JP6993912B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs single-sided printing and double-sided printing.

As the configuration of the image forming apparatus, a configuration for printing on paper while transporting the paper in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as a vertical pass machine) and a configuration for printing on the paper while transporting the paper in the horizontal direction (hereinafter referred to as a horizontal pass machine). ). For example, in single-sided printing of a vertical pass machine, an image of the front surface (first page) is printed on the upper surface (first side) of the paper set in the feeding cassette, and an image of the front surface is printed (set paper). The paper is ejected with the top surface facing down. On the other hand, in double-sided printing of a vertical pass machine, the image of the back surface (second page) is printed on the upper surface of the paper set in the feeding cassette. After that, the paper is inverted in the double-sided transport path, the image of the front surface (page 1) is printed on the lower surface (second side) of the paper, and the lower surface (of the loaded paper) on which the image of the front surface is printed is turned down. The paper is ejected toward you. That is, in the vertical pass machine, in single-sided printing and double-sided printing, whether the image on the front surface is printed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the paper set in the feeding cassette is different. Therefore, in a vertical pass machine, when printing an image on paper with different front and back sides such as preprinted paper and punched paper, either the front side or the back side of the paper faces up depending on whether single-sided printing or double-sided printing is performed. It changes whether it is set in the feeding cassette.

Here, at the time of single-sided printing, according to the attribute of the paper feed unit, the paper is passed through the double-sided transport path and the paper is inverted without printing the front surface image on the upper surface of the paper, and the front surface image is printed on the lower surface of the paper. It has been known. Further, at the time of double-sided printing, according to the type of paper, the paper is passed through the double-sided transport path without printing the front surface image on the lower surface of the paper, the paper is inverted, the front surface image is printed on the upper surface of the paper, and the lower surface of the paper is printed. There is a technique for printing an image on the back surface (Patent Document 1). As a result, even in the vertical pass machine, it is not necessary to change the vertical setting direction of the paper between single-sided printing and double-sided printing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-50482

However, in the technique of passing a double-sided transfer path in single-sided printing according to the above-mentioned attributes of the paper feed unit, even if the upper and lower surfaces of the paper are the same, the single-sided printing passes through the double-sided transfer path, so that printing is slowed down. Further, in Patent Document 1, since the paper is reversed before double-sided printing, printing is slowed down. Therefore, it has been proposed to perform single-sided printing in the first mode in which the paper is not passed through the double-sided transport path and the second mode in which the paper is passed through the double-sided transport path according to the attribute information corresponding to the paper type. However, there are some papers and paper feed units that cannot perform single-sided printing in the second mode in which the paper is passed through the double-sided transport path. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent such attribute information for single-sided printing in the second mode from being mistakenly set in the paper or the paper feed unit.

Therefore, the present invention provides a screen for calling attention to the user so that the mode for passing the paper through the re-transport path for single-sided printing is not erroneously set when single-sided printing cannot be performed by passing the paper through the re-transport path. An image forming apparatus for displaying is provided.

The image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is
The paper feed section where paper is loaded and
A transport path for transporting the paper fed from the paper feed unit, and a transport path for transporting the paper.
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper transported through the transport path, and an image forming unit.
A reversing part that inverts the paper that has passed through the image forming part, and a reversing part.
A re-conveyance path through which the paper inverted by the inversion portion is conveyed, and
An ejection unit from which the paper on which the image is formed is ejected,
A control unit that accepts print jobs, including paper types and print settings for single-sided or double-sided printing.
An operation unit for the user to set the first mode or the second mode in the attribute information corresponding to the paper type.
Equipped with
When the print setting is the double-sided printing, the control unit forms an image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path by the image forming unit, and the image is formed. The paper is inverted by the reversing section, an image is formed by the image forming section on the second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the transport path through the re-conveyance path, and the paper is transferred to the transport path. Discharge to the discharge section,
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the first mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. An image is formed by the forming portion, and the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the discharging portion without passing through the re-transport path.
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the second mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. Instead of forming an image by the forming portion, the paper is inverted by the inversion portion, and the image forming portion is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the conveying path through the re-transporting path. An image is formed by the above method, and the paper is discharged to the ejection unit.
The control unit is a screen that calls attention to the user when the second mode is set in the attribute information by the operation unit when the paper type is a paper that cannot be printed in the second mode. Is displayed on the operation unit.

According to the present invention, there is a screen that alerts the user so that the mode for single-sided printing by passing the paper through the re-conveying path is not set incorrectly when the single-sided printing cannot be performed by passing the paper through the re-conveying path. Can be displayed.

The figure which shows the MFP. Block diagram of the control system of the MFP. The figure which shows the operation part. The figure which shows the paper attribute edit screen and the paper attribute setting screen. The figure which shows the paper transport path when the print side priority mode is OFF in single-sided printing. The figure which shows the transport path of the paper in double-sided printing. The flow chart which shows the prohibition operation in the paper attribute setting executed by a CPU. The figure which shows the example of the screen which calls attention to the user. The figure which shows the paper setting screen and the paper ID setting screen. The flow chart which shows the prohibition operation in the paper ID setting executed by a CPU. The figure which shows the example of the screen which calls attention to the user.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Image forming device)
With reference to FIG. 1, a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as an MFP) 100 will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as paper). FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an MFP 100. The MFP 100 includes a scanner unit (reading unit) 301 that reads an image of a document, a printer unit (image forming unit) 302 that forms an image on paper, and a finisher (post-processing unit) that performs bookbinding processing on the paper on which the image is formed. It has 104 and. The scanner unit 301 as an image input device illuminates a document placed on a platen glass (not shown), scans the reflected light from the document with a CCD line sensor, and converts the image of the document into image data. .. Based on the converted image data, color determination and size determination of the original are performed. The printer unit 302 as an image output device prints an image on paper based on the image data. In this embodiment, the printer unit 302 forms an image on paper by using an electrophotographic method. However, the printer unit 302 is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and may form an image on paper by various types of printing methods such as an inkjet method, an electrostatic method, and a thermal transfer method. A feeding cassette 601 is provided in the lower part of the printer unit 302. The paper is loaded in the feed cassette 601. The paper is, for example, plain paper, recycled paper, thick paper, second original drawing paper, OHP paper, colored paper, pre-punched paper, pre-printed paper, letterhead or label paper. The finisher 104 performs bookbinding processing such as staples and folding on the paper on which the image is formed. The start and stop of the print operation is controlled by the CPU 201 (FIG. 2) of the controller 101 provided in the main body of the MFP 100.

(Control system)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system 10 of the MFP 100. The control system 10 has a controller 101 that controls the entire MFP 100. The controller 101 is electrically connected to the scanner engine 102 that controls the scanner unit 301 and the printer engine 103 that controls the printer unit 302. The controller 101 is electrically connected to the finisher 104, the network interface 105, the operation unit 106, and the modem 108. The scanner engine 102 and the printer engine 103 are controlled by the controller 101. The printer engine 103 is electrically connected to the finisher 104. The finisher 104 can collectively perform staple processing on a plurality of sheets of paper output from the printer unit 302. The finisher 104 is controlled by the controller 101 or the printer engine 103.

The network interface 105 provides bidirectional communication between the external device and the controller 101. The network interface 105 is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 107 as an external device via a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LAN) 220. The controller 101 can be bidirectionally connected to the PC 107 via the network interface 105. The modem 108 connects to the public line network 109. The controller 101 inputs / outputs a facsimile image via the modem 108. The operation unit 106 includes a liquid crystal display unit 401 and a keyboard 204. The operation unit 106 displays information from the controller 101 and conveys an instruction from the user to the controller 101. Functions that can be executed from the operation unit 106 can also be executed from the PC 107 connected to the network interface 105.

The controller 101 has a CPU (control unit) 201, a memory (storage unit) 202, a ROM 210, and a DISK (storage unit) 211 such as a hard disk. The CPU 201 is connected to the memory 202, the operation unit 106, the ROM 210, and the DISK 211 via the bus 209. Various programs and data are stored in DISK211 or ROM210. The CPU 201 reads the program and data from the DISK 211 or the ROM 210 into the memory 202 as necessary, and executes the program. The DISK 211 may be removable from the MFP 100 or may be built into the MFP 100. The program may be downloaded from another MFP via the LAN 220 or the public line network 109 and stored in the DISK 211.

The memory 202 may be a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or may have the functions of both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. Alternatively, the memory 202 may be configured to have the function of a volatile memory and the DISK 211 may have the function of a non-volatile memory. The memory 202 and / or DISK211 may be a removable memory medium for the MFP 100. The CPU 201 displays information by writing data to the liquid crystal display unit 401 of the operation unit 106. The CPU 201 inputs an instruction from the user by reading data from the keyboard 204 or the liquid crystal display unit 401 which is a touch panel. The information input to the CPU 201 is stored in the memory 202, DISK211 or the CPU201 and used for various processes.

Bus 209 is connected to network interface 105. The CPU 201 performs bidirectional communication with an external device such as a PC 107 by reading or writing data from the network interface 105. Bus 209 is connected to modem 108. The CPU 201 uses a modem 108 to transmit or receive a facsimile image through the public line network 109. The bus 209 is connected to the printer engine 103, the finisher 104, and the scanner engine 102. The CPU 201 reads / writes data to / from the printer engine 103, the finisher 104, and the scanner engine 102, performs printing (image forming), bookbinding and scanning (image reading) operations, and acquires various statuses. The image data is input to the controller 101 from the scanner engine 102 or the network interface 105, and is stored in the DISK 211 or the memory 202. Alternatively, it is also possible to store the image data in the removable memory media in advance and attach the memory media to the MFP 100 to take the image data from the memory media to the controller 101.

The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is not limited to the MFP 100, and may be an SFP (Single Function Printer). Further, the scanner unit 301, the printer unit 302, and the finisher 104 may be provided as individual peripheral devices on the LAN 220 or the public line network 109, not inside the MFP 100, and may be controlled by the controller 101.

(Operation unit)
The operation unit 106 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation unit 106. The liquid crystal display unit 401 has a touch panel sheet attached on the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display unit 401 displays an operation screen and soft keys. When the displayed soft key is touched by the user, the liquid crystal display unit 401 transmits the position information to the CPU 201 of the controller 101. The keyboard 204 has a start key 402, a stop key 404, a numeric keypad 405, and a user mode key 406. For example, when scanning an image of a document, when the start key 402 is pressed by the user, the operation of scanning the image of the document is started. A two-color LED 403 of green and red is provided in the center of the start key 402. When the two-color LED 403 emits green light, the start key 402 is ready for use. When the two-color LED 403 emits red light, the start key 402 is in an unusable state. When the stop key 404 is pressed, the operating operation is stopped. The numeric keypad 405 is composed of buttons of numbers and letters. The user uses the numeric keypad 405 to set the number of copies and instruct the screen switching of the liquid crystal display unit 401. The user mode key 406 is pressed by the user when setting the device.

((Paper attribute setting screen))
An example of the paper attribute editing screen 501 and the paper attribute setting screen 504 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401 according to the instruction from the CPU 201 of the controller 101 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a paper attribute editing screen 501 and a paper attribute setting screen 504. On the paper attribute editing screen 501 shown in FIG. 4A, a paper identifier (hereinafter referred to as a paper ID) 502 as an editable paper type is displayed. For example, when the user selects the paper ID 1 and touches the edit button 503, the paper attribute setting screen 504 shown in FIG. 4B is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401. On the paper attribute setting screen 504, the set value of the paper attribute (attribute information) 505 of the paper ID 1 is displayed. The paper attribute 505 includes adjustment of creep (deviation) correction amount, adjustment of glossiness, adjustment of secondary transfer voltage, toner amount adjustment mode, and print surface priority mode (second mode). The user can change the set value of the paper attribute 505 on the paper attribute setting screen 504. The paper attribute 505 is stored in the memory (storage unit) 202. The print surface priority mode 506 determines whether or not to pass the re-conveyance path 612 (FIG. 7) for double-sided printing even when printing on the paper while transporting the paper in the vertical direction (vertical pass machine) and single-sided printing. It is an attribute to do. When the print surface priority mode 506 is ON, in the case of a vertical pass machine and single-sided printing, the paper is passed through the re-transport path 612 for double-sided printing without printing on the first side (upper surface) of the paper, and the paper is inverted. After that, the image of the front surface is printed on the second surface (lower surface) opposite to the first surface of the paper. As a result, in both single-sided printing and double-sided printing, the image of the front surface is printed on the lower surface of the paper set in the feed cassette 601 and the paper is ejected to the ejection unit 605 with the lower surface on which the image of the front surface is printed facing down. To.

(Paper transport route)
FIG. 5 will explain the transport path of the paper S when the print surface priority mode 506 is OFF in the single-sided printing of the MFP 100 of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transport path of paper S when the print surface priority mode 506 is OFF in single-sided printing. The CPU 201 acquires information indicating whether the print setting is single-sided printing or double-sided printing from the received print job settings. Further, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the print surface priority mode is ON from the paper attributes corresponding to the paper types included in the received print job. When the print surface priority mode 506 is OFF in single-sided printing, the MFP 100 operates in the speed priority mode (first mode). The MFP 100 is configured to print on the paper S while conveying the paper S in the vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as a vertical pass machine). The transport path 611 extends from the feed roller 621 through the transfer section 602 and the fixing section 604 to the discharge roller 622. In FIG. 5, for the sake of explanation, a Δ mark is added to the upper surface of the paper S loaded on the feed cassette 601.

The feed cassette 601 as a paper feed unit includes a plurality of paper feed stages (hereinafter referred to as a paper feed unit). In this embodiment, the plurality of paper feed units include a first paper feed unit 631, a second paper feed unit 632, a third paper feed unit 633, and a fourth paper feed unit 634. The plurality of paper feed units may further have a fifth paper feed unit 635 as a manual feed tray. The paper S is conveyed from the feed cassette 601 to the position P1 by the feed roller 621. At position P1, the toner image is transferred to the paper S by the transfer unit 602. Paper S is conveyed to position P2. At position P2, the toner image is fixed to the paper S by the fixing portion 604. The paper S having the surface image formed on the upper surface is discharged to the ejection unit 605 by the ejection roller 622 with the upper surface on which the surface image is formed facing downward. As described above, when the print surface priority mode 506 is OFF in single-sided printing, the front surface image is formed on the upper surface of the paper S set in the feed cassette 601 and the upper surface on which the front surface image is formed is directed downward. The paper S is ejected to the ejection unit 605. Here, the image formed by single-sided printing is referred to as a surface image.

With reference to FIG. 6, the transport path of the paper S in the double-sided printing of the MFP 100 of this embodiment will be described. The retransport path 612 extends from between the fixing section 604 and the discharging roller 622 to between the feeding roller 621 and the transfer section 602. The reconveyance path 612 is provided with an inversion section 624. The reversing section 624 is provided with a reversing path 613 and a reversing roller 623. The reversing section 624 reverses the paper S that has been conveyed on the transport path 611 and has passed through the printer section 302, and is conveyed to the reconveyance path 612. Similar to FIG. 5, in FIG. 6, a Δ mark is added to the upper surface of the paper S loaded on the feed cassette 601 for the sake of explanation. Since the transport of the paper S for forming the image of the back surface from the feed cassette 601 to the upper surface (first surface) of the paper S fed is the same as in FIG. 5, the illustration is omitted in FIG. After the image of the back surface is fixed on the upper surface (first surface) of the paper S, the paper S is conveyed to the position P3 of the reversal path 613 by the action of the transfer path switching flapper (not shown). The paper S is switched back by the reversal of the reversing roller 623, and is conveyed from the position P3 to the position P4 on the reconveyance path 612 with the rear end of the paper S as the tip. The paper S returns to the transport path 611 again, and the toner image on the surface is transferred to the lower surface (second surface) of the paper S by the transfer unit 602 at the position P1. The toner image on the surface of the paper S is fixed on the lower surface (second surface) of the paper S by the fixing portion 604 at the position P2. The paper S on which the surface image is formed on the lower surface (second surface) is discharged to the discharge unit 605 by the discharge roller 622 with the lower surface (second surface) on which the front surface image is formed facing downward. In this way, in double-sided printing, an image of the front surface is formed on the lower surface (second surface) of the paper S set in the feed cassette 601 and the lower surface (second surface) on which the image of the front surface is formed is turned downward. The paper S is ejected to the ejection unit 605. Here, of the two images to be formed on both sides of the paper S in double-sided printing, the image on the first page is referred to as the front side image, and the image on the latter page is referred to as the back side image. In double-sided printing, the image on the back side, which is the image on the later page, is formed on the paper S before the image on the front side, which is the image on the first page.

In this embodiment, when printing an image on paper S having different front and back surfaces such as pre-punch paper, pre-printing paper, letterhead, or label paper, the paper S is placed on the feed cassette 601 with the front side of the paper S facing down. It will be loaded. In the case of the fifth paper feed unit 635 as a manual tray, the paper S is loaded on the fifth paper feed unit 635 with the surface of the paper S facing up. The user sets the print surface priority mode of the paper ID of the paper S to ON. In the case of double-sided printing, as described above, an image of the back surface is formed on the upper surface (back surface) of the paper S set in the feeding cassette 601 and an image of the front surface is formed on the lower surface (front surface) of the paper S. The paper S is ejected to the ejection unit 605 with the lower surface (front surface) on which the image is formed facing downward. When the print surface priority mode 506 is ON in single-sided printing, the paper S is conveyed along the transfer path for double-sided printing shown in FIG. 6 instead of the transfer path shown in FIG. However, no image is formed on the upper surface (back surface) of the paper S set in the feed cassette 601, the front surface image is formed on the lower surface (front surface) of the paper S, and the front surface image is formed on the lower surface (front surface). ) Down, the paper S is ejected to the ejection unit 605.

In this embodiment, the surface image is formed on the lower surface (second surface) of the paper S loaded on the feed cassette 601 in both the double-sided printing and the single-sided printing in which the print surface priority mode is set to ON. .. Then, in both the double-sided printing and the single-sided printing in which the print surface priority mode is set to ON, the paper S is ejected to the ejection unit 605 with the lower surface (front surface) on which the image of the front surface is formed facing down (in the same direction). Will be printed.

(Prohibited operation in paper attribute setting)
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a prohibited operation in the paper attribute setting executed by the CPU 201. In this embodiment, the CPU 201 of the controller 101 prohibits the print side priority mode from being set for the paper attribute of the paper type that cannot be printed on one side by passing the paper through the reconveying path 612. The prohibited operation program is stored in ROM 210 or DISK 211. The CPU 201 reads the program from the ROM 210 or DISK 211 to the memory 202 and executes the prohibited operation.

When the prohibited operation is started, in S801, the CPU 201 acquires the paper attribute 505 set on the paper attribute setting screen 504 (FIG. 4B). In S802, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the print surface priority mode 506 is on from the paper attributes acquired in S801. When the print surface priority mode is off (NO in S802), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the print surface priority mode is on (YES in S802), the CPU 201 acquires the print path configuration in S803. In S804, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the print pass configuration acquired in S803 is a vertical pass machine. That is, the CPU 201 has a vertical pass configuration (conveyance path) in which the print path configuration in which the paper is conveyed is such that the upper surface of the paper loaded in the paper feed unit is ejected in different directions (upward and downward) for single-sided printing and double-sided printing. ). When the print pass configuration is not a vertical pass machine (NO in S804), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the print pass configuration is a vertical pass machine (YES in S804), the CPU 201 determines in S805 whether or not the paper type represents paper that can be printed on one side through the reconveyance path 612 in the print surface priority mode. .. When the paper type is paper that can be printed on one side through the reconveyance path 612 (YES in S805), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the paper type is a paper that cannot be printed on one side through the reconveyance path 612 (NO in S805), the CPU 201 displays a screen calling attention to the user in the liquid crystal display unit 401 in S806.

The paper that cannot be printed on one side through the reconveying path 612 in the print side priority mode is, for example, a backing paper. The backing paper is a paper that can be used as blank paper only on the back side of the paper printed on one side. When the backing paper is set in the paper feed section with the blank side facing up, an image is formed on the printed side of the backing paper inverted through the reconveying path 612 in the print side priority mode. Therefore, in order to prevent this, the user is alerted. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that calls attention to the user. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a screen (warning screen) 1001 of a message “cannot be set” displayed superimposed on the paper attribute 505 of the paper attribute setting screen 504. FIG. 8B shows a screen (warning screen) 1002 of the message “Please place the front side up because the paper cannot be double-sided” displayed on the paper attribute 505 of the paper attribute setting screen 504. It is a figure. The CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation after displaying a screen calling attention to the user on the liquid crystal display unit 401.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print surface priority mode for single-sided printing by passing the paper through the re-conveying path 612 is erroneously set for the case where single-sided printing cannot be performed by passing the paper through the re-conveying path 612. It is possible to display a screen that calls attention to the user so that it will not be printed.

Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the same structure as that of the first embodiment is designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Since the prohibited operations in the MFP 100, the control system 10, the operation unit 106, the paper attribute setting screen 504, the paper transport path, and the paper attribute setting of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted. In the first embodiment, it is prohibited to set the print side priority mode for the paper attribute of the paper type in which single-sided printing cannot be performed by passing the paper through the reconveyance path 612. In the second embodiment, it is further prohibited to set the paper attribute in which the print surface priority mode is set to ON for the paper feed unit that cannot transfer the paper to the re-conveyance path 612. The paper feeding unit that cannot transfer paper to the reconveying path 612 is, for example, an inserter (not shown) paper feeding unit arranged between the printer unit 302 of the MFP 100 and the finisher 104. The inserter feeds the paper (printed paper) on which the original or the image is formed to the finisher 104 without passing through the transport path 611 and the re-transport path 612 of the printer unit 302, and the image is formed by the printer unit 302. Insert the paper into the paper.

An example of the paper setting screen 901 and the paper ID setting screen 903 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401 according to the instruction from the CPU 201 of the controller 101 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a paper setting screen 901 and a paper ID setting screen 903. The settings of the first paper feed unit 631 to the fourth paper feed unit 634 are displayed on the paper setting screen 901 shown in FIG. 9A. When the user selects the paper feed unit and touches the setting button 902, the paper ID setting screen 903 shown in FIG. 9B is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 401. The user can change the paper ID of the paper feed unit on the paper ID setting screen 903.

(Prohibited operation in paper ID setting)
Hereinafter, the prohibited operation in the paper ID setting of the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a prohibited operation in the paper ID setting executed by the CPU 201. In this embodiment, the CPU 201 of the controller 101 prohibits the paper attribute in which the print surface priority mode is set to ON for the paper feed unit that cannot perform double-sided printing. The prohibited operation program is stored in ROM 210 or DISK 211. The CPU 201 reads the program from the ROM 210 or DISK 211 to the memory 202 and executes the prohibited operation.

When the prohibited operation is started, in S1101, the CPU 201 acquires the paper attribute 505 corresponding to the paper ID set on the paper ID setting screen 903 (FIG. 9B). In S1102, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the print surface priority mode 506 is on from the paper attributes acquired in S1101. When the print surface priority mode is off (NO in S1102), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the print surface priority mode is on (YES in S1102), the CPU 201 acquires the print path configuration in S1103. In S1104, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the print pass configuration acquired in S1103 is a vertical pass machine. That is, the CPU 201 has a vertical pass configuration (conveyance path) in which the print path configuration in which the paper is conveyed is such that the upper surface of the paper loaded in the paper feed unit is ejected in different directions (upward and downward) for single-sided printing and double-sided printing. ). When the print pass configuration is not a vertical pass machine (NO in S1104), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the print pass configuration is a vertical pass machine (YES in S1104), the CPU 201 determines whether or not the paper can be conveyed from the paper feed unit in which the paper ID is set to the re-conveyance path 612. When the paper feed unit is capable of transporting paper to the reconveyance path 612 (YES in S1105), the CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation. On the other hand, when the paper cannot be conveyed to the re-transport path 612 (NO in S1105), the CPU 201 displays a screen calling attention to the user in the liquid crystal display unit 401 in S1106. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that calls attention to the user. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a screen (warning screen) 1201 of a message “cannot be set” displayed superimposed on the paper setting screen 901. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a screen (warning screen) 1002 of the message "Please place the front side up because the paper cannot be double-sided" displayed on the paper setting screen 901. The CPU 201 ends the prohibited operation after displaying a screen calling attention to the user on the liquid crystal display unit 401. The screen 1002 shown in FIG. 11B is not displayed for a paper feeding unit such as an inserter that feeds paper to be inserted into the paper ejected from the printer unit 302.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user is alerted so that the paper ID in which the print surface priority mode is set is not erroneously set for the paper feed unit that cannot transfer the paper to the re-conveyance path 612. You can display the screen to be printed.

100 ... MFP (Image Forming Device)
106 ... Operation unit 201 ... CPU (control unit)
302 ... Printer unit (image forming unit)
601 ... Feeding cassette (paper feed section)
605 ... Discharge section 611 ... Transport path 612 ... Re-transport path 624 ... Reversing section

Claims (5)

The paper feed section where paper is loaded and
A transport path for transporting the paper fed from the paper feed unit, and a transport path for transporting the paper.
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper transported through the transport path, and an image forming unit.
A reversing part that inverts the paper that has passed through the image forming part, and a reversing part.
A re-conveyance path through which the paper inverted by the inversion portion is conveyed, and
An ejection unit from which the paper on which the image is formed is ejected,
A control unit that accepts print jobs, including paper types and print settings for single-sided or double-sided printing.
An operation unit for the user to set the first mode or the second mode in the attribute information corresponding to the paper type.
Equipped with
When the print setting is the double-sided printing, the control unit forms an image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path by the image forming unit, and the image is formed. The paper is inverted by the reversing section, an image is formed by the image forming section on the second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the transport path through the re-conveyance path, and the paper is transferred to the transport path. Discharge to the discharge section,
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the first mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. An image is formed by the forming portion, and the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the discharging portion without passing through the re-transport path.
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the second mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. Instead of forming an image by the forming portion, the paper is inverted by the inversion portion, and the image forming portion is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the conveying path through the re-transporting path. An image is formed by the above method, and the paper is discharged to the ejection unit.
The control unit is a screen that calls attention to the user when the second mode is set in the attribute information by the operation unit when the paper type is a paper that cannot be printed in the second mode. Is displayed on the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper that cannot be printed in the second mode is a backing paper that is printed on one side on one side and can be used as a blank paper only on the back side. In the paper feed section, the transport path, the image forming section, the reversing section, the re-transport path, and the ejection section, the upper surface of the paper loaded on the paper feed section is printed on both sides and the first mode. Is configured to be ejected to the ejection unit in a direction different from that of the single-sided printing in which is set.
In the feeding section, the transport path, the image forming section, the reversing section, the re-transport path, and the discharging section, the upper surface of the paper loaded on the feeding section is printed on both sides and the second. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be ejected to the ejection unit in the same direction as the single-sided printing in which a mode is set. Multiple paper feed units on which paper is loaded, and
A transport path for transporting the paper fed from the plurality of paper feed units, and a transport path for transporting the paper.
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper transported through the transport path, and an image forming unit.
A reversing part that inverts the paper that has passed through the image forming part, and a reversing part.
A re-conveyance path through which the paper inverted by the inversion portion is conveyed, and
An ejection unit from which the paper on which the image is formed is ejected,
A control unit that accepts print jobs, including paper types and print settings for single-sided or double-sided printing.
An operation unit for the user to set the first mode or the second mode for the attribute information corresponding to the paper type and to set the paper type for the plurality of paper feed units.
Equipped with
When the print setting is the double-sided printing, the control unit forms an image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path by the image forming unit, and the image is formed. The paper is inverted by the reversing section, an image is formed by the image forming section on the second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the transport path through the re-conveyance path, and the paper is transferred to the transport path. Discharge to the discharge section,
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the first mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. An image is formed by the forming portion, and the paper on which the image is formed is discharged to the discharging portion without passing through the re-transport path.
When the print setting is the single-sided printing and the second mode is set in the attribute information, the control unit displays the image on the first surface of the paper conveyed from the paper feed unit to the transfer path. Instead of forming an image by the forming portion, the paper is inverted by the inversion portion, and the image forming portion is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the paper conveyed to the conveying path through the re-transporting path. An image is formed by the above method, and the paper is discharged to the ejection unit.
In the control unit, when the second mode is set in the attribute information corresponding to the paper type, the paper feeding unit for which the paper type is set by the operation unit conveys the paper to the transport path. An image forming apparatus characterized in that a screen that calls attention to the user is displayed on the operation unit when the screen cannot be used. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the paper feeding unit, which cannot convey the paper to the transport path, is an inserter for inserting the paper into the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. ..

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