JP2009083122A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus capable of restarting printing without having an operator intervene even when a recording medium having a different size is mixed. <P>SOLUTION: This image recording apparatus includes a size determination part for determining the size of a medium based on printing data, a size detection part for detecting the size of the medium conveyed for printing, a size check part for comparing the medium size determined by the size determination part with the medium size detected by the size detection part and performing a size check, and a medium paper feeding part for, when the size check part determines that the medium does not match, discharging the unmatched medium and feeding the next medium. When it is determined that there is a match by the size check part, printing is continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that checks the size of a recording medium during image recording.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic printer as an image recording apparatus, for example, an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the surface of a charged photosensitive drum by exposure means based on image data, and toner is applied to the formed electrostatic latent image. The toner image is adhered and developed, and the resulting toner image is transferred to a recording medium conveyed from the medium tray, and further fixed. In such an electrophotographic printer, a jam occurs during the conveyance of the recording medium, or the recording medium size mismatch occurs.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a medium jam occurs, it is necessary to quickly remove the jammed recording medium from the apparatus. Therefore, a transfer conveyance unit including a transfer belt is formed so as to be able to swing, and the fixing unit heats up. When a pressure release member that separates the roller and the pressure roller is provided and the transfer conveyance unit is swung, the heat roller and the pressure roller are separated by the pressure release member in conjunction with this, thereby removing the jammed medium. An apparatus that facilitates the above is disclosed.

On the other hand, the image data sent from the host device includes information specifying the size of the medium on which the image is recorded, and the printer forms the print data according to the specified medium size and performs printing. Then, the control unit of the printer detects the size of the recording medium actually fed out, and if the detected medium size is different from the specified medium size, the printer performs printing up to the recording medium in which the medium size mismatch has occurred. Eject the recording medium and display an alarm after ejection. The user who sees the alarm display opens and closes the printer cover to resume printing.
JP 2004-341288 A

However, in the conventional electrophotographic printer, when recording media of different sizes are mixed in the media tray, after the medium size mismatch is detected and the recording media of different sizes are discharged, the next recording medium is the normal size. However, there is a problem that printing cannot be resumed without operator intervention.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of continuing printing without intervention of an operator if the size of the next recording medium is normal even when recording media of different sizes are mixed. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that forms an image based on print data, a size determination unit that determines a medium size based on the print data, and conveys the image for printing. A size detection unit that detects a medium size of the medium, a size check unit that performs a size check by comparing the medium size determined by the size determination unit and the medium size detected by the size detection unit, and the size check A medium feeding unit that feeds the next medium and discharges the medium when the size check unit confirms the match. A printing apparatus including a continuous print control unit.

  According to the present invention having the above configuration, when the size check unit determines that there is a mismatch, the medium causing the mismatch is discharged, the next medium is fed, and the size check unit further confirms the match. In this case, since the printing is continuously performed, the printing can be continued without requiring the user to open and close the cover.

Example 1
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element common to each drawing. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a connection interface (I / F) unit 3, an image data storage unit 4, a print control unit 5, a medium feeding unit 6, a medium transport unit 7, a size determination unit 8, and a size. It has a detection unit 9, a size check unit 10, a memory unit 11, and an operation / display unit 12. The system control unit 2 controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 1. The connection I / F unit 3 connects a LAN (Local Area Network) line, performs TCP / IP (Transmission / Internet Protocol) control, and receives a command from a host device (not shown).

  The image data storage unit 4 is composed of a built-in hard disk and stores received image data. The print control unit 5 controls the printing operation. The medium feeding unit 6 and the medium conveyance unit 7 are activated to control the conveyance of the recording medium P described later, and the size detection unit 9 and the size check unit 10 are activated. Thus, medium size detection and medium size comparison are executed.

  The medium feeding unit 6 controls the medium feeding mechanism and feeds the recording medium P from a sheet feeding tray described later. The medium conveying unit 7 conveys the recording medium P fed by the medium feeding unit 6 until it is discharged out of the apparatus. The size determination unit 8 determines the medium size specified by the header of the received image data. The size detection unit 9 detects the size of the recording medium P fed by the medium feeding unit 6 and conveyed by the medium conveyance unit 7. The size check unit 10 compares the medium size determined by the size determination unit 8 with the medium size detected by the size detection unit 9.

  The memory unit 11 includes a volatile storage device and stores data used by the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the memory unit 11. The memory unit 11 includes a print control data unit 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the print control data portion 13 includes a print size portion 13a, a print form portion 13b, a recovery print portion 13c, an alarm page portion 13d, a used tray portion 13e, a tray size information portion 13f, a pulse count portion 13g, and a print. It has a page portion 13h.

  Further, the operation / display unit 12 in FIG. 1 is input with an operation unit having a menu key necessary for operating the printing apparatus 1, a setting key for determining and starting the operation, and a cancel key for stopping the operation. It consists of a display unit that displays information and alarm information.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 3, the medium tray 21 accommodates the recording medium P, and the recording medium P is fed out by a paper feed roller 22 disposed on the upper end side of the medium tray 21. The sheet feeding roller 22 is included in the medium sheet feeding unit 6.

  A medium conveyance path 23 is formed with the paper feed roller 22 as a base point. A registration roller pair 24, a photosensitive drum 25, a transfer roller 26, a fixing roller pair 27, a switching blade 28, a discharge roller are formed along the medium conveyance path 23. Pairs 29 and 30 are provided.

  The medium conveyance path 23 branches into a face-down discharge path 31 and a face-up discharge path 32 at the arrangement point of the switching blade 28. The medium conveyance path 23 is provided with an inlet sensor 33 on the front side of the registration roller pair 24 (upstream side in the medium conveyance direction), and a writing sensor 34 is provided on the front side of the photosensitive drum 25 and the transfer roller 26. Further, an outlet sensor 35 is provided on the front side of the switching blade 28.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the entire printing process according to the first embodiment. The overall operation of the printing process is controlled by the system control unit 2. First, when the printing apparatus 1 receives a command from a host device (not shown), the connection I / F unit 3 analyzes the received command. If the request command is a print request, the system control unit indicates that the print request command has been received. 2 is notified. Upon receiving this notification (step 1), the system control unit 2 stores the print size (including the medium size) specified by the header of the received data in the print size unit 13a of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. At the same time, the print form designated by the received data is stored in the print form section 13b (step 2). Here, the designation of printing form is designation of punch holes, staples, and the like.

  The system control unit 2 storing the designated data notifies the print control unit 5 of a print start instruction (step 3), and clears the print page unit 13h of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. The printing operation performed by the print control unit 5 that has received a print start instruction in step 3 will be described with reference to FIG. During the printing operation by the print controller 5, the system controller 2 waits for the end. When the end of the printing operation is notified from the print control unit 5 (step 4), the system control unit 2 confirms the end state (step 5). In other words, the system control unit 2 confirms whether the printing operation has ended due to a size error or has ended normally.

  When the normal end is notified from the print control unit 5, the system control unit 2 refers to the recovery printing unit 13c of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11, and the normal end is a normal end in recovery printing after the size error. (Step 6). As described later, when recovery printing is performed, information indicating that recovery printing is performed is registered in the recovery printing unit 13c. When it is established that the recovery printing is not finished, the system control unit 2 finishes all the processes and shifts to a standby state.

  If it is determined in step 6 that recovery printing is to be performed, the system control unit 2 notifies the operation / display unit 12 of an alarm page display request (step 7), and the process ends. The operation / display unit 12 that has received the alarm page display request reads the alarm page unit 13d of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11 and displays the page ejected due to the size error.

  When the end of the size error is notified from the print control unit 5 in step 5, the system control unit 2 determines whether or not re-measurable printing is performed (step 8). Here, re-measurable printing refers to the case where no punch holes or staples are set by checking the print form portion 13b of the print control data portion 13 of the memory portion 11, and the recovery printing portion 13c of the print control data portion 13 If it is confirmed that recovery printing is not registered, it is assumed that the print can measure the medium size. When determining that the printing is not re-measurable printing, the system control unit 2 notifies the operation / display unit 12 of a size error display request (step 12) and ends the process.

  When it is determined in step 8 that the re-measurable printing is performed, the system control unit 2 notifies the print control unit 5 of a medium size measurement instruction (step 9). The medium size measurement by the print control unit 5 that receives the measurement instruction will be described with reference to FIG. The system control unit 2 that has issued the medium size measurement instruction waits for the measurement end notification from the print control unit 5 and receives the measurement end notification (step 10), and confirms the measurement result (step 11). That is, when the medium control unit 5 is notified from the print control unit 5, the system control unit 2 registers that the recovery printing is performed in the recovery printing unit 13 c of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. Returning to FIG. 5, the print control unit 5 is notified of a print start instruction and printing is continued. When the medium size mismatch result is notified from the print control unit 5 in step 11, the system control unit 2 notifies the operation / display unit 12 of a size error display request (step 12) and ends the processing. The operation / display unit 12 that has received the size error display request displays a size error.

  Next, the printing operation performed by the print control unit 5 that has received a print start instruction in Step 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the printing operation. The print control unit 5 that has received the print start instruction from the system control unit 2 in step 20 first notifies the medium paper supply unit 6 of the medium paper supply start instruction (step 21). Receiving the medium feeding start instruction, the medium feeding unit 6 reads the used tray unit 13e of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11 and rotates the feeding roller 22 from the designated tray (for example, 21 in FIG. 3). Thus, the feeding of the recording medium P is started. The medium feeding unit 6 waits for an inlet sensor 33 provided in the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on (detects the recording medium P), and when the inlet sensor 33 is turned on, feeds the paper to the print control unit 5. Notify completion.

  When the completion of paper feeding is notified (step 22), the print control unit 5 notifies the medium conveyance unit 7 of a medium conveyance start instruction (step 23) and notifies the size detection unit 9 of a medium size measurement start instruction (step 23). Step 24). In response to the medium conveyance start instruction, the medium conveyance unit 7 activates the registration roller pair 24, the transfer roller 26, the fixing roller pair 27, and the discharge roller pairs 29 and 30, thereby recording the sheet fed by the medium sheet feeding unit 6. The conveyance of the medium P is started. Then, it waits for the writing sensor 34 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on.

  Further, the size detection unit 9 that has received the medium size measurement start instruction in Step 9 clears the pulse count unit 13 g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. The pulse count unit 13g is used for measurement of the medium size by incrementing the count by 1 every time the conveyance data (not shown) is operated by one pulse. In the medium size measurement method, the length of the recording medium P is calculated by multiplying the advance amount of the recording medium P with respect to one pulse drive of the conveyance motor by the pulse count value. When the medium conveyance unit 7 detects that the writing sensor 34 is turned on, the print control unit 5 is notified of the arrival of the print position of the recording medium P, and the inlet sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 is turned off (recording medium). Wait for P's trailing edge detection).

  Upon receiving the print start position arrival notification of the recording medium P (step 25), the print control unit 5 controls the exposure, development, and transfer operations and the fixing operation on the photosensitive drum 25 to start image formation, and the memory. "1" is added to the print page portion 13h of the print control data portion 13 of the portion 11 (step 26). When the medium transport unit 7 detects that the entrance sensor 33 is turned off, the medium transport unit 7 notifies the print control unit 5 of the detection of the trailing edge of the recording medium P. Upon receiving notification of trailing edge detection (step 27), the print control unit 5 notifies the size detection unit 9 of the end of medium size measurement, and notifies the size check unit 10 of a medium size check request (step 28).

  Upon receiving the medium size measurement end notification, the size detection unit 9 ends the writing of the drive motor drive pulse count value to the pulse count unit 13 g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. In response to the medium size check request, the size check unit 10 reads the count value of the pulse count unit 13g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11 and obtains the length of the recording medium P by the size measurement method described above. And the medium size stored in the print size portion 13a of the print control data portion 13 of the memory portion 11 are compared. As a result of the comparison, if both the media sizes match, the print control unit 5 is notified of the media size match. If the two media sizes do not match, the print control unit 5 is notified of the media size mismatch.

  Upon receiving the medium size match notification (step 29), the print control unit 5 determines whether all print data has been printed (step 30). If print data remains, the process returns to step 21, and the next page is updated. Start printing. When it is determined that all print data has been printed, the medium transport unit 7 is notified of a medium discharge request. Upon receiving the medium discharge request, the medium transport unit 7 waits for the exit sensor 35 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off (the rear end of the recording medium P passes). When the medium transport unit 7 detects that the exit sensor 35 is turned off, the medium transport unit 7 notifies the print control unit 5 of the end of the medium discharge. When the print control unit 5 receives the medium discharge end notification (step 31), the print control unit 5 notifies the system control unit 2 of normal print end and ends the printing process.

  The print controller 5 that has received the medium size mismatch notification in the step 29 confirms whether the exit sensor 35 is turned on, that is, whether the discharge port can be switched (step 32). When the exit sensor 35 is on, the discharge direction cannot be switched because the recording medium P has reached the branch point between the face-down discharge path 31 and the face-up discharge path 32. Therefore, the print control unit 5 reads out the print page unit 13h of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11, registers it in the alarm page unit 13d (step 33), and notifies the system control unit 2 of a print end size error. (Step 34), the process ends.

  When the exit sensor 35 is off in step 32, the medium transport unit 7 is notified of a discharge port switching instruction (step 35). Upon receiving the notification, the medium transport unit 7 switches the switching blade 28 shown in FIG. 3 to switch the discharge port from which the recording medium P is discharged, and notifies the print control unit 5 of the end of the discharge port switching. The print control unit 5 that has received the notification of exit end switching notifies the system control unit 2 of a print end size error (step 34) and ends the process.

  Next, the medium size measuring operation when receiving a medium size measuring instruction from the system control unit 2 in step 9 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the medium size measuring operation. Upon receiving the medium size measurement instruction from the system control unit 2 in step 40, the print control unit 5 notifies the medium sheet feeding unit 6 of a medium sheet feeding start instruction (step 41). Receiving the medium feeding start instruction, the medium feeding unit 6 rotates the feeding roller 22 from the feeding tray 21 designated by the use tray unit 13e of the printing control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11 to record the recording medium P. Start feeding paper. The medium feeding unit 6 waits for the entrance sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on, and notifies the print control unit 5 of the completion of feeding when the entrance sensor 33 is turned on.

  Upon receiving the paper feed completion notification (step 42), the print control unit 5 notifies the medium conveyance unit 7 of the start of medium conveyance (step 43) and notifies the size detection unit 9 of the start of medium size measurement (step 44). ). Upon receiving the medium conveyance start notification, the medium conveyance unit 7 activates the registration roller pair 24, the transfer roller 26, the fixing roller pair 27, and the discharge roller pairs 29 and 30, thereby recording the sheet fed by the medium sheet feeding unit 6. The conveyance of the medium P is started. Then, it waits for the writing sensor 34 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on. Upon receiving the medium size measurement start notification, the size detection unit 9 clears the pulse count unit 13 g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. When the medium conveyance unit 7 detects that the writing sensor 34 is turned on, the print control unit 5 is notified of the arrival of the printing position of the recording medium P and waits for the entrance sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned off. .

  When the print control unit 5 receives the print position arrival notification of the recording medium P (step 45), the print control unit 5 shifts to a medium rear end detection waiting in order to perform only the medium size measurement without performing the print control here. When the print conveyance unit 7 detects that the inlet sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 is turned off, the print conveyance unit 7 notifies the print control unit 5 of the detection of the trailing edge of the recording medium P. Upon receiving the medium rear end detection notification (step 46), the print control unit 5 notifies the size detection unit 9 of the end of the medium size measurement, and notifies the size check unit 10 of the medium size check request (step 47). Upon receiving the medium size measurement end notification, the size detection unit 9 finishes writing the pulse count value to the pulse count unit 13g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11. In response to the medium size check request, the size check unit 10 reads the count value of the pulse count unit 13g of the print control data unit 13 of the memory unit 11 and obtains the length of the recording medium P by the size measurement method described above. Is compared with the media size stored in the print size portion 13a of the print control data portion 13 of the memory portion 11 (step 48). As a result of the comparison, if both the media sizes match, the print control unit 5 is notified of the media size match. If the two media sizes do not match, the print control unit 5 is notified of the media size mismatch. When the print control unit 5 receives the medium size match notification, the print control unit 5 notifies the system control unit 2 of the medium size match (step 49) and ends the process.

  In response to the medium size mismatch notification, the print control unit 5 notifies the medium transport unit 7 of a medium discharge request. Upon receiving the medium discharge request, the medium transport unit 7 waits for the outlet sensor 35 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off. The medium transport unit 7 that has detected that the exit sensor 35 has been turned off notifies the print control unit 5 of the end of the medium discharge. Upon receiving the medium discharge end notification (step 50), the print control unit 5 notifies the system control unit 2 of the medium size mismatch (step 51) and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is confirmed whether or not the size of the next recording medium can be measured even when recording media having different sizes are mixed in the paper feed tray 21 (see step 8). If possible, the size of the next recording medium is measured (see step 9), and if the result of the measurement matches the size to be printed (see step 11), printing is performed without requiring the user to open and close the cover. Can be obtained (see step 3). In addition, when a size mismatch is detected during printing, the recording medium in which the mismatch has occurred is discharged by switching the discharge port (see step 35), so only the size mismatched recording medium is discharged to a different discharge port, Thereby, the operator can distinguish between the discharge of the recording medium for normal printing and the discharge of the recording medium due to the size error, and the processing of the recording medium becomes easy.

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the printing apparatus 41 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, a printing apparatus 41 includes a system control unit 42, a connection interface (I / F) unit 43, an image data storage unit 44, a print control unit 45, a medium feeding unit 46, a medium transport unit 47, a size determination unit 48, A size detection unit 49, a size check unit 50, a memory unit 51, an operation / display unit 52, and a double-sided mechanism control unit 53 are included. The system control unit 42 controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 41. The connection I / F unit 43 connects a LAN line, performs TCP / IP control, and receives a command from a host device (not shown).

  The image data storage unit 44 is composed of a built-in hard disk and stores received image data. The print control unit 45 controls the printing operation. The print control unit 45 activates the medium feeding unit 46 and the medium conveyance unit 47 to control conveyance of the recording medium P, and activates the size detection unit 49 and the size check unit 50. The medium size is detected and the medium size is compared.

  The medium sheet feeding unit 46 controls the medium sheet feeding mechanism and feeds the recording medium P from the sheet feeding tray 21. The medium conveying unit 47 conveys the recording medium P fed by the medium feeding unit 46 until it is discharged out of the apparatus. The size determination unit 48 determines the medium size specified by the header of the received image data. The size detection unit 49 detects the size of the recording medium P that is fed by the medium feeding unit 46 and conveyed by the medium conveyance unit 47. The size check unit 50 compares the medium size determined by the size determination unit 48 with the medium size detected by the size detection unit 49.

  The memory unit 51 includes a volatile storage device and stores data used by the printing device 41. The memory unit 51 includes a print control data unit 54. As shown in FIG. 8, the print control data section 54 includes a print size section 54a, a print form section 54b, a recovery print section 54c, an alarm page section 54d, a used tray section 54e, a tray size information section 54f, a pulse count section 54g, It has a print page portion 54h, a discharge stacker portion 54i, and a recovery tray portion 54j. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the memory unit 51 according to the second embodiment.

  The operation / display unit 52 includes a menu key necessary for operating the printing apparatus 41, a setting key for determining and starting the operation, an operation unit having a cancel key for stopping the operation, and input information and alarm information. It consists of a display unit that displays. The double-sided mechanism control unit 53 controls a double-sided unit which will be described later, and feeds the recording medium P transported by the medium transporting unit 47 to the double-sided printing unit, and transports the fed recording medium P by the double-sided printing unit. .

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus 41 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the medium tray 21 accommodates the recording medium P, and the recording medium P is fed out by a paper feed roller 22 disposed on the upper end side of the medium tray 21. The paper feed roller 22 is included in the medium paper feed unit 46. A medium conveyance path 23 is formed with the paper feed roller 22 as a base point. A registration roller pair 24, a photosensitive drum 25, a transfer roller 26, a fixing roller pair 27, a switching blade 28, a discharge roller are formed along the medium conveyance path 23. Pairs 29 and 30 are provided.

  The medium conveyance path 23 branches into a discharge path (face-down discharge path) 31 and a reverse conveyance path 55 at the arrangement point of the switching blade 28. The medium conveyance path 23 is provided with an inlet sensor 33 on the front side of the registration roller pair 24 (upstream side in the medium conveyance direction), and a writing sensor 34 is provided on the front side of the photosensitive drum 25 and the transfer roller 26. Further, an outlet sensor 35 is provided on the front side of the switching blade 28. The reverse conveyance path 55 is provided with a duplex unit paper feed roller pair 56 and conveyance rollers 57, 58, 59 as conveyance means, and an inlet sensor 60 is provided in front of the duplex unit paper feed roller pair 56. Is provided with a paper feed completion sensor 61. The rollers and sensors along the reverse conveyance path 55 are provided in a duplex printing unit (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the printing process according to the second embodiment. The overall operation of the printing process is controlled by the system control unit 42. First, when the printing device 41 receives a command from a host device (not shown), the connection I / F unit 43 analyzes the received command. If the request command is a print request, the system control unit indicates that the print request command has been received. 42 is notified. Upon receiving this notification (step 61), the system control unit 42 stores the print size (including the medium size) specified by the header of the received data in the print size unit 54a of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. At the same time, the print form designated by the received data is stored in the print form section 54b (step 62). Here, the print form designation is designation of punch holes, staples, or the like.

  The system control unit 42 storing the data notifies the print control unit 45 of a print start instruction (step 63) and clears the print page unit 54h of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. The printing operation performed by the print control unit 45 that has received a print start instruction in step 63 will be described with reference to FIG. During the printing operation by the print control unit 45, the system control unit 42 waits for the end. When the end of the printing operation is notified from the print control unit 45 (step 64), the system control unit 42 confirms the end state (step 65). In other words, the system control unit 42 confirms whether the printing operation has ended with a size error or has ended normally.

  When the normal end is notified from the print control unit 45, the system control unit 42 refers to the recovery printing unit 54c of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and the normal end is normal end in recovery printing after the size error. (Step 66). As described later, when recovery printing is performed, information indicating that recovery printing is performed is registered in the recovery printing unit 54c. If it is determined that recovery printing has not ended, the system control unit 42 ends all processing and shifts to a standby state.

  If it is determined in step 66 that the printing is recovery printing, the system control unit 42 notifies the operation / display unit 52 of an alarm page display request (step 67), and the process ends. The operation / display unit 52 that has received the alarm page display request reads the alarm page unit 54d of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and displays the page discharged due to the size error.

  When the end of the size error is notified from the print control unit 45 in step 65, the system control unit 42 determines whether or not re-measurable printing is performed (step 68). Here, re-measurable printing refers to the case where no punch holes or staples are set by checking the print form portion 54b of the print control data portion 54 of the memory portion 51, and the recovery printing portion 54c of the print control data portion 54. If it is confirmed that recovery printing is not registered, it is assumed that the print can measure the medium size.

  If it is determined in step 68 that the printing is not re-measurable printing, the system control unit 42 notifies the operation / display unit 52 of a size error display request (step 73) and ends the process. The operation / display unit 52 that has received the size error display request displays a size error.

  If it is determined in step 68 that the re-measurable printing is performed, the system control unit 42 determines whether or not the double-sided printing unit is installed. If it is installed, the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 is discharged. A double-sided printing unit is set in the stacker unit 54i. If the double-sided printing unit is not attached, the normal discharge path 31 is set (step 69). At the same time, a medium size measurement instruction is notified to the print control unit 45 (step 70). The medium size measurement by the print control unit 45 that has received the measurement instruction will be described with reference to FIG.

  The system control unit 42 that has issued the medium size measurement instruction waits for the measurement end notification from the print control unit 45, and when receiving the measurement end notification (step 71), confirms the measurement result (step 72). That is, when the medium size match result is notified from the print control unit 45, the system control unit 42 registers that the recovery printing is performed in the recovery print unit 54c of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and the memory unit The discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 51 is read out and set in the recovery tray unit 54j of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 (step 74). After the setting, the system control unit 42 returns to step 63, notifies the print control unit 45 of a print start instruction, and continues printing.

  When the medium size mismatch result is notified from the print control unit 45 in step 72, the system control unit 42 notifies the operation / display unit 52 of a size error display request (step 73) and ends the processing. The operation / display unit 52 that has received the size error display request displays a size error.

  Next, the printing operation performed by the print control unit 45 that has received a print start instruction in step 63 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the second embodiment. In step 80, the print control unit 45 that has received the print start instruction from the system control unit 42 determines the recovery tray unit 54j of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and determines whether it is recovery printing (step 81). When it is determined that recovery printing is performed, the recovery tray portion 54j of the print control data portion 54 of the memory portion 51 is used as a paper feed tray (step 82). When it is determined that recovery printing is not performed, the print control data portion of the memory portion 51 is determined. The use tray unit 54e of 54 is set as a paper feed tray (step 83), and a medium feed start instruction is notified to the medium paper feed unit 46 (step 84).

  The medium sheet feeding unit 46 that has received the medium sheet feeding start instruction notifies the duplex mechanism control unit 53 of the sheet feeding instruction when the designated tray is a sheet feeding instruction from the duplex printing unit. Receiving the paper feed instruction, the double-sided mechanism control unit 53 starts discharging the recording medium P by rotating the transport rollers 57, 58, and 59 shown in FIG. When the designated tray is not the duplex printing unit but the normal paper feed tray 21, the paper feed roller 22 is rotated to start feeding the recording medium P.

  The medium feeding unit 46 waits for the entrance sensor 33 provided in the medium transport path 23 to be turned on, and notifies the print control unit 45 of the completion of feeding when the entrance sensor 33 is turned on. When the paper feed completion is notified (step 85), the print control unit 45 notifies the medium transport unit 47 of a medium transport start instruction (step 86) and notifies the size detection unit 49 of a medium size measurement start instruction (step 86). Step 87). Upon receiving the medium conveyance start instruction, the medium conveyance unit 47 starts conveyance of the recording medium P by activating the registration roller pair 24, the transfer roller 26, the fixing roller pair 27, and the discharge roller pairs 29 and 30. Then, it waits for the writing sensor 34 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on.

  Further, the size detection unit 49 that has received the medium size measurement start instruction in Step 70 clears the pulse count unit 54 g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. The medium size is measured in the same manner as in Example 1. When the medium transport unit 47 detects that the writing sensor 34 is turned on, the print control unit 45 is notified of the arrival of the print position of the recording medium P and waits for the entrance sensor 33 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off. .

  Upon receiving the print position arrival notification of the recording medium P (step 88), the print control unit 45 controls the exposure, development, and transfer operations and the fixing operation on the photosensitive drum 25 to start image formation, and the memory. 1 is added to the print page portion 54h of the print control data portion 54 of the portion 51 (step 89). When the medium transport unit 47 detects that the entrance sensor 33 is turned off, the medium transport unit 47 notifies the print control unit 45 of the detection of the trailing edge of the recording medium P. Upon receiving notification of trailing edge detection (step 90), the print control unit 45 notifies the size detection unit 49 of the end of medium size measurement and notifies the size check unit 50 of a medium size check request (step 91).

  The size detection unit 49 that has received the medium size measurement end notification finishes writing the pulse count value to the pulse count unit 54 g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. In response to the medium size check request, the size check unit 50 reads the count value of the pulse count unit 54g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and obtains the length of the recording medium P by the above-described size measurement method. And the medium size stored in the print size portion 54a of the print control data portion 54 of the memory portion 51 (step 92). As a result of the comparison, if both the media sizes match, the print control unit 45 is notified of the media size match. If the two media sizes do not match, the print control unit 45 is notified of the media size mismatch.

  Upon receiving the medium size match notification, the print control unit 45 determines whether all the print data has been printed (step 93). If print data remains, the process returns to step 84 to start printing the next page. To do. When it is determined that all print data has been printed, the medium transport unit 47 is notified of a medium discharge request. The medium transport unit 47 that has received the medium discharge request waits for the outlet sensor 35 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off. When the medium transport unit 47 detects that the exit sensor 35 is turned off, the medium transport unit 47 notifies the print control unit 45 of the end of the medium discharge. When the print control unit 45 receives the medium discharge end notification (step 94), the print control unit 45 notifies the system control unit 42 of the normal print end and ends the printing process.

  Upon receiving the medium size mismatch notification in step 92, the print control unit 45 reads the print page unit 54h of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 and registers it in the alarm page unit 54d (step 95) and the system control unit. 42 is notified of the print end size error (step 96), and the process is terminated.

  Next, the medium size measuring operation when the medium size measuring instruction is received from the system control unit 42 in step 70 shown in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the medium size measuring operation in the second embodiment. In step 100, the print control unit 45 that has received the medium size measurement instruction from the system control unit 42 notifies the medium sheet feeding unit 46 of the medium sheet feeding start instruction (step 101). Upon receiving the medium feeding start instruction, the medium feeding unit 46 reads the used tray unit 54e of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and rotates the feeding roller 22 from the designated feeding tray 21 for recording. The feeding of the medium P is started. The medium feeding unit 46 waits for the entrance sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on, and notifies the print control unit 45 of the completion of feeding when the entrance sensor 33 is turned on.

  Upon receiving a paper feed completion notification (step 102), the print control unit 45 notifies the medium conveyance unit 47 of the start of medium conveyance (step 103) and notifies the size detection unit 49 of the start of medium size measurement (step 104). ). Upon receiving the medium conveyance start notification, the medium conveyance unit 47 determines the discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 (step 105), and when a duplex printing unit is set in the discharge stacker unit 54i. In addition, the double side mechanism control unit 53 is notified of a paper feed instruction (step 106), and the registration roller pair 24, the transfer roller 26, the fixing roller pair 27, and the discharge roller pairs 29 and 30 are activated to thereby activate the medium paper feed unit 46. Then, the conveyance of the recording medium P fed by is started, and it waits for the writing sensor 34 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on.

  Receiving the paper feed instruction, the duplex mechanism control unit 53 switches the switching blade 28 to the reverse conveyance path 55 side and rotates the duplex unit paper feed roller pair 56 and the conveyance rollers 57, 58, 59 to feed paper.

  If the discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 is determined and it is determined that no duplex printing unit is set in the discharge stacker unit 54i, the registration roller pair 24, the transfer roller 26, and the fixing roller pair 27 and the discharge roller pair 29 and 30 are activated to start the conveyance of the recording medium P fed by the medium feeding unit 46 and wait for the writing sensor 34 on the medium conveyance path 23 to be turned on. .

  Upon receiving the medium size measurement start notification, the size detection unit 49 clears the pulse count unit 54 g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. When the medium transport unit 47 detects that the writing sensor 34 is turned on, the print control unit 45 is notified of the arrival of the print position of the recording medium P and waits for the entrance sensor 33 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off. .

  When the print control unit 45 receives the print position arrival notification of the recording medium P (step 107), the print control unit 45 shifts to a medium rear end detection waiting in order to perform only the medium size measurement without performing the printing operation here. When the print conveyance unit 47 detects that the inlet sensor 33 on the medium conveyance path 23 is turned off, the print conveyance unit 47 notifies the print control unit 45 of the detection of the trailing edge of the recording medium P. Upon receiving the medium rear end detection notification (step 108), the print control unit 45 notifies the size detection unit 49 of the end of the medium size measurement, and notifies the size check unit 50 of the medium size check request (step 109).

  The size detection unit 49 that has received the medium size measurement end notification finishes writing the pulse count value to the pulse count unit 54 g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51. In response to the medium size check request, the size check unit 50 reads the count value of the pulse count unit 54g of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and obtains the length of the recording medium P by the above-described size measurement method. And the medium size stored in the print size portion 54a of the print control data portion 54 of the memory portion 51 are compared. As a result of the comparison, if both the media sizes match, the print control unit 45 is notified of the media size match. If the two media sizes do not match, the print control unit 45 is notified of the media size mismatch.

  When the print control unit 45 receives the medium size coincidence notification (step 110), the print control unit 45 determines the discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and if a duplex printing unit is set in the discharge stacker 54i. Then, the process shifts to waiting for completion of feeding of the duplex printing unit (step 111). The duplex mechanism controller 53 confirms that the inlet sensor 60 on the reverse conveyance path 55 is turned on, and then waits for the paper feed completion sensor 61 on the reverse conveyance path 55 to be turned on. When the paper feed completion sensor 61 is turned on, the print control unit 45 is notified of the completion of paper feeding on the duplex printing unit. When receiving the double-sided printing unit paper feed completion notification (step 112), the print control unit 45 notifies the system control unit 42 of the size match (step 113) and ends the processing.

  In step 111, the discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51 is determined, and when the duplex printing unit is not set in the discharge stacker 54i, the system control unit 42 is notified of the size match (step 113). ), The process is terminated.

  In step 110, the print control unit 45 that has received the medium size mismatch notification determines the discharge stacker unit 54i of the print control data unit 54 of the memory unit 51, and if a duplex printing unit is set in the discharge stacker 54i, The process shifts to waiting for completion of feeding of the duplex printing unit (step 114). The duplex mechanism controller 53 confirms that the inlet sensor 60 on the reverse conveyance path 55 is turned on, and then waits for the paper feed completion sensor 61 on the reverse conveyance path 55 to be turned on. When the paper feed completion sensor 61 is turned on, the print control unit 45 is notified of the completion of paper feeding on the duplex printing unit.

  When the print control unit 45 receives the double-sided printing unit paper feed completion notification (step 115), the print control unit 45 notifies the medium conveying unit 47 of the medium discharge request and also notifies the double-sided printing unit medium discharge request to the double-sided mechanism control unit 53 ( Step 116). Receiving the medium discharge request, the duplex mechanism control unit 53 starts the medium discharge by driving the transport rollers 57, 58, 59 of the duplex printing unit. The medium transport unit 47 that has received the medium discharge request waits for the outlet sensor 35 on the medium transport path 23 to be turned off. The medium transport unit 47 that has detected that the exit sensor 35 has been turned off notifies the print control unit 45 of the end of the medium discharge. Upon receiving the medium discharge end notification (step 117), the print control unit 45 notifies the system control unit 42 of the medium size mismatch (step 118) and ends the processing.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, even when a recording medium of a different size is mixed in the paper feed tray 21 in the case where the double-sided printing unit is provided, the size of the next recording medium is measured. As a result, if the size matches the size to be printed, printing is performed on the recording medium conveyed to the duplex printing unit, thereby requesting the user to open and close the cover without wastefully ejecting the recording medium P. It is possible to obtain an effect that printing can be continued.

  In each of the above embodiments, an electrophotographic printer has been described as an example of an image recording apparatus. However, if the connection I / F unit is changed to ITUT-T30 protocol procedure control and modem control for facsimile, it can be applied to a facsimile apparatus. is there.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory unit according to the first embodiment. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment. 6 is a float illustrating an operation of the entire printing process according to the first exemplary embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the first exemplary embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a medium size measurement operation in Embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a memory unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. 10 is a float illustrating an operation of the entire printing process according to the second exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation according to the second exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a medium size measurement operation in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 41 Printing device
2, 42 System control unit 5, 45 Print control unit 6, 46 Medium feeding unit 7, 47 Medium transport unit 9, 49 Size detection unit 10, 50 Size check unit 11, 51 Memory unit 53 Double-sided mechanism control unit P Recording medium

Claims (8)

In a printing apparatus that forms an image based on print data,
A size determination unit for determining a medium size based on print data;
A size detection unit for detecting a medium size of a medium conveyed for printing;
A size check unit that compares the medium size determined by the size determination unit with the medium size detected by the size detection unit and performs a size check;
When the size check unit determines that there is a mismatch, the medium check unit has a medium feeding unit that discharges the medium causing the mismatch and feeds the next medium,
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that continuously performs printing when a match is confirmed by the size check unit. When it is determined that the size check section does not match during printing, the medium that caused the mismatch is ejected and the next medium is fed.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a mismatch is detected again by the size check unit, printing is stopped due to a medium size error.   When it is determined that the size check unit does not match during printing, the medium causing the mismatch is discharged, the next medium is fed, and when the size check unit confirms the match, printing is continued, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a size mismatch is displayed. When the size check unit determines that there is a discrepancy during printing, when the media that caused the discrepancy is switched and ejected, the next media is fed, and the size check unit confirms the match The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing is continued. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a punch request is instructed based on print data, the printing is stopped without performing recovery printing when the size check unit determines that there is a mismatch. .   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a staple request is instructed based on print data, printing is stopped without performing recovery printing when it is determined that the size check unit does not match. . In a printing apparatus that forms an image based on print data,
A size determination unit for determining a medium size based on print data;
A size detector for detecting the size of the medium to be conveyed for printing;
A duplex printing control unit for storing the measured medium;
A size check unit that compares the medium size determined by the size determination unit with the medium size detected by the size detection unit and performs a size check;
When the size check unit determines that there is a discrepancy, the medium feeding unit ejects the medium that caused the discrepancy and feeds the next medium;
A printing apparatus comprising: a printing control unit that stores the fed medium in a duplex unit and performs printing from the medium stored in the duplex unit when the size check unit detects a match. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fed medium is stored in a duplex unit, and when the mismatch is detected by the size check unit, the medium stored in the duplex unit is discharged and then stopped.

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