JPH08272160A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make the image formation impossible even when a user intends it on both sides of a recording medium which is not designed for it by furnishing a control means to stop the two-side image formation in the case where a two-side image formation prohibiting means is set on. CONSTITUTION: An operation part OP is connected to a control part 25, and there a two-side copy prohibit switch 29 for the lower stage sheet feed unit, a two-side copy prohibit switch 35 for the upper stage sheet feed unit, a two-side copy prohibit switch 36 for the deck sheet feed unit, and an alarm part 31 to emit voice and display alarms are installed. When rear paper, semi-transparent tracing paper, etc., is to be set in the lower stage sheet feed unit, the user turns on the two-side copy prohibit switch for the lower stage. When the lower stage sheet feed unit is selected at copying, the control part 25 stops two-side image formation. In the case where the recording medium in use is not designed for two-side image formation, for example, rear paper, semi-transparent sheet, etc., image formation is automatically hindered even though the user intends it so that occurrence of erroneous copying is precluded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
Particularly, it relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming a double-sided image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, there is a type capable of forming an image not only on the front surface of a recording medium (paper) but also on the back surface. When an image forming apparatus capable of forming images on both the front and back sides is used, double-sided copying is possible, for example, when copying a book for double-sided printing, the number of sheets after copying is small, and it is not bulky. It is economical because it requires only half.

On the other hand, in recent years, from the standpoint of resource saving and nature conservation, there has been a demand for saving paper made of pulp made from wood. As one means of saving paper, it is a useful means to copy only the front surface and copy it to the back surface of the recorded paper that has become unnecessary (hereinafter referred to as back paper).

In some cases, a semi-transparent paper such as tracing paper or a transparent paper is set in a paper feeding unit and a copy is made on the semi-transparent or transparent paper.

[0005]

However, when double-sided copying is performed without knowing that the backing sheet is set in the paper feeding unit, the back side of the backing sheet is a blank sheet and recording after copying is performed. Can be read, but the front side of the backing paper has already been recorded (for example, another copy has been made)
Therefore, the images of the recorded copy and the new copy overlap, and the new image cannot be read.

Further, when two-sided copying is performed on the above-mentioned semi-transparent or transparent paper, the images on the front surface and the back surface are transparent and overlap each other, so that it is difficult to discriminate the images on both surfaces.

Therefore, if double-sided copying is performed on the above-mentioned backing paper or semi-transparent paper, the time spent for the copying up to that point, the consumables such as toner, and the waste of electric power are generated, and the copying is finished. It is not preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the expenses to be spent.

Therefore, when the recording medium is a recording medium which is not suitable for image formation on both sides such as a backing paper or a semi-transparent sheet, the user can perform the image formation on both sides of the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which an image cannot be formed even if an image is formed.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus capable of either single-sided image formation or double-sided image formation on a recording medium. Double-sided image formation prohibition setting means for prohibiting double-sided image formation on the first side, and first double-sided image formation stop control means for stopping double-sided image formation when the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is set to prohibition. It is characterized by having and.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a state setting switch provided in a recording medium supply unit for supplying the recording medium.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a storage element for storing the input double-sided image formation prohibition information.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in an image forming apparatus capable of both single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation on a recording medium, whether or not the recording medium is capable of recording on both sides. Double-sided recording availability determination means for determining
And a second double-sided image formation stop control means for stopping the double-sided image formation when the double-sided recordability determining means determines that the double-sided recording is impossible.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the double-sided recording possibility determining means comprises recording state detecting means for detecting a recording state on the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit. To do.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the double-sided recording enable / disable determining means includes a light transmitting member determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit is a light transmitting member. It is characterized by

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the user sets the double-sided image formation prohibition setting to the double-sided image formation prohibition setting on the recording medium. The first double-sided image formation stop control means performs control to stop double-sided image formation when the double-sided image formation prohibiting means is set to prohibit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a state setting switch provided in the recording medium supply unit for supplying the recording medium, and the user sets the state setting switch on both sides. Set to the state that prohibits image formation on the.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a storage element for storing the input double-sided image formation prohibition information, and the user can perform image formation on both sides from the operation unit. Enter the prohibition instruction.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the double-sided recording availability determination means determines whether or not the recording medium is capable of recording on both sides. The second double-sided image formation stop control means controls the double-sided image formation to be stopped when the double-sided recording availability determination means determines that double-sided recording is impossible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the double-sided recording enable / disable determining means includes recording state detecting means for detecting the recording state on the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit. When the recording state detecting means detects that the recording has been completed on the surface of the recording medium, for example, the double-sided recording availability determining means determines that the recording on the recording medium is “not possible (double-sided recording impossible)”. To judge.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the double-sided recording enable / disable determining means is a light transmitting member determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit is a light transmitting member. I have it. When the light-transmissive member determination means determines that the recording medium is a light-transmissive member (for example, a semi-transparent member), the double-sided recording permission / inhibition determination means determines that recording on the recording medium is “no (double-sided recording not possible). It is possible) ”.

[0021]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of an image forming apparatus (copying machine) of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the copying machine. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation unit of the copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower sheet feeding unit of the copying machine.

First, the mechanical schematic structure of the copying machine C will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, an original insertion / ejection section 2 for inserting an original for copying and ejecting the original after copying, and a user such as a start key are provided on the upper surface of the main body 1 of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped copying machine. An operation unit OP having keys to be operated by and a manual paper feeding unit 3 for manually feeding thick paper or irregularly shaped paper are provided, and copied paper is provided on the left side surface of the copying machine main body 1. A deck paper feeding unit 5 is provided with a paper ejection unit 4 for ejecting, and a large amount of paper is set on the right side surface of the copying machine main body 1.
Is provided.

Inside the main body 1 of the copying machine, a lower sheet feeding unit 6 which is a "recording medium feeding unit", an upper sheet feeding unit 7, and a double-sided image and a single image are formed in order from the bottom. A double-sided sheet feeding unit 8 for feeding the formed sheet again is provided. Each unit 6,
7, 8 can be pulled out to the front side.

Next, the structure of the operating portion OP will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit O is a horizontally long rectangle.
On the left side of P, a display LCD 11 for displaying the setting of image formation, operating method, etc. is arranged, and on the right side, a numeric keypad 12 used for setting the number of copies etc. at the time of image formation is arranged. There is. A start key 13 for inputting an instruction to start copying is arranged below the central portion of the operation portion OP, and a stop key 14 for discontinuing the image forming process in operation is arranged above the start key 13. ing.

On the lower left side of the operation section OP, an upper unit key for designating paper feeding from the deck paper feeding unit 5, the upper paper feeding unit 7, and the lower paper feeding unit 6 in order from the above. 15, a lower unit key 16 and a deck unit key 17 are arranged. Reference numerals 15a, 16a and 17a denote upper unit key 15, lower unit key 16 and deck unit key 17, respectively.
Is a sheet feeding unit display LED that lights up when is pressed and displays which sheet feeding unit is currently selected. The double-sided / single-sided key 18 is a key for switching from single-sided copying to double-sided copying and from double-sided copying to single-sided copying each time the key is pressed. The reference numeral 18a indicates a double-sided copy setting that is turned on when the double-sided key 18 is pressed to set double-sided copy formation, and is turned off when the double-sided key 18 is pressed again to set single-sided copy formation. It is a display LED. That is, it is an LED that indicates that duplex copying is currently set.

Reference numeral 19 is a cursor key for moving a cursor for selecting an item displayed on the display LCD 11. Reference numeral 21 is an OK key (selection key) for selecting and confirming the item at the cursor position displayed on the display LCD 11.

Next, based on FIG. 4, the lower sheet feeding unit 6
The configuration of will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the front side surface of the box-shaped lower feeding unit 6 whose upper side is opened, a handle 6a used when pulling out the unit from the copying machine main body 1 is arranged. An operation panel 30 is arranged on the right side surface of the lower sheet feeding unit 6, and a double-sided copy prohibition switch 29, which is a “state setting switch” for prohibiting double-sided copy, is arranged on the operation panel 30. The switch 29
Is composed of, for example, a slide switch which is turned on when it is slid upward and is turned off when it is slid downward.

When, for example, a backing paper or a semitransparent tracing paper is set in the lower paper feed unit 6, the user turns on the double-sided copy prohibition switch 29. A switch having the same configuration and function as the double-sided copy prohibiting switch 29 is also provided in the deck paper feeding unit 5 and the upper paper feeding unit 7 (reference numerals 35 and 36 in FIG. 1).

Next, the configuration of the control system of the copying machine C will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 25 including a CPU or the like has a work RAM 26, a ROM 27 storing a control program for a copying machine, an image for performing an image forming process such as exposure, separation and transfer. The forming portion 28 is connected. Further, the operation section OP is connected to the control section 25 (the start key 13 and the double-sided / single-sided key 18 are representatively shown), and further, the above-mentioned lower-side double-sided copy prohibition switch 29 and the upper-side sheet feeding are provided. A double-sided copy prohibiting switch 35 for the unit, a double-sided copy prohibiting switch 36 for the deck paper feeding unit, and an alarm unit 3 for issuing various alarms such as voice and display.
1 and 1 are connected.

Next, the operation of the copying machine C configured as described above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The user first selects the paper size. In this case, it is assumed that the lower unit key 16 is pressed and the lower sheet feeding unit 6 is selected.

Next, the user presses the start key 13 (see FIG. 3).
Pressing (see) starts image formation (step S
1), the control unit 25 detects the setting state of the double-sided / single-sided key 18, and when the double-sided image formation is set (step S2; Yes), the unit keys 15, 16 of the upper stage, the lower stage, and the deck, The setting states of 17 are sequentially detected (steps S3, S4, S5). Since the lower sheet feeding unit 6 is selected this time (step S5; Yes),
It is determined whether or not the lower-side double-sided copy prohibition switch 29 is set to ON. If the lower-side double-sided copy prohibition switch 29 is set to ON (step S8; Yes), the image forming process is interrupted, and the alarm unit 31 displays, for example, A paper that cannot be copied is loaded. " That is,
The control unit 25 performs a process of interrupting the image formation at the time when the ON state of the switch 29 is detected, and no copying to the paper is performed. If the double-sided copy prohibition switch 29 is off in step S8 (step S8; N
o), the image forming process is executed when it is determined that the double-sided copy paper is set. If the sheet feeding unit 6 is not the lower sheet feeding unit 6 in step S5, the image forming process is performed by determining that the sheet feeding unit 6 is not one of the lower, upper, and deck units 5, 6 and 7 (other units).

When the double-sided / single-sided key 18 is set to single-sided in step S2 (step S2).
2; No), normal image forming processing is performed. That is, even if a backing sheet is set in the lower sheet feeding unit 6, copying is performed on the backing sheet.

The respective processes in steps S5 and S8 are the same as those in steps S3 and S6.
The same is done in steps S4 and S7.

(2) Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the case where the double-sided copy prohibition switches 29, 35 and 36 are used as the “double-sided image formation prohibition setting means” has been described. As shown in the state, the double-sided image prohibition memory 32 is connected to the control unit 25 as a “storage element”, and the upper-side unit key 15 of the operation unit OP or the like is used to store, for example, a backing paper in the double-sided image prohibition memory 32. Remember which paper feeding unit you have set.

When the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is performed, for example, in step S8, the control unit 25 confirms whether or not prohibition information is set in the double-sided image prohibition memory 32, and it is set. In this case, the image formation is stopped, and if it is not set, the image formation processing is performed.

(3) Third Embodiment In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the paper set in the paper feeding unit has already been recorded, and if it has been recorded, a double-sided copy process is disabled. When to do.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the paper P taken out from the paper feeding unit (not shown) is placed on the conveyor belt 41 composed of a plurality of belts and conveyed. On the lower surface side of the conveyor belt 41, a reflection type surface state detecting sensor 42 which is a “recording state detecting means” is arranged. Then, while the sheet P is being conveyed, it is detected whether or not recording has been completed over the entire back surface of the sheet P from the gap of the conveying belt. If a recorded portion is detected even on a part of the back side, the same image formation stop process as described above is performed under the control of the control unit 25 which is the "second double-sided image formation stop control means". I do.

Although the front surface state detection sensor 42 is arranged only on the back side of the paper P (below the conveyor belt 41) in FIG. 6, it is arranged on the front side of the paper P (above the conveyor belt 41). It may be possible to detect whether or not both the front and back sides have been recorded.

(4) Fourth Embodiment In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the paper set in the paper feeding unit is made of a light-transmitting member, and if light is transmitted, double-sided copying becomes impossible. This is the case when processing is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the paper P taken out from the paper feeding unit (not shown) is placed on the carrying belt 41 composed of a plurality of belts and carried. On the lower surface side of the conveyor belt 41, a light emitting portion 44a of a light transmission type sensor 44, which is "light transmission member determination means", is provided. A light receiving portion 44b for receiving the light from the light emitting portion 44a is arranged at a position above the conveyor belt 41 and facing the light emitting portion 44a.

While the paper P is being conveyed, the light emitting portion 44a irradiates the entire surface of the paper P through the gap of the conveying belt, and the light receiving portion 44b detects whether or not the transmitted light is received. If even a part of the paper P is detected to transmit light, the same image formation as described above is performed under the control of the control unit 25 which is the "second double-sided image formation stop control means". Perform stop processing.

Although the recording state detecting means is provided in the belt conveying portion in the third and fourth embodiments, the recording state detecting means may be provided in the middle of conveyance of the paper from the paper feeding unit. The recording state detecting means may scan the sheets stacked in the sheet unit.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the double-sided prohibition process is performed after the copy start key is pressed. However, when the user selects the double-sided key, the double-sided copy is prohibited. Make the paper unit unselectable,
Alternatively, the operation of the copy start key may not be accepted when a paper feed unit for which double-sided copying is prohibited is selected.

[0050]

As described above, according to the invention described in each of the claims, a switch for prohibiting double-sided image formation (double-sided copying) is provided in the recording medium feeding unit or the like, or the recording medium is already recorded. Means for determining whether or not the image is formed on both sides of the recording medium, and when it is determined that image formation on both sides of the recording medium is unsuitable, image formation is stopped. If the recording medium is unsuitable for image formation on both sides, such as semi-transparent paper, even if the user tries to form an image on both sides of the recording medium, the image formation is stopped and miscopy is prevented. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to first to fourth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation unit according to the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower sheet feeding unit of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of relevant parts of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

C Copying machine (image forming apparatus) OP operation section 1 Copying machine main body 5 Deck paper feeding unit (recording medium feeding unit) 6 Lower feeding unit (recording medium feeding unit) 7 Upper feeding unit (recording medium feeding unit) 8 Both sides Paper feed unit (recording medium supply unit) 15 Upper unit selection key 16 Lower unit selection key 17 Deck unit selection key 18 Double-sided / single-sided copy switch 25 Control unit (first and second double-sided image formation stop control means) 29 Double-sided copy prohibition Setting switch (double-sided image formation prohibition setting means, status setting switch) 31 Alarm section 32 Double-sided copy prohibition setting memory (double-sided image formation prohibition setting means, storage element) 42 Surface state detection sensor (double-sided recording permission / inhibition determination means, recording state detection means) ) 44 Light transmission type sensor (double-sided recording availability determination means, light transmission member determination means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus capable of both single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation on a recording medium, and double-sided image formation prohibition setting means for prohibiting double-sided image formation on the recording medium. An image forming apparatus comprising: first double-sided image formation stop control means for stopping double-sided image formation when the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is set to prohibition. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a state setting switch provided in a recording medium supply unit that supplies the recording medium. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the double-sided image formation prohibition setting means is a storage element that stores the input double-sided image formation prohibition information. 4. An image forming apparatus capable of both single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation on a recording medium, and a double-sided recording enable / disable determining unit for determining whether or not recording on both sides of the recording medium is possible. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a second double-sided image formation stop control means for stopping double-sided image formation when the double-sided printability determination means determines that double-sided recording is impossible. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the double-sided recording availability determining unit includes a recording state detecting unit that detects a recording state on the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit. apparatus. 6. The double-sided recording enable / disable determining means comprises a light transmitting member determining means for determining whether or not the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supply unit is a light transmitting member. Item 4. The image forming apparatus according to item 4.