Recording systems, processing equipment

Abstract

To solve the problem that when the maximum number of sheets in processing by a medium processing device is uniformly determined taking curl of the sheets into consideration to a certain degree, the number of media which can be processed is suppressed unnecessarily when actual curl is small, and the sheets may get jammed when the actual curl is large.SOLUTION: A recording system comprises a recording part that performs recording on a medium, a placing part that is placed with the media having the recording performed thereon by the recording part, and a processing part that performs processing to a bundle of the media placed on the placing part. A control part, which controls feeding of the media into the placing part, determines a maximum number of media which can be placed on the placing part, on the basis of information concerning swelling of the medium on which the recording part performs recording.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording system comprising a recording unit that records on a medium, a stacking unit that stacks the media on which the recording unit has recorded, and a processing unit that processes the stack of media stacked on the stacking unit. The present invention also relates to a processing device including a loading section for loading media on which recording has been performed by a recording section that performs recording on the media, and a processing section that performs processing on a stack of media loaded on the loading section. [Background technology]

[0002] Media processing devices that perform predetermined processing on media include devices that perform stapling or punching processing on multiple sheets of media stacked in a stacking section that holds the media, and devices that perform saddle stitching to stitch the center in the width direction of multiple sheets of media stacked in the stacking section and then fold the media at the stitching position to form a booklet. Note that such media processing devices are configured as independent units and may take various forms, such as being provided outside the recording device to form a single system as a whole, or being built into a single housing together with a recording section that records on the media to form a single system.

[0003] As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a sheet processing device, which is an example of a media processing device, is provided next to an image forming device, which is an example of a recording device. This sheet processing device includes a stacker unit that accumulates conveyed sheets in a substantially vertical state, a first binding processing unit that is provided in the stacker unit and saddle-stitches a sheet stack at a binding position in the middle of the sheet conveyance direction with a metal staple, a second binding processing unit that saddle-stitches a sheet stack at a binding position in the middle of the sheet conveyance direction without using a metal staple, and a folding processing unit that folds the sheet stack in the middle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-023085 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When recording is performed by discharging liquid onto a medium, the medium swells and curls as it absorbs the liquid. Therefore, if a certain degree of curl is taken into consideration and a maximum number of sheets of media that can be loaded into a media processing device is uniformly determined, the number of sheets of media that can be processed will be unnecessarily restricted if the actual curl is smaller than initially expected, and conversely, if the actual curl is larger than initially expected, paper jams may occur inside the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the recording system of the present invention comprises a recording unit that records on a medium, a loading unit that loads the medium on which recording has been performed by the recording unit, and a processing unit that performs processing on the stack of media loaded in the loading unit, and is characterized in that the control unit that controls the feeding of media into the loading unit determines the maximum number of media that can be loaded in the loading unit based on information related to the swelling of the medium on which recording is performed by the recording unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a recording system. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the movement of a medium in a saddle stitch folding mechanism. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the movement of a medium in a saddle stitch folding mechanism. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a determination process related to saddle stitching. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process for determining the maximum number of cards in the stack section. [Figure 7] 6A and 6B are diagrams showing an example of a method for determining unevenness in the amount of ink ejected onto a sheet of paper. [Figure 8]6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of an area where a sheet passes between a binding unit and a stack unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The present invention will now be briefly described. The recording system of the first aspect comprises a recording unit that records on a medium, a loading unit that loads the medium on which recording has been performed by the recording unit, and a processing unit that performs processing on the stack of media loaded in the loading unit, and is characterized in that the control unit that controls the feeding of media into the loading unit determines the maximum number of media that can be loaded in the loading unit based on information related to swelling of the medium on which recording is performed by the recording unit.

[0009] According to this aspect, the control unit that controls the feeding of media to the stacking unit determines the maximum number of media to be stacked on the stacking unit based on information related to swelling of the media on which the recording unit records, so that the maximum number can be optimized for each process based on information related to the actual swelling of the media. This prevents the maximum number from not matching the actual swelling of the media, resulting in unnecessary suppression of the maximum number, and prevents the risk of media clogging the stacking unit.

[0010] A second aspect is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the information related to swelling includes information regarding the grain direction when the medium is paper, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the grain direction. When the medium is paper, the tendency of curling due to swelling varies depending on the grain direction, but according to this aspect, the swelling-related information includes information about the grain direction when the medium is paper, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information about the grain direction, so that the maximum number of sheets can be appropriately optimized for each process. Note that the grain is the flow of fibers that is formed along the longitudinal or lateral direction of the paper depending on the conditions in the paper manufacturing process, and paper has the property of being difficult to bend in a direction perpendicular to the grain, but is easy to bend in a direction parallel to the grain.

[0011] A third aspect is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, the information related to swelling includes information regarding a thickness of the medium, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the thickness. The tendency for curling due to swelling of the medium varies depending on the thickness of the medium, but in the present embodiment, the information relating to the swelling includes information regarding the thickness of the medium, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the thickness, so that optimization of the maximum number of sheets for each process can be appropriately performed.

[0012] A fourth aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to third aspects, the recording unit performs recording by ejecting liquid onto a medium, the information related to the swelling includes information related to the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information related to the amount of liquid.

[0013] The tendency for curling due to swelling of the medium varies depending on the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium, but in the present embodiment, the information relating to the swelling includes information relating to the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information relating to the amount of liquid, thereby allowing appropriate optimization of the maximum number of sheets for each process.

[0014] A fifth aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the control unit issues a warning to the user when the number of sheets of a stack of media to be processed by the processing unit specified by the user exceeds the maximum number determined based on the information related to swelling, and performs the specified processing based on the user's instructions in response to the warning.

[0015] If the number of sheets of a stack of media to be processed in the processing unit specified by the user exceeds the maximum number determined based on the swelling information, i.e., even if there is a risk of a malfunction, uniformly stopping processing may reduce convenience for the user. According to this aspect, if the number of sheets of a stack of media to be processed by the processing unit specified by the user exceeds the maximum number determined based on the information related to swelling, the control unit issues a warning to the user and performs the specified processing based on the user's instructions in response to the warning, thereby improving usability.

[0016] The sixth aspect is characterized in that, in the fifth aspect, the specified processing based on a user's instruction includes a first processing which performs processing while maintaining the number of sheets of the stack of media to be processed in the processing unit specified by the user and maintaining the recording quality in the recording unit, and a second processing which performs processing while maintaining the number of sheets of the stack of media to be processed in the processing unit specified by the user, while changing at least one of the recording quality in the recording unit and the transport conditions of the media from the recording unit to the stacking unit so that the number of sheets of the stack of media to be processed in the processing unit is equal to or less than the maximum number.

[0017] According to this aspect, by selecting the first process, the user can attempt to process as originally planned while being aware of the possibility of jamming. By selecting the second process, the user can maintain the originally planned number of sheets to be processed and perform processing in the processing section while preventing jamming.

[0018] A seventh aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to sixth aspects, the processing unit is provided with a binding means for binding the medium at a position opposite the loading unit, and a folding means for folding the medium at a binding position by the binding means. According to this aspect, the processing section is configured to include a binding means for binding the medium at a position opposite the loading section, and a folding means for folding the medium at a binding position by the binding means, and the functional effects of any of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects can be obtained.

[0019] An eighth aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to third aspects, the recording unit records by ejecting liquid onto the medium, the processing unit has a binding means for binding the medium at a position opposite the loading unit, and a folding means for folding the medium at a binding position by the binding means, the information related to the swelling includes information related to the amount of liquid ejected onto an area of ​​the medium that passes between the binding means and the loading unit, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information related to the amount of liquid.

[0020] The binding means, by its nature, has many projections and recesses on the surface through which the medium passes, and the medium is likely to get caught, but conversely, in the area of ​​the medium that does not pass between the binding means and the stacking unit, the medium will not get caught on the projections and recesses even if curling occurs. Also, the area between the binding means and the stacking unit is likely to be narrow, and is greatly affected by friction between the medium and other members and between the media themselves, and jams are likely to occur. Therefore, in this aspect, the information related to the swelling includes information on the amount of liquid to be ejected onto the area of ​​the medium that passes between the binding means and the stacking unit, and the control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information on the amount of liquid, so there is no need to unnecessarily suppress the maximum number of sheets, and the maximum number of sheets can be optimized more appropriately.

[0021] A ninth aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to eighth aspects, the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, the loading section and the processing section constitute independent processing units, and the control section is provided in the recording unit and controls the processing unit from the recording unit. According to this aspect, the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, the loading section and the processing section constitute independent processing units, and the control section is provided in the recording unit, and in a configuration in which the processing unit is controlled from the recording unit, the effect of any one of the first to seventh aspects described above can be obtained.

[0022] A tenth aspect is characterized in that, in any of the first to eighth aspects, the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, the loading section and the processing section constitute an independent processing unit, the control section is provided in the processing unit, and information related to the swelling is sent from the recording unit to the processing unit.

[0023] According to this aspect, the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, the loading section and the processing section constitute independent processing units, the control section is provided in the processing unit, and information related to the swelling is sent from the recording unit to the processing unit, and the effect of any of the above-mentioned first to seventh aspects can be obtained.

[0024] The processing device of the eleventh aspect comprises a loading unit for loading media on which recording has been performed by a recording unit that records on the media, and a processing unit for performing processing on the stack of media loaded in the loading unit, and is characterized in that the maximum number of media that can be loaded in the loading unit is determined based on information related to swelling of the media on which recording is performed by the recording unit.

[0025] According to this aspect, the maximum number of sheets of media that can be loaded on the loading section is determined based on information related to swelling of the media on which the recording section records, so that the maximum number can be optimized for each process based on information related to the swelling of the media that actually occurs. This prevents the maximum number from being unnecessarily restricted and the risk of media clogging inside the device.

[0026] The present invention will be specifically described below. The XYZ coordinate system shown in each drawing is an orthogonal coordinate system, in which the X-axis direction indicates the depth direction of the device, the Y-axis direction indicates the width direction of the device, and the Z-axis direction indicates the height direction of the device.

[0027] <<<Outline of the recording system>>> As an example, the recording system 1 shown in Figure 1 includes, from right to left in Figure 1, a recording unit 2, an intermediate unit 3, a first unit 5, and a second unit 6 as a processing device or processing unit that is detachable from the first unit 5.

[0028] The recording unit 2 records on the medium being transported. The intermediate unit 3 receives the recorded medium from the recording unit 2 and passes it to the first unit 5, mainly performing the functions of inverting the medium and promoting drying of the medium. The first unit 5 is provided with a drying section 50 that performs a drying process on the received medium, and an end binding section 42 that performs an end binding process of bundling the recorded media in the recording unit 2 and binding the ends. The second unit 6 is provided with a saddle stitch folding mechanism 70 that binds and folds the center of the bundle of recorded media in the recording unit 2 to make a booklet. In the following, the process of binding the center of the bundle of recorded media and the subsequent process of folding the bundle of media will be referred to as the "saddle stitching process" for simplicity. The recording unit 2, intermediate unit 3, first unit 5, and second unit 6 will be described in detail below.

[0029] <<<About the recording unit>>> The recording unit 2 is configured as a multifunction machine including a printer section 10 having a line head 20 as a recording section that performs recording on a medium, and a scanner section 11. In this embodiment, the line head 20 is configured as a so-called inkjet type recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium. A cassette housing unit 14 equipped with a plurality of medium housing cassettes 12 is provided at the bottom of the printer unit 10. The medium P housed in the medium housing cassette 12 is sent through a feeding path 21 shown by a solid line to a recording area by the line head 20, where a recording operation is performed. After recording by the line head 20, the medium is sent to either a first discharge path 22, which is a path for discharging the medium to a post-recording discharge tray 13 provided above the line head 20, or a second discharge path 23, which is a path for sending the medium to the intermediate unit 3.

[0030] 1, the first discharge path 22 is indicated by a dashed line, and the second discharge path 23 is indicated by a dashed line. The second discharge path 23 extends in the +Y direction of the recording unit 2, and delivers the medium to the receiving path 30 of the adjacent intermediate unit 3.

[0031] 1, the recording unit 2 is configured to enable double-sided recording in which, after recording on a first side of a medium, the medium is reversed and recording is performed on a second side. Each of the feeding path 21, the first discharge path 22, the second discharge path 23, and the reversing path 24 is provided with one or more pairs of rollers (not shown) as an example of a means for transporting the medium.

[0032] The recording unit 2 is provided with a control unit 25 that controls operations related to transporting the medium and recording in the recording unit 2. The recording system 1 is configured such that the recording unit 2, intermediate unit 3, first unit 5, and second unit 6 are mechanically and electrically connected to one another, and can transport the medium from the recording unit 2 to the second unit 6. The control unit 25 in this embodiment can control various operations in the intermediate unit 3, first unit 5, and second unit 6 connected to the recording unit 2.

[0033] The recording unit 2 is provided with an operation section 19, and is configured so that various settings and execution commands relating to various processes in the recording unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, the first unit 5, and the second unit 6 can be input from the operation section 19. The operation section 19 also has a display panel (not shown), and is configured so that various information can be displayed on this display panel. When an external computer (not shown) is connected to the recording system 1, the same various settings and execution commands as those performed by the operation unit 19 can be made in this external computer.

[0034] <<<About the intermediate unit>>> Next, the intermediate unit 3 will be described. The intermediate unit 3 shown in Fig. 1 passes the medium received from the recording unit 2 to the first unit 5. The intermediate unit 3 is disposed between the recording unit 2 and the first unit 5. The medium transported along the second discharge path 23 of the recording unit 2 is received by the intermediate unit 3 through the receiving path 30 and transported towards the first unit 5. The receiving path 30 is indicated by a solid line in Fig. 1.

[0035] There are two transport paths for transporting media in the intermediate unit 3. The first transport path is a path from the receiving path 30 to the junction path 33 via a first switchback path 31 shown by a dotted line in Fig. 1. The second path is a path from the receiving path 30 to the junction path 33 via a second switchback path 32 shown by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 1. The first switchback path 31 is a path that receives the medium in the direction of the arrow A1 and then switches the medium back in the direction of the arrow A2. The second switchback path 32 is a path that receives the medium in the direction of the arrow B1 and then switches the medium back in the direction of the arrow B2.

[0036] The receiving path 30 branches into a first switchback path 31 and a second switchback path 32 at a branching section 35. The branching section 35 is provided with a flap (not shown) that switches the destination of the medium to either the first switchback path 31 or the second switchback path 32.

[0037] In addition, the first switchback path 31 and the second switchback path 32 merge at a junction 36. Therefore, regardless of whether the media is sent from the receiving path 30 to the first switchback path 31 or the second switchback path 32, the media can be delivered to the first unit 5 via the common junction path 33.

[0038] The intermediate unit 3 receives the medium from the recording unit 2 into the receiving path 30 with the surface most recently recorded by the line head 20 facing up, but the medium is curved and inverted at the merging path 33 so that the surface most recently recorded faces down. Therefore, the medium is delivered from the +Y direction of the intermediate unit 3 to the first transport path 43 of the first unit 5 with the nearest recording surface facing downward. Each of the receiving path 30, the first switchback path 31, the second switchback path 32, and the merging path 33 is provided with one or more roller pairs (not shown) as an example of a means for transporting a medium.

[0039] When recording is performed continuously on a plurality of media in the recording unit 2, the media that have entered the intermediate unit 3 are sent alternately to a transport path that passes through the first switchback path 31 and a transport path that passes through the second switchback path 32. This makes it possible to increase the throughput of media transport in the intermediate unit 3.

[0040] Furthermore, in a configuration in which recording is performed by ejecting liquid, specifically ink, onto a medium, like the line head 20 of this embodiment, if the medium is wet when processing is performed in the subsequent first unit 5 or second unit 6, the recording surface may be rubbed or the integrity of the medium may become poor. By transferring the recorded medium from the recording unit 2 to the first unit 5 via the intermediate unit 3, the transport time of the recorded medium until it is sent to the first unit 5 is lengthened, and the medium can be dried further before it reaches the first unit 5 or the second unit 6.

[0041] <<<About the 1st Unit>>> Next, a description will be given of the first unit 5. The first unit 5 shown in Fig. 1 has a receiving section 41 disposed below in the -Y direction that receives the medium from the intermediate unit 3. The medium transported along the junction path 33 of the intermediate unit 3 enters the first unit 5 from the receiving section 41 and is handed over to the first transport path 43.

[0042] The first unit 5 includes a drying section 50 that processes the medium received from the receiving section 41, and an end stitching section 42 that processes the medium received from the receiving section 41 or the medium processed in the drying section 50. The first unit 5 includes a first transport path 43 that sends the medium received from the receiving section 41 to the end stitching section 42, and a second transport path 44 that branches off from the first transport path 43 at a second branching section D2 and sends the medium to the drying section 50. The second branching section D2 is provided with a flap (not shown) that switches the destination of the medium between the first transport path 43 and the second transport path 44.

[0043] The edge binding unit 42 is a component that performs edge binding processing to bind an edge of the medium, such as a corner on one side of the medium or one side of the medium. The edge binding unit 42 is configured to include a stapler, for example. The drying section 50 is a component that performs a drying process on the medium. In this embodiment, the drying section 50 dries the medium by heating the medium. Although the detailed configuration of the drying section 50 will be described later, the medium after the drying process by the drying section 50 is sent to either the end stitching section 42 or a saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70 provided in the second unit 6.

[0044] The first unit 5 also includes a punching processor 46 that performs punching on the medium received from the receiving unit 41. The punching processor 46 is provided at a position close to the receiving unit 41 on the first transport path 43 along which the medium received by the first unit 5 passes, and is configured to be able to perform punching upstream of the first transport path 43. Note that the punching processor 46 may or may not perform punching on the medium received from the receiving unit 41.

[0045] The medium received from the receiving section 41 can be sent to the processing tray 48 or to the second unit 6 described later via the first transport path 43 shown in FIG. 1. In the processing tray 48, the media are stacked on the processing tray 48 with their trailing ends in the transport direction aligned. When a predetermined number of media P are stacked on the processing tray 48, the end stitching process can be performed on the trailing ends of the media P by the end stitching section 42. The first unit 5 is equipped with a second discharge section 62 that discharges the medium in the +Y direction. In addition to the second discharge section 62, the first unit 5 is also equipped with a first discharge section 61 and a third discharge section 63 described later, which are configured to be able to discharge media from these as well.

[0046] The medium processed in the end stitching section 42 is discharged from the second discharge section 62 to the outside of the first unit 5 by a discharge means (not shown), and is placed on the first tray 40 that receives the medium discharged from the second discharge section 62. The first tray 40 is provided to protrude in the +Y direction from the first unit 5. In this embodiment, the first tray 40 includes a base section 40a and an extension section 40b, and the extension section 40b is configured to be retractable into the base section 40a.

[0047] A third transport path 45, which branches off from the first transport path 43 at a third branch point D3 downstream of the second branch point D2, is connected to the first transport path 43. A flap (not shown) that switches the destination of the medium between the first transport path 43 and the third transport path 45 is provided at the third branch point D3.

[0048] An upper tray 49 is provided above the first unit 5. The third transport path 45 continues from the third branching portion D3 to the third discharge portion 63 described above, and the medium transported on the third transport path 45 is discharged from the third discharge portion 63 to the upper tray 49 by a discharge means (not shown). In other words, the medium received from the receiving portion 41 can be discharged to the upper tray 49 without passing through the end stitching portion 42.

[0049] The first conveying path 43 is provided with an overlapping path 64 that branches off from the first conveying path 43 at a first branching portion D1 and rejoins the first conveying path 43 at a first junction G1. The overlapping path 64 constitutes an overlapping processing section 47 that overlaps two sheets of media and sends them to the drying section 50 or the end stitching section 42. The preceding medium that is conveyed first is sent to the overlapping path 64, and the following medium that is conveyed on the first conveying path 43 and the preceding medium are joined at the first junction G1, so that the preceding medium and the following medium can be overlapped and conveyed downstream from the first junction G1. The overlapping processing section 47 may be configured to have a plurality of overlapping paths 64 and to overlap three or more sheets of media and send them downstream.

[0050] In the first unit 5, the overlapping processing section 47 is located vertically below the drying section 50, and has a portion where the drying section 50, the end stitching section 42, and the overlapping processing section 47 overlap when viewed vertically, i.e., when viewed from above. Note that a configuration in which only the drying section 50 and the overlapping processing section 47, or only the end stitching section 42 and the overlapping processing section 47 overlap may also be used. By arranging the drying unit 50, the end stitching unit 42, and the overlapping unit 47 in such a positional relationship, an increase in the horizontal dimension of the apparatus can be suppressed, and the apparatus can be made compact.

[0051] In the first unit 5, the first transport path 43, the second transport path 44, and the third transport path 45 each have one or more pairs of rollers (not shown) arranged thereon as an example of a means for transporting a medium.

[0052] Next, the drying section 50 provided in the first unit 5 will be described. The drying section 50 includes a pair of heat rollers 51 as a drying processing section that performs a drying process on the medium, and a looped transport path 52 that includes the pair of heat rollers 51 and can transport the medium in a circular motion. A second transport path 44 branched off from the first transport path 43 merges with the looped transport path 52 upstream of the pair of heat rollers 51, and the medium can be fed by a transport roller pair 68 provided on the second transport path 44 and introduced into the looped transport path 52.

[0053] In this embodiment, the lower roller of the heat roller pair 51 is a drying drive roller driven by a drive source (not shown), and the upper roller is a drying driven roller that rotates following the rotation of the drying drive roller. The drying drive roller is heated by a heater (not shown), which causes the drying drive roller to generate heat and dry the medium. However, it is sufficient that at least one of the rollers constituting the heat roller pair 51 is heated, and it is also possible that both are heated.

[0054] However, the medium sent from the intermediate unit 3 enters the second transport path 44 from the receiving section 41 of the first unit 5 via the first transport path 43 with the nearest recorded side facing downward. The medium is then nipped by the heat roller pair 51 with the nearest recorded side facing downward. Therefore, it is preferable that the roller to be heated of the heat roller pair 51 is the roller that comes into contact with the nearest recorded side of the medium.

[0055] The drying section includes a loop-shaped transport path 52 and is configured to be able to transport the medium in a circular motion on the loop-shaped transport path 52, so that the medium can be subjected to a drying process by the pair of heat rollers 51 multiple times by transporting the medium in a circular motion multiple times. This makes it possible to more reliably dry the medium. Furthermore, by providing the loop-shaped transport path 52, it is possible to suppress increases in the cost of the device and to suppress power consumption, compared to, for example, a case in which a plurality of heat roller pairs 51 are provided on the transport path.

[0056] In the recording system 1, the heating by the heat roller pair 51 is controlled by a control unit 25 provided in the recording unit 2. The control unit 25 can control the heating of the heat roller pair 51 according to conditions. Examples of the conditions include the type, stiffness, thickness, and basis weight of the medium, as well as the amount of ink ejected onto the medium during recording in the recording unit 2, whether the recording onto the medium is double-sided or single-sided recording, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity during drying. The medium can be more appropriately dried by controlling the heating by the heat roller pair 51 according to these conditions. Examples of control of the heating by the heat roller pair 51 include whether or not to heat, the temperature when heating, whether or not to apply preheat when heating, and the timing when heating by the heat roller pair 51 starts.

[0057] In the heat roller pair 51, one drying driven roller is pressed against the other drying drive roller by a pressing means (not shown) such as a spring, and the pressing force by the pressing means can be configured to be changeable. The nip pressure in the heat roller pair 51 can be adjusted by controlling a pressing force changing means (not shown) that changes the pressing force by the pressing means with the control unit 25. It is preferable that the nip pressure in the heat roller pair 51 is changed according to the conditions. As the conditions, the same conditions as those for controlling the heating by the heat roller pair 51 can be used.

[0058] A fourth transport path 59 is connected to the looped transport path 52. The fourth transport path 59 merges with the first transport path 43 at the second junction G2, and is a path that returns the medium after the drying process by the heat roller pair 51 to the first transport path 43. A fifth transport path 60 is connected to the looped transport path 52. The fifth transport path 60 is a path leading to the first discharge section 61, and is a path for sending the medium after the drying process by the heat roller pair 51 toward the second unit 6. The first unit 5 is equipped with a switching flap (not shown) as a switching member that can switch between a first state in which the medium processed in the drying section 50 is sent to the first discharge section 61, and a second state in which the medium processed in the drying section 50 is sent to the end stitching section 42.

[0059] The drying section 50 may be configured not to have the loop-shaped transport path 52. In the present embodiment, the drying section 50 that dries the medium by heating the medium from the outside has been described, but the drying section 50 may be configured to dry the medium by blowing air against the medium, for example.

[0060] <<<About the 2nd unit>>> Next, the second unit 6 will be described. The second unit 6 is provided below the first tray 40 of the first unit 5 so as to be detachable from the first unit 5. The medium delivered from the first discharge section 61 of the first unit 5 to the second unit 6 is transported along a transport path 69 and sent to a saddle stitching folding mechanism 70. The saddle stitching folding mechanism 70 includes a stack section 71 as a loading section for loading the medium, and can staple the stack of media loaded in the stack section 71 at a saddle stitching position, and then fold the stack at the saddle stitching position to form a booklet.

[0061] The stack of media M after saddle stitching by the saddle stitch folding mechanism 70 is discharged to the second tray 65 shown in Fig. 1. The second tray 65 has a regulating portion 66 at its leading end in the +Y direction, which is the media discharge direction, to prevent the stack of media M discharged to the second tray 65 from sticking out of the second tray 65 in the media discharge direction or from falling from the second tray 65. Reference numeral 67 denotes a guide portion 67 that guides the stack of media M discharged from the second unit 6 to the second tray 65.

[0062] 1 and 2, the configuration of the saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70 will be further described. The second unit 6 is provided with a pair of feed rollers 75 as a feed means for transporting the medium P, a stack section 71 as a loading section for loading the medium P, and a processing section 70a for performing a saddle stitching process on the medium stacked in the stack section 71. The processing section 70a includes a binding mechanism 72 for binding a medium bundle M consisting of a plurality of sheets of the medium P stacked in the stack section 71 at a binding position, and a folding roller pair 73 as a folding means for folding the medium bundle M at the binding position.

[0063] 2, the stack unit 71 is provided with an alignment unit 76 that aligns downstream ends E1 of the stacked media P, and a paddle 81. The feed roller pair 75 includes a drive roller 75a driven by a drive source (not shown) and a driven roller 75b that rotates following the rotation of the drive roller 75a. The drive roller 75a rotates under the control of the control unit 25.

[0064] 2, stack unit 71 has a support surface 85 that supports medium P transported by feed roller pair 75 in an inclined position with the downstream side in the transport direction +R facing downward, and receives and stacks medium P between support surface 85 and opposing surface 86. Paddle 81 is provided between feed roller pair 75 and alignment unit 76 in the transport direction +R, and moves medium P toward alignment unit 76 by rotating about rotation shaft 82 while in contact with medium P.

[0065] 2, the symbol G indicates a joining position G where the conveying path 69 and the stack unit 71 join together. In this embodiment, the binding position is a center C in the conveying direction +R of the medium P stacked in the stack unit 71. The medium P is sent from the conveying path 69 to the stack unit 71 by a feed roller pair 75. The stack section 71 is provided with an alignment section 76 that can abut against the downstream end E1 of the medium P stacked in the stack section 71 in the transport direction +R, and an abutment section 77 that can abut against the upstream end E2 of the medium P stacked in the stack section 71 in the transport direction +R.

[0066] The alignment portion 76 and the abutment portion 77 are configured to be movable in both the transport direction +R and the reverse direction -R of the medium P in the stack portion 71. The alignment portion 76 and the abutment portion 77 can be moved in the transport direction +R and the reverse direction -R using, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism or a belt moving mechanism operated by the power of a drive source (not shown). The movement of the alignment portion 76 and the abutment portion 77 will be described in detail when explaining the stack operation in the stack portion 71.

[0067] Downstream of the merging position G, there is provided a binding mechanism 72 that binds the medium bundle M stacked in the stack section 71 at a predetermined position in the transport direction +R. The binding mechanism 72 is, for example, a stapler, and binds the medium bundle M at a binding section 72a, which is an example of a binding means. A plurality of binding sections 72a are provided at intervals in the X-axis direction, which is the width direction of the medium. As described above, the binding means 72 is configured to bind the medium bundle M with the center C of the medium bundle M in the transport direction as the binding position.

[0068] A folding roller pair 73 is provided downstream of the binding mechanism 72. The opposing surface 86 is open at a position corresponding to the nip position N of the folding roller pair 73, and an entrance path 78 for the medium stack M from the stack unit 71 to the folding roller pair 73 is formed. At the entrance of the entrance path 78 on the opposing surface 86, a slope is formed to guide the center portion C, which is the binding position, from the stack unit 71 to the nip position N.

[0069] On the opposite side of the folding roller pair 73 across the stack unit 71, there is provided a blade 74 that can be switched between a retracted state in which it is retracted from the stack unit 71 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and an advanced state in which it is advanced to the binding position of the media bundle M stacked in the stack unit 71 as shown in the left diagram of Figure 4. Reference numeral 79 denotes a hole 79 provided in the support surface 85, and the blade 74 can pass through the hole 79.

[0070] <<<About media transport during saddle stitching>>> Next, a basic flow of operations from transporting medium P in second unit 6 to saddle-stitching processing and ejection will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, the medium P sent to the stack section 71 moves toward the alignment section 76 due to its own weight, and each time a medium P is transported, the paddle 81 rotates and the medium P is abutted against the alignment section 76. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a plurality of media P are stacked as a media bundle M in the stack unit 71.

[0071] 2, when a medium is received in the stack unit 71, the alignment unit 76 is disposed so that the distance from the joining position G of the transport path 69 and stack unit 71 to the alignment unit 76 is longer than the length of the medium P. This allows the upstream end E2 of the medium P transported from the transport path 69 to be received in the stack unit 71 without remaining in the transport path 69. The position of the alignment unit 76 in the transport direction +R of the stack unit 71 can be changed depending on the size of the medium P.

[0072] When a predetermined number of media P are stacked in the stack unit 71, a binding process is performed in which the central portion C of the media bundle M in the transport direction +R is bound by the binding portion 72a. When the transport of the media P from the transport path 69 to the stack unit 71 is completed, as shown in FIG. 2, the central portion C is shifted from the position of the binding portion 72a, so the alignment portion 76 is moved in the -R direction to position the central portion C of the media bundle M opposite the binding portion 72a, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 3. Furthermore, the abutment portion 77 is moved in the +R direction to abut against the upstream end E2 of the media bundle M. The downstream end E1 and upstream end E2 of the media bundle M are aligned by the alignment portion 76 and the abutment portion 77, and the central portion C of the media bundle M is bound by the binding portion 72a.

[0073] After the medium bundle M has been stapled by the stapler 72a, as shown in the right diagram of Fig. 3, the alignment unit 76 is moved in the +R direction, and the medium bundle M is moved so that the stapled center portion C is positioned opposite the nip position N of the folding roller pair 73. By moving only the alignment unit 76 in the +R direction while keeping the medium bundle M in contact with the alignment unit 76 due to its own weight, the medium bundle M can be moved in the +R direction. The contact unit 77 may also be moved in the +R direction so as to maintain a state of contact with the upstream end E2 of the medium bundle M.

[0074] Next, when the central portion C of the medium bundle M is positioned opposite the nip position N of the folding roller pair 73, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4 , the blade 74 advances in the +S direction to bend the central portion C toward the folding roller pair 73. The bent central portion C of the medium bundle M passes through the entrance path 78, and the medium bundle M is moved toward the nip position N of the folding roller pair 73.

[0075] When the central portion C of the media stack M is nipped by the folding roller pair 73, the folding roller pair 73 is rotated, and as shown in the right diagram of Figure 4, the media stack M is folded at the central portion C by the nip pressure of the folding roller pair 73 while being discharged toward the second tray 65 (see Figure 1). After the central portion C is nipped by the pair of folding rollers 73, the alignment portion 76 moves in the +R direction and returns to the state shown in FIG.

[0076] Incidentally, a crease forming means for forming a crease in the center C of the medium P can be provided in the conveying path 69. By forming a crease in the center C, which is the folding position by the folding roller pair 73, it is possible to make it easier to fold the medium stack M at the center C.

[0077] <<<Limits on the number of media that can be processed on the second unit>>> Next, the limitation on the number of media that can be processed by the saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70 will be described. When recording is performed by discharging ink, which is an example of a liquid, onto a medium, the medium swells and curls as it absorbs the ink. Furthermore, the frictional force between the media and between the media and other members increases due to the increase in the moisture content of the media caused by discharging ink onto the media. Therefore, if the maximum number of media to be stacked in the stack unit 71 of the saddle-stitching and folding mechanism 70 is determined uniformly, taking into consideration a certain degree of the curl and the increase in the moisture content of the media caused by discharging ink, the number of media that can be processed will be unnecessarily restricted if the actual curl and the increase in the moisture content are smaller than initially expected, and conversely, if the actual curl and the increase in the moisture content are larger than initially expected, paper jams may occur in the saddle-stitching and folding mechanism 70.

[0078] Therefore, the control unit 25 (see FIG. 1) determines the maximum number of media that can be stacked in the stack unit 71, in other words, the upper limit of the number of media that can be sent to the stack unit 71, based on information related to the swelling of the media on which recording is performed by the line head 20. Note that hereinafter, this will be referred to as the "maximum number in the stack unit 71" or simply the "maximum number." This makes it possible to prevent the maximum number of sheets in the stack section 71 from being unnecessarily restricted, and also to prevent the saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70 from becoming jammed with media.

[0079] This will be explained in more detail below. Fig. 5 shows the flow of the determination process related to the saddle stitching process, which is executed by the control unit 25. The process shown in Fig. 5 is realized by the control unit 25 executing a program stored in a storage unit (not shown) included in the control unit 25. When the control unit 25 receives a command from the operation unit 19 (see FIG. 1) to start execution of a series of recording jobs, if the recording job includes saddle stitching in the second unit 6 (Yes in step S101), the control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 (step S102). The details of step S102 will be described later. If the recording job does not include saddle stitching (No in step S101), the execution of the recording job starts based on the specified settings (step S106).

[0080] Next, it is determined whether the number of sheets to be saddle-stitched specified by the user exceeds the maximum number determined in step S102 (step S103), and if it does (Yes in step S103), a warning message is displayed on a display panel (not shown) provided on the operation unit 19 (see FIG. 1) (step S104).

[0081] This warning display can be, for example, a warning message display saying "The number of sheets to be saddle-stitched has exceeded the upper limit. Please select a process." The control unit 25 performs the specified process based on the user's instruction in response to this warning. This improves usability compared to the case where the process is stopped uniformly even when the number of sheets specified by the user exceeds the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71, that is, when there is a risk of a malfunction.

[0082] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned "specified process" includes the first process, the second process, and canceling the recording job. The user inputs an instruction for any one of the first process, the second process, and canceling the recording job via the operation unit 19. The first process maintains the number of sheets specified by the user for saddle stitching and continues subsequent processes while maintaining the recording quality of the line head 20 (Yes in step S105). By selecting this process, the user can attempt to process as originally planned while being aware of the possibility of a jam occurring. The second process is to change at least one of the recording quality by the line head 20 and the transport conditions of the medium from the line head 20 to the stack unit 71 while maintaining the user-specified number of sheets in the saddle stitching process so that the user-specified number of sheets is equal to or less than the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71, and hereinafter this process is referred to as the jam avoidance mode (step S106).By selecting this second process, i.e., the jam avoidance mode, the user can perform processing in the saddle stitching folding mechanism 70 while maintaining the user-specified number of sheets as originally planned and preventing jams.

[0083] As described above, the jam avoidance mode changes the recording quality during recording by the line head 20, and at least one of the paper transport conditions from the line head 20 to the stack unit 71, the transport speed on the looped transport path 52 in the drying unit 50, the number of revolutions of the medium on the looped transport path 52, and the heating temperature by the heater in the drying unit 50. An example of a change in the recording quality during recording by the line head 20 is to lower the recording density. Changes in the paper transport conditions are mainly for the purpose of accelerating the drying of the paper, and examples of such changes include lowering the paper transport speed and stopping the paper midway along the paper transport path. The change in the conveying speed on the looped conveying path 52 may be, for example, a decrease in the conveying speed, etc. The change in the number of revolutions of the medium on the looped conveying path 52 may be, for example, an increase in the number of revolutions, etc. The change in the heating temperature by the heater in the drying unit 50 may be, for example, an increase in the heating temperature, etc. The above-mentioned first and second processes are merely examples, and other processes may be used, or a third process or more processes may be added and selected from among them. One example of such other processing may be to prompt the user to change the paper type or to reduce the number of sheets designated by the user for saddle stitching processing.

[0084] When the first process is selected (Yes in step S105) and when the second process is selected (Yes in step S106), the control unit 25 starts executing the recording job according to the selected process (step S107). When neither the first process nor the second process is selected, that is, when canceling the recording job is selected (No in step S105, No in step S106), the control unit 25 stops executing the recording job.

[0085] Next, the details of the process of determining the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the flow of the process of determining the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71, which is executed by the control unit 25. The process shown in Fig. 6 is realized by the control unit 25 executing a program stored in a storage means (not shown) included in the control unit 25. The control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 based on information related to swelling of the medium on which recording is performed. Swelling of the medium refers to swelling that occurs when the paper absorbs the ink, for example, when the medium is paper and the liquid is ink, and the swelling also causes curling. In the following, an explanation will be given using paper as an example of the medium. The information relating to the swelling of the paper is information relating to at least one of all factors that affect the swelling of the paper.

[0086] Information on factors that affect the swelling of paper can include, for example, paper information and recorded contents. The paper information includes factors such as paper size, length and width of the paper, paper thickness, grain direction, and the presence or absence of a coating layer. The paper information can be obtained from the printer driver. The grain direction may be input by the user through the operation unit 19, or may be stored in advance in association with other paper information, such as the paper size and length and width of the paper, depending on the destination of the device. This is because the grain direction of the paper has a certain tendency depending on the destination of the device, specifically the country where the device is used. Also, a GPS (global positioning system) may be provided in the recording system 1, and the grain direction of the paper may be determined based on that information.

[0087] The recording contents include factors such as the position of the recording area on the paper, the size of the recording area, the shape of the recording area, the amount of ink ejected in the recording area, whether or not double-sided recording is performed, and the differences in recording contents between the front and back sides in the case of double-sided recording.

[0088] Regarding paper information, for example, the thicker the paper, the less likely it is to swell and curl. Also, paper with a coating layer may be called "glossy paper" or "inkjet paper" on the printer driver, and such paper is less likely to swell and curl than paper without a coating layer, which is called "plain paper" on the printer driver.

[0089] With regard to the recorded contents, for example, the larger the proportion of the recording area in the area of ​​the paper, the easier it is to swell and curl. Also, the greater the amount of ink ejected in the recording area, the easier it is to swell and curl. Also, the greater the unevenness in the amount of ink ejected in an area of ​​the paper, the more uneven the swelling and the easier it is to curl. Here, the unevenness in the amount of ink ejected in an area of ​​the paper can be found by dividing the paper into several areas, for example, setting areas a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, and a6 like paper P shown in Figure 7, and finding the difference in the amount of ink ejected between the area with the highest amount of ink ejected and the area with the lowest amount of ink ejected. In addition, when single-sided recording is performed on paper, the difference in moisture content between the front and back sides is greater than when double-sided recording is performed, making the paper more likely to curl. In double-sided recording, the more significant the difference in recorded content between the front and back sides, the more uneven the swelling will be, making the paper more likely to curl. The difference in recorded content between the front and back sides can be determined, for example, by the difference in the amount of ink ejected on the front side and the amount of ink ejected on the back side.

[0090] Furthermore, when determining the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71, the control unit 25 may take into consideration information about factors that affect the dryness state of the sheets on which recording is performed. Information on factors that affect the dryness state of paper can include, for example, environmental information. Environmental information includes factors such as temperature and humidity. In the recording system 1, the recording unit 2 is provided with an environmental information acquisition section 18 (see FIG. 1), and the control section 25 (see FIG. 1) can acquire the temperature and humidity inside the recording unit 2 from the environmental information acquisition section 18. With regard to environmental information, for example, the lower the temperature or the higher the humidity, the harder it is to dry, so the friction between sheets of paper tends to increase and the stiffness of the paper tends to weaken, which means that paper jams are more likely to occur.

[0091] The storage means of the control unit 25 holds maximum number setting information determined based on the above-mentioned characteristics, and the control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 by referring to this maximum number setting information. Incidentally, the information related to paper swelling, namely, paper information, recording contents, and environmental information, may all be taken into consideration, or only one or two of them may be taken into consideration. The settings can be made by the user, and the user can select the information to be taken into consideration using the operation unit 19 (see FIG. 1), and the selection can be saved as a setting value.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 6, based on the set information, if the control unit 25 needs to obtain paper information (Yes in step S201), it obtains the paper information (step S202); if the control unit 25 needs to obtain recorded contents (Yes in step S203), it obtains the recorded contents (step S204); and if the control unit 25 needs to obtain environmental information (Yes in step S205), it obtains the environmental information (step S206). Then, the setting information is read (step S207) and the maximum number is determined (step S208).

[0093] An example of the setting information is shown in Table 1. In this example, as information relating to paper swelling, the recording density Pd (%) of the recording contents is used, and the humidity Hm (%) of the environmental information is used. Here, the recording density Pd (%) is a value that increases or decreases according to the amount of ink ejected, and is the ratio of the total amount of ink ejected (g) to the maximum amount of ink that can be applied to the recordable area of ​​one sheet of paper (g). In other words, recording density Pd (%) = [total amount of ink ejected (g) / maximum amount of ink that can be applied (g)] x 100. The maximum amount of ink that can be applied to the recordable area of ​​one sheet of paper (g) can be calculated from the maximum amount of ink that can be applied per unit area (g) by the line head 20 provided in the recording unit 2. Furthermore, without being limited to this, the print density (%) can also be the ratio of the area onto which ink is ejected to the area of ​​one sheet of paper.

[0094] [Table 1]

[0095] The values ​​in Table 1 are examples of the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71. For example, when the humidity Hm=0% and the recording density Pd=20%, the maximum number of sheets is 20. Also, when the humidity Hm=100% and the recording density Pd=20%, the maximum number of sheets is 18. The higher the humidity Hm (%), the lower the maximum number of sheets. Also, the higher the recording density Pd (%), the lower the maximum number of sheets. Such setting information is set and saved for each paper type.

[0096] Instead of such setting information, the maximum number of sheets may be calculated by a formula. For example, a coefficient k may be set for each factor related to paper swelling for a specified value M of the maximum number of sheets, and the specified value M may be multiplied by the coefficient k in sequence, and the final value may be set as the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71. The specified value M may be calculated by dividing the maximum stacking height in the stack unit 71 by the paper thickness. An example of the coefficient ka set according to the humidity Hm (%) is shown in Table 2. In this way, a coefficient is set for each condition regarding factors related to paper swelling, and the maximum number of sheets in the stack section 71 can be obtained by multiplying the coefficient by the specified value M of the maximum number of sheets.

[0097] [Table 2]

[0098] Furthermore, the paper size, paper thickness, grain direction, and the presence or absence of a coating layer can be used to determine the direction and amount of paper deformation due to swelling and, in turn, curling. For example, curling due to swelling of paper is likely to occur in a direction intersecting the grain direction, and the larger the paper size in the direction intersecting the grain direction, the greater the amount of deformation due to curling. The maximum stacking height in stack section 71 is reduced by the amount of deformation of the paper due to curling, and the maximum number of sheets in stack section 71 is reduced accordingly. Furthermore, because the paper is supported in an inclined position in the stack unit 71 so that it is inclined downward toward the transport direction +R, the paper is more likely to bend in the transport direction +R on the stack unit 71 due to the action of its own weight. Therefore, when the grain direction of the paper is along the X-axis direction, i.e., the medium width direction, the rigidity in the transport direction +R is lower than when the grain direction is along the transport direction +R, and the paper is more likely to bend relatively. In this way, information about the grain direction can also be used to determine the direction and amount of paper deformation.

[0099] As described above, in the above embodiment, the control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 based on the acquired information regarding the grain direction, so that the maximum number of sheets can be appropriately optimized for each process.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 based on the acquired information on the sheet thickness, so that the maximum number of sheets can be appropriately optimized for each process.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the control unit 25 determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information on the amount of ink to be ejected onto the paper, so that the maximum number of sheets can be appropriately optimized for each process.

[0102] Furthermore, the recorded content, which is an example of information related to the swelling of the paper, can also include information regarding the amount of ink ejected into the area of ​​the paper passing between the binding mechanism 72 and the stack section 71, and the control section 25 can determine the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the amount of ink. In other words, by its very nature, the binding mechanism 72 has many projections and recesses on the surface through which the paper passes, making it easy for the paper to get caught; however, conversely, in areas where the paper does not pass between the binding mechanism 72 and the stack section 71, even if curling occurs due to swelling, the paper will not get caught on the projections and recesses of the binding mechanism 72. Specifically, in Fig. 2, the area extending in the +R direction from position k is an area where the paper is likely to get caught in the binding mechanism 72 due to curling caused by swelling. Fig. 8 shows an example of paper P, where area a0 is an area extending in the +R direction from position k in Fig. 2, and area b0 is the other area. Therefore, the control unit 25 can determine the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 by considering the recording content in area a0, without considering the recording content in area b0. This eliminates the need to unnecessarily suppress the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71, and allows the maximum number of sheets in the stack unit 71 to be optimized more appropriately.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the recording unit 2 having the line head 20 is an independent unit, the second unit 6 having the stack section 71 and the binding mechanism 72 is an independent unit, and the control section 25 is provided in the recording unit 2 and is configured to control the second unit 6 from the recording unit 2.

[0104] Instead of such a configuration, a control unit (not shown) may be provided for the second unit 6 to control the saddle-stitch folding mechanism 70, and information related to swelling may be sent from the control unit 25 of the recording unit 2 to this control unit, and the control unit provided in the second unit 6 may control the saddle-stitch folding mechanism 70 based on that information. Further, the control unit for controlling the saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70 may be provided in a device other than the recording unit 2 or the second unit 6. In addition, a control unit (not shown) may be provided not only for the second unit 6 but also for the intermediate unit 3 and the first unit 5, and these control units may control the operation of the intermediate unit 3 and the first unit 5, respectively, based on information from the control unit 25 of the recording unit 2.

[0105] In the recording system 1, the intermediate unit 3 and the first unit 5 may be omitted. In that case, the recording unit 2 and the second unit 6 may be independent units, or the recording unit 2 and the second unit 6 may be integrated. That is, more specifically, the recording system may be configured to include the line head 20 and the saddle stitching and folding mechanism 70. As described above, in this specification, the recording system 1 may refer to either a collection of independent units or a system made up of a single unit.

[0106] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and it goes without saying that these are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1...recording system, 2...recording unit, 3...intermediate unit, 5...first unit, 6...second unit, 10...printer section, 11...scanner section, 12...media storage cassette, 13...post-recording discharge tray, 14...cassette storage section, 18...environmental information acquisition section, 19...operation section, 20...line head, 21...feed path, 22...first discharge path, 23...second discharge path, 24...reversal path, 25...control section, 30...receiving path, 31...first switchback path, 32...second switchback path, 33...merging path, 35...branching section, 36...merging section, 40...first tray, 40a...base section, 40b...extension section, 41...receiving section, 42...end stitching section, 43...first transport path, 44...second transport path, 45...third transport path, 46...punching section, 47...overlapping section, 48...processing tray tray, 49...upper tray, 50...drying section, 51...pair of heat rollers, 52...loop-shaped transport path, 59...fourth transport path, 60...fifth transport path, 61...first discharge section, 62...second discharge section, 63...third discharge section, 64...stacking path, 65...second tray, 66...regulating section, 67...guide section, 68...pair of transport rollers, 69...transport path, 70...saddle stitching and folding mechanism, 70a...processing section, 71...start hook portion, 72...stitching mechanism, 72a...stitching portion, 73...folding roller pair, 74...blade, 75...feed roller pair, 76...alignment portion, 77...contact portion, 78...entrance path, 79...hole portion, 81...paddle, 82...rotating shaft, 85...support surface, 86...opposing surface, P...medium, M...medium stack, C...center portion, D1...first branch portion, D2...second branch portion, D3...third branch portion, G1...first junction portion, G2...second junction portion

Claims

1. a recording unit for recording on a medium; a loading section for loading a medium on which recording has been performed by the recording section; a processing unit that processes the stack of media loaded on the loading unit, a control unit that controls feeding of media to the stacking unit, the control unit determining a maximum number of media that may be stacked on the stacking unit based on information related to swelling of the media on which recording is performed by the recording unit; the information relating to swelling of the medium includes information relating to a thickness of the medium; When the thickness is large, the maximum number is larger than when the thickness is small. A recording system comprising:

2. 2. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the swelling-related information includes information about a grain direction of paper when the medium is paper, The control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information about the grain direction of the paper. A recording system comprising:

3. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs recording by ejecting a liquid onto a medium, the swelling-related information includes information regarding an amount of liquid ejected onto a medium; The control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the amount of liquid. A recording system comprising:

4. 4. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit issues a warning to a user when a number of sheets of a stack of media to be processed by the processing unit specified by a user exceeds the maximum number determined based on the information related to swelling, Carry out a specified process based on a user's instruction in response to the warning. A recording system comprising:

5. 5. The recording system according to claim 4, wherein the designated process based on an instruction from a user includes a first process for performing a process while maintaining the number of sheets of the medium to be processed by the processing unit designated by the user and while maintaining the recording quality in the recording unit; and a second process for changing at least one of the recording quality in the recording unit and the transport conditions of the media from the recording unit to the stacking unit while maintaining the number of sheets of the stack of media to be processed in the processing unit designated by a user, so that the number of sheets of the stack of media to be processed in the processing unit is equal to or less than the maximum number. A recording system comprising:

6. 6. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the processing section includes a binding section that binds the medium and a folding section that folds the medium at a binding position by the binding section, the binding section being disposed opposite the stacking section. A recording system comprising:

7. 3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs recording by ejecting a liquid onto a medium, the processing section includes, at a position facing the stacking section, a binding means for binding the medium, and a folding means for folding the medium at a binding position by the binding means; the information on swelling includes information on an amount of liquid discharged to a region of the medium passing between the binding means and the loading section, The control unit determines the maximum number of sheets based on the acquired information regarding the amount of liquid. A recording system comprising:

8. 8. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, The loading section and the processing section constitute an independent processing unit, the control unit is provided in the recording unit and controls the processing unit from the recording unit; A recording system comprising:

9. 8. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the recording section constitutes an independent recording unit, The loading section and the processing section constitute an independent processing unit, the control unit is provided in the processing unit, and the information relating to the swelling is sent from the recording unit to the processing unit; A recording system comprising:

10. A loading section for loading a medium on which information has been recorded by a recording section that performs recording on the medium; a processing unit that processes the stack of media loaded on the loading unit, a maximum number of sheets of media that may be loaded on the loading section is determined based on information relating to the thickness of the media; When the thickness is large, the maximum number is larger than when the thickness is small. A processing device comprising:

Images