JP2014177116A - Image formation apparatus, operation stopping method, and operation stopping program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify processing relating to control necessary to forcible stoppage of a job currently being executed.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: an image processing mechanism unit which is a mechanical component for realizing an image processing function; an information processing driving unit which drives the image processing mechanism unit in accordance with an operation state of the apparatus; and an operation accepting unit which obtains information corresponding to an operation on an operation unit for accepting an operation from a user. If the operation accepting unit obtains information corresponding to a normal stopping operation, the apparatus outputs a signal to order a stoppage of an image processing operation to the image processing driving unit. If the operation reception unit obtains information corresponding to a forcible stoppage operation, the apparatus outputs a signal to order the stoppage of the image processing operation being executed to the image processing mechanism unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an operation stop method, and an operation stop program, and more particularly to a technique for forcibly stopping a job being executed in an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is often configured as a multifunction machine that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, or a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like.

  Among such image processing apparatuses, in an image forming apparatus used for outputting an electronic image, an image forming mechanism for performing image forming output and a sheet as a medium on which an image is output are conveyed. Various configurations such as a transport mechanism are mechanically operated. For this reason, various processes are set in the stop operation control of the apparatus so as not to cause problems in the apparatus.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, in a configuration in which a drawing processing module and an image processing module are connected in series, whether or not a subsequent image processing module can be stopped when a forced stop request is issued during print processing. An image forming apparatus provided with an output destination stoppage determination unit for determining whether or not there is an output destination is disclosed. If the image processing module cannot be stopped when the forced stop request is issued, the image processing module performs image processing using pixel data having a predetermined color value for the number of unprocessed pixels. Then, the processing of the image processing module is terminated. On the other hand, when the forced stop request is issued, if the image processing module can be stopped, the image processing module is immediately stopped to respond to the emergency stop request more quickly.

  According to the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when performing a forced stop operation of a job that is being executed, a stop operation is first performed by the drawing module in the previous stage by a trigger for one stop request, and then the subsequent stage. The trigger is handed over to the image processing module to perform a stop operation. Therefore, since the trigger for forcibly stopping the job being executed in the subsequent image module is received via the preceding drawing module, the problem of complicated control for trigger delivery has been solved. Absent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to simplify processing related to control necessary for forcibly stopping a job being executed.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. In an image forming apparatus, an image processing mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, and the image processing mechanism according to the operating state of the apparatus. An image processing drive unit that drives the operation unit, an operation reception unit that acquires information according to an operation on the operation unit that receives an operation from a user, and the operation reception unit that acquires information according to a normal stop operation A normal stop instructing unit that outputs a signal for instructing the image processing driving unit to stop the image processing operation, and the image processing when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to the forced stop operation. And a forced stop instruction unit that outputs a signal for instructing the mechanism unit to stop the image processing operation being executed.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an image processing mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, an image processing driving unit that drives the image processing mechanism unit according to an operation state of the apparatus, and an operation from a user An operation receiving unit that acquires information corresponding to an operation on the operation unit that receives the operation, and an operation stopping method of the image forming apparatus, wherein the operation receiving unit acquires information corresponding to a normal stop operation A signal for instructing the image processing drive unit to stop the image processing operation, and when the operation receiving unit acquires information corresponding to the forced stop operation, the image processing mechanism unit A signal for instructing to stop the image processing operation being executed is output.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, an image processing driving unit that drives the image processing mechanism unit according to an operation state of the apparatus, and a user An operation reception unit that acquires information according to an operation on an operation unit that receives the operation of the image forming apparatus, wherein the operation reception unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation A signal for instructing the image processing drive unit to stop the image processing operation is output to the image processing mechanism unit when the operation receiving unit acquires information corresponding to the forced stop operation. On the other hand, the computer is caused to execute a process of outputting a signal for instructing to stop the image processing operation being executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify processing related to control necessary for forcibly stopping a job being executed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure regarding an operation | movement stop process. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of an inkjet forming apparatus. It is a sectional side view of an inkjet forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a stop operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 2 shows a screen displayed during a stop operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, (a) shows a forced stop selection screen, (b) shows a screen during forced stop execution, and (c) forced out of charge target. A stop notification screen is shown, and (d) shows a forced stop notification screen to be charged. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a stop operation without display processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present exemplary embodiment, a description will be given of a feature in the case of forcibly stopping the operation of the apparatus during the execution of a job in an image forming apparatus as a multifunction peripheral (MFP).

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an engine that executes image formation in addition to the same configuration as an information processing terminal such as a general server or a PC (Personal Computer). That is, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11, a ROM (ReA / D Only Memory) 12, an engine 13, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 14, and the like. The I / F 15 is connected via the bus 18. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 16 and an operation unit 17 are connected to the I / F 15.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The RAM 11 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 12 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium, and stores programs such as firmware. The engine 13 is a mechanism that actually executes image formation / processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The HDD 14 is a nonvolatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like. The I / F 15 connects and controls the bus 18 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 16 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 17 is a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse for the user to input information to the image forming apparatus 1.

  In such a hardware configuration, a program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 12, the HDD 14, or an optical disk (not shown) is read into the RAM 11 and operates according to the control of the CPU 10, thereby configuring a software control unit. A functional block that realizes the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured as described above and hardware.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 20, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 21, a scanner unit 22, a paper discharge tray 23, a display panel 24, and a paper feeding unit. 25, a print engine 26, a paper discharge tray 27, and a network I / F 28. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ink jet forming apparatus that forms an image by an ink jet recording method using roll paper as an image forming mechanism. In this case, the paper feed unit 25 and the print engine 26 are included in the inkjet forming apparatus 100. The ADF 21 and the scanner unit 22 are included in the image reading apparatus 200.

  The controller 20 includes a main control unit 30, an engine control unit 31, an input / output control unit 32, an image processing unit 33, and an operation display control unit 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a multifunction machine having a scanner unit 22 and a print engine 26. In FIG. 2, the electrical connection is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of paper is indicated by broken arrows.

  The display panel 24 is an output interface that visually displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and is an input when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus 1 or inputs information to the image forming apparatus 1 as a touch panel. It is also an interface (operation unit). The network I / F 28 is an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other devices via the network, and uses an Ethernet (registered trademark) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface.

  The controller 20 is configured by a combination of software (including an operation stop program for executing the operation stop method of the image forming apparatus 1) and hardware. Specifically, a control program such as firmware stored in a nonvolatile recording medium such as the ROM 12 and the nonvolatile memory and the HDD 14 and the optical disk is loaded into a volatile memory (hereinafter referred to as a memory) such as the RAM 11 to control the CPU 10. The controller 20 is configured by a software control unit configured according to the above and hardware such as an integrated circuit. The controller 20 functions as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The main control unit 30 plays a role of controlling each unit included in the controller 20 and gives a command to each unit of the controller 20. The engine control unit 31 serves as a driving unit that controls or drives the print engine 26, the ADF 21, the scanner unit 22, and the like.

  The input / output control unit 32 inputs a signal or a command input via the network I / F 28 to the main control unit 30. The main control unit 30 controls the input / output control unit 32 and accesses other devices via the network I / F 28.

  The image processing unit 33 generates drawing information based on the print information included in the input print job under the control of the main control unit 30. The drawing information is information for drawing an image to be formed in the image forming operation by the print engine 26 as an image forming unit. The print information included in the print job is image information converted into a format that can be recognized by the image forming apparatus 1 by a printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus such as a PC. The operation display control unit 34 displays information on the display panel 24 or notifies the main control unit 30 of information input via the display panel 24. Therefore, the main control unit 30 and the operation display control unit 34 form an operation receiving unit.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a printer, first, the input / output control unit 32 receives a print job via the network I / F 28. The input / output control unit 32 transfers the received print job to the main control unit 30. When receiving the print job, the main control unit 30 controls the image processing unit 33 to generate drawing information based on the print information included in the print job.

  When drawing information is generated by the image processing unit 33, the engine control unit 31 executes image formation on the roll paper conveyed from the paper supply unit 25 in the inkjet forming apparatus 100 based on the generated drawing information. To do. That is, the inkjet forming apparatus 100 functions as the print engine 26. A document on which an image has been formed by the print engine 26 is discharged to a discharge tray 27.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a scanner, the operation display control unit 34 or the input / output unit is operated in accordance with a user operation on the display panel 24 or a scan execution instruction input from an external PC or the like via the network I / F 28. The control unit 32 transfers a scan execution signal to the main control unit 30. The main control unit 30 controls the engine control unit 31 based on the received scan execution signal.

  The engine control unit 31 drives the ADF 21 and conveys the document set on the ADF 21 to the scanner unit 22. Further, the engine control unit 31 drives the scanner unit 22 and images a document conveyed from the ADF 21. If no original is set on the ADF 21 and the original is directly set on the scanner unit 22, the scanner unit 22 takes an image of the set original under the control of the engine control unit 31. That is, the ADF 21 and the scanner unit 22 function as an image reading engine.

  In the imaging operation, an imaging element such as a CCD included in the scanner unit 22 optically scans the document, and imaging information generated based on the optical information is generated. The engine control unit 31 transfers the imaging information generated by the scanner unit 22 to the image processing unit 33. The image processing unit 33 generates image information based on the imaging information received from the engine control unit 31 according to the control of the main control unit 30.

  The image information generated by the image processing unit 33 is stored in the HDD 14 or the like as it is according to a user instruction or transmitted to an external device via the input / output control unit 32 and the network I / F 28.

  Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a copying machine, the image processing unit 33 generates drawing information based on the imaging information received by the engine control unit 31 from the scanner unit 22 or the image information generated by the image processing unit 33. To do. Based on the drawing information, the engine control unit 31 drives the print engine 26 as in the case of the printer operation.

  Next, the configuration related to the operation stop process of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the operation stop process.

  The operation stop of the image forming apparatus includes a “normal stop operation” for canceling a job waiting for execution (also referred to as a subsequent job) and a “forced stop operation” for stopping a job currently being executed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user performs the input operation of the normal stop operation and cancels the subsequent job, and then performs the input operation of the forced stop operation to stop the job being executed.

  Instructions for executing the normal stop operation and the forced stop operation are input from the operation unit 17. As a configuration for this, the operation unit 17 includes a normal stop trigger input unit 17a for inputting an instruction to cancel a job waiting for execution, and a forced stop trigger input unit 17b for inputting an instruction to stop a job being executed. And a trigger cancel unit 17c for inputting an instruction to interrupt the stop operation of the job being executed (“trigger cancel” in FIG. 3). The normal stop trigger input unit 17a is displayed on the display panel 24. Or a hard button provided on the surface of the casing of the image forming apparatus 1. When the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a network printer, on the print job confirmation screen. On the other hand, the forced stop trigger input unit 17b is configured to use a normal stop trigger. After operating the input unit 17a, it is configured using soft buttons provided in the screen displayed on the display panel 24. The trigger cancellation unit 17c is provided in the screen displayed during the forced stop operation. When the trigger cancel unit 17c is operated, it is possible to instruct the resumption of the image processing operation targeted for normal stop and forced stop.Forcible stop trigger input unit 17b and trigger By configuring the cancel unit 17c with soft buttons in the screen, the timing of the input operation of the forced stop trigger input unit 17b and the trigger cancel unit 17c is controlled by controlling the display timing of this screen.

  In the present embodiment, an example of an apparatus included in the engine 13 (see FIG. 1) will be described as an apparatus that realizes an image processing function. The engine 13 includes an image processing mechanism unit 13b that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, and an image processing driving unit 13a that drives the image processing mechanism unit 13b.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a print engine 26 and an image reading apparatus 200 as the engine 13 (see FIG. 2). The print engine 26 is a device that realizes image formation output, and the image reading device 200 is a device that realizes a document reading function.

  The print engine 26 includes an image forming drive unit (also referred to as a plotter controller) 26a and an image forming unit (also referred to as a plotter) 26b as an image processing mechanism unit.

  The image forming drive unit 26a is configured by a combination of software and hardware that controls the operation of the image forming unit 26b. Jobs waiting for execution by the image forming unit 26b are stored in the image forming drive unit 26a.

  The image forming unit 26b executes image forming output on an image recording medium, and includes a paper transport mechanism and a printing mechanism.

  The image reading apparatus 200 includes a reading drive unit (also referred to as a reading unit controller) 200a and a reading mechanism unit 200b.

  The reading mechanism unit 200b has a mechanical configuration that realizes a function of reading a document and generating imaging information. For example, this includes hardware including an original conveying mechanism in the ADF 21 and optical components such as an image sensor and a light source in the scanner unit 22.

  The reading drive unit 200a drives the reading mechanism unit 200b to acquire imaging information, and forms a reading drive unit. The reading drive unit 200a is configured by a combination of software and hardware, and plays a role of controlling each unit of the reading mechanism unit 200b. Jobs waiting to be executed by the reading mechanism unit 200b are accumulated in the reading drive unit 200a.

  The image formation driving unit 26a and the reading driving unit 200a are included in the image processing driving unit 13a, and the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b are included in the image processing driving unit 13b.

  As a configuration for controlling the normal stop operation and the forced stop operation, the controller 20 includes a normal stop instruction unit 20a, a forced stop instruction unit 20b, a screen generation unit 20c, an operation reception unit 20d, and a stop target setting unit 20e. Including. The normal stop instruction unit 20a is electrically connected to a mechanism that holds data of subsequent jobs, that is, in FIG. 3, each of the image forming drive unit 26a and the reading drive unit 200a. Further, the forced stop instructing unit 20b is electrically connected to hardware that executes a job, that is, in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b. The screen generator 20c generates a screen to be displayed on the display panel 24 according to the state during the normal stop operation and the forced stop operation. Details of the screen generated by the screen generation unit 20c will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The operation receiving unit 20d is information corresponding to the input operation of the normal stop trigger input unit 17a and the emergency stop trigger input unit 17b (electric signal indicating which of the normal stop trigger input unit 17a and the emergency stop trigger input unit 17b is operated). And generates and outputs a trigger signal corresponding to each input operation.

  The stop target setting unit 20e sets whether one or both of the devices to be forcibly stopped when the print engine 26 and the image reading device 200 are included as an image processing mechanism (corresponding to the engine 13). It is the composition. The stop target setting unit 20e is electrically connected to the forced stop instruction unit 20b, and the forced stop instruction unit 20b outputs a command necessary for the forced stop only for the configuration set by the stop target setting unit 20e.

  The normal stop instruction unit 20a and the forced stop instruction unit 20b are configured by a combination of the main control unit 30 and the engine control unit 31, and the screen generation unit 20c operation reception unit 20d and the stop target setting unit 20e include the main control unit 30 and It is configured by a combination of the operation display control unit 34.

  When the user operates the normal stop trigger input unit 17a (corresponding to the normal stop trigger input operation by the user), the operation receiving unit 20d acquires information corresponding to the input operation to the normal stop trigger input unit 17a, and the normal stop trigger Is generated. The normal stop trigger is output to the normal stop instruction unit 20a. The normal stop instructing unit 20a outputs to the image formation driving unit 26a a cancel instruction signal for the job waiting to be executed, that is, a signal for instructing to discard the acquired image formation output target image information. In response to this, the image forming drive unit 26a performs a cancel operation for the accumulated subsequent job. More specifically, an operation for canceling the drawing information of the succeeding job stored in the line memory in the image forming drive unit 26a is executed. At the same time, the normal stop instructing unit 20a outputs a signal for instructing the reading driving unit 200a to stop the conveyance of a document waiting for reading in a sheet feeding tray (not shown) in the ADF 21. The unit 200a stops the reading operation of the next document.

  When the user operates the forced stop trigger input unit 17b (corresponding to the input operation of the forced stop trigger by the user), the operation receiving unit 20d acquires information according to the operation on the normal stop trigger input unit 17a, and sets the forced stop trigger. Generate. The forced stop trigger is output to the forced stop instruction unit 20b. The forced stop instructing unit 20b outputs a stop instruction signal for the job currently being executed to the image forming unit 26b, and in response to this, the forced stop instructing operation for the job being executed by the image forming unit 26b, that is, power supply is performed. Outputs a signal to instruct execution of the operation when stopping. More specifically, the image forming unit 26b has a register (referred to as a shutdown register) for inputting a shutdown operation instruction. The forced stop instruction unit 20b rewrites the value of the shutdown register with the execution value of the forced stop operation. As a result, the image forming unit 26b performs a forced stop operation. The forced stop operation here means that the state of the apparatus is changed from a job execution state to a different state, for example, a standby state without waiting for the completion of the job. If the paper is forcibly discharged and printing is in progress, printing may be stopped at that point without waiting for completion of the printing process, and the image forming mechanism may be shifted to a standby state. At the same time, the forcible stop instruction unit 20b outputs a stop instruction signal to the reading mechanism unit 200b. Upon receiving the stop instruction signal, the reading mechanism unit 200b forcibly discharges the document being conveyed by the ADF 21 and optically scans by the scanner unit 22. The scanning is stopped, and the configuration of the reading mechanism unit 200b including these is shifted to a standby state.

  As a result, the jobs stored in the image forming drive unit 26a and the reading drive unit 200a can be stopped by the normal stop trigger, and the jobs already delivered to the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b by the forced stop trigger. Therefore, the operations of the print engine 26 and the image reading apparatus 200 can be forcibly stopped.

  In the above example, the forced stop trigger has a function of forcibly terminating both the print engine 26 and the image reading apparatus 200, so that all operations of the print engine 26 and the image reading apparatus 200 can be terminated. As described above, the forced stop trigger may have a function for forcibly stopping only the image reading apparatus 200 or a function for forcibly stopping only the print engine 26. Therefore, although not shown, the screen generation unit 20c displays a screen for setting the target of the forced stop operation on the display panel 24, and whether the user or maintenance staff stops only the image reading device 200 or prints. It may be configured so that only the engine 26 is stopped or whether both the image reading apparatus 200 and the print engine 26 are stopped can be set. In this case, the screen generation unit 20c and the operation unit 17 constitute a stop target setting unit.

  Next, based on FIGS. 4 and 5, the configuration of the ink jet forming apparatus mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink jet forming apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the ink jet forming apparatus. The ink jet forming apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes spool bearing bases 101a and 101b. The spool bearing bases 101a and 101b function and constitute a sheet roll support section that supports the sheet 110 so that the sheet 110 can be fed out from the upper roll paper 104a and the lower roll paper 104b as sheet rolls on which long sheets are wound. have.

  In the front-rear direction X perpendicular to the vertical direction Z, the left side of the apparatus main body 101 in FIG. 4 is the front surface 101F (front) side, and the right side is the rear (back) side. A direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and the front-rear direction X shown in FIG. 4 and penetrating through the paper surface of FIG. 5 is the main scanning direction Y, which corresponds to the sheet width direction, that is, the paper width direction.

  Inside the apparatus main body 101, a guide rod 118 and a guide rail 119 are spanned on a side plate (not shown), and a carriage 120 is slidably held on the guide rod 118 and the guide rail 119 in the main scanning direction Y. .

  The carriage 120 is mounted with a liquid recording head (not shown) that is a liquid ejection head that ejects ink droplets of each color of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). In addition, the carriage 120 is equipped with a sensor for detecting the conveyed paper. Each liquid recording head is integrally provided with a sub tank (not shown) that supplies ink to each liquid recording head.

  The main scanning mechanism that moves and scans the carriage 120 in the main scanning direction Y is driven by being connected to a drive motor 121 disposed on one side of the main scanning direction Y (upwardly diagonally left in the drawing) and an output shaft of the drive motor 121. A drive pulley 122 that is rotationally driven by a motor 121, a driven pulley 123 that is arranged on the other side in the main scanning direction Y (downwardly to the right in the figure), and a drive pulley 122 and a driven pulley 123 are wound around. Belt member 124. The driven pulley 123 is tensioned outward by a tension spring (not shown), that is, in a direction away from the driving pulley 122.

  A part of the belt member 124 is fixedly held by a belt fixing portion provided on the back side of the carriage 120, so that the carriage 120 is pulled in the main scanning direction Y. An encoder sheet (not shown) for detecting the main scanning position of the carriage 120 is arranged along the main scanning direction Y of the carriage 120, and the encoder sheet (not shown) provided on the carriage 120 is used for the encoder sheet. Is read.

  Of the main scanning area in the carriage 120, in the recording area, which is the area where paper is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper fed out and conveyed from the upper roll paper 104a or the lower roll paper 104b as will be described later. 110 is conveyed by conveying means (eg, roller pairs 109a and 109b, a registration roller 134, and a registration pressure roller 135). In the recording area, the sheet 110 is intermittently conveyed in the front direction Xa in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction Y that is the moving direction of the carriage 120, that is, in the front-rear direction X of FIG.

  In addition, a maintenance / recovery mechanism 125 that performs maintenance / recovery of each liquid recording head in the carriage 120 is disposed in one end side region (downwardly to the right in the drawing) of the main scanning region. A main cartridge 126 containing ink of each color to be supplied to the sub tank of the recording head is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 101.

  A cutter 127 serving as a sheet cutting unit that cuts a sheet on which an image is recorded into a predetermined length is disposed at a position that passes through the recording area in the conveyance path of the sheet 110. The cutter 127 is fixed to a wire or a timing belt that is stretched between a plurality of pulleys. One of the plurality of pulleys is connected to a drive motor, and the wire or timing belt is moved in the main scanning direction Y via the pulley by the drive motor, thereby cutting the sheet into a predetermined length.

  Next, the operation flow of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 1, first, the user prepares roll paper or cut paper (S601), and performs print settings (S602). The print setting includes a print start instruction operation, for example, a hard button depressing operation for inputting the print start. Further, for example, in the case of operating as a copying machine, an original scanner operation is also included. Subsequently, printing is executed (S603), and printing ends (S604). If it is necessary to wait for the printing surface to dry (S605 / No), the paper is dried (S606). When the drying of the paper is finished or there is no need to wait for the printing surface to dry (S605 / Yes), the paper is cut and discharged (S607). If there is a subsequent job (S608 / No), the process returns to step S603 to execute the next printing process. If there is no subsequent job (S608 / Yes), the series of printing processes is terminated.

Next, the flow of the stopping operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the stop operation of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a screen displayed during the stop operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, (a) a forced stop selection screen, (b) a forced stop execution screen, and (c) charging. A non-target forced stop notification screen is shown, and (d) shows a charge target forced stop notification screen.

  A printing operation starts in the image forming apparatus 1. When the printing operation is normally performed, the printing process is finished (S701 / Yes). During the printing operation (S701 / No), the normal stop trigger standby state is entered, and the printing operation is continued until this is executed (S702 / No).

  When the user operates the normal stop trigger input unit 17a (S702 / Yes), the normal stop instruction unit 20a outputs a cancel instruction signal for a job waiting for execution to the image forming drive unit 26a and the read drive unit 200a. . In response to this, the image forming drive unit 26a and the read drive unit 200a cancel the job waiting for execution (S703). The screen generation unit 20c displays a screen (referred to as “forced stop selection screen”) for selecting whether or not to execute forced stop after the normal stop instruction unit 20a outputs a cancel signal to the image forming drive unit 26a. (S704).

  FIG. 8A shows an example of the forced stop selection screen. This screen includes a soft button 801 for inputting a forced stop execution instruction and a soft button 802 for inputting a forced stop non-execution instruction. The soft button 801 is the forced stop trigger input unit 17b. When the user stops a job that is currently being executed, the user operates the soft button 801 to execute a forced stop trigger (S705 / Yes). Thus, the forced stop instruction unit 20b starts a stop operation of the job being executed for the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b (S706). The screen generator 20c displays on the display panel 24 a screen for notifying the user that the forced stop operation is being executed (referred to as “forced stop execution screen”) (S707).

  FIG. 8B shows an example of a forced stop execution screen. This screen includes a soft button 803 for inputting an instruction to interrupt the forced stop process. The soft button 803 corresponds to the trigger cancel unit 17c. When the user performs a resumption operation by pressing the soft button 803 (S708 / Yes), the normal stop instruction unit 20a instructs the image forming drive unit 20b and the read drive unit 200a to re-execute the stopped image processing operation. The forced stop instruction unit 20b outputs a signal that instructs the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b to re-execute the stopped image processing operation. In response to this, the stopped job is resumed by the job being executed (S711), and when this job is completed, a series of processing ends. If the user does not operate the soft button 803 (S708 / No), the job data being executed is canceled (S710).

  The screen generation unit 20c displays on the display panel 24 a screen (referred to as “forced stop notification screen”) that notifies the user that the forced stop has ended (S708). (C) and (d) of FIG. 8 show an example of a forced stop notification screen. (C) of FIG. 8 is a screen displayed when the job being executed is terminated halfway as a result of the forced stop operation. In this case, for example, since the user is not charged when operating as a copying machine, the user is notified that the job being executed has ended halfway and is not charged. In addition, although the forced stop operation is performed, when the job being executed is completed, it is regarded as a normal end and charging is performed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. And that the user is to be charged.

  After the forced stop notification screen is displayed (S711) or when no forced stop trigger is input (S705 / No), a series of operation stop processing is completed.

  In the above example, it has been described that the trigger can be canceled, but the trigger cancellation is not essential. In this case, the soft button 803 for instructing to resume printing is not necessary on the forced stop execution screen (FIG. 8B), and step S707 is also omitted.

In the above description, the normal stop trigger input unit 17a and the forced stop trigger input unit 17b are provided separately, but one operation member (hard button or soft button) is provided for the normal stop trigger input unit 17a and the emergency stop trigger input. It may also serve as the part 17b. Thereby, the normal stop trigger and the forced stop trigger can be input by a single operation by the user. In this case, in order to avoid the inconvenience that the succeeding job is stopped later than the stop of the job being executed, for example, the succeeding job is sent to the stopped image forming unit 26b, the forced stop instructing unit 20b forcibly stops. The output timing of the instruction signal may be delayed from the output timing of the normal stop instruction signal by the normal stop instruction unit 20a.

  Next, an operation when the forced stop trigger described in FIG. 7 is executed during the series of printing processing operations illustrated in FIG. 6 will be described.

When a forcible stop trigger is input during printing (S603), the image forming unit 26b interrupts printing, forcibly ends waiting for paper drying, cuts and discharges the paper. Further, a capping operation of a liquid recording head (not shown) in the carriage 120 is executed. When a forced stop trigger is input during paper drying (S606), the paper drying wait is forcibly terminated, and the paper is cut and discharged.

On the other hand, in a series of printing operations, at the timing when printing is not performed, the job being executed is stopped and the liquid recording head is capped. For example, in the roll paper preparation operation (S601), when the operation of the forced stop trigger input unit 17b is received during the roll paper preparation operation for shifting to a state where image formation output can be executed, The roll forming operation as a job is interrupted and the paper is discharged out of the machine. Here, the roll forming operation means that when a sheet is inserted into an entrance of a conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed in the apparatus, the sheet is formed up to a position where an image forming mechanism that actually performs image formation output on the sheet is disposed. Is a roll paper preparation operation in which the apparatus is moved to a state in which image formation and output is possible by setting the sheet in the apparatus by conveying the sheet. When the roll paper preparation operation is forcibly stopped during the paper feed stage change, the paper is discharged out of the apparatus.

  Further, when printing is being set (S602), the scanner operation as a job being executed is stopped. In any of these cases, capping is also performed. For example, as an operation before execution of printing, when the forced stop trigger input unit 17b receives an operation while the carriage is decapping or moving up and down the head, it is currently executed when paper conveyance is not being executed. The process and the process to be executed subsequently are forcibly terminated, capping is executed, and the image forming output is shifted to an executable state.

  Note that even if the normal stop trigger and the forced stop trigger are input while the print engine 26 and the image reading apparatus 200 are in the standby, maintenance, and shutdown states, both triggers are invalid.

  In the above embodiment, a screen (see FIGS. 8A to 8D) that matches the progress of the process is displayed on the screen of the display unit during the stop operation. However, when the present invention is implemented, the screen display is not essential. Absent. Hereinafter, another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention without display processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of a stop operation without display processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, instead of the forced stop selection screen shown in FIG. 8A, a forced stop trigger input member (for example, a button) is provided in the housing of the image forming apparatus 1, thereby allowing forced stop trigger input. Screen is not required. Similarly, an input member for inputting a normal stop trigger is also provided in the casing. Based on this premise, an embodiment according to another aspect will be described below in the order of steps shown in FIG.

  A printing operation starts in the image forming apparatus 1. When the printing operation is normally performed, the printing process is finished (S901 / Yes). During the printing operation (S901 / No), the normal stop trigger standby state is entered, and the printing operation is continued until this is executed (S902 / No).

  When the user operates the normal stop trigger input unit 17a (S902 / Yes), the job waiting for execution is canceled (S903). The user operates the input member of the forced stop trigger and executes the forced stop trigger (S904 / Yes). Thus, the forced stop instruction unit 20b causes the image forming unit 26b and the reading mechanism unit 200b to stop the job being executed (S905). Thereafter, the job data being executed is canceled (S906), and the series of processing ends.

  According to the embodiment according to the other aspect, the stop processing operation according to the present invention can be executed with only two triggers of the normal stop trigger and the forced stop trigger without displaying on the display.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the user inputs the normal stop trigger and the forced stop trigger. However, the user does not perform a manual operation, but an abnormal state of the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, a state in which an abnormal tension due to a paper jam of a roll paper has occurred) ) And a normal stop trigger or a forced stop trigger may be input according to the detection result. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform the stop operation that is in the state of the image forming apparatus 1 that is not recognized by the user without any user operation.

According to the present embodiment, when the user wants to forcibly stop the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, the forced stop trigger is input separately from the normal stop trigger, so that the target engine for the forced stop operation is directly input. A stop instruction can be issued. As a result, the engine can be stopped without passing the trigger input / output between the blocks connected in series to the engine to be stopped, so that the trigger control relating to the forced stop can be simplified. .

  In the above embodiment, the case where the ink jet system is used as the image forming mechanism has been described as an example. However, the gist of the present embodiment is control of forced stop operation during job execution, and the type of image forming mechanism is not particularly limited. That is, the present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses having various image forming mechanisms such as an electrophotographic system and a thermal system, and similar effects can be obtained.

1 Image forming apparatus 10 CPU
11 RAM
12 ROM
13 Engine 14 HDD
15 I / F
16 LCD
17 Operation unit 17a Normal trigger input unit 17b Forced trigger input unit 17c Trigger cancellation unit 18 Bus 20 Controller 20a Normal stop instruction unit 20b Forced stop instruction unit 20c Screen generation unit 21 ADF
22 Scanner unit 23 Paper discharge tray 24 Display panel 25 Paper feed unit 26 Print engine 26a Image formation drive unit 26b Image formation unit 27 Paper discharge tray 28 Network I / F
30 Main control unit 31 Engine control unit 32 Input / output control unit 33 Image processing unit 34 Operation display control unit 100 Inkjet forming apparatus 101 Main body 101a Spool bearing base 104a Upper roll paper 104b Lower roll paper 109a, 109b Roller pair 110 Paper 118 Guide Rod 119 Guide rail 120 Carriage 121 Drive motor 122 Drive pulley 123 Driven pulley 124 Belt member 125 Maintenance / recovery mechanism 126 Main cartridge 127 Cutter 134 Registration roller 135 Registration pressure roller 200 Image reading device 200a Reading drive unit 200b Reading mechanism unit

JP 2012-86450 A

Claims (10)

An image processing mechanism that is a mechanical configuration for realizing an image processing function;
An image processing drive unit that drives the image processing mechanism unit according to the operating state of the apparatus;
An operation accepting unit for acquiring information according to an operation on the operation unit for accepting an operation from a user;
A normal stop instruction unit that outputs a signal for instructing the image processing drive unit to stop an image processing operation when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation;
A forced stop instruction unit that outputs a signal for instructing the image processing mechanism unit to stop the image processing operation being executed when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to the forced stop operation. An image forming apparatus. The image processing mechanism unit is an image forming unit that executes image forming output on an image recording medium,
The image processing drive unit is an image formation drive unit that acquires information about an image to be image formed and drives the image formation unit,
The normal stop instructing unit instructs the image forming drive unit to discard the information of the acquired image formation output target image when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation. Output a signal to
The forced stop instructing unit outputs a signal for instructing the image forming unit to execute an operation when power supply is stopped when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to the forced stop operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs the image.   The output timing of the signal for instructing the image processing mechanism unit to stop the image processing mechanism by the forced stop instructing unit is for instructing the image processing operation unit to stop the image processing driving unit by the normal stop instructing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is later than a signal output timing.   The operation accepting unit is a signal for instructing the image processing driving unit to stop image processing operation by the normal stop instructing unit on a forced stop selection screen including a forced stop trigger input unit for inputting the forced stop operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus displays the image after the output.   The image formation according to claim 3, wherein the operation receiving unit acquires information according to the normal stop operation and information according to the forced stop operation in response to a single operation on the operation unit. apparatus.   The operation receiving unit, when acquiring information corresponding to the resumption operation of the image processing operation instructed to stop, a signal for instructing the image processing driving unit to re-execute the image processing operation; and the image processing mechanism 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal instructing re-execution of the image processing operation to the image output unit is output. The image processing mechanism unit is a reading mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes a function of reading a document and generating imaging information;
The image processing driving unit is a reading driving unit that drives the reading mechanism unit to acquire the imaging information,
The normal stop instructing unit outputs a signal for instructing the reading driving unit to stop conveyance of a document waiting for reading when the operation receiving unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation. And
The forced stop instructing unit, when the operation receiving unit acquires information corresponding to the forced stop operation, sends a signal for instructing the reading mechanism unit to execute an operation when power supply is stopped. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs the image. A stop target setting unit for setting the image processing mechanism unit to be subjected to the forced stop operation;
When the image processing unit includes the image forming unit and the reading mechanism unit, in the stop target setting unit, one or both of the image forming unit and the reading mechanism unit are targets of the forced stop operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is set as follows. An image processing mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, an image processing drive unit that drives the image processing mechanism unit in accordance with an operation state of the apparatus, and
An operation receiving unit that acquires information according to an operation on an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, and an operation stopping method of the image forming apparatus,
When the operation accepting unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation, it outputs a signal for instructing the image processing driving unit to stop the image processing operation,
When the operation receiving unit acquires information according to a forced stop operation, the image processing unit outputs a signal for instructing the image processing mechanism unit to stop an image processing operation being executed. How to stop the operation of the device. An image processing mechanism unit that is a mechanical configuration that realizes an image processing function, an image processing drive unit that drives the image processing mechanism unit in accordance with an operation state of the apparatus, and
An operation receiving unit that acquires information according to an operation on an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, and an operation stop program for an image forming apparatus,
When the operation accepting unit acquires information according to a normal stop operation, it outputs a signal for instructing the image processing driving unit to stop the image processing operation,
Causing the computer to execute a process of outputting a signal for instructing the image processing mechanism unit to stop the image processing operation being executed when the operation receiving unit acquires information corresponding to the forced stop operation. An operation stop program for an image forming apparatus.