JP2010128334A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize an error in a setting direction of a scrap paper P while not providing an image forming apparatus with a sensor for reading the scrap paper P to reduce the manufacturing cost, and to prevent re-printing on printed surfaces of a large quantity of scrap papers P. <P>SOLUTION: In an image forming apparatus including a control part 8 for controlling the image forming operation and a paper supply part on which scrap papers P being papers for printing and having one surfaces printed can be placed, the control part 8 temporarily stops a printing operation after printing of the first scrap paper in the case of consecutive scrap paper printing wherein a plurality of images are consecutively formed on scrap papers P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to backing paper printing in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a multifunction machine, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine.

  Various image forming apparatuses form images on copy paper, etc., but from the viewpoint of recent environmental problems, resource reuse, resource saving, cost reduction, etc., on the unprinted side of a single-sided printed paper (so-called back paper) Printing is increasing. However, when printing on the back paper, if the front and back surfaces of the back paper are not set correctly, printing is performed again on the printed surface, and printing is wasted. For this reason, a sensor that reads the surface of the back paper on which an image is formed and detects a setting error on the front and back of the back paper may be provided. An invention having such a sensor is described in Patent Document 1.

Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses that an image is recorded on the recording surface of the recording paper set means and the recording paper conveyance path between the recording paper setting means and the image recording means. When the recording paper is set in the recording paper sensor means to be detected and the recording paper setting means, one recording paper is conveyed and discharged, the detection signal of the recording paper sensor is examined, and the image is recorded on the recording paper. In this case, there is described an image recording apparatus that displays a warning when a wrong recording paper is set. With this configuration, if the image recording apparatus does not clearly indicate which side is used as the front side of the paper cassette, a new image or the like is recorded on the recording side on which the image or the like is already recorded on the back paper. Inconveniences, and the user tries to recognize an incorrect set of recording paper (see Patent Document 1: Claim 1, paragraphs [0003], [0084], etc.).
JP2003-005468A

  Certainly, according to the image recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to check whether the front and back cassettes are correctly set in the cassette or the like, and there are cases where errors in the setting direction can be reduced. However, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases, such as a sensor for reading the back paper and wiring of signal lines for the sensor.

  Moreover, when unprinted paper is placed on both the front and back surfaces of a paper placement portion such as a cassette, the invention of Patent Document 1 does not require reading by a sensor, but the paper is conveyed. It is also conceivable to read the set paper. That is, it is not possible to flexibly cope with the paper to be set. In addition, there is a problem that the user is forced to work to change the paper discharged after reading into a cassette again. In order to avoid the troublesome re-storage of the read paper, it is possible to install a sensor in each cassette or the like. However, in order to secure a plurality of usable paper sizes, the image forming apparatus usually has a plurality of cassettes. Since it is provided, there are a plurality of sensors to be installed, and an increase in manufacturing cost cannot be ignored.

  In the image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the recording paper sensor includes, for example, a line image sensor and a light source (see Patent Document 1: Paragraph [0023]). However, with the line sensor, even when the printed side of the backing paper is read, if there is no printed portion in the reading area, an erroneous setting of the backing paper cannot be detected. In order to increase the detection rate of erroneous setting of the backing paper, it is necessary to install a plurality of line sensors or one or more surface reading sensors having a certain width or more. That is, the tradeoff between the detection rate and the cost becomes a problem, and if priority is given to the improvement of the detection rate, there is a problem with respect to an increase in manufacturing cost.

    The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and can easily reduce an error in the setting direction of the backing paper while reducing the manufacturing cost without providing a sensor for reading the backing paper in the image forming apparatus. It is an object to prevent a large number of sheets from being reprinted on the printed side of the backing paper.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including: a control unit that controls an image forming operation; and a paper feeding unit on which a single-sided printed backing paper can be placed. During continuous backing paper printing in which the image is continuously formed on the backing paper, the control unit temporarily stops the printing operation after printing the first sheet.

  According to this configuration, the printing operation is temporarily stopped after the printing of the first sheet after detecting the empty of the printing paper and setting the printing paper such as the backing paper that is not blank on one side. By simply looking at the print result, it is easy and highly accurate to check if there is an error in the orientation of the back side of the back paper. If the orientation of the printing paper is incorrect, change the orientation of the printing paper without continuing printing. Printing can be continued. Therefore, even if the paper is set for the time being because the setting direction of the back side of the back paper is not specified in the paper cassette etc. and the setting direction is unknown, the setting direction of the back side of the back paper remains in the wrong state, Printing can be prevented from continuing. In particular, many recent image forming apparatuses have a high-speed printing function, but even during high-speed printing, toner, power consumption, and paper are prevented by preventing images from being continuously formed on the printed surface of a large amount of backing paper. , Time can be saved. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a sensor for confirming whether the orientation of the front and back of the backing paper is correct as in the conventional case, and the wiring of the sensor and its signal line can be omitted, and the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus is reduced. Can be reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, during the continuous printing of the backing paper, the control unit temporarily stops the printing operation after the first printing operation is temporarily stopped. It was decided not to do. According to this configuration, after the printing operation is temporarily stopped, the remaining printing does not temporarily stop, so that the user does not need to check the setting direction of the back and front of the back paper. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a decrease in productivity.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, during the continuous backing paper printing, the control unit temporarily stops the printing operation every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed. When the image forming apparatus is used jointly, each user may stack the back paper on the paper feed unit. In this case, some users incorrectly feed the front and back of the back paper. It may be set on paper. However, according to this configuration, the printing operation is temporarily stopped every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed. Therefore, even if the setting direction of the back and front of the back paper placed on the paper feeding unit is changed halfway, the printing is completed. It is possible to prevent the image from being continuously formed on the surface. It is also possible to recognize that double-sided printed paper is mixed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the invention, the control unit includes an input unit that receives an operation instruction input to the apparatus, and the control unit temporarily performs a printing operation during the continuous backing paper printing. After stopping, the printing is resumed on condition that the input to resume printing by the input unit is accepted. According to this configuration, since printing is resumed on the condition that the input for resuming printing to the input unit is accepted, it is possible to prevent the printing from being restarted arbitrarily during the resetting of the backing paper, and to ensure that the backing paper is It is possible to secure time until the front and back set directions are corrected. Accordingly, printing is not continued with the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper being incorrect.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a time measuring unit that measures the time from when the printing operation is stopped, and the control unit performs a printing operation during the continuous backing paper printing. When the timekeeping unit has timed that a predetermined time has elapsed since the temporary stop, the printing operation is resumed. According to this configuration, since the printing operation is resumed after a predetermined time has elapsed after the printing operation is temporarily stopped, even when the user has left the image forming apparatus for a long time in the temporarily stopped state. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus from being unable to print for a long time.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth or fifth aspect, the input unit accepts an instruction to reprint an already printed image during a temporary stop of a printing operation during the continuous backing paper printing, The control unit reprints an already printed image based on a reprint instruction to the input unit. According to this configuration, since the already printed image is reprinted based on the reprint instruction to the input unit, the set direction of the back and front of the back paper is mistaken and the image printed on the printed side is again printed. Can be printed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth to sixth aspects, the input unit receives an instruction to shift to a back paper printing mode in which a printing operation is temporarily stopped during the continuous back paper printing. Only when the input unit is instructed to shift to the backing paper printing mode, the control unit temporarily stops the printing operation during the continuous backing paper printing. According to this configuration, only during the back paper printing mode, temporary printing stop during continuous back paper printing is performed. Therefore, when the paper set in the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus is not the back paper, the user can There is no need to check the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper. Therefore, the user can use the image forming apparatus comfortably.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a sensor for reading a backing paper, which has been conventionally provided in the image forming apparatus, so that the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced. In addition, even if there is an error in the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper, it can be detected quickly, and the mistake of printing on the printed surface when using the back paper can be eliminated.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the elements such as the configuration and arrangement described in this embodiment do not limit the scope of the invention and are merely illustrative examples.
(Outline of image forming apparatus)
First, an outline of an electrophotographic multifunction peripheral 1 (corresponding to an image forming apparatus) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the operation panel 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a document cover 1 a is attached to the upper surface of the multifunction device 1, and an image reading unit 3, a sheet feeding unit 4, a sheet conveyance path are configured as image reading and image forming on the apparatus main body side. 5, an image forming unit 6, a fixing unit 7, an operation panel 2 (corresponding to an input unit), and the like.

  First, the document cover 1 a is provided above the image reading unit 3 and presses the document placed on the upper surface of the image reading unit 3. The document cover 1a has a fulcrum (not shown) at the back of the sheet of FIG. 1, and opens and closes in the vertical direction. Instead of the document cover 1a, a document conveying device (not shown) that can automatically and continuously feed stacked documents toward the image reading unit 3 and efficiently read the document may be mounted.

  The image reading unit 3 disposed below the document cover 1a reads an image of a sheet as a document, converts the document image into an electrical signal, and generates image data. The image reading unit 3 has a contact glass 31 on the upper surface. or. Inside the image reading unit 3, optical system members such as an exposure lamp, a mirror, a lens, and an image sensor (for example, CCD) are provided (not shown). Then, the document placed on the contact glass 31 is converted into an electrical signal for each pixel by the optical system member, and the reflected light of the light emitted to the document is converted into the image data of the document. The multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment can perform image formation (printing) using the image data of the original (copy function).

  The paper feeding unit 4 supplies various types of paper such as a plurality of copy papers, thick papers, and OHP sheets to the image forming unit 6 through a paper conveyance path 5. The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper cassette 41 (corresponding to a paper feed unit), and the paper cassette 41 accommodates the paper so that the uppermost paper comes into contact with the paper feed roller 42. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a manual feed tray 43 (corresponding to a paper feed unit) for supplying paper separately from the paper cassette 41 is provided on the right side surface of the multifunction machine 1. A paper feed roller 42 is also provided on the downstream side of the manual feed tray 43 in the paper conveyance direction so as to be in contact with the uppermost paper placed on the manual feed tray 43.

  These paper feed rollers 42 are connected to a driving device (not shown) including a motor, a gear, and the like, and rotate when supplying paper from the paper cassette 41 or the manual feed tray 43, A sheet is fed into the image forming unit 6. In the present invention, a plurality of sheets of printing paper that have been printed on one side (hereinafter referred to as “back paper P”) can be placed on the paper cassette 41 or the manual feed tray 43. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the backing paper P can be placed on all the paper cassettes 41 and the manual feed tray 43.

  The paper transport path 5 transports the paper supplied from the paper supply unit 4 and transports the paper to and from a pair of transport rollers 51 and a pair of registration rollers 52 connected to a driving device (not shown) including a motor, a gear, and the like. A guide 53 and the like. The conveyance roller pair 51 rotates during conveyance of the sheet, and the registration roller pair 52 rotates, and causes the sheet to enter the image forming unit 6 at an appropriate timing.

  The image forming unit 6 forms an image on a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying path 5 by an electrophotographic method. Specifically, the image forming unit 6 includes a photosensitive drum 61 and a charging device 62, an exposure device 63, a developing device 64, a transfer roller 65, a cleaning device 66, and the like around the photosensitive drum 61. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 61 is positioned substantially at the center of the image forming unit 6, is connected to a driving device (not shown) including a motor, a gear, and the like, and is driven to rotate. Is formed. During image formation, the charging device 62 disposed above the photosensitive drum 61 charges the peripheral surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 61 to a predetermined potential by a charging roller, a corona discharge wire, a brush, or the like.

  The exposure device 63 irradiates the charged peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 61 with light based on the image data of the image to be formed to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure device 63 may be a laser unit that scans with a polygon mirror using a semiconductor laser as a light source, or may use LEDs arranged in an array. The developing device 64 charges the toner to a predetermined potential, supplies the toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 61, and develops the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

  The transfer roller 65 is in contact with the lower side of the photosensitive drum 61, and a nip is formed between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 65. When the sheet and the toner image enter the nip, a predetermined bias voltage (current) is applied to the transfer roller 65, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet. The cleaning device 66 removes and cleans residual toner and other dust on the photosensitive drum 61.

  The fixing unit 7 can be mainly composed of a heating roller 71 having a built-in heat source and a pressure roller 72 that is pressed against the heating roller 71 to form a nip. Then, the paper after the toner image transfer enters the nip, and the toner image is heated and pressurized and fixed on the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is conveyed toward a discharge tray 54 that receives the sheet discharged from the multifunction device 1.

  In the present embodiment, the operation panel 2 is disposed above the front of the multifunction machine 1 (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 2 includes a liquid crystal display unit 21 that displays the status of the multifunction device 1. The liquid crystal display unit 21 is of a touch panel type, and various settings and inputs of the multifunction device 1 can be performed by selecting menus and keys displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21. The operation panel 2 also includes a numeric keypad 22 for inputting numbers, a function selection key group 23 for selecting functions of the multifunction device 1, and a start for inputting instructions for starting the operation of the multifunction device 1. Various keys such as a key 24, a stop key 25 for stopping the operation of the multifunction machine 1, and a reset key 26 for resetting various settings such as print settings and the number of copies are also provided.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, a control unit 8 that controls the image forming operation including the operation of the entire multi-function device 1 is provided in the main body of the multi-function device 1 of the present embodiment, and includes a CPU 81, a storage unit 82, and a time measuring unit. 83, an image processing unit 84, and the like. The CPU 81 functions as a central processing unit, performs various calculations based on programs and data stored in or input to the storage unit 82, and controls each unit of the multifunction device 1.

  The storage unit 82 is configured by combining volatile and non-volatile memories such as RAM, HDD, and flash ROM, for example. The storage unit 82 is used for storing and developing a control program, control data, image data, setting information of the MFP 1 by a user, and the like. In order to carry out the present invention, although details will be described later, the storage unit 82 stores a program related to control during continuous printing of the back paper.

  The timer 83 measures various times necessary for control. The image processing unit 84 performs various processes on the image data to form an appropriate image, and outputs the result to the exposure device 63. For example, as image processing, known various image processing such as γ correction processing, shading correction, enlargement / reduction processing, density adjustment processing, density change processing, and the like can be performed.

  The control unit 8 is connected to the image reading unit 3, the paper feeding unit 4, the paper conveyance path 5, the image forming unit 6, the fixing unit 7, the operation panel 2, and the like that constitute the multifunction device 1. Based on the stored program or the like, control is performed so that the operation of each unit is performed accurately.

  In the back paper printing mode, the control unit 8 sets the front and back sides of the back paper P during continuous back paper printing in which a plurality of images are continuously formed on the back paper P. In order to confirm the direction, at least after printing the first sheet, the printing operation on each member is temporarily stopped. In this case, the control unit 8 interrupts the toner image formation in the image forming unit 6, the paper conveyance in the paper feed roller 42 and the paper conveyance path 5, etc., and temporarily stops the printing operation in each member. Realize.

  Further, the control unit 8 includes an I / F unit 85 (corresponding to an interface unit and an input unit) having various connectors, sockets, adapters, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, a user terminal 10 (for example, a personal computer) is connected to the I / F unit 85 directly or via a network or the like with the multifunction device 1 (control unit 8). The user terminal 10 is installed with the driver software of the multifunction device 1 so that the multifunction device 1 and the user terminal 10 can communicate with each other. For example, image data can be transmitted from the user terminal 10 to form an image (printer function). Further, the image data read by the image reading unit 3 can be transmitted to the user terminal 10 (scanner function). Further, data to be transmitted by FAX using a communication line (not shown) can be transmitted from the user terminal 10 to the multi function device 1 or received FAX data can be transferred to the user terminal 10 (FAX function).

  In addition to the image data to be printed, the user terminal 10 can transmit setting / instruction data relating to printing (for example, data relating to backing paper printing). The I / F unit 85 receives the setting / instruction data, and the control unit 8 recognizes the setting / instruction from the user terminal 10. On the other hand, the control unit 8 can transmit data related to the state of the multi-function device 1 (for example, printing status, error, etc.) via the I / F unit 85.

(Control when printing on back paper)
The image forming apparatus such as the multifunction machine 1 basically uses unprinted paper on both sides. Usually, a paper feeding device such as a paper cassette on which the back paper P is placed is provided on the front and back sides of the back paper P. The set direction is not specified. Even if the setting direction of the front and back sides of the back paper P is clearly indicated, the user may mistakenly set the front and back sides of the back paper P due to oversight or the like. If printing is performed on the back paper P with the front and back of the back paper P set in the wrong direction, printing is performed on the printed surface of the paper, and the back paper, toner, time, and the like are wasted. In particular, if printing is performed continuously with the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P being wrong, these wastes become enormous.

    Therefore, in the multi-function device 1 of the present embodiment, when continuous printing of the back paper P is performed, after the printing of the first sheet is completed, printing is temporarily performed to check whether the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P is correct. Operation stops. Note that a program for performing this control is stored in the storage unit 82, for example. Thereby, a sensor or the like for confirming the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P can be eliminated. The control flow of the present invention will be described below.

  Based on FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an example of control when printing on the backing paper P in the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control during printing on the backing paper of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 21 displayed during continuous printing of the backing paper P according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the start in FIG. 4 is when an instruction to perform image formation (printing) is input to the control unit 8. For example, when the copy function is selected and the number of printed sheets is set on the operation panel 2, a document to be copied is placed on the contact glass 31 and the start key 24 is pressed (copy function), or transmitted from the user terminal 10. This corresponds to the case where the print setting data, image data, and the like are input to the control unit 8 via the I / F unit 85 (printer function). At this time, it is assumed that the backing paper P is placed on at least one of the paper cassette 41 and the manual feed tray 43, and paper is fed from the paper cassette 41 and the manual tray 43 on which the backing paper P is placed. explain. Note that the paper feed destination can be set on the operation panel 2 or the user terminal 10.

  Next, in the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, when the printing paper empty is detected and the back paper P is set in the paper cassette, the temporary setting when confirming the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P is temporarily performed. The stop of the printing operation can be performed, for example, when the mode of the multifunction machine 1 is switched to a mode dedicated to backing paper printing (backing paper printing mode). This is because the backing paper P is not always set in the paper cassette 41 or the manual feed tray 43. That is, when the double-sided unprinted paper is placed on all the paper cassettes 41 and the like, it is not necessary to check the setting direction of the back and front of the back paper P. Therefore, the control unit 8 confirms whether the mode of the multifunction device 1 is instructed to shift to the back paper printing mode (step # 1).

  The instruction to shift to the back paper printing mode of the multifunction device 1 is made when the user operates the liquid crystal display unit 21 of the operation panel 2 to select and input the back paper printing mode. At the time when image data or the like is transmitted to the multifunction device 1, the user terminal 10 transmits data to the effect that printing in the backing paper printing mode is transmitted to the I / F unit 85 and the control unit 8 recognizes this. The printer may enter the back paper printing mode. If the back paper printing mode is not selected (No in step # 1), the control relating to the back paper printing is unnecessary, and the control according to the present invention ends (END). That is, the input unit such as the operation panel 2 accepts an instruction to shift to the backing paper printing mode for temporarily stopping the printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper, and issues an instruction to shift to the backing paper printing mode to the input unit. Only when there is, the control unit 8 temporarily stops the printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper.

  Next, the control unit 8 confirms the contents of the job to be executed, and confirms whether or not the continuous printing is to continuously print a plurality of images (step # 2). If only one sheet is to be printed (No in step # 2), it is only necessary to confirm whether the setting direction of the front and back sides of the back paper P is correct with the printed matter, and the control according to the present invention ends (END). On the other hand, if it is continuous printing of the backing paper P (Yes in step # 2), the control unit 8 operates the paper feed roller 42, the paper transport path 5, the image forming unit 6, the fixing unit 7 and the like, and only one sheet is printed. Printing is performed, and printing for the second and subsequent sheets is temporarily stopped (step # 3). Then, the user looks at this printed matter and checks whether the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P is correct. (Step # 4).

  If the setting direction of the back side of the back paper P is not correct (No in step # 4), the user performs a resetting operation to reverse the back side of the back paper P of the paper cassette 41 or the manual feed tray 43. (Step # 5). Next, the control unit 8 confirms the transmission data input from the input operation panel 2 or the user terminal 10 to the I / F unit 85 and instructs to resume printing, or prints when the back and front sides of the back paper P are set incorrectly. It is confirmed whether or not there is an instruction to reprint the image printed on the finished surface (step # 6). If there is no print resumption instruction or reprint instruction (No in step # 6), step # 4 to step # 6 are repeated.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the liquid crystal display unit 21 when a print restart instruction or a reprint instruction is issued. Further, a screen similar to FIG. 5 is displayed on the user terminal 10, and the user inputs an I / O from the user terminal 10 by inputting to the displayed screen on the user terminal 10 using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. A print resumption instruction or a reprint instruction may be input to the F unit 85.

  FIG. 5A shows an example of the print resumption instruction screen 91. This screen is displayed first, for example, when printing is paused during continuous printing of the backing paper P. On the print resumption instruction screen 91, a Yes button 91Y and a No button 91N are arranged. If there is no error in the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P, the user touches the Yes button 91Y on the liquid crystal display unit 21 (or selects it on the display of the user terminal 10), so that the remaining images are displayed. Printing resumes. On the other hand, if there is an erroneous setting of the back and front of the back paper P, the user will touch the No button 91N.

  If the No button 91N is touched, a reprint instruction screen 92 as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed. If there is an incorrect set of the front and back sides of the back paper P, it is necessary to reprint the image printed on the printed surface of the back paper P. When the resetting of the front and back of the back paper P is completed, the user presses the Yes button 92Y on the reprint instruction screen 92. Then, printing is resumed from an image printed on the printed surface of the backing paper P. That is, the input unit such as the operation panel 2 accepts a reprint instruction for an already printed image during the temporary stop of the printing operation during continuous printing of the back paper, and the control unit 8 instructs the reprinting to the input unit. Based on the above, the already printed image is reprinted. The No button 92Y is pressed when, for example, reprinting is unnecessary, and printing is resumed from an image excluding the image printed on the printed surface of the backing paper P.

  Instead of displaying the screen as shown in FIG. 5 on the liquid crystal display unit 21, instead of pressing the Yes button 91Y, printing may be resumed by pressing the start key 24 of the operation panel 2, for example. In this case, pressing the start key 24 is a condition for resuming printing. If there is an error in the setting direction of the back side of the back paper, for example, the reset key 26 is pressed to reset the setting, and after the re-setting of the back paper is completed, the printing is performed again to reprint the first sheet. It is possible to perform an operation such as

  As described above, the multifunction device 1 includes the operation panel 2 that receives an operation instruction input to the apparatus and the input unit of the I / F unit 85, and the control unit 8 temporarily performs a printing operation during continuous printing on the back paper. Then, printing is resumed on condition that an input for resuming printing by the input unit is accepted.

  If there is an instruction or input by the user on the print resumption instruction screen 91 and the reprint instruction screen 92 shown in FIG. 5 (Yes in step # 6), the remaining image (when the first sheet is reprinted) (Including the first image) is started (step # 7). Then, after all the printing is finished, the end. That is, during continuous printing on the back paper, the control unit 8 does not temporarily stop the remaining printing after the temporary stop of the printing operation of the first sheet.

  In this way, according to the first embodiment, after the first sheet is printed, the printing operation is temporarily stopped. Therefore, the user only has to check the printing result and check the front and back of the backing paper P. It is possible to easily check whether there is an error in the set direction. Accordingly, the setting direction of the back side of the back paper P is not specified in the paper cassette 41 (paper feeding unit), and the setting direction of the back side of the back paper P is wrong even when the paper is set for the time being unknown. Thus, it is possible to prevent the printing from being continued in the state. In particular, many recent image forming apparatuses such as the multifunction machine 1 have a high-speed printing function, but even during high-speed printing, by preventing images from being continuously formed on the printed surface of a large amount of the backing paper P, Waste of toner, power consumption, paper, time, etc. can be eliminated. Further, it is not necessary to provide a sensor for confirming whether the setting direction of the front and back of the backing paper P is correct as in the prior art, and the wiring of the sensor and its signal line can be omitted. Cost can be reduced.

  In addition, after the temporary stop of the printing operation for the first sheet, the rest of the printing is not temporarily stopped, so that the user does not need to check the setting direction of the back and front of the back paper P thereafter. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an extreme decrease in the image forming speed and to prevent a decrease in productivity. or. Since printing is resumed on condition that a print resumption input is accepted to the input unit (operation panel 2, I / F unit 85), it is possible to prevent the printing from being resumed without permission during the resetting of the backing paper P. It is possible to secure the time until the setting direction of the front and back of the backing paper P is corrected. Accordingly, printing is not continued with the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P being incorrect. In addition, since the image that has already been printed is reprinted based on the reprint instruction to the input unit, the image that has been printed on the printed surface is printed again by mistakenly setting the front and back of the back paper P. It can be carried out. Also, only in the back paper printing mode, temporary printing stop at the time of continuous back paper printing is performed. Therefore, when the paper set in the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus is not the back paper P, the user There is no need to check the setting direction of the front and back of P. Therefore, the user can use the image forming apparatus comfortably.

  Next, an example of control when printing on the backing paper P according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control during printing of the backing paper of the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that when a predetermined time elapses after entering the pause state in order to prevent the pause state at the time of backing paper printing from continuing for a long time. The difference is that control for resuming printing is included.

  In addition, when collecting the back paper P of each individual and using the back paper P in a stacked manner, the back paper P may be placed without confirming the direction of the front and back. Are not necessarily the same in all the backing papers P. Further, there may be a case where double-sided printed paper is mixed in the back paper. Therefore, in consideration of the change in the direction of the unprinted surface and the mixing of double-sided printed paper in the bundle of backing papers P, there is a difference in that control for temporarily stopping printing is incorporated every predetermined number of sheets. Other basic configurations and aspects are the same as those of the first embodiment, and common portions and members are not described and will be described with the same reference numerals.

  First, the start in FIG. 6 is the time when an instruction to perform image formation (printing) is input to the control unit 8, as in the first embodiment. Further, steps # 21 to 23 in the second embodiment are common to steps # 1 to # 3 in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment is different in that, in the loop of Steps # 24 to # 27 in which printing is stopped, it is checked whether or not the printing pause period exceeds a predetermined time (Step # 24). . By performing this confirmation, the unusable state of the multifunction device 1 is prevented from extending for a long time due to temporary stoppage of printing, such as when the user leaves the multifunction device 1 for a long time.

  When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the control unit 8 temporarily stopped printing (Yes in step # 24), the user can continue the resetting operation of the backing paper P, and the control unit 8 and the user terminal 10 are the same as in the first embodiment in that the print resumption instruction screen 91 and the reprint instruction screen 92 as shown in FIG. 5 are displayed (steps # 25 to 27 are the same as in the first embodiment). Corresponding to steps # 4 to # 6 in the embodiment). On the other hand, if the predetermined time elapses after the control unit 8 temporarily stops printing and there is no print resumption instruction or reprint instruction (No in step # 24), the control unit 8 forcibly resumes printing. (Step # 28). Note that the predetermined time is counted by, for example, the time measuring unit 83 and the control unit 8 recognizes the passage of the predetermined time by notifying the CPU 81 that the predetermined time has been reached. In other words, the multifunction device 1 has a timer 83 that counts the time since the printing operation is stopped, and the control unit 8 waits for a predetermined time after temporarily stopping the printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper. When the timer 83 counts that it has elapsed, the printing operation is resumed.

  Here, the predetermined time is a time that has elapsed since the temporary stop of printing for confirming the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P, and can be arbitrarily determined. However, if it is too long, the unprintable state will continue for a long time, and if it is too short, reprinting instructions cannot be performed or printing may be resumed without permission before the backing paper P is properly reset. is there. Therefore, for example, the predetermined time can be set by the user by an input on the operation panel 2 or the like in the range of several tens of seconds to several minutes. Further, whether or not to automatically resume printing after a predetermined time has elapsed may be set on the operation panel 2 or the like. In other words, ON / OFF of the optional function for automatically restarting printing after a predetermined time has elapsed may be settable on the operation panel 2 or the user terminal 10.

  Then, after resuming printing, the control unit 8 confirms whether or not it is necessary to stop printing for every predetermined number of prints in order to confirm the set direction of the front and back of the backing paper P (step # 29). For example, in the multi-function device 1 of the present embodiment, the operation panel 2 or the like may be set for whether or not to stop printing for every predetermined number of prints. In other words, for each predetermined number of prints, ON / OFF of an optional function for stopping printing may be set on the operation panel 2 or the user terminal 10.

  Here, the specific number of the predetermined number can be arbitrarily determined. For example, if the predetermined number is set to 1, the printing is temporarily stopped one by one, and if the number is set to 100, the printing is temporarily stopped after printing 100 sheets. The setting direction of the front and back of the backing paper P can be confirmed. If the predetermined number of sheets is too large, printing is performed as it is even if the setting direction of the backing paper P is wrong in the middle. If the predetermined number of sheets is too small, printing is temporarily stopped frequently, and productivity is lowered. Therefore, for example, the predetermined number of sheets can be set by the user by inputting on the operation panel 2 or the like in the range of several to several tens.

If it is not necessary to stop printing for every predetermined number of prints (No in step # 29), printing is continued (step # 30), and this control is terminated upon completion of printing (end). On the other hand, if it is necessary to stop printing after every predetermined number of prints (Yes in step # 29), the control unit 8 checks the number of remaining print jobs and checks whether the remaining print number exceeds the predetermined number. (Step # 31). If not, the process proceeds to step # 30, and this control ends upon completion of printing (END).
On the other hand, if the remaining number of prints exceeds the predetermined number (Yes in step # 31), after printing the predetermined number, the control unit 8 performs the printing operation after printing the first first backing paper P exceeding the predetermined number. Temporarily stop (step # 32). That is, during continuous printing on the back paper, the control unit 8 temporarily stops the printing operation every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed. Thereafter, returning to step # 24, the user confirms the setting direction of the front and back of the backing paper P.

  In this way, according to the configuration shown in the second embodiment, in addition to the effects and functions shown in the first embodiment, when the image forming apparatus is used jointly, the backing paper P is used for each user. May be stacked on the paper feed unit. In this case, some users may set the back side of the back paper P in the wrong direction in the paper feed unit. However, according to this configuration, since the printing operation is temporarily stopped every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed, the setting direction of the front and back of the back paper P placed on the paper feeding unit is changed in the middle, It is possible to prevent the image from being continuously formed on the printed surface even when the double-sided printed paper is mixed. In addition, since the printing operation is resumed after a lapse of a predetermined time after the printing operation is temporarily stopped, even when the user leaves the image forming apparatus for a long time with the printing operation temporarily stopped. Further, it is possible to prevent the unprintable state of the image forming apparatus for a long time.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

  The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus that performs printing on a backing paper.

1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to a first embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the operation panel which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a multifunction peripheral according to a first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control during printing on the back paper of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. It is an example of the display screen of the liquid crystal display part displayed at the time of continuous printing of the backing paper which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control at the time of backing paper printing of the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP (image forming device) 2 Operation panel (input unit)
21 Liquid crystal display unit 24 Start key 4 Paper feed unit 41 Paper cassette (part of paper feed unit)
43 Manual feed tray (part of paper feed unit) 8 Control unit 83 Timekeeping unit 85 I / F unit (input unit)
P Backing paper

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus having a control unit that controls an image forming operation and a paper feeding unit on which a single-sided printed backing paper can be placed.
During continuous backing paper printing, in which multiple images are continuously formed on the backing paper, when the printing paper empty is detected,
The control unit temporarily stops the printing operation after printing the first sheet,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to display whether to continue or cancel printing. During continuous printing of the backing paper,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not temporarily stop the remaining printing after the temporary stop of the printing operation of the first sheet. During continuous printing of the backing paper,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit temporarily stops a printing operation every time a predetermined number of sheets are printed. Having an input unit for receiving an operation instruction input to the device;
The control unit restarts printing on the condition that an input for resuming printing by the input unit is received after temporarily stopping a printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. It has a timekeeping part that measures the time since the printing operation was stopped,
The said control part restarts printing operation, when the said time measuring part time-measures that the predetermined time has passed since it temporarily stopped printing operation at the time of the said continuous paper continuous printing. 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4. The input unit receives a reprint instruction for an already printed image during a temporary stop of the printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit reprints an already printed image based on a reprint instruction to the input unit. The input unit receives an instruction to shift to a back paper printing mode for temporarily stopping a printing operation during continuous printing of the back paper,
5. The control unit temporarily stops a printing operation during continuous printing of the backing paper only when an instruction to shift to the backing paper printing mode is given to the input unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 6.