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.

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.