JPH10329391A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To considerably easily change an image-forming apparatus for printing only monochromically to an image-forming apparatus for printing in color, and select print systems optimum respectively to the monochromic printing and color printing. SOLUTION: A controller 1 is connected to a monochromic printer apparatus 2 and a color printer apparatus 3. The controller 1 is constituted of a receiving means 4 for receiving image data, a judging means 5 for judging whether received image data are color or monochromic, a selecting means 6 for selecting either of the printer apparatuses on the basis of the judging means 5, a printer- monitoring means 8 for monitoring a state of the monochromic printer apparatus 2 and/or the color printer apparatus 3, and a switching means 7 for ordering printing to the other printer apparatus when the printer-monitoring means 8 detects that one of the printer apparatuses is brought in a state wherein it cannot print.

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, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of adding color printing to an image forming apparatus mainly for monochrome printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image forming apparatus, there is provided a receiving means for receiving image data from an external device in a monochrome printer apparatus which performs a printing operation using a black developer, and a paper feeder containing transfer paper. It was configured with a device.

[0003]

However, since the conventional image forming apparatus cannot perform color printing, it is necessary to purchase an image forming apparatus compatible with color printing again when performing color printing.

As a means for outputting image information in which a color image compatible with color printing and a monochrome image are mixed, there are devices using an electrophotographic system, an ink jet system, a thermal transfer system, or the like.

In the case of the electrophotographic system, a high-quality and high-speed output image can be obtained, but the apparatus itself is expensive and requires regular maintenance.

In the case of the ink jet system and the thermal transfer system, the cost of the apparatus body is low and the maintenance is easy. However, when a character image or the like is output, the image quality is not clear. Output
Character bleeding occurs and image quality is significantly reduced. In addition, in the case of the ink jet system, the characters lack blackness. Especially, in normal use, only monochrome images are output in many cases.Therefore, when trying to output high-quality images, the recording paper must be coated with special paper specified by the manufacturer, which increases running costs. And the output speed of the printer is reduced.

As described above, since each system has advantages and disadvantages, it is a difficult problem to select an image forming apparatus compatible with color printing.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and provides an image forming apparatus that receives color and monochrome image data from an external device and prints the image data. Means for determining whether received image data is color or monochrome, a monochrome printer apparatus that performs a printing operation using a black developer, a color printer apparatus that performs a printing operation using a plurality of color developers Selecting means for selecting one of the printers based on the determining means, printer monitoring means for monitoring the status of the monochrome printer and / or color printer, and any printer being disabled by the printer monitoring means. The image forming apparatus is constituted by a switching means for instructing printing to the other printer when it is detected that Than it is.

Further, the image forming apparatus is provided with a receiving means, a judging means, a selecting means, a monitoring means and a switching means in a monochrome printer.

Further, a transfer paper receiving port opened to the outside is formed on the lower surface of the monochrome printer, and a transfer paper discharge port opened to the outside is formed on the upper surface of the color printer. The apparatus is an image forming apparatus connected so that a transfer paper receiving port and a transfer paper discharge port are connected.

Furthermore, a paper feeder having a transfer paper storage section and a transfer section for separating and transferring the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage section is provided in a monochrome printer, and the transfer path of the transfer paper is set to monochrome printing. In the case of color printing, color printing is performed from the middle of the S-shaped transport path via the transfer paper receiving port and the transfer paper discharge port. The image forming apparatus is configured to be inverted inside the color printer and then passed through a transfer path in the monochrome printer through a transfer paper discharge port and a transfer paper receiving port to perform face-down discharge. It is.

Further, a second transfer paper receiving port which is open to the outside at a position vertically below the transfer paper discharge port on the lower surface of the color printer apparatus is provided, and between the transfer paper discharge port and the second transfer paper receiving port. A second transfer paper discharge port which forms a vertical transfer path, has a transfer paper storage section and a transfer section for separating and transferring the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage section at a lower stage of the color printer apparatus, and has an upper surface opened to the outside. And an image forming apparatus in which a second transfer paper receiving port and a second transfer paper discharge port are connected so as to be coupled to each other.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the present invention, which comprises a controller 1, a monochrome printer 2, and a color printer 3. The controller 1 includes a receiving unit 4, a determining unit 5, a selecting unit 6, a switching unit 7, It comprises a printer monitoring means 8.

The receiving means 4 receives image data from an external device. The determining means 5 determines whether the image data received by the receiving means 4 is color or monochrome. Selection means 6
Selects one of the monochrome printer device 2 and the color printer device 3 based on the judgment of the judging means 5.

The printer monitoring means 8 monitors the status of the monochrome printer 2 and the color printer 3 and constantly detects whether any of the printers has become unprintable due to lack of toner or jam. Switching means 7
When the printer monitoring means 8 detects that one of the printers has become unprintable, it instructs the other printer to print.

According to the present invention, when one of the monochrome printer device 2 and the color printer device 3 becomes unable to print due to lack of toner, jam, or the like, printing is performed by the other printer device. It is possible to switch immediately.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 1. The monochrome paper printer 2 has a transfer paper receiving port opened to the outside on the lower surface thereof, and a color printer. A transfer paper discharge port opened to the outside is formed on the upper surface of the printer apparatus 3, and the monochrome printer apparatus 2 and the color printer apparatus 3 are connected so that the transfer paper receiving port and the transfer paper discharge port are connected. You. Further, the monochrome printer device 2 has a configuration in which a controller 1 and a paper feeding device having a transfer paper storage unit and a transport unit that separates and transports the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage unit are incorporated.

With this configuration, during monochrome printing, as shown in FIG. 2A, a so-called S-shaped recording paper transport path from A to C is formed, and color printing or monochrome printing is performed. 1, as shown in FIG. 1B, the transfer paper passes through D toward the color printer device 4, for example, passes through the inkjet printing unit 31, reverses from G, passes through J, and transfers from D to monochrome. The paper is discharged to C via the printer device 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the image forming apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1. A color printer 3 such as an ink jet printer is installed below the monochrome printer 2. Further, a paper feeder 9 is further provided below the color printer 3.
In FIG. 3, the monochrome printer device 2, the color printer device 3, and the paper feeding device 9 are configured to be separated from each other, but are assumed to be actually configured to be in contact with each other.

The monochrome printer 2 has a structure in which a controller 1 (not shown) is built in, and has a transfer paper receiving port 22 opened to the outside on the lower surface. In addition, a conveyance path is formed on the upper surface to a discharge tray 23 for discharging the transfer paper after the completion of the printing process, and between the transfer paper receiving inlet 22 and the discharge tray 23, as in a normal monochrome printer, It has a monochrome printing unit 21 for performing monochrome printing and a fixing unit 24 for fixing an image on transfer paper, and performs monochrome printing.

The color printer device 3 has a transfer paper discharge port 32 opened to the outside on the upper surface, and a second transfer paper receiving opening 33 opened to the outside at a position vertically below the transfer paper discharge port 32 on the lower surface. Thus, a vertical conveyance path is formed between the transfer paper discharge port 32 and the second transfer paper receiving port 33. In addition, an ink jet printing unit 31 is provided between the vertical transport paths as a color printing unit.

In this embodiment, the color printing section is provided between the vertical transport paths. However, during the color printing, the print processing is performed by temporarily separating from the vertical transport paths and returning to the vertical transport paths after the color printing is completed. A configuration in which a transport path is provided may be employed.

The paper feeder 9 has a transfer paper storage section 91 and a transport section (not shown) for separating and transporting the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage section 91, and a second transfer paper sheet connected to the transport section on the upper surface. An outlet 93 is formed.

With such a configuration, when the monochrome printer 2, the color printer 3, and the paper feeder 9 are combined, the second transfer paper outlet 93 to the second transfer paper inlet 33, the transfer paper outlet A vertical transport path of the transfer paper to the transfer paper receiving port 22 via the transfer paper 32 is formed. As a result, when only monochrome printing is performed, the transfer paper is transported to the transfer paper receiving port 22 by the vertical transport path, and then monochrome printing is performed by the monochrome printer device 2, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23. When performing color printing on monochrome printing, color printing is performed between the second transfer paper receiving port 33 and the transfer paper discharge port 32 in the middle of the vertical transport path (in this embodiment,
After the inkjet printing section 31), the transfer paper receiving port 2
2, the monochrome printer 2 performs monochrome printing, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23. Also, when only color printing is performed, after color printing is performed between the second transfer paper receiving 33 and the transfer paper outlet 32 in the middle of the vertical transport path,
The sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 23 via the transfer sheet discharge port 32 and the transfer sheet receiving port 22.

With such a configuration as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the color printer 3 is provided below the conventional monochrome printer 2, or the color printer is provided between the conventional monochrome printer 2 and the paper feeder 10. 3, the image forming apparatus for only monochrome printing can be changed to an image forming apparatus for color printing only by changing a part of the controller. Further, since the portions for monochrome printing and color printing are different, it is possible to select an optimal printing method for each.

As shown in FIG. 3, the color printer 3 is located between the monochrome printer 2 and the paper feeder 9.
In the case of monochrome printing, since the paper passes through the vertical transport path to the monochrome printer device 2, printing can be performed in the same processing time as in the related art, and in the case of color printing, the conventional monochrome printer device 2 can be used. Can be shared and the space can be saved, and when performing color printing for monochrome printing, printing is performed separately in the middle of a series of transport paths, so that relatively quick printing is possible. Printing speed can be secured.

[0028]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a printer monitoring means having a monochrome printer and a color printer, and monitoring the status of the monochrome printer and / or the color printer, When the printer monitoring means detects that one of the printers has become incapable of printing, it has a switching means for instructing printing to the other printer, thereby making it possible to optimize printing for monochrome printing and color printing. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can select a printing method and can cope with a jam or when there is no toner.

The monochrome printer has a receiving means,
By providing the determination unit, the selection unit, the monitoring unit, and the switching unit, and providing the color printer at the lower stage of the monochrome printer, it is possible to change the image forming apparatus for monochrome printing to an image forming apparatus that can perform color printing very easily. . In addition, by making the discharge of the transfer sheet common to the discharge tray of the monochrome printer, the convenience is improved, and the running cost per sheet and the cost for purchasing the printer can be reduced. In addition, since a relatively quick printing speed can be secured, the efficiency of office work is promoted. Further, since it is not necessary to arrange the color printer sideways, space can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A illustrates monochrome printing, and FIG. 2B illustrates color printing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: controller 2: monochrome printer 3: color printer 4: receiving means 5: determining means 6: selecting means 7: switching means 8: printer monitoring means 9: paper feeder 21: monochrome printing unit 22: transfer paper receiving port 23: paper discharge tray 24: fixing section 31: ink jet printing section 32: transfer paper discharge port 33: second transfer paper receiving port 91: transfer paper storage section 93: second transfer paper discharge port

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus for receiving color and monochrome image data from an external device and printing the image data; a receiving unit for receiving the image data; a determining unit for determining whether the received image data is color or monochrome; A monochrome printer that performs a printing operation using a black developer, a color printer that performs a printing operation using a plurality of developers,
Selecting means for selecting one of the printers based on the determining means, printer monitoring means for monitoring the status of the monochrome printer and / or color printer,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a switching unit for instructing printing to another printer device when the printer monitoring unit detects that one of the printer devices has become incapable of printing. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said monochrome printer is provided with said receiving means, determining means, selecting means, monitoring means, and switching means. A transfer paper receiving port which is opened to the outside on a lower surface of the monochrome printer, and a transfer paper discharge opening which is opened to the outside on an upper surface of the color printer; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a printer device is connected so that the transfer paper receiving port and the transfer paper discharge port are connected to each other. 4. A monochromatic printer, wherein a paper feeding device having a transfer paper storage section and a conveyance section for separating and conveying the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage section is provided in the monochrome printer. In the case of color printing, a front loading and an S-shaped conveyance path are formed to discharge the paper face down. After printing, the sheet is inverted inside the color printer, passes through the transfer paper discharge port and the transfer paper reception port, passes through the conveyance path in the monochrome printer, and performs face-down discharge. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. 5. A transfer paper receiving port, which is open to the outside at a position vertically below the transfer paper discharge port on the lower surface of the color printer, and is provided between the transfer paper discharge port and the second transfer paper reception port. A vertical transfer path is formed, and a second transfer paper discharge unit having a transfer paper storage unit and a transfer unit for separating and transferring the transfer paper in the transfer paper storage unit at the lower stage of the color printer device and having an upper surface opened to the outside. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a paper feeder provided with an outlet, wherein the second transfer paper receiving port and the second transfer paper discharge port are connected so as to be coupled to each other.