# US 2018/0024484 A1 · Image forming system, method for controlling image forming system, and paper conveyance processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0024484 A1 - Document ID: US20180024484A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/645,500 - Filed: 2017-07-10 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Satoru SHIRASAKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180024484A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/5029: {by measuring the copy material characteristics, e.g. weight, thickness} - G03G 15/0142: {Structure of complete machines} - G03G 15/6517: {Apparatus for continuous web copy material of plain paper, e.g. supply rolls; Roll holders therefor} - G03G 15/6529: {Transporting (G03G15/6555 takes precedence)} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract Provided is an image forming system which optimizes subsequent processes for crossing paper when a causing apparatus has stopped in the state in which paper is spanning the causing apparatus and a downstream apparatus. The image forming system conveys the paper from a first apparatus (the causing apparatus) to a second apparatus (the downstream apparatus) connected to the first apparatus. The image forming system 1 includes a conveying unit and a hardware processor. The conveying unit conveys the paper. The hardware processor determines, in a case where the paper is normally conveyed by the conveying unit across the first apparatus and the second apparatus, whether processes of the first apparatus has been completed for crossing paper which is the paper spanning the first apparatus and the second apparatus, when the first apparatus stops due to an abnormality. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming system which conveys paper from a first apparatus to a second apparatus connected to the first apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit which conveys the paper; and a hardware processor which determines, in a case where the paper is normally conveyed by the conveying unit across the first apparatus and the second apparatus, whether processes of the first apparatus has been completed for crossing paper which is the paper spanning the first apparatus and the second apparatus, when the first apparatus stops due to an abnormality. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming system of claim 1, wherein, when the first apparatus stops due to the abnormality, the conveying unit stops operating in the first apparatus, wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has been completed, the conveying unit continues operating in the second apparatus, and wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has not been completed, the conveying unit stops operating in the second apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming system of claim 1, further comprising a normal tray and a purge tray, wherein, when the first apparatus stops due to the abnormality, the conveying unit stops operating in the first apparatus, wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has been completed, the conveying unit continues operating in the second apparatus and conveys the crossing paper through a normal path directed to the normal tray, and wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has not been completed, the conveying unit continues operating in the second apparatus and conveys the crossing paper through a purge path directed to the purge tray. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image forming system of claim 3, further comprising a user notification unit which transmits a notification to a user when the crossing paper is conveyed through the purge path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the conveying unit continues operating in the second apparatus while stopping operating in the first apparatus, and when the crossing paper is pulled out from the first apparatus within a predetermined period of time, the conveying unit continues conveying the crossing paper, and when the crossing paper is not pulled out from the first apparatus within the predetermined period of time, the conveying unit stops operating in the second apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming system of claim 1, wherein, when a rear end of the crossing paper passes through a predetermined position in the first apparatus, the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus has been completed, and wherein, when the rear end of the crossing paper does not pass through the predetermined position in the first apparatus, the hardware processor determines that the processes of the first apparatus has not been completed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming system of claim 6, wherein the first apparatus comprises a fixing unit which fixes an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the fixing unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image forming system of claim 6, wherein the first apparatus comprises a charge control unit which charges the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the charge control unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The image forming system of claim 6, wherein the first apparatus comprises a reading unit which reads an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the reading unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The image forming system of claim 6, wherein the first apparatus comprises a color measuring unit which measures a color of an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the color measuring unit. ### Claim 11 A method for controlling an image forming system comprising a conveying unit for conveying paper from a first apparatus to a second apparatus connected to the first apparatus, comprising: (a) determining presence or absence of crossing paper, which is the paper spanning the first apparatus and the second apparatus when the first apparatus stops due to an abnormality; and (b) determining whether processes of the first apparatus has been completed for the crossing paper when it is determined that the crossing paper exists in the step (a). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: (c) continuing an operation of the conveying unit in the second apparatus in a state in which an operation of the conveying unit in the first apparatus is stopped when it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has been completed in the step (b), and stopping the operation of the conveying unit in the second apparatus when it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has not been completed in the step (b). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: (d) continuing an operation of the conveying unit in the second apparatus and conveying the crossing paper through a normal path directed to a normal tray in a state in which an operation of the conveying unit in the first apparatus is stopped when it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has been completed in the step (b), and continuing the operation of the conveying unit in the second apparatus and conveying the crossing paper through a purge path directed to a purge tray when it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus for the crossing paper has not been completed in the step (b). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: (e) transmitting a notification to a user when the crossing paper is conveyed through the purge path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: (f) determining whether the crossing paper is pulled out from the first apparatus within a predetermined period of time when continuing the operation of the conveying unit in the second apparatus while stopping the operation of the conveying unit in the first apparatus; and (g) continuing conveying the crossing paper when it is determined that the crossing paper is pulled out from the first apparatus within the predetermined period of time in the step (f), and stopping operating of the conveying unit in the second apparatus when it is determined that the crossing paper is not pulled out from the first apparatus within the predetermined period of time in the step (f). ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein, in the step (f), when a rear end of the crossing paper passes through a predetermined position in the first apparatus, it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus has been completed; and when the rear end of the crossing paper does not pass through the predetermined position in the first apparatus, it is determined that the processes of the first apparatus has not been completed. ### Claim 17 A paper conveyance processing apparatus which performs predetermined processes for paper to be conveyed and is connectable to another paper conveyance processing apparatus comprising: a first conveying unit which conveys the paper; a processing unit which performs the predetermined processes for the paper; and a hardware processor that determines, in a case where the paper is normally conveyed by the conveying unit across the paper conveyance processing apparatus and the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, whether the predetermined processes has been completed for crossing paper which is conveyed across the paper conveyance processing apparatus and the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, when the paper conveyance processing apparatus stops due to an abnormality. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the predetermined processes includes at least one of an image forming process or a post-process for the paper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein, when the paper conveyance processing apparatus stops due to the abnormality, the first conveying unit stops operating, wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the predetermined processes for the crossing paper has been completed, the hardware processor transmits a notification indicating completion of the predetermined processes to the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, and wherein, when the hardware processor determines that the predetermined processes for the crossing paper has not been completed, the hardware processor transmits a notification indicating non-completion of the predetermined processes to the other paper conveyance processing apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein, in a case where the other paper conveyance processing apparatus stops due to an abnormality and a second conveying unit, which is a conveying unit of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, stops operating, when a notification indicating completion of the predetermined processeses of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus for the crossing paper is received from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, the first conveying unit continues operating, and when a notification indicating non-completion of the predetermined processes of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus for the crossing paper is received from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, the first conveying unit stops operating. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a normal tray and a purge tray, wherein, in a case where the other paper conveyance processing apparatus stops due to an abnormality and a second conveying unit, which is a conveying unit of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, stops operating, when a notification indicating completion of the predetermined processes of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus for the crossing paper is received from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, the first conveying unit continues operating and conveys the crossing paper through a normal path directed to the normal tray, and when a notification indicating non-completion of the predetermined processes of the other paper conveyance processing apparatus for the crossing paper is received from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus, the first conveying unit continues operating and conveys the crossing paper through a purge path directed to the purge tray. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a user notification unit which transmits a notification to a user when the crossing paper is conveyed through the purge path. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 20, wherein, in a case where the first conveying unit continues operating while the second conveying unit stops operating, when the crossing paper is pulled out from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus within a predetermined period of time, the first conveying unit continues conveying the crossing paper, and when the crossing paper is not pulled out from the other paper conveyance processing apparatus within the predetermined period of time, the first conveying unit stops operating. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 17, wherein, when a rear end of the crossing paper passes through a predetermined position in the paper conveyance processing apparatus, the hardware processor determines that the predetermined processes has been completed, and wherein, when the rear end of the crossing paper does not pass through the predetermined position in the paper conveyance processing apparatus, the hardware processor determines that the predetermined processes has not been completed. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 24, comprising a fixing unit which fixes an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the fixing unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 24, comprising a charge control unit which charges the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the charge control unit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 24, comprising a reading unit which reads an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the reading unit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The paper conveyance processing apparatus of claim 24, comprising a color measuring unit which measures a color of an image on the paper, and the predetermined position is a position of the color measuring unit.