1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium storing a program.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional sheet processing apparatus includes a plurality of stacking units such as stacking trays in a stacker apparatus which stacks sheets, and stacks sheets on each stacking unit (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-143718).
In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-143718, small sheets such as A4 sheets are delivered and stacked on one stacking tray, while large sheets such as A3 sheets are delivered and stacked on two stacking trays to extend across them.
In such a case, as a result of delivering given sheets, it may become impossible to stack large sheets delivered upon execution of the next job. Assume, for example, that small sheets, that is, B5 sheets are to be delivered when small sheets, that is, A4 sheets have already been stacked on stacker tray B-1 of stacker B, as shown in
An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems with the conventional technology.
The present invention provides a technique of efficiently stacking large and small sheets using a plurality of stacking units.
The present invention in its first aspect provides a sheet processing apparatus which is able to control to stack a sheet on at least one of a plurality of stacking units, the apparatus comprising: a stacking control unit configured to control to stack a sheet, having a small size that can be stacked on one stacking unit, on one of the plurality of stacking units, and to stack a sheet, having a large size that cannot be stacked on one stacking unit, on a plurality of adjacent stacking units so that the sheet having the large size extends across the plurality of adjacent stacking units; a determination unit configured to, when a first sheet having the small size is stacked on a first stacking unit, and a second sheet having the small size is designated to be stacked on a second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit, determine whether or not a sheet is stacked on a stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit; and a control unit configured to select a third stacking unit, that is different from the second stacking unit and is adjacent to a stacking unit on which a sheet is stacked, as a stacking unit for the second sheet if the determination unit determines that no sheet is stacked on the stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit.
The present invention in its second aspect provides a method of controlling a sheet processing apparatus which is able to control to stack a sheet on at least one of a plurality of stacking units, the method comprising: a stacking control step of controlling to stack a sheet, having a small size that can be stacked on one stacking unit, on one of the plurality of stacking units, and to stack a sheet, having a large size that cannot be stacked on one stacking unit, on a plurality of adjacent stacking units so that the sheet having the large size extends across the plurality of adjacent stacking units; a determination step of, when a first sheet having the small size is stacked on a first stacking unit, and a second sheet having the small size is designated to be stacked on a second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit, determining whether or not a sheet is stacked on a stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit; and a control step of selecting a third stacking unit, that is different from the second stacking unit and is adjacent to a stacking unit on which a sheet is stacked, as a stacking unit for the second sheet if it is determined that no sheet is stacked on the stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit.
The present invention in its third aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute: a stacking control step of controlling to stack a sheet, having a small size that can be stacked on one stacking unit among a plurality of stacking units which stack printed sheets, on one of the plurality of stacking units, and to stack a sheet, having a large size that cannot be stacked on one stacking unit, on a plurality of adjacent stacking units so that the sheet having the large size extends across the plurality of adjacent stacking units; a determination step of, when a first sheet having the small size is stacked on a first stacking unit, and a second sheet having the small size is designated to be stacked on a second stacking unit different from the first stacking unit, determining whether or not a sheet is stacked on a stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit; and a control step of selecting a third stacking unit, that is different from the second stacking unit and is adjacent to a stacking unit on which a sheet is stacked, as a stacking unit for the second sheet if it is determined that no sheet is stacked on the stacking unit adjacent to the second stacking unit.
According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently stack large and small sheets using a plurality of stacking units.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the claims of the present invention, and that not all of the combinations of the aspects that are described according to the following embodiments are necessarily required with respect to the means to solve the problems according to the present invention. The same reference numerals denote the same constituent components, and a description thereof will not be given.
The POD system 1 includes a print system 1000, server computer 103, and client computer (PC) 104. The POD system 1 also includes a scanner 102, folding machine 107, case binding machine 108, cutting machine 109, and saddle stitching machine 110. The apparatuses other than the saddle stitching machine 110 are connected to each other via a network 101.
The print system 1000 includes a print apparatus 100 and sheet processing apparatus 200. The print apparatus 100 receives print data from the PC 104, prints on sheets based on the received data (PC print function), and transfers the printed sheets to the sheet processing apparatus 200 as needed to have it process the sheets. Although the print apparatus 100 is assumed to be a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function and PC print function, it may be a print apparatus having only a PC print function.
The folding machine 107, case binding machine 108, cutting machine 109, and saddle stitching machine 110 are apparatuses which perform post-processing of printed sheets, like the sheet processing apparatus 200 of the print system 1000. The user removes sheets printed by the print apparatus 100 from a delivery (discharging) unit of the print system 1000, and sets the removed sheets in these sheet processing apparatuses to have them process the sheets. For example, the user uses the folding machine 107 to perform folding processing of the printed sheets. Also, the user uses the case binding machine 108 to perform case binding processing of the printed sheets. Moreover, the user uses the cutting machine 109 to perform cutting processing of the printed sheets. Again, the user uses the saddle stitching machine 110 to perform saddle stitching processing of the printed sheets.
The configuration of the print system 1000 will be described next with reference to
The print system 1000 includes a scanner unit 201, external I/F unit 202, printer unit 203, operation unit 204, control unit 205, ROM 207, RAM 208, and HDD 209. These units are connected to each other via buses in the print system 1000.
The control unit 205 reads out and executes a program stored in the ROM 207 to systematically control the print system 1000. The scanner unit 201 reads a document, generates image data of the read document, and sends the generated image data to the control unit 205. The external I/F unit 202 controls data exchange with the external network 101. For example, the external I/F unit 202 receives image data sent from an external apparatus such as the PC 104, and sends it to the control unit 205. Also, the external I/F unit 202 sends data received from the control unit 205 to an external apparatus such as the PC 104 via the network 101. The printer unit 203 prints the image data received from the control unit 205 on sheets based on print settings (pieces of information concerning, for example, the print layout and the number of copies).
The operation unit 204 includes, for example, a display unit, touch panel, and hard keys, displays an operation screen on the display unit, and accepts instructions from the user from the touch panel provided on the display unit. The operation unit 204 also accepts instructions from the user via the hard keys, and notifies the control unit 205 of the accepted instructions. The ROM 207 stores a program to be executed by the control unit 205. The RAM 208 functions as a work memory of the control unit 205, and temporarily stores the program or image data read out from the ROM 207.
The HDD 209 is a nonvolatile storage medium, which stores both data of each job to be executed and the order of execution of jobs. When, for example, a copy job is to be executed, the control unit 205 associates image data read by the scanner unit 201 with print settings accepted via the operation unit 204, stores the associated data in the HDD 209 as a job, and executes the stored job. The control unit 205 executes the job stored in the HDD 209, and uses the printer unit 203 to print the image data stored in the HDD 209, based on the print settings stored in association with this image data. However, when a print job is to be executed, the control unit 205 associates image data accepted via the external I/F unit 202 with print settings, stores the associated data in the HDD 209 as a job, and executes the stored job. The control unit 205 executes the job stored in the HDD 209 in association with the image data. The HDD 209 can store a plurality of jobs, and the control unit 205 executes the plurality of stored jobs in the order they were accepted. Note that the order of execution of the jobs can be changed by the user. Also, the order of execution of the jobs is changed by the control unit 205 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
A compression/decompression unit 210 compresses or decompresses, for example, image data stored in the RAM 208 or HDD 209, using various compression formats such as JBIG or JPEG. The sheet processing apparatus 200 is connected to the print apparatus 100, and performs various types of sheet processing such as sheet stacking processing, case binding processing, and saddle stitching processing for sheets printed by the print apparatus 100.
The configuration of the print system 1000 will be described next with reference to
Although the print apparatus 100 is assumed to be a 1D (single-drum) type color multifunction peripheral in this embodiment, the configuration of the print apparatus 100 is not limited to this, and a monochrome multifunction peripheral or a 4D (four-drum) type color multifunction peripheral may be employed. Note that a multifunction peripheral is also called a multifunction processing apparatus (MFP).
An automatic document feeder (ADF) 301 separates the pages of a document set in a document tray in turn from the first page, and feeds it onto a document glass platen. A reading unit 302 reads an image of each page of the document fed onto the document glass platen, and converts it into image data using a CCD. A rotating multifaceted mirror (for example, a rotating polygon mirror) 303 receives a light beam such as laser light modulated in accordance with the image data, reflects the light beam via a reflecting mirror, and irradiates a photosensitive drum 304 with the light beam as scanning light. A latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 304 by the laser light is developed by toner.
Also, the print apparatus 100 conveys, to registration rollers 316, a sheet fed from one of paper feed cassettes 317 to 320 which exemplify a paper feed unit, attaches it onto a transfer drum 305, and transfers a toner image on the photosensitive drum 304 onto the attached sheet.
This series of image forming processes is sequentially executed using toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) to form a full-color image. After this series of image forming processes is repeated four times, the sheet on the transfer drum 305 having the full-color image formed on it is separated by a separation gripper 306 and conveyed to a fixing device 308 via a pre-fixing conveyance device 307. The fixing device 308 is formed using rollers and a belt in combination, includes an internal heat source such as a halogen heater, and melts, by heat and pressure, the toner on the sheet having the toner image formed on it to fix this toner on this sheet. A delivery flapper 309 can swing about a swing axis as a center to regulate the direction in which the sheet is conveyed. While the delivery flapper 309 swings clockwise in
On the other hand, in forming images on the two surfaces of the sheet, the delivery flapper 309 swings counterclockwise in
Sheets of a job set to stack the sheets on a large-volume stacker among the downstream apparatuses are conveyed to the large-volume stacker. Sheets of a job set to bind the sheets by a sizing machine are conveyed to the sizing machine. Sheets of a job set to saddle-stitch the sheets are conveyed to the saddle stitching machine.
After the sheets are processed by each sheet processing apparatus, they are delivered to the delivery unit of this sheet processing apparatus.
The operation unit 204 includes a touch panel unit 401 including soft keys, and a key input unit 402 including hard keys. The touch panel unit 401 includes a liquid crystal display unit and a touch panel attached on it. The touch panel unit 401 accepts instructions from the user, and displays various messages, thereby notifying the user of given information. When the user presses a “Copy” tab of the touch panel unit 401, an operation screen for a copy function is displayed on the touch panel unit 401. Also, when the user presses a “Send” tab, an operation screen for a data sending function such as fax and e-mail sending is displayed on the touch panel unit 401. When the user presses a “Box” tab, an operation screen for a box function is displayed on the touch panel unit 401. The box function means a function of storing image data read by the scanner unit 201 in the HDD 209, and selecting print data stored in the HDD 209 at a desired timing, thereby printing the selected print data using the printer unit 203.
A power supply switch 403 is a button for switching the print system 1000 between a standby mode (normal operation state) and a sleep mode (the state in which the print system 1000 keeps power consumption low upon the stop of the program while standing by for an interruption such as network printing or facsimile sending). A “Start” key 404 serves to instruct the start of a copy or sending operation. A numeric keypad 405 serves to, for example, set the number of copies or input a password. A “User Mode” key 406 serves to perform various settings of the print system 1000. A “Sheet Processing Setting” key 407 serves to set sheet processing performed by the sheet processing apparatus 200. When the user presses the “Sheet Processing Setting” key 407, the control unit 205 displays a screen shown in
Buttons for accepting setting of the type of sheet processing that can be executed by the print system 1000. The type of executable sheet processing is changed in accordance with the configuration of the print system 1000.
The operation screen shown in
(1) Stapling Processing (Key 501)
(2) Punching Processing (Key 502)
(3) Cutting Processing (Key 503)
(4) Shift Delivery Processing (Key 504)
(5) Saddle Stitching Processing (Key 505)
(6) Folding Processing (Key 506)
(7) Case Binding Processing (Key 507)
(8) Pad Binding Processing (Key 508)
(9) Large-volume Stacking Processing (Key 509)
The control unit 205 controls to execute, for the sheets printed by the print apparatus 100, sheet processing selected from the above-mentioned types of sheet processing (1) to (9) via the screen shown in
When, for example, the user presses an “OK” key 511 while the key 505 (saddle stitching) is selected in the copy function, and presses the “Start” key 404, the control unit 205 reads a document using the scanner unit 201. The control unit 205 prints image data of the read document on sheets in accordance with print settings accepted via the operation unit 204. The control unit 205 conveys the printed sheets to the saddle stitching machine shown in
However, when the user presses the “OK” key 511 while the key 509 (large-volume stacking processing) is selected, and presses the “Start” key 404, the control unit 205 reads a document using the scanner unit 201. The control unit 205 prints image data of the read document on sheets in accordance with print settings accepted via the operation unit 204. The control unit 205 conveys the printed sheets to the large-volume stacker shown in
The large-volume stacker includes a straight path 601, escape path 602, and stack path 603. The straight path 601 is a sheet conveyance path along which printed sheets conveyed from an upstream apparatus (the print apparatus 100 in this embodiment) is conveyed to a downstream apparatus (the case binding apparatus in this embodiment). Sheets printed by executing a job which does not designate to stack the sheets on the large-volume stacker are conveyed to the downstream apparatus via the straight path 601. The escape path 602 is a sheet conveyance path along which sheets are conveyed to an escape tray 604. The stack path 603 is a sheet conveyance path along which sheets printed by executing a job that designates to stack the sheets on the large-volume stacker are conveyed to a stacker tray.
The large-volume stacker includes stacker trays (stacking trays) 605 and 606 which stack sheets. Each stacker tray is mounted on a carriage 608 by expandable stays 607. The carriage 608 is used to allow the user to carry sheets stacked on each stacker tray to another sheet processing apparatus. When an instruction to open the front door of the carriage 608 is issued, each stacker tray descends so that the user can easily carry it on the carriage 608. However, as the carriage 608 is set in the large-volume stacker, each stacker ascends to a position shown in
Sheets delivered from the stack path 603 can also be delivered to the two stacker trays 605 and 606 to extend across them while these stacker trays are flush with each other, as shown in
Reference numeral 801 in
Reference numeral 901 in
In this embodiment, the above-mentioned configuration is used to perform the following control.
When the control unit 205 accepts an instruction to execute a job from the operation unit 204 in the copy function, it stores information of the accepted job in the RAM 208. The information of the accepted job includes settings (for example, pieces of information concerning the type of sheet processing and sheets used) accepted via the operation unit 204 shown in
Assume that the control unit 205 executes job 2 and delivers B5 sheets to the stacker tray 606. In this case, the control unit 205 changes the presence/absence of sheets on the stacker tray 606 from “Absence” to “Presence”, and changes the size of stacked sheets from “−” to “B5”.
The large-volume stacker according to this embodiment includes a sensor which detects the presence/absence of sheets stacked on the stacker trays 605 and 606. If this sensor detects the absence of sheets, the state of the stacking state management table is returned to that shown in
Using such a stacking state table, the control unit 205 determines whether sheets stacked on the stacker trays 605 and 606 of the large-volume stacker are present.
The flowchart shown in
When the sheets are to be delivered to the stacker tray of the large-volume stacker, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1002, in which it determines whether the user has designated a tray. If YES is determined in step S1002, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1003; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1011. In step S1003, the control unit 205 determines whether the tray designated by the user is empty. The control unit 205 performs this determination using stacking state management tables as shown in, for example,
If YES is determined in step S1003, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1005. In step S1005, the control unit 205 looks up a table, as shown in
If the size of sheets of the accepted job is A4 or B5, the control unit 205 determines based on the table shown in
In this manner, if the control unit 205 determines in step S1005 that the sheets of the job have a large size, it advances the process to step S1019, in which it controls that the sheets delivered upon execution of the job are stacked on the tray designated by the user. On the other hand, if the control unit 205 determines in step S1005 that the sheets of the job have a small size, it advances the process to step S1006, in which it determines whether a tray adjacent to that designated by the user is empty. If YES is determined in step S1006, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1007; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1019. This is done to leave two or more adjacent trays empty as much as possible so as to ensure a space in which large sheets are to be stacked. In step S1007, the control unit 205 searches for a tray which is adjacent to an occupied tray and capable of stacking, and advances the process to step S1008. In step S1008, the control unit 205 determines whether the search has succeeded. If YES is determined in step S1008, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1009; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1019.
In an example illustrated in
In step S1009, the control unit 205 determines whether large sheets are to be delivered in the next job. If YES is determined in step S1009, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1010; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1019. In step S1010, the control unit 205 prompts the user to select a tray. The control unit 205 displays a screen, as shown in, for example,
On the other hand, if the control unit 205 determines in step S1002 that the sheets are to be delivered to the stacker tray of the large-volume stacker but the user has not designated a tray, it advances the process to step S1011, in which it determines whether an unoccupied tray capable of stacking sheets is present. The control unit 205 performs this determination using stacking state management tables as shown in, for example,
If the control unit 205 determines in step S1012 that the sheets to be delivered have a small size, it advances the process to step S1013, in which it determines whether a tray adjacent to the tray found in step S1011 is empty, as in step S1006. If YES is determined in step S1013, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1014; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1021. As in step S1007, in step S1014, the control unit 205 searches for a tray which is adjacent to an occupied tray and capable of stacking, and advances the process to step S1015. In step S1015, the control unit 205 determines whether the search has succeeded. If YES is determined in step S1015, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1016; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1021. In step S1016, the control unit 205 determines whether large sheets are to be delivered in the next job. If YES is determined in step S1016, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1010, in which it performs processing as described earlier. On the other hand, if NO is determined in step S1016, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1021.
If the control unit 205 determines in step S1011 that an unoccupied tray capable of stacking sheets is absent, it advances the process to step S1017, in which it determines whether the sheets to be delivered can be stacked on a tray on which sheets having the same size as those to be delivered are stacked. If YES is determined in step S1017, the control unit 205 advances the process to step S1022; otherwise, it advances the process to step S1023. In step S1022, the control unit 205 delivers the sheets to be delivered to the tray on which sheets having the same size as those to be delivered are stacked. In step S1023, the control unit 205 limits (stops) job execution because the delivery destination of the sheets is not found.
Although each large-volume stacker includes two stacker trays in the above-mentioned embodiment, it may include three or more stacker trays. In the latter case, the sheets can be delivered to each stacker tray by individually providing a sheet conveyance path from the stack path of the large-volume stacker to this stacker tray.
Also, although the print system 1000 includes two large-volume stackers in the above description, the present invention is also applicable to a print system including three or more large-volume stackers connected to each other.
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the user is prompted to designate a tray when large sheets are to be delivered in the next job. However, the user may be prompted to designate a tray using other determination criteria, as a matter of course. The user may be prompted to designate a tray when, for example, large sheets are stored on a sheet feed line or a job including large sheets is present in the history of a specific number of jobs.
Also, although the user is prompted to designate a tray in the above-mentioned embodiment, a control method in which the delivery tray is automatically changed and the user is notified to that effect after this change may be employed.
Moreover, although a job which uses the copy function is executed via the operation unit 204 in the above-mentioned embodiment, the same processing is also applicable when a job which uses the box function of printing image data stored in the HDD 209 is executed.
When a job which uses the box function is to be executed, the user selects image data stored in the HDD 209 via the operation unit 204, performs print settings, and issues a print instruction. In response to the print instruction, the control unit 205 executes the processing according to the flowchart shown in
The present invention is not limited to the copy and box functions, and is also applicable when the print system 1000 executes a job accepted from the PC 104 as an external apparatus. In this case, the user performs, for example, sheet settings and setting of the type of sheet processing via a printer driver on the PC 104 as an external apparatus, and sends the job to the print system 1000. Upon receiving the job from the PC 104 as an external apparatus, the control unit 205 of the print system 1000 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of
In this embodiment, the processing shown in the flowchart of
The processing shown in the drawings of this embodiment may be executed by a host computer such as the PC 104 in accordance with an externally installed program. In this case, the PC 104 desirably displays each operation screen on the display of the PC 104 to accept an operation by the user via an operation means such as a mouse or keyboard provided in the PC 104.
Also, the stacker tray 605 as described above can be construed as the first or second stacking unit, and the stacker tray 606 can be construed as the first or second stacking unit as well. The control unit 205 performs stacking control to stack the sheets on these stacking units.
Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and executes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps of which are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For this purpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a recording medium of various types serving as the memory device (for example, computer-readable medium).
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. 2011-106630, filed May 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-106630 | May 2011 | JP | national |