JP4892887B2 - Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that includes one or a plurality of paper feeding devices that store paper and performs an image forming process for forming an image on paper fed from the paper feeding device, and a control method thereof. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, which can set the association between a sheet feeding device and a sheet attribute for optimal image formation on each side only on one side of a sheet that cannot be printed on both sides, and on both sides of a sheet that can be printed. .

  In general, when forming an image on paper contained in a paper feeding device, image formation is performed at an optimum speed or temperature depending on the paper size and paper type, or the close contact between papers when paper is fed An image forming apparatus having a function of blowing air at a strength and time suitable for paper is well known.

  Conventionally, there are not many paper attributes (paper parameters) that control these operations, such as the size and paper type (coated paper / non-coated paper), and so the setting switch is also installed on the paper feeder. It was normal to set using.

  In such a case, when the paper is opened and the paper is stored, the paper attribute is set by the setting switch and then the paper supply device is closed, so that the paper stored in the paper supply device and the paper are set. The various attributes are always the same except for a selection switch selection error, and optimal control is possible for the paper stored in the paper feeder.

  In recent years, however, the paper types that can be controlled by the image forming apparatus and the paper attributes for optimal image formation have been further subdivided into various types. It is difficult to do everything with the installed setting switches, and there are some models that do not have a setting switch for cost reduction.

  Therefore, as a method of setting various paper attributes without using the setting switch, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, setting is performed using a user interface device provided in the image forming apparatus, or A configuration in which various paper attributes are set from a personal computer connected via a network or the like has been proposed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for setting the size and type of transfer paper using the main controller 20, the operation unit 30, and the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-228561 discloses a technique for adjusting the temperature of the fuser by a temperature adjustment volume 37 provided in the fuser controller 36 and setting the paper pressure by operating a paper pressure selection switch on the console panel. .
JP 2003-270872 A US Pat. No. 5,229,814 JP 2003-173111 A JP-A 63-109482

  By the way, the above-described flow of subdividing and diversifying paper attributes for optimal image formation includes a request for optimal image formation on only one side.

  For example, when an OHP sheet is used, since printing on both sides overlaps the front and back images and does not serve as a printed matter, it is necessary to print only on one side.

  In recent years, the use of backing paper for recycling, etc., and the use of paper that can be printed on only one side (for example, paper on which one side has already been printed) are increasing. It is desirable to set paper attributes that can be enabled.

  In response to such demands, publicly known documents such as Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose a method for setting various paper attributes from a user interface device provided in an image forming apparatus, a personal computer connected via a network, or the like. Although proposed, a paper attribute setting function that enables optimum image formation only on one side of the paper has not been proposed.

  For this reason, conventionally, if there is a double-sided printing instruction for the paper stored in the paper supply device even though the OHP sheet or backing paper is stored in the paper supply device, As a result, printing is performed (a printed matter that is not used) is obtained, and as a result, there is a problem that time and paper for printing are wasted.

  Also, as another flow of subdivision and diversification of paper attributes, paper that can be printed on both sides is used, but on the front and back sides, paper with different paper attributes on the top surface is used. There is also a demand for optimal image formation that matches the paper attributes.

  Conventionally, when this type of paper is stored in a paper feeder and duplex printing is performed, it is common to perform image formation by applying the same paper attributes on the front and back sides, and not necessarily on the front and back sides. In addition, there is a problem in that it is impossible to form an optimal image suitable for the paper attribute of each side.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, identifies paper that cannot be printed on both sides and paper that can be printed, and feeds various attributes of the paper so that an optimum image can be formed on each side of each side. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can be accurately and easily set in association with the apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 has one or a plurality of paper feeding devices for accommodating paper, accepts a print instruction, and feeds paper corresponding to the paper type specified by the print instruction. In an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing for feeding a sheet from the apparatus and forming an image on the sheet, images corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the sheet stored in the sheet feeding apparatus in association with the sheet feeding apparatus An operating condition setting means for setting an operating condition of the image forming unit at the time of the forming process, the setting of the operating condition corresponding to the front surface of the paper stored in the paper feeding device in association with the paper feeding device, and the back surface corresponding to the back surface and operating conditions invalidation means for setting whether to set the operating conditions or invalid, respectively to enable, when receiving a double-sided printing instruction, feeding instrumentation corresponding to the sheet type designated by the double-sided printing instruction On the surface of the setting of the associated operating conditions sheet, or a back both valid, determining means for determining setting of the operation conditions of the at least one surface of the paper is invalid, by the determination means of the sheet If it is determined that the setting of the operating condition is valid for both the front and back surfaces, the paper is fed from the paper feeding device based on the operating condition of the front side and the back side of the paper for which the setting is determined to be valid. against the front and back of the paper was, by operating the image forming unit performs a control for forming an image by operating condition corresponding respectively to each surface, the setting of the operating condition of at least one surface of the sheet by said determining means If it is determined to be invalid, the one-sided printing operation based on the operating conditions for the determined surface and setting of the operating condition of the paper is valid, and the surface, the set of the operating conditions on the back both effective Characterized by comprising a control means for selectively carrying out one of a plurality of invalid settings when adaptive operation including a hold action to hold the double-sided printing instruction until it is determined that there.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the invention described in claim 1, wherein said operating condition setting unit sets the front and back separately the operating condition of the paper, the operating condition invalidation unit, the operating conditions Based on the operation condition set by the setting means, a setting is made to validate the operation condition setting corresponding to the front side and the back side of the sheet .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the operation condition setting means sets an operation condition for only one of the operation condition corresponding to the front surface of the paper and the operation condition corresponding to the back surface. The operation condition validity / invalidity setting unit is configured to make the setting for validating the operation condition corresponding to only one side of the sheet based on the operation condition set by the operation condition setting unit .

The invention of claim 4, wherein, in the invention described in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the operating condition invalidation means, when only the operating conditions one side of the sheet is set, the operation condition setting It is applied as the operating conditions of the other surface operating conditions the operating conditions are not set in by the surface and performing setting to enable the setting of the operating conditions of the other surface.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the determination unit determines that the setting of the operation condition on at least one side of the sheet is invalid. And a warning notification means for notifying a warning that the operation condition setting associated with the paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type designated by the double-sided printing instruction is invalid.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is selected whether or not to issue the warning when the setting of the operating condition of at least one side of the paper is invalid when the double-sided printing instruction is received. A warning notification selection setting unit that sets the warning notification, and controls whether or not to perform the warning notification by the warning notification unit according to the setting by the warning notification selection setting unit.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means performs the one-sided printing operation, the holding operation, or the acceptance as the invalid setting adaptive operation. One of the invalid operations for invalidating the double-sided printing instruction is selectively performed.

The invention according to claim 8 has one or a plurality of paper feeding devices for accommodating paper, receives a printing instruction, and feeds paper from a paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type specified by the printing instruction. In the control method of an image forming apparatus that performs an image forming process for forming an image on the paper, the image at the time of the image forming process corresponding to the front surface and the back surface of the paper stored in the paper feeding device in association with the paper feeding device. The operating condition of the forming unit is set by the operating condition setting means, and the setting of the operating condition corresponding to the front surface of the paper stored in the paper feeding device and the setting of the operating condition corresponding to the back surface are associated with the paper feeding device. or disable each be enabled to set the operating conditions invalidation unit receives a duplex print instruction, associated with the sheet feeding device corresponding to the designated paper type by double-sided printing instruction Surface setting of the operation conditions of the paper was either a back surface both valid and operating conditions of at least one surface of the paper is determined by the determination means or disabled, the surface of the sheet by said determining means, When it is determined that the setting of the operation condition is valid for both the back side and the back side, the sheet fed from the paper feeding device based on the operation condition for the front side and the back side of the sheet for which the setting is determined to be valid Configuring against the front and rear surfaces, carries out the control means control by operating the image forming unit forming an image by operating condition corresponding respectively to each surface, by the determination means operating conditions of at least one surface of the sheet When it is determined to be invalid, the one-sided printing operation based on the operating conditions for the determined surface and setting of the operating condition of the paper is valid, and the surface, the set of the operating conditions on the back both Characterized by selectively performed by the control means to one of a plurality of invalid settings when adaptive operation including a hold action to hold the double-sided printing instruction until it is determined to be effective.

  According to the present invention, setting instructions by the user for the paper attributes of the front surface and the back surface of the paper accommodated in the paper feeding device are input by the attribute setting instruction input means, and are accommodated in the paper feeding device based on the inputted setting instructions. After setting the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute of the paper by the attribute setting means, the front side and the back side of the paper fed from the paper feeder based on the enabled front side paper attribute and back side paper attribute Each of which controls the formation of images.

  According to this configuration, when the user inputs a setting instruction for a single-sided paper attribute (front side paper attribute or reverse side paper attribute) desired to be printed on paper that cannot be printed on both sides accommodated in the paper feeding device, the input setting is performed. Since the setting of the paper attribute of the corresponding side (one side) of the paper stored in the paper feeding device based on the instruction is set to be effective, the paper is then removed from the paper feeding device determined as the paper feeding source in response to the printing instruction. When paper is fed and printed, it is possible to recognize that the paper accommodated in the paper feeder cannot be double-sided printing from the single-sided paper attribute that is effectively set, and that the setting is not possible. An optimal image can be formed only on the corresponding side (one side) based on the sheet attribute of the one side.

  Further, according to the above configuration, when the user inputs a setting instruction for the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute of the double-sided printable paper stored in the paper supply device, the user stores the paper in the paper supply device based on the input setting instruction. Since the paper attribute settings for the front and back sides of the paper to be printed are set to be effective, when the paper is fed from the paper feeding device determined as the paper feeding source in response to the printing instruction and then printed, It can be recognized from the front and back side paper attributes that are effectively set for the double-sided printable paper stored in the apparatus that the paper can be printed on both sides. By performing image formation based on the paper attribute of the corresponding surface, it is possible to realize double-sided printing in which optimal image formation is performed on each surface.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a print control apparatus 30, an image reading apparatus 40, and information processing apparatuses 50-1 to 50-n via a network 20.

  Here, the print control apparatus 30 performs print control of various documents using the image forming apparatus 10 and constitutes a print server.

  The image reading apparatus 40 reads an image to be printed using the image forming apparatus 10 and is configured as a network scanner.

  The information processing apparatuses 50-1 to 50-n perform processing of a document to be printed using the image forming apparatus 10. For example, each user's personal computer (PC) corresponds to this.

  Here, the print control device 30, the image reading device 40, and the information processing devices 50-1 to 50-n are user interfaces for inputting instructions for setting paper attributes of each paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention. Each part (not shown).

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a user interface unit 11, a control unit 12, and an image forming unit 13.

  Here, the user interface unit 11 is used to input a sheet attribute setting instruction for each paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Further, the control unit 12 controls the image forming unit 13, and instructs the setting of the paper attributes of each paper feed tray from the user interface unit 11, the print control device 30, the image reading device 40, and the information processing device 50-1. 50 to n, a setting instruction input unit 121 for inputting a sheet attribute setting instruction for each sheet feeding tray. Based on the setting instruction input by the setting instruction input unit 121, the sheet attribute setting for each sheet feeding tray is enabled. The sheet attribute setting unit 122 is provided.

  The image forming control unit 13 also includes a plurality of paper feed trays, that is, a paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1), a paper feed tray 131b (paper feed tray 2), a paper feed tray 131c (paper feed tray 3), A tray open / close detection unit 140 that includes a paper feed tray 131d (paper feed tray 4) and detects the opening / closing of each paper feed tray 131 (131a, 131b, 131c, 131d) is provided.

  As described above, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 10 having one or a plurality of paper feeding apparatuses (paper feeding trays 131) for storing paper, and a user interface directly connected to the image forming apparatus 10 From the terminal 11 or another terminal such as the image reading apparatus 40 or the information processing apparatus 50 (50-1,..., 50-n) connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 20 or a dedicated line (not shown). Optimum images for paper fed from each paper feed tray 131 by reliably reflecting the user's instruction for the attributes of the paper stored in each paper feed tray 131 to the actual paper attributes of each paper feed tray 131. It is possible to form.

  In particular, in the image forming apparatus 10 of the present invention, the paper stored in each paper feed tray 131 from the user interface unit 11 or the user interface unit of another terminal (print control device 30, image reading device 40, information processing device 50, etc.). As the attribute of the paper, the paper attribute on the front side and the paper attribute on the back side of the paper can be set separately or only on one side, so that the paper that cannot be printed on both sides, such as an OHP sheet or a backing paper, only on one side, Paper that can be printed on both sides is designed so that an optimum image can be formed on each side of each side.

  When the user specifies the attributes of the paper stored in each paper feed tray 131 from the user interface unit 11 directly connected to the image forming apparatus 10 or the user interface unit of another terminal, the paper is stored in each paper feed tray 131. There is a case where the timing of the user instruction and the timing of the user instruction are different.

That is, in such a case,
1) When a paper attribute setting instruction is issued using the user interface unit 11 or another terminal after opening and closing the paper feed tray 131 to accommodate paper 2) Paper attributes using the user interface unit 11 or other terminal After setting instructions, when opening and closing the paper feed tray 131 to store paper,
3) In some cases, after the paper feed tray 131 is opened to store paper, the user interface unit 11 or another terminal is used to instruct paper attribute setting, and then the paper feed tray 131 is closed.

  In the case of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention, after the opening / closing detection unit 140 detects the opening / closing of the paper feed tray 131 in the case 1), for example, the setting of the sheet attribute from the user interface unit 11 is completed. In the case of 2) above, by setting the paper feed tray 131 to the unusable state until, for example, after the setting of the paper attribute from the user interface unit 11 is started, By setting the paper feed tray 131 to the unusable state until the opening / closing is detected by the tray open / close detection unit 140, and in the case of 3), the opening of the paper feed tray 131 is detected as the tray open / close detection. Until the closing of the paper feed tray 131 is detected by the tray open / close detection unit 140 after the detection by the unit 140. By setting, the timing for storing the paper in the paper feed tray 131 and the timing for setting various attributes corresponding to the paper from the user interface unit 11 or other terminals are matched to each other. By making it possible to guarantee the consistency with the paper attributes of the paper set in the paper tray 131 as much as possible, there may be a period in which the paper and the various attributes set for the paper do not match, or the user may For example, a state in which the setting is forgotten and the disagreement continues does not occur, so that an optimal image formation control cannot be performed and a paper jam or image quality failure may not occur.

  Each of the following embodiments is based on the case of 1) above (when a paper attribute setting instruction is given using the user interface unit 11 or another terminal after the paper feed tray 131 is opened and closed to accommodate paper). The sheet attribute setting process in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing relating to paper attribute setting in the control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, during the series of processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, in steps S104 to S108, it is possible to set the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute corresponding to the front and back sides of the paper stored in each paper feed tray 131. It is characterized by doing.

  In this case, description will be made on the assumption that the sheet attribute setting instruction is performed using the user interface unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the processing of FIG. 2, the control unit 12 monitors the output of the tray open / close detection unit 140 of the image forming unit 13 and first checks whether any of the paper feed trays 131 a to 131 d of the image forming unit 13 has been opened or closed. (Step 101).

  If none of the paper feed trays 131a to 131d is opened or closed (NO in step 101), the process returns to step 101, but if any of the paper feed trays 131a to 131d is opened or closed (in step 101). Next, it is checked whether or not the paper feed tray 131 in which the opening / closing is detected is set when a paper attribute setting request is made (step 102).

  That is, in this embodiment, using a paper attribute setting request setting screen 300 as shown in FIG. 3, a paper attribute setting instruction is issued when the tray is opened / closed corresponding to the paper feed trays 131 a to 131 d of the image forming unit 13. It is configured so that whether or not to request the user can be set in advance.

  This paper attribute setting request setting screen 300 is displayed on the user interface unit 11 when a paper attribute setting request is set.

  In the paper attribute setting request setting screen 300 shown in FIG. 3, for example, for the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) and paper feed tray 131b (paper feed tray 2), a paper attribute setting instruction is given when the tray is opened and closed. Is requested from the user, and for the paper feed tray 131c (paper feed tray 3) and the paper feed tray 131d (paper feed tray 4), the user does not request a paper attribute setting instruction when the tray is opened or closed. Selects “request” for the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) and paper feed tray 131b (paper feed tray 2), and feeds the paper feed tray 131c (paper feed tray 3) and paper feed tray 131d ( This setting is made by selecting “not required” for the paper feed tray 4) and pressing the “OK” button 301.

  Here, the request setting of the paper attribute setting is set to “no request” for a paper feed tray that always stores paper with the same paper attribute, and a paper with a different paper attribute is stored each time the tray is opened and closed. It is set to “Request” for a paper feed tray that may be used.

  In a state where this setting has been made, for example, when opening / closing of the paper feed tray 131c (paper feed tray 3) is detected in step 101, the paper feed tray 131c (paper feed tray 3) is "not required". Since it is set, it is determined in step 102 that the paper feed tray is not set to the paper attribute setting request (NO in step 102). In this case, this process is terminated as it is.

  Further, for example, when the opening / closing of the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) is detected in step 101, the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) is set to “request”. In step 102, it is determined that the paper feed tray is set to the paper attribute setting request (YES in step 102).

  In this case, the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) is set to an unusable state (step 103), and the paper attribute setting selection screen 310 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the user interface unit 11 (step 104).

  The paper attribute setting selection screen 310 displays a message “Tray 1 has been opened and closed. Please set paper attributes.” 311 prompting the user to set the paper attributes for the opened and closed paper tray 131a (paper tray 1). “Front side paper attribute setting” button 312 for instructing to select the setting of the front side attribute (front side paper attribute) and “back side” for instructing to select the setting of the back side attribute (back side paper attribute) of the paper A “paper attribute setting” button 313 and a “close” button 314 for instructing to end the display of the screen are displayed.

  When the “close” button 314 is pressed on the paper attribute setting selection screen 310, the paper attribute setting selection screen 310 is closed.

  On the other hand, when the “front paper attribute setting” button 312 is pressed on the paper attribute setting selection screen 310, the front paper attribute setting screen 320a shown in FIG. 5A is displayed (step S105).

  On the front surface paper attribute setting screen 320a, setting values of the paper attributes of the front surface of the paper previously stored in the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1), for example, “2nd BTB voltage = 50%”, “paper curl” Amount = type E6 ”,“ NIP voltage = 30 pulses ”, and“ air assist operation = activate ”are displayed.

  Here, when the front paper attribute of each item is used as it is, the front paper attribute is left as it is. When the front paper attribute is changed, the front paper attribute of a desired item is changed to a desired value, and the opposite is performed. Determines whether to set the back side paper attribute that is the side.

  If it is not necessary to set the back side paper attribute, the “OK” button 321a is pressed in this state. If it is necessary to set the back side paper attribute, the “opposite side” button 322a is pressed.

  When the “opposite side” button 322a is pressed on the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a, a back side paper attribute setting screen 320b shown in FIG. 5B is displayed (step S105).

  On the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b, the attribute values of the paper attributes of the back side of the paper previously stored in the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1), for example, “2nd BTB voltage = 150%”, “paper curl” “Amount = type E5”, “NIP voltage = 30 pulses”, and “air assist operation = no operation” are displayed.

  Here, if the back side paper attributes of these items are used as they are, they are left as they are. If the back side paper attributes are to be changed, the back side paper attribute of the desired item is changed to a desired value, and then the front side paper is used. Decide whether to set (modify) attributes.

  If it is not necessary to set (correct) the back side paper attribute, the “OK” button 321b is pressed in this state. If it is necessary to set (correct) the front side paper attribute, the “opposite side” button 322b is pressed. Press to reset (correct) the front paper attribute in a state where the front paper attribute setting screen 320a is switched and displayed.

  Similarly, the “set back side paper attribute” button 313 is pressed on the paper attribute setting selection screen 310 shown in FIG. 4 to display the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b shown in FIG. 5B (step S105). After setting the attributes, it is also possible to switch the display of the front sheet attribute setting screen 320a shown in FIG. 5A by pressing the “opposite side” button 322b (step S105) and set the front sheet attributes.

  When the “OK” button 322a or 322b is pressed on the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a or the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b, the setting content of the front side paper attribute or the setting content of the back side paper attribute at that time is set as a setting designation input. A notification is sent from the setting instruction input unit 121 to the paper attribute setting unit 122.

  The setting instruction input unit 121 continues the process (step S106) of accepting the input of the front and back side paper attribute setting instructions while switching and displaying the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a and the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b (step S105). Then, the paper attribute setting unit 122 checks whether or not there is an instruction (depression of the “decision” buttons 321a and 321b) to confirm the setting instruction input on the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a and the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b (step 107).

  Here, if there is an instruction to confirm the setting instruction input (YES in step 107), the sheet attribute setting unit 122 displays the front sheet attribute of each item for which the setting instruction has been input on the front sheet attribute setting screen 320a, and Paper attribute setting processing is performed to validate the back paper attribute of each item for which a setting instruction has been input on the back paper attribute setting screen 320b (step 108).

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 cancels the unusable state of the paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1) set in step 103 (step 109), performs a paper attribute setting notification (step 110), and The process ends.

  The paper attribute setting notification in step 110 can be realized by displaying, for example, a paper attribute setting confirmation screen 330 shown in FIG.

  In the paper attribute setting confirmation screen 330 shown in FIG. 6, “paper attribute of tray 1 has been set” is displayed indicating that the paper attribute of the paper feed tray 1 has been set. This paper attribute setting confirmation screen 330 is closed by pressing a “close” button 331.

  In the present embodiment, the setting status (set / not set) of the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute may be displayed separately on the paper attribute setting confirmation screen 330.

  Further, for example, a method of displaying the setting contents of the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B as they are on the paper attribute setting confirmation screen 330 is also conceivable.

  Through the series of processing shown in FIG. 2, the setting instruction for the front side paper attribute and the rear side paper attribute for the corresponding paper feed tray 1 input using the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a and the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b is set to valid. After that, image formation, paper control, air blowing, and the like in the image forming unit 13 are controlled at the time of printing on each corresponding side based on the enabled front surface paper attribute and back surface paper attribute. This print control will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the instruction for setting the paper attributes (front side paper attribute / back side paper attribute) is performed using the user interface unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 has been described. The same configuration can be made when using the user interface unit of the control device 30, the image reading device 40, and the information processing devices 50-1 to 50-n.

  In this embodiment, in the paper attribute processing after the paper attribute setting screen 310 is displayed by opening and closing the paper feed tray 131, the front-side paper attribute setting screen 320 a and the back-side paper attribute setting screen 320 B are displayed from the user interface unit 11. The front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute are separately used to input setting instructions separately for the front side and the back side, and the corresponding paper attributes are set to be effective for the front side and the back side separately based on the input setting instructions. Using either the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a or the back side paper attribute setting screen 320B, a setting instruction for only one side of the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute is input, and the paper is based on the input setting instruction. It goes without saying that the paper attribute corresponding to only one side can be set effectively.

  In this case, the back side paper attribute is set even though the front side paper attribute is not set, or conversely, the front side paper attribute is set even though the back side paper attribute is not set. Can happen.

  Under such a setting condition, for example, when a single-sided printing instruction is accepted, when the front side paper attribute is not set and the back side paper attribute is set when the front side paper attribute is set, the back side paper attribute is set to the front side. Set (apply) to the paper attribute of, or if the back side paper attribute is not set and the front side paper attribute is set, set the front side paper attribute to the back side paper attribute (apply) A simple processing function (see single-sided printing processing in FIG. 13) may be provided.

  In this way, when the paper attribute is set for only one side of the paper, the single side paper attribute for which the paper attribute is set is applied as the paper attribute for the other side for which the paper attribute is not set. In the single-sided printing process shown in FIG. 4, smooth single-sided printing can be realized by applying the paper attribute of the set face when the paper attribute of the face instructed to print is not set.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, the user interface unit 11 or other terminal of the image forming apparatus 10 is opened after the paper feed tray 131 is opened and closed to accommodate paper. This embodiment has a processing function related to the paper attribute setting of the control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 in the case where an instruction to set paper attributes (front side paper attribute / back side paper attribute) is issued using the user interface unit. In particular, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the printing surface attribute can be set as one piece of information on the front surface paper attribute and the back surface paper attribute.

  The paper attribute setting process in this embodiment is basically realized by a flow of processing (see FIG. 2) similar to that in the first embodiment.

  However, in this embodiment, during the series of processes shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed tray 131 whose opening / closing is detected in step S <b> 101 is set in an unusable state in step S <b> 103, and then in step S <b> 104, the sheet attribute is displayed in the user interface unit 11. When the setting selection screen 310 (see FIG. 4) is displayed, when the “front paper attribute setting” button 312 is pressed on the paper attribute setting selection screen 310, the front paper attribute setting screen shown in FIG. When 320c is displayed and the “set back side paper attribute” button 313 is pressed, a front side paper attribute setting screen 320d shown in FIG. 7B is displayed.

  Here, the front side paper attribute setting screen 320c is provided with a field for setting a printing surface attribute as one of the front side paper attributes in the front side paper attribute setting screen 320a in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5A). Also, similarly, the back side paper attribute setting screen 320d is provided with a column for setting the print side attribute as one of the back side paper attributes in the back side paper attribute setting screen 320b in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5B). It is.

  Here, the printing surface attribute enables or disables the setting of the paper attribute of each item (2nd BTB voltage, paper curl amount, NIP voltage, air assist operation, etc.) that has already been instructed for the corresponding surface. It is used as information to specify whether to do.

  This print surface attribute has a mechanism that allows the user to specify whether to enable or disable the paper attribute of the corresponding surface. When the print surface attribute is set to valid, the print surface attribute is displayed on the screen together with the print surface attribute. Each paper attribute setting instruction input entered in the corresponding column of the paper is input to the paper attribute setting unit 122, and a paper attribute setting process for enabling the setting of each of the paper attributes for the surface is performed. When the printing surface attribute is set to be invalid, an instruction to cancel the setting instruction input of each paper attribute input in the corresponding column on the screen together with the printing surface attribute is input to the paper attribute setting unit 122, A process for invalidating the setting of each of the sheet attributes is performed on the side of the sheet.

  Accordingly, for example, while the front side paper attribute setting screen 320c shown in FIG. 7A is being displayed, the paper attributes of the respective items of 2nd BTB voltage, paper curl amount, NIP voltage, and air assist operation are input in the corresponding columns. In this state, the user can set all the input paper attributes at once by setting the printing surface attribute of the surface to be valid.

  In addition, while the back side paper attribute setting screen 320d shown in FIG. 7B is being displayed, the paper attributes of the respective items of the 2nd BTB voltage, the paper curl amount, the NIP voltage, and the air assist operation are being input in the corresponding columns. When the user sets the printing surface attribute of the surface to be invalid, the input sheet attributes can be invalidated collectively.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the setting instruction for the front side and the back side of the print side attribute that specifies whether the paper attribute of the corresponding side is enabled or disabled is input, and the input is enabled. Based on the setting instruction of the printing surface attribute that instructs that, the paper attribute of the corresponding surface is set to be valid at once, and the paper attribute of the corresponding surface is collectively set based on the setting instruction of the printing surface attribute that instructs to disable it. By setting it to invalid, it becomes possible to easily set the paper attributes of the front and back surfaces.

  As described above, based on the setting for enabling the printing surface attribute on the front surface paper attribute setting screen 320c and the back surface paper attribute setting screen 320d, the front surface paper attribute and the back surface paper attribute of the paper stored in the corresponding paper feed tray 131 are enabled. After this, as in the first embodiment, the front side paper attribute, the back side, etc., in which image formation, paper control, air blowing, etc. in the image forming unit 13 for the paper fed from the paper feed tray 131 are enabled. Control is performed at the time of printing on each side based on the paper attributes (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

  In the third embodiment, similarly to the first and second embodiments, in the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, after the paper feed tray 131 is opened and closed to store paper, the user interface unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 or The processing related to the paper attribute setting of the control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 in the case where a paper attribute setting instruction is given using the user interface unit of another terminal is shown in this embodiment. This is different from the processing of the first and second embodiments in that the instruction is performed by the paper ID.

  In the following description of this embodiment, a case where a paper attribute setting instruction is performed using the user interface unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. The same configuration can be made when using the user interface units of the device 40 and the information processing devices 50-1 to 50-n.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing relating to paper attribute setting of the control unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 according to the third exemplary embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the processes of steps S201 to S203, steps S207 and S208 are the same as the processes of steps S101 to S103 and steps S109 and S110 in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the paper attribute setting process corresponding to steps S104 to S107 in FIG. 1 is performed in steps S204 to S206. In this case, the paper feed tray 131 opened and closed in step 201 cannot be used in step S203. After the status is set, the tray paper setting screen 340 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the user interface unit 11 instead of the paper attribute setting selection screen 310 shown in FIG. 4 (step 204), and the tray paper setting screen 340 is displayed. The instruction for setting paper attributes is input using.

  In the tray paper setting screen 340 of this example, when setting the opened and closed paper feed tray 131a (paper feed tray 1), the paper stored in the paper feed tray 1 is selected by the number buttons “1” to “12” ( Step S205).

  In the tray paper setting screen 340 shown in FIG. 9, by pressing the number button “6” and pressing the “OK” button 341, the paper corresponding to the number button “6” is selected, and the number button “6” is selected. Correspondingly, the front sheet attribute setting screen 320e shown in FIG. 10A including the sheet attributes of the sheet stored in advance is opened.

  When the “opposite side” button 322e is pressed on the front side paper attribute setting screen 320e, a back side paper attribute setting screen 320f shown in FIG. 10A is displayed. When the “” button 322 f is pressed, the display returns to the display of the back side paper attribute setting screen 320 f shown in FIG.

  The user operates the front paper attribute setting screen 320e and the back paper attribute setting screen 320f in the same manner as the front paper attribute setting screen 320c and the back paper attribute setting screen 320d in FIG. An instruction for setting an attribute or a back side paper attribute can be input.

  When the “OK” buttons 321e and 321f are pressed on the front paper attribute setting screen 320e and the back paper attribute setting screen 320f, the display of the user interface unit 11 is returned to the tray paper setting screen 340 in FIG.

  Next, when the “OK” button 341 is pressed on the tray paper setting screen 340 (YES in step S205), an instruction to set the paper attribute of the paper corresponding to the number button “6” is given to the paper feed tray 1. In the paper attribute setting unit 122 to which this setting instruction is input, the sheet of the number button “6” is associated with the paper tray 1 based on the input setting instruction, and the sheet of the number button “6” is further attached to the front surface. Paper attribute setting processing is performed for associating the front side paper attribute and the back side paper attribute corresponding to the setting instruction contents on the paper attribute setting screen 320e and the back side paper attribute setting screen 320f and setting them effectively (step S206).

  According to the configuration of the third embodiment, if the paper attributes are set in advance on the front surface, the back surface, or both surfaces corresponding to various papers stored in the paper feed tray 131, the paper in the paper feed tray 131 is changed. Therefore, it is possible to easily instruct setting of the paper attributes (front side paper attribute / back side paper attribute) simply by selecting the paper number associated with the paper feed tray 131.

  In the first to third embodiments, the attribute setting instruction using the user interface unit 11 may be received only when any of the paper feed trays 131 is opened and closed.

  Further, when the paper feed tray is opened and closed, the paper attribute of the paper stored in the paper feed tray is detected, and all or part of the attribute setting instruction using the user interface unit 11 and the detected paper attribute is detected. Only when they are different, an attribute setting instruction using the user interface unit 11 may be accepted.

  In the paper attribute setting method according to the third embodiment, a paper is represented by a unique identifier, and a paper attribute setting instruction input stage (shown in FIG. 11) is used to instruct a user to set a paper attribute group represented by the identifier in association with the identifier. In the first stage), an identifier associated with a paper attribute group in the paper attribute setting instruction input stage is associated with the paper feed tray 131, whereby a paper feed paper setting for instructing setting of the paper stored in the paper feed tray 131 is performed. It can be said that this is a method of setting the paper attributes of the paper stored in the paper feed tray 131 through the instruction stage (second stage shown in FIG. 11).

  According to the paper attribute setting method of this embodiment, after the paper attribute setting instruction input step and the paper feed paper setting instruction step, the paper attribute setting unit 122 finally has a configuration as shown in FIG. Content paper attribute data 125 is set.

  According to the setting example of the sheet attribute data 125 shown in FIG. 11, the identifier of the sheet accommodated in each sheet tray 131 is associated, and the surface of the sheet and the sheet The contents are associated with the paper attribute values on the back side.

  In this way, a sheet identification sheet is associated with each sheet feed tray 131, and a sheet attribute (sheet attribute data 125) formed by associating each sheet identifier with a sheet attribute value for each front and back of each sheet. In the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 12 is further associated with the identifier of the sheet associated with the sheet feed tray 131 when forming an image on the sheet fed from the sheet feed tray 131 (on both sides and The image formation is performed based on paper attributes (printing control parameters).

  Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described as an example, and the image forming control operation based on the sheet attribute by the control unit 12 will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the image forming processing operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment.

  In FIG. 12, the control unit 12 displays, for example, what (print target image data) and how many copies (number of print copies) from other terminals (information processing devices 50-1 to 50 n) connected to the image forming apparatus 10 over the network. ), It is monitored whether or not a print instruction including an instruction item such as which paper (printing paper type) and on which side [printing side (double-sided or single-sided printing)] is received (step S301).

  Here, when a printing instruction is received (YES in step S301), the control unit 12 analyzes the contents of the printing instruction (step S302), and determines, for example, a sheet feeding tray 131 as a sheet feeding source from the type of printing sheet (step S302). After step S303), the paper attribute set for the paper feed tray 131 is acquired from the paper attribute setting unit 122 (step S304).

  Next, the control unit 12 checks whether or not the printing surface designated by the printing instruction received in step S301 is double-sided (step S305). If the printing surface is not a double-sided printing instruction (NO in step S305), FIG. The process proceeds to the single-sided printing process (step S330) showing details.

  On the other hand, if it is a double-sided printing instruction (YES in step S305), the control unit 12 then selects a sheet associated with the sheet feed tray 131 among the sheet attributes set in the sheet attribute setting unit 122. It is checked whether the print surface attribute is set (valid) for both sides as the paper attribute (step 3206).

  If the printing surface attribute is set to be valid for both sides (YES in step S306), the control unit 12 starts paper feeding from the paper feed tray 131 determined in step S303 (step S321). Then, the image data of the first page is printed on the surface of the paper being fed according to the front paper attribute set corresponding to the paper feed tray 131 (step S322), and then the paper is reversed and conveyed (step S322). In step S323), the second page image data is printed on the back side of the paper being fed in accordance with the back side paper attribute set corresponding to the paper feed tray 131 (step S324). The paper is discharged to the discharge unit and the processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the printing surface attribute is not set to be effective for both sides, that is, when it is not set for either the front side or the back side, or when only one of them is set (step S306 NO). Then, the control unit 12 checks whether or not execution of the printing surface attribute invalid warning notification is set (step S307).

  Here, when it is set to perform the warning notification (YES in step S307), the control unit 12 displays, for example, a warning display screen 350 as shown in FIG. 14 on the user interface unit 11 (step S308).

  The warning display screen 350 indicates that the printing surface attribute is disabled, “The specified tray has a printing surface disabled.” Whether each surface is enabled or disabled. Is displayed, and the warning display screen 350 is closed by pressing a “close” button 351.

  Whether or not the printing surface attribute is set to invalid at the time of receiving the double-sided printing instruction (whether the printing surface is invalid) is to be performed using the warning display screen 350 shown in FIG. Can be set in advance by the user interface unit 11 using, for example, a warning display selection screen 360 shown in FIG.

  On the warning display selection screen 360, the user can set the warning display by pressing the “OK” button 361 after pressing the “Yes” button 362 regarding the warning display selection at the time of duplex printing designation. By pressing the “No” button 363 and then pressing the “Determine” button 361, it can be set not to display the warning.

  After warning that the printing surface attribute is invalid on the warning display screen 350 (step S308) or when the warning display is not set (NO in step S307), the control unit 12 displays the printing surface attribute. The operation setting at the time of invalidation (adaptive operation setting at the time of invalid printing surface) is checked (step S309).

  As a specific example, here, as the adaptive operation when the printing surface attribute is invalid, the control unit 12 determines whether to disable the double-sided printing instruction, to suspend, or to automatically perform single-sided printing. To check.

  If it is set to invalidate the double-sided printing instruction (invalid in step S310), for example, control is performed to invalidate the double-sided printing instruction (step S311), for example, immediately after that, the operation is terminated.

  Further, when it is set to hold the double-sided printing instruction (holding in step S310), for example, the user interface unit 11 is prompted to promptly set the double-sided printing side attribute, Thus, control is performed to put the double-sided printing instruction on hold (step S312), such as restarting double-sided printing when the double-sided printing surface attribute is enabled.

  If automatic single-sided printing is set (single-sided printing in step S310), paper is sequentially fed from the paper feed tray 131 determined in step S303, and double-sided printing instruction is given to each paper. Control is performed to sequentially print the image data of each page on one side (step S313).

  The print control parameters for single-sided printing are controlled based on, for example, the paper attribute of the relevant side if there is a valid side, and based on the default paper attribute if both sides are set to invalid. You may make it control.

  Note that, for example, when the duplex printing instruction shown in FIG. 16 is specified in advance, which one of invalidation, hold, and automatic single-sided printing is to be handled with respect to the duplex printing instruction when the printing surface attribute is invalidated. Can be set by the user interface unit 11 using the output selection setting screen 370.

  On the output selection setting screen 370, the user selectively presses any one of the “invalid” button 372, the “hold” button 373, and the “automatic output” button 374 related to the output selection at the time of duplex printing designation, By pressing the “OK” button 371, it is possible to selectively set that the double-sided printing instruction is invalidated, the double-sided printing instruction is put on hold, and the single-sided printing is automatically output.

  During the series of processes shown in FIG. 12, if it is determined in step S305 that the print instruction is a single-sided print instruction (NO in step S305), the control unit 12 advances the process to single-sided printing. Step S330) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the single-sided printing process shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 12 first checks whether the printing surface designated by the single-sided printing instruction is the front side or the back side (step S321).

  If it is determined that the printing surface is the front surface (front surface in step S331), the control unit 12 refers to the setting content of the paper attribute data 125 shown in FIG. ) To check whether the printing surface attribute (front surface printing surface attribute) in the front surface paper attribute corresponding to the paper feeding tray 131 determined as the paper feeding source is valid (step S332). Is valid (YES in step S332), the front side paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for front side printing (step S335).

  If the front side printing surface attribute is invalid (NO in step S332), it is checked whether the printing side attribute (back side printing surface attribute) in the back side paper attribute corresponding to the paper feed tray 131 is valid (step S332). If the back side printing surface attribute is valid (YES in step S333), the back side paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for front side printing (step S335).

  If the back side printing surface attribute is invalid (NO in step S333), a default paper attribute is set (step S334), and the default paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for front side printing (step S335).

  After the paper attributes are determined as described above (step S335), the control unit 12 starts feeding paper from the paper feed tray 131 determined as the paper feed source in step S303 (see FIG. 12) (step S336). The image data is printed on the front side of the paper based on the paper attribute (front side paper attribute, back side paper attribute, or default paper attribute) determined in step S335 (step S337). Eject and finish the process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the printing surface is the back surface (back surface in step S331), the control unit 12 refers to the setting contents of the paper attribute data 125 shown in FIG. 11 to thereby perform step S303 (see FIG. 12). In step S341, it is checked whether or not the printing surface attribute (back surface printing surface attribute) in the back surface paper attribute corresponding to the paper feeding tray 131 determined as the paper feeding source is valid. If valid (YES in step S341), the back side paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for back side printing (step S344).

  If the reverse side print surface attribute is invalid (NO in step S341), it is checked whether the print side attribute (front side print surface attribute) in the front sheet attribute corresponding to the paper feed tray 131 is valid (step S341). If the front side printing surface attribute is valid (YES in step S342), the front side paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for back side printing (step S344).

  If the front side printing surface attribute is invalid (NO in step S342), a default paper attribute is set (step S343), and the default paper attribute is determined as a paper attribute used for back side printing (step S344).

  After the paper attributes are determined as described above (step S344), the control unit 12 starts feeding paper from the paper feed tray 131 determined as the paper feed source in step S303 (see FIG. 12) (step S345). The image is printed on the back side of the paper based on the paper attribute (back side paper attribute, front side paper attribute, or default paper attribute) determined in step S344 while the paper is further reversed and conveyed on the front side (step S346). The data is printed (step S247), and after the printing is completed, the paper is discharged to the discharge unit and the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the user interface unit 11 (or the network 20 or the dedicated line connected to the image forming apparatus 10) having the attributes of the respective items of the paper separately on the front and back sides of the sheet and directly connected to the image forming apparatus 10. Various attributes of the paper stored in each paper feed tray can be set separately on the front and back, or can be set only on one side from the image reading device 40 or other terminal such as the information processing device 50 connected in the above.

  According to such a configuration, when a sheet that cannot be printed on both sides (for example, an OHP sheet, a backing sheet, or a sheet that has already been printed on one side) is set in the paper feed tray, the sheet attribute of the sheet that is permitted to be printed (one side) is set. By accepting a setting instruction input by the user and validating the setting of the paper attribute of the surface (one side) of the paper set in the paper feed tray based on the input setting instruction, When the paper is fed from the paper feed tray for printing, the paper attribute is set (valid) only on one side as described above for the paper that cannot be duplex printed on the paper tray. It is possible to recognize that the paper is a paper that cannot be printed on both sides, and based on the set single-side paper attribute, the paper attribute is applied only to the corresponding side (one side) of the paper fed from the paper feed tray. Optimum image based can be formed.

  Thus, according to the present invention, when there is a duplex printing instruction for a paper feed tray on which an OHP sheet or backing paper is set, it is possible to prevent double-sided printing from being performed on the paper set in the paper feed tray. It is possible to avoid wasting paper and time for useless printing.

  Further, according to the above configuration of the present invention, when setting sheets that can be printed on both sides of the sheet feeding tray and have different sheet attributes on each side, the user inputs setting instructions for the sheet attributes relating to the front and back surfaces of the sheet. And enabling the setting of individual paper attributes for both sides of the paper set in the paper feed tray based on the input setting instruction, and then removing the paper from the paper feed tray based on the print instruction. When paper is fed and printed, it is recognized that the paper attributes are set (validated) separately for each side of the paper that can be printed on both sides and is printed on the paper tray. It is possible to recognize that the paper is possible, and by performing image formation based on the paper attributes of the respective surfaces on the front and back surfaces of the paper, it is based on the paper attributes of the surfaces corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the paper, respectively. Optimal image shape Can be realized duplex printing has been performed.

  As a result, in the present invention, even when paper that can be printed on both sides and has different printing attributes on each side is used, by applying different paper attributes on the back side and the front side, optimal image formation can be performed on each side. Yes.

  Further, according to the present invention, the front and back can be set separately as one of the various attributes of the paper, and it is designated collectively whether to enable or disable the various attributes of the paper that have already been instructed to set the set side. The printing surface attribute is used.

  According to the configuration of the present invention in which this print surface attribute is adopted as one of the various attributes of the paper, the print surface attribute is validated corresponding to each surface of the paper, and the setting instruction is given to the surface. Various other attributes of the paper can be set for the side at once, and if the print side attribute is disabled, all the attributes of the paper specified for the side are not set at once. Can be in a state (invalid).

  In the present invention, the user interface unit 11 directly connected to the image forming apparatus 10 (or another terminal such as the image reading apparatus 40 or the information processing apparatus 50 connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 20 or a dedicated line). The following control can be performed by referring to the print surface attribute when a double-sided print instruction is received from).

  For example, when a double-sided printing instruction is received, the printing surface attribute of the paper stored in the corresponding paper feed tray (the paper feeding source paper tray) for which the double-sided printing instruction has been made is set to valid or invalid. Control for notifying the fact that the printing surface attribute is invalid when it is determined that the printing surface attribute of at least one surface of the sheet is invalid. Can be done.

  Further, when it is determined that the printing surface attribute of at least one surface of the paper stored in the corresponding paper feed tray for which the double-sided printing instruction has been received is set to invalid when the double-sided printing instruction is received, the double-sided printing is performed. Adaptive control to disable or hold the instruction can be performed.

  In addition, when it is determined that the printing surface attribute of at least one side of the paper stored in the corresponding paper feed tray for which the double-sided printing instruction has been received is set to invalid when the double-sided printing instruction is received, Adaptive control that automatically executes single-sided printing can be performed.

  For each of these controls, whether or not warning notification is performed, whether or not double-sided printing instructions are invalidated or suspended, or whether or not automatic single-sided printing is performed is set in advance. It may be determined whether to perform automatic single-sided printing, or whether to make double-sided printing invalid or reserved.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented by being appropriately modified within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  For example, in the third embodiment, a sheet attribute setting instruction input process that represents a sheet with a unique identifier and instructs a user to set an attribute group on each side of the sheet represented by this identifier in association with the identifier; By associating the identifier with the paper feed tray, the paper feed paper setting instruction process for instructing setting of the paper to be accommodated in the paper feed tray, the paper feed tray, the paper (identifier) accommodated in the paper feed tray, and the A method of setting paper attributes by associating the various attributes of the front and back sides of a sheet having an identifier is adopted. In this case, the identifier of the sheet is the number exemplified in the third embodiment (FIG. 9). The value is not limited to the numerical value such as the button “6”. For example, a character string such as coated paper, uncoated paper, A company coated paper, B company uncoated paper, or an OHP sheet may be used.

  Further, under the control of the control unit 12, the user interface unit 11 (or another terminal such as the image reading apparatus 40 or the information processing apparatus 50 connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 20 or a dedicated line). Appropriate information notification means for notifying the user of various types of information by a method such as displaying notification information, and specific paper capable of detecting specific attributes (size, paper type, etc.) of the paper stored in the paper feed tray A sheet attribute associated by the sheet attribute setting instruction input process to the specific attribute detected by the detection means and the identifier associated with the sheet feed tray by the sheet feed sheet setting instruction process. The configuration may be such that when the specific attribute in the list does not match, the notification means notifies the user that the attribute does not match.

  Furthermore, when inputting image data to be printed into the image forming apparatus 10 by a print instruction operation from the user interface unit 11 or the like, a print instruction unit is provided for inputting a specific attribute used for printing the image data. In the paper attribute associated by the paper attribute setting instruction input process, the specific attribute input by the print instruction unit during the print instruction operation and the identifier associated with the paper feed tray by the paper feed paper setting instruction process If the specific attribute does not match, the user may be notified by the notification means that the attribute does not match.

  The present invention can be applied to all image forming apparatuses that have one or a plurality of paper feeding devices that store paper and perform an image forming process for forming an image on paper fed from the paper feeding device. When setting instructions for the front and rear paper attributes of the paper stored in the paper feeder are input, the settings for the front and rear paper attributes of the paper stored in the paper feeder based on the input setting instructions are enabled. By performing this processing, it is possible to set the association between the sheet feeding device and the sheet attribute for optimal image formation on each side only on one side of a sheet that cannot be printed on both sides and on both sides of the sheet that can be printed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet attribute setting process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a request setting screen for paper attribute setting. FIG. The figure which shows the example of a display of a paper attribute setting selection screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a front sheet attribute setting screen and a rear sheet attribute setting screen according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a paper attribute setting confirmation screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a front sheet attribute setting screen and a rear sheet attribute setting screen according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet attribute setting process of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display of a tray paper setting screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a front surface paper attribute setting screen and a back surface paper attribute setting screen according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of setting paper attribute data. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. The flowchart which shows the detailed flow of the single-sided printing process in FIG. The figure which shows the example of a display of a warning display screen. The figure which shows the example of a display of a warning display selection screen. The figure which shows the example of a display of the output selection setting screen at the time of duplex printing designation | designated.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 11 ... User interface part 12 ... Control part 121 ... Setting instruction | indication input part 122 ... Paper attribute setting part 125 ... Paper attribute data 13 ... Image forming part 131a ... Paper feed tray 1, 131b ... feed tray 2, 131c ... feed tray 3, 131d ... feed tray 4,140 ... tray open / close detection unit, 20 ... network, 30 ... print control device, 40 ... image reading device, 50-1, ..., 50-n ... Information processing device, 300 ... Request setting screen for paper attribute setting, 310 ... Paper attribute setting selection screen, 320a, 320c, 320e ... Front paper attribute setting screen, 320b, 320d, 320f ... Back side paper attribute setting screen, 330 ... Paper attribute setting confirmation screen, 340 ... Tray paper setting screen, 350 ... Warning display screen, 360 ... Warning display selection screen, 370 ... Both Printing is specified output selection setting screen

Claims (8)

An image that has one or a plurality of paper feeding devices that store paper, receives a print instruction, feeds paper from a paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type specified by the printing instruction, and forms an image on the paper In an image forming apparatus that performs a forming process,
An operation condition setting means for setting an operation condition of the image forming unit at the time of image forming processing corresponding to the front surface and the back surface of the paper stored in the paper supply device in association with the paper supply device ;
Operating conditions for setting whether to enable or disable the setting of the operating condition corresponding to the set and the rear surface of the operating conditions corresponding to the surface of the paper to be accommodated in the paper feeding device in association with the sheet feeding device, respectively Valid / invalid setting means,
When a double-sided printing instruction is received, whether the operating condition setting associated with the paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type specified by the double-sided printing instruction is valid for both the front and back sides of the paper, or at least one side of the paper Determining means for determining whether the setting of the operating condition is invalid ;
The surface of the sheet by determining means, the setting of the operating conditions on the back surface both are determined to be valid, the paper based on the operating conditions and the rear surface of the operating conditions of the determined surface of the paper and the set is valid against the paper device to the surface and the back surface of the fed sheet, by operating the image forming unit performs a control for forming an image by operating condition corresponding respectively to each surface, at least one surface of the sheet by said determining means of the setting of the operating condition is determined to be invalid, the one-sided printing operation based on the operating conditions for the setting of the operating condition is determined to be effective plane of the paper, and the surface, the operating conditions on the back both Control means for selectively performing any one of a plurality of invalid setting adaptive operations including a hold operation for holding a double-sided printing instruction until it is determined that the setting is valid. An image forming apparatus. The operating condition setting means includes
Set the operating conditions separately for the front and back sides of the paper ,
The operating condition valid / invalid setting means includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the performing setting to enable the setting of the front and back separately appropriate operating conditions of the paper on the basis of the operating condition set by the operation condition setting unit. The operating condition setting means includes
Set the operating conditions for only one of the operating conditions corresponding to the front and back sides of the paper ,
The operating condition valid / invalid setting means includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the performing setting to enable the setting of the operating condition that corresponds only one side of the sheet based on the set the operating condition by the operation condition setting unit. The operating condition valid / invalid setting means includes:
If only one side operating conditions of the sheet is set, the setting of the operating conditions of the other surface by applying the operating conditions of the surface on which operating conditions are set as the operating conditions of the other surface of the operating conditions is not set the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for setting to enable. If the setting of the operating condition of the at least one surface of the sheet is determined to be invalid by the determination means, invalid setting operating conditions associated with the sheet feeding apparatus corresponding to the sheet type designated by the double-sided printing instruction The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a warning notification unit that notifies a warning to the effect that Warning notification selection setting means for selectively setting whether or not to perform the warning notification when the setting of the operating condition of at least one side of the sheet is invalid when receiving the duplex printing instruction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein whether or not the warning notification is performed by the warning notification unit is controlled according to a setting by the warning notification selection setting unit. The control means includes
Any one of the single-sided printing operation, the holding operation, or the invalidating operation for invalidating the accepted double-sided printing instruction is selectively performed as the invalid setting adaptive operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image that has one or a plurality of paper feeding devices that store paper, receives a print instruction, feeds paper from a paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type specified by the printing instruction, and forms an image on the paper In a control method of an image forming apparatus that performs a forming process,
The operation condition setting means sets the operation conditions of the image forming unit at the time of image forming processing corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the paper stored in the paper supply device in association with the paper supply device ,
Or operating conditions Enabled Disabled to enable or disable the setting of the operating condition corresponding to the set and the rear surface of the operating conditions corresponding to the surface of the paper to be accommodated in the paper feeding device in association with the sheet feeding device, respectively Set by setting means,
When a double-sided printing instruction is received, whether the operating condition setting associated with the paper feeding device corresponding to the paper type specified by the double-sided printing instruction is valid for both the front and back sides of the paper, or at least one side of the paper It is determined by the determining means whether the setting of the operating condition is invalid ,
The surface of the sheet by determining means, the setting of the operating conditions on the back surface both are determined to be valid, the paper based on the operating conditions and the rear surface of the operating conditions of the determined surface of the paper and the set is valid against the front and back of the paper fed from the paper unit, together operates the image forming unit at each of each surface corresponding operating condition is performed by the control means the control of image forming, at least of the sheet by said determining means If it is determined that the setting of the operating condition of one side is invalid, the one-sided printing operation based on the operating condition for the side for which the setting of the operating condition of the paper is determined to be valid, and both the front and back sides selectively performed by the control means to one of a plurality of invalid settings when adaptive operation including the hold operation setting of said operating condition to hold the double-sided printing instruction until it is determined to be valid Method of controlling an image forming apparatus characterized by that.

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