Image forming device and control method thereof, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique of suppressing reduction of printing efficiency of a paper sheet.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises a CPU 280 which sets whether or not to blow air from a blower fan 270 before a paper kind detection sensor 260 detects the kind of a paper sheet. In the case where a setting for blowing air is made by the CPU 280, the blower fan 270 blows air before the paper kind detection sensor 260 detects the kind of the paper sheet and when paper feeding means feeds the paper sheet. In the case where a setting for not blowing air is made by the CPU 280, the blower fan 270 does not blow air before the paper kind detection sensor 260 detects the kind of the paper sheet and when the paper feeding means feeds the paper sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming apparatuses are equipped with a paper type detection sensor (media sensor) on a paper transport path in order to measure characteristics of the paper, such as the surface properties and basis weight of the paper, and detect the type of the paper. In such image forming apparatuses, for example, the type of paper (paper type) is identified from a paper type database (media library) stored in advance based on the characteristics of the paper fed in a print job. Then, in such image forming apparatuses, high-quality printed matter can be obtained by using print control parameters for the identified paper type in image formation control.

[0003] Also, an image forming apparatus has been proposed that is equipped with an air blowing mechanism that prevents double feeding by blowing air from a blower fan onto a stack of paper before it is fed (air blowing), separating the sheets that have been attracted to each other. Patent Document 1 describes a technique that always performs air blowing on the stack of paper before it is fed before detecting the paper type, and then continues air blowing if the detected paper type is coated paper, which has a high possibility of double feeding, and stops air blowing if the paper type is not coated paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-32632 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the technology of Patent Document 1, air deflection is always performed before detecting the paper type. Therefore, if the paper type is not coated paper, which is likely to be double-fed, for example, the time spent on the above-mentioned air deflection is wasted, resulting in a decrease in paper printing efficiency.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and has an object to provide a technique that can suppress a decrease in paper printing efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image forming apparatus of the present disclosure comprises an image forming means for printing on paper, a paper feeding means for feeding paper from a paper feeding tray on which the paper is loaded to the image forming means via a paper transport path, a blowing means for blowing air at the paper loaded in the paper feeding tray, a detection means provided in the paper transport path for detecting the type of paper, and a setting means for setting whether or not to blow the air from the blowing means before the detection means detects the type of paper, and when the setting means has set the blowing air to be blown, the blowing means blows the air when the paper feeding means feeds the paper before the detection means detects the type of paper, and when the setting means has set the blowing air not to be blown, the blowing means does not blow the air when the paper feeding means feeds the paper before the detection means detects the type of paper. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in paper printing efficiency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3]3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the paper type detection sensor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a manual paper feed unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows an example of a setting screen for setting whether or not to perform air blowing using a blower fan on a stack of paper on a manual paper feed tray before the paper type is detected by a paper type detection sensor. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 illustrates the embodiment of the present disclosure and shows an example of a setting screen for paper placed in the manual paper feed tray. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in a control method for an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure in a control method for an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a warning display screen displayed on the display unit in step S805 of FIG. 8 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a mode (embodiment) for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below.

[0011] <General Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus> FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body 201A, an image reading device 202, and a display unit 250. The image forming apparatus 200 includes an image forming apparatus main body 201A, an image reading device 202, and a display unit 250.

[0013] The image forming apparatus main body 201A includes an image forming section 201B that forms an image on a sheet S transported via a sheet transport path H. The image forming apparatus main body 201A also includes a cassette paper feed section 230 that feeds a sheet S from a paper feed cassette 1 that is a paper storage means for storing the sheet S. The cassette paper feed section 230 includes a pickup roller 2 that is a paper feed means, and a separation section that includes a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 for separating the sheet S sent out from the pickup roller 2. The image forming apparatus main body 201A also includes a manual paper feed section 235 that is a paper feed means that feeds the sheet S from a manual paper feed tray 5 that stacks and holds the sheets S to the image forming section 201B via the paper transport path H. Similar to the cassette paper feed section 230, the manual paper feed section 235 includes a pickup roller 502 that is a paper feed means, and a feed roller 503 and a retard roller 504 that are separation sections. The image forming apparatus main body 201A also includes a blower fan which is a blowing means for blowing air to the sheets S loaded on the manual paper feed tray 5, and a blowing nozzle 272 included in this blower fan is shown in Fig. 1. The image forming apparatus main body 201A also includes a detection sensor provided on the paper transport path H, and includes a paper type detection sensor (media sensor) 260 for measuring the characteristic amount of the paper S and detecting the type of the paper, and a paper detection sensor 505 for detecting the paper S.

[0014] The image forming section 201B, which is an image forming means for printing on the paper S, is configured as a four-drum full-color system. Specifically, the image forming section 201B includes a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges 211 for forming toner images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). Here, each process cartridge 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212K, a charger 213K as a charging means, and a developer 214K as a developing means. In addition, the image forming section 201B includes a secondary transfer section 201D and a fixing section 201E disposed above the process cartridges 211. The toner cartridge 215K is a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the developer 214K.

[0015] The secondary transfer section 201D includes a transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. A primary transfer roller 219K is provided on the inside of the transfer belt 216, which contacts the transfer belt 216 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 212K. The transfer belt 216 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive unit (not shown). A secondary transfer roller 217 that transfers a color image formed on the transfer belt 216 to a sheet S is provided at a position facing the drive roller 216a of the secondary transfer section 201D. Furthermore, a fixing section 201E is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-sided reversing section 201F are disposed at the upper left of the fixing section 201E. The double-sided reversing section 201F is provided with a pair of reversible reversing rollers 222 and a paper re-transport path R for transporting the paper S with an image formed on one side thereof again to the image forming section 201B.

[0016] The image reading device 202 is an image reading device that is installed substantially horizontally above the image forming apparatus main body 201A. A discharge space V for discharging paper is formed between the image reading device 202 and the image forming apparatus main body 201A.

[0017] Display unit 250 is provided on the upper portion of image forming apparatus 200, and is an operationally inputtable display unit that accepts operational input from a user.

[0018] <Operation of the image forming device> Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. First, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives image information of an original to be printed, the image forming apparatus 200 processes the image information, converts it into an electric signal, and transmits it to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201B. In the image forming unit 201B, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212K, the surface of which is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charger 213K, is sequentially exposed to a laser. As a result, electrostatic latent images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum of each process cartridge 211, respectively.

[0019] Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 200 develops the electrostatic latent image with toner of each color to make it visible, and transfers the toner images of each color on each photosensitive drum to the transfer belt 216 in a sequentially overlapping manner by a primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 219K. As a result, a toner image is formed on the transfer belt 216. In parallel with the formation of the toner image, the paper S is conveyed one by one by the cassette paper feed unit 230 through the paper conveyance path H to the pair of registration rollers 240, where skew is corrected. After the skew is corrected, the paper S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 201D by the pair of registration rollers 240, where the toner images are transferred all at once onto the paper S by a secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217. Next, the paper S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing section 201E, where the toners of each color melt and mix under heat and pressure in a roller nip section formed by the pressure roller 220a and the heating roller 220b, and are fixed as a color image on the paper S. Thereafter, the paper S onto which the image has been fixed is discharged to the discharge space V by a first discharge roller pair 225a and a second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing section 201E, and is stacked on a stacking section 223 protruding from the bottom surface of the discharge space V. When images are formed on both sides of the paper S, after the images are fixed, the paper S is transported to a re-transport path R by the reversing roller pair 222, and is transported again to the image forming section 201B.

[0020] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 2, the same components as those shown in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, image forming apparatus 200 includes an image forming unit 201B, a cassette paper feed unit 230, a manual paper feed unit 235, a display unit 250, a paper type detection sensor 260, a blower fan 270, a CPU 280, a ROM 281, and a RAM 282 as a control system.

[0022] The CPU 280 controls the entire image forming apparatus 200. The ROM 281 stores the control program according to the present embodiment and the initial values ​​of various setting values. The CPU 280 executes the control program according to the present embodiment read from the ROM 281 to realize the procedure of the image forming process and the processing procedure of each flowchart described later. The RAM 282 stores various information under the control of the CPU 280. For example, the RAM 282 stores print control parameters for each type of paper S in a first storage area. It is preferable that the RAM 282 is a rewritable memory that does not require a storage and retention operation. Furthermore, when the user changes the print control parameters corresponding to the type of paper S referred to, the CPU 280 additionally stores the changed print control parameters in the first storage area described above as user-defined print control parameters corresponding to the type of paper S.

[0023] The display unit 250 includes a panel, buttons, etc. capable of displaying an operation screen, and when an instruction such as a print operation start is input, the display unit 250 sends the instruction information to the CPU 280. The instruction information such as a print operation start may be input by a user operating the display unit 250, or may be input from an external device such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal device, or a smartphone connected via a network (not shown). When the instruction information to start the print operation is input, the CPU 280 drives and controls a paper feed and transport motor (not shown) according to the instruction information to feed and transport the paper S. The CPU 280 also sets print control parameters for the image forming unit 201B, thereby controlling image formation (printing) by the image forming unit 201B. The image forming unit 201B prints on the paper S based on the print control parameters set by the CPU 280.

[0024] The paper type detection sensor 260 is provided on the paper transport path H, and is a detection means for measuring the characteristic amounts of the paper S fed through the paper transport path H to detect the type (paper type) of the paper S. The paper type refers to the type of paper S. For example, the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the characteristic amounts such as the surface property and thickness of the transported paper S, and the CPU 280 determines the type (paper type) of the paper S from the detection result. In this embodiment, the detection of the type (paper type) of the paper S by the paper type detection sensor 260 is defined as the detection of the characteristic amounts such as the surface property and thickness of the paper S by the paper type detection sensor 260, and the determination of the type (paper type) of the paper S by the CPU 280 from the detection result.

[0025] The blower fan 270 is a blowing unit that blows air to the sheets S stacked on the manual paper feed tray 5 shown in Fig. 1. The blower fan 270 includes a fan motor 271 and a blowing nozzle 272.

[0026] <Overview of the paper type detection sensor and paper type detection process> Next, a schematic configuration of the paper type detection sensor 260 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and a paper type detection process performed by the paper type detection sensor 260 will be described.

[0027] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the paper type detection sensor 260 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the same components as those shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0028] The paper type detection sensor 260 includes an LED 261 as a light emitting element, a photodiode 262 as a light receiving element, and a guide section 263 for guiding the paper S. Specifically, the paper type detection sensor 260 is capable of detecting the amount of reflected light emitted by the LED 261 using the photodiode 262. The CPU 280 receives the detection signal of the photodiode 262 of the paper type detection sensor 260 as an output value of the paper type detection sensor 260. The CPU 280 can determine the type of the paper S being fed according to differences in the received values ​​due to the characteristics of each paper S, such as the surface properties and thickness. The CPU 280 then optimally controls the image formation speed and the target temperature of the fixing unit according to the type of paper S determined here.

[0029] As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 280 uses the output value of the paper type detection sensor 260 to determine the type of paper S, so that the user does not need to consciously set the type of paper S. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 200 according to this embodiment, a mode (hereinafter referred to as "automatic media setting mode") is provided in which the type of paper S is detected by the paper type detection sensor 260 and print control parameters and the like are automatically set according to the detected type of paper S. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 200 according to this embodiment, a mode (hereinafter referred to as "manual media setting mode") in which the user manually sets the type of paper S to be used as in the conventional case is also provided. By operating the display unit 250, the user can set in advance either the automatic media setting mode or the manual media setting mode for each cassette paper feed unit 230. Note that the default mode is set to the automatic media setting mode. Also, a setting value indicating whether the setting mode is the automatic media setting mode or the manual media setting mode is stored in the RAM 282 shown in FIG. 2. 3 is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. The paper type detection sensor 260 may be configured to combine, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED 261, a light receiving element such as a photodiode 262, and an ultrasonic sensor such as a piezoelectric element, or may be a sensor having other configurations.

[0030] <Overview of manual feed unit and paper feed process> Next, a schematic configuration of the manual paper feed unit 235 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and a paper feed process performed by the paper feed unit 235 will be described.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the manual paper feed unit 235 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In Fig. 4, the same components as those shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] The manual paper feed unit 235 includes a manual feed tray 5, a pickup roller 502, a feed roller 503, a retard roller 504, side end regulating plates 18a and 18b, side end regulating plate racks 141a and 141b, and a pinion gear 53. Furthermore, the manual paper feed unit 235 includes fan motors 271a and 271b and blowing nozzles 272a and 272b which configure a blower fan serving as a blower means, and support shafts 51a and 51b which support the blower fans serving as a blower means.

[0033] The side edge regulating plates 18a and 18b are for regulating the position of the paper S in a direction perpendicular to the arrow Y indicating the conveyance direction (paper width direction). The side edge regulating plates 18a and 18b are respectively fitted with fan motors 271a and 271b. The fan motor 271a moves together with the side edge regulating plate 18a, and the fan motor 271b moves together with the side edge regulating plate 18b. The fan motors 271a and 271b can blow air onto the paper S via the blowing nozzles 272a and 272b. The air from the fan motors 271a and 271b is blown toward the end of the paper S along the flow lines A1 and A2 via the blowing nozzles 272a and 272b, respectively, so that the paper S above the paper stack floats, and the adhesion between the papers in the paper stack is reduced.

[0034] For example, when the start button is pressed, paper feeding is started. If the type of paper S is coated paper, fan motors 271a and 271b are operated to blow air onto the end of the paper S in the paper width direction through blowing nozzles 272a and 272b. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the topmost paper S, in which the adhesive force between the papers has been reduced, is sent to a separation section consisting of feed rollers 503 and retard rollers 504 by the rotation of pickup roller 502. The leading edge of the separated paper S is detected by paper detection sensor 505, and the type (paper type) of the paper is detected by paper type detection sensor 260. Then, the paper S is sent to registration roller pair 240 via paper transport path H by transport roller pair 506.

[0035] The operation of manual paper feed section 235 thereafter is the same as that of cassette paper feed section 230 described above. A toner image is transferred onto sheet S at the secondary transfer section 201D at the appropriate timing. Then, the toner image is fixed onto sheet S at fixing section 201E, and sheet S is discharged to stack section 223 by first discharge roller pair 225a. When forming images on both sides of sheet S, sheet S is reversed at double-sided reversal section 201F and conveyed again to registration roller pair 240 via paper re-conveyance path R. Then, similar to the first side, sheet S with images formed on both sides is discharged to stack section 223, and a series of image formation operations is completed.

[0036] In the manual feed unit 235 shown in FIG. 4, the side end regulating plate rack 141a and the side end regulating plate rack 141b are connected to each other via a pinion gear 53 rotatably supported on the manual feed tray 5. In FIG. 4, the distance between the meshing pitch line 142a between the side end regulating plate rack 141a and the pinion gear 53 and the center line 52a of the support shaft 51a is illustrated as the rack-support shaft distance L1a. Also, in FIG. 4, the distance between the shaft holder 155a and the shaft holder 156a on the support shaft 51a is illustrated as the shaft holding interval distance L2a. Similarly, in FIG. 4, the distance between the meshing pitch line 142b between the side end regulating plate rack 141b and the pinion gear 53 and the center line 52b of the support shaft 51b is illustrated as the rack-support shaft distance L1b. In FIG. 4, the distance between the shaft holder 155b and the shaft holder 156b of the support shaft 51b is illustrated as a shaft holder interval distance L2b.

[0037] <Air handling setting before paper type detection> FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen 500 for setting whether or not to perform air handling by the blower fan 270 on the paper stack on the manual paper feed tray 5 before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S. The setting screen 500 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit 250 under the control of the CPU 280. The setting screen 500 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with an ON button 510, an OFF button 520, and an OK button 530. The ON button 510 is a button that is pressed when setting to perform air handling before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S. The OFF button 520 is a button that is pressed when setting not to perform air handling before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S. The ON button 510 is a button that is pressed when confirming the currently set setting of whether or not to perform air handling before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S.

[0038] When the ON button 510 or the OFF button 520 provided on the setting screen 500 is pressed and then the OK button is pressed, the CPU 280 stores in the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) setting information as to whether or not to execute air handling from the blower fan 270. The CPU 280 that performs the process of storing this setting information in the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) constitutes a setting means.

[0039] Next, the CPU 280 reads out the above-mentioned setting information from the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of the paper S and when feeding the paper S. Then, the CPU 280 controls whether or not to perform air handling from the blower fan 270 (to blow air from the blower fan 270) based on the setting of the setting information before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of the paper S. The CPU 280 that controls whether or not to perform air handling from the blower fan 270 (to blow air from the blower fan 270) constitutes a control means. Specifically, when ON is set as the setting information by pressing the ON button 510, the CPU 280 controls to perform air handling from the blower fan 270 (to blow air from the blower fan 270) before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of the paper S. In addition, when the setting information is set to OFF by pressing the OFF button 520, the CPU 280 performs control so that air blowing is not performed from the blower fan 270 (air is not blown from the blower fan 270) before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S.

[0040] Note that the setting screen 500 shown in FIG. 5 may be displayed on the display unit 250 as one of the management setting items of the image forming apparatus 200, or may be displayed on the display unit 250 as one of the job setting items of a print job.

[0041] <Settings for paper placed in the manual feed tray> 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure and shows examples of setting screens 610 and 620 for paper S placed in manual paper feed tray 5. The setting screens 610 and 620 shown in FIG. 6 are displayed on display unit 250 under the control of CPU 280.

[0042] Specifically, Fig. 6(a) shows a setting screen 610 that is displayed on the display unit 250 when paper S is placed on the manual paper feed tray 5. The setting screen 610 shown in Fig. 6(a) is provided with a "Change paper size" button 611, a "Change paper type" button 612, a display area 613 for the currently set paper type, and an OK button 614. On the setting screen 610 shown in Fig. 6(a), it is possible to change the paper size setting and the paper type setting, and it is possible to specify the paper type by pressing the "Change paper type" button 612.

[0043] When the "Change Paper Type" button 612 is pressed on the setting screen 610 shown in FIG. 6(a), the screen transitions to a setting screen 620 shown in FIG. 6(b). The setting screen 620 shown in FIG. 6(b) has an "Automatically detect when printing" button 621, a "Select from list" button 622, a cancel button 623, and an OK button 624. The "Automatically detect when printing" button 621 is a setting button for executing an operation to detect the type of the paper S fed from the manual paper feed tray 5 by the paper type detection sensor 260. When the "Select from list" button 622 is pressed, the CPU 280 displays a paper type list screen (not shown) on the display unit 250, and any paper type can be selected. At this time, the paper type list displayed on the display unit 250 displays a list of paper types (paper types) present in a paper type database previously stored in the ROM 281. On the setting screen 620 shown in Fig. 6(b), when an "Auto detect when printing" button 621 is pressed, or the type of paper S is selected from a paper type list screen (not shown) and then an OK button 624 is pressed, the display returns to the setting screen 610 shown in Fig. 6(a). Then, when an OK button 614 is pressed on the setting screen 610 shown in Fig. 6(a), the CPU 280 stores the setting information for the paper S placed on the manual paper feed tray 5 in the ROM 281 (or RAM 282).

[0044] <Processing procedure for image formation in a print job> Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in a control method for image forming apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in an image forming process for a print job, and includes a control step of whether or not to blow air from blower fan 270 according to this embodiment. Each step of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 is performed by CPU 280 executing a control program read from ROM 281 and loaded into RAM 282.

[0045] The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 starts from the point where a print job is input after the paper S is placed on the manual paper feed tray 5 and the paper setting described in FIG. 6 is completed. The print job here is, for example, a copy job in which the user operates the display unit 250 to select the paper feed location set by pressing the "Automatic detection at print" button 621 shown in FIG. 6(b). Alternatively, the print job here may be a PDL print job in which the paper feed location set to "Automatic detection at print" is selected by a printer driver on an information processing terminal device such as a personal computer connected via a network. Also, consider a print job in which a paper feed location set to "Automatic detection at print" is set in the print job settings, and the paper type of the print job is set to "Automatic" or "Automatic selection" without explicitly specifying the paper type. In this case, the paper type detection sensor (media sensor) 260 measures the characteristic amount of the paper S to detect the type of the paper S.

[0046] 7 starts, in step S701, the CPU 280 reads from the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) the setting information of the paper S placed on the manual paper feed tray 5 described with reference to Fig. 6. Then, the CPU 280 determines whether the paper type is set to "automatic detection at the time of printing" based on the read setting information.

[0047] If it is determined in step S701 that the paper type is set to "automatic detection during printing" (S701 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S702. In step S702, the CPU 280 reads setting information (ON / OFF) from the ROM 281 (or RAM 282) as to whether or not to execute air handling from the blower fan 270 before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S described with reference to Fig. 5. Then, based on the read setting information, the CPU 280 determines whether or not the setting is such that air handling is executed (ON) from the blower fan 270 before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S.

[0048] Also, if the result of the judgment in step S701 is that the paper type is not set to "automatic detection at print" (S701 / No), that is, if the paper type in the media library is set, the process proceeds to step S703. In step S703, the CPU 280 judges whether the paper type (paper type) set in the media library is a paper type that requires air handling. Here, it is assumed that information on whether the paper type requires air handling is stored as a print control parameter for each paper type in the media library. Here, an example of a paper type (first type) that requires air handling is coated paper that is likely to be fed multiple times. An example of a paper type (second type) that does not require air handling is plain paper.

[0049] In step S702, if it is determined that the blower fan 270 is set to perform air blowing (ON) before the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S (S702 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S704. Similarly, if it is determined in step S703 that the paper type (paper type) set in the media library is a paper type that requires air blowing (S703 / Yes), the process also proceeds to step S704. In step S704, the CPU 280 performs control to blow air from the blower fan 270 to the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0050] When the process of step S704 is completed, when a negative determination is made in step S702 (S702 / No), or when a negative determination is made in step S703 (S703 / No), the process proceeds to step S705. When the process proceeds to step S705, the CPU 280 starts feeding the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0051] Next, in step S706, the CPU 280 reads from the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) the setting information of the paper S placed on the manual paper feed tray 5 described with reference to Fig. 6. Then, the CPU 280 determines whether the paper type is set to "automatic detection at the time of printing" based on the read setting information.

[0052] If the result of the determination in step S706 is that the paper type is set to "automatic detection at the time of printing" (S706 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S707. In step S707, the CPU 280 causes the paper type detection sensor 260 to measure the characteristic amount of the paper S and detects the type of the paper S.

[0053] Next, in step S708, the CPU 280 judges whether the type of the sheet S detected in step S707 is a sheet type that requires air separation. Here, an example of a sheet type (first type) that requires air separation is coated paper that is likely to be multi-fed. An example of a sheet type (second type) that does not require air separation is plain paper.

[0054] If it is determined in step S708 that the type of sheet S detected in step S707 is a sheet type that requires air blowing (S708 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S709. In step S709, the CPU 280 performs control to blow air onto the sheet S on the manual feed tray 5 using the blower fan 270.

[0055] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S708 is that the type of sheet S detected in step S707 is not a sheet type that requires air blowing (S708 / No), the process proceeds to step S710. In step S710, the CPU 280 performs control to stop the blowing of air by the blower fan 270 to the sheet S on the manual feed tray 5.

[0056] When the process of step S709 is completed, when the process of step S710 is completed, or when it is determined in step S706 that the paper type is not set to "automatic detection at print time" (S706 / No), the process proceeds to step S711. When the process proceeds to step S711, the CPU 280 resumes the paper feed operation of the paper S, and performs control to execute the image forming process on the paper S.

[0057] Next, in step S712, CPU 280 determines whether all pages of the print job have been printed. If the result of this determination is that printing has not yet been completed for all pages of the print job (S712 / No), the process returns to step S705 and performs the processes from step S705 onwards for the pages of the print job that have not yet been printed.

[0058] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S712 is that printing has been completed for all pages of the print job (S712 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S713. In step S713, the CPU 280 performs control to stop the blowing of air by the blower fan 270 to the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0059] When the process of step S713 ends, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 ends.

[0060] Here, the air blowing operation by the blower fan 270 may be performed throughout the image forming process, or may be performed at a predetermined time or after a predetermined number of prints.

[0061] 7, by setting in advance whether or not to perform air handling before detecting the paper type, control can be made so that air handling is not performed in environments where paper S that requires air handling, such as coated paper, is not used. In this case, it is possible to shorten the time that air is blown by air handling, thereby suppressing a decrease in the printing efficiency of paper S.

[0062] <Warning display process when coated paper is detected without air blowing> In the process using the flowchart shown in Fig. 7, it is possible to start feeding the sheet S without performing air separation on the sheet S before the sheet type is detected. However, when the sheet S is fed without performing air separation and the sheet type detected by the sheet type detection sensor 260 is a sheet that requires air separation, such as coated paper, there is a possibility that the sheet S is fed in a multi-fed state. When the sheets S are actually fed in a multi-fed state, problems occur such as erroneous detection of the sheet basis weight and a multi-fed jam. A control method aimed at solving this problem will be described with reference to Fig. 8.

[0063] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in a control method for image forming apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in image forming processing for a print job when air handling before automatic detection of paper type is not performed (OFF). Each step of the flowchart shown in Fig. 8 is performed by CPU 280 executing a control program read from ROM 281 and loaded into RAM 282.

[0064] Moreover, the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 starts from the point where paper S is placed in manual feed tray 5 with “air handling before automatic detection of paper type” shown in FIG. 5 set to OFF, and a print job is submitted after the paper settings described in FIG. 6 are completed.

[0065] When the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 starts, in step S801, the CPU 280 starts feeding the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5 without executing air handling.

[0066] Next, in step S802, the CPU 280 reads out from the ROM 281 (or the RAM 282) the setting information of the paper S placed on the manual paper feed tray 5 described with reference to Fig. 6. Then, the CPU 280 determines whether the paper type is set to "automatic detection at the time of printing" based on the read setting information.

[0067] If the result of the determination in step S802 is that the paper type is set to "automatic detection at the time of printing" (S802 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S803. In step S803, the CPU 280 causes the paper type detection sensor 260 to measure the characteristic amount of the paper S and detects the type of the paper S.

[0068] Next, in step S804, the CPU 280 judges whether the type of the sheet S detected in step S803 is a sheet type that requires air separation. Here, an example of a sheet type (first type) that requires air separation is coated paper that is likely to be fed in multiples. An example of a sheet type (second type) that does not require air separation is plain paper.

[0069] If it is determined in step S804 that the type of paper S detected in step S803 is a paper type that requires air sorting (S804 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S805. In step S805, the CPU 280 stops the transport of the paper S whose type is detected by the paper type detection sensor 260, and displays a warning on the display unit 250 urging the user to resume feeding of the paper S by performing air sorting because paper S that requires air sorting has been detected.

[0070] 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a diagram showing an example of a warning display screen 900 displayed on the display unit 250 in step S805 of FIG. 8. In addition to a warning display area, the warning display screen 900 is provided with a stop button 910 and a resume printing button 920. In the warning display screen 900 shown in FIG. 9, the paper type detection sensor 260 detects coated paper, and a warning is displayed saying, "Coated paper was fed without air handling, so there is a possibility of double feeding." In addition, the warning display screen 900 shown in FIG. 9 displays a message encouraging the user to "remove the paper and place it back in the paper feed position (i.e., on the manual paper feed tray 5), and then press the resume printing button."

[0071] Here, we return to the explanation of FIG. When the process of step S805 ends, the process proceeds to step S806. In step S806, the CPU 280 determines whether or not the print resume button 920 on the warning display screen 900 shown in Fig. 9 has been pressed. If the result of this determination is that the print resume button 920 has not been pressed (S806 / No), the process returns to step S805.

[0072] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S806 that the print resume button 920 has been pressed (S806 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S807. In step S807, the CPU 280 performs control to cause the blower fan 270 to blow air onto the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0073] Next, in step S808, the CPU 280 starts feeding the paper S from the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0074] Next, in step S809, CPU 280 causes paper type detection sensor 260 to measure the characteristic amounts of paper S to detect the type of paper S. The detection of the type of paper S here is performed taking into consideration the possibility that the basis weight was erroneously detected by measuring the characteristic amounts of paper S that may have been double-fed in step S803, for example.

[0075] When the process of step S809 is completed, the process proceeds to step S810. Also, if it is determined in step S802 that the paper type is not set to "automatic detection at print" (S802 / No), that is, if the paper type in the media library is set, the process proceeds to step S810. Furthermore, if it is determined in step S804 that the type of paper S detected in step S803 is not a paper type that requires air blowing (S804 / No), the process proceeds to step S810.

[0076] In step S810, the CPU 280 performs control to execute an image forming process on the paper S.

[0077] Next, in step S811, CPU 280 determines whether all pages of the print job have been printed.

[0078] If it is determined in step S811 that printing has not yet been completed for all pages of the print job (S811 / No), the process proceeds to step S812. In step S812, the CPU 280 starts feeding paper S to print the pages of the print job that have not yet been printed. Thereafter, the process returns to step S810 and performs the processes from step S810 onward.

[0079] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S811 is that printing has been completed for all pages of the print job (S811 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S813. In step S813, the CPU 280 performs control to stop the blowing of air by the blower fan 270 to the paper S on the manual paper feed tray 5.

[0080] When the process of step S813 ends, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 ends.

[0081] In the process using the flowchart shown in Fig. 8, paper type detection is performed without performing air handling of the paper S, and if the detected paper type is a paper type that requires air handling, such as coated paper, a warning display screen 900 shown in Fig. 9 is displayed on the display unit 250. By displaying this warning display screen 900 shown in Fig. 9 on the display unit 250, air handling is performed on the paper S and the paper is re-fed, making it possible to prevent erroneous detection of the paper type and double feed jams.

[0082] In the image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment described above, the CPU 280 uses the setting screen 500 shown in Fig. 5 to set whether or not to blow air from the blower fan 270, which is a blowing means, to the paper S placed on the manual paper feed tray 5. Then, the CPU 280 controls whether or not to blow air from the blower fan 270 (whether or not to execute air handling) based on the above-mentioned setting before the paper type detection sensor 260, which is a detection means, detects the type of the paper S. According to this configuration, in an environment where paper S that requires air blowing, such as coated paper, is not used, it is possible to control so that air blowing is not performed, thereby shortening the time for air blowing by air blowing. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the printing efficiency of the paper S.

[0083] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 200 according to this embodiment, the CPU 280 performs the following process after the paper type detection sensor 260 detects the type of paper S. That is, based on the result of detection by the paper type detection sensor 260, the CPU 280 performs control as to whether or not to blow air from the blower fan 270 to the paper S stacked on the manual paper feed tray 5 (S707 to S710 in FIG. 7).

[0084] 5, the image forming apparatus 200 performs the following process when a setting is made not to execute air handling before the type of sheet S is detected by the paper type detection sensor 260. That is, when the CPU 280 controls the blower fan 270 to blow air onto the sheet S based on the result of detection by the paper type detection sensor 260, the CPU 280 performs control to stop the transport of the sheet S whose type has been detected by the paper type detection sensor 260 and display a warning. According to this configuration, by displaying a warning (on the warning display screen 900 shown in FIG. 9), air blowing is performed on the paper S and the paper is re-fed, thereby making it possible to prevent erroneous detection of the paper type and double-feed jams.

[0085] (Other embodiments) The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions. This program and a computer-readable storage medium having the program stored thereon are included in the present disclosure.

[0086] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely illustrative examples of the implementation of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by these. In other words, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0087] Embodiments of the present disclosure include the following configurations, methods, and programs. [Configuration 1] an image forming means for printing on paper; a paper feed means for feeding the paper from a paper feed tray on which the paper is stacked to the image forming means via a paper transport path; a blowing unit that blows air onto the sheets stacked on the sheet feed tray; a detection means provided on the paper transport path for detecting the type of the paper; a setting means for setting whether or not the air is to be blown from the blowing means before the detection means detects the type of the paper; having When the setting means has been set to blow the air, the blowing means blows the air when the paper feeding means feeds the paper before the detection means detects the type of the paper, and When the setting unit is set not to blow the air, the blowing unit does not blow the air when the paper feeding unit feeds the paper before the detection unit detects the type of the paper. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: [Configuration 2] Even if the setting means has been set to not blow the air, if the type of paper detected by the detection means is a first type, the blowing means blows the air to the paper loaded on the paper feed tray. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, [Configuration 3] Even if the setting means has been set to blow the air, if the type of paper detected by the detection means is a second type, the blowing means does not blow the air to the paper loaded in the paper feed tray. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second components are arranged in a same plane. [Configuration 4] The first type is coated paper. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, [Configuration 5] The second type is plain paper. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, [Configuration 6] a display unit that displays a warning when the setting unit has set the air supply not to be blown and the type of paper detected by the detection unit is the first type; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 4. [Configuration 7] The detection means detects the type of the paper using a characteristic amount of the paper. 7. The image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Method 1] an image forming means for printing on paper; a paper feed means for feeding the paper from a paper feed tray on which the paper is stacked to the image forming means via a paper transport path; a blowing unit that blows air onto the paper stacked on the paper feed tray; and a detection unit that is provided on the paper transport path and detects the type of the paper. A control method for an image forming apparatus comprising: a setting step of setting whether or not to blow the air from the blowing means before the detection means detects the type of the paper; When the setting step is performed to blow the air, the blowing means blows the air when the paper feeding means feeds the paper before the detection means detects the type of the paper, and a step of not blowing the air by the blowing means when the setting step has been set to not blow the air and before the detection means detects the type of the paper and when the paper feeding means feeds the paper; 11. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising: [Program 1] A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method for an image forming apparatus according to the first method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 200: image forming apparatus, 201A: image forming apparatus main body, 201B: image forming section, 202: image reading device, 230: cassette paper feed section, 235: manual paper feed section, 250: display section, 260: paper type detection sensor, 271: blower fan, 271: fan motor, 272: blowing nozzle, 280: CPU, 281: ROM, 282: RAM, S: paper

Claims

1. an image forming means for printing on paper; a paper feed means for feeding the paper from a paper feed tray on which the paper is stacked to the image forming means via a paper transport path; a blowing unit that blows air onto the sheets stacked on the sheet feed tray; a detection means provided on the paper transport path for detecting the type of the paper; a setting means for setting whether or not the air is to be blown from the blowing means before the detection means detects the type of the paper; having When the setting means has been set to blow the air, the blowing means blows the air when the paper feed means performs the paper feed before the detection means detects the type of the paper, and when the setting means has been set to not blow the air, the blowing means does not blow the air when the paper feed means performs the paper feed before the detection means detects the type of the paper.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. Even if the setting means has been set to not blow the air, if the type of paper detected by the detection means is a first type, the blowing means blows the air to the paper loaded on the paper feed tray.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. Even if the setting means has been set to blow the air, if the type of paper detected by the detection means is a second type, the blowing means does not blow the air to the paper loaded on the paper feed tray.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

4. The first type is coated paper.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

5. The second type is plain paper.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

6. a display unit that displays a warning when the setting unit has set the air supply not to be blown and the type of paper detected by the detection unit is the first type; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

7. The detection means detects the type of the paper using a characteristic amount of the paper.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

8. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit for printing on paper; a paper feed unit for feeding paper from a paper feed tray for loading the paper to the image forming unit through a paper transport path; an air blower for blowing air onto the paper loaded on the paper feed tray; and a detection unit provided on the paper transport path for detecting a type of the paper, comprising: a setting step of setting whether or not to blow the air from the blowing means before the detection means detects the type of the paper; a step of causing the blowing means to blow the air when the paper feeding means performs the paper feeding before the detection means detects the type of the paper in the case where the setting step has been set to blow the air, and causing the blowing means to not blow the air when the paper feeding means performs the paper feeding before the detection means detects the type of the paper in the case where the setting step has been set to not blow the air.

11. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:

9. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 8.

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