System, and post-processing apparatus and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9846559-B2
Application number	US-201615092077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

At least one embodiment of a post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on a product printed by a printing apparatus, and transmits a completion notification, indicating that the post-processing apparatus has completed the post-processing, to the printing apparatus based on whether there is a subsequent post-processing apparatus to the post-processing apparatus. At least one embodiment of an image forming apparatus holds job data, performs print processing of the job data, and deletes the held job data in a case where the completion notification is received.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a printing apparatus; and
a plurality of post-processing apparatuses,
wherein each of the post-processing apparatuses includes:
at least one processor configured to
perform post-processing on a product printed by the printing apparatus;
determine whether subsequent post-processing is to be performed by a subsequent one of the post-processing apparatuses on the post-processed printed product or not, said subsequent post-processing apparatus being connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus;
transmit a completion notification that indicates completion of processing to the printing apparatus upon the completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that no subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product; and
transmit a partial completion notification that indicates completion of a part of processing to the printing apparatus upon the completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product; and

wherein the printing apparatus includes:
a storage configured to hold job data,
a printer configured to perform print processing of the job data, and
at least one processor configured to delete the held job data in a case where the completion notification is received and not to delete the held job data in a case where the partial completion notification is received.

2. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one processor of the post-processing apparatus is configured to transmit the completion notification to the printing apparatus in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to and following the post-processing apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 2 ,
wherein, in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to and following the post-processing apparatus and where job data is held, the at least one processor of the post-processing apparatus is configured to allow the job data to be deleted.

4. The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one processor of the printing apparatus is configured to delete the held job data in a case where the partial completion notification is received and where a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the partial completion notification.

5. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
perform post-processing on a product printed by a printing apparatus;
determine whether subsequent post-processing is to be performed by a subsequent post-processing apparatuses on the post-processed printed product or not, the subsequent post-processing apparatus being connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus;
transmit a completion notification that indicates completion of processing to the printing apparatus upon completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that no subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product; and
transmit a partial completion notification that indicates completion of a part of processing to the printing apparatus upon the completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the completion notification to the printing apparatus in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein, in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus and where job data is held, the at least one processor is configured to allow the job data to be deleted.

8. A method for controlling a post-processing apparatus, the method comprising:
performing post-processing on a product printed by a printing apparatus;
determining whether subsequent post-processing is to be performed by a subsequent post-processing apparatuses on the post-processed printed product, the subsequent post-processing apparatus being connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus;
transmitting a completion notification that indicates completion of processing to the printing apparatus upon completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that no subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product; and
transmitting a partial completion notification that indicates completion of a part of processing to the printing apparatus upon the completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising
transmitting the completion notification to the printing apparatus in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to and following the post-processing apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
in a case where the completion notification that indicates the completion of the processing is received from the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to and following the post-processing apparatus and where job data is held, allowing the job data to be deleted.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a post-processing apparatus, the method comprising:
performing post-processing on a product printed by a printing apparatus;
determining whether subsequent post-processing is to be performed by a subsequent post-processing apparatuses on the post-processed printed product, the subsequent post-processing apparatus being connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus;
transmitting a completion notification that indicates completion of processing to the printing apparatus upon completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that no subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus connected to, and following, the post-processing apparatus on the post-processed printed product; and
transmitting a partial completion notification that indicates completion of a part of processing to the printing apparatus upon the completion of the post-processing in a case where it is determined that subsequent post-processing is to be performed by the subsequent post-processing apparatus co

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Mori Yasuo

Classifications

• G06F3/1211

  Improving printing performance · CPC title

• G06F3/1264 Primary

  by assigning post-processing resources · CPC title

• G06F3/1282

  High volume printer device · CPC title