U.S. patent application number 11/505853 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for sheet post-processing device, sheet post-processing system including the same, and image forming system including the same.
Invention is credited to Hitoshi Hattori.
Application Number | 20070040328 11/505853 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37110160 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070040328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hattori; Hitoshi |
February 22, 2007 |
Sheet post-processing device, sheet post-processing system
including the same, and image forming system including the same
Abstract
A sheet post-processing device includes a conveying member
configured to convey a sheet-like recording medium, a processing
unit configured to perform a given operation upon the recording
medium conveyed by the conveying member, a communication unit
configured to communicate with a device external to the sheet
post-processing device for the given operation performed by the
processing unit, a control unit configured to control, via the
communication unit, information passing between the sheet
post-processing device and the external device at a desired timing,
and a storing unit configured to store information of the recording
medium transmitted from the external device. The control unit
transmits the information at one of a timing before a discharge of
the recording medium and a timing after a discharge of the
recording medium.
Inventors: |
Hattori; Hitoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
37110160 |
Appl. No.: |
11/505853 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2513/50 20130101;
B65H 2402/10 20130101; B65H 2513/50 20130101; B65H 2511/415
20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; G03G
2215/00016 20130101; G03G 15/50 20130101; B65H 2511/415 20130101;
G03G 15/6573 20130101; B65H 43/00 20130101; B65H 2801/27
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/293 |
International
Class: |
B65H 39/10 20060101
B65H039/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2005 |
JP |
2005-238045 |
Sep 14, 2005 |
JP |
2005-267401 |
Jan 6, 2006 |
JP |
2006-001511 |
May 12, 2006 |
JP |
2006-133744 |
Claims
1. A sheet post-processing device comprising: a conveying member
configured to convey a sheet-like recording medium; a processing
unit configured to perform a given operation upon the recording
medium conveyed by the conveying member; a communication unit
configured to communicate with a device external to the sheet
post-processing device regarding the given operation performed by
the processing unit; and a control unit configured to control, via
the communication unit, information passing between the sheet
post-processing device and the external device at a desired
timing.
2. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1, further
comprising: a storing unit configured to store information of the
recording medium transmitted from the external device, wherein the
control unit transmits the information at one of a timing before a
discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium and a timing
after a discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium.
3. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2, wherein:
the sheet post-processing device receives a forwarding signal to
inform a timing of conveyance of the recording medium, and the
control unit initiates a rotation of the conveying member when the
sheet post-processing device receives the forwarding signal and the
information transmitted from the external device.
4. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2, wherein:
the storing unit includes a first storing unit configured to store
at least one signal of whole signals corresponding to the
information of the recording medium, and when the sheet
post-processing device receives the at least one signal of whole
signals during a sheet feeding operation, the control unit causes
the storing unit to store the at least one signal of whole signals
therein and transmits the at least one signal of whole signals to a
different external device disposed downstream thereof, when the
recording medium comes at a specified position.
5. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 4, wherein:
the control unit causes the storing unit to write a plurality of
signals therein in an orderly sequence when the sheet
post-processing device receives the plurality of signals and
transmits at least one of the plurality of signals while keeping
the orderly sequence when the recording medium comes at the
specified position during the sheet feeding operation.
6. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 4, wherein:
the sheet post-processing device receives a forwarding signal to
inform a timing of conveyance of the recording medium, and the
control unit transmits a plurality of signals sequentially at one
of a timing immediately before a transmission of the forwarding
signal and a timing immediately after a transmission of the
forwarding signal when the recording medium comes at the specified
position during the sheet feeding operation, the control unit
keeping an orderly sequence of the forwarding signal and the
plurality of signals according to receipts thereof.
7. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 6, wherein:
the control unit transmits the forwarding signal including a first
discharging signal, at one of a timing before a discharge of a
leading edge of the recording medium and a timing after a discharge
of a leading edge of the recording medium, to inform a timing of
conveyance of the leading edge of the recording medium to a
different external device.
8. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 6, wherein:
the storing unit includes a second storing unit configured to store
at least one of the plurality of signals received between the first
discharging signal and a second discharging signal following the
first discharging signal, the second storing unit storing the at
least one of the plurality of signals as one group unit, and the
control unit includes a transmission unit configured to transmit
the first discharging signal at one of a timing before a discharge
of a leading edge of the recording medium and a timing after a
discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium, and transmit
the at least one of the plurality of signals as one group unit
immediately after a transmission of the first discharging
signal.
9. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 8, wherein:
the transmission unit transmits the first discharging signal and
the plurality of signals while keeping an orderly sequence
thereof.
10. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 6, wherein:
the control unit transmits the forwarding signal including a first
discharging signal, at one of a timing before a discharge of a
leading edge of the recording medium and a timing after a discharge
of a leading edge of the recording medium, to inform a timing of
conveyance of the leading edge of the recording medium to a
different external device, and the control unit transmits the
forwarding signal including a second discharging signal, at one of
a timing before a discharge of a trailing edge of the recording
medium and a timing after a discharge of a trailing edge of the
recording medium, to inform a timing of conveyance of the trailing
edge of the recording medium to a different external device.
11. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 6, wherein:
the storing unit includes a second storing unit configured to store
at least one of the plurality of first signals received between the
first discharging signal of a first recording medium and the second
discharging signal of the first recording medium following the
first discharging signal thereof as a first group unit, and also
store at least one of the plurality of second signals received
between the second discharging signal of the first recording medium
and a third discharging signal of a second recording medium
following the second discharging signal of the first recording
medium as a second group unit.
12. The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein: the
control unit includes a transmission unit configured to transmit
the first discharging signal of the first recording medium at one
of a timing before a discharge of a leading edge of the first
recording medium and a timing after a discharge of a leading edge
of the first recording medium, transmit the at least one of the
plurality of first signals as the first group unit immediately
after a transmission of the first discharging signal of the first
recording medium, transmit the second discharging signal of the
first recording medium at one of a timing before a discharge of a
trailing edge of the first recording medium and a timing after a
discharge of a trailing edge of the first recording medium, and
transmit the at least one of the plurality of second signals as the
second group unit immediately after a transmission of the second
discharging signal of the first recording medium.
13. The image reading device according to claim 12, wherein: the
transmission unit transmits the first discharging signal, the
second discharging signal and the plurality of signals while
keeping an orderly sequence thereof.
14. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 6, wherein:
when the plurality of signals are received after a transmission of
the forwarding signal corresponding to the plurality of signals to
a downstream external device disposed downstream of the sheet
post-processing device, the control unit transmits the plurality of
signals instantly to the downstream external device.
15. A sheet post-processing system comprising: a connecting member;
and a plurality of sheet post-processing devices at least some of
which are connected by the connecting member, each sheet
post-processing device including at least the following, a
conveying member configured to convey a sheet-like recording
medium; a processing unit configured to perform a given operation
upon the recording medium conveyed by the conveying member; a
communication unit configured to communicate with a device external
to the sheet post-processing device regarding the given operation
performed by the processing unit, a control unit configured to
control, via the communication unit, information passing between
the sheet post-processing device and the external device at a
desired timing, a storing unit configured to store information of
the recording medium transmitted from the external device; wherein
the plurality of sheet post-processing devices other than a most
downstream sheet post-processing device store at least one signal
to the storing unit at a receipt of the at least one signal during
a sheet feeding operation and transmits the at least one signal
when the recording medium comes at a specified position.
16. An image forming system, comprising: an image forming device
configured to form an image on a surface of a recording medium; and
a plurality of sheet post-processing devices at least some of which
are connected by the connecting member, each sheet post-processing
device including at least the following a conveying member
configured to convey a sheet-like recording medium, a processing
unit configured to perform a given operation upon the recording
medium conveyed by the conveying member, a communication unit
configured to communicate with a device external to the sheet
post-processing device regarding the given operation performed by
the processing unit, and a control unit configured to control, via
the communication unit, information passing between the sheet
post-processing device and the external device at a desired timing;
wherein a most upstream sheet post-processing device of the
plurality of sheet post-processing devices is connected to the
image forming device.
17. The sheet post-processing system of claim 15, wherein the
control unit transmits the information at one of a timing before a
discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium and a timing
after a discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium.
18. The sheet post-processing system of claim 17, wherein: the
sheet post-processing device receives a forwarding signal to inform
a timing of conveyance of the recording medium, and the control
unit initiates a rotation of the conveying member when the sheet
post-processing device receives the forwarding signal and the
information transmitted from the external device.
19. The image forming system of claim 16, wherein the control unit
transmits the information at one of a timing before a discharge of
a leading edge of the recording medium and a timing after a
discharge of a leading edge of the recording medium.
20. The image forming system of claim 19, wherein: the sheet
post-processing device receives a forwarding signal to inform a
timing of conveyance of the recording medium, and the control unit
initiates a rotation of the conveying member when the sheet
post-processing device receives the forwarding signal and the
information transmitted from the external device.
Description
PRIORITY STATEMENT
[0001] The present patent application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 upon Japanese patent application no. 2005-238045,
filed in the Japan Patent Office on Aug. 18, 2005, no. 2005-267401,
filed in the Japan Patent Office on Sep. 14, 2005, no. 2006-001511,
filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 6, 2006, and no.
2006-133744, filed in the Japan Patent Office on May 12, 2006, the
contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present application generally relates to a sheet
post-processing device, a sheet post-processing system including a
plurality of the sheet post-processing devices, and an image
forming system including the sheet post-processing system having
the plurality of the above-described sheet post-processing
device.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] One image forming system employs a known technique for
controlling an image forming device connected with a plurality of
sheet processing devices for stably performing a sheet processing
operation.
[0006] Specifically, the image forming system includes a relay
control unit is mounted between the image forming device and each
sheet processing device so that the relay control unit can control
operations of each sheet processing device. Such a relay control
unit can determine the operation time for a corresponding sheet
processing device that performs a specific function of various
sheet processing operations, and, after a given period of the
operation time has elapsed, transmit information of the sheet
processing operation to each sheet processing device.
[0007] Further, another image forming system employs a known data
communication method using a technique in which data transmission
is controlled.
[0008] Specifically, when one peripheral device is connected with a
single host system or with a plurality of host systems, the data
communication method can cause the peripheral device to avoid the
communication timeout with the host system. To avoid interruption
of the communication with each host system when one peripheral
device is connected to a plurality of host systems, a busy signal
is output from the peripheral device to the host system while the
peripheral device is in a condition it cannot receive data, and the
host system that has received the busy signal temporarily stops
data transmission after a given timeout period has elapsed.
[0009] With the above-described data communication method, the
peripheral device is caused to specify a timeout prevention period
that runs shorter than the timeout period, count the timeout
prevention period starting from the initial state of the busy
signal, and reset the output of the busy signal after the timeout
prevention period has elapsed.
[0010] Further, one sheet post-processing system employs a known
technique using a skewing part and connecting units that perform a
multistage connection to simplify connecting mechanism and control
software.
[0011] Specifically, the skewing part receives a paper sheet
discharged from an image forming device in a skewed state and
discharges the paper sheet to a first sheet post-processing device
on the basis of one end portion thereof.
[0012] The connecting units are respectively provided in and
controlled by a plurality of sheet post-processing devices so as to
discharge the paper sheet from the skewing part or from an upstream
device connected thereto to a downstream device also connected
thereto.
[0013] To transmit information of a paper sheet, for example, a
paper size, a request of sheet post-processing and so forth, to the
corresponding downstream device in a system in which a plurality of
sheet post-processing devices are connected, it is commonly known
to mount a relay control unit so that the relay control unit
determines respective appropriate operation times for the plurality
of sheet post-processing devices, and transmits the information to
the corresponding sheet post-processing device after a given period
has elapsed. Thus, it is preferable that each sheet post-processing
peripheral device receives information of the paper sheet before or
after the paper sheet is received. Otherwise, it may be difficult
to perform sheet post-processing operations in high-speed and
stable manner.
[0014] However, the relay control unit may require space and costs,
which can be a problem. Also, the operation times determined by the
relay control unit generally have variations due to slippage in
conveying paper sheets. When the degree of the variation is large,
the information cannot be transmitted at a correct timing, which
can cause errors.
[0015] Further, in a sheet post-post processing system in which a
plurality of sheet post-processing devices are connected to each
other, a sheet post-processing device disposed on a further
downstream side may need a longer time to receive a paper sheet
from an image forming device connected to a most upper sheet
post-processing device.
[0016] If a driver of corresponding conveying rollers initiates the
conveying rollers at the start of conveyance of the paper sheet, a
period of rotation of the conveying rollers may become
unnecessarily long. Especially when the sheet post-processing
device is used for processing high-volume paper sheets in high
speed, such unnecessary long period of rotation of the conveying
rollers may cause a shorter life of the rollers.
[0017] Further, the above-described sheet post-processing system
including a plurality of sheet post-processing devices is generally
connected to an image forming device, forming an image forming
system. Such system, however, has the same problems as described
above.
SUMMARY
[0018] One of more embodiments of the present invention has been
made, taking the above-mentioned circumstances into
consideration.
[0019] At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a
sheet post-processing device that includes a conveying member
configured to convey a sheet-like recording medium, a processing
unit configured to perform a given operation to the recording
medium conveyed by the conveying member, a communication unit
configured upon communicate with a device external to the sheet
post-processing device for the given operation performed by the
processing unit, and a control unit configured to control, via the
communication unit, information passing between the sheet
post-processing device and the external device at a desired
timing.
[0020] At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a
sheet post-processing system that includes a plurality of the
above-described sheet post-processing devices.
[0021] At least one embodiment of the present invention provides an
image forming system that includes an image forming device
configured to form an image on a surface of a recording medium, and
a plurality of the above-described sheet post-processing
devices.
[0022] Additional features and advantages of the present invention
will be more fully apparent from the following detailed description
of example embodiments, the accompanying drawings and the
associated claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The accompanying drawings are intended to depict example
embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted
to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be
considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
[0024] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic structure of an image forming system
as at least one example embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic structure of another image forming
system as at least one example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic structure of a sheet post-processing
device, included in the image forming systems of FIGS. 1 and 2,
according to at least one example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic structure of a sheet post-processing
system including a plurality of sheet post-processing devices
according to at least one example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a block diagram (according to at least one example
embodiment of the present invention) of the sheet post-processing
system of FIG. 4;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing communication timings
of paper sheet information during a paper sheet feeding operation
according to an example embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram (according to at least one
example embodiment of the present invention) showing communication
timings of paper sheet information after FIG. 6;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a paper sheet information
receiving operation as another example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a paper sheet information
sending operation as another example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a start timing of
driving conveying rollers according to at least one example
embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation (according to at
least one example embodiment of the present invention) of rotating
conveying rollers of FIG. 10;
[0036] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a received signal storing
operation according to an example embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a different received signal
storing operation according to another example embodiment of the
present invention;
[0038] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a different received signal
storing operation according to another example embodiment of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmitting
a leading edge discharging signal according to an example
embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation of a task of
processing a first paper sheet of a stack of paper sheets,
according to an example embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIGS. 17A and 17B are flowcharts showing respective tasks of
processing second and third paper sheets of the stack of paper
sheets of FIG. 16, according to an example embodiment of the
present invention;
[0042] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a task of processing the
leading edge of a paper sheet, according to an example embodiment
of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a task of processing the
trailing edge of a paper sheet, according to another example
example embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram (according to at least one
example embodiment of the present invention) showing transmission
timings of signals transmitted in the flowcharts of FIGS. 18 and
19;
[0045] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a task of processing a
leading edge of a first paper sheet, according to an example
embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a task of processing a
trailing edge of a first paper sheet, according to another example
embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts showing tasks of processing
leading and trailing edges of a second paper sheet, according to
other example embodiments of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing transmission timings
(according to at least one example embodiment of the present
invention) of signals transmitted according to the flowcharts of
FIGS. 21, 22, 23A and 23B; and
[0049] FIG. 25 is a flowchart of an operation of transmitting
signals according to at least one example embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0050] It will be understood that if an element or layer is
referred to as being "on", "against", "connected to" or "coupled
to" another element or layer, then it can be directly on, against,
connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening
elements or layers may be present. In contrast, if an element is
referred to as being "directly on", "directly connected to" or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, then there are no
intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers referred to
like elements throughout. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated
listed items.
[0051] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below",
"lower", "above", "upper" and the like may be used herein for ease
of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to
another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It
will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended
to encompass different orientations of the device in use or
operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements
describes as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would
hen be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, term
such as "below" can encompass both an orientation of above and
below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or
at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors
herein interpreted accordingly.
[0052] Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to
described various elements, components, regions, layers and/or
sections, it should be understood that these elements, components,
regions, layer and/or sections should not be limited by these
terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element,
component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or
section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section
discussed below could be termed a second element, component,
region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of
the present invention.
[0053] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an"
and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "includes" and/or "including", when used
in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do
not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0054] In describing example embodiments illustrated in the
drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity.
However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not
intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and
it is to be understood that each specific element includes all
technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.
[0055] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, example embodiments of the present invention are
described.
[0056] It is important to note that, in the example embodiments
hereinafter described, a sheet post-processing device corresponds
to sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e. A
conveying member corresponds to a pair of outlet rollers 11, a pair
of discharging rollers 19, sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and
17b, and respective pairs of conveying rollers 34, 35, and 36. A
processing unit corresponds to a punching unit 7, a jogger fence
16, a rear end fence 31, a folding plate 23, and a pair of folding
rollers 24. A communication unit corresponds to communication
modules 6a2a, 6a2b, 6b2a, 6b2b, 6c2a, 6c2b, 6c2c, 6d2a, and 6e2a. A
control unit corresponds to control modules or units 6a1, 6b1, 6c1,
6d1, and 6e1. A storing unit corresponds to storing units 6a3, 6b3,
6c3, 6d3, and 6e3. An image forming device corresponds to an image
forming device 1.
First Example Embodiment
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, respective schematic structures
of image forming systems 100 and 200 that include a sheet
post-processing device 6 according to an example embodiment of the
present invention are described.
[0058] The image forming system 100 of FIG. 1 is shown in the form
of a copier. The image forming system 100 includes an image forming
device 1, a sheet feeding device 2 that feeds paper sheets to the
image forming device 1, and a scanner 3, and a circulation type
automatic document feeder 4, both of which read an image formed on
an original document. A paper sheet on which an image is formed or
printed by the image forming device 1 is fed to an inlet guide
plate in a sheet post-processing device 6 via a relay unit 5.
[0059] A "paper sheet" is an example of a recording medium. The
recording medium includes a recording paper, transfer sheet, OHP
sheet, and so forth. In the example embodiments of the present
invention, a "paper sheet" represents these kinds of recording
medium.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the image forming system 200
in the form of a printer, which is mounted neither with such the
scanner 3 nor with such the circulation type automatic document
feeder 4. Aside from the scanner 3 and the circulation type
automatic document feeder 4, the image forming system 200 has the
same structural arrangement of the image forming system 100 as the
above-described copier.
[0061] The sheet post-processing device 6 is mounted on a side of
the image forming device 1, as described above. A paper sheet
discharged from the image forming device 1 is guided into the sheet
post-processing device 6 and then various kinds of post-processing
operations are applied to the paper sheet in accordance with the
function of the sheet post-processing device 6. In this case, the
image forming device 1 can be selected from devices or apparatuses
having the known image forming function, for example, an image
forming device based on the electrophotographic process, a device
including an inkjet type printing bead, or the like, and therefore
detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 3, a schematic structure of the sheet
post-processing device 6 according to the present example
embodiment is described.
[0063] A sheet post-processing device that can achieve the example
embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the sheet
post-processing device 6 having the structure shown in FIG. 3. The
present invention can apply a sheet post-processing device that
performs an operation of punching, center folding, Z-folding,
binding, or other sheet post-processing operations.
[0064] As indicated by an arrow shown in FIG. 3, in the sheet
post-processing device 6, a paper sheet received from the image
forming device 1 is conveyed or forwarded through an inlet sheet
conveying path A in which a sheet post-processing mechanism for
applying the post-processing operations to a single paper sheet is
disposed. For example, a punching unit 7, which serves as a
processing unit, in the sheet post-processing device 6 in FIG. 3
serves as a perforation mechanism including a hopper 8.
[0065] The paper sheet is then sorted and transferred into one of
an upper sheet conveying path B, an intermediate sheet conveying
path C, and a lower sheet conveying path D by path selectors 28 and
29 and turning guides 37 and 38.
[0066] When the paper sheet has passed the path selector 28 and the
turning guide 37 into the upper sheet conveying path B, the paper
sheet is conveyed through a position mounted with an upper sheet
discharging sensor 40, through a pair of outlet rollers 11, and is
guided to a proof tray 22.
[0067] When the paper sheet has passed the path selector 28 and the
turning guide 37 and has been guided by the path selector 29 and
the turning guide 38 to the intermediate sheet conveying path C,
the paper sheet is conveyed to a shift roller 13.
[0068] When the paper sheet has passed the path selector 28 and the
turning guide 37 and has been guided by the path selector 29 and
the turning guide 38 to the lower sheet conveying path D, the paper
sheet is conveyed to a staple tray 14 where adjustment and staple
binding operation are carried out.
[0069] Paper sheets transferred onto the staple tray 14 by
respective pairs of conveying rollers 34, 35, and 36, each of which
serving as a conveying member, are aligned in a direction
perpendicular to the paper feed direction by a jogger fence 16 as a
processing unit, and further the feed direction of the paper sheets
is adjusted with reference to a rear end fence 31, which serves as
a processing unit, by a knock roller 12.
[0070] Thereafter, a sheet stack conveying roller 17b, which serves
as a conveying member and is supported by a sheet stack guide plate
(not shown), approaches another sheet stack conveying roller 17a,
which serves as a conveying member, by the rotation of the sheet
stack guide plate, and thereby the sheet stack is clamped
therebetween to maintain its attitude and the rear end fence 31 is
shifted to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3. In
the case of the end binding process, the staple process is carried
out at a given position, and then fed upward by a discharge hook
15, so that the paper sheets are discharged into an outlet tray 21
by a pair of discharge rollers 19 serving as a conveying roller,
and then accumulated therein.
[0071] A sheet discharge sensor 46 detects the condition of
discharging the paper sheets to the outlet tray 21, and a sheet
surface detection sensor 47 detects the amount of accumulated paper
sheets on the outlet tray 21.
[0072] In the first example embodiment, when the top sheet of the
accumulated paper sheets has reached to a given height, the outlet
tray 21 is moved to a downward direction by a fixed or given amount
so that a further amount of paper sheets can be accumulated.
[0073] Further, a hook position detection sensor 45 detects the
home position of the discharge hook 15. Based on the result of the
above-described detection, a discharge belt 18 is controlled.
[0074] In the case of the saddle stitching process, the sheet stack
is adjusted regarding the position, and fed downward, after the
paper sheets are pinched by the pair of sheet stack conveying
rollers 17a and 17b. At the end of the saddle stitching process,
the paper sheets are fed to a folding position by sheet stack
conveying rollers 30a and 30b, and the middle folding process is
carried out, using a folding plate 23 and a pair of folding rollers
24, both serve as a processing unit. Thereafter, the paper sheets
are fed to a center-folded sheet discharging tray 27 by a
center-folded sheet discharging roller 26, and then stacked
therein.
[0075] In the inlet sheet conveying path A, which is commonly
disposed upstream with respect to the upper sheet conveying path B,
the intermediate sheet conveying path C, and the lower sheet
conveying path D, an inlet sensor 39 for detecting a paper sheet
supplied from the image forming device 1 is disposed, and a pair of
conveyor rollers 32 and the punching unit 7 are disposed downstream
thereto, and further the path selector 28 and the turning guide 37
are disposed downstream thereto.
[0076] The path selector 28 is maintained in the state shown by a
solid line in FIG. 3 by a spring (not shown). When a solenoid (not
shown) is turned on, the path selector 28 rotates counterclockwise,
as indicated by an alternate long and short dashed lines shown in
FIG. 3, so that paper sheets are sorted into the lower sheet
conveying path D. When the solenoid is turned off, the paper sheets
are sorted into the upper sheet feeding path B.
[0077] The path selector 29 is maintained in the state shown by a
solid line in FIG. 3 by another spring (not shown). When another
solenoid (not shown) is turned on, the path selector 29 rotates
clockwise, as indicated by an alternate long and short dashed lines
shown in FIG. 3, so that the paper sheets are sorted into the
intermediate sheet conveying path C. When the solenoid is turned
off, the paper sheets are further fed to the lower sheet conveying
path D, and fed by the pairs of conveying rollers 34 and 35.
[0078] The turning guides 37 and 38 have a roller shape so as to
guide the paper sheets to smoothly turn at a sharp angle and serve
to assist the sorting of the paper sheets by the path selectors 28
and 29. In this case, paper sheets in a direction changed by the
path selectors 28 and 29 come into contact with the turning guides
37 and 38, and then are moved together therewith. Accordingly, the
turning guides 37 and 38 serve to reduce the feeding resistance for
the paper sheet at a branching section having a smaller radius of
nature.
[0079] In the intermediate sheet conveying path C, the shift roller
13 is mounted, which roller is capable of moving the paper sheets
by a specified distance in a direction perpendicular to the feeding
direction. In the shift roller 13, the shift function results from
the movement of the paper sheets in the direction perpendicular to
the feeding direction by a driving unit (not shown).
[0080] The movement of the paper sheets transferred to the
intermediate sheet conveying path C by a pair of conveying rollers
33 and the turning roller 38 by the shift roller 13 by such a
specified distance in the direction perpendicular to the feeding
direction causes to provide an appropriate amount of shift for the
paper sheets both in the feeding direction and in the direction
perpendicular thereto, so that the paper sheets are discharged by
the pair of discharge rollers 19 serving as a conveying member,
preset the shifted state, one end portion of which is supported
rotatably with respect to the sheet discharge guide plate 20, and
then stacked in the outlet tray 21. In this case, the timing in the
above processes is determined on the basis of the paper detection
information from a roller shift sensor 41, the sheet size
information and others.
[0081] In the lower sheet conveying path D, a staple tray sheet
discharge sensor 43 is mounted. The paper discharging sensor 43
makes it possible to detect whether or not a sheet of paper exists
in the lower sheet conveying path D. In this case, a paper
detecting signal may be used as a trigger signal for aligning the
paper sheet when discharging the paper sheet into the staple tray
14.
[0082] The paper sheets transferred to the lower sheet conveying
path D are sequentially fed by the pairs of conveyor rollers 34, 35
and 36, and aligned in the staple tray 14 after stacked.
[0083] The trailing end of the paper sheets discharged into the
staple tray 14 is adjusted with reference to the rear end fence
31.
[0084] The rear end fence 31 is designed so as to rotate around the
center axis of the sheet stack conveying roller 17a. In the case of
stacking the paper sheets into a sheet stack, one end portion of
the rear end fence 31 on the solenoid side is moved by a solenoid,
and the other end portion of the rear end fence 31 is inserted into
the feed line, thereby enabling the paper sheets to be stacked into
a sheet stack.
[0085] The paper sheets stacked in the staple tray 14 are
temporarily dropped or moved downward by the knock roller 12, and
then the lower end thereof is aligned.
[0086] The knock roller 12 receives an oscillating motion with
respect to the center at a supporting point 12a from a knock
solenoid (not shown). Such an oscillating motion intermittently
acts on the paper sheets supplied to the staple tray 14 to collide
them with the rear end fence 31. In this case, the knock roller 12
rotates such that the paper sheet rotated counterclockwise by a
timing belt moves towards the rear end fence 31.
[0087] The alignment of the paper sheets stacked in the staple tray
14 in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction is carried
out by jogger fences 16.
[0088] The jogger fences 16 are driven via the timing belt by a
rotation reversible jogger motor (not shown), and reciprocally move
in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction. The
pressing of the end surface of the sheet stack by the mov ement
causes the paper sheets to be aligned in the direction
perpendicular to the feed direction. This action is carried out
either during the stacking process or after final sheets has been
stacked in accordance with requirement.
[0089] A sheet detection sensor 44 mounted on the staple tray 14 is
used as a so-called sheet detecting sensor for detecting whether or
not a sheet of paper exists on the staple tray 14. The knock roller
12, the rear end fence 31, and the jogger fences 16 constitutes an
alignment mechanism for aligning the sheet stack both in a
direction parallel to the paper feed direction and in a direction
perpendicular thereto.
[0090] The pairs of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a,
and 30b cause a mechanism (not shown) to apply a press and release
action. After the sheet stack passes between the pairs of conveying
rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b in the release state, these rollers
17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b press the sheet stack and then convey them.
The pairs of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a, 17b, 30a, and 30b
are capable of becoming either in or out of contact with each other
by a pressure release motor (not shown).
[0091] Furthermore, the pairs of sheet conveying rollers 17a, 17b,
30a, and 30b are rotated by a stepping motor (not shown), a pulley
(not shown), and a timing belt (not shown). The feeding distance of
the sheet stack can be adjusted by controlling the rotation rate of
the stepping motor. Both of the pair of sheet stack conveying
rollers 17a and 17b and the pair of sheet stacking conveying
rollers 30a and 30b can be separately disposed in a pair wise
manner, and the press contact distance therebetween can be freely
adjusted.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 3, the staple unit 9 includes a stitcher 9a
(in this specification, the unit is referred to as a stitcher,
although it is traditionally referred as a driver) for projecting a
needle and a clincher 9b for bending the end portion of the needle
driven into the sheet stack. In the present embodiment, the
stitcher 9a and the clincher 9b are separately structured and the
staple unit 9 is supported movably in the direction perpendicular
to the sheet stack feed direction by a stapler moving guide 10.
Moreover, the stitcher 9a and the clincher 9b include a mutual
position determining mechanism and a movement driving mechanism
(both not shown).
[0093] The staple position of the sheet stack in the feed direction
is determined from the conveying of the sheet stack by the pair of
sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and 17b. Thereby, the staple can
be stopped at various positions for the sheet stack.
[0094] In FIG. 3, a middle folding mechanism is positioned
downstream in the sheet conveying direction for the staple unit 9
(downstream in the case of folding the paper sheet, and spatially
the under side). The middle folding mechanism includes the pair of
folding rollers 24, the folding plate 23, and a stopper 25. In the
upstream portion of the staple unit 9, a sheet stack stapled at the
center of the paper sheet in the feed direction is conveyed by the
pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 17a and 17b until it comes
into contact with the stopper 25, and then the reference position
for folding the sheet stack is determined by temporarily releasing
the nipping pressure of the sheet stack conveying roller 17b.
Thereafter, the sheet stack is held by applying the nipping
pressure between the pair of sheet stack conveying rollers 30a and
30b thereto, and then the stopper 25 is moved back and decoupled
from the trailing end of the sheet stack, so that the sheet stack
is conveyed by a given distance and set in the folding position on
the basis of the sheet size signal supplied from the main body of
the image forming device 1. The sheet stack, which is conveyed to
the folding position (normally the center of the sheet stack in the
sheet feeding direction) and stopped there, is inserted into a
spacing between the pair of folding rollers 24 by the folding plate
23, so that the pair of folding rollers 24 causes the sheet stack
to be folded at the center by pressing and rotating the sheet
stack. In this case, if the sheet stack by a larger size, it is
conveyed to a downstream position in the feed direction by a
greater distance than at the position of the stopper 25.
[0095] In this embodiment, the sheet conveying path on the
downstream side curved at an area far away from the stopper 25 to
guide the end of the sheet stack into the horizontal direction.
Such a structural arrangement allows the sheet stack to be
conveyed, even if it has a larger size, thereby making it possible
to decrease the size of the paper sheet post-processing device 6 in
the height direction.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 25, which serves as an
alignment mechanism is designed such that the stopper 25 can be
rotated around the center axis of the sheet stack conveying roller
30a, and that the end portion of the stopper 25 on the solenoid
side is driven by the solenoid, and the end portion is away from
the sheet conveying path.
[0097] The folded sheet stack is discharged into a center-folded
sheet discharging tray 27 by a center-folded sheet discharging
roller 26, and then stacked therein.
[0098] Sensors 48 and 49 in the center-folded section detect
whether or not a sheet of paper exists therein.
[0099] Moreover, a sensor 51 in the center-folded sheet discharging
tray 27 detects whether or not the sheet stack is placed on the
center-folded sheet discharging tray 27. It is used to count the
number of sheet stacks discharged from the empty state and to
monitor the full state of the center-folded sheet discharging tray
27.
[0100] A fold end stopper position detecting sensor 50 detects the
end position of the sheet stacks in the case when the stopper 25 is
either activated or deactivated.
[0101] FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of a sheet
post-processing system 300 in which a plurality of sheet
post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e are connected, along
with the accompanying image forming device 1.
[0102] In the present example embodiment, the image forming device
1 is connected with a document feeding device 4, a high-volume
sheet feeding device 2, and a plurality of sheet post-processing
devices or first through fifth sheet post-processing devices 6a,
6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e. The first sheet post-processing device 6a is
connected with one upstream device, which is the image forming
device 1, and one downstream device, which is the second sheet
post-processing device 6b. The second sheet post-processing device
6b is also connected with one upstream device, which is the first
sheet post-processing device 6a, and one downstream device, which
is the third sheet post-processing device 6c. The third sheet
post-processing device 6c is connected with one upstream device,
which is the second sheet post-processing device 6b, and two
downstream devices, which are the fourth and fifth sheet
post-processing devices 6d and 6e. The fourth sheet post-processing
device 6d is the most downstream device and is connected with one
upstream device, which is the third sheet post-processing device
6c. The fifth sheet post-processing device 6d is the most
downstream device and is connected with one upstream device, which
is the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
[0103] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the sheet post-processing
system 300 in which various modules or units including respective
communication modules for the first through fifth sheet
post-processing devices 6a through 6e are described.
[0104] Each of the first through fifth sheet post-processing
devices 6a through 6e includes one communication module or unit
with respect to one device connected with itself. Specifically, the
first sheet post-processing device 6a includes first and second
communication modules 6a2a and 6a2b. The second sheet
post-processing device 6b includes first and second communication
modules 6b2a and 6b2b. The third sheet post-processing device 6c
includes first, second, and third communication modules 6c2a, 6c2b,
and 6c2c. The fourth sheet post-processing device 6d includes a
first communication modules 6d2a. The fifth sheet post-processing
device 6e includes a first communication module 6e2a.
[0105] The sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e
also include control modules or units 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1,
respectively, serving as a transmission unit for sending and
receiving data at respectively given timings or intervals.
[0106] Further, the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d,
and 6e include storing units 6a3, 6b3, 6c3, 6d3, and 6e3,
respectively, for arbitrarily storing and reading respective
received signals.
[0107] As a transmission method, it is general to employ a serial
communication using, for example, a UART (Universal Asynchronous
Receiver Transmitter).
[0108] A memory or a hard disk drive (HDD) is used as a storing
unit according to the volume of data to be stored therein. In the
example embodiment of the present invention, a memory and a HDD are
used. However, any other storing unit that can temporarily store
target information may be applied to the present invention.
[0109] Each of the control modules 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1
includes a central processing unit (CPU) (not shown), a read-only
memory (ROM) (not shown), and a random access memory (RAM) (not
shown). In the control performed in the respective control modules
or units 6a1, 6b1, 6c1, 6d1, and 6e1, the CPU executes programs
stored in the ROM by using the RAM as a working area, and thus the
control of each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c,
6d, and 6e is carried out, based on the programs.
[0110] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, schematic diagrams showing
communication timings of paper sheet information during a paper
sheet feeding operation are described according to the first
example embodiment of the present invention.
[0111] In FIGS. 6 and 7, the reference number "P1", "P2", "P3",
"P4", "P5", and "P6" represent respective paper sheets that are
conveyed in the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, and 6c.
[0112] When a paper sheet, for example a paper sheet P1, is fed
from the image forming device 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to the
first sheet post-processing device 6a, the communication module
6a2a of the first sheet post-processing device 6a receives paper
sheet information from the image forming device 1 and stores the
paper sheet information in the first storing unit 6a3 thereof. The
paper sheet information contains information for use in processing
the paper sheet fed from the image forming device 1, for example,
the size, thickness, ID, a request of sheet post-processing
operation to a specific sheet post-processing device, and so
forth.
[0113] The first sheet post-processing device 6a receives a paper
sheet, performs the sheet post-processing operation according to a
request of sheet post-processing operation issued from the image
forming device 1, and conveys or forwards the processed paper sheet
to the second sheet post-processing device 6b, which is a
downstream device of the first sheet post-processing device 6a.
When no request of sheet post-processing operation to be performed
in the first sheet post-processing device 6a has been issued, the
first sheet post-processing device 6a performs no specific sheet
post-processing operation and simply forwards the paper sheet to
the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
[0114] When a paper sheet is to be discharged to the outside of the
first sheet post-processing device 6a, for example, when the
leading edge of a paper sheet comes at a specified position, such
as the pair of outlet rollers 11 serving as a conveying member in
the present example embodiment, the first sheet post-processing
device 6a transmits the paper sheet information stored in the first
storing unit 6a3, to the second sheet post-processing device 6b.
Through the above-descried transmission, the second sheet
post-processing device 6b can obtain the paper sheet information
before receiving the paper sheet. Thereby, the second sheet
post-processing device 6b can perform its sheet post-processing
operation under the proper and stable condition. Further, even when
the content of a request of the sheet post-processing operation is
changed, the sheet post-processing operation can avoid unnecessary
interruption. Thereby, a series of sheet post-processing operations
can be performed in high and stable speed.
[0115] When the paper sheet processed in or passed through the
first sheet post-processing device 6a is fed, the second sheet
post-processing device 6b receives the paper sheet information from
the first sheet post-processing device 6a and stores the paper
sheet information in the second storing unit 6b3 thereof. When
discharging or forwarding the paper sheet to the third sheet
post-processing device 6c, the second sheet post-processing device
6b transmits the paper sheet information stored in the second
storing unit 6b3, to the third sheet post-processing device 6c.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet post-processing device 6c
performs the operation similar to those performed by the first and
second sheet post-processing devices 6a and 6b. That is, when the
paper sheet processed in or passed through the second sheet
post-processing device 6b is fed, the third sheet post-processing
device 6c receives the paper sheet information from the second
sheet post-processing device 6b and stores the information in the
third storing unit 6c3 thereof. And, when the paper sheet is
discharged to the outside of the third sheet post-processing device
6c or to one of the sheet post-processing devices 6d and 6e
connected thereto as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the third sheet
post-processing device 6c transmits the paper sheet information
stored in the third storing unit 6c3, to the downstream sheet
post-processing device.
[0117] The method of transmitting the paper sheet information is
not limited to the above-described method but other various ways
may be applied to the present invention. In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the
present example embodiment of the present invention, for example, a
paper sheet forwarding signal is transmitted to the downstream
device after the paper sheet information has been sent. The
downstream device can confirm the paper sheet information by
receiving the paper sheet forwarding signal.
[0118] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 8, a procedure of a paper
sheet information receiving operation is described. The paper sheet
information receiving operation is performed such that a currently
operating device or a local sheet post-processing device, which is
connected to an upstream device and a downstream device, receives
paper sheet information during the paper sheet feeding
operation.
[0119] In the example embodiments of the present invention, the
"local sheet post-processing device" represents any one of the
first, second, and third sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, and
6c while the fourth and fifth sheet post-processing devices 6d and
6e are the most downstream devices, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0120] As previously described, the sheet post-processing
operations are controlled by the CPU (not shown) of the control
module or unit of each sheet post-processing device. In the present
example embodiment, the CPU of the local first sheet
post-processing device basically controls the operations of the
following flowcharts.
[0121] At the start of the paper sheet information receiving
operation of FIG. 8, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received the paper sheet information from an upstream device of
the local sheet post-processing device in step S101.
[0122] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
paper sheet information from the upstream device, the determination
result in step S101 is YES, and the process goes to step S102.
[0123] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the paper sheet information from the upstream device, the
determination result in step S101 is NO, and the process of step
S101 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives
the paper sheet information.
[0124] The CPU temporarily writes the paper sheet information,
including the size, thickness, ID, the request of sheet
post-processing operation, and so forth, in a storing unit of the
local sheet post-processing device in step S102, and determines
whether the local sheet post-processing device has received the
paper sheet forwarding signal in step S103.
[0125] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
paper sheet forwarding signal from the upstream device, the
determination result in step S103 is YES, and the process goes to
step S104.
[0126] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the paper sheet forwarding signal from the upstream
device, the determination result in step S103 is NO, and the
process of step S103 goes back to step S101.
[0127] In step S104, the CPU confirms the paper sheet information
and stores the information in the storing unit.
[0128] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 9, a procedure of a paper
sheet information sending operation is described. The paper sheet
information sending operation is performed by the local sheet
post-processing device to transmit paper sheet information during
the paper sheet feeding operation.
[0129] At the start of the paper sheet information sending
operation of FIG. 9, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet has
come at a specified position of the paper sheet.
[0130] When the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at the
specified position, the determination result in step S201 is YES
and the process goes to step S202.
[0131] When the leading edge of the paper sheet has not yet come at
the specified position, the determination result in step S201 is NO
and the process of step S201 repeats until the leading edge of the
paper sheet comes at the specified portion.
[0132] The CPU transmits the paper sheet information that is stored
in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device in
step S202, and transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal to the
downstream device in step S203.
[0133] As described above, each sheet post-processing device of the
present example embodiment receives corresponding paper sheet
information, stores the received information, and transmits the
stored information when discharging the paper sheet to the
downstream device. However, information other than the information
necessary for each paper sheet, for example, information of
destination, a speed of conveying the paper sheet, and so forth, is
not necessarily transmitted during the sheet feeding operation.
That is, in this case, the local sheet post-processing device can
transmit information other than the information necessary for each
paper sheet, to the downstream device instantly on receiving the
information.
[0134] Referring to FIG. 10, a schematic diagram is described to
show a start timing of driving the pair of conveying rollers 32,
which have been stopped, of the second sheet post-processing device
6b. The specific diagram of FIG. 10 shows one example of the roller
driving operation, which also can be applied to the operation
performed between the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sheet
post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e.
[0135] When the image forming device 1 starts the paper sheet
feeding operation with respect to the first sheet post-processing
device 6a, the pair of sheet conveying rollers 32 of the second
sheet post-processing device 6b still remains stopped.
[0136] When the first sheet post-processing device 6a discharges a
paper sheet to the second sheet post-processing device 6b, the
paper sheet information followed by the paper sheet forwarding
signal is transmitted.
[0137] The second sheet post-processing device 6b starts rotating
the pair of conveying rollers 32 when receiving the paper sheet
information followed by the paper sheet forwarding signal.
[0138] With the above-described operation, the pair of conveying
rollers 32 can prevent the rotations thereof for an unnecessarily
long time, which can extend the lives of the rollers and other
parts. That is, by starting the rotation of the pair of conveying
rollers 32 at the receipt of the paper sheet information by the
communication module 6b2a of the second sheet post-processing
device 6b, the rotation period of the pair of conveying rollers 32
may become shorter and the lives of the pair of conveying rollers
32 may become longer.
[0139] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 11, a procedure of an
operation of rotating conveying rollers that have not been rotated
is described.
[0140] In step S301 of the flowchart in FIG. 11, the CPU of a local
sheet post-processing device determines whether the pair of
conveying rollers thereof remains stopped.
[0141] When the pair of conveying rollers is stopped, the
determination result in step S301 is YES, and the process goes to
step S302.
[0142] When the pair of conveying roller is rotated, the
determination result in step S301 is NO, and the CPU completes the
procedure.
[0143] In step S302, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the paper sheet forwarding
signal.
[0144] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
paper sheet forwarding signal, the determination result in step
S302 is YES, and the process goes to step S303.
[0145] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the paper sheet forwarding signal, the determination
result in step S302 is NO, and the process of step S302 repeats
until the local sheet post-processing device receives the paper
sheet forwarding signal.
[0146] In step S303, the CPU initiates the rotation of the pair of
conveying rollers, and completes the procedure.
Second Example Embodiment
[0147] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 12, a communication
procedure of a received signal storing operation is described
according to a second example embodiment of the present invention.
The received signal storing operation is performed by the local
sheet post-processing device to transmit a signal from the upstream
device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
[0148] At the start of the received signal storing operation of the
flowchart of FIG. 12, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received various information signals from the upstream device.
The various information signals include the paper sheet information
for use in processing the paper sheet fed from the upstream device,
for example, paper sheet information of the size, thickness, ID, a
request of sheet post-processing operation to a specific sheet
post-processing device, and so forth. The various information
signals can include a single information signal even through the
term is used in plural in the example embodiments of the present
invention.
[0149] When the local sheet post-processing device has received
various information signals from the upstream device, the
determination result in step S401 is YES, the process goes to step
S402.
[0150] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received various information signals from the upstream device, the
determination result in step S401 is NO, the process of step S401
repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives the
various information signals.
[0151] In step S402, the CPU temporarily writes the received
information signals in a storing unit of the local sheet
post-processing device, and the process goes to step S403.
[0152] The local sheet post-processing device receives the paper
sheet, conveys the paper sheet therein, performs the sheet
post-processing operation according to the request of the sheet
post-processing operation contained in the paper sheet information,
and discharges or forwards the paper sheet to the downstream
device. When no request of sheet post-processing operation
corresponding to the local sheet post-processing device is
received, the local sheet post-processing device simply transmits
the paper sheet to the downstream device without performing any
sheet post-processing operation therein.
[0153] In step S403, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the processed paper sheet has come at a
specified position, for example, whether the leading edge of the
paper sheet has been present at or in the vicinity of the pair of
outlet rollers 11.
[0154] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in
the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the determination
result in step S403 is YES and the process goes to step S404.
[0155] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not present at
or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the
determination result in step S403 is NO and the process of step
S403 goes back to step S401.
[0156] The CPU transmits the information signals including the
paper sheet information stored in the storing unit, to the
downstream device in step S404, and determines whether the signal
transmission has been completed in step S405.
[0157] When the signal transmission has been completed, the
determination result in step S405 is YES and the CPU completes the
process.
[0158] When the signal transmission has not yet been completed, the
determination result in step S405 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S401.
[0159] According to the above-described operation, the downstream
device can receive the information signals including the paper
sheet information of the corresponding paper sheet. Therefore, the
downstream device can perform the sheet post-processing operation
in a proper and stable manner. Further, even when the paper sheet
information of the corresponding paper sheet has been changed, the
sheet post-processing operation can be continuously performed
without temporarily stopping the operation. Therefore, a high-speed
sheet post-processing operation can be performed.
[0160] Similar to the operation described above, when the
downstream device has received various information signals from the
local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device
temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the
received various information signals, into the storing unit of the
downstream device. When the paper sheet has come at a specified
position, for example, when the leading edge of the paper sheet is
present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the
downstream device transmits the information signals stored therein
to a further downstream device connected to the downstream
device.
[0161] As previously described, in the second example embodiment of
the present invention, each sheet post-processing device includes
the corresponding storing unit for temporarily writing or storing a
portion of or whole information signals received from the upstream
device with respect to the local sheet post-processing device. When
the whole sheet post-processing devices except the most downstream
device receive information signals from the upstream device during
the sheet feeding operation, the sheet post-processing devices
except the most downstream device temporarily write the various
information signals to the corresponding storing unit, and
transmits the portion of or whole information signals stored
therein, according to the position of the paper sheet in the local
sheet post-processing device. Therefore, the downstream device can
perform the sheet post-processing operation in an accurate and
stable manner. Further, when the content of the paper sheet
information of the corresponding paper sheet has been changed, the
sheet post-processing operation can be continuously performed
without temporarily stopping. Therefore, a high-speed sheet
post-processing operation can be performed.
[0162] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 13, a different
communication procedure of the received signal storing operation is
described according to another example of the second example
embodiment of the present invention. The received signal storing
operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to
transmit information signals one by one by a fixed or given amount
or length of byte thereof, from the upstream device during the
paper sheet feeding operation.
[0163] At the start of the received signal storing operation of the
flowchart of FIG. 13, when the local sheet post-processing device
receives various information signals from the upstream device, the
local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes the received
information signals in the storing unit thereof. At this time, the
information signals are stored in an orderly sequence so as to
easily recognize the receipt order of the received information
signals.
[0164] In each storing unit of the sheet post-processing devices, a
series of storage areas are provided to write information signals
received from the upstream device. Each storage area is basically
provided for a series of various information signals of one paper
sheet. In this case, the storing unit of the local sheet
post-processing device provides a storage area A having addresses
including a top address "a". The addresses of the storage area A
are represented by a variable "A". The various information signals
received by the local sheet post-processing device are temporarily
written into the storage area A one by one in the orderly sequence
starting from the top address "a". That is, the writing of the
various information signals starts from the address having the
smallest number.
[0165] When the paper sheet has come at a specified position, for
example, when the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at or in
the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the local sheet
post-processing device transmits the various information signal
including the paper sheet information stored therein to the
downstream device. Also at this time, the received information
signals are sequentially read out starting from the top address "a"
and are transmitted in the orderly sequence thereof to the
downstream device.
[0166] Specifically, according to the flowchart of FIG. 13, the CPU
of the local sheet post-processing device specifies the variable
"A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address
"a" thereto in step S501, and determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received a fixed or given amount of
various information signals transmitted from the upstream
device.
[0167] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
fixed amount of various information signals, the determination
result in step S502 is YES and the process proceeds to step
S503.
[0168] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received various information signals, the determination result in
step S502 is NO and the process of step S502 repeats until the
local sheet post-processing device receives a fixed or given amount
of information signals.
[0169] The CPU temporarily writes the received information signal
in the top address "a" in step S503, and increments the variable
"A" by one as a fixed or given amount of the information signals in
step S504, and the process proceeds to step S505.
[0170] In step S505, the CPU determines whether the paper sheet has
come at the specified position.
[0171] When the paper sheet has come at the specified position, the
determination result in step S505 is YES and the process proceeds
to step S506.
[0172] When the paper sheet has not yet come at the specified
position, the determination result in step S505 is NO, and the
process of step S505 goes back to step S502. The CPU repeats the
steps S502 through S505 until no more sequential information
signals of the corresponding paper sheet is transmitted.
[0173] After the determination result in step S505 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step
S506, reads out and transmits the received information signal from
the top address "a" to the downstream device in step S507. The CPU
then increments the variable "A" by one as the fixed amount of the
information signals in step S508, and the process proceeds to step
S509.
[0174] In step S509, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals with respect to the downstream device.
[0175] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals, the determination
result in step S509 is YES, and the CPU terminates the sheet
post-processing operation in the local sheet post-processing
device.
[0176] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S509 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S507 to repeat steps S507 through S509 until no more
sequential information signal to be transmitted for the
corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the
storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
[0177] Similar to the operation performed by the local sheet
post-processing device, when receiving various information signals
from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device
temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the
received information signals, into the storing unit thereof. When
the paper sheet has come at the specified position, for example,
when the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the
vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the downstream device
transmits the information signals stored therein to the further
downstream device. Also in this case, the CPU controls to transmit
the information signals in the orderly sequence thereof.
[0178] When a plurality of information signals that are not
properly managed are transmitted at one time, the sequence order of
the signals may be changed. The above-described condition may
cause, for example, the disorder of the requests.
[0179] In a case in which a signal A represents a signal to
indicate the request of the sheet post-processing operation and a
signal B represents a signal to fix the request, when the order of
the signal A and the signal B is reversed, the fixing timing of the
request may change.
[0180] Specifically, when the signal A comes before the signal B,
which is the correct sequence order, the request of the sheet
post-processing operation indicated by the signal A may be fixed
when the signal B is received.
[0181] On the contrary, when the signal A has not been received
before the signal B is received, which is the incorrect order, the
request indicated by the signal A may not be fixed until the next
signal B is received.
[0182] To avoid the above-described problem causing the
transmission of signals in the incorrect order, the signals of the
present example embodiment can be controlled to properly manage the
addresses stored in the storage area, thereby the signals can be
kept in the orderly sequence.
[0183] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 14, a different
communication procedure of a received signal storing operation is
described according to another example of the second example
embodiment of the present invention. The received signal storing
operation is performed by the local sheet post-processing device to
transmit a signal from the downstream device during the paper sheet
feeding operation.
[0184] In the communication procedure of FIG. 14, the paper sheet
forwarding signal is provided for informing a timing of forwarding
a paper sheet.
[0185] When the paper sheet has come at the specified position, for
example, when the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at or in
the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the local sheet
post-processing device transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal
to the downstream device. By receiving the paper sheet forwarding
signal, the downstream device can recognize a timing of a paper
sheet to be fed.
[0186] Similar to the communication procedures shown in FIGS. 12
and 13, the paper sheet information including the size, thickness,
ID, the request of the sheet post-processing operation, and so
forth are temporarily written or stored in the storage area A in
the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device, and
transmitted while keeping the orderly sequence with respect to the
paper sheet forwarding signal. Respective transmission timings of
signals other than the paper sheet forwarding signal are
sequentially transmitted immediately before or after the paper
sheet forwarding signal. Hereinafter, signals other than the paper
sheet forwarding signal are referred to as "information signals" to
distinguish from the paper sheet forwarding signal.
[0187] The communication procedure in the flowchart of FIG. 14 is
basically similar to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG.
13, except that the communication procedure of FIG. 14 uses the
paper sheet forwarding signal.
[0188] Specifically, according to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the CPU
of the local sheet post-processing device specifies the variable
"A" representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address
"a" thereto in step S601, and the process proceeds to step
S602.
[0189] In step S602, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received an information signal of
various information signals transmitted from the upstream
device.
[0190] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
fixed or given amount of various information signals, the
determination result in step S602 is YES and the process proceeds
to step S603.
[0191] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received various information signals, the determination result in
step S602 is NO, and the process of step S602 repeats until the
local sheet post-processing device receives information
signals.
[0192] The CPU temporarily writes the received information signal
in the top address "a" in step S603, and increments the variable
"A" by one as the fixed amount of the information signals in step
S604, and the process proceeds to step S605.
[0193] In step S605, the CPU determines whether the paper sheet
forwarding signal has been received.
[0194] When the paper sheet forwarding signal has been received,
the determination result in step S605 is YES, and the process goes
to step S606.
[0195] When the paper sheet forwarding signal has not yet been
received, the determination result in step S605 is NO, and the
process goes back to step S602.
[0196] In step S606, the CPU determines whether the paper sheet has
come at the specified position.
[0197] When the paper sheet has come at the specified position, the
determination result in step S606 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S607.
[0198] When the paper sheet has not yet come at the specified
position, the determination result in step S606 is NO, and the
process of step S606 repeats until the paper sheet comes at the
specified position.
[0199] After the determination result in step S606 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step
S607, reads out and transmits the received information signal by
the fixed amount of information signals, from the top address "a"
to the downstream device in step S608. The CPU then increments the
variables "A" by one in step S609, and the process proceeds to step
S610.
[0200] In step S610, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals to the downstream device.
[0201] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals, the determination
result in step S610 is YES, and the process goes to step S611.
[0202] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S610 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S608 to repeat steps S608 through S610 until no more
sequential information signal to be transmitted for the
corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the
storing unit.
[0203] The CPU then transmits the paper sheet forwarding signal in
step S611, and terminates the sheet post-processing operation in
the local sheet post-processing device.
[0204] Similar to the operation performed by the local sheet
post-processing device, when receiving various information signals
from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device
temporarily writes the paper sheet information included in the
received information signals, into the storing unit thereof. When
the paper sheet has come at the specified position, for example,
when the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the
vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the downstream device
transmits the information signals stored therein to the further
downstream device. Also in this case, the CPU controls to transmit
the information signals in the orderly sequence thereof.
[0205] When the whole receiving interval times of a plurality of
signals are stored to perform a delayed transmission according to
the interval times, the controls of the operations performed by the
CPU may become complicated and the size of the storage capacity for
the operations may increase. However, by transmitting signals in a
sequential manner as described above, the controls may be
simplified and the size of the storage capacity may be reduced, but
the interval times of the information signals in sending and those
in receiving may become different. Even when the interval times of
the information signals are changed, it can be necessary to
determine which signal corresponds to which paper sheet or which
paper sheet and thereafter.
[0206] On the contrary, as shown in the operations in the second
example embodiment, if the transmission of the paper sheet
forwarding signal and the other information signals are kept in an
orderly sequence thereof, it may be easy to connect the signals
with the corresponding information signals, which can easily solve
the above-described problem.
[0207] For example, the local sheet post-processing device may
receive the information signals including the paper sheet
information, then receive the paper sheet forwarding signal, and
confirm the contents of the information signals. When the paper
sheet forwarding signal and the information signals are transmitted
in the orderly sequence, the local sheet post-processing device can
easily apply the paper sheet information included in the
information signals to the paper sheet corresponding to the paper
sheet forwarding signal. At this time, the information signals may
sequentially be transmitted immediately before or after the paper
sheet forwarding signal has been transmitted, without changing the
sequence order of the paper sheet forwarding signal and the
information signals. Therefore, the sheet post-processing operation
can be performed without making the operation control to be complex
and the size of the storage capacity to be increased.
[0208] When a plurality of stacks of paper sheets are conveyed in
the local sheet post-processing device for the operations shown in
FIGS. 12 through 14, the CPU may perform parallel processing. Since
the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device may take the
operation procedures for the plurality of paper sheet stacks same
as the operation procedure taken for a single paper sheet as
described above, the description of the detailed procedures is
omitted.
Third Example Embodiment
[0209] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 15, a communication
procedure of an operation of transmitting a leading edge
discharging signal is described according to a third example
embodiment of the present invention.
[0210] The communication procedure of the operation according to
the third example embodiment is similar to the communication
procedure of the second example embodiment. Except that the
communication procedure performed in the third example embodiment
issues the leading edge discharging signal as the paper sheet
forwarding signal. Specifically, in the communication procedure
according to the third example embodiment of the present invention,
the leading edge discharging signal is transmitted from the
communication unit of the upstream device to the communication unit
of the local sheet post-processing device. The communication unit
of the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge
discharging signal before or after the leading edge of a paper
sheet is discharged. The above-described transmission of the
leading edge discharging signal can make the local sheet
post-processing device recognize the timing of the leading edge of
a paper sheet to be conveyed or fed. The other parts, structures,
and functions are same as those used in the first and second
example embodiments. Therefore, the same reference numbers as those
used in the first and second example embodiment are given, and the
description of these parts, structures, and functions are omitted
in the third example embodiment.
[0211] In the flowchart of FIG. 15, the operation of transmitting
the leading edge discharging signal may be performed by the local
sheet post-processing device to receive and transmit the leading
edge discharging signal for informing the timing of conveying or
feeding the leading edge of each paper sheet during the paper sheet
feeding operation.
[0212] When the leading edge of a paper sheet has come at a
discharging position through which the paper sheet is discharged,
for example, when the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at
or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the upstream
device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local
sheet post-processing device.
[0213] In step S701, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received the leading edge discharging signal. By receiving the
leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing
device can recognize the timing of conveyance of the paper
sheet.
[0214] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step
S701 is YES and the process proceeds to step S702.
[0215] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination
result in step S701 is NO, and the process of step S701 repeats
until the local sheet post-processing device receives the leading
edge discharging signal.
[0216] After the determination result in step S701 becomes "YES" by
receiving the leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet
post-processing device can confirm various information requests or
signals, determine which request or signal corresponds to which
paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter, and perform a
paper sheet receiving operation, for example, of rotating a sheet
conveying motor, of moving the jogger fences 16 to a standby
position according to its size, etc. in step S702.
[0217] After step S702 is completed, the CPU of the local sheet
post-processing device determines, in step S703, whether the
leading edge of the paper sheet has come at a discharging position,
for example, whether the leading edge of a paper sheet is present
at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
[0218] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at the
discharging position, the determination in step S703 is YES, and
the process proceeds to step S704.
[0219] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not at the
discharging position, the determination in step S703 is NO, and the
process of step S703 repeats until the leading edge of the paper
sheet comes at the discharging position.
[0220] In step S704, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the
downstream device, and completes the procedure.
[0221] In a case in which a single paper sheet is fed to the local
sheet post-processing device, the local sheet post-processing
device performs the operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15.
That is, when the leading edge of the paper sheet has come at the
discharging position, or when the leading edge of the paper sheet
is present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11,
the CPU of the upstream device transmits the leading edge
discharging signal to the local sheet post-processing device. By
receiving the leading edge discharging signal, the local sheet
post-processing device can recognize the timing of conveyance of
the paper sheet.
[0222] In a case in which a plurality of paper sheets are fed to
the local sheet post-processing device, the local sheet
post-processing device temporarily writes the information signals
including the paper sheet information, and transmits the
information signals without changing the sequence order of the
information signals with respect to the leading edge discharging
signal. The information signals are transmitted to the downstream
device at the timing immediately after the transmission of the
leading edge discharging signal.
[0223] Specifically, when the plurality of paper sheets are
continuously fed, the information signals received between the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a first
paper sheet or a paper sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading
edge discharging signal of a second paper sheet or a paper sheet 2
are collectively written or stored in one group unit as Group 1,
and the information signals received between the transmission of
the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper
sheet 3 are collectively stored in one group unit as Group 2.
Similarly, the information signals are stored respectively as Group
3, Group 4, and so on.
[0224] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the
discharging position, the local sheet post-processing device
transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream
device. Immediately after the transmission of the leading edge
discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device
transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1. When
the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging
position, the local sheet post-processing device transmits the
leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and
immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to
Group 2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3, Group 4, and
so on.
[0225] The local sheet post-processing device temporarily writes
the information signals including the paper sheet information, and
transmits the leading edge discharging signal and the information
signals without changing the sequence order thereof. The
information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately after
the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal.
[0226] The communication procedure that is taken when the plurality
of paper sheets are fed is basically same as the communication
procedure in the flowchart of FIG. 15. The whole signals are
transmitted without changing the sequence order.
[0227] When the information signals and the leading edge
discharging signal are transmitted from the local sheet
post-processing device, the downstream device performs its
operation in a same manner as the local sheet post-processing
device. That is, the downstream device temporarily writes the
information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging
signal and the information signals to the further downstream
device.
[0228] In the second example embodiment of the present invention,
each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e
needs to recognize the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet. If
the recognition of the timing fails, it may be difficult to
assuredly determine which signal corresponds to which paper sheet
or which paper sheet and thereafter. Further, if the timing of
conveyance of a paper sheet cannot properly be recognized, the
paper sheet receiving operation cannot be performed at an
appropriate timing. The paper sheet receiving operation may include
operations of rotating a sheet conveying motor, of moving the
jogger fences 16 to a standby position according to its size,
etc.
[0229] According to the present example embodiment, the leading
edge discharging signal may be transmitted as the paper sheet
forwarding signal to the communication device of the downstream
device at the timing before or after the leading edge of the paper
sheet is discharged, and the downstream device can recognize the
conveyance of the leading edge of the paper sheet by receiving the
leading edge discharging signal. Thereby, the uncertainty of the
determination and the inappropriateness of the timing can be
reduced or prevented.
Fourth Example Embodiment
[0230] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 16, a communication
procedure of an operation of a task of processing the paper sheet 1
is described according to a fourth example embodiment of the
present invention.
[0231] The communication procedure of the operation according to
the fourth example embodiment of the present invention is similar
to the communication procedure of the third example embodiment.
Except that the communication procedure performed by the fourth
example embodiment writes or stores a portion or whole set of the
information signals as a group unit. Further, in the fourth example
embodiment, information signals can be transmitted by a flexible
amount or length of byte thereof, from the upstream device to the
downstream device during the paper sheet feeding operation.
[0232] Specifically, in the communication procedure according to
the fourth example embodiment of the present invention, a portion
or whole set of the information signals received between the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper
sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal
of a paper sheet 2 are collectively written or stored in one group
unit as Group 1, a portion or whole set of the information signals
received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading
edge discharging signal of a paper sheet 3 are collectively written
or stored in one group unit as Group 2. Similarly, the information
signals are written or stored as Group 3, Group 4, and so on.
[0233] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the
discharging position, the upstream device transmits the leading
edge discharging signal to the downstream device. Immediately after
the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the
upstream device transmits the portion of whole set of the
information signals corresponding to Group 1. When the leading edge
of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position, the
upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to
the downstream device, and immediately transmits the portion or
whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 2.
Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3, Group 4, and so on.
At this time, the received signals including the leading edge
discharging signal and the corresponding information signals are
transmitted without changing the sequence order thereof.
[0234] The other parts, structures, and functions are same as those
used in the first and second example embodiments. Therefore, the
same reference numbers as those used in the first and second
example embodiments are given, and the description of these parts,
structures, and functions are omitted.
[0235] In the flowchart of FIG. 16, the task of processing the
paper sheet 1, which is a first paper sheet of a stack of paper
sheets, is described according to the fourth example embodiment of
the present invention.
[0236] In step S801, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device, for example, determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
[0237] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the
determination result in step S801 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S802.
[0238] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1,
the determination result in step S801 is NO, and the process of
step S801 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device
receives the leading edge discharging signal.
[0239] The CPU starts the task of the paper sheet 2, which is a
second paper sheet of the stack of paper sheets, in step S802,
specifies the variable "A" representing the storage area A so as to
assign the top address "a" thereto in step S803, and the process
proceeds to step S804.
[0240] In step S804, the CPU determines whether the leading edge of
the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position, for
example, whether the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at
or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11.
[0241] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S804 is YES,
and the process proceeds to step S810.
[0242] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is not present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S804 is
NO, and the process proceeds to step S805.
[0243] In step S805, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 2 from the upstream device.
[0244] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2, the
determination result in step S805 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S809.
[0245] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2,
the determination result in step S805 is NO, and determines whether
the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible
amount of the information signals from the upstream device in step
S806. The "information signals" in step S806 represents the various
information signals that are received between the transmission of
the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 2.
[0246] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals, the determination
result of step S806 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S807.
[0247] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received information signals, the determination result of step S806
is NO, and the process goes back to step S804. The CPU repeats the
steps S804 through S806 until the leading edge of the paper sheet 1
comes at the discharging position or the local sheet
post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal
or a flexible amount of the information signals.
[0248] After the determination result in step S806 becomes "YES",
the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the
number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the
information signals in Group 1, starting from the top address "a"
in the storing area A, in step S807. The CPU then increments the
variable "A" by the number of addresses "N" according to the
flexible amount of the information signals in step S808, and the
process goes back to step S804. The CPU repeats steps S804 through
S808 until no more sequential information signals for Group 1 is
transmitted.
[0249] After the determination result in step S805 becomes "YES",
the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2
has come at the discharging position in step S809.
[0250] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 has come at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S809 is YES,
and the process proceeds to step S810.
[0251] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 has not yet come
at the discharging position, the determination result in step S809
is NO, and the process of step S809 repeats until the leading edge
of the paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position.
[0252] After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 2
at the discharging position is confirmed in step S809, the CPU
transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream
device in step S810, and determines whether the received
information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local
sheet post-processing device in step S811.
[0253] When the received information signals still remain in the
storing unit, the determination result in step S811 is YES, and the
process proceeds to step S812.
[0254] When the received information signals have completely
transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the
determination result in step S811 is NO, and the CPU terminates the
process.
[0255] After the determination result in step S811 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step
S812, and reads out and transmits the received information signals
in Group 1, starting from the top address "a" to the downstream
device in step S813. The CPU then increments the variable "A" by
one in step S814, and the process proceeds to step S815.
[0256] In step S815, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals of Group 1 with respect to the downstream
device.
[0257] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals of Group 1, the
determination result in step S815 is YES, and the CPU terminates
the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0258] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S815 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S813 so as to repeat steps S813 through S815 until no more
sequential information signal to be transmitted for the
corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of the
storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
[0259] Referring to flowcharts of FIGS. 17A and 17B, respective
communication procedures of tasks of paper sheets 2 and 3, which
are second and third paper sheets of the stack of paper sheets,
respectively, are described according to the fourth example
embodiment of the present invention.
[0260] The communication procedures of the flowcharts shown in
FIGS. 17A and 17B are basically similar to the communication
procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. 16. Except, the CPU starts
the task of the paper sheet 3 in step S902 of the flowchart of FIG.
17A, and starts the task of a paper sheet 4 in step S902 of the
flowchart of FIG. 17B. Further, a storing area B including the top
address "b" and a variable "B" is applied in the communication
procedure shown in FIG. 17A, and a storing area C including the top
address "c" and a variable "C" is applied in the communication
procedure shown in FIG. 17B.
[0261] Here, the communication procedures of the respective tasks
of the paper sheets 2 and 3 are described. Since the communication
procedures of the respective tasks of the paper sheet 2 and 3 are
basically similar to each other, the description of the
communication procedure of the task of the paper sheet 3 is
additionally generated to the description of the communication
procedure of the task of the paper sheet 2.
[0262] In step S901, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet
2 (the paper sheet 3 in FIG. 17B) from the upstream device.
[0263] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper
sheet 3), the determination result in step S901 is YES, and the
process proceeds to step S902.
[0264] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2
(or the paper sheet 3), the determination result in step S901 is
NO, and the process of step S901 repeats until the local sheet
post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal
of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper sheet 3).
[0265] The CPU starts the task of the paper sheet 3 in step S902
(the task of the paper sheet 4 in FIG. 17B). The CPU then specifies
the variable "B" (the variable "C" in FIG. 17B) representing the
storage area B (the storing area C in FIG. 17B) so as to assign the
top address "b" (the top address "c" in FIG. 17B) thereto in step
S903, and the process proceeds to step S904.
[0266] In step S904, the CPU determines whether the leading edge of
the paper sheet 2 (the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 in FIG.
17B) has come at the discharging position, for example, whether the
leading edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the vicinity of
the pair of outlet rollers 11.
[0267] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper
sheet 3) is present at the discharging position, the determination
result in step S904 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S910.
[0268] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the paper
sheet 3) is not at the discharging position, the determination
result in step S904 is NO, and the process proceeds to step
S905.
[0269] In step S905, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper sheet 4) from the
upstream device.
[0270] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper
sheet 4), the determination result in step S905 is YES, and the
process proceeds to step S909.
[0271] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3
(or the paper sheet 4), the determination result in step S905 is
NO, and determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received a flexible amount of the information signals from the
upstream device. The "information signals" in step S906 represents
the various information signals that are received between the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal
of the paper sheet 3. In step S906 in FIG. 17B, the information
signals represents the various information signals that are
received between the transmission of the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 3 and the transmission of the leading
edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 4.
[0272] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals, the determination
result of step S906 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S907.
[0273] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the information signals, the determination result of step
S906 is NO, and the process goes back to step S904. The CPU repeats
steps S904 through S906 until the local sheet post-processing
device receives the leading edge discharging signal or a flexible
amount of the information signals.
[0274] After the determination result in step S906 becomes "YES",
the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the
number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the
information signals in Group 2 (Group 3 in FIG. 17B), starting from
the top address "b" (or the top address "c") in the storing area B
(or the storing area C) in step S907. The CPU then increments the
variable "B" (the variable "C" in FIG. 17B) by the number of
addresses "N" according to the flexible amount of the information
signals in step S908, and the process goes back to step S904. The
CPU repeats steps S804 through S808 until no more sequential
information signals for Group 2 (or Group 3) is transmitted.
[0275] After the determination result in step S905 becomes "YES",
the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 3
(or the leading edge of the paper sheet 4 in FIG. 17B) has come at
the discharging position in step S909.
[0276] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper
sheet 4) has come at the discharging position, the determination
result in step S909 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S910.
[0277] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the paper
sheet 4) has not yet come at the discharging position, the
determination result in step S909 is NO, and the process of step
S909 repeats until the leading edge of the paper sheet 3 (or the
paper sheet 4) comes at the discharging position.
[0278] After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 3
(the leading edge of the paper sheet 4 in FIG. 17B) at the
discharging position is confirmed in step S909, the CPU transmits
the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device in
step S910, and determines whether the received information signals
still remain in the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing
device in step S911.
[0279] When the received information signals still remain in the
storing unit, the determination result in step S911 is YES, and the
process proceeds to step S912.
[0280] When the received information signals have completely
transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the
determination result in step S911 is NO, and the CPU terminates the
process.
[0281] After the determination result in step S911 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "b" to the variable "B" (or the top
address "c" to the variable "C" in FIG. 17B) in step S912, and
reads out and transmits the received information signals in Group 2
(or Group 3), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address
"c") to the downstream device in step S913. The CPU then increments
the variable "B" (or the variable "C") by one in step S914, and the
process proceeds to step S915.
[0282] In step S915, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals of Group 2 (or Group 2) with respect to the
downstream device.
[0283] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals of Group 2 (or Group
3), the determination result in step S915 is YES, and the CPU
terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0284] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S915 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S913 so as to repeat steps S913 through S915 until no more
sequential information signal to be transmitted for the
corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area B (or the
storing area C) of the storing unit of the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0285] In a case in which the information signals are transmitted
immediately before the leading edge discharging signal in the third
example embodiment, the timing of transmission of the leading edge
discharging signal may delay according to the number or amount of
the information signals. When serial communication, for example the
UART, is selected for transmission, the delay of the timing of
transmitting the last leading edge discharging signal may greatly
depend on the number or amount of the information signals.
[0286] When the upstream device has a delay of the timing of
transmitting the last leading edge discharging signal as described
above, the downstream device controlled to start driving its
conveying motor depending upon the receipt of the leading edge
discharging signal may cause a delay to start the conveying motors,
which can cause deterioration in performance of conveying paper
sheets.
[0287] Transmission of the information signals immediately before
the leading edge discharging signal may cause a sheet
post-processing device to make the interval between the receipt of
the information signals and the transmission thereof to be the
longest interval. That is, the sheet post-processing device may
cause a delay in transferring the signal to the downstream sheet
post-processing device, which cannot make it to prepare the paper
sheet receiving operation depending on the requirements of the
signal.
[0288] In contrast, the sheet post-processing devices in the
present example embodiment can:
[0289] 1) Reduce if not prevent the delay of transmitting the
leading edge discharging signal depending on the number or amount
of the information signals;
[0290] 2) Reduce if not prevent the delay of starting the conveying
motor when the downstream device is controlled to drive the
conveying motor in response to the receipt of the leading edge
discharging signal and to secure an appropriate level of the
performance in the paper sheet feeding operation; and
[0291] 3) Prepare the paper sheet receiving operation in a proper
manner without causing the delay in transferring the signal to the
downstream device.
Fifth Example Embodiment
[0292] Referring to flowcharts of FIGS. 18 and 19, communication
procedures of respective tasks of processing the leading and
trailing edges of a paper sheet are described according to a fifth
example embodiment of the present invention.
[0293] The communication procedures of the tasks according to the
fifth example embodiment are similar to the communication procedure
of the second example embodiment. Except that the communication
procedure performed in the fifth example embodiment issues, in
addition to the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge
discharging signal also as the paper sheet forwarding signal.
Specifically, in the communication procedures in the flowcharts of
FIGS. 18 and 19 according to the fifth example embodiment of the
present invention, the leading edge discharging signal is
transmitted from the communication unit of the upstream device to
the communication unit of the local sheet post-processing device
before or after the leading edge of a paper sheet is discharged,
and the trailing edge discharging signal is transmitted from the
communication unit of the upstream device to the communication unit
of the local sheet post-processing device before or after the
trailing edge of a paper sheet is discharged. The above-described
transmissions of the leading edge discharging signal and the
trailing edge discharging signal can make the local sheet
post-processing device recognize the respective timings of the
leading and trailing edges of a paper sheet to be conveyed or fed,
respectively. The other parts, structures, and functions are same
as those used in the first and second example embodiments.
Therefore, the same reference numbers as those used in the first
and second example embodiment are given, and the description of
these parts, structures, and functions are omitted in the fifth
example embodiment.
[0294] As previously described, in the fifth example embodiment,
two kinds of the paper sheet forwarding signal are provided. That
is, the leading edge discharging signal is used to inform the
timing of conveying the leading edge of a paper sheet, and the
trailing edge discharging signal is used to inform the timing of
conveying the trailing edge of the paper sheet.
[0295] The flowchart of FIG. 18 shows the task of processing the
leading edge of a paper sheet, and the flowchart of FIG. 19 shows
the task of processing the trailing edge of a paper sheet.
[0296] When the leading edge of a paper sheet has come at a
discharging position through which the paper sheet is discharged,
for example, when the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at
or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the upstream
device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local
sheet post-processing device. By receiving the leading edge
discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device can
recognize the timing of the leading edge of the paper sheet to be
discharged.
[0297] According to the receipt of the leading edge discharging
signal, the local sheet post-processing device can confirm various
information requests or signals, determine which request or signal
corresponds to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and
thereafter, and perform a paper sheet receiving operation, for
example, of rotating a sheet conveying motor, of moving the jogger
fences 16 to a standby position according to its size, etc.
[0298] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet has come at a
discharging position through which the paper sheet is discharged,
for example, when the trailing edge of the paper sheet is present
at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the
upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to
the local sheet post-processing device. By receiving the trailing
edge discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device can
recognize the timing of the trailing edge of the paper sheet to be
discharged. For example, even when the length of a paper sheet is
not informed, the local sheet post-processing device can determine
whether a paper jam has occurred if the trailing edge discharging
signal is received.
[0299] Similar to the operation performed by the local sheet
post-processing device, when the leading edge of a paper sheet has
come at the discharging position through which the paper sheet is
discharged, for example, when the leading edge of a paper sheet is
present at or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the
downstream device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to
the further downstream device. And, when the trailing edge of the
paper sheet has come at the discharging position, for example, when
the trailing edge of the paper sheet is present at or in the
vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the downstream device
transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the further
downstream device.
[0300] In step S1001 of the flowchart of FIG. 18, the CPU of the
local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local
sheet post-processing device has received the leading edge
discharging signal from the upstream device.
[0301] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal, the determination result in step
S1001 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1002.
[0302] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal, the determination
result in step S1001 is NO, and the process repeats until the local
sheet post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging
signal.
[0303] The CPU starts the task of processing the trailing edge of
the paper sheet in step S1002, starts the paper sheet receiving
operation in step S1003, and determines whether the leading edge of
the paper sheet has come at the discharging position in step
S1004.
[0304] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is present at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S1004 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1005.
[0305] When the leading edge of the paper sheet is not present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1004 is
NO, and the process of step S1004 repeats until the leading edge of
the paper sheet comes at the discharging position.
[0306] After the determination result in step S1004 becomes "YES",
the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the
downstream device in step S1005, and terminates the process.
[0307] In step S1101 of the flowchart of FIG. 19, the CPU of the
local sheet post-processing device determines whether the local
sheet post-processing device has received the trailing edge
discharging signal from the upstream device.
[0308] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
trailing edge discharging signal, the determination result in step
S1101 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1102.
[0309] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the trailing edge discharging signal, the determination
result in step S1101 is NO, and the process of step S1101 repeats
until the local sheet post-processing device receives the trailing
edge discharging signal.
[0310] The CPU starts the trailing edge receiving operation in step
S1102, and determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet
has come at the discharging position in step S1103.
[0311] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet is present at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S1103 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1104.
[0312] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet is not present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1103 is
NO, and the process of step S1103 repeats until the trailing edge
of the paper sheet comes at the discharging position.
[0313] After the determination result in step S1103 becomes "YES",
the CPU of the local sheet post-processing device transmits the
trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and
completes the process.
[0314] The transmission timings of the commands or signals used for
the above-described flowcharts of FIGS. 18 and 19 are shown in a
schematic diagram of FIG. 20.
[0315] As shown in the diagram of FIG. 20, the leading edge
discharging signals that are indicated as "S1" and "S3" and the
trailing edge discharging signal that is indicated as "S2" remain
in a standby mode while these signals S1, S2, and S3 are
transmitted from a device 1 representing an upstream device to a
device 2 representing a local sheet post-processing device, and
from the device 2 to a device 3 representing a downstream
device.
[0316] In the operations of the second example embodiment in the
flowchart of FIG. 14, each of the sheet post-processing devices 6a,
6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e needs to recognize the timing of conveyance of a
paper sheet.
[0317] If the recognition of the timing fails, it may be difficult
to assuredly determine which request or signal corresponds to which
paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter. Further, if the
timing of conveyance of a paper sheet cannot properly be
recognized, the downstream device cannot perform the paper sheet
receiving operation at an appropriate timing, as previously
described.
[0318] Further, when the length of the paper sheet is not informed,
the downstream device needs to recognize the timing of receiving
the trailing edge of the paper sheet so as to detect a defect, for
example a paper jam. When the timing cannot specifically be
recognized, the downstream device may fail to determine the
detection of the paper jam and so forth.
[0319] The communication procedure performed in the fifth example
embodiment, therefore, uses both the leading edge discharging
signal and the trailing edge discharging signal as the paper sheet
forwarding signal that are transmitted before or after the leading
and trailing edges of a paper sheet are discharged, respectively.
With the above-described transmissions of the leading edge
discharging signal and the trailing edge discharging signal, the
downstream device can recognize the conveyance or passage of the
leading and trailing edges of a paper sheet, respectively.
[0320] With the above-described operation, the present example
embodiment can:
[0321] 1) Correctly determine which request or signal corresponds
to which paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter;
[0322] 2) Clearly recognize the timing of conveyance of a paper
sheet so that the downstream device can perform the paper sheet
receiving operation, for example, of rotating the sheet conveying
motor, of moving the jogger fences 16 to the standby position
according to its size, etc. at respective appropriate timings;
and
[0323] 3) Correctly recognize the timing of conveyance of the
trailing edge of a paper sheet so that the downstream device can
easily determine whether a paper jam has occurred, which can avoid
the occurrence of paper jam.
Sixth Example Embodiment
[0324] Referring to flowcharts of FIGS. 21, 22, 23A, and 23B,
communication procedures of tasks of processing the leading and
trailing edges of paper sheets 1 and 2 are described according to
examples of a sixth example embodiment of the present
invention.
[0325] The communication procedures of the tasks according to the
sixth example embodiment of the present invention are similar to
the communication procedures of the fifth example embodiment.
Except that each of the communication procedures performed by the
sixth example embodiment stores a portion or whole set of the
information signals as a group.
[0326] Specifically, in the communication procedures according to
the sixth example embodiment of the present invention, a portion or
whole set of the information signals received between the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper
sheet 1 and the transmission of the trailing edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 1 are collectively written or stored in
one group unit as Group 1-1 as shown in FIG. 21, a portion or whole
set of the information signals received between the transmission of
the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1 and the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of a paper
sheet 2 are collectively written or stored in one group unit as
Group 1-2 as shown in FIG. 22. Similarly, the information signals
are written or stored as Group 2-1 in FIG. 23A, Group 2-2 in FIG.
23B, and so on.
[0327] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the
discharging position, the upstream device transmits the leading
edge discharging signal to the downstream device. Immediately after
the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal, the
upstream device transmits the portion of whole set of the
information signals corresponding to Group 1-1. When the trailing
edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, the
upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to
the downstream device, and immediately transmits the portion or
whole set of the information signals corresponding to Group 1-2.
Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 2-1, Group 2-2, and so
on. At this time, the received signals including the leading edge
discharging signals, the trailing edge discharging signals, and the
corresponding information signals are transmitted without changing
the sequence order thereof.
[0328] The other parts, structures, and functions are same as those
used in the first, second and fifth example embodiments. Therefore,
the same reference numbers as those used in the first, second and
fifth example embodiments are given, and the description of these
parts, structures, and functions are omitted.
[0329] In the flowcharts of FIGS. 21, 22, 23A, and 23B, respective
communication procedures to send and receive signals during the
paper sheet feeding operations are described as the examples of the
sixth example embodiment of the present invention.
[0330] As previously described in the fifth example embodiment,
when the leading edge of a paper sheet has come at a discharging
position through which the paper sheet is discharged, for example,
when the leading edge of a paper sheet is present at or in the
vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the upstream device
transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the local sheet
post-processing device. By receiving the leading edge discharging
signal, the local sheet post-processing device can recognize the
timing of conveyance of the leading edge of the paper sheet.
[0331] Further, when the trailing edge of a paper sheet has come at
a discharging position through which the paper sheet is discharged,
for example, when the trailing edge of a paper sheet is present at
or in the vicinity of the pair of outlet rollers 11, the upstream
device transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the local
sheet post-processing device. By receiving the trailing edge
discharging signal, the local sheet post-processing device can
recognize the timing of conveyance of the trailing edge of the
paper sheet.
[0332] In the sixth example embodiment, the local sheet
post-processing device temporarily writes or stores the information
signals including information of the size, thickness, and ID of the
paper sheets, the request of the sheet post-processing operation,
and so forth, and transmits the information signals without
changing the sequence order thereof with respect to the leading
edge discharging signal and the trailing edge discharging signal.
The information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately
after the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal or
immediately after the transmission of the trailing edge discharging
signal, depending on the discharging signal to which the
information signals correspond.
[0333] As previously described, when the plurality of paper sheets
are continuously fed, the respective information signals received
between the transmissions of two adjacent discharging signals are
collectively written or stored into the corresponding groups.
[0334] The upstream device transmits the leading edge discharging
signal to the downstream device when the leading edge of the paper
sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, then immediately
transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1-1.
[0335] The upstream device transmits the trailing edge discharging
signal to the downstream device when the trailing edge of the paper
sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, then immediately
transmits the information signals corresponding to Group 1-2.
[0336] Similarly, when the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 comes
at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits the
leading edge discharging signal to the downstream device, then
immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to
Group 2-1. Further, when the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2
comes at the discharging position, the upstream device transmits
the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream device, then
immediately transmits the information signals corresponding to
Group 2-2. Similarly, the operation repeats for Group 3-1, Group
3-2, and so on.
[0337] Each sheet post-processing device temporarily stores the
information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging
signal, the trailing edge discharging signal, and the information
signals without changing the sequence order thereof. The
information signals are transmitted at the timing immediately after
the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal or
immediately after the transmission of the trailing edge discharging
signal.
[0338] The communication procedure that is taken when the plurality
of paper sheets are fed is basically same as the communication
procedure as described above. The signals are transmitted without
changing the sequence order thereof.
[0339] When the leading edge discharging signal, the trailing edge
discharging signal, and the information signals are transmitted
from the local sheet post-processing device, the downstream device
performs in a same manner as the local sheet post-processing
device. That is, the downstream device temporarily writes the
information signals, and transmits the leading edge discharging
signal, the trailing edge discharging signal, and the information
signals to the further downstream device.
[0340] In the flowchart of FIG. 21, the communication procedure of
the task of processing the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is
described according to the sixth example embodiment of the present
invention.
[0341] In step S1201, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device, for example, determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
[0342] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the
determination result in step S1201 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1202.
[0343] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1,
the determination result in step S1201 is NO, and the process of
step S1201 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device
receives the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet
1.
[0344] The CPU starts the task of processing the trailing edge of
the paper sheet 1 in step S1202, specifies the variable "A"
representing the storage area A so as to assign the top address "a"
thereto in step S1203, and the process proceeds to step S1204.
[0345] In step S1204, the CPU determines whether the leading edge
of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position.
[0346] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S1204 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1210.
[0347] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 is not present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1204 is
NO, and the process proceeds to step S1205.
[0348] In step S1205, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 1 from the upstream device.
[0349] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the
determination result in step S1205 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1209.
[0350] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1,
the determination result in step S1205 is NO, and determines
whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream device
in step S1206. The "information signals" in step S1206 represents
the various information signals that are received between the
transmission of the leading edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 1 and the transmission of the trailing edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 1. In this case, each information signal
may be transmitted not in a given or fixed amount but in a flexible
amount thereof. That is, the length of byte of the address
(referred to as "N") to be used may be longer than the length used
for writing and storing the fixed amount of the information
signals.
[0351] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals, the determination
result of step S1206 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S1207.
[0352] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received information signals, the determination result of step
S1206 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1204. The CPU
repeats steps S1204 through S1206 until the leading edge of the
paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position or the local sheet
post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging
signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
[0353] After the determination result in step S1206 has become
"YES", the CPU temporarily writes the received information signal
by the number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount
of information signals in Group 1-1, starting from the top address
"a" in the storing area A, in step S1207. The CPU then increments
the variable "A" by the number of addresses "N" according to the
flexible amount of the information signals in step S1208, and the
process goes back to step S1204. The CPU repeats steps S1204
through S1208 until no more sequential information signals for
Group 1-1 is transmitted.
[0354] After the determination result in step S1205 becomes "YES",
the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 1
has come at the discharging position in step S1209.
[0355] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has come at the
discharging position, the determination result in step S1209 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1210.
[0356] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 1 has not yet come
at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1209
is NO, and the process of step S1209 repeats until the leading edge
of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position.
[0357] After the arrival of the leading edge of the paper sheet 1
at the discharging position is confirmed in step S1209, the CPU
transmits the leading edge discharging signal to the downstream
device in step S1210, and determines whether the received
information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local
sheet post-processing device in step S1211.
[0358] When the received information signals still remain in the
storing unit, the determination result in step S1211 is YES, and
the process proceeds to step S1212.
[0359] When the received information signals have completely
transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the
determination result in step S1211 is NO, and the CPU terminates
the process.
[0360] After the determination result in step S1211 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "a" to the variable "A" in step
S1212, reads out and transmits the received information signals in
Group 1-1, starting from the top address "a" to the downstream
device in step S1213. The CPU then increments the variable "A" by
one in step S1214, and the process proceeds to step S1215.
[0361] In step S1215, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals of Group 1-1 with respect to the downstream
device.
[0362] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals of Group 1-1, the
determination result in step S1215 is YES, and the CPU terminates
the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0363] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S1215 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S1213 so as to repeat steps S1213 through S1215 until no
more sequential information signal of Group 1-1 to be transmitted
for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A of
the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
[0364] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 22, the communication
procedure of the task of processing the trailing edge of the paper
sheet 1 is described as another example of the sixth example
embodiment of the present invention.
[0365] In step S1301, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 1 from the upstream device.
[0366] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1, the
determination result in step S1301 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1302.
[0367] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 1,
the determination result in step S1301 is NO, and the process of
step S1301 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device
receives the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet
1.
[0368] The CPU starts the task of processing the leading edge of
the paper sheet 2 in step S1302, specifies the variable "A'"
representing the storage area A' so as to assign the top address
"a'" thereto in step S1303, and the process proceeds to step
S1304.
[0369] In step S1304, the CPU determines whether the trailing edge
of the paper sheet 1 has come at the discharging position.
[0370] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1304 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1310.
[0371] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is not present
at the discharging position, the determination result in step S1304
is NO, and the process proceeds to step S1305.
[0372] In step S1305, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the leading edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 2 from the upstream device.
[0373] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2, the
determination result in step S1305 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1309.
[0374] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2,
the determination result in step S1305 is NO, and determines
whether the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals from the upstream
device. The "information signals" in step S1306 represents the
various information signals that are received between the
transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 1 and the transmission of the leading edge discharging signal
of the paper sheet 2. In this case, each information signal may be
transmitted not in a fixed amount but in a flexible amount thereof.
That is, the length of byte of the address (referred to as "N") to
be used may be longer than the length used for writing and storing
the fixed amount of the information signals.
[0375] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals, the determination
result of step S1306 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S1307.
[0376] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received information signals, the determination result of step
S1306 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1304. The CPU
repeats steps S1304 through S1306 until the trailing edge of the
paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position or the local sheet
post-processing device receives the leading edge discharging signal
of the paper sheet 2 or a flexible amount of the information
signals.
[0377] After the determination result in step S1306 becomes "YES",
the CPU temporarily writes the received information signal by the
number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of
information signals in Group 1-2, starting from the top address
"a'" in the storing area A', in step S1307. The CPU then increments
the variable "A'" by the number of addresses "N" according to the
flexible amount of the information signals in step S1308, and the
process goes back to step S1304. The CPU repeats steps S1304
through S1308 until no more sequential information signals for
Group 1-2 is transmitted.
[0378] After the determination result in step S1305 becomes "YES",
the CPU determines whether the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1
has come at the discharging position in step S1309.
[0379] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is present at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1309 is
YES, and the process proceeds to step S1310.
[0380] When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 is not yet at
the discharging position, the determination result in step S1309 is
NO, and the process of step S1309 repeats until the trailing edge
of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position.
[0381] After the arrival of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1
at the discharging position is confirmed in step S1309, the CPU
transmits the trailing edge discharging signal to the downstream
device in step S1310, and determines whether the received
information signals still remain in the storing unit of the local
sheet post-processing device in step S1311.
[0382] When the received information signals still remain in the
storing unit, the determination result in step S1311 is YES, and
the process proceeds to step S1312.
[0383] When the received information signals have completely
transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the
determination result in step S1311 is NO, and the CPU terminates
the process.
[0384] After the determination result in step S1311 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "a'" to the variable "A'" in step
S1312, reads out and transmits the received information signals in
Group 1-2, starting from the top address "a'" to the downstream
device in step S1313. The CPU then increments the variable "A'" by
one in step S1314, and the process proceeds to step S1315.
[0385] In step S1315, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals of Group 1-2 with respect to the downstream
device.
[0386] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals of Group 1-2, the
determination result in step S1315 is YES, and the CPU terminates
the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0387] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S1315 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S1313 so as to repeat steps S1313 through S1315 until no
more sequential information signal of Group 1-2 to be transmitted
for the corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area A' of
the storing unit of the local sheet post-processing device.
[0388] In the flowcharts of FIGS. 23A and 23B, the respective
procedures of the tasks of processing the leading and trailing
edges of the paper sheet 2 are described according to other
examples of the sixth example embodiment of the present
invention.
[0389] The communication procedures of the flowcharts shown in
FIGS. 23A and 23B are basically similar to the procedures of the
flowcharts shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, respectively. Except, the CPU
starts the task of the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in step
S1402 of the flowchart of FIG. 23A, and starts the task of the
leading edge of the paper sheet 3 in step S1402 of the flowchart of
FIG. 23B. Further, a storing area B including the top address "b"
and a variable "B" is applied in the communication procedures shown
in the flowchart of FIG. 23A, and a storing area B' including the
top address "b'" and a variable "B'" is applied in the
communication procedures shown in the flowchart of FIG. 23B.
[0390] Here, the communication procedures of the respective tasks
of the leading and trailing edges of the paper sheet 2 are
described. Since the communication procedures of the respective
tasks of the leading and trailing edges of the paper sheet 2 are
basically similar to each other, the description of the
communication procedure of the task of the trailing edge of the
paper sheet 2 is additionally generated to the description of the
communication procedure of the task of the leading edge of the
paper sheet 2.
[0391] In step S1401, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the local sheet post-processing device
has received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet
2 (the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in FIG. 23B) from the
upstream device.
[0392] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the
trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2), the
determination result in step S1401 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1402.
[0393] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2
(or the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2), the
determination result in step S1401 is NO, and the process of step
S1401 repeats until the local sheet post-processing device receives
the leading edge discharging signal (or the trailing edge
discharging signal).
[0394] The CPU starts the task of the trailing edge of the paper
sheet 2 in step S1402 (the task of the leading edge of the paper
sheet 3 in FIG. 23B). The CPU then specifies the variable "B" (the
variable "B'" in FIG. 23B) representing the storage area B (the
storing area B' in FIG. 23B) so as to assign the top address "b"
(the top address "b'" in FIG. 23B) thereto in step S1403, and the
process proceeds to step S1404.
[0395] In step S1404, the CPU determines whether the leading edge
of the paper sheet 2 (the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in
FIG. 23B) has come at the discharging position.
[0396] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing
edge of the paper sheet 2) is present at the discharging position,
the determination result in step S1404 is YES, and the process
proceeds to step S1410.
[0397] When the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 (or the trailing
edge of the paper sheet 2) is not present at the discharging
position, the determination result in step S1404 is NO, and the
process proceeds to step S1405.
[0398] In step S1405, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has received the trailing edge discharging
signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the leading edge discharging signal
of the paper sheet 3 in FIG. 23B) from the upstream device.
[0399] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 (or the
leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3), the
determination result in step S1405 is YES, and the process proceeds
to step S1409.
[0400] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2
(or the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 3), the
determination result in step S1405 is NO, and determines whether
the local sheet post-processing device has received a flexible
amount of the information signals from the upstream device. The
"information signals" in step S1406 represents the various
information signals that are received between the transmission of
the leading edge discharging signal of the paper sheet 2 and the
transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of the paper
sheet 2. In step S1406 of FIG. 23B, the "information signals"
represents the various information signals that are received
between the transmission of the trailing edge discharging signal of
the paper sheet 2 and the transmission of the leading edge
discharging signal of the paper sheet 3.
[0401] When the local sheet post-processing device has received a
flexible amount of the information signals, the determination
result of step S1406 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S1407.
[0402] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the information signals, the determination result of step
S1406 is NO, and the process goes back to step S1404. The CPU
repeats steps S1404 through S1406 until the local sheet
post-processing device receives the trailing edge discharging
signal or a flexible amount of the information signals.
[0403] After the determination result in step S1206 becomes "YES",
the CPU temporarily writes the received information signals by the
number of addresses "N" corresponding to the flexible amount of the
information signals in Group 2-1 (Group 2-2 in FIG. 23B), starting
from the top address "b" (or the top address "b'" in FIG. 23B) in
the storing area B (or the storing area B') in step S1407. The CPU
then increments the variable "B" (the variable "B'" in FIG. 23B) by
the number of addresses "N" according to the flexible amount of the
information signals in step S1408, and the process goes back to
step S1404. The CPU repeats steps S1404 through S1408 until no more
sequential information signals for Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2) is
transmitted.
[0404] After the determination result in step S1405 becomes "YES",
the CPU determines whether the leading edge of the paper sheet 2
(or the trailing edge of the paper sheet 2 in FIG. 23B) has come at
the discharging position in step S1409.
[0405] When the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper
sheet 2 has come at the discharging position, the determination
result in step S1409 is YES, and the process proceeds to step
S1410.
[0406] When the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the paper
sheet 2 has not yet come at the discharging position, the
determination result in step S1409 is NO, and the process of step
S1409 repeats until the leading edge (or the trailing edge) of the
paper sheet 2 comes at the discharging position.
[0407] After the arrival of the leading edge (or the trailing edge)
of the paper sheet 2 at the discharging position is confirmed in
step S1409, the CPU transmits the leading edge discharging signal
(or the trailing edge discharging signal in FIG. 23B) to the
downstream device in step S1410, and determines whether the
received information signals still remain in the storing unit of
the local sheet post-processing device in step S1411.
[0408] When the received information signals still remain in the
storing unit, the determination result in step S1411 is YES, and
the process proceeds to step S1412.
[0409] When the received information signals have completely
transmitted and no information signals remain in there, the
determination result in step S1411 is NO, and the CPU terminates
the process.
[0410] After the determination result in step S1411 becomes "YES",
the CPU assigns the top address "b" to the variable "B" (or the top
address "b'" to the variable "B'" in FIG. 23B) in step S1412, reads
out and transmits the received information signals in Group 2-1 (or
Group 2-2), starting from the top address "b" (or the top address
"b'") to the downstream device in step S1413. The CPU then
increments the variable "B" (or the variable "B'") by one in step
S1414, and the process proceeds to step S1415.
[0411] In step S1415, the CPU determines whether the local sheet
post-processing device has completed the transmission of the
information signals of Group 2-1 (or Group 2-2) with respect to the
downstream device.
[0412] When the local sheet post-processing device has completed
the transmission of the information signals of Group 1 (or Group
2-2), the determination result in step S1415 is YES, and the CPU
terminates the sheet post-processing operation in the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0413] When the local sheet post-processing device still has the
information signals to be transmitted to the downstream device, the
determination result in step S1415 is NO, and the process goes back
to step S1413 so as to repeat steps S1413 through S1415 until no
more sequential information signal to be transmitted for the
corresponding paper sheet remains in the storing area B (or the
storing area B') of the storing unit of the local sheet
post-processing device.
[0414] The transmission timings of the commands or signals used for
the above-described flowcharts of FIGS. 21, 22, 23A are shown in a
schematic diagram of FIG. 24.
[0415] As shown in the diagram of FIG. 24, the leading edge
discharging signals that are indicated as "S1" and "S3" and the
trailing edge discharging signal that is indicated as "S2" remain
in a standby mode while these signals S1, S2, and S3 are
transmitted from a device 1 representing an upstream device to a
device 2 representing a local sheet post-processing device, and
from the device 2 to a device 3 representing a downstream device.
During the respective intervals of the signals S1, S2, and S3 in
the standby mode, the respective groups of the information signals
are transmitted from the upstream device to the downstream device.
As previously described, each group of the information signals is
transmitted immediately after the corresponding one of the signals
S1, S2, and S3. Therefore, the leading edge discharging signal S1
and the information signals corresponding to the leading edge
discharging signal S1 are transmitted as a set of signals as shown
in FIG. 24, and so are the trailing edge discharging signal S2 and
the corresponding information signals, and the leading edge
discharging signal S3 and the corresponding information
signals.
[0416] As previously described in the flowchart of FIG. 14
according to the second example embodiment, each of the sheet
post-processing devices 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e needs to recognize
the timing of conveyance of a paper sheet.
[0417] If the recognition of the timing fails, it may be difficult
to assuredly determine which request or signal corresponds to which
paper sheet or which paper sheet and thereafter. Further, if the
timing of conveyance of a paper sheet cannot properly be
recognized, the downstream device cannot perform the paper sheet
receiving operation at an appropriate timing, as previously
described.
[0418] Further, when the length of the paper sheet is not informed,
the downstream device needs to recognize the timing of receiving
the trailing edge of the paper sheet so as to detect a defect, for
example a paper jam. When the timing cannot specifically be
recognized, the downstream device may fail to determine the
detection of the paper jam and so forth.
[0419] Therefore, the communication procedure performed in the
sixth example embodiment stores the portion or whole set of the
information signals as a group.
[0420] Accordingly, as previously described, when the leading edge
of the paper sheet 1 comes at the discharging position, an upstream
device transmits the leading edge discharging signal to a
downstream device. Immediately after the transmission of the
leading edge discharging signal, the upstream device transmits the
portion of whole set of the information signals corresponding to
Group 1-1. When the trailing edge of the paper sheet 1 comes at the
discharging position, the upstream device transmits the trailing
edge discharging signal to the downstream device, and immediately
transmits the portion or whole set of the information signals
corresponding to Group 1-2. Similarly, the operation repeats for
Group 2-1, Group 2-2 and so on. At this time, the received signals
including the leading edge discharging signals, the trailing edge
discharging signals, and the information signals are transmitted
without changing the sequence order thereof. By keeping the orderly
sequence of the signals, the downstream device can properly
recognize the leading and trailing edges of a series of paper
sheets. For example, the signals are transmitted in the order of
the leading edge of the paper sheet 1, the trailing edge of the
paper sheet 1, the leading edge of the paper sheet 2, the trailing
edge of the paper sheet 2, and so on, which can cause the
downstream device to perform the operations smoothly. With the
above-described operation, the present invention can enhance the
effects that can be obtained through the performance in the fifth
example embodiment.
[0421] Referring to a flowchart of FIG. 25, a communication
procedure of an operation of transmitting signals is described. The
local sheet post-processing device performs the operations of the
communication procedure to process the information signals in the
third through sixth example embodiments.
[0422] In a case in which the local sheet post-processing device
receives the information signals from the upstream device after the
local sheet post-processing device has already transmitted the
preceding paper sheet forwarding signal corresponding to the
information signals, to the downstream device, the local sheet
post-processing device instantly transmits the information signals
corresponding to the preceding paper sheet forwarding signal, to
the downstream device. The "preceding paper sheet forwarding
signal" can be applied to the leading edge discharging signal or
the trailing edge discharging signal.
[0423] Specifically, the CPU of the local sheet post-processing
device determines whether the whole paper sheet forwarding
signal(s) transmitted to the local sheet post-processing device
have already been transmitted to the downstream device or have not
been received from the upstream device in step S1501.
[0424] When the paper sheet forwarding signal(s) in the local sheet
post-processing device have already been transmitted or have not
been received, the determination result in step S1501 is YES, and
the process proceeds to step S1502.
[0425] When the paper sheet forwarding signal(s) remain in the
local sheet post-processing device, the determination result in
step S1501 is NO, and the process of step S1501 repeats until the
local sheet post-processing device empties the paper sheet
forwarding signals therefrom.
[0426] In step S1502, the CPU determines the local sheet
post-processing device has received the information signals.
[0427] When the local sheet post-processing device has received the
information signals, the determination result in step S1502 is YES,
and the process proceeds to step S1503.
[0428] When the local sheet post-processing device has not yet
received the information signals, the determination result in step
S1502 is NO, and the process of step S1502 goes back to step
S1501.
[0429] After the determination result of step S1502 has become
"YES", the local sheet post-processing device instantly transmits
the received signals to the downstream device in step S1503, and
terminates the process.
[0430] By performing the above-described communication procedure
shown in the flowchart of FIG. 25, the signals can be aligned in
the orderly sequence and the information signals can be transmitted
in the fastest way.
[0431] With the operations and tasks as described above according
to the first through sixth example embodiments, it is possible to
establish a sheet post-processing system that includes a plurality
of sheet post-processing device, each of which receives various
signals including paper sheet information by at least one
communication module or unit before or after the paper sheet is
fed, stores the received signals in the storing unit, and transmits
the stored signals before or after the paper sheet is discharged.
Further, each of the plurality of sheet post-processing devices of
the sheet post-processing system keeps the conveying rollers
unrotated until the paper sheet forwarding signal is received.
Further, the sheet post-processing system can be connected with an
image forming device. With the above-described structures, the
sheet post-processing system can perform the sheet feeding
operation in a high speed and stable manner and at low cost.
[0432] Further, with the operations as described above according to
the present example embodiment, it is also possible to establish an
image forming system that includes the sheet post-processing system
and the image forming device connected together with the sheet
post-processing system. With the above-described structure, the
image forming system can perform the sheet feeding operation in a
high speed and stable manner and at low cost.
[0433] The above-described example embodiments are illustrative,
and numerous additional modifications and variations are possible
in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or
features of different example embodiments herein may be combined
with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope
of this disclosure and appended claims. It is therefore to be
understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the
disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *