JP2017071186A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which is not required for a changing operation for setting on the image forming apparatus side, which was conventionally necessary.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: formation means for forming images on a roll sheet; cutting means for cutting the roll sheet after the image formation; and winding means for winding the roll sheet after the image formation. The image forming apparatus further includes: determination means for determining whether or not the image forming apparatus is set to an operation mode for making the winding means and the cutting means into usable states; rewriting means for rewriting a set value for setting of cutting of the roll sheet in a printing job on the basis of the determination result by the determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that prints on roll paper and winds the printed roll paper by a winding mechanism.

  Some image forming apparatuses that print on conventional roll paper take up the printed roll paper by a take-up mechanism integrated with the image forming apparatus. Such an image forming apparatus is used for the purpose of facilitating handling such as carrying of a printed material by winding a long printed material, such as long printing or banner printing, with a winding mechanism.

  Such an image forming apparatus is also used when executing print processing for a plurality of print jobs. By executing print processing for multiple print jobs together without cutting roll paper, winding the printed material with a winding mechanism, and cutting the printed material in units of print jobs by a cutting machine provided separately from the image forming apparatus It is known to use an image forming apparatus efficiently.

  An image forming apparatus having a take-up mechanism has a plurality of modes for transporting paper, and controls the paper supply by selecting one of the plurality of modes according to the paper to be transported. There is also one that does (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5710054

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider determining an operation related to cutting a print job based on both the cut mode set for the received print job and the setting information set for the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus having a forming means for forming an image on roll paper, a cutting means for cutting the roll paper after image formation, and a winding means for winding up the roll paper after image formation, A determination unit that determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is set in an operation mode for enabling the winding unit and the cutting unit; and a print job based on a determination result by the determination unit The image forming apparatus further includes a rewriting unit that rewrites a setting value of the setting relating to the cutting of the roll paper.

  According to the present invention, a user can set an aspect related to cutting by a print job. Therefore, the setting change operation on the image forming apparatus side, which has been necessary in the past, becomes unnecessary.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows schematic internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on Example 1. FIG. Operation Flowchart of Image Forming Apparatus According to Embodiment 1 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing result corresponding to each setting by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. Operation Flowchart of Image Forming Apparatus According to Second Embodiment

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and all combinations of features described below are not necessarily essential for solving the problems of the present invention. In addition, in each figure referred in the following description, the same code | symbol is provided to the element equivalent to another figure in principle.

[Example 1]
<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment, and is a block diagram illustrating a schematic internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 shows only the components related to printing, but the image forming apparatus may include components for other functions such as a copying function. The present invention can also be applied to apparatuses other than image forming apparatuses, such as multifunction peripherals.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a printer controller 120, a printer engine 150, an HDD 161, and an input / output device 162. The image forming apparatus 100 is connected to a host computer 190 via a network 191.

  The printer controller 120 includes an HDD interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 121, an input / output device I / F 122, a ROM I / F 125, and a memory controller 126. The printer controller 120 includes a host I / F 127, a CPU 128, an engine I / F 129, and an image processing unit 130. These components are connected via a system bus 132. Further, the printer controller 120 includes a flash ROM 123 and a RAM 124. The flash ROM 123 is connected to the system bus 132 via the ROM I / F 125, and the RAM 124 is connected to the system bus 132 via the memory controller 126.

  The CPU 128 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor (microcomputer), and controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100 by executing a program or starting up hardware. The flash ROM 123 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 128, fixed data necessary for various operations of the image forming apparatus 100 (data that is set when the image forming apparatus is manufactured and is not changed later), data related to various settings, and the like. Store. The RAM 124 functions as a work area for the CPU 128 and is used as an area for temporarily storing data received by the image forming apparatus 100 from an external device and data relating to various settings.

  The image processing unit 130 performs various image processing. For example, the image processing unit 130 converts print data (for example, data expressed in a page description language) handled by the image forming apparatus 100 into image data (bitmap image data). Further, the image processing unit 130 converts the color space (for example, YCbCr) of the image data into a standard RGB color space (for example, sRGB). Further, the image processing unit 130 performs various image processing on the image data as necessary, such as resolution conversion to an effective number of pixels (which the image forming apparatus 100 can print), image analysis, and image correction. Image data obtained by such image processing is stored in the RAM 124 or the HDD 161.

  The printer engine 150 includes an inkjet head 151, a cutter unit 152, a transport motor 153, a controller I / F 154, and a take-up motor 155. These components are connected via a system bus 156.

  The inkjet head 151 prints an image on a recording medium such as paper based on the image data. For example, the inkjet head 151 holds a plurality of print heads for a plurality of colors, and ejects ink from the print head in synchronization with the conveyance of the recording medium to form an image on the roll paper. In this embodiment, an example of an ink jet printer using ink as a recording agent will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to an ink jet type. The present invention is also applicable to various image forming apparatuses such as thermal printers (sublimation type, thermal transfer type, etc.), dot impact printers, LED printers, and electrophotographic printers such as laser printers.

  The cutter unit 152 is a mechanism for cutting a recording medium such as paper. The cutter unit 152 cuts the recording medium into a predetermined length after ink ejection by the inkjet head 151 (after image formation).

  In preparation for the case where the recording medium to be cut is a paper type in which paper dust is scattered when cut, the user reduces cut dust at the cutting position in the image forming apparatus 100 in order to prevent paper dust from being scattered at the time of cutting. It is possible to make a setting for controlling to draw a line for this purpose. In the present embodiment, the setting relating to drawing a line for reducing cut dust at the cutting position is referred to as “reducing line setting”. Information indicating whether or not to draw the line set by the user (reduction line setting ON / OFF information) is stored in the flash ROM 123.

  Further, as a setting related to the cutter unit 152 different from the reduction line setting, there is a setting determined according to the type of paper. In this embodiment, this setting is called “paper attribute setting”. There are three values as setting values for the paper attribute setting, and the user designates the paper attribute setting by selecting one of the three values. Specifically, when the recording medium is a paper type that cannot be cut by the cutter unit 152, the user performs setting to control the cutter unit 152 so that the cutter unit 152 is not moved in order to cut the recording medium by using scissors or the like (setting value “ Select “User Cut”. When the recording medium is a paper type that has a large basis weight and the cutting line bends if the user does not cut it while holding it, the user gives the user time to hold the paper and then controls the cutter unit 152 to move. (Set value “Eject cut” is selected). When the recording medium is a paper type that does not require the above-described “user cut” and “eject cut” settings, the user performs settings to control cutting by the normal operation of the cutter unit 152 (setting value “ Select “Auto Cut”). Information regarding the paper attribute setting set by the user is stored in the flash ROM 123.

  The conveyance motor 153 is a motor for driving a conveyance roller that conveys the recording medium, and is controlled by the CPU 128.

  The winding motor 155 is a motor for rotating the shaft rod of the winding mechanism, and is controlled by the CPU 128. As a setting related to the winding mechanism that can be set on the image forming apparatus 100, there is a setting for determining an aspect of use of the winding mechanism during printing. This setting is called “winding mechanism use setting”. There are three values as setting values for the winding mechanism use setting, and the user selects one of the three values to specify the mode (operation mode) of using the winding mechanism. Specifically, the first set value is “use (cut ON)” for making the cutter unit 152 and the winding mechanism usable. The second set value is “use (cut off)” for making the winding mechanism usable and making the cutter unit 152 unusable. The third set value is “not used” for making the winding mechanism unusable. The user selects one of these setting values. The winding motor 155 operates when the setting value of the winding mechanism use setting in the image forming apparatus 100 is “use (cut ON)” or “use (cut OFF)”.

  The input / output device 162 includes an input device such as a hard key and a touch panel for a user to perform various operations, and an output device such as a display and a lamp for presenting (notifying) various information to the user. The user sets the image forming apparatus 100 by inputting via the input / output device 162 (that is, selects a setting value in each setting such as a reduction line setting, a paper attribute setting, and a winding mechanism use setting). Can do. Information presentation to the user may be performed by outputting sound (buzzer, voice, etc.) from the sound generator.

  The HDD 161 stores a program executed by the CPU 128, print data sent from the host computer 190, setting information necessary for various operations of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like. The HDD 161 stores a job queue for managing print jobs. The job queue holds print jobs during printing and before printing.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is described as including the input / output device 162. However, the input / output device 162 may be provided separately from the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 and the input / output device 162 are connected by wireless communication or the like. Further, input to the image forming apparatus 100 and output from the image forming apparatus 100 may be performed via the host computer 190. Furthermore, input / output devices other than the input / output device 162 may be connected via the network 191.

  The host computer 190 is an external device of the image forming apparatus 100 and is a supply source of print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 may be connected to another external device serving as a print data supply source, such as an image reading reader, a digital camera, or a smartphone, instead of the host computer 190. When the user supplies print data to the image forming apparatus 100 using the host computer 190, the user can set print job option settings using a setting screen of a printer driver (or print setting application) operating on the host computer 190. . Note that the user can make settings related to cutting the roll paper after printing as an option setting. In the present embodiment, the setting relating to the cutting of the roll paper after printing that can be specified in the print job is referred to as “cut mode setting”. There are three values as set values for the cut mode setting, and the user designates a cut mode by selecting one of the three values. Specifically, one of the set values of “with cut” for cutting each page after printing, “no cut” for prohibiting cutting, and “with cut line” for drawing a line at the cutting position without cutting, The user can select. In addition, the user performs a setting related to the presence / absence of a border at the time of printing (image formation) (referred to as “border presence / absence setting” in this embodiment) as an option setting of the print job (that is, “Bordered” or “Bordered”). It is also possible to select “None”.

  When the user feeds roll paper as a recording medium to the image forming apparatus 100, the user inputs information specifying the paper type of the roll paper using the input / output device 162. Information specifying the paper type of the roll paper input by the user is stored in the RAM 124. The user who has finished the paper feeding operation uses the host computer 190 to send print data to the image forming apparatus 100. In the image forming apparatus 100 that has received the print data sent from the host computer 190, the CPU 128 writes the print data to the HDD 161, and develops the print data written to the HDD 161 in the RAM 124 for each predetermined amount of data. Thereafter, the developed print data is converted into binary data by the image processing unit 130 and transferred to the printer engine 150. The printer engine 150 prints an image on roll paper by the inkjet head 151 based on the transferred binary data. After the printing of the image is completed, the conveyance motor 153 is driven to move the roll paper to a predetermined position, and the roll paper is cut by the cutter unit 152. If the take-up mechanism is set to be used and the roll paper is adhered to the take-up shaft rod, the take-up motor 155 rotates the shaft rod to wind the printed roll paper around the shaft rod. take.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the process in the image forming apparatus 100 from the time the roll paper before printing is conveyed and printed to the time it is wound up is illustrated. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the component concerning to. The roll paper 204 set in the roll paper tube 201 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 203 and reaches the vicinity of the inkjet head 151. The inkjet head 151 prints an image on the roll paper 204 by discharging ink onto the roll paper 204 conveyed from the roll paper tube 201. The printed roll paper 204 is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 100 and is taken up by a take-up roll 202.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation for rewriting and printing a print job based on whether or not the winding mechanism is used in the image forming apparatus 100. When the image forming apparatus 100 receives print data from an external device such as the host computer 190, the following processing is executed.

  In step S <b> 301, the CPU 128 acquires information (setting values for each setting) regarding settings (cut mode setting, border presence / absence setting) in the print job. The print job includes print data and option settings. That is, the host computer 190 transmits a print job including print data and option settings to the image forming apparatus 100. In addition, the CPU 128 acquires information (setting values for each setting) regarding settings (winding mechanism use setting, paper attribute setting, reduction line setting) in the image forming apparatus.

  In S302, the CPU 128 determines whether to use the winding mechanism based on the information acquired in S301. Specifically, when the setting value of the winding mechanism use setting acquired in S301 is “use (cut ON)” or “use (cut OFF)”, while determining that the winding mechanism is to be used, the set value Is “not used”, it is determined that the winding mechanism is not used. As a result of the determination in S302, when the winding mechanism is used, the process proceeds to S303, and when the winding mechanism is not used, the process proceeds to S306.

  In S303, the CPU 128 determines whether to use the cutter unit 152 based on the information acquired in S301. Specifically, when the setting value of the winding mechanism use setting acquired in S301 is “use (cut ON)”, it is determined that the cutter unit 152 is used, while the set value is “use (cut OFF)”. If it is, it is determined that the cutter unit 152 is not used. As a result of the determination in S303, when the cutter unit 152 is used, the process proceeds to S306, and when the cutter unit 152 is not used, the process proceeds to S304.

  In S304, the CPU 128 determines whether or not the setting value of the cut mode setting in the print job acquired in S301 is “cut”. As a result of the determination in S304, if the set value is “with cut”, the process proceeds to S305. If the set value is not “with cut”, the process proceeds to S306.

  In step S <b> 305, the CPU 128 rewrites the setting value of the cut mode setting in the print job from “cut” to “no cut”.

  In step S306, the CPU 128 performs printing in accordance with the print job setting.

  The above is the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 4 shows the result of the flow processing shown in FIG. 3 performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As a result, what kind of printed matter is output according to each setting of the initial print job and each setting of the image forming apparatus. It is a table which shows whether it is done. 4A shows a case where the setting value of the winding mechanism use setting is “use (cut OFF)”, and FIG. 4B shows that the set value is “use (cut ON)”. Show the case.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the take-up mechanism use setting is set to “use (cut off)”, the roll paper is cut regardless of the set value of the cut mode setting in the print job. There is no.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the winding mechanism use setting is set to “use (cut ON)”, the roll paper is cut according to the set value of the cut mode setting in the print job. It is determined whether or not. For example, if the setting value of the print job setting is “With cut” or “Bordered”, and the setting value of the image forming device setting is “Auto cut” or “Reduce line ON”, the winding mechanism is used. Even after the printing of each page, the roll paper is cut by the cutter unit. On the other hand, when “with cut” and “without border” and the setting values of the image forming apparatus are “auto cut” and “reduction line ON”, the image forming apparatus switches the reduction line to OFF, and Also do not disconnect. This is because when “borderless” printing is set, the image is printed up to the cutting position (or near the cutting position). In this situation, if the image forming apparatus prints the reduction line at the cutting position of the recording medium, the reduction line is printed on the borderless print target image, and a printed matter that is not intended by the user may be printed. There is. That is, the reduction line cannot be printed in order to obtain a printed material as intended by the user. As a result, there is a possibility that a piece of paper will be scattered due to the reduced line not being printed. Therefore, if “cut”, “no border”, and the setting values of the image forming apparatus are “auto cut” and “reduction line ON”, the image forming apparatus switches the reduction line to OFF, and Also do not disconnect.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with an operation mode for printing using both the winding mechanism and the cutter unit. Accordingly, for example, in a workflow for delivering a wound long printed material, the image forming apparatus does not need to cancel the setting for using the winding mechanism every time printing is completed. Further, without changing the setting on the image forming apparatus, the presence or absence of cutting can be switched according to the setting on the print job for printing. As a result, it is possible to easily execute print processing for an interrupt job (with cut) even while printing of a print job (without cut) using the winding mechanism is being executed.

[Example 2]
Example 2 will be described below. However, in the following description, the description common to the first embodiment is omitted.

<Settings in image forming apparatus>
As a setting that can be set on the image forming apparatus, there is a setting for determining whether to cut the printed material for each page or for each job. This setting is called “cutting unit setting”. Two values exist as setting values for this setting, and the user designates a unit for disconnection by selecting one of the two values. Specifically, the user can select one of setting values “for each page” for cutting for each page or “for each job” for cutting for each job.

  As another setting, there is a setting for determining whether or not to ask the user for confirmation when actually executing the cutting process. This setting is referred to as “cutting confirmation necessity setting”. There are two values “required” and “no” as setting values for this setting, and the user selects one of the two values to display a confirmation screen to the user when disconnecting. Specify whether or not.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation in the image forming apparatus 100 for performing the cutting operation after waiting for a user operation in accordance with the setting of whether or not cutting confirmation is necessary.

  The user attaches the roll paper to the take-up mechanism.

  In step S502, the image forming apparatus 100 performs printing based on the print data. Note that the printing in this step includes printing according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 3).

  In step S503, the CPU 128 determines whether to cut the roll paper after printing based on the print job. As a result of the determination in S503, when cutting, the process proceeds to S504. When not cutting, the process ends. “After printing” in this step means that when the setting value of the cutting unit setting is “for each page”, printing of each page is completed, and when the setting value is “for each job”, after printing of each job is completed. It means that.

  In step S <b> 504, the CPU 128 determines whether or not the user needs to confirm execution of the cutting operation. Specifically, when the setting value of whether or not cutting confirmation is necessary is “necessary”, it is determined that the user needs to confirm the execution of the cutting operation, and the process proceeds to S505. On the other hand, if the set value is “No”, it is determined that the user does not need to confirm the execution of the cutting operation, and the process proceeds to S508.

  In step S <b> 505, the CPU 128 causes the input / output device 162 to display a confirmation UI screen. Note that the UI screen displayed in S505 may be displayed after the printing process in S502 is completed or may be displayed before the completion.

  In step S506, the CPU 128 refers to the job queue and determines whether there is a subsequent print job. As a result of the determination in S506, if there is a subsequent print job, the process ends without cutting the roll paper. On the other hand, if there is no subsequent print job, the process proceeds to S507. In addition, when it determines with Yes in S506, before a user operates with respect to UI screen displayed by S505, UI screen will be in a non-display state. Further, when the user instructs execution of the cutting operation on the confirmation UI screen before the determination in S506 is completed, the determination in S506 may be skipped.

  In S507, the CPU 128 determines whether or not to execute the cutting operation based on the user input via the UI screen displayed in S505. If the user selects execution of the cutting operation on the UI screen, the process proceeds to S508. If the user selects non-execution of the cutting operation on the UI screen, the process ends.

  In S508, the CPU 128 causes the cutter unit 152 to cut the trailing edge of the printed paper.

  In S509, the CPU 128 causes the take-up motor 155 to take up the printed paper.

  In step S510, the CPU 128 refers to the job queue and determines whether a subsequent print job is newly registered. If the subsequent print job is newly registered as a result of the determination in S510, the process proceeds to S511, whereas if it is not registered, the process ends.

  In step S <b> 511, the CPU 128 drives the conveyance motor 153 to feed the leading end of the roll paper that has not been printed to the position of the winding mechanism. This process is performed to execute a printing process based on the subsequent print job.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment asks the user for confirmation before actually performing the cutting operation according to the setting of the image forming apparatus. By requesting confirmation from the user in this way, in the shared image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the cut operation from being erroneously performed when executing print processing for a plurality of print jobs by a plurality of users.

[Other Examples]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 Image forming apparatus 128 CPU
151 Inkjet head 152 Cutter unit 155 Winding motor

Claims (10)

Forming means for forming an image on roll paper;
Cutting means for cutting the roll paper after image formation;
An image forming apparatus having a winding means for winding the roll paper after image formation,
Determining means for determining whether or not the image forming apparatus is set in an operation mode for making the winding means and the cutting means usable;
An image forming apparatus, further comprising: a rewriting unit that rewrites a setting value related to cutting of the roll paper in a print job based on a result of determination by the determination unit. The rewriting means is
When the determination unit determines that the image forming apparatus is set in the operation mode, the setting value regarding the cutting of the roll paper is not rewritten,
When the determination unit determines that the image forming apparatus is not set in the operation mode, the setting value is rewritten from a value specifying cutting of roll paper to a value specifying not cutting roll paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The setting in the image forming apparatus is:
A winding mechanism use setting determined according to the mode of use of the winding means;
Paper attribute settings determined according to the type of roll paper,
Including a reduction line setting for the line drawn to reduce cut debris at the cutting position,
The settings for the print job are:
Cut mode setting determined according to the mode of cutting the roll paper after image formation,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a border presence / absence setting relating to the presence / absence of a border during image formation. In the winding mechanism use setting,
An operation mode for enabling the winding means and the cutting means;
An operation mode for making the winding means usable and making the cutting means unusable;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user can select one of operation modes for disabling the winding unit.   5. The image formation according to claim 1, further comprising: a confirmation unit that confirms whether the user can perform a cutting operation before the cutting process by the cutting unit is executed. apparatus.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform confirmation by the confirmation unit based on a cut mode setting that is determined according to a mode of cutting the roll paper after image formation in a print job. The image forming apparatus according to 5.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a setting unit configured to set whether confirmation by the confirmation unit is required.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set whether to cut the printed material for each page or for each print job. Forming means for forming an image on roll paper;
Cutting means for cutting the roll paper after image formation;
An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus having a winding unit that winds up roll paper after image formation,
Determining whether or not the image forming apparatus is set in an operation mode for enabling the winding unit and the cutting unit;
And a step of rewriting a setting value of the setting relating to the cutting of the roll paper in the print job based on a result of the determination by the determination means.   A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 9.

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