JPH02182631A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically select a designated form so as to form an image by selecting a corresponding feed means in accordance with the key actuation at an actuating section or the designated size and kind of a form by a host equipment. CONSTITUTION:The control section 61 of a printer main body 1 selects a corresponding feed means in accordance with the key actuation at an actuating section or the designated size and kind of a form from an external host equipment 63 based on signals from form size detecting means 72, 73 and 82 and form kind detecting means 74, 75 and 83 out of a plural cassette feed device 2 or an envelope feed/delivery device 3 so as to drive feed motors 78 or 79 and 85. And the printer main body 1 forms an image on the form which is selected so as to be supplied in accordance with image information from the external host equipment 63. By this constitution, the designated size and kind of the form are automatically selected so that the image can thereby be formed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to a system that is electrically connected to an external host device such as a personal computer, and that responds to image information sent from the host device. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic laser printer that forms images using an electrophotographic process.

(Prior Art) As is well known, printers include impact type dot printers, non-impact type laser printers, and LED printers.
There are printers, LCD printers, etc. However, these printers often have only one paper cassette that supplies paper for printing, and even if they have multiple paper cassettes, the printer's operation panel (operation panel) ), or from an external host device (personal computer, word processor, etc.) connected to the printer, it was not possible to specify the paper feed cassette and directly specify the paper size, paper type, etc.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) This was made in order to solve the problem that the paper size and paper type cannot be specified directly from the operation unit or an external host device as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can directly specify a paper size and paper type from an external host device, and automatically select paper of the specified size and type to form an image. .

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is an image forming apparatus that is electrically connected to an external host device and forms an image according to image information sent from the host device. , a plurality of paper feeding means for supplying paper for image formation, an operation section through which the user can operate keys, and when the paper size and type of paper are specified by key operations from this operation section, or when the host a selection means for selecting, from the plurality of paper feeding means, a paper feeding means in which paper of the specified size and type is stored, upon receiving a signal specifying the paper size and paper type from the device; and image forming means for forming an image on the paper fed by the paper feeding means selected by the selection means, according to the image information sent from the host device.

(Function) When the paper size and paper type are specified by key operations from the operation unit, or when a signal specifying the paper size and paper type is received from an external host device,
Selects a paper feeder that stores paper of the specified size and type, and forms an image on the paper fed by the selected paper feeder in accordance with image information sent from an external host device. This is how it was done.

With this, it is possible to directly specify the paper size and paper type from the operation unit or external host device, and automatically select the paper of the specified size and type to form an image.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the external appearance and internal configuration of, for example, an electrophotographic laser printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In other words, this laser printer is electrically connected to a host device such as a personal computer via an interface cable, etc., and forms an image (prints) according to image information sent from the host device. A main body 1, a multi-cassette paper feeding device (paper feeding means) 2, which also serves as a mounting stand for the printer main body 1 and supplies paper P to the printer main body 1, is attached to the rear side of the printer main body 1,
It is comprised of an envelope feeding device (paper feeding means) 3 that feeds envelopes A to the printer main body l.

The printer main body 1 is constructed as follows.

That is, 4 is a casing, and the rear part of the top surface of this casing 4 is raised one step higher, and a recessed part 5 as a paper discharge part is formed in the center of the top surface. A jogger device 7 including a pedestal (jogger tray) 6 is provided in the recess 5 . An operation section (operation panel) 8 is provided on the right side of the recess 5, and a paper discharge tray 9 is installed on the front side of the housing 4.

An image forming mechanism is provided within the housing 4.

That is, 10 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor, and around it, along the direction of rotation, there are a charging charger 11, a laser optical system 12, a developing device 13, a transfer charger 14, a peeling charger 15, and a cleaning charger. The devices 1 and 6 and the static eliminator 17 are arranged in this order.

The laser optical system 12 includes a semiconductor laser oscillator (not shown) such as a laser diode that generates a laser beam modulated according to dot image data, and a collimator lens that collimates the laser beam output from the laser oscillator. (not shown), a rotating mirror (polygon mirror) 1 that scans the output light from this collimator lens
8. An fθ lens 19 that allows the laser beam scanned by the rotating mirror 18 to pass through, reflecting mirrors 20 and 21 that reflect the laser beam that has passed through the fθ lens 19 toward the photoreceptor 10, and this reflecting mirror 20. It is composed of a correction lens 22 that guides the laser beam reflected by the photoreceptor 21 to the surface of the photoreceptor 10, and the like.

A transport path 24 is formed inside the housing 4 and extends forward through an image transfer section 23 between the photoreceptor 10 and the transfer charger 14, and a paper feed cassette (
Hereinafter, the paper P is automatically fed from the paper feed cassette 25 via the paper feed roller 26 and the aligning roller pair 27, and the paper P is automatically fed from the multiple cassette paper feed device 2. Paper P, paper P1 manually fed from the manual feed tray 28, or envelopes A automatically fed from the envelope feeding device 3 are guided to the image transfer section 23. Note that the paper feed cassette 25 can accommodate and set paper P in addition to standard paper, thick paper, thin paper, and 0HP (plastic sheet).

An aligning roller pair 29 is arranged on the upstream side of the image transfer section 23 of the conveyance path 24, and a heat roller pair 30 as a fixing device, a paper ejection selector 31 . and a pair of paper discharge rollers 32 are arranged. Further, at the end of the conveyance path 24, sheets P sorted by the sheet discharge selector 31,
A branch conveyance path 34 is formed which includes a pair of paper discharge rollers 33 that guides the envelope A and the like to the recess 5 serving as a paper discharge section.

The multiple cassette paper feeding device 2 includes, for example, two paper feeding cassettes (hereinafter sometimes referred to as second and third paper feeding cassettes).
It is equipped with 35.36. Then, the sheets P in these paper feed cassettes 35, 36 are taken out one by one by paper feed rollers 37, 38, and aligning roller pairs 39, 40
The rollers are guided to a pair of guide rollers 42 in the printer main body 1 via a guide path 41, and guided to a pair of aligning rollers 29 by the pair of guide rollers 42. Note that the paper feed cassettes 35 and 36 can store and set paper P in addition to standard paper, thick paper, thin paper, and OHP.

The envelope feeding device 3 includes a stacker 43 that stores envelopes A in a stacked manner.
It is equipped with Then, the envelopes A in the stacker 43 are taken out one by one by a feeding roller 44 and guided to a guide roller pair 42 in the printer main body 1 via a guide path 45, which guides the aligning roller pair 42. 29. In addition to envelopes, this envelope feeding device 3 can store and set standard paper, thin paper, and OHP.

In such a configuration, in a printing operation, the photoreceptor 10 is first rotated and the charging device 11 is operated to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor 10, and then the laser optical system 12 charges the photoreceptor 10. Exposure corresponding to the dot image data is performed on 10 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 10 is developed by a developing device 13 that uses a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier, and is sent to an image transfer section 23 as a toner image.

Meanwhile, in synchronization with the toner image forming operation, the paper feed cassette 2
5, 35. Paper P selectively taken out from 36, paper P1 fed manually, or envelope feeding device 3
The envelope A supplied from the envelope A is fed through the aligning roller pair 29, and the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 10 as described above is transferred to the paper P or the envelope A by the action of the transfer charger 14. .

The paper P or envelope A on which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the surface of the photoreceptor 10 by the action of the peeling charger 15, passed through the conveyance path 24, and sent to the heat roller pair 30.
By passing through this, the toner image is fused and fixed.

After fixing, the paper P or envelope A is sorted in its ejection direction by a paper ejection selector 31, and is ejected onto the pedestal 6 of the upper jogger device 7 or onto the lower paper ejection tray 9.

Note that after the toner image is transferred onto the paper P or the envelope A, the residual toner on the photoreceptor 10 is cleaned by the cleaning device 16, and the next printing operation is ready.

FIG. 4 shows the operating section 8, which consists of a liquid crystal display section 51, a plurality of status display lamps 52, and a keyboard 53. The keyboard 53 includes a numeric keypad 54, a yes key 55, a no key 56, an online key 57 for selecting whether to specify paper size and paper type online or offline, an offline key 58, and a key for selecting printing conditions. It consists of selection keys 59 and the like to be used.

FIG. 1 shows an electric circuit of a laser printer configured as described above. That is, in the printer main body 1, 61 is a control unit in charge of overall control, and the CPU
(central processing unit), etc., to which the operation section 8 is connected, and external host equipment (for example, a personal computer, word processor, etc.) 63 is connected via an interface cable 62. Connected.

The control unit 61 includes a paper size detection means 64 provided for the paper feed cassette 25 to detect the size of the stored paper, standard paper, and thick paper.

Each detection signal is manually inputted from a paper type detection means 65 for detecting the type of stored paper such as thin paper or OHP, and a paper presence/absence detection means 66 for detecting the presence or absence of paper. Further, the control unit 61 is connected to a paper feed motor 67 that drives the paper feed roller 26 and the like. Furthermore, the controller 61 is connected to a heater 68 of the heat roller pair 30 and a transfer high-voltage power source 69 that drives the transfer charger 14.
The transfer voltage (output voltage) can be changed.

Although not shown in the drawing, the control section 61 receives signals from various sensors and other devices, and also drives the photoreceptor 10, the developing device 13, the heat roller pair 30, the conveyance path 24, etc. at least one motor that
It also controls electromagnetic clutches and solenoids that control various transmission mechanisms, high-voltage power supplies that drive various chargers other than the transfer charger, laser oscillators, rotating mirrors, etc.

In the multiple cassette paper feeder 2, 71 is a control unit that controls the overall control, and is mainly composed of a CPU, etc.
This includes paper size detection means 72 and 73 provided for each of the paper feed cassettes 35 and 36 to detect the size of the stored paper, standard paper, thick paper, thin paper, OHP paper, etc.
Detection signals are input from paper type detection means 74 and 75 for detecting the type of stored paper, and paper presence/absence detection means 76 and 77 for detecting the presence or absence of paper, respectively. The control unit 71 also includes paper feed rollers 37 and 38.
Paper feed motors 78 and 79 that drive the paper feed motors 78 and 79 are connected.

In the envelope feeding device 3, 81 is a control unit in charge of overall control, which is mainly composed of a CPU, etc., and is provided with respect to the stacker 43 to control the stored paper (envelopes A). Paper size detection means 82 for detecting the size of
, envelopes, standard paper, thin paper.

Detection signals from a paper type detection means 83 for detecting the type of stored paper such as OHP, and a paper presence/absence detection means 84 for detecting the presence or absence of paper are manually input. Further, a feeding motor 85 for driving the feeding roller 44 and the like are connected to the control section 81 .

Ti5 diagram shows the paper size detection means 64, 72° 73
and a specific example of the paper type detection means 65, 74, 75. That is, 91 is a paper feed cassette (corresponding to the paper feed cassette 25, 35° 36 in FIG. 3), and a plurality of magnet storage parts 92. . . are provided, and the paper size is displayed at the storage position of the permanent magnet 93 relative to the magnet storage portions 92, . On the other hand, a plurality of magnetic force detection elements (reed switches, etc.) 94 are located at the portions facing the magnet storage portions 92, . ．． ... are provided, and these magnetic force detection elements 94. By detecting the magnetic force of the magnet 93, the size of the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 91 can be detected (identified).

Further, on one side of the paper feed cassette 91, a plurality of magnet storage sections 95. ... are provided, and these magnet storage parts 95
．． The type of paper is displayed depending on the storage position of the permanent magnet 96 relative to... On the other hand, when the paper feed cassette 91 in the printer main body 1 and the multi-cassette paper feed device 2 is set, the magnet storage section 95. A plurality of magnetic force detection elements (reed switches, etc.) 9 are installed at the part opposite to...
7. ... are provided, and these magnetic force detection ropes 97
．． By detecting the magnetic force of the magnet 96, the type of paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 91 can be detected (identified).

Note that the magnets 93 and 96 can be stored in different positions by the user, and can be placed in the same paper cassette depending on the paper size or size.
This setting can be made when storing different types of paper.

Although not shown, the paper size detection means 82 and the paper type detection means 83 of the envelope feeding device 3 have substantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 5.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Now, when the power is turned on, the control unit 61 starts warming up the heat roller pair 30 by energizing the heater 68 (S
l). When the heat roller pair 30 reaches a fixable temperature, a warm-up end signal is sent from the heat roller pair 30 to the controller 61, and the controller 61 ends the warm-up (S2).

When the warm-up is completed in this way (S2), the control unit 61 controls the first to third paper feed cassettes 25°35.36°.
and various signals from the envelope feeding device 3, that is, paper size detection means 64.72, 73°82, paper type detection means 65.74, 75°83, and paper presence/absence detection means 66.76.77°84. Each output is checked (93-36). When this check is completed, the control unit 61 lights up the ready lamp in the status display lamp 52 of the operating unit 8 (S7) to notify the user that the device is in the ready state, and sends a ready signal to the host device 63. (S8).

Thereafter, a state is reached in which keys or commands for specifying the paper size and type of paper can be entered from the operation unit 8 or the host device 63 (89° 310). Note that when specifying the paper size and paper type offline from the operation unit 8, press the offline key 58 in the operation unit 8, and when specifying the paper size and paper type online from the host device 63, press the offline key 58 in the operation unit 8. Press the online key 57 in 8.

Now, the keys from the operating section 8 or the host device 63 can be operated manually.
When there is a command input from (S9°510), the control unit 61 controls whether the specified paper size is the first to third paper.
Check if there is paper in the paper feed cassettes 25, 35, 36 and envelope feeding device 3), and if there are, then check if the specified paper type is present.
12) If the specified paper type exists, step S
Proceed to step 31.

In step S11, if there is no paper of the specified paper size, the control unit 61 checks whether there is paper of a similar paper size (313), and if not, the display unit 51 of the operation unit 8 displays “Specified "Out of paper" is displayed (S14), and a designated paper out status is transmitted to the host device 63.S15) The process returns to step S3 and enters a standby state (waiting for key input or command).

In step S13, if there is paper of a similar paper size, the control unit 61 displays "Similar paper available" on the display unit 51 of the operation unit 8 (S16), and
Send the paper status close to 3 (S 1
7). Then, when the yes key 55 in the operation unit 8 is pressed (S18) or a yes command is received from the host device 63 (S20), the control unit 61 checks whether the specified paper type is available. 12), if there is, proceed to step S31. In addition, the no-key 56 in the operation unit 8
is pressed (S19) or a no command is received from the host device 63 (S21), the control unit 61 executes step S
3 and enters the standby state.

In step S12, if the specified paper type does not exist, the control unit 61 checks whether there is a similar paper type (522), and if there is no similar paper type, the display unit 51 of the operation unit 8 ``No specified paper type'' is displayed (S23), and the status of no specified paper type is transmitted to the host device 63 (524), and the process returns to step S3 to enter a standby state.

In step S22, if there are similar paper types,
The control unit 61 displays "Paper available nearby" on the display unit 51 of the operation unit 8 (S25), and transmits the status of paper available nearby to the host device 63 (S26).

Then, whether the yes key 55 in the operation unit 8 is pressed (
S27), if a yes command is received from the host device 63 (S29), the control unit 61 proceeds to step S31. Also, whether the no key 56 in the operation unit 8 is pressed (S28)
, if no command is received from the host device 63 (S30)
, the control unit 61 returns to step S3 and enters a standby state.

Here, a method for selecting similar paper sizes and paper types will be explained. The similar paper size refers to paper that is similar in size as shown in FIG. 7, and is selected by having this table as data in the control section 61. OH
P and envelope are also selected in the same manner as this paper size. Further, as shown below, if the specified paper type does not exist, the similar paper types are selected in the order of the arrows. however,
In this embodiment, one type of OHP and envelope will be explained. Note that increasing the number of types only increases the amount of data held in the control unit 61, which is technically possible.

Selection order: Standard paper - thick paper → thin paper Thick paper → Standard paper - Thin paper Thin paper, standard paper, thick paper OHP envelope Next, steps after step S31 will be explained.

Generally, image information from the host device 63 is sent as shown in FIG. 8(a) when portrait is specified. Furthermore, in the case of landscape designation, the information is sent as shown in FIG. 9(a). The time required for printing is faster when the length of the paper in the direction of paper travel is shorter. Therefore, when the image information from the host device 63 is as shown in FIG. 8(a), it is possible to print faster if the image information is converted and printed as shown in FIG. 8(b).

Therefore, please check if there is paper in the longitudinal direction.
32,534), if there is paper in the longitudinal direction, the control unit 6
1 sets the status for conversion as shown in FIG. 8 or 9 (S33.535). Next, the control unit 61 selects the paper feeding means (paper feeding cassette) in which the designated paper P is stored (536), and further selects the optimal process conditions according to the paper type as shown in FIG. In order to obtain this, the transfer voltage applied to the transfer charger 14 and the temperature (constant volume temperature) of the heat roller pair 30 are respectively set (S37).

When the process of step S37 is completed, the control unit 61 waits for image information to be printed to be sent from the host device 63 (538). If the image information is sent within, for example, 10 seconds (S39), the control unit 61 checks whether the image direction history change status is set (S40). As a result of this check, if the image direction conversion status is set, the control section 61
As shown in FIG. 1, the image information is converted to image data (541), and if the image direction conversion status is not set, the image information is converted to image data as shown in FIG. 12 (S42).

When the conversion to image data is completed in this way, the control unit 61 turns on the paper feed motor that drives the paper feed roller of the selected paper feed cassette for a certain period of time (84
3 to 545), feed the specified paper P, and
The dot image data is transferred onto the image (S46). When the transfer of the dot image data is completed (S47), the control unit 61 determines whether the same image information is to be continuously printed or different image information is to be printed (S48, 549), and the process proceeds to each process. If, for example, 10 seconds have elapsed and the next image information is not received, the control section 61 returns to step S3, enters a standby state, and ends the printing operation.

In this way, when the paper size and paper type are specified by key operations from the operation panel, or when a signal specifying the paper size and paper type is received from an external host device, the specified size and paper type are A paper feeding means (paper feeding cassette) in which paper is stored is selected, and printing is performed on the paper fed by the selected paper feeding means in accordance with image information sent from an external host device. This allows you to specify paper size and paper type directly from the operation panel or external host device.
Paper of the specified size and type can be automatically selected and printed.

In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a laser printer has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be similarly applied to, for example, an LED printer or a liquid crystal printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, paper size and paper type can be specified directly from the operation unit or external host device, and paper of the specified size and type can be automatically produced. An image forming apparatus that can selectively form images can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of a laser printer, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the laser printer, and Fig. 3 is an internal structure of the laser printer. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation section; FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an example of a combination of paper size detection means and paper type detection means; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation. , FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining similar paper sizes, FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams explaining direction conversion of image information, FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining selection of process conditions depending on paper type, and FIG. FIG. 12 and FIG. 12 are diagrams for explaining the conversion of image information into image data. 1... Printer main body, 2... Multiple cassette paper feeding device (paper feeding means), 3... Envelope feeding device (paper feeding means), 8
...Operation unit, 10...Photoreceptor, 12...Laser optical system, 25...Paper feed cassette of printer main body, 35.
36...Paper feed cassette of multiple cassette paper feed device, 43
. . . Stacker of envelope feeding device, 61 . . Control unit of printer main body, 63 . . . External host device, 64 .
Paper size detection means of the printer body, 65... Paper type detection means of the printer body, 71... Control unit of the multiple cassette paper feeder, 72.73... Paper size detection means of the multiple cassette paper feeder. , 74.75...Paper type detection means of multiple cassette paper feeder, 81...Control unit of envelope feeder, 82...Paper size detection means of envelope feeder, 83...Envelope Paper type detection means of the feeding device, P...Paper. Figure 2 Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure (a) Figure (c) Figure (d) Short direction feed (a) (b) Figure short direction Manual force direction and longitudinal force direction feed (a) (I)) Fig.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming apparatus that is electrically connected to an external host device and performs image formation according to image information sent from the host device, the apparatus comprising a plurality of sheets that supply paper for image formation. a paper feeding means, an operation section through which a user can perform key operations, and a signal for specifying paper size and paper type when paper size and paper type are specified by key operations from this operation section or from the host device; a selection means for selecting a paper feeding means containing paper of the specified size and type from among the plurality of paper feeding means; an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet of paper according to image information sent from the host device.