JPH09267536A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus capable of registering the size of recording paper by simple operation. SOLUTION: In an image recording apparatus equipped with a paper feed cassette housing recording papers in a freely detachable manner, an operation part 1 for allowing an operator to perform operation input and a memory part 4 storing data such as various parameters for operating the image recording apparatus or an operation mode are provided and recording paper housing data consisting of the size and direction of the housed recording papers are inputted from the operation part 1 to be stored in the memory part 4 and, at a time of the recording of an image, the selection of recording paper is performed on the basis of the recording paper housing data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording device such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer or the like.

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image recording apparatus using a cut sheet as a recording sheet uses a sheet feeding cassette for accommodating the recording sheet. For example, one disclosed in JP-A-3-115022 is known. ing. The sheet feeding cassette disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-115022 has a claw that can be cut off on the outer surface of the cassette and is turned on by the claw in the sheet feeding cassette loading section.
A photo sensor that turns off is provided, and the operator cuts the claw corresponding to the size of the recording paper stored in the cassette and loads the cassette to detect the recording paper size. As described above, conventionally, a display member (claw in the above example) is provided on the outer surface of the paper feed cassette to indicate the size of the recording paper, and the shape of the display member is detected by the image recording apparatus to store the paper in the paper feed cassette. The size of the recording paper was detected.

However, in the conventional paper feed cassette, the operator has to change the shape of the display member every time the size of the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette is changed, which is troublesome. In particular, when the display member is to be replaced according to the paper size, a large number of display members must be stored, and the display member may be lost.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of registering the size of recording paper by a simple operation.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus in which a paper feed cassette accommodating recording paper is detachably provided,
Recording paper storage information including the size and orientation of the stored recording paper, provided with an operation unit for the operator to input operation and a storage unit for storing information such as various parameters and operation modes for operating the image recording apparatus. Is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit, and at the time of image recording, the recording paper is selected based on the recording paper storage information.
Also, a display unit for displaying various guidance to the operator,
It is characterized in that it has a cassette exchange detection unit for detecting the exchange of the paper feed cassette, and when the exchange of the paper feed cassette is detected, the guidance for urging the change of the recording paper storage information is displayed. Further, it is characterized in that the necessity of displaying the guidance input from the operation unit is stored in the storage unit, and the guidance is displayed when the display necessity is set.

[0005]

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording paper storage information is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit, and when recording an image, the recording paper is selected based on the recording paper storage information. A display member indicating such a recording paper size is unnecessary. Further, when the paper feed cassette is replaced, the guidance for urging the change of the recording paper storage information is displayed, so that it is possible to prevent the operator from forgetting to change. Further, since the necessity of displaying the guidance is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit, and the guidance is displayed when the display is set, it is possible to more flexibly respond to the operator's request.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a plurality of operation keys, an operation unit for an operator to input various operations, and 2 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. A display unit 3 for displaying guidance to the operator is an operation display control unit for controlling the operation unit 1 and the display unit 2. Further, 4 is a storage unit in which information such as various parameters and operation modes for operating the image recording apparatus is registered, 5 is a storage control unit that controls reading and writing of information from and in the storage unit 4, and 6 is a mechanical switch or optical switch. Cassette detector that detects the presence / absence of a paper feed cassette containing recording paper and outputs a cassette presence / absence signal,
Reference numeral 7 is a cassette replacement detection unit that detects the replacement of the paper feed cassette based on the cassette presence / absence signal from the cassette detection unit 7 and outputs a cassette replacement signal, and 8 is an operation display control unit 3,
It is an overall control unit that controls the entire image recording apparatus including the storage control unit 5 and the cassette exchange detection unit 7. The cassette detection unit 6 is provided for each paper feed cassette, and when there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes, the cassette replacement detection unit 7 integrally manages them.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, the case where two paper feed cassettes are provided will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number may be one or three or more. First, registration of recording paper size will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an operation flow when registering the recording paper size. The operator operates the operation unit 1 according to the guidance of the display unit 2 to set the image recording apparatus to the recording paper size registration mode. Then, guidance is displayed on the display unit 2 to input the size and orientation of the recording paper stored in the first paper feed cassette, and the operator inputs recording paper storage information, that is, the recording paper size from the operation unit 1. Enter the direction. next,
Guidance is displayed on the display unit 2 to input the size and orientation of the recording paper stored in the second paper feed cassette. Similarly, when the operator inputs the recording paper storage information, the display unit 2 confirms. The screen is displayed. In the example of the figure, the A4 length is stored in the first paper feed cassette, and the B5 width is stored in the second paper feed cassette. When the operator who confirms this display inputs a positive response from the operation unit 1, the registration operation is completed, and the input recording paper storage information is registered in the storage unit 4 via the storage control unit 5. On the other hand, if the operator inputs a negative response, the recording paper storage information can be input again.

After that, when the image recording apparatus forms an image on recording paper by a recording unit (not shown) and prints out the image, the overall control unit 8 stores the recording paper stored in the storage unit 4 via the storage control unit 5. By referring to the information, it is possible to select the recording paper from the paper feed cassette that matches the size and direction of the image to be recorded and output.

Next, a case where the operator changes the size of the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a control flow of the overall control unit 8 when changing the recording paper size. First, the overall control unit 8 determines whether or not the cassette exchange signal is output from the cassette exchange detection unit 7 (S1). When the operator changes the recording paper to be stored in the paper feed cassette, the paper feed cassette is temporarily removed from the predetermined set position, so that the cassette detection section 6 outputs a no cassette signal to the cassette replacement detection section 7. After the recording paper is changed, when the operator returns the paper feed cassette to the set position again, a cassette presence signal is output from the cassette detection unit 6, and a cassette presence signal is output from the cassette replacement detection unit 7 after no cassette signal. As a result, it is determined that the cassette has been replaced, and a cassette replacement signal is output. Incidentally, the cassette exchange detection unit 7 can grasp which cassette has been exchanged by managing the output source of the cassette presence / absence signal.

If a cassette replacement signal is output from the cassette replacement detector 7 (S1 YES), then it is determined whether or not the cassette replacement notification mode is set.
The cassette replacement notification mode will be described. The cassette exchange notification mode is a mode for notifying the operator of the change of the recording paper storage information when the cassette is exchanged as described above, and is the same as the case of the recording paper size registration mode described in FIG. The operator can operate the operation unit 1 according to the guidance of the display unit 2 to register the change of the recording paper storage information in the storage unit 4 via the storage control unit 5.

The overall control unit 8 confirms via the storage control unit 5 whether the cassette replacement notification mode is set in the storage unit 4 (S2), and if not set (S2 N
O) This flow ends as it is. On the other hand, when the registered cassette replacement notification mode is set (S2 YE
S), Display guidance for changing the recording paper storage information on the display unit 2 via the operation display control unit 3 (for example, since the first cassette has been replaced, change the size and orientation of the recording paper and input) Then, the mode shifts to the recording paper size registration mode described in FIG. 2 (S3).

According to this guidance, when the operator performs an operation similar to that shown in FIG. 2 (YES in S4), the overall control unit 8 changes the recording paper storage information in the storage unit 4 via the storage control unit 5 (S5), and the End the flow. After that, when the image recording apparatus forms an image on the recording sheet by the recording unit (not shown) and prints out the image, the overall control unit 8 stores the changed recording sheet storage information in the storage unit 4 via the storage control unit 5. It is possible to refer to and select the recording paper from the paper feed cassette that matches the size and direction of the image to be recorded and output.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
The operation unit 1 and the display unit 2 may have a configuration in which the operation keys and the display panel are unitized as an operation display unit other than the form shown in FIG.

[0014]

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording paper storage information is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit, and when recording an image, the recording paper is selected based on the recording paper storage information. Therefore, the size and orientation of the recording paper can be registered by a simple operation. Further, the conventional display member for indicating the recording paper size and its detecting means are unnecessary, and it is not necessary to store the display member.

In the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect, when the replacement of the paper feed cassette is detected, the guidance for urging the change of the recording paper storage information is displayed, so that it is possible to prevent the operator from forgetting to change the paper feed cassette. It is possible to prevent erroneous selection of a recording paper having a size and orientation different from that of the recorded image after the recording paper to be stored in is changed.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the necessity of displaying the guidance is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit.
Since the guidance is displayed when the display requirement is set, it is possible to more flexibly respond to the operator's request.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow when registering a recording paper size according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control flow when changing a recording paper size according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation part 2 Display part 3 Operation display control part 4 Storage part 5 Storage control part 6 Cassette detection part 7 Cassette exchange detection part 8 General control part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/00 B41J 29/00 T

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus having a paper feed cassette accommodating recording paper detachably provided, an operation section for an operator to input an operation, various parameters and operation modes for operating the image recording apparatus, and the like. A storage unit for storing the information of the recording paper is provided, and the recording paper storage information including the size and direction of the stored recording paper is input from the operation unit and stored in the storage unit, and at the time of image recording, based on the recording paper storage information. An image recording apparatus characterized in that a recording paper is selected by using the image recording apparatus. 2. A display unit for displaying various kinds of guidance to an operator and a cassette exchange detection unit for detecting exchange of a paper feed cassette, and when the exchange of the paper feed cassette is detected, the recording paper storage information is changed. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a prompting guidance is displayed. 3. The image recording according to claim 2, wherein the necessity of displaying the guidance input from the operation unit is stored in the storage unit, and the guidance is displayed when the display necessity is set. apparatus.