JP2018001513A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation apparatus which allows a user to easily identify recording sheets output to a sheet discharge tray with an erasable user notation.SOLUTION: A color printer 1 which prints printing data by a first recording unit 10 using a normal coloring material that is not discolored includes: a second recording unit 30 which uses a coloring material that is discolored under a prescribed condition; a user notation generation unit which generates a user notation for identifying a user who instructs printing of the printing data; and a user notation printing control unit which causes the second recording unit 30 to print the user notation generated by the user notation generation unit on a space outside the printing range of the first recording unit 10. The coloring material used in the second recording unit 30 is discoloring ink that is discolored with heat. The color printer also includes a cooling device 20 which cools the temperature of the recording sheet P subjected to printing by the first recording unit 10 down to the temperature less than the reaction temperature at which the discoloring ink is discolored.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints a user identification mark on a recording sheet and discharges it to a discharge tray.

  In an image forming apparatus on a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), recording sheets printed by a print job received from a peripheral terminal are generally output sequentially to a common paper discharge tray. Therefore, the user needs to identify the recording paper output by his / her print job from the recording paper stacked on the paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus. In view of this, a technique has been proposed in which a linear mark is slid to a different position for each job and recorded on the side of the recording paper, and a technique for inserting partition sheets for each number of copies (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). reference).

JP 2006-159562 A JP 2004-224518 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since a linear mark is printed in a state that is visible on the side surface of the recording paper, the printed matter cannot be used as a document. In the technique of Patent Document 2, the partition paper inserted as a mark is wasted. In order to reuse the partition paper, a complicated operation for returning it to the cassette of the printing apparatus is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily identify a recording sheet output to a paper discharge tray by an erasable user notation. .

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints print data by a first recording unit that uses a normal coloring material that is not erased, and uses a coloring material that is erased under a predetermined condition. A second recording unit; a user notation generation unit that generates a user notation that identifies a user who has instructed printing of the print data; and the user notation generated by the user notation generation unit by the second recording unit. And a user notation printing control unit for printing outside the printing range of the first recording unit.
Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the coloring substance used in the second recording unit is a decoloring ink that is erased by heat, and the temperature of the recording paper printed by the first recording unit is set to the temperature of the recording paper. A cooling device that cools below the reaction temperature at which the color-erasable ink is erased may be provided, and the second recording unit may perform printing on the recording paper cooled by the cooling device.
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the first recording unit and the second recording unit support color printing, and color analysis for analyzing colors used in the text of the print data And the user notation print control unit may cause the user notation to be printed in a color that is not used in the text of the print data.
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the user notation print control unit prints the user notation with a color whose color distance is not less than a preset threshold value from the color used in the text of the print data. You may let them.
Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a character string analysis unit that analyzes a character string in the text of the print data and determines whether or not there is the user notation, the user notation generation unit includes: When there is the user notation in the text of the print data, a guide notation indicating the user notation in the text of the print data is generated instead of the user notation, and the user notation print control unit is the user notation generation unit The guide notation generated by the above may be printed in the text of the print data by the second recording unit.
Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a printing width in the main scanning direction by the second recording unit is narrower than a printing width in the main scanning direction by the first recording unit, and printing is performed by the second recording unit. The possible print area may be configured to be changeable in the main scanning direction.

  According to the present invention, the recording paper P output to the paper discharge tray can be easily identified by the erasable user notation, and the recording paper P discharged to the paper discharge tray can be left unattended. It is possible to prevent the user from accidentally taking it away.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view and a top view illustrating a schematic configuration of a second recording unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the example of user information memorize | stored in the memory | storage part shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a user notation printing operation according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of user notation printed by a user notation printing operation according to the embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of guidance notation printed by the user notation printing operation by embodiment of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a color printer 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a first recording unit 10 that performs color printing using a normal toner that is a colored substance that does not disappear due to heat, and cooling The apparatus 20 includes a second recording unit 30 that performs color printing using a decoloring ink that is a coloring substance that is decolored by heat, and an operation unit 50.

  The first recording unit 10 includes four image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d corresponding to color image data of four different colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), respectively. An intermediate transfer belt 17, a secondary transfer roller 18, and a fixing device 19. The four image forming units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, and 10 d include a photosensitive drum 11 that carries a visible image (toner image) of each color, a charging device 12 that charges the photosensitive drum 11, and a photosensitive drum 11. The developing device 14 for forming the toner image, the primary transfer roller 15 for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 17, and the developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 are removed. And a cleaning device 16 are provided.

  The charging device 12 includes a charging roller disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 11. The surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged by a constant voltage supplied from a constant voltage power source to the charging roller. The first recording unit 10 is provided with an exposure unit 13 that exposes image information to the charged photosensitive drums 11 of the image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, and an intermediate transfer belt 17, respectively. Yes.

  The intermediate transfer belt 17 is provided adjacent to the upper portions of the four image forming units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. In each of the image forming units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c and 10 d, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by the developing device 14 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 by the primary transfer roller 15. The toner images sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 are transferred onto the recording paper P at once by the secondary transfer roller 18. The recording paper P is accommodated in a paper cassette 40 disposed in the lower part, and is conveyed through the recording paper conveyance path 43 to the secondary transfer roller 18 via a paper feed roller 41 and a registration roller 42.

  The fixing device 19 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer roller 18 in the recording paper conveyance direction, and simultaneously applies heat and pressure to the recording paper P to which the toner image has been transferred, thereby fusing the resin component of the toner. The transferred toner image is fixed on the recording paper P.

  The cooling device 20 is arranged on the downstream side of the fixing device 19 in the recording paper conveyance direction, and the temperature of the recording paper P heated by the fixing device 19 is decolored by the decoloring ink used in the second recording unit 30. Cool to below the reaction temperature. For example, the cooling device 20 can be configured to press-contact the recording paper P with a cooling roller in which cooling water is circulated and a cooling pressure roller. Note that the cooling device 20 may be a blowing unit such as a fan, and the recording paper P may be cooled by blowing.

  The second recording unit 30 is arranged on the downstream side of the cooling device 20 in the recording paper conveyance direction, and prints on the conveyed recording paper P using decoloring ink. The decolorizing ink is ink that becomes colorless by heating. The decoloring ink is composed of, for example, a colorless dye, a developer that develops color by the combination of the colorless dye, and a decolorizer that captures the developer that has lost the bond of the colorless dye by heating. can do.

  2A and 2B, the second recording unit 30 is detachably attached to the carriage 31, the print head 32 disposed on the lower surface side of the carriage 31, and the upper portion of the carriage 31, And an ink cartridge 33 for supplying the print head 32 with decoloring ink. The carriage 31 is attached to an endless timing belt 37 stretched by a driving pulley 35 and a driven pulley 36 driven by a carriage motor 34, and is configured to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction. ing.

  The print head 32 and the ink cartridge 33 are provided corresponding to color image data of four different colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), respectively. The print head 32 ejects decoloring ink from the nozzles onto the recording paper P by a piezo method that does not use heat. The print head 32 is a so-called line head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the main scanning direction, and performs printing on the transported recording paper P while the carriage 31 is stationary. The print width in the main scanning direction by the print head 32 is narrower than the print width in the main scanning direction by the first recording unit 10, and the print area that can be printed by the print head 32 by moving the carriage 31 in the main scanning direction. Is configured to be changeable in the main scanning direction.

  A discharge roller 44 is disposed on the downstream side of the second recording unit 30 in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet, and the recording sheet P printed by the second recording unit 30 is discharged by the discharge roller 44 to a discharge tray. 45 is discharged.

  The operation unit 50 is provided with a touch panel 51, operation buttons 52, and a card information reading unit 53. The user operates the operation unit 50 and inputs an instruction to perform various settings of the color printer 1 and execute various functions such as image formation. The touch panel 51 is configured to display the state of the color printer 1, display the image formation status and the number of copies, and perform various settings such as white magnification setting and density setting. As the operation buttons 52, there are provided a start button for instructing start of image formation, a stop button for instructing stop of image formation, a reset button used when various settings of the color printer 1 are set to a default state, and the like. The card information reading unit 53 reads the authentication information from the user's ID card using a near field communication technology such as NFC (Near field radio communication).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the color printer 1. The color printer 1 includes a control unit 3 that controls each component (the first recording unit 10, the second recording unit 30, the operation unit 50, and the like). The control unit 3 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus. The control unit 3 reads out the control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling each component according to the print job and performing a series of image forming operations by the first recording unit 10. As well as the print data analysis unit 4, the user notation generation unit 5, and the user notation print control unit 6.

  The control unit 3 is connected to a communication unit 60 and a storage unit 70. The communication unit 60 has a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from a user terminal 62 such as a personal computer via a network 61 such as a LAN, and receives a print job including print data from the user terminal 62.

  The storage unit 70 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and is a storage unit that stores print jobs received by the communication unit 60. In addition, user information 71 is stored in the storage unit 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the user information 71 includes a “user ID” which is a unique number assigned to the user, a “name” of the user, “department information” indicating the user's affiliation, and “notation information”. It consists of. “Notation information” is information for setting user notation to be printed by the second recording unit 30. The user notation is for identifying the recording paper P discharged to the paper discharge tray 45. According to the user notation, the user who instructs the execution of the print job and discharges the recording paper P to the paper discharge tray 45 is indicated. Can be easily identified. In the present embodiment, “notation information” includes “notation content” for setting information to be printed as user notation, “color” for setting user notation color, and “arrangement” for setting print position of user notation. And “print page” for setting a print page in user notation, and “use of text” for setting whether to use a text (print data) as user notation.

Next, a user notation printing operation using the second recording unit 30 in the color printer 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
When executing the print job, the control unit 3 determines whether the print instruction is a remote instruction (step S01). For example, if the execution is based on a print job received from the user terminal 62, the control unit 3 determines that the instruction is remote, and if the execution is a print job based on the operation of the operation unit 50, Judge that there is no.

  If it is not a remote instruction in step S01, the user who issued the print instruction is in front of the color printer 1 and can immediately obtain the recording paper P discharged to the paper discharge tray 45. Normal printing using the first recording unit 30 is performed without executing the user notation printing operation using the second recording unit 30. In this case, the cooling device 20 is not operated.

  In the case of a remote instruction in step S01, the control unit 3 functions as the print data analysis unit 4. The print data analysis unit 4 reads out the user information 71 of the user who transmitted the print job from the storage unit 7 (step S02), and prints the page set in the “print page” setting the print page of the user notation. The color or character string used in the print data of the job is analyzed (step S03). Then, the print data analysis unit 4 determines whether the color used for the page set in “print page” in “notation information” is the same color as the color set in “color” in “notation information”. It is determined whether or not (step S04). The print data analysis unit 4 determines, for example, whether or not the same color is based on the color distance, and determines that the color is the same if the color distance is equal to or less than a preset first threshold value.

  If there is the same color in step S04, the print data analysis unit 4 changes the color set in “color” of “notation information” (step S05). The color change in step S05 is, for example, a second threshold value (> first threshold value) in which a color distance is set in advance from the color used for the text of the page set in “print page” of “notation information”. ) Change to a more distant color.

  Next, the print data analysis unit 4 determines whether “text use” of “notation information” is permitted (step S06). If there is no same color in step S04, step S06 is reached without changing the color in step S05.

  When “use of text” is not permitted in step S06, the control unit 3 functions as the user notation generation unit 5 and generates a user notation based on the “notation information” of the user information 71 (step S08). The user notation generation unit 5 generates a user notation based on “notation contents” and “color” (or the color changed in step S05) of “notation information”.

  Next, the control unit 3 functions as the user notation printing control unit 6, prints the user notation generated in step S08 on the recording paper P with the decoloring ink (step S09), and ends the user notation printing operation. In step S09, the user notation print control unit 6 operates the cooling device 20 to cool the recording paper P, and based on the “notation information” of the user information 71, the user notation generated in step S08 is the second notation. Printing is performed on the recording paper P cooled by the decoloring ink by the recording unit 30. The user notation print control unit 6 prints the user notation on the print position set by “arrangement” of “notation information” and the print page set by “print page” of “notation information”. Since the recording paper P is cooled below the reaction temperature of the decoloring ink by the cooling device 20, the user notation printed on the recording paper P by the decoloring ink by the second recording unit 30 is recorded from the fixing device 19. It is not erased by heat applied to the paper P.

  In FIG. 6A, “name” of “user ID” 00002 is generated as user notation based on “notation content” of user information 71, and based on “arrangement” of user information 71, In the upper margin / right side of the first recording unit 10 other than the printing area X, an example in which the generated user notation is printed by the second recording unit 30 is shown.

  In FIG. 6B, “user ID” 00003 is generated as user notation based on the “notation content” of the user information 71, and the first recording on the recording paper P is based on the “arrangement” of the user information 71. An example in which the generated user notation is printed by the second recording unit 30 is shown in the lower margin / left side of the unit 10 other than the print region X.

  If “use of text” is permitted in step S06, the print data analysis unit 4 determines whether “notation content” is present in the text of the page set in “print page” of the print data (step S06). S07). If there is no “notation content” in the text of the print data in step S07 (for example, in the case of “name” “Taro Yamada” of “user ID” 0001 in FIG. If there is no character string of “Taro Oyama”, which is the name of “notation content”, in the text of the page set in the “print page” of the print data for setting the print page), the process proceeds to step S08.

  When there is “notation content” in the text of the print data in step S07, the control unit 3 functions as the user notation generation unit 5 and generates a guide notation indicating the user notation in the text (step S10). The user notation generation unit 5 generates a guide notation with the “color” of “notation information” (or the color changed in step S05). The guide notation is a frame, underline, symbol, or character indicating the user notation in the text, and is preferably configured to be settable by the user.

  Next, the control unit 3 functions as the user notation print control unit 6, prints the guide notation generated in step S10 on the recording paper P with the decoloring ink (step S11), and ends the user notation printing operation. In step S11, the user notation printing control unit 6 operates the cooling device 20 to cool the recording paper P, and in the vicinity of the “notation content” in the sentence, the guide notation generated in step S10 is second recorded. Printing is performed on the recording paper P cooled by the decoloring ink by the unit 30. Since the recording paper P is cooled below the reaction temperature of the decoloring ink by the cooling device 20, the user notation printed on the recording paper P by the decoloring ink by the second recording unit 30 is recorded from the fixing device 19. It is not erased by heat applied to the paper P.

  FIG. 7A shows an example in which a frame indicating “name” of “user ID” 00001 in the text is generated as a guide notation and printed by the second recording unit 30.

  FIG. 7B shows an example in which a double underline indicating “name” of “user ID” 00001 in the text is generated as a guide notation and printed by the second recording unit 30.

  In the present embodiment, the decoloring ink that is decolored by heat in the second recording unit 30 is used. However, the decoloring ink that is decolored by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, or the decoloring ink that is decolored over time. May be used. In this embodiment, the color erasing ink is used as the color material used in the second recording unit 30, but another color material such as a color erasing toner may be used. Furthermore, it is preferable to be able to select whether to print user notation and guidance notation according to user settings.

As described above, the present embodiment is a color printer 1 that prints print data by the first recording unit 10 using a normal coloring material that is not erased, and is erased under a predetermined condition. The second recording unit 30 using the coloring material to be printed, the user notation generation unit 5 for generating the user notation for specifying the user who has instructed printing of the print data, and the user notation generated by the user notation generation unit 5 as the second And a user notation print control unit 6 that causes the recording unit 30 to print outside the printing range of the first recording unit 10.
With this configuration, it is possible to easily identify the recording paper P output to the paper discharge tray 45 by erasable user notation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the recording paper P discharged to the paper discharge tray 45 from being left unattended and taken away by other users by mistake. When the recording paper P output to the paper discharge tray 45 is used as a document, unnecessary user notations can be easily deleted.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the coloring substance used in the second recording unit 30 is a decoloring ink that is decolored by heat, and the temperature of the recording paper P printed by the first recording unit 10 is set. A cooling device 20 that cools below the reaction temperature at which the color erasing ink is erased is provided, and the second recording unit 30 performs printing on the recording paper P cooled by the cooling device 20.
With this configuration, even when an electrophotographic process for printing with toner fixed by heat as the first recording unit 10 is used, a printing method using a decoloring ink that is erased by heat in the second recording unit 30 is adopted. be able to. Thereby, the user can easily erase the user notation printed on the recording paper P.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the first recording unit 10 and the second recording unit 30 are compatible with color printing, and a color analysis unit that analyzes colors used in the text of print data. The user notation print control unit 6 causes the user notation to be printed in a color that is not used in the text of the print data.
With this configuration, it is possible to improve the visibility of user notation.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the user notation print control unit 6 causes the user notation to be printed with a color whose color distance is not less than a preset threshold from the color used in the text of the print data.
With this configuration, the visibility of user notation can be further improved.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the print data analysis unit 4 that functions as a character string analysis unit that analyzes a character string in the text of print data and determines whether or not there is a user notation is provided. When there is a user notation in the text of the print data, the unit 5 generates a guide notation indicating the user notation in the text of the print data instead of the user notation, and the user notation print control unit 6 5 is printed by the second recording unit 30 in the text of the print data.
With this configuration, user notation in the text can be used, so that the amount of decoloring ink used in the second recording unit 30 can be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the printing width in the main scanning direction by the second recording unit 30 is narrower than the printing width in the main scanning direction by the first recording unit 10, and printing is performed by the second recording unit 30. The possible print area is configured to be changeable in the main scanning direction.
With this configuration, the cost of the second recording unit 30 can be reduced.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that the embodiments can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color printer 3 Control part 4 Print data analysis part 5 User notation production | generation part 6 User notation print control part 10 1st recording part 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Image formation part 11 Photosensitive drum 12 Charging device 13 Exposure unit 14 Development Device 15 Primary transfer roller 16 Cleaning device 17 Intermediate transfer belt 18 Secondary transfer roller 19 Fixing device 20 Cooling device 30 Second recording unit 31 Carriage 32 Print head 33 Ink cartridge 34 Carriage motor 35 Drive pulley 36 Driven pulley 37 Timing belt 40 Paper cassette 41 Paper feed roller 42 Registration roller 43 Recording paper transport path 44 Ejection roller 45 Ejection tray 50 Operation unit 51 Touch panel 52 Operation button 53 Card information reading unit 60 Communication unit 61 Network 62 User terminal 70 Storage unit 71 User information

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus that prints print data using a first recording unit that uses a normal coloring material that is not erased,
A second recording unit that uses a coloring substance that is decolored under predetermined conditions;
A user notation generation unit for generating a user notation for specifying a user who has instructed printing of the print data;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a user notation print control unit that causes the second recording unit to print the user notation generated by the user notation generation unit outside the printing range of the first recording unit. . The coloring substance used in the second recording unit is a decoloring ink that is decolored by heat,
Comprising a cooling device for cooling the temperature of the recording paper printed by the first recording unit to a temperature lower than the reaction temperature at which the decoloring ink is decolored,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second recording unit performs printing on a recording sheet cooled by the cooling device. The first recording unit and the second recording unit support color printing,
Comprising a color analysis unit for analyzing the color used in the text of the print data;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user notation printing control unit causes the user notation to be printed in a color that is not used in a text of the print data.   4. The user notation printing control unit causes the user notation to be printed with a color whose color distance is not less than a preset threshold value from a color used in the text of the print data. Image forming apparatus. Analyzing the character string in the text of the print data, comprising a character string analysis unit for determining whether there is the user notation,
The user notation generation unit generates a guide notation indicating the user notation in the text of the print data instead of the user notation when the user notation is in the text of the print data,
5. The user notation print control unit causes the guide notation generated by the user notation generation unit to be printed in the text of the print data by a second recording unit. 6. The image forming apparatus described.   The printing width in the main scanning direction by the second recording unit is narrower than the printing width in the main scanning direction by the first recording unit, and the print area printable by the second recording unit is changed in the main scanning direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be capable of being configured.

Images