JP5900038B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  Electrophotographic printing by electrophotography using a laser beam scanning device or an LED array is a high-quality and high-speed printing method without blurring. On the other hand, ink-jet printing, which forms ink images by ejecting ink represented by piezo-type ink jet and bubble jet (registered trademark), can perform color printing with a relatively simple and small mechanism. This is a printing method capable of reducing cost and space.

  Recently, an image forming apparatus such as a color complex machine or a printer combining these two image forming means has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). That is, a single image forming apparatus is provided with an electrophotographic image forming unit and an ink ejection type image forming unit (hereinafter, an image forming apparatus having such a configuration is referred to as “ This is called a “composite printer”), and can be selected from electrophotographic printing and ink ejection printing methods.

  Incidentally, in electrophotographic image forming means, thermal fixing is generally used as a method for fixing toner transferred to a printing medium such as paper. Thermal fixing is a fixing method in which a high-temperature fixing device is pressed against a print medium to melt toner and fix it on the print medium.

  However, when the toner is fixed by heat fixing, printing cannot be performed until the temperature of the fixing device is raised to a temperature sufficient to melt the toner. For this reason, when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is started up or when it rises from a standby state in which printing is not performed, a waiting time for raising the temperature of the fixing device occurs, and the printing speed is reduced.

  In addition, by always keeping the temperature of the fixing device high, it is possible to eliminate the waiting time when rising from the standby state, but in this case, wasteful standby energy is consumed to keep the temperature of the fixing device high. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of speeding up printing and suppressing consumption of useless standby energy.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has fixing means for fixing the toner image to the print medium by heating the print medium on which the toner image is formed. An electrophotographic image forming unit; an ink ejection type image forming unit that ejects ink onto a printing medium to form an image; a first printing method that forms an image in the electrophotographic image forming unit; and the ink ejection type The second printing method in which image formation is performed in the image forming unit, and image formation by the ink ejection type image forming unit until a predetermined timing, and switching to image formation by the electrophotographic image forming unit after the predetermined timing third and printing method, and a control unit for executing selectively a, wherein the third said ink ejection type the print medium all print completion printing has been scheduled by the image forming unit in a printing system Wherein when the temperature of the fixing unit does not rise to a temperature capable of fixing the toner image on the print medium, without heating the fixing means in.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the printing speed and to suppress the consumption of useless standby energy.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a composite printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the composite printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching timing from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for switching from AC / DC power supply to storage battery power supply. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the sixth embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a composite printer to which the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is applied.

  The composite printer 100 mainly includes a paper feed cassette 6, an electrophotographic image forming unit P, and an ink ejection type image forming unit I.

  The paper feed cassette 6 is a cassette that stores recording paper S as a recording medium. Here, the recording paper S accommodated in the paper feeding cassette 6 includes plain paper generally used for copying and the like, OHP sheets, cards, cardboard and other thick paper, envelopes, and the like. The paper feed cassette 6 is provided with a paper feed roller 10 for feeding out the stored recording paper S. In addition, a registration for correcting skew of the recording sheet S and adjusting the conveyance timing is provided in the middle of the conveying path for conveying the recording sheet S from the sheet feeding cassette 6 to the transfer belt 8 of the electrophotographic image forming unit P described later. A roller 11 and a registration sensor 112 are provided.

  The electrophotographic image forming unit P performs electrophotographic printing on the recording paper S conveyed from the paper feed cassette 6. The electrophotographic image forming unit P includes four process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK as image forming units, an exposure device 5, a transfer belt 8, and fixing as fixing means for fixing a toner image transferred to a recording medium. A toner mark (TM) sensor 15 for adjusting the image density and image forming position of each color, a belt cleaner 16 for removing toner remaining on the transfer belt 8 after the transfer of the toner image, a waste toner box 33, and the like. Yes.

  The process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK have the same configuration except that they store toners of different colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black corresponding to the color separation components of the color image. Specifically, the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1BK charge the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK as image carriers and the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK, respectively. Charging rollers 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3BK as charging means to be developed and developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK as developing means for developing electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2BK And a cleaning means (not shown) for cleaning the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK.

  Each photosensitive drum 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2BK is rotated by a driving device (not shown). Each charging roller 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3BK is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2BK, and the charging roller 3Y, 3M, 3C is rotated by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2BK. , 3BK is driven to rotate. The charging rollers 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3BK are configured to be applied with a DC or a bias in which AC is superimposed on DC by a high voltage power source (not shown). Each of the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4BK is a one-component contact type developing device in which one-component toner as a developer is initially stored. Each developing device 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4BK is configured to be supplied with a predetermined developing bias from a high voltage power source (not shown).

  The exposure device 5 is an exposure unit that exposes the surface of each of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK. The exposure apparatus 5 emits a laser beam emitted from a light source (not shown) and reflected by the polygon mirror 51 to the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1BK by the reflection mirrors 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52BK, and scans not shown. The photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK are configured to irradiate through the optical system. As this exposure apparatus 5, a laser beam scanner using a laser diode or the like can be used.

  The transfer belt 8 is a transfer unit that transfers the toner images on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2BK onto a recording medium. The transfer belt 8 is an endless belt stretched by a driving roller 12, a tension roller 13, and four transfer rollers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8BK. The driving roller 12 is rotated by a driving device (not shown), and the transfer belt 8 is rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 12. Each roller that stretches the transfer belt 8 is supported by a side plate of a conveyance belt unit (not shown). The above-described process units 1BK, 1C, 1M, and 1Y are arranged in this order along the transfer belt 8 from the upstream side in the traveling direction.

  Further, a toner mark (TM) sensor 15 is disposed at a position facing the transfer belt 8. The toner mark sensor 15 is constituted by a regular reflection type or diffusion type sensor, and detects toner on the transfer belt 8 and measures the density of each toner image and each color position. Thus, the image density and alignment are adjusted.

  When forming an electrophotographic image, first, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2BK is uniformly charged by the charging roller 3BK in the dark. Then, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 2BK is exposed with a laser beam corresponding to the black image irradiated from the exposure device 5, and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 4BK visualizes the electrostatic latent image with black toner, whereby a black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2BK. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 8 at a position where the photosensitive drum 2BK and the transfer belt 8 are in contact with each other. After the toner image transfer is completed, unnecessary toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2BK is wiped off by the photosensitive cleaner, and then is neutralized by a static eliminator (not shown) and waits for the next image formation.

  The transfer belt 8 moves to the next process unit 1C in order to form the next image on the belt. In the process unit 1C, a cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 2C by a process similar to the image forming process in the process unit 1BK, and the toner image is superimposed on the black image formed on the transfer belt 8. Is transcribed.

  The transfer belt 8 further moves to the next process unit 1M, 1Y, and a magenta toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 2M and a yellow toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 2Y by the same operation. Are superimposed on the transfer belt 8 and transferred. Thus, a full-color image is formed on the transfer belt 8.

  The recording paper S fed from the paper feed cassette 6 by the paper feed roller 10 is pressed against the transfer belt 8 by the transfer roller 14. Thus, the full-color toner image on the transfer belt 8 is transferred to the recording paper S, and a full-color toner image is formed on the recording paper S. The recording sheet S on which the full-color superimposed image is formed is fixed to the image by the fixing device 9 by thermal fixing, and then discharged to the outside of the composite printer 100 by a discharge mechanism such as a discharge roller 17. .

  An inkjet head 50 is disposed in an ink ejection type image forming unit I that performs ink ejection type image formation, which is another image forming method in the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment. The inkjet head 50 is provided with a plurality of nozzles corresponding to four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The ink ejection image forming unit I is provided with ink tanks (not shown) in which different colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are stored. Ink is supplied.

  In the inkjet head 50, an actuator (not shown) for generating a pressure for ejecting ink droplets is a liquid that uses a piezoelectric actuator that deforms the diaphragm by an electromechanical transducer such as a piezoelectric element, or an electrothermal transducer. Any of a thermal actuator that generates bubbles due to film boiling inside and an electrostatic actuator that deforms the diaphragm with an electrostatic force generated between the diaphragm and the electrode may be used, and is not particularly limited.

  As with the electrophotographic image forming unit P described above, the recording paper S is also supplied to the ink discharge type image forming unit I from the paper supply cassette 6 by the paper supply roller 10 and the like. Then, the recording sheet S on which the ink image is formed by the ink ejection type image forming unit I is discharged from the recording roller 17 and the like, similarly to the discharge of the recording sheet S on which the image formation is performed in the electrophotographic image forming unit P. The paper is discharged out of the composite printer 100 by the discharge mechanism.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment. In addition to the paper feed cassette 6, the electrophotographic image forming unit P, and the ink ejection type image forming unit I, the composite printer 100 includes a display 19, an AC input unit 300, a storage battery 302, an AC / DC conversion unit 301, a power source A switch SW for switching and a control unit 200 that comprehensively controls each unit of the composite printer 100 are provided.

  The display 19 is a display unit provided outside the housing of the composite printer 100, and displays various information such as information related to various types of printing by the composite printer 100 and information related to the operating state of the composite printer 100.

  The AC input unit 300 inputs an alternating current from an external AC power source.

  The AC / DC conversion unit 301 converts the alternating current into a direct current by performing AC / DC conversion on the alternating current input via the AC input unit 300.

  The switch SW is a switch that switches between power supply from the AC / DC power supply and power supply from the storage battery 302.

  The storage battery 302 is charged by receiving power from an external power source via the AC input unit 300, and supplies power to the ink ejection image forming unit I in place of the external power source in a predetermined case described later.

  The control unit 200 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The control unit 200 comprehensively controls each component of the composite printer 100 such as the electrophotographic image forming unit P, the ink ejection type image forming unit I, the display 19, the switch SW, the storage battery 302, the paper feed cassette 6, and the like. The control unit 200 includes a printing method selection unit 201, a temperature detection unit 202, a timer unit 203, a charge amount detection unit 204, and a switch switching unit 205.

  The ROM stores programs used for various controls by the control unit 200.

  The RAM functions as a work area necessary for the control unit 200 to operate.

  Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 200 will be described. A printing method selection unit 201 of the control unit 200 selects a printing method of the composite printer 100 and performs printing by the electrophotographic image forming unit P and the ink ejection type image forming unit I according to the selected selection mode. The printing method of the composite printer 100 will be described later.

  The temperature detection unit 202 detects the temperature of the fixing device 9 of the electrophotographic image forming unit P using a temperature detection unit (not shown).

  The timer unit 203 measures time using a time measuring unit (not shown) and sets a time for executing a predetermined printing method.

  The charge amount detection unit 204 detects the charge amount of the storage battery 302.

  The switch switching unit 205 drives the switch SW to switch between power supply from the AC / DC power supply and power supply from the storage battery 302.

  Next, image printing by the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching timing from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method. FIG. 3A shows an example in which the ink discharge method is switched to the electrophotographic method after the temperature of the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature. 3B shows the case where the temperature of the fixing device 9 rises to the target temperature during printing of the recording paper S by the ink ejection type image forming unit I, and the ink ejection method is started at the end of printing of the recording paper S. An example of switching to an electrophotographic system is shown. The target temperature of the fixing device 9 is set to a temperature at which the toner image transferred onto the paper can be thermally fixed onto the paper.

  When the printing method is switched at the timing shown in FIG. 3A, the ink ejection printing is performed before the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, that is, in a state where the electrophotographic printing cannot be performed. Thus, printing can be started quickly without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise. Further, when the printing method is switched at the timing shown in FIG. 3B, the switching can be performed at an earlier timing than the timing shown in FIG.

(Example 1)
Next, an example of a procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the first embodiment. In the following description of the embodiment, method 1 indicates a case where printing is performed using an electrophotographic method. Method 2 shows a case where printing is performed using an ink ejection method. In method 3, printing is performed by the ink ejection method until the temperature of the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature shown in FIG. 3A or 3B, and printing is performed using the electrophotographic method after reaching the target temperature. It shows the case of doing.

  First, the control unit 200 confirms the selected printing method (step S1). If the selected printing method is method 1 (step S2: Yes), then the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature. (Step S3).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S3: Yes), the control unit 200 causes the electrophotographic image forming unit P to perform electrophotographic printing (step S4). When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is less than the target temperature (step S3: No), the control unit 200 does not perform printing until the temperature of the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, and the composite printer 100 enters a standby state.

  On the other hand, when it is not the method 1 in step S2 (step S2: No), the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the printing method is the method 2 (step S5). When the method 2 is selected (step S5: Yes), the control unit 200 performs ink ejection method printing by the ink ejection image forming unit I (step S6).

  If it is not method 2 in step S5 (step S5: No), that is, if it is method 3, the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) determines whether the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature. It is confirmed whether or not (step S7).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature in step S7 (step S7: Yes), the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) sends the electrophotographic image forming unit P to the electrophotographic method. To print. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fixing device 9 does not reach the target temperature in step S7 (step S7: No), the process proceeds to step S6, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) supplies ink to the ink ejection type image forming unit I. The ejection type printing is performed.

  According to the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment, when the method 3 is selected, before the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, that is, in a state where electrophotographic printing cannot be performed, ink ejection printing is performed. By performing the above, printing can be started quickly without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise. In addition, the composite printer 100 can save energy by performing ink ejection printing with low power consumption until the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature.

(Example 2)
Next, another example of the procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the second embodiment. Note that the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 5 are the same as the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 described above.

  First, the control unit 200 confirms the selected printing method (step S11). When the selected printing method is method 1 (step S12: Yes), the control unit 200 starts power supply to the fixing device 9 (step S13). Then, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S14).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S14: Yes), the control unit 200 displays on the display 19 provided in the composite printer 100 that printing is possible (step S15). The electrophotographic printing is performed by the formula image forming unit P (step S16). When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is less than the target temperature (step S14: No), the control unit 200 does not perform printing until the temperature of the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, and the composite printer 100 enters a standby state.

  On the other hand, when the method is not method 1 in step S12 (step S12: No), the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the printing method is method 2 (step S17). In the case of the method 2 (step S17: Yes), the control unit 200 does not supply power to the fixing device 9 (step S18), displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S19), and discharges ink. The image forming unit I is caused to perform ink ejection printing (step S20).

  If it is not method 2 in step S17 (step S17: No), that is, if it is method 3, the control unit 200 displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S21), and the fixing device. Power supply to 9 is started. (Step S22) Then, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S23).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature in step S23 (step S23: Yes), the process proceeds to step S16, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) sends the electrophotographic image forming unit P to the electrophotographic method. To print. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fixing device 9 does not reach the target temperature in step S23 (step S23: No), the process proceeds to step S20, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) supplies ink to the ink ejection image forming unit I. The ejection type printing is performed.

  According to the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment, when the method 3 is selected, before the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, that is, in a state where electrophotographic printing cannot be performed, ink ejection printing is performed. By performing the above, printing can be started quickly without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise. In addition, by notifying the user that printing can be performed without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise, the user who does not like waiting time is prevented from making unnecessary setting changes, and user satisfaction Can be increased.

(Example 3)
Next, another example of the procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the third embodiment. 6 are the same as the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 described above.

  First, the control unit 200 confirms the selected printing method (step S31). When the selected printing method is method 1 (step S32: Yes), the control unit 200 starts power supply to the fixing device 9 (step S33). Then, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S34).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S34: Yes), the control unit 200 displays a message indicating that printing is possible on the display 19 provided in the composite printer 100 (step S35). Then, the control unit 200 causes the electrophotographic image forming unit P to perform electrophotographic printing (step S36). When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is less than the target temperature (step S34: No), the control unit 200 does not perform printing until the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, and the composite printer 100 enters a standby state.

  On the other hand, if it is not the method 1 in step S32 (step S32: No), the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the printing method is the method 2 (step S37). In the case of the method 2 (step S37: Yes), the control unit 200 does not supply power to the fixing device 9 (step S38), displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S39), and discharges ink. The image forming unit I is caused to perform ink ejection printing (step S40).

  If it is not method 2 in step S37 (step S37: No), that is, if it is method 3, the control unit 200 displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S41).

  Next, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the fixing device 9 can raise the temperature to the target temperature while printing the number of recording sheets S specified in the print job (step S42). When the temperature can be raised (step S42: Yes), the control unit 200 starts power supply to the fixing device 9 (step S43). Then, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S44).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature in step S44 (step S44: Yes), the process proceeds to step S36, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) sends the electrophotographic image forming unit P to the electrophotographic method. To print. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fixing device 9 does not reach the target temperature in step S44 (step S44: No), the process proceeds to step S40, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) supplies ink to the ink ejection type image forming unit I. The ejection type printing is performed.

  If it is not possible to raise the temperature in step S42 (step S42: No), the process proceeds to step S40, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) prints the ink ejection method on the ink ejection type image forming unit I. To do.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the method 3 is selected, the ink discharge type printing is performed before the fixing device 9 reaches the target temperature, that is, in a state where the electrophotographic printing cannot be performed. By doing so, printing can be started quickly without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise. In addition, by notifying the user that printing can be performed without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise, the user who does not like waiting time is prevented from making unnecessary setting changes, and user satisfaction Can be increased. Further, when the method 3 is selected, the temperature of the fixing device 9 is raised only when the temperature of the fixing device 9 can be raised to the target temperature while performing the number of prints designated in the print job. Thus, energy consumption can be suppressed.

Example 4
Next, another example of the procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the fourth embodiment. 7 are the same as the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 described above.

  First, the control unit 200 (timer unit 203) determines whether or not the current time is included in the designated time zone (step S51).

  When the current time is included in the designated time zone (step S51: Yes), the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) changes the printing method to a printing method corresponding to the preset time zone. (Step S52). If the current time is not included in the time zone (step S51: No), the process proceeds to the next step S53.

  Since Steps S53 to S66 are the same as Steps S31 to S44 in FIG. 6, description thereof is omitted here.

  According to the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment, energy consumption is suppressed by performing printing with a printing method that consumes less power in a time zone with less power surplus, that is, an ink ejection method that refrains from overheating of the fixing device 9. be able to.

(Example 5)
Next, another example of the procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the fifth embodiment. Note that the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 8 are the same as the methods 1 to 3 in FIG. 4 described above. Method 4 shows an ink ejection method that is performed by receiving power supply from the storage battery when the remaining amount of the storage battery is sufficient.

  First, the control unit 200 (timer unit 203) determines whether or not the current time is included in the designated time zone (step S71). When the current time is included in the designated time zone (step S71: Yes), the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) changes the printing method to a printing method corresponding to the preset time zone. (Step S72), the process proceeds to Step S73. If the current time is not included in the time zone (step S71: No), the process proceeds to the next step S73.

  Next, the control unit 200 confirms the selected printing method (step S73). When the selected printing method is method 1 (step S74: Yes), the control unit 200 starts power supply to the fixing device 9 (step S75). Next, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S76).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S76: Yes), the control unit 200 displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S77), and the electrophotographic image forming unit P is electrophotographic. System printing is performed (step S78). When the temperature of the fixing unit is less than the target temperature (step S76: No), the control unit 200 does not perform printing until the target temperature is reached, and the composite printer 100 enters a standby state.

  On the other hand, when it is not the method 1 in step S74 (step S74: No), the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the printing method is the method 2 (step S79). In the case of the method 2 (step S79: Yes), the control unit 200 does not supply power to the fixing device 9 (step S80), displays a message indicating that printing is possible on the display 19 (step S81), and discharges ink. The image forming unit I is caused to perform ink ejection printing (step S82).

  If the method is not method 2 in step S79 (step S79: No), the control unit 200 confirms whether or not the printing method is method 3 (step S83).

  When the printing method is the method 3 (step S83: Yes), the control unit 200 displays on the display 19 that printing is possible (step S84).

  Next, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the fixing device 9 can raise the temperature to the target temperature while printing the number of recording sheets S specified in the print job (step S85). When the temperature can be raised (step S85: Yes), the control unit 200 starts power supply to the fixing device 9 (step S86). Then, the control unit 200 (temperature detection unit 202) checks whether or not the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature (step S87).

  When the temperature of the fixing device 9 is equal to or higher than the target temperature in step S87 (step S87: Yes), the process proceeds to step S78, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) sends the electrophotographic image forming unit P to the electrophotography. Let the system print. On the other hand, when the temperature of the fixing device 9 does not reach the target temperature in step S87 (step S87: No), the process proceeds to step S82, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) supplies ink to the ink ejection type image forming unit I. The ejection type printing is performed.

  If it is not possible to raise the temperature in step S85 (step S85: No), the process proceeds to step S82, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) prints the ink ejection method on the ink ejection type image forming unit I. To do.

  On the other hand, if it is not method 3 in step S83 (step S83: No), that is, if the selected method is method 4, the control unit 200 (charge amount detection unit 204) indicates that the charge amount of the storage battery 302 is printed. It is determined whether or not the number of prints included in the job is sufficient to perform ink ejection printing by the ink ejection image forming unit I (step S88).

  When the charge amount of the storage battery 302 is sufficient (step S88: Yes), the control unit 200 (switch switching unit 205) switches the power supply from AC / DC power supply to storage battery power supply (step S89). Then, the control unit 200 causes the ink discharge type image forming unit I to perform ink discharge type printing (step S82). On the other hand, when the charge amount of the storage battery 302 is insufficient (step S88: No), the control unit 200 (switch switching unit 205) does not switch the power source, and the control unit 200 supplies ink to the ink ejection image forming unit I. The ejection type printing is performed (step S82).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for switching from AC / DC power supply to storage battery power supply. As shown in FIG. 9A, AC / DC power supply using a power source that is input from an external power source through the AC input unit 300 and subjected to AC / DC conversion by the AC / DC conversion unit 301, and a storage battery 302 Storage battery power supply using a power source is switched by switches SW1 and SW2. The charge amount of the storage battery 302 is detected by the charge amount detection unit 204 of the control unit 200. The operations of the switches SW1 and SW2 are controlled by the switch switching unit 205 of the control unit 200 according to the charge amount of the storage battery 302. The output terminal 305 is a terminal for supplying power to the components of the storage battery 302, the switches SW1 and SW2, and the composite printer 100.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating how the switches SW1 and SW2 are opened and closed according to each printing method and the charge amount. When the above-described method 1 to method 3 are selected as the printing method, since power is not supplied from the storage battery 302, the switch SW1 is always on and the switch SW2 is always off.

  On the other hand, when the method 4 is selected as the printing method and the charge amount of the storage battery 302 is sufficient (step S88: Yes), the switch SW2 is turned on to supply power from the storage battery 302. Thus, the switch SW1 is turned off. Further, when the amount of charge of the storage battery 302 is insufficient (step S88: No), power is supplied from the AC / DC power supply, so that the switch SW1 is turned on and the switch SW2 is turned off.

  According to the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the storage battery is charged during a time period when the power consumption is low, and printing is performed using a printing method with low power consumption by supplying power from the storage battery during a time period when the power consumption reaches a peak. , Energy consumption can be suppressed.

(Example 6)
Next, another example of the procedure for switching from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for switching the printing method from the ink ejection method to the electrophotographic method according to the sixth embodiment.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is different from the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 only in steps S102 to S104, and steps S91 to S101 in FIG. 10 are the same as steps S53 to S63 in FIG. Therefore, steps S102 to S104 will be described here, and descriptions of other steps will be omitted.

  When the method 3 is selected, the control unit 200 performs a printable display on the display 19 (step S101), and whether or not the number of prints included in the print job exceeds a predetermined number of prints designated in advance by the user. Is determined (step S102).

  Here, the predetermined number of prints designated by the user in advance means that the temperature of the fixing device 9 can be raised to a temperature at which heat fixing can be performed while printing the recording sheets S of the number of prints. The number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than the minimum number of printed sheets, and the number of printed sheets less than the minimum number of printed sheets cannot be specified.

  When the number of printed sheets exceeds the predetermined number (step S102: Yes), the control unit 200 starts supplying power to the fixing device 9 (step S103). When the predetermined number is not exceeded (step S102: No), power is not supplied to the fixing device 9, and the process proceeds to step S100, where the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) performs the ink ejection image forming unit I. To perform ink ejection printing.

  Then, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the number of printed sheets exceeds the predetermined number (step S104). When the number exceeds the predetermined number (step S104: Yes), the process proceeds to step S96, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) causes the electrophotographic image forming unit P to perform electrophotographic printing. On the other hand, if the predetermined number of sheets is not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S100, and the control unit 200 (printing method selection unit 201) causes the ink ejection type image forming unit I to perform ink ejection system printing.

  According to the composite printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the user can arbitrarily set the switching timing of the printing method, and can quickly start printing without waiting for the temperature of the fixing device 9 to rise. Further, the composite printer 100 can save energy by performing ink ejection printing with low power consumption until the switching timing.

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1BK Process unit 5 Exposure device 6 Paper feed cassette 8 Transfer belt 9 Fixing device 50 Inkjet head 200 Control unit P Electrophotographic image forming unit I Ink ejection type image forming unit

JP-A-10-230591

Claims (8)

An electrophotographic image forming unit having fixing means for fixing the toner image to the print medium by heating the print medium on which the toner image is formed;
An ink discharge type image forming unit that discharges ink onto a print medium to form an image;
A first printing method for forming an image in the electrophotographic image forming unit, a second printing method for forming an image in the ink ejection image forming unit, and an image in the ink ejection type image forming unit until a predetermined timing. A control unit that selectively executes a third printing method that performs formation and switches to image formation by the electrophotographic image forming unit after a predetermined timing ;
In the third printing method, the temperature of the fixing unit does not rise to a temperature at which the toner image can be fixed to the printing medium until the printing of all the printing media scheduled to be printed by the ink ejection type image forming unit is completed. If the fixing means is not heated,
Images forming device. The predetermined timing is a timing at which the temperature of the fixing unit increases to a temperature at which the toner image can be fixed to the print medium.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The predetermined timing is determined when the temperature of the fixing unit rises to a temperature at which the toner image can be fixed on the print medium during printing of the print medium by the ink ejection image forming unit. At the end of media printing,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. In the standby state where printing is not performed in the first printing method or the third printing method, the fixing unit is not heated.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Timer means for setting to perform image formation using any one of the three printing methods for an arbitrary time zone;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A storage battery capable of supplying power to the ink ejection image forming unit;
The control unit receives the power supply from the first battery, the second printing method, the third printing method, and the storage battery, and performs image formation in the ink ejection image forming unit. Selectively execute the method,
When an image is formed by the ink discharge type image forming unit in the fourth printing method in Jo Tokoro time period, power is supplied from the storage battery,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Notification means for notifying various information, and the notification means notifies that printing is possible when the fixing means has not reached a predetermined temperature in the third printing method.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic image forming unit having fixing means for fixing the toner image to the print medium by heating the print medium on which the toner image is formed; An ink discharge type image forming unit for forming
A first printing method for forming an image in the electrophotographic image forming unit, a second printing method for forming an image in the ink ejection image forming unit, and an image in the ink ejection type image forming unit until a predetermined timing. A control step of selectively performing a third printing method for performing formation and switching to image formation by the electrophotographic image forming unit after a predetermined timing ;
In the third printing method, the temperature of the fixing unit does not rise to a temperature at which the toner image can be fixed to the printing medium until the printing of all the printing media scheduled to be printed by the ink ejection type image forming unit is completed. If the fixing means is not heated,
Images forming method.

Images