Media processing equipment and system

Abstract

To provide a media processing device and system with improved sheet consistency. [Solution] A media processing apparatus (100) comprising: a sheet alignment means (106) for moving sheets (P) discharged into a processing tray (105) in a predetermined direction to align the sheets; and a control means (150) for controlling the sheet alignment means based on a drive amount of the sheet alignment means estimated based on sheet information relating to the sheets and image formation information including color information of an image formed on the sheets.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus and system. [Background Art]

[0002] In a system configured of an image forming apparatus and a medium processing apparatus, a sheet-shaped medium (hereinafter referred to as "sheet") sent from the image forming apparatus to the medium processing apparatus is aligned to arrange the sheet positions on a processing tray before a predetermined process is performed on the sheet by the medium processing apparatus. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a post-processing apparatus that makes the movement amount of sheets variable based on document information when aligning sheets on a staple tray. [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0003] However, in the post-processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, consideration is not given to the color information of an image formed on a sheet in terms of making the movement amount of sheets variable.

[0004] Further, the ease of sheet alignment varies depending on the proportion of colors occupied in the image formed on the sheet. Therefore, for example, in a sheet bundle subjected to binding processing as post-processing, there has been a problem that the positions of individual sheets vary, resulting in uneven side surfaces of the sheet bundle.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a medium processing apparatus and system with improved sheet alignment. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention relates to a media processing apparatus and is characterized by comprising: a sheet alignment means for moving sheets discharged into a processing tray in a predetermined direction to align the sheets; and a control means for controlling the sheet alignment means based on a drive amount of the sheet alignment means estimated based on sheet information relating to the sheets and image formation information including color information of an image formed on the sheets. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the consistency of the sheets can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of a media processing device. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration in the part of a media processing device that is mainly related to sheet alignment. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating the operation of a beating roller. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating examples of conditions under which sheets are likely to be consistent and conditions under which they are unlikely to be consistent. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating the area. [Figure 7] A diagram showing an example of coverage by area. [Figure 8] A diagram illustrating the relationship between the media processing device and the learning model. [Figure 9] A diagram illustrating the relationship between the control of the beating roller and the learning model. [Figure 10] A flowchart illustrating an example of the process for adjusting the descent time of the hammer roller shaft. [Figure 11] A flowchart illustrating an example of variable control of the axial descent time of a striking roller based on a learning model. [Figure 12] A diagram showing an example of training data. [Figure 13] A diagram showing an example of a system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] A diagram showing an example of a system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 15] A diagram showing how a distance sensor detects a seat. [Figure 16] This figure shows the relationship between the detection results from the distance measurement sensor and their reflection in the learning model. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes embodiments for carrying out the invention with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <First embodiment of the system> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] System 1000 consists of an image forming apparatus 200 and a media processing apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 200 is an apparatus that forms an image on paper, a type of sheet-like medium, for example, by a known electrophotographic process, and includes a display unit 201, an operation unit 202, a paper feeding unit 203, an image formation unit 204, a fixing unit 205, a document reading unit 206, and a control unit 250. The image forming method that the image forming apparatus 200 can employ is not limited to using an electrophotographic process, but is also applicable to other image forming methods.

[0012] In this embodiment, the explanation assumes that "paper" is the sheet-like medium to be processed in system 1000. However, the processing target in this embodiment is not limited to paper. For example, any medium on which an image can be formed using a conventionally known image forming process is acceptable, regardless of its type. Furthermore, any medium that can be processed by the media processing apparatus 100 is also included, and there are no limitations on materials or specifications.

[0013] The display unit 201 is constituted by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays the status of each unit, operation details and the like on the liquid crystal panel to notify a user. The operation unit 202 is constituted by various switch buttons, a keyboard and the like, and is used by a user when setting an image forming mode, a processing mode for a sheet, the number of printed copies, and the like. Note that the display unit 201 and the operation unit 202 may be configured as a touch panel. The paper feeding unit 203 can stack and store a plurality of sheets, and separates and feeds the sheets one by one from the stacked sheets.

[0014] The image forming unit 204 includes a plurality of image forming units 204Y, 204M, 204C, and 204K. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic process, the image forming unit 204Y forms a yellow toner image using yellow toner, and the image forming unit 204M forms a magenta toner image using magenta toner. The image forming unit 204C forms a cyan toner image using cyan toner, and the image forming unit 204K forms a black toner image using black toner. An image is formed on the sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 203 by transferring each toner image formed by the image forming units 204Y, 204M, 204C, and 204K onto the sheet.

[0015] The toner image formed by the image forming unit 204 is transferred onto a sheet fed from the paper feeding unit 203, and the sheet carrying the toner image is conveyed to a fixing unit 205. The fixing unit 205 heats and pressurizes the sheet carrying the toner image to fix the toner image onto the sheet. A document reading unit 206 reads a document for image formation. A control unit 250 controls the operations of the respective units of the image forming apparatus 200. Here, the image forming apparatus 200 is also an example of "another apparatus" in the present invention.

[0016] A media processing apparatus 100 is installed inside the body of an image forming apparatus 200, in the space formed between an image forming unit 204 and a document reading unit 206, and performs preset processing on a sheet received from a fixing unit 205. The media processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 150 serving as control means, and the control unit 150 is communicably connected to a control unit 250 included in the image forming apparatus 200. The control unit 150 controls the rotation of each roller, the movement of a jogger 112, the driving of a stapler 113, and the like in the media processing apparatus 100 based on instructions from the control unit 250, and causes binding processing to be performed on a sheet, for example.

[0017] [Configuration of Media Processing Apparatus 100] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the media processing apparatus 100.

[0018] A sheet fed from the fixing unit 205 of the image forming apparatus 200 is received into the media processing apparatus 100 by an inlet roller pair 101, and is conveyed along a conveyance path 104 by a conveyance roller pair 102 and a shift roller pair 103. The sheet that has reached the shift roller pair 103 is discharged onto a staple tray 105 by the shift roller pair 103. When a sheet is discharged onto the staple tray 105, a tapping roller shaft 107 descends with a tapping roller rotation shaft 108 as the rotation axis, and the tapping roller 106 descends to a position where it contacts the sheet. Here, the tapping roller 106 is an example of "sheet aligning means" in the present invention.

[0019] The tapping roller 106 descends to a position contacting the sheet while being rotationally driven, and simultaneously when contacting the sheet, conveys the sheet in a sub-scanning direction, which is a predetermined direction, and which is a direction orthogonal to the sheet width direction. A return roller 109 provided above the staple tray 105 is also in contact with the staple tray 105 while being rotationally driven. When a sheet is fed between the staple tray 105 and the return roller 109 by the tapping roller 106, the sheet is also assisted by the return roller 109 and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. The tapping roller 106 and the return roller 109 convey the sheet until the leading end of the sheet in the conveyance direction abuts against a reference fence 110.

[0020] The position of the sheet relative to the reference fence 110 is detected, for example, by a distance sensor 111, which is a sheet detection means installed near the reference fence 110. When the sheet reaches the reference fence 110, the sheet is aligned in the main scanning direction (sheet width direction) by the jogger 112, and then stapled by the stapler 113. The stapled sheet is discharged into the output tray 115 by the output roller pair 114.

[0021] [Hardware configuration of media processing device 100] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the media processing device 100, mainly in the part related to sheet alignment.

[0022] The control unit 150 of the media processing device 100 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 152, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153, and a bus line 154. Of these, the CPU 151 is responsible for the overall control of the media processing device 100 and is an arithmetic unit that performs sequential, branching, and iterative processing by executing a computer-readable program stored in the ROM 152. Here, the CPU 151 can also function as an "estimation means" in this invention, in which case the CPU 151 has the function of estimating the drive amount of the tapping roller 106 as a sheet alignment means.

[0023] ROM152 is a non-volatile memory device that stores data and programs executed by the CPU151. RAM153 is a memory that temporarily stores data when the CPU151 executes a program and functions as a work area (work region) for operation. The bus line154 consists of an address bus, a data bus, etc., and electrically connects each component to one another.

[0024] Furthermore, the control unit 150 is electrically connected to multiple sensors (e.g., inlet sensor 121, transport sensor 122, paper discharge sensor 123, staple tray paper presence sensor 124, etc.) and the upstream machine communication unit 125 via the equipment connection interface 120. In addition, the control unit 150 is electrically connected to multiple motors (e.g., inlet motor 131, transport motor 132, paper discharge motor 133, shift motor 134, jogger motor 135, staple motor 136, tray lifting motor 137, tapping lifting motor 138, etc.) via the equipment connection interface 120.

[0025] The upstream communication unit 125 is an interface for communicating with the control unit 250 of the image forming apparatus 200, and exchanges data necessary for control during processing between the image forming apparatus 200 and the media processing device 100.

[0026] [Regarding Sheet Alignment Operation] Next, we will describe in detail the sheet alignment operation in which the beating roller 106 aligns the paper P as a sheet. Figure 4 shows the operation of the beating roller 106.

[0027] The tapping roller shaft 107 is controlled to move up and down by the tapping lifting motor 138 described above, and when moving up and down, it moves up and down with the tapping roller rotation shaft 108 as the axis of rotation. The tapping roller 106 is controlled to rotate by the transport motor 132 described above. In the stage before alignment with the paper P begins, the tapping roller 106 is driven to rotate as shown in Figure 4(a), but the tapping roller shaft 107 is raised, and the tapping roller 106 is not in contact with the paper P. When it is time to align the paper P, as shown in Figure 4(b), the tapping roller shaft 107 descends while the tapping roller 106 is driven to rotate, and as shown in Figure 4(c), the tapping roller 106 comes into contact with the paper P on the staple tray 105. As a result, the paper P is transported toward the reference fence 110 described above and aligned (the leading edge positions of the paper P are aligned).

[0028] As described above, the tapping roller 106 has a longer lowering time for the tapping roller shaft 107, that is, the longer the time the tapping roller shaft 107 is in the lowered position and the tapping roller 106 is in contact with the staple tray 105. This increases the time it takes to align the paper P and makes it easier to align the paper P. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, when "lowering time" is used, such as "lowering time of the tapping roller 106" or "lowering time of the tapping roller shaft 107," it refers to the time the tapping roller 106 is in contact with the staple tray 105, or the time the tapping roller 106 is in contact with the paper P on the staple tray 105, as described above.

[0029] However, the time required to align the paper P cannot be kept constant, and depending on the image formation settings, there are conditions under which alignment is easier and conditions under which it is more difficult. This will be explained below using Figure 5. Figure 5 shows examples of conditions under which the sheet aligns easily and conditions under which it is more difficult.

[0030] The ease of sheet alignment will be explained for each condition. First, regarding sheet size, smaller sheets are easier to align, while larger sheets are heavier and therefore more difficult to align. Regarding imposition, single-sided printing makes alignment easier, while double-sided printing makes alignment more difficult because the printed sides of the sheets overlap when stacked, causing them to stick together.

[0031] Regarding the type of original document, text-based documents are easy to align, but solid image documents are difficult to align because the solid areas tend to stick to the sheet. Furthermore, the type of toner also affects how easily or difficultly the images can be aligned. Specifically, when the toner color primarily used for image formation is K (black), alignment is easy, but when M (magenta) and C (cyan) are primarily used, the output surface tends to stick to the sheet, making alignment difficult. It should be noted that the tendency for M and C toners to stick more easily than K toner is based on evaluations using specific types of toner, and different tendencies may be observed if the toner material or manufacturing method is different. For the sake of explanation, this specification assumes that sheets with toner images formed using black toner tend to stick less and therefore are easier to align than sheets with toner images formed using magenta and cyan toners.

[0032] Furthermore, the above trends have been confirmed in evaluation experiments conducted by the inventors, and in particular, when solid-surface printing is done using M toner and C toner, the sheet adheres more easily immediately after image formation. In terms of ease of adhesion, (M or C) > K, and in terms of combinations of ease of adhesion, "combination of M or C" > "combination of (M or C) and K" > "combination of K".

[0033] Furthermore, even with solid color images, the difficulty of sheet alignment varies depending on whether the solid color areas are concentrated on a sheet (regional coverage). This will be explained below using Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating regions I and II, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of regional coverage. For example, as shown in Figure 6, one document is divided into two regions, region I and region II, the coverage for each region is read, and the ease of alignment is determined based on the surrounding documents and the coverage for each region.

[0034] As a premise, when aligning the sheets of the Nth document using staple tray 105, area I of the front side of the Nth document overlaps with area I of the back side of the N-1th document, and area II of the front side of the Nth document overlaps with area II of the back side of the N-1st document. Therefore, when documents with high coverage in areas I and II overlap, alignment becomes difficult.

[0035] Figure 7 shows an example where, when aligning the second sheet, area I on the front of the second sheet has high coverage, and area I on the back of the first sheet, which overlaps with it, also has high coverage (part A in Figure 7). Therefore, aligning the second sheet becomes difficult.

[0036] Next, focusing on the third sheet, the front side of the third sheet has high coverage in area II, but the coverage of area II on the back side of the second sheet, which overlaps with it, is not high (part B in Figure 7). Therefore, the third sheet is easy to match.

[0037] Next, focusing on the fourth sheet, the front surface of the fourth sheet has high coverage in area I, and the area I on the back surface of the third sheet, which overlaps with it, also has high coverage (part C in Figure 7). Therefore, the fourth sheet becomes difficult to match.

[0038] In the example above, the coverage was explained using a two-part division, but the number of divisions is not limited to this. For example, the coverage can be set to three or more divisions, and by dividing it more and increasing the number of area-specific coverages, the accuracy of identifying the density of solid areas can be improved.

[0039] [Estimation of the drive amount of the tapping roller 106] In the media processing apparatus 100 with the above configuration, the present invention estimates the amount of drive of the tapping roller 106 as a sheet matching means based on sheet information relating to the sheet to be discharged into the staple tray 105 as a processing tray, and image forming information including color information of the image formed on the sheet to be discharged into the staple tray 105, and controls the tapping roller 106 based on the estimated amount of drive. The amount of drive of the tapping roller 106 corresponds to the downward movement time of the tapping roller 106 or the tapping roller shaft 107. In other words, a large amount of drive of the tapping roller 106 corresponds to a long downward movement time of the tapping roller 106 or the tapping roller shaft 107, meaning that the tapping roller 106 is in contact with the staple tray 105 or the sheet on the staple tray 105 for a long time. The amount of drive of the tapping roller 106 is estimated using a learning model 500 generated by machine learning.

[0040] Figure 8 shows the relationship between the media processing device 100 and the learning model 500.

[0041] The learning model 500 corresponds to a trained model generated in the machine learning process using training data 501 input to an external PC (Personal Computer) 600 (or cloud service) capable of generating the learning model 500 as input data. The learning model 500 is generated by analyzing the training data 501 and enables analysis, estimation, and prediction processing for new input data. The training data 501 is data created based on a collection of data obtained from evaluation experiments during the design of the media processing device 100. The learning model 500 generated by machine learning is a type of computational algorithm and is modularized as part of a control program and implemented, for example, in the control unit 150 (ROM 152) of the media processing device 100.

[0042] Figure 9 shows the relationship between the control of the tapping roller 106 and the learning model 500, illustrating the control of varying the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 based on the original document information received from the image forming apparatus 200.

[0043] In Figure 9, the control unit 150 of the media processing apparatus 100 receives information about the type of original document and sheet from the image forming apparatus 200. This information includes sheet information such as sheet size, and image forming information such as imposition, original document (text / solid color), coverage for each area, and the color of the toner mainly used for image formation. The control unit 150 compares the information received from the image forming apparatus 200 with the learning model 500 and acquires information on the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 necessary for alignment. Based on the information acquired via the learning model 500, the control unit 150 controls the tapping lifting motor 138 to lower the tapping roller shaft 107. As a result, the tapping roller 106 contacts the sheet on the staple tray 105 for the optimal time, aligning the sheet.

[0044] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the process for adjusting the descent time of the striking roller shaft 107. In this example, the document is divided into area I and area II, and the coverage of these areas is also used as a source of information for the descent time of the striking roller shaft 107.

[0045] This process is triggered by the start of image formation (printing). For example, the control unit 150 of the media processing device 100 receives the original document information (or sheet information) (S1001). Based on the received original document information (or sheet information), the control unit 150 determines whether the sheet size is small or large (S1002). If it is determined to be "small" in step S1002, the control unit 150 maintains the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 at the default value. If it is determined to be "large" in step S1002, the control unit 150 adds +10 msec to the default value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 (S1003).

[0046] Next, the control unit 150 determines the color information of the toner primarily used for image formation (S1004). If, in step S1004, the color of the toner primarily used for image formation is determined to be "K (black)", the control unit 150 maintains the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 at the value set in step S1002. If, in step S1004, the color of the toner primarily used for image formation is determined to be "M (magenta) or C (cyan)", the control unit 150 adds +10 msec to the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 set in step S1002 (S1005).

[0047] Next, the control unit 150 determines the layout information (S1006). If the output in step S1006 is determined to be "single-sided", the control unit 150 maintains the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 at the value set in step S1004. After that, the control unit 150 starts sheet alignment using the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 set in steps S1002 to S1006 (S1012).

[0048] In step S1006, if the output is determined to be "both sides", the control unit 150 adds +10 msec to the value of the descent time of the hammer roller shaft 107 set in step S1004 (S1007). Furthermore, if the output is "both sides", the control unit 150 determines, based on the area I coverage information, whether solid surfaces overlap in area I (S1008). In step S1008, if it is determined that there is "no overlap of solid surfaces" (S1008: No), the control unit 150 maintains the value of the descent time of the hammer roller shaft 107 at the value set up to step S1007. In step S1008, if it is determined that there is "overlap of solid surfaces" (S1008: Yes), the control unit 150 adds +10 msec to the value of the descent time of the hammer roller shaft 107 set up to step S1007 (S1009).

[0049] Similarly, the control unit 150 determines, based on the area II coverage information, whether solid surfaces overlap in area II (S1010). If it is determined in step S1010 that there is "no overlap of solid surfaces" (S1010: No), the control unit 150 maintains the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 at the value set up to step S1008. Subsequently, the control unit 150 starts sheet alignment using the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 set up from step S1002 to step S1010 (S1012).

[0050] If it is determined in step S1010 that there is an overlap in the solid surface area (S1010: Yes), the control unit 150 adds +10 msec to the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 set up to step S1008 (S1011). Then, the control unit 150 starts sheet alignment using the value of the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 set up from step S1002 to step S1011 (S1012).

[0051] The judgment items shown in this flowchart are examples only, and may be added or deleted as appropriate. Furthermore, the judgment order for each judgment item, and the value of the descent time of the striking roller shaft 107 added in the judgment result for each judgment item, are not limited to these and may be changed as appropriate. Also, the added value for the descent time of the striking roller shaft 107 is not limited to +10 msec; different added values ​​may be set for each judgment item.

[0052] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an example of variable control of the tapping roller axis descent time based on the learning model 500.

[0053] This process is triggered by the start of image formation (printing). For example, the control unit 150 of the media processing apparatus 100 receives document information (or sheet information) from the image forming apparatus 200 (S1101). Based on the received document information (or sheet information) and the information from the learning model 500, the control unit 150 estimates the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107 necessary for sheet alignment, i.e., the amount of drive of the tapping roller 106 (S1102). Based on the estimated descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107, the control unit 150 lowers the tapping roller shaft 107. As a result, the tapping roller 106 contacts the sheet on the staple tray 105 at the optimal time, aligning the sheet (S1103).

[0054] Figure 12 shows an example of training data 501.

[0055] In this embodiment, the input data includes sheet size, imposition, the color of the toner primarily used for image formation, and coverage information for each area. The lowering time of the tapping roller shaft 107 required for sheet alignment is then estimated. The more conditions that make sheet alignment difficult (for example, those marked with an asterisk in Figure 12), the longer the time the tapping roller shaft 107 is kept lowered is increased.

[0056] The settings for sheet information such as sheet size, and image formation information such as imposition, coverage for each area, and the color of the toner primarily used for image formation, may be performed by the display unit 201 and operation unit 202 provided on the image forming apparatus 200, and acquired by the control unit 150 of the media processing apparatus 100 through communication with the control unit 250 of the image forming apparatus 200. Alternatively, the display unit 201 and operation unit 202 may be provided on the media processing apparatus 100.

[0057] <Second embodiment of the system> Figure 13 shows an example of system 1000A according to the second embodiment.

[0058] In the first embodiment of the system 1000 shown in Figure 8, the learning model 500 was implemented in the control unit 150 of the media processing device 100, whereas in the second embodiment shown in Figure 13, the learning model 500 is held in an external system other than the media processing device 100. Here, the external system includes the image forming apparatus 200, as well as the media processing device 100 or another information processing device connected to the image forming apparatus 200.

[0059] For example, the learning model 500 may be stored as part of a control program written to the control unit 250 of the image forming apparatus 200, which communicates with the media processing apparatus 100, as shown in Figure 13. Generally, the image forming apparatus 200 has a function to set sheet information and image forming information, so it is also possible to estimate the drive amount of the tapping roller 106 using this information. Alternatively, the learning model 500 may be stored in a separate system connected to the image forming apparatus 200. Furthermore, the estimation of the drive amount of the tapping roller 106 may be performed by an external system other than the media processing apparatus 100, and the media processing apparatus 100 may be configured to receive (acquire) the estimation result.

[0060] <Third embodiment of the system> Figure 14 shows an example of system 1000B according to the third embodiment.

[0061] As shown in the third embodiment in Figure 14, the learning model 500 may be stored on a cloud system 700, which is an information processing device that the image forming apparatus 200 communicates with via a network. In this case, sheet information and image forming information for estimating the drive amount of the tapping roller 106 are transmitted to the cloud system 700, and the image forming apparatus 200 receives the estimated result on the cloud system 700 again, enabling the tapping roller 106 to be driven based on the estimated drive amount of the tapping roller 106.

[0062] Alternatively, the learning model 500 may be kept on the cloud system 700 under normal circumstances, and downloaded and used when the power to the image forming apparatus 200 is turned on. In this case, communication between the image forming apparatus 200 and the cloud system 700 is unnecessary at the time of image formation, and the time from the user's print command to the start of printing can be shortened. Furthermore, communication with the cloud system 700 is not limited to communication between the image forming apparatus 200 and the cloud system 700. For example, the media processing apparatus 100 may be equipped with a communication module that enables communication with the cloud system 700, and the media processing apparatus 100 may be configured to communicate with the cloud system 700 to estimate the drive amount of the tapping roller 106.

[0063] As in the second and third embodiments, design flexibility can be obtained by having the learning model 500 stored in a system other than the media processing device 100, such as the image forming apparatus 200 or the cloud system 700.

[0064] <About the distance measuring sensor> Figure 15 shows the sheet detection process by the distance measuring sensor 111.

[0065] The distance measuring sensor 111, acting as a sheet detection means, is installed near the reference fence 110 and detects when aligning a sheet of paper P, an example of a sheet-like medium, the leading edge Pa of the paper P reaches the fence surface 110a of the reference fence 110. Figure 15(A) shows a state where the leading edge Pa of the paper P has reached the fence surface 110a of the reference fence 110, and the paper P is correctly aligned. Figure 15(B) shows a state where the leading edge Pa of the paper P has not reached the fence surface 110a of the reference fence 110, and the distance measuring sensor 111 has not detected the paper P.

[0066] If a mismatch occurs as shown in Figure 15(B) despite the drive control of the tapping roller 106 being performed based on the estimated drive amount of the tapping roller 106, it is preferable to feed back the detection result of the distance measuring sensor 111 to the training data 501. By further training the learning model 500 using the latest training data 501 and updating the learning model 500, the reliability of the degree of sheet mismatch can be further improved.

[0067] Figure 16 shows the relationship between the detection results of the distance measuring sensor 111 and their reflection in the learning model 500.

[0068] If the sheet is not detected by the distance sensor 111 and a misalignment occurs, the control unit 150 and the like feed this information back to the training data 501 as insufficient descent time for the tapping roller shaft 107, and build the data. Furthermore, by having the learning model 500 perform additional training using the latest training data 501, the learning model 500 will be given data for the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107, for example, with an additional +1 msec added. In this way, the alignment status of the sheet can be grasped from the detection results of the distance sensor 111, and the detection results of the distance sensor 111 can be reflected in the learning model 500 to enrich the data on the descent time of the tapping roller shaft 107, i.e., the amount of drive of the tapping roller 106.

[0069] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments exemplified above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its technical essence. All technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are covered by the present invention. The above embodiments are preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various modifications from the disclosed content. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims.

[0070] [Modes of the present invention] The contents of this invention are, for example, as follows:

[0071] <Aspect 1> Embodiment 1 is a media processing apparatus characterized by comprising: a sheet alignment means for moving sheets discharged into a processing tray in a predetermined direction to align the sheets; and a control means for controlling the sheet alignment means based on a drive amount of the sheet alignment means estimated based on sheet information relating to the sheets and image formation information including color information of an image formed on the sheets.

[0072] <Aspect 2> Embodiment 2 is characterized in that, in Embodiment 1, it is further provided with an estimation means for estimating the drive amount.

[0073] <Aspect 3> Embodiment 3 is characterized in that, in Embodiment 2, the estimation means includes a machine learning model that uses training data that associates the sheet information, the image formation information, and the drive amount.

[0074] <Aspect 4> Embodiment 4 is characterized in that, in Embodiment 3, the sheet detection means detects the position of the sheet moving in the predetermined direction by the sheet alignment means, and the estimation means feeds back the detection result of the sheet detection means to the training data to update the learning model.

[0075] <Aspect 5> Embodiment 5 is characterized in that, in any of Embodiments 1 to 4, the sheet information includes sheet size information.

[0076] <Aspect 6> Embodiment 6 is characterized in that, in any of Embodiments 1 to 5, the image forming information further includes at least one piece of information from among imposition, type of document, and coverage of the document by region.

[0077] <Aspect 7> Embodiment 7 is a system comprising a media processing apparatus having a sheet alignment means for moving sheets discharged into a processing tray in a predetermined direction to align the sheets, and another apparatus having an estimation means for estimating the amount of drive of the sheet alignment means based on sheet information relating to the sheets and image forming information including color information of an image formed on the sheets, wherein the media processing apparatus and the other apparatus are communicated together, and the sheet alignment means is controlled based on the amount of drive estimated by the estimation means.

[0078] <Aspect 8> Embodiment 8 is characterized in that, in Embodiment 7, the other apparatus is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet.

[0079] <Pattern 9> Embodiment 9 is characterized in that, in Embodiment 7, the other device is an information processing device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 100: Media processing equipment 106: Beating roller 107: Hitting roller shaft 108: Rotating shaft of the hammering roller 110: Standard fence 111: Distance measuring sensor 113: Stapler 150: Control Unit 200: Image forming apparatus 250: Control Unit 1000: System [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0081] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-13340

Claims

1. A sheet alignment means for moving the sheets discharged into the processing tray in a predetermined direction to align the sheets, A control means for controlling the sheet alignment means based on the drive amount of the sheet alignment means estimated based on sheet information relating to the sheet and image formation information including color information of the image formed on the sheet, A media processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

2. The media processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising estimation means for estimating the drive amount.

3. The estimation means is, The media processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a learning model that has been trained using training data that associates the sheet information, the image forming information, and the drive amount.

4. The sheet detection means detects the position of the sheet moving in the predetermined direction by the sheet alignment means, The media processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the estimation means feeds back the detection result of the sheet detection means to the training data to update the learning model.

5. The media processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet information includes sheet size information.

6. The media processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the image forming information further includes at least one piece of information from among imposition, type of document, and coverage of each area of ​​the document.

7. A media processing apparatus having sheet alignment means for moving sheets discharged into a processing tray in a predetermined direction to align the sheets, Another device having estimation means for estimating the drive amount of the sheet matching means based on sheet information relating to the sheet and image forming information including color information of the image formed on the sheet, A system including, The media processing device and the other device are connected in a communicative manner. A system characterized by controlling the seat alignment means based on the drive amount estimated by the estimation means.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the other device is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet.

9. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the aforementioned other device is an information processing device.

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