JPH11322086A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the appropriate printing with a printing mode suitable for paper sheets inside of an installed paper feeding cassette by providing a memory part for storing plural kinds of printing modes and a discrimination control part for selecting the printing mode suitable for the paper sheets discriminated by a discriminating means and for controlling the printing operation. SOLUTION: When the A4-size paper sheets are housed in a paper feeding cassette and installed in a printer main body, a first and a second pushing member 7a, 7b fixed to the paper feeding cassette 1 respectively pushes each switch SW1, SW2 of a detector 6 so as to be turned on, and a switch SW3 is not turned. On the other hand, in the case where B5-size paper sheets are housed in the paper feeding cassette 1, a second pushing member 7b is moved to a dashed line position so as to turn off the switch SW2. A discriminating means discriminates the kind of paper sheets on the basis of the detecting signal of the SW1-SW3, and a printing mode suitable to the paper sheets is selected from the memory part 12 on the basis of a result of the discrimination, and a recording head 14 is controlled by a printing operation control part 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, etc., provided with a paper feed cassette capable of storing a plurality of sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a paper feed cassette used in a conventional image forming apparatus, for example, there is a paper feed cassette shown in FIGS. Here, FIG. 8A is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the friction member at the front end of the press contact plate in FIG. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

In this conventional paper feed cassette, a paper feed cassette having a configuration shown in FIG. 7 is conventionally known as a paper feed cassette which separates a plurality of sheets one by one and conveys them to a recording section. At the bottom of the cassette main body 1, a pressure contact plate 5 whose front end portion can move up and down is disposed, and a plurality of sheets 8 are stored in the pressure contact plate 5, and the uppermost sheet is fed upward by the pressure contact plate 5. The paper roller 9 is pressed. A concave portion 5b is formed on the upper surface 5a of the press-contact plate 5 at a position facing the paper feed roller 9. A friction member 2 is attached to the concave portion 5b so that a plurality of sheets mounted on the pressure contact plate 5 are not separated and sent at a time, and the upper surface 2a of the friction member 2 is It is arranged so as to be substantially flush with the upper surface 5a. Further, the coefficient of friction between the sheet 8 and the friction member 2 is made larger than the coefficient of friction between the sheets.

FIG. 10 shows a press-contact plate 5 of a paper feed cassette according to a second conventional example, in which (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view near the friction member at the front end of the press-contact plate. FIG. 2B is a diagram viewed from the direction V in the diagram of FIG. A concave portion 5b is formed in the pressing plate 5 at a position facing a paper feed roller (not shown), and the bottom surface of the concave portion 5b is inclined upward and forward. The end 2b is lower than the upper surface 5a of the press contact number 5, and the front end 2c of the friction member 2 is
It is arranged to be higher than a.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional paper feed cassette, the type (size and horizontal / vertical orientation) of the paper that can be stored is determined for each of the missing paper feed cassettes. The operator of the printer selects the printing start position and printing speed according to the type of the paper on the scanning panel of the printer according to the type of paper stored in each paper cassette, or the printing start position using a personal computer or the like. Print start position and command (code) corresponding to print speed and print speed
Must be input to the printer, and if an operation error or a setting error occurs, a printing error occurs, which wastes time and paper.

When the paper cassette is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the type of the stored paper may not be known. Therefore, the type of the stored paper can be confirmed after the paper cassette is mounted. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for displaying the type of paper in the paper feed cassette itself, and there has been a problem that the structure is complicated and effective.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and determines the type of paper stored in a mounted paper feed set, and determines a print mode (print start position, print start position, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically selecting the number of printing digits, printing speed, and the like and performing printing.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a house forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided so as to be slidable in a width direction of a sheet to be stored, and to store the sheet. Paper feed cassette having a guide member for guiding the side edge of the paper according to the width of the paper to be fed, a paper width detector for detecting the paper width from the position of the guide member of the paper feed cassette, Determining means for determining the type of the paper based on the detection signal; a storage unit storing a plurality of types of printing modes; and a printing mode suitable for the paper determined by the determining means is selected from the storage unit. And a discrimination control unit for controlling to perform a printing operation in the selected printing mode. In the image forming apparatus according to a second aspect, the print mode includes a set value of a print start position, a print digit number, and a print speed.

[0009]

The above-described means operates as follows. Claim 1
In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the type of paper stored in the paper feed cassette is determined based on the detection result of the paper width detector, and a print mode suitable for the determined type of paper is set to a plurality of types. The printing mode can be selected from the storage unit in which the printing mode is stored, and the printing operation can be performed in the selected printing mode.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a print start position, a print digit number, a print speed, and the like suitable for the size and type of paper stored in a paper feed cassette are automatically selected. To perform the printing operation.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that the same parts as those in the structure of the conventional example described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paper feed cassette and a paper guide member of a printer main body according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. As shown in the drawing, a press-contact plate 5 for lifting up a plurality of sheets 8 placed on the upper surface is provided at the bottom of the paper feed cassette 1, and the press-contact number 5 protrudes from the friction member 5. Protrusions 3 are provided. Further, on both sides of the sheet cassette 1, a pair of guide members 4, 4 which are movable in the left-right direction in FIG. Further, the paper feed cassette 1 is provided with a pressing member 7 having a function of pressing a switch of a detector 6 provided on the printer main body side when the paper feed cassette 1 is mounted on the printer as described later. Have been. The pressing member 7 includes a first pressing member 7a fixed to the sheet cassette 1 and a second pressing member 7b movable together with one of the guide members 4 and 4. The member 7b is provided at the distal end of an arm 4a extending from the left guide member 4 in FIG. Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper guide member provided on a printer main body (not shown), and the paper guide member 10 includes a detector 6.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the vicinity of the friction member 2 at the front end of the press contact number 5 in FIG. A concave portion 5b having a bottom surface parallel to the upper surface 5a is provided on an upper surface 5a of the pressure contact plate 5 facing the paper feed roller 9, a friction member is attached to the concave portion 5b, and the upper surface 2a of the friction member 2 is A convex portion 3 is formed higher than the upper surface 5a, and projects further higher than the upper surface 2a of the friction member 2 immediately before the concave portion 5b of the press contact plate 5. Therefore, even when the paper 8 is slid along the upper surface 5a of the press contact plate 5 from the rear end side to the front end side of the press contact plate 5 in the paper feed cassette 1, the leading end of the paper 8 is slightly lowered. Even if it is lowered, the paper 8 can be supplied smoothly without being caught on the end surface 2b of the friction member 2.

As described above, since the upper surface 2a of the friction member 2 is higher than the upper surface 5a of the pressure plate 5, the contact area between the lowermost sheet and the pressure plate 5 is reduced, and the upper surface 2a of the friction member 2 is substantially The entire surface comes into contact with the paper. Further, since the paper 8 is lifted upward together with the pressure contact plate 5 by the action of a spring (not shown) provided between the back surface of the pressure contact plate 5 and the bottom of the paper feed cassette 1, the paper 8 is securely formed. It is possible to contact the paper feed roller 9,
Also, since the contact area between the lowermost sheet and the pressure contact plate 5 is reduced, the driving force of the sheet feed roller 9 does not cause a problem that the sheet is stuck to the pressure contact plate 5 due to the influence of static electricity and a feeding failure occurs. As a result, the paper can be reliably fed to the lowest paper.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the paper feed cassette 1 shown in FIG. 1. A sheet 8 is placed on the main body of the paper feed cassette 1 from the rear end side of the pressure contact plate 5 toward the front end side. This shows a state in which replenishment is performed by sliding along.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of guide members 4, 4 are provided on both sides of the sheet cassette 1 so as to be slidable in accordance with the width of the sheets to be stored. It is guided by the pair of guide members 4 and 4.

Further, a paper guide member 1 is provided on the printer body.
0 is attached to the paper guide member 10.
As shown in FIG. 4A, a plurality of switches SW1, SW
2, a detector 6 having SW3 is provided.

On the other hand, the paper feed cassette 1 is provided with a first pressing member 7a and a second pressing member 7b for pressing a switch of a detector 6 provided in the printer.
The first pressing member 7a is fixed to the main body of the sheet feeding cassette 1, and the second pressing member 7b is interlocked with the movement of one of the pair of guide members 4, 4 (the left guide member in the figure). In the space behind the pressure contact plate 5, the guide member 4
Is linked to

Therefore, when the paper feed cassette 1 is mounted on the main body of the printer, the first pressing member a is turned on by the switch S of the detector 6.
Since the second pressing member 7b moves in conjunction with the pressing of W1 and the movement of the guide member 4 according to the width of the sheet to be stored, the detector 6 is turned on in accordance with the position of the second pressing member 7b. The switch SW2 or SW3 is pressed.

FIG. 4A shows A4 size or B5 size.
A state in which a paper cassette capable of storing cut sheets of a size is mounted on the printer body, and the first pressing member 7a and the second pressing member 7b of the paper cassette operate the detector 6 of the printer. FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram connected to a detector. In FIG. 2B, a paper cassette capable of storing postcards is mounted on the printer body, and the first pressing member 7a and the second pressing member 7b of the paper cassette operate the detector 6 of the printer. It shows the state where it is. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the press-contact plate 5 has been removed from the sheet cassette 1 in order to easily understand the positional relationship between each pressing member 7 and each switch of the detector 6.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a storage unit 12 built in the printer main body stores a sheet cassette 1 in advance.
The print mode (print start position, print digit number, print speed, etc.) suitable for the type of paper (size or horizontal or vertical orientation) loaded in the printer is stored.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when A4 size cut paper is stored in the paper feed cassette for cut paper and mounted on the printer main body, the first pressing member 7a fixed to the paper feed cassette 1 is pressed. Presses the switch SW1 of the detector 6, and the second pressing member 7b presses the switch SW2. The switch SW3 is turned off without being pressed. When B5 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 1, the second
The pressing member 7b moves to the position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the left guide member 4 shown in FIG. 1, and the second pressing member 7b presses both the switches SW2 and SW3. Will not do. As a result, the switch S
W2 is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the postcard is stored horizontally in the postcard feeding cassette and mounted on the printer, the first pressing member 7a presses the switch SW2 of the detector 6, and the first pressing member 7a presses the switch SW2. The second pressing member 7b presses the switch SW3. On the other hand, when the postcard is stored vertically and mounted on the printer, the first pressing member 7a presses the switch SW2 because the first pressing member 7a is fixed to the paper feed cassette 1, but the second pressing member 7B works together with the paper guide 4. Since the switch SW3 is released to O
The state becomes the FF state.

The switch SW1 is always turned off and the switch SW2 is always turned on regardless of the direction in which the postcard is stored.

On the other hand, when the paper feed cassette 1 is not mounted, the switches SW1, SW2, S
W3 is all in the OFF state.

As can be seen from these results, it is detected which switch SW1, SW2 or SW3 is pressed by the pressing members 7 (the first pressing member 7s and the second pressing member 7b) on the paper feed cassette 1 side. The determination means 11 can determine the type of paper stored in the paper cassette 1 based on the detection signal. This determination means 1
1 is input to the storage unit 12, a print mode suitable for the type of paper stored in advance in the storage unit 12 is selected, and the print operation control unit drives the recording head 14 based on the selected mode. Desired printing can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the above-described print mode selection operation.
Depending on the ON / OFF state of SW2 and SW3, each print mode (print start position, print digit number, print speed, etc.) suitable for the type (size) of paper when printing is selected as shown in the figure. .

[0028]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the type of the paper stored in the paper feed cassette is determined by the function of the pressing member of the paper feed cassette, and based on the determination result, the paper type is determined. The printer is configured to select a print mode suitable for the paper type, so that the operator does not have to manually set the paper type, and it is possible to prevent printing errors due to setting errors. It has excellent effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a paper feed cassette is mounted on a paper guide section of a printer body according to the present invention, as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a friction portion at a front end of a pressure contact plate of the paper feed cassette of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a pressing member of a paper feed cassette in a state where a paper feed cassette for cut paper is mounted on a paper guide portion of the printer and a detector portion of the printer, and is connected to the detector. FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of the printer, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a postcard feed cassette is mounted on a paper guide unit of the printer body.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the type of paper and each print mode selected according to the ON / OFF state of each switch of the detector of the printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a paper feed cassette according to a conventional example.

7A is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a friction portion at a front end portion of a press-contact plate of the paper feed cassette of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for describing a problem in the paper feed cassette of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a friction portion at a front end portion of a press-contact plate of a sheet cassette according to another conventional example.
(B) is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the direction V in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed cassette 4 Guide member 5 Pressure contact member 6 Detector 7 Press member 8 Paper 10 Paper guide member 11 Discrimination control part 12 Storage part 13 Printing operation control part 14 Recording head

Claims (2)

[Claims] A sheet cassette provided with a guide member slidably disposed in a width direction of the sheet to be stored and guiding a side edge of the sheet according to the width of the sheet to be stored; A sheet width detector for detecting a sheet width from the position of the guide member of the cassette, a discriminating unit for discriminating the type of the sheet based on a detection signal of the detector, and a storage unit in which a plurality of types of printing modes are stored. A discrimination control unit that selects a print mode suitable for the paper discriminated by the discrimination means from the storage unit, and controls so as to perform a printing operation in the selected print mode. apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print mode includes a set value of a print start position, a print digit number, and a print speed.