Image forming system and storage medium

Abstract

The present application provides an image forming system and a storage medium that can easily set conditions for lamination processing. An image forming system (1) includes: an image forming section (13) that forms an image on a recording medium (paper); a lamination processing section (26) that performs lamination processing on a film (F) on a surface of the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming section (13); and a control section (11) that acquires information related to image formation by the image forming section (13), and determines conditions for lamination processing by the lamination processing section (26) based on the acquired information related to image formation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an image forming system and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, a printing processing device that integrates all processes from printing to lamination processing in a manufacturing process of a printed matter covered with a transparent resin film has been known (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In such a printing processing device, by integrating all processes from printing to lamination processing, it is possible to reduce the labor cost for each process, and it is possible to complete all processes from printing to lamination processing by automatic operation.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-44129

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, the conditions for lamination processing are determined by a user, and every time the printing conditions are changed, the conditions for lamination processing need to be set.

[0006] In addition, in a case where the user performs lamination processing using a printed matter and a film to be processed for the first time, the conditions for lamination processing are actually tried for the first time, and if necessary, they are corrected and determined, so there is a problem that it takes time to determine the conditions for lamination processing.

[0007] In addition, in a printed matter of an electrophotographic method using toner, for example, the peeling and curling of the film after lamination processing are often problematic, and there is a problem that it is difficult for a user to easily find the conditions for lamination processing.

[0008] Further, in a system in which a printing device that thermally fixes toner is integrated with a lamination processing unit, the paper temperature condition discharged from the printing device differs every time according to each task, and the conditions for lamination processing need to be adjusted every time. SUMMARY

[0009] An object of the present application is to provide an image forming system and a storage medium that can easily set the conditions for lamination processing.

[0010] The image forming system of the invention described in Technical Solution 1 is completed in order to achieve the above object, and has:

[0011] an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium;

[0012] a lamination processing section that performs lamination processing of a film on a surface of the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming section; and

[0013] The control unit acquires information related to image formation in the image forming unit and determines the lamination processing conditions of the lamination processing unit based on the acquired information related to image formation.

[0014] The invention described in technical solution 2 is based on the image forming system described in technical solution 1.

[0015] The image forming unit described above forms an image using an electronic photograph method.

[0016] The invention described in technical solution 3 is based on the image forming system described in technical solution 2.

[0017] The information related to the above image formation includes information related to the fixing temperature conditions in the above image forming unit.

[0018] The invention described in technical solution 4 is an image forming system described in any one of technical solutions 1 to 3.

[0019] The information related to the formation of the above image includes information related to at least one of the type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate of the above recording medium.

[0020] The invention described in technical solution 5 is an image forming system described in any one of technical solutions 1 to 4.

[0021] The lamination process melts the adhesive layer of the film having a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer, and then bonds the melted adhesive layer to the surface of the recording medium.

[0022] The invention described in technical solution 6 is an image forming system described in any one of technical solutions 1 to 5.

[0023] It can selectively install any one of several different types of films.

[0024] The invention described in technical solution 7 is an image forming system described in any one of technical solutions 1 to 5, comprising:

[0025] The mounting section is capable of mounting multiple films of different types; and

[0026] The selection unit allows for the selection of any one film from among the multiple films installed in the aforementioned mounting unit.

[0027] The lamination process described above uses the film selected by the selection process described above for lamination.

[0028] The invention described in technical solution 8 is an image forming system described in any one of technical solutions 1 to 7.

[0029] The above-mentioned film is a continuous film in a roll shape or a cut film cut to a predetermined size.

[0030] The invention described in Technical Solution 9 is the image forming system described in any one of Technical Solutions 1 to 8,

[0031] The above-mentioned control section acquires information related to the above-mentioned lamination processing, and determines a condition of the above-mentioned lamination processing based on information related to the above-mentioned image formation and the information related to the above-mentioned lamination processing.

[0032] The invention described in Technical Solution 10 is the image forming system described in Technical Solution 9,

[0033] The information related to the above-mentioned lamination processing includes information related to a kind of the above-mentioned film or a processing speed.

[0034] The invention described in Technical Solution 11 is the image forming system described in any one of Technical Solutions 1 to 10,

[0035] The condition of the above-mentioned lamination processing includes at least any one of a processing temperature, a processing pressure, and a processing speed.

[0036] The invention described in Technical Solution 12 is the image forming system described in any one of Technical Solutions 1 to 11,

[0037] The above-mentioned control section determines a processing pressure and a temporary processing temperature based on at least any one of a kind of the above-mentioned film and a processing speed.

[0038] The invention described in Technical Solution 13 is the image forming system described in Technical Solution 12,

[0039] The above-mentioned control section corrects the temporary processing temperature based on at least any one of a kind, a thickness, a surface roughness, an inked rate, and environmental information of the above-mentioned recording medium, the kind, the thickness, the surface roughness, and the inked rate of the above-mentioned recording medium being the information related to the above-mentioned image formation.

[0040] The invention described in Technical Solution 14 is the image forming system described in any one of Technical Solutions 1 to 13,

[0041] An image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned image forming section and a post-processing apparatus having the above-mentioned lamination processing section are directly or indirectly connected.

[0042] The invention described in Technical Solution 15 is the image forming system described in any one of Technical Solutions 1 to 13,

[0043] At least any one of the above image forming section, the above laminating processing section, and the above control section is independent and communicable with the other two sections.

[0044] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of the invention according to claim 16 stores a program, wherein the program causes a computer of an image forming system to execute:

[0045] A laminating processing step of performing laminating processing of a film on a surface of a recording medium on which image formation has been performed;

[0046] A first acquisition step of acquiring information related to image formation; and

[0047] A determination step of determining a condition of laminating processing of the laminating processing step based on the information related to image formation acquired by the first acquisition step.

[0048] The invention according to claim 17 is in the storage medium according to claim 16,

[0049] The recording medium is a recording medium on which an image has been formed by an electrophotographic method.

[0050] The invention according to claim 18 is in the storage medium according to claim 17,

[0051] The information related to image formation includes information related to a fixing temperature condition in an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium.

[0052] The invention according to claim 19 is in the storage medium according to any one of claims 16 to 18,

[0053] The information related to image formation includes information related to at least any one of a kind, a thickness, a surface roughness, and a printing rate of the recording medium.

[0054] The invention according to claim 20 is in the storage medium according to any one of claims 16 to 19,

[0055] The laminating processing step melts the adhesive layer of the film having a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer, and adheres the melted adhesive layer to a surface of the recording medium.

[0056] The invention according to claim 21 is in the storage medium according to any one of claims 16 to 20,

[0057] Any one of a plurality of films of different kinds can be selectively attached.

[0058] The invention described in Technical Solution 22 is a storage medium described in any one of Technical Solutions 16 to 21,

[0059] The image forming system has:

[0060] a mounting portion capable of mounting a plurality of films of different kinds; and

[0061] a selection portion that selects an arbitrary one of the plurality of films mounted to the mounting portion,

[0062] The lamination processing step performs lamination processing using the film selected by the selection portion.

[0063] The invention described in Technical Solution 23 is a storage medium described in any one of Technical Solutions 16 to 22,

[0064] The film is a continuous film in a roll shape or a cut film cut to a predetermined size.

[0065] The invention described in Technical Solution 24 is a storage medium described in any one of Technical Solutions 16 to 23,

[0066] The program causes a computer of the image forming system to perform a second acquisition step of acquiring information related to the lamination processing,

[0067] The decision step decides the conditions of the lamination processing based on the information related to the image formation and the information related to the lamination processing acquired by the second acquisition step.

[0068] The invention described in Technical Solution 25 is a storage medium described in Technical Solution 24,

[0069] The information related to the lamination processing includes information related to the kind of the film or the processing speed.

[0070] The invention described in Technical Solution 26 is a storage medium described in any one of Technical Solutions 16 to 25,

[0071] The conditions of the lamination processing include at least any one of a processing temperature, a processing pressure, and a processing speed.

[0072] The invention described in Technical Solution 27 is a storage medium described in any one of Technical Solutions 16 to 26,

[0073] The decision step decides the processing pressure and a temporary processing temperature based on at least any one of the kind of the film and the processing speed.

[0074] The invention described in Technical Solution 28 is a storage medium described in Technical Solution 27,

[0075] The above decision process corrects the temporary processing temperature based on at least any of the kind, thickness, surface roughness, printing rate, and environmental information of the recording medium, which are information related to the image formation.

[0076] According to the present application, it is possible to easily set the conditions for the lamination processing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0077] Figure 1 is a front view showing the outline structure of the image forming system of the present embodiment.

[0078] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram showing the control configuration of the image forming system of the present embodiment.

[0079] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the lamination processing implementation process.

[0080] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing condition decision process.

[0081] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the first table.

[0082] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the second table.

[0083] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the third table.

[0084] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 1... image forming system, 10... image forming apparatus, 11... control section (control section, selection section), 12... image reading section, 13... image forming section, 131... writing section, 131a... optical scanning section, 131b... photoreceptor, 131c... developing section, 131d... charging section, 131e... cleaning section, 131f... primary transfer roller, 132... intermediate transfer belt, 133... secondary transfer roller, 134... fixing section, 134a... fixing roller, 135... reversing path, 14... storage section, 15... operation panel, 151... display section, 152... operation section, 16... communication section, T1... paper feed tray, 20... post-processing apparatus, 21... control section, 22... storage section, 23... communication section, 24... superimposition section, 25... mounting section, 26... lamination processing section, 261... film roll, 262... film transport path, 263... attachment section, 264... heating roller, 265... pressurizing roller, 27... cutting section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0086] <1. Configuration of image forming system>

[0087] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment is configured to have an image forming apparatus 10, and a post-processing apparatus 20 that performs lamination processing on a recording medium on which image formation has been performed by the image forming apparatus 10.

[0088] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the image forming apparatus 10 is configured to have a control section 11, an image reading section 12, an image forming section 13, a storage section 14, an operation panel 15 (display section 151, operation section 152), a communication section 16, a first detection section 17, and a second detection section 18, and the like.

[0089] The control section 11 is configured to have a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The CPU reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM and expands them in the RAM in accordance with an operation signal input from the operation section 152 or an instruction signal received through the communication section 16, and uniformly controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 by cooperating with the various programs expanded in the RAM.

[0090] In addition, the control section 11 acquires information related to image formation of the image forming section 13, and determines the conditions of the lamination processing of the lamination processing section 26 described later based on the acquired information related to image formation.

[0091] In addition, the control section 11 selects an arbitrary one of a plurality of films F (described later) installed to a mounting section 25 described later. Here, the control section 11 functions as a selection section.

[0092] The image reading unit 12 scans and exposes an image of a document placed on a document tray (not shown) or an automatic document feeder (ADF) using the optical system of the scanning exposure device, and reads the reflected light using a line image sensor, thereby obtaining an image signal. This image signal, after undergoing A / D conversion, shading correction, compression, and other processing, is input as image data to the control unit 11. Furthermore, the image data input to the control unit 11 is not limited to the data read by the image reading unit 12; for example, it may also be data contained in a print job received from an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 16.

[0093] The image forming unit 13 forms an image on paper composed of four colors: C, M, Y, and K, based on the pixel values ​​of the four colors of each pixel in the original image that has undergone image processing.

[0094] like Figure 1 As shown, the image forming unit 13 is configured to include four writing units 131, an intermediate transfer belt 132, a secondary transfer roller 133, a fixing unit 134, etc.

[0095] Four writing units 131 are arranged in series along the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 132 to form images of C, M, Y, and K colors. Each writing unit 131 has the same structure but differs only in the color of the image it forms, and is configured to include a light scanning unit 131a, a photoreceptor 131b, a developing unit 131c, a charging unit 131d, a cleaning unit 131e, and a primary transfer roller 131f.

[0096] During image formation, in each writing unit 131, after the photoreceptor 131b is charged by the charging unit 131d, a light beam emitted from the light scanning unit 131a based on the original image is used to scan the photoreceptor 131b, forming an electrostatic latent image. If color materials such as toner are supplied through the developing unit 131c and development is performed, an image is formed on the photoreceptor 131b.

[0097] Images formed on the photoreceptors 131b of the four writing sections 131 are sequentially and overlappingly transferred (single transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 132 via the primary transfer rollers 131f. Thus, an image composed of various colors is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 132. The intermediate transfer belt 132 is an image carrier wound around multiple rollers and rotating. After each transfer, residual color material on the photoreceptors 131b is removed by the cleaning section 131e.

[0098] In the image forming section 13, paper as a recording medium is fed from the paper feed tray Tl in coordination with the timing at which the image on the intermediate transfer belt 132 that is rotating reaches the position of the secondary transfer roller 133. In the present embodiment, the paper is a single sheet. For the secondary transfer roller 133, one of the pair is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt 132, and the other constitutes one of the plurality of rollers that wind the intermediate transfer belt 132. If the image is transferred (secondary transfer) from the intermediate transfer belt 132 to the paper by the pressing of the secondary transfer roller 133, the paper is transported to the fixing section 134 to perform fixing processing, and to the post-processing device 20. The fixing processing is processing that fixes the image to the paper by heating and pressing the paper by the fixing roller 134a. In the case where the image is formed on both sides of the paper, after the paper is transported to the reversing path 135 to reverse the paper face, the paper is again fed to the position of the secondary transfer roller 133.

[0099] The storage section 14 is a non-volatile storage unit constituted by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and stores various programs, various setting data, and the like in a manner that enables reading and writing from the control section 11.

[0100] In addition, the storage section 14 stores information related to image formation, that is, information related to the kind of paper (paper kind), the thickness of the paper (paper thickness), the surface roughness, and the fixing temperature in the fixing section 134 (information related to the fixing temperature condition), and the like. The information related to the fixing temperature in the fixing section 134 is used in the processing condition decision processing described later as information related to the paper temperature condition discharged from the image forming device 10.

[0101] In addition, the storage section 14 stores the paper transport speed as the process speed in the process of forming and fixing the image on the paper in the image forming section 13.

[0102] In addition, the storage section 14 stores a first table 141, a second table 142, and a third table 143.

[0103] The first table 141 is a correspondence table of the processing temperature and the processing pressure at the time of lamination processing based on the film thickness of the film F and the basis weight (paper thickness) of the paper. The processing temperature refers to the temperature in the nip portion N2 that is heated by the heating roller 264 described later. The processing pressure refers to the pressure in the nip portion N2 formed by the heating roller 264 and the pressure roller 265.

[0104] The second table 142 is a correspondence table of the correction value of the processing temperature at the time of lamination processing based on the paper kind of the paper.

[0105] The third table 143 is a table of correction values of the processing temperature based on the proportion of the paper on which toner is loaded, i.e., the printing rate, in the formed image.

[0106] In addition, the storage section 14 stores the range of processing conditions in which each film can be subjected to the lamination processing.

[0107] In addition, the storage section 14 stores film selection setting information. The film selection setting information is information in which a selection criterion of which film roll 261 to select is set in a case where the mounting section 25 is provided with a plurality of different kinds of film rolls 261. Specifically, a film roll 261 of a film F of which stability is higher is selected in the lamination processing, a film roll 261 of a film F of which price is lower is selected, or a film roll 261 of a film F of which transparency is higher is selected, and the like.

[0108] The film selection setting information can be information included in a print job received from an external device, or can be input by a user via the operation section 152.

[0109] The operation panel 15 is configured to include a display section 151 that displays various kinds of information to a user, and an operation section 152 that accepts an operation input of the user.

[0110] The display section 151 is configured of a color liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an operation screen or the like (various kinds of setting screens, various kinds of buttons, an operation status of each function, and the like) in accordance with a display control signal input from the control section 11.

[0111] The operation section 152 is configured to include a touch panel provided on a screen of the display section 151, and various kinds of hard keys arranged around the screen of the display section 151. In a case where a button displayed on the screen is pressed by a finger or a touch pen or the like, the operation section 152 detects XY coordinates of a pressed point in terms of a voltage value, and outputs an operation signal in which the detected position is associated to the control section 11. In addition, the touch panel is not limited to a pressure-sensitive type, and can be an electrostatic type, an optical type, or the like, for example. In a case where a hard key is pressed, the operation section 152 outputs an operation signal in which the pressed key is associated to the control section 11. The user can perform an operation on the operation section 152 to perform setting related to image formation such as image quality setting, magnification setting, application setting, output setting, and paper setting, paper conveyance instruction, and stop operation of the device, and the like.

[0112] The communication unit 16 is the interface connecting the image forming apparatus 10 to a communication network. The communication unit 16 includes a communication IC (Integrated Circuit) and a communication connector, and under the control of the control unit 11, it uses a prescribed communication protocol to send and receive various types of information with external devices connected to the communication network. Furthermore, the communication unit 16 can also input and output various types of information via USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0113] The first detection unit 17 is located upstream of the image forming unit 13 on the paper transport path. It detects the type of paper, thickness, and surface roughness, and outputs the detection results to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 stores the received detection results in the storage unit 14.

[0114] The second detection unit 18 detects the temperature and humidity inside or around the image forming system 1 and outputs the detection results to the control unit 11.

[0115] The post-processing device 20 is configured to include a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an overlapping unit 24, a mounting unit 25, a lamination processing unit 26, and a cutting unit 27.

[0116] The control unit 21 is configured to include a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. The CPU reads various processing programs stored in the ROM and expands them in the RAM according to the instruction signals received through the communication unit 23, and controls the operation of the post-processing device 20 in a unified manner by cooperating with the various programs expanded in the RAM.

[0117] The storage unit 22 is a non-volatile storage unit composed of HDD, SSD, etc., which stores various programs, various setting data, etc. in a way that can be read and written from the control unit 21.

[0118] In addition, the storage unit 22 stores information related to the lamination process, that is, information related to the type of film F (film type information). Film type information includes, for example, film thickness.

[0119] The communication unit 23 is the interface connecting the post-processing device 20 to the communication network. The communication unit 23 includes a communication IC and a communication connector, and under the control of the control unit 21, it uses a prescribed communication protocol to send and receive various types of information with external devices connected to the communication network. Furthermore, the communication unit 23 can also input and output various types of information via USB.

[0120] like Figure 1 As shown, the overlapping portion 24 is disposed on the upstream side of the paper transport path compared to the lamination processing portion 26.

[0121] The overlapping section 24 overlaps the rear end of the preceding paper with the front end of the following paper by a predetermined amount, thereby conveying the paper in a continuous strip.

[0122] The mounting section 25 is configured to mount film rolls 261 of different types of films F, and is configured to allow for the selection of any one film roll 261 to be mounted.

[0123] It can also be configured such that any one type of film roll 261 is installed in the mounting section 25, or it can be configured such that two or more types of film rolls 261 are installed in the mounting section 25 at the same time.

[0124] The lamination processing unit 26 performs lamination processing on the surface side of the image formed by the image forming apparatus 10, which continuously adheres the film F to the paper overlapped by the overlap section 24.

[0125] The lamination processing unit 26 is configured to include a film roll 261, a film transport path 262, a bonding unit 263, a heating roller 264, and a pressure roller 265.

[0126] Thin film roll 261 is a two-layer thin film F rolled into a roll shape.

[0127] Film F comprises a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer.

[0128] The film transport path 262 transports the film F from the film roll 261 to the roll gap section N1 of the laminating section 263.

[0129] The configuration is such that when the mounting section 25 is configured to simultaneously mount two or more film rolls 261, it moves along the film transport path 262 so that the film F of the selected film roll 261 is transported to the roller gap section N1 of the laminating section 263.

[0130] like Figure 1 As shown, the bonding section 263 has two rollers, and paper and film F are clamped in the gap N1 formed by the two rollers, while the adhesive layer of film F is bonded to the surface of paper. Thus, paper and film F are bonded together.

[0131] The heating roller 264 has a built-in halogen heater and other heating units.

[0132] The heating roller 264 is pressed against the pressure roller 265 by force applied upward by force-applying components such as springs (not shown in the figure), forming a roller gap N2 where the heating roller 264 and the pressure roller 265 are in contact.

[0133] Heating roller 264 and pressure roller 265 melt the adhesive layer of film F in the roller gap N2, and then bond the melted adhesive layer to the surface of paper by hot pressing.

[0134] The control section 21 controls the temperature of the heating roller 264, the pressure of the press roller 265, and the processing speed at the time of the laminating processing based on the heating roller 264 and the press roller 265.

[0135] The cutting section 27 cuts only the film F by inserting a cutting knife between the paper sheets overlapped by the overlapping section 24, and separates the paper sheets.

[0136] <2. Action of the image forming system>

[0137] Next, the action of the image forming system 1 in the present embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the order of the laminating processing implementation processing executed by the image forming system 1. The post-processing device 20 of the present embodiment has both the film FA and the film FB as the film F.

[0138] In the laminating processing implementation processing, first, the control section 11 of the image forming device 10 implements the processing condition decision processing with respect to the film FA if a print job including the laminating processing is received (step S1). The control section 11 decides the processing conditions at the time of the laminating processing by implementing the processing condition decision processing. The processing conditions refer to the processing temperature, the processing pressure, and the processing speed in the nip portion N2 formed by the heating roller 264 and the press roller 265.

[0139] In Figure 4 shows a flowchart showing the order of the processing condition decision processing.

[0140] In the processing condition decision processing, the control section 11 acquires the paper kind information of the paper sheet from the storage section 14 (step S101).

[0141] Next, the control section 11 determines whether the paper sheet is a paper kind capable of heat processing based on the paper kind information acquired in step S101 (step S102).

[0142] In the case where the paper sheet is a paper kind incapable of heat processing (step S102; No), the control section 11 ends the present processing.

[0143] In the case where the paper sheet is a paper kind capable of heat processing (step S102; Yes), the control section 11 acquires the paper thickness information of the paper sheet from the storage section 14 (step S103).

[0144] This step S103 is the first acquisition process of acquiring information related to image formation.

[0145] Next, the control section 11 acquires the film kind information with respect to the film FA from the storage section 22 of the post-processing device 20 via the communication section 16 (step S104).

[0146] Next, the control section 11 acquires the paper conveyance speed from the storage section 14 as the information related to the lamination processing, that is, the processing speed information (step S105).

[0147] The steps S104 and S105 are the second acquisition process of acquiring the information related to the lamination processing.

[0148] Next, the control section 11 decides the processing pressure and the temporary processing temperature of the lamination processing in the lamination processing section 26 based on the paper thickness information of the paper acquired in the step S103, the film type information acquired in the step S104, and the processing speed information acquired in the step S105 (step S106).

[0149] In Figure 5 An example of the first table is shown. Figure 5 The example shown is a correspondence table of the processing pressure and the processing temperature based on the film thickness of the film F and the basis weight (paper thickness) of the paper in the case where the processing speed is 300 mm / s. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the film FA is, for example, a polypropylene film of a film thickness of 30 μm, and the basis weight of the paper thickness of the paper is 170 g / m 2 .

[0150] In this case, as Figure 5 shown, the processing pressure decided in the step S106 is 2000 N, and the temporary processing temperature decided is 180°C.

[0151] Next, the control section 11 acquires the information related to the image formation in the print job, and corrects the temporary processing temperature decided in the step S106 based on the information related to the image formation (step S107). The control section 11 acquires, for example, the paper type, the paper thickness, the surface roughness of the paper, and the fixing temperature in the fixing section 134 from the storage section 14 as the information related to the image formation. In addition, the control section 11 acquires, for example, the printing rate from the job information of the received job as the information related to the image formation.

[0152] In Figure 6 An example of the second table is shown. In the present embodiment, if the paper is, for example, coated paper, as Figure 6 shown, the correction value of the processing temperature based on the paper type is -5°C.

[0153] In this way, in the case of the paper type in which the heat conduction is difficult, the correction value is set so that the processing temperature becomes a higher temperature. In addition, in the case of the paper type in which the surface roughness is rough, the correction value is similarly set so that the processing temperature becomes a higher temperature. In addition, in the case of the paper type in which the curling and the wrinkling are likely to occur, the correction value is set so that the processing temperature becomes a lower temperature.

[0154] In Figure 7 An example of the third table is shown. In the print job of the present embodiment, if the printing rate is assumed to be, for example, 50%, the correction value of the processing temperature based on the printing rate is +10°C as shown. Figure 7

[0155] Thus, the correction value is set so that the higher the printing rate, the higher the processing temperature becomes.

[0156] Therefore, the processing temperature temporarily decided in step S106, that is, 180°C, the correction value of the processing temperature based on the paper type, that is, -5°C, and the correction value of the processing temperature based on the printing rate, that is, +10°C, are added, and the processing temperature is corrected to 185°C.

[0157] In addition, although the specific correction values based on the paper thickness, the surface roughness, and the fixing temperature in the fixing section 134 are omitted, they are acquired from the table set in advance, like the correction values based on the paper type and the printing rate.

[0158] Next, the control section 11 acquires environmental information from the second detection section 180, and further corrects the processing temperature corrected in step S107 based on the environmental information (step S108). The environmental information acquired in step S108 is, for example, the temperature and the humidity in or around the image forming system 1.

[0159] The correction based on the environmental information is implemented in the case where the environment (for example, the temperature 20°C, the humidity 50%) deviates from the standard environment.

[0160] Although the specific correction values based on the temperature and the humidity are omitted, they can be acquired from the table set in advance like the correction values based on the paper type and the printing rate, or can be calculated.

[0161] Next, the control section 11 determines whether or not the processing speed acquired in step S105, the processing pressure decided in step S106, and the processing temperature corrected in step S108 can be used to perform the lamination processing using the film FA (step S109). The range of the processing conditions (the processing pressure, the processing temperature, and the processing speed) in which the lamination processing can be performed is stored in the storage section 14 in advance for each film type.

[0162] In the case where the lamination processing can be performed (step S109; YES), the control section 11 decides the processing speed acquired in step S105, the processing pressure decided in step S106, and the processing temperature corrected in step S108 as the processing conditions to be implemented in the lamination processing implementation process (step S110), and ends the process.

[0163] ​This step S110 is a decision step of deciding the conditions of the lamination processing of the lamination processing step.

[0164] In addition, in a case where the lamination processing cannot be performed (step S109; No), the control section 11 corrects the processing conditions (step S111), and shifts the present processing to step S109. The correction of the processing conditions means, for example, in a case where the fixing of the film F is insufficient in the lamination processing implementation processing, the processing conditions are corrected so that the processing speed is slower than the processing speed acquired in step S105, and the like.

[0165] In a case where the lamination processing using the film FA is performed with the processing conditions corrected in step S111, in step S110, the control section 11 decides the corrected processing conditions as the processing conditions to be implemented in the lamination processing implementation processing.

[0166] Returning to Figure 3 , the control section 11 implements the processing of deciding the processing conditions with respect to the film FB (step S2). The flow of the processing of deciding the processing conditions with respect to the film FB is the same as that with respect to the film FA, and thus the description is omitted.

[0167] Next, the control section 11 determines whether the processing conditions are decided in steps S1 and S2 (step S3).

[0168] In a case where the processing conditions are not decided in steps S1 and S2 (step S3; No), in other words, in a case where the paper cannot be subjected to the heat processing, the control section 11 ends the present processing.

[0169] In a case where the processing conditions are decided in steps S1 and S2 (step S3; Yes), the control section 11 acquires the film selection setting information from the storage section 14, and selects the film F to be used in the lamination processing implementation processing (step S4).

[0170] In a case where, as the film selection information, for example, the film roll 261 that selects the film F having higher stability in the lamination processing is set, the control section 11 selects one having higher stability between the film FA and the film FB on the basis of the processing conditions decided in steps S1 and S2. Here, specifically, the higher stability means that the processing can be performed at a lower processing temperature, or the width of the selectable processing temperature is wide, and the like. In a case where the film F that can be processed at a lower processing temperature, the heat taken away by the paper is less, and thus the processing temperature is stable. In addition, in a case where the film F that has a wide width of the selectable processing temperature, the occurrence of the defect at the time of the lamination processing is less likely to occur.

[0171] Next, the control section 11 sets the processing conditions decided in step S1 or step S2 for the film F of the selected one in step S4 in the laminating processing section 26 (step S5), performs laminating processing (step S6), and ends the process.

[0172] This step S6 is a laminating processing step.

[0173] Further, although the film F is in a roll shape in the above embodiment, it can be a single sheet of laminated film that has been cut.

[0174] As described above, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment is provided with: an image forming section 13 that forms an image on a recording medium (paper); a laminating processing section 26 that performs laminating processing on a film F on a surface of a recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming section 13; and a control section (control section 11) that acquires information related to image formation by the image forming section 13, and decides conditions for laminating processing by the laminating processing section 26 based on the acquired information related to image formation.

[0175] Therefore, the conditions for laminating processing can be easily set.

[0176] In addition, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the image forming section 13 forms an image by an electrophotographic method.

[0177] Therefore, when laminating processing is performed on a recording medium on which an image has been formed by an electrophotographic method, the conditions for laminating processing can be easily set.

[0178] In addition, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the information related to image formation includes information related to a fixing temperature condition in the image forming section 13.

[0179] Therefore, the conditions for laminating processing based on the fixing temperature condition as a paper temperature condition of a paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 can be easily set.

[0180] In addition, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the information related to image formation includes information related to at least any one of a kind, a thickness, a surface roughness, and a printing rate of a recording medium.

[0181] Therefore, the conditions for laminating processing based on the kind, the thickness, the surface roughness, and the printing rate of a recording medium can be easily set.

[0182] In addition, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the laminating processing section 26 melts the adhesive layer of the film F having a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer, and adheres the melted adhesive layer to a surface of a recording medium.

[0183] Accordingly, lamination processing can be performed with easily set conditions of lamination processing.

[0184] Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, any one of a plurality of films F of different kinds can be selectively attached.

[0185] Accordingly, lamination processing can be performed using a more appropriate film.

[0186] Further, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment has an attachment portion 25 to which a plurality of films F of different kinds can be attached, and a selection portion (control portion 11) to select any one of the films F attached to the attachment portion 25, and the lamination processing portion 26 performs lamination processing using the film F selected by the selection portion.

[0187] Accordingly, a more appropriate film can be automatically selected, and lamination processing can be performed using the more appropriate film.

[0188] Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the film F is a continuous film in a roll shape or a cut film cut to a predetermined size.

[0189] Accordingly, the conditions of lamination processing can be easily set regardless of which of the continuous film and the cut film is used.

[0190] Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the control portion 11 acquires information related to lamination processing, and determines the conditions of lamination processing based on information related to image formation and information related to lamination processing.

[0191] Accordingly, the conditions of lamination processing can be easily set based on information related to image formation and information related to lamination processing.

[0192] Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the information related to lamination processing includes information related to the kind or processing speed of the film F.

[0193] Accordingly, the conditions of lamination processing can be easily set based on information related to the kind or processing speed of the film F.

[0194] Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the conditions of lamination processing include at least any one of a processing temperature, a processing pressure, and a processing speed.

[0195] Accordingly, the processing temperature, the processing pressure, and the processing speed as the conditions of lamination processing can be easily set.

[0196] In addition, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 11 determines the processing pressure and temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the type of thin film F and the processing speed.

[0197] Therefore, the lamination process conditions can be easily set based on the type of film F and the processing speed.

[0198] Furthermore, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 11 adjusts the temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the type, thickness, surface roughness, printing rate, and environmental information of the recording medium, with the type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate of the recording medium serving as information related to image forming.

[0199] Therefore, a more appropriate processing temperature can be determined based on the type, thickness, surface roughness, printing rate, and environmental information of the recording medium.

[0200] Furthermore, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 having an image forming section 13 and the post-processing apparatus 20 having a lamination processing section 26 are directly or indirectly connected.

[0201] Therefore, in an image forming system where the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus are directly or indirectly connected, the conditions for lamination can be easily set.

[0202] Furthermore, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, at least one of the image forming unit 13, the lamination processing unit 26, and the control unit 11 is independent and connected to the other two units in a communicable manner.

[0203] Therefore, in an image forming system in which at least one of the image forming unit 13, the lamination processing unit 26, and the control unit 11 is independent and connected to the other two units in a communicative manner, the conditions for lamination processing can be easily set.

[0204] The above description is based on the embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified within the scope of its spirit.

[0205] For example, in the above embodiments, lamination is performed on the surface of the recording medium, but it is not limited to this. Lamination may also be performed on not only one side of the recording medium as a whole, or only a part of it, or on not only one side but also both sides.

[0206] In addition, in the above embodiments, the paper is a single sheet of paper, but it can also be a continuous sheet of paper.

[0207] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the option configuration in which the post-processing device 20 is installed separately from the image forming apparatus 10 is adopted, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the post-processing device 20 can be built in the image forming apparatus 10.

[0208] In addition, although the lamination processing implementation process and the processing condition decision process in the above-described embodiment are executed by the control section 11, the present application is not limited thereto. These processes can be executed by the control section 21 of the post-processing device 20, or by the control section of an external device that is communicatively connected to the image forming apparatus 10 or the post-processing device 20.

[0209] In addition, although the image forming section 13 forms an image by an electrophotographic method in the above-described embodiment, the image can be formed by an inkjet method.

[0210] In addition, although the kind of paper (paper kind), the thickness (paper thickness), and the surface roughness of the paper, which are information related to image formation, are detected by the first detection section 17 and the control section 11 acquires the detection results in the above-described embodiment, the present application is not limited thereto. The control section 11 can acquire the kind of paper, the thickness, and the surface roughness of the paper, which are information related to image formation, that are set in advance in a print job. In addition, the control section 11 can acquire the kind of paper, the thickness, and the surface roughness of the paper, which are information related to image formation, by input from a user via the operation section 152.

[0211] In addition, although the information related to the fixing temperature in the fixing section 134 is used as the information related to the paper temperature condition discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 in the processing condition decision process in the above-described embodiment, the present application is not limited thereto. The image forming system 1 can be provided with a detection section that detects the temperature of the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 10, and the detection result of the detection section can be used as the information related to the paper temperature condition discharged from the image forming apparatus 10.

[0212] In addition, the detailed configuration of each device constituting the image forming apparatus and the detailed operation of each device can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present application.

Claims

1. An image forming system, wherein, have: The image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium; The lamination processing unit performs lamination processing on the surface of the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit; and The control unit acquires information related to image formation in the image forming unit and information related to the lamination process described above, and determines the lamination process conditions of the lamination process unit based on the acquired information related to image formation and information related to lamination process described above.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, The image forming unit described above forms an image using an electronic photograph method.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein, The information related to the above image formation includes information related to the fixing temperature conditions in the above image forming unit.

4. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The information related to the formation of the above image includes information related to at least one of the type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate of the above recording medium.

5. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The lamination process melts the adhesive layer of the film having a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer, and then bonds the melted adhesive layer to the surface of the recording medium.

6. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, It can selectively install any one of several different types of films.

7. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, have: The mounting section is capable of mounting multiple films of different types; and The selection unit allows for the selection of any one film from among the multiple films installed in the aforementioned mounting unit. The lamination process described above uses the film selected by the selection process described above for lamination.

8. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The aforementioned film is either a continuous film in rolls or a cut film to a specified size.

9. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, Information related to the above-mentioned lamination process includes information related to the type of film or the processing speed.

10. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The conditions for the above-mentioned lamination process include at least one of the following: processing temperature, processing pressure, and processing speed.

11. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, The control unit determines the processing pressure and temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the types of films and processing speeds.

12. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein, The control unit adjusts the temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the type, thickness, surface roughness, printing rate, and environmental information of the recording medium, wherein the type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate of the recording medium are information related to the formation of the image.

13. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned image forming section and the post-processing apparatus having the above-mentioned lamination processing section are directly or indirectly connected.

14. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, At least one of the image forming unit, the lamination processing unit, and the control unit is independent and connected to the other two units in a communicative manner.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing a program, wherein, The above procedure causes the computer of the image forming system to execute: The lamination process involves laminating a thin film onto the surface of a recording medium on which the image has been formed. The first acquisition process involves acquiring information related to image formation; The second acquisition process involves acquiring information related to the aforementioned lamination process. as well as The lamination process is determined based on the information related to image formation obtained through the first acquisition process and the information related to lamination obtained through the second acquisition process, and the conditions for lamination are determined for the lamination process.

16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein, The aforementioned recording medium is a recording medium that forms an image through electronic photography.

17. The storage medium according to claim 16, wherein, The information related to the above image formation includes information related to the fixing temperature conditions in the image forming section of the recording medium in which the image is formed.

18. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein, The information related to the formation of the above image includes information related to at least one of the type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate of the above recording medium.

19. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein, The above-described lamination process melts the adhesive layer of the film having a transparent resin film layer and an adhesive layer, and then bonds the melted adhesive layer to the surface of the recording medium.

20. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein, It can selectively install any one of several different types of films.

21. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein, The above image forming system has: The mounting section is capable of mounting multiple films of different types; and The selection unit allows for the selection of any one film from among the multiple films installed in the aforementioned mounting unit. The above-mentioned lamination process uses the film selected by the above-mentioned selection unit for lamination.

22. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein, The aforementioned film is either a continuous film in rolls or a cut film to a specified size.

23. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein, Information related to the above-mentioned lamination process includes information related to the type of film or the processing speed.

24. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein, The conditions for the above-mentioned lamination process include at least one of the following: processing temperature, processing pressure, and processing speed.

25. The storage medium according to any one of claims 15 to 24, wherein, The above-mentioned decision-making process determines the processing pressure and temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the above-mentioned film type and processing speed.

26. The storage medium according to claim 25, wherein, The aforementioned decision-making process adjusts the aforementioned temporary processing temperature based on at least one of the aforementioned recording medium type, thickness, surface roughness, printing rate, and environmental information, wherein the aforementioned recording medium type, thickness, surface roughness, and printing rate are information related to the aforementioned image formation.

Images