JP2004195810A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform automatically a black-and-white printing automatically when an abnormal state such that a toner is used up during a color printing occurs, and to perform the printing to the end in an image forming device having a black-and-white printing function and a color printing function. <P>SOLUTION: An abnormal state detecting unit 11 for detecting an abnormal state of a color printing mechanism unit 8, and a selector 10 for switching a black-and-white printing mechanism unit 7 and the color printing mechanism unit 8 are provided. When the abnormal state detecting unit 11 detects an abnormal state at the time of color printing, the color printing by the color printing mechanism unit 8 is stopped by the selector 10, and at the same time, a black-and-white printing by the black-and-white printing mechanism unit 7 is started. Thus, image data with colors is automatically performed by the black-and-white printing, and the printing is continued to the end. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of selectively printing between black and white printing and color printing in a copying machine, a printer, or the like having a black and white printing function and a color printing function. In this case, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of automatically executing black-and-white printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus having a black-and-white printing function and a color printing function of this type has a black-and-white printing function using black toner and ink, and a color printing apparatus using cyan, magenta and yellow color toners and multicolor inks. It has a printing function. Then, the user sets in advance whether to perform monochrome printing or color printing, and executes printing. In normal printing, there are many cases in which there are a plurality of input images, originals, and the like, and a color image exists therein. When printing such input images and documents, continuous printing is performed by setting the print mode of all input images and documents to the color mode, paying attention to the existence of color images. . However, conventionally, in color printing, three color toners or multicolored inks are used. If even one color runs out of toner or ink, normal color printing cannot be performed. Therefore, color printing is automatically stopped. I was trying to make it.
[0003]
There is also known an image forming apparatus which automatically determines whether a document is a color document, executes color printing when the document is a color document, and executes monochrome printing when the document is a monochrome document. However, even if the original is a color original, there are cases where it is desired to perform monochrome printing from the viewpoint of printing cost and printing speed. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163, when a document includes color information, a user can select whether to output image information in a black-and-white mode or in a color mode. A technique has been disclosed in which when a mode is set, monochrome printing is performed even on a color original.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-204360
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described related art, during printing in the color mode, for example, if even one color runs out of toner or color ink, color printing stops. Therefore, for example, in the case where materials are urgently required for a conference, the request cannot be satisfied. Of course, the problem can be solved by replenishing the toner and the ink, but if there is not enough time, or if there is no spare toner or the ink, some kind of printing cannot be executed, which is extremely inconvenient for preparing the data. Further, since the structure of the mechanism for color printing is relatively complicated, failures and paper jams are more likely to occur than the mechanism for monochrome printing.
[0006]
In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and in an image forming apparatus capable of selecting black-and-white printing and color printing to enable printing, if a print is urgently needed, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a substantially satisfactory printed matter even when some abnormal state occurs during printing. The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configurations.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus capable of selecting black-and-white printing and color printing to enable printing, an abnormal state detecting means for detecting an abnormal state during color printing; An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to stop the color printing and start the black-and-white printing when the state detecting unit detects an abnormal state. With this configuration, when many documents including color documents need to be printed quickly, even if color printing cannot be performed, black and white printing is automatically performed and printed. Can be continued, so that it is possible to obtain a satisfactory printed matter to some extent without interrupting the printing process.
[0008]
In this aspect, when the image forming apparatus is an electrostatic copying type color image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the abnormal state detecting means is means for detecting the remaining amount of each color toner. Further, in this aspect, when the image forming apparatus is an ink jet type color image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the abnormal state detecting means is means for detecting a remaining amount of each color ink. With such a configuration, even if a deficiency of a color printing component such as a color toner or a color ink that occurs relatively frequently occurs, monochrome printing can be automatically executed and printing can be continued. Become.
[0009]
Further, in such an aspect, it is preferable to provide an operating means for selectively setting the control means to be inoperable. By adopting such a configuration, when a color print is always required, the user can be set not to automatically execute black and white printing. After the removal, the color printing can be continued again, and a color print can be reliably obtained.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams showing a configuration of a color tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, the color tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image data input unit 1 in a copying machine, a computer, and the like, an image data holding unit 2 for temporarily storing input image data, and an image data holding unit 2. An interface 3 connected to the output side of the data holding unit 2; a printing unit 4 to which image data is supplied via the interface 3; an operation unit for performing operations such as capturing image data, starting printing, and setting the number of copies Five. The image data input unit 1, image data holding unit 2, interface 3, and operation unit 5 are connected to a bus 6.
[0012]
The printing section 4 includes a black-and-white printing mechanism section 7 for achieving a black-and-white printing function, a color printing mechanism section 8 for achieving a color printing function, a color / monochrome determination circuit 9, a selector 10, and an abnormal state detection section 11. . When the color / monochrome determination circuit 9 determines that the image is a color image, the selector 10 activates the color printing mechanism section 8 to perform color printing. The printing mechanism 7 is operated to perform monochrome printing. Further, when an abnormality is detected in the color printing mechanism section 8, the abnormal state detection section 11 forcibly sets the selection state of the selector 10 to the black and white printing mechanism section 7. The abnormal state detecting section 11 can be forcibly set to the reset state by operating the operation section 5.
[0013]
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a specific example of the image print engine 12 including the electrophotographic monochrome printing mechanism 7 and the color printing mechanism 8. FIG. The image printing engine 12 includes an image transfer unit 13, an image fixing unit 14, a paper cassette 15, a paper feeding unit 16, and a paper discharging unit 17, and transfers transfer paper 18 from the paper cassette 15 to the paper feeding unit 16. The image is transferred to the image transfer unit 13, the image fixing unit 14, and the sheet discharge unit 17 in order, and printing is performed.
[0014]
The image transfer unit 13 is provided with developing units 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K. The developing units 19Y develop yellow, 19M magenta, 19C cyan, and 19K develop toner images of each color with black toner. . Further, the image transfer unit 13 is provided with transfer rollers 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K paired with the development units 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K. 21Y, 21M, 21C and 21K are toner cartridges of each color. In the image printing engine 12 shown in FIG. 2, the transfer paper 18 has a configuration in which different colors are transferred by passing through the developing units 19Y, 19M, 19C and 19K in order, and this portion is used for color printing. The mechanism section 8 is constituted.
[0015]
On the other hand, when performing black and white printing, as shown in FIG. 3, the image transfer unit 13 is released downward as shown by an arrow A, and the image transfer unit 13 contacts only the developing unit 19K. The portion constitutes the black-and-white printing mechanism section 7. The selector 10 selects whether to activate the color printing mechanism 8 or the monochrome printing mechanism 7. Further, the abnormal state detecting unit 11 is connected to, for example, a remaining amount detecting unit (not shown) provided in each of the color toner cartridges 21Y, 21M, and 21C. In this case, when it is detected that the toner is consumed and lost, an abnormal signal is issued.
[0016]
The operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the user operates the operation unit 5 to start printing a plurality of documents continuously in color. During the continuation of the color printing, the state of the color printing is constantly monitored by the abnormal state detecting unit 11 as shown in step S1. When an abnormal signal is issued from the abnormal state detection unit 11 and an abnormal state is detected, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined whether or not the abnormal state detection unit 11 is forcibly set to the reset state. . If the reset state has not been forcibly set, the process proceeds to step S3, where the selector 10 activates only the black-and-white printing mechanism section 7 in response to an abnormal signal from the abnormal state detecting section 11. Therefore, in this case, even if color image data is input, black-and-white printing is automatically executed, so that printing is executed to the end without stopping. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that no abnormal signal has been issued from the abnormal state detecting unit 11 and that the state is not abnormal, the process proceeds to step S4, where the color printing mechanism unit 8 is operated to perform color printing based on the color image data. Printing is performed.
[0017]
Further, in this embodiment, when a color print is necessarily required, the user operates the operation unit 5 to forcibly reset when an abnormal signal is issued from the abnormal state detection unit 11. To prevent automatic black and white printing. In this state, when an abnormal signal is issued from the abnormal state detecting unit 11, the process proceeds from step S2 to step S5, and the color printing is forcibly stopped. In this case, since the abnormal state is detected by the color printing mechanism 8, if the abnormal state is removed by replenishing the toner or the like, the color printing can be performed again continuously.
[0018]
In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a color tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be applied to an image forming apparatus having a color printing function. Further, in the above embodiment, the absence of the toner in the color printing mechanism section 8 is detected as an abnormal state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be detected as an abnormal state.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even if an abnormality occurs during color printing, printing can be continued in black-and-white printing without interrupting printing. Thus, an image forming apparatus that can obtain a printed material that can cope with the case where there is no time margin as required for the image forming apparatus can be obtained. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the abnormal state during color printing is determined by detecting the remaining amount of the color toner or the color ink. Even if a component for color printing such as ink is deficient, black and white printing can be automatically executed and printing can be continued. Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a color print is always required, the user can set so as not to automatically execute black and white printing. After removing the cause of the above, color printing can be continued again, and a color print can be reliably obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a color printing mechanism in the printing unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a black-and-white printing mechanism in the printing unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image data input part 2 Image data holding part 3 Interface 4 Printing part 5 Operation part 6 Bus 7 Black and white printing mechanism part 8 Color printing mechanism part 9 Color / black and white judgment circuit 10 Selector 11 Abnormal state detection part 12 Image printing engine 13 Image transfer Units 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K Developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K Transfer rollers 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K Toner cartridge

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus capable of making monochrome printing and color printing selectable and capable of printing,
Abnormal state detecting means for detecting an abnormal state during color printing,
Control means for stopping the color printing and starting the black and white printing when the abnormal state detecting means detects the abnormal state,
An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus is an electrostatic copying type color image forming apparatus, and said abnormal state detecting means is means for detecting the remaining amount of each color toner. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an ink jet type color image forming apparatus, and the abnormal state detecting unit is a unit for detecting a remaining amount of each color ink. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for selectively setting the control unit to be inoperable.

Images