Image forming apparatus and information processing apparatus

Abstract

To perform printing on a clear file while preventing an image defect.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 comprises: a printer unit 120 that forms an image on a clear file; a display (111) that can display a screen; and a main control unit 101 that, in printing an image on the clear file with its sheet ends being cut out to provide notch parts, when a printing area of a print image overlaps the areas of the notch parts, displays an overlap warning screen on the display (111).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Image forming devices generally print images using paper or the like defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards as a recording material. Image forming devices can use various types and sizes of paper, as well as clear files, as recording materials. Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming device that conveys clear files. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-198394 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The clear file has a notch formed therein, and when an image is formed on a recording material having such a shape, there is a risk of image defects occurring.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, a main object of the present invention is to reduce the possibility of occurrence of image defects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a selection means for selecting a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material having a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side, an image forming means for forming an image on the recording material, and a display means, wherein when the first mode is selected by the selection means and a cutout portion provided on the third side overlaps with an image formed by the image forming means, the display means displays a message indicating that the image will overlap with the cutout portion before image formation by the image forming means begins. The information processing device of the present invention is an information processing device that is communicatively connected to an image forming device that has an image forming means that forms an image on a recording material, and is equipped with a display means and a selection means that selects a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material that has a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side, and is characterized in that when the first mode is selected by the selection means and an image formed by the image forming means overlaps with a cutout portion provided on the third side, the display means displays a message indicating that the image will overlap with the cutout portion before image formation by the image forming means begins. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility of image defects occurring. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming system. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of a selection screen for paper type and paper size. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a printing process. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of a cutout area setting screen. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of a cutout area setting screen. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams of a cutout area setting screen. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print surface setting screen. [Figure 11] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams illustrating instruction screens. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning screen. [Figure 13] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described as an example, but the present invention is also effective in other image forming apparatuses such as an inkjet type.

[0010] 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to this 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 that has a display 111. The image forming system 1X may also include other post-process units such as a relay device or a finisher device.

[0011] The relay device is disposed between the image forming apparatus 100 and various front and rear processing units. The relay device reverses the recording material S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 and conveys it to the front and rear processing units, or temporarily stacks it before conveying it to the front and rear processing units. The finisher device performs post-processing such as punching to make holes in the recording material S and stapling to bundle and staple multiple sheets of recording material S, and discharges the bundle of recording materials S after post-processing to a discharge tray. In addition to these post-processing units, the image forming system 1X may also be provided with a recording material supplying device that stores a large amount of recording material S inside and feeds the stored recording materials S to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0012] (Image forming device) The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is a tandem-type full-color printer using an electrophotographic method. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may also be configured to form images using an electrostatic recording method. The image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit Pa that forms a yellow image, an image forming unit Pb that forms a magenta image, an image forming unit Pc that forms a cyan image, and an image forming unit Pd that forms a black image.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 100 forms a toner image on a recording material S based on data relating to the toner image contained in image data acquired from an external device 1000, such as a document reading device (not shown) or a personal computer, communicably connected to the image forming apparatus 100. The recording material S may be a sheet material made of paper such as ordinary plain paper, cardboard, rough paper, textured paper, or coated paper, or in this embodiment, a clear file made of a plastic sheet material formed into a bag shape.

[0014] The conveying process of the recording material S will be described. The recording material S is stored and stacked in a cassette 10, or is stacked on a tray 17. The recording material S is fed from the cassette 10 or the tray 17 by a supply roller 13 in accordance with the timing of image formation. The tray 17 is provided so that it can be opened and closed by the user, for example. The recording material S fed by the supply roller 13 is conveyed to a registration roller 12 arranged midway along a conveying path 114. The registration roller 12 performs skew correction and timing correction on the recording material S before conveying it to a secondary transfer portion T2. ​​The secondary transfer portion T2 is a transfer nip formed by an inner secondary transfer roller 14 and an outer secondary transfer roller 11. The secondary transfer portion T2 transfers a toner image onto the recording material S by applying a secondary transfer voltage to the outer secondary transfer roller 11.

[0015] This section describes the image forming process in which a toner image is transported to the secondary transfer unit T2 at the same time as the process in which the recording material S is transported to the secondary transfer unit T2. The configuration of the image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd will be described. The image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd are configured in approximately the same manner except that the colors of the images (toner images) they form are different: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Here, we will describe the image forming unit Pd, which forms a black toner image, and will omit descriptions of the other image forming units Pa, Pb, and Pc.

[0016] The image forming unit Pd mainly includes a developing unit 1d, a charging unit 2d, a photosensitive drum 3d, a photosensitive drum cleaner 4d, an exposure unit 5d, and a primary transfer roller 6d. The photosensitive drum 3d is a photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer on its surface and rotates around the drum axis. The charging unit 2d uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3d. The exposure unit 5d forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 3d by irradiating it with a laser beam driven based on an image signal. The developing unit 1d develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d using a developer to form a black toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3d.

[0017] The primary transfer roller 6d is disposed in a position facing the photosensitive drum 3d across the intermediate transfer belt 80. When a primary transfer voltage is applied, the primary transfer roller 6d transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d onto the intermediate transfer belt 80. Residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 3d after transfer is collected by the photosensitive drum cleaner 4d.

[0018] Similarly, a yellow toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3a of the image forming station Pa, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 by the primary transfer roller 6a. A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3b of the image forming station Pb, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 by the primary transfer roller 6b. A cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3c of the image forming station Pc, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 by the primary transfer roller 6c.

[0019] The intermediate transfer belt 80 is an endless belt that is stretched around the inner secondary transfer roller 14 and tension rollers 15 and 16, and is driven in the direction of arrow R2. In this embodiment, the tension roller 16 also serves as a drive roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 80. The image formation processes of the image forming units Pa to Pd are performed at such a timing that the transferred toner images of each color are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 80. As a result, a full-color toner image is finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt 80.

[0020] The intermediate transfer belt 80 rotates to transport the toner image to the secondary transfer portion T2. ​​The transport of the toner image to the secondary transfer portion T2 is synchronized with the timing at which the recording material S is transported to the secondary transfer portion T2. ​​This allows the toner image to be transferred to a predetermined position on the recording material S. Any residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 80 after transfer by the secondary transfer portion T2 is removed by a transfer cleaner 22.

[0021] Through the above-described conveying process and image forming process, a toner image is carried on the recording material S. The recording material S is conveyed from the secondary transfer unit T2 to the fixing unit 50. The fixing unit 50 applies heat and pressure to the recording material S bearing the toner image, thereby fixing the toner image to the recording material S. To this end, the fixing unit 50 has a first roller incorporating a heat source and a second roller biased toward the first roller, and the recording material S is nipped and conveyed between the first roller and the second roller. During this process, the recording material S is heated by the heat source and pressurized by the second roller. As a result, the toner image carried by the recording material S is melted and mixed, and fixed to the recording material S as a full-color image.

[0022] The recording material S on which the image has been fixed is guided by a flapper 300 to either a conveying path 301 or a conveying path 305. The flapper 300 guides the recording material S to the conveying path 305 when the printing surface (image forming surface) is not turned over in single-sided printing or when printing on both sides is completed in double-sided printing. The recording material S guided to the conveying path 305 is discharged outside the image forming apparatus 100.

[0023] When printing on the front side (first side) is completed in double-sided printing, or when the printed side is to be reversed in single-sided printing, the flapper 300 guides the recording material S to a conveying path 301. The recording material S is conveyed to a reversing unit 302 via the conveying path 301. The recording material S conveyed to the reversing unit 302 has its conveying direction reversed, and is guided by a flapper 303 to either the conveying path 301 or a double-sided conveying path 304. The conveying direction is reversed in the reversing unit 302, and the recording material S is conveyed to the conveying path 301 or the double-sided conveying path 304, whereby the printed side of the recording material S is reversed.

[0024] When the printing surface is to be reversed in single-sided printing, the flapper 303 guides the recording material S to a conveying path 301. The recording material S guided to the conveying path 301 is discharged from the conveying path 301 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 via a conveying path 305. When printing on the front side is completed in double-sided printing, the flapper 303 guides the recording material S to a double-sided conveying path 304. The recording material S guided to the double-sided conveying path 304 is conveyed to a secondary transfer unit T2. As a result, an image is printed on the back side (second side) of the recording material S.

[0025] The developer used in this embodiment is a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier. The toner contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent (wax). Known binder resins can be used. Examples of binder resins that can be used include vinyl copolymers such as styrene-(meth)acrylic copolymers, polyester resins, hybrid resins in which vinyl copolymer units and polyester units are chemically bonded, epoxy resins, and styrene-butadiene copolymers. Known colorants can be used for each of the colors yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

[0026] Examples of the release agent that can be used include aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, oxides of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, and block copolymers thereof. Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes include low-molecular-weight polyethylene, low-molecular-weight olefin copolymer waxes, microcrystalline waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, and paraffin waxes. Examples of oxides of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes include oxidized polyethylene waxes. Block copolymers include waxes whose main component is fatty acid ester, ester waxes, and partially or completely deoxidized fatty acid esters such as deoxidized carnauba wax. Examples of waxes whose main component is fatty acid ester include carnauba wax and Montan acid ester wax. Ester waxes are synthetic reaction products of higher fatty acids, such as behenyl behenate and behenyl stearate, with higher alcohols.

[0027] The operation of the image forming apparatus 100 is controlled by a main control unit 101. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the main control unit 101. The main control unit 101 can communicate with the printer unit 120 and the operation unit 110. The printer unit 120 includes each unit used in the above-mentioned conveyance process and image forming process.

[0028] The main control unit 101 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, and an image processing unit 105. The CPU 102 controls the operation of the entire image forming system 1X by executing computer programs stored in the ROM 103. The RAM 104 provides a work area for the CPU 102 when executing processing. The image processing unit 105 performs predetermined image processing on image data obtained from the external device 1000, such as converting the image data into a format processable by the exposure devices 5a to 5d of the image forming units Pa to Pd, to generate image signals, which are then transmitted to the image forming units Pa to Pd.

[0029] The printer unit 120 includes a stacking unit 124, a conveying 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 described above. The stacking unit 124 is a cassette 10 and a tray 17, and stores or stacks the recording material S. The conveying unit 123 feeds the recording material S from the stacking unit 124, conveys it to the secondary transfer unit T2 and the fixing unit 50, and discharges it outside the image forming system 1X. The conveying unit 123 includes a supply roller 13, a registration roller 12, and flappers 300 and 303. The fixing unit 122 is the fixing unit 50 described above, and fixes the toner image on the recording material S. The image forming unit P forms toner images of each color as described above. The image forming unit P controls the driving of laser light output from the exposure units 5a to 5d based on image signals acquired from the image processing unit 105.

[0030] In order to perform optimal print settings, the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment requires that the paper type be set according to instructions from the user using the operation unit 110. The operation unit 110 is a user interface having a display 111 which is an input interface and an output interface. The operation unit 110 is used, for example, to acquire the paper type setting for the recording material S used in image formation. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the operation unit 110.

[0031] The operation unit 110 of this embodiment has, as an input interface, a setting key 1102, a power saving key 1103, a group of hard keys 1104, a reset key 1105, a stop key 1106, and a start key 1107. The operation unit 110 may also have, as an input interface, a touch panel provided on the display 111. The contents input via the input interface (for example, information necessary for creating job information such as the type of recording material S, the number of copies to be printed, and output attribute information) are transmitted to the CPU 102. Using the input interface, the user can input information.

[0032] The setting key 1102 is pressed when making various settings such as paper type settings. The power-saving key 1103 is pressed when switching the image forming apparatus 100 to or from sleep mode. When the power-saving key 1103 is pressed in normal mode, the image forming apparatus 100 switches to sleep mode, and when the power-saving key 1103 is pressed in sleep mode, the image forming apparatus 100 switches 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 to reset various settings. The stop key 1106 is pressed to stop an ongoing operation. The start key 1107 is pressed to start a printing operation or to issue an instruction to start another function. The start key 1107 is equipped with a two-color LED (light emitting diode) in green and red (not shown). The start key 1107 indicates that operation can be started when lit green, and indicates that operation cannot be started when lit red.

[0033] The various keys described above are hardware keys, but may also be realized as software keys displayed on the display 111. Also, the various keys may be realized as a combination of hardware keys and software keys.

[0034] (Examples of other image forming devices) The image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 prints an image on a recording material S while transporting the recording material S in a horizontal direction parallel to the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus 100. In other words, the transport path 114 along which the recording material S is transported is a horizontal path extending horizontally. Some image forming apparatuses print images on the recording material S while transporting it in a vertical direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the bottom surface of the image forming apparatus (vertical path). FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of such an image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus 201 is a tandem-intermediate transfer laser beam printer that utilizes an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 201 forms and outputs a full-color or monochrome image on the recording material S, which is a recording medium, based on image data acquired from an external device 1000 (see FIG. 1) via a network or image data acquired from an image reading device 202 provided above.

[0035] The image forming apparatus 201 has components for forming an image inside a main body 201A, and is provided with an image reading device 202 and an operation unit 502 having a configuration similar to that of the operation unit 110 in Fig. 1 on the upper part of the main body 201A. Between the main body 201A and the image reading device 202 of the image forming apparatus 201, there is provided a discharge space D having a stacking section 223 to which the recording material S after image formation is discharged.

[0036] The image reading device 202 is a scanner that reads an image from a document and generates image data. The image reading device 202 is used, for example, when copying a document. The image reading device 202 of this embodiment is configured as a part of the image forming device 201. However, the image reading device 202 may also be configured as a separate device from the image forming device 201 and electrically connected to the image forming device 201.

[0037] 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 unit 201E, and a cassette paper feed unit 230. The main body 201 is also provided with a manual paper feed unit 235.

[0038] The cassette paper feed unit 230 feeds the recording material S from a paper feed cassette 231 that stores the recording material S. The cassette paper feed unit 230 includes a pickup roller 232 and a separation unit that includes a feed roller 233 and a retard roller 234 for separating the recording material S fed from the pickup roller 232. The recording material S is fed one sheet at a time from the paper feed cassette 231 by the pickup roller 232 and the separation unit. In this embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of cassette paper feed units 230 (four in this example) are provided will be described, but the number of cassette paper feed units 230 may be any number. The recording material S fed from the cassette paper feed unit 230 is conveyed to the registration rollers 240 via conveyance rollers 280 and 290.

[0039] In addition to the cassette paper feed unit 230, the recording material S can also be fed from a manual paper feed unit 235. The manual paper feed unit 235 is provided with a tray 236 on which the user manually places the recording material S. Similar to the cassette paper feed unit 230, the manual paper feed unit 235 is provided with a pickup roller and a separation unit, and feeds the recording material S one sheet at a time from the tray 236. The recording material S fed from the manual paper feed unit 235 is also conveyed to the registration rollers 240 via conveyance rollers 280 and 290.

[0040] The image forming mechanism 201B is a four-drum full-color system and includes a laser scanner 210 and four image forming units 211 for forming toner images of four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each image forming unit 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212, a charger 213, and a developing unit 214. A toner cartridge 215 is disposed above the image forming unit 211. The toner cartridge 215 supplies toner to the developing unit 214.

[0041] The intermediate transfer unit 201C includes an intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. Four primary transfer rollers 219 are provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 216 and contact the intermediate transfer belt 216 at positions facing the respective photosensitive drums 212. The intermediate transfer belt 216 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive unit (not shown).

[0042] The secondary transfer unit 201D includes a secondary transfer roller 217 disposed opposite the drive roller 216a with the intermediate transfer belt 216 interposed therebetween. The fuser 201E is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer roller 217 in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, and includes a pressure roller 220a and a heating roller 220b. A first discharge roller 225a, a second discharge roller 225b, and a duplex reversing unit 201F are disposed downstream of the fuser 201E in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. The duplex reversing unit 201F includes a reversing roller 222 that can rotate forward and backward, and a re-conveying path R that conveys the recording material S with an image formed on one side thereof to the image forming mechanism 201B.

[0043] The image forming apparatus 201 configured as described above operates as follows. The image forming apparatus 201 receives an instruction to start a print job, as well as image data from the image reading device 202 or the external device 1000, and forms an image on the recording material S according to the image data. Note that a print job refers to a series of operations that execute a conveying process and an image forming process based on a print signal that instructs image formation on the recording material S, from when printing of the image is completed until the recording material S is discharged onto the stacking unit 223. The image forming apparatus 201 receives an instruction to start the print job from the operation unit 502 or the external device 1000.

[0044] The image forming mechanism 201B uniformly charges the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 212 to a potential of a predetermined polarity using the chargers 213. The laser scanner 210 irradiates the uniformly charged surfaces of the photosensitive drums 212 with laser light modulated based on image data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the corresponding color (yellow, magenta, cyan, or black) is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 212.

[0045] The image forming mechanism 201B develops the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 212 by the developing devices 214. On each photosensitive drum 212, the electrostatic latent images are developed with toner of the corresponding color, thereby forming a toner image of the corresponding color. The toner images are sequentially transferred by primary transfer rollers 219 from the photosensitive drums 212 onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 216 in a superimposed state. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 216. The intermediate transfer belt 216 conveys the toner image to the secondary transfer unit 201D by rotating.

[0046] In parallel with this toner image formation operation, recording material S is conveyed one sheet at a time to registration rollers 240 by cassette paper feed unit 230 or manual paper feed unit 235. Registration rollers 240 correct skew of the conveyed recording material S. After skew correction, the recording material S is conveyed by registration rollers 240 to secondary transfer unit 201D in accordance with the timing at which the toner image carried by intermediate transfer belt 216 is conveyed to secondary transfer unit 201D. Secondary transfer unit 201D transfers the full-color toner image from intermediate transfer belt 216 onto recording material S by a secondary transfer bias applied to secondary transfer roller 217.

[0047] The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to a fixing device 201E. The fixing device 201E sandwiches and transports the recording material S in a roller nip formed by a pressure roller 220a and a heating roller 220b. When sandwiching and transporting the recording material S, the fixing device 201E heats the recording material S with the heating roller 220b, thereby melting and mixing the toner of each color on the recording material S. The fixing device 201E also pressurizes the recording material S with the pressure roller 220a, thereby fixing the melted and mixed toner to the recording material S. At this time, the adhesive force of the melted toner causes the recording material S to stick to the heating roller 220b.

[0048] The recording material S with the fixed image is discharged to the discharge space D by either the first discharge roller 225a or the second discharge roller 225b. The recording material S is stacked on a stacking section 223 that protrudes from the bottom surface of the discharge space D. When an image is to be formed on both sides of the recording material S, the recording material S with the image fixed on one side is transported to a re-conveyance path R by the reversing roller 222 and transported again to the image forming mechanism 201B, where an image is formed on the inverted side. The re-conveyance path R is configured to transport the recording material S to a transport path between the transport roller 290 and the registration roller 240.

[0049] In this way, in the image forming apparatus 201, the recording material S is transported along a transport path (vertical path) that extends in the vertical direction. During image formation, the recording material S is transported from the registration roller 240 to the fixing device 201E from the bottom to the top in the vertical direction, with the top side at the leading edge. When transported along the re-conveyance path R, the recording material S is transported from the top to the bottom in the vertical direction, with the bottom side at the leading edge.

[0050] The operation of the image forming apparatus 201 is controlled by a main control unit 101 similar to that shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the stacking unit 124 of the printer unit 120 includes a cassette paper feed unit 230 and a manual paper feed unit 235. The conveying unit 123 includes various rollers such as conveying 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.

[0051] (Printing on clear files) As described above, the recording material S used for printing in the image forming apparatuses 100 and 201 can be a paper sheet or a clear file formed by folding a plastic sheet into a bag shape. A clear file is formed by folding a plastic sheet, for example, to open at least one of the overlapping edges (edges) and close the remaining edges (edges). The open edge (edge) is called the "opening portion," and the closed edge (edge) is called the "fixing portion." The fixing portion includes a folded portion formed by folding the plastic sheet and a closed portion in which the edges (edges) are fixed by thermal or ultrasonic welding or by adhesive bonding. Typically, a clear file is closed by fixing two edges, and the remaining two edges are open. In the clear file of this embodiment, a notch is formed in the opening portion by cutting out a portion of the edge of at least one of the overlapping edges of the sheet.

[0052] When printing on clear files, image defects can occur due to cutouts. For example, when printing on a side with a cutout, the image may be printed on the side without the cutout. Because the cutout is thinner than other locations, the image quality at that location may differ from other locations. The uneven shape of the closure can cause the image to be distorted.

[0053] Most of these image defects caused by the cutouts can be resolved by restricting printing in the cutouts. However, the position and shape of the cutouts vary depending on the manufacturer and product of the clear file. For this reason, it is difficult to suppress image defects by applying a uniform, pre-set print restriction to print on all types of clear file.

[0054] In this embodiment, printing onto a clear file is possible by selecting the type and size of paper (recording material S) to be used for printing from the paper type selection screen. When clear file is set as the paper type, image defect countermeasures corresponding to the clear file are implemented, and printing onto the clear file is performed. FIG. 5 is an example of the paper type and paper size selection screen. Selection screen 1201 is displayed on display 111. On selection screen 1201, any recording material S can be selected, and "clear file" is provided as an optional paper type.

[0055] When the user selects and presses "clear file" from the paper type pull-down menu on the selection screen 1201, and then selects and presses a paper size from the paper size pull-down menu, the background of the selected portion is displayed in inverse video. When the user then presses the confirm button 1203, the main control unit 101 is informed that "clear file" for the selected paper size has been selected as the paper type. The main control unit 101 then sets the type of recording material S to "clear file" and sets the paper size.

[0056] ROM 103 stores setting information (image forming conditions) for image formation to suppress deterioration in conveyance and image quality in accordance with the "clear file." CPU 102 acquires the setting information for the "clear file" from ROM 103 and uses it to control image formation by printer unit 120. This suppresses deterioration in conveyance and image quality when printing on a clear file.

[0057] When clear file is set as the paper type, a setting screen (cutout area setting screen) on which the user can input pattern information indicating the position and shape of the cutout is displayed on the display 111. The user performs predetermined settings on the cutout area setting screen using the operation unit 110 and inputs the pattern information to the main control unit 101. The main control unit 101 thereby acquires the cutout pattern information and can take measures to deal with image defects corresponding to clear files.

[0058] 6 is a flowchart showing the printing process, in which pattern information for the cutout portion is set when the recording material S is a clear file.

[0059] 5 on the display 111 (S101). The selection screen 1201 is displayed when the user presses a button to start selecting the paper type and paper size, or when the user places the recording material S in the cassette 10 or tray 17. As described above, when the user selects the paper type and paper size from the selection screen 1201 and presses the confirm button 1203, the main control unit sets the type and paper size of the recording material S. The main control unit 101 determines whether a clear file has been set as the type of recording material S (S102).

[0060] If a clear file is selected (S102: Y), the main control unit 101 displays a cutout area setting screen, such as those shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, on the display 111 (S103). The user inputs pattern information indicating the position and shape of the cutout to the main control unit 101 from a cutout area setting screen 1301, such as those shown in FIGS. 7(a), 8(a), and 9(a), using the operation unit 110. As shown in FIGS. 7(a), 8(a), and 9(a), the cutout area setting screen 1301 allows users to select basic cutout shapes (cutout patterns) such as semicircle, triangle, and trapezoid in advance. A cutout pattern library, which includes a collection of multiple basic cutout patterns, is stored in the ROM 103.

[0061] When "Open saved list" 1307 on the cutout area setting screen 1301 is pressed, a menu screen (not shown) is displayed that calls up a pattern list, which is a list of basic cutout patterns, or a pattern list previously saved in ROM 103. The main control unit 101 obtains from ROM 103 the pattern list selected by the user from this menu screen. The cutout patterns included in the pattern list include information indicating the cutout area, such as the shape, position, and size of the cutout.

[0062] Pressing the "add button" 1302 on the cutout area setting screen 1301 enables the addition of a cutout pattern. The added cutout pattern is added to and displayed in a pattern list 1303. An arrangement image 1305 of the cutout pattern is also displayed. The basic cutout pattern that is added can be adjusted to some extent by the user.

[0063] The "Installation Side" 1304 on the cutout area setting screen 1301 allows the user to set whether the cutout pattern is located on the short or long side of the clear file. "Position" is used to adjust the position (coordinates) of the cutout pattern. For a "Semicircle" pattern, the size and aspect ratio of the circle are adjusted using "Height" and "Width" (Figure 7(b)). For a "Triangle" pattern, the size, aspect ratio, and vertex position of the triangle are adjusted using "Height", "Width", and "Vertex Position", and the roundness of the corners is adjusted using "Rounded Corners" (Figure 8(b)). For a "Trapezoid" pattern, the size, aspect ratio, and top position of the trapezoid are adjusted using "Lower Base Width", "Upper Base Width", "Width", and "Upper Base Position", and the roundness of the corners is adjusted using "Rounded Corners" (Figure 9(b)). In addition to the basic cutout patterns, the user may also be able to manually input cutout patterns.

[0064] If the image forming apparatus 100 has a document reading unit inside or outside the main body, the image forming apparatus 100 reads the clear file in advance using the document reading unit and displays the read result in the background of the layout image 1305. This allows the user to set the cutout pattern more easily. Alternatively, the main control unit 101 may detect areas that are candidates for the cutout from the read result by the document reading unit and automatically add the cutout pattern. The document reading unit provided outside the main body may be, for example, a reader. The document reading unit provided inside the main body may be, for example, a one-dimensional sensor using a contact image sensor (CIS), a one-dimensional sensor using a reduced optical system (charge-coupled device (CCD)), a two-dimensional area camera, etc.

[0065] After setting a cutout pattern on the cutout area setting screen 1301, the user presses a "Save Pattern" button 1306. By pressing the "Save Pattern" button 1306, the main control unit 101 acquires the cutout pattern settings on the cutout area setting screen 1301. The main control unit 101 saves position information of the cutout pattern (the area of ​​the cutout portion) in the RAM 104 according to the acquired settings (S104). The position information of the cutout pattern is saved as paper information corresponding to the stacking unit 124 (cassette 10 or tray 17) on which the clear file is placed. Therefore, the position information of the cutout pattern is saved until the paper information of the stacking unit 124 is updated. The position information of the cutout pattern may be saved separately in the ROM 103 as a template pattern list. The template pattern list is read out and displayed on the display 111 by pressing "Open Saved List" 1307 in FIG. 7(a), FIG. 8(a), or FIG. 9(a).

[0066] After saving the cutout pattern, the main control unit 101 displays a print side setting screen on the display 111 for selecting the print side (S105). Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of the print side setting screen. The user selects either the front side or the back side from the print side setting screen 1701 using the operation unit 110, and inputs the selection result to the main control unit 101 by pressing the OK button 1702. The main control unit 101 sets the print side to either the front side or the back side according to the selection result on the print side setting screen 1701.

[0067] The main control unit 101 displays an instruction screen on the display 111 to instruct the orientation of the clear file when placed so that the clear file faces upside down, corresponding to the printing side set on the printing side setting screen 1701 (S106). FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the instruction screen. FIG. 11(a) illustrates an example of an instruction screen 1601a when the printing side is set to the front side. FIG. 11(b) illustrates an example of an instruction screen 1601b when the printing side is set to the back side. The instruction screens 1601a and 1601b instruct the user on the orientation of the clear file when placed on the stacking unit 124 (cassette 10, tray 17). The user places the clear file (recording material S) on the stacking unit 124 in accordance with the instructions on the instruction screens 1601a and 1601b. In FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), the orientation of the clear file when placed on the tray 17 is instructed.

[0068] In the examples of instruction screens 1601a and 1601b, the user is instructed to place the clear file on tray 17 with the folded portion at the front in the conveying direction. By conveying the clear file with the folded portion at the front in the conveying direction, it is possible to prevent the open portion from opening and causing a jam. In instruction screen 1601a, the user is instructed to place the clear file with the front side facing up and the closed portion at the front. The closed portion is the area where the overlapping sheet edges are closed. In instruction screen 1601b, the user is instructed to place the clear file with the back side facing up and the closed portion at the back. After placing the clear file as instructed, the user presses the "OK" button 1602.

[0069] Image forming apparatus 100 prints an image on recording material S while transporting it in a horizontal lateral path. In this case, a clear file is placed on tray 17 with the front side, which is the printing side, facing upward, so that an image is printed on the front side of the clear file. Therefore, when the printing side is set to the front side, instruction screen 1601a in FIG. 11(a) is displayed. Conversely, when the printing side is set to the back side, instruction screen 1601b in FIG. 11(b) is displayed.

[0070] The image forming apparatus 201 prints an image on the recording material S while transporting it in a vertical path. In this case, the image is printed on the front side of the clear file by placing the clear file on the tray 236 with the front side, which is the printing side, facing downwards. Therefore, when the printing side is set to the front side, an instruction screen 1601b in FIG. 11(b) is displayed. Conversely, when the printing side is set to the back side, an instruction screen 1601a in FIG. 11(a) is displayed.

[0071] The main control unit 101 confirms that a clear file has been placed on the stacker 124 by pressing the "OK" button 1602, and starts the print job (S107). Note that if the recording material S is not a clear file (S102: N), the main control unit 101 starts the print job by pressing the start key 1107.

[0072] The main control unit 101 determines whether the area of ​​the cutout overlaps with the printing area of ​​the print image (S108) based on the position information of the cutout pattern stored in RAM 104. If they do not overlap (S108: N), the main control unit 101 executes normal printing processing and ends the job (S113).

[0073] If there is an overlap (S108: Y), the main control unit 101 displays a warning screen on the display 111 to notify the user that the cutout area and the print area overlap (S109). FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the warning screen. The warning screen 1801 is a message indicating that the cutout area of ​​the clear file overlaps with the image, and is a screen that allows the user to select a response. The main control unit 101 controls the printing of the image in accordance with the response to the warning screen from the operation unit 110. The responses that the user can select include "Do not print only the overlapping area," "Print all over," and "Cancel printing." The main control unit 101 acquires the instruction (user response) selected by the user from the warning screen 1801 via the operation unit 110.

[0074] If "Cancel printing" is selected (S110: Y), the main control unit 101 ends the job without executing the printing process. If "Do not print only in overlapping areas" is selected (S110: N, S111: Y), the main control unit 101 executes the printing process, excluding the area where the cutout area and the print area overlap, and ends the job (S112). If "Full printing" is selected (S110: N, S111: N), the main control unit 101 executes the normal printing process for the entire area, including the cutout area, and ends the job (S113).

[0075] The above is the process for single-sided printing. When a clear file is transported through the double-sided transport path 304 or the re-transport path R, the open section may be at the leading edge of the transport direction, causing a jam. To prevent this, in the case of double-sided printing, the clear file is temporarily ejected outside the machine after an image is formed on the first side (front side), and the printing side is switched to the second side (back side) and placed again on the tray 17, 236. The instruction screen displayed in the process of S106 is as follows:

[0076] In the image forming apparatus 100, when printing on the front side, instruction screen 1601a in Fig. 11(a) is displayed, and when printing on the back side, instruction screen 1601b in Fig. 11(b) is displayed. In the image forming apparatus 201, when printing on the front side, instruction screen 1601b in Fig. 11(b) is displayed, and when printing on the back side, instruction screen 1601a in Fig. 11(a) is displayed. When performing double-sided printing, the instruction screen shown in Fig. 13 may be displayed on the display 111. This instruction screen is displayed when printing on the front side (first side) begins, or when image formation on the front side (first side) is completed and the clear file is ejected from the machine.

[0077] As described above, by setting pattern information representing the position, size, shape, etc. of the cutout of a clear file, it is possible to suppress image defects caused by the cutout. In this embodiment, a process for restricting printing when the cutout area overlaps the printing area of ​​a printed image has been described. However, a similar process can also be used to suppress image defects caused by the closure area. In this case, pattern information representing the position, size, shape, etc. of the closure area is input to the image forming apparatus 100. Based on the closure pattern information, the image forming apparatus 100 can restrict printing when the closure area overlaps the printing area of ​​a printed image. Furthermore, the recording material S is not limited to a clear file. The process of this embodiment is effective when printing an image on a recording material S having multiple sheet edges that overlap each other by folding a single sheet, and in which a cutout is provided in a portion of at least one of the overlapping sheets.

[0078] In this embodiment, if the area of ​​the cutout overlaps the printing area of ​​the image, a warning screen is displayed by the process of S109, and whether or not to print the image is determined based on the user's response, but this is not limited to this.If the area of ​​the cutout overlaps the printing area of ​​the image, image forming apparatus 100 may cancel printing or prohibit printing on the area of ​​the cutout after displaying the warning screen, without relying on a user instruction.

[0079] In the present embodiment, various printing-related settings are configured by the user operating the operation unit 110. However, similar processing is possible when the user operates the external device 1000. The external device 1000 is an information processing device equipped with an input device and a display. The external device 1000 has the functions of the main control unit 101 and, for example, has a printer driver installed therein for use with the image forming system 1X. The display of the external device 1000 displays screens for selecting items to be configured in the screens shown in FIGS. 5, 7(a), 8(a), 9(a), 10, 11(a), 11(b), and 12 as the processing progresses, via the printer driver. Even when the settings are configured by the external device 1000, it is possible to print on a clear file while suppressing the occurrence of image defects.

Claims

1. a selection means for selecting a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material having a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; an image forming means for forming an image on a recording material; a display means; When the first mode is selected by the selection means and the notch provided on the third side overlaps with the image formed by the image forming means, the display means displays a message indicating that the image will overlap with the notch before the image formation by the image forming means starts. Image forming device.

2. further comprising an input means for allowing a user to input information; the image forming means controls printing of the image on the first recording material in response to a response to a message from the input means, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. the display means prompts the user to select one of canceling printing, prohibiting printing in the overlapping area, and printing in the entire area including the area of ​​the notch, by means of a message; the image forming means controls printing of the image on the first recording material in accordance with the result of the selection made by the input means, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The image forming means cancels printing if the area of ​​the image overlaps the area of ​​the cutout.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

5. the image forming means, if an area of ​​the image overlaps an area of ​​the cutout, does not print the image only in the overlapping area; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

6. the display means displays a selection screen on which the type of recording material can be selected, and when the first recording material is selected from the selection screen by the selection means, a setting screen for setting the area of ​​the notch is displayed.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

7. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the area of ​​the cutout portion set on the setting screen overlaps with the area of ​​the image.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The recording medium further includes a reading means for reading the recording material, the display means displays the result of reading the first recording material by the reading means, and allows a user to set the area of ​​the notch by the input means.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

9. The display means displays a warning screen of overlapping when the area of ​​the image overlaps the area of ​​the first side.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The first recording material is a clear file made of a plastic sheet material formed into a bag shape. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An information processing apparatus communicably connected to an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, A display means; a selection means for selecting a first mode for forming an image on a first recording material having a closed first side, a closed second side, an open third side, and an open fourth side; When the first mode is selected by the selection means and the notch provided on the third side overlaps with the image formed by the image forming means, the display means displays a message indicating that the image will overlap with the notch before the image formation by the image forming means starts. Information processing device.

Images