JPH11184191A - Output device, supply method for recording paper and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To successfully execute a desired concurrent continuous printing action. SOLUTION: Paper supply timing is controlled based on a paper path control table for controlling the position of a recording paper on a paper path by a plane coordinate. That means, after the paper path control table is initialized first(S1), it is judged whether a paper supply command is outputted or not(S2). When it is outputted, prescribed very short time (time difference) Δt between the last updating time of the paper path control table and this updating time thereof is measured(S3). Then, the paper path control table is updated(S4). It is judged on the paper path control table whether a paper can be supplied or not because the prescribed very short time Δt elapses(S5). When it is judged that the paper can be supplied, the paper is supplied(S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device, a method for feeding recording paper, and an information processing system, and more particularly, to a digital multifunction machine having a combined function of a printer function, a copying function, a facsimile function, and the like. The present invention relates to an output device, a method of feeding recording paper output from the output device, and an information processing system in which an information processing device such as a host computer is connected to the output device via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital multifunction peripherals as such output devices have been developed as systems in which a facsimile function is added to a copying machine or a printer function is added to a facsimile apparatus.

Recently, digital multifunction peripherals capable of performing a so-called parallel operation capable of processing a plurality of print jobs in parallel in page units have been developed.

[0004]

When printing image data on a recording sheet, the image data is transferred to the recording sheet by a transfer drum and printed out, so that the recording sheet always passes through the transfer drum. In other words, even if a plurality of paper cassettes are provided, the recording paper transport path merges into one just before the transfer drum. Therefore, even if it is desired to perform continuous printing by feeding the recording paper in advance in the transport path, or to process a plurality of documents having different paper sizes in parallel, or to record different paper sizes even for the same document. When printing on paper, it has been difficult to perform desired continuous printing.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a digital multifunction peripheral is provided with a two-stage paper cassette (upper set 51, lower cassette 5) storing recording paper of different paper sizes.
For example, when the recording paper is fed from the upper cassette 51 to the transport path 53 in the case of 2), after the recording paper is fed from the upper cassette 51, the paper is fed from the upper cassette 51. If the distance from the lower cassette paper feed port 55 to the point 54 where the sheet merges with the transport path is sufficient, the paper can be fed immediately from the lower cassette 52 as well.

However, when it is desired to feed the recording paper from the upper cassette 51 after the recording paper is fed from the lower cassette 52, the recording paper is fed from the lower cassette 52 to the transport path 53, and then immediately from the upper cassette 51 to the transport path. 53
When the recording paper is supplied to the first cassette, the paper supplied from the upper cassette 51 and the paper supplied from the lower cassette 52 may compete with each other on the transport path 53 in timing. Then, the recording paper must be fed from the upper cassette 51.

However, conventionally, there is no means for controlling the paper feed timing in such a case, and therefore, when a plurality of documents having different paper sizes are processed in parallel, or when the same document is recorded on different paper sizes. When printing on paper, there is a problem that desired continuous printing cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an output device such as a digital multi-function peripheral capable of successfully performing desired parallel continuous printing, a method of feeding recording paper, and an information processing method. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of paper cassettes accommodating recording sheets of a predetermined size; An output device that includes a paper feeding unit including a paper feeding port and executes job processing based on predetermined control information and outputs image data to the recording paper; A time difference measuring unit that calculates a time difference between the paper timing and the current sheet feeding timing; and a sheet feeding timing control unit that controls a sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet to the transport path based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring unit. It is characterized by having.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of paper cassettes each contain recording paper of a predetermined paper size.
In a method of feeding recording paper, in which the recording paper is fed to a paper transport path from a paper feed port provided at a front end of the paper feed cassette, a timing at which a previous paper feed timing of the recording paper onto the transport path is changed A time difference measuring step of calculating a time difference between the sheet feeding timing and the sheet feeding timing, and a sheet feeding timing controlling step of controlling a sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet to the transport path based on the measurement result of the time difference measuring step. It is characterized by:

Further, according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feeding means comprising a plurality of paper cassettes containing recording paper of a predetermined paper size and a paper feeding port for guiding the recording paper to a paper transport path. An information processing system connected to the information processing device via a network, and executes job processing based on the control information transmitted from the information processing device and outputs image data to the recording sheet; An output device configured to calculate a time difference between a previous sheet feeding timing and a current sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet on the transport path; and a time difference measuring unit that calculates a time difference between the recording sheet and the recording sheet based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring unit. Paper feed timing control means for controlling the timing of paper feed to the transport path.

The other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention. The first embodiment is for inputting various job commands such as a print job, a scan job, a facsimile job, and a copy job. And the second host computers 1 and 2 and the digital multifunction peripheral 3 that executes and processes the job transmitted from the first and second host computers 1 and 2 and the like.
work) or the like, and the digital multifunction peripheral 3 has the same function as the first and second host computers 1 and 2 via a parallel or serial interface cable 5. It is connected to the host computer 6.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital multi-function peripheral 3.

That is, the digital multifunction peripheral 3 has an operation unit 7 for changing settings, resetting input, and the like, and a display including an LCD for displaying the setting status of the device, the current processing status inside the device, and the error status. A ROM 9 storing a control program such as a system start-up program, predetermined character data, and the like; a RAM 10 storing font data and various calculation results additionally registered by download and used as a work area; An external storage device 11 composed of a hard disk or the like in which a print job is spooled or in which program information and various information files are stored; and an engine which is connected to a printer engine (print control unit) and performs an interface operation between the printer engine and the
An interface (I / F) 12 and a network interface (I / F) connected to the network 4 for controlling an interface operation between the network 4 and the interface 4
13, an external interface (I / F) 14 connected to the third host computer 6 via the interface cable 5 and controlling an interface operation with the third host computer 6, and CP that is connected to each component and controls the entire device
U16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 16 is transmitted from the first or second host computer 1, 2 via the network 4, or transmitted from the third host computer 6 via the interface cable 5. A command interpreter 17 for interpreting command information, that is, a protocol; a job controller 18 for performing job processing in accordance with the interpretation contents of the protocol interpreter 17;
The job control unit 18 includes a device unit 19 including a plurality of devices used when executing a job.

FIG. 4 shows a job control section 18 and a device section 19.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the configuration.

Network I / F 13 or external I / F 1
4, first to third host computers 1, 2, 6
Is transmitted to the digital MFP 3 by the protocol interpreting unit 17, converted into a data format understandable by the job controlling unit 18, and input to the job controlling unit 18.

The job generation unit 20 of the job control unit 18 generates a job a in accordance with the interpretation contents of the protocol interpretation unit 17. Thus, the job generation unit 20 generates a job a such as a copy job, a print job, a scan job, or a facsimile job. For example, in the case of a print job, various setting information such as a print document name, the number of print copies, and designation of a discharge tray, and print data (PDL)
Data) is included in the job a. Next, the job a is transmitted to the job processing unit 21 to perform setting processing (for example, collectively printing and stapling a plurality of documents) on the entire job, while the job part other than the setting processing is performed in document units ( The input document b is generated by dividing the input document b into predetermined units. Then, the input document b
Is sent to the document processing unit 22 and is converted into the output document c by the document processing unit 22. For example,
In the case of a scan job, a process is performed in which a bundle of documents is read by a scanner and the read document image is converted into a plurality of image data. In this case, settings and operation procedures relating to the bundle of documents are written in the input document b. Yes,
The document processing unit 22 converts the bundle of originals into a plurality of image data, whereby settings and operation procedures relating to the plurality of image data are written in the output document c.

The document processing section 22 performs only processing in units of documents, and performs setting processing relating to page order such as rearrangement of pages, setting of double-sided printing, addition of a cover, OHP insertion, and the like. The input page d is generated by subdividing the job into smaller work units.

Next, the input page d is sent to the page processing unit 23.
And is converted into an output page e by the page processing unit 23. For example, in the case of the above-described scan job, settings and operation procedures such as the resolution of the read image and the reading direction (landscape / portrait) are written in the input page d, and the input page is output by the page processing unit 23. The output page e is converted into a page, and settings and operation procedures relating to the storage location of the image data (address and data name of the RAM 10 or the external storage device 11) are written in the output page e.

Further, in the present embodiment, the job in page units is further subdivided according to the storage capacity of the RAM 10 or the external storage device 11 so that processing in band units is possible. That is, a storage device (R) having a large capacity capable of securing a page memory for one page.
In the case of having the AM 10 or the external storage device 11), the final job processing can be performed by subdividing the page unit, but the printing speed is low from an economic viewpoint or an ink jet printer. In this case, only a few lines of memory, that is, a band memory, may be provided. In the present embodiment, assuming such a case, the job in page units is subdivided into smaller work units, and the input band f
Is configured to be generated. Then, the input band f is input to the band processing unit 24 and converted into the output band g by the same procedure as the above-described page processing.

The device section 19 includes first to third devices 19a to 19c. Each processing of the job processing section 21, document processing section 22, page processing section 23 and band processing section 24 is performed by This is performed using these first to third devices 19a to 19c. Specific examples of the first to third devices 19a to 19c include a page memory, a band memory, a document feeder, a marking engine, and a scanner.
In this embodiment, the devices are allocated to the respective processing units 21 to 24 by the device allocation unit 25, and the above-described predetermined processing is executed. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the processing contents of the document processing section 22 in the case of performing parallel simultaneous printing.

The document processing unit 22 detects in advance the number of documents set on the document feeder or the document table and the presence / absence of one-sided / two-sided documents.
Is input to the document processing unit 22, logical papers, that is, paper objects P1 and P2 are generated so as to be 1: 1 with respect to the input image document. In this embodiment, two different input documents b each consisting of three originals are input. Then, the document corresponding to the paper object P1 is printed on both sides, and is handled so as to be printed out in the order in which the images are read. The document corresponding to the paper object P2 is printed on one side, and the image is read. It is handled so that it is printed out in the reverse order.

In the document processing section 22, only the paper objects P1 and P2 are sequentially stored in separate paper queues 26a and 26b in the order of generation. Next, the print page creation unit 27 sets the paper queue 26a,
The paper objects stored in 26b are rearranged in the printing order. For example, with respect to the paper object P1, the first page corresponds to the front side of the first input document image, and the second page corresponds to the back side of the first input document image. Reschedule. Similarly, the third
The page is the front side of the second input document image, the fourth page is the back side of the second input document image, the fifth page is the front side of the third input document image, and the sixth page is the third page The scheduling is re-scheduled so as to be printed out corresponding to the back side of the input document image of the eye. For the paper object P2, the first page is the front surface of the third input document image, the second page is the front surface of the second input document image, and the third page is the first input document image. Is re-scheduled so that printout is performed in correspondence with the front surface. Then, the paper object P is set so that the rescheduled page order corresponds to the order of the fed recording sheets.
1, P2 are sequentially stored in the page queue 28.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, three-stage paper cassettes (first paper cassette 30, second paper cassette 31, and third paper cassette 32) are provided. Is provided. In the figure, 11 to 13 indicate the lengths in the main scanning direction (hereinafter, referred to as “sheet sizes”) stored in the first to third sheet cassettes, respectively, and 14 indicates the transfer drum 33 and the first sheet cassette.
, And l5 and l6 are the first paper feed port 3
7 shows the distance between the second paper feed port 38 and the second paper feed port 38, and the distance between the second paper feed port 38 and the third paper feed port 39, respectively. Also, 17 to 19
Indicates the distance between the tip of each of the first to third paper feed cassettes 30 to 32 and the first to third paper feed ports 37 to 39.

The page queue 28 has first to third page queues 28a to 28c corresponding to the first to third sheet cassettes 30 to 32, respectively. Paper objects are stored in the first to third page queues 28a to 28c so that they can be output. Then, the paper feed timing generation unit 29 controls the paper feed timing while monitoring the transport path (hereinafter, referred to as “paper path”), pre-feeds the recording paper onto the paper path, and performs continuous printing. In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned paper path is
The path formed by (l4 + l5 + l6) refers to the paper feed ports 37-39 from the paper feed cassettes 30-32, that is, l7, l8, and l9, are not called paper paths, but are called paper feed paths. .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for feeding recording paper according to the present invention.

In step S1, a paper path management table, which will be described later, is initialized in order to show that there is no recording paper in the paper path. In step S2, it is determined whether there is a paper feed command. If there is no paper feed command, the process waits until there is a paper feed command.
Proceeding to 3, the predetermined short time (time difference) Δt between the previous update and the current update is measured for a paper path management table described later, and the paper path management table is updated in the subsequent step S4. Then, in step S5, it is determined whether or not paper can be fed based on the management state of the paper path management table. If the answer is negative (No), the processes in steps S3 and S4 are repeated, while the answer is If the determination is affirmative (Yes), paper is fed to the transfer drum 33, and the process returns to step S2 to repeat the above-described processing.

Next, the case where the recording paper is fed onto the paper path in the order of the first paper cassette 30 → the second paper cassette 31 → the first paper cassette 30 will be described. The method for feeding the recording paper while controlling the paper feeding state will be described more specifically.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the recording paper is being conveyed on the paper path.

That is, the leading end of the recording sheet 40 fed from the first sheet cassette 30 is located at a distance A from the center of the transfer drum 33, and the recording sheet fed from the second sheet cassette 31 41 shows a state in which the tip of 41 is located at a distance B from the center of the transfer drum 33.

FIG. 9 is a table diagram of the paper path management table. In the paper path management table, the paper path is set to the X coordinate, and the paper feed paths 17 to 19 of the paper feed cassettes 30 to 32 are set to Y.
The state of the paper path is managed as coordinates.

That is, when the recording papers 40 and 41 are at the positions as shown in FIG. 8, a line segment 35 indicated by the coordinates (A, 0) to (A + 11, 0) is recorded on the paper path management table. The position 40 is stored in the paper path management table, and coordinates (14 + 15,0) are calculated from coordinates (B, 0).
(Corresponding to the position of the second paper feed port 38) and the coordinates (l
The line segment 36 indicated by 4 + 15, 14- (14 + 15) -B))) is stored in the paper path management table as the position of the recording paper 41.

Next, the paper feed timing generator 29 detects the moving speed of the recording paper, and updates the positions of the recording papers 40 and 41 on the paper path management table every time a predetermined minute time Δt elapses. That is, after the elapse of the predetermined minute time Δt, the line segments 35 and 36 move in the X-axis direction in the negative direction by v · Δt. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the recording paper 40 passes through the transfer drum 33 and has coordinates (A-
v · Δt, 0) to the position of the line segment 37 indicated by the coordinates (A + 11−v · Δt, 0), and the recording paper 41 moves from the coordinates (B−v · Δt, 0) to the coordinates (B + 12−v).・ Δ
It moves to the position of the line segment 38 on the paper path indicated by (t, 0). The coordinates moved after the elapse of Δt seconds are stored in the paper path management table, and the coordinates in the paper path management table are updated.

Then, the end of the precedingly fed recording sheet is moved to the coordinates (14 + 17) on the X-coordinate axis as time t elapses.
The first sheet cassette 3 is located in a more negative direction than
It is determined that paper supply from 0 is possible, and paper supply from the first paper supply cassette 30 is started. Specifically, after the recording paper is fed from the second paper feed cassette 31, immediately after the time t shown in the following equation (1) has elapsed, the recording paper is fed from the first paper feed cassette 30, and the present embodiment is described. In the embodiment, such a paper feed timing is managed by a paper path management table.

T = (j−17) / v (1) where j is the distance from the first paper feed port 37 to the end of the recording paper 41 in FIG. 8 (= 12− (14−B)). ).

As described above, in this embodiment, the paper feeding state is constantly managed on the paper path management table by updating the paper path management table each time a paper feeding request command comes to each paper feeding cassette. By feeding in advance based on the status, multiple documents can be printed in parallel,
Alternatively, it is possible to easily print the same document having different paper sizes continuously.

[0041]

As described in detail above, according to the output device, the recording paper feeding method, and the information processing system according to the present invention, recording paper of different paper sizes can be provided without providing a sensor or the like on the transport path. Can be fed from different paper cassettes at any time, and a plurality of documents having different paper sizes can be continuously printed, or the same document can be continuously printed on recording paper of different paper sizes. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a CPU.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of a job control unit and a device unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing processing contents of a document processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a sheet feeding unit and a periphery of the sheet feeding unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of feeding recording paper according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a time difference between a previous time and a current time of a recording sheet passing on a paper path.

FIG. 9 is a table diagram of a paper path management table at a specific time.

FIG. 10 is a table diagram of the paper path management table after Δt seconds from the state of the paper path management table of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for describing a conventional problem regarding paper feeding of recording paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 First paper feed cassette 32 Second paper feed cassette 33 Third paper feed cassette 37 First paper feed port 38 Second paper feed port 39 Third paper feed port 29 Paper feed timing generator (time difference Measuring means, paper feed timing control means)

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Fumio Furukawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yoshiji Kanemoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Stock In-company (72) Inventor Masaki Kashiwagi Canon Inc. 3- 30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A paper feeder comprising a plurality of paper feed cassettes containing recording paper of a predetermined paper size and a paper feed port for guiding the recording paper to a conveyance path, based on predetermined control information. In an output device that executes job processing and outputs image data to the recording sheet, a time difference measuring unit that calculates a time difference between a previous sheet feeding timing and a current sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet on the transport path, An output device comprising: paper feed timing control means for controlling a paper feed timing of the recording paper to the transport path based on a measurement result of the time difference measurement means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time difference measuring unit detects a paper size of the recording sheet passing through the conveyance path in a main scanning direction, and detects a moving speed of the recording sheet on the conveyance path. A moving speed detecting unit, a distance detecting unit that detects a distance between the sheet cassette and the sheet feeding port corresponding to the sheet cassette, and calculating the time difference based on a detection result of each of the detecting units. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising a time difference calculating unit. 3. The paper feed timing control means includes: a conveyance path management means for managing a state of the conveyance path; and the recording sheet according to the state of the conveyance path managed by the conveyance path management means. 2. A determining means for determining whether or not to convey to a conveying path.
Or the output device according to claim 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transport path managing means includes an updating means for updating the management content based on the measurement result of said time difference measuring means.
An output device according to any one of the above. 5. The paper feeding timing control means includes a preceding paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper from the paper feeding cassette to the paper feeding port based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring means. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
An output device according to any one of the above. 6. A recording sheet for storing recording sheets of a predetermined sheet size in each of a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes and feeding the recording sheets to a sheet conveying path from a sheet feeding port provided at a front end of the sheet feeding cassette. A time difference measuring step of calculating a time difference between a previous sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet on the transport path and a current sheet feeding timing; and the recording based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring step. A paper feed timing control step of controlling a paper feed timing of the paper to the transport path. 7. The time difference measuring step includes detecting a sheet size of the recording sheet passing through the conveyance path in a main scanning direction, and detecting a moving speed of the recording sheet on the conveyance path. A moving speed detecting step, a distance detecting step of detecting a distance between the sheet cassette and the sheet feeding port corresponding to the sheet cassette, and calculating the time difference based on a detection result of each of the detecting steps. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a time difference calculating step. 8. The paper feed timing control step manages a state of the transport path, and determines whether to transport the recording sheet to the transport path according to the management content. The method for feeding recording paper according to claim 6 or 7. 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the management content is updated based on a measurement result of the time difference measurement step. 10. The paper feed timing control step,
10. The recording sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording sheet is pre-fed to the sheet feeding port from the sheet feeding cassette based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring step. Paper method. 11. An output device comprising a plurality of paper feed cassettes containing recording paper of a predetermined paper size and a paper feeding means comprising a paper feeding port for guiding said recording paper to a paper transport path is provided via a network. An information processing system connected to the information processing device to execute job processing based on the control information transmitted from the information processing device and output image data to the recording paper, wherein the output device includes: Time difference measuring means for calculating a time difference between the previous sheet feeding timing on the conveyance path and the current sheet feeding timing; and a sheet feeding timing of the recording sheet to the conveyance path based on the measurement result of the time difference measuring means. An information processing system comprising: paper feed timing control means for controlling the timing. 12. The time difference measuring means detects a paper size of the recording paper passing through the transport path in a main scanning direction, and detects a moving speed of the recording paper on the transport path. A moving speed detecting unit, a distance detecting unit that detects a distance between the sheet cassette and the sheet feeding port corresponding to the sheet cassette, and calculating the time difference based on a detection result of each of the detecting units. The information processing system according to claim 11, further comprising a time difference calculating unit. 13. The paper feed timing control means, comprising: a conveyance path management means for managing a state of the conveyance path; and the recording sheet according to the state of the conveyance path managed by the conveyance path management means. 13. The information processing system according to claim 11, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not to convey the sheet to the conveyance path. 14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transport path management means has an update means for updating management contents based on a measurement result of said time difference measurement means. The information processing system as described. 15. The paper feeding timing control means includes a preceding paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper from the paper feeding cassette to the paper feeding port based on a measurement result of the time difference measuring means. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein: 16. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein peripheral devices including a printing device, a facsimile device, and a copying machine are connected to a network.