JP3215744B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages to which a recording medium such as paper can be mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many image forming apparatuses provided with a plurality of paper feed stages have been provided. In these paper feed stages, paper feed cassettes containing sheets of different sizes are detachably mounted. In addition, when this type of image forming apparatus is mounted, a cover mode in which a front cover and a back cover are added to a copy bundle of a plurality of pages, and a special sheet such as a color sheet on any page of the copy bundle including a plurality of pages. Is provided that can execute a sheet insertion mode for inserting a sheet.

Conventionally, attributes such as the size and orientation of paper loaded in each paper feed stage are set in advance and stored in a memory of the apparatus main body. Then, when the operator selects a desired paper size, the paper feed tray on which the paper corresponding to this size is mounted is automatically selected. Further, the paper feed tray used in the cover mode or the sheet insertion mode as described above is set in advance to any one and stored in the memory of the apparatus main body. When executing these modes, the preset paper feed stage is used.

[0004] In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the attribute of the paper of each paper feed stage set in the memory,
In other words, when the attributes of the paper size, orientation, cover mode paper, insertion mode paper, and the like are changed, the apparatus main body is set to the adjustment mode, and the data stored in the memory indicates each attribute. This is done by rewriting to a predetermined numerical value. This work is performed by a service person and has a structure that cannot be operated by ordinary users.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the attribute of the paper in each paper feed stage cannot be changed without the assistance of a service person. Therefore, the user cannot freely change the attribute of the paper used in each paper feed stage, the degree of freedom of operation is low, and it is difficult to efficiently execute various operation modes. There is. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily changing the attribute of a sheet in each sheet feeding stage.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, and a plurality of accommodating means each accommodating a recording medium having a different attribute. means, while supported detachably accommodating means of said each of said plurality of paper feeding means for supplying to said image forming means a recording medium in each of the accommodating means, a desired one of said plurality of paper feeding means Selecting means for selecting the paper feeding means, and operating simultaneously with the selecting means.
The attributes of each recording medium to be housed in the housing unit, a setting unit in which the individual accommodating means is set <br/> constant for each sheet feed means mounted, said selection means and said setting means by the Is the same
By being operated at a storage unit for the attributes of the set recording medium by the setting unit stores in association with each of the sheet feeding unit, by the setting unit of the plurality of paper feed means by said setting means Attributes of the set recording medium
Setting the time to, the setting means is the setting means is the first attribute for paper feeding means associated are set
When an operation of setting the first attribute again is performed on the paper feeding unit associated with the specified attribute of the recording medium ,
The attribute of the recording medium set by the setting means is associated with
Releases the setting of the first attribute for the fed paper source
Release means.

[0007] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the serial
An image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium;
First hand holding a recording medium having a length and a direction
A step, a recording medium stored in the first storage means,
Have the same size and direction, if the direction, thickness or color
Or a recording medium in which at least one of the combinations is different
A second accommodating means for accommodating the
A first paper feeder for supplying a recording medium to the image forming unit;
A step and a recording medium in the second storage means,
Second paper supply means for supplying the first and second paper
For selecting a desired paper feeding means from the two paper feeding means.
Selecting means for outputting a selection signal;
By being operated, the first and second storage means
The direction, thickness or color of the recording medium to be accommodated or its
At least one of the combinations is a combination of the first and second
Setting means that can be set for each paper feeding means;
By operating the setting means simultaneously, the setting
The direction, thickness or color of the recording medium set by the means
Or at least one of the combinations,
And storage means for storing in association with each of the second paper supply means
And the first and second sheet feeding means by the setting means
Among the directions of the recording medium set by the setting means,
At least one of thickness or color or a combination thereof
Is set by the setting means to the paper feeding means associated with
The direction, thickness, color or color of the recording medium
The same to match at least one of the combinations
When the above operation is performed, the setting is performed by the setting unit.
Direction, thickness or color of the recorded recording medium or its combination
At least one of the sets is
Direction, thickness or color of the recording medium to be used or a combination thereof
Release means for releasing at least one association
And

[0008]

According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when changing the attribute of the recording medium of an arbitrary paper feeder,
The selection means and the setting means are operated based on a predetermined rule. That is, the above-mentioned arbitrary paper feed stage is selected by the selection means, and the operation of the selection means is continued. In this state, attributes of the recording medium, for example, attributes such as size and display mode are specified by the setting unit. Thereby, the attribute of the recording medium of the selected paper feed stage is changed to the attribute specified by the setting unit and stored in the storage unit. When the setting means is operated alone, it operates as a means for setting image forming conditions.

After the first attribute has been set for the predetermined sheet feeding means by the setting means, an operation of setting the first attribute again by the setting means for the same sheet feeding means is performed. In this case, the setting of the first attribute for the predetermined sheet feeding unit is released.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes a control section 10 as control means, and an operation panel 12 is connected to the control section. The control unit 10 is connected to an image forming unit 14 as an image forming unit having a reading unit, a printer unit, and an image processing unit (not shown), and a memory 16, a ROM 18, and a RAM 20 as storage units. Further, the image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed units, for example, first to fourth paper feed stages 22, 24, 26, and 28, and these paper feed stages are controlled by the control unit 10. And
In the first to third paper feed stages 22, 24, 26, paper feed cassettes (not shown) serving as storage means for storing paper serving as a recording medium are detachably mounted. The fourth paper feed stage 28 is constituted by a large-capacity feeder containing a large amount of paper.

As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel 12 provided at a front portion of the upper surface of the apparatus main body (not shown) has a display section 30 for displaying a message indicating an operation state, an operation mode, and an operation procedure of the image forming apparatus. Numeric keys 32, various mode setting keys 34 for setting various operation modes, an original size key 36 for selecting an original size, a paper size key 38 for selecting a paper size, a cassette selecting key for selecting a paper cassette
40, start key 42 and many other keys.
The mode setting key 34 and the paper size key 38 function as setting means in the present invention, and the cassette selection key 40 functions as selecting means.

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
A first display unit 31 for displaying various messages indicating operation procedures, a magnification, a set number of sheets, and the like; a second display unit 33 for displaying an operation state of the image forming apparatus, a selected paper cassette, and the like. ,have. The document size key 36 and the paper size key 38 each have five size keys A4, A3, A5, B4, and B5, and a desired size can be set by pressing any key. it can. Each time the cassette selection key is pressed, the first, second, and third paper feed cassettes, that is, the first to third paper feed stages 22 to 24 are sequentially selected. Then, the large-capacity feeder 36 is selected, and then the first large-capacity feeder 36 is selected again.
Return to the paper cassette. The paper size key 38 specifies the size of the paper as a first attribute.

Also, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 34 denotes a double-sided copy key 42 for selecting and setting various double-sided copy modes, a mode for adding a cover to the front of a plurality of copy bundles, a mode for adding a front cover and a back cover with a blank page, and the like. Cover mode key 44 for selecting and setting cover mode, binding key 46 for selecting and setting margins such as right binding and left binding, editing key 48 for selecting and setting trimming and masking editing modes, blank page on any page Insert mode key 50 for selecting and setting a sheet insertion mode for inserting a sheet and a sheet copy mode for copying and inserting a sheet on an arbitrary page, and various other mode setting keys. The cover mode key 44 and the insert mode key 50 specify the second attribute of the sheet, that is, the sheet used in the cover mode or the insert mode.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the standby state, the memory 16 of the image forming apparatus stores the first and second attributes of each sheet currently loaded in the first to fourth sheet feed trays 22 to 28, that is, the size of the sheet, Whether the sheet is used in the mode or the insertion mode is stored, and the first and second attributes of each sheet immediately before the setting is changed are stored. When any of the paper size keys 38 is pressed before the operation starts, the control unit 10 searches whether there is a paper feed tray in which paper of a size corresponding to the selected paper size is mounted, and In that case, the paper feed tray is automatically selected. If there is no paper of the selected size, the paper feed stage immediately before the paper size key 38 is pressed is maintained.

On the other hand, when the cover mode key 44 is pressed,
If the last operation mode is not the cover mode, the control unit 10 selects the first cover mode, that is, the “cover insert” mode. If the last operation mode is the cover mode, the control unit 10 selects the next cover mode. In other words, the “cover copy” mode is selected, and the cover mode is canceled when one round has been made. Similarly, when the insertion mode key 50 is pressed, if the immediately preceding operation mode is not the insertion mode, the control unit 10 selects the first insertion mode, that is, the “sheet insertion” mode, and the operation mode immediately before is selected. If the mode is the mode, the next insertion mode, that is, the "sheet copy" mode is selected, and if one round is made, the insertion mode is released. The above is the operation when each operation key is pressed alone. When a plurality of operation keys are pressed at the same time, the following operation is performed.

That is, the paper size key 38, the cover mode key 44 or the insertion mode key 50, and the cassette selection key 40
Are pressed at the same time, an operation of changing the first or second attribute of the paper of the paper feed stage stored in the memory 16 is performed.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, after selecting a desired paper feed stage by depressing the cassette selection key 40 in step 1, the cover mode key 44 is simultaneously pressed while the cassette selection key is depressed. When the button is pressed (step 2), the selected sheet feeder, for example, the second sheet feeder 22
Attribute is already a cover mode paper.
Is not stored (step 3), the second attribute of the first sheet feed tray in the memory is changed to the cover mode sheet (step 4). Second of the first paper feed stage 22
Is already in memory 16 because the attribute of
, The change is not performed and the change operation is canceled (step 5). Note that the second paper feed stage 22
When the first paper feed stage is selected by the cassette selection key 40 after the attribute is changed to the cover mode paper, as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

When the insert mode key 50 is pressed simultaneously with the cassette select key 40 (step 6), the second attribute of the selected paper feed stage, for example, the second paper feed stage 24, is already in the insert mode. If the sheet is not stored in the memory 16 as the sheet for use (step 7), the second attribute of the second sheet feed tray in the memory is changed to the sheet for insertion mode (step 8). If the second attribute of the second paper feed stage 24 is already stored in the memory 16 as the paper for the insertion mode, no change is made and the change operation is canceled (step 9). When the second paper feed stage is selected by the cassette selection key 40 after the second attribute of the second paper feed stage 24 is changed to the insertion mode paper, the first display unit shown in FIG. On 31, “insertion sheet” is displayed instead of “cover sheet”.

When any one of the paper size keys 38 is pressed, for example, A4 at the same time as the cassette selection key 40 (step 10), the selected paper feed tray, for example, the third paper feed tray 26, If the first attribute, paper size, is not already stored in the memory 16 as A4 (step 11),
The paper size of the third paper feed stage stored in the memory 16 is changed to the selected paper size A4 (step 12).
If the paper size selected by the paper size key 38 is the same as the paper size of the third paper feed stage 26 stored in the memory 16, the process proceeds to step 13, where the paper size selected by the paper size key 38 is selected. If the size of the paper is vertical, the paper orientation, which is the first attribute stored in the memory, is reversed vertically and horizontally (step 14). If there is no vertical paper feed, no change is made and the change operation is canceled (step 15).

As described above, by simultaneously pressing the cassette selection key 40, the paper size key 38, the cover mode key 44 or the insertion mode key 50, an arbitrary paper feed stage can be used for the cover mode or the insertion mode. It is possible to change the paper size of an arbitrary paper feed stage to a desired paper size.

When the attribute of the paper feed stage changed as described above is released and returned to the original attribute, for example, the first paper feed stage 22 changed to the cover mode paper is replaced with the original paper feed stage 22 before the change. When returning to the paper size, select the paper source to cancel the setting with the cassette selection key 40, and simultaneously press the paper size key 38 corresponding to the original paper size while holding down the cassette selection key, to set the cover mode paper. The attribute as is released. The same procedure as described above is used to release the paper feed stage changed to the insertion mode paper.

As described above, after changing an arbitrary paper feed stage to cover mode paper or insert mode paper (second attribute), the cassette selection key 40 and the paper size key 38
If both are pressed simultaneously, the second attribute is released and the original paper size is set. Therefore, the paper size or orientation (first attribute) and the second
If it is desired to change the attribute to a different attribute from the attribute stored in the memory 16, it is desirable to perform an operation of changing the first attribute in advance and then changing the second attribute. Also, after changing the first attribute for the same paper feed tray,
Even when the second attribute is changed a plurality of times, the first attribute is maintained at the changed attribute.

According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the attribute of the paper loaded in each paper feed tray can be easily changed only by operating the operation keys on the operation panel 12. Therefore, the operator can use an arbitrary paper feed stage in various operation modes according to the purpose of use, the state of use, and the like, thereby greatly improving the operability and utility value of the image forming apparatus. Become.

[0025]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which a general operator can easily and quickly change the attribute of the paper in each paper feed stage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an entire image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the display section of the operation panel and the vicinity of a paper size key.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing around a mode setting key of the operation panel.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an attribute changing operation in the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: control unit, 12: operation panel, 16: memory, 22: first paper feed stage, 24: second paper feed stage, 26: third paper feed stage, 28: fourth paper feed stage 30: Display, 34: Mode setting key, 36: Paper size key, 40: Cassette selection key.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-270973 (JP, A) JP-A-59-121355 (JP, A) JP-A 2-132252 (JP, U) JP-A 50-48642 (JP , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/00 370-512 B65H 3/44 342 G03G 15/00 516

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium, a plurality of accommodating means for different attributes recording medium were respectively housed, as well as removably supporting the respective receiving means, each receiving a plurality of sheet feeding means for supplying to said image forming means recording medium in unit, selection means for selecting a desired sheet feeding unit of the plurality of paper feeding means, to be operated simultaneously with the selection means The attribute of the recording medium stored in each of the storage units is changed by the
Setting means for setting for each sheet feed unit capacity means is mounted, by said selection means and said setting means is operated simultaneously, the paper feeding means for each of the attributes of the set recording medium by said setting means storage means for storing in association with said set of said plurality of paper feeding means by the setting unit
When the first attribute is set for the paper feeding unit associated with the attribute of the recording medium set by the unit ,
The recording medium in which the setting unit is set by the setting unit
If it is the operation of setting the first attribute again against the paper feeding means attributes associated to said setting means
And a canceling unit for canceling the setting of the first attribute for the sheet feeding unit associated with the set attribute of the recording medium . 2. An image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium.
And a second storage medium containing a recording medium having a predetermined size and direction.
1 storage means and the same size as the recording medium stored in the first storage means.
Size and direction, thickness, color or color or
At least one of the combinations accommodates different recording media
The second storage unit and the recording medium in the first storage unit to the image forming unit.
A first paper supply unit for supplying the recording medium in the second storage unit to the image forming unit
Paper supply means for supplying the paper to the first paper supply means and a desired paper supply means of the first and second paper supply means
Selecting means for outputting a selection signal for selecting the first and the second means by being operated simultaneously with the selecting means.
Direction and thickness of the recording medium accommodated in the second accommodation means
Or at least one of the colors or a combination thereof,
Setting means that can be set for each of the first and second paper feeding means
And the selecting means and the setting means are operated simultaneously.
The recording medium set by the setting means
Orientation, thickness or color or a combination thereof
One for each of the first and second paper feeding means
Storage means for storing, and setting means for storing the first and second sheet feeding means.
The direction and thickness of the recording medium set by the setting means
Or at least one of the colors or combinations thereof
The setting means sets the paper feeding means
Orientation, thickness or color or set of the specified recording media
The same operation to associate at least one of the combinations
When the operation is performed, the
Orientation, thickness or color of the recording medium or a combination thereof
Paper feed means associated with at least one of
Orientation, thickness or color of the recording medium or a combination thereof
And a canceling means for canceling at least one association of the image forming apparatus. 3. When the setting means is operated alone,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus operates as a unit that sets an image forming condition in the image forming unit.