Image forming apparatus configured to modify a bookbinding operation based on a maximum number of bindable sheets, image forming method, computer program product, and storage medium having recorded the computer program product configured to perform same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9375970-B2
Application number	US-201313914984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2013
Priority date	Jun 18, 2012
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects the number of manuscript sheets; a calculating unit which calculates the anticipated number of sheets of recording media based on the detected number of sheets; a determining unit which determines whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds the predetermined number of sheets; and a bookbinding unit which binds multiple recording media, wherein the calculating unit calculates the anticipated number of sheets, further including a cover arranged on the outside of the multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner, and wherein the bookbinding unit binds multiple recording media without arranging the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when an image is not formed on the cover if the determining unit determines that the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the predetermined number of sheets.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a bookbinding device configured to bind multiple recording media; and
a controller including a processor configured to,
detect a number of manuscript sheets on which an image is formed,
calculate an anticipated number of sheets of recording media on which the image is to be formed based on a print job associated with printing the image, the print job including the detected number of sheets and an additional sheet as a cover arranged on an outside of the multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner,
determine whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds a set number of sheets, and
instruct the bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media by omitting the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when performing post-processing on the print job, if the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets.

2. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a display configured to output processing selection information on the calculated anticipated number of sheets; and
an input device configured to receive input processing determination information on whether the cover is arranged on the outside of the multiple recording media, wherein
the controller is configured to,
instruct the display to output the processing determination information when the image is not formed on the cover, if the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets, and
instruct the bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media without arranging the cover on the outside after the display outputs the processing selection information and the processing determination information is input into the input device.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller instructs the bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media without arranging a first cover on a front outer side or a second cover on a rear outer side of the multiple recording media.

4. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller instructs the bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media without categorizing the multiple recording media on which the images are formed by performing chapter division, if the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets when a single side of some of the multiple recording media is set to be blank in order to categorize the multiple recording media based on content of the images formed when forming the images on a single side of the multiple manuscript sheets during double sided printing.

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller instructs the bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media by omitting a blank sheet included in a print job associated with the multiple recording media to categorize the multiple recording media by indicating chapter divisions therebetween, if the determining unit determines that the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets.

6. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to,
calculate a number of sheets at a time of aggregating the recording media for forming, on the recording media, aggregated multiple images,
determine whether the calculated number of sheets at the time of aggregating exceeds the set number of sheets, and
instruct the bookbinding device to aggregate the images to form the aggregated images on the multiple recording media and bind the multiple recording media, if the number of sheets at the time of aggregating does not exceed the set number of sheets and the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets.

7. An image forming method, comprising the steps of:
detecting, via a processor included in a controller, a number of manuscript sheets on which an image is formed;
calculating, via the processor, an anticipated number of sheets of recording media on which the image is to be formed based on a print job associated with printing the image, the print job including the detected number of sheets and an additional sheet as a cover arranged on an outside of multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner;
determining, via the processor, whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds a set number of sheets; and
instructing, via the processor, a bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media by omitting the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when performing post-processing on the print job, if the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets.

8. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a controller of an image forming apparatus, configures the processor to,
detect a number of manuscript sheets on which an image is formed,
calculate an anticipated number of sheets of recording media on which the image is to be formed based on a print job associated with printing the image, the print job including the detected number of sheets and an additional sheet as a cover arranged on an outside of multiple recording media which are stacked in an overlapping manner,
determine whether the anticipated number of sheets calculated exceeds a set number of sheets, and
instruct a bookbinding device to bind the multiple recording media by omitting the cover on the outside of the multiple recording media when performing post-processing on the print job, if the anticipated number of sheets exceeds the set number of sheets.

Assignees

• Kizaki Osamu
• Hatanaka Satoshi
• Irie Kohichi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kizaki Osamu
• Hatanaka Satoshi
• Irie Kohichi

Classifications

• B65H2301/51611

  involving at least a binding element traversing the handled material, e.g. staple · CPC title

• B42B4/00 Primary

  Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures by discontinuous stitching with filamentary material, e.g. wire {(by stapling B25C5/00; staples F16B15/00)} · CPC title

• B42C99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• G03G15/6544

  Details about the binding means or procedure · CPC title

• B65H37/04

  for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) · CPC title