Printing system, method for controlling the printing system, and program

Abstract

If the insert device is connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet transport direction, the static elimination device cannot properly control the static elimination of the sheets being fed from the insert device. [Solution] A printing system comprising a printing device 100 for printing on a sheet, an insert device 200-3c installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for inserting the sheet, and a static elimination device 200-3a installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for performing static elimination processing on the sheet, wherein the system includes a notification means that, when it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet transport direction, prompts the system to connect the insert device downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet transport direction. It is characterized by the following:

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system provided with a static elimination function for eliminating static electricity from a charged sheet, a control method for the printing system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] A recording medium used for printing operations (hereinafter referred to as "sheet") is conveyed in a state charged with static electricity due to residual charge during the electrophotographic process, or slight friction with conveyance rollers or guides generated during sheet conveyance. This static electricity may cause sheets to adhere to each other. Plain paper and the like have low electrical resistance of the sheet itself, charges easily move within the sheet, and the charge amount itself is small, so the static electricity is eliminated quickly. However, sheets using synthetic resin (plastic) such as thick paper, synthetic paper, and coated paper have high electrical resistance of the sheet itself, and charge transfer within the sheet is unlikely to occur. Therefore, as a result, sheets such as synthetic paper and coated paper tend to be more easily charged and more likely to retain charges. In addition, it is generally known that such sheets are easily affected by the environment, particularly humidity, and are more likely to be charged with static electricity in an environment with lower humidity due to the reduced amount of discharge into the air.

[0003] If post-processing is performed with sheets adhered to each other, it will affect the sheet alignment process, and may cause jams (JAM) due to paper feeding failure or conveyance failure during post-processing. Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate the static electricity of the sheet after the printing process before performing post-processing. Accordingly, proposals have been made to cancel the charges charged on the sheet by applying a voltage to a pair of conveyance rollers located downstream in the sheet conveyance direction (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

[0005] The conventional static electricity removal method using a transport roller with applied voltage (hereinafter referred to as "static removal roller"), as described above, works by applying a charge opposite to the charge on the sheet via the static removal roller, thereby canceling out the static electricity. Therefore, the amount of static electricity removed by the static removal roller (application of a charge opposite to that of the sheet to the static removal roller) must be adjusted according to the amount of charge on the sheet. Conventionally, there are image systems that have a mode for feeding sheets (recording sheets) as recording media from a device installed downstream of the image forming apparatus, in addition to the feeding unit that feeds the sheets from the image forming apparatus. For example, there are known image forming systems that have an insert device for feeding sheets such as interleaving paper, and can output a product in which interleaving paper is inserted between the image-formed sheets. In such image forming systems, the transport paths of the sheets passing through the image forming apparatus and the sheets fed from the insert device are different. Also, the charge state of the sheets placed on each feeding unit is different.

[0006] Thus, the charge on a sheet changes depending on whether it passes through the image forming apparatus or not, and the amount of static discharge required differs for each. In other words, there is an optimal charge adjustment value for static discharge depending on whether the supplied sheet passes through the transport path of the image forming apparatus or not. Furthermore, when the static elimination device that removes static electricity from the sheets is configured independently of the image forming apparatus and the inserter apparatus, the static elimination device may be placed upstream of the inserter apparatus during installation. In such a configuration, the static elimination device cannot remove static electricity from the sheets fed from the inserter apparatus. Therefore, there was a possibility that the sheets fed from the inserter apparatus could cause paper sticking or paper jams. This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems. The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanism that can remove static electricity with an appropriate amount even from sheets fed from the downstream side of the image forming apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a printing system comprising a printing device for printing on a sheet, an insert device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction and for inserting a sheet, and a static elimination device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction and for performing static elimination processing on a sheet, characterized in that it has a notification means that, when it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet transport direction, prompts the insert device to be connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet transport direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when an insert device is installed, it is possible to prevent connection errors when it is connected downstream of the static elimination device, and to perform appropriate static elimination on the fed sheet. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the system shown in this embodiment. [Figure 2] A block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing system of this embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram illustrating a cross-section of the printing system of this embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating the operating section of a printing device included in the printing system of this embodiment. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating the operating section of a static eliminator included in the printing system of this embodiment. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram illustrating how the static elimination process is performed by the static elimination device of this embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram illustrating a cross-section of the printing system of this embodiment. [Figure 8] Flowchart illustrating the processing of Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] Diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the printing system of Embodiment 1. [Figure 10] Diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the printing system of Embodiment 2. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solving means of the invention.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] • Overall system configuration Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a system showing an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present embodiment includes a printing system 1000 and a PC 102 which is a client computer, and these are connected to each other via a network 101. The PC 102 can transmit code data (page description language), which is a print job, to the printing system 1000 via the network 101. Here, "PC" is an abbreviation for Personal Computer.

[0012] • Hardware configuration of the printing system Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing system 1000. A printing system 1000 includes a printing apparatus 100, which is the part enclosed by the dashed line in the drawing, and a sheet processing apparatus 200. Note that any number of sheet processing apparatuses 200 can be connected to the printing apparatus 100. The sheet processing apparatus 200 of the present embodiment will be described using an example consisting of a static elimination apparatus 200-3a, a saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200-3b, and an insert apparatus 200-3c. Further, in the present embodiment, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function and a printer function will be described as an example of the printing apparatus 100. However, the printing apparatus 100 may be a single-function type printing apparatus having only a copy function or only a printer function. In the present embodiment, as an example, the printing system 1000 is assumed to include the various constituent elements described below.

[0013] The printing system 1000 is configured such that sheet processing for sheets printed by the printing apparatus 100 can be executed by the sheet processing apparatus 200 connected to the printing apparatus 100. However, it is also possible to configure the printing system 1000 with only the printing apparatus 100 without connecting the sheet processing apparatus 200. The insert apparatus 200-3c is configured to be communicable with the printing apparatus 100 and the static elimination apparatus 200-3a to be described later, and can receive an instruction from the printing apparatus 100 to execute insert processing as described later.

[0014] The static elimination apparatus 200-3a is configured to be communicable with the printing apparatus 100, can receive an instruction from the printing apparatus 100, and execute static elimination processing as described later. A static elimination operation unit 220 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 5 to be described later, and a user can make settings for the static elimination apparatus 200-3a via the static elimination operation unit 220. Note that the user may be allowed to make settings for the static elimination apparatus 200-3a via a main body operation unit 204 to be described later. The saddle stitch bookbinding machine 200-3b is configured to be communicable with the printing apparatus 100, can receive an instruction from the printing apparatus 100, and execute sheet processing as described later.

[0015] (Printing device) The scanner unit 201 reads the image on the document, converts it into image data, and transfers it to other units. External I / F202 transmits and receives data to and from external devices connected to network 101. The printer unit 203 prints an image based on the input image data onto the sheet. As shown in Figure 4, the main unit operation unit 204 consists of a touch panel unit 401 and a hard key input unit 402, through which it receives instructions from the user. The main unit operation unit 204 also displays various information on the touch panel unit 401. The CPU 205 comprehensively controls the processing and operation of various units in the printing system 1000. Specifically, it controls the operation of the printing device 100 and the sheet processing device 200 connected to the printing device 100. Here, "CPU" stands for Central Processing Unit.

[0016] The environmental sensor 206 is a general term for sensors that detect the installation environment, such as temperature and humidity. In this embodiment, this includes temperature sensors and humidity sensors. A typical temperature sensor is a thermistor that measures the temperature of the air. A typical humidity sensor detects the humidity of the air from changes in capacitance, and the output of each is output as an electrical signal. The CPU 205 constantly monitors the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the printing device 100 is installed and reflects this in the control of the printing device 100. ROM207 stores various computer programs executed by CPU205. For example, ROM207 stores programs that cause CPU205 to execute various processes in the flowchart described later, and display control programs necessary to display various setting screens described later. ROM207 also stores programs that allow CPU205 to interpret PDL code data received from PC102 and convert it into raster image data. In addition, ROM207 stores boot sequences, font information, and other data. Here, "ROM" stands for Read Only Memory.

[0017] RAM208 stores image data and PDL code data sent from the scanner unit 201 and external I / F 202, various programs loaded from ROM 207, and setting information. RAM208 also stores information about the sheet processing device 200 (such as the type and function of the sheet processing device 200 connected to the printing device 100). The CPU 205 can use this information about the sheet processing device 200 stored in RAM208 for control. Here, "RAM" stands for Random Access Memory. The HDD (hard disk drive) 209 consists of a hard disk and a drive unit for reading and writing data to the hard disk. The HDD 209 is a large-capacity storage device for storing image data that is input from the scanner unit 201 and compressed by the compression / decompression unit 210. Based on user instructions, the CPU 205 can print the image data stored in the HDD 209 using the printer unit 203. The HDD 209 can also be used as a spooler, and the CPU 205 can manage PDL code data received from the PC 102 as print jobs and store them in the HDD 209. The CPU 205 can also manage the print jobs stored in the HDD 209 and can obtain the number of stored print jobs and the setting information applied to the print jobs. Alternatively, other storage devices such as SSDs (Solid State Drives) or eMMCs (embedded Multi Media Cards) may be used instead of or in conjunction with the HDD.

[0018] The compression / decompression unit 210 performs compression and decompression operations on image data stored in the RAM 208 and HDD 209 using various compression methods such as JBIG and JPEG. As will be described in more detail later, the printing system 1000 of this embodiment is a printing system that has a static elimination device whose static elimination function can be changed.

[0019] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the printing apparatus 100 and the sheet processing apparatus 200 connected to the printing apparatus 100 in Embodiment 1. The sheet processing device 200 of this embodiment consists of a static eliminator 200-3a, a saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b, and an insert device 200-3c. (Printing device) First, let me explain the printing device 100. The automatic document feeder (ADF) 301 separates the stack of documents placed on the stacking surface of the document tray, page by page, starting from the first page, and transports them onto the document glass for scanning by the scanner 302. The scanner 302 reads the image of the document transported on the document glass and converts it into image data using a CCD.

[0020] The rotating polyhedron mirror (polygon mirror, etc.) 303 receives a light ray, such as laser light, which is modulated according to the image data, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 304 with reflected scanning light via a reflective mirror. The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 304 by laser light is developed by toner, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet material attached to the transfer drum 305. A full-color image is formed by sequentially performing this series of image formation processes for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners. After four image formation processes, the sheet material on the transfer drum 305 with the full-color image formed is separated by the separation claw 306 and transported to the fuser 308 by the pre-fixing transporter 307.

[0021] The fuser unit 308 is composed of a combination of rollers and belts, and incorporates a heat source such as a halogen heater to melt and fix the toner on the sheet material onto which the toner image has been transferred, using heat and pressure. The paper discharge flapper 309 is configured to pivot around a pivot axis and defines the sheet transport direction. When the paper discharge flapper 309 is pivoting clockwise in the figure, the sheet material is transported straight and discharged outside the machine by the paper discharge roller 310. The CPU 205 controls the printing device 100 to perform single-sided printing through the sequence described above.

[0022] (Double-sided printing) On the other hand, when forming an image on both sides of the sheet material, the paper discharge flapper 309 swings counterclockwise in the figure, and the sheet material changes its path downward and is fed to the double-sided transport section. The double-sided transport section includes a reversing flapper 311, a reversing roller 312, a reversing guide 313, and a double-sided tray 314. The reversing flapper 311 swings around its pivot axis, defining the sheet transport direction. When processing a double-sided printing job, the CPU 205 controls the reversing flapper 311 to swing the sheet, which has been printed on the first side by the printer unit 203, counterclockwise in the diagram, and feed it to the reversing guide 313 via the reversing roller 312. Then, with the rear end of the sheet material held by the reversing roller 312, the reversing roller 312 is temporarily stopped, and the reversing flapper 311 continues to swing clockwise in the diagram. At the same time, the reversing roller 312 is rotated in the opposite direction. This causes the sheet to switch back and be transported, and the sheet is guided to the double-sided tray 314 with its rear and front ends swapped. The sheet material is first loaded into the double-sided tray 314, and then the re-feed roller 315 feeds the sheet material back to the register roller 316. At this time, the sheet material is fed with the side opposite to the first transfer process facing the photosensitive drum. Then, in the same process as described above, the second image is formed on the second side of the sheet. After images are formed on both sides of the sheet material, the sheet is discharged from inside the printing device 100 to the outside of the machine via the paper discharge roller 310 after a fixing process.

[0023] The CPU 205 controls the printing device 100 to perform double-sided printing through the sequence described above. Note that the control described here for performing double-sided printing is only one example and is not limited to this. The printing device 100 also has a paper feeding section for storing the sheets required for printing. The paper feeding section includes paper cassettes 317 and 318 (each capable of holding, for example, 500 sheets), a paper deck 319 (each capable of holding, for example, 5000 sheets), and a manual feed tray 320. The paper cassettes 317 and 318 and the paper deck 319 can be used to separately set various sheets of different sizes and materials in each paper feeding section. The manual feed tray 320 can also be used to set various sheets, including special sheets such as OHP sheets.

[0024] (Insert device) The insert device 200-3c receives the sheets discharged from the printing device 100, which acts as an upstream device, into the insert device 200-3c by the receiving roller 37. The sheets received into the insert device 200-3c by the receiving roller 37 are discharged to the outside of the insert device 200-3c via the horizontal path 38 by the discharge roller 39. The insert device 200-3c is equipped with a first tray 31 and a second tray 32, which are loading sections on which insert sheets are stacked. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the first tray 31 and the second tray 32, they will be referred to as the "interleaving tray." An insert sheet refers to a sheet that is inserted by the insert device 200-3c, in addition to the recording sheet on which the image is formed by the printing device 100, as an output product of the printing system 1000 to the output destination Z of the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b.

[0025] Insert sheets include paper inserted as a marker each time a certain number of recording sheets are printed, and sheets inserted to prevent the image from bleeding through the recording sheets (generally called interleaving paper). Insert sheets also include sheets that become part of the final output together with the recording sheets image-formed by the printing device 100, such as title pages and pages prepared as separate prints to be placed between sheets image-formed by the printing device 100. Since interleaving paper is a typical example of an insert sheet, in the following description, insert sheets fed from the insert device 200-3c will be described as "interleaving paper" without distinguishing their purpose of use. Note that, like recording sheets, interleaving paper may be made of a sheet material other than paper. Furthermore, since the recording sheets image-formed by the printing device 100 usually form the main body of the output produced by the printing system 1000, in the following description, they will be distinguished from interleaving paper and referred to as "main text."

[0026] The interleaving paper can be loaded and set in the first tray 31 and the second tray 32. The first tray 31 and the second tray 32 can move up and down independently by motors to a first position where the loaded interleaving paper can be fed, and a second position where the interleaving paper can be replenished (not shown). When the first tray 31 is in the first position, it is not possible to replenish the interleaving paper to the first tray 31. On the other hand, when the first tray 31 is in the second position, it is not possible to feed the interleaving paper loaded in the first tray 31. Similarly, when the second tray 32 is in the first position, it is not possible to replenish the interleaving paper to the second tray 32. On the other hand, when the second tray 32 is in the second position, it is not possible to feed the interleaving paper loaded in the second tray 32. The following explanation will use a configuration in which the first tray 31 and the second tray 32 move up and down by motors as an example. In addition to this, for example, the feeding rollers 33 and 34 may be moved up and down independently to move the first tray 31 and the second tray 32 to the first and second positions, respectively.

[0027] The feed roller 33 can feed the interleaving paper loaded on the first tray 31 by contacting the upper surface of the interleaving paper loaded on the first tray 31. In other words, when the feed roller 33 is in contact with the upper surface of the loaded interleaving paper, the first tray 31 is in a first position in which interleaving paper can be fed. On the other hand, when the feed roller 33 is separated from the upper surface of the interleaving paper loaded on the first tray 31, the first tray 31 is in a second position in which interleaving paper can be replenished. Furthermore, the feed roller 34 can feed the interleaving paper loaded on the second tray 32 by contacting the upper surface of the interleaving paper loaded on the second tray 32. In other words, when the feed roller 34 is in contact with the upper surface of the loaded interleaving paper, the second tray 32 is in a first position in which interleaving paper can be fed. On the other hand, when the feed roller 34 is separated from the upper surface of the interleaving paper loaded on the second tray 32, the second tray 32 is in a second position where interleaving paper can be replenished. The insert sheet feeding means of this embodiment consists of a first tray 31, a second tray 32, and feed rollers 33 and 34.

[0028] Furthermore, the first tray 31 is equipped with a paper remaining amount sensor 40 for detecting information regarding the remaining amount of interleaving paper loaded in the first tray 31. Similarly, the second tray 32 is equipped with a paper remaining amount roller 41 for detecting information regarding the remaining amount of interleaving paper loaded in the second tray 32. The remaining amount detection means in this embodiment are the paper remaining amount sensors 40 and 41. In this embodiment, the paper remaining amount sensor 40 detects that if the remaining amount of interleaving paper loaded in the first tray 31 is greater than a predetermined set amount, the remaining amount of interleaving paper is small if it is less than or equal to the set amount, and there is no interleaving paper if there is no interleaving paper. Similarly, the paper remaining amount sensor 41 detects that if the remaining amount of interleaving paper loaded in the second tray 32 is greater than a predetermined set amount, the remaining amount of interleaving paper is small if it is less than or equal to the set amount, and there is no interleaving paper if there is no interleaving paper. In the insert device 200-3c, the interleaving sheets set in the first tray 31 are guided to the vertical path 35 by the feed roller 33. Similarly, the interleaving sheets set in the second tray 32 are guided to the vertical path 35 by the feed roller 34. The interleaving sheets guided to the vertical path 35 are sent to the horizontal path 38 via the transport roller 36 and discharged to the outside of the insert device 200-3c by the discharge roller 39. Figure 1 shows a configuration in which the sheets discharged to the outside of the insert device 200-3c by the discharge roller 39 are received inside the static elimination device 200-3a.

[0029] (static eliminator) Next, the static elimination device 200-3a will be explained using Figure 3. The static elimination device 200-3a has a static elimination roller 322 and a pair of rollers. Sheets transported to the static elimination device 200-3a are held between both rollers while being transported, and rough static elimination is performed by the static elimination roller 322. Subsequently, the sheets are transported out of the device by the transport roller 324, and the remaining charge is removed by the ionizer 323.

[0030] Figure 5 illustrates the static elimination operation unit 220 of the static elimination device 200-3a. The mode setting switch 601 in Figure 5 switches whether or not to perform static elimination by the static elimination device 200-3a (ON / OFF). The CPU 205 controls the system to execute the static elimination process described later only when this switch is ON. Furthermore, the adjustment dial 602, which is composed of a thumb rotary switch, adjusts the strength of the static elimination control performed when the mode setting switch 601 is ON, and is controlled by the CPU 205 so that it is only effective when the mode setting switch 601 is ON.

[0031] (Static electricity removal treatment) Here, the static elimination process performed by the static elimination device 200-3a will be explained using Figure 6. Figure 6 schematically shows how static elimination is performed by the static elimination device 200-3a on a sheet that has been printed by the printing device 100. First, the sheet 701 is transported via the transport path 704 to the developing and transferring section, which consists of a photosensitive drum 304 and a transfer drum 305, where toner is placed on the sheet. The charged toner 702 placed on the sheet is negatively charged, and after being fixed through the fuser 308, the sheet is transported to the static elimination device 200-3a with the print surface 703 side negatively charged. The static elimination device 200-3a is equipped with a positively charged static elimination roller 322, and applies a positive charge to the negatively charged print surface 703 by contact elimination with the static elimination roller 322, thereby eliminating the charged state. However, it is assumed that some negative charge that could not be removed by the static elimination process with the static elimination roller 322, or conversely, positive charge that has been added, remains on the sheet 705 after passing through the static elimination roller. Therefore, the static elimination device 200-3a discussed in this embodiment is further configured to include an ionizer 323 downstream of the static elimination roller 322. The ionizer 323 is a device that generates corona discharge by applying voltage to electrode needles equipped within the device, and uses the resulting ions to eliminate static charge. In this way, rough static removal is performed by the static removal roller 322, and then the remaining charge is regulated by the ionizer 323, so that the sheet 707 discharged from the static removal device 200-3a after static removal treatment is decharged.

[0032] (Saddle-stitch binding machine) Next, I will explain the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b. Sheet processing using the 200-3b saddle-stitch binding machine includes, for example, saddle-stitch binding, punching, cutting, shift paper output, folding, and stapling. Here, these jobs are referred to as "saddle-stitch binding jobs." When processing a saddle-stitch binding job, the CPU 205 first transports the sheets of the job printed by the printing device 100 to the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b, and then the CPU 205 has the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b perform the sheet processing for the job. The CPU 205 then has the printed materials of the saddle-stitch binding job, which have been processed by the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b, held at the output destination Z of the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b. There are multiple output destination candidates for output destination Z. This is because the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b can perform multiple types of sheet processing, and this is used when separating the output destination for each type of sheet processing. In this embodiment, the detailed transport procedure for the saddle-stitch binding job is omitted from the explanation.

[0033] • Connection configuration of each device This section describes the connection configuration of each device. Figure 3 shows a configuration in the printing system 1000 where the insert device 200-3c and the static eliminator device 200-3b are connected in that order. On the other hand, users may connect the static eliminator 200-3b and the insert device 200-3c in that order during installation. Figure 7 shows an example of the printing system where the static eliminator 200-3b and the insert device 200-3c are connected in that order. The printing device 100 and the devices 200 connected downstream communicate with the CPU 205 using a common communication interface, allowing the CPU 205 to determine the connection position of the devices. That is, even if the upstream and downstream relationships between the insert device 200-3c and the static eliminator 200-3a are reversed, the CPU 205 notifies the various sheet processing devices 200 of the printing instructions from the printing device 100 based on the connection order of the various sheet processing devices 200. After printing by the printing device 100 based on the printing instructions from the main unit operation unit 204, the various devices 200 travel through their transport paths and perform discharge operations. Subsequently, the saddle-stitch binding machine 200-3b performs sheet processing and discharges the sheets to the discharge destination Z. In the connection configuration shown in Figure 7, static electricity cannot be removed from the interleaving paper fed from the first tray 31 or the second tray 32 of the insert device 200-3c.

[0034] [Embodiment 1] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating Embodiment 1. The process shown in this flowchart starts when the power is turned on and is implemented by the CPU 205 loading programs stored in ROM 207, HDD 209, etc., into RAM 208 and executing them. This process starts after the power of the printing system 1000 is turned on. In S101, after power-up, the CPU 205 obtains information regarding the connection status of the sheet processing device 200 connected to the printing device 100 through communication between the printing device 100 and the devices connected downstream. In S102, the CPU 205 determines whether or not the static eliminator 200-3a is connected. If it determines that the static eliminator 200-3a is connected (Yes in S102), the process proceeds to S103. If it determines that the static eliminator 200-3a is not connected (No in S102), this process is terminated. In S103, the CPU 205 determines whether the insert device 200-3c is connected or not. If it determines that the static eliminator 200-3c is not connected (i.e., No in S102), this process is terminated.

[0035] If the CPU 205 determines in S103 that an insert device is connected (if it answered Yes in S102), it proceeds to S104. In S104, the CPU 205 determines whether the insert device 200-3c is downstream of the static eliminator 200-3a in the sheet transport direction. If the insert device 200-3c is downstream of the static eliminator 200-3a in the sheet transport direction (Yes in S104), the process proceeds to S105. Otherwise (No in S104), this process is terminated. In S105, a screen 901 (see Figure 9) prompting the user to change the connection position of the static eliminator 200-3a to a downstream position in the sheet transport direction from the insert device 200-3c is displayed on the main unit's control panel 204. The user may, after confirming this display, turn off the power to the printing system and switch the connection, or they may press the [Close] button 902 on screen 901 in Figure 9 and use the printing system 1000 with the current connection. If the position of the insert device 200-3c is upstream of the position of the static eliminator 200-3a (if the answer is No in S104), this process is terminated. According to this embodiment, the user can receive a warning in advance if the static elimination process for the sheet inserted from the insert device 200-3c cannot be performed properly.

[0036] [Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 1 described above, a method was explained for notifying the user that the static eliminator is connected upstream of the insert device 200-3c when the power to the printing system 1000 is started. However, in Embodiment 1, there is a possibility that the user may not notice this notification. Therefore, in Embodiment 2, notification is also provided when it is determined that the job involves feeding sheets from the first tray 31 and the second tray 32 of the insert device 200-3c at the start of printing. • Printing process Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating the printing process of Embodiment 2. The process in this flowchart is realized when the CPU 205 of the printing device 100 loads a program stored in the ROM 207, HDD 209, etc., into the RAM 208 and executes it. This process is executed when a print job is submitted to the printing system 1000. Note that in Figure 10, the same steps as in Figure 8 are given the same step numbers. Hereafter, the explanation of the same steps will be omitted, and only the different steps will be explained.

[0037] In S201, CPU205 retrieves the entered print mode. In S202, the CPU 205 determines from the acquired print mode whether the sheet to be fed from the first tray 31 and second tray 32 of the insert device 200-3c is included. If the sheet to be fed from the first tray 31 and second tray 32 is included (Yes in S202), the process proceeds through S101 to S104 and then to S105. In S105, a notification is issued prompting the user to change the connection position of the static eliminator 200-3a to a position downstream of the insert device 200-3a in the sheet transport direction. At this timing, sheet feeding has not yet started, so the user may turn off the power to the printing system 1000 and change the connection position, or they may simply press the [Close] button 902 on screen 901 in Figure 9 and execute printing in S203. After printing is complete, CPU205 terminates this process. The embodiments described above prevent connection errors when the insert device 200-3c is connected downstream of the static elimination device 200-3a in the sheet transport direction during installation, and as a result, enable proper static elimination of the fed sheet. Furthermore, if the insert device 200-3c is used exclusively for inserting non-charged interleaving paper, the operation may become complicated if unnecessary warnings are issued for each job. Therefore, it may be possible to configure the device to disable this notification function.

[0038] In the above embodiment, an insert device and a static eliminator were described as examples of sheet processing devices, but a saddle-stitch binding machine may also be used. If the saddle-stitch binding machine is located upstream of the static eliminator in the sheet transport direction, a notification prompting a change in the connection order may be provided. Furthermore, various types of sheet processing devices are envisioned. For example, an envelope insertion and sealing device for inserting printed materials into envelopes may be incorporated into the printing system, and the notification regarding the connection of the present invention may be made functional.

[0039] (Other examples) It should be noted that the structure and content of the various data described above are not limited to those mentioned, and it goes without saying that they can be composed of various structures and contents depending on the use and purpose. Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium. Specifically, it may be applied to a system consisting of multiple devices, or to an apparatus consisting of a single device. Furthermore, any configurations combining the above embodiments are also included in the present invention.

[0040] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0041] This embodiment includes the following configurations, methods, and programs. (Composition 1) A printing device that prints on a sheet, An insert device for inserting sheets is installed downstream of the aforementioned printing device in the sheet transport direction, A printing system comprising a static elimination device installed downstream of the aforementioned printing device in the sheet transport direction, which performs static elimination of sheets, If it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static eliminator in the sheet conveying direction, the system has a notification means that prompts the insert device to be connected downstream of the static eliminator in the sheet conveying direction. A printing system characterized by the following features. (Configuration 2) When the power is turned on, the notification means notifies that the connection position of the insert device should be changed. The printing system according to configuration 1, characterized in that... (Composition 3) When executing a received print job, the notification means notifies that the connection position should be changed. The printing system according to configuration 1, characterized by the features described above. (Composition 4) If the user confirms that the notification means prompts a change in connection location, print will be executed. A printing system according to configuration 2 or 3, characterized by the above. (Composition 5) The operation of the notification means can be stopped by setting. A printing system according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized by the above. (Method 1) A control method for a printing system comprising a printing device for printing on a sheet, an insert device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for inserting the sheet, and a static elimination device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for performing static elimination on the sheet, The system includes a notification step that, if it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet conveying direction, prompts the system to connect the insert device downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet conveying direction. A method for controlling a printing system, characterized by the features described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1000 Printing Systems 100 Printing device 200 Sheet Processing Machine 200-3a static eliminator 200-3c Insertion Device

Claims

1. A printing device that prints on a sheet, An insert device for inserting sheets is installed downstream of the aforementioned printing device in the sheet transport direction, A printing system comprising a static elimination device installed downstream of the aforementioned printing device in the sheet transport direction, which performs static elimination of sheets, If it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static eliminator in the sheet conveying direction, the system has a notification means that prompts the insert device to be connected downstream of the static eliminator in the sheet conveying direction. A printing system characterized by the following features.

2. When the power is turned on, the notification means notifies that the connection position of the insert device should be changed. The printing system according to feature 1.

3. When executing a received print job, the notification means notifies that the connection position should be changed. The printing system according to feature 1.

4. If the user confirms that the notification means prompts a change in connection location, print will be executed. The printing system according to feature 3.

5. The operation of the notification means can be stopped by setting it. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A control method for a printing system comprising a printing device for printing on a sheet, an insert device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for inserting the sheet, and a static elimination device installed downstream of the printing device in the sheet transport direction for performing static elimination on the sheet, The system includes a notification step that, if it is determined that the insert device is connected downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet conveying direction, prompts the system to connect the insert device downstream of the static elimination device in the sheet conveying direction. A method for controlling a printing system, characterized by the features described above.

7. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the printing system described in claim 6.

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