JP4464745B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a computer that executes double-sided printing by automatically printing on both sides of a sheet by setting or manually turning over the sheet. And a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded.

In a print control device that constitutes an image forming apparatus such as a conventional copying machine, a manual double-sided printing control device that controls to automatically print on both sides of a sheet or performs double-sided printing by manually turning over the sheet Is provided. In such double-sided printing, all image information of a document to be printed is stored, and printing is performed while calling the stored information. Therefore, a considerable time is required from reading the image information to calling it, and no other printing can be performed during that time. In order to execute automatic duplex printing, the path length in the reversing unit is short for the required paper size, and if automatic reversal cannot be performed, it is necessary to switch to duplex printing manually. Yes, other printing cannot be interrupted unless printing is executed immediately after switching to manual operation. Therefore, in such a print control apparatus, even if a user forgets a predetermined operation in Patent Document 1, for example, and a manual duplex printing job is left unattended, the influence on other print jobs is reduced. Has been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes shortening the time from the start of print data reception to the end of printing when printing a plurality of pages of a plurality of originals.
JP 2000-127520 A JP 2001-205900 A

  However, in the above prior art, when the paper size cannot be executed by the automatic duplex printing, the printing work is not efficient, for example, the paper cannot be put in until the paper processing is completed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is to manually adjust the size so long as it can be printed manually even when a paper having a size that cannot be automatically printed on both sides is set. The purpose is to enable double-sided printing and increase the number of operation variations.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first means is an image forming apparatus having a single-side mode for forming an image on one side of a recording sheet and a double-side mode for forming an image on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides. When it is determined that the size of the recording sheet is not capable of automatic double-sided printing while performing single-sided image formation, the first mode in which double-sided image formation is manually performed or the double-sided image manually An instruction means is provided for instructing whether the second mode is to wait until a recording sheet having a size capable of forming an image without being formed is reset in the sheet feeding port.

  The second means is that when the second mode is instructed by the instruction means in the first means, a printable size recording sheet is not reset in the paper feed port even after a predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, a control unit for forcibly executing image formation in the first mode is provided.

  The third means forcibly executes image formation in the first mode when a recording sheet having a printable size is not reset to the paper feeding port even after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is characterized by comprising first selecting means for selecting whether or not to make it.

  According to a fourth means, when a recording sheet having a printable size is not reset to the paper feeding port even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the fourth means is manually switched immediately after the transition to the first mode. A second selection means for selecting whether or not to form a double-sided image is provided.

A fifth means is characterized in that, in the first means, the size in which the automatic duplexing is impossible is larger than the path length of the reversing path for reversing the recording sheet in the duplex mode.

Sixth means, in the first means, and display means for displaying a message indicating to wait until manually recording sheet imageable size without double-sided image formation is reset to a paper feed port, And confirming means for confirming waiting in the message.

The seventh means has a single-side mode for forming an image on one side of a recording sheet and a double-side mode for forming an image on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides, and an image forming method for forming an image according to the set mode A first step of determining whether or not the size of the recording sheet can automatically execute the duplex mode when a print request is made on one side in the duplex mode; And a second step of waiting until a recording sheet having a size capable of automatically executing the duplex mode is set in the sheet feeding port when it is determined as NO in the step.

Eighth means, in the seventh means, in the second step, If after a predetermined time has recording sheets printable size was not re-set in the paper feed port, forced manually The method further includes a third step of executing the duplex mode.

The ninth means selects whether or not to manually form a double-sided image immediately when executing the double-sided mode in the third step in which the double-sided mode is forcibly manually executed in the eighth means. The method further includes a fourth step.

The tenth means has a single-side mode in which an image is formed on one side of a recording sheet and a double-side mode in which an image is formed on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides, and image formation control corresponding to the set mode is executed by a computer In the image forming control program for determining the size of the recording sheet, a first determination is made as to whether or not the size of the recording sheet can automatically execute the duplex mode when a print request is made for one side in the duplex mode. A control procedure, and a second control procedure for waiting until a recording sheet having a size capable of automatically executing the duplex mode is set in the sheet feeding port when it is determined to be negative in the first control procedure; characterized in that it contains.

The eleventh means is characterized in that the image forming control program according to the tenth means is read by a computer and recorded on a recording medium so as to be executable.

  In the embodiment described later, the instruction means is in steps S603 and S604, the control means in the second means is in steps S704 and S707, the first selection means is in step S807, and the second selection means is in steps S807 and S808. In step S813, the control means in the fifth means is in steps S914 and S915, the third selection means is in step S1014, the first process is in step S604, the second process is in step S603, The process corresponds to steps S704 and S707, the fourth process corresponds to steps S807, S808, and S813, the fifth process corresponds to steps S914 and S915, and the sixth process corresponds to S1014, step S1015, and step S1017. Functions are controller 100, controller 100 Controller CPU 101, a program for operating the controller CPU, is implemented by DIPSW1,2,3.

  According to the present invention, even if the image forming apparatus having a double-sided printing mechanism cannot automatically print on both sides, the double-sided printing can be manually performed if the size that can be set at the paper feed port is not rejected. This allows the user to recognize this and instruct the printing procedure. Therefore, a mode that is not the manual duplex setting mode is prepared for users who do not want to operate the manual duplex operation. By this, the variation of the usage method according to a user's request can be increased.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall unit configuration in an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording paper conveyance path in each unit of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a control block diagram in an apparatus. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a laser printer.

  The laser printer includes a main unit 1 that performs a series of writing such as image formation writing, development, and fixing control and basic paper feeding, a duplex unit 2 that reverses transfer paper for duplex printing, and a plurality of paper discharge units. In the embodiment, it is composed of four units: a mail box unit 3 having a 3-bin paper discharge unit, and a post-processing finisher unit 4 for shifting and stapling the discharged transfer paper. The main unit 1 includes a paper feeding unit 1-1 in which transfer paper is accommodated, a registration unit 1-2 for adjusting the timing of feeding the paper to the transfer unit, and a fixing unit 1 for fixing an image developed on the transfer paper. 3 is provided.

  The paper feed unit 1-1 of the main unit 1 has a first paper feed roller R1 that draws transfer paper from a first paper feed cassette (not shown) and a first paper feed that draws transfer paper from a second paper feed cassette (not shown). It has a paper roller R2. The registration unit 1-2 includes a registration sensor S1 that detects the presence or absence of transfer paper, and a registration roller pair R3 that adjusts the timing at which the transfer paper is sent to the transfer unit. The fixing unit 1-3 includes a fixing roller pair R5 for fixing the developer to the transfer paper. The main unit 1 is visualized as a photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation with laser light as an image signal from the optical system unit 1-5, which is an optical scanning device. A photosensitive unit R4 including a transfer roller for transferring an image on the photosensitive drum to the transfer paper, a developing unit G1 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and fixing the image transferred on the transfer paper. A fixing roller pair R5 is provided.

  The main unit 1 further includes a first branch switching solenoid P1 that switches the transfer paper from the fixing roller R5 to be sent to the finisher unit 4, and a paper discharge roller that sends the transfer paper that has passed through the first branch switching solenoid P1 to the finisher unit 4. The pair R6, the relay conveying roller pair R8, R9, the second branch switching solenoid P2 for sending the transfer paper from the first branch switching solenoid P1 to the duplex unit 2, and the transfer paper passing through the second branch switching solenoid P2 on both sides A branch discharge roller pair R12 sent to the unit 2, a branch discharge roller pair R7 sent to the mail box unit 3, a branch sensor S3, and a relay sensor S4 are provided. The first and second branch switching solenoids P1 and P2 are such that the first branch switching solenoid P1 is off, the transfer paper discharge destination is in the direction of the finisher unit 4, and the first branch switching solenoid P1 is on and the second branch switching solenoid. When P2 is off, the transfer paper is discharged in the direction of the mailbox unit 3, and when both the first and second branch switching solenoids P1 and P2 are on, the transfer paper is discharged in the direction of the duplex unit 2.

  The duplex unit 2 includes a duplex reversing switching solenoid P3, a duplex entrance sensor S5, a duplex exit sensor S6, a duplex reversing roller pair R13, R14, and a duplex transport roller pair R16, R17. The transfer sheet conveyed to the duplex unit 2 through the branch discharge roller pair R12 of the main unit 1 is sent out to the duplex reversing roller pair R13 and R14 when the duplex reversing switching solenoid P3 is off. When reversing the transfer paper, the double-side reversal switching solenoid P3 is turned on when the rear end of the transfer paper reaches the reversal position indicated by the arrow. Thus, the transfer paper is returned from the rear end to the registration roller pair R3 through the duplex conveying roller pair R16 and R17. When the trailing edge of the transfer sheet is detected by the double-sided exit sensor S6, the double-sided reversing switching solenoid P3 is turned off.

  The mail box 3 includes three paper discharge ports 1, 2, and 3, and a mail box discharge switching first solenoid for sending transfer paper to the paper discharge port 1 via a mail box 1-bin paper discharge roller pair R19. P4, Mailbox discharge switching second solenoid P5 for sending transfer paper to the discharge port 2 via the mail box 2 bin discharge roller pair R20, Mailbox discharge switching second solenoid P5 to discharge port 3 And a mail box transport roller pair R18 for feeding transfer paper to the mail box, and a mail box 3-bin paper discharge roller pair R21. The transfer paper discharge destination is in the direction of the paper discharge port 1 when the mailbox discharge switching first solenoid P4 is on. The mailbox discharge switching first solenoid P4 is off and the mailbox discharge switching second solenoid P5. When is turned on, the direction is the paper discharge port 2. When the first solenoid P4 for switching the mailbox discharge and the second solenoid P5 for switching the mailbox discharge are both off, the direction is the sheet discharge port 3. S13, S14, and S15 are paper presence / absence sensors for detecting the presence / absence of remarkable mail in the mailbox, and S16, S17, and S18 are paper discharge sensors for detecting paper discharge to the respective mailboxes.

  The finisher unit 4 includes a paper discharge port 4, a finisher inlet roller pair R 10 that receives transfer paper from the relay conveyance roller pair R 9, a finisher inlet sensor S 8 that detects the transfer paper from the finisher inlet roller pair R 10, and a discharge port. 4 includes a finisher exit roller pair R11 that feeds transfer paper, and a paper discharge port 4 sensor S9 that detects the transfer paper conveyed to the finisher exit roller pair R11. The paper discharge port 4 is provided with a finisher paper presence sensor S10 for detecting whether or not the finisher has transfer paper, and a finisher full sensor S11 for detecting that the finisher is full of transfer paper.

  In FIG. 2, the operation of the printer will be briefly described. Paper feeding is started from the paper feed tray of the paper feed unit 1-1 by the paper feed roller pair R1 or R2, and the transfer paper is temporarily stopped by the registration sensor S1. Laser light is irradiated from the optical system unit 1-5 to the photosensitive drum of the photosensitive unit R4 at * part, a potential difference is generated between the irradiated part and the non-irradiated part, and toner is uniformly attached by the developing device G1 from this potential difference. Development is performed by placing the toner on the developing roller on the photosensitive drum. On the other hand, the transfer is restarted at the timing when the image written on the photosensitive unit R4 is transferred to the transfer paper stopped by the registration sensor S1. After the transfer, the remaining toner is removed from the photosensitive unit R4 by a cleaning unit (not shown). Further, the transfer paper is fixed after transfer by heat and pressure by the fixing roller pair R5, and thereafter is discharged to one of the paper discharge trays at a predetermined solenoid and sensor timing. In addition, double-sided printing is possible by reversely feeding the paper discharge destination after fixing to the duplex unit 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control block in the printer described above is roughly divided into a controller 100 for interface control with a host machine, image data editing and control, machine control, writing, paper feeding control, printer control, and the like. The printer engine 200 performs state monitoring and the like. The controller 100 includes an operation panel 130 that includes a switch unit for changing the printer status display, mode, printing conditions, and the like, a display unit that performs display as described later, and a font cartridge 150 that stores special characters and the like. Is connected.

  The controller 100 is a general term for control mechanisms that convert print data from the host machine 120 into video data according to the control mode set at that time and the control code from the host machine 120 and output the video data to the printer engine 200 as follows. Consists of. That is, the controller CPU 101, RAM 102, option RAM 103, program ROM 104, font ROM 105, host interface 106, panel interface 107, and engine interface 108 are configured as at least the elements. The CPU 101 is a control processor that can be configured by a general-purpose CPU that controls the entire controller 100. The CPU 101 performs data processing according to the program contents of the program ROM 104, and also manages stored data and data flow, and stored jobs. The RAM 102 is used as a work area of the CPU 101, a data reception buffer from the host machine 120, and an image development area after processing. The option RAM 103 is a RAM that stores data necessary for other processing or data for the option 140. The program ROM 104 is a memory holding a program, and the font ROM 105 is a memory holding several types of fonts used at the time of printing.

  The host interface 106 is for transferring data between the host machine 120 and the controller 100, and the panel interface 107 performs display on the operation panel 130 and key operation reception processing. The engine interface 108 is an interface for transmitting and receiving a control signal to the controller 100 and the printer engine 200 and a status signal from the engine 200 to the controller 100, and actually printing out the image data developed by the controller 100 by the printer engine 200. is there.

  The printer engine 200 includes an engine CPU 201, an engine ROM 202 in which an engine program resides, a RAM 203 having a buffer register function, a readable / writable EEPROM 204 that records a maintenance cycle, a first interrupt circuit 205 that controls an interrupt state of an option 140, a controller A second interrupt circuit 206 that controls the interrupt state from the 100, an input port 210 that controls inputs such as the DIP switch 207, each sensor 208, and other input units 209, each motor 211, each clutch 212, each high-pressure process 213, The output port 215 for controlling the output to the other output unit 214, the option interface 216, the controller interface 217, the flash ROM 218, etc. are at least the elements. It is constructed by. Reference numeral 160 denotes an exchange unit such as a process cartridge. The exchange unit is provided with an EEPROM 161 in which information such as a production number and a production date of the unit is stored.

  The controller CPU 101 executes the program written in the program ROM 104 while using the RAM 102 as a work area. The program data is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk device (not shown) via a recording medium driving device from a server or from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or SD card instead of the program ROM 104 or in addition to the program ROM 104. It can also be used after being down-rolled or upgraded.

  The overall printer control procedure described above is as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the overall control of the image forming apparatus. After the power is turned on, initial setting of each state, that is, system initialization is performed (step S401), and an engine status check task for checking the state of the printer (hereinafter referred to as an engine) is performed (step S402). Next, an engine-controller interface task, which is an interface control between the engine 200 and the controller 100, such as reception of a paper feed command, reception of a resolution setting request, reception of a request for switching between a paper feed port and a paper discharge port is performed (step S403). In addition, a control for checking the internal state of the engine itself, such as a maintenance request or an error occurrence, and an engine to option interface task for performing sequence control such as paper feeding timing and high voltage on / off (step S404), Next, a queue task for managing the information of the paper to be printed is performed (step S405), and finally a print control task for controlling the print state is performed (step S406). When the print control task is completed, the process returns to the engine status check in S402, and this is repeated thereafter.

  On the other hand, an interrupt module is provided for time monitoring and control for performing each process independently of the main sequence. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control procedure when interrupt processing is performed. In the interrupt control, after turning on the power, it is checked whether or not the interrupt is checked (step S501). If the interrupt is an interrupt, an interrupt process is performed (step S502). If it is not an interrupt, the interrupt process is not performed and the process returns. This enters this routine at predetermined time intervals set by the CPU 201 of the engine 200 and performs necessary processing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control procedure when printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, an instruction to perform manual duplexing is given, or waiting control is performed until a paper of a paper size that can be printed without performing manual duplexing is reset to the paper feed port. .

  That is, in this processing procedure, first, it is checked whether or not there is a print request (step S601), and if a print request is received, it is checked whether or not single-sided printing is performed in the duplex mode (step S602). If the duplex mode is selected, it is confirmed whether or not the paper size of the paper set in the set paper feed port is a size that can be automatically printed on both sides (step S603). 1 (hereinafter referred to as DIPSW1) is checked (step S604). When DIPSW1 is off, the printer waits until a paper size that can be automatically duplexed is set. If DIPSW1 is on, the printing mode is changed from the duplex printing mode to the single-sided surface printing mode (step S605), and “waiting for manual surface printing for duplex printing” is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the operation panel 130. Display and wait for a user manual print permission notification (step S606). It is checked whether or not a manual print permission notification from the user, for example, an operation such as pressing a copy button has been received (step S607), and if received, front side printing is executed in the single-sided mode (step S608). ) Wait for the printing on the surface to be completed.

  When printing on the front side is completed (step S609), a message requesting that the paper for which front side printing is completed for back side printing be set in the paper feed port is displayed on the display unit, and confirmation is awaited (step S610). . It is checked whether the paper for back side printing has been set by the user and the copy button of the operation unit has been pressed as a trigger for completion of setting (step S611). It starts (step S612), completes the back side printing (step S613), and then completes the manual double side printing (step S614). On the other hand, if it is not the duplex mode in step S602, printing is performed in the normal simple print mode (step S615), and the process ends. Also, if the size of the transfer paper is not capable of automatic duplex printing in step S603, printing is performed in the normal duplex printing mode (step S616), and the process ends.

  The path through which the transfer paper passes during double-sided printing is the front path. When the first sheet feeding cassette (not shown) located at the top of FIG. 2 is used as the sheet feeding, the first sheet feeding roller R1 to the registration sensor S1, The surface of the registration roller pair R3, the photosensitive unit R4 as a process system, and the fixing roller pair R5 are printed, and then the first branch switching solenoid P1 and the second branch switching solenoid P2 are switched to thereby switch the branch discharge roller pair. Proceed to R12. When the trailing edge of the transfer paper passes through the double-side entrance sensor S5 and reaches the double-side reversal switching solenoid P3, the transfer paper stops once, and then the transfer paper is switched back from the double-sided conveyance roller pair R16 to the double-sided conveyance roller pair R17. When the paper reaches the duplex exit sensor S6, the transfer paper is temporarily stopped. This completes the front side printing and waits for the back side printing.

  The path for printing the back side of the transfer paper is to restart the transfer paper waiting at the double-sided exit sensor S6, and pass through the registration sensor S1, the photosensitive unit R4, and the fixing roller pair R5 from the double-sided exit sensor S6. Print. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged from the main body through the discharge roller pair R6 and the relay conveying roller pairs R8 and R9 by switching the first branch switching solenoid P1, and sent to the finisher inlet roller pair R10 of the finisher unit 4. The transfer paper from the finisher inlet roller pair R10 passes through the finisher outlet roller pair R11 and is discharged from the discharge port 4 to complete the back side printing.

  As for the path through which paper passes during single-sided printing, if the first paper cassette (not shown) is located at the top of FIG. 2 as in the case of double-sided printing, the pair of registration sensor S1, registration roller pair from the first paper feeding roller R1. R3, the surface passes through the photosensitive unit R4, which is a process system, and the fixing roller pair R5, and the surface is printed. By switching between the first branch switching solenoid P1 and the second branch switching solenoid P2, the direction other than the branch discharge roller pair R12, Proceeding to the main body discharge and the mail box unit 3, the paper discharge is completed.

  In the first embodiment described above, since the mode is switched to the single-sided mode, the single-sided printing path is passed twice.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, in a printer having a double-sided printing mechanism, printing is not rejected even if the size cannot be automatically double-sided, but manual double-sided printing is possible if the size can be set at the paper feed port. By providing a mode that is not the manual duplex setting mode for users who do not want to operate the manual duplex mode, by enabling the user to recognize this and instructing the printing procedure. The variation of the usage method according to a user's request can be increased. Note that the first or second paper feed roller R1, R2 (paper feed tray) or a manual paper feed port (manual feed tray) (not shown) is used if the paper feed port is a place where paper can be fed.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for switching to duplex manual printing in the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described above, the DIPSW 1 is used as a means for determining whether manual double-sided printing is possible and is determined based on the on / off state. However, depending on the user or the use environment of the user, the size of the transfer paper differs. However, there are cases where it is troublesome to control not to accept manual printing at all. Thus, in the second embodiment, once the manual duplex mode is rejected, if a predetermined time or more has elapsed, a timeout function is provided to switch to the manual duplex mode.

  In this process, first, it is checked whether or not there is a print request (step S701). If there is a print request, it is checked whether or not single-sided printing is performed in the double-sided mode (step S702). If the double-side mode is selected, it is confirmed whether the paper size set in the set paper feed opening is a size that can be automatically printed on both sides (step S703). If the counter for measuring a predetermined time is C $ RMT and the predetermined time is C @ 10, it is checked whether the count value C $ RMT is larger than C @ 10 (step S704), and C $ RMT <C If it is @ 10, DIPSW1 is checked (step S705). If DIPSW1 is off, the manual duplex mode is rejected, so C $ RMT is incremented (+1) (step S706), and the process returns to step S703. If C $ RMT ≧ C @ 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed since manual double-sided printing rejection, C $ RMT is cleared (step S707), and when the DIPSW1 is on, the print mode Is changed from the double-sided printing mode to the single-sided front side printing mode (step S708), “manually waiting for front side printing for double sided printing” is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 130, and a user's manual print permission notification is awaited (step S708). S709).

  Next, it is checked whether or not a manual print permission notification from the user has been received (step S710). If received, front side printing is executed in the single-sided mode (step S711), and when the front side printing is completed (step S712). ) Displays a message requesting to set the paper for which the front side printing is completed for back side printing on the display unit, and waits for confirmation (step S713). It is checked whether the paper for back side printing is set by the user and the copy button of the operation unit is pressed as a trigger for completion of setting (step S714). It starts (step S715), completes the back side printing (step S716), and then completes the manual duplex printing (step S717).

  On the other hand, if it is not the duplex mode in step S702, printing is performed in the normal simple print mode (step S718), C $ RMT is cleared (step S720), and the process ends. Also, in the case where the size of the transfer paper is not automatically duplex printing in step S703, printing is performed in the normal duplex printing mode (step S719), and the process proceeds to step S720.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when a transfer sheet that cannot be automatically duplexed is set, or when it is not in the manual duplex mode, a print request is kept waiting until a correct transfer sheet is set. Since it is possible to accept other print requests using a multi-application method, the waiting print request is canceled after a certain amount of time has elapsed, preventing other printing from being hindered. Can do.

  Other parts that are not particularly described are configured in the same manner as the first embodiment and function in the same manner.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for switching to duplex manual printing in the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, in addition to the operation of the second embodiment described above, whether or not the manual double-sided surface printing is started immediately after the specified time has elapsed since the manual double-sided mode rejection and the manual double-sided mode is enabled. And a function of identifying whether to start printing after waiting for a determination from the user. In the third embodiment, a second dip switch (DIPSW2) is provided in addition to the dip switches (DIPSW1) of the first and second embodiments.

  First, it is checked whether or not there is a print request (step S801). If there is a print request, it is checked whether or not single-sided printing is performed in the duplex mode (step S802). If the double-side mode is selected, it is confirmed whether the paper size set in the set paper feed opening is a size that can be automatically printed on both sides (step S803). If the counter for measuring a predetermined time is C $ RMT and the predetermined time is C @ 10, it is checked whether C $ RMT is larger than C @ 10 (step S804). C $ RMT <C @ 10 If so, DIPSW1 is checked (step S805). If DIPSW1 is off, the manual duplex mode is rejected, so C $ RMT is incremented (+1) (step S806), and the process returns to step S803. If C $ RMT ≧ C @ 10, DIPSW2 is checked (step S807). If DIPSW2 is off, C $ RMT is cleared (step S808). Is changed to the single-sided front-side printing mode (step S809), “manually waiting for front-side printing for double-sided printing” is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 130, and a user's manual print permission notification is awaited (step S810).

  Next, it is checked whether or not a manual print permission notice from the user has been received (step S811). If received, front side printing is performed in the single-sided mode (step S812), and when the front side printing is completed (step S814). ) A message for instructing to set the back side is displayed on the paper feed port for manual duplex printing and waits for confirmation (step S815). It is checked whether the paper for back side printing is set by the user and the copy button of the operation unit is pressed as a trigger for completion of setting (step S816). It starts (Step S817), completes the back side printing (Step S818), and then completes the manual double side printing (Step S819). If DIPSW2 is on in step S807, C $ RMT is cleared (step S813), and the process proceeds to step SS812.

  On the other hand, if it is not the duplex mode in step S802, printing is performed in the normal simple print mode (step S820), C $ RMT is cleared (step S822), and the process ends. Also, in the case where the size of the transfer paper is automatic duplex printing in step S803, printing is performed in the normal duplex printing mode (step S821), and the process proceeds to step S822.

  In the second embodiment, even if the user actually waits in the print request waiting mode, it may be difficult for the user to completely clear the print request. However, in the third embodiment, manual duplex mode rejection is performed. After the specified time has elapsed, after transitioning to the manual duplex mode enabled state, the DIPSW2 is checked for on / off status (step S807). If DIPSW2 is off, C $ RMT is cleared (step S808) and switched to manual duplex printing mode. (Step S809) Waits for print permission from the user. If DIPSW2 is on, C $ RMT is cleared (Step S813), and manual duplex printing is started without waiting for print permission from the user (Step S812). That is. As a result, printing can be permitted more quickly, and the waiting time for the next print request can be further reduced.

  As described above, even if the user actually waits in the print request waiting mode, it may be difficult for some users to completely clear the print request, and it is possible to set a print request waiting mode without a timeout for such a user. This makes it possible to meet the needs of more users.

  Other parts that are not particularly described are configured in the same manner as the first embodiment and function in the same manner.

<Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for switching to duplex manual printing in the fourth embodiment.
When the manual duplex mode is set and the single-sided printing is completed and the backside printing is waited for, when there is no backside paper setting, the standby state is continued even if there is another print request. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the data that is scheduled to be printed on the back side from the front side paper set in the current paper feed stage is printed on the front side of the next paper and waits for other data. By canceling the state, the print stop state is canceled as soon as possible.

  As in the above-described embodiments, first, it is checked whether or not there is a print request (step S901). If there is a print request, it is checked whether or not single-sided printing is performed in the duplex mode (step S902). If the duplex mode is selected, it is confirmed whether or not the paper size set in the set paper feed port is a size that can be automatically printed on both sides. (Step S903) If it is determined that the size cannot be automatically printed on both sides, the state of DIPSW1 is checked (Step S904). When DIPSW1 is off, the process waits until the size of the transfer sheet is set to a size that allows automatic double-sided printing. If DIPSW1 is on, the printing mode is changed from the duplex printing mode to the single-sided surface printing mode (step S905), and “waiting for surface printing for manual duplex printing” is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 130. The manual print permission notification is awaited (step S906). It is checked whether or not a manual print permission notification from the user, for example, an operation such as pressing a copy button is received (step S907), and if received, front side printing is executed in the single-sided mode (step S908). ) Wait for the printing on the surface to be completed.

  When printing on the front side is completed (step S909), a message requesting to set the paper for which the front side printing has been completed for back side printing is set on the paper feed port is displayed on the display unit, and confirmation is awaited (step S910). Whether or not the back side printing paper is set by the user and the copy button of the operation unit is pressed as a trigger for the completion of setting is checked (step S911). C $ RMT, which is also the transfer paper set waiting time counter, is incremented (+1) (step S912), and it is checked whether C $ RMT is greater than C @ 10 (step S913). C $ RMT> If it is C @ 10, C $ RMT is cleared (step S914), the contents of the back side are printed on the surface of the next transfer paper in the single-sided mode (step S915), and the process is terminated. In other words, instead of printing two pages on one sheet with manual duplex, printing is performed on two sheets in single-sided mode. In step S913, if C $ RMT ≦ C @ 10, the process returns to step S911.

  If a back side paper set completion notification is received in step S911, back side printing is started in the single side mode (step S916), the back side printing is completed (step S917), and then manual double side printing is completed (step S618). ). On the other hand, if it is not the duplex mode in step S902, printing is performed in the normal simple print mode (step S919), and the process ends. Also, if the size of the transfer paper is capable of automatic duplex printing in step S903, printing is performed in the normal duplex printing mode (step S920), and the process ends.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the manual double-side mode is set and the single-sided printing is finished and the backside printing is waited for, when there is no backside paper setting, the standby state is maintained even if there is another print request. The data that was planned to be printed on the back side from the front side paper set in the current paper feed stage is printed on the front side of the next paper, and the waiting state for other data is released. By doing so, the printing stop state is canceled as soon as possible.

  Other parts that are not particularly described are configured in the same manner as the first embodiment and function in the same manner.

<Fifth Embodiment>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for performing printing while switching to double-sided manual in the fifth embodiment.
In the fifth embodiment, when waiting for the back side printing, the user can respond to the user's preference setting by increasing the choice of whether to wait until the back side is set by the user or to cancel in the middle. ing. In the fifth embodiment, whether or not to perform the timeout for waiting for the backside printing set is determined by providing a third DIP switch DIPSW3 and determining whether this switch is on or off.

  First, it is checked whether there is a print request (step S1001), and if there is a print request, it is checked whether it is single-sided printing in the duplex mode (step S1002). If it is in the duplex mode, it is confirmed whether the paper size set in the set paper feed opening is a size that can be automatically printed on both sides (step S1003). In step S1004), if DIPSW1 is off, the process waits until the transfer paper size is set to a size that allows automatic double-sided printing. If DIPSW1 is on, the printing mode is changed from the duplex printing mode to the single-sided surface printing mode (step S1005), and “waiting for surface printing for manual duplex printing” is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 130. The manual print permission notification is awaited (step S1006). It is checked whether or not a manual print permission notification from the user, for example, an operation such as pressing a copy button has been received (step S1007), and if received, front side printing is executed in the single-sided mode (step S1008). ) Wait for the printing on the surface to be completed.

  When printing on the front side is completed (step S1009), a message requesting that the paper for which the front side printing has been completed for back side printing is set on the paper feed port is displayed on the display unit, and confirmation is awaited (step S1010). It is checked whether or not the back side printing paper is set by the user and the copy button of the operation unit is pressed as a trigger for completion of setting (step S1011). C $ RMT, which is also a transfer paper set waiting time counter, is incremented (+1) (step S1012), and it is checked whether C $ RMT is larger than C @ 10 (step S1013). C $ RMT> If C @ 10, it is checked whether DIPSW3 is on (step S1014).

  If DIPSW3 is off, C $ RMT is cleared (step S1015), the contents of the back side are printed on the front side of the next transfer paper in the single-sided mode (step S1017), and the process ends. If C $ RMT ≦ C @ 10 in step S1013, the process returns to step S1011. If DIPSW3 is ON in step S1014, C $ RMT is cleared (step S1016), and the process returns to step S1011.

  In step S1011, when the back side paper set completion notification is received, the back side printing is started in the single side mode (step S1018), the back side printing is completed (step S1019), and then manual double side printing is completed (step S1020). On the other hand, if it is not the duplex mode in step S1002, printing is performed in the normal simple print mode (step S1021), and the process ends. Also, if the size of the transfer paper is capable of automatic duplex printing in step S1003, printing is performed in the normal duplex printing mode (step S1022), and the process ends.

  In this way, it is determined whether or not the timeout for waiting for the backside printing set is performed based on the ON / OFF state of the third DIP switch DIPSW3, and the DIPSW3 is turned on even if the backside setting waiting time C @ 10 is exceeded. If so, the counter C $ DPX is cleared and kept waiting. In this way, when the back-side print waiting state is entered, the user has the option of waiting until the back side is set by the user or canceling in the middle, so that the user's preference can be handled.

  Other parts that are not particularly described are configured in the same manner as the first embodiment and function in the same manner.

<Control when waiting for reverse side printing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure for setting the backside printing start waiting time. That is, in steps S603, S703, S803, S903, and S1003 of the first to fifth embodiments described above, if a paper that cannot be automatically duplexed is set, or if it is not in the manual duplex mode, the correct paper is The print request is made to wait until the setting is made. However, by making the wait, another print request cannot be accepted by a usage method such as a multi-application. Therefore, when a certain amount of time has passed, the waiting print request is canceled to prevent other printing from being hindered, and the time-out time can be changed depending on the user's usage environment. The use environment is realized.

  The backside printing start waiting time is set by providing fourth and fifth dip switches DIPSW4 and 5, checking these DIPSW4 and 5 in a part of the status task polled every predetermined time, and turning on and off DIPSW4 and 5. The waiting time C @ 10 is changed by a combination of states. In this control, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, first, the on / off state of the DIPSWs 4 and 5 is checked (step Ss1101). Next, the waiting time C @ 10 is set from the combination of the on / off states of the DIPSWs 4 and 5 (step S1102). Since there are four combinations of ON / OFF by two dip switches, the waiting time C @ 10 is set by these combinations. When both DIPSW4 and 5 are OFF, the waiting time C @ 10 is 3 minutes and DIPSW4 is OFF. When DIPSW5 is on, waiting time C @ 10 is 6 minutes, when DIPSW4 is on and DIPSW5 is off, waiting time C @ 10 is 9 minutes, and when both DIPSW4 and 5 are on, waiting time C @ 10 is 12 minutes. In this way, four types of waiting time can be set, and when a certain amount of time has passed, the waiting print request is canceled to prevent other printing from being hindered, and time-out may occur depending on the user's usage environment. Therefore, a more appropriate use environment can be realized.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall unit configuration in an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a recording paper conveyance path in each unit of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating overall control of the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the control procedure in the case of performing an interruption process. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a case where printing is performed by switching to double-sided manual in the fifth embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the setting procedure of back surface printing start waiting time.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body unit 2 Double-sided unit 3 Mailbox unit 4 Finisher unit 100 Controller 200 Printer engine 130 Operation panel 101 Controller CPU
102 RAM
104 Program ROM
201 engine CPU
202 Engine ROM
205 First interrupt circuit 206 Second interrupt circuit 207 DIP switch

Claims (11)

In an image forming apparatus having a single side mode for forming an image on one side of a recording sheet and a double side mode for forming an image on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides,
When performing image formation on the first surface in the duplex mode, if it is determined that the size of the recording sheet is a size that cannot be automatically duplexed, the first mode in which duplex image formation is performed manually, An image forming apparatus comprising: instruction means for instructing a second mode to wait until a recording sheet having a size capable of forming an image without manually performing double-sided image formation is reset in a sheet feeding port. .   When the second mode is instructed by the instructing means, if a recording sheet having a printable size is not reset in the paper feeding port even after a predetermined time has elapsed, image formation is forcibly performed in the first mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that executes the operation.   First selection means for forcibly selecting whether or not image formation is to be executed in the first mode when a printable size recording sheet has not been reset in the paper feed port even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:   Select whether or not to manually form a double-sided image immediately after the transition to the first mode when a printable size recording sheet has not been reset in the paper feed slot even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a second selection unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size incapable of automatic duplexing is a size longer than a path length of a reversing path for reversing the recording sheet in the duplex mode . Display means for displaying a message to wait until a recording sheet having a size capable of forming an image without manually performing double-sided image formation is reset in the paper feed port;
Confirmation means for confirming waiting in the message;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: In an image forming method that has a single-side mode for forming an image on one side of a recording sheet and a double-side mode for forming an image on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides, and performs image formation according to a set mode.
A first step of determining whether the size of the recording sheet can automatically execute the duplex mode when there is a print request for one side in the duplex mode;
A second step of waiting until a recording sheet having a size capable of automatically executing the duplex mode is set in the paper feed slot when it is determined as NO in the first step;
Image forming method characterized in that it contains. The second step further includes a third step of forcibly manually executing the duplex mode when a recording sheet having a printable size is not reset to the paper feeding port even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The image forming method according to claim 7, wherein: The third step of forcibly manually executing the double-sided mode further includes a fourth step of selecting whether to manually form a double-sided image immediately when the double-sided mode is executed. 9. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein: Image forming control for causing a computer to execute image forming control according to a set mode having a single-sided mode for forming an image on one side of a recording sheet and a double-sided mode for forming images on both sides of a recording sheet on both sides In the program
A first control procedure for determining whether or not the size of the recording sheet can automatically execute the duplex mode when there is a print request for one side in the duplex mode;
A second control procedure that waits until a recording sheet having a size that can automatically execute the duplex mode is set in the paper feed slot when it is determined to be NO in the first control procedure ;
An image formation control program comprising: Recording medium on which the image formation control program according to claim 10, wherein is equal to or recorded in the executable recording medium is read by a computer.

Images