Image forming device

Abstract

To exchange a recording agent container (ink container) without stopping printing.SOLUTION: An image forming device 1 capable of mounting a plurality of ink containers 31 containing ink of the same color includes: a container loading unit 32 that detachably loads each ink container 31; a container cover 321 provided in each container loading unit 32 for opening and closing a loading port of the container loading unit 32; and a control unit that stops printing by executing a stop process for stopping the use of the ink container 31 when the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 in which the container cover 321 is opened is in use when the container cover 321 is opened during printing, but does not execute the stop process and does not stop printing when the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 in which the container cover 321 is opened is not in use.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to replacement of a recording material container that contains a recording material such as ink or toner. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming devices such as printers and multifunction devices are equipped with a container loading unit into which a recording agent container (e.g., an ink container) that contains a recording agent such as ink or toner is detachably loaded, and a container cover that opens and closes the loading opening of the container loading unit (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below). Furthermore, such image forming devices have a print stop function that stops printing when the container cover is opened during printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-190586 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-198857 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-188965 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, dual-container image forming devices equipped with multiple (e.g., two) recording material containers containing recording material of the same color have been proposed, with the aim of reducing downtime due to running out of consumables such as ink. For example, Patent Document 3 mentioned above describes an image forming device equipped with ink tanks and ink cartridges with different capacities.

[0005] However, the printing stop function described above stops printing even if the container cover of the unused recording material container in a dual container is opened, so printing must be stopped temporarily to replace the recording material container, which reduces productivity.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to make it possible to replace a recording agent container without stopping printing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording agent, and a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit to perform printing. The image forming apparatus also includes: a container loading unit that mounts a plurality of recording agent containers each containing the same color of recording agent and that detachably loads each recording agent container; a container cover that opens and closes the loading opening of the container loading unit, provided on each of the container loading units; and a cover opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the container cover. When the container cover is opened during printing, based on the open / closed state of the container cover detected by the cover opening / closing sensor and the usage state of the recording agent container, if the recording agent container loaded in the container loading unit whose container cover has been opened is in use, the control unit executes an abort process to abort the use of the recording agent container to stop printing, and if the recording agent container loaded in the container loading unit whose container cover has been opened is not in use, the control unit does not execute the abort process and does not stop printing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, even if a container cover is opened during printing, if the container cover of the recording material container that does not affect printing is opened, printing will not be stopped, so the user can replace the recording material container that does not affect printing while printing continues, without reducing productivity. In this way, by replacing the recording material container that is not being used for printing with a new one, printing can be continued for a long period of time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the structure of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating the structure of a sub-device included in the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a display screen displayed on a display unit. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by a control unit in the image forming apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the structure of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The image forming system 11 includes an image forming apparatus 1 and a post-processing device 4 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device that combines multiple functions, such as a copy function and a printer function, and forms an image on recording paper as a recording medium using ink as a recording material by an inkjet method. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main device 2 that forms an image on recording paper, and a sub-device 3 that is equipped with ink containers 31 (ink containers 31A to 31H in FIG. 2) that contain ink and supplies the ink from the ink containers 31 to the main device 2. The ink containers 31 are an example of a recording material container in the claims.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic structure of the sub-device 3 included in the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 can be equipped with multiple ink containers (two in this example) containing ink of the same color. As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-device 3 includes container loading units 32A to 32H that detachably load ink containers 31A to 31H, indicated by dashed rectangles. The container loading units 32A and 32B load ink containers 31A and 31B containing black ink, the container loading units 32C and 32D load ink containers 31C and 31D containing cyan ink, the container loading units 32E and 32F load ink containers 31E and 31F containing magenta ink, and the container loading units 32G and 32H load ink containers 31G and 31H containing yellow ink.

[0013] The container loading units 32A to 32H are provided with container covers 321A to 321H that open and close the loading openings of the container loading units 32A to 32H, respectively. Note that the ink containers 31A to 31H, container loading units 32A to 32H, and container covers 321A to 321H will hereinafter also be collectively referred to as the ink containers 31, container loading units 32, and container covers 321.

[0014] 3 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic diagram of the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeder 6, a document reader 5, an image forming unit 12, a container loading unit 32, an ink container 31, a paper feeder 14, an ink supply mechanism 33, an operation unit 47, a communication unit 9, and a storage unit 8.

[0015] The document feeder 6 is configured to be openable and closable by a hinge or the like (not shown) on the top surface of the document reading unit 5, and functions as a document pressing cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeder 6 is also an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), and is equipped with a document placement tray (not shown), and supplies documents placed on the document placement tray to the document reading unit 5 one by one.

[0016] The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner and the like, and reads the document fed from the document feeding unit 6 or reads the document placed on the platen glass. The document reading unit 5 is also capable of sequentially reading multiple document images sent from the document feeding unit 6.

[0017] The following describes the case where a document is read by the image forming apparatus 1. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or a document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory (not shown) or the like.

[0018] The following describes an image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming unit 12 includes ink heads for ejecting ink droplets of each color (black, cyan, magenta, and yellow), a print transport unit, and a dry transport unit. The image forming unit 12 forms an image on recording paper, which serves as a recording medium and is fed from the paper feed unit 14, using ink stored in ink containers 31 loaded in a container loading unit 32, using an inkjet method, based on image data generated by a document scanning operation, image data stored in an image memory, etc., and image data received from a computer connected via a network.

[0019] The printing transport unit has an endless transport belt that is used to transport recording paper facing the ink head.Like the printing transport unit, the drying transport unit also has an endless transport belt that is used to transport recording paper on which an image has been formed and allow the ink adhering to the recording paper to dry naturally.

[0020] The recording paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 is transported via the sub-device 3 (Figure 1) to the post-processing device 4 (Figure 1), where post-processing such as stapling is performed, if necessary.

[0021] The paper feed unit 14 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes, and further includes a pickup roller that picks up recording paper from the paper feed cassettes and feeds it to the image forming unit 12, a transport roller, a transport path, and a rotation drive mechanism for each roller.

[0022] Each container loading section 32 is provided with a container cover 321, a cover open / close sensor 322, a container sensor 323, an empty sensor 324, and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader / writer 325. The cover open / close sensor 322 detects whether the container cover 321 is open or closed, and is, for example, a limit switch that turns on and off depending on whether the container cover 321 is open or closed.

[0023] The container sensor 323 detects the presence or absence of an ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32, and is, for example, a limit switch that turns on and off in response to the attachment or detachment of the ink container 31. The empty sensor 324 detects the presence or absence of ink in the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32 (empty state), and is, for example, an optical sensor.

[0024] The RFID reader / writer 325 reads and writes from an RFID tag (not shown) attached to the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32. A unique product serial number, color information, expiration date information, etc. are written to the RFID tag, and at the time of shipping from the factory, an initial ink volume value is written as remaining ink amount information.

[0025] The control unit 100, which will be described later, reads the remaining ink amount information stored in the RFID tag, for example, via the RFID reader / writer 325. This enables the image forming apparatus 1 (control unit 100) to recognize the remaining ink amount in the ink container 31. Furthermore, when ink is used (during printing, maintenance, etc.), the control unit 100 detects the amount of ink consumed (for example, by counting the number of times ink liquid is ejected from the ink head to calculate the consumption amount), calculates the remaining ink amount in the ink container 31 from the detected amount of ink consumed, and writes information indicating the calculated remaining ink amount to the RFID tag via the RFID reader / writer 325 as appropriate, thereby updating the remaining ink amount information stored in the RFID tag.

[0026] If the ink container 31 is genuine, the RFID reader / writer 325 can perform appropriate wireless communication with the RFID tag, but if the ink container 31 is not genuine, the RFID reader / writer 325 may not be able to perform appropriate wireless communication with the RFID tag and may not be able to obtain information about the remaining ink level in the ink container 31. Whether the ink container 31 is genuine can be determined from the product serial number written on the RFID tag, etc.

[0027] The ink supply mechanism 33 supplies ink in the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32 to the image forming section 12, and has, for example, a syringe pump, multiple pipes, a valve, and a coil spring, and connects the ink supply port of the ink container 31 to the syringe pump via a pipe, and connects the syringe pump to the image forming section 12 via a pipe. The ink supply port is opened and closed by a valve, and the valve is biased by a coil spring.

[0028] The operation unit 47 includes various hard keys that are operated by the user, and receives instructions from the user, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, regarding various operations and processes that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute in response to the operation of the hard keys.

[0029] The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guides and the like to the operator. The operation unit 47 also receives input of instructions from the user based on the user's operation (touch operation) on the screen displayed on the display unit 473 via a touch panel that the display unit 473 has.

[0030] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position. In this case, the touch panel functions as an operation unit.

[0031] The communication unit 9 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data to and from external devices (for example, personal computers and servers) within a local area or on the Internet.

[0032] The storage unit 8 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0033] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100.

[0034] The control unit 10 functions as the control unit 100 by the operation of the processor in accordance with a control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 can also be configured by a hardware circuit, without relying on the operation in accordance with the control program by the control unit 10. Unless otherwise stated below, the same applies to each embodiment.

[0035] The control unit 100 is responsible for overall operational control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feed unit 6, document reading unit 5, image forming unit 12, container loading unit 32, ink container 31, paper feed unit 14, ink supply mechanism 33, operation unit 47, communication unit 9, and memory unit 8, and performs drive control of each of these units and executes various processes required for image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming unit 12 to perform printing. In this case, the control unit 100 prioritizes, among multiple ink containers 31 containing ink of the same color, the ink container with the shortest expiration date or the ink with the least remaining amount of recording agent for printing.

[0036] Furthermore, the control unit 100 executes a predetermined special process according to the open / close state and usage state of the container cover 321 detected by the cover open / close sensor 322 and the usage state of the ink container 31. The content of the special process will be explained below in two cases, Case 1 and Case 2.

[0037] <Case 1> shows the content of the special processing when the container cover 321 is opened during printing and the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 whose container cover 321 is open is in use (supplying toner to the image forming unit 12). Note that <Case 1> will be further divided into two cases for explanation.

[0038] "Case 2" shows the content of the above special processing when the container cover 321 is opened during printing and the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32 whose container cover 321 is open is not in use.

[0039] <Case 1-1> When the container cover 321 is opened during printing and the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 whose container cover 321 has been opened is in use, the control unit 100 stops printing by executing a stop process to stop the use of the ink container 31 whose container cover 321 has been opened, as the special process. For example, the control unit 100 controls the coil spring of the ink supply mechanism 33 to close the ink supply port of the ink container 31, thereby stopping its use.

[0040] Furthermore, the control unit 100 executes a notification process to notify the user that the container cover 321 has been opened during printing. For example, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to display a message M1 such as "The container cover is open. Printing has stopped. Please close the container cover" on the display unit 473, as shown in FIG. 4(A).

[0041] <Case 1-2> When the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32 with the container cover 321 open is in use, but another ink container 31 that contains ink of the same color as the ink contained in the ink container 31 and meets the predetermined usage conditions is loaded in the container loading section 32, the control unit 100 executes the above-mentioned cancellation process as the above-mentioned special process, but does not stop printing, and continues printing using the other ink container 31 that meets the above-mentioned usage conditions. The above-mentioned usage conditions include the container cover 321 being closed and not being empty.

[0042] The above will be specifically explained using ink containers 31A and 31B containing black ink as an example. When container cover 321A of container loading unit 32A, in which ink container 31A is loaded, is opened during printing, if container cover 321B of container loading unit 32B, in which ink container 31B is loaded, is closed and ink container 31B is not empty, the above usage conditions are met, and control unit 100 controls the coil spring of ink supply mechanism 33 to close the ink supply port of ink container 31A and open the ink supply port of ink container 31B, thereby continuing printing.

[0043] Furthermore, the control unit 100 executes a notification process to notify the user that the container cover 321 has been opened during printing. For example, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to display a message M2 such as "The container cover is open. Please close the container cover" on the display unit 473, as shown in FIG. 4(B).

[0044] <Case 2> When the container cover 321 is opened during printing, if the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading section 32 whose container cover 321 is opened is not in use, the control section 100 does not execute the above-mentioned cancellation process and does not stop printing.

[0045] The control unit 100 also executes a notification process to notify the user that the container cover 321 has been opened during printing. For example, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 473 to display a message M2 such as "The container cover is open. Please close the container cover" on the display unit 473, as in the above-mentioned "Case 1-2," as shown in FIG. 4(B).

[0046] The process to be executed, either "Case 1-1: Stop printing" or "Case 1-2: Continue printing," may be set by the user, for example, according to an instruction input by operating the operation unit 47. The control unit 100 executes the process "Case 1-1: Stop printing" or "Case 1-2: Continue printing," according to the user setting received by the operation unit 47.

[0047] Next, an example of a process for monitoring the opening and closing of the container cover 321, which is performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 5. This process is performed when the cover opening and closing sensor 322 detects that the container cover 321 is open.

[0048] When the cover open / close sensor 322 detects that the container cover 321 is open, the control unit 100 determines whether the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 whose container cover 321 is open is in use (S1).

[0049] If the control unit 100 determines that the ink container 31 is in use (YES in S1), it determines whether the user setting previously accepted by the operation unit 47 is "stop printing" or "continue printing" (S2).

[0050] If the control unit 100 determines that the user setting is "printing stop" ("stop" in S2), it closes the ink supply port of the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 whose container cover 321 is open, thereby ceasing its use and stopping printing (S3), and displays a message M1 as shown in Fig. 4(A) on the display unit 473 (S4). After this, the process ends.

[0051] On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that the user setting is "continue printing" ("continue" in S2), it determines whether another ink container 31 that contains ink of the same color as the ink contained in the ink container 31 and meets the above-mentioned usage conditions is loaded in the container loading unit 32 (S5).

[0052] If the control unit 100 determines that another ink container 31 that satisfies the above-mentioned usage conditions is loaded in the container loading unit 32 (YES in S5), it closes the ink supply port of the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 whose container cover 321 is open, thereby halting its use, and then opens the ink supply port of the other ink container 31 that satisfies the above-mentioned usage conditions, thereby continuing printing (S6), and displays a message M2 as shown in Fig. 4(B) on the display unit 473 (S7). After this, the processing ends.

[0053] On the other hand, if the control unit 100 determines that another ink container 31 that satisfies the above-mentioned usage conditions is not loaded in the container loading unit 32 (NO in S5), it closes the ink supply port of the ink container 31 to discontinue its use and stop printing (S3), and displays a message M1 as shown in Fig. 4(A) on the display unit 473 (S4). After this, the process ends.

[0054] Furthermore, if the control unit 100 determines in S1 that the ink container 31 loaded in the container loading unit 32 with the container cover 321 open is not in use (NO in S1), there is no effect on printing, so a message M2 as shown in Fig. 4(B) is displayed on the display unit 473 (S7). After this, the process ends.

[0055] According to the above embodiment, even if the container cover 321 is opened during printing, printing is not stopped if it does not affect the printing, so the user can replace the ink container 31 while printing continues. Also, since the ink container 31 used for printing can be changed even during printing, the ink container 31 that was in use until just before can be replaced while printing continues. This prevents a situation in which productivity is reduced due to the replacement of a toner container.

[0056] In addition, the control unit 100 may control the display of the display unit 473 to appropriately display information on the opening / closing state of the container cover 321 obtained from the cover opening / closing sensor 322, information on the presence or absence of the ink container 31 obtained from the container sensor 323, empty information obtained from the empty sensor 324, and remaining ink amount information obtained from the RFID tag, thereby informing the user.

[0057] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment using Figures 1 to 5 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and it is not intended that the present invention be limited to these configurations and processing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1. Image forming device 12 Image forming unit 31 Ink container 32 Container loading section 321 Container Cover 322 Cover open / close sensor 100 control section

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using a recording material; a control unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit to perform printing; a container loading section for loading a plurality of recording material containers containing recording materials of the same color into a container loading section for detachably loading each of the recording material containers; a container cover provided in each of the container loading sections for opening and closing a loading opening of the container loading section; a cover opening / closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the container cover, The control unit Based on the open / closed state of the container cover detected by the cover open / close sensor and the usage state of the recording agent container, when the container cover is opened during printing, if the recording agent container loaded in the container loading section whose container cover has been opened is in use, the image forming apparatus executes a stop process to stop the use of the recording agent container and stops printing, and if the recording agent container loaded in the container loading section whose container cover has been opened is not in use, the image forming apparatus does not execute the stop process and does not stop printing.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit executes a notification process for notifying a user that the container cover is opened when the container cover is opened during printing.

3. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the recording agent container loaded in the container loading section with the container cover open is in use, but there is another recording agent container that contains a recording agent of the same color as the recording agent contained in the recording agent container and is not empty and is loaded in the container loading section with the container cover closed, the control unit executes the cancellation process for the recording agent container loaded in the container loading section with the container cover open, and continues printing using the other recording agent container.

4. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prioritizes the use-by date of a plurality of the recording agent containers containing the same color of recording agent or the remaining amount of recording agent for printing.

Images