JP5500918B2 - Image recording apparatus and control method of image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a control method therefor, and more particularly to a technique for feeding and discharging a recording medium on which an image recording apparatus performs image recording.

In an image recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile, after performing an image recording process on a recording medium, the recording medium is ejected and stacked on a storage tray.
At this time, if the recording medium is continuously discharged beyond the storage amount of the storage tray, a problem such as scattering of the recording medium without being stored in the storage tray occurs. In order to cope with this, in a general image recording apparatus, when the loading amount of the recording medium on the storage tray reaches a predetermined amount, this is detected by a detection sensor or the like, and the image is recorded until the recording medium on the storage tray is removed. Control such as stopping the recording process is performed.

  In Patent Document 1, a stacker is provided in the apparatus, and when the paper discharge tray is full, the discharged paper is temporarily discharged from the discharge tray to the in-machine stacker. A technique is disclosed in which time for removing the sheet of paper can be gained and the stop of the image recording process due to the paper discharge tray being full is prevented.

JP 2000-159418 A

  However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is assumed that a dedicated stacker is provided in the apparatus. This complicates the conveyance path of the recording medium and makes the apparatus large and expensive.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of continuing image recording without providing a special mechanism such as a stacker in the image recording apparatus, and a control method for the image recording apparatus.

  The image recording apparatus includes: a feeding unit that feeds a recording medium to the transport mechanism; and an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium transported by a transport mechanism based on job information from a host device; A storage tray that stores the recording medium, a discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the image recording has been performed from the transport mechanism, to the storage tray, and an amount of the recording medium stored in the storage tray is a certain value or more. A storage amount detection unit that detects whether or not the storage amount is detected, and a recording medium that changes a feeding interval at which the feeding unit feeds the recording medium when the storage amount detection unit detects an amount equal to or greater than a predetermined value of the recording medium A conveyance control unit.

  The control method of the image recording apparatus stores the recording medium on which the image recording is performed in the control method of the image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium transported by a transport mechanism based on job information from a host device. Detecting whether or not the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray exceeds a certain value, and when the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray becomes a certain value or more, feeding the recording medium to the transport mechanism The feeding interval is changed from the first feeding interval to a second feeding interval longer than the first feeding interval.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism, and even if the storage tray is almost full, the image recording process is not stopped, and the operator can easily remove the recording medium from the storage tray. Thus, an increase in recording processing time can be avoided.

It is a block diagram which shows the conceptual structure with which the image recording apparatus of the 1st and 2nd embodiment in this invention is provided. It is a figure which shows the notional structure about the feeding part, the conveyance mechanism, the image recording part, and the discharge part of the whole image recording apparatus of the 1st and 2nd embodiment in this invention. 6 is a timing chart for explaining an operation of a recording medium conveyance control unit of the image recording apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process of the image recording device 1 of 2nd Embodiment in this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, an example in which the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is configured as an ink jet type full-line image recording apparatus is described.

  In this image recording apparatus, a recording head in which a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection are formed in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to a conveyance direction (sub scanning direction) in which a recording medium is conveyed is in the sub scanning direction. Are arranged for each ink color. In such an image recording apparatus (color printer), a recording medium for performing a recording process is disposed opposite to a plurality of ink nozzles in a recording head, and ink of each color is ejected from the ink nozzles to the recording medium, thereby allowing characters and images to be printed. It is recorded.

  Note that the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is not limited to the ink jet type image recording apparatus, and any other recording unit such as a laser printer can be used as long as the image recording apparatus is a type that conveys a recording medium and records an image. An image recording apparatus may be used.

First, the configuration of the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the first and second embodiments. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conceptual configuration of the feeding unit 2, the transport mechanism 3, the image recording unit 6, and the discharge unit 9 in the entire image recording apparatus 1 of the first and second embodiments. .

In the following description, the conveyance direction of the recording medium is defined as the sub-scanning direction, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction is defined as the main scanning direction.
An image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 10 that controls the entire apparatus, a feeding unit 2 that feeds and transports a recording medium 13, and a transport mechanism that transports a recording medium delivered from the feeding unit 2. 3. At least an image recording unit 6 that records an image on a recording medium and a discharge unit 9 that discharges and stores the image-recorded recording medium are provided.

Each component of the image recording apparatus 1 described above will be described in more detail.
The control unit 10 includes an arithmetic processing unit such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) that controls the control functions and arithmetic functions of the entire image recording apparatus 1, and a control program and recording data for causing the MPU to perform control processing of the image recording apparatus 1. For example, the storage unit 11 is a non-volatile memory. The storage unit 11 stores a program of the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 that controls sheet conveyance according to the present embodiment as a part of the control program. The storage unit 11 also stores information necessary for recording medium conveyance control, for example, information such as the number of recordable recording media to be described later. The control unit 10 controls the feeding unit 2, the transport mechanism 3, the image recording unit 6, and the discharge unit 9 using control signals.

  The recording medium conveyance control unit 12 is not realized by a software method as described above, but is realized by a hardware method by combining a signal processing circuit controlled by the MPU of the control unit 10 with a logic circuit. May be.

  The feeding unit 2 contacts the feeding tray 2a for accommodating the recording medium 13 and the uppermost recording medium 13 accommodated in the feeding tray 2a to take out one sheet at a time from the feeding tray 2a. It is comprised by the feed drive part 2b delivered to. The feeding tray 2a is configured by a so-called feeding cassette or the like. Further, the feeding drive unit 2b is constituted by a feeding roller, for example.

The feeding medium detection unit 2c is configured by, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like, and detects the leading end of the recording medium 13 in the transport direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport mechanism 3 is provided with a transport surface facing the ink discharge ports of the plurality of recording heads 8. In the frame of the transport mechanism 3, a drive roller 14, a driven roller 15, and a transport drive unit 4 that rotates the drive roller 14 are disposed apart from each other in the sub-scanning direction, and an endless transport belt 16 rotates around these rollers. It is erected as possible. In the frame of the transport mechanism 3, a transport information generation unit 5 and at least one suction fan (not shown) are provided.

  The conveyance information generation unit 5 detects the movement state of the conveyance belt 16 and generates conveyance information such as conveyance timing. The conveyance information generation unit 5 includes an encoder, for example. A suction fan (not shown) is for generating a negative pressure and sucking and transporting the recording medium 13 onto the transport belt 16.

  In the image recording unit 6, a plurality of nozzles that eject ink are linearly arranged to exceed the maximum recording medium width based on the design, and the nozzles can be individually controlled by a drive signal from the recording head driving unit 7. Recording head 8 and a recording head that outputs to the recording head 8 a drive signal for individually driving each nozzle of the recording head 8 based on a control signal from the control unit 10 corresponding to the recording data received from the host apparatus 20. A drive unit 7 is provided.

  The discharge unit 9 is a discharge drive unit 9b that discharges the storage medium 13 that has been transported by the transport mechanism 3 and on which image recording has been performed by the image recording unit 6, and a discharge medium detection unit that detects an end of the discharged recording medium 13. 9c, a storage amount detection unit 9d that detects the stacking amount of the discharged recording medium 13, and a storage tray 9a that stores the discharged recording medium 13.

  The storage tray 9a is a so-called discharge tray or the like. The discharge drive unit 9b is constituted by, for example, a discharge roller. The discharged medium detection unit 9c is configured by, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like, and detects the rear end of the recording medium 13 in the transport direction. Of course, if necessary, the discharged medium detection unit 9c may be configured to detect the leading end of the recording medium 13.

  The storage amount detection unit 9d includes, for example, an optical transmission sensor, an optical reflection sensor, or a capacitance sensor, and the recording medium 13 stored in the storage tray 9a reaches the storage limit of the storage tray 9a. Detect whether or not you are approaching.

  The host apparatus 20 is connected to the image recording apparatus 1 via, for example, a LAN as an external device of the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The host apparatus 20 corresponds to an operator's computer that causes the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment to perform recording processing, and notifies the image recording apparatus 1 of job information as information relating to recording processing. The job information includes recording data used when recording processing is performed on the recording medium 13 and designation information on the number of recording media 13 when performing recording processing.

  When the job information is notified from the host device 20, the control unit 10 starts driving the transport belt 16 by rotating the drive roller 14 of the transport mechanism 3. Further, the controller 10 drives a suction fan (not shown) so that the recording medium 13 is sucked onto the transport belt 16 of the transport mechanism 3. The control unit 10 drives the feeding drive unit 2b of the feeding unit 2 to feed out the recording media 13 one by one from the feeding tray 2a and deliver them to the transport mechanism 3 side.

  When the leading end of the recording medium 13 reaches the feeding medium detection unit 2c on the downstream side of the feeding unit 2, a detection signal of the recording medium 13 is transmitted from the feeding medium detection unit 2c to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 performs recording control by generating recording processing timing based on this signal.

  By the way, the encoder pulse signal generated by the conveyance information generation unit 5 is also used as a synchronization signal when an image is recorded by the recording head 8. The control unit 10 stores the timing at which ink discharge is started from the nozzle as the number of pulses of the encoder pulse signal. Then, when the number of stored pulses and the count value of the encoder pulse generated from the conveyance information generation unit 5 coincide with each other, the control unit 10 applies the recording medium 13 that is attracted to the conveyance belt 16 and conveyed. Ink is discharged from the nozzle toward the recording process. Then, the recording medium 13 after the recording process is transferred to the discharge unit 9 provided on the downstream side of the transport mechanism 3.

  In the discharge unit 9, the recording medium 13 is sandwiched by the discharge drive unit 9b and conveyed downstream. The trailing edge of the recording medium 13 is detected by the discharged medium detection unit 9c and then stored in the storage tray 9a.

Next, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 of the image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment to be described later.

In the following description, it is assumed that the job information received by the image recording apparatus 1 from the higher-level apparatus 20 is an instruction to record an image on 12 recording media 13.
In the timing chart shown in FIG. 3, the drive timing of the feeding drive unit 2b, the drive timing of the discharge drive unit 9b, and the detection state of the storage amount detection unit 9d are shown.

  The drive timing of the feeding drive unit 2b in FIG. 3 indicates the timing at which the feeding drive unit 2b delivers the recording medium 13 accommodated in the feeding tray 2a to the transport mechanism 3 side. (One pulse) represents delivery of one recording medium 13. The drive timing of the discharge drive unit 9b in FIG. 3 indicates the timing at which the discharge drive unit 9b discharges the recording medium 13 that has been image-recorded and transported from the transport mechanism 3 to the storage tray 9a. The drive (one pulse) represents the discharge of one recording medium 13. Further, the storage amount detection unit 9d outputs whether or not a predetermined constant value discharged into the storage tray 9a has been exceeded, and FIG. 3 shows the output value. In FIG. 3, when the output of the storage amount detector 9d is OFF, the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray 9a is equal to or less than the predetermined value. When the output is ON, the amount of the recording medium 13 exceeds the predetermined value. It shows that. Note that the fixed value is set in advance so that the amount of the recording medium 13 is slightly larger than the storage limit of the storage tray 9a.

  In the first embodiment, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 changes the feeding amount in a certain time based on the output of the storage amount detection unit 9d. When the output of the storage amount detection unit 9d is turned on, that is, when the amount of the recording medium 13 in the storage tray 9a exceeds the predetermined value, the feeding amount in a predetermined time is decreased. From this state, when the recording medium 13 in the storage tray 9a is removed by the operator and the output of the storage amount detector 9d changes from ON to OFF, the reduced feeding amount is restored.

  In FIG. 3, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 starts driving the conveyance driving unit 4 so that the conveyance belt 16 has a predetermined conveyance speed at the time T <b> 0 when the job information is received from the host apparatus 20. The recording medium conveyance control unit 12 starts feeding the recording medium 13 from the feeding tray 2a at the timing T1 when the conveying speed of the conveying belt 16 reaches a specified speed. At this time, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 instructs the supply driving unit 2b to supply the recording medium 13 at a predetermined time interval TN.

  The image recording unit 6 starts image recording with the medium detection signal output from the feeding medium detection unit 2 c as a trigger, and the recording medium 13 conveyed in synchronization with the encoder pulse output from the conveyance information generation unit 5. Record an image.

Thereafter, the control unit 10 repeats feeding of the recording medium 13 and image recording so that the interval of the conveyed recording medium 13 becomes a predetermined time interval TN.
The recording medium 13 fed at the timing T1 is transported through the transport mechanism 3, and is discharged to the storage tray 9a by the discharge driving unit 9b at the timing T2. Thereafter, the recording medium 13 is discharged to the storage tray 9a at the same time interval TN as the feeding interval of the recording medium 13.

  When the control unit 10 detects that the state of the storage amount detection unit 9d has changed from OFF to ON at the timing T3, the feeding drive unit 2b should be driven at the timing T4. The drive unit 2b is driven at the timing T5 so that the drive unit 2b is not driven and the interval with the last fed recording medium 13 is a predetermined time interval TW (where TN <TW). The recording medium 13 is fed. At this time, the operator is notified that the storage tray 9a is close to the storage limit by the display unit and voice notification provided in the notification unit 17. Thereafter, the control unit 10 repeatedly feeds the recording medium 13 so that the conveyance interval of the recording medium 13 becomes the interval TW until the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes to OFF.

  The recording medium 13 fed at the timing of T5 is transported through the transport mechanism 3, and is discharged to the storage tray 9a by the discharge driving unit 9b at the timing of T7. Thereafter, the recording medium 13 is discharged to the storage tray 9a at the same time interval TW as the feeding interval of the recording medium 13.

  In this way, when the drive interval of the feeding drive unit 2b is increased by the control unit 10, the time interval at which the recording medium 13 is discharged to the storage tray 9a by the discharge drive unit 9b is increased accordingly. During this extended period, the operator can easily remove the recording medium 13 stored in the storage tray 9a.

  When the recording medium 13 stored in the storage tray 9a is removed by the operator, the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes from ON to OFF. When the control unit 10 detects that the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d has changed to OFF at the timing T8, the control unit 10 returns the time interval of the recording medium 13 to be fed to the next time to TN, and feeds it at the timing T9. The drive unit 2b is driven to feed the recording medium 13. Thereafter, the control unit 10 repeats feeding of the recording medium 13 so that the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 becomes a predetermined time interval TN.

  The recording medium 13 fed at the timing T9 is transported by the transport mechanism 3 and image recording is performed by the image recording unit 6, and is ejected to the storage tray 9a by the ejection driving unit 9b at the timing T10. Thereafter, the recording medium 13 is discharged to the storage tray 9a at the same time interval TN as the feeding interval of the recording medium 13.

  In this example, since the number of recording processes designated by the job information from the host device 20 is 12, the control unit 10 feeds 12 recording media 13 from the feeding tray 2a, and thereafter feeds. The drive part 2b is not driven. Further, when 12 sheets of the recording medium 13 are discharged to the storage tray 9a, the control unit 10 does not drive the discharge driving unit 9b and ends the recording processing operation.

Note that the values of the predetermined time intervals TN and TW can be changed by the operator operating the operation setting unit of the setting input unit 18 provided in the image recording apparatus 1.
Here, the number of recording media 13 that can be discharged to the storage tray 9a from when the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes to ON until the storage tray 9a becomes full is defined as an allowable discharge number Me. That is, the number of recording media 13 that can be stored in the storage tray 9a after the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d is turned on is Me. When the output number of the recording medium 13 discharged after the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes from OFF to ON matches the discharge allowable number Me, the recording medium 13 discharged thereafter is stored in the storage tray 9a. It is not stored correctly. Therefore, after the state of the storage amount detection unit 9d is changed from OFF to ON and the feeding interval is set to the time interval TW, the control unit 10 prevents the discharge number of the recording medium 13 from exceeding the discharge allowable number Me. Monitor. Then, the total number of the discharged sheets of the recording medium 13 after the output value of the storage amount detecting unit 9d is turned ON and the number of the recording mediums that have already been fed but have not yet been discharged is the discharge allowable sheet number Me. When reaching, the control unit 10 stops feeding the recording medium 13 from the feeding tray 2a. When all the fed recording media 13 are stored in the storage tray 9a, the control unit 10 ends the recording processing operation, and the operation provided in the notification unit 17 indicates that the storage tray 9a is full. Display on the panel or inform the operator by voice.

  As described above, in the image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, when it is detected that the storage tray 9a is approaching the storage limit of the recording medium during the recording process, the recording medium feeding interval is widened. Since the discharge interval to the storage tray 9a also increases, the recording medium stored in the storage tray can be easily removed by the operator without stopping the image recording processing operation. In order to implement this, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism such as a stacker in the apparatus.

  Further, when the operator removes the recording medium 13 in the storage tray 9a and detects that the state of the storage tray 9a is no longer at the storage limit, the recording medium feeding interval is narrowed and returned to the original interval. A reduction in the operating rate of the apparatus can be prevented.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 of the second embodiment will be described using FIG. 3 as in the case of the first embodiment.
In the image recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the drive interval of the feeding drive unit 2b is changed according to the state change of the storage amount detection unit 9d. On the other hand, in the image recording apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, the driving interval of the feeding drive unit 2b is changed in consideration of the magnitude relationship between the remaining number of sheets to be fed and the allowable number of discharges Me.

In the following description, it is assumed that the number of recording processes indicated by the job information received from the host apparatus 20 is 8, and the allowable discharge number Me is 10.
The control unit 10 starts driving the transport driving unit 4 so that the transport belt 16 has a predetermined transport speed at the time T0 when the job information is received from the host device 20. The control unit 10 starts feeding the recording medium 13 from the feeding tray 2a at the timing T1 when the conveying speed of the conveying belt 16 reaches a specified speed.

  Next, the control unit 10 feeds the recording medium 13 at a specified time interval TN and performs image recording processing in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, the control unit 10 repeats the feeding of the recording medium 13 and the image recording process so that the interval of the fed recording medium 13 becomes the predetermined time interval TN.

  The recording medium 13 fed at the timing T1 is transported by the transport mechanism 3 and subjected to image recording processing by the image recording unit 6, and then discharged to the storage tray 9a by the discharge driving unit 9b at the timing T2. . Thereafter, the recording medium 13 is discharged to the storage tray 9a at the same time interval TN as the feeding interval of the recording medium 13.

  When the recording medium 13 accumulates in the storage tray 9a and exceeds a certain amount, the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes from OFF to ON, and this is detected by the control unit 10 at timing T3. In response to this, the detection unit 10 compares the sum of the number of sheets of the recording medium 13 that have not yet been fed with the sum of the number of sheets of the recording medium 13 that have already been fed but have not yet been ejected. .

  As a result, if the sum of the unfeeded sheet number and the undischarged sheet number does not exceed the discharge allowable sheet number Me, the image recording process based on the job information is completed, and the recording medium 13 that has completed the image recording process is discharged. However, the recording medium 13 does not overflow from the storage tray 9a. Therefore, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 of the control unit 10 performs the image recording process at the predetermined interval TN without changing the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 even after the timing T4. Since the number of recording processes specified by the job information received from the host device 20 is 8, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 feeds 8 recording media 13 from the feeding tray 2a and thereafter feeds the recording media. The feed drive unit 2b is not driven. Further, after the eight recording media 13 are discharged to the storage tray 9a, the control unit 10 ends the recording processing operation without driving the discharge driving unit 9b.

  On the other hand, if the sum of the unfeeded sheet number and the undischarged sheet number exceeds the discharge allowable sheet number Me, the image recording process is performed as it is until the processed recording medium 13 is discharged. Overflows. Therefore, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 of the control unit 10 increases the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 to a predetermined interval TW and notifies the operator after the timing T4. When the operator receives the notification and removes the recording medium 13 from the storage tray 9a, the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d changes from ON to OFF. When this is detected, the recording medium conveyance control unit 12 returns the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 to the feeding unit 2.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when the output of the storage amount detection unit 9d is turned on, the feeding amount of the recording medium 13 is not immediately changed as in the first embodiment. It is determined whether or not all processed recording media 13 can be stored in the storage tray 9a. If it is determined that the recording medium 13 can be stored, the feeding amount is not changed.

  Accordingly, in the second embodiment, even if it is detected that the discharge tray is approaching the storage limit of the recording medium during the recording process, the feeding interval is not changed if the remaining number of discharged sheets is within the discharge limit. Thus, it is possible to avoid an unnecessary increase in recording processing time compared to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.
The processing in FIG. 5 is realized by the control unit 10 executing the control program in the storage unit 11.

The operation processing in the first and second embodiments will be described below with reference to FIG.
When the process is started in FIG. 4, it is first determined in step S1 whether or not job information for instructing image recording has been received from the host device 20, and a reception waiting state is entered (step S1, NO).

  If it is determined in step S1 that the job information has been received from the host device 20 (YES in step S1), the image recording apparatus is prepared such that the image recording unit 6 is ready for image recording processing in step S2, and the like. Further, the flag indicating that the feeding interval is set to the long feeding interval TW is turned OFF.

  Next, the control part 10 determines whether the output value of the storage amount detection part 9d of the discharge part 9 is ON as step S3. If the output value of the storage amount detection unit 9d is OFF and there is still room in the storage tray 9a (step S3, NO), the control unit 10 sets the feeding interval to a long feeding interval TW. The flag shown is turned off (step S8), and the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 by the feeding unit 2 is set to a short feeding interval TN (step S9). In step S15, the control unit 10 drives the feeding drive unit 2b to feed the recording medium 13 at the feeding interval TN. In step S16, the control unit 10 controls the image recording unit 6 to control the recording medium 13. Perform image recording processing. Then, the control unit 10 discharges the recording medium 13 on which the image is recorded as step S17 to the storage tray 9a.

  In the processes in steps S3, S8, S9, S15 to S17, the output of the storage amount detection unit 9d is turned on (step S3, YES), or the image recording process for the number of recording media 13 specified by the job information is completed. Repeat (step S18, NO) until (step S18, YES).

  When the amount of the recording medium 13 in the storage tray 9a increases in the image recording process and the storage tray 9a approaches the storage limit, the output of the storage amount detection unit 9d is turned on. When the control unit 10 detects this (step S3, YES), the control unit 10 next determines whether or not a flag indicating that the feeding interval is set to the long feeding interval TW is ON in step S4. As a result, if the flag is OFF (NO in step S4), the control unit 10 records in step S10 the number of fed recording media 13 that have not yet been fed and the recording that has already been fed but not yet discharged. The sum of the number of media 13 is compared with the discharge allowable number Me. As a result, if the sum of the unfeeded sheet number and the undischarged sheet number exceeds the discharge allowable sheet number Me (NO in step S10), the notifying unit that the control unit 10 needs to remove the recording medium in the storage tray 9a. 17 is displayed on the operation panel provided to the operator 17 or notified to the operator by voice or the like (step S11), the flag indicating that the feeding interval is set to the long feeding interval TW is turned on (step S12), and the feeding unit 2 The feeding interval of the recording medium 13 is set to a long feeding interval TW (step S13). Then, the control unit 10 calculates the number of sheets that can be fed in the recording medium 13 as step S14, and then moves the process to step S15.

  In step S10, if the sum of the unpaid sheet number and the undischarged sheet number does not exceed the discharge allowable sheet number Me (step S10, YES), the process of step S11 to step S14 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S15. The feeding interval of the recording medium 13 is not changed.

  In step S15, the control unit 10 controls the feeding drive unit 2b to feed the recording medium 13 at the long feeding interval TW set at step S13 or at the short feeding interval TN when step S13 is skipped. . In step S16, the control unit 10 performs image recording processing on the recording medium 13 by the image recording unit 6, and ejects the recording medium 13 (step S17). If the number of image recording processes indicated by the job information is not finished at this point (step S18, NO), the process returns to step S3, and if the number of image recording processes indicated by the job information is finished. (Step S18, YES), this process is terminated.

The determination process of step S10 is performed only in the case of the second embodiment, and the determination process of step S10 is not performed in the first embodiment.
In step S4, if the flag indicating that the feeding interval is set to the long feeding interval TW indicates ON (step S4, YES), the control unit 10 then sets the feeding interval in step S12 as step S5. It is determined whether or not the number of sheets fed after turning on the flag indicating that the feeding interval TW is long is equal to or less than the number of sheets that can be fed calculated in step S14. As a result, if the number of sheets fed after turning on the flag is equal to or less than the number of sheets that can be fed (step S5, YES), the process proceeds to step S15, and if the number of fed sheets exceeds the number of sheets that can be fed ( If the recording medium 13 is fed further, the storage tray 9a overflows. Therefore, the control unit 10 stops the image recording process in step S6, notifies the operator of an error in step S7, End the process.

  When the control unit 10 determines that the number of sheets fed after turning on the flag in step S5 is equal to or less than the number of sheets that can be fed (step S5, YES), the control unit 10 performs the feeding drive unit 2b as step S15. And the recording medium 13 is fed at the long feeding interval TW set in step S13. In step S16, the control unit 10 performs image recording processing on the recording medium 13 by the image recording unit 6, and discharges the recording medium 13 (step S17). If the number of image recording processes indicated by the job information is not finished at this point (step S18, NO), the process returns to step S3, and if the number of image recording processes indicated by the job information is finished. (Step S18, YES), this process is terminated.

  As described above, in the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the feeding interval is changed when the storage amount detection unit 9d detects that the storage tray 9a is approaching the storage limit without providing a special mechanism. By doing so, the operator can remove the recording medium 13 from the storage tray 9a. At that time, the image recording process 1 does not stop the image recording process. Therefore, an increase in recording processing time can be avoided.

  When it is detected that the storage tray 9a is approaching the storage limit, the discharge allowable sheet number Me is compared with the remaining unfeed sheet number and undischarged sheet number, and the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 is determined in consideration of this. It can also be set as the structure changed. In this case, when the number of unfeeded sheets and the number of undischarged sheets are small, the feeding interval of the recording medium 13 is not lengthened, so that it is possible to avoid further increase in the recording processing time.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the implementation stage, it can embody by modifying a component in the range which does not deviate from the summary. In addition, the present invention can make various inventions by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the present invention, some constituent elements may be deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, and different constituent elements of the respective embodiments may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 2 Feeding part 3 Conveyance mechanism 4 Conveyance drive part 5 Conveyance information generation part 6 Image recording part 7 Recording head drive part 8 Recording head 9 Ejection part 10 Control part 11 Storage part 12 Recording medium conveyance control part 13 Recording medium Reference Signs List 14 Driving roller 15 Driven roller 16 Conveying belt 17 Notifying unit 18 Setting input unit 20 Host device

Claims (8)

In an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium transported by a transport mechanism based on job information from a host device,
A feeding section for feeding a recording medium to the transport mechanism;
A storage tray for storing the recording medium;
A discharge unit that discharges the recording medium on which the image is recorded from the transport mechanism to the storage tray;
A storage amount detector for detecting whether or not the amount of the recording medium stored in the storage tray is equal to or greater than a certain value;
When the storage amount detection unit detects an amount equal to or greater than a certain value of the recording medium, the number of recording media that have not yet been fed by the feeding unit out of the number of sheets indicated by the job information is already fed. The storage tray becomes full after the storage amount detection unit detects the amount of the recording medium equal to or greater than a certain value, with the sum of the number of recording media that have been used but not yet ejected to the storage tray. A recording medium conveyance control unit that changes a feeding interval at which the feeding unit feeds the recording medium if a discharge allowable number that is the number of recording media that can be discharged to the storage tray is exceeded. ,
Equipped with a,
When changing the feeding interval, the recording medium conveyance control unit changes the preset first feeding interval to a second feeding interval longer than the first feeding interval. ,
An image recording apparatus. A calculation unit, and a control unit including at least a storage unit that stores a control program in advance;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit functions as the recording medium conveyance control unit by causing the arithmetic processing unit to execute the control program. The recording medium conveyance control unit changes the feeding interval to the second feeding interval when the storage amount detection unit detects an amount less than a predetermined value of the recording medium after changing to the second feeding interval. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording apparatus returns to the first feeding interval from an interval. When the recording medium conveyance control unit controls the feeding interval to be changed from the first feeding interval to the second feeding interval, the recording medium conveyance control unit further includes a first notifying unit that notifies an operator. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording apparatus is an image recording apparatus. Image according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a setting input unit for setting the size of said first feeding interval and the second feeding interval based on the operator input further Recording device. The recording medium conveyance control unit stops the feeding unit and notifies the operator when the amount of the recording medium stored in the storage tray exceeds the discharge allowable number. the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a. In a control method of an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium conveyed by a conveyance mechanism based on job information from a host apparatus,
Detecting whether or not the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray for storing the recording medium on which the image recording has been performed is a certain value or more;
When the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray reaches a predetermined value or more, the number of the recording medium that has not yet been fed to the transport mechanism among the number of sheets indicated by the job information has already been fed. The sum of the number of the recording media that have not yet been ejected to the storage tray, but the amount of the recording media in the storage tray reaches a predetermined value or more until the storage tray becomes full. In addition, if the discharge allowable number, which is the number of the recording media that can be discharged to the storage tray, is exceeded, the feeding interval for feeding the recording medium is changed from the preset first feeding interval, Change to a second feeding interval longer than the first feeding interval ,
A control method for an image recording apparatus. After the feeding interval is changed to the second feeding interval, when the amount of the recording medium in the storage tray is not equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the feeding interval is changed from the second feeding interval to the second feeding interval. The method of controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the feeding interval is returned to 1.

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