Image forming apparatus and information processing apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a selection section configured to select a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material including a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; a placement portion on which the first recording material is to be placed; an image forming member configured to form an image on the first recording material conveyed from the placement portion; and a display section configured to display, in a case where the selection section selects the first mode, a message that prompts a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion such that a leading edge side of the first recording material in a transport direction becomes the first edge.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material by using an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method. Background Art

[0002] Image forming devices typically print images using paper, such as those defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards, as recording material. Image forming devices can use paper or document folders of various sizes and types as recording materials. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-168394 discloses an image forming device that uses document folders.

[0003] The folder has a shape with at least one side closed and at least one side open. When an image is formed on a recording material having such a shape, there is a possibility that a recording material conveying failure may occur depending on the direction in which the recording material is conveyed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an image forming device includes: a selection component configured to select a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material, the first recording material including a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; a placement portion on which the first recording material is to be placed; an image forming component configured to form an image on the first recording material conveyed from the placement portion; and a display component, wherein the display component is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion so that the leading edge side of the first recording material in the conveying direction becomes the first side when the selection component selects the first mode.

[0005] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, an information processing device is operable to communicate with an image forming device, the image forming device including: a placing portion on which a recording material is to be placed; and an image forming component configured to form an image on the recording material conveyed from the placing portion, the information processing device including: a selecting component configured to select a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material, the first recording material including a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; and a display component, wherein the display component is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placing portion so that the leading edge side of the first recording material in the conveying direction becomes the first side when the selecting component selects the first mode.

[0006] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 It is a configuration view of the image forming system.

[0008] Figure 2 This is an explanatory diagram of the main controller.

[0009] Figure 3 Is the configuration explanation view of the operating unit.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus.

[0011] Figure 5 is an exemplary view of the sheet type selection screen.

[0012] Figure 6 is a flowchart for illustrating processing from setting of a sheet type to starting image formation.

[0013] Figure 7 is an exemplary view of a setting screen for a feed position of a folder.

[0014] Figure 8 is an exemplary view of a guidance screen for illustrating a precaution.

[0015] Figure 9A and Figure 9B is a view of a modified example of the boot screen.

[0016] Figure 10 This is an explanatory diagram of the creases in a file folder.

[0017] Figure 11 This is an illustration of the folds of a file folder.

[0018] Figure 12 This is an explanatory diagram of the placement status on the pallet.

[0019] Figure 13 is an exemplary view of a guidance screen for illustrating another warning.

[0020] Figure 14 is an exemplary view of the single-sided / double-sided setting screen.

[0021] Figure 15 is an exemplary view of the instruction screen.

[0022] Figure 16 This is an exemplary view of a setting screen for a normal feed position.

[0023] Figure 17 is an exemplary view of a double-sided printing selection screen.

[0024] Figure 18 is a flowchart for illustrating processing from setting of a sheet type to starting image formation.

[0025] Figure 19 is an exemplary view of a guidance screen for illustrating an early warning.

[0026] Figure 20 is an exemplary view of the guide screen.

[0027] Figure 21 is an exemplary view of the simplex / duplex setting screen for a folder.

[0028] Figure 22 is an exemplary view of the guide screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Now, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a description is given of at least one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In at least one embodiment, a description is given of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example, but the present disclosure is effective even for other types of image forming apparatuses (such as inkjet type apparatuses).

[0030] Figure 1 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to at least one embodiment. The image forming system 1X includes an image forming apparatus 100 that forms a toner image on a recording material S, and an operation unit 110 having a display 111 .

[0031] The image forming apparatus 100 according to at least one embodiment is an electrophotographic tandem full-color printer. The image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to form images using an electrostatic recording method. The image forming apparatus 100 includes, as image forming components, an image forming unit Pa for forming a yellow image, an image forming unit Pb for forming a magenta image, an image forming unit Pc for forming a cyan image, and an image forming unit Pd for forming a black image.

[0032] The image forming apparatus 100 forms a toner image on a recording material S based on data related to a toner image included in image data, the image data being acquired from, for example, an external device 1000 (such as a document reading device (not shown) or a personal computer) communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 100. Examples of materials that can be used as the recording material S include sheet materials made of paper (such as general plain paper, cardboard, rough paper, textured paper, and coated paper), and, in at least one embodiment, a file folder having a bag shape formed from a sheet material made of plastic.

[0033] Now a description is given of the conveying process of the recording material S. The recording material S is accommodated and placed in the box 10, or is placed on the tray 17. The recording material S is fed from the box 10 or the tray 17 by the feed roller 13 according to the image formation timing. The tray 17 is provided so as to be openable and closable by the user, for example. The recording material S fed by the feed roller 13 is conveyed to the registration roller 12 arranged along the conveying path 114. The registration roller 12 performs skew correction and timing correction, and then conveys the recording material S to the secondary transfer unit T2. The secondary transfer unit T2 is a transfer nip unit formed by the internal secondary transfer roller 14 and the external secondary transfer roller 11. The secondary transfer unit T2 transfers the toner image onto the recording material S by applying a secondary transfer voltage to the external secondary transfer roller 11.

[0034] A description will now be given of an image forming process in which a toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer unit T2 at the same timing relative to the process in which the recording material S is transferred to the secondary transfer unit T2. A description will be given of the configurations of the image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd. The image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd have substantially the same configuration, except that the colors of the images (toner images) to be formed differ between yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Here, a description will be given of the image forming unit Pd that forms a black toner image, and descriptions of the other image forming units Pa, Pb, and Pc will be omitted.

[0035] The image forming unit Pd primarily includes a developing device 1d, a charging device 2d, a photosensitive drum 3d, a photosensitive drum cleaner 4d, an exposure device 5d, a primary transfer roller 6d, and the like. The photosensitive drum 3d is a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on its surface and rotates about a drum shaft. The charging device 2d uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3d. The exposure device 5d forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 3d with a laser beam driven based on an image signal. The developing device 1d develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d using a developer, thereby forming a black toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3d.

[0036] The primary transfer roller 6d is provided so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 80 at a position opposing the photosensitive drum 3d. The primary transfer roller 6d transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 by applying a primary transfer voltage. Transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 3d after the transfer is collected by the photosensitive drum cleaner 4d.

[0037] In the same manner, a yellow toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3a of the image forming unit Pa, and the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer roller 6a onto the intermediate transfer belt 80. A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3b of the image forming unit Pb, and the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer roller 6b onto the intermediate transfer belt 80. A cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3c of the image forming unit Pc, and the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer roller 6c onto the intermediate transfer belt 80.

[0038] Intermediate transfer belt 80 is an endless belt stretched around inner secondary transfer roller 14 and tension rollers 15 and 16, and is driven in the direction of arrow R2. In at least one embodiment, tension roller 16 also serves as a drive roller for driving intermediate transfer belt 80. The image forming process of each of image forming units Pa to Pd is performed at a timing such that the transferred toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superimposed on intermediate transfer belt 80. As a result, a full-color toner image is ultimately formed on intermediate transfer belt 80.

[0039] The intermediate transfer belt 80 rotates to transport the toner image to the secondary transfer unit T2. Transport of the toner image to the secondary transfer unit T2 is performed based on the timing at which the recording material S is transported to the secondary transfer unit T2. As a result, the toner image is transferred to a predetermined position on the recording material S. Transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 80 after transfer by the secondary transfer unit T2 is removed by the transfer cleaner 22.

[0040] The toner image is carried on the recording material S through a conveying process and an image forming process (such as those described above). The recording material S is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit T2 to the fixing device 50. The fixing device 50 fixes the toner image on the recording material S by applying heat and pressure to the recording material S carrying the toner image. For this purpose, the fixing device 50 has a first roller with a built-in heat source and a second roller biased toward the first roller, and conveys the recording material S by sandwiching the recording material S between the first roller and the second roller. At this time, the recording material S is heated by the heat source and pressurized by the second roller. As a result, each toner image carried by the recording material S is melted and mixed, and is fixed on the recording material S as a full-color image.

[0041] The recording material S on which the image has been fixed is guided to either the transport path 301 or the transport path 305 by the flapper 300. In the case where the printed surface (image forming surface) is not reversed in single-sided printing and in the case where printing on both surfaces is completed in double-sided printing, the flapper 300 guides the recording material S to the transport path 305. The recording material S guided to the transport path 305 is delivered to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0042] When printing on the front surface (first surface) is completed in duplex printing and when the printed surface is reversed in single-sided printing, the flapper 300 guides the recording material S to the conveying path 301. The recording material S is conveyed to the reversing unit 302 via the conveying path 301. The conveying direction of the recording material S conveyed to the reversing unit 302 is reversed, and the recording material S is guided by the flapper 303 to either the conveying path 301 or the duplex printing conveying path 304. By reversing the conveying direction by the reversing unit 302 and conveying the recording material S to the conveying path 301 or the duplex printing conveying path 304, the printed surface of the recording material S is reversed.

[0043] When the printing surface is reversed in single-sided printing, the flapper 303 guides the recording material S to the conveying path 301. The recording material S guided to the conveying path 301 is delivered from the conveying path 301 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 via the conveying path 305. When double-sided printing on the front surface is completed, the flapper 303 guides the recording material S to the double-sided printing conveying path 304. The recording material S guided to the double-sided printing conveying path 304 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. As a result, an image is printed on the rear surface (second surface) of the recording material S.

[0044] The developer to be used in at least one embodiment is a two-component developer comprising toner and a carrier. Toner comprises a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent (wax). As the binder resin, well-known binder resins can be used. For example, as the binder resin, a vinyl copolymer represented by styrene-(methyl) acrylic acid copolymer, a polyester resin, a mixed resin in which vinyl copolymer units and polyester units are chemically bonded to each other, an epoxy resin or a styrene-butadiene copolymer can be used. As the colorant of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, well-known colorant can be used.

[0045] For example, as release agent, an oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax or an oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax or a block copolymer thereof can be used. Aliphatic hydrocarbon wax is, for example, low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight olefin copolymer wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax or paraffin wax. The oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax is, for example, polyethylene oxide wax. Block copolymer is a wax containing fatty acid ester as a main component, an ester wax or a product (such as deacidified carnauba wax) obtained by deacidifying a part or all of the fatty acid ester. The example of the wax containing fatty acid ester as a main component includes carnauba wax and montanoic acid ester wax. Ester wax is, for example, a synthetic reaction product of higher fatty acids and higher alcohols, such as behenyl behenate or behenyl stearate.

[0046] The operation of such an image forming apparatus 100 is controlled by a main controller 101 . Figure 2 1 is an explanatory diagram of the main controller 101. The main controller 101 can communicate with the printer 120 and the operation unit 110. The printer 120 includes various units used in, for example, the above-described conveying process and image forming process.

[0047] The main controller 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, a read-only memory (ROM) 103, a random access memory (RAM) 104, and an image processor 105. The CPU 102 controls the overall operation of the image forming system 1X by executing a computer program stored in the ROM 103. The RAM 104 provides a work area when the CPU 102 performs processing. The image processor 105 transmits image signals generated by performing predetermined image processing on image data acquired from the external device 1000 (such as converting the image data into a format that can be processed by the exposure devices 5a to 5d of the image forming units Pa to Pd) to the image forming units Pa to Pd.

[0048] The printer 120 includes a placement portion 124, a transport unit 123, a fixing unit 122, and an image forming unit P. The image forming unit P represents the image forming units Pa to Pd mentioned above. The placement portion 124 is a cassette 10 and a tray 17, and a recording material S is accommodated or placed therein. The transport unit 123 feeds the recording material S from the placement portion 124, transports the recording material S to the secondary transfer unit T2 and the fixing device 50, and delivers the recording material S to the outside of the image forming system 1X. The transport unit 123 includes a feed roller 13 and a registration roller 12. The fixing unit 122 is the fixing device 50 mentioned above, and fixes the toner image on the recording material S. The image forming unit P includes the image forming units Pa to Pd that form the toner images of the respective colors as described above. The image forming unit P controls the driving of the laser beams output from the exposure devices 5a to 5d based on the image signal obtained from the image processor 105.

[0049] In order to perform optimal print settings, the image forming apparatus 100 according to at least one embodiment needs to set the sheet type based on an instruction from a user using the operation unit 110. The operation unit 110 is a user interface having a display 111 as an input interface and an output interface. The operation unit 110 is used, for example, to obtain a sheet type setting for the recording material S used for image formation. Figure 3 is a configuration explanation view of the operation unit 110 .

[0050] The operation unit 110 in at least one embodiment includes a setup key 1002, a power save key 1003, a hard key group 1104, a reset key 1105, a stop key 1106, and a start key 1107 as input interfaces. Furthermore, the operation unit 110 may include a touch panel provided on the display 111 as an input interface. Content input using the input interface (e.g., information required for creating job information, such as the type of recording material S, the number of print copies, and output attribute information) is sent to the CPU 102. A user can input information using the input interface.

[0051] The setting key 1002 is pressed when performing various settings such as sheet type settings. The power saving key 1003 is pressed when the image forming apparatus 100 is set to sleep mode or when the image forming apparatus 100 is awakened from sleep mode. When the power saving key 1003 is pressed in normal mode, the image forming apparatus 100 transitions to sleep mode, and when the power saving key 1003 is pressed in sleep mode, it transitions to normal mode. The hard key group 1104 includes a numeric keypad, a clear key, and an authentication key. The reset key 1105 is pressed when resetting various settings. The stop key 1106 is pressed when stopping an ongoing operation. The start key 1107 is pressed when starting a print operation or when instructing the start of another function. The start key 1107 includes a two-color light emitting diode (LED), which is a green and red LED (not shown). When the start key 1107 is lit in green, this indicates that the start is possible, and when the start key 1107 is lit in red, this indicates that the start is not possible.

[0052] The various keys described above are hardware keys, but those various keys may be realized by software keys displayed on the display 111. In addition, the various keys may be realized by combining the hardware keys and the software keys.

[0053] <Examples of Other Image Forming Apparatuses>

[0054] refer to Figure 1 The image forming apparatus 100 described herein prints an image while conveying the recording material S in a horizontal direction parallel to the lower surface of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, the conveyance path 114 along which the recording material S is conveyed is a horizontal path extending in the horizontal direction. Among image forming apparatuses, there are image forming apparatuses (vertical paths) that print an image while conveying the recording material S in a vertical direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the lower surface of the image forming apparatus. Figure 4 This is a configuration diagram of such an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 201 is, for example, a laser beam printer of a tandem intermediate transfer type using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 201 is based on the image data received from an external device 1000 (see FIG. 1 ) via a network. Figure 1) or forms a full-color image or a monochrome image on a recording material S as a recording medium based on image data acquired from an image reading device 202 provided on top of the image forming apparatus 201 and outputs the recording material S.

[0055] The image forming apparatus 201 has components for forming an image inside a main body 201A, and includes an image reading device 202 and a component having a plurality of components connected to the main body 201A. Figure 1 The operation unit 502 has the same configuration as the operation unit 110. A delivery space D is defined between the main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 and the image reading device 202, and includes a placement portion 223 for receiving a recording material S to be delivered thereto after image formation.

[0056] The image reading device 202 is a scanner that reads an image from a document to generate image data. The image reading device 202 is used, for example, when copying a document. In at least one embodiment, the image reading device 202 is configured as part of the image forming apparatus 201. The image reading device 202 is not limited to this configuration and can be configured to be electrically connected to the image forming apparatus 201 as a separate device.

[0057] The image forming apparatus 201 includes, in a main body 201A, an image forming mechanism 201B, an intermediate transfer unit 201C, a secondary transfer unit 201D, a fixing device 201E, and a cassette feeding unit 230. The main body 201A includes a manual feeding unit 235.

[0058] The box feeding unit 230 feeds recording material S from a corresponding one of the feed box 231 that accommodates recording material S. The box feeding unit 230 includes a pickup roller 232 and a separation unit for separating the recording material S sent out from the pickup roller 232. The separation unit includes a feed roller 233 and a retard roller 234. The recording material S is fed one by one from the feed box 231 by the pickup roller 232 and the separation unit. In at least one embodiment, a description is given of a configuration in which a plurality of (in this example, four) box feeding units 230 are provided. However, any number of box feeding units 230 may be provided. The recording material S fed from the box feeding unit 230 is conveyed to the registration roller 240 via conveying rollers 280 and 290.

[0059] The recording material S can be fed from a unit other than the cassette feeding unit 230 (i.e., from the manual feeding unit 235). The manual feeding unit 235 includes a tray 236 for receiving the recording material S manually placed by the user. Similar to the cassette feeding unit 230, the manual feeding unit 235 includes a pickup roller and a separation unit, and the recording materials S are fed one by one from the tray 236. The recording material S fed from the manual feeding unit 235 is also conveyed to the registration roller 240 via the conveying rollers 280 and 290.

[0060] Image forming mechanism 201B is of a four-drum full-color type and includes a laser scanner 210 and four image forming units 211. The four image forming units 211 form toner images of four colors (specifically, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)). Each image forming unit 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212, a charging device 213, and a developing device 214. A toner cartridge 215 is arranged above the image forming unit 211. The toner cartridge 215 replenishes toner to each developing device 214.

[0061] The intermediate transfer unit 201C includes an intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. Inside the intermediate transfer belt 216, four primary transfer rollers 219 are provided so as to abut against the intermediate transfer belt 216 at positions opposite to the photosensitive drums 212. The intermediate transfer belt 216 is rotated in the direction of arrow R3 by the drive roller 216a driven by a drive unit (not shown).

[0062] The secondary transfer unit 201D includes a secondary transfer roller 217, which is positioned opposite the drive roller 216a and sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 216. The fixing device 201E is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roller 217 in the direction in which the recording material S is conveyed, and includes a pressure roller 220a and a heating roller 220b. A first delivery roller 225a, a second delivery roller 225b, and a duplex printing reversing unit 201F are arranged downstream of the fixing device 201E in the direction in which the recording material S is conveyed. The duplex printing reversing unit 201F includes a reversing roller 222 and a re-transfer path R. The reversing roller 222 is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. The re-transfer path R allows the recording material S, having an image formed on one side thereof, to be conveyed to the image forming mechanism 201B.

[0063] The image forming apparatus 201 configured as described above operates as follows. The image forming apparatus 201 acquires image data from the image reading device 202 or from the external device 1000 along with an instruction to start a print job, and forms an image corresponding to the image data on a recording material S. A print job is a series of operations executed based on a print signal instructing the formation of an image on the recording material S, wherein a transport process and an image forming process are performed, and after image printing is completed, the recording material S is delivered to the placement section 223. The image forming apparatus 201 acquires an instruction to start a print job from the operation unit 502 or the external device 1000.

[0064] The image forming mechanism 201B uses the charging device 213 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 to a potential having a predetermined polarity. The laser scanner 210 irradiates the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive drum 212 with a corresponding laser beam modulated based on image data. In this way, an electrostatic latent image of the corresponding color (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) is formed on each surface of the photosensitive drum 212.

[0065] Image forming mechanism 201B uses developing device 214 to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on photosensitive drum 212. The electrostatic latent image is developed on photosensitive drum 212 using toner of the corresponding color, forming a toner image of the corresponding color on photosensitive drum 212. The toner images are sequentially transferred from photosensitive drum 212 to rotating intermediate transfer belt 216 in a superimposed manner by primary transfer roller 219. In this way, a full-color toner image is formed on intermediate transfer belt 216. Intermediate transfer belt 216 rotates to transport the toner image to secondary transfer unit 201D.

[0066] Concurrently with such an operation of forming a toner image, recording materials S are conveyed one by one to registration rollers 240 by the cassette feed unit 230 or the manual feed unit 235. Registration rollers 240 correct the skew of the recording materials S conveyed to registration rollers 240. After the skew is corrected, the recording materials S are conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 201D by registration rollers 240 in synchronization with the timing at which the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 216 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 201D. The secondary transfer unit 201D transfers the full-color toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 216 to the recording material S using a secondary transfer bias applied to a secondary transfer roller 217.

[0067] The recording material S, onto which the toner image has been transferred, is conveyed to the fixing device 201E. The fixing device 201E sandwiches and conveys the recording material S using a roller nip defined by a pressure roller 220a and a heating roller 220b. While sandwiching and conveying the recording material S, the fixing device 201E heats the recording material S using the heating roller 220b, thereby melting and mixing the toners of the various colors on the recording material S. Furthermore, the fixing device 201E presses the recording material S using the pressure roller 220a, thereby fixing the melted and mixed toners to the recording material S. At this time, the viscosity of the melted toners causes the recording material S to adhere to the heating roller 220b.

[0068] The recording material S, to which an image has been fixed, is delivered to the delivery space D by either the first delivery roller 225a or the second delivery roller 225b. The recording material S is placed on a placement portion 223 provided in a protruding manner on the bottom surface of the delivery space D. In the case where images are formed on both surfaces of the recording material S, the recording material S, to which an image has been fixed on one surface thereof, is conveyed to a re-conveying path R by the reversing roller 222. The recording material S is again conveyed to the image forming mechanism 201B, and an image is formed on the other surface of the reversed recording material S. The re-conveying path R allows the recording material S to be conveyed to a conveying path between the conveying roller 290 and the registration roller 240.

[0069] In this manner, in the image forming apparatus 201, the recording material S is conveyed along a conveying path (vertical path) extending in the vertical direction. During image formation, the recording material S is conveyed from the registration rollers 240 to the fixing device 201E in the vertical direction from the lower side toward the upper side, with the upper side serving as the leading edge. When conveyed through the re-conveying path R, the recording material S is conveyed in the vertical direction from the upper side toward the lower side, with the lower side serving as the leading edge.

[0070] The operation of the image forming apparatus 201 is performed by Figure 2 . In this case, the placement section 124 of the printer 120 includes a cassette feed unit 230 and a manual feed unit 235. The transport unit 123 includes various rollers such as transport rollers 280 and 290, and a registration roller 240. The fixing unit 122 includes a fixing device 201E. The image forming unit P includes an image forming unit 211.

[0071] The recording material S for printing in the image forming apparatuses 100 and 201 as described above may be a folder formed into a bag shape by folding a sheet material of a plastic material, in addition to a sheet of paper as described above. The folder is, for example, a folder in which at least one side is open and the remaining sides (edges) are closed among a plurality of sides (edges) overlapped by folding a sheet material of a plastic material. The open side (edge) is referred to as an "open portion", and the closed side (edge) is referred to as a "fixed portion". The fixed portion includes a folded portion formed by folding a plastic material, and a closed portion in which the side (edge) has been fixed, for example, by a welding method using heat or ultrasonic waves or by a joining method using an adhesive. Typically, two sides of the folder are fixed and closed, and the remaining two sides are open.

[0072] When conveying a folder, a conveying failure may occur due to the shape of the folder. For example, when there is a curved portion in the conveying path, wrinkles may occur in the folded portion of the folder in a direction intersecting with the folding line due to the external force generated at the curved portion during conveying. In addition, when the folder is conveyed with the opening portion as the leading edge in the conveying direction, the edge of the folder becomes open. This reduces the conveying speed of the folder and causes conveying failures such as paper jams. By appropriately setting the orientation and passing conditions when passing the folder, the occurrence of such conveying failures can be prevented. However, for a user who uses a folder as a recording material S for the first time, it is difficult to appropriately set the orientation and passing conditions when passing the folder.

[0073] <First embodiment>

[0074] In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, printing on a folder is enabled by selecting the type of sheet (recording material S) to be used for printing from a sheet type selection screen. In the first embodiment, when a folder is set as the sheet type, a conveyance failure countermeasure corresponding to the folder is executed to prevent wrinkling of the recording material S (folder) as a conveyance failure of the folder. Figure 5 12 is an exemplary view of a sheet type selection screen. A selection screen 1201 is displayed on the display 111. On the selection screen 1201, a type of recording material S can be freely selected, and a folder is provided as one of those freely selectable sheet types.

[0075] When the user selects and presses a folder from the pull-down menu on the selection screen 1201, the selected portion is displayed with its background highlighted. When the user then presses the select button 1203, the folder is input as the sheet type selection to the main controller 101. The CPU 102 thereby sets the type of recording material S to the folder.

[0076] Setting information (image forming conditions) corresponding to a folder to be used at the time of image formation to prevent degradation of transfer performance and image quality is pre-stored in the ROM 103. The CPU 102 acquires the setting information about the folder from the ROM 103 and uses the acquired setting information for control during image formation by the printer 120. As a result, degradation of transfer performance and image quality in the case of printing on a folder is prevented.

[0077] In the first embodiment, wrinkling of the recording material S (folder) as an example of a specific conveyance failure is prevented by displaying a guidance screen to warn the user when placing the recording material S. The guidance screen provides guidance on the feeding position (placement portion 124) of the recording material S (folder) and the orientation of the recording material S (folder) when placing the recording material S (folder).

[0078] Figure 6 Here, a description is given of the processing performed in the case of using the image forming apparatus 100 , but the same processing can be performed in the case of using the image forming apparatus 201 .

[0079] The main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 5 The sheet type selection screen 1201 is displayed (step S101). In the case where the user presses a button to start selecting the sheet type, or in the case where the user places the recording material S on the box 10 or the tray 17, the selection screen 1201 is displayed. As described above, in the case where the user selects the sheet type from the selection screen 1201 and presses the selection button 1203, the main controller 101 sets the type of the recording material S. The main controller 101 determines whether a folder is set to the type of the recording material S (step S102). The case where a folder is set is referred to as a "first mode", and the case where a single sheet having no fixed portion and an open portion other than a folder is set is referred to as a "second mode".

[0080] In the case of setting a folder (step S102: Yes), the main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 7 The feed position (feed destination) setting screen for folders shown in FIG. 1301 is displayed (step S103). On the feed position setting screen 1301 for folders, only a specific feed position is selectable, and other feed positions are not selectable. Figure 7 , the first feeding position 1302 indicating the tray 17 is selectable, and the second feeding position 1303 indicating the cassette 10 is not selectable. Figure 7In the display, the feed position that is not selectable is displayed in a form different from the selectable feed position and is not activated even if pressed. By pressing the selection button 1304 after selecting a feed position, the main controller 101 sets the selected feed position.

[0081] Recording materials S having a fixed portion (such as a file folder) can be fed from a feed position having a transport path with few curves, thereby preventing degradation of transport performance. For this reason, in the first embodiment, only the first feed position 1302 indicating the tray 17 is selectable as a specific feed position. That is, the tray 17 is suitable for feeding recording materials S in the form of a file folder, and the cassette 10 is not suitable for feeding recording materials S in the form of a file folder.

[0082] The main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 8 , a guidance screen 1601 is shown showing a warning for printing on recording material S (file folder) (step S104). Guidance screen 1601 provides guidance for preventing wrinkling of recording material S (such as file folder) having one or more edges with folded portions formed by folding the sheet material, which is a type of conveying failure that occurs during a printing operation. Specifically, guidance screen 1601 displays a message prompting the user to place the file folder on tray 17 with the folded portion of the file folder as the leading edge in the conveying direction.

[0083] Figure 9A and Figure 9B 17 is a diagram of a modified example of the guide screen. In addition to the instruction to place the folded portion of the file folder to be placed on the tray 17 as the leading edge side in the conveying direction, Figure 9A and Figure 9B The guidance screens 1601a and 1601b in FIG. 1 also include instructions for the printing surface. Here, the printing surface is referred to as the "front surface."

[0084] Figure 9A The guidance screen 1601a includes a message prompting the user to place the folder with the folded portion of the folder as the leading edge in the conveying direction, so that the front surface faces upward. The image forming apparatus 100 prints an image while conveying the recording material S along a horizontal path extending in the horizontal direction. In this case, the image is printed on the front surface of the folder by placing the folder on the tray 17 with the front surface, which serves as the printing surface, facing upward.

[0085] Figure 9BThe guidance screen 1601b includes a message prompting the user to place the folder with the folded portion of the folder as the leading edge in the conveying direction and the rear surface facing upward. The image forming apparatus 201 prints an image while conveying the recording material S along a vertical path extending in the vertical direction. In this case, the image is printed on the front surface of the folder by placing the folder on the tray 236 with the front surface, which serves as the printing surface, facing downward.

[0086] Figure 10 and Figure 11 This is an illustration of the folds of a folder. Figure 10 In the present invention, the folder is placed on the tray 17 so that the folded portion is parallel to the conveying direction. The conveying path from the tray 17 to the secondary transfer unit T2 has a curved portion with a smaller curvature than the conveying path from the cassette 10 to the secondary transfer unit T2. However, even when the folder is fed from the tray 17, there is a possibility that wrinkles may occur in the folder depending on the angle at which the feed roller 13 feeds the folder and the curvature of the local curved portion of the conveying path.

[0087] The folded portion of a file folder is a fixed portion formed by folding a sheet of material and is formed by plastic deformation of the sheet of material. The folded portion formed in this way has less elasticity than the sheet before it is folded. For this reason, the file folder is easily bent in the vertical direction orthogonal to the folded portion, such as Figure 11 and will become wrinkled.

[0088] Figure 12 This diagram illustrates how a file folder is placed on tray 17 to prevent wrinkles. Image forming apparatus 100 is designed to ensure stable transport of sheet-like recording material S, so the curvature in the vertical direction is smaller than the curvature in the transport direction. Therefore, when a file folder with a folded portion is transported within image forming apparatus 100, the file folder is placed on tray 17 so that the folded portion is perpendicular to the transport direction. This placement minimizes the curvature relative to the folded portion.

[0089] When the user is checking Figure 8 or Figure 9A and Figure 9B When the selection button 1602 is pressed after the guidance screens 1601, 1601a and 1601b in FIG are displayed, the display of the guidance screens 1601, 1601a and 1601b ends, and various setting processing steps for performing the image forming operation can be continuously executed. The guidance screen is not limited to Figure 8 、 Figure 9A and Figure 9B The screen shown in . Figure 131701 includes a message prompting the user to place the recording material S on the tray 17 so that the folded portion is perpendicular to the conveying direction and the folded portion is the trailing edge in the conveying direction. In this case, when the user checks Figure 13 When the selection button 1702 is pressed after the guidance screen 1701, the display of the guidance screen 1701 ends, and various setting processing steps for performing the image forming operation can continue to be executed.

[0090] When the display of the guidance screen ends, the main controller 101 displays the Figure 14 1401 (step S105). The user selects single-sided printing or double-sided printing from the single-sided / double-sided setting screen 1401 by using the operation unit 110 and pressing the selection button 1402. The selection content is sent from the operation unit 110 to the main controller 101. The main controller 101 sets either single-sided printing or double-sided printing according to the selection content acquired from the operation unit 110.

[0091] The main controller 101 determines whether to set single-sided printing (step S106). In the case of setting single-sided printing (step S106: Yes), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for the sheet to pass. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to a folder, the feed position is set to tray 17, and single-sided printing is set. When the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "manual feed / single-sided setting" (step S107). In the case of setting double-sided printing (step S106: No), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for the sheet to pass. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to a folder, the feed position is set to tray 17, and double-sided printing is set. When the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "manual feed / double-sided setting" (step S108).

[0092] When a job is started with "Manual Feed / Duplex Setting," the reversing unit 302 reverses the direction of transport of the folder, causing it to be transported with the open portion as the leading edge. This can cause paper jams. For this reason, when a job is executed with "Manual Feed / Duplex Setting," the folder is delivered after an image is printed on the front surface and then placed back on the tray 17 with the printed surface as the rear surface. As a result, paper jams that occur when the open portion is the leading edge in the transport direction can be prevented.

[0093] Figure 15This is an exemplary view of the instruction screen when starting a job based on "manual feed / double-sided setting". This instruction screen is displayed on the display 111 at the start of the processing step of step S108. When the main controller 101 completes printing on the front surface and detects that the folder has been placed on the tray 17, the main controller 101 erases the screen from the display 111. Figure 15 , and execute printing on the rear surface.

[0094] In the case where a type other than a folder is set as the type of the recording material S (step S102: No), the main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 16 The normal feed position setting screen shown in (step S109). The normal feed position setting screen 1501 is a screen in which all feed positions can be selected. Figure 16 , both the first feeding position indicating the tray 17 and the second feeding position indicating the cassette 10 are selectable. In the case where the selection button is pressed after selecting the feeding position, the main controller 101 sets the selected placement portion 124 (feeding position).

[0095] The main controller determines whether the set feed position is set to the tray 17 (manual feed) (step S110). In the case where manual feed is set (step S110: Yes), the main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 14 . By using the simplex / duplex setting screen, any one of simplex printing and duplex printing is set in the same manner as the processing step of step S105.

[0096] The main controller 101 determines whether single-sided printing is set (step S112). If single-sided printing is set (step S112: Yes), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for sheet feeding. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to something other than a folder, the feed position is set to tray 17, and single-sided printing is set. If the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "manual feed / single-sided setting" (step S113). If duplex printing is set (step S112: No), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for sheet feeding. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to something other than a folder, the feed position is set to tray 17, and duplex printing is set. If the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "manual feed / duplex setting" (step S114). In this case, the recording material S is not a folder, so duplex printing is performed by reversing the transport direction of the recording material S by the reversing unit 302.

[0097] In the case where the set feed position is set to the cartridge 10 (step S110: No), the main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 14 . By using the simplex / duplex setting screen, any one of simplex printing and duplex printing is set in the same manner as the processing step of step S105.

[0098] The main controller 101 determines whether to set single-sided printing (step S116). If single-sided printing is set (step S116: Yes), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for sheet feeding. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to something other than a folder, the feed position is set to cassette 10, and single-sided printing is set. If the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "cassette feeding / single-sided setting" (step S117). If duplex printing is set (step S116: No), the main controller 101 completes the settings required for sheet feeding. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to something other than a folder, the feed position is set to cassette 10, and duplex printing is set. If the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "cassette feeding / duplex setting" (step S118). In this case, the recording material S is not a folder, so duplex printing is performed by reversing the transport direction of the recording material S by the reversing unit 302.

[0099] In the first embodiment, a description is given of an example in which various settings related to printing are performed by the user operating the operation unit 110, but the same processing can be performed even when the user operates the external device 1000. The external device 1000 is an information processing device including an input device and a display. The external device 1000 has the function of the main controller 101, and, for example, a printer driver for using the image forming system 1X is installed in the external device 1000. On the display of the external device 1000, the printer driver displays a screen for selecting a setting to be printed according to the progress of the processing. Figure 5 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 14 and Figure 16 Each screen is displayed with the items set on it. In addition, the progress of the process is displayed. Figure 8 、 Figure 9A and Figure 9B or Figure 13 The boot screen shown in . Figure 17 is an exemplary view of a feed position setting screen displayed on the display 1502 of the external device 1000. This selection screen is similar to Figure 7 and Figure 16Even when the setting is performed by using the external device 1000, printing on a folder is possible.

[0100] In the process described above, when the recording material S is a folder, the feed position is limited to tray 17, and guidance is provided regarding the orientation of the folder when placed on tray 17. As a result, the occurrence of wrinkles during the transport of the recording material S (folder) is prevented. In this way, even when the user prints an image on a folder for the first time, the user can appropriately understand the feed position and the orientation during placement.

[0101] <Second embodiment>

[0102] In the first embodiment, the occurrence of wrinkles in the recording material S (file folder) is prevented by limiting the feeding position and issuing a warning about the orientation of the recording material S during placement. In the second embodiment of the present disclosure, a description is given of a case where a paper jam, which is another conveying failure caused by the characteristics of the file folder, is prevented.

[0103] When a file folder is transported with its open portion as the leading edge in the transport direction, the unfixed edge of the open portion may open during transport, which may reduce the transport speed and cause transport problems such as paper jams. In order to allow recording material S with the open portion to pass without paper jams, it is necessary to set the fixed portion to the leading edge in the transport direction when the recording material S is placed in the feeding position, and not to reverse the transport direction by the reversing unit 302. The fixed portion has a plurality of overlapping sides (edges) fixed to each other, and is provided on two or more of the long and short sides of the file folder, for example.

[0104] In the second embodiment, when a file folder is selected as the recording material S, as in the first embodiment, a warning regarding the orientation of the recording material S during placement is issued, and the fixed portion is positioned toward the leading edge in the conveyance direction. Furthermore, by not performing duplex printing and only allowing single-sided printing, and prohibiting the recording material S from being guided to the conveyance path 301, the reversal of the conveyance direction by the reversing unit 302 is not performed. As a result of these measures, paper jams are prevented when a file folder is selected as the recording material S.

[0105] In the second embodiment, even in single-sided printing, when delivering the recording material S by reversing the printed surface, the recording material S is previously guided to the reversing unit 302. Whether to determine the printed surface and deliver the recording material S can be appropriately set, so that reversal of the printed surface is not performed for the folder.

[0106] Figure 18Here, a description is given of the processing performed in the case of using the image forming apparatus 100 , but the same processing can be performed in the case of using the image forming apparatus 201 .

[0107] By executing Figure 6 The main controller 101 performs the same processing steps (steps S201 and S202) as those in step S101 and step S102, sets the type of the recording material S and determines whether the set type is a folder. In the case where the set type is a folder (step S202: Yes), the main controller 101 determines whether the type of the recording material S is a folder or not. Figure 6 The same processing steps as step S103 are displayed on the display 111. Figure 7 The feed position setting screen 1301 for the folder shown in FIG. 1 is displayed (step S203 ).

[0108] The main controller 101 displays on the display 111 Figure 19 , a guidance screen 1801a is shown showing a warning for printing on recording material S (file folder) (step S204). Guidance screen 1801a includes a message prompting the user to place the file folder on tray 17 so that the fixed portion on the long side of the file folder is the leading edge side in the conveying direction. Guidance screen 1801a provides guidance for preventing paper jams when passing recording material S (such as a file folder) having an open portion as an unfixed side. In the case where the user presses selection button 1802 after checking guidance screen 1801a, the display of guidance screen 1801a ends, and various setting processing steps for performing image forming operations can continue to be executed.

[0109] Here, the user is prompted to place the folder on the tray 17 so that the fixed portion on the long side of the folder is the leading edge side in the conveying direction, but the leading edge side in the conveying direction may be the short side of the folder. Figure 20 During the processing step of step S204, the display 111 may display the guidance screen. Figure 20 The guidance screen 1801b is displayed depending on, for example, the curved portion of the transport path of the recording material S. Figure 19 The guidance screen 1801a and Figure 20 Which one of the guidance screens 1801b.

[0110] For example, in the case where the recording material S is conveyed approximately horizontally from the tray 17 along a horizontal path as in the image forming apparatus 100, even when the fixed portion on the short side of the folder is conveyed first, the occurrence of a conveyance failure can be prevented. However, with a vertical path as in the image forming apparatus 201, in the case where the recording material S is bent from the tray 236 and conveyed in the vertical direction, when the fixed portion on the short side of the folder is conveyed first, the possibility of a conveyance failure is higher than when the fixed portion on the long side is conveyed first. For this reason, for example, the image forming apparatus 100 shows Figure 20 The image forming apparatus 201 displays the guidance screen 1801b. Figure 19 The guidance screen 1801a is displayed.

[0111] When the display of the guidance screens 1801a and 1801b is completed, the main controller 101 displays the following information on the display 111: Figure 21 ) is a diagram showing a single-sided / double-sided setting screen for a folder (step S205). On the single-sided / double-sided setting screen 1901 for a folder, only specific settings are selectable. Specifically, only single-sided printing 1902 is selectable, and double-sided printing 1903 is displayed as unselectable in a form different from the selectable feeding position. The user selects single-sided printing 1902 from the single-sided / double-sided setting screen 1901 by using the operation unit 110, and presses the selection button 1904. The selection content is sent from the operation unit 110 to the main controller 101. The main controller 101 sets single-sided printing according to the selection content obtained from the operation unit 110. With a configuration that only allows single-sided printing 1902 to be selectable, paper jams of recording materials S (such as folders) with an open portion can be prevented.

[0112] In the case of setting single-sided printing, the main controller 101 completes the settings required for the sheet passing. In this case, the type of recording material S is set to a folder, the feeding position is set to the tray 17, and single-sided printing is set. When the start key 1107 of the operation unit 110 is pressed, the main controller 101 starts the job based on "manual feeding / single-sided setting / straight discharge setting" (step S206). The processing steps from step S207 to step S216 are the same as those in the previous step. Figure 6 The processing steps from step S109 to S118 are similar, so their description is omitted here.

[0113] Similar to the first embodiment, by first delivering the folder with the image printed on the front surface to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 and then prompting the user to place the folder on the tray 17 with the printed surface as the back surface, double-sided printing of the folder can be performed. Therefore, for example, the double-sided printing can be performed by displaying the image printed on the front surface in the processing step of step S205. Figure 14The simplex / duplex setting screen is displayed and displayed when a job starts. Figure 15 to enable duplex printing.

[0114] Similar to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the user can also perform various settings related to printing by operating the external device 1000. On the display of the external device 1000, the printer driver displays a menu for selecting the printer to be printed according to the progress of the processing. Figure 5 、 Figure 7 and Figure 21 Each screen is displayed with the items set on it. In addition, the progress of the process is displayed. Figure 19 or Figure 20 Even when setting is performed by using the external device 1000, printing on a folder is possible.

[0115] In the process described above, when recording material S is a folder, the feed position is limited to tray 17, guidance regarding the orientation of the folder when placed on tray 17 is provided, and only single-sided printing is possible. As a result, paper jams during the transport of recording material S (folder) are prevented. In this way, even when printing an image on a folder for the first time, the user can be properly informed of the feed position and the orientation during placement. Furthermore, a system that allows only single-sided printing without performing double-sided printing and prohibits guiding recording material S to the reversing unit 302 can be introduced into the first embodiment.

[0116] <Third embodiment>

[0117] In the first embodiment, the occurrence of wrinkles in the recording material S (file folder) is prevented by restricting the feeding position and the orientation of the recording material S during placement. In the second embodiment, the occurrence of paper jams is prevented by restricting the orientation of the recording material S during transport. In the third embodiment of the present disclosure, a description is given of an example in which these embodiments are combined.

[0118] In this case, a guidance screen is displayed on the display 111 to prompt the user to place the folder on the tray 17 with the fixed portion of the long side of the folder as the leading edge in the conveying direction. Figure 22 The following figure shows the guidance screen in this case. Figure 6 The processing steps of step S104 in Figure 18 The processing step of step S204 in FIG is displayed on the display 111. Similar to the second embodiment, when the recording material S is a folder, double-sided printing may be prohibited, or double-sided printing may be enabled by performing single-sided printing twice in the same manner as the first embodiment.

[0119] Similar to the first and second embodiments, in the third embodiment, the user can also perform various settings related to printing by operating the external device 1000. The printer driver displays the progress of the process on the display of the external device 1000. Figure 22 Even when setting is performed by using the external device 1000, printing on a folder is possible.

[0120] In the process described above, when the recording material S is a folder, the feed position is limited to tray 17, and guidance is provided regarding the orientation of the folder when placed on tray 17. As a result, wrinkles and paper jams during the transport of the recording material S (folder) are prevented. In this way, even when the user prints an image on a folder for the first time, the user can be properly aware of the feed position and the orientation during placement.

[0121] As described in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, in at least one embodiment, the possibility of occurrence of a conveyance failure of a recording material can be reduced.

[0122] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0123] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-064418, filed April 12, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a selection member configured to select a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material, the first recording material including a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; a placement portion on which the first recording material is to be placed; an image forming section configured to form an image on the first recording material conveyed from the placement portion; as well as Display components, The display unit is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion so that the leading edge side of the first recording material in the conveying direction becomes the first side when the selection unit selects the first mode. 2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first side is longer than the second side.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first side is formed by folding a sheet material of the first recording material, and The second side is formed by closing the overlapping sides when the sheet material is folded.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a conveying path extending in a vertical direction orthogonal to a lower surface of the image forming device; as well as a transport member configured to transport the first recording material from the placement portion to the image forming member by transporting the first recording material from a lower side of the transport path toward an upper side of the transport path, wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion with a printed surface of the first recording material facing downward, if the first mode is selected by the selection section.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a conveying path extending in a horizontal direction parallel to a lower surface of the image forming device; as well as a transporting member configured to transport the first recording material from the placing portion to the image forming member via the transport path, wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion with the printed surface of the first recording material facing upward, if the first mode is selected by the selection section.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a duplex printing conveying path configured to reverse the recording material having the image printed on the first surface by the image forming section and convey the recording material to the image forming section again; a delivery section configured to receive a delivery of a recording material; as well as a conveying member configured to convey a recording material, wherein the transport component is configured to, when the selection component selects the first mode and duplex printing is set, deliver the first recording material to the delivery portion without guiding the first recording material along the duplex printing transport path after the image forming component prints an image on the first surface of the first recording material.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display component is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material delivered to the delivery portion on the placement portion in a second orientation, the second orientation being reversed from a first orientation used when the first recording material is placed on the placement portion to print an image on the first surface.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the placing portion includes a tray and a box, wherein a first curvature of a first transport path from the tray to the image forming member is smaller than a second curvature of a second transport path from the cassette to the image forming member, and wherein the display section is configured to display a setting screen on which the tray can be set as a feeding destination of the first recording material if the first mode is selected by the selection section. 9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placing portion so that the first side of the first recording material is perpendicular to the conveying direction. 10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display section is configured to display a setting screen on which only single-sided printing can be set if the selection section selects the first mode.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording material is a file folder formed into a bag shape by folding a plastic sheet material.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display section is configured to avoid displaying the message if the selection section selects the second mode for forming an image on a second recording material having no closed side.

13. An information processing apparatus operable to communicate with an image forming device, the image forming device comprising: a placement portion on which a recording material is to be placed; and an image forming section configured to form an image on the recording material conveyed from the placing portion, the information processing apparatus comprising: a selection member configured to select a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material, the first recording material including a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; as well as Display components, The display unit is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion so that the leading edge side of the first recording material in the conveying direction becomes the first side when the selection unit selects the first mode.

14. The information processing device according to claim 13, The image forming device further comprises: a conveying path extending in a vertical direction orthogonal to a lower surface of the image forming device; as well as a transport member configured to transport the first recording material from the placement portion to the image forming member by transporting the first recording material from a lower side of the transport path toward an upper side of the transport path, and wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placement portion with a printed surface of the first recording material facing downward, if the first mode is selected by the selection section.

15. The information processing device according to claim 13, The image forming device further comprises: a conveying path extending in a horizontal direction parallel to a lower surface of the image forming device; as well as a conveying component configured to convey the first recording material from the placing portion to the image forming component via the conveying path, and wherein the display component is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the placing portion so that the printing surface of the first recording material faces upward when the first mode is selected by the selecting component.

16. The information processing device according to claim 13, The image forming device further comprises: a duplex printing conveying path configured to reverse the recording material having the image printed on the first surface by the image forming section and convey the recording material to the image forming section again; as well as a delivery portion configured to receive a delivery of a recording material, and wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material delivered to the delivery section on the placement section in a second orientation reversed from a first orientation used when the first recording material is placed on the placement section so as to print an image on the first surface, when the image forming device delivers the first recording material to the delivery section after the image forming section prints an image on the first surface of the first recording material without guiding the first recording material along the duplex printing transport path.

17. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the placement portion of the image forming apparatus includes a tray and a box, wherein a first curvature of a first transport path from the tray to the image forming member is set to be smaller than a second curvature of a second transport path from the cassette to the image forming member, and wherein the display section is configured to display a setting screen on which the tray can be set as a feeding destination of the first recording material if the first mode is selected by the selection section.

18. The information processing device according to claim 13, wherein the first side is longer than the second side, and wherein the display section is configured to display a message prompting a user to place the first recording material on the delivery portion so that the first side of the first recording material is perpendicular to the conveying direction.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display section is configured to display a setting screen on which only single-sided printing can be set if the selection section selects the first mode.

20. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display section is configured to avoid displaying the message if the selection section selects the second mode for forming an image on a second recording material having no closed side.

Images