Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and front-to-back position adjustment method and program

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus capable of printing without reducing productivity.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 includes: an upper stage tray 21 and a middle stage tray 22 that feed paper sheets 5; an image forming section 13 that forms an image on the paper sheet 5; a reading section 30 that reads the image formed on the paper sheet 5; and a controller 11, that prints a front-to-back position adjustment chart on the paper sheet 5 fed from the middle stage tray 22 while performing a print job on the paper sheet 5 fed from the upper stage tray 21, reads the printed front-to-back position adjustment chart, and performs a front-to-back position adjustment for the middle stage tray 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a front and back position adjustment method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that an image forming device detects whether a tray is open or closed, and when a job is output using that tray, adjusts the front and back positions of the image before the job (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 9 is a process diagram showing a paper feeding pattern when a waste paper is detected in the conventional example described in Patent Document 1. In the image forming method described in Patent Document 1, as shown in Figure 9, the image forming device first prints pages 1 to n on the sheets in the upper tray (step S1000). If the upper tray runs out of sheets after printing, the image forming device switches the paper feed source from the upper tray to the lower tray (step S1100). Next, while the image forming device is printing sheets in the lower tray, the user opens and closes the upper tray to replenish the upper tray with sheets (step S1200).

[0004] When the paper in the lower tray during printing runs out, the image forming apparatus switches from the lower tray to the upper tray (step S1300). Subsequently, when the upper tray is opened or closed, the image forming apparatus adjusts the front and back positions of the upper tray (step S1400). Then, the image forming apparatus feeds paper from the upper tray to the image forming unit (step S1500). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-19778 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the image forming method described in Patent Document 1, when switching from the upper tray to the lower tray or from the lower tray to the upper tray, the tray is opened and closed, which can cause misalignment between the image printed on the front and the image printed on the back of the paper. Therefore, if the front and back position adjustment values ​​for the front and back positions of the paper are not applied from the first sheet of paper onwards, there is a possibility that the front and back position adjustment for the first sheet of paper will be misaligned. For this reason, it is important to perform front and back position adjustment for the upper tray when switching from the lower tray to the upper tray.

[0007] As a result, when printing with an image forming system, in order to perform front-to-back position adjustment for the tray, the machine is stopped, and after the front-to-back position adjustment of the paper supplied from that tray is completed, printing of page p shown in Fig. 9 is resumed. For this reason, the image forming method described in Patent Document 1 has the problem of reduced productivity, since continuous printing is temporarily interrupted to perform front-to-back position adjustment for the tray after switching.

[0008] In other words, in the image forming method described in Patent Document 1, when automatic front and back adjustment of paper is performed, paper is fed after the front and back position adjustment value is determined. Therefore, if automatic front and back adjustment has not been performed on the tray to which the tray is switched during printing, automatic front and back adjustment is performed on that tray, and then paper is fed from the switched-to tray to execute the print job. Therefore, the image forming method described in Patent Document 1 has the problem of reduced productivity.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a front / back position adjustment method, and a program that are capable of printing without reducing productivity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. (1) An image forming device comprising a first tray and a second tray for supplying recording media, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording media, a reading unit for reading the image formed on the recording media, and a control unit for printing a front / back position adjustment chart on the recording media supplied from the second tray during a print job on the recording media supplied from the first tray, reading the printed front / back position adjustment chart, and adjusting the front / back position for the second tray.

[0011] (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tray is a tray that can be opened and closed.

[0012] (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms a front / back position adjustment chart on the recording medium.

[0013] (4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium supplied from the second tray whose front and back positions have been adjusted.

[0014] (5) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tray is plural.

[0015] (6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the adjustment of the front and back positions of an image formed on a recording medium supplied from the second tray during image formation using a recording medium supplied from the first tray when predetermined conditions are met. Here, the "predetermined condition" means that the paper feed tray is opened and closed, and the type of recording medium (paper) set is the same, or the size of the paper is the same, or the like.

[0016] (7) The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the first tray runs out of recording media before the front-back position adjustment for the second tray is completed, the control unit switches the source of recording media to another tray that has the same conditions as the first tray and for which the front-back position adjustment of the image has been completed.

[0017] (8) An image forming system comprising a first tray and a second tray for supplying recording media, an image forming unit for forming an image on the recording media, a reading unit for reading the image formed on the recording media, and a control unit for printing a front / back position adjustment chart on the recording media supplied from the second tray during a print job using the recording media supplied from the first tray, reading the printed front / back position adjustment chart, and adjusting the front / back position for the second tray.

[0018] (9) A front and back position adjustment method including the steps of: during a print job using a recording medium supplied from a first tray, a control unit using an image forming unit to print a front and back position adjustment chart on a recording medium supplied from a second tray; the control unit using a reading unit to read the printed front and back position adjustment chart; and adjusting the front and back position for the second tray.

[0019] (10) A program for causing a computer to execute the following steps during a print job using a recording medium supplied from a first tray: a control unit uses an image forming unit to print a chart for adjusting front and back positions on a recording medium supplied from a second tray; a reading unit to read the printed chart for adjusting front and back positions; and a procedure for adjusting the front and back positions for the second tray. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, a front / back position adjustment method, and a program that are capable of printing without reducing productivity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 5A to 5C are process diagrams illustrating a front and back position adjusting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a chart for adjusting the front and back positions of an image. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a chart for periodic front-back position adjustment of an image. [Figure 6] 10 is a process diagram showing a chart for periodic front-back position adjustment of an image, showing a print example in which front-back position adjustment of an image is performed without reducing productivity. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen of an operation display unit of the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a front-back position adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a process diagram showing a paper feeding pattern when detecting a waste paper in the conventional example described in Patent Document 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate common components in the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the image forming system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] <Image forming system> As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a paper feeding apparatus 2, an image reading apparatus 3, and a post-processing apparatus 4.

[0024] <Storage medium> The storage medium used in the image forming system 100 is a medium capable of storing records. The recording medium may be any medium on which an image can be formed. Examples of the recording medium include paper 5, fabric, plastic film, and glass plate. The following describes the case where paper 5 is used as the recording medium.

[0025] Image forming device The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet of paper 5. Here, as an example, the image forming apparatus 1 is assumed to be an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image, but is not limited to this and may be an apparatus of another type, such as an inkjet type. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to include a control unit 11, a memory unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a paper feed conveying unit 14, an operation display unit 15, and a communication unit 16.

[0026] <Control unit> The control unit 11 is a device that adjusts the front and back positions of an image based on the reading results of the reading unit 30. The control unit 11 adjusts the front and back positions of an image based on the image forming unit 13 that forms an image on the fed paper 5, the reading unit 30 that reads the image formed on the paper 5, and the reading results of the reading unit 30.

[0027] When forming an image on a sheet of paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 following image formation on a sheet of paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21, the control unit 11 controls the sheet of paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 to be formed with an image during image formation using the sheet of paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21, reads the formed image, and adjusts the front and back positions of the image formed on the sheet of paper 5 from the middle tray 22.

[0028] When predetermined conditions are met, the control unit 11 controls the adjustment of the front and back positions of the image formed on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 during image formation using the paper 5 stored in the upper tray 21. If the upper tray 21 runs out of paper before the adjustment of the front and back positions of the image formed on the paper 5 from the middle tray 22 is completed, the control unit 11 searches for the lower tray 23 that has the same conditions as the upper tray 21 and the middle tray 22. Furthermore, the control unit 11 determines whether the adjustment of the front and back positions of the image is completed and controls to switch the tray that is the paper feed source.

[0029] The control unit 11 is composed of the image forming system 100 and a computer 11a that controls the overall operation of the image forming system 100. The control unit 11 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 1 and the operation of each part of the paper feeder 2 and post-processing device 4 based on the operation of the operation display unit 15 and the signals received from the image forming system 100 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 11 also adjusts the color of the image and the position where the image is formed based on the image data obtained by the reading unit 30. For example, the adjustment of the position where the image is formed is performed by reading the edge of the paper 5, the register marks, a dedicated chart, etc., and adjusting the position where the image is formed based on these positions.

[0030] <Computer> The computer 11a includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an input / output circuit, etc. The CPU reads out a program 12a corresponding to the processing content from the storage unit 12, loads it into the RAM, and controls each component of the image forming system 100 in cooperation with the loaded program. At this time, various data stored in the storage unit 12 is referenced.

[0031] The computer 11a executes the program 12a to execute the following steps during a printing job using paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21: detecting whether the middle tray 22 is open or closed; the control unit 11 uses the image forming unit 13 to print a chart for adjusting the front and back positions on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22; reading the chart for adjusting the front and back positions formed using the reading unit 30; and adjusting the front and back positions for the middle tray 22.

[0032] <Storage section> 2, the storage unit 12 is a storage device that stores information related to the image forming system 100, information related to the states of the upper tray 21, middle tray 22, and lower tray 23 of the paper feeder 2 that accommodates the paper 5, and the like. The storage unit 12 stores image data such as a color chart on which multiple color patches for various evaluations are arranged, and a dedicated front / back position adjustment chart for adjusting the front / back image positions. The storage unit 12 is configured, for example, with a non-volatile semiconductor memory (so-called flash memory) or a hard disk drive.

[0033] <Program> The program 12a is a so-called firmware program that causes the computer 11a to execute various procedures and process information. The program 12a causes the computer 11a to execute the following procedures: a procedure for detecting whether the middle tray 22 is open or closed during a print job using the paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21; a procedure for the control unit 11 to print a front / back position adjustment chart on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 using the image forming unit 13; a procedure for reading the formed front / back position adjustment chart using the reading unit 30; and a procedure for adjusting the front / back position for the middle tray 22.

[0034] <Image forming section> The image forming unit 13 is a device that forms an image on the paper 5 supplied from the paper feed device 2. The image forming unit 13 forms an image on the paper 5 supplied from the upper tray 21, middle tray 22, and lower tray 23 that supply the paper 5. The image forming unit 13 forms a chart for adjusting the front and back position. The image forming unit 13 forms an image on the paper 5 supplied from the middle tray 22 after the front and back position of the image has been adjusted. The image forming unit 13 includes an intermediate transfer belt 13a, a fixing unit 13b, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, a writing unit, and a secondary transfer unit (not shown) as shown in FIG. 1. The photosensitive drum, the developing unit, and the writing unit each have a configuration corresponding to each basic color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

[0035] The fixing unit 13b includes a hollow heating roller with a heater inside and a pressure roller facing the heating roller. Each roller is controlled by the heater to a predetermined temperature (for example, 100°C or higher) and applies heat and pressure to the paper 5.

[0036] <Paper feed transport section> 2 includes a transport path 14a (see FIG. 1), a plurality of transport rollers (not shown), and a drive motor for driving them. The drive motor drives the transport rollers, etc., and the transport section 14 rotates the transport rollers at predetermined timings to transport paper sheets supplied from the paper feed device 2 and paper sheets supplied from the paper feed tray 20 to the image forming section 13.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the conveying path of the image forming system 100 is made up of a conveying path 14a in the image forming apparatus 1, a conveying path 33 in the image reading apparatus 3, and a conveying path 41 in the post-processing apparatus 4.

[0038] The paper 5 fed from the paper feed device 2 or the paper feed tray 20 is transported along the transport path 14a. A registration roller is arranged on the transport path 14a to adjust the transport timing of the paper 5 by rotating and stopping the roller using a clutch.

[0039] The paper 5 is transported along the transport path 14a and has an image formed on it in the image forming unit 13 (see Figure 2), passes through the downstream transport paths 33 and 41, undergoes various processes according to the print settings of the print job, and is then ejected outside the machine and placed on the paper output tray 42.

[0040] <Operation display section> 2 is composed of, for example, a touch panel display in which a touch panel is stacked on top of a liquid crystal display. The operation display unit 15 is equipped with a touch panel for inputting settings for a job to be performed using this image forming system 100, and a liquid crystal display for displaying the contents of operations performed on the touch panel. The operation display unit 15 is disposed on the top surface of the image forming apparatus 1. Note that the operation display unit 15 may be configured to display images formed by the image forming system 100 and other images.

[0041] The operation display unit 15 is used to input various settings such as printing conditions and timing for adjusting the front and back image formation positions, to display the status of the apparatus, and to input various instructions. The user can also input paper information for the paper 5 stored in each tray of the paper feed trays 20 via the operation display unit 15. The paper information includes the type of paper 5 (plain paper, high-quality paper, colored paper, coated paper, pre-printed paper (printed paper), etc.), the basis weight, thickness, size, etc. of the paper 5. The input paper information is stored in the memory unit 12 in association with the upper tray 21, middle tray 22, and lower tray 23, or the paper feed device 2.

[0042] The display unit displays information about the image forming system 100, information about the status of the upper tray 21, middle tray 22 and lower tray 23 of the paper feed device 2, information about the status of the paper 5 in the upper tray 21, middle tray 22 and lower tray 23, etc. The input unit includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.

[0043] <Communications Department> The communication unit 16 reads the image formed on the paper 5 in the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1, and transmits the image data obtained by reading to another image forming system 100.

[0044] The communication unit 16 uses various local connection interfaces such as network interfaces based on standards such as SATA, PCI Express, USB (Universal Serial Bus) (registered trademark), Ethernet (registered trademark), and IEEE1394, and wireless communication interfaces such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and IEEE802.11. A print job consisting of print data and print settings is received via the communication unit 16 from an external terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer).

[0045] <Paper feeder> As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeder 2 has a paper feed tray 20 that includes an upper tray 21, a middle tray 22, and a lower tray 23 for feeding paper sheets 5.

[0046] The upper tray 21, middle tray 22, and lower tray 23 of the paper feed tray 20 are trays that store paper sheets 5. Therefore, the paper feed device 2 is equipped with multiple trays. Here, the middle tray 22 is the tray that was opened or closed most recently.

[0047] The upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23 each have a lid on the housing, and the lid is opened to replenish or replace the paper 5. The opening and closing of the lids of the upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23 is detected by opening and closing sensors 26a, 26b, and 26c, and an opening and closing signal is sent to the control unit 11.

[0048] The paper feed tray 20 is, for example, a three-tiered drawer tray consisting of an upper tray 21, a middle tray 22, and a lower tray 23 (see FIG. 1). The upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23 are provided with attachment / detachment sensors 25a, 25b, and 25c for detecting attachment / detachment of the respective trays. The attachment / detachment states of the upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23 are detected by the attachment / detachment sensors 25a to 25c, and the detection signals are sent to the control unit 11. The upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23 are provided with paper remaining sensors 24a, 24b, and 24c for measuring the amount of paper 5 remaining in each tray. The paper remaining sensors 24a to 24c detect the amount of paper remaining in the upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23, and send the detected detection signals to the control unit 11. Furthermore, the paper feed tray 20 is not provided inside the image forming apparatus 1, but is provided in the paper feed device 2. The paper feed device 2 may be provided with a multi-stage tray. The number of trays is not limited to three, but may be four or more.

[0049] <Image reading device> As shown in Fig. 1, the image reading device 3 is a device that reads images on the front and back of a sheet 5 on a conveying path 33. The image reading device 3 includes a reading unit 30, the conveying path 33, and a spectrophotometer 34 (see Fig. 2).

[0050] <Reading unit> The reading unit 30 is equipped with a scanner 31 and a scanner 32 each made up of a CCD. The reading unit 30 reads the front and back sides of the paper being conveyed at once using the two scanners 31 and 32. This allows the control unit 11 to adjust the image formation positions on the front and back sides.

[0051] Scanners 31 and 32 constitute reading unit 30, and are arranged on conveyance path 33, with conveyance path 33 between them, so as to read images on different sides of paper 5. If double-sided printing is set, scanner 32 reads the image on the top side of paper 5 (the second side mentioned above), and scanner 31 reads the image on the bottom side (the first side mentioned above). Therefore, both sides of double-sided printed paper 5 can be read in a single conveyance. If single-sided printing is set, the image on the front side of paper 5 is read only by scanner 32.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 11 automatically performs adjustments such as position adjustment, color adjustment, and image position adjustment of the paper 5 by analyzing image data obtained by the scanners 31 and 32. As shown in Fig. 1, each of the scanners 31 and 32 has a back roller (not shown) disposed in a position facing each other across the conveyance path 33. The scanners 31 and 32 have the same configuration. The reading unit 30 is a device that reads an image formed on the paper 5.

[0053] The scanners 31 and 32 are equipped with a line image sensor, a lens optical system, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source, a housing for accommodating these components, and read an image printed on the transported paper 5. To read an image, light from the LED light source illuminates the surface of the paper 5 as it passes a reading position on the transport path 33. The image at this reading position is guided by the lens optical system, focused on the line image sensor, and read.

[0054] 2 is placed between an opposing part (not shown) and an opposing part disposed across the conveyance path 33 (see FIG. 1), and spectrally measures the color of each color patch of the color evaluation image formed on the paper 5 by the image forming part 13, and obtains the spectral reflectance of each wavelength in the visible light range and its neighboring range. The color measurement data can be output in a color system such as XYZ.

[0055] <Post-processing device> As shown in Fig. 1, post-processing device 4 is a device for detecting whether there is dirt on paper 5 discharged from image reading device 3 or whether there is dirt on printed paper 5. Post-processing device 4 includes a conveying path 41, a paper discharge tray 42, and a post-processing section 43 (see Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 2, post-processing device 4 is connected to paper feeder 2 and communication section 16 of image forming apparatus 1 via a network, a dedicated line, or the like.

[0056] The post-processing section 43 of the post-processing device 4 is provided on the conveying path 41. The post-processing section 43 has, for example, a stacking section for stacking the sheets 5 and a staple section for performing binding processing, and after a plurality of sheets 5 are stacked in the stacking section, side-stitching processing is performed using staples in the staple section. The side-stitched stack of sheets 5 is discharged onto the paper output tray 42 as shown in FIG. 1. Sheets 5 that are not side-stitched are discharged directly via the conveying path 41.

[0057] <<Work process for adjusting the front and back positions>> FIG. 3 is a process diagram showing a front and back position adjusting method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the front and back position adjusting method includes a paper feeding step S1, an image forming step S2, a reading step S3, an image front and back position adjusting step S4, and a second tray front and back position adjusting step S5.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1 or 3, in the front and back position adjusting method of the present invention, a user feeds paper 5 into upper tray 21 and middle tray 22 in paper feeding step S1. In the image forming step S2, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on the fed paper 5 by the image forming unit 13. In the reading step S3, the image forming apparatus 1 reads the image formed on the paper 5 by the reading unit 30. In the image front-back position adjustment step S4, the image forming apparatus 1 adjusts the front-back position of the image based on the reading result from the reading unit 30.

[0059] In the second tray front / back position adjustment process S5, when the image forming device 1 forms an image on a sheet 5 fed from the middle tray 22 after forming an image on a sheet 5 fed from the upper tray 21, the image forming device 1 forms an image on a sheet 5 fed from the middle tray 22 in the middle of image formation using the sheet 5 fed from the upper tray 21, reads the formed image, and adjusts the front / back position of the image on the sheet 5 fed from the middle tray 22.

[0060] <Adjusting the front and back positions of images> FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a chart for adjusting the front and back positions of an image. The front and back position adjustment for the tray can be performed by printing the front and back position adjustment chart shown in FIG. 4, reading it with scanners 31 and 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and having the control unit 11 analyze the read image. The control unit 11 (see FIG. 2) detects, using the front and back scanners 31 and 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), how far the distances L1, L2, L3, and L4 from the top, bottom, left, and right outer edges of the paper 5 to the line drawing 6 of the inner image are from the ideal positions. The control unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 analyzes the detection data of the scanners 31 and 32 and automatically adjusts the position, magnification, tilt, etc. of the paper 5.

[0061] <Regular image front and back position adjustment> FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a chart for periodic front-back position adjustment of an image. When the image forming apparatus 1 executes a print job by feeding paper from the same tray and prints a set number of sheets, it interrupts and prints a front / back position adjustment chart, and adjusts the front / back position using the front / back position adjustment chart printed on the paper 5. In the periodic front / back position adjustment, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention interrupts and prints a front / back position adjustment chart during the execution of a print job, but outputs the paper without stopping the paper feeding for the print job, so the productivity of the print job is not reduced.

[0062] The image forming apparatus 1 applies the results of the periodic front-back position adjustment of the image several sheets after the front-back position adjustment chart has been printed. The adjustment results analyzed by the image forming apparatus 1 in the periodic front-back position adjustment of the image are applied to the adjustment values ​​several sheets after the front-back position adjustment chart has been output, thereby maintaining productivity.

[0063] <Example of printing where front and back position adjustment is performed without reducing productivity> In Figure 5, it is conceivable that paper 5 is replenished to upper tray 21 while printing is being performed on lower tray 23. When upper tray 21 is opened, paper is set, and then upper tray 21 is closed, the replenishment of paper 5 to upper tray 21 is completed. In this case, after the replenishment of paper 5 to upper tray 21 is completed, the front-to-back position adjustment of the image on paper 5 fed from upper tray 21 is performed. By doing so, it is possible to shorten the time required to adjust the front-to-back position of the image on paper 5 from upper tray 21.

[0064] In this case, even if the paper feed tray is not switched from lower tray 23 to upper tray 21, the front and back positions of the image printed on paper 5 fed from upper tray 21 have already been adjusted. Therefore, when image forming apparatus 1 uses upper tray 21 for the next print job, there is no need to adjust the front and back positions of the image.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a process diagram showing a chart for periodic front-back position adjustment of an image, and shows a print example in which front-back position adjustment of an image is performed without reducing productivity. 6, image forming apparatus 1 first executes a print job on lower tray 23 (step S600). While sheets 5 from page m onward are being printed on lower tray 23, the user opens upper tray 21, sets sheets 5, and then closes upper tray 21. Here, image forming apparatus 1 interrupts the print job for sheets 5 on lower tray 23 to adjust the front and back positions of sheets 5 fed from upper tray 21. In this way, image forming apparatus 1 can adjust the front and back positions of images without reducing productivity.

[0066] The image forming apparatus 1 determines the front and back position adjustment values ​​several times after printing the front and back position adjustment chart. This is because the front and back position adjustment values ​​are determined after the scanners 31 and 32 read and analyze the front and back position adjustment chart. However, this does not affect the print job because it occurs before the print job using the paper in the upper tray 21 is executed.

[0067] <<Optional periodic adjustment of front and back positions of images>> FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen of the operation display unit 15 of the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] A modified example of the present invention allows the user to set paper 5 in one of the paper feed trays 20, and then the image forming apparatus 1 can periodically adjust the front and back positions of the paper 5 for the designated tray during printing. 7, the front / back position adjustment status for the target tray is displayed on the operation display unit 15. The text box 151a displays "upper tray" indicating the upper tray 21. The text box 151b displays "middle tray" indicating the middle tray 22. The text box 151c displays "lower tray" indicating the lower tray 23.

[0069] The front and back position adjustment status 152a displays "Completed" or "Not yet" to indicate whether the front and back position adjustment has been performed on the upper tray 21 after the upper tray 21 has been opened or closed. The front and back position adjustment status 152b displays "Completed" or "Not yet" to indicate whether the front and back position adjustment has been performed on the middle tray 22 after the middle tray 22 has been opened or closed. The front and back position adjustment status 152c displays "Done" or "Not done" to indicate whether the front and back position adjustment has been performed on the lower tray 23 after the lower tray 23 has been opened or closed.

[0070] When it is desired to perform periodic front-back position adjustment of images for a desired tray, the user taps the execute button 153a, 153b, or 153c corresponding to the desired tray. The execute button 153a is a button for performing periodic front-back position adjustment for the upper tray 21. The execute button 153b is a button for performing periodic front-back position adjustment for the middle tray 22. The execute button 153c is a button for performing periodic front-back position adjustment for the lower tray 23. By tapping any of the execution buttons 153a to 153c, it is possible to execute periodic front and back position adjustment for the tray corresponding to the tapped button during a print job.

[0071] The user taps the batch execution button 153d when wanting to perform front and back position adjustment on all trays that have not been subjected to front and back position adjustment after opening and closing among the upper tray 21, the middle tray 22, and the lower tray 23. By tapping the batch execution button 153d, the front and back position adjustment can be performed collectively on all trays that have not been subjected to front and back position adjustment.

[0072] Furthermore, in cases where the front-back position adjustment using the front-back position adjustment chart formed on only one sheet of paper 5 is not sufficient, it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the front-back position adjustment by averaging the front-back position adjustment charts formed on multiple sheets of paper 5. Therefore, in such cases, the image forming apparatus 1 outputs the set number of sheets to be adjusted from the specified tray and performs regular front-back position adjustment of the images.

[0073] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a front-back position adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, a method for adjusting the front and back positions will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and mainly to FIGS. First, the control unit 11 of the image forming system 100 starts job output. The control unit 11 determines whether there is a tray in the paper feed tray 20 that meets the output conditions (step S10). If there is no tray that meets the output conditions (No in step S10), the control unit 11 ends the job. If there is a tray that meets the output conditions (Yes in step S10), the control unit 11 determines whether a tray switch has been instructed (step S11).

[0074] When a tray switching command is received (Yes in step S11), the control unit 11 switches the paper feed source to a tray that meets the output conditions (step S12). The control unit 11 checks whether the front and back positions of the switched tray have been adjusted (step S13). If the front and back positions have been adjusted (Yes in step S13), the control unit 11 feeds paper 5 from the switched tray and executes the print job (step S16), and determines whether printing has been completed up to the final page (step S17).

[0075] If the print job has been printed up to the last page (Yes in step S17), control unit 11 ends the job. If the print job has not been printed up to the last page (No in step S17), the process returns to step S10.

[0076] If the front and back position adjustment has not been completed in step S13 (No in step S13), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the control unit is waiting for completion of the front and back position adjustment of the image (step S18). If the control unit is not waiting for completion of the front and back position adjustment of the image (No in step S18), the control unit 11 feeds paper 5 to the image forming unit 13 and causes the image forming unit 13 to print a front and back position adjustment chart (step S19), and the process returns to step S13.

[0077] Front and back of the image positionIf the adjustment is in a waiting state (Yes in step S18), the control unit 11 determines whether there is a tray that has the same output conditions as the tray currently feeding paper and for which the front and back positions have been adjusted (step S20). If there is a tray for which the front and back positions have been adjusted (Yes in step S20), the paper 5 is fed from that tray to the image forming unit 13 (step S16), and if the final page has been printed (Yes in step S17), the job is ended.

[0078] If tray switching is not instructed in step S11 (No in step S11), the control unit 11 determines whether any of the front and back position adjustment execution buttons 153a to 153c and the batch execution button 153d has been tapped. If any of the front and back position adjustment execution buttons 153a to 153c and the batch execution button 153d has been tapped (Yes in step S14), the control unit 11 further determines whether the batch execution button 153d has been tapped. When the batch execution button 153d has been tapped, the process proceeds to step S22. Then, the control unit 11 feeds the specified number of sheets 5 from the trays for which the front and back position adjustment has not been performed, and performs the front and back position adjustment of these trays (step S22). Then, the process proceeds to step S17, and determines whether printing has been completed up to the final page in the print job (step S17).

[0079] If any of the front and back position adjustment execution buttons 153a to 153c is tapped instead of the batch execution button 153d in step S21 (No in step S21), the specified number of sheets of paper 5 are fed from the tray specified by the tap, and the front and back position adjustment of the specified tray is performed (step S23).Then, the process proceeds to step S17, where it is determined whether the print job has been printed up to the final page (step S17).

[0080] If none of the front and back position adjustment execution buttons 153a to 153c and the batch execution button 153d is tapped in step S14 (No in step S14), the process proceeds to step S15. Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not opening or closing of a tray with the same output conditions as the tray currently feeding paper has been detected. If opening or closing of a tray with the same output conditions as the tray currently feeding paper has not been detected (No in step S15), the process proceeds to step S16.

[0081] When step S15 detects that a tray with the same output conditions as the tray currently being fed has been opened or closed (Yes in step S15), control unit 11 changes the tray from which the paper is fed (step S24). Then, control unit 11 feeds paper 5 from the changed tray and adjusts the front and back positions of the image (step S25), and the process proceeds to step S17. Then, control unit 11 determines whether printing has been completed up to the final page (step S17).

[0082] If the print job has printed up to the last page (Yes in step S17), the print job ends. If the print job has not printed up to the last page (No in step S17), the process returns to step S10.

[0083] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention thus comprises a first tray (upper tray 21, middle tray 22, lower tray 23) and a second tray (middle tray 22, lower tray 23, upper tray 21) for supplying recording media (paper 5), an image forming unit 13 for forming an image on the paper 5, a reading unit 30 for reading the image formed on the paper 5, and a control unit 11 for printing a front / back position adjustment chart on the paper 5 supplied from the middle tray 22 during a print job on the paper 5 supplied from the upper tray 21, reading the printed front / back position adjustment chart, and adjusting the front / back position for the middle tray 22.

[0084] With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention can prevent images on the front and back from being misaligned, resulting in wasted paper. Furthermore, the present invention adjusts the front and back positions of an image relative to the middle tray 22 during a print job on paper 5 from the upper tray 21. Therefore, the print job using paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21 is not stopped to adjust the front and back positions relative to the middle tray 22, allowing for efficient printing without reducing productivity.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 1, the second trays (middle tray 22, lower tray 23, upper tray 21) are trays that are opened and closed.

[0086] With this configuration, the control unit 11 can adjust the front and back positions of the middle tray 22, for example, when it detects that the middle tray 22 is open or closed.

[0087] 1 and 2 forms a front / back position adjustment chart on a recording medium (paper 5).

[0088] According to this configuration, the image forming unit 13 forms a front / back position adjustment chart on the paper 5, thereby adjusting the front / back position of the image on the paper 5 and appropriately adjusting the front / back and image position of the image.

[0089] 1 and 2 forms an image on a recording medium (paper 5) fed from a second tray (upper tray 21, middle tray 22, lower tray 23) whose front and back positions are adjusted.

[0090] According to this configuration, the image forming unit 13 forms an image on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 whose front and back positions have been adjusted, so that the image can be formed on the front and back of the desired paper 5 without being misaligned in the desired position on the paper 5.

[0091] Also, there are multiple second trays (upper tray 21, middle tray 22, lower tray 23) shown in FIG.

[0092] According to this configuration, since there are multiple second trays, it is possible to store paper 5 of different sizes or various types of paper 5 in the second trays, making it possible to use even more types of paper 5, which is convenient.

[0093] In addition, the control unit 11 shown in Figure 2 controls the adjustment of the front and back positions of an image formed on a sheet of paper 5 supplied from the second tray (middle tray 22) during image formation using a recording medium (sheet of paper 5) supplied from the first tray (upper tray 21) when certain conditions are met.

[0094] According to this configuration, the control unit 11 performs control so as to adjust the front and back positions of the image on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 while an image is being formed on the paper 5 stored in the upper tray 21. Therefore, the front and back positions of the image on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 can be adjusted efficiently.

[0095] Furthermore, if the first tray (upper tray 21) runs out of recording media (paper) before the front-back position adjustment for the second tray (middle tray 22) is completed, the control unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 switches the supply source (paper feed source) of the paper 5 to another tray that has the same conditions as the upper tray 21 and for which the front-back position adjustment of the image has been completed.

[0096] With this configuration, even if the upper tray 21 runs out of paper before the front / back position adjustment for the middle tray 22 is completed, the control unit 11 can quickly continue the print job by switching the paper source to another tray.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming system 100 of the present invention includes a first tray (upper tray 21) and a second tray (middle tray 22) for supplying recording media (paper 5), an image forming unit 13 for forming an image on the paper 5, a reading unit 30 for reading the image formed on the paper 5, and a control unit 11 for printing a front / back position adjustment chart on the paper 5 supplied from the middle tray 22 during a print job using the paper 5 supplied from the upper tray 21, reading the printed front / back position adjustment chart, and adjusting the front / back position relative to the middle tray 22.

[0098] With this configuration, the image forming system 100 can prevent the images on the front and back from being misaligned, resulting in wasted paper. Furthermore, the present invention adjusts the front and back positions of the image relative to the middle tray 22 during a print job on the paper 5 from the upper tray 21. Therefore, the print job on the paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21 is not stopped to adjust the front and back positions relative to the middle tray 22, allowing for efficient printing without reducing productivity.

[0099] Also, as shown in Figure 2 or 3, the front and back position adjustment method of the present invention includes the steps of: during a print job using a recording medium (paper 5) supplied from the first tray (upper tray 21), the control unit 11 printing a front and back position adjustment chart on the paper 5 supplied from the middle tray 22 using the image forming unit 13; the control unit 11 reading the printed front and back position adjustment chart using the reading unit 30; and adjusting the front and back position for the middle tray 22.

[0100] According to this configuration, by carrying out the front and back position adjustment method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the images on the front and back from being misaligned and the waste of paper. Furthermore, the present invention adjusts the front and back positions of the image relative to the middle tray 22 during a print job on the paper 5 from the upper tray 21. Therefore, the print job on the paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21 is not stopped to adjust the front and back positions relative to the middle tray 22, allowing for efficient printing without reducing productivity.

[0101] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the program 12a of the present invention is a program for causing the computer 11a to execute, during a print job using a recording medium (paper 5) supplied from the first tray (upper tray 21), the procedure in which the control unit 11 uses the image forming unit 13 to print a chart for adjusting the front and back positions on the paper 5 supplied from the second tray (middle tray 22), the procedure in which the reading unit 30 reads the printed chart for adjusting the front and back positions, and the procedure in which the front and back positions are adjusted for the middle tray 22.

[0102] According to this configuration, the program 12a of the present invention causes the control unit 11 to print a chart for adjusting the front and back positions on the paper 5 fed from the middle tray 22 by the image forming unit 13, read the chart for adjusting the front and back positions with the reading unit 30, and adjust the front and back positions relative to the middle tray 22.

[0103] According to this configuration, by executing the program of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the images on the front and back from being misaligned, which would otherwise result in wasted paper. Furthermore, the present invention adjusts the front and back positions of the image relative to the middle tray 22 during a print job on the paper 5 from the upper tray 21. Therefore, the print job on the paper 5 fed from the upper tray 21 is not stopped to adjust the front and back positions relative to the middle tray 22, allowing for efficient printing without reducing productivity.

[0104] [Variations] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0105] For example, the paper feed tray 20 has been described as being provided in the paper feed device 2, but it may also be provided inside the image forming apparatus 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1. Image forming device 2 Paper feeder 5 Paper (storage medium) 11 Control section 13 Image forming unit 20 Paper tray 21 Upper tray 22 Middle tray 23 Lower Tray 30 Reading unit 100 Image forming system

Claims

1. a first tray and a second tray for supplying recording media; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium; a reading unit that reads an image formed on the recording medium; a control unit that prints a front-back position adjustment chart on the recording medium supplied from the second tray during a print job on the recording medium supplied from the first tray, reads the printed front-back position adjustment chart, and adjusts the front-back position with respect to the second tray; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The second tray is an openable tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. the image forming unit forms a front / back position adjustment chart on a recording medium; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium supplied from the second tray whose front and back positions have been adjusted. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. The second tray is a plurality of trays. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. the control unit controls to adjust the front and back positions of the image formed on the recording medium supplied from the second tray during image formation using the recording medium supplied from the first tray when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

7. when the first tray runs out of recording media before the front-back position adjustment for the second tray is completed, the control unit switches the supply source of recording media to another tray that has the same conditions as the first tray and for which the front-back position adjustment of images has been completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

8. a first tray and a second tray for supplying recording media; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium; a reading unit that reads an image formed on the recording medium; a control unit that prints a front-back position adjustment chart on the recording medium supplied from the second tray during a print job using the recording medium supplied from the first tray, reads the printed front-back position adjustment chart, and adjusts the front-back position with respect to the second tray; An image forming system comprising:

9. a step of printing a front / back position adjustment chart on the recording medium supplied from the second tray by the control unit using the image forming unit during a print job using the recording medium supplied from the first tray; a step in which the control unit reads the printed front / back position adjustment chart using a reading unit; adjusting the front and back positions of the second tray; Including, How to adjust the front and back positions.

10. On the computer, a step of printing a front / back position adjustment chart on a recording medium supplied from a second tray by using an image forming unit by a control unit during a print job using the recording medium supplied from a first tray; a step of reading the printed front / back position adjustment chart using a reading unit; a step of adjusting the front and back positions of the second tray; A program to execute.

Images