JP2003270872A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an image appropriately formable in accordance with various types of paper surfaces. <P>SOLUTION: A user is made able to set a custom paper type in addition to previously registered paper types (preset paper types). The user can input through a touch panel 26 the parameter values depending on the paper type such as transfer bias voltage, fixation temperature and a paper carrying speed, etc., among image forming parameters, and the group of these custom-set parameters is regarded as custom paper type setting values 32. When printing is started, the custom paper type setting values 32 are transmitted from a system control part 28 for controlling the whole image forming apparatus to a printing control part 40 for controlling a printing part 14, and each part of the printing part 14 is controlled by the printing control part 40 in accordance with each parameter value of the custom paper type setting values 32. <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 copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of performing printing on a plurality of sheets having different paper qualities by appropriately controlling each unit of the apparatus. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, not only so-called copy paper, but also various kinds of paper such as label paper, postcards, and OHP film are used. In high-end machines used for publishing, high-quality paper for printing, medium-quality paper, coated paper, art paper, etc. are often used.

Until an image is formed on one sheet of paper and is output, generally, the processes of feeding from a paper tray, transferring the image to the paper, and fixing the transferred image to the paper are performed. In case of photographic method). Then, the sheet is conveyed along a predetermined conveying path between these processing steps. When the paper quality of the paper is different, appropriate conditions for each processing stage and paper transportation are different. Therefore, in order to realize a good image forming operation without paper feeding errors, paper jams at various places in the conveying path, transfer defects, fixing defects, etc., it is necessary to control the processing at each stage under appropriate conditions. .

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-25535.
The printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2 has a configuration in which a set of control parameters representing appropriate processing conditions at each processing stage is registered for each paper type assumed in advance. In this printing apparatus, the selection of the paper types used in advance by the user is accepted, and each unit of the image forming apparatus is controlled by controlling each unit of the image forming apparatus using a set of parameters corresponding to the selected paper type. It operates under appropriate conditions according to the type of.

[0005]

However, since there are various types of paper and the development of new paper is active, it is not possible to prepare an appropriate set of parameters for all paper types. It is possible. For this reason, if the type of paper to be used is not registered in the image forming apparatus, the closest one of the registered paper types will be used. However, in applications that require high-speed printing or high-quality printing, even a slight difference in paper quality may cause a non-negligible difference in printing speed and image quality. In a high-speed machine, a slight difference in paper quality may cause paper jams and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing an image forming process suitable for the type of paper to be used.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper quality dependent parameters that depend on the paper quality of the paper are provided as parameters for controlling the image forming processing, and each of the plurality of preset paper types corresponds to that paper type. Holds a set of paper quality dependent parameter values to be set as preset paper type setting values,
In an image forming apparatus that controls an image forming process using a set of paper quality dependent parameter values corresponding to a designated paper type, individual setting means for individually accepting settings for each paper quality dependent parameter value, and A custom setting storage means for holding a set of values of each paper quality dependent parameter set by the individual setting means as a custom paper type setting value, and using the custom paper type setting value stored in the custom setting storage means It is characterized in that the image forming process can be controlled.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the individual setting means includes a basic paper quality selecting means for accepting selection of one of the preset paper types to be a basis of a custom paper type setting value to be set, and a basic paper quality selecting means. A setting value changing means for accepting a change setting operation from the user for the value of each paper quality dependent parameter of the preset paper type selected by the paper quality means, and the paper quality whose value is changed and set by the setting value changing means For the dependent parameter, the changed and set value is set, and for the paper quality dependent parameter that is not changed and set, the value of the paper quality dependent parameter in the preset paper type selected by the basic paper quality selection unit is set to the custom paper quality set value. .

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the control processing according to the present invention is applied. In this figure, a copying machine is illustrated as one type of image forming apparatus. As will be apparent from the following description, the applicable range of the custom paper type setting of the present embodiment is not limited to the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, but can be applied to other image forming apparatuses in general.

As shown in this figure, the copying machine includes a document reading section 10 for optically reading an image shown on a paper document and converting it into an electronic image signal. The document feeder 12
A tray on which a stack of documents to be copied is placed is provided, and the documents placed on the tray are fed to the document reading unit 10 one by one. The printing unit 14 is a mechanism that prints the image of the read document on a sheet. The printing unit 14 includes a plurality of paper trays 16 and can hold a plurality of types of paper.
The printed paper printed by the printing unit 14 is ejected to the paper ejection unit 20. The paper discharge unit 20 has a plurality of discharge trays 22.

A user operation unit (operation panel) 24 displays information for operating the copying machine, and receives a user's operation instruction input UI (user interface).
It is a mechanism. The user operation unit 24 includes a touch panel 26 and various operation buttons. The touch panel 26 has a function of displaying information on the screen and detecting a place where the user touches the screen with a finger. User operation unit 24
Is a G that displays various operation menus and operation instruction buttons.
A UI display is generated and displayed on the touch panel 26, information on the location touched by the user on the GUI display is received from the touch panel 26, the input content of the user is interpreted, and a processing instruction according to the input content is issued by the system. It is transmitted to the control unit 28. The operation buttons include a start key for instructing the start of a copy job and a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values. When the operation buttons are pressed, the user operation unit 24 sends a signal to that effect to the system. It is transmitted to the control unit 28.

The system control unit 28 is a control mechanism for controlling the units 10 to 26 described above to realize the operation as a copying machine. For example, the system control unit 28 sends a control signal corresponding to a copy operation instruction (for example, number of copies or presence / absence of double-sided printing designation) input from the user operation unit 24 to the document feeding unit 12, the document reading unit 10, and the printing unit 1.
4. By supplying the paper to the paper discharge unit 20, a copy process according to the operation instruction is realized. In addition, the system control unit 28
Receives a signal indicating the state of each of the units 10 to 26, and when a malfunction such as a paper jam occurs, control is performed according to the malfunction. The system control unit 28 is realized by processing a control program and various parameter values stored in a ROM or a non-volatile memory with a processor.

In this example, the printing unit 14 is a device that forms an image by an electrophotographic method. In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, generally, an electrostatic latent image of an image to be printed is formed on a surface of a photoconductor by exposure with a laser beam or the like, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner. Transfer the toner image directly to the paper or to the paper via the intermediate transfer body,
The toner image is fixed on the paper by heat or pressure. The sheet is fed from one of the sheet trays 16, the toner image is transferred from the photoconductor or the intermediate transfer body, the image is fixed, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 22. During this time, the paper is stored in the paper tray 16, the transfer roll unit, the fixing roll unit, and the discharge tray 2.
The sheet is conveyed between the two along a predetermined sheet conveying path.

The print section 14 is provided with a print control section 40 for controlling each section in the print section 14. The print control section 40 communicates with the system control section 28 to perform image forming processing on paper. Run. The print control unit 40 includes a transfer control unit 42 that controls image transfer by the transfer roll unit described above,
A fixing control unit 4 for controlling image fixing by the fixing roll unit
4 and a paper conveyance control unit 46 for controlling the paper conveyance from the paper feeding to the printing result ejection. Print control unit 4
0 is realized by executing a control program by the processor, and the transfer control unit 42, the fixing control unit 44, and the paper transport control unit 46 are configured as a part of the program. The transfer control unit 42, the fixing control unit 44, and the paper transport control unit 46 each have one or more control parameters, and execute control processing according to the values of these parameters. For example, the transfer control unit 42 has control parameters such as a bias voltage for forming a transfer electric field and a pressing force of a transfer roll. The fixing control unit 42 has the temperature of the fixing roll, the pressing force of the fixing roll, and the like as control parameters. The control parameters of the paper conveyance control unit 46 include air assist setting at the time of paper feeding, aligner nips (Aligner Ni
p) nip pressure, specific gravity of paper (basis weight) and surface type. Here, the air assist is a process in which air is blown from the side surface of the sheet stack to separate the uppermost sheet from the lower sheet when the sheet is pulled out from the sheet tray 16 to the transport path, thereby forming a gap between the sheets. is there. Coated paper is more likely to stick to each other than uncoated paper, so air assist may be required. To set the air assist,
Whether or not the air assist is operated, the number of times of preliminary spraying, and the like are included. The aligner is a mechanism for correcting the skew of the sheet by bringing the leading edge of the sheet conveyed into contact with the resist plate. The abutting against the resist plate is performed by sandwiching the sheet with a pair of rolls provided in front of the resist plate and pushing the sheet forward. The aligner nip pressure is the nip pressure of this roll pair (referred to as an aligner nip), and the larger this is, the greater the force with which the paper is pressed against the resist plate. If the nip pressure is too weak, skew correction will be insufficient, and if it is too strong, the paper will bend. This aligner nip pressure also has an appropriate value depending on the type of paper. The surface type of paper is art paper,
It is a distinction between coated paper and uncoated paper. Depending on this surface type, the friction coefficient of the paper surface and the fixing property of the toner are changed.

In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, a set of control parameters of the print control unit 40 suitable for some typical paper types assumed in advance is set to the preset paper type set value 30. Is registered as.
For example, for typical paper in each category such as high-quality coated paper and high-quality uncoated paper, the basis weight of the paper, surface type (coated paper), appropriate transfer roll output value during image forming processing, fixing roll temperature , Fixing roll pressure, etc. are registered as preset paper type setting values. When using general paper, the user may select the type of paper using the user operation unit 24. Then, each parameter value of the preset paper type setting value corresponding to the selected paper type is passed from the system control unit 28 to the print control unit 40.
The print control unit 40 controls a mechanism such as transfer, fixing, and sheet conveyance according to the value of each parameter. This allows
Image formation is performed under the control suitable for the sheet.

As for the paper type for which the preset paper type setting value 30 is registered, several types of paper are conventionally used. It is not impossible to prepare a large number of preset paper types, such as dozens or dozens, but this is a matter of degree, and no matter how many, there are various paper types that the user intends to use. It is impossible to fully correspond to each of the. Further, if the preset paper types are too large, the user will have to select from a large number of candidates, which may cause a problem that the selection work becomes complicated.

Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of increasing the preset paper types, the user can set and use a custom paper type as needed. In other words, in the present embodiment, a paper whose paper quality is greatly different from any of the prepared preset paper types is used, or when the paper is close to the preset paper type, but a more precise image forming process suitable for the paper is desired. Includes the print control unit 4 illustrated above.
The values of various control parameters of 0 can be individually set by the user. A set of custom paper type control parameters set by the user is registered in the system control unit 28 as a custom paper type set value 32.

When setting a custom paper type, the user presses a GUI (graphical user interface) button on the screen displayed on the touch panel 26 or a mechanical button of the user operation unit 24, as shown in FIG. Touch the individual parameter setting screen on the touch panel 26.
To display. On this setting screen, GUI buttons 102a to 102e corresponding to the parameters depending on the paper type among the control parameters of the print control unit 40 are displayed. When one of the GUI buttons 102a to 102e is selected by touching with a finger or the like, the parameter value corresponding to the button is set to the parameter value setting field 104.
Can be set to. The value in this setting field 104 is
The increase button 108a can be increased by 1 each time it is pressed, and the decrease button 108b can be decreased by 1 each time it is pressed. An upper limit and a lower limit of selectable values are set for each parameter, and a display 106 showing the upper and lower limits is displayed near the setting field 104. Operate the buttons 108a and 108b to set the setting field 104.
Change the parameter value inside to the desired value, and then press the setting button 110.
When is pressed, the value is registered as the value of the parameter in the custom paper type setting value 32. Among the parameters illustrated in FIG. 2, "transfer roll output" is an index value indicating the bias voltage applied to the transfer roll, "aligner nip pressure" is an index value indicating the nip pressure of the aligner nip, and "fixing temperature". "Is an index value indicating the temperature of the fixing roll. “Air assist” is a parameter indicating whether or not to operate the air assist. Since it is intuitively easy to specify the values of these four parameters by increasing or decreasing the numerical values (the presence or absence of air assist can be selected, for example, by the numerical value of 0 or 1), the above-mentioned setting field 10
A numerical value setting operation to 4 may be used. On the other hand, in the "select paper type" (button 102a), various paper types can be considered depending on the combination of the basis weight of the paper and the degree of coating.
Also, the basis weight and other categories are rough categories such as high-quality paper and medium-quality paper in the preset paper types, but in the custom paper type settings, it is more detailed so that the user can specify more finely. It is divided into various categories. In order to select such a paper type, for example, a list of selectable paper types (for example, a combination of a basis weight category and a coating weight category) is displayed and a desired one can be selected. May be provided. Alternatively, the selectable paper type to be displayed in the setting field 106 is changed to the buttons 108a and 108b.
It is also possible that the operation is switched to the upper or lower one by one, and the user can select the desired paper type by this operation.

When all the values of the paper type dependent parameters of the custom paper type are set by such an operation, this is 1
It is registered in the system control unit 28 as a parameter set of one custom paper type. This is the custom paper type setting value 32
Is.

When the user sets the custom paper type set value 32 as described above and gives an instruction to start the printing process by an operation such as pressing the start button of the user operation unit 24, the custom paper type set value 32 is set. Information is print control unit 4
0, the print control unit 40 controls each control item such as transfer, fixing, and paper conveyance according to the value of each parameter included in the set value 32.

For example, the "paper type" designated by the button 102a includes information on the basis weight of the paper, that is, specific gravity.
This sheet specific gravity is used to determine the optimum sheet conveying speed and the like. The paper type information includes information on the coating state, that is, the surface state of the paper. The surface type of paper is a parameter that influences the coefficient of friction and the texture of the paper, and the optimum paper transport speed and print density are determined according to these parameters. The "transfer roll output" is the bias voltage of the transfer roll, and this changes the degree of transfer of the toner image to the paper. Therefore, the print density depends on the value of the transfer roll output. By appropriately setting the "transfer roll output", an appropriate print density suitable for the paper can be realized. The setting of "Fixing temperature" controls the temperature of the fixing roll,
Appropriate fixing without insufficient fixing or overheating can be realized.
In addition, according to the value set for "aligner nip pressure",
By controlling the nip pressure of the aligner nip provided at one or more positions in the paper transport path, skew can be corrected without bending the paper. Also, by setting “air assist”, it is possible to perform air assist when feeding a sheet that easily sticks.

Note that the parameters illustrated in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and it is of course possible that other parameters depending on the paper type can be set from this individual parameter setting screen. In addition to those shown in FIG. 2, there are parameters such as the pressure of the fixing roll and the number of pre-blown air assist blows.

It is also preferable to save the custom paper type set value 32 set as described above so that it can be reused. In this case, the custom paper type setting value 32 is
Non-volatile storage means (EEPROM or hard disk)
You can memorize it in. Custom paper type setting value 32 is 1
It is also preferable that not only one but a plurality of files can be stored. In this case, it is also preferable that the user can freely set an explanation indicating the feature of the setting in the custom paper type setting value 32 so that the kind of paper type can be known later.

In the above description, the custom paper type set value 32 is held in the system controller 28, but the print controller 4
Of course, it may be held at 0. In this case, for example, by storing the value in the non-volatile storage means provided in the print control unit 40, the value can be stored even when the power is turned off.

The following method is also suitable as a method for facilitating the parameter value setting operation for the custom paper type. That is, when setting a custom paper type, the user first selects a paper type that is close to the paper type as a reference paper type from preset paper types, and the user appropriately selects preset values for each parameter of the reference paper type. It is a method of making changes. In this method, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a list of preset paper types (button 12 registered in the system control unit 28 as preset paper type setting values 30) is displayed.
2a to 122e) are displayed, and the button 122a to 122e is used to select a reference paper type. The value of each parameter of the reference paper type selected in this way becomes the default value of each parameter of the custom paper type to be set. The user has
By changing only the items to be changed on the individual parameter setting screen illustrated in FIG. 2, it is possible to define the parameter set suitable for the custom paper type.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the means for setting the appropriate control parameters for the image forming process is provided for the paper other than the preset paper type, so that it is suitable for various papers. Image formation becomes possible. In addition, the parameter setting can be performed by the user operation unit 2
By making it possible from the user interface screen displayed in 4, it is possible to provide the user with a setting environment that is easy to operate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an individual parameter setting screen for image formation control.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a reference paper type selection screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 original reading section, 12 original feeding section, 14 printing section,
16 paper tray, 20 paper discharge section, 22 discharge tray, 24 user operation section, 26 touch panel, 28
System control unit, 30 preset paper type setting storage unit, 3
2 custom paper type setting storage unit, 40 print control unit, 42
Transfer control unit, 44 fixing control unit, 46 paper transport control unit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 MF term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 AS02 AS13 HN04 HN15 2H027 DC02 EA03 EA12 EC09 FA30 FA35 FC03 GA16 GA20 GA25 GA45 GA49 GA56 5B021 AA01 AA19 BB01 GG00 PP04 QQ01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of paper quality dependent parameters that depend on the paper quality of the paper as parameters for controlling the image forming processing, and a set of values of the paper quality dependent parameters corresponding to the paper type for each of a plurality of preset paper types. Is set as a preset paper type setting value, and the image forming apparatus that controls the image forming process using a set of paper quality dependent parameter values corresponding to the specified paper type is set individually for each paper quality dependent parameter value. And a custom setting storage means for holding a set of paper quality dependent parameter values set by the individual setting means as a custom paper type set value. The image forming apparatus capable of controlling the image forming process by using the set custom paper type setting value. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the individual setting unit receives a selection of one of the preset paper types that should be a basis of a custom paper type setting value to be set. The paper quality selecting means and the set value changing means for accepting a change setting operation from the user with respect to the value of each paper quality dependent parameter of the preset paper type selected by the basic paper quality means are provided. For the paper quality dependent parameters that have been changed and set, the changed and set values are set.For the paper quality dependent parameters that are not changed and set, the values of the paper quality dependent parameters in the preset paper type selected by the basic paper quality selection means An image forming apparatus characterized by setting a paper quality setting value. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper quality dependent parameter that can be set by the individual setting unit includes a basis weight of the paper. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper quality dependent parameter that can be set by the individual setting unit includes a paper surface type. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic apparatus that transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier to a sheet and prints it. The image forming apparatus, wherein the paper quality dependent parameter that can be set by the individual setting unit includes a transfer output value of a transfer unit that transfers a toner image formed on an image carrier onto a sheet. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit that fixes an image on a sheet by at least an action of heat, and the paper quality dependent parameter that can be set by the individual setting unit includes An image forming apparatus, wherein the temperature of the fixing unit is included. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing unit for fixing an image on a sheet by the action of pressure, wherein the paper quality dependent parameter that can be set by the individual setting unit is An image forming apparatus including a pressure for fixing action of the fixing unit.