JP2005145624A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of forming an image on the same kind of sheets, even when different kinds of sheets are stored in a plurality of sheet storing means. <P>SOLUTION: Sheet feeding portions 110 to 112 equipped with the sheet storing means A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3 are additionally provided on a device main body 410, and the plurality of sheet storing means A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3 are provided. The plurality of sheet storing means A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3 are arbitrarily selected and divided into groups. When sheets stored in the predetermined sheet storing means divided into the groups run short, the sheet storing means is switched to another sheet storing means in the same group, thereby feeding the sheets to the device main body 410. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus in which a sheet feeding unit is added to an apparatus main body and a plurality of sheet storage units for storing sheets are provided.

  In recent years, the POD (Print On Demand) market is rapidly expanding, and due to the rapid expansion of the POD market, in the image forming apparatus, the capacity of the sheet storage unit that stores sheets to be fed to the image forming unit is increased. It is strongly desired. Therefore, in order to increase the capacity of such a sheet storage unit, for example, a sheet feeding unit including a sheet cassette as a sheet storage unit is added to the image forming apparatus main body, and a plurality of sheet cassettes are provided. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in such an image forming apparatus having a conventional sheet feeding unit, when there are no sheets in the job, the size information of the sheets stored in the sheet cassette, plain paper, recycled paper, cardboard, Based on two types of information (hereinafter referred to as material information) relating to the type of sheet such as OHP and special paper, the paper cassette is automatically switched to another paper feed cassette by auto cassette change (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, an image forming apparatus in which three sheet feeding units 1110 to 1112 each having three sheet feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 are added to the image forming apparatus main body 1001. 1000, when A4 size plain paper is set in the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3 and the paper feed cassettes B1 and C1, and A4 size recycled paper is set in the remaining paper feed cassettes, the size information and material information are used. The sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassettes A1 to A3 and the sheet feeding cassettes B1 and C1 are determined as the same sheet.

  When a large amount of A4 size jobs are performed on plain paper, for example, first, a sheet (plain paper) is fed from the paper feed cassette A1 closest to the image forming apparatus main body 1001, and the sheet is fed to the paper feed cassette A1. When there is no longer any paper, the paper feed cassette is switched to the paper feed cassette A2 by auto cassette change to feed paper. After that, when there are no more sheets in the sheet cassette A2, the sheet cassette is next switched to the sheet cassette A3 by auto cassette change, and thereafter, the sheet cassette is sequentially switched. .

Special table 2001-506212 gazette JP-A-5-92831

  By the way, in the POD market etc., there are cases where the user brings various types of plain paper in addition to the plain paper specified by the manufacturer, for example. In such a case, the plain paper brought by the user (hereinafter referred to as the user's plain paper) Are arbitrarily stored in paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the paper is stored in a paper feed cassette A2, a paper feed cassette B1, and a paper feed cassette C1.

  However, in an image forming apparatus that adds a conventional sheet feeding unit and separates plain paper and recycled paper based on material information, the manufacturer-designated plain paper and user-provided plain paper are judged to be the same plain paper. End up. In other words, the material information cannot distinguish between the user-provided plain paper stored in the paper feed cassettes A2, B1, and C1 and the manufacturer-designated plain paper.

  For this reason, as described above, in the same job, when the paper cassette is sequentially selected in the order of the paper cassette A1, the paper cassette A2, and the paper cassette A3 by auto cassette change, different types of sheets (manufacturers) There is a problem in that an image is formed on a designated plain paper and a plain paper brought in by a user and a product having a different quality is produced.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and forms images on the same type of sheets even when different types of sheets are stored in a plurality of paper feed cassettes (sheet storage means). An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  According to the present invention, when a sheet feeding unit having a sheet storage unit is added to the apparatus main body to provide a plurality of the sheet storage units, and no sheets are stored in a predetermined sheet storage unit among the plurality of sheet storage units. In the image forming apparatus in which the sheet is fed to the apparatus main body by switching to another sheet storage unit, the plurality of sheet storage units are arbitrarily selected and grouped, and the grouped predetermined sheets When there is no sheet stored in the storage unit, the sheet is switched to another sheet storage unit in the same group and the sheet is fed to the apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of sheet storage means are grouped, and there is no sheet stored in the predetermined grouped sheet storage means, the sheet is switched to another sheet storage means in the same group and the sheet is placed in the apparatus main body. By feeding, images can be formed on the same type of sheet. Thereby, the product of the same quality can be obtained.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus having an additional sheet feeding unit according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 400 denotes a printer. The printer 400 includes a printer main body 410, a scanner 407 arranged above the printer main body 410, and a plurality of the present embodiments attached (added) to the printer main body 410. In this embodiment, the sheet feeding unit 110 includes three sheet feeding units 110 to 112.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the scanner 407 for reading a document uses a document feeder (DF) 302 to emit light from light sources 303 and 304 such as halogen lamps or fluorescent lamps that illuminate the document. It includes a carriage 314 provided with reflectors 305 and 306 and a mirror 307 that collects light on a document (not shown) placed on a glass plate 301, and a carriage 315 provided with mirrors 308 and 309, and an original image Is read, the entire surface of the document is scanned by moving the carriage 314 in the direction of the arrow at a speed V and the carriage 315 in the direction of the arrow V / 2 while the light sources 303 and 304 are turned on.

  The light scanned on the document in this manner is reflected by the mirrors 307 to 309 and then focused on the CCD 316 by the lens 310. Thereafter, the document image read by the CCD 316 is converted into an electrical signal by the image processing unit 312. It is converted and transmitted to the exposure means described later.

  In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an operation unit provided on the upper surface of the printer main body 410, 311 denotes a substrate on which a CCD 316 is mounted, and 313 denotes an interface (I / F) unit with another IPU or the like. In the present embodiment, the document feeder (DF) 302 is provided, but a mirror pressure plate may be mounted instead of the document feeder 302.

  The printer main body 410 includes an image forming unit 411 that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet conveying device 412 that conveys a sheet fed from the sheet feeding units 110 to 112 to the image forming unit 411, and a sheet formed on the sheet. And a fixing unit 334 for fixing the printed image.

  Here, the image forming unit 411 rotates in the rotation direction around the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 which are image bearing members that carry toner images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. , And charging means 321, 324, 327, and 330 that uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum, and irradiate a laser beam based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. Image forming units 317 to 320 each having exposure means 210 to 213 configured by LED arrays and developing means 322, 325, 328, and 331 for developing toner images by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image. It is comprised by.

  The developing units 322, 325, 328, and 331 are adjacent to toner storage portions 322a, 325a, 328a, and 331a that store toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, and are not shown. It comprises sleeves 345 to 348 and the like that are driven to rotate by a portion and perform development by applying a developing bias voltage from a developing bias power source (not shown).

  Further, inside the transfer conveyance belt 333 which is an endless sheet conveyance member for conveying a sheet to be described later, transfer rollers 323, 326, 329, which sandwich the transfer conveyance belt 333 together with the four photosensitive drums 342 to 345, 332 are provided together.

  Here, the transfer rollers 323, 326, 329, 332 are connected to a transfer bias power source (not shown), and transfer bias is applied to the sheet from the transfer rollers 323, 326, 329, 332 via the transfer conveyance belt 333. It has come to be. By applying the transfer bias in this way, the color toner images on the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 are sequentially transferred onto the sheet conveyed while being in contact with the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 by the transfer conveying belt 333. A multicolor image is formed.

  The sheet conveying device 412 is a driving roller 348a, driven rollers 348b to 348d, and is stretched and supported by these rollers 348a to 348d, and is disposed as a sheet carrier disposed so as to face all the photosensitive drums 342 to 345. The transfer conveyance belt 333 is provided. Here, the transfer conveying belt 333 electrostatically attracts the sheet to the outer peripheral surface facing the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 and circulates and moves by the driving roller 348a so that the sheet contacts the photosensitive drums 342 to 345. It is like that. Then, the sheet is conveyed to a transfer position corresponding to each of the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 by being electrostatically attracted to the transfer conveying belt 333 that circulates in this manner, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred. .

  Note that the suction charger 346 is a pair of the suction charger 346 and the driven roller 348 d that charges the sheet and causes the transfer conveyance belt 333 to suck the sheet. Reference numeral 347 denotes a leading edge detection sensor that detects the leading edge of the sheet on the transfer conveyance belt 333. A detection signal of the leading edge detection sensor 347 is sent to the scanner 407, and the image forming unit 411 (the exposure unit 210 of the image forming unit 411). To 213) is used as a sub-scanning synchronization signal when YMCK electrical signals (video signals) are sent. Reference numeral 350 denotes a peeling charger that prevents image disturbance due to peeling discharge when the sheet is separated from the transfer conveyance belt 333.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding units 110 to 112 include sheet feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 that store sheets. In the present embodiment, the sheet feeding units 110 to 112 have the same structure and are detachably connected. Accordingly, sheets can be arbitrarily stored in any of the sheet feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3. In the present embodiment, the description is made with the configuration in which three sheet feeding units are connected. However, the number of sheet feeding units can be increased or decreased, and the mounting order can be changed as necessary. Is possible. Note that reference numerals 336 and 337 shown in FIG. 2 denote registration roller pairs that convey the sheet fed from the sheet feeding units 110 to 112 in synchronization with the image forming operation.

  Next, an image forming operation of the printer 400 configured as described above will be described.

  First, in the scanner 407, while the light sources 303 and 304 are turned on, the carriages 314 and 315 are moved in the direction of the arrow to scan the entire surface of the document. The light scanned on the original in this way is reflected by the mirrors 307 to 309 and then focused on the CCD 316 by the lens 310. Thereafter, the original image read by the CCD 316 is converted into an YMCK electrical image by the image processing unit 312. It is converted into a signal and transmitted to the exposure means 210-213.

  At this time, the YMCK image signal generated by the image processing unit 312 has a distance between the leading edge detection sensor 347 and the image forming units 317 to 320 by delay processing based on the sheet leading edge detection signal from the leading edge detection sensor 347, respectively. By adjusting the difference, it is transmitted to the exposure means 210-213 at a predetermined timing.

  Next, a predetermined timing is applied to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 uniformly charged by the charging units 321, 324, 327, and 330 from the exposure units 210 to 213 according to a detection signal from the tip detection sensor 347. When the laser beam corresponding to the image information is sequentially scanned, a latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the latent image is further developed by the developing means 322, 325, 328, 331, thereby the photosensitive drum. Four color toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan and black are formed on the surface.

  On the other hand, the sheets stored in the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 in parallel with the toner image forming operation are conveyed by the registration roller pairs 336 and 337 in synchronization with the image forming operation. The Thereafter, the toner is charged by the adsorption charger 346 and is attracted to the transfer conveyance belt 333, and is conveyed by the transfer conveyance belt 333 to the respective transfer portions where the photosensitive drums 342 to 345 and the transfer conveyance belt 333 are in pressure contact with each other. The

  Next, with respect to the sheet conveyed to the transfer unit in this manner, the photosensitive drums 342 to 322 are arranged by the action of the transfer rollers 323, 326, 329, and 332 that are arranged in each transfer unit and to which a voltage having a reverse polarity to the toner is applied. Each color toner image on 345 is sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the sheet. Then, the sheet on which the four color toner images are transferred in this manner is discharged by the charge removing charger 349 and then separated from the transfer conveyance belt 333. Thereafter, the toner adsorption force is compensated to prevent image distortion. For this purpose, the toner is charged by the pre-fixing charger 352 and then conveyed to the fixing unit 334.

  The fixing unit 334 is heated and pressed to fix the unfixed toner image on the sheet as a full-color permanent image. Thereafter, the sheet on which the unfixed toner image is fixed as a full-color permanent image is discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 335. The residual toner that could not be transferred is collected in the cleaner unit 360 by the cleaner blade 361.

  By the way, as described above, in the POD market, for example, there are cases where plain paper brought in by the user is stored in the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 in addition to the manufacturer-designated plain paper. When a paper cassette that has disappeared is switched to another paper cassette by auto cassette change, images may be formed on different types of sheets, and products of different quality may be produced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user can arbitrarily group the paper feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3, and thereby the paper feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B1. Even when different types of sheets are stored in B3, C1 to C3, the same type of sheet can be fed to the image forming unit 411, and an image can be formed on the same type of sheet.

  Next, the grouping operation of the sheet feeding cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  For example, if manufacturer-designated plain paper and user-provided plain paper are stored in the paper feed cassette as A4 size sheets, the control unit (not shown) first feeds paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1. In order to group .about.C3, a grouping key 102 is displayed on the display unit 101 in the operation unit 100 as shown in FIG.

  Next, when the grouping key 102 is pressed by the user, the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3 are displayed (S101) as shown in FIG. Selection instructions for A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 are displayed. Then, the user selects a paper feed cassette by pressing a selection key 104 which is a selection unit corresponding to the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 in accordance with this display.

  For example, when A4 size plain paper brought in by the user is set in the paper feed cassettes A2, B1, and C1 as shown in FIG. 1, the user feeds the paper feed cassettes A2 and A2, as shown in FIG. By pressing a selection key 104 corresponding to B1 and C1, paper cassettes A2, B1, and C1 are selected, and when selection is completed, an OK key 103 is pressed. If the grouping is not selected, for example, if the OK key 103 or the selection key 104 is not pressed even after a predetermined period of time, the process ends and a normal job is performed.

  In this embodiment, since at least two or more sheet cassettes are grouped, when the sheet cassettes are grouped, the first sheet cassette to be grouped is selected. If this is done (Y in S102), then it is determined whether or not the second paper feed cassette has been selected (S103).

  Then, the paper cassettes A2, B1, and C1 are selected via the selection key 104, that is, at least two paper cassettes are selected (Y in S103). After that, when the user presses the OK key 103, the selection is made. The paper feed cassettes A2, B1, and C1 are grouped (S104). Note that FIG. 5B shows a grouped state.

  When grouping is continued, the same processing is performed again from S102 according to S105. For example, if A4 size plain paper designated by the manufacturer is set in the paper feed cassette A1 and the paper feed cassette A3 as shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette A1 and the paper feed cassette are shown in FIG. When A3 is selected and the OK key 103 is pressed, two groupings are set as shown in FIG.

  When the two groups are divided in this way, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the paper feed cassettes A2, B1, and C1 are group 1 and the paper feed cassettes A1 and A3 are group 2 and other paper feed cassettes. Are otherwise displayed. When the cancel key 104 shown in FIG. 6 is selected, the display unit 101 returns to (a) of FIG.

  Then, by sorting the paper cassettes in detail (grouping) in advance according to the types of sheets stored in this way, when performing a job, the group 1 or group 2 is selected via the group selection key 105. For example, if there are no sheets in the same job, and the paper cassette is switched by auto cassette change, only the grouped paper cassettes (the paper cassettes A2, B1, C1 if group 1) are switched. Can do. As a result, the same type of sheet is always fed to the printer main body 410.

  In this way, when a plurality of paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 are grouped, and there are no sheets stored in the predetermined grouped paper feed cassette, another paper feed of the same group is performed. By switching to the cassette and feeding the sheet to the printer main body 410, images can be formed on the same type of sheet, and products of the same quality can be obtained. Once grouping is performed in this manner, if the same type of sheets are stored in the grouped sheet feeding cassettes thereafter, subsequent grouping becomes unnecessary.

  By the way, in the description so far, the user-provided plain paper arbitrarily stored in the plurality of paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 has been described as having the same size (A4 size). The present invention is not limited to this, and even when irregularly shaped and homogeneous sheets such as A4 and A3 are arbitrarily stored, for example, even when a user's A4 plain paper and a user's A3 plain paper are arbitrarily stored, the sheet type is not limited. Accordingly, a plurality of paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, and C1 to C3 are grouped to obtain a mixed product of the same quality even when performing a heterogeneous mixed job in which A4 and A3 sheets are mixed. Can do.

  In the description so far, the display unit 101 for displaying the paper feed cassettes A1 to A3, B1 to B3, C1 to C3, the grouping key 102, the OK key 103, and the like is displayed on the operation unit 100 provided in the printer main body 410. Although the case of displaying has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be displayed on a personal computer screen connected via a network controller (not shown).

1 is a schematic diagram of a printer that is an example of an image forming apparatus with an additional sheet feeding unit according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer main body of the printer. 6 is a flowchart for explaining sheet cassette grouping operation of the printer. FIG. 3 is a first diagram showing a display on a display unit in an operation unit provided in the printer main body. The 2nd figure which shows the display in the display part in the said operation part. The 3rd figure which shows the display in the display part in the said operation part. The 4th figure which shows the display in the display part in the said operation part. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus with a conventional sheet feeding unit added. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of sheet storage in the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Operation part 102 Grouping key 103 OK key 104 Selection key 105 Group selection key 110-112 Sheet feeding part 400 Printer 410 Printer main body 411 Image formation part A1-A3 Paper feed cassette B1-B3 Paper feed cassette C1-C3 Paper feed cassette

Claims (6)

When a sheet feeding unit having sheet storage means is added to the apparatus main body to provide a plurality of the sheet storage means, and when there is no sheet stored in the predetermined sheet storage means among the plurality of sheet storage means, another sheet is stored. In the image forming apparatus which is switched to the storage means and feeds the sheet to the apparatus main body,
The plurality of sheet storage means are arbitrarily selected and grouped, and when there are no sheets stored in the grouped predetermined sheet storage means, the sheet is switched to another sheet storage means in the same group and the sheet is transferred to the apparatus. An image forming apparatus characterized by being fed to a main body.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sheet storing units storing sheets of the same size are grouped according to the type of the sheet.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects a sheet storage unit to be grouped from the plurality of sheet storage units.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein two or more of the sheet storage units are selected by the selection unit.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of sheet storage units are grouped into two or more groups by the selection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit includes a selection key for selecting a sheet storage unit to be grouped in an operation unit provided in the apparatus main body. .

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