JP4398611B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, even when a paper type required for a print request is different from a loaded paper type, the recorded paper is appropriately output and the recorded paper is appropriately discharged to a discharge tray. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, with the progress of OA (Office Automation), information processing apparatuses (terminals) such as personal computers and word processors can share and use printer apparatuses as image forming apparatuses via a network or a switch. Printers connected to such a network are used by many terminals, etc., so that they are recorded and output on a plurality of types of recording paper, and the recorded recording paper is classified by copy. For this reason, a plurality of paper discharge trays are provided.
[0003]
When a plurality of information processing apparatuses share such a printer device, the paper output tray of the printer device selects a paper output tray designated by the operator of the information processing device and discharges the recording paper to the paper output tray. In addition, in the case of a print request with a sort designation for recording a plurality of copies, sort output is performed using a plurality of designated paper discharge trays.
[0004]
When the output tray is switched when the tray becomes full in the post-process for sorting and discharging when recording the recorded recording paper, it is mixed with the recording paper of other output and recorded from the tray. When the recording paper is picked up, the recording paper may be left out or the recording paper of other output may be taken out. Also, even if no other output recording paper remains in the tray, if a single document bundle is output across multiple trays, the page order may be incorrect depending on how the sheets are taken, resulting in decreased productivity. There is something that will end up.
[0005]
Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of stacking trays for stacking transfer materials image-formed by the image forming apparatus, storage means for storing the transfer materials, and paper supply means for transporting the transfer materials from the storage means to an image forming position. A transfer unit for controlling the transfer material to be discharged to an arbitrary stacking tray, a tray switching unit for switching the tray to be discharged by the transfer unit, and a load amount of the transfer material loaded on the plurality of stacking trays. When outputting at least one output set composed of a predetermined number of transfer materials and a load amount detecting means for detecting each tray, the stack of the discharge destinations is started before the transfer material leading to the output set is started. Whether the tray can be loaded is checked by the loading amount detection means. If loading is not possible, other loading trays that can be loaded are checked and the tray switching means switches the discharge destination. It indicates the example, when there is no other tray can be stacked is the control means for controlling so as to interrupt the operation, an image forming apparatus having been proposed (see JP 2001-39607).
[0006]
In other words, this conventional image forming apparatus attempts to prevent the productivity from decreasing by controlling the output tray to be switched at the output break when switching the output tray.
[0007]
Further, the image forming apparatus cannot appropriately form an image when there is no recording paper of the paper type designated by the host side.
[0008]
Therefore, conventionally, when printing condition registration means for which the printing conditions determined for each type of paper to be used are registered in advance for each paper type and paper type information to be used are given, the printing conditions registration means is referred to Proposed is a printer apparatus having print information setting means for taking out printing conditions of paper corresponding to paper type information and setting it as print control information, and print control means for controlling the operation of a printing mechanism based on the print control information (See JP-A-9-99607).
[0009]
In other words, this conventional printer device simply gives optimum print control information according to the type of paper and tries to control printing according to the type of paper.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional image forming apparatus cannot cope with printing data in which different paper types are mixed, improving the usability of the image forming apparatus and improving the usability of the image forming apparatus. In order to form a good quality image, there was a need for improvement.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connected to a terminal, records print data on a sheet based on print setting information, and discharges the recorded sheet to one of a plurality of discharge trays. when discharging the paper sheet to the discharge tray, the number of sheets discharged to the discharge tray exceeds the maximum number that can be placed into those paper discharge tray, a predetermined corresponding to the print request job unit result of the presence or absence of finishing is determined based on the print setting information from said terminal, even when there is the finishing treatment is a possible paper ejection to another discharge tray outside only, had a discharge target the finishing process without switching the dedicated paper ejection tray is stopped and notifies errors, characterized by comprising a control means for stopping printing and discharging operation.
[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 6 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is.
[0022]
1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a controller 10, an engine 20, and the like. The controller 10 includes a host interface 11, an engine interface 12, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, and a RAM. (Random Access Memory) 15 and the like, and each part is connected by a bus 16.
[0023]
A host device (terminal) 30 is connected to the host interface 11 via a network, a cable, or the like. A command and print data are exchanged with the host device 30, and a print request and print from the host device 30 are transmitted. Data is received and necessary information is transmitted to the host device 30.
[0024]
An engine (print engine) 20 is connected to the engine interface 12, and the engine interface 12 outputs print data, control data, and the like to the engine 20 and also outputs current status information (error information, tray information) from the engine 20. Etc.).
[0025]
The ROM 14 stores a basic control program as the image forming apparatus 1 and a print control processing program of the present invention, and stores system data and the like necessary for executing each program.
[0026]
The RAM 15 is used as a work memory for the CPU 13 and stores various data necessary for executing the basic control processing of the image forming apparatus 1 and the print control processing of the present invention.
[0027]
The CPU 13 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 1 based on a program in the ROM 14 and executes basic control processing as the image forming apparatus 1 and print control processing of the present invention.
[0028]
Although not shown, the engine 20 includes a plurality of paper feed trays and a plurality of paper discharge trays, and sheets (recording paper) of various paper types (paper types) can be placed on the plurality of paper feed trays. It has become. Each of the paper discharge trays can be loaded with a plurality of recorded papers, and the maximum amount of paper that can be discharged (the maximum number of sheets that can be placed) is determined. That is, the number of sheets that can be placed in each paper discharge tray is determined according to the paper type of the paper that is placed.
[0029]
The engine 20 determines a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray in accordance with an instruction from the controller 10, and a predetermined recording method, for example, an electrophotographic method, is applied to the paper placed on the determined paper feed tray. Recording is performed based on print data by an inkjet method or the like, and the recorded paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray in accordance with an instruction from the controller 10.
[0030]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When receiving a print request from the host device 30, the image forming apparatus 1 causes the engine 20 to perform a print process in response to the print request. At this time, the image forming apparatus 1 performs a print process according to the type of paper to be printed.
[0031]
That is, in the image forming apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 10 acquires the current status information of the engine 20 from the engine 20 via the engine interface 12, and stores it in the RAM 15 (step S101). The status information includes, for example, error information indicating whether an error has occurred in the engine 20, the status of the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray, for example, the remaining amount of paper on each paper feed tray, and each paper discharge tray. Information on whether or not a sheet is discharged upward, information on the amount of discharge, and the like.
[0032]
Thereafter, when there is a print request from the host device 30 and a print setting value (print setting information) is transmitted, the print request and the print setting value are received via the host interface 11 (step S102) and stored in the RAM 15. Compared with the status information of the engine 20, the setting of the paper feed tray of the engine 20 (step S103) and the setting of the paper discharge tray are switched according to the paper type information (step S104).
[0033]
When the setting of the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray is completed, the CPU 13 causes the engine 20 to perform printing via the engine interface 12 based on the settings (step S105).
[0034]
Next, the paper feed tray setting process (paper feed setting process) based on the paper type information in step S103 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0035]
In the paper feed tray setting process based on the paper type information, the CPU 13 first designates the print setting value based on the print setting value received from the host device 30 and the status information of the engine 20 stored in the RAM 15. It is checked whether there is a paper feed tray on which a paper having the same paper size as the current paper size is placed (step S201), and a paper having the same paper size as that specified by the print setting value is placed. If there is no paper feed tray, the host device 30 is notified through the host interface 11 that there is no paper feed tray of the corresponding paper size, and the paper feed setting process is terminated (step S202).
[0036]
In step S201, when there is a paper feed tray on which a paper having the same paper size as that specified by the print setting value is placed, the CPU 13 checks the paper on the paper placed in the corresponding paper feed tray. It is checked whether there is a difference between the type and the paper type to be printed with the print setting value (step S203). If there is a difference, it is checked whether there is an unsearched paper feed tray (step S204).
[0037]
When there is an unsearched paper feed tray, the CPU 13 returns to step S201 and performs the same processing as described above (steps S201 to S204). If there is no unsearched paper feed tray at step S204, that is, only the paper size. If there is only a paper feed tray on which papers with different paper type information are placed, the paper type information of the print setting value sent from the host device 30 is placed on the paper feed tray. It is rewritten and reset to the paper type information of the existing paper (step S205).
[0038]
When the CPU 13 resets the paper type information, the CPU 13 sets the detected paper feed tray to the paper feed tray to be used, and ends the process (step S206).
[0039]
If there is no difference between the paper type of the paper placed on the paper feed tray and the paper type scheduled to be printed with the print setting value in step S203, the CPU 13 feeds paper using the paper feed tray. The tray is set, and the process ends (step S206).
[0040]
Next, the discharge tray setting / switching process based on the paper type information in step S104 of FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0041]
First, based on the paper type information of the paper in the paper feed tray set in the paper feed tray setting process, the CPU 13 calculates an addition specific to the paper type (step S301).
[0042]
In other words, the discharge tray has a maximum number of sheets set for each paper type, and when performing a printing process in which a plurality of paper types are mixed, in order to control the maximum number of sheets stacked for each paper type, In the embodiment, the discharge tray is controlled as follows.
[0043]
First, the maximum stacking capacity of the paper discharge tray is expressed not by the number of sheets but as the paper discharge limit of the paper discharge tray. This amount is the least common multiple of the maximum number of stacked sheets set for each paper type, and this value is set as the maximum stacking amount of the discharge tray.
[0044]
Next, the weight for each sheet type is set. That is, the weight of the paper type is obtained by dividing the maximum load capacity of the paper feed tray by the maximum number of sheets provided for each paper type.
[0045]
If the setting is made as described above, the number of discharged sheets and the weight are multiplied to obtain a discharge amount independent of the paper type, and this discharge amount is obtained for each paper type and added. Together, the current load capacity (current load capacity) is calculated.
[0046]
For example, the maximum number of sheets α, β, γ, and the weights per sheet for three types of paper A, B, and C are L / α, L / β, L / γ, and the printable number x, y. , Z are as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the maximum stacking amount L in a certain discharge tray is L = LCM (α, β, γ), and the current stacking amount Count in a certain discharge tray is Count = (L / α) x + (L / Β) y + (L / γ) z.
[0047]
Now, assuming that the maximum stacking amount L in a certain discharge tray is L = 300 and the current stacking amount Count in a certain discharge tray is Count = 290, the stackable amount up to the maximum stacking amount is “ 10 ”, if the paper types A, B, and C are“ plain paper ”,“ thick paper ”, and“ OHP paper ”as shown in FIG. 6, the remaining stackable paper as shown in FIG. The number of sheets is 1 for “plain paper”, 1 for “thick paper”, and 0 for “OHP paper” (cannot be discharged).
[0048]
In step S301, when the addition amount is calculated from the paper type information, the CPU 13 determines whether the value obtained by adding the current loading amount and the calculated addition amount is less than the maximum loading amount , that is, the maximum loading amount> It is checked whether or not (current load amount) + (addition amount) (step S302). If the value obtained by adding the current load amount and the addition amount is less than the maximum load amount, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray. If it is determined that it is possible, the paper discharge tray is set as a paper discharge tray for discharging the current sheet, and the process ends (step S303).
[0049]
If the value obtained by adding the current stacking amount and the addition amount exceeds the maximum stacking amount in step S302, the CPU 13 determines that the sheet cannot be discharged to the other discharge tray, and the other discharge trays. The process shifts to (sheet discharge tray switching process).
[0050]
In the paper discharge tray switching process, the CPU 13 first determines the presence or absence of a predetermined finishing process corresponding to the print request job unit based on the print setting value from the host device 30 (step S304). because, even if vacant discharge tray other different print request job unit for (only outside) is discharge tray dedicated had a discharge subject to use succeeding sheet discharging sheet (recording paper) is dedicated Since it is determined that the other empty output trays cannot be used, the finishing process is stopped without switching the dedicated output tray, and an error notification indicating that the output tray is full is displayed. It goes to the host device 30 via the host interface 11 and ends the processing (step S308). At this time, the printing and discharging operations are stopped simultaneously. The predetermined finishing process is, for example, a sort process, a stack process, a stapling process, or the like.
[0051]
If there is no finishing process in step S304, the CPU 13 switches the processing target to the next paper discharge tray candidate, and the remaining paper information of the next paper discharge tray, for example, whether the current stacking amount is “0”. It is checked whether there is no discharged sheet (step S306), and when the current stacking amount is “0”, the discharge tray is set as a discharge tray for discharging the current sheet. Then, the process ends (step S303).
[0052]
In step S306, when the current stack amount of the next discharge tray is not “0”, the CPU 13 determines that the discharge tray is already used, and checks whether there is an unsearched discharge tray. (Step S307) When there is an unsearched paper discharge tray, the process returns to Step S305, and the same processing as described above is performed (Steps S305 to S307, S303).
[0053]
In step S307, when there is no unsearched paper discharge tray, the CPU 13 cannot switch the paper discharge tray, so an error notification that the paper discharge tray is full is sent via the host interface 11 to the host device. Go to 30, and the process ends (step S308).
[0054]
As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment responds to the print setting value among a plurality of paper feed trays in response to a print request accompanied by print setting information (print setting value) from the host device 30. The paper is sent from the paper feed tray on which the paper is placed to the print engine, the print data sent together with the print request by the print engine is recorded on the paper, and the recorded paper is stored in one of the plurality of paper discharge trays. If the paper type specified in the print setting value is not loaded in multiple paper trays, the paper type placed in the paper tray is prioritized and suitable for the paper type. Printing.
[0055]
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent malfunction due to a paper type setting error or the like on the host device 30 side, it is possible to appropriately record and output on existing paper, and to form an image with good image quality, The usability of the image forming apparatus 1 can be improved.
[0056]
In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, in response to a print request accompanied by a print setting value from the host device 30, feeds a sheet according to the print setting value from among a plurality of paper feed trays. When the paper is sent from the tray to the print engine, the print data sent together with the print request by the print engine is recorded on the paper, and the recorded paper is discharged to one of a plurality of paper discharge trays. Even when sheets with different thicknesses are mixed in the recorded sheets, the recorded sheets are discharged within the maximum number of sheets that can be placed on the discharge tray.
[0057]
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the recorded sheet from being discharged beyond the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded, and to prevent the recorded sheet from being scattered or jammed. Usability can be improved.
[0058]
Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the recorded paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray, the number of sheets discharged to the paper discharge tray is the maximum number of sheets that can be placed on the paper discharge tray. When there is an empty paper discharge tray, a search is made for the presence or absence of another empty paper discharge tray.
[0059]
Accordingly, the recorded paper can be appropriately distributed to a plurality of paper discharge trays while preventing the recorded paper from scattering or paper jamming, and the usability of the image forming apparatus 1 can be improved. This can be further improved.
[0060]
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.
[0061]
According to the present invention, when the number of discharged sheets on the discharge tray reaches the maximum number of sheets that can be placed on the discharge tray, the recording sheet is discharged to another empty discharge tray. In the image forming apparatus, when the number of sheets discharged to a specific discharge tray exceeds the maximum number of sheets that can be placed on the discharge tray, a print request is made based on print setting information from the terminal (host device). As a result of determining whether or not there is a predetermined finishing process corresponding to the job unit, if there is a finishing process, even if paper can be discharged to an empty paper discharge tray for other different print request job units (non-dedicated) Depending on the contents of the print request job in the print setting information, the finishing process is stopped and an error is notified without switching the specific (dedicated) discharge tray, which is the target, and the print and discharge operations are stopped. It is possible to efficiently discharge recording paper to the paper discharge tray, and the subsequent recorded recording paper is mixed and output to other empty paper discharge trays for different print request job units (non-dedicated). It is possible to prevent the recording paper from being discharged unnecessarily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing printing processing by the image forming apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a paper feed tray setting process based on paper type information in the printing process of FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart showing a paper discharge tray setting / switching process based on paper type information in the printing process of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a maximum load amount for each paper type in a paper discharge tray and a current load amount.
6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the relationship between the maximum load amount for each paper type of the paper discharge tray in FIG. 5 and the current load amount.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Controller 11 Host interface 12 Engine interface 13 CPU
14 ROM
15 RAM
16 Bus 20 Engine 30 Host device

Claims (1)

In an image forming apparatus that is connected to a terminal, records print data on paper based on print setting information, and discharges the recorded paper to one of a plurality of paper discharge trays, the recorded paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray. to time, the number of sheets discharged to the discharge tray exceeds the maximum number that can be placed into those paper discharge tray, the presence or absence of a predetermined finishing process corresponding to the print request job unit from the terminal as a result of determination on the basis of the print setting information, when there is the finishing process be capable of sheet discharge to the other sheet discharge tray outside only, perform the switching of a dedicated paper ejection tray has a discharge target the finishing process is stopped and notifies errors without, an image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for stopping printing and discharging operation.

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