way, in the paper ejection tray selection process, the paper ejection tray for ejecting the paper P can be selected so that the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest. Then, since the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest, the possibility of jam occurrence can be reduced.
That is, in the case of long paper, the possibility of tension or slack between the conveying rollers can be reduced, so that the possibility of jam occurrence can be reduced.
Further, in the case of coated paper, the possibility of the coated paper sticking to the guide plate can be reduced due to the electrostatic attraction due to friction with the guide plate forming the transport path, so that the possibility of jam occurrence is reduced. can do. Further, by reducing the chance that the coated paper comes into contact with the guide plate, it is possible to prevent the image forming portion from being scratched.

Here, an image forming system 10 of another aspect will be illustrated.
For example, in FIG. 5A, the paper processing device 30 is configured to include the paper processing units 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D, and the paper processing unit 30B is equipped with the paper ejection tray A (paper ejection tray A1). This is an image forming system 10 in which a paper ejection tray B (paper ejection tray B1) is mounted on the paper processing unit 30D.
In this case, if the paper P is long paper, the output tray A1 is extracted as a tray capable of ejecting paper, and the output tray A1 is selected as the tray on which the paper P is ejected.
If the paper P is coated paper, the output tray A1 and the output tray B1 are extracted as the ejectable trays, and the upstream output output tray A1 is selected as the tray on which the paper P is ejected. Will be done.

Further, for example, in FIG. 5B, the paper processing device 30 is configured to include the paper processing units 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, and 30F, and the paper processing unit 30E is provided with the paper ejection tray A (discharging). This is an image forming system 10 in which a paper tray A1) is mounted and a paper ejection tray B (paper ejection trays B1 and B2) is mounted on the paper processing units 30B and 30F.
In this case, if the paper P is long paper, the output tray A1 is extracted as a tray capable of ejecting paper, and the output tray A1 is selected as the tray on which the paper P is ejected.
If the paper P is coated paper, the output tray A1, the output tray B1 and the output tray B2 are extracted as the ejectable trays, and the paper P is ejected from the upstream output tray B1. Selected as the tray to be.

In the above description, the process of ejecting the paper P without performing the paper processing is illustrated as an example. However, when the paper processing is performed on the paper P, the paper processing unit or later that performs the designated paper processing is performed. The output tray attached to is selected.

[Technical effect of this embodiment]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming system 10 including the image forming apparatus 20 and the paper processing apparatus 30 for transporting or processing the paper P image-formed by the image forming apparatus 20. A paper ejection tray A and a paper ejection tray B on which the ejected paper P is placed are provided, and the control unit 21 performs the paper P from the paper ejection tray A and the paper ejection tray B based on the paper information and the tray information. Extract the output tray capable of ejecting the paper, and select one output tray from which the paper P is ejected from the extracted output tray.
Therefore, by extracting an output tray capable of ejecting the paper P and selecting one output tray for ejecting the paper P from the extracted output tray, the output tray is uniquely set. The paper P is not discharged, and the occurrence of jam can be suppressed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 21 selects a paper ejection tray for ejecting the paper P so that the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest.
Therefore, by shortening the transport distance of the paper P as much as possible, the possibility of jam occurrence can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the control unit 21 extracts a plurality of output trays capable of ejecting the paper P, the most upstream output tray is used as the output tray for ejecting the paper P. select.
Therefore, the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest, and the possibility of jam occurrence can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the paper information includes at least one of information on the length of the paper P in the transport direction and information on the smoothness of the surface of the paper P.
Therefore, a paper ejection tray capable of ejecting the paper P is extracted based on at least one information of the length of the paper P in the transport direction and the smoothness of the surface of the paper P.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the length of the paper P in the transport direction is equal to or more than a predetermined value, or the smoothness of the surface of the paper P is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and the paper P can be ejected. When a plurality of papers are extracted, the control unit 21 selects the most upstream output tray as the output tray for discharging the paper P.
Therefore, when forming an image on long paper or coated paper, the transport distance of the paper P is the shortest, and the possibility of jam occurrence can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of output trays are the output tray A having a relatively long length in the paper ejection direction and the ejecting tray A having a shorter length in the paper ejection direction than the paper ejection tray A. The paper tray B and the like are included, and the tray information includes information on the length in the paper ejection direction and information on the mounting position.
Therefore, the output tray according to the paper P can be selected from two different types of output trays.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the length of the paper P in the transport direction is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control unit 21 can eject the output tray A and the paper P from the plurality of output trays. Extract as an output tray.
Therefore, the long paper can be discharged to the most upstream one of the output trays A.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when the smoothness of the surface of the paper P is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the control unit 21 removes the output tray A and the output tray B from the plurality of output trays. Is extracted as a paper ejection tray that can be ejected.
Therefore, the coated paper can be discharged to the most upstream of the output tray A and the output tray B.

Further, according to the present embodiment, a detection unit 29 for detecting paper information is provided.
Therefore, the paper information can be detected for the paper P to be conveyed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the discharge tray is detachably mounted on the paper processing device 30, and the paper processing device 30 includes a mounting mechanism 36 for detecting the attached / detached state of the paper processing tray.
Therefore, the attachment / detachment of the discharge tray can be automatically recognized.

The paper processing device 30 includes a plurality of paper processing units 30A to 30F, and the ejection tray is arranged so as to extend to the space above the paper processing unit in the subsequent stage of the paper processing unit equipped with the ejection tray. ..
As a result, it is possible to prevent the image forming system 10 from becoming large.

The embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the detection unit 29 acquires the paper information (whether or not it is a long paper or coated paper), but the type of paper P selected by the user in advance by the operation unit 22. And paper information (whether or not it is a long paper or coated paper) may be acquired according to the length in the transport direction.

10 Image forming system 20 Image forming device 21 Control unit (extraction means, selection means)
22 Operation unit 23 Display unit 24 Image reading unit 25 Image forming unit 26 Conveying unit 27 Communication unit 28 Storage unit 29 Detection unit T1, T2 Paper tray 30 Paper processing device 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F Paper processing unit 31 Paper processing device control unit 32 Paper processing unit 33 Transport unit 34 Communication unit 35 Storage unit 36 Mounting mechanism (second detection unit)
A, A1 output tray (first output tray)
B, B1, B2 output tray (second output tray)
P paper

Claims (10)

In an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a paper processing apparatus for transporting or processing paper formed by the image forming apparatus.
Multiple output trays for placing ejected paper, and
An extraction means for extracting a paper output tray capable of ejecting paper from the plurality of output trays based on the paper information related to the paper and the tray information related to the output tray.
From the output trays extracted by the extraction means, a selection means for selecting one output tray for ejecting paper so that the paper transport distance is the shortest, and
Equipped with a,
Said selecting means, if the paper discharge can discharge tray the sheet by the extraction means is a plurality extracted, the most upstream side of the discharge tray, the image which is characterized that you selected as the one of the paper discharge tray Formation system. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the paper information includes at least one of information on the length of the paper in the transport direction and information on the smoothness of the surface of the paper. When the length of the paper in the transport direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined value or the smoothness of the surface of the paper is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the extraction means extracts an output tray capable of ejecting paper from the plurality of output trays. death,
The selection means is characterized in that, when a plurality of output trays capable of ejecting paper are extracted by the extraction means, the most upstream output tray is selected as the one output tray. 2. The image forming system according to 2. In an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a paper processing apparatus for transporting or processing paper formed by the image forming apparatus.
Multiple output trays for placing ejected paper, and
An extraction means for extracting a paper output tray capable of ejecting paper from the plurality of output trays based on the paper information related to the paper and the tray information related to the output tray.
From the output trays extracted by the extraction means, a selection means for selecting one output tray for ejecting paper so that the paper transport distance is the shortest, and
With
The paper information includes at least one of information on the length of the paper in the transport direction and information on the smoothness of the surface of the paper.
When the length of the paper in the transport direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined value or the smoothness of the surface of the paper is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the extraction means extracts an output tray capable of ejecting paper from the plurality of output trays. death,
The image forming means is characterized in that, when a plurality of output trays capable of ejecting paper are extracted by the extraction means, the most upstream output tray is selected as the one output tray. system. The plurality of paper ejection trays include a first paper ejection tray having a relatively long length in the paper ejection direction and a second paper ejection tray having a length in the paper ejection direction shorter than that of the first paper ejection tray. Including trays,
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tray information includes information on the length in the paper ejection direction and information on the mounting position. When the length of the paper in the transport direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the extraction means extracts the first output tray from the plurality of output trays as an output tray capable of ejecting paper. The image forming system according to claim 5. When the smoothness of the surface of the paper is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the extraction means can eject the paper from the plurality of output trays to the first output tray and the second output tray. The image forming system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the image is extracted as a paper output tray. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a detection unit that detects the paper information. The plurality of output trays are detachably attached to the paper processing device, and the plurality of output trays are detachably attached to the paper processing device.
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the paper processing device includes a second detection unit that detects a detached state of the output tray. The paper processing apparatus includes a plurality of paper processing units.
Any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the output tray is arranged so as to extend in the space above the paper processing unit in the subsequent stage of the paper processing unit to which the output tray is mounted. The image forming system described in.

Images