Image forming apparatus, paper ejection control method, and program
The image forming apparatus uses sensors and print job identification media to prevent paper mixing and clarify destination changes during printing by switching output destinations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- RICOH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-03-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with paper discharge destination switching during printing, leading to mixing of papers from different jobs and unclear destination changes, especially when printed matter is already present.
The apparatus includes a first and second paper output destination, with sensors detecting fullness and a control unit switching output to the second destination, and outputs a print job identification medium like colored paper to distinguish jobs.
Prevents mixing of recording media and makes destination changes understandable by using print job identification media.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a paper discharge control method, and a program.
Background Art
[0002] In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper discharge destinations, a technique has been developed to perform an operation of switching the paper discharge destination when the recording medium such as paper discharged to the paper discharge destination becomes full during printing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, for the purpose of allowing the user to easily recognize the paper discharge switching destination when the paper discharge is full, a sheet of paper printed with information indicating the switching destination is discharged before switching the paper discharge destination.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0003] However, in the above technique, when the paper discharge destination is switched during the printing job, if there is already paper discharged to the switched paper discharge destination, the papers printed by different printing jobs may be mixed, or it may be difficult to understand the switching of the paper discharge destination and the switched paper discharge destination. Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when there is already a printed matter at the paper discharge switching destination, the printed matters are mixed, and when there are a plurality of paper discharge destinations, it is not clear at a glance which is the switched paper discharge destination.
[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus, a paper discharge control method, and a program that can prevent the occurrence of mixing of recording media of different printing jobs and make the switching of the paper discharge destination easy to understand when the paper discharge destination is switched during the printing job.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention comprises: a first paper output destination; a second paper output destination different from the first paper output destination; a detection unit for detecting when the recording medium output to the first paper output destination is full; a paper output destination switching unit for switching the output destination of the recording medium from the first paper output destination to the second paper output destination when fullness of the recording medium output to the first paper output destination is detected; and a control unit for outputting a print job identification medium capable of distinguishing the print job to the second paper output destination prior to outputting the recording medium to the second paper output destination when the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first paper output destination to the second paper output destination during the printing of a print job. Furthermore, the control unit, in the event that the output destination of the recording medium switches from the first output destination to the second output destination during the printing of a print job, outputs the print job identification medium to the first output destination. ru. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] According to the present invention, when a change in the output destination occurs in the middle of a print job, it is possible to prevent the mixing of recording media from different print jobs and to make the change in the output destination easier to understand. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the device configuration of a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of paper ejection processing in a printer, which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of paper ejection processing in a printer, which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] Embodiments of the image forming apparatus, paper output control method, and program will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.
[0009] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram showing the device configuration of a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The printer 1 includes an operation panel 101, a storage device 102, an engine 103, a screen control unit 104, a control unit 100, an engine I / F 106, a data receiving unit 107, a data processing unit 108, a video processing unit 109, and a large-capacity storage device 110.
[0010] The control panel 101 is equipped with an information display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an LED (Light Emitting Diode), as well as input keys. It allows users to confirm and change settings such as printing conditions, and displays alerts and other status information through message displays on the LCD and illumination of the LEDs. The storage device 102 stores the initial and current settings of various settings using non-volatile memory such as an HDD and NVRAM. The engine 103 includes an image forming unit, paper feed and output trays, and a paper transport unit.
[0011] The screen control unit 104 controls the content displayed on the operation panel 101 and the illumination of the LEDs, and transmits key input information to the setting content management unit 105. The control unit 100 controls the entire printer 1. In this embodiment, the control unit 100 has a setting content management unit 105. The setting content management unit 105 determines the current setting content based on various setting content read from the storage device 102, key input information received from the screen control unit 104, and engine information received through the engine I / F 106, and notifies the screen control unit 104 and the engine I / F 106 of this, or stores it in the storage device 102.
[0012] The engine interface 106 receives engine information such as the paper size set in the paper tray from the engine 103 and passes it to the settings management unit 105, and also sends video data to the engine 103. The data receiving unit 107 receives data from the host computer 120. The data processing unit 108 processes the received data, expands it into a page buffer for one page up to the page break processing, and stores the data expanded into the page buffer in the mass storage device 110 on a job-by-job basis.
[0013] The video processing unit 109 transmits the data in the page buffer as video data to the engine 103 via the engine interface 106. The mass storage device 110 stores the data expanded in the page buffer on a job-by-job basis using non-volatile memory such as an HDD.
[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. This printer 1 comprises a printer body 2 and a paper output device 20.
[0015] The printer body 2 includes two paper feed trays 3a and 3b, a transport path 4 for transporting paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 3a and 3b, an electrophotographic image forming unit 5, a registration roller 6 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 5 at a predetermined timing, and a paper output roller 15 provided at the paper output slot.
[0016] The image forming unit 5 comprises a photosensitive drum 7 and surrounding it are a charging unit 8, a developing unit 9, a transfer unit 10, a fixing unit 11, and the like. The image forming method (printing method) in the image forming unit 5 is not limited to electrophotography; any printing method, such as an inkjet printing mechanism, can be employed.
[0017] The paper output device 20 includes a transport path 21 that branches and transports the paper discharged from the paper output roller 15 of the printer body 2 to each paper output tray T1 to T4, branching units 22a to 22c that switch the destination of the paper output of recording media such as paper between the paper output trays T1 to T4, and paper output trays T1 to T4, which are examples of paper output destinations arranged in a multi-stage manner in the vertical direction. In the following description, if the paper output trays T1 to T4 are not distinguished, they will be referred to as paper output tray T. The branching units 22a to 22c are, for example, branching claws that are rotated by solenoids, and they switch the transport path according to the specification of the paper output destination by a control signal from the control unit 100, enabling selective discharge to any paper output tray. Specifically, the branching units 22a to 22c function as an example of a paper output destination switching unit that switches the paper output destination when the paper output tray T is detected to be full by sensors S1 to S4, which will be described later.
[0018] Reference numerals 23a to 23d are externally visible display devices provided for each output tray, and for example, LEDs are used. Each output tray T is provided with sensors (examples of detection units) S1 to S4 that detect when the tray is full of recording media such as paper. Detection signals from sensors S1 to S4 are output to the control unit 100, so that the control unit 100 can recognize when the tray is full of paper. In this embodiment, sensors S1 to S4 detect when a lever provided at the output slot through which the recording media is ejected into the output tray T rises as the recording media are stacked in the output tray T, and the lever rises to a preset height, indicating that the tray is full of recording media.
[0019] The paper output device 20 is further equipped with a shift sorting mechanism that sorts the paper output tray T while shifting it in the width direction perpendicular to the paper output direction. The paper output tray T is shifted by a motor or solenoid or other drive source based on a command from the setting content management unit 105. While keeping the discharge position from the paper output opening located directly upstream of each paper output tray T constant, by shifting the lateral position of the paper output tray T by a predetermined distance, it becomes possible to stack the paper in a staggered position on the paper output tray T, enabling sorting on the same paper output tray T.
[0020] Furthermore, the paper output device 20 is equipped with a divider paper insertion mechanism for inserting divider paper between sheets of paper stacked on the paper output tray T. The divider paper is, for example, made from paper (e.g., colored paper) fed from any of the paper feed trays or a dedicated paper feed tray, and is guided into the paper output device 20 in a state where it has not undergone image formation, and is discharged into the required paper output tray T.
[0021] During the printing of a print job, when the paper discharge destination is switched from the paper discharge tray T2 (an example of the first paper discharge destination) to the paper discharge tray T1 (an example of the second paper discharge destination), the control unit 100 discharges the print job identification medium to the paper discharge tray T1 prior to discharging the paper to the paper discharge tray T1. Here, the print job refers to an image forming operation based on different original documents and image data such as video data. When forming images for multiple parts in one print job, multiple parts are included in one print job.
[0022] As a result, when the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray T2 becomes full and the paper discharge destination is switched to the paper discharge tray T1 during the printing of the print job, it becomes possible to identify which print job the paper printed by using the print job identification medium discharged to the paper discharge tray T1 is. Consequently, when the paper discharge destination is switched during the print job, it is possible to prevent the mixing of recording media of different print jobs and to make the switching of the paper discharge destination easier to understand.
[0023] Here, the print job identification medium may be a medium on which information associating the paper discharge tray T1 and the paper discharge tray T2 is printed. Also, the print job identification medium is a medium that can distinguish print jobs, and for example, it may be colored paper or tab paper.
[0024] Further, when the paper discharge destination is switched from the paper discharge tray T2 to the paper discharge tray T1 during the printing of the print job, the control unit 100 discharges the print job identification medium to the paper discharge tray T2. Thereby, by checking the print job identification medium discharged to the paper discharge tray T2, it is possible to easily recognize that the paper discharge destination has been switched.
[0025] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrams for explaining an example of the paper discharge process in a printer which is an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Next, an example of the paper discharge process in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described using FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0026] For example, as shown in Figure 3, when the sensor S2 detects that the output tray T2 is full of paper, the branching unit 22a switches the paper output destination from output tray T2 to output tray T1. If a print job is in progress at that time, the control unit 100 outputs a print job identification medium to the output tray T2. For example, the control unit 100 may use the divider paper insertion mechanism of the paper output device 20 to output colored paper or tab paper as a print job identification medium on the top surface of the paper output to the output tray T2.
[0027] Furthermore, prior to ejecting paper to the output tray T1, the control unit 100 ejects a print job identification medium into the output tray T1. For example, the control unit 100 may use the divider paper insertion mechanism of the output device 20 to eject colored paper or tab paper as a print job identification medium onto the top surface of the paper ejected into the output tray T1. After that, the control unit 100 starts ejecting the paper printed by the print job into the output tray T1. This makes it easy to recognize where the destination of the paper printed by the print job changed by looking at the print job identification medium ejected into the output trays T1 and T2 after the print job is completed.
[0028] Thus, with the printer 1 according to this embodiment, when the output tray T2 becomes full of paper and the output destination of the paper switches to the output tray T1 in the middle of printing a print job, the print job identification medium output to the output tray T1 makes it possible to identify which print job the paper was printed by. As a result, when the output destination is switched in the middle of a print job, it is possible to prevent the mixing of recording media from different print jobs and to make the switch in the output destination easy to understand.
[0029] The program executed by printer 1 in this embodiment is provided pre-installed in ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like. The program executed by printer 1 in this embodiment may also be provided as an installable or executable file recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).
[0030] Furthermore, the program executed by the printer 1 of this embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Alternatively, the program executed by the printer 1 of this embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.
[0031] The program executed by the printer 1 of this embodiment has a modular configuration including the above-described parts (control unit 100). In actual hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is an example of a processor, may read the program from the ROM and execute it, thereby loading the above-described parts into the main memory and creating the control unit 100 in the main memory.
[0032] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is described using an example in which it is applied to a multifunction device having at least two functions from among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. However, it can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, scanner, or facsimile device. [Explanation of symbols]
[0033] 1. Printer 22a, 22b, 22c Branch Unit 100 Control Unit 103 Engine T1, T2, T3, T4 Paper Output Trays S1, S2, S3, S4 sensors [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0034] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-106428
Claims
1. First paper output destination, A second paper output destination different from the first paper output destination, A detection unit that detects when the recording medium discharged to the first paper output destination is full, A paper output destination switching unit that, when it is detected that the recording medium has been output to the first paper output destination is full, switches the output destination of the recording medium from the first paper output destination to the second paper output destination, A control unit that, when the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first output destination to the second output destination during the printing of a print job, outputs a print job identification medium capable of distinguishing the print job to the second output destination prior to outputting the recording medium to the second output destination, Equipped with, The control unit further discharges the print job identification medium to the first discharge destination when the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first discharge destination to the second discharge destination during the printing of a print job.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print job identification medium is a medium on which information linking the first paper output destination and the second paper output destination is printed.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the print job identification medium is tab paper or colored paper.
4. A paper ejection control method performed in an image forming apparatus, The detection unit detects when the recording medium that has been ejected to the first paper output destination is full, The paper output destination switching unit, when it detects that the recording medium has been output to the first paper output destination is full, switches the output destination of the recording medium from the first paper output destination to a second paper output destination that is different from the first paper output destination. The control unit, in the event that the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first output destination to the second output destination during the printing of a print job, performs the step of outputting a print job identification medium capable of distinguishing the print job to the second output destination prior to outputting the recording medium to the second output destination, The control unit further performs the step of discharging the print job identification medium to the first output destination when the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first output destination to the second output destination during the printing of a print job, A paper output control method including the following.
5. Computers, When fullness is detected in the recording medium discharged to the first output destination, and the output destination of the recording medium is switched from the first output destination to a second output destination different from the first output destination during the printing of a print job, the control unit discharges a print job identification medium capable of distinguishing the print job to the second output destination prior to the discharge of the recording medium to the second output destination. To make it function as, The control unit further includes a program for ejecting the print job identification medium to the first output destination when the output destination of the recording medium switches from the first output destination to the second output destination during the printing of a print job.