Image formation device, information processor and control method of them, and printer driver and storage medium

Abstract

To solve the problem that in a case in which sheets are crimped using a punched sheet, when a crimped pattern is formed similarly to a normal sheet case, the crimped pattern is formed even in a punched part and toner is mounted thereon, so an intermediate transfer belt and a secondary transfer belt are contaminated.SOLUTION: An image formation device capable of mounting a crimped part where sheets can be bonded by thermal compressing detects whether the crimped part is mounted on the image formation device. The device determines whether setting for crimping the sheets is performed on received printing data, when detecting that the crimped part is mounted thereon and detecting that setting for crimping the sheets is set thereon, generates a crimped pattern for crimping the sheets on the basis of printing setting of the printing data, and forms an image on the sheet on the basis of image data based on the printing data and the crimped pattern.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, a printer driver, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] There are two types of sheets used in printing: pre-punched paper, which is punched from the beginning, and plain paper, which is not punched. When printing on pre-punched paper, if an image is drawn on the punched areas, toner will also be placed on the punched areas during transfer. Patent Document 1 describes a technology that recognizes the shape of the punched areas so that toner does not get on the punched areas, and performs masking processing to prevent toner from getting on the punched areas. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-173110 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When sheets are pressed together, adhesive toner is placed on the parts of the sheets to be bonded, and the toner is melted to bond the sheets together by the adhesive force of the toner. When using normal sheets for such sheet-to-sheet bonding, a band-shaped bonding pattern for bonding is formed on the parts of the sheets to be bonded using adhesive toner.

[0005] On the other hand, when punched sheets are used to bond sheets together, if a bonding pattern is formed in the same way as with normal sheets, the punched parts are also formed with a bonding pattern, and toner is placed on them, so the intermediate transfer belt and secondary transfer belt become dirty. This requires more frequent cleaning, which may reduce work efficiency.

[0006] In addition, when printing with normal sheets that do not include punched portions, if the sheets are set to be pressed together and punched, the pressing pattern causes toner to adhere to the vicinity of the punched holes. Therefore, when heat is applied to the pressing pattern in the pressing section, the melted toner may leak through the punched holes, causing the pressing section that presses the sheets together to become dirty.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the prior art described above.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that prevents staining of sheets or device parts due to leakage of recording agent from punch holes, for example, when the sheet contains punch holes or when print settings are configured such that the printed sheet is punched. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration: An image forming apparatus capable of mounting a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, a detection means for detecting whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A determination means for determining whether or not the received print data includes a setting for pressing the sheets together; a generating means for generating a bonding pattern for bonding the sheets together based on a print setting of the print data when the detecting means detects that the bonding unit is installed and the determining means determines that a setting for bonding the sheets together is set; and forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data based on the print data and the pressure bonding pattern. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, for example, when a sheet includes punch holes or when a print setting is made such that a printed sheet is punched, it is possible to prevent the sheet or parts of the device from being soiled by leakage of recording agent from the punch holes.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a main hardware configuration of a PC according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a buffer unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating a thermocompression bonding operation performed by a thermocompression bonding unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing examples of toner images formed on a sheet. [Figure 7] 5 is a view showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on a display by a printer driver of a PC according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing examples of pressure bonding patterns for bonding punched sheets together without soiling a transfer drum, a secondary transfer drum, a sheet bonding device, and the like. [Figure 10]5 is a flowchart for explaining a process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on a display by a printer driver of a PC according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] 11 is a flowchart for explaining a process in a printer driver according to a third embodiment, which prevents a setting for selecting a punched sheet as the print paper and a setting for pressing the sheets together from being performed simultaneously. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0014] In this specification, the term "image forming apparatus" broadly includes apparatuses that form (record) images on recording materials (recording media), such as single-function printers, copiers, multifunction machines, commercial printing machines, etc. The image forming apparatus may also be a system (image forming system) that connects an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a recording material with devices such as a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet feeding apparatus.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] This printing system has a PC (personal computer) 100, which is an information processing device, and an image forming device 1100, which are connected by a communication line 150 such as a LAN (local area network) or a USB (universal serial bus). The PC 100 may be, for example, a mobile terminal (electronic device such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) or a mobile phone). The communication line 150 is not limited to wired communication and may be wireless communication.

[0017] FIG. 2(a) is a block diagram illustrating the main hardware configuration of the PC 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0018] The PC 100 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a network IF (interface) 24, a display (display unit) 25, a keyboard 26, a pointing device 27, and a HDD (hard disk drive) 28. The CPU 21 and each of the above devices are connected via a bus 29. The CPU 21 loads and executes programs stored in the HDD 28 and the ROM 23 in the RAM 22, thereby controlling the entire PC 100 and executing each process described below. The RAM 22 includes an area for temporarily recording programs and data read from the HDD 28 and loaded therein. The RAM 22 also includes a work area for programs and data received from an external device via the network IF 24, and for use when the CPU 21 executes various processes. The ROM 23 stores a boot program, setting data for each hardware device constituting the PC 100, and the like. The network IF 24 functions as an interface unit for connecting the PC 100 to a communication line 150, and the PC 100 can perform data communication with the external device via the network IF 24 and the communication line 150. The type of network IF 24 does not matter.

[0019] The display 25 is, for example, a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and can display the processing result of the CPU 21 (for example, a print setting screen described later) in the form of images or characters. The keyboard 26 and the pointing device 27 are typical examples of input devices, and function as a user interface for inputting various instructions to the CPU 21. The types of input devices are not limited to these. If the display 25 has a touch panel function, the display 25 also functions as an input device. The HDD 28 stores an OS (operating system), a document creation program, a printer driver and tables described later, and the like. The HDD 28 may be another storage device such as an SSD (solid state drive) as long as it can store data. The PC 100 creates a document by expanding and executing the installed operating system and each program in the RAM 22, and then transmits print information to the image forming apparatus 1100 via the communication line 150 through the printer driver when printing the document.

[0020] FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the first embodiment.

[0021] The image forming apparatus 1100 has a CPU 200 as a central processing unit. The CPU 200 is connected to a ROM 201, a RAM 202, and a HDD 203 via a bus 210. The CPU 200 performs an image forming operation by expanding various programs stored in the ROM 201 into the RAM 202 and executing them. In addition, various control data used by the CPU 200 during the image forming operation is stored in the RAM 202. The image forming apparatus 1100 also has an HDD 203 for holding print data. Furthermore, a printing unit 204, an operation unit 205, a conveying unit 206, and a pressing unit 207 are connected via a bus 210. When the CPU 200 receives a request to start an image forming operation via the operation unit 205 or the network IF 208, the CPU 200 controls the conveying unit 206 and the like to perform a paper conveying operation, and controls the printing unit 204 to perform a printing operation. Depending on the setting, the CPU 200 also controls the pressing unit 207 to perform a paper pressing operation.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the first embodiment.

[0023] The image forming apparatus 1100 has a printer main body 1101 as an image forming apparatus main body equipped with an image forming function (printing function), and can be connected to a sheet processing apparatus 1106 that can be equipped with a sheet bonding device capable of thermocompression bonding sheets together as an option. In other words, the image forming apparatus 1100 can be said to be an image forming system that includes the printer main body 1101 that functions as an image forming apparatus by itself, and the sheet processing apparatus 1106.

[0024] The image forming apparatus 1100 according to the first embodiment can perform printing and binding in one apparatus to create a booklet by forming an image on each sheet S in the printer main body 1101 and thermocompressing the multiple sheets S in the sheet processing apparatus 1106. Note that the sheets S can be made of a variety of sheet materials of different sizes and materials, such as paper such as plain paper or thick paper, sheet materials with a surface treatment such as coated paper, plastic film, cloth, or sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper.

[0025] First, we will explain the configuration of the printer body 1101. The printer body 1101 includes the printing unit 204 and the transport unit 206 shown in FIG.

[0026] The printer main body 1101 is an electrophotographic device equipped with a housing 1101A and an electrophotographic image forming unit 1101B housed inside the housing 1101A. The image forming unit 1101B is equipped with an intermediate transfer belt 1108 as an intermediate transfer body, process cartridges arranged along the intermediate transfer belt 1108, a scanner unit 1104 as an exposure means, and a primary transfer roller 1107. The process cartridges have four colors, yellow 1195y, magenta 1195m, cyan 1195c, and black 1195k, and each contains toner as a recording agent of the corresponding color.

[0027] The process cartridge 1195k uses black toner Tk to create a monochrome image corresponding to the black component of a color image. The process cartridge 1195y uses yellow toner Ty to create a monochrome image corresponding to the yellow component of a color image. The process cartridge 1195m uses magenta toner Tm to create a monochrome image corresponding to the magenta component of a color image. The process cartridge 1195c uses cyan toner Tc to create a monochrome image corresponding to the cyan component of a color image.

[0028] The process cartridge 1195 includes a photosensitive drum 1102 as an image carrier, a charging device 1103 as a charging means, and a developing unit 1105 as a developing means. Although only the process cartridge 1195k is shown in Fig. 3, the process cartridges 1195y, 1195m, and 1195c also have the same structure. Monochrome images created in each of the process cartridges 1195y, 1195m, 1195c, and 1195k are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 1108 so as to be superimposed on each other, and then secondarily transferred onto a sheet in a secondary transfer section.

[0029] The developing unit 1105 includes a developing roller 1105a as a developing means and a toner container 1105b that contains toner (developer). The developing roller 1105a is rotatably supported by the toner container 1105b. Although only the developing unit 1105 in the process cartridge 1195k is shown in FIG. 3, the process cartridges 1195y, 1195m, and 1195c have the same structure.

[0030] The process cartridges 1195y, 1195m, 1195c, and 1195k are detachable from the housing 1101A. The "housing 1101A" of the printer body 1101 refers to the printer body 1101 excluding the process cartridges 1195. The housing 1101A includes frame members such as a metal frame that constitute the frame of the printer body 1101 and members fixed to the frame, and forms an installation space into which the process cartridge 1195 is installed.

[0031] The printer main body 1101 can use at least one of the toners of multiple colors as a toner for adhering sheets together. For example, black toner Tk can be used both as a toner for recording an image on a sheet and as an adhesive toner (first recording material). In this case, the process cartridge 1195k creates a monochrome image corresponding to the black component of the color image and an adhesive toner image 39 (FIG. 6) to be transferred to the adhesive area of ​​the sheet. Here, the adhesive toner is a toner with a higher adhesive ability than normal toner (second recording material).

[0032] A scanner unit 1104 serving as an exposure unit is disposed below the process cartridge 1195 within the housing 1101A. A cassette 1113 (also called a sheet tray or storage) serving as a storage unit for storing sheets S used in image formation is attached to the housing 1101A so as to be removable below the scanner unit 1104. Furthermore, one or more optional sheet feeding devices 1130 including additional cassettes 1113 may be connected below the housing 1101A.

[0033] The intermediate transfer belt 1108 is a movable (rotatable) endless belt stretched around a drive roller 1109a, a tension roller 1109b, and a tension roller 1110, which rotate around parallel axes. The intermediate transfer belt 1108 is moved (rotated, conveyed) counterclockwise in the figure by the rotation of the drive roller 1109a. A primary transfer roller 1107 as a primary transfer member is disposed on the inner circumference side of the intermediate transfer belt 1108 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1102 via the intermediate transfer belt 1108. A secondary transfer roller 1111 as a transfer member (secondary transfer member) is disposed on the outer circumference side of the intermediate transfer belt 1108 at a position facing the drive roller 1109a via the intermediate transfer belt 1108. A secondary transfer portion as a transfer portion is formed as a nip portion between the intermediate transfer belt 1108 and the secondary transfer roller 1111. The intermediate transfer belt 1108, the primary transfer roller 1107, and the secondary transfer roller 1111 constitute a transfer unit (transfer means) for transferring a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1102, which is an image carrier, onto the sheet S.

[0034] A fixing device 1118 is disposed above the secondary transfer unit in the housing 1101A as a fixing means. The fixing device 1118 has a thermal fixing configuration in which a toner image is fixed by heating. The fixing device 1118 has a pair of rotating bodies (e.g., a pair of rollers including a fixing roller and a pressure roller) that sandwich and transport the sheet S, and a heat source (e.g., a halogen lamp or an induction heating mechanism) that heats the toner image on the sheet S via the fixing roller.

[0035] When the printer main body 1101 performs an image forming operation, a sheet S is fed by a feed roller 1114 as a feeding means from a cassette 1113 at the bottom of the housing 1101A or from a cassette 1113 of a sheet feeding device 1130. A separation roller pair 1115 separates and conveys the fed sheet S one by one. The sheet S is conveyed by a pull-out roller 1116 toward a registration roller pair 1117, and the leading edge of the sheet S hits a nip portion of the registration roller pair 1117 in a stopped state, correcting the skew of the sheet S. The registration roller pair 1117 sends the sheet S to a secondary transfer unit at a timing synchronized with the progress of the toner image creation process by the image forming unit 1101B.

[0036] Meanwhile, in the image forming section 1101B, a photosensitive drum 1102 and an intermediate transfer belt 1108 rotate. A charging device 1103 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1102. A scanner unit 1104 irradiates the photosensitive drum 1102 with laser light based on image information representing an image to be recorded on a sheet S, and writes an electrostatic latent image. This electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized) as a toner image by a developing unit 1105 using toner.

[0037] When the sheet processing device 1106 performs thermocompression bonding, which will be described later, the scanner unit 1104 writes an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the photosensitive drum 1102 with laser light based on information indicating the adhesion position of the sheet S. This electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing unit 1105 in the process cartridge 1195k, so that an adhesive toner image is formed in an area on the photosensitive drum 1102 corresponding to the adhesion position on the sheet S.

[0038] Monochrome images formed on the photosensitive drums 1102 in the process cartridges 1195y, 1195m, 1195c, and 1195k are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 1108 so as to be superimposed on each other. The images are then conveyed toward a secondary transfer section by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 1108. In the secondary transfer section, a voltage is applied to a secondary transfer roller 1111, whereby a toner image is transferred (secondary transfer) onto a sheet S fed from a pair of registration rollers 1117. The sheet S that has passed through the secondary transfer section is sent to a fixing device 1118, where the toner image is heated and pressurized while passing through a nip portion between a fixing roller and a pressure roller, softening the toner, and then fixing the image onto the sheet S.

[0039] The conveying path of the sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 1118 is switched by a switching unit 1119. In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet S is guided to a discharge path 1190 by the switching unit 1119, and is discharged from the housing 1101A by a pair of discharge rollers 1191. In the first embodiment, the printer body 1101 is connected to the sheet processing device 1106 via a relay conveying unit 1192. The sheet S discharged from the pair of discharge rollers 1191 is delivered to the sheet processing device 1106 via a pair of conveying rollers 1193 and 1194 of the relay conveying unit 1192. In addition, when the relay conveying unit 1192 and the sheet processing device 1106 are not connected, the pair of discharge rollers 1191 discharges the sheet S as a product onto a stacking tray 1135 provided at the top of the housing 1101A.

[0040] In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet S with an image formed on its first side is guided to a pair of reversing rollers r1 by a switching unit 1119. Then, the sheet S is reversed and conveyed (switchback conveyed) by the pair of reversing rollers r1, and then conveyed via a double-sided conveying path r2 toward a pair of registration rollers 1117. Then, the sheet S passes through a secondary transfer unit and a fixing device 1118, whereby an image is formed on a second side opposite to the first side, and then the sheet S is discharged from the housing 1101A by a pair of discharge rollers 1191.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a toner image formed on a sheet S. As shown in FIG.

[0042] The illustrated sheet S is formed with a toner image (recording toner image) 38 for recording images such as text, figures, and photographs, and a toner image (adhesive toner image) 39 for adhering sheets together. The position, shape, size, etc. of the adhesive toner image 39 can be changed in accordance with the configuration of a thermocompression bonding unit 1167, which will be described later.

[0043] When the image forming apparatus 1100 produces a booklet with single-sided printing, the adhesive toner image 39 is formed on only one side (the same side as the recording toner image) of the sheet S. When the image forming apparatus 1100 produces a booklet with double-sided printing, the adhesive toner image 39 may be formed on only one side of the sheet S or on both sides of the sheet S.

[0044] Next, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 1106 will be described.

[0045] The sheet processing apparatus 1106 has a buffer section 1120 as a buffer means for stacking a plurality of sheets S, an alignment section 1156 as an alignment means for aligning the plurality of sheets S, and a thermocompression bonding section 1167 for thermocompression bonding the sheets S together. The thermocompression bonding section 1167 corresponds to the compression bonding section 207 in Fig. 1 and is an example of a sheet bonding apparatus (compression section, bonding unit, thermocompression bonding means, lamination processing section) for bonding sheets together. The sheet processing apparatus 1106 also has an upper discharge tray 1125 and a lower discharge tray 1137, which can be raised and lowered, as discharge destinations for discharging the product of the image forming apparatus 1100.

[0046] The sheet processing device 1106 is a sheet processing device that receives a plurality of sheets S on which images are formed one by one by the printer body 1101, performs a bonding process (thermocompression bonding) and discharges the sheets as a sheet bundle (booklet). The buffer unit 1120, the alignment unit 1156, and the thermocompression bonding unit 1167 will be described in detail later. The sheet processing device 1106 can also discharge the sheets S on which images are formed by the printer body 1101 to the upper discharge tray 1125 or the lower discharge tray 1137 without performing any processing.

[0047] Next, the configuration of the buffer section 1120 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the cross section of the buffer section 1120.

[0048] The buffer unit 1120 includes an inlet roller pair 1121, a pre-buffer roller pair 1122, a check valve 1123, a reverse roller pair 1124, and an inner discharge roller pair 1126. The buffer unit 1120 also includes an inlet sensor 1127 that detects a sheet, and a separation mechanism including a plunger solenoid 1145 or the like for opening and closing (contacting and separating) the reverse roller pair 1124.

[0049] The entrance roller pair 1121, the pre-buffer roller pair 1122, the reversing roller pair 1124, and the inner discharge roller pair 1126 are roller pairs that sandwich and transport a sheet. The entrance roller pair 1121 and the pre-buffer roller pair 1122 are disposed on a transport path (entrance path) for the sheet processing device 1106 to receive the sheet S. The reversing roller pair 1124 is disposed on a transport path (first discharge path, see FIG. 3) that communicates with the upper discharge tray 1125. The inner discharge roller pair 1126 is disposed on a transport path (inner discharge path, see FIG. 3) from the reversing roller pair 1124 toward the thermocompression bonding unit 1167. The sheet processing device 1106 includes a transport path (second discharge path, see FIG. 3) from the thermocompression bonding unit 1167 toward the lower discharge tray 1137.

[0050] The entrance path is formed by the entrance upper guide 1140 and the entrance lower guide 1141 in FIG. 4. The first discharge path is formed by the inverting upper guide 1142 and the inverting lower guide 1143. The inner discharge path is formed by the inner discharge upper guide 1146 and the inner discharge lower guide 1147. The entrance sensor 1127 is disposed so as to detect the sheet received by the entrance roller pair 1121. The entrance sensor 1127 may be, for example, a reflective photosensor that irradiates infrared light onto the entrance path through an opening provided in the entrance upper guide 1140 and detects the reflected light from the sheet to determine the presence or absence of the sheet S. The entrance lower guide 1141 may be provided with a hole larger than the spot diameter of the infrared light emitted by the entrance sensor 1127 so as not to reflect the infrared light when no sheet is passing through the entrance path.

[0051] The check valve 1123 is disposed downstream of the pre-buffer roller pair 1122 in the sheet conveying direction in the entrance path. The check valve 1123 is disposed rotatably about a rotation shaft 1123a with respect to the inner discharge upper guide 1146. The check valve 1123 is movable between a first position that prevents the sheet from moving (backflowing) from the first discharge path to the entrance path and a second position that allows the sheet to move from the entrance path to the first discharge path. The check valve 1123 is biased in the C2 direction from the second position toward the first position by a spring (not shown). The check valve 1123 is configured to move in the C1 direction from the first position toward the second position when pressed by the sheet, and to return to the first position when the sheet passes through.

[0052] When viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the check valve 1123, the tip of the check valve 1123 in the first position overlaps with the inverted upper guide 1142. In addition, the tip of the check valve 1123 is formed in a comb shape so as to enable overlap with the inverted upper guide 1142. In addition, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis of the check valve 1123, a space is formed between the check valve 1123 in the second position and the inverted upper guide 1142, allowing the sheet to pass through.

[0053] The pair of reversing rollers 1124 includes an upper reversing roller 1124a and a lower reversing roller 1124b, and driving force is supplied to both rollers. The upper reversing roller 1124a and the lower reversing roller 1124b are configured to rotate in sync at all times. A separation lever 1144 is connected to the upper reversing roller 1124a. The separation lever 1144 is supported rotatably about a lever fulcrum shaft 1144a relative to the upper reversing guide 1142. The separation lever 1144 is rotatably connected to a plunger solenoid 1145 at a solenoid connection shaft 1144b.

[0054] When a current flows through the plunger solenoid 1145, the core moves in the direction D1 in the figure, and the separation lever 1144 rotates in the direction E1 in the figure. In this case, the pair of reversing rollers 1124 is in a separated state (a state in which the nip portion is opened) in which the upper reversing roller 1124a and the lower reversing roller 1124b are separated from each other. Also, when the current flowing through the plunger solenoid 1145 is stopped, the upper reversing roller 1124a moves in the direction E2 due to the biasing force of the pressure spring 1148, and the core of the plunger solenoid 1145 moves in the direction D2. In this case, the pair of reversing rollers 1124 is in an abutting state (a state in which the upper reversing roller 1124a and the lower reversing roller 1124b are in contact with each other (a state in which the nip portion is formed).

[0055] As described below, the buffer unit 1120 performs an operation of stacking newly conveyed sheets on the sheets (stack) while reciprocating the sheets (stack) between the pair of reversing rollers 1124 and the pair of inner discharge rollers 1126. By this operation, the buffer unit 1120 can send the sheets to the alignment unit 1156 in a state where a predetermined number of sheets (for example, five sheets) are stacked.

[0056] 3, the stack of sheets stacked in the buffer unit 1120 is transported from an inner discharge roller pair 1126 through an intermediate transport roller pair 1128 to a kick-out roller pair 1129. The sheet stack is then transported by the kick-out roller pair 1129 to an alignment unit 1156 (intermediate stacking unit, processing stage) consisting of an intermediate upper guide 1151, an intermediate lower guide 1152, etc. In addition, downstream of the kick-out roller pair 1129, a bundle holding flag 1150 is disposed to suppress lifting of the trailing end of the stacked sheets so that the trailing end of the sheets already stacked in the alignment unit 1156 does not interfere with the leading end of the succeeding sheet transported to the alignment unit 1156.

[0057] Figures 5(a) to 5(f) are diagrams illustrating the thermocompression bonding operation by the thermocompression bonding unit 1167 according to embodiment 1. Each of Figures 5(a) to 5(f) is a diagram of the thermocompression bonding unit 1167 as viewed in the sheet conveying direction (Y direction).

[0058] 5A shows a state where the alignment of the sheets S1 to S5 in the sheet conveying direction (Y direction) is completed. In this state, the heater portion 1171 is located at a position separated from the sheet stack in the Z direction.

[0059] 5B shows a state where the alignment of the sheets S1 to S5 in the width direction is completed. The sheets S1 to S5 are aligned in the sheet width direction (X direction) by being abutted against width alignment reference plates 1172a and 1172b.

[0060] FIG. 5C shows a state in which the heater portion 1171 moves in the pressure direction (-Z side) due to forward rotation of the motor, and the contact surface 1169a of the pressure plate 1169 abuts against the uppermost sheet S5.

[0061] Fig. 5(d) shows a state in which the sheets S1 to S5 are being thermocompression-bonded while being sandwiched between the pressure plate 1169 and the receiving plate 1180 by continuing to drive the motor. Fig. 5(d) also shows a state in which the next sheets S6 to S10 are being conveyed to the alignment section 1156 in parallel with the thermocompression-bonding of the sheets S1 to S5.

[0062] Fig. 5(e) shows a state in which, after the thermocompression bonding of sheets S1 to S5 is completed, the heater unit 1171 moves (retreats) to the opposite side of the pressure direction (+Z side) due to reverse rotation of the motor, and the pressure plate 1169 moves away from sheet S5. Fig. 5(e) also shows a state in which the next sheets S6 to S10 are aligned, and sheets S1 to S5 are abutted against width alignment reference plates 1172a and 1172b after the heater unit 1171 has retreated.

[0063] 5(f) shows a state in which the heater unit 1171 moves again in the pressure direction (-Z side) due to the forward rotation of the motor, sheets S1 to S10 are sandwiched between the pressure plate 1169 and the receiving plate 1180, and sheets S6 to S10 are being thermocompression-bonded together. Here, an adhesive toner image is formed on the upper surface of sheet S5 and / or the lower surface of sheet S6, so that the sheet stack made up of sheets S1 to S5 and the sheet stack made up of sheets S6 to S10 are thermocompression-bonded together.

[0064] In this way, the thermocompression bonding unit 1167 can create a booklet consisting of more than the predetermined number of sheets by performing one thermocompression operation each time a stack of a predetermined number of sheets is aligned by the alignment unit 1156. Here, an example in which a booklet consisting of 10 sheets S1 to S10 is created has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a booklet consisting of several tens of sheets or more can also be created.

[0065] When the thermocompression bonding of all sheets constituting a part of a booklet is completed, the booklet consisting of sheets S1 to S10 is pushed out by the vertical alignment reference plate and transported in the sheet transport direction toward the pair of bundle discharge rollers 1136 (FIG. 3) (-Y side). In other words, the vertical alignment reference plate is an example of a pushing member that pushes out the sheet bundle from the alignment unit 1156 and the thermocompression bonding unit 1167. Note that a pushing member that pushes out the processed sheet bundle may be provided separately from the vertical alignment reference plate that serves as a reference for aligning the sheet bundle.

[0066] The bundle discharge roller pair 1136 is a roller pair that can be opened and closed (capable of contact and separation), and receives a booklet in a separated state. After the leading edge of the booklet in the direction in which the vertical alignment reference plate pushes the booklet passes the position of the bundle discharge roller pair 1136, the movement of the vertical alignment reference plate is stopped, and the bundle discharge roller pair 1136 is switched to the contact state. As a result, the bundle discharge roller pair 1136 clamps and transports the booklet, and discharges it onto the lower discharge tray 1137. Meanwhile, the vertical alignment reference plate returns to the standby position again after delivering the booklet to the bundle discharge roller pair 1136.

[0067] With such a configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a sheet bonding device, a sheet processing device, and an image forming apparatus that are capable of bonding sheets together more stably.

[0068] FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen 700 displayed on the display 25 by the printer driver of the PC 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0069] The printer driver is a print control program installed in the PC 100, and is executed by the CPU 21. The printer driver is also called from a document program also installed in the PC 100, and generates print information consisting of print setting commands for printing and drawing data commands to be printed. The print information generated by the CPU 21 using the printer driver is sent to the image forming apparatus 1100 connected via the communication line 150 by the CPU 21 using an OS (operating system), and print processing and sheet processing are performed. This print setting screen 700 is displayed on a display device such as the display 25 based on an instruction from the CPU 21, and the user performs print settings via this screen using an input device such as a pointing device or a keyboard.

[0070] The print setting screen 700 provides basic print settings such as document size 701, paper size 702, number of copies 703, print by copy 704, and print orientation 705. In addition, as an extended print function, it is possible to set page layout 706 for setting layout printing, single-sided / double-sided / bookbinding 707 for setting single-sided, double-sided, bookbinding printing, and binding direction 708 for setting the binding direction of the printed matter. Furthermore, the print setting screen 700 has a control for binding method 709 for setting the binding method for the printed matter. The print setting screen 700 in FIG. 7(a) shows a screen when the binding method 709 is set, and it is possible to set "none" 711 for no binding, "staple" 712 for stapling, and "press" 713 for thermo-press bonding. "Press" is selected in FIG. 7(a).

[0071] FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for specifying a position to which the binding method set in the binding method 709 is applied, which is displayed on the display 25 based on an instruction from the CPU 21 when the position specification 710 button in FIG. 7(a) is pressed.

[0072] When crimping 713 is set in binding method 709, a crimping position designation screen 720 as shown in Fig. 7(b) is displayed. In this crimping position designation screen 720, the user can set a crimping position 721. Here, radio buttons of crimping positions that can be set are displayed in a valid state, and radio buttons of crimping positions that cannot be set are displayed in an invalid state. The user designates a desired crimping position from among the valid crimping position radio buttons. The example of Fig. 7(b) shows a state in which the "left side" is set, with three valid positions available for setting: upper left, lower left, and left side.

[0073] When the bonding 713 is set in the binding method 709, the CPU 21 uses the printer driver to write a command to perform thermo-compression bonding at the position set in the bonding position 721 in Fig. 7(b) to the printing information. As a result, the bonding unit 207 of the image forming apparatus 1100 that received the printing information performs the bonding process at the bonding position.

[0074] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation unit 205 of the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the first embodiment.

[0075] A user can input and set various conditions and information to the image forming apparatus 1100 via this operation unit 205. Fig. 8(a) is a top view of the operation unit 205. The display unit 301 is a touch panel display, and can display a menu screen for copying, for example, as shown in Fig. 8(b). On this menu screen, the number of copies, selected paper size, magnification, and copy density are displayed. When the application mode 309 on this screen is pressed, the screen transitions to a screen on which various settings for the copy job can be made.

[0076] In FIG. 8(a), the reset key 302 is used to return the copy mode to the standard mode. The start key 303 instructs the start of a copy operation. The stop key 304 is used to interrupt the copy operation. The clear key 305 returns the copy mode to the standard mode. The numeric keypad 306 is a numeric input key for setting the number of copies, etc. When the user mode key 307 is pressed, a menu can be selected, and various settings for the image forming apparatus 1100 can be registered. When the counter key 308 is pressed, the display on the touch panel display 301 becomes a screen as shown in FIG. 8(c), and various counter information can be viewed. In FIG. 8(c), the total number of color prints, the total number of monochrome prints, and the sum of these are displayed. The touch panel display 301 is also used to notify the user of information such as paper jam information and toner information.

[0077] In the first embodiment, a tandem color printer configuration including four process cartridges is exemplified, but the number of types of toner may be five or more, or three or less. Also, instead of using at least one of the toners of multiple colors as both a toner for recording an image on a sheet and an adhesive toner, a toner dedicated to adhesion may be used. In this case, the process cartridge using the toner dedicated to adhesion creates only the adhesive toner image 39 (FIG. 6).

[0078] Next, referring to FIG. 9, an example of a pressing pattern for pressing punched sheets (punched paper) together without soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc. in the first embodiment will be described.

[0079] Fig. 9(a) shows an example of a table that stores patterns of adhesive toner images 39 (hereinafter referred to as "bonding patterns") in association with paper size, paper orientation, and punch type (e.g., 2 holes, 4 holes, 30 holes, etc.) used for setting the bonding between punched sheets. The position and size of the punch for each paper size and punch type are determined by standards, so a bonding pattern is prepared according to the standards. Fig. 9(a) shows the long and short sides of A3 and A4 as examples, but bonding patterns are prepared for all punched sheet sizes supported by the image forming apparatus 1100.

[0080] FIG. 9(b) shows an example of the shape of the pressure-bonding pattern. In FIG. 9(a), the paper size, orientation, and number of holes are shown based on the hole-punching pattern in FIG. 9(b), but the shape is not limited to hole punching, and various patterns are possible as shown in FIG. 9(b). In FIG. 9(b), in addition to hole punching, rectangular patterns are shown above, below, left, right, and around the punched holes. Examples of how these pressure-bonding patterns are used include strength of pressure-bonding force depending on the size of the area on which the adhesive toner (hereinafter, pressure-bonding toner (first recording material)) is placed, and whether strength is maintained in the direction in which the page is opened depending on the pressure-bonding location, such as the long side or short side.

[0081] FIG. 9(c) shows a pressure-bonding pattern for an A4 sheet with two holes punched along the long side, which is a combination of FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b).

[0082] When using a 30-hole punched sheet to bond seeds together, the area on which the bonded toner is placed is small, so the bonding strength may be weakened. In that case, a warning message may be displayed on the menu screen of the image forming apparatus 1100 or the UI screen of the printer driver to inform the user that the bonding strength may be weakened.

[0083] Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a process flow in which pressure bonding of sheets can be performed without soiling the transfer drum, the secondary transfer drum, and the sheet bonding device in the pressure bonding setting in the first embodiment will be described.

[0084] 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing by the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the first embodiment. The processing shown in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 200 executing a program loaded in the RAM 202. This processing is processing for bonding sheets together without soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc. with toner when a setting is made for bonding sheets together.

[0085] First, in S1001, the CPU 200 receives print data 1010 generated by the printer driver of the PC 100 from the PC 100 via the network I / F 208 and stores it in the RAM 202. Next, the process proceeds to S1002, where the CPU 200 determines whether the image forming apparatus 1100 is equipped with a sheet bonding device and whether the print data includes a sheet bonding setting. Note that detection of whether a sheet bonding device capable of thermocompression bonding is installed may be performed based on the state of a predetermined signal included in an interface connecting the sheet bonding device. Alternatively, detection may be performed based on a signal from a mechanical switch or the like that detects whether a thermocompression bonding unit 1167 is installed, and the detection method is not limited. In S1002, if it is determined that the sheet bonding device is installed and that the sheet pressure bonding setting is set, the process proceeds to S1004, otherwise, the process proceeds to S1003. In S1003, the CPU 200 performs normal printing processing and ends this processing. Note that since this normal printing processing is a well-known printing processing, a description thereof will be omitted.

[0086] In S1004, the CPU 200 interprets the print data 1010 received in S1001 and proceeds to S1005. In S1005, the CPU 200 acquires the pattern table 1011 for each paper size / orientation and punch type described with reference to FIG. 9. Then, based on the paper size / orientation and punch type set in the print data, the CPU 200 selects an appropriate pressure bonding pattern and proceeds to S1006. In S1006, the CPU 200 generates drawing data for pressure bonding toner corresponding to the selected pressure bonding pattern and proceeds to S1007. In S1007, the CPU 200 performs rendering processing of the received print data to generate image data for printing and proceeds to S1008. In S1008, the CPU 200 determines whether rendering processing of the print data for all pages has been completed. If it is determined that rendering processing has been completed here, the CPU 200 proceeds to S1009, and if not, the CPU 200 proceeds to S1007. In S1009, the CPU 200 executes printing processing based on the rendered image data.

[0087] By this process, when the sheets are set to be bonded together using the pressure-bonding toner and punch holes are set in the post-processing, it is possible to prevent the pressure-bonding toner from leaking from the punch holes and soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc.

[0088] As described above, according to embodiment 1, even when punch holes are set, it is possible to perform pressure bonding between sheets using pressure-bonded toner without the pressure-bonded toner leaking and soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc.

[0089] [Embodiment 2] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, a process for preventing the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, and sheet bonding device from being soiled by pressure-bonded toner when punch holes are set in post-processing in a setting for pressing any sheets together is described. In embodiment 2, a process for preventing the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, and sheet bonding device from being soiled by pressure-bonded toner is described when the sheets used for printing are pre-punched sheets and pressing of sheets together is set.

[0090] 11 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the second embodiment. The processing shown in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 200 executing a program loaded in the RAM 202. This processing is processing that enables pressing of punched sheets without soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, or sheet bonding device when punch holes are set in the pressing setting of the punched sheets.

[0091] First, in S1101, the CPU 200 receives print data 1120 generated by the printer driver of the PC 100 from the PC 100 via the network I / F 208 and stores it in the RAM 202. Next, the process proceeds to S1102, in which the CPU 200 determines whether the image forming apparatus 1100 is equipped with a sheet bonding device and whether the received print data has a sheet compression setting. If it is determined that the image forming apparatus 1100 is equipped with a sheet bonding device and has a sheet compression setting, the process proceeds to S1104, and if not, the process proceeds to S1103, where normal print processing is executed in the same manner as in S1003 of FIG.

[0092] In S1104, the CPU 200 interprets the print data received in S1101 and proceeds to S1105. In S1105, the CPU 200 judges whether the sheet used in printing is a punched sheet or not. If it is judged to be a punched sheet, the process proceeds to S1106, otherwise, the process proceeds to S1108. In S1108, the CPU 200 generates a bonding pattern other than for the punched sheet and proceeds to S1109. In S1106, the CPU 200 acquires a pattern table for each paper size / orientation and punch type of the punched sheet shown in Figs. 9(a) and (b). Then, based on the paper size / orientation and punch type set in the print data, the CPU 200 selects an appropriate bonding pattern and proceeds to S1107. In S1107, the CPU 200 generates print data for forming the selected bonding pattern with the bonding toner and proceeds to S1109.

[0093] In S1109, CPU 200 performs rendering processing of the print data, and proceeds to S1110 to determine whether rendering processing of all print data has been completed. If it is determined that rendering processing of all print data has been completed, proceed to S1111, otherwise proceed to S1109. In S1111, CPU 200 executes printing processing based on image data obtained by rendering processing.

[0094] As described above, according to the second embodiment, even if the sheets used for printing are punched sheets and there is a setting for sheet bonding, it is possible to prevent the leakage of bonded toner and soiling the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc. Even if a bonding process is performed using a punched sheet, there is an effect that the sheets can be bonded together while preventing the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, and sheet bonding device from being soiled by bonded toner.

[0095] [Embodiment 3] In the first and second embodiments, a process for preventing the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, and sheet bonding device from being soiled by pressure-bonded toner when bonding plain paper or punched sheets together is described. In contrast, in the third embodiment, a conflict process and warning display in the printer driver are described, which prevent the simultaneous setting of bonding punched sheets and sheets together.

[0096] FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed on the display 25 by the printer driver of the PC 100 according to the third embodiment.

[0097] A setting for bonding sheets together is selected in the finishing settings 1201. Fig. 12(b) shows an example of a screen displayed by selecting paper feed settings 1202 on the print settings screen. In the print paper selection screen 1203 in Fig. 12(b), punched sheets are grayed out and cannot be selected, as shown by reference number 1204.

[0098] Conversely, in FIG. 12(b), when a punched sheet is selected as the printing paper, as shown by reference number 1204, the item for setting the sheets to be pressed together in the finishing settings 1201 is grayed out and cannot be selected.

[0099] Even if the above-mentioned conflict processing is not performed, when a punched sheet is selected as the print paper and the setting for pressing sheets together is selected, a warning may be displayed as shown in screen 1205 in Fig. 12(c) . In Fig. 12(c), a warning is displayed to the effect that parts such as the transfer drum of the image forming apparatus 1100 and the sheet bonding device may become soiled.

[0100] 13 is a flowchart for explaining the process of preventing the setting of selecting a punched sheet for printing paper and the setting of pressing sheets together from being performed simultaneously in the printer driver according to embodiment 3. The process shown in these flowcharts is realized by developing the printer driver in the RAM 22 in FIG. 2(a) and executing the printer driver by the CPU 21.

[0101] FIG. 13(a) is a flowchart explaining conflict processing (finishing setting first) by the printer driver of PC 100 in embodiment 3 that does not allow the setting to use punched sheets as printing paper and the setting to press sheets together to be performed in parallel.

[0102] In S1301, the CPU 21 displays the print setting screen of the printer driver and proceeds to S1302. In S1302, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 1100 used for printing is equipped with a sheet bonding machine and whether or not sheet bonding setting has been performed on the print setting screen. If the determination in S1302 is YES, the process proceeds to S1303, and if the determination in S1302 is NO, the process ends. In S1303, the CPU 21 performs conflict processing, such as displaying a grayed-out display so that punched sheets cannot be selected as the paper to be used for printing on the print setting screen, and then ends this process.

[0103] This process makes it possible to carry out conflict processing so that the setting for selecting punched sheets as the paper to be used for printing and the pressing setting for pressing sheets together are not performed in parallel.

[0104] Figure 13(b) is a flowchart explaining conflict processing (setting of printing paper first) by the printer driver of PC 100 in embodiment 3 that does not allow the setting to use punched sheets as printing paper and the setting to press sheets together to be performed in parallel.

[0105] At S1311, the CPU 21 displays the print setting screen of the printer driver and proceeds to S1312. At S1312, the CPU 21 determines whether the image forming apparatus 1100 performing printing is equipped with a sheet bonding machine and whether a punched sheet has been selected as the sheet to be used for printing on the print setting screen. If the determination at S1312 is YES, the process proceeds to S1313, and if not, the process ends. At S1313, the CPU 21 performs conflict processing such that sheet bonding cannot be selected in the finishing settings on the print setting screen, and then ends the process.

[0106] This process makes it possible to carry out conflict processing such that the setting for selecting a punched sheet as the paper to be used for printing and the pressing setting for pressing sheets together cannot be performed in parallel.

[0107] FIG. 13(c) is a flowchart explaining the process of displaying a warning when a setting to use a punched sheet as printing paper and a setting to press the sheets together are made in parallel by the printer driver of PC 100 in embodiment 3.

[0108] At S1321, the CPU 21 displays a print setting screen of the printer driver and proceeds to S1322. At S1322, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 1100 performing printing is equipped with a sheet bonding machine, the sheet-to-sheet bonding setting has been performed, and a punched sheet has been selected as the paper to be used for printing. If the determination at S1322 is YES, the process proceeds to S1322, and if not, the process ends. At S1322, the CPU 21 displays a warning that the transfer drum, secondary transfer drum, sheet bonding device, etc. may be soiled, as shown in FIG. 12(c), for example, and then ends the process.

[0109] This process can warn that there is a risk of the transfer drum, etc. becoming soiled when the image forming device is capable of sheet bonding, a punched sheet is selected as the paper to be used for printing, and a bonding setting for bonding the sheets together is selected.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus is described on the assumption that the sheet bonding machine is optional, but the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus configuration in which the image forming apparatus is always equipped with a sheet bonding machine. In that case, however, the process of determining whether the image forming apparatus is equipped with a sheet bonding machine is not required.

[0111] In addition, in S1002, S1102, S1302, and S1322, it is determined whether a sheet bonding machine is installed and whether there is a sheet bonding setting in the print data, but it may also be determined whether an adhesive toner to be used for bonding is installed.

[0112] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0113] This specification and the drawings disclose the following image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program.

[0114] [Item 1] An image forming apparatus capable of mounting a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, a detection means for detecting whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A determination means for determining whether or not the received print data includes a setting for pressing the sheets together; a generating means for generating a bonding pattern for bonding the sheets together based on a print setting of the print data when the detecting means detects that the bonding unit is installed and the determining means determines that a setting for bonding the sheets together is set; forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data based on the print data and the pressure bonding pattern; An image forming apparatus comprising:

[0115] [Item 2] 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1, wherein the compression pattern is an image pattern formed by a first recording material that enables adhesion of the sheet by the thermocompression bonding.

[0116] [Item 3] The image forming apparatus according to item 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure-sensitive adhesive pattern includes a pattern formed above, below, to the left, right, or around the punch hole when the print setting includes a punch hole setting.

[0117] [Item 4] Further comprising a storage means for storing the size of the sheet, the side of the sheet on which the punch holes are arranged, and the shape of the pressure bonding pattern corresponding to the setting of the punch holes in association with each other; 4. The image forming apparatus according to item 3, wherein the generating means generates the pressure-bonding pattern by referring to the storage means based on the print settings.

[0118] [Item 5] The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, characterized in that the forming means forms the pressure-bonded pattern using a first recording material that enables adhesion of the sheet by thermal compression, and forms an image based on the image data using a second recording material that has a lower adhesive ability for the sheet than the first recording material.

[0119] [Item 6] The image forming apparatus further includes a means for determining whether the sheet on which the image is formed by the forming means is a punched sheet, The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5, characterized in that, when the sheet on which the image is formed is a punched sheet, the generation means generates the pressure-bonding pattern according to the punch type of the punched sheet.

[0120] [Item 7] An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting unit for setting print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting means prevents a punched sheet from being selected as the sheet to be used for printing the print data when the printing setting is set to adhere the sheets to each other.

[0121] [Item 8] The information processing device described in item 7, characterized in that the setting means displays a print setting screen for setting the print settings, and when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, if adhesion of sheets to each other is selected on the print setting screen, the item for selecting a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing is grayed out and cannot be selected.

[0122] [Item 9] An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can connect to a pressure bonding unit that can bond sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting unit for setting print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting means prevents the bonding of the sheets together from being selected as a post-processing step for the printed sheets when a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data.

[0123] [Item 10] The information processing device described in item 9, characterized in that the setting means displays a print setting screen for setting the print settings, and when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, if a punched sheet is selected as the sheet to be used for printing on the print setting screen, the item for selecting adhesion of sheets to each other is grayed out and made unselectable.

[0124] [Item 11] An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting means for performing print settings for the print data; a warning unit that issues a warning when the setting unit sets a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing the print data and when adhesion of the sheets to each other is set as post-processing of the printed sheets, when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; 13. An information processing device comprising:

[0125] [Item 12] Item 12. The information processing device according to item 11, wherein the warning means warns that the parts of the image forming device and the pressure bonding unit may be soiled by the recording agent used to bond the sheets together.

[0126] [Item 13] A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process is characterized in that, when the printing settings are set to bond sheets to each other, a punched sheet cannot be selected as the sheet to be used for printing the printing data.

[0127] [Item 14] A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process is characterized in that, when a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data, the printer driver prevents the bonding of the sheets together from being selected as a post-processing step for the printed sheets.

[0128] [Item 15] A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; a warning step of issuing a warning when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus and a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data in the setting step and adhesion of the sheets to each other is set as post-processing of the printed sheets; 13. A printer driver comprising:

[0129] [Item 16] A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of mounting a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, comprising: a detection step of detecting whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; a determining step of determining whether or not the received print data includes a setting for pressing the sheets together; a generating step of generating a bonding pattern for bonding the sheets together based on a print setting of the print data when the detecting step detects that the bonding unit is installed and the determining step determines that a setting for bonding the sheets together is set; a forming step of forming an image on a sheet based on image data based on the print data and the pressure bonding pattern; A control method comprising the steps of:

[0130] [Item 17] A control method for controlling an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, comprising: determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data, A control method characterized in that, when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process prevents punched sheets from being selected as sheets to be used for printing the print data when the printing settings are set to bond sheets to each other.

[0131] [Item 18] A control method for controlling an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, comprising: determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; a warning step of issuing a warning when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus and the setting step has been performed to set a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing the print data, and adhesion of the sheets to each other has been set as post-processing of the printed sheets; A control method comprising the steps of:

[0132] [Item 19] 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing the printer driver according to any one of items 13 to 15.

[0133] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 21…CPU, 22…RAM, 23…ROM, 200…CPU, 201…ROM, 202…RAM

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus capable of mounting a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, a detection means for detecting whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A determination means for determining whether or not the received print data includes a setting for pressing the sheets together; a generating means for generating a bonding pattern for bonding the sheets together based on a print setting of the print data when the detecting means detects that the bonding unit is installed and the determining means determines that a setting for bonding the sheets together is set; forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data based on the print data and the pressure bonding pattern; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure bonding pattern is an image pattern formed of a first recording material that enables adhesion of the sheets by the thermocompression bonding.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure bonding pattern includes a pattern formed above, below, left, right, or around the punched hole when the print setting includes a setting for punched holes.

4. Further comprising a storage means for storing the size of the sheet, the side of the sheet on which the punch holes are arranged, and the shape of the pressure bonding pattern corresponding to the setting of the punch holes in association with each other; The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the generating unit generates the pressure-bonding pattern by referring to the storage unit based on the print settings.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the forming means forms the pressure-bonding pattern using a first recording material that enables adhesion of the sheet by the thermal compression bonding, and forms an image based on the image data using a second recording material that has a lower adhesive ability for the sheet than the first recording material.

6. The image forming apparatus further includes a means for determining whether the sheet on which the image is formed by the forming means is a punched sheet, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the sheet on which the image is to be formed is a punched sheet, the generating unit generates the pressure bonding pattern in accordance with a punch type of the punched sheet.

7. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting unit for setting print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting means prevents a punched sheet from being selected as the sheet to be used for printing the print data when the printing setting is set to adhere the sheets to each other.

8. The information processing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the setting means displays a print setting screen for setting the print settings, and when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, if adhesion of sheets to each other is selected on the print setting screen, an item for selecting a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing is grayed out and made unselectable.

9. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can connect to a pressure bonding unit that can bond sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting unit for setting print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting means prevents the bonding of the sheets together from being selected as a post-processing step for the printed sheets when a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data.

10. The information processing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the setting means displays a print setting screen for setting the print settings, and when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, if a punched sheet is selected as the sheet to be used for printing on the print setting screen, the item for selecting adhesion of sheets to each other is grayed out and made unselectable.

11. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to an image forming apparatus that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming apparatus to print the print data, a means for determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting means for performing print settings for the print data; a warning means for issuing a warning when the setting means sets a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing the print data and adhesion of the sheets to each other is set as post-processing of the printed sheets when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; 13. An information processing device comprising:

12. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the warning unit warns that there is a possibility that the parts of the image forming apparatus and the pressure bonding unit may be soiled by the recording agent used to bond the sheets together.

13. A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data, When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process is characterized in that, when the printing settings are set to bond sheets to each other, a punched sheet cannot be selected as the sheet to be used for printing the printing data.

14. A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; When the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process is characterized in that, when a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data, the printer driver prevents the bonding of the sheets together from being selected as a post-processing step for the printed sheets.

15. A printer driver executed by an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; a warning step of issuing a warning when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus and a punched sheet is set as the sheet to be used for printing the print data in the setting step and adhesion of the sheets to each other is set as post-processing of the printed sheets; 13. A printer driver comprising:

16. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus capable of mounting a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, comprising: a detection step of detecting whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; a determining step of determining whether or not the received print data includes a setting for pressing the sheets together; a generating step of generating a bonding pattern for bonding the sheets together based on a print setting of the print data when the detecting step detects that the bonding unit is installed and the determining step determines that a setting for bonding the sheets together is set; a forming step of forming an image on a sheet based on image data based on the print data and the pressure bonding pattern; A control method comprising the steps of:

17. A control method for controlling an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, comprising: determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data, A control method characterized in that, when the bonding unit is installed in the image forming device, the setting process prevents punched sheets from being selected as sheets to be used for printing the print data when the printing settings are set to bond sheets to each other.

18. A control method for controlling an information processing device that transmits print data to an image forming device that can be equipped with a pressure bonding unit capable of bonding sheets together by thermal compression bonding, and causes the image forming device to print the print data, comprising: determining whether the pressure bonding unit is installed in the image forming apparatus; A setting step of performing print settings for the print data; a warning step of issuing a warning when the pressing unit is installed in the image forming apparatus and the setting step has been performed to set a punched sheet as the sheet to be used for printing the print data, and adhesion of the sheets to each other has been set as post-processing of the printed sheets; A control method comprising the steps of:

19. 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing the printer driver according to any one of items 13 to 15.

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