Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a sheet processing device that puts a post-processing member on standby when pre-processing of the post-processing is canceled due to a cause that does not affect the post-processing member, and makes the post-processing member on standby available when the pre-processing is restarted.SOLUTION: There is provided a sheet processing device, including: a sheet carry-in section that receives a sheet-like medium transported from an upstream device, and a post-processing section that peels off a polymerized sheet, inserts the medium, and heat-processes the polymerized sheet with the medium inserted, in which when a processing abnormality occurs in an upstream device and a series of post-processing leading to heat treatment is interrupted, the post-processing section continues the interrupted post-processing when the processing abnormality is subsequently recovered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a technique of inserting a sheet-like medium into a two-sheet stack, applying heat and pressure, and bonding the two-sheet stack. This technique is called "lamination processing". Further, there are known a sheet processing apparatus that conveys and inserts a sheet-like medium on which an image is formed into a two-sheet stack and performs lamination processing, and an image forming apparatus that cooperates with the sheet processing apparatus to form an image on a medium.

[0003] As an example of a technique applicable to an image forming system that performs lamination processing, there is disclosed a technique that includes two sheet processing paths and can output an output that does not require lamination from a sheet processing apparatus during lamination processing of one output (see Patent Document 1).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, outputs that require lamination processing (media on which images are formed), which is an example of post-processing, and outputs that do not require lamination processing can be output in parallel using separate output paths. In this case, if an abnormality occurs in a process different from the lamination process (for example, an image forming process performed upstream) and the output process is canceled, the lamination process will also be canceled. When the lamination process is canceled, there arises a problem that post-processing members (lamination films) used for the planned lamination process are wasted.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus that causes a post-processing member to wait when a pre-stage process of post-processing is canceled due to a cause that does not affect the post-processing member, and makes the waiting post-processing member available when the pre-stage process is restarted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, one aspect of the present invention comprises a sheet loading section that receives a sheet-like medium transported from an upstream device, and a post-processing section that peels off a polymer sheet, inserts the medium, and heat-treats the polymer sheet into which the medium has been inserted, wherein the post-processing section is connected to the upstream device Before the aforementioned medium is delivered A processing error occurred. When this occurs, the peeling process of the polymer sheet is continued until completion, and the polymer sheet in the peeled state is not discharged, but is retained. The aforementioned processing abnormality has been resolved. In a recovery print that is initiated later, the medium is inserted into the polymer sheet that was being held and the heat treatment is performed. It is characterized by doing so. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when the pre-processing step of the post-processing member is canceled due to a cause that does not affect the post-processing member, the post-processing member can be put into standby mode, making it available for use when the pre-processing step is resumed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Overall configuration diagram of a sheet processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram showing an image forming system having a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Functional block diagram of the control unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] A flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process including lamination, based on conventional methods. [Figure 6] A flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process including lamination according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] An example of notification to the user regarding an abnormal recovery in the printing process according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating another example of a printing process including lamination according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] First, an embodiment of the image forming process according to the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 300. The image forming apparatus 300 includes a laminating apparatus 100 as an embodiment of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0010] The details of the laminating processing device 100 will be described later, but it is a processing unit that performs laminating processing by separating two stacked sheets (hereinafter referred to as the polymerized sheets S), inserting and sandwiching a sheet-like medium, a core paper P, between the separated polymerized sheets S, and then outputting them as a single unit.

[0011] A polymerized sheet S is a double-layered sheet in which two sheets are layered and joined together at one end (or one side). For example, one side may be a transparent sheet such as a transparent polyester sheet, and the other side may be a transparent or opaque sheet, joined at one end. Laminated films are also included in the polymerized sheet S.

[0012] The inner paper P is an example of a sheet-like medium inserted into the polymerized sheet S. In addition to ordinary paper, the inner paper P includes cardboard, postcards, envelopes, thin paper, coated paper (such as coated paper and art paper), tracing paper, and OHP sheets.

[0013] In the following explanation, the medium inserted into the polymerization sheet S and subjected to lamination will be referred to as "inner paper P". Furthermore, a sheet-like medium that is not inserted into the polymerization sheet S and is not subject to lamination will be referred to as "paper Pp". When inner paper P and paper Pp are not distinguished, they will be referred to as "sheet Ps".

[0014] In addition to the laminating apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 300 also includes a sheet feeding section 301 located at the bottom of the apparatus for receiving and supplying sheets Ps, a paper feeding means 303 for feeding sheets Ps from the sheet feeding section 301, an image forming section 305 located above the sheet feeding section 301 for forming images on the sheets Ps, and a paper discharge path 307 for discharging the image-formed sheets Ps to the laminating apparatus 100. The sheets Ps transported by the image forming apparatus 300 are transferred to the laminating apparatus 100 via a paper transfer guide 117, which serves as the sheet loading section of the laminating apparatus 100 located downstream.

[0015] The laminating apparatus 100 starts peeling the polymerized sheet S at the same time as the start of the image forming process (printing process) in the image forming apparatus 300, so that when the sheet Ps (intermediate paper P) is handed over from the image forming apparatus 300, the peeled polymerized sheet S is ready to receive the intermediate paper P. In the image forming apparatus 300, the sheet Ps is fed from the sheet feeding unit 301 at the same time as the peeling operation of the polymerized sheet S starts, and the sheet Ps is handed over to the intermediate paper handover guide 117 of the laminating apparatus 100 via the paper discharge path 307. In this series of operations, the image forming unit 305 may perform the image forming process to form an image on the sheet Ps before handing it over to the laminating apparatus 100, or it may hand over the sheet Ps without performing the image forming process.

[0016] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 300 may be equipped with a main paper output path and a main paper output tray above the paper output path 307 shown in Figure 1. This allows the sheet Ps (paper Pp) to be discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 even when lamination is not performed. With this configuration, when outputting output (paper Pp) that does not require lamination from the image forming apparatus, the paper Pp can be discharged without passing through the lamination processing device 100, thus enabling efficient output processing without losing the output speed of the image forming apparatus 300.

[0017] [Embodiment of Sheet Processing Device] Next, the overall configuration of the laminating apparatus 100 as an embodiment of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As already described, the image forming apparatus 300 has, as an example, a form including an image forming unit 305 that performs image forming processing on a sheet, and a laminating apparatus 100 that performs post-processing on the sheet Ps (intermediate paper P) on which an image has been formed. Note that, like the image forming system 1 described later, the laminating apparatus 100 may be provided separately from the image forming apparatus 300.

[0018] The laminating apparatus 100 includes a first conveyance path for conveying the intermediate paper P and performing post-processing, and a second conveyance path for conveying the sheet Pp downstream without performing post-processing. When a plurality of print jobs including one or N (N≥2) print jobs to be laminated by the laminating apparatus 100 and print jobs not to be laminated by the laminating apparatus 100 are instructed, during execution of an arbitrary M-th (1≤M<N) print job to be laminated, a print job not to be laminated is executed, and the sheet is conveyed through the second conveyance path.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the laminating apparatus 100 includes a sheet tray 102 which is a first loading means for loading the laminated sheet S, a pickup roller 105 for feeding the laminated sheet S from the sheet tray 102, and a pair of conveyance rollers 107. The intermediate paper P is configured to be fed from the sheet feeding unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300, and an arbitrary image can be printed on the intermediate paper P inserted into the laminated sheet S by using a copy or printer of the image forming apparatus 300 and inserted inline.

[0020] Downstream in the conveyance direction of the pair of conveyance rollers 107, a conveyance sensor C1 for detecting the conveyance position of the laminated sheet S is provided. Further, the intermediate paper P carried in from the image forming apparatus 300 (see FIG. 1) as an apparatus upstream of the laminating apparatus 100 is delivered into the laminating apparatus 100 by the intermediate paper transfer guide 117 of the laminating apparatus 100. A conveyance sensor C2 for detecting the conveyance position of the intermediate paper P is provided on the intermediate paper transfer guide 117.

[0021] The laminating apparatus 100 also includes, downstream of the pair of conveying rollers 107, an entrance roller pair 108 as the first conveying means, a winding roller 109 as a rotating member, an exit roller pair 113 as the second conveying means, a discharge tray 104 as a stacking means for stacking the discharged polymer sheet S, and the like. A peeling claw 116 is provided between the winding roller 109 and the exit roller pair 113 so as to be movable in the width direction of the polymer sheet S.

[0022] A conveying sensor C3 for detecting the conveying positions of the polymer sheet S and the intermediate paper P is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the entrance roller pair 108, and an abnormal state detection sensor C4 for detecting the state of the polymer sheet S is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the winding roller 109. A conveying sensor C5 for detecting the conveying position of the polymer sheet S is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the exit roller pair 113. Further, a peeling sensor C6 for detecting the lower part of the peeled polymer sheet S is provided below the conveying sensor C3, and a peeling sensor C7 for detecting the upper part of the peeled polymer sheet S is provided above the exit roller pair 113.

[0023] Here, the conveying path provided with the entrance roller pair 108, the winding roller 109, the peeling claw 116, and the exit roller pair 113 forms a sheet processing path 99 for processing the polymer sheet S. Specifically, the sheet processing path 99 is for peeling the polymer sheet S as the first medium and sandwiching the intermediate paper P as the second medium image-formed by the image forming unit 305 disposed upstream of the laminating apparatus 100 therebetween. The sheet processing path 99 may include a thermocompression roller 120 which is a thermocompression member capable of heating and pressurizing the polymer sheet S. Thereby, the sheet processing apparatus can perform a laminating process including heating, and the productivity of the entire system can be improved by performing another job using the paper discharge path during the heating process.

[0024] The laminating processing device 100 has a branching claw 118 provided downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet processing path 99, and a heat-pressure conveying path 128 formed downstream in the conveying direction. The heat-pressure conveying path 128 is equipped with a heat-pressure roller 120 and a discharge roller 121 provided downstream thereof near the paper discharge port.

[0025] The heat-pressure roller 120, which is a heat-pressure component, heats and pressurizes the laminated sheet S with the paper core P sandwiched inside. The laminated laminated sheet S, discharged from the discharge port by the discharge roller 121, is loaded onto the discharge tray 104.

[0026] The laminating processing device 100 also has a paper discharge path 124 that allows the second sheet, paper Pp or interleaving paper P, to be discharged to the discharge tray 104 without passing through the sheet processing path 99, and a branching claw 119 located upstream of the sheet processing path 99, which is a switching means that allows the destination of the paper Pp or interleaving paper P to be switched between the paper discharge path 124 and the sheet processing path 99 according to the information of the paper Pp or interleaving paper P. The paper discharge path 124 is equipped with transport rollers 125, 127, and 129 for transporting the paper Pp or interleaving paper P, and a discharge roller 123 located near the paper discharge opening. The paper Pp or interleaving paper P discharged from the paper discharge opening by the discharge roller 123 is discharged and loaded into the discharge tray 104.

[0027] Thus, the laminating apparatus 100 has a paper discharge path 124 that allows paper to be discharged without passing through the sheet processing path 99, and a branching claw 119 upstream of the sheet processing path 99 that is a switching means capable of guiding paper Pp or inner paper P to the paper discharge path 124. As a result, inner paper P that requires lamination can be guided to the sheet processing path 99, and paper Pp that does not require lamination, such as for copying or printing, can be guided to the paper discharge path 124 for discharge. Therefore, even during sheet processing, such as during the feeding and peeling operation of the polymerized sheet S in the sheet processing path 99, or during the insertion of inner paper P and transport to the heat pressure roller 120 after sheet processing, it is possible to perform normal printing (print jobs using copies or printers, etc.) that discharges paper Pp without lamination, thereby increasing the productivity of printing that does not require lamination.

[0028] Furthermore, the laminating processing device 100 is characterized by having a branching claw 119, which is a switching means for guiding sheets to the sheet processing path 99 or the paper discharge path 124, upstream of the point where the transport paths of the first sheet, the polymerized sheet S, and the second sheet, the inner paper P, merge. This makes it possible to guide copy or print paper that does not require lamination to the paper discharge path 124 by the branching claw 119 and discharge it to the discharge tray 104, even while the polymerized sheet S is being fed in the sheet processing path 99.

[0029] The exterior of the laminating apparatus 100 is equipped with a sheet processing operation panel 101, which is a display and operation means for displaying information and receiving operation inputs for the laminating apparatus 100. This sheet processing operation panel 101 also serves as a notification means for emitting perceptual signals to the user. For example, if a processing abnormality occurs in the laminating apparatus 100, it outputs a notification sound to inform the user. Also, if a processing abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 300, and the polymerized sheet S is held in a peeled state to maintain a reusable state, it outputs a sound or display to inform the user. Alternatively, the laminating apparatus 100 may be configured to have notification means other than the sheet processing operation panel 101.

[0030] [Operation of the laminating processing device 100] Here, the operation of each component of the laminating processing device 100 will be explained. The inlet roller pair 108 and the outlet roller pair 113 are, for example, a pair of rollers, and are rotationally driven by a driving means (such as a motor). The inlet roller pair 108 is rotationally driven in one direction, and the outlet roller pair 113 is rotationally driven in forward and reverse directions, thereby gripping and conveying the laminated sheet S and the interleaving paper P.

[0031] The inlet roller pair 108 transports the polymerized sheet S and the inner paper P toward the outlet roller pair 113. Meanwhile, the outlet roller pair 113 can switch its rotation in both forward and reverse directions. The gripped polymerized sheet S can be transported toward the discharge tray 104, which is the forward transport direction, and can also be transported toward the winding roller 109, which is the opposite direction (the direction of pulling back). This direction of transport toward the winding roller 109 (opposite to the transport direction) is called the reverse transport direction.

[0032] Furthermore, the laminating processing device 100 includes a winding roller 109 and a peeling claw 116, which are rotating members, between the inlet roller pair 108 and the outlet roller pair 113. The winding roller 109 is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions by a driving means (such as a motor), and its rotation can be switched between both directions (clockwise / counterclockwise).

[0033] The winding roller 109 includes a roller member 111 and a movable gripping means 110 provided on the roller member 111 for gripping the superimposed sheet S. The movable gripping means 110 is characterized by gripping the leading edge of the superimposed sheet S together with the roller member 111. This gripping means 110 may be integrally molded on the outer circumference of the roller member 111, or it may be configured as a separate part.

[0034] [Embodiment of an Image Forming System] Next, we will describe an image forming system 1 that includes functions similar to those of the image forming apparatus 300 and laminating apparatus 100 described above. Figure 3 shows the overall configuration of the image forming system 1. As shown in Figure 3, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 300, a relay device 310, a laminating apparatus 100, and a laminating apparatus 400.

[0035] The image forming system 1 is configured to be able to feed the inner paper P from the image forming apparatus 300 via the relay device 310, and any image can be inserted inline using a copier or printer. Therefore, a series of operations from feeding the polymer sheet S to peeling, inserting the inner paper, and laminating by heat and pressure can be performed without human intervention.

[0036] In the case of a printing job that requires lamination, the laminating apparatus 100 feeds the polymerized sheets S from a sheet tray 102 where the polymerized sheets S are stacked, using a pickup roller 105 and a transport roller pair 107. The peeled polymerized sheets S are then held by an exit roller pair 113, and the inlet roller 146 receives the core paper P fed from the image forming apparatus 300, and the inlet roller pair 108 merges it with the polymerized sheets S. The merged core paper P and polymerized sheets S are laminated by heating with a heat-pressure roller 120. The laminated polymerized sheets S and core paper P (processed sheets SG) are loaded onto an discharge tray 104 by an discharge roller 121.

[0037] In the case of print jobs that do not require lamination, the paper fed from the image forming apparatus 300 is received by the inlet roller 146 of the laminating apparatus 100 and transported to the laminating apparatus 400 located downstream of the laminating apparatus 100 by the discharge roller 147, which is located downstream of the inlet roller 146 in the transport direction. The laminating apparatus 400 can perform post-processing such as stapling on the sheet material N that has not been laminated.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the laminating processing device 100 of the image forming system 1 has a first transport path, the sheet processing path, for transporting sheets and performing post-processing (laminating), and a second transport path, the paper discharge path, for discharging paper downstream without lamination. In the figure, the first transport path, the sheet processing path, is formed below the branching point of the first and second transport paths, and the second transport path, the paper discharge path, is formed to the left of the branching point. In addition to these paths, the system has a system control that allows printing jobs that do not perform lamination to be executed during printing jobs that perform lamination, thereby making effective use of the lamination processing time and improving the overall productivity of the system. The sheet tray 102 is equipped with multiple sensors C10 that detect the size of the sheet Ps.

[0039] [Control Block] Next, the control unit that controls the operation of the image forming system 1 will be explained using Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the control block of the image forming system 1 is configured by the coordinated operation of the image forming control unit 30, which is the control block of the image forming apparatus 300, and the sheet processing control unit 10, which is the control block of the laminating apparatus 100.

[0040] The image forming control unit 30 comprises an image control controller 31 and an engine 32. The sheet processing control unit 10 comprises a sheet processing controller 11 and a lamination control unit 12.

[0041] The image control controller 31 receives a print request from the user and forwards it to the control management unit 321 of the engine 32. The control management unit 321 requests control from the plotter control unit 322 and the laminating control unit 12 for each page that has been requested. The plotter control unit 322 controls the process of forming and ejecting the image via the supply of the sheet Ps, in accordance with the request from the control management unit 321.

[0042] The lamination control unit 12 initiates a peeling operation as preparation for integrating the polymerized sheet S with the inner paper P, and controls the lamination process, which is the process of integrating the inner paper P and the polymerized sheet S that were transported from the image forming apparatus 300.

[0043] The sheet processing controller 11 controls the transport of the inner sheet P, including the controls necessary for the lamination process to be executed by the lamination control unit 12.

[0044] In the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment, even if a processing abnormality occurs due to some factor while the image forming apparatus 300 is processing a print job and the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 is interrupted, the laminating processing apparatus 100 maintains the polymerized sheet S that was being prepared for processing. The maintained polymerized sheet S is then controlled to be in a state where it can be used for the laminating process of recovery printing after the processing abnormality of the image forming apparatus 300 is resolved. This series of controls is realized through the cooperation of the control management unit 321 and the laminating control unit 12. Here, "maintaining the polymerized sheet S" means that the polymerized sheet S, which has been prepared for use if the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 were normal, is not discarded due to the interruption of the image forming apparatus 300, but is kept in a state where it can be used when the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 resumes.

[0045] [First embodiment of an image forming processing flow involving sheet processing] Next, the image forming process flow executed in the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. First, as a comparative example, a sheet processing method related to the prior art and its problems will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 5.

[0046] In the conventional example, when a printing process including lamination is started, the image forming apparatus 300 starts supplying sheets Ps under the control of the image control controller 31 (S501). At the same time, based on a request from the control management unit 321, the lamination processing apparatus 100 starts peeling the polymerized sheet S via the lamination control unit 12 (S502).

[0047] Now, let's assume that a processing error (jam) has occurred in the image forming apparatus 300 (S503). Meanwhile, the laminating apparatus 100 continues the peeling process of the polymerized sheet S until completion (S504), and once the peeling operation is complete (S504:YES), it stops the process temporarily (S505).

[0048] Here, the image forming system 1 will execute a print job cancellation process due to a processing abnormality in the image forming apparatus 300 (S506).

[0049] Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 300 loops the process until the removal of the processing abnormality (jam) is completed (S507:NO). Meanwhile, while the jam removal is being performed in the laminating apparatus 100, the process of discharging the peeled polymerized sheet S to the purge tray (discharge tray 104) is performed (S508).

[0050] Once the processing abnormality (jam) in the image forming apparatus 300 has been removed (S507: YES), recovery printing is started in the image forming system 1 (S509).

[0051] When recovery printing is initiated, the image forming apparatus 300 resumes supplying (feeding) sheets Ps in the same manner as in S501 (S510), and the laminating apparatus 100 begins peeling operations on the new polymerized sheet S (S511).

[0052] Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 300 performs an image forming process on the paper (S512). At the same time, the laminating apparatus 100 performs a peeling process on the polymer sheet S (S513). Once the peeling process of the polymer sheet S is complete (S513:YES), the inner paper P is inserted into the peeled polymer sheet S and heat-pressed to perform the laminating process (S514). The laminated sheet after the second processing is discharged into the discharge tray 104 (S515).

[0053] In conventional technology, if any abnormality occurs on the image forming apparatus 300 side, the control management unit 321 requests both the image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 to cancel their operations. The image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 then cancel the print job and discharge the polymerized sheet S, which is a post-processing material, in accordance with the request.

[0054] Once the image forming apparatus 300 has finished removing the jam and ejecting the post-processing material (polymerization sheet S), the control management unit 321 will start a recovery print to re-execute the canceled print job.

[0055] Therefore, in conventional cases, if a processing abnormality occurs on the image forming apparatus 300 side during the preparation of the material (polymer sheet S) to be used for post-processing (lamination processing), such as the peeling process of the polymerization sheet S in the lamination processing apparatus 100, the prepared polymerization sheet S becomes unusable.

[0056] Next, a sheet processing method performed in the image forming system 1 as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 6. The processing method described below can resolve the problems that arise in the conventional method described as a comparative example.

[0057] In the image forming system 1, when a printing process including lamination is started, the image forming apparatus 300 starts supplying paper under the control of the image control controller 31 (S601). At the same time, in the laminating apparatus 100, the laminating control unit 12 starts peeling the laminated sheet S based on a request from the control management unit 321 (S602).

[0058] Here, as in the comparative example, let's assume that a processing error (jam) occurs in the image forming apparatus 300 (S603). On the image forming apparatus 300 side, processing temporarily stops due to the processing error (S606).

[0059] Meanwhile, the laminating apparatus 100 continues the peeling process of the polymerized sheet S, which has already been started. It also determines whether or not the interleaving paper P has already been supplied from the image forming apparatus 300 to the laminating apparatus 100 (S604). If the interleaving paper P has been supplied (S604: YES), the process is temporarily stopped (S606). If the interleaving paper P has not been supplied (S604: NO), the process continues until the peeling operation of the polymerized sheet S is completed (S605: NO), and once the peeling operation is completed (S605: YES), the process is temporarily stopped (S606).

[0060] Next, the image forming system 1 executes a cancellation process for the print job caused by a processing abnormality in the image forming apparatus 300 (S607). At this time, the laminating apparatus 100 does not perform the discharge process of the polymerized sheet S, which has already been peeled off, and the peeled sheet remains in its peeled state. polymerization The sheet S is maintained. Following the cancellation process, the image forming apparatus 300 loops the process until the processing abnormality (jam) is removed (S608: NO). Once the image forming apparatus 300 has finished removing the processing abnormality (jam) (S608: YES), the image forming system 1 starts recovery printing (S609).

[0061] When recovery printing is started, the image forming apparatus 300 restarts paper feeding and performs image forming on the sheet Ps (S610). Next, it resumes processing to utilize the polymerized sheet S that has been peeled and held in place, inserts the inner sheet P, and performs lamination by heat pressing (S611). Finally, the processed laminated sheet is discharged into the discharge tray 104 (S612).

[0062] According to the image forming system 1 of this embodiment described above, if an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus 300 before the inner paper P is loaded into the laminating apparatus 100, the image control controller 31 of the image forming apparatus 300 requests cancellation only from the control management unit 321. Meanwhile, the laminating apparatus 100 continues to operate until the peeling of the polymer sheet S is complete, and once peeling is complete, it holds the polymer sheet S. After the jam removal of the image forming apparatus 300 is complete, the image control controller 31 requests recovery printing, and the printed inner paper P is inserted into the waiting polymer sheet S, and the laminating process is executed.

[0063] The following are examples of processing anomaly scenarios that may occur in S603.

[0064] For example, a printing job involving lamination may malfunction in the image forming apparatus 300 after the start of printing and the peeling operation of the polymer sheet S has begun.

[0065] Another example is when a printing job involving lamination becomes abnormal in the lamination processing device 100 after printing has started and the peeling operation of the polymerized sheet S has begun.

[0066] Furthermore, in a printing job that involves lamination after the start of printing and the peeling operation of the polymerized sheet S has begun, one example is when the user opens or closes the cover of the image forming apparatus 300 while the sheet Ps is being transported, causing the printing job to stop.

[0067] [Notification methods] Here, regarding embodiments of the notification means provided by the image forming system 1, Figure 7(a) shows an example of a display shown on the sheet processing operation panel 101 of the laminating processing apparatus 100 in S505 of the comparative example. Figure 7(b) shows an example of a display shown on the sheet processing operation panel 101 of the laminating processing apparatus 100 in S606 of this embodiment.

[0068] As shown in Figure 7(a), in the comparative example, if a transport abnormality (jam) such as a sheet Ps jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 300, information about the transported material (sheet Ps and polymerized sheet S) remaining inside the image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 (in the transport path) is notified to the sheet processing controller 11. Based on the residual material information, the sheet processing controller 11 displays a banner on the sheet processing operation panel 101, etc., to enable the image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 to accept abnormal recovery operations.

[0069] For example, in the comparative example, the system provides notifications for the "image forming apparatus return process button 1011" to execute the return process (print job cancellation) of the image forming apparatus 300, and the "post-processing device return process button 1012" to cancel the operation of the laminating device 100. In this case, if the peeling operation of the polymerization sheet S has already been performed and some remains inside, the post-processing device return process button 1012 will be displayed. Therefore, unless the image forming apparatus return process button 1011 and the post-processing device return process button 1012 are operated, the return process (S506) will not be executed.

[0070] In contrast, as shown in Figure 7(b), in the case of the processing according to this embodiment, if a transport abnormality (jam) such as a sheet Ps jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 300, information about the transported material (sheet Ps and superimposed sheet S) remaining inside the image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 (in the transport path) is notified to the sheet processing controller 11. The sheet processing controller 11 then displays a banner on the sheet processing operation panel 101 based on the residual material information, thereby enabling the image forming apparatus 300 and the laminating apparatus 100 to accept abnormal recovery operations.

[0071] In the processing method according to this embodiment, only the "image forming apparatus return processing button 1011" is communicated as information prompting the image forming apparatus 300 to perform a return process (print job cancellation). That is, even if the peeling operation of the polymerization sheet S has already been performed and some remains inside, the post-processing device return processing button 1012 is not displayed, and if the image forming apparatus return processing button 1011 is operated, the return process (S607) is executed.

[0072] Therefore, in the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment, the user is not prompted to cancel the operation of the laminating apparatus 100, and no recovery operation is required. As a result, the user only needs to perform an abnormal recovery operation for the image forming apparatus 300, and when recovery printing starts, the already waiting polymerized sheet S can be reused.

[0073] [Second embodiment of an image formation processing flow involving sheet processing] Next, a second embodiment of the image forming process flow executed in the image forming system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. As described in the first embodiment, recovery printing is performed not only when a processing error is recovered, but also when the print job itself is canceled by user operation. In this case, recovery printing will not be started.

[0074] Similar to the first embodiment, when the printing process including lamination is started in the image forming system 1, the image forming apparatus 300 starts supplying sheets Ps under the control of the image control controller 31 (S801). At the same time, in the laminating apparatus 100, the laminating control unit 12 starts peeling the polymerized sheet S based on a request from the control management unit 321 (S802).

[0075] Now, let's assume that a processing error (jam) occurs in the image forming apparatus 300 (S803). On the image forming apparatus 300 side, processing is temporarily stopped due to the processing error (S805). Meanwhile, the laminating apparatus 100 continues the peeling process of the polymerization sheet S until completion (S804), and once the peeling operation is complete (S804:YES), processing is temporarily stopped (S805).

[0076] Here, the image forming system 1 will execute a print job cancellation process due to a processing abnormality in the image forming apparatus 300 (S806).

[0077] Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 300 performs a process to remove processing abnormalities (jams). If the user cancels before this is completed (S807: YES), the laminating apparatus 100 performs a process to discharge the polymerized sheet S, which has been peeled off, into the purge tray (discharge tray 104) based on the processing stop instruction (cancellation instruction) (S808).

[0078] If the user does not cancel the process to recover from the processing error (S807: NO), the image forming apparatus 300 loops the process until the processing error (jam) is removed (S809: NO). Once the jam is removed (S809: Yes), the image forming system 1 starts recovery printing (S810).

[0079] When recovery printing is started, the image forming apparatus 300 restarts paper feeding and performs image forming on the sheet Ps (S811). Next, the inner sheet P is inserted into the polymerized sheet S, which has been peeled and held in place, and the lamination process is performed by heat pressing (S812). The processed laminated sheet is then discharged into the discharge tray 104 (S813).

[0080] As described above, the processing flow according to this embodiment allows for a step in which the user determines whether or not the already prepared polymerized sheet S is usable after recovering from a processing error that occurred after the start of the print job. In this case, if the user determines that it is not appropriate to reuse the polymerized sheet S, the user can cancel the recovery process, thereby ejecting the polymerized sheet S and executing a print job using a new polymerized sheet S.

[0081] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the technical essence, and all technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are subject to the present invention. The above embodiments are shown as preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various modifications from the disclosed content. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1: Image forming system 10: Sheet Processing Control Unit 11: Sheet Processing Controller 12: Laminating Control Unit 30: Image forming control unit 31: Image control controller 32: Engine 100: Laminating processing equipment 101: Sheet Processing Operation Panel 102: Seat Tray 104: Output tray 300: Image forming apparatus 321: Control and Management Department 322: Plotter Control Unit 400: Laminating processing equipment 1011: Image forming apparatus reset processing button 1012: Post-processing device return button [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0083] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-143072

Claims

1. A sheet receiving section that receives sheet-like media transported from the upstream equipment, The system includes a post-processing unit that peels off the polymerization sheet, inserts the medium, and heat-treats the polymerization sheet into which the medium has been inserted, The aforementioned post-processing unit is If a processing abnormality occurs before the medium is delivered from the upstream device, the peeling process of the polymerization sheet shall be continued until completion. Without discharging the polymerized sheet after peeling is complete, the polymerized sheet in the peeled state is retained. In the recovery printing initiated after the processing abnormality has been resolved, the medium is inserted into the polymer sheet that was being held and the heat treatment is performed. A sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit, when the post-processing interrupted due to the processing abnormality is the peeling of the polymerized sheet, and the processing abnormality is based on a processing stop instruction to the post-processing unit, does not continue the peeling process that was interrupted due to the processing abnormality, but instead executes the peeling process anew.

3. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet processing operation panel outputs recovery prompt information to prompt the user to perform a recovery operation for the processing abnormality when the processing abnormality occurs.

4. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet-like medium; and a sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 that performs post-processing on the medium.

Images