Sheet loading device, image forming system, and information processing device

Abstract

A sheet stacking device (100) comprises a conveyance unit (512, 513, 514), a discharge unit (515), a stacking unit (751) in which sheets discharged from the discharge unit are stacked, and a control unit (636) that stops the operation of stacking the sheets in the stacking unit according to the quantity of sheets stacked in the stacking unit. When unperforated sheets are stacked in the stacking unit, the control unit stops the operation of stacking the sheets in the stacking unit in response to a first quantity of sheets being stacked in the stacking unit. When perforated sheets are stacked in the stacking unit, the control unit stops the operation of stacking the sheets in the stacking unit in response to a smaller quantity of sheets than the first quantity being stacked in the stacking unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet stacking device that stacks sheets on which a process of forming perforations is performed on the conveyed sheet, an image forming system equipped with the sheet stacking device, and an information processing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a sheet processing device that punches perforations in a sheet discharged from an image forming device has been known (see, for example, "Patent Document 1"). The sheet processing device described in Patent Document 1 conveys the sheet on which perforations are formed by the sheet processing device to the downstream side and conveys it to a finisher. Conventionally, it is known that a finisher includes a stacking tray for stacking sheets (see, for example, "Patent Document 2"), and in the device described in Patent Document 1 as well, the sheet on which perforations are made is stacked on this stacking tray.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] To form perforations in a sheet, a plurality of fine perforation holes or cuts are formed at intervals in a substantially straight line in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. Unlike a punching process such as a so-called punching process, since the portion where the perforation holes are made is not cut out, convex portions in the sheet thickness direction such as so-called burrs and curls occur around each hole for forming the perforations.

[0005] When multiple perforated sheets, which have protrusions due to the perforation process described above, are stacked on the finisher's loading tray, the areas where the protrusions were formed bulge, worsening the stacking condition. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a sheet transport A conveying mechanism and the sheet conveyed by the conveying mechanism. but Loading So A loading tray, A control unit controls the transport mechanism so that the number of predetermined sheets loaded onto the loading tray is limited to an upper limit, The control unit is provided with perforations on each of the predetermined sheets. doing case Maximum number of sheets However, if perforations are not provided on each of the aforementioned predetermined sheets Maximum number of sheets To make it less than The transport mechanism is It is a controllable sheet loading device.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, and a perforation forming apparatus for forming perforations on the sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus. A sheet on which an image has been formed by the aforementioned image forming apparatus, Sheet with perforations formed by the perforation forming device and, A conveying mechanism for transporting the sheet transported by the conveying mechanism but Loading So A loading tray, A control unit controls the transport mechanism so that the number of predetermined sheets loaded onto the loading tray is limited to an upper limit. , comprising, and each of the predetermined sheets having perforations It is provided case The maximum number of Each of the aforementioned predetermined sheets has perforations. Established If not Maximum number of sheets To make it less than The transport mechanism It is a controlled image formation system.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a sheet perforated by a perforation processing device and a sheet transported from an image forming apparatus without being perforated by the perforation processing device. 、 Loading device on which the item is loaded The number of sheets that can be loaded is limited to the maximum number.A memory that stores a control program to be controlled, and a processor configured to execute the control program. In a state where the control program is being executed by the processor, the processor performs a predetermined perforation process when Each has its own when the predetermined sheet is loaded on the loading device The maximum number of , the prescribed perforation process is Not provided for each when the predetermined sheet is loaded on the loading device upper limit sheet Number is less than Control to make it less so. an information processing device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, in a sheet loading device that loads a sheet with perforations, the alignment of the loaded sheets can be improved.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a sheet processing device and an image forming device including the sheet loading device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the control system of a sheet processing device and an image forming device including the sheet loading device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the sheet processing device. [Figure 4] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the sheet processing device. [Figure 5] It is a side view of the above sheet processing device as viewed from the downstream side in the conveyance direction. [Figure 6A] [[ID=…]] [Figure 6B] ​This is a perspective view of a sheet with processing (perforation) applied near the upstream edge. [Figure 6C] This is a perspective view of a sheet with processing (perforations) applied near the center and near the upstream edge. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the finisher. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the finisher's control system. [Figure 9A] This diagram shows the screen for setting the type of perforation. [Figure 9B] This diagram shows the screen for setting the position of a single perforation. [Figure 9C] This diagram shows the screen for setting the position of the double perforations. [Figure 10A] This is a cross-sectional view showing a finisher's loading tray with sheets that have not been perforated. [Figure 10B] This is a cross-sectional view showing the finisher's loading tray with perforated thin paper loaded on it. [Figure 10C] This is a cross-sectional view showing cardboard with perforations loaded onto the finisher's loading tray. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram regarding the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded according to the perforation mode. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart showing the printing process. [Figure 13] This flowchart shows the process for determining the maximum number of items that can be loaded. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 600, a sheet processing apparatus 200 positioned adjacent to the side of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a finisher 100, which serves as a sheet loading device, positioned adjacent to the sheet processing apparatus on the side opposite to the image forming apparatus 600.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 600 includes a document feeder 650 and an operation unit 601. Documents fed by the document feeder 650 are read, and images are formed on the photosensitive drums 914a to 914d. The position from which the user faces the operation unit 601 to perform various inputs and settings for the image forming apparatus 600 is referred to as the front side of the image forming system 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "front side"), and the rear side of the apparatus is referred to as the "back side".

[0015] Sheets supplied from sheet cassettes 909a and 909b within the image forming apparatus 600 have toner images of four colors—yellow, magenta, cyan, and black—transferred onto them by photosensitive drums 914a to 914d, which act as image carriers. Each of the photosensitive drums 914a to 914d constitutes an image forming unit that forms the toner image on the sheet. The sheet is then transported to the fuser 904 where the toner image is fixed, and in single-sided image forming mode, it is discharged directly from the discharge roller 907 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 600. In double-sided image forming mode, the sheet is transferred from the fuser 904 to the reversing roller 905. When the rear end of the sheet in the transport direction passes the reversing flapper 3, the reversing roller 905 is rotated in the reverse direction. This transports the sheet in the direction of the double-sided transport rollers 906a to 906f, which is in the opposite direction to the sheet transport direction.

[0016] Then, the four-color toner image is transferred again to the back side of the sheet by the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photosensitive drums 914a to 914d, etc. The sheet, with the toner image transferred to both sides, is transported again to the fuser unit 904, where the toner image is fixed, and then discharged outside the image forming apparatus 600 by the discharge roller 907.

[0017] The sheet processing device 200 transports the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 907 of the image forming apparatus 600 toward the finisher 100, and performs a perforation forming process on the sheet during transport, which will be described later.

[0018] The finisher 100 receives the sheets discharged from the sheet processing device 200, which acts as a perforation processing device, and discharges them into the lower stacking tray 750 (or upper stacking tray 751). However, based on user settings, it can also perform post-processing such as stapling or bundle alignment before discharging them into the lower stacking tray 750.

[0019] The sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 600 can be processed by the sheet processing apparatus 200 and finisher 100, which are connected online. The image forming apparatus 600 can also be used independently without connecting the sheet processing apparatus 200 to the discharge port 9. The image forming apparatus 600 may also integrate the sheet processing apparatus 200 and finisher 100 as a single sheet discharge device. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 600 is not limited to the color image forming apparatus body described above; it may also be a black and white image forming apparatus body.

[0020] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 4 that controls the image forming system 1. In Figure 2, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) circuit unit 630 has a CPU 629, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 631, and a RAM (Random-access Memory) 655. The CPU circuit unit 630 controls the document feeder control unit 632, the image reader control unit 633, the image signal control unit 634, the printer control unit 635, the finisher control unit 636, the sheet processing control unit 638, and the external interface 637. The CPU circuit unit 630 controls according to the program stored in the ROM 631 and the settings of the operation unit 601. The document feeder control unit 632 controls the document feeder 650. The image reader control unit 633 controls the image reader 5.

[0021] The printer control unit 635 controls the image forming apparatus 600. The sheet processing control unit 638 controls the sheet processing apparatus 200, which is a sheet processing unit that performs predetermined processing on sheets conveyed by the conveying roller pair 211, which is a sheet conveying unit as shown in Figure 3.

[0022] The finisher control unit 636 controls the finisher 100. In this embodiment, the sheet processing control unit 638 is mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 200, and the finisher control unit 636 is mounted on the finisher 100.

[0023] The present invention is not limited thereto. The sheet processing control unit 638 and the finisher control unit 636 may be provided integrally with the CPU circuit unit 630 in the image forming apparatus 600, and the sheet processing device 200 and the finisher 100 may be controlled from the image forming apparatus 600. Furthermore, the finisher control unit 636 communicates with the image forming apparatus 600 and acquires post-processing information input by the operator.

[0024] RAM 655 is used as a temporary storage area for control data and as a workspace for calculations associated with control. The external interface 637 is an interface from the personal computer (PC) 620, which expands print data into an image and outputs it to the image signal control unit 634. The image read by the image sensor 5a is output from the image reader control unit 633 to the image signal control unit 634. The image output from the image signal control unit 634 to the printer control unit 635 is then input to an exposure control unit (not shown) that controls the laser scanner 10, which is the image exposure unit.

[0025] The sheet processing control unit 638 is mounted on the sheet processing device 200 and controls the overall operation of the sheet processing device 200 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 630 of the image forming system 1. The finisher control unit 636 is mounted on the finisher 100 and controls the overall operation of the finisher 100 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 630 of the image forming system 1. The sheet processing control unit 638 and the finisher control unit 636 control various motors and sensors provided in the image forming system 1.

[0026] Next, the sheet processing device will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 5. As shown in Figure 3, the sheet processing device 200 has a housing 271 supported by casters 270, and a sheet processing path 6 extending horizontally is arranged inside the housing 271. A processing unit 8 is located in the middle of the sheet processing path 6, and the processing unit 8 has a sheet processing unit 220 that performs perforation forming processing to form perforations, and a lateral / skew registration correction unit (hereinafter referred to as the lateral registration skew correction unit) 250 located adjacent to the downstream side of the sheet processing unit 220. Multiple transport roller pairs 202, 208, 209, 210 and 211 are arranged along the sheet processing path 6 upstream of the sheet processing unit 220, and each transport roller, for example, in the transport roller pair 211, has a driven (active) roller 211a located on the lower side of the sheet processing path 6, and a driven roller 211b located on the upper side so as to be in contact with the driven roller 211a. The drive rollers of these transport rollers are driven by motor M25. The inlet of the sheet processing path 6 is positioned so as to align with the discharge port 9 of the image forming apparatus 600, and an inlet sensor 201 is installed to detect sheets received into the sheet processing path 6 from the discharge port 9. A sheet edge detection sensor 213 and a unit identification sensor 222 are positioned on the inlet side of the processing unit 8.

[0027] In the sheet processing path 6 downstream of the lateral register skew correction unit 250, multiple transport roller pairs 214, 215, 216, and 206 are arranged, similar to the upstream side, and a discharge sensor 207 is positioned at their discharge port. The discharge port of the sheet processing path 6 is aligned with the sheet path inlet of the finisher 100. The drive rollers of these downstream transport roller pairs 214, 215, 216, and 206 are driven by motor M26.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the sheet processing unit 220 has a die plate 225, and shaft guides 228a and 228b are erected at the front and rear ends of the die plate 225, and a perforation blade 404 is supported on these shaft guides so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, a pressing drive unit 280 is positioned above the sheet processing unit 220. The pressing drive unit 280 includes a cam drive motor M21 and an eccentric cam 282 driven by the cam drive motor M21. The eccentric cam 282 rotates eccentrically by the camshaft 281 to press the perforation blade 404. The perforation blade can be of various forms, such as a rotating cutter configuration.

[0030] Next, the operation of the sheet processing device 200 described above will be explained in detail. The sheet processing device 200 sequentially takes in the sheets discharged from the discharge port 9 of the image forming apparatus 600. Sheet processing in the sheet processing device 200 operates according to user settings made by the operation unit 601 provided on the image forming apparatus 600. The sheets discharged from the discharge port 9 of the image forming apparatus 600 are passed to the transport roller pair 202 of the sheet processing device 200. At this time, the timing of the sheet transfer is also detected by the inlet sensor 201. The sheets are transported to the processing unit 8 by the transport roller pairs 208 to 211. Then, they pass through the transport path 232 of the sheet processing unit 220 shown in Figures 3 and 5.

[0031] The sheet, having passed through the transport path 232, stops when it reaches a predetermined position in the sheet transport direction, and is perforated by the processing unit 8 in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. In this embodiment, perforation refers to a perforation starting from one end along the sheet width direction. others A single perforation is defined as a series of incisions or small holes formed at intervals along a straight line to the edge, and formed in a single operation of the perforation mechanism described later.

[0032] Figures 6A to 6C are perspective views of a sheet that has been processed (perforated) by the sheet processing unit. Figure 6A shows a sheet perforated by a mode that forms perforations perpendicular to the sheet's transport direction (width direction) (hereinafter referred to as "center perforation") at approximately the center of the sheet (i.e., the central part) in the sheet's transport direction (length direction) indicated by arrow A. Figure 6B shows a sheet perforated by a mode that forms perforations perpendicular to the sheet's transport direction (width direction) (hereinafter referred to as "single perforation") near the upstream edge (upstream end, in this embodiment, 12 mm downstream from the upstream edge of the sheet) in the sheet's transport direction (length direction) indicated by arrow A. Furthermore, Figure 6C shows a state in which perforations have been applied to the sheet by a mode that forms two perforations along the width direction of the sheet (hereinafter referred to as "double perforation") at two locations: approximately the center position in the length direction of the sheet along the conveying direction of the sheet indicated by arrow A, and near the upstream edge (in this embodiment, this is 12 mm downstream from the upstream edge of the sheet).

[0033] The sheets that have been perforated by the sheet processing unit 220 are again gripped and conveyed by the conveyor roller pair 211, and then conveyed by the conveyor roller pairs 214-216 and 206 to be handed over to the downstream finisher 100.

[0034] The sheet processing unit 220 is equipped with multiple types of processing units with different perforation patterns, which are interchangeable. The type information stored in the memory unit of the IC (Integrated Circuit) chip 221 mounted on the sheet processing unit 220 is read by the unit identification sensor 222. This identifies which type of sheet processing unit 220 is mounted on the processing unit 8.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the sheet processing control unit 638 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701 consisting of a microcomputer. Furthermore, it has RAM (Random Access Memory) 702 and ROM (Read Only Memory) 703. In addition, it has an I / O (Input / Output) 705, a communication interface 706, and a network interface 704. Furthermore, the transport control unit 707 performs sheet transport processing. In addition, the sheet processing drive control unit 708 controls the rotational drive of the eccentric cam 282 by the cam drive motor M21. The sheet processing unit identification unit 709 identifies the type of sheet processing unit 220 by reading the type information stored in the memory unit of the IC chip 221 incorporated into the sheet processing unit 220. In addition, the lateral register skew correction control unit 710 performs sheet skew correction.

[0036] Next, the configuration of the finisher 100 will be explained with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a configuration diagram of the finisher 100 shown in Figure 1. The finisher 100 sequentially takes in sheets discharged from the sheet processing device 200 and performs various post-sheet processing, such as aligning the multiple sheets taken in and bundling them into a single bundle, and stapling the rear end of the bundled sheet bundle with staples. The finisher 100 takes the sheets received from the sheet processing device 200 into the transport path 520 using the transport roller pair 511. The sheets taken in by the transport roller pair 511 are transported via the transport roller pairs 512, 513, and 514, which act as transport units. Transport sensors 570, 571, 572, and 573 are provided on the transport path 520, each detecting the passage of a sheet. The transport roller pair 512 is mounted on the shift unit 580 together with the transport path sensor 571. The shift unit 580 can move the sheet in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction using the shift motor M11, which will be described later. By driving the shift motor M11 while the conveying roller pair 512 is gripping the sheet, the sheet can be offset in the sheet width direction while being conveyed. In shift sort mode, the position of the sheet bundle is shifted in the width direction for each section. The offset amount is 15 mm towards the front (front shift) or 15 mm towards the back (back shift) relative to the center position in the width direction. If no shift is specified, the sheet is discharged at the same position as the front shift. When the finisher 100 detects that the sheet has passed the shift unit 580 based on the input from the conveying path sensor 571, it drives the shift motor M11 to return the shift unit 580 to the center position.

[0037] Between the transport roller pair 513 and the transport roller pair 514, a switching flapper 540 is positioned to guide the sheet, which is being inverted and transported by the transport roller pair 514, to the buffer path 523. The switching flapper 540 is driven by a solenoid (not shown). The buffer path 523 has a buffer path roller pair 519. Between the transport roller pair 514 and the upper paper discharge roller pair 515, a switching flapper 541 is positioned to switch the transport destination to either the upper paper discharge path 521 or the lower paper discharge path 522. When the switching flapper 541 switches to the upper paper discharge path 521 side, the sheet is guided to the upper paper discharge path 521 by the transport roller pair 514 driven by the transport motor M1. The sheet is then discharged to the upper stacking tray 751 by the upper paper discharge roller pair 515, which acts as an discharge section driven by the paper discharge motor M2. An upper tray paper discharge sensor 574 is provided on the upper paper discharge path 521 to detect the passage of the sheet. When the switching flapper 541 switches to the lower paper discharge path 522, the sheet is guided to the lower paper discharge path 522 by the transport roller pair 514 driven by the transport motor M1. The sheet is then guided to the processing tray 530 by the first lower transport roller pair 516, the second lower transport roller pair 517, and the processing tray transport roller pair 518, all driven by the transport motor M1. A first transport sensor 575 and a second transport sensor 576 are provided on the lower paper discharge path 522 to detect the passage of the sheet.

[0038] The sheets guided to the processing tray 530 are discharged either onto the processing tray 530 or onto the lower stacking tray 750, depending on the post-processing mode, by a bundle discharge roller pair 590 driven by a bundle discharge motor (not shown). A lower tray discharge sensor 577 is located on the processing tray 530 to detect the passage of sheets. A stapler unit 591 is also located on the processing tray 530 to staple the aligned sheet bundles on the processing tray 530.

[0039] The lower stacking tray 750 and the upper stacking tray 751 can be raised and lowered by the lower tray lifting motor M10 and the upper tray lifting motor M9, which will be described later. The lower tray paper surface detection sensor 720 and the upper tray paper surface detection sensor 721 detect the top surface of each stacking tray or the sheet on each stacking tray. Based on the detection results of the lower tray paper surface detection sensor 720 and the upper tray paper surface detection sensor 721, the finisher 100 drives the lower tray lifting motor M10 and the upper tray lifting motor M9 to control the distance between the top surface of each stacking tray or the sheet on each stacking tray and the sheet discharge port to always be a constant distance. In addition, the upper tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 730 and the lower tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 731 detect the presence or absence of sheets on the lower stacking tray 750 and the upper stacking tray 751.

[0040] Next, the configuration of the finisher control unit 636 will be explained using the block diagram in Figure 8. The finisher control unit 636, as a control unit, is composed of a CPU 412, RAM 414, ROM 415, input / output I / O 411, communication interface (SCI) 413, etc. The finisher control unit 636 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 630, exchanges data such as sending and receiving commands, job information, and sheet handover notifications, and executes various programs stored in ROM 415 to control the drive of the finisher 100. In other words, the finisher control unit 636 can be described as an information processing device equipped with a CPU 412 as a processor, RAM 414 as memory and ROM 415. ROM 415, an example of a non-primary computer-readable recording medium, stores a control program that controls the sheet loading operation onto the finisher 100, which is a loading device onto which sheets transported from the image forming apparatus 600 without being perforated by the sheet processing device 200 as a perforation device are loaded.

[0041] Here, the finisher control unit 636 is a control unit (perforation information acquisition unit 4123, basis weight information acquisition unit 4122) that receives post-processing information (for example, information on perforation formation process and information on basis weight) from the CPU circuit unit 630 to the image forming apparatus 600 from the operator. RAM 414 temporarily holds control data and is used as a workspace for calculation processing associated with control. Communication interface (SCI) 413 communicates serially with the CPU circuit unit 630 of the image forming apparatus 600 to exchange operation instructions and control data. Input / output I / O 411 sends on / off signals from CPU 412 to output devices such as motors, and sends signals from input devices such as sensors to CPU 412. The transport motor M1 and the paper discharge motor M2 are connected to input / output I / O 411. I / O411 is further connected to the following motors: lower tray alignment motor (front) M6, lower tray alignment motor (rear) M7, lower tray alignment plate lifting motor M8, upper tray lifting motor M9, lower tray lifting motor M10, and shift motor M11. In addition, I / O411 is connected to the upper tray paper surface detection sensor 721, lower tray paper surface detection sensor 720, upper tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 730, lower tray paper presence / absence detection sensor 731, upper tray paper ejection sensor 574, and lower tray paper ejection sensor 577.

[0042] Additionally, the upper tray drive encoder 578 and the lower tray drive encoder 579 are connected to I / O 411. The upper tray drive encoder 578 and the lower tray drive encoder 579 output pulses corresponding to the movement of the lower tray 750 and the upper tray 751, respectively, as they move up and down in response to the paper surface detection operation on the sheets on the lower and upper trays 751. The CPU 412 can determine the amount of movement of the lower tray 750 and the upper tray 751 by counting the pulses output from the upper tray drive encoder 578 and the lower tray drive encoder 579.

[0043] Figures 9A-C show examples of operation screens used by the user to set the type and position of perforations via the operation unit 601. The image forming system 1 allows the user to select from multiple types of perforation processing, and the user can also adjust the position of the perforations within a specified range.

[0044] Figure 9A shows an example screen for setting the type of perforation. As shown in Figure 9A, the perforation processing selection screen 300 displays toggle switches for the following: center perforation selection combo box 301, single perforation selection combo box 302, double perforation selection combo box 303, and no perforation (bypass) selection combo box 304. The user can select the desired type of perforation from these combo boxes.

[0045] Furthermore, the perforation selection screen 300 also displays a single perforation position adjustment button 305 and a double perforation position adjustment button 306. By pressing these buttons, the single perforation position adjustment screen 310 shown in Figure 9B and the double perforation position adjustment screen 320 shown in Figure 9C can be displayed, allowing the position of each perforation to be adjusted.

[0046] Furthermore, the perforation selection screen 300 also displays OK button 307 and Cancel button 308, but since these buttons are part of a typical user interface, we will omit their explanation.

[0047] Figure 9B shows an example screen for adjusting the position of a single perforation. As shown in Figure 9B, the single perforation position adjustment screen 310 displays a single perforation X position adjustment field 311, an OK button 307, and a cancel button 308. The user can adjust the position of the single perforation within a specified range by entering a numerical value into the single perforation X position adjustment field 311 using the numerical input buttons (not shown) on the operation unit 601.

[0048] Figure 9C shows an example screen for adjusting the position of the double perforation. As shown in Figure 9C, the double perforation position adjustment screen 320 displays the double perforation Y position adjustment field 321, the double perforation X position adjustment field 322, an OK button 307, and a Cancel button 308. The user can adjust the position of the double perforation within a specified range by entering numerical values ​​into the double perforation Y position adjustment field 321 and the double perforation X position adjustment field 322 using the numerical input buttons (not shown) on the operation unit 601.

[0049] Figures 10A to 10C show the state in which the finisher 100 has loaded the sheets received from the sheet processing device 200 onto the upper stacking tray 751. As shown in Figure 10A, even if multiple sheets that have not been perforated are stacked on top of each other, the sheets are stacked flat, so the sheets loaded onto the upper stacking tray 751 are stacked approximately parallel to the sheet contact surface angle on the upper stacking tray 751.

[0050] On the other hand, when perforation is performed by the sheet processing device 200, burrs and other protrusions are generated in the perforated areas. Therefore, when many perforated sheets are loaded onto the upper loading tray 751, these protrusions rise up, making it impossible to load the sheets approximately parallel to the sheet mounting surface on the upper loading tray 751.

[0051] The impact of burrs and other protrusions created by this perforation process on the loading sheet is significant, especially for sheets with a high weight per unit area and a strong, rigid structure (basis weight 100g / m²). 2 This sheet is superior to (hereinafter referred to as "thick paper"), and has a lower weight per unit area and is less rigid than a sheet with a basis weight of 100g / m². 2The following sheets (hereinafter referred to as "thin paper") are more susceptible to the effects. The height of protrusions such as burrs and edges does not differ significantly between thick paper and thin paper, so the deformation rate of thin paper is higher due to its thinner sheet thickness, the burrs cannot be flattened due to its lighter sheet weight, and furthermore, the sheet has less stiffness (low rigidity), causing it to conform to the shape of the previously stacked sheets. As a result, the stack of previously stacked sheets becomes significantly more distorted with thin paper than with thick paper, even with fewer sheets stacked. Figure 10B shows the shape of the stack of previously stacked sheets when 300 sheets of thin paper with center perforations are continuously stacked on the upper stacking tray 751, and Figure 10C shows the shape of the stack of previously stacked sheets when 300 sheets of thick paper with center perforations are continuously stacked on the upper stacking tray 751. The bulge in Figure 10B is greater than in Figure 10C, making the sheets more likely to fall.

[0052] In the finisher 100, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 is normally set to the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the tray (maximum load capacity) (4000 sheets in this embodiment). When the number of sheets loaded reaches this maximum number, the finisher control unit 636 outputs a signal to the image forming apparatus 600 to notify it of an overload, meaning that no more sheets can be loaded onto the tray (hereinafter referred to as "full load"). When the image forming apparatus 600 receives an overload notification from the finisher 100, it temporarily stops the printing process and operates to wait for the sheet bundle to be removed from the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751. Even when loading perforated sheets, if the same loading limit (4000 sheets) is set, depending on the shape and angle of the tray, the protruding portion may bulge as described above, which may cause loading failures or subsequent sheets to fall when loading them. Alternatively, the upper tray paper surface detection sensor 721 and the lower tray paper surface detection sensor 720 may detect the paper surface of each tray and drive the tray lifting motor to lower the tray to a certain paper surface height, and the point when the tray reaches its lowering limit may be considered as fully loaded.

[0053] Therefore, when loading perforated sheets, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded can be varied depending on the location of the perforations, and by setting the optimal number, it is possible to prevent improper loading of sheets and sheets falling.

[0054] [Setting the maximum number of items that can be loaded] As described above, the stacking capacity of sheets on the stacking tray differs depending on the perforation mode and the sheet's basis weight. Therefore, the relationship between the perforation mode and the maximum stacking capacity setting will be explained here using Figure 11.

[0055] As shown in Figure 11, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set to 4,000 when the sheets are not perforated (no perforations). In contrast, when the perforation mode is center perforation, the area near the center of the sheet becomes raised compared to other parts due to the effects of burrs and flippers. Therefore, when subsequent sheets are loaded, there is a risk that the sheets will fall downstream in the transport direction along the shape of the stacked sheet bundle. For this reason, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set to 300 for thin paper, where the effects of burrs and flippers are significant, and to 1,000 for thick paper, where the effects of burrs are less significant. Also, when the perforation mode is double perforation, the area near the center of the sheet and the upstream edge become raised compared to other parts. In this case, no part will be extremely distorted, so the number of sheets that can be loaded increases compared to center perforation. Here, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set to 1,500 for thin paper and to 3,000 for thick paper. Furthermore, with single perforations, the upstream edge of the sheet has a raised shape compared to other parts. In this embodiment, since the system is described as being discharged to a finisher, the lower loading tray 750 and the upper loading tray 751 have inclination angles as shown in Figures 7 and 10A-C, and when only the upstream edge of the sheet is raised, the possibility of it falling downstream in the transport direction is lower compared to center perforations and double perforations. For this reason, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set to 2000 for thin paper and 3000 for thick paper.

[0056] In other words, in this embodiment, the finisher control unit 636 controls a predetermined sheet without perforations (a sheet of a predetermined paper type, basis weight, and size; for example, plain paper, A3 size, basis weight 70 g / m²). 2 When sheets are loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation onto the loading tray is stopped when a first quantity (the first maximum number of sheets that can be loaded, for example, 4000 sheets as described above) has been loaded onto the loading tray. The finisher control unit 636 also controls a predetermined sheet with perforations (a predetermined type of paper, basis weight, and size; for example, plain paper, A3, basis weight 70g / m²). 2 When a predetermined number of sheets is loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation of the predetermined sheets onto the loading tray is stopped in response to the loading of a predetermined number of sheets less than the first quantity (a number less than the first quantity, for example, 3000 sheets, 2000 sheets, 1500 sheets, 1000 sheets, or 300 sheets as described above) onto the loading tray.

[0057] The finisher 100 is a sheet loading device that loads sheets sent from an upstream device in the sheet transport direction (in this embodiment, an image forming apparatus 600 or a sheet processing apparatus 200), and comprises a transport section with transport roller pairs 512, 513, and 514 for transporting sheets sent from the upstream device, an upper paper discharge roller pair 515 for dischargering sheets transported by the transport section, a loading section for loading sheets discharged by the discharge section, and a finisher control unit 636 as a control unit that acquires information on the presence or absence of perforations of the sheets loaded in the loading section from the upstream device and controls the discharge section to make the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the loading section different. When a predetermined sheet that is recognized as having a predetermined perforation is loaded in the loading section, the finisher control unit 636 controls the discharge section to stop loading sheets into the loading section at a number of sheets that is less than the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded for a predetermined sheet that is recognized as not having a predetermined perforation.

[0058] Furthermore, the finisher control unit 636 perforates a predetermined sheet (a predetermined type of paper, basis weight, and size; for example, plain paper, A3 size, basis weight 70g / m²) at a first position (for example, the upstream end). 2When a predetermined number of sheets is loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation onto the loading tray is stopped when a second quantity (the first maximum number of sheets that can be loaded, e.g., 3000 sheets of thick paper, 2000 sheets of thin paper) that is less than the first quantity is loaded onto the loading tray. In addition, a predetermined sheet (a sheet of a predetermined paper type, basis weight, and size, e.g., plain paper, A3, basis weight 70g / m²) with perforations at a second position different from the first position (e.g., the center) is loaded onto the loading tray. 2 When a predetermined number of sheets is loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation of the predetermined sheets onto the loading tray is stopped when a third quantity (third maximum loading limit, for example, 1000 sheets of cardboard and 300 sheets of thin paper), which is less than the second quantity, is loaded onto the loading tray.

[0059] In other words, the finisher control unit 636 obtains the position information of the perforations of a predetermined perforated sheet to be loaded onto the loading device from the CPU 412. When the obtained position of the perforation is approximately in the center in the sheet transport direction, the CPU 412 stops loading the sheets onto the loading means at a number of sheets less than the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded when the position where the perforations are applied to the predetermined sheet is near the rear end in the sheet transport direction.

[0060] Furthermore, the finisher control unit 636 provides a first basis weight sheet (for example, A3 size, basis weight 100g / m²) with perforations at specific positions (same mode, same position, same number of perforations). 2 If cardboard thicker than the specified amount is loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation onto the loading tray will stop when a fourth quantity (the fourth maximum number of sheets that can be loaded, e.g., 3000 sheets, 1000 sheets) less than the first quantity is loaded onto the loading tray. In addition, a second basis weight (e.g., A3, basis weight 100g / m²) smaller than the first basis weight with perforations at the specific location mentioned above is loaded onto the loading tray. 2 When sheets of the following thin paper are loaded onto the loading tray, the loading operation onto the loading tray is stopped when a fifth quantity (the fifth maximum number of sheets that can be loaded, e.g., 2000 sheets, 1500 sheets, 300 sheets) less than the fourth quantity is loaded onto the loading tray.

[0061] In other words, the finisher control unit 636 receives basis weight information of the perforated sheets to be loaded onto the loading tray from the CPU 412. When the acquired basis weight of a predetermined size perforated sheet is less than a predetermined value, the CPU 412 stops loading sheets onto the loading device at a number of sheets less than the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the loading device (specifically, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the loading tray) when the basis weight of the predetermined size sheet is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

[0062] Furthermore, when perforated sheets are loaded onto the loading tray, the finisher control unit 636 adjusts the amount of sheets that will be loaded onto the loading tray to stop, depending on the number of perforations on the sheets being loaded. For example, comparing double perforations and center perforations, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is 3,000 sheets of thick paper and 1,500 sheets of thin paper for double perforations, while for center perforations it is 1,000 sheets of thick paper and 300 sheets of thin paper.

[0063] In other words, the finisher control unit 636 obtains information from the CPU 412 regarding the number of perforations on the perforated sheets to be loaded onto the loading device. When the obtained number of perforations on a predetermined sheet is one, the CPU 412 stops loading sheets onto the loading device at a number of sheets less than the maximum loading limit when the predetermined sheet has multiple perforations.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a loading setting is provided that allows the user to select whether to prioritize the loading capacity of the sheets loaded on the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751, or to prioritize the loading accuracy. This setting can be configured using the operation unit 601. Specifically, the finisher control unit 636 is configured to execute a loading capacity priority mode and a loading accuracy priority mode. In this loading setting, if the loading capacity priority mode (second mode) is selected, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set to 4000 (maximum number of sheets that can be loaded), regardless of whether or not the sheets are perforated. If the loading accuracy priority mode (first mode) is set, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is set according to the perforation mode and the basis weight of the sheets, as described above.

[0065] The maximum number of sheets that can be loaded as described herein is the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded onto the lower loading tray 750 or upper loading tray 751 of the finisher 100 in this embodiment. It is desirable to set the optimal maximum number of sheets depending on the shape and angle of the loading tray used. In this embodiment, the loading tray shape was described as having a downward sloping angle toward the upstream side in the conveying direction. However, even with a tray shape that is not sloped and is substantially horizontal, the alignment of perforated sheets can be improved by implementing the present invention.

[0066] From here, the printing process performed by the image forming system 1 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 12, which describes the flow from the transfer of the image-formed sheet from the image forming apparatus 600 to the sheet processing apparatus 200, the perforation of the sheet by the sheet processing apparatus 200, the discharge of the perforated sheet to the finisher 100, and finally the discharge of the sheet to the upper stacking tray 751 or the lower stacking tray 750, until the stacking is complete.

[0067] The printing process is realized by the following: in the image forming apparatus 600, the CPU 629 of the CPU circuit unit 630 reads a program stored in ROM 631 into RAM 655 as needed and executes it; in the sheet processing apparatus 200, the CPU 701 of the sheet processing control unit 638 reads a program stored in ROM 702 into RAM 703 as needed and executes it; and in the finisher 100, the CPU 412 of the finisher control unit 636 reads a program stored in ROM 415 into RAM 414 as needed and executes it.

[0068] In Figure 12, when the printing process (job) is started, the CPU 629 of the image forming apparatus 600 receives the submitted print job (step S101).

[0069] After receiving a print job, the CPU 629 of the image forming apparatus 600 feeds sheets corresponding to the received print job information from sheet cassettes 909a and 909b to an image forming unit (not shown), the image forming unit forms an image on the sheet (step S102), and then discharges the image-formed sheet to the sheet processing device 200.

[0070] When the sheet processing device 200 receives the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 600, the CPU 701 of the sheet processing device 200 recognizes from the print job information whether or not the received sheet is a sheet to be perforated (step S103).

[0071] If, in step S103, the CPU 701 of the sheet processing device 200 recognizes that the handed-over sheet is not a sheet to be perforated (step S103: NO), the CPU 701 of the sheet processing device 200 discharges the sheet to the finisher 100 without performing the perforation process.

[0072] On the other hand, if step S103 indicates that the received sheet is a sheet to be perforated (step S103: YES), the CPU 701 of the sheet processing device 200 performs the perforation process (step S104) and discharges the sheet to the finisher 100.

[0073] The CPU 412 of the finisher control unit 636 acquires information on the submitted print job (step S105) and, based on the acquired information, determines the maximum number of sheets that can be stacked on the lower stacking tray 750 or the upper stacking tray 751 (step S106). Details on how this maximum number of sheets is determined will be described later.

[0074] Subsequently, the CPU 412 determines whether the destination tray for the received sheet is the upper stacking tray 751 or the lower stacking tray 750 (step S107).

[0075] If, in step S107, it is determined that the destination tray is the upper stacking tray 751 (step S107: YES), the CPU 412 transports the sheet along the upper paper output path 521 and then discharges it into the upper stacking tray 751 (step S108).

[0076] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the destination tray is the lower stacking tray 750 (step S107: NO), the CPU 412 transports the sheet along the lower paper output path 522 and discharges it directly into the lower stacking tray 750 (step S109).

[0077] When the sheets have been discharged into the lower tray 750 or the upper tray 751, the CPU 412 increments the counter for the number of sheets loaded in each tray (step S110). At this time, the counter to be incremented may be a total counter that counts the total number of sheets loaded into the lower tray 750 or the upper tray 751, or it may be a perforated counter that counts only the number of perforated sheets, or both counters may be provided to count.

[0078] After incrementing the stack count counter, the CPU 412 determines whether the stack count counter has reached the maximum stack count determined in step S106 (step S111).

[0079] If the CPU 412 determines in step S111 that the number of sheets loaded on the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 has reached the maximum loading limit (step S111: YES), the CPU 412 notifies the image forming apparatus 600 that the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 of the finisher 100 has become overloaded (step S112).

[0080] The image forming apparatus 600 continues to operate from the moment it receives notification of exceeding the stacking limit until it loads the fed sheets into the stacking tray, after which it temporarily stops the image forming process. When the paper on the lower stacking tray 750 or the upper stacking tray 751 is removed and the CPU 412 recognizes that the paper presence detection sensor 730 or 731 is OFF, it releases the full-load state.

[0081] On the other hand, if step S111 determines that the number of sheets loaded on the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 has not yet reached the maximum loading capacity (step S111: NO), the CPU 412 proceeds to step S113 without notifying the image forming apparatus 600 that the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 of the finisher 100 has exceeded its loading capacity.

[0082] CPU412 determines whether all pages of the job have been completed (step S113). If it is determined in step S113 that not all pages of the job have been completed (step S113: NO), CPU412 returns to step S102 to process the next job and continues processing.

[0083] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S113 that the job for all pages has been completed (step S113: YES), the printing process is terminated.

[0084] Thus, in this embodiment, when the number of sheets loaded onto the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 reaches the maximum loading limit, an overload notification is issued. This makes it possible to prevent the aforementioned loading defects and sheet drops by temporarily suspending the output of sheets at the optimal number of sheets depending on the type of sheet being loaded, including when loading perforated sheets.

[0085] In this embodiment, whether or not the stacking limit has been exceeded, i.e., whether or not the number of sheets stacked on the stacking tray has been exceeded, was determined based on the count value of the stacking counter 4121, which counts the number of sheets discharged onto the stacking tray. However, for example, the determination may also be made based on the information of the number of sheets output counted by the counter of the CPU circuit section 630 of the image forming apparatus 600, or the information of the number of sheets received counted by the acceptance counter of the finisher control section 636. Alternatively, instead of counting the number of sheets, the system may be controlled to notify of an overload if the height information of the lower stacking tray 750 or the upper stacking tray 751 exceeds a certain reference height, or a sensor may be provided to detect the height of the sheets stacked on the lower stacking tray 750 or the upper stacking tray 751, and the determination of whether or not the stacking limit has been exceeded may be made based on the detection result of the sensor. In other words, the finisher control unit 636 is configured to stop the sheet loading operation onto the loading tray 750 / 751 depending on the amount of sheets loaded onto the loading tray 750 / 751, which serves as the loading unit. The amount of sheets loaded onto the loading tray 750 / 751 may be detected based on count values ​​counted by various counters as described above, or output values ​​from various sensors.

[0086] Furthermore, since the number of perforated sheets to be loaded is known in advance when the image forming apparatus 600 accepts a job, if the number of sheets to be loaded exceeds the maximum loading capacity, for example, a message indicating that sheet loading will stop once the maximum loading capacity is reached may be displayed on the operation unit 601 or the display of the personal computer 620, or the excess sheets may be loaded into a separate loading tray.

[0087] In this embodiment, step S103 determines whether or not to perform the perforation process. However, it is also possible to determine whether or not to perform the perforation process by obtaining information from the image forming apparatus 600 that the sheet fed to the image forming apparatus 600 already has perforations (hereinafter referred to as a pre-perforated sheet) via the perforation information acquisition unit 4123. On the other hand, if the pre-perforated sheet has few burrs and little elevation in the height direction, the user can set it so that the maximum load limit is not imposed even if there are perforations.

[0088] [Process to determine the maximum number of items that can be loaded] From here, Figure 13 will be used to explain the method for determining the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the finisher 100 to determine if the number of sheets has exceeded the limit.

[0089] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the process for determining the maximum number of stacked items from the acquired job information. This flowchart is executed by the CPU 412 of the finisher control unit 636.

[0090] When the process for determining the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded is executed, the CPU 412 first determines whether or not the loading accuracy priority mode is selected in the loading settings of the finisher 100 (step S201).

[0091] If it is determined in step S201 that the loading accuracy priority mode is not selected (step S201: NO), the CPU 412 sets the maximum loading capacity to F (step S216). Since there is no limit on the maximum loading capacity F, the maximum loading capacity F becomes the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded by the finisher 100.

[0092] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that priority has been selected for loading accuracy (step S201: YES), the CPU 412 determines from the acquired job information whether or not the sheet to be loaded has been perforated (step S202).

[0093] If it is determined in step S202 that the sheet has not been perforated (step S202: NO), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded to F (step S216). In this embodiment, the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded when the sheet has not been perforated is set to the maximum number of sheets F, but it may be set arbitrarily depending on processing other than perforation, sheet basis weight information, etc.

[0094] If it is determined in step S202 that the sheet has been perforated (step S202: YES), the CPU 412 determines from the acquired job information whether the perforation mode applied to the sheet to be loaded is a center perforation or not (step S203).

[0095] If step S203 determines that the perforation mode is center perforation (step S203: YES), the CPU 412 determines whether the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S204). This is because, as mentioned above, thinner paper is more susceptible to the effects of perforation burrs and sharp edges, causing the already loaded sheet bundle to warp significantly.

[0096] If step S204 determines that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S204: YES), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to A (step S205).

[0097] On the other hand, if it is determined that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (step S204: NO), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to B (step S206).

[0098] If step S203 determines that the perforation mode is not center perforation (step S203: NO), the CPU 412 further determines whether the perforation mode is single perforation or not (step S207).

[0099] If step S207 determines that the perforation mode is single perforation (step S207: YES), the CPU 412 determines whether the basis weight of the sheet to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S208).

[0100] If the CPU 412 determines in step S208 that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S208: YES), it sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to D. (step S209)

[0101] On the other hand, if it is determined that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (step S208: NO), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to E (step S210).

[0102] On the other hand, if step S207 determines that the perforation mode is not single perforation (step S207: NO), the CPU 412 further determines whether the perforation mode is double perforation or not (step S211).

[0103] If step S211 determines that the perforation mode is double perforation (step S211: YES), the CPU 412 determines whether the basis weight of the sheet to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S212).

[0104] If the CPU 412 determines in step S212 that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is less than a predetermined amount (step S212: YES), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to C (step S213).

[0105] On the other hand, if it is determined that the basis weight of the sheets to be loaded is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount (step S212: NO), the CPU 412 sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded in the lower loading tray 750 or the upper loading tray 751 to E (step S214).

[0106] Furthermore, if step S211 determines that the perforation mode is not double perforation (step S211: NO), the CPU 412 determines that the perforation mode is not a specified mode and sets the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded into the lower stacking tray 750 or the upper stacking tray 751 to E (step S215).

[0107] The modes other than the specified modes mentioned here include, for example, modes in which perforations are formed in the direction of sheet transport, or modes in which perforations are applied to only a portion of the sheet. In such cases, it is also possible to arbitrarily set the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded according to the load capacity. On the other hand, if perforations are applied to only a small portion of the sheet, for example, only a part of the sheet corner, there is no significant change in height, so the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded does not need to be changed.

[0108] In this embodiment, the operations described above can be achieved regardless of whether the program is written to the CPU built into the image forming apparatus 600 or the CPU built into the sheet processing apparatus 200. Furthermore, the control program can be implemented in various ways, such as by reading it from an external server or cloud or by reading and executing it from a personal computer used to operate the image forming system.

[0109] As described above, according to this embodiment, when stacking a large number of perforated sheets, the maximum number of sheets that can be stacked on the stacking tray is set to an optimal number according to the perforation mode on the sheet and the basis weight of the sheet, thereby limiting the number of sheets that can be stacked on the stacking tray. This makes it possible to prevent stacking errors and subsequent sheets from falling off the tray, even when stacking perforated sheets.

[0110] 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 present invention. All technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are subject to the present invention. The embodiments described above are preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements from the contents disclosed herein, and these are included in the technical scope described in the appended claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0111] The present invention can be used in a sheet loading device for loading sheets. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1: Image forming system (image forming apparatus) / 100: Sheet loading device / 200: Perforation processing device / 512, 513, 514: Conveying unit (conveying roller pair) / 515: Discharge unit (upper paper discharge roller pair) / 600: Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body) / 636: Control unit (finisher control unit) / 751: Loading unit (upper loading tray)

Claims

1. A conveying mechanism for transporting sheets, A loading tray on which the sheets transported by the aforementioned transport mechanism are loaded, The system includes a control unit that controls the transport mechanism so that the number of predetermined sheets loaded onto the loading tray is limited to an upper limit, The control unit controls the transport mechanism such that the upper limit number of sheets when each of the predetermined sheets has perforations is less than the upper limit number of sheets when each of the predetermined sheets does not have perforations. Sheet loading device.

2. The control unit controls the transport mechanism such that the maximum number of sheets perforations provided when each of the predetermined sheets has a perforation at a second position located closer to the center of the predetermined sheet than the first position in the direction in which the sheets are transported is less than the maximum number of sheets perforations provided at a first position near the upstream edge in the direction in which the sheets are transported. The sheet loading device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit controls the transport mechanism such that the upper limit number of sheets when the predetermined sheet has a basis weight less than a predetermined basis weight is less than the upper limit number of sheets when the predetermined sheet has the predetermined basis weight. The sheet loading device according to claim 1.

4. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, A perforation forming apparatus for forming perforations on a sheet on which an image has been formed by the aforementioned image forming apparatus, A conveying mechanism for conveying a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus and a sheet on which perforations have been formed by the perforation forming apparatus, A loading tray on which the sheets transported by the aforementioned transport mechanism are loaded, The system includes a control unit that controls the transport mechanism so that the number of predetermined sheets loaded onto the loading tray is limited to an upper limit, The transport mechanism is controlled such that the maximum number of sheets when each of the predetermined sheets has perforations is less than the maximum number of sheets when each of the predetermined sheets does not have perforations. Image forming system.

5. The control unit controls the transport mechanism such that each of the predetermined sheets has a perforation at a second position located closer to the center of the predetermined sheet than the first position, which is less than the upper limit of the number of sheets with a perforation at a first position near the upstream edge in the direction in which the sheets are transported. The image forming system according to claim 4.

6. The control unit controls the transport mechanism such that the upper limit number of sheets when the predetermined sheet has a basis weight less than a predetermined basis weight is less than the upper limit number of sheets when the predetermined sheet has the predetermined basis weight. The image forming system according to claim 4.

7. A memory that stores a control program that controls the number of sheets loaded onto a loading device, which is loaded with sheets perforated by a perforation processing device and sheets transported from an image forming apparatus without being perforated by the perforation processing device, so that the number of sheets is limited to an upper limit. A processor configured to execute the control program, While the control program is being executed by the processor, the processor controls the loading device so that the maximum number of sheets that each of the predetermined sheets has a predetermined perforation process is less than the maximum number of sheets that each of the predetermined sheets does not have a predetermined perforation process is loaded onto the loading device. Information processing device.

8. The processor acquires basis weight information of the predetermined sheets, each of which has been perforated, that are loaded onto the loading device. The processor controls the number of sheets obtained when the basis weight of the perforated predetermined sheet has a first basis weight that is smaller than the predetermined basis weight, so that the upper limit of the number of sheets is less than the upper limit of the number of sheets when it has the predetermined basis weight. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The processor acquires perforation position information of the predetermined sheets, each of which has been perforated, that are loaded onto the loading device. The processor controls the acquired perforation position information of the predetermined sheet so that the upper limit number of sheets when the perforation is provided at a second position located closer to the center of the sheet than the first position is less than the upper limit number when the perforation is provided at a first position near the upstream edge in the direction in which the sheet is transported. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

Images