JP4802756B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that executes an autoload process.

  2. Description of the Related Art A continuous paper printer that performs printing at high speed on continuous paper is known. The continuous paper printer executes a process of conveying continuous paper from a paper feed port to a predetermined position such as an elevator stacker via an image forming position as a pre-process for executing image formation. This pre-processing is generally called autoloading. When this automatic loading is completed, the continuous paper printer can start image formation.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a method of manually loading a sheet after manually setting the sheet at a predetermined position of a sheet feeding port.
JP-A-4-323165

  In the above autoload, the continuous paper is transported to a predetermined position away from the image forming position, so an image cannot be formed on the continuous paper from the image forming position to the predetermined position. There is a problem of being wasted.

  In particular, a large continuous paper printer generates a lot of wasted continuous paper because the paper path from the image forming position to the elevator stacker position is long. In addition, large continuous paper printers often connect a post-processing device or the like for processing continuous paper into a single sheet. When the post-processing device is connected, a post-processing device is required to enable image formation. Since the printing is started after the paper is set in the paper, more continuous paper is wasted.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that eliminates waste of continuous paper caused by autoloading.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a conveying unit that conveys continuous paper from a paper feed port to a predetermined position via an image forming position, and the continuous paper has reached the predetermined position. whether a detecting means for detecting whether both to control the conveying means so as to perform the automatic loading for transporting the continuous paper from the paper feeding opening to the predetermined position at a first conveying speed, the continuous paper is the Control for controlling the transporting means to stop autoloading when it is detected that a predetermined position has been reached, and to switch the transport speed of the continuous paper to a second transport speed that is faster than the first transport speed. It means, a determination means for the tip of the continuous paper to determine whether reaches the image forming position, when the tip end of the continuous paper is judged to have reached the image forming position by the determining means In correspondence with the first transport speed to start forming an image, after autoloading termination has an image forming means for performing image formation in association with the second transport speed.

In this case, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the conveying unit controls the automatic loading so that the continuous sheet is conveyed at the first speed from the sheet feeding port to the predetermined position, and reaches the predetermined position. when it was has been detected, and controls to switch the transport speed of the continuous paper faster than the first conveying speed second transport speed. During autoloading, it is determined whether or not the leading edge of the continuous sheet has reached the image forming position. If it is determined that the leading edge of the continuous sheet has been reached, image formation is performed in accordance with the first transport speed. started, after the automatic loading is completed, since in correspondence with the second conveying speed performing image formation, it is possible to eliminate the waste of the continuous paper generated by automatic loading.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the time required for transporting the continuous paper at the first transport speed from the paper feed port to the image forming position has passed, the determination unit detects the leading edge of the continuous paper. Is determined to have reached the image forming position.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, since a timer is used for detecting the continuous sheet at the image forming position, hardware such as a sensor is not required, and the cost of the image forming apparatus is reduced. Can do.

The invention of claim 3, wherein the predetermined position is a position where the elevator stacker the continuous sheet on which the image has been formed is accumulated is provided.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the predetermined position may be a position where the elevator stacker is provided.

The invention of claim 4, the predetermined position is a position where the post-processing is performed on the continuous sheet on which the image is formed.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the predetermined position can be a position where the post-processing is executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can eliminate waste of continuous paper generated by autoloading.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus is expressed as a continuous paper printing apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a continuous paper printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The continuous paper printing apparatus 10 forms an image on a continuous form paper or the like (hereinafter referred to as paper) in which a plurality of sheets that can be separated from each other are connected (hereinafter, simply referred to as printing). As shown in the figure, the apparatus includes a controller 12, a first sensor 14, a second sensor 16, a display panel 18, and an IOT (Image Output Terminal) 20.

  The controller 12 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (not shown). In addition to the control necessary for the printing process, the controller 12 automatically loads the paper from the paper feed port to a printable position. Control. The ROM stores a processing routine program for performing autoloading in addition to a processing routine program for performing printing processing.

  The first sensor 14 is provided in the vicinity of a paper feed port, which will be described later, and detects the leading edge of the paper near the paper feed port. The second sensor 16 is provided at the position of the elevator stacker where the printed continuous paper is accumulated, and detects whether the paper has reached the elevator stacker. The first sensor 14 and the second sensor 16 are turned on when a sheet is detected, and turned off when a sheet is not detected. The paper detection result is output to the controller 12. The display panel 18 is provided on the upper surface of the casing of the continuous paper printing apparatus 10 and displays various messages and instructions to the operator by display control of the controller 12.

  The first sensor 14, the second sensor 16, and the third sensor 62, which will be described later, include, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged so as to sandwich paper, and light from the light emitting element is blocked by the paper and the light receiving element. Is a sensor that detects the paper when it cannot receive light.

  The IOT 20 includes an IOT controller 22, a paper transport unit 24, and an image forming unit 26.

  The IOT controller 22 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM (not shown), and controls the operation of the entire IOT 20. The paper transport unit 24 includes a transport roller, which will be described later, and a drive unit that drives the transport roller, and transports the paper along the paper transport path. The image forming unit 26 includes a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, and the like, which will be described later, and forms an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 24.

  In FIG. 1, an image input unit that inputs image data of an image to be output and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the input image data are not shown.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the IOT 20. In FIG. 2, the IOT controller 22 is not shown.

  As shown in the figure, a first transport roller 30, a second transport roller 31, a third transport roller 32, and a fourth transport roller 34 are provided along the transport path of the paper P, and these transport rollers rotate. As a result, the paper P is conveyed from the paper feed opening F to the elevator stacker S. Each transport roller is provided with a drive unit (not shown), and drives each transport roller. The sheet conveying unit 24 in FIG. 1 includes a first conveying roller 30, a second conveying roller 31, a third conveying roller 32, a fourth conveying roller 34, and a driving unit that drives each conveying roller.

  Further, as described above, the first sensor 14 is provided in the vicinity of the paper feed opening F, and the second sensor 16 is provided at the position of the elevator stacker S.

  Furthermore, the continuous paper printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can perform double-sided printing, and an image is formed at the image forming position X on the front surface and an image is formed at the image forming position Y on the back surface. In order to perform duplex printing, two image forming units are provided as the image forming unit 26 along the conveyance path of the paper P. The first image forming unit is for forming a toner image on the back surface of the paper P. In addition to the first photosensitive drum 40, the first developing device 42, the first transfer unit 44, and the first fixing device 46, A first exposure device, a first charger, and the like (not shown) are provided. The second image forming unit forms a toner image on the surface of the paper P. The second image forming unit includes a second photosensitive drum 50, a second developing device 52, a second transfer unit 54, and a second fixing device 56. In addition, a second exposure device, a second charger, and the like (not shown) are provided.

  Here, an image forming operation in the first image forming unit will be briefly described. When the first photoconductor drum 40 rotating at a constant speed is uniformly charged by the first charger disposed in the vicinity of the first photoconductor drum 40, the surface of the charged first photoconductor drum 40 is Exposure is performed with a light beam modulated in accordance with image data of an output image by one exposure device, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the first developing device 42. The developed toner image is transferred onto the paper P conveyed from the paper feed port F by the first transfer unit 44. The toner image transferred onto the paper P is fixed by the first fixing device 46. Thus, printing is performed on the paper P, and the printed paper P is further conveyed to the elevator stacker S. Since the image forming operation in the second image forming unit is the same as that in the first image forming unit, description thereof is omitted.

  In the above configuration, the printed paper P is transported to the elevator stacker S, but there is also a configuration in which a burster device, which is a post-processing device for processing continuous paper into a single sheet, is connected. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a burster device is connected. FIG. 3 shows a burster device 60 connected to the continuous printing device (excluding the elevator stacker S) described in FIG. The burster device 60 includes a fifth transport roller 35, a third sensor 62, a burster B, and an elevator stacker S.

  The third sensor 62 is provided at the position of the burster B to be processed into a single sheet, and detects whether the paper P has reached the burster B. The third sensor 62 is turned on when the paper P is detected, and is turned off when the paper P is not detected. The detection result of the paper P is output to the controller 12. The burster B cuts the paper P for each perforation provided in the paper P and processes it into a single sheet. In the elevator stacker S, sheets processed into single sheets are accumulated. In the case of a configuration in which this burster device is connected, there is also an operator who sets the paper P on the fifth transport roller. In this case, after auto-loading is executed for a predetermined time, the load is temporarily interrupted, a display prompting the operator to set the paper P is displayed, and the paper P is conveyed toward the burster B as soon as the paper P is set. To do. When the paper P is conveyed to the third sensor 62, standard printing is started.

  2 and 3 described above, the positions of the second sensor 16 and the third sensor 62 are predetermined positions.

  Next, printing processing at the time of autoloading of the continuous paper printing apparatus 10 will be described. The autoload in the present embodiment indicates a process of transporting the paper P set in the paper feed port from the paper feed port F to the second sensor 16 or the third sensor 62. When the paper P is conveyed to the second sensor 16 or the third sensor 62, normal printing is performed. The conveyance speed during normal printing is controlled to be faster than the conveyance speed during autoloading.

  In order to start the automatic loading of the paper P, the operator sets the paper P on a tractor (not shown) provided near the paper feed opening F. The operator then presses a load button (not shown) for starting autoloading. When the load button is pressed, the process shown in FIG. 4 is started.

  In step S <b> 101, it is determined whether or not there is paper P at the paper feed opening F. This can be determined based on the detection result by the first sensor 14. In the case of negative determination, an error display indicating that the paper P is not set is performed to the operator in step S102.

  If there is paper P at the paper feed port F, a print timing measurement timer is set in step S103. The print timing measurement timer is a timer that measures the time during which the paper P set in the paper feed port is transported from the paper feed port F to the image forming position X (see FIG. 2) at the speed of autoloading. .

  Simultaneously with the measurement of the print timing measurement timer, autoloading is started in step S104. The next step S105 is waiting for the print timing measurement timer to time out.

  When time is out, it is determined that the leading edge of the paper P has been transported to the image forming position X, and printing for autoloading is started in step S106. This autoload printing will be described later.

  When printing for autoloading is started, it waits for the paper P to be detected by the elevator stacker S in step S107. The detection of the paper P by the elevator stacker S means that the second sensor 16 detects the paper P.

  When the paper P is detected by the elevator stacker S, the conveyance is temporarily stopped in step S108, and then the conveyance speed is switched to the conveyance speed during normal printing, and normal printing is started in step S109.

  Next, autoload printing will be described. First, processing for obtaining an electrostatic latent image in the continuous paper printing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows an electrostatic latent image 70 and an electrostatic latent image position 72.

  The electrostatic latent image 70 is composed of dots indicated by rectangles. White rectangles such as dots 76 indicate dots that are not electrostatic latent images, and solid rectangles such as dots 74 are It shows dots that are electrostatic latent images. The character indicated by the electrostatic latent image 70 is “A”.

  The electrostatic latent image position 72 is an image of light-emitting diodes arranged in a vertical row, and is indicated by 16 rectangles corresponding to the number of dots in the vertical row.

  The light emitting diode corresponding to each dot exposes the photosensitive drum according to the image data, whereby an electrostatic latent image as shown in the electrostatic latent image 70 is obtained.

  Thus, the continuous paper printing apparatus according to the present embodiment obtains an electrostatic latent image using a light emitting diode. In this case, for example, the control of the light emitting diode when the conveyance speed during autoloading is ½ the conveyance speed during normal printing will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 show the control of the light emitting diode corresponding to the rectangle labeled “3” shown in the electrostatic latent image position 72 (see FIG. 5) using a time chart. FIG. 6 shows an irradiation image 78a, a drive current 80a, and a time axis during standard printing, and FIG. 7 shows an irradiation image 78b, a drive current 80b, and a time axis during autoloading.

  The filled rectangles shown in the irradiation images 78a and 78b indicate a state in which the light emitting diode is irradiated, and a white rectangle indicates a state in which the light emitting diode is not irradiated. In the drive currents 80a and 80b, high indicates that the drive current is flowing, and low indicates that the drive current is not flowing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the time required for performing the electrostatic latent image is T during standard printing. On the other hand, since the conveyance speed during auto-loading is ½ of the conveyance speed during normal printing, the time required for performing the electrostatic latent image is 2T, which is twice that during standard printing.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to double the irradiation time with the light emitting diodes compared with the standard printing time, the driving current flow time is doubled with the standard printing time. It is possible to form an image corresponding to the above.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the continuous paper printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed schematic structure of IOT. It is a figure which shows the structure which connected the burster apparatus. 5 is a flowchart showing autoloading and normal processing. It is a figure which shows an electrostatic latent image image and an electrostatic latent image position. It is a time chart which shows control of the light emitting diode at the time of normal printing. It is a time chart which shows control of the light emitting diode at the time of an auto load.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Continuous paper printer 12 Controller 14 1st sensor 16 2nd sensor 18 Display panel 22 Controller 24 Paper conveyance part 26 Image formation part 30 1st conveyance roller 31 2nd conveyance roller 32 3rd conveyance roller 34 4th conveyance roller 35 1st 5 transport roller 40 first photosensitive drum 42 first developing unit 44 first transfer unit 46 first fixing unit 50 second photosensitive drum 52 second developing unit 54 second transfer unit 56 second fixing unit 60 Burster device 62 sensor 70 Electrostatic latent image 72 Electrostatic latent image position 74, 76 Dots 78a, 78b Irradiation image 80a, 80b Drive current B Burster F Paper feed port P Paper S Elevator stacker X Image formation position Y Image formation position

Claims (4)

Transport means for transporting continuous paper from a paper feed port to a predetermined position via an image forming position;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the continuous paper has reached the predetermined position;
The conveyance means is controlled to perform autoloading for conveying the continuous sheet from the sheet feeding port to the predetermined position at a first conveyance speed, and it is detected that the continuous sheet has reached the predetermined position. Control means for controlling the conveying means so as to stop the auto-loading and switch the conveying speed of the continuous paper to a second conveying speed higher than the first conveying speed when
Determining means for determining whether the leading edge of the continuous paper has reached the image forming position;
When the leading end of the continuous paper is judged to have reached the image forming position by the determining means, the first in association with the conveying speed to start forming an image, after the automatic loading completed, the first Image forming means for forming an image corresponding to the transport speed of 2, and
An image forming apparatus.   The determination means determines that the leading edge of the continuous paper reaches the image forming position when a time required for transporting the continuous paper from the paper feed port to the image forming position at the first transport speed has elapsed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is determined to have performed. It said predetermined position, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the continuous paper on which the image is formed is a position where the elevator stacker is provided to be accumulated. It said predetermined position, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is a position in which post-processing on the continuous sheet on which the image is formed is performed.

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