Image forming control method and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming control method and an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining the productivity of continuous printing processing even when a web cannot be supplied. The roll paper supply apparatus generates first paper by drawing out a roll paper and cutting off the drawn-out portion of the roll paper. The control device determines whether or not the roll paper supply device is in a specific state in which the first paper is conveyed to a specific position in each printing process. When the control device determines that the roll paper supply device is in the specific state, the control device causes the roll paper supply device to execute a process of conveying the first paper toward a printing position. When the control device determines that the roll paper supply device is not in the specific state, the control device causes the cut paper supply device to execute a process of conveying second paper toward the printing position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a device for cutting and feeding a part of a roll paper and a device for feeding cut paper, and an image forming control method for controlling the image forming apparatus. Background Art

[0002] The image forming apparatus includes a printing device that performs a printing process. The printing process is a process of forming an image on a paper transported to a printing position. The image forming apparatus may include a roll paper supply device and a cut paper supply device.

[0003] The roll paper supply device generates paper of a specific size by pulling out roll paper and cutting the pulled-out portion of the roll paper, and conveys the generated paper toward the printing position.

[0004] The cut-paper supply device conveys the cut-paper stored in the storage unit toward the printing position. The cut-paper is pre-formed into a standard size.

[0005] However, usually, the user selects which of the roll paper and the cut paper to use. When a continuous printing process is performed in which the printing process is repeated a plurality of times, the roll paper supply device is often selected as the paper supply source.

[0006] During the continuous printing process, the roll paper supply device may temporarily fail to supply the roll paper, for example, when replenishing the roll paper due to paper shortage or clearing a paper jam.

[0007] If the roll paper supply device fails to supply the roll paper, the productivity of the continuous printing process decreases. Summary of the invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an image formation control method and an image forming apparatus that can maintain the productivity of continuous printing processing as much as possible even when a situation occurs in which roll paper cannot be fed.

[0009] An image forming control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling an image forming device. The image forming device includes a roll paper supply device, a cut paper supply device, and a printing device. The roll paper supply device generates a first paper of a specific size by extracting a roll paper and cutting the extracted portion of the roll paper, and can convey the first paper toward a printing position. The cut paper supply device can convey a second paper of the specific size stored in a storage portion toward the printing position. The printing device can perform a printing process of forming an image on the first paper or the second paper at the printing position. The image forming control method is a control method in the case of performing a continuous printing process in which the printing process is repeated multiple times. The image forming control method includes a control device determining in each printing process whether the roll paper supply device is in a specific state of conveying the first paper to a specific position or is not in the specific state. Furthermore, the image forming control method includes a control device causing the roll paper supply device to perform a process of conveying the first paper toward the printing position when the control device determines in each printing process that the roll paper supply device is in the specific state. Furthermore, the image formation control method includes causing the cut-sheet feeding device to execute a process of conveying the second paper toward the printing position when the control device determines that the roll paper feeding device is not in the specific state every time during the printing process.

[0010] An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the roll paper feeding apparatus, the cut paper feeding apparatus, the printing apparatus, and the control apparatus for implementing the image formation control method.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image formation control method and an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining the productivity of continuous printing processing as much as possible even when a situation occurs in which roll paper cannot be fed.

[0012] This specification is presented in a simplified form, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings, to summarize the concepts described in the following detailed description. This specification is not intended to limit the important features and essential features of the subject matter described in the claims, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the subject matter described in the claims. In addition, the subject matter described in the claims is not limited to implementations that solve some or all of the disadvantages described in any part of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a part of a roll paper supply device and a cut paper supply device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a block diagram of a printing device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of paper feed control in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is an example of a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0019] (Structure of Image Forming Apparatus 10) The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment can execute a print process for forming an image on paper.

[0020] The image forming apparatus 10 includes a roll paper supply device 1, a cut paper supply device 2, and a printing device 3. Figure 1 As shown, a roll paper supply device 1, a cut paper supply device 2 and a printing device 3 are provided.

[0021] The roll paper supply device 1 generates first paper 9 a of a specific size by pulling out the roll paper 90 and cutting the pulled-out portion of the roll paper 90 .

[0022] Then, the roll paper feeding device 1 conveys the produced first paper 9 a toward the printing position P1 . The printing position P1 is a position on the paper conveyance path in the printing device 3 .

[0023] The roll paper supply device 1 includes a feeding device 11 for feeding out the roll paper 90 and a cutting device 12 for cutting a feeding portion 9x of the roll paper 90. The feeding portion 9x is a portion of the roll paper 90 from which the paper is fed.

[0024] The delivery device 11 includes a roll paper supporting mechanism 11a and a delivery mechanism 11b (see Figure 1 The roll paper supporting mechanism 11a rotatably supports the roll paper 90. The drawing mechanism 11b draws out a portion of the roll paper 90 supported by the roll paper supporting mechanism 11a.

[0025] The cutting device 12 cuts the unwinding portion 9 x of the roll paper 90 to produce the first paper 9 a of a specific size.

[0026] The roll paper feeding device 1 further includes a first feeding mechanism 13 (see Figure 1 , Figure 2). The first feeding mechanism 13 feeds the first paper 9a to the front-stage feeding path 101 in the cut-paper feeding device 2. The front-stage feeding path 101 is a part of the feeding path for feeding the paper toward the printing position P1.

[0027] The cut-sheet feeding device 2 can convey the second paper 9b of the specific size stored in one or more storage sections 20 toward the printing position P1. The second paper 9b is a cut-sheet paper formed in advance into the specific size.

[0028] The cut-sheet feeding device 2 includes one or more storage sections 20, a second feeding mechanism 21, and a front-stage conveying mechanism 22. The second feeding mechanism 21 conveys the second paper 9b in the storage section 20 to the front-stage conveying path 101.

[0029] The front conveying mechanism 22 conveys the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b from the front conveying path 101 to the relay conveying path 102 in the printing device 3 (see Figure 2 , Figure 3 ).

[0030] The printing device 3 performs the printing process on the first paper 9 a or the second paper 9 b at the printing position P1 .

[0031] The printing device 3 includes a relay conveying mechanism 31, a first belt conveying mechanism 32, a second belt conveying mechanism 33, a subsequent conveying mechanism 34, and an image forming unit 4 (see Figure 3 ).

[0032] In the present embodiment, the printing device 3 executes the printing process by inkjet method. Therefore, the image forming unit 4 includes a plurality of inkjet units 41 and an ink supply unit 42. Furthermore, the image forming unit 4 further includes a drying device 43.

[0033] The relay conveyance mechanism 31 conveys the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b conveyed to the relay conveyance path 102 to the printing position P1. The first belt conveyance mechanism 32 conveys the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b at the printing position P1.

[0034] Furthermore, the first belt conveyance mechanism 32 conveys the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b to the second belt conveyance mechanism 33. The second belt conveyance mechanism 33 conveys the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b to the subsequent conveyance path 103.

[0035] The subsequent conveying mechanism 34 delivers the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b to a subsequent device connected to the subsequent stage of the printing device 3. The subsequent device is, for example, a discharge tray or a post-processing device.

[0036] The post-processing device performs various post-processes on the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b on which the image is formed, for example, a part or all of a punching process, a stapling process, and a folding process.

[0037] The plurality of inkjet units 41 form an ink image on the first paper 9 a or the second paper 9 b transported by the first belt transport mechanism 32 by respectively ejecting inks of different colors.

[0038] The ink supply unit 42 supplies ink of a color corresponding to each of the plurality of ink ejecting units 41. The drying device 43 dries the ink image by sending hot air to the ink image on the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b transported by the second belt transport mechanism 33.

[0039] The printing device 3 further includes a reverse conveying mechanism 35 (see Figure 3 When performing the double-sided printing process, the reverse conveying mechanism 35 conveys the first paper 9 a or the second paper 9 b from the rear conveying path 103 to the relay conveying path 102 via the reverse conveying path 104 .

[0040] The reversing conveyance mechanism 35 reverses the orientation of the first paper 9 a or the second paper 9 b in the reversing conveyance path 104 , and then conveys the reversed first paper 9 a or the second paper 9 b to the relay conveyance path 102 .

[0041] The image forming apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of paper sensors 5 (see Figures 1 to 3 ).

[0042] For example, the plurality of paper sensors 5 include a first paper sensor 5a, a second paper sensor 5b, a third paper sensor 5c, and a fourth paper sensor 5d (see Figures 1 to 3 ).

[0043] The first paper sensor 5a detects the position of the paper between the roll paper support mechanism 11a and the cutting device 12 in the roll paper conveying path (see Figure 1 ). The first paper sensor 5a is used to determine whether the roll paper 90 is out of paper.

[0044] The second paper sensor 5b detects paper at a specific position in the cutting device 12 in the roll paper conveyance path (see Figure 2 The second paper sensor 5 b is used to determine the cut position in the delivery portion 9 x of the roll paper 90 .

[0045] The third paper sensor 5c detects the first paper 9a at a specific position P2 of the conveyance path of the first paper 9a (see Figure 2 ). The specific position P2 is a position between the cutting device 12 and the front-stage conveying passage 101.

[0046] The fourth paper sensor 5d detects the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b in the relay conveyance path 102 (see Figure 3The fourth paper sensor 5d is used to control the timing of the relay conveying mechanism 31 to convey the first paper 9a or the second paper 9b toward the printing position P1.

[0047] The image forming apparatus 10 further includes an operating device 801, a display device 802, and a control device 8 (see Figure 3 ).exist Figure 3 In the example shown, the operating device 801 , the display device 802 , and the control device 80 are provided in the printing device 3 . However, part or all of the operating device 801 , the display device 802 , and the control device 8 may be provided in the roll paper supply device 1 or the cut paper supply device 2 .

[0048] The operation device 801 detects human operation. For example, the operation device 801 includes a plurality of operation buttons and a touch panel. The display device 802 can display various information. For example, the display device 802 is a panel display device such as a liquid crystal display panel.

[0049] The control device 8 controls the roll paper supply device 1 , the cut paper supply device 2 and the printing device 3 .

[0050] like Figure 4 As shown, the control device 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 80, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 81, a secondary storage device 82, a communication device 83, and the like.

[0051] The CPU 80 performs various control and data processing by executing computer programs. The RAM 81 temporarily stores the computer programs executed by the CPU 80 and various data.

[0052] The secondary storage device 82 is a non-volatile storage device that can be read by a computer. The secondary storage device 82 stores the computer program executed by the CPU 80 and various data. For example, one or both of a flash memory and a hard disk drive are used as the secondary storage device 82.

[0053] The communication device 83 communicates with other devices such as the host device 7 through the network 70. The CPU 80 communicates with other devices through the communication device 83. The host device 7 is an information processing device that requests the image forming device 10 to perform the printing process.

[0054] The CPU 80 includes a plurality of processing modules implemented by executing the computer program. The plurality of processing modules include a main control unit 8a, a conveying control unit 8b, and a printing control unit 8c (see Figure 4 ).

[0055] The main control unit 8 a performs start control and the like for starting various processes in response to an operation on the operating device 801 or a process request received via the communication device 83 .

[0056] The conveyance control unit 8b controls the generation of the first paper 9a by controlling the extraction device 11 and the cutting device 12. Furthermore, the conveyance control unit 8b controls the conveyance of the first paper 9a and the second paper 9b by controlling the first supply mechanism 13, the cut paper supply device 2, and the printing device 3 related to paper conveyance.

[0057] The print control unit 8 c controls the printing device 3 to execute the above-mentioned printing process in synchronization with the conveyance of the first paper 9 a and the second paper 9 b . Furthermore, the print control unit 8 c controls the power supply to the heater provided in the drying device 43 .

[0058] Normally, the user selects which of the first paper 9a and the second paper 9b is used in the printing process. When a continuous printing process is performed in which the printing process is repeated a plurality of times, the roll paper supply device 1 is often selected as the paper supply source.

[0059] During the continuous printing process, the roll paper supply device 1 may temporarily fail to supply the first paper 9a. For example, the roll paper supply device 1 fails to supply the roll paper 90 when replenishing the roll paper 90 due to paper shortage or clearing a paper jam of the roll paper 90.

[0060] If the roll paper supply device 1 fails to supply the first paper 9 a , the productivity of the continuous printing process decreases.

[0061] In this embodiment, the conveyance control unit 8b performs the paper feed control described below when executing the continuous printing process. Thus, even if the roll paper feeding device 1 fails to feed the first paper 9a, the productivity of the continuous printing process can be maintained as much as possible.

[0062] (Paper supply control) Below, refer to Figure 5 The flowchart shown in FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the procedure of the paper feed control.

[0063] When the main control section 8a receives the request for the continuous printing process via the communication device 83 or the operation device 801, the transport control section 8b starts the paper feed control.

[0064] The paper feed control is an example of a process for realizing an image formation control method for controlling the image forming apparatus 10. The CPU 80 including the conveyance control unit 8b is an example of a processor for realizing the image formation control method.

[0065] In the following description, S1 to S8 represent identification codes of a plurality of steps in the paper feed control. In the paper feed control, the process of step S1 is first executed.

[0066] The transport control unit 8 b executes the processes of steps S1 to S8 in each of the printing processes of the continuous printing process.

[0067] For example, when the continuous printing process is requested, the conveyance control unit 8b first executes the processes of steps S1 to S8. Furthermore, the conveyance control unit 8b executes the processes of steps S1 to S8 at a timing corresponding to a predetermined paper interval each time the printing process is executed.

[0068] (Process S1) In step S1 , the transport control unit 8 b determines the state of the roll paper feeding device 1 .

[0069] Specifically, the transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper feeding device 1 is in a normal state in which the first paper 9 a can be fed, or is not in the normal state.

[0070] Furthermore, when determining that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the normal state, the transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper supply device 1 is operating or stopped.

[0071] For example, the transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper feeding device 1 is in the normal state or not based on whether the detection states of the three paper sensors 5 a to 5 c satisfy the paper abnormality condition.

[0072] For example, the paper abnormality condition includes a paper shortage condition in which the first paper sensor 5 a fails to detect the paper feed portion 9 x of the roll paper 90 .

[0073] Furthermore, the abnormal paper condition may include a paper jam condition in which the detection result of the second paper sensor 5b or the third paper sensor 5c does not show a normal change according to the conveyance operation of the extraction unit 9x or the first paper 9a.

[0074] In addition, the roll paper supply device 1 may include an openable and closable cover and a cover sensor for detecting a cover open state. The cover open state is a state in which the cover is opened. At this time, when the cover sensor detects the cover open state, the conveying control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is not in the normal state.

[0075] When the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is not in the normal state, the transport control unit 8b executes the processing of step S2. When the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the normal state and the roll paper supply device 1 is stopped, the transport control unit 8b executes the processing of step S3.

[0076] On the other hand, when the transport control unit 8 b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the normal state and the roll paper supply device 1 is operating, it executes the processing of step S4 .

[0077] (Process S2) In step S2 , the transport control unit 8 b executes a status notification process for notifying the user of the status determined in step S1 .

[0078] For example, the transport control unit 8b notifies the host device 7 of a message indicating the state determined in step S1 via the communication device 83. Alternatively, the transport control unit 8b notifies the host device 7 of the message via the display device 802.

[0079] After executing the process of step S2 , the transport control unit 8 b executes the process of step S8 .

[0080] (Process S3) In step S3, the transport control unit 8b starts the operation of the roll paper supply device 1. The roll paper supply device 1 thus sequentially executes the process of feeding the roll paper 90, the process of cutting by the feeding unit 9x, and the process of feeding the first paper 9a according to the detection states of the three paper sensors 5a to 5c.

[0081] After executing the process of step S3 , the transport control unit 8 b executes the process of step S4 .

[0082] (Process S4) In step S4 , the transport control unit 8 b selects the next process according to whether the print process to be executed is the last print process in the continuous print process.

[0083] If the print process to be executed is the last print process, the conveyance control unit 8b executes the process of step S5. On the other hand, if the print process to be executed is not the last print process, the conveyance control unit 8b executes the process of step S6.

[0084] (Process S5) In step S5 , the transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper supply device 1 is in the paper production completed state or not in the paper production completed state. The paper production completed state is a state in which the roll paper supply device 1 has produced the first paper 9 a .

[0085] The transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper supply device 1 is in the paper generation completed state based on the detection states of the second paper sensor 5 b and the third paper sensor 5 c and the actual operation results of the cutting device 12 .

[0086] In a state where the feed-out portion 9x is detected by the second paper sensor 5b, the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the paper generation completed state each time the cutting device 12 performs a cutting operation.

[0087] On the other hand, every time the third paper sensor 5c changes from a state where it detects the first paper 9a to a state where it does not detect the first paper 9a, the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper feeding device 1 is not in the paper generation completed state.

[0088] If the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the paper generation completed state, it executes the process of step S7. On the other hand, if the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is not in the paper generation completed state, it executes the process of step S6.

[0089] (Step S6) In step S6 , the transport control unit 8 b determines whether the roll paper supply device 1 is in a specific state of transporting the first paper 9 a to the specific position P2 or is not in the specific state.

[0090] The specific state is a state where the first paper 9a has reached the specific position P2. The non-specific state that is not the specific state is a state where the first paper 9a has not reached the specific position P2.

[0091] When the third paper sensor 5c detects the first paper 9a, the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the specific state. On the other hand, when the third paper sensor 5c does not detect the first paper 9a, the transport control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is not in the specific state.

[0092] The transport control unit 8b executes the process of step S7 when it is determined that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the specific state. On the other hand, the transport control unit 8b executes the process of step S8 when it is determined that the roll paper supply device 1 is not in the specific state.

[0093] (Step S7) In step S7, the transport control unit 8b causes the first feeding mechanism 13 of the roll paper feeding device 1 to transport the first paper 9a toward the printing position P1. Thus, the first paper 9a is transported to the printing position P1 by the front transport mechanism 22 and the relay transport mechanism 31, and an image is formed on the first paper 9a.

[0094] After executing the process of step S7 , the transport control unit 8 b ends the paper feed control corresponding to one printing process.

[0095] (Step S8) In step S8, the transport control unit 8b causes the second feed mechanism 21 of the cut-sheet feeder 2 to feed the second paper 9b toward the printing position P1. Thus, the second paper 9b is fed to the printing position P1 by the front-stage feed mechanism 22 and the relay feed mechanism 31, and an image is formed on the second paper 9b.

[0096] After executing the process of step S8 , the transport control unit 8 b ends the paper feed control corresponding to one printing process.

[0097] Here, the period from when the control device 8 receives the request for the continuous printing process to when the last printing process in the continuous printing process is executed is referred to as a paper feeding operation period.

[0098] During the paper feeding operation, the transport control unit 8b repeatedly executes the processing of steps S1 to S8 in each printing process. As described above, the processing of step S1 includes a process for determining whether the roll paper feeding device 1 is in the normal state or not in the normal state.

[0099] Furthermore, by executing the process of step S3, when the roll paper supply device 1 is determined to be in the normal state during the paper supply operation, the conveyance control unit 8b causes the roll paper supply device 1 to repeatedly execute the first paper preparation process, which is a process of generating the first paper 9a and conveying the first paper 9a to the specific position P2.

[0100] By executing the paper feed control, even when a situation occurs in which the roll paper feeding device 1 is not in the normal state, the productivity of the continuous printing process can be maintained.

[0101] In addition, the conveyance control unit 8b executes the process of step S5 when executing the last printing process in the continuous printing process. In step S5, when the conveyance control unit 8b determines that the roll paper supply device 1 is in the paper generation completion state, it causes the roll paper supply device 1 to execute the process of step S7 regardless of the conveyance position of the first paper 9a.

[0102] Therefore, when the continuous printing process is completed, it is avoided that the generated first paper 9 a remains wastefully in the roll paper feeding device 1 .

[0103] (Application example) In the image forming apparatus 10 described above, the printing device 3 performs the printing process by the inkjet method. However, the printing device 3 may also be a device that performs the printing process by other methods such as electrophotography.

[0104] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above content, but is defined by the description of the claims, so it can be considered that the embodiments described in this specification are only illustrative, not limiting. Therefore, all changes that do not depart from the scope and limits of the claims, as well as contents that are equivalent to the scope and limits of the claims, are included in the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An image forming control method, controlling an image forming device, the image forming device comprising: A roll paper feeding device, which generates a first paper of a specific size by extracting a roll paper and cutting the extracted portion of the roll paper, and can transport the first paper toward a printing position; a cut paper supply device capable of conveying the second paper of the specific size accommodated in the accommodating portion toward the printing position; and a printing device capable of performing a printing process of forming an image on the first paper or the second paper at the printing position, The image formation control method is characterized in that: In the case of performing a continuous printing process that repeats the printing process a plurality of times, the method includes: The control device determines, in each printing process, whether the roll paper feeding device is in a specific state of conveying the first paper to a specific position or is not in the specific state; The control device causes the roll paper supply device to execute a process of conveying the first paper toward the printing position when it is determined that the roll paper supply device is in the specific state each time during the printing process; and The control device causes the cut-sheet feeding device to execute a process of conveying the second paper toward the printing position when it is determined that the roll paper feeding device is not in the specific state every time during the printing process.

2. The image formation control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: include: The control device determines whether the roll paper supply device has generated the first paper or has not yet generated the first paper when executing the last printing process in the continuous printing process. as well as When the control device determines that the roll paper supply device is in the paper generation completion state when executing the last printing process in the continuous printing process, the control device causes the roll paper supply device to execute the process of conveying the first paper toward the printing position regardless of the conveyance position of the first paper.

3. The image formation control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: include: The control device repeatedly determines whether the roll paper supply device is in a normal state capable of supplying the first paper or is not in the normal state during a paper supply operation period from when the request for the continuous printing process is received to when the last printing process in the continuous printing process is executed; as well as When the control device determines that the roll paper supply device is in the normal state during the paper supply operation period, the control device causes the roll paper supply device to repeatedly execute a process of generating the first paper and conveying the first paper to the specific position.

4. An image forming device, characterized in that: include: A roll paper feeding device, which generates a first paper of a specific size by extracting a roll paper and cutting the extracted portion of the roll paper, and can transport the first paper toward a printing position; a cut paper supply device capable of conveying the second paper of the specific size contained in the containing portion toward the printing position; a printing device capable of performing a printing process of forming an image on the first paper or the second paper at the printing position; as well as A control device realizes the image formation control method described in claim 1 or 2.

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