JP2518142B2 - Paper transport control device such as printer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet conveyance control device used in a printer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional paper conveyance control device of this type,
In order to prevent the conveyance (hereinafter referred to as "double feeding") in a state where two sheets are overlapped, the sheets are controlled to be conveyed one by one.

[0003]

However, there are cases where it is desired to generate the double feed state for some reason. In such a case, it is impossible for the conventional sheet conveyance control device to generate the double feed state.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper conveyance control device such as a printer which can freely generate a double feed state.

[0005]

A sheet conveyance control device according to the present invention is made to achieve the above-mentioned object, and is one of a plurality of conveyance modes when a sheet is conveyed from a plurality of sheet trays. Transport mode input means for inputting,
Set value storage means for storing the order of the paper trays and the transport start time for each of the transport modes, and outputting the order and the transport start time corresponding to the transport mode input by the transport mode input means, and measuring the time Time measuring means, a start signal output means for outputting a start signal when the time measured by the time measuring means reaches the conveyance start time output from the set value storage means, and the start signal output means And a start signal distribution means for distributing the generated start signal to each of the paper trays according to the order output from the set value storage means.

Further, the set value storage means may store a transport start time for starting transport of the plurality of sheet trays so that the plurality of sheets are transported in a stack or close to each other.

Here, the "paper tray sequence and transport start time" refer to the sequence and transport start time regarding the transport order of a plurality of paper trays and at which time interval. What is a "paper tray"?
Not only a paper container but also a paper pickup mechanism and a paper transport mechanism are included.

[0008]

The transport mode is a method for activating the transport of a plurality of paper trays and at what time intervals, and a plurality of types are prepared. On the other hand, the set value storage means stores the order of the paper trays and the transport start time for each of these transport modes. Here, it is assumed that one of the transport modes is selected by a higher-level device such as a computer or a word processor, and this transport mode is input to the transport mode input means. Then, the order of the paper trays and the transport start time corresponding to this transport mode are output from the set value storage means. The activation signal output means outputs the activation signal when the time measured by the time measurement means reaches the conveyance activation time output from the set value storage means. The activation signal distribution means distributes the activation signal to each paper tray according to the order output from the set value storage means. Therefore, a plurality of sheets are conveyed in an overlapping state, a close state, or a separated state depending on the order of the sheet trays and the conveyance start time.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of a sheet conveyance control device according to the present invention. The paper transport control device according to the present invention includes a transport mode input unit 12 for inputting one of a plurality of transport modes M when transporting paper from a plurality of paper trays 10, and a sequence of the paper tray 10 for each transport mode M. set value storing means for outputting a sequence T and transport start time t _S corresponding to transport mode M input in the transport mode input means 12 stores the T and transport start time t _S 14
And a time measuring means 16 for measuring the time t, and a start signal for outputting a start signal S when the time t measured by the time measuring means 16 reaches the conveyance start time t _S output from the set value storage means 14. The output means 18 and the start signal S output from the start signal output means 18 are stored in the set value storage means 14
And a start signal distribution means 20 for distributing to each of the paper trays 10 in accordance with the order T output from.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the sheet conveyance control device according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is embodied for a laser printer. Correspondence between each component in FIG. 1 and each component in FIG. 2 will be described. The carry mode input means 12 is composed of a print start register 22, a carry mode register 24, a logic unit 26, and the like. The set value storage means 14 includes a transfer set value storage unit 32 that stores switching information 28 as the order T and set value information 30 as the transfer start time t _S.
The time measuring means 16 includes a clock synchronization unit 34, a clock generation unit 36, a counter 38, a start pulse latch unit 40, a delay unit 42 and the like. Starting signal output means 18
Is composed of a set value latch unit 44, a comparator 46, and the like. The activation signal output means 18 includes the switching value latch unit 4
8, a signal line switching unit 50 and the like.

The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. First, the operation of each component will be described.

Selection information for the transport mode M is written in the transport mode register 24 by the host device 52. Information for instructing the start of sheet conveyance is written in the print start register 22 by the higher-level device 52. Status register 5
The setting value information 30 corresponding to the selected transport mode M and the end signal 56 are written in 4, and read by the host device 52.

When data is written in the transport mode register 24, the logic unit 26 identifies the transport mode M and transfers the information content to the transport set value storage unit 32.

The transport set value storage unit 32 stores the transport set value information 96 (transport mode information 98, set value information 3) shown in FIG.
0 and switching information 28) are stored, and the logical unit 26
The setting value information 30 is output to the setting value latch unit 44 and the switching information 28 is output to the switching latch unit 48 according to the information content passed from the device.

The set value latch section 44 holds the set information and outputs the set value information 30 to the comparator 46.

The switching value latch unit 48 holds the switching information 28 and outputs a switching signal 68 to the signal line switching unit 50 and the delay unit 42.

The clock generator 36 is a clock synchronization unit 3.
4 generates a clock 58 for synchronizing the counter 38 and the delay unit 42.

The clock synchronization unit 34 outputs the first activation signal 60 according to the information content written in the print activation register 22.

The start pulse latch section 40 outputs an enable signal 62 for enabling the counter 38 from the input of the first start signal 60 to the input of the end signal 56 from the delay section 42.

The counter 38 performs the counting operation of the clock 58 while the count value is initialized to a predetermined value by the end signal 56 from the delay unit 42 and the enable signal 62 is valid, and the value is used as the count data 64. Output.

The comparator 46, when the set value information 30 and the count data 64 match, starts the second start signal 6 and subsequent start signals 6.
6 is output.

The delay unit 42 delays the last activation signal 66 by a predetermined clock and outputs it as an end signal 56.

The signal line switching section 50 includes a start signal 60,
66 is output to the target paper tray according to the switching information 28.

Next, the overall operation will be described.

When data is written in the transport mode register 24, the transport mode M is identified by the logic unit 26, and the set value information 30 stored in the transport set value storage unit 32 is stored in the set value latch unit 44. The switching information 28 is written in the switching value latch unit 48, respectively. The set value latch unit 44 and the switching value latch unit 48 hold the written data. The clock generation unit 36 supplies the clock 58 to the clock synchronization unit 34, the counter 38, the delay unit 42, and the like. When data indicating the start of sheet conveyance is written in the print start register 22, the clock synchronization unit 34
The first activation signal 60 is output from. First activation signal 60
The enable signal 62 of the activation pulse latch unit 40 becomes valid at the rising edge of the pulse of, and the counter 38 starts the counting operation and outputs the value as the count data 64. The comparator 46 outputs the second activation signal 66 when the count data 64 and the value of the setting value information 30 match. The delay unit 42 delays the pulse of the second activation signal 66 by one clock and outputs it as the end signal 56. The start pulse latch unit 40 and the counter 38 are initialized by the end signal 56. The signal line switching unit 50 uses the switching signal 6
When 8 is Low level, the first activation signal 60 is output as the second paper tray transport activation signal 70, and the second activation signal 66 is output as the first paper tray transport activation signal 72. Further, when the switching signal 68 is at the high level, the first activation signal 60
The first paper tray transport start signal 72, the second start signal 66
Is output as the second paper tray transport signal 72.

Timing charts of each signal line are shown in FIGS. 3 shows the case where the switching signal 68 is at the low level, and FIG. 4 shows the case where the switching signal 68 is at the high level.

Next, the time for sheet conveyance will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the paper transport mechanism. First
When the first paper tray transport start signal 72 becomes valid, the paper tray sending mechanism 74 picks the paper in the first paper tray and carries out the paper transport operation. The second paper tray feed-out mechanism 76 picks up the paper in the second paper tray and carries out the paper when the second paper tray transport start signal 70 becomes valid. The paper transport time from the paper leading end position 78 when the paper is picked in the first paper tray to the paper leading end position 80 when the vertical synchronizing signal of the video data is transmitted is tA1, and the paper leading end position 82 when the paper is picked in the second paper tray.
To the paper leading end position 80 at the time of sending the vertical synchronizing signal of the video data to tB1. In FIG. 5, a photosensitive drum 81a, a transfer portion 81b, and a fixing portion 81, which constitute a laser printer, are provided at the tip of the sheet leading end position 80.
c, a paper discharge mechanism 81d and the like are installed.

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the first paper tray. The paper transport time from the paper trailing edge position 84 at the time of picking the first tray paper to the paper leading end position 78 at the time of picking the paper of the first paper tray is tA2. FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the second paper tray. The paper conveyance time from the paper rear end position 86 when the second paper tray is picking the paper to the paper front end position 82 when the second paper tray is picking the paper is tB2. Figure 7
[FIG. 6] is an explanatory diagram of a sheet conveyance time. The time difference between the paper transport time tB1 and the paper transport time tA1 is tC.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the transport mode. Let tD be the time difference between the paper pick of the second paper tray and the paper pick of the first paper tray. In this embodiment, the transport mode M is set to reverse continuous feeding M1, reverse 1/3 double feeding M2, reverse 1/2 double feeding M3.
Reverse 2/3 double feed M4, double feed M5, 2/3 double feed M6, 1/2
It was set to 9 for double feed M7, 1/3 double feed M8, and continuous feed M9. The paper conveyance state and tD at the time of transfer in each mode are illustrated. Here, the double feed M5 will be described. If the papers in the first and second paper trays are the same size,
In the sheet conveyance state at the time of transfer, the sheets in the first sheet tray and the sheets in the second sheet tray are overlapped with the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheets aligned.

Next, the paper transport mode and transport setting information will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of switching the paper pick. When tA2 and tB2 are equal, the corresponding line 88 between the transport modes M and tD is as shown in the figure, and this line 88 and tD = 0.
The intersection of the line 90 and the line 90 is a paper pick switching boundary line 92. The left side of this boundary line is an area where the paper of the first paper tray is picked after the paper of the second paper tray is picked, and the switching information 28 is set to "0" (at this time, the switching signal 68 is Low level). The right side of this boundary line is after picking the paper in the first paper tray, then
This is an area for picking the paper in the paper tray, and the switching information is set to "1" (at this time, the switching signal 68 is High level). As described above, in order to determine the switching information 28 of each transport mode M, after setting the transport path, a correspondence diagram of tD with respect to the transport mode M is created, and the paper pick switching boundary line 92 can be drawn on this diagram. is necessary.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram of setting value information. The set value information 30 is obtained by dividing the absolute value of tD by the period 94 of the clock 58. However, in this calculation, the cycle 9 of the clock 58 is set so that the remainder becomes minimum with respect to the quotient.
You have to decide 4. FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram of the conveyance set value information. The transport set value information 96 includes transport mode information 98, set value information 30, and switching information 28. The transport set value storage unit 32 stores the transport set value information 96.

In this embodiment, the case where there are two paper trays is described, but it is also possible to have two or more paper trays. For example, the set value latch section 44 and the comparator 46 are provided in a plurality, and a plurality of activation signals are output. Then, by increasing the information amount of the switching information 28 and adding a circuit for inputting the activation signal output last from the activation signals output from the plurality of comparators 46 to the delay unit 42, the paper tray can be replaced. You can do more than one.

In the present embodiment, from the above configuration, the double feed M5
In the case of, the OHP sheet is set in the second paper tray, and the plain paper is set in the first paper tray (the OHP sheet is set so that the OHP sheet is the printing surface due to the relationship between the photo-sensing / transfer mechanism and the paper transport mechanism). It is necessary to determine the tray.), So that the plain paper can be discharged as the OHP sheet mount at the same time as the OHP sheet.

In the reverse continuous feed M1 or continuous feed M9, the paper is discharged as continuous paper (cut paper is continuously discharged). That is, the same processing as continuous paper can be performed in the drawing processing.

Further, other transport modes M2 to M4,
In M6 to M8, when there is a blank portion at the upper or lower portion of the page as a result of the drawing processing, the printing speed can be improved by overlapping the blank portion with the preceding page paper or the next page paper.

[0038]

According to the present invention, since the paper can be conveyed in accordance with the order of the paper trays and the conveyance start time stored in the set value storage means, the order of the paper trays and the conveyance start time can be set variously. By doing so, various sheet conveying methods such as double feeding are possible. Therefore, the plain paper can be discharged as the OHP sheet mount at the same time as the OHP sheet. Further, by continuously transporting the cut paper, the drawing processing can be performed in the same manner as the continuous paper, and the printing processing can be speeded up. further,
If there is a blank portion at the top or bottom of the page as a result of the drawing processing, the printing processing can be further speeded up by overlapping the blank portion with the paper of the previous page or the paper of the next page.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of a sheet conveyance control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a paper transport mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a paper tray of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 (A) is a first paper tray, and FIG.
Is a second paper tray.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a sheet conveyance time according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of a transport mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing sheet pick switching according to an embodiment of the present invention.

10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing information stored in a setting value storage unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10A is setting value information, and FIG. 10B is conveyance setting value information. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Paper Tray 12 Transport Mode Input Means 14 Set Value Storage Means 16 Time Measuring Means 18 Start Signal Output Means 20 Start Signal Distributing Means M Transport Mode T Paper Tray Order t _S Paper Tray Transport Start Time t Measured by time measuring means Start time S Start signal

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transport mode input means for inputting any one of a plurality of transport modes when transporting paper from a plurality of paper trays, and storing the sequence of the paper trays and transport start time for each of the transport modes. Set value storage means for outputting the sequence and the transport start time corresponding to the transport mode input by the transport mode input means, time measuring means for measuring time, and time set by the time measuring means A start signal output means for outputting a start signal when the conveyance start time output from the value storage means is reached, and the start signal output from the start signal output means according to the order output from the set value storage means. A paper conveyance control device such as a printer, comprising a start signal distribution means for distributing to each of the trays. 2. The set start value storage means stores a transfer start time for starting transfer start of the plurality of paper trays so that a plurality of paper sheets are stacked and conveyed. Paper conveyance control device such as a printer. 3. The set start value storage means stores a transfer start time for starting transfer of the plurality of paper trays so that a plurality of paper sheets are conveyed close to each other. A paper conveyance control device such as the described printer.