JP2015182850A - Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of inverting many types of recording media.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 300 determines whether a sheet is a sheet not capable of passing through a double-side path 606, and controls the sheet so that the sheet passes through an inverting path 605 different from the double-side path 606, if it is determined that the sheet is the sheet not capable of passing through the double-side path 606.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program.

  There is a technique for changing the order of print images in consideration of the shape of the post-processing device when performing the middle folding so that the user is not aware of the difference in the shape of the post-processing device (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  For example, a post-processing device in which a previously ejected recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “sheet”) comes inward during bookbinding, and a mechanism in which a previously ejected sheet comes out in bookbinding. There is a post-processing device.

  For example, in the case of a face-up printing mechanism in which the printing surface during single-sided printing is discharged upward, in a saddle finisher without switchback, the printing surface comes to the outside after being folded.

  On the other hand, in a saddle finisher with a switchback, the printing surface comes inward after half-folding.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the triangle shown on the sheet 101 indicates the orientation of the print surface of the cover.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining half-fold printing using a saddle finisher without switchback.

  The sheet 101 printed on one side is discharged face-up and stacked as shown in “print result (saddle discharge, before half-folding)”. Then, as shown in “printing result (after saddle discharge, half-folded)”, the sheet is folded in half and the printing surface is outside the sheet (right side in the figure).

  On the other hand, in a saddle finisher with a switchback, the printing surface comes inward after half-folding. FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining half-fold printing using a saddle finisher with switchback.

  In FIG. 7B, the sheet 201 printed on one side is discharged face-up and conveyed in the horizontal direction, and then switched back to be shown as “printing result (before saddle discharging, before half-folding)”. So as to be loaded.

  Then, as shown in “Printing result (after saddle discharge, half-folded)”, the sheet is folded halfway and the printing surface is inside the sheet (left side in the figure). Therefore, the printing surface does not become the surface of the cover.

  When the printing surface is on the inner side of the sheet in this way, the image forming apparatus generally reverses the orientation of the printing surface by passing a double-sided path, so that the printing surface becomes the outer surface at the time of folding. Can do.

JP 2005-142609 A

  However, when the paper type of the cover cannot pass through the double-sided path, the orientation of the printing surface cannot be reversed.

  As described above, the conventional technique has a problem in that it cannot be reversed when the type of the recording medium on the cover is a recording medium that cannot pass through the double-sided path.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reversing more types of recording media, a control method therefor, and a program.

  To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with a plurality of reversing paths for reversing the recording medium in order to reverse the printing surface of the printed recording medium. And a reversal determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium needs to be reversed, and when the reversal determining means determines that the recording medium needs to be reversed, the recording medium is determined to be a predetermined reversal. When the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that can pass through the predetermined reversing path by the passage determination means that determines whether or not the recording medium can pass through the use path, When the recording medium is controlled so that the recording medium passes through the predetermined reversing path, and the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that cannot pass through the predetermined reversing path. , The a defined reversing path and having a control means for controlling said recording medium so that another of the reversing path the recording medium passes.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that the recording medium cannot pass through a predetermined reversing path, the recording medium passes through a reversing path different from the predetermined reversing path. Since the recording medium is controlled as described above, more types of recording media can be reversed.

1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the MFP in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the finisher in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how a sheet moves during printing in an MFP. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining how the sheet moves in the reverse pass, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining how the sheet moves in the duplex path. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of paper discharge control processing executed by a CPU in FIG. 2. FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining half-fold printing using a saddle finisher without switchback, and FIG. 7B is a diagram explaining half-fold printing using a saddle finisher with switchback. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the MFP 300 includes an ADF (auto document feeder) 301, an operation panel 302, a manual paper feeder 303, a side paper deck 304, a cassette paper feeder 305, and a finisher 306.

  The ADF 301 is an apparatus for automatically and sequentially scanning a bundle of documents. The operation panel 302 receives an operation input from the user and displays various information to the user. The user can perform various settings, adjustments, confirmation of device status, and the like on the operation panel 302.

  The manual paper feeding device 303 is a paper feeding device for setting a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter referred to as “sheet”) having a special purpose. The side paper deck 304 is a paper feeding device for holding a large number of sheets. The cassette paper feeder 305 is a paper feeder for holding sheets of various sizes in stages.

  The finisher 306 can perform various finishing processes such as a staple process, a punch process, and a bookbinding process.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of MFP 300 in FIG.

  2, the MFP 300 includes an MFP control unit 509, a scanner unit 501, a FAX unit 502, a NIC unit 503, a dedicated interface unit 504, a USB interface unit 505, and an operation unit 506. The MFP 300 includes a RIP unit 507, an output image processing unit 508, a printer unit 510, a finisher 306, a compression / decompression unit 512, a nonvolatile storage device 513, a CPU 515, a ROM 516, and a RAM 517.

  The CPU 515 sequentially reads programs stored in the ROM 516 and the non-volatile storage device 513 to the RAM 517, and executes various processes including processes shown in flowcharts to be described later.

  The nonvolatile storage device 513 is configured by a hard disk or the like that can store a plurality of image data. For example, the nonvolatile storage device 513 can store various data such as image data read by the scanner unit 501 and image data received from an external device such as a computer via the NIC unit 503.

  The RAM 517 and the ROM 516 store data for executing a job, various programs, various setting data, and the like.

  The scanner unit 501 reads a paper document or the like and performs image processing on the read image data. A FAX unit 502 transmits and receives image data using a facsimile telephone line. A NIC (Network Interface Card) unit 503 exchanges image data and device information using a network.

  The dedicated interface unit 504 transmits / receives various data such as image data to / from an external device. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface unit 505 transmits and receives various data such as image data to and from a USB device such as a USB memory.

  The operation unit 506 receives an operator's operation. The operation unit 506 is also a display unit and displays a screen for the operator. The compression / decompression unit 512 compresses image data as necessary, for example, when storing image data in the nonvolatile storage device 513.

  The compression / decompression unit 512 performs processing such as decompressing the compressed image data. For example, there are JPEG, JBIG, ZIP, and the like as formats of compressed data transmitted and received by the MFP 300 via the network, and these are compressed and expanded by the compression / decompression unit 512.

  The resource management unit 514 stores various parameter tables that are handled in common, such as fonts, color profiles, and gamma tables. The resource management unit 514 can add, read, update, and delete parameter tables. A RIP (Raster Image Processor) unit 507 performs RIP processing on PDL data.

  An output image processing unit 508 performs image processing on an image output from the printer unit 510 or the like as necessary. Further, the output image processing unit 508 stores intermediate data of the image data generated at that time, bitmap data for printing, and print ready data that is compressed data in the nonvolatile storage device 513 as necessary. Remember.

  The printer unit 510 performs printing, and the output sheet is discharged to the finisher 306.

  An MFP control unit 509 temporarily stores image data and determines a route according to the use of the MFP 300.

  In addition, the MFP control unit 509 controls to read image data stored in the nonvolatile storage device 513 as appropriate, transfers the image data to the printer unit 510, and executes output processing such as print processing by the printer unit 510.

  Further, the MFP control unit 509 controls to transfer the image data read from the nonvolatile storage device 513 to an external device such as a computer or another MFP in accordance with an instruction from the operator.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the finisher 306 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the finisher 306 includes conveying rollers 431 to 439, leading edge detection sensors 450 and 453, trailing edge detection sensor 448, stapler 442, thrust plate 443, stopper 444, folding rollers 445 and 446, and bundle conveying roller pair 447. I have.

  The finisher 306 may be operated by a command from the MFP control unit 509 or may be operated by a unique controller.

  The sheet output to the finisher 306 is discharged to one of the stacking trays 401 and 402 and the saddle stitching processing tray 403 according to the type of finishing processing set by the user.

  For example, when the finishing process is not executed, the sheet is discharged to the stacking tray 401. When the normal stapling process is executed, the paper is discharged to the stacking tray 402, and when the saddle stitching process is executed, the paper is discharged to the saddle stitching processing tray 403.

  Further, the sheet output to the finisher 306 is conveyed by the conveying rollers 431, 437, and 438 until the trailing edge of the sheet comes to the trailing edge detection sensor 448. When the trailing edge detection sensor 448 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the conveyance rollers 437 and 438 holding the sheet are stopped.

  Next, the sheet is switched back by reverse rotation of the conveying rollers 437 and 438, and the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller 436 until the leading edge of the sheet reaches the leading edge detection sensor 450. When the leading edge detection sensor 450 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the conveyance roller 436 sandwiching the sheet is decelerated, and the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the nip of the skew feeding correction roller 451.

  Even after the leading edge of the sheet hits the nip of the skew correction roller 451, the conveying roller 436 continues to rotate for a while. Then, after the sheet forms a loop in the loop space, the conveyance roller 436 stops.

  Next, the skew feeding correction roller 451 starts to rotate. When the sheet is skewed, the skew correction is corrected by the skew correction roller 451. Then, the sheet whose skew has been corrected is conveyed in the direction of the conveyance roller 439. When the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the leading edge detection sensor 453, the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount from that time, and the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the stopper 444.

  At this time, the sheet is positioned by the stopper 444 so that the binding position by the stapler 442 comes to the center of the sheet. By repeating the above operation, a plurality of sheets are sequentially conveyed to the conveyance path 441. Thus, in this embodiment, a route is expressed as a path.

  When all the sheets constituting the printed material are conveyed into the conveyance path 441, the sheets are aligned in the width direction by a width direction alignment plate (not shown), and form a sheet bundle inside the conveyance path 441.

  At this time, the sheets conveyed into the conveyance path 441 are sequentially conveyed from the sheet corresponding to the inside of the text of the printed material, and conveyed so that the sheet corresponding to the cover of the printed material is the last.

  If it is set to perform the saddle stitching process, the stapler 442 performs the binding process on the sheet bundle. When the sheet bundle is bound by the stapler 442, the stopper 444 supporting the sheet bundle moves to the downstream side in the transport direction. Accordingly, the sheet bundle moves downstream in the conveyance direction.

  The stopper 444 positions the sheet bundle so that the central portion of the sheet bundle comes to the position of the pushing plate 443. Then, the tip of the pushing plate 443 comes into contact with the portion where the fold of the sheet bundle positioned by the stopper 444 is formed, and the sheet bundle is pushed into the nip of the folding rollers 445 and 446 to form a fold in the sheet bundle.

  Then, the sheet bundle on which the fold is formed by the folding rollers 445 and 446 is discharged to the saddle stitch processing tray 403 by the bundle conveying roller pair 447.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining how the sheet moves during printing in MFP 300.

  The arrows shown in FIG. 4 indicate the moving direction of the printed material when not passing through the reverse path 605 or the double-sided path 606. First, a sheet is fed from the cassette feeding device 305. Next, the transfer unit 602 transfers the toner to the sheet. Then, fixing is performed by the fixing unit 603.

  Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the finisher 306 via the reverse path 605 or the double-sided path 606 as necessary.

  In the case of the configuration shown in this figure, face-up discharge is performed with the printing surface facing up during single-sided printing.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining how the sheet moves in the reverse path 605, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining how the sheet moves in the double-sided path 606.

  The triangle shown on the sheet shown in FIG. 5 indicates the orientation of the print surface of the cover.

  First, the reverse path 605 will be described. In FIG. 5A, the sheet 702 on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit 603 proceeds to the entry path 703 to the reverse path. The sheet 702 moves along the reverse path to the position X, and then passes through the reverse path exit path 705 through the reverse path 605 to the position Y706.

  Here, the sheet 702 has exited from a direction opposite to that at the time of entering the reversing path, whereby the printing surface is turned upside down and discharged.

  Next, the double-sided path 606 will be described. In FIG. 5B, the sheet 802 on which the image has been fixed by the fixing unit 603 proceeds to the entry path 803 to the double-sided path. The sheet 802 moves along the double-sided path and proceeds to the position Y via the position X.

  Then, the exit path 806 of the reversing unit exits the reversing path to the position Z, and further proceeds to the position W. Here, the sheet 802 has left the reversing portion in the double-sided path 606 from the opposite direction to that when entering the double-sided path 606, and thereby the printing surface is turned upside down. After this, the position proceeds via the position V to the position U and is discharged with the printing surface facing downward.

  As described above, both the reversing path 605 and the duplex path 606 are reversing paths for reversing the sheet in order to reverse the printing surface of the printed sheet. In this embodiment, two reversing paths are used. I have.

  In this embodiment, the double-sided path 606 corresponds to a predetermined reversing path, and the reversing path 605 corresponds to a reversing path different from the predetermined reversing path. The curvature at an arbitrary point in the section αβ in the path of the reverse path 605 and the curvature at an arbitrary point in the section γδ in the path of the double-sided path 606 are the same. The curvature is a predetermined curvature.

  Further, the length of the section γδ is longer than the length of the section αβ. Therefore, the double-sided path 606 is a reversing path having a path with a longer section length that is equal to or greater than a predetermined curvature in the path as compared with the reversing path 605.

  Therefore, there is a type of sheet that can pass through the reverse path 605 but cannot pass through the double-sided path 606. For example, the coated paper is a type of sheet that can pass through the reverse path 605 but cannot pass through the double-sided path 606. On the other hand, plain paper and recycled paper are types of sheets that can pass through both the reverse path 605 and the duplex path 606. Further, the cardboard is a type of sheet that cannot pass through the reverse path 605 and the double-sided path 606. Note that whether each type of sheet can pass through the reverse path 605 and whether it can pass through the double-sided path 606 is not limited to this example. In addition, even if the same thick paper is used, the weak first type thick paper is classified into a type that can pass through the reverse path 605, and the strong second type thick paper cannot pass through the reverse path 605. May be classified.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the paper discharge control process executed by the CPU 515 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, printing is performed on one side of the sheet (step S101), and then it is determined whether or not the sheet needs to be reversed (step S102). The criteria for determining whether reversal is necessary will be described later. Step S102 corresponds to a reversal determination unit that determines whether or not the sheet needs to be reversed.

  As a result of the determination in step S102, if it is determined that inversion is not necessary (NO in step S102), the sheet is discharged to the finisher 306 (step S108), and this process ends.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S102, if it is determined that inversion is necessary (YES in step S103), it is determined whether or not the sheet can pass through the double-sided path 606 (step S103). This step S103 corresponds to the passage determining means for determining whether or not the sheet can pass through the double-sided path 606 when it is determined that the sheet needs to be reversed.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the sheet can pass through the duplex path 606 (YES in step S103), the sheet is reversed in the duplex path 606 (step S107), and the sheet is discharged to the finisher 306 (step S103). S108), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the sheet cannot pass through the double-sided path 606 (NO in step S103), it is determined whether or not the sheet can pass through the reverse path 605 (step S104).

  If it is determined in step S104 that the sheet can pass through the reverse path 605 (YES in step S104), the sheet is reversed in the reverse path 605 (step S106), and the sheet is discharged to the finisher 306 (step S106). S108), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S104 that the sheet cannot pass through the reverse path 605 (NO in step S104), an error screen indicating that the sheet cannot be reversed is displayed on the operation unit 506 (step S105). . Then, the sheet is discharged to the finisher 306 (step S108), and this process is terminated. Steps S103 and 107 correspond to a configuration in which control is performed so that the sheet passes through the double-sided path 606 when it is determined that the sheet can pass through the double-sided path 606. S103, 104, and 106 correspond to control means for controlling the sheet to pass through the reverse path 605 different from the double-sided path 606 when it is determined that the sheet cannot pass through the double-sided path 606. To do.

  The discrimination criterion in step S102 will be described. When the finisher 306 ejects the finisher 306 face up and the finisher 306 is a saddle finisher with switchback, the MFP 300 determines that reversal is necessary.

  The MFP 300 also determines that reversal is necessary even when paper is discharged face down to the finisher 306 and the finisher 306 is a saddle finisher without switchback.

  Conversely, if the finisher 306 discharges paper to the finisher 306 face-up and the finisher 306 is a saddle finisher without switchback, the MFP 300 determines that inversion is not necessary.

  Further, when the finisher 306 is discharged face down to the finisher 306 and the finisher 306 is a saddle finisher with switchback, the MFP 300 determines that inversion is not necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the sheet cannot pass through the double-sided path 606, the sheet passes through the reverse path 605 different from the double-sided path 606. Control.

  On the other hand, in the prior art, if it is impossible to pass through the double-sided path, it is impossible to invert immediately. Therefore, in this embodiment, more types of recording media can be inverted compared to the prior art.

  As a result, even a sheet that cannot pass through the double-sided path 606 can be discharged and folded in the printing direction desired by the user if it is a printed matter that can pass through the reverse path 605.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. The system (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code of the software (program). In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

300 MFP
306 Finisher 513 Non-volatile storage device 515 CPU
516 ROM
517 RAM
605 Reverse path 606 Double-sided path

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of reversing paths for reversing the recording medium in order to reverse the printing surface of the printed recording medium,
Reversing determination means for determining whether or not the recording medium needs to be reversed;
A passage determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium is a recording medium capable of passing through a predetermined reversing path when the reversal determining means determines that the recording medium needs to be reversed;
If the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that can pass through the predetermined reversing path by the passage determining means, the recording medium passes through the predetermined reversing path. When the recording medium is controlled and the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that cannot pass through the predetermined reversing path, the reversing path different from the predetermined reversing path is set. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the recording medium so that the recording medium passes therethrough.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a screen indicating that the recording medium cannot be reversed is displayed on a display unit when there is no reversing path through which the recording medium can pass.   The predetermined reversing path is a reversing path having a path with a longer section length that is equal to or greater than a predetermined curvature in the path as compared with the other reversing paths. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus including a plurality of reversing paths for reversing the recording medium in order to reverse the printing surface of the printed recording medium,
An inversion determination step for determining whether the recording medium needs to be inverted; and
A passage determining step for determining whether the recording medium is a recording medium that can pass through a predetermined reversing path when it is determined that the recording medium needs to be reversed by the reversal determining step;
If the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that can pass through the predetermined reversing path by the passage determining step, the recording medium passes through the predetermined reversing path. When the recording medium is controlled and the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that cannot pass through the predetermined reversing path, the reversing path different from the predetermined reversing path is selected. And a control step of controlling the recording medium so that the recording medium passes therethrough. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of reversing paths for reversing the recording medium in order to reverse the printing surface of the printed recording medium,
The control method is:
An inversion determination step for determining whether the recording medium needs to be inverted; and
A passage determining step for determining whether the recording medium is a recording medium that can pass through a predetermined reversing path when it is determined that the recording medium needs to be reversed by the reversal determining step;
If the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that can pass through the predetermined reversing path by the passage determining step, the recording medium passes through the predetermined reversing path. When the recording medium is controlled and the recording medium is determined to be a recording medium that cannot pass through the predetermined reversing path, the reversing path different from the predetermined reversing path is selected. And a control step for controlling the recording medium so that the recording medium passes therethrough.

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