JP4048858B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on an image recording medium based on image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer forms an image based on image data. As the image recording medium, a standard size paper, a tab paper provided with a tab portion at the end of the paper, or the like is used.
[0003]
In this type of image forming apparatus, an image recording medium on which an image is formed based on a preset paper size or an output of a detection sensor provided in a paper conveyance path (in the case of tab paper, a portion excluding the tab portion) Specify the size of.
[0004]
Here, when the size of the tab sheet is detected by the detection sensor, the detection result varies depending on whether or not the tab portion provided at the end of the sheet is at the detection position of the detection sensor. It varies depending on the paper.
[0005]
Focusing on these points, in order to accurately specify the size of the tab paper excluding the tab portion, the length of the tab paper in the direction parallel to the side where the tab portion is provided is detected, and this length is calculated. Based on this, a technique for specifying the size of the tab sheet has been proposed (described in JP-A-9-114150).
[0006]
Since the standard size of the paper is specified by two lengths in the vertical and horizontal directions, it may not be possible to specify a single size only by the length in one direction as described above. Therefore, in the above technique, when specifying the size based on the detected length, if there are a plurality of corresponding standard sizes, the size is specified according to a predetermined priority order.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described size specifying method has a problem that when a plurality of standard size candidates remain, the size is specified according to a predetermined priority order, and the specifying result is not always accurate.
[0008]
In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that accurately specifies the size of a tab sheet.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The invention described in claim 1An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image recording medium based on image data, a width direction dimension detecting means for detecting a width direction dimension orthogonal to the transport direction of the image recording medium, and a transport path of the image recording medium An image recording medium detecting means for detecting presence / absence of an image recording medium at a predetermined detection position, and a fixed size storage means for storing each dimension in the width direction and the conveying direction of the image recording medium for each fixed size, Tab dimension storage means for storing, as tab dimensions, the conveyance direction dimension of the tab portion provided on the side perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the image recording medium, and the conveyance direction of the image recording medium based on the detection result of the image recording medium detection means A dimension is obtained, and the width direction dimension detected by the transport direction dimension and the width direction dimension detection unit is set as a detection dimension of the image recording medium, and the detected size is stored from the fixed size storage unit. A size specifying unit that selects a standard size of a size that matches the size of the image recording medium and specifies the size as the size of the image recording medium, and if the size cannot be specified by the detected size, the detected size is stored in the tab size storage unit Correction means for correcting a tab dimension to obtain a correction dimension, and selecting a fixed size having a dimension that matches the correction dimension from the fixed size storage means and specifying it as the size of the image recording medium.It is characterized by that.
[0012]
Claim 1According to the invention, the image forming apparatus detects the width direction dimension orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the image recording medium by the width direction dimension detection unit, and the image recording medium detection unit is disposed on the conveyance path of the image recording medium. Provided, detects the presence or absence of the image recording medium at a predetermined position, stores each size in the transport direction and width direction of the image recording medium for each fixed size by a fixed size storage unit, and records the image by a tab size storage unit The transport direction dimension of the tab portion provided on the side orthogonal to the transport direction of the medium is stored as a tab dimension.
[0013]
Further, the size specifying means obtains the transport direction dimension of the image recording medium based on the detection result of the image recording medium detection means, and the width direction dimension detected by the transport direction dimension and the width direction dimension detection means is the image recording medium. The fixed size of the size that matches the detected size is selected from the fixed size storage means and specified as the size of the image recording medium. Further, when the size cannot be specified by the detected size in the correcting unit, the detected size is corrected by the tab size stored in the tab size storing unit to obtain a corrected size, and the corrected size is stored in the fixed size storing unit. A standard size having a matching dimension is selected and specified as the size of the image recording medium.
[0014]
Since the tab dimension of the image recording medium is stored in the tab dimension storage unit, and the detected dimension of the image recording medium is corrected by the tab dimension to specify the size, the size of the image recording medium having the tab portion is accurately specified. be able to.
[0018]
Claim 2The invention described inClaim 1The image recording medium further includes a tabbed size storage unit that stores a dimension including the tab portion of the image recording medium for each fixed size, and the correction unit matches the detected dimension from the tabbed size storage unit. The standard size of the dimension to be measured is selected and specified as the size of the image recording medium.
[0019]
Claim 2According to the invention described inClaim 1In the image forming apparatus, the size including the tab portion of the image recording medium is stored for each fixed size in the tabbed size storage unit, and the correction unit matches the detected size from the tabbed size storage unit. Is selected as the size of the image recording medium.
[0020]
Since the size including the tab portion of the image recording medium is stored in the tabbed size storage means, the size of the image recording material having the tab portion can be easily specified without correcting the detected size.
[0021]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the dimensions of the image recording medium stored in the tabbed size storage means are the same as the dimensions of the image recording medium stored in the standard size storage means. It is characterized by not matching.
According to the invention described in claim 3, the dimensions of the image recording medium stored in the tabbed size storage means according to claim 2 do not coincide with the dimensions of the image recording medium stored in the standard size storage means. .
Since the dimensions stored in the tabbed size storage means and the standard size storage means do not match each other, it is not necessary to determine whether the detected dimension is a dimension including a tab part or a dimension not including a tab part. Also good.
For example, it may be possible not to store the standard size of the AB series and the standard size of the inch series in the same storage unit. If the standard size of the AB series and the standard size of the inch series are stored in the same standard size storage unit, the size of the tabbed size easily matches the size of the other standard sizes depending on the tab size. In this way, if the size of the tabbed size matches the size of the standard size, it is necessary to determine whether the detected dimension is a dimension including a tab part or a dimension not including a tab part. .
[0022]
Claim 4The invention described inAny one of Claims 1-3In the invention described inIn the size specifying means and the correcting meansIn addition, the image recording medium may further include a notifying unit for notifying a specific state of the size of the image recording medium, and when the size of the image recording medium cannot be specified by the detected size and the correction size, the image recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus, and The notification means notifies that the size cannot be specified.
[0023]
Claim 4According to the invention described inAny one of Claims 1-3In the image forming apparatus described in the above, when the specific state of the size of the image recording medium is notified by the notification unit, and the size of the image recording medium cannot be specified by the detected dimension and the correction dimension, the image recording medium is moved out of the apparatus. While discharging, it notifies that the size cannot be specified by the notification means.
[0024]
  In order to notify the notifying means that the size of the image recording medium cannot be specified by the detected dimension and the corrected dimension, the user can confirm the size of the image recording medium or input the size of the image recording medium. .
The invention according to claim 5 further includes input means for inputting a tab dimension to be stored in the tab dimension storage means in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the correction means includes: The tab dimension storage means is rewritten based on the input result of the input means.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a tab dimension stored in the tab dimension storage unit is input by an input unit, and the size specifying unit The tab dimension storage means is rewritten based on the input result of the input means.
Since the tab dimension can be rewritten by inputting the tab dimension from the input means, the size can be accurately specified even when using a plurality of image recording media having tab portions with different tab dimensions.
[0029]
  The invention described in claim 6An input unit for inputting either the tab size stored in the tab size storage unit or the size of the image recording medium;The correction means includesRewriting the tab size storage means based on the input result of the input means;If the size storage means with tabs is rewritten based on the input of the input means, and the dimensions of the image recording medium stored in the standard size storage means match, the rewrite of the size storage means with tabs is performed.,And specifying the size using the detected dimension or the corrected dimension,And the size input from the input means is specified as the size of the image recording medium.
[0030]
  According to the invention described in claim 6, TaAny one of the dimensions of the image recording medium and the size of the image recording medium, and the correction meansRewriting the tab size storage means based on the input result of the input means;When rewriting the tabbed size storage means based on the input of the input means matches the size of the image recording medium stored in the standard size storage means, the rewriting of the tabbed size storage means and the detection Since the size input using the input unit is specified as the size of the image recording medium without specifying the size or the size using the correction size, the size of the image recording medium can be accurately grasped.
The invention according to claim 7 further includes notification means for notifying the specific state of the size of the image recording medium in the size specifying means and the correction means, and the image recording medium is controlled by the detected dimension and the correction dimension. When the size cannot be specified, the image recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus, and the notification means notifies that the size cannot be specified.
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
[0032]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a document reading unit 4 that reads a document, an image forming unit 36 that forms an image, and a transport unit 37 that transports a sheet 24 as an image recording medium.
[0033]
The document reading unit 4 includes a platen glass 5 for placing the document 2 and a platen cover 3, and the document 2 placed on the platen glass 5 is pressed against the platen glass 5 by the platen cover 3. Make it easier to read images.
[0034]
Further, two light sources 6 for irradiating the platen glass 5 with light are provided inside the platen glass 5, and a full-rate mirror 7 is provided in the vicinity of the two light sources 6. When the light source 6 emits light, a reflected image from the document 2 placed on the platen glass 5 enters the full rate mirror 7, and the full rate mirror 7 reflects the reflected image in a predetermined direction.
[0035]
In the light reflection path of the full-rate mirror 7, a reduction optical system including half mirrors 8 and 9 and an imaging lens 10, an image reading element 11 including a CCD, and the like, and an image processing unit 12 are provided. The reflected light from the original 2 enters the image reading element 11 through the reduction optical system.
[0036]
The image reading element 11 reads the color material reflected light image of the document 2 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm) and outputs it as predetermined image data to the image processing unit 12. The image processing unit 12 performs predetermined image processing on the image data.
[0037]
An image forming unit 36 is provided below the image reading unit 4. The image forming unit 36 is stretched around a plurality of winding rollers 20 and is moved along the longitudinal direction of an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 18 conveyed in the direction of arrow Y by driving a motor (not shown). A photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive member”) 14 is disposed as an image carrier that rotates in the direction at a predetermined speed.
[0038]
A charger 16 that charges the photoconductor 14 to a predetermined potential is provided around the photoconductor 14. In addition, a light beam based on a desired image is irradiated to the upper side of each photoconductor 14 in the axial direction of the photoconductor 14 uniformly charged by the charger 16 while being electrostatically applied to the photoconductor 14. An exposure device 14 for forming a latent image is disposed.
[0039]
Further, around each photoconductor 14, an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 14 is arranged in a predetermined color (yellow / magenta / yellow) on the downstream side of the light beam irradiation position along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 14. A developing unit 22 that develops a toner image by developing with a toner T of cyan / black), a first transfer unit 19 that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 14 to the intermediate transfer belt 18, and a photoconductor 14 after transfer. A cleaner 33 for removing the remaining toner and a neutralizing lamp (not shown) for neutralizing the photoconductor 16 are arranged in this order.
[0040]
Here, the developing unit 15 is provided with four developing units 15Y / 15M / 15C / 15K at equal intervals on the peripheral surface, and the developing unit 15 rotates and develops the developing unit 15Y / according to the color to be developed. 15M / 15C / 15K is opposed to the photoreceptor 14.
[0041]
When the developing unit 15 is rotated 90 degrees for each rotation of the photosensitive member 14 and the intermediate transfer belt 18 is rewound four times, the toner image of each color is transferred to the belt of the intermediate transfer belt 18. The images are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 18 so as to overlap each other on the surface. As a result, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 18. In this embodiment, the toner image in which the four color toner images are transferred in a superimposed manner is referred to as a final toner image.
[0042]
A paper transport unit 37 is provided below the image forming unit 36. The paper transport unit 37 is provided with a paper tray 26 that stores paper 24 as an image recording medium, and a take-out roller 27 that takes out the paper 24 stored in the paper tray 26.
[0043]
Further, a transport roller 28 is provided along the transport path of the paper 24, and the paper take-out roller 27 takes out the paper 24 stored on the uppermost surface of the paper tray 26 by rotating. When the end of the paper 24 reaches the transport roller 28 near the paper tray 26, the transport roller 28 transports the paper 24 in the direction of arrow A.
[0044]
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a manual feed tray 38 so that the paper 24 can be manually fed to the transport path. The manual feed tray 38 is provided with a slidable paper guide 44. The user slides the paper guide 44 according to the width of the paper 24 to be fed, and prevents the paper 24 from being displaced in the width direction. It has become.
[0045]
The conveyance roller 28 is disposed so that the sheet conveyance path and the intermediate transfer body belt 18 are in contact with each other at a predetermined position. A second transfer unit 25 is provided for transferring the final toner image formed thereon onto the paper 24. The second transfer device 25 conveys the sheet 24 at a predetermined transfer speed while bringing the intermediate transfer belt 18 on which the final toner image is formed and the sheet 24 into close contact with each other. Further, in the vicinity of the second transfer device 25, a transfer roller cleaner 35 for removing toner adhering to the second transfer device 25 is disposed.
[0046]
A registration roll 40 that is rotationally driven by a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is provided on the upstream side of the second transfer unit 25 in the paper conveyance direction, and when the paper 24 reaches the registration roll 40, the leading ends are aligned. The registration roll 40 conveys the sheet 24 at a predetermined speed so that the sheet 24 enters the second transfer unit 25 at the timing when the final toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 18 is conveyed to the second transfer unit 25. To do.
[0047]
Since toner remains on the intermediate transfer belt 18 after the transfer process by the second transfer device 25, a belt cleaner 34 is provided in the conveyance direction (arrow Y direction) of the intermediate transfer belt 18. The residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 18 is collected.
[0048]
A fixing device 30 including a heating roller 31 having a heat source therein and a pressing roller 32 that presses the heating roller 31 is provided on the downstream side of the second transfer device 25 in the sheet conveyance direction. The final toner image transferred to the paper 24 and the paper 24 is pressed while being heated, and the final toner image is fused to the paper 24.
[0049]
Further, a paper detection sensor 42 for detecting the presence or absence of the paper 24 is disposed between the registration roll 40 and the second transfer device 25, and detects the paper 24 entering the second transfer device 25. A detection signal is generated.
[0050]
Here, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the transport direction of the paper 24 is the arrow A direction, the paper detection sensor 42 detects the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line. The paper detection sensor 42 generates a detection signal based on the detection, and when a predetermined standard size paper 24 is conveyed, the detection signal is as shown in FIG. Until the leading edge of the paper 24 reaches the detection point of the paper detection sensor 42, it is detected that there is no paper 24, and when the leading edge of the paper 24 reaches the detection point, the presence of the paper 24 is detected. The state of detecting the presence of the sheet 24 continues until the end passes, and when the trailing end of the sheet 24 passes the detection point, it is detected that there is no sheet 24.
[0051]
Here, when the sheet detection sensor 42 detects the tab sheet 24B having the tab portion 47 protruding at the end of the sheet, the detection signal generated by the sheet detection sensor 42 differs depending on the orientation of the tab sheet 24B. In FIG. 3, the detection signal of the sheet detection sensor 42 based on the orientation of the tab sheet 24B is compared with the detection signal (see FIG. 2B) of the sheet 24A without the tab portion 47 (hereinafter referred to as “plain paper”). As shown.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the tab portion 47 does not pass the detection position of the paper detection sensor 42, the same detection signal as the detection signal generated when the paper detection sensor 42 detects the plain paper 24A is generated. .
[0053]
Further, when the tab portion 47 passes the detection position of the paper detection sensor 42, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the paper detection sensor 42 detects different from the detection signal of the plain paper 24A. Generate a signal.
[0054]
When the tab portion 47 is provided at the rear end in the conveyance direction of the tab paper 24B, the detection signal of the tab paper 24B is as shown in FIG. Compared with the detection signal of the plain paper 24A, the timing at which the paper detection sensor 42 detects the leading edge of the tab paper 24B is the same as the timing of detecting the leading edge of the plain paper 24A, but the timing at which the trailing edge of the tab paper 24B is detected. Is later than the timing of detecting the trailing edge of the plain paper 24A by the amount (ΔW) of the conveyance direction dimension (W) of the tab portion 47.
[0055]
On the other hand, when the tab portion 47 is provided at the front end of the tab paper 24B in the conveyance direction, the detection signal of the tab paper 24B is as shown in FIG. Compared with the detection signal of the plain paper 24A, the timing at which the paper detection sensor 42 detects the leading edge of the tab paper 24B is equal to the conveyance direction dimension (W) of the tab portion 47 (ΔW) than the timing at which the leading edge of the plain paper 24A is detected. The timing for detecting the trailing edge of the tab paper 24B is the same as the timing for detecting the trailing edge of the plain paper 24A.
[0056]
If the tab 47 is transported in the state where the tab paper 24B is in the transport direction, there are many cases in which the transport trouble is likely to occur due to the configuration of the apparatus. Paper is preferred.
[0057]
The paper detection sensor 42 is used to grasp the state of entry of the paper 24 into the fixing device 25 and specify the size of the paper 24 fed from the manual feed tray 38.
[0058]
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a control system for specifying the size of the paper 24 fed from the manual feed tray 38 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.
[0059]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller 51 that controls the entire apparatus, and is connected to a paper detection sensor 42, an image forming unit 36, a document reading unit 4, and a guide position sensor 45.
[0060]
The guide position sensor 45 changes the resistance value of the variable resistor in accordance with the distance from the predetermined reference position of the manual feed tray 38 to the paper guide 44. FIG. 5 shows the output of the guide position sensor 45 corresponding to the standard size. The guide position sensor 44 measures the voltage of the variable resistor, A / D-converts the measured voltage with a resolution of 256, and outputs how far the paper guide 44 is located from the reference position. The size specifying unit 50 obtains a width direction dimension orthogonal to the transport direction of the fed paper 24 based on the output.
[0061]
Further, the UI 46 can issue an image formation instruction to the image forming apparatus 1 and a setting change instruction of the image forming apparatus 1 by a user input operation.
[0062]
The controller 51 is provided with a paper size specifying unit 50 that specifies the size of the paper 24. In the paper size specifying unit 50, the paper detection sensor 42 detects the leading edge of the paper 24 based on the detection signal of the paper detection sensor 42. The time (T) from the detection until the trailing edge of the paper 24 passes through the paper detection sensor 42 and is no longer detected can be obtained.
[0063]
Further, the sheet 24 is conveyed by the driving force (linear velocity Vr) of the registration roll 40 until the leading end of the sheet 24 passes through the registration roll 40 and reaches the second transfer unit 25 (distance 1). When the sheet 24 reaches the second transfer unit 25, the sheet 24 is conveyed by the driving force (linear velocity Vt) of the second transfer unit 25. Therefore, assuming that the conveyance direction dimension (L) of the portion that has passed the detection position of the paper 24, the time (T) required for the paper 24 to pass the detection position of the paper detection sensor 42 is expressed by the following equation (1). Is done.
[0064]
T = 1 / Vr + (L-1) / Vt (1)
From this equation (1), the conveyance direction dimension (L) of the paper 24 can be expressed by the following equation (2).
[0065]
L = (T−1 / Vr + 1 / Vt) * Vt (2)
As described above, the paper size specifying unit 50 obtains the time (T) required for the paper 24 to pass the detection position of the paper detection sensor 42 based on the detection signal of the paper detection sensor 42, and uses the equation (2) to obtain the paper. A transport direction dimension (L) of 24 is obtained.
[0066]
Further, the paper size specifying unit 50 determines the dimension of the conveyed paper 24 (hereinafter referred to as “detected dimension”) from the conveyance direction dimension (L) and the width direction dimension based on the resistance value of the guide position sensor 45. Can be sought.
[0067]
In addition, the paper size specifying unit 50 has a standard paper table 52 (see FIG. 6) that stores a standard size dimension according to a series such as an AB series or an inch series. A standard size that matches the detected dimension is specified as the size of the conveyed paper.
[0068]
In the first embodiment, the size of the tab sheet 24B is specified to which standard size the size of the portion excluding the tab portion 47 corresponds. However, as described above, even in the same tab sheet 24B, the detection signal differs depending on whether or not the tab portion 47 passes the detection position of the sheet detection sensor 42. Therefore, when the tab portion 47 passes the detection position of the paper detection sensor 42, the detected size of the paper 24 does not match the standard size stored in the standard paper table 52.
[0069]
In view of this, a tab size storage unit 53 is provided in the paper size specifying unit 50 to store the conveyance direction dimensions of the tab unit 47 of the tab sheet 24B input by the user from the UI 46.
[0070]
In the paper size specifying unit 50, if there is no fixed size that matches the detected size of the paper 24 even with reference to the fixed paper table 52, the transport size (W) of the tab unit 47 stored in the tab size storage unit 53 is set. The correction size (L-W) is created by correcting the conveyance direction dimension (L) of the paper 24 based on the detection signal of the paper detection sensor 42, and the standard size that matches the correction dimension with reference to the standard paper table 52 Is specified as the size of the conveyed paper.
[0071]
If the size of the paper 24 cannot be specified, the paper size specifying unit 50 stops specifying the size based on the detected dimension and the corrected dimension, and prompts the UI 46 to input the size of the fed paper 24. indicate.
[0072]
The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.
[0073]
When the paper 24 is set on the manual feed tray 38 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the image formation designating the manual feed tray 38 is instructed, the controller 51 executes image formation and the paper size specifying unit 50 performs the paper size specifying process. Is executed.
[0074]
With reference to FIG. 7, the paper size specifying process according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the paper size specifying process executed by the paper size specifying unit 50.
[0075]
First, in step 100, the detected dimension of the sheet 24 is obtained based on the detection signal of the sheet detection sensor 42 and the resistance value of the guide position sensor 45, and in the next step 102, the detected dimension and the dimension stored in the standard paper table 52 are obtained. And compare.
[0076]
In step 104, it is determined whether or not the size of the paper 24 can be specified by the standard paper table 52. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 114.
[0077]
On the other hand, if the determination in step 104 is negative, it is determined that the detected dimension may be a dimension including the tab portion 47 of the tab sheet 24B, and the process proceeds to step 106 where the image forming instruction created by the user using the UI 46 is displayed. It is determined whether or not the tab dimension is included in the. If the determination is negative, it is determined that the paper size cannot be specified based on the detection results of the paper detection sensor 42 and the guide position sensor 45, and the process proceeds to step 116.
[0078]
If the determination in step 106 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 108, the detected dimension is corrected using the tab dimension input in the UI 46 to create a corrected dimension, and then the process proceeds to step 110 to correct the corrected dimension and the standard paper table. The size stored in 52 is compared. In the next step 112, it is determined whether the paper size can be specified by the standard paper table 52 or not. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 114.
[0079]
If the determination in step 112 is negative, it is determined that the paper size cannot be specified based on the detection results of the paper detection sensor 42 and the guide position sensor 45, and the process proceeds to step 116.
[0080]
In step 116, the specification of the paper size based on the detection result is stopped and the paper 24 is discharged. Then, the process proceeds to step 118, and a message prompting the user to input the size of the paper 24 fed to the UI 46 is displayed. In the next step 120, the input of the size from the UI 46 is waited. When the size is input, the process proceeds to step 114.
[0081]
In step 114, the paper size is specified based on the input from the standard paper table 52 or the UI 46, and the paper size specifying process is terminated.
[0082]
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 detects the dimension in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet 24 by the guide position sensor 45, and the sheet detection sensor 42 is provided in the conveyance path of the sheet 24 and is at a predetermined position. , The size of the paper 24 is stored for each standard size in the standard paper table 52, and the tab portion provided on the side perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper 24 is stored in the tab size storage unit 53. Is stored. Further, the paper size specifying unit 50 obtains the transport direction dimension of the paper 24 based on the detection result of the paper detection sensor 42, and uses the transport direction dimension and the width direction dimension detected by the guide position sensor 45 to detect the paper 24. Then, a standard size having a size that matches the detected size is selected from the standard paper table 52 and specified as the size of the paper 24. Further, when the size cannot be specified by the detected size, the paper size specifying unit 50 corrects the detected size by the tab size stored in the tab size storage unit 53 to obtain a corrected size, and the standard paper table 52 A standard size having a size that matches the corrected size is selected and specified as the size of the paper 24.
[0083]
Since the tab size of the paper is stored in the tab size storage unit 53 and the detected size of the paper is corrected by the tab size to specify the size, the size of the paper having the tab portion can be specified accurately.
[0084]
Further, the tab size stored in the tab size storage unit 53 is input by the UI 46, and the tab size storage unit 53 is rewritten based on the input result of the UI 46 by the paper size specifying unit 50.
[0085]
Since the tab size can be input from the UI 46 and the tab size storage unit 53 can be rewritten, the size can be accurately specified even using a plurality of tab sheets 24B having tab portions 47 having different tab sizes.
[0086]
Further, the UI 46 notifies the specific state of the paper size specifying unit 50, and when the paper size specifying unit 50 cannot specify the size of the paper 24 by the detected dimension and the correction dimension, the paper 24 is discharged out of the apparatus, and The UI 46 notifies that the size cannot be specified.
[0087]
In order to notify the UI 46 that the size of the paper 24 cannot be specified by the detected size and the correction size in the paper size specifying unit 50, the user can check the size of the paper 24 or input the size of the paper 24. .
[0088]
(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, when the paper size cannot be specified by the detected size, the paper size specifying unit 50 corrects the detected size by the conveyance direction size of the tab unit 47 stored in the tab size storage unit 53. In this second embodiment, the paper size is determined based on the detected dimensions. However, in the second embodiment, the size of the tab sheet 24B is specified by comparing the corrected dimensions with the dimensions stored in the standard paper table 52. In the case where the tab sheet 24B cannot be identified, a tab sheet 24B table is created based on the transport direction dimension of the tab portion 47 and the standard sheet table 52 input from the UI 46, and the size of the tab sheet 24B is identified.
[0089]
In the description of the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0090]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system relating to the specification of the paper size fed from the manual feed tray 38 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment.
[0091]
The paper size specifying unit 50 includes a tab paper table 54 that stores dimensions for each standard size dedicated to the tab paper 24B. When the conveyance direction dimension of the tab portion 47 is input from the UI 46, the sheet size specifying unit 50 is a table in which the dimension stored in the standard paper table 52 is corrected by the tab dimension, that is, the tab portion 47 in the sheet conveyance direction dimension. A table in which the transport direction dimensions (W) are added is created.
[0092]
Note that the standard paper table 52 is formed by changing the standard paper table 52 from the AB series table to the inch series in order to prevent the dimensions of the created table from easily matching the dimensions of the standard paper table 52. The tab sheet table 54 is created on the basis of the series of standard paper tables 52 selected as the apparatus setting. FIG. 9A shows an AB series of standard paper tables 52, and FIG. 9B shows an AB series of tab paper tables.
[0093]
Here, if the dimensions that make up the created table match the dimensions that make up the standard paper table 52, there will be a plurality of fixed sizes that match the detected dimensions, and accurate size specification cannot be performed. Screen for inputting the size of the tab paper 24B to the UI 46 (for example, a button indicating a standard size such as “A4 size”, “B5 size”, and the vertical and horizontal portions of the portion excluding the tab portion of the tab paper) Display a column for inputting the dimensions of the tab sheet 24, prompt the user to input, and specify the size of the tab sheet 24B as the input size.
[0094]
The operation of the second embodiment will be described below.
[0095]
When paper is set on the manual feed tray 38 of the image forming apparatus 1 and image formation is designated with the manual feed tray 38 specified, the controller 51 executes image formation and the paper size specifying unit 50 performs paper size specifying processing. Executed.
[0096]
With reference to FIG. 10, the paper size specifying process according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the paper size specifying process executed by the paper size specifying unit 50.
[0097]
First, in step 130, it is determined whether or not a tab dimension is included in an image formation instruction created by the user using the UI 46. If the determination is negative, it is determined that plain paper 24A has been fed from the paper feed tray 38, and the routine proceeds to step 142.
[0098]
On the other hand, if the determination in step 130 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 132 and a table is created based on the input tab dimensions and the standard paper table 52. In the next step 134, the dimensions of the created table and the standard paper table 52 are created. Then, the process proceeds to step 136, where it is determined whether or not there is a matching dimension. If the determination is affirmative, there are a plurality of standard sizes that match the detected dimensions, and accurate size specification cannot be performed. Therefore, the paper size specification based on the detection results of the paper detection sensor 42 and the guide position sensor 45 is specified. It is determined that the process cannot be performed, and the process proceeds to step 154.
[0099]
If the determination in step 136 is negative, the process proceeds to step 140 and the tab sheet table 54 is rewritten with the table created in step 132.
[0100]
In step 142, the detection size of the paper 24 is obtained from the detection results of the paper detection sensor 42 and the guide position sensor 45. In the next step 144, the detected size of the paper 24 is compared with the size stored in the standard paper table 52, and then the process proceeds to step 146 to determine whether or not the standard paper table 52 can specify the size of the paper 24. . When the determination is a positive fundus, the routine proceeds to step 152.
[0101]
If the determination in step 146 is negative, the process proceeds to step 124B and the detected sheet size is compared with the tab sheet table 53, and then the process proceeds to step 150 to determine whether the tab sheet table 54 can specify the sheet size. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 152.
[0102]
On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 150, it is determined that the paper size cannot be specified based on the detection results of the paper detection sensor 42 and the guide position sensor 45, and the process proceeds to step 154.
[0103]
  In step 154, after the specification of the paper size based on the detection result is stopped, the process proceeds to step 156, and a message prompting the user to input the size of the paper 24 fed to the UI 46 is displayed. In the next step 158, the input of the size is waited, and when the size is input,Step 152Migrate to
[0104]
In step 152, the paper size is specified based on any of the inputs from the standard paper table 52, the tab paper table 54, and the UI 46, and the paper size specifying process is terminated.
[0105]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the tab sheet table 54 stores the dimensions including the tab portion 47 of the tab sheet 24B for each standard size, and the sheet size specifying unit 50 A standard size having a dimension that matches the detected dimension is selected from the tab sheet table 54 and specified as the size of the tab sheet 24B.
[0106]
Since the tab sheet table 54 stores the dimension including the tab portion 47 of the tab sheet 24B, the size of the tab sheet 24B can be easily specified without correcting the detected dimension.
[0107]
Also, if the tab sheet table 54 is rewritten by inputting the conveyance direction dimension of the tab portion 47 on the UI 46, it is possible to deal with tab sheets 24B having different conveyance direction dimensions of the tab section 47.
[0108]
Further, when the size of the paper 24 cannot be specified based on the detected size and the corrected size, the paper size specifying unit 50 discharges the paper 24 to the outside of the apparatus and notifies that the UI 46 cannot specify the size.
[0109]
In order to notify the UI 46 that the size of the paper 24 cannot be specified by the detected size and the correction size in the paper size specifying unit 50, the user can check the size of the paper 24 or input the size of the paper 24. .
[0110]
Further, the size of the tab paper 24B stored in the tab paper table 54 does not coincide with the size stored in the standard paper table 52.
[0111]
In the second embodiment, the standard size of the AB series and the standard size of the inch series are stored in different tables, and the dimensions stored in the tab paper table 52 and the standard paper table 54 are easy. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine whether the detected dimension includes the tab portion 47 or does not include the tab portion 47.
[0112]
The paper size specifying unit 50 rewrites the tab paper table 54 when the tab paper table 54 is rewritten based on the input of the UI 46 and matches the size of the paper 24 stored in the standard paper table 52. In addition, since the size input from the UI 46 is specified as the size of the paper 24 without specifying the size using the detection dimension or the correction dimension, the size of the paper 24 can be accurately grasped.
[0113]
In the first and second embodiments, a description has been given of a mode in which a message prompting the user to input a size is displayed on the UI 46 when the paper size cannot be specified based on the detection result. A message prompting the user to check the used paper or a message indicating that the paper size cannot be specified may be displayed.
[0114]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image recording medium based on the image data has an excellent effect of accurately specifying the size of the tab sheet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.
2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of a paper detection sensor according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a detection position, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a detection signal generated by the paper detection sensor.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a detection signal generated when a tab sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A illustrates a case where the tab portion of the tab sheet does not pass the detection position. ) Is a case where the tab portion is located at the rear end in the transport direction and passes the detection position, and (C) is a case where the tab portion is located at the front end in the transport direction and passes the detection position.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system related to a paper size specifying process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an output of a guide position sensor corresponding to a standard size.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard paper table according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of a paper size specifying process according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a control system related to a paper size specifying process of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard paper table, and FIG. 9B is an example of a tab paper table when an AB series is selected in settings in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a paper size specifying process according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming device
25 Second fixing device
24 paper (image recording medium)
24A plain paper (image recording medium)
24B Tab paper (image recording medium)
38 Bypass tray
40 cashier roll
42 Paper detection sensor (image recording medium detection means)
44 Paper Guide
45 Guide position sensor (width direction detection means)
46 UI (input means, notification means)
47 Tab part
50 Paper size specifying part (size specifying means)
51 controller
52 Standard paper table (standard size storage means)
53 Tab size storage unit (tab dimension storage means)
54 Tab paper table (tabbed size storage means)

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on an image recording medium based on image data,
A width direction dimension detecting means for detecting a width direction dimension orthogonal to the conveying direction of the image recording medium;
An image recording medium detecting means provided in a conveyance path of the image recording medium, for detecting the presence or absence of the image recording medium at a predetermined detection position;
A fixed size storage means for storing each dimension in the width direction and the transport direction of the image recording medium for each fixed size;
Tab dimension storage means for storing, as a tab dimension, a dimension in the conveyance direction of a tab portion provided on a side perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the image recording medium;
Based on the detection result of the image recording medium detection means, the conveyance direction dimension of the image recording medium is obtained, the width direction dimension detected by the conveyance direction dimension and the width direction dimension detection means is the detection dimension of the image recording medium, and the fixed form From a size storage means, a size specifying means for selecting a standard size of a dimension that matches the detected dimension and specifying it as the size of the image recording medium;
When the size cannot be specified by the detected size, the detected size is corrected by the tab size stored in the tab size storage unit to obtain a corrected size, and the standard size having a size that matches the corrected size from the standard size storage unit Correction means for selecting and specifying as the size of the image recording medium;
An image forming apparatus. A size storage means with tabs for storing dimensions including the tab portion of the image recording medium for each fixed size;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit selects a standard size having a dimension that matches the detected dimension from the tabbed size storage unit and specifies the size as the size of the image recording medium.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the size of the image recording medium stored in the tabbed size storage means does not match the size of the image recording medium stored in the fixed size storage means. A notification unit for notifying a specific state of the size of the image recording medium in the size specifying unit and the correction unit;
When the size of the image recording medium cannot be specified by the detected dimension and the corrected dimension, the image recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus and a notification that the size cannot be specified by the notification unit is provided. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An input unit for inputting a tab size to be stored in the tab size storage unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit rewrites the tab size storage unit based on an input result of the input unit. An input unit for inputting either the tab size stored in the tab size storage unit or the size of the image recording medium;
The correction unit rewrites the tab size storage unit based on the input result of the input unit, and stores the tabbed size storage unit based on the input of the input unit and stores it in the fixed size storage unit. If it will match the dimensions of the image recording medium, rewriting of the tabbed size storage unit, and without specific, the size using the detected size or the correction size, the size inputted from said input means The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the image forming apparatus is specified as a size of the image recording medium. A notification unit for notifying a specific state of the size of the image recording medium in the size specifying unit and the correction unit;
  When the size of the image recording medium cannot be specified by the detected dimension and the corrected dimension, the image recording medium is discharged to the outside of the apparatus, and notification that the size cannot be specified by the notification unit is provided. Item 7. The image forming apparatus according to Item 6.

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