Patent Application
20240192628
The present invention relates to an image forming system for preparing (creating) a pressure-bonding printed matter by forming an image on a recording material, folding (bending) the recording material on which the image is formed, and pressure-bonding the recording material under application of heat and pressure to the folded recording material.
Conventionally, the image forming system for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter excellent in confidentiality of information has been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2014-35454). As the pressure-bonding printed matter, it is possible to cite, for example, a pressure-bonding postcard such that (opposing) surfaces thereof are superposed and pseudo-bonded together and that personal information cannot be read until the surfaces pseudo-bonded together are peeled off from each other. Here, pseudo-bonding refers to one form of bonding such that the surfaces are peelable after the bonding and are not readily bonded again after the peeling. As a type in which the pseudo-bonding is made, there is a paste type in which the pseudo-bonding is made by using a recording material of a pre-paste type in which a pressure-bonding paste is applied in advance.
The pressure-bonding printed matter is prepared in a manner such that a toner image is formed on the recording material on the basis of image forming data by an image forming apparatus and that the recording material on which the toner image is formed is then folded and is further heated and pressed by the pressure-bonding processing apparatus. The image forming data includes an image relating to information desired to be kept a secret (hereinafter, this image is referred to as a secret information image) and an image relating to non-secret information (hereinafter, this image is referred to as a non-secret information image) in an image formation order. In order to obtain a pressure-bonding printed matter prepared by forming the secret information image on the paste surface (also referred to as a pressure-bonding surface (side)) on which pressure-bonding paste is applied and forming the non-secret information image on a non-paste surface on which the pressure-bonding paste is not applied, a user is required to set the recording material in a cassette or a tray of the image forming apparatus in a set mode determined depending on a specification of the image forming apparatus and a specification of the pressure-bonding processing apparatus.
Therefore, conventionally, in the case where the user sets the recording material in an erroneous set mode, a pressure-bonding postcard such that a non-secret information image is formed on a paste surface and that a secret information image is formed on a non-paste surface was transferred. Further, conventionally, even when the user properly sets the recording material in a (correct) set mode, an appropriate pressure-bonding printed matter was not prepared in some instances. This is caused because the image formation order of the secret information image and the non-secret information image in the image forming data and the set mode of the recording material set by the user do not coincide with each other. Therefore, the user has to check whether or not appropriate pressure-bonding postcard is prepared by expressly performing test printing, and thus the preparation of the appropriate pressure-bonding postcard taken time and became troublesome.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus including a stacking portion capable of stacking a recording material having an adhesive region in which an adhesive is applied onto a surface of the recording material, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording material, and a fixing portion for fixing the image formed on the recording material; a pressure-bonding processing apparatus including a folding processing portion for folding the recording material fed from the image forming apparatus, and a pressure-bonding portion capable of pressure-bonding the recording material folded by the folding processing portion under pressure application; an inputting portion capable of inputting directions of a front surface and a back surface of the recording material stacked on the stacking portion; and a controller configured to change, in a case that the directions of the front surface and the back surface of the recording material inputting portion are different from the directions of the front surface and the back surface in which a pressure-bonding printed matter is capable of being properly prepared, an image formation order of image forming data to an order in which the pressure-bonding printed matter is capable of being properly prepared in the directions of the front surface and the back surface of the recording material inputted by the inputting portion.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Parts (a) and (b) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
Parts (a) to (d) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
In the following, an embodiment will be described. First, an image forming system 1X of this embodiment will be described using
In
The image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic full-color printer of a tandem type. As shown in
The image forming data may include, for example, information on a plurality of toner images formed on a first surface side and a second surface side opposite from the first surface side of the recording material S, and in addition, in formation on a manner of folding (for example, a folding position of the outward three-folding depending on a size of the recording material S) or on pressure-bonding surfaces (surfaces on a valley folding side), and the like information. The information on the toner images includes an image formation order for forming the toner images. Further, the image forming data may include information on a paste surface (also, referred to as an adhesive region or a pressure-bonding surface) where a pressure-bonding paste is applied onto the recording material S.
As shown in
The image forming apparatus 100 includes a cassette 10 in which recording materials S are set. The recording material S is supplied from the cassette 10 toward a registration roller pair 12 by a feeding roller 16. Thereafter, the registration roller pair 12 is started to be rotated in synchronism with the toner image formed on the intermediary transfer belt 130, so that the recording material S is fed toward the secondary transfer portion T2. A plurality of cassettes 10 capable of setting the recording materials S different in size and thickness may be provided, and in that case, the recording material S selected by a user is fed from either one of the plurality of cassettes 10. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the recording material S set on a manual feeding tray 160 is supplied. Incidentally, a constitution in which as an option, an unshown recording material supplying apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and in which the recording material set in the recording material supplying apparatus is supplied to the image forming apparatus 100 may be employed.
In the case of this embodiment, the recording material S set in the cassette 10 as a second set portion is turned upside down and then is fed toward the registration roller pair 12. On the other hand, the recording material S set on the manual feeding tray 160 as a first set portion is fed toward the registration roller pair 12 without being turned upside down. Incidentally, there is also a specification, as a specification of the image forming apparatus 100, such that the recording material S set in the cassette 10 is fed toward the registration roller pair 12 without being turned upside down and that the recording material S set on the manual feeding tray 160 is turned upside down and then is fed toward the registration roller pair 12. For example, there is a case of an image forming apparatus of a vertical feeding type, not the image forming apparatus of a horizontal feeding type as in this embodiment.
The four image forming portions Pa, Pb, Pd, and Pd included in the image forming apparatus 100 have a substantially same constitution except that development colors are different from each other. Accordingly, in this embodiment, as a representative, the image forming portion Pa for yellow will be described, and other image forming portions Pb, Pc, and Pd will be omitted from description.
In the image forming portion Pa, a cylindrical photosensitive drum 3a is provided as a photosensitive member. The photosensitive drum 3a is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. At a periphery of the photosensitive drum 3a, a charging device 2a, an exposure device La, a developing device 1a, a primary transfer roller 24a, and a drum cleaning device 4a are provided.
A process for forming, for example, a full-color image by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. First, when an image forming operation is started, a surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3a is electrically charged uniformly by the charging device 2a. The charging device 2a is a corona charger or the like for charging the photosensitive drum 3a to a uniform negative dark-portion potential by irradiating the photosensitive drum 3a with charge particles with corona discharge, for example. Then, the photosensitive drum 3a is subjected to scanning exposure to laser light which is emitted from the exposure device La and which corresponds to an image signal. By this, an electrostatic latent image depending on the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3a. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a is developed into a toner image which is a visible image by a developer, containing toner and a carrier accommodated in the developing device 1a.
In the case of this embodiment, in the developing device 1a, as the developer, a two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used. The toner contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a parting agent (wax). As the binder resin, a known binder resin can be used. For example, it is possible to use resin materials such as a vinyl copolymer represented by a styrene-(meth)acrylic copolymer, a polyester resin, a hybrid resin obtained by chemically bonding a vinyl copolymer unit and a polyester unit to each other, an epoxy resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, and the like. As the colorant, it is possible to use known colorants for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively.
As the parting agent, for example, it is possible to cite aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as low-molecular weight polyethylene, low-molecular weight olefin copolymer wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, and paraffin wax; oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as oxidized polyethylene wax; their block copolymers; waxes principally containing fatty acid esters such as carnauba wax and montanic acid ester wax; ester wax which is synthetic reaction product between higher aliphatic acid, such as behenyl behenate or behenyl stearate, and higher alcohol; fatty acid esters a part or all of which is deoxidized, such as deoxidized carnauba wax; and the like.
The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a is transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt 130 at a primary transfer portion formed between the intermediary transfer belt 130 and the photosensitive drum 3a opposing the primary transfer roller 24a. At this time, to the primary transfer roller 24a, a primary transfer bias (voltage) is applied. After the transfer on the intermediary transfer belt 130, toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3a is removed by the drum cleaning device 4a.
Such an operation is sequentially performed in the image forming portions Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd for yellow, magenta, cyan and black, respectively, so that four color toner images are superposed on the intermediary transfer belt 130. Thereafter, in synchronism with toner image forming timing, the recording material S set in the cassette 10 is fed to the secondary transfer portion T2. Then, by applying a secondary transfer bias (voltage) to the outer secondary transfer roller 11, the toner images for a full-color image formed on the intermediary transfer belt 130 are collectively secondary-transferred onto the recording material S. Toner remaining on the intermediary transfer belt 130 after the transfer on the recording material S is removed by a belt cleaning device 22. Incidentally, in the case of this embodiment, an image forming unit portion 150 capable of forming the toner images on the recording material S is constituted by the image forming portions Pa to Pd, the intermediary transfer belt 130, the rollers (13, 14, 15), the outer secondary transfer roller 11, and the like.
The recording material S on which the toner images are formed is fed toward the fixing device 8 as a fixing portion. The fixing device 8 includes a fixing roller and a pressing roller, and at a fixing nip formed by the fixing roller and the pressing roller, the fixing device 8 nips and feeds the recording material S on which the toner image is formed and thus heats and presses the recording material S, so that the toner image is fixed on the recording material S.
The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is capable of performing an operation in a one-side image forming mode in which an image is formed on a first (surface) side of the recording material S, and an operation in a double-side image forming mode in which images are formed on the first side and a second (surface) side opposite from the first side. During the operation in the one-side image forming mode, the recording material S on which the toner image is fixed on the one side by the fixing device 8 is discharged to the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200. On the other hand, during the operation in the double-side image forming mode, the recording material S on which the toner image is fixed on the one side by the fixing device 8 is fed toward a double-side feeding portion 190. In the double-side feeding portion 190, the recording material S is reversed while being fed, so that the first side and the second side of the recording material S are replaced with each other. Then, the reversed recording material S is fed again toward the registration roller pair 12 through the double-side feeding portion 190. Then, the recording material S is fed by the registration roller pair 12 toward the secondary transfer portion T2 in a state in which the second side thereof where printing has not been carried out faces the intermediary transfer belt 130 side. At the secondary transfer portion T2, the toner images for a full-color image formed on the intermediary transfer belt 130 are collectively secondary-transferred on the second side of the recording material S. Thereafter, the recording material S is subjected to toner image fixing by the fixing device 8 and the recording material S on both surfaces of which the toner images are formed is discharged to the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200.
Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a main controller 101. The main controller 101 as a controller can execute an image forming step for forming the image on the recording material S by controlling the image forming apparatus 100 and can execute a pressure-bonding processing step for folding and pressure-bonding the recording material S by controlling the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200. A control constitution of the image forming system X will be described later (see
Next, the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 will be described. As shown in
The folding processing apparatus 400 is an apparatus for performing folding (processing) for folding the recording material S subjected to the image forming step by the image forming apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the folding processing apparatus 400 of a roller press-contact type capable of folding two-folding processing in which a pressure-bonding printed matters for two-folding as the recording material of a pre-paste type is folded once in a V-shape and outward three-folding processing in which a pressure-bonding postcard sheet for outward three-folding is folded twice in a Z-shape was described. The folding processing apparatus 400 includes a folding processing controller 430 and a folding processing portion 440 for folding the recording material S. The folding processing controller 430 principally carries out the folding processing portion 440.
As regards an operation of the folding processing portion 440, the two-fold processing will be described as an example. The recording material S fed from the image forming apparatus 100 is drawn into the folding processing apparatus 400 by an entrance roller pair 401 and is sorted into separate feeding passages by a branch flapper 402 depending on whether or not the folding processing is required to be performed. That is, in the case where the folding processing is performed, the recording material S is sorted into a folding processing passage toward a feeding roller pair 403, and in the case where the folding processing is not performed, the recording material S is sorted into a folding-avoiding passage toward a discharging roller pair 404. In the case where the recording material S is sorted into the folding-avoiding passage, the recording material S is discharged to the pressure-bonding apparatus 600 by the discharging roller pair 404 without being subjected to the two-folding processing.
In the case where the recording material S is sorted into the folding processing passage, the recording material S is subjected to registration correction such that the recording material S is once stopped at a position of a registration roller pair 405 and a loop is formed. The recording material S subjected to the registration correction is fed again, and is drawn by a first folding roller 407 and a second folding roller 408 and passes through a folding position detecting sensor 406, and thereafter, when a trailing end of the recording material S abuts against a trailing end abutment stopper 411, the recording material S is subjected to the folding processing. The recording material S is folded in two in a fold so that the one (surface) side portions oppose each other. At this time, the drawn recording material S is guided by a leading end guide 412 moved to a predetermined position in advance, and thus is drawn by the second folding roller 408 and a third folding roller 410. The recording material S drawn by the second folding roller 408 and the third folding roller 410 is conveyed toward the discharging roller pair 404 and is discharged to the pressure-bonding apparatus 600 by the discharging roller pair 404.
The pressure-bonding apparatus 600 is an apparatus for subjecting, to pressure-bonding for pressure-bonding the recording material S, the recording material S subjected to a folding processing step by the above-described folding processing apparatus 400. As an example, the pressure-bonding apparatus 600 of a roller press-contact type capable of pressure-bonding processing of the recording material S by applying heat and pressure to the recording material S through the pressure-bonding roller pair nipping and conveying the recording material S is described. The pressure-bonding apparatus 600 includes a pressure-bonding processing controller 630, and a pressure-bonding portion 640 capable of pressure-bonding the recording material S. The pressure-bonding processing controller 630 principally carries out control of the pressure-bonding portion 640.
The pressure-bonding portion 640 will be described. The pressure-bonding portion 640 includes a pressure-bonding roller pair 601 for nipping and feeding the recording material S by rotation, heaters 602 for heating the pressure-bonding roller pair 601, and thermistors 603 for detecting a temperature of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601. The pressure-bonding roller pair 601 includes an upper roller 601a and a lower roller 601b which are maintained at desired temperatures by the heaters 602 depending on detection temperatures of the thermistors 603. Further, the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 applies heat and pressure to the recording material S while nipping and feeding the recording material S in a folded state. By this, the recording material S folded so that the paste surface is positioned inside is subjected to pseudo-bonding so as to bond the paste surface together by pressure-bonding paste.
In the pressure-bonding apparatus 600, from the viewpoints of adhesive strength and a re-peeling property of the pressure-bonding printed matter, there is a need to control the temperature and the pressure of the recording material S during the pressure-bonding processing. This is because there is a liability that in the case where the temperature and the pressure are low, the adhesive force of the pressure-bonding paste becomes weak and thus a pseudo-bonding state cannot be maintained when the adhesive force is excessively low. On the other hand, this is because in the case where the temperature and the pressure are high, the adhesive force becomes strong, so that there is a liability that the re-peeling property lowers such that the recording material S is broken during the re-peeling when the adhesive force is excessively high. Therefore, there is a need to appropriately set the temperature and the pressure of the heat applied to the recording material S during the pressure-bonding processing, depending on a kind of the recording material S. For example, the temperature of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 of the pressure-bonding apparatus 600 is set at “15° C. to 80° C.”, preferably “20° C. to 60° C.”, and the pressure thereof is set at several MPa or more, so that an appropriate adhesive force of the pressure-bonding paste can be obtained.
Incidentally, although the pressure of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 is the “several MPa or more”, a pressure applied to the recording material S by the fixing device 8 is about “0.1-0.5 MPa”. As described above, the pressure-bonding paste, exhibits an adhesive property by exposure of the adhesive base material to the surface under application of a high pressure (several MPa or more), and therefore, in the fixing device 8 low in pressure, the recording material S is in a high-temperature state of “100° C. to 200° C.”, but the adhesive base material is not readily exposed to the surface. Accordingly, the adhesive property does not exhibit. Accordingly, the recording material S passed through the fixing device 8 is subjected to the folding processing without being adhered to the folding processing apparatus 400.
Next, control of the image forming system 1X will be described using
In the image forming system 1X of this embodiment, as shown in
The main controller 101, the folding processing controller 430, and the pressure-bonding processing controller 630 which are described above may have the same constitution. For example, each of the controllers includes a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), and a RAM (random access memory).
The main controller 101 includes the CPU 102, the ROM 103, and the RAM 104. In the ROM 103 and the RAM 104, various programs and various data for “pressure-bonding printed matter preparation processing” (see
The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operating portion 700 including, for example, a liquid crystal display portion 710 (see
The user is capable of inputting a start of an image forming job from the operating portion 700. With this execution, together with the image forming apparatus 100, the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 (the folding processing apparatus 400 and the pressure-bonding apparatus 600) is capable of being operated. In this embodiment in the case where the image forming job is inputted, the CPU 102 executes the “pressure-bonding printed matter preparation processing” stored in the ROM 103.
The folding processing controller 430 includes a CPU 431, a ROM 432, and a RAM 433. The CPU 431 causes the folding processing apparatus 400 to operate on the basis of a control program stored in the ROM 432.
The pressure-bonding processing controller 630 includes a CPU 631, a ROM 632, and a RAM 633. The CPU 631 causes the pressure-bonding apparatus 600 to operate on the basis of a control program stored in the ROM 632. To the pressure-bonding processing controller 630, a motor 634 for rotationally driving the pressure-bonding roller pair 601, the heaters 602 for heating the pressure-bonding roller pair 601, and the thermistors 603 for detecting the temperatures of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 are connected. The pressure-bonding processing controller 630 sends a detection result (temperature data) of the thermistors 603 to the main controller 101. Further, the pressure-bonding processing controller 630 is capable of changing the temperatures of the heaters 602 by receiving a target temperature from the main controller 101. Further, the pressure-bonding processing controller 630 is capable of changing the number of rotations of the motor 634 by receiving a target speed of the feeding recording material S from the main controller 101. Further, the pressure-bonding processing controller 630 is capable of changing the pressure of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 in accordance with control of the main controller 101.
Next, the recording material S will be described. In this embodiment, as the recording material S, the recording material S of the pre-paste type including a base material and an adhesive layer. As the base material, a base material capable of forming the adhesive layer on at least one surface (side) thereof may only be required, and it is possible to cite high-quality paper, medium-quality paper, coated paper, and the like, for example. Further, from a viewpoint of confidentiality of information, it is desirable that the base material does not permit light transmission and thus the toner image formed on one side is not readily seen through the recording material S on the other side.
The adhesive layer is formed by applying the pressure-bonding paste on the recording material S, and the pressure-bonding paste contains an adhesive base material and an adhesive force adjusting agent. As the adhesive base material, a composition in which, for example, natural rubber latex or a modified product thereof, synthetic rubber wax, synthetic resin, and the like are compounded is used, and the composition exhibits an adhesive force as a pressure-sensitive adhesive which is pseudo-bonded by pressure application. The adhesive force adjusting agent is a well-known wax such as paraffin wax, or a fine-particle filler formed of silica, titanium oxide, calcium carbonate, or the like. Either one of these materials is low in affinity for the adhesive base material and is used for adjusting the adhesive force of the adhesive base material.
The filler contained in the adhesive base material projects from the adhesive base material, so that an uneven shape is formed on a surface of the adhesive layer. By this uneven shape, the adhesive base material is not exposed to the surface of the adhesive during non-pressure application, and therefore, the adhesive does not exhibit the adhesive force. On the other hand, when surfaces on which the adhesive layer is applied are superposed on and pressed by each other, the adhesive base material positioned under the uneven portion is exposed to the surface of the adhesive, and therefore, contacts the adhesive base material or the adhesive force adjusting agent on the opposite surface, so that the adhesive exhibits the adhesive force. Incidentally, when a point such that the pressure-bonding postcard is more inexpensive in transportation cost such as postage than an envelope is taken into consideration, it is desirable that a basis weight of the recording material S of the pre-paste type is for example, “64 g/m2 to 209 g/m2”.
As an example of the recording material S, a pressure-bonding postcard sheet for two-folding will be described using parts (a) and (b) of
The pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the two-folding (recording material S) has a front/back constitution including a paste surface 810, shown in part (a) of
In the image forming apparatus 100, the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is supplied from the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160 (see
In the case of this embodiment, when the paste surface 810 is set upward in the cassette 10 during an operation of a double-side image forming mode, the recording material S is discharged in the state in which the paste surface 810 is facing upward, and then is subjected to the valley folding with the paste surface 810 inward in the folding processing apparatus 400. Or, in the case where the paste surface 810 is set downward in the cassette 10 during the operation in the one-side image forming mode, the recording material S is discharged in the state in which the paste surface 810 is facing upward, and then is subjected to the valley folding with the paste surface 810 inward in the folding processing apparatus 400.
Further, in the case where the recording material S is set on the manual feeding tray 160 in a state in which the paste surface 810 is facing downward during the operation in the double-side image forming mode, the recording material S is discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 in a state in which the paste surface 810 is facing upward, and then is subjected to valley folding in a state in which the paste surface 810 is disposed inside in the folding processing apparatus 400. Or, in the case where the recording material S is set on the manual feeding tray 160 in a state in which the paste surface 810 is facing upward during an operation in the one-side image forming mode, the recording material S is discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 in the state in which the paste surface 810 is facing upward, and then is subjected to the valley folding in a state in which the paste surface 810 is disposed inside in the folding processing apparatus 400.
Thus, in order to prepare an appropriate pressure-bonding postcard, the user needs to change the set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet depending on whether a set position (place) is the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160. However, as regards the folding processing apparatus 400, although illustration is omitted, there is also a specification such that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is subjected to two-folding processing by mountain folding. In that case, the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 in the state in which the paste surface 810 is facing downward, so that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is subjected to the mountain folding in a state in which the paste surface 810 is disposed inside in the folding processing apparatus 400.
Next, a proper set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the two-folding will be described.
Further, a “DISCH (discharge) DIRECTION” is shown by “FACE UP” in a state in which the surface of the recording material S set in the set position of the image forming apparatus 100 is facing upward, i.e., in the case where the recording material S is discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 without being reversed, and is shown by “FACE DOWN” in a state in which the surface of the recording material S set in the set position is facing downward, i.e., in the case where the recording material S is reversed and discharged from the image forming apparatus 100. A “SET DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is a proper set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet in a set position (for example, the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160) where the “DISCH DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is “FACE UP” or “FACE DOWN” during an operation in any image forming mode.
“E1” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is a paste surface (PS): UP” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is VF (valley-folding)” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDLE (feeding direction leading end)” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE UP” as the specification of the image forming apparatus 100. “E2” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PS: DOWN” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is VF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDTE (feeding direction trailing end)” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE DOWN” as the image forming apparatus 100. “E3” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PS: DOWN” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is MF (mountain-folding)” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDLE (feeding direction leading end)” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE UP” as the specification of the image forming apparatus 100. “E4” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PS: UP” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is MF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDTE (feeding direction trailing end)” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE DOWN” as the image forming apparatus 100.
As described above, depending on the specification of the image forming apparatus 100 and the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400, the set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the two-folding in the set position of the image forming apparatus 100 is determined. Here, as regards the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the two-folding, a preparation of the pressure-bonding postcard in the case where an image formation order of the image forming data and a set mode of the recording material coincide with each other and a preparation example of the pressure-bonding postcard in the case where the image formation order of the image forming data and the set mode of the recording material do not coincide with each other is shown in
In a lower stage of
In an upper stage of
Next, “Pressure-bonding print preparation processing” in this embodiment will be described using
As shown in
For example, when the inputted kind of the recording material S is “pressure-bonding postcard”, the job is discriminated as the job for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter. Incidentally, from the operating portion 700, whether to prepare the pressure-bonding printed matter in the operation in the double-side image forming mode or in the operation in the one-side image forming mode may be inputted. Or, in the case where the pressure-bonding printed matter is prepared, the operation in the double-side image forming mode may be automatically executed.
In the case where the job is not the job for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter (NO of S1), the main controller 101 controls the image forming apparatus 100, so that the image is formed on the recording material S (S2). In this case, the main controller 101 does not send an operation instruction for the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 to the folding processing controller 430 and the pressure-bonding processing controller 630 while controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, although the image is formed on the recording material S, the pressure-bonding processing of the recording material S is not carried out, so that the recording material S on which the image is formed is only prepared, and the pressure-bonding printed matter is not prepared.
Incidentally, in the case where the job is not the job for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter, the set position of the recording material S is inputted from the operating portion 700 by the user, and then the recording material S is supplied from the inputted set position (the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160).
In the case where the job is the job for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter (YES of S1), the main controller 101 executes an operation in a preparation mode for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter. First, the main controller 101 discriminates whether or not a “SHEET (FEEDING) SETTING” of the recording material S for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter is made (S3). The “SHEET SETTING” maintained herein is the set position of the recording material S and the set mode of the recording material S. The set position of the recording material S is, for example, the cassette 10, the manual feeding tray 160, and the like, and is inputted from the operating portion 700 by the user.
In the case where the “SHEET SETTING” is not made, the main controller 101 causes the liquid crystal display portion 710 to display the “setting screen”, and prompts the user to input the “SHEET SETTING” (S4). Then, when the “SHEET SETTING” is inputted from the setting screen, the main controller 101 causes the ROM 103 or the RAM 104 to store the inputted “SHEET SETTING”. This input of the “SHEET SETTING” is repeated until, for example, an “OK” button is operated in the setting screen by the user.
An example of the “setting screen” is shown in
In the “setting screen”, display is made so that the user can understand the “DISCH DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100.
In the case of this embodiment, the “DISCH DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is determined by the set position of the recording material S inputted from the operating portion 700 and the operation in the double-side or one-side image forming mode.
For example, in the case where the set position of the recording material S is the “manual feeding tray 160” and the image forming mode is the double-side image forming mode, the discharging direction (“DISCH DIRECTION”) is determined as “FACE DOWN”. In the case where the set position of the recording material S is the “manual feeding tray 160” and the image forming mode is the one-side image forming mode, the discharging direction is determined as “FACE UP”.
In the case where the set position of the recording material S is the “cassette 10” and the image forming mode is the double-side image forming mode, the discharging direction is determined as “FACE UP”. In the case where the set position of the recording material S is the “cassette 10” and the image forming mode is the one-side image forming mode, the discharging direction is determined as “FACE DOWN”.
Further, in the “setting screen”, the “SHEET SET DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is display in a selectable manner. In the case of the “two-folding”, the user is capable of selectively inputting either one of “PS:UP” and “PS:DOWN” as the “SHEET SET DIRECTION”. Selection items of the “SHEET SET DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is in accordance with the specification of the image forming apparatus 100 (see
In the “setting screen”, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION” of the folding processing apparatus 400 are displayed. In the case where the specification of the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 is acquired from the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION”, are displayed in accordance with the acquired specification. Incidentally, in the case where the specification cannot be acquired from the folding processing apparatus 400, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION” may be made capable of being selectively inputted by the user.
The user takes the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 into consideration in the case where the pressure-bonding printed matter for the two-folding is prepared, and is capable of selecting the “FDLE” and “FDTE” as the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and capable of selecting the “FDVF” and “FDMF” as the “FOLDING DIRECTION”.
Returning to
In each of parts (a) and (b) of
As shown in each of parts (a) and (b) of
On the other hand, in the case where the image formation order of the image forming data and the set mode of the recording material S do not coincide with each other, as shown in part (b) of
Returning to
In the case where the “print processing execution” instruction is not provided (NO of S6), the main controller 101 discriminates whether or not a “cancel” instruction of the pressure-bonding printed matter preparation job is provided (S7). For example, in the case where a completion image displayed on the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” is not a desired image, the user is capable of providing the “cancel” instruction of the pressure-bonding printed matter preparation job by operating a “CANCEL PRINT” button of the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen”. In the case where the “cancel” instruction is provided (YES of S7), the main controller 101 ends the pressure-bonding printed matter preparation job without carrying out the formation of the image on the recording material S and the pressure-bonding processing of the recording material S. In this case, in the image forming apparatus 100, supply of the recording material S from the set position is not made originally.
In the case where the “print processing execution” instruction and the “cancel” instruction are not provided (NO of both S6 and S7), the main controller 101 regards the “CORRECT” button of the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” as being operated, and changes the image formation order of the toner images in the image forming data on the basis of the “SHEET SETTING” (S8). In the case of this embodiment, the pressure-bonding postcard can be properly prepared by replacing the image formation order of the secret information images on the second side with the image formation order of the non-secret information images on the first side in the image forming data so that the secret information images are formed on the first side and the non-secret information images are formed on the second side. For example, in the case of the example shown in the upper stage of
Thereafter, the main controller 101 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to prepare the completion image of the pressure-bonding printed matter on the basis of the image forming data after the change in image formation order, and causes the liquid crystal display portion 710 to display the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” including the prepared completion image (S5). By this, the display of the liquid crystal display portion 710 is changed from the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” shown in part (b) of
Incidentally, in the case where the “EXECUTE PRINT & PROCESSING” instruction is provided, the main controller 101 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to form the images on the recording material S on the basis of the image forming data after the change in image formation order (S9).
When the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screens” shown in parts (a) and (b) of
As described above, in this embodiment, during execution of the operation in the preparing mode for preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter, in the case where the image formation order of the secret information images and the non-secret information images in the image forming data, and the set mode of the recording material set by the user do not coincide with each other, the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” including the completion image of the pressure-bonding printed matter changed in image formation order is displayed at the liquid crystal display portion 710.
By this, even when the user sets the set mode S of the recording material S erroneously, so that there is no preparation of improper pressure-bonding printed matter such that the paste surface thereof is exposed to the surface thereof. Accordingly, the user needs not check whether or not the user erroneously sets the set mode of the recording material S, by taking the trouble to make trail printing as in the conventional manner, so that the user can efficiently prepare the pressure-bonding printed matter without trouble. Further, even in the case where the set mode of the recording material S is correct but the image formation order of the image forming data is incorrect, the images are formed on the basis of the image forming data changed in image formation order, so that the user can prepare an appropriate pressure-bonding printed matter without correct the image formation order of the image forming data.
Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the two-folding is performed using the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the two-folding as the pressure-bonding printed matter was described as an example, but the case where the outward three-folding is performed using the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding may also be made similar thereto. In the following the case of the outward three-folding will be described using part (a) of
First, the outward three-folding by the folding processing portion 440 of the folding processing apparatus 400 will be described. As shown in
As an example of the recording material S, a pressure-bonding postcard sheet for outward three-folding will be described using parts (a) and (b) of
The pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding is subjected to the outward three-folding by mountain-folding the pressure-bonding postcard sheet at a position of a fold Sb1 between the first region 901 and the second region 902 (parts (a) and (b) of
Even in the case where the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding is used, in order to prepare an appropriate pressure-bonding postcard, the user needs to change the set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet depending on whether a set position (place) is the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160.
In
Further, a “DISCH (discharge) DIRECTION” is shown by “FACE UP” in a state in which the surface (first side 830 or second side 840) of the recording material S set in the set position of the image forming apparatus 100 is facing upward, i.e., in the case where the recording material S is discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 without being reversed, and is shown by “FACE DOWN” in a state in which the surface (first side 830 or second side 840) of the recording material S set in the set position is facing downward, i.e., in the case where the recording material S is reversed and discharged from the image forming apparatus 100.
A “SET DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is a proper set mode of the pressure-bonding postcard sheet in a set position (for example, the cassette 10 or the manual feeding tray 160) where the “DISCH DIRECTION” of the image forming apparatus 100 is “FACE UP” or “FACE DOWN” and where a “FOLDING DIRECTION” of the folding processing apparatus 400 is “FDLE or “FDTE”. In the image forming system 1X shown in
“F1” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PSLE” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is FDZF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDTE” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE UP” as the specification of the image forming apparatus 100. “F2” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PSLE” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is FDZF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDTE” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE DOWN” as the image forming apparatus 100. “F3” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is a paste surface: DOWN” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is FDRZF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDLE” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE UP” as the specification of the image forming apparatus 100. “F4” shows that the pressure-bonding postcard sheet is set as “SET DIRECTION is PS: UP” in the case where “FOLDING DIRECTION is FDRZF” and “FEEDING DIRECTION is FDLE” side as the specification of the folding processing apparatus 400 and “DISCH DIRECTION is FACE DOWN” as the image forming apparatus 100.
Also, in the case of using the above-described pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding, when the image formation order of the image forming data and the set mode of the recording material S do not coincide with each other, the appropriate pressure-bonding printed matter is not readily prepared. Therefore, in the conventional case, the user has to check whether or not the appropriate pressure-bonding postcard is prepared by expressly performing test printing, and thus the preparation of the appropriate pressure-bonding postcard taken time and became troublesome.
Therefore, in this embodiment, also in the case where the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding is used, the above-described “pressure-bonding printed matter preparation processing” (see
Also, in the case where the pressure-bonding postcard sheet for the outward three-folding is used, the user makes the “SHEET SETTING” from the “setting screen” as shown in
Further, in the “setting screen”, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION” of the folding processing apparatus 400 are displayed. Although illustration is omitted, in the case where the specification of the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 is acquired from the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION”, are displayed in accordance with the acquired specification. In the case where the specification cannot be acquired from the folding processing apparatus 400, the “FEEDING DIRECTION” and the “FOLDING DIRECTION” may be made capable of being selectively inputted by the user.
Although illustration is omitted here, it may only be required that either one of the “FDLE” and “FDTE” is selectable as the “FEEDING DIRECTION”, and either one of the “FDVF” and “FDMF” is selectable as the “FOLDING DIRECTION”.
Next, the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” (S5 of
As shown in part (a) of
On the other hand, as shown in part (b) of
As described above, in the case where the “print processing execution” instruction and the “cancel” instruction are not provided (NO of both S6 and S7), the main controller 101 regards the “CORRECT” button of the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” as being operated, and changes the image formation order of the toner images in the image forming data on the basis of the “SHEET SETTING” (S8). In the case of this embodiment, the main controller 101 replaces the image formation order of the secret information images and the image formation order of the non-secret information images in the image forming data with each other. For example, as can be understood by comparing parts (a) and (b) of
As in the above-described manner, in the case where the pressure-bonding postcard for the outward three-folding is prepared, the “pressure-bonding printed matter selecting screen” including completion images of the pressure-bonding printed matter changed in image formation order and image forming direction is displayed at the liquid crystal display portion 710. By this, even when the user sets the set mode S of the recording material S erroneously, so that there is no preparation of improper pressure-bonding printed matter such that the paste surface thereof is exposed to the surface thereof. Accordingly, the user needs not check whether or not the user erroneously sets the set mode of the recording material S, by taking the trouble to make trail printing as in the conventional manner, so that the user can efficiently prepare the pressure-bonding printed matter without trouble. Further, even in the case where the set mode of the recording material S is correct but the image formation order of the image forming data is incorrect, the images are formed on the basis of the image forming data changed in image formation order and image forming direction, so that the user can prepare an appropriate pressure-bonding printed matter without correct the image formation order of the image forming data.
Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming system 1X in which the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 is connected as a different casing to the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 was described as an example, but the pressure-bonding processing apparatus 200 may be provided inside the apparatus main assembly (inside the same casing) of the image forming apparatus 100. In that case, the main controller 101 also operates as the folding processing controller 430 and the pressure-bonding processing controller 630, which are described above.
According to the present invention, the user can prepare the appropriate pressure-bonding printed matter depending on the set mode of the recording material without preparing the pressure-bonding printed matter in actuality.
Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-196468 filed on Dec. 8, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-196468 | Dec 2022 | JP | national |
