JP2005049471A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain improvement in the reduction of a running cost or the like by continuously performing image forming even in the case exhaustion of toner arises in the middle of color image forming. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus which forms the image on paper on the basis of printing data is provided with multiple colors of colorants which are to be stuck on the paper and a controlling means by which printing is continuously performed as monochromatic printing by selecting one colorant among multiple colors of the colorants excluding a colorant running short in the case that the colorant runs short during printing using at least the one colorant among the multiple colors of the colorants. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a so-called multifunction machine having these functions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image forming apparatus capable of forming a color image on paper or the like is known. This image forming apparatus uses four colorants of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K (black) (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “CMYK”). Various colors can be expressed by appropriately superimposing these on paper or the like.
[0003]
By the way, when it is intended to form a color image with such an image forming apparatus, it is necessary that the amounts of all four colorants are sufficiently present as described above. Therefore, if there is a colorant that is insufficient in one of these four colors, normal color image formation can no longer be continued, and the image forming operation has been stopped. In this case, in conjunction with this stoppage, a message prompting the user how many colorants have run out and replenishment of the colorants (generally called “toner replacement”). It is usual to have a configuration that can be presented. Also, as an image forming apparatus that continues to form a color image even when a certain colorant is used up, there is an apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-293911 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems. That is, as described above, when one of the four colorants is used up during the execution of color image formation, a message prompting the user to replenish the colorant is presented to the user. The color image formation is stopped. In this case, if the user promptly replenishes the colorant, the color image formation is immediately resumed. However, as long as such replenishment is not performed, the image forming apparatus is stopped. Will remain. However, the user may not be able to quickly replenish this colorant. As a result, the image forming apparatus remains stopped indefinitely, which may cause trouble for other users, and affects the running cost of the apparatus.
[0006]
In this regard, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, even if a certain colorant is used up by performing the colorant substitution process, color image formation can be continued. That is, this method intends to realize a color image (color image originally intended to be formed) that can no longer be realized completely. However, the original color image can no longer be expressed after the colorant that should be originally used has been used up, so even if the colorant substitution process is performed, the final image is formed. There is no denying that the image quality is degraded.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even when a colorant deficiency occurs during color image formation, it is possible to continue image formation and improve running costs and the like. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on image forming data, and includes a plurality of colorants for adhering to the sheet. When the colorant is deficient during execution of image formation using at least one colorant among the colorants of the plurality of colors, the colorant other than the colorant is excluded from the colorants of the plurality of colors. Control means for selecting one of the colorants and continuing the image formation as monochromatic image formation.
[0009]
According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, first, an image can be formed on a sheet based on the image forming data. Here, “image formation data” is created based on “image information”, and this “image information” refers to, for example, an image on a document surface read from a scanner unit that can be attached to the image forming apparatus, Alternatively, it refers to information necessary to construct an image transmitted from a user terminal such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus. The image formation data is obtained by processing such image information into a form suitable for use in image formation in the image forming apparatus. The “image” includes all forms such as documents and drawings.
[0010]
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in particular, when there are a plurality of colorants, and when a certain colorant is deficient during image formation, other colorants other than the colorants are removed. After one colorant is selected from among the colorants, a monochromatic image is formed using the selected colorant. For example, when “image formation is in progress” means “color image formation is in progress” using four colors of CMYK, when C deficiency occurs in the four colors, the “content” of the image "Is the same, but the image formation of" monotone "expression by any one of the remaining M, Y, and K is not performed instead of" color "expression.
Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the colorant deficiency occurs during the image formation, the image forming operation is not stopped for a long time. The running cost of the apparatus can be improved.
[0011]
In addition, according to the present invention, since the color image formation is given up and the monochromatic image formation is performed, the configuration can be simplified. By the way, even if such a measure is taken, for example, color image formation in which a lack of colorant has occurred may have been intended to perform “trial printing” in the first place. Even if it is switched, there are many cases where it is practically sufficient.
[0012]
The “deficiency” in the present invention naturally includes the case where the colorant has been completely used up, and also includes the case where a certain colorant has been used up to a predetermined amount or less. It is.
[0013]
In addition, the term “paper” in the present invention does not mean only a piece of paper made of pulp or the like, but a medium that can form an image by attaching a colorant such as an OHP sheet. Including.
[0014]
Such an operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes a printer unit 1, a storage device 3, a fax interface (hereinafter referred to as “FAX I / F”) 4, a network I / F 5, a scanner unit 6, and a display / operation unit 7. ing.
[0017]
Among these, the printer unit 1 processes a print job set based on image information sent from a personal computer or read by the scanner unit 6 and further received by the FAX I / F 4. To do. Note that the processing of a print job mainly means printing characters / drawings based on the image information on paper or the like accumulated in advance in the image forming apparatus.
[0018]
More specifically, the printer unit 1 includes a control unit 11, a command processing unit 12, a mode conversion control unit 13, a data conversion processing unit 14, a toner remaining amount check unit 15, and an engine unit 16. Of these, the command processing unit 12 issues a print start command based on a print request issued by the user, and operates such as a photosensitive drum controlled by the engine unit 16 or the like, a transport mechanism unit (both not shown), and the like. Determine the basics.
[0019]
As will be described later, the mode conversion control unit 13 performs control related to whether or not to continue monochromatic printing when toner runs out during color printing or monochromatic printing. The “mode” includes at least two types of color printing mode and single color printing mode. The data conversion processing unit 14 creates print data based on the image information captured in the image forming apparatus as described above. As the print data, in the present embodiment, there are at least two kinds of color print data and single color print data. Further, in the data conversion processing unit 14 in the present embodiment, in particular, in response to an instruction from the mode conversion control unit 13, data conversion such as color print data to single color print data is performed (that is, from the color print mode to the single color). It is also possible to shift to the print mode (see step S18 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 described later).
[0020]
The toner remaining amount check unit 15 checks the remaining amounts of the four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). This check result is provided to the mode conversion control unit 13 or the engine unit 16 as shown in the figure. In the figure, the remaining amount of CMYK toner is visually represented.
[0021]
The engine unit 16 controls the operation of the above-described photosensitive drum, transport mechanism unit, and the like, for example, generates a specific image (latent image) to be formed on a sheet of paper on the photosensitive drum based on the print data. And so on.
[0022]
On the other hand, the storage device 3 stores a print job to be executed or being executed, a print job in which an error has occurred, and the like. The FAX I / F 4 is connected to a device outside the network (not shown) via a telephone line, and transmits and receives image information using a FAX function. The network I / F 5 is connected to the network and transmits and receives data within the network. For example, image information sent from the personal computer is taken into the image forming apparatus via the network I / F 5. The scanner unit 6 includes a platen, a light source unit, a CCD camera, and the like (not shown), and scans a document surface placed on the platen to read image information.
[0023]
The display / operation unit 7 is a user interface for the user to send various commands to the image forming apparatus or to notify the user of a print result or the like executed by the image forming apparatus. . Specifically, the display / operation unit 7 can be configured to include, for example, a touch panel device.
[0024]
The image forming apparatus having such a configuration is operated as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example, and as a result, the following effects can be obtained. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of image forming processing according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of more detailed processing constituting the processing in step S18 of FIG. It is.
[0025]
First, the image forming apparatus reads image information sent from a personal computer connected to the network I / F 5, image information sent from a facsimile machine connected to the FAX I / F 4, or read by the scanner unit 6. Color print data is created based on image information and the like (step S10 in FIG. 2), and color printing is executed based on the color print data (step S14 in FIG. 2).
[0026]
At this time, while color printing is being performed, the toner remaining amount check unit 15 always checks the remaining amount of toner of all CMYK and monitors whether toner out of any of CMYK occurs (see FIG. 2 step S12). If no toner runs out, color printing continues as it is until printing is performed for all of the color print data (step S12 in FIG. 2; loop consisting of NO and step S14 in FIG. 2). ).
[0027]
On the other hand, if toner out occurs for any of CMYK, the process proceeds to the next process (step S12 in FIG. 2; YES). In the following description, it is assumed that the M (magenta) toner is used up (see FIG. 1).
[0028]
When the toner runs out, first, the color print data is stored in the storage device 3 (step S16 in FIG. 2). Here, in step S16, in addition to the color print data storage process, a process of storing the state of execution of the color printing at the time when the M toner is insufficient may be included. Here, the “color printing execution status” specifically refers to, for example, the time when the M (magenta) toner is deficient and how far the color printing has been executed (for example, the total number of pages to be printed is “30”). Color printing has been performed up to “15”, etc.), the date and time at the time (for example, “May 12, 2003, 15:00”, etc.), the job name and data name related to the color printing. Or a file name (for example, “Making a request for approval”), a person (for example, “IP address”) that brought about the image information that is the basis of the color printing, and the like.
[0029]
In this way, after saving the so-called “current state” at the time of occurrence of toner exhaustion, the process then proceeds to the “toner exhaustion process” more seriously (step S18 in FIG. 2). The “toner out process” is specifically performed as shown in FIG. 3, for example.
[0030]
First, a toner exhaustion signal is sent from the toner remaining amount check unit 15 to the engine unit 16 (step S181 in FIG. 3). In response to this, the engine unit 16 stops the color printing and notifies the mode conversion control unit 13 that the toner has run out (step S182 in FIG. 3). In response to this, the mode conversion control unit 13 inquires of the toner remaining amount check unit 15 about the remaining amount of toner, that is, a color other than M (magenta), and makes a command processing unit 12. Is inquired about the remaining print page amount (step S183 in FIG. 3). Accordingly, the mode conversion control unit 13 receives the remaining toner amount for CYK from the remaining toner amount check unit 15 and the remaining page amount from the command processing unit 12.
[0031]
Here, the possibility of printing is determined from the remaining toner amount and the remaining page amount for CYK that the mode conversion control unit 13 knows (step S184 in FIG. 3). That is, for printing all the remaining pages, if there is a sufficient amount of toner remaining for any one of CYK, it is “printable”, otherwise it is “printable”. .
[0032]
First, when it is determined that printing is possible, the mode conversion control unit 13 notifies the control unit 11 to that effect (step S1801 in FIG. 3). Upon receiving the signal, the control unit 11 displays “processing options” on the display / operation unit 7 and requests an appropriate operation from the user (step S1802 in FIG. 3). Here, the “processing options” are specifically as follows, for example. That is, first, whether to replace the toner, second, whether to switch from color printing to monochromatic printing, and third, whether to continue printing by monochromatic printing, even if the monochromatic printing is continued. In what color toner is used, the toner can be used. More specifically, the display / operation unit 7 may display, for example, “Please replace the toner. If you want to continue monochrome printing, press the start button.” According to this, if the user does not perform any command transmission operation and moves to physical toner replacement work, it means that the first option is selected, and if the start button is operated, monochrome printing is selected. You can see that it was done. Note that the color selection in the single color printing is performed by, for example, displaying a message on the display / operation unit 7 following the pressing of the start button so that the user can make an appropriate selection, or the image forming apparatus side. The color to be used automatically may be selected in step 1, and the single color printing may be immediately executed.
[0033]
As described above, in step S1802 in FIG. 3, the processing to be performed on the image forming apparatus side varies depending on the content of the processing selected by the user (see the broken line in FIG. 3). For the sake of convenience, it is assumed that the user selects “monochrome printing” in step S1802, and the processing described in step S1802 and subsequent steps in FIG. (Omitted).
[0034]
Upon receiving an instruction to switch to monochrome printing from the user, the control unit 11 transmits the instruction to the mode conversion control unit 13 (step S1803 in FIG. 3). Further, at this time, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment automatically determines the color of the toner to be used in the monochrome printing (step S1804 in FIG. 3). Specifically, based on the toner remaining amount value confirmed in step S183, it may be configured such that the toner remaining value is selected from among CYK, except for M that has run out of toner. According to this, toner consumption without unevenness can be realized. Incidentally, taking the remaining amount of toner visually shown in FIG. 1 as an example, in this case, K (black) is selected as the color of the toner to be used for monochrome printing. In the above description, a toner having a large amount of remaining toner is selected. However, in some cases, it is a precondition that there is a sufficient amount of toner remaining unconditionally (however, the amount of remaining toner is sufficient).
), K (black) toner may be selected. According to this, it is possible to perform image formation with the highest visibility (for example, it is relatively difficult to see an image consisting only of Y (yellow)), and the economy is also excellent (in general, (K (black) toner is relatively cheap.)
[0035]
Next, the mode conversion control unit 13 instructs the command processing unit 12 to recreate the binarized image data in the color determined as described above (step S1805 in FIG. 3). Then, the data conversion processing unit 14 performs a process of converting the original color print data into single color print data by the beginning of the command processing unit 12 that has received this instruction (that is, issuance of a print command) (FIG. 3). Step S1806). Through the above processing, the monochrome print data acquired as described above is sent to the engine unit 16 to actually execute monochrome printing (step S20 in FIG. 2).
[0036]
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1801 that printing is not possible, the mode conversion control unit 13 notifies the control unit 11 (step S1810 in FIG. 3), and the control unit 11 requests for toner replacement. Only to the display / operation unit 7 (step S1820 in FIG. 3), and thereafter waits for the user's physical treatment (that is, toner replacement work) (returns to immediately before step S22 in FIG. 2).
[0037]
First, by performing the processing as described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment can obtain the following effects. That is, even if a certain color of toner is used up during color printing, the image forming operation does not stop for a long time. The running cost can be improved.
[0038]
In the above-described processing, when determining the printability, it is determined that printing is possible when “there is sufficient toner remaining for any one of CYK” (steps S184 and S184 in FIG. 3). In the present invention, instead of this, the remaining amount of K (black) toner may be preferentially determined, and the printability may be determined. Such a form is most suitable when the mode in which K (black) is automatically selected in the determination of the color to be used for monochromatic printing in step S1804 is adopted. As can be seen from this, the printability determination process and the process for determining the color to be used in monochrome printing are closely related.
[0039]
Further, in the above description, a configuration has been adopted that first gives the user an initiative (see step S1802 in FIG. 3) as to whether or not to shift to single color printing when toner runs out. It is not limited to such a form. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the printer automatically shifts from color printing to single color printing without saying whether or not toner has run out.
[0040]
In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the following processing is executed following the above processing. That is, as described above, when the monochrome printing is finished (step S20 in FIG. 2) or when it is determined that printing is not possible (see the flow from step S1801 to step S1820 in FIG. 3). First, the image forming apparatus waits for the user to replace the exhausted color toner (loop related to step S22 in FIG. 2).
[0041]
If the toner is replenished here, the user selects color print data (step S24 in FIG. 2). Here, “selection of color print data” is as follows.
[0042]
First, in step S22, until the toner is replenished, another user who has issued a color printing execution command and has received an image formation stop due to running out of toner may appear. Even if the toner is replenished, there may be a user who has received a stop of image formation due to newly generated toner exhaustion. Here, in fact, the processing from step S22 to step S26 in FIG. 2 tries to realize color printing again by reusing color printing data that could not be completed due to running out of toner. Although there is a main point, it can be easily assumed that such reuse of color print data becomes difficult due to the existence of a plurality of persons who have been stopped.
[0043]
Here, in the present embodiment, in addition to storing color print data in which toner runs out in the middle of printing, the “print execution status” can also be stored in advance (FIG. 2). Step S16). Therefore, “selection of color print data” means, for example, presenting the stored color print data itself to the user, or presenting all or part of the data representing the execution status of the printing to the user. Can be done on the basis of that. According to this, even if there are a plurality of users who could not complete color printing as described above, it is possible to easily select their own color print data from among them. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, information about the time when toner has run out and how far color printing has been performed (right side in the figure) and the date and time (left side in the figure) at that time are displayed on the display / operation unit 7. Then, it is possible to easily identify the color print data that the user himself has suffered a stop.
[0044]
When the user selects appropriate color print data, color printing based on the color print data is executed (step S26 in FIG. 2). Naturally, this color printing is executed based on what is stored in the storage device 3.
[0045]
By executing such processing, even if toner runs out and color printing has to be stopped unavoidably, when the toner is replenished, it is based on the color printing data again. Color printing can be performed. This is none other than the fact that the color print data is stored in step S16 in FIG. 2 (when switching from color printing to single color printing is performed, as described in step S1806 in FIG. 3). Since the color print data has been converted to single color print data, the “original” color print data has already been lost. Since the print data is stored, color printing can be executed again as described above.
[0046]
In addition, when performing this new color printing, various things can be considered as a mode of this color printing. For example, in step S16 in FIG. 2, as described above, in addition to the color print data, if information regarding the color print data at the time of toner outage and how far the color print has been performed is also recorded, it is executed again. In color printing, it is possible to determine where and how many portions (or pages) are not printed based on the information. Then, it is understood that it is sufficient to perform color printing to be executed again only for that portion. For example, in FIG. 4, the one corresponding to the first row shows that “out of toner occurred on the 14th sheet when 58 color printing was originally scheduled to be performed”. In such a case, color printing need only be executed for the remaining 44 sheets. According to such a form, the newly replenished toner is not consumed wastefully, no extra time is required, and paper is not used wastefully.・ Economic efficiency can be realized.
[0047]
In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the toner runs out during color printing. However, the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, if single color printing has been executed from the beginning, but the toner of the color used in the single color printing has been used up, This way of thinking can be used to continue printing. Specifically, for example, at first, monochromatic printing with K (black) was performed, but if the K (black) toner is used up during printing, the remaining CMY toner remains. This means that printing can be continued by using toner of any one of these colors. In this case, in the above description, “binarized image data” may be read as simply “image data”.
[0048]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and an image forming apparatus with such a change. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to continue the image formation even when the colorant deficiency occurs during the color image formation, and to improve the running cost and the like. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of image forming processing according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a more detailed processing flow that constitutes the processing in step S18 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of information (right side in the figure) regarding how far color printing has been performed at the time of occurrence of toner out and the date and time (left side in the figure) at the time.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer part 11 ... Control part 12 ... Command conversion processing part 13 ... Mode conversion control part 14 ... Data conversion processing part 15 ... Toner remaining amount check part 16 ... Engine part 3 ... Storage device 4 ... FAX I / F
5 ... Network I / F
6: Scanner unit 7: Display / operation unit

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on image formation data,
A plurality of colorants to be deposited on the paper;
Among the other colorants excluding the colorant among the colorants of the plurality of colors when the colorant is deficient during execution of image formation using at least one colorant of the colorants of the plurality of colors An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that selects the one colorant and continues the image formation as a single-color image formation. Execution of the image formation includes execution of color image formation using two or more colorants among the colorants of the plurality of colors, and the image formation data includes color image formation data,
Storage means for storing the color image formation data when the colorant is deficient;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data conversion processing unit that converts the color image formation data into single-color image formation data. In addition to the color image formation data, the storage means
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a state of execution of the image formation when the colorant is deficient is stored. Execution of the image formation includes execution of color image formation using two or more colorants among the colorants of the plurality of colors,
The control means includes
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein black is selected from the plurality of colorants to form the single color image. 5. A colorant remaining amount check unit for checking the remaining amount of each of the colorants of the plurality of colors;
The control means includes
The single color image formation is performed by selecting a colorant that is determined to have the largest remaining amount from the plurality of colorants according to a check result of the remaining amount checker. Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the image formation includes execution of single color printing using only one colorant among the colorants of the plurality of colors. . The control means includes
2. When the colorant deficiency occurs during execution of the image formation, the user is notified of the fact and the user is prompted to select whether or not to perform the monochrome image formation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images