JPH0911586A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce a processing load to a printer controller and to enhance the operability of a printer engine. CONSTITUTION: An image forming apparatus is equipped with an engine control part controlling respective meochanism parts performing charging, developing, transferring or fixing printing processings to paper on the basis of an electrophotographic process, a printer controller 31 developing the image data sent from external machinery such as a host computer to actual printing data and confirming the operation states of the respective mechanism parts and a printing condition designation means and the engine control part has function originally altering the setting designated by the designation means.

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,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a printer controller and an engine control unit are independent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus (printer) for performing a printing process based on an electrophotographic process includes a photosensitive drum 1, a semiconductor laser 2, a rotary polygon mirror 3, a scanner motor 4, a charging roller 6, Developing device 7, transfer roller 8, fixing roller 9, cassette paper feeding roller 10, manual paper feeding roller 11, optional cassette paper feeding roller 12, transport rollers 13, 14, pre-feed sensor 15, top sensor 16, paper ejection sensor 17 , Discharge rollers 18, 19, flapper 20, conveying roller 21, reversing sensor 22, reversing roller 23, refeed sensor 24, refeed roller 25, cassette 26, and optional cassette 27, and double-sided printing It has a function.

The structure of the image forming apparatus (printer) will be described in detail. The photosensitive drum 1 serving as an electrostatic latent image carrier is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). A laser beam 5 emitted from a semiconductor laser 2 which is a light source is reflected by a rotary polygon mirror 3 rotated by a scanner motor 4 and scans the photosensitive drum 1. The charging roller 6 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 1. The developing device 7 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with toner. The transfer roller 8 transfers the toner image developed by the developing device 7 onto a predetermined recording sheet. The fixing roller 9 fuses the toner transferred onto the recording paper. The cassette paper feed roller 10 is driven to rotate once by a motor (not shown) to feed the recording paper from the cassette 26 having a recording paper size identification function.

The manual paper feed roller 11 feeds the recording paper into the conveying path 28 from a manual paper feed port (not shown) which does not have a size identifying function of the recording paper. The optional cassette paper feed roller 12 feeds the recording paper from the optional cassette 27, which is removable and has a recording paper size identification function, to the conveyance path 28. The transport rollers 13 and 14 send the recording paper fed from the cassettes 26 and 27 to the rotating surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The pre-feed sensor 15 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the recording sheet fed from the cassette 26 or the optional cassette 27 having the recording sheet size identification function. The top sensor 16 writes an image (recording / recording) onto the photosensitive drum 1 with respect to the fed recording paper.
(Printing) and recording paper conveyance are synchronized, and the length of the fed recording paper in the conveyance direction is measured. Paper ejection sensor 17
Detects the presence of recording paper after fixing.

The discharge rollers 18 and 19 discharge the recording paper after fixing to the outside of the printer. The flapper 20 switches the transport destination according to whether the printed recording paper is discharged to the outside of the printer or is transported to a removable double-sided unit (not shown). The transport roller 21 transports the recording paper, which has been transported to the duplex unit, to a reversing unit (not shown). The reflection sensor 22 is provided at the leading edge of the recording sheet conveyed to the reversing unit.
Detect the trailing edge. The reversing roller 23 is a motor (not shown).
The recording sheet is reversed and conveyed to a sheet re-feeding section (not shown) by being rotated in the forward / reverse direction by. Refeed sensor 2
Reference numeral 4 detects the presence / absence of recording paper in the re-feed unit. The re-feeding roller 25 re-feeds the recording paper in the re-feeding unit to the transport path 2 again.
To 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control system of each mechanical section of the printer described above includes a printer controller 31, an engine control section 32, a paper conveyance control section 33, and a high voltage control section 3.
4, an optical system control unit 35, a sensor input unit 36, a fixing device temperature control control unit 37, an optional cassette control unit 38, and a duplex unit control unit 39.

The printer controller 31 develops image code data sent from an external device such as a host computer (not shown) into bit data required for printing by the printer, and reads and displays internal information of the printer. The engine controller 32 includes the printer controller 3
Based on the instruction 1, the operation of each unit of the printer engine (not shown) is controlled, and the printer controller 31 is notified of the printer internal information. The paper transport control unit 33 drives / stops a motor, rollers, and the like for transporting recording paper based on an instruction from the engine control unit 32. High voltage controller 34
Controls the output of each high voltage in each process such as charging, development, transfer, etc. based on an instruction from the engine control unit 32.

The optical system controller 35 includes an engine controller 32.
Based on the instruction, the scanner motor 4 is driven / stopped and the laser beam from the semiconductor laser 2 blinks. The fixing device temperature control controller 37 adjusts the temperature of the fixing device (not shown) to the temperature specified by the engine controller 32. The option cassette controller 38 drives / stops the drive system based on an instruction from the engine controller 32, and notifies the engine controller 32 of the presence / absence of recording paper in the removable option cassette 27 and the paper size information. The duplex unit control section 39 performs the reversing operation and the re-feeding operation of the recording sheet based on the instruction of the engine control section 32, detects the operation state, and notifies the engine control section 32 of the detection information.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional printer will be described. When the engine control unit 32 recognizes the print request from the print signal “true” from the printer controller 31, the engine control unit 32 starts feeding paper from the designated paper feed port, starts the electrophotographic process, and drives the scanner motor 4. To start. The engine control unit 32 outputs a vertical synchronization signal to the printer controller 31 at the time when all the conditions necessary for performing these printings are satisfied and the top sensor 16 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, and prints. Start. Accordingly, the printer controller 31
When the print signal is set to "true", after confirming the vertical synchronization signal "true" from the engine control unit 32, the print signal is set to "false".

The engine controller 32 discharges the recording paper by switching the flapper 20 to the paper discharge port designated by the printer controller 31 at the time when the paper discharge sensor 17 detects the leading edge of the recording paper being printed. When switching the paper feed port and the paper ejection port, the printer controller 31 sets the print signal to “false” and designates it to the engine control unit 32 using a command. Therefore, in the case of alternately feeding the cassette or the MP tray and the double-sided unit to perform double-sided printing, the paper feed port and the paper ejection port are switched for each recording sheet.

The engine controller 32 informs the printer controller 31 that the recording paper is being conveyed at the same time as the start of the paper feeding, and discharges the recording paper to the outside of the printer excluding the duplex unit to notify the completion of the recording paper conveyance. Notify the printer controller 31. Printer controller 3
When switching the setting of the resolution or the print density, the engine control unit 32 confirms that the recording paper is not being conveyed, and then issues a setting switching instruction. This allows
The engine control unit 32 confirms the switching instruction. Therefore, the printer controller 31 always performs the above-mentioned operation when switching the setting of the resolution or the print density and returning to the initial setting.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the printer controller 31 sets the paper feed port and the paper ejection port for each sheet of recording paper to the engine controller when the alternate paper feed is performed at the time of double-sided printing. No. 32, the engine control unit 32 had to confirm that the paper feed port or the paper discharge port designated by the printer controller 31 was switched to. Since the processing of the printer controller 31 as described above is performed together with the processing of expanding the image code data sent from the external device into the bit data necessary for printing by the printer, the printer controller 31
There was a problem that the processing load of was heavy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the processing load of the printer controller and improving the operability of the printer engine.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided mechanism control means for controlling each mechanism portion for performing printing processing of paper based on an electrophotographic process, and image data sent from an external device such as a computer. In the image forming apparatus including main control means for recognizing the operating state of each of the mechanical parts and designating means for designating print conditions, the mechanical control means being designated by the designating means. The configuration is such that the settings that have been changed are changed independently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of paper ejection ports, a paper reversing unit for double-sided printing, and one of the paper ejection ports are provided. A mechanism for designating the sheet reversing unit, wherein the mechanism control unit applies a designated sheet ejection port to the first sheet when the sheet reversing unit is designated by the designating unit. However, for the second and subsequent sheets, the setting of the discharge port is changed to the default setting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of sheet feeding ports, a re-feeding unit for double-sided printing, and one of the sheet feeding ports are provided. And a designating unit that designates the re-feeding unit. The mechanism control unit, when the re-feeding unit is designated by the designating unit, feeds the first sheet from the re-feeding unit. At the same time when the operation is started, the setting is changed to the paper feed port before the designation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of paper feed ports, a re-feeding unit for double-sided printing, and one of the paper feed ports are provided. A designating unit for designating a non-default sheet feeding port other than the re-feeding unit, and the mechanism control unit has designated a non-default sheet feeding port other than the re-feeding unit by the designating unit. In this case, the configuration is such that the setting of the paper feed port is changed to the default when the print sequence ends.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided designating means for designating process conditions such as resolution and print density, and the mechanism control means has the process conditions designated by the designating means. If specified,
The configuration is such that the process condition is changed to the default when the print sequence ends.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the printing condition is designated by the designating means of the image forming apparatus, the mechanism control means uniquely changes the setting designated by the designating means.
As a result, the processing load of the main control unit can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the sheet inverting section for double-sided printing is designated by the designating means of the image forming apparatus, the mechanism control means causes the designated paper discharge port for the first sheet. Apply the setting and change the setting of the discharge port to the default for the second and subsequent sheets. As a result, the processing load of the main control unit can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the re-feed unit for double-sided printing is designated by the designation unit of the image forming apparatus,
The mechanism control means starts the sheet feeding operation of the first sheet from the sheet re-feeding unit and, at the same time, changes the setting to the sheet feeding port before the designation. As a result, the processing load of the main control unit can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the designation means of the image forming apparatus designates a non-default paper feed port other than the re-feeding portion for double-sided printing, the mechanism control means ends the print sequence. At that time, the setting of the paper feed port is changed to the default setting. As a result, the processing load of the main control unit can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 5, when the process means such as the resolution and the print density are designated by the designating means of the image forming apparatus, the mechanism controlling means sets the process condition to the default when the print sequence is completed. Change the setting. This reduces the processing load of the main control means,
The operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment An image forming apparatus (printer) according to the first embodiment has a double-sided printing function, and relates to switching of a sheet discharge port at the time of double-sided printing of alternate sheet feeding. . 2 and 3 are the first
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system and a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus of the embodiment, and since the details of the control system and the mechanism unit have been described above, the description thereof is omitted. On the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, print conditions are specified, a discharge port is specified, a paper feed port is specified, a reversal unit is specified for double-sided printing, a re-feed unit is specified for double-sided printing, and double-sided printing is performed. Is provided with a designation means (not shown) for designating a paper feed port other than the default except for the paper re-feeding unit, the resolution, and the print density.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the interface between the printer controller 31 and the engine control unit 32 of the first embodiment. Between the printer controller 31 and the engine control unit 32, a print signal 41 and a vertical synchronization signal are provided. 42, a data signal 43, and a data signal 44 are transmitted and received.

When the printer controller 31 outputs a print signal 41 for requesting printing to the engine control section 32, the engine control section 32 receives the print signal 41 and the conditions for printing are satisfied, and the engine control section 32 receives the print signal in the recording sheet conveyance direction. A vertical synchronization signal 42 for synchronization is output to the printer controller 31. In addition, the printer controller 31
When a data signal 43 for transmitting a command for switching a paper feed port, a paper discharge port, etc. is output to the engine control unit 32, the engine control unit 32 outputs a data signal 44 for notifying the status (operating state) of the engine. Output to 31.

In the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, the default (condition when the command parameter is not specified) paper ejection port is set to the paper ejection tray, and the paper feeding port / paper ejection port Is determined based on the settings at the start of paper feeding.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a time chart and the state transition of the designated sheet discharge port during double-sided printing in the first embodiment. The printer controller 31 confirms the recognition by the engine control unit 32 in the status after designating the discharge port as the duplex unit by the command, and outputs the print signal 41 as “t”.
When the print signal 41 is received from the printer controller 31, the engine control unit 32 starts feeding and returns the discharge port to the default discharge tray.

When the printer controller 31 receives the vertical synchronizing signal 42 from the engine control unit 32, it sets the print signal 41 to "false", again designates the duplex unit as the sheet discharge port by the command, and then outputs the print signal 41 to "true". "(2nd sheet of recording paper). Based on the reception of the print signal 41, the engine control unit 32 returns the paper ejection port to the default paper ejection tray. The printer controller 31 sets the print signal 41 to “false” based on the reception of the vertical synchronization signal 42. Next, the printer controller 31 prints the back side of the first recording sheet,
The print signal 41 is set to "true" without designating the discharge port.
Set to e "and print.

As described above, the engine control unit 32 is
Only the first print signal 41 is applied after the paper output port specified by the printer controller 31 is specified, and the paper output is returned to the default paper output tray at the same time when the paper feed is started. The number of times of communication depending on the status can be reduced, and as a result, the processing load of the printer controller 31 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.

(2) Second Embodiment An image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment relates to switching of paper feed ports. The configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment, the configuration of the mechanical portion, and the configuration of the interface between the printer controller 31 and the engine control portion 32 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. .

In the second embodiment, the engine control unit 32 receives the print signal 41 from the printer controller 31 and outputs the vertical synchronizing signal 42 to the printer controller 31 in the pre-rotation period, and then the photosensitive drum is actually rotated. The period during which the image data is written in 1 is called normal rotation, and the period during which the photosensitive drum 1 is cleaned and the electrophotographic process is started up is called post-rotation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a time chart and the state transition of the designated paper discharge port during continuous printing in the second embodiment.
For the first recording sheet, the engine control unit 32
The first recording sheet is fed from the cassette 26 (1st cassette) which is the default sheet feeding port.

For the second recording sheet, the printer controller 31 sets the print signal 41 for the first recording sheet to "false", and then the cassette 27 (2nd cassette) in which the sheet feeding port can be detached by a command. ). The printer controller 31 includes an engine control unit 3
When the status confirms that 2 has recognized the designation of the cassette 27, the print signal 41 is set to "true". After receiving the print signal 41, the engine control unit 32 starts feeding the second recording sheet from the designated cassette 27.

For the third sheet of recording paper, the printer controller 31 sets the print signal 41 for the second sheet of recording paper to "false" and then designates the paper feed port as a detachable duplex unit by a command. . When the printer controller 31 confirms from the status that the engine control unit 32 has recognized the designation of the duplex unit, the printer controller 31 sets the print signal 41 to "true". Engine control unit 3
After receiving the print signal 41, the cassette 2 starts feeding the third sheet of recording paper from the specified duplex unit, and the cassette 2 whose sheet feed port is set before the duplex unit is set.
Return to 7.

For the fourth recording sheet, the printer controller 31 sets the print signal 41 to "true" without setting the sheet feed port. Engine control unit 3
2 is a print signal 41 from the printer controller 31.
Is received, the feeding of the fourth recording sheet from the cassette 27 is started, and the normal rotation and the post-rotation are performed. The engine control unit 32, which did not receive the print signal 41 from the printer controller 31 in the meantime, returns the paper feed port to the default cassette 26.

The same control as above is performed not only when the paper feed port designated by the printer controller 31 is the cassette 27 (2nd cassette) but also when the manual paper feed port is used.

As described above, the engine control unit 32 is
If the paper feed port specified by the printer controller 31 is a duplex unit, only the first print signal 41 after the designation is applied, the paper feed port is returned to the previous paper feed port at the same time when the paper feed is started, and If the paper exit is not a duplex unit, it will return to the default paper exit after the printing operation.
It is possible to reduce the number of times of communication by the command / status during double-sided printing of alternate paper feeding without impairing the operability during continuous printing. As a result, the printer controller 31 can be compared with the conventional printer controller 31.
The processing load can be reduced.

(3) Third Embodiment An image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment relates to setting of an inexecutable condition during printing. The configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment, the configuration of the mechanical portion, and the configuration of the interface between the printer controller 31 and the engine control portion 32 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted. .

In the third embodiment, when the resolution and the print density are switched, the printer controller 31 sets the data by the command, and when the engine controller 32 confirms that the data setting is recognized by the status, the print is performed. The signal 41 is set to "true". The engine control unit 32 controls the print signal 4 from the printer controller 31.
When 1 is received, the printer controller 31 is notified by the status that the paper feeding operation is started and the recording paper is being conveyed.

The engine control section 32 prints on the fed recording paper by normal rotation and prints by post-rotation. During this time, the engine controller 32 did not receive the next print signal 41 from the printer controller 31.
Notifies the printer controller 31 that the recording paper has been conveyed to the discharge tray at the same time that the recording paper has been discharged, and further returns the designated resolution or print density to the default and ends the printing operation.

As described above, the engine control unit 32 is
Since the print condition designated by the printer controller 31 is returned to the default after printing is completed, the number of communication by the command / status can be reduced, and as a result, the processing load of the printer controller 31 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the mechanism control means for controlling each mechanism section for performing the printing process of the paper based on the electrophotographic process and the external device such as the computer are used. A main control unit that develops the image data thus obtained into print data and recognizes the operating state of each mechanical unit, and a designating unit that designates printing conditions are provided, and the mechanical control unit uniquely changes the designated setting. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the main control unit, that is, the number of times of communication performed for designating the print condition, and to improve the operability of the image forming apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of paper ejection ports, a paper reversing unit for double-sided printing, and one paper ejection port of each paper ejection port and a designating unit for designating the paper reversing unit. The mechanism control means applies the designated sheet ejection port to the first sheet when the sheet reversing unit is designated, and sets the sheet ejection port for the second and subsequent sheets. Since the setting is changed to the default, the processing load of the main control means, that is, the number of times of communication performed for designating print conditions, etc. can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus is improved. The effect is that it becomes possible.

According to the third aspect of the invention, a plurality of paper feed ports, a re-feeding unit for double-sided printing, one paper feed port of each paper feed port, and a designating unit for designating a paper feed unit. When the re-feed unit is designated, the mechanism control unit is set to 1 from the re-feed unit.
At the same time as starting the paper feeding operation for the first sheet, the setting is changed to the paper feeding port before the designation. Therefore, similarly to the invention of claim 1, the communication performed for designating the processing load of the main control means, that is, the printing condition. The number of times can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of paper feed ports, a re-feed unit for double-sided printing, one of the paper feed ports, and a non-default paper feed unit other than the re-feed unit are provided. If a non-default paper feed port other than the re-feed unit is specified, the mechanism control unit is provided with a designation unit for designating the paper feed port, and the mechanism control unit sets the paper feed port when the print sequence ends. Since the setting is changed to the default, the processing load of the main control means, that is, the number of times of communication performed for designating the print conditions, etc. can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be improved. The effect is that it becomes possible.

According to the invention of claim 5, there is provided a designating means for designating a process condition such as resolution and print density, and the mechanism control means, when the process condition is designated, when the print sequence is completed. Since the process condition is changed to the default setting, the processing load of the main control means, that is, the number of times of communication performed for designating the print condition can be reduced, and the operability of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. The effect is that it can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an interface between a printer controller and an engine control unit of an image forming apparatus common to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus common to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus common to the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a time chart and a state transition of a designated sheet discharge port during double-sided printing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a time chart and a state transition of a designated sheet discharge port during continuous printing according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photoreceptor Drum (Mechanism) 4 Scanner Motor (Mechanism) 6 Charging Roller (Mechanism) 8 Transfer Roller (Mechanism) 9 Fixing Roller (Mechanism) 10 Cassette Feed Roller (Mechanism) 12 Optional Cassette Feeding Roller (mechanical part) 18, 19 Discharge roller (mechanical part) 20 Flapper (mechanical part) 23 Reverse roller (mechanical part) 25 Refeed roller (mechanical part) 31 Printer controller (main control means) 32 Engine control part (mechanical part) Control means)

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mechanism control means for controlling each mechanism unit that performs printing processing of a sheet based on an electrophotographic process, and image data sent from an external device such as a computer is expanded into print data, and each mechanism unit. In the image forming apparatus including a main control unit that recognizes the operating state of the above and a designating unit that designates the print condition, the mechanism control unit uniquely changes the setting designated by the designating unit. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of paper ejection ports, a paper reversing unit for double-sided printing, one paper ejection port among the paper ejection ports, and the paper reversing unit are provided. The mechanism control means applies the designated paper discharge port to the first sheet when the sheet reversing section is designated by the designating means, and the second sheet is specified. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the setting of the sheet discharge port is changed to the default for subsequent sheets. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of paper feed ports, a paper refeed unit for double-sided printing, one paper feed port of the paper feed ports, and the paper refeed The mechanism control means, when the re-feeding section is designated by the designating means, starts the sheet feeding operation for the first sheet from the re-feeding section at the same time. , An image forming apparatus characterized by changing the setting to a paper feed port before designation. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of paper feed ports, a paper refeed unit for double-sided printing, one paper feed port among the paper feed ports, and the paper refeed And a designating unit for designating a non-default sheet feeding port other than the re-feeding unit, the mechanism control unit prints when a non-default sheet feeding port other than the re-feeding unit is designated by the designating unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by changing the setting of the paper feed port to the default when the sequence ends. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit for designating a process condition such as resolution and print density, and the mechanism control unit is configured to designate a process condition designated by the designation unit. Is an image forming apparatus characterized by changing the process condition to the default when the print sequence is completed.