JP2000155506A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can be used by many users without making the device large in size, besides, without limiting the users who can use this image forming device, and capable of preventing a printing part from being left for a long time after printing is finished. SOLUTION: The device is provided with an image forming part 3 for imageforming image data from a personal computer and also the identification code of the user using the personal computer, and a placing tray 5 for temporarily placing the printed matter on which the image is formed by the image forming part 3, and an original reading part 2 for reading the identification code on the printed matter placed on the placing tray 5, a carrying device for carrying the printed matter to the original reading part 2, and an informing means for informing the user who executed the image forming operation that the printed matter should be removed based on the identification code read by the original reading part 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which is connected to a terminal device and forms image data from the terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a network is connected to a terminal device such as a personal computer or a host computer.
There has been an image forming apparatus that forms (prints) image data from a terminal device. In such an image forming apparatus, when a user of the terminal device prints image data such as a text created on the terminal device, the terminal device receiving the user's operation instruction gives a print command to the image forming device, The image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the network.

The image forming apparatus that has received the print command prints on a recording sheet based on the image data transmitted from the terminal device, and discharges the printed recording sheet on a discharge tray.

Then, the user directly checks the discharge tray of the image forming apparatus to check whether the image formation is completed and the printed matter is discharged to the discharge tray. The user takes out the printed material from the discharge tray and obtains the printed material on which the image is formed.

When a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a terminal device via a network, when the user designates which image forming apparatus is to be used for printing, the terminal device sets the designated image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus outputs a print command for causing the forming apparatus to perform a printing operation, and upon receiving the print command from the terminal apparatus, prints the image data transmitted from the terminal apparatus on recording paper. The printed matter is discharged to a discharge tray.

[0006] Even when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected in this way, the user can visually check the paper output tray of the image forming apparatus, and the printing is completed and the printed matter is placed on the paper output tray. Check whether the paper has been ejected.

However, when the user wants to know whether or not the printed matter has been discharged to the paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus, the user needs to directly look at the paper discharge tray. there were. Also, if the user forgets to remove the printed matter from the output tray, the printed matter will be left in the output tray for a long time. There is a problem that the output amount exceeds the discharge amount and a jam occurs when the printed material is discharged.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-442 has been proposed.
There is an output device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-55. In this output device, a plurality of terminal devices are connected to one output device, or a terminal device used by a plurality of users is connected. If the printed material is left in the output tray for a certain period of time after the printed material is discharged to the output tray, the printed material is discharged to the user using the output tray. Was notified.

[0009]

However, in the above-described output device, it is necessary to provide a paper discharge tray corresponding to the number of users who use the output device. However, the number of paper ejection trays is required by the number of users, and the output device becomes very large. Further, if the output device is limited so as not to increase in size, there is a problem that the number of users who can use the output device is limited to the number of discharge trays.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to be used by a large number of users without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus and without limiting the users who can use the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which does not leave a printing unit after printing completed for a long time.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device for forming image data from the terminal device. An image forming means for forming an image of an identification code of a user who is using the terminal device together with image data from the apparatus; a stay tray for temporarily holding printed matter formed by the image forming means; Provided with an identification code reading means for reading the identification code of the printed matter provided, provided with a conveyance means for conveying the printed matter to the identification code reading means, and provided to a user who has formed an image based on the identification code read by the identification code reading means. A notifying unit is provided for notifying the terminal device to remove the printed matter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge tray for discharging a printed material whose identification code has been read by the identification code reading means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a display unit for displaying the name of a user who has formed an image based on the identification code read by the identification code reading means is provided in the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a discharge means for discharging a printed material on which an image has been formed by the image forming means onto a stay tray, and the transport means is provided at a lowermost position of the printed matter discharged onto the stay tray. It is further conveyed to the identification code reading means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a document image reading means for reading an image of a document provided on an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body is also used as the identification code reading means, and an image is formed on the stay tray by the image forming means. The document is movably provided between a discharge position where the printed material is discharged and a paper feeding position where the printed material is fed to the document image reading unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the number of prints on the stay tray reaches a predetermined number,
After a lapse of a predetermined time since the printed matter stays on the stay tray,
Alternatively, the printed matter is conveyed to the identification code reading means at a predetermined time.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this image forming apparatus, an original reading unit 2 for reading an image of an original is provided on an upper part of the apparatus main body 1.
An image forming unit 3 is provided below the document reading unit 2 below the document reading unit 2, a paper output tray 4 is provided on the right side of the apparatus main body 1 in the drawing adjacent to the document reading unit 2, and an image forming unit 3 is provided on the left side of the apparatus main body 1 in the drawing. Is provided adjacent to the document reading unit 2, and an operation panel 6 for operating the image forming apparatus is provided on the upper surface of the document reading unit 2.

The stay tray 5 is provided with a printed matter detection sensor 7 for detecting a printed matter formed (printed) by the image forming section 3. The stay tray 5 is connected to a document discharge position adjacent to the image forming unit 3 from which the printed material printed by the image forming unit 3 is discharged, and to the document reading unit 2 for feeding the printed material to the document reading unit 2. It is provided so as to be movable to an adjacent printed material feeding position.

A control unit 8 for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus is connected to a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as personal computers) 9 as terminal devices via a network. The control unit 8 receives the image data transmitted from the personal computer 9 and
Received data print control unit 10 for printing the user identification code of the user using the printer in the image forming unit 3, and the stay tray movement control unit 1 for controlling the movement of the stay tray 5
1, an identification code reading control unit 12 for controlling the reading of the user identification code of the printed matter by the document reading unit 2, and a code identification control unit 13 for identifying the read user identification code and deleting the registration of the user identification code of the user. When,
A notification unit 14 that notifies the personal computer 9 that the printed matter has been discharged in accordance with the user identification code via a network such as TCP / IP, and notifies the user, and a user name and the number of printed matter corresponding to the user identification code. And a display control unit 15 for displaying on the display unit of the operation panel 6.

The original reading section 2 includes a pair of conveying rollers 16 for conveying an original or a printed matter, a reading sensor 17 such as a CCD for reading a user identification code of an image or a printed matter of the original conveyed by the conveying roller 8, and , A detection sensor 18 for detecting a document or a printed matter,
Roller 19 for discharging paper, a shading plate 20 facing the reading sensor 17, and a transport guide 21 for guiding the transport of a document or printed matter.

The image forming section 3 includes a photosensitive member 22 and an exposure unit 23 for exposing the photosensitive member 22 to form an electrostatic latent image.
A developing device 24 for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and a transfer device 25 for transferring the toner image on the photoconductor 22 to recording paper
And a registration roller 27 for feeding the recording paper of the paper feed cassette 26 to a transfer section for transferring the toner image, a fixing device 28 for fixing the toner image transferred on the recording paper to the recording paper, and a fixing device for fixing the toner image. The discharge roller 29 discharges the printed matter (recording paper after image formation) onto the stay tray 5.

The stay tray 5 is provided so as to be movable by a tray elevating device. The tray elevating device comprises a stay tray elevating guide 30 and a stay tray elevating guide 30.
And a wire 32 having one end connected to the support 31 and slidably mounted on the support 31 to support the stay tray 5.
A pulley 33 for suspending the wire 32;
, A wire take-up device (not shown) for winding the wire 32, a lower limit detection sensor 34 for detecting that the stay tray 5 is located at the printed matter discharging position, and And a pickup roller 36 that feeds only the uppermost printed matter to feed the printed matter from the stay tray 5 located at the printed matter feeding position to the document reading unit 2. And a paper feed roller 37 that conveys the printed material fed by the pickup roller 36 to the image forming unit 3.

The printing operation of the received data (image data) of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the control unit 9 receives the image data transmitted from the personal computer 9 via the network (S
1) The name of the user who transmitted the print request is converted into a user identification code (S2), and the received data is converted into a character pattern or the like for printing to obtain document data (S3).

The document data is printed on the recording paper (S4), and the user identification code is printed on the upper left of the recording paper (S5). This operation is continuously performed until the last page of the received data is reached (S6). .

This user identification code may be printed together with the number of printed pages on the first page of the document data to be printed, or may be printed on all pages. Further, the user identification code includes both a barcode and a user name as shown in FIG. 8, but may include only the barcode or only the user name, and may use a number or a symbol instead of the barcode. .

Next, the reading operation of the user identification code of the printed matter will be described with reference to FIG.

When the printed matter detection sensor 7 detects that the printed matter printed by the above-described printing operation is discharged to the stay tray 5 (S11), the printing of the individual user who issued the print request is completed. It is determined whether or not the printing has been completed (S12). When all printing is completed, the wire winding device of the tray elevating device is driven to wind up the wire 32, thereby moving the stagnant tray 5 upward from the printed matter discharge position. When the detection sensor 35 detects the stay tray 5,
When it is determined that the stay tray 5 has moved to the print feed position, the wire winding device is stopped, and the pickup roller 36 and the feed roller 37 are driven to feed the print on the stay tray 5 to the document reading unit 2 ( S13).

During the feeding of the printed matter to the document reading section 2 (including the movement of the stay tray 5), the discharge of the printed matter from the image forming section 3 is stopped. Therefore, the printed matter is not discharged during feeding of the printed matter in which the stay tray 5 is not located at the printed matter discharge position, and the printed matter is not discharged even while the stay tray 5 is moving. There is no scattering at the place where the image forming apparatus is installed.

Further, the movement of the stay tray 5 is prohibited while the printed matter is being discharged, so that the printed matter being discharged is bent by the movement of the stay tray 5, or the stay tray 5 being moved is moved.
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam due to the contact of the printed matter with the printed matter.

The user identification code of the printed material fed to the original reading unit 2 is read by the reading sensor 17 (S15).
The user name is identified from the user identification code, the fact that the printed matter has been ejected is transmitted to the user by e-mail (S16), an instruction is given to retrieve the printed matter, and the display unit of the operation panel 6 of the apparatus main body. The user name and the number of prints are also displayed (S17). Then, the printed material from which the user identification code has been read by the document reading unit 2 is discharged to the discharge tray 4.

As described above, since the user is notified that the printed matter has been discharged, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to take out the printed matter, and to identify the user by the user identification code of the printed matter. Therefore, even when printed materials by a large number of users are discharged, it is possible to deal with the printed materials of a large number of users with only one discharge tray.

Further, since the user name is also displayed on the display section of the operation panel 6 of the apparatus main body, when another user comes to pick up the printed matter, the user name is viewed together, removed and passed to the corresponding user. The printed matter can be prevented from being left in large quantities.

In step S12, when all the printings of the individual users are completed, the stay tray 5 is moved to feed the printed matter to the document reading unit 2. However, for a predetermined time, for example, a predetermined time After a lapse of a predetermined time after the printed matter is discharged to the stay tray 5, the stay tray 5 may be moved to feed the printed matter to the document reading unit 2, and thus the sheet is fed to the document reading unit 2. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the printed matter discharged to the stay tray 5 from being left for a long time.

When the printed matter discharged to the stay tray 5 reaches a predetermined discharge amount (discharged number), the printed matter may be fed to the document reading unit 2. By feeding the paper, it is possible to prevent a large number of printed matters from being discharged to the stay tray 5 depending on the use state of the image forming apparatus, and prevent the printed matter from being discharged beyond the dischargeable amount to the stay tray 5.

Next, a second embodiment of a printer as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 10, this printer has an image forming unit 4 having the same configuration as the image forming unit 3 of the first embodiment.
1, a code reading unit 42 for reading a user identification code of a printed matter is provided, and a discharge tray 43 for discharging the printed matter from which the user identification code is read is provided on the right side of the code reading unit 42 in the drawing. Code reading unit 42
Is provided on the left side of the drawing, a printed material transport device 44 for discharging printed material from the image forming unit 41 and feeding the printed material to the code reading unit 42, and a stay tray 45 adjacent to the printed material transport device 44.
Is provided.

The printed material transport device 44 includes an image forming unit 4
A pair of discharge rollers 46 for discharging the printed material discharged from the stack 1 onto the stay tray 45 from above, and feeding the lowermost printed material of the stacked printed materials discharged to the stay tray 45 to the code reading unit 42. It comprises a pair of paper feed rollers 47. The transport roller 46 and the paper feed roller 47 include a drive roller 46 in which one roller is driven by a motor.
In a and 47a, the other rollers are driven rollers 46b and 47b which rotate following the rotation of the driving roller. The stay tray 45 is provided with a transport roller 48 for transporting the lowermost printed material to a feed roller of the printed material transport device 44, and a printed material detection sensor 49 for detecting the printed material.

The image forming section 41 includes a photosensitive member 50 and an exposure unit 51 for exposing the photosensitive member 50 to form an electrostatic latent image.
A developing device 52 for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; and a transfer device 53 for transferring the toner image on the photoreceptor 50 to recording paper
A registration roller 55 for feeding the recording paper of the paper feed cassette 54 to a transfer section for transferring the toner image; a fixing device 56 for fixing the toner image transferred on the recording paper to the recording paper; And a discharge roller 57 for discharging the printed material (recording paper after image formation) onto the stay tray 45.

The original reading section 42 includes a pair of conveying rollers 58 for conveying the original and the printed matter, a reading sensor 59 such as a CCD for reading the image of the original conveyed by the conveying roller 58 and a user identification code of the printed matter, and the like. A detection sensor 60 for detecting a document or printed matter, a discharge roller 61 for discharging the document or printed matter to the discharge tray 43, a shading plate 62 facing the reading sensor 59, and a guide for conveying the document or printed matter. And a transport guide 63.

In the printer having the above configuration, a control unit 64 for controlling the operation of the printer is connected to a plurality of personal computers via a network.

According to the personal computer having the above configuration, the printed matter printed by the image forming section 41 is discharged onto the stay tray 45 by the conveying rollers 46 of the printed matter conveying device 44, and is discharged to the stay tray 45 and the printed matter of the stack is printed. Since the paper is conveyed from below to the paper feeding roller 47 of the printed material conveying device 44 by the conveying roller 48 and fed to the code reading unit 42, even if the printed material printed by the image forming unit 41 is being discharged, the code reading is performed. The printed material can be fed to the unit 42, the user can be notified early that the printing has been completed, and the printed material can be prevented from being left for a long time. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide the stay tray 45 so as to be movable, the size of the printer can be reduced with a simple configuration.

[0044]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the identification code printed on the printed matter is read, and the user who has performed the image formation is notified based on the identification code to remove the printed matter, so that the printed matter is left for a long time. Can be prevented, and a notification can be given to a large number of users without providing a paper ejection unit for ejecting a large number of printing units.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the paper ejection tray for ejecting the printed matter whose identification code has been read by the identification code reading means is provided, the printed matter notified to the user and the printed matter not notified are provided. It can be distinguished and the user can easily get his own printed material.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the display unit for displaying the name of the user who has performed image formation based on the identification code read by the identification code reading means is provided in the image forming apparatus main body. In addition to being notified, the user name is also displayed on the display of the operation panel of the device main body, so when another user comes in to pick up printed materials, look at the user name and remove it together and give the corresponding user The printed matter can be handed over and a large amount of printed matter can be prevented from being left.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the printed matter is discharged onto the stay tray, and the printed matter located at the lowermost part of the printed matter discharged onto the stay tray is conveyed to the identification code reading means. Even when the printed matter on which an image is formed is being discharged, the printed matter can be fed to the identification code reading means, and the user can be notified of the end of the printing early, and the printed matter can be left for a long time. Can be prevented. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide the stay tray movably, the printer can be reduced in size with a simple configuration.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a document image reading means for reading an image of a document provided at an upper portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus is also used as the identification code reading means, and the stagnant tray is used for the image formation by the image forming means. The image forming apparatus is provided so as to be movable between a discharge position where the formed printed matter is discharged and a paper feeding position where the printed matter is fed to the document image reading means. Can be prevented from becoming large.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the number of prints on the stay tray reaches a predetermined number, or after a lapse of a predetermined time after the prints stay on the stay tray,
Since the printed matter is conveyed to the identification code reading means at a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent the printed matter from being left for a long time. Further, when the printed matter is fed from the stay tray to the identification code reading means when the number of printed matters reaches the predetermined number, the printed matter is not discharged more than the dischargeable number of sheets on the stay tray, and the discharge It is possible to prevent jams and breakage of printed matter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing Embodiment 1 of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the document reading unit 2 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the tray elevating device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of reading a user identification code according to the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing form of a printed material according to the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display form on an operation panel according to the first embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of a printer that is the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the printed matter transport device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Document reading part 3 Image forming part 4 Paper discharge tray 5 Stay tray 8 Control part 11 Stay tray movement control part 12 Identification code reading control part 13 Code identification control part 14 Notification part

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 2H027 DA09 DA40 DB01 DE02 DE09 DE10 ED16 ED19 ED22 EE10 EJ04 EJ11 EJ15 FD03 FD06 FD10 GA46 GA47 GB05 GB19 ZA09 2H072 AA16 AA17 AB11 CA01 FB10 3F054 AA12 CA03 CA02

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device for forming an image of image data from the terminal device, wherein the image data from the terminal device is imaged together with an identification code of a user using the terminal device. An image forming unit, a storage tray for temporarily storing the printed matter formed by the image forming unit, an identification code reading unit for reading an identification code of the printed material stored in the storage tray, and an identification code reading unit. An image characterized in that a conveying means for conveying the printed matter is provided, and a notifying means is provided for notifying a user who has formed an image based on the identification code read by the identification code reading means to the terminal device so as to remove the printed matter. Forming equipment. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a paper discharge tray for discharging a printed material whose identification code has been read by said identification code reading means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display unit for displaying a user name of a user who has formed an image based on the identification code read by said identification code reading means is provided in the image forming apparatus main body. apparatus. 4. A discharge means for discharging the printed matter formed by the image forming means onto the staying tray, wherein the transport means distinguishes the printed matter discharged on the staying tray from the printed matter located at the lowermost position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is conveyed to a code reading unit. 5. A document image reading means for reading an image of a document provided at an upper portion of an image forming apparatus main body also serving as said identification code reading means, and said stay tray is used to discharge printed matter formed by said image forming means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is movably provided between a discharge position at which the document image is read and a paper supply position at which a printed material is supplied to the document image reading means. 6. The conveyance means, when the number of printed materials on the stay tray reaches a predetermined number, or after a lapse of a predetermined time after the printed materials stay on the stay tray, or
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printed material is conveyed to said identification code reading means at a predetermined time.