JPH0390377A - Test printing mode selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select the transport path freely and perform test printing by providing a test printing instruction device which selects all paper transport paths for paper to be test-printed based on the depressed time of a single push button, and an indication device which indicates a selected paper transport path. CONSTITUTION:A test printing switch 8 is constituted as a push-button and selects a paper transport path based on the depressed time of the switch thus determining the path. Sixteen different indication numbers are displayed, for example, on a display 9 as an indication device by operating the test printing switch 8. In addition, a paper feed selection display part 10 which works as a switch display for selecting a paper feed port is provided on a panel 4-1. Marks bearing illustrated figures of each discharge port are provided on the selection display part 10. Therefore, a desired paper feed part is selected by pressing the mark corresponding to a desired paper feed part, and the corresponding mark lights.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a mode selection device for test printing, and more specifically to external printers such as laser printers, liquid crystal printers, LED printers, and inkjet printers, printers with built-in controllers, and intelligent printers. The present invention relates to a test print mode selection device that can be applied to a test print mode selection section in a printer system of a copying machine or an intelligent facsimile.

(Prior Art) There is an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of paper transport paths connecting a paper feed port and a paper discharge port, and a test print function for determining the transport performance of these paper transport paths.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the prior art, for image forming apparatuses having multiple paper transport paths, test prints have the freedom to select the paper feed port, but there is no freedom to select the paper ejection port; Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not possible to check the transport function of all paper transport paths connecting all paper feed ports and all paper discharge ports.

Furthermore, since it does not have a confirmation function, test printing may be performed under incorrect instructions, resulting in a loss of paper and time.

The present invention allows the user to perform test printing by arbitrarily selecting all the paper transport paths desired by the user.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a test print mode selection device that can confirm the instruction contents of a selected test print.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the test mode selection device of the present invention includes at least one push button, and depending on the push time of the push button, all paper sheets to be tested are transported. The present invention has a test print instruction means for selecting and determining a path, and a display means for displaying the paper transport path selected by the test print instruction means.

(Function) All the paper transport paths to be subjected to test printing are sequentially displayed as selection candidates on the display means, and after confirming this display, it is possible to proceed to execution of test printing.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows the constituent parts of an image forming apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention divided into blocks.
-2.1-3 respectively indicate paper feed ports, and paper is sent out from any of these ports during printing. Specifically, the paper feed port 1-1 is an upper tray, the paper feed port 1-2 is a lower tray, and the paper feed port 1-3 is an L CI T having a large-volume paper feeding function.
(Large Capacity 0ut-put T
Incidentally, the LCIT can load a large amount of paper (2000 sheets) up to 84 sizes and performs stable automatic paper feeding.

Next, reference numerals 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 indicate paper discharge ports, and the printed paper is discharged to one of these ports depending on the mode. Specifically, the paper output ports 2-1 and 2-2 have the function of stocking printed paper in the order of paper output, reversing the paper in duplex mode, and switching the paper feed to the post-processing unit. (Face Down
5tacker). In addition, the paper ejection port 2-3 is equipped with L COT (
Large Capacity 0outputτray
), the printed paper is sorted by job,
For example, you can stock a large amount (up to 2,000 pieces) of 3-size paper.

Furthermore, regarding these paper discharge ports 2-1.2-2.2-3, as shown in FIG. 3, when the paper discharge direction is indicated by numeral 3,
Either an offset mode in which the sheets are sorted and discharged by shifting them in units of a predetermined number of sheets (see Figure 3 (A)), or an offset mode in which the sheets are stocked together without any deviation (see Figure 3 (B)). can be selected.

On the paper transport path that connects these paper feed ports and paper output ports.

There are a print engine 4, a duplex unit 5, a system cabinet 6, etc., and paper passes through these components to be printed and discharged in various modes.

The interrelationship of each component shown in FIG. 2 is shown as a block diagram in FIG. 4. The system cabinet 6 is shown in the figure.
It includes a device controller abbreviated as C, which receives control commands from the host computer 7, and which controls the print engine 4, duplex unit 5. It controls print engine peripheral devices such as the FDS 2 and the paper ejection port 2-3, and sends status information of each of these peripheral devices to the host computer 7.

The print engine 4 prints the image signal from the host computer onto paper at high speed.

The duplex unit S has a function of feeding once-printed paper to the print engine again when performing double-sided printing.

The print engine 4 has a panel 4-1 equipped with operation switches, a display, etc., the main parts of which are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the test print switch 8 is configured as a push button, and the paper conveyance path is selected and determined depending on the pressing time.

There are many types of paper transport paths to be selected and determined, as shown in Table 1.

(Table-1) In Table-1, what does "single" mean in the "Number of sheets" column? - Sheet pudding 1
-1 "Run" means continuous printing. Similarly, "simplex" in the "mode" column means single-sided printing, and "duplex" means double-sided printing.

In simplex mode, only one side is printed, so duplex unit S sends the paper as it is to the paper output outlet without reversing it, and in duplex mode, duplex unit S
The printer inverts the paper before sending it to the print engine.

r2-IJ, r2-2J, r2-3J in the "Paper output slot" column
respectively indicate the paper discharge ports shown in Fig. 2, and especially paper discharge port 2.
There are two types of -3: offset 1 (see FIG. 3(A)) and offset O (see FIG. 3(B)).

According to these combinations, O as shown in the "Display number" column.
There are 16 paper conveyance paths shown from 9 to 9 and A to F. By operating the test print switch 8, the above 1.
Six display numbers can be displayed. Further, the panel 4-1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a paper feed selection display section 10 which also serves as a switch display for selecting a paper feed port. This selection display section 10 is marked with a mark that graphically represents each discharge port. Therefore, by pressing the mark corresponding to a desired paper ejection port, the desired paper feed section is selected, and the corresponding mark section is lit up and displayed.

Therefore, as an example, LCITl-3 is used as a paper feed port.
The instruction process when performing test printing when the paper discharge port is LC: 0T2-3 (offset 0), the mode is duplex, and the number of sheets is continuous will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a paper feed port is selected by pressing paper feed port 1-3 in the paper feed selection display section IO (step 2).

Next, the test print switch 8 is kept pressed (step ■), and the display numbers in Table 1 are displayed in order on the display 9 (steps ■, ■).

Then, when the desired number "E" is displayed, stop pressing the test print switch 8 (step
). At this point, the number displayed on display 9 will change to a blinking display to prompt confirmation (step ■), so
If it matches the desired number (step ■)
, the test print switch 8 is kept pressed for a short period of time, for example within 10 seconds (step 2), thereby starting printing in the test print mode instructed on the display 9.

If you find that you want to change the displayed number at step ■, press the test print switch 8.
Continue to press for more than 10 seconds (step ■).

Then, the print mode for the currently selected paper transport path is canceled. Therefore, it is necessary to return to step (3) and repeat the above steps again.

When a test print is started without making any changes, paper is fed from the paper feed ports 1-3, sent to the print engine 4 via the duplex unit 5, and the image for test printing is printed on the surface of the paper. is printed on. and,
The traveling direction is switched by the FDS 2, the sheet passes through the duplex unit 5, and is sent to the print engine 4, where the back side is printed.

In this manner, after double-sided printing is completed, the paper passes through the FDS 2 again, passes through the duplex unit 5, and is sent out to the paper discharge port 2-3.Continuous test printing is performed by repeating zero or more operations.

In this case, if the paper ejection light is stack full or if the duplex unit 5 or other units are not connected, the corresponding paper transport path number will be displayed on the display 9.
will not be displayed and therefore cannot be selected. Also,
When paper discharge port 2-3 is selected and sheets of different sizes are already stacked, the paper is discharged to paper discharge port 2-1.

As described above, in this example, it is possible to diagnose all the paper conveyance paths, and a system check can be easily performed. Moreover, since these things can be achieved only by changing the software, there is no need to add any expensive items to existing parts, and there is no burden on costs.

(Effects of the Invention) In the present invention, all paper transport paths can be selected by operating the test print instruction means, and the selected content is confirmed on the display means before the test print is executed.

Therefore, it is possible to check the performance of all the paper transport paths, and since there is a checking function, errors in selection can be avoided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1@ is a front view of a panel as a display means, FIG. 2 is a front view of an image forming apparatus suitable for carrying out the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which paper is ejected from the ejection port, and FIG. 4 5 is a block diagram explaining the interrelationship of each component of the image forming apparatus.
The figure is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for performing a test print. 4-1...Panel, 8...Test print switch, 9...Display, lO...Paper feed selection display section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim] An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper transport paths connecting a paper feed port and a paper discharge port, and a test print function for determining the transport performance of these paper transport paths, comprising at least one push button. and a display means for displaying the paper transport path selected by the test print instruction means. A test print mode selection device featuring: