JP2005186550A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing even when a user does not recognize the relationship between the printing direction of the printing apparatus, the arrangement in a cassette or tray for supplying the paper, and the printed image when printing on preprinted paper. I will provide a.
A recording medium embedded with a communicable wireless identification ID tag on which an image is printed in advance, a printing means for newly printing an image on the previously printed image, and information on the tag In the printing apparatus having a reading unit for reading out the image, a conveying direction detecting unit for detecting the conveying direction of the recording medium from the reading unit, and an image for converting a printing direction of the image to be newly printed on the recording medium according to the conveying direction. A printing apparatus having conversion means.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of handling a recording medium in which a communicable wireless recognition ID tag is embedded.

  With the progress of OA in paperwork, documents and drawings to be printed by transferring data from the host computer to the printing device are increasing, and information such as customer addresses and telephone numbers is managed by the computer. In general, business forms such as making various documents by printing customer information on preprinted paper (hereinafter referred to as preprinted paper) at the time of creating necessary documents are also common.

On the other hand, in the case of ID cards, cash cards, commuter passes, etc., because it is possible to read / rewrite data without contact and because it communicates with radio waves / electromagnetic waves, it is not affected by dirt, dust, etc. The use of wireless identification ID tags (hereinafter referred to as RFID tags), which are contactless IC chips that record or read data using radio waves on a card-like or tag-like medium and communicate via an antenna, has advanced. Yes. With the advancement of technology, it has been reduced in size and weight, and now it can be embedded in a label or paper (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-337426 A

  However, in a conventional printing apparatus, when using preprinted paper that has already been printed, the transport direction of the printing apparatus, the relationship between the paper supply cassette and tray, and the printed image are always determined. It was necessary to recognize.

  As a result, there is a problem that it is necessary to always be aware of the conveyance direction and the printing direction of the printing apparatus, and the insertion direction tends to be erroneous.

  In addition, when handling a plurality of preprinted papers, there is a case in which printing is performed on another preprinted paper by mistake.

  Further, there has been a problem that it is not possible to recognize when printing on a preprint paper is erroneously performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the purpose of the present invention is to supply the paper in the transport direction of the printing apparatus and the paper when printing on the preprint paper as described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can perform printing without a user recognizing the relationship between the placement on a cassette or tray and the image to be printed.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that can prevent erroneous printing of another preprinted paper.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of notifying an error when printing on a preprint sheet is erroneously performed.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that can visually notify a user that printing on preprinted paper is incorrect by displaying on a panel.

  In addition, by providing a notification to the host computer, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of notifying a user who is printing from a host computer far from the printing apparatus main body that printing on preprinted paper is incorrect. It is in.

  The present invention has achieved the above object by the following technical configuration.

  (1) A recording medium embedded with a communicable wireless recognition ID tag on which an image is printed in advance, a printing unit for newly printing an image on the previously printed image, and information on the tag In a printing apparatus having a reading means for reading, a conveying direction detecting means for detecting a conveying direction of the recording medium from the reading means, and an image conversion for converting a printing direction of the newly printed image on the recording medium according to the conveying direction. A printing apparatus having means.

  (2) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein the wireless recognition ID tag is embedded at a position where the wireless recognition ID tag quickly reaches the reading unit during conveyance for performing the image conversion.

  (3) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein a positional relationship between an image printed in advance and a tag is recorded in the wireless recognition ID tag.

  (4) The printing apparatus according to (1), wherein an ID of an image printed in advance is recorded in the wireless recognition ID tag.

  (5) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), further comprising notification means for notifying a user when a new image cannot be printed over the previously printed image.

  (6) The printing apparatus according to (5), wherein the notification means displays on a panel.

  (7) The printing apparatus according to (5), wherein the notification unit notifies a host computer.

  According to the present invention, when printing on preprinted paper, printing can be performed even if the user does not recognize the relationship between the conveyance direction of the printing apparatus, the arrangement in the cassette or tray that supplies the paper, and the printed image. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can perform this.

  Further, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can prevent erroneous printing of another preprinted paper.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of notifying an error when printing on a preprint paper is erroneously performed.

  Further, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can visually notify the user that printing on preprinted paper is wrong by displaying on the panel.

  In addition, by providing a notification to the host computer, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of notifying a user who is printing from a host computer far from the printing apparatus main body that printing on preprinted paper is incorrect. Can do.

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

  Hereinafter, a configuration example of a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a monochrome laser beam printer to which the present invention is applied.

  A laser beam printer controller 1031 in the monochrome laser beam printer 1030 controls the operation of the entire printer. The printer controller 1031 includes an input / output unit 1032 that controls input / output with each host computer via a communication line 1002 connected to the network 1000, an input / output buffer 1033 that transmits / receives control codes and data to / from the host computer. CPU 1034 for controlling the operation of the entire control unit, program ROM 1035 having a program for describing the operation of the CPU, the control code, calculation necessary for data interpretation and printing, and work memory for processing print data RAM 1036, a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 1048 for storing data that needs to be retained even when the power of the printing apparatus is shut off, and a bitmap image transfer unit for transferring the developed bitmap image to the printing apparatus engine 1038, actually printing on paper A printing apparatus engine unit 1039 to perform, an engine control unit 1046 to perform control and an engine I / F unit 1040 to connect the engine unit 1039, an operation panel 1041 to operate the printing apparatus, and a panel I / F unit to connect the control unit and the operation panel 1041 1042, an external memory 1043 used for storing print data and various printing device information, a memory I / F unit 1044 that connects the control unit and the external memory, and a system bus 1045 that connects the units. .

  The engine unit 1039 includes an engine control unit 1046 that controls printing from paper feeding to printing and discharge, and a reading unit 1047 that reads information on an RFID tag embedded in a recording medium.

  In the program ROM 1035, an image information generation unit 1037 that generates various image objects based on data settings received from the host computer, a bitmap image expansion unit 1060 that expands the image objects into bitmap images, and a reading unit 1047. There is a conveyance direction determination unit 1061 that recognizes the conveyance direction from the read RFID tag information, and an image expansion setting unit 1062 that determines a bitmap image expansion method based on the result of the conveyance direction determination unit 1061.

  FIG. 2 shows an engine unit 1039 of the monochrome laser beam printer of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the laser beam printer 1030 includes a casing 2001. The casing 2001 includes mechanisms for configuring the engine 1039, and printing process processes (for example, paper feeding processes) by the mechanisms. And the like, and a control board storage portion 2003 for storing a printer controller 1031 (shown in FIG. 1).

  As each mechanism for constituting the engine unit 1039, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum by operating a laser beam, the electrostatic latent image is visualized, and the visible image is transferred to a printing sheet. An optical processing mechanism for fixing the toner image transferred to the printing paper, a paper feeding processing mechanism for the printing paper, and a conveyance processing mechanism for the printing paper are provided.

  The optical processing mechanism includes a laser driver 2006 that turns on and off laser light emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) in accordance with image data supplied from the printer controller 1031 in the laser scanner unit 2022. Laser light emitted from the laser is swung in the scanning direction by a rotating polygon mirror 2007. The laser beam oscillated in the main scanning direction is guided back to the photosensitive drum 2005 via the reflection mirror 2008, and exposes the photosensitive drum 2005 in the main scanning direction.

  At that time, an electrostatic latent image is formed by scanning exposure with a laser beam on the photosensitive drum 2005 uniformly charged by the primary charger 2023 in advance, and the latent image is a toner supplied from the developing device 2020. (In this embodiment, K (black) toner is used as the toner.) The toner image is visualized.

  Next, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 2005 is transferred by the transfer charger 2025 to the printing paper 2027 fed in synchronization with the sub-scanning direction by the paper feed processing mechanism.

  Note that the photosensitive drum 2005 and the developing device 2020 are accommodated in a drum unit 2004 that can be detached from the housing 2001. The reflection mirror 2008 is a transflective mirror, and a beam detector 2009 is disposed on the back side thereof. The beam detector 2009 detects a laser beam, and a detection signal is given to the printer controller 1031.

  The printer controller 1031 generates a horizontal synchronization signal that determines the exposure timing in the main scanning direction based on the detection signal of the beam detector 2009, and the horizontal synchronization signal is output to the printer controller 1031. A cleaner 2024 removes toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2005. Reference numeral 2021 denotes a pre-exposure lamp that neutralizes the photosensitive drum 2005.

  On the other hand, the fixing processing mechanism is provided with a heater for overheating the toner image transferred to the printing paper. The heater is temperature-controlled by a signal from the engine control unit 1046 so that a predetermined fixing temperature can be obtained (note that control for power reduction is also performed by a signal from the power control unit 1047 during printing standby). ing.

  In addition, the printing paper feeding mechanism includes printing paper in the cassette 2010 and the paper feeding tray 2019 for storing the printing paper 2027, and optional paper feeding device 1 (2060) and optional paper feeding device 2 as removable paper feeding devices. (2070) is prepared, and the printing papers 2064 and 2074 and the printing paper of the reverse feeding unit 2011 are selectively fed.

  Note that the cassette 2010 is mounted in the housing 2001, and the cassettes 2060 and 2070 are mounted in the optional paper feeder. The cassettes 2010, 2060, and 2070 are provided with a size detection mechanism that electrically detects the size of the printing paper in accordance with the movement position of the partition plate (not shown).

  From the cassettes 2010, 2060, and 2070, the uppermost printing paper accommodated is conveyed to the paper feeding rollers 2013, 2061, and 2071 by the rotational driving of the cassette paper feeding clutches 2012, 2062, and 2072 in units of one sheet. The cassette paper feed clutches 2012, 2061, and 2071 are each composed of a cam that is intermittently driven by a driving unit (not shown) for each paper feed, and one printing paper is fed every time the cam rotates once. Is done.

  The paper feeding rollers 2013, 2061, and 2071 convey the printing paper to a position where the leading end thereof corresponds to the registration shutter 2014, and the registration shutter 2014 supplies the printing paper by pressing and releasing the fed printing paper. The paper is stopped and released, and the operation of the registration shutter 2014 is controlled to synchronize with the sub-scanning of the laser beam.

  On the other hand, the manual feed tray 2019 is provided in the housing 2001, and the printing paper loaded on the manual feed tray 2019 is fed by the user toward the registration shutter 2014 by the paper feed roller 2015.

  On the other hand, the printing paper conveyance processing mechanism forms a conveyance roller 2016 that conveys the printing paper released from the press by the resist shutter 2014 toward the photosensitive drum 2005, and a printing paper discharged from the fixing device 2017 on the top of the casing 2001. The flappers 2030 and 2031 for guiding the paper to the discharged paper outlet FD, the transport rollers 2032 and 2033, and driving means (not shown) for driving the transport rollers 2032 and 2033 are provided. By switching the flapper 2031, it is possible to switch the paper discharge destination of the paper discharge outlet FD formed on the top of the housing 2001 and the paper discharge outlet FU formed on the side surface of the housing 2001. When printing is performed with the surface of the young page of the document on which the printing has been completed facing down), face-up printing is performed on the FD (printing is performed with the surface of the young page of the document facing up). When performing this, the paper is discharged to the FU. Paper discharge ports of the respective FDs and FUs are provided with paper presence / absence detection sensors 2050 and 2051 for checking the presence / absence of paper so that the number of paper discharged is not too large and paper jam occurs.

  It is also possible to perform double-sided printing by switching the flapper 2030. Reference numeral 2011 denotes a reversal paper feeding unit, which includes engine transport rollers 2034, 2035, 2036 and a flapper 2037. When performing double-sided printing and printing face-down (printing so that the front side is at the bottom of the drawing and the back side is at the top of the drawing), the printing paper 2027 is first printed from the back side. Is fed (arrow (1)), the back side is printed (arrow (2)), and is guided by the flapper 2030 to the reverse feeding unit by the transport rollers 2038 and 2034 (arrow (4)). When a sensor (not shown) detects the trailing edge of the printing paper 2027, the printing paper 2027 rotates the conveyance roller 2034 in the reverse direction and switches the flapper 2037. It is stored in parallel. At this time, the surface (back surface) printed on the printing paper faces upward. Next, when the reverse paper feeding unit 2011 is designated as the paper feeding destination, the surface is printed again through the transfer charging device 2025 and the fixing device 2017 through the conveying roller 2036 and the paper feeding roller 2013 (arrow (8)) (arrow). (9)) By switching the flappers 2030 and 2031, the paper is discharged (arrow (10)) to the paper discharge port FD. In addition, when performing double-sided printing and printing face up (when the paper is discharged to the paper discharge port FU, the front side is in the lower side of the figure and the back side is in the upper side of the figure), the front side is printed first. The paper is discharged to the reverse paper feeding unit 2011, printed on the back side, and discharged from the reverse paper feeding unit 2011 to the paper discharge outlet FU (arrow (11)).

  An operation panel 2002 for configuring the panel unit 1041 is attached to the housing 2001. The operation panel 2002 is provided with a switch group for instruction input operation, an LED display for displaying information, and an LCD display. Further, an external memory unit 2040 for constituting an external memory unit 1043 used for storing print data and the like by the printer controller 1031 is attached.

  Readers 1 (2080) and 2 (2081) are attached in the conveyance path. When the conveyance path is viewed from above the printer in FIG. 2 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, two readers 1 (2080) and two readers (2081) are arranged on the right and left sides of the cross section of the sheet. When the printing paper is conveyed, the reading unit starts reading the information on the RFID tag of the paper in a time according to the paper feed stage and paper size in advance.

  FIG. 3 shows the structure of the RFID tag embedded in the paper. The RFID tag 3001 can be embedded in an arbitrary place on a sheet as a recording medium, and is embedded in the tag by the reading unit 3003 using electric power received from a radio wave radiated from the reader 1 (2080). Information is read from the ROM 3004 and can be communicated with the reader 1 (2080) or the reader 2 (2081) through the antenna unit 3002.

  Now, the operation of each device in the system configuration described above will be described below.

  When printing execution is designated by designation from the host computer 1001 on the network 1000, the control code and data sent via the communication line 1002 connected to the network 1000 are sent and entered via the input / output unit 1032. The data is stored in the RAM 1036 via the output buffer 1033.

  The CPU 1034 performs data processing in the image information generation unit 1037 in accordance with the program described in the program ROM 1036, and generates image information for each graphic image, character, image data, etc. (image object).

  After generating image information of all image objects in one page to be printed, setting of paper feed stages to the printing apparatus engine unit 1039 via the engine I / F unit 1040 according to control data instructed by the host computer To start printing.

  When printing is started, the engine control unit 1046 starts feeding by each of the above-described mechanisms, and is printed on preprinted paper by the conveyance direction determination unit 1061 based on information obtained by the reader 2080 by the reading unit 1047. The direction of the existing image is determined, and the content of the image object is changed so that the image conversion unit 1062 can generate a bitmap in the printing direction according to the result. The bitmap image development unit 1060 develops the bitmap image in accordance with the paper feed timing, and the bitmap image developed by the bitmap image development transfer unit 1038 is sent to the printing apparatus engine unit 1039 for printing. This is done and discharged.

  Next, determination of the conveyance direction in the conveyance direction determination unit 1061 and processing in the image conversion unit 1062 corresponding to the determination will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 shows a document print execution process in the printer controller according to the present invention.

  First, when printing is started, page generation ends, pages that are in a printable state are checked (4001), and if page generation has not ended (NO in 4001), they are sent to the printer. Various page information is set according to the information (4002), and an image object is generated (4003). Here, in the page information setting, an ID recorded in the RFID of the preprint paper to be used is designated.

  If there is a page that has been generated (YES in 4001), the set various page information such as the selected paper feed stage and paper size is set in the engine and paper feed is started (4004). ).

  When paper feeding is started, information written in the RFID tag from the reader 1 (2080) and the reader 2 (2081) is acquired through the reading unit 1047 (4005). Here, consider a case where there is a preprint sheet on which a table is printed in advance as shown in FIG. 6 and printing is performed as shown in FIG. 7 to obtain a printing result as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the pre-printed paper has a tag embedded in the portion marked with x in the drawing (9001) (hereinafter, the symbol x in the drawing indicates the position where the RFID tag is embedded). Here, depending on how the paper is set, there are four types of conveyance methods for the paper with the RFID tag.

  When the upper part of FIG. 10 is placed close to the conveyance path and the cassette is set in the cassette so that the printing surface faces downward, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the conveyance direction in the figure, and when applied to FIG. The printing surface will come out. As a result, the RFID tag is read by the reader 2 (2081).

  11 is placed close to the conveyance path and set on the cassette so that the printing surface faces downward, the paper is conveyed in the direction of the conveyance direction in the drawing, and when applied to FIG. The printing surface comes to the side. As a result, the RFID tag is read by reader 1 (2080).

  12 is placed close to the conveyance path and set on the cassette so that the printing surface faces upward, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the conveyance direction in the figure. When applied to FIG. On the side, there will be a back side on which no image is printed. As a result, the RFID tag is read by reader 1 (2080).

  13 is placed close to the conveyance path, and when the cassette is set in the cassette so that the printing surface faces upward, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of conveyance in the drawing, and when applied to FIG. On the side, there will be a back side on which no image is printed. As a result, the RFID tag is read by the reader 2 (2081).

  Here, the reader 1 (2080) reads two patterns in FIGS. 11 and 12, and the reader 2 (2081) reads two patterns in FIGS. 10 and 13, respectively. Since the timing at which information can be read differs depending on the arrival time of the RFID tag from the start of the conveyance of the paper to the reader, the difference between FIGS. 11 and 12 and FIGS. 10 and 13 can be recognized. That is, in FIG. 4, the conveyance direction is determined from the time when the information is acquired from the reading unit in 4005 and the timing of the conveyance start time (4006), and when the conveyance is performed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, Since printing cannot be performed on the printing surface of the preprinted paper, printing is impossible (NO in 4007), error processing is performed, the paper is discharged without printing, error information is displayed on the panel, and at the same time The host computer is notified that an error has occurred (4008).

  In 4007, it is determined that a preprint paper different from the designation is fed even when the ID of the preprint paper in the information read in 4005 is different from the ID of the preprint paper set in 4002. , 4008, an error is notified. In addition, when a sheet with no RFID tag embedded is fed, information cannot be acquired from the reading unit in 4005, and in this case, printing is impossible (NO in 4007). 4008, error processing is performed.

  When transported as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, printing can be performed on the printing surface of the preprinted paper, but printing is performed as shown in FIGS. 14 and 11 for FIG. 10 and FIG. There is a need. Therefore, if it is determined in FIG. 10 in the determination of the conveyance direction by 4006, the image is printed with the same printing as normal, so no image conversion is required (NO in 4009), and when it is determined in FIG. Since the image needs to be inverted 180 degrees and developed into a bitmap, image conversion 4010 such as conversion of each print position of the object is performed (YES in 4009), and the image is developed into a bitmap (4011). The image is transferred to and printed (4012). If all pages have not been printed, the process from 4001 is repeated (NO in 4013), and if completed (YES in 4013), printing is terminated.

  Since the data sent from the host computer is sent without being aware of the transport direction and the printing direction, the object is generated so as to be printed without being converted when the image object is generated. Therefore, when it is assumed that the image conversion 4010 is performed so as to change the printing direction, it is possible to take time for the conversion if the time from the recognition of the RFID tag to the start of printing can be increased. For this reason, since conversion is required when transported in advance as shown in FIG. 17, the RFID tag as shown in FIG. 9 is located at the bottom of the image (the top of the paper during transport requiring image conversion). Embedded).

  As a result, when the preprinted paper is conveyed as shown in FIG. 10, the printing result as shown in FIG. 16 is obtained. When the preprinted paper is conveyed as shown in FIG. 11, the printing result as shown in FIG. The image required by the user can be obtained without error.

  By detecting the transport direction from the RFID tag as described above, when printing on preprinted paper, the relationship between the transport direction of the printing apparatus, the placement of the paper in the cassette or tray, and the printed image is determined. Printing can be performed without the user's recognition.

  In addition, by embedding the RFID tag at a position that reaches the reading means early during conveyance for performing the image conversion, the image conversion can be predicted earlier, and the timing for performing the image conversion can be advanced.

  Further, by recording the ID of the image of the preprinted paper preprinted on the RFID tag, it is possible to prevent erroneous printing on another preprinted paper.

  Further, by detecting the conveyance direction from the RFID tag, it is possible to notify an error when printing on the preprint paper is erroneously performed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where one RFID tag is embedded in the paper is taken as an example, and the upper and lower conveyance directions of the image printed on the preprinted paper are specified by the timing when communication with the RFID tag is performed. However, by using a plurality of RFID tags as described below, it is possible to specify the transport direction not only for the top and bottom of the paper but also for the horizontal and vertical placement of the paper.

  In this case, the determination of the conveyance direction in the conveyance direction determination unit 1061 is different from the processing in the image conversion unit 1062 corresponding thereto, and the processing flow is almost the same as that in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, but double-sided printing is performed. The portion corresponding to 4001 is 30001 in FIG. 30, and the generation of pages for one double-sided page is not completed, but the processing after 4004 is performed. Further, in addition to the determination of the conveyance direction from the information acquired through the reading unit 1047 in 4005, the difference is that the determination of the surface to be printed is performed at the same time, and the processing of 30006 corresponds to 4006 which has determined only the conveyance direction. It becomes.

  Here, there is a preprinted paper on which the front side printing in FIG. 18 and the back side printing in FIG. 19 are performed. FIG. 20 is printed on the front side, and FIG. 21 is printed on the back side. Consider the case of obtaining the printing result as shown in FIG. 23 (considering the case of turning over FIG. 22 around the long side as shown in FIG. 23).

  As shown in FIG. 24, the pre-printed paper has an RFID tag 1 (24001) in the upper left portion of the figure as shown in FIG. 24, and an RFID tag 2 ( 24002) is embedded (hereinafter, the X mark in the figure indicates the RFID tag 1 and the Δ mark in the figure indicates the embedded position of the RFID tag 2). The RFID tag 1 and the RFID tag 2 have information indicating the upper left of the RFID tag 1 in the tag ROM so that the positions of the images can be distinguished and distinguished from each other (for example, “UpperLeft”). By writing information indicating the upper right (for example, “UpperRight”) on the RFID tag 2 as a reference, it is possible to identify which tag when read by the reading unit. Yes. That is, if “UpperLeft” is read, a tag is present at the position of ×, and if “UpperRight” is read, it is understood that a tag is present at the position of Δ.

  When the preprinted paper is viewed from the back side, it is clear that it is as shown in FIG. Here, different from the first embodiment, if the paper can be set in the cassette even in landscape orientation, eight types of transport methods are conceivable as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 35, the first row shows the direction of the paper, the second row shows the surface set downward in the cassette, the third row, the fourth row, the tag position at this time is from the cassette It shows whether the position is near or far from the conveyance path. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th columns are respectively recognized by RFID readers 2080 and 2081, and RFID tags that are recognized earlier in time during conveyance of the paper. The position of the RFID tag is shown.

  For example, the setting of the first line in FIG. 35 is placed in the cassette so that the surface of FIG. 24 is facing down, and the position of X of the RFID tag 1 and the position of Δ of the RFID tag 2 are close to the conveyance path. It will be set to be. In this case, since the sheet is transported as shown in FIG. 26, the reader side of FIG. 5 is the front side, so the RFID tag 1 at the position of x is read by the reader 1 of 2080. Then, the RFID tag 2 at the position of Δ is read by the reader 2 of 2081. In this case, since the tags 2080 and 2081 are read at an early timing with respect to the conveyance of the paper, the tags 1 and 2 are filled in the fifth and seventh columns in FIG. Since the data is not read at a later timing, “None” is described in the sixth and eighth columns. At this time, when the sheet is conveyed as in the first row, the front surface is first conveyed as shown in FIG. 26, and the back surface passes through the duplex unit and is conveyed in the direction of FIG.

  As a result, in the processing of 30006, it is determined that normal printing is performed on the front side and an image is printed on the back side in the upside down direction, and an image to be printed on the back side illustrated in FIG. 29, the images are transferred and printed in the order of the images after the image conversion on the back side. As a result, the double-sided printed images shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 are obtained.

  Similarly, in the setting of the eighth line in FIG. 35, the RFID tag 1 is placed in the cassette so that the surface of FIG. The position of Δ in 2 is set so as to be far from the conveyance path.

  In this case, since the sheet is conveyed as shown in FIG. 31, the reader side of FIG. 5 is the back side, so that the RFID tag 1 at the position of X and the RFID tag at the position of Δ Both are read by the 2080 reader 1 in the order of 2. As a result, the image is converted in 30010 to generate an image obtained by rotating the image 90 degrees counterclockwise in the order of the back surface and the front surface in FIGS. 34, the print image is transferred and printed in the order of the image after image conversion. In this case as well, the printed images on both sides shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 are obtained.

  Since the positional relationship between the pre-printed image and the tag is recorded as described above, when printing on preprinted paper regardless of whether the paper is placed vertically, horizontally, or double-sided, the printing device Printing can be performed without the user having to recognize the relationship between the conveyance direction, the arrangement of the paper feeding cassette or tray, and the printed image.

  In the above embodiment, the laser beam printer is taken as an example. However, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus (copying machine, printer, FAX, composite machine thereof, etc.) capable of handling a recording medium having an RFID tag. Obviously it is applicable.

The figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the monochrome laser beam printer to which this invention is applied. The figure which shows the engine part of the monochrome laser beam printer to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the structure of the radio | wireless recognition ID tag to which this invention is applied. The flowchart which shows the process of the printing process to which this invention is applied. The figure explaining the positional relationship between the readers 1 and 2 of the monochrome laser beam printer to which the present invention is applied and the recording medium. The figure which shows the recording medium with which the image which applied this invention previously is printed The figure which shows the image printed newly to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the printing result of the monochrome laser beam printer to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the positional relationship of the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied is printed beforehand, and a radio | wireless recognition ID tag. The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the printing result of monochromatic laser beam printer and conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the printing result of monochromatic laser beam printer and conveyance direction The figure which shows the recording medium with which the image which applied this invention previously is printed The figure which shows the recording medium with which the image which applied this invention previously is printed The figure which shows the image printed newly to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the image printed newly to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the printing result of the monochrome laser beam printer to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the printing result of the monochrome laser beam printer to which this invention is applied The figure which shows the positional relationship of the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied is printed beforehand, and a radio | wireless recognition ID tag. The figure which shows the positional relationship of the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied is printed beforehand, and a radio | wireless recognition ID tag. The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure which shows the process of the printing process to which this invention is applied. The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the recording medium with which the image to which this invention is applied previously printed, the radio | wireless recognition ID tag, and a conveyance direction The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the image newly printed by overlapping and the conveyance direction which applied this invention The figure for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning relationship between the recording medium and cassette which applied this invention

Explanation of symbols

1000 Network 1001 Host computer 1002 Communication line 1030 Monochrome laser beam printer 1031 Printer controller 1032 Input / output unit 1033 Input / output buffer 1034 CPU
1035 Program ROM
1036 RAM
1037 Image information generation unit 1038 Bitmap image transfer unit 1039 Printing device engine unit 1040 Engine I / F unit 1041 Operation panel unit 1042 Panel I / F unit 1043 External memory unit 1044 Memory I / F unit 1045 System bus 1046 Engine control unit 1047 Reading unit 1048 NVRAM
1060 Bitmap image developing unit 1061 Conveying direction determining unit 1062 Image converting unit 2001 Case 2002 Operation panel 2003 Control board storage unit 2004 Drum unit 2005 Photosensitive drum 2006 Laser driver 2007 Rotating polygon mirror 2008 Reflecting mirror 2009 Beam detector 2010 Cassette 2011 Reverse feeding Unit 2012 Paper feed clutch 2013 Paper feed roller 2014 Registration shutter 2015 Paper feed roller 2016 Carrying roller 2017 Fixing device 2019 Paper feed tray 2020 Developer 2021 Pre-exposure lamp 2022 Laser scanner unit 2023 Primary charger 2024 Cleaner 2025 Transfer charger 2027 Printing paper 2028 Registration shutter 2029 Paper feed roller 2030 Flapper 2031 Flapper 2032 Carrying roller 2033 Carrying Feed roller 2034 Transport roller 2035 Transport roller 2036 Transport roller 2037 Flapper 2038 Paper feed roller 2040 External memory unit 2050 Paper presence sensor 2051 Paper presence sensor 2060 Optional paper feeder 1
2061 Paper feed roller 2062 Cassette paper feed clutch 2063 Cassette 2064 Print paper 2070 Optional paper feed device 2
2071 Paper feed roller 2072 Cassette paper feed clutch 2073 Cassette 2074 Print paper 2080 Reader 1
2080 Reader 2

Claims (7)

  A recording medium embedded with a communicable wireless recognition ID tag on which an image has been printed in advance, a printing unit for printing an image on the previously printed image, and a reading unit for reading out information on the tag In the printing apparatus having the above, there is a conveyance direction detection unit that detects the conveyance direction of the recording medium from the reading unit, and an image conversion unit that converts the printing direction of the image to be newly printed on the recording medium according to the conveyance direction. A printing apparatus characterized by that.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless recognition ID tag is embedded in a position where the wireless recognition ID tag reaches the reading unit quickly during conveyance for performing the image conversion.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a positional relationship between a preprinted image and the tag is recorded in the wireless recognition ID tag.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ID of an image printed in advance is recorded in the wireless recognition ID tag.   5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies a user when a new image cannot be printed on the previously printed image. 6.   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit displays on a panel.   The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit notifies a host computer.

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