JP5515840B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming equipment, in particular, it relates to an image forming equipment which performs properly maintain image forming printing upper limit number.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copying apparatuses, composite apparatuses, and printer apparatuses limit the number of images formed for each image forming apparatus in order to save paper resources, other consumables, and power consumption. Things have been done.

  In particular, with the rapid spread of image forming apparatuses in recent years, many image forming apparatuses are connected to a network, and image formation is performed using a plurality of image forming apparatuses. , TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) reduction is becoming important. Accordingly, it is necessary to appropriately limit the upper limit for use for each image forming apparatus as a measure for reducing the amount of paper used and the consumption of other consumables and reducing the power consumption. That is, it is necessary to set an upper limit number of prints in the image forming apparatus and limit the number of prints to the upper limit number of prints.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus, in order to improve the productivity of image formation (printing), the front of the paper to be printed is transported from the paper feed tray to the image forming unit and discharged to the paper discharge tray. In the state where the sheet of the page (the sheet sent out first) exists, the preceding sheet feeding for starting the sheet feeding of the sheet of the next page from the sheet feeding tray is performed. In other words, productivity is improved by performing high-speed paper feed with a short gap between paper sheets.

  With regard to the setting of the upper limit number of prints, conventionally, when the number of sheets fed from the sheet feeding unit and existing on the transport path is added to the number of sheets discharged to the discharge unit, There has been proposed a technique for stopping paper feeding from a section (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the above prior art, when the number of printed sheets reaches the upper limit number of sheets in consideration of the number of sheets existing on the conveyance path, the sheet feeding from the sheet feeding tray is stopped, so that the sheet interval is shortened. Since paper feeding is suddenly stopped in a state where high-speed paper feeding is being performed, there is a problem that the load on the paper feeding mechanism increases, the paper feeding mechanism becomes larger, and the cost increases.

  Accordingly, the present invention appropriately adjusts the interval of the medium to be conveyed while increasing the interval between the media when the number of images to be formed reaches a predetermined number of media adjustments smaller than the upper limit number, while improving the productivity of image formation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium that can perform medium supply restrictions.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a medium storage means for storing a plurality of image forming media, an image forming means for forming an image on the image forming medium, and an image formed by the image forming means. A discharge tray from which the medium is discharged, a sending means for sending the image forming medium one by one from the medium storing means, and the image forming medium sent from the medium storing means by the sending means from the medium storing means. A conveying unit that conveys the image forming unit on a conveying path to the discharge tray; and the number of the image forming medium that is discharged to the discharge tray in a predetermined period after detecting the image forming medium discharged to the discharge tray. The number of ejected sheets for counting the number of sheets, and the feeding at a short medium interval at which the image forming medium fed at least earlier on the conveying path is present. The next image forming medium is sent out by the feeding means, and when the count number of the discharge number counting means is smaller than the predetermined upper limit number for limiting the image formation, Feed control means for performing delivery at a medium interval at least after the previous image forming medium is discharged from the conveyance path, and the number of sheets adjusted for the medium interval based on image forming conditions for forming an image on the image forming medium And a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed image-formed medium, and the medium-space-adjustment-number setting unit is one of the image forming conditions. An image for setting the number of sheets for adjusting the medium interval based on the length of the transport path and the length in the transport direction of the image forming medium sent to the transport path. In the forming apparatus, when post-processing by the post-processing unit is set as an image forming condition, the length of the transport path is set so that the post-processing unit is discharged from the paper feed port sent out from the medium storage unit. It is the length of the conveyance path to the discharge port discharged on the paper tray .

According to the present invention, even when the post-processing unit is attached, it is possible to calculate the predetermined number of media interval adjustments with a simple configuration, and it is possible to easily realize media supply limitation.

1 is a schematic front view of a composite apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of the composite apparatus in FIG. 1. The figure which shows the paper conveyance timing in case a paper interval is short. The figure which shows the paper conveyance timing when a paper gap is long. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process that includes a paper interval adjustment sheet number setting process based on a print job. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a sheet spacing adjustment number acquisition process of FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet interval adjustment number acquisition process in consideration of duplex printing and aggregate printing. 10 is a flowchart showing a sheet interval adjustment sheet number acquisition process in consideration of a finisher. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process based on a fixed sheet interval adjustment number. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a sheet spacing adjustment number acquisition process of FIG. 9. FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 10 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image according to the present invention. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a composite apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of a forming program and a recording medium is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a composite apparatus (image forming apparatus) 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 3, a printer unit 4, and a scanner unit 5 in a main body housing 2, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 6, and a duplex unit 7. And a finisher 8 and the like, and a paper discharge tray 9 is provided between the printer unit 4 and the scanner unit 5. The multifunction device 1 includes each unit necessary for the multifunction device 1 such as an operation display unit (not shown), and executes complex functions such as a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and a data transfer function.

  The paper feed unit (feed-out means) 3 includes a plurality of paper feed trays (medium storage means) 3a and 3b (two in FIG. 1). Each paper feed tray 3a and 3b has a paper size and a paper type, respectively. Different sheets (image forming media) can be stored. The paper feed unit 3 separates the paper from the paper feed trays 3a and 3b designated at the time of printing out of the paper feed trays 3a and 3b one by one and conveys the paper to the printer unit 4.

  The printer unit (printing unit) 4 prints an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding unit 3 by an electrophotographic method, and discharges the printed sheet to a discharge tray (discharge tray) 9 or a finisher 8. During duplex printing, the duplex unit 7 reverses the front and back sides of the paper that has been printed on one side (front side) by the printer unit 4 and transports it again to the printer unit 4, and performs printing on the other side (back side) by the printer unit 4. Make it.

  The finisher (post-processing unit) 8 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays (not shown), a staple mechanism unit that performs a staple process on a printed sheet bundle, a punch mechanism unit that performs a punch process, and a folding mechanism that performs a folding process. A post-processing mechanism unit such as a printing unit, the printer unit 4 performs post-processing specified for the sheet bundle on which the images are printed, and discharges the paper onto a paper discharge tray. A sort function for sequentially discharging a plurality of copies for each page is executed.

  An operation display unit (not shown) includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display). The operation display unit performs various command operations such as a transmission operation, a copy operation, and a scanner operation from the operation keys, and the command contents input from the operation keys and various information notified to the user from the multifunction device 1 are displayed on the display. indicate.

  As the scanner unit (image reading means) 5, for example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is used, and the ADF 6 is provided on the scanner unit 5. . A plurality of documents are set on the ADF 6, and the ADF 6 feeds the set documents one by one to the document reading position of the scanner unit 5. The scanner unit 5 scans the document conveyed from the ADF 6, reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution, binarizes it, and outputs it.

  The composite device 1 is connected to a line or network capable of facsimile communication such as a public telephone line, performs facsimile communication via the line, and transmits / receives data to / from a host device on the network via the network. Do.

  Although not shown, the composite apparatus 1 includes a controller including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) that performs image processing, a hard disk, and the like. The controller (feeding cell, medium interval adjustment number setting means) controls each part of the composite device 1 based on the program in the ROM to execute the basic functions as the composite device 1, and the paper of the present invention. An image forming method for efficiently limiting the upper limit number of prints by appropriately adjusting the interval is executed. That is, the composite apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD ( An image forming program for executing the image forming method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital versatile disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read into a ROM or By being installed in a hard disk, it is constructed as an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming method that performs an appropriate upper limit number of prints by appropriately adjusting a sheet interval described later. This image forming program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  In the composite apparatus 1, the basic program and the image forming program of the present invention are introduced, so that a functional block as shown in FIG. 2 is constructed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the multifunction apparatus 1 basically includes a user interface layer 11, a controller layer 12, an application layer 13, a device layer 14, a crosscut 15, and the like.

  The user interface layer 11 includes a communication server 11a and a local UI 11b, receives an instruction from the outside of the device, interprets the instruction, and gives an instruction to the controller layer 12. The communication server 11a is a block that accepts instructions via the network, and the local UI 11b is a block that accepts instructions from the operation display unit.

  The controller layer 12 includes a parameter 12a, an activity 12b, and the like. When an instruction is received from the user interface layer 11, the controller layer 12 stores the parameter 12a and the components in the application layer 13 necessary to satisfy the user's request in the activity 12b. The components to be used are selected from the above, and the execution is requested to each of the components to be used.

  The application layer 13 includes an input processing component 13a, a processing processing component 13b, an output processing component 13c, a storage processing component 13d, and the like, and is a component group that realizes a function for executing a user instruction. Components are not limited to logic. The application layer 13 realizes a user request by using a plurality of these components 13a to 13d. The application layer 13 performs processing for each functional block in accordance with instructions from the controller layer 12.

  In response to a request from the application layer 13, the device layer 14 controls the devices 14a, 14b, 14c,...

  The crosscut 15 is a functional block that is commonly used by all the blocks of the multifunction apparatus 1, and includes, for example, a history unit 15a, an access control unit 15b, a charging unit 15c, and the like. The history unit 15a is accessed from all the blocks that need to keep the history of the multifunction device 1, and records the contents. The access control unit 15 b performs all access control of the multifunction apparatus 1. The accounting unit 15c is accessed from all blocks that accept operation restrictions due to accounting, and performs processing based on the accounting information.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment executes a printing process (image forming process) in which the sheet interval is adjusted to be longer from an appropriate sheet interval adjustment number smaller than the upper limit number of prints, and printing is finally stopped at the upper limit number of prints. To do.

  That is, in the multifunction device 1, the upper limit number of prints of the multifunction device 1 is set by the administrator of the multifunction device 1 from the viewpoint of power saving, resource saving, and the like. Instead, for example, the maximum number of prints per predetermined time limit such as per month, per week, per day, etc. is set for each individual user who uses the multifunction apparatus 1 and for each department to which the user belongs. When the maximum number of prints is set for each individual or department, the multifunction apparatus 1 performs processing for performing personal authentication and confirmation of the department of the user who performs printing.

  In addition, in order to improve the productivity of image formation (printing), the multifunction apparatus 1 normally has a paper discharge tray 9 from a paper supply port P0 that is sent out from the paper supply trays 3a and 3b, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the time during which the paper is transported on the transport path to the discharge port P1 for discharging onto the discharge tray of the finisher 8 is t0 to t2 for the first sheet, and two sheets Assuming that the first sheet is from t1 to t3, the second sheet is transported from the sheet feeding port P0 before the first sheet is ejected from the ejection port P1, and 1 There is a period from t1 to t2 in which the interval between the first sheet and the second sheet is narrow, and the first sheet and the second sheet exist simultaneously on the conveyance path.

  When the paper is transported and ejected by sequentially printing (image formation) at high speed in such a narrow state between the papers, the upper limit number of prints is suddenly reached and the paper is fed as before. When the operation is stopped, a load is applied to the sheet feeding mechanism.

  Therefore, the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment sets the number of prints smaller than the upper limit number of prints as the paper interval adjustment number (medium interval adjustment number), and when the total print number becomes the paper interval adjustment number, the paper interval is widened. After that, when the total number of prints reaches the upper limit number of prints, the paper feed from the paper feed unit 3 is stopped, the image formation is terminated, and the paper gap adjustment number is set to print the print job. Appropriately automatically set according to printing conditions (image forming conditions) to be performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, printing is performed in a state where the sheet interval is short, and the sheet interval adjustment is performed in consideration of the sheet size of the sheet used for printing while the upper limit number of sheets is set. First, the case of performing the process will be described.

  In the following description, a printing process accompanied by a paper interval adjustment process when the multifunction apparatus 1 performs a copying process will be described. However, the printing process is not limited to a copying process, and a printer process and a facsimile reception are performed as long as the process involves a printing process. The same applies to printing processing and the like.

  When the user sets a document on the ADF 6 of the scanner unit 5 and selects the copy function, the multifunction apparatus 1 selects the scanner reading as the input process and the printing as the output process. When the user performs copy settings such as color selection, aggregation, scaling, etc. in the operation display unit, and presses the start key to instruct the start of print processing, the input processing component 13a reads the scanner unit 5. An area for storing an image is secured in the memory space, and a paper document is instructed to the scanner unit 5 to read the document. Here, the read data is stored in a memory area secured in advance.

  When the multifunction device 1 starts reading the document by the scanner unit 5, the output generated by the processing process edited and created by the processing component 13b based on the print setting (printing condition: image forming condition) specified by the user. The image is converted into CMYK by the output processing component 13c, and the image is printed out on the paper conveyed from the paper supply unit 3 to the printer unit 4.

  Since the composite apparatus 1 has a short sheet interval, the series of processes from reading the original to printing the image on the paper has been completed, as shown in FIG. Before printing, the second document is read while the first document is being printed, and the conveyance of the second sheet from the paper feeding unit 3 to the printer unit 4 is started. I do. That is, in FIG. 3, in a portion where the first sheet and the second sheet overlap on the time axis, a plurality of sheets are simultaneously present on the conveyance path.

  The multifunction apparatus 1 performs a process of counting up the number of prints by detecting a sheet discharged to the sheet discharge tray 9 or the sheet discharge tray of the finisher 8 with a sheet sensor (not shown) and using it as an internal counter deca of the controller. Even when the upper limit number of prints is reached at the time of paper discharge, the next sheet is already fed on the transport path. If the printer stops and prints on a sheet that already exists on the sheet conveyance path and discharges the sheet, the upper limit number of prints will be exceeded.

  Therefore, when the total number of printed sheets reaches the adjustment number of sheets close to the upper limit number of prints, the composite apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The interval is set so that only the sheet exists, and printing can be appropriately stopped at the upper limit number of sheets while suppressing the load on the sheet feeding mechanism.

  Then, the multifunction apparatus 1 sets the sheet spacing adjustment number based on a print job or a print condition (image forming condition) that is an execution environment of the print job. First, the case of setting the number of sheets to be adjusted based only on the paper size of the paper on which an image is formed in the printing conditions will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the image forming process is started, the multifunction apparatus 1 acquires the remaining number of printed sheets M (step S101), and transports from the paper feed trays 3a and 3b serving as the paper feed port P0 to the paper discharge tray 9 serving as the paper discharge port 1. The path length (path) P is acquired (step S102). The remaining number of printed sheets M is the number of printed sheets P discharged to the discharge tray 9 from the upper limit number of sheets that can be printed by the user of the print job (hereinafter referred to as “printed”). The number of printable sheets is counted by a counter built in the multifunction apparatus 1. The conveyance path (conveyance path length) P from the paper supply port P0 to the paper discharge port P1 is a double-sided printing in which the print settings (printing conditions) set by the user for the print job are printed on both sides of the paper. The composite apparatus 1 acquires the conveyance path path P with reference to the printing conditions, as will be described later, for example, depending on whether or not there is aggregate printing in which page images of a plurality of documents are printed on one sheet. To do.

  Next, the multifunction apparatus 1 acquires the sheet size S of the output sheet from the print settings (step S103), and acquires the sheet adjustment sheet number S from the acquired conveyance path P and the sheet size S. Is performed (step S104). The sheet spacing adjustment number L here is a number of sheets that determines how many sheets remain until the upper limit printing number is reached, and how to adjust the sheet spacing.

  When the multifunction apparatus 1 obtains the sheet spacing adjustment number L, the multifunction device 1 compares the sheet spacing adjustment number L with the remaining printing number M, and determines whether the remaining printing number M is a number that enters the control slowly with a larger sheet spacing. That is, it is checked whether it is a slow control target (step S105), and when it is not a slow control target, that is, when the remaining printing number M is larger than the paper spacing adjustment number L, a plurality of paper spacing, for example, on the transport path The normal printing using the normal sheet interval in which there is a sheet of paper is continued (step S106), and it is checked whether all the printing is completed, that is, whether there is data to be printed on the sheet (step S107).

  If it is determined in step S107 that printing has not ended, the process returns to step S101 and the same processing as described above is performed (steps S101 to S107).

  When the remaining number of printed sheets M is smaller than the sheet spacing adjustment number L in step S105, the multifunction apparatus 1 determines that it is the sheet spacing adjustment timing, and the sheet in which at least a plurality of sheets do not exist on the sheet transport path between the sheets. For example, after the previous sheet as shown in FIG. 4 is discharged from the discharge port P1, the next sheet is switched to the sheet fed from the sheet supply port P0 and printed (step S108). It is checked whether printing has been completed or the maximum number of copies has been reached (step S107).

  If all printing has not been completed or the maximum number of prints has not been reached in step S107, the multifunction apparatus 1 returns to step S101 and performs the same processing (steps S101 to S108), and in step S107. When all the printing is finished or the upper limit number of prints is reached, the process is finished. .

  Then, the multifunction apparatus 1 executes the paper spacing adjustment number acquisition process in step S104 as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6, when the multifunction apparatus 1 enters the paper interval adjustment sheet number acquisition process, it calculates the sheet number D that enters the conveyance path (step S201), and from what number the remaining sheet number D is delayed (wide) The sheet spacing adjustment number L is set (step S202). Then, the multifunction apparatus 1 calculates the number D of sheets entering the transport path by dividing the transport path path P by the sheet size S (D = P / S).

  As described above, the composite apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment uses the paper feed trays 3a and 3b to feed the sheets fed one by one at a short medium interval where there is at least the first fed paper on the conveyance path. When the paper is transported on the transport path from 3a and 3b to the paper discharge tray 9 through the image forming unit 4 and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 9, the number of sheets discharged to the paper discharge tray 9 is counted. When the count number is less than the predetermined upper limit number of prints that limits image formation, the sheet is fed out from the sheet feed trays 3a and 3b at least after the previous sheet is discharged from the conveyance path. In addition to the interval between sheets, the number of adjusted sheets is set based on the printing condition (image forming condition) for printing (image forming) on the sheet.

  Accordingly, the paper interval can be adjusted to a wide paper interval with a paper interval adjustment number corresponding to the printing conditions, which is smaller than the upper limit number of prints, while improving the productivity of printing (image formation). Thus, it is possible to appropriately perform printing restriction, which is medium supply restriction, while suppressing the load on the paper feeding unit 3.

  Further, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment sets the number of sheets to be adjusted based on the paper size of the printing conditions. In other words, the number of sheets to be adjusted is set based on the length of the conveyance path as one of the image forming conditions and the length in the conveyance direction of the sheet sent to the conveyance path.

  Accordingly, it is possible to easily and inexpensively set the sheet spacing adjustment number in consideration of the number of sheets on the conveyance path, and to perform printing restriction at low cost and appropriately while improving the productivity of printing (image formation). it can.

  In addition, the multifunction apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment sets the number of sheets to be adjusted as a print setting in consideration of not only the paper size but also whether to perform double-sided printing and whether to perform collective printing. The case will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing flow of the printing process itself is the same as that in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the multifunction apparatus 1 calculates the number of sheets D entering the conveyance path by D = P / S (step S301) as described above, and sets the number D as the sheet spacing adjustment number L (step S301). S302) It is checked whether double-sided printing is set according to the print settings (step S303).

  In step S303, when double-sided printing is set in the print settings, the multi-function apparatus 1 transports the paper on which single-sided printing has been completed to the double-sided unit 7 and reverses the front and back to perform double-sided printing. In order to perform printing on the back side again, the length obtained by adding the length of the conveyance path (hereinafter simply referred to as the duplex unit length) to which the conveyance path path P is conveyed and returned to the duplex unit 7 is added to the single-sided printing path P. (Step S304). That is, P = P + duplex unit length.

  Next, the composite apparatus 1 performs recalculation (D = P / S) of the number of sheets D entering the conveyance path based on the recalculated conveyance path path P (step S305), and calculates the calculated number D of sheets. It is set as the sheet spacing adjustment number L, which is delayed from the remaining sheets (whether the sheet spacing is wide) (step S306).

  When performing double-sided printing, since the original image data for two sheets of the front and back sides are printed on one sheet, the composite apparatus 1 uses the sheet spacing adjustment number L obtained in step S306 as the sheet spacing adjustment number L. A value obtained by dividing by 2 (L = L / 2) is set (step S307).

  If double-sided printing is not set in step S303, the multifunction apparatus 1 sets the sheet spacing adjustment number L set in step S302 as it is as the sheet spacing adjustment number L (step S308).

  When the setting process of the sheet spacing adjustment number L based on the presence / absence of double-sided printing is completed, the multifunction apparatus 1 next checks whether the print setting is set to perform aggregate printing (step S309), and performs settings for performing aggregate printing. In the consolidated printing, since the original images for a plurality of pages are collected and printed on one sheet, the paper spacing adjustment is performed according to the number of consolidations (the number of consolidations is 2 in FIG. 7). The number L is set (L = L / n = L / 2; n is the number of aggregations), and the process ends (step S310).

  In step S309, when the print setting is not set to perform the collective printing, the multi-function apparatus 1 sets the sheet adjustment number L to the sheet adjustment number L set in accordance with the duplex printing setting and performs processing. Is finished (step S311).

  As described above, when there is a printing condition (image forming condition) that affects the conveyance path length of the sheet, the multifunction apparatus 1 sets the sheet spacing adjustment number based on the conveyance path length that changes according to the printing condition. It is set.

  Accordingly, even when the conveyance path length of the sheet changes depending on the printing conditions, it is possible to perform the sheet interval adjustment by setting the sheet interval adjustment number corresponding to the conveyance path path P that is the conveyance path length. It is possible to more appropriately perform the print restriction by appropriately adjusting the sheet interval.

  In addition, as described above, when the number of sheets is adjusted in consideration of whether or not double-sided printing is performed and whether or not collective printing is performed as a printing condition, the conveyance path length of the double-sided unit 7 is considered. Thus, it is possible to perform the sheet interval adjustment in consideration of the setting of the sheet interval adjustment sheet number and the integrated printing, and it is possible to more appropriately perform the sheet interval adjustment and perform the print restriction more appropriately.

  Furthermore, the case where the multifunction apparatus 1 sets the sheet adjustment number in consideration of whether or not to use the finisher will be described with reference to FIG. In this case as well, the processing flow of the printing process itself is the same as that shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the multifunction apparatus 1 checks whether or not the setting for using the finisher 8 is set in the print settings (image forming conditions) (step S401). Then, the sheet spacing adjustment number acquisition process shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 is executed, and the process is terminated (step S402).

  If the finisher 8 is set to be used in the print settings in step S401, the multifunction apparatus 1 moves from the paper feed port P0 to the paper discharge tray P1 to the paper discharge tray of the finisher 8 from the paper feed trays 3a and 3b. Obtained as the path P of the conveyance path (step S403), the sheet spacing adjustment number acquisition process shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 is executed, and the process ends (step S402). In FIG. 8, the transport path P from the paper feed port P0 to the paper discharge port P1 of the finisher 8 is calculated as P = P + relay unit + finisher path length. The path of the transport path in the main body of the composite apparatus 1 and the relay unit are the transport path of the relay unit (not shown) that relays the main body of the composite apparatus 1 and the finisher 8 and the finisher path length is the relay of the finisher 8 A path on the transport path from the paper feed inlet to the finisher 8 to the paper discharge outlet P1 of the finisher 8.

  As described above, the multifunction apparatus 1 sets the number of sheets to be adjusted in consideration of the transport path of the finisher 8.

  Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately set the number of sheets to be adjusted between papers and more appropriately perform printing restriction.

  Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the multifunction apparatus 1 may perform the printing process by setting the sheet spacing adjustment number L to a preset fixed value.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the multi-function apparatus 1 performs a paper interval adjustment number acquisition process to acquire the remaining print number M and a fixed paper interval adjustment number L (step S501). And the remaining number of printed sheets M are compared, and it is checked whether the remaining number of printed sheets M is the number of sheets to be entered into the slow control with the gap between the sheets increased, that is, whether it is the object of slow control (step S502).

  In step S502, when the target is not slowly controlled, that is, when the remaining number of printed sheets M is larger than the sheet spacing adjustment number L, the composite apparatus 1 continues normal printing using the normal sheet spacing as the sheet spacing ( In step S503), it is checked whether all printing is completed, that is, whether there is data to be printed on the paper (step S504).

  In step S502, when the remaining number of printed sheets M is smaller than the sheet interval adjustment number L, the multifunction apparatus 1 determines that it is the sheet interval adjustment timing, and at least a plurality of sheets between the sheets do not exist on the sheet conveyance path. For example, after the previous sheet as shown in FIG. 4 is discharged from the discharge port P1, the next sheet is switched to the sheet fed from the sheet supply port P0 and printed (step S505). It is checked whether printing has been completed (step S504).

  In step S504, if all printing has not been completed, the multifunction apparatus 1 returns to step S501 and performs the same processing as above (steps S501 to S504). When all printing is completed in step S504, the multifunction apparatus 1 performs processing. finish. .

  The multi-function apparatus 1 performs the sheet spacing adjustment number acquisition process in step S501 as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the multi-function apparatus 1 acquires the remaining number of printed sheets M from the counter (step S601), and adjusts the number of sheets to be delayed from the remaining number of sheets to be delayed (between wide sheets). A fixed number of sheets set in advance as L is acquired (step S602).

  As described above, when the sheet interval adjustment is performed with the fixed sheet interval adjustment number, the sheet interval adjustment can be performed more easily and inexpensively, and the printing restriction can be performed easily and inexpensively.

  In the printing process described above, the upper limit number of prints and the remaining number of prints may be displayed on the display of the operation display unit before printing is started.

  In this way, the user of the multifunction apparatus 1 can know the upper limit number of prints and the remaining number of prints, and can determine whether the print job to be printed can be properly completed. As a result, the usability of the composite apparatus 1 can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium, such as a printer apparatus and a composite apparatus that perform printing processing by limiting the number of sheets to be printed and narrowing the interval between sheets. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound apparatus 2 Main body housing | casing 3 Paper feed part 3a, 3b Paper feed tray 4 Printer part 5 Scanner part 6 ADF
7 Double-sided unit 8 Finisher 9 Output tray 11 User interface layer 11a Communication server 11b Local UI
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Controller layer 12a Parameter 12b Activity 13 Application layer 13a Input processing component 13b Processing processing component 13c Output processing component 13d Storage processing component 14 Device layer 14a, 14b, 14c Device 15 Crosscut 15a History part 15b Access control part 15c Charge part

JP 2008-80624 A

Claims (6)

Medium storage means for storing a plurality of image forming media;
Image forming means for forming an image on the image forming medium;
A discharge tray for discharging the image forming medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit;
Delivery means for delivering the image forming medium one by one from the medium storage means;
Conveying means for conveying the image forming medium fed from the medium accommodating means by the feeding means on the conveying path from the medium accommodating means through the image forming means to the discharge tray;
A discharge number counting means for detecting the image forming medium discharged to the discharge tray and counting the number of the image forming medium discharged to the discharge tray in a predetermined period;
A predetermined number that causes the feeding means to send out the next image forming medium at a short medium interval where the image forming medium sent out at least earlier on the transport path is present, and the count number of the discharge number counting means limits image formation. When the medium interval adjustment number is less than the upper limit number of sheets, the feeding control means for feeding the image forming medium by the feeding means at least at the medium interval after the previous image forming medium is discharged from the conveyance path. When,
Medium interval adjustment sheet number setting means for setting the medium interval adjustment sheet number based on image forming conditions for forming an image on the image forming medium;
A post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the image-formed image-formed medium;
Equipped with a,
The medium interval adjustment sheet number setting means sets the medium interval adjustment sheet number as one of the image forming conditions based on the length of the conveyance path and the conveyance direction length of the image forming medium sent to the conveyance path. In the image forming apparatus,
When post-processing by the post-processing unit is set as an image forming condition, the length of the transport path is set on the paper output tray of the post-processing unit from the paper feed port sent out from the medium storage unit. An image forming apparatus having a length of a conveyance path to a discharge outlet . The length of the transport path is a path of a transport path in the main body of the image forming apparatus, a path of a transport path of a relay unit that relays the image forming apparatus main body and the post-processing unit, and the length of the post-processing unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the length is the sum of all the paths of the conveyance path from the paper feed inlet to the paper discharge tray of the post-processing unit . The medium interval adjustment sheet number setting means, when there is an image forming condition that affects the transport path length of the image forming medium as the image forming condition, the medium interval adjusting unit based on the transport path length that changes according to the image forming condition. the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting the adjustment number. The image forming apparatus includes a duplex unit that reverses the image forming medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit and sends the image forming unit to the image forming unit again.
When the double-sided image formation for forming images on both sides of the image forming medium is set as the image forming condition, the medium interval adjustment number setting unit sets the conveyance path length of the duplex unit as the length of the conveyance path. the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 using the transfer path length from claim 1, characterized in that to set the media spacing adjustment number, including. The media spacing adjustment in the number setting means, said a media spacing adjustment number, any one of claim 1, wherein setting the plurality of media spacing adjustment number to widen stepwise media spacing of claim 4 1 The image forming apparatus described in the item. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium interval adjustment sheet number setting unit sets a fixed medium interval adjustment sheet number that is preset with respect to the upper limit sheet number .

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