JP2003255767A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, which prevent wastage of paper and allow the use of one-side-used paper without requiring user's attention by eliminating printing on printed paper even if a user erroneously executes both-sided printing in the image forming device which uses one-side-used paper as copying paper for the purpose of effective use of paper resource. <P>SOLUTION: When an instruction to carry out both-sided printing is given, detection is carried out to determine whether fed paper allows both-sided printing or not (S104). When it is determined that both-sided printing is allowed, both-sided printing is performed (S105 to S109). When it is determined that both-sided printing is not allowed, printing is stopped (S110) and the paper is forcibly ejected (S113). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

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 having a double-sided printing capability, and more particularly to effective utilization of resources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a call for effective use of resources, and the interest in recycling has become widespread. As a result, the number of papers used in printers, copiers, and the like has increased in some cases, such as papers that are no longer needed once used or those that are no longer needed due to a printing error.

However, conventional image forming apparatuses such as printers and copying machines are made on the assumption that new paper is used, and the case of reusing used paper has not been considered so much.

FIG. 8 shows a reader section 400 and a printer section 5.
10 is a cross-sectional view of a copying machine configured with 00. Reader unit 4
The original feeding device 401 of No. 00 feeds the originals one by one from the last page onto the platen glass 402, and ejects the originals on the platen glass 402 after the reading operation of the originals is completed. When the original is conveyed onto the platen glass 402, the lamp 403 is turned on, and the scanner unit 404 is started to move to expose and scan the original. The reflected light from the document at this time is reflected by the mirrors 405, 406, 40.
7 and the lens 408 guides the image to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 409. in this way,
The image of the scanned original is read by the CCD 409, and the image data output from the CCD 409 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 500.

A laser driver 521 of the printer unit 500
Is to drive the laser emitting section 501, and causes the laser emitting section 501 to emit laser light according to the image data output from the reader section 400. The laser light is applied to the photosensitive drum 502, and a latent image corresponding to the laser light is formed on the photosensitive drum 502. The developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 502 by the developing device 503.

Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation, a recording sheet is fed from either the cassette 504 or the cassette 505 and conveyed to the transfer portion 506, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 502 is recorded. Transfer to paper.
The recording paper on which the developer is carried is conveyed to the fixing unit 507, and the developer and the recording paper are fixed by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 507. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 507 is ejected by a discharge roller 508
Then, the sorter 520 stores the discharged recording paper in the pins and sorts the recording paper.

If sorting is not set, the sorter 520 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin. When double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 508, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 508 is reversed, and the flapper 509 guides the recording paper to the re-feeding conveyance path. When the multiple recording is set, the flapper 509 guides the recording sheet to the re-feeding conveyance path so that the recording sheet is not conveyed to the discharge roller 508. The recording sheet guided to the sheet re-feeding conveyance path is fed to the transfer unit 506 at the timing described above.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional image forming apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a print information input section, 2
Is an image forming unit for converting the information input from the print information input unit 1 into image data for printing and sending it to the printing unit, 3 is a paper feeding unit for supplying paper to be printed to the printing unit,
A printing unit 5 prints the image data sent from the image forming unit 2 on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a reversing unit for taking in the paper that has been printed on one side by the printing unit once for double-sided printing and reversing it so that the back side printing can be performed by the printing unit 5, and 7 ejects the paper printed by the printing unit 5. A paper discharge unit 8 for performing the control is a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus.

The double-sided printing operation of the conventional image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The print data input from the print information input unit 1 is converted into image data printable by the print unit 5 by the image forming unit 2 and sent to the print unit 5. When the print data is input, the control unit 8 controls the paper feeding unit 3 to send the paper for printing to the printing unit 5. The printing unit 5 prints an image on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3, and temporarily transfers the paper to the reversing unit 6. The reversing unit 6 reverses the sent paper and sends it back to the printing unit 5 so that the back surface can be printed.
The printing unit 5 prints an image on the back surface of this sheet. When printing is completed, the control unit 8 controls the paper ejection unit 7 to eject the paper printed on both sides.

Although a part of the double-sided printing is completed by the procedure described above, if the print data covers a plurality of pages, the above procedure is repeated to execute the double-sided printing of a plurality of pages.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, even when the back side is printed on the back side of the paper, double-sided printing is executed as it is. However, there is a problem that an image is printed and a normal double-sided printing output result cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made under such a situation. In consideration of effective use of paper resources, in an image forming apparatus using a single-side printed sheet as a printing sheet, the user mistakenly leaves the sheet as it is. Even when double-sided printing is executed, the operation of printing on the already printed paper disappears,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that prevent wasteful waste of paper and allow a user to use single-side printed paper without much concern.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an image forming apparatus is configured as in the following (1) to (5) and an image forming method is as in the following (6). To configure.

(1) In an image forming apparatus having a printing means capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, the inspection means for inspecting whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, When there is an instruction for double-sided printing and a sheet discharging section having at least two sheet discharging sections for discharging the sheet printed by the printing section, it is determined that double-sided printing is possible based on the inspection result of the inspection section. At this time, double-sided printing is performed by the printing unit, the sheet is discharged to the first sheet discharging unit of the sheet discharging unit, and when it is determined that double-sided printing cannot be performed by the inspection result of the inspection unit, the printing is not performed. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls the sheet to be discharged to a second sheet discharging unit of the sheet discharging unit.

(2) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a printing means capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, a checking means for inspecting whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, When a double-sided printing is possible according to the inspection result of the inspection means when there is a print instruction, double-sided printing is performed by the printing means, and it is determined that double-sided printing is impossible according to the inspection result of the inspection means. , Stop printing,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls to display that printing has been stopped.

(3) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a printing means capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, the inspection means for inspecting whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, and the both sides. When a double-sided printing is possible according to the inspection result of the inspection means when there is a print instruction, double-sided printing is performed by the printing means, and it is determined that double-sided printing is impossible according to the inspection result of the inspection means. , Interrupt printing,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a print data storage unit; a storage unit that displays the stored data; and a control unit that controls printing by using the stored print data when printing becomes possible.

(4) In the image forming apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), the inspection means inspects whether the back surface of the fed paper is printed. Forming equipment.

(5) The image forming apparatus as described in (2) or (3) above, wherein the display is performed by voice.

(6) An image forming method in an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing, in which both sides of a fed sheet are printed, and when a double-sided printing instruction is given, the fed sheet is double-sided. When it is determined that the double-sided printing is possible based on the inspection step of inspecting whether printing is possible and the double-sided printing is possible based on the inspection result of the inspection step, it is determined that the double-sided printing is impossible based on the double-sided printing step that performs double-sided printing And an image forming method, which comprises a step of stopping or stopping the printing.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples of an image forming apparatus. The present invention is not limited to the form of the apparatus, but can be implemented in the form of a method supported by the description of the embodiments.

[0021]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an "image forming apparatus" which is Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a print information input section, 2 is an image forming section for converting the information input from the print information input section 1 into image data for printing and sending it to the print section, 3 is a print section for printing paper. A sheet feeding section 4 for feeding the sheet to the sheet feeding section 4, an inspection section for checking whether both sides of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section 3 can be printed, and 5 an image formed on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section 3. A printing unit for printing the image data sent from the unit 2, and 6 for taking in the paper once printed on one side by the printing unit 5 for double-sided printing and reversing it so that the back side can be printed by the printing unit 5. A reversing unit, a first paper ejecting unit for ejecting the paper printed by the printing unit 5, a control unit 8 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus, and a paper 10 for which double-sided printing is not possible Is a second sheet discharging unit for forcibly discharging the sheet.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of this embodiment. The same parts as those in the conventional example shown in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted here. In FIG. 2, 60
Reference numeral 0 is a back surface print sensor in the inspection unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment. The operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart of FIG.

When it is detected that print data is input to the image forming apparatus from the print information input unit 1 (step 10).
1 (abbreviated as S101 in FIG. 3, the same applies hereinafter),
The image forming unit 2 converts the print unit 5 into printable image data (S102) and sends the image data to the print unit 5.

When the print data is input, the control unit 8 controls the paper feeding unit 3 to send the paper for printing to the inspection unit 4 (S
103). The inspection unit 4 inspects whether or not the back side of the fed paper is already used by using the back side print sensor 600 (S104), and sends the paper to the printing unit 5 if not used. The printing unit 5 prints the image on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3 (S105), and transfers the paper to the reversing unit 6 if the back side printing is not completed (S106). The reversing unit 6 reverses the sent paper (S107), enables back surface printing, and returns the paper to the printing unit 5. Printing section 5
Then, an image is printed on the back surface of this sheet (S105). When printing is completed, the control unit 8 causes the paper ejection unit 7 that is the first paper ejection unit.
Is controlled to discharge the paper printed on both sides to the paper discharge unit 7 (S108). When the paper discharge is completed, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the printing of all pages is completed (S109), and if not completed, the paper feeding operation is performed again (S103), and the above-described operation is repeated. When the printing of all pages is completed in this way, the printing operation is ended.

Although a part of the double-sided printing is completed by the procedure described above, if the print data covers a plurality of pages, the above-described procedure is repeated to execute the double-sided printing of a plurality of pages.

If it is determined by the inspection unit 4 that the back surface of the fed paper is already printed, the control unit 8 does not print anything on the paper by the printing unit 5 (S110), By forcibly discharging the sheet to the sheet discharging section 10 which is the second sheet discharging section (S113) and branching to the sheet feeding operation (S103) again, waiting for a sheet capable of double-sided printing to be fed is performed. Will be able to do. Of course, the forced paper ejection operation described here is not limited to only the first page of the printing start, but by executing the above-described flow, the forced paper ejection operation is forcibly performed even when a paper that cannot be printed on both sides is detected in the middle of the page. It is possible to restart the double-sided printing at the time when the paper is ejected and a paper capable of double-sided printing is fed.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the back side of the fed paper is already printed and it is determined that double-sided printing is impossible, the paper is used for normal double-sided printing. The sheet is forcibly discharged to a sheet discharge section different from the copy section.

Thus, in consideration of effective use of paper resources, even when the user mistakenly executes double-sided printing in an image forming apparatus that uses a single-sided printed sheet as a printing sheet, printing is performed on the printed side. This eliminates the waste of wasted paper and allows the user to use the single-sided printed paper without much care. Furthermore, since the forcedly ejected paper is not mixed with the normally double-sided printed paper, the user can omit the trouble of confirming whether the double-sided printing has been normally performed on all the printed matter.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an "image forming apparatus" according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, 1 is a print information input unit, 2 is an image forming unit for converting the information input from the print information input unit 1 into image data for printing and sending it to the printing unit, 3 is a printing unit for printing paper. A sheet feeding section 4 for feeding the sheet to the sheet feeding section 4, an inspection section for checking whether both sides of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section 3 can be printed, and 5 an image formed on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding section 3. A printing unit for printing the image data sent from the printing unit, and 6 for taking in the paper which has been printed on one side by the printing unit once for double-sided printing and reversing it so that the printing unit 5 can perform back side printing. A reversing unit, a paper discharge unit 7 for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit 6, a control unit 8 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus,
Reference numeral 9 is a display unit for displaying information from the control unit 8.

The cross section showing the schematic structure of this embodiment is as follows.
Since it is the same as FIG. 2, the description of FIG. 2 and its description will be omitted here.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment.

The operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. When it is detected that print data is input to the image forming apparatus from the print information input unit 1 (S201), the image forming unit 2 converts the print unit 5 into printable image data (S202), and then the print unit 5 is processed. Sent. When the print data is input, the control unit 8 controls the paper feeding unit 3 to send the paper for printing to the inspection unit 4 (S203). The inspection unit 4 inspects whether or not the back side of the fed paper is already used by using the back side print sensor 600 (S204), and if not used, sends the paper to the printing unit 5. The printing unit 5 prints an image on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3 (S20
5) If the back side printing is not completed (S206), the paper is transferred to the reversing unit 6. The reversing unit 6 reverses the sent paper (S107), enables back surface printing, and returns the paper to the printing unit 5. The printing unit 5 prints an image on the back surface of this sheet (S205). When printing is completed, the control unit 8 controls the paper discharge unit 7 to discharge the paper printed on both sides (S10).
8). When the paper discharge is completed, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the printing of all pages is completed (S209), and if not completed, the paper feeding operation is performed again (S203), and the above-described operation is repeated. After printing all pages in this way,
The printing operation ends.

Although a part of the double-sided printing is completed by the procedure described above, if the print data covers a plurality of pages, the above-mentioned procedure is repeated to execute the double-sided printing of a plurality of pages.

If it is determined by the inspection unit 4 that the back side of the fed paper has already been printed, the control unit 8 discards the print data to perform the print cancel processing (S2).
10), the fact that the printing has been completed is displayed on the display unit 9 (S211), the fed paper is ejected (S212),
The printing operation ends. Of course, the stop operation described here is not limited to the first page of the print start, but the above flow is executed to stop the paper even when double-sided printing is impossible in the middle of the page. Is possible.

In addition, is there a display that printing has been completed? In addition to the means for displaying and notifying on the display unit 9, a voice notifying unit realized by providing a voice generating unit or another appropriate display unit for notifying the host computer by providing the communication unit is used. It goes without saying that it is possible.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the back side of the fed paper is already printed and it is judged that the double-sided printing is impossible, the double-sided printing is stopped and the printing is stopped. The message is displayed to notify the user of the image forming apparatus.

Thus, in consideration of effective use of paper resources, even when the user erroneously executes double-sided printing in an image forming apparatus using a single-sided printed sheet as a printing sheet, printing is performed on the printed side. This eliminates the waste of wasted paper and allows the user to use the single-sided printed paper without much care.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an "image forming apparatus" according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 6, 1 is a print information input unit, 2 is an image forming unit for converting the information input from the print information input unit 1 into image data for printing and sending it to the printing unit, 3 is a printing unit for printing paper. A paper feeding unit 4 for supplying the paper to the paper feeding device 4, an inspection unit 5 for inspecting whether the paper fed from the paper feeding unit 3 is printable on both sides, and 5
Is a printing unit for printing the image data sent from the image forming unit on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3, and 6 is a paper which is printed on one side by the printing unit once in double-sided printing, The reversing unit 7 for reversing the printing unit so that the back side can be printed is a paper discharging unit for discharging the paper printed by the printing unit 5, 8 is a control unit for controlling the entire image forming apparatus, and 9 Is a display unit for displaying information from the control unit 8, and 11 is a storage unit for storing print data.

The cross section showing the schematic structure of this embodiment is
Since it is the same as FIG. 2, the description of FIG. 2 and its description will be omitted, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment.

The operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart of FIG.

When it is detected that print data is input to the image forming apparatus from the print information input unit 1 (S301),
The image forming unit 2 converts the print unit 5 into printable image data (S302) and sends the image data to the print unit 5. When the print data is input, the control unit 8 controls the paper feeding unit 3 and sends the paper for printing to the inspection unit 4 (S303). The inspection unit 4 inspects whether or not the back side of the fed paper is already used by using the back side print sensor 600 (S
304), if not used, the paper is sent to the printing unit 5. The printing unit 5 prints the image on the paper sent from the paper feeding unit 3 (S305), and transfers the paper to the reversing unit 6 if the back side printing is not completed (S306). The reversing unit 6 reverses the sent paper (S107), enables back surface printing, and returns the paper to the printing unit 5. The printing unit 5 prints an image on the back surface of this sheet (S305). When printing is completed, the control unit 8 controls the paper discharge unit 7 to discharge the paper printed on both sides (S308). When the paper discharge is completed, the control unit 8 determines whether the printing of all pages is completed (S30
9) If it is not completed, the paper feeding operation is performed again (S
303), the above-mentioned operation is repeated. When the printing of all pages is completed in this way, the printing operation is ended.

Although a part of the double-sided printing is completed by the procedure described above, if the print data covers a plurality of pages, the above procedure is repeated to execute the double-sided printing of a plurality of pages.

If it is determined by the inspection unit 4 that the back side of the fed paper has already been printed, the control unit 8 interrupts the printing (S113), and all the print data thereafter is stored in the storage unit 11. It is stored (S114), the fact that printing is interrupted is displayed on the display unit 9 (S115), and the user's instruction is awaited. After that, the user who confirms the display on the display unit 9 recognizes that the printing has been interrupted, sets a double-sided printable paper on the paper feed unit 3, and restarts the printing by instructing to restart the printing. If it becomes possible (S316), the control unit 8 reads out the print data stored in the storage unit 11 and retransfers it to the printing unit 5 (S317), and feeds the paper to resume printing (S303). .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the back side of the fed paper is already printed and it is determined that the double-sided printing is impossible, the double-sided printing is interrupted and the print data after that is stopped. By storing in the storage unit, the double-sided printing can be restarted immediately when the double-sided printable paper is supplied to the paper feeding unit.

Thus, in consideration of effective use of paper resources, even if the user mistakenly executes double-sided printing in an image forming apparatus that uses a single-sided printed sheet as a printing sheet, printing is performed on the printed side. This eliminates the waste of wasted paper and allows the user to use the single-sided printed paper without much care.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In consideration of effective use of paper resources, in an image forming device that uses single-sided printed paper as printing paper, even if the user mistakenly executes double-sided printing, there is no need to print on the already-printed paper. It is possible to prevent waste of wasteful paper and allow the user to use the single-sided printed paper without much concern.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of Example 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 paper feeder 4 inspection department 5 Printing department 7 First paper output section 8 control unit 10 Second output section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 15/00 106 G03G 15/00 518 3F053 518 B41J 3/00 S 3F100 F term (reference) 2C062 RA01 2H027 DC01 DE02 ED19 ED22 EE07 EE08 EF06 EK04 EK15 FA13 FB07 FB19 FD08 GA30 GA48 GB05 ZA07 2H028 BA05 BB02 BB04 BD01 2H072 AA07 AA16 AA32 AB29 FB01 EA01 EA15 EA03 EA02 EA03 FB02 EA03 FB02 EA02 BF02 BC01 DA02 3A02 BF02 BC12 DA02 3 DA09 EA02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus provided with a printing unit capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, the inspection unit checking whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, and the printing. When it is determined that double-sided printing is possible based on the inspection result of the inspection unit when there is an instruction for double-sided printing and a sheet-discharging unit having at least two sheet-discharging units that discharge the paper printed by the unit When the double-sided printing is performed by the printing unit, the sheet is discharged to the first sheet discharging unit in the sheet discharging unit, and when it is determined that the double-sided printing cannot be performed by the inspection result of the inspection unit, the printing is not performed, An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls the sheet discharging unit to discharge the sheet to a second sheet discharging unit. 2. An image forming apparatus equipped with a printing means capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, the inspection means for inspecting whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, and the double-sided printing. When it is determined by the inspection result of the inspection means that double-sided printing is possible, double-sided printing is performed by the printing means, and when it is determined that double-sided printing is impossible by the inspection result of the inspection means, An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls to stop printing and to display that printing has been stopped. 3. An image forming apparatus provided with a printing unit capable of printing on both sides of a fed paper, the inspection unit checking whether the fed paper can be printed on both sides, and the double-sided printing. When it is determined by the inspection result of the inspection means that double-sided printing is possible, double-sided printing is performed by the printing means, and when it is determined that double-sided printing is impossible by the inspection result of the inspection means, Control means for interrupting the printing, storing the print data, displaying the stored data, and controlling the printing using the stored print data when the print becomes possible. Image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection unit inspects whether the back surface of the fed paper has been printed. Image forming apparatus. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the display is performed by voice. 6. An image forming method in an image forming apparatus capable of performing double-sided printing, wherein both sides of a fed sheet are printed, and the fed sheet is double-sided printed when a double-sided printing instruction is given. An inspection step that inspects whether it is possible, a double-sided printing step when it is determined by the inspection result of the inspection step, a double-sided printing step that performs double-sided printing, and a double-sided printing is determined by the inspection result of the inspection step An image forming method, comprising: a stop interruption step of stopping or interrupting printing.