Image forming system

Abstract

To provide an image forming system that bonds a recording material with an adhesive film, and prevents transfer of toner outside a film area where the adhesive film overlaps the recording material.SOLUTION: When settings are made to create a crimped printed material (Yes in S2), a main control unit determines whether there is a toner image to be formed on the outside of a film area where an adhesive film overlaps a recording material (S3). When there is the toner image to be formed on the outside of the film area (Yes in S3), the main control unit stands by for execution of an image forming mode and a crimp processing mode and displays a "warning screen" on an operation unit (S8). The main control unit executes processing according to instructions from a user using the "warning screen." A crimped printed material is thus not output without permission of the user when there is the toner image to be formed on the outside of the film area. Consequently, an image forming system configured to bond the recording material with the adhesive film to output the crimped printed material can easily prevent transfer of toner outside the film area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system capable of creating a pressure-bonded printed matter by forming an image on a recording material, folding the recording material on which the image is formed, and applying heat and pressure to the folded recording material to pressure-bond the recording material.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an image forming system for creating a pressure-bonded printed matter has been proposed (Patent Document 1). Examples of pressure-bonded printed matters include pressure-bonded postcards in which toner images formed on the surfaces cannot be read until the surfaces that are pseudo-adhered by overlapping the surfaces of a folded recording material are peeled off, by pseudo-adhering the surfaces. Here, the pseudo-adhesion referred to herein is a form of adhesion that can be peeled off after adhesion and is difficult to re-adhere after peeling. As a method of performing such pseudo-adhesion, there is a film method in which a heat-sensitive adhesive film is supplied between the surfaces (referred to as pressure-bonding surfaces) where the recording material is folded and overlapped, and heat and pressure are applied to the recording material to bond it with the adhesive film.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the case of the above film method, since heat and pressure are applied to press the recording material, when an image is formed outside the film area, when the recording material is peeled off, a part of the toner image formed outside the film area on the pressure-bonding surface may be peeled off. That is, outside the area where the adhesive film overlaps on the pressure-bonding surface, the toner formed on one pressure-bonding surface contacts the toner or the blank area formed on the other pressure-bonding surface without passing through the adhesive film. Therefore, conventionally, when the recording material is peeled off, toner may be peeled off from one pressure-bonding surface and transferred to the other pressure-bonding surface, which may cause a part of the toner image to fade or the blank area to be soiled with toner.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system configured to bond a bent recording material with an adhesive film so that toner transfer does not occur outside the film area where the adhesive films overlap.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus capable of executing an image forming mode for forming a toner image on a recording material, The foregoing one surface of the recording material becomes the inner surface facing each other so as to at the folding position bend the recording material, the foregoing and a thermocompression bonding apparatus capable of executing a thermocompression bonding mode for supplying a heat-sensitive adhesive film to the inner surface the bent recording material , heat and applying heat and pressure to the folded recording material perform thermocompression bonding, and a display unit capable of displaying information, and at the time of executing the image forming mode, for forming a toner image on the recording material control means capable of acquiring image data and controlling the image forming apparatus to control described above, , and and the control means is is the area where the adhesive film is supplied on the inner surface characterized in that when there is a toner image outside the film area more outside in the area of the toner image is formed formed outside the film area , the front where the adhesive film area more is formed outside performed and there is a toner image causing the display unit to display a message indicating this on the outside.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, in a configuration where a bent recording material is adhered by an adhesive film, it is easily achievable to prevent toner transfer from occurring outside the film region where the adhesive films overlap.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] [First Embodiment] <Image Forming System> Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. First, the image forming system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The image forming system 1X of this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 capable of executing an image forming mode for forming a toner image on a recording material S, and a pressure bonding apparatus 200 capable of executing a pressure bonding mode for performing pressure bonding on the recording material S on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 100. The pressure bonding apparatus 200 is a post-process unit that can be retrofitted to the image forming apparatus 100 for function expansion, and the image forming apparatus 100 and the pressure bonding apparatus 200 are connected so as to be able to transfer the recording material S. This image forming system 1X conveys the recording material S on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 100 to the pressure bonding apparatus 200, and the pressure bonding apparatus 200 bends and pressure-bonds the recording material S, thereby creating a pressure-bonded printed matter such as a pressure-bonded postcard.

[0011] In FIG. 1, as an example of the pressure bonding apparatus 200, one including a folding apparatus 400, a film supply apparatus 800, and a pressure bonding apparatus 600 is shown. The image forming apparatus 100, the folding apparatus 400, the film supply apparatus 800, and the pressure bonding apparatus 600 are connected by a data input / output interface (not shown) capable of serial communication and parallel communication so that control signals, data, etc. can be transmitted and received between them.

[0012] <Image forming apparatus> The above-mentioned image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic tandem full-color printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 has image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images, respectively. The image forming apparatus 100 forms a toner image on the recording material S according to image data sent from, for example, a document reading apparatus (not shown) connected to the apparatus main body or external devices (not shown) such as a personal computer or an external controller that can be connected to the apparatus main body for data input / output. As the recording material S, for example, a sheet material such as uncoated paper, coated paper, or synthetic paper that can be bent is used.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are arranged side by side in the apparatus main body along the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 130. The intermediate transfer belt 130 is stretched over a plurality of rollers (13, 14, 15) and rotated. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 130 carries and conveys the toner image to be primarily transferred as described later. At a position facing the secondary transfer inner roller 14 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 130 with the intermediate transfer belt 130 interposed therebetween, a secondary transfer outer roller 11 is arranged, forming a secondary transfer unit T2 that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 130 to the recording material S. Downstream of the secondary transfer unit T2 in the recording material conveyance direction, a fixing device 8 is arranged.

[0014] Below the image forming apparatus 100, a cassette 10 containing the recording material S is arranged. The recording material S is conveyed from the cassette 10 toward the registration roller 12 by the conveyance roller 16. Thereafter, when the registration roller 12 starts rotating in synchronization with the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130, the recording material S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. A plurality of cassettes 10 are arranged to be able to accommodate recording materials S of different sizes and thicknesses, and the recording material S selected by the user from any of the plurality of cassettes 10 is conveyed. Note that, not limited to the recording material S accommodated in the cassette 10, the recording material S placed on the manual feed tray 160 may be conveyed. Also, as an option, a configuration may be adopted in which the recording material S accommodated in a paper feeding device (not shown) connected as a housing different from the image forming apparatus 100 is conveyed to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0015] The four image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd provided in the image forming apparatus 100 have substantially the same configuration except that the developing colors are different. Therefore, here, the yellow image forming unit Pa will be described as a representative, and illustration and description of the other image forming units Pb, Pc, and Pd will be omitted.

[0016] In the image forming unit Pa, a cylindrical photosensitive drum 3a is disposed as a photoreceptor. The photosensitive drum 3a is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction. Around the photosensitive drum 3a, a charging device 2a, an exposure device La, a developing device 1a, a primary transfer roller 24a, and a drum cleaning device 4a are arranged.

[0017] A process of forming, for example, a full-color image by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. First, when the image forming operation is started, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3a is uniformly charged by the charging device 2a. The charging device 2a is, for example, a corona charger that irradiates charged particles associated with corona discharge to charge the photosensitive drum 3a to a uniform negative dark potential. Next, the photosensitive drum 3a is scanned and exposed by laser light corresponding to the image signal emitted from the exposure device La. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3a. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a is developed into a toner image, which is a visible image, by a developer containing toner and carrier accommodated in the developing device 1a. In the case of this embodiment, the developing device 1a uses a two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner and magnetic carrier as the developer.

[0018] The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130 in a primary transfer unit configured between the primary transfer roller 24a disposed with the intermediate transfer belt 130 interposed therebetween. At this time, a primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 24a. The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3a after the primary transfer is removed by the drum cleaning device 4a.

[0019] Such operations are sequentially performed by the respective image forming units Pa to Pd for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and the four-color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 130. Thereafter, the recording material S accommodated in the cassette 10 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2 in accordance with the formation timing of the toner image. Then, by applying a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer outer roller 11, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130 is collectively secondarily transferred to the recording material S. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 130 after the secondary transfer is removed by the belt cleaning device 22.

[0020] The recording material S on which the toner image is formed is conveyed to the fixing device 8. The fixing device 8 heats and presses the recording material S by sandwiching and conveying the recording material S on which the toner image is formed in the fixing nip portion formed by the roller pair, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording material S.

[0021] The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is capable of double-sided printing. In the case of single-sided printing, the recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the crimping device 200. In the case of double-sided printing, the recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed to the double-sided conveyance path 190. In the double-sided conveyance path 190, the front and back surfaces of the recording material S are interchanged by inverting the recording material S. The inverted recording material S is conveyed toward the registration roller 12 in the double-sided conveyance path 190. Then, the recording material S is conveyed toward the secondary transfer unit T2 in a state where the non-printed back surface side is directed toward the intermediate transfer belt 130 by the registration roller 12. In the secondary transfer unit T2, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130 is collectively secondarily transferred to the recording material S (back surface side). Thereafter, the recording material S is subjected to fixing of the toner image by the fixing device 8, and the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is conveyed to the crimping device 200.

[0022] The image forming apparatus 100 also includes a main control unit 101. In the case of this embodiment, the main control unit 101 can control the image forming apparatus 100 and the pressure bonding apparatus 200 as control means. The main control unit 101 permits the execution of an image forming mode in which a toner image is formed on the recording material S by the image forming apparatus 100, and may also permit the execution of a pressure bonding processing mode in which the recording material S is bent and pressure bonded by the pressure bonding apparatus 200. The control configuration of the image forming system 1X will be described later (see FIG. 2).

[0023] Next, the pressure bonding apparatus 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure bonding apparatus 200 of this embodiment includes a folding apparatus 400 as folding means, a film supply apparatus 800 as supply means, and a pressure bonding apparatus 600 as pressure bonding means.

[0024] <Folding Apparatus> The folding apparatus 400 is an apparatus that performs a folding process of bending the recording material S that has undergone image formation by the image forming apparatus 100. In this embodiment, as an example, a roller pressure contact type folding apparatus 400 capable of three-fold and two-fold folding is shown. The folding apparatus 400 includes a folding control unit 430 and a folding unit 440 that bends the recording material S. The folding control unit 430 mainly controls the folding unit 440.

[0025] Regarding the operation of the folding unit 440, a three-fold (for example, an outside three-fold) process of folding the recording material S in a Z shape will be described as an example. The recording material S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 is drawn into the folding apparatus by the inlet roller pair 401 and is distributed to different conveyance paths by the branch flapper 402 according to the necessity of folding. That is, when folding is to be performed, it is distributed to the folding process path leading to the conveyance roller pair 403, and when folding is not to be performed, it is distributed to the folding avoidance path leading to the discharge roller pair 404.

[0026] When sorted to the folding path, the recording material S is temporarily stopped at the position of the resist roller pair 405, forms a loop, and resist correction is performed. The resist-corrected recording material S is conveyed again, and after passing through the folding position detection sensor 406, it is drawn in by the first folding roller 407 and the second folding roller 408 at a predetermined timing, and at the same time, the first folding process is performed. Then, when the drawn-in recording material S hits the folding abutment stopper 409, it is drawn in by the second folding roller 408 and the third folding roller 410, and at the same time, the second folding process is performed. In this way, the recording material S is folded at the first fold so that one side faces each other, and the second side opposite to the first side is folded at the second fold so that the other sides face each other. Then, the recording material S subjected to the second folding process is conveyed toward the discharge roller pair 404 and is delivered to the subsequent film supply device 800 by the discharge roller pair 404. When sorted to the folding avoidance path, the recording material S is delivered to the subsequent film supply device 800 by the discharge roller pair 404 without undergoing the above three folding processes.

[0027] Regarding the operation of the folding portion 440, the two-fold processing will be described as an example. When sorted to the folding path, the recording material S is resist-corrected in the same manner as in the case of the above three-fold processing and is conveyed again. In the case of two-fold processing, it is drawn in by the first folding roller 407 and the second folding roller 408, and when the rear end of the recording material S hits the rear end abutment stopper 411 after passing through the folding position detection sensor 406, the folding process is performed. The recording material S is folded in two at the fold so that one side faces each other. At this time, the drawn-in recording material S is guided by the tip guide 412 that has been moved to a predetermined position in advance, and is drawn in by the second folding roller 408 and the third folding roller 410. The recording material S drawn in by the second folding roller 408 and the third folding roller 410 is conveyed toward the discharge roller pair 404 and is delivered to the subsequent film supply device 800 by the discharge roller pair 404. When sorted to the folding avoidance path, the recording material S is delivered to the subsequent film supply device 800 by the discharge roller pair 404 without undergoing the above two-fold processing.

[0028] <Film supply device> The film supply device 800 includes a film supply control unit 830, adhesive film rolls 801a and 801b around which the adhesive film F is wound, and a film supply unit 850 that supplies the adhesive film F to the recording material S. The film supply control unit 830 mainly controls the film supply unit 850. The adhesive film F is a heat-sensitive film, for example, an adhesive layer that generates an adhesive force by applying heat and pressure to the front and back surfaces of two adhered transparent films.

[0029] The long adhesive film F wound around the adhesive film rolls 801a and 801b is sequentially supplied along predetermined film supply paths 802a and 802b. When the three-folded recording material S reaches the intersection areas 804a and 804b between the transport path 803 and the film supply paths 802a and 802b, the adhesive film F is supplied so as to be sandwiched by the recording material S. Thereafter, the adhesive film F is cut into a desired dimension by a cutting member 805. On the other hand, when the two-folded recording material S reaches the intersection area 804a between the transport path 803 and the film supply path 802a, the adhesive film F is supplied so as to be sandwiched by the recording material S. Thereafter, the adhesive film F is cut into a desired dimension by a cutting member 805. Note that the film supply device 800 cuts the adhesive film F so as to form an area where the adhesive film F is not overlapped on the inner surface for supplying the adhesive film F, with the fold of the recording material S sandwiched therebetween, on the upstream side and the downstream side with respect to the transport direction of the recording material S (see FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) described later).

[0030] <Pressing device> The crimping device 600 is a device that performs a crimping process of adhering the recording material S with the adhesive film F through the folding process by the above-described folding device 400 and the supply process of the adhesive film F. In the present embodiment, as an example, a roller pressure welding type crimping device 600 capable of performing a crimping process on the recording material S by applying heat and pressure to the recording material S through a pair of crimping rollers that sandwich and convey the recording material S is shown. The crimping device 600 has a crimping process control unit 630 and a crimping unit 640 that crimps the recording material S. The crimping process control unit 630 mainly controls the crimping unit 640.

[0031] The crimping unit 640 has a pair of crimping rollers 601 that rotate to sandwich and convey the recording material S, a heater 602 that heats the pair of crimping rollers 601, and a thermistor 603 that detects the temperature of the pair of crimping rollers 601. The pair of crimping rollers 601 has an upper roller 601a and a lower roller 601b, and the upper roller 601a and the lower roller 601b are each maintained at a desired temperature by the heater 602 according to the detected temperature of the thermistor 603. Then, while the pair of crimping rollers 601 sandwiches and conveys the folded recording material S, heat and pressure can be applied to the recording material S. As a result, the recording material S folded with the coated surface coated with varnish facing inward is pseudo-adhered so that the coated surfaces are bonded together with the varnish.

[0032] <Control Configuration of Image Forming System> Next, the control of the image forming system 1X will be described with reference to FIG. 2 while referring to FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example in which the image forming apparatus 100 (specifically, the main control unit 101) centrally manages and controls operation commands for the crimping device 200 (folding device 400, film supply device 800, crimping device 600). In addition to those shown in FIG. 2, various devices such as motors and power supplies are connected, but since they are not essential to the gist of the invention, their illustration and description are omitted here.

[0033] In the image forming system 1X of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a folding control unit 430, a film supply control unit 830, and a pressure bonding control unit 630 are communicably connected to the main control unit 101 via a communication cable 500 so as to be able to communicate operation commands and various data. In accordance with the operation commands from the main control unit 101, the folding control unit 430 operates the folding device 400, the film supply control unit 830 operates the film supply device 800, and the pressure bonding control unit 630 operates the pressure bonding device 600. That is, the main control unit 101 can control the entire image forming system 1X by transmitting operation commands to the pressure bonding device 200 (folding device 400, film supply device 800, pressure bonding device 600) while controlling the operation of the image forming device 100.

[0034] The main control unit 101, the folding control unit 430, the film supply control unit 830, and the pressure bonding control unit 630 may have the same configuration. For example, each has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0035] The main control unit 101 includes a CPU 102, a ROM 103, and a RAM 104. In the ROM 103 and the RAM 104 as storage means, various programs such as a pressure bonding print creation process (see FIG. 3) described later and various data such as an image formation prohibition table (see FIG. 5) are stored. The RAM 104 can also temporarily store arithmetic processing results and the like associated with the execution of various programs.

[0036] The image forming device 100 includes, for example, an operation unit 700 having a liquid crystal display unit (see FIG. 1), and the operation unit 700 as notification means and input means is connected to the main control unit 101. The operation unit 700 is, for example, a touch panel, and can display various screens presenting various programs and various data on the liquid crystal display unit, and can also accept start input of various programs and input of various data in response to user operations such as touch operations by the user.

[0037] The user can input the start of an "image forming job" or settings for creating a pressure-bonded printed matter from the operation unit 700. When an "image forming job" is input, the CPU 102 executes a pressure-bonded printed matter creation process (program) stored in the ROM 103. Along with this, the pressure-bonding processing device 200 (the folding processing device 400, the film supply device 800, the pressure-bonding device 600) can be operated together with the image forming apparatus 100.

[0038] The folding control unit 430 includes a CPU 431, a ROM 432, and a RAM 433. The CPU 431 operates the folding processing device 400 based on a control program stored in the ROM 432. The film supply control unit 830 includes a CPU 831, a ROM 832, and a RAM 833. The CPU 831 operates the film supply device 800 based on a control program stored in the ROM 832.

[0039] The pressure-bonding processing control unit 630 includes a CPU 631, a ROM 632, and a RAM 633. The CPU 631 operates the pressure-bonding device 600 based on a control program stored in the ROM 632. A motor 634 that rotationally drives the pressure-bonding roller pair 601, a heater 602 that heats the pressure-bonding roller pair 601, and a thermistor 603 that detects the temperature of the pressure-bonding roller pair 601 are connected to the pressure-bonding processing control unit 630. The pressure-bonding processing control unit 630 transmits the detection result (temperature data) of the thermistor 603 to the main control unit 101. Then, the pressure-bonding processing control unit 630 can change the temperature of the heater 602 by receiving the target temperature from the main control unit 101. Also, the pressure-bonding processing control unit 630 can change the rotation speed of the motor 634 by receiving the target speed of the recording material S to be conveyed from the main control unit 101.

[0040] <Pressure-bonded Printed Matter Creation Process> Next, the pressure-bonded printed matter creation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 while referring to FIGS. 1 and 2. The pressure-bonded printed matter creation process of the present embodiment is started by the main control unit 101 in response to the start input of an "image forming job" from, for example, the operation unit 700 or an external device (not shown).

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 101 acquires image data sent from the document reading device or an external device (S1). Then, the main control unit 101 determines whether or not a setting for performing film crimping processing to create a crimped printed matter has been made (S2). The setting for creating the crimped printed matter can be set, for example, when the user operates the operation unit 700.

[0042] When the setting for creating the crimped printed matter has not been made (No in S2), the main control unit 101 operates the image forming apparatus 100 to start forming a toner image based on the image data (S7). Then, the main control unit 101 determines whether or not to end the image forming job (S6). When the image forming job is not ended (No in S6), the main control unit 101 returns to the process of step S2 and repeats the above-described processes of steps S2 and S7 until the image forming job is ended. Thus, when the setting for creating the crimped printed matter has not been made, while the image forming apparatus 100 operates to form a toner image on the recording material S, the crimping processing apparatus 200 does not operate, so the recording material S on which the toner image has been formed is output as it is without being folded. That is, only the recording material S on which the toner image has been formed is output, and the crimped printed matter is not created.

[0043] When the setting for creating the crimped printed matter has been made (Yes in S2), the main control unit 101 determines whether or not there is a toner image formed outside the film region (referred to as outside the film region) where the adhesive film F overlaps on the crimping surface (inner surface) of the recording material S (S3). In the case of the present embodiment, the main control unit 101 determines that there is a toner image formed outside the film region if there is a toner image formed in the image formation prohibited region defined by the "image formation prohibition table" (see FIG. 6 described later) among the toner images based on the acquired image data (information regarding the toner image formed on the inner surface).

[0044] When there is no toner image formed outside the film area (No in S3), the main control unit 101 operates the image forming apparatus 100 to start forming a toner image based on the image data (S4). Then, each time a toner image is formed on a single recording material S by the image forming apparatus 100, the pressure bonding apparatus 200 performs film pressure bonding on the recording material S (S5). In this case, the main control unit 101 repeats the above-described processes of steps S2, S3, S4, and S5 until the image forming job ends (S6). When the setting for creating a pressure bonded printed matter is made in this way, if there is no toner image formed outside the film area, the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is pressure bonded by the pressure bonding apparatus 200 and output. That is, the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is output as a pressure bonded printed matter.

[0045] On the other hand, when there is a toner image formed outside the film area (Yes in S3), the main control unit 101 waits for the execution of the image forming mode and the pressure bonding mode, and displays a "warning screen" on the operation unit 700 (S8). An example of the "warning screen" is shown in FIG. 4. In the "warning screen" shown in FIG. 4, a display notifying that there is a toner image formed outside the film area is made, and a display prompting the user to input a processing instruction is also made. In addition, together with these, there are displayed a "print / processing execution" button, a "print only execution" button, and a "print cancel" button as software switches for instructing the execution of the image forming mode and the pressure bonding mode. The "print / processing execution" button is a button for giving an instruction to "execute both image formation and pressure bonding", the "print only execution" button is a button for giving an instruction to "execute only image formation", and the "print cancel" button is a button for giving an instruction to "cancel printing".

[0046] Returning to the description of FIG. 3, the main control unit 101 executes processing in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 700 using the above-described "warning screen" by the user. First, when an instruction to "execute both image formation and crimping" is given (Yes in S9), the main control unit 101 starts forming a toner image by the image forming apparatus 100 (S4), and also executes film crimping on the recording material S by the crimping apparatus 200 (S5). That is, in this case, execution of the image forming mode and the crimping mode is permitted, and even if there is a toner image formed outside the film area, the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is crimped by the crimping apparatus 200 and output. That is, a crimped printed matter is created.

[0047] Second, when an instruction to "execute only image formation" is given (No in S9, Yes in S10), the main control unit 101 starts forming a toner image by the image forming apparatus 100 (S11), and repeats until the image forming job ends (S12). That is, in this case, execution of the image forming mode is permitted while execution of the crimping mode is not permitted, and the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is not crimped by the crimping apparatus 200, so the recording material S on which the toner image is formed is output as it is without being bent. That is, a crimped printed matter is not created.

[0048] Third, when an instruction to "cancel printing" is given (No in S9, No in S10), the main control unit 101 forcibly ends the image forming job. That is, in this case, execution of the image forming mode and the crimping mode is not permitted, and neither the formation of a toner image by the image forming apparatus 100 nor the crimping of the recording material S by the crimping apparatus 200 is performed. That is, when an instruction to "cancel printing" is given, the recording material S is not output.

[0049] Next, in this embodiment, the "image formation prohibition table" used to determine whether there is a toner image formed outside the film area will be described with reference to FIGS. 5(a) to 6 with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording material S, based on the downstream tip of the recording material S, the length to the folding position is denoted as "Px", the length to the upstream end (rear end) of the adhesive film F is denoted as "Fx", and the length to the upstream end (rear end) of the image formation area is denoted as "Ix". In FIG. 5(a), when folding in half or folding into three, the inner surfaces (first inner surfaces: A1, B1) are valley-folded to become the pressure-bonding surfaces and are bonded by the adhesive film F (first adhesive film). In FIG. 5(b), when folding into three, the inner surfaces (second inner surfaces: B2, C2) are valley-folded to become another pressure-bonding surface and are bonded by the adhesive film F (second adhesive film).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5(a), with respect to the first side (front surface) in the case of folding in half, the length to the position of the fold (first fold) is denoted as "P1", the length to the rear end of the adhesive film on the pressure-bonding surface (A1) is denoted as "F1", and the length to the rear end of the image formation area is denoted as "I1". Also, the length to the tip of the adhesive film on the pressure-bonding surface (B1) is denoted as "F2", and the length to the tip of the image formation area is denoted as "I2". Also, as shown in FIG. 5(b), with respect to the second side (back surface) in the case of folding into three, the length from the tip to the position of the second fold (second fold) is denoted as "P3", the length to the rear end of the adhesive film on the pressure-bonding surface (B2) is denoted as "F3", and the length to the rear end of the image formation area is denoted as "I3". Also, the length to the tip of the adhesive film on the pressure-bonding surface (C2) is denoted as "F4", and the length to the tip of the image formation area is denoted as "I4". Note that, with respect to the first side (front surface) in the case of folding into three, it is shown in the same manner as the first side (front surface) in the case of folding in half shown in FIG. 5(a).

[0051] As shown in FIG. 1 described above, in the crimping device 200, after the recording material S is bent by the bending device 400, it is conveyed to the film supply device 800. And in the case of this embodiment, the film supply device 800 inserts the adhesive film F of the adhesive film roll 801a (801b) into the recording material S at the intersection area 804a (804b), and then cuts the adhesive film F with the cutting member 805. When the film supply device 800 has such a configuration, the size of the film after cutting is shorter than that of the recording material S in the conveyance direction, but is the same as that of the recording material S in the width direction (the direction intersecting the conveyance direction) of the recording material S. Therefore, in this case, the determination condition for whether there is a toner image formed outside the film area only needs to be set with respect to the conveyance direction.

[0052] Note that, for example, when the film supply device 800 is configured to insert the adhesive film F into the recording material S after cutting the adhesive film F, it is necessary to set the determination condition for whether there is a toner image formed outside the film area in both the conveyance direction and the width direction. Hereinafter, for the sake of easy understanding of the explanation, the case where the determination condition for whether there is a toner image formed outside the film area is set only with respect to the conveyance direction will be described as an example.

[0053] As described above, in this embodiment, whether or not to execute the film crimping process after toner image formation is determined by whether there is a toner image formed outside the film area on the crimping surface of the recording material S (see S3 in FIG. 3). In the case of double folding, as shown in FIG. 4(a), if Equation 1 is satisfied with respect to the crimping surface (A1) and Equation 2 is satisfied with respect to the crimping surface (B1), it can be determined that there is no toner image formed outside the film area on the crimping surface of the recording material S. Note that the length "F1" to the rear end of the adhesive film is preferably set in consideration of the insertion accuracy of the adhesive film, and the length "I1" to the rear end of the image formation area is preferably set in consideration of the influence of the leading edge misregistration amount and the image magnification. F1>I1 ··· Equation 1 I2>P1+(P1-F1) ··· Equation 2

[0054] In the case of three - fold, in addition to the above - mentioned formulas (1) and (2), if formula (3) is satisfied with respect to the bonding surface (B2) and formula (4) is satisfied with respect to the bonding surface (C2), it can be determined that there are no toner images (first toner image, second toner image) formed outside the film regions (first film region, second film region) on each bonding surface of both sides of the recording material S. F3>I3 ··· Formula (3) I4>P3+(P3 - F3) ··· Formula (4)

[0055] Taking a postcard as an example, specific numerical values will be described. Since the finished size of the postcard is 100 mm in the transport direction length and 148 mm in the width direction (see Fig. 5), when performing pressure bonding processing with two - fold, the size of the original recording material S is "200 mm×148 mm". This recording material S is set in the cassette 10 so that the 200 - mm long side coincides with the transport direction. The recording material S on which a toner image is formed by the image forming apparatus 100 is transported to the pressure bonding processing apparatus 200. Then, the folding apparatus 400 makes a fold on the recording material S at a position 100 mm upstream from the leading - end position in the transport direction and folds the recording material S into two - fold. The two - folded recording material S is transported to the film supply apparatus 800, and the adhesive film F is inserted into the two - folded recording material S at the intersection area 804a.

[0056] As described above, it is preferable to set the length "F1" to the rear end of the adhesive film in consideration of the insertion accuracy of the adhesive film, and the length "I1" to the rear end of the image forming area in consideration of the influence of the leading - end misregistration amount and the image magnification, respectively. That is, the length "F1" to the rear end of the adhesive film shown in Fig. 5(a) should satisfy the above - mentioned formulas (1) and (2) so that even if the adhesive film F is inserted at the position farthest from the folding position, the toner image does not shift and protrude from the adhesive film F, and even if the toner image is formed up to the position closest to the folding position for the length "I1" to the rear end of the image forming area.

[0057] In this embodiment, the insertion accuracy of the adhesive film F is "±1 mm". In this case, in order to prevent the adhesive film F from being bent at the folding position, it is necessary to set the reference position "F1'" reached by the tip of the adhesive film at the time of insertion to a position "1 mm" away from the folding position. Therefore, "F1'" becomes "99 mm". Accordingly, the length of the adhesive film F in the conveyance direction is "99 ± 1 mm", but the length of the adhesive film F in the conveyance direction becomes the shortest because the insertion position of the adhesive film F is the shallowest with respect to the reference position. In the case of this embodiment, "F1" is set to "98 mm".

[0058] On the other hand, regarding the image forming possible area, when the leading edge misregistration amount is "±1.5 mm" with respect to the reference position of the toner image and the image magnification is "±0.5%", considering these influences, "I1" must be shorter than "98 mm" in the above formula 1. In this case, as the reference position "I1'" from the leading edge in the conveyance direction of the recording material S to the trailing edge of the image forming area, "I1" becomes the longest when the image is stretched by "0.5%" more than the predetermined value and the image forming area is shifted 1.5 mm downstream in the conveyance direction from the reference position "I1'". Therefore, the reference position "I1'" can be calculated by the following formula 5 from formula 2. 98 > (I1' × 1.005) + 1.5 ··· Formula 5

[0059] Then, the reference position "I1'" is calculated to be approximately less than "96.0199···", and when rounding down the third decimal place and below, the reference position "I1'" becomes "96.01 mm or less". Accordingly, when the toner image exists only up to the area up to "96.01 mm" from the leading edge in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, formula 1 is satisfied.

[0060] Furthermore, on the crimping surface (B1), since the conveyance direction length "F2" of the adhesive film has a line-symmetrical positional relationship with respect to the crimping surface (A1) and the folding position, it is "102 mm". Similarly, from the above-described formula 2, the length "I2" from the leading end of the image formation area on the crimping surface (B1) must be wider than "102 mm". Also, the length "I2" from the leading end of the image formation area on the crimping surface (B1) becomes the shortest when the image is stretched by "0.5%" more than the predetermined value and the image formation area is shifted 1.5 mm downstream in the conveyance direction from the designated position "I2'". Therefore, from the above formula 2, the designated position "I2'" can be calculated by the following formula 6. 102 < (I2' × 1.005) - 1.5 ··· Formula 6

[0061] According to Formula 6, the designated position "I2'" is calculated to be longer than approximately "102.9850···", and when rounding up the third decimal place and below, the designated position "I2'" from the leading end in the conveyance direction of the recording material S to the leading end of the image formation area is "102.99 mm" or more. Here, a region where a toner image must not be formed when performing film crimping processing is defined as an image formation prohibited region, and in this embodiment, the image formation prohibited region is used as information regarding the film region. The image formation prohibited region on one side (front surface) is, considering the above calculation results, a region from 96.01 mm to 102.99 mm from the leading end in the conveyance direction. Also, when calculating the image formation prohibited region on the other side (back surface) in the same manner as above, it is a region from 195.52 mm to 202.49 mm. Note that in the case of triple folding, it is a condition for performing film crimping processing that both the image formation prohibited region on one side (front surface) and the image formation prohibited region on the other side (back surface) satisfy the condition that no toner layer is formed.

[0062] Here, in the image formation prohibition table shown in FIG. 6, for each finished size as a pressure-bonded printed matter, that is, according to the size and folding method (double-fold, triple-fold) of the recording material S (postcard, A4, A5, B5, etc.) after film pressure-bonding processing, an image formation prohibition area is set. The main control unit 101 determines the feasibility of film pressure-bonding processing according to the image formation prohibition area that conforms to the size and folding method of the recording material S after film pressure-bonding processing. In the image formation prohibition table, the size and folding method of the recording material S after film pressure-bonding processing are not limited to the examples shown in FIG. 6, and can be freely set as appropriate according to the purpose, and an image formation prohibition area corresponding thereto may be set.

[0063] Note that the insertion accuracy of the adhesive film F, the leading edge misregistration amount of the image, and the image magnification generally vary depending on the type of film supply device 800 and image forming device 100 used. Therefore, these conditions must be adjusted as appropriate, and the value of the image formation prohibition area in the "image formation prohibition table" is not limited to the value shown in FIG. 6. Also, in the present embodiment, the leading edge misregistration amount and the image magnification are considered as the causes of the image formation area shifting from the designated position. However, not limited to this, it is preferable to set the image formation prohibition area in consideration of the skewing in which the recording material S is conveyed in an oblique state, the perpendicularity generated mainly by the bus misalignment of a laser scanner, a photosensitive drum, an intermediate transfer belt, etc., and the parallelism in which the recording material S is conveyed while bending without going straight.

[0064] As described above, in this embodiment, in the case of a configuration in which a toner image is formed on the recording material S, the recording material S is bent and pressure-bonded by the adhesive film F, if there is a toner image formed outside the film area, the execution of the image formation mode and the pressure-bonding mode is awaited. Then, the operation unit 700 notifies the user by displaying that there is a toner image formed outside the film area, and enables the user to select whether or not to execute the image formation mode and the pressure-bonding mode in that case. By doing so, when there is a toner image formed outside the film area, a pressure-bonded printed matter is not output without the user's permission. Therefore, in the case of a configuration in which the bent recording material S can be adhered by the adhesive film F to output a pressure-bonded printed matter, it can be easily realized that toner transfer does not occur outside the film area where the adhesive film F overlaps.

[0065] In the case of this embodiment, the user can not only simply select not to output a pressure-bonded printed matter, but also select to form a toner image and output the recording material S without performing pressure-bonding processing, or can even select to output a pressure-bonded printed matter deliberately. When the recording material S is output after forming a toner image but without performing pressure-bonding processing, it is convenient for the user to perform image editing such as erasing the toner image formed outside the film area. Also, when deliberately outputting a pressure-bonded printed matter, it is convenient for the user to confirm whether toner transfer actually occurs outside the film area.

[0066] [Other Embodiments] Note that in the above-described embodiment, the "warning screen" shown in FIG. 4 is used to notify that there is a toner image formed outside the film area and to prompt the user to input a processing instruction, but the "warning screen" is not limited to this. For example, as in the "warning screen" shown in FIG. 7, "Execute Only Printing" button and "Cancel Printing" button may be displayed so that the user can select whether to execute only printing or not to execute printing at all. Alternatively, as in the "warning screen" shown in FIG. 8, while notifying that there is a toner image formed outside the film area, only the "Cancel Printing" button may be displayed so that the user can only input an instruction to cancel printing.

[0067] In addition, as long as it is a configuration that executes the above-described crimp printing material creation process, the control unit that controls the image forming system 1X may be provided in any housing. For example, the control unit that controls the entire image forming system 1X may be provided inside any one of the above-described main control unit 101, external device, or the crimping device 200, and may be a configuration that executes the above-described crimp printing material creation process (FIG. 3).

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the image forming system 1X in which the crimping device 200 is connected as a different housing outside the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is shown as an example. However, the crimping device 200 may be provided inside the apparatus main body (in the same housing) of the image forming apparatus 100. In that case, the main control unit 101 also operates as the above-described folding control unit 430, film supply control unit 830, and crimping control unit 630.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0069] 1X... Image forming system, 100... Image forming apparatus, 101... Control means (main control unit), 103... Storage means (ROM), 104... Storage means (RAM), 200... Crimping device, 700... Notification means (input means, operation unit), F... Adhesive film, S... Recording material

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus capable of executing an image forming mode for forming a toner image on a recording material, A pressure bonding apparatus capable of executing a pressure bonding process mode in which the recording material is bent at a folding position so that one surface of the recording material becomes an inner surface facing each other, a heat-sensitive adhesive film is supplied to the inner surface of the bent recording material, and heat and pressure are applied to pressure-bond the bent recording material, A display unit capable of displaying information, Control means capable of acquiring image data for forming a toner image on the recording material and controlling the image forming apparatus when the image forming mode is executed, When the toner image is formed in an area outside a film area which is an area where the adhesive film is supplied on the inner surface, the control means causes the display unit to display a message indicating that there is a toner image formed outside the film area. An image forming system characterized by the above.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising input means by which a user can input an execution instruction for the image forming mode and the pressure bonding process mode based on the display on the display unit, When the toner image is formed in an area outside the film area, the control means permits execution of the image forming mode and the pressure bonding process mode according to the execution instruction received via the input means. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising input means by which a user can input an execution instruction for the image forming mode and the pressure bonding process mode based on the display on the display unit, When the toner image is formed in an area outside the film area, the control means permits execution of the image forming mode according to the execution instruction received via the input means, while not permitting execution of the pressure bonding process mode. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

4. An input means is provided that enables a user to input a stop instruction for the image forming mode and the crimping mode based on the display of the display unit. When the toner image is formed in an area outside the film area, the control means does not permit the execution of the image forming mode and the crimping mode in accordance with the stop instruction received via the input means. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

5. A storage unit is provided that stores film area information representing the film area for each size of the recording material. The control means compares the area where the toner image is formed on the inner surface with the film area based on the film area information according to the size of the recording material, and determines whether there is a toner image formed in an area outside the film area. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

6. The crimping device supplies the adhesive film to the bent recording material so as to form areas where the adhesive film is not overlapped on the inner surface on the upstream side and the downstream side of the folding position with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording material. The storage unit stores, as the film area information, the area where the adhesive film is not overlapped on the inner surface. The image forming system according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The crimping device has a folding part that folds the recording material into a double fold, a supply part that supplies the adhesive film to the recording material folded into a double fold by the folding part, and a crimping part that applies heat and pressure to the double-folded recording material to which the adhesive film has been supplied by the supply part to crimp the recording material. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The image forming apparatus is capable of forming a toner image on each of a first surface of a recording material and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface. The pressure bonding device is a bending portion that bends the recording material into a triple fold such that a first region of the first surface is bent at a first fold line to form a first inner surface, and a second region of the second surface is bent at a second fold line to form a second inner surface; a supply unit that supplies the adhesive film to each of the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the recording material folded into a triple fold by the folding portion; and a pressure bonding unit that applies heat and pressure to the triple-folded recording material to which the adhesive film has been supplied by the supply unit for pressure bonding. The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that.

Images