JPH02182632A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically select the designated size and kind of a form by selecting a feed means housing a corresponding form in upon receiving signals from a host equipment which designates the size and kind of the form. CONSTITUTION:The control section 61 of a printer main body 1 selects a corresponding feed means based on signals from form size detecting means 72, 73 and 83 and form kind detecting means 74, 75 and 83 out of a plural cassette feed device 2 or an envelope feed/delivery device 3 upon receiving signals from an external host equipment 63 which designates the size and kind of a form. The control section drives feed motors 78 or 79 and 85 for the corresponding feed means so as to feed the form to the printer main body 1 so that an image is formed in accordance with image information from the 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 the paper for printing, and even if they have multiple paper cassettes, the external paper to which the printer is connected host equipment (personal computer,
It was not possible to specify the paper cassette from a word processor (such as a word processor) 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 it is not possible to specify the paper size and paper type directly from an external host device as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can specify a paper size and paper type 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, and receiving a signal specifying paper size and paper type from the host device;
a selection means for selecting a paper feeding means storing paper of the specified size and type from among the plurality of paper feeding means; and image forming means for forming an image according to image information sent from the host device.

(Operation) When a signal specifying the paper size and type of paper is received from an external host device, the paper feeder that stores the paper of the specified size and type is selected, and the paper is processed using the selected paper feeder. An image is formed on the supplied paper according to image information sent from an external host device. With this, it is possible to directly specify the paper size and paper type from the 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. Main body 1, a multiple cassette paper feeder that also serves as a stand for this printer main body 1 and supplies paper P to the printer main body 1! It is comprised of a (paper feeding means) 2 and an envelope feeding device (paper binding means) 3 which is attached to the rear side of the printer main body 1 and supplies envelopes A to the printer main body 1.

The printer main body 1 is constructed as follows.

That is, 4 is a housing, and the rear part of the upper surface of this housing 4 is raised one step higher, and a four part 5 serving as a paper discharge part is formed at the center of the upper surface. The fourth part 5 is provided with a jogger device 7 having a pedestal (jogger tray) 6. 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 its periphery, along the direction of rotation, there are a band/duty charger 11, a laser optical system 12, a developing device 13, a transfer charger 14, and a peeling charger 15. , cleaning device 16, and static eliminator 17
are arranged in sequence.

The laser optical system 12 operates at t according to the dot image data.
A semiconductor laser oscillator (not shown) such as a laser diode that generates a laser beam light that is focused on the beam, a collimator lens (not shown) that collimates the laser beam light output from this laser oscillator, and light output from this collimator lens. Rotating mirror (polygon mirror) 1 to scan
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. Inside the device housing 4, which includes a correction lens 22 that guides the laser beam reflected by the photoreceptor 21 to the surface of the photoreceptor 10, an image transfer section 23 between the photoreceptor 10 and the transfer charger 14 is provided. A conveyance path 24 extending forward is formed, and a paper feed cassette (
Hereinafter, the paper P1 is automatically fed from the first paper feed cassette (also referred to as the first paper feed cassette) 25 via the paper feed roller 26 and the pair of aligning rollers 27, etc. The paper 21 is automatically fed from the multiple cassette paper feed device 2 The paper P1 manually fed from the manual feed tray 28 or the envelope A automatically fed from the envelope feeding device 3 is 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 gutter layer.
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. Note that this envelope feeding device 3 can accommodate and set standard paper, thin paper, and OHP in addition to envelopes.

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 P1 selectively taken out from 36 or 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 melted and fixed in volume.

The paper P or envelope A after the fixed volume is sorted in the discharge direction by the paper discharge selector 31, and is discharged onto the holder 6 of the upper jogger device 7 or onto the lower paper discharge tray 9.

Note that after the toner image is transferred onto the paper P or the seal nA, 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 operation section 8, which includes 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 drawings, the control unit 61 receives signals from various sensors, etc., and also drives the photoconductor 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 inputted from paper type detection means 74.75 for detecting the type of stored paper such as paper, and paper presence/absence detection means 76.77 for detecting the presence or absence of paper. 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 are input 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. Further, a feeding motor 85 for driving the feeding roller 44 and the like are connected to the control section 81 .

FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the paper size detection means 64.72.73 and the paper type detection means 65.74.75. In other words, 91 is the paper feed cassette (third
(equivalent to the paper feed cassette 25, 35, 36 in the figure), and a plurality of magnet storage sections 92. ... are provided, and permanent magnets 9 for these magnet storage parts 92, ... are provided.
The paper size is displayed at storage position 3. 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, a plurality of magnetic force detection elements (reed switches, etc.) 94 are located in the portion facing the magnet storage section 92, etc. ．． ... 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 elements 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 control unit 61, and the control unit 61 ends the warm-up (Sl).

When the warm-up is completed (Sl), the control unit 61 warms up 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. Check each output (S3 to S6). 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 paper type can be input from the operation unit 8 or the host device 63 (S9°510). 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 a command is input from (S9°5IO), the control unit 61 sends paper of the specified paper size to the first to third paper feed cassettes 25, 35°36 and the envelope feeding device 3.
511), and if so, then check whether the specified paper type exists.
12) If the specified paper type exists, the process advances to step S31.

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 (513), and if not, displays a message on the display unit 51 of the operation unit 8 saying “The specified paper size is not available”. "Out of paper" is displayed (S14), and a specified paper out status is sent to the host device 63 (S15), step S3
It returns to the standby state (waiting for key input or commands).

In step 813, 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 (816), and also informs the host device 63 of the similar paper size status. Send (S
17) 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. (S12), if there is, the process advances to step S31. Further, if the no key 56 in the operation section 8 is pressed (S19) or a no command is received from the host device 63 (S21), the control section 61 returns to step S3 and enters a 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 (523), 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 section 8 is pressed (S
27), if a yes command comes 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 (82g)
, 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 with respect to the paper traveling direction 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 (33B, 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 the transfer voltage, the transfer voltage applied to the transfer charger 14 and the temperature (fixing temperature) of the heat roller pair 3° 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 (S38). If the image information is sent within, for example, 10 seconds (S39), the control section 61 checks whether the image direction conversion 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 (348, 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 a signal specifying the paper size and paper type is received from an external host device, the paper source (paper cassette) containing the paper of the specified size, size, and type is selected. , printing is performed on the paper fed by the selected paper feeding means in accordance with image information sent from an external host device. With this, it is possible to directly specify the paper size and paper type from an external host device, and automatically select and print on the paper of the specified size and type.

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, the paper size and paper type can be specified directly from an external host device, and paper of the specified size and type can be automatically selected. An image forming apparatus capable of forming 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. 4 is a plan view of the operating section, FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a specific example of the paper size detection means and the paper type detection means, and FIG. 6 is an explanation of the operation. Flowchart, FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining approximate 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, 11 and 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. , 74.7')...Paper type detection means of multiple cassette paper feeder, 81...Control unit of envelope feeder, 82...Paper size detection means of envelope feeder, 83...・Paper type detection means of envelope feeding device, P...Paper. Figure 2 Applicant's agent Takehiko Suzue, patent attorney Figure (c) Figure ((1) Transverse direction to front side feed (a) Figure Short side direction Δ force direction feed (a) (b)

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. When a signal designating a paper size and paper type is received from the host device, the paper supply means storing paper of the designated size and type is selected from among the plurality of paper supply means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a selection means for selecting from among the above, and an image forming means for forming an image on the paper fed by the paper feeding means selected by the selection means in accordance with the image information sent from the host device. image forming device.