JP4415774B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an image on a sheet conveyed from a sheet feeding tray such as a copying machine or a printer.

  Conventionally, in the sheet conveyance control in the image forming apparatus, when a predetermined failure is detected, the sheet conveyance control is performed according to the failure. In particular, if there is a paper jam or a mismatch between the preset paper type and the transported paper type, the paper that exists in the direction of the destination is ejected from the paper judged to be a failure. Or a process of stopping the conveyance immediately after detection is performed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2-163241

  By the way, a mismatch with respect to the paper being transported is detected when it is determined that the size or quality of the paper set by the user in the paper feed tray does not match the job to be executed. In some cases, only a few sheets of paper are incompatible with the job. Even in such a case, the image output processing is temporarily stopped due to a mismatch, and the user is allowed to check the paper in the paper feed tray. However, when the user is away from the apparatus, the usability is very poor. For example, if a mismatch occurs during the processing of the image forming apparatus while the user is away from the apparatus and the processing is stopped, the user takes a countermeasure against the processing stop when returning to the position of the apparatus, and then processes again. Need to be executed. In addition, if another user visits the apparatus for use while the processing is stopped due to a mismatch, it will be difficult to handle the job of the previous user who is in the stopped state.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that sequentially sends out a plurality of sheets onto a conveyance path from a paper feed tray to an image forming unit and forms an image, the type of the sheet on the conveyance path is set in advance. If the detection unit detects a mismatch that is different from the type of paper and the first paper that is closest to the transport direction on the transport path is not detected as a mismatch, the first paper is detected as the image. When control is performed to send to the forming unit and the first sheet is detected as a mismatch by the detection unit, a decision is made to discharge all sheets on the conveyance path at that time, and conveyance is performed next to the first sheet. If the second sheet that is on the path is not detected as a mismatch by the sensing unit to convey the new paper from the paper feed tray after discharging all the paper that is on the transport path, If the second sheet is detected as a mismatch, the image processing scheduled for the first sheet is resumed for the new sheet, and the sheet is fed after all sheets on the transport path are discharged. Control means for performing a control to output a message to prompt confirmation of the paper in the paper tray .

Further, according to the present invention, in an image forming method in which a plurality of sheets are sequentially sent out on a conveyance path from a paper feed tray to an image forming unit to form an image, the type of the sheet on the conveyance path is set in advance. A process of detecting a mismatch in which the type of paper is different, and a control for sending the first paper to the image forming unit when the first paper on the lowermost side in the transport direction on the transport path is not detected as a mismatch. If the first sheet is detected as a mismatch, a decision is made to discharge all the sheets on the transport path at that time, and the second sheet on the transport path is located next to the first sheet. If no mismatch is detected, all the paper on the transport path is discharged, and then a new paper is transported from the paper feed tray, and the image processing scheduled for the first paper is changed to the new paper. Resume Control is performed that, when the second sheet is detected as a mismatch, and performing control of outputting a message prompting to confirm the paper in the paper feed tray after discharging all the paper that is on the conveying path It has.

  In the present invention, when there is a mismatch in the first sheet on the conveyance path that is the lowermost side in the conveyance direction, all the sheets on the conveyance path are discharged at that stage, and the sheet does not match the setting. Avoid image formation. In addition, when the first paper is mismatched, the processing is uniquely stopped when there is a mismatch by switching the countermeasure depending on whether the second paper transported next to the first paper is a mismatch. Can be avoided.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, by discharging the paper determined to be mismatched to a discharge destination different from the original discharge destination, the user can receive only the normally printed paper. In addition, if it is not determined that there are consecutive mismatches within the same job, it is determined that mismatched sheets are accidentally mixed, and image formation on a new sheet is resumed without stopping the job operation. Usability can be greatly improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a copying machine and a printer, and sequentially feeds sheets stored in a sheet feeding tray T1 and the like onto a sheet conveyance path, and an image is formed on the sheet by an image forming unit 10 so as to transfer a predetermined amount. It is discharged to the destination.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is provided on a paper conveyance path, and a paper mismatch, that is, a paper type set by the user, such as a paper size and quality, matches a paper type conveyed for image formation. A detection unit 11 that detects whether or not the sheet is being conveyed, a conveyance control unit 12 that controls to which discharge destination the sheet being conveyed is discharged, an image control unit 13 that controls image transfer on the sheet, and a plurality of discharge destinations (For example, first and second discharge destinations).

  The detection means 11 provided on the paper transport path includes, for example, a transmissive optical sensor, detects the transmitted light amount of the passing paper, and the detected transmitted light amount matches the preset transmitted light amount of the paper. Whether it is within the allowable range. Here, if the transmitted light amount of the sheet that passes through does not match the preset transmitted light amount of the sheet, it is determined that there is a mismatch.

  The conveyance control unit 12 performs control to send the sheet on the conveyance path to the image forming unit 10 when the detection unit 11 does not detect a mismatch. On the other hand, when the mismatch is detected by the detection means 11, control is performed to discharge all sheets on the sheet transport path to a predetermined discharge destination.

  The image control unit 13 instructs a predetermined copying process and an image output process on the sheet sent from the sheet conveyance path to the image forming unit 10 under the control of the conveyance control unit 12. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the detection unit 11 detects a mismatch in the sheet on the sheet conveyance path, the image control unit switches the countermeasure depending on whether or not the next sheet is mismatched.

  Specifically, among the plurality of sheets on the sheet conveyance path, when it is determined that the first sheet P1 closest to the conveyance direction is the mismatch, all the sheets P1 on the sheet conveyance path at that time are determined. -P3 is determined to be discharged to a predetermined discharge destination. Thereafter, a mismatch is detected with respect to the second sheet P2 conveyed next to the first sheet P1, and when the second sheet P2 is determined to be mismatched, that is, when the sheets continuously mismatch. Ejects all the paper on the paper transport path without forming an image on the paper, then stops processing and outputs a message to the user confirming the paper stored in the paper feed tray To do. This is because there is a possibility that all the subsequent papers are mismatched because the papers are continuously mismatched, so that it is possible to prevent the processing from being temporarily stopped and forming an image with mismatched. Because.

  On the other hand, if the first sheet P1 is mismatched and the second sheet P2 is not mismatched, all the sheets on the sheet transport path are discharged, and then a new sheet is transferred from the sheet feed tray to the sheet transport path. Then, control is performed to execute image processing that is scheduled to be performed on the first sheet P1 with respect to the new sheet. This is because even if the first paper P1 is mismatched, the second paper P2 is not mismatched, so there is a possibility that only one mismatched paper is mixed in the paper feed tray, so the processing is stopped. This is to prevent the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 from being stopped by continuing the image processing that is scheduled to be performed on the first sheet P1 for the new sheet.

  As described above, when the paper continuously mismatches, the processing of the image forming apparatus 1 is stopped and a message is output. When the paper does not continuously mismatch, a new paper is transported to perform the image forming apparatus. By switching such that the process 1 is continued, the apparatus is not uniquely stopped when a mismatch occurs.

  In addition, the process is continued unless a continuous mismatch occurs on the paper during the image forming process. When a mismatch occurs, the paper on the paper transport path is discharged to a specific discharge destination, and only the paper on which the image has been formed. Can be discharged to another specific destination.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the image forming method of the present embodiment. In the following description, reference is made to FIG. 1, which is not shown in FIG. First, a job is executed by starting the process. During the job, there are a plurality of sheets P1 to P3 on the sheet conveyance path.

  Next, the first paper P1 is detected by the detection means 11 (step S1), and it is determined whether or not there is a mismatch (step S2). If it is not determined that there is a mismatch, the sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 10 (step S3), the image is transferred to the sheet (step S4), and the sheet after the image transfer is discharged to a predetermined discharge destination (step S5). . Then, conveyance of the next sheet from the sheet feed tray is started (step S6), and the process returns to the sheet detection in step S1.

  On the other hand, when the first paper P1 is determined to be mismatched by the paper detection, the second paper P2 that is the next paper is detected (step S7), and it is determined whether or not there is a mismatch (step S8). If the second sheet P2 is mismatched, all the sheets P1 to P3 on the sheet transport path are discharged to a specific discharge destination (step S9). As a result, since the sheets P2 and P3 after the first sheet P1 determined to be mismatched are all discharged to a discharge destination different from the original discharge destination, the user can only print the normally printed paper. Can be received from any destination.

  In addition, after discharging the paper, the image processing is temporarily stopped (step S10), and a message for prompting the user to confirm the paper feed tray is output (step S11). As described above, when it is determined that the first paper P1 and the second paper P2 are continuously mismatched, the paper that becomes a mismatch is further stored in the paper feed tray in which the subsequent paper is stored. Therefore, the user temporarily stops without executing any more image processing and asks the user to check the paper feed tray. Thereafter, when the user gives an instruction to restart the process (step S12), the sheet is transported from the paper feed tray to restart the image processing (step S13), and the process returns to step S1 to detect the sheet.

  If it is determined in step S8 that the second sheet P2 is not mismatched, all the sheets P1 to P3 on the sheet transport path are discharged to a discharge destination different from the original discharge destination ( Step S14). Thereafter, the processing of the image forming apparatus 1 is not stopped, and the new paper is transported from the paper feed tray in order to perform image processing on the first paper P1 determined to be mismatched with respect to the new paper (step S15). ). Then, the process returns to step S1 to detect a new sheet. In this case, the first sheet P1 is mismatched, but the next second sheet P2 is not mismatched, so there is a high possibility that only one mismatched sheet has been mixed in. Image processing can be executed as it is. As a result, it is not necessary to stop the processing of the image forming apparatus 1, so that even if there is a mismatch on the way, the job can be executed. In the subsequent processing, similar paper detection and countermeasure switching are performed.

  By switching the countermeasures as described above, if mismatches continue, the process is stopped and the user is prompted for confirmation. If mismatches do not continue, the process is continued and the original destination is processed after image processing. Only paper can be ejected. As described above, only the paper after the image processing is discharged to the original target discharge destination, so that the user can receive only the paper after the image processing. Further, when the paper is sent from the discharge destination to the finisher (stapler or punch hole forming means), it is possible to perform processing only on an effective sheet.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method according to the present embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Image forming part, 11 ... Detection means, 12 ... Conveyance control means, 13 ... Image control means, P1 ... 1st paper, P2 ... 2nd paper, P3 ... 3rd paper, T1... First feed tray, T2. Second feed tray, T3. Third feed tray, T4. Fourth feed tray

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus that sequentially feeds a plurality of sheets onto a transport path from a paper feed tray to an image forming unit and forms an image.
Detecting means for detecting a mismatch between a paper type on the transport path and a preset paper type;
When the first sheet on the conveyance path lowermost side in the conveyance direction is not detected as a mismatch by the detection unit, the first sheet is controlled to be sent to the image forming unit, and the first sheet is controlled. When the sheet is detected as a mismatch by the detection means, a decision is made to discharge all the sheets on the transport path at that time, and a second on the transport path next to the first sheet. If the sheet is not detected as a mismatch by the detecting means, a new sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding tray after all sheets on the conveyance path are discharged, and is scheduled for the first sheet. When the second sheet is detected as a mismatch, the sheet feeding is performed after all sheets on the transport path are discharged. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling to output a message prompting to confirm the paper in the tray. In an image forming method in which a plurality of sheets are sequentially sent out on a conveyance path from a paper feed tray to an image forming unit to form an image.
Detecting a mismatch between the type of paper on the transport path and a preset type of paper;
When the first sheet on the conveyance path lowermost side in the conveyance direction is not detected as a mismatch, control is performed to send the first sheet to the image forming unit, and the first sheet is determined as a mismatch. If it is detected, a decision is made to discharge all the sheets on the conveyance path at that time, and the second sheet on the conveyance path after the first sheet is not detected as a mismatch. In this case, after all the sheets on the transport path are discharged, a new sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding tray, and the image processing scheduled for the first sheet is performed on the new sheet. Control to restart, and when the second sheet is detected as a mismatch, control to output a message prompting confirmation of the sheet in the sheet feeding tray after discharging all the sheets on the transport path carry out the Image forming method characterized by and a degree.

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