JP2023044016A - image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming device that performs processing for image formation under an appropriate image formation condition in accordance with a sheet type in which the image formation is performed.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises: a sheet-feeding/conveying roller that conveys a sheet along a sheet conveyance passage; an image forming part that forms an image on the conveyed sheet, under an image formation condition; and a media sensor, provided in the sheet conveyance passage, which senses physical properties including basis weight of the conveyed sheet. A control part of the image forming device selects a category of the sheet on the basis of a sensed result by the media sensor, and presents candidates for default media, user-defined media or the like, for each category, to a user through a display screen of an operation part. When a selected result by the user is inputted through the operation part, the control part controls the image formation condition in accordance with the received selected result, so that image formation is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image forming conditions according to the type of sheet.

As an image forming apparatus, an apparatus is known in which an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member by laser beam light is developed with toner (developer), the toner image is transferred onto a sheet, and the toner image is heat-fixed. In such an image forming apparatus, by setting the optimum image forming conditions for each sheet type, it is possible to obtain good printed matter. In order to set image forming conditions, a method is known in which a user instructs the type of sheet to be used for printing from an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus or a driver screen of a computer connected to the image forming apparatus. there is
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus has been provided with a media sensor for detecting physical properties of a sheet such as the basis weight and surface properties of the sheet, and an apparatus capable of determining the type of the sheet based on the detected properties has been introduced. In addition, a wide variety of types of sheets are used in the market, and there are cases where good-quality prints cannot be obtained under image forming conditions corresponding to the types of sheets prepared in advance in the image forming apparatus.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200002 proposes a technique that allows a user to partially change the image forming conditions prepared in advance and set the image forming conditions as a new sheet type (hereinafter referred to as a user-defined sheet). According to this technique, a user who feels that the quality of the printed matter is not good can customize the image forming conditions to improve the quality of the printed matter.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-270872

In a configuration including automatic setting of sheets by a media sensor provided in the image forming apparatus and additional creation of user-defined sheets, there may be cases where there are multiple sheet candidates corresponding to the characteristics detected by the media sensor. . For example, both the default sheet and one or more newly created user-defined sheets may match the characteristics detected by the media sensor. In this case, the image forming apparatus cannot determine which sheet should be printed under the appropriate image forming conditions, which may lead to deterioration in the quality of printed matter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing under appropriate image forming conditions according to the sheet type.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a sheet along a conveying path, an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means based on an image forming condition, and the conveying path. detecting means for detecting physical characteristics of the sheet conveyed on the conveying path; selecting means for selecting a candidate for the type of the sheet based on the detection result of the detecting means; and selection by the selecting means. transmitting means for transmitting information on the candidates for the sheet type that has been received; receiving means for receiving user instruction information on the sheet type specified from the candidates; and receiving the user instruction information received by the receiving means and a control means for controlling the image forming conditions based on the above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing under suitable image forming conditions according to the sheet type.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus; FIG. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus; FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fixing device; (a) is an explanatory diagram of a creation screen for a user-defined sheet, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of a fixing temperature correction setting screen for a user-defined sheet. Schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a media sensor. Explanatory drawing of a discrimination|determination process. (a) to (c) are explanatory diagrams of display screens in the sheet automatic setting mode. 4 is a flowchart of sheet selection control processing.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Various technically preferable limitations are attached to the embodiments described below for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic cross-sectional configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 that forms an image on a recording medium such as a sheet.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2 , a control unit 9 is a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 100 and is incorporated in the image forming apparatus 100 . The control unit 9 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 as storage means. By executing a computer program stored in the ROM 11, the CPU 10 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to implement the image forming procedure and the procedure of the flow charts, which will be described later. The RAM 12 stores various information under the control of the CPU 10 . RAM 12 provides a work area for CPU 10 to execute computer programs. The control unit 9 is connected to the operation unit 13 , the media sensor 14 , the external device 15 , the image forming unit 17 and the fixing device 170 .

The operation unit 13 is a user interface having an input interface and an output interface, and includes panels and buttons as display screens capable of displaying operation screens. The input interface is a key button, a touch panel, or the like. The output interface is a display, speaker, or the like. The operation unit 13 has a function as an instruction/display unit that displays various screens such as a setting screen and an instruction screen on the display under the control of the CPU 10 . The CPU 10 receives various settings, operation start instructions, and the like from the operation unit 13 . When the user inputs instruction information such as print operation start, the operation unit 13 sends the instruction information to the CPU 10 . The instruction information may be input from an external device 15 such as a personal computer, tablet terminal, or smart phone connected via a network or the like. When the instruction information for starting the printing operation is input, the CPU 10 drives and controls a sheet feeding/conveying motor (not shown) according to the instruction information to feed the sheet. Further, the CPU 10 sets image forming conditions for the image forming section 17 and the fixing device 170, and image forming is performed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to the set image forming conditions.

The image forming unit 17 includes cartridges 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d, which are the image forming units shown in FIG. 1, and laser scanners 122a, 122b, 122c and 122d. The image forming section 17 also includes an intermediate transfer belt 130, primary transfer sections 123a, 123b, 123c and 123d, a secondary transfer section 140, and the like. The image forming section 17 forms an image on a sheet under the control of the CPU 10 . The image forming section 17 performs these drives based on the image forming conditions set by the CPU 10 to form an image on the sheet. The fixing device 170 thermally fixes the image formed by the image forming section 17 on the sheet based on the image forming conditions set by the CPU 10 . Details will be described later. The media sensor 14 is provided in the paper transport path and detects physical characteristics (also called media characteristics) such as basis weight and surface properties of sheets such as paper fed through the paper transport path. The CPU 10 determines the sheet based on the detection result of the media characteristics of the media sensor 14 . Details will be described later. Sheets on which images are to be printed are accommodated in a paper feed tray 110 or a plurality of paper feed cassettes 220 and 221 as feeding means. The types of sheets stored in the paper feed tray 110 or the paper feed cassettes 220 and 221 may be the same or different.

Next, a basic image forming operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. When a print operation start instruction is input from the operation unit 13 or the like, the CPU 10 feeds sheets from the instructed paper feed port, that is, the paper feed tray 110 or the paper feed cassettes 220 and 221 in FIG. to start. In the case of the paper feed tray 110 , the CPU 10 drives a paper feed transport motor (not shown) that serves as a drive source for the paper feed transport rollers 111 . As a result, the paper feed transport roller 111 is driven to rotate, and the sheets on the paper feed tray 110 are fed one by one on the paper transport path. Similarly, in the case of the paper feed cassette 220 or 221, the CPU 10 rotationally drives the paper feed transport roller 151 or the paper feed transport roller 152 to feed the sheets in the paper feed cassette 221 or 220 one by one. When the sheet automatic setting mode, which will be described later, is set, the media sensor 14 detects the media characteristics of the fed sheet. Then, the CPU 10 sets image forming conditions such as fixing temperature and transfer voltage according to the sheet determined from the detected characteristics or the sheet set from the operation unit 13 or the like.

The CPU 10 causes the cartridges 120 a to 120 d to start image forming operations in time for the sheet to arrive at the secondary transfer portion 140 . The cartridge 120a is for yellow, the cartridge 120b is for magenta, the cartridge 120c is for cyan, and the cartridge 120d is for black. The cartridges 120a to 120d are configured to be attachable and detachable by the user.

Each cartridge 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d has the same configuration. Cartridges 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d each include a photoreceptor, charging roller, and developer. After being uniformly charged by the charging roller, the photosensitive member is formed with an electrostatic latent image by laser light emitted from the laser scanners 122a, 122b, 122c, and 122d. The developing device develops the formed electrostatic latent image with toner (developer). Thereby, a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor. The toner images formed on the cartridges 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 130 by applying primary transfer voltages to the primary transfer portions 123a, 123b, 123c, and 123d. The intermediate transfer belt 130 rotates, and toner images are transferred from the photosensitive members of the cartridges 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d at timings corresponding to the rotation speed. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 130 bears a full-color toner image on which the toner images of each color are superimposed and transferred. Intermediate transfer belt 130 conveys the transferred toner image to secondary transfer portion 140 by rotating.

The CPU 10 detects the position of the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 155 by monitoring the output from the pre-registration conveying sensor 160 . Then, the CPU 10 considers the timing at which the leading edge of the sheet reaches the pre-registration conveying sensor 160 and adjusts the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheet coincides with the leading edge of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 130 at the secondary transfer portion 140 . to control the transport of For example, when the sheet is detected by the pre-registration conveying sensor 160 at the timing when the sheet reaches the secondary transfer portion 140 earlier than the toner image, the CPU 10 causes the pre-registration conveying roller 161 to stop the sheet for a predetermined time. The CPU 10 resumes conveying the sheet by the pre-registration conveying roller 161 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and controls the transfer position of the toner image onto the sheet.

As described above, the sheet and the toner image reach the secondary transfer portion 140 and the secondary transfer voltage is applied, thereby transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 130 to the sheet. The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 170 . The fixing device 170 heats and presses the toner image to fix it on the sheet. The CPU 10 conveys the sheet on which the image is fixed by the fixing device 170 downstream. A paper transport sensor 171 is arranged downstream of the fixing device 170 . When the leading edge of the fixed sheet reaches the paper transport sensor 171, the CPU 10 determines whether to transport the sheet to the paper transport path 230 or the paper transport path 231 according to an instruction set from the operation unit 13 or the like. Then, the CPU 10 switches the conveying destination of the sheet by switching the conveying flapper 172 based on the determination. For example, the CPU 10 causes the paper to be transported to the paper transport path 230 when the instruction from the operation unit 13 is for double-sided printing and when the front side is being printed, and when the back side of single-sided printing or double-sided printing is being printed, the paper is It is transported to the transport path 231 .

When the sheet is conveyed to the paper conveying path 231 , the conveyed sheet is further conveyed downstream by the conveying rollers 232 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 196 . On the other hand, when the sheet is conveyed to the paper conveying path 230, the sheet is conveyed by the reversing conveying roller 162 in the downstream portion and pulled into the reversing portion R. FIG. After the sheet is drawn into the reversing portion R, the CPU 10 switches the conveying flapper 173 and reversely rotates the reversing conveying roller 162 to switch back the sheet and convey the sheet toward the secondary transfer portion 140 . Note that the length of the sheet in the conveying direction must be shorter than the length L of the reversing portion R in order to switch back. Then, the CPU 10 again detects the position of the sheet by monitoring the output of the pre-registration conveying sensor 160 , and adjusts the sheet so that the leading edge of the sheet and the leading edge of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 130 are aligned at the secondary transfer portion 140 . Control sheet transport. After that, the CPU 10 transfers the toner image onto the sheet, fixes the transferred toner image by the fixing device 170 , and switches the conveying flapper 172 . As a result, the sheet is transported to the paper transport path 231 and ejected to the paper ejection tray 196, thereby realizing double-sided printing.

<Description of the fixing device>
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fixing device 170. As shown in FIG. The fixing device 170 includes an assembly including a heater holder 207 , a fixing heater 204 fixed along the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the drawing) of the lower surface of the heater holder 207 , a fixing film 203 serving as an elastic layer, and a pressure roller 205 . and including. Also, in FIG. 3, M denotes a sheet on which the toner image T is transferred and which is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. The heater holder 207 is a U-shaped member extending in the depth direction of the figure. The fixing heater 204 is fixedly arranged on the lower surface of the heater holder 207 along the longitudinal direction of the heater holder 207 . The fixing device 170 is arranged parallel to the pressure roller 205 with the fixing heater 204 side in contact with the pressure roller 205, and both end portions of the heater holder 207 are pressed with a predetermined pressing force by an urging mechanism (not shown). state. The pressure roller 205 is arranged such that both ends of its core metal are rotatably supported between side plates of the fixing device.

The fixing heater 204 is arranged in the fixing film 203 on the pressure roller 205 side and parallel to the pressure roller 205 . The fixing heater 204 and the fixing film 203 are urged toward the pressure roller 205 with a predetermined pressing force. The fixing heater 204 is pressed against the elasticity of the pressure roller 205 with the fixing film 203 interposed therebetween, thereby forming a fixing nip portion 206 having a predetermined width. The pressure roller 205 is rotationally driven counterclockwise at a predetermined peripheral speed by a drive mechanism (not shown). As the pressure roller 205 rotates, the fixing film 203 rotates clockwise. The sheet is pressurized and heated at the fixing nip portion 206 to fix the toner image, and is conveyed downstream from the fixing device 170 by the rotation of the pressure roller 205 . The fixing heater 204 is formed by forming a resistance heating element on a ceramic substrate. A temperature detection sensor 208 is in contact with the fixing heater 204 . The CPU 10 detects the temperature of the fixing heater 204 from the detection result output from the temperature detection sensor 208, and based on the detected temperature, supplies power to the fixing heater 204 so that the fixing heater 204 reaches a predetermined target temperature. to control. The CPU 10 feedback-controls the temperature of the fixing heater 204 in this way.

<Description of user-defined sheet>
Next, the user-defined sheet will be described with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).
In the present embodiment, a group (or type of sheet) such as plain paper or thick paper to which a sheet belongs is referred to as a category. A user-defined sheet is a sheet uniquely defined by a user. For sheet types (default types) that are predefined in the image forming apparatus 100, such as plain paper and thick paper, basis weight and the like are set as characteristics, and fixing temperature and the like are set as image forming conditions. Transfer voltage, etc. are set. Similarly, for a user-defined sheet, it is possible to set basis weight and the like as characteristics, and fixing temperature, transfer voltage and the like can be set as image forming conditions. The RAM 12 stores one default sheet and its characteristics and image forming conditions for each category, and a plurality of user-defined sheets, their characteristics and image forming conditions can be added to the RAM 12 and stored. .

FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a user-defined sheet creation screen displayed when the user gives an instruction to create a user-defined sheet through the operation unit 13. FIG. The user-defined sheet creation screen is displayed, for example, by displaying a user-defined sheet creation button (not shown) on the operation unit 13 and pressing the creation button by the user. The figure shows an entry area 401 and its setting button 405 in which the name of the user-defined sheet is entered by the user, and an entry area 402 in which the basis weight value (g/m ² ) as a characteristic is entered as a number and its setting button. 406 is shown. A selection button 403 and a setting button 407 for the user to select a fixing temperature correction condition from among "low", "standard", and "high" are shown as image forming conditions. Further, a selection button 404 and its setting button 408 are shown for displaying the transfer voltage correction selected by the user from among "low", "standard", and "high" transfer voltage correction. When the user presses a create button 409 after setting these image forming conditions, a user-defined sheet is created. Regarding the entry section 401, the "name" is a sheet identifier, and is used for check buttons 711 to 713 and 721 to 723 in FIGS. 7B and 7C, which will be described later. The user presses the setting button 405 corresponding to the entry section 401 to input characters from the operation section 13 to the entry section 401, and sets a name that does not duplicate existing sheets as the name of the user-defined sheet.

Regarding the entry section 402, the "basis weight" is the weight per unit area of the sheet. In this embodiment, the CPU 10 determines the category to which the sheet belongs based on the basis weight, and sets reference values for image forming conditions such as fixing temperature and secondary transfer voltage according to the category. The user presses the setting button 406 corresponding to the grammage and inputs a numerical value within a predetermined range from the operation unit 13 to the input unit 402 to set the grammage.

Regarding the selection button 403, "fixing temperature correction" is correction for the reference value of the fixing temperature described above. FIG. 4B shows an explanatory diagram of a setting screen for fixing temperature correction displayed on the operation unit 13 when the user presses the setting button 407 corresponding to the selection button 403 in FIG. 4A. In this example, the selection button 421 displays "low", the selection button 422 displays "standard", and the selection button 423 displays "high", and fixing temperature correction is performed by selecting one of them. When "standard" of selection button 422 is selected, CPU 10 does not correct the reference value of the fixing temperature. Further, when the selection button 421 selects "low" or the selection button 423 selects "high", the CPU 10 corrects the fixing temperature so that the fixing temperature becomes lower or higher than the reference value by a predetermined value. . Similarly, for the selection button 404, "transfer voltage correction" is correction for the reference value of the secondary transfer voltage. By pressing a setting button 408 corresponding to the selection button 404, the user selects one from "low", "standard", and "high" as in the example of FIG. 4B for fixing temperature correction. Add a correction to the transfer temperature.

To explain an example of creating a user-defined sheet, for example, if the basis weight of the sheet being used by the user is slightly smaller than the default sheet setting for plain paper, the curl amount may increase if the default sheet setting is used as is. . Therefore, by creating and using a user-defined sheet by selecting "low" instead of "standard" for the fixing temperature correction with the selection button 403 for the default sheet setting of plain paper, a reduction in the amount of curl can be expected. .

<Media sensor>
FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of the media sensor 14. As shown in FIG. The media sensor 14 is an optical sensor that includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 581 as a light emitting element, a photodiode 580 as a light receiving element, and a guide member 583 that guides the insertion of the sheet M therein. The LED 581 irradiates the sheet M with light. The photodiode 580 receives light reflected by the sheet M. As shown in FIG. The photodiode 580 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the received reflected light, thereby enabling the photodiode 580 to detect the reflected light amount of the light emitted by the LED 581 .

CPU 10 receives the input signal of photodiode 580 as the output value of media sensor 14 . The CPU 10 determines the sheet being used according to the difference in the output value due to the basis weight and surface properties of each sheet. Details will be described later. By discriminating the sheet by the media sensor in this way, the user does not need to manually set the sheet while being aware of the sheet. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a mode (sheet automatic setting mode) is prepared in which the media sensor 14 is used to determine the sheet and the image forming conditions are set according to the sheet. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment also provides a mode (sheet manual setting mode) in which the user manually sets the sheet as in the conventional art. The user presets either the sheet automatic setting mode or the sheet manual setting mode for each paper feed port from the operation unit 13 or the like.
The configuration of the media sensor 14 shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the media sensor 14 may have another configuration, such as a configuration in which an ultrasonic sensor such as a piezoelectric element is combined in addition to the light emitting element and the light receiving element.

FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram of sheet discrimination processing using the media sensor 14 . Here, the media sensor 14 uses the basis weight of the sheet as the media characteristic. Therefore, the output value of the media sensor changes depending only on the detected basis weight of the sheet. As illustrated, a discrimination threshold 1 and a discrimination threshold 2 are defined for the output value of the media sensor 14 . Depending on the size relationship between the output value of the media sensor 14 and the determination threshold 1 and the determination threshold 2, the sheet category is set to one of thin paper 601, plain paper 602, and thick paper 603 as a result of media characteristic detection by the media sensor 14. It is possible to decide to Determining the category based on the output value of the media sensor 14 may also be expressed as detecting the category.

In this example, thin paper_default, plain paper_default, and thick paper_default are defined in advance as default sheets that are preset sheet types. The media sensor output values and their corresponding basis weights are indicated by arrows 604, 605 and 606, respectively. In addition, plain paper_user defined 1, plain paper_user defined 2, and thick paper_user defined 3 are added by the user as user-defined sheets that are sheet types set by the user. Further, the corresponding media sensor output values and basis weights are indicated by arrows 607 , 608 , 609 . Default sheets are defined so that one type corresponds to one category. Therefore, when the user-defined sheet is not defined by the user, the CPU 10 can uniquely determine the sheet type by determining the category. On the other hand, when user-defined sheets are created, both a default sheet and a user-defined sheet may correspond to one category. In this case, since a plurality of sheet types correspond to one category, the CPU 10 cannot uniquely determine the sheet type only by determining the category.

Referring to the example of FIG. 6, when the CPU 10 determines that the sheet category is thin paper 601 based on the magnitude relationship between the media sensor output value and the discrimination threshold value 1 and discrimination threshold value 2, the sheet type is thin paper. _ can be uniquely determined to be the default. On the other hand, as indicated by arrows 607, 605, and 608, the plain paper 602 corresponds to three sheet types: plain paper_user defined 1, plain paper_default, and plain paper_user defined 2. there is Therefore, when the sheet category is determined to be plain paper 602, the user may use these three sheet types as occasion demands. Conversely, the user may use only PlainPaper_UserDefined 1 for PlainPaper 602 and may not use PlainPaper_Default and PlainPaper_UserDefined 2 .

Therefore, the CPU 10 cannot uniquely determine an appropriate sheet type only by determining the sheet category with the media sensor 14 . The same is true for the thick paper 603. The user may use two sheets, thick paper_default and thick paper_user-defined 3, or may use only the additionally created user-defined sheet. , so the appropriate sheet type cannot be uniquely determined. As described above, in the sheet automatic setting mode, there may be a plurality of sheet types corresponding to the category detected by the media sensor. In this case, the sheet determination result by the CPU 10 may differ from the sheet intended by the user, and undesirable image forming conditions may be set, leading to deterioration in the quality of printed matter.

<Sheet discrimination control>
In the sheet discrimination control, when a plurality of sheet types are defined as sheet type candidates in one category, the user can specify or set in advance the sheet type to be selected in the automatic sheet setting mode.
In this embodiment, before the printing operation, a "job common setting" is provided that is commonly applied to each category set for the sheet without depending on the print job. In addition, two setting methods are provided by providing "job individual setting" for setting the sheet type for each job with respect to the category detected during printing.

When a plurality of sheet types are defined for one category and the user selectively uses a plurality of sheet types, as in the example of plain paper 602 and thick paper 603 in FIG. Use On the other hand, if there is a high frequency of separate use, it is possible to improve convenience according to the use case by using "job individual setting". Description will be made below using the example of FIG.

7(a) to 7(c) are explanatory diagrams of the display screen of the sheet automatic setting mode displayed according to the instruction from the user as the user instruction information through the operation unit 13. FIG. FIG. 7A shows a display screen for selecting a sheet category in job common settings. This screen is displayed, for example, when the user presses a “job common setting in sheet automatic setting mode” button (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 13 . In FIG. 7A, selection buttons 701, 702, and 703 display "thin paper," "plain paper," and "thick paper," respectively, as sheet categories that can be set in the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. In the drawing, the selection button 701 corresponding to thin paper is grayed out and cannot be selected. As shown in FIG. 6, the only sheet type set for the thin paper category is "thin paper_default", and even if the user selects the selection button 701, it is impossible to change to another sheet type. Can not. Therefore, the selection button 701 is grayed out and cannot be selected. In this embodiment, the automatic sheet setting mode is displayed to the user through the display screen, but the automatic sheet setting mode can be presented to the user by other methods. For example, the screen display contents of FIGS. 7A to 7C may be presented to the user by voice guidance.

On the other hand, for plain paper, as shown in FIG. 6, three sheet types are defined: "Plain Paper_Default", "Plain Paper_User Defined 1", and "Plain Paper_User Defined 2". . Therefore, there are multiple options for the sheet type selected by the user. Therefore, the selection button 702 corresponding to plain paper is not grayed out, and the user can select a desired single sheet type from among a plurality of sheet types.
As for thick paper, two sheet types, "thick paper_default" and "thick paper_user defined 3", are defined as shown in FIG. In this case, although a plurality of sheet types are defined for one category of thick paper, there is only one type of user-defined sheet, “thick paper_user defined 3”. If only one type of user-defined sheet has been created and that user-defined sheet is used frequently, the selection button can be grayed out to reduce the user's effort to set the sheet. can. FIG. 7A shows an example corresponding to this, in which the selection button 703 corresponding to cardboard is grayed out.

When the same sheet is selected more than a predetermined number of times consecutively in a category in which a plurality of types of sheets are defined, the CPU 10 grays out the selection button corresponding to the category. You may control the display of the operation part 13 so that it may carry out. For example, the same sheet type (for example, "thick paper_user defined 3") is selected continuously for a predetermined number of times or more for "thick paper", which is the detection result of the media characteristics by the media sensor 14, and the image forming conditions are set. There may be In this case, the CPU 10 grays out the selection button 703 corresponding to thick paper. Then, the CPU 10 sets the image forming conditions according to the same sheet type that has been selected continuously for a predetermined number of times or more, and causes the image forming section 17 to form the image.

When the selection button is grayed out even though a plurality of sheets are defined in this way, the user may select the grayed out button. In this case, a screen for the user to select a sheet may be displayed in the same manner as the selection buttons that are not grayed out (for example, the selection button 702 in FIG. 7A). Also, when multiple types of sheets are defined for one category, regardless of the number of user-defined sheets, the corresponding selection buttons 703 may be displayed without being grayed out so that the user can select a sheet. In this case, the selection button 703 corresponding to thick paper is displayed without being grayed out, allowing the user to select a desired sheet.

FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of a sheet type selection display screen displayed on the operation unit 13 when the user selects plain paper with the selection button 702 in FIG. 7A. In this example, a screen is displayed that asks "Please select the sheet type to be set when 'plain paper' is detected." According to this display, the user selects which sheet type image forming apparatus 100 sets for printing when the sheet category is detected as "plain paper".

In the figure, "Plain Paper_Default", "Plain Paper_User Defined 1", and "Plain Paper_User Defined 2" are displayed as sheet types, and corresponding check buttons 711, 712, and 713 are displayed. ing. The user selects a sheet type by depressing a check button corresponding to the desired sheet type to select it, and the selected sheet type is selected as the job common setting in the image forming apparatus 100 . In the example of FIG. 7B, the check button 712 is selected, indicating that the user has selected "plain paper_user defined 1" as the sheet type as the job common setting. Therefore, in subsequent processes, when plain paper is detected by the media sensor 14, "plain paper_user defined 1" is set as the sheet type. Then, the CPU 10 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform image formation under the image forming conditions corresponding to "plain paper_user definition 1".

In this way, after the user selects the sheet type through any of the check buttons 711 to 713 in the automatic sheet setting mode, the CPU 10 sets the sheet type selected by the user in the job executed in the automatic sheet setting mode. do. After that, the CPU 10 performs print control based on the image forming conditions. Therefore, in the sheet automatic setting mode, the sheet selected in FIG. 7B is automatically set, so the user does not need to select the sheet individually. Also shown in the drawing are "set for each job" and a check button 714 corresponding thereto. If the user desires job-individual settings rather than job-common settings, the user selects a check button 714 corresponding to "job-individual settings". In this case, the CPU 10 displays on the operation unit 13 a screen for selecting which sheet type to select for each job executed in the automatic sheet setting mode.

FIG. 7(c) shows an explanatory view of the display screen in the individual job setting. This display screen is displayed on the operation unit 13 when the check button 714 corresponding to "Set for each job" has been selected in FIG. be done. As shown in the illustration, this display screen displays the message “Plain Paper Detected. Please select the sheet to set. , indicating that the image forming apparatus 100 has already detected that the sheet category is “plain paper”. This display screen displays the sheet types "plain paper_default", "plain paper_user definition 1", and "plain paper_user definition 2" defined for "plain paper", and , corresponding check buttons 721, 722, and 723 are displayed. The user selects a sheet type by depressing the check button corresponding to the desired sheet type to select it. In the example of FIG. 7C, the check button 722 is selected, indicating that the user has selected "plain paper_user defined 1" as the sheet type. In the image forming apparatus 100, the CPU 10 sets the selected sheet type "plain paper_user defined 1" and performs image formation.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 7(c), an option "set as common to all jobs" and a corresponding check button 724 are displayed. When the user selects the check button 724 on the screen of FIG. 7C to select "set as common for all jobs", the image forming apparatus 100 may detect that the sheet category is plain paper. be. In this case, in subsequent image formation, the sheet type "plain paper_user definition 1" selected in FIG. 7C is automatically set. Therefore, the result is the same as when the check button 712 is pressed in the "job common settings" of FIG. 7B and "plain paper_user definition 1" is selected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing sheet selection control processing. The symbol "S" in the flow chart represents a processing step. Each processing step is executed by the CPU 10 unless otherwise specified. In the following description, S101 to S105 are processes repeatedly performed by the CPU 10 after the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on and before executing the printing operation. Further, S111 to S132 are processes repeatedly performed by the CPU 10 during printing.

The CPU 10 determines whether there is a change in the settings of the user-defined sheet described in FIGS. 4A and 4B (S101). Reflect (S102). Note that changing the settings of a user-defined sheet may include creating a user-defined sheet, deleting a created user-defined sheet, or changing its media characteristics and image forming conditions. When S102 is executed, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the job common settings shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B have been changed (S103). If there is no change in the settings of the user-defined sheet (S101: N), the CPU 10 executes S103 without executing S102. If there is a change in the setting of the job common sheet (S103: Y), the CPU 10 reflects the change (S104), and determines whether a print start operation instruction as an image forming command has been issued from the operation unit 13 or the like (S105). ). If there is no change in the setting of the job common sheet (S103: N), the CPU 10 executes S105 without executing S104. S101 to S105 are processes before executing the print operation. In this embodiment, when the user presses the job common setting button of the automatic sheet setting mode displayed on the operation unit 13 before executing the printing operation, the automatic sheet setting shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is performed. Display the mode display screen. Also, in the display screen of FIG. 7B, a check button 714 corresponding to "set for each job" is always displayed together with the check buttons 711 to 713 so that the user can set the sheet type for each job. and

If there is no print start operation instruction (S105: N), the CPU 10 executes S101 again. When the print start operation instruction is given (S105: Y), the CPU 10 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to start the print operation and feed paper (S111). In paper feeding, the CPU 10 feeds the sheets one by one from the designated paper feed port. Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the sheet automatic setting mode is set (S112). If the sheet automatic setting mode is not set (S112: N), the CPU 10 selects the sheet type manually set by the user through the operation unit 13 (S113), and prints under the image forming conditions corresponding to the selected sheet type. (S131). When the sheet automatic setting mode is set (S112: Y), the CPU 10 detects the media characteristics of the fed sheet by detecting the media characteristics with the media sensor 14 (S114). In this way, the sheet category is determined based on the media characteristic detection results. The CPU 10 then determines whether or not there are a plurality of sheet types corresponding to the determined category (S115). S114 to S125 are sheet determination control when the sheet automatic setting mode is set, and S117 to S125 are sheet determination control when there are a plurality of sheets corresponding to the detected category.

If there is only one sheet type corresponding to the determined category (S115: N), the CPU 10 selects the corresponding sheet type (S116). This processing corresponds to the case where the thin paper 601 is detected in FIG. After that, the CPU 10 executes S131 described above. If there are a plurality of sheet types corresponding to the determined category (S115: Y), the CPU 10 determines whether a single sheet type can be specified from among the sheet types set corresponding to the determined category. do. This determination can be made by any method. For example, if a sheet type set by the user is included in a plurality of sheet types set corresponding to the category, priority is given to the sheet type set by the user. A single sheet type specification may be made at random. Alternatively, a history of sheet types set by the user may be recorded, and from the history, a sheet type that is frequently set may be specified as a single sheet type. In this embodiment, the CPU 10 determines whether there is only one corresponding user-defined sheet (S117). If there is only one user-defined sheet corresponding to the determined category (S117: Y), the CPU 10 selects that user-defined sheet as a single sheet type (S118), and executes S131. This corresponds to the case where the cardboard 603 is detected in the example of FIG.

If there are two or more user-defined sheets as sheet types corresponding to the determined category (S117: N), the CPU 10 determines that a single sheet type cannot be specified. After that, the CPU 10 refers to the user's selection result input through the display screen of FIG. 7B in the process before executing the print operation, and determines whether or not to use the individual job setting (S119). . When the user inputs a selection not to use the job individual setting (S119: N), the CPU 10 selects the job common setting. This corresponds to the case where one of the check buttons 711 to 713 for selecting the job common sheet in FIG. 7B has already been selected by the user. In this case, the CPU 10 selects the sheet type of the sheet job common setting selected by the user for the determined category (S120), and executes S131.

If the user selects to use the job individual setting (S119: Y), it corresponds to the case where the user has already selected the check button 714 corresponding to "job individual setting" in FIG. 7B. In this case, the CPU 10 determines whether image formation is to be performed on the first page of the sheet on which the image is formed in the current print job (S121). This determination can be made by any method such as using a counter (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100 . If it is the first page (S121: Y), the CPU 10 displays on the operation unit 13 a screen for accepting the user's selection of the sheet type for the current job. As a result, the CPU 10 accepts sheet type selection in the individual job settings from the user (S122). In this embodiment, in S112, check buttons 721 to 723 corresponding to sheet types such as plain paper_default shown in FIG. 7C are displayed to accept selection from the user.

Further, the CPU 10 operates a screen for receiving a user's selection as to whether or not the sheet type selected in the job individual setting is also used as the sheet type in the job common setting for the sheet types of the same category. Displayed in part 13. Accordingly, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the sheet type selected in the individual job setting is to be reflected in the job common setting (S123). This display may be displayed together with the screen for accepting the user's selection of the job-individual sheet for the current job in S122, or may be displayed after accepting the user's selection of the job-individual sheet.

In the example of FIG. 7C, a check button 724 corresponding to "set as common to all jobs" is displayed together with a screen for accepting a user's selection of individual job settings for the current job. If the check button 724 is not selected, it means that the user has selected not to reflect the job individual sheet settings in the job common settings (S123: N). In this case, the user selects the sheet type of the sheet job individual setting (S125), and executes S131. On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 7C, if the user selects the check button 724 corresponding to "set as common to jobs", it means that the user has selected to reflect the settings in the job individual sheet to the common job settings. (S123: Y). In this case, the CPU 10 does not require individual job setting for the category determined by detecting the media characteristics in S114.

Thereafter, the CPU 10 reflects the sheet type in the job individual settings selected by the user in S122 to the job common settings in S103 (S124), and then selects the sheet type in the sheet job individual settings selected by the user (S125). ). After that, the CPU 10 executes S131 and performs print control based on the image forming conditions of the selected sheet type.

Returning to S121, if the page on which image formation is to be performed is not the first page (S121: N), image formation will be performed on the second and subsequent pages. sheet type is selected and S131 is executed. After that, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the printing operation for the last page has been completed (S132), and if not (S132: N), executes S111 and subsequent steps again. If completed (S132: Y), the process ends. Note that the control executed by the CPU 10 in this embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a job-specific sheet may always be set for each print operation, or a job-common sheet may be set for each paper feed port.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the sheet automatic setting mode, when there are a plurality of sheet types corresponding to the characteristics detected by the media sensor, the user can set the sheet type to be selected. and This enables the user to select an appropriate sheet type and obtain a good quality printed matter even if there are a plurality of applicable sheet types.
Further, even when there are a plurality of sheet settings corresponding to the characteristics detected by the media sensor, an appropriate sheet setting can be selected without impairing the convenience of automatic sheet setting by the media sensor.

Claims (11)

a conveying means for conveying the sheet along the conveying path;
image forming means for forming an image on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means based on image forming conditions;
a detection unit provided on the transport path for detecting physical characteristics of the sheet transported on the transport path;
selection means for selecting candidates for the sheet type based on the detection result of the detection means;
a transmission unit configured to transmit information about the sheet type candidate selected by the selection unit;
receiving means for receiving user instruction information regarding the sheet type specified from the candidates;
and control means for controlling the image forming conditions based on the user instruction information received by the receiving means,
Image forming device. The control means is
Upon receiving an image forming command, controlling the image forming means to form an image on the sheet according to the image forming conditions;
When a plurality of sheet type candidates are set for the detection result of the physical property by the detection means, the plurality of sheet type candidates set for the detection result of the physical property by the detection means are selected. Executes a presentation process for presenting a screen for selecting one type from among them to the user through the receiving means,
The sheet type selected through the receiving means is set as a sheet type commonly selected for the image forming command with respect to the detected physical characteristics,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The control means has a plurality of sheet types set for the detection results of the physical properties by the detection means, and selects a single sheet type from among the plurality of set sheet types. If it is possible to identify the sheet type, without presenting the user with a screen for selecting one type from among the plurality of sheet types set for the detection result of the physical property by the detection unit, setting the image forming conditions of the image forming means according to the type of the identified single sheet;
A screen for selecting one type from among the plurality of sheet types set for the detection result of the physical characteristics by the detection means when the single sheet type cannot be specified. is presented to the user to set the image forming conditions,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. If only one sheet type set by the user is included in a plurality of sheet types set for the detection results of the physical properties by the detection unit, the control unit controls the single sheet type. as the sheet type, the sheet type set by the user is specified and the image forming conditions are set,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. When image forming conditions corresponding to the same sheet type are set continuously for a predetermined number of times or more with respect to the physical characteristics detected by the detection means, the control means detects the type of the single sheet. and setting the image forming conditions by specifying the type of the same sheet,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. When the single sheet type cannot be specified, the control means presents the plurality of set sheet types to the user as candidates to be individually set for each image forming command, The sheet type selected by the user is specified as the single sheet type, and the image forming conditions are set for the received image forming command,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. The control means executes the presentation process before image formation of the first page of the sheet by the image formation command, and does not execute the presentation process in the image formation of the second and subsequent pages of the sheet. and performing image formation using the image formation conditions set according to the specified sheet type,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. When the sheet type set by the user is included in the plurality of sheet types set for the physical properties detected by the detection unit, the control means controls the sheet type set by the user. Characterized by identifying the type of the single sheet from among the types of sheets,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. The detection means detects the physical properties from the basis weight or surface properties of the sheet,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The control means is
Before forming the image, the user receives the first setting screen that enables the user to set any one of a plurality of sheet types corresponding to the physical property for each physical property. a first image forming condition displayed on a means for selecting a sheet type set through the first setting screen to form the image;
a second setting screen that enables a user to set one of the plurality of types of sheets corresponding to the detected physical characteristic when the detecting means detects the physical characteristic of the sheet; a second image forming condition for forming the image by selecting the sheet type set through the second setting screen, which is displayed on the receiving means, and
One of the first image forming condition and the second image forming condition is selected based on the user instruction information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A plurality of paper feeding means for feeding the sheet to the conveying path,
wherein the control means sets either the first image forming condition or the second image forming condition for each paper feeding means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

Images