Image forming device, and method for control of image forming device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of identifying a type of a print medium and a control method thereof.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Normally, image forming devices such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, and multifunction devices can select and print various print media (paper, film, etc.) depending on the type of image to be printed, and the characteristics of each selected print medium. Various printing methods can be used according to the above. In particular, in the case of an image forming apparatus such as a color inkjet printer that outputs a multicolor image such as a photograph using ink, general printing paper and ink are applied to the printing surface depending on the quality of the image to be printed. The quality of the output image can be improved by selecting from coated printing papers coated with a predetermined material so as not to cause bleeding and outputting an image by a printing method suitable for the selected printing paper. Such setting of the type of print medium is performed by the user separately operating the terminal or the image forming apparatus main body connected to the image forming apparatus.

【0003】

In the conventional image forming apparatus configured in this way, each time the user outputs an image, the user must operate the terminal or the main body of the device one by one to set in advance the type of printing medium to be input to the image forming apparatus. There was an inconvenience. In order to solve this problem, in recent years, an image forming apparatus has been developed in which the type of printing medium is identified by itself and then the printing method can be adapted according to the type of printing medium. This is because a print medium type identification sensor that outputs a print medium identification signal to a control unit of an image forming device or a control unit of a terminal is installed in the image forming unit or the print medium supply device.

【0004】

FIG. 6 shows an example of the image forming apparatus as described above, and shows an inkjet printer (100) in which the printing medium type identification sensor (190) is installed close to the printing nozzle (115) corresponding to the image forming unit. It is a partial cross-sectional view. According to FIG. 6, the image forming apparatus (100) includes a print medium transfer device (130) and a print medium supply device (120), and the print medium transfer device (130) includes a feed roller (131). It includes a drive roller (133), a pickup roller (135), and a print medium transfer path (140). The print medium transfer path (140) is formed by a plurality of guide members (260a, 260b, 260c). Then, the identification sensor (190) is installed on the lower surface of the printer head (110) between the print nozzle (115) and the feed roller (131), and the image is printed on the print medium by the print nozzle (115). Identify the type of print medium (10) before.

【0005】

The operation of the conventional image forming apparatus configured in this way is as follows. First, the pickup roller (135) is driven so as to supply the print medium (10) from the print medium supply device (120) to the print medium transfer path (140). The print medium (10) supplied to the print medium transfer path (140) in this way is supplied to the feed roller (131) by the drive roller (133). The entry of the print medium (10) into the feed roller (131) is detected by a detection means including a print medium entry detection member (150) installed between the feed roller (131) and the drive roller (133). .. When the detection signal is output from this detection means, the feed roller (131) is driven to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow (a) shown in FIG. 6 for a predetermined time, so that the print medium (10) is driven. Align the tip parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed roller (131). After the tips of the print media (10) are aligned in this way, the feed roller (131) is driven to rotate again in the forward rotation direction (a), transferred until it reaches the print medium type identification sensor (190), and then stopped. To do. At this time, the type of the print medium (10) is identified by the print medium type identification sensor (190), and then the feed roller (131) is driven again in the forward rotation direction to print the print medium (10). Transfer to the bottom of (115). The print nozzle (115) prints the image corresponding to the input data signal on the print medium (10) transferred in this way on the print medium (10), and one print cycle is completed.

【0006】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the feed roller (131) of the inkjet printer (100) operating in this way is driven in reverse rotation to align the print medium (10) before transferring the print medium (10) to the print nozzle (115). The print medium (10) is transferred to the print nozzle (115) by being driven in a forward rotation after a predetermined time. Then, in order to identify the species of the print medium (10) before the print medium (10) reaches the print nozzle (115), the drive is stopped and then the forward rotation is driven again. There is a problem that the printing speed is reduced.

【0007】

In particular, when the size of the image to be printed is large and a small margin is required, the feed roller (131) is driven in the reverse rotation again after identifying the species of the print medium (10), and the print medium (10) is driven again. Is retracted from the printer head (110), and the print nozzle (115) is reinserted into the print nozzle (115) after the print preparation is completed. As a result, there is a problem that the printing speed of the inkjet printer (100) is further reduced.

【0008】

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having an improved print medium type identification structure so as to improve the printing speed and a control method thereof in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

【0009】

[Means for solving problems]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object is a print medium transfer provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to guide the upper and lower surfaces of the print medium transferred from the print medium supply device to the image forming unit. To identify the road, the feed roller installed on the print medium transfer path so as to transfer the print medium transferred from the print medium supply device to the image forming unit, and the material of the print medium, and output the identification signal. Includes a print medium type identification sensor installed on the upstream side of the feed roller on the print medium transfer path.

【0010】

With such a configuration, an identification signal for identifying the type of the print medium is output from the identification sensor when the tip of the print medium is aligned by the reverse rotation drive of the feed roller immediately before the print medium enters the image forming unit. This eliminates the need to interrupt the transfer of the print medium to the image forming unit for identifying the print medium type. Therefore, it has the effect of improving the printing speed.

【0011】

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the identification sensor identifies the material of the print medium when it comes into contact with the print medium which is curved substantially convexly in the direction in which the identification sensor is mounted when the feed roller is driven in the reverse rotation. Then, the identification signal is output.

【0012】

Here, the identification sensor is arranged between the feed roller and the drive roller installed on the print medium transfer path so as to transfer the print medium to the feed roller, and the drive roller is also driven in the reverse rotation of the feed roller. It is preferable to continue the rotational drive in the direction of transferring the print medium to the image forming unit side.

【0013】

Then, the print medium transfer path is guided so that a part of the side where the identification sensor is installed is curved in a substantially convex shape in the direction in which the identification sensor is installed to transfer the print medium in a curved manner, and the print medium is flexed. It is preferable to have a predetermined space so that it can be printed. Further, in the print medium, it is more preferable that the print surface side on which the image is formed by the image forming portion is bent in a convex shape when the feed roller is driven in the reverse rotation.

【0014】

Here, as the identification sensor, it is preferable to use a photodetector sensor including a light emitting unit that emits light to the print medium and a light receiving unit that detects the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected from the print medium. Further, it is more preferable that a print medium intrusion detecting means for detecting the print medium entering the feed roller is installed between the feed roller and the identification sensor.

【0015】

Further, the control method of the image forming apparatus having the print medium type sensing function of the present invention includes a step of aligning the tips of the print media by driving the feed roller in the reverse rotation immediately before the print medium is transferred to the image forming unit. A step of identifying the type of the print medium by the identification signal output from the print medium type identification sensor in contact with the print medium is included after a predetermined standby time after the reverse rotation drive of the feed roller is started.

【0016】

Here, the identification signal is output from the identification sensor when a part of the print medium that bends toward the identification sensor due to the feed roller that rotates in the reverse direction in the print medium alignment step comes into contact with the identification sensor.

【0017】

Then, the standby time is counted immediately after the print medium entry detection means detects that the print medium enters the feed roller, and when the standby time reaches a preset reference time, the identification sensor determines the type of the print medium. It is turned on so that it can be detected.

【0018】

Another image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming unit, a roller for moving the print medium to the image forming unit, and a sensor for identifying the type of the print medium when the print medium is moved by the roller.

【0019】

Further, the control method of the other image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a step of aligning the tip of the printing medium parallel to the rotation axis of the feed roller by changing the rotation direction of the feed roller, and printing performed together with the alignment step. Includes a step of identifying the type of medium. It is more preferable that this identification step is performed immediately before the print medium enters the image forming unit.

【0020】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components having the same configuration and function as those in the conventional case of FIG. 6 described above are cited with the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

【0021】

1 to 5 are partial cross-sectional views showing an inkjet printer (200) as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus will be referred to as an inkjet printer (200). According to the drawings, the inkjet printer (200) according to the present embodiment includes a printer head (210), a print medium supply device (120), a print medium transfer device (130), and a print medium type identification sensor (290). And include.

【0022】

The printer head (210) has a print nozzle (215) that performs the function of an image forming unit that prints an image on the print medium (10) supplied from the print medium supply device (120) in response to the input data signal. Equipped. The printing nozzle (215) ejects the ink loaded inside to the printing medium (10) transferred to the lower part thereof.

【0023】

The print medium transfer device (130) is inside the printer (200) by means of a plurality of guide members (260a, 260b, 260c) for regulating the upper and lower surfaces of the print medium (10) transferred to the printer head (210). A plurality of rollers such as a print medium transfer path (240) formed in a section, a pickup roller (135) installed on the print medium transfer path (240), a feed roller (131), and a drive roller (133). And a driving means for rotationally driving them. The pickup roller (135) picks up the print medium (10) from the print medium supply device (120), and the feed roller (131) transfers the print medium (10) to the lower part of the printer head (210) and drives the drive roller. (133) transfers the print medium (10) from the pickup roller (135) to the feed roller (131). On the other hand, the print medium transfer path (240) in the present embodiment has a path of 180 ° so that the print medium (10) is supplied from the lower stage of the inkjet printer (200), printed, and then discharged to the central portion. It is formed in a substantially "C" shape bent so as to have a phase difference of.

【0024】

The unexplained reference numeral 150 is a print medium entry detection member for detecting the entry of the print medium (10) into the feed roller (131), and the tip thereof is a guide member (260a) with reference to the rotation axis (151). It is formed in the shape of a lever that can be swiveled through the. Such a detection member (150) is connected to a detection sensor (not shown), and if the print medium (10) enters the feed roller (131) and the detection member (150) rotates, the detection sensor can be used as the print medium. It is determined that the feed roller (131) has entered and the detection signal is output. The tip of the print medium (10) is aligned by driving the feed roller (131) in the reverse rotation according to the detection signal output in this way.

【0025】

The print medium type identification sensor (290) identifies the type of the print medium (10) by grasping the material of the print medium (10) to be printed, and outputs the identification signal. In the inkjet printer (200) according to the present embodiment, the identification sensor (290) is installed on the upstream side of the feed roller (131) on the print medium transfer path (240).

【0026】

When the inkjet printer (200) configured in this way is driven, a part of the print medium (10) is driven by a feed roller (131) which is driven in the reverse direction immediately before entering the printer head (210). In 240), the identification sensor (290) bends convexly in the direction in which it is installed. As a result, the identification sensor (290) comes into contact with the print medium (10) that is bent when the feed roller (131) rotates in the reverse direction, grasps the material of the contacted print medium (10), and outputs the identification signal. ..

【0027】

To perform the functions described above, the identification sensor (290) is placed between the feed roller (131) and the drive roller (133), as shown in FIG. The identification sensor (290) in the present embodiment is installed so as to penetrate the upper guide member (260b) of the drive roller (133) and expose its sensing surface to the print medium transfer path (240) side. In addition to this, the identification sensor (290) can be installed anywhere the print medium (10) bent upward can come into contact with the sensing surface when the feed roller (131) is driven in the reverse rotation. Further, the identification sensor (290) can be used in any form of sensor as long as it can identify the type of print medium (10) by contacting with the print medium (10). In the present embodiment, a light emitting unit that emits light to the print medium and a light receiving unit that detects the amount of light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected from the print medium (10) and outputs the detection signal are included. The light detection sensor used in a general image forming apparatus is used.

【0028】

The drive roller (133) directs the print medium (10) in the direction opposite to the rotational drive direction of the feed roller (131) so that the print medium (10) flexes better when aligning the print medium (10). It is rotationally driven in the direction of transfer to the (210) side. Then, a part of the print medium transfer path (240) in which the identification sensor (290) is installed is formed to be substantially convexly curved in the direction in which the identification sensor (290) is installed, and the print medium (10) is transferred in a curved manner. Guide to be done. Then, a predetermined space portion (245) is formed under the identification sensor (290). At this time, in the print medium (10), the printing surface side on which the image is formed is bent convexly by the printing nozzle (215), and the identification sensor (290) determines the material characteristics of the printing surface when it comes into contact with the identification sensor (290). Detect accurately.

【0029】

Hereinafter, the operating state of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 by taking an inkjet printer (200) as an example.

【0030】

First, when a print command is input to the inkjet printer (200), as shown in FIG. 2, the print medium (10) moves from the print medium supply device (130; see FIG. 1) to the pickup roller (135). It is transferred to the feed roller (131) side by the drive roller (133).

【0031】

As shown in FIG. 3, immediately before the print medium (10) transferred to the feed roller (131) side enters the feed roller (131), the print medium entry detection member (150) and the print medium (10) By contact rotation, a detection signal is output from a detection sensor (not shown). When the detection signal is output from the detection sensor, the feed roller (131) rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which the print medium (10) is rotated so as to be transferred to the printer head (210) (a; see FIG. 1). It is driven to rotate. Along with this, the tips of the print media (10) transferred to the printer head (210) side are aligned.

【0032】

As shown in FIG. 4, the print medium (10) continues to be transferred to the feed roller (131) side by the drive roller (133) even though the feed roller (131) is driven in the reverse rotation. That is, when the feed roller (131) is driven in the reverse rotation, the drive roller (133) continues to be driven in the forward rotation in the direction of transferring the print medium to the feed roller (131). Along with this, the print medium (10) that has reached the feed roller (131) cannot advance further toward the print nozzle (215) due to the reverse rotation feed roller (131), and the upstream side continues to be the drive roller (133). ) Toward the feed roller (131), a part of the identification sensor (290) flexes convexly from the lower space (245) toward the identification sensor (290).

【0033】

In this way, the increasingly curved print medium (10) eventually comes into contact with the sensing surface of the identification sensor (290) on its upper surface, and the identification sensor (290) identifies the species of the print medium (10) accordingly. To do. That is, the light receiving unit of the identification sensor (290) is emitted from the light emitting unit, detects the amount of light reflected from the print medium (10), and then outputs the detection signal to output the detection signal (not shown). Can identify whether or not the print surface of the print medium (10) can be coated, and the coating type thereof.

【0034】

Here, the light receiving unit can output an accurate detection signal when the light receiving unit is separated from the print medium (10) at a predetermined distance. In the identification sensor (290) in the present embodiment, the distance between the sensing surface and the light receiving part is preset as the distance between the object to be detected and the object to be detected that can output an accurate detection signal of the light receiving part. Therefore, the light receiving unit can output the most accurate detection signal when the print medium (10) comes into contact with the sensing surface. Therefore, in the identification sensor (290), after the feed roller (131) rotates in the reverse direction, the predetermined standby time, that is, the distance between the light receiving unit and the print medium (10) becomes the optimum distance for the print medium identification. As described above, when the time required for the print medium (10) to come into contact with the sensing surface has passed, the print medium (10) automatically turns on. This standby time is counted immediately after the print medium entry detection sensor detects that the print medium (10) enters the feed roller (131), and is identified only when the standby time reaches a preset reference time. When the sensor (290) is turned on, the print medium type identification signal is output. Of course, in this case, the print medium (10) comes into contact with the sensing surface of the identification sensor (290).

【0035】

After the print medium type has been identified as described above, the feed roller (131) transfers the print medium (10) to the printer head (210) side as shown in FIG. 5 (a; see FIG. 1). The print medium (10) is transferred to the lower part of the printer head (210) by the feed roller (131). At this time, in order to identify the print medium type, it is not necessary to stop the print medium (10) toward the printer head (210) after being transferred from the feed roller (131), whereby the printing speed of the printer (200) is increased. improves.

【0036】

On the other hand, in the description of the present embodiment, only the case of an inkjet printer having a substantially "C" -shaped print medium transfer path has been described as an example, but the description is not limited to this, and various forms of print medium transfer path can be used. It goes without saying that it can be applied to an inkjet printer (200) and other image forming apparatus, for example, a multifunction device, a laser printer, etc., which are required to identify the print medium type.

【0037】

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the print medium (10) is transferred to the image forming unit by installing the print medium type identification sensor (290) on the upstream side of the feed roller (131). By driving the feed roller (131) in the reverse direction immediately before the printing medium (131) is driven, the material of the printing medium (10) can be grasped and the printing medium type can be identified at the time of the generally performed alignment of the printing medium (10).

【0038】

That is, by simultaneously aligning the print medium (10) transferred to the image forming unit (210) and identifying the print medium type, the print medium (10) to the image forming unit (210) for image printing is performed. This has the effect of shortening the transfer time of the image forming apparatus (200) and increasing the printing speed of the image forming apparatus (200).

【0039】

In particular, even when the printed image is large and the print margin of the print medium (10) is small, the print medium (10) is aligned by the feed roller (131), the print medium type is identified, and at the same time, the print medium type is immediately identified. The print nozzle (215) is ready for printing. Along with this, since the printing medium (10) does not have to enter the printer head (210) side and retreat again as in the conventional case, the printing speed of the image forming apparatus (200) even when printing a large image. Has the effect of not decreasing.

【0040】

Although the preferred embodiments for exemplifying the principle of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration and operation thereof. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications without departing from the ideas and categories of the claims, and these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood as a thing.

【0041】

[Effect of the invention]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having an improved print medium type identification structure so as to improve the printing speed, and a control method thereof.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Figure 2]

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 3]

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 4]

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 5]

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Fig. 6]

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Print medium 100: Image forming device (inkjet printer) 110: Printer head 115: Print nozzle 120: Print media supply device 130: Print media transfer device 131: Feed roller 133: Drive roller 135: Pickup roller 140: Print media transfer path 150: Print media entry detection member 151: Rotation axis 190: Print media type identification sensor 200: Image forming device (inkjet printer) 210: Printer head 215: Printing nozzle 240: Print media transfer path 245: Space 260a, 260b, 260c: Guide member 290: Print media type identification sensor