JPH09104547A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which facilitates work for setting paper size and simplifies control related to setting of the size. SOLUTION: In a printer provided with four steps of paper feed cassettes and a single hand insertion tray, the hand insertion tray is handled as virtual two trays. 1 to 6 ID numbers are assigned to total six paper feed means. In assignment of the paper feed means, based on the ID number of the tray, a value or symbol is stored in a variable called TRAY, in the case of assigning the hand insertion tray, which of the two virtual trays (size setting by guide plate or size setting by host machine) is assigned is decided by a variable SENS representing effectiveness or ineffectiveness of a sensor detecting recording paper size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having a function of manually feeding a recording sheet has been provided, and an irregular size recording sheet or a sheet feeding cassette other than a standard size is provided. Alternatively, it is a convenient function when a thick recording paper which is not suitable for feeding from the paper feed tray is used, or when another image forming operation is interrupted during a series of image forming operations.

However, the manual paper feeding is generally provided as an auxiliary paper feeding function, and there is no means for detecting the paper size only by aligning the recording paper with a guide member or the like attached to the manual paper feeding tray. There are many devices.
In this type of device, since the size information cannot be obtained from the manual feed tray when performing the image forming operation, there is no choice but to obtain the paper size information from the user through the operation panel or the host computer. The user was forced to do the extra work of inputting.

In order to solve such an inconvenience, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus capable of detecting the size of the recording paper set on the manual feed tray. However, a large number of sensors are required to detect the width and the size of the recording paper in the length direction, which increases the cost. Therefore, the guide plate provided on the manual feed tray can be slid, and the size of the recording paper in the width direction can be detected by interlocking with the sliding of the guide plate to detect only the size of the recording paper in the width direction. Is widely used. However, there are many combinations of recording papers having the same size in the width direction but different lengths (for example, A3 length and A4 width), and the length of the recording paper cannot be specified.

Therefore, there has been proposed a method / apparatus for facilitating the user's paper size setting operation in such an image forming apparatus having means for detecting only the size of the recording paper in the width direction on the manual feed tray. ing. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-337560, when a manual feed tray is used, a size group based on information from a sub-scanning detection sensor provided on the tray is displayed on the operation panel to prompt the user to make a selection. Is disclosed.

[0006]

However, in the above copying apparatus, it is necessary to select the size by a plurality of key operations (using the cursor key and the OK key, etc.) until the paper size is determined, and the paper size is It did not make the size setting work easy enough. Further, it is necessary to prepare a display means having a size capable of displaying the sheet size group, which causes a problem that the operation panel and the like are upsized and the cost is increased. Even if the screen of the host machine (computer or the like) connected to the apparatus is used as the display for displaying the paper size group in order to avoid the enlargement of the display, it cannot be said to be a satisfactory solution.

Further, there is a problem that processing such as paper size designation from the operation panel or the host machine and determination of the priority order of the signal from the sensor provided on the tray becomes complicated, resulting in lower work efficiency and higher cost.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional image forming apparatus having means for detecting the size of the recording paper in the width direction on the manual feed tray, facilitates the paper size setting work, and relates to the size setting. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus with simplified control.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided the above-mentioned object, in an image forming apparatus having a manual feed tray and a detection means for detecting the size of the recording paper in the width direction in the manual feed tray. This is solved by treating the tray as two virtual trays, a first manual feed tray that effectively handles the detection information of the detection means and a second manual feed tray that invalidates the detection information of the detection means. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention operates the image forming apparatus when paper feeding from the first manual feed tray is selected when executing an image forming operation. It is proposed that the recording paper size information from the panel or the host machine to which the device is connected is not accepted.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention secures separate storage areas for the recording paper size information storage area in the first manual feed tray and the second manual feed tray, respectively. suggest.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, which tray is currently selected among the first and second manual feed trays, and what is the set recording paper size? , On the operation panel of the device or on the host machine.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes that a predetermined initial value is set as the size information of the second manual feed tray when the power of the apparatus is turned on.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes that the user can arbitrarily set the predetermined initial value. Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention uses the power supply OF of the device as the predetermined initial value.
F It is suggested to store the size value immediately before.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 shown in this figure is a printer connected to a host computer (not shown).
The printer 10 includes first to fourth paper feed cassettes 1 to 4 in the main body of the apparatus, and a manual feed tray 5 on the side surface of the main body.
have. This manual feed tray 5 is provided with a mechanism for detecting the size of the recording paper set in the tray in the width direction, and a sensor (not shown) interlocks with the slide of a guide plate (not shown) to move the recording paper. It is designed to read the size in the width direction. Then, the discharge bins 11 to 15 for discharging the printed paper face down
Is provided on the upper surface of the main body, and a paper ejection tray 16 for ejecting the printed paper face up is provided on the side surface of the main body.

This printer 10 is provided with only the manual feed tray 5 as a manual paper feed tray, but according to the present invention, there are virtually two manually provided manual feed trays 5. The feature is that it is handled as if there is a bypass tray. That is, for one manual feed tray 5, the detection signal of the sensor for detecting the above-described paper size is made valid (tray A is detected) and the sensor signal is made invalid (paper size is not detected). ) Tray B is handled as two bypass trays.

By the way, at the time of printing, which of the paper feeding means of the paper feeding cassettes 1 to 4 and the manual feeding tray 5 is to be used, an electric command is issued from the operation panel (not shown) of the printer 10 or the host computer. Is specified as. At this time, the following ID numbers are assigned to the paper feed cassettes 1 to 4 and the two manual feed trays A and B, respectively. The ID numbers assigned to the cassettes and trays can be set arbitrarily.

First paper feed cassette 1: ID = 1 Second paper feed cassette 2: ID = 2 Third paper feed cassette 3: ID = 3 Fourth paper feed cassette 4: ID = 4 Manual feed tray A (sensor enabled) : ID = 5 Manual feed tray B (sensor invalid): ID = 6 Next, regarding the designation of the sheet feeding means in the printer 10,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a paper feed cassette or tray is designated from the operation panel or the host computer (step 1, hereinafter step is abbreviated as S), the tray is set in the variable "TRAY" based on the ID number of the designated cassette or tray. Stores (substitutes) a number. That is, when the first sheet feeding cassette 1 is designated, “TRAY = 1” is set, when the second sheet feeding cassette 2 is set, “TRAY = 2” is set, and when the third sheet feeding cassette 3 is set, “TRAY = 3” is set. , And in the case of the fourth paper feed cassette 4, “TRAY = 4”. Furthermore, when two virtual manual feed trays are designated, MLTs are stored in both trays A and B, and “TRAY = ML
T ”(S2-1 to 2-6). The variable "TRAY" is a variable that stores information as to which sheet feeding unit performs the sheet feeding operation.

If the paper feed cassettes 1 to 4 are designated, this process ends, but if the manual feed tray is designated, a variable "SENS" is further set to YES when the tray A is designated. Store and "SENS = YES"
When tray B is designated, NO is stored and “S
ENS = NO "(S3-5, 3-6). This completes the tray designation process. The variable "SENS" is a variable that stores information indicating whether the signal from the sensor for detecting the paper size is valid or invalid.

The size setting after the manual feed tray is designated will be described below. There are two triggers for setting the paper size in the printer 10 of the present embodiment: when the guide plate provided on the tray moves, and when the paper size is designated by the operation panel or the host computer.

First, "when the guide plate moves" will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the guide plate is moved, it is determined whether or not the current sheet feeding means is the manual feed tray (S1), and if it is the manual feed tray, it is determined whether the above-mentioned variable "SENS" is valid (S2).
If it is valid, the size value (here, a) of the recording paper based on the sensor information of the guide plate is stored in the variable "SIZE_MLT" that stores the size information of the manual feed tray (S3).

Next, "when the paper size is designated from the operation panel or the host computer" will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the size designation command is sent from the host machine, it is judged whether or not the current sheet feeding means is the manual feed tray (S1),
If it is a manual feed tray, it is determined whether the above-mentioned variable "SENS" is valid (S2). If invalid, the size value (here, b) of the recording paper by the size designation command is stored in the variable "SIZE_MLT" that stores the size information of the manual feed tray (S3).

After the size is set, the variable "SIZE
The print operation is executed based on the size information stored in "_MLT", but the variable "SIZE_MLT" when the manual feed tray A (sensor effective) is specified.
Since the size information “a” stored in “5” is information from the sensor of the manual feed tray 5, it includes only size information in the width direction of the recording paper. In the printer 10 of the present embodiment, when the manual feed tray A (sensor effective) is designated, the size of the recording paper in the longitudinal direction is uniquely determined by the size information stored in the variable “SIZE_MLT”. The print operation is executed. This is based on a table (relational table) prepared inside the printer engine.
The size in the length direction is determined based on the size information in the width direction. On the other hand, the size information “b” stored in the variable “SIZE_MLT” when the manual feed tray B (sensor disabled) is specified includes the width information of the recording paper and the size information in the length direction. The print operation is executed.

As described above, in this embodiment, since one manual feed tray is handled as two virtual manual feed trays, the control method for size designation is simplified and the user's mistake in setting the paper size can be reduced. . Further, after the manual feed tray is designated, the variable “SENS” is used as a judgment material to prevent the virtual size information of the two manual feed trays from being rewritten. Therefore, when feeding paper from the physically single bypass tray, when printing with the size setting using the guide plate of the bypass tray, the paper size information from the operation panel and host machine is used for printing. Without this, printing is performed with appropriate size settings (as intended by the user). That is, it is possible to prevent unnecessary rewriting of the size information due to a user's mistake, and even if the host machine makes an incorrect size setting when feeding paper from the manual feed tray A, the sensor information of the guide plate of the tray is set. Appropriate printing is performed based on.

In the case of printing using the paper feed cassettes 1 to 4, after the cassette is designated by the variable "TRAY", the size information set for each cassette is the size information of the paper feed cassette. For storing the variable "SIZE_C
ST ”, and the print operation is executed based on the stored size information (including size information in the width and length directions).

By the way, the manual feed tray A (sensor effective)
Alternatively, when feeding paper from B (sensor disabled), the variables that store size information are the common variable "SIZE".
Since “_MLT” is used, for example, when the manual feed tray to be used is switched in the order of B → A → B, the size information of the original tray B is rewritten. In such a case, the user needs to set the size again, which is troublesome. Therefore, two virtual manual feed trays A (sensor enabled) and B (sensor disabled)
First, it is proposed as another embodiment of the present invention to secure a separate size information storage area for each (using a separate variable).

An embodiment in which separate size information storage areas are secured in the two virtual manual feed trays will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the manual feed tray A (sensor enabled) is designated, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, after the determination of the variable “SENS” when the current tray is the manual feed tray, a variable “storing the size information of the manual feed tray” is displayed. The size value (here, a) of the recording paper based on the sensor information of the guide plate is stored in "SIZE_MLT1" (S3). Other than this, it is similar to the case of the flowchart of FIG.

When the manual feed tray B (sensor disabled) is designated, the variable "SEN" when the current tray is the manual feed tray in the flowchart of FIG.
After the determination of "S", the size value of the recording paper according to the size designation command from the host machine is stored in the variable "SIZE_MLT2" that stores the size information of the bypass tray (here, b).
Is stored (S3). Other than this, it is the same as the case of the flowchart of FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, since different variables are used for the two virtual manual feed trays, the size information of the original manual feed tray remains even after the trays are switched. It is possible to save the trouble of re-setting the size.

In the above two embodiments, it is possible to inform the user which one of the two virtual manual feed trays is currently valid (designated) or what is the set size. If you can tell it, the usability will improve. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, a display 18 showing the set size and a display 19 showing the validity / invalidity of the sensor of the manual feed tray are provided on the operation panel 17 of the printer. Display 1 showing whether this sensor is valid or invalid
For LED 9, it is sufficient to turn on or off one of valid / invalid by an LED or the like or change the display color. The same display is also made on the display of the host computer together with the operation panel. As a result, the user can clearly confirm the current setting state, which leads to improvement in operability.

To provide information to the user, as shown in FIG. 8, an LED 7 indicating the size of the recording paper is provided at a position corresponding to the slide position of the guide plates 6a and 6b of the manual feed tray 5.
Alternatively, the size name 8 may be provided so that the LED 7 is turned on only when the sensor (not shown) on the manual feed tray is valid.

Further, when the size is set from the host computer, the size information of the manual feed tray B is set by the size command for the first time. Therefore, the size of the frequently used size or the paper feed cassette 1 is set as the initial value of the size information. If a size (such as a size that cannot be set in the cassette and can be used only in the manual feed tray) that is not supported by 4 is set at the time of factory shipment, the usability of the manual feed tray can be improved.

Furthermore, if a non-volatile memory is used as a means for storing (storing) the size information, the user can freely set the initial value of the size information, so that the user's needs can be met. Operability can be improved. Alternatively, the size information immediately before the power is turned off may be stored so that the trouble of setting can be saved. The size information immediately before the power is turned off may be stored in the nonvolatile memory each time the designated size information is sent.

[0034]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since one manual feed tray is virtually treated as two manual feed trays, the control method for size designation is simplified, and the user's paper is controlled. It is possible to reduce size setting errors.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the paper size cannot be specified when the first manual feed tray (sensor enabled) is specified. Therefore, unnecessary rewriting of the size information by a user's mistake is prevented, An appropriate image forming operation is executed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since separate size information storage areas are secured in the two virtual manual feed trays, the original manual feed tray size information remains even after the trays are switched. , You can save the trouble of resetting the size setting.

According to the configuration of claim 4, since which tray is currently selected and what the set recording paper size is are displayed, the user can clearly confirm the current setting state and operate. The property is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the usability of the manual feed tray can be improved by setting, for example, a frequently used size as the initial value of the size information of the second manual feed tray.

According to the structure of claim 6, the user can arbitrarily set the initial value of the size information, so that the operability can be improved according to the needs of the user.
With the configuration according to claim 7, since the size information immediately before the power is turned off can be stored as the initial value of the size information, the setting labor can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outline of a printer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining designation of a sheet feeding unit in the printer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the size setting after the manual feed tray is specified in the printer, showing a case where the guide plate is moved.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the size setting after the manual feed tray is designated, showing a case where the paper size is designated from the operation panel or the host computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the size setting of the manual feed tray according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where the guide plate is moved.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining size setting of a manual feed tray in the embodiment, showing a case where a paper size is designated from an operation panel or a host computer.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the printer shown in FIG.

8 is a perspective view showing a manual feed tray of the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 Paper feed cassette 5 Manual feed tray 6a, 6b Guide plate 7 LED 8 Size name 10 Printer 11-15 Paper output bin 16 Paper output tray 17 Operation panel 18 Size display 19 Sensor valid / invalid display

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a manual feed tray, wherein the manual feed tray has a detection means for detecting the size of the recording paper in the width direction, wherein the one manual feed tray effectively handles the detection information of the detection means. An image forming apparatus, which is treated as two virtual trays, a first manual feed tray and a second manual feed tray that invalidates the detection information of the detection means. 2. When performing an image forming operation, the first
2. When the paper feed from the manual feed tray is selected, the recording paper size information from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus or the host machine to which the apparatus is connected is not accepted. The image forming apparatus described. 3. The recording paper size information storage area is provided with separate storage areas for the first manual feed tray and the second manual feed tray, respectively.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The one of the first and second manual feed trays that is currently selected and the set recording paper size is displayed on the operation panel of the apparatus or the host machine. The method according to claim 1, wherein
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined initial value is set as the size information of the second manual feed tray when the power of the apparatus is turned on. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the user can arbitrarily set the predetermined initial value. 7. The power source O of the device is set as the predetermined initial value.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the size value immediately before the FF is stored.