JP2003107961A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve printing efficiency by retrieving a paper feeding tray which can not be used at present and various attachable trays in the case of retrieving and selecting the paper feeding tray. SOLUTION: When a host device 42 retrieves the size or the kind of paper to be printed or designates the paper feeding tray, a unit retrieval part 54 retrieves, as a retrieval object, even the paper feeding tray which is not attached and printing is performed by selecting the retrieved paper feeding tray.

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 such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly, when a paper feed tray or a printing unit such as double-sided printing which is currently in an unusable state becomes available. The present invention relates to printing using an available paper feed tray or printing unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a copying machine or printer having a plurality of paper feed trays runs out of recording paper in a paper feed tray selected during printing, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-48365, for example. , Search for another paper tray that contains the same size of recording paper as the recording paper you are printing, select the paper tray that contains the same size recording paper as the recording paper being printed, and then feed it. Printing is continued. Further, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-156788, as a result of the search, when the recording sheets of the same size but different in orientation are stored in another sheet feeding tray, the sheet feeding tray is selected and the sheet is fed. Paper and
The image to be printed is rotated and printing continues.

Further, as a result of the search, if there is no paper feed tray storing the same size of recording paper, printing is interrupted until a recording paper of the size to be printed is mounted in the paper feeding tray, or the like. As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No.-50677, when the use of substitute recording paper is permitted, select the paper feed tray that contains the recording paper of the size closest to the recording paper being printed and the size of the image. Paper is fed and printing is continued.

Further, when the host device issues a print command to the printer device, when a command processing such as a paper size designation command, a paper type designation command or a paper feed tray designation command is executed by a command from the host device, When a tray is searched, or when there is a double-sided printing designation command or a discharge destination designation command, a double-sided unit for double-sided printing or a discharge unit for separating discharged sheets is selected or selected. Processing is being performed.

[0005]

However, in any case, the target range to be searched and selected when printing an image is already installed in the copying machine or printer device,
At present, there are only various types of units such as a usable paper feed tray, a duplex unit, a paper discharge sorter unit, and a special paper feed tray.

When searching for and selecting a paper feed tray or various units in this way, if the paper feed tray or various units that are currently in an unusable state can be made available for maintenance or various unmounted units are mounted. By making it possible to search for various usable units, it is possible to effectively use the copying machine and the printer device and improve the convenience.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be effectively used as described above and can be improved in convenience.

[0008]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of paper feed trays and can be equipped with a unit required for performing special printing or a special paper feeding unit for recording paper. Image forming apparatus, when you search for the paper size or paper type you want to print on the host device or the operation panel or specify the paper feed tray, specify double-sided printing or paper discharge destination, or expand the printing function. When specified, a search unit that searches for the paper trays and units that are not mounted is also searched, and when the paper trays and units searched by the search unit are mounted, that unit is selected and printed. It has a printing unit, and in addition to the installed paper feed trays and units, it can reduce the occurrence of printing errors by searching for the paper feed trays and units that can be installed according to the specifications of the device. Characterized in that it.

If the searched paper feed tray or unit is unusable or not installed, the paper feed tray or unit is notified to the host device and displayed so that the unusable condition is eliminated or installed. Install the paper tray or unit that is not installed.

Further, at the time of searching, the currently mounted and usable sheet feeding trays or units are searched, and if the sheet feeding trays or units suitable for the search cannot be found, the sheet feeding trays or units which are mounted are mounted but cannot be used. If a paper tray or unit that is in the state of being searched is not found, and a paper tray or unit that is suitable for the search target is not found, a search for a paper tray or unit that can be installed is performed, and work such as maintenance and installation occurs. Try not to.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital multi-function peripheral having the functions of a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes a copying machine main body 2 and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF).
3 and an automatic sorting device 4. The copying machine main body 2 has a document reading unit 5, a writing unit 6, an engine unit 7, and a paper feeding unit 8. The document reading unit 5 includes a carriage 9 having a light source, a plurality of mirrors, a lens 10, and a CCD 1.
1 and a buffer 12, and scans and reads a document sent from the ADF 3. The writing unit 6 has a laser light source, a polygon mirror, etc., and a laser beam 1 including image information.
3 is emitted to the engine section 7. The engine unit 7 includes an image forming unit 14, a primary transfer unit 15, a secondary transfer unit 16 and a fixing unit 17, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. The image forming unit 14 includes a charging unit 19 and a writing unit 5 arranged around the photoconductor 18.
And a color developing unit 20 made of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) and a drum cleaning unit 21, and a photosensitive member charged by a charging charger 19. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the body 18 by the laser beam 13, and the formed electrostatic latent image is visualized by the color developing unit 20 to form a toner image. 1
The next transfer unit 15 has an intermediate transfer belt 22, a primary transfer section 23, a tension roller 24, a secondary transfer roller 25, a cleaning section 26, and a reference position sensor 27, and intermediately transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 18 to the intermediate transfer belt 22. Belt 22 to 1
Next transfer. The intermediate transfer belt 22 is formed to be larger than the maximum transfer paper size A3, and when the transfer paper used is A4 size or smaller, it can hold the toner images for two surfaces. The intermediate transfer belt 22 is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member 18 by a contacting / separating mechanism (not shown) except when the toner image on the photosensitive member 18 is primarily transferred, and the photosensitive member 18 is only transferred when the image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 22. Pressed against the surface. The secondary transfer unit 16 secondarily transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 22 onto a recording sheet. The fixing unit 17 fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording paper with heat and pressure. The paper feeding unit 8 has a plurality of paper feeding trays 28.
a-28c, manual tray 29, registration rollers 30a, conveyance rollers 30b-30d, and jam sensors 31a-31.
d, and sends the recording paper to the secondary transfer unit 16. AD
F3 sends the document to be read to the document reading unit 5, and collects the document read by the document reading unit 5. The automatic sorting device 4 has a plurality of sorting bins and sorts and discharges the recording paper on which the image is formed.

The printer controller 40 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 converts an image read according to the control mode set at that time into video data and outputs the video data to the engine control unit 41, or a control code from the host device 42. Therefore, the print data sent from the host device 42 is converted into video data and output to the engine control unit 41. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the operation of the entire device is managed and stored in the program ROM 44. The CPU 43 processes the print data and the control data from the host device 42 by the processing program, the host interface 45 that sends and receives the control signal and data from the host device 42 and the status signal from the digital multi-function peripheral to the host device, and the CPU 43. Work memory and host device for processing RAM46 used in the bit map memory for storing video data in which the data is converted into the actual print pattern data stored in the buffer and the buffer temporarily stores and manages the page units from 42
NVRAM 47, which is a non-volatile memory for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off, and font ROM 48 having various fonts used for printing
From the printer controller 40 to the engine control unit 41
Engine interface 4 for transmitting and receiving control signals and video signals to and from the engine control unit 41
9, a panel interface 51 for exchanging various signals with the operation panel 50, and an option interface 5 for mounting an option memory 52.
3 and unit search unit 54.

The operation panel 50 has a display section showing the operating state of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and a switch section for switching the operation mode, the designation of the number of copies and the font. The engine control unit 41 includes a unit memory 55 that is a ROM or a non-volatile memory for storing programs and information for optimal use of each unit of the copying machine main body 2, an optional tray that can be attached to and detached from the copying machine main body 2. 56, and an engine option unit interface 58 for reading the type and information of the option unit 57 such as a double-sided printing unit, a paper discharge sorter, and a paper feeding unit for special paper, and transmitting a command. Unit search section 5
4 is a digital composite when searching the size and paper type of recording paper to be printed, specifying the paper feed tray, specifying double-sided printing or paper discharge destination, or specifying a unit for expanding the printing function. Each unit mounted on the machine 1 and the optional tray 56 and the optional unit 57 not mounted are also searched as search targets.

When a print command is sent from the host device 42 to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and data is sent, the CPU 43 analyzes the data sent through the host interface 45 according to the data analysis program of the program ROM 44, and prints data and prints. Control data (SP, CR, L
F, HT, VT, etc.) and others. The print data and the print control data are temporarily stored in the reception buffer on the RAM 46. The reception data once stored in the RAM 46 is taken out one by one by the emulation program, which is one of the control programs in the program ROM 44, and processed. For example, if the extracted data is a character code, an intermediate code including a print position, a print size, a character code, font information, etc. is created and stored in an intermediate buffer provided in the RAM 46. If the retrieved data is vector data, the emulation program
The type of each vector (circle, straight line, curve, etc.), vector coordinates and vector attributes, that is, line width, type of connection shape between lines, such as miter connection or round connection, specify dotted line or solid line, etc. By converting the data into a data format that can be input to the drawing library and inputting it, the drawing library draws the vector data received by the emulation into a bitmap. If it is a command such as a control code or an escape sequence, the process defined in advance is performed. For example, if you specify the number of prints, set to output the specified number of prints (setting of internal control information), and if you specify the print position, specify the position of the next character code. If the position is set or the font is changed, the font information of the next character code is set to the designated font, and the like.

When the processed data exceeds one page, the intermediate code stored in the intermediate buffer is converted into video data according to the control program. When the conversion is complete, the printer controller 4
0 issues a print start command to the engine control unit 41 through the engine interface 49, and transfers video data in synchronization with it to print.

The processing when the recording paper size, paper type, or paper feed tray to be printed is designated by the print command from the host device 42 to the digital copying machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the host interface 45 receives a command sent from the host device 42, the CPU 43
Analyzes the received command (step S
1). As a result of this analysis processing, when the command is a search for the paper feed tray, the unit search unit 54 is caused to perform the paper feed tray search processing (step S2). The unit search unit 54 uses the currently loaded paper feed trays 28a-2a2.
The information of 8c, that is, the information of whether it is in a usable state or usable by setting or maintenance is read (step S3). For example, you can set the paper size and the tray door is currently open so you can use it by closing it, or you can use it by supplying recording paper at the paper end, paper size, orientation of recording paper, and paper type. That is, information such as OHP, backing paper, thick paper, plain paper, and treasuring paper is also read. Further, the information of the paper feed trays which are not currently mounted but can be used if the optional tray 56 is mounted is also read. These pieces of information are stored in the RAM 46. Then, the unit search unit 54 confirms whether or not the paper tray to be searched is a paper tray that is currently usable (step S4). As a result of this confirmation, if the paper feed tray to be searched is currently available, the paper feed tray to be searched is selected, and the recording paper is fed from the paper feed tray and printed (step S5).

If the paper feed tray to be searched is not currently available, the paper feed tray to be searched is among the paper feed trays that can be used by setting and maintaining the paper feed tray. It is confirmed whether or not (step S6). The setting of the paper feed tray here means, for example, that the paper feed tray has a recording paper size and paper type setting switch.
This is the case, for example, if the recording paper size or paper type is changed with the paper feed tray setting switch, then the paper feed tray can be searched. Further, the maintenance means that the recording paper is not present at present, so that if the recording paper is replenished, the printing can be performed or the repair can be used. Therefore, the maintenance is to replenish or repair the recording paper.

As a result of this confirmation, when there is a paper feed tray to be searched, the unit searching section 54 determines the paper feed tray and the paper feed tray.
A message indicating what kind of settings and maintenance should be performed to enable the display is displayed on the operation panel 50, or the host device 42 is notified as response data (step S
7). According to this display or notification, the user performs predetermined settings and maintenance, and when the paper feed tray becomes usable, the recording paper is fed from the paper feed tray and printed (step S8).

If there is no sheet tray to be searched, it is not currently mounted, but the sheet tray to be searched is among the sheet trays that can be mounted due to the specifications of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. It is searched whether there is any (step S9).
If there is a paper tray that can be installed as a result of this search, a paper tray that can be used if the paper tray to be searched is available and a message indicating that installation is displayed on the operation panel. 50 or the host device 42
(Step S10). According to this display or notification, the user attaches a paper feed tray that can be used, and when the paper feed tray becomes available, the recording paper is fed from the paper feed tray and printed (step S11). If the paper tray to be searched is not in the mountable paper trays, a message indicating that the paper tray to be searched cannot be used is displayed on the operation panel 50 and the host device 42 is notified as response data ( Step S12).

By searching not only the mounted paper trays but also the mountable paper trays as described above, an error does not easily occur, printing can be performed without sending the data again, and the digital multifunction peripheral 1 Can be used effectively.

In the above description, the case where the paper feed tray is searched as a result of the analysis processing of the command from the host device 42 has been described. However, a printing unit such as a double-sided unit, a paper discharge unit, a special paper unit, or the like, By similarly searching for the option unit 57 that can be used if it is installed, it is possible to perform printing using not only the printing unit that is currently installed but also the printing unit that is available when installed.

In the above description, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a single printer device.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper size or the paper type to be printed is designated or the paper feed tray is designated by the host device or the operation panel, or the double-sided printing or the discharge destination is designated, Or, when a unit that expands the print function is specified, the paper trays and units that are not installed are also searched for, and when the searched paper trays and units are installed, that unit is selected and printed. By doing so, it is possible to search for mountable paper feed trays and units other than the installed paper feed trays and units according to the specifications of the device, reduce the occurrence of printing errors, and restart data transfer from the host device. Therefore, convenience can be improved.

If the searched paper feed tray or unit is not available or is not installed, the specified paper feed tray or unit is notified to the host device and is displayed so that it can be used or installed. It is possible to prompt the mounting of a paper feed tray or a unit that has not been installed, and printing can be performed efficiently.

Further, at the time of searching, the currently mounted and usable sheet feeding trays or units are searched, and if the sheet feeding trays or units suitable for the search target cannot be found, the sheet feeding trays or units are mounted but cannot be used. If a paper tray or unit that is in the state of being searched is not found, and a paper tray or unit that is suitable for the search target is not found, a search for a paper tray or unit that can be installed is performed, and work such as maintenance and installation occurs. Therefore, it is possible to recommend the maintenance work and the work of mounting the paper feed tray, etc. while efficiently performing the printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an engine unit of a digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer controller and an engine control unit of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a paper feed tray search process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; Digital multi-function peripheral, 2; Copier body, 3; ADF,
4; automatic sorting device, 5; original reading unit, 6: writing unit, 7; engine section, 8; paper feeding unit, 28;
Paper feed tray, 40; Printer controller, 41; Engine control unit, 42; Host device, 43, CPU, 49;
Engine interface, 50; Operation panel, 54; Unit search unit, 56; Option tray, 57; Option unit, 58; Engine option unit interface.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 C H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 C F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 HJ03 HN17 HV11 HV35 2H027 DC19 ED17 FA05 FA11 FA21 FA23 GB14 GB16 3F343 FA02 FB02 HA37 HB08 KB03 KB12 KB19 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB01 KK03 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB22 AB30 AB53 AC65 AC67 BA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed trays, in which a unit required for performing special printing or a special paper feed unit for recording paper can be mounted, is printed by a host device or an operation panel. When you search for the desired paper size or paper type or specify the paper tray, or specify double-sided printing or the output destination, or specify a unit that expands the print function, the paper tray and unit that are not installed Also, the image forming apparatus is provided with a search unit that performs a search as a search target, and a printing unit that selects and prints the searched paper feed tray and unit when the unit is mounted. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the searched paper feed tray or unit is not available or is not installed, the paper feed tray or unit is notified to the host device and displayed. 3. When the above-mentioned search is performed, the currently mounted and usable paper feed trays or units are searched, and if the paper feed trays or units suitable for the search target cannot be found, the installed paper feed trays or units are used. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper feed tray or unit in a disabled state is searched, and if a paper feed tray or unit suitable for a search target cannot be searched, a mountable paper feed tray or unit is searched. .