JP2005041025A - Image forming device and drive control program as well as recording medium storing drive control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of preventing waste of a recording paper or the loss of an input data occurring when printing is stopped during printing with an ink cartridge removed, in an image forming device equipped with a detachable ink cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device includes an ink cartridge detachably mounted to the device body, and is equipped with a means for detecting attachment/detachment of the ink cartridge, a means for feeding an ink from the ink cartridge ink to a sub-tank via an ink feeding channel, and a means for switching between the stop printing of an output image or the stop printing after printing out the page in printing, when the ink cartridge is removed, thereby maintaining the image forming device capable of outputting images by avoiding stopping of the image forming device as much as possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a drive control program, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program is recorded. Specifically, the present invention relates to a print control technique when a detachable ink cartridge is removed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with an inkjet recording mechanism have relatively low noise during printing, and can form small dots with high density and perform printing. It is widely used not only for private businesses but also for offices and business use.
[0003]
An image forming apparatus equipped with such an ink jet recording mechanism is generally provided with a paper feeding means for main-scanning a recording head mounted on a carriage and sub-scanning a recording medium. Printing is performed on the recording medium by ejecting the droplets.
A recording head capable of ejecting, for example, black (Bk), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) inks is mounted on the carriage. By changing the discharge ratio, full-color printing is possible.
[0004]
On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an inkjet recording mechanism provided for office use or business use, it is necessary to provide a large-capacity ink cartridge in order to cope with a large amount of printing. For example, a recording apparatus of a type that is loaded into a mounting apparatus (cartridge holder) arranged on the apparatus main body side is provided.
[0005]
A sub tank is arranged on the carriage on which the recording head is mounted, ink is supplied from each ink cartridge to each sub tank via an ink supply tube, and ink is supplied from each sub tank to each recording head. Is configured to supply.
[0006]
By the way, in the ink jet recording mechanism, when there is no ink of a certain color, the image of the color component of the ink is not output. Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, the remaining amount of ink itself is always used. Monitor or count the number of dots for each color to be printed, and display an ink near-end warning when the remaining ink level is low, and an ink-end warning when the ink is completely exhausted. In general, the printing operation is stopped immediately, and the apparatus is stopped until the user exchanges ink thereafter.
[0007]
On the other hand, an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink jet recording mechanism provided for office use or business use considers productivity, and in an image forming apparatus equipped with an ink cartridge to enable mass printing, an ink cartridge during printing In order to make it impossible to remove the ink cartridge, an ink cartridge cover having a cover opening / closing sensor is proposed. In addition, an apparatus in which a sensor is not mounted on the cover of the ink cartridge has been proposed that has a function of detecting removal of the ink cartridge before the start of printing.
[0008]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133830 discloses that an ink tank is removed by detecting the presence or absence of an ink tank in an image forming apparatus including an ink cartridge including a recording head unit and an ink tank that can be attached to and detached from the recording head unit. Thus, an image forming apparatus has been proposed in which the apparatus can be easily checked to easily maintain the apparatus and prevent wasteful output of recording paper and loss of output data.
[0009]
In the technique of Patent Document 1, it is detected whether or not an ink tank is attached to the recording head unit via the recording head unit by an ink tank detection circuit. If the ink tank is not detected, the operation display unit removes the ink tank. By displaying the displayed information, it can be confirmed reliably that the ink tank has been removed.
[0010]
Further, the technique of Patent Document 2 makes it possible to replenish ink sequentially from the ink cartridge to each sub-tank mounted on the carriage while executing printing, so that ink can be stably supplied from each sub-tank to each recording head. And supply.
[0011]
In addition, a configuration in which pressurized air is applied to the ink cartridge and ink is sent out to the sub tank is employed. When the ink cartridge is pulled out from the cartridge holder, if the ink cartridge is pulled out darkly, the pressure air causes the ink cartridge to be removed It solves the problem of ink blowing out and contaminating the surrounding area.
[0012]
Further, when the ink cartridge is pulled out from the cartridge holder, the outer member is subjected to the action of pressurized air and becomes slightly expanded, so that it is difficult to pull out the ink cartridge from the cartridge holder. An ink jet recording mechanism that can avoid problems such as damage to both the ink cartridge and the cartridge holder, particularly when the ink cartridge is pulled out, by deforming the ink supply connection plug to which both are connected. Has been proposed.
[0013]
In the technique of Patent Document 2, a cover member that is opened when an ink cartridge is attached / detached is disposed in a cartridge holder in which an ink cartridge is detachably mounted, and an electric switch is opened as the cover member is opened. It is configured to be turned off. When the electrical switch is turned off, the opening / closing valve unit disposed in the air flow path from the air pressurizing pump to the ink cartridge is controlled to open, and the pressurization to the ink cartridge can be instantaneously eliminated.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-169122
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-212971 A
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 can be easily confirmed by the operator by displaying on the operation display section that the ink cartridge has been removed. However, printing is stopped and the ink cartridge is removed. Since printing is not resumed until it is installed, there has been a problem of reduced throughput when printing in large quantities for office or business use.
[0016]
Furthermore, the technique of the above-mentioned patent document 2 is in a half-finished state when the ink cartridge is removed while supplying ink to each sub tank mounted on the carriage from the ink cartridge, and when the power supply during supply is cut off. When the replenishment operation is completed, the user is forced to perform a complicated recovery operation, and there is a possibility that the user cannot recover when an appropriate operation is not performed.
[0017]
On the other hand, in order to make it impossible to remove the ink cartridge during printing, in an image forming apparatus equipped with a cover open / close sensor, the cost of the ink cartridge cover increases and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus increases, and the ink cartridge cover is simply opened. There was a problem that printing stopped.
[0018]
Also, in an image forming apparatus that does not have a sensor mounted on the ink cartridge cover, it is impossible to stop the ink cartridge during printing according to the printing characteristics of the image forming apparatus. There was a problem.
[0019]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus provided with a removable ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is removed, it is in the middle of a page being printed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a drive control program, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program is recorded, which can prevent waste of recording paper and loss of output data caused by stopping printing.
[0020]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for printing on a recording medium by causing a print head equipped with a sub tank to perform main scanning and sub scanning of the recording medium. A detachable ink cartridge is mounted on the main body, means for detecting attachment / detachment of the ink cartridge, means for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the sub tank via an ink supply path, and the ink cartridge is removed. And a means for switching whether to stop printing of the output image or to print and stop the page being printed.
[0021]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the switching is based on printing mode information.
[0022]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the printing mode information is a designation of image quality priority, the switching unit stops printing of the output image and speed priority. Is specified, printing is switched to print and stop the page being printed.
[0023]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the switching unit stops printing of the output image when the printing mode information is a paper type designation other than plain paper. When the plain paper type is specified, the page being printed is switched to be printed and stopped.
[0024]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the switching unit stops printing the output image depending on whether or not the remaining output image satisfies a set condition. Or switching between printing and stopping a printed page.
[0025]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, when the switching unit satisfies the conditions for setting the remaining output images, the printing mode information is stored in the image forming apparatus. Even when image quality priority or paper type other than plain paper is specified, the page being printed is switched to be printed and stopped.
[0026]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the set condition is an ink remaining amount capable of printing the remaining one page. .
[0027]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drive for an image forming apparatus having a computer that performs control for printing on a recording medium by causing a print head equipped with a sub tank to perform main scanning and sub scanning of the recording medium. A control program that detects attachment / detachment of a removable ink cartridge to the computer and takes into account the specified print quality, paper type, and printing progress when the ink cartridge is removed. Then, it is executed to switch between stopping printing of the output image or printing and stopping the page being printed.
[0028]
A ninth aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program according to the eighth aspect is recorded.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0030]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording mechanism showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of a mechanism portion of the image forming apparatus.
[0031]
The image forming apparatus includes a carriage that is movable in the main scanning direction inside the apparatus main body 1 and includes a recording head that includes an inkjet head mounted on the carriage, an ink cartridge that supplies ink to the recording head, and the like. A mechanism 2 or the like is housed, and a sheet feeding cassette (or a sheet feeding tray) 4 capable of stacking a large number of sheets 3 from the front side can be removably mounted on the lower part of the apparatus body 1. Further, the manual feed tray 5 for manually feeding the paper 3 can be opened, the paper 3 fed from the paper feed cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 5 is taken in, and a required image is obtained by the printing mechanism section 2. Is printed, and then discharged onto a discharge tray 6 mounted on the rear side.
[0032]
Further, the printing mechanism section 2 holds the carriage 13 slidably in the main scanning direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) with the main guide rod 11 horizontally mounted on the left and right side plates. A recording head 14 comprising an inkjet head having nozzles for discharging ink droplets of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (Bk) is mounted with the ink droplet discharge direction facing downward. Each sub tank 12 for supplying ink of each color to the recording head 14 is mounted on the upper side of the carriage 13.
Each sub tank 12 is connected to each replaceable ink cartridge (ink tank) 15 via an ink supply tube 16 and receives ink supplied from the ink cartridge 15.
[0033]
The carriage 13 is slidably fitted to the main guide rod 11 on the rear side (downstream side in the paper conveyance direction). In order to move and scan the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction, a timing belt 20 is stretched between a driving pulley 18 and a driven pulley 19 that are rotationally driven by a main scanning motor 17. It is fixed to.
[0034]
The recording head 14 may be one in which a plurality of heads that eject ink droplets of each color are arranged in the main scanning direction, or one that has a nozzle that ejects ink droplets of each color. But you can. Further, the ink jet head used as the recording head 14 is a piezo type that pressurizes ink through a diaphragm that forms a liquid chamber (ink flow path) wall surface with an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element, or a heating resistor. Bubble type that generates bubbles by film boiling or pressurizes ink, or pressurizes ink by displacing the diaphragm with an electrostatic force between the diaphragm that forms the wall surface of the ink flow path and the electrode facing it An electrostatic type or the like can be used, but in this embodiment, an electrostatic type ink jet head is used.
[0035]
On the other hand, in order to convey the paper 3 set in the paper feed cassette 4 to the lower side of the recording head 14, the paper feed roller 21 and the friction pad 22 for separating and feeding the paper 3 from the paper feed cassette 4 and the paper 3 are guided. The guide member 23 that performs the above operation, the transport roller 24 that transports the fed paper 3 in an inverted manner, the transport roller 25 that is pressed against the peripheral surface of the transport roller 24, and the feed angle of the paper 3 from the transport roller 24 are defined. A tip roller 26 is provided. The transport roller 24 is rotationally driven by a sub-scanning motor 27 through a gear train.
[0036]
An electrostatic conveyance belt 29 is provided to guide the sheet 3 fed from the conveyance roller 24 on the lower side of the recording head 14 corresponding to the movement range of the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction. The electrostatic conveyance belt 29 serves to attract the sheet 3 conveyed by being charged by the charger 30 and keep the sheet surface and the head surface in parallel. A paper discharge roller 33 for sending the paper 3 to the paper discharge tray 6 is disposed on the downstream side of the electrostatic conveyance belt 29 in the paper conveyance direction.
[0037]
Further, a reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 for maintaining and recovering the reliability of the recording head 14 is disposed on the right end side in the moving direction of the carriage 13. The carriage 13 is moved to the reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism 37 side during printing standby, and the recording head 14 is capped by a capping means or the like.
[0038]
Next, an example of a cross-sectional view of the position of the carriage constituting the printing mechanism portion of the image forming apparatus as viewed from the front will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is an explanatory diagram in which the carriage is in the capping state, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which the carriage is in the printing state.
[0039]
In FIG. 3, two recording heads 14-1 and 14-2 are mounted on the carriage 13, and the recording heads 14-2 and 14-1 have two nozzle rows 53 and 54 and nozzle rows 55 and 56, respectively. The ink is ejected from each nozzle row.
When the carriage 13 is in the capping position, the recording head 14-2 is covered with the suction / cap 51, and the recording head 14-1 is covered with the cap 52, moisturizing the head surface, and clogging of ink in the nozzle row occurs. Protected to be difficult.
[0040]
A paper detection sensor 57 is installed on the left side when viewed from the front of the carriage 13. The paper detection sensor 57 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of paper from the reflection of light.
The electrostatic conveyance belt 29 serves to convey the paper 3 while maintaining the flatness of the paper 3 by attracting the paper 3 by static electricity.
[0041]
Next, in FIG. 4, when the carriage 13 moves from the capping position in the main scanning direction, the ink ejected from each nozzle row 53, 54, 55, 56 adheres to the paper 3 and an image is formed on the paper. . At this carriage position, the paper detection sensor 57 detects the presence of paper. Further, when the carriage 13 moves from the capping position, the suction / cap 51 and the cap 52 are lowered from the cap position, and the movement of the carriage becomes free.
[0042]
Next, an example of the mounted state of the ink cartridge of this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a mounted state of the ink cartridge, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state where the ink cartridge is detached.
Ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 represent black, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink cartridges, respectively, and each ink cartridge includes switches 101, 102, 103, and 104. When the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 are mounted on the apparatus, the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are pressed. For example, when the black cartridge 15-1 is removed, the switch 101 is opened to detect that the black ink cartridge has been removed (see FIG. 6).
[0043]
Next, means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the ink cartridge of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0044]
One end of the switch 101 is connected to Vcc (power supply) via a resistor R1. Vcc is set to, for example, 5V or 3.3V.
The other end of the switch 101 is connected to GND via a resistor R2 and also serves as an output of a cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit (cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit) via a driver element 110.
The output signal of the cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit is obtained as a voltage output of a constant level of, for example, about 2.5 V when the switch 101 is pressed (closed), and is output as a ground level voltage when the switch 101 is opened. As obtained.
The switches 102, 103, and 104 have the same circuit configuration. In this circuit configuration, since the output signals indicating the pressed / released states of the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are independent of each other, the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 are attached and detached. Can be detected independently.
[0045]
Further, in the circuit configuration of FIG. 8, the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are connected in series, and one end thereof is connected to Vcc through the resistor R1, and the other end is connected to GND through the resistor R2. In addition to being connected, it becomes an output of the cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit via the driver element 110.
In this circuit configuration, when all of the switches 101, 102, 103, 104 are pressed (closed), the output signal of the cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit is obtained as a voltage output of a constant level of about 2.5V, for example. In the state where any one of the switches 101, 102, 103, 104 is opened, a ground level voltage output is obtained.
Accordingly, in this circuit configuration, the attachment / detachment states of the ink cartridges 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, and 15-4 cannot be detected independently, and all of them are attached or at least one of them. It is only possible to detect whether one has been removed.
[0046]
Next, means for detecting a state where the ink in the sub tank of the image forming apparatus is full and not full will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 9, the sub tank 12 is a view seen from the front of the apparatus. When the sub tank 12 is filled with the ink 154 nearly full, the light emitted from the light emitting part 151 of the full tank detection sensor (full tank detection part) 150 is absorbed by the ink color and the reflected light is reflected. Since the light is not incident on the light receiving unit 152, the full tank detection sensor 150 detects that the tank is full.
[0047]
In FIG. 10, when the sub tank 12 is not filled with the ink 154 nearly full, the light emitted from the light emitting part 151 of the full tank detection sensor 150 passes through the transparent part 155 of the sub tank, and then the sub tank 12. The light is reflected by the white portion 156 provided on the inner wall and is incident on the light receiving portion 152, and the full tank detection sensor 150 detects that it is not full.
[0048]
Next, an outline of a control unit in this image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
[0049]
The control unit includes a CPU unit (controller) 500, a RAM unit 501, an image memory unit 502, a clock unit 503, a parallel I / F unit 504, an operation unit 505, a full detection unit 506, a cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507, a non-volatile unit Memory unit 508, paper feed clutch driver 509, paper feed clutch 510, main scanning motor operation command unit 511, main scanning motor driver 512, main scanning motor 513, main scanning encoder unit 514, sub scanning motor operation command unit 515, sub scanning Motor driver 516, sub-scanning motor 517, expansion unit 518, image mask unit 519, head I / F unit 520, head unit 521, ink supply motor operation command unit 522, ink supply motor driver 523, ink supply motor 524, and internal It consists of a bus 525.
[0050]
CPU unit 500, RAM unit 501, image memory unit 502, clock unit 503, parallel I / F unit 504, operation unit 505, nonvolatile memory unit 508, paper feed clutch driver 509, main scanning motor operation command unit 511, sub-scanning The motor operation command unit 515, the expansion unit 518, and the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 are connected to the internal bus 525, and data and control commands are exchanged between these elements via the internal bus 525. Is called.
[0051]
The CPU unit 500 performs various control processes such as overall control of the image forming apparatus and control of each element. By giving commands to the sub-scanning motor operation command unit 515 and the paper feed clutch driver 509, the sub-scanning motor 517 and the paper feed clutch 510 are driven to feed paper from the paper feed cassette 4 and carry it.
[0052]
Further, by giving a command to the main scanning motor operation command section 511, the main scanning motor 513 is driven via the main scanning motor driver 512, and the carriage 13 is moved in the main scanning direction. At this time, the CPU section 500 can know the position of the carriage 13 by reading the output signal of the main scanning encoder section 514 via the main scanning motor operation command section 511.
[0053]
Further, the CPU unit 500 gives a command to the ink supply motor operation command unit 522 to drive the ink supply motor 524 via the ink supply motor driver 523, and from the ink cartridge 15 to the sub tank 12 via the ink supply tube 16. Supply ink to
[0054]
The non-volatile memory unit 508 stores various types of information unique to the image forming apparatus and various management tables, and the contents of these parameters are not lost due to accidental power-off, power-off for safety, or the like. Thus, it is backed up by a battery (not shown).
[0055]
The RAM unit 501 stores a control processing program executed by the CPU unit 500 and various data necessary for executing the control processing program, and constitutes a work area of the CPU unit 500.
[0056]
The image memory unit 502 stores image information to be printed.
The clock unit 503 outputs current time information.
The parallel I / F unit 504 has an interface function with the host side, and exchanges image information from the host side, information indicating a priority mode, and printing mode information indicating a paper type.
The operation unit 505 operates the image forming apparatus, and includes an operation panel including various operation keys and a display unit that displays various information.
[0057]
The cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 includes the above-described cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit that detects cartridge attachment / detachment, and sends an output signal of the cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 to the CPU unit 500.
The full tank detection unit 506 includes the above-described full tank detection sensor 150, and sends the output signal of the full tank detection unit 506 to the CPU unit 500.
[0058]
The decompression unit 518 decompresses the image information read from the image memory unit 502 from the compressed state, and further performs a process for determining whether or not to mask the image information with the image mask unit 519, via the head I / F unit 520. The paper is sent to the head unit 521 and printed on the paper 3.
Here, the expansion unit 518, the image mask unit 519, and the head I / F unit 520 are prepared for each nozzle row, and the data of each nozzle row can be processed in parallel. The head I / F unit 520 receives an output signal from the main scanning encoder unit 514, and sends image information to the head unit 521 in synchronization with the main scanning position of the carriage 13. Further, the CPU unit 500 can mask the output image at an arbitrary timing by giving a command to the image mask unit 519.
[0059]
The operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure when setting printer properties by the printer driver on the host side.
When the user performs printing, first, when the property setting of the printer driver on the host side is called, a dialog as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed.
When the “Basic” tab of this dialog is selected (YES in step S100), the user is informed of paper size (A4, A5, B4, postcard, etc.), paper type (paper type such as plain paper, special paper, cardboard, etc.). Is set (step S101).
When the “print quality” tab is selected (YES in step S110), the user sets information such as priority mode (speed priority, image quality priority, normal) information or image type (color image / monochrome image) information ( Step S111).
[0060]
When the “extension” tab is selected (YES in step S120), the user designates a condition for shifting to the stop mode when the state where the ink cartridge is removed is detected (step S121). For example, as shown in FIG.
・ Migrate automatically. Or
・ Transition when specified conditions are met.
[0061]
When “automatic shift” is selected, it is determined whether or not the print automatically shifts to the stop mode based on the item set in the printer properties.
On the other hand, when “Transfer when specified condition is satisfied” is selected, a condition for shifting to printing stop mode is specified.
As this condition, for example, even when A4 printing paper is specified, if the amount of print image data is only A5 paper and about 90% of the output has already been completed, the cartridge is removed. However, in order to force printing, it is conceivable to specify this output level as a percentage.
Alternatively, the conditions themselves may be set according to conditions set in advance on the image forming apparatus side without being set by the user.
[0062]
When “OK” is selected after the above various settings have been made (YES in step S130), the information input in the items set up to now is taken in (step S131). It is transmitted to the printer side together with instructions, image data, and the like.
[0063]
On the other hand, if “cancel” is selected (YES in step S140), the printer driver property setting is terminated (step S141) assuming that there is no information set so far.
[0064]
Next, processing when the cartridge is removed by the user will be described.
First, upon receiving print data and various setting conditions from the host side, the image forming apparatus stores the data in the RAM unit 501, and the cartridge is removed by the cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 507 while printing the received print data. When this is detected, information on the mounting state of the cartridge is stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 508, and the mode shifts to the ink remaining amount monitoring mode.
In this ink remaining amount monitoring mode, printing is stopped based on information previously specified as a printing property by the user, and a cartridge is waited for to be mounted.
[0065]
The processing procedure when it is detected that the cartridge has been removed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, with reference to the setting stored when the print request is received, it is checked whether printing can be stopped (step S200).
[0066]
The determination of whether or not to stop printing is performed as follows.
(1) If the print quality is specified with priority on image quality, printing is immediately stopped.
(2) If the print quality is specified with speed priority, the page being printed is stopped after printing.
(3) If the paper type is plain paper, the page being printed is stopped after printing.
(4) If the paper type is cardboard or special paper, printing is immediately stopped.
(5) If the stop condition is specified by the user, and if the specified condition is satisfied, the page being printed is stopped after printing. If this condition is not satisfied, printing is immediately stopped.
For example, if the output of about 90% of the print image data amount has already been completed, the page is printed.
Alternatively, it is possible to predict the amount of ink to be used when printing unprinted image data for one page being printed, and to determine the proportion of the remaining amount of ink when printing is stopped. In this case, instead of allowing the user to specify this ratio, it may be incorporated in the image forming apparatus in advance.
[0067]
Furthermore, the above (1) to (5) may be used in appropriate combination.
For example, even when the image priority of (1) is given and the stop condition is specified by the user as in (3), if the condition is satisfied, the page being printed is stopped after printing is completed. You may do it.
Also, when special paper or thick paper is specified as the paper as in (4), and when the stop condition is specified by the user as in (3), if the condition is satisfied The page being printed may be stopped after printing is completed.
[0068]
If the print stop condition is satisfied (YES in step S200), the ink cartridge is placed in a waiting state, and the CPU unit 500 sends a drive stop instruction to the main scanning motor operation command unit 511 to stop printing (step S201). ) A message prompting the user to attach the cartridge is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 505, and the fact that the cartridge has been removed is transmitted to the host side, and the process is terminated (step S203).
[0069]
On the other hand, if the print stop condition is not satisfied (NO in step S200), the ink cartridge is placed in a waiting state for attachment of the ink cartridge, and the CPU 500 instructs the main scanning motor operation command to stop after printing the page being printed. A drive instruction is sent to the unit 511 and the sub-scanning motor operation command unit 515 (step S202), a display for prompting the mounting of the cartridge is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 505, and that the cartridge has been removed to the host side. Then, the process ends (step S203).
[0070]
With the above configuration, when the ink cartridge is removed, it is possible to specify a stop operation corresponding to the printing characteristics of the apparatus. Therefore, waste of recording paper and output data caused by abandoning printing halfway Loss can be prevented, running costs can be reduced, and the reliability of the device can be greatly improved.
[0071]
Further, when the ink cartridge is removed, it is possible to designate a stop operation corresponding to the printing characteristics of the apparatus, so that the user's request can be dealt with in detail. Further, even if the ink cartridge is removed, printing can be continued and the throughput of the apparatus can be greatly improved.
[0072]
Furthermore, by displaying on the host side that the ink cartridge has been quickly removed, it can be confirmed that the ink cartridge has been removed reliably, and the image forming apparatus will be stopped for a long time. And the operating efficiency of the image forming apparatus can be greatly improved.
[0073]
According to the present invention, the functions of the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment are programmed, written in advance in a recording medium such as a ROM, and the ROM is mounted on the image forming apparatus and executed. It goes without saying that the objective is achieved.
In this case, the state read from the ROM and executed realizes the functions according to the above-described embodiment, and the program and the ROM storing the program also constitute the present invention.
[0074]
Note that a program that realizes the functions of the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiments includes a semiconductor medium (eg, ROM, nonvolatile memory, etc.), an optical medium (eg, DVD, MO, MD, CD, etc.), and a magnetic medium. (For example, a magnetic tape, a flexible disk, etc.) may be provided by a recording medium according to any form.
Or you may make it supply the program mentioned above stored in the memory | storage device via communication networks, such as a network, directly from a server computer.
[0075]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and corrections can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus including the detachable ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is removed in the printing mode, printing of the output image is stopped, Or, by specifying whether to stop printing after printing the page being printed, it is possible to continue the state where output is possible only by stopping the image forming device as much as possible, preventing wasteful output of recording paper and loss of output data, Along with the reduction of running cost, the throughput of the apparatus is greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording mechanism of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side explanatory view of a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in which a carriage is positioned in a capping state.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which a carriage is positioned in a printing state.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounted state of the ink cartridge.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where an ink cartridge is removed.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating an ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit (individual detection).
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an ink cartridge attachment / detachment detection circuit (detected as a whole).
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the ink in the sub tank detects a full tank.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when detecting when the ink in the sub tank is not full.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when setting printer driver properties on the host side;
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an “expansion” setting of “printer properties”;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when it is detected that a cartridge has been removed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body, 2 ... Printing mechanism part, 3 ... Paper, 4 ... Paper feed cassette, 5 ... Manual feed tray, 6 ... Discharge tray, 11 ... Main guide rod, 12 ... Sub tank, 13 ... Carriage, 14 ... Recording head , 15 ... ink cartridge, 16 ... ink supply tube, 17 ... main scanning motor, 18 ... driving pulley, 19 ... driven pulley, 20 ... timing belt, 21 ... paper feed roller, 22 ... friction pad, 23 ... guide member, 24 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Conveyance roller, 25 ... Conveyance roller, 26 ... End roller, 27 ... Sub-scanning motor, 29 ... Electrostatic conveyance belt, 30 ... Charger, 33 ... Discharge roller, 37 ... Reliability maintenance recovery mechanism, 51 ... Suction combined cap 52 ... Cap, 53, 54, 55, 56 ... Nozzle array, 57 ... Paper detection sensor, 101, 102, 103, 104 ... Switch, 150 ... Full tank Out sensor 151... Light emitting section 152. Light receiving section 154. Ink 155. Transparent section 156 White section 500. CPU section (controller) 501 RAM section 502 Image memory section 503 Clock section 504 ... Parallel I / F unit 505 ... Operation unit 506 ... Full detection unit 507 ... Cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit 508 ... Non-volatile memory unit 509 ... Feeding clutch driver 510 ... Feeding clutch 511 ... Main scanning motor operation command section, 512 ... main scanning motor driver, 513 ... main scanning motor, 514 ... main scanning encoder section, 515 ... sub scanning motor operation command section, 516 ... sub scanning motor driver, 517 ... sub scanning motor, 518 ... Extension part, 519 ... Image mask part, 520 ... Head I / F part, 521 ... Head part, 522 ... Ink supply motor operation command part 523 ... ink supply motor driver, 524 ... ink supply motor, 525 ... internal bus.

Claims (9)

In an image forming apparatus that prints on a recording medium by performing a main scanning and a sub-scanning of the recording medium with a sub-tank mounted printhead, a removable ink cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the ink cartridge can be attached and detached. Means for detecting, means for supplying ink from the ink cartridge to the sub-tank through an ink supply path, and printing of the output image is stopped when the ink cartridge is removed, or An image forming apparatus comprising: means for switching between printing and stopping a printed page. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching is based on printing mode information. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching unit stops printing of the output image when the printing mode information designates image quality priority, and when the speed priority is designated, the page being printed. Is switched to print and stop. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the printing mode information is a paper type designation other than plain paper, the switching unit stops printing the output image, and when the printing mode information is plain paper type designation. An image forming apparatus that switches to print and stop a page being printed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit stops printing the output image or prints the page being printed depending on whether or not the remaining output image satisfies a set condition. An image forming apparatus that switches whether to stop. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the remaining output image satisfies a set condition, the switching unit sets the print mode information for image type priority or a paper type other than plain paper. An image forming apparatus that switches to stop printing and printing a page being printed even if specified. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the set condition is an ink remaining amount capable of printing the remaining one page. A drive control program for an image forming apparatus having a computer for performing control for printing on a recording medium by causing a print head mounted with a sub tank to perform main scanning and sub scanning of the recording medium, Detects the attachment / detachment of a detachable ink cartridge, and when the ink cartridge is removed, stops printing the output image in consideration of the specified print quality, paper type, printing progress, etc. Or a drive control program that is executed to switch between printing and stopping a page being printed. A computer-readable recording medium on which the drive control program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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