Booklet creation apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image forming system

Abstract

Improve the method for creating booklets. [Solution] The booklet creation apparatus acquires at least one of the wear status of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed. Based on the acquired information, the booklet creation apparatus adjusts the booklet creation conditions. The booklet creation conditions include, for example, at least one of the image forming conditions of the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions of the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a booklet creating apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

Background Art

[0002] A booklet is created by binding a plurality of sheets on which images are printed by an image forming apparatus with metal pins. However, the metal pins become an obstacle to the recycling of the booklet. Therefore, according to Patent Document 1, it has been proposed to use toner as an adhesive instead of metal pins to create a booklet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The process cartridge of an image forming apparatus is composed of consumable parts such as toner, a photosensitive drum, and a developing roller. The state of the consumable parts changes according to the cumulative operation time of the process cartridge. Furthermore, the state of the consumable parts (e.g., the physical properties of the toner) changes according to the conditions of the environment (e.g., temperature) in which the image forming apparatus is installed. The image forming apparatus has a function of automatically adjusting the image forming conditions in consideration of the cumulative operation time and the environmental conditions. The adhesive layer is also affected by the cumulative operation time and the environmental conditions, but the booklet creating apparatus does not consider these effects, so the adhesive strength of the booklet may become insufficient. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the method of creating a booklet.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present invention, for example, loading means on which a plurality of sheets including a sheet on which an image and an adhesive layer are formed using toner by image forming means are loaded; A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, The system includes a control means for controlling the heat-compression bonding means, The control means provides a booklet creation apparatus that adjusts booklet creation conditions, including at least one of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the method for creating booklets is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Diagram illustrating the image formation system. [Figure 2] Diagram illustrating the formation location of the adhesive image. [Figure 3] A diagram explaining how to create a booklet. [Figure 4] Diagram explaining the heat-sealing process. [Figure 5] Diagram explaining the heat-sealing position [Figure 6] Diagram explaining adhesive strength [Figure 7] Diagram illustrating the process cartridge [Figure 8] Diagram explaining the controller [Figure 9] Diagram explaining the correction table [Figure 10] Flowchart showing the control method [Figure 11] Diagram explaining the effect [Figure 12] Diagram explaining the correction table [Figure 13] Diagram explaining the exposure apparatus [Figure 14] Diagram explaining exposure control [Figure 15]Flowchart showing the control method [Figure 16] Figure for explaining the image forming system

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, not all of these plurality of features are essential to the invention, and the plurality of features may be arbitrarily combined. Further, in the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0009] 1. Example 1 1-1. Image forming system As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a post-processing apparatus 130. The post-processing apparatus 130 is a sheet processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet S which is a recording material. The intermediate transfer unit 120 transfers the sheet S on which an image has been formed to the post-processing apparatus 130. The post-processing apparatus 130 performs post-processing on the sheet S as necessary and outputs it. Note that the image forming system may be understood as a booklet creating apparatus, or the post-processing apparatus 130 may be understood as a booklet creating apparatus. The image forming system 1 may be called an image forming apparatus.

[0010] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a fixing device 6, a sheet cassette 8, an image forming unit 10, and a housing 19 that houses these components. The image forming unit 10 forms a toner image on the sheet S fed from the sheet cassette 8. The fixing device 6 executes a fixing process for fixing the toner image on the sheet S.

[0011] The sheet cassette 8 is provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100. The sheet cassette 8 is inserted into the housing 19 so as to be pullable out, and can store a large number of sheets S. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the maximum size of the sheet S on which an image can be formed is the A4 size (vertical 297 mm × horizontal 210 mm). The long side of the A4-size sheet S is parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheet S. The feed roller 81 feeds the sheet S from the sheet cassette 8 and delivers the sheet S to the pair of conveyance rollers 82. The multi tray 20 can also feed the sheet S one by one.

[0012] The image forming unit 10 is a tandem type electrophotographic unit including four process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k, an exposure device 2, and a transfer unit 3. Ymck respectively mean yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Instead of black, a transparent toner (powder adhesive) may be adopted. The toner used as the powder adhesive may be called the adhesive toner Tn. The characters of ymck indicating the color of the toner may be omitted from the reference signs. The color of the adhesive toner Tn may be transparent or black. When the color of the adhesive toner is transparent, black is realized (process black) by appropriately mixing yellow, magenta, and cyan. The types (materials) of the toners of yellow, magenta, cyan and the toner used as the adhesive toner Tn are, for example, thermoplastic resins. Examples of the thermoplastic resin include polyester resin, vinyl resin, acrylic resin, and styrene acrylic resin. The process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k enable the integral replacement of a plurality of components responsible for the image forming process. That is, a plurality of components are integrated to form the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k. Note that the arrangement of the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k in the rotation direction of the transfer belt 30 is merely an example. The process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, 7k are an example of replaceable consumable parts.

[0013] Process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k have corresponding developing units Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk, photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk, and charging rollers Cy, Cm, Cc, and Ck. The structure of process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k is substantially the same, except for the type of toner.

[0014] The developing units Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk each include a container for holding powder (e.g., toner) and a coating roller (coating sleeve) for applying the powder to the photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk. More specifically, the developing units Ky, Km, and Kc contain yellow, magenta, and cyan toners for forming a visible image on the sheet S. The developing unit Kk contains black toner (adhesive toner Tn). The adhesive toner Tn forms a user image (original image) and may also be used in the post-processing device 130 to heat-press multiple sheets S together. When developed with the adhesive toner Tn, an adhesive image (adhesive layer) is formed on the photoreceptor drum Dk by the adhesive toner Tn.

[0015] The image forming unit 10 may have a fifth process cartridge that uses a toner specifically for adhesion. Depending on the application of the image forming apparatus 100, the type of printing toner (e.g., black, clear) and the number of process cartridges 7 can be changed.

[0016] The charging rollers Cy, Cm, Cc, and Ck are chargers that uniformly charge the surfaces of the corresponding photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk. The exposure apparatus 2 is located below the process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k, and above the sheet cassette 8. The exposure apparatus 2 irradiates the photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk with corresponding laser beams Jy, Jm, Jc, and Jk to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure apparatus 2 may also be called an optical scanning apparatus.

[0017] The developing units Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk form a toner image by depositing toner onto the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk. The developing units Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk may also be called developing units.

[0018] The transfer unit 3 includes a transfer belt 30 as an intermediate transfer body (secondary image carrier). The transfer belt 30 is an endless belt wound around an inner roller 31 and a tension roller 32. The outer surface (image forming surface) of the transfer belt 30 faces the photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk. On the inner side of the transfer belt 30, primary transfer rollers Fy, Fm, Fc, and Fk are arranged to face the photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk.

[0019] The primary transfer rollers Fy, Fm, Fc, and Fk transfer the toner image from the corresponding photoreceptor drums Dy, Dm, Dc, and Dk to the transfer belt 30. The primary transfer rollers Fy, Fm, Fc, and Fk may also be called primary transfer units. As the transfer belt 30 rotates counterclockwise, the toner image is transported to the secondary transfer unit.

[0020] The secondary transfer roller 5 is positioned opposite the inner roller 31 and forms a transfer nip 52 between the secondary transfer roller 5 and the transfer belt 30. The transfer nip 52 transfers the toner image from the transfer belt 30 to the sheet S. The transfer nip 52 may also be called the secondary transfer section. The cleaning blade 71 is a cleaning member for cleaning the toner remaining on the transfer belt 30. The toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 71 is accumulated in a collection container (not shown).

[0021] A fuser device 6 is positioned above the secondary transfer roller 5 (downstream in the direction of sheet S transport). The fuser device 6 applies heat and pressure to the sheet S as it passes through the fuser nip 61. This fixes the toner image onto the sheet S. The fuser device 6 also has a fuser heater 62 for heating the toner image and the sheet S. The fuser heater 62 is, for example, a halogen heater or a ceramic heater.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the switching guide 33 is a flap-shaped guide member located downstream of the fixing device 6 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. When the single-sided printing mode, which forms an image on one side of the sheet S, is selected, the switching guide 33 guides the sheet S to the discharge roller 34. When the double-sided printing mode, which forms an image on both sides of the sheet S, is selected, the switching guide 33 guides the sheet S, with the image formed on the first side, to the switchback roller pair 35. The switchback roller pair 35 conveys the sheet S in a predetermined direction. When the rear end of the sheet S is ready to enter the double-sided conveying path 36, the switchback roller pair 35 begins to reverse. As a result, the sheet S is conveyed to the double-sided conveying path 36. The double-sided conveying path 36 conveys the sheet S back to the secondary transfer section. As a result, an image is formed on the second side of the sheet S.

[0023] The discharge roller 34 transports the sheet S to the intermediate transport unit 120. The intermediate transport unit 120 has transport roller pairs 121 and 122. The transport roller pairs 121 and 122 transport the sheet S to the post-processing device 130.

[0024] 1-2. Post-treatment device The post-processing device 130 is a floor-standing type sheet processing device. The post-processing device 130 has a mechanism for buffering multiple sheets, a mechanism for aligning multiple sheets, and a mechanism for bonding (thermocompression bonding) sheet bundles.

[0025] In the following, the front end of the sheet S in the transport direction is called the front end. The rear end of the sheet S in the transport direction is called the rear end. Of the two ends of the sheet S, the end that enters the post-processing device 130 first is called the first end. Of the two ends of the sheet S, the end that enters the post-processing device 130 later is called the second end. Note that the switchback transport performed by the post-processing device 130 may change the front end from the first end to the second end, and the rear end may change from the second end to the first end.

[0026] The sheet S, transported from the intermediate transport unit 120, is passed to the inlet roller 21 of the post-processing device 130. Downstream of the inlet roller 21 is a sheet sensor 27, also known as an inlet sensor. When the sheet sensor 27 detects the rear end of the sheet S, the transport roller pair 22 accelerates the sheet S. When the rear end of the sheet S, which is set to be discharged to the upper tray 25, arrives between the transport roller pair 22 and the transport roller pair 24, the transport roller pair 22 decelerates. This brings the transport speed of the sheet S to a predetermined discharge speed. The transport roller pair 24 then discharges the sheet S to the upper tray 25.

[0027] When the rear end of the sheet S, which is set to be discharged to the lower tray 37, passes the backflow prevention valve 23, the conveyor roller pair 24 stops conveying the sheet S. Then, the conveyor roller pair 24 starts rotating in reverse. As a result, the sheet S switches back and is conveyed to the conveyor roller pair 26. When the sheet sensor 60 located downstream of the conveyor roller pair 26 detects the leading edge of the sheet S, the two rollers constituting the conveyor roller pair 24 separate. As a result, the conveyor roller pair 24 becomes able to receive the subsequent sheet S. Furthermore, the conveyor roller pair 26 stops with the preceding sheet S being held between them. As the subsequent sheet S arrives, the conveyor roller pair 26 starts rotating in reverse. As a result, the subsequent sheet S is stacked on top of the preceding sheet S. As the conveyor roller pair 26 repeatedly switches back the sheet S, multiple sheets S are stacked and a sheet bundle is formed. This sheet bundle formation operation may also be called a buffer operation. The unit that realizes the buffer operation is called a buffer unit 80. It is not mandatory to form sheet bundles in the buffer section 80. For example, the buffer section 80 may switch back the sheets S arriving from the image forming apparatus 100 and transport the sheets S to the intermediate loading section 42. In this case, sheet bundles are formed in the intermediate loading section 42.

[0028] When the sheet bundle is completed in the buffer section 80, the transport roller pair 26 transports the sheet bundle toward the intermediate loading section 42. The sheet bundle passes through the transport roller pair 28 and the sheet sensor 50. Furthermore, the sheet bundle is transported to the intermediate loading section 42 by the kick-off roller pair 29. A movable longitudinal alignment plate 39 is positioned in a standby position at the downstream end of the intermediate loading section 42. The sheet bundle is aligned when it comes into contact with the longitudinal alignment plate 39.

[0029] Multiple sheet bundles are loaded sequentially into the intermediate loading section 42. The first sheet bundle to be transported to the intermediate loading section 42 is called the 1st sheet bundle. The i-th sheet bundle to arrive at the intermediate loading section 42 is called the i-th sheet bundle. The last sheet bundle to arrive at the intermediate loading section 42 is called the Nth sheet bundle. In this way, a predetermined number of sheets S to form a booklet are loaded into the intermediate loading section 42. Once the predetermined number of sheets S are aligned, the heat-sealing unit 51 performs a binding operation (heat-sealing process) to form a booklet. The heat-sealing process may be repeated each time a sheet bundle arrives at the intermediate loading section 42. The vertical alignment plate 39 moves from the standby position to the discharge position, pushing the booklet towards the discharge roller 38. When the leading edge of the booklet is gripped by the discharge roller 38, the vertical alignment plate 39 stops and returns to the standby position. The discharge roller 38 discharges the booklet received from the vertical alignment plate 39 through the discharge port 46 to the lower tray 37.

[0030] In the above description, the post-processing device 130 uses the buffer unit 80 to form a sheet bundle consisting of multiple sheets S and transports the sheet bundle to the intermediate loading unit 42. However, a single sheet S may also be transported to the intermediate loading unit 42.

[0031] 1-3. Print area of ​​adhesive toner Tn Figure 2(A) shows the print area 211 of the adhesive toner Tn. The print area 211 is an adhesive area reserved in the binding margin of the sheet S. In this example, the print area 211 extends parallel to the long side of the sheet S. The print area 211 is located at the left or right end near the long side. For a right-bound booklet, the print area 211 is located at the right end of the sheet S. For a left-bound booklet, the print area 211 is located at the left end of the sheet S. The print area 211 may also be located at the upper or lower end near the short side. The post-processing device 130 stacks multiple sheets S and performs heat treatment and pressure treatment on the print areas 211 of the multiple sheets S, thereby bonding the multiple sheets S and forming a booklet. In this case, the booklet is bound along the long side. Here, the width (length in the short side direction) of the adhesive toner image (print area 211) is, for example, 4.0 mm. For example, the amount of toner per unit area (toner coverage) of the adhesive toner Tn may be 0.4 mg / cm². The printing area 212 is the area on which the user image is printed.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2(B), a small printable area 213 for adhesive toner Tn may be formed near the corner of the sheet S. This creates a booklet with corner binding. The image created by the adhesive toner Tn is not formed on the sheet S that forms the cover of the booklet. In a right-bound booklet, the printable area 213 is located in the upper right of the sheet S. In a left-bound booklet, the printable area 213 is located in the upper left of the sheet S.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2(C), the printable areas 211 and 213 of the adhesive toner Tn may be formed on both sides of the sheet S, or on only one side of the sheet S. Whether the printable areas 211 and 213 of the adhesive toner Tn are formed on one side or both sides can be selected by considering, for example, the adhesive capacity of the post-processing device 130, the adhesive capacity of the adhesive toner Tn, the type of sheet S, and the intended use of the booklet. Booklets intended for permanent storage require reliable adhesion. Reliable adhesion is also required when cardboard or a special sheet S is used as the cover of the booklet. Therefore, in these cases, the printable areas 211 of the adhesive toner Tn are provided on both sides of the sheet S. When a simple booklet for primary use is created, the printable areas 211 of the adhesive toner Tn may be formed on only one side of the sheet S.

[0034] When adhesive toner Tn is applied to both sides of sheet S, the adhesive toner Tn formed on the front surface of one sheet S and the adhesive toner Tn formed on the back surface of the other sheet S come into contact with each other and are bonded together. Note that adhesive toner Tn is applied to the back surface of the front cover and the front surface of the back cover of the booklet, but not to the front surface of the front cover and the back surface of the back cover.

[0035] 1-4. Booklet creation process Figures 3(A) to 3(D) show the booklet creation operation performed in the intermediate loading section 42. Initially, the intermediate loading section 42 is empty. As an example, a sheet bundle W consisting of five sheets S1 to S5 is transported from the buffer section 80 to the intermediate loading section 42. The intermediate loading section 42 functions as a support member or holding member that supports the five sheets S1 to S5.

[0036] The Y direction is parallel to the loading surface (loading plate) of the sheet S in the intermediate loading section 42 and also parallel to the transport direction of the sheet S being transported to the intermediate loading section 42 from the kick-out roller pair 29. The Y direction may also be called the vertical direction. The X direction is parallel to the loading surface of the sheet S in the intermediate loading section 42 and perpendicular to the Y direction. The X direction may also be called the horizontal direction. The Z direction is perpendicular to the X and Y directions (normal direction of the loading surface, thickness direction of the loaded sheet S). The Z direction may also be called the height direction. The opposite directions of the X, Y, and Z directions are sometimes called the -X direction, -Y direction, and -Z direction.

[0037] The longitudinal alignment plate 39 and the alignment roller 40 function as a first alignment unit that aligns multiple sheets S in a first direction (Y direction). The longitudinal alignment plate 39 is positioned at the downstream end of the intermediate loading section 42 in the Y direction. The longitudinal alignment plate 39 is a reference member (first reference member) that serves as a reference for the sheet position in the Y direction. The alignment roller 40 is a conveying member that transports the sheets S in the Y direction in order to abut the sheets S against the longitudinal alignment plate 39 and align them. The longitudinal alignment plate 39 includes a plurality of contact portions 39a to 39c arranged at intervals in the X direction. The contact portions 39a to 39c may also be called the longitudinal reference plate. The plurality of contact portions 39a to 39c contact the edges of the sheets S. The longitudinal alignment plate 39 and the alignment roller 40 are integrally configured as a movable unit 59 that can move in the Y direction. The movable unit 59 can move in the Y direction by a drive source such as a motor. In other words, the positions of the longitudinal alignment plate 39 and the alignment roller 40 in the Y direction are adjustable. The lateral alignment plates 41a to 41c of the lateral alignment jogger 41 function as alignment units that align the sheet S in the X direction, which is perpendicular to the Y direction.

[0038] The lateral alignment plates 41a to 41c move in the X direction by a drive source such as a motor, and press against the side edges of the sheet S loaded on the intermediate loading section 42. The lateral reference plates 72a and 72b are reference members that serve as a reference for the position of the sheet S in the X direction. The lateral reference plates 72a and 72b are positioned opposite the lateral alignment joggers 41a and 41b in the X direction.

[0039] 1-4-1. Preparation Stage As shown in Figure 3(A), sheets S1 to S5 are transported toward the kick-out roller pair 29. Sheets S1 to S5 may be transported to the intermediate loading section 42 with the lower sheet Sj protruding in the Y direction more than the upper sheet Sj+1. Here, j is the index of the sheet S. Before the sheets S are loaded into the intermediate loading section 42, the longitudinal alignment plate 39 moves to a predetermined waiting position in advance to match the size of the sheet S to be aligned. The waiting position is set so that the -Y end position of the sheet S is at a predetermined position, regardless of the size of the sheet S. In other words, the waiting position is such that the distance in the Y direction from the nip position of the kick-out roller pair 29 to the longitudinal alignment plate 39 is slightly longer than the Y length of the sheet. The transverse alignment plates 41a to 41c wait at a position away from the sheet S being transported in the X direction so as not to obstruct the transport of the sheet S.

[0040] 1-4-2. Vertical Alignment Stage Figure 3(B) shows that the rear end of the first sheet S1 has passed through the nip of the kick-out roller pair 29, and the front end of sheet S1 has reached the alignment roller 40. Sheet S1 abuts against the longitudinal alignment plate 39 and is aligned with the position of the longitudinal alignment plate 39 as the reference. As the alignment roller 40 continues to rotate, sheets S2 to S5, which reach the alignment roller 40 after sheet S1, abut against the longitudinal alignment plate 39 in order. As a result, the five sheets S1 to S5 are aligned in the Y direction (longitudinal direction) with respect to the position of the longitudinal alignment plate 39 as the reference.

[0041] 1-4-3. Lateral Alignment Stage Figure 3(C) shows that after the alignment of sheets S1 to S5 in the Y direction (vertical direction) is completed, alignment in the X direction (lateral direction) begins. The lateral alignment plates 41a to 41c are driven in the X direction, which is the alignment direction, and come into contact with the side edges of sheets S1 to S5, pressing sheets S1 to S5 toward the lateral reference plates 72a and 72b. Then, the other side edges of sheets S1 to S5 come into contact with the contact surfaces 300 of the lateral reference plates 72a and 72b, so that sheets S1 to S5 are aligned in the X direction (lateral direction) with respect to the positions of the lateral reference plates 72a and 72b.

[0042] 1-4-4. Bonding stage (thermocompression bonding stage) Figure 3(D) shows the state after alignment of the five sheets S1 to S5 in the X and Y directions has been completed. The target position (alignment position) in the alignment operation is the position of the sheet bundle W when the bonding process (thermocompression bonding) is performed by the thermocompression bonding unit 51. As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 applies adhesive toner Tn to sheets S1 to S5 such that the side on which the adhesive toner image is formed faces the thermocompression bonding unit 51. If sheet S1 is the cover of a booklet, adhesive toner Tn may not be applied.

[0043] The thermocompression unit 51 applies thermocompression to the aligned sheets S1 to S5. Meanwhile, the transverse alignment plates 41a to 41c retract in the -X direction. This makes the intermediate loading section 42 ready to receive the next multiple sheets S. Subsequently, the sheet bundle W consisting of sheets S6 to S10 generated in the buffer section 80 is loaded onto the sheets S1 to S5.

[0044] Subsequently, the four steps described above are repeated for the preceding sheet bundle W consisting of bonded sheets S1 to S5 and the sheet bundle W consisting of unbonded sheets S6 to S10. This ensures that sheets S1 to S10 are bonded together with high precision.

[0045] For example, a sheet bundle W consists of five sheets S. However, the number of sheets S constituting the sheet bundle W may be two or three, or any other number. In other words, the number of sheets S included in the sheet bundle W should be less than or equal to the maximum number of sheets S that can be stacked in the buffer unit 80.

[0046] 1-5. Heat-sealing unit As shown in Figure 4(A), the thermocompression unit 51 has a heater 401 with a built-in heating element as a heat source, and an aluminum heating plate 402 placed on top of it. The surface of the heating plate 402 may be coated. This is to improve the release properties from the toner. The coating material is, for example, a copolymer (PFA) of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkoxyethylene. The length (thickness) of the heater 401 in the Z direction is, for example, 1.0 mm. The length (width) of the heater 401 in the X direction is, for example, 8.0 mm. The length of the heater 401 in the Y direction is, for example, 350 mm. The thickness of the heating plate 402 is, for example, 1.5 mm. The heater 401 is, for example, a ceramic heater. The temperature of the heater 401 is measured by a temperature sensor 407 and may be controlled by a control circuit so that the measured temperature becomes the target temperature. For example, a target temperature (e.g., 240°C) is set so that the surface temperature of the pressurizing portion 409 of the heating plate 402 reaches 200°C. By providing the pressurizing portion 409 on the heating plate 402, the heat and pressure of the heat-sealing unit 51 are concentrated at the binding position of the sheet bundle W. As a result, the efficiency of heating and pressing is improved. The elastic modulus of the pressurizing portion 409 is at least 1000 Pa, but may be 10000 Pa or more. This makes the pressurizing portion 409 less likely to deform even if heat sealing is performed repeatedly.

[0047] The heater 401 is supported by a resin heater support 403. The pressure lever 404 is powered by a motor M1 shown in Figure 8 to pressurize the sheet bundle W by pushing the thermocompression unit 51 downwards in the -Z direction. The pressure applied by the pressure lever 404 is transmitted to the pressurizing section 409 via a rigid metal stay 405. The pressure applied by the pressure lever 404 is controllable depending on the amount the pressure lever 404 is moved downwards in the -Z direction. For example, the average surface pressure acting on the sheet bundle W is, for example, 0.2 MPa. The thermocompression time T1 is, for example, 2.0 seconds. The thermocompression time may also be called the contact time, pressurizing time, or heating time.

[0048] The pressure plate 406 is a receiving member formed from an elastic material (e.g., silicone rubber). The reason an elastic material is used is that the pressure plate 406 is a member that stably receives the pressing force. The elastic modulus of the pressure plate 406 is, for example, 1000 Pa or less. The pressure plate 406 may also be coated with PFA. The thickness of the pressure plate 406 is, for example, 2.0 mm. The heat-sealing unit 51 pressurizes the sheet bundle W1 consisting of sheets S1 to S5, and then separates from the sheet bundle W1. In Figure 4(A), sheets S1 to S5 represent the first to fifth sheets S1 to S5 of the resulting booklet. Sheet S1 is the cover of the booklet. Therefore, no image is formed on the lower surface of the adhesive toner Tn on sheet S1, and only on the upper surface. Images of the adhesive toner Tn are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the second and subsequent sheets S2 to S5 of the booklet.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4(B), a sheet bundle W2 is placed on top of the sheets S1 to S5 that have been heat-sealed. The sheet bundle W2 consists of sheets S6 to S10. The heat-sealing unit 51 applies a heat-sealing operation to the sheet bundle W2 which is placed on top of the sheet bundle W1. This creates a booklet consisting of many sheets S. Note that the number of sheets that make up the sheet bundle W1 and the number of sheets that make up the sheet bundle W2 may be different.

[0050] Sheets S6 to S10, which are laminated later, are included in the same booklet as sheets S1 to S5. Therefore, adhesive images containing adhesive toner Tn are formed on the top and bottom surfaces of sheets S6 to S10, respectively.

[0051] As an example, the post-processing device 130 can create a booklet consisting of up to 100 sheets S. When booklet creation begins, the buffer unit 80 buffers up to 5 sheets S at a time to create a sheet bundle W, and supplies the sheet bundle W to the intermediate loading unit 42. The heat-sealing unit 51 performs a heat-sealing operation consisting of a lowering operation, a pressing operation, and an upward operation each time a sheet bundle W arrives. By repeating the buffering operation and the heat-sealing operation, booklets are efficiently created without reducing the productivity of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0052] When the heat-sealing operation on the sheet bundle W, including the last page of the booklet, is completed in the intermediate loading section 42, the vertical alignment plate 39 moves from the standby position to the discharge position. In other words, the completed booklet is pushed out as the vertical alignment plate 39 moves parallel to the discharge port 46. A discharge roller 38 is provided at the discharge port 46. When the leading edge of the booklet slightly exceeds the discharge roller 38, the vertical alignment plate 39 stops and returns to the standby position. The discharge roller 38 discharges the booklet into the lower tray 37.

[0053] Figure 5 shows the positions of multiple sheets S of different sizes and the heater 401. The size of the sheets S can be arbitrarily selected by the user. Therefore, various sizes (e.g., A4, B5, A5) can be selected. In the X direction, multiple sheets S are aligned by the contact surface 300 regardless of the size of the sheets S. In the Y direction, multiple sheets S are aligned by the contact portions 39a to 39c regardless of the size of the sheets S.

[0054] In this way, the alignment position of the multiple sheets S to be heat-sealed is the same regardless of the size of the sheets S. Therefore, the installation position of the heater 401 is also the same regardless of the size of the sheets S. This ensures adhesion at the edges of sheets S of various sizes.

[0055] 1-6.Adhesive strength Figure 6(A) shows the relationship between the amount of adhesive toner Tn and the adhesive strength. The vertical axis represents the adhesive strength, and the horizontal axis represents the amount of toner. In the measurement experiment, the set temperature was set so that the surface temperature of the pressurized section 409 of the heating plate 402 was 200°C. The heat-pressure bonding time by the heat-pressure bonding unit 51 was set to 3 seconds. As shown in Figure 6(B), the adhesive strength is the peak value of the tensile force required to peel off multiple sheets S bonded by the adhesive toner Tn. The amount of toner is the amount of adhesive toner Tn forming the bonded image before the heat-pressure bonding process.

[0056] As shown in Figure 6(A), adhesive strength correlates with the amount of toner. In other words, the adhesive strength increases as the amount of toner increases. On the other hand, it was found that an adhesive strength of approximately 0.5 N / cm or more is sufficient for the finished booklet. However, this value is just one example. An adhesive strength of 0.5 N / cm was confirmed using Canon Marketing Japan Inc.'s plain paper "Office70" as sheet S. Therefore, the appropriate amount of adhesive strength will vary depending on the type and brand of sheet S, or the intended use of the booklet.

[0057] 1-7. Process Cartridges Figure 7 shows details of process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k. The structure of process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k is identical. Therefore, process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k are referred to as process cartridge 7.

[0058] The process cartridge 7 includes a cleaning unit 126 and a developing device K. The cleaning unit 126 comprises a photoreceptor drum D, a charging roller C, and a cleaning member 106. The developing device K comprises a developing roller 125 that rotates in contact with the photoreceptor drum D, a developing frame 131 that supports the developing roller 125, and a developing blade 135. The developing frame 131 comprises a developing chamber 141 and a toner storage chamber 142.

[0059] A charging roller C and a cleaning member 106 are arranged around the photoreceptor drum D. The cleaning member 106 comprises a blade-shaped elastic rubber blade 107 and a support member 108. The tip of the rubber blade 107 is in contact with the photoreceptor drum D in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum D. Residual toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor drum D by the cleaning member 106 is collected in the toner removal chamber 127.

[0060] The charging roller C is rotatably mounted to the cleaning unit 126 via a bearing. The charging roller C is pressed toward the photoreceptor drum D and rotates in accordance with the photoreceptor drum D. Here, a charging voltage is applied to the core metal of the charging roller C from a high-voltage power supply. As a result, the surface of the photoreceptor drum D is charged so that its surface potential becomes a uniform dark area potential Vd.

[0061] When laser light is irradiated from exposure apparatus 2, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed. The charge on the exposed surface is eliminated by carriers from the carrier generation layer, so the potential of the exposed surface decreases. As a result, the potential of the exposed surface becomes the bright area potential Vl. The potential of the unexposed surface becomes the dark area potential Vd.

[0062] A toner supply roller 134 and a developing blade 135 are positioned around the developing roller 125. The toner supply roller 134 rotates in contact with the developing roller 125. The toner supply roller 134 supplies toner supplied from the toner storage chamber 142 to the developing chamber 141 to the developing roller 125. The developing blade 135 regulates the thickness of the toner layer formed on the developing roller 125.

[0063] The developing roller 125 has a metal core and an elastic layer. The elastic layer is arranged around the core. The elastic layer is, for example, a conductive elastic rubber layer having a predetermined volume resistance. The elastic layer of the developing roller 125 has a base layer and a surface layer. The base layer is formed of, for example, silicone rubber. The surface layer is formed of, for example, urethane rubber. Urethane bead particles may be dispersed in the urethane rubber of the surface layer. The developing roller 125 and the photoreceptor drum D are arranged to face each other and in contact. At the contact point, the developing roller 125 and the photoreceptor drum D rotate so that the surface of the developing roller 125 and the surface of the photoreceptor drum D move in the same direction. The core of the developing roller 125 is subjected to a developing voltage Vdc from a high-voltage power supply. As a result, toner that has been negatively charged by triboelectric charging adheres to the surface portion of the photoreceptor drum D where the bright area potential Vl is located. This forms an electrostatic latent image. The difference between the developing voltage Vdc and the bright area potential Vl is called the developing contrast. The difference between the development voltage Vdc and the dark area potential Vd is called the back contrast. By adjusting the magnitude of the development contrast and the back contrast, the amount of toner adhering to the photoreceptor drum D is controlled. This controls image density, line width, and fogging. Fogging is a phenomenon in which a small amount of toner adheres to unexposed areas where toner is not intended to be applied.

[0064] The developing blade 135 is positioned below the developing roller 125 and is in contact with the developing roller 125. The developing blade 135 regulates the amount of toner supplied by the toner supply roller 134 and imparts an electric charge to the toner. The developing blade 135 has, for example, a flexible plate-shaped member and a support that fixes this plate-shaped member. The plate-shaped member may be formed by processing stainless steel into a leaf spring shape. The thickness of the plate-shaped member is, for example, 80 μm. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 125 is charged by the friction between the developing blade 135 and the developing roller 125. Simultaneously, the thickness of the toner layer is also regulated. A predetermined voltage may be applied to the developing blade 135. This stabilizes the toner layer.

[0065] The toner supply roller 134 is in contact with the developing roller 125. The toner supply roller 134 rotates under the driving force of the motor. The toner supply roller 134 and the developing roller 125 rotate in opposite directions at the nip. This allows for the collection of remaining toner on the developing roller 125 and the supply of toner to the developing roller 125. By adjusting the potential difference between the toner supply roller 134 and the developing roller 125, the amount of remaining toner collected and the amount of toner supplied are adjusted.

[0066] The process cartridge 7 has a non-volatile memory 700 as a storage medium. The memory 700 stores the number of rotations of the photoreceptor drum D, the number of rotations of the developing roller 125, the remaining toner amount, and control information (e.g., tables, formulas, program modules). Furthermore, the memory 700 stores identification information that can identify the type of process cartridge 7, such as the manufacturing number of the process cartridge 7 and model information indicating the model of the process cartridge 7.

[0067] 1-8. Control System Figure 8 shows the controller 800 of the image forming system 1. The CPU 801 implements various functions by executing control programs stored in the memory device 802. Some or all of these functions may be implemented by hardware circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The memory device 802 may include a read-only memory (ROM) 803, random-access memory (RAM) 804, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a solid-state drive (SSD).

[0068] The high-voltage power supply 809 generates the charging bias (charging voltage) supplied to the charging roller C and the developing bias (developing voltage) supplied to the developing roller of the developing device K. The CPU 801 adjusts the maximum density of the toner image by adjusting the charging bias or the developing bias.

[0069] The heat-sealing unit 51 includes a motor M1 that drives a pressure lever 404 and a heater 401. The motor M2 rotates a rotating body, such as a feed roller 81.

[0070] The CPU 801 implements multiple functions according to the control program stored in the ROM 803. The environment acquisition unit 811 uses the environment sensor 805 to acquire the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity) of the environment in which the image forming system 1 is installed. The wear status acquisition unit 812 acquires the wear status of the process cartridge 7 (e.g., toner level, cumulative operating time of the process cartridge 7, cumulative number of rotations of the developing roller 125, cumulative number of rotations of the photoreceptor drum D). Cumulative operating time may also be called cumulative usage time. The determination unit 813 determines the booklet creation conditions using at least one of the environmental conditions and the wear status. The booklet creation conditions include at least one of the image forming conditions applied to the adhesive toner Tn (adhesive layer, adhesive image) in the image forming apparatus 100 and the thermocompression conditions applied to the thermocompression unit 51 (e.g., heating temperature, pressure, thermocompression time). The storage device 802 or memory 700 may store initial values ​​(reference values) for the booklet creation conditions. The determination unit 813 may correct the initial value using at least one of the environmental conditions and the wear state. The thermocompression bonding control unit 814 controls the thermocompression bonding unit 51 using the thermocompression bonding conditions determined by the determination unit 813. The CPU 801 controls the image forming apparatus 100 using the image forming conditions determined by the determination unit 813. The exposure control unit 815, which is described in detail in Embodiment 2, controls the exposure apparatus 2 using the exposure conditions determined by the determination unit 813. The timer 816 is used to control the thermocompression bonding time.

[0071] The determination unit 813 can read information stored in memories 700y, 700m, 700c, and 700k via the memory controller 807, and write information to memories 700y, 700m, 700c, and 700k. Memories 700y, 700m, 700c, and 700k are attached to process cartridges 7y, 7m, 7c, and 7k, respectively. Memories 700y, 700m, 700c, and 700k may store control information used to determine image formation conditions or thermocompression bonding conditions applied to the bonded image based on at least one of the wear status and environmental conditions.

[0072] The CPU 801 is connected to the cloud 808 via a communication circuit 806. The determination unit 813 may access the cloud 808 via the communication circuit 806 and obtain control information used to determine image formation conditions or thermocompression bonding conditions applied to the bonded image based on at least one of the wear status and environmental conditions. The determination unit 813 may transmit at least one of the wear status and environmental conditions to the cloud 808, causing the cloud 808 to determine the image formation conditions or thermocompression bonding conditions applied to the bonded image, and receive the image formation conditions or thermocompression bonding conditions. The cloud 808 may include, for example, network storage for storing control information, or a server computer for determining the image formation conditions or thermocompression bonding conditions.

[0073] 1-9. Control Information The same process cartridge 7 may simultaneously form an image arbitrarily prepared by the user (user image) and an adhesive image. However, depending on the state of the process cartridge 7 (wear and tear, environmental conditions), the control conditions to be applied to the user image and the control conditions to be applied to the adhesive image may not match.

[0074] When the developing roller 125 travels a long distance and the process cartridge 7 is used in a low-temperature, low-humidity environment, toner regulation failure may occur. In a low-temperature, low-humidity environment, as the developing roller 125 travels a long distance, current flows through the developing roller 125, and the resistance of the developing roller 125 increases (electrical degradation). When the resistance of the developing roller 125 increases, the charge held by the toner on the developing roller 125 becomes more difficult to remove, and the amount of charge on the toner increases. One countermeasure against regulation failure is to increase the background contrast. This can suppress the occurrence of fogging caused by toner regulation failure. When the background contrast increases, the development contrast decreases. In other words, the amount of toner in the toner image decreases. At this time, the amount of toner in the adhesive image formed together with the user image also decreases. As a result, the adhesive strength of the booklet decreases.

[0075] The process cartridge 7 used to form the user image and the process cartridge 7 used to form the bonded image may be different. In other words, the image forming apparatus 100 may have a fifth process cartridge 7 specifically prepared for the bonded toner Tn. In this case, the CPU 801 can individually optimize the image forming conditions for the user image and the image forming conditions for the bonded image. However, because a fifth process cartridge 7 is required, the volume of the image forming apparatus 100 increases.

[0076] The same process cartridge 7 may form the bonded image as a separate process after forming the user image. However, in this case, the productivity of the booklet will decrease.

[0077] When the same process cartridge 7 forms both the user image and the bonded image simultaneously, prioritizing adhesion strength may be considered. That is, the heater 401 temperature may be pre-set to a high temperature, or the heat-pressing time may be pre-increased, to ensure sufficient adhesion strength. However, this method results in excess toner when the amount of toner in the bonded image is sufficient, increasing toner consumption. An increased heat-pressing time reduces the productivity of the booklet. Furthermore, the power consumption of the image forming system 1 also increases.

[0078] Therefore, a method is needed to determine image formation conditions suitable for user images and image formation conditions or thermocompression conditions suitable for bonded images, depending on the wear status of the image forming unit 10 or environmental conditions. The CPU 801 can determine image formation conditions suitable for user images depending on the wear status of the process cartridge 7 or environmental conditions. Thus, a method for determining image formation conditions or thermocompression conditions suitable for bonded images depending on the wear status of the process cartridge 7 or environmental conditions will be described in detail.

[0079] Figure 9(A) shows a correction table 901 used to correct the heating temperature of the heater 401. The correction table 901 stores correction values ​​for the heating temperature corresponding to the combination of the amount of process cartridge 7 used (consumed state) and environmental conditions (ambient temperature). Figure 9(B) shows a correction table 902 used to correct the thermocompression time of the thermocompression unit 51. The correction table 902 stores correction values ​​for the thermocompression time corresponding to the combination of the amount of process cartridge 7 used (consumed state) and environmental conditions (ambient temperature). Correction tables 901 and 902 are stored in memory 700, but may also be stored in cloud 808.

[0080] The usage amount of the process cartridge 7 may be an evaluation value determined by, for example, a combination of the cumulative number of rotations (or cumulative rotation time) of the developing roller 125 and the remaining toner amount (cumulative consumption). The CPU 801 (determination unit 813) obtains the combination of the cumulative number of rotations of the developing roller 125 and the remaining toner amount from the memory 700 and refers to the correction tables 901 and 902 based on this combination. As a result, the determination unit 813 determines an evaluation value (usage rate) indicating the wear status of the process cartridge 7. The memory 700 or storage device 802 may store a table, formula, or program module that outputs an evaluation value when the combination of the cumulative number of rotations of the developing roller 125 and the remaining toner amount is input. The correction tables 901 and 902 may also be implemented by formulas or program modules.

[0081] As shown in correction tables 901 and 902, the thermocompression bonding conditions may be changed depending on the environmental conditions detected by the environmental sensor 805. Environmental conditions change the degree of toner aggregation, the amount of charge, and the resistance or hardness of the components in the process cartridge 7. Therefore, the appropriate developing voltage changes depending on the environmental conditions. The CPU 801 adjusts the image formation conditions according to the environmental conditions so that the user image is properly formed. Therefore, the image formation conditions of the bonded image are also adjusted. If the adhesive strength decreases as a result of adjusting the image formation conditions, the CPU 801 adjusts the thermocompression bonding conditions to compensate for the reduced adhesive strength.

[0082] The correction table 901 shown in Figure 9(A) and the correction table 902 shown in Figure 9(B) are merely examples. The storage viscoelasticity of the toner filled in the process cartridge 7 may be used as the amount of process cartridge 7 used as a parameter that affects the adhesive strength. The surface roughness of the developing roller 125 and the contact state between the developing roller 125 and the developing blade 135 may be used as parameters that affect the amount of toner in the bonded image. The amount of toner in the bonded image can be estimated from the structure of the process cartridge 7 and the image formation conditions determined for the user image. Therefore, a table, formula, or program module for determining correction values ​​for the thermocompression conditions from the image formation conditions determined for the user image may be stored in memory 700. This will make it possible to determine more appropriate thermocompression conditions (temperature, pressure, time) according to the individual characteristics of the process cartridge 7.

[0083] The correction value is not limited to positive values. The correction value may also be negative. Negative values ​​are effective when the toner has been improved to enhance adhesion. In other words, negative values ​​can reduce the heating temperature and heat-pressing time. As a result, the power and time required for booklet production are reduced.

[0084] 1-10. Flowchart Figure 10 shows the control method for the image forming system 1. The CPU 801 executes the following processes according to the control program. When the CPU 801 receives a print job from a host computer or the like, it starts the control method.

[0085] In step S1001, the CPU 801 (environment acquisition unit 811) acquires the environmental conditions of the image forming system 1. For example, the environment acquisition unit 811 detects the ambient temperature using the environmental sensor 805.

[0086] In S1002, the CPU 801 (wear-to-use unit 812) acquires the wear status of the process cartridge 7. For example, the wear-to-use unit 812 reads the usage amount of the process cartridge 7 from the memory 700 provided in the process cartridge 7.

[0087] In S1003, the CPU 801 (determination unit 813) determines the image formation conditions based on the environmental conditions and the wear status. In Example 1, these image formation conditions are applied commonly to both the user image and the adhesive image.

[0088] In step S1004, the CPU 801 controls the image forming apparatus 100 according to the image forming conditions to form an image on the sheet S. As a result, a user image and an adhesive image are formed on the sheet S.

[0089] In S1005, the CPU 801 determines whether to create a booklet based on the analysis results of the print job. If it is not instructed to create a booklet, the CPU 801 skips S1006 to S1008 and proceeds to S1009. If it is instructed to create a booklet, but the number of sheets S transported to the intermediate stacking unit 42 is less than a predetermined number, the CPU 801 proceeds from S1005 to S1009. If it is instructed to create a booklet and the number of sheets S transported to the intermediate stacking unit 42 is the predetermined number, the CPU 801 proceeds from S1005 to S1006. The predetermined number is basically the number of sheets S that form one sheet bundle. The number of sheets S that form the last sheet bundle may be less than the predetermined number. When the last sheet bundle is transported to the intermediate stacking unit 42, the CPU 801 also proceeds from S1005 to S1006.

[0090] In S1006, the CPU 801 (determination unit 813) determines correction values ​​for the thermocompression bonding conditions based on the environmental conditions and wear status. The determination unit 813 reads the correction value for the heating temperature by referring to the correction table 901 based on the environmental conditions and wear status. The determination unit 813 reads the correction value for the thermocompression bonding time by referring to the correction table 901 based on the environmental conditions and wear status.

[0091] In S1007, the CPU 801 (thermocompression bonding control unit 814) performs a correction process based on the determined correction value. The thermocompression bonding control unit 814 corrects the heating temperature using the correction value determined by the determination unit 813. The thermocompression bonding control unit 814 corrects the thermocompression bonding time using the correction value determined by the determination unit 813. The correction value may be a value that is added to the value to be corrected, or it may be a coefficient that is multiplied to the value to be corrected.

[0092] In S1008, the CPU 801 controls the post-processing unit 130 to perform booklet creation. The thermocompression control unit 814 controls the thermocompression unit 51 using corrected thermocompression conditions as needed to perform thermocompression processing on the booklet.

[0093] In S1009, CPU 801 analyzes the print job and determines whether there is a next sheet S on which an image should be formed. If there is a next sheet S, CPU 801 returns from S1009 to S1001 and executes S1001 through S1009 for the next sheet S. If there is no next sheet S, CPU 801 terminates the creation of the booklet.

[0094] 1-11. Effects To confirm the effect of Example 1, an experiment was conducted under ambient temperature of 15°C and ambient humidity of 10%RH. A horizontal line with an image ratio of 1% was used as the user image. The user image and the bonded image were formed continuously on multiple sheets S. Adhesion strength was measured when the usage amount of process cartridge 7 reached 0%, 40%, and 80%. The booklet was formed by bonding 50 sheets S with an adhesive layer. Multiple booklets were repeatedly produced during the experiment. The reference value for the heating temperature of the pressurizing section 409 was 200°C. The reference value for the heat-sealing time by the heat-sealing unit 51 was 3 seconds.

[0095] 1-11-1. Comparative Example The comparative example does not adjust the heat-sealing conditions according to the amount of process cartridge 7 used. In other words, the comparative example continues to use the standard (initial) values ​​for the heat-sealing conditions.

[0096] 1-11-2. Experimental Results Figure 11 shows the experimental results for Example 1 and the comparative example. OK indicates that the adhesive strength was 0.5 N / cm or higher. NG indicates that the adhesive strength was less than 0.5 N / cm.

[0097] In the comparative example, when the amount of process cartridge 7 used was small, good adhesion was obtained even with a short heat-pressing time. However, when the amount of process cartridge 7 used increased, the amount of toner on the sheet S decreased, and sufficient adhesion could no longer be obtained.

[0098] In Example 1, sufficient adhesive strength was obtained regardless of the amount of process cartridge 7 used. When the amount used reached 40%, the surface temperature of the pressurizing section 409 of the heating plate 402 was corrected to 205°C. The heat-pressure bonding time was corrected to 9 seconds. When the amount used reached 80%, the surface temperature of the pressurizing section 409 was corrected to 210°C. The heat-pressure bonding time was corrected to 18 seconds.

[0099] According to Example 1, the booklet creation conditions are automatically switched according to environmental conditions and wear status. As a result, good adhesive strength is obtained regardless of the wear status of the process cartridge 7. Users are not required to perform complex and troublesome operations. Furthermore, since the heat-sealing conditions are increased as needed, the booklet creation time is not unnecessarily prolonged. The heating temperature is also increased as needed, so power consumption is not unnecessarily increased.

[0100] 1-12. Variations Memory 700 may store an address table. The address table stores addresses associated with at least one of the environmental conditions and wear status. Storage device 802 stores a correction table in storage areas, each associated with a different address. CPU 801 obtains an address associated with at least one of the environmental conditions and wear status from memory 700 and refers to storage device 802 based on the address. This allows it to obtain the correction table for obtaining the correction value associated with at least one of the environmental conditions and wear status from storage device 802. In this case, memory 700 does not need to store the correction table, only the addresses. This makes it possible to reduce the storage capacity of memory 700. Furthermore, if the correction table is updated, the addresses stored in memory 700 do not need to be updated. In other words, only the correction table stored in storage device 802 needs to be updated.

[0101] The CPU 801 may adjust the booklet creation conditions according to toner information indicating the type of toner (e.g., components) contained in the process cartridge 7.

[0102] 2. Example 2 In Example 2, the degree of deterioration of the photoreceptor drum D is used as the wear condition. As shown in Figure 2(B), when a large number of booklets are glued together by edge binding, a portion of the surface of the photoreceptor drum D may deteriorate more than the surrounding area. In other words, when an adhesive image is repeatedly formed on a portion of the surface of the photoreceptor drum D, that portion of the carrier generation layer deteriorates. As a result, the amount of carrier generation decreases, and the bright area potential Vl becomes smaller than the target potential. The development contrast also becomes smaller than the target value, so the amount of toner in the adhesive image decreases, and the adhesive strength decreases.

[0103] Figure 11(A) shows the heating temperature correction table 1201 in Example 2. The correction table 1201 holds correction values ​​for the heating temperature corresponding to the combination of environmental conditions and the degree of wear of the photoreceptor drum D. Figure 11(B) shows the thermocompression time correction table 1202 in Example 2. The correction table 1202 holds correction values ​​for the thermocompression time corresponding to the combination of environmental conditions and the degree of wear of the photoreceptor drum D.

[0104] The CPU 801 counts the number of times an adhesive image has been formed on the photoreceptor drum D (cumulative number of uses) and stores the count value in the non-volatile area of ​​the storage device 802. The count value indicates the degree of wear of the photoreceptor drum D due to repeated formation of adhesive images. The degree of wear may be calculated, for example, from the number of rotations of the photoreceptor drum D when booklet creation is performed by edge binding. 100% represents the number of rotations corresponding to the guaranteed lifespan of booklet creation assumed in the design for the photoreceptor drum D.

[0105] In S1006, CPU801 refers to correction table 1201 based on the combination of the wear level of the photoreceptor drum D and the environmental conditions, and determines a correction value for the heating temperature. CPU801 also refers to correction table 1202 based on the combination of the wear level of the photoreceptor drum D and the environmental conditions, and determines a correction value for the thermocompression time.

[0106] In S1007, CPU 801 corrects the heating temperature using a correction value obtained from correction table 1201. In other words, the heating temperature is determined by adding the correction value to the reference value. CPU 801 also corrects the heat-sealing time using a correction value obtained from correction table 1202. In other words, the heat-sealing time is determined by adding the correction value to the reference value.

[0107] Similar to correction tables 901 and 902, correction tables 1201 and 1202 may be obtained from cloud 808. Alternatively, the correction process may be performed in cloud 808.

[0108] CPU 801 may add both the correction value obtained from correction table 901 and the correction value obtained from correction table 1201 to the reference value of the heating temperature. CPU 801 may also add both the correction value obtained from correction table 902 and the correction value obtained from correction table 1202 to the reference value of the heat compression time.

[0109] According to Example 2, the booklet creation conditions are corrected according to the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D. This should improve the adhesive strength of the booklet when the photoreceptor drum D is worn out.

[0110] 3. Example 3 Example 3 is a method for controlling the amount of laser light used to form an adhesive image according to the degree of wear on the photoreceptor drum D caused by the formation of the adhesive image. This ensures that the adhesive strength of the booklet is maintained even if the carrier generation layer of the photoreceptor drum D deteriorates due to booklet production.

[0111] 3-1. Exposure Equipment Figure 13 shows the drive circuit 1310 mounted on the exposure apparatus 2. The exposure apparatus 2 includes the drive circuit 1310, laser 1300, polygon mirror 1301, and synchronization sensor 1302. The laser 1300 emits light when supplied with a drive current Idrv from the drive circuit 1310. The laser beam L1 is deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 1301 and scans the synchronization sensor 1302 and the surface of the photoreceptor drum D. That is, each time the laser beam L1 scans the surface of the photoreceptor drum D parallel to the main scanning direction, the synchronization sensor 1302 outputs a synchronization signal Sync. The image processing circuit 1320 outputs image data Img corresponding to one main scanning line to the light emission control unit 1313 each time the synchronization signal Sync is input. The light emission control unit 1313 modulates the drive current Idrv, which corresponds to the reference light amount set by the CPU 801, with the image data Img. As a result, the laser 1300 repeatedly turns on and off.

[0112] The CPU 801 sets a reference light intensity to the current generation unit 1311 via serial communication. The current generation unit 1311 supplies a setting signal Sdrv corresponding to the reference light intensity to the light emission control unit 1313. The light emission control unit 1313 supplies a drive current Idrv to the laser 1300 such that the laser 1300 emits light at an intensity corresponding to the setting signal Sdrv.

[0113] In Embodiment 3, a current correction unit 1312 is added. The CPU 801 sets a correction value in the current correction unit 1312 according to the degree of wear at a specific main scanning position on the surface of the photoreceptor drum D. The current correction unit 1312 can identify the current main scanning position in synchronization with the synchronization signal Sync. If the current correction unit 1312 is a main scanning position that requires correction of the light intensity, it outputs a correction signal Scor to the light emission control unit 1313. The light emission control unit 1313 corrects the drive current Idrv based on the correction signal Scor. As a result, the light intensity of the laser beam L1 is temporarily increased during the period when the laser beam L1 is forming an adhesive image (main scanning range).

[0114] 3-2. Exposure Control Figure 14 is a sequence chart illustrating exposure control. Here, as shown in Figure 5(A), it shows the amount of exposure light in the main scanning direction when an adhesive image is formed on the long edge. The synchronization signal Sync changes from High to Low during the period when the laser beam L1 passes through the synchronization sensor 1302.

[0115] When the voltage of the setting signal Sdrv is Vr, the drive current Idrv is Ir. The voltage of the correction signal Scor is set from 0V to Vc when a predetermined time has elapsed from the falling edge of the synchronization signal Sync. Therefore, a correction current Ic is generated based on the voltage Vc. During the period when the image data Img is High, the drive current Idrv flows to the laser 1300. During the period when the voltage of the correction signal Scor is Vc, the drive current Idrv is the sum of current Ir and current Ic. During the period when the correction signal Scor is 0V, the drive current Idrv is current Ir. When scanning the bonded image, the amount of light from the laser beam L1 is Rr, which corresponds to the amount of light from the current Ir + Ic. This increases the amount of toner used to form the bonded image. When scanning the user image, the amount of light from the laser beam L1 is Rt, which corresponds to the amount of light from the current Ir.

[0116] In this way, the CPU801 can set the width of the bonded image by the output timing of the image data Img and the correction signal Scor. The exposure light amount of the bonded image is changed by changing the voltages Vr and Vc. It is possible to change the exposure light amount of the user image and the exposure light amount of the bonded image independently.

[0117] Figure 15 shows the flowchart for Example 3. The flowchart for Example 3 is a modification of the flowcharts for Examples 1 and 2, specifically steps S1003 and S1004.

[0118] In S1401, the CPU 801 (determination unit 813) determines the image formation conditions for the user image based on the environmental conditions acquired in S1001 and the wear status acquired in S1002.

[0119] In S1402, the CPU 801 (wear-to-wear unit 812) acquires the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D. This wear status is the wear status of the carrier generation layer in a specific surface area (main scanning area) caused by the repeated generation of adhesive images.

[0120] In S1403, the CPU 801 (determination unit 813) determines the image formation conditions (e.g., correction value Vc) for the bonded image based on the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D. As suggested by Figure 12(A), if the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D is 70% or more and 100% or less, the correction value Vc may be applied. If the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D is less than 70%, the correction value is 0V. As suggested by Examples 1 and 2, a correction table relating the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D to the correction value may be stored in the memory 700, storage device 802, or cloud 808. The determination unit 813 may determine the correction value by referring to the correction table based on the wear status of the photoreceptor drum D.

[0121] In S1404, the CPU 801 (exposure control unit 815) determines whether the current exposure position is the exposure position of the bonded image based on the count value of the synchronization signal Sync. The count value of the synchronization signal Sync indicates the main scan position. The CPU 801 also knows the main scan position where the bonded image is formed. Therefore, the exposure control unit 815 can determine whether the current exposure position is the exposure position of the bonded image. If the current exposure position is not the exposure position of the bonded image, no correction is necessary, so the CPU 801 proceeds from S1404 to S1406. If the current exposure position is the exposure position of the bonded image, the CPU 801 proceeds from S1404 to S1405.

[0122] In step S1405, the CPU 801 (exposure control unit 815) outputs a correction signal Scor to the drive circuit 1310. The voltage of the correction signal Scor is set to the correction value Vc or 0V.

[0123] In S1406, the CPU 801 determines whether image formation for one sheet S is complete. If image formation for one sheet S is not complete, the CPU 801 returns from S1406 to S1404 in order to draw the next main scan line. Once image formation is complete, the CPU 801 proceeds from S1406 to S1005.

[0124] In this way, by increasing the exposure light amount according to the wear level of a specific surface area of ​​the photoreceptor drum D, it is possible to increase the amount of toner in the bonded image. This will further stabilize the adhesive strength.

[0125] According to Example 3, as the wear of the photoreceptor drum D increases, the amount of exposure light required to generate the bonded image is increased. Therefore, the wear of the photoreceptor drum D will not increase unnecessarily.

[0126] 4. Other variations In Figure 1, the post-processing device 130, which has a thermocompression unit 51, is located next to the image forming apparatus 100, but this is just one example. As shown in Figure 16, the post-processing device 130 and the thermocompression unit 51 may be located on top of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, the discharge roller 34 directly hands over the sheet S to the post-processing device 130. When the sheet sensor 27 detects the leading edge of the sheet S, the inlet roller 21 transports the sheet S. Furthermore, the kick-off roller pair 29 transports the sheet S to the intermediate loading section 42. Note that the direction in which the sheet S is transported to the intermediate loading section 42 in Figure 16 is opposite to the direction in which the sheet S is transported to the intermediate loading section 42 in Figure 1.

[0127] 5. Technical concepts derived from the examples (Item 1) A stacking means on which multiple sheets are stacked, including sheets on which an image and adhesive layer have been formed using toner by an image forming means, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, The system includes a control means for controlling the heat-compression bonding means, A booklet making apparatus, wherein the control means adjusts booklet making conditions, including at least one of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

[0128] The intermediate loading section 42 is an example of a loading means in which multiple sheets are loaded, including sheets on which an image and adhesive layer have been formed using toner by an image forming means. The thermocompression unit 51 is an example of a thermocompression means that creates a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the multiple sheets. The CPU 801 is an example of a control means that controls the thermocompression means. The amount of process cartridge 7 used and the degree of wear of the photoreceptor drum D are examples of the wear status of the image forming means. The amount of exposure light for forming the adhesive image is an example of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means. The heating temperature, thermocompression time, and pressure of the thermocompression unit 51 are examples of the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means. These improvements improve the method of creating booklets. (Item 2) The image forming means is Photoreceptor and An exposure means for irradiating the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing means for forming the image and the adhesive layer on the photoreceptor by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with toner, A transfer means for transferring the image and the adhesive layer from the photoreceptor to the at least one sheet, The system includes fixing means for heating and pressurizing the at least one sheet onto which the image and the adhesive layer have been transferred, The photoreceptor and the developing means are mounted in a replaceable process cartridge. The booklet making apparatus according to item 1, wherein the wear state of the image forming means is a state corresponding to the cumulative number of uses or cumulative usage time of the process cartridge.

[0129] As described in Example 1, the wear status of the process cartridge 7 affects the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer (adhesive image). The target adhesive strength may be ensured by adjusting at least one of the exposure conditions for the adhesive image and the thermocompression conditions according to the wear status of the process cartridge 7. (Item 3) The booklet creation apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the control means accesses a storage means that stores a table, formula, or program module used to determine the booklet creation conditions based on the wear state and the environmental conditions, retrieves the table, formula, or program module from the storage means based on the wear state and the environmental conditions, and determines the booklet creation conditions using the table, formula, or program module.

[0130] As described in Examples 1 to 3, the memory 700, storage device 802, and cloud 808 are examples of storage means for storing tables, formulas, or program modules used to determine the conditions for creating a booklet. (Item 4) The storage means is provided in the process cartridge, and the booklet creation apparatus is as described in item 3.

[0131] By providing memory 700 in the process cartridge 7, it will be possible to reliably store the wear status of each process cartridge 7. (Item 5) The booklet creation apparatus according to item 3 or 4, wherein the storage means is connected to or provided on the control means.

[0132] As suggested by correction tables 901, 902, 1201, and 1202, the conditions for creating the booklet may be determined using tables, formulas, or program modules. Furthermore, the storage means may be implemented by a storage device 802 connected to the CPU 801. (Item 6) The booklet creation device according to any one of items 3 to 5, wherein the storage means is provided in a cloud that can communicate with the control means.

[0133] As mentioned in Examples 1 to 3, the CPU 801 may use the cloud 808 to obtain or determine the booklet creation conditions. (Item 7) The aforementioned table holds correction values ​​for correcting the conditions for creating the booklet, and is a booklet creation device according to any one of items 3 to 6.

[0134] As suggested by correction tables 901, 902, 1201, and 1202, correction tables 901, 902, 1201, and 1202 may retain correction values. This would allow CPU 801 to reduce its computational load. (Item 8) The storage means pre-stores the initial values ​​for the booklet creation conditions. The booklet creation apparatus according to item 7, wherein the control means is configured to multiply or add a correction value obtained from the table to the initial value.

[0135] As described in Examples 1 to 3, the memory 700 or storage device 802 may store initial values ​​(reference values) for the booklet creation conditions. The CPU 801 may correct the initial values ​​using correction values. (Item 9) The booklet creation apparatus according to item 1 or 2, wherein the control means is configured to obtain the booklet creation conditions from the cloud according to at least one of the wear status of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

[0136] As described in Examples 1 to 3, the CPU 801 may send at least one of the wear status and environmental conditions to the cloud 808, which may then generate booklet creation conditions corresponding to at least one of the wear status and environmental conditions. The CPU 801 may also receive and use the booklet creation conditions sent from the cloud 808. (Item 10) The booklet making apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the heat-sealing conditions include at least one of the heating temperature set in the heat-sealing means, the pressure applied to the adhesive layer by the heat-sealing means, and the heat-sealing time by the heat-sealing means.

[0137] To ensure adhesive strength, the heating temperature, pressure, or bonding time of the heat-sealing unit 51 may be adjusted. (Item 11) The booklet making apparatus according to item 10, wherein at least one of the heating temperature, pressure, and thermocompression time is increased as the image forming means is worn out.

[0138] When the heat-sealing unit 51 increases the heating temperature, pressure, or heat-sealing time, the adhesive strength increases. Other control parameters may also be adjusted, provided they contribute to increasing the adhesive strength. (Item 12) The booklet making apparatus according to any one of items 2 to 11, wherein the wear state corresponds to the cumulative number of rotations of the developing means, or the number of times an adhesive image for the adhesive layer has been formed on the photoreceptor.

[0139] As mentioned in Example 1, the cumulative number of rotations of the developing roller 125 may be considered. As mentioned in Example 3, the number of times an adhesive image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum D may be considered. (Item 13) The booklet making apparatus according to item 12, wherein the image forming conditions include the amount of light in the exposure means used to generate the bonded image.

[0140] The adhesive strength may be increased by adjusting the light intensity of the exposure apparatus 2, as mentioned in Example 3. (Item 14) The booklet making apparatus according to item 13, wherein the amount of light in the exposure means used to generate the adhesive image is increased as the wear of the photoreceptor increases.

[0141] By increasing the exposure light intensity of the bonded image compared to the user image, the amount of toner used in the bonded image increases. In other words, the adhesive strength increases. (Item 15) A first storage means that stores an address corresponding to the combination of the aforementioned wear state and the aforementioned environmental conditions, The system includes a second storage means having a plurality of storage areas for each of the tables used to determine the conditions for creating the aforementioned booklet, The booklet creation apparatus according to item 1, wherein the control means obtains an address corresponding to a combination of the wear state and the environmental conditions from the first storage means, reads a table used to determine the booklet creation conditions from a storage area associated with the obtained address among the plurality of storage areas provided in the second storage means, and determines the booklet creation conditions based on the table.

[0142] Memory 700 may function as a first storage means that stores addresses corresponding to combinations of wear status and environmental conditions. Storage device 802 may function as a second storage means having multiple storage areas, each storing a table used to determine the booklet creation conditions. CPU 801 obtains addresses corresponding to combinations of wear status and environmental conditions from the first storage means. CPU 801 reads a table used to determine the booklet creation conditions from a storage area associated with the obtained address among the multiple storage areas provided in the second storage means. CPU 801 may determine the booklet creation conditions based on the read table. This will reduce the storage capacity of memory 700. (Item 16) The system further includes detection means for detecting the aforementioned environmental conditions, The control means is a booklet creation apparatus according to item 1, which acquires the environmental conditions using the detection means.

[0143] The environmental sensor 805 is an example of a detection means. (Item 17) The aforementioned environmental conditions include ambient temperature, and the booklet production apparatus is as described in item 16.

[0144] In Example 1, ambient temperature is taken into consideration, but this is only one example. Ambient humidity may also be taken into consideration. (Item 18) A conveying means for transporting sheets, An image forming means for forming an image and an adhesive layer on the sheet using toner, A stacking means on which multiple sheets output from the image forming means are stacked, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, The system includes a control means for controlling the heat-compression bonding means, Image forming apparatus, wherein the control means adjusts booklet production conditions, including at least one of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

[0145] The transport roller pair 82 is an example of a transport means. The image forming unit 10 is an example of an image forming means. The image forming system 1 is an example of an image forming apparatus. (Item 19) An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, a booklet making apparatus, and control means, The image forming apparatus is A conveying means for transporting sheets, Photoreceptor and An exposure means for exposing the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, A developing means that uses toner to develop the electrostatic latent image and form a toner image including an adhesive layer, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to the sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred, It has, The aforementioned booklet creation device is A stacking means on which a plurality of sheets on which the toner image is formed are stacked, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, It has, An image forming system in which the control means adjusts booklet production conditions, including at least one of the exposure conditions for the adhesive layer used in the exposure means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the developing means or the photoreceptor and the environmental conditions of the image forming apparatus.

[0146] The post-processing device 130 is an example of a booklet production device. The CPU 801 may be mounted on the image forming apparatus 100, on the post-processing device 130, or outside of the image forming apparatus 100 and the post-processing device 130. The functions of the CPU 801 may be distributed between a processor mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 and a processor mounted on the post-processing device 130. [Explanation of symbols]

[0147] 42...Intermediate loading section, 51...Thermocompression unit, 801...CPU

Claims

1. A stacking means on which multiple sheets are stacked, including sheets on which an image and adhesive layer have been formed using toner by an image forming means, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, The system includes a control means for controlling the heat-compression bonding means, A booklet making apparatus, wherein the control means adjusts booklet making conditions, including at least one of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

2. The image forming means is Photoreceptor and An exposure means for irradiating the photosensitive material with light to form an electrostatic latent image, A developing means for forming the image and the adhesive layer on the photoreceptor by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor with toner, A transfer means for transferring the image and the adhesive layer from the photoreceptor to the at least one sheet, The system includes fixing means for heating and pressurizing the at least one sheet onto which the image and the adhesive layer have been transferred, The photoreceptor and the developing means are mounted in a replaceable process cartridge. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wear state of the image forming means is a state corresponding to the cumulative number of uses or cumulative usage time of the process cartridge.

3. The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means accesses a storage means that stores a table, formula or program module used to determine the booklet creation conditions based on the wear state and the environmental conditions, retrieves the table, formula or program module from the storage means based on the wear state and the environmental conditions, and determines the booklet creation conditions using the table, formula or program module.

4. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the storage means is provided in the process cartridge.

5. The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the storage means is connected to or provided on the control means.

6. The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the storage means is provided in a cloud that can communicate with the control means.

7. The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the table holds correction values ​​for correcting the booklet creation conditions.

8. The storage means pre-stores the initial values ​​for the booklet creation conditions. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means is configured to multiply or add a correction value obtained from the table to the initial value.

9. The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to obtain the booklet creation conditions from the cloud according to at least one of the wear status of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

10. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat-sealing conditions include at least one of the heating temperature set in the heat-sealing means, the pressure applied to the adhesive layer by the heat-sealing means, and the heat-sealing time by the heat-sealing means.

11. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the heating temperature, the pressure, and the thermocompression time is increased as the image forming means is worn out.

12. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wear state corresponds to the cumulative number of rotations of the developing means, or the number of times an adhesive image for the adhesive layer has been formed on the photoreceptor.

13. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image forming conditions include the amount of light in the exposure means used to generate the adhesive image.

14. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the amount of light in the exposure means used to generate the adhesive image is increased as the wear of the photoreceptor increases.

15. A first storage means that stores an address corresponding to the combination of the aforementioned wear state and the aforementioned environmental conditions, The system includes a second storage means having a plurality of storage areas for each of the tables used to determine the conditions for creating the aforementioned booklet, The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means obtains an address corresponding to a combination of the wear state and the environmental conditions from the first storage means, reads a table used to determine the booklet creation conditions from a storage area associated with the obtained address among the plurality of storage areas provided in the second storage means, and determines the booklet creation conditions based on the table.

16. The system further includes detection means for detecting the aforementioned environmental conditions, The booklet creation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means acquires the environmental conditions using the detection means.

17. The booklet making apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the aforementioned environmental conditions include ambient temperature.

18. A conveying means for transporting sheets, An image forming means for forming an image and an adhesive layer on the sheet using toner, A stacking means on which multiple sheets output from the image forming means are stacked, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, The system includes a control means for controlling the heat-compression bonding means, Image forming apparatus, wherein the control means adjusts booklet production conditions, including at least one of the image forming conditions for the adhesive layer used in the image forming means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the image forming means and the environmental conditions in the environment in which the image forming means is installed.

19. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus, a booklet making apparatus, and control means, The image forming apparatus is A conveying means for transporting sheets, Photoreceptor and An exposure means for exposing the photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor, A developing means that uses toner to develop the electrostatic latent image and form a toner image including an adhesive layer, A transfer means for transferring the toner image from the photoreceptor to the sheet, Fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred, It has, The aforementioned booklet creation device is A stacking means on which a plurality of sheets on which the toner image is formed are stacked, A heat-pressing means for creating a booklet by heating and pressurizing the adhesive layer formed on at least one of the plurality of sheets, It has, An image forming system in which the control means adjusts booklet production conditions, including at least one of the exposure conditions for the adhesive layer used in the exposure means and the thermocompression conditions for the adhesive layer used in the thermocompression means, according to at least one of the wear state of the developing means or the photoreceptor and the environmental conditions of the image forming apparatus.

Images