JP4184619B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that inserts a slip sheet for distinguishing a print job between output sheets of a print job.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a network is configured by connecting a plurality of host devices such as computers with lines, and image forming apparatuses such as printers have been shared. Many users can share a small number of image forming apparatuses. Is called.
[0003]
The image forming apparatus connected to the network prints out the output paper according to instructions from a plurality of users connected to the network, and outputs the output paper on the paper discharge tray in order of printing. When there is a print request from the user, the output paper output by multiple print jobs is accumulated in one tray, so there is no separation of print jobs, so it is easy to output the paper that executed your print job I can't find it.
[0004]
In view of this, an image forming apparatus that discharges a blank slip sheet on a tray for each print job break has appeared, and a blank slip sheet is inserted between output sheets printed for each print job. Thus, the print job is distinguished before and after the slip sheet.
[0005]
However, the printing surface of the output paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is usually face down. That is, the print instruction from the user has the print side down to align the page order on the printer side.
[0006]
In this way, since the printing surface is on the bottom, the printed content of the accumulated output paper cannot be seen from above. Even if the slip sheet is discharged, since the back surface of the output paper is a blank sheet, the output paper and the slip sheet cannot be distinguished from each other when viewed as they are.
[0007]
Therefore, conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that is connected to a network and discharges job output paper onto a paper discharge tray with its print side down, insert a slip sheet between the job output paper and another job output paper, The orientation and / or size of the slip sheet is made different from the direction and / or size of the job output paper, the slip sheet information is printed on the slip sheet, and the slip sheet is printed with the print side facing up. An image forming apparatus having a discharge unit has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-84948).
[0008]
In other words, the image forming apparatus prints the printing surface of the recording paper and the slip sheet face-down and face-up on the same paper discharge tray, and prints the slip sheet face-up on the slip sheet while being placed on the tray. The output paper can be easily found.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such an image forming apparatus described in the conventional publication, since it is premised on printing on the slip sheet for the purpose of easily finding its own output sheet, by printing on the slip sheet, Although it is possible to easily find the output paper of its own, there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with the case where it is not desired to print on the slip sheet. Further, since it is assumed that only one paper discharge tray is provided, for example, when there are two paper discharge trays, a face-up tray and a face-down tray, this can be handled. There was a problem that I could not.
[0010]
Also, when outputting blank paper as an interleaf between print jobs, the recording paper conveyance speed in the image forming apparatus is usually determined by printing parameters such as the paper type, writing resolution, and color mode of the recording paper. The above parameters are set appropriately for the recording paper, but since there is no image on the slip sheet, the above parameters are not set, and the transport speed differs between the recording paper and the slip sheet. Until the sheet is discharged from the forming apparatus, the slip sheet is not fed, and there is a problem in that printing productivity decreases.
[0011]
In view of this, the invention described in claim 1 includes a monochrome printing paper transport path including a monochrome printing image forming unit and a color printing image forming unit for recording paper from one of a plurality of paper feed trays. After transporting at least one of the color printing paper transport paths and forming an image with a predetermined writing resolution in the image forming unit, the image is discharged from the discharge port onto the discharge tray, and a predetermined blank sheet for each print job. In the image forming apparatus that performs the slip sheet printing process for inserting the recording sheet as the slip sheet, the processing procedure in the slip sheet printing process for inserting the slip sheet is the same as the paper feed tray for transporting the recording sheet, the recording sheet Determined according to printing parameters such as the paper type, the writing resolution in the image forming unit, and the paper discharge port, and if the determined printing parameters are for color printing, whether or not to form an image on the slip sheet Regardless, the color paper is printed on the slip sheet. By the process of conveying the sheet transport path is added to the processing steps to print without changing the recording sheet conveyance speed, while improving the productivity, an image forming apparatus capable of performing insertion processing of the appropriate slip sheet The purpose is to provide.
[0012]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the paper discharge port for discharging the recording paper among the plurality of paper discharge ports is automatically switched based on the printing parameters, and the paper discharge port for the slip sheet is changed according to the switching of the paper discharge port. If the recording paper discharge port is first set for reasons such as the paper type and recording paper size and is switched from the paper discharge port, the paper discharge destination is also changed to the recording paper. To prevent the recording paper and interleaving paper from being discharged from separate paper exits, resulting in an interleaving printing process that is not finished. The object is to provide a device.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is an upward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing upward, or a downward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing downward, and the discharge port of the recording paper is discharged upward. If it is a slot, the interleaving paper is ejected, and then the recording paper on which the image is formed is ejected. Even if the paper discharge port is different by performing the printing process in the interleaving paper printing process procedure, when the user holds the finished recording paper bundle in the interleaf printing process, the recording paper, interleaving paper, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can always perform appropriate slip-sheet printing processing when discharging to either a so-called face-down tray or face-up tray.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus transports a recording sheet from one of a plurality of sheet feeding trays to an image forming unit, forms an image with a predetermined writing resolution in the image forming unit, and then discharges a sheet discharge port. In the image forming apparatus that performs a slip sheet printing process in which a predetermined blank sheet is inserted as a slip sheet for each print job, the sheet feed tray that transports the record sheet, the record The above object is achieved by determining the processing procedure of the slip sheet printing process for inserting slip sheets according to the paper type, the writing resolution in the image forming unit, and the print parameters such as the discharge port. Yes.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, the recording paper is conveyed from one of the plurality of paper feed trays to the image forming unit, and after the image forming unit forms an image with a predetermined writing resolution, the paper is discharged from the discharge port onto the discharge tray. In addition, when performing a slip sheet printing process for inserting a predetermined blank recording sheet as a slip sheet for each print job, a paper feed tray for transporting the recording sheet, a sheet type of the recording sheet, and writing in the image forming unit Since the processing procedure of interleaf printing processing for inserting interleaving paper is determined according to the printing parameters such as resolution and paper discharge port, printing can be performed without changing the recording paper conveyance speed, and productivity can be improved. In addition, an appropriate slip sheet insertion process can be performed.
[0016]
In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of paper discharge ports, and automatically switches the paper discharge ports based on the print parameters, and the paper discharge ports According to the switching, the sheet discharge port for the slip sheet may be switched at the same time.
[0017]
According to the above configuration, among the plurality of paper discharge ports, the paper discharge port for discharging the recording paper is automatically switched, and the paper discharge port for the slip sheet is simultaneously changed according to the switching of the paper discharge port. If the recording paper discharge port is initially set for reasons such as the paper type and recording paper size and is switched from the paper discharge port, the slip sheet is switched to the discharge destination where the recording paper has been switched. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording paper and the slip sheet from being discharged from separate discharge ports and not to finish the slip sheet printing process, and to perform an appropriate slip sheet printing process.
[0018]
Further, for example, the image forming apparatus has an upward discharge outlet for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing upward, or a downward discharge outlet for discharging the recording paper downward. If the recording paper discharge port is the upward paper discharge port, after the slip sheet is discharged, the image-formed recording paper is discharged. If the recording paper discharge port is the downward paper discharge port, After discharging the formed recording paper, it may be printed by an interleaf printing processing procedure for discharging the interleaving paper.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, there is an upward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing upward, or a downward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing downward. If there is a slip sheet, the image-formed recording sheet is discharged. If the recording paper discharge port is a downward discharge port, the image-formed recording sheet is discharged and then the slip sheet is discharged. Since the printing process is performed according to the paper printing process procedure, even if the paper discharge port is different, when the user holds the finished recording paper bundle in the interleaf printing process, the recording paper and the interleaving paper are arranged in order from the top. Appropriate slip-sheet printing processing can always be performed when discharging to either the so-called face-down tray or face-up tray.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0021]
1 to 7 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a main portion of a color image forming apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied. It is a schematic block diagram.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, a color image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body sheet feeding tray 2, a manual sheet feeding tray 3, a cyan developing unit 4, a yellow developing unit 5, a magenta developing unit 6, a black developing unit 7, a fixing unit 8, a face-down discharge unit. A paper tray 9, a face-up paper discharge tray 10, a registration roller 11 and a paper conveyance path to A to F are provided. The main body paper supply tray 2 is provided with two paper supply trays 2a and 2b. .
[0023]
The paper transport path A is a paper transport path from the main body paper feed tray 2 to the registration rollers 11, and the paper transport path B is a paper transport path from the manual paper feed tray 3 to the registration rollers 11. The paper transport path C is in contact with only the black developer 7 and is a paper transport path dedicated to monochrome printing. The paper transport path D is a cyan developer 4, yellow developer 5, magenta developer 6, and black developer 7. This is a sheet conveyance path dedicated to full-color printing in contact with all the developing devices. The paper transport path E is a paper transport path for discharging the recording paper, which has been fixed by the fixing device 8, to the face-up paper discharge tray 9 for discharging the image forming surface upward. The paper transport path F is a fixing paper. This is a paper conveyance path for discharging the recording paper, which has been fixed by the device 8, to the face-down paper discharge tray 10 with the image forming surface facing downward.
[0024]
The color image forming apparatus 1 has a software configuration as shown in FIG. 2, and performs the flow of print data as shown in FIG. That is, the color image forming apparatus 1 includes an application 20 that operates on an OS (Operating System) to be installed, a controller 30 that performs overall control of the color image forming apparatus 1, a plotter engine 40 that actually performs printing processing on recording paper, and the like. When the user sets print conditions using a printer driver or the like, the application 20 transmits these print setting conditions to the controller 30 as one print job. The controller 30 creates print conditions for the print process for each print job transmitted from the application 20 and transmits them to the plotter engine 40. The plotter engine 40 executes the printing condition for each sheet transmitted from the controller 30 and performs an actual printing operation.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the color image forming apparatus 1 transmits a print job with setting conditions as shown in FIG. 3 from the application 20 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the actual print finish is obtained by repeatedly processing the recording paper on which the image is placed and the blank slip sheet for the number of images, and further for the number of copies.
[0026]
Therefore, the controller 30 issues the following printing process to the plotter engine 40. That is, the first image is a printing process 1 in which a recording sheet having a paper type of OHP is fed from a manual feed tray, printed in full color at a writing resolution of 600 × 600 dpi, and discharged from the face-down discharge tray 9. A printing process 2 that feeds a sheet with no sheet from the tray 1 and discharges it to the face-down tray, the above printing process is repeated for the number of images, and the number of copies is repeated until the printing process 20 is issued.
[0027]
When the slip sheet printing process in which the image is not placed is issued with the parameters as in the printing process 2 in FIG. 3, the plotter engine 40 determines the recording paper transport speed from whether or not the error printing, the paper type, and the writing resolution. In the absence of these parameters, the recording paper is transported through the paper transport path C, which has a high transport speed. On the other hand, the printing process 1 for forming an image on the recording paper uses all the colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in the case of full-color printing, and therefore the recording paper is conveyed along the paper conveyance path D. Therefore, if printing is not performed on the slip sheet, the conveyance path is switched between when the image is formed on the recording sheet and when the image is not formed, and the productivity is greatly reduced.
[0028]
Therefore, in order to improve productivity, the color image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the same printing parameters as the printing process 1 in the printing process 2 of FIG. 3 (whether it is full color, paper type information, writing resolution, etc.). The controller 30 transmits the new printing process 2 set to the plotter engine 40.
[0029]
Therefore, printing can be performed without changing the recording paper conveyance speed, productivity can be improved, and appropriate slip sheet insertion processing can be performed.
[0030]
In the color image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the face-up discharge tray 10 is a thick sheet or an OHP sheet having a high linearity and a poor curvature as a path through which the recording sheet is conveyed. Even if it exists, it can be printed and discharged without damaging the paper. On the other hand, the face-down paper discharge tray 9 has a sharp curve immediately after passing through the fixing device 8, and it is necessary to convey and discharge the recording paper. Therefore, in the color image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the application 20 sets the printing conditions for discharging to the controller 30 from the application 20, the paper type of the body is OHP or thick paper, and the discharge port is the face-down discharge tray 9. In such a case, the controller 30 automatically switches the paper discharge destination to the face-up paper discharge tray 10 with less curvature.
[0031]
Then, in the printing process shown in FIG. 5, the printing process of the first image is transmitted to the plotter engine 40 as the printing process new 1. Next, the printing conditions of the slip sheet process in which no image is placed are set by the controller 30. However, as described above, the discharge process automatically switches according to the paper type in the print process in which the image is placed. In order to perform the printing operation, it is necessary that the slip sheet process on which the image is not placed is the same as the paper discharge destination as the printing process on which the image is placed. Therefore, the controller 30 holds the printing conditions of the printing process new 1 and switches the discharge destination of the slip sheet printing process to the same discharge destination as that information.
[0032]
Next, when the paper discharge destination is switched from the face-down paper discharge tray 9 to the face-up paper discharge tray 10, as shown in FIG. Since the recording paper of the printing process issued first is the face-up paper discharge tray 10, it comes to the bottom of the finished recording paper bundle. However, slip sheet printing is a print state in which slip sheets are inserted below the recording sheet. Therefore, if the printing process is issued in the above order, the slip sheet displays information as shown in FIG. The finished product will be positioned on the recorded recording paper. In other words, it is different from the example of the interleaf printing finish at the time of face-down paper discharge as shown in FIG.
[0033]
Therefore, in the color image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the discharge destination of the print data transmitted from the application 20 to the controller 30 is the face-up discharge tray 10 or the recording paper type is OHP or the like, the controller When the paper discharge destination is automatically switched to the face-up paper discharge tray 10 at 30, the print process is transmitted from the controller layer to the plotter engine 40 as shown in FIG. As in the case of face down, a finished bundle of interleaf prints can be obtained.
[0034]
The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, the recording paper is conveyed from one of the plurality of paper feed trays to the image forming unit, and after the image is formed at the predetermined writing resolution by the image forming unit, the paper is discharged. When performing interleaf printing processing in which a predetermined blank recording paper is inserted as interleaving paper for each print job, the paper tray for transporting the recording paper, and the type of recording paper Since the processing procedure of the slip sheet printing process for inserting slip sheets is determined according to the printing resolution in the image forming unit, the print parameters such as the paper discharge port, etc., printing can be performed without changing the recording paper transport speed. Thus, productivity can be improved, and appropriate slip sheet insertion processing can be performed.
[0036]
According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, among the plurality of paper discharge ports, the paper discharge port for discharging the recording paper is automatically switched based on the print parameter, and in response to the switching of the paper discharge port. The slip paper outlet is also switched at the same time, so if the recording paper outlet is initially set for reasons such as the paper type and recording paper size and is switched from the paper outlet, the slip sheet is also switched. To prevent the recording paper and slip sheet from being discharged from separate paper exits, resulting in an interleaf printing process that is not finished. Processing can be performed.
[0037]
According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has an upward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing upward, or a downward discharge port for discharging the recording paper with the image forming surface facing downward. If the discharge port is an upward discharge port, after ejecting the slip sheet, the image-formed recording paper is discharged. If the discharge port of the recording paper is a downward discharge port, the image-formed recording sheet is discharged. After that, since the printing process is performed in the slip sheet printing process procedure for discharging the slip sheet, even if the paper discharge port is different, when the user holds the finished stack of record sheets, , And interleaving paper, so that proper interleaf printing processing can always be performed when the paper is discharged to either the so-called face-down tray or face-up tray.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a color image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.
2 is a software configuration diagram of an application, a controller, and a printer engine of the color image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an interleaf printing process issued from the controller of FIG. 2 to the plotter engine.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a print finish state when printing is performed in the joint printing process of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing process when the application of FIG. 2 has set a printing condition in which the paper type of the main body is OHP or thick paper and the paper discharge port is discharged to the face-down paper discharge tray.
6 is a diagram illustrating a print finished state in which a slip sheet is positioned on a recording sheet on which information is recorded in the printing process of FIG. 5;
7 is a diagram showing a case in which the print data sent to the controller from the application in FIG. 2 is a face-up paper discharge tray, or the recording paper type is OHP or the like and the controller automatically faces up the paper discharge destination. The figure which shows the printing process issued to a plotter engine from a controller layer, when it switches to a paper discharge tray.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color image forming apparatus 2 Main body feed tray 2a, 2b Paper feed tray 3 Manual feed tray 4 Cyan developing device 5 Yellow developing device 6 Magenta developing device 7 Black developing device 8 Fixing device 9 Face down paper discharge tray 10 Face up discharge Paper tray 11 Registration roller 20 Application 30 Controller 40 Plotter engine

Claims (3)

Recording paper from one of a plurality of paper feed trays is provided with at least one of a monochrome printing paper transport path having a monochrome printing image forming section and a color printing paper transport path having a color printing image forming section. After being conveyed and image-formed by the image forming unit at a predetermined writing resolution, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge outlet onto the paper discharge tray, and a predetermined blank recording paper is inserted as a slip sheet for each print job. In an image forming apparatus that performs a printing process,
The processing procedure in the case of interleaf printing processing for inserting interleaving paper, such as the paper feed tray for transporting the recording paper, the paper type of the recording paper, the writing resolution in the image forming unit, the paper discharge port, etc. Determined according to printing parameters ,
When the determined printing parameter is for color printing, a process for conveying the slip sheet through the color print sheet transport path is added to the processing procedure regardless of whether or not an image is formed on the slip sheet. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of paper discharge ports, and automatically switches the paper discharge ports based on the printing parameters, and also simultaneously discharges the slip sheet according to the switching of the paper discharge ports. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is switched.   The image forming apparatus has an upward discharge port for discharging recording paper with the image forming surface facing upward, or a downward discharge port for discharging recording paper with the image forming surface facing downward, and the discharge port for recording paper is the upward discharge port. If the recording paper is discharged, the image-formed recording paper is discharged, and if the recording paper discharge port is the downward discharge port, the image-formed recording paper is discharged and then the paper is discharged. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing process is performed in accordance with an interleaf printing process procedure.

Images