Patent Publication Number: US-2022239788-A1

Title: Image forming system having function of inspecting sheet, method of controlling same, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to an image forming system having a function of inspecting a sheet, a method of controlling the same, and a storage medium. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, there has been known an image forming system having a function of inspecting a sheet on which an image has been printed. When inspecting a sheet, an inspection apparatus reads an image on a sheet conveyed thereto, and whether or not the sheet is normal is determined based on analysis of the read image. The inspection apparatus is capable of detecting incompleteness of a barcode or ruled lines, incompleteness of an image, printing failure, page missing, color misregistration, and so forth. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2018-126868 discloses a technique in which, in a case where an inspected sheet is determined as a “defective sheet” which is not normal, this defective sheet is discharged to a discharge destination different from a discharge destination to which a normal sheet is discharged. This makes it possible to prevent a defective sheet from being mixed into normal sheets, and an operator can easily abandon the defective sheet. 
     Incidentally, for processing operations, such as a discharging operation, executed in a case where a defective sheet is produced, a plurality of processing operations can be envisaged. For example, as a first method, a method is envisaged in which only a defective sheet is discharged to another discharge destination, and the print operation for subsequent sheets in a job is continued. Further, as a second method, a method is envisaged in which a normal sheet is discharged to a discharge destination for a normal sheet, and a defective sheet and sheets which have already been fed for printing after this defective sheet are discharged to another discharge destination. In this second method, after discharge of all sheets for the job, which have already been fed, is completed, the job operation is resumed from a point corresponding to the defective sheet. Further, it is envisaged that a user is allowed to select between these two methods. 
     On the other hand, in the image forming system, processing for binding a plurality of sheets, such as saddle-stitch bookbinding or stapling, is sometimes carried out. In a case where a job including such processing for binding sheets is processed using the first method, a normal sheet is discharged to the discharge destination for a normal sheet, and a defective sheet is discharged to another discharge destination. However, since the job is continued from a sheet following the defective sheet, a bundle formed only by normal sheets is obtained as a print product. In other words, the bundle missing a page corresponding to the defective sheet (part of sheets) is delivered as the print product. In this case, it is impossible to provide a print product desired by a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure provides an image forming system that has a function of inspecting a sheet and is configured to prevent a print product from being formed by binding a bundle of sheets from which one or some sheets is/are missing, a method of controlling the image forming system, and a storage medium. 
     In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet, an inspection portion configured to inspect an image on a sheet delivered from the image forming portion, a first setting portion configured to set a first mode in which a first sheet determined as normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a first discharge destination, a second sheet determined as not normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a second discharge destination different from the first discharge destination, and a third sheet conveyed subsequently to the second sheet, which is determined as normal by the inspection portion, is discharged to the first discharge destination, a second setting portion configured to set binding processing for binding a plurality of sheets as one bundle, and a controller configured to stop execution of a job in a case where the first setting portion sets the first mode and also the second setting portion sets the binding processing. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system including an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet, an inspection portion configured to inspect an image on a sheet output from the image forming portion, a first setting portion configured to set a first mode in which a first sheet determined as normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a first discharge destination, a second sheet determined as not normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a second discharge destination different from the first discharge destination, and a third sheet conveyed subsequently to the second sheet, which is determined as normal by the inspection portion, is discharged to the first discharge destination, a second setting portion configured to set binding processing for binding a plurality of sheets as one bundle, and a controller configured to control the second setting portion such that the second setting portion is disabled from setting the binding processing in a case where the first setting portion sets the first mode. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image forming system including an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet, and an inspection portion configured to inspect an image on a sheet delivered from the image forming portion, including first receiving for receiving setting of a mode in which a first sheet determined as normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a first discharge destination, a second sheet determined as not normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a second discharge destination different from the first discharge destination, and a third sheet conveyed subsequently to the second sheet, which is determined as normal by the inspection portion, is discharged to the first discharge destination, second receiving for receiving setting of binding processing for binding a plurality of sheets as one bundle, and controlling for stopping execution of transmission of a job to the image forming system, in a case where, in the first receiving, there is received setting of the mode and also in the second receiving, there is received setting of the binding processing. 
     In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image forming system including an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet, and an inspection portion configured to inspect an image on a sheet delivered from the image forming portion, including first receiving for receiving setting of a mode in which a first sheet determined as normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a first discharge destination, a second sheet determined as not normal by the inspection portion is discharged to a second discharge destination different from the first discharge destination, and a third sheet conveyed subsequently to the second sheet, which is determined as normal by the inspection portion, is discharged to the first discharge destination, second receiving for receiving setting of binding processing for binding a plurality of sheets as one bundle, and controlling for disabling, in the second receiving, receiving the setting of the binding processing, in a case where, in the first receiving, there is received setting of the mode. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a print product form being formed by binding a bundle of sheets from which one or some sheets is/are missing. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an image forming system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printer engine. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic diagrams showing how sheet images are inspected by an inspection apparatus. 
         FIGS. 4A to 4D  are schematic diagrams showing the outline of operation and a sheet discharge state of a first and a second modes. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a sheet discharge mode-setting screen. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of an ordinary job-setting screen. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a job setting screen displayed in a case where the first mode is set. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a job designation process. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a job process. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an error process. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of an error screen. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present closure will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments thereof. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an image forming system (hardware) according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. This image forming system, denoted by reference numeral  1000 , is mainly comprised of a printing apparatus  100 , a host computer  101 , and an inspection apparatus  150 . The printing apparatus  100 , the host computer  101 , and the inspection apparatus  150  are interconnected by a communication line  105 . Although the host computer  101 , the printing apparatus  100 , and the inspection apparatus  150  are singly provided for the image forming system  1000 , they may be provided in plurality. 
     The host computer  101  acquires information input by a user using an input device, not shown, generates a print job, and transmits the generated print job to the printing apparatus  100 . The printing apparatus  100  includes a controller  110 , a console panel  120 , and a printer engine  130 . The printer engine  130  includes a camera unit  230 . The controller  110  performs a variety of data processing and controls the operation of the printing apparatus  100 . Although the controller  110  is incorporated in the printing apparatus  100  in the present example, the controller  110  can be provided independently of the printing apparatus  100  and connected thereto via a communication line. 
     The console panel  120  is an operation panel of a touch panel type that receives a variety of operations from a user and displays a variety of information to a user. The printer engine  130  is controlled by the controller  110  to physically print generated image data on a print sheet. The printer engine  130  will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The inspection apparatus  150  is an apparatus configured to perform image inspection using a photographed image obtained by photographing a sheet by the camera unit  230 . The inspection apparatus  150  is connected to the communication line  105  and receives inspection item settings, a comparison source image, and so forth, from the host computer  101 . 
     Next, the configuration of the controller  110  will be described. The controller  110  includes a network communication controller  111 , a nonvolatile memory  112 , a RAM  113 , a CPU  114 , an HDD  115 , and a communication port  116 , and these modules are interconnected via a system bus  117 . The network communication controller  111  controls communication with an external network connected to the communication line  105 . The nonvolatile memory  112  is a nonvolatile storage device and stores a control program used when starting the apparatus, and so forth. The RAM  113  stores a variety of control programs read by the CPU 114 . The CPU  114  executes the control programs loaded into the RAM  113  and performs centralized control of image signals and a variety of devices. The HDD  115  holds large-volume data, such as image data and a variety of setting data items, temporarily or on a long-term basis. The communication port  116  is a port for receiving electrical signals indicating an inspection result from the inspection apparatus  150 . 
     The system bus  117  connects the controller  110  and the devices included in the printing apparatus  100  with each other. Note that the RAM  113  also functions as a main memory and a work memory for the CPU  114 . Further, the control programs and an operating system are sometimes stored not only in the nonvolatile memory  112 , but also in the HDD  115 . Further, the controller  110  may include an NVRAM, not shown, and store mode setting information of the printer, which is received from the console panel  120 . 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer engine  130  of the printing apparatus  100 . The printer engine  130  is realized mainly by component elements included in an image forming unit  200 , an image fixing unit  210 , an inserter  220 , the camera unit  230 , a stacker  240 , and a finisher (post-processing apparatus)  250 . The image forming unit  200  is disposed at a location most upstream in a sheet conveying direction and the finisher  250  is disposed at a location most downstream in the sheet conveying direction. 
     The image forming unit  200  and the image fixing unit  210  form an image forming portion. The image forming unit  200  includes four developing stations  204  to  207 , an intermediate transfer belt  208  arranged under these stations, a sheet conveying path  203 , and sheet feeding decks  201  and  202 . A secondary transfer roller  209  is disposed at a location where the intermediate transfer belt  208  is brought into contact with the sheet conveying path  203 , and this position serves as a secondary transfer position. 
     The sheet feeding decks  201  and  202  each accommodate one of a variety of kinds of sheets. The sheet feeding decks  201  and  202  each separate a topmost sheet of an sheet bundle accommodated therein, one by one, and delivers the sheet into the sheet conveying path  203 . The developing stations  204  to  207  form toner images using color toners of e.g. Y(yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black), respectively. The formed toner images are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  208 , respectively, whereby a superposed color image is formed. 
     The intermediate transfer belt  208  is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in  FIG. 2 , and the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt  208  is transferred onto a sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer position from the sheet conveying path  203 . The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed out of the image forming unit  200  into the image fixing unit  210  disposed on the downstream side. 
     The image fixing unit  210  fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet thereto. The image fixing unit  210  includes a sheet conveying path  214  connected to the sheet conveying path  203  of the image forming unit  200 , and a first fixing unit  211  and a second fixing unit  213  provided on the sheet conveying path  214 . 
     Further, the image fixing unit  210  includes a sheet conveying path  212  that is branched from the sheet conveying path  214  on the downstream side of the first fixing unit  211  and bypasses the second fixing unit  213 . Further, the image fixing unit  210  includes a sheet conveying path  215  on the downstream side of the sheet conveying path  214 , a sheet inversion path  216  branched from the sheet conveying path  214 , and a double-sided conveying path  217  connected to the sheet inversion path  216 . The fixing units  211  and  213  each include a pressure roller and a heating roller, and fix, when a sheet passes between the rollers, a toner image on the sheet by melting and pressing toner. 
     The sheet that has been conveyed in from the image forming unit  200  and has the toner image fixed by the first fixing unit  211  is conveyed into the sheet conveying path  215  through the sheet conveying path  212 . In a case where the melting and pressing operations are further required so as to fix an image depending on a type of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed to the second fixing unit  213  after passing through the first fixing unit  211 , where the sheet is subjected to additional melting and pressing operations. Then, the sheet is conveyed into the sheet conveying path  215  through the sheet conveying path  214 . 
     In a case where an image formation mode is set to a double-sided printing mode, the sheet is conveyed into the sheet inversion path  216  to have front and reverse sides thereof inverted, whereafter the sheet is conveyed through the double-sided conveying path  217  to the secondary transfer position, where an image is transferred onto the second side. 
     The inserter  220  disposed on the downstream side of the image fixing unit  210  is a unit for inserting a new sheet (for insertion) into the sheet conveying path. The inserter  220  includes an inserter tray  221  and an inserter path  222 . The inserter  220  causes a sheet from the inserter tray  221  to be conveyed through the inserter path  222  and join sheets conveyed through a sheet conveying path  223  connected to the sheet conveying path  215  of the image fixing unit  210 . This makes it possible to insert a new sheet in a group of sheets conveyed in from the image fixing unit  210  at a desired position and convey the combined sheets to a subsequent apparatus. The inserter tray  221  accommodates sheets to be inserted into the group of sheets. 
     The sheet having passed the inserter  220  is conveyed to the camera unit  230  disposed on the downstream side of the inserter  220 . The camera unit  230  includes a sheet conveying path  233  connected to the sheet conveying path  223  of the inserter  220 , and cameras  231  and  232  disposed above and under the sheet conveying path  233 , respectively, in a state opposed to each other. The camera  231  is a camera for reading an upper surface of a sheet, and the camera  232  is a camera for reading a lower surface of the sheet. The camera unit  230  reads images on a sheet using the cameras  231  and  232  when the sheet conveyed into the sheet conveying path  233  reaches a predetermined position, and transmits the read sheet images to the inspection apparatus  150  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The stacker  240  disposed on the downstream side of the camera unit  230  is a large-capacity stacker which can stack a large amount of sheets. The stacker  240  includes sheet conveying paths  244 ,  245 ,  247 , and  248 , and an inversion portion  249 , and a stack tray  241  as a tray for stacking sheets. The stack tray  241  has a lift table  242  and an eject table  243 . 
     The sheet having passed the camera unit  230  is conveyed into the stacker  240  through the sheet conveying path  244 . The sheet conveyed into the stacker  240  is stacked onto the lift table  242  of the stack tray  241  from the sheet conveying path  244  through the sheet conveying path  245 . The lift table  242  with no sheet bundle stacked thereon is in a top position indicated in  FIG. 2 . When stacking of a sheet bundle progresses, the lift table  242  is moved down by an amount corresponding to the height of the sheet bundle, and is controlled such that an upper end of the stacked sheet bundle is always maintained at a constant level. 
     In a case where the stacking of the sheet bundle is completed or the sheet bundle is fully stacked, the lift table  242  is moved down to the position of the eject table  243 . The lift table  242  and the eject table  243  are configured such that bars of the tables  242  and  243  for supporting a sheet bundle are located alternately between the tables  242  and  243 , and hence when the lift table  242  is moved down and reaches a position lower than the eject table  243 , the sheet bundle is transferred onto the eject table  243 . 
     Further, the stacker  240  has an escape tray  246  as a discharge tray. The escape tray  246  is a tray used to discharge a sheet determined to be not normal (hereinafter referred to as the defective sheet) by the inspection apparatus  150 . That is, the escape tray  246  is a destination where defective sheets are discharged. Note that the defective sheet refers to a sheet that has an image transferred thereon which is different from an image to be formed on the sheet. For example, the defective sheet includes a sheet in which part of an image, such as a barcode, is missing, and a sheet having printed contents which are different from an image which is to be formed. 
     The discharge destination of an inspected sheet is switched by flappers  259  and  260 . A defective sheet is conveyed from the sheet conveying path  244  to the escape tray  246  through the sheet conveying path  247 . Further, in a case where a sheet is to be conveyed to the finisher  250  disposed on the downstream side of the stacker  240 , the sheet is conveyed through the sheet conveying path  248 . The inversion portion  249  for inverting a sheet is connected to the sheet conveying path  244 . 
     The inversion portion  249  is used for stacking a sheet on the stack tray  241 after inverting upper and lower sides thereof. More specifically, if sheets are directly stacked on the stack tray  241 , an order of sheets stacked in a bundle in a vertical direction associated with a facing orientation of each sheet becomes opposite to an original order of the sheets. For this reason, in a case where it is necessary to make these orders identical with each other, each sheet is once inverted (flipped) by the inversion portion  249  before being stacked on the stacker tray  241 . In a case where a sheet is conveyed to the escape tray  246  or the subsequent finisher  250 , the sheet is directly discharged without being flipped when stacked, and hence the inversion operation at the inversion portion  249  is not performed. 
     The finisher  250  disposed on the downstream side of the stacker  240  is a post-processing apparatus for applying finishing processing to a sheet conveyed thereto according to a function designated by a user. The finisher  250  has finishing functions, such as stapling (one-position stapling/two-position stapling), punching (two holes/three holes), and saddle-stitch bookbinding. 
     The finisher  250  includes sheet conveying paths  253 ,  254 , and  257 , connected to the sheet conveying path  248  of the stacker  240 , discharge trays  251  and  252 , and a saddle-stitch bookbinding tray  258 . A sheet conveyed into the finisher  250  is discharged to the discharge tray  251  through the sheet conveying path  253 , for example. However, in the sheet conveying path  253 , finishing processing, such as stapling, is not performed. In a case where finishing processing, such as stapling, is performed, the sheet is conveyed into a processing section  255  through the sheet conveying path  254 . Finishing processing designated by a user is performed on the sheets conveyed into the processing section  255 , and then the processed sheets are discharged to the discharge tray  252 . 
     The discharge trays  251  and  252  can be moved up and down, and sheets subjected to finishing processing at the processing section  255  can also be stacked on the discharge tray  251  which has been moved down. In a case where saddle-stitch bookbinding is designated, in a saddle-stitch processing section  256 , stapling is performed at the center of sheets, and then the sheets are folded in two, and delivered to the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray  258  through the sheet conveying path  257 . The saddle-stitch bookbinding tray  258  has a belt-conveyer structure, and a bundle subjected to saddle-stitch bookbinding and stacked on the saddle-stitch bookbinding tray  258  is conveyed out to the left, as viewed in  FIG. 2 . 
     The inspection apparatus  150  inspects a sheet image transmitted thereto according to inspection items set in advance. Although there are a variety of inspection items, the following description will be given of an example of performing barcode readability inspection and front-and-reverse sides-matching inspection, by way of example. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic diagrams showing how transmitted sheet images are inspected by the inspection apparatus  150 . A sheet image  401  shown in  FIG. 3A  is a sheet image obtained by reading an upper surface of a sheet, i.e. an image photographed by the camera  231 . A sheet image  402  shown in  FIG. 3B  is a sheet image obtained by reading a lower surface of the sheet, i.e. an image photographed by the camera  232 . In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , reference numerals  410 ,  421 , and  422  denote inspection areas to be inspected. 
     First, the inspection apparatus  150  determines whether or not a barcode existing in the inspection area  410  is readable. If the barcode is readable, the inspection apparatus  150  determines that the barcode has been normally printed, whereas if not, the inspection apparatus  150  determines that the print of the barcode has a defect. 
     Next, the inspection apparatus  150  performs optical character recognition (OCR) to extract values included in the inspection areas  421  and  422  as character data. Here, original data of a print job is assumed to be formed such that in a case where printing is normally performed, the same values are printed on front and reverse sides (upper and lower surfaces) of the sheet. With this, it is possible to determine whether or not printing has been performed on the front and reverse sides of the sheet as intended. If the same values are extracted from the inspection areas  421  and  422 , it is determined that print is normal, whereas different values are extracted, it is determined that the print is defective. 
     The inspection apparatus  150  performs these inspections, and if it is determined by any of the inspections that the print is defective, the sheet is determined as a “defective sheet”, whereas if no defect is detected by either of the inspections, the sheet is determined as a “normal sheet”. 
     The inspection apparatus  150  is capable of performing not only the above-mentioned inspections, but also a variety of inspections, such as sheet print position inspection, sheet overlap inspection, sheet missing inspection, color misregistration inspection, color taste inspection, and inspection of full image comparison between a read image and original data. However, inspection items to be employed are not limited to these. Note that the above-mentioned inspection area and the inspection items are set for the inspection apparatus  150  from the host computer  101  or the like via the communication line  105 . In a case where the full image comparison inspection is performed, the inspection apparatus  150  receives a comparison source image from the host computer  101  or the like. Further, as another configuration, the inspection apparatus  150  may be configured to include a console section for enabling a user to set an inspection area and an inspection item from the console section. 
     A sheet discharge mode (discharge mode) for discharging an inspected sheet will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4D and 5 . The sheet discharge mode has a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a mode for discharging a normal sheet to a first discharge destination and discharging only a defective sheet to a second discharge destination. The second mode is a mode for discharging a normal sheet to the first discharge destination and discharging a defective sheet and subsequent sheets after the defective sheet (all sheets following the defective sheet) to the second discharge destination. Note that sheets to be discharged to the second discharge destination in the second mode may be limited to the defective sheet and subsequent sheets which have already been fed. 
     In both of the sheet discharge modes, the normal sheet is discharged to the first discharge destination, and the defective sheet is discharged to the second discharge destination which is a discharge destination different from the first discharge destination. In the present example, the first discharge destination is assumed to be the lift table  242  of the stacker  240 . The second discharge destination is assumed to be the escape tray  246 . Note that the first discharge destination may be the finisher  250 . At least one of the first discharge destination and the second discharge destination may be made selectable by a user via the console panel  120  as a setting portion. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic diagrams showing the outline of operation and a sheet discharge state in the first mode, respectively.  FIGS. 4C and 4D  are schematic diagrams showing the outline of operation and a sheet discharge state in the second mode, respectively. 
     In each sheet discharge mode, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4C , image inspection is performed on each sheet by the inspection apparatus  150 . An obliquely downward arrow in each of  FIGS. 4A and 4C  indicates that a sheet is determined as a normal sheet, and hence the sheet is discharged onto the lift table  242 . An obliquely upward arrow in each of  FIGS. 4A and 4C  indicates that a sheet is determined as a defective sheet, and hence the defective sheet and subsequent sheets (in the case of  FIG. 4C ) are discharged onto the escape tray  246 . 
     In the illustrated example in  FIG. 4A , first to third and fifth sheets are normal sheets, and a fourth sheet is a defective sheet. In the first mode, when a defective sheet is detected, the defective sheet is discharged onto the escape tray  246 , but the job is continued. Therefore, for example, as in the illustrated example in FI G.  4 A, in a case where only the fourth sheet out of five sheets in the job is determined as a defective sheet, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the first, second third, and fifth normal sheets are discharged onto the lift table  242 . On the other hand, the fourth defective sheet is discharged onto the escape tray  246 , and the job is terminated in this state. In this case, the fourth sheet is not included in the print product stacked on the lift table  242 . That is, the obtained print product is a sheet bundle missing the fourth sheet and is different from a print product desired by the user (see  FIG. 4B ). 
     In the illustrated example in  FIG. 4C , first to third sheets are normal sheets, and a fourth sheet is a defective sheet. In the second mode, when a defective sheet is detected, the defective sheet is discharged onto the escape tray  246 , and sheets after the defective sheet (all subsequent already fed sheets) are discharged onto the escape tray  246  without being inspected. Further, in the second mode, after all already fed sheets have been discharged, the job operation is resumed from a point corresponding to the defective sheet. In a case where a defective sheet is detected in the second mode, after all already fed sheets are discharged, the job is automatically resumed. Alternatively, the job may be resumed according to an instruction of restart. 
     In the illustrated example in  FIG. 4C , the fifth sheet is not inspected, and hence the fifth sheet is treated similar to the defective sheet for the discharge destination. Further, the fourth and fifth sheets processed after restarting the job are normal sheets. 
     As described above, by restarting the job, if sheets after the defective sheet are determined as normal, the sheets are stacked on the lift table  242 . Therefore, even in a case where, for example, the fourth sheet is determined as the defective sheet in the first execution of the job, all of the first to fifth sheets are eventually completed and stacked on the lift table  242 . That is, the obtained print product has no missing sheet and matches a print product desired by the user (see  FIG. 4D ). 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an example of a sheet discharge mode-setting screen. This sheet discharge mode-setting screen, denoted by reference numeral  450 , is displayed on the host computer  101  or the console panel  120 . Therefore, the user can set the sheet discharge mode via the host computer  101  or the console panel  120 . The sheet discharge mode-setting screen  450  has a first mode-setting button  451  and a second mode-setting button  452 . When the user presses a determination button  453  in a state in which the user has selected one of the buttons  451  and  452 , the user can set the sheet discharge mode. The set sheet discharge mode is stored in the nonvolatile memory  112 . 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of an ordinary job-setting screen. A job to be executed is designated by a user via the console panel  120 . In a case where the user desires to designate a job, in response to a predetermined operation performed by the user for shifting to the job setting screen, denoted by reference numeral  500 , the job setting screen  500  is displayed on the console panel  120 . A print job is generated based on information input by the user on the job setting screen  500 . The job setting screen  500  displays a bundle post-processing-setting button  501 . The bundle post-processing-setting button  501  activates bundle post-processing when it is pressed. The bundle post-processing is processing in which a plurality of sheets are handled as one bundle, such as bookbinding and stapling. In the present embodiment, as the bundle post-processing, binding processing for binding a plurality of sheets as one bundle is described by way of example. In a case where the user desires to apply bundle post-processing, the user can generate a job including bundle post-processing by pressing the bundle post-processing-setting button  501 . Note that the setting of binding processing can also be set by the host computer  101 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing an example of a job setting screen displayed in a case where the first mode as the sheet discharge mode is set. This job setting screen, denoted by reference numeral  700 , corresponds to a screen obtained by hiding (masking) the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  from the ordinary job-setting screen  500 . In a case where the first mode is set as the sheet discharge mode, since the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  is not displayed, the user cannot designate a job including bundle post-processing. 
     Next, a process for controlling whether or not to display the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  on the job setting screen in a job designation process will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of the job designation process. This process is realized by the CPU  114  that loads a program stored in the nonvolatile memory  112  or the HDD  115  into the RAM  113  and executes the loaded program. This process is started when the printing apparatus  100  is powered on. In this process, the CPU  114  plays the role of a controller in the present disclosure. 
     First, in a step S 101 , the CPU  114  remains on standby until a predetermined operation for shifting to the job setting screen is performed by a user, and when the predetermined operation is performed, the CPU  114  proceeds to a step S 102 . In the step S 102 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not a job to be designated is an inspection job for carrying out sheet inspection according to the settings of the above-mentioned inspection area and the inspection items, set for the inspection apparatus  150 . 
     If it is determined in the step S 102  that the job to be designated is not an inspection job, in a step S 105 , the CPU  114  displays the job setting screen  500  (see  FIG. 6 ) on the console panel  120 . Therefore, the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  is displayed. This is because in a case where the job is not an inspection job, there is no fear that a print product has any missing sheet. 
     If it is determined in the step S 102  that the job to be designated is an inspection job, in a step S 103 , the CPU  114  refers to the nonvolatile memory  112  to determine whether or not the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode. Then, if the set sheet discharge mode is not the first mode, but the second mode, the CPU  114  executes the step S 105 . Therefore, the job setting screen  500  including the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  is displayed. This is because even when the job is an inspection job, there is no fear that a print product has any missing sheet. 
     If it is determined in the step S 103  that the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode, in a step S 104 , the CPU  114  displays the job setting screen  700  (see  FIG. 7 ) on the console panel  120 . Therefore, the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  is not displayed. That is, the CPU  114  controls the console panel  120  as a designation portion so as to inhibit a job including bundle post-processing from being designated. With this, an inspection job including bundle post-processing is prevented from being executed in the first mode, and hence it is possible to avoid missing of any sheet from a print product. After execution of the steps S 104  and S 105 , the CPU  114  terminates the job designation process in  FIG. 8 . 
     According to the present embodiment, in the case where the first mode is set, the CPU  114  performs control for inhibiting a job including bundle post-processing from being designated (see the step S 104  and  FIG. 7 ). This makes it possible to prevent delivery of a print product formed by binding a bundle from which a sheet or some sheets is/are missing. 
     On the other hand, in the case where the second mode is set, the CPU  114  performs control for permitting a job including bundle post-processing to be designated (see step S 105  and  FIG. 6 ). Further, in the second mode, after discharge of all already fed sheets is completed, the job operation is resumed from a point corresponding to the defective sheet. Therefore, in the second mode, a job including bundle post-processing can be designated, and it is possible to realize delivery of a print product having no missing sheet, by resuming the job. 
     Further, in a case where the CPU  114  performs control for permitting a job including bundle post-processing to be designated, the CPU  114  displays the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  on the job setting screen  500  (see  FIG. 6 ). On the other hand, in a case where the CPU  114  performs control for inhibiting a job including bundle post-processing from being designated, the CPU  114  does not display the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  on the job setting screen  700  (see  FIG. 7 ). With this, it is possible to positively prevent a user from erroneously designating a job including bundle post-processing and make the user aware that a job including bundle post-processing cannot be designated. 
     Note that the method of performing control for inhibiting a job including bundle post-processing from being designated in a case where the first mode is set is not limited to the method of preventing the bundle post-processing-setting button  501  from being displayed. For example, even when designation of such a job is input, this designation may be rejected (or canceled) and this fact may be notified to the user. 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the first embodiment, in a case where the first mode is set in the step of designating a job, designation of a job including bundle post-processing is inhibited. In contrast, in the second embodiment of the present disclosure, in a case where an inspection job including bundle post-processing is designated, execution of the job in the first mode is controlled to be stopped (inhibited). Other basic configurations in the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a job process. This process is realized by the CPU  114  that loads a program stored in the nonvolatile memory  112  or the HDD  115  into the RAM  113  and executes the loaded program. This process is started when a job is input. In this process, the CPU  114  plays the role of the controller in the present disclosure. 
     In the present embodiment, a system is envisaged in which inspection areas and inspection items can be set from the console section of the inspection apparatus  150  but the host computer  101  cannot grasp the settings of the inspection areas and the inspection items. In this case, it is necessary to avoid execution of a job including bundle post-processing in the first mode based on determination performed not by the host computer  101 , but by the printing apparatus  100 . 
     First, in a step S 200 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not an input job is an inspection job. Then, if the input job is not an inspection job, the CPU  114  executes print processing in a step S 211  and executes processing for discharging the sheet to the finisher  250  in a step S 212 . In a step S 213 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not there is a remaining page to be processed next in the job. If there is a remaining page to be processed next, the CPU  114  returns to the step S 211 , whereas if there is no remaining page to be processed next, the CPU  114  terminates the process in  FIG. 9 . Therefore, in the steps S 211  to S 212 , print processing and discharge processing are executed for all pages of the job. 
     If it is determined in the step S 200  that the input job is an inspection job, in a step S 201 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not the input job includes bundle post-processing. Then, if the input job does not include bundle post-processing, there is no fear that one sheet or some sheets is/are missing from the resulting print product, and hence the CPU  114  proceeds to a step S 203 . If the input job includes bundle post-processing, the CPU  114  refers to the nonvolatile memory  112  in a step S 202  to determine whether or not the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode. 
     Then, if the set sheet discharge mode is not the first mode, but the second mode, there is no fear that one sheet or some sheets come to be missing from the print product, and hence the CPU  114  proceeds to the step S 203 . However, if the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode, there is a fear that one sheet or some sheets come to be missing from the print product, and hence the process proceeds to a step S 220  to execute an error process (see  FIG. 10 ), described hereinafter. 
     In the step S 203 , the CPU  114  performs print processing on a sheet, and in a step S 204 , the CPU  114  executes inspection processing on an image of the printed sheet using the inspection apparatus  150 . In a step S 205 , as a result of the image inspection performed by the inspection apparatus  150 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not the inspected sheet is a defective sheet. If the inspected sheet is not a defective sheet, but a normal sheet, in a step S 210 , the CPU  114  discharges the inspected sheet to the finisher  250  and proceeds to a step S 214 . Note that although in the present embodiment, the finisher  250  is set as the first discharge destination by way of example, similar to the first embodiment, the lift table  242  of the stacker  240  may be set as the first discharge destination. 
     In the step S 214 , the CPU  114  determines whether or not there is a remaining sheet to be processed next. If there is a remaining sheet to be processed next, the CPU  114  returns to the step S 203 . If there is no remaining sheet to be processed next, the CPU  114  terminates the process in  FIG. 9 . 
     If it is determined in the step S 205  that the inspected sheet is a defective sheet, in a step S 206 , the CPU  114  refers to the nonvolatile memory  112  to determine whether or not the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode. Then, if the set sheet discharge mode is the first mode, in a step S 207 , the CPU  114  discharges the defective sheet to the escape tray  246  of the stacker  240  as the second discharge destination, and proceeds to the step S 214 . If the set sheet discharge mode is not the first mode, but the second mode, in a step S 208 , the CPU  114  discharges the defective sheet and subsequent sheets (all already fed sheets following the defective sheet) to the escape tray  246  of the stacker  240 . In this case, the sheets following the defective sheet are discharged to the escape tray  246  without being printed and inspected. In a step S 209 , the CPU  114  resumes the job from a point corresponding to the defective sheet and proceeds to the step S 214 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of the error process executed in the step S 220  in  FIG. 9 . Transition to this process occurs in a case where an inspection job including bundle post-processing is input and the first mode is set. If print processing and inspection processing are executed in this case, since a defective sheet is excluded, there is a fear that a bundle from which one sheet or some sheets is/are missing is delivered as a print product. This is a print product which is not desired by the user. To cope with this, the CPU  114  performs the error process to stop this job. 
     In a step S 300 , the CPU  114  stops all operations including the conveying operation, the image forming operation, and the fixing operation. In a step S 301 , the CPU  114  executes notification processing, followed by terminating the process in  FIG. 10 . More specifically, the CPU  114  displays an error screen  900  shown in  FIG. 11 , by way of example, on the console panel  120 . This makes it possible to notify the user that the job cannot be executed. Note that in a case where the error process is performed, when the user powers off and then powers on the printing apparatus  100 , the error state is released. 
     According to the present embodiment, in the case where the first mode is set, and a job including bundle post-processing is designated, the CPU  114  performs control for stopping execution of the job (see  FIG. 10 ). With this, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as provided by the first embodiment in preventing delivery of a print product generated by binding a bundle from which one sheet or some sheets are missing. On the other hand, in a case where the second mode is set, even when a job includes bundle post-processing, the CPU  114  executes the job (step S 203 ). That is, in the case where the second mode is set, and a job including bundle post-processing is designated, the CPU  114  performs control for permitting execution of the job. 
     Further, in a case where execution of a job including bundle post-processing is stopped, since the CPU  114  stops all operations including the image forming operation, it is possible to reduce wasteful print processing and waste of sheets. In the case where execution of a job including bundle post-processing is stopped, since this fact is notified, it is possible to notify the user that the present job is not executed in the first mode. 
     Further, in the second mode, after discharge of all already fed sheets is completed, the job operation is resumed from a point corresponding to the defective sheet, and hence it is possible to realize delivery of a print product from which no sheet is missing, by resuming printing. 
     To perform control for stopping execution of the job including bundle post-processing in the first mode, at least the image forming operation performed by the image forming unit  200  may be stopped. In the present embodiment, the user can make settings of the sheet discharge mode and settings of binding processing, by using the host computer  101 . In this case, the CPU  114  functions as a reception portion that receives the setting of the sheet discharge mode and the setting of binding processing from the host computer  101 . Further, in a case where the first mode is set as the sheet discharge mode and also binding processing is set, from a PC used by the user, the host computer  101  may stop transmission of the job to the image forming system  1000 . 
     Note that in the above-described embodiments, the inspection apparatus  150  and the printing apparatus  100  may be integrally formed, and for example, the function of the inspection apparatus  150  may be provided within the printing apparatus  100 . For example, the inspection apparatus  150  as the inspection portion may be included in the printer engine  130 . Therefore, the cameras  231  and  232  may form components of the inspection apparatus  150 . The printing apparatus  100  may be referred to as the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the image forming system  1000  may be referred to as the image forming apparatus. 
     The present invention has been described heretofore based on the embodiments thereof. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, but it is to be understood that the present disclosure includes a variety of forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Further, the embodiments of the present invention are described only by way of example, and it is possible to combine components of the embodiments on an as-needed basis. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent delivery of a print product generated by binding a bundle of sheets from which one or some sheets is/are missing. 
     Other Embodiments 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-008889, filed Jan. 22, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.