JP2018072571A - Image forming system and alignment method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which: it takes time to warm up an image forming system and align an image forming apparatus to a post-processing device.SOLUTION: While being warmed up, an image forming apparatus, on the basis of the difference between positions on continuous paper at which charts are formed and positions of post-processing performed on the charts by the post-processing device, performs alignment to change a position at which an image is formed according to the positions on the continuous paper at which the post-processing is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an alignment method for forming an image on continuous paper.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, it is common to form an image on a sheet called a cut sheet that has been cut into a predetermined fixed size such as A4 or B4. In recent years, an image forming system including an image forming apparatus that forms an image on continuous paper such as roll paper or perforated continuous form paper (continuous form paper) has been developed. The image forming system includes a paper feeding device that feeds roll paper to the image forming device, an image forming device, and a post-processing device that performs post-processing to open a punch at a predetermined position of the roll paper on which the image is formed. And a winder that winds up the roll paper that has been post-processed.

  In Patent Document 1, post-processing is performed while transporting a label at a transport speed most suitable for each processing position on the label by changing the transport speed corresponding to the processing position on the label in the post-processing means. Techniques for performing are disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-268843

  Incidentally, the roll paper may be shaken in the main scanning direction (width direction) due to the influence of the tension (conveying pressure) applied to the roll paper. For example, a change in the conveyance pressure occurs due to replacement of the conveyance parts, or the roll paper is shaken in the main scanning direction when the roll paper is replaced. This blurring converges when a certain amount of roll paper transported by the image forming apparatus is wound up by a winding device disposed at the subsequent stage of the post-processing device. Therefore, the conventional image forming apparatus conveys the roll paper without forming an image during warm-up until the roll paper is stably conveyed without blurring so that an image can be formed at a fixed position. It was. However, until the blur in the main scanning direction of the roll paper converges and stabilizes, the image forming apparatus must transport a roll paper of a predetermined length (for example, 4 to 5 m). The length of roll paper was wasted paper, that is, waste paper.

  As described above, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is necessary that the winding device winds up the roll paper and transports the image forming device over several meters during warm-up before starting printing. Further, when the post-processing apparatus is connected to the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus aligns the post-processing with respect to the roll paper after the warm-up of the image forming apparatus is completed. At this time, the process in which the image forming apparatus prints the alignment chart on several m of roll paper is repeated several times, and the alignment of the post-processing apparatus with respect to the image forming apparatus is performed based on this chart.

  For this reason, conventionally, there has been an increasing amount of paper that combines roll paper used for warming up and roll paper on which a positioning chart is printed. In addition, since warm-up and chart printing are performed separately, it takes time until the image forming apparatus can actually start printing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to shorten the time required to start a job and reduce waste paper.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes a paper feeding device that feeds continuous paper, an image forming device that forms an image on the fed continuous paper, and post-processing that performs post-processing on the continuous paper on which the image has been formed. An apparatus and a winding device that winds the continuous paper that has been post-processed. While the image forming apparatus is warming up, the image forming apparatus performs post-processing on the continuous paper based on the difference between the position where the chart is formed on the continuous paper and the position of the post-processing performed on the chart by the post-processing apparatus. Alignment is performed to change the position where an image is formed in accordance with the position where processing is performed.

According to the present invention, since alignment is performed while the image forming apparatus is warming up, it is possible to reduce the amount of waste paper and to shorten the time until the job is started.
Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image formation control unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the software of the PC terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first functional configuration example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a second functional configuration example of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the warming-up level which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of the image forming system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example of the chart printing which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the calculation process of the feedback result in the 1st warming-up which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the chart printing which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of schematic structure of the image forming system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, about the component which has the substantially same function or structure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<1. First Embodiment>
[Entire system configuration]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to the first embodiment. An image forming system 10 in FIG. 1 is one in which the present invention is applied to a roll printing apparatus that forms an image on roll paper R (an example of continuous paper).

  The image forming system 10 is connected to a network N, and a PC terminal T1 (an example of a communication terminal) is connected to the network N. The network N is a communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The image forming system 10 receives a job sent from the PC terminal T1, and performs image forming processing (printing processing). The image forming system 10 includes a paper feeding device 3, an image forming device 1, a post-processing device 2, and a winding device 4.

  The paper feeding device 3 feeds the roll paper R to the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on the fed roll paper R by an electrophotographic method. The post-processing device 2 performs predetermined post-processing on the roll paper R on which the image is formed. The winding device 4 winds up the roll paper R that has been post-processed. Here, the post-processing is a general term for processing performed by aligning the position of an image formed on the roll paper R, such as punching the roll paper R or attaching a foil.

  In the image forming system 10, the paper feeding device 3 is arranged on the upstream side in the feeding direction of the roll paper R, and the winding device 4 is arranged on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the roll paper R. Then, the roll paper R is conveyed in the order of the paper feeding device 3, the image forming device 1, the post-processing device 2, and the winding device 4. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, the main scanning direction D <b> 1 is a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the roll paper R, and the sub-scanning direction D <b> 2 is the conveyance direction of the roll paper R.

  In the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 warms up before starting the image forming process on the roll paper R based on the job received from the PC terminal T1. The image forming apparatus 1 performs alignment based on the position where the chart is formed on the roll paper R during the warm-up and the position of the post-processing performed by the post-processing apparatus 2 on the chart, that is, the position of the mark. I do. The alignment is a process in which the image forming apparatus 1 changes the position where the image is formed in accordance with the position where the post-processing is performed on the roll paper R.

  The warming up performed in the image forming system 10 includes a first warming up and a second warming up. In the first warm-up, the image forming apparatus 1 conveys the roll paper R to the post-processing device 2 until the fixing temperature reaches an appropriate temperature in order to avoid excessive heat from the fixing unit 116 being applied to the roll paper R. It is an operation to continue. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 described later, the percentage indicating the ratio of the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 to the target fixing temperature (for example, the temperature at which a color toner image can be fixed on the roll paper R). The first warming-up operation is performed in which the roll paper R is continuously passed through the fixing unit 116 until the warming-up level is equal to or higher than the threshold value.

  The second warm-up is an operation in which the winding device 4 winds up the roll paper R having a certain length in order to correct the blur in the main scanning direction D1 of the roll paper R before the image forming apparatus 1 starts the job. is there. When the image forming apparatus 1 receives a job from the PC terminal T1, the image forming apparatus 1 performs the first warm-up and the second warm-up at the same time, and is ready to start the job when the first warm-up and the second warm-up are completed.

[Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus 1 employs an electrophotographic system that forms an image using static electricity. For example, toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are used. Is a tandem type color image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the image forming control unit 12 mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 is an example of a color printer engine.

  The image forming control unit 12 included in the image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a main control unit 12a and an image forming unit 12b shown in FIG. 2 to be described later, and the main control unit 12a performs control for forming an image on the roll paper R. The image forming unit 12b forms an image on the roll paper R.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K as the image forming unit 12b in order to form toner images of, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. When the image forming units 111Y, 111M, 111C, and 111K are not distinguished, they are referred to as image forming units 111.

  The image forming unit 111 includes a charging unit (not shown), an LED writing unit (laser light source), a developing unit, and a photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes an intermediate transfer belt 114 to which an image formed on the photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 111 is transferred, a secondary transfer unit 115, a fixing unit 116, and a temperature measurement unit 117. The fixing unit 116 is installed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer unit 115 in the feeding direction of the roll paper R. On the downstream side of the fixing unit 116 in the feeding direction, the conveyance path of the roll paper R extends to the discharge port. It is connected.

  First, in the image forming mode, the image forming apparatus 1 charges the photosensitive drum included in the image forming unit 111 of each color and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum in accordance with the original image, thereby generating an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. Form. Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum corresponding to each of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black by using a developing unit, and a toner image of each color is formed. Next, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are primarily transferred sequentially to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 114 that is rotationally driven.

  Next, each color toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 114 is secondarily transferred onto the roll paper R supplied from the paper feeding device 3 by the secondary transfer unit 115 (secondary transfer roller). Each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 114 is secondarily transferred to the roll paper R, whereby a color image is formed. The image forming apparatus 1 conveys the roll paper R on which a color toner image is formed to the fixing unit 116.

  The fixing unit 116 is a device that performs a fixing process on the roll paper R on which a color toner image is formed. The fixing unit 116 heated to a sufficient fixing temperature pressurizes and heats the conveyed roll paper R to fix the transferred toner image on the roll paper R. The fixing unit 116 includes, for example, an upper fixing roller and a lower fixing roller that are fixing members. The upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller are arranged in pressure contact with each other, and a fixing nip portion is formed as a pressing portion between the upper fixing roller and the lower fixing roller. A heating unit is provided inside the upper fixing roller, and the roller portion on the outer peripheral portion of the upper fixing roller is heated by the radiant heat from the heating unit.

  The temperature measurement unit 117 measures the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116. The fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 measured by the temperature measuring unit 117 is converted into a warm-up level and output to the image formation control unit 12 through the printer controller 11 described later.

  The image forming apparatus 1 discharges the roll paper R on which the image is formed to the post-processing apparatus 2 through the conveyance path. The post-processing device 2 performs post-processing such as foiling and punching on a predetermined position of the roll paper R, and discharges the roll paper R to the winding device 4. The winding device 4 winds the discharged roll paper R by a winding roller.

  Note that the image formation control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be a monochrome printer engine capable of forming a monochrome toner image.

[Functional configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printer controller 11, an image formation control unit 12, an operation unit 13, and a storage unit 14. The image formation control unit 12 includes a main control unit 12a and an image formation unit 12b.

  The printer controller 11 receives a job transmitted from the PC terminal T1 through the network N, and generates raster data (image forming data) converted by performing RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing or the like on the print data of the job.

  The main control unit 12a of the image forming control unit 12 is connected to each unit in its own apparatus via a system bus and an interface (not shown), and controls the operation of each unit. For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is used as the main control unit 12a, but an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) may be used.

  The image forming unit 12b of the image forming control unit 12 forms an image based on the image forming data on the roll paper R under the control of the main control unit 12a. At the start of the job, the image forming unit 12b changes the position of the image formed on the roll paper R based on the feedback result of the post-processing performed by the post-processing device 2, thereby Perform alignment. In the following description, it is also expressed that the image forming apparatus 1 performs the alignment performed by the image forming unit 12b.

The operation unit 13 outputs an input signal corresponding to the operation of the user or the like to the main control unit 12a. For example, an input signal instructing the start of a job such as an image forming process is output to the main control unit 12a. Further, the user can input a deviation amount of the mark M1 with respect to the chart C1 as a feedback result through the operation unit 13, for example, as shown in FIGS. The operation unit 13 is generally configured as an operation display unit in which a touch panel and a display panel are stacked.
The storage unit 14 stores a computer program executed by the main control unit 12a, received data, and the like.

[Hardware configuration of printer controller]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image formation control unit 12.

  The image forming control unit 12 includes a CPU 121, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 122, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 123, an HDD 124, and an engine I / F 125, which are connected via a system bus.

The RAM 122 temporarily stores data necessary for each process performed by the CPU 121.
The HDD 124 records a program for the CPU 121 to perform processing and control.
The NIC 123 is an example of a communication interface, and performs data transmission / reception processing with the printer controller 11 via the network N. For example, the NIC 123 receives raster data (image forming data) from the printer controller 11. The NIC 123 notifies the printer controller 11 of the execution status of the image forming process.

  The CPU 121 is connected to each unit in the image formation control unit 12 via the system bus and controls the operation of each unit. The function of each unit of the image formation control unit 12 is realized by the CPU 121 executing a program read from the HDD 124. The CPU 121 performs processing for forming an image on the roll paper R by the image forming unit 12 b based on the raster data (image forming data) generated by the printer controller 11.

  In the present embodiment, the printer controller 11 and the image formation control unit 12 are configured separately. However, the same function as the printer controller 11 may be operated by the main control unit 12 a of the image formation control unit 12. Further, the printer controller 11 may be a device different from the image forming apparatus 1.

[Software configuration of PC terminal]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of software of the PC terminal T1.

  On the PC terminal T1, an application 131 for editing and browsing document data and a printer driver 132 for printing are operating. The printer driver 132 performs settings necessary for printing in accordance with a print instruction from the application 131 and generates print data. The print data is PDL (Page Description Language) data described in a language (PCL (Printer Control Language), PostScript, etc.) that can be read by the image forming control unit 12. Then, the PC terminal T1 transmits a job including various print settings performed through the printer driver 132 and print data to the printer controller 11 via a network I / F (not shown) such as a NIC.

[Functional configuration of image forming system]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a first functional configuration example of the image forming system 10.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a warm-up necessity determination unit 21, an alignment necessity determination unit 22, a warm-up level acquisition unit 23, and a feedback result input unit 24. The warm-up necessity determination unit 21, the alignment necessity determination unit 22, and the warm-up level acquisition unit 23 are functional units included in the image formation control unit 12, and are respectively executed by programs executed by the CPU 121 illustrated in FIG. The function is realized.

  The warm-up necessity determination unit 21 determines whether the image forming apparatus 1 needs to warm up when the image forming apparatus 1 starts printing a job received from the PC terminal T1. When the post-processing device 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1, it is necessary to warm up the image forming apparatus 1. When the post-processing apparatus 2 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 1, it is not necessary to warm up the image forming apparatus 1.

  The alignment necessity determination unit 22 determines whether alignment is necessary when the post-processing device 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 starts warming up and alignment at the same timing when alignment is necessary. In addition, as long as alignment is completed while warming up is performed, the timing at which alignment is performed may not be the same as warming up. When it is determined that the alignment is necessary, the image forming control unit 12 included in the image forming apparatus 1 shifts the chart formed on the roll paper R from the position where the post-processing is performed on the chart. Based on the feedback result indicating the amount, alignment for changing the position of the image formed on the roll paper R is performed.

  The warm-up level acquisition unit 23 corresponds to the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 that fixes the image formed on the roll paper R to the roll paper R when the warm-up necessity determination unit 21 determines that the warm-up is necessary. Get the warm-up level. The process of converting the fixing temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit 117 into a percentage may be performed by the temperature measurement unit 117 or the warm-up level acquisition unit 23.

  A feedback result input by the user through the operation unit 13 is input to the feedback result input unit 24. When warming up is performed in the image forming system 10, the state of the roll paper R transported after the post-processing device 2 can be determined by reducing the speed at which the winding device 4 winds the roll paper R or stopping it. Can be visually observed. For this reason, the user visually confirms the roll paper R that has been post-processed by the post-processing device 2, and operates the alignment chart formed on the roll paper R and the amount of deviation of the post-processing result with respect to the chart. Input through the unit 13. Then, the feedback result input unit 24 calculates a distance and the like necessary for the image forming unit 12b to perform alignment by performing a process of averaging a plurality of deviation amounts input from the operation unit 13. Note that an average value of deviation amounts calculated in advance by the user may be input to the feedback result input unit 24 through the operation unit 13 as a feedback result. Based on the feedback result, the image formation control unit 12 performs alignment processing for shifting the position of the image formed on the roll paper R. Thereby, the image forming apparatus 1 can match the position where the image is formed with the position where the post-processing apparatus 2 performs the post-processing.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a second functional configuration example of the image forming system 10.

  The image forming apparatus 1 included in the image forming system 10 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a warm-up necessity determination unit 21, an alignment necessity determination unit 22, and a warm-up level acquisition unit 23.

  The PC terminal T1 includes a feedback result input unit 61. The feedback result input unit 61 is a function of the application 131 (see FIG. 4) that operates on the PC terminal T1, and operates in the same manner as the feedback result input unit 24 illustrated in FIG. After visually confirming the chart formed on the roll paper R, the user operates the PC terminal T1 and inputs the feedback result through the feedback result input unit 61. This feedback result is transmitted from the PC terminal T1 to the image forming apparatus 1 through the network N.

[Warming up level]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the warm-up level.

  As described above, the warm-up level represents the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116. FIG. 8 shows a number line representing the temperature ratio of the fixing unit 116 in increments of 0% to 10%. 0% is the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 that is not heated, and is, for example, a warming-up level that indicates the room temperature of the office where the image forming apparatus 1 is installed. A warming-up level of 50% or more and less than 80% corresponds to a fixing temperature at which the heated fixing unit 116 can fix an image formed in monochrome on the roll paper R. A warm-up level of 80% or more and less than 100% corresponds to a fixing temperature at which the heated fixing unit 116 can fix an image formed in color on the roll paper R.

  For this reason, the fixing unit 116 cannot sufficiently fix the image formed on the roll paper R at the warm-up level indicated by the range 31 of 0% or more and less than 50%. For example, when the warm-up level is 30% indicated by the arrow 35, the fixing unit 116 is not sufficiently heated, and the density of the image fixed on the roll paper R becomes thin or faint.

  On the other hand, the fixing unit 116 can fix the monochrome image formed on the roll paper R at the warming-up level indicated by the range 32 of 50% or more and less than 80%, but cannot fix the color image. For example, when the warm-up level is 70% indicated by the arrow 36, the fixing unit 116 can fix the monochrome image on the roll paper R.

  Further, the fixing unit 116 can fix the color image formed on the roll paper R at the warm-up level indicated by the range 33 of 80% or more and less than 100%. For example, when the warm-up level is 90% indicated by the arrow 37, the fixing unit 116 can fix the color image on the roll paper R.

  Note that the warming-up level may be a value obtained by using an actual measurement value of the fixing temperature without converting the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 into a percentage.

[Processing of image forming system]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an alignment method of the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the post-processing apparatus 2.

  First, when the image forming apparatus 1 receives a job from the PC terminal T1, the warm-up necessity determination unit 21 determines whether the warm-up is necessary (S1). When warming up is necessary (YES in S1), the image forming apparatus 1 performs warming up (S7). In this warming up, the first warming up and the second warming up are performed simultaneously.

  When the warm-up is not required (NO in S1), as indicated by the connector A, the image forming apparatus 1 does not perform the warm-up, and moves to step S5 to perform only the alignment. For example, when the time until the previous warm-up is performed and the current job is received is short, the fixing unit 116 has risen to a sufficient fixing temperature, and the warm-up is unnecessary.

  After YES in step S1, the alignment necessity determination unit 22 determines whether alignment is necessary when the post-processing device 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 (S2). When the post-processing apparatus 2 is not connected to the image forming apparatus 1 in step S2 (NO in S2), only the warming up of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed (S7). If the post-processing apparatus 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 (YES in S2) and the post-processing setting is included in the job, the post-processing apparatus 2 is adjusted. The processes in step S2 and steps S3 to S6 are performed in parallel with the warming up in step S7. However, even if the post-processing apparatus 2 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1, if the post-processing setting is not included in the job, only the warm-up of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed.

  After YES in step S2, the warm-up level acquisition unit 23 acquires the warm-up level from the temperature measurement unit 117 (S3). Then, the warm-up level acquisition unit 23 determines whether or not the warm-up level is appropriate in order to determine whether or not the fixing unit 116 has reached a fixing temperature necessary for alignment of the post-processing device 2 (S4). When the warm-up level is not appropriate (NO in S4), the process returns to step S3, and the warm-up level acquisition unit 23 continues to acquire the warm-up level until the appropriate warm-up level is reached.

  On the other hand, when the warm-up level is appropriate (YES in S4), after the image forming unit 12b forms the alignment chart on the roll paper R, the post-processing device 2 forms a mark on the alignment chart. The post-processing to be executed is executed (S5). Then, the image forming apparatus 1 adjusts the position of the image formed by the image forming apparatus 1 with the post-processing apparatus 2 based on the post-processing feedback results input from the feedback result input units 24 and 61. Completion (S6).

  After the alignment in step S6 and the warm-up in step S7, the image forming apparatus 1 starts a job (S8) and ends this process.

<Example of adjustment in the first warm-up>
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first example of chart printing.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 1 forms a plurality of charts C <b> 1 along the sub-scanning direction D <b> 2 of the roll paper R. The chart C1 is composed of a circle and a cross with the centers aligned. Then, the mark M1 is formed on the roll paper R by the post-processing device 2 in accordance with the position where the chart C1 is formed. The mark M1 is formed by, for example, the post-processing device 2 using an elliptical foil. When the positions of the chart C1 and the mark M1 are aligned, the chart C1 and the mark M1 are overlapped at the same position or slightly shifted.

  In the conventional image forming system, the process in which only the shift amount of the position of the mark M1 with respect to the set of charts C1 is input to the image formation control unit 12 as a feedback result is repeated. On the other hand, in the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment, since the alignment is performed during the first warm-up, the chart C1 is displayed in a state where the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 is not sufficiently increased. It may be formed on roll paper R.

  However, during the first warm-up, the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 116 is not sufficiently increased, and the density of the chart C1 formed on the roll paper R becomes thin or color unevenness occurs. The position of the mark M1 formed by the post-processing device 2 tends to be deficient. In FIG. 9, the chart C1 indicated by the solid line has a high density and no color unevenness occurs, but the chart C1 indicated by the broken line has insufficient density, color unevenness, or the like. In this case, the amount of deviation of the position of the mark M1 formed with respect to the chart C1 indicated by the broken line is significantly larger than the amount of deviation of the position of the mark M1 formed with respect to the chart C1 indicated by other solid lines. turn into. When the position of the mark M1 having a remarkably large amount of deviation with respect to the chart C1 is input to the image forming apparatus 1 as a feedback result, the image forming control unit 12 performs incorrect alignment. For this reason, it is necessary to remove from the feedback result the position of the mark M1 having a large amount of deviation from the chart C1.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of feedback result calculation processing in the first warm-up.

  First, the user visually observes the roll paper R and inputs the amount of deviation of the position of the mark M1 with respect to the chart C1 through the operation unit 13. The input shift amount is represented by data including a set of the chart C1 and the mark M1 formed with respect to the chart C1. And the feedback result input parts 24 and 61 perform the process which averages the deviation | shift amount of the input position using several sets of data (S11). The image formation control unit 12 acquires, as feedback results, feedback values from the feedback result input units 24 and 61, the average value of the deviation amounts from the positions of post-processing performed for each of the plurality of charts.

  Next, the feedback result input units 24 and 61 determine the presence / absence of data in which the deviation amounts of the plurality of marks M1 selected as the objects to be averaged are equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold (S12). This process does not hinder the alignment if the deviation amount of the mark M1 with respect to the chart C1 is small. However, if the deviation amount is remarkably large, the alignment will be hindered. Therefore, the deviation amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This is done to remove certain data from the average value. If there is no data in which the amount of deviation is greater than the predetermined threshold (NO in S12), this process ends.

  On the other hand, if there is data whose amount of deviation is larger than the predetermined threshold (YES in S12), the feedback result input units 24 and 61 excluding this data recalculates the average value of the amount of deviation (S13). The process ends. The image formation control unit 12 acquires, as feedback results, average values calculated by the feedback result input units 24 and 61 excluding some chart positions.

  In this way, data indicating a shift amount larger than a predetermined threshold with respect to the average value of the shift amount calculated first is excluded, and the calculated average value is input to the image forming control unit 12 as a feedback result. . For this reason, the accuracy with which the image forming apparatus 1 performs alignment can be improved.

<Example of adjustment in second warm-up>
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second example of chart printing. Charts C2 to C4 for enabling the image forming apparatus 1 to perform alignment in the sub-scanning direction D2 even when the roll paper R is shaken in the main scanning direction D1 during the second warm-up are provided on the roll paper R. Printed.

  In the second warm-up, in order for the winding device 4 to align the position in the sub-scanning direction D2 while winding the roll paper R, the shape of the chart formed on the roll paper R affects the blur in the main scanning direction D1. It is required not to receive. Therefore, during the second warm-up, the image forming apparatus 1 displays the plurality of charts C2 for aligning the roll paper R in the sub-scanning direction shown in FIG. 11A in the sub-scanning direction D2 of the roll paper R. Are formed at equal intervals. This chart C2 is a plurality of straight lines perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction D2 and parallel to the main scanning direction D1. For this reason, even if the roll paper R shakes in the main scanning direction D1, the shape of the chart C2 does not change. As described above, if the winding device 4 winds the roll paper R having a certain length, the blur in the main scanning direction D1 is reduced to some extent.

  On the other hand, when the roll paper R is shaken in the sub-scanning direction D2, the interval between the charts C2 is not equal. For this reason, the image formation control unit 12 acquires a feedback result indicating an amount of gap between the plurality of charts C2 from the feedback result input units 24 and 61. Then, the winding device 4 winds up the roll paper R so that there is no blur in the sub-scanning direction D2 of the roll paper R, so that the blur in the sub-scanning direction D2 of the roll paper R can be accommodated.

  In the roll paper R shown in FIG. 11B, a plurality of straight lines parallel to the main scanning direction D1 are formed on the roll paper R as a chart C2, and a plurality of straight lines parallel to the sub-scanning direction D2 are formed as a chart C3. . Further, on the roll paper R, a circle centered on the intersection of the charts C2 and C3 is formed as a chart C4. For this reason, the image formation control unit 12 acquires a feedback result indicating an amount of deviation between the intervals of the plurality of charts from the feedback result input units 24 and 61.

  As described above, the charts C2 to C4 formed on the roll paper R allow the user to easily grasp the blur in the main scanning direction D1 and the blur in the sub-scanning direction D2 of the roll paper R. Further, the chart C4 makes it easier to grasp the density between the adjacent charts C4 than when only the intersection between the chart C2 and the chart C3 is confirmed.

  In the image forming system 10 according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce waste paper by performing alignment during the warming up of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, it is possible to shorten the time until the image forming apparatus 1 starts the job received from the PC terminal T1 and improve the productivity.

<2. Second Embodiment>
[Entire system configuration]
FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to the second embodiment.

  The image forming system 10A includes a reading device 5 in addition to the devices of the image forming system 10 according to the first embodiment described above. The reading device 5 is arranged at the rear stage of the post-processing device 2 and the front stage of the winding device 4, and includes a reading unit 5a. The reading unit 5a reads the amount of deviation between the chart formed on the roll paper R that has undergone post-processing and the position at which post-processing has been performed, and outputs the amount of deviation to the image forming apparatus 1 as a feedback result. Is possible. For this reason, the reading unit 5a has the same function as the feedback result input unit 24 in FIG. 5 and the feedback result input unit 61 in FIG. The image formation control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 can perform alignment based on a feedback result input from the reading unit 5a.

  The reading unit 5a is removed from the image forming system 10A, and the reading unit 5a is moved near the exit of the roll paper R of the post-processing device 2 or near the entrance of the winding device 4, that is, the roll paper R after the post-processing is performed. You may arrange | position in the position which can be read. As described above, the reading unit 5a may be provided in the post-processing device 2 or the winding device 4.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various other application examples and modifications can be taken without departing from the gist of the present invention described in the claims.
For example, the above-described embodiment is a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the apparatus and the system in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner. Further, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of the embodiment described here with the configuration of another embodiment, and further, the configuration of another embodiment is replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. It is also possible to add. Moreover, it is also possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.
Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Post-processing apparatus, 3 ... Paper feeding apparatus, 4 ... Winding apparatus, 10 ... Image forming system, 12 ... Image formation control part, 12b ... Image forming part, 21 ... Warming-up necessity judgment part 22 ... Necessity determination unit, 23 ... Warming up level acquisition unit, 24, 61 ... Feedback result input unit

Claims (9)

A paper feeder for feeding continuous paper;
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on the fed continuous paper;
A post-processing device that performs post-processing on the continuous paper on which the image is formed;
A winding device that winds the continuous paper subjected to the post-processing,
The image forming apparatus is based on a difference between a position where the chart is formed on the continuous paper and a position of the post-processing performed on the chart by the post-processing apparatus while the image forming apparatus is warmed up. An image forming system that performs positioning to change a position where the image is formed on the continuous paper according to a position where the post-processing is performed. The image forming apparatus includes:
A warm-up necessity determination unit for determining whether the warm-up is necessary;
A warm-up level acquisition unit that acquires a warm-up level corresponding to a fixing temperature of a fixing unit that fixes the image formed on the continuous paper to the continuous paper when it is determined that the warm-up is necessary;
An image formation control unit that forms the image on the continuous paper,
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming control unit forms the image on the continuous paper when the warm-up level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus includes:
An alignment necessity determination unit that determines whether the alignment is necessary when the post-processing device is connected to the image forming apparatus;
When the image formation control unit determines that the alignment is necessary, the image formation control unit calculates a deviation amount between the chart formed on the continuous paper and a position where the post-processing is performed on the chart. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the alignment is performed to change a position of the image formed on the continuous paper based on a feedback result shown. The warming up includes a first warming up for continuously passing the continuous paper through the fixing unit until the warming up level is equal to or higher than the threshold.
The image formation control unit forms a plurality of the charts on the continuous paper while the first warm-up is performed, and shifts from a position of the post-processing performed on each of the plurality of charts. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein an average value of amounts is acquired as the feedback result. The image formation control unit, when a plurality of the chart positions are formed at positions different from the average value, except for the positions of some of the charts, the average of the averages The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein a value is acquired as the feedback result. The warming up includes a second warming up for correcting blur in the main scanning direction of the continuous paper by the winding device winding up the continuous paper,
The image formation control unit performs a plurality of charts for aligning the continuous paper in the sub-scanning direction at regular intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the continuous paper while the second warming-up is performed. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the image forming system is configured to acquire a deviation amount between a plurality of chart intervals as the feedback result. The feedback result is input from a feedback result input unit included in the image forming apparatus or a feedback result input unit included in a communication terminal connected to the image forming apparatus. Image forming system. Further, the shift amount between the chart formed on the continuous paper subjected to the post-processing and the position where the post-processing is performed is read, and the shift amount is output to the image forming apparatus as the feedback result. The image forming system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising: A paper feeder for feeding continuous paper;
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on the fed continuous paper;
A post-processing device that performs post-processing on the continuous paper on which the image is formed;
An alignment method performed by an image forming system comprising: a winding device that winds the continuous paper subjected to the post-processing;
The image forming apparatus is based on a difference between a position where the chart is formed on the continuous paper and a position of the post-processing performed on the chart by the post-processing apparatus while the image forming apparatus is warmed up. A positioning method in which positioning is performed to change a position where the image is formed in accordance with a position where the post-processing is performed on the continuous paper.

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