# US 11,305,573 B2 · Image forming apparatus, controlling method of image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, controlling method of information processing apparatus, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,573 B2 - Document ID: US11305573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/165,288 - Filed: 2021-02-02 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-14 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Masahiro Mutsuno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305573B2 ## CPC - B42C 19/02: starting with single sheets - B26F 1/0092: {Perforating means specially adapted for printing machines (B26F1/02 - B26F1/46 take precedence)} - B26F 1/02: Perforating by punching, e.g. with relatively-reciprocating punch and bed - B42B 4/00: Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures by discontinuous stitching with filamentary material, e.g. wire {(by stapling B25C5/00; staples F16B15/00)} - B42C 1/12: Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures - B65H 35/0086: {using movable cutting elements} - B65H 37/04: 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) - B65H 37/06: for folding - H04N 1/00639: {Binding, stapling, folding or perforating, e.g. punching} - H04N 1/0066: {Aligning or positioning related to handling} - B42C 19/08: Conveying between operating stations in machines (conveyors in general B65G) - H04N 2201/0094: Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception - B42C: BOOKBINDING (cutting or perforating machines, devices or tools B26; folding sheets or webs B31F; ornamenting books B44) - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) - B42B: PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together sheets or signatures B42C1/12; temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In case of simultaneously performing a punching process and a finishing process other than the punching process in an image forming apparatus, in order to prevent an unnecessary (ineffectual) finishing process from being performed, an information processing controller unit of a multifunction peripheral performs control of permitting to set in combination a double-punching center setting and a bookbinding setting, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, other than the double-punching center setting, and the bookbinding setting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus that is equipped with a punching function of performing a punching process to punch a sheet and a bookbinding function of performing a bookbinding process to sheets, the image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform control of permitting to set in combination a first punch setting of performing the punching process symmetrically with respect to a center line of the sheet and a bookbinding setting of performing the bookbinding process, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, different from the first punch setting, and the bookbinding setting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control of permitting the bookbinding setting in a case where the first punch setting has been made, and of prohibiting the bookbinding setting in a case where the punch setting different from the first punch setting has been made. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control of permitting the first punch setting and of prohibiting the punch setting different from the first punch setting, in a case where the bookbinding setting has been made. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookbinding setting is a setting of performing at least either a folding process of folding a sheet along its center line or a saddle-stitch process of saddle-stitching sheets on their center line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform control of permitting to set in combination the first punch setting and a setting of performing printing to a punched sheet, and of prohibiting to set in combination the punch setting different from the first punch setting and the setting of performing the printing to the punched sheet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in a case where the first punch setting and the setting of performing the printing to the punched sheet have been set in combination, the punching process is performed on one place at the center of the sheet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is equipped with a Z-folding function of performing a Z-folding process of folding a sheet into a Z shape, and the control unit is configured to perform control of permitting to set in combination a second punch setting of performing a punching process at one place of a sheet by using the punching function and a Z-folding setting of performing the Z-folding process, and of prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, different from the second punch setting, and the Z-folding setting. ### Claim 8 A controlling method for an image forming apparatus equipped with a punching function of performing a punching process to punch a sheet and a bookbinding function of performing a bookbinding process to sheets, the controlling method comprising: permitting to set in combination a first punch setting of performing the punching process symmetrically with respect to a center line of the sheet and a bookbinding setting of performing the bookbinding process; and prohibiting to set in combination a punch setting, different from the first punch setting, and the bookbinding setting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of storing a program for causing a computer to function as the control unit described in claim 1. ### Claim 10 An apparatus that transmits a post-process instruction to a post-processing unit having a double-punching function of performing a punching process to make two rows of punch holes on a sheet and a bookbinding function of performing a bookbinding process to sheets, the apparatus comprising: a determining unit configured to determine whether or not to perform exclusive control between the double-punching function and the bookbinding function in accordance with an arrangement of the two rows of the punch holes in the double-punching function. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of storing a program for causing a computer to function as the apparatus described in claim 10.