JP2007062963A - Paper sheet selection control device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent printing on a paper sheet other than a paper sheet of the kind designated by an operator even when the paper sheets of different kinds exist in one paper feeding cassette. <P>SOLUTION: The control device for selecting and controlling the kind of the paper sheet on which printing is performed in the image forming device 1 is provided with a paper sheet kind acceptance means 21 for accepting the kind of the paper sheet designated from the outside, a paper feed stage selection means 22 for selecting a first paper feed cassette 4a wherein the designated paper sheet is stored among a plurality of paper feed cassettes 4 prepared for the image forming device 1, a paper sheet kind sensor 23 for detecting the kind of the paper sheet fed for image forming from the first paper feed cassette 4a for each of the paper sheets, and a printing stop means 24 for comparing the information of the paper sheet kind detected by the paper sheet kind sensor 23 and the information of the paper sheet kind accepted by the paper sheet kind acceptance means 21 and stopping printing when the information is different from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper selection control device of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a paper selection control device of an image forming apparatus that can detect different types of paper when different types of paper are mixed.

Image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction peripherals generally have a plurality of paper feed cassettes, and there are cases where papers having different paper quality and paper thickness are stored and used in each paper feed cassette. For example, an image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, a plurality of paper feed cassettes that store paper of various sizes, and an output unit that outputs an image on paper. When the printing is instructed, the image is read by the image reading unit, and the paper is conveyed from the paper feed cassette in which an appropriate type of paper is arranged to the output unit. The image read by the copy is printed and output (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-278377 A

  Due to a mistake in replenishing paper in the paper cassette, there are cases where different types of paper (for example, back paper) are mixed in the same paper cassette. In such a case, in the conventional image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that misprinting occurs due to printing on different types of paper.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent printing on paper other than the type of paper designated by the operator even when different types of paper are mixed in one paper feed cassette.

  The paper selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is a control device for selecting and controlling the type of paper to be printed in the image forming apparatus, the paper type receiving means, the paper feed stage selecting means, A paper type detection unit and a print stop unit; The paper type accepting unit accepts a paper type designated from the outside. The paper feed stage selection unit selects a first paper feed stage in which the designated paper is stored from a plurality of paper feed stages prepared in the image forming apparatus. The paper type detection unit detects the type of paper conveyed for image formation from the first paper feed stage for each sheet. The print stop unit compares the paper type information detected by the paper type detection unit with the paper type information received by the paper type reception unit, and stops printing when they are different.

  In the paper selection control device of this image forming apparatus, the type of paper to be printed is received by the paper type receiving means, and the paper feed stage storing the designated paper is selected by the paper feed stage selecting means. When a sheet is conveyed from the selected paper feed stage, the sheet type is detected by the sheet type detecting means. After that, the print stop means compares the paper type information detected by the paper type detection means with the paper type information received by the paper type reception means. If they are the same, printing is continued. Printing is stopped when they are different.

  In this case, printing is not performed on paper of a type other than the type of paper designated by the operator.

  The paper selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 is the paper selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first paper feeding is performed when printing is stopped by the print stop means. Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the designated paper received by the paper type acceptance means is stored in any paper feed stage other than the stage, and any one other than the first paper feed stage by the confirmation means When it is confirmed that the designated paper is stored in the second paper feed stage among the paper feed stages, the first paper feed stage selected by the paper feed stage selection unit is changed to the second paper feed stage. It further includes a paper feed stage changing means for changing, and a first print restarting means for restarting printing after the paper feed stage is changed by the paper feed stage changing means.

  In the paper selection control device of this image forming apparatus, when printing is stopped by the print stop means, the confirmation means checks whether or not the specified type of paper is stored in another paper feed stage, and enters the other paper feed stage. If the selected type of paper is stored, the paper feed stage is changed by the paper feed stage changing means to transport the paper from the paper feed stage, and printing is resumed by the first print resuming means.

  Here, when the designated paper is stored in another paper feed stage, printing is restarted by changing the paper feed stage, so that printing can be performed smoothly.

  A sheet selection control device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is the sheet selection control device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming apparatus has a display unit, and printing stop means is provided. Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the designated paper received by the paper type accepting means is stored in any paper feed stage other than the first paper feed stage when printing is stopped by If the confirmation means confirms that there is no paper feed stage that stores the designated paper in any of the paper feed stages other than the first paper feed stage, the paper of the first paper feed stage is designated. Paper replacement display means for displaying on the display unit a display for prompting replacement with paper is further provided.

  In the paper selection control device of this image forming apparatus, the operator can know that there is no selected paper in any of the plurality of paper feed trays, and can replenish specified paper or other types of paper. Can be changed to paper.

  A paper selection control device for an image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the paper selection control device for the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein a display process for prompting replacement of paper is performed by a paper replacement display means And a resumption instruction accepting unit for accepting a print resumption instruction, and a second print resuming unit for resuming printing when the resumption instruction accepting unit accepts the print resumption instruction.

  Here, if there are no sheets designated for a plurality of paper feed stages, printing can be resumed after the operator changes or replenishes the sheets.

  The paper selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is the paper selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper type is paper quality, paper thickness, size, unused paper or used paper Paper or at least one of them.

  The present invention can prevent printing on paper other than the paper selected by the operator even when different types of paper are mixed in one paper feed cassette.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a composite model having functions as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, and a scanner apparatus, and includes a document cover 3, a main body 5, and an operation panel 7.

  The document cover 3 is for pressing a document placed on a document placing table 2 described later, and is attached to the main body 5 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document placing table 2.

  The main body 5 includes an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 13, and a control unit 20 disposed on the body 5a, and a plurality of paper feed cassettes 4 disposed on the bottom 5b. A document placing table 2 made of contact glass for placing a document is provided on the upper part of the body portion 5a.

  The image reading unit 11 is for reading image information recorded on a document, and has an optical system (not shown).

  The image forming unit 13 is for forming an image on a sheet based on image information read by the image reading unit 11 or image information sent from the outside. A developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and the like.

  The control unit 20 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory, and the like. The memory is composed of RAM and ROM, and stores a control program for controlling the operation of the input / output unit such as the image forming unit 13 and a program for paper selection control, and this control program is executed by the CPU. It functions as a work area when being done.

  The control unit 20 functions as the paper selection control device 17 by executing the paper selection control program. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper selection control device 17 includes a control unit 20, paper type receiving means 21, paper feed stage selection means 22, print stop means 24, confirmation means 25, paper feed stage change means. 26, a first print resuming unit 27, a resumption instruction accepting unit 29, and a second print resuming unit 30.

  The paper type receiving means 21 is a means for receiving the paper type selected by the operator on the operation panel 7.

  The paper feed stage selection unit 22 is a unit for selecting the paper feed cassette 4 in which the type of paper received by the paper type reception unit 21 is stored.

  The print stopping unit 24 instructs the image forming unit 13 to stop printing when the paper type information detected by the paper type sensor 23 is different from the paper type designated by the operator on the operation panel 7. To do.

  When the printing is stopped by the print stopping unit 24, the confirmation unit 25 determines whether the sheet designated by the operator on the operation panel 7 is stored in any one of the plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 4. Check.

  The paper feed stage changing unit 26 conveys the paper from the paper feed cassette 4 to the image forming unit 13 when the type of paper designated by the operator by the confirmation unit 25 is stored in another paper feed cassette 4. Change as follows.

  The first print restarting means 27 is a means for causing the image forming unit 13 to restart printing when the paper feed cassette 4 is changed by the paper feed stage changing means 26.

  The paper replacement display means 28 displays on the operation panel 7 that the paper should be replaced when it is confirmed by the confirmation means 25 that the paper selected by the operator is not stored in the other paper feed cassette 4. . For example, a message “Please replace paper” is displayed on the operation panel 7.

  The restart instruction accepting unit 29 displays on the operation panel 7 that the sheet should be replaced by the sheet replacement display unit 28, and accepts an instruction to resume printing when the sheet is replaced.

  The second print restarting unit 30 instructs the image forming unit 13 to restart printing when the restart instruction receiving unit 29 receives an instruction to restart printing.

  The paper feed cassette 4 stores paper and is arranged in a plurality in the vertical direction.

  In addition, the main body 5 discharges a paper feed unit (not shown) for transporting paper from the paper feed cassette 4 and the manual feed tray 10 toward the image forming unit 13 and paper on which image formation has been performed. And a communication unit (not shown) that transmits / receives input / output signals to / from other external devices.

  The operation panel 7 is provided on the front side of the document placing table 2 in the main body 5 and includes a display panel (display unit) 9 and a plurality of operation keys 8. The operation keys include a start key for instructing start and restart of printing.

  The paper type sensor 23 includes a paper thickness sensor, a paper quality sensor, and the like, and detects the type of paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 4 selected by the paper feed stage selection unit 22. As the paper type, paper quality, paper thickness, size, unused paper or used paper can be selected.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the image forming operation will be briefly described. Here, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the printing operation.

  First, the operator designates the type of paper to be printed using the operation panel 7. Information on the paper type designated by the operator is transmitted to the paper type receiving means 21 (S1). The sheet information transmitted to the sheet type accepting unit 21 is transmitted to the sheet feed stage selecting unit 22, and a sheet cassette (hereinafter referred to as a first sheet cassette 4a) in which the type of sheet designated by the operator is stored. ) Is selected (S2). In the present embodiment, the case where the operator designates the paper stored in the first paper feed cassette 4a will be described. However, the operator may designate another paper feed cassette 4. When the start key is pressed, the control unit 20 controls to convey the sheet from the first sheet cassette 4a, and printing starts (S3). When a sheet is conveyed from the selected first sheet cassette 4a, the sheet type sensor 23 detects the sheet quality of each sheet (S4). The detected paper information is transmitted to the print stopping means 24, and the control unit 20 compares the paper information detected by the paper type sensor 23 with the paper information designated by the operator on the operation panel 7. As a result, if both pieces of information are the same, the printing stop means 24 is put on standby, and if it is the same for the paper that is subsequently conveyed, printing is ended (S13). If both pieces of information are different (S5), the printing stop means 24 stops printing (S6).

  Then, the confirmation means 25 confirms whether or not the type of paper designated by the operator is stored in the plurality of paper feed cassettes 4. When the confirmation unit 25 confirms the paper feed cassette (hereinafter referred to as the second paper feed cassette 4b) containing the type of paper designated by the operator (S7), the paper feed stage changing unit 26 performs the second paper feed. The sheet is changed so as to be conveyed from the cassette 4b to the image forming unit 13 (S8), and the first printing resuming unit 27 is controlled to resume printing (S9).

  On the other hand, when the second paper feed cassette 4b is not confirmed by the confirmation means 25, the paper exchange display means 28 displays on the operation panel 7 for prompting the exchange of paper (S10). Thereafter, it is accepted that the paper has been replaced (S11), and when the instruction for printing is given again, the printing is resumed by the second printing restarting means 30 (S12).

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 can prevent miscopying even when different types of paper are mixed in the paper feed cassette 4.

[Other Embodiments]
(A) In the above embodiment, when the first sheet cassette 4a contains a sheet of a different type from the sheet selected by the operator, the control unit determines the type of sheet selected by the operator by the checking means 25. The presence / absence of the stored second paper feed cassette 4b is confirmed. If there is no second paper feed cassette 4b, a display is displayed on the operation panel 7 to prompt the user to replace the paper, and the control waits until a printing instruction is issued again. However, if a reprint command is not issued after a predetermined time has elapsed after the display for prompting replacement of the paper on the operation panel 7, the control unit 20 differs in type depending on the second print restarting means. You may control to restart printing on a sheet. Here, since the printing is not hindered by different types of paper, printing can be performed quickly.

  (B) In step S2 of the above embodiment, the selection of the paper feed stage may be performed manually by an operation on the operation panel 7, for example.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for paper selection control when an image forming operation is performed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Document mounting base 3 Document cover 4 Paper feed cassette 5 Main body part 7 Operation panel 8 Operation key 9 Display panel 11 Image reading part 13 Image forming part 20 Control part 21 Paper type reception means 22 Paper feed stage selection means 23 Paper type sensor 24 Printing stop means 25 Confirmation means 26 Paper feed stage changing means 27 First print resuming means 28 Paper replacement display means 29 Resumption instruction receiving means 30 Second print resuming means

Claims (5)

A control device for selecting and controlling the type of paper to be printed in an image forming apparatus,
A paper type accepting means for accepting an externally designated paper type;
A paper feed stage selection means for selecting a first paper feed stage in which the designated paper is stored from a plurality of paper feed stages prepared in the image forming apparatus;
Paper type detection means for detecting the type of paper conveyed for image formation from the first paper feed stage for each sheet;
A print stop unit that compares the paper type information detected by the paper type detection unit with the paper type information received by the paper type reception unit and stops printing when they are different;
A sheet selection control device for an image forming apparatus. Whether or not the designated paper received by the paper type accepting means is stored in any paper feed stage other than the first paper feed stage when printing is stopped by the print stop means Confirmation means for confirming,
When the confirmation means confirms that the designated paper is stored in the second paper feed stage other than the first paper feed stage, the paper feed stage selection means A paper feed stage changing means for changing the selected first paper feed stage to the second paper feed stage;
First printing restarting means for restarting printing after the paper feed stage is changed by the paper feed stage changing means;
Further equipped with,
The sheet selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus has a display unit,
Confirming means for confirming whether or not the designated paper received by the paper type accepting means is stored in a paper feed stage other than the first paper feed stage when printing is stopped by the print stop means. When,
When it is confirmed by the checking means that there is no paper feed stage in which the designated paper is stored in a paper feed stage other than the first paper feed stage, the paper in the first paper feed stage is changed to the paper feed stage. A paper replacement display means for displaying on the display unit a display for prompting replacement with a specified type of paper;
Further equipped with,
A sheet selection control device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A restart instruction receiving means for receiving a print restart instruction after a display process for prompting replacement of the paper is performed by the paper replacement display means;
Second print restarting means for restarting printing when the restart instruction receiving means receives a print restart instruction;
The sheet selection control device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: The paper type is at least one of paper quality, paper thickness, size, unused paper or used paper,
The sheet selection control device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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