JP2009006665A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without sense of incongruity. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part for performing printing onto a medium based on a printing data received from outside; a medium storage part for storing the medium; a medium kind detection part for detecting a kind of the medium supplied from the medium storage part to the image forming part; a different kind of medium determination part for determining whether a medium of the kind different from the medium already supplied is detected in the course of the printing of the received printing data; and a printing processing means which when detecting the medium of the different kind, suspends printing about the printing data and, when receiving a direction of the resumption of printing, resumes the printing of the suspended printing data. When the medium of a kind different from the already supplied medium is detected in the course of the printing of the received printing data, the printing for the printing data is reserved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, for example, an electrophotographic printer, the surface of a photosensitive drum is charged by a charging roller and exposed by an LED head to form an electrostatic latent image. A toner image is formed by electrostatically adhering the thinned toner on the developing roller to the electrostatic latent image, and the toner image is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer roller. Formation, that is, printing is performed. Further, toner remaining on the photosensitive drum after the transfer is removed by a cleaning device. The photosensitive drum, the charging roller, the developing roller, and the like constitute an image forming unit, and the image forming unit is detachably disposed on the main body of the printer, that is, the apparatus main body.

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is sent to a fixing device, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet in the fixing device.

By the way, in the printer, a plurality of sheets are stored in a tray, a plurality of sheets are fed out from the tray, and printing is continuously performed on each sheet (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-298020

  However, in the conventional printer, for example, a plurality of different types of sheets may be mixedly accommodated in the tray. In this case, the printer is usually not configured to accommodate a plurality of different types of paper in the tray, so even if the paper types are different, printing continues without distinguishing the paper. End up. Therefore, printing with a sense of incongruity in which a plurality of different types of paper are mixed is performed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can solve the problems of the conventional printer and can form an image without feeling uncomfortable.

  For this purpose, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an image forming unit for printing on a medium based on print data received from the outside, a medium accommodating unit for accommodating the medium, and image formation from the medium accommodating unit Medium type detection unit for detecting the type of medium supplied to the unit, and heterogeneous medium determination for determining whether a type of medium different from the already supplied medium has been detected during printing of received print data And a print processing unit that suspends printing of the print data when a different type of medium is detected, and resumes printing of the suspended print data when an instruction to resume printing is received.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit for printing on a medium based on print data received from the outside, a medium containing unit for containing the medium, and image formation from the medium containing unit Medium type detection unit for detecting the type of medium supplied to the unit, and heterogeneous medium determination for determining whether a type of medium different from the already supplied medium has been detected during printing of received print data And a print processing unit that suspends printing of the print data when a different type of medium is detected, and resumes printing of the suspended print data when an instruction to resume printing is received.

  In this case, when a medium of a type different from the already supplied medium is detected during printing of the received print data, printing of the print data is suspended, and when an instruction to resume printing is received, Since printing of print data is resumed, it is possible to form an image without a sense of incongruity.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, an electrophotographic printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the printer 10 is connected to an external host computer 20 via a network, a local interface or the like, and includes a print control unit 11, a printing unit 12, a paper material detection sensor 13 as a medium type detection unit, and a different medium determination. A heterogeneous medium determination unit 14, a detection result storage unit 15, a detection result save storage unit 16, a print data storage unit 17, and a print data save storage unit 18 are provided as processing means.

  The print control unit 11 receives print data from the host computer 20, records the print data in the print data storage unit 17 as necessary, and issues a print instruction to the print unit 12. In addition, the print control unit 11 instructs the different medium determination unit 14 when a single print data is instructed to continuously print a plurality of sheets on a sheet as a medium and prints on the second and subsequent sheets. A paper type confirmation flag for confirming the paper type, that is, the paper type is transmitted. When the different medium determination unit 14 receives the paper type confirmation flag, the different type medium determination unit 14 transmits the same type medium flag or the different type medium flag described later to the print control unit 11.

  When the print control unit 11 receives the same medium flag from the different medium determination unit 14, the print control unit 11 issues a print instruction to the print unit 12. Further, when the print control unit 11 receives the heterogeneous medium flag from the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14, the print control unit 11 saves the print data in the print data save storage unit 18, instructs the printing unit 12 to re-store the medium, and instructs the host computer 20. Information about the saved print data and information about the progress of printing at that time are notified, and an inquiry is made as to whether printing can be continued. When the print control unit 11 receives a response from the host computer 20 in response to the inquiry, the print control unit 11 reads the print data from the print data saving storage unit 18 and sends a return flag to the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14. And resumes the printing process for the read print data.

  When the print control unit 11 saves the print data in the print data saving storage unit 18, the print control unit 11 assigns a unique ID to the print data and combines the print data and the ID into the print data saving storage unit 18. Write. The saved print data information sent to the host computer 20 and the response sent from the host computer 20 include the ID. When the ID matches the ID of the print data saved in the print data saving storage unit 18, printing of the print data is resumed.

  The print data is saved in the print data saving storage unit 18 as follows.

% Ids = (01234567, 0123568)
% ID = 0123567,% Data = ****** (omitted)
% ID = 0123568,% Data = ****** (omitted)
That is, the ID of the currently saved print data is listed by the top% Ids, and then the ID and the print data following% Data = are combined and recorded by% ID.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 12 includes a tray 12a as a medium containing unit for storing paper, an image forming unit 12b as an image forming unit for printing on paper, and an image forming unit from the tray 12a. 12b is constituted by a conveyance path for conveying the sheet. In the image forming unit 12b, the surface of the photosensitive drum as an image carrier is charged by a charging roller as a charging device and exposed by an LED head as an exposure device to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, a toner as a developer thinned on a developing roller as a developer carrying member is electrostatically attached to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image as a developer image. The image is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer roller as a transfer device, and is fixed on the sheet by a fixing device as a fixing device.

  Note that P on the transport path is a pre-feed position that waits when the paper transported next to the image forming unit 12b on the transport path is pre-feeded to the registration rollers, for example. Then, the paper pre-feeded to the position P can be returned to the tray 12a.

  When the printing unit 12 receives a print instruction from the print control unit 11, the printing unit 12 conveys the sheet pre-feeded to the pre-feed position P as a printing operation to the image forming unit 12b and prints on the sheet. Further, when there is no pre-feed paper, the printing unit 12 performs a printing operation after pre-feeding the paper. When the printing unit 12 receives a pre-feed instruction from the printing control unit 11, the printing unit 12 temporarily transports the paper to the pre-feed position P. Further, when receiving a re-storage instruction from the print control unit 11, the printing unit 12 returns the paper pre-feeded to the pre-feed position P to the tray 12a.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the paper material detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the paper material detection sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the paper material detection sensor 13 is disposed at a pre-feed position P on the conveyance path, detects the type of paper pre-feeded to the pre-feed position P based on the material of the paper, and the detection result. Is transmitted to the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14. For this purpose, the paper material detection sensor 13 has a light source 13a as a first detection element that emits light of a certain intensity toward the paper placed at the prefeed position P, and the light from the light source 13a passes through the paper. The transmission measurement sensor 13b as a second detection element that is disposed at a position where the transmitted light can be received and measures the intensity of the transmitted light, and the reflected light from which the light from the light source 13a is reflected by the paper. Reflection measurement sensor 13c as a third detection element that is disposed at a position where it can be received and measures the intensity of the reflected light, and output ranges of the transmission measurement sensor 13b and reflection measurement sensor 13c, and the material of the paper And a material detection unit 13d that detects the paper type according to the material of the paper and transmits the detection result to the different medium determination unit 14.

  In the present embodiment, for example, a case is assumed in which three types of paper of different materials, OHP paper, glossy paper, and plain paper, are mixed and stored in the tray 12a. When the output value of the transmission measurement sensor 13b is larger than the threshold voltage S1 representing the first threshold, the material detection unit 13d detects that the measurement target paper is an OHP paper, and the output value of the transmission measurement sensor 13b is When the output voltage of the reflection measurement sensor 13c is smaller than the threshold voltage S1 and higher than the threshold voltage S2 representing the second threshold value, the paper is detected as glossy paper, and the output values of the transmission measurement sensor 13b and the reflection measurement sensor 13c are detected. Is smaller than the threshold voltages S1 and S2, it is detected that the paper is plain paper. The threshold voltages S1 and S2 are previously measured for sheets of different materials, and are recorded in a storage unit (for example, EEPROM) (not shown).

  When receiving the detection result from the paper material detection sensor 13, the different medium determination unit 14 checks whether or not a paper type confirmation flag is received from the print control unit 11 (FIG. 1). If the paper type confirmation flag is not received, the different medium determination unit 14 records the received detection result in the detection result storage unit 15 as the previous detection result and as the previous paper material storage data. When the paper type confirmation flag is received, the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14 further compares the detection result with the previous detection result recorded in the detection result storage unit 15 to determine the received print data. In the middle of printing, it is determined whether or not a paper of a different type from the paper already supplied (a different medium) is detected based on whether or not the current detection result matches the previous detection result. Then, when a different type of paper is detected, that is, when the detection result does not match the previous detection result, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits a different medium flag to the print control unit 11 and detects the detection result. When the same type of paper (same type medium) is detected, that is, when the same detection result matches the previous detection result, the same type medium flag is transmitted to the print control unit 11. To do.

  As the respective storage units of the detection result storage unit 15, the detection result saving storage unit 16, the print data storage unit 17, and the print data saving storage unit 18, a magnetic disk, SDRAM, or the like having a data holding function capable of writing and reading is used. Can be used.

  In the present embodiment, based on the output values from the transmission measurement sensor 13b and the reflection measurement sensor 13c, the material detection unit 13d identifies the material of the paper, and the different medium determination unit 14 determines whether the paper is different. In this case, it is determined whether the detection result and the previous detection result do not coincide with each other, but the output values from the transmission measurement sensor 13b and the reflection measurement sensor 13c are compared with the first and second predetermined values, When the output value is higher than the first and second predetermined values is turned on, and when the output value is lower than the first and second predetermined values, the on / off combination information is detected as a different result. It is also possible to transmit to the medium determination unit 14 and determine whether the detection result and the previous detection result do not match in the different medium determination unit 14.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 having the above configuration will be described. In this case, the operation of the printer 10 for the print data D1 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the printer 10 (FIG. 1) receives print data D1 from the host computer 20 in the print control unit 11. A print processing unit (not shown) of the print control unit 11 performs a print process, and starts printing based on the received print data D1 when there is no other print data being executed. Instructing the pre-feed of the paper, the printing unit 12 performs the pre-feed.

  Then, the paper material detection sensor 13 detects the material of the pre-fed paper and transmits the detection result Rn to the different medium determination unit 14, which uses the detection result Rn as the previous detection result Rm. The result is recorded in the detection result storage unit 15.

  Subsequently, the print processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to print one page. The printing unit 12 conveys the paper pre-feeded to the pre-feed position P to the image forming unit 12b (FIG. 2) and prints one page. If the printed page is the last page in the printing of the print data D1, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the printed page is not the last page in the printing of the print data D1, the print processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to pre-feed the next sheet, and informs the different medium determination unit 14 of the paper type confirmation flag. Send. Subsequently, the printing unit 12 performs a pre-feed operation.

  Then, the paper material detection sensor 13 detects the paper type of the pre-fed paper and transmits the detection result Rn to the different medium determination unit 14. Since the different medium determination unit 14 has received the paper type confirmation flag, the detection result Rn received from the paper material detection sensor 13 is compared with the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result storage unit 15 to detect it. It is determined whether the result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match.

  When the detection result Rn matches the previous detection result Rm, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the same type medium flag to the print control unit 11. On the other hand, when the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the different medium flag, the detection result Rn, and the previous detection result Rm to the print control unit 11, and also the detection result storage unit 15 The previous detection result Rm is recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16.

  A notification processing unit (not shown) of the print control unit 11 performs notification processing and notifies the host computer 20 that has transmitted the print data D1 that there is a different paper type. In this case, as the contents of the notification, for example, the print data name, the progress of printing, the printer name, the detection result Rn, the previous detection result Rm, and the like are transmitted. Display processing means (not shown) of the host computer 20 performs display processing, displays notification contents on a display (not shown) as a display unit, and notifies the operator that the paper type is different.

  Subsequently, a print data saving processing unit (not shown) of the print control unit 11 performs a data saving process, instructs the printing unit 12 to store again, and stores the print data being executed, that is, the printing data Da1 in the print data saving memory. Part 18 is recorded. The mid-print data Da1 represents print data in a state in which an unprocessed portion can be re-executed except for a processed portion of the print data D1.

  Then, the printing unit 12 suspends printing of the print data, returns the pre-feed paper to the tray 12a, and saves the printing midway data Da1 by recording it in the print data saving storage unit 18. As a result, printing is in a standby state, and during this standby state, the operator performs an operation of replacing the paper in the tray 12a with an appropriate paper. When the operator finishes the operation, he / she operates the host computer 20 and sends a response to the printer 10 that the paper replacement is completed and printing can be performed by a predetermined input.

  Next, when the printer 10 receives a response from the host computer 20 and receives an instruction to resume printing, a restoration processing unit (not shown) of the printing control unit 11 performs restoration processing and prints from the print data saving storage unit 18 during printing. The data Da1 is read, and a return flag is transmitted to the different medium determination unit 14. Subsequently, the print processing unit resumes printing on an appropriate sheet based on the mid-print data Da1. Further, the different medium determination unit 14 records the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16 in the detection result storage unit 15.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, when a plurality of different types of sheets are mixedly accommodated in the tray 12a, sheets of different materials are detected during printing during continuous printing. Then, since printing is performed after the paper is replaced with the same material, it is possible to perform printing without a sense of incongruity.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1: Print data D1 is received and printing is started.
Step S2 One page is printed.
Step S3: It is determined whether it is the last page. If it is the last page, the process ends. If it is not the last page, the process proceeds to step S4.
Step S4: It is determined whether or not the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match. If the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the process proceeds to step S6, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S5.
Step S5: The same type medium flag is transmitted, and the process returns to Step S2.
Step S6: The host computer 20 is notified and the mid-print data Da1 is saved.
Step S7 Wait for receiving a response, and if a response is received, proceed to step S8.
Step S8: Perform return processing and return.

  Next, when printing the print data D1 for which printing has already been instructed, the printing is stopped due to the different material of the paper in the middle (standby state), and the paper is left without being replaced. The operation of the printer 10 when the print data D2 is input will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a first flowchart showing another operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a second flowchart showing another operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. is there.

  In this case, for example, printing is instructed for the print data D1 for 15 pages in a state where 50 plain papers are stored from the bottom in the tray 12a (FIG. 2) and 10 glossy papers are stored thereon. In this embodiment, first, print data D1 for 10 pages is printed on glossy paper in accordance with a print request for print data D1.

  Subsequently, when the 11th page is to be printed, since the paper has changed from glossy paper to plain paper, this change is detected by the paper material detection sensor 13 (FIG. 1), and as described above, the printer 10 It will be in a standby state.

  Next, a registration determination processing unit (not shown) of the print control unit 11 performs a registration determination process to determine whether or not the printer 10 is registered (recorded) in a storage unit (not shown) in a standby state. If it is registered that the printer 10 is in a standby state and the operator exchanges paper during that time and there is a response indicating that printing can be performed from the host computer 20, the print processing means starts from page 11. When printing up to 15 pages is completed and printing is completed, a registration deletion processing unit (not shown) of the print control unit 11 performs registration deletion processing and deletes the registration.

  On the other hand, when it is not registered that the printer 10 is in the standby state, when a print request for new print data D2 (for example, for 10 pages) is received, the print processing means 10 sheets of plain paper Print.

  Thereafter, the operator replaces the paper in the tray 12a with glossy paper, operates the host computer 20, sends a response to the printer 10 that the paper replacement is completed and printing can be performed by a predetermined input. Then, the print processing means prints the remaining 11 pages to 15 pages with respect to the mid-print data Da1.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, printing can be performed on a sheet of the same material, and another print data D2 is input when the printer 10 is in a standby state with respect to the mid-print data Da1. In this case, since the printing of the print data D2 can be preceded, the printing can be performed smoothly.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S11: It is determined whether it is registered in the storage unit. If it is registered in the storage unit, the process proceeds to step S22. If it is not registered, the process proceeds to step S12.
Step S12: It is determined whether new print data D2 has been received. If new print data D2 is received, the process proceeds to step S13. If not received, the process returns to step S11.
Step S13: Printing is started.
Step S14 One page is printed.
Step S15: It is determined whether it is the last page. If it is the last page, the process ends. If it is not the last page, the process proceeds to step S16.
Step S16: It is determined whether or not the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match. If the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the process proceeds to step S18, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S17.
Step S17: The same type medium flag is transmitted, and the process returns to Step S14.
Step S18: The host computer 20 is notified, and the mid-print data Da1 is saved.
Step S19: It is determined whether a response has been received. If a response is received, the process returns to step S16, and if not received, the process proceeds to step S20.
Step S20: It is determined whether or not it has been registered in the storage unit. If registered in the storage unit, the process returns to step S11, and if not registered, the process proceeds to step S21.
Step S21: Register in the storage unit and return to Step S11.
Step S22: It is determined whether a response has been received. If a response is received, the process proceeds to step 23. If not received, the process returns to step S12.
Step S23: It is determined whether or not the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match. If the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the process returns to step S18, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S24.
Step S24 One page is printed.
Step S25: It is determined whether printing has been completed. If printing has ended, the process proceeds to step S26, and if printing has not ended, the process returns to step S23.
Step S26 Deletes the registration and returns to Step S11.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is provided and the effect of the same embodiment is used about the effect of the invention by having the same structure.

  FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In this case, instead of the paper material detection sensor 13 in the first embodiment, a paper thickness detection sensor 33 as a medium type detection unit is provided.

  9 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a paper thickness detection sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows operation | movement of the paper thickness detection sensor in a form.

  As shown in the figure, the paper thickness detection sensor 33 is disposed at a pre-feed position Q on the conveyance path, detects the thickness of the sheet as a medium pre-feeded to the pre-feed position Q, and detects the detection result. It has the function to transmit to the different medium judgment part 14 (FIG. 8). Therefore, the paper thickness detection sensor 33 includes a fixed roller 33a as a first detection element that rotates with the shaft fixed, a movable roller 33b as a second detection element that rotates with the shaft movable, 3 includes a potentiometer 33c and a thickness detector 33d as detection elements.

  The fixed roller 33a and the movable roller 33b are disposed in close contact so as to sandwich the pre-feed position Q on the conveyance path. Here, when the sheet is pre-feeded from the tray 12a to the pre-feed position Q, the sheet passes through a conveyance path between the fixed roller 33a and the movable roller 33b. During the passage of the paper, the movable roller 33b is displaced in a direction away from the fixed roller 33a by the thickness of the paper. And the potentiometer 33c arrange | positioned in contact with the movable roller 33b reads the displacement amount of the movable roller 33b, and transmits to the thickness detection part 33d.

  Subsequently, the thickness detector 33d receives the displacement amount sent from the potentiometer 33c and converts it into the thickness of the paper. That is, the thickness detection unit 33d classifies the paper into one of three stages, thick, normal, and thin, according to a predetermined threshold value based on the thickness of the paper, and uses this as a detection result.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 having the above configuration will be described. In this case, the operation of the printer 10 for the print data D1 will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the printer 10 (FIG. 8) receives print data D1 from the host computer 20 in the print control unit 11. When there is no other print data being executed, the print processing unit starts printing based on the received print data D1, instructs the printing unit 12 to pre-feed the first sheet, and the printing unit 12 Perform pre-feed.

  Then, the paper thickness detection sensor 33 detects the thickness of the pre-feeded paper, and transmits the detection result Rn to the different medium determination unit 14. The different medium determination unit 14 uses the detection result Rn as the previous detection result Rm. Is recorded in the detection result storage unit 15.

  Subsequently, the print processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to print one page. The printing unit 12 conveys the paper pre-feeded to the pre-feed position Q to the image forming unit 12b (FIG. 9) and prints one page. If the printed page is the last page in the printing of the print data D1, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the printed page is not the last page in the printing of the print data D1, the print processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to pre-feed the next sheet, and informs the different medium determination unit 14 of the paper type confirmation flag. Send. Subsequently, the printing unit 12 performs a pre-feed operation.

  Then, the paper thickness detection sensor 33 detects the thickness of the pre-feeded paper and transmits the detection result Rn to the different medium determination unit 14. Since the different medium determination unit 14 has received the paper type confirmation flag, the detection result Rn received from the paper thickness detection sensor 33 is compared with the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result storage unit 15 for detection. It is determined whether the result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match.

  When the detection result Rn matches the previous detection result Rm, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the same type medium flag to the print control unit 11. On the other hand, when the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the different medium flag, the detection result Rn, and the previous detection result Rm to the print control unit 11, and also the detection result storage unit 15 The previous detection result Rm is recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16.

  The notification processing unit notifies the host computer 20 that has transmitted the print data D1 that there are sheets of different thicknesses. In this case, as the contents of the notification, for example, the print data name, the progress of printing, the printer name, the detection result Rn, the previous detection result Rm, and the like are transmitted. The display processing means displays a notification content on a display (not shown) as a display unit to notify the operator that the thickness of the paper is different.

  Subsequently, the print data saving processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to store again, and records the printing intermediate data Da1 in the print data saving storage unit 18. The mid-print data Da1 represents print data in a state in which an unprocessed portion can be re-executed except for a processed portion of the print data D1.

  Then, the printing unit 12 returns the pre-fed paper to the tray 12a, and the process of the mid-printing data Da1 enters a standby state. During this standby state, the operator performs an operation to replace the paper in the tray 12a with an appropriate paper. When the operator finishes the operation, he / she operates the host computer 20 and sends a response to the printer 10 that the paper replacement is completed and printing can be performed by a predetermined input.

  Next, when the printer 10 receives a response from the host computer 20, the print control unit 11 reads the printing halfway data Da <b> 1 from the print data saving storage unit 18 and transmits a return flag to the different medium determination unit 14. Subsequently, the print processing unit performs printing on an appropriate sheet based on the mid-print data Da1. Further, the different medium determination unit 14 records the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16 in the detection result storage unit 15.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, when a plurality of types of paper sheets having different thicknesses are mixedly accommodated in the tray 12a, the thicknesses are different during printing during continuous printing. When a sheet is detected, printing is performed after the sheet is replaced with a sheet having the same thickness, so that it is possible to perform printing without a sense of incongruity.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S31: Print data D1 is received and printing is started.
Step S32 Printing one page.
Step S33: It is determined whether it is the last page. If it is the last page, the process ends. If it is not the last page, the process proceeds to step S34.
Step S34: It is determined whether the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match. If the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the process proceeds to step S36, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S35.
Step S35: The same type medium flag is transmitted, and the process returns to Step S32.
Step S36: The host computer 20 is notified and the mid-print data Da1 is saved.
Step S37 Wait for reception of a response, and if a response is received, proceed to step S38.
Step S38: A return process is performed and the process returns.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the thing which has the same structure as the said 1st, 2nd embodiment, the same code | symbol is provided and the effect of the embodiment is used about the effect of the invention by having the same structure.

  FIG. 13 is a control block diagram of the printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In this case, instead of the paper material detection sensor 13 in the first embodiment, a paper color detection sensor 43 as a medium type detection unit is provided.

  FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a paper color detection sensor according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the drawing, the paper color detection sensor 43 is disposed in the tray 12a, detects the color of the paper as the top medium in the tray 12a, and sends the detection result to the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14. It has a function to transmit. For this purpose, the paper color detection sensor 43 includes a color sensor 43a and a color detection unit 43b as detection elements.

  The color sensor 43a is a sensor that converts the color of the paper into color data. In the present embodiment, the color sensor 43a is a device that applies an RGB light source and measures reflected light to obtain RGB component data. The unit 43b appropriately processes the RGB component data from the color sensor 43a, applies it to a plurality of colors such as white, gray, and pink with reference to a predetermined table to obtain a detection result.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 having the above configuration will be described. In this case, the operation of the printer 10 for the print data D1 will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the printer 10 (FIG. 13) receives print data from the host computer 20 in the print control unit 11. When there is no other print data being executed, the print processing means starts processing the received print data D1.

  The paper color detection sensor 43 detects the color of the uppermost sheet in the tray 12a (FIG. 14) and transmits the detection result Rn to the different medium determination unit 14. The different medium determination unit 14 The result Rn is recorded in the detection result storage unit 15 as the previous detection result Rm.

  Subsequently, the print processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to print one page. The printing unit 12 conveys the uppermost sheet in the tray 12a to the image forming unit 12b and prints one page. If the printed page is the last page in the printing of the print data D1, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the printed page is not the last page in printing the print data D1, the paper color detection sensor 43 detects the color of the top sheet in the tray 12a and sends the detection result Rn to the heterogeneous medium determination unit 14. Send. Since the different medium determination unit 14 has received the paper type confirmation flag, the detection result Rn received from the paper color detection sensor 43 is compared with the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result storage unit 15 to detect it. It is determined whether the result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match.

  When the detection result Rn matches the previous detection result Rm, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the same type medium flag to the print control unit 11. On the other hand, when the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the different medium determination unit 14 transmits the different medium flag, the detection result Rn, and the previous detection result Rm to the print control unit 11, and also the detection result storage unit 15 The previous detection result Rm is recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16.

  The notification processing means notifies the host computer 20 that has transmitted the print data D1 that there are different color sheets. In this case, as the contents of the notification, for example, the print data name, the progress of printing, the printer name, the detection result Rn, the previous detection result Rm, and the like are transmitted. The display processing means displays a notification content on a display (not shown) as a display unit to notify the operator that the color of the paper is different.

  Subsequently, the print data saving processing unit instructs the printing unit 12 to store again, and records the printing intermediate data Da1 in the print data saving storage unit 18. The mid-print data Da1 represents print data in a state in which an unprocessed portion can be re-executed except for a processed portion of the print data D1.

  Then, the printing unit 12 returns the pre-fed paper to the tray 12a, and the process of the mid-printing data Da1 enters a standby state. During this standby state, the operator performs an operation to replace the paper in the tray 12a with an appropriate paper. When the operator finishes the operation, he / she operates the host computer 20 and sends a response to the printer 10 that the paper replacement is completed and printing can be performed by a predetermined input.

  Next, when the printer 10 receives a response from the host computer 20, the print control unit 11 reads the printing halfway data Da <b> 1 from the print data saving storage unit 18 and transmits a return flag to the different medium determination unit 14. Subsequently, the print processing unit performs printing on an appropriate sheet based on the mid-print data Da1. Further, the different medium determination unit 14 records the previous detection result Rm recorded in the detection result saving storage unit 16 in the detection result storage unit 15.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, when a plurality of types of sheets having different colors are mixedly accommodated in the tray 12a, sheets having different colors are printed during continuous printing. When detected, printing is performed after the paper is replaced with the same color paper, so that printing without a sense of incongruity can be performed.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S41 Print data D1 is received and printing is started.
Step S42 Print one page.
Step S43: to judge whether it is the last page. If it is the last page, the process ends. If it is not the last page, the process proceeds to step S44.
Step S44: It is determined whether the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match. If the detection result Rn and the previous detection result Rm do not match, the process proceeds to step S46, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S45.
Step S45: The same type medium flag is transmitted, and the process returns to Step S42.
Step S46: The host computer 20 is notified and the mid-print data Da1 is saved.
Step S47 It waits for reception of a response, and if a response is received, proceeds to step S48.
Step S48 A return process is performed and the process returns.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the operator is notified that the paper is different via the host computer 20, but the printer 10 provides the operator with an operation panel, a sound reproducing device, or the like. In the case of having an output unit for notification, the operator can be notified directly without going through the host computer 20. Further, when the printer 10 includes a mechanism for automatically opening the tray 12a, the operator can be notified that the paper is different by opening the tray 12a.

  Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the printer 10 knows from the response from the host computer 20 that the operator has finished replacing the paper, but the printer 10 has an input unit such as a switch. Thus, it is possible to know that the operator has finished replacing the paper by an input by the operator. Further, the operator can know that the replacement of the paper has been completed by opening and closing the tray 12a and the like, and setting the paper in the manual medium adding section such as the manual feed tray.

  Also, the paper type of the first page printed for each print job is recorded in a buffer or the like, and the paper type of the first page is compared with the paper type of the first page each time paper is fed. It can be configured as follows. In this case, after the operator sets an appropriate sheet on the tray 12a, the printer automatically determines whether the sheet type is the same as the sheet type of the first page printed in the print job, and resumes printing. Since the instruction is given, printing can be resumed without waiting for an operation by the operator.

  In each of the embodiments described above, printing is waited when the paper is different, but it can be selected to continue printing even if the paper is different.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic printer as an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an impact printer, an ink jet printer, a copying machine, a single sheet type facsimile apparatus, a composite apparatus. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus equipped with a paper tray, such as a multi function peripheral.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the printer in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the paper material detection sensor in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows operation | movement of the paper material detection sensor in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 1st flowchart which shows the other operation | movement of the printer in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows the other operation | movement of the printer in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the printer in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the paper thickness detection sensor in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows operation | movement of the paper thickness detection sensor in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of a printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the printer in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the paper color detection sensor in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Print control part 12a Tray 12b Image forming unit 13 Paper material detection sensor 14 Heterogeneous medium judgment part 20 Host computer 33 Paper thickness detection sensor 43 Paper color detection sensor

Claims (5)

(A) an image forming unit for printing on a medium based on print data received from the outside;
(B) a medium accommodating portion for accommodating the medium;
(C) a medium type detection unit for detecting the type of medium supplied from the medium storage unit to the image forming unit;
(D) a heterogeneous medium determination unit that determines whether a medium of a type different from the already supplied medium is detected during printing of the received print data;
(E) having a print processing unit that suspends printing of the print data when a different type of medium is detected, and resumes printing of the suspended print data when receiving an instruction to resume printing. An image forming apparatus.   The print processing means precedes printing for the second print data when a different type of medium is detected and the second print data is received while printing for the print data is suspended. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which is performed as described above.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium type detection unit detects a medium type based on a material of the medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium type detection unit detects a medium type based on a thickness of the medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium type detection unit detects a medium type based on a color of the medium.

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