JPH1087149A - Picture image formation device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate malfunction of damaging a printed document, etc., by constituting a device not to carry out stable action in the case when a form is judged to be a form not suitable for stapling even in the case when stapling is instructed. SOLUTION: A supervising controller 101 controls a paper deck controller 102 and a sorter deck controller 103 in accordance with a state of an instruction and a hard signal from a video controller 27 received through a supervising interface 114 and supervisingly carries out paper carrier control in an option unit. Paper feeding is recognized in accordance with paper feeding recognizing means detected by a cassette sensor 115. When a form is inserted into a finisher carrier mechanism, a stable switch state is discriminated, and staple action is decided. Consequently, the staple action is carried out by recognizing that the form is a form without inconvenience to carry out stapling, and in the case of a form with inconvenience, it is possible to stop without carrying out all the staple action.

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, for example, for controlling an optional unit for expanding a paper processing function of a printing apparatus for recording an image by using an electrophotographic process, and in particular, for stapling the paper. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus (printing apparatus) such as a laser printer using an electrophotographic process has been configured as shown in FIG. 2
Reference numeral 01 denotes an image recording apparatus main body, which includes a video controller 202 and an engine controller 203 described later.

A video controller 202 mainly performs control relating to image processing, and converts image information sent from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer via a general-purpose interface such as a Centronics interface into bit data. Expand to The engine controller 203 mainly controls charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, paper conveyance, and the like related to the electrophotographic process. 20
Reference numeral 4 denotes a video interface.
2 and the engine controller 203 to enable mutual communication.

[0005] A paper deck option 205 stores a large amount of recording paper and feeds the recording paper to the printing apparatus 201 in accordance with an instruction from the engine controller 203. 20
Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper deck interface, which connects the engine controller 203 with a paper deck option 205,
It allows mutual communication.

[0005] Reference numeral 207 denotes a sorter option, which has a plurality of stacking trays and prints recorded recording paper discharged from the printing apparatus 201 in accordance with an instruction from the engine controller 203.
They are sorted in a predetermined classification and loaded. 208, a sorter interface;
And the sorter option 207 to enable mutual communication.

In the above configuration, the video controller 2
02 receives the image information and the print command from the external device, and sends a video signal obtained by converting the image information into bit data and a print command to the engine controller 203 via the video interface 204. At this time, the video controller 202 also sends an instruction relating to the use of the paper deck option 205 and the use of the sorter option 207 based on a user instruction from an external device or an operation panel (not shown) connected to the video controller 202. I do.

[0007] The engine controller 203
The electrophotographic process built in the printing apparatus 201, that is, each member related to charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, paper conveyance, and the like is controlled to perform image recording based on the received video signal. At the same time, based on the instruction of the video controller 202, via the paper deck interface 206,
The paper deck option 205 is controlled to instruct a paper feed timing, and the like.
8, the sorter option 207 is controlled to issue a recording paper sorting instruction and the like. Or sorter option 20
Among them, those having a so-called "staple function" are widely used.

[0008]

However, the above-described conventional example has the following problems.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the stapling "ON" is specified, as a practical problem, the stapling operation as specified is performed even in the following environment where stapling is not required. It used to be.

For example, if the staple "ON" is specified even when the envelope is fed, the staple operation is normally performed as specified. Further, the same applies to the case of feeding an overhead projector (OHP) sheet. Further, for example, in the case of special paper such as a postcard, inconvenience has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described aspects, and even if a staple is instructed, if a sheet is determined to be inappropriate for staple, the stapling operation is performed. By preventing the inconvenience, the above-mentioned inconvenience is prevented.

[0012]

Therefore, in the present invention, in an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an image from image information, a means for stapling a document of a plurality of pages, and the stapling means, Means for instructing to operate after completion of the image formation, and means for determining whether or not the recording paper medium used for the document is a medium suitable for the stapling, and (1) Even when the stapling operation is instructed by the staple instructing unit, the determining unit determines that the stapling operation is not performed when it is determined that the stapling operation is inappropriate.
(2) Alternatively, by the stapling instruction means,
If it is determined that the recording paper medium currently being handled is inappropriate for the staple when the staple-on instruction is issued, the staple-on instruction is rejected and the staple-on mode is not set. By doing so, the object is to be achieved.

[0013]

According to the above-described apparatus and method of the present invention, when a sheet unsuitable for stapling is printed, the actual stapling operation is prohibited even if the stapling operation is erroneously specified. Problems such as damage are eliminated.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A detailed description will be given based on a plurality of embodiments.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration example of a printing apparatus (printer apparatus or image forming apparatus) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a case of, for example, an electrophotographic laser beam printer. The printing apparatus to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied is as follows.
It is needless to say that the printer is not limited to this type of laser beam printer, but may be another type of printing system such as an ink jet printer.
Further, in the following description and drawings, an example in which two optional units are connected will be described. However, more optional units can be connected. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation will be described.

<Configuration of Printing Apparatus and Optional Unit> 1 is a laser beam printer main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “main body”).
The recording paper (or paper) S stored in the cassette 2 is supplied into the main body 1 by the paper feed roller 3. The cassette 2 of the recording paper S includes a plurality of types of cassettes. In addition to the plain paper cassette, an envelope feeder cassette, an OHP sheet cassette, a postcard feeder cassette, and the like are prepared. It is detected and supplied to the video controller 27 as an electric signal.

The optional paper feed roller 4 supplies the recording paper S fed from a paper feed option, which will be described in detail later, into the main body 1. A registration roller pair 5 for synchronously transporting the recording paper S is provided downstream of the paper feed roller 3 and the optional paper feed roller 4, and a laser beam emitted from the laser scanner unit 6 is provided downstream of the registration roller pair 5. Thus, an image recording unit 7 for forming a toner image on the recording paper S is provided.

Further, a fixing unit 8 for thermally fixing the toner image formed on the recording paper S is provided downstream of the image recording unit 7, and a paper conveyance state of a paper discharge unit is provided downstream of the fixing unit 8. Sensor 9 for detecting the position of the sheet, the transport roller 1 for transporting the recording sheet S
0, a flapper 11 for switching the transport direction of the recording paper S on which recording is completed, and the like are provided. By switching the flapper 11, the recording paper S passes through the paper discharge rollers 12 and is stacked on the standard paper discharge tray 13, or is conveyed to an optional paper discharge roller 14 to be conveyed to a paper discharge option.

The laser scanner unit 6 includes a laser unit 15 that emits a laser beam modulated based on an image signal (image signal VDO) sent from a video controller 27 to be described later, and a laser from the laser unit 15. It comprises a polygon motor 16 for scanning light onto a photosensitive (body) drum 20, a beam detector 17 for detecting a laser beam position in the scanning direction, an imaging lens group 18, a folding mirror 19, and the like. The image recording unit 7 includes a photosensitive drum 20, a pre-exposure lamp 21, a primary charger 22, a developing device 23, and a transfer charger 2 necessary for a known electrophotographic process.
4, the cleaner 25 and the like.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an engine controller which controls the electrophotographic process by the laser scanner 6, the image recording unit 7, and the fixing unit 8, and controls the conveyance of the recording paper in the main body 1. A video controller 27 is connected to an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer via a general-purpose interface (such as Centronics or RS232C), and develops image information sent via the general-purpose interface into bit data. The bit data is sent to the engine controller 26 as a signal VDO. A video interface 28 enables communication between the video controller 27 and the engine controller 26.

Next, various optional units detachably connected to the main body 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 32 denotes an option control unit, which includes a control controller 101 for controlling various option units. The control controller 101 is connected to the video controller 27 via a control interface 114 connected by the connector 31. You. Also, a sheet feeding relay conveyance roller 33 and a sheet feeding relay conveyance path 34 for relaying recording sheet conveyance from a sheet feeding system option unit, and a sheet discharge relay conveyance roller 35 for relaying recording sheet conveyance to a sheet ejection system option. And a discharge relay conveyance path 36.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a large-capacity paper deck option unit for storing the recording paper S, which includes a paper deck 41 which moves up and down, and the recording paper S stacked on the deck 41.
Is fed using the paper deck feed roller group 42 as needed. Further, a paper feed relay conveyance roller 43 and a paper feed relay conveyance path 44 for relaying recording paper conveyance from another paper feeding system option unit, and a paper discharge relay conveyance roller 45 for relaying recording paper conveyance to a paper ejection system option. And paper discharge relay conveyance path 4
6 is provided. The paper deck option unit 40 is controlled by a paper deck controller 102.

A sorter option unit 50 includes a plurality of discharge bins, a first bin 51, a second bin 52, and a third bin 5.
The third and fourth bins 54 are provided for sorting and stacking the recorded recording paper S. The recording paper S is sorted into each bin by the first flapper 55, the second flapper 56, and the third flapper 56.
This is performed by the flapper 57 and the fourth flapper 58. Also, a paper feed relay conveyance roller 61 and a paper feed relay conveyance path 62 that relay recording paper conveyance from a paper feeding system option, and a paper discharge relay conveyance roller 60 that relays recording paper conveyance to another paper ejection system option. And a discharge relay conveyance path 59. The sorter option unit 50 is controlled by a sorter controller 103.

The general controller 101, paper deck controller 102, and sorter controller 1
03 is a connector 71a, 71b and a connector 72a,
It is connected by an option unit interface 70 connected by 72b. Also, 71a, 71b, 7
3b is the same connector, and 71a and 71b are also the same connector. Therefore, the paper deck option unit 40 and the sorter option unit 50 can be connected upside down.

Reference numeral 116 denotes an operation panel of the printing apparatus (to be described later with reference to FIG. 5).

<Connection of Printing Apparatus and Optional Unit and Configuration of Control System> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a connection state of the controllers.

The general interface 114 is connected to the serial communication interface line 80 and the OPTRDY signal 8.
1, POUTT signal 82, PFEDT signal 83, SPC
NG signal 84 and four hard signals.

Through the serial communication interface 80, commands such as designation of paper feeding to the paper deck option unit 40 and designation of a paper discharge bin to the sorter option unit 50 are transmitted from the video controller 27, and commands of the paper deck option unit 40 are transmitted. Statuses such as a paper presence state and a stacking state of each paper discharge bin of the sorter option unit 50 are transmitted from the general controller 101. The general controller 101 and the video controller 27 can be directly connected by a CPU bus.

An OPTRDY signal 81 is a signal indicating whether or not an option designated by the video controller 27 can be used, a POUTT signal 82 is a timing signal for the printer body 1 to discharge the recording paper S, and PFE
The DT signal 83 is a signal indicating the timing at which the main body 1 can receive the recording paper S from the optional unit, SPCNG.
The signal 84 is a signal for lowering the speed of the recording paper S conveyed at a high speed in the option unit and matching the speed with the conveyance speed of the main body 1. The POUTT signal 82, P
The three signals of the FEDT signal 83 and the SPCNG signal 84 are output from the engine controller 26, passed through the video controller 27 via the video interface 28, and input to the overall controller 101.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the video controller 27 receives image information and a print command from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer,
The engine controller 26, which has received the print command and the image information to the engine controller 26 via the video interface 28, controls each member related to the electrophotographic process to record an image on the recording paper S based on the VDO signal, The POUTT signal, PF
The EDT signal and the SPCNG signal are generated at a predetermined timing.

On the other hand, the video controller 27 transmits to the overall controller 101 via the serial communication interface 80 a designation of paper feed to the paper deck option unit 40, a designation of paper discharge to the sorter option unit 50, and a designation of a paper discharge bin. I do.

The general controller 101 receives the video controller 27 received via the general interface 114.
The controller controls the paper deck controller 102 and the sorter controller 103 via the option unit interface 70 on the basis of the instruction from the PC and the state of the hardware signal, and controls the paper transport in each option unit.

<Connection of Printing Apparatus and Finisher> FIG. 3
FIG. 3 is an external view showing the connection between the laser beam printer main body and the finisher 301. This connection is realized by removing the standard paper discharge tray 13 shown in FIG. 1 and connecting the finisher 301 instead.

The finisher 301 includes a finisher transport mechanism 302, a support 303, and each of the paper discharge bins 304a, 304b, and 304c. The finisher transport mechanism 302 has a staple function. FIGS. 4A and 4B show the mechanism of the staple unit of this embodiment.

The finisher transport mechanism 302 has several transport rollers (not shown) for transporting recording paper. For the first recording sheet sent, as shown in FIG. 9A, after the rear end of the sheet has passed the sheet ejection sensor 401, the sheet ejection roller 402 is rotated in reverse, stacked on the staple tray 403, and aligned. I do.

For the second and subsequent sheets, after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed the sheet ejection sensor 401, the sheets are sequentially stacked and aligned on the staple tray 403 by the inclination and paddle of the tray 403.

(B) As shown in the figure, after the last sheet of the job is stacked and the bundle is stapled by the stapler 405, the swing guide 404 is lowered, and
2 is discharged to the bin 304 by rotating it forward.

This series of stapling operations is performed when the operator turns on the "staple" designation.

<Operation Unit> FIG. 5 shows a specific example of an external view of the operation unit of the printing apparatus of this embodiment. Reference numeral 116 denotes the operation panel shown in FIG. Reference numeral 501 denotes a staple switch, which is used by an operator to instruct whether or not to perform staple after the sheet is discharged. Reference numeral 502 denotes a status display showing the current designation.

<Control Operation of Embodiment> A control operation sequence of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

According to the recognition of the paper feeding means detected by the cassette sensor 115 shown in FIG.
It recognizes paper feeding, postcard feeding, and the like. When a sheet is loaded into the finisher transport mechanism 302 in FIG. 3, it is determined in step S1 whether or not the staple switch 501 (FIG. 5) is in an "ON" state. If "OFF", a staple operation is performed. Absent. Further, if it is "ON", it is determined in step S2 whether or not the sheet is an envelope sheet feeding. If "YES", the stapling operation is not performed.
If "No" in step S2, the process proceeds to step S2.
Steps S3 and S4 are performed to check the OHP and postcards. If all are "No", that is, it is confirmed that the paper does not cause any inconvenience even if stapling is performed. Execute If the sheet is inconvenient, the process ends without executing the stapling operation.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment,
The determination of “stapling is not possible” is made by detecting the shape of the cassette 2 (FIG. 1) and thereby determining the type of the sheet S. This determination may be performed as follows.

That is, it is possible to make a determination based on the type of paper feed port. For example, the paper feed from the automatic envelope feeder can be changed to be determined as “stapling is impossible”.
Alternatively, manual paper feeding or paper feeding from the postcard automatic feeder is determined as “stapling is impossible”. All so-called cassette paper feeds are determined to be "staplable".

Further, it is also possible to realize the same determination that the sheet thickness is detected and the stapling is impossible when the sheet thickness is a certain value or more.

Further, by detecting the light transmittance of the paper,
It is also feasible to automatically recognize that the sheet is an HP sheet and make “stapling impossible”.

Further, the friction coefficient of the paper may be detected, and if the friction coefficient is less than a predetermined value, it may be determined that the staple is not suitable and “stapling is impossible”.

As for the stapling instruction, not only an instruction from the operation unit but also an instruction using a transmission command from the host computer is possible.

Further, in the case of a paper feeding mode in which stapling is inappropriate, the stapling "ON" instruction is prohibited,
It is also possible to apply to give a warning.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the case where an unsuitable sheet for stapling is printed, even if a stapling instruction is given by mistake, this can be prevented, and problems such as damaging a printed document can be solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device and an optional unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a connection state of each controller according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating a connection between a printer body and a finisher according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a mechanical diagram of a staple unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an external view of an operation unit of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence flowchart of a staple control operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional laser printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser beam printer main body (main body) 2 Cassette 3 Paper feed roller 4 Optional paper feed roller 5 Registration roller pair 6 Laser scanner unit 7 Image recording unit 8 Fixing unit 9 Discharge sensor 10 Transport roller 11 Flapper 12 Discharge roller 13 Standard discharge Paper tray 14 Optional discharge roller 15 Laser unit 16 Polygon motor 17 Beam detector 18 Imaging lens group 19 Folding mirror 20 Photosensitive drum 21 Pre-exposure lamp 22 Primary charger 23 Developing device 24 Transfer charger 25 Cleaner 26 Engine controller 27 Video Controller 28 Video interface 31 Connector 32 Optional control unit 33 Paper feed relay transport roller 34 Paper feed relay transport path 35 Discharge relay transport roller 36 Paper discharge relay transport path 40 Paper deck option unit 41 Paper deck 42 Paper deck feed roller group 43 Feed relay transport roller 44 Feed relay transport path 45 Discharge relay transport roller 46 Discharge relay transport path 50 Sorter options 51-54 Bin 55-58 Flapper 59 Discharge relay transport path Reference Signs List 60 feed relay transport roller 61 discharge relay transport roller 62 feed relay transport path 70 optional unit interface 71-72 connector 101 general controller 102 paper deck controller 103 sorter controller 114 general interface 115 cassette sensor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image from image information, a unit for stapling a document of a plurality of pages, a unit for instructing the stapling unit to operate after completing the image formation of the document, Means for determining whether or not the recording paper medium used for the document is a medium suitable for the stapling, wherein the determination is made even when the stapling operation is instructed by the stapling instruction means. An image forming apparatus that does not perform the stapling operation when it is determined that the stapling operation is inappropriate. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image from image information, a unit for stapling a document of a plurality of pages, a unit for instructing the stapling unit to operate after the image formation of the document is completed, Means for determining whether or not the recording paper medium used for the document is a medium suitable for the stapling, wherein the determination is made even when the stapling operation is instructed by the stapling instruction means. An image forming method which does not perform the stapling operation when it is determined that the stapling operation is inappropriate. 3. An image forming apparatus for forming an image from image information, a unit for stapling a document of a plurality of pages, a unit for instructing the stapling unit to operate after completing the image formation of the document, Means for determining whether the recording paper medium used for the document is a medium suitable for the staple, and when the staple instructing means instructs staple-on, When the recording paper medium is determined to be unsuitable for stapling, the stapling-on instruction is rejected, and the stapling-on mode is not set. 4. An image forming apparatus for forming an image from image information, a unit for stapling a document of a plurality of pages, a unit for instructing the stapling unit to operate after the image formation of the document is completed, Means for determining whether the recording paper medium used for the document is a medium suitable for the staple, and when the staple instructing means instructs staple-on, When the recording paper medium is determined to be unsuitable for stapling, the stapling-on instruction is rejected and the stapling-on mode is not set.