Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method

Abstract

To easily separate a sheet provided with a radio tag from a sheet not provided with the radio tag.SOLUTION: A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a conveyance drive unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveyance drive unit individually conveys a sheet to be processed along a conveyance path, and discharges the sheet to either a first sheet discharge unit or a second sheet discharge unit. The tag communication unit performs wireless communication with the sheet being conveyed in the middle of the conveyance path. The control unit determines whether or not a wireless tag is attached to the sheet according to a result of the wireless communication in the tag communication unit, and controls the conveyance drive unit such that a wireless tag sheet, which is a sheet to which a wireless tag is attached, is discharged from the first sheet discharge unit, and a normal sheet, which is a sheet to which a wireless tag is not attached, is discharged from the second sheet discharge unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet processing method.

Background Art

[0002] There is a sheet provided with a wireless tag (RF (Radio Frequency) tag). While forming an image on such a sheet, it is possible to write information to the wireless tag. Such a sheet provided with a wireless tag is conveniently used. On the other hand, when disposing of it, it may be obligatory to peel off the wireless tag from the sheet. It takes time to distinguish and separate whether the sheet has a wireless tag or not.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet processing method that facilitate separating a sheet provided with a wireless tag from a sheet not provided with a wireless tag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes a conveyance driving unit, a tag communication unit, and a control unit. The conveyance driving unit individually conveys sheets to be processed along a conveyance path and discharges them to either a first paper discharge unit or a second paper discharge unit. The tag communication unit performs wireless communication with the sheets being conveyed in the middle of the conveyance path. The control unit determines whether a wireless tag is attached to the sheet according to the result of the wireless communication in the tag communication unit, and the wireless tag sheet, which is a sheet with a wireless tag attached, is discharged from the first paper discharge unit, and the normal sheet, which is a sheet without a wireless tag attached, is discharged from the second paper discharge unit, and controls the conveyance driving unit accordingly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet processing method for discharging sheets in a form in which sheets with a wireless tag provided and sheets without a wireless tag provided are not mixed. Hereinafter, the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment will be described in detail. In the following description, the first embodiment including a post-processing apparatus and the second embodiment not including a post-processing apparatus will be described respectively.

[0008] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a sorting system 1000 according to the first embodiment. The sorting system 1000 according to the first embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a post-processing apparatus 200. Note that the sorting system 1000 may include a sorting device instead of the image forming apparatus 100, or may include a color erasing device. That is, any device may be used instead of the image forming apparatus 100 as long as it includes a sheet placement section for placing sheets, a sheet conveyance device for conveying the sheets placed on the sheet placement section one by one, a wireless tag unit for performing wireless communication with the wireless tags of the conveyed sheets, and a plurality of discharge sections.

[0009] The image forming apparatus 100 is an MFP (Multi-Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction printer, a printer, a copier, or the like. The post-processing apparatus 200 is arranged adjacent to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0010] The sheets conveyed by the image forming apparatus 100 are conveyed to the post-processing apparatus 200. The post-processing apparatus 200 receives the sheets supplied from the image forming apparatus 100. The post-processing apparatus 200 includes a paper discharge tray 61 and a fixed tray 62. The paper discharge tray 61 is movable up and down. The post-processing apparatus 200 discharges the received sheets to the paper discharge tray 61 or the fixed tray 62. The paper discharge tray 61 is an example of a first discharge section. The fixed tray 62 is an example of a second discharge section.

[0011] In FIG. 1, there is a document table (not shown) above the image forming apparatus 100, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 12 is provided on the document table so as to be openable and closable. Further, an operation panel 13 is provided above the image forming apparatus 100. The control panel 13 includes an operation section 14 having various keys and a touch panel type display section 15.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a scanner unit 16. The scanner unit 16 reads a document sent by the ADF 12 or a document placed on the document table. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a wireless tag unit 300 and a printer unit 18. The printer unit 18 includes an image forming control unit 50 and paper feed cassettes 16a, 16b, etc. The image forming control unit 50 controls the control panel 13, the wireless tag unit 300, and the printer unit 18. The image forming control unit 50 controls the conveyance of sheets in the printer unit 18. The wireless tag in the present embodiment is, for example, an RF (Radio Frequency) tag.

[0013] The paper feed cassette 16a stores a stack of sheets. The paper feed cassette 16a may store a stack of sheets in which sheets with a wireless tag (hereinafter referred to as "wireless tag sheets") and sheets without a wireless tag (hereinafter referred to as "normal sheets") are mixed. The paper feed cassette 16b is configured in the same manner as the paper feed cassette 16a.

[0014] The printer unit 18 forms an image. For example, the printer unit 18 forms an image indicated by image data. In the following description, forming an image is also expressed as printing. The printer unit 18 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21. The printer unit 18 supports the intermediate transfer belt 21 with a driven roller 41, a backup roller 40, etc. The printer unit 18 rotates the intermediate transfer belt 21 in the direction of arrow m.

[0015] The printer unit 18 includes four sets of image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K. Each of the image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K is used for forming images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), respectively. The image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are arranged in parallel along the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 21 below the intermediate transfer belt 21.

[0016] Hereinafter, among the respective image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K, the image forming station 22Y for Y (yellow) will be described as an example. Note that since the image forming stations 22M, 22C, and 22K have the same configuration as the image forming station 22Y, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0017] The image forming station 22Y includes a charging charger 26, an exposure scanning head 27, a developing device 28, and a photoreceptor cleaner 29. The charging charger 26, the exposure scanning head 27, the developing device 28, and the photoreceptor cleaner 29 are arranged around the photoreceptor drum 24 that rotates in the direction of arrow n.

[0018] The image forming station 22Y includes a primary transfer roller 30. The primary transfer roller 30 faces the photoreceptor drum 24 via the intermediate transfer belt 21. After charging the photoreceptor drum 24 with the charging charger 26, the image forming station 22Y exposes it with the exposure scanning head 27. The image forming station 22Y forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 24. The developing device 28 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drum 24 using a two-component developer formed of toner and carrier.

[0019] The primary transfer roller 30 primarily transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 24 to the intermediate transfer belt 21. The image forming stations 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 by the primary transfer roller 30. The color toner image is formed by sequentially overlapping the toner images of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). The photoreceptor cleaner 29 removes the toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum 24 after primary transfer.

[0020] The printer unit 18 includes a secondary transfer roller 32. The secondary transfer roller 32 faces the backup roller 40 via the intermediate transfer belt 21. The secondary transfer roller 32 collectively secondarily transfers the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to the sheet.

[0021] The image forming apparatus 100 has a conveyance path. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment has conveyance paths 33a, 33b, and 33c. Each conveyance path has a space through which a sheet is conveyed and a conveyance driving unit that moves the sheet within the conveyance path by rotating. The conveyance driving unit includes, for example, a conveyance roller that moves while sandwiching the sheet by rotating and a motor that rotates the conveyance roller. The image forming control unit 50 controls the conveyance of the sheet by controlling the rotation of the motor. The conveyance path 33a is a conveyance path from the confluence part 44a to the branch part 44b. The conveyance path 33b is a conveyance path for duplex printing and is a conveyance path from the branch part 44b to the confluence part 44a. When the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path 33b, the front and back of the sheet are reversed when passing through the conveyance path 33a. The conveyance path 33c is a conveyance path from the branch part 44b to the paper discharge part 205 via the wireless tag unit 300.

[0022] The image forming control unit 50 has an operation in the image forming mode and an operation in the sorting mode. In the case of the image forming mode, the image forming control unit 50 takes out the sheet to be processed from the paper feed cassette 16a or 16b. The image forming control unit 50 conveys the taken-out sheet toward the conveyance path 33a and forms an image on the sheet by fixing the toner image with the fixing device 34. The image forming control unit 50 discharges the sheet by conveying the sheet having the image formed thereon to the conveyance path 33c. In the case of the sorting mode, the image forming control unit 50 takes out the sheet to be processed from the paper feed cassette 16a or 16b. The image forming control unit 50 conveys the taken-out sheet toward the conveyance path 33a. Then, the image forming control unit 50 discharges the sheet by conveying the sheet to the conveyance path 33c without forming an image on the sheet.

[0023] The wireless tag unit 300 includes a wireless tag unit control unit 201, a switching unit 202, a reading unit 203, and a writing unit 204. In this embodiment, the wireless tag unit 300 may be detachable from the printer unit 18. The wireless tag unit 300 performs wireless communication with the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet being conveyed through the conveyance path 33c.

[0024] The wireless tag unit control unit 201 includes an arithmetic unit and a storage unit. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 controls a reading unit 203 and a writing unit 204. Further, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 can communicate with the image forming control unit 50. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 can know in advance that a sheet is to be conveyed on the conveyance path 33c in response to a notification from the image forming control unit 50.

[0025] The writing unit 204 writes information (hereinafter also referred to as "tag data") to the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet. The writing unit 204 can also invalidate the wireless tag or delete the data of the wireless tag. The reading unit 203 reads information from the wireless tag. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the sheet type according to the wireless communication between the reading unit 203 or the writing unit 204 and the wireless tag. For example, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines whether the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 33c is a wireless tag sheet or a normal sheet according to the information read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203. That is, when information is read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33c, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a wireless tag sheet. On the other hand, when no information is read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33c, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a normal sheet.

[0026] For example, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 may determine whether the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 33c is a wireless tag sheet or a normal sheet according to whether the writing unit 204 can execute the writing process on the wireless tag. That is, when the writing unit 204 can write information to the wireless tag while the sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33c, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a wireless tag sheet. On the other hand, when the writing unit 204 cannot write information to the wireless tag while the sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33c, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a normal sheet.

[0027] In this way, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the type of the sheet. The determination result is transmitted to the post-processing unit 200 via the image formation control unit 50. The sheet is conveyed from the paper discharge unit 205 to the receiving unit 130 of the post-processing unit 200. A sensor is provided in the receiving unit 130, and it can detect that the sheet has been conveyed.

[0028] The wireless tag unit control unit 201 may determine the position of the wireless tag on the sheet based on the timing when the sheet is conveyed on the conveyance path 33c and the timing when information is read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203. In this case, the output of the wireless signal may be controlled so that the wireless signal does not reach only a part of the conveyed sheet by the reading unit 203. The information indicating the position of the wireless tag on the sheet determined by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 is also transmitted to the post-processing unit 200 via the image formation control unit 50.

[0029] The developing method of the image forming apparatus 10 described above is a tandem developing method, but it is not limited thereto, and the number of developing devices 28 is not limited either.

[0030] Next, the post-processing apparatus 200 will be described. The post-processing apparatus 200 includes a stapling mechanism 20, a punching mechanism 90, and a post-processing control unit 400. The post-processing control unit 400 controls the entire post-processing apparatus 400, such as the control of the stapling mechanism 20 and the punching mechanism 90, and the conveyance control of the sheet.

[0031] The punching mechanism 90 is disposed downstream of the receiving unit 130. The punching mechanism 90 includes a punching mechanism 91 and a dust box 92. The punching mechanism 90 performs punching (perforation) on the sheet according to, for example, the determination result of the position of the wireless tag on the sheet. For example, punching (perforation) may be performed around the position of the wireless tag (an area at a predetermined distance from the position of the wireless tag). The sheet discharged from the punching mechanism 90 is conveyed to the sheet discharge switching unit 125 by the roller 93 for sheet conveyance. The sheet discharge switching unit 125 includes an inlet roller 124 and discharges the sheet to the fixed tray 62 or conveys the sheet to the paper feed roller 25. In the following description, the control for discharging the sheet to the fixed tray 62 may be referred to as the first control. Also, the control for conveying the sheet to the paper feed roller 25 may be referred to as the second control.

[0032] The post-processing apparatus 200 includes a standby tray 121 and a processing tray 122. A paper feed roller 25 is provided downstream of the inlet roller 124. The sheet received by the inlet roller 124 is conveyed to the standby tray 121 via the paper feed roller 25. A paper path 126 for guiding the sheet to the paper feed roller 25 is provided between the inlet roller 124 and the standby tray 121. A processing tray 122 for stacking the sheets that have fallen from the standby tray 121 is disposed below the standby tray 121. The sheets that have fallen onto the processing tray 122 are discharged to the discharge tray 61 in response to the rotational drive of the conveyor belt 31.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the control systems of the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing apparatus 200. In FIG. 2, the image forming control unit 50 includes an arithmetic unit 51 and a storage unit 52. The arithmetic unit 51 controls the ADF 12, the control panel 13, the scanner unit 16, the printer unit 18, and the wireless tag unit 300 in accordance with various programs stored in the storage unit 52.

[0034] The arithmetic unit 51 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like. The storage unit 52 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or the like. The image forming control unit 50 is connected to the post-processing control unit 400 by a bus. The determination result of the sheet type in the wireless tag unit 300 is notified from the image forming control unit 50 to the post-processing control unit 400. Each of the ADF 12, the control panel 13, the scanner unit 16, the printer unit 18, and the wireless tag unit 300 also includes an arithmetic unit and a storage unit.

[0035] The post-processing control unit 50 includes an arithmetic unit 451 and a storage unit 452. The arithmetic unit 451 controls the stapler mechanism 20, the punch mechanism 90, the transport unit 453, and the like in accordance with various programs stored in the storage unit 452. The transport unit 453 is a collection of various mechanisms related to the transport system. The transport unit 453 includes, for example, a path switching mechanism such as a paper discharge switching unit 125, a motor that drives rollers such as an entrance roller 124 and a transport belt 31, an operable tray such as a standby tray 121, and various sensors.

[0036] Next, the control contents of the image formation control unit 50, the wireless tag unit 300, and the post-processing control unit 400 will be described using a flowchart. First, the image formation control unit 50 takes out one sheet from the stack of sheets to be processed and conveys it (ACT101). For example, the stack of sheets to be processed is stored in the paper feed cassette 16a or the paper feed cassette 16b. The image formation control unit 50 conveys the sheet to the conveyance path 33c. The image formation control unit 50 notifies the wireless tag unit 300 of the timing when the sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path 33c.

[0037] The wireless tag unit 300 operates the reading unit 302 at the timing when the sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path 33c to perform wireless communication with the wireless tag of the sheet (ACT102). Through this wireless communication, the reading unit 302 attempts to read information from the wireless tag of the sheet. If information can be read from the wireless tag, the wireless tag unit 300 determines that the sheet being conveyed is a wireless tag sheet (ACT103: wireless tag sheet). In this case, the image formation control unit 50 instructs the post-processing control unit 400 to discharge the sheet being conveyed to the first discharge unit. In response to this instruction, the post-processing control unit 400 discharges the sheet being conveyed to the first discharge unit (discharge tray 61) (ACT104). At this time, the post-processing control unit 400 may perform punching (perforation) on the sheet being conveyed with the punching mechanism 90.

[0038] If information cannot be read from the wireless tag, the wireless tag unit 300 determines that the sheet being conveyed is a normal sheet (ACT103: normal sheet). In this case, the image formation control unit 50 discharges the sheet being conveyed to the second discharge unit (ACT105).

[0039] According to the embodiment described above, by placing a bundle of sheets in which wireless tag sheets and normal sheets are mixed in the image forming apparatus 100, it becomes possible to easily separate the wireless tag sheets and the normal sheets. That is, the sheets determined to be wireless tag sheets are discharged to the first discharge unit (discharge tray 61), and the sheets determined to be normal sheets are discharged to the second discharge unit (fixed tray 62). By doing so, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus (image forming apparatus 100, post-processing control unit 200) in which wireless tag sheets and normal sheets do not coexist.

[0040] Note that the determination of the sheet type performed by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 may be executed by the image forming control unit 50. In this case, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 may simply notify the image forming control unit 50 of the result of the process of the reading unit 203 and the result of the process of the writing unit 204 without determining the sheet type. When the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the sheet type is a wireless tag sheet, it may perform a process of invalidating or deleting data on the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet.

[0041] [Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a sorting system 1000 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the sorting system 1000 according to the second embodiment will be described with respect to the differences from the first embodiment.

[0042] The sorting system 1000 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it does not include a post-processing apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 100 of the sorting system 1000 according to the second embodiment further includes an upper discharge tray 81 and a lower discharge tray 82. In the second embodiment, the upper discharge tray 81 is an example of the first discharge unit. The lower discharge tray 82 is an example of the second discharge unit.

[0043] The image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment includes conveyance paths 33a and 33b, but does not include a conveyance path 33c connected to the post-processing apparatus 200. Instead of the conveyance path 33c, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an upper discharge tray 81 and a lower discharge tray 82. That is, the sheet that has passed through the conveyance path 33a is processed either by being conveyed to the conveyance path 33b or by being discharged to the upper discharge tray 81 or the lower discharge tray 82.

[0044] In the second embodiment, the wireless tag unit 300 performs wireless communication with the sheet being conveyed through the conveyance path 33a instead of the conveyance path 33c. Therefore, the installation position of the wireless tag unit 300 is set at a location suitable for performing wireless communication with the sheet passing through the conveyance path 33a. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the wireless tag unit 300 may be installed on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 100. The wireless tag unit 300 performs wireless communication with the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet being conveyed through the conveyance path 33a. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 can know in advance that the sheet is being conveyed through the conveyance path 33a in response to a notification from the image forming control unit 50.

[0045] Hereinafter, two modes regarding examples of the operations of the wireless tag unit 300 and the image forming control unit 50 in the second embodiment will be described. In the operation of the first mode, the process is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the communication of the wireless tag unit 300 has changed from the conveyance path 33c to the conveyance path 33a and the discharge destination has changed. In the operation of the second mode, the process is different from that of the first embodiment in that the sheet to be processed is conveyed through the conveyance path 33b and then becomes the target of wireless communication again through the conveyance path 33a according to the result of the communication of the wireless tag unit 300. Hereinafter, each will be described.

[0046] (First Mode) The writing unit 204 writes information (tag data) to the wireless tags of the wireless tag sheet. The writing unit 204 can also invalidate the wireless tags or delete the data of the wireless tags. The reading unit 203 reads information from the wireless tags. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the sheet type according to the wireless communication between the reading unit 203 or the writing unit 204 and the wireless tags. In the following description, the case of determination by the process of the reading unit 203 will be described, but as described in the first embodiment, it may be determined by the process of the writing unit 204.

[0047] The wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines whether the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 33a is a wireless tag sheet or a normal sheet based on the information read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203. That is, when information is read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33a, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a wireless tag sheet. On the other hand, when information is not read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33a, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a normal sheet. In this way, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the type of the sheet.

[0048] The determination result by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 is transmitted to the image formation control unit 50. The image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination of the sheet to be processed (the conveyed sheet) according to the determination result. When the sheet to be processed is a wireless tag sheet, the image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination to be the upper paper discharge tray 81. The image formation control unit 50 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to discharge the sheet to be processed to the upper paper discharge tray 81. When the sheet to be processed is a normal sheet, the image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination to be the lower paper discharge tray 82. The image formation control unit 50 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to discharge the sheet to be processed to the lower paper discharge tray 82.

[0049] (Second Aspect) The writing unit 204 writes information (tag data) to the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet. The writing unit 204 can also invalidate the wireless tag or delete the data of the wireless tag. The reading unit 203 reads information from the wireless tag. The wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the sheet type according to the wireless communication between the reading unit 203 or the writing unit 204 and the wireless tag. In the following description, the case of determination by the process of the reading unit 203 is described, but it is as described in the first embodiment that the determination may be made by the process of the writing unit 204.

[0050] The wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines whether the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 33a is a wireless tag sheet, a normal sheet, or a communication error has occurred based on the information read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203. That is, when information is normally read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33a, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a wireless tag sheet. On the other hand, when information cannot be normally read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33a and the received wireless signal does not satisfy a predetermined error condition, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the conveyed sheet is a normal sheet.

[0051] Furthermore, when information cannot be normally read from the wireless tag by the reading unit 203 while a sheet is being conveyed on the conveyance path 33a and the received wireless signal satisfies a predetermined error condition, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that an error has occurred. The error condition is a condition indicating that although the wireless tag may be within a predetermined distance of the wireless tag unit 300, information cannot be correctly read from the wireless tag. The error condition may be, for example, that the signal strength of the received wireless communication signal is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0052] In this way, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines the type of the sheet. The determination result by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 is transmitted to the image formation control unit 50. For the sheet determined as an error, the image formation control unit 50 conveys it to the conveyance path 33b. The image formation control unit 50 conveys the sheet that has passed through the conveyance path 33b back to the conveyance path 33a again, and notifies the wireless tag unit 300 of the conveyance timing. The sheet conveyed through the conveyance path 33b (inversion conveyance path) enters the conveyance path 33a again with the front and back reversed. The wireless tag unit 300 executes a process of reading the information of the wireless tag for the sheet with the front and back reversed compared to the previous conveyance, and determines the type of the sheet. The wireless tag unit 300 repeats this process a predetermined number of times while an error occurs for one sheet, and if it is still an error, it determines the sheet as a normal sheet. As a modification example, it may be configured to determine the sheet as a wireless tag sheet when the error repeats a predetermined number of times.

[0053] The determination result by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 is transmitted to the image formation control unit 50. The image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination of the sheet to be processed (the conveyed sheet) according to the determination result. When the sheet to be processed is a wireless tag sheet, the image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination as the upper paper discharge tray 81. The image formation control unit 50 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to discharge the sheet to be processed to the upper paper discharge tray 81. When the sheet to be processed is a normal sheet, the image formation control unit 50 determines the paper discharge destination as the lower paper discharge tray 82. The image formation control unit 50 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to discharge the sheet to be processed to the lower paper discharge tray 82.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the processing flow in the second aspect. First, the image formation control unit 50 takes out and conveys one sheet from the bundle of sheets to be processed (ACT201). For example, the bundle of sheets to be processed is stored in the paper feed cassette 16a or the paper feed cassette 16b. The image formation control unit 50 conveys the sheet to the conveyance path 33a. The image formation control unit 50 notifies the wireless tag unit 300 of the timing when the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path 33a.

[0055] The wireless tag unit 300 operates the reading unit 302 at the timing when the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path 33a to perform wireless communication with the wireless tag of the sheet (ACT202). Through this wireless communication, the reading unit 302 attempts to read information from the wireless tag of the sheet. If the information cannot be correctly read from the wireless tag by the wireless communication and the error condition is satisfied, the wireless tag unit 300 determines that an error has occurred (ACT203: Error). In this case, the image formation control unit 50 determines whether the number of times an error has been determined for the sheet to be processed is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (ACT204). If the number of error times is less than the predetermined number (ACT204: NO), the image formation control unit 50 performs reverse conveyance on the sheet to be processed (ACT205). Reverse conveyance is a process of reversing the front and back surfaces of the sheet in the conveyance path. Reverse conveyance may be performed in any form. For example, reverse conveyance may be performed by conveying the sheet through the conveyance path 33b.

[0056] If the number of error times is equal to or greater than the predetermined number (ACT204: YES), the image formation control unit 50 performs the same processing on the sheet to be processed as on a normal sheet. That is, the image formation control unit 50 discharges the sheet to be processed to the second discharge unit in the same manner as a normal sheet (ACT207).

[0057] In the process of ACT203, when it is determined that the sheet type is a wireless tag sheet (ACT203: wireless tag sheet), the image formation control unit 50 discharges the sheet to be processed to the first discharge unit (upper discharge tray 81) (ACT206). In the process of ACT203, when it is determined that the sheet type is a normal sheet (ACT203: normal sheet), the image formation control unit 50 discharges the sheet to be processed to the second discharge unit (lower discharge tray 82) (ACT207).

[0058] According to the embodiment described above, by placing a bundle of sheets in which wireless tag sheets and normal sheets are mixed in the image forming apparatus 100, it becomes possible to easily separate the wireless tag sheets and the normal sheets. That is, the sheets determined to be wireless tag sheets are discharged to the first discharge unit (upper discharge tray 81), and the sheets determined to be normal sheets are discharged to the second discharge unit (lower discharge tray 82). Also, when it is not possible to determine whether it is a wireless tag sheet or a normal tag sheet in wireless communication (in the case of an error), the front and back of the sheet are reversed and wireless communication is performed again for determination. By doing so, it becomes possible to more accurately discriminate between wireless tag sheets and normal sheets.

[0059] Note that the determination of the sheet type performed by the wireless tag unit control unit 201 may be executed by the image formation control unit 50. In this case, the wireless tag unit control unit 201 may simply notify the image formation control unit 50 of the result of the process of the reading unit 203 and the result of the process of the writing unit 204 without performing the determination of the sheet type. When the wireless tag unit control unit 201 determines that the sheet type is a wireless tag sheet, it may perform a process of invalidating or deleting data on the wireless tag of the wireless tag sheet.

[0060] The functions of the post-processing apparatus in the above-described embodiments may be implemented by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing these functions may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the "computer system" shall include hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, etc., and a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" also includes, like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short period of time, and also includes, like a volatile memory inside a computer system that becomes a server or a client in that case, a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time. Also, the above program may be for realizing a part of the aforementioned functions, and may further be a program that can be realized in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system for realizing the aforementioned functions.

[0061] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0062] 18... Printer unit, 23... Stapler, 100... Image forming apparatus, 125... Paper discharge switching unit, 200... Post-processing apparatus, 203... Reading unit, 204... Writing unit, 300... Wireless tag unit, 1000... Image forming system, 61... Paper discharge tray, 62... Fixed tray, 81... Upper paper discharge tray 81, 82... Lower paper discharge tray

Claims

1. A transport drive unit that individually transports sheets to be processed along a transport path and discharges them to either a first sheet discharge unit or a second sheet discharge unit; A tag communication unit that performs wireless communication with the sheet being transported in the middle of the transport path; Determines whether a wireless tag is attached to the sheet according to the result of the wireless communication in the tag communication unit. The wireless tag sheet, which is a sheet with a wireless tag attached, is discharged from the first sheet discharge unit, and the control unit controls the transport drive unit so that a normal sheet, which is a sheet without a wireless tag attached, is discharged from the second sheet discharge unit; A sheet processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made according to the result of wireless communication while the sheet is moving in a predetermined section in the transport path.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the tag communication unit succeeds in wireless communication with a wireless tag, the sheet is determined to be a wireless tag sheet.

4. The transport drive unit transports the sheet even in an inversion transport path that inverts the front and back of the sheet, The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when a predetermined condition is satisfied for the sheet to be processed, the sheet is transported in the inversion transport path, and it is determined whether the transported sheet is a wireless tag sheet or a normal sheet.

5. A sheet processing apparatus individually transports sheets to be processed along a transport path, The sheet processing apparatus performs wireless communication with the sheet being transported in the middle of the transport path, The sheet processing apparatus determines whether a wireless tag is attached to the sheet according to the result of the wireless communication, A sheet processing method in which a wireless tag sheet, which is a sheet with a wireless tag attached, is discharged from a first sheet discharge unit, and a normal sheet, which is a sheet without a wireless tag attached, is discharged from a second sheet discharge unit.

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