JP2005119805A - Sheet processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A high-productivity sheet processing system is provided by executing a plurality of jobs in parallel.
A sheet on which an image is formed by a printer apparatus 300 is used by using a conveyance horizontal path 612 provided in an inserter apparatus 600 serving as a main sheet conveyance path and a conveyance horizontal path 502 provided in a sheet stacking apparatus 500. , One job that is conveyed to the finisher device 700 and output after binding and binding a plurality of pages by the finisher device 700, and a special sheet (for example, color copy) stored in the inserter device 600 are sub-sheet conveyance paths Are conveyed to the sheet stacking device 500 using the transport horizontal second path 646 provided in the inserter device 600 and the transport vertical path 542 provided in the sheet stacking device 500, and the sheet stacking unit 530 of the sheet stacking device 500 is used. Execute in parallel with other jobs to be loaded.
[Selection] Figure 10

Description

  The present invention includes, for example, an image forming function for forming an image on a sheet, an insert function for inserting a cover, a tab, or the like without forming an image on the sheet, and a buffer function for re-outputting after the output sheet is temporarily waited A sheet on which a bookbinding or an image is formed by arbitrarily combining a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses having functions such as a sheet supply function for supplying sheets to other sheet processing apparatuses and a stapling function for aligning and bundling sheets The present invention relates to a sheet processing system that can execute a plurality of jobs such as stacking sheets in parallel.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a sheet such as a copying machine, a sheet stacking apparatus that temporarily places the sheet, a cover or a tab on the first page or intermediate page of the sheet without image formation on the sheet Inserter device for inserting special paper and finisher device for aligning and bundling a large number of sheets are connected in series, and printing processing, which is image forming processing, to special paper insertion processing, folding processing, binding processing such as binding processing, etc. A sheet processing system that can perform all of the above is provided.

  This type of conventional sheet processing system is shown in FIG.

  That is, the conventional sheet processing system includes an image forming apparatus 30 at the right end in the drawing, and a sheet stacking apparatus that temporarily places a sheet that is disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus 30 and on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 30. 50 and an inserter for inserting special paper (for example, color copy paper) such as a cover or a tab into the first page or intermediate page of the sheet that is arranged adjacent to the sheet stacking device 50 and output from the image forming device 30 A finisher device 70 that is arranged adjacent to the inserter device 60 and has a function of aligning and bundling a large number of sheets output from the image forming device 30 and the inserter device 60, a punching function, and the like. And a common path 90 (shaded portion in the figure) penetrating the apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a sheet processing system, for example, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 30 is combined with a special sheet such as a cover sheet or a tab sheet inserted from the inserter apparatus 60. Then, one job is executed with one unit of sheet processing work until the finisher device 70 aligns, staples and binds.

JP 2003-89473 A

  However, the conventional sheet processing system cannot execute other jobs while one job is being executed until the other job is completed, and can execute other jobs in parallel. I couldn't.

  That is, for example, while the image forming apparatus 30 and the sheet stacking apparatus 50 are combined to execute a sheet placement job, the inserter apparatus 60 and the finisher apparatus 70 are operated to perform other jobs such as bookbinding in parallel. Could not be executed. Accordingly, the functions of the respective apparatuses cannot be fully exhibited, the use efficiency of the entire sheet processing system is lowered, and the productivity of the sheet processing system is lowered.

  The present invention solves the problems of the above-described conventional sheet processing system, and executes a job in parallel without waiting for the end of the preceding one job, thereby providing a highly productive sheet processing system. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sheet processing system including a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses having a sheet processing function, and executing a plurality of jobs in parallel by the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. A main sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet output from one of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses to another sheet processing apparatus, and a sub-sheet for conveying the sheet independently of the main sheet conveyance path A sheet conveyance path, wherein one job of a plurality of jobs is executed using the main sheet conveyance path, and another job is executed using the sub sheet conveyance path. And

  The main sheet conveyance path is not limited to the one that communicates only from the main sheet conveyance path to the sheet processing apparatus arranged at the most upstream in the sheet conveyance direction to the sheet processing apparatus arranged at the most downstream. It may start in the middle of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses provided, or may end in the middle. Further, the sub-sheet conveyance path and the main sheet conveyance path complement each other, and the sub-sheet conveyance path and the main sheet conveyance path are configured to communicate from the most upstream sheet processing apparatus to the most downstream sheet processing apparatus. good.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the main sheet conveyance path communicates from a sheet processing apparatus disposed at the uppermost stream in the sheet conveyance direction to a sheet processing apparatus disposed at the most downstream position. The sheet conveyance path is for conveying a sheet from one sheet processing apparatus to another adjacent sheet processing apparatus.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, in the sheet processing apparatus disposed on the most downstream side in the sheet output direction, the main sheet conveyance path and the sub sheet conveyance path are merged.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes: a main sheet conveying unit provided in the main sheet conveying path; and a sub sheet conveying unit provided in the sub sheet conveying path, the main sheet conveying unit and the sub sheet conveying The means is independent.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first sheet processing module used when executing one of a plurality of jobs and the second sheet processing used when executing another job. A first cover member that covers the first sheet processing module in a releasable manner; and a second cover member that covers the second sheet processing module in a releasable manner. And the second cover member are independent so as to enable maintenance of the first sheet processing module and the second sheet processing module independently.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus has at least one of a partition wall that separates the first sheet processing module from other parts and a partition wall that separates the second sheet processing module from other parts. .

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, it is characterized by having a partition wall that separates a sheet processing apparatus that executes one of a plurality of jobs from a sheet processing apparatus that executes other jobs.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet output apparatus that outputs a sheet or a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet output from the sheet output apparatus. .

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sheet output device includes: an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet and outputs the image; an inserter device that outputs an image without forming an image on the sheet; And a sheet supply device for supplying the sheet to another sheet processing apparatus.

  According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the post-processing device includes a punching device that punches a sheet, a binding device that binds the sheets, a storage device that stores the sheets, an alignment device that aligns the sheets, and a folding device that folds the sheets. An apparatus or a bookbinding apparatus for binding sheets.

  As described above, according to the sheet processing system of the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly productive sheet processing system by executing a plurality of jobs in parallel.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.

  [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a sheet processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment is configured by connecting the image forming apparatus 10, the inserter apparatus 600, the sheet stacking apparatus 500, and the finisher apparatus 700 having different sheet processing functions in series in the order shown here. .

[Image forming apparatus 10]
The image forming apparatus 10 reads a document and outputs a sheet subjected to image formation. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a printer device 300, an image reader 200 that is mounted on the printer device 300 and reads a document image, and an image reader. The document feeder 100 is placed on the upper surface of the image reader 200 so as to be freely opened and closed, and the operation display device 400 is provided on the upper part of the image reader 200.

  The document feeder 100 separates a plurality of documents set upward on a document tray one by one in order from the first page, and conveys the document to a document image reading position of the image reader 200 through a curved path. Then, the image reader 200 is caused to perform the flow reading. Thereafter, the document is discharged to a discharge tray 112 provided at the right end of the document feeder 100.

  The image reader 200 reads a document, has a platen glass 102 on the upper surface, and is transported from the document feeder 100 to a document image reading position on the platen glass 102 below the platen glass 102. A scanner unit 104 that reads an image of a document to be read.

Here, when the original passes through the original image reading position on the platen glass 102, the original reading surface is irradiated with light from a lamp 103 provided in the scanner unit 104, and the original is read from the original. The reflected light is sequentially guided to the image sensor 109 by the mirror 105 provided in the scanner unit 104 and the mirrors 106 and 107 provided in the image reader 200, and converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 109 and read. is there. Accordingly, by conveying the original from the left to the right in the drawing at the original image reading position on the platen glass 102, the original image is one line in the main scanning direction with the direction orthogonal to the original conveying direction as the main scanning direction. While reading by the image sensor 109 every time, the document transport direction is set as the sub-scanning direction, and the document image is sequentially read by the image sensor 109 in the sub-scanning direction to read the entire document image.

  The image data output from the image sensor 109 is input to the printer 300 as a video signal after being subjected to predetermined image processing.

  The printer device 300 forms an image on a sheet based on image data of a document read by the image reader 200, and receives a video signal based on the image data output from the image sensor 109. An exposure control unit 110 that modulates and outputs a laser beam based on the video signal, a photosensitive drum 111 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a laser beam output from the exposure control unit 110 while scanning the photosensitive drum 111. The cassettes 114 and 115, the manual sheet feeding unit 125, and the double-sided conveyance path 124, which are sheet supply devices for feeding sheets to the polygon mirror 110a to be irradiated and the transfer unit 116 disposed below the photosensitive drum 111, A fixing unit 117 that fixes the sheet on which the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is transferred by the transfer unit 116. Discharge roller pair 118 for discharging the sheet having passed the fixing unit 117 to the outside of the printer 300, and a.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing internal configurations of the inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700 of the sheet processing system according to the first embodiment.

[Inserter 600]
For example, the inserter device 600 feeds separately printed special paper (for example, color copy paper) without performing image formation on the sheet, or the first page or intermediate page of the sheet output from the printer device 300. A special sheet such as a cover or a tab is inserted into the sheet, and as shown in FIG. 2, as illustrated in FIG. The paper is stored in a path 612, transport roller pairs 602, 603 and 604 provided in the transport horizontal path 612, sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632 for storing special paper such as a cover and a tab, and the sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632. Transport horizontal second pass 6 which is a sub sheet transport means for transporting the special paper to the adjacent sheet stacking device 500 6, a feed roller pair 643, 644 and 645 provided in the transport horizontal second pass 646, a paper feed separating unit 636 for transporting special paper stored in the sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632 to the transport horizontal second pass 646, 637 and 638, a special paper fed from the sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632, a conveyance vertical path 611 for guiding the special paper to the conveyance horizontal second path 646, and conveyance roller pairs 640, 641 and 642 provided in the conveyance vertical path 611. I have.

  Such an inserter apparatus 600 stores separately printed special paper in the sheet storage units 630, 631, and 632, and is output from the printer apparatus 300 to the sheet stacking apparatus 500 or the finisher apparatus 700 via the conveyance horizontal path 612. A special sheet such as a cover sheet or a tab sheet is fed to the sheet from the sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632 via the conveyance horizontal second path 646 at a predetermined timing, and the sheet is fed from the printer 300 as desired. The special paper can be inserted into the sheet output to the stacking device 500 or the finisher device 700.

[Sheet stacking device 500]
The sheet stacking device 500 is a buffer device that temporarily outputs a sheet output from another sheet output device, for example, the printer device 300 or the inserter device 600, and then re-outputs it, as shown in FIG. A conveyance horizontal path 502 that is a main sheet conveyance path for guiding a sheet discharged from the apparatus 300 to the finisher apparatus 700, conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, and 505 that are provided in the conveyance horizontal path 502 and convey the sheet, and an entrance of the conveyance horizontal path 502 A flapper 510 provided on the section side (inserter apparatus 600 side), a sheet stacking section 530 capable of storing sheets output from the printer apparatus 300 or the inserter apparatus 600, and a sheet stacking section 530 that stores sheets output from the printer apparatus 300. Is output from the inserter device 600. A transport vertical path 542 that transports the sheet to the sheet stacking unit 530 via a transport horizontal second path 646 provided in the inserter device 600, and transport roller pairs 547, 548, and 549 provided in the transport vertical path 542, and the inserter device 600. A transport horizontal second path 546 that is a sub-sheet transport path for transporting a sheet output from the transport horizontal second path 646 to the adjacent finisher device 700, a transport roller pair 543 provided in the transport horizontal second path 546, 544 and 545, a path selection flapper 539 that is provided on the entrance side of the transport horizontal second path 546 and the transport vertical path 542 and selectively guides the sheet to the finisher device 700.

  When the sheet stacking apparatus 500 performs stacking processing of sheets output from the printer apparatus 300, the flapper 510 is switched so as to block the passage of the sheet to the transport horizontal path 502 and is discharged from the printer apparatus 300. The sheet is led to path 520. The sheets guided to the path 520 are sequentially stacked on the sheet stacking unit 530.

  On the other hand, when the stacking process of the sheet output from the printer apparatus 300 on the sheet stacking unit 530 is not performed, the flapper 510 is switched to block the passage of the sheet to the path 520 and output from the printer apparatus 300. The sheet passes through the conveyance horizontal path 502 and is conveyed to the finisher device 700.

  Further, when the sheet stacking apparatus 500 performs the stacking process of the sheet output from the inserter apparatus 600 through the transport horizontal second pass 646, the path selection flapper 539 passes the sheet to the transport horizontal second path 546. The sheet output from the inserter device 600 is guided to the conveying vertical path 542. The sheets guided to the conveyance vertical path 542 are sequentially stacked on the sheet stacking unit 530.

  Note that when the stacking process of the sheet output from the printer apparatus 300 on the sheet stacking unit 530 and the stacking process of the sheet output from the inserter apparatus 600 are performed in parallel, a path is used. By using 520 alternately or alternately, the loading process can be performed in parallel.

  Further, when the stacking process of the sheet output from the inserter device 600 on the sheet stacking unit 530 is not performed, the path selection flapper 539 is switched so as to block the passage of the sheet to the transport vertical path 542, and the inserter device The sheet output from 600 passes through a transport horizontal second path 546 that is a path different from the transport horizontal path 502 and is transported to the finisher device 700.

  Although not shown, it is also possible to separately provide a path for transporting the sheet temporarily placed on the sheet stacking unit 530 to the finisher device 700 via the transport horizontal path 502 or the transport horizontal second path 546. In this case, it is possible to perform adjustment control of the processing capabilities of the printer device 300, the inserter device 600, and the finisher device 700.

[Finisher 700]
The finisher device 700 performs sort processing, binding processing, hole punching processing, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet output from the sheet stacking device 500 via the transport horizontal path 502 or the transport horizontal second path 546. The sheet output from the sheet stacking device 500 via the finisher path 711 and the inlet roller pair 702, the conveyance horizontal path 502 or the conveyance horizontal second path 546 for introducing the sheet is conveyed to the sample tray 721 without sorting. A switching flapper that selectively switches between a sort path 713, a non-sort path 712, and a sort path 713 for conveying a sheet output from the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to the sort processing unit via the path 712, the transport horizontal path 502, or the transport horizontal second path 546. 710, an intermediate tray 730 for performing sort processing, binding processing, and the like A stapler 720 that performs binding processing and the like on sheets stacked and aligned on the intermediate tray 730, a stack tray 722 that discharges sheets that have undergone sorting processing and binding processing on the intermediate tray 730, and the sheet stacking device 500. A conveyance vertical path 746 for guiding a sheet conveyed by the conveyance second horizontal path 546 to the inlet roller pair 702 and conveyance roller pairs 743, 744, and 745 provided in the conveyance vertical path 746 are provided.

  In such a finisher device 700, when the sort process or the like is not performed on the sheet output from the sheet stacking device 500 via the transport horizontal path 502 or the transport horizontal second path 546, the switching flapper 710 causes the sort path to pass. The sheet output from the sheet stacking apparatus 500 after being switched so as to block the passage of the sheet to 713 is guided to the non-sort path 712 and is provided in the non-sort path 712 and the pair of non-sort discharge rollers 703. And then discharged onto the sample tray 721.

  On the other hand, when a sort process or the like is performed on a sheet output from the sheet stacking apparatus 500 via the transport horizontal path 502 or the transport horizontal second path 546, the switching flapper 710 moves the sheet to the non-sort path 712. The sheets that are switched so as to be blocked from passing and output from the sheet stacking apparatus 500 are guided to the sort path 713 and stacked on the intermediate tray 730 via the sort discharge roller 704 in a bundle. The sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 730 are appropriately subjected to alignment processing, stapling processing, punching processing, and the like, and then discharged onto the stack tray 722 via the discharge roller pair 705. Note that the stack tray 722 is configured to be capable of self-propelling in the vertical direction as appropriate.

[External cover configuration]
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the configuration of the exterior covers of the printer device 300, the inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700.

  The sheet processing system of the present embodiment includes a cover member (hereinafter referred to as “cover”) that can open the inside of the printer device 300, the inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700, which are each sheet processing device. I have.

  The sheet stacking apparatus 500 includes a cover 551 that covers the transport horizontal path 502, a cover 552 that covers the sheet stacking unit 530, a cover 553 that covers the transport horizontal second path 546, a cover 554 that covers the transport vertical path 546, Is provided. The cover 551 and the cover 552 can be opened and closed independently.

  The open / closed state of the covers 551 and 552 is detected by the cover open / close detection sensors S54 and S55. The open / close state of the cover 554 is detected by the cover open / close detection sensor S56, and the open / close state of the cover 553 is detected by the cover open / close detection sensor S57.

  The covers 551, 552, 553, and 554 are opened and closed during jam processing of the sheet stacking apparatus 500 and during maintenance such as component replacement, cleaning, adjustment, and paper removal.

  The inserter device 600 includes a cover 651 that covers the horizontal conveyance path 612, a cover 652 that covers the conveyance vertical path unit 611, a cover that covers the sheet storage units 630, 631 and 632, and the sheet feeding separation units 636, 637 and 638. 653 and a cover 654 covering the transport horizontal second path 646 are provided. The covers 651, 652, 653, and 654 can be opened and closed independently. The open / closed states of the covers 651, 652, 653, and 654 are detected by the cover open / close detection sensors S64, S65, S66, and S67.

  The covers 651, 652, 653, and 654 are opened and closed during jam processing and during maintenance such as component replacement, cleaning, adjustment, and paper supply.

  The finisher device 700 includes a cover 751 that covers the finisher path 711, a cover 752 that covers the non-sort path 712, a cover 753 that covers the staple processing unit including the stapler 720, and a cover 754 that covers the transport vertical path 746. Is provided. The covers 751, 752, 753, and 754 can be opened and closed independently. The open / closed states of the covers 751, 752, 753, and 754 are detected by the cover open / close detection sensors S74, S75, S76, and S77.

  The covers 751, 752, 753, and 754 are opened and closed during jam processing and during maintenance such as component replacement, cleaning, adjustment, and paper supply.

  The printer apparatus 300 includes a cover 351 that covers a paper supply unit, a cover 352 that covers a photosensitive drum 111, a transfer unit 116, a fixing unit 117, a flapper 121, and a conveyance path for guiding paper to them, and a double-sided conveyance path. And a cover 353 covering 124. The covers 351, 352, and 353 can be opened and closed independently. Further, the open / closed states of the covers 351, 352, and 353 are detected by a cover open / close detection sensor (not shown).

  The cover 351, the cover 352, and the cover 353 are opened and closed at the time of jam processing or maintenance such as parts replacement, cleaning, adjustment, and paper supply.

[Configuration of controller]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a controller that controls the sheet processing system according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the controller includes a CPU circuit unit 150, and the CPU circuit unit 150 includes a CPU (not shown), a ROM 151, and a RAM 152.

  The CPU circuit unit 150 controls the document feeder control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the image signal control unit 202, the external interface 209, the printer control unit 301, and the operation display unit control according to a control program stored in the ROM 151. Unit 401, sheet stacking device control unit 501, inserter device control unit 601, and finisher control unit 701 are collectively controlled.

  The RAM 152 built in the CPU circuit unit 150 temporarily holds control data for controlling each control unit and the like, and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with these controls.

  The document feeder control unit 101 controls driving of the document feeder 100 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The image reader control unit 201 performs drive control on the scanner unit 104, the image sensor 109, and the like, and transfers an analog image signal output from the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 202.

  The image signal control unit 202 converts each analog image signal transferred from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150, performs each process, and converts the digital signal into a video signal. The data is output to the printer control unit 301. The digital image signal input from the computer 210 via the external I / F 209 is subjected to various processes, and the digital image signal is converted into a video signal and output to the printer control unit 301. The printer control unit 301 drives the exposure control unit 110 based on the video signal input from the image signal control unit 202.

  The operation display device control unit 401 exchanges information between the operation display device 400 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 and the CPU circuit unit 150. The operation display device 400 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state of each sheet processing device, and the like. A key signal corresponding to the operation of each key provided in the operation display device 400 is output to the CPU circuit unit 150 via the operation display device control unit 401. In addition, the operation display device control unit 401 controls the operation display device 400 to display corresponding information on the display unit of the operation display device 400 based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The sheet stacking device control unit 501 is mounted on the sheet stacking device 500 and controls the drive of the sheet stacking device 500 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The inserter device control unit 601 is mounted on the inserter device 600 and controls the drive of the inserter device 600 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit 150.

  The finisher control unit 701 is mounted on the finisher 700 and controls the driving of the finisher 700 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.

[Configuration of sheet stacking device control unit]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet stacking device control unit 501 that controls the driving of the sheet stacking device 500.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sheet stacking device control unit 501 includes a CPU circuit unit 560 including a CPU 561, a ROM 562, a RAM 563, and the like. The CPU circuit unit 560 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided on the image forming apparatus 10 side via the communication IC 564 to exchange data, and various kinds of data stored in the ROM 562 based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 150. The program is executed to control the driving of the sheet stacking apparatus 500. The CPU circuit 560 also detects detection signals from various path sensors S51, S52, and S53 for detecting a sheet delay or staying jam during conveyance, and detections from the cover open / close detection sensors S54, S55, S56, and S57. A signal is input.

  The CPU circuit unit 560 is connected to drivers 565, 566, 567 and 568.

  The driver 565 drives the motor M51 and the solenoid SL51 of the transport processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 560.

The driver 566 drives the motors M52 and M53 of the sheet stacking processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 560.

  The driver 567 drives the motor M54 of the transport vertical processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 560.

  The driver 568 drives the motor M55 and the solenoid SL52 of the transport horizontal second processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 560.

  Here, the conveyance processing module includes conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, and 505 provided in the sheet stacking device 500, a horizontal path conveyance motor M51 that is a drive source thereof, and a solenoid SL51 that switches the flapper 510. It is comprised by.

  The sheet stacking processing module includes a sheet stacking plate motor M52 that is a driving source of the sheet stacking plate 521 constituting the sheet stacking unit 530, and a sheet stacking and conveying motor that is a driving source of the conveying roller 527 provided in the path 520. M53.

  The transport vertical processing module includes transport roller pairs 547, 548, and 549 provided in the transport vertical path, and a vertical path transport motor M54 that is a drive source thereof.

  The transport horizontal second processing module switches the transport roller pairs 543, 544 and 545 provided in the transport horizontal second path, the horizontal path transport motor M55 which is a drive source thereof, and the path selection flapper 539. Solenoid SL52.

  When the cover 551 is detected to be in the open state by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S54, the driver 565 is turned off and the driving of the transport processing module is forcibly stopped. At the same time, the driver 566 is powered off, and the driving of the sheet stacking processing module is forcibly stopped.

  When the cover 552 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S55, only the power of the driver 566 is turned off, and only the driving of the sheet stacking processing module is forcibly stopped. .

  When the cover 554 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S56, the driver 567 is turned off and only the driving of the transport vertical processing module is forcibly stopped.

  When the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S57 detects that the cover 553 is in an open state, only the power source of the driver 568 is turned off, and the driving of the transport horizontal second processing module is forcibly stopped. The

[Configuration of paper feeding device controller]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an inserter device control unit 601 that controls driving of the inserter device 600.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inserter control unit 601 includes a CPU circuit unit 660 including a CPU 661, a ROM 662, a RAM 663, and the like. The CPU circuit unit 660 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided on the image forming apparatus 10 side via the communication IC 664 to exchange data, and various programs stored in the ROM 662 based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 150. To control the drive of the inserter device 600. Further, detection signals from the path sensors S61, S62, and S63 and detection signals from the cover open / close detection sensors S64, S65, S66, and S67 are input to the CPU circuit unit 660.

  The CPU circuit unit 660 is connected to drivers 665, 666, 667, and 668.

  The driver 665 drives the motor M61 of the horizontal conveyance processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 660.

  The driver 666 drives the motor M62 of the vertical conveyance processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 660.

  The driver 667 drives the motors M63 and M64 of the paper feed processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 660.

  The driver 668 drives the motor M65 of the transport horizontal second processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 660.

  Here, the horizontal conveyance processing module includes a conveyance roller pair 602, 603, and 604, and a horizontal path conveyance motor M61 that is a drive source thereof.

  The vertical conveyance processing module is composed of a pair of conveyance rollers 640, 641 and 642, and a sheet feed vertical path conveyance motor M62 which is a drive source thereof.

  The paper feed processing module includes a paper feed separation unit 636, 637 and 638, a paper feed separation unit motor M63 which is a drive source thereof, and a middle plate lift which is a drive source for raising and lowering the middle plates 633, 634 and 635. And a motor M64.

  The transport horizontal second processing module includes transport roller pairs 643, 644 and 645, and a horizontal second pass transport motor M65 which is a drive source thereof.

  When the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S64 detects that the cover 651 is in the open state, the driver 665 is turned off and the driving of the horizontal conveyance processing module is forcibly stopped. The power sources of the drivers 666 and 667 are turned off, and all driving of the inserter device 600 is forcibly stopped.

  When the cover 652 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S65, the driver 666 is turned off and the drive of the vertical conveyance processing module is forcibly stopped. The driver 667 is turned off, and the drive of the paper feed processing module is forcibly stopped.

  When the cover 653 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S66, the driver 667 is turned off and the drive of the paper feed processing module is forcibly stopped.

  When the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S67 detects that the cover 654 is in the open state, the driver 668 is turned off and the drive of the transport horizontal second processing module is forcibly stopped. The power of the driver 666 is also turned off, and the driving of the vertical conveyance processing module is forcibly stopped.

[Configuration of finisher control unit]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a finisher control unit 701 that drives and controls the finisher device 700.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the finisher control unit 701 includes a CPU circuit unit 760 including a CPU 761, a ROM 762, a RAM 763, and the like. The CPU circuit unit 760 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided on the image forming apparatus 10 side via the communication IC 764 to exchange data, and various programs stored in the ROM 762 based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 150. To control the driving of the finisher 700. Further, detection signals from the path sensors S71, S72, and S73 and detection signals from the cover open / close detection sensors S74, S75, S76, and S77 are input to the CPU circuit unit 760.

  The CPU circuit unit 760 is connected to drivers 765, 766, 767, 768 and 769.

  The driver 765 drives the motor M71 and solenoid SL71 of the transport processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 760.

  The driver 766 drives the motor M72 of the non-sort paper discharge processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 760.

  The driver 767 drives the motors M75 and M73 of the sort paper discharge processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 760.

  The driver 768 drives the motor M74 of the stacking processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 760.

  The driver 769 drives the motor M76 of the transport vertical path processing module based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 760.

  Here, the conveyance processing module includes an inlet roller pair 702 and a conveyance motor M71 that is a driving source thereof, and a solenoid SL71 that switches a path switching flapper 710.

  The non-sort paper discharge processing module is composed of a conveying roller pair 706 and a non-sort paper discharge roller pair 703, and a paper discharge motor M72 which is a drive source thereof.

  The sort processing module includes a sort discharge roller 704 and a sort discharge motor M75 that is a drive source thereof, and a discharge roller pair 705 and a bundle transport motor M73 that is a drive source thereof.

  The stacking processing module includes a stack tray 722 and a tray lifting / lowering motor M74 that is a driving source thereof.

  The transport vertical path processing module includes transport roller pairs 743, 744, and 745 provided in the transport vertical path 746, and a vertical path transport motor M76 that is a drive source thereof.

The transport motor M71, the non-sort paper discharge motor M72, the sort paper discharge motor M75, and the vertical path transport motor M76 are stepping motors. By controlling the excitation pulse rate, a pair of rollers driven by each motor can be rotated at a constant speed. It can be rotated at its own speed. The bundle transport motor M73 is a DC motor.

  When it is detected by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S74 that the cover 751 is in the open state, the driver 765 is turned off and the drive of the transport processing module is forcibly stopped, and at the same time The power sources 766, 767, 768 and 769 are turned off, and all driving of the finisher device 700 is forcibly stopped.

  On the other hand, when the cover 752 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S75, the driver 766 is turned off, and only the non-sort processing module is forcibly stopped.

  On the other hand, when the cover 753 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S76, the driver 767 is turned off, and only the driving of the sort processing module is forcibly stopped.

  On the other hand, when the cover 754 is detected to be open by the detection signal from the cover open / close detection sensor S77, the driver 769 is powered off and only the driving of the transport vertical path processing module is forcibly stopped.

[Description of sheet processing system operation]
Next, the operation of the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The sheet processing system according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 10 including a printer apparatus 300 that forms and outputs an image on a sheet, and a sheet output from the printer apparatus 300 included in the image forming apparatus 10. The inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700, which are post-processing devices that perform various post-processing, are arranged in series, and sheets output from the printer device 300 are arranged in the inserter device 600, Using the main sheet transport path transported to the sheet stacking device 500 and the finisher device 700, one job is executed for a job that is a sheet processing unit, and the inserter is executed without waiting for the end of the one job. From the apparatus 600 to the sheet stacking apparatus 500 and the finisher apparatus 700 It is obtained by to be able to perform other jobs in parallel with the one job using the secondary sheet conveying path for conveying the over bets.

  FIG. 8A illustrates the first job.

  The first job is a combination of the printer device 300, the inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700, and a sheet on which an image is formed by the printer device 300 is bundled by the finisher 700 and bound. This is a bookbinding job that is output after performing.

  When executing the first job, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the horizontal path transport motor M61 of the horizontal transport module to perform the transport horizontal path. A pair of conveyance rollers 602, 603, and 604 is driven.

  Further, when the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500, the flapper 510 is switched by the solenoid SL51 so as to block the passage of the sheet to the path 520 and is conveyed. The motor M51 of the processing module is operated to drive the conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, and 505.

  Further, when the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 761 provided in the finisher apparatus 700, the switching flapper 710 is switched by the solenoid SL71 so as to block the passage of the sheet to the non-sort path 712. Then, the transport motor M71, the sort paper discharge motor M75, the bundle transport motor M73, and the tray lifting motor M74 of the transport processing module are operated to drive the inlet roller pair 702, the sort discharge roller 704, the discharge roller pair 705, and the stack tray 722. .

  By controlling the sheet processing system in this way, the sheet on which the image is formed by the printer apparatus 300 passes through the conveyance horizontal path 612 of the inserter apparatus 600 and the conveyance horizontal path 502 of the sheet stacking apparatus 500, and finisher apparatus 700. Are transported and stacked on the intermediate tray 730. The sheets stacked in a bundle on the intermediate tray 730 are aligned, subjected to a binding process by the stapler 720, and discharged onto the stack tray 722. Note that the stapler 720 can appropriately select a binding process, a punching process, or the like.

  FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating the second job.

  The second job is a job for combining the printer apparatus 300, the inserter apparatus 600, and the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to stack sheets on which images have been formed by the printer apparatus 300 on the sheet stacking apparatus 500. By temporarily stacking sheets output from the printer apparatus 300 on the sheet stacking apparatus 500, it is possible to perform adjustment control of the processing capabilities of the printer apparatus 300, the inserter apparatus 600, and the finisher apparatus 700.

  When the second job is executed, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500, so that the flapper 510 uses the solenoid SL51 to transfer the sheet to the conveyance horizontal path 502. The sheet stacking plate 521 constituting the sheet stacking unit 530 and the transport roller 527 provided in the transport path 520 are operated by switching the motor M53 and the sheet stacking plate motor M52 of the sheet stacking processing module. To drive.

  In addition, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the horizontal path transport motor M61 of the horizontal transport module so that the transport roller pairs 602 and 603 in the transport horizontal path 612 and 604 is driven.

  By controlling the sheet processing system in this way, the sheet on which an image is formed by the printer apparatus 300 passes through the conveyance horizontal path 612 of the inserter apparatus 600 and is guided to the conveyance path 520 of the sheet stacking apparatus 500. The sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 530. At this time, the sheet stacking plate 521 is appropriately lowered according to the sheet stacking amount.

  FIG. 9A illustrates the third job.

  The third job is a job executed by combining the inserter device 600, the sheet stacking device 500, and the finisher device 700, and special paper (for example, color copy) stored in the inserter 600 is provided in the inserter device. The sheet is conveyed to an intermediate tray 730 provided in the finisher apparatus 700 via a conveyance second horizontal path 646, a conveyance horizontal second path 546 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500, and a conveyance vertical path 746 provided in the finisher apparatus 700. This is a bookbinding job that is output after bundling a plurality of conveyed special sheets and performing a binding process.

When the third job is executed, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to perform the sheet feeding separation unit motor M63 and the middle plate lifting / lowering of the sheet feeding processing module. The motor M64 is operated to drive the sheet feeding separation units 636, 637 and 638 and the intermediate plates 633, 634 and 635.

  In addition, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the motor M62 of the vertical conveyance processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 640, 641, and 642.

  Further, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the motor M65 of the horizontal conveyance second processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 643, 644 and 645. Further, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to operate the motor M55 of the horizontal conveyance second processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 543, 544, and 545. To do.

  Further, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 761 provided in the finisher apparatus 700 to operate the motor M76 of the transport vertical path processing module to drive the transport roller pairs 743, 744, and 745. . Further, when the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 761 provided in the finisher apparatus 700, the switching flapper 710 is switched by the solenoid SL71 so as to block the passage of the sheet to the non-sort path 712. Then, the transport motor M71, sort paper discharge motor M75, bundle transport motor M73 and tray lifting motor M74 of the transport processing module are operated to drive the inlet roller pair 702, sort discharge roller 704, discharge roller pair 705 and stack tray 722.

  By controlling the sheet processing system in this way, special paper such as a color copy fed from the inserter apparatus 600 is transported by the transport vertical path 611 and the transport horizontal second path 646 of the inserter apparatus 600 and the sheet stacking apparatus 500. The paper passes through the second horizontal path 546 and the transport vertical path 746 of the finisher device 700 and is transported and stacked on the intermediate tray 730 of the finisher device 700.

  The special sheets stacked in a bundle on the intermediate tray 730 are aligned, subjected to a binding process or the like by the stapler 720, and discharged onto the stack tray 722. The stapler 720 can select a binding process or a punching process as appropriate.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the fourth job.

  The fourth job is a combination of the inserter device 600 and the sheet stacking device 500 to transfer a special sheet (for example, color copy) stored in the inserter device 600 to the transport horizontal second pass 646 provided in the inserter device, sheet stacking. This is a job for stacking on the sheet storage unit 530 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus via the conveyance vertical path 542 provided in the apparatus 500. By temporarily stacking the sheet output from the inserter device on the sheet stacking device 500, it is possible to perform adjustment control of the processing capabilities of the printer 300, the inserter device 600, and the finisher device 700.

  When the fourth job is executed, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to supply a paper feed separation unit motor M63 of the paper feed processing module, a middle plate lifting motor. M64 is operated to drive the sheet feeding separation units 636, 637 and 638 and the middle plates 633, 634 and 635.

  In addition, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the motor M62 of the vertical conveyance processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 640, 641, and 642. Further, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 to operate the motor M65 of the horizontal conveyance second processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 643, 644 and 645.

  Further, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to operate the motor M54 of the conveyance vertical processing module to drive the conveyance roller pairs 547, 548, and 549. .

  In addition, the CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to operate the motor M53 and the sheet stacking plate motor M52 of the sheet stacking processing module to be provided in the conveyance path 520. The transport roller 527 and the sheet stacking plate 521 constituting the sheet stacking unit 530 are driven.

  By controlling the sheet processing system in this way, special paper such as a color copy fed from the inserter apparatus 600 is conveyed to the conveyance vertical path 611 and the conveyance horizontal second path 646 of the inserter apparatus 600, and to the sheet stacking apparatus 500. The sheet is guided to the vertical path 542 and stacked on the sheet stacking unit 530. At this time, the sheet stacking plate 521 is appropriately lowered according to the sheet stacking amount.

[Parallel execution of multiple jobs]
FIG. 10A illustrates the fifth job.

  The fifth job is to execute a plurality of jobs in parallel in the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment.

  The fifth job is provided in the conveyance horizontal path 612 and the sheet stacking apparatus 500 provided in the inserter apparatus 600 which is the main sheet conveyance path for the sheet on which the image is formed by the printer apparatus 300 which is the first job. Using the transport horizontal path 502, the job is transported to the finisher apparatus 700, and is output after the binding process is performed by bundling a plurality of pages by the finisher apparatus 700 and the inserter apparatus 600 as the fourth job. The special paper (for example, color copy) that has been used is transferred to the sheet using a transport horizontal second path 646 provided in the inserter device 600 serving as a sub-sheet transport path and a transport vertical path 542 provided in the sheet stacking device 500. In parallel with other jobs that are transported to the stacking device 500 and stacked on the sheet stacking unit 530 of the sheet stacking device 500 It is intended to run.

  In the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment that executes the fifth job, the main sheet conveying unit provided in the main sheet conveying path includes conveying roller pairs 602, 603, and 604 provided in the conveying horizontal path 612, and A horizontal path conveying motor M61 as a driving source thereof, a pair of conveying rollers 503, 504, and 505 provided in the conveying horizontal path 502 and a horizontal path conveying motor M51 as a driving source thereof; The sub sheet conveying means provided in the conveying path includes conveying roller pairs 643, 644 and 645 provided in the conveying horizontal second path 646, and a horizontal second path conveying motor M65 which is a drive source thereof. . In the fifth job, since the main sheet conveying unit and the sub conveying unit are independent, two jobs can be executed in parallel.

Further, the flapper 510 serving as a blocking unit provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 is switched so as to block the sheet conveyed from the printer apparatus 300 from passing to the path 520.

  For this reason, it is prevented that the sheet conveyed to the main sheet conveyance path and the sheet conveyed to the sub sheet conveyance path are mixed, and the reliability of the system is improved.

  The CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500, the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600, and the CPU 761 provided in the finisher apparatus 700 to operate each processing module. Is the same as in the first job and the fourth job.

  FIG. 10B illustrates the sixth job.

  The sixth job is to execute a plurality of jobs in parallel in the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment.

  A sixth job is a sheet stacking device that uses a transport horizontal path 612 provided in an inserter device 600 that is a main sheet transport path for a sheet on which an image is formed by the printer device 300 that is the second job. A special sheet (for example, a color copy) stored in the inserter device 600 serving as the third job is transferred to the sub-sheet transport path. The finisher device 700 is fed using a transport horizontal second pass 646 provided in the inserter device 600, a transport horizontal second pass 546 provided in the sheet stacking device 500, and a transport vertical path 764 provided in the finisher device. In parallel with other jobs that are output and output after binding and binding a plurality of pages with the finisher 700 It is intended to run Te.

  In the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment that executes the sixth job, the main sheet conveying unit provided in the main sheet conveying path includes conveying roller pairs 602, 603, and 604 provided in the conveying horizontal path 612, and The auxiliary sheet conveying means provided in the auxiliary sheet conveying path has a horizontal path conveying motor M61 as a driving source thereof, and conveying roller pairs 643, 644 and 645 provided in the conveying horizontal second path 646 and their A horizontal second pass transport motor M65 as a drive source, transport roller pairs 543, 544 and 545 provided in the transport horizontal second pass 546 and a horizontal second pass transport motor M55 as a drive source thereof; ing. In the sixth job, since the main sheet conveying unit and the sub conveying unit are independent, two jobs can be executed in parallel.

  Further, a path selection flapper 539 serving as a blocking unit provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 confirms that a sheet conveyed from the inserter apparatus 600 via the conveyance horizontal second path 646 passes to the conveyance vertical path 542. Switched to block.

  For this reason, it is prevented that the sheet conveyed to the main sheet conveying path and the sheet conveyed to the sub sheet conveying path are mixed, and the reliability of the system is improved.

  The CPU 150 provided in the image forming apparatus 10 instructs the CPU 561 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500, the CPU 661 provided in the inserter apparatus 600, and the CPU 761 provided in the finisher apparatus 700 to operate each processing module. The point is the same as in the case of the second job and the third job.

  Next, the opening / closing operation of the cover of the sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the opening / closing operation of the cover of the sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, when the cover 551 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 is opened during the execution of the fifth job, the conveyance constituting the conveyance processing module which is the first sheet processing module is performed. The horizontal path 502 and the conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, and 505 can be accessed from outside the apparatus.

  Further, when the cover 753 provided in the finisher device 700 is opened, the sort processing unit 740 including the stapler 720 constituting the stacking processing module can be pulled out of the device.

  Here, even when the cover 551 or the cover 753 is opened and closed, the sheet on which the image is formed by the inserter device 600 is stacked on the sheet stacking device 500 via the transport horizontal second path 646 that is the sub transport path. The opening / closing operation of each cover covering each sheet processing module used for the first job and the control of the execution of the first job so that the fourth job which is a job can be executed without being obstructed. The opening / closing operation of each cover that covers each sheet processing module used for the fourth job and the execution control of the fourth job are performed independently.

  Although explanation is omitted here, the opening and closing operations of these covers for the other covers covering the respective processing modules of the respective sheet processing apparatuses not used for the fourth job are the same as those described above. Even if it is performed during execution of a job, it can be performed without interfering with the fourth job.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when the cover 552 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 is opened during execution of the sixth job, the sheet stacking unit 530 constituting the sheet stacking processing module is Thus, it can be accessed from outside the device.

  When the cover 352 provided in the printer apparatus 300 is opened, the photosensitive drum 111 and the fixing unit 117 can be accessed from outside the apparatus.

  Here, even if the cover 552 or the cover 352 is opened and closed, the special paper (for example, color copy) stored in the inserter device 600 is transported to the transport horizontal second path 646 and the transport horizontal second that are sub-transport paths. The third job, which is a bookbinding job that is output after binding a plurality of pages by the finisher device 700 via the path 546 and performing binding processing, is used for the second job so that it can be executed without being interrupted. The opening / closing operation of each cover covering each processing module and the execution control of the second job and the execution control of the third job are performed independently.

  Although explanation is omitted here, the opening and closing operations of these covers for the other covers covering the processing modules of the respective sheet processing apparatuses not used for the third job are the same as those described above. Even if it is performed during execution of the job, it can be performed without interfering with the third job.

Therefore, in the sheet processing system A according to the embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses are combined to execute two jobs in parallel, each of the sheet processing apparatuses that execute one job is provided. A cover that covers the processing module and its operation control system, and a cover that covers each processing module provided in each sheet processing apparatus that executes other jobs and its operation control system are arranged in parallel with the job of each sheet processing apparatus. By providing them independently so as not to interfere with processing, even when multiple jobs are processed in parallel, even if the sheet processing device that is executing one job stops, other jobs will continue to execute. can do.

  That is, when the cover 652 of the inserter device 600 is opened during the execution of the fifth job, the cover open / close detection sensor S65 detects the open state of the cover 652, and the drivers 666, 667, and 668 are turned off.

  As a result, the vertical path transport motor M62 which is a drive source of the transport roller pair 640, 641 and 642 constituting the vertical transport processing module, and the drive source of the transport roller pair 636, 637 and 638 constituting the paper feed processing module. At the same time as the power of the feed roller separation unit motor M63 and the horizontal roller transport motor M65 which is the drive source of the transport roller pair 643, 644 and 645 constituting the transport horizontal second processing module is turned off, The power sources of the drivers 566 and 567 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 operating in combination are also turned off.

  As a result, the vertical path conveying motor M54 as a driving source of the conveying roller pair 547, 548 and 549 constituting the conveying vertical processing module and the sheet stacking conveying motor as a driving source of the conveying roller 527 constituting the sheet stacking processing module. The driving of M53 is also forcibly stopped, and the fourth job is stopped.

  However, the printer 300, the horizontal conveyance module provided in the horizontal conveyance path 612 of the inserter apparatus 600, the conveyance processing module provided in the horizontal conveyance path 502 of the sheet stacking apparatus 500, and the finisher apparatus 700 are not limited to the first job. Can be executed.

  The same applies when other covers 653, 654, 553, 554, and 552 that cover other processing modules that are not used in the first job are opened.

  Similarly, when the cover that covers the processing module used for the first job of the printer apparatus 300 or the finisher apparatus 700 is opened during the execution of the fifth job, the printer apparatus 300 and the finisher apparatus 700 have the above-described functions. The operation of the processing module used for the first job is forcibly stopped, and the first job is stopped.

  However, the operation of the processing module used for the fourth job of the inserter apparatus 600 and the sheet stacking apparatus 500 can be continued and the fourth job can be continuously executed.

  For this reason, when a plurality of jobs are processed in parallel, the sheet processing apparatus executing the one job is used for one job at the time of jam processing for reasons such as parts replacement, cleaning, or paper supply. Each cover that covers each processing module is opened, and the driving of the sheet processing apparatus is stopped only for processing modules that require maintenance in one job, and each used for other jobs. The processing module continues to be driven, and other jobs can continue to be executed.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the partition walls.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment includes a partition wall 591 that separates the sheet stacking device 500 and the finisher device 700.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment has a horizontal transport second having a sheet stacking unit 530 and a transport horizontal second processing module constituting the sheet stacking processing module of the sheet stacking apparatus 500. A partition wall 592 separating the path 546 is provided.

  Here, FIG. 12 omits the cover 552 and the internal configuration of the sheet stacking apparatus 500 in order to explain the partition walls 591 and 592.

  The partition wall 591 prevents access from the sheet stacking device 500 to the finisher device 700 or vice versa. The partition wall 592 prevents access from the sheet stacking unit 530 of the sheet stacking apparatus 500 to the horizontal conveyance second path 546 or vice versa.

  By using the partition walls 591 and 592, for example, the sheet stacking device 500 side where the second job is stopped accesses the finisher device 700 side where the third job is executed, and the third job It is possible to prevent the execution from being interrupted (for example, touching the paper being conveyed or touching the path sensor). On the contrary, it is possible to prevent access from the finisher apparatus 700 executing the third job to the sheet stacking apparatus 500 executing the second job.

  As described above, in the sheet processing system A according to the present embodiment, the driving source of each conveyance processing module is divided into each path, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the paper discharge roller 118 of the printer apparatus 300 and the conveyance horizontal path 502 of the sheet stacking apparatus 500 may be driven by the same drive source.

  Further, the conveyance horizontal path 612 of the inserter device 600 and the inlet roller pair 702 of the finisher device 700 may be driven by the same drive source.

  Further, the cover provided in each sheet processing apparatus may similarly be configured such that the cover 352 provided in the printer apparatus 300 and the cover 551 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus 500 are the same cover. Furthermore, the cover 651 provided in the inserter device 600 and the cover 751 provided in the finisher device 700 may be configured by the same cover.

  [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a sheet processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The sheet processing system of the present embodiment is configured by connecting a printer apparatus 300, an inserter apparatus 600, a bookbinding apparatus 800, and a finisher apparatus 700, which are sheet processing apparatuses having different sheet processing functions, in series in the order shown here. Is done.

[Bookbinding apparatus 800]
The bookbinding apparatus 800 includes a bookbinding transport horizontal path 812 for guiding sheets discharged from the printer apparatus 300 or the inserter apparatus toward the finisher apparatus 700, and transport roller pairs 802, 803, and 804 provided in the bookbinding transport horizontal path 812, A bookbinding path 811 that branches downward from the bookbinding transport horizontal path, a pair of transport rollers 805 provided in the bookbinding path 811, and a sheet is selectively provided on the bookbinding path 811 or the inserter device 600 provided at the entrance of the bookbinding transport horizontal path 812. A bookbinding path selection flapper 810 that performs a switching operation for guiding, a flapper 806 provided on the exit side of the bookbinding transport horizontal path 812, two pairs of staplers 815 provided in the middle of the bookbinding path 811, and a position facing the two pairs. A pair of folding rollers disposed below the anvil 816 and the stapler 815 20, a protruding member 821 disposed at a position opposite to the folding roller pair 820, a movable sheet positioning member 825 disposed below the folding roller pair 820 and positioned at the leading end of the sheet guided to the bookbinding path 811, bookbinding A transport roller pair provided in the transport vertical path 842 and the transport vertical path 842 that transports the sheet output from the discharge tray 830 and the inserter device 600 to the bookbinding path 811 via the transport horizontal second path 646 provided in the inserter device 600. 847, 848 and 849, a transport horizontal second path 846 and a transport horizontal second pass which are sub sheet transport means for transporting the sheet output from the inserter device 600 through the transport horizontal second path 646 to the adjacent finisher device 700. A pair of conveying rollers 843, 844 and 845 provided at 846, Feeding provided on the inlet side of the horizontal second path 846 and a conveying vertical path 842, and a path selection flapper 839, which directs the sheet selection to bookbinding path 811 or the finisher device 700.

  When the bookbinding apparatus 800 executes a bookbinding job, the sheet output from the printer apparatus 300 or the inserter apparatus 600 is guided to the bookbinding path 811 and the leading edge of the sheet is moved to the movable sheet positioning member 825. It is transported and stored once until it comes into contact.

  Then, by projecting the protruding member 821 toward the sheet bundle stored in the bookbinding path 811, the sheet bundle is folded and discharged from between the roller pair 820 onto the bookbinding discharge tray 830.

  Further, when the sheet bundle that has been bound by the stapler 815 is folded, the positioning member 825 is appropriately lowered so that the staple position of the sheet bundle becomes the center position of the folding roller pair 820 after the staple process is completed.

  On the other hand, when the bookbinding job is not performed, the bookbinding path selection flapper 810 is switched so as to block the passage of the sheet to the bookbinding path 811, and the sheet is conveyed to the finisher device 700 side via the bookbinding conveyance horizontal path 812. Is done.

  Further, when the bookbinding apparatus 800 performs the bookbinding process of the sheet output from the inserter apparatus 600 via the conveyance horizontal second pass 646, the path selection flapper 839 blocks the passage of the sheet to the conveyance horizontal second path 846. Thus, the sheet output from the inserter device 600 is guided to the conveyance vertical path 842. Then, the sheet guided to the conveyance vertical path 842 is guided to the bookbinding path 811 and a bookbinding job is performed.

  Further, when the bookbinding job of the sheet output from the inserter apparatus 600 is not performed by the bookbinding apparatus 800, the path selection flapper 839 is switched to block the passage of the sheet to the transport vertical path 842, and the inserter apparatus 600. Is output to the finisher device 700 through the second conveyance horizontal path 846.

  Even in the sheet processing system including such a bookbinding apparatus 800, two jobs are simultaneously executed by the printer apparatus 300, the inserter apparatus 600, the bookbinding apparatus 800 and the finisher apparatus 700, and the inserter apparatus 600 and the bookbinding apparatus 800. Can do.

  In this case, one job can be executed using the main sheet conveyance path, and another job can be executed in parallel with the one job using the sub conveyance path.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the sheet processing system A according to the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a sheet processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The sheet processing system according to the present embodiment includes a printer apparatus 300, a sheet stacking apparatus 500, two sets of inserter apparatuses 600A and 600B, a bookbinding apparatus 800, and a finisher apparatus 700, which are sheet processing apparatuses having different sheet processing functions. 14 and connected in series.

  In such a sheet processing system, for example, a first job executed by combining all the sheet processing apparatuses from the printer apparatus 300 to the finisher apparatus 700, the printer apparatus 300, the sheet stacking apparatus 500, the inserter apparatus 600A, and the bookbinding apparatus 800. And a third job executed by combining the inserter device 600A, the bookbinding device 800, the inserter device 600B, and the finisher device 700 can be executed in parallel.

  In the sheet processing system according to the third embodiment, the sheet stacking apparatus 500, the inserter apparatus 600B, and the bookbinding apparatus 800 are main sheet conveyance paths that communicate with each of the other post-processing apparatuses arranged in the front-rear direction. It has a transport horizontal path 502, a transport horizontal path 612, a bookbinding transport horizontal path 812, etc., a secondary transport second path 546, a transport horizontal second path 646, a transport horizontal second path 846, etc., and the last part In the finisher device 700 disposed in the main sheet conveyance path, the main sheet conveyance path and the sub sheet conveyance path are configured to merge.

  Therefore, the arrangement / combination of the sheet stacking device 500, the inserter device 600B, and the bookbinding device 800 can be freely performed according to the contents of the bookbinding operation. Further, it is possible to connect another sheet processing apparatus as desired.

  Accordingly, these sheet processing apparatuses constituting the sheet processing system can be freely combined according to the installation space and the contents of the bookbinding operation to cope with various bookbinding operations.

  Even in this case, one job can be executed using the main sheet conveyance path, and another job can be executed in parallel with the one job using the sub conveyance path.

  It should be noted that other jobs can be freely executed by a combination of sheet processing apparatuses other than those described above.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the sheet processing system A according to the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  The embodiment described above is summarized as follows.

(1) A plurality of sheet processing apparatuses (printer apparatus 300, sheet stacking apparatus 500, inserter apparatus 600, finisher apparatus 700, bookbinding apparatus 800) having a sheet processing function are provided, and a plurality of jobs are processed by the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses. A sheet processing system that executes in parallel, and a main sheet conveyance path (612, 502) that conveys a sheet output from one of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses to another sheet processing apparatus; A secondary sheet conveyance path (546, 646) that conveys a sheet independently of the main sheet conveyance path, and executes one of a plurality of jobs using the main sheet conveyance path In addition, other jobs are executed using the sub-sheet conveyance path.

  For this reason, the productivity of the sheet processing system can be increased.

  (2) In the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment, the main sheet conveyance path (502, 612) is arranged on the most downstream side from the sheet processing apparatus arranged on the most upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction. The auxiliary sheet conveyance path (646, 546) conveys a sheet from one sheet processing apparatus to another adjacent sheet processing apparatus.

  For this reason, a plurality of different jobs can be executed simultaneously.

  (3) In the sheet processing system according to the present embodiment, in the sheet processing apparatus (for example, the finisher apparatus 700) arranged on the most downstream side in the sheet output direction, the main sheet conveyance path (502, 612) and the sub-sheet The sheet conveyance path (546, 646) joins.

  Therefore, the arrangement and combination of the post-processing devices (for example, the sheet stacking device 500, the inserter device 600, and the bookbinding device 800) can be freely performed according to the contents of the bookbinding operation. Further, it is possible to connect another sheet processing apparatus as desired. Accordingly, these sheet processing apparatuses constituting the sheet processing system can be freely combined according to the installation space and the contents of the bookbinding operation to cope with various bookbinding operations.

  (4) Main sheet conveyance means (for example, conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, and 505 and conveyance roller pairs 602, 603, and 604) provided in the main sheet conveyance path (502, 612), and the sub sheet conveyance path ( 546, 646), and a pair of conveying rollers 543, 544 and 545 and a pair of conveying rollers 643, 644 and 645, etc., and the main sheet conveying means and the sub sheet conveying means, Are independent.

  For this reason, two different jobs can be executed in parallel.

  (5) According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first sheet processing module used when executing one of a plurality of jobs, for example, the conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, 505 and their drive sources And a second sheet processing module (for example, a pair of conveyance rollers 643, 644, 645 and a horizontal second path serving as a driving source thereof) used when executing other jobs. A first cover member (for example, a cover 551) that covers the first sheet processing module in a releasable manner, and a second cover member that covers the second sheet processing module in a releasable manner (for example, a transport motor M65). For example, the cover 654), and the first cover member and the second cover member include the first sheet processing module and the second sheet. Maintenance of the bets processing module to allow each independently are independent.

  For this reason, when a plurality of jobs are processed in parallel, the sheet processing apparatus (for example, the sheet stacking apparatus 500) executing the one job has a reason for part replacement, cleaning, paper supply, etc. during jam processing. The reason why each cover (for example, the cover 551) covering each processing module (for example, the conveyance roller pair 503, 504, 505, etc.) used for one job is opened and the driving of the sheet processing apparatus is stopped. It is possible to use only processing modules (for example, conveyance roller pairs 503, 504, 505, etc.) that require maintenance in one job, and each processing module (for example, conveyance roller pair 643, etc.) used for other jobs. 644, 645, etc.) is continued and other jobs can continue to be executed.

  (6) At least one of a partition wall that separates the first sheet processing module from other parts and a partition wall 592 that separates the second sheet processing module from other parts is provided.

  For this reason, the horizontal stacking second path 546 constituting the second sheet processing module is accessed from the sheet stacking unit 530 side of the sheet stacking apparatus 500 constituting the first sheet processing module to prevent the execution of other jobs. (For example, touching the paper being conveyed or touching the path sensor) can be prevented.

  (7) A partition that separates a sheet processing apparatus that executes one of a plurality of jobs from a sheet processing apparatus that executes other jobs is provided.

  Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus (for example, the sheet stacking apparatus 500) where one job is stopped accesses the finisher apparatus 700 executing the third job and executes the third job. Can be prevented (for example, touching the paper being conveyed or touching the path sensor).

  (8) The sheet processing apparatus is a sheet output apparatus that outputs a sheet, or a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet output from the sheet output apparatus.

  (9) The sheet output device includes an image forming device (printer device 300) that outputs an image after forming an image on a sheet, an inserter device (inserter device 600) that outputs an image without forming an image on the sheet, and an output sheet. A buffer device (sheet stacking device 500) that re-outputs after temporarily waiting, or a sheet supply device (114, 115) that supplies a sheet to another sheet processing device.

  (10) The post-processing device includes a punching device (finisher device 700) for punching a sheet, a binding device for binding sheets (finisher device 700), a storage device for storing sheets, an alignment device for aligning sheets, and a sheet A folding device (finisher device 700) that performs folding or a bookbinding device (bookbinding device 800) that binds sheets.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the sheet processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the sheet processing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the cover member of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a controller that controls the sheet processing system. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet stacking device control unit that drives and controls the sheet stacking device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an inserter device control unit that drives and controls the inserter device. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a finisher control unit that drives and controls the finisher device. FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the sheet processing system. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet processing system. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet processing system. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the opening / closing operation of the cover of the sheet processing system. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the partition walls. FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a sheet processing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of a sheet processing system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a conventional sheet processing system.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming device (sheet output device)
300 Printer device (sheet output device)
500 Sheet stacking device (sheet output device)
502 Transport horizontal path (main sheet transport path)
546 Second conveyance horizontal pass (sub-sheet conveyance path)
591, 592 Bulkhead 600 Inserter device (sheet output device)
612 Conveyance horizontal path (main sheet conveyance path)
646 Second horizontal transport path (sub-sheet transport path)
700 Finisher device (post-processing device)
711 Finish pass 712 Non-sort pass 713 Sort pass 800 Bookbinding device (post-processing device)
A Sheet processing system

Claims (10)

A plurality of sheet processing apparatuses having a sheet processing function;
A sheet processing system for executing a plurality of jobs in parallel by the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses,
A main sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet output from one of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses to another sheet processing apparatus;
A sub sheet conveyance path for conveying the sheet independently of the main sheet conveyance path,
A sheet processing system that executes one of a plurality of jobs using the main sheet conveyance path and executes another job using the sub sheet conveyance path. The main sheet conveyance path communicates from a sheet processing apparatus disposed at the most upstream in the sheet conveyance direction to a sheet processing apparatus disposed at the most downstream.
The sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein the sub sheet conveying path conveys a sheet from one sheet processing apparatus to another adjacent sheet processing apparatus.   3. The sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein the main sheet conveyance path and the sub sheet conveyance path are merged in a sheet processing apparatus disposed at the most downstream side in the sheet output direction. Main sheet conveying means provided in the main sheet conveying path;
A sub sheet conveying means provided in the sub sheet conveying path,
The sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein the main sheet conveying unit and the sub sheet conveying unit are independent. A first sheet processing module used when executing one of a plurality of jobs;
A second sheet processing module used to execute other jobs;
A first cover member for releasably covering the first sheet processing module;
A second cover member that covers the second sheet processing module so as to be openable,
The first cover member and the second cover member are independent so as to enable maintenance of the first sheet processing module and the second sheet processing module independently. The sheet processing system according to claim 1, wherein:   6. The sheet processing system according to claim 5, further comprising at least one of a partition wall that separates the first sheet processing module from other parts and a partition wall that separates the second sheet processing module from other parts. .   The sheet processing system according to claim 5, further comprising a partition wall that separates a sheet processing apparatus that executes one of a plurality of jobs from a sheet processing apparatus that executes another job.   8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet output apparatus that outputs a sheet, or a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet output from the sheet output apparatus. The sheet processing system described. The sheet output device is an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet and outputs the image, an inserter device that outputs the image without forming an image on the sheet, a buffer device that re-outputs after the output sheet is temporarily waited, The sheet processing system according to claim 8, wherein the sheet processing apparatus supplies a sheet to another sheet processing apparatus.   The post-processing device includes a punching device that punches a sheet, a binding device that binds sheets, a storage device that stores sheets, an alignment device that aligns sheets, a folding device that folds sheets, or a bookbinding device that binds sheets The sheet processing system according to claim 8, wherein:

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